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 Tanzania receives 264 Chinese-made cargo wagons for SGR electric trains Xinhua) 09:20, December 26, 2024 DAR ES SALAAM, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) said Wednesday that it had received 264 cargo wagons made by China's CRRC Qiqihar Rolling Stock Co., Ltd for the standard gauge railway (SGR) electric trains. According to a statement by TRC, the 264 cargo wagons, as part of 1,430 wagons manufactured by the CRRC for the TRC, arrived in the port of Dar es Salaam Tuesday. TRC said 200 of the delivered wagons will be for ferrying containers, with 64 for loose cargo. After offloading the cargo wagons, the corporation will undergo trial runs, first without cargo and later on with cargo, between Dar es Salaam, Morogoro and Dodoma, the capital of Tanzania. Commercial operations for the cargo wagons will start after TRC and experts from the contractors have certified the wagons for use, it added, without detailing when the trial runs will begin. On Aug. 1, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan officially launched passenger commercial operations of the country's SGR electric train service from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma via Morogoro. TRC Director General Masanja Kadogosa said the entire SGR project will cover 1,596 km from Dar es Salaam to the Mwanza region, and upon completion, the modern rail link will cut travel time significantly and boost economic development in Tanzania and across the region. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Home News Christians in India experiencing uptick in 'tragic violence, bloodshed' in 2024; advocacy group calls for investigation A Christian advocacy group has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modis government to launch a national-level inquiry into the rise in violence against Christians across India, as believers in the country saw a steep increase in tragic violence, bloodshed, and the demolition of dozens of churches. In a Dec. 20 press release cited by UCA News, National Coordinator of The United Christian Forum A.C. Michael urged the government to appoint a secretary-level official to lead the investigation into a sharp uptick in incidents of persecution. Michael, a former member of the Delhi Minorities Commission, noted that since Modis Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power in 2014, attacks on Christians rose from 127 in 2014 to 745 by the end of November 2024. 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 figures, derived from complaints registered on the UCFs toll-free helpline launched in 2015, might not reflect the full extent of the violence, the organization cautioned. Many other incidents may have occurred that were not reported through our hotline and, therefore, are not included in the total number, the press release stated. The helpline was established to support victims of persecution, offering guidance on accessing public authorities and legal remedies. However, the UCF noted that data on violence in the northeastern state of Manipur remains excluded. Last year, the tragic violence, bloodshed, and the demolition of over 200 churches in Manipur were also not reflected in the UCF figures, the statement added. Manipur has been mired in sectarian violence since May 2023, with Kuki and Meitei tribal groups engaged in clashes that have targeted Christians and churches. The UCF also expressed frustration over delays in judicial action. A petition filed with Indias Supreme Court in 2022, seeking strict measures against anti-Christian vigilante groups, remains stalled after initial hearings. Michael urged Modi to consider setting up a national level inquiry to look into the rising incidences of Christian minority persecution in India. The rise in violence has drawn widespread criticism from religious and human rights groups that have accused Modis government of failing to protect minority communities. The BJP denies any involvement in the attacks, asserting its commitment to religious freedom. UCFs call for an inquiry highlights the growing tensions between Indias religious minorities and the government, raising concerns about the countrys secular fabric amid increasing religious polarization. The country currently ranks No. 11 on persecution watchdog Open Doors World Watch List of countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. India was reclassified in 2024 as a restricted nation due to Modis continued governmental actions against Christians and ministries. In February 2024, Indias government canceled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) status of the Bible Society of India, the largest Bible society in the world. The FCRA regulates funding for charities and ministries and now requires any organization that receives funding from outside the country be approved by the government which can withdraw that approval at any time. Anti-conversion laws, which forbid encouraging Hindus to consider any other religion, have passed in several Indian states, and the push for a similar federal law has gained support. An October report found that Hindu nationalist groups in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh are leveraging technology like the popular messaging app WhatsApp to target Christian minorities and force them to convert to Hinduism. In December, eight village councils in Chhattisgarh passed a resolution that bans Christians from staying in their villages, requiring them to either renounce their faith or leave. The order impacted about 100 Christians whose property and fields were threatened with confiscation if they did not comply, according to reports. Despite greater government restrictions on Christianity and the arrest of numerous pastors, churches are growing. Satish Kumar, who leads India's largest church with 300,000 congregants, Calvary Temple in Hyderabad, told CBN that despite persecution, the church sees roughly 3,000 new believers each month. "God put a burden in my heart to establish 40 mega churches just like what you see here during the next 10 years, he said. "God's hand is upon India, it's a time for India to reach the lost, not only within the country but across the globe." Home News Gay couple slapped with 100-year prison sentence for raping adopted boys: 'Depravity' A same-sex Georgia couple who pleaded guilty to aggravated sodomy against their two adopted sons were recently sentenced to 100 years in prison without the possibility of parole. Zachary and William Zulock, a wealthy couple who adopted two boys with the help of a now-defunct Christian adoption agency, faced sentences for multiple other charges, including child molestation, sexual exploitation of children and incest, according to a press release from the Alcovy Judicial Circuit District Attorney Randy McGinley. "These two defendants truly created a house of horrors and put their extremely dark desires above everything and everyone else," McGinley said. 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 depth of the defendants' depravity, which is as deep as it gets, is not greater than the resolve of those that fought for justice and the strength of the victims in this case. The resolve I have seen from these two young victims over the last two years is truly inspiring." Judge Jeffrey L. Foster sentenced both men on Dec. 19 to a century in prison, followed by life on probation. In July 2022, the Walton County Sheriffs Office in Georgia received a "cyber tip" from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children informing them that homemade child pornography had been uploaded to the internet from an IP address in the county, which is about 30 miles east of Atlanta. After discovering and questioning secondary suspect Hunter Lawless, authorities found that Lawless had received pornography of child sexual abuse from a man named "Zach Zulock," according to the Walton County Sheriff's Office. Lawless pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children and was sentenced to 20 years, with the first 12 years in prison. He also agreed to cooperate in any prosecution of the Zulocks. After police conducted a search of the Zulocks' home in nearby Oxford, Georgia, they found evidence that the Zulocks were "engaging in sexually abusive acts and video documenting this abuse," according to the Walton County Sheriff's Office. In Snapchat messages to Lawless, Zachary boasted about the sexual abuse of his son before sending footage of the acts, according to The New York Post. "I'm going to f--- my son tonight. Stand by," he reportedly said. The Alcovy Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office claimed their investigation of the Zulocks' house and electronic devices provided evidence that they were sexually abusing their underage, adopted sons to make child pornography. "A thorough analysis found videos of multiple incidents of the defendants committing sexual abuse in different parts of the house," the district attorney said. "Cell phones were analyzed which contained graphic images and videos of the abuse as well as graphic text and social media messages about the sexual abuse." A 2023 investigation by Townhall uncovered more details about the Zulocks, including the fact that Zachary was the focus of a pedophilia investigation in 2011 after being accused of engaging in sexual acts with a 14-year-old boy in Walton County. The investigation was dropped with no charges filed, though it was subsequently reopened following the Townhall article. A family member told Townhall in 2023 that the brothers who were aged 9 and 11 at the time were raised by struggling heroin addicts. One relative of the boys told the outlet they believe the Zulocks used that information to target the vulnerable boys. McGinley praised the work of others who assisted in bringing the Zulocks to justice. I am grateful for the hard work of so many to obtain an appropriate outcome in this case. The hard work of law enforcement put an end to the abuse suffered by the victims, and this resolution will help the victims continue their process of healing," he said. "William and Zachary Zulock will now spend 100 years in prison without parole. This all but guarantees that the victims will not have to worry as they grow older about their abusers being free." The boys were removed from the Zulocks' custody and are "now safe" after the Walton County Division of Family & Children Services took them, according to authorities. Home News 'God uses evil': More Ukrainians requesting Bibles in native language, sharing Gospel as war rages A Texas-based ministry that once smuggled Bibles into the Soviet Union in the 1960s is continuing to share God's Word decades later, even as war has shaken the lives of millions in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Today, the Eastern European Mission (EEM) is printing and distributing Bibles and other Gospel-centered materials through a vast network of churches and Christian organizations to Eastern Europeans in their native languages. In 2024, EEM set its sights on distributing 970,000 Bibles and other Bible-based materials in over 30 countries and 20 different languages. This includes Ukrainians suffering displacement and crumbling infrastructure as the ongoing war with Russia has shattered any sense of normalcy, driving many refugees into Poland, Hungary, Moldova or other countries. Children are especially impacted. 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 Even before the start of Russia's invasion and the ensuing war with Ukraine in February 2022, EEM distributed Bibles to Ukraine. Now, the ministry has noticed Ukrainians forced to flee their homes, taking the message of the Gospel with them. "God uses evil, and this war is definitely not from a good place, but God will use it," EEM Vice President Dirk Smith told The Christian Post. According to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 6.8 million refugees from Ukraine are recorded globally and nearly 4 million displaced people in Ukraine as of November 2024. Yet, even as the war rages on, the requests for Ukrainian Bibles has not ceased, according to Smith. EEM has seen an increase in requests, something that Smith attributed to Ukrainians seeking solace in God as they endure the trial of their country at war. "We're seeing Ukrainians travel, and I think it's why the request for Ukrainian Bibles has increased because you've got Ukrainian believers who are migrating, and they're traveling alongside or staying with Ukrainians who are non-believers," Smith explained. "And the non-believers are looking at the believers and going, 'OK, we're experiencing the same hell, but you're doing it very, you're handling this in a different way,'" the EEM vice president continued. "With a peace, dare I say, that surpasses understanding. And the non-believers ask, 'How is that?' and the believers are there to share Jesus." Despite the conflict, Smith said EEM still prints Bibles in Kyiv and Western Ukraine. Due to the war, the ministry has witnessed the rerouting of supply chain channels from Poland or Moldova. However, at the time of the interview, Smith claimed EEM had yet to experience any other challenges. On the ground in Ukraine, EEM works with various NGOS, ministries and churches run by Ukrainians. According to Smith, multiple ministries will contact EEM and request more Bibles when missile strikes happen. For the ministry leader, the outpouring of requests for Bibles amid war serves as a reminder of the Holy Spirit's power. "It is not about us," he said. "This is about the power of God's word when it gets into somebody's hand. It's the Parable of the Sower." In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower to teach His followers about responding to the Lord's message and promise of eternal life. The farmer in the story sows his seeds, which represent God's word. While some seeds fell on good soil and grew into crops, others were swallowed by birds, choked from the thorns or withered in the sun. Jesus told the story to show how God's word grows within those who listen while others are consumed by Satan or fail to allow the Gospel to thrive within their hearts. "We sow the seed, and then we sit back and we watch in absolute amazement at God's power in subtle ways," Smith said. Home News King Charles' Christmas Day speech upsets Christians for suggesting all religions the same 'I am sorry, he is wrong on this one,' missiologist says King Charles has been criticised for his Christmas Day speech which suggested that all faiths are the same. The monarch's Christmas Day address to the nation is an annual Christmas tradition that many households gather round to listen to on the big day. In his address this year, the king said, "The example that Jesus gave us is timeless and universal. It is to enter the world of those who suffer, to make a difference to their lives and so bring hope where there is despair. 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 "As the famous Christmas Carol, 'Once In Royal David's City' reminds us, 'Our Saviour holy' 'came down to Earth from Heaven,' lived among 'the poor and mean and lowly' and transformed the lives of those He met, through God's 'redeeming love.' "That is the heart of the Nativity story and we can hear its beat in the belief of all the great faiths in the love and mercy of God in times of joy and of suffering, calling us to bring light where there is darkness." Missiologist and Home for Good founder, Krish Kandiah, said that while he appreciated the king "showing hospitality to people of all faiths and none," his comments demonstrate "a fundamental misunderstanding of either Christianity or world religions." "The idea that God becomes human and then willingly dies to redeem and rescue humanity is unique to Christianity," said Kandiah. "To argue that all faiths are basically the same is to make a claim not backed up by serious study of religion and could be heard as patronizing as claiming all Asian people look the same. "I am grateful for the king's important work in the environment and his work on empowering young people, but I am sorry, he is wrong on this one." Other critics accused the king of syncretism and wokery. Speaking from the Chapel of the former Middlesex Hospital in London, the king later spoke of how "diversity of culture, ethnicity and faith provides strength, not weakness." Before concluding his speech, he stated, "Again, listening is a recurrent theme of the Nativity story. Mary, the mother of Jesus, listened to the Angel who revealed to her a different future full of hope for all people. The message of the Angels to the shepherds that there should be peace on Earth in fact echoes through all faiths and philosophies." This article was originally published at Christian Today Home News Proposed regulation in Sri Lanka targets churches religious freedom, Evangelicals warn A proposed regulation in Sri Lanka targets Christian churches in the Buddhist-majority country, according to an Evangelical association. New churches trying to establish new worship sites are already required to register, and the proposal would make registration mandatory also for existing church venues, according to the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL). The Sri Lankan governments proposal earlier this year for a new, mandatory registration system for existing Christian places of worship follows a circular issued in 2022 requiring registration for new religious centers, places of worship, prayer centers and religious symbols involving multiple bureaucratic steps. 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 Both the 2022 circular and the new proposal undermine freedom of religion or belief, said Mike Gabriel, head of the Religious Liberty Commission of the NCEASL. Protestant Christian churches, but especially independent, Evangelical churches across Sri Lanka, face uncertainty and potential infringement on their religious freedom due to the existing circular and proposed mandatory registration, Gabriel said in a press statement. Often, churches are asked by the police and local authorities to either register or discontinue churches and religious activities. The proposed system for existing Christian bodies sites would require approvals from various governmental authorities and a review of religious beliefs, Gabriel said. Registration of places of worship should not be an obligation but an offer by the state to enable any religious community to acquire legal personality for various operational and functional purposes, according to international rights bodies. Sri Lankas system, however, makes government approval and permission required for Christians to publicly manifest religious beliefs and engage in religious practice, Gabriel said. This undermines constitutional guarantees for religious freedom and non-discrimination in Articles 10, 14 (1) (e), and 12 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, he said. Mandatory registration of places of worship undermines not only the freedom of religion or belief as enshrined in Articles 18 of the UDHR [Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 20] and ICCPR [International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 22], but also the freedom of assembly and association. Often, churches are asked by the police and local authorities to either register or discontinue churches and religious activities, he said. The government of Sri Lanka should refrain from implementing any law/circular/cabinet memorandum making it mandatory to register a place of worship in the country. If registration is deemed necessary, there should be a transparent and streamlined voluntary process that upholds religious freedom and non-discrimination. The 2022 circular requires new religious centers to register with multiple governmental authorities, including the divisional secretary, district secretary and ministry of religious affairs but it has no legal basis, as the circular is not based on any parliament act as required by Sri Lankan law, Gabriel said. The 2022 regulation requires new religious centers to obtain recommendations and bureaucratic approvals at various levels. Unregistered religious venues are particularly vulnerable. In March, the head of the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Vidura Wickramanayake, stated that unregistered religious centers engaging in conversion would be raided. He said the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs would instruct the police chief to raid unregistered religious venues engaged in conversions. A 2003 Supreme Court ruling that the government is constitutionally required to protect only Buddhism also held that there is no fundamental right to proselytize under the constitution. In 2017 the Supreme Court determined that the right to propagate ones religion is not protected by the constitution. Sri Lankas constitution gives Buddhism a foremost place among the countrys religions and requires the government to protect it. The countrys population is 70.2% Buddhist, 12.6% Hindu, 9.7% Muslim and 7.4% Christian, according to the last census (2012). The 2003 and 2017 Supreme Court rulings appear to contradict the constitutions statement that citizens have the right to manifest their religion or belief in worship, observance, practice, or teaching, both in public and in private. It states that every person is entitled to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including the freedom to choose a religion. At the same time, the constitution gives Buddhism the foremost place among the countrys religious faiths and requires the government to protect it, although it does not recognize it as the state religion. In a report released in March, the NCEASL noted that circulars in Sri Lanka have resulted in discriminatory practices against minority religious groups, hindering their worship rights through registration requirements and impeding freedom of religion or belief. The unequal implementation of circulars, especially against minority religious groups, as evident in reported incidents, raises concerns about potential misapplication and misuse, fostering inequality and discrimination, the report stated. The NCEASL opposes mandatory registration and asserts that if voluntary registration is adopted, there should be a clear and efficient processes free of unnecessary bureaucracy. Transparency and accountability should be ensured throughout the registration process to uphold religious freedom and non-discrimination, Gabriel said. Given the complex and bureaucratic nature of the current registration process and proposed mandatory registration, NCEASL advocates for a clear, transparent, streamlined and voluntary registration process for places of worshipthat allows Christian churches the option to seek legal [representation] for various operational and functional purposes. This article was originally published at Christian Daily International Home Opinion What will 2025 and beyond require of Evangelical leaders? The changing world of 2025 and beyond will arrive with unnerving challenges for Christians. Evangelical ministry cannot remain static amidst complicated cultural whirlwinds. So, what type of Evangelical leadership will be required in that context? The Christian leadership of previous generations served its epochs well, but in todays world unprecedented fluidity will be essential. Even the Apostle Paul acknowledged fluid leadership for the challenges that faced his political and religious culture: I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the Gospel (1 Cor. 9:22). Believers are more educated today and their yearning for genuine Christian leadership is in high demand. Reports have indicated that Christian leaders are now trusted less, and that is a primary reason for declining church attendance. George Barna was recently quoted as suggesting that pastors would be wise to examine their practices and reputations. I believe there are five essential traits for effective evangelical leadership as we move into 2025 and beyond. 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 Egoism not required Leadership roles command much respect in Evangelicalism. Its just the way it is. So there are ambitions for titles, chair positions, honorary designations, credentials, and many leaders can become susceptible to the inordinate supply of attention to the elevated status. Only those who are profoundly experienced in the grace of God can overcome the pitfalls of a god complex. Sadly many leaders become intoxicated with the belief that they are the smartest guy in the room. This egoism is dangerous and will eventually wreak havoc in a ministry. Many such leaders begin to flirt with gray areas as they dupe themselves into believing that God has favored and exempted them from rules that apply to everyone else. People are wising up to hypocrisy and this will lead to more confrontations with egoism. I would caution ministries to manage with the right spirit and by proper procedures make leadership more accountable. Imprimis, ministries should become more cognizant of appointing and supporting leaders devoid of egoism. Engagement with contemporary challenges Throughout biblical and Church history, the great leaders possessed a remarkable discernment of their times. Moses, Joseph in Egypt, Joshua, the prophets, Daniel, Ester, John the Baptist, and the Apostle Paul, all demonstrated keen discernment of their cultural contexts both inside and outside of their faith communities. Subsequent great leaders did too, Martin Luther, John Wesley, William Wilberforce, C.S. Lewis and there is not enough space here to mention many others who discerned their times. Their words and actions weighed heavily and impacted the issues of the day. Sophisticated and complex challenges are coming, and Evangelicalism will require wise and discerning leaders who will be competent in unpacking biblical resolutions. Personal conviction of Gods grace The power of Christian faith rests solely on the basis of personally knowing the grace of God. There will be no way around this. None. Jesus was clear: Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again (John 3:7). Evangelicalism can only survive because of the Spirits power to regenerate by Gods grace. Then leaders and believers will possess an unmistakable experience that, The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Rom. 8:16). Only this foundational faith will withstand the calamities of intellectual and cultural onslaughts that portend. Moral teachings of a progressive fashion will implode tomorrows Evangelicalism because they will offer the appearance of godliness (2 Tim. 3:5) that people can learn in any self-help book. Influential evangelical leaders will be men and women who know their God and are personally assured that only His grace is the antidote to sin. Keen knowledge of human beings Humankind is flawed. It is self-centered and naturally rebellious against its Maker. The ways of the world are now characterized by people craving to be worshipped. Social media are filled with content makers who aspire to godlike status. People are finding the message of Evangelicalism distasteful in comparison with aggrandizing oneself. We are moving into a world where more and more people desire the deification of their personal brand. Evangelical leadership will be required to comprehend this self-centered psyche and graciously communicate the wonderful joys of submission to Christ. Appeals to the Christian faith will require insightful teachings on how to lead a happy Christian life and be productive in a world where temptations to selfishness are abounding. Courage The Bible says everywhere, fear not. Every generation has had to decipher how to stand strong in proclaiming the ageless message of Gods efficacious grace. Courage is a trait that distinguished all of the Christian leaders who made history. C. S. Lewis once said, Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. In a world where the relevancy of the Christian faith is increasingly tested, future Evangelical leaders will require a unique confidence in maintaining that Gods grace remains legitimately relevant. Moreover, Evangelicalism will require leaders who can intelligently proclaim that I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced (2 Tim. 1:12). Fear is emotionally crippling and will cause impediment to the effective evangelical leadership required for a changing culture that continually intimidates believers to be silent. The writing is on the wall: cultural thought is becoming increasingly antipathetic to the Christian faith and employing sophisticated measures to silence the message of repentance and grace. As Solomon once observed, See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes (Eccl. 7:29). Already, parts of the Western world are by law prohibiting the use of certain Scriptures. How far will these restrictions and scheming go to halt Evangelical thought? Regardless, the Christian faith will never be silenced. It will, however, require Evangelical leaders who are accountable, who can engage competently with cultural thought, prioritize a personal relationship with Christ, and demonstrate the courage and wisdom to communicate His grace to humankind. These traits will become indispensable for dynamic evangelical leadership. Home Opinion Is Turkey really our NATO ally? The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) hasnt just outlived its usefulness. One of its member states has been wearing out its welcome since the fall of the Soviet Union. Turkey was considered a secular nation when it sought entry into NATO after World War II. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Turkey has been attempting to resurrect its Islamic fundamentalist, Ottoman roots. Sadly, we the people of the United States are obligated to protect and defend it. Exactly 30 years ago, in 1994, while speaking to young fundamentalist Muslims in Antwerp, Belgium, a Turkish Sheikh named Nazim Al-Kibrisi al-Haqqani took to the stage in a stadium filled to capacity, with close to 20,000 people present. After putting the phrase, Allahu Akbar to a repetitive musical chant, he exhorted the crowd to join him. He even referred to the audience as a flood of people (being) a small sign of the glorious rise of Islam. There, in the front row, stood a smiling, young Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently the President of Turkey. In his speech, Kibrisi bemoaned the failures of his generation over the previous 70 years to preserve Islam. He insisted the young crowd which filled the stadium would restore the glory of Islam. This was a clear reference to the defeat of the Turkish Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, in 1922. It was also a personal reference. Kibrisi was born that year. Even the stadium was built between 1921 1923. 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 Did I mention that Erdogan was in the front row? In 1952, a very secular Turkey joined NATO amid concerns that the Soviet Union be problematic. Membership in NATO provided Turkey with a hedge against invasion. Then, when the Soviet Union fell, Neo-Ottomanism began to rise. Unfortunately, NATO continued growing as well, even becoming more corrupt, with the central component of its mission Soviet style communism no longer a threat. Neo-Ottomanism seeks a restoration of the old empire, which seeks expansionism and ultimately, a global Islamic caliphate. The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in the 1920s as well. It too seeks a return to life under the Ottoman Empire. During the one year reign of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt following the Arab Spring, this became even more evident. Erdogans support for the Muslim Brotherhood was clear. Both expressed a desire to restore an era of Islamic rule. As an aside, the history between Turkey and Russia goes back well more than 500 years; it is an adversarial history at that. It includes the fall of Christianity in Constantinople. The seat of the Eastern Orthodox Church then moved to Russia. Even then it was Muslims vs. Christians. This says nothing of the Armenian genocide committed by the Ottoman Turks during World War I. Despite the extermination of between 600,000 and 1.5 million Armenians, the Turks remain holocaust denialists. The removal of Bashar al-Assad is largely perceived as a good thing. Is it? The answer to that question depends on what replaces him. The Syrian rebels are comprised of various factions, but the Muslim Brotherhood is chief among them. Again, the Muslim Brotherhoods loyalties to the Neo-Ottoman movement should not be questioned; its alive and well. Of course, a rudderless Syria, especially one that helps to serve Turkeys interests, doesnt bode well for the Iranian Mullahs either. The attacks of October 7, 2023, have had a cascading effect that has very much helped us get to this point. Israel, rightly so, decimated Hamas and its leadership; it did the same to Hezbollah. Exploding pagers and precision strikes very much contributed to the conditions that led to Assads ouster. It's far too early to tell if the Iranian regime has been weakened, if at all. Its likely very capable of counteroffensive attacks. Nonetheless, if the Iranian mullahs are toppled the same question will need to be asked: Is it a good thing? Again, it depends on what replaces it. Russia is currently bogged down in Ukraine and that reality is seen as having contributed to Assads fall from power. What happens next in Syria is anybodys guess. Does Israel acquire any of that territory? Does the Muslim Brotherhood take over and align with Turkey? Does Turkey have any aspirations there upon dispatching the Kurds to the north? Should the mullahs fall, the resulting power vacuum could pave the way for radical groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood or its affiliates, to seize control. This would present a grave threat to regional stability, as the Brotherhoods ideology aligns with more extreme interpretations of Islam. Should the Brotherhood move into Iran (Persia), Turkey would not be far behind. Turkeys membership in NATO adds a dangerous layer of complexity. Article 5 of the NATO treaty obligates member states, including the United States, to come to the defense of any member that is attacked. Should Turkey engage in a conflict with Russia a historical adversary and current competitor in Syria and the Black Sea the U.S. and its NATO allies could be dragged into a direct confrontation with Moscow. Such a scenario risks escalating into World War III, a catastrophic outcome for global security. Syria is a mess right now. Stability is paramount but we have no idea what that country is going to look like in the future. As for what should happen moving forward, Turkey should be jettisoned from NATO and Irans nuclear facilities must be taken out. Then we can talk about those Mullahs. King Charles delivering his Christmas Day speech. (Photo: ITV News) King Charles has been criticised for his Christmas Day speech which suggested that all faiths are the same. The monarch's Christmas Day address to the nation is an annual Christmas tradition that many households gather round to listen to on the big day. In his address this year, the King said, "The example that Jesus gave us is timeless and universal. It is to enter the world of those who suffer, to make a difference to their lives and so bring hope where there is despair. "As the famous Christmas Carol, 'Once In Royal David's City' reminds us, 'Our Saviour holy' 'came down to Earth from Heaven', lived among 'the poor and mean and lowly' and transformed the lives of those he met, through God's 'redeeming love'. "That is the heart of the Nativity Story and we can hear its beat in the belief of all the great faiths in the love and mercy of God in times of joy and of suffering, calling us to bring light where there is darkness." Missiologist and Home for Good founder, Dr Krish Kandiah, said that while he appreciated the King "showing hospitality to people of all faiths and none", his comments demonstrate "a fundamental misunderstanding of either Christianity or world religions". "The idea that God becomes human and then willingly dies to redeem and rescue humanity is unique to Christianity," said Dr Kandiah. "To argue that all faiths are basically the same is to make a claim not backed up by serious study of religion and could be heard as patronizing as claiming all Asian people look the same. "I am grateful for the King's important work in the environment and his work on empowering young people, but I am sorry he is wrong on this one." Other critics accused the King of syncretism and wokery. Speaking from the Chapel of the former Middlesex Hospital in London, the King later spoke of how "of how diversity of culture, ethnicity and faith provides strength, not weakness". Before concluding his speech, he stated, "Again, listening is a recurrent theme of the Nativity story. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, listened to the Angel who revealed to her a different future full of hope for all people. The message of the Angels to the shepherds that there should be peace on Earth in fact echoes through all faiths and philosophies." Tanmeyah a subsidiary of EFG Holding and a leading provider of financial services in Egypt with a concerted focus on micro enterprise segments announced today the launch of its innovative new mobile financial inclusion and customer service hub Stay Savvy aimed at boosting financial literacy and accessibility for clients and non-clients throughout Egypt. This dynamic service is set to offer essential guidance and resources underscoring Tanmeyahs commitment to financial inclusion in both urban and rural communities alike. The initiative focuses on educating clients about financial tools such as cash flow management cards and insurance products that mitigate future risks offering personalized consulting services and promoting digital payment solutions. Participants will gain insights into cash flow management budgeting risk assessment and the advantages of modern payment methods. It will also provide practical tips for optimizing costs and maximizing project revenues supporting clients in enhancing their businesses' profitability and sustainability. This positions Tanmeyah as a leader in financial empowerment equipping individualsparticularly small business owners and entrepreneurswith the knowledge and tools necessary to thrive and make informed decisions for their ventures. Jinu Johnson CEO and Managing Director of Tanmeyah said We are thrilled to announce the launch of our mobile branch initiative showcasing our unwavering commitment to reaching and empowering small business owners across the country fostering financial resistance and security. We truly believe in the transformative power of young entrepreneurs who are set to fuel Egypts future forward. By equipping them with the financial knowledge and resources they need we are not just helping them realize their dreams we are building a foundation for vibrant resilient communities. This initiative reflects our belief that when we invest in our youth we invest in a brighter tomorrow for all. The mobile branch initiative is designed to enhance financial literacy promote financial inclusion and improve customer service management. By providing accessible financial education and support the initiative aims to empower small business owners to make informed financial decisions manage their finances effectively and build sustainable businesses. Launched in 2009 Tanmeyah has grown to become Egypts premier financial services provider for microfinance enterprises providing a range of financing solutions tailored to meet client needs build businesses and drive socioeconomic change. With the widest branch network in the country deep industry knowledge and community ties Tanmeyah has improved lives and built businesses of millions across the country. Tanmeyah has issued over three million financing facilities of various types and sizes. It currently serves more than 30000 new clients monthly through its network of nearly 350 branches and more than 5000 employees in 25 governorates. UNICEF Moldova Country Office invites interested companies to submit their proposals for: Development of Accelerated Education Program (AEP) for Roma Children in the Republic of Moldova Qualified companies are invited to submit their proposals by email to chisinautenders@unicef.org, with RFP number LRPS-2024-9195162 in the email subject line. Application deadline: 19.01.2025, 23:59 The submission shall include the following: Please follow the link for related to the competition documents: https://sc.undp.md/tnddetails_un2/2977/ Alte articole de la acest autor: Almost three dozen high-rise condos and luxury hotels along the beach in South Florida are sinking or settling in unexpected ways, in some cases because of nearby construction, according to a new study. The 35 buildings surveyed along an almost 12-mile (19 kilometer) stretch from Miami Beach to Sunny Isles Beach have sunk or settled by 0.8 to 3.1 inches (2 to 8 cm). About half of the buildings are less than a decade old, according to scientists at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. The study was published Dec. 13. The discovery of the extent of subsidence hotspots along the South Florida coastline was unexpected, Farzaneh Aziz Zanjani, the lead author, said in a statement. The study underscores the need for ongoing monitoring and a deeper understanding of the long-term implications for these structures. Its not uncommon for buildings to sink a little during and soon after construction, but the scientists called their discovery surprising because some of the changes took place several years later. Limestone under the South Florida beach is interspersed with layers of sand, which can shift under the weight of high-rises and as a result of vibrations from foundation construction. Tidal flows and construction projects as far away as 1,050 feet (320 meters) have contributed to settling, the researchers found. The study used satellite images to capture the changes, with settling most noticeable in buildings in Sunny Isles Beach. The scientists said preliminary data also suggests sinking or settling further north, along the beaches of Broward and Palm Beach counties. The stretch of South Florida communities surveyed included Surfside, where the Champlain Towers South building collapsed in June 2021, killing 98 people. However, that collapse is thought to have been caused by reinforced concrete that deteriorated due to poor maintenance and flawed design. Still, the Surfside catastrophe highlighted the need to monitor building stability especially in coastal areas with corrosive environmental conditions, the scientists said. The scientists said they want to further study whether different sections of impacted buildings are sinking at different rates, which could lead to cracks in their walls or utility breaks and lead to long-term damage. A separate study earlier this year showed buildings in major cities along the Atlantic Coast were sinking. The research from Virginia Tech and the U.S. Geological Survey showed that areas of New York City, Long Island, Baltimore and Virginia Beach were sinking more than the rate of seawater rise. Photo: The view from Surfside, near the skyline of Sunny Isles Beach. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A subsidiary of Polish e-commerce platform Allegro filed a lawsuit on Monday against Google owner Alphabet, Google Ireland and Google LLC, seeking 2.33 billion zlotys ($567.60 million) in damages, Allegro said in a statement. The unit, Ceneo, is demanding compensation for losses it says it suffered due to Googles practices of preferring its own price comparison service in browser results, which Ceneo said damaged its business. In an emailed statement, a Google spokesperson said the company disagreed with the lawsuit and was considering its options. Our Shopping remedy has been working successfully for several years and we continue to invest in formats that support brands, retailers and comparison shopping sites of all sizes across Poland and Europe, the statement said. The requested reimbursement consists of 1.72 billion zlotys of losses sustained by Ceneo, as well as about 615 million in interest payments from 2013 until Nov. 29, 2024. Ceneo, which provides online price comparison services, said it would also seek statutory interest on the 2.33 billion zlotys from the date of filing of the lawsuit until payment of damages. The subsidiary said the lawsuit was connected to the $2.7 billion European Union antitrust fine imposed on Google to punish its use of its prominent position as the worlds most popular internet search engine to gain an unfair advantage over smaller European rivals in the price comparison shopping service market. In an effort to end Googles dominance, the U.S. Department of Justice said Google must divest its Chrome browser and should not be allowed to re-enter the browser market for five years. ($1 = 4.1050 zlotys) Reporting by Mateusz Rabiega; additional reporting by Rafal W. Nowak; editing by Alison Williams and Barbara Lewis. Three Oregon lawmakers say they plan to introduce a bill that would bar utilities from raising rates if they have unresolved wildfire lawsuits for three or more years, describing it as an effort to hold PacifiCorp accountable as the utility faces a series of lawsuits stemming from the deadly 2020 wildfires that ravaged the state. Republican state Reps. Jami Cate, Virgle Osborne and Ed Diehl announced their proposal in a statement Monday, on the heels of an approved rate increase for PacifiCorp customers and a federal lawsuit against the electric power company. The federal government sued PacifiCorp last week over the Archie Creek Fire, which ignited in Oregons Douglas County in September 2020 and burned more than 200 square miles (520 square kilometers), about half of which was federal land. The complaint accuses the company of negligence for failing to maintain its power lines to prevent wildfires. In its filing, the government says it brought the suit to recover substantial costs and damages. A PacifiCorp spokesperson said in an emailed statement Monday that the company was working with the U.S. government to resolve the claims. It is unfortunate the U.S. government decided to file a lawsuit in federal district court, however PacifiCorp will continue to work with the U.S. government to find reasonable resolution of this matter, the statement said. The federal lawsuit was filed on the same day the Oregon Public Utility Commission approved a 9.8% rate increase for PacifiCorps residential customers next year. In its rate case filings, the company said its request to increase rates was partly due to higher costs stemming from wildfire risk and activity. When the new rate takes effect in January, PacifiCorp rates will have increased nearly 50% since 2021, according to the Oregon Citizens Utility Board, which advocates on behalf of utility customers. Related: Montanas Top Court Says Global Warming Cant Be Ignored, Upholding Landmark Climate Case The three lawmakers said they will introduce their bill in the upcoming legislative session, which starts in January. The federal government is doing the right thing by filing this lawsuit, and we stand firmly behind it, Osborne, who is set to be the future bills co-chief sponsor, said in a statement. PacifiCorp needs to pay up and take responsibility for the destruction theyve caused, and putting a stop to rate hikes is the best way to achieve it. PacifiCorp is poised to be on the hook for billions in damages in the series of lawsuits over Oregons 2020 fires. The company has already reached two settlement agreements over the Archie Creek Fire, including one for $299 million with 463 plaintiffs impacted by the blaze and another for $250 million with 10 companies with commercial timber interests, according to its website. In other litigation, an Oregon jury in June 2023 found it liable for negligently failing to cut power to its 600,000 customers despite warnings from top fire officials and determined it should have to pay punitive and other damages a decision that applied to a class including the owners of up to 2,500 properties. Since then, other Oregon juries have ordered the company to pay tens of millions to other wildfire victims. The wildfires that erupted across Oregon over Labor Day weekend in 2020 were among the worst natural disasters in state history, killing nine people and destroying thousands of homes. Top Photo: Chairs stand at a post office in the aftermath of the Santiam Fire in Gates, Ore., Sept 9, 2020. (Mark Ylen/Albany Democrat-Herald via AP, File) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Record-setting flooding over three days dumped more than a foot of rain on parts of northern California, a fire left thousands under evacuation orders and warnings in Los Angeles County, forecasters issued the first-ever tornado warning in San Francisco and rough seas tore down part of a wharf in Santa Cruz. All of this extreme weather has hit California in the past several weeks, showcasing the states particular vulnerability to major weather disasters. Strong storms Tuesday produced waves that forecasters said could reach 35 feet (10.7 meters) around Santa Cruz. The National Weather Service issued a high surf warning until early evening, cautioning people to stay out of the ocean and away from piers. For Chandler Price, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego, these extreme weather events are both typical and unusual for a La Nina winter, a natural climate cycle that can cause extreme weather across the planet. In California, it means a wetter than average northern region and a drier south. So far weve seen that pattern play out pretty well, he said, but added, obviously, you know, the tornado in the Bay Area was atypical. We havent seen that before, at least not for a very long time. A storm and wind gusts of up to 60 mph (96 kph) prompted the San Francisco tornado warning that extended to neighboring San Mateo County, which went out to about 1 million people earlier this month. The tornado overturned cars and toppled trees and utility poles near a mall in Scotts Valley, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) south of San Francisco, injuring several people. Tornadoes do occur in California, but they rarely hit populated areas. In San Francisco, local meteorologists said straight-line winds, not a tornado, felled trees onto cars and streets and damaged roofs. The storm also dumped significant snow across the northern Sierra Nevada. Related: Heres a Look at the $100 Billion in Disaster Relief in the Government Spending Bill F. Martin Ralph, director of the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at the University of California, San Diego, said climate change means that atmospheric rivers, long stretches of wet air that can produce heavy rains, will be responsible for a greater share of Californias yearly precipitation and the periods in between those big events will be drier. These storms are essential for the water supply but can also be dangerous. When they are too strong and too many in a row, we end up getting floods, he said, adding that they drive Californias weather extremes. During storms this week around Santa Cruz, one man was trapped under debris and died and another person was pulled into the ocean. The surf also splintered off the end of a Santa Cruz municipal wharf that was under construction, plunging three people into the ocean. One swam to shore and the other two were rescued. A series of atmospheric rivers are expected through the rest of the week. Overall, this pattern is not unusual these storms regularly produce high winds, heavy snow in the mountains and torrential rain this time of year. Whats a little unique about this setup is how closely spaced they are, so theres not much of a break between them, said David Lawrence, a meteorologist and emergency response specialist with the National Weather Service. Bad storms hit the state ahead of Thanksgiving, too, dumping more than a foot of rain (32 centimeters) on Santa Rosa over three record-setting days, according to federal forecasters. But these storms havent stretched very far south, creating dry weather in Southern California that increases fire risk. Related: Safeco to Stop Writing New Condo and Renter Policies in California One of the states most recent blazes, the Franklin Fire left some 20,000 people under evacuation orders and warnings and forced students at Pepperdine University to shelter in place. The blaze was fueled by the Santa Anas, the notorious seasonal winds that blow dry air from the interior toward the coast, pushing back moist ocean breezes. Most of the destruction occurred in Malibu, a community on the western corner of Los Angeles known for its beautiful bluffs and the Hollywood-famous Zuma Beach. The fire damaged or destroyed 48 structures and is one of nearly 8,000 wildfires that have scorched more than 1 million acres (more than 404,685 hectares) in the Golden State this year. The Santa Ana winds, which peak in December, have also contributed to warmer-than-average temperatures in parts of the southern state, said Price with the National Weather Service. Eighty-degree (26.7 Celsius) Christmases are not entirely uncommon around here, he added, but there was a couple of high temperature record breaks in the mountains, which are usually less affected by the Santa Anas, and so those were a little unusual. Phillis reported from St. Louis. Associated Press writers Martha Mendoza and Stefanie Dazio contributed to this story. Top Photo: Remnants of a bathroom that fell off the wharf are visible at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. More than 10 million people will be at risk for a four-day stretch of severe weather expected to rumble through the South and Southeast United States in the coming days, according to an AccuWeather media release issued on Thursday. In that release, the companys expert meteorologists also called attention to a storm that is forecast to bring freezing rain and ice to parts of the Northeast, as well as a relentless train of storms pounding the Northwest. Severe Weather Threat from Texas to Florida Flooding downpours, hail, damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes are possible Thursday from Houston, Texas, to Shreveport, Louisiana, the release said. Given sufficient energy and a pronounced change in wind speed and direction with height in the atmosphere, all modes of severe weather are on the table, including hail, flooding, high winds and isolated tornadoes, said Gwen Fieweger, an AccuWeather meteorologist. This will be the second round of severe weather to impact eastern Texas so far this week, with the first round having brought hail, localized flooding and even funnel cloud sightings on Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning. Meteorologists forecast a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms in eastern Texas, western Louisiana, southeastern Oklahoma and southwestern Arkansas. The AccuWeather media release noted the threat of potent storms will shift east on Friday from southeastern Louisiana to parts of central Alabama. The primary hazards within storms Friday and Friday night will be flooding downpours, hail and damaging wind gusts of 50-60 mph, the media release said. By this weekend, thunderstorms will advance farther across the Southeastern states, reaching places like Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee, and Montgomery, Alabama. The risk of isolated tornadoes will return Saturday. AccuWeather reported that severe thunderstorms will continue pushing east on Sunday. The storms will extend from central Florida along the East Coast to eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. Flooding downpours, hail, localized damaging wind gusts of 50-60 mph and isolated tornadoes are possible Sunday. Most of the storms will begin to shift offshore by Sunday night. Northeast Freezing Fog and Soaking Storm AccuWeathers media release explained that patchy freezing fog is possible across parts of central Pennsylvania, upstate New York and the mountains of West Virginia and Maryland from Thursday night into Friday morning. Travelers in the East will contend with wet weather returning as moisture slowly advances eastward from the middle of the country this weekend, the release said. Mild air building into the region later this week should limit wintry precipitation to upstate New York and New England. AccuWeather expert meteorologists warn there could be a brief period of freezing rain from Friday night into Saturday morning across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and New Hampshire, as well as the mountains of West Virginia and Maryland. Flooding and Avalanche Risk in the Northwest As additional moisture-packed storms sweep into parts of California, Oregon and Washington, the relentless stormy pattern affecting the West Coast is expected to continue through the weekend, the release said. AccuWeather expert meteorologists warn there will be an enhanced risk for flooding, mudslides and avalanches as holiday travelers begin to return from their destinations. Some of the most impactful storms of this tumultuous stretch will hit the region during the latter half of the week, said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys. Since the ground is already soaked from prior storms, any additional rainfall through Friday will increase the threat for flooding and mudslides, especially across burn scar areas and along short-run rivers out of the Cascades. The next wave of storms expected late Friday to Sunday night could bring additional rainfall up to 8 inches across parts of northwestern California and southwestern Oregon, AccuWeather said. The companys forecasts show blizzard conditions are a concern as snow continues to fall across the Oregon Cascades and winds intensify. Up to 2 feet of snow is expected through Friday in some mountains across Oregon and Washington. Varying freezing heights, a melting and refreezing pattern and water loading the snowpack will increase the risk of mountain avalanches in the region. Comadre Panaderia's vividly pastel pink cake crafted out of corn flour, prickly pear buttercream and a burst of naturally colored rainbow sprinkles captured the heart and taste buds of the New York Times. The Mexican-American bakery in Austin emerged on the New York Times list of the 22 best bakeries in the nation. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Interim restaurant critic Priya Krishna praised owner and San Antonio native Mariela Camacho's conchas for their airy consistency infused with bright flavors featuring strawberry hibiscus and matcha. The pinguina de maracuya a cake encased in chocolate and filled with passionfruit cream surpassed the taste of any "nostalgic treat" we adore, Krishna said. Many of Camacho's pretty pink pastries appear to reference "Barbie-fueled, masa-laden dreams," Krishna said. "Despite their saccharine appearances, not one of the desserts is overly cloying, and even the coffee drinks (Texas pecan horchata! Cranberry vanilla agua fresca!) strike the playful tone of the pastries." Camacho, the daughter of Mexican immigrants, fell in love with baking while working in San Antonio restaurants. After moving to Seattle and introducing Comadre Panaderia in successful pop-up shops, she moved back to Texas and eventually opened her brick-and-mortar location at 1204 Cedar Avenue. She has "hopes and dreams for the business to provide wholesome, nostalgic nourishment for her community, and security for her parents, her employees, and herself (plus all the dogs she wants to adopt)," Camacho says on her website. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The bakery became a James Beard Foundation semifinalist twice and has been heralded by news outlets like the Seattle Times and Texas Monthly. Jacob Beltran covers crime, breaking news and general assignments for the Express-News. He can be reached at jbeltran@express-news.net. A San Antonio native, Jacob began his journalism career in 2010. He's worked for the student-run newspaper for San Antonio College, The Ranger, and for Texas A&M University-San Antonio, The Mesquite. He enjoys video games, photography and exploring during his free time. After pandemic-era renter protections such as the federal eviction moratorium ended, eviction rates shot back up in Bexar County. Will Waldron /Albany Times Union The owner of Forest Oaks apartments sought to evict residents of nearly every unit in the Leon Valley complex last year. Forest Oaks Living LLC filed 154 eviction lawsuits against tenants in the complex's 166 units, according to a recent report by Texas Housers, a nonprofit that advocates for affordable housing. Those are among the 24,533 eviction cases filed in Bexar County in 2023. Nearly 59% of those cases resulted in successful evictions, according to a city of San Antonio database. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It's unclear how many of Forest Oaks' eviction cases were successful. Texas Housers only tracks filings, which stay on a tenant's record even if the case is dismissed or ruled in their favor, making it difficult to secure another apartment, the report said. A Forest Oaks employee, contacted by the San Antonio Express-News, declined to comment for this story. The nonprofit collected its information through a public information request sent to Bexar County. Eviction lawsuits hit 8% of all Bexar County renter households last year, with cases concentrated in the Northwest Side and Leon Valley. Thirty apartment complexes, including Forest Oaks, drove 12% of all eviction cases filed last year. City Council District 8 on the North Side recorded the greatest number of eviction filings nearly 3000. City Council District 5 on the West Side saw the lowest, with roughly 1,250 evictions filed. More than one-third of eviction cases were filed within the boundaries of the Northside Independent School District, Bexar County's largest district. Each of these households were faced with the threat of losing their home, many without backup options as to how to keep a roof over their familys heads, the report said. An eviction is much more than a number on a dashboard its a life-altering action that uproots families from the communities theyve grown up in, attend school in, work in, and live in. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Evictions surge Evictions in Bexar County have steadily risen since 2013. In the three years prior to the 2020 outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the numbers stabilized, hovering around 13,000 evictions per year. The numbers tumbled in 2020 as federal and state eviction moratoriums helped pushed removals to 8,445, the lowest figure since 2014 when evictions numbered 8,341. But as the protections against evictions expired, evictions shot back up, hitting 13,722 in 2022 and 14,434 last year. Texas law offers renters few protections against evictions. A landlord can file to evict a household as soon as rent is three days late, the nonprofit said. If a judge approves the eviction, renters have five days to appeal and 24 hours to leave the rental if they lose the case. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The entire eviction process can take as little as two weeks. Data that's hard to find Unlike other urban counties in Texas, such as Harris County, which provide up-to-date eviction data, Texas Housers had to submit an open records request with Bexar County to access eviction data. The affordable housing nonprofit said it waited five months to receive data riddled with "substantial errors and redundancies. Without accurate and easily accessible data, it is difficult for elected officials to craft informed solutions that can protect low-income tenants from entering a cycle of displacement and housing insecurity, the report said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The report calls on the city of San Antonio and Bexar County to expand rental assistance programs, offer tenant-landlord mediation services to resolve disputes before they become eviction lawsuits and channel more funding and assistance services to high-eviction rate areas. 'Definitely much happier' in low-cost Bali Steven Guo is an e-commerce entrepreneur living in Bali, Indonesia, who founded several businesses on track to bring in nearly $2 million this year. He'll take home $254,000 himself in 2024. Steven Guo, 24, owns several e-commerce brands and recently moved from Southern California to Bali. Ruda Putra | CNBC Make It Still, he chose to move to Bali, Indonesia, to enjoy a high quality of life at a "fraction of the cost" of what it would be in California, where he moved from. "I'm definitely much happier in Bali because of how great the lifestyle is," Guo told CNBC Make It earlier this year. Since his living costs are relatively low, he's able to put a large chunk of his income toward his investment accounts. He aims to save $60,000 a year. "I typically don't like to spend too much money on myself," Guo said. "Most of my expenses go towards food, but if I do spend money, it's typically towards gifts for family or my girlfriend." Here's how he spent his money in September 2024. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Elham Ataeiazar | CNBC Make It Savings and investments: $5,583 toward a Robinhood brokerage account and a Roth IRA $5,583 toward a Robinhood brokerage account and a Roth IRA Discretionary: $1,942 for shopping, gifts, travel and health expenses $1,942 for shopping, gifts, travel and health expenses Housing and utilities: $1,691 for his share of a monthly Airbnb rental, Wi-Fi and utilities $1,691 for his share of a monthly Airbnb rental, Wi-Fi and utilities Food: $539 on takeout and restaurants $539 on takeout and restaurants Subscriptions and memberships: $430 toward his annual Amex fees, Amazon Prime, YouTube Premium, a personal assistant and a storage unit $430 toward his annual Amex fees, Amazon Prime, YouTube Premium, a personal assistant and a storage unit Insurance: $223 on health and travel insurance coverage $223 on health and travel insurance coverage Transportation: $97 on a scooter rental and taxis $97 on a scooter rental and taxis Phone: $30 Buying a house outside of New York The struggle millennials and Gen Zers have had to buy homes has been well reported. But Sharon Kim, her brother and his wife found a creative solution by pooling their funds to buy a house together. "I did not ever imagine that I would be living with my brother, with his wife, purchasing a home post-college," Kim previously told CNBC Make It. "I didn't really think it was possible with all the student loans I had and still figuring out my career." Since Kim's home is in the suburbs of New York City, it takes more effort to meet up with her friends who live in Manhattan or other boroughs. Mickey Todiwala | CNBC Make It Kim secured a $94,000 salary as a UX designer at a tech company in 2023. She also creates lifestyle content for her YouTube channel, which brought in $51,000 that year. She first moved into a 1-bedroom apartment in New York City with her brother and his wife after graduating from college in 2023. But the space was cramped, so they started looking into homes they could afford to buy with their combined funds. After a lengthy search and several rejections, the group purchased a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom house in the suburbs of New York City for $750,000 in early 2024. Her portion of the mortgage is Kim's biggest monthly expense. And at $2,500 a month, she acknowledges she could probably rent an apartment with roommates for the same amount in the city, but owning a stake in the house "feels more worth it," she said. Here's how she spent her money in July 2024. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Elham Ataeiazar | CNBC Make It Housing and utilities: $2,876 for her portion of the mortgage, water, oil, electricity and Wi-Fi $2,876 for her portion of the mortgage, water, oil, electricity and Wi-Fi Discretionary: $636 for new bedding, bedroom fixtures and tithe to her church $636 for new bedding, bedroom fixtures and tithe to her church Home upgrades: $533 for paint, baseboards and a new showerhead $533 for paint, baseboards and a new showerhead Food: $404 on groceries and dining out $404 on groceries and dining out Student loan repayment: $285 $285 Retirement savings: $216 $216 Subscriptions: $116 on her gym membership, Spotify, Amazon Prime and Apple Cloud storage $116 on her gym membership, Spotify, Amazon Prime and Apple Cloud storage Phone: $64 $64 Insurance: $41 for medical, dental and vision Living frugally as a travel nurse in California Kevin Levu earned his licensed vocational nurse credentials after joining the army in 2017. He wanted a role that would also give him skills he could apply once he finished his military service. Upon getting out of the army, he started taking classes to become a registered nurse and get a broader scope of responsibility with patients. But after seeing the lucrative opportunities for travel nurses during the Covid-19 pandemic, Levu put his studies aside in 2023 to take a contract as a travel nurse at a county jail in Placerville, California. A year later, working on another contract at Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City, California, Levu expects to earn $112,000 by the end of 2024. Kevin Levu practicing jiu-jitsu. Chuck Greenwood | CNBC Make It "This is the first time I've ever made over six figures compared to my other jobs, and it's just different," Levu told CNBC Make It. Though he considers himself a "frugal person," his income has given him more "breathing space" in his monthly budget, which has been a relief, he said. When he's not working, "I just stay home, play video games, or I hang around on the beach. I try to keep costs low." Here's how Levu spent his money in June 2024. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Elham Ataeiazar | CNBC Make It I work shifts, four days on four days off, as a firefighter. This gives me a huge advantage in terms of time I have with my daughter. Together, we've attended play dates, and craft and toy sharing sessions and despite online portrayals of a more equal world, I am usually the only dad present. Maybe that's why when my daughter started school, I felt like I was suffering from a mild form of empty nest syndrome. I wanted to nurture our bond, so I decided to plan a trip for just the two of us. We're English, so I thought it best to stay in Europe, despite having traveled to Japan twice with my wife and daughter. (A long-haul flight without her mother was a scary concept, I admit). I checked flights, my budget and travel times that would keep her sleep schedule intact, narrowing it down to two places: Porto in Portugal or Bergen in Norway. Then I asked my daughter if she wanted to go somewhere hot or cold. To my surprise, she chose cold, so Bergen it was. A natural icebreaker We left for Manchester Airport much earlier than we needed to, which ended up giving us more time to play eye-spy and talk to people in the terminal. My child's confidence and cuteness acted as an icebreaker, and we interacted with far more people than I would have if I had traveled alone. Landing in Bergen, Norway, after traveling from Manchester. Source: Thomas Board I tactically booked an airport hotel to take the edge off our first night in Bergen. But we both arrived filled with energy. Once the lights went out, she fell asleep almost instantly, while I lay awake. I was now the excited child, thrilled about our trip ahead. My daughter exudes a confidence that I hope she never loses. Thomas Board The next day we took the train into the city center and already I knew Norway was the right choice. The tunnels and the stunning topography were matched only by the people. My daughter exudes a confidence that I hope she never loses. She gave "thumbs up" signs to locals on the platforms at every stop, always receiving a reciprocal gesture and smile in return. She quickly moved on to the two-handed love heart sign, which a young Norwegian couple mirrored back. With enough real hearts successfully melted, she returned to the coloring book that the hotel concierge had given her that morning. 'Children come first' in Norway From the efficiency of the train to the cleanliness of the city streets, Norway reminded me of Japan. Similarities to the "Land of the Rising Sun" continued throughout our trip: the funny beeps on road crossings, a prevalence of 7-Eleven convenience stores, the reserved yet kind people, subtle and mature fashion choices, great customer service, tasty food and the unreserved kindness to children. "My desire to both nurture our bond and rekindle my past love of solo travel led me to begin researching a trip with just the two of us," said Thomas Board. Source: Thomas Board "Children come first in Norwegian culture," a mother told me in the VilVite, a children's science museum in Bergen. We had been talking about how impressive the museum was for children, how staff on every corner were keen to improve the children's learning experience. Opened 17 years go, the museum looked brand new. Exhibits regularly change so local parents keep coming back. As we spoke, my daughter played with other children, building cars out of Lego to test on a undulating wooden track which eventually smashed them to smithereens. VilVite Science Centre welcomes around 120,000 guests per year. Source: Thomas Board Raising children in Norway is different from raising them in England. There's a monthly cap on child-care costs, which incentivizes both parents to work and boosts gender equality in the workforce. Children don't start school until they are six years old, which gives them more time in the family unit. The country's low crime rate means it's normal for children to walk to school or to the homes of other family members, alone another similarity to Japan. Loose plans guided our trip, and I let my child lead the way as much as possible. We ate pancakes by the harbor, laughing at the loud horns of the nearby cruise ships. We rode a funicular railway to the top of Mount Flyen, hiked to a lake and skimmed rocks along the water's edge. We saw cairns along the way, which are small piles of stones that usually mark an important spot. My daughter insisted on building her own, honoring one of her favorite stuffed animals. Atop Mount Flyen, one of seven mountains surrounding the city of Bergen. Source: Thomas Board We spent the rest of our short vacation exploring the cobbled streets and alleyways of the safe and quiet city, often taking photos of eclectic street art. Our ambling took us to a toy shop, parks, ice cream parlor, fire station and a large church with a practicing choir inside. A moment to remember During our last night together, we sat on our hotel bed, I with a reindeer hotdog and my daughter with a box of leftover pizza. She watched children's shows on the television, not caring that she couldn't understand a word. This was an unplanned and simple moment, and I will cherish this memory forever. We were both content and fulfilled from a day of father-daughter adventure with no responsibilities or thoughts of the future. Exploring the art scattered around Bergen, including this bronze statue, known as "The Homeless." Source: Thomas Board Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrives with his wife Gursharan Kaur for the launch of an online and application based membership drive of the Congress Party in New Delhi on March 30, 2015. Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's passing on Tuesday at the age of 92 triggered an outpouring of condolence messages and tributes from political leaders from both sides of the aisle and industry titans. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Singh one of India's "most distinguished leaders" in a post on X. Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party defeated Singh's Congress alliance in the 2014 elections and has been in power since. Singh was a "respected economist," Modi added, who left "a strong imprint" on India's economic policy. Before he became prime minister in 2004, Singh served as the governor of the Reserve Bank of India in 1982 and as minister of finance in 1991. As finance minister, he led a series of reforms that deregulated India's economy and opened the country to foreign investment. Facing an acute balance of payments crisis, then-Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and Singh liberalized the economy that paved the way for its rapid expansion in the following decades. "History will forever honour his pivotal role in the transformative 1991 reforms that reshaped India and opened its doors to the world," wrote Gautam Adani, India's second-richest person and chairperson of Indian conglomerate Adani Group. Singh returned to politics in 2004 when a Congress-led coalition swept the elections, and party leader Sonia Gandhi appointed him prime minister. Under his tenure between 2004 and 2014, India's gross domestic product initially expanded rapidly, allowing Singh to deploy the new wealth to programs such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, which guaranteed jobs for the poor. The later years of Singh's stint as prime minister were, however, marred by sclerotic growth, a stalling of reforms and allegations of corruption against certain members of the government. Singh played a pivotal role in strengthening India's ties with Washington, visiting the U.S. multiple times as prime minister. In 2006, when U.S. President George W. Bush visited India, Singh managed to broker a deal that gave India access to U.S. nuclear technology. "Dr. Singh was one of the greatest champions of the U.S.-India strategic partnership, and his work laid the foundation for much of what our countries have accomplished together in the past two decades," wrote the U.S. Department of State on Singh's passing. Apart from the U.S., Singh also strengthened India's ties with Russia. He was a regular attendee of the India-Russia Annual Summit, which began in 2000, and aims to deepen cooperation between the two countries and among BRIC nations. Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov said on X that "Dr Manmohan Singh's contribution to our bilateral ties was immeasurable." Emergency specialists work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25, 2024. The Kremlin on Thursday warned against speculating what may have caused an Azerbaijan Airlines flight to crash, killing 38 of the 67 on board, after an aviation expert said evidence indicated that a Russian anti-missile battery may have brought down the passenger plane. The Embraer 190 crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau while en route from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to Grozny in Chechnya in Russia on Wednesday. The flight attempted to make an emergency landing about 1.8 miles from Aktau, according to Azerbaijan Airlines, but instead hit the ground, erupted into a fiery ball and split into two. President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the investigation into the cause of the crash was underway. "It would be incorrect to make any hypotheses before the investigation comes to conclusions, and we definitely cannot do it and no one should do it," he said in his daily press conference. Kanat Bozumbayev, the Kazakh deputy prime minister, also cautioned against assigning a cause while the investigation is in its preliminary stage. "The police and the prosecutor's office are conducting forensic examinations," Bozumbayev told Kazakh media on Thursday, adding, "Therefore, at this point, it is premature to talk about anything. This is pure hype." Putin's and Bozumbayev's comments come amid growing speculation that Russian air defenses may be behind the crash. "Subsequent reporting and contextual information, including the follow-on video examination of the wreckage ... and circumstances surrounding the airspace security environment in southwest Russia, leads Osprey to assess that the flight was likely shot down by a Russian air defense system," said Matthew Borie, chief intelligence officer at the aviation security firm Osprey Flight Solutions. Borie said another potential theory, that the plane collided with a bird or birds, would have probably led to reports of more than one explosion and the damage to the aircraft appearing differently. The Wall Street Journal first reported Osprey's findings. A U.S. official on Thursday echoed that there are indications a Russian anti-aircraft system may have struck the Azerbaijan Airlines flight, and said if that proves to be the case, it would be more evidence of Russia's recklessness in its war with Ukraine. Borie said that at the time of the incident, Russian air defense forces were defending against a Ukrainian military-grade weaponized drone attack that involved Russia shooting down drones. At least one drone was hit east of Grozny, while others were shot down over Chechnya, he added. Earlier, the head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, Andriy Kovalenko, said that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane "was shot down by a Russian air-defense system," citing visible damage to the plane. The flight's destination was Grozny, which is near Ukraine and the ongoing war with Russia, but it was rerouted to Aktau after an emergency onboard, according to a statement issued by Russia's aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, on Wednesday. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev echoed Peskov's caution. "There are various theories, but I believe it is premature to discuss them. The matter must be thoroughly investigated," he said at a meeting dedicated to the incident Wednesday. "The reasons for the crash are not yet known," he said, adding that Azerbaijan has launched its own investigation. Aliyev said that the flight changed course because of "worsening weather conditions" and that the "crash occurred during landing" as the plane descended toward Aktau airport. He declared Thursday a national day of mourning in Azerbaijan. The flight had 62 passengers and five crew members on board, according to the Kazakh Emergencies Ministry. Later, the Kazakh Health Ministry published a list of 29 survivors, including two children. At least one airline said it is altering its flights in the region in light of the Kazakhstan air crash. El Al, Israel's national carrier, announced Thursday it is suspending its operations on its Tel Aviv-Moscow route for the coming week and will assess when it may resume. Before Mark Cuban ever hit the "woah" on TikTok with his daughter, the video-sharing app was Musical.ly and Cuban wanted to be an investor. "I remember when it was Musical.ly and I tried to invest Oh my god, I loved it because I could just turn it on and there would be 15,000 people live immediately that I could talk to," Cuban said of the livestreaming option on the now defunct video streaming app, in an interview with social media personality Jules Terpak last week. His bid for an investment in Musical.ly was unsuccessful, however, because the company wasn't looking for more funding, he tells CNBC Make It. Musical.ly later merged into TikTok a year after it was acquired by Chinese parent company Bytedance for upwards of $800 million in 2017. Cuban, who initially created a TikTok account to see what his kids were watching, said he liked Musical.ly and early iterations of TikTok because they fostered spaces for authentic and fun connection. Now the app which faces an uncertain future as it battles a potential ban "feels more corporate" and business-driven, especially with the introduction of new revenue-generating features, Cuban told Terpak. "I liked it better when it was dances [and] music Now it's a business," he said in the interview. While it's unclear how much Cuban wanted to invest in Musical.ly and what that investment would be worth today, Cuban has said that some of his investments, at least on ABC's "Shark Tank" are not to make money. He's invested close to $29 million on companies from the show, the billionaire told The Dallas Morning News in February. But as of 2022, "on a cash basis," Cuban was in the red from his exited "Shark Tank" investments, he said in a now deleted post on X. "Sometimes my deals are purely to help someone or send a message," he said in the post. Want to make extra money outside of your day job? Sign up for CNBC's online course How to Earn Passive Income Online to learn about common passive income streams, tips to get started and real-life success stories. Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life. Rhyma Castillo is a trending reporter for the Express-News and a member of its Digital Go Team. She can be reached at rhyma.castillo@express-news.net. A native of San Antonio and a Texas A&M University graduate, she is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience. She has reported on politics, immigration, climate change, gun violence, and workers rights. Additionally, she excels in lifestyle and entertainment writing, covering music, television, video games, technology, and relationships. In her free time, she enjoys painting, drawing, cooking, hiking, climbing, gardening, playing video games, cuddling with her cats, and making music with her band. Quantum computing stocks took off this year as Google made strides in the space, but investors say it's still too soon to reap the rewards of the burgeoning trend. Since the launch of artificial intelligence craze with ChatGPT's late 2022 debut , investors have been on the hunt for the next big technology trend. Many investors assumed they found that contender this month, when quantum computing stocks surged after Google said its Willow chip performed better than its 2019 predecessor and "can reduce errors exponentially as we scale up using more qubits." A qubit is a quantum bit unit to encode data. RGTI YTD mountain Share performance in 2024 The news pushed up shares of Rigetti Computing , IonQ , D-Wave Quantum and other connected names and that excitement hasn't dwindled . In the weeks since, those stocks have continued to rally, with the Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM) tracking the space up 17% in December and 52% on the year. Rigetti has surged 272% this month and more than 1,000% year to date, while D-Wave has skyrocketed 163% month to date and more than 800% in 2024. While many view quantum computing as the next big technology trend to disrupt Wall Street and the sector, it's too early to decipher the big winners in the space or see any real-world applications. "Any kind of evidence that impacts financials is way, way, way out in the future," said Paul Meeks, chief investment officer at Harvest Portfolio Management. "What are they going to use it for and is it really a money maker? That's going to drive the results and valuation." Too soon to reap the rewards Despite making headway in recent weeks, quantum computing is no new phenomenon to hit Wall Street. In fact, Meeks notes that industries have been discussing quantum computing for at least a decade. Many companies and AI experts view it as a potential solution to help power extensive data centers, but say real use cases for the technology remain years if not decades in the future. Given this setup, many portfolio managers don't view 2025 as the year of quantum computing, although investors could begin seeing some breakthroughs in 2026 and 2027, according to AXS Investments CEO Greg Bassuk. QBTS YTD mountain Shares this year. Anjali Bastianpillai, senior client portfolio manager at Pictet Asset Management, also noted that fund exposure to quantum computing appears very early stage, with many pure-play names residing in the private sector. She notes that some companies have gone public as of late through SPAC mergers. Despite the long-term potential, many on Wall Street remain cautious, equating the rise in quantum computing stocks to the pop in loosely connected artificial intelligence names at the onslaught of the revolution in late 2022 and early 2023. Meeks notes that many of those smaller names ended up as popular short candidates and remain significant short bets. "This whole quantum group is in the speculation overexuberance stage," said Baird's technology desk sector strategist, Ted Mortonson. "If you wipe out what they did and the speculation around the shiny object. This is going to be a very big boy, free cash flow game. The same thing that the Gen AI cycle was." Stick with the megacaps Against this backdrop, portfolio managers say the best strategy for getting in on the early stages of the trend is through megacap names with other business ventures. "When you have this huge investment cycle on next generation technology, you have to play companies that have massive free cash flow, or a monopoly in their core business," Mortonson said. That includes Alphabet . As the company works on its quantum computing initiative with Willow, it also offers investors robust digital advertising and growing artificial intelligence businesses. Shares of Alphabet have surged 40% this year and 16% in December. GOOGL YTD mountain Shares this year Amazon , Microsoft , and China-based names such as Tencent and Baidu also offer some exposure to quantum computing, but the percentage of revenue remains small, said Pictet's Bastianpillai. Many portfolio managers also expect IBM to potentially triumph as a long-term winner in the space, said Bassuk. "This is going to be one of the times when they're going to come back with a vengeance," he said. "They've got a lot of investment right now in quantum computing, and they've got a very strong team internally." Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading: KULR Technology Group The space technology company skyrocketed more than 40% after it bought 217.18 bitcoin worth about $21 million. The cryptocurrency purchase was the first for the company since it announced a new bitcoin treasury initiative on Dec. 4, the day bitcoin hit the $100,000 level for the first time . KULR plans to allocate up to 90% of its surplus cash to bitcoin, borrowing a page from MicroStrategy's playbook. Honda U.S.-listed shares rallied more than 4%, continuing to advance after the automaker announced official merger talks earlier this week with fellow Japanese automaker Nissan. That gain raised its week-to-date advance above 18%. Toyota Motor Shares climbed more than 8% after Nikkei, citing an executive who asked not to be named, reported that the automaker plans to double its return on equity, or ROE, target to 20% . Alibaba Shares of the e-commerce giant rose about 0.7% on the heels of an announcement of a joint venture with South Korean retailer Shinsegae. Alibaba's stock is still down more than 1% in December. GameStop Shares of the video game retailer jumped almost 6%, extending its gains from Tuesday. GameStop has risen four straight days and climbed nearly 85% this year. Crypto stocks Stocks tied to the price of bitcoin cut earlier losses but remained under pressure with the cryptocurrency. Bitcoin is hovering at the $96,000 level and about 11% off its record. Shares of Coinbase were down nearly 2%, while MicroStrategy dipped more than 4%. Miners Mara Holdings and Iren were each lower by more than 4% and 3%, respectively. Broadcom Broadcom shares gained more than 2% to build on a strong year-to-date and December rally. The stock is up about 51% this month and has notched new highs. Shares have rallied 119% in 2024. Assembly Biosciences The biotechnology stock popped 4.5% after reporting "encouraging" results from a clinical trial for a chronic hepatitis B treatment. Enrollment is currently underway for the second cohort. Kewaunee Scientific The health-care product maker advanced more than 4% after Chief Financial Officer Donald Gardner disclosed a sale of 2,000 shares of common stock. Following the sale, Gardner beneficially owns 22,600 shares. CNBC's Pia Singh, Tanaya Macheel, Jesse Pound, Sean Conlon and Samantha Subin contributed reporting. Miami-Dade County Commission District 6 candidate Kevin Marino Cabrera celebrates at Beat Culture Brewery in Miami after defeating Coral Gables Commissioner Jorge Fors on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. President-elect Donald Trump announced his pick for American ambassador to Panama, days after suggesting that the United States should take control of the Panama Canal. "I am pleased to announce that Kevin Marino Cabrera will serve as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, a Country that is ripping us off on the Panama Canal, far beyond their wildest dreams," Trump posted on the social media platform Truth Social late Wednesday. "Few understand Latin American politics as well as Kevin He will do a FANTASTIC job representing our Nation's interests in Panama!" he added. Cabrera, a native of Miami, won his county election two years ago. A steadfast Trump loyalist, he previously served as the Florida state director for Trump's 2020 campaign and as a member of the Republican National Committee Platform Committee. According to his official page, he was born to Cuban exiles and graduated from Miami Dade College and Florida International University. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. Trump's announcement comes after he mentioned the Panama Canal in a series of lengthy social media posts over Christmas Day, and suggested that the U.S. should expand its territory by taking control of the waterway, along with Greenland and Canada. On Truth Social, Trump wished a Merry Christmas to all, "including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal." Panama's President, Jose Raul Mulino, has repeatedly pushed back against Trump's statements by emphasizing that the canal is an integral part of the country. "The sovereignty and independence of our country is non-negotiable," Mulino stated in a video posted to social media last weekend. The Panama Canal is a critical trade route that was originally built by the United States in 1904. The waterway has been under the control of Panama since 1999 after negotiations between the Carter administration and the Panamanian dictator Omar Torrijos in 1977 led to the establishment of two treaties. The Panama Canal Authority, an independent government agency, administers the canal today. In recent years, China has attempted to expand its influence there through infrastructure projects that include a convention center on the Pacific side of the canal, and two ports operated by a Hong Kong-based contractor. Trump also mocked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom he referred to as "governor," and suggested once again that the United States could annex Canada. "If Canada was to become our 51st State, their Taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other Country anywhere in the World," he said. Trump continued his post by addressing "the people of Greenland, which is needed by the United States for National Security purposes and, who want the U.S. to be there, and we will!" In response, Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede told Trump in a written comment on Dec. 23 that the Danish territory is "not for sale and will never be for sale," according to Reuters. Later Thursday morning, we will sell 55 shares of Apple at roughly $258.62. Following the trades, Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust will own 800 shares of AAPL, decreasing its weighting to 5.76% from 6.14%. First off, we haven't changed our view on Apple and continue to believe that the stock should be owned for the long term, not traded. But with shares now exceeding a 6% weighting in our portfolio, we are reminded that discipline trumps conviction an important part of our modus operandi that we actually started the year off discussing . It's fitting that we should close out a great 2024 with exactly that in mind. Our conviction on Apple is still strong, and analysts at Wedbush Securities on Thursday reminded us why that is the case. "Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will Apple's AI strategy but the seeds of that strategy with Apple Intelligence are now forming and will transform the Apple consumer growth narrative over the coming years," Wedbush analysts wrote in the note, while also raising their price target to $325 a share from $300. Wedbush also said that the "hundreds of apps in development around Apple Intelligence" should help create new "multi-billion" dollar revenue stream for the company's high-margin services segment. That will represent another avenue of growth, "along with catalyzing iPhone upgrades across the board over the next 12 to 18 months," the firm wrote. We certainly agree with the view that Apple Intelligence can continue to drive the stock higher over time. However, we also want to take advantage of the strong run in Apple shares into year-end to book some profits and right-size the position. We're reiterating our 2 rating on Apple, which is our hold equivalent . At the same time, we're increasing our price target on the stock to $280 a share from $250 as we look to 2025. While shares are already trading at premium versus historical levels, we think further upside will be realized as more Apple Intelligence features come to market and the creativity and productivity gap between AI-capable devices and non-AI-capable devices widens, leading to a shorter upgrade cycle over the coming years a nd upward revisions to analyst estimates. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long AAPL. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Densely built residential apartment developments near the Kangbashi New District of Ordos City, Inner Mongolia, China, on Aug. 16, 2011. The World Bank raised on Thursday its forecast for China's economic growth in 2024 and 2025, but warned that subdued household and business confidence, along with headwinds in the property sector, would keep weighing it down next year. The world's second-biggest economy has struggled this year, mainly due to a property crisis and tepid domestic demand. An expected hike in U.S. tariffs on its goods when U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January may also hit growth. "Addressing challenges in the property sector, strengthening social safety nets, and improving local government finances will be essential to unlocking a sustained recovery," Mara Warwick, the World Bank's country director for China, said. "It is important to balance short-term support to growth with long-term structural reforms," she added in a statement. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday, December 26, highlighted the rich legacy of the Sikh tradition, emphasising their resilience in adverse circumstances. He praised the community for not only preserving their traditions but also inspiring others through their sacrifices for the nation and their faith. Addressing the main event of Veer Bal Diwas (Sahibzada Diwas) held at the chief minister's residence, he remarked, "The Sikh community has a glorious history, yet we hear that only a handful of Sikh families remain in Kabul. Incidents in Bangladesh and atrocities in Pakistan remind us of the sacrifices of the Sikh gurus.""The ideals of the Sikh Gurus provide us with the energy to move forward. Their blessings serve as our inspiration. their legacy, we can prevent situations like those in Kabul and Bangladesh. Places like Nankana Sahib will come to us naturally, without the need for agitation or struggle," the chief minister added, according to a statement.The event also saw a historical gathering and the commencement of 11,000 'sahaj paaths'. Additionally, the chief minister released a book based on the teachings of Guru Teg Bahadur.Chief Minister Adityanath praised the Sikh community as a resilient and prosperous segment of the nation, setting exemplary standards through their strength, dedication and hard work. "At one time, Sikhs safeguarded India by joining the Army in significant numbers. Yet, there are forces conspiring to undermine their efforts, attempting to entrap the youth in drug abuse," he said.He emphasised the need to identify and remain vigilant against such adversaries. "Sikhs and Hindus complement each other. We must steer clear of those who seek to create discord between us. May Guru Maharaj grant us the wisdom to distinguish between friends and foes," he said, stressing unity.Reflecting on past events, the chief minister noted that in 2019, during the 550th Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak Dev, a 'shabad-kirtan' programme was held at his residence. Since 2020, the annual observance of Veer Bal Diwas has become a tradition at the chief minister's residence, he said."Today, this event has grown into a national observance. On this day, two "sahibzaades" (sons) of Guru Gobind Singh Baba Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh were walled up alive by Wazir Khan," he added.The chief minister also recounted the sacrifices made during the Battle of Chamkaur, where Guru Gobind Singh's elder sons, Baba Ajit Singh and Baba Jujhar Singh, attained martyrdom."Maa Gujri could not endure the immense pain of these losses. The suffering they endured is beyond imagination."Yet, their unwavering commitment to protecting the country and religion remained steadfast. lives, the four Sahibzaades laid a solid foundation for safeguarding the nation and its values. Their bravery continues to be a source of pride, not just for the Sikh community but also for the entire nation," he said.Highlighting Sikhism's origins rooted in service to the nation and religion, Chief Minister Adityanath remarked, "Guru Nanak Dev was the first to stand against Babar's atrocities. Guru Arjun Dev's martyrdom in Lahore was to protect India from Jahangir's tyranny."Guru Teg Bahadur sacrificed his life but upheld India's honour, ensuring that Kashmir remained an integral part of India. Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj witnessed the ultimate sacrifice of his sons and father for the nation," Adityanath said.The chief minister also noted that this year marks the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur. Recalling the historical significance of the UP capital, he said, "Lucknow is fortunate that Guru Teg Bahadur ji had come here with Guru Gobind Singh ji. To honour this heritage, a comprehensive plan for the beautification of associated gurudwaras should be prepared in collaboration with the municipal corporation."He assured financial support from the state government and urged coordinated efforts, saying, "The responsibility must not be passed around. The state government, municipal corporation and development authority should work together to rehabilitate shopkeepers by constructing high-rise buildings or malls on their land. Gurudwaras linked to this historical legacy must be aesthetically enhanced." Month No of tourists Jan-Aug 2019 69.14 lakh Jan-Aug 2022 34.26 lakh Jan-Aug 2023 59.71 lakh Jan-Aug 2024 61.90 lakh Months In crore Jan-Aug 2019 1,38,535 Jan-Aug 2023 1,48,126 Jan-Aug 2024 1,71,287 Jan-Aug 2019 1,38,535 India's tourism sector stands at a crossroads in 2024, presenting both a formidable challenge and a unique opportunity. While foreign tourist arrivals have risen by 3.7% year-on-year, the figures remain modest when compared to the explosive growth seen in other countries, particularly in Southeast Asia. With 6.19 million foreign tourists visiting India in the first eight months of 2024, the countrys tourism growth appears promising but when viewed in the context of ASEAN nations like Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, the gap is glaring.Thailand, for example, attracted a staggering 29 million tourists between January and October 2024, while Malaysia welcomed over 16 million as of August 2024. Indonesia, another prominent tourist hotspot in the ASEAN region, reported 10 million foreign tourists arrivals in the January-September 2024 period, as per industry data.Several factors explain why these countries have outpaced India in attracting foreign visitors. Southeast Asia has invested heavily in tourism infrastructure, streamlined visa policies, and launched aggressive marketing campaigns that promote their destinations as accessible and affordable.Countries like Thailand, Vietnam and even Saudi Arabia have leveraged social media, partnerships with global influencers, and international campaigns to promote their destinations. Digital storytelling, virtual tours, and targeted campaigns that highlight not just the iconic monuments, but also the unique cultural experiences plays a key role in attracting potential tourists.India is home to some of the worlds most iconic attractions historical monuments like Taj Mahal, the desserts in Rajasthan, Keralas backwaters, the Himalayan mountains and beaches in Goa. But tour operators say the overall travel experience is often marred by logistical difficulties, overcrowded tourist spots and sometimes unfriendly locals.Looking at countries that contributed to India's tourism growth, Bangladesh tops the list, although political instability impacted the numbers with arrivals falling from 23.7% to 20.77% between January and August 2024 but it still remained the top source of tourist arrivals in India. FTAs from other countries in the leagueUS, UK, Canda and Australiasaw an uptick year-on-year in the period between January and August this year, as per data, with the US accounting for 17.41% and the UK 10.08% in the FTAs from the five top source market. At the same time, the share of Canada and Australia was recorded at 4.33% and 4.14%, respectively, during the period of January-August 2024.Moreover, foreign exchange earnings increased by 15.64% year-on-year to 1.71 lakh marking a significant jump from 1.38 lakh crore during the same period in 2019. This highlights Indias potential to generate revenue from tourism.The tourism numbers from the first eight months of 2024 are a clear indication that, while India is making progress, it is far from realising its full potential as compared to its peers. As the global tourism market continues to expand, India must step up its game with the right investment in infrastructure, policy reforms, and marketing to transform itself into a global tourism powerhouse. San Antonio police are looking for a driver they say caused a Christmas Eve wreck and fled the scene. Douglas Sacha/Getty Images San Antonio police are looking for a driver who crashed into another vehicle and then dashed from the scene on Christmas Eve. A 22-year-old woman was driving a white 2019 Hyundai Tucson about 9 p.m. Tuesday in the 7900 block of Tezel Road when she entered an intersection and was struck by a vehicle. ALSO READ: Aspiring Texas congresswoman Valentina Gomez shoots immigrant in back of head in campaign video Advertisement Article continues below this ad According to a police report, witnesses said a white 2020 Volkswagen Jetta driver ran the red light at the intersection before striking the woman's vehicle. After allegedly causing the crash, the Volkswagen driver ran from the scene without aiding the woman, the report states. Police said when found, the Volkswagen driver faces a charge of collision involving an injury charge. Advertisement Article continues below this ad What secrets could your janitor be hiding? Could their closet be filled with the skulls of their victims? Have they secretly been hooking up with the mascot, Toro the anthropomorphic bull? Are they slowly building a tunnel to the prison next door, to stage a mass breakout? Perhaps. Today, however, well be looking at several janitors who left behind nice secrets, surprising everyone. 5 The Fantasy Nut Henry Darger was a janitor at a hospital. Thats convenient, because you were expecting a Scrubs reference at some point in this article, and this just lets us get that out of the way right from the jump. In 1972, he moved to a nursing home (as a resident now, not an employee), and he had his landlord clear his stuff out from his old room. Don't Miss Along with piled-up trash, the landlord discovered In the Realms of the Unreal, a fantasy manuscript Darger had authored. It stretched for more than 15,000 pages. Thats more than three times the length of the Harry Potter series, for comparison, and In the Realms of the Unreal stuck it all into one single novel. Like so many future franchises, it was about a child leading a rebellion. The heroine appears to be based on a real girl who was murdered in Chicago in 1911 when she was five years old. Harvey Darger He also drew 350 watercolors to illustrate the tale. A second book, measuring a slim 8,500 pages, serves as a sequel and was found in the same apartment. Also there was book called The History of My Life. It begins, as the title suggests, as an autobiography, but then it turns into another fantasy novel and goes on for 5,000 more pages. Was Darger a genius? Possibly. Was he crazy? This is also very much possible. At the age of 12, he had been committed to an asylum. However, records say that he was only sent there for compulsive masturbation, which not only marked him as normal a 12-year-old but as a typical writer. Advertisement 4 The Millionaire Our next janitor also grew old until the time came to examine what he was leaving behind. His name was Ronald Read, he cleaned the floors at a Vermont JCPenneys and he didnt come across as an especially wealthy man. One time, shortly before his death in 2014, some people at a coffee house paid his bill for him, thinking he might be having trouble paying it himself. When he died, he left behind $8 million. That was enough to gift a million bucks to the local library, give nearly $5 million to a local hospital and still have a couple million left over to will to his stepchildren. Advertisement No one had known how much money Read squirreled away, not even those stepchildren. So, howd he made it all? Was this the big score than he and the gang had stolen back in 1975? Had he written a 15,000-page fantasy novel and recently sold the film and TV rights? As far as we can tell, no. Instead, he just made a modest salary for several decades and put his savings into reliable stocks. Wall Street Journal Heres his portfolio. This isnt financial advice, or an endorsement of Raytheon. The market crashed a few times over the years, but it always recovered in the end. Also, he never once withdrew a chunk for one crazy weekend in Berlin, though many experts refer to this as a mistake on his part. 3 The Art Trolls Advertisement Advertisement In 1960, a piece appeared one day at a California art exhibition, a piece that hadnt been authorized by the curators. Youve probably previously heard such tales of people who sneak their own art into museums to try to make a point. Sometimes, the interloper is caught and arrested. Sometimes, the public is fooled because the artist was actually an elephant or a monkey, but the installation itself was authorized by the museum. In the case of 1960s Peterfied Tomcat, the artists were a group of janitors whod worked the previous years exhibition and found it unimpressive. This year, they decided to insert their own contribution. They picked out a bit of scrap metal, painted it black and stuck a $350 price tag on it. They figured the metal looked a bit like a cat, so they named it a variation on petrified tomcat. But they didnt purposely craft it to look like anything. It only looked the way it did because machinists had previously punched out circles from it, for use in door parts. Museum of Hoaxes In a sense, arent we all just scrap metal the universe punched circles out of? Judges assumed it was one piece of sanctioned modern art among many and awarded it a medal of merit. Sadly, however, no offered to buy it. Had they wanted to interest buyers, the janitors should have set the price at $3,500. Advertisement 2 The Film Hoarder The Passion of Joan of Arc is one of the best films of all-time. At least, we read something once saying it is, and who are we to question that? If you doubt that assessment, well, well just let you watch the whole thing and decide for yourself, since it was shot in 1928 and is in the public domain now. In 1928 itself, a fire destroyed the movies original print. The director put together an alternate version using unused cuts, but that got destroyed in a fire as well. This is all sounding a lot like a curse since the original Joan was, of course, burned at the stake. Also like Joan, the film was accused of heresy, and what copies of it that survived after these fires were censored versions the director disowned. Advertisement Advertisement Then, in 1981, a copy of the original just sort of turned up. People found it in a janitors closet a janitors closet at a Norwegian mental institution. That copy is the basis for every restoration youll find of the film today. How those film canisters found their way into that closet is a mystery for the ages. We can only attribute it to how, often, janitors are good at picking up discarded stuff. Comedians would rather be rock stars, goes the old saying, but the opposite is also true rock stars would rather be comedians. John Lennon admitted as much during a possibly inebriated conversation with British DJ Andy Peebles. Part of me would sooner have been a comedian, explained the notoriously witty Lennon. I just dont have the guts to stand up and do it, but Id love to be in Monty Python rather than the Beatles. But why limit his comedic reach to simply performing with Python? Lennon seemed to have a John Cleese fixation overall. I love Fawlty Towers! he professed. Id like to be in that. Hed previously named Fawlty Towers as his all-time favorite TV program, according to Far Out, calling it the greatest show Ive seen in years. What a masterpiece! A beautiful thing. Don't Miss But if any Beatle were to be the unofficial seventh member of Monty Python, it would have been George Harrison, not Lennon. His production company HandMade Films was the savior of Monty Pythons Life of Brian, which couldnt find a film studio that would put up a few million bucks to finance the comedy. The wonderful George Harrison got the script from Eric Idle, who was a friend, remembered Cleese. He rang Eric the next day, and said he laughed so much he had fallen out of bed. Harrison thought the comedy would be a good investment and he was right it was the highest-grossing British film in the United States the year it was released. Advertisement Idle was astounded by Harrisons generosity. The offer to finance was wonderful but why? Harrisons response: I wanted to see the movie. He even got a bit part in the film, becoming the Beatle who fulfilled Lennons Python dream. Advertisement While Lennon never performed comedy with Monty Python, the musician did get a few chances to flex his comic chops. He appeared as sardonic soldier Gripweed in Richard Lesters dark comedy, How I Won the War, and the Beatles themselves made movie comedies with Help and A Hard Days Night. If John Lennon hadnt become a rock star, he might instead have made a very good stand-up comic, wrote U.K. author and journalist Ray Connolly. Get him talking and off he would go into a funny, self-knocking soliloquy, in which he was often the butt of his own jokes. Dad jokes might make you groan but that simply makes them corny. In 2024, we had several examples of Dumb Jokes, a collection of comic missteps that a) represented a comedian sticking a very large shoe in their mouth; and b) werent that funny to begin with. Here are the seven dumbest jokes of 2024, a collection of putrid punchlines that Im sure the funny people below would love to take back. Well, maybe not Tony Hinchcliffe. 1 Jo Koy Don't Miss You could see the flop sweat as the Golden Globes host fumbled through his monologue. Heres a tip: If things arent going well, dont take on the worlds biggest star. As you know, we came on after a football doubleheader, he said. The big difference between the Golden Globes and the NFL? On the Golden Globes, we have fewer camera shots of Taylor Swift, I swear. Koy threw his writers under the bus when jokes didnt land and complained he didnt get enough time to prepare during his live monologue. Save it for the drunken after-party, dude. 2 Former Nickelodeon Child Stars After the docuseries Quiet on the Set described the creepy behavior of Nickelodeon kid czar Dan Schneider, stars of Neds Declassified poked fun on a TikTok livestream. Devon Werkheiser imitated Schneider, telling costar Daniel Curtis Lee, Daniel, we told you never to speak about that! Get back in your hole, Daniel! And give me your holes! When problematic Drake Bell calls you out, your jokes are probably out-of-bounds. 3 Jeff Ross Advertisement Tom Bradys roast was the comedy event of 2024, but he quickly regretted some of the comic shots at his ex-wife and kids. Those, however, werent the jokes that made Brady get out of his chair and threaten to kick a comedians ass on stage. That honor went to Jeff Ross, who broke a pre-show agreement and poked at the sordid, massage-parlor past of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. So Tom became a Patriot, moved up to New England, and on the first day of training camp, that scrawny rookie famously walked into the owner Robert Krafts office and said, Im the best decision your organization has ever made. Would you like a massage?' 4 Deadpool Advertisement Advertisement There was only one joke that Disney asked Ryan Reynolds to remove from Deadpool & Wolverine. Reynolds and director Shawn Levy swore to take the juvenile bit to their graves before giggling like schoolboys and telling the world a couple of weeks later. So naughty! So dumb. DEADPOOL: Fuck! What, we cant even afford one more X-Man? Disney is so cheap. I can barely breathe with all this Mickey Mouse cock in my throat. 5 Kyle Gass It was the joke that destroyed Tenacious D (though it probably didnt). The comedy duo canceled their summer tour after Gass made a joke following an assassination attempt on Donald Trump. It was Gass birthday and bandmate Jack Black brought a birthday cake on stage with a lit candle. Make a wish, said Black. Dont miss Trump next time, Gass replied. Advertisement Backlash followed. Not only did Black cancel all upcoming shows, but he put out a statement proclaiming all future creative plans are on hold. By August, however, Black hinted that the group would be back. 6 Tony Hinchcliffe Advertisement If you absolutely must tell a joke about Puerto Rico being a floating pile of garbage, youd think a Trump rally would be a safe space. But Hinchcliffe got blasted for the racist bit, with many predicting that joke would cause Puerto Ricans to change their votes in protest. Even Trump said Hinchcliffe probably shouldnt have been at the rally. Would it be the insensitive gag that cost someone an election? Nah. After Trumps win, Hinchcliffe took a victory lap. It was a speech about free speech, believe it or not, he said but only after the dust had settled in his favor. Advertisement San Antonio police officer Holvin Perez-Ortiz was arrested on Christmas Eve after allegedly assaulting a family member. San Antonio Police Department An off-duty San Antonio police officer was arrested on Christmas Eve, accused of assaulting his wife. The Bexar County Sheriffs Office arrested SAPD officer Holvin Perez-Ortiz. He is charged with assaulting a family member causing serious bodily injury, court records show. Perez-Ortiz posted bail and was released on Christmas Day. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A BCSO incident report obtained by the Express-News states that Perez-Ortiz and his wife got into an argument on Tuesday at a home in the 13900 block of Anchor Way. Perez-Ortiz got upset, grabbed his wife by the throat and pushed her to the floor, where she hit her face, the report states. She sustained injuries as a result of the incident and was evaluated by EMS. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The San Antonio police department was notified of his arrest. Perez-Ortiz has been placed on administrative duty while an investigation into the incident is underway. The funny thing about visual art is that, although certain artists are considered geniuses and others complete hacks, actual enjoyment comes down to personal preference. Sure, learning more about the history or provenance of a particular piece might build or increase appreciation. But when it comes down to it, it doesnt take much more than a glance to know whether a piece of art lights up the pleasure receptors of your personal brain. Sometimes, this can lead to a garage sale dime-a-dozen portrait that, for whatever reason, sticks with you. It can also mean that a piece of art you really love can come from a genuine appreciation, even without knowing if its important or not. In very lucky cases, other people wont know its important either, and youll end up with a seminal work worth multiple millions for a song. Don't Miss Here are five incredibly valuable paintings someone was displaying, none the wiser 5 Magnolias on Gold Velvet Cloth: $1.25 Million Public Domain An Indiana man picked up a painting as an inexpensive way to cover a hole in his wall. If hed known how much the still life he bought was really worth, he could have sold it and bought a whole new house. He only realized the painting, then relegated to the attic, might be worth something when he saw the similarities to painter Martin Johnson Heades work in a board game called Masterpiece. The similarities turned out to be anything but a coincidence, and the painting sold for $1.25 million to the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. 4 Buste de femme Dora Maar: $6 Million Advertisement Domenico Scala It seems pretty unbelievable that any painting with the name of one of the most famous painters of all time scrawled in the corner would go unnoticed. Somehow, though, that was the fate of Buste de femme Dora Maar. Junk dealer Luigi Lo Rosso bought the painting in 1962, stuck it in a cheap frame and hung it up, to the chagrin of his wife. She called it horrible, but when they later found it was valued at 6 million euros, I bet she felt much more appreciative. 3 Christ Mocked: $26.8 Million Public Domain For years, a 90-year-old French woman cooked beneath the painting above. To her, it was just another bit of religious iconography to stick in her kitchen. Eventually, she was moving and deemed the painting unworthy of coming with, but had it appraised on her familys suggestion. Thats when she discovered that shed made thousands of dinners beneath Christ Mocked, one of only 15 known works by the 13th century painter Cimabue. Advertisement It went to auction in 2019, and when the gavel struck, her stalwart kitchen decor had sold for $26.8 million. Advertisement 2 The Virgin and Child with a Flower on a Grassy Bank: $50 Million Public Domain This one is especially heinous given that the people who sold it for a measly $30 had been told its value already. Unfortunately, they thought their father was lying about the sketch being an original by Albrecht Durer. A buyer, who was told it was nothing more than a reproduction, picked it up regardless and was rewarded for his choice, to the tune of $50 million. Seinfeld has featured a number of episodes centered around food from The Chinese Restaurant, to The Marble Rye, to the wildly disturbing episode in which Newman fantasizes about cannibalizing a butter-drenched Kramer. But the best of the bunch is clearly The Soup Nazi. Play The story of a delicate culinary genius who only serves his knee-buckling soups to customers that follow strict ordering procedures was clearly too idiosyncratic to be fictional. TV audiences soon discovered what many New Yorkers already knew: the Soup Nazi was based on a real guy named Al Yeganeh. Advertisement Yeganeh was well-known around the city, and was actually profiled by The New Yorker in 1989. Amazingly, his intense dislike of customers was evident even back then. I tell you, I hate to work with the public. They treat me like a slave, Yeganeh told the publication. My philosophy is: The customer is always wrong, and Im always right. I raised my prices to try to get rid of some of these people, but it didnt work. Advertisement The writer of the Seinfeld episode, Spike Feresten, recently appeared on The Rich Eisen Show, and revealed that the storyline was even more fact-based than most people realize. Feresten first encountered the Soup Nazi while working for David Letterman as a writer, regularly getting his lunches from Yeganehs soup stand. He wasnt intending to write about this experience for Seinfeld until he had a meeting with Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David and pitched 10 ideas but got no laughs. As Feresten was starting to get a little flop sweaty, David asked, What else is going on in New York? Theres this weird guy who sells soup they call the Soup Nazi, Feresten responded, adding that if you dont order the soup right, he gives your money back and he takes the soup away. Seinfeld and David liked the random anecdote more than any of the actual pitches, telling Feresten: Thats your first episode. Advertisement Advertisement Feresten didnt just draw inspiration from Yeganeh, some customers made it into the script, too. Most of that episode (is) little vignettes of what happened to me in real life, Feresten explained. When Elaine says, You kind of look like Al Pacino. There was a woman behind me, in front of me actually, who said that to him and didnt get her soup. Advertisement Advertisement But the real Soup Nazi was less network-friendly than his fictional stand-in. He went, not like the TV character, F-you, get the F out of here! And Feresten himself is in the story, too: Im George in that very first scene with George and Jerry. I got yelled at, and I didnt get the soup and they gave me my money back. Because so much was pulled from real life, Feresten views The Soup Nazi almost as a piece of nonfiction. All of that is kind of real. I always say its more of a documentary than it is a piece of written comedy. Although, in real life, the Soup Man launched his own brand, instead of fleeing to Argentina. Theres not much more of a classic plaything than a stuffed animal. Theres probably not a childs room on Earth that hasnt held at least one plushie iteration of some sort of fauna. Theyre iconic enough that I assumed they were just something that humans naturally created, and that if something ever happened to us, a new civilization would start packing toy animals with whatever was puffy and within arms reach as a first order of business. But it turns out that the modern stuffed animal has a very specific debut, and that comfort wasnt their original purpose. Don't Miss The first ever stuffed animal was created around 1880 by a German seamstress named Margarete Steiff. Except, it wasnt a stuffed animal she made, but a small pincushion in the shape of an elephant. It was supposed to be a fun, but functional bit of cloth and stuffing to hold pins. Except that children really enjoyed playing with the little elephant. And something might be able to be both a pincushion and a toy, but ideally not at the same time. It didnt take Steiff long after pioneering the plushie to follow up with one of its most iconic iterations. She stitched up various other animals for a while, but her biggest hit came in 1902. That was when Steiff, with help from her nephew Richard, released one of the world's first teddy bears. Stuffed animal enthusiasts may have already recognized the name Steiff, since theyre still one of the worlds foremost teddy bear manufacturers. The bears are definitely their premier offering, but if you visit their stores or headquarters, youll notice that they still offer a nod to the animal that started it all, too: the mighty elephant. Photo-Illustration: Curbed; Photos: Chris Mottalini (top middle), Todd Oldham (bottom middle), Annie Schlechter (remaining) It might come as a surprise that of the dozens of stories written by Wendy Goodman this year, her most-read column is about a burlesque artist and musician living in a house full of family hand-me-downs in southeastern Brooklyn. And yet the fundamentals that guide her column are all here: New Yorkers who live with verve and bring their highly specific, sometimes obsessive sensibility to their homes. There are many other characters on this list of most-read stories below, from the 92-year-old artist with a collection of religious statuary to the fashion editor who has furnished her rental with an array of eclectic modern and Memphis pieces, many of them found on Live Auctioneer. Then there are the more unusual places that readers wanted to spend time with, including a studio at the legendary National Arts Club and a renovated 1792 church purchased for less than $100,000. For more of all of it, be sure to sign up for Wendys Design Hunting newsletter, along with Curbeds daily newsletter and Listings Edit, which surfaces the best of New Yorks rental listings. Photo: Ahmad Sardar-Afkhami Breck and Georgia Eisners Amagansett retreat gives the children a cottage of their own. Read the story Photo: Jeff Cate Magdalena and Jonathan Keck were not afraid to gut-renovate this (badly) combined top-floor apartment. Read the story Photo: Annie Schlechter Federico de Francesco gave up his very tense career in finance to become an artist and to live like one. Read the story Photo: David Land I was very influenced by the taste my mom had, he says. Our house was beautiful, but it was very cluttered. And I have inherited a lot of those sentimental sensibilities. Read the story Photo: Annie Schlechter The artist is in her Post-Pop Baroque Period, and has a new gallery show and a memoir. She lives with a skeleton from her days teaching anatomy at NYU. Read the story Photo: Chris Mottalini Brooklynites Cristiana Pena and Nick Porter dreamed of living in an old church upstate. They bought one for $99,000. It needed a lot of work. Read the story Photo: Annie Schlechter The kitchen is the main event at Adam Sachs and Evyn Blocks Clinton Hill townhouse. Read the story 3. Photo: Anie Schlechter The fashion editor settles down for now. To furnish her apartment, she says, I became obsessed with Live Auctioneers. I didnt have the time, or the bandwidth, or the drivers license, for going to estate sales. Read the story Photo: Annie Schlechter Michael Shane Neal is just the third artist in 117 years to occupy this two-bedroom at the National Arts Club. Read the story Photo: Todd Oldham Showbiz couple Angie Pontani and Brian Newmans high-spirited Marine Park house is filled with family hand-me-downs. Pontanis father had what she describes as extreme style, including in home decor. She takes after him. Read the story Sensor-laden caps are seen Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, in a sleep lab at the University of Texas at San Antonio in San Antonio. The facility is part of a UTSA artificial intelligence lab that received a $2 million grant. William Luther Seizing on the popularity of artificial intelligence, the University of Texas at San Antonio is putting AI out front in naming its newest college. The university recently released details of its new College of AI, Cyber and Computing. The new college is part of its efforts to develop and integrate emerging technologies. UTSA will begin a national search in January for a founding dean of the new college, scheduled to launch in fall 2025. This innovative college will build on UTSAs leadership in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science and related disciplines to address the demands of an increasingly digital and interconnected world, UTSA said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The new college will expand on the progress of UTSAs 6-year-old School of Data Science, aligning existing programs and creating opportunities for new ones. Its expected to enroll more than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students with a presence in downtown San Antonio. It will help solidify San Antonios position as the largest information security hub outside Washington, D.C., the university said. Paul Rad, associate professor in computer science at UTSA, discusses a generative artificial intelligence model that processes scans to help identify plaque buildup that may lead to heart attacks on Feb. 14, 2024. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL UTSA President Taylor Eighmy, announcing the new College of AI, Cyber and Computing, said rapid technological advancement "makes it critically important to integrate cyber into the foundation of AI and data operations." Taylor Eighmy Our newest college is at the epicenter of the digital convergence that will shape the future, as it focuses on thought leadership, new innovations, transdisciplinary colloboration and future applications of AI, computing and data science, UTSA President Taylor Eighmy said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The first-of-its-kind college will strengthen UTSAs role in driving the workforce and economic development that our city, state and nation need and creating smarter, more secure and efficient systems, he said. Through collaborations with the private and government sectors in San Antonios tech ecosystem, it will offer students hands-on learning opportunities, including internships, research and projects that will prepare them for careers in high-demand fields. Doctoral students Vedant Karia, from left, and Tej Pandit work together in 2022 on a project in the Neuromorphic Artificial Intelligence research lab at UTSA, where Dhireesha Kudithipudi, right, runs a research program. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The university cited a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projection that job growth in data science and cybersecurity will exceed 35% by 2031, with millions of positions opening worldwide. The new college will be based at the UTSA Downtown Campus in buildings San Pedro I and San Pedro II, which is under construction. By anchoring the new college downtown and aligning its programs with workforce needs, were creating unparalleled opportunities for our students and amplifying our citys reputation as a destination for top talent and innovation, said Heather Shipley, UTSA provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. Advertisement Article continues below this ad University of Texas at San Antonio doctoral student and research assistant Raveen Wijewickrama talks about how scooters are being used as a means to collect data to advance Artificial Intelligence technology at UTSA on June 9, 2021. Lisa Krantz/Staff photographer Graduate student Emerson Larios, left, and lab manager Sabrina Sanchez prepare a comforter Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, for a bed in the a sleep lab on the University of Texas at San Antonio campus in San Antonio. The facility is part of a UTSA artificial intelligence lab that received a $2 million grant. William Luther Departments of the college will focus on four areas: computer science; computer engineering; information systems and cybersecurity; and data science and statistics. The computer engineering department will prepare students for bachelors and masters degrees in artificial intelligence. Each department will offer bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. The rapid pace of technological advancement makes it critically important to integrate cyber into the foundation of AI and data operations, Eighmy said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Dr. Dhireesha Kudithipudi talks about the types of artificial intelligence projects that her students are developing in UTSAs Neuromorphic Artificial Intelligence research lab, Friday, May 13, 2022. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The new college will align with two university-level research centers at UTSA: the AI Consortium for Human Well-Being and Open Cloud Institute. It also will unite the Institute for Cyber Security, Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security and Cyber Center for Security and Analytics under a single administrative structure. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Twenty twenty-four was the year of elections. More than 50 countries, representing a majority of the worlds population, went to the polls. From Mexico to Mozambique, Moldova to Madagascar, Mauritius to Mongolia, an unprecedented 1.5 billion people marked bits of paper, pulled levers or otherwise registered their preferences. It sounds uplifting. But the truth is, many of those elections were decorative, designed to dignify dictators and dishearten dissidents. Russias Vladimir Putin, for example, was re-elected with a deliberately implausible 88 per cent of the vote, the sheer vastness of the number being a way to flaunt his power. In Belarus each seat was won by a supporter of Alexander Lukashenkos autocratic rule. In Syria, the Baath party triumphed as it has done in every election since 1963 helped by the fact no independent parties are allowed. Other elections were flagrantly stolen. Pakistans military-backed regime announced plans to bar Imran Khans party. And the authorities had to resort to ballot-stuffing to prevent pro-Khan independents from sweeping the board. Venezuelas ballot-rigging was so flagrant that the state initially reported a turnout of more than 100 per cent of eligible voters. It is a paradox. More countries than ever are going through the motions, with manifestos, candidates, polling stations and returning officers. Yet actual democracy, in the sense of people being able to change their rulers through the ballot box, is in retreat. Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko. Although a record number of people voted in 2024, democracy is in retreat, writes DANIEL HANNAN Venezuela's re-elected president Nicolas Maduro addressing the nation in Caracas following the election results in July For those of us who grew up in the late 20th century, this is something of a shock. We had become used to representative government and the rule of law becoming more common. The process was fitful, but the trend was clear. For nearly seven decades after 1945, more countries became free than the reverse. Sometimes the dictators would fall singly; sometimes, as at the 1990 dissolution of the Soviet bloc, in a rush. And naturally there were some reversals. But the direction of travel was clear. Personal freedom and the rule of law were becoming more widespread. Not any more. Numerous think-tanks and institutes monitor the state of global democracy and, although they all use slightly different measures, they all find the same thing. At some point about 15 years ago, the move towards liberty stalled and began to go into reverse. They all also find that things have got worse since the pandemic. International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) records that, last year, 46 per cent of countries saw a decline in the rule of law and democratic norms, while 24 per cent have seen an increase. The Economist Intelligence Unit states: Less than 8 per cent of the worlds population live in a full democracy, while almost 40 per cent live under authoritarian rule a share that has been creeping up in recent years. Freedom House agrees. Political rights and civil liberties were diminished in 52 countries, while only 21 countries made improvements. Even among established democracies, we see voters becoming impatient, irritated and intolerant. Candidates who are honest about the challenges their countries face are trounced by those who pretend everything can be solved by squeezing more money out of the top one per cent, or banks, or energy companies, or foreign firms through tariffs. Across the democratic world, governing parties are being turfed out. Each election is different, of course, but the common theme is an unwillingness to accept there is less money than before, especially after lockdown. Supporters of Imran Khan's party protest against elections held in Pakistan in February, amid allegations of vote rigging Donald Trumps victory is a measure of how ready voters are to clobber the political class with any weapon Two democratic leaders were sly enough to hold elections at the height of the pandemic, when restrictions were still popular. Jacinda Ardern in New Zealand and Justin Trudeau in Canada were duly re-elected. But when the bills came in, the mood changed, and incumbents were sent packing. Ardern stood aside to avoid a hammering in 2023, and Trudeau looks to be in his last painful weeks. Incumbents have likewise been clobbered across Europe, from Portugal to Lithuania. France has turned to extreme parties of Left and Right and, in Germany, the single most popular candidate for Chancellor is from the Putinite AfD. In this sense, the British and US elections were remarkably unremarkable. Their governments were blamed, as all incumbents were, for the price and tax rises brought by lockdowns their voters had demanded. In another sense, though, both were extraordinary. We are all wise after the event, subject to what psychologists call hindsight bias. But the fact that the United States chose to elect a convicted felon who had refused to accept his previous election defeat is both stunning and revealing. Donald Trumps victory is a measure of how ready voters are to clobber the political class with any weapon. Ask Republicans in 2015 whether it would be fine to pay off a porn star and then lie about it provided there was no violation of campaign finance reform, and theyd stare at you incredulously. Now, they take it for granted. In Britain, the two main parties got their lowest combined share of the vote in a century. The Conservatives the oldest party in the world by far if we treat them as heirs to the Tory Party of the 17th and 18th centuries secured their single lowest percentage of the vote in a General Election in three and a half centuries. What is causing this disruption? What was it, from the start of the 2010s, that undermined so many of the old political certainties and the parties that upheld them? Was it the global financial crisis, which delegitimised the entire system in many peoples eyes? Was it mass immigration, which wrecked the sense of shared identity that allows strangers to trust one another? Or was it the spread of social media and of smartphones, which have left us bored, gullible and angry? This third option certainly fits the timeline. When the average time spent on a TikTok video is seven seconds, politicians who come clean about trade-offs are at a massive disadvantage. It used to be possible to explain that, for example, rent controls would reduce supply and thus push up rents; or that a lower tax rate might encourage more economic activity and so boost revenue; or that protectionism reduces the funds consumers have to spend, and so harms the entire economy. But, in our impatient, screen-addled age, few want to listen. Are we doomed, then, to turn our backs on the property-based, liberal and democratic order that raised the human race to unprecedented levels of wealth and happiness? In Canada, Pierre Poilievre (pictured) seems set to be the first Conservative prime minister on a straightforward platform of sound money, low taxes and deregulation Not necessarily. Argentinas chainsaw-wielding president, Javier Milei, has so far retained public support while decentralising powers. In Canada, Pierre Poilievre seems set to be the first Conservative prime minister since Stephen Harper, campaigning straightforwardly on sound money, low taxes and deregulation. And, to her credit, Kemi Badenoch chose him as the first foreign party leader to meet following her own election. That bodes well if voters are still listening. Are they? We shall find out in 2025. From any point of view, this has been an extraordinarily difficult year for King Charles. Both he and his beloved daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, were diagnosed with cancer a huge shock not only to them, but to the nation as a whole. And although Catherine recently completed her chemotherapy, the monarchs battle against the disease goes on. So how reassuring to hear Charles deliver a stirringly upbeat Christmas address. It was a typical blend of wisdom and inspiration, while also being deeply personal. The overarching theme of the broadcast underpinned the Christmas message of peace and goodwill to all. And while unashamedly Christian in content, it was careful not to exclude those who worship other religions, or none. Breaking with tradition, the King spoke from the Grade II-listed Fitzrovia Chapel, a breathtakingly ornate former sacred space on the site of a demolished central London hospital a nod to the health challenges faced by the royals in 2024. His Majesty poignantly paid tribute to the selfless doctors and nurses who provided strength, care and comfort to him and the princess during cancer treatment. But by not mentioning the C word itself, Charles headed off any accusation he was wallowing in self-pity. As he rightly noted: All of us go through some form of suffering at some stage in our lives. King Charles III during his Christmas speech. Charles delivered a stirringly upbeat Christmas address. It was a typical blend of wisdom and inspiration, while also being deeply personal The Princess of Wales at Sandringham yesterday. Both the King and his beloved daughter-in-law were diagnosed with cancer this year a huge shock not only to them, but to the nation as a whole Elsewhere, the King emphasised the importance of togetherness and shared civic values in times of social tension. He spoke of his deep sense of pride when, in the wake of the summers riots after the murder of three little girls in Southport, communities came together to repair not just buildings, but relationships and trust. But the truth is, it is hard not to feel that this country has gone backwards during the past 12 months especially when our society has for many decades confidently expected each year to end with a sense of progress. The brutal facts are that this Christmas we are less well off, more heavily taxed, less safe from crime, less well treated for sickness and injury, and seem a good deal more chaotic than we were a year ago. Our institutions both civic and political are in worryingly poor health. The Tories were kicked out of government for being hopeless. Yet after just five short months in power, Labour is showing every sign it will be even worse. Yesterday, on the most holy of days, the embattled Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell (pictured) used his sermon to admit the church must kneel in penitence over its appalling handling of sex abuse scandals And what about the many failings of the Church of England, to whom many of us still look for guidance? Yesterday, on the most holy of days, the embattled Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell used his sermon to admit the church must kneel in penitence over its appalling handling of sex abuse scandals. In such troubled times, the Royal Family can be a force to unite the nation in shared values and ageless ideals. The King yesterday proved that to be true. His leadership, optimism and indomitable spirit are an example to us all. A disastrous deal The Chagos Islands. Voters cannot understand why Labour wants to surrender sovereignty of a strategically vital British territory that includes the UK-US military base at Diego Garcia It is reported that Mauritius will refuse to take the Chagos Islands from Britain unless we pay it even more money for the privilege. If so, the Government should seize the excuse and walk away from this disastrous deal. Voters cannot understand why Labour wants to surrender sovereignty of a strategically vital British territory that includes the UK-US military base at Diego Garcia. If Sir Keir thinks this virtue-signalling will make us popular with those who would do us harm and make the world safer, he is deluding himself. It is time he stopped playing student politics with global security. Following a pleasant Christmas Day in San Antonio that stayed mostly in the upper 50s to around 70 degrees, the weather will become wet again on Thursday as the second of three storm systems this week makes its way into Texas. South and Central Texas experienced a very Texas Christmas, with sunny skies, light winds, and temperatures warmer than the usual seasonal averages, which are typically in the low to mid-60s. However, when compared to the warmest Christmas Days on record in San Antonio, this years temperatures didnt quite reach those highs. Loading... Today's forecast Before another cold front arrives in South Texas on Thursday, around the middle to late afternoon, the National Weather Service warns that morning commuters might encounter widespread dense fog across the southern Edwards Plateau. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Unsettled weather is in the forecast Thursday for the eastern half of Texas. National Weather Service This system will bring a higher chance of rain than the previous storm, so more areas will experience rain. Fortunately, the risk of severe weather remains low in our area, however, our neighbors in East Texas will see a higher threat of severe weather because of the instability of the atmosphere. As the boundary of the cold front pushes across the Hill Country, the weather service said, the Interstate 35 corridor and the Coastal Plains, the primary threats will be from large hail and damaging winds. Scattered rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue Thursday morning, with activity persisting through the afternoon and early evening. The timeframe for severe weather will increase with the heating of the day generally across the I-35 corridor, but more so in Southeast Texas, closer to the I-45 corridor there. U.S. Weather Hazards Outlook for between Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Check https://t.co/VyWINDkBnn for local forecasts. https://t.co/28w8yuYJyA National Weather Service (@NWS) December 23, 2024 The weather services Storm Prediction Center noted in its forecast bulletin that strong storm supercells could produce damaging winds and tornadoes late Thursday. If you are traveling for the holiday during this time, be aware that severe storms may affect areas such as Tyler, College Station, Longview, The Woodlands, and Houston. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rainfall totals in South Texas will be limited to less than a half-inch, but areas east and northeast of San Antonio will see some much-needed rain. Rain totals ranging from 0.25" in San Antonio to over 3" in Houston are likely. Pivotal The final cold front of the week will move through San Antonio on Friday and early Saturday. However, dont expect significant changes in the weather. Whatever influence the front will have in San Antonio will be mostly felt in winds shifting to come from the north and a drop in humidity levels through the weekend. Temperatures are expected to be about 10 degrees warmer than average, with highs ranging from the middle to upper 70s throughout the weekend. We might even reach 80 degrees by Monday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The UK's most outrageous and sordid sexual fetishes have been revealed - as some unusual new tastes appear to be on the rise. Research commissioned by leading sex and relationship expert Rachel Thompson suggests that more daring fantasies such as dogging and cottaging are seeing a decline among the sexually active population - and they're being replaced by some very kinky alternatives. Thompson's research - in conjunction with a sex positive platform called Sensuali, analysed 160 million Google searches over the last five years, revealing the growth and decline of more than 100 key kinky words during that time period. According to the findings, searches for the word 'dogging' - engaging in or watching sexual activities in public places, usually involving strangers - had declined significantly over the last five years, down by 34 per cent. Another trend falling out of popularity is 'sploshing' - playing with messy food substances - which has declined by 54 per cent in searches. However, the most dramatic decline was in searches for the term 'cottaging' - engaging in sexual activities in public restrooms or secluded outdoor areas - for which searches dropped by 70 per cent. Meanwhile, some more obscure fantasies and fetishes are now on the rise. The number of searches for a fantasy called 'vore', which involves fantasising about being consumed whole or consuming someone else whole have increased in recent years (stock image) Searches for 'zental', a practice where full-body, skin-tight suits made from spandex or nylon are used in fetish or costume play, fell by 53 per cent. Other sex terms that have seen a decline in are 'zental', a practice where full body suits made from spandex are used in costume play (53 per cent fall), 'micropenis' (47 per cent fall), cybersex (45 per cent fall) and cross-dressing (38 per cent fall). Searches for 'bondage', 'spanking', and 'foreplay' also fell by approximately a third. In place of such terms that are on the decline, some unusual new fantasies have emerged; some of which are indicative of how social media influences people's sexual desires. Among the five highest trending words are 'findom' - meaning financial domination, where one gains gratification by controlling another's finances - which has increased by a whopping 83 per cent. Similarly, 'thirst trap' - where someone posts content on social media with the intention of being desired - increased by a staggering 335 per cent. Meanwhile, the sexual term which saw the greatest growth in searches was 'gooning' which skyrocketed by 778 per cent. However, one of the most surprising fetishes to make the list was 'vore' - known more formally as Vorarephilia. Vorarephilia, aka vore, is one of the more niche fetishes to make the list of interest in sexual activities (stock image) Just scraping into the list, with searches increasing by 26 per cent, vore is described in a case report in the National Library of Medicine as 'an infrequently presenting paraphilia, characterised by the erotic desire to consume or be consumed by another person or creature,' this is generally by being swallowed whole. The report notes that 'few data exist on vore though several cases have been reported which appear to be consistent with basic vorarephilic interests'. Signs you may be into vorarephilia According to Hope, there are several signs you could be into vorarephilia. Thoughts or fantasies: You find yourself thinking about or fantasising about scenarios involving being consumed or consuming others, often with a sexual or erotic element. Attraction to vore art or stories: You find pleasure in vore-related artwork, stories, or other forms of media that depict the act of being consumed / consuming another. Joining communities online: You are actively seeking out online communities or forums where vore enthusiasts share content, discuss fantasies, or engage in role-playing Sexual arousal: The thought or depiction of vore scenarios lead to sexual arousal or heightened excitement for you Adding vore into role-play: You start incorporating vore themes into role-play with a willing partner. Creation of vore content: You may create your own vore-related content, such as drawings, stories, or other forms of artistic expression to explore and share your fantasies. Advertisement This, it explains, is because 'this sexual interest cannot be enacted in real life due to physical and/or legal restraints'. In other words, it is not possible to actually swallow a human whole. Therefore, vorarephilic fantasies are 'often composed in text or illustrations and shared with other members of this subculture via the Internet'. In the words of expert Hope Flynn, who is head of content at sexual wellness brand IPlaySafe, vore is 'a type of fantasy where people imagine being consumed or consuming others in a sexual way'. She told FEMAIL: 'It's important to know that vore is only fantasy and doesnt involve real harm or eating. 'Theres a distinction between those who like to consume (predators) and those who like to be consumed (prey).' Why is it becoming more popular? How are people finding out about it? According to Sensuali's survey, there has been an increase of 26 per cent of people who list it as a fantasy. Hope explains: 'People with vore fantasies might express themselves through stories, artworks, role-playing or online discussions and forums like reddit. 'These kinds of online communities make it easier for people to find out about it.' She continues: 'With popular culture changing our view of things like vampires and humanising them this influences peoples lifestyles, habit and behaviours. 'The idea of taking a bite out of someone has been romanticised by films and shows such as twilight, vampire diaries and Venom.' Hope added: 'Cannibalism, which is often considered one of the most inhuman activities has been shown on-screen more and more in recent years, such as in Dahmer Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and House of Hammer, they both condones literal cannibalistic love or elements of it.' Despite the increasing interest in vore, and the growing online communities, according to Hope, it is still 'a very niche interest within the realm of sexual festishes and fantasies'. 'It is not as widely popular as other fetishes and there seems to be quite a tight-knit online vore community,' she told FEMAIL. This is, she said, partly because it is still considered controversial. Sexual wellness expert Hope Flynn (pictured) says vore is 'not as widely understood as other fetishes' 'Due to its unconventional nature, vore is most definitely considered controversial, as lets be honest eating another human or being eaten by someone is definitely considered taboo and not your usual everyday activity,' she explained. 'It's also not as widely understood as other fetishes and the general reaction to it offer many differences in opinions.' However, despite the controversy, according to Hope, as with other fetishes, vore is 'personal', as she says, 'some people find it appealing and some people dont'. Hope continues: 'So when talking about these interests, it's important to be respectful and aware of consent and boundaries in these adult activities. 'People who get involved in vore should communicate openly, establish consent and engage responsibly.' Hundreds of videos have been posted under the hashtag #grapetheory A long-standing Spanish tradition for ringing in the new year has captured the attention of the TikTok generation - who believe it might be the key to a successful love life. Influencers are advising singletons to take part in a New Year's Eve tradition; eating 12 grapes for each of the 12 chimes of the clock at midnight, suggesting it's a 'hack' to help them find love. As 2025 looms on the horizon, the video sharing platform has exploded with clips under the hashtag #grapetheory as Gen Z give the national tradition a makeover. In fact, people now suggest the only thing standing between them and true love is devouring the fruit when the clock strikes midnight on December 31. In a now viral video, Izzy Dwyer, 19, takes a plastic ziplock bag filled with grapes out of and shoves them into her mouth as she laughs. 'I saw on TikTok that [eating the 12 grapes] it's meant to bring you luck in your love life and I did it with three friends,' she told the Metro. 'One had a boyfriend and me and my other friend were single and now we're both in relationships too.' 'I guess you could say it had a 100 per cent success rate.' In a now viral video, Izzy Dwyer, 19, takes a plastic ziplock bag filled with grapes out of and shoves them into her mouth as she laughs Liliana Tuskia also took part in the ritual and filmed herself sitting under a table and shoving 12 grapes into her mouth - one for every month of the year. The video then cuts to her in August 2024 wearing an elegant wedding gown and being kissed by the man of her dreams. 'It really works,' Liliana wrote on TikTok. 'It worked for me too,' a loved-up user replied. She said she had been single for four years before eating the grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve and the following year she got engaged to the 'love of my life'. But some of Liliana's followers were not as convinced, with one saying: 'I did it and I'm still single.' Another user said: 'I think my grapes were broken or something.' A third quipped: 'My grapes were expired'. Some TikTok users even have taken the grape theory to the next level, insisting that a single person also has to wear red underwear and eat the fruit while sitting beneath a table as the bells ring in the new year. One person even suggested that singletons should eat 24 grapes in total - 12 green and 12 red - in an attempt to 'double their luck'. Some TikTok users took the grape theory to the next level, insisting that a single person has to eat the fruit while sitting beneath a table as the bells ring in the new year Liliana Tuskia also took part in the bizarre ritual and filmed herself sitting under a table and shoving 12 grapes into her mouth - one for every month of the year Many of Liliana's followers took to the comments to say that they had tried the grape theory - with varying results But is there some truth to this grape-eating tradition? The custom of eating grapes at New Years originates in Spain where it is known as 'las doce uvas de la suerte' or 'the 12 lucky grapes'. The tradition is thought to date back to the turn of the 20th century when a group of grape farmers in Alicante tried to get rid of their surplus stock. Another theory states that a group of Madrid residents decided to eat grapes to mock the aristocratic custom of drinking wine on New Year's Eve. Some believe that the custom actually came from France, but was later popularised in Madrid while others eat the grapes in an attempt to ward off evil spirits. Now, the trend has evolved on social media to include luck - specifically in your love life. Whatever the case, the general premise remains the same and the tradition is central to New Year celebrations in Spain. On the evening of December 31, televisions across the country light up with the image of the Puerta del Sol - a square in central Madrid. On the evening of December 31, televisions across the country light up with the image of the Puerta del Sol - a square in central Madrid As the Real Case de Correos Clock chimes 12 times to mark midnight, thousands of people eat their grapes to the beat of the bell As the Real Case de Correos Clock chimes 12 times to mark midnight, thousands of people eat their grapes to the rhythm of the 12 bells. At the same time, many people across Spain and even parts of Latin America take part in the tradition from the comfort of their own home to ring in the New Year. So no matter if you are eating 12 grapes in Puerta del Sol, from your living room or underneath a table while in red lingerie, the belief is that your year will be filled with good luck if you succeed. Whether or not the grape theory works, thousands are set to try it out ahead of 2025. And if it doesn't work? There's always next year. A palliative care nurse has revealed the surprising things she's learned about death and dying after working in end-of-life care for 23 years. Jan Palmer, 64, a Marie Curie nurse based in a hospice in Penarth, Wales, is due to retire on Christmas Eve after 42 years in the role. During her time in palliative care, Jan has worked with patients in the hospice, and provided emotional and clinical support on the free helpline for those who are living or caring for someone with a terminal illness. Despite challenging moments in her long career, Jan says she's 'never' considered leaving the role and has 'loved it' since day one, when she first stepped into the hospice in 2002. Speaking exclusively to FEMAIL ahead of her retirement, Jan has revealed the surprising things she's learned about death and dying. Contrary to public belief, Jan said she has seen 'more good deaths than not' and that her time in palliative care has 'absolutely' brought her greater peace of mind about her own death. She said: 'An individual's death can look so different. But I firmly believe that with the right support in place, the vast majority of us can have a good death. 'The public doesn't necessarily know what it could look like, and that's half the battle, if it's demystified. Because I have the information, I feel comforted. Jan Palmer has worked in end of life care for 23 years. As her retirement approaches, she speaks to FEMAIL about what she's learned about death and dying 'It's a very natural process, the dying process, and it genuinely isn't to be feared. It's natural to be fearful of it because we don't always have the right information and we've never had that open conversation with anybody. 'But the vast majority of people have a peaceful death. A lot of people believe that all deaths are painful and that is absolutely not the case. In my humble experience, I have truly seen more good deaths than not.' Jan said that one of the first things that happens when a person is about to die is that they will lose their ability to swallow. This may mean they can't keep down medication, but nurses can usually help by repositioning them to prevent a build-up of saliva. If this doesn't work, it could be time to introduce a syringe driver - a small, battery-operated pump that can deliver medication continuously under the skin. A common misunderstanding is that syringe drivers are only used at the end of life and speed up a person's death. But Jan emphasised that they can be used for symptom management at any stage of the illness and introducing one doesn't necessarily mean someone is dying. In fact, it's possible for someone to come off a syringe driver and back onto other methods of medication. Similarly, a lot of people think palliative care means you're imminently dying, but in fact it's about promoting living well, and can be involved at a very early stage. Jan, 64, says she's absolutely 'loved' her job and never considered doing anything else WHAT DOES PALLIATIVE CARE INVOLVE? If you have an illness that can't be cured, palliative care will make you as comfortable as possible through support and symptom management. It becomes available when you learn you have a life-limiting involvement and can be introduced at any stage. End of life care is the form of palliative care you receive when you're close to the end of life. People are considered to be approaching the end of life when they are likely to die within the next 12 months. It can involve different health care professionals including hospital doctors and nurses, your GP, hospice staff and counsellors. Everyone is entitled to high quality care and you have the right to choose where you'd like to receive it and where you want to die. Source: NHS Advertisement Marie Curie palliative care nurses support all kinds of terminal conditions, not just cancer, but also motor neurone disease (MND), heart disease, kidney disease, even cognitive impairment including dementia and Alzheimer's. As well as losing the ability to swallow, signs that someone may be nearing death can include: sleeping more, being drowsy, being restless or agitated, changes to the breathing pattern, mottled skin and breathing less. These all form part of the natural process of dying. To make someone comfortable in their final days, nurses use music, TV and bringing in a person's pets to help them. The end of life charity has even launched a Spotify playlist, based on research into what matters most at the end of life. Jan says that just being around someone and enabling them to have a voice in this time is one of the most important things you can do. She said: 'I always enable the person that I meet to have an opportunity to talk. It's about what matters most to them, to let them have a voice to listen. 'Listening is the biggest part of my role and it's so powerful because that individual may have never had an opportunity to tell their story. 'No matter what people's beliefs, if it gives them comfort at the very end of life, it is as the patient says it is. For me, the dying process is spiritual, and being allowed to be present. It's a privilege to be with that individual. 'I am a scientist and I like evidence but end the end of the day that doesn't mean to say it's not there. We can all have those values, and I like to think of myself as a spiritual person.' On the support line, the most common questions Jan receives are 'am I dying?' and 'how long have I got?' Part of the role involves speaking to patients and relatives on the Marie Curie support line Jan tries to personalise her answers in each case but knows she has to be prepared for anything Jan says her answers are 'personal' to each case, and will gently approach topics such as where they would like to die, and considering an advanced care plan. She can also recognise if she's dealing with an emergency situation such as sepsis and can direct them to someone who can help. She added: 'Often the callers will know the answers, but they feel more comfortable bouncing it off someone. 'You have to be prepared for everything. The majority of people have peaceful deaths, especially with good symptom management. Everyone is entitled to good end of life care, and I've seen how it should look.' Jan can help demystify the process, especially if it's around symptom management. Speaking about her upcoming retirement, Jan confessed that she has 'mixed emotions'. She said: 'I don't know if I ever saw myself retiring if I'm honest with you, I've been nursing for nearly 42 years and I adore my work. It's been the most enriching, powerful experience. I loved every moment of it. 'I wanted to aspire to be the nurse that somebody would want at their bedside when they were dying. For me that was absolutely what it was all about.' Jan said the 'best feeling' about the job is 'the feeling at the end of the day that one has done one's absolute best and hopefully made a difference, however small, in somebody's life.' The list contained a slew of children's titles and characters, like The Incredibles Harley Quinn was the most popular movie character of the year for porn viewers Pornhub has unveiled the most searched movies and characters on the adult site during 2024 - as an expert revealed why you should embrace your kinks. Comic book villain Harley Quinn, who has been portrayed by both Margot Robbie and Lady Gaga on the big screen, got the number one spot. The character beat out the Star Wars franchise as well as the HBO series Game of Thrones, which came in second and third place on the list respectively. The blue aliens from the Avatar films were the fourth most searched film or character this year, followed by Harry Potter, Wonder Woman, and Disney's The Incredibles. Shrek, Power Rangers, and Spider-Man were also amongst the other kids' titles that made the top 30 Pornhub movie and character searches in 2024. While lusting after cartoon characters may seem strange to some, professional sexologist Jessica Toscano told DailyMail.com exclusively that most fantasies like these are normal and healthy. 'Fantasy and kinks really go hand-in-hand, as kinks are essentially playing out fantasies,' she explained. 'Exploring kinks usually allows for more intimacy and pleasure in a safe, communicative, consensual environment,' she continued. Comic book villain Harley Quinn has topped Pornhub's list of the most searched film and TV characters on the X-rated site for 2024 The character beat out the Star Wars franchise (pictured) as well as the HBO series Game of Thrones, which came in second and third place on the list respectively 'Ultimately, kinks are healthy to explore and can improve your relationship with your partner as long as communication and consent are top priorities.' In Pornhub's global yearly report, 'hentai' - a popular animated form of Japanese pornography - was the most overall searched term in the US, taking the top spot from 'lesbian,' which reigned in 2023, 2022, 2019, and 2017. 'Hentai' also ranked number one globally. The Montreal-headquartered company said of the finding: 'All over the world people are showing increasing interest in this type of content, which can include video game characters, anime style characters, and 3D animation, to name a few.' Compared to other countries, the US showed a special interest in 'latina' this year, which rose two spots to make it the second most searched term, while 'milf' followed in third place. Pornhub added that 'milf' consistently ranks in the top three globally. The term 'Asian' rose two spots to land in fourth place, while 'ebony' stayed in fifth place, the same as 2023. The term 'lesbian' took a bit of a plunge in 2024, moving down five spots from last year to sixth place. The blue aliens from the Avatar films (pictured) came in fourth on the list, followed by Harry Potter, Wonder Woman, and the Disney film The Incredibles Shrek, Power Rangers, and Spider-Man were amongst the other kids' titles that made the top 30 Pornhub movie and character searches in 2024 Looking at trending searches, Pornhub revealed that 'mature-50 plus' was 'popping off,' up 385 per cent this year. Meanwhile, 'business trip' was up 331 per cent, 'thick and curvy' was up 251 per cent, and 'sneaky cheating' was up 211 per cent. Pornhub theorized that the rise of 'business trip' came down to people developing work crushes again with the return of hybrid and in-office working. A spokesperson commented: 'It's one thing being behind a screen in meetings, but when you're back in the office, those sparks might turn into flames. And our statisticians saw this unfolding in real time.' Elsewhere, Pornhub also revealed that 27-year-old Violet Myers was the top pornstar of the year in the US. Former Marine Alex Adams came in second, while Chicago-born Lana Rhoades was in third. Globally, Pornhub found that there was a huge interest in 'wives,' which it attributed to the TV reality show, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. It can be difficult coming up with a skincare routine that's affordable to maintain, especially when moisturizers and serums can cost hundreds of dollars. Thankfully, Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky gave her 1.5 million TikTok followers a holiday present when she revealed the best dupes for ultra-pricey skincare products. The viral video received more than 35,000 likes and 255 comments from beauty lovers who wanted cost-friendly options. 'I can't afford skincare, it's too expensive,' Dr. Zubritsky, also known as Derm Guru, wrote over the video, before she shared a slew of thrifty options. 'Say it with me: skincare doesn't have to be expensive to be effective,' she captioned the TikTok. The doctor detailed swaps for celebrity favorites from brands including Skinceuticals, LANEIGE, and Drunk Elephant. For cleanser, instead of the $36 Farmacy Green Clean, Dr. Zubritsky suggested e.l.f. Makeup's $19 Melting Cleansing Balm. The Farmacy product, made with turmeric and papaya enzymes, received rave reviews on Sephora, where it has almost five stars and 458,000 hearts. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky gave her 1.5 million TikTok followers a holiday present when she revealed the best dupes for ultra-pricey skincare products Drunk Elephant's $69 Bouncy Brightfacial is a viral favorite on TikTok, but the dermatologist suggested the $20 azelaic acid from Naturium as an affordable alternative to help brighten skin The dermatologist suggested swapping SKII's $80 toner (left) for the $14 Anua 77s option (right) which Amazon commenters described as the product as 'perfect for sensitive skin' The bargain e.l.f. option is just as popular on Target's website, where reviewers say it's a standout product that effectively removes makeup while leaving skin feeling soft and hydrated. While Skinceuticals C.E. Ferulic is a cult classic and a favorite amongst dermatologists and celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Hailey Bieber, it does come with a hefty $182 price tag. Instead, Dr. Zubritsky, based in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, suggested Brandefy's more affordable and less buzzy $31 Vitamin C to correct dark spots and help with anti-aging. The dermatologist also suggested swapping SKII's $80 toner for the $14 Anua 77s option, which is a hit with Amazon commenters, who describe the product as 'perfect for sensitive skin.' Drunk Elephant's $69 Bouncy Brightfacial is a viral favorite on TikTok, but she suggested the $20 azelaic acid from Naturium as an affordable alternative to help brighten dull, lifeless skin. In addition, Dr. Zubritsky proposed using $13.99 Vichy Hyaluronic Acid instead of the celebrity-beloved $45 LANEIGE Water Bank, as both are ultra-hydrating products. Another of Dr. Zubritsky's suggested budget swaps was to switch from using La Mer's $390 moisturizing cream for a $9 Nivea one, which is a popular suggestion made by cosmetic chemists who previously compared the ingredients and found remarkable similarities. 'La Mer and Nivea . Sounds like a lie but its true,' a commenter agreed. Another of the dermatologist's suggested budget swap was switching La Mer's $390 moisturizing cream (left) for Nivea's $9 cream (right) Dr. Zubritsky proposed using $13.99 Vichy Hyaluronic Acid (right) instead of the celebrity-beloved $45 LANEIGE Water Bank (left), as both are ultra-hydrating products La Mer products are a big hit with celebrities, including Demi Moore, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, and Nicole Kidman. However, one commenter pointed out that there are some differences: 'Everyone says that the Nivea cream has the same ingredients [as] the La Mer one, but I just feel that the Nivea is super heavy.' Some people dropped their own favorite copycats in the comments. 'A better dupe for the SKII essence is the Mixsoon galactomyces toner or ma:nyo galactomyces toner, because that's the main ingredient in the SKII essence,' one beauty lover explained. While most followers appreciated the accessible swaps, many people called for even cheaper items. 'I was waiting for under $10,' one person wrote, as another agreed, 'If its over $20 its a no from me.' 'I need Dollar Tree items,' someone else commented. Mila Kunis has opened up about her journey with Judaism in a new video, revealing that growing up, she was told never to talk about her faith. For the second night of Hanukkah, Kunis joined author Noa Tishby for the activists #BringOnTheLight campaign, which is dedicated to showing the world Jewish joy that has lasted thousands of years and spreading the message of Jewish resilience. Kunis, who has been married to actor Ashton Kutcher for nearly 10 years, was born in Ukraine, and she immigrated to Los Angeles when she was just eight years old. Now, in a new interview with Tishby, Kunis gave more insight into her upbringing and why she was taught to hide her Judaism, as she explained that she grew up without celebrating the religious holidays. 'I always knew I was Jewish, but I was told to never talk about it,' Kunis confessed. When Tishby asked her why that was, Kunis explained that she believes it was because she was 'in a country that didn't allow for religion.' 'I was raised culturally Jewish, so for me, it's a culture, and as I had kids, and my kids very much identify with the religion aspect of it,' the Family Guy actress explained. Kunis shared that she and Kutcher's two children, daughter Wyatt Isabelle, 10, and son Dimitri Portwood, eight, celebrate Shabbos and the holidays. Mila Kunis is opening up about her journey with Judaism in a new video, revealing that growing up, she was told never to talk about her faith For the second night of Hanukkah, Kunis joined author Noa Tishby for the activists #BringOnTheLight campaign 'I fell in love with my religion because he explained it to me,' Kunis gushed about her husband, Ashton Kutcher The That 70's Show star also made a sweet nod to her husband while speaking with Tishby, explaining that she became proud of her Judaism when she met him. Kutcher himself is not Jewish, but the family raise their children as such, and Kunis has said that he's part of the faith 'by choice.' 'I fell in love with my religion because he explained it to me,' Kunis gushed. When Kunis lit the menorah for the second night of Hanukkah, Kunis had to get a little help from her husband. He made a quick cameo, as she called him on the phone because she wanted to make sure she was lighting the candles in the correct order. Kunis and Tishby got in a bit of a pickle as they debated whether or not the candles were to be lit from left to right or from right to left. 'Hi babe, quick question, when you light the menorah, do you light from right to left or left to right?' Kunis asked Kutcher, after dialing him from her iPhone. 'It's right to left, babe,' the Dude, Where's my Car? actor said as he was put on speaker phone. Kutcher himself is not Jewish, but the family raise their children as such, and she has said that he's part of the faith 'by choice' Kunis shared that she and Kutcher's two children, daughter Wyatt Isabelle, 10, and son Dimitri Portwood, eight, celebrate Shabbos and the holiday 'You load them right to left, you start with the center candle, and then you light them left to right,' he explained. However, in the end, Kunis and Tishby agreed that the most important thing is keeping the tradition alive. 'Luckily, no one is judging, because the most important thing is simply lighting the candles and embracing the tradition,' Tishby said. 'Milas evolution as a Jewish woman is a story so many can relate to, and Im thrilled to have her voice as part of the #BringOnTheLight Hanukkah project,' the Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew author continued. Kunis' video with Tishby comes as her husband continues to lay low from the public eye. Weeks after Diddy's arrest, a source exclusively told DailyMail.com that Kutcher 'regretted' his friendship with the rapper and felt 'betrayed' by him. 'Ashton absolutely regrets his friendship with Diddy considering what has happened,' the insider dished. 'He feels lied to, betrayed, taken for granted and manipulated.' Being that Kutcher's other former friend and co-star Danny Masterson was convicted of rape in 2023, the source said that Kutcher no longer trusts anyone outside of his family with Kunis. When Kunis lit the menorah for the second night of Hanukkah, Kunis had to get a little help from her husband 'He feels the same way about Danny Masterson. He now trusts no one except for his wife Mila [Kunis]. He is going to keep his circle to his family,' they added. DailyMail.com's source also said that Kutcher feared how the Diddy investigation would 'play out' as he suspected the rapper 'would have no problem lying to authorities and tossing out some of his famous friends names if it meant it could get him out of jail.' The source continued: 'Diddy could say anything, do anything or turn on anyone at this point. 'Everyone who is close to Diddy fears the possibility of Diddy making up false allegations to clear his own name.' However, a source told TMZ that Kutcher was not being looked at by federal investigators. The brother of the late Princess Diana, Charles Spencer, has shared a solemn post visiting his sister's grave over the Christmas period. The 9th Earl Spencer, 60, took to social media on December 24 to share a 'quiet moment' at his younger sister's resting place at Althorp House - the home where the two grew up together. Charles shared a picture of a grand black bench perched under her memorial, writing that it was the perfect spot to remember his younger sister, who died in 1997 aged 36. 'My favourite bench - good place to sit on Christmas Eve during a quiet moment,' he captioned the photo, revealing the black bench beneath a portrait of Diana. Adding a second picture to his Instagram story, Charles shared a pensive snap of Oval Lake, showing the shadows of the leaf barren trees bearing down over the water. Princess Diana is buried on a island in the middle of the lake, which is accessible only by boat to close friends and family. She had initially been planned to be buried at a vault in Great Brington where generations of Spencers have historically been laid to rest. But fearing for her privacy, even in death, Charles elected to change her final resting spot to Althorp House, where the pair spent many happy years growing up. The brother of the late Princess Diana , Charles Spencer, (pictured) has shared a solemn post visiting his sister's grave over the Christmas period Charles posted a picture of a grand black bench perched under her memorial, writing that it was the perfect spot to take a 'quiet moment' to remember his younger sister, who died in 1997 aged 36 Writing in his book, Althorp: The Story of an English House, he explained that the remote location for her burial was 'entirely intentional'. He said the lake 'a buffer against the interventions of the insane and goulish, the thick mud presenting a further line of defence.' The Northamptonshire estate, which boasts more than 13,000 acres, is open for tourists to visit during the summer months but then closes over winter. Charles previously revealed that he visits the grave of his sister 'pretty much every day' and that she is still 'very' alive in his memory. Speaking on Good Morning Britain earlier this year, the author said he pays a visit to Diana nearly daily, despite it being 27-years since her passing. He acknowledged that nearly all of viewer's watching would likely have their own set of trauma to battle - 'And, like everyone else, you sort of get used to it without it ever going away' Adding a second picture to his Instagram story, Charles shared a pensive snap of Oval Lake, showing the shadows of the leaf barren trees bearing down over the water Charles previously revealed that he visits the grave of his sister 'pretty much every day' and that she is still 'very' alive in his memory On Christmas Day, Charles also posted a picture of Althorp House - suggesting this is where he spent the day - sharing a dark snap of the sweeping estate, lit up by a stream of yellow light Speaking on Good Morning Britain earlier this year, the author said he pays a visit to Diana nearly every day, despite it being 27-years since her passing On Christmas Day, Charles also posted a picture of Althorp House - suggesting this is where he spent the day - sharing a dark snap of the sweeping estate, lit up by a stream of yellow light. Earlier in the festive season and prior to the heartfelt post, Charles had made a post revealing the festive transformation Althorp underwent ahead of Christmas. In an Instagram post, the Earl Spencer revealed a huge towering Christmas tree, laced with snow white lights and stylish red baubles. 'Happy Christmas to you, from @althorphouse,' he wrote. It comes after the author revealed he was 'finally with the right woman', confirming his relationship with archaeologist Cat Jarman. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he said: 'Cat Jarman, who is my partner now actually, she's a brilliant archaeologist. 'She is Nordic Person of the Year 2024 which is usually handed out to someone like Sven-Goran Eriksson or a composer or something. You have to be respected throughout all Scandinavian and Nordic countries.' Cat, 42, who is separated from her husband, has been helping Earl Spencer unearth a Roman villa in Althorp, the Spencer family estate in Northamptonshire. Since 2023, Charles and Cat have co-hosted The Rabbit Hole Detective, which is a historical podcast. Charles and Cat first sparked romance rumours in June, after they were spotted enjoying a theatre trip in London. It has been a joyous festive season for royal fans, as they've seen the Firm slowly return back to normal after a challenging year. The Princess of Wales and King Charles were both diagnosed with cancer in 2024, with Kate announcing that she had completed her chemotherapy in September. Wednesday morning marked a special occasion, as members of family gathered together for their annual Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church. The Princess of Wales was seen walking around with her husband Prince William and their children, Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, alongside King Charles and Camilla. Other members of the family, including Zara Tindall, Lady Louise and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, were also in attendance. Seeing the family reunited for the yearly visit brought out much emotion, with two women even embracing over the excitement of meeting Kate. It resulted in more funny moments, including Prince Louis's gleeful face as he was gifted chocolates during the festive occasion. Elsewhere over the winter celebrations, viewers were touched as Kate became visibly emotional during her annual carol concert. Here, FEMAIL has rounded up the most heartfelt and sweet - as well as joyful - moments the royals have had over December. 1. Kate's funny quip as she 'seems to have lost her family' Kate Middleton was seen speaking to well-wishers outside St. Mary Magdalene Church on Christmas Kate made a cheeky quip to a fan at Sandringham as she was getting ready to leave the Christmas Day festivities yesterday. As the royal stood speaking to well-wishers who had come to catch a glimpse of her and the rest of the firm, her children and husband stood patiently waiting a few feet away. Sweet snaps showed Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis chatting while Kate shook hands and accepted gifts. And when the Princess realised her children and husband William had finished with their socialising she quipped to one royal fan: 'I seem to have lost my family.' The three children stood beside their father, William as they waited for her to finish chatting. 2. Kate and Camilla's matching moment In a sartorial display of solidarity, Britain's Queen and future Queen both picked deep green winter coats with matching fascinators for the royal walkabout at their Norfolk estate on a wintry Christmas morning Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton wore nearly identical outfits as they arrived at St Mary Magdalene church on Wednesday. In a sartorial display of solidarity, Britain's Queen and future Queen both picked deep green winter coats with matching fascinators for the royal walkabout at their Norfolk estate on a wintry Christmas morning. Camilla, 77, and Kate, 42, coordinated their looks right down to their accessories, with the duo wearing black gloves and boots, while also carrying similar black bags. While Kate completed her outfit with a navy and green scarf, as well as a pair of dainty diamond earrings, Camilla fastened a sparkling brooch to the lapel of her coat. Ever prepared, Camilla also carried a silver umbrella as she walked towards the church accompanied by her husband, King Charles. 3. Prince Louis grinning while receiving chocolates Prince Louis, six, couldn't contain his glee as he accepted boxes of Cadbury chocolates and stuffed animals from fans on Wednesday. Louis attended the special Christmas Day service on the Norfolk estate with his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and siblings, Prince George, 11 and Princess Charlotte, nine. After the service, senior members of the Royal Family, including King Charles and Queen Camilla, greeted well-wishers - laden with gifts - who began arriving outside the church Tuesday evening. Prince Louis looked visibly excited by the presents he received from members of the public - including a box of Cadbury's chocolates, Christmas crackers, bouquets of flowers, and an assortment of stuffed toys. Prince Louis, six, couldn't contain his glee as the young royal accepted boxes of Cadbury chocolates and stuffed animals from royal fans at Sandringham on Christmas morning Princess Charlotte and Prince George also graciously accepted their presents, as they waved to the crowds while standing alongside their father, Prince William In a sweet video from the morning, a very happy Louis had his hands full of gifts before another well-wisher offered him a Father Christmas headband. The young prince accepted the headband, politely thanked the person who gifted it and returned to his father and siblings. Prince William, who was himself greeting well-wishers with enthusiasm, appeared amused by his youngest son's haul and said: 'You've got that as well'. But when the family started to move along the path, Louis appeared to struggle to keep hold of everything he had received. At that point, he returned to his father and sweetly asked: 'Papa, can you carry some?' Princess Charlotte and Prince George also graciously accepted their presents, as they waved to the crowds while standing alongside their father, Prince William. 4. Heartfelt moment Kate hugged cancer patient On Wednesday morning, Kate spoke to well-wishers about her battle with cancer and hugged a cancer patient during a walk with her family in Sandringham. The Princess of Wales told royals fans she was 'hugely grateful' to the hundreds of people who had written to her offering their support after her cancer diagnosis earlier this year. And yesterday she met a cancer patient who travelled to Sandringham to meet members of the Firm, hugging Kate. The Princess of Wales hugged a cancer patient (pictured) after a Christmas Day service on Wednesday Karen Maclean, from North Lincolnshire, spoke with both Charles and Kate and gave the princess a hug. The 73-year-old, who is retired, said she had had '20 years of cancer' and spoke about the disease with the King and his daughter-in-law after their own health issues this year. 'We just had a little talk about cancer, really,' said Ms Maclean. 'I've met the King before. He said to me 'I can remember you', I'm thinking 'what!', like many years ago?' She said that Charles and Kate seemed 'very well actually, considering what they're going through'. She added after hugging Kate: 'What a privilege.' Moments after she took a gift for Charlotte from a little girl, who she wished Merry Christmas, a woman who had worked for Macmillan Cancer Support told Kate: 'I just wanted to say you are an inspiration to all the patients.' The Princess of Wales replied: 'The amount of people who have written this year is extraordinary and I think cancer just really does resonate with so many families. 'People like you are doing all the hard work out there. I'm hugely grateful.' Another woman added, 'We're all behind you, never forget that,' to which Kate replied, 'Thank you very much, [that's] so kind, nice to meet you.' Members of the public who met Kate described her as 'radiant'. 5. Kate accepts drawing from child for Princess Charlotte Kate accepted a gift from a child as she left the Christmas Day church service with the rest of the Royal Family on Wednesday. The Princess of Wales and her children joined the King and Queen as they attended the service at Sandringham and afterwards greeted the crowds outside. 'Lovely' Kate, wearing a green coat and a hat, approached fans where one of the children stood and handed the future Queen a drawing of Charlotte, as the people's faces lit up to meet them. The Princess of Wales, along with other royals greeted fans outside when the adorable encounter with a royal fan was captured after a Christmas Day church service at Sandringham in Norfolk The heartfelt moment was one of many captured when the members of the family left the church The princess said: 'Did you miss Charlotte? Yeah, should I give it to her when we get back home? That's so kind of you, there's your writing. Thank you very much. Merry Christmas.' The cute moment between the Princess of Wales and the little one was caught on camera by other fans nearby. Many took to social media to share their love for the princess, with one saying: 'Well done to the P of W, and to the parent who gave her child's drawing to her. How gracious of them both.' Meanwhile, another Royal fan said: 'She is so lovely. An icon.' while another user said: 'She is the real thing, nothing phony about Catherine, Princess of Wales.' 6. King Charles's poignant message to the nation The King offered an emotional thank you to the 'selfless' medics who have supported his family this year during a message to the nation on Wednesday. In his annual Christmas Day broadcast, Charles candidly admitted to the 'uncertainties and anxieties of illness'. The monarch, who has worked throughout his ongoing cancer treatment, gave an unprecedented glimpse into the depths of his personal battle, as well as that of his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales. King Charles took the opportunity to thank nurses and doctors in his Christmas address, breaking tradition during the address The King, 76, highlighted how much it has meant to him to hear words of encouragement from people who welcomed his decision to make his diagnosis public in the hope that it might help others. He said: 'From a personal point of view, I offer special, heartfelt thanks to the selfless doctors and nurses who, this year, have supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness, and have helped provide the strength, care and comfort we have needed. 'I am deeply grateful, too, to all those who have offered us their own kind words of sympathy and encouragement.' The Christmas message was filmed for only the fourth time 'on location', with the King choosing a former hospital chapel in London to emphasise the link with the nation's vital healthcare community. 7. Kate's emotional moment during the carol concert The Princess of Wales appeared visibly emotional on Tuesday night as she concluded her much anticipated 'Together At Christmas' carol concert. Kate had bravely persevered to host her fourth annual service after her toughest year yet, in which she underwent preventative chemotherapy for cancer. The service, which was filmed at Westminster Abbey earlier this month was attended by members of the royal family including Prince William and their children George, Charlotte and Louis. Although the the future queen spent most of her time beaming during her event, in the final carol, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, the princess appeared visibly moved as she reached the end of her service, holding her candle and her order of service. The Princess of Wales appeared visibly emotional as she concluded her much anticipated 'Together At Christmas ' carol concert As she continued to sing alongside her children, Kate looked moved during the closing minutes of the service - which has marked her greatest return to public duties to date following her difficult year and made for a sparkling achievement. The atmosphere in the Abbey, which was lit by candles as the evening drew on, was considered and meaningful, as the princess demonstrated her powerful commitment to her annual service. At the start of her annual carol concert, Kate called for people to 'slow down and reflect on the deeper things that connect us all' and turn to 'love, not fear'. The broadcast of Kate's service featured a special festive message from the royal, 42, in which she spoke about the importance of love and empathy. Kate said: 'Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year, it is a time for presents, tinsel and mince pies, but it's also a time to slow down and reflect on the deeper things that connect us all. 'It is when we stop and take ourselves away from the pressures of daily life, that we find the space to live our lives with an open heart, with love, kindness and forgiveness, so much of what the Christmas spirit is all about. 'The Christmas story encourages us to consider the experiences and feelings of others. It also reflects our own vulnerabilities and reminds us of the importance of giving and receiving empathy, as well as just how much we need each other in spite of our differences. Above all else, it encourages us to turn to love, not fear.' 8. Kate and Sophie's sweet greeting The Princess of Wales has shared a sweet greeting with the Duchess of Edinburgh at her Christmas carol service, which aired on Tuesday evening. Kate reached out to Sophie for a touching kiss at the royal's fourth annual Together at Christmas concert inside Westminster Abbey on December 6. The Princess of Wales has shared a sweet greeting with Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh at a special Christmas carol service (both pictured) For the mother-of-three, it was her most significant public engagement since completing preventive chemotherapy treatment, and following a most gruelling year amid her shock cancer announcement in March. Once Kate spotted the duchess, she embraced her with a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek, a fitting greeting for the royal who has provided unwavering and maternal support in her time of need. The pair looked in their element as they reunited, while the princess continued to show her closeness with the duchess by placing a touching hand on her shoulder. 9. Prince Louis's adorable note Prince Louis hung a sweet note to hang on the 'kindness tree' outside the Westminster Abbey as he attended his mother's carol concert earlier this month. The young royal, who has routinely stolen the limelight with his comical appearances at royal events, this time stole hearts. A festive note for granny and grandad: Prince Louis, six, is seen hanging a note to his maternal grandparents on the 'kindness tree' at Westminster Abbey at Kate Middleton's carol concert The young royal clutched onto a note (pictured) that read: 'Thank you for granny and grandpa because they have played games with me As Louis strolled into the Princess' fourth annual concert alongside his father, Prince William, and his siblings, Prince George, 11, and Princess Charlotte, nine, the family are seen in the video quietly observing some of the red notes hung on the festive fir. And then the young prince steps forward to hang his own red tagged note, a special thank you to his maternal grandparents. The handwritten festive card reads: 'Thank you for granny and grandpa because they have played games with me'. 10. Sophie taking style inspiration from Kate at Christmas carol concert The Princess of Wales has has an undeniably strong bond with Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. This has been seen time and time again, most recently at Kate's Christmas carol service, where Sophie decided to take inspiration from the mother-of-three's wardrobe. Kate donned an elegant Alexander McQueen red coat with a statement black bow for the event; and Sophie opted for a floral bohemian style dress and white wintry blazer. It appears Sophie's sublime look seemed to emulate the princess's style and as the pair have grown undeniably close over the last 13 years, it is perhaps expected they would begin to mirror one another's style. Sophie paired her stylish look with brown boots and a white bag, along with glowing make-up and blonde tresses which were kept loose with a light curl at the end. Their unique bond was evidenced when Kate, 42, reached out to Sophie for a touching embrace at the royal's fourth annual Together at Christmas concert inside Westminster Abbey on December 6 The Duchess showed up to support the princess in a stylish floral bohemian dress and white wintry blazer Meanwhile Kate teamed her festive red look with a pair of black Ralph Lauren boots, while her signature brunette locks were styled in loose waves for the occasion. And as Sophie at times has looked to the Princess for fashion inspiration, Kate has turned to the Duchess for a helping hand in both duty and personal matters as of late. Since marrying into the Royal Family 25 years ago, the Duchess of Edinburgh has proven herself to be one of the Firm's key players, but lately she has stepped up to the plate in a different way - most especially for Kate. While at the 'Together at Christmas' carol service at Westminster Abbey, Sophie was stood by the Princess of Wales, and the following week she got stuck in with Christmas fun with the Disability Initiative charity and sang carols. Christmas Day at Sandringham is an eventful affair for the royals, with family arriving from all across the country to commemorate the big day. This year marked a new milestone for King Charles, 76, and his wife, Queen Camilla, 77, who welcomed her son Tom Parker-Bowles and daughter, Laura Lopes, to the Norfolk estate for the festivities for the first time. While they were not spotted on the annual walkabout, it is understood that the pair - who are both from Camilla's previous marriage to ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles - attended the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church. FEMAIL understands that Tom and Laura slipped into the church secretly to avoid the crowds. Though the queen's children have never attended the annual Sandringham celebration's before, Tom previously revealed that his mother had been particularly keen for him to join her this year. Speaking the The Telegraph earlier this year, Tom said: 'My mum said, "I'd love you to come, I havent had Christmas with you for a long time."' His mother has often requested he join in the past, but has been previously occupied with his own festive jubilees. For many years, Tom has spent Christmas Day with his ex wife, former fashion editor, Sarah Buys, and their two children, Lola, 17, and Frederick, 13, with his ex wife, Sarah Buys. This year marked a new milestone for King Charles, 76, and his wife, Queen Camilla , 77, who welcomed her son Tom Parker-Bowles (left) and daughter, Laura Lopes, (right) to the Norfolk estate for the first time. Both pictured in 2022 While they were not spotted on the annual walkabout, it is understood that the pair - who are both from Camilla's previous marriage to ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles - attended the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church (Queen Camilla pictured yesterday) He said: 'For the past 15 years, it has been: I go back to my ex-wife's house, sit in my tracksuit bottoms, go to the pub while the beef's in, then try to get my children to watch The Wild Geese. Classic. So this would be a bit different.' Both Tom, who is a food critic for The Mail on Sunday, 50, and his sister, Laura Lopes, 46, an art curator, are close with their mother. Laura Lopes - who manages the Space Gallery in London and co-founded Eleven, a fine art gallery in Belgravia - is also a mother to Eliza, 16, and twin sons, Gus and Louis, 15. She shares her three children with chartered accountant Harry Lopes, who she married in 2006. Speaking to the publication about what Sandringham was like at Christmas, Tom said he was sure there would be plenty of sprouts and turkey - and that he'd been instructed to bring a smart dinner suit. It's likely that Tom would have also enjoyed spending time with the king, his stepfather, having previously described him as 'the kindest, most knowledgeable, lovely man,' to Hello!. The royals pictured on the annual walkabout yesterday. It's likely that Tom would have also enjoyed spending time with the king, his stepfather, having previously described him as 'the kindest, most knowledgeable, lovely man,' to Hello! Discussing his mother's relationship with the monarch, he warmly added that 'They're very well suited. They work well together, and we're happy that our mother's happy '. The food columnist previously opened up about a challenging few years with his mother battling various health conditions. Speaking to The Telegraph, he spoke candidly about his mother, who has been recovering from a bout of pneumonia since returning from a royal tour of Australia and Samoa, as well as his step-father, King Charles, who was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February. He added that growing age and illness was a vivid reminder of an individual's 'mortality'. Despite the chest infection temporarily ruling her out of royal duties, Tom described his mother as a resilient woman. He said: 'She went back to work before she should have done but she's fine. She's tough. She hates that she missed Remembrance Sunday. That's a big day for her. Tom added that 'nothing's changed' since Camilla became Queen, except that she works 'harder' and jests he is often unaware what her movements are - at times only discovering she is on a royal visit outside the UK when he turns on the television. Meanwhile, Tom previously confirmed the King's cancer treatment is 'going well', according to doctors. But it is clear the pair have together struggled with health concerns and it has prompted him to think differently about spending time with the monarchs over the festive period. (From left to right): Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte The Prince and Princess of Wales posed for photographs with their three children: George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and Louis, six The royals appeared in good spirits yesterday as they headed out on the annual walkabout to attend a church service. Kate, 42, was a sight to behold as she walked alongside Prince William, their children Prince Louis, six, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince George, 11, as well as King Charles and Queen Camilla at their Sandringham estate. Her attendance followed joyous anticipation after what has been a gruelling year for the Princess, who stunned the world with a shock cancer diagnosis in March 2024. As King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales walked into the church, the crowds could be heard wishing them a 'Merry Christmas!'. Kate's infectious smile was testament to her courage in the face of adversity as well as her work ethic, as the Christmas service marks just one of many official public engagements attended by the Princess since announcing her cancer treatment. It is also the second time the Wales family have been seen together in public since their appearance at Trooping the Colour, the King's birthday parade, in June. Prince William, 42, looked dapper in a navy coat and trousers, perhaps paving the way for his son's dashing style, with George wearing a similar ensemble to the future King. Meanwhile, Charlotte twinned with her mother, with the young princess also wearing a dark green coat. They were joined by senior members of the Royal Family including Princess Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne's daughter Zara Tindall, as well as Princess Beatrice. King Charles has revealed the behind the scenes set up of his emotional annual Christmas Day speech. The monarch, 76, filmed his special message from a former hospital chapel at Middlesex Hospital in London to emphasise the link with the nation's vital healthcare community. The Christmas message was filmed for only the fourth time 'on location', rather than on a royal estate. During Charles's speech, he offered an emotional thank you to the 'selfless' medics who have supported his family this year during a message to the nation on Wednesday. The official Royal Family Instagram account have now shared a clip showing how much work went into getting everything perfect for the annual occasion. The clip showed the Band of the Grenadier Guards getting dressed in their bold scarlet-red uniform, along with Charles practising his speech. Part of the video message was filmed using a drone which flew through the doors of the building before stopping short of the smart guards. Members of the team also helped decorate the atmosphere with lit festive trees and decorations to help set the scene. Behind the scenes footage showed Charles discussing with technicians how to use the autocue to read his speech, along with reviewing the footage after it had been filmed The monarch, 76, filmed his special message from a former hospital chapel in London to emphasise the link with the nation's vital healthcare community It also showed Charles discussing with technicians how to use the autocue to read his speech, along with reviewing the footage after it had been filmed. The official Royal Family Instagram account wrote: 'Behind the lens. 'A special glimpse into the incredible talent, creativity, and teamwork that brings The King's Christmas Broadcast to life.' It has since racked up many likes from royal fans, who commented their thoughts on the post. One wrote: 'Such a treat to be taken behind the scenes, great job to everyone involved.' Another penned: 'I thought it was a beautiful speech and great to see behind the scenes.' The clip showed the Band of the Grenadier Guards getting dressed in their bold scarlet-red uniform, along with Charles practising his speech King Charles was seen filming the speech at the Chapel and it was broadcast on Christmas Day Members of the team also helped decorate the atmosphere with lit festive trees and decorations to help set the scene A third said: 'Lovely speech including candour about health issues we all face or have loved ones who face - it was both global and personal.' A fourth commented: 'I loved the speech and it's great to see how it was filmed. Merry Christmas.' In his annual Christmas Day broadcast, Charles candidly admitted to the 'uncertainties and anxieties of illness'. The monarch, who has worked throughout his ongoing cancer treatment, gave an unprecedented glimpse into the depths of his personal battle, as well as that of his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales. The King, 76, highlighted how much it has meant to him to hear words of encouragement from people who welcomed his decision to make his diagnosis public in the hope that it might help others. He said: 'I am speaking to you today from the chapel of the former Middlesex Hospital in London now itself a vibrant community space and thinking especially of the many thousands of professionals and volunteers here in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth who, with their skills and out of the goodness of their heart, care for others often at some cost to themselves. 'From a personal point of view, I offer special, heartfelt thanks to the selfless doctors and nurses who, this year, have supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness, and have helped provide the strength, care and comfort we have needed. 'I am deeply grateful, too, to all those who have offered us their own kind words of sympathy and encouragement.' Part of the video message was filmed using a drone which flew through the doors of the building before stopping short of the smart guards The behind the scenes clip has since racked up many likes from royal fans, who commented their thoughts on the post Elsewhere in the speech, Charles also spoke of his 'deep sense of pride' at communities across the UK who came together following rioting after the fatal stabbing of three little girls in Southport in July. He said: 'I felt a deep sense of pride here in the United Kingdom when, in response to anger and lawlessness in several towns this summer, communities came together, not to repeat these behaviours but to repair. 'To repair not just buildings, but relationships. And, most importantly, to repair trust; by listening and, through understanding, deciding how to act for the good of all.' Saying that 'all of us go through some form of suffering at some stage in our life, be it mental or physical', he emphasised how it is the degree to which we reach out to help one another, regardless of nationality or faith, that is a 'measure of our civilisation as nations'. 'This is what continually impresses me, as my family and I meet with, and listen to, those who dedicate their lives to helping others,' he added. His broadcast came just hours after more than 2,000 members of the public, some queuing overnight, gathered at Sandringham to greet the Royal Family for their annual walk to church on Christmas Day. Kate spoke to well-wishers about her battle with cancer and hugged a cancer patient during a walk with her family in Sandringham. The Princess of Wales told royals fans she was 'hugely grateful' to the hundreds of people who had written to her offering their support after her cancer diagnosis earlier this year. The Princess of Wales hugged a cancer patient (pictured) after a Christmas Day service on Wednesday A woman who worked for Macmillan Cancer Support told Princess Catherine that she was an 'inspiration' to patients And yesterday she met a cancer patient who travelled to Sandringham to meet members of the Firm, hugging Kate. Karen Maclean, from North Lincolnshire, spoke with both Charles and Kate and gave the princess a hug. The 73-year-old, who is retired, said she had had '20 years of cancer' and spoke about the disease with the King and his daughter-in-law after their own health issues this year. 'We just had a little talk about cancer, really,' said Ms Maclean. 'I've met the King before. He said to me 'I can remember you', I'm thinking 'what!', like many years ago?' She said that Charles and Kate seemed 'very well actually, considering what they're going through'. She added after hugging Kate: 'What a privilege.' Moments after she took a gift for Charlotte from a little girl, who she wished Merry Christmas, a woman who had worked for Macmillan Cancer Support told Kate: 'I just wanted to say you are an inspiration to all the patients.' The Princess of Wales replied: 'The amount of people who have written this year is extraordinary and I think cancer just really does resonate with so many families. 'People like you are doing all the hard work out there. I'm hugely grateful.' Another woman added, 'We're all behind you, never forget that,' to which Kate replied, 'Thank you very much, [that's] so kind, nice to meet you.' Localities gear up for consumption events 09:50, December 26, 2024 By Qi Xijia ( Global Times Tourists ski at Yuehai Ski Resort in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Dec. 22, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) As 2024 draws to a close, regions in China are implementing a range of initiatives designed to boost consumer spending in preparation for the upcoming New Year's Day and Spring Festival in 2025. These efforts encompass promotional activities and the distribution of vouchers for cultural events, tourism, cinema, and dining experiences. Starting Wednesday, the bustling Nanjing Road shopping district in Shanghai kicked off a grand promotional campaign, distributing an impressive 21 million yuan ($2.87 million) in discount coupons to spark excitement for New Year shopping, Laodong Daily reported. On December 21, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region launched a campaign to boost consumption by integrating cultural tourism with local products. This event highlights 14 popular scenic spots, showcasing unique cultural and agricultural products alongside tourism-related goods, China Tourism News reported. On December 20, South China's Guangdong Province initiated a winter consumption promotion event, with a particular focus on gift shopping for the Spring Festival and festive gatherings, creating a lively atmosphere throughout the province, ycwb.com reported. Central China's Hubei Province launched a film promotion event for the first time on December 20. Running until October 2025, this event will provide a total of 26 million yuan in movie vouchers to encourage residents to engage in cinematic experiences, with ticket prices as low as 19.9 yuan, Hubei Daily reported. In Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, an ice and snow culture-themed culture and tourism event commenced on December 14. This event aims to effectively utilize the region's snow and ice resources and, in conjunction with consumption coupons, provide a diverse shopping experience for travelers, chinanews.com reported. Tian Yun, an economist based in Beijing told the Global Times on Wednesday that recent consumption-boosting events align with the goal to boost consumption in 2025. He anticipates more such activities in the coming year as governments at various levels step up efforts to enhance consumption. Outlining a number of key tasks for 2025, the Central Economic Work Conference (CEWC) urged efforts to vigorously boost consumption, improve investment efficiency, and expand domestic demand on all fronts. A special campaign dedicated to stimulating consumption should be implemented, and efforts should be made to increase the incomes, alleviate the burdens of low- and middle-income groups, and increase the ability, willingness, and level of consumption, the meeting noted. Large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-in programs should be promoted with greater intensity and scope, and active efforts should be made to develop debut economy, ice and snow economy, and silver economy, according to the meeting. In line with the priorities set by the CEWC, the national fiscal work conference concluded on Tuesday and also prioritized supporting expanding domestic demand in 2025. Among the efforts, China will appropriately increase the basic pension for retirees and for urban and rural residents, and raise the fiscal subsidy standard for urban and rural residents' medical insurance to vigorously boost consumption. Driven by subsidies under the trade-in program, retail sales of household appliances and audiovisual equipment, furniture, and automobiles increased 22.2 percent, 10.5 percent, and 6.6 percent year-on-year in November, respectively, becoming a major contributor to overall consumption growth, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Xinhua News Agency reported. Tian said that there is growing interest in buying smart home appliances and electric vehicles. Increased government subsidies for trade-ins are likely to drive a new wave of purchases in these areas. Looking ahead to 2025, more measures are needed to boost consumption, which has become an important engine driving China's economic growth, Yang Delong, chief economist at Shenzhen-based First Seafront Fund, told the Global Times on Wednesday. As demand for high-quality goods and services grows, upgrading consumption structures and optimizing the consumption environment are crucial. Promoting new retail models, e-commerce and live-streaming sales will play a significant role in meeting personalized and diverse consumer needs, fostering a robust consumption landscape, Yang said. Across the board, retail sales of consumer goods in China rose 3.5 percent year-on-year in the first 11 months of this year, outpacing that for the third quarter, NBS data shows. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sank in the Mediterranean between Spain and Algeria following an engine room explosion, Russia's foreign ministry confirmed. Fourteen crew members were rescued and transported to the Spanish port of Cartagena, while two remain missing. According to Russian news agency Interfax, the ship departed St. Petersburg 12 days ago. Its owner stated that the vessel was en route to Vladivostok in Russia's Far East, carrying two cranes weighing 380 tonnes each for the port. However, this destination has not been independently verified. Before the Ursa Major sank, Spain's maritime rescue agency, Salvamento Maritimo, reported that 14 crew members were found on a lifeboat and safely transported to Spain. Shortly afterward, a Russian warship arrived at the scene to oversee the rescue operation. The Ursa Major was in the same Mediterranean area as another sanctioned Russian vessel, the Sparta, when it encountered trouble. Both ships had been seen traveling through the English Channel last week, reportedly under escort. Earlier this month, Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) claimed that Sparta was heading to Russia's naval base in Tartous, Syria, to retrieve military equipment following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. On Monday, a Kremlin official stated that Russia was in discussions with Syria's new leadership regarding the future of its two military facilities, addressing both diplomatic and military concerns. The Ursa Major's owner, Oboronlogistika, has been involved in transporting cargo to Tartous, though reports indicate Sparta was en route to Port Said in Egypt on Tuesday. According to marine transport monitoring site LSEG, the Ursa Major's automatic identification system (AIS) had been set to Vladivostok as its destination since December 11. The ship's last recorded visit to Tartous was in July. On Monday, Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) reported that the Sparta had experienced a breakdown off the coast of Portugal, but the issue was subsequently resolved. Confusion arose because the Ursa Major was previously known as Sparta III, making it unclear which vessel the Ukrainians were referencing. Complicating matters further, the Sparta faced additional difficulties a week earlier in rough seas off Brittany in northwestern France. According to Radio France Inter, the Russian cargo ship initially failed to respond to French communications on December 17 but later acknowledged it was experiencing technical problems. Teddi Mellencamp has revealed how she spent her first Christmas without her ex-husband and kids - just months after a source alleged to DailyMail.com that she had been embroiled in a months-long affair with her horse trainer, Simon Schroeder. The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star took to Instagram on December 25 to dish on what she was doing for the holiday, and she admitted that it was her first time celebrating it alone. Mellencamp filed for divorce from her husband of 13 years, Edwin Arroyave, citing irreconcilable differences on November 1, and listed October 20 as their date of separation. Arroyve and Mellencamp share three children together - daughter Slate, 12, son Cruz, 10, and daughter Dove, four, and she admitted that this Christmas was the first she's spent without them. On Instagram, the former reality TV star made a video re-creating the scene from Bridget Jone's Diary, where Renee Zellweger's character sings the song All by Myself while crying in her pajamas. In her clip, Mellencamp was doing the same in a pair of green pajamas. 'In my Bridget Jones era. If I didnt laugh at myself, I would cry,' she wrote in the caption of the post. 'First Christmas without my kids, and I know theyre in great hands with an amazing dad, but that doesnt mean I cant feel some type of way,' the post continued. Teddi Mellencamp has revealed how she's spending her first Christmas without her ex-husband and kids following her alleged affair with her horse trainer, Simon Schroeder Mellencamp filed for divorce from her husband of 13 years, Edwin Arroyave, citing irreconcilable differences on November 1 and listed October 20 as their date of separation 'Ordered $74 of Thai food, [ate] cookie dough (who has time to bake) and watched nine episodes of Lioness.' At the end of the message, she asked fellow parents for advice. 'To all my parents out there going through this, I love you. What are all the tips for powering through?' Mellencamp concluded. The Two T's In a Pod podcast host is currently taking refuge at Kyle Richards' luxurious abode, as both former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills costars navigate their respective separations. Richards is currently going through a separation from her husband of nearly 20 years, Mauricio Umansky. Last month, DailyMail.com exclusively shared the allegations that Mellencamp had a months-long affair with German-born horse trainer Schroeder, which was allegedly the catalyst behind her divorce. A source alleged to DailyMail.com that the affair occurred while Schroeder's wife, Karli Postel, was pregnant with their second child. To make matters worse, Mellencamp and her horse trainer were rumored to be together while Postel was giving birth in Florida. The Two T's In a Pod podcast host is currently taking refuge at Kyle Richards' luxurious abode as both former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills costars navigate their respective separations Last month, a source alleged to DailyMail.com that Mellencamp was having a months-long affair with German-born horse trainer Schroeder (right) 'Karli thought it was suspicious that her husband was in Florida when she was giving birth,' the source told DailyMail.com. 'When Simon returned, Karli found text messages on Simon's phone that exposed the affair. 'She confronted Simon and Teddi about it and they confessed. Teddi promised it would not happen again.' 'Karli didn't tell Edwin when she found out. She was willing to give Simon another chance and stayed with him. 'But last month, Karli found proof that the affair was ongoing and that it had become 'emotional.' 'Simon had a history of cheating and Karli was tired of being connected to him. Edwin only learned of the affair late last month when Karli told him.' Royal fans were left overjoyed yesterday after the Prince and Princess of Wales stepped out for the royal festive walkabout with their three adorable children. Joining William and Kate on the annual morning stroll at Sandringham in Norfolk yesterday were their trio of cheeky children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Prince Louis. They looked just the part, each sporting a piece of clothing in forest green tartan to match their immaculately dressed parents. But despite their smart and grownup looks - the three little ones could couldn't resist sharing a few playful moments during the walk. As well-wishers eagerly waited to greet the Waleses on their annual walk, some of the most eagle-eyed of supporters spotted Princess Charlotte sharing a tender moment with her eldest brother, Prince George in a clip captured on TikTok by @justinazuk. As they walked through crowds of well-wishers, each of the three children were offered handfuls of chocolates, teddy years and flowers. During one moment, piled high with presents from generous fans, Prince George turned around to grab the attention of his sister. Pointing towards the crowd, Prince George said: 'She's got chocolate for you.' Joining William and Kate as set off on the annual morning stroll at Sandringham in Norfolk, were their trio of cheeky children, Prince George, 11, (right) Princess Charlotte, (left) nine, and six-year-old Prince Louis Their doting father, Prince William then leaned around to drape his arm around his first-born son, guiding him on the walk towards St Mary Magdalene Church - where the royals attended a Christmas Day service. And Princess Charlotte and Prince George weren't the only adorable royals to have stoked a heartwarming reaction from fans. Onlookers were delighted when the notoriously cheeky Prince Louis was spotted beaming as he accepted handfuls of Cadbury's chocolate and teddy bears from well-wishers. In a sweet video yesterday, a very happy Louis had his hands full of gifts before another fan offered him a Father Christmas headband. The young prince accepted the headband, politely thanked the person who gifted it and returned to his father and siblings. Prince William, who was himself greeting well-wishers with enthusiasm, appeared amused by his youngest son's haul and said: 'You've got that as well'. The royal children looked just the part, each sporting a piece of clothing in forest green tartan to match their immaculately dressed parents But when the family started to move along the path, Louis appeared to struggle to keep hold of everything he had received. At that point, he returned to his father and sweetly asked: 'Papa, can you carry some?' George, who will start secondary school next year, was twinning with his father, Prince William in a navy coat and matching trousers, while his younger sister wore a dark green coat that was almost identical to Kate's Alexander McQueen number. Kate, meanwhile, stole the show as the future Queen exchanged warm hugs with royal fans, who appeared joyous at her return to Sandringham following what has been a particularly turbulent year for the Royals. The Waleses looked picture perfect as they arrived at Sandringham on Christmas morning, with Charlotte holding on to her father's hand. Prince George, walked confidently ahead of his siblings, while his younger brother Prince Louis refused to let go of Kate's hand. Fans had been queuing in Sandringham since Christmas Eve evening, with several people eager to wish Kate and the Royal Family a Merry Christmas after what has been a particularly difficult 12 months. Members of the royal family who walked to the service were greeted at the foot of the steps to the church by the Reverend Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams. Prince Louis, six, couldn't contain his glee as the young royal accepted boxes of Cadbury chocolates and stuffed animals from royal fans at Sandringham on Christmas morning Prince George, Prince Charlotte and Prince Louis at Sandringham. The trio were treated to gifts from well-wishers Princess Charlotte and Prince George also graciously accepted their presents, as they waved to the crowds while standing alongside their father, Prince William During the appearance yesterday, all eyes were on Kate as she looked as positive and radiant as ever, bearing no indication of the challenging year behind her. The princess dazzled in a forest green Alexander McQueen coat, which she had previously worn during a visit to Leeds in January 2023. She teamed the coat with a matching fascinator and scarf, as well as a pair of black gloves and black boots by Gianvito Rossi to keep warm. The future queen carried a small handbag by Grace Han - as the she waved at the crowds outside St Mary Magdalene Church. Kate's beautiful new earrings with blue jewels and diamonds were by London-based jewellery designer Robinson Pelham. Her silky brunette locks were styled in soft waves, while her make-up was typically understated yet flawless. Crowds were given copies of the order of service, conducted at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham, conducted by the Rector Rev Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams. Hymns included O Come All Ye Faithful, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night, and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. The service also included The Lord's Prayer. Prince William said last week that he was looking forward to spending Christmas with 45 members of his family 'all in one room' as he attended a seasonal event for families of 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment, in his role as colonel-in-chief, in Bulford, Wiltshire. King Charles was also diagnosed with cancer at the start of the year, and the monarch is still undergoing treatment for the disease. As King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales walked into the church, the crowds could be heard wishing them a 'Merry Christmas!'. Kate's infectious smile was testament to her courage in the face of adversity as well as her work ethic, as the Christmas service marks just one of many official public engagements attended by the Princess since announcing her cancer treatment. It is also the second time the Wales family have been seen together in public since their appearance at Trooping the Colour, the King's birthday parade, in June. Prince William, looked dapper in a navy coat and trousers, perhaps paving the way for his son's dashing style, with George wearing a similar ensemble to the future King. They were joined by senior members of the Royal Family including Princess Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne's daughter Zara Tindall, as well as Princess Beatrice. Earlier this month, the Waleses and other members of the Royal Family came together for Kate's special Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey in London. Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and their two children Archie and Lilibet remained in Montecito in California, USA. For the Royals, festivities usually start when everyone arrives on Christmas Eve. The family open their presents, some of which are gag gifts - one of the Royal Family's traditions. The family then attend services at Saint Mary Magdalene Church on Christmas morning. Once they get home Christmas lunch is served, followed by afternoon games. Actress Shirley MacLaine, 90, has revealed her secret to a long life - and it's an herb that Meghan Markle once tried to give to a sick Prince William. In a new interview with People, Billy Eichner explained that MacLaine had shared her longevity secret with him while they worked together on the 2019 Christmas movie Noelle. Eichner said that MacLaine tip to living longer was to 'put a drop of oil of oregano under your tongue every day.' However, when asked if he had adapted the practice into his daily life, Eichner had a surprising confession. 'I bought it, but I never did it,' the Billy on the Street host admitted. Oil of oregano, which is derived from the oregano plant, can have a number of different benefits, according to Healthline. Some tout it as a natural antibiotic, according to the outlet, due to an ingredient it contains called carvacrol, which can help fight bacteria. In addition, the publication said oil of oregano can potentially lower cholesterol, relieve pain, and balance your gut health. It also has anti-inflammatory properties. Actress Shirley MacLaine, 90, has revealed her secret to a long life - and it's an herb that Meghan Markle once tried to give to a sick Prince William Shirley said she puts a 'drop of oil of oregano under her tongue every day,' while Prince Harry wrote in his book that Meghan (seen this month) once offered it to his brother during a dinner And it looks like MacLaine isn't the only celebrity to use it, as the Duchess of Sussex once offered Prince William oil of oregano when he came down with a cold. Prince Harry spoke about Markle's moving gesture in his 2023 memoir, Spare. The British Royal Family member said that when they had Prince William and Princess Kate over for dinner once, his brother was 'sneezing and coughing,' per Newsweek. And when the Suits star noticed that he was sick, she recommended that he try the herb. 'Meg ran upstairs to get him some of her homeopathic cure-alls - oregano oil, turmeric,' Prince Harry penned. While Prince Harry said his brother seemed impressed by the remedies, his wife reportedly wasn't. 'He seemed charmed, moved, though Kate announced to the table that he'd never take such unconventional remedies,' the Duke of Sussex wrote. King Charles has backed homeopathic medicine numerous times over the years. 'He seemed charmed, moved, though Kate announced to the table that he'd never take such unconventional remedies,' the Duke of Sussex wrote of Meghan offering it to Prince William Oil of oregano, which is derived from the oregano plant, can have a number of different benefits, according to Healthline. In 1993, as Prince of Wales, he founded the Foundation for Integrated Health to explore the combination of 'safe, proven complementary therapies' with modern medicine. His Health and Wellbeing Centre at Dumfries House in Ayreshire provides a range of alternative treatments including reflexology, acupuncture and hypnotherapy. In 2020, Prince Harry and Markle stepped down from their roles as senior royals and moved to Montecito, California. Since then, they have embarked on other ventures, including a Netflix docuseries about their love story and exiting Britain, titled Meghan & Harry. In recent months, rumors have swirled that Markle may be planning a comeback to the wellness and influencer scene, reminiscent of her early days blogging for her website, The Tig. She is currently attempting to trademark her long-awaited lifestyle brand, American Riveria Orchard. Last year, DailyMail.com revealed that the brand will sell vegetable-based spreads, 'edible oils,' and fruit preserves. In April, the mother-of-two sent out PR packages to her famous pals such as Kris Jenner and Mindy Kaling that contained a jar of American Riveria Orchard-branded strawberry jam. And although some of her famous friends were able to get their hands on the jam, it has not yet launched to the public. Tiffany Trump showed off her growing baby bump as she attended a wedding over Christmas, accompanied by husband Michael Boulos. The only daughter of president-elect Donald Trump and his second wife Marla Maples was glowing in a photo posted to her Instagram Stories on December 25. She showcased her pregnant stomach in a figure-hugging black floor length gown, which contained a cut-out in the chest area and a long, flowing piece of fabric from her shoulders. The 31-year-old also revealed how far along she is, writing 'five months' with the baby bump and heart emojis alongside the snap. Tiffany also shared two other images from the friend's wedding, one of which she captioned with, 'The most beautiful wedding celebrating the best couple.' Tiffany publicly confirmed that she was expecting her first child in mid-December - months after her father announced it to the world. Donald excitedly shared the news that he was going to become a grandfather again while speaking at the Detroit Economic Club back in October. He recognized several guests in the crowd, including businessman Massad Boulos, who is Tiffany's father-in-law, and then delivered the good news. Tiffany Trump showed off her growing baby bump as she attended a wedding over Christmas , accompanied by husband Michael Boulos She showcased her pregnant stomach in a figure-hugging black floor length gown, which contained a cut-out in the chest area and a long, flowing piece of fabric from her shoulders 'He happens to be the father of Tiffany's husband, Michael, who's a very exceptional young guy,' said the President-Elect. 'The most beautiful wedding celebrating the best couple,' she gushed on her Instagram Stories 'And she's an exceptional young woman. And she's going to have a baby. So that's nice.' The soon-to-be mom stayed tight-lipped about her impending arrival until last week. At the time, she shared some throwback photos of herself to Instagram, and subtly addressed the pregnancy in the caption. 'Before the baby bump,' she wrote alongside a carousel of snaps taken on a ski trip. It's unclear when exactly the vacation took place, but the images showed her posing on a snowy balcony in front of a mountainous backdrop and standing with her skis on the hill with her husband. Another shot featured her holding a delicious-looking cup of hot cocoa, while a fourth showcased a stunning restaurant with the walls made out of snow. Tiffany's baby will be the former president's 11th grandchild. Son Don Jr. has five children, Ivanka Trump has three, and Eric Trump has two. Tiffany is the only daughter of president-elect Donald Trump and his second wife Marla Maples (pictured) Tiffany publicly confirmed that she was expecting her first child in mid-December - months after her father announced it to the world. She's seen in 2020 The 31-year-old married Michael at her father's Mar-a-Lago estate in November 2022. Tiffany, who graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 2020, has not been heavily involved in her father's political efforts - although she did attend the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this summer. Her billionaire husband Michael was born in Lebanon and is the 27-year-old heir to Boulos Enterprises, a Nigerian distribution and assembly company for vehicles including motorcycles and power bikes, run by his father. Kim Kardashian has been slammed by trolls on social media for 'allowing' her 11-year-old daughter North West to wear an 'inappropriate' outfit. The furore kicked off after Kim, 44, and North posted a pair of videos to their shared TikTok account over Christmas. In the clips, North donned a ruffled black miniskirt and a corset-inspired top with a sweetheart neckline. She paired it with black stockings, knee-high boots, and a trendy cropped blazer. Meanwhile, mom Kim kept things sexy and glamorous in a skintight snakeskin dress that clung to her hourglass figure. The TikTok videos were shared to the popular Keeping Up With The Kardashians subreddit, where furious fans complained about North's ensemble. 'Why is this child wearing a bustier/corset?' asked one, while another wrote, 'I'm not prude but I wouldn't let my 11-year-old wear a damn corset.' A third commented, 'Maybe it's just anecdotal but when I was 11 I was still a child wearing modest clothing!' Kim Kardashian has been slammed by trolls on social media for 'allowing' her 11-year-old daughter North West to wear an 'inappropriate' outfit on Christmas Eve Another slammed, 'An 11-year-old shouldn't be wearing a bustier/corset and showing cleavage on the internet.' Despite the backlash, a handful of fans jumped to Kim and North's defense. 'I don't think North would wear anything she wouldn't wanna wear, and she loves fashion and gets it,' wrote one. 'She's at a Christmas party with family, she looks beautiful. I understand people are sick but I wouldn't call this any more exploitive than anyone posting their kid on social media.' A second stated, 'Her father, mother, aunts - they are fashion designers who work with the top fashion designers. It's unrealistic to think she'd be wearing "normal 11 year old" attire all the time.' Another chimed in, 'The tie throws off the look, aside from it, I think Northie looks nice.' On Tuesday, the Kardashian-Jenner family hosted their annual Christmas Eve party, opting for a low-key gathering this year. The bash was first organized by Kris Jenner in 1987. 'Why is this child wearing a bustier/corset?' raged one fan, while another wrote, 'I'm not prude but I wouldn't let my 11-year-old wear a damn corset' The furore kicked off after Kim and North posted a pair of videos to their shared TikTok account over Christmas This year, the cheerful celebration was held at Kendall Jenner's $8.5 million Beverly Hills mansion that she elaborately adorned with family heirlooms for the holidays. Khloe Kardashian and her kids - True, 6, and Tatum, two, whom she shares with ex Tristan Thompson - surprisingly skipped the bash. 'Tatum was sick the entire weekend, now my TuTu is sick,' the star wrote on Instagram just hours before the event. 'For the first time in a long, long time, we will miss Christmas Eve. I feel so terrible for my sick littles. No fun, but I pray we are fine for Santa tomorrow!' Kim recently revealed that this years Christmas Eve party would be a more 'low-key' affair compared to previous years. Speaking to Vogue, she shared: 'Just because we have a lot of construction going on, so we're doing a really family intimate one that I'm really excited about.' However, that didn't stop the family from getting all glammed up. Kim - who recently broke her foot - added: 'Still dressing up to the nines, because that's what we do.' The beauty mogul - who shares North, 11, Saint, nine, Chicago, six, and five-year-old Psalm with ex Kanye West - said the iconic parties are so legendary that even their children's friends wish they could attend. And she has vowed to keep the festive family tradition going. She added: 'They're just beginning. Our kids love them and now all their friends want to come. It's such a fun tradition.' The love story of a couple whose lives were almost destroyed by a horrific accident captured the internet back in June, and now, it has been revealed that they are still going strong. Back in 2022, Cody Bryant and Haley Woloshen met in Hawaii and they instantly bonded after discovering that they lived only a mile apart back in Los Angeles. The two spent several weeks together before Bryant suddenly stopped responding to Woloshen's messages, which led her to believe that she had been 'ghosted' by him. However, the reality couldn't be more different - as Bryant had actually been hit by a car while riding a moped in Ibiza and had suffered significant injuries that left him in a coma. Woloshen only made the discovery after finding a GoFundMe page for Bryant that was made by his friends and family detailing the accident, which had left him with a brain injury and a fractured femur. After months of grueling rehab, the pair reconnected. But due to Bryant's traumatic brain injury, he was unable recollect their time together. Woloshen started helping him out 'platonically' at first, but it later turned into something more. They spoke about their journey online earlier this year and it went viral - and now, the couple are still happily in love and even traveling the world together. The love story of a couple whose lives were almost destroyed by a horrific accident captured the internet back in June, and now, it has been revealed that they are still going strong Back in 2022, Cody Bryant and Haley Woloshen met in Hawaii and they instantly bonded after discovering that they lived only a mile apart back in Los Angeles When Bryant suddenly stopped responding to Woloshen's messages, she believed that she had been 'ghosted' by him. But in reality, he was in a coma 'Neither of us expected it, but feelings started to build. I joke that she won me over a second time,' Bryant previously wrote in an Instagram post detailing their love story. He was eventually cleared to return to the Hermosa Beach home that he shared with his three roommates, undergoing physical, occupational, and speech therapy all the while. The accident had left him with hemiplegia, or partial paralysis, leading doctors to fear that he would never walk again. However, Bryant was determined to beat the odds - and he has. Now, the couple, who have been together for over one year, have a great update to share, as Bryant revealed in November that they had gone to Europe together for two weeks. 'I've read that traveling is good for your brain, and I've definitely seen it in action after my brain injury,' Bryant shared in a video on Instagram, which was accompanied by adorable clips of the two of them enjoying their adventures together. Bryant explained that this was the first long trip abroad that he had taken since his injury. Before the accident, Bryant wrote that he 'lived for travel,' but now, he said it's taken on a whole new meaning for him. They spoke about their journey online earlier this year and it went viral - and now, the couple are still happily in love and even traveling the world together Bryant revealed in November that they had gone to Europe together for two weeks, as he shared adorable clips of the two of them enjoying their adventures together 'There are many things about traveling that are difficult, navigating unfamiliar places, communicating with people who don't speak English, not having a consistent routine, just to name a few,' he admitted. 'While this can be difficult, and pretty exhausting, I actually find it helping me a lot. 'Forcing my brain to work through these situations and problem-solve in the way it did before has been really beneficial.' He explained that these situations can be big or small, like figuring out how to navigate public transportation or even trying to get their rental car out of loose sand when it got stuck. However, these are all things that Bryant has found exciting. 'I love feeling my brain get stronger as I'm doing one of my favorite things, seeing new places and experiencing the world,' he said in the clip. In early July, Bryant also penned an update on his GoFundMe page about the progress he had been making. He shared that since getting the brain injury, he believed some aspects of his personality had changed. Bryant explained that this was the first long trip abroad that he had taken since his injury 'My most obvious changes include being more introverted, empathetic, having different interests, being more susceptible to stress, lacking social stamina and mental bandwidth,' Bryant wrote. 'I think my humor was always childlike but now Im also reactive, shortsighted and emotional,' he continued. 'For a while, I dedicated a lot of energy to being who I think Cody once was. Maintaining this facade was exhausting. 'I even watched old videos of myself and re-read text convos and social media posts. It felt like fiction but I could faintly recall emotions. 'Id get strangely nostalgic and sad knowing Ill never feel that exact feeling again. Being aware of this really messed with my mind. I feel like the failed AI clone in Black Mirrors Be Right Back episode on Netflix.' Bryant said that early in his journey, doctors had told his family to 'grieve the old him,' which he found difficult. 'How do you grieve someone whos still alive? I didnt even comprehend I had a brain injury and I thought everyone was being dramatic by putting me in rehab for a broken leg,' he added. 'Rachel couldnt figure out why her problem-solving brother wasnt motivated to recover. As you can see, brain injuries are complex.' 'Fortunately, one thing hardwired into me is my mindset. Ive been humbled by so many new deficits, but I still believe I can overcome anything. 'So Im seizing this opportunity to be a new person. With my greater appreciation for life and stronger empathy, Im building good habits and striving to help people.' Savvy Australian shoppers are abuzz over Kmart's latest must-have release: a pair of chic slides that have a high-end French counterpart. Kmart's cut out detail slides look strikingly similar to Hermes' iconic $1,295 Oran sandals - but come with a price tag of just $12. The budget-friendly sandals feature a sleek design reminiscent of the European luxury brand's signature 'H' strap. Available in chestnut, classic black, and crisp white, the bargain pair has quickly become a hit with fashion lovers eager to replicate the high-end look without the eye-watering cost. While the Hermes sandals are renowned for their luxurious leather craftsmanship and status symbol appeal, many shoppers are opting for the Kmart version as a stylish and affordable alternative. Perfect for summer days or casual outings, the Kmart slides pair effortlessly with dresses, shorts, or tailored pants - making them a versatile addition to any wardrobe. Fans of the bargain version - including fashion blogger Kmart Insider - have taken to social media to rave about the find, with many calling them the perfect solution for those wanting Hermes' timeless aesthetic on a shoestring budget. 'I honestly cannot tell the difference,' one thrilled shopper wrote. While the Hermes sandals are renowned for their luxurious leather craftsmanship and status symbol appeal, many shoppers are opting for the Kmart version as an affordable alternative Kmart's cut out detail slides look strikingly similar to Hermes' iconic $1,295 Oran sandals - but come with a price tag of just $12 The budget-friendly sandals feature a sleek design reminiscent of the European luxury brand's signature 'H' strap [pictured] '$1,300 for a pair of slip ons is ridiculous - Kmart all the way,' another added. Fashion insiders note that this isn't the first time Kmart has offered budget-friendly alternatives to designer pieces. The retailer has built a reputation for delivering trendy yet affordable options, with items often selling out within days of release. The growing obsession with dupes reflects a larger trend in Australia, where the cost of living crisis has made affordable fashion more appealing than ever. With rising rents, grocery bills, and utility costs, many Aussies are looking for ways to save without sacrificing style. For shoppers who aren't a fan of dupes, a little-known Australian retailer has started selling high-end brands for a fraction of the price. The 'hidden gem' discount retailer where you can find designer buys from brands like Fendi, Dior, and Aje for affordable prices. It sells old stock from previous seasons - and shoppers have described it as a 'clearance treasure hunt'. Kmart's Mini Crossbody bag ($15) looks exactly like the Hermes 'Kelly' bag The Hermes 'Kelly' bag ranges from $20,000 to over $300,000 for certain models A $15 bag from Kmart also turned heads because of its striking resemblance to an exclusive $20,000 Hermes bag. The bargain retailer's Mini Crossbody bag ($15) looks exactly like the famous Hermes 'Kelly' bag, which ranges from $20,000 to over $300,000 for certain models. The brand's 'Birkin' and 'Kelly' bags are made in limited supply and allegedly only offered to clients who have an extensive purchasing history with Hermes. Both Hermes' and Kmart's version are trapezium-shaped and closed around the mouth with two horizontal straps. The mini size of the bag means the stylish accessory is perfect for quick coffee runs or to store your phone and wallet when you're on the go. Hundreds of shoppers have shared their awe for the dupe online. Many mums are also choosing the Kmart bag for their daughters who are obsessed with the high-end version after seeing the bags go viral on social media. Shoppers can pair the bag with an all-black ensemble or use it to elevate a colourful look. NHS patients in some areas of the UK are waiting at least 12 hours in accident and emergency departments before they see a healthcare professional, official data shows. At The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, around one in 10 of those who visited A&E last month were waiting for 12 hours. At University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust the number of patients was 1,853 equivalent to about one in 20 of all of those seen in November. Meanwhile, other hospitals in the country only saw half of their patients needing urgent care within four hours last month, which is far below the health service's target of 76 per cent. It comes amid alerts from senior medics about hospitals 'full to bursting' with patients as the health service grapples with a quad-demic of winter bugs flu, Covid, norovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Dr Ian Higginson from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) warned yesterday that the situation facing patients needing treatment in the NHS was pretty grim. He explained that patients are being forced to wait in corridors owing to bed shortages, with ambulances queuing up outside, and told of an increased risk to the health of staff. Dr Higginson told Sky News: Normally, just before Christmas wed expect a bit of a lull. So Im afraid things are looking pretty difficult for our patients and for our staff. Senior medics have issued dire warnings that hospitals are 'full to bursting' with patients as the health service grapples with a quad-demic of winter bugs like flu. Stock image We simply dont have enough beds in our hospitals for patients who are admitted as emergencies. 'We dont have enough staff for those beds and we dont have any headroom at all.' Now, a Mailonline analysis of NHS data has revealed the A&E departments in England where you can expect the longest delays. As well as Shrewsbury and Birmingham, University Hospitals Of Derby And Burton NHS Foundation Trust also had striking numbers of 12 hour waits about one in every 25 patients. For four hour waits, Shrewsbury And Telford had the worst performance in the nation with 49 per cent of patients not seen in this period. In contrast, The Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust had the best performance of any major A&E department with just over 88 per cent of patients seen with four hours. This trust was also one of a handful of major A&Es that avoided any 12 hour waits for the month. The others were Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. In total, only 20 NHS trusts with a major A&E achieved the target of seeing 76 per cent of all A&E patients within four hours, about a sixth of the total. NHS officials previously warned that last month's data, which was the busiest November on record, demonstrated the strain the health service was under as it faced the pressures of what has been dubbed a 'quad-demic. Speaking at the time, the NHS's national medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: 'The tidal wave of flu cases and other seasonal viruses hitting hospitals is really concerning for patients and for the NHS the figures are adding to our "quad-demic" worries.' The latest NHS data suggests some A&Es in England could be in a better position to deal with an influx of emergency attendances than others. Stock image Your browser does not support iframes. Under health service guidelines, 76 per cent of casualty patients should be admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours of being seen The last weekly winter report by the health service, published just days before Christmas, showed one in 18 beds in the NHS was currently being occupied by one of these pathogens. Recently, nurses and doctors have been briefed about how to treat patients in corridors. But the RCEM branded the guidance as normalising the dangerous. The latest data comes on the back of annual NHS figures, published earlier this year, that showed a staggering 440,000 patients in England were forced to wait over 12 hours in A&E. This represented an increase of 30,000 on the previous year. By comparison, just 1,200 waited this long a decade ago. The annual data also showed two thirds of A&E attendees at England's worst performing hospitals were also left waiting more than four hours for care in the year to March 2024. Full trust-by-trust results for the annual data, published in September, can be viewed via our interactive search table above. The owner of a restaurant in Vietnam that specializes in the meat of dogs and cats died after contracting rabies from one of the animals he slaughtered. Nguyen Van B., 33, from the southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, began exhibiting symptoms three days before his death. According to local reports, he had only handled cat and dog meat and had not been bitten by an animal, but it is possible to get rabies from handling meat from a rabid animal, especially if there are breaks in a person's skin. The main symptoms Mr Van B experienced were fatigue and difficulty breathing. His family took him to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases where tests confirmed Mr Van B had rabies. Once symptoms start, rabies is nearly 100 percent fatal and there is no approved treatment for the illness. Knowing this, Mr Van B. requested to return home. Back home, his condition quickly worsened and he experienced muscle spasms, frothing at the mouth, and confusion. On December 19, Mr Van B was rushed to Ba Ria Hospital and put under continuous sedation until he finally succumbed to the disease. The owner of a restaurant in Vietnam that specializes in the meat of dogs and cats died after contracting rabies from one of the animals he slaughtered (stock photo) Your browser does not support iframes. Eating dog meat is a longstanding tradition in Vietnam, primarily in the north of the country. The sale and consumption of dog and cat meat is legal in Vietnam, despite being illegal in many parts of the world. In the US, the World Population Review highlights that technically the country 'lacks a state law banning the consumption of dogs and cats'. However, the statistic and population review site notes that Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act proscribed the transportation, delivery, possession, and slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption. It adds: 'The act includes an exception for native rituals. Certain Native American tribes have a history or a tradition of eating dogs including the Kickapoo tribe in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. 'In general, dog slaughter is allowed in 44 states of America. The only states that have said no dog meat are California, Georgia, Hawaii, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia.' In Vietnam, dog is a popular dish for special occasions, parties and reunions and is considered to have wide-ranging health benefits, from a man's virility, to every day protein and energy. But increasingly, there are animal welfare concerns that there can be serious implications for human health. The World Health Organization has warned the slaughter and consumption of dogs does pose risks to human health including rabies and cholera, an acute diarrheal infection. A poll commissioned by Humane Society International in September 2023 found 40 percent of the Vietnamese population eat dog meat, while 21 percent eat cat meat. They found dog meat is most popular among men in northern Vietnam while cat meat dishes are particularly common around Hanoi. Outrage over the dog trade arises every few years, and polls suggest there is a growing negative sentiment towards it among young Vietnamese people. Eating dog meat is a longstanding tradition in Vietnam, primarily in the North of the country (stock photo) More young people have started to support a ban on dog and cat meat and do not believe cat and dog meat is a part of Vietnamese culture. A recent Humane Society poll found 68 percent of people support a ban on the dog meat trade. Rabies, if caught early on the day of infection, can be treated with a vaccine. Treatment typically involves a series of rabies vaccine shots. The rabies vaccine is given in four doses on days 0, 3, 7, and 14. But if the virus is able to take hold, it has a near-100 percent death rate. The virus enters the body through an open wound, usually from an infected animal's bite or scratch. It then replicates in muscle cells near the infection site, then travels along nerves to the central nervous system. Once the virus reaches the brain, it binds to nerve cells where it can replicate uncontrollably and rapidly, erupting in a constellation of symptoms starting with As the infection advances, it leads to respiratory spasms that cause gasping, wheezing, and tightness in the chest. This process can take anywhere from a week to a month. But as the disease worsens, paralysis sets in, starting with the limbs, then the brain and other organs. The infection almost always results in coma and death within a few weeks after the onset if a vaccine is not administered promptly. Rabies kills around 70,000 people worldwide every year, though most deaths are concentrated in countries with inadequate public health resources, such as wide-reaching vaccination programs for people and animals. In the US, fewer than 10 cases of rabies occur each year in humans. The vaccine can be given after a person is exposed and is 100 percent effective if administered within 48 hours of exposure and before symptoms appear. Worldwide, dogs are the leading carriers of rabies. In the US, 39 states require rabies vaccination for dogs. But in the US, around 70 percent of rabies infections arise from exposure to bats. Highly contagious whooping cough has surged to levels in the US not seen in over a decade. Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a potentially fatal respiratory infection that causes such severe coughing its been known to fracture peoples ribs. Recovery from coughing fits creates the whooping sound in the chest. Reported cases have surged in recent months, more than doubling since mid-September, according to government data. At the same time, walking pneumonia infections among toddlers have jumped seven-fold since March, and doubled among older children. The CDC confirmed more than 32,000 cases of whooping cough in 2024, a massive increase from the 6,500 cases confirmed in 2023. Similarly the CDC reported that walking pneumonia cases increased across all age groups in the US from March to October 2024, peaking in August. The largest rise was in children, with rates jumping from one percent to more than seven percent in ages two to four and from nearly four percent to 7.4 percent in ages five to 17. Approximately a quarter of whooping cough cases have been recorded in Midwest states, including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Pennsylvania currently leads the nation with the highest number of reported cases. Public health officials have come to expect spikes in pertussis cases every few years, but the Covid pandemic, during which millions of people were isolated and shielded from other infectious diseases, offered a rare respite. Now, trends suggest whooping cough levels are returning to pre-pandemic levels, all while childhood vaccination rates have shown signs of falling. The vaccination rate among kindergarteners was about 92 percent for the 2023-2024 school year, below the 93 percent coverage for the previous year. And the exemption rate for kindergartners increased to 3.3 percent, the highest ever reported in the US. The infection can be fatal, but rarely so. Fewer than 20 people on average die of pertussis annually. The CDC confirmed more than 32,000 cases of whooping cough in 2024, a massive increase from the 6,500 cases confirmed in 2023 In addition to causing severe, sometimes rib-cracking coughs, pertussis leads to fevers, congestion, a whooping sound when inhaling, vomiting, fatigue, and sore throat At the same time, parents and pediatricians nationwide are reporting upticks in walking pneumonia, a bacterial infection that can cause excessive coughing, but normally does not leave patients unable to carry out their daily tasks. The rapid spread of walking pneumonia, or mycoplasma pneumonia, is believed to be due to its mild initial symptoms such as a cough and slight breathlessness allowing people to spread the infection while remaining active and walking around. But it can be severe for infants and children. It has led to more children being hospitalized, which experts say may be linked to Covid lockdowns blocking children's exposure to good germs and, as a result, weakening their immune systems. In addition to increased hospitalizations due to mycoplasma pneumonia among children, the CDC has reported a rise in infections across all age groups. Firm figures are hard to come by, though, because there is no national reporting or surveillance system for mycoplasma pneumonia infections. Whooping cough can be a serious infection for people of all ages, but infants under a year old are particularly susceptible due to their underdeveloped immune systems. In addition to causing severe, sometimes rib-cracking coughs, pertussis leads to fevers, congestion, a whooping sound when inhaling, vomiting, fatigue, and sore throat. The Tdap vaccine is highly effective at preventing a life-threatening respiratory infection if given at the right schedule: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 1518 months, and 46 years. Although the number of cases of the infection has risen sixfold since 2023, a survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania shows a wide gap in knowledge. One-third of respondents didnt know what pertussis was or that there was a vaccine to protect against it. Whooping cough is generally considered a pediatric disease. People generally believe that childhood vaccinations offer protection for life, which is completely not true, according to Dr Tina Tan, a pediatrician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago. Pneumonia causes white spots or opaque areas appearing in the lungs. The above patient was a 57-year-old man in 2014 Health officials warned that the infection is initially difficult to tell apart from a cold, as the first signs are a runny nose and sore throat. But around a week later, sufferers may develop coughing bouts that last minutes, struggle to breathe after coughing and make a 'whoop' sound between coughs She added adolescents and adults serve as a major source of transmission in the community because their immunity has waned greatly since childhood. They themselves may not get severely ill, but theyre highly effective transmitters of infection. Cases generally increase every three or four years, and public health officials are not necessarily surprised by the massive spike that disease monitors have recorded. That tri-annual cycle was disrupted with the onset of mass masking and quarantine measures to protect from Covid, which stunted the pathogens ability to spread from person to person as easily (through respiratory droplets blocked by masks). Public health officials believe the uptick signifies a return to normalcy. Dr Timothy Lishnak, a family medicine specialist at the University of Connecticut, said: Its considered an endemic infection, meaning weve been coexisting with it for quite some time, as opposed to COVID, which was an epidemic virus, new on the scene. And as we start to get people back into contained areas and getting back into school and other facets of life, you see this spread because its spread by breathing out and breathing in the bacteria. So thats one of the mechanisms that it starts to increase. At the same time, parents say doctors are struggling to diagnose the condition on time, often writing it off as a viral infection, a cold or the flu which delays timely treatment for children. Whooping cough rates are rising nationwide, but rates were highest in Pennsylvania with over 2,087 cases, followed by New York with 1,781 cases and Illinois with 1,058 Your browser does not support iframes. Pertussis was a significant cause of childhood death in the early 20th century, but that changed with the debut of a vaccine in the 40s. Before it became widely available, there were about 200,000 cases of pertussis annually. From then through the 1980s, the number of cases per year has decreased more than 90 percent compared with the pre-vaccine era. However, cases began increasing gradually after the tail-end of the 1980s, eventually peaking in 2012 with 48,277 reported cases. Since then, case numbers have stayed relatively high until the onset of the pandemic in 2020. Several factors likely contributed to the increase in reported pertussis cases, including improved awareness and recognition of the disease by healthcare providers, greater availability and use of laboratory diagnostics for confirmation, enhanced public health surveillance and reporting systems, and waning immunity associated with the pertussis vaccines. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday denounced an "inhumane" attack from Russia, which launched over 170 missiles and drones on his war-torn country's power grid on Christmas Day, killing an energy worker. The country woke up at 5:30 am (0330 GMT) to an air raid alarm, shortly followed by air force reports that Russia had launched Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea. "Putin deliberately chose Christmas to attack. What could be more inhumane? More than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and more than a hundred attack drones. The target is our energy system," Zelensky said. This was the 13th large-scale strike on Ukraine's energy system this year, the latest in Russia's campaign targeting the power grid during winter. Russia meanwhile said five people had died in Ukrainian strikes and a falling drone in the border region of Kursk and in North Ossetia in the Caucasus. Ukraine said its air force downed 58 out of 79 Russian-launched missiles. It did not, however, down the two Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles launched by Russia. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the strikes. "I pay tribute to the resilience of the Ukrainian people, and the leadership of President Zelensky, in the face of further drone and missile attacks from Putin's bloody and brutal war machine with no respite even at Christmas," Starmer said. Kyiv also said a Russian missile went through Moldovan and Romanian airspace, but Romania said it detected no such violation while Moldova said it launched investigations. "Unfortunately, there are some hits. As of now, there are blackouts in several regions," Zelensky said. Ukraine's DTEK energy company said the attack severely damaged equipment of thermal power plants. "Denying light and warmth to millions of peace-loving people as they celebrate Christmas is a depraved and evil act that must be answered," DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko said, urging allies to send more air defence. The employee of a Ukrainian thermal power plant was killed in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, over which 42 missiles were shot down, governor Sergiy Lysak said. Lysak also said rescue operations had been completed on the site of a strike on Kryvyi Rig, which killed one person and wounded 17 others the day before. Engineers have restored power to consumers in the Ivano-Frankisvk region. "Christmas morning has once again shown that nothing is sacred for the aggressor country," Svitlana Onyshchuk, the head of the Ivano-Frankivsk region, said earlier. Ukraine is officially celebrating Christmas on December 25 for the second time. The government last year changed the date from January 7, when most Orthodox believers celebrate, as a snub to Russia. The Christmas day attack also targeted Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, located near the Russian border. The missiles had targeted the city's boiler houses, thermal power plants and electricity facilities, mayor Igor Terekhov said, temporarily cutting power to 500,000 people. One unexploded missile was found in a private yard in Kharkiv, Synegubov said. Kharkiv's governor Oleg Synegubov also said authorities had evacuated 46 people from the area of Borivske and Kupiansk. Moscow's forces are aiming to recapture the town of Kupiansk, which was occupied in the first year of the war. Ukraine recaptured it in September 2022 as part of a lightning offensive that saw its forces regain large swathes of the Kharkiv region. Outnumbered Ukrainian troops are on the back foot across the front line in the Kharkiv and Donetsk region further south, ceding ground to better-equipped Russian troops. Russia said it seized the small village of Vidrodzhennia, a few kilometres south of the vital rail and mining hub of Pokrovsk. Both sides are scrambling to gain an upper hand ahead of the inauguration of US president-elect Donald Trump, who boasted he would quickly end the war, raising fears that Washington may force Kyiv into a deal on Moscow's terms. Ukraine has been urging allies to send more aid to fend off aerial strikes and push back troops on the ground. "I am grateful to everyone who is working for the country, who is on combat duty, who is protecting our sky," Zelensky said. "Russian evil will not break Ukraine and will not ruin Christmas," Zelensky said. The howls and screams. The blazing rows. The day-to-day struggle just to scrape by. When the Burns family opened the doors of their rundown townhouse in Claymore, western Sydney, to an ABC documentary crew 12 years ago, they never expected to become the face of urban poverty in Australia. Married couple Brett and Caroline Burns, and their children Hayden, 14, Jessica, 12, and Hayley, 2, were featured in the memorable Four Corners episode 'Growing Up Poor' in 2012, which followed their chaotic lives on welfare in one of Sydney's most impoverished suburbs, where the majority of residents live in state housing. The episode ended with their prospects of a brighter future looking slim. Sadly, when I visited them more than a decade later, it became clear the family had been unable to escape the cycle of grinding poverty and abuse that continues to wreak havoc on their lives. But there was at least one silver lining: the couple and two of their children had finally been rehoused by the NSW Government, moving out of their dilapidated home and into the nearby suburb of Minto after years on the waiting list. 'We're in a much better way now. It's a beautiful area (in Minto) and we have a lovely house,' Caroline proudly told me. 'We've been blessed.' Perhaps unsurprisingly, shortly after leaving Claymore, the Burnses' three-bedroom house was vandalised and trashed by local thugs. At the time of filming the Four Corners documentary, Hayden Burns was struggling with bullying at school, as well as his parents' constant arguments Hayden now spends his days rummaging through bins around the neighbourhood in search of empty bottles and cans he then exchanges for a 10c refund 'It's frightening living next door to a vacant home, kids go in and start fires,' one Claymore resident said of the youth crime that runs rampant in the area. Like many other families living on Sydney's western fringe, the Burnses' main source of income is Centrelink payments. At the time of filming the Four Corners program, the family had been living in their ramshackle home for 13 years. They would eventually spend 24 years there. While their living situation has undoubtedly improved, it was also evident to me upon visiting them in Minto that poverty and unemployment was continuing to blight the family, which includes the couple's now-adult children, daughters Jessica, 24, and Haylie, 14, and son Hayden, 26, who still lives at home with his parents. Hayden spends his days rummaging through bins around the neighborhood in search of empty bottles and cans he then exchanges for a 10c refund. He returns to Claymore each week to collect cans and bottles from his old stomping ground, a former neighbour told me. At the time of filming the documentary, Hayden was 14 and struggling with bullying at school, as well as his parents' constant arguments which made him withdraw from the family. During the program, Brett moved into the garage because of his fights with Caroline. It was later revealed Brett had physically abused her in front of the children. Today, the couple continue their fraught relationship, and Brett is now using a walking stick, but an optimistic Caroline believes their overall circumstances have improved over the last decade. 'Everyone is doing well,' she said. The Burns family (pictured a 2016 Facebook photo) took part in a Four Corners documentary titled Growing Up Poor in 2012 NSW Police applied for an apprehended violence order for Brett Burns against his son Hayden (left, on Four Corners; right, in a recent Facebook photo) following an incident in March Caroline Burns said the family was 'doing well', but it was clear to me that the spectre of poverty still loomed over their lives Family patriarch Brett Burns now uses a cane to walk However, a search of public records shows there is still discord among the family: NSW Police applied for an apprehended violence order for Brett Burns against his son Hayden following an incident in March. When asked about the dispute, Caroline brushed it off. 'He [Hayden] is okay. That was a while ago,' she said. 'That was just a one-off and all over and done with.' The Claymore housing estate was built by the NSW Government in the 1970s and is home to more than 3,000 of the state's poorest families. The family has finally been rehoused by the NSW Government, moving out of their dilapidated townhouse and into the nearby suburb of Minto (pictured) after years on the waiting list The Burnses lived in this townhouse in Claymore for 25 years and were recently rehomed. The property, seen here, was vandalised shortly after they vacated and is now condemned Forty years on, Claymore remains a depressing sight with many burnt-out and abandoned homes and rubbish littering the community. But Claymore, along with neighbouring Bonnyrigg Heights and Airds, is due to undergo a transformation as part of the major social project. Under the new project, the redevelopment will see a mix of new public and privately owned homes. Some of the private owners have already moved in, and the difference between their spacious, new-build homes and the NSW Housing properties was stark. Longtime resident Kaisey, 29, told me during a previous visit that the area was a lot safer since residents had been slowly rehomed. 'I used to live on Ramsay Way but our place got set alight,' the mum-of-three said. 'It's all changing now that they're knocking it all down - it looks rough but it's safe. I love Claymore.' Fifteen banking deserts have been discovered in the UK as brick and mortar branches continue to vanish from our high streets, figures reveal. Adur, Bolsover, Broadland, Clackmannshire, Forest of Dean, and North Warwickshire are all banking grey zones with less than five banks each, according to NOMIS. Ribbie Valley, Rutland, South Derbyshire, Three Rivers and West Lindsey also fall into this category as worries continue about the elderly falling into the digital divide. Elsewhere in North East Derbyshire there are absolutely no banks whatsoever, despite the district boasting a population of over 100,000 people. Our interactive map is based the most recent NOMIS Business Counts data, which rounds the number of banks and buildings societies to the nearest five. Among the hardest hit areas was Pendle in Lancashire, with only three building societies shared between its population of 97,039. In Nelson, there is only one Halifax bank left after TSB, Santander, Virgin Money, and Barclays upped and left over the years. The decline in banks has spelled disaster for the 'dying' town with very little to offer visitors, as well as little help for the elderly. Your browser does not support iframes. Our interactive map has laid bare the postcode lottery Brits face in living near brick and mortar banks (Pictured: A closed Halifax branch in Maidenhead, Berkshire) Barbara Hope, 73, a former legal secretary, said people would often visit the town to do their banking but now the town, which lacks banks, shops, and more is 'dying'. She told MailOnline: 'It's not surprising the banks have all gone. There's nothing much left in the town for shoppers to come for. 'Even the pub that gave the town its name has shut down. People used to come into the town to do their banking and then do a bit of shopping. 'No banks, means less people coming in to shop so the businesses struggle and close down.' Local Peter Schofield, 68, echoed her thoughts, saying the town once had all 'the major banks' but has been left 'struggling'. Divulging how he visits his Halifax branch 'at least once a week', he continued: 'I like being able to go in and speak to someone in person. 'You get to know the staff and they know you. We need to keep using the branch because if we don't, we will lose it and the staff will lose their jobs. 'I still like to pay in cash because it keeps me help keep a track on what I'm spending.' Barnoldswick - a market town around six miles away - was the first Lancashire town to open a banking hub after locals were left with no branches in 2023. Your browser does not support iframes. Around 400 towns losing their last local banks as recently as April 2024 (Pictured: A closed Lloyds bank branch in Plymouth, Devon) Your browser does not support iframes. Staff from various outlets such as Natwest, Santander and other are available on specified days to discuss more complicated financial matters with customers. Seventy-year-old Hilary Openshaw, an ex-nurse, is adamant that corporations 'don't care about the older generation who still use cash.' 'I don't drive so I'd have to rely on public transport or someone giving me a lift,' she said. 'When Barclays shut its branch, they said it was because only 16 customers regularly used the bank and the majority used the app to pay bills. 'That's fine but what happens if you need a large amount of cash fast? The cash machines will only give you a certain amount each day. While 67-year-old Liz Porter would prefer to have a high street branch, she has been forced to become accustomed to tricky bank apps. 'When the banks had a branch in every town and you had a query, it felt easier and less hassle just to nip in and speak to somebody,' the secretary said. 'Now that option has gone and I do miss it. I also feel it's more difficult get withdraw my money without having to jump through hoops.' Your browser does not support iframes. The decline has also raised concerns among charities for the elderly, who worry the less-digitally savvy will fall through the cracks of the digital divide (File Image from 2018) A 15-minute drive north of Barnoldswick in Colne only Santander and Skipton Building society remain. Terry Sutherland, 75, a former window cleaner said: ''Banks don't care about the man on the street. It's all about cutting-costs and making as much money as possible to keep the shareholders happy. 'Older people like me rely on actually being able to go into a bank if there is a problem. Stephen Holt, 42, who runs a mobile food van, said: 'I try not to use a card machine and prefer cash but banking it is a pain. 'Banks don't want to deal with cash and I feel like I'm being discourage from going into the bank with my takings. 'I prefer cash because I get to keep more of what I earn. Banks should do more for their customers and put them first.' According to NOMIS date, areas like Blaby, Southwark and Gloucester have lost around 97 percent, 91 percent and 89 percent of its banks since 2010. And it isn't only rural areas suffering either, with major cities such as London, Bristol and Edinburgh haemorrhaging brick and mortar banks. Since 2010, London has lost 475 building societies, with Edinburgh coming in second with 205 losses and then the West England city seeing 285 banks vanish. It comes after around 400 towns lost their last local brick and mortar banks as recently as April this year. The avalanche of brick and mortar bank closures has raised fears among experts that the elderly will be the 'hardest hit'. In September, Lloyds Banking Group announced it was shuttering 55 of its Halifax , Bank of Scotland and Lloyds bank branches Caroline Abrahams, Age UK Charity Director, said: 'The continuing avalanche of bank branch closures means that by the end of this year there will be considerably fewer opportunities for face-to-face banking than there were even just a couple of years ago. 'Older people living in rural and semi-rural areas are likely to be the hardest hit, but those in towns and cities are not immune. 'Our research found that more than 4 million older people with a bank account in Britain are not managing their money online and so are at high risk of digital exclusion. 'Age UK is calling for the protection of physical banking services for those who do not, or cannot bank online, and for the accelerated roll-out of shared Banking Hubs in areas where bank branches are fast withering away. 'We applaud the banks for coming together to set up shared Hubs, but it's important that alternative services are set up speedily, especially in those areas with the greatest need. 'The disappearance of face-to-face banking risks cutting a significant minority of the older population out of an essential service, making it difficult if not impossible for them to manage their money and maintain their independence.' Natalie Turner, Deputy Director for Localities at the Centre for Ageing Better, a charity dedicated to tackling inequalities among the elderly, said: 'We consider it vital that people are still able to access in-person services like banking. 'For many people, online banking services offer no easy-to-use alternative. There are still around three million people aged 65+ in the UK, and more than one in 20 of all adults who, for a variety of reasons, have never used the internet and whose only option for banking is to use physical, face-to-face services. 'Physical services which offer face-to-face conversations with people also have an important role to play in combating social isolation. 'For some people living alone, visiting their local bank or shops or other high street services might be the only social interaction they may have on a particular day. 'If we want to develop more age-friendly communities where people of all ages are able to live healthy and active later lives then we need to have business and services that are within a short walk or simple journey on public transport.' Barclays, Natwest, TSB, and Santander are also among the big name banks who have slashed their number of branches Earlier this year it was revealed that the number of branches that have closed their doors in the last nine years has surged past 6,000 (File image of a former Barclays Bank) Since the beginning of 2022, there have been 388 bank closure announcements in areas with no other banking option for locals to access nearby, according to figures previously reported by the Mirror. In September, Lloyds Banking Group announced it was shuttering 55 of its Halifax, Bank of Scotland and Lloyds bank branches. The closures will see 32 Halifax, 19 Lloyds and four Bank of Scotland locations close their doors for the final time next year. These closures mean more than 270 branches run by the group will shutter this year and the next. The majority of the closures will take place in England, but there will also be losses in Wales and Scotland, The Sun said. Lloyds Banking Group said that staff working at these branches would be offered roles at other branches or in another part of the business. It added that all locations have alternative options for accessing cash nearby, such as a Post Office or free to use ATM. A spokesperson said at the time: 'Mobile banking is more popular than ever, with over 19.5 million customers choosing our app to manage, maximise and understand more about their money. 'Alongside our app, customers can bank online, over the phone, at a Banking Hub, a Post Office or by speaking to one of our Community Bankers.' It is the latest in a long line of bank departures from Britain's high streets, which have seen thousands of branches shut up shop in recent years. Bosses have claimed that fewer people are using in-person services at branches, with the pivot to online banking, particularly among younger customers, the main reason. Other big name banks, including Barclays, NatWest, TSB and Santander have also slashed their branch numbers. Earlier this year it was revealed that the number of branches that have closed their doors in the last nine years has surged past 6,000. A survey by consumer group Which? found that more than 60 per cent of the UK's branch network has closed since it began tracking the phenomenon in 2015. It suggested that by the end of 2024 33 parliamentary constituencies won't have a single bank branch. While the rate of closures had initially appeared to slow down since it reached a peak in 2017, researchers said in May that in 'recent years there has been a troubling surge'. Bank bosses have been accused of 'engaging in a race to close branches' after the Government announced plans in 2020 for laws to protect access to cash, which could make it harder to close a branch if alternative cash provision is lacking. A sizeable portion of the population continues to need access to brick and mortar banking, causing them to use the Post Offices basic cash handling services (File image) The Post Office handled a record amount of cash in July as customers continue flocked to its branches following the closure of thousands of Britain's high street banks (stock image) Since 2015 Barclays has closed 1,216 branches; while NatWest Group, which comprises NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank, has closed 1,360 branches, Which? said. At the time Lloyds Banking Group, had shut 1,146 sites, but this number is set to rise further following its September announcement. A spokesperson for trade association UK Finance said at the time: 'An ever-increasing number of people are using telephone, mobile and internet banking and fewer people are visiting bank branches on a regular basis. 'Balancing this change in the way we bank means firms have to make difficult decisions about maintaining their branches. 'The industry has invested heavily in alternative services, including thousands of post offices where people can do a lot of their day-to-day banking. 'Alongside this, the industry is working to roll out shared banking hubs to bring together different firms to support their customers. 'There is also significant ongoing investment to ensure access to cash, including free ATMs and cashback without purchase. If you are concerned about your local bank branch closing, please contact them and they will help you find the best alternative for your needs.' However with the decline of banks has come record-breaking figures for the Post Office who handled record amount of cash this year. With the shuttering of thousands of banks in recent years, many have been forced to head to the Post Office to access some face-to-face services. The haemorrhaging of banks, which has an average rate of 50 closures a month, has showed no sign of slowing down any soon, with the Post Office breaking cash handling records. In July customers deposited or withdrew more than 2.7 billion, which beats previous record highs set in May, April and December. Around 10 million visits are made to the Post Office each week in the UK, and many of them are using it as a local alternative due to real bank branches disappearing. With an image of a man dressed in traditional Spanish-style clothing and a distinctly latin influence on the bottle, many drinkers could be forgiven for thinking they are drinking an authentic taste of Iberia. But Madri Excepcional, which has the slogan 'the soul of Madrid' and has become a firm favourite among pubgoers since its arrival on the scene in 2020, actually has its origins far closer to home. The lager is largely British production, being brewed 2,000 miles away from the sunny plains of Spain at Coors' factory in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire. The success of Madri, which has raked in 100million for Coors in just four years, has led to accusations from some envious industry figures that it is potentially misleading customers into thinking it hails from Spain completely. But it turns out it is not the only pub favourite that is actually a home-grown brew hiding in exotic colours - it turns out many so-called 'international' beers are made on these shores. MAPPED: Some of the UK's favourite 'world beers' are actually brewed closer to home than you might think The Tower Brewery in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, is where the Spanish-style Madri Excepcional is actually made The Molson Coors brewary in Burton upon Trent where Indian-inspired beer Cobra is brewed San Miguel, a Filipino-style lager which was recently named as Britain's favourite beer, is brewed in Northampton. While, Indian-inspired beer Cobra is brewed in Burton-upon-Trent alongside Carling, which originated in Canada. One of Belgium's best known exports, Stella Artois, is now brewed in South Wales, as is American lager Budweiser, Mexican beer Corona Extra and German Beck's. And in Manchester, well-known beers such as Dutch lager Amstel, Australian beer Fosters, Italian-originating Birra Moretti and Spain's Cruzcampo are all brewed and bottled in the northern UK city. 'World beers' that are brewed closer to home than you think Estrella Damm: Bedford Amstel: Manchester, UK Fosters: Manchester, UK Birra Moretti: Manchester, UK Cruzcampo: Manchester, UK Carling: Burton upon Trent, UK Cobra: Burton upon Trent, UK Coors: Tadcaster, UK San Miguel: Northampton, UK Carlsberg: Northampton, UK Stella Artois: Magor, South Wales Budweiser: Magor, South Wales Corona: Magor, South Wales Becks: Magor, South Wales Advertisement In fact, data from global marketing research firm NIQ has found that around 80 per cent of 'world lagers' in British supermarkets are actually brewed in the UK. Questions have been raised about whether firms are misleading their customers into thinking they're drinking authentic foreign-brewed products. A survey by Opinion Matters recently found that 90% of Brits have been misled by the marketing of beers like Madri, with only 8% of respondents aware that the beer is produced in Burton-on-Trent. Earlier this year, the boss of one Spanish brewery accused Coors, which makes Madri, of 'confusing' people with it's Iberian style. But one marketing guru has said that after raking in millions in sales just four years after it was launched, it's not clear that British punters actually care about whether it's from Spain or not. Rose Hayes, director at Cartwright Communications, said that Madri's strategy has 'clearly been successful' as the beer is 'continuing to dominate the market'. She said: 'While the marketing approach is all about demand and brand growth, the operational reasons for brewing in the UK are undeniable; the ability to quickly meet demand while reducing the need for costly and carbon emission-heavy imports 'Despite the claim that Madri is "Madrid's modern European style cerveza", the fact that the product is brewed in the UK is not only stated on the bottle but it's one of the first things you see on its website. 'This raises the question of how concerned consumers really are about the brand's authenticity.' She added that this is 'not a new concept' and that marketing 'can only go so far with the real proof of a quality product'. 'Much like rival products that are also brewed in this country, the brewery and its marketing team are reliant on being able to guarantee an authentic style of brewery and therefore taste, with Madri having the added advantage of its collaboration with craft firm La Sagra Brewery,' Ms Hayes continued. Rebecca Ironmonger, associate solicitor and food regulatory expert at Roythornes Solicitors, said that labelling rules in the UK for food and drink products are 'complex'. The Heineken factory in Moss Side, Manchester, which is the world's largest producer of Australian beer Fosters The Carlsberg brewary in Northampton where Filipino-inspired beer San Miguel, which has been named as Britain's favourite, is made Estrella Damm makes its trademark Estrella beer in the Eagle Brewery in Bedford as opposed to Spain She said: 'The basic legal requirement is that a label must be clear and unambiguous, and not be misleading. 'If a beer is brewed in the UK, then the label must say this. However, where the overall appearance of the product and/or surrounding marketing implies that the beer is, for example, Spanish, then regulators have powers to take action on the basis that the marketing is misleading. 'The legal test centres around whether "the average consumer" is likely to be misled by such marketing.' However, she concluded that the 'vast majority of consumers couldn't care less whether their "Spanish" beer was in fact brewed in Tadcaster, so long as it tastes good.' Madri Excepcional lager took the world by storm after it launched in October 2020 and in just four just four years the Spanish styled lager was bringing in a whopping 100m in sales for its parent company Molson Coors. However, in July the company came under fire over its heavy Spanish marketing as the boss of Estrella Galicia, Aitor de Artaza, said a 'lack of transparency' among UK beer firms is causing confusion amongst customers. 'There is a lack of transparency because they use a big famous city in Spain, but they don't produce here. This is confusing for the consumer,' Mr Artaza told the Telegraph. 'They [Madri] did a very nice job in terms of marketing, that's for sure. But it's a little bit tricky because people think they are drinking a Spanish beer but it's not. They are not very clear and not, to my point of view, very honest.' Estrella Galicia has brewed beer in the Spanish region of Galicia for more than a century. Chief executive of Carlsberg, Jacob Aarup-Andersen confessed his British beer sales have taken a hit as 'fake' Spanish drink Madri Excepcional continued to rise in popularity. 'We're seeing a continued high competition in world beers. It's a fierce battleground in the UK,' Mr Aarup-Anderson told The Telegraph. 'We have some good propositions there, but we're also seeing a number of our competitors pushing very hard in that segment. 'There's no doubt that one of the brands that is doing well in the UK is Madri. If you look at the market share, they've done well. 'I think they found a good proposition there. So kudos, kudos to them.' Aitor de Artaza (pictured) accused British brewers of 'dishonesty' over selling beers that appear to be Spanish Chief executive of Calsberg, Jacob Aarup-Andersen (pictured) confessed his British beer sales have taken a hit as 'fake' Spanish drink Madri Excepcional continues to rise in popularity Carlsberg, which is brewed in Northampton, had a promising few months in the first half of 2024, with a rise in sales to 4.46 billion but its organic sales volumes slipped 0.2 per cent over the third quarter. Karen Albert, Premium Brands Director of Molson Coors Beverage Company, previously said in response to Mr Artaza: 'Madri Excepcional was created through a unique collaboration between Molson Coors and La Sagra Brewery, which is based close to Madrid, combining the craft and skill of innovative Spanish brewer Carlos Garcia at La Sagra and our Molson Coors master brewers in the UK. 'Our partnership with Carlos and La Sagra is built on celebrating this fusion of British and Spanish culture, taking inspiration from the vibrancy and diversity of modern Madrid. 'We've brought events to major cities across the UK, with performances from Spanish and British musicians, street food celebrating both cultures and murals created by Madrid street artists in collaboration with British artists. 'Brewing Madri Excepcional here in the UK enables us to deliver efficiently, quickly respond to demand and, crucially, to make our beers more sustainably. Brewing in the UK reduces the miles travelled from brewery to bar or shelf and all our beers in the UK are produced using 100 per cent renewable electricity through a power purchase agreement. 'The world beer category is vibrant with innovation, which is key to its continued growth. The myriad of styles on the market and the innovation that we continue to see is something to celebrate.' In a recent survey, San Miguel, which is brewed in Northampton, was ranked the UK's favourite beer. Sixty-one per cent of Brits like the taste of the Filipino-style lager, brewed by American giant AB InBev. Guinness (53 per cent) ranks second, followed by Kopparberg, Thatchers Gold and Strongbow (51 per cent) all in joint-third. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. The survey data comes from YouGov's ratings collection, described as the 'biggest and boldest attempt ever made to quantify what Britain thinks'. The project is based on millions of daily responses from the British public on topics ranging from opinions on David Attenborough to the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street, food and politics. For this data set, YouGov asked the public what they thought about 164 well-known brands between July and September. Popularity was classified as the percentage of people who had a positive opinion. In regards to all adults, Bulmers, Magners (both 50 per cent), Corona (48 per cent), Stella Artois (47 per cent) and Budweiser (46 per cent) rounded out the top ten. MailOnline has compiled the full results in a search table. Similar research, conducted by online gambling firm Slotswise, also concluded San Miguel was Britain's favourite beer. Heineken's 2024 Beer Report, published in September, revealed its lager was its top-selling pour across UK pubs. The same report found the 'world beer' category, featuring lagers such as Cruzcampo and Italian lager Peroni, is the most popular choice for pub-going Brits this year, commanding a 28 per cent share of the whole UK pub trade. Experts say that part of the success for overseas pours is down to the 'Madri effect' named after US brewer Molson Coors' lager Madri Excepcional. In 2022, it became one of the UK's best-selling beers just two years after its launch a success that has been attributed to marketing it as a premium international lager with the tagline 'the soul of Madrid', despite experts branding it 'Carling with added hop extract'. Madri was not included in YouGov's rankings. Simon Martin, who runs the Real Ale Guide YouTube channel, said that the punter's preferences are a lot more down to emotions rather than taste-buds. He told MailOnline: 'This time of year when it's raining and wet, people think of San Miguel as their holiday in the summer - it's boiling hot and they're at the beach with an ice cold San Miguel and it's a lovely image. 'It's not the greatest lager but due to the miserable weather here it offers memories of summer so I get why people drink it.' Mr Martin added: 'If some of the UK's smaller, independent breweries with great products could get the marketing budgets of the big companies, chances are we would all be drinking a lot more of them.' Over the past few years, major beer producers have bought up smaller, independent breweries that had built cult followings of their own. AB InBev bought up London's Camden Hells brewery in 2015, while Beavertown, famous for its Neck Oil and Gamma Ray pours, was snapped up by Heineken in 2022. As local legend has it, the ghost of a little girl looking for a lost doll is said to haunt the world's scariest tourist attraction, but can you guess where she terrorises? She died in 1645, after a bout of sickness plagued this centuries-old capital city. The spirit of the troubled child roams the landmark - a dark maze of underground warrens deep beneath the streets - looking for her toy. To help put her tormented soul at rest, visitors who flock there leave dolls and gifts in the corner of a room where the ghostly girl was reportedly seen. This spine-chilling place has been named the world's most haunted tourist hotspot and attracts thousands every year. Spooky destinations across the world continue to captivate those in intrigued by things that go 'bump in the night'. Travel experts have put together a list of the ten most haunted locations, guaranteed to give even the most foolhardy travellers a fright. Using thousands of TripAdvisor reviews, Planet Cruise have rated each destination, based on how many times 'haunted,' 'scary,' and 'spooky,' were mentioned. Scroll down to find out the results, including the most terrifying place for travellers, that is haunted by the little girl ghost. The world's most haunted hotspots have been revealed - and the UK has landed three spine-chilling entries in the ranking 10. Tower of London, UK This historic fortress, famous for its dark past of executions and imprisonments, ranks on the list as the world's tenth most haunted location. With 37 mentions of 'haunted,' 64 mentions of 'spooky' and the fourth most mentions of 'scary' at 126 on TripAdvisor, the Tower of London is considered one of the most haunted places in the UK. Officially built in 1078, the landmark is world-famous due to centuries-long speculation that it's haunted by thirteen ghosts who met grisly ends in the Tower while alive. Guy Fawkes was subjected to intense torture - presumably in the White Tower dungeons - following his involvement in the foiled Gunpowder Plot to assassinate James I at Parliament in 1605. Additionally, Henry VIII's second wife, Anne Boleyn, was taken as a prisoner through the infamous Traitor's Gate after being accused of adultery in 1536, shortly before she was beheaded on Tower Green. Some 340 years later, a soldier is said to have spotted a 'burning light' in the closed chapel where Anne was laid to rest, which revealed a procession of knights and ladies, led by a headless Anne Boleyn. On TripAdvisor, one satisfied tourist wrote of their tour: 'You could get the chilling feel of this gruesome site.' The Tower of London, famous for its dark past of executions and imprisonments, ranks on the list as the world's tenth most haunted location. Henry VIII's second wife, Anne Boleyn, was taken as a prisoner through the infamous Traitor's Gate after being accused of adultery in 1536, shortly before she was beheaded on Tower Green On TripAdvisor, one satisfied tourist wrote of their tour: 'You could get the chilling feel of this gruesome site.' 9. The Queen Mary, California, USA Coming in ninth place as one of the world's most haunted hotspots is the Queen Mary, a British ocean liner permanently docked since 1967 on Long Beach in California, USA. At least 49 deaths are said to have taken place on the Queen Mary since its maiden voyage in 1936 - accordingly, ghoulish sightings have been reported in several areas on board. Hatch door 13, also known as Shaft Alley on the vessel, is the site of a gruesome accident that saw a crewman crushed to death in 1966. His ghost is now regularly seen around the area, with visitors reporting the sound of someone running behind them and whistling. These days, the hotel offers ghost tours by day and night to take full advantage of the spooky stories. On TripAdvisor, where reviews have amassed a staggering 324 mentions of the word 'haunted,' one spooked visitor wrote: 'I went into this tour half-way as a sceptic but definitely left this place a full on believer. 'When we went into the room under the front deck of the ship we heard screaming and banging on the pipes coming from under us.' Coming in ninth place as one of the world's most haunted hotspots is the Queen Mary, a British ocean liner permanently docked since 1967 on Long Beach in California, USA At least 49 deaths are said to have taken place on the Queen Mary since its maiden voyage in 1936 - accordingly, ghoulish sightings have been reported in several areas on board On TripAdvisor, where reviews have amassed a staggering 324 mentions of the word 'haunted,' one spooked visitor wrote: 'I went into this tour half-way as a sceptic but definitely left this place a full on believer.' 8. Bonaventure Cemetery Savannah, Georgia, USA In eighth place is Bonaventure Cemetery Savannah, built on the historic Bonaventure Plantation in Georgia, with 67 mentions of 'haunted' and 156 mentions of 'spooky' on TripAdvisor. Statues once stationed in the cemetery, such as Little Wendy, are central to local legends - including claims of ghostly sightings of Lorraine Greenman, the eight-year-old girl who posed for the artist behind the sculpture in the 1930s. Another famous sculpture in the cemetery that has elicited fantastical stories is that of Gracie Watson, also known as Little Gracie. The six-year-old girl died of pneumonia in 1889, and was memorialised in marble by artist John Walz from nothing but a photograph. Visitors and locals leave toys for her to play with, especially around Christmas time, who claim she cries tears of blood if her toys are removed. On TripAdvisor, one visitor wrote: 'This is one of the coolest/spookiest cemeteries I've ever visited... It gives you this feeling that you are in the beginning of a scary movie.' In eighth place is Bonaventure Cemetery Savannah, built on the historic Bonaventure Plantation in Georgia, with 67 mentions of 'haunted' and 156 mentions of 'spooky' on TripAdvisor One famous sculpture in the cemetery that has elicited fantastical stories is that of Gracie Watson, also known as Little Gracie (pictured) - which is claimed to cry tears of blood On TripAdvisor, one visitor wrote: 'This is one of the coolest/spookiest cemeteries I've ever visited...' 7. The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park Colorado, USA The Stanley Hotel in Colorado has the second highest amount of 'haunted' mentions at 443, but is let down by the lowest TripAdvisor rating overall at 3.5. Famous as the inspiration for Stephen King's The Shining, The Stanley Hotel is widely considered to be one of the most haunted destinations in the United States. Visitors report hearing children's footsteps and laughter on the fourth floor, while the hotel's staircase - also known as 'The Vortex' - is suggested to serve as a paranormal portal that connects the lobby to the second floor, according to Ghost City Tours. Room 428 on the fourth floor of the hotel is reported to be the 'most active' with ghost sightings, with former guests claiming they could hear heavy footsteps moving across the room and furniture being rearranged as they slept. On TripAdvisor, one brave visitor wrote: 'We experienced a lot of static energy on the 4th floor, but nothing too paranormal. 'However, when we were leaving in the morning we walked out with our bags, said goodbye to the ghosts and 2 empty beverage cans flew off the desk. Worth the price for us.' Famous as the inspiration for Stephen King's The Shining, The Stanley Hotel is widely considered to be one of the most haunted destinations in the United States Visitors report hearing children's footsteps and laughter on the fourth floor of the hotel On TripAdvisor, one brave visitor wrote: 'We experienced a lot of static energy on the 4th floor, but nothing too paranormal.' 6. Myrtles Plantation Louisiana, USA Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana takes sixth place with 47 mentions of 'spooky' and 73 mentions of 'scary.' Located in the deep American south, Myrtles Plantation has long been reputed as one of America's most haunted homes due to its history of overworked slaves and brutal masters. Spooky experiences reported by former visitors include ghostly apparitions, particularly of a former enslaved woman named Chloe, and unexplained footsteps. For many years, Chloe fell victim to her master, Mr. Woodruff's, cruelty. The prestigious Judge ordered Chloe to have her ears removed after she was caught eavesdropping, and she was later hung before being dropped into the Mississippi River after she poisoned Mr. Woodruff's children. The plantation was the sight of other gruesome activity after Chloes death, with visitors reporting seeing Woodruff's children - as well as their handprints - appear in the mirror near the room where they were poisoned. Today, this residence is known as the Myrtles Plantation Bed and Breakfast, where visitors are offered historical tours through the day and into the dark of night. On TripAdvisor, one guest wrote: 'The spirits did not disappoint the night of my birthday. The pillows had moved on the bed upon our return from dinner and the dresser in our room rocked several times on the floor making a horrendous noise.' Located in the deep American south, Myrtles Plantation has long been reputed as one of America's most haunted homes due to its history of overworked slaves and brutal masters A husband and wife enjoying a weekend away in 'one of America's most haunted houses' got more than they bargained for when the filmed a TRIO of 'ghosts' feet' walking past them Today, this residence is known as the Myrtles Plantation Bed and Breakfast, where visitors are offered historical tours through the day and into the dark of night 5. St. Augustine Lighthouse Florida, USA St Augustine Lighthouse in Florida takes fifth place, with a total of 166 mentions of 'haunted' on TripAdvisor. Tales of ghostly lighthouse keepers and tragic accidents make this a popular spot for paranormal seekers. Many visitors have reported hearing children's voices and seeing unexplained shadows while exploring the lighthouse, where visitors climb 219 to reach the top of the structure, which began guiding ships at sea into shore in 1874 Workers say that they lock the door at the top of the tower each night before leaving - yet the door is often open in the morning when they arrive for work. Meanwhile, visitors regularly claim to spot the spirit of former keeper, Joseph Andreu, at the top of the tower. His presence at the lighthouse could be explained by the fact that he fell to his death while painting the outside of the tower. On TripAdvisor, one visitor wrote: 'Very spooky, lots of goose bumps. We rented an EMF meter for $5 and saw a few good spikes throughout the tour.' St Augustine Lighthouse in Florida takes fifth place, with a total of 166 mentions of 'haunted' on TripAdvisor Tales of ghostly lighthouse keepers and tragic accidents make this a popular spot for paranormal seekers On TripAdvisor, one visitor wrote: 'Very spooky, lots of goose bumps. We rented an EMF meter for $5 and saw a few good spikes throughout the tour.' 4. Bhangarh Fort India In fourth place is Bhangarh Fort in India, with 322 mentions of 'haunted' and 64 mentions of 'spooky' on TripAdvisor. The fort, located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, near the Sariska Tiger Reserve, is considered haunted by some due to a number of legends and superstitions - and is considered so spooky that entry is prohibited between sunset and sunrise. The fort was built in the 16th century and quickly abandoned, with local legend saying this was due to a tantric cursing the fort and its inhabitants. On TripAdvisor, one brazen visitor wrote: 'After reading multiple reviews of this place, I couldn't resist myself from visiting it "AT NIGHT." 'Indeed it feels spooky cos there isn't any civilization around 3 kms of the fort. Even with the sound of your own footsteps on those parched leaves & the fear of someone following you runs down your spine...' In fourth place is Bhangarh Fort in India, with 322 mentions of 'haunted' and 64 mentions of 'spooky' on TripAdvisor According to The Hindu , the fort was built in the 16th century and quickly abandoned, with many believing this was due to a local tantric cursing the fort and its inhabitants On TripAdvisor, one brazen visitor wrote: 'After reading multiple reviews of this place, I couldn't resist myself from visiting it "AT NIGHT."' 3. Crumlin Road Gaol Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK In third place is the historical site Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast, with a total of 53 mentions of 'haunted,' 155 mentions of 'spooky' and 139 mentions of 'scary.' Crumlin Road Gaol is a jail that closed in 1996 - and has since been plagued with paranormal sightings and associated with tales of sadness, tragedy and grief. According the the Gaol's official website, seventeen executions of male prisoners took place between 1854 and 1961. On June 21, 1854, soldier Robert Henry O'Neill was the first prisoner to be executed. His body and 14 others are still interred in unmarked graves within the grounds of the Gaol. The Gaol had a stone execution chamber, used for the first time in C Wing in 1901, and a Padded Cell in B Wing. The disused jail now hosts public tours, live music and paranormal investigation events. On TripAdvisor, one visitor wrote: 'Apparently there has been paranormal activity in the gaol... We had a spooky experience in the Tunnel... a man shouting and banging going on.' Crumlin Road Gaol is a jail that closed in 1996 - and has since been plagued with paranormal sightings and associated with tales of sadness, tragedy and grief (stock image) According the the Gaol's official website, seventeen executions of male prisoners took place between 1854 and 1961 The disused jail now hosts public tours, live music and paranormal investigation events 2. Eastern State Penitentiary Philadelphia, USA Eastern State Penitentiary located in Philadelphia, has the greatest number of 'haunted' mentions on reviews on TripAdvisor, at a huge 534, as well as 236 'spooky' and 340 'scary' mentions. Built in 1829 and famous for introducing solitary confinement, Eastern State Penitentiary is believed to be haunted by former inmates. According to the Eastern State Penitentiary official website, its vaulted, sky-lit cells held nearly 85,000 people over its long history, including bank robber "Slick Willie" Sutton and "Scarface" Al Capone. Visitors recount chilling sounds, whispers, and shadowy figures moving through its decaying halls while exploring the decaying castle. On TripAdvisor, one spooked visitor wrote: 'This place is positively dripping with bad energy and restless spirits. 'Even during a daytime tour you can feel the oppressive feelings of those who have suffered in the past and their resentment towards those who invade their space.' Built in 1829 and famous for introducing solitary confinement, Eastern State Penitentiary is believed to be haunted by former inmates Visitors recount chilling sounds, whispers, and shadowy figures moving through its decaying halls while exploring the ravaged building On TripAdvisor, one spooked visitor wrote: 'This place is positively dripping with bad energy and restless spirits.' 1. Mary King's Close, Edinburgh, Scotland Lying deep beneath the streets of Edinburgh's Old Town is Mary King's Close - which has been crowned the world's most haunted tourist hotspot. The dark maze of underground closes received the most 'scary' and 'spooky' mentions (604 and 534 respectively) on TripAdvisor - as well as a rating of 4.5. Under the Royal Mile, Mary King's Close is a place where people lived, worked and died between the 1600 to 1800s. During their miserable lives, poorer residents living on the bottom floors and the wealthy living on the top floors. As legend has it, the tourist hotspot is haunted by plague victims from the 1600s. Visitors have reported hearing ghostly sounds, skin-prickling sensations - and even glimpses of the ghostly little girl Annie, whose tormented spirit roams the closes looking for her lost doll. To help put her soul at rest, visitors who flock there leave dolls and gifts in the corner of a room where the ghostly girl was reportedly seen. On TripAdvisor, one visitor wrote: 'We had our photo taken at the end with a very strange and unexplained addition in the developed picture! 'We showed the staff and they said they had never seen anything like that on a person before, the circle to us looked like an orb - not surprisingly as the place is very haunted!' Mary King's Close in Edinburgh, Scotland, takes the top spot for the spookiest destination location in the world This eerie site is said to be haunted by plague victims from the 1600s On the evening of November 21, 1974, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) escalated the Troubles to previously unfathomable heights, bombing two Birmingham city centre pubs in an act of terror which sent shockwaves reverberating across Britain. Shortly after 8pm on a busy Thursday evening, the first bomb went off at The Mulberry Bush, with another blast rocking The Tavern bar just minutes later. Killing 21 civilians and injuring a further 220, it was one of the most destructive moments during the IRA's bombing campaign of mainland Britain, and remains to this day the largest unsolved mass murder in the state's history. In the chaotic aftermath though, this pain and anguish was compounded by what has since been described as the Britain's 'gravest miscarriage of justice'. Six innocent men, all of whom were Irish, were brutally interrogated by an infamous sect of West Midlands Police, and ultimately coerced into signing confessions admitting to their involvement in the bombings. Sentenced to life behind bars and seeing their appeals quashed, hope was seemingly lost for the men dubbed by the day's media as 'the Birmingham Six'. That was until a budding investigative reporter by the name of Chris Mullin was tipped off that all may not be as it seemed. A near-decade long crusade began, which resulted in the then-future MP cracking the case wide open by unearthing the actual quartet of bombers. Needing to grant the culprits' anonymity though to gain their cooperation and help free the innocent men, Mullin refused to reveal the identities of those who had committed the atrocity, standing by his word and the cardinal journalistic rule of source protection. A map of Birmingham City Centre detailing the proximity in location between the two bomb sites and where the six innocent men were arrested on the evening of November 21, 1974 The Tavern bar in Birmingham City Centre was the second of two targeted by the IRA on November 21, 1974 The damage to both venues was catastrophic, with 21 people killed and 220 injured by IRA-planted bombs A West Midlands Police Officer surveys the damage of the Birmingham bomb blasts A reportedly botched tip-off call was to blame for civilians still being inside the bars when the bombs went off The remnants of The Mulberry Bush pub in Birmingham's Rotunda following the detonation of the IRA' s first bomb The devastation of both bombs was catastrophic, with the incident remaining Britain's largest unsolved mass murder to this day A staggering 220 people were injured by the two bombings on what was a busy Thursday evening in Birmingham city centre 'West Midlands Police had no interest in finding out who'd really done it', Chris Mullin recalled to the MailOnline. Detailing how confessions were coercively extracted from four of the six innocent Irishmen by the notorious West Midlands Serious Crime Squad, Mullin spoke of the beatings the men received at the hands of authorities, which can be verified from the facial cuts and bruises in their official Police mugshots. 'This was their modus operandi, they were basically an organised criminal enterprise in their own right', the former Labour MP for Sunderland South stated. 'The West Midlands Serious Crime Squad were a heavy bunch who'd use whatever level of intimidation and violence necessary to wangle confessions. I've heard stories of how they would go as far as holding plastic bags over interviewee's heads. But somehow judges and juries bought this nonsense for years'. It was through a combination of these erroneous confessions alongside fabricated evidence that led to Patrick Joseph Hill, Hugh Callaghan, Gerard Hunter, Richard McIlkenny, John Walker and William Power being sentenced to life behind bars in 1975. Despite holding reservations over the convictions at the time thanks to conversations with the Guardian's Peter Chippindale, Mullin was in no position as a freelance journalist to take on the might of the British judiciary system. Always keeping a close eye on the appeals of the six over the following number of years, it was not until almost a decade later when Mullin was in a situation to pursue the case with vigour. Convincing Granada television of its merits, Mullin aided in the commissioning and production of an investigative documentary into the evidence surrounding the six men's convictions. The three-part series which was released in 1985 blew wide open holes through the case, eviscerating forensic evidence and highlighting the troubling nature in which police evidence was obtained, alongside a case-shattering interview with one of the actual culprits behind the bombings. A year later in 1986, what was seemingly the final nail in the prosecution's case came when Mullin released his book 'Error of Judgment: The Truth About the Birmingham Pub Bombings'. In the year between the documentary and the release of his book, Mullin had took it upon himself to travel to Ireland and identify the four actual bombers. The mugshots of the Birmingham Six - from left top: Patrick Hill, Hugh Callaghan, John Walker, Richard McIlkenny, Gerard Hunter and William Power West Midlands Police mugshot of Patrick Hill West Midlands Police mugshot of Hugh O'Callaghan West Midlands Police mugshot of John Walker West Midlands Police mugshot of Richard McIlkenny West Midlands Police mugshot of Robert Hunter West Midlands Police mugshot of William Power 'I walked down some very dark alleyways in Dublin and Belfast on those visits,' Mullin remembered, 'but uncovering the identities of the actual culprits was the only way to exonerate the innocent six'. Describing himself as 'very English', one can imagine the difficulties Mullin encountered on his visits to various Republican strongholds asking lots of uncomfortable questions during the acme of the Troubles. However, already possessing the name of one of the actual bomb makers, Michael Murray, from his time working with Granada television, Mullin's investigation led to his confirming of the involvement of three further men, James Francis Gavin, Michael Christopher Hayes and a third unnamed man. Having offered all four anonymity, Mullin can now openly discuss both Murray and Gavin as they are dead. Michael Christopher Hayes, despite being interviewed by Mullin and admitting his membership of the IRA, never confided in Mullin over the bombings but has since spoken of his 'collective responsibility' in other interviews and thus waived his right to anonymity. The final member of the four-man bomb squad remains unnamed as he is still alive, according to Mullin. Detailing his findings in 'Error of Judgment: The Truth About the Birmingham Pub Bombings', the Crown Prosecution Service was left with no other option but to reopen the Birmingham bombings case. A first appeal in 1988 somehow proved unsuccessful, but ultimately justice prevailed in 1991 with all six men being granted their freedom. The case against the 'Birmingham Six' has since been labelled one of the 'gravest miscarriages of justice' in British legal history, with Mullin's work heralded as one of the finest examples of investigative reporting in modern times. Already an MP for Sunderland South by the release of the 'Birmingham Six' in 1991, Mullin spoke to the 'great advantage' that being a member of parliament was in helping quash the convictions. 'It was a tremendous opportunity to confront those directly responsible- the police and the criminal justice system- which is exactly what I did. 'Some Tories even ended up taking my side, with Sir John Farr and I forming what would've been perceived as an unlikely duo in championing the cause of these innocent men'. Chris Mullin (centre) with the 'Birmingham Six' upon their release from prison 16 years after their wrongful conviction Patrick Hill (centre) speaks to crowds gathered outside the Old Bailey following the release of the 'Birmingham Six' in 1991 The 'Birmingham Six' celebrate before the media following the quashing of their convictions The 'Birmingham Six' celebrate with one another with a rapturous onlooking crowd outside of the Old Bailey 'Error of Judgement: The Birmingham Bombings and the Scandal that Shook Britain', the cover of Chris Mullin's groundbreaking expose into the wrongful convictions of the 'Birmingham Six' Michael Murray (pictured) was the first name identified by Chris Mullin as having been one of the four perpetrators behind the 1974 Birmingham bombings James Francis Gavin (pictured) was the second person identified by Mullin as having played a role in the blasts Michael Christopher Hayes originally denied his involvement in the bombings to Mullin, but has since revealed in subsequent interviews his feelings of 'collective responsibility' At a time when anti-Irish sentiment was rife within both the British judiciary system and press, Mullin highlighted how the story of the 'Birmingham Six' was not an isolated tale. The M62 and Woolwich bombings occurred in the very same year, with a total of 18 people jailed for their supposed involvement. All 18 have since been exonerated and cleared of any wrongdoing. As one might expect though, Mullin's exposing of the British policing establishment was not met with which much fanfare, with The Sun newspaper taking particular exception to his reporting. 'I received an awful lot of abuse and still do to this day,' recounted Mullin. 'The Sun have continually been the most critical. I remember numerous articles such as 'Is there a more odious MP than Chris Mullins' and '20 things you didn't know about crackpot Chris'- most of them were news to me too! 'My favourite attack on my character was a front page which read 'Loony MP backs bomb gang'. It still hangs in my office to this day', the former MP chuckled. Mullin's refusal to reveal the identities of the real bombers not only drew the ire of Britain's right-leaning media, but also from the family members of the bombing's victims. Branded a 'disgrace' by Julie Hambleton of the Justice for the 21 campaign group, Mullin says he sympathises with and even accepts their anger. However, the former MP remains content with his choice, believing it was unequivocally in the public interest to do what he did. 'I was under no illusions. I knew I could not both free the innocent men and help imprison the actual culprits simultaneously. In order to prove the innocence of the 'Birmingham Six' I had no choice but to grant the real bombers anonymity so they would confide in me. 'It was overwhelmingly in the public interest and I believe that if I had not have done it, that there is a very real chance that those innocent men would still be in prison to this day', Mullin explained. A map detailing a number of locations which were targeted during IRA's 1974 bombing campaign on mainland Britain Chris Mullin hoists aloft the aforementioned Sun newspaper front page which reads 'Loony MP backs bomb gang' Chris Mullin (left) served as an MP for Sunderland South for over two decades following his career in investigative journalism Mullin used his time in the House of Commons to further pressure for the release of the innocent 'Birmingham Six' November 21, 2024, marked 50 years to the day since the bombings and arrests of the 'Birmingham Six' occurred Three decades on from the exoneration of the six men, the case once again made international headlines as Mullin was dragged before the Old Bailey in a bid by West Midlands Police to have him reveal the identity of the unnamed bomber. For the reasons previously stated, the former MP had for years refused to cooperate on multiple occasions but eventually found himself before a judge in 2022 after authorities cited the 2000 Terrorism Act as just cause. The case against Mullin was viewed as a watershed moment for journalism. Should the court side with prosecution and force him to reveal his source, it would remove any promise of anonymity which journalists could offer to whistleblowers. 'Any and all forms of investigative journalism would have been at risk had the court ruled against me. Sources are fundamental to maintaining democracy', Mullen argued. 'You couldn't expect people to talk to you about controversial matters of which they might have an inside account if you couldn't guarantee to preserve their anonymity. It doesn't just apply to a case like mine, it could apply to any form of whistleblower or someone within the NHS or even the police itself'. Going on to make the case that it was a gross misuse of the Terrorism Act, Mullin pointed out the irony that any conviction he may have received would have brought. 'I could have eventually been jailed for contempt of court but I'd have appealed all the way to Europe', Mullin remarked. 'They then would have been faced with irony that only person held to account for everything would have been the guy who blew the whistle which would've been tough to stomach'. Chris Mullin victoriously stands outside the Old Bailey after the court ruled in his favour over the anonymity of his sources In what was a watershed moment for journalism, the future anonymity of sources for investigative reporting in the UK hinged on the outcome of Mullin's case Mullin's legal costs were covered by the National Union of Journalists, with its General Secretary Michelle Stainstreet pictured with Mullin here outside the Old Bailey Mullin remains adamant to this day that his decision to conceal the identities of the true bombers was overwhelmingly in the public interest To this day, Mullin still shares occasional contact with the men he helped free. He also remains unwaveringly self-effacing when it's put to him that his reporting is considered by many to be the exemplar of investigative journalism, something he says he 'takes no notice of'. Now, fifty years on from the Birmingham bombings and 14 since his retirement from the House of Commons, Mullin spends his days in the reclusiveness of his native Northumberland. Asked if all the court cases and abuse would make him think twice as to take on the same crusade again, the 76-year-old, without a moment's hesitation, replied: 'Not for a second'. 'Six innocent men were freed and the names of three of the four perpetrators are known because of that reporting. There is no dilemma there', he stated assuredly. The legacy of the 'Birmingham Six' case lives on far past the lives of the freed men though, with its principal consequence being helping to shape the contemporary British legal system. The very next day after the conclusion of the successful appeal of the 'Birmingham Six', the introduction of the criminal cases review commission was recommended. This commission has now quashed over 500 wrongful convictions since its establishment, with disclosure rules having also been drastically reformed as a direct result. Grateful for these advancements, Mullin makes a final observation: 'Something good ultimately came from what was such a dark day. We still witness some shocking miscarriages of justice but the system as a whole has improved remarkably as a result of the appeals of the 'Birmingham Six''. For more than a year, hundreds of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters have marched through the streets of Britain to decry Israel's military campaign in Gaza. Demonstrators have repeatedly called for a ceasefire to the action, which began just weeks after Hamas' brutal terror attacks of October 7, 2023. But among the throngs of protesters calling for peace, some are displaying secret signs that equate to 'symbols of hate.' An upside down red triangle, a green headband and a hand gesture denoting the letter 'T' might seem innocuous at first glance. But the meaning behind these signs could be far more sinister. According to antisemitism charity Community Security Trust (CST), these subtle symbols are being widely used to indicate support for Hamas - a terrorist organisation proscribed in the UK - right here on the streets of Britain. The signs are so ambiguous protesters can argue they are simply showing solidarity with Palestine, leaving authorities powerless to act. But as MailOnline reveals, their origin, popularity and use means these symbols are far more pernicious than they first appear... Antisemtism campaigners say among the throngs of protesters calling for peace, some are displaying secret signs that equate to 'symbols of hate' - right here on the streets of Britain The inverted red triangle One of the most widespread symbols spotted at pro-Palestinian marches in the UK is the inverted red triangle. Those who display it on banners, bags, T-shirts and elsewhere, argue that the red triangle is a symbol of resistance and support for the Palestinian cause. It also echoes the red triangle that features, not inverted, on the left-hand side of the Palestinian flag. However, antisemitism experts believe the symbol now being widely displayed has very different origins. Some point to the use of the red triangle in Nazi concentration camps during the Second World War, when political opponents were forced to wear the symbol on their jackets. They included socialists, communists, trade unionists, liberals, anarchists, freemasons and non-Jews who helped Jewish people. Wearing an inverted red triangle at protests, they say, amounts to an inversion of Holocaust history. But analysts at CST believe the current use of the inverted red triangle has much more modern origins. One of the most widespread symbols seen at pro-Palestinian marches in Britain is that of the inverted red triangle - but experts argue its use and origins are more sinister than appears Some argue the upside down red triangle simply echoes the red triangle seen lying on its side to the left of the Palestinian flag. Pictured: A demonstrator in London in February, 2024 Those who display it on banners, bags, T-shirts and elsewhere, argue that the red triangle is simply a symbol of resistance and support for the Palestinian cause. Pictured: A protester in London in September 2024 As far as experts can tell, the symbol only really emerged as a protest sign in the weeks after October 7, 2023. This coincided with the widespread sharing of Hamas propaganda videos, which show an upside-down red triangle to highlight Israeli military targets, such as buildings, tanks and soldiers. MailOnline has seen videos where this symbol hovers above the target for a few seconds, before Hamas terrorists take aim and discharge their weapons. According to CST, there are no examples of the red triangle being used on social media accounts, on placards or at demonstrations before October 7, leading experts to conclude the symbol became popular solely through Hamas propaganda. On the surface, the red triangle seems harmless - it lacks ideological, religious or political relevance and is a symbol without words. But experts say it's use in Hamas propaganda to denote a 'target' means it has become a very subversive - and ambiguous - way of indicating support for a proscribed group on the streets of the UK. They add that it's so subtle not all those who display it are even aware what it means, while police are reticent to take action. But that position should change, say campaigners, because the inverted red triangle has also become a symbol of intimidation. An inverted red triangle was worn by political opponents in Nazi concentration camps Antisemitism campaigners argue that an inverted red triangle at protests amounts to an inversion of Holocaust history. Pictured: Political prisoners at Sachsenhausen, Germany, 1938 CST has recorded several incidents over the last year of the symbol being spray-painted in Jewish areas, as well as being used in antisemitic content online. There is a feeling for many within the British-Jewish community that the inverted red triangle - already synonymous with Hamas videos as a 'target' symbol - is a literal sign that they too are being 'targeted'. In June, a red triangle was painted on a bus shelter in Golders Green, north London, home to one of the capital's largest Jewish communities. Another appeared in October on a bus stop in Brighton, East Sussex, opposite the location of a memorial to October 7 victims, which has been repeatedly vandalised in recent months. In some instances, protesters have been photographed making the triangle sign with their hands below images of the Israeli flag or towards counter-demonstrators at marches. The inverted red triangle has also been used to target Jewish communities around the world, with incidents recorded in the United States, Europe and Australia. Chillingly, following the recent antisemitic assaults on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam, those responsible for the violence released a video showing scenes from the attacks. Throughout the footage, which has been seen by MailOnline, inverted red triangles are used above the heads of Israeli fans to denote their 'targets'. Analysts believe the current use of the inverted red triangle stems from its use as a 'target' symbol in Hamas propaganda videos These videos only began surfacing weeks after the Hamas terrorist attack of October 7, 2023 when Israel launched a large-scale invasion into Gaza - with experts saying the red triangle has become a subversive way of showing support for the proscribed organisation According to analysts, the red triangle has become a very subversive - and subtle - way of indicating support for a proscribed group on the streets of the UK. Pictured: A protest in London in November 2024 In July, Berlin - which has the largest Palestinian population in Europe - passed a motion to ban the symbol in Germany. It had been used to target pro-Israel academics and politicians, including the city's mayor Kai Wegner, who had previously ordered the police to evict pro-Palestine protesters from the city's Free University. 'Kai will pay' was subsequently graffitied on the wall of a university under a red triangle. An inverted red triangle was painted on a bus stop in Golders Green, north London, home to a large Jewish community, in June 2024 Chillingly, following the recent anti-Semitic assaults on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam, those responsible for the violence released a video showing scenes from the attacks - with red triangles used above the heads of their 'targets' In some instances, protesters have been photographed making the triangle sign with their hands below images of the flag of Israel Nasrallah's 'T' symbol One of the more subversive symbols appearing on Britain's streets is the 'T' hand gesture, which denotes 'revenge' and 'death'. The symbol was first used by Hassan Nasrallah, the late chief of terrorist group Hezbollah, who was killed by Israeli airstrikes in September. In 2020 he delivered a now-infamous speech in which he threatened death to Western forces, following the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike that year. Nasrallah said: 'When the coffins of the American soldiers and officers people who came here in vertical position and returned in horizontal position start arriving in the United States, Trump and his administration will understand that they have lost the region and will lose the elections as well.' In recent months, the symbol has resurged to mean Israeli soldiers will enter Lebanon 'standing' - the upright part of the 'T' - but will leave 'lying down' - the top part of the 'T'. According to CST, the symbol has not been used extensively, but there have been examples reported since October 7 at pro-Palestinian protests in the UK. The 'T' symbol was first used by Hassan Nasrallah, the late chief of terrorist group Hezbollah, during a speech in 2020 to denote soldiers will enter Lebanon standing - but will leave lying down (the flat part of the 'T') A protester was spotted making the gesture to counter-protesters in London in November Green headbands Marchers have been wearing green headbands that closely resemble those worn by Hamas terrorists, CST has revealed. Featuring white Arabic writing on a green background, the accessory bears a striking resemblance to those worn by the militants who carried out the barbaric atrocities of the October 7 attacks. However, because it lacks the group's two crossed swords logo and the writing pertains to a segment from the Quran rather than anything directly linked to Hamas, protesters argue they are simply wearing a green headband. Antisemitism campaigners say the headbands are a tacit way for demonstrators to 'cosplay' Hamas fighters and show their support for a proscribed terrorist organisation. There has been at least one prosecution of a protester wearing a green headband, which resulted in a conviction earlier this year. Khaled Hajsaad, 25, a Palestinian-born asylum seeker from Tunisia, wore a green headband as 45,000 protestors marched through London on November 25, 2023. He later denied the charge against him and claimed that his green headband with a 'Shahada' on it was an Islamic oath and expression of faith which had been coopted by Hamas. Hajsaad was however found guilty of wearing an article supporting a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act, 2000 and was handed a conditional discharge for three months. Marchers have also been wearing green headbands that closely resemble those worn by Hamas terrorists, CST has revealed Two men were sought by police after they were spotted in London wearing Hamas-style headbands during a pro-Palestine march on Armistice Day in 2023 Swastikas and the Star of David The swastika is widely regarded as a Nazi symbol of hate, anti-Semitism and white supremacy. While it has not been banned in the UK, displaying one in such a way that it could incite racial hatred is. CST says it has recorded several incidents over the last year where images of swastikas are entwined with the flag of Israel or the Star of David - and they are being seen not at far-right marches, but pro-Palestinian protests. Some demonstrators have been spotted with placards equating Israel with the Nazis, or Zionism with Nazism, while graffitti and stickers sporting similar messages have appeared around the UK. Drawing comparisons between Israeli policy to the Nazis constitutes anti-Semitism under the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of the word. Given the connotations of the swastika with the Second World War, the symbol is considered particularly hurtful to the Jewish community and an inversion of Holocaust history. CST says police have not always taken action, but there is currently at least one case going through the courts. Former Labour activist Kate Varnfield, 67, who has been charged with a public order offence, was pictured last year attending a pro-Palestine Armistice Day march with a placard allegedly showing the Star of David enmeshed with the Nazi swastika. Former Labour activist Kate Varnfield, 67, was pictured attending a pro-Palestine Armistice Day march with a placard showing the Star of David enmeshed with the Nazi swastika The relative of an SNP minister posted this image onto their Facebook page in April - but Police Scotland did not bring any charges and dropped the investigation A swastika inside a flag of Israel was spotted close to Brick Lane, East London in October The placard also featured the words: 'No British politician should be a 'friend of Israel'.' But critics say there is inconsistency in police action. In another instance from April, Police Scotland decided not to press charges against the relative of an SNP minister who posted a Nazi swastika within a Star of David on their Facebook page. The woman, who alerted officers but did not wish to be identified for fear of reprisals, said she was told her complaint was being discarded because she herself is not Jewish. Police Scotland announced in July that it intended to close the investigation without any charges brought. Sammy Stein, chairman of the Glasgow Friends of Israel, said told The Times: 'Many people in our community are afraid to even go into the city centre as they are afraid of being harassed and abused for being Jewish. 'With this decision, Police Scotland is saying that it is not prepared to stand up and protect them.' The woman who made the complaint said: 'It suggests some sections of society are protected while others are seen as fair game.' A swastika appears inside a Star of David with the slogan, 'NaZionism', on a sticker reported to CST in recent months More recently in November, police refused to prosecute a man who sent an image of the Star of David intertwined with a Nazi swastika to Jewish students and activists because it was not deemed 'offensive' enough. Cambridgeshire Constabulary decided that the image, which was sent to the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) and Alex Hearn, a leading campaigner against anti-Semitism, was not 'grossly offensive' and therefore not a crime. After Mr Hearn complained, an officer from Cambridgeshire Constabulary responded that the message had to be 'grossly offensive' and pass 'a very high legal threshold' for it to be an offence under the Malicious Communications Act. The officer added that he did 'not believe that they [the messages] are grossly offensive as per the legislation, and as such no criminal offence has taken place'. Mr Hearn said: 'If posting a swastika, the symbol of evil and the Holocaust, at Jews is not grossly offensive, then nothing is.' Blood Libel returns Depictions of Jews as the 'killers' of Christ or murdering Christian children to drink their blood in religious rituals were first used in medieval times to spread hate against Jewish communities in Britain and Europe. Now this centuries-old antisemitic canard has been revived, campaigners say. Since last October, several placards have been spotted at protests that invoke the centuries-old 'blood libel'. Depictions of British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer sporting vampire-like fangs have begun to appear at protests in chilling echoes of the antisemitic 'blood libel' Depictions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer sporting vampire-like fangs and blood around their mouths have appeared, while more overtly, one demonstrator was seen at a protest holding a placard with a Starbucks cup labelled, 'New Genocide Drink!' The side of the cup showed the drink contained 'Palestinian blood', 'Children [sic] blood' and 'Terrorism'. Another sign at a march through the capital showed three children with the caption: 'Is our blood so sweet?' Elsewhere, a protester had a picture of Jesus (labelled as 'Palestinians') holding a crucifix, with the slogan 'Do not let them do the same thing again'. CST has described the widespread presence of protest signs which invoke the blood libel as 'concerning'. A protester in the capital was spotted holding up a sign that said 'New Genocide Drink' which contains 'Palestinian Blood, Children Blood and Terrorism' Another sign at a march through the capital showed three children with the caption: 'Is our blood so sweet?' The centuries-old antisemitic canard of Jewish people as the 'killers' of Christ has been revived, campaigners say 'A challenging environment' When approached by MailOnline, Met Police said officers had taken action against protesters 'inciting racial hatred', with more than 600 arrests taking place since October 2023. It added that the protests had provided 'a challenging environment' for officers to work within. Thirty-six arrests were made for offences under the Terrorism Act related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas and more latterly, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Twenty-eight of those arrests were specified as offences including 'wearing clothing or displaying symbols that indicated support for proscribed organisations.' Met Police said that in some cases it was 'immediately obvious' that the displaying of an image or symbol could cause offence, but in others 'the meaning of an image or symbol might be disputed depending on which group is asked'. A spokesperson said: 'In total there have been more than 600 arrests at these protests, a significant number of which were for the use of imagery or language on placards or banners, or in chants, that was racially or religiously offensive or seen as inciting racial hatred. 'In some cases it will be immediately obvious that the displaying of an image or symbol is likely to be an offence for example the use of a recognised insignia of a proscribed terrorist group. 'In other cases, the meaning of an image or symbol might be disputed depending on which group is asked and in those cases officers must investigate and form a view, on a case by case basis, as to whether they can prove the motivation of the person displaying it. Met Police said in a statement that the protests had provided 'a challenging environment' for officers to work within. Pictured: Marchers and counter-protesters at a demonstration in London in May Met Police said more than 600 arrests have taken place at protests since October 2023 'As this period of sustained protest has progressed, we have seen the use of particular symbols or imagery increase and decrease over time, with new symbols emerging and debates about their meanings taking place online. 'This uncertainty creates a challenging environment for officers to police in, particularly given they could be policing a protest on this issue one week and on an entirely different issue the next week. 'We have officers who specialise in public order policing who work hard to provide their colleagues with the most appropriate and up to date guidance.' CST agrees the task for police officers to crack down on extremist symbols has been made harder in instances where those symbols are ambiguous - a red triangle, a green headband and a 'T' symbol are harmless signs on the surface. But analysts maintain there is evidence pointing to them being hate symbols and signs of support for Hamas. A CST spokesperson said: 'We recognise the challenges the police face in keeping up with how antisemitism manifests itself and evolves over time and the Red Triangle is an example of that. 'We work closely with the police, advising them on hate symbols, and it's important they remain up to date and continue making arrests when individuals actively display antisemitic symbols or show support for proscribed organisations.' As a nation who runs on caffeine, Britons are drinking approximately 98 million cups of coffee every single day. Some would even go as far to argue that a cup of java has overtaken tea as the UK's favourite brew. Its soaring popularity has led to an explosion of barista chains up and down every high street in the country. There are more than 22,000 coffee shops in Britain - the equivalent of one for every 3,000 people - and they are expected to outnumber pubs by 2030. Between them, they rake in beyond 10billion annually from selling caffeine-hungry Brits lattes, flat whites and espressos. There are six big brands which dominate the high street battle to make your morning coffee - with the majority of towns having at least one: Costa Coffee, Starbucks, Pret a Manger, Caffe Nero, Greggs and Gail's. It has been an eventful year for these big beasts of coffee - with major CEO shake-ups, controversial subscription changes and backlash to store openings dominating the headlines for much of 2024. With this in mind, take MailOnline's ultimate poll to determine which of these major coffee chains should be crowned the nation's favourite. The majority of towns and cities having at least one Costa Coffee, Starbucks, Pret a Manger, Caffe Nero, Greggs and Gail's Your browser does not support iframes. For the vast majority of the UK, the names dominating their high streets are Coca-Cola-owned Costa Coffee (which owns 26 per cent of the branded stores), cult hero Greggs (24 per cent) and US giant Starbucks (12 per cent). All three have seen humongous growth in recent years, with Costa opening just over 600 stores since 2014. Costa is the UK's biggest chain with 2,640 stores, MailOnline's own audit shows, employing 18,412 people. The company was originally founded by Sergio Costa in London in 1971 as a small roastery in Newport Street catering to specialist Italian coffee shops. It was acquired by multinational hotel and restaurant company Whitbread in 1995 and then sold to The Coca-Cola Company in January 2019 in a deal worth $4.9 billion. But whilst the company continues to expand at a rapid rate, it has not all been plain sailing for the brand this year. In August, Costa found itself in hot water when the mother of a 13-year-old who died after drinking a single sip of hot chocolate from one of their cafes slammed the company for treating allergy training as a 'tick box exercise'. An inquest found that Hannah Jacobs died following both a 'failure to follow the processes' and a 'failure of communication' between Costa staff and Hannah's mother. Abi Duyile, Hannah's mother, said 'unacceptable' allergy training 'is really not taken seriously enough'. She added: 'Allowing people who serve food and drinks to retake an allergy training test 20 times is not acceptable. Treating allergy training as a tick box exercise is not acceptable. But if your high street does not have a Costa, then it is almost guaranteed to have a Greggs. The bakery chain - famed for its steak bakes and sausage rolls - sees almost 2 out of every 100 spent in the hospitality industry splurged on their baked goods. Costa is the UK's biggest chain with 2,640 stores, MailOnline's own audit shows, employing 18,412 people Greggs in Leicester Square, central London, which last year won the right to late-night opening hours Your browser does not support iframes. Analysts Panmure Gordon said it was a 40p increase on the previous figure, and they expect it to double in the next two years as Brits continue to gorge on their products. Greggs announced earlier this year that it was continuing with its ambitious plans to open a store in every town in Britain with 160 being mooted for this year. With the new store openings this would take the total number of Greggs bakeries in Britain to more than 2,600. The exact locations of the new outlets are not yet known by the brand, which is synonymous with sausage rolls, but said they plan to give customers more convenient access to its stores. This year also saw Pret A Manger bring an end to its popular subscription service, which offered five free coffees a day for 30 a month. The deal had been running for the last four years and offered people any hot or iced Barista-made drink up to five times a day for 30 a month. There was also a 20 per cent discount off the rest of its food and drink menu. But the membership scheme was axed in September for what Pret is describing as a 'simpler offer' of five half-priced drinks a day for 10 a month. Club Pret was first introduced in the autumn of 2020 at 20 a month in a bid to get more people back to the office following the coronavirus lockdown. The discount on food was also culled as it was 'something we never really got comfortable with', Pret's UK managing director Clare Clough said. 'We know this is a change. But with Club Pret subscription, our coffees, teas, Coolers and iced drinks will continue to be the best offer on the high street, and at a much more accessible price than the 360 a year people have to pay for the current scheme,' the message read. The new deal is priced at 5 a month for existing and new Club Pret subscribers until March 31, 2025, when it will double in price. It means subscribers will be paying 205 a month for a 3.90 latte if they were to take advantage of the deal and get the full amount five times a week, compared to the 30 they used to pay. The Pret brand was used alongside the Greggs name by researchers Sheffield Hallam University to settle the age-old debate on where England's North-South boundary really lies. The Greggs-loving North, according to the team's calculations, begins at the Watford Gap and stretches diagonally across the country to Cornwall. Meanwhile, the Pret-obsessed South comprises most of the East of England (but only some of Norfolk). Pret A Manger ended its 'too good to be true' subscription which saw customers get five barista-made drinks a day for 30 a month One of the biggest and most controversial coffee chain expansions of 2024 has been that of Gail's which has been billed the 'new Waitrose' because it's become the ultimate sign of gentrification. Since entering the high street's coffee war in 2005 with its debut outlet in Hampstead in north London, Gail's has ballooned to 143 stores. The overwhelming majority are in London, or on the outskirts in leafy commuter towns. But this year the posh bakery chain, known for its sourdough and cinnamon buns, has faced a couple of high street revolts to its plans to open more stores. The arrival of a Gail's in a town is a boost for property prices and a sure indicator that the area is on the up and up. But for some locals, the introduction of the brand threatens their individuality. In November, residents in Primrose Hill raised concerns that their picturesque shopping hub could soon be 'steamrollered' by plans to open a new branch of the upmarket bakery store. The new cafe is set to take over from an independent delicatessen, which was forced to close due to entering liquidation, meaning Gails will have three outlets within a 10-minute walk from each other. Whilst some hope the new store will bring more customers to the area, community campaigner Phil Cowan claims it 'represent[ed] yet another rung on the ladder towards identikit retail environments'. The month prior, furious residents in Walthamstow started a petition to oppose the coffee chain opening a shop in the East London enclave, calling for the protection of their community's unique identity. Despite receiving more than 1,8000 signatures, the cafe's opening went ahead anyway. Whilst they continue to march on with their expansion plans, managers at Gail's do not consider themselves a chain. In an interview with trade publication British Baker, Marta Pogroszewska said she believed 'scale' was an uncomfortable term and the company will always focus on being a 'neighbourhood bakery' rather than a chain. The company has also earmarked ten potential drive-through locations in London as part of their quest to gain more territory. Gail's has opened 143 stores since entering the high street's coffee war in 2005 with its debut outlet in Hampstead in north London The North American model of drive-thru coffee stations is becoming increasingly popular in this country, with Starbucks already operating 284 of them at motorway service stations and beyond. In 2024, the US coffee brand announced a major strategy shake-up, which saw them hire the 'Lionel Messi of the restaurant industry'. Upon his appointment, new chief executive Brian Niccol admitted the chain's stores were inconsistent and customers were waiting too long for their coffees. Mr Niccol, 50, promised to reform customers' in-store experience and ensure food and drinks were delivered on time. His appointment in September came after two consecutive quarters of declining sales. In the letter, published online, the new CEO outlined four areas he intended to focus on during his first 100 days in charge. He pledged to 'empower' baristas to take better care of customers, promising they will have 'the tools and time' to deliver hand-crafted drinks. Mr Niccol said the chain would focus on 'getting the morning right' and delivering food and drinks on time. He added he wants to return Starbucks to a community coffeehouse - making them more inviting with comfortable seating and a 'clear distinction' between sit-in and takeaway service. Caffe Nero also made some big announcements this year, purchasing the independent coffee house chain 200 Degrees in October. The Nottingham-based business, set up in 2012, is the fifth brand to join the Nero Group - which already includes Harris + Hoole, Coffee#1, Aroma and FCB Coffee. Nero Group founder and Group CEO Gerry Ford said: '200 Degrees has a solid, loyal customer base and has developed a strong regional position.' 'Our intention is to support 200 Degrees to continue its growth journey and allow the brand to operate separately alongside the other brands in The Nero Group,' Mr Ford added. The chain also teamed up with supermarket Waitrose to offer all myWaitrose members one free hot drink per day including americanos, lattes and cappuccinos, as well as tea. Brian Niccol, 50, took over at Starbucks after a successful stint at Chipotle Mexican Grill, before bosses reportedly persuaded him to come on board by offering a renumeration package worth up to $100 million (more than 76 million) Mr Niccol, 50, promised to reform customers' in-store experience and ensure food and drinks were delivered on time. There are, of course, some reasonable conditions. You can only redeem the offer in Waitrose stores with self-serve machines (which are stocked with coffee from the Nero Roasting Company) and you'll need to bring a reusable cup. You'll also have to make a purchase and scan your myWaitrose card at checkout to activate the offer. Away from these major businesses, the UK's independent coffee shop market is also booming, with an estimated 12,212 outlets. Data from Allegra, which runs the World Coffee Portal described as the industry's 'Bible' - showed the UK's independent coffee shop market is also booming, with an estimated 12,212 outlets. But, as a whole, only another 992 stores are expected to open between 2024 and 2029, meaning the sector is growing at a significantly slower pace. Combined, it means there are around 22,400 cafes in Britain currently. However, this total is expected to sit just shy of 25,000 in five years time and excludes non-specialist coffee chains such as McDonalds and department store cafes like M&S and Waitrose. But its not all roses for the UKs coffee industry. The sector is facing an ever-increasing problem - from Costa to your neighbourhood cafe, everyones costs are rocketing. Poor coffee bean harvests in Brazil and Vietnam, as well as supply chain disruption from global warfare, drove coffee bean prices to hit an all-time high of 3,360 ($4,370) a tonne last summer. Consultancy Safras and Mercado reported last month that 81 per cent of the years crop from Brazil, the worlds largest producer, was already harvested. This meant that just 19 per cent of the crop was left to last the rest of the year, driving up supply costs. As a result, some roasters are currently paying 772 over market price to secure a beans supply in the coming months from Vietnam, the worlds second-largest producer. The average cost of a 12oz (350ml) latte is now 3.51, up 9 per cent in a year - and this is set to rise further as the '5 coffee' era appears to be closing in. Caffe Nero teamed up with supermarket Waitrose to offer all myWaitrose members one free hot drink per day including americanos, lattes and cappuccinos, as well as tea The stubbornly rising price of coffee beans is the reason why Nestle is hiking prices This appears to be as a result of a cocktail of environmental reasons spanning the planets weather systems and the financial markets. Climate change is scything through coffee bean harvests, with disrupted rainfall patterns leading to both droughts and floods. The farmers that collect the harvest are beginning to demand higher wages for their work and more and more companies are emphasising the need for sustainable bean practices, which adds further expense at all stages of coffees lengthy and complicated supply chain. Once the shops in the UK get the coffee, they have their own cost of living crisis to contend with. Since 2021, higher energy bills, rent and staffing costs have also meant higher coffee costs. But Jeffrey Young, founder and chief executive of Allegra, said that the UK's coffee shop industry is continuing to grow in lockstep with the price pressures. He told MailOnline: 'You can't really separate daily British culture from going to have a coffee. This is a daily product that is an affordable luxury for many, not for everyone. They are also more prevalent, and it's part of the way we socialise and live our life. He continued: 'Despite some very strong economic headwinds, squeezed consumer spend and trading uncertainty, the UK coffee shop market and especially branded coffee chain segment has remained very resilient. Mr Young added that the industry has a very bright future in the UK, given the massive diversification of the products on offer. A pub has launched a unique loyalty scheme offering a free pint to customers in tribute to Rachel Reeves - but in true Labour fashion, there's a hitch. The Ecclian pub in Eccleshall, Staffordshire, is offering his customers a free pint after the Chancellor bragged about cutting the cost of the pint by 1p in her Autumn Budget. Its owner Martin Peet said he was inundated with calls from his punters asking what the cut to draught duty meant for them and he couldn't bear to see his customers miss out on Labour's largesse. So the 62-year-old has created a scheme that gives customers a stamp for every pint they buy with the chance of a free pint - but only after they've bought 350. Mr Peet, who launched the pub five years ago just before the Covid pandemic hit Britain, joked that some of his regular customers could expect to get their free pint before the new NI rates come into force in April' He explained: The customers were quick to ask about the penny cut to a pint announced by the Chancellor and pointed out that when 10p goes onto a pint, they expect to see it reflected in the prices they pay. All our prices end in a zero or a 5p to make things easier so rather than mess that all up I launched the Loyalty Scheme. Martin Peet, pictured, owner of the Ecclian in Eccleshall, Staffordshire, came up a scheme to pass on the cut as he could not bear to see his customers miss out on Labour's largess. Tim Plimmer, 78, pictured, said: 'I keep my loyalty card behind the bar so I dont lose it but I average six pints a day so I could be having a free one early in the new year' The sign explaining the loyalty scheme to customers of the Ecclian in Eccleshall, Staffordshire We sell pints at 3.50, so fairs fair, when they have drunk 350, they get one free. If they drink quickly enough, they should have their free pint before the National Insurance rises take effect in April. Mr Peet, 62, modelled his boozer on Coronation Street's Rovers Return with flying ducks on the wall in tribute to Hilda and Stan Ogden's mural. He said: It was a tough start and this budget certainly doesn't help 'The changes [the Chancellor] announced to national insurance and the minimum wage will add 600 per member of staff. I have five. Ultimately something will have to give. Ill have to put the prices up or work harder myself. The shrinking of the economy they announced today says everything about her budget. She has caused it by taxing businesses. He said that when he arrived in Eccleshall 50 years ago, there was a population of 2,000 people and 17 pubs. Now there are 7,000 people and just five remain. I keep customers coming back by stocking what they want, he said. Theres an 82 year old customer, Mrs Asbury, who likes Midori and soda so I stock it for her. Another lady loves a Cherry Brandy and lemonade and Mrs H like a Pernod and lemonade so we keep it all here. The scheme has been a success among many customers, who when MailOnline visited the pub, were busily working their way through their loyalty cards. Nigel Cole, 79, pictured, a retired printer, said in 350 days he will toast Rachel Reeves and what the Labour party 'have done for us'. Chris Gibson, 62, pictured, with his loyalty card, said the scheme was brilliant as it's taking 'taking the what not' about the fact cut the price of draught duty while adding extra a burden from other charges Bartender Ruth Furber, 37, holding a bottle of Duonnet Red Vermouth, said: The place was absolutely packed. You could not get in the door. Nigel Cole, 79, a retired printer, said: I think the scheme is absolutely fantastic because in 350 days I will be able to drink a pint in this bar and toast Rachel Reeves and what this New Labour Party have done for us. I may invite her to join me in person. Painter and decorator Roy Plant, 52, added: This place is the cheapest and they are always looking out for us. I think I average three-a-day so I should be getting a free one next Spring. Maybe I can go a bit faster than that. Tim Plimmer, 78, a retired digger driver, was racing towards the target. This is the best pub in Eccleshall, he said, and, fortunately, its also the cheapest. I keep my loyalty card behind the bar so I dont lose it but I average six pints a day so I could be having a free one early in the new year. I thought the budget was crap. I have lost my hearing allowance and the penny off a pint is a bad joke. The pub is modelled on Coronation Street's Rovers Return with flying ducks on the wall in tribute to Hilda and Stan Ogden's mural Window cleaner Chris Gibson, 62, who had chalked six off, said: I think its a brilliant idea. It is absolutely taking the what not when you announce a penny off a pint while putting 20p onto it through the other changes. Landlord Martin is always dreaming up new ways to pull in the punters and was deluged midweek when he offered Double Diamond at 1974 prices 39p-a-pint. The beer, which used to sell 50 million pints a year in the 70s, was a favourite of Prince Philips and he managed to get it on draught from Allsops when its comeback has been limited so far to London. Bartender Ruth Furber, 37, said: The place was absolutely packed. You could not get in the door. People were coming from all over. I had a customer ringing up from a tailback on the M6 asking us to save them a pint. The Loyalty scheme is a genius idea. The customers love it. They think its very funny. This is a story about a software developer called Greg Smith, a high-flying programmer specialising in artificial intelligence - arguably at the peak of his career. He went to a top university, picking up a degree in computer science, before studying for a master's at one of the UK's best regarded AI institutions and since then has worked for some of the world's biggest technology firms. Greg, who lives in a semi-detached house in south London, has been sending off CVs to top companies seeking a job in AI as he eyes up a career move. And in great news, he received a response from one recruiter just 24 minutes after applying, asking him to phone for a chat. That would be great news for Greg if not for one thing: he doesn't exist. In fact, Greg was dreamed up by a piece of AI software after we asked it to create a CV for the ideal candidate to work in jobs involving artificial intelligence Recruitment experts say pulling a stunt like ours for real might be tempting in a hyper-competitive jobs market where hundreds, if not thousands of people are going for the same job. People now search more for 'AI CV' than for advice on writing their own resume. But it's also completely illegal - but nevertheless presents a new challenge for recruiters trying to find the right candidates who might be presented with the perfect candidate, who could swindle their way through an application process with the help of AI. James Reed, CEO of Reed Recruitment, told MailOnline: 'It's the equivalent of stealing, and you will probably be found out at some stage.' We drummed up the CV for our fictional candidate in seconds - amid existing concerns people are using AI to secretly work multiple jobs, or to wiggle their way into work they aren't qualified for. A MailOnline reporter was able to pique the interest of recruiters at a tech firm with a CV generated entirely with AI By typing this statement alone, we were able to generate a fictional CV - complete with a full employment and education history A sample of the CV that an AI tool created for us in seconds - all with a simple prompt James Reed, boss of Reed Recruitment, says AI has great potential as an 'assistant' in helping people to get the right jobs - but was loaded with pitfalls that could land people in serious trouble By simply copying and pasting the job description into a popular piece of AI software and asking it to write a CV 'attractive to a recruiter', we were given a complete job and education history - complete with real company names and institutions. 'I have not specified the firms I have worked for but please populate these fields with genuine companies,' we told the software - which it promptly did, all of which had offices in the cities specified on the CV, making it look even more convincing. And when we asked it to add a name and an address that would sound 'appealing', it spat out an address in London, along with a name - which we have changed to Greg Smith for the purposes of this article. What the law says about lying on your CV Lying on your CV can be illegal under the Fraud Act 2006, which says any claim of 'fraud by false representation' can carry a jail sentence of up to 10 years in jail. The law states that any representation can be false if it is 'untrue or misleading, and the person making it knows that it is, or might be, untrue or misleading'. And if someone is doing so to 'make a gain for himself or to cause loss to another', i.e. getting a job over somebody else, they're arguably breaking the law. In 2022, a man from Leeds was convicted of two counts of fraud and jailed for 30 months after claiming on his CV to have a degree in construction and experience in the building sector. He had used the CV to get a job as a building inspector at a charity, and even provided a fraudulent reference. City of London Police, which investigated the fraudster, said he had been 'appointed a role that he would not have otherwise qualified for.' And Jon Andrewes, a former senior NHS worker, was jailed and ordered to pay back thousands of pounds of wages after he picked up a series of high-flying jobs with a fraudulent CV. Advertisement Asked for a cover letter, it generated one in seconds - all based on the completely fictional career history that it had generated moments ago, that was now being treated as fact. The only time the AI threw up any safeguards was when we asked it to imagine what ethnicity our fictional applicant might be in order to fill out equality law questions. One of the first jobs we applied for - in a large tech firm based in London - said we should expect a reply within three days. But it took just 24 minutes for a recruiter inside the company to reach out and ask us to give them a call. James Reed, chief executive of recruitment megafirm Reed Recruitment, says there is nothing wrong with using AI tools such as ChatGPT to help tidy up a CV - as long as they aren't embellishing the truth. 'It's being used by pretty much everyone, because it's so easy,' he told MailOnline. 'It's a very helpful tool for preparing things and I think people should use it, but not just rely on it. 'At some point, someone's going to meet someone and they may or may not be pleasantly surprised. 'It's a criminal offence to present yourself as something you're not - so if you pretend you're a qualified accountant and you're not, that's the equivalent of stealing, and you will probably be found out at some stage.' We showed our CV to David Morel, CEO of jobs firm Tiger Recruitment - who found it 'unsettling' how convincing the paper was. 'The ease with which AI can generate a convincing CV is eye-opening, and it certainly highlights both the potential and the risks of AI in the hiring process,' he said. He said the CV was 'well-structured (and) professionally formatted', and the cover letter - generated in seconds by a machine - was 'tailored' to the job. But he also found it soulless and lacking in a 'more personal touch' - which could be a dead giveaway to recruiters who are up to speed on how to spot AI. Not to mention to the danger of the completely fictional employment history. He said: 'While AI is a powerful tool, it also reinforces the need for human expertise in recruitment.' Employment law experts say the potential for 'catastrophic consequences' is huge, particularly if grifters try to use AI to worm their way into sensitive sectors such as medical, legal and finance. Professional body CIPD calculated that recruitment fraud was costing companies 23.9billion a year prior to the pandemic. Simon Bloch, partner and head of employment law at JMW, said: 'If you consider the medical, legal or financial sector alone, you will appreciate that misrepresentation of one's skills in these areas could have catastrophic consequences for the worker, the employer and the wider public and may amount to gross misconduct. 'This illustrates why it is essential applicants are totally transparent on their CV. Of course, using AI to draft your CV runs the risk of clouding that transparency.' Those using AI for their CV could even find themselves in court. Cases like that of Jon Andrewes, the NHS fraudster who got top public sector jobs by falsely claiming he had a PhD, could become commonplace. We even asked it for a name and an address - which it gave us. We used another name and address in the version of the CV we sent to real companies - and no, Lavender Crescent isn't a street in south London David Morel, boss of Tiger Recruitment which finds people for tech jobs, called our AI CV 'unsettling' Your browser does not support iframes. Mr Bloch added: 'If using AI has resulted in an embellished CV with skills or qualifications that are actually untrue, and, using this CV, your recruitment agency finds you a position, you may face a claim for compensation if you are found out. This could be launched in the form a of a negligence claim. 'We advise applicants always draft their CV themselves from scratch. If they wish to use AI this should be used as a 'final checks' measure for spelling, grammar and linguistic purposes. Always remember to check your CV for accuracy and truthfulness once AI has been used to make amendments.' Experts predict that the growing use of AI in job-hunting - searches on Google for 'AI CV' now outstrip queries asking for help in writing one - will change how the jobs market works in future, potentially spelling the end of the road for the CV as we know it. Steve Smith, president international at employment checks firm Sterling, said in October: 'The innovation we've seen in artificial intelligence recently is truly astounding and while the benefits of these tools are immense, there will always be groups of individuals that use this innovation for their own unscrupulous purpose. 'Candidates using AI to help with CV writing and job applications is a bit of a grey area that HR, hiring managers and business leaders are currently trying to navigate. 'However, the more critical component is the rise of very clear applicant fraud that exposes firms to significant risks.' There's also the phenomenon of 'overemployment' - where people work multiple remote jobs, often using AI, to draw huge salaries with minimum effort. One told Vice earlier this year: 'ChatGPT does like 80 percent of my job if I'm being honest.' Another claimed to have obtained a UK Government grant with ChatGPT's help. Matt McBride, employment partner at Freeths, told MailOnline: 'It might be that we start to see employers ask for non-AI produced CVs only, or employers may move away from CVs to other recruitment methods where it is less easy to game the system by using AI.' But it's not just job-hunters using AI: employers and recruiters are using it too, often to sift through job applications at rapid pace in a hyper-competitive market. The practice is so widespread the Information Commissioner's office has issued guidance on how to ensure the tools are being used responsibly, because of the risk that they can have inherent biases. If an AI tool is trained up on biased data - an earlier version of ChatGPT was found to rate people with names common among Asian people as being better job candidates than those with names common among Black people - then the tool may be biased too. Cases like that of Jon Andrewes, the NHS fraudster who conned his way into top jobs by lying on his CV, could become more common if people embellish their job history with AI There are also data protection concerns too, as people need to give their legal consent to their personal data being used to either train or be analysed by an AI tool. James Reed, however, says his firm does not filter with AI. He employs more than 100 staff in Reed's Manchester office to sort through CVs by hand. (Full disclosure: MailOnline did not post the AI-generated CV on Reed.) And when around 40 per cent of the CVs his firm receives have what he refers to as 'errors' - aspects that don't quite ring true - it's clear this is an issue that's only going to get worse. AI, he says, has the potential to industrialise job applications - with people 'spraying and praying' with automated applications to try to make something stick. Mr Reed added: 'Errors like inventing qualifications, that happens now. AI will just make it more difficult to spot, perhaps, and better. The development of AI will make the need for screening even greater. 'It gives bad actors another toolset that is pretty powerful. The crooks are usually the people that pick it up fastest. 'People need to be so alert in hiring, making sure that someone is who they say they are and can do the things they say they can do.' Artificial intelligence has potential as an 'assistant', the Reed boss - who has headed up the firm since 1997 - says. But for him, it will never replace the human touch. 'There are lots of risks associated with (using AI to find candidates). It might have built-in biases that would be harmful. 'And wildcards, candidates that might not be an obvious good match, who would get hired because they have a good mindset or a type of personality, would get missed. You really cannot judge people from a CV, and you shouldn't. 'My fear as a business owner, as a chief executive, is messing up and being unfair in the process. Our values as a company are very clear: we're fair, open and honest, and this technology is used in that spirit for us. 'What's going on in this space has huge potential to be helpful. But it also has some obvious dangers. And if you are using AI to shortlist and screen, and people are using AI to do their CVs and cover letters, you just end up with AI talking to AI.' Three years after moving from her native Kharkiv to forge a new path in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, Yana Smaglo was doing nicely. A gifted businesswoman with an insatiable work ethic, she had her own fashion and beauty operation, a nice apartment and an office in the city centre. Life was good. 'It was settled, nice, a comfortable life,' says Yana, who is now 32. 'I was very happy.' On 24 February 2022, shortly after 5am, everything changed. Yana awoke to the sound of explosions; the long foreshadowed war with Vladimir Putin's Russia had begun. She hurriedly called her friends to waken them. One planned to drive west, towards the border with Poland, and invited her to come along. In an instant, Yana's survival instinct kicked in. She grabbed a hat, stuffed a few belongings into a small rucksack documents, cash, a laptop and rushed from her home. In the most literal sense, she was closing the door on life as she knew it. 'When I left my apartment I thought that, probably, I would never see it again,' says Yana, before pausing to add ruefully: 'I also lost the business. Ukrainian fashion designer Yana Smaglo was forced to leave everything behind when the war with Russia began, but has rebuilt her life in the UK after receiving a visa Yana has established her own fashion business in the UK, which has five brands in its portfolio, more than 120 wholesale partners and, Smaglo says, a 120,000 turnover Yana poses in one of her Ukrainian-made designer coats at Almscliffe Crag, near Harrogate, Yorkshire. 'Local people really helped me as I was trying to grow the business,' she says 'It's hard to explain to yourself that, no, you don't have anything any more, you need to buy, you need to work hard,' says Yana Smaglo. 'It's hard emotionally' 'But at that moment, you're so shocked and scared, you think only about saving yourself. I understood that to save myself physically, I didn't need anything.' Yana is nonetheless a born entrepreneur and, even in extremis, her natural enterprise did not desert her. Snatching a few handbags, she stuffed them in her backpack, realising she could sell them if she needed 'quick money'. That resourcefulness would serve her well once she had made her way across Poland and Germany to Strasbourg, where, after a short wait, she was granted a UK visa. Almost 6.2 million Ukrainian refugees have fled across Europe since the Russian invasion began, with the UK among a cluster of major host countries that includes Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. Those who sought sanctuary in Britain were able to take advantage of government initiatives enabling Ukrainians already in the country to extend their visas, and for family members to join them. There was also a sponsorship programme, Homes for Ukraine, under which UK householders received a monthly payment of 350 rising to 500 after the first year in return for hosting refugees. Statistically speaking, these various schemes were a notable success. Research conducted by the University of Oxford's Migration Observatory suggests the number of Ukrainians living in the UK has quadrupled since the conflict began, rising from 41,000 in 2021 to roughly 160,000 by this summer. In February, the government announced that Ukrainians initially granted three years to remain in the UK would be able to apply for an 18-month visa extension, ensuring Britain remained 'a safe haven for those fleeing the conflict'. Alina Bulakh, who helped to manage the Ukrainian Olympic team at London 2012, is one of 23 people hosted under the Homes for Ukraine scheme by James Baird, a West Sussex farmer Following her arrival on Baird's farm in Climping, West Sussex, Kharkiv-born Alina initially found work in a nearby pub in Arundel After joining a dating app, Alina found a match in Edinburgh, where she is now living with her partner and his two children from a previous marriage But for many of the roughly 212,000 people who have arrived under the schemes (some of whom have since returned to Ukraine or moved on elsewhere), resettling in the UK has been a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire. James Baird, a farmer from West Sussex who has hosted 23 people under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, says the knowledge that there is a potential end date to their residency makes it difficult for refugees to put down roots. 'There is no new life, because they're in a space of adjusting to being in limbo,' says Baird. 'They can't get on with their lives here and they can't get on with life at home, so that's brought about a tremendous number of issues.' Not least among those is the psychological toll, with anxiety about the future compounding the impact of displacement, the trauma of experiencing the war at first hand, and concern about loved ones still in Ukraine. 'Refugees abroad face not only material challenges but also profound psychological difficulties that impact their ability to rebuild their lives,' UN Global Compact Ukraine, which provides free mental health support to people affected by the war, said in a statement. 'The struggles faced by displaced persons and refugees often remain invisible to society, but have a devastating impact on their lives.' That impact includes myriad practical challenges, ranging from the language barrier and cultural differences to finding jobs, securing school places and registering for bank accounts, GPs and dentists. 'When somebody arrives, you've got to build this temporary life for them,' says Baird. 'I found myself doing things I've never done before, like going to the job centre and helping people get bus passes and national insurance numbers.' Ukrainian refugees are seen weeding the crops on Baird's farm. Valeriia, in the foreground, is from Odessa; at work behind her is Vitalli, who is from the Lviv Oblast James Baird, second from left, poses with Andriy Ohinok and family. Ohinok, a businessman from Lviv, has worked closely with Baird's charity work in Ukraine James Baird, left, with his friend Simon Ulrich, after donating a truck filled with aid supplies to the armed forces of Ukraine special forces unit, as part of the Pickups for Peace scheme Baird has also offered less conventional forms of assistance. One of the first Ukrainians he hosted was Alina Bulakh, a woman in her early 30s from Kharkiv who had previously helped to manage the Ukrainian Olympic team. Though she quickly found work in a pub in nearby Arundel, it was a far cry from her previous visit to the UK for the 2012 London Olympics. 'It was a wonderful and interesting time, we worked and equipped the Olympians for the Summer Olympics in London 2012 and the Winter Olympics in Sochi 2014,' says Alina. She found it difficult to adjust to her altered circumstances, so when she informed Baird that she wanted to join a dating app, he helped her to navigate the sign-up process. When she subsequently mentioned wanting to visit Edinburgh, he sensed a further opportunity to lift her spirits, using some of the money he received as a host to cover her travel arrangements. 'What I didn't realise was that she had messaged a guy on Tinder,' Baird recalls. 'She met up with him in Edinburgh, and love blossomed. She's now living with him; he's a divorcee with a couple of kids, and she's like a mother to those children, so it was really wonderful.' Not everyone is so fortunate. Natalia, a 27-year-old from Donetsk, fled to the UK after the outbreak of war but was afflicted by crippling fear and anxiety. She has since returned home - albeit to a different part of the country - where she has received support from UN Global Compact Ukraine's mental health platform, helping her to deal with her traumatic experiences. Natalia, who says she went went back to Ukraine to pursue her business interests and regain a sense of normalcy, laid bare the inner turmoil of life as a refugee. 'Fear was constant,' she said. 'It consumes your entire body, leaving you restless day and night. When survival becomes your only goal, everything else loses meaning your job, your plans, even your sense of self. 'You leave everything you've known and move to another country. There, you take on any job you can find, even if you were a specialist before. And again, you feel torn apart: you're living in safety, but part of your soul remains at home, where everything is destroyed. 'When you return, you have to start all over again, but it's even harder, because you carry the pain of your past with you.' When Ira Lisova, 19, was seven months pregnant, she was struggling financially and feared she would have to send her baby to an orphanage. Baird offered her support and Artem, now five months old, remains safely with his mother Baird, left, is seen with Ulrich, centre, and members of the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces after delivering a truck filled with aid supplies as part of the Pickups for Peace initiative The psychological burden is almost invariably compounded by practical obstacles. Baird says the people he has hosted have all been 'fiercely independent', but he has seen firsthand how self-reliance can be complicated by factors beyond their control. 'Even when they enter the mainstream economy, they are often professional people who are washing dishes in pubs and picking cabbages around the outskirts of Chichester, he says. 'So they're on a very low wage, but very well educated. 'It's really difficult, because the landlord-tenant system here requires personal guarantees that you have some sort of cash security,' he says. 'I've stepped in as guarantor quite a few times, but then they've got to find work and they have to have enough work to pay the rent and pay all the bills.' Even that may not be enough, as Yana Smaglo can attest. Within two days of arriving at Manchester Airport, from where she travelled to west Yorkshire to stay with friends, Smaglo was seeking employment. When the initial signs were unpromising, she changed tack, drawing on her industry experience to establish Nenya Fashion, a Leeds-based company that sells a distinctive range of Ukrainian lines. Two years on, the results speak for themselves: the business has five brands in its portfolio, more than 120 wholesale partners, and had a turnover of over 120,000 last year, says Smaglo. Despite turning a profit, however, she has found it difficult to find alternative accommodation following the recent expiry of a one-year tenancy agreement, with landlords wary of letting to a self-employed refugee. 'It's quite stressful,' says Smaglo, who once again finds herself living with friends. 'I rented my previous accommodation for one year and I was never late with my payments. 'I'm earning the money to pay for a room but, just because I'm a refugee and people don't trust that a refugee can set up a business and afford to pay rent, I'm really struggling to find a place to live.' It is the latest in a series of head-spinning events for the entrepreneur, who initially found it hard to reconcile her past and present. 'It wasn't easy, it was hard to understand,' she says. 'For example, when I rented accommodation, I wondered why I should buy something that I already have at home. 'It's hard to explain to yourself that, no, you don't have anything any more, you need to buy, you need to work hard. It's hard emotionally. 'You can't put all these thoughts together in your head. You're shocked, because you worked all your life so hard, and for so long, and some people just came and took it from you in one day. 'Physically you've been saved, but mentally you're trying to understand what's happening. I had a lot of panic attacks when I arrived here. 'You're in a new country, with a new language, and you start your life from zero. Your mental health starts to fray.' Her success in coming to terms with the sea change in her circumstances was underpinned by several factors. She had the drive and business nous to help herself. She speaks good English, having learned the language in school from the age of six (although she says that coming to the UK made her feel she didn't understand English at all). Like so many successful entrepreneurs, she also had a little help along the way, with friends, local businesses and even the local media helping her to make the contacts she needed to get her company off the ground. 'Local people really helped me as I was trying to grow the business,' says Smaglo, who runs the concern with the support of two people who help pro bono with their knowledge and connections. 'From my side, I'm here, I'm paying taxes here, I have my business here, I feel myself as a part of society. I don't have any benefits, and I don't want them; I'm living here now, and I want to feel the country as the rest of the British people.' The long-term goal now is to grow the company to the point where she can not only help businesses in her homeland survive, but also employ Ukrainian refugees in the UK. 'A lot of Ukrainians are refugees now, but it doesn't matter where we are, we still have to help our country to survive and go through this war,' says Yana. 'It won't be forever, but as long as it's going on we need to help, to show ourselves that we are still Ukrainians. 'It doesn't matter where we live, we are all helping: some people are going to the frontline economically, and they should do everything they can so that less people die on the frontline.' Earlier this year, President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked that 'the unity of Ukrainians spans both hemispheres of the Earth', the exodus from the country having created a global community that 'have not forgotten their roots and do not let the world forget about Ukraine'. Yana is part of that community and like so many, she is intent on doing her bit. Frederick Mims checks his phone while a slideshow about a solar training is on display at the LiUNA 350 office on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer The day Frederick Mims received the call that hed be working at a solar farm in Livingston for the next several months, he went to the Clear Lake Library and checked out a book titled Solar Electricity Basics. Ive been paying attention that this is the way of the future, Mims said in October. The way he saw it, the green energy revolution was a way forward not only for society, but for his own path back to stability. Mims first lost his construction job at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, Mims was one of nearly 250 tenants targeted for eviction at the Redford and Cabo San Lucas apartment complexes in 2023. He had support from Texas Housers, a housing advocacy nonprofit, and rent relief, but still received a final eviction notice that year around Thanksgiving. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mims stayed at hotels before moving in with his mother in April. While painting the garage of a fellow Texas Housers organizer for extra money, Mims learned about a new program called the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum, or MC3. MC3 is an initiative organized by the Texas Climate Jobs Project, a nonprofit that advocates for addressing climate change with union labor. MC3, which hosted its first two classes ever in Houston over the summer, was not only free to attend but it paid students to learn about opportunities at local unions. Upon completion of the three-week course, graduates received preferred entry into a union apprenticeship. Mims went to the programs orientation and left with a stack of flyers. Every bus stop I was at, I put them up, passed them out to people. I'm talking to people about the program all the way to the house, he said. Valerie Vargas, center, holds a bouquet of flowers as she listens during a Multi-Craft Core Curriculum program graduation ceremony, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 at Carl Walker Jr. Center in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer An incredibly important role At the end of August, Mims graduated alongside 18 other people who went through the programs second class of students. Each received a pair of workboots and a $1,500 completion award. One of them, an Amazon delivery driver looking for a change, said hed learned about MC3 from a flyer at a bus stop possibly left by Mims. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Not all would immediately go on to jobs directly related to the clean energy sector. Some would install heating and cooling systems. Others would insulate buildings. One would construct an elementary school. Still, they would be part of a workforce constructing buildings with less energy waste, reducing overall climate-warming emissions, according to Bo Delp, executive director of the Texas Climate Jobs Project. As the energy transition picked up pace, some could be called upon for their skills in the build-out of local energy projects. As climate change worsens, others might fortify the regions infrastructure against extreme weather, he said. Elijah Jackson, right, holds his son Lucas as he receives a pair of work boots and a tape measure from Program Director Natalie Obregon, left, during the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum program graduation ceremony, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 at Carl Walker Jr. Center in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer After all, while legislators, regulators, consultants, lawyers and investment firms shape the laws, move the paperwork and secure the money necessary for the energy transition, there's a shortage of electricians, welders, pipe fitters and insulators to build the transition into reality. It's going to take a lot of people coming together to rebuild our infrastructure, to rebuild our highways and our transit systems and our substations, and install solar panels and weatherize our buildings, Delp told MC3 participants at their August graduation. And each of you are going to play an incredibly important role. Advertisement Article continues below this ad After finishing MC3, Mims joined the Local 350 chapter of the Laborers International Union of North America, a pipeline and construction union based in Houston. A couple weeks later, he signed onto an opportunity to work at a solar farm in Livingston. The solar panels had already been installed, but crews were still needed to hydroseed the site, as well as dig retention ponds to prevent the panels from being damaged or washed out. Mims moved to a motel near the work site, taking the library book on solar power with him. A growing sector Texas has emerged as the nations clean energy leader and the fastest-growing market for renewable energy projects. In response to its political skeptics, the clean energy industry often touts its potential for job creation. Texas has nearly 262,000 jobs related to clean energy technologies, the second-most only behind California, according to a September report from the Department of Energy. But many of the workers constructing and manufacturing solar and wind farms in Texas face high rates of injury and illness, according to research from Cornell University, the Texas Climate Jobs Project and Organized Power in Numbers. The study also found significant disparities in pay and benefits between white and non-white laborers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Through MC3, Texas Climate Jobs Project aims to create a local pipeline of clean energy jobs with better protections. Participants learned about various trades and earned health and safety certifications, and received daily lunches as well as stipends for transportation, phone bills and child care. Thirty-nine Houstonians have graduated from MC3 so far. The next cycle of classes, which will continue in Houston as well as expand to Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin, will begin in the spring and run throughout the summer. Graduates of the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum program pose for a group photo with family members, program staff and Texas Climate Jobs Project staff during a graduation ceremony, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 at Carl Walker Jr. Center in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer I know what I'm worth Being part of a union is why Joseph Salcido sought out MC3. Salcido started as a non-union worker on solar farm construction about four years ago, when he was recruited to a job by his cousin, the sites foreman. After working in other types of construction most of his life, Salcido found that working at solar sites, where he typically earned approximately $25 per hour, was better-paying and a lot easier on my body. Advertisement Article continues below this ad To know that this electricity will help little towns or little cities around here locally, to be a part of something like that that's bigger than yourself, it was enjoyable for me, he said. What wasnt enjoyable was how sporadic the work could be. Salcido learned about many of his non-union solar jobs through word-of-mouth, which made it difficult to find reliable information about pay. Onsite at non-union jobs, theres always a big push to beat the deadlines, he said, leading to widespread fatigue among workers and higher rates of injury. Hes worked in the Texas heat, and in South Dakota cold. You feel like your hands are about to fall off, because your hands are wet because the snows out there, and youre touching steel all day, Salcido said. But again, nobody wanted to complain about it because of the fear of possibly losing your job. Joseph Salcido, left, receives a pair of work boots and safety glasses from Program Director Natalie Obregon, right, during the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum program graduation ceremony, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 at Carl Walker Jr. Center in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Salcido joined his local branch of the Green Workers Alliance, a national advocacy group that aims to improve working conditions in the renewable energy industry. It was there that he learned about MC3, which he enrolled in alongside his fiance, Ann Nguyen. After MC3 concluded, Salcido and Nguyen also joined Laborers Local 350 and the Livingston solar site, where they expect to work through the summer. They said its a relief to have a set pay scale and know that safety standards are in place. Going to whatever project, I know I would get paid no lower than what is said. I always go in knowing, Hey, I know what I'm worth, Salcido said. A sense of hope The Livingston job is one of the first two solar-related contracts awarded to a Laborers-affiliated union in Texas, according to Bobby Ramos, president of Laborers Local 350. The union had historically focused on its lucrative work laying natural gas pipelines, until the pandemic brought a hardcore slowdown on oil and gas jobs and prompted the union to broaden its horizons, he said. Since then, Laborers Local 350 has invested in a new training facility in East Texas, where the union hosted two trainings on constructing solar farms this year with the Texas Climate Jobs Project. Though the union's two solar-related contracts are for environmental restoration, Ramos is hopeful the skills from the trainings will be put to use in the coming years as more solar arrays are built across the state. If so, unionized solar jobs could be an opportunity to extend the careers of older Laborers Local 350 members who find pipeline work to be too tough on the body, Ramos said. It gives them relief, a sense of hope. Its not just you age out of pipeline (work) and have to retire, Ramos said. Frederick Mims poses for a photo at the LiUna 350 office on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Houston. Mims was trained by the Texas Climate Jobs Project through the union. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Graduates of the Texas Construction Career Pathways apprenticeship program are seen during a graduation ceremony, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 at Carl Walker Jr. Center in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Fellow classmates applaud as Davion Guillory receives his certificate of completion during the Texas Construction Career Pathways apprenticeship program graduation ceremony, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 at Carl Walker Jr. Center in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Elijah Jackson, left, receives his certificate of completion from Amanda Castillo, lead MC3 educator, during the Texas Construction Career Pathways apprenticeship program graduation ceremony, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 at Carl Walker Jr. Center in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Plumbers Local Union No. 68 Business Manager Robert Lord, front center, listens with representatives from numerous unions during a Texas Construction Career Pathways apprenticeship program graduation ceremony, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 at Carl Walker Jr. Center in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Graduates with an interest in working in the sheet metal industry pose for a group photo during a graduation ceremony, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 at Carl Walker Jr. Center in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer LiUNA 350 office on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer LiUNA 350 office on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Joseph Salcido, from left, his fiance Ann Nguyen and Frederick Mims pose for a photo at the LiUNA 350 office on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Houston. The three participated in the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum by the Texas Climate Jobs Project and now work at a solar site through the union. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Texas Climate Jobs Project Executive Director Bo Delp speaks during a Multi-Craft Core Curriculum program graduation ceremony, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 at Carl Walker Jr. Center in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer The big goal is to make this sustainable Ramos said he and other local union leaders see MC3 as a recruiting tool. Including Mims, Salcido and Nguyen, 12 people from the program have joined Laborers Local 350 so far, he said. The MC3 program is supported through grants from foundations including the Hive Fund, Power Up Harris County and Invest in Our Future, according to Texas Climate Job Projects Delp. The program has secured nearly $1.5 million in funding, enough to graduate about 150 students through next summer, including the 39 who participated this summer, Delp said. What comes after that is a lot less certain, he said. The big goal is to make this sustainable, Delp said. It's a constant battle to keep the doors open and fund these kinds of programs. For Mims, MC3 helped him get back into the routine of getting up in the morning for work and be part of society again. He hopes to save up enough money from working at the Livingston solar site to begin renting in Houston again after the job ends. For most Australians the word 'Bunnings' now means a hardware store the way Coke is shorthand for cola and any adhesive bandage is a Band-Aid. The chain has a stranglehold on the market and is almost as famed for its branded wide-brimmed straw hats, sturdy green umbrellas and fundraising sausage sizzles. But for at least the past decade, references to Bunnings have increasingly featured as part of the evidence in murder trials, including in some of the nation's most notorious homicide cases. A trip to Bunnings is a weekend ritual for many households, but it can also be a macabre mission ahead of executing a murder plot or in preparation to clean up a crime scene. Killers have been caught on Bunnings CCTV cruising the aisles for makeshift weapons, flammable liquids, digging implements, restraints and cleaning chemicals. Among the products sought at Bunnings stores to commit or cover up homicides have been hammers, chainsaws, zip ties, gloves, duct tape and spades. A Sydney husband bought 100 litres of hydrochloric acid over two Bunnings visits to destroy his wife's body and a Sunshine Coast woman purchased a reciprocating saw to dismember her de facto partner. While some offenders are captured filling their gruesome shopping lists on camera, others have been nabbed still in possession of the receipts for their grisly goods. Killers have been caught on Bunnings CCTV buying makeshift weapons, flammable liquids, digging implements, cleaning chemicals and restraints. Justin Stein bought 100kg of sand to weigh down the body of his partner's daughter Charlise Mutten For at least the past decade, references to Bunnings have increasingly featured in evidence in criminal trials, including in some of the nation's most notorious homicide cases Staff at one Melbourne store helped foil a terrorist plot which could have claimed countless lives when they reported a suspicious trolley-load of products to police. In November, Bunnings was found by the Privacy Commissioner to have breached privacy laws by using facial recognition technology on customers. The retail giant responded by releasing CCTV footage which showed scenes of staff members being threatened by assailants armed with knives and, in once instance, a shotgun. Bunnings maintained it was using the technology to protect both customers and employees from a spike in violent attacks but its outlets have long contributed to helping solve major crimes. Western Sydney tradie Meraj Zafar pleaded guilty in May to murdering his 19-year-old wife, aspiring doctor Arnima Hayat, in January 2022 at their North Parramatta apartment. Ms Hayat had wanted to leave the marriage and complained to friends about her husband's violence before he killed her. Having choked or smothered Ms Hayat to death, 20-year-old Zafar conducted a number of internet searches including 'can hydrolic acid burn through skin' and 'Bunnings near me'. The day after the murder Zafar made two trips to Northmead Bunnings where he was caught on CCTV buying five 20-litre tubs of hydrochloric acid. Among the products sought at Bunnings stores to commit or cover up homicides have been hammers, chainsaws, zip ties, gloves, duct tape and spades. Thrill killer Trudi Lennon was filmed buying hydrochloric acid from Bunnings the day before murdering Aaron Pajich Zafar then put Ms Hayat's body in a bathtub and filled it with the acid in an attempt to dispose of her remains. The truck Zafar had driven to Bunnings was traced back to the apprentice builder, he pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to a minimum 16 years on December 19. Justin Stein was jailed for life in August for what a judged called the 'unspeakably vicious' killing of his partner's nine-year-old daughter Charlise Mutten in the NSW Blue Mountains in January 2022. Stein shot Charlise in the face and the lower back at his family home then tried to blame her mother Kallista Mutten, who was staying at a caravan park 90 minutes' drive away at Lower Portland. More than a day after Charlise was last seen alive, Stein drove to Marsden Park Bunnings in Sydney's west and was captured on CCTV buying five 20kg bags of sand, as well as sealant. Five days later the girl's body was found inside a plastic barrel filled with sand on the banks of the Colo River. Earlier this year Charles Dennis Turnbull pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to the murder of 22-year-old Darcy Schafer-Turner on the NSW mid north coast in late April 2023. Mr Schafer-Turner's body was found a fortnight later stuffed inside a metal cabinet floating in Warrell Creek near Macksville after being killed in an alleged drug dispute. Justin Stein shot Charlise Mutten in the face and the lower back at his family home then tried to blame her mother Kallista. He is pictured strolling around a Bunnings after the murder Justin Stein is shown leaving a Bunnings store with the five bags of sand he purchased during his visit Turnbull, described in court as 'the cleaner', had transported Mr Schafer-Turner's body from Peakhurst in southern Sydney, where he was allegedly murdered by another man set to face trial in June next year. Before picking up the body, 33-year-old Turnbull had made two visits to a Bunnings warehouse to stock up on material. On the first visit he bought coveralls, duct tape, gloves, chlorine and cleaning products. On a return trip he purchased the metal cabinet, rolls of black plastic, zip ties and a drill. Turnbull was sentenced in the Downing Centre District Court in December to three years and three months in prison with a non-parole period of two years. Tarikjot Singh was caught on CCTV in the Bunnings at Mile End in Adelaide's inner west in the hours before he murdered 21-year-old aged care worker Jasmeen Kaur in March 2021 at Plympton. Singh was seen casually strolling through the store, placing a shovel, cable ties, gaffer tape, gloves and a jerry can in his trolley. The 20-year-old at one stage asked a staff member for assistance. Ms Kaur, who had previously been in a controlling relationship with Singh, was bound with the tape and ties and buried in a shallow grave while she was still alive near Hawker in the Flinders Ranges. The CCTV was to form part of the evidence against Singh but he pleaded guilty to murder ahead of a Supreme Court trial and was sentenced to a minimum 22 years and 10 months in August 2023. Queensland woman Lindy Yvonne Williams bought this Ozito reciprocating saw at a Bunnings store 10 days after she murdered her partner George Gerbic CCTV footage of three would-be terrorists browsing Bunnings shelves for bomb supplies in Melbourne's north was tendered during their sentence hearing in October 2019. Ahmed Mohamed, Abdullah Chaarani and Hamza Abbas had planned to detonate bombs and behead bystanders in Melbourne's Federal Square and were twice caught shopping at Broadmeadows Bunnings in November and December 2016. The trio bought metal pipes, light globes and batteries to make explosives, and Mohamed asked for 700 nail gun cartridges which are kept in a locked counter at Bunnings outlets. Alert staff raised the alarm after becoming suspicious when the men scanned their unusual haul at the cash register. The employees followed the group to their vehicle, wrote down the number plates and called police, who just hours later arrested the Islamic State jihadists. Mohamed and Chaarani are serving minimum sentences of 28 years and six months, while Abbas is doing 16 years and six months. Ex-Mongol bikie Sam 'The Punisher' Abdulrahim survived an assassination plot in June 2022 when he was shot eight times leaving a funeral in northern Melbourne. Ten days earlier, CCTV footage captured a man buying two plastic fuel cans from Bunnings at Epping and lugging them to a parked Subaru Impreza WRX. Jihadists Ahmed Mohamed, Abdullah Chaarani and Hamza Abbas were caught shopping for bomb-making supplies at a Bunnings store ahead of a terrorist plot which was foiled Detectives believe the jerry cans were used to carry fuel to incinerate a Mazda SUV used in the attempted murder which was destroyed in a crash after the shooting. Thrill killers Jemma Lilley and Trudi Lenon pleaded not guilty to having murdered autistic teenager Aaron Pajich in June 2016 at their house in Orelia, south of Perth. The 18-year-old was stabbed to death and his body found in a shallow grave covered with concrete and tiles. When Lilley, 26, and Lenon, 43, faced trial an important piece of evidence which helped convince a jury they had planned to kill Mr Pajich came from Bunnings. The day before the murder the pair was captured on camera buying cement, sealable drums and hundreds of litres of hydrochloric acid to dissolve the vulnerable teen's body. Lilley and Lenon were jailed for life with a minimum 28-year term. Ten days after Queensland woman Lindy Yvonne Williams murdered her partner George Gerbic on the Sunshine Coast in September 2013 she went to her local Bunnings store. Meraj Zafar was filmed in the work truck he drove to Bunnings to buy 100 litres of hydrochloric acid he used in an attempt to dissolve his wife Arnima Hayat's body There she bought an Ozito electric reciprocating saw which she used to cut off 66-year-old Mr Gerbic's head, legs and hands. Mr Gerbic's burning torso was found on Cedar Pocket Road near Gympie, 170km north of Brisbane, but was not formally identified for 10 months. During that time Williams told Mr Gerbic's family and friends he was overseas but later claimed to police she had found his torso wrapped in plastic in their ensuite days after they had an argument. Williams's trial heard evidence had been located of the Bunnings transaction of the purchase of the saw. A jury found 60-yeer-old Williams guilty of murder in July 2018 and she was sentenced to life with a minimum 20 years. Justice Peter Flanagan said of Mr Gerbic's dismemberment, 'this surely must be one of the worst cases of interference with a human body'. 'The act of cutting up George Gerbic with a saw which you had purchased from Bunnings is from any view an horrific act,' he said in his judgment. Lovers Jessica Ellen Stasinowsky and Valerie Page Parashumti turned to Bunnings after murdering 16-year-old Stacey Mitchell at Lathlain in Perth's inner south-east in December 2006. Justin Stein is pictured paying for the bags of sand he bought to weigh down a barrel containing nine-year-old Charlise Mutten's body Stasinowsky, 20, and Parashumti, 19, went to the Morley outlet with a shopping list which included spades, lime - which can delay rather than hasten human body decomposition - and a chainsaw. The young women, who had previously discussed killing and pleaded guilty to murder, bludgeoned and strangled their friend to death then stuffed her body in a wheelie bin in a shed behind their house. When they were arrested four days after Ms Mitchell's death, the pair was still discussing whether to use a chainsaw and lime to dispose of her body. They were sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum 24-year term. Bunnings evidence has also featured in unsuccessful murder prosecutions. Matthew Leveson was seen leaving ARQ night club in Sydney's inner-city Darlinghurst with his 45-year-old boyfriend Michael Atkins in the early hours of one morning in September 2007. Atkins returned about an hour later without 20-year-old Mr Leveson. Shortly after midday that day CCTV cameras captured Atkins buying a mattock and duct tape at Bunnings in the southern suburb of Tarin Point. Four days later Mr Leveson's Toyota Corolla was found outside a public toilet at Sutherland, also in Sydney's south, with a Bunnings receipt bearing Atkins's fingerprint in the boot. Atkins was charged with murder in August the following year but in October 2009 a jury found the electrician not guilty of that charge and an alternative count of manslaughter. At a 2016 coronial inquest into Mr Leveson's disappearance Atkins was compelled to give evidence with the caveat he could not be further prosecuted. Atkins agreed to lead to police to his young lover's remains, which were unearthed in the Royal National Park, not far from where Mr Leveson's car was abandoned, in May 2017. Businessman Pierre Assaad did not step inside a Bunnings store when he was trying to recruit an assassin to kill his ex-wife's pastor, who he wrongly believed had meddled in his marriage, for $40,000. But in May 2020, Assaad drove to the Bunnings carpark at Craigieburn on Melbournes northern outskirts, where he had arranged to meet a hitman who turned out to be an undercover cop. A few weeks later Assaad contacted the detective again, calling himself 'the Bunnings man' and organised another meeting in the same carpark. This time he handed over a $4,950 deposit. Assaad was jailed in December 2022 for two and a half years after pleading guilty to inciting the plot. Donald Trump is mulling pardons for some of his top MAGA allies and fiercest defenders once he is sworn into office. And he could even pardon himself in the two federal cases against him. President Joe Biden announced a pardon for troubled son Hunter, 54, over felony gun and tax charges, setting a new precedent for the sweeping pardon power. And he also commuted the sentences of roughly 1,500 people earlier this month and handed out 39 pardons. It was the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. On Monday, he was criticized for commuting the death sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates. Now, Democrats are increasingly concerned that Trump will use Biden's sweeping pardons as an excuse to use the powers more liberally in his second term. Trump suggested immediately after Hunter's pardon that he would seek the same leniency for jailed Capitol rioters - and later confirmed it as a priority to free them. This raises the question of who else might be on Trump's list to receive a pardon. Some speculate that he could use the powers to issue pardons for his own children. Others think that he could use it for himself and his top allies. Here is a look at which notorious criminals Trump could move to pardon in his next four years. Donald Trump is weighing who to pardon in his second White House term President Joe Biden announced earlier in December his decision to issue a pardon for his 54-year-old son Hunter January 6 prisoners Trump said on his first day back at the White House, he plans to issue pardons for all January 6 defendants whose actions were meant to show displeasure with the results and running of the 2020 presidential elections. The promise from Trump means at least 500 people could see their prison sentences ended on the very first day of his second term. The president-elect said it's a high priority for him to get those who rioted at the Capitol in 2021 out of where they are being held because they have been there for years while he ran for a second term. 'I'm going to be acting very quickly,' Trump told NBC News in his first post-victory interview aired December 8 on Meet the Press. 'I'm looking first day.' 'These people have been there, how long is it? Three, four years,' Trump lamented. 'They've been in there for years. And they're in a filthy, disgusting place that shouldn't even be allowed to be open,' he added. The mass pardons could see more than 500 people released from prisons and another nearly 1,000 cases dismissed. After the Hunter pardon, Trump immediately suggested he would pardon all January 6 rioters who received prison sentences. He later confirmed the pardons are a day one priority As of August, 944 defendants had their cases adjudicated and received sentences for their activity on January 6, 2021, according to the Justice Department. And 562 of those were sentenced to incarceration of varying periods. More than 1,488 defendants were charged in nearly all 50 states and the District of Columbia in both District and Superior Court. The DOJ claimed in August that nearly 900 people pleaded guilty to federal crimes and will face incarceration at sentencing, if they haven't already. Of the 894 pleas, 288 were felonies and 606 misdemeanors. Many of the charges were related to assaulting law enforcement officers or obstructing, impeding or interfering with law enforcement officers during civil disorder. At least 180 of those charged with those crimes have been sentenced to prison terms up to 151 months or nearly 12-and-a-half years. Himself and his kids Article II, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution says pardon power allows a president to 'grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.' There is no language specifying who can or can not receive the pardon. Since the president is given the power to pardon any federal crime, it appears there is nothing to prevent Trump from adding his own name to the list. 'It is an open question whether a President can pardon himself,' legal scholar John Yoo told Daily Mail. 'The President's power to pardon has very few limits he cannot pardon for impeachment and he cannot pardon for state crimes.' 'Other than that, there are no limits on the President's ability to pardon for federal crimes,' added the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel under President George W. Bush. 'I think this means that the Constitution allows a President to pardon even himself.' 'The Federalist supporters of the Constitution [felt[ it was more important to give the President as much flexibility in the pardon power as possible,' Yoo, who worked in President George W. Bush's administration, noted. After President Joe Biden earlier this month pardoned his son Hunter, 54, from felony convictions for lying on a form to purchase a firearm, Trump could seek to do the same for his own children for their involvement in federal lawsuits. Trump's business empire The Trump Organization already faced conviction for a tax fraud scheme in New York. And with Eric Trump now as executive vice president, any federal cases involving the business could fall on his middle son. Trump is also facing a slew of other lawsuits and has been convicted in some, including the E. Jean Carroll case where a jury found in May 2023 that Trump was liable for sexually abusing and defaming her. He was ordered to pay $5 million in damages. It's possible he could seek to pardon himself in these federal cases. Yoo suggested that Trump consider pardoning anyone who gave him legal advice in relation to his challenge of the electoral count in the 2020 election. Specifically, he told Daily Mail that the president-elect might consider pardons for attorneys John Eastman and Rudy Giuliani. [T]hey committed no violence and as lawyers they were within their rights to explore a variety of legal scenarios for President Trump, Yoo noted. Trump has not riled out a pardon for New York City Mayor Eric Adams after he was indicted in September on fraud and bribery charges Trump, speaking at the Libertarian National Convention in May, pledged that 'on Day One, I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht' (pictured) Trump has so far not ruled out issuing a pardon for Adams. The Democratic Mayor was indicted in September on federal fraud and bribery charges. But Trump said during his first post-election press conference on December 16 that Adams was 'treated very unfairly,' and suggested he was unfairly targeted because he is critical of the influx of migrants coming into the Big Apple. Trump said from Palm Beach that he would 'have to see it, because I don't know the facts,' but claimed he is willing to pardon Adams. The mayor was charged on allegations he received illegal donations from the Turkish government. Trump joked that Adams was given free and discounted Turkish Airlines flights. He mocked the charges when he told reporters at the press conference that being upgraded on flights 'would mean you'd spend the rest of your life in prison.' Adams recently said he would consider becoming a Republican. Ross Ulbricht A highly followed 'Free Ross' account in X posted after Trump won the 2024 election that the president-elect vowed to pardon Ulbricht. 'ROSS IS COMING HOME IN JANUARY!!' the account wrote in a statement from the 'Ulbricht family.' 'We are so so grateful to Donald Trump for his pledge to #FreeRoss and to all those who have supported us,' it added. 'Here's to this 12th Thanksgiving in prison being the last one! Ulbricht was sentenced in 2015 to life in prison for creating and operating the dark web marketplace called Silk Road. Trump, speaking at the Libertarian National Convention in May, pledged that 'on Day One, I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht.' Commutation is different from a pardon. The former would reduce the sentence while the latter does that but also absolves an individual of the guilt. A commutation allows for the release of a convicted person while maintaining the verdict that caused the sentence. Peter Navarro The future Senior Counselor to the President served a four-month prison sentence earlier this year. It was a sentence for contempt of Congress after Navarro defied a congressional subpoena in relation to the House January 6 Committee probe into the Capitol riot. Trump left open the possibility of pardoning his former trade adviser. He told reporters after voting in Florida on November 5 that Navarro is a 'good man' that was 'treated very unfairly.' The president-elect also called Navarro a 'great patriot' when asked about a pardon. But Navarro told the Wall Street Journal six months earlier in May that he would reject any pardon from Trump. Instead Navarro wants to continue appealing his conviction. 'I will not give the Supreme Court any excuse to duck what is otherwise a landmark constitutional case,' he wrote in a letter sent from prison. The day he was released from prison after his short sentence, Navarro flew to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to speak at the Republican National Convention. Trump has also floated pardoning senior aide Peter Navarro, but the future senior counselor to the president said earlier this year he would reject a pardon because he wants to continue appealing his conviction Julian Assange During a May interview with podcaster Tim Pool, Trump said he would 'give very serious consideration' to a pardon for Assange. The WikiLeaks founder fled the country more than a decade ago. Assange struck a deal with the U.S. government in June to plead guilty to publishing military secrets in his infamous leak. This secured his freedom after 12 years in the United Kingdom. Some of the time in the U.K. was spent in prison as he fought extradition to the U.S. If Trump were to pardon Assange, it would wipe clean his felonies while also maintaining his newfound freedom. Julian Assange struck a deal with the U.S. government in June to plead guilty to publishing military secrets in his infamous leak, which secured his freedom after 12 years in the United Kingdom. Trump could go one step further and wipe clean his slate Derek Chauvin A much more long shot possibility that Trump has not yet addressed publicly is a possible reevaluation of the case against former police officer Derek Chauvin. In 2020, Chauvin became the first white police officer in Minnesota to be charged in the death of a black civilian George Floyd. The ensuing nationwide Black Lives Matter riots led to divide in the nation. Most conservatives were on the side of law enforcement while progressives began calling for the defunding of police. It's not clear if the next administration would even consider a pardon or commutation for Chauvin, but it does appear that the tide has turned recently. Video was captured of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck on May 25, 2020 during an arrest made with three other officers. He was dismissed by the Minneapolis Police Department on May 26 and arrested on May 29. The death of Floyd at Chauvin's hands set off a series of protests that led to the Black Lives Matter riots. Chauvin in early 2021 was put on jury trial for unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter of Floyd. And on April 20 of that year he was convicted on all of the charges. He was sentenced two months later to 22-and-a-half years in prison with credit given for 199 days time served. He was given the possibility of supervised release after 15 years. Chauvin put in requests to the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the United States for review, but they were denied. A much more long shot possibility that Trump has not yet addressed publicly is a possible reevaluation of the case against former police officer Derek Chauvin He also pleaded guilty in late 2021 to federal charges of violating Floyd's civil rights by using unreasonable force and in mid-2022 was sentenced to 21 years for that charge. The Minnesota Department of Corrections lists Chauvin's anticipated release date on the state sentence as December 10, 2035, but for the federal charges it's likely he will be released around 2038. Chauvin filed a motion in federal court in November last year attempting to vacate his guilty plea. To serve out his sentence, Chauvin was transferred in August 2022 from Oak Park Heights Prison in Minnesota to FCI Tucson in Arizona, a medium-security federal facility. He was stabbed by another inmate at the federal facility on November 24, 2023 and was transferred to FCI Big Spring in August this year. It was a legal triumph that nearly matched his political one. One by one, the criminal cases that had former President Donald Trump potentially facing years of jail time imploded after his election win in November. Trump's long legal saga of the past few years might not be entirely wrapped up by the time he raises his hand to take the Oath of Office on January 20th, but each will be well on its way to being resolved. The latest stunning legal win for Team Trump came when a Georgia appeals court ruled that Fulton County DA Fani Willis should be disqualified from his election interference case in Georgia. But even that decision didn't end the case entirely. The court in its 2-1 decision that it did not dismiss the case, even as legal experts said the prosecution was likely dead. Willis could appeal the case to the state Supreme Court. Or, even if the ruling stands, there could be prosecutors from another jurisdiction willing to take on the unenviable task of picking up the pieces of the complex racketeering case against Trump and 18 codefendants. The case exploded over Wills's affair with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, culminating in the ruling that it created an appearance of conflict and Willis couldn't try the case. As a state matter, the Georgia case is one that Trump would not be able to try to resolve through a pardon process, although that issue appears to be moot. Meanwhile, Trump's January 6 election interference case in Washington, D.C., fell apart just days after his election win, when Special Counsel Jack Smith put it on ice. He asked for a one-month delay for his team to 'assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course going forward consistent with Department of Justice policy.' The latest stunning legal win for Team Trump came when a Georgia appeals court ruled that Fulton County DA Fani Willis should be disqualified from his election interference case in Georgia A Georgia appeals court ruled that Fulton County DA Fani Willis is disqualified from Trump's election interference case in the state. Experts said it likely killed the prosecution Longtime guidance from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel bar prosecuting a sitting president, and the case had already dragged on for months while the Supreme Court waited and finally issued a ruling setting up the outlines of presidential immunity from prosecution for official acts. In late November, Trump asked Judge Tanya Chutkan to dismiss the case 'without prejudice,' which she did. That came days after New York judge Juan Merchan moved to indefinitely delay Trump's hush money case following his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records. An existing Justice Department policy disallows prosecution of a sitting president. 'Just as a sitting President is completely immune from any criminal process, so too is President Trump as President-elect,' wrote lawyer Todd Blanche and lawyer Emil Bove in a filing to Judge Merchan. Trump has now nominated both of them to top DOJ posts. In a separate hush money case, where Trump was convicted on 34 counts, Judge Juan Merchan has ruled that Trump does not have presidential immunity. Special counsel Jack Smith has moved to have the federal election subversion charges against Donald Trump dropped in Washington, D.C. Once viewed as potentially the most damaging prosecution facing Trump, the classified documents case against him in Florida was the first to fall apart Merchan ruled the evidence presented in the case earlier this year was related 'entirely to unofficial conduct' and therefore were not official actions as president. Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's office has argued the law doesn't require dismissing the case following Trump's election. That leaves another key decision for Merchan: whether to essentially pause the case for the duration of Trump's presidency, or take some other action in light of Trump lawyers' motion to dismiss the case. Once viewed as potentially the most damaging prosecution facing Trump, the classified documents case against him in Florida was the first to fall apart, after a Trump-appointed federal judge dismissed it. His office was in the process of appealing when Trump won the election. An appeal to the 11th Circuit argued that Judge Aileen Cannon was wrong when she said Smith's own appointment was unconstitutional and dismissed the case. In late November, the Appeals Court granted Smith's motion to dismiss the case. Trump transition spokesman Steven Cheung took a victory lap at the time. 'Today's decision by the DOJ ends the unconstitutional federal cases against President Trump and is a major victory for the rule of law,' he said. With the criminal cases against Trump all shattered in one form or another after his election win, the live cases on the docket are those Trump has filed demanding damages for what he calls media bias and 'witch hunts' against him. The criminal cases against Trump all shattered in one form or another after his election win Trump is suing CBS and other entities over what he considers unfair and impermissible treatment He is suing the DOJ for $100 million over the FBI's search of Mar-a-Lago in the classified documents case. And he is suing CBS and other entities over what he considers unfair and impermissible treatment. Trump may be emboldened by winning $15 million from ABC News and $1 million in legal fees over a George Stephanopoulos interview where the host inaccurately called him liable for rape, when a New York jury had in fact found him liable for sexual abuse of writer E. Jean Carroll. Trump is appealing the outcome of the Carroll case in New York City. Hospital wards are full to bursting with patients suffering a combination of respiratory and flu symptoms in what is known as the quad-demic, one of the countrys leading doctors said yesterday. Dr Ian Higginson has warned half of Britains A&E units are at full capacity because of the sharp increase in winter illnesses. The term quad-demic is used to describe flu, Covid-19, respiratory syncytial virus all of which cause difficulty breathing and norovirus. Dr Higginson, from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), described the situation within hospitals as pretty grim. He explained that patients are being forced to wait in corridors owing to bed shortages, with ambulances queuing up outside, and told of an increased risk to the health of staff. Dr Higginson told Sky News: Normally, just before Christmas wed expect a bit of a lull. So Im afraid things are looking pretty difficult for our patients and for our staff. We simply dont have enough beds in our hospitals for patients who are admitted as emergencies. We dont have enough staff for those beds and we dont have any headroom at all. So if something like the flu hits, as it has done, it makes a bad situation even worse. We have got patients all the way through our corridors because we cant admit them to hospital when they need to be. Dr Ian Higginson has warned half of Britains A&E units are at full capacity because of the sharp increase in winter illnesses He explained that patients are being forced to wait in corridors owing to bed shortages, with ambulances queuing up outside, and told of an increased risk to the health of staff He said Britain is about 10,000 hospital beds short to deal with predictable medical emergencies, and spikes such as the current quad-demic only make the situation worse. Giving context, he explained this is the same as being two wards short in every hospital. Recently, nurses and doctors have been briefed about how to treat patients in corridors. But the RCEM branded the guidance as normalising the dangerous. Earlier this month the NHS released figures showing 1,861 patients with flu were in hospital every day up from 1,099 in the last week of November and 402 at the same time last year. The Labour Budget in October promised to give the NHS 22.6 billion. Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, said: For too long, an annual winter crisis has become the norm. We will deliver long-term reforms through our ten-year health plan that will create a health service that will be there for all of us all year round. Prosecutors have been accused of giving predators a get-out-of-jail-free card in cases of sex by deception by allowing them to claim that they are transgender. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has published new guidance on the highly sensitive crime where someone tricks an unsuspecting partner into sleeping with them by pretending to be a different sex. It makes clear that the victim is considered to not have given consent to intimate contact at the time if they were unaware of the other persons birth sex, meaning that rape or sexual assault charges may be brought. But the guidance also sets out a long list of reasons why transgender people may choose to keep their birth sex hidden, which campaigners fear could be exploited by predators to avoid being prosecuted. It says that many people who have transitioned may not regard themselves as trans, but simply as a man or a woman, while young people in particular may see their gender identity as fluid and may identify as a man and a women or neither. Last night Maya Forstater of the womens rights charity Sex Matters, said that lesbians in particular face problems with biological men on dating websites identifying as female, and that the CPS guidelines suggests people may avoid a conviction for sexual assault based on deception if they say they are transgender. She added: A person who fails to be clear and honest about their sex when seeking a sexual relationship is behaving in a way that is at a minimum creepy and may, at worst, be engaging in assault. If there is a complaint of rape or sexual assault by deception, this guidance offers the suspect a get-out-of-jail-free card namely declaring they are trans. Blade Silvano, 40, arriving at Cambridge Crown Court in May 2023 Silvano was jailed for ten years for sexual assault at Cambridge Crown Court last year 'This approach is not grounded in law and shows no recognition of ordinary standards of consent to intimate contact or sexual relations. Last year, Blade Silvano was jailed for ten years for sexual assault after Cambridge Crown Court heard she spent two years pretending to be a man to dupe her female partner, using a blindfold and sex toy when they were intimate. The new CPS guidance states: A person whose gender identity isnt the same as their sex may express their gender through their speech, dress, gestures, mannerisms etc, without this being a fabrication, a performance or a deception. It says some trans people may be wary of revealing their birth sex due to social stigma, transphobia or safety considerations while others may not openly identify as trans... for fear of a family or relationship breakdown, losing employment, or exclusion from a close-knit community or a place of worship. The court heard that Silvano spent two years pretending to be a man to dupe her female partner, using a blindfold and sex toy when they were intimate The guidance also states some may think it necessary to conceal their sex to meet the condition of living in their new identity for two years before they can obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate and have their gender change legally recognised. Siobhan Blake, chief crown prosecutor and national lead for rape and serious sexual offences, said: This is a highly sensitive area of law. It is important our guidance provides prosecutors with the knowledge they need to make decisions in the rare cases where deception as to sex may have occurred. The CPS also stresses the guidance does not intend to suggest that most such offences are committed by trans or non-binary persons. Britain's equalities watchdog has intervened after Labour insisted that tightening the law to protect single-sex spaces would be unnecessary. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has demanded to see the transgender policies of hundreds of public bodies after concerns about them were dismissed by ministers. Baroness Falkner, chairman of the EHRC, said it would examine these and decide whether the Equality Act which allows organisations to restrict access to women-only spaces such as bathrooms to those born female is being followed correctly. Her comments came after the Office for Equality and Opportunity last week brushed aside fears many public bodies are allowing people to access services based on their self-identified gender rather than their biological sex. It said it had found a few examples where the guidance was not being interpreted correctly, after members of the public raised concerns about 404 organisations. However, it claimed this was simply down to confusion or a lack of awareness. EHRC chairman Baroness Falkner said the watchdog would examine these and decide whether the Equality Act is being followed correctly on single-sex spaces A Trans Pride demonstrator holds a placard in a protest in central London in July In response, Lady Falkner wrote to equalities minister Anneliese Dodds, thanking her for sending the EHRC 42 cases where the Equality Act 2010 was identified to have been misinterpreted. She added: We would find it helpful to see the remaining 362 examples submitted to you. This would enable us to form a better judgment of the overall picture of compliance with the Act and guidance, inform the development of the statutory Code of Practice and our broader regulatory activity, and have confidence that the Act, on the whole, is being applied correctly. A baby Jesus figurine which was stolen from a nativity scene has been returned to authorities alongside a hilarious note of contrition. The Jesus doll was anonymously dropped off at the local fire station four days after it vanished from a Christmas display in Fort Collins, Colorado. 'I'm really sorry,' a note read from the thief read. 'I made a dumb mistake in the moment, it won't happen again.' On December 17, local police released a photograph of a young person clutching baby Jesus in his hands. 'This Grinch tried to ruin Christmas by stealing the Baby Jesus from the Old Town Square nativity scene,' authorities wrote in a post sharing the picture widely. Locals were urged to report any further information about the suspect's identity. 'It's a Christmas miracle,' one person wrote after the doll's safe return. 'He just needed a little time with the Lord.' Four days after the Jesus doll vanished from a Christmas display in Fort Collins, Colorado , it was anonymously dropped off at the local fire station A baby Jesus figurine which was stolen from a nativity scene has been returned to authorities alongside a contrite note On December 17, local police released a photograph of a young person clutching baby Jesus in his hands Another suggested the thief had utilized Colorado's safe haven laws. In Colorado, fire stations are among 'safe haven' locations, where new parents can anonymously give up their unharmed newborn children without fear of criminal prosecution. 'Safe Haven Laws apparently also apply to plastic babies... including baby Jesus,' one local wrote. 'Reminder to destitute, expectant mothers worrying about how she'd care for her baby once they're born, Safe Haven Laws allow mothers to drop babies at hospitals, police stations, fire stations, etc. with no questions asked.' A teenager has been killed in a fireworks explosion after Christmas Day celebrations took a tragic turn in Melbourne's north. The 19-year-old was declared dead at the scene after he was found at a property on Pittsburgh Road and Cloverton Boulevard at Kalkallo at about 9.10pm on Wednesday. Victoria Police have launched an investigation into the teenager's death. A report will be prepared for the Coroner. A cafe owner has defended holiday surcharges after an outraged Aussie questioned why customers should be charged more money at the checkout. Estelle Landy took to social media to express her anger about extra holiday charges after realising how much more she had to pay for a single meal. 'Can anyone please explain why the f**k we pay a public holiday surcharge,' Ms Landy said. 'Like, why are we paying extra for businesses to pay staff, they could just not be open? I just paid $18 for a quarter-chicken and chips. It's usually $14.' Social media users were divided with many siding with Ms Landy while others defended cafes. 'Because the business needs to pay their staff double what they usually would? This is like common sense I fear,' said one. 'As if the business isn't profiting from the surcharge,' another said. 'Yeah ok, you pay a bit more in wages, but what about the additional funds collected throughout the day from the surcharge?' Dan Dick, who owns three cafes in Melbourne, warned business owners would be forced to close their store if they didn't tack on a surcharge Dan Dick, who owns three cafes in Melbourne, warned business owners would be forced to close their store if they didn't tack on a surcharge. 'If businesses don't deem it worth it financially to be open on those days, then they're just going to close,' he said. 'So what are you going to do on a day off when nothing's open because it's not profitable to run? 'I think everyone's just got to understand that it's the necessary cost of being able to visit your favourite venues on days that they're essentially running at a loss.' 'It's also not up to the staff to determine the pricing model,' Mr Dick added. 'If anyone's got any queries about the way we run our pricing, then please, by all means, have a conversation with me, the owner who makes the decisions, but staff in every store that offers these things aren't making this decision.' Mr Dick said his staff were entitled to double time and a day in lieu if they worked on public holidays. 'It's not feasible for businesses to absorb that,' he told Yahoo Finance. Ruby Rule says public holiday surcharges aren't much help in covering the increased wages of her staff Surcharges, typically between 10 to 15 per cent, are added to help businesses shoulder the cost of higher wages. Mr Dick closes two of his three cafes on Christmas Day because it's just not worth it. He warned that if Aussies wanted to flout surcharges, they will find that nothing is open during their time off. Ruby Rule, who owns three cafes in Queensland, recently revealed on social media that public holiday surcharges aren't much help in covering the increased wages of her staff. 'We brought in $4,705 and of that money and of that money $719 was a surcharge,' she said after keeping her cafes open on one holiday. 'Because of the public holiday the wages across my three venues came out at $3,500.' On a regular day, the wages would have come out as $1,800, she added, which was about $1700 less than the public holiday. 'That $700 extra we got in the public holiday surcharge doesn't actually cover even the majority of the extra money we have to pay. 'This is to show that business owners do not add the surcharge so they can make more money. It's purely to try and offset some of that cost.' A one-month-old baby has been found abandoned in a car seat on a Colorado highway by officials. Deputies from the Adams County Sheriffs Office responded to 911 calls about a baby boy found near a median on 7490 Pecos St. The child was wearing only a diaper and sitting in a car seat carrier. Police launched a search for the youngster's parents, putting a callout on social media urging anybody with information to alert authorities. Investigators have also searched the area for camera footage and people who may have been nearby when the baby was left. The online posts did not include pictures of the baby, but did share the specific baby carrier. By 4.30pm, officials provided an update revealing they had been in contact with the infant's relatives. He is believed to be mixed race or Hispanic, and was taken to hospital as a precaution. Deputies from the Adams County Sheriffs Office responded to 911 calls about a baby boy found near a median on 7490 Pecos St 'Thank you to everyone who helped spread the word for this case,' officers said. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are considering whether pursuing criminal charges would be 'appropriate.' In a lengthy X post, the Sheriff's Office shared a series of pictures of the car seat the child was found in. 'Detectives are seeking the communities help to identify and locate the family of an approximately one month old baby boy that was left in the median of Pecos St., approximately 7490 Pecos St., wearing only a diaper and sitting in a car seat/carrier. 'We are hoping someone recognizes the car seat or knows something about the baby or family so he can be united with his loved ones and the person who abandoned him can be brought to justice,' cops wrote. Notably, a tag inside the car seat also read: 'display only: Not intended for sale'. It remains unclear if the baby is healthy and why he was abandoned. The Sheriff's Office has asked anyone with information to contact its non-emergency number at 303-288-1535. Since the baby's discovery, cops have launched a search for the youngster's parents While officials have not yet released pictures, it is believed that the baby is of mixed race or Hispanic Notably, a tag inside the car seat also read: 'display only: Not intended for sale' This comes two months after a baby girl tragically died after being found abandoned in the middle of a busy roadway near the Galveston Seawall in Texas. The deceased infant was initially found alive in the middle of the well-trafficked road around 9:45 am on 59th street in Galveston, between a grocery store and the Beachfront Palms Hotel. The Galveston Police Department immediately responded to the scene alerting fire and emergency medical personnel on their way. GPD Chief, Doug Balli, said the infant was urgently rushed to the emergency center at UTMB Health's John Sealy Hospital. However, just a short time after her arrival, the unidentified baby girl was pronounced dead, Click2Houston reports. Shen Yun returns to Houston. Palace Theatre/Contributed Photo / Contributed Photo Houston offers a variety of events this weekend as the holiday season continues toward New Year's. Highlights include the final performances of 'A Christmas Carol,' Shen Yun's new production and Clutch's Bearthday celebration with the Houston Rockets. Heres a closer look at these events and more happening across the city. 'A Christmas Carol' David Rainey stars in the Alley Theatre's "A Christmas Carol." Lynn Lane/Contributor This is the final weekend to see Alley Theatre's 'A Christmas Carol,' the story of Ebenezer Scrooge's transformation through visits from the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, set in Victorian England. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When: Through Dec. 29 Where: Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Shen Yun Shen Yun, touring spectacle of traditional Chinese dance and music. Shen Yun presents a new production accompanied by a live orchestra. The performance explores five millennia of Chinese culture through traditional dance and music, highlighting stories and values from across the ages. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When: Dec. 26- Jan. 1 and Jan. 27-28 Where: Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana Snow Glow on the Bayou Advertisement Article continues below this ad Downtown Houston+ presents Snow Glow on the Bayou, a free digital light and sound installation at Allens Landing. Brandon Martin/Courtesy of Downtown Houston+ Snow Glow on the Bayou, presented by Downtown Houston+, is a digital light and sound show projected onto a large water screen at Allen's Landing, visible from various spots along the bayous banks, trails, or during Holiday Cruise boat tours by Buffalo Bayou Partnership. Text Downtown Holidays to 56512 for a Snow Glow map and information on City Light villages in downtown Houston. When: Through Dec. 29 Where: Allens Landing, 1001 Commerce Advertisement Article continues below this ad Houston Rockets Eight month old Kaz Sanders, center, is handed back to her mother, Jennifer, after taking a photo with Houston Rockets mascot, Clutch, during the teams open practice Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff Photographer Cheer on the Houston Rockets as they face the Minnesota Timberwolves and celebrate Clutch's Bearthday. When: Dec. 27: 7 p.m. Where: Toyota Center, 1510 Polk Advertisement Article continues below this ad River Oaks Theatre: 'When Harry Met Sally...' River Oaks Theatre screens 'When Harry Met Sally...' River Oaks Theatre screens the classic 1989 romantic comedy 'When Harry Met Sally...,' a film starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. When: Dec. 27-28: 7:30 p.m. Where: 2009 W Gray Skating Stars on Ice at Discovery Green Skating Stars at Green Mountain Energy Ice at Discovery Green. Discovery Green Houstons top figure skaters perform demonstrations on the Green Mountain Energy Ice at Discovery Green, showcasing their skills and inspiring visitors. When: Dec. 29: 7-7:15 p.m. A corrections officer at the Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe, Ohio, has been killed during a horrifying inmate attack on Christmas Day. The family of Officer Andrew Lansing paid tribute to his life as his coworkers were left reeling in grief after the sudden loss. 'It is with great sadness that I confirm the tragic death of Correction Officer Andrew Lansing,' Director Annette Chambers-Smith of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction announced, noting how Lansing was a respected and admired figure in the correctional community. 'Officer Lansing is a long-time, well-respected employee at Ross, and his untimely death is heartbreaking for his family, the entire Ross Correctional Institution family, and our agency as a whole,' she added. The assault occurred during Lansing's shift on Christmas Day, a time when most of his co-workers were celebrating with family and loved ones. Instead, Lansing found himself confronting the dangers inherent in his line of work - and a risk he had accepted as part of his duty to protect and serve. 'Instead of going home after his shift to be with his family on this holiday, Officer Lansing made the ultimate sacrifice, and our agency will never be the same,' Chambers-Smith added. Lansing, a seasoned and well-regarded member of the Ross Correctional Institution team, was known for his dedication and professionalism. Corrections Officer Andrew Lansing who worked at the Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe, Ohio, has been killed in a horrifying inmate assault on Christmas Day The Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe, Ohio is home to more than 2,000 inmates 'He was a friendly, outgoing officer who treated everyone with respect and was always a professional,' Chambers-Smith said. 'The loss of a staff person is difficult, but to lose a family member on Christmas Day at the hands of someone in our custody is a tragedy beyond comprehension. 'We ask that you keep Officer Lansing's family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers at this devastating and tragic time,' she added. The Ross Correctional Institution is now under restricted movement, and an investigation is underway by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The inmate involved in the assault has also been transferred to the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility. On his LinkedIn page Lansing was seen to have worked as a correctional officer for more than 20 years and took the job seriously. 'Throughout my greater than twenty years of experience I have worked hard to improve myself through training, experience, and education. I am always willing to go the extra mile and am unwilling to accept anything but my best from myself,' he wrote. 'I am punctual, always meet deadlines, and keep to a schedule. I am flexible, calm under pressure, and able to make decisions quickly,' he explained in a personal statement. Lansing, a seasoned and well-regarded member of the Ross Correctional Institution team, was known for his dedication and professionalism and had been a Corrections Officer for 20 years As news of Lansing's death spread, there was an outpouring of grief online by those who knew him. He is seen pictured in a photo from his Facebook page As news of Lansing's death spread, there was an outpouring of grief online by those who knew him. 'When I think of hiring into RCI at 19 years old I think of Andrew Lansing. He was a mentor to all of us. Rest easy big dawg,' wrote Miranda Joseph. 'And on Christmas Day. Rest in peace Andrew Lansing. I am praying hard for his family and the correctional officers. Andy was always the first to like or comment on posts I made about Charlie. He was such a sweet guy,' stated Christina Woods. 'As the daughter of a retired CO and the wife of a prison chaplain. this breaks my heart. Praying for all of his family, friends, and coworkers,' added Rhonda Marcus. Lansing's death comes just only a few months after another corrections officer was killed during a training exercise. Lt. Rodney Osborne from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction's Southern Ohio Correctional Facility was killed during a training exercise in April. More than half of people in Yorkshire have no savings at all, according to a survey. At the other end of the scale are people living in counties in the East of England, like Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambs. A study by Darlington Building Society found that 51 per cent of people from Yorkshire have no savings at all. By comparison, just a third of people living in the East of England had not a bean in savings or investments. A spokesman for Darlington Building Society said its study showed that 42 per cent of Brits do not have any savings. Out of around 55m adults, that works out at just over 23m of us on the breadline. He said: We found that just over four-in-ten Brits have no savings at all. Vicky Reynal, financial psychotherapist and author of Money on your Mind: the psychology behind your financial habits, said that many Brits had become doomsday spenders. Leeds city centre. A study by Darlington Building Society found that 51 per cent of people from Yorkshire have no savings at all A spokesman for Darlington Building Society said its study showed that 42 per cent of Brits do not have any savings She said: Some people have abandoned the idea of saving altogether. Buying a house of saving for a wedding can seem out of reach for many, leading to a phenomenon some call doomsday spending where people adopt a spend now, save never attitude. They choose to focus on enjoying their money in the moment rather than saving it for a future that feels uncertain. Tom Crossley, of Darlington Building Society, said that the increase in National Minimum Wage should help some people feel able to start saving. He added: We want to encourage people to get into the habit of saving little and often, where possible, to build a savings habit. Once something becomes a habit it is more likely to be sustained even in the face of changing economic circumstances. Survivors of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina were given the gift of housing this Christmas. A team of volunteers in Swannanoa, a small mountain town that was 'entirely erased' by the September storm, has been building 12 by 16 foot cabins to house people who lost their homes, WLOS reported. The units, though small, are insulated and include a mini-fridge and a microwave. The effort to build them is being spearheaded by the non-profit organization National Mental Health Alliance. 'So far we've been able to put 20 people in them,' said Beth Dalton, one of the volunteers. Orlondo Morris is staying in one of the units, which was built on his grandmother's property. 'I keep struggling to come up with the words to give the thanks to these people who have been here from day one,' he said. Morris is still putting the finishing touches on his unit but said he planned to sleep in it on Christmas Eve with a little space heater to keep him warm. He also plans to build a more permanent spot inside the cabin for his pet bunny. Pictured: The temporary cabins volunteers have built for 20 Hurricane Helene victims so far Orlondo Morris (pictured) shows off the interior of the unit he said he would be spending Christmas Eve in with his pet bunny Mitchell Beddingfield didn't receive a cabin, but volunteers were able to save his home before the damage was too great. He could be back in his home by January Dalton said there's a waitlist of about 20 more families and said each unit costs about $6,000 to build. 'For me, Christmas is about being able to give,' Dalton said. 'A restoration of hope for these families.' The main way the housing project has been able to connect with families in need is through various Facebook pages. Mitchell Beddingfield was lucky enough to have volunteers help him restore his home. 'At Christmas, I'm giving thanks to literally thousands of people,' Beddingfield said. 'Initially Samaritans Purse came in and mucked the mud out. They took the walls out four feet up. Amish installed insulation and sheetrock.' He said other people donated kitchen appliances, including a stove. He's been living with his pastor, but hopes to be back in his renovated home by January. The brutal onslaught of Hurricane Helene left the small mountain town of Swannanoa in ruins. Locals are just now rebuilding Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina the hardest out of all the states that were affected. North Carolina had 103 confirmed storm-related deaths from Helene, far more than states like Florida (around 20 deaths) and Georgia (around 30 deaths) which are generally more acclimated to extreme weather. One North Carolina man lost 11 family members in the devastating storm, including his parents, aunts and uncles, great aunt and uncles, and cousins. A nurse told DailyMail.com in October that hopelessness had taken root for some victims, some of whom came to her hospital in Asheville with signs of overdoses or even self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Swannanoa, a town of just over 5,000 people, was an area that was devastated perhaps more than any other. In the immediate aftermath, cars were perched in tree limbs along the flooded Swannanoa River. Homes were torn from foundations, thrown upside-down or split in half. On top of that, a thick layer of mud blanketed the entire area. The Swannanoa River at Biltmore in nearby Asheville had reached flood levels not seen since 1791. A real estate agent has apologised after he got involved in an online stoush with a prominent renters' rights activist, as his boss also offered an eye-opening reason for the row. Rental activist Jordan van den Lamb, founder of the s***rentals.org website, staged a protest outside three empty homes in a plush Melbourne suburb on December 14 to highlight the number of properties sitting vacant during a national housing crisis. Mr van den Lamb, known online as PurplePingers, shared a video of 84 Western Street, which had the banner 'this house has been empty (for) 15 years', to Instagram. Nathan Westerbrink, who is director of Raine and Horne's Lane Cove on Sydney's Lower North Shore, was angered by Mr van den Lamb's antics and left a scathing comment in response to the video. 'Pay your own rent loser,' he wrote. Now, in a humiliating climbdown seen by Daily Mail Australia, Mr Westerbink has offered a fulsome apology - as his own boss suggested he was drunk when he sent the message. 'I didn't pay attention to your message at the time, I honestly thought it was a post about wanting to squat in empty houses, hence my message re rent,' Mr Westerbink wrote. He added: 'From the little I saw you work hard to have a positive impact. (My) genuine and sincere apologies.' Nathan Westerbrink (pictured, above), who is director of Raine and Horne's Lane Cove on Sydney 's Lower North Shore, was angered by rental activist Jordan van den Lamb's antics and left a scathing comment in response to the video (below) Mr Westerbink's boss, Stuart Bourne, also sent Mr van den Lamb his apologies. 'I have addressed this issue with the staff member directly and would like to say that it doesn't reflect my or my companies (sic) values,' he wrote. 'I believe this was done whilst under consumption (sic) of alcohol. Although this is not an excuse. Once again, I apologise.' Mr van den Lamb, who is standing for the Victorian Socialists, at next year's Federal election, was not won over by the apology. 'I'd say drunk mins reveal sober thoughts and a rent-seeker telling someone else to pay the rent is very ironic,' he told Daily Mail Australia. This publication approached Mr Westerbink for further comment. Social media users were quick to slam him following his original post. 'Hes everything wrong with society,' one wrote. Another added: 'So unprofessional.' Now, in a humiliating climbdown seen by Daily Mail Australia, Mr Westerbink has offered a fulsome apology (pictured above) His own boss suggested he was drunk when he sent the message Others praised Mr van den Lamb and the community for highlighting Australia's dire housing market. 'Absolutely abominable that these landlords have been able to leave these standing empty all these years,' one person wrote. 'Well done! Broken system. It's Australia wide. Most house's in regional area also sit empty,' a second commented. A third added: 'Good on you! Too many people homeless - houses should not be empty'. The Melbourne protest came to an end after police issued Mr van den Lamb and the other activists with a 'move on' order. It was the first of many planned protests aimed at targeting landlords who deliberately keep their houses unoccupied. Mr van den Lamb has previously slammed Australia's housing market as system 'rigged' for the wealthy. 'In a wealthy society like Australia, no-one should struggle just to keep a roof over their head, particularly when on any given night there's hundreds of thousands of homes sitting empty,' Mr van den Lamb said. Mr van den Lamb (pictured), who is standing for the Victorian Socialists, at next year's Federal election , was not won over by the apology Jordan van den Lamb, known online as PurplePingers, staged a protest along with other activists at three adjacent homes that had been vacant for more than two decades 'It's perfectly legal for property owners to leave homes empty for years or even decades. This is unacceptable. 'Leaving homes empty in the midst of a homelessness crisis is a crime against basic human decency. 'The wealthiest people in Australia have enjoyed a massive windfall from the growth in property prices over the past few decades. 'The system is so rigged for the rich that they often lose very little from keeping properties empty. This needs to change.' Mr van den Lamb added the housing market was currently at a 'crisis point', with homelessness growing rapidly and the number of people on public housing waiting lists surging. 'We want to build a movement - of the homeless, of renters, of everyone who is suffering from the housing crisis,' Mr van den Lamb said. 'We can't expect our parliament of landlords to solve this for us. The majority of them benefit from the current system. People need to take matters into their own hands.' In total, nearly 100,000 homes sat empty or under-used in 2023 a shocking one in 20 dwellings in Melbourne, according to a report by tax reform institute Prosper Australia. That is enough to to house more than 250,000 Australians - which is more than the combined number of people experiencing homelessness and those on the public housing waiting list. The report, which analysed water use, found that over 27,000 dwellings (1.5 per cent of all homes) were left totally empty throughout 2023, with a further 70,000 (3.7 per cent of all homes) barely used. It also found the highest concentration of empty homes was in Brunswick East with 1,214 or 12.7 per cent of properties left vacant. A struggling big city housing market is tipped to recover next year because of high overseas immigration. Melbourne, Australia's second biggest city after Sydney, has been a poor performer in 2024 with house prices falling by 2.3 per cent in the year to November, as a result of the Victorian government's $975 land tax on investors. This occurred as house prices have soared by double-digit figures in Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and parts of western Sydney. That has made Melbourne a better value housing market with $600,000 still buying a home with a backyard relatively near the water and train line. My Housing Market chief economist Dr Andrew Wilson predicted Melbourne was likely to receive even more overseas migrants than Sydney next year, which would boost its housing market. 'I'm expecting that to move ahead of New South Wales sooner rather than later,' he told Metropole Property Strategists founder Michael Yardney in a podcast. 'Victoria is usually the leading state for net overseas migration but it is trailing New South Wales at the moment.' During the last financial year, 132,859 overseas migrants on a net basis moved to Victoria compared with 142,473 who went to NSW, Australian Bureau of Statistics population data showed. A struggling big city housing market is tipped to soar next year because of high overseas immigration (pictured is a Melbourne house inspection) Australia's two most populated states housed 61.8 per cent of the influx of foreign arrivals, as skilled migrants and international students flooded into Sydney and Melbourne. Sydney is becoming increasingly unaffordable and in the year to June, 30,865 NSW residents on a net basis moved interstate, as Queensland received 29,910 new people from other parts of Australia. But Victoria's interstate migration population increased by 664, giving it a net population increase of 133,523 with overseas migration factored in. By contrast, NSW had a smaller population increase of 111,608 with the state having both the biggest interstate exodus but the highest overseas migration intake. 'Victoria, overall, was still the leading beneficiary of net migration,' Dr Wilson said. 'That's a positive in terms of turning around what's been a subdued Victorian or Melbourne housing market.' Mr Yardney predicted Melbourne prices would rise in 2025 and 2026 to make up for a bad 2024. 'The Melbourne housing market has not performed as strongly as other capitals over the last few years, but Melbourne's property values are expected to play catch up over the next year or two,' he said. Melbourne still has affordable suburbs with CoreLogic data showing mid-point prices under $600,000 including Frankston North on $591,214 Victoria's population growth pace of 2.4 per cent was also significantly higher than NSW's 1.7 per cent level and it was even ahead of Queensland's 2.3 per cent increase. Only Western Australia had a higher growth level of 2.8 per cent. Melbourne's median house price of $923,422 is still beyond the reach of an average-income earner on $100,017 buying alone. But it still has affordable suburbs with CoreLogic data showing mid-point prices under $600,000 including Frankston North on $591,214, with prices flat over the year as values fell across most of Melbourne. The suburb 54km from Melbourne's city centre is considerably cheaper than equivalent other suburbs in Brisbane including Caboolture where $738,458 is now the mid-point. In Sydney, houses in the city's outer south-west are around the $1million mark with $600,000 only buying a one or two-bedroom unit in the outer suburbs. The Central Coast, an hour's drive north of Sydney, is also expensive with North Gosford having a mid-point house price of $901,661. Property group Domain is forecasting 3 to 5 per cent price growth in Melbourne next year, which would still be weaker than Sydney's 3.5 per cent increase this year. It would still be well below Brisbane's 12.1 per cent increase, Adelaide's 14 per cent rise and Perth's phenomenal 21 per cent surge. Mr Yardney said Melbourne's Suburban Rail Loop and strong population growth made it a good investment, despite Victoria's hated $975 investor tax. 'Melbourne has been constrained by several factors that are transitory in nature, but the long-term fundamentals of Melbourne remain strong, with a robust economy, strong population growth tipped to overtake that of Sydney and significant new infrastructure in the pipeline, making it one of the most liveable cities in the world,' he said. 'Despite the current struggles, there is a significant opportunity in Melbourne's property market.' Elon Musk admitted he takes an Ozempic-like weight loss drug in a festive holiday post while wearing a Santa Claus outfit next to the tree on Christmas Day. Specifically, the billionaire Tesla CEO said he takes Mounjaro, a drug that typically treats type-2 diabetes by lowering a person's blood sugar levels. Musk posted a pictured of himself in a Santa costume posing in front of a Christmas tree and wrote, 'Ozempic Santa.' In two subsequent replies to his post, he added, 'Like Cocaine Bear, but Santa and Ozempic! Technically, Mounjaro, but that doesn't have the same ring to it.' The Food and Drug Administration approved Mounjaro under the brand name Zepbound in November 2023 to serve as weight management drug for those who are struggling with overweightness or obesity. Musk has already expressed support for weight loss drugs, writing in a December 11 post on X: 'Nothing would do more to improve the health, lifespan and quality of life for Americans than making [GLP-1 drugs] super low cost to the public. Nothing else is even close.' Some of the most well known GLP-1 drugs are Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound. Musk's views on this issue clashes with those of Robert F. Kennedy Jr, whom President-elect Donald Trump nominated to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Elon Musk, dressed in a Santa costume and standing in front of Christmas tree, revealed Wednesday that he was on Mounjaro, a drug similar to Ozempic Musk's views aren't completely in line with Robert Kennedy Jr.'s. RFK Jr. could soon lead the Department of Health and Human Services if the Senate confirms him Shortly after his nomination in mid-November, RFK Jr. joined Greg Gutfeld's late night show to decry how an estimated 9 million prescriptions are written every year in the US for weight loss drugs like Ozempic. 'We are spending $1.6k a month on this drug. There is a bill right now before Congress that will make it available to everybody who is overweight... that alone will cost $3trillion a year. 'If we spend about one fifth of that giving good food, three meals a day, to every man, woman and child in our country, we could solve the obesity and diabetes epidemic overnight.' However, RFK Jr. slightly changed his tune on Ozempic during an interview with CNBC at the New York Stock Exchange on December 12, the day Trump was invited to ring the opening bell. RFK Jr.'s heel turn also came a day after Musk, who has become one of Trump's closest allies and supporters, publicly threw his support behind the drug. 'The first line of response should be lifestyle. It should be eating well, making sure you that you dont get obese, and that those GLP drugs have a place,' RFK Jr. said. Trump himself has been the subject of the Ozempic rumors that have plagued almost everyone rich and famous that has gotten slimmer in recent months. Back in May, when Trump was the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Joy Behar of 'The View' blurted that he was on Ozempic after cohost Sunny Hostin said he looked 'thinner' when she saw him in person. Musk has become one of Trump's closest allies, spending more than a quarter of a billion dollars to help the Republican president-elect win a second term Musk has also become a near constant presence in Trump's day-to-day activities, to the point that some Democrats have questioned who's really in charge Hostin saw him outside his hush money trial in Manhattan and commented on both his complexion and his weight. 'It's a burnt sienna. I had never seen him in person and I didn't realize he was that orange. Ana [Navarro] has been making jokes about how orange he is... it's almost like a radioactive orange,' Hostin said about Trump. Sunny continued: 'It's very shocking to see in person, it really is, because he's a tall person and also a little thinner now, I don't know if he's taking the shot or whatever...' before Joy butted in and claimed: 'He's on Ozempic, you know it!' Trump recently knocked his Ozempic-supporting ally down a peg after Democrats and social media users alike derisively called him 'vice president' and suggested Musk was really running the show. Speaking for more than hour at the conservative Turning Point USAs annual AmericaFest conference in Phoenix on Sunday, Trump vented that even if Musk wanted to be president, he couldn't. 'No, hes not going to be president, that I can tell you,' Trump told the crowd. 'And Im safe. You know why he cant be? He wasnt born in this country,' he continued. Musk, the world's richest man, spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars to help the Republican president-elect win a second term and has been a near constant presence at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home ever since. Donald Trump's incoming senior policy adviser on artificial intelligence has been branded a 'career leftist' who contradicts the 'America First' policy which won over voters during the election. Sriram Krishnan's appointment has been bogged down in vitriolic criticism, as trolls ask Americans whether they 'voted for this Indian to run the country' and falsely allege he is not a US citizen. Far-right political activist Laura Loomer slammed Krishnan as a 'career leftist' and described Trump's appointment as 'deeply disturbing'. 'It's alarming to see the number of career leftists who are now being appointed to serve in Trump's admin when they share views that are in direct opposition to Trump's America First agenda,' she wrote. 'How will be control immigration in our country and promote America First innovation ... This is not America First policy.' Her comments were swiftly rebuked by Krishnan's supporters, which include Elon Musk and newly appointed White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks. Musk employed Krishnan in 2022 after taking over Twitter and as he rebranded to X. Both Krishnan and Sacks worked together during the transition and were credited with helping to restore accounts which had been previously banned, including MAGA supporters. Sriram Krishnan's appointment has been bogged down in vitriolic criticism, as trolls ask Americans whether they 'voted for this Indian to run the country' and falsely allege he is not a US citizen Trump has faced backlash from his own supporters for the appointment, describing it as 'terrible' and accusing him of platforming a 'traitor' Sacks argued that in his role advising on AI technology, Krishnan will have no say on immigration policy. But beyond that, he told Loomer she'd misinterpreted Krishnan's stance on the allocation of green cards. Loomer had argued that Krishnan wanted to remove all restrictions on green cards, whereas Sacks noted that he simply wants to remove country caps. 'Right now, every country in the world gets allocated the same number of green cards, no matter how many qualified applicants it has. So applicants from India have an 11 year wait whereas applicants from many other countries have no wait at all,' he said. 'Supporting a limited number of highly skilled immigrants is still a prevalent view on the right. Sriram is definitely not a ''career leftist''.' Musk responded to Sacks' comments, agreeing they 'make sense.' This support from Musk and Sacks has not stopped MAGA supporters from slamming Trump and his new hire. One critic on X wrote: 'Terrible appointment by @realDonaldTrump... Sriram is a traitor.' Another said: 'Trump's recent hire of Sriram Krishnan is a disgrace.' A third wrote: 'Sriram Krishnan is probably the worst pick so far from team Trump.' Far-right political activist Laura Loomer slammed Krishnan as a 'career leftist' and described Trump's appointment as 'deeply disturbing' AI czar David Sacks argued that in his role advising on AI technology, Krishnan will have no say on immigration policy Krishnan has the seal of approval from Donald Trump and Elon Musk Later, Loomer accused Krishnan of donating to the Kamala Harris campaign, but that, too, was swiftly shot down by Sacks, who insisted the donor was a different person with the same name. Sacks also noted that Krishnan 'has been a U.S. citizen for a decade.' 'He's not 'running America.' He's advising on A.I. policy. He will have no influence over U.S. immigration policy. 'These attacks have become crude, and not in the holiday spirit. I'm signing off now. Have a merry Christmas.' Krishnan's role will focus on ensuring American 'leadership in AI'. He'll be responsible for helping to craft and shape AI policy across government, and he'll work closely with the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. A five-year-old boy has been left with severe burns after he was pulled from the wreckage of a fiery crash that killed his father and grandparents. Nathaniel Rodriguez was traveling in a vehicle with his father, the man's girlfriend and the grandparents when the car suddenly veered off road and hit a tree stump - causing it to catch fire in San Bernardino, California on December 15. The boy was the sole survivor and had to be pulled from the wreckage by firefighters on that arrived at the scene. The San Bernardino County Coroner's Office has identified the victims as Edgar Rodriguez, 35, of Victorville; Ramiro Rodriguez, 60, of Victorville; Maria Benitez Ramos, 62, of Victorville; and Melinda Perez, 44, of Hesperia, according to the Victorville Daily Press. The incident, which happened a day after the young boy's birthday, left him with burns over 50 percent of his body. He sustained the worst damage on his arms and doctors at UC Irvine Medical Center were forced to amputate both of them below the elbow. 'You never think this can happen to you until it happens,' Rodriguez's mother, Adriana Shrem, told ABC7. 'That was very heartbreaking, to know my child was awake while he was pretty much burning, his whole face, his hands.' He has also broken both of his legs in the crash and has had multiple surgeries already. 'He needs a specialist for the head, the eyes, the lips, and his condition just remains the same: critical,' Shrem told the outlet. Nathaniel Rodriguez was traveling in a vehicle with his father and his girlfriend along with his grandparents, when it suddenly veered off road and hit a tree stump - causing it to catch fire in San Bernardino, California on December 15 'It's day by day. Every day he comes back out of surgery, it's a blessing. That's all I could wish for.' Rodriguez has also developed mucormycosis, a serious fungal infection, that requires aggressive surgical control to prevent it from spreading on his face, according to a GoFundMe page. The child remains stable on a ventilator in a medically induced 'coma' however he is still 'critically ill'. On Christmas Day, the fundraiser organizer also revealed that it is likely the young child would also have to undergo a tracheostomy - which is a surgical process to put a tube into his trachea to keep him connected to the ventilator safely later this week. Tom DeBellis, Battalion Chief of the Colton Fire Department, recalled pulling the boy out of the flames. 'There was just, you know, crying type noises that we could hear that kind of alerted us that there was somebody still in the vehicle,' he said. 'Him being exposed to that much fire and heat and smoke, we wanted to get him right to the hospital before, you know, anything worse happens to him.' The incident, which took place a day after the young boy's birthday, left him with burns over 50 percent of his body. He sustained the worst damage on his arms and doctors at UC Irvine Medical Center were forced to amputate both of them below the elbow He has also broken both of his legs in the crash and has had multiple surgeries already The cause of the crash remains unknown. As of now, the crowdfunding page has raised $66,558 out of its $75,000 goal. '(Dont) take life for granted. Love those around you. If you have any animosity toward anyone... just be happy. 'Life is too short, and you never know what can happen in the blink of an eye,' the disheartened mother added. A Texas man was arrested for allegedly making violent threats to Capital One executives in an email to the company where he complained about being in debt. In a December 12 email to Capital One's collection agency, Taylor Bullard, 34, claimed he had already paid the $543 he owed and raged at the bank for pestering him over the erroneous debt, according to documents obtained by DailyMail.com . 'Call me before I show up to one of their locations with a machete and gasoline,' Bullard wrote, according to a screenshot of the email included an FBI affidavit. 'You have ruined my ability to buy a home. I'm 34 with a 100k+ job and it's time I target the people and companies that have ruined my ability to live the life I deserve. 'I will be coming after your executive team personally. Please call me before I do things that are unforgivable and will make your executive team question their life choices. Thank you, Taylor Bullard.' The affidavit explained that Bullard was replying to an email the bank's collection agency sent that urged him to create a payment plan to resolve his debt. FBI agents tracked the IP address of the person who sent the threatening email back to Bullard's home and also subpoenaed his email records from Google, according to the affidavit. After being arrested by the US Marshals Service on December 20, Bullard agreed to a number of pretrial conditions, court records showed. He will submit to mental health treatments, agree not to possess firearms and prohibited substances and agree to have his personal electronic devices monitored by the government. This is the profile picture on a social media account the FBI traced to Taylor Bullard, the man they accused of sending an email to Capital One threatening to assassinate their executives Pictured: The email that Bullard allegedly sent to Capital One's collection agency Bullard will be tried in Virginia, where Capital One is headquartered (pictured) Court papers also indicated that Bullard will have a public defender assigned to him, though no one has been named in the docket. Investigators were able to find three other instances of Bullard allegedly threatening companies he felt had 'wronged' him, according to the affidavit. In 2017, Bullard allegedly sent an email to an unnamed company threatening that he would release anthrax at one of their events or kill himself in public. The affidavit said he used the same email addressed he used to threaten Capital One in December. At the time, the FBI interviewed Bullard, who told agents 'he wanted attention, wanted to see the companies sweat, and did not intend to hurt himself or others,' according to the affidavit. In 2022, Bullard left a voicemail with an unnamed bank's customer service line, per the affidavit. In it, he allegedly said he would go to a branch armed with AK-47 and shoot up the drive through as well as damage an ATM. The same year, Bullard was said to have threatened Carvana with posts on X that were cited in the affidavit and are still viewable on the social media site. In the posts the FBI claim Bullard made, he said Carvana sold him a defective vehicle, though the company's name is redacted in the affidavit. The rant include hashtags for BLM (Black Lives Matter) and Me Too. Pictured: A series of posts the FBI claimed Bullard made two years ago threatening Carvana '@carvana you some (sic) me a car with a kk 4 tires filled with slime and an AC system filled with stop leak. Im going to drive the lemon you sold me through your front doors in Friday off i10 in Houston. Be ready for chaos a**holes,' the post read. '@Carvana you will know what you did to me whether you fooking want to or not. You r**ed me and sold me a lemon #metoo #blm. 'F***ing call@me or its all@over for your sales team in Houston,' the post continued. 'Filled with slime and the fooking front doors you ignorant fooks.' Bullard was charged with one count of sending threatening interstate communications and if convicted, he could spend up to five years in prison. He was released on a $25,000 bond and will be tried in Virginia, where Capital One is headquartered. This comes as corporate America is on high alert after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down on December 4 outside a hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appeared in court for his arraignment hearing on December 23 On December 4, the shooter was captured on surveillance video gunning Thompson down in broad daylight in the middle of Midtown Manhattan After a dayslong manhunt that spanned multiple states, police arrested suspect Luigi Mangione on Dec. 9 at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, a small town nearly 300 miles away from New York City. Mangione, who pleaded not guilty to murder charges in court Monday, has received public adoration from citizens who are upset that healthcare companies like the one Thompson ran frequently deny medical claims from their customers. Authorities haven't indicated that they believe Bullard is a copycat of Thompson's alleged killer. However, 42-year-old Briana Boston of Florida was accused of threatening BlueCross BlueShield over a rejected claim just days after Thompson was murdered. Towards the end of the call, she allegedly told the operator: 'Delay, deny, depose. You people are next.' Those same words were found on the bullet casings at the scene of Thompson's murder. An Illinois mother suffering from an extreme cough made a life-changing discovery weeks before she was due to give birth. MaKenna Lauterbach, then 26, was pregnant with her son when she began experiencing nagging coughing during her last trimester in December 2023. The first-time mother, who lives on a farm in Washburn, Ill, complained about the issue multiple times to her local doctors but due to her pregnancy, they were reluctant to perform chest scans. 'I give hay to the horses every morning and noticed how winded I was becoming with a dry cough,' she said. 'My body felt like I just ran two miles, when in reality, I had only walked to the barn and back. I knew something was wrong.' By the time she reached 36 weeks pregnant, the coughing had worsened and she was frequently vomiting. She was eventually hospitalized and doctors began performing scans - which showed that she had a large, grapefruit-sized tumor in her middle chest cavity and right lung. The tumor had completely blocked the artery to the right lung and Lauterbach was found to be in respiratory distress, indicating that both her and the baby were not receiving adequete oxygen. MaKenna Lauterbach was pregnant with her son at the age of 26 when she began experiencing nagging coughing during her last trimester in December 2023 Due to her unique yet critical condition, she was flown to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago and rushed to an ICU where multiple obstetricians, surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, nurses and staff oversaw her case. Doctors soon noticed that the young mother's blood pressure was rising and she began contracting, which the baby was not responding well to. Dr Lynn Yee, MD, maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Northwestern Medicine explained: 'MaKenna was in real trouble, and we had to act quickly this wasn't something that could wait for Monday morning. 'When you're pregnant with a baby that's nearly full-term, your lungs already aren't functioning at full capacity, and when you add a huge tumor on top of it, you run the risk of having respiratory collapse and cardiac arrest.' 'It's extremely rare to see this type of tumor invading into the major blood vessels of the heart. We may see something like this once every few years,' cardiac surgeon Chris Mehta, MD also said. On March 31, Lauterbach went through emergency cesarean section and her son, Colter, was was born. 'Because of the tumor, the delivery happened so quickly. I was grieving the birth plan I had spent months preparing for, while also dealing with the news of my unexpected diagnosis. 'My situation was serious, and while my clinical team was working on a plan to treat my cancer, it was comforting to know that Mary and the rest of the NICU nurses were taking such wonderful care of our son. My husband (Parker) and I can't thank them enough,' the mother said. She was eventually hospitalized and doctors began performing scans - which showed that she had a large, grapefruit-sized tumor in her middle chest cavity and right lung The tumor had completely blocked the artery to the right lung and Lauterbach was found to be in respiratory distress, indicating that both her and the baby were not receiving adequete oxygen On March 31, Lauterbach went through emergency cesarean section and her son was was born whom she named Colter. After her C-section, Kalvin Lung MD, a thoracic surgeon with the Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute, obtained a sample of the tumor with advanced bronchoscopy. He discovered that the tumor was of stage 3 melanoma and enlisted the help of Sunandana Chandra, MD, medical oncologist to figure out a way to reduce the tumor. 'The tumor was sitting on top of MaKenna's heart and extended into the right lung, impacting all three lobes and the entire main trunk of the pulmonary artery. 'MaKenna's diagnosis was difficult to make because we weren't sure if the melanoma started in the chest or somewhere else, and there isn't much literature or published cases on how to best treat tumors like these, so we had to rely on the expertise that we've developed here at Northwestern Medicine,' he said. Lauterbach was then recommended to undergo three cycles of immunotherapy before she was put under for surgery. The pre-surgical immunotherapy helped redcue the size of the tumor from 13 centimeters to nine centimeters. During surgery, Lung and Mehta managed to remove Lauterbach's entire right lung, parts of the main pulmonary artery and lymph nodes to save her life. 'We think at some point, MaKenna had a melanoma on her skin and her own immune system took care of it, but not before a cell or two may have escaped and eventually started growing inside her body. After her C-section, Kalvin Lung MD, a thoracic surgeon with the Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute obtained a sample of the tumor with advanced bronchoscopy. He discovered that the tumor was of stage 3 melanoma During surgery, Lung and Mehta managed to remove Lauterbach's entire right lung, parts of the main pulmonary artery and lymph nodes to save her life Lauterbach will continue immunotherapy treatments for one year as her cancer continues to remain in stable condition and she celebrated her son's first Christmas this year 'After three doses of immunotherapy, once she was taken to surgery, the surgical specimen showed no melanoma cells that were viable. 'MaKenna's scans currently show no evidence of metastatic melanoma, and the hope is with continued surveillance, we'll continue to show she has no evidence of disease. Medically, this is an amazing story with profound results. This type of outcome for our patients is what we always hope for,' Chandra explained. Lauterbach will continue immunotherapy treatments for one year as her cancer continues to remain in stable condition. This year, she celebrated her son's first Christmas. 'Colter's the best baby,' she said. 'He's always happy and sleeps through the night. I'm so grateful to have Colter and Parker in my life, and I can't say enough about the wonderful medical team that saved my life. Because of Northwestern Medicine, I'm here today.' Andrea Ball is an investigative reporter for the Houston Chronicle, focusing on nonprofits and foundations. Andrea helps audiences make sense of the questions that arise from news events in which these institutions play key roles. She also dives into challenges that arise when these institutions largely go unmonitored. Before joining the Chronicle in January 2023, Andrea worked as a reporter for USA Today and the Austin American-Statesman. Her work has been recognized by National Headliners, IRE, SPJ/Sigma Delta Chi and Texas APME. She was part of the Austin American-Statesman team named a 2023 Pulitzer finalist for its work on the Uvalde school shooting. A major supermarket has insisted its supply chain does not use a controversial cattle additive that has seen customers vow to boycott its rival Coles. Coles announced in November 2023 some beef suppliers would expand the use of Bovaer in cattle feed, after two trials found the supplement lowered methane emissions by 'at least 50 per cent'. But the use of the additive has provoked a storm of controversy earlier this month after the UK's largest dairy cooperative announced a Bovaer trial. Many conspiracy theories, often involving Bill Gates, have emerged online claiming it can cause cancer or affect fertility. However, experts have previously told Daily Mail that customers do not have anything to worry about and that concerns about cancer risks are unfounded. In the wake of the controversy, Aldi Australia was asked by a social media user whether any cattle in its supply chain were given the additive. 'We understand from our direct suppliers that Bovaer is not being used within our meat or dairy supply chain in Australia,' the company responded on X. A spokesperson for Aldi said it was 'committed to environmental sustainability and animal welfare, along with ensuring the safety and health of our customers'. In the wake of the controversy, Aldi Australia was asked by a social media user whether any cattle in its supply chain were given the additive (stock image) 'We understand from our direct suppliers that Bovaer is not being used within our meat or dairy supply chain in Australia,' the company responded on X (pictured) 'As a food retailer, we are aligned with the decisions made by health regulatory bodies around the world on feed additives safety,' the spokesperson added. 'Our commitment to product safety is unwavering, and we ensure all products meet our rigorous standards.' It's understood none of Woolworths' livestock producers use Bovaer in its supply chain. At Coles, the supplement is exclusively used for the supermarkets 'Finest Carbon Neutral' line of products. Bovaer is fed to cows to suppress an enzyme that causes the production of methane, a gas that contributes to climate change. The methane supplement is made of silicon dioxide, propylene glycol and the organic compound 3-nitrooxypropanol (known as 3-NOP). There is no suggestion that the drug, produced by Swiss-Dutch manufacturer, DSM-Firmenich, is unsafe for consumers, or that it transfers to milk or meat. Bovaer senior vice president Mark Van Nieuwland told the ABC the product had been tested widely and branded the conspiracy theories surrounding it 'fake news'. Coles expanded its use of the drug in November 2023 after trials found it reduced methane emissions The supplement is exclusively used for the premium 'Finest Carbon Neutral' line of Coles' beef 'For example, the European Food Standards authorities or the UK Food Standards look at the evidence collected over the years [and] assess that independently,' he said. 'There's even a public comments period to this, and then [they] come to a conclusion, and they all concluded the product was safe.' But many Aussie conspiracy theorists remain suspicious, prompting dairy suppliers to reveal whether or not they use the additive. Victorian farm Bass River Dairies announced earlier this month it was selling 'full fart milk' from cows that were not fed Bovaer, while Norco also confirmed it was not using the supplement. 'At Norco we pride ourselves on making quality, natural dairy products,' it said. Outspoken anti-vaxxer and former federal politician Craig Kelly commended the milk companies who are not using the supplement. 'Well done Norco, listening to the public,' he said. 'We don't want to drink milk from cows drugged with Bovaer. 'And we also don't want to eat meat from cattle drugged with Bovaer - so all Coles meat is off the shopping list.' Hundreds of fellow critics of the supplement responded to Mr Kelly's post. 'I want nothing to do with Bovaer, and we can all vote with our choices. Hopefully Coles will learn a very nasty lesson from all this,' one said. A second added: 'Coles don't sell anything you can't get elsewhere. They will never get another cent from me - I have been a loyal Coles shopper for 30 years.' Bovaer suppresses the enzyme that produces the greenhouse gas methane in cows Bovaer senior vice president Mark Van Nieuwland told the ABC the product had been tested widely and branded the conspiracy theories surrounding it 'fake news' (pictured: a young woman shopping for meat in Coles) 'A sizable group of your customers don't want to eat food that you have tampered with. We just want wholesome natural food,' a third said. Coles has hit back at the backlash and told customers the product is completely safe. 'Coles prioritises food safety and animal welfare and we are committed to improving the sustainability of our business,' a spokesperson said. 'Bovaer has been extensively researched over the past 15 years and approved by leading food safety organisations including Food Standards Agency UK and the European Food Safety Authority.' In the UK, customers are also threatening to boycott Danish firm Arla - which holds the biggest dairy conglomerate in Britain - over its use of the drug. Major supermarkets Tesco and Asda are among the stores which stock Arla milk. Arla fired back at what it labelled 'misinformation' around the additive on social media. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates invested millions in Rumin 8, a company developing similar methane-reducing supplements in early 2023, via his investment firm Breakthrough Energy Ventures. In the UK there has been confusion between Bovaer and the Rumin 8 company that had benefited from Gates' investment. Bovaer is approved for use in dozens of countries, including Australia and the UK. A family spent Christmas day grieving the loss of a heroic son who died saving their lives in a catastrophic house fire. Steven Weatherford had made plans to propose to his girlfriend Lashante Mayo on New Years Eve, and was spending Christmas with his family for their annual holiday celebration. The 37-year-old was sleeping on the couch of his father's home in Oakland, California, when he was woken by smoke and flames. He frantically woke up relatives who were still asleep, including his elderly father. Weatherford's aunt Eunice Smith told ABC that he was a hero who died 'trying to save everybody, make sure everybody was out of the house. 'He was a good person. He was a good family man. He saved his family. He saved four people in that house. He woke them up and he saved them and he went back - I guess because he wasn't sure that everybody was out of the house. 'He was a hero.' Weatherford's girlfriend tearfully told CBS News that she'd learned after the tragedy that he intended to propose. Steven Weatherford had made plans to propose to his girlfriend Lashante Mayo on New Years Eve, and was spending Christmas with his family for their annual holiday party Weatherford's girlfriend tearfully revealed that she'd learned after the tragedy that he intended to propose Mayo's mother, Sandra Clark said 'he had brought the ring. 'He didn't get a chance to give it to her. But it is in the house, and we are going to find it.' In a GoFundMe set up to support the family, loved ones revealed Weatherford's grieving father lost his wife four years ago. 'Now, he faces the unbearable grief of losing one of his sons in such a sudden and tragic way.' The Oakland Fire Department has not yet determined the cause of the inferno. The Oakland Fire Department has not yet determined the cause of the inferno When first responders arrived and were able to get inside the home, they found Weatherford's body A spokesperson said he was 'overcome and likely disoriented by the smoke' Crews received a call about 6.15am reporting a house fire. When first responders arrived and were able to get inside the home, they found Weatherford's body. A spokesperson said he was 'overcome and likely disoriented by the smoke.' He was 'ultimately found unconscious inside while crews were continuing to search the house.' Radical crowd control and anti-litter measures are being considered after a popular city beach was again trashed by Christmas revellers. Sydney's Waverley Council may be forced to bring in ticketing access and glass bans after an estimated 15,000 Christmas Day revellers, many of them backpackers or other tourists, left Bronte Beach a rubbish-strewn eyesore. This was despite the council providing hundreds of extra bins and allocating a dedicated garbage truck to serve the site on Wednesday in a futile attempt to avoid a repeat of what had happened in previous years. Newly elected Waverley mayor William Nemesh said major changes were needed, which could include a ticketing system to restrict the crowds coming to the beach on for the Christmas Day party - which has been dubbed 'Orphan's Christmas'. A ban on glass items was also 'definitely feasible and absolutely on the table for consideration' he said, referring to shattered bottles and containers left covering much of the beachfront area. 'There will definitely need to be changes made, because fundamentally, the lack of respect shown to our parks and our residents and community was quite appalling,' Mr Nemesh told the Daily Telegraph. Bronte Surf Club worker Brooke Hannam was still cleaning the area at 10am on Thursday along with her children Archie, Patrick, Chloe. She said while public spaces should be enjoyed what was happening over Christmas was unacceptable. Up to 15,000 people descended on Sydney's Bronte beach on Christmas Day but locals said they mostly knew to 'stay away' One of Sydney's most iconic eastern beaches has again been trashed by thousands of Christmas Day revellers (pictured: just some of the mess left behind this year) 'It's just a shame people don't clean up after themselves. If you're going to come and enjoy the beach, enjoy it, but be respectful,' Ms Hannam said. 'Our lifesavers they give up their time to look after people in the water who don't necessarily know how to swim. And when you throw alcohol into that mix as well, it becomes a really dangerous place.' Randwick local Nicole Toigo said she didn't think crowd restrictions or glass bans would work but she did call for greater security to stop dangerous behaviour. Mr Nemesh has called on the NSW Minns Labor government to take some of the burden of costs off local ratepayers. Waverly not only funds the clean up but also pays NSW Police to put on extra personnel at the site. Spirits were high at Bronte beach among visitors -though it's unclear how many stayed behind to help clean up Many of the revellers who spent Christmas Day partying on Sydney's beaches were backpackers and other tourists Newly elected Waverley Council mayor William Nemesh said radical measures must be considered to stop the yearly disgrace 'The state government needs to get more involved instead of cost shifting a lot of these hidden costs to council for us to manage they need to come to the party,' Mr Nemesh said. 'We shouldn't have to bear the expenses for crowd control in the way that we have been.' However, the Minns government maintained costs were a matter for Waverley Council. 'Waverley council collects significant revenue from beaches in its local area including millions each year in parking revenue,' a NSW government spokesperson said. The council previously investigated making the Christmas Day party a ticketed event but abandoned the idea over community concerns that this could also restrict access for locals. With the beach forefront area being so large and having multiple access points a ticketing system was also considered costly and difficult to implement. Shocking figures show trains were cancelled every 90 seconds in 2024 - with next year looking even worse amid severe staffing shortages. A record 370,000 train services across the UK were fully or part-cancelled in 2024, according to analysis of the latest Office of Rail and Road data. Roughly 208,000 trains were fully axed in the year ending Nov 9, while a further 161,000 were part-cancelled - meaning they did not serve at least one of their planned stops. The rail industry's cancellation scores count a full cancellation as one and a part-cancellation as half. This means in total, 4 per cent of the 7.3 million train trips scheduled were axed making it the joint poorest reliability performance on records dating back to March 2015, when the annual cancellations score was just 1.9 per cent. The 2015 cancellation percentage equates to one cancellation every minute and 25 seconds, or about 42 every hour. On Sundays rail services experience the most issues as many companies count on staff volunteering to work paid overtime on that day. This often means rail operators are left short of workers and are therefore unable to provide an efficient service. Shocking figures show trains were cancelled every 90 seconds in 2024 - and next year could be even worse amid severe staffing shortages (stock image) A record 370,000 train services across the UK were fully or part-cancelled in 2024, according to analysis of the latest Office of Rail and Road data (stock image) Great Western Railway, Northern and ScotRail are among the operators affected. Tony Miles, a rail journalist at Modern Railways magazine, said: 'Much of [the poor performance] is to do with a failure of successive governments to really resolve the staffing issues on rail, and that includes getting a proper seven-day railway in the terms and conditions [of train crew] and recruiting enough staff so they don't have to rely on overtime and rest-day working. 'This is putting people off trains and back on to the roads, which is completely contrary to what government ambition should be.' Mr Miles claimed some train drivers have chose not to work extra shifts since the Labour Government offered a multi-year pay deal to their union Aslef without changes to terms and conditions. He estimated cancellation rates are 'probably going to get worse' because drivers are retiring faster than they are being hired, describing the situation as a 'ticking time bomb'. Mr Miles said inadequate funding contributed to the cancellation numbers and that Network Rail was 'struggling' to maintain its infrastructure. He added there was an increase in the number of train staff off work because of illness, with more people staying home when ill since the pandemic. Michael Solomon Williams, from pressure group Campaign for Better Transport, said: 'Delays and cancellations erode passengers' faith in the railways. 'The rail industry and the Government must work together to invest in both the workforce and infrastructure to improve reliability across the whole network.' Avanti West Coast was the company with the highest cancellations score in the year to Nov 9 at 7.8 per cent. The rail service runs on the West Coast Main Line between London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland. It was closely followed by CrossCountry at 7.4 per cent, Northern at 5.7 per cent and Govia Thameslink Railway at 5.2 per cent. The best performing operator was c2c which runs services between London and Essex with only 1.6 per cent of its services impacted. In November, the transport secretary at the time, Louise Haigh, said train operators have been asked to prepare for their performance statistics to be displayed at most stations to boost transparency. Officials are also aiming to simplify ticketing and fares. Earlier this month, Heidi Alexander, the current transport secretary said: 'We are clear that we need to move to a seven-day railway. 'We are too over-reliant on rest-day working and so that's a big priority for me as we move into the new year.' Before the general election, Stephen Morgan, Labour's shadow transport minister, revealed trains were being cancelled every 91 seconds on average in 2023, but this has since become every 85 seconds. A Department for Transport spokesman said: 'Passengers are being let down by poor services, which is why we are committed to delivering the biggest overhaul of the railways in a generation. 'Bringing services back into public ownership will put passengers at the heart of everything we do and allow us to reinvest in our railways. 'We have been clear we will not tolerate poor performance and will continue to hold all operators to account, regardless of ownership.' It comes as Britain's worst railway stations were revealed to be in the North West of England, with at least one in ten trains cancelled at 20 stations so far this year. Leyland, Poulton-le-Fylde and Blackpool North had the most services axed out of any of the UK's top 1,000 busiest stations, with at least 13 per cent cancelled at all three. Also in the top ten worst performing between January and November 2024 were Kirkham & Wesham, Horwich Parkway, St Helens Central, Broad Green, Handforth, Glossop and Deansgate all with cancellation rates of over 11 per cent. The worst performing major stations were Preston at 10 per cent, Manchester Victoria at 9.5 per cent and Manchester Oxford Road at 8.1 per cent, according to the National Rail figures compiled by rail performance-tracking website On Time Trains. Northern Rail, which runs trains through all the worst stations among its network of 500 stops across northern England, has apologised - while Department for Transport (DfT) officials admitted that rail users were 'being let down by poor services'. 'I can't execute, control is lost!'. This is final message of the doomed pilot of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed and killed 38 people. Passengers made their final video calls to loved ones before the tragic jet crash as evidence is piling up today that Russian air defences hit the Azerbaijan Airlines plane. The Embraer jet was likely wrongly targeted as a suspected Ukrainian drone by a Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile shot from the Naursky district of Chechnya. The apparent shrapnel damage to the aircraft - seen on the intact rear section of the doomed aircraft at Aktau in Kazakhstan - is consistent with such a strike. So are the accounts of surviving passengers who spoke of an explosion outside the plane. At the time the plane had been seeking to land as scheduled in Grozny in Chechnya, of which it is capital, a Russian region headed by close Vladimir Putin warlord Ramzan Kadyrov, which has been under regular attacks from Ukraine in recent weeks. It is Kadyrov's forces who are suspected of firing a Pantsir-S1 at the plane. A partial text release of the alleged communications between the pilots and air traffic control indicates a catastrophic event which the crew assumed - it now appears wrongly - to be a collision with a flock of birds. This is the horrific moment a passenger plane hit the ground in a fireball in a Christmas Day crash landing At the time the plane had been seeking to land as scheduled in Grozny in Chechnya, of which it is capital, a Russian region headed by close Vladimir Putin warlord Ramzan Kadyrov (pictured) Struggling to control the plane with 67 people on board, the pilots help going to several different airports in three countries, Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. At 8:12, the crew reported 'both GPS lost' on the Embraer E190AR, and sought help with 'vectoring' to head back to the take-off airport Baku, evidently after the sudden closure of Grozny airport. At 8:16, one of the pilots said: 'We have control failure, bird strike in the cockpit. Bird strike in the cockpit (inaudible)' Ground control reply: 'AXY8243 I understand you, what kind of help do you need?' The captain indicated he was seeking to return to his home airport Baku. But at 8:17, the pilot announced he was 'heading to Mineralnye Vody' - an airport in southern Russia. Ground control tell him to 'perform left orbit' - but the flight deck reply: 'I can't execute, control is lost.' At 8:19, one of the pilots states: 'I can't maintain 150, we have high pressure in the cabin.' People are seen standing next to the rear of the crashed passenger jet There were 105 passengers and five crew members on board the fight from Azerbaijan capital Baku to Russian city Grozny. Earlier reports had suggested 67 on board Ground control reply: 'AXY8243 understood you.' One minute later, at 8:20, the flight's scheduled arrival time, the pilot says: 'Left 360, my plane is losing control.' At 8:21, according to the leaked transcript, the crew decide instead to make for Makhachkala, a Russian airport on the Caspian Sea. At 8:22, the crew report: 'Now the hydraulics have failed.' Two minutes later, the pilot appears to deny he has declared a 'distress' on board and tells ground control: 'The board [plane] is in order.' But the air traffic controller then cannot properly hear the crew. 'You are very hard to hear. tell me your altitude.' The plane later disappeared from radar for 37 minutes before reappearing as it sought to land in Aktau. Russian Telegram channel VChK-OGPU - close to the security services - said air defence teams loyal to Chechen leader Kadyrov in naursky district likely attacked the plane. Emergency services are pictured above at the scene of the plane crash Footage of the crash showed the plane bursting into flames as it hit the ground and thick black smoke then rising Terrified passengers can be seen on the plane as oxygen masks dropped down, just before the crash 'The pilot mistook the strong blow to the plane for a collision with a flock of birds,' said the channel. 'In reality, the damage indicates that, most likely, a missile fired by air defence systems exploded near the plane.' 'According to the materials we have obtained, that very strike occurred approximately 18 kilometres [11 miles] north, northwest of the airport in Grozny, over the Naursky district at an altitude of 2,400 metres [7,875ft].' The channel reported: 'According to information from open sources, several military units are located in this area, including those with air defence systems.. 'It is known that after the recent [Ukrainian] UAV attacks, several Pantsirs were also deployed in Chechnya.' It was reported today that Kazakhstan has refused Russia permission to join the investigation examining the crash. Azerbaijan was also refused. 'This way we will have all the facts, the black box and the evidence,' said a member of the Kazakhstan investigation commission. Independent investigative journalists from Volya Telegram channel said the drone left coincided in Grozny with the plane's expected arrival. 'The Pantsirs began shooting down everything that was in the air at that moment. 'Grozny airport was closed for flights. But the passenger plane was already landing, which [air traffic control] prohibited at the last moment. 'The crew, according to the passengers, made two more attempts to land, after the last of which something exploded near the plane. 'The damaged Embraer was prohibited from landing in Grozny and tried to reach the airport in Aktau, Kazakhstan, but crashed nearby. 'The crew did everything possible not to crash the plane, but to land it.' The outlet made clear that 'traces of shrapnel damage are visible on the fuselage and vertical stabiliser (keel)' of the jet. The closure of airports due to drone or missile threats is called a 'carpet plan' in Russia. 'Everyone switched on the mode which can be described as "work according to the instructions". The wreckage of Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 lays on the ground near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, December 25 The front of the plane burst into flames when the aircraft hit the ground 'The instructions don't say to turn on your brain'.' The outlet said: 'Russian propagandists are trying to spread the version that the plane collided with a Ukrainian drone. 'A collision with an attack UAV would not have left shrapnel holes in a civilian airliner, but would have led to the destruction and fall of the aircraft immediately after the impact. 'Drones do not explode near the target, they explode upon impact with the target.' A special aircraft of the Russian Emergencies Ministry has flown nine Russians, including one child, injured in yesterday's plane crash to Moscow for treatment. By this morning, Kadyrov had not spoken about the plane crash from which there were 29 survivors. His nephew Khamzat Kadyrov, secretary of the Chechen Security Council, wrote on his Instagram that 'everything was shot down' and published a video in which a drone is seen exploding. The terrifying moments before and after the plane ploughed into the ground and erupted into a ball of flames was caught on camera. The heart-wrenching footage snapped survivors pulling themselves from the mangled wreckage. A man is seen limping away from the scene of the plane crash in Western Kazakhstan Half of the mangled plane can be seen in the clip, with emergency services and passengers surrounding the aircraft in the hunt to find survivors. One person can be seen being dragged to safety, their legs dangling. In the background cries and screams can be heard from surrounding people. One bloodied man can seen limping away from the wreckage. Another video shows the moment the plane hits the ground, bursting into flames on impact and sending a huge black smoke cloud into the air. Footage of the aircraft has showed suspicious holes in the fuselage, leading to rumours that the aircraft was shot down by Russians. Aeroplane tracker Flight Radar 24, showed the plane disappear before the crash, suggesting it was exposed to air defense systems in Russia. Ahead of the crash, the crew had reported a strong impact on the hull. They assumed the aircraft hit a flock of birds but later it was reported that it was the explosion of an oxygen tank to supply the cockpit in the event of depressurisation. Rescuers enter the back of the plane to try and reach any survivors trapped in the aircraft A person's feet are seen being dragged away from the wreckage of the aircraft The camera then pans to show the person sat upright with their head in their hands It is known the Embraer 190, belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines, was attempting to land at Russian airport Grozny, capital of Chechnya region, which at the time was under attack by Ukrainian drones. The plane was barred from landing - with the official reason given as 'fog'. It is known Chechnya and three bordering areas were under attack, and that a shopping mall ignited into an inferno with a drone strike win Vladikavkaz, capital of Russian region North Ossetia. It is also reported from security officials that Chechen air defences opened fire on drones, striking and exploding at least one. Footage filmed by a passenger shows terrified people praying and some oxygen masks lowered with damage inside the cabin minutes before the plane crashed and broke apart in Kazakhstan, leaving 38 dead. Other footage shows mayhem inside the plane after the crash as rescuers went inside the severed rear of the aircraft, where several people can be seen lying on the ground. Astonishingly, some were found still alive. One trapped woman shouted at rescuers: 'Help me please!'. A firefighter asked her whether she needed help to get up, and she confirmed that she would need to be lifted out of the debris. It is understood that the 29 people reported to have survived the crash were found in the rear section of the aircraft, with the front being badly destroyed by fire. Latest figures indicate 22 of the 29 survivors are being treated in hospital, seven of whom are in serious condition. At least ten people dying after reportedly being thrown out of the cabin. One terrifying video shows the moment the plane burst into flames and broke into several parts as it hit the ground, with thick black smoke rising up from the wrecked aircraft after. Later bloodied and bruised passengers could be seen stumbling from a piece of the fuselage that had remained intact. Azerbaijan Airlines, the country's flag carrier, said the Embraer 190 had 'made an emergency landing' around three kilometres from Aktau, an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. 'A plane doing the Baku-Grozny route crashed near the city of Aktau. It belongs to Azerbaijan Airlines,' the Kazakh ministry said on Telegram. The Embraer E190AR with registration number 4K-AZ65 sent out a distress signal at an altitude of 2,125 feet over the Caspian Sea. The footage taken moments before the plane crashed were filmed by a passenger who sent it to his wife Latest figures indicate 22 of the 29 survivors are being treated in hospital, seven of whom are in serious condition. One survivor is pictured in hospital above One trapped woman shouted at rescuers: 'Help me please!'. A firefighter asked her whether she needed help to get up, and she confirmed that she would need to be lifted out of the debris Footage from the crash site shows rescuers looking for survivors of the horrific crash Dramatic new footage showed the pilot pulling the plane out of a steep fall as he sought to regain control, but the aircraft still suffered a catastrophic crash exploding in fire. The two main sites of the wreck at Aktau airport were hundreds of yards apart. Mangled human remains from the horror crash were strewn on rough ground at the airport. Dazed and bloodied passengers are seen emerging from the severed rear of the plane. Some sat in shock on the ground after escaping from the aircraft. Others managed to walk clear. Meanwhile, the front of the aircraft - torn asunder by the crash - could be seen ablaze in the distance. Plane crash survivor Kristina Evstigneeva, 34, a travel agent from Vladivostok, was in a serious condition and had to undergo brain surgery after the plane crash in Kazakhstan. Another survivor Zaur Mamedov, 36, was returning from his father's funeral in Baku. The plane attempted to land at Aktau in western Kazakhstan after being rerouted from Grozny and another Russian city Makhachkala due to fog. Two of the 29 survivors are children, believed to be girls aged 11 and 16. Bloodied and bruised passengers could be seen stumbling from a piece of the fuselage that had remained intact The front of the aircraft - torn asunder by the crash - could be seen ablaze in the distance At least ten people died after being thrown out of the plane 'They are receiving all the necessary medical care in hospitals in the region,' said the Ministry of Health. '23 ambulance teams were mobilised to the scene of the incident.' Unconfirmed reports said that both pilots died in the crash, and from the crew only a female flight attendant survived. Tengrinews reported 37 citizens of Azerbaijan, 16 of Russia, six of Kazakhstan and three of Kyrgyzstan were on board the stricken plane. Following the crash, Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, was returning home from Russia where he had been due to attend a summit on Wednesday, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-backed leader of Chechnya, expressed his condolences in a statement and said those being treated in hospital were in an extremely serious condition and that he and others would pray for their rapid recovery. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences to Aliyev over the loss of life, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. 'Unfortunately, Azerbaijan's President Aliyev was forced to leave St Petersburg (where he had a summit). Putin has already called him and expressed his condolences in connection with the crash of the Azerbaijani plane in Aktau,' Peskov said. 'We deeply sympathise with those who lost their relatives and friends in this plane crash and wish a speedy recovery to all those who managed to survive.' Another angle shows a massive fireball where the aircraft hit the ground A drone view shows emergency specialists working at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan December 25 Reports said the plane collided with a bird and suffered a steering failure. The aircraft is seen coming in steeply descending its nose pointing down too steeply In this handout picture released by Kazakhstan's emergency situations ministry, emergency specialists work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25 Aktau residents have been asked to donate blood for the survivors. Authorities in Kazakhstan said a government commission had been set up to investigate what had happened and its members ordered to fly to the site and ensure that the families of the dead and injured were getting the help they needed. Kazakhstan would cooperate with Azerbaijan on the investigation, the government said. Grozny - the destination - is the capital of the Chechnya republic, a Russian region controlled by Vladimir Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov which regularly sends troops to fight in the war against Ukraine. Six Syrian rebels have been killed in clashes with supporters of ousted president Bashar al-Assad while trying to arrest a former government official, a British-based war monitor reports. A number of Islamists, who led the charge on Damascus earlier this month, were injured in fighting on Wednesday while trying to detain an official they say issued execution orders and arbitrary rulings against thousands of prisoners for the regime. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the fighters were from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which led the stunning offensive that toppled Mr Assad with the fall of Damascus on December 8. Syria's transition has been surprisingly smooth but it has only been a few weeks since Mr Assad fled the country and his administration and forces melted away. The insurgents who ousted Mr Assad are rooted in fundamentalist Islamist ideology, and though they have vowed to create a pluralist system, it is not clear how or whether they plan to share power. Security forces of the new Syrian government secure the area around group of Alawite protesters in the Mazzeh district in Damascus Wednesday December 25 A soldier demonstrates how prisoners were tortured at the Syrian Military Intelligence Palestine Branch 235 that was a jail for political prisoners during a brutal regime where countless men disappeared in Damascus Syria on December 25 A rebel fighter inspects a room in the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate (GID) Branch 251, also known as Al-Khatib branch, in the capital Damascus on December 25 Since Mr Assad's fall, dozens of Syrians have been killed in acts of revenge, according to activists and monitors, the vast majority of them from the minority Alawite community, an offshoot of Shiite Islam that Assad belongs to. In the capital, Damascus, Alawite protesters scuffled with Sunni counter-protesters and gunshots were heard. The Associated Press could not confirm details of the shooting. Alawite protests also took place along the coast of Syria, in the city of Homs and the Hama countryside. Some called for the release of soldiers from the former Syrian army now imprisoned by the HTS. At least one protester was killed and five were wounded in Homs by HTS forces suppressing the demonstration, said the Syrian Observatory. In response to the protests, HTS imposed a curfew from 6pm until 8am. The Alawite protests were apparently in part sparked by an online video showing the burning of an Alawite shrine. The interim authorities insisted the video was old and not a recent incident. Sectarian violence has erupted in bursts since Mr Assad's ouster but nothing close to the level feared after nearly 14 years of civil war that killed an estimated half-million people. The war fractured Syria, creating millions of refugees and displacing tens of thousands throughout the country. Torture tools at the Syrian Military Intelligence Palestine Branch 235 that was a jail for political prisoners Groom Muwaffaq Al-Badawi (C) dances to the Freedom Syria anthem song as people wave the Syrian revolution flag during his wedding party at a wedding hall on December 25, 2024 in Damascus Whirling Dervishes and traditional performers dance during the mens wedding party of Mr. Muwaffaq Al-Badawi at a wedding hall on December 25, 2024 in Damascus In a plea to bring Syrian diaspora back home, the interim government has made assurances that minorities in Syria's diverse demographic makeup will be protected. HTS leader Abu Mohammed Al Jolani has consistently distanced himself from his affiliation from al-Qaeda, reinventing himself as a statesman. In the final days of the conflict, messages to troops published in English appeared to be looking to reassure an international audience of his intentions to rule in line with principles of rule of law. In a recent interview with the BBC, Al Jolani, also known as Ahmed al-Sharaa, called for sanctions to be lifted on Syria. He said HTS should be de-listed as a terrorist organisation, and that it was wrong to conflate the victim with its oppressor. He said that during the conflict, HTS avoided civilian areas, and denied that he wanted to turn Syria into something adjacent to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, noting their precedent of getting women into education. 'We've had universities in Idlib for more than eight years,' he said. The interim government has created a number of new roles in its cabinet, including a minister for women's affairs, Aisha al-Dibs. Leader of new Syrian administration, Ahmed al Sharaa and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (not seen) meet on Mount Qasioun following their meeting in Damascus, Syria on December 22 Ahmed al Sharaa and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safedi meet in Damascus, Syria on December 23 People attend Christmas Day mass at the Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus on December 25, 2024 in Damascus, Boys walk in front of the destroyed Sakina Shrine in Daraya suburb on December 25, 2024 in Damascus Asked whether alcohol would be legal in the new state, he said it was not a question for him to decide on personally. 'There are many things I just don't have the right to talk about because they are legal issues.' He said there will be a 'Syrian committee of legal experts to write a constitution. They will decide. And any ruler or president will have to follow the law'. The BBC noted that many Syrians, still reeling from 13 years of civil war and life under the tyrannical Assad regime, do not believe him. Interim prime minister Mohamed al-Bashir's allies have also highlighted their intentions to 'establish a nation built on principles of nationalism, justice, and the rule of law', aiming towards a 'technocratic state where institutions are respected, and equal opportunities are guaranteed for all'. Sheikh Abdul Rahman al-Kouky told the BBC that Syrians were looking towards the future and sought peace. Several Victorian towns have been urged to evacuate their homes or 'take shelter' as devastating bushfires threaten swathes of the state. A flurry of warnings have been issued for areas surrounding the Grampians National Park on Thursday for a series of blazes which have scorched more than 55,000 hectares over several days. Emergency services have battled for control over the bushfire but reached a 'critical stage' during two wind changes expected on Thursday afternoon. Residents of Jallukar, Londonderry, Moyston and Rhymney were warned to 'Leave Immediately' at just before 7:15pm. Similar warnings were issued for areas surrounding Mokepilly, Pomonal, Halls Gap, Willaura, Maroona and Mininera after 4pm. 'Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay,' the warning reads. More severe 'take shelter' warnings have also been issued for residents who are 'in danger and need to act immediately to survive'. The warnings are in effect for residents of Kia Ora, Willaura North, Bornes Hill, Bellfield, Flat Rock Crossing, Grampians Junction, Halls Gap and the Mafeking. Residents in those areas have been urged to 'take shelter indoors immediately' because 'it is too late to leave'. It is recommended for anyone unable to reach shelter to instead seek a large open field or a body of water - such as a dam, lake or inground pool - and to do all they can to protect themselves from the fire's heat. Residents in Kia Ora, Willaura North, Bornes Hill, Bellfield, Flat Rock Crossing, Grampians Junction, Halls Gap and the Mafeking have been told to 'seek shelter' Thousands of Victorians have been urged to evacuate their homes or 'seek shelter' as fires continue scorching through the Grampians National Park (pictured) Residents in areas surrounding the Grampian National Park, including Dunkeld, Mirranatwa, Victoria Creek, Rocky Point, Deep Lead and Black Range have also been urged to 'watch and act'. Anyone in Bullengarook, northwest of Melbourne, have also been issued the same warning for a seperate blaze near Coffeys Road. 'The situation can change at any time. You must monitor conditions and be ready to act,' the warning reads. Much of Australia's southeast is being enveloped by a windy swelter generating catastrophic conditions. Hot, dry air is blanketing swathes of Victoria, southwestern NSW and much of eastern South Australia, with damaging winds fanning extreme fire danger. The mercury was expected to reach the high 30s or 40s for much of Victoria and inland Australia on Thursday. Two wind changes were likely to affect the Grampians: one driving through about 3pm and a stronger southwesterly arriving about 6pm. By mid afternoon, Victoria State Control Centre spokesman Luke Hegarty said fire crews were reaching a 'critical part' of the day. 'We're expecting strong winds and variable winds to be a concern over the next few hours,' he said. More than 55,000 hectares has been left scorched while firefighters have battled with the blaze over the past several days Firefighters reached a 'critical stage' on Thursday as two wind changes driving through about 3pm and a stronger southwesterly arriving about 6pm were likely to affect the Grampians Residents in areas surrounding the National Park have been told to keep up to date with current bushfire warnings as conditions can rapidly change Incident Controller Mark Gunning said the scenario could make the fires spread unpredictably. 'As the wind goes across the ranges in the Grampians, it'll make its own conditions,' he said. All but one region of Victoria faces extreme risk, with total fire bans also declared for numerous regions in South Australia. Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said Victorian fires in the Grampians, Bullengarook, the Gurdies and Creswick remain a concern. The out-of-control blaze in Grampians National Park has been burning for days, scorching more than 55,000 hectares. 'I wouldn't be surprised at some point if we do have residential losses,' Mr Nugent told reporters on Thursday afternoon. Hot, dry air is blanketing swathes of Victoria, southwestern NSW and much of eastern South Australia, with damaging winds fanning extreme fire danger The Bureau of Meteorology fears the weather conditions could exacerbate the blazes raging through the Grampians Premier Jacinta Allan also delivered a stern message amid the state's worst conditions since the 2019 Black Summer. 'Today's a day of total fire ban across Victoria. Don't be a d**khead. No fires to be lit,' she said on social media. Halls Gap Zoo has begun evacuating animals to Werribee Zoo with sprinklers keeping the remaining ones cool. Emergency assistance running relief centres, psychological first aid and financial counselling, and evacuations, clean up and road diversions are available for Ararat Rural City Council, Macedon Ranges, Northern Grampians and Southern Grampians Shires. Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Dean Narramore feared the expected strong, hot, dry winds could take hold in the Grampians. 'Any fire will be uncontrollable and uncontainable in these conditions,' he said. As a cool change washes over Victoria on Thursday night, hot, dry conditions will push into central northeastern NSW, bringing extreme danger on Friday. Total fire bans have been declared for the Hunter, Greater Sydney, North Western and Northern Slopes regions. Russia suspects a major act of sabotage over 'three explosions' which sank its military cargo supply vessel Ursa Major in the Mediterranean. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility but a prominent Kyiv war source has warned Vladimir Putin to expect more such acts. The 466ft ship sank hours after the blasts. It had passed the Strait of Gibraltar and was between Spain and Algeria. At the time, there were reports of one engine room explosion. But now the Russian owner of the Ursa Major - Oboronlogistics, closely linked to Vladimir Putin's defence ministry - says a 'pre-planned terrorist attack was committed against the vessel' on 23 December. 'There were three consecutive explosions on the starboard side in the area of the stern,' admitted the company. 'The vessel developed a 25-degree list - a clear sign water had begun to flood the ship's compartments.' The 466ft ship sank hours after the blasts Survivors of the sinking of Russian cargo ship Ursa Major stand on the deck of a Spanish Maritime Rescue ship upon arrival at the port of Cartagena, Spain, December 23, 2024 A criminal investigation is underway in Russia into the alleged sabotage which may have involved primed explosives on board. Officially the ship which had passed through the English Channel was heading for Vladivostok in the Pacific via the Suez Canal, but there are suspicions it was due to call en route at Tartus in Syria to take on board military cargo as Russia winds down its armed forces presence following the fall of ally Bashar al-Assad. On board the vessel were two gantry cranes weighing a total of 686 tonnes, two crane buckets weighing 27 tonnes, two ship's bilge covers weighing a total of 91 tonnes, one 20-ft container with spare parts for the covers weighing two tonnes plus 129 empty containers. Its loss is a blow to Putin because its cargo included super-heavy cranes and parts of a new nuclear icebreaker such as 45-ton hatch covers. Ukrainian war correspondent Andriy Tsaplienko, with 340,000 followers, said vessels in Putin's so-called shadow fleet evading sanctions and carrying military supplies could now be threatened. 'The Russian bulk carrier Ursa Major was likely damaged by three explosions,' reported his channel Tsaplienko_Ukraine Fights. Footage showed rescued mariners from the Ursa Major after an incident in the Mediterranean The Russian vessel Ursa Major with a mystery cargo on board sank in international waters between Spain and Algeria 'If this is true, and there was sabotage on board the ship, then the Russian economy could soon suffer a strategic blow due to the fact that its 'shadow fleet' suspends its activities. 'The ship sinking off Spain was involved in the 'Syrian Express', a weapons supply system for the Assad regime in Syria. 'If Russian ships continue to transport weapons, oil, and grain stolen from Ukraine, then who knows, similar sabotage on other ships in neutral waters is not out of the question. 'If Russia suddenly wants to ensure their safety, it will return them to Russian ports for inspection. 'In both cases, the ships will stop bringing Russia crazy money, so the Kremlin will not spend it on terror against Ukrainians.' It comes as Russia's top security agency said it has arrested several suspects accused of involvement in an alleged Ukrainian plot to assassinate senior military officers. The announcement comes after the killing of a top Russian general last week. The Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies that it had arrested four Russians accused of making preparations to kill senior Defence Ministry officials. The FSB said the suspected organisers of the attacks were planning to kill one of the senior officers using a remotely controlled car bomb. It added that another senior official was to be assassinated by an explosive device hidden in an envelope. The agency did not name the military officers being targeted. The FSB released a video showing the arrest and interrogation of the suspects, who were not named. The statement follows the death of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov who was killed on December 17 by a bomb hidden on an electric scooter parked outside his apartment building as he left for his office in Moscow. His assistant also died in the attack which was claimed by Ukraine and brought the conflict once again to the streets of the Russian capital. The FSB has arrested a suspect, a citizen of the Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan, and claimed he said he had been recruited by Ukrainian special services. Lt Gen Kirillov, 54, was the chief of Russia's Radiation, Biological and Chemical Protection Forces - special troops tasked with protecting the military from the enemy's use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and ensuring operations in a contaminated environment. President Vladimir Putin described his killing as a "major blunder" by Russia's security agencies, noting they should learn from it and improve their efficiency. A man has been charged with murder after the harrowing discovery of the body of a woman who had been missing for 10 days. Mariann Borocz had been last seen on December 14 when she was spotted along Chorley Old Road in Bolton. However, Greater Manchester Police have now confirmed the discovery of her body at a property in the Bolton area on December 23. Greater Manchester Police have since arrested 61-year-old Christopher Barlow, who has been charged with Ms Borocz's murder. Barlow was remanded in custody and is due to appear before Manchester and Saldord Magistrates' Court today. Mariann Borocz's body was recovered on December 23 at a property in the Bolton area Ms Borocz had been last seen along the Chorley Old Road in Bolton prior to her disappearance Ms Borocz's family have been informed of her formal identification and are being supported by police family liason officers. Detective Chief Inspector and Senior Investigating Officer Tony Platten from Greater Machester Police's Major Incident Team said; 'On behalf of the entire investigation team, our condolences remain with Mariann's family as they try to come to terms with her death. 'Our investigation is moving at pace, and we are continuing to work hard to build a full timeline of events leading up to Mariann's death. 'As part of our investigation, we are once again appealing for additional information from the local community. You can speak to our officers in person or call 101 quoting incident 1670 of 23/12/2024. 'I'd also like to thank those who have spoken to us already and helped initially in sharing our appeals around Bolton.' This is the heartbreaking moment a man sent a last message to his wife seconds before the Azerbaijan Airlines was reportedly shot down before a crash that killed 38. The passenger identified as Subkhon Rakhimov started filming a video for his wife as soon as he realised the plane was losing altitude, telling her that the plane tried to land several times, after which the people on board heard a loud bang. His footage shows oxygen masks hanging from the ceiling and passengers can be heard crying and praying, with damage visible inside the cabin minutes before the plane crashed and broke apart in Kazakhstan, leaving 38 people dead. Rakhimov miraculously survived the crash and filmed another video as he walked around the plane wreckage, praising the flight attendant for helping the passengers survive. This comes as evidence is piling up that Russian air defences hit the Azerbaijan Airlines plane, which was likely wrongly targeted as a suspected Ukrainian drone. The apparent shrapnel damage to the aircraft - seen on the intact rear section of the doomed aircraft at Aktau in Kazakhstan - is consistent with such a strike. So are the accounts of surviving passengers who spoke of an explosion outside the plane. At the time the plane had been seeking to land as scheduled in Grozny in Chechnya, a Russian region headed by close Vladimir Putin warlord Ramzan Kadyrov, which has been under regular attacks from Ukraine in recent weeks. It is Kadyrov's forces who are suspected of firing a Pantsir-S1 at the plane. The passenger identified as Subkhon Rakhimov (pictured) started filming a video for his wife as soon as he realised the plane was losing altitude, telling her that the plane tried to land several times, after which the people on board heard a loud bang Footage shows scared passengers praying and some oxygen masks lowered with damage inside the cabin minutes before the plane crashes and breaks apart in Kazakhstan, with 42 people feared dead This is the horrific moment a passenger plane hit the ground in a fireball in a Christmas Day crash landing Terrified passengers can be seen on the plane as oxygen masks dropped down, just before the crash A firefighter is seen above climbing through debris in the upside-down plane A partial text release of the alleged communications between the pilots and air traffic control indicates a catastrophic event which the crew assumed - it now appears wrongly - to be a collision with a flock of birds. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan observed a nationwide day of mourning for the victims of the air crash. National flags were lowered across Azerbaijan this morning, traffic across the country stopped at noon, and signals were sounded from ships and trains as the country observed a nationwide moment of silence for the victims of the horrifying crash. Footage from the crash site shows rescuers looking for survivors inside the Azerbaijan airlines flight from Baku to the Russian city of Grozny, which crashed with 67 passengers and five crew members on board. There was mayhem as rescuers went inside the severed rear of the aircraft, where several people can be seen lying on the ground. Astonishingly, some were found still alive. One trapped woman shouted at rescuers: 'Help me please!'. A firefighter asked her whether she needed help to get up, and she confirmed that she would need to be lifted out of the debris. It is understood that at least 29 people reported to have survived the crash were found in the rear section of the aircraft, with the front being badly destroyed by fire. Latest figures indicate 22 of the 29 survivors are being treated in hospital, seven of whom are in serious condition. At least ten people dying after reportedly being thrown out of the cabin. One trapped woman shouted at rescuers: 'Help me please!'. A firefighter asked her whether she needed help to get up, and she confirmed that she would need to be lifted out of the debris Latest figures indicate 22 of the 29 survivors are being treated in hospital, seven of whom are in serious condition. One survivor is pictured in hospital above Rescuers are pictured crawling into the plane wreck to look for survivors One terrifying video shows the moment the plane burst into flames and broke into several parts as it hit the ground, with thick black smoke rising up from the wrecked aircraft after. Later bloodied and bruised passengers could be seen stumbling from a piece of the fuselage that had remained intact. Azerbaijan Airlines, the country's flag carrier, said the Embraer 190 had 'made an emergency landing' around three kilometres from Aktau, an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. 'A plane doing the Baku-Grozny route crashed near the city of Aktau. It belongs to Azerbaijan Airlines,' the Kazakh ministry said on Telegram. The Embraer E190AR with registration number 4K-AZ65 sent out a distress signal at an altitude of 2,125 feet over the Caspian Sea. Ahead of the crash, the crew had reported a strong impact on the hull. They assumed the aircraft hit a flock of birds but now it appears to have been the explosion of an oxygen tank to supply the cockpit in the event of depressurisation. This supposed sudden depressurisation of the cylinder caused significant damage to the hull and its 'scattering into fragments'. Afterwards, people on board began to lose consciousness, according to a local media report. People are seen standing next to the rear of the crashed passenger jet There were 105 passengers and five crew members on board the fight from Azerbaijan capital Baku to Russian city Grozny. Earlier reports had suggested 67 on board Footage of the crash showed the plane bursting into flames as it hit the ground and thick black smoke then rising Emergency services are pictured above at the scene of the plane crash Footage from the crash site shows rescuers looking for survivors of the horrific crash The front of the plane burst into flames when the aircraft hit the ground Authorities in Kazakhstan said they had begun looking into different possible versions of what had happened, including a technical problem, Russia's Interfax news agency reported. Dramatic new footage showed the pilot pulling the plane out of a steep fall as he sought to regain control, but the aircraft still suffered a catastrophic crash exploding in fire. The two main sites of the wreck at Aktau airport were hundreds of yards apart. Mangled human remains from the horror crash were strewn on rough ground at the airport. Dazed and bloodied passengers are seen emerging from the severed rear of the plane. Some sat in shock on the ground after escaping from the aircraft. Others managed to walk clear. Meanwhile, the front of the aircraft - torn asunder by the crash - could be seen ablaze in the distance. Plane crash survivor Kristina Evstigneeva, 34, a travel agent from Vladivostok, was in a serious condition and had to undergo brain surgery after the plane crash in Kazakhstan. Another survivor Zaur Mamedov, 36, was returning from his father's funeral in Baku. The plane attempted to land at Aktau in western Kazakhstan after being rerouted from Grozny and another Russian city Makhachkala due to fog. Two of the 29 survivors are children, believed to be girls aged 11 and 16. Bloodied and bruised passengers could be seen stumbling from a piece of the fuselage that had remained intact The front of the aircraft - torn asunder by the crash - could be seen ablaze in the distance At least ten people died after being thrown out of the plane The wreckage of Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 lays on the ground near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, December 25 'They are receiving all the necessary medical care in hospitals in the region,' said the Ministry of Health. '23 ambulance teams were mobilised to the scene of the incident.' Unconfirmed reports said that both pilots died in the crash, and from the crew only a female flight attendant survived. Tengrinews reported 37 citizens of Azerbaijan, 16 of Russia, six of Kazakhstan and three of Kyrgyzstan were on board the stricken plane. Following the crash, Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, was returning home from Russia where he had been due to attend a summit on Wednesday, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-backed leader of Chechnya, expressed his condolences in a statement and said those being treated in hospital were in an extremely serious condition and that he and others would pray for their rapid recovery. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences to Aliyev over the loss of life, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. 'Unfortunately, Azerbaijan's President Aliyev was forced to leave St Petersburg (where he had a summit). Putin has already called him and expressed his condolences in connection with the crash of the Azerbaijani plane in Aktau,' Peskov said. 'We deeply sympathise with those who lost their relatives and friends in this plane crash and wish a speedy recovery to all those who managed to survive.' Another angle shows a massive fireball where the aircraft hit the ground A drone view shows emergency specialists working at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan December 25 Reports said the plane collided with a bird and suffered a steering failure. The aircraft is seen coming in steeply descending its nose pointing down too steeply In this handout picture released by Kazakhstan's emergency situations ministry, emergency specialists work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25 Aktau residents have been asked to donate blood for the survivors. Authorities in Kazakhstan said a government commission had been set up to investigate what had happened and its members ordered to fly to the site and ensure that the families of the dead and injured were getting the help they needed. Kazakhstan would cooperate with Azerbaijan on the investigation, the government said. Grozny - the destination - is the capital of the Chechnya republic, a Russian region controlled by Vladimir Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov which regularly sends troops to fight in the war against Ukraine. Houston police investigate a possible drunken driving crash that killed a bicyclist near Acres Homes on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021. On Scene TV Damien House, left, looks at the vehicle inwhich his wife and 3 children died as he talks with Sean Teare, Chief of the Harris County District Attorney's Office Vehicular Crimes Division, before a media conference about curbing driving while intoxicated offenses held at the Harris County Sheriff's Office Northwest Command, 23828 Tomball Parkway, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021 in Tomball. The vehicle displayed was being driven by Damien Houses wife Porsha Branch when it was hit and burst into flames, killing her and her children King, 5; Messiah, 2; and her youngest, 7 months-old Drake in March. The accused drunken driver Daniel Canada was charged with four counts of intoxication manslaughter. Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer The Houston Police Department is partnering with seven other agencies to reduce drunken driving-related fatalities through the holiday season. File photo Houston police investigate a possible drunken driving crash that killed a bicyclist near Acres Homes on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021. On Scene TV The Houston Police Department is partnering with seven other agencies to reduce drunken driving-related fatalities through the holiday season, officials announced Thursday. How many drunken driving deaths have there been in Houston this year? Houston has seen 33 roadway fatalities linked to drunken driving in 2024, compared to 39 through the same period in 2023, Chief Noe Diaz said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad MORE FROM HOUSTON CHRONICLE: 19-year-old charged in connection with Katy Mills shooting, DA says Which Houston area agencies are partnering to crack down on drunken driving? In a bid to keep numbers on a decline, the department has joined with the Harris County Sheriffs Office, the constables in Houston, Metro Police Department, Bellaire Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety on a holiday initiative, officials said. What are Houston officials doing to prevent holiday drunken driving? Law enforcement officials have not provided a specific description of what the initiative will entail, but a spokeswoman for the department earlier this week said the police department would step up traffic stops through the end of 2024. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Every weekend is considered a no-refusal weekend, meaning police will obtain warrants to draw blood if drivers are suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and refuse a breathalyzer test. A vital undersea cable in the Baltic Sea appeared to suffer damage on Christmas Day, triggering fresh fears of sabotage. The latest incident cut the electricity connection on Estlink 2 between EU and NATO states Finland and Estonia on December 25. Finnish transmission system operator Fingrid representative, Arto Pahkin, said intentional malicious action has not been ruled out. 'This is one of the versions we are considering. Because two vessels are in the area where the cables are located.' Pahkin said: 'The possibility of vandalism cannot be ruled out. However, we are currently studying the situation as a whole and will inform you of the cause of the malfunction as soon as we know it.' One vessel, the Hong Kong-registered Xin Xin Tian 2, reportedly passed over the cable around the time the Estlink 2 outage occurred at 12:26. It is owned by logistics company Hainan Yangpu, part of the Torgmol group, which has close ties to Russia. The Cook Islands-flagged oil tanker Eagle S - believed to be a Russian shadow vessel - was also sailing in the area at the time of the cable failure. Some reports say the Eagle S slowed down to a quarter of its speed a few minutes before it crossed Estlink 2. The Hong Kong-flagged Xin Xin Tian 2 vessel could have been responsible for the EstLink 2 power cable cut in the waters of the Gulf of Finland The latest incident cut the electricity connection on Estlink 2 between EU and NATO states Finland and Estonia on December 25 Your browser does not support iframes. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the authorities are 'investigating the matter.' Estonian network operator Elering said there was sufficient spare capacity to meet power needs on the Estonian side. Suspicions have focused on Chinese-linked vessels and an alleged hybrid war by Russia over several incidents involving Baltic undersea cables. Two data cables, one running between Finland and Germany, the other between Lithuania and Sweden, were severed in November. Germany's defence minister Boris Pistorius said officials had to assume 'sabotage', without providing evidence or saying who might have been responsible. The remark came during a speech in which he discussed hybrid warfare threats from Russia - though investigators quickly zeroed in on a Chinese ship, which had left the Russian port of Ust-Luga on November 15. A Reuters analysis of MarineTraffic data showed the vessel's coordinates corresponded to the time and place of the breaches. Earlier, the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines built to supply natural gas from Russia to Germany were damaged by underwater explosions in September 2022. There has been no conclusive finding as to who was responsible. Estlink-2 had returned to commercial use at the beginning of September after being out of service since the end of January due to a failure. Eagle S crude oil tanker sailing under the flag of the Cook Islands was seen in the area around the time of the Estlink2 power cut The Chinese ship, the bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 is anchored in the sea of Kattegat, near the city of Granaa in Jutland, Denmark, on November 20, 2024 The Estlink-2 incident comes after China said on Monday it had provided information and documents for an open investigation into the severing of the two Baltic Sea undersea cables in November, though it and Sweden disagreed over how transparent Beijing had been in the case. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a news briefing in Beijing that China had invited Germany, Sweden, Finland and Denmark to participate in and complete the inquiry. She spoke about the incident when asked about a Financial Times report that Sweden had criticised China for refusing full access despite an open inquiry, and for allegedly barring a Swedish prosecutor from boarding the Chinese freighter vessel Yi Peng 3 linked to the cable breach. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said China had not heeded the government's request for the prosecutor to be able to conduct the preliminary investigation on board. 'Our request that Swedish prosecutors together with, among others, the police should be allowed to take certain investigative measures within the framework of the preliminary investigation on board remains,' Stenergard told Reuters. 'We have been very clear about this with China.' Stenergard said Sweden hoped to continue its dialogue with China with the aim of giving the police and prosecutors the possibility to investigate the cable breaches. A former RAF Wing Commander died in a plane crash along with two other Brits after flying too close to an A350 Airbus, an inquest has heard. RAF veteran David Phillips, 52, copilot William Blackburn, 26, and engineer Christopher Stone, 59, were killed instantly when their DA62 light aircraft was caught in turbulence created by a commercial airliner. At the time of the crash in 2019 the three men were performing inspections of a newly refurbished runway at Dubai International Airport for a company called Flight Calibration Services Ltd. Also killed in the crash was a South African national, Fritz Venter, who had helped install new runway lights and wanted to see them from the air. Phillips, who had a distinguished career in the RAF spanning more than 30 years, made nine approaches to the runway on May 16, 2019, but on the tenth approach he flew in 90 seconds behind a 176 tonne A350 Airbus. To maintain a safe distance from the airliner, which was landing on a parallel runway, the light aircraft should have been seven nautical miles away. However, an investigation by the UAE aviation authorities found it was just 3.7 nautical miles away. The inquest heard that Mr Phillips, from Newcastle, had been warned on several occasions by air traffic control over the danger of wake turbulence, which can cause smaller planes to lose control in a vortex. RAF veteran David Phillips, 52, died in a plane crash along with two other Brits after flying too close to an A350 Airbus, an inquest has heard Phillips, who had a distinguished career in the RAF spanning more than 30 years, died after getting into trouble in an aircraft in Dubai in 2019 A report by the Civil Aviation Authority revealed of the ten approaches made by the DA62 aircraft, six were made inside of the recommended safe distance. After being caught in turbulence, the light aircraft rolled to the left, but was recovered. However, it was then hit again, at an altitude of just 1,170 ft, and became inverted. The plane entered a steep dive before crashing and exploding in a fireball around 3.5 miles south of the airport. Senior coroner Samantha Marsh said to have had any chance at retrieving control over the plane, it would have needed to be at an altitude of at least 1,800 ft. All the men aboard the aircraft died instantly of multiple catastrophic and unsurvivable injuries. Giving evidence to the court, Marcus Cook, a senior investigator at the Air Accidents Investigation Branch explained that there was no flight data or cockpit voice recordings. However, Mr Cook had heard recordings from air traffic control, where he heard the crew of the DA62 being issued cautions over their closeness to surrounding aircraft. A DA62 light aircraft, which was the same model the crew were in when it was caught in turbulence created by a commercial airliner Explaining the danger of the so-called wake vortex, the turbulence trail left behind by other planes, Mr Cook said: 'You have not got the control authority, it will give you turbulence and you may not have enough control to fly through it safely or regain control. It's basically a large spiral in the sky.' Mr Cook also read from the Emirate report, which found that the accident was caused by an 'encounter with vortices generated by a preceding Airbus' and that the pilot's decision to reduce separation to traffic was a contributing factor to the crash. Summing up the evidence, senior coroner Samantha Marsh said: 'The plane was registered and kept at Dubai due to the amount of work FCSL did out there. It had recently been serviced for its 100 hours service. 'It was fitted with integrated aviation system which would provide all the information needed on a TV screen in the cockpit. 'The plane also had a traffic avoidance system to ascertain presence of other aircraft in the sky. 'The calibration flights were carried out under visual flight rules, which put simply, means the pilot flew by what they could see out of the window with some advice from air traffic control. 'Mr Cook's evidence he was aware that air traffic control was giving regular updates to the plane about other aircraft but as to the exact nature and content of that advice is unknown as there are no cockpit recordings and no transcripts available. 'Mr Cook confirmed in his evidence a cautionary warning was thought to be given. Dubai International Airport (pictured) is one of the world's busiest aviation hubs 'Although information was not thought to be specific as to the type of aircraft and its weight, but simply, a caution was given. 'It was decided flight crew would apply their own separation as per standard operation procedure. 'Weight vortices are essentially as Mr Cook explained a turbulence that another airplane might not be able to fly through safely. 'An A350 Airbus performed an uneventful precision approach and landed on runway 30R. This Airbus caused an upset to the DA62. The pilot managed to regain control after the first upset. 'The pilot was unable to recover from the second upset given the lower altitude of his plane. 'The plane sadly continued into a steep dive before impacting ground 3.5 miles south of Dubai International Airport with eye witnesses reporting the plane exploded into a fireball.' Mrs Marsh found the aircraft had been properly certified, equipped and maintained and that there was no defect which caused or contributed to the crash, ruling the deaths accidental after 'the plane essentially got too close to the other aircraft and shortened the ICAO weight turbulence separation distances.' In a family statement read out in court pilot David Phillips was described as a 'beloved husband, uncle and brother-in-law' with a distinguished career in the RAF spanning more than 30 years. The sister of Christopher Stone, the inflight engineer who had moved to Malaysia, said the family were struggling to come to terms with the fact they will never see him again but said he died doing the job he loved. While copilot William Blackburn, from the Isle of Man, was described by his father as 'kind hearted toward everyone he met', adding: 'William was a lovely caring soul we were immensely proud of him for his professional achievements and for who he was as a person.' Immigration Minister Tony Burke has quietly accrued the power to more readily impose electronic monitoring and curfews on dangerous non-citizens released from detention. Under the new rules, Mr Burke will have the ability to release non-citizens from immigration detention without the approval of the High Court and impose strict conditions upon them, if they are deemed to be 'community safety concern'. The Albanese government will be hoping these sweeping measures finally halt the political nightmare the Labor Party has facing since the High Court ruled in November 2023, that non-citizens who cannot be deported can't be indefinitely detained even if previously criminally convicted. That decision along with other legal challenges lost by the Albanese government has seen murderers and child rapists back on the streets with dozens being arrested for various crimes or breaching release conditions. Mr Burke's new powers come courtesy of a deal Labor struck with the Opposition during the final sitting week of federal parliament for this year. Along with the discretion to monitor freed detainees, Mr Burke will also have more power to deport foreigners with no right to remain in Australia. The Albanese government's previous attempt to impose curfews and monitoring on freed detainees was struck down by a separate High Court ruling in November, with the measures labelled 'punitive' and unconstitutional. The new legislation seeks to circumvent constitutional issues by introducing a new 'community protection test' to re-implement ankle monitoring and curfew requirements. Immigration Minister Tony Burke has been given sweeping powers to impose curfew and electronic monitoring on criminally convicted non-citizens Australia can't deport Australian Lawyers Alliance and barrister Greg Barns argued the new regulations breach the human rights of detainees, who had served their jail sentences and in many cases were not at a high risk of reoffending. 'Rarely would any Australian citizen who is released from jail have such conditions placed upon them,' Mr Barns told The Australian. Under the recently rushed through laws, the government will also be able to impose travel bans on countries that don't accept their own deported citizens. There is also more leeway to force foreigners to co-operate in their deportation. An additional provision will allow the government to deport unlawful non-citizens to a third country under a paid arrangement. Since taking over the troubled immigration portfolio from Andrew GIles, Mr Burke has also had to clean up a mess created by his government's Direction 99 order. A detainee released after last year's High Court decision that indefinite detention is unlawful Ninette Simons, 73, who was allegedly bashed and robbed by free immigration detainee in her Perth home This was intended to moderate the deportation of New Zealand-born criminals back to their birthplace and was announced by Mr Giles in May. Mr Giles asked courts and tribunals to consider someone's ties to Australia as a primary consideration when reviewing their visa. However, the order led the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to cancel the removal of dozens of dangerous offenders from Australian shores. Labor has since revised the direction to more strongly consider community safety. During his busy re-introduction to the portfolio, which he previously held under the second Rudd government from 2013, Mr Burke has also flown to Indonesia. Its believed he asked the Indonesian government to crack down on asylum-seekers leaving that country to come to Australia by boat. A handful of illegal vessels made it to the shores of northwestern Australia earlier this year, which threatened to reignite the issue that dogged Labor the last time it was in power. In one of the most shocking incidents stemming from the High Court decision in 2023, Perth grandparents Ninette Simons, 73, and her husband Phillip, 76, were allegedly robbed and assaulted on April 16 by a free detainee. Majid Jamshidi Doukoshkan, who was allegedly one of the three men who bashed the elderly couple leaving haunting images of a badly bruised Ms Simons. A mum who developed sepsis three times thanks to a trio of botched boob jobs left her family horrified when she went under the knife again - this time to ditch her baby flab. Louisa Anderson-Roy was 'petrified' to book another plastic surgery after nearly losing her life following three failed breast augmentations. The 42-year-old mother-of-six first went under the knife 20 years ago when she was offered a free boob job in Istanbul, Turkey, but soon developed a small hole in her nipple, which developed into sepsis. Louisa said she spent years with a nipple that looked like a 'big chunk' had been taken out of it, so decided to undergo correction surgery in London. However, soon after the operation Louisa developed sepsis once again, claiming she'd been given PIP implants that had been inserted 'upside down and back to front'. PIP breast implants were withdrawn from the UK in 2010 after it was found they had been fraudulently manufactured with unapproved silicone gel, and were far more prone to rupturing than other breast implants. The salon owner, who lives in Brighton, West Sussex, had the PIP implants removed and replaced by a private surgeon five years later - but was left fighting for her life once again when she developed sepsis for a third time. After having her implants removed, Louisa vowed never to put herself through another plastic surgery again. Louisa Anderson-Roy, pictured. was 'petrified' to book another plastic surgery after nearly losing her life following three failed breast augmentations The 42-year-old mother-of-six first went under the knife 20 years ago when she was offered a free boob job in Istanbul, Turkey Louisa said she spent years with a nipple that looked like a 'big chunk' had been taken out of it, so decided to undergo correction surgery in London But following the birth of her sixth baby, the mum felt desperately insecure about her weight and began researching tummy tucks in Turkey to the horror of her concerned family. Louisa underwent the operation in August and now feels more confident than ever with her new and improved waistline. Louisa said: 'I was toying with gastric surgery but couldn't afford to do it here. 'I thought I'm going to get gastric surgery but because of what happened with the breast implants, everyone was up in arms saying 'you cannot do this'. 'They said it's too risky with your history. But I was literally miserable about my weight and had to do something. Everybody was against it. 'I'm not unhappy being a bigger person, I just hated this massive stomach so my friend helped put me in touch with a surgeon in Turkey. 'Obviously I was very nervous, but not about the whole Turkey thing as I'd had horrendous experiences in the UK too. I was petrified going back there.' Louisa had the tummy tuck operation in August, where doctors removed a stone of weight from her stomach. Following the birth of her sixth baby, the mum felt desperately insecure about her weight and began researching tummy tucks in Turkey Louisa underwent the operation in August and now feels more confident than ever with her new and improved waistline 'I was always a big person but felt motivated to lose the weight after that surgery' And over the next few months, the mum felt inspired to lose even more weight, dropping from a size 20 to 12 following surgery. Louisa said: 'It went unbelievable. It was the only place I've never had an infection from. Since then I've lost four stone, and without bariatric surgery. 'I was always a big person but felt motivated to lose the weight after that surgery. 'Spending all that money and putting my life on the line again, I took it really seriously and don't want to ruin the hard work. I'm so happy with the results. It's really life-changing.' Louisa was nervous to have plastic surgery again after facing complications following her first breast augmentation at 21 when she lost a 'quarter of her nipple'. Louisa said: 'When I was 21, I was offered a free breast augmentation in Istanbul. My manager at the time had set up a company taking people over to Turkey and it just wasn't a big thing back then. 'So I went over there, had the implants in, then 10 days later I developed a little hole in my nipple. 'Day by day it got bigger and bigger and sepsis broke out. I lost a quarter of my nipple. It was all eaten away by the infection. It was horrific. Louisa said: 'When I was 21, I was offered a free breast augmentation in Istanbul. My manager at the time had set up a company taking people over to Turkey and it just wasn't a big thing back then' 'There's a lot of botched surgery happening in the UK too. Of course, you have to be careful going to Turkey too', she warned Now, the mum wants to raise awareness of the risks involved with operations both at-home and abroad 'I spent three or four years with a nipple that looked like a big chunk had been taken out of it.' Louisa thought she was in safe hands undergoing correction surgery in the UK but developed sepsis once again with her second boob job surgery, which cost 15,000. After these implants ruptured, Louisa forked out a further 12,000 at a private clinic in the UK but nearly died when an infection broke out. Louisa said: 'Another infection broke out and I nearly died. I was pouring with pus. There were buckets and buckets filled with hot, warm pus that had gone through my whole body. 'I was in septic shock within 10 days [of the surgery] and rushed to hospital where the implants had to be taken out by the NHS. 'This was the third time I had got sepsis and I really was fighting for my life. It was so bad. My temperature was soaring - I was so ill.' Despite concerns from her family, Louisa opted to go under the knife once again after struggling with her baby weight earlier this year - gaining five stone through a traumatic pregnancy. Now, the mum wants to raise awareness of the risks involved with operations both at-home and abroad. Louisa said: 'It is important to raise awareness of the dangers of surgery abroad but I was really shocked with my experience with surgery here in the UK too. 'There's a lot of botched surgery happening in the UK too. Of course, you have to be careful going to Turkey too.' CNN's stubbornly leftist journalists think they know why their viewers are abandoning ship in record numbers - they're not going hard enough against Donald Trump anymore. That is the suggestion from reporters who spoke anonymously to The Washington Post this week as the network recovered from some of its lowest ratings ever. Insiders claim a decision to hold a town hall with the president-elect back in May 2023 upset staff and viewers, as did the decision not to fact check Trump during his debate earlier this year. 'It is widely felt at CNN that we didn't meet the mark,' one CNN journalist, who requested to remain anonymous, said of the network's election coverage. CNN has insisted it remains a leader among networks and on its digital platform and TV viewership is down across the board. 'I think a lot of it can be explained by the viewers making a decision that they just don't like what we're doing,' the journalist added. 'The viewers are pretty smart.' Among the coveted 24 to 54 viewer demographic - referred to as 'demo viewers' - CNN's daily audience dropped by one percent from last year down from 94,000 day to 92,000 this year, Mediaite reported based on to data from Nielsen Media Research. The media outlet only accounted for 11 percent of cable news viewers during prime time last month after the election. CNN journalists are concerned the network is losing viewers because of its friendlier approach to Donald Trump. Pictured anchors Dana Bach, Jake Tapper and Ilia Calder (L-R) The way CNN covered Donald Trump during the election has reportedly turned off viewers, especially following the decision not to fact check him during a town hall earlier this year Since Trump's presidential win, CNN's prime time viewership has slumped by 52 percent, according to Mediaite. The network is also navigating several changes in leadership in the last few years. Former CEO Chris Licht was recently given the boot and replaced by former New York Times co-chief Mark Thompson following a brief and disastrous tenure. Licht was given a mandate to reshape the network to appeal to more people on each side of America's political spectrum, however many feel this has backfired. Several left wing voices have been ousted, including veteran anchor Chris Wallace who reportedly left due to dismal ratings. Meanwhile, there was speculation that political journalist John Harwood was laid off after he referred to Trump as a 'dishonest demagogue'. Today, Republican strategist Scott Jennings, an ally Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, is a regular fixture - causing consternation among some progressive staffers. John Harwood, CNN's veteran White House correspondent, left the network during CEO Chris Licht's shift away from opinion based programming but many speculated if Harwood's anti-Trump rant had any bearing on the decision While former CNN CEO Jeff Zucker relished going toe to toe with Trump, it's thought Thompson will take a more mediated approach. The presidet-elect previously sued CNN in 2022 and stripped White House correspondent Jim Acosta of his press pass. Both actions were overturned by the courts but there is a fear that the president-elect will make good on his threats to go after his political enemies during his return to office. Meanwhile Chris Cilizza, a former political journalist for the network, said that CNN is struggling to carve out a profitable space in the crowded media landscape. The network has now launched a $3.99 subscription service for online content, although this has come much later than many of its competitors. 'I think that the only sustainable model for any big distributed content company is to have a subscription,' Cilliza said. 'What's hard for me is: What is CNN known for? CNN is known for breaking news. People turn it on when something big happens. And I think that's a really good brand journalistically, but I just don't know how you make money off it.' TV also remains where outlets make their money, so ratings are essential to secure jobs. Among the coveted 24 to 54 viewer demographic - referred to as 'demo viewers' - CNN's daily audience dropped by one percent from last year 'Ratings control everything,' said a former senior producer said. 'It controls the money, it controls the influence, and it's a huge morale issue. You can worry about the future all you want, but right now TV is where the money is and where the reputation is.' In a news release last week, CNN pointed out that it was still the fourth most-watched daytime cable network throughout the day, averaging 493,000 total viewers. It also increased its prime-time audience more than 20 percent compared with 2023. An Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in the Gaza Strip overnight, the Health Ministry said early Thursday, even as their car clearly bore press markings. The strike hit the press vehicle outside the Al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in the central part of the territory. The journalists were working for the local Quds News Network, a Palestinian-founded organisation. Associated Press footage showed the incinerated shell of a van, with press markings still visible on the back doors. Several young men attended the funeral outside the hospital, many of them sobbing. The bodies were all wrapped in white shrouds, with blue press vests draped over them. The Committee to Protect Journalists says over 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the start of the war. Israel's military claimed it had instead targeted a group of fighters from Islamic Jihad, a militant group allied with Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack into southern Israel ignited the war. It added that 'prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians'. Relatives of photojournalists who lost their lives after Israeli forces hit the live broadcasting vehicle belonging to Al-Quds al-Youm television (alqudstoday-tv) at the Nuseirat Refugee Camp mourn as they hold funeral ceremony for them at Al Awda Hospital in Gaza City, Gaza on December 26, 2024 Mourners attend the funeral of members of the press who were killed in an Israeli strike A destroyed vehicle near Al Awda hospital following an Israeli airstrike in Al Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, 26 December 2024 The Quds News Network identified the five staffers killed in the strike as Faisal Abu Al-Qumsan, Ayman Al-Jadi, Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Khalil, Fadi Hassouna and Mohammed Al-Lada'a. They were killed 'while performing their journalistic and humanitarian duty', the statement said. 'We affirm our commitment to continue our resistant media message,' it added. Israel has not allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza except on military embeds and has been accused of cracking down on news networks deemed unfriendly. Israel has banned the pan-Arab Al Jazeera network and accused six of its Gaza reporters of being militants. The Qatar-based broadcaster denies the allegations and accuses Israel of trying to silence its war coverage, which has focused heavily on civilian casualties from Israeli military operations. Separately, the military said a 35-year-old reserve soldier was killed during fighting in central Gaza early Thursday. A total of 389 soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the ground operation over a year ago. Relatives and friends mourn over the bodies of five Palestinian journalists who were killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024 A view from one part of the city following the Israeli military's withdrawal from the West Bank city of Tulkarm after two days of attacks that resulted in the deaths of 9 Palestinians on December 26, 2024 Palestinians, carrying empty pots, line up to receive meals, distributed by charity organizations, as people struggle with hunger due to embargo imposed by Israeli forces in Khan Yunis, Gaza on December 26, 2024 The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed across the border in a surprise attack on nearby army bases and farming communities. They killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel's air and ground offensive has killed over 45,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry. It says more than half the fatalities have been women and children but does not say how many of the dead were fighters. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The offensive has caused widespread destruction and driven around 90% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes. Hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid tent camps along the coast, with little protection from the cold, wet winter. The director of Home Alone finally revealed how the McCallister family was able to afford the extravagant Chicago mansion where Kevin fended off intruders in the classic Christmas film. Director Chris Columbus had decided what parents Kate and Peter did for a living while discussing the movie with producer John Hughes. 'Back then, John and I had a conversation about it, and we decided on what the jobs were,' Columbus told The Hollywood Reporter. Kate, played by Catherine OHara, 'was a very successful fashion designer,' he said. In the film, the dancing mannequins Kevin uses to trick the robbers hint at her profession. As for Peter, played by John Heard, Columbus could not give a definitive answer. 'The father could have, based on John Hughes' own experience, worked in advertising, but I don't remember what the father did,' he told The Hollywood Reporter. Columbus also debunked rumors that Peter was funding his and his family's lavish lifestyle illegally. 'Not organized crime - even though there was, at the time, a lot of organized crime in Chicago,' he said. The director of the iconic holiday film revealed how the McCallister were able to afford their Chicago mansion Chris Columbus said he decided on the parents' jobs during a conversation with producer John Hughes Kevin, played by Macaulay Culkin, fought off criminals in both Home Alone movies The home, now valued at an eye-watering $5.25 million, has become a popular tourist attraction in Winnetka, Illinois. It has five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a heated garage, a private parking bay, a primary suite with gas fireplace, a walk-in closet, and a marble spa bath, according to its Zillow listing. Home Alone debuted in 1990, starring Macaulay Culkin as Kevin. The child was left to fend for himself after his family mistakenly left him behind and hopped on a flight to Paris. Kevin was left to fight off criminals Harry and Marv, played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, who tried to break into the wealthy household. Using clever booby traps and sneaky tactics, Kevin was able to protect himself and his house all while being home alone. The sequel, Home Alone 2, came out in 1992. Trouble arose when Kevin's family lost track of him once again - this time at an airport. Kevin boarded a flight to New York while the rest of his family flew to Florida. After finagling his way into a luxurious one-night Plaza stay, he recognized Harry and Marv, who were plotting to rob an old man's toy store. For a second time, Kevin took matters into his own hands to stop them. Kate, played by Catherine OHara, 'was a very successful fashion designer' and Peter, played by John Heard, likely worked in advertising, but Columbus could not say for sure Kevin was left home alone in the 1990 film after his family forgot him and left for Paris Kevin came up with a clever plan to trap the intruders by setting up traps throughout his giant home Kevin booby-trapped his aunt and uncle's Upper West Side brownstone in order to catch the thieves. This 4,776-square-foot property was sold for a whopping $5.7 million in January 2024. More than 30 years after both movies were filmed, Culkin's three-year-old son said he adores Home Alone. Culkin said his son, Dakota, was a big fan of the movie, and even saw himself in his father's young character. Bill Maher had some harsh words for progressives who cut off their own conservative family members during the holiday season. 'F*** off, you f***s,' the comedian said bluntly. On Sunday's episode of his podcast series 'Club Random,' Maher sat down with fellow comedian Jay Leno and discussed the country's political climate that seems to become even more pronounced during the holidays. Maher's foul-mouthed rant came after Leno spoke about being seen as a 'traitor' by Hollywood liberals for his public support of Republican President-elect Donald Trump. 'It's so funny you mention that because, like today, we live in this time when you're not allowed to have friends from the other side or cross lines politically,' Maher said. 'And I forgot that there's an example of that way back when, a guy who crossed lines politically. "Ooh, the worst thing you could ever do - be friends with a Republican. Ahh! Call 911!"' 'This is what I f***ing hate about the left,' Maher added. 'And they're not going to get me over to the Trump side, which they think they will sometimes, but just the idea that, you know, "cut your family off for Thanksgiving if they voted for the wrong guy." F*** off you f***s.' On Sunday's episode of his podcast series 'Club Random,' Maher sat down with fellow comedian Jay Leno and discussed the country's political climate '[W]e live in this time when you're not allowed to have friends from the other side or cross lines politically,' Maher said Despite Maher being left-leaning himself, he has criticized the Democratic party several times over the past few months. Just last month, he shared a similar sentiment following comments made by a Yale University chief psychiatry resident. Dr. Amanda Calhoun, a child psychiatry fellow, raised eyebrows after she dove into the issue of post-election crises in the LGBTQ+ community with MSNBC's Joy Reid just a few days after Trump's landslide victory. 'There is a societal push that, if somebody is your family, they are entitled to your time,' Calhoun noted. 'And I think the answer is absolutely not.' 'So, if you're going through a situation where you have family members or you have close friends who you know have voted in ways that are against you, that are against your livelihood, then it's completely fine to not be around those people, and to tell them why,' she continued. 'To say, "I have a problem with the way that you voted because it went against my very livelihood, and I'm not going to be around you this holiday, I need to take some space for me."' Maher took aim at the doctor during a segment of his HBO show, 'Real Time,' where his reaction was accompanied by a photo of civil rights legend Rosa Parks. 'Oh, how pure. It's like not letting certain people sit with you on the bus,' he said. Dr. Amanda Calhoun, a child psychiatry fellow, raised eyebrows after she dove into the issue of post-election crises in the LGBTQ+ community with MSNBC's Joy Reid just a few days after Trump's landslide victory Maher took aim at the doctor during a segment of his HBO show 'Real Time' last month, where his reaction was accompanied by a photo of civil rights legend, Rosa Parks 'Think about that, a mental health professional advising people to isolate during the holidays. And don't forget to drink too much and put on weight.' 'You know who I really wouldn't want to have Thanksgiving dinner with? This overly educated, i.e. extremely stupid, Ivory Tower academic,' he continued. 'But I would because if we ever want this nation to heal, this is what we have to do, force ourselves to reach out and find out why someone feels the way they do, and make the choices they make without prejudging them a monster,' he added. 'And they must do the same for you.' Just days before the election, Maher called Trump a 'mad king' and gestured at voting for Kamala Harris despite not supporting all of her policies, Newsweek reported. Yet he also mocked the Democratic Party over social issues and pushed for platform reform, telling the party to 'stop screaming at people to get with the program and instead make a program worth getting with.' Maher was under fire from Democrats in May of this year after they claimed the comedian's rhetoric toward them had flipped - but he said it was really the left who had changed. During a sit-down interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Maher defended his position on the issues he sees with the Democratic Party as well as his heavily criticized opposition to the nationwide college pro-Palestinian protests. Maher has been under fire by the Democratic Party several times over the last few months for his public opinions on the party's state In May of this year, Democrats claimed the comedian's rhetoric toward them had flipped - but Maher said it was really the left who had changed He admitted that the left and the right had transformed, but that the Republican Party is 'even worse' than the Democrats. 'I mean, the right doesn't believe in democracy anymore. I mean, they've thrown their lot in with a sociopath named Donald Trump, who only thinks elections count when we win,' Maher said in reference to the former president's unfounded claims of fraud during the 2020 election. 'But it's not like the left hasn't changed also,' he continued. 'So I'm going to call it out whenever I see it.' Maher then listed the issues he saw with gender, race, free speech, communism, border patrol and police abolition efforts, The Hill reported. 'No, it's not that I've gotten old, it's that your ideas are stupid,' he said. He also went on to explain that the younger generation believes that their new ideas are better, but 'new' is not always synonymous with 'better'. A Texas woman was arrested after deputies said she fatally shot her common-law husband and set his truck on fire before trying to escape in a kayak. Faith Paige Goynes, 40, of Texas, was arrested and charged with murder and arson after authorities discovered the body of her common-law husband, Tomas Calavera Jr., 30, in San Antonio. The investigation began when Calavera's father was notified by the Bandera County Sheriff's Office that Calhoun County officials had requested a welfare check for his son. Upon arriving at Calavera's residence, his father could not locate him. Subsequently, deputies from the Bexar County Sheriff's Office searched the property and found Calavera deceased in a closet. He had sustained a gunshot wound to the face. Following this discovery, Calhoun County deputies linked Goynes to the incident after she allegedly set fire to a 2024 GMC pickup truck in Port O'Connor, about 150 miles southeast of San Antonio. Goynes is currently facing charges of murder and arson causing serious bodily injury or death and is being held at the Calhoun County Jail. Faith Paige Goynes, 40, faces charges of murder and arson causing serious bodily injury or death, according to records from the Calhoun County Jail. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, the investigation revealed that the truck belonging to Calavera was severely damaged by fire. A yellow gas can and a lighter were discovered near the scene. A witness reported observing a woman, later identified as Goynes, attempting to extinguish herself after walking away from the burning vehicle. Subsequently, deputies and a Texas Parks and Wildlife officer located Goynes paddling away in a kayak. Goynes sustained severe burns on her right hand and was found in possession of Calavera's identification. During questioning, Goynes confessed to shooting Calavera, stealing his truck and setting it on fire. She was subsequently taken into custody in Calhoun County on Monday. The affidavit does not disclose any known connection between Goynes and Port O'Connor or Calhoun County. The family of murdered JonBenet Ramsey have revealed they believe an upcoming meeting with police could hold the key to solving the decades-long cold case. John Ramsey is due to sit down with new chief of Boulder Police Stephen Redfearn in January and is hopeful the leader will use his powers to recruit the FBI to the case. The Ramsey family has a fractured history with the police department and say previous administrations have been reluctant to keep working on the case. Ramsey plans to propose conducting further DNA testing on several items recovered from the crime scene using revolutionary new techniques. The grieving father spoke out about his hopes on the 28th anniversary of his daughter's brutal murder. JonBenet was found battered and strangled to death in the basement of her Boulder, Colorado home on December 26, 1996. Over the years there have been hundreds of tips, leads and possible suspects but nobody has been formally charged. But Ramsey is more confident than ever that a breakthrough is imminent and plans to sit down with Redfearn and representatives from testing labs to nail down an action plan. The family of murdered JonBenet Ramsey have revealed they believe an upcoming meeting with police could hold the key to solving the decades-long cold case John Ramsey is due to sit down with new chief of Boulder Police Stephen Redfearn in January and is hopeful the leader will use his powers to recruit the FBI to the case 'We have been asking and praying for this over the past 28 years,' Ramsey told the US Sun. 'We are encouraged that the police will finally use the FBI's skills and resources to help solve our case.' Several items which were previously DNA tested returned a match for an unidentified male and definitively ruled out Ramsey, his wife Patsy and their older son Burke as possible suspects after years of speculation. The DNA was found under JonBenet's fingernails, in her underwear and on several items such as the garrote used to strangle her and a blanket used to conceal her body. 'Suppose they now use cutting-edge DNA labs to develop a DNA profile in the proper format for familial genealogy research,' Ramsey added. 'In that case, we have pretty good odds of finding the killer's identity.' He told Fox Digital he plans to ask Redfearn to engage 'one or two' such labs to 'see what they can come up with'. He added that getting a DNA profile in a new format would enable it to be compared to geneaology work which has a much larger pool of samples than the FBI's criminal database. JonBenet was found battered and strangled to death at her Boulder, Colorado home on December 26, 1996. Pictured: The little girl with her mom Patsy, dad John and brother Burke This ransom note was found by JonBenet's mom, Patsy, shortly before her daughter was discovered dead in the basement The technique has already proved successful in identifying Joseph James DeAngelo, the 'Golden State Killer' in 2018 and Ramsey is confident similar results can be achieved for his daughter. It has been 28 years since Ramsey found JonBenet's lifeless body hidden under a blanket in the basement of the family home. She had been reported missing just hours earlier after he stricken mom found a ransom note on the stairs demanding $118,000 for her daughter's safe return. Patsy called 911 to report the incident and police responded quickly but the child's body wasn't found until hours later during a search led by Ramsey himself. Suspicion quickly focused on the family, which soon established a strained relationship with Boulder Police Department. A Netflix documentary released last month, Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey, addresses how misinformation about the case was spread widely by law enforcement and the media. JonBenet's body was found in the basement of the family home in Boulder, Colorado Ramsey hopes that Redfearn will use his powers as the new chief to brin John Ramsey would like the garotte used to kill his daughter retested for DNA evidence In the wake of the explosive Netflix documentary about the decades-old case, Ramsey received a letter from a woman claiming her ex-husband is his daughter's killer. John Ramsey said he immediately followed up on the tip, but is yet to hear back from the mystery sender, he told the Daily Mail. Missouri City's chief of police Brandon Harris will continue as the leader of the Missouri City Police Department. City of Missouri City After a monthslong search and naming four finalists for the job, Missouri City leaders made a surprise announcement that the man who would take over as police chief is the same person they were seeking to replace. Chief Brandon Harris, who announced plans to retire Jan. 1, will instead continue as the leader of the Missouri City Police Department in 2025, city officials said. MORE FROM HOUSTON CHRONICLE: Why Houston has limited options for tackling violent crimes at after-hours clubs Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its unclear what caused the change in plans. The city recently held a panel for the community to meet the four finalists to replace Harris. They included one assistant chief in the Houston Police Department, Yasar Bashir, along with other police administrators from Philadelphia, Missouri and Illinois. Harris was open to reconsidering his plan to retire if the city couldn't identify a successor, officials said in a prepared statement. Elected leaders did make an offer to one of the candidates, but that person chose to remain with their current agency after receiving a promotion and counteroffer, officials said. Harris took over as chief at the start of 2024. His abrupt retirement announcement earlier this year came in the wake of a fatal crash involving a former Missouri City police officer, who is now criminally charged and accused of killing a woman and her teenage son. In the months since the fatal crash, Missouri City legal representatives have shared little about the circumstances leading to the former officers indictment. Attorneys filed an appeal to the Texas Attorney Generals Office, seeking to withhold reports about the crash from public view. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Stewart's family and media groups are pressing for city records on Harris' retirement, but city attorneys argued they should be kept private because of two civil lawsuits filed against the city relating to the crash. When Harris announced his retirement in September, effective January, city officials denied the departure was connected to the fatal crash in a media report. The internet is divided over who 'owns' an airplane's overhead bins. Users on Reddit have fiercely debated the contentious topic as travelers take to the skies for the holidays. Multiple users expressed their opinions after a United Airlines passenger claimed that a fellow flier had called dibs on an overhead bin. 'The woman in 7A says, "That's my bin, and you can't use it because I'm going to put my purse in there,' the Reddit user wrote. Several commenters disapproved of the 'entitled passenger's behavior.' 'The fact that she claims its her bin like she owns it smh,' a Reddit user wrote. 'Why can't she put the purse under the seat where it's supposed to be. 'I'm glad you put your bag in the same bin.' Users on Reddit have fiercely debated the contentious topic of who 'owns' an airplane's overhead bins as travelers take to the skies for the holidays 'Bins are open season, proven by the fact that flight attendants will go through, rearrange, and anything that doesn't fit gets checked,' another commenter wrote. 'She should be happy you didn't take hers out and move it to a bin in the back one you got yours in there after that snarky comment.' More than one user insisted they would not give up their legroom for the sake of someone else's baggage. 'I pay to check baggage, make sure my baggage fits in the box, I'm not taking my legroom so someone else can fit their massive bag in the bin,' one wrote. Another United flier created a separate Reddit post earlier this year and countered that placing carry-ons bag under a seat is the 'kind thing to do.' 'I'm a flight attendant & I wish more people understood this. It would make our jobs a lot easier,' a commenter wrote in post. Various X users were not as understanding, with one person posting: 'Nobody owns anything on a plane. It's public transportation. 'You want ownership fly private.' Multiple users expressed their opinions after a United Airlines passenger claimed that a fellow flier had called dibs on an overhead bin Multiple Reddit users shared what they do when boarding flights so they can be guaranteed bin space. 'I check a full-size suite case at the gate and wait the annoying amount of time at baggage claim so I can specifically put my backpack in the overhead bin. That way, I'm comfortable,' one said. California-based etiquette expert Rosalinda Randall told Fox News what she thinks passengers should do. According to Randall, 'overhead bins are for carry-on luggage, not your jacket, handbag, a book or snack youll later get up to retrieve.' 'If boarding early or in the first couple of boarding groups, you will probably have a spot in the overhead bin directly above your row, where your carry-on belongs,' she explained. She added that other fliers may need to place their bag several rows behind their assigned seats due to limited space in overhead bins. 'If the inconvenience of waiting once you reach the gate is too much for you, politely request they check it. Instead of waiting on the plane, you'll wait for it at baggage claim,' Randall said. No matter the situation, the expert noted that rude decisions fliers may want to avoid making include placing bags in a class a flier hasn't paid for or placing them in the front of the plane. She added that fliers should be cautious when putting luggage in an overhead bin instead of 'carelessly [shoving] shopping bags or crushing them to fit your carry-on, the items could be fragile.' An etiquette expert explained that overhead bins are for carry-on luggage and not items one will get up for later to retrieve Like most airlines, United enforces baggage rules for travelers looking to bring a carry-on bag on board the flight. Carry-on bags on a United flight must fit in an overhead bin with an ideal size of 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches, according to the airline's website. The bag's wheels and handle must be included when a traveler is measuring their carry-on. United considers things like purses, backpacks and laptop bags good examples of personal items that could fit under a seat in front of the flier. Travelers who aren't sure if their carry-on bag is suitable for an overhead bin can get it measured at the airport. Daily Mail has reached out to United Airlines for comment. A Russian surface-to-air missile struck the Azerbaijan Airlines flight that crashed in Kazakhstan yesterday, killing 38, Azerbaijan government officials have claimed. Sources told Euronews that the missile was fired at Flight 8432 amid drone air activity above Grozny, the Chechen capital, citing a preliminary investigation. They said the pilot was blocked from landing at any Russian airports despite making emergency pleas, and was instead ordered to carry on into Kazakhstan. Government sources said previously the plane was hit by a missile fired from a Pantsir-S air defence system from the Naursky district of Chechnya. Local media cited government sources in suggesting jammers then 'paralysed' the plane's communication systems. Thirty-eight passengers were killed in the crash on Christmas Day as the plane attempted to make an emergency landing before erupting in a fireball. Russia has tried to play down speculation the flight had been shot down by a Russian missile, urging patience while the investigation is carried out. The two countries enjoy bilateral ties, with Azerbaijan becoming an essential partner for trade and acting as a corridor to Iran amid the war in Ukraine. Kazakhstan has said it would be carrying out an investigation into the crash, suggesting it would cooperate with Azerbaijan but not Russia. Azerbaijan is understood to be conducting its own investigation. A source familiar with the Azerbaijani investigation told Reuters that while 'no one claims that it was done on purpose', Baku 'expects the Russian side to confess to the shooting down of the Azerbaijani aircraft'. This is the horrific moment a passenger plane hit the ground in a fireball in a Christmas Day crash landing Emergency services are pictured above at the scene of the plane crash There were 105 passengers and five crew members on board the fight from Azerbaijan capital Baku to Russian city Grozny. Earlier reports had suggested 67 on board A Russian Pantsir-S1 self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery system With 67 passengers on board, the plane had been looking to land as scheduled in Grozny in Chechnya yesterday when it crashed. Chechnya is a region of Russia headed by close Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov. It has been under regular attacks from Ukraine in recent weeks. Speculation in the aftermath of the crash attributed blame to Kadyrov's forces, although the crew initially believed they had collided with a flock of birds. Video from the fuselage appeared to show how the plane had been buffeted by shrapnel, perhaps caused by an explosion. The explosion of an oxygen tank to supply the cockpit in the event of depressurisation was cited in earlier reports. Russian sources reported that the plane was flying over Chechnya as Russian air defences tried to shoot down Ukrainian UAV drones. According to Azeri officials, the plane was ordered to continue flying across the Caspian Sea towards Aktau in Kazakhstan after suffering a blow. Struggling to control the plane with 67 people on board, the pilots asked for help from several different airports in Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. The plane was barred from landing in Grozny, with the official reason given as 'fog'. It ultimately came down just a few miles from Aktau, and data shows its radars were jammed as it crossed over the sea. Most of the passengers on board were Azerbaijani. Sixteen were from Russia, and several from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. At the time the plane had been seeking to land as scheduled in Grozny in Chechnya, of which it is capital, a Russian region headed by close Vladimir Putin warlord Ramzan Kadyrov (pictured) The Pantsir-S1 (SA-22), self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile system seen displayed under the Russian national flag during the annual Army defense technology exhibition in Kubinka, 2016 Damage to the fuselage of the plane after the horror Christmas Day crash Sources with knowledge of the preliminary findings of Azerbaijan's investigation into the disaster told Reuters today that Russian air defences had downed the plane, corroborating the account given to Euronews. One of the Azerbaijani sources familiar with the Azerbaijani investigation into the crash told Reuters that preliminary results showed the plane was struck by a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system, and its communications were paralysed by electronic warfare systems on the approach into Grozny. The source said: 'No one claims that it was done on purpose. However, taking into account the established facts, Baku expects the Russian side to confess to the shooting down of the Azerbaijani aircraft.' Three other sources confirmed that the Azeri investigation had come to the same preliminary conclusion. Russia's Defence Ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Kazakhstan's transport prosecutor for the region where the plane came down said its investigation had not yet come to any conclusions about the crash. Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Qanat Bozymbaev said he could neither confirm nor deny the thesis that Russian air defences downed the plane. Azerbaijan Airlines suspended a host of flights to Russian cities on Friday and said it considered the crash was caused by what it termed 'physical and technical external interference'. It did not detail what that interference was. At 8:12, the crew reported 'both GPS lost' on the Embraer E190AR, and sought help with 'vectoring' to head back to the take-off airport Baku, evidently after the sudden closure of Grozny airport. At 8:16, one of the pilots said: 'We have control failure, bird strike in the cockpit. Bird strike in the cockpit (inaudible)' Ground control reply: 'AXY8243 I understand you, what kind of help do you need?' The captain indicated he was seeking to return to his home airport Baku. But at 8:17, the pilot announced he was 'heading to Mineralnye Vody' - an airport in southern Russia. Ground control tell him to 'perform left orbit' - but the flight deck reply: 'I can't execute, control is lost.' At 8:19, one of the pilots states: 'I can't maintain 150, we have high pressure in the cabin.' People are seen standing next to the rear of the crashed passenger jet Ground control reply: 'AXY8243 understood you.' One minute later, at 8:20, the flight's scheduled arrival time, the pilot says: 'Left 360, my plane is losing control.' At 8:21, according to the leaked transcript, the crew decide instead to make for Makhachkala, a Russian airport on the Caspian Sea. At 8:22, the crew report: 'Now the hydraulics have failed.' Two minutes later, the pilot appears to deny he has declared a 'distress' on board and tells ground control: 'The board [plane] is in order.' But the air traffic controller then cannot properly hear the crew. 'You are very hard to hear. tell me your altitude.' The plane later disappeared from radar for 37 minutes before reappearing as it sought to land in Aktau. Russian Telegram channel VChK-OGPU - close to the security services - said air defence teams loyal to Chechen leader Kadyrov in Naursky district likely attacked the plane. Footage of the crash showed the plane bursting into flames as it hit the ground and thick black smoke then rising Terrified passengers can be seen on the plane as oxygen masks dropped down, just before the crash 'The pilot mistook the strong blow to the plane for a collision with a flock of birds,' said the channel. 'In reality, the damage indicates that, most likely, a missile fired by air defence systems exploded near the plane.' 'According to the materials we have obtained, that very strike occurred approximately 18 kilometres [11 miles] north, northwest of the airport in Grozny, over the Naursky district at an altitude of 2,400 metres [7,875ft].' The channel reported: 'According to information from open sources, several military units are located in this area, including those with air defence systems.. 'It is known that after the recent [Ukrainian] UAV attacks, several Pantsirs were also deployed in Chechnya.' Andriy Kovalenko, a Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council official, wrote on Telegram: 'Russia was supposed to close the airspace over Grozny, but did not do so... 'The plane was damaged by the Russians and sent to Kazakhstan, instead of making an emergency landing in Grozny and saving people's lives.' Authorities in Kazakhstan said a government commission had been set up to investigate what had happened and its members ordered to fly to the site and ensure that the families of the dead and injured were getting the help they needed. Kazakhstan would cooperate with Azerbaijan on the investigation, the government said. Kazakhstan has reportedly refused Russia permission to join the investigation examining the crash. 'This way we will have all the facts, the black box and the evidence,' said a member of the Kazakhstan investigation commission. 'A delegation of the State Civil Aviation Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as representatives of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), arrived in Kazakhstan,' the Kazakh transport ministry wrote on Telegram. 'Work on site is carried out in close cooperation with the aviation authorities of Azerbaijan. 'Representatives of the aircraft manufacturer Embraer and CENIPA (Accident Investigation and Prevention Center, Brazil) also flew to Kazakhstan.' Independent investigative journalists from Volya Telegram channel said the drone left coincided in Grozny with the plane's expected arrival. 'The Pantsirs began shooting down everything that was in the air at that moment. 'Grozny airport was closed for flights. But the passenger plane was already landing, which [air traffic control] prohibited at the last moment. 'The crew, according to the passengers, made two more attempts to land, after the last of which something exploded near the plane. 'The damaged Embraer was prohibited from landing in Grozny and tried to reach the airport in Aktau, Kazakhstan, but crashed nearby. 'The crew did everything possible not to crash the plane, but to land it.' The outlet made clear that 'traces of shrapnel damage are visible on the fuselage and vertical stabiliser (keel)' of the jet. The closure of airports due to drone or missile threats is called a 'carpet plan' in Russia. 'Everyone switched on the mode which can be described as 'work according to the instructions'. The wreckage of Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 lays on the ground near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, December 25 The front of the plane burst into flames when the aircraft hit the ground 'The instructions don't say to turn on your brain'.' The outlet said: 'Russian propagandists are trying to spread the version that the plane collided with a Ukrainian drone. 'A collision with an attack UAV would not have left shrapnel holes in a civilian airliner, but would have led to the destruction and fall of the aircraft immediately after the impact. 'Drones do not explode near the target, they explode upon impact with the target.' A special aircraft of the Russian Emergencies Ministry has flown nine Russians, including one child, injured in yesterday's plane crash to Moscow for treatment. By this morning, Kadyrov had not spoken about the plane crash from which there were 29 survivors. His nephew Khamzat Kadyrov, secretary of the Chechen Security Council, wrote on his Instagram that 'everything was shot down' and published a video in which a drone is seen exploding. The terrifying moments before and after the plane ploughed into the ground and erupted into a ball of flames was caught on camera. The heart-wrenching footage snapped survivors pulling themselves from the mangled wreckage. A man is seen limping away from the scene of the plane crash in Western Kazakhstan Half of the mangled plane can be seen in the clip, with emergency services and passengers surrounding the aircraft in the hunt to find survivors. One person can be seen being dragged to safety, their legs dangling. In the background cries and screams can be heard from surrounding people. One bloodied man can seen limping away from the wreckage. Another video shows the moment the plane hits the ground, bursting into flames on impact and sending a huge black smoke cloud into the air. Footage filmed by a passenger shows terrified people praying and some oxygen masks lowered with damage inside the cabin minutes before the plane crashed and broke apart in Kazakhstan, leaving 38 dead. Other footage shows mayhem inside the plane after the crash as rescuers went inside the severed rear of the aircraft, where several people can be seen lying on the ground. Astonishingly, some were found still alive. One trapped woman shouted at rescuers: 'Help me please!'. A firefighter asked her whether she needed help to get up, and she confirmed that she would need to be lifted out of the debris. Rescuers enter the back of the plane to try and reach any survivors trapped in the aircraft A person's feet are seen being dragged away from the wreckage of the aircraft The camera then pans to show the person sat upright with their head in their hands It is understood that the 29 people reported to have survived the crash were found in the rear section of the aircraft, with the front being badly destroyed by fire. Latest figures indicate 22 of the 29 survivors are being treated in hospital, seven of whom are in serious condition. At least ten people dying after reportedly being thrown out of the cabin. One terrifying video shows the moment the plane burst into flames and broke into several parts as it hit the ground, with thick black smoke rising up from the wrecked aircraft after. Later bloodied and bruised passengers could be seen stumbling from a piece of the fuselage that had remained intact. Azerbaijan Airlines, the country's flag carrier, said the Embraer 190 had 'made an emergency landing' around three kilometres from Aktau, an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. 'A plane doing the Baku-Grozny route crashed near the city of Aktau. It belongs to Azerbaijan Airlines,' the Kazakh ministry said on Telegram. The Embraer E190AR with registration number 4K-AZ65 sent out a distress signal at an altitude of 2,125 feet over the Caspian Sea. The footage taken moments before the plane crashed were filmed by a passenger who sent it to his wife Latest figures indicate 22 of the 29 survivors are being treated in hospital, seven of whom are in serious condition. One survivor is pictured in hospital above One trapped woman shouted at rescuers: 'Help me please!'. A firefighter asked her whether she needed help to get up, and she confirmed that she would need to be lifted out of the debris Footage from the crash site shows rescuers looking for survivors of the horrific crash Dramatic footage showed the pilot pulling the plane out of a steep fall as he sought to regain control, but the aircraft still suffered a catastrophic crash exploding in fire. The two main sites of the wreck at Aktau airport were hundreds of yards apart. Mangled human remains from the horror crash were strewn on rough ground at the airport. Dazed and bloodied passengers are seen emerging from the severed rear of the plane. Some sat in shock on the ground after escaping from the aircraft. Others managed to walk clear. Meanwhile, the front of the aircraft - torn asunder by the crash - could be seen ablaze in the distance. Plane crash survivor Kristina Evstigneeva, 34, a travel agent from Vladivostok, was in a serious condition and had to undergo brain surgery after the plane crash in Kazakhstan. Another survivor Zaur Mamedov, 36, was returning from his father's funeral in Baku. The plane attempted to land at Aktau in western Kazakhstan after being rerouted from Grozny and another Russian city Makhachkala due to fog. Two of the 29 survivors are children, believed to be girls aged 11 and 16. Bloodied and bruised passengers could be seen stumbling from a piece of the fuselage that had remained intact The front of the aircraft - torn asunder by the crash - could be seen ablaze in the distance At least ten people died after being thrown out of the plane 'They are receiving all the necessary medical care in hospitals in the region,' said the Ministry of Health. '23 ambulance teams were mobilised to the scene of the incident.' Unconfirmed reports said that both pilots died in the crash, and from the crew only a female flight attendant survived. Tengrinews reported 37 citizens of Azerbaijan, 16 of Russia, six of Kazakhstan and three of Kyrgyzstan were on board the stricken plane. Following the crash, Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, was returning home from Russia where he had been due to attend a summit on Wednesday, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-backed leader of Chechnya, expressed his condolences in a statement and said those being treated in hospital were in an extremely serious condition and that he and others would pray for their rapid recovery. Another angle shows a massive fireball where the aircraft hit the ground A drone view shows emergency specialists working at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan December 25 Reports said the plane collided with a bird and suffered a steering failure. The aircraft is seen coming in steeply descending its nose pointing down too steeply In this handout picture released by Kazakhstan's emergency situations ministry, emergency specialists work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25 Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences to Aliyev over the loss of life, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. 'Unfortunately, Azerbaijan's President Aliyev was forced to leave St Petersburg (where he had a summit). Putin has already called him and expressed his condolences in connection with the crash of the Azerbaijani plane in Aktau,' Peskov said. 'We deeply sympathise with those who lost their relatives and friends in this plane crash and wish a speedy recovery to all those who managed to survive.' Aktau residents have been asked to donate blood for the survivors. Grozny - the destination - is the capital of the Chechnya republic, a Russian region controlled by Vladimir Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov which regularly sends troops to fight in the war against Ukraine. A drunken British woman currently languishing in a Thai prison cell after allegedly trying to have sex on a hotel glass table before fighting with police officers has been named as a 42-year-old mother from Devon, MailOnline can reveal. Mother-of-one Jude Hill, from Plymouth, who left the UK for Thailand a few months ago, is said to have straddled her partner in the lobby before the piece of furniture shattered into pieces in Pattaya, Thailand, at 3am on Christmas morning. She allegedly ran away with the porter in pursuit before grappling with an armed officer in front of the beach. Bystanders eventually helped to subdue her. Footage from the incident showed Ms Hill in a white mini-dress hurling vile insults at locals and swearing while being frogmarched in handcuffs to the station. Her boyfriend had quietly slipped away. The footage appears to show Ms Hill in an intoxicated state, as one person who has known her for 10 years said 'that's just what she's like'. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, the source, who wished to remain anonymous, said they were not shocked by her arrest. They said: 'That video sums everything up about her. She's scatty, she's nuts. 'I last bumped into her a couple of months ago, before she went out to Thailand with her son. Mother-of-one Jude Hill, from Plymouth, is currently languishing in a Thai prison cell after allegedly trying to have sex on a hotel glass table A drunken British woman currently languishing in a Thai prison cell after trying to have sex on a hotel glass table before fighting with police officers has been named as 42-year-old Jude Hill from Devon, MailOnline can reveal Footage shows the woman in a white mini-dress hurling vile insults at locals while being frogmarched in handcuffs to the station 'Her council house recently burnt down and she had to leave. I think shortly after that [she and her son] went off to Thailand. 'But the truth is she was not very well liked round here.' MailOnline understands Ms Hill arrived in Thailand with her teenage son a few months ago after her home caught fire when a car parked in the driveway was set alight. Accelerant was deliberately poured over an Audi Q2, before bursting into flames as it sat in the driveway of the residence in Elburton, Plymouth, on 23 September. The flames spread to the house, causing substantial smoke and fire damage, according to Devon and Cornwall Police, which is treating the incident as arson. Ms Hill and the other occupants in the house at the time evacuated without injury. Her departure to Thailand also comes just three years after Ms Hill suffered heartbreak when her brother was horrifically murdered during an arranged fight. Callum Hill, 22, died after a 'brutal' attack by two men on Kit Hill, a remote part of Cornwall, in March 2020. MailOnline understands Ms Hill (pictured) arrived in Thailand with her teenage son a few months ago after her home caught fire when a car parked in the driveway was set alight The blonde holidaymaker is said to have straddled her partner in the lobby before breaking the piece of furniture in Pattaya on Wednesday morning Ms Hill (pictured) left the UK for Thailand a few months ago Ms Hill, 42, spent Christmas Day in a Thai jail following the incident He suffered fatal injuries after being severely beaten by the men, who turned up to the pre-arranged rendezvous with an assortment of weapons. Andrew Hatrey, 38, of Callington and Kristian Humphries, 31,of Gunnislake denied murder, but were found guilty and sentenced to life. Hatrey was told he would serve a minimum of 26 years, while Humphries would serve 15 years. A third man, Alexander 'Billy' Humphries - who is not related to Kristian Humphries - was handed an 11-year jail term for causing grevious bodily harm with intent after he used his car as a weapon to ram the two killers. As Ms Hill spends her second night in a Thai prison, footage of the incident continues to spread on social media. Showing the precise moment of her arrest, the beleagured mother-of-one says in the video: 'What are you doing, oi, somebody English' before branding the officer a 'f****** f** s****** c***'. As more officers arrive to detain her, she says: 'Record me, England, I'm from England, mister, hey, mister please, keep recording everything, stupid little fat f***** pudgy c***'. Arriving at the station, an officer is then heard saying 'shut your mouth' while leading her into a holding cell to sober up. Staff at the Flipper Lodge Hotel where the incident started said today that the woman and her partner began having sex on a sofa before one of them allegedly tried to sit on the glass table The hotel porter, wearing a red T-shirt, is seen in the video leading her into the station, while a large shaven-headed man helping to subdue her outside was a bystander. Speaking yesterday at 2pm local time, Police Lieutenant General Ittikorn Saikratok, who is handling the case, said: 'The British woman is still in the cell this afternoon but she's still very drunk. 'She hasn't sobered up yet. She has been making a lot of noise all night but nobody can understand what she is saying. She is yelling and incoherent. 'She has no identification on her so we don't know her name. 'I told her to go to sleep. When she's sober and can speak more clearly, a translator will come and help with the situation. 'We advised the hotel staff to file a crime report with evidence of the damaged item and wait for the woman to sober before starting discussions about compensation.' Staff at the Flipper Lodge Hotel where the incident started said today that Ms Hill and her partner began having sex on a sofa before one of them allegedly tried to sit on the glass table. It was knocked over and shattered. A staff member said: 'Both of the foreigners were not hotel customers. They were drunk and entered while we were working, and we didn't notice them because we thought they were our customers, so we didn't pay attention. Staff said the woman and her boyfriend were not hotel customers 'We will need to proceed with pressing charges because they damaged the hotel property and must take responsibility,' staff said 'After a while, they did something obscene. They started trying to have sex on a glass table, causing it to break along with other property.' The staff member continued: 'We approached them and discovered they were not hotel customers, so we ushered them out. 'However, they refused and caused a commotion, so we took them to the police station to file a report and calm them down. 'We will need to proceed with pressing charges because they damaged the hotel property and must take responsibility, though it's not a huge issue.' Pattaya on the east coast of Thailand is a two-hour drive from the main airport serving the capital Bangkok. It is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations alongside the capital and Phuket in the south. It is also the most debauched - with bars and massage parlours lining most roads in the city and hundreds of thousands of young women working in the sex trade. Thailand's role in aiding the United States in the second Indochina War against Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia led to the region growing into a sex tourism destination for American GIs on rest and relaxation breaks. A FCDO spokesperson said: 'We are aware of reports of a British National detained in Thailand. We stand ready to offer assistance to British Nationals abroad 24/7.' MailOnline has contacted Pattaya City Police for comment. Disturbing video footage showed the moment a retired police officer shot and killed a neighbor over loud music on Christmas Day in Argentina. Rafael Moreno, 74, can be seen approaching one of the attendees of a house party in Buenos Aires on Wednesday around 6am and pulling out a .38 caliber revolver before the victim, Sergio Diaz, 40, intervened. Moreno began to step away when Diaz suddenly smacked him in the face and yelled at him. 'Who do you think you are? Who do you think you are to pull out a gun on me?' an angry Diaz shouted. Moreno replied that he was 'a cop' before Diaz shoved him. The retired federal officer then placed the gun to Diaz's stomach before stepping forward and firing one shot. Diaz yelled in pain and bent over before he walked to the sidewalk and fell. Moreno remained in the background as someone shouted for an ambulance and police to be called. Rafael Moreno, 74, can be seen approaching one of the attendees of a house party in Buenos Aires on Wednesday around 6am and pulling out a .38 caliber revolver before the victim, Sergio Diaz, 40, intervened Retired police officer Rafael Moreno was arrested in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday after he shot and killed a neighbor Diaz was rushed to an area hospital, where he died from the gunshot wound several hours later. Moreno was arrested at the scene and was questioned by investigators later during the day. Diaz's relative and owner of the home, Karina, told Argentine television news station TN that Moreno told them, 'lower the music because this will end bad.' She said they kept their distance from Moreno, who reportedly did not get along with some of his neighbors. 'The least we thought was that he would react that way,' Karina said. 'He said two words and he fired, he (Diaz) didn't have time to do anything.' Moreno's wife, Liliana, told TN that one of the men at the scene was carrying a gun. 'He told me, "I had to shoot because someone had a gun and was pointing it at me," Liliana said. Sergio Diaz (pictured) lost his cool when he noticed that retired police officer, Rafael Moreno, had pulled out a gun on him and his friend moments before he was shot. The 40-year-old was rushed to a local medical facility, where he died Buenos Aires cops seized the .38 caliber revolver that was used by retired cop Rafael Moreno to shoot a neighbor after asking him and his friends and family to lower the music Retired police officer Rafael Moreno (left) was seen on a surveillance camera walking over to group that was listening to loud music in front a Buenos Aires residence Wednesday around 6 am 'He probably shot because he had no choice,' she added. Liliana said that her husband never approached the group to turn down the music. Instead, she claimed that Moreno only wanted to prevent Diaz and members of his party from breaking a nearby shop's gate. 'He crossed to get them out and stop them from breaking the fence in front because they were grabbing it to break it,' she said. 'The guys were trying to break it up, I didn't hear any music,' she added. 'He went and talked to them nicely. Then one of them came out with the gun and acted like he was crazy, but Rafael also had his gun.' Moreno is facing an aggravated homicide charge with the use of a firearm. A people smuggler who hid four Vietnamese nationals in the back of his lorry cab has been jailed for two and a half years. Marian-Marius Radu, who is a 23-year-old Romanian National, will also face the prospect of deportation once he has served his sentence. Radu was stopped by border police at the Port of Dover in September after officers intercepted four people walking through vehicle lanes. The Border Forces' investigations led to the estbalishing that the individuals, who were all Vietnamese nationals, had gotten out of Radu's three-and-a-half-tonne lorry trailer. Further footage obtained and reviewed by Home Office investigators showed Radu acting in a suspicous manner at the busy port. In the footage, Radu can be scanning his surroundings and adjusting his lorry cab's mirrors in an attempt at avoiding detection. The footage also revealed that Radu lifted a curtain behind him in the cab of the lorry and directed the four migrants out of the lorry, thinking nobody had noticed. Following Border Forces being alerted by Radu's behaviour, he was pulled aside and a search of his lorry was conducted. Marian-Marius Radu, who is a 23-year-old Romanian National, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail and will also face the prospect of deportation once he has served it The licence plates which were found underneath the passenger seat in Radu's lorry cab Authorities uncovered a set of number plates under the passenger seat which matched the details of the lorry that had been booked onto the ferry. Radu was then arrested and has since pleaded guilty to charges of assisting unlawful entry into the UK by a non-UK national. Appearing before Canterbury Crown Court on December 18, Radu was sentenced to two years and six months in jail along with the possibility that he is deported following the completion of his prison term. Additionally, the four Vietnamese nationals smuggled into the UK by Radu were detained and processed by immigration authorities. This sentencing comes just as the Home Office launch a new international campaign to debunk people smugglers' lies. Social media adverts were launched in Vietnam on Monday, exposing the false promises made by people-smuggling gangs and used real stories from migrants who entered the UK illegally. Next year, the campaign will expand to reach people at every stage of the journey, warning them about the risks and realities of entering the UK illegally. Speaking to the case, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle, said: 'This government is committed to securing the UK's borders as part of our Plan for Change. 'We are determined to end unlawful migration and dismantle the criminal people-smuggling gangs that exploit vulnerable people. 'These gangs charge high fees for dangerous journeys that put vulnerable lives at risk. The lorry which Marian-Marius Radu was driving when he was intercepted by Border Forces at Dover Port 'Through our new Border Security Command, we are disrupting these gangs in the UK and abroad, cutting off their operations. 'Together, with our campaign in Vietnam, we are warning prospective migrants about the dangers of these illegal journeys and exposing the lies of criminal gangs. 'Our message is clear: we will not let people smugglers abuse our borders or endanger vulnerable lives.' Steve Blackwell, Deputy Director of Criminal and Financial Investigations, Immigration Enforcement said: 'This sentencing shows that people smuggling has serious consequences and that those involved in this dangerous and illegal activity will be stopped. 'The UK will not tolerate criminals exploiting vulnerable people and putting lives at risk. 'Radu's actions were all about greed, with no thought for the lives he was endangering. 'This result shows he has been held accountable and will face justice for his reckless actions. 'I want to thank all the officers, teams, and partners who worked hard to bring Radu to justice. 'Our Immigration Enforcement and Criminal and Financial Investigations teams will continue to target organised immigration crime and shut down the gangs profiting off vulnerable people.' Joe Rogan revealed whether or not Donald Trump will release classified information on UFOs when he becomes president. In a recent episode of 'The Joe Rogan Experience,' the podcaster sat down with filmmaker James Fox to discuss government transparency around the mysterious drone sightings - that many believe to be UFOs - concentrated in New Jersey and New York. Rogan is not optimistic that Trump will be anymore open than President Joe Biden has been about UFOs and is unsure if he will release any classified documents about them. 'When I confronted Mr. Trump, he was very cagey, very cageyHe didn't tell me s**t,' Rogan said. 'It was basically like neither confirm nor deny. 'I think he knows something, I just don't think he's interested.' Referencing a statement Trump made about the government's knowledge of the drone sightings, Rogan said: 'When you think of the capabilities of the United States military, it doesn't make any sense they can't figure out what's going on. 'I think what Trump said is probably correct that the government knows, they know what's happening and they don't want to tell people.' On December 16, Trump said at a press conference that 'the government knows what is happening regarding the drones. 'Look, our military knows where they took off from - if it's a garage they can go right into that garage - they know where it came from and where it went. Joe Rogan said Donald Trump was 'cagey' about UFOs and did not offer up much information about them Rogan believes that Trump 'is not interested' in the 'UFO' drones being spotted across the country These mysterious sightings have yet to be explained by the government, but many have speculated about what they may be 'And for some reason, they don't want to comment. And I think they'd be better off saying what it is.' At one point during the Tuesday podcast, Rogan speculated that Trump has not been entertaining the UFO theories because he is 'constantly doing something' and has 'no time for f***ing aliens' or 'nonsense.' He also believes that Trump does not have all of the information about the drone situation to release to the public. Fox, who filmed the UFO documentary Moment of Contact, was adamant that this was an issue of 'national security.' 'Why wouldn't he tell us?' he asked Rogan about Trump. 'I don't think he knows yet,' Rogan replied, adding that things may become more clear when Trump takes office. The pair agreed that Biden has not been clear or open about the existence of UFOs or extraterrestrial life - with Rogan urging him to 'release the hounds' before his presidential term ends. 'He's been so dismissive of it all. Obama said a lot more about it,' Fox added. When Trump appeared on Rogan's podcast before the election, he thoroughly discussed his understanding of UFOs. He said that 'people coming from space' were never of particular interest to him until he spokes with pilots who claimed they saw UFOS over the US. 'I interviewed a few people, it's never been my thing, I have to be honest. I have never been a believer,' Trump said. 'So I interviewed jet pilots that say they saw something. If you saw them you'd love to have them [on your show]...that were solid people, perfect, great pilots, everything. James Fox argued that the UFOs are an issue of national security and asked why Trump has not said anything about what they are Footage coming out of New Jersey has only added more questions to the bizarre wave of UFOs 'And they said, "we saw things sir that were very strange, like a round ball that wasn't a comet or meteor, it was something and it was going four times faster than an F22," which is a very fast plane. 'And it was round, which in theory is a great shape [for flying].' During another podcast episode, Rogan interviewed a former Navy pilot who provided shocking insight into the drones and how they have not been tracked down. Ryan Graves, a former lieutenant, discussed possible technologies that could be powering the drones, allowing them to avoid being detected. He told Rogan that law enforcement has not been able to pick up on the drones, specifically flying over New Jersey, suggesting they are using 'some type of signature management' to reduce heat emissions. 'We do this in fighter jets...where we cover the engine to essentially make it harder to see, but to have zero ability to detect or lock onto these objects is not the technology I'm familiar with,' said Graves. Donald Trump Jr brought his new flame Bettina Anderson to the Trump family Christmas celebration at Mar-a-Lago. The eldest Trump son, 46, was pictured next to Anderson, 38, as the two dined with the rest of the president-elect's family on Christmas Eve in Palm Beach. Anderson, clad in a red dress, was flanked between Trump and another man, though his face is not seen in the photo, which was shared on X. Kimberly Guilfoyle, 55, Trump Jr's ex-fiancee of four years, was apparently not at the Trump dinner this year. She has been given the role of US ambassador to Greece following news of her break-up with Trump Jr. It comes as insiders and friends of the Trump family are reportedly doing everything they can do to get Don Jr. to end his new relationship with the Palm Beach socialite. Allies of the president's eldest son are worried his new flame isn't 'MAGA enough' after her previous support for the Black Lives Matter movement and strict COVID rules. And now they are also expressing concerns that her notorious party girl reputation in Palm Beach isn't highbrow enough to be associated with the first family. Others say that Anderson is trying to use Don Jr. as a 'stepping stone' to reach even 'bigger fish' which may include Elon Musk. Donald Trump Jr, 46, was pictured next to Bettina Anderson, 37, (in red) as the two dined with the rest of the president-elect's family on Christmas Eve in Palm Beach. President-elect Donald Trump is seen on the far left with his son Barron and wife Melania by his side Anderson shared a selfie showing off her red look for the night It comes as insiders and friends of the Trump family are reportedly doing everything they can do to get Don Jr ., 46, to end his new relationship with the Palm Beach socialite. They are pictured on December 9 Someone who works in the modeling business and knows Anderson from years in the industry speculated to DailyMail.com that she is gunning to get into the inner circle of billionaire Elon Musk. Musk, known as the 'first buddy' has been by the president-elect's side ever since the 2024 election on November 5. He was tapped to lead the new DOGE agency to root out federal government waste. Those in Palm Beach who have known Anderson for decades say she regularly dates wealthy older men who fit into her upper class lifestyle. The pair took their relationship public immediately before his father will be sworn in as the nation's 47th president on January 20, 2025. Anderson plans to join Don Jr. at Trump's Inauguration next month, a source told DailyMail.com, which would be her first public event alongside the first son. 'It's one thing to worry about Palm Beach shenanigans making a stop at Mar-a-Lago,' said a source close to the transition team. 'But to let those problems penetrate the White House is a new level of trouble.' At least two people close with Don Jr. allege that she is only using their friend as her latest step in her 'social ladder climbing' and carefree influencer lifestyle. But her sudden publicity doesn't seem to be bothering the first son as he and Anderson jetted off to Italy for a romantic getaway days after the news of their relationship broke. Bettina Anderson Florida socialite pictured in her Instagram When Trump Jr's romance with Anderson emerged, the divorced father-of-five was still publicly engaged to former Fox News host Guilfoyle. The former couple is seen in 2023 Anderson has publicly posted pictures of love letters and flowers sent to her from Don Jr. and also openly documented their luxurious European escape. First whispers of her relationship with Don Jr. started in September when images emerged of the couple kissing and cuddling while dining at a restaurant near the Trump's southern Florida residence. At the time, the divorced father-of-five was still publicly engaged to former Fox News host Guilfoyle. Finnish authorities have detained a Russia-linked ship as they investigate whether it damaged a Baltic Sea power cable and several data cables, according to police and news media reports. In the latest incident involving disruption of key infrastructure, Finnish police and border guards boarded the Eagle S at just past midnight on Thursday and took over the command bridge, Helsinki Police Chief Jari Liukku said at a news conference. The vessel was intercepted in Finland's exclusive economic zone and taken to Finnish territorial waters, police said. Eagle S is flagged in the Cook Islands but was described by Finnish customs officials as a suspected part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet of fuel tankers that state-run companies have used to circumnavigate sanctions, Yle television reported. The fleet is made up of ageing vessels with obscure ownership, acquired to evade the West's economic controls over the war against Ukraine and operating without Western-regulated insurance. The Eagle S's anchor is suspected of causing damage to the Estlink-2 power cable, which takes electricity from Finland to Estonia across the Baltic Sea, after it went down just after noon on Christmas Day. Eagle S crude oil tanker sailing under the flag of the Cook Islands has been seized by Finnish authorities EstLink 2 power cable Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council Meeting on December 26, 2024 Your browser does not support iframes. The incident cut the electricity connection on Estlink 2 between EU and NATO states Finland and Estonia on December 25. Finnish transmission system operator Fingrid representative, Arto Pahkin, said intentional malicious action has not been ruled out. 'This is one of the versions we are considering. Because two vessels are in the area where the cables are located.' Pahkin said: 'The possibility of vandalism cannot be ruled out. However, we are currently studying the situation as a whole and will inform you of the cause of the malfunction as soon as we know it.' In the hours after the incident, it was reported the Hong Kong-registered Xin Xin Tian 2, had passed over the cable around the time the Estlink 2 outage occurred at 12:26. That ship is owned by logistics company Hainan Yangpu, part of the Torgmol group, which has close ties to Russia. But Finnish authorities have since turned their suspicions toward the Eagle S, which was also sailing in the area at the time of the cable failure and is reported to have slowed down to a quarter of its speed a few minutes before it crossed Estlink 2. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the authorities are 'investigating the matter', while network operator Elering assured that there was sufficient spare capacity to meet power needs on the Estonian side. The Hong Kong-flagged Xin Xin Tian 2 vessel could have been responsible for the EstLink 2 power cable cut in the waters of the Gulf of Finland The latest incident cut the electricity connection on Estlink 2 between EU and NATO states Finland and Estonia on December 25 Two data cables, one running between Finland and Germany, the other between Lithuania and Sweden, were severed in November. Germany's defence minister Boris Pistorius said officials had to assume 'sabotage', without providing evidence or saying who might have been responsible. The remark came during a speech in which he discussed hybrid warfare threats from Russia - though investigators quickly zeroed in on a Chinese ship, which had left the Russian port of Ust-Luga on November 15. A Reuters analysis of MarineTraffic data showed the vessel's coordinates corresponded to the time and place of the breaches. Earlier, the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines built to supply natural gas from Russia to Germany were damaged by underwater explosions in September 2022. There has been no conclusive finding as to who was responsible. Estlink-2 had returned to commercial use at the beginning of September after being out of service since the end of January due to a failure. The Chinese ship, the bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 is anchored in the sea of Kattegat, near the city of Granaa in Jutland, Denmark, on November 20, 2024 The Estlink-2 incident comes after China said on Monday it had provided information and documents for an open investigation into the severing of the two Baltic Sea undersea cables in November, though it and Sweden disagreed over how transparent Beijing had been in the case. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a news briefing in Beijing that China had invited Germany, Sweden, Finland and Denmark to participate in and complete the inquiry. She spoke about the incident when asked about a Financial Times report that Sweden had criticised China for refusing full access despite an open inquiry, and for allegedly barring a Swedish prosecutor from boarding the Chinese freighter vessel Yi Peng 3 linked to the cable breach. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said China had not heeded the government's request for the prosecutor to be able to conduct the preliminary investigation on board. 'Our request that Swedish prosecutors together with, among others, the police should be allowed to take certain investigative measures within the framework of the preliminary investigation on board remains,' Stenergard told Reuters. 'We have been very clear about this with China.' Stenergard said Sweden hoped to continue its dialogue with China with the aim of giving the police and prosecutors the possibility to investigate the cable breaches. The family of Baby Driver star Hudson Meek shared a heartbreaking tribute for the 16-year-old following his tragic death. Meek died on Saturday after being critically injured two days earlier when he was ejected from a moving vehicle in his hometown in Alabama. The circumstances of the incident and whether it involved a vehicular crash remain unclear. 'Our hearts are broken to share that Hudson Meek went home to be with Jesus tonight,' wrote his mother Lani Wells Meek on Facebook. 'His 16 years on this earth were far too short, but he accomplished so much and significantly impacted everyone he met.' The Meek family added that 'Specific details regarding a Celebration of Hudsons Life to be held on December 28, as well as how to contribute to a scholarship in Hudsons memory at Vestavia Hills High School in lieu of flowers, will follow. 'Please pray for our family and friends as we all process this sudden and tragic loss.' The actor sustained blunt force trauma after falling from the car at 10.45pm according to the Jefferson County Coroner's Office. The family of Baby Driver star Hudson Meek shared a heartbreaking tribute for the 16-year-old following his tragic death Meek was known for portraying the younger version of the main character in the 2017 action flick Baby Driver He was taken to the UAB Hospital in Birmingham but died from his injuries on Saturday night less than 48 hours after the coroner said he was thrown from a moving motor vehicle, per ABC 33/40 News. The Vestavia Hills Police Department is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Meek's death, WVTM reports. He was surrounded by his friends and family when he passed away peacefully, per his obituary. Meek was known for portraying the younger version of the main character in the 2017 action flick Baby Driver. Following his breakthrough role, he went on to star in the reboot of MacGyver. He also made guest appearances on several television series including the NBC drama Found. His professional acting credits date back to 2014 when he first starred in The Santa Con alongside Melissa Joan Hart and Jaleel White. It was revealed that he also worked on several movies and shows to be released posthumously in 2025, according to the obituary. In his memory, his loved ones are establishing the Hudson J. Meek Memorial Scholarship. The circumstances of the incident and whether it involved a vehicular crash remain unclear The Vestavia Hills Police Department is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Meek's death In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations to the scholarship, which will be awarded annually to a Vestavia Hills High School student. He is survived by father Derek Firth Meek and mother Lani Wells Meek as well as his older brother Tucker Firth Meek and grandmothers Margaret Green Meek and Faye Searcy Wells. DailyMail.com has reached out to the Vestavia police department for more information on Meek's death. An armed vigilante was arrested at an Arizona airport following a Christmas shooting that left three people injured, police said. Gunshots were heard near a restaurant outside of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport's security checkpoints in Terminal 4 just after 9:40pm Wednesday evening following an isolated fight that quickly turned violent. An adult female and two adult males were shot, leaving the female with life-threatening injuries. A separate male was stabbed during the incident. 'I do believe that this was a family dispute that escalated,' Phoenix Police Sgt. Mayra Reeson told reporters. Two people were detained by police. The shooting came after a group of people - who police said were all familiar with each other - had a physical fight that prompted one of them to pull out a gun. Marvin Miller, a cleaner at the airport for three years, said he heard three gunshots in succession from the lower level ticketing area of Terminal 4, AZ Central reported. 'I heard three shots,' Miller told the outlet. 'They were different from fireworks. Gunshots are a big difference.' When officers arrived at the scene, they found three people suffering from gunshot wounds and another in a Terminal 4 parking garage with 'at least one stab wound,' Reeson said. An armed vigilante was arrested at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona on Wednesday evening shortly after an adult female and two adult males were shot and another stabbed in what police said was a completely separate incident Phoenix Police arrested this man who they say showed up to Sky Harbor Airport with guns after hearing false information of an active shooter. To be clear, the shooting at Sky Harbor was NOT an active shooting. It was a fight that ended with gunshots and a stabbing. @12News pic.twitter.com/GHivczFNCg Gabriella Bachara (@GabbyBachara) December 26, 2024 Police said that the man received a text message that made him believe there was an active shooter at the airport An underage girl along with the man with the stab wound were detained in the garage in connection with the shooting. Possible charges remain unknown. 'Of course this was scary, this was Christmas evening, everybody's trying to get home,' Reeson said. In what Reeson described as being a 'completely separate incident,' an armed man showed up at the airport that very same night. 'This man received a text message that he believed there was an active shooter at Sky Harbor,' Reeson said. The man proceeded to get into a dispute with police officers, who then arrested him outside of the airport. 'There was no active shooter; there never was,' Reeson said. It's unclear whether the text the man received about an active shooter was related to the other incident. Officers were seen taking a man without shoes or a shirt into custody, moments before another officer was seen carrying two firearms, including a handgun, in an evidence bag at around 11:30pm. The identities of the two people detained in the parking garage are still unknown, but police did retrieve one gun. Reeson noted that the man who showed up later that night will be booked into jail as well, but his charges are unclear at this time. No other travelers at the airport were injured, but the incident did prompt the temporary closure of the security checkpoint, as well as the Sky Train operations to be paused as a safety precaution. Police are still investigating if the group was from Arizona, why they were at the airport and whether they were there as a means to travel or for another reason. All of those involved in the dispute were hospitalized, with the three men said to be in stable condition. The incident was resolved shortly after and airport operations were back up and running. The Asia Society Texas Center, designed by Yoshio Taniguchi. Paul Hester Architect Yoshio Taniguchi, known in Houston for designing the Asia Society Texas Center, died this month at the age of 87. Taniguchi is a Japanese architect who designed the $48.4 million center that sits in Houston's Museum District, the organizations website says. The 38,000-square-foot building, which opened in 2012, is located at 1370 Southmore. Advertisement Article continues below this ad According to a New York Times obituary, Taniguchi was born in 1937 and earned his first international commission in 1997, for the 2004 expansion of The Museum of Modern Art. Taniguchi first worked for architect Kenzo Tange before starting his own business in 1975, according to Asia Society Texas website. The Asia Society Texas Center features Jura limestone walls that were painstakingly chosen by the architect quarry workers cut 470 blocks of stone and Taniguchi rejected 90 percent of them, according to this 2012 story by Lisa Gray, who is now a Chronicle opinion editor. "Taniguchi's brilliance is evident in his design of the Asia Society Texas Center," said longtime Asia Society patron Nancy C. Allen in a news release on the organization's website. "Working with him to create a space for the Houston community to learn about and celebrate the vibrancy of Asia was one of the great joys of my life. The world has lost an exceptional and inspirational spirit." Advertisement Article continues below this ad This is the amazing moment a husband who filmed a heartbreaking message for his wife just before the Azerbaijan Airlines jet was shot down proved he survived the crash. Incredible footage shows the passenger, identified as Subkhon Rakhimov, walking around the crash site with blood on his face, filming the wreckage and praising the flight attendant for keeping him alive in the disaster that killed 38 yesterday. Rakhimov had previously taken a heartbreaking video for his wife as soon as he realised the plane was losing altitude, telling her that the plane tried to land several times, after which the people on board heard a loud bang. His footage from before the crash showed oxygen masks hanging from the ceiling and passengers crying and praying, with damage visible inside the cabin minutes before the plane crashed and broke apart in Aktau, western Kazakhstan. The video of Rakhimov's miraculous survival emerged as Azerbaijan government officials claimed that a Russian surface-to-air missile struck the plane, causing it to crash. Sources told Euronews that the missile was fired at Flight 8432 amid drone air activity above Grozny, the Chechen capital, citing a preliminary investigation. They said the pilot was blocked from landing at any Russian airports despite making emergency pleas, and was instead ordered to carry on into Kazakhstan. Government sources said previously the plane was hit by a missile fired from a Pantsir-S air defence system from the Naursky district of Chechnya. Incredible footage shows the passenger, identified as Subkhon Rakhimov (pictured), walking around the crash site with blood on his face, filming the wreckage and praising the flight attendant for keeping him alive in the disaster that killed 38 yesterday Rakhimov filmed rescuers trying to climb into the wreckage as he walked around the crash site praising Allah The passenger identified as Subkhon Rakhimov (pictured) started filming a video for his wife as soon as he realised the plane was losing altitude, telling her that the plane tried to land several times, after which the people on board heard a loud bang Footage shows scared passengers praying and some oxygen masks lowered with damage inside the cabin minutes before the plane crashes and breaks apart in Kazakhstan, with 42 people feared dead This is the horrific moment a passenger plane hit the ground in a fireball in a Christmas Day crash landing Terrified passengers can be seen on the plane as oxygen masks dropped down, just before the crash A firefighter is seen above climbing through debris in the upside-down plane Local media cited government sources in suggesting jammers then 'paralysed' the plane's communication systems. Russia has tried to play down speculation the flight had been shot down by a Russian missile, urging patience while the investigation is carried out by Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. A source familiar with the Azerbaijani investigation told Reuters that while 'no one claims that it was done on purpose', Baku 'expects the Russian side to confess to the shooting down of the Azerbaijani aircraft'. It comes as Azerbaijan observed a nationwide day of mourning for the victims of the air crash. National flags were lowered this morning, traffic across the country stopped at noon, and signals were sounded from ships and trains as the country observed a nationwide moment of silence for the victims of the horrifying crash. Footage from the crash site shows rescuers looking for survivors inside the Azerbaijan airlines flight from Baku to the Russian city of Grozny, which crashed with 67 passengers and five crew members on board. There was mayhem as rescuers went inside the severed rear of the aircraft, where several people can be seen lying on the ground. Astonishingly, some were found still alive. One trapped woman shouted at rescuers: 'Help me please!'. A firefighter asked her whether she needed help to get up, and she confirmed that she would need to be lifted out of the debris. It is understood that at least 29 people reported to have survived the crash were found in the rear section of the aircraft, with the front being badly destroyed by fire. Survivors appeared dazed in footage taken at the crash site, as they looked around while rescuers tried to check on their injuries One trapped woman shouted at rescuers: 'Help me please!'. A firefighter asked her whether she needed help to get up, and she confirmed that she would need to be lifted out of the debris Latest figures indicate 22 of the 29 survivors are being treated in hospital, seven of whom are in serious condition. One survivor is pictured in hospital above Rescuers are pictured crawling into the plane wreck to look for survivors Latest figures indicate 22 of the 29 survivors are being treated in hospital, seven of whom are in serious condition. At least ten people dying after reportedly being thrown out of the cabin. One terrifying video shows the moment the plane burst into flames and broke into several parts as it hit the ground, with thick black smoke rising up from the wrecked aircraft after. Later bloodied and bruised passengers could be seen stumbling from a piece of the fuselage that had remained intact. Azerbaijan Airlines, the country's flag carrier, said the Embraer 190 had 'made an emergency landing' around three kilometres from Aktau, an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. 'A plane doing the Baku-Grozny route crashed near the city of Aktau. It belongs to Azerbaijan Airlines,' the Kazakh ministry said on Telegram. The Embraer E190AR with registration number 4K-AZ65 sent out a distress signal at an altitude of 2,125 feet over the Caspian Sea. Ahead of the crash, the crew had reported a strong impact on the hull. They assumed the aircraft hit a flock of birds but later evidence piled up that it was a misguided Russian air defence strike. People are seen standing next to the rear of the crashed passenger jet There were 105 passengers and five crew members on board the fight from Azerbaijan capital Baku to Russian city Grozny. Earlier reports had suggested 67 on board Footage of the crash showed the plane bursting into flames as it hit the ground and thick black smoke then rising Emergency services are pictured above at the scene of the plane crash Footage from the crash site shows rescuers looking for survivors of the horrific crash The front of the plane burst into flames when the aircraft hit the ground Authorities in Kazakhstan said they had begun looking into different possible versions of what had happened, including a technical problem, Russia's Interfax news agency reported. Dramatic footage showed the pilot pulling the plane out of a steep fall as he sought to regain control, but the aircraft still suffered a catastrophic crash exploding in fire. The two main sites of the wreck at Aktau airport were hundreds of yards apart. Mangled human remains from the horror crash were strewn on rough ground at the airport. Dazed and bloodied passengers are seen emerging from the severed rear of the plane. Some sat in shock on the ground after escaping from the aircraft. Others managed to walk clear. Meanwhile, the front of the aircraft - torn asunder by the crash - could be seen ablaze in the distance. Plane crash survivor Kristina Evstigneeva, 34, a travel agent from Vladivostok, was in a serious condition and had to undergo brain surgery after the plane crash in Kazakhstan. Another survivor Zaur Mamedov, 36, was returning from his father's funeral in Baku. The plane attempted to land at Aktau in western Kazakhstan after being rerouted from Grozny and another Russian city Makhachkala due to fog. Two of the 29 survivors are children, believed to be girls aged 11 and 16. Bloodied and bruised passengers could be seen stumbling from a piece of the fuselage that had remained intact The front of the aircraft - torn asunder by the crash - could be seen ablaze in the distance At least ten people died after being thrown out of the plane The wreckage of Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 lays on the ground near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, December 25 'They are receiving all the necessary medical care in hospitals in the region,' said the Ministry of Health. '23 ambulance teams were mobilised to the scene of the incident.' Unconfirmed reports said that both pilots died in the crash, and from the crew only a female flight attendant survived. Tengrinews reported 37 citizens of Azerbaijan, 16 of Russia, six of Kazakhstan and three of Kyrgyzstan were on board the stricken plane. Following the crash, Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, was returning home from Russia where he had been due to attend a summit on Wednesday, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-backed leader of Chechnya, expressed his condolences in a statement and said those being treated in hospital were in an extremely serious condition and that he and others would pray for their rapid recovery. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences to Aliyev over the loss of life, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. 'Unfortunately, Azerbaijan's President Aliyev was forced to leave St Petersburg (where he had a summit). Putin has already called him and expressed his condolences in connection with the crash of the Azerbaijani plane in Aktau,' Peskov said. 'We deeply sympathise with those who lost their relatives and friends in this plane crash and wish a speedy recovery to all those who managed to survive.' Another angle shows a massive fireball where the aircraft hit the ground A drone view shows emergency specialists working at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan December 25 Reports said the plane collided with a bird and suffered a steering failure. The aircraft is seen coming in steeply descending its nose pointing down too steeply In this handout picture released by Kazakhstan's emergency situations ministry, emergency specialists work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25 Aktau residents have been asked to donate blood for the survivors. Authorities in Kazakhstan said a government commission had been set up to investigate what had happened and its members ordered to fly to the site and ensure that the families of the dead and injured were getting the help they needed. Kazakhstan would cooperate with Azerbaijan on the investigation, the government said. Grozny - the destination - is the capital of the Chechnya republic, a Russian region controlled by Vladimir Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov which regularly sends troops to fight in the war against Ukraine. Patients have spent an extra 4.6 million days in hospital over nearly a decade due to bed blocking. Figures stretching back to 2016/17 show the huge number of beds taken up by patients who are medically ready to be discharged. SNP ministers have previously promised to abolish bed blocking, also known as delayed discharge, which often occurs because no care home beds are available or care packages have been finalised to allow patients to be released. The number of cases of bed blocking already looks on course to soar to another record high during the current year, 2024/25. Since Public Health Scotland (PHS) began producing figures in July 2016, there have been a combined total of 4,606,266 bed days lost to delayed discharge. Alastair Cameron, chairman of the Scotland in Union campaign group, said: The Scottish Government has made repeated pledges to tackle delayed discharge, but things are only getting worse. Everyone knows it has long been a problem for Scotlands NHS, and people will be shocked to see the sheer scale of it. Its appalling that millions of bed days have been taken up while patients wait on hospital trolleys and others struggle to get an appointment at all. There have been a combined total of 4,606,266 bed days lost to delayed discharge since July 2016 John Swinney made promises over bed blocking This is the consequence of a nationalist government being more worried about its narrow constitutional agenda than about fixing the things which matter to Scots today. In 2015, the then SNP Health Secretary Shona Robison pledged to eradicate delayed discharge by the end of the year. The PHS data showed that 399,315 bed days were lost to delayed discharge in 2016/17 and this figure then increased every year until 2020/21, when it fell back to 358,426. Bed days lost to delayed discharge then increased annually to 540,302 in 2021/22, 661,705 in 2022/23 and 666,190 in 2023/24. The figures for 2024/25 had already hit 422,229 by October this year, meaning it is currently on course to be another record high. Shortly after he became First Minister earlier this year, John Swinney pledged to prioritise efforts to deliver sustainable social care by reducing delayed discharge. Alastair Cameron, chairman of the Scotland in Union campaign When he unveiled his programme for government in September, Mr Swinney also promised to intensify our work to tackle delayed discharge. He said: No one should remain in hospital any longer than they need to. 'So we will standardise best practice and an integrated approach, from the time a person enters hospital through to their timely discharge. This will ensure everyone can recover in the best, least intensive setting for them, whilst also making room in hospital for those who need it. A Scottish Government spokesman said: Most people are able to leave hospital with no delays - currently over 96 per cent of all hospital discharges happen without delay - but reducing delayed discharges further is a priority for the Scottish Government. Our Budget for 2025-26 will invest 200 million to reduce waiting list backlogs, improve capacity and remove barriers which keep some patients in hospital longer than necessary. We also want to expand Hospital at Home to treat 150,000 more patients, deliver additional support for GPs and invest in new hospitals at Belford and Monklands. Our Budget will unlock investment to drive long-term and lasting improvements - and the healthier population that we all want to see. 'The NHS needs Parliament to unite behind this Budget. India's former prime minister who is widely known for driving the country's economic reform has died aged 92 after a 'sudden loss of consciousness'. Manmohan Singh was admitted to New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences late on Thursday after his health rapidly deteriorated at home, a hospital spokesperson said in a statement. 'Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home, he was brought to the Medical Emergency at 8.06pm', the spokesperson said, but 'despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9.51pm'. Mr Singh was being treated for 'age-related medical conditions', the spokesperson added. A mild-mannered technocrat, Mr Singh became one of India's longest-serving prime ministers, holding office for 10 years and earning a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. He was chosen to fill the role in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of assassinated prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. But his image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. Mr Singh was elected to a second term as prime minister from 2009 to 2014 that was clouded by financial scandals and corruption charges over the organisation of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. India 's former prime minister Manmohan Singh has died aged 92 after a 'sudden loss of consciousness' Narendra Modi, pictured right, who succeeded Mr Singh in 2014, called him one of India's 'most distinguished leaders' India's ruling Congress party president Sonia Gandhi watched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh fills nomination papers seeking to retain her post as the party chief at her residence in New Delhi, India September 2, 2010 This led to the Congress Party's crushing defeat in the 2014 national election by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Modi. Mr Singh adopted a low profile after relinquishing the post of prime minister. Mr Modi, who succeeded Mr Singh in 2014, called him one of India's 'most distinguished leaders' who rose from humble origins and left 'a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years'. 'As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people's lives,' Mr Modi said in a post on social platform X. He called Mr Singh's interventions in Parliament as a lawmaker 'insightful' and said 'his wisdom and humility were always visible'. Priyanka Gandhi, the daughter of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and a Congress party member, said that Mr Singh was 'genuinely egalitarian, wise, strong-willed and courageous until the end'. Her brother Rahul, who leads Congress, said he had 'lost a mentor and guide'. Mr Singh was born on 26 September 1932, in a desolate village in the Punjab province of undivided India, which lacked both water and electricity. After attending Panjab University he took a master's degree at the University of Cambridge and then a DPhil at Oxford, earning a doctorate with a thesis on the role of exports and free trade in India's economy. He became a respected economist, then India's central bank governor and a government advisor but had no apparent plans for a political career when he was suddenly tapped to become finance minister in 1991. US President Barack Obama listens while Mr Singh speaks during a welcome ceremony at the White House in Washington, November 24, 2009 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, talks with Mr Singh ahead of the burning of the effigy of the Hindu demon Ravana at an event marking the Hindu festival of Dussehra in New Delhi on September 30, 2017 In 2012, his government was tipped into a minority after the Congress party's biggest ally quit their coalition in protest at the entry of foreign supermarkets During that tenure to 1996, Singh was the architect of reforms that saved India's economy from a severe balance of payments crisis, promoted deregulation and other measures that opened an insular country to the world. Famously quoting Victor Hugo in his maiden budget speech, he said: 'No power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come,' before adding: 'The emergence of India as a major economic power in the world happens to be one such idea.' In 2012, his government was tipped into a minority after the Congress party's biggest ally quit their coalition in protest at the entry of foreign supermarkets. Two years later Congress was decisively swept aside by the Bharatiya Janata Party under Narendra Modi, a strongman who promised to end the economic standstill and bring inclusive growth to the hinterlands. But at a press conference just months before he left office, Singh insisted he had done the best he could. 'I honestly believe that history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media or, for that matter, the opposition parties in parliament,' he said. While studying at Cambridge, the lack of funds bothered Mr Singh, his daughter, Daman Singh, wrote in a book on her parents. 'His tuition and living expenses came to about 600 a year. The Panjab University scholarship gave him about 160. 'For the rest he had to depend on his father. Manmohan was careful to live very stingily. 'Subsidised meals in the dining hall were relatively cheap at two shillings sixpence.' Daman Singh remembered her father as 'completely helpless about the house and could neither boil an egg, nor switch on the television'. How many of the presents that you opened on Christmas morning do you suppose were bought on a Scottish high street? Were the new clothes you unwrapped picked off the rails of a department store, felt for quality, deliberated over for size? I hazard it is as likely as not the giver never moved from the sofa during the selection process. That new dressing gown I put on for breakfast this morning? The fresh pair of boot slippers Im wearing right now? I was a few feet from the purchaser, watching the TV at home and pretending not to notice what she was doing, while she secured them on her phone. I reciprocated by scoring some books for her on Amazon. Her new pendant came from a ladies wear outlet with no high street presence in my home city. Its perfect, she says of the jewellery that came through the post. Of all the gifts from me that she unwrapped on Wednesday, only the box of Hotel Chocolat delights involved darkening the door of a high street premises. I could have had them mailed to me too, of course, but I happened to be passing. Glasgow city centre has been hit by a dramatic drop in customer footfall It is as well to own up to my own households internet-facilitated shopping habits before lamenting the failures of others to keep our high streets viable. Yes, a share of the blame is mine and probably yours too. In the pre-Covid era Id give up the best part of a weekend for a Christmas shopping splurge in Glasgow city centre. Id rope my daughter into these high street blitzes, promising to buy her lunch in return for a second opinion on scarves, tops, beauty products and other items outside my purchasing comfort zone. Our little December tradition disappeared during the pandemic and never returned. The high street is worse off for it, and so, I sometimes think, are we. Isnt there something rather more special about the gift sourced by getting off our back sides and going to the place that sells it? Dont we rather enjoy regaling the recipient with our tales from the retail frontline where we trailed round six emporia, lugging 16 bags, before finally alighting on a gem of a find on a back shelf? The internet strips shopping of the sense of adventure that forays into bricks and mortar stores once brought. It is so easy the challenge entirely disappears. Yet the challenge faced by shops up and down Scotlands high streets is becoming an existential one, as the latest retail employment figures bear out. More than 10,000 jobs have been lost in the sector in the last year alone which represents a 4.2 per cent drop. The town and city centres which the pandemic turned into retail deserts a few years ago are beginning to look much the same as they did then despite no restrictions on our movements. They are hollowing out and, as they do, they are losing their character through the disappearance of the independent outlets which once gave these high streets a sense of place. Shopping is increasingly homogenised throughout Scotland because we are largely shopping in the same stores the chains big enough to weather the inclement conditions thus far. We are part of the problem and I have no difficulty with real shops pointing that out. Yes, its possible youll find the same product cheaper online, they say, but please, were struggling; your high street is dying. If you value it, remember we are here. Customers are by no means the only problem. For years national and local governments war on motorists has achieved nothing as effectively as depriving high streets of business. Its ever harder, and more expensive, to get parked. Not so in retail parks. Our four biggest cities now have LEZs which slap fines on the drivers of older cars if they take them anywhere near the high street. Glasgow, the first to introduce such a thing, should have been a cautionary tale for Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee. It accelerated the decline of the once-bustling Sauchiehall Street and left some parts of the city centre more populated with boarded up shop units than ones still trading. And yet, like lemmings, our next three largest cities stumbled off the cliff in its wake. By the time restrictions came in in Aberdeen this year, the city had no department stores left. In the eyes of those who campaigned against the LEZ, its heart had already been hollowed out and it was a husk of its former self. Now a fresh hammer-blow. Although I lived there for most of my life until I was 30, I shudder at the thought of going back to see the former boom city on its knees, its once-glorious centre in apparent terminal decline. Who can doubt that the introduction of these bans on older cars drove thousands of customers into the arms of the online retail sector? Others will have made a beeline for the retail parks which make them more welcome. Some breathing space could have been afforded to high street stores if the Scottish Government had passed on the 75 per cent business rates relief which equivalent stores in England and Wales received this year. Alas, it withheld it, and the 40 per cent relief it plans to offer next year applies only to the hospitality sector. Scottish Labours economy spokesman Daniel Johnson points out the SNP has no plan to reverse the alarming decline in retail jobs. I wonder if it is not worse than that. One could almost be forgiven for thinking the plan is to accelerate the sectors doom. It is as if there is a general acceptance that the high street is finished that shopping habits have changed and government is a mere by-stander in the retail revolution. In fact, through punitive policies, it has been a key driver of it. The next few days will reveal whether the post-Christmas sales are as underwhelming as the pre-Christmas push was. And January and February will bring unbearable decisions. These are the months of deathly quiet which the festive bonanza is supposed to see retailers through. If the bonanza was more like a trickle, where next? A small suggestion too small, admittedly, to divert the tsunami of change is stores much accentuate the positives the in-person retail experience brings. That means, above all, knowledge of their products and, where applicable, the ability to demonstrate them. If you can learn as much or more about an item by reading the blurb next to it on Amazon as you can by chatting to a shop assistant, it seems to me the battle is already lost. When you ask a day-dreamer with a name-badge in an electrical shop what a product can do, for example, heaven help his future in sales if he merely picks up the info card beside it and reads you what it says. Make our visits worth the effort. Make the few extra pounds we spend an investment not just in our high streets but in the kind of staff they need to survive. A resolution for 2025? We must do better too or those sanitised town centres government is determined to serve up will not just be pollution-free, but utterly sterile. Complaints over botched cosmetic surgery have tripled in Scotland as people are left disfigured and at risk of dying. Unregulated firms are performing so-called nonsurgical treatments, such as lip and cheek fillers, without medical qualifications. The popularity of the procedures means the sector is a lucrative industry but campaigners have warned that a lack of medical training and regulation is putting people - most of whom are women - at risk. Last week the Scottish Government announced a consultation that it said would gather views on how to address gaps in the regulation of non-surgical cosmetic procedures. However, campaigners complain they have long raised the issue with the SNP administration and that failings in the way complications are recorded by the NHS means the true scale of the problem is unknown. Charity Save Face, which is calling for stricter rules, says it received 303 complaints in Scotland last year - almost triple the 121 passed to it in 2019. Ashton Collins, Director of Save Face, believes the cost to the NHS in Scotland as a result of complications caused by botched procedures will be astronomical. The campaigner said she warned the Scottish Government last December that they were not acting quickly enough. Unregulated firms are performing so-called nonsurgical treatments Jenni Minto, minister for Public Health and Women's Health However, she remains dissatisfied with the SNP-led administrations response to the issue and fears people remain at risk while the situation continues. Ms Collins said: Having these issues undocumented is more of an issue now because more laypersons are doing high risk surgeries. Earlier this year, mother-of-five Alice Webb, 33, is believed to have died after falling unwell from a non-surgical procedure known as a Brazilian Butt Lift. However, the real figure for procedures that have gone wrong will never be known and experts have warned that the NHS is letting patients down by not monitoring the issue properly. The NHS uses a coding system set by the World Health Organisation to identify treatment patients undergo. However, there is no specific code to capture people being treated as a result of botched cosmetic surgeries, which will instead be classified under the health issues they lead to, such as infection. An FOI request to all Scottish NHS groups by the Mail confirmed that none store data that would identify botched cosmetic procedures. As a result, some independent organisations have started collating what information they can on the problem. Susan MacMahon, a solicitor turned medical professional based in Glasgow, said she spends four or five hours a day collecting data and making reports about dangerous beauticians. Ms MacMahon said she told the Minister for Public Health and Womens Health, Jenni Minto, that they will have blood on their hands because these are foreseeable harms that the government could have stopped. Often, patients come to Ms McMahon asking her to fix procedures that have gone wrong. She added: Nothing is tracked, most people have no idea whats been injected into their face. Dr Nestor Demosthenous, one of Scotlands most experienced aesthetic doctors, said: I do feel that people in power dont understand aesthetics. The daughter of someone important has to come to severe harm before something changes. Scottish Conservative MSP Roz McCall said: SNP ministers have been full of warm words as they promised we would see tougher restrictions on these treatment from unqualified beauticians, but we have seen no urgency whatsoever to crackdown on them. These dangerous procedures have left people maimed or disfigured and have caused real physical and emotional distress. CASE STUDY: Doctor told me I was at risk of sepsis Niamh Freeburn almost developed sepsis after getting lip filler Niamh Freeburn was treated to stop her developing life-threatening sepsis after she received lip filler from a beautician who lied about being a nurse. The 25-year-old woke up to find her lips had become stuck to her pillowcase and as days went on, my lips looked like they had burns on them. She said: I booked an appointment at the doctors and they told me that if I had left it any longer I could have developed sepsis, so they put me on antibiotics immediately. I had to clean the wound out with salt every hour to stop it from becoming any more infected. The beautician blocked Ms Freeburn on Facebook, along with other women who commented that she had left them maimed. Ms Freeburn admitted that she regretted not doing deep enough research before having the procedure performed. But she felt it was crazy that someone could complete a day course to become a practitioner. Advertisement Rather than wasting time with yet another consultation, the SNP must crack down on these unlicensed practices and ensure these highly dangerous substances can only be accessed by a qualified practitioner. Minister for Public Health and Womens Health Jenni Minto said: The current gaps in regulation means that anyone can perform most of these procedures without the need for any formal training or qualifications and this consultation aims to gather a wide range of views on how best to address this. We want to make sure procedures are carried out by appropriately qualified and skilled practitioners so that clients have peace of mind. We are aware of the potential impact on businesses and we are working to make sure we get those details right. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that robust and proportionate regulation is introduced to ensure that people who choose to have these procedures, can do so with the confidence they will be safe. On the issue of NHS coding, a Scottish Government spokesman said: NHS Scotland uses an international coding system owned by the World Health Organisation. We recognise the lack of a specific code for complications from non-surgical aesthetic procedures is a problem and we are investigating the best way of raising this within the World Health Organisation structures. Last week, the Scottish Government launched a consultation on proposals that could see cosmetic treatments such as anti-wrinkle or lip filler jabs only be allowed take place in licensed clinics and be overseen by health professionals. Any invasive procedure such as liposuction or buttock lifts would have to be carried out by a doctor or nurse. A young man filming police as they confronted a group people early on Christmas Day was shot by an officer in Brazil. The incident took place in Osasco, a city in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, and was captured on surveillance video. Footage showed several officers from the military police arriving at the scene and being confronted by multiple people. One of the officers is seen exiting his cruiser and removing a gun from his holster before shoving two people. A second cruiser arrived when a woman tossed a cup filled with liquid at the officers. A cop then rushed at a man who can be seen holding his cellphone out, and grabbed him while attempting to hit him with a baton. The man took several steps back and disappeared from the security camera's view when the cop ran over and fired one shot. The victim was taken to Antonio Giglio Hospital for treatment. A 40-year-old man was placed in police custody. A 24-year-old man was seen in a surveillance footage recording a confrontation between residents and the military police before one cop nearly hit him with a baton and another shot him in Brazil early Wednesday The man recording police took several steps back and disappeared from the security camera's view when a cop ran over and fired one shot All four cops have been removed from active duty, the Sao Paulo Department of Public Security announced Thursday The Sao Paulo Department of Public Security initially said in statement that a '24-year-old man tried to take a police officer's weapon, which led the officer to intervene.' The surveillance video footage only showed the victim holding his mobile device with his right hand before he was nearly struck with the baton and then shot. The Sao Paulo Department of Public Security then backtracked on its original statement after it saw the videos and authorities were reviewing footage from the scene. 'Misconduct is not tolerated by the corporation and all appropriate measures are taken in the event of abuse by police officers,' the department said. Four officers involved were removed from duty Thursday afternoon. The shooting was the latest to tarnish the image of the military police, a state-level law enforcement agency. On December 2, a military police officer was caught on video throwing a delivery worker off a bridge during a traffic stop in the city of Sao Paulo. The cop and 12 other members of the police force were removed from duty as part of the investigation. Three armed boys were shot by a man they tried to rob outside his home in Texas, authorities said. A total of four boys, aged 12 to 14, approached the would-be victim, 25, near his apartment on the 12700 Block of North Houston Rosslyn Road in Houston on Thursday shortly after midnight. The man told police that the boys had pistols, but the man was also armed - and fired at them outside of his Willow Plaza Apartments home. Three of the boys were taken to the hospital, with one 12-year-old in the ICU after being shot multiple times. The other two, 12 and 13 years old, suffered non-fatal injuries, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. The boys involved also live in the apartment complex, ABC13 reported. Panicked neighbors sprung into action and called 911 when they saw the injured children. One resident of the apartment complex, Bruce Bailey, said he noticed something was wrong when he heard one of the boys shouting for help. Three boys, aged 12 to 14, were shot and injured while trying to rob a man, 25, at gunpoint outside his Houston apartment complex, authorities said Neighbor Bruce Bailey said he realized something was wrong when one of the boys started shouting for help 'I screamed out to him, "Are you okay?" And he just put his hand in the air and screamed for help and I went and tried to help him,' Bailey told KHOU. 'I called the sheriff's department and ambulance to come and pick up the kid - and of course - at that time I didn't know it was a little kid. 'My other neighbor came and held his and was talking to him, trying to keep him alive.' Deputies detained the man and the fourth child for questioning and several weapons were collected from the crime scene. The adult is said to be cooperating with the ongoing investigation. Even though he was not immediately detained, he stayed at the scene when authorities arrived. Investigators are determining whether the guns the boys used were BB guns or actual pistols. 'Of all things, being Christmas, and this is a child, first thing that comes to my mind is, number one, where is the parent. Number two, if you got here with a gun, what are you doing out here with a gun?' Bailey told KHOU. The sheriff's office was unable to tell DailyMail.com if the juveniles knew the man they tried to rob. HCSO Violent Offenders detectives are conducting the investigation, which will likely go to the Harris County District Attorney's office for grand jury review. The incident occurred at the Willow Plaza Apartments in Houston on Thursday just after midnight The Harris County Sheriff's Office said they are still investigating the situation and recovered several weapons from the scene Earlier this year, three children were arrested for robbing a Houston Wells Fargo bank. Dubbed the 'little rascals' by the FBI, the culprits were aged just 11, 12 and 13 when they held up the bank on March 14. Police said they passed a threatening note to a teller and got away on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. They were believed to be armed, but did not actually show a weapon while robbing the bank. Parents of two of the boys came forward and identified them after pictures of them were released by investigators, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. The third boy was recognized by police following a fight. The sheriff's office said a weapon and a distinctive item pictured in one of the photos was recovered. A lost dog found wet in the freezing cold on Christmas Eve led police to its owner who tragically died after falling into a pond in Massachusetts. Owen Kasozi, 30, was walking her beloved pooch named Bokka, a four-year-old Aussie Shepherd, in J.C. Phillips Nature Preserve located in Beverly, a suburb in Boston, around 3pm on Tuesday when she vanished. Her concerned family called police and filed a missing person's report. The Beverly Police Department, Beverly Fire Department, the Massachusetts State Police searched the area for the young woman by helicopter and on foot. Bokka was found hours later in a town called Topsfied, approximately five miles from where the nature preserve is located, soaking wet and freezing cold. Beverly Police Chief John G. LeLacheur and Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker announced the grim news on Christmas Day that Kasozi was deceased and her body was found in Wenham Lake in Beverly. Alexandria Nakato told DailyMail.com that Owen was her younger sister but was too grief-stricken to speak. In a Facebook post, she wrote 'my beautiful sister is gone,' less than 24 hours after she went missing. Owen Kasozi, 30, tragically died on Christmas Eve after walking her dog at a nature preserve A beautiful photo of Owen with her 4-year-old Aussie shepherd mix named Bokka It is unclear if the blue-eyed-brown-eyed dog suffered any hypothermia from the tragic event. The area that Kasozi was located in is believed to be a popular dog-walking location. Authorities believe the young woman may have been chasing after her dog when she fell into the freezing lake and was unable to extricate herself. No foul play is expected at this time, and the official cause of death will be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, as per a news release. The Essex County District Attorney said, 'This is not the search outcome that anyone was hoping for.' 'We appreciate the efforts of all our law enforcement partners who worked diligently over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to locate Owen Kasozi. Our thoughts are with her family as they begin to cope with this painful loss,' he said. Kasozi's sister wrote in a GoFundMe about the horrific tragedy. 'In a heartbreaking accident, she fell into a pond in the park and succumbed to the cold, leaving us all in shock and sorrow,' Nakato wrote. A photo of Wenham Lake where the Christmas Eve tragedy took place Kasozi driving with her beloved pooch who survived the tragedy 'Owen was a vibrant soul who brought joy and laughter to everyone she met. Her passion for life was infectious, and she had a unique ability to make those around her feel valued and loved. 'She cherished her family and friends deeply, and her absence will be felt profoundly in our lives.' The family is planning a burial service for Kasozi on Friday and reaching out to the community to help them cover the unexpected burial costs. 'Your contributions, no matter how small, will allow us to give her a dignified farewell during this difficult time,' Nakato wrote, in part. 'We deeply appreciate your support and compassion As of Thursday afternoon, nearly $7,400 has been raised towards their goal of $30,000. A family were left mortified after they were charged an eyewatering 618 for two hotdogs at a popular Christmas market. Laure Brumpton, 34, and her husband Alan, 37, were enjoying a day out at Nottingham's Christmas markets when they decided to buy their two children a festive hot dog treat. However, Mr Brumpton was left shocked when instead of being charged the expected amount of 18 it instead cost over 600. The apologetic stallholder quickly noticed the error and reassured the couple they would receive a full refund. Over a week since Mr Brumpton paid for what has already been dubbed 'the UK's most expensive hot dog' Mrs Brumpton claimed they are still waiting for a refund. The mother from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, filmed the incident and shared it on TikTok. In the video, the vendor can be seen holding the card reader as she repeatedly says 'sorry'. Mrs Brumpton then shared a picture of the receipt showing the 600 refund. Laura Brumpton from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, filmed the incident and shared it on TikTok Mrs Brumpton then shared a picture of the receipt showing the 600 refund Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Mrs Brumpton described it as an 'honest mistake' but relented that it was 'a lot of money to be missing just before Christmas'. She said: 'It's just typical of our family. We have a lot of bad luck. And around this time of year. It's a bit of a thing - don't go out the house because anything could happen around Christmas.' 'We were still charged for the sausages. I thought, especially because it was for the kids, I thought they'd at least get a free sausage. It was just a very expensive family day out. The kids actually said they tasted good.' The owner of a cleaning business also revealed that her husband used Apple Pay and out of habit tapped it seemingly without looking at the amount. The incident has prompted a strong reaction from social media users. One person joked it was 'still a bargain' for a Christmas market hot dog. However, others failed to see the funny side with one highlighting the 'inconvenience' of the overcharge. Another said: 'I can't believe she didn't refund the full amount for the inconvenience and error.' Laure Brumpton, 34, and her husband Alan, 37, were enjoying a day out at Nottingham 's Christmas markets (pictured) when they decided to buy their two children a festive hot dog treat A different person was shock at the actual price tag, saying: '18 for two hotdogs is crazy.' One user advised: 'This is why you should always check what they've typed in before you put your card on the reader.' Someone else said: 'What about the people that don't notice if that happens.' MailOnline have approached Nottingham Winter Wonderland for a comment. A severed human leg was discovered on the beach of a wealthy coastal California community. A beach-goer was on an early Christmas Day stroll along Bluff Cove Trail when they stumbled upon a portion of a human leg atop the rocks of the Palos Verdes Estates' shoreline, near the 800 block of Paseo Del Mar. Officers of the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department responded to the scene after a call came in at around 7am Wednesday morning informing them of the grim discovery. The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office recovered the remains, but no identification has been made. 'We don't have any reason to believe that there is any foul play in this instance,' Aaron Belda, the captain of the department, told The Los Angeles Daily News. Cadaver dogs were also deployed to the area to search for any additional human remains, but nothing else was found. The shocking discovery comes just one day after the boat of two missing fishermen was found crashed on the Palos Verdes coastline. Two men, who were only identified as in their 50s, went out hoop-net fishing from the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles Monday night, KTLA News reported. A beach-goer was on an early Christmas Day stroll along Bluff Cove Trail when they stumbled upon a portion of a human leg atop the rocks of the Palos Verdes Estates' beach shoreline Cadaver dogs were deployed to the area to search for any additional human remains, but nothing else was found Police believe that there is no foul play involved in Wednesday mornings discovery The Los Angeles County Fire Department was called at around 5am Tuesday morning after the pair never returned back for a scheduled meet-up with a friend, despite being expected back by midnight. A search utilizing boats began just 30 minutes after the initial call and the vessel was eventually found crashed and overturned in a rocky area at the base of the cliffs between Bluff Cove and Lunada Bay in Palos Verdes Estates, CBS News reported. Several people who saw the wreckage told the KTLA News that the boat was riddled with holes and life vests. The discovery prompted a shoreline search in which several people on foot attempted to find any signs of the missing men. Efforts also continued in the water with boats, jet skis and a drone used to try to locate the men. Due to dangers of rough weather conditions, the search was scaled back. The Coast Guard ultimately announced its suspension on Wednesday after finding no evidence that the men could be alive. Police have not found any evidence to indicate that the severed human leg a day later belongs to one of the missing fishermen, The Daily News reported. 'We're not ruling anything out, but that has not been determined at this point,' Belda noted. The grim discovery came just a day after the boat of two missing fishermen was found crashed and overturned in a rocky area at the base of the cliffs between Bluff Cove and Lunada Bay in Palos Verdes Estates Despite the boat being discovered in the same area as the severed human leg, officers have found no supporting information to believe that the two finds are connected Just last month, another beach-goer called 911 after a human skull and other remains were found along the low-tide waterline of Rat Beach, which is located in the 300 block of Paseo Del Mar 'No identification has been made and we don't have any supporting information to believe that they are connected.' Just last month, another beach-goer called 911 after a human skull and other remains were found along the low-tide waterline of Rat Beach, which is located in the 300 block of Paseo Del Mar, according to a press release. When officers of the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department responded to the scene, they found additional bones in the area. 'And sure enough, when they got there, they saw what looked to be a skull and a part of a skeleton, a torso in the surf,' Belda told The Daily Breeze in November. Investigators with the L.A. County Medical Examiner's Office also responded to the call and ultimately confirmed that the bones were those of a human. Information on the possible age or gender of the remains along with any information regarding the date or cause of death were not available after the discovery, prompting an investigation. Other details regarding the gruesome Christmas morning discovery is still unknown at this time. Captain Belda told DailyMail.com that a secondary search is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, but the investigation is still in its early stages. Palos Verdes Estates is considered one of the wealthiest communities in the nation, notable for its luxurious, oceanfront properties and well-known trails. Governor Greg Abbott is joined by Mayor John Whitmire, PUC Texas Chairman Thomas Gleeson and Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd for a briefing and press conference on Texas ongoing response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Beryl on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has put state resources and agencies on alert ahead of the severe storms projected to slam Houston Thursday afternoon, according to a Thursday news release. REWIND TIME: Here are some of the worst tornadoes to hit the Houston area since 1950 Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hail and flash flooding are also a possibility throughout the afternoon, prompting Abbott to activate Texas A&M Task Force 1, which is comprised of rescue boat squadrons equipped to conduct lifesaving operations during high-water events, according to the release. "Texas is prepared to deploy all necessary resources to help local officials respond to severe weather threats," Abbott said in the release. "As Texans and out-of-state visitors begin traveling after the Christmas holiday, its crucial that everyone regularly monitor road conditions, make an emergency plan, and heed the guidance of state and local officials." Abbott also placed state urban search and rescue teams and an emergency medical task force on standby in the event Thursday's severe storms cause significant infrastructure damage. DEADLY SIX: The 6 deadliest Texas storms of the 21st century Advertisement Article continues below this ad According to Ballard's weather projections, the heavy rainfall that impacted Houston through Christmas Eve has created saturated soil conditions in some areas of the city. More rainfall Thursday has the potential to lead to localized flash flooding in areas with waterlogged soil. This video is no longer available This video is no longer available King Charles has 'clearly made up his mind' about Prince Harry and Prince Andrew after not mentioning either of them in his Christmas Day speech, a royal expert has claimed. Addressing the nation in a pre-recorded message from the Fitzrovia Chapel in London, the King paid tribute to the medical staff who supported him and the Princess of Wales during their cancer treatment. He also spoke of his pride at how communities across the UK responded to the riots in the summer and included snippets of Prince William and the wider Royal Family. But his message did not mention Harry, Meghan or his disgraced brother Andrew. Royal expert and historian Dr Tessa Dunlop said the speech showed that Charles, 76, was 'choosing to focus on family strengths, not weaknesses, to shore up the nation'. She told The Mirror: 'Lest we are in any doubt, the clever film that accompanied this speech, underscored the importance of the King's royal A-Team, on hand to deliver what Charles considers to be an alternative to global killing: a listening and understanding mission that leads to actions for the good of all. 'As well as a replay of the King's famous hug with the New Zealand women's rugby team, there was footage of Kate at Trooping the Colour, Camilla in Scotland and Australia, William serving food to the homeless and, of course, those royal stalwarts, Princess Anne and the Edinburghs.' Harry and Andrew have not featured in the royal monarch's Christmas Speech for years. The monarch, 76, filmed his special message from a former hospital chapel in London to emphasise the link with the nation's vital healthcare community King Charles has 'clearly made up his mind' about Prince Harry (pictured in 2023), a royal expert has claimed Prince Andrew have not featured in the royal monarch's Christmas Speech for years. The late Queen Elizabeth notably missed the pair off her message in 2019 and they have not been spoken about in a festive speech since. MailOnline royal expert Robert Hardman said the King's change of backdrop was also a sign of the warring relationships in the firm. He said the unusual choice to film the Christmas speech outside of royal grounds may have spared Charles from the usual intense analysis of the photos on display. Instead of having framed photographs behind him at Buckingham Palace like the Queen traditionally did, the King had only a Christmas tree, lights and a beautiful scene of the chapel. Mr Hardman said: 'By avoiding a royal desk or sitting room, the King has also avoided any micro-analysis of whichever royal photographs and portraits are in shot, and thus hinting at who is (or is not) in royal favour. The Fitzrovia Chapel reveals nothing more tantalising than a Christmas tree decorated with 'sustainable' decorations.' The Christmas message was filmed for only the fourth time 'on location', rather than on a royal estate. The official Royal Family Instagram account have now shared a clip showing how much work went into getting everything perfect for the annual occasion. The Monarch appeared on TV screens on Wednesday to deliver his speech from the Fitzrovia Chapel in London (pictured) King Charles III attends a Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace for the Royal Family The clip showed the Band of the Grenadier Guards getting dressed in their bold scarlet-red uniform, along with Charles practising his speech. Part of the video message was filmed using a drone which flew through the doors of the building before stopping short of the smart guards. Members of the team also helped decorate the atmosphere with lit festive trees and decorations to help set the scene. It also showed Charles discussing with technicians how to use the autocue to read his speech, along with reviewing the footage after it had been filmed. The official Royal Family Instagram account wrote: 'Behind the lens. 'A special glimpse into the incredible talent, creativity, and teamwork that brings The King's Christmas Broadcast to life.' A California judge has ordered a court to respect the pronouns chosen by a rape-accused prisoner despite the DA's concerns the inmate is exploiting legal protections meant for transgender convicts. Madera County Judge Katherine Rigby ruled last week that prosecutors must refer to transgender prisoner Tremaine Carroll, 52, by female pronouns. Carroll is accused of raping two women and impregnating a third while incarcerated at the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla where she was serving 25 years for robbing a jewellery store. Carroll was housed at the female-only jail after being transferred from a male prison despite previously admitting kidnapping charges and facing allegations of other sexual assaults. California's Transgender Respect, Agency and Dignity Act means that she was able to swap jails without any evaluation or evidence of a transition, according to Madera County District Attorney Sally Moreno. 'This is a person who is not a woman in any sense of the word,' Moreno told ABC7 as she railed against Rigby's decision. Moreno said the pronoun issue complicates her ability to prosecute Carroll for rape. A California judge has ordered a court to respect the pronouns chosen by double rape-accused prisoner Tremaine Carroll, despite the DA's concerns the inmate is exploiting legal protections meant for transgender convicts Judge Katherine Rigby said that prosecutors must refer to transgender prisoner Carroll, 52, by female pronouns 'This is a particular issue in this case because it's confusing to the jury. In California, rape is a crime that has to be accomplished by a man,' she said. Supervising Deputy District Attorney Eric DuTemple said the decision was unfair to the alleged victims. 'Its just absolutely insane that a victim would have to get on the stand and police their pronoun usage when trying to recite one of the scariest times of their lives,' he said. Carroll has been accused of raping two of his cellmates and impregnating another woman. 'After his first cellmate became pregnant and was moved to Los Angeles, two other cellmates of his had complained that he had raped them, so we have filed rape charges against this inmate,' said Moreno. One of the women previously told DailyMail.com how she has been left with lasting trauma after she was allegedly attacked by Carroll in the showers. The accused has since been transferred to Salinas Valley State Prison for men and is due back in court in January. The decision has been blasted by District Attorney Sally Moreno who said the pronoun issue complicates her ability to prosecute Carroll for rape as California law states the is an offense that can only be carried out by a man Carroll is accused of raping two women and impregnating a third while incarcerated at the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla California's Transgender Respect, Agency and Dignity Act means that she was able to swap jails without any evaluation or evidence of a transition but Carroll has now been transferred back to Salinas Valley State prison for men (pictured) in light of the allegations Women's rights group Wolf argued that Rigby's decision could have a chilling effect on prosecution. 'For attorneys who wish to advocate for their clients zealously, rulings that compel pronoun use make their practice more difficult and perilous,' the organization said. 'CDCR is committed to providing a safe, humane, respectful and rehabilitative environment for all incarcerated people,' the corrections department said in a statement. 'Senate Bill 132, The Transgender Respect, Agency and Dignity Act, became effective on January 1, 2021. 'It allows incarcerated transgender, non-binary and intersex people to request to be housed and searched in a manner consistent with their gender identity. 'CDCR reviews every request to be transferred under Senate Bill 132 to determine whether that move, based on the individual's case factors, would present a safety and management concern. 'At all our institutions, CDCR thoroughly investigates all allegations of sexual abuse, sexual misconduct, and sexual harassment pursuant to our zero-tolerance policy and as mandated by the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act. CDCR does not comment on cases in litigation.' A new super long range Chinese fighter jet has stunned the world after the plane was spotted on its maiden voyage missing one key feature. The stealthy 'super weapon' was spotted over China and speculation suggests the country may be on the edge of unveiling new high-performance combat aircraft. According to defence news and analysis website The War Zone, the fighter is speculated to have the ability to fly on edge of space and has been designed to target US early warning aircraft and tankers that could not be reached before. 'But above all else, if procured in an operation form by the PLAAF, it would be able to fly over long regional distances and loiter for extended periods on station far from home without tanker support - something China lacks in terms of capacity versus the United States,' the website stated. 'It would also presumably be able to do this in closer proximity to threats than any other manned aircraft in China's arsenal'. The new jet was spotted alongside a Chengdu J-20, the current generation of fighters - compared to the US Air Force's F-22. The War Zone stated the plane was spotted conducting a daytime test flight, alongside the current generation serving as a chase plane. It was seen flying with its landing gear open, a standard practice during early testing stages, from the airfield of the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, which develops Chinese drones and fighters. The new jet, on top, was spotted alongside a Chengdu J-20, the current generation of fighters - compared to the US Air Force's F-22. According to defence news and analysis website The War Zone, the plane was spotted conducting a daytime test flight The new jet, pictured, was spotted alongside a Chengdu J-20, the current generation of fighters The new aircraft appeared in social media posts revealing a large, three-engine warplane with a cockpit and diamond-style wing with no vertical tails - which may help the aircraft to avoid being detected in radars. According to Justin Bronk, Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), while the aircraft's design is 'fascinating,' it is likely part of China's ongoing regional bomber/strike fighter development, rather than their sixth-generation fighter programme. He took to X to caution that the aircraft might not match the performance expectations set by the US NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance) - a United States Air Force sixth-generation air superiority initiative - but it could represent a significant leap in Chinas tactical airpower capabilities. According to Aviation Weekly, the aircraft's engines are fed by a single dorsal inlet and two ventral inlets. The dorsal inlet features a stealth-enhancing diverterless supersonic inlet. The multiple intakes appear to be positioned for optimal stealth and high-speed performance, the UK Defence Journal has suggested. The aircraft's large ventral fuselage section likely provides room for an internal weapons bay and the main landing gear features two wheels each, a hallmark of heavy fighter-bombers, such as the Sukhoi Su-34. Images of the potential super fighter have also indicated that there are possible missile and bomb loading hatches under the fuselage, further enhancing radar stealth. Engine nozzles located above the fuselage also reduce heat radiation and noise. The fighter may also have aerodynamic efficiencies which would provide better performance for high-speed dashes and cruising flight. The War Zone stated the plane was spotted conducting a daytime test flight, alongside the current generation serving as a chase plane The new aircraft appeared in social media posts revealing a large, three-engine warplane with a cockpit and diamond-style wing with no vertical tails - which may help the aircraft to avoid being detected in radars Images of the potential super fighter have also indicated that there are possible missile and bomb loading hatches under the fuselage, further enhancing radar stealth It goes on to say: 'Clearly, this aircraft incorporates significantly greater low observable technologies that are a leap ahead of the J-20, beyond its tailless design.' The aircraft also seems to be larger than its predecessor, which the website says: 'would seem to reflect an overarching concern with long endurance with comparatively massive internal volume to accommodate a very large fuel load, as well as weapons and sensors.' The jet's design have also led to some speculation that it may have three engines - something very unorthodox. This is said to being down to the aircraft's higher weight which would need more engines to meet aggressive performance goals - especially for high speed flights and operations at high altitudes. Now-retired Air Force Gen. Mark D. Kelly, had said that it would be no surprise if China had been working on a new generation of fighter jets. He warned that China 'are not dummies. They know what they're doing.' He added that he also expected the Chinese sixth-generation air combat program to include an 'exponential' improvement in stealth compared with current platforms. A former equestrian champion was reportedly tortured for 21 years in a Syrian jail after he beat dictator Bashar al Assad's older brother in a competition. Adnan Kassar, who won several gold medals and captained the national equestrian team in the 1980s was a close friend of Assad, whose elder brother Bassel was also a fellow equestrian. Bassel was the original heir to the Syrian presidency before he died in a car crash in 1994, leading Assad to return from London where he was working as an eye doctor to take on the political role. But Kassar and Assad's friendship would take a turn for the worst when the pair competed against each other and Kassar emerged victorious. Speaking to Sky News about the horror consequences he faced, following the collapse of Assad's brutal regime, he recalled how the crowd lifted him onto their shoulders after he won the competition, describing it as a moment of pure joy. 'For Bassel, it wasn't the same,' Kassar said. 'That day marked the beginning of my nightmare'. After the competition, Kassar was arrested over vague accusations which he believes were made up by a jealous Bassel. The former champion told the news channel how his detention spiralled into a decades long ordeal, filled with brutality and psychological abuse. Adnan Kassar, pictured, who won several gold medals and captained the national equestrian team in the 1980s was a close friend of Assad, whose elder brother Bassel was also a fellow equestrian Kassar and Assad's friendship would take a turn for the worst when the pair competed against each other and Kassar emerged victorious Bassel (pictured centre) was the original heir to the Syrian presidency before he died in a car crash in 1994, leading Assad to return from London where he was working as an eye doctor to take on the political role Kassar claims he was initially kept underground for six months, while suffering torrents of physical abuse at the hands of Assad's men. He was then transferred to Syria's notorious Sednaya Prison, dubbed the 'human slaughterhouse', where there he said 'the torture only got worse'. Assad previously denied both killing thousands of detainees at Sednaya as well as using a secret crematorium to dispose of their remains in 2017. Many detainees have revealed they were raped while imprisoned, and in some cases, forced to rape other inmates. Torture and severe beatings from guards were used as a regular form of punishment and degradation, often leading individuals to life-long damage, disability, and even death. Cell floors were covered with the blood and pus from injured prisoners, according to a 2017 Amnesty report, with the corpses of dead detainees collected by prison guards at 9am each morning. But with no end in sight, Kassar then explained how the awful treatment intensified after Bassel's sudden death. 'They blamed me for his death, every year on the anniversary of his passing, the torture intensified,' he said. After enduring the harsh conditions at Sednaya, Kassar was then relocated to Tadmur Prison where he spent seven-and-a-half years. The military prison (Pictured from an aerial view) is famed for its inhumane conditions, systematic torture and mass executions Nooses were found after rebel fighters liberated the Sednaya Military Prison near Damascus Ropes are seen strewn across the floor of the facility, which has become notorious for its brutal treatment of inmates People kick a poster depicting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after Syria's army command notified officers that al-Assad's 24-year rule had ended He recalled Assad's men piercing his ear one morning, before breaking his jaw in the evening, with acts such a praying met with severe punishment. 'For praying, they lashed me 1,000 times. My feet were torn apart, my bones exposed,' Kassar told the news channel. Along the years, many activists have raised his case and several international appeals were put forward in a bid to free him from his imprisonment. But his name was repeatedly left out of amnesty decrees, and he was left to rot in numerous Syrian hellhole prisons for over two decades. Kassar was finally released on June 16, 2014, after prolonged pressure from international human rights groups but has stayed silent on his ordeal until now. 'After years of imprisonment, torture, and injustice, the revolution finally toppled the dictatorial regime,' he added. But Assad's atrocities and human rights violations spread beyond prison walls after UN weapons inspectors returned 'overwhelming and indisputable' evidence of the use of nerve gas in Syria in 2013. Assad faced calls for international military action against his government after the alleged chemical weapons attacks in the suburbs of Damascus. Then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the August 21 attack 'the worst use of weapons of mass destruction in the 21st century.' The United States said that attack may have killed more than 1,400, including hundreds of civilians. The Syrian opposition accused pro-Assad forces of having carried out the attacks, but Assad denied having used chemical weapons and asserted that, if such weapons had been used, rebel forces were to blame. Assad's tactics against the rebels continued to draw international condemnation even when his forces refrained from using chemical weapons. The mystery surrounding the death of Baby Driver star Hudson Meek continues as police say they are treating it as an accident. Police do not believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the 16-year-old's death and have ruled out foul play, TMZ reported on Thursday. However, officials have not revealed any additional details, and it's unclear whether the accident involved a vehicular crash or anyone else. It's also unclear if Hudson had been driving. Meek died on Saturday after being critically injured two days earlier when he was ejected from a moving vehicle in his hometown in Alabama. Meek's family shared a heartbreaking tribute for the actor on their social media. 'Our hearts are broken to share that Hudson Meek went home to be with Jesus tonight,' wrote his mother Lani Wells Meek on Facebook. Police have ruled out foul play in the death of Baby Driver star Hudson Meek at 16 Meek was known for portraying the younger version of the main character in the 2017 action flick Baby Driver The family of Baby Driver star Hudson Meek shared a heartbreaking tribute for the 16-year-old following his tragic death 'His 16 years on this earth were far too short, but he accomplished so much and significantly impacted everyone he met.' The Meek family added that 'Specific details regarding a Celebration of Hudsons Life to be held on December 28, as well as how to contribute to a scholarship in Hudsons memory at Vestavia Hills High School in lieu of flowers, will follow. 'Please pray for our family and friends as we all process this sudden and tragic loss.' The actor sustained blunt force trauma after falling from the car at 10.45pm according to the Jefferson County Coroner's Office. He was taken to the UAB Hospital in Birmingham but died from his injuries on Saturday night less than 48 hours after the coroner said he was thrown from a moving motor vehicle, per ABC 33/40 News. The Vestavia Hills Police Department is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Meek's death, WVTM reports. He was surrounded by his friends and family when he passed away peacefully, per his obituary. Meek was known for portraying the younger version of the main character in the 2017 action flick Baby Driver. Following his breakthrough role, he went on to star in the reboot of MacGyver. He also made guest appearances on several television series including the NBC drama Found. The actor, pictured in 2015, sustained blunt force trauma after 'falling from a moving vehicle' The Vestavia Hills Police Department is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Meek's death His professional acting credits date back to 2014 when he first starred in The Santa Con alongside Melissa Joan Hart and Jaleel White. It was revealed that he also worked on several movies and shows to be released posthumously in 2025, according to the obituary. In his memory, his loved ones are establishing the Hudson J. Meek Memorial Scholarship. In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations to the scholarship, which will be awarded annually to a Vestavia Hills High School student. He is survived by father Derek Firth Meek and mother Lani Wells Meek as well as his older brother Tucker Firth Meek and grandmothers Margaret Green Meek and Faye Searcy Wells. DailyMail.com has reached out to the Vestavia police department for more information on Meek's death. Israel's attorney general has ordered police to open an investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wife on suspicion of harassing political opponents and witnesses in the Israeli leader's corruption trial. The Israeli Justice Ministry made the announcement in a terse message late Thursday, saying the investigation would focus on the findings of a recent report by the 'Uvda' investigative program into Sara Netanyahu. The program uncovered a trove of WhatsApp messages in which Mrs Netanyahu appears to instruct a former aide to organise protests against political opponents and to intimidate Hadas Klein, a key witness in the trial. The announcement did not mention Mrs Netanyahu by name, and the Justice Ministry declined further comment. But in a video released earlier Thursday, Netanyahu listed what he said were the many kind and charitable acts by his wife and blasted the Uvda report as 'lies.' It was the latest in a long line of legal troubles for the Netanyahus - highlighted by the prime minister's ongoing corruption trial. The Prime Minister will answer during his appearances to charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases. He is accused of promoting advantageous regulation for media moguls in exchange for favourable coverage of himself and his family. Israel's attorney general has ordered police to open an investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wife The Uvda program uncovered a trove of WhatsApp messages in which Mrs Sara Netanyahu appears to instruct a former aide to organise protests against political opponents and to intimidate Hadas Klein, a key witness in the trial He is also accused of accepting tens of thousands of dollars worth of cigars and champagne from a billionaire Hollywood producer in exchange for assisting him with personal and business interests. But the Prime Minister told his version of events and shared personal details about his life that he might hope would shape the judges' perception of him. He said at the start of his career he would lose sleep over media coverage but learned it had no meaningful bearing - in contrast to the prosecution's attempts to paint him as image-obsessed. He said he smoked cigars but could hardly finish them because of his workload, and hated champagne. Earlier this month he promised defiantly to refute the corruption allegations against him as he began giving evidence in his trial. Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli leader to take the stand as a criminal defendant at the same time as he faces an international arrest warrant for war crimes allegations. In a packed Tel Aviv courtroom, Netanyahu portrayed himself as a dedicated leader and a defender of Israel's interests, swatting away the charges against him as a 'drop in the sea' compared to the challenges he has faced protecting his country. He also said he could balance appearing at his trial with his duties as prime minister. Supporters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold up signs outside Tel Aviv's court as Netanyahu testifies in a corruption trial on December 10 The charges have divided Israel, sparking protests and a political crisis over his fitness to serve under indictment Demonstrators protest against Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu outside the court in Tel Aviv 'I waited eight years for this moment, to say the truth,' Mr Netanyahu said, adding that his evidence would 'poke holes in the absurd accusations'. The charges against Netanyahu have cast another shadow over the country's longest-serving leader and complicated his legacy. They have divided Israel, sparking protests and a political crisis over his fitness to serve under indictment. Netanyahu denies the charges and says he is the victim of a 'witch hunt' by overzealous prosecutors, police and the media. Under Israeli law, indicted prime ministers are not required to step down, but the charges against Netanyahu cleaved deep divisions in Israel. Protesters have demanded that he resign and former political allies have refused to serve in government with the Israeli leader, triggering a political crisis that led to five elections in less than four years beginning in 2019. Netanyahu's supporters view the charges as the result of bias and overreach by the justice system. Despite the pressure, Netanyahu has rejected calls to step down and has used his position as prime minister to lash out at law enforcement, media and courts. The trial will be an inconvenient legal spectacle for the Israeli leader at a time when he is still fighting a war in Gaza with no end in sight and as he faces an international arrest warrant over Israel's conduct during that conflict. Some Ivy League schools have been advising foreign students to rush back from their Christmas break before Donald Trump becomes president and introduces travel bans. Top institutions including Harvard and NYU have given out recommendations for international pupils in light of Trump's pledges to instate more hardline immigration policies on his return to the White House on January 20. There were more than 1.1 million international students enrolled in American colleges and universities over the last academic year, and many are now likely to be weighing up their futures in light of the incoming new regime. 'It's a scary time for international students,' recent graduate Pramath Pratap Misra, who is from India, told CNN. The 23-year-old earned a bachelor's degree in political science this year from NYU - the school with the most international students in the US during the last academic year at 27,000. Trump has pledged to launch what he calls 'the biggest mass deportation in American history' during his second term in office. Within hours of his inauguration as America's 47th president, Trump is expected to sign a series of executive orders, including a radical move to close the border, citing an immigration crisis. Trump has also promised to expand his previous travel ban on people from majority Muslim countries, and the revocation of student visas of 'radical anti-American and antisemitic foreigners'. Some Ivy League schools have been advising foreign students to rush back from their Christmas break before Donald Trump becomes president Top institutions including Harvard (pictured) and NYU have given out recommendations for international pupils in light of Trump's pledges to instate more hardline immigration policies on his return to the White House on January 20 Foreign students usually come to the US on nonimmigrant visas which allow them to study in the country without carving out a legal pathway for them to stay post-graduation. The first Trump administration made moves to restrict the entry of all non-American students and workers - and the issue of immigration is even more of a hot-button topic this time around. Cornell University's Office of Global Learning told students who are traveling abroad to return before January 21 or to 'communicate with an advisor about your travel plans and be prepared for delays.' 'A travel ban is likely to go into effect soon after inauguration,' the university warned students in November. 'The ban is likely to include citizens of the countries targeted in the first Trump administration: Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Sudan, Tanzania, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, and Somalia. 'New countries could be added to this list, particularly China and India.' At the University of Southern California, which hosts more than 17,000 international students per year, pupils were advised to return to the US one week ahead of Trump's inauguration. 'One or more executive orders impacting travel and visa processing' may be issued, the school said. NYU has the most international students in the US during the last academic year at 27,000 'While there's no certainty such orders will be issued, the safest way to avoid any challenges is to be physically present in the U.S. before the Spring semester begins on January 13, 2025.' Harvard University's International Office also advised students to 'budget time ahead of the semester start, prior to the January Martin Luther King holiday' to avoid disruptions or delays. Wesleyan University also recommended that any traveling students return by January 19 amid 'uncertainties around President-elect Donald Trump's plans for immigration-related policy.' NYU issued a reassuring email to students shortly after the election in November, telling students that 'as a global institution, we believe that the cross-border mobility of our students and scholars is of critical importance.' 'We will be monitoring any immigration-related proposals, laws, and actions that could be of concern to our community,' the email added. The head of the World Health Organisation has revealed that a member of his crew was injured after the team were caught up in an Israeli strike at Yemen's airport. Israeli forces struck the airport in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa earlier today - killing at least two people. Shocking footage from the inside the airport shows passengers rushing to escape the deadly air strike. Tedros Adhanon Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the WHO, was in the airport at the time of the aerial attack. He was in Yemen to negotiate the release of detained staff and assess the health and humanitarian situation in the war torn country. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he has revealed that one of his plane's crew members was injured. Mr Ghebreyesus said: 'As we were about to board our flight from Sanaa, about two hours ago, the airport came under aerial bombardment. 'One of our plane's crew members was injured. At least two people were reported killed at the airport. Tedros Adhanon Ghebreyesus (pictured), the Director-General of the WHO, was in the airport at the time of the aerial attack The aftermath of Israeli airstrikes on the Ras Kutaib power station. Israel has described today's attacks as targeted strikes on 'military infrastructure' used by the Houthi rebels Damage to Sanaa Airport's control tower following Israeli air strikes. Israeli forces struck the airport killing at least two people In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the WHO chief has revealed that one of his plane's crew members was injured 'The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge just a few meters from where we were and the runway were damaged. We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave.' He added: 'Our mission to negotiate the release of staff detainees and to assess the health and humanitarian situation in Yemen concluded today. 'We continue to call for the detainees' immediate release.' Israel has described today's attacks as targeted strikes on 'military infrastructure' used by the Houthi rebels. It comes after the Iran-backed group launched four ballistic missiles against Israel last week. One of which injured 16 people in Tel Aviv. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel Prime Minister, told Parliament: 'I have instructed our forces to destroy the infrastructure of Houthis because anyone who tries to harm us will be struck with full force. 'We will continue to crush the forces of evil with strength and ingenuity, even if it takes time.' The Times reported that the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) had hit targets across western ports in Yemen as well as Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power stations. The IDF has claimed the sites 'were used by the Houthi terrorist regime to smuggle Iranian weapons into the region and for the entry of senior Iranian officials.' Abandoned luggage inside the airport terminal Broken glass at Sanaa airport. Mr Ghebreyesus said: 'As we were about to board our flight from Sanaa, about two hours ago, the airport came under aerial bombardment' Houthi rebels in Yemen. This is the fourth time Israel has launched airstrikes targeting Yemeni infrastructure since the Houthis began launching missiles at Israel following the October 7 attacks last year Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured), Israel Prime Minister, told Parliament: 'I have instructed our forces to destroy the infrastructure of Houthis because anyone who tries to harm us will be struck with full force This is the fourth time Israel has launched airstrikes targeting Yemeni infrastructure since the Houthis began launching missiles at Israel following the October 7 attacks last year. After continuous attacks on shipping passing through the Red Sea, US and UK forces have also launched strikes against the Houthis. The Yemeni civil war has torn the country apart and for over a decade the Iran-back Houthis have been fighting the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. According the UN estimates over 300,000 people have lost their lives as a result of the conflict. ABC News legends David Muir and George Stephanopoulos secretly loathe one another and are mired in a 'historic' feud, it has been claimed. The two newsmen have been known to have tension and now are barely seen on screen together as a result, as revealed by Oliver Darcy in a holiday edition of the Status newsletter. 'There certainly has been historic tension to put it lightly between the two anchors,' Darcy wrote in response to a question about the dynamic between Muir and Stephanopoulos. 'That has resulted in headaches for the networks bosses. But viewers may notice that, for the last few years, Stephanopoulos has been absent during politics-focused special coverage, such as Election Night. Those duties now fall squarely to David Muir.' The two news anchors have reportedly had a professional rivalry for years, which widened when Joe Biden's advisors chose Stephanopoulos to conduct the first interview with the president following his disastrous debate performance. The US Sun reported in September that as the anchors moved into a new studio in New York City, Stephanopoulos 'wanted a dressing room as big as rival David Muir's space.' 'George has been interested in making sure he gets whatever David Muir gets,' the insider told the outlet. ABC News stars David Muir and George Stephanopoulos have a had a 'historic' feud as they have competed for power at ABC News for years. They are seen with Diane Sawyer and James Goldston in 2014 As the anchors moved into a new studio in New York City, Stephanopoulos reportedly 'wanted a dressing room as big as rival David Muir's space' Back in 2021, Disney boss Bob Iger flew from California to New York to broker a deal with Stephanopoulos after he threatened to leave ABC because younger rival Muir had been promoted to Chief Anchor 'He's been asking people on his team to find out what David is getting to make sure his is comparable." Earlier this year, DailyMail.com reported on a Radar Online story that gave insight into the alleged feud. 'The rivalry between David and George is real and makes for tension behind-the-scenes...' That rivalry reportedly goes back to Muir's rise at the network and Stephanopoulos resistance to being replaced by a younger journalist. Back in 2021, Disney boss Bob Iger flew from California to New York to broker a deal with Stephanopoulos after he threatened to leave ABC because younger rival Muir had been promoted to Chief Anchor. Stephanopoulos was irate when Muir was given the responsibility of leading the network's special coverage of breaking news stories and special events - a role Stephanopoulos had held since 2014. The Good Morning America anchor served as White House Communications Director in the early 1990s for Bill Clinton. He joined ABC in 1997 and was given the Chief Anchor role in 2014. The network had never had one before. When he found out that the Chief Anchor responsibilities were being handed over to Muir, 47, even though the title wasn't, he threatened to walk. The two news anchors have reportedly had a professional rivalry for years, which widened when Biden's advisors chose Stephanopoulos to conduct the first interview with the president following his disastrous debate performance The rivalry between the two men dates back to 2014 when Muir replaced Diane Sawyer on what was then known as ABC World News. Muir is seen with Biden in 2023 The two newsmen have been known to have tension and now are barely seen on screen together at ABC as a result The rivalry between the two men dates back to 2014 when Muir replaced Diane Sawyer on what was then known as ABC World News. It is now called World News Tonight. At the time, the World News anchor role was the most coveted in the organization and whoever filled it was considered top dog. Stephanopoulos was already hosting GMA and was leading it to enormous commercial success but wanted the World News Tonight role. He stayed on the morning schedule. Muir was given the World News anchor job. He was considerably less experienced than Stephanopoulos at the time, so the Chief Anchor role went to the latter, as did the higher salary. Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch became embroiled in an extraordinary public row last night over whose party had the most support. Reform's leader claimed it had become 'the real opposition' because it had overtaken the membership total of Mrs Badenoch's Tories. In a provocative move, his upstart Right-wing party projected an image of its tally of paid supporters on the facade of Tory HQ in London during the night showing it had apparently outstripped the 131,680 declared by its much older rival in its recent leadership contest. It also posted an image on X of what it said was a 'screenshot of our internal membership numbers', standing at 134,832 last night. New supporters must pay 25 a year for membership. Mr Farage, who formerly led Ukip and the Brexit Party, said: 'This is a big, historic moment. The youngest political party in British politics has just overtaken the oldest political party in the world. Reform UK are now the real opposition.' But within hours Mrs Badenoch accused him of peddling fake figures and claimed her party had gained more members since she was elected leader in November. She claimed Reform had made a 'fake clock coded to tick up automatically' on its website, and that 'Farage doesn't understand the digital age'. 'How do I know for certain the Reform announcement is not true?' Mrs Badenoch asked on social media. 'Because the Conservative Party has gained thousands of new members since the leadership election. But we don't shout about it . . . we are building quietly and steadily on principles and values, not gimmicks. 'The road ahead is long and difficult. But our first mission is to win the trust of the British people you don't do that by manipulating them at Christmas.' Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch became embroiled in an extraordinary public row last night over whose party had the most support Kemi Badenoch pictured in September 2024 when she launched her Conservative Party Leadership campaign Farage's Right-wing party projected an image of its tally of paid supporters on the facade of Tory HQ in London during the night But Mr Farage pointed out that he had more online followers than Mrs Badenoch. He also challenged her to let one of the so-called Big Four accountancy firms audit both parties' memberships. He added: 'We understand you are bitter, upset and angry that we are now the second biggest party in British politics, and that the Conservative brand is dying under your leadership. However, this is not an excuse to accuse us of committing fraud. We will gladly invite one of the Big 4 firms in to audit our membership numbers as long as you do the same.' Reform gained its first MP in March when former Tory Lee Anderson defected. It gained four more in the general election, including Mr Farage, having won four million votes as the Tories lost heavily. Its appeal has grown as it capitalises on fears about immigration and crime. It is also targeting Labour strongholds in local elections after overtaking the governing party in a national opinion poll for the first time this month. Reform's finances are also on the up after it recruited property tycoon Nick Candy as treasurer amid rumours that it could get a donation from Elon Musk, the world's richest man. The Tories insist that voting for Reform will benefit Labour by splitting the vote on the Right. Luke Tryl, of the think-tank More In Common, highlighted the fact that Labour membership soared under Jeremy Corbyn, but the party failed to win an election. Tina Hatcher, Executive Director of Hope Impacts in Katy, TX, talks with an unhoused woman her organization is helping in Katy, TX during the annual Point in Time count on January 24, 2024. Sharon Steinmann Whether its water bottles or wool sweaters, too many options paradoxically make it harder to choose a gift for a loved one. Hopefully though, all your packages arrived in time, and you are now sighing with satisfaction after a joyous holiday with family and friends. A few more days remain, however, for you to puzzle over the bewildering number of options for end-of-year charitable giving. The Houston area alone has more than 15,000 nonprofits. Throughout the year and a half we worked on our homelessness series, this editorial board met with leaders and clients of more than a dozen different nonprofits. In response, Houston Chronicle reader David Schoen of League City asked, Is there an umbrella organization that we can make donations to that will help the most people or should we just pick one from the article? Advertisement Article continues below this ad We say, do both. Give to the system as a whole and a nonprofit that speaks to you. Officer Sheldon Theragood, left, and Sgt. Derek Fontenot, both in the Houston Police Departments Homeless Outreach Team, talk with people in an encampment in downtown Houston on July 28, 2023. Sharon Steinmann To receive key federal homeless assistance grants, each U.S. region has to establish a partnership of nonprofit and government entities known as a continuum of care. The good news is that Houston has a nationally recognized partnership called the Way Home that has set the bar for deep collaboration. Mayors and media from New York to Los Angeles have come here to study how the Way Home has managed to reduce homelessness by about 60 percent since 2011. No doubt, the annual point in time survey that is the basis for that statistic undercounts the total number of people sleeping in cars or hidden in encampments along the bayous, but the overall trend from year to year provides a useful measure of progress. Sheri Macek visits with Khena Minor, the Houston Homeless Coalition outreach worker who found her in the woods. Minor stopped by Maceks new apartment in Spring, TX on October 4, 2023. Sharon Steinmann A resident sits in the computer room at the worker dorm run by Harmony House on July 20, 2024 in Houston, TX. The residence offers communal living and affordability for $70 per week. Sharon Steinmann Alexa Southwick, 37, eats breakfast at the Beacon in downtown Houston on August 26, 2024. The Beacon is often the first stop for individuals new to homelessness in need of food, showers, laundry, legal services and housing assessments to match them with available options. Sharon Steinmann In places that have poured far more local tax dollars into their homeless response systems, the crisis has worsened as housing prices have soared. Billions spent in California on the housing first approach that prioritizes giving people a decent place to live before expecting them to quit drugs or get jobs has come under attack. Houston and Harris Countys housing-first model, however, appears to work. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The lead nonprofit for the Way Home is the Coalition for the Homeless Houston/Harris County. We met with their leadership and outreach workers, as well as folks from many of its more than 100 partners. What we heard again and again is that Houstons secret sauce is a get-it-done attitude. Other factors include strong data-sharing practices, police officers trained in mental health, smart use of disaster recovery and COVID relief dollars, and a relatively affordable supply of apartments. The Houston way is scrappy, improvised, light on dogma. It balances business interests, public safety and compassion. Debra Kimber, 72, stands next to her belongings in Tranquility Park in Downtown Houston, TX on December 12, 2024. Sharon Steinmann But the celebrated system is facing a fiscal cliff. As COVID and federal funds have dried up, housing options have become limited and shelters are full. We have interviewed a mother and her two children sleeping in their car, a 72-year-old shivering herself to sleep in the shadow of City Hall, a woman trying for months to get into any shelter that would have her. Houstons leaders are scrambling for solutions, including leaning more on private donors while figuring out sustainable public funding. If giving to an overarching system doesnt inspire you to open your wallet, take a look at the list of partners on the website of the Way Home. One of them will have an area of focus that speaks to you, whether veterans or victims of domestic violence, faith-based rehabilitation or LGBT youth empowerment. Amber, 40, and her daughter, Emily, 4, sit on a bed donated by Harmony House along with Cort Furniture in their newly rented mobile home on November 4, 2014. The family became homeless after Hurricane Beryl damaged their camper in July. Sharon Steinmann Meg Pohodich, the CEO of Harmony House, stands out to us as a leader who makes the homeless response system as a whole stronger. Not only does she run a dormitory for working men and the citys Navigation Center, a transitional facility for those waiting for housing, we also saw her personally step in to help homeless individuals and families figure out the bureaucracy until they have a place to sleep. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We have also seen firsthand the frontline aid provided by The Beacon, often the first stop for individuals new to homelessness in need of food, showers, laundry, legal services and housing assessments to match them with available options. SEARCH Homeless Services personalizes case management and operates a preschool program. Hope Impacts run by Tina Hatcher out in Katy, provides showers, meals, a food pantry, and some medical services. The better-known faith-based Salvation Army provides temporary shelter and longer-term case management. Alexa Southwick, 37, visits SEARCH Homeless Services in downtown Houston on August 26, 2024. She was given a list of shelters and completed a housing assessment. Southwick says that she has tried for months to get a bed in a Houston shelter. Sharon Steinmann Back in 2017, then-Mayor Sylvester Turner urged Houstonians not to give money to panhandlers and instead donate to the Way Home. Meaningful Change Not Spare Change was the slogan. The argument made sense to us then, and still does with some exceptions. We followed one woman for over a year on her journey from panhandling under Highway 288 to living in a subsidized apartment. Looking back, Sheri Macek still tells us that without an ID or a computer to secure work, flying a sign and asking for money gave her structure and a measure of independence. Now, however, as a result of the Way Home's housing and wraparound services, she is maintaining sobriety and pursuing online work. Sheri Macek pets her kitten Brianna as her other cat Marmot sits nearby on August 10, 2023 inside her room at the Navigation Center. The Houston transitional center operated by Harmony House, allows people to stay and have access to needed services until they are connected with permanent housing. Sharon Steinmann Homelessness exists in cities the world over. Yet it is not inevitable. Not here. The solutions are complex, but if everyday Houstonians get engaged by helping their neighbors, by giving their time or money, by writing and calling their elected leaders we have an opportunity to prove that homelessness can be made rare, brief and non-recurring. Hospitals have raked in 1.15billion in car park fees from patients, visitors and staff in the past six years, shocking figures reveal today. In what has been branded a 'tax on the sick', NHS trusts have made an average of 665,000 in parking charges every day of the past year, with dozens hiking charges recently. The vast majority of the cash has been paid out by unwell patients attending appointments and loved ones visiting them on wards, with the rest spent by doctors and nurses simply turning up to work, research shows. It comes despite the previous Conservative government attempting to limit the amount made by hospitals by introducing free parking for disabled drivers with Blue Badges, parents of sick children staying overnight and staff doing night shifts. Last night the Liberal Democrats, who obtained the statistics, called on Labour to go further and introduce a 'visiting and caring fund' so no one has to shell out to see loved ones while they are undergoing treatment. The party's care spokesman Alison Bennett said: 'This is an unfair tax on the sick and on hard-working NHS staff and it has to stop. It cannot be right that nurses have to pay through the nose to get to work or that patients are subjected to sky-high fees to get treatment they desperately need. 'The Conservatives promised to crack down on unfair hospital car parking charges but failed miserably. The new government must now work urgently to stamp out these unfair fees and back our calls for a new 'visiting and caring fund'.' Helen Gravestock, of Young Lives vs Cancer, said: 'Children and young people with cancer often have to travel miles from home to get the treatment and age-appropriate care they need. This leaves families having to find an extra 250 a month on average to travel to and from hospital. Hospitals have raked in 1.15billion in car park fees from patients, visitors and staff in the past six years. File image. 'For many, these costs add up even more when they arrive at hospital as they have to pay out for parking too. 'We have been campaigning for change to ensure all children and young people with cancer and their families get better financial support to help face these costs.' The analysis of annual NHS estates returns from hundreds of hospital and community trusts shows that income from parking charges is now at a five-year high. In 2023-24 they made a total of 242.8million, up from 192.5million the year before and far less during the pandemic years when charges were waived for staff. Last year's figure is the highest since the 289million recorded in 2019-20, before lockdown restrictions and the introduction of free parking for some patients. In total NHS trusts have made more than 1.1billion since 2018-19, of which 847.5million came from patients and visitors with the remaining 304.3million from staff. The trust with the highest income was University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, which made 37.3million over the six years, followed by University Hospitals Birmingham with 25.2million. It emerged last week that 37 hospital trusts one in four of the 147 across England have increased parking charges in the past two years. NHS trusts have made an average of 665,000 in parking charges every day of the past year The Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust now charges visitors 3.90 for their first hour's parking. Rachel Power, of the Patients Association said: 'These charges unfairly penalise people simply for being unwell. 'The considerable profits generated by parking schemes raise serious questions about whether hospitals are receiving a fair share of this income, particularly when financial pressures are affecting the quality of care patients receive.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'Hospital car park charges are the responsibility of individual NHS trusts, however any charges must be reasonable and in line with the local area. 'Free parking is available for all NHS staff who work overnight, as well as Blue Badge holders, frequent outpatient attenders, and parents of sick children staying overnight in hospital.' Russia reportedly attempted to make the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in to the sea by refusing permission to let it land after a missile attack before jamming its navigation system. A Russian surface-to-air missile struck the flight on Christmas Day, causing the airliner to crash in Kazakhstan - a tragedy which claimed the lives of 38 people. Sources told Euronews that the missile was fired at Flight 8432 amid drone air activity above Grozny, the Chechen capital, citing a preliminary investigation. They said the pilot was blocked from landing at any Russian airports despite making emergency pleas, and was instead ordered to carry on into Kazakhstan. Taking to X, citing pro-government media, The Azeri Times confirmed that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane was denied emergency landings by Russia at three nearby conditions, despite its critical condition. The news outlet also stated that the plane was subjected to 'extreme GPS jamming' which forced its hero pilot, Aleksandr Kalyaninov, to divert the flight over the Caspian Sea, where it eventually landed in Aktau, Kazakhstan. Local media cited government sources in suggesting jammers 'paralysed' the plane's communication systems'. According to Flightradar24 data, the aircraft departed Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, at 03:55am and valid position data was received from the aircraft until 04:25am when the flight encountered 'significant GPS interference'. This is the horrific moment a passenger plane hit the ground in a fireball in a Christmas Day crash landing After Russian air defence hit an Azeri plane over Grozny (yellow circle), it requested emergency landing. Russia refused landings at Nalchik, Vladikavkaz, and Makhachkala airports (red circles), but diverted it to Kazakhstan over the Caspian Sea Flightradar24 receivers did not receive data from the aircraft between 04:40am and 05:03am and between a second gap from 05:04am to 05:13am. The plane was sent to fly from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia The plane was subjected to 'extreme GPS jamming' which forced its hero pilot, Aleksandr Kalyaninov, to divert the flight over the Caspian Sea, where it eventually landed in Aktau, Kazakhstan. The airliner stopped pinging positional data altogether for the period between 04:25am and 04:37am, the data revealed. And between 04:37am and 04:40am the aircraft sent likely erroneous position data, the flight tracker claims. Flightradar24 receivers did not receive data from the aircraft between 04:40am and 05:03am and between a second gap from 05:04am to 05:13am. From 05:13am until 06:07am all data received from the aircraft lacked positional information, it said, adding, from 06:07am through the end of the flight at 06:28am, position data was received from the aircraft. Government sources said previously the plane was hit by a missile fired from a Pantsir-S air defence system from the Naursky district of Chechnya. Thirty-eight passengers were killed in yesterday's crash as the plane attempted to make an emergency landing before erupting in a fireball. Russia has tried to play down speculation the flight had been shot down by a Russian missile, urging patience while the investigation is carried out. Kazakhstan has said it would be carrying out an investigation into the crash, suggesting it would cooperate with Azerbaijan but not Russia. Azerbaijan is understood to be conducting its own investigation. The wreckage of Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 lays on the ground near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, December 25 A source familiar with the Azerbaijani investigation told Reuters that while 'no one claims that it was done on purpose', Baku 'expects the Russian side to confess to the shooting down of the Azerbaijani aircraft'. It comes as Azerbaijan observed a nationwide day of mourning for the victims of the air crash. National flags were lowered this morning, traffic across the country stopped at noon, and signals were sounded from ships and trains as the country observed a nationwide moment of silence for the victims of the horrifying crash. Footage from the crash site shows rescuers looking for survivors inside the Azerbaijan airlines flight from Baku to the Russian city of Grozny, which crashed with 67 passengers and five crew members on board. There was mayhem as rescuers went inside the severed rear of the aircraft, where several people can be seen lying on the ground. Astonishingly, some were found still alive. One trapped woman shouted at rescuers: 'Help me please!'. A firefighter asked her whether she needed help to get up, and she confirmed that she would need to be lifted out of the debris. It is understood that at least 29 people reported to have survived the crash were found in the rear section of the aircraft, with the front being badly destroyed by fire. Latest figures indicate 22 of the 29 survivors are being treated in hospital, seven of whom are in serious condition. At least ten people dying after reportedly being thrown out of the cabin. One terrifying video shows the moment the plane burst into flames and broke into several parts as it hit the ground, with thick black smoke rising up from the wrecked aircraft after. The front of the plane burst into flames when the aircraft hit the ground At least ten people died after being thrown out of the plane People are seen standing next to the rear of the crashed passenger jet Later bloodied and bruised passengers could be seen stumbling from a piece of the fuselage that had remained intact. Azerbaijan Airlines, the country's flag carrier, said the Embraer 190 had 'made an emergency landing' around three kilometres from Aktau, an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. 'A plane doing the Baku-Grozny route crashed near the city of Aktau. It belongs to Azerbaijan Airlines,' the Kazakh ministry said on Telegram. The Embraer E190AR with registration number 4K-AZ65 sent out a distress signal at an altitude of 2,125 feet over the Caspian Sea. Ahead of the crash, the crew had reported a strong impact on the hull. They assumed the aircraft hit a flock of birds but later evidence piled up that it was a misguided Russian air defence strike. Authorities in Kazakhstan said they had begun looking into different possible versions of what had happened, including a technical problem, Russia's Interfax news agency reported. Following the crash, Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, was returning home from Russia where he had been due to attend a summit on Wednesday, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-backed leader of Chechnya, expressed his condolences in a statement and said those being treated in hospital were in an extremely serious condition and that he and others would pray for their rapid recovery. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences to Aliyev over the loss of life, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Rescuers are pictured crawling into the plane wreck to look for survivors 'Unfortunately, Azerbaijan's President Aliyev was forced to leave St Petersburg (where he had a summit). Putin has already called him and expressed his condolences in connection with the crash of the Azerbaijani plane in Aktau,' Peskov said. 'We deeply sympathise with those who lost their relatives and friends in this plane crash and wish a speedy recovery to all those who managed to survive.' Aktau residents have been asked to donate blood for the survivors. Authorities in Kazakhstan said a government commission had been set up to investigate what had happened and its members ordered to fly to the site and ensure that the families of the dead and injured were getting the help they needed. Kazakhstan would cooperate with Azerbaijan on the investigation, the government said. Grozny - the destination - is the capital of the Chechnya republic, a Russian region controlled by Vladimir Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov which regularly sends troops to fight in the war against Ukraine. Keir Starmer was last night accused of smothering Britain in red tape after it emerged Labour has set up a new quango every week since taking power. The Prime Minister pledged urgent action to transform the country after his landslide election victory in July. But analysis of the Governments record reveals it has created a staggering 25 new quangos and so-called taskforces and advisory councils in its first six months in office equal to an average of one a week. This will add to fears that Labour is more interested in reforming the structures of government than in driving real change in society. And it follows revelations last month that the Government ordered 67 reviews and consultations in its first five months, leading to accusations Sir Keir is facing paralysis by analysis. Former Tory chairman Richard Holden warned the push to create more quango risked stifling the economy and denting Labours hopes of kickstarting growth. Its a tale as old as time, he said. Labour establishes a quango to duplicate work already under way in the public sector and the outcome is all-too predictable: more bureaucracy, more regulation and higher taxes for working Brits. Former Tory business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg accused Labour of using quangos to make it harder for the public to hold ministers to account. Keir Starmer was last night accused of smothering Britain in red tape after it emerged Labour has set up a new quango every week since taking power Analysis of the Governments record reveals it has created a staggering 25 new quangos and so-called taskforces and advisory councils in its first six months in office equal to an average of one a week This adds to fears that Labour is more interested in reforming the structures of government than in driving real change in society We need a great cull of quangos, he said. In government I was trying to close them down because we need to return decision-making to elected ministers. Instead, Labour seem bent on giving us government by the quango, for the quango... They want government done by their friends and they want it done away from prying eyes by organisations that are simply not accountable in the same way as elected ministers. It is not only anti-democratic but it also leads to worse government. Ed Miliband has created four new bodies to help push through his controversial plan to decarbonise Britains electricity system by 2030. The first, Great British Energy, was announced the day after the election, and was billed as a state-owned energy company, although it remains unclear whether it will ever produce electricity. Four days later, Mr Miliband announced the creation of Mission Control, a new advisory body which he said would help him devise and deliver the Governments Clean Power 2030 Action Plan. In September, the Energy Secretary announced the creation of a new National Energy System Operator to help accelerate Great Britains energy transition. Last month, the supposedly independent body produced a report saying Mr Milibands target is feasible, despite widespread industry scepticism over its potentially enormous costs. Then, in October, Mr Miliband set up the Solar Taskforce, which will examine issues such as whether to make solar panels compulsory on all new homes. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has created four new bodies to help push through his controversial plan to decarbonise Britains electricity system by 2030 Home Secretary Yvette Coopers flagship Border Security Command, established just days after the election In November, Sir Keir announced Britain would also lead a new Global Clean Power Alliance, which would speed up the global clean energy transition. Some new bodies, such as the Child Poverty Taskforce and the New Towns Taskforce, appear to be designed primarily to delay decisions on difficult issues, such as whether to lift the two-child benefit cap and where to situate new communities likely to include thousands of homes. Others appear to be replacing or duplicating functions that already exist. For example, Home Secretary Yvette Coopers flagship Border Security Command, established just days after the election, largely replicates the functions of the former Small Boats Operational Command, while the new Regulatory Innovation Office appears very similar to the Regulatory Horizons Council. In November, the then transport secretary Louise Haigh launched the Jet Zero Taskforce that appeared to exactly replicate the existing Jet Zero Council, which advised on the development of sustainable aviation fuel. John OConnell, chief executive of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: Taxpayers will wonder who actually governs Britain given the proliferation of unelected, unaccountable quangos. But whats worse is that these have all been created by politicians who then recoil with horror when they realise that they are completely powerless in the face of this web of organisations, rules and procedures. Labour ministers should stop creating a rod for their own back by further handing over power to those that may end up working against them. The revelation comes amid mounting concern about the Governments unprecedented use of reviews and consultations. The Prime Minister defended his approach earlier this month, saying: Like any business organisation, youve got to understand what youre dealing with once youre in a position to deal with it. But even his deputy Angela Rayner acknowledged Labour is in danger of getting bogged down in the weeds. The FBI was not allowed to brief the US President on evidence that suggested Covid-19 was caused by a lab leak, it was claimed last night. Jason Bannan, former senior scientist at the FBI, alleged the intelligence agency was not invited to a National Intelligence Council (NIC) briefing with Joe Biden. Mr Bannan told the Wall Street Journal: Being the only agency that assessed that a laboratory origin was more likely, and the agency that expressed the highest level of confidence in its analysis of the source of the pandemic, we anticipated the FBI would be asked to attend the briefing. 'I find it surprising that the White House didnt ask. US President Joe Biden authorised an investigation in May 2021 by US intelligence agencies and national laboratories to uncover the origin of the virus. The FBI found that a lab leak was the likely cause of the virus and had moderate confidence in its assessment. Meanwhile, the NIC had concluded with only low confidence that Covid-19 had been transmitted from an animal to a human, but this view was presented to the President. A spokesman for the DNIs office told the Wall Street Journal that the differing views among the intelligence community had been represented and it was against standard practice to invite representatives from individual agencies to briefings for the president. The FBI was not allowed to brief the US President on evidence that suggested Covid-19 was caused by a lab leak, it was claimed last night FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the economy at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC, U.S. December 10, 2024 The DNI and the NICs work on Covid-19 origins complied with all of the intelligence communitys analytic standards, including objectivity, the spokesman added. Mr Bannan, now retired, wants the evidence backing a lab leak theory to be reassessed. What ended up on the intelligence communitys cutting-room floor needs to be re-examined, he said. The US review published in August 2021 concluded thatit would be hard to confirm the origin without cooperation from China. China has only cooperated on a joint report with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2021 which said the virus most likely moved from bats to humans via another animal. Civil servants are being encouraged to mark a baffling array of woke weeks at work. Diversity and inclusion calendars produced by Whitehall departments and quangos include the dates of everything from Pansexual Visibility Day and Stress Awareness Month to the pagan festivals of Samhain and Yule. NHS Englands calendar marks more than 350 awareness events including gender-fluid visibility week and transgender parent day. Staff support groups often hold talks or put up displays in offices to coincide with the dates although the Government insists that employees do not have to commemorate them. Earlier this year the Mail told how the Foreign Office was flying the flag for bisexuality awareness week outside its grand headquarters. Last night Elliot Keck, head of campaigns at the TaxPayers Alliance, said: The extent to which the diversity demagogues have taken over Whitehall is truly alarming. While there are key religious and national dates that the public sector should be aware of, the focus of internal calendars should be on driving home deadlines for delivering improvements to public services. Ministers should remind civil servants that their duty is to the public as a whole. Obscure: Pagan festivals, such as last weeks Winter Solstice at Stonehenge, are marked in internal calendars Diversity and inclusion calendars produced by Whitehall departments and quangos include the dates of everything from Pansexual Visibility Day and Stress Awareness Month to the pagan festivals of Samhain and Yule Caroline Ffiske from Conservatives for Women said: 'Whoever put Pansexual Visibility Day in this calendar should be invited to write up the history of this day and would be shown to struggle to cover half of the back of a small envelope' And Caroline Ffiske from Conservatives for Women said: Its offensive, and illustrates a lack of judgement and courage from the organisers, to see recently made-up woke nonsense treated with the same degree of seriousness as important days for Christians and those of other faiths. Whoever put Pansexual Visibility Day in this calendar should be invited to write up the history of this day and would be shown to struggle to cover half of the back of a small envelope. The Forestry Commission, which manages publicly owned woodland, said in a recent equality report: A Diversity and Inclusion calendar has been published for 2024, which has helped to inform our communications plan for internal and external engagement. It also raises awareness of key dates affecting our stakeholders and wider society. Details of the calendar obtained by the Mail reveal that it includes Latinx Heritage Month, a gender-neutral term for people of South American background which is mainly used in the USA, and the birthday of Rastafarian divinity Haile Selassie. So crowded is the Forestry Commissions calendar that Mens Health Awareness Month, Islamophobia Awareness Month and Disability History Month are all included in November while June is Pride Month as well as Gypsy, Roma and Travellers History Month. A Forestry Commission spokesman said: The dates are not automatically added to staff calendars they are available to access as an e-resource as part of our commitment to fostering an inclusive culture in our workplaces and understanding the people we serve. The Ministry of Justice meanwhile issues a list of core awareness dates containing events not included by the Forestry Commission. April is Stress Awareness Month as well as containing Intergenerational Week, but National Stress Awareness Day is in November along with Inter Faith Week. In the shadow of the stones a group of revellers go through ultra stretches and bends during the Winter Solstice celebrations Carers Week takes place in June as does Social Mobility Awareness Day. The Ministry of Justice said: Religious holidays and other notable occasions, like Holocaust Memorial Day, Carers Week and Black History Month are widely marked and these events are recognised across government. Recognising them helps tackle discrimination and supports our drive to build a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve across England and Wales. The Crown Commercial Service, a procurement quango within the Cabinet Office, lists hundreds of events in its inclusion and diversity calendars. They range from World Braille Day and International Mother Language Day to Pansexual Visibility Day. As well as major religious holidays such as Easter and Ramadan, it includes the Declaration of Bab celebrated by the Bahai faith and even the Beltane and Yule festivals sacred to pagans. Christmas Day is not mentioned in the diversity calendar but the Government insisted this is because it is already included in the main calendars seen by all staff on their computer systems. A Cabinet Office spokesman said: As you would expect, Christmas and other public holidays are all rightly marked in teams calendars by default. These optional, shared calendars provide additional dates for awareness only. Inclusion in the calendar does not mean they are officially marked by CCS. All three public bodies highlight the National Day for Staff Networks, the support groups for employees of different races, faiths and sexualities that have sprung up across the public sector in recent years. Pharmacists have been banned from referring to patients who faint as suffering from 'blackouts' because it may be seen as racist. In what critics are calling woke 'language policing', a union has given staff a list of terms to avoid due to their 'racial undertones'. Other phrases frowned upon include describing a shunned colleague as a 'black sheep', or saying unregulated drugs were bought on the 'black market'. Additionally, pharmacists should avoid referring to the use of coercion or intimidation to obtain treatment as 'blackmail'. The list was compiled by Nav Bhogal, a member of the Pharmacists' Defence Association's BAME (Black, Asian, and minority ethnic) network. Entitled 'Addressing racial undertones in the language of pharmacy', he tells colleagues that the words have become 'embedded in our professional vocabulary'. Pharmacists have been banned from referring to patients who faint as suffering from 'blackouts' because it may be seen as racist. (File image) But they also have 'associations with race, power dynamics, and negativity' which 'can be harmful'. The intervention on the website of the Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) the trade union for pharmacists comes amid anger at the spread of 'woke' language guides. Earlier this year the British Red Cross was accused of having been 'hijacked by political extremists' after issuing an 'inclusive' language guide clamping down on phrases such as 'ladies and gentlemen'. Meanwhile NHS trusts have told midwives to use the term 'chest milk' as an alternative to breast milk and 'birthing parents' rather than 'mothers'. Free Speech Union leader Toby Young (pictured) said it was just 'performative virtue signalling' Slamming Mr Bhogal's guide, Toby Young, founder of the Free Speech Union, said: 'Penalising old white men for using racially insensitive language doesn't improve the lives of poor black people one iota. It's just performative virtue signalling.' The guide lists terms which according to Mr Bhogal associate 'black' with 'something negative or forbidden', and 'white' with 'something positive or permissible'. Dropping out of the Royal Marines is a big decision to make, especially if you are the Queen's son. It was the scenario Prince Edward faced back in 1987, when he decided to leave the Force after just four months. While his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth, was 'icily displeased,' according to Tina Brown in her book, The Palace Papers, his father took a different view. The Queen saw Edward's decision as a 'dereliction of duty, but Prince Philip was unexpectedly supportive,' the former editor in chief of Tatler wrote. Philip had actively served in the Royal Marines for 14 years and held the title of Captain General of the Royal Marines for 64 years - but 'he never thought Edward should have joined the Royal Marines in the first place', Ms Brown revealed. The late Duke of Edinburgh instead 'wanted him to do something perhaps even worse, as far as arts-loving Edward was concerned: become an accountant', the royal author wrote. Edward was the most academic out of his sibilings at school and acheived nine O Levels and three A Levels, according to Tatler. His A Levels included a C in History, D in History and D in Politics which saw him get into Cambridge to study History. He left with a 2:2 degree. Prince Philip and Prince Edward pictured together at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in 2016 Edward pictured in camouflage military gear during Royal Marine training The Prince running during a commando assault course back in the 1980s A brief statement from Buckingham Palace concluded Edward's military career. It read: 'Prince Edward has decided to resign from the Marines. 'Edward leaves the Marines with great regret but has concluded that he does not wish to make the service his long-term career.' Days after rumours of Edward's departure, a fellow Marine who also went to Cambridge with the Prince left, the Mail reported at the time. Lieutenant Peter Fraser decided to quit the training course to return to university and pursue a Master's degree instead. However, his choice was unrelated to Edward's and he said: 'The news of Prince Edward's decision came as a complete shock to me. 'Obviously, I got to know him a lot better when we went to Lympstone in September. Although we shared the same corridor together at the barracks, he never confided in me about his problems and quite honestly, I didn't speak to him about my own decision to leave, although I did chat it over with other officers.' In April 1987, the Mail reported how Edward said the decision had been a 'surprise to everybody - most of all to myself'. Prince Edward wearing his Royal Marines uniform at RAF Benson Queen Elizabeth and Edward at RAF Benson, the Prince wearing his Royal Marines uniform He added: 'I do not regret it but I was in a no-win situation and someone was going to come off badly in it. I have now to live in limbo until I get rid of the label "ex-Royal Marine".' Later that year, in an attempt to find his feet, Edward thought up the idea of It's A Royal Knockout. The show aired in June and was filmed at Alton Towers, it involved four teams of celebrities battling against each other in games including John Travolta, George Lazenby, Toyah Willcox, Gary Lineker and Barbara Windsor - with a royal team captain. Edward, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson all participated and it ended with the Prince reportedly 'storming off' over the press's poor reaction to the show. For a short amount of time, Edward also joined Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatre Company in 1988. The Prince worked on productions including Phantom Of The Opera, Starlight Express and Cats. Eventually, Edward found his passion in the television industry when he set up his own company, Ardent Productions, in 1993. However, there was trouble when the production company set up their cameras at St Andrews and were apparently attempting to film Prince William leaving a lecture hall on his first day in 2001. The Queen, Prince Philip and Edward smiling together in 1976 Sarah Ferguson, Princes Edward and Andrew and Princess Anne on It's A Royal Knockout in 1987 The Daily Mail's front page when Edward left the Marines in 1987 Edward and his wife, Sophie, reportedly apologised to Charles personally for the incident afterwards. The then Prince of Wales was said to have been so furious that he refused to take Edward's calls for several hours. It was announced that Ardent would stop making television programmes about the royals, the Daily Mail previously reported. At the time, the company had made 22 shows and half had been on the royals, including a documentary about the restoration of Windsor Castle following the fire in 1992. In 2002, Edward stepped down as joint managing director of Ardent and his wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, left her public relations firm. Both then became full-time working royals. Did the King not get the memo? 2024 will long be remembered as a year of personal challenges for the monarchy. The word 'crisis' has been routinely bandied around, as royal-watchers compare it to previous royal low points, notably the late Queen's 'annus horribilis' of 1992. At the end of that year, she had used her broadcast to reflect ruefully on what she called a 'sombre year'. Yesterday was surely a day for similar melancholy? Not a bit of it. Instead, we were treated to a positively sunny soliloquy on the joys of togetherness, featuring not just a jaunty spotted pink handkerchief sprouting from the King's breast pocket and not just one but two royal embraces. No previous monarch has been squeezed quite as much as Charles III. This is, after all, the King whose very first walkabout as monarch, less than 24 hours into his reign, started with a hug from a tearful onlooker outside the Palace gates. Yesterday's broadcast showed him receiving a full bear-hug Down Under from Australian Aboriginal activist 'Uncle Widdy'. Moments later, the film showed the King at a Buckingham Palace reception being almost smothered by the New Zealand women's rugby team. As the monarch could almost have said, but did not, have a very huggy Christmas. To emphasise that this was not going to be all about personal dramas, the King opened his address by going straight back to those powerful and poignant commemorations of the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June (his first overseas trip since his cancer diagnosis). The subliminal message was clearly: Here are some people who have been through something very much worse than I have. King Charles treated us to a positively sunny soliloquy on the joys of togetherness, writes Robert Hardman He was both touched and energised by that trip to Normandy with the Queen on June 6. Back then, the royal schedule overran by more than an hour as the couple mingled with the Spirit of Normandy Trust and the veterans, including Royal Navy anti-aircraft gunner John Dennett of Merseyside who appeared in yesterday's broadcast (having celebrated his 100th birthday in the meantime). Yesterday, the King paid tribute to them once again: 'Listening to these once-young Service men and women touched us deeply as they spoke of their comrades who never returned.' Turning to contemporary conflicts, he saluted the 'humanitarian organisations working tirelessly to bring vital relief'.' He likened them to 'the example that Jesus gave us', namely 'to bring hope where there is despair'. Taking his theme from the carol Once In Royal David's City, he extended the message to reflect on the belief of 'all the great Faiths in the love and mercy of God in times of joy and of suffering'. In acknowledging the shared value systems of the other main religions, here, surely, was a nod to that long-held aspiration to be a defender of faith as well as Defender of The Faith. Inside the Fitzrovia Chapel in London where the King recorded his Christmas message The King alluded to his own troubles in his speech as he explained the choice of the chapel of the former Middlesex Hospital for this broadcast Only then did the King allude to his own troubles, explaining the choice of the chapel of the former Middlesex Hospital for this broadcast. He also alluded, obliquely, to the Princess of Wales who has spent so much of the year on her own cancer journey, not that the C-word was mentioned. 'From a personal point of view, I offer special, heartfelt thanks to the selfless doctors and nurses who, this year, have supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness,' he said. We caught a glimpse of his visit, with the Queen, to the Macmillan cancer unit at London's University College Hospital back in the spring. Yet this was by no means the first time that cancer has featured in a Christmas broadcast. If anything it has been something of a regular fixture. In 2022, in the first broadcast of the King's reign, we saw Prince William with staff at the Royal Marsden cancer hospital. There he was again, at the same hospital, visiting the Oak Care Cancer Centre in last year's broadcast. It is often overlooked but the Royal Family's links with the fight against a disease which will touch the lives of half the population are deep and enduring. Just as much attention, however, was devoted to the Royal Family's response to this summer's riots following the Southport murders. The King has long seen it as part of the monarchy's role to help patch up broken communities. As Prince of Wales, he was the one national figure who would keep returning to riot-torn areas such as Brixton, Toxteth and Tottenham, long after the politicians had moved on. Yesterday, he spoke of the quest to 'repair not just buildings, but relationships; and, most importantly, to repair trust.' The broadcast also included shots of the Prince and Princess of Wales in that healing process. Other members of the 'working' Royal Family included yesterday were the Princess Royal, the Edinburghs and the Gloucesters. Two honourable exceptions were the Duke of Kent and his sister, Princess Alexandra (who celebrated her 88th birthday yesterday), but only because they have not been able to undertake many public engagements this year. Once again, the Dukes of York and Sussex were nowhere to be seen, though Prince Andrew will have been delighted to see the prominence given to his elder daughter, Princess Beatrice, yesterday at Sandringham. She and her husband were next in line to the Waleses on the way out of church, a subtle reminder that she remains in the top ten in the royal line of succession. An upbeat broadcast then and one with a strong Commonwealth theme, too. As King of 14 other realms and head of an association of 56 independent nations, this was a broadcast aimed at a global audience with one overarching message: 'Onwards...' Kate Middleton was 'really respectful and grateful' when she spoke to well-wishers after a Christmas Day church service with the King and the rest of the royal family, a charity worker has said. The Princess of Wales and her children joined the King and Queen as they attended the Christmas Day service at Sandringham on Wednesday. She told royals fans she was 'hugely grateful' to the hundreds of people who had written to her offering their support after her cancer diagnosis earlier this year. One of them was Rachel Anvil - an NHS worker who told the princess she was an 'inspiration' to all the cancer patients who worked on her ward at Royal Papworth Hospital. 'She [Kate] was wonderful,' Rachel told MailOnline. 'She was really respectful and grateful. She said people like me and other health care workers are the ones who are doing all the hard work. She was really lovely. 'It was real privilege. We are only down the road. To get close and personal was not an opportunity that comes up all the time. I shook her hand. I'm really lucky.' The Princess of Wales replied to Rachel by saying: 'The amount of people who have written this year is extraordinary and I think cancer just really does resonate with so many families. 'People like you are doing all the hard work out there. I'm hugely grateful.' The Princess of Wales hugged a cancer patient (pictured) after a Christmas Day service on Wenesday Kate Middleton has spoken about her battle with cancer after a Christmas Day church service at Sandringham in Norfolk Rachel Anvil (left) told Princess Catherine that she was an 'inspiration' to patients The Princess of Wales thanked her and praised her hard work to help cancer patients Karen Maclean, from North Lincolnshire, spoke with both Charles and Kate and gave the princess a hug. Members of the public who met Kate described her as 'radiant'. A cancer patient who was one of the well-wishers also hugged Kate. The 73-year-old, who is retired, said she had had '20 years of cancer' and spoke about the disease with the King and his daughter-in-law after their own health issues this year. 'We just had a little talk about cancer, really,' said Ms Maclean. 'I've met the King before. He said to me 'I can remember you', I'm thinking 'what!', like many years ago?' She said that Charles and Kate seemed 'very well actually, considering what they're going through'. She added after hugging Kate: 'What a privilege.' Earlier on Christmas morning, King Charles, 76, and 77-year-old Queen Camilla walked the short distance from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church past a crowd of well-wishers. Her conversation about cancer came moments after she was given a drawing by a little girl for Princess Charlotte Kate thanked her and said she would pass it on to Charlotte, before wishing the little girl Merry Christmas They were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children - Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Prince Louis. William walked hand in hand with Charlotte, and Kate who wore a green coat and hat smiled at the crowds. Also in the walking party was the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Members of the royal family who walked to the service were greeted at the foot of the steps to the church by the Reverend Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams. They then headed inside and the National Anthem was sung before the first hymn, O Come, All Ye Faithful. King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived at Sandringham this morning Princess Catherine strolled with Prince William and their three children in a coat designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen King Charles sported a beige trench coat and brown suede shoes for Christmas Day The Wales's three children were dressed smartly and all appeared in good spirits Princess Catherine flashed a warm smile as members of the public looked on in glee Kate Middleton has had a difficult year battling cancer but seemed healthy and happy as she walked to the church Both Queen Camilla and Princess Catherine donned emerald green coats as they walked with King Charles and Prince William. Catherine's coat was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. Crowds were given copies of the order of service, conducted at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham, conducted by the Rector Rev Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams. Hymns included O Come All Ye Faithful, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night, and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. The service also included The Lord's Prayer. Prince William said last week that he was looking forward to spending Christmas with 45 members of his family 'all in one room' as he attended a seasonal event for families of 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment, in his role as colonel-in-chief, in Bulford, Wiltshire. We are not amused: Six-year-old Prince Louis offered a stern look after the service despite the best efforts of Reverend Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams However, the young prince appeared in a cheerier mood after receiving a Mickey Mouse dressed in a snazzy purple suit Looking classy as ever, the young Waleses accepted gifts from members of the public The youngster once again stole the limelight with his cheeky antics, this time clutching his far share of chocolate - which he will no doubt have to save until after Christmas Dinner Already a budding fashion icon, Prince Louis sported a green and blue tie that echoed his mother's scarf as he looked into the distance Princess Charlotte and Prince George also beamed as they met crowds outside the church with their family Both George and Charlotte were seen clutching teddy bears after the Christmas Day service Louis bowed his head as he walked from the church at Sandringham with his mother and father Prince Louis bends down to stroke a dog in a regal purple jumper as he greets well-wishers in Sandringham Kate Middleton paired pale blue earrings with a golden bangle around her right-hand wrist Kate, Princess of Wales shakes hands with a little girl as she greets members of the public after attending the Christmas day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham in Norfolk Queen Camilla smiles as she holds a bouquet of flowers given by well-wishers after attending the Christmas day service However, Prince Andrew, 64, will not be attending the Royal Family's celebrations and instead headed out for a solitary walk. He joined the family at church for the last two years in succession, but was said to be preparing to spend Christmas Day with his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York this year. They were expected to spend Christmas at Royal Lodge, the home they share in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire. Those invited to Sandringham can look forward to a mixture of the traditional and some festive fun of the Royal Family's own making. Both Queen Camilla and Princess Catherine donned emerald green coats as they walked with King Charles and Prince William She paired a blue and green tartan scarf with her designer emerald coat The Royals smiled as they were greeted by members of the public Charles waved to onlookers as Catherine held hands with her Prince Louis, her youngest child They then headed inside and the National Anthem was sung before the first hymn, O Come, All Ye Faithful Both Queen Camilla and King Charles carried umbrellas as they walked Mike Tindall was seen walking behind the Waleses as the royals made their way towards the church Fans of the royals lined the grassy verge beside them as they greeted the family Prince William looked lovingly towards his wife Princess Catherine while holding Princess Charlotte's hand Members of The Firm opened their presents on Christmas Eve in a nod to the family's German origins. They laid out their gifts on trestle tables and exchanged them at teatime. They are known to enjoy giving each other novelty presents, typically buying things that are cheap and will make people laugh rather than spending a lot on big, lavish gifts. They laid out their gifts on trestle tables and exchanged them at teatime. Sophie Edinburgh was seen in a marvellous sky blue coat alongside her daughter Lady Louise Windsor, who paired an eggshell beret with beige heels and a graceful coat The Duchess of Edinburgh and Lady Louise braved the cold this morning Princess Beatrice, who is pregnant, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Christopher Woolf attending the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk Princess Beatrice waves at the crowds with her husband Edoardo Mozzi and her stepson Christopher Woolf Her appearance at St Mary Magdalene Church on the monarch's Norfolk estate comes after it was revealed that she had been ordered by doctors to stay home in the UK for Christmas in case travelling endangers her baby Lady Chatto, the daughter of the late Princess Margaret, also attended Zara Tindall beamed alongside her daughter Lena Elizabeth Tindall The youngster flashed a cheeky, toothy grin this morning outside the church The procession of royals started with His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla Queen Camilla, King Charles III, Catherine Princess of Wales, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince William and Prince George attend the Christmas Day church service King Charles waves on the day he attends the Royal Family's Christmas Day service The Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal attending the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham Prince Edward, second left, and Princess Anne arrive for the the Christmas day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham in Norfolk, England Zara Tindall wore a stunning plum coloured coat she paired with a hairband and purse of the same colour as she walked with her children The late Princess Margaret's eldest grandchildren Samuel Chatto (second left) and Arthur Chatto (second right) attending the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk They are known to enjoy giving each other novelty presents, typically buying things that are cheap and will make people laugh rather than spending a lot on big, lavish gifts. For instance, Prince William reportedly gave his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth a pair of slippers emblazoned with her face. On Wednesday, the Royals attended the Christmas Day service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate, where they were greeted by well-wishers. The royals arrived at Sandringham to the joy of well-wishers on Christmas Day They gathered at the church before going in for the service, which started with the National Anthem Members of the royal family who walked to the service were greeted at the foot of the steps to the church by the Reverend Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams The family went into the church together. After the National Anthem, the first hymn was O Come, All Ye Faithful After the service, Princess Catherine gracefully brushed back her hair with her hand as Prince Louis watched on He then shook hands with Catherine, the Princess of Wales as she stood with other members of the Royal Family She then went to greet royal fans, some of whom presented her with stunning bouquets of flowers The Princess of Wales shook hands with a young girl who had come out to greet her She also received Christmas cards from the people gathered in their hundreds outside the church The Princess of Wales may well have made this woman's day as she shook her hand after the service Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh holds a bouquet of flowers gives by well-wishers after she attended the Christmas Day service After the service, the royals greeted well-wishers and accepted flowers and other gifts. King Charles passed on his thanks to the crowds, telling them: 'I hope you will be able to get back in time [for dinner].' Royal superfan John Loughrey said: 'I said to Kate that she is an inspiration to us all, we are so proud of her. 'She said thank you, and that she liked my top with her picture on. 'She looked in good colour, radiant is the word I would use.' Frenchman Louis Beauchamp, 29, handed Kate a specially made pashmina which he designed and bought for the princess on a recent trip to Morocco. Mr Beauchamp, an English language teacher from Paris, said: 'She said she was very grateful, and said: 'How kind of you.' Kate Middleton looked utterly radiant as she beamed while greeting well-wishers A few Father Christmases even turned up to greet Princess Catherine The King made sure to thank the people who braved the cold to come see him this morning Princess Beatrice sported a lovey coat paired with sleek black gloves as she walked with her stepson Christopher Woolf after the service 'I'm a teacher, we have met before, and she said: 'keep up the good work.' 'It was very moving to see her after such a hard year for her. 'She said: 'Thank you for all your support and coming a long way today.' Theresa Iredale, from Banbury in Oxfordshire, spoke to Kate briefly when she asked if was allowed to hand chocolate coins to George, Charlotte and Louis. Ms Iredale said: 'I didn't want to do it without permission and Kate just said: 'That's fine.' 'I shook her hand and said I was so happy for her that was she feeling so much better and she said: 'Thank you so much, thanks for the support.' Later, they will return for a traditional lunch of roast turkey and all the trimmings. They will sit down ready to eat at 1.15pm sharp, according to Queen Elizabeth II's former chef Darren McGrady, who catered for Christmas at Sandringham frequently in the 1980s and 1990s. On Christmas night, they are expected to play parlour games including charades and bingo. Owing to links to alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo being revealed, Prince Andrew is expected to spend the holidays in Windsor with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson instead. King Charles III is attending Sandringham for the Christmas Day Service alongside Queen Camilla The Prince of Wales, Prince George and Princess Charlotte during the Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey The Princess of Wales, pictured at the Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey earlier this month, undertook 11 duties this year following her cancer diagnosis William and Kate, pictured during the Emir of Qatar's visit in December, have stepped back from duties this year following her cancer diagnosis King Charles III and Queen Camilla pictured in Samoa during their tour in October The King has stepped out at a Sunday church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on December 22 - ahead of hosting his loved ones for Christmas He also pulled out of a pre-Christmas lunch for royals at Buckingham Palace last Thursday. After speaking to his ex-wife the Duchess of York, Prince Andrew has decided not to join 70 members of the Royal Family at the palace. It had been claimed Andrew was insisting on going to the lunch, telling friends 'he should be there', and that as it's a family occasion, 'why shouldn't he go?' But MailOnline understands Sarah persuaded him not to attend. After a year of trials for the Royal Family, it seemed many breathed a sigh of relief at the decision. Both Princess Catherine and King Charles announced this year that they had cancer. Last week it was reveaed that the King will continue to need cancer treatment in 2025. A Buckingham Palace source said the 76-year-old's health is still being 'managed' but is 'moving in a positive direction'. His Majesty intends to return to a full programme of public duties next year. This will include 'exciting' UK and international visits in the first half of 2025, the insider said. 'His treatment has been moving in a positive direction, as a managed condition the treatment cycle will continue into the new year', the Palace source said. Prince Andrew will not join the rest of his family at Sandringham for Christmas Alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo, who forged links with the Duke of York in another scandal Charles has been carrying on with his duties despite facing a personally challenging year in which both he and the Princess of Wales were diagnosed with cancer. News of Charles' cancer, undisclosed in its form, came in February, after it was discovered while he was treated in hospital for an enlarged prostate in January. He cancelled all face-to-face public duties but returned in April and has since travelled to France for D-Day commemorations, hosted incoming state visits for the Emperor of Japan and the Emir of Qatar, and undertaken a hectic tour to Australia and Samoa with the Queen, despite still undergoing outpatient cancer treatment. Meanwhile, a video released by Kate in September which confirmed she would return to public duties following the completion of her course of chemotherapy. Kate has been gradually returning to public events after revealing in September that she had finished a course of cancer treatment. William described the past year which has seen his wife and father being treated for cancer as 'brutal'. He said that 2024 has 'probably been the hardest year in my life' and a 'dreadful' experience. The Prince spoke candidly about the royal family's major health scares in an interview while in South Africa last month, saying 2024 has 'probably been the hardest year in my life' and a 'dreadful' experience. When asked on November 7 about his year, William replied: 'Honestly, it's been dreadful. It's probably been the hardest year in my life. So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult. 'But I'm so proud of my wife, I'm proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it's been, yeah, it's been brutal.' Kate appeared in a deeply personal video with her family in September to confirm her return to public duties following the completion of a course of chemotherapy. The Princess's heartfelt message about her cancer journey was spoken over images showing the Waleses and their children enjoying the outdoors, and she said her focus now was 'doing what I can to stay cancer free'. She described the previous nine months since her serious health issues began as 'incredibly tough for us as a family' and how the 'cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone', with the experience giving her a 'new perspective on everything.' The public gleefully welcomed them as they arrived at Sandringham for Christmas Day's church service on Wednesday. The first royal fans arrived outside the gates of Sandringham at 7.30pm on Christmas Eve in order to secure the best spot. That included self-confessed royal superfans John Loughrey and Sky London. The friends spent the night sleeping al fresco wrapped in sleeping bags. Mr Loughrey, 69, from Wandsworth in London, said: 'The weather has been damp, it's been soaking through the sleeping bag and I've had an hour's sleep. But it doesn't matter.' He said he empathised with Kate and her recent health issues because his late partner Marion Crean died with skin cancer in 2003. Pomeranians Peanut and Coco ahead of the Christmas Day morning church service Members of the public gather ahead of the Christmas Day morning church service attended by the royal family at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk Royal fans queue at Sandringham ahead of the Christmas Day church service Two Pomeranian dogs in the queue as the public wait to greet Royals on Christmas Day Mr Loughrey, wearing a T-shirt depicting a montage of the Princess, and holding a Christmas rose bouquet for her, said: 'Catherine has been an inspiration to us all, and her positivity has been amazing to see, she's got support all around the world. 'She has told us she is not out of the woods, but we want to stay positive. 'We also all want to see King Charles and Queen Camilla because of course they've not been well. 'It has been a difficult year for them and there are millions of people supporting them. 'I've met the King before and he said to me he has never seen anyone wearing so many badges before. 'I think to be honest there probably isn't anyone in the world who has seen the Royal Family as many times as me, and I'm proud of that. 'My friends know what I'm like, that this is my passion. Sometimes people say silly things but I love doing this.' Mr London, 64, from Paddington in north London, was also wearing a customised Kate T-shirt and holding a bouquet for the princess. He said: 'John and I have had a good laugh, he kept trying to yap to me last night so I didn't get much sleep. 'The only place I'd rather be than outside here at Sandringham today is probably inside Sandringham with them. So this is the next best thing. 'When you do this sort of thing you don't actually need much sleep, you feel refreshed and ready to go. 'It means the world to me to see them. 'I really want to see William again. I spoke to him before and he said: 'Don't call me Prince William, I'm just William.' 'And he is - he's very down to earth. Unfortunately he's an Aston Villa fan and I'm Birmingham City, their rivals, but that doesn't put me off him.' American families are buying up $50,000 in nuclear bunkers amid growing tensions between the US and Russia that could spark WWIII. An installer of these shelters told DailyMail.com that 'this last year in particular has definitely been busier than any other year.' Todd Stump, owner of Ohio-based USA Bunker Company, has sold hundreds of bunkers from as far east as Pennsylvania to as far west as California. The move-in-ready and luxury bunkers include home comforts, such as kitchens and bedrooms, and some even have artificial windows that give the feeling that you are above ground. The prefabricated bunkers are made with quarter-inch steel plates, while custom shelters are designed with reinforced concrete and heavy insulated walls, ranging from eight feet by 20 feet to 1,000 square feet or more. The bunkers are built to survive anything from 'severe weather or any kind of man-made disaster, all the way up to nuclear warfare, terrorist attacks, chemical or biological attacks', Stump said. 'A lot of people are concerned s with the way things are going in the world, and they just want that peace of mind of knowing if something does happen, that they have an option so they no longer have to worry about anything,' he added. America is the home of the 'prepper' community - with the number of people who are part of this survivalist movement doubling to 20 million since 2017, according to recent research. Stump oversees everything from shipping to permits to installation (USA Bunker Company) Demand for bunkers has soared since the COVID pandemic (USA Bunker Company) While most focus on stocking up their homes or reinforcing their basements, those with disposable wealth turn to investing in bunkers, often in old military facilities. However, Stump has designed his shelters for the middle class as they also need protection during a nuclear attack on US soil. He has been building bunkers since 2012 and said he noticed demand started soaring after the COVID-19 pandemic. Momentum has kept building amid global tensions and the Ukraine war. He said that people's demands are often similar: 'They want to be able to filter out any chemical, biological or radiation particles from the air, and something that's safe from people being able to break into. They want those specific protections. Some clients hope to spend up to several months underground in the event of a disaster. 'They want to be able to spend days, weeks, even months inside the shelter, and have all the amenities of home, and things to keep you safe and alive,' Stump said. Stump said that his company handles everything from building permits to shipping and installation for his clients, with him personally visiting sites to ensure everything is planned correctly and goes smoothly. Many families want home comforts even after the apocalypse begins (USA Bunker Company) Blast-proof doors help families to anticipate the worst (USA Bunker Company( Basic installations start at $50,000 but custom models can be up to $500,000 (USA Bunker Company) He started the company after he decided to buy his own bunker and found that the two or three other U.S. bunker companies didn't match up to his expectations. 'It led me down a rabbit hole of underground bunkers,' he said, 'No companies out there had any kind of experience in emergency preparedness, emergency disaster, you know, security or dealing with threats,' Stump said. 'I decided I'm just going to start my own company and build mine, because I don't want to put my safety in their hands when they have no experience in it. 'With me, coming from five years in the military, with combat experience, and 15 years in law enforcement.' With demand soaring, Stump says that he's focused on a new luxury market going into next year, with premium concrete bunkers, built to order. Stump says, 'We've got quite a few contracts, that we're going to be starting in spring of 2025. A whole other style of bunkers and luxury in the $500,000 range.' Bird flu tightens grip on California as human cases rise Xinhua) 09:58, December 26, 2024 SACRAMENTO, the United States, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- California's battle against avian influenza A (H5N1) intensified amid spreading infections across dairy farms and a growing number of human infection, including two newly confirmed cases in Stanislaus and Los Angeles counties. The virus, commonly known as bird flu, has infected 659 of California's 984 dairy operations since August, with one-quarter of these cases emerging in the past month alone, according to California authorities. The rapid spread through the state's dairy industry prompted Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency last week to protect agricultural workers and public health. "This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak," Newsom said in a statement. The outbreak's human impact has grown increasingly severe, with California reporting at least 36 confirmed cases -- more than half of the nation's total of 65, according to the latest report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Tuesday, though the actual count is likely higher as recent local confirmations may not yet be reflected in federal data. Two new cases were confirmed Monday in California's Los Angeles County and Stanislaus County. Both individuals were exposed to livestock infected with bird flu at a worksite, and both had mild symptoms and were treated with antiviral medications, according to the two counties' health departments. Public health officials have been monitoring wastewater across the state, detecting the virus in several Bay Area locations, including San Francisco, Napa, and San Jose. However, California State Epidemiologist Erica Pan explained to ABC30 that these detections might be primarily due to "residential or other commercial milk dumping down in the sinks." Although health officials said the risk remains low for the general public, the virus kills 90 percent to 100 percent of infected poultry and about 1 percent to 2 percent of cows. California State Veterinarian Annette M. Jones noted that infected cows may never fully recover. As the country's largest dairy producing state, California faced a heavy economic toll from the bird flu outbreak. The virus has led to quarantines and increased testing requirements. The authorities said the state is now testing its 1.7 million cows weekly. California's milk production dropped 9.2 percent in November from the same month last year, the most significant decline recorded, according to the monthly Milk Production Report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Dec. 19. Meanwhile, California's reduced output has led to a 1 percent decrease in national milk production, raising concerns over U.S. dairy product availability and costs. The state's poultry operations have also been hit hard. The California Department of Food and Agriculture reported that 51 commercial poultry operations and nine backyard flocks across the state had been affected. The virus has also appeared in unexpected places, with Los Angeles County confirming two cases in domestic cats that consumed contaminated raw milk. Los Angeles County health officials warned against feeding pets raw food Tuesday after one brand had samples of bird flu virus detected, noting that a house cat in Oregon had died from consuming the recalled raw frozen pet food. Worker safety has become a critical issue, with the state distributing over 4 million pieces of personal protective equipment. However, Elizabeth Strater, a spokesperson for United Farm Workers, told health news site STAT that many workers avoided testing or reporting symptoms due to wage concerns. "Right now, it's a bad gamble for workers," she said, advocating for compensation for testing and wage coverage for those testing positive. The USDA has implemented new containment measures, including a mandatory national milk testing program announced on Dec. 6. However, some experts questioned whether these measures were sufficient. Seema Lakdawala, an associate professor at Emory University's School of Medicine, told STAT that while the new testing strategy would improve understanding of the virus' spread, it may be "arriving too late" -- nine months into the outbreak. The state is investigating transmission patterns through 40 research projects. "Honestly, there's probably more we don't understand than we actually do know" about how the virus spreads between farms, said Mike Payne, a food animal veterinarian at University of California, Davis. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) A portrait of Jesus hangs on a wall next to the American flag at Freyburg United Methodist Church on Sunday, March 25, 2012, in Freyburg, Texas. Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspap/Houston Chronicle This holiday season brings an extra reason to be joyful: A recent poll found that Americans belief in the existence of a War on Christmas has fallen dramatically since 2022, to 23%. Peace on earth and mercy mild! Perhaps with the ongoing invasion of our southern border, Fox and other conservative networks have decided that its best to focus on drumming up support for one war at a time. Or maybe waging a two-decade war over the Prince of Peace with imaginary grinches has finally grown wearisome, even if Donald Trump is still manning the barricades. The idea that theres a war against Christmas has never been about the ability to practice Christianity, only the fear that America is under siege by secular liberals and their allies among Jews, Muslims and people of other faiths. It is based on the claim that saying Merry Christmas rather than Happy Holidays is culturally verboten, rather than a well-intentioned (one might even say Christian) effort at inclusive grace. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The tragedy of making up a forever war on Christmas to score political points isnt that its been needlessly divisive. Its that so many Christians spent so much time confusing a greeting with the gospel. In taking aim at secularization, they trained their fire on the most superficial and meaningless target, rather than the big prize: infusing the Christmas season with more of Christs spirit, in the face of the avalanche of commercialism that overwhelms it. The work of rescuing Christianity from partisan warriors is captured in an inspiring new book, Your Jesus Is Too American. Its author, Steve Bezner , is the pastor of a large evangelical church in Houston, Texas , which I visited recently on a cross-country RV trip. Its not unusual, he writes, to see signs featuring a cross draped in an American flag or even Jesus wearing an American flag as a sash. Those images lead to people being convinced that being an American citizen is synonymous with being a Christian and often, that being a Christian is synonymous with being a Republican. Youre not a Christian if you vote for a Democrat, a megachurch pastor in Dallas said earlier in the year. He was hardly the only person to make that claim, which has led many Christians to believe, Bezner writes, that our salvation is found not in Jesus but in who occupies the White House. His book aims to remind us of the backward and upside-down values of Jesus and to hold them in tension with our American values. Hes deeply patriotic, but doesnt confuse love of country with love of God, or loyalty to party with fidelity to scripture. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Bezner thoughtfully explores paradoxes at the heart of Christianity that challenge American culture: denying our material wants to fulfill our spiritual needs, which runs counter to our consumerism; giving away our resources to enrich ourselves, which runs counter to our ambitions; and serving others to save ourselves, which runs counter to our individualism. Jesus final act of teaching before sharing a meal with his disciples and then journeying to the cross, Bezner writes, was an act of joyful service washing his disciples feet, demonstrating that the lowliest forms of service are Gods highest calling. Too many of our pastors sound like pundits, he writes. Too few of us wash feet. Bezner examines the most difficult of Jesus commandments love your enemies by placing it in historical context that has contemporary relevance. Jesus spoke those words to Jews living under a violently repressive Roman regime that was militarily occupying their homeland, taxing them, and building up pagan worship. At a time when hatred of Donald Trump runs deep through the Democratic Party, and when Trump and other Republicans are threatening retribution against their enemies, Jesus call to practice what Bezner calls enemy love is a challenge to Christian members of both parties. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Bezner is especially compelling when examining Jesus solidarity with ethnic outcasts, including Samaritans despised by Jews, and with aliens and exiles who arrive to new lands with nothing. His reputation as the friend of sinners is well earned, Bezner writes of Jesus, but we might do well to think of him also as the friend of foreigners. His disciples took that lesson to heart. The earliest churches, notes Bezner, were multiethnic in an age when xenophobia was high. Bezner has worked to make his own congregation more ethnically and racially diverse, a process that led to a lot of negative emails and comment cards and even a few death threats. And while some members left, his church has grown in numbers and in strength as it has gone from 99% white to about two-thirds white. Over the past decade, leading a church while tacking against the nations howling political winds has been an extremely difficult challenge that courts backlash and risks failure. But we need more pastors, like Bezner, willing to attempt it. A good preacher, another evangelical pastor told me earlier this year, steps on toes. This Christmas, churches were aglow with purple candles. In the Christian tradition, purple signifies penance. In the American tradition, it signifies unity the blending of red and blue. Advertisement Article continues below this ad One of the oldest known cases of the 'Black Death' plague has been uncovered in the ancient DNA of a 3,290-year-old Egyptian mummy. The cvirus Yersinia pestis, or the bubonic plague, is known for the havoc it wrought in medieval Europe where the fatal disease wiped out nearly 50million people from 1346 to 1353 in a historic deadly pandemic. While teams of archeologists and geneticists previously located traces of Y. pestis in the remains of 5,000-year-old human skeletons unearthed in what is now Russia, the new find marks the first discovery of the disease outside Eurasia. The infected mummy gives new clues as to how the deadly plagued first spread west and provides 'molecular evidence for the presence of plague in ancient Egypt.' Previous studies over the past few decades have offered hints the bubonic plague spread down through trade routes along ancient empires in north Africa before hitting Europe, countering prior theories that it simply drifted east to west. One ancient Egyptian medical text known as the Ebers Papyrus, dated to 1500 B.C., describes a 'Black Death'-like illness that 'produced a bubo' of tell-tale 'petrified' pus. Then in 2004, British archeologists found evidence of the disease in millennia-old Nile rats and fleas, suggesting its presence without proving any human infections. While the DNA samples the team in Italy took of the plague-infected mummy showed 'an already advanced state of disease progression,' the evidence is only the beginning of an exploration into whether ancient Egypt faced its own 'Black Death.' The oldest known case of the 'Black Death' west of Eurasia has been uncovered in the genome of a 3,290-year-old Egyptian mummy, thanks to researchers in Italy working with a mummy held by Museo Egizio in Turin. Above, another mummy held in Museo Egizio's collection Radiocarbon-dating techniques place the 'Black Death'-infected mummy as having lived somewhere around Egypt's New Kingdom era, between 1686-1449 BC. Above, coffins that also date back to the New Kingdom era unearthed in Tuna el Gebel district of Minya, Egypt last year 'We cannot infer how widespread the disease was during this time,' the 12-person team explained in their academic conference presentation to the European Meeting of the Paleopathology Association. But, however infectious this mummy may have been, the interdisciplinary team of archeologists and viral paleontologists do believe it was mummified by hand. Radiocarbon-dating techniques place the mummy as having lived somewhere around Egypt's New Kingdom era, between 1686-1449 BC, although they admitted that 'its exact provenance within Egypt is unknown.' The technique measures traces of carbon atom isotopes in once living tissue, specifically the radioactive version of carbon, carbon-14. Animals absorb carbon-14 when they breathe, but slowly lose it all as the centuries pass after their death. The team's ancient mummy was an adult male, sourced from the collection of the Museo Egizio in Turin, Italy, which is home to finds from ancient Egypt's New Kingdom Tombs of Kha and Merit, among other valued specimens and artifacts. Both bone tissue and intestinal content were sampled from the mummy for a kind of DNA testing known as 'shotgun metagenomics' which tests unknown samples of genetic material for any and all of the known biological organisms it may contain. Once they had clues of bubonic plague from this method, the samples were further processed focusing on getting 'low coverage genome-wide data of both the human host and the Y. pestis pathogen.' The team is now using that viral DNA map to explore how Y. pestis evolved and varied between its time in ancient Egypt, the Middle Ages and the modern day. Above, a computer illustration of Plague bacteria (Yersinia pestis) showing its oval or 'ovoid' shape with a bipolar staining technique Above, a close-up of one of the New Kingdom mummies discovered in Tuna el Gebel district of Minya, Egypt last year, on October 15, 2023 'Yersinia pestis ,' the team noted in their presentation, 'ravaged humankind with three historically documented pandemics.' And one of those plagues happened in between the era of Egypt's New Kingdom and the Black Death that befell 14th century Europe. Historians know it as the Eastern Roman Empires Plague of Justinian, which spread through the Mediterranean, Europe, and the Near East in the 6th century AD. China and Mongolia had their own brush with the bubonic plague more recently in the middle of the 19th century. The new research, presented this August, may upend past research that suggested the plague spread to Europe via Silk Road traders. Bubonic plague is the most common form of plague and often spreads via the bite of an infected flea. Human-to-human transmission of bubonic plague is rare, with the vector typically being 'flea-bitten' animals, like rats and dogs. The infection greatly impacts immune glands called lymph nodes, causing them to become swollen and painful, progressing to open sores in untreated patients. People infected with plague usually develop acute febrile disease with other non-specific systemic symptoms like sudden onset fever, chills, head and body aches, weakness, vomiting and nausea after a one-to-seven day incubation period. Fortunately, the bubonic plague is easily treated today with antibiotics, when not avoided via preventative measures. As the festive season is upon us once again, the nation are preparing to sink their teeth into some of the best soap storylines. This year, EastEnders is already gearing up for another gritty Christmas episode which will see a major character battle with their mental health. New research from Slingo has revealed the most-watched festive soap scenes on YouTube by looking at the number of views on the most popular videos. It also looked into the best overall soaps in the UK and US by analysing IMDB ratings, the number of awards won and the total number of Google Searches. The data revealed that EastEnders has claimed a whopping six spots on the list of most-watched festive moments featuring unforgettable twists like Max and Stacey's affair. Here, MailOnline has rounded up the top 10 iconic Christmas Day scenes from the nation's favourite soaps that left fans screaming at their screens. 1. Max and Stacey's affair - EastEnders (2007) Taking the top spot is an EastEnders Christmas secret that left fans gasping with shock when it aired The explosive reveal of Max and Staceys affair in 2007 was the UKs most watched festive TV scene, fetching 1,600,000 views on its most popular YouTube video The couple vowed to end their relationship as Stacey put on her wedding dress to marry Bradley, but unbeknown to her the exchange had been secretly filmed Taking the top spot is an EastEnders Christmas secret that left fans gasping with shock when it aired. The explosive reveal of Max and Staceys affair in 2007 was the UKs most watched festive TV scene, fetching 1,600,000 views on its most popular YouTube video. The winning moment famously saw Max and Stacey's bombshell kiss on the day of her wedding to his son Bradley (Charlie Clements). The shocking kiss, which viewers had watched a month earlier, was revealed to the entire family as Stacey and Bradley's wedding video was shown on Christmas Day. Reminiscing, the family decided to watch the video amid their festive celebrations, but little did they know that Lauren Branning (Madeline Duggan) had accidentally secretly recorded Stacey's clinch with her father-in-law Max. The whole family, particularly Bradley and Max's wife Tanya Cross (Jo Joyner), were left completely shocked by the footage, with Lauren rushing out in tears. Max desperately tried to convince his wife Tanya that they were simply recording it as a joke to show Bradley, but she was left devastated and completely unconvinced. Stacey then tearfully apologised as the truth finally came out, with Bradley becoming embroiled in a physical fight with his father Max, knocking down the Christmas tree. The tense scenes ended with Bradley storming out of the house, while Stacey was left in floods of tears. 2. Tiffany dies - EastEnders (1998) EastEnders' Tiffany Mitchell's life came to an abrupt end when she was tragically ran over by Frank Butcher on New Year's Eve 1998 EastEnders' Tiffany Mitchell's life came to an abrupt end when she was tragically ran over by Frank Butcher on New Year's Eve 1998. Making the second most legendary Christmas moment, the beloved character took her final breath while laying outside the Queen Vic. With 883,000 views, it captured audiences and remains unforgettable. Martine McCutcheon, who plays the character, has since said she wouldn't go back to EastEnders, even if her character Tiffany was to come back from the dead. Her exit from the soap was a controversial one, since she only found out she was leaving when a radio host announced it. 3. Tram crash - Coronation Street (2010) Coronation Streets Christmas tram crash in 2010 delivered one of the most intense holiday episodes in soap history, drawing in 623,000 YouTube views Coronation Streets Christmas tram crash in 2010 delivered one of the most intense holiday episodes in soap history, drawing in 623,000 YouTube views, making it the third-most watched festive TV scene, As the quiet streets of Weatherfield turned into chaos, this gripping storyline left viewers stunned and glued to their screens. It came as the show marked its 50th Anniversary with a jaw-dropping week of storylines, which saw Weatherfield thrown into chaos as an explosion led to a tram derailing and crashing onto the cobbles. The action-packed scenes led to the death of two long-term characters, Molly Dobbs and Ashley Peacock, and left several on deaths door, including Peter Barlow. The scenes were also an homage to a 1967 storyline which saw a tram crash through the viaduct, leading to the famous line from Corrie veteran Rita Sullivan: 'What is it with me and trams?' 4. Den and Angie Divorce - EastEnders (1986) During EastEnders' first ever Christmas episode in 1986, Den Watts (played by Leslie Grantham) exposed his wife Angie's (Anita Dobson) lies by serving her with divorce papers In fourth place, it's still one of the most-watched moments in television history, and was considered the moment that put the soap on the map, pulling in 342,000 views on it's most popular YouTube clip. During EastEnders' first ever Christmas episode in 1986, Den Watts (played by Leslie Grantham) exposed his wife Angie's (Anita Dobson) lies by serving her with divorce papers. The dodgy dealer learned that his beloved wife had lied about having cancer to try and stop him from leaving her, but during a not-so romantic getaway to Venice, he overheard her drunkenly confess the lie to a waiter. In a heart-stopping moment, Den pulled his wife away from their perfect family Christmas, and handed her a letter from his solicitor revealing that he'd filed for divorce. Ending with the classic line: 'Happy Christmas Ang,' it was a moment watched by more than 30 million viewers. Den is still considered one of the soap's greatest ever characters, and after supposedly being killed off in 1989, he was brought back from the dead in an explosive 2003 twist before being permanently silenced in 2005. 5. Who killed Archie? - EastEnders (2010) Archie was murdered on Christmas Day in 2009 in a dramatic Who Done It? and the culprit was eventually exposed during the soap's 25th Anniversary special In 2010, a Who Done It? that gripped the nation, after the villainous Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) was killed on Christmas Day in 2009 after being hit over the head with the bust of the Queen Vic. It sits at fifth place in the list with an impressive 250,000 YouTube views. The culprit was set to be revealed in a live episode to celebrate the soap's 25th Anniversary and there was a long list of suspects after Archie made enemies of everyone in the Square. After his wife Peggy (Barbara Windsor) learned that he sexually assaulted his daughter Ronnie, she decided to end their marriage in dramatic fashion. Archie hid the fact that Ronnie's daughter Amy was still alive, and had been trying to reunite with her mum on the Square under the name Danielle. When Ronnie (Samantha Womack) finally learned the truth, Danielle (Lauren Crace) was run over by a car and tragically killed, leaving her mum devastated. Bradley was also furious to learn that Archie had raped his wife Stacey, so there were many theories for fans to muse over after watching Archie's death. The live episode saw Bradley die after falling from the roof of the Queen Vic, and in a surprise twist Stacey confessed that she was Archie's killer. 6. Kat and Alfie's wedding - EastEnders (2003) Kat Slater and Alfie moon tied the knot on Christmas Day in 2003, with Alfie buying a snow machine to fulfil Kat's dream of a snowy wedding Kat Slater and Alfie moon tied the knot on Christmas Day in 2003, with Alfie buying a snow machine to fulfil Kat's dream of a snowy wedding. It was a happy moment for viewers after the couple took their time together - Alfie had to stop Kats wedding to gangster Andy before they admitted they were in love. On top of this, Alfie was still technically married to Liza but couldn't bring himself to tell Kat, so she only found out at the actual ceremony. She forgave him when the dicorce papers were brought along and she was persuaded to give him a second chance. The YouTube video garnered 215,055 views, with fans still loving the episode more than two decades after it aired. 7. Val's return - Emmerdale (2017) In 2017, EastEnders legend Val Pollard (Charlie Hardwick) had a very memorable comeback to the show for the soap's Christmas day episode In 2017, EastEnders legend Val Pollard (Charlie Hardwick) had a very memorable comeback to the show for the soap's Christmas day episode. Viewers couldn't believe their eyes when she appeared as a ghost in Robert Sugden's delirious coma dream. Val met her grisly end back in August 2015 when she died after being impaled by a shard of glass in a hall of mirrors. In the surprise comeback that left fans in stitches, Val's ghost warned Robert that he needs to stop hurting his loved ones. It came after Robert was hit by Lawrence White's car and was fighting for his life in hospital, which left him in a state of confusion. He dreamt that he was at Aaron Dingle's funeral and Val was there, as she told him: 'You're going to do yourself an injury if you keep that up.' 8. Ronnie Mitchell's baby swap - EastEnders (2010) In eighth place on the list with 136,000 views is an EastEnders 2010 storyline that saw characters Ronnie Branning and Kat Moon both gave birth in the same episode In eighth place on the list with 136,000 views is an EastEnders 2010 storyline that saw characters Ronnie Branning and Kat Moon both gave birth in the same episode. Viewers were left in shock after Ronnie's son, James, died of sudden infant death syndrome and Ronnie secretly swaps him with Kat's son, Tommy. The controverisial storyline attracted record numbers of complaints - around 13,400 people complained to the BBC while another 1,044 complained directly to communications watchdog Ofcom. In a report published by Ofcom at the time, the watchdog said viewers had complained it was 'an inaccurate, insensitive and sensationalised portrayal of the behaviour of a mother who has lost a baby from cot death'. The BBC ended the storyline earlier than planned in the face of the complaints. 9. Hilda's farewell - Coronation Street (1987) Hilda's departure from the Cobbles in 1987 is in ninth place on the memorable list, with 103,000 YouTube views Hilda's departure from the Cobbles in 1987 is in ninth place on the memorable list, with 103,000 YouTube views. The episode brought Coronation Street its highest ever ratings, with 27 million viewers watching her bid farewell on Christmas Day after 23 years on screen. Actress Jean Alexander decided to leave the soap as bosses struggled to create storylines for Hilda after her husband Stanley's death in 1984, following actor Bernard Youens' death off-screen. Hilda planned to bid farewell to Weatherfield after accepting a job as a housekeeper in Derbyshire, and the entire Street threw a party in her honour before joining her to sing Wish Me Luck as You Wave Me Goodbye.' 10. Becca and Justin's affair begins - Hollyoaks (2005) Becca Hayton's scandalous 2005 affair with her younger student Justin Burton affair rounds off the top ten legendary festive soap moments Becca Hayton's scandalous 2005 affair with her younger student Justin Burton affair rounds off the top ten legendary festive soap moments. The forbidden romance aired between 2005 and 2006, but began on Christmas Eve in 2005, as the duo shared a kiss and she later became pregnant with his baby. Becca's school found out and she lost her job, with matters being mae worse when Justin issued a false statement that she had groomed and raped him when he was 15. The events landed Becca with two years in prison, despire Justin eventually telling the truth, she was stabbed in prison and died. Bargain Hunt host Natasha Raskin Sharp has revealed some of the most chaotic moments that have unfolded on the BBC set. From breakups to childbirth in the middle of filming, Natasha definitely proved anything can happen on set as she gave an insight into the drama behind the scenes. The show first hit UK television in 2000 and was originally hosted by TV veteran David Dickinson but he was replaced in 2003 by Tim Wonnacott. The show usually sees two pairs of contestants be tasked with buying antiques from a fair or a range of shop before they compete to make the most profit in an auction. And while the premise of the show may sound very contained and sophisticated, it is reported that there is actually a lot of drama that kicks off behind the scenes. The filming process is much longer than it appear and in Karen Farrington new book, Bargain Hunt: The Spotters Guide To Antiques, fellow expert Natasha confessed some of the show's behind the scenes secrets. Bargain Hunt host Natasha Raskin Sharp has revealed some of the most chaotic moments that have unfolded on the BBC set From proposals to breakups to childbirth in the middle of filming, Natasha definitely proved anything can happen on set as she gave an insight into the drama behind the scenes (pictured: couple who got engaged on the show in 2018) Pondering over some of the reasons why the iconic show is so loved, she said: 'Or maybe it's the very real drama that can unfold. 'You see, the 45 minutes shown on television represent several days of filming. 'First, there's the 'buy day', then there's the 'auctioneer chat', and finally, the auction itself. 'A lot can happen in that time: there's been one marriage proposal, a handful of breakups and even a few births between the antiques fair and the auction ... you just never know exactly how an episode is going to play out.' In January 2018 Bargain Hunt aired a proposal between a couple from Nottinghamshire as Tony got down on one knee and proposed to his partner Alison. Alison said yes as it was believed that she did not know it was going to happen but the producers did. Tony described the loved-up display as a 'really unique moment' and revealed he thought proposing on Bargain Hunt would be a 'brilliant way of capturing it forever.' In the book they also confirmed that the participants get to keep the fleece that they wear on the show. The filming process is much longer than it appear and in Karen Farrington new book, Bargain Hunt: The Spotters Guide To Antiques, fellow expert Natasha (left) confessed some of the show's behind the scenes secrets Pondering over some of the reasons why the iconic show is so loved, she said: 'Or maybe it's the very real drama that can unfold It comes after Bargain Hunt viewers slammed BBC bosses for an 'awful' change they made to the hit daytime show. During an instalment last week, viewers were taken to Nottinghamshire where host Christina Trevanion, 43, was joined by experts Thomas Forrester, 46, and Ochuko Ojiri, 52, who tried to help two teams make a profit at auction. Usually in each episode, an expert is assigned to either the red or blue team as they help them search for unique antiques. And towards the end of the show, the BBC host will meet with the auctioneer to go over the items each team sourced. However, the daytime programme had done a format shakeup and the auctioneer's comments were stripped from the show. Fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their disappointment with the new format. One fan fumed: 'Bloody awful without the auctioneers comments.'; '@BBCBargainHunt Hi we enjoy watching #bargainhunt but why the change in format at the moment #BBC.' 'Don't like these shortened shows miss auctioneers comments #bargainhunt.' With a plethora of streaming sites at our fingertips, finding a truly good series to watch can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. But fear not, we've done the hard for work for you as there a seven shows on BBC iPlayer with perfect scores on review site Rotten Tomatoes ready for you to binge-watch now. How many of these 'masterpieces' have you seen and which ones will you sink your teeth into next? Boiling Point Following the success of the 2021 film by the same name, the BBC commissioned a TV miniseries sequel of drama Boiling Point with Stephen Graham returning to his role as chef, Andy Jones. The culinary drama picks up six months after the film ended, following Andy's heart attack brought on by the stress of trying to quit drugs and alcohol while running a busy and unorganised restaurant. He tried to blame the downfall of his eatery on innocent sous-chef Carly, played by Vinette Robinson, but after walking out on the chaos, she is back and better than ever. Now, Carly is running her own restaurant, Point North, with the help of her former boss Andy's staff. Following the success of the 2021 film by the same name, the BBC commissioned a TV miniseries sequel of drama Boiling Point with Stephen Graham returning to his role as chef, Andy Jones The culinary drama picks up six-months after the film ended, with Carly now running her own restaurant, Point North, with the help of her former boss Andy's staff The four-part series focuses on Carly and her team, including new chef Johnny, kitchen porters Jake and Holly, and pastry chef Emily It explores the challenges of running a restaurant in a difficult climate, and the toll that the pressure of the job can take on people's personal lives, making for four hours of drama-filled viewing. On Rotten Tomatoes, reviewers drew parallels between Boiling Point and the hit Disney+ show The Bear. They gave the show a perfect 100 per cent score on the Tomatoemeter and other viewers gave it an impressive 94 per cent on the Popcornmeter. One review said: 'While the venue may have changed, the series has lost none of its high-octane energy in the kitchen, nor the stress and tension that oozes out of every order, leaving audiences feeling anxious and hungry.' Another reads: 'Boiling Point will give you very strong Bear vibes, but that doesnt mean that its a carbon copy. Its just as pulse-pounding to watch, and youll find yourself more involved in whats going on than you might have expected.' Fleabag This Emmy award-winning BBC series follows Pheobe Waller-Bridge's character Fleabag, a struggling millennial woman who runs a failing guinea pig cafe that she opened with her best friend Boo, who tragically took her own life. Across two seasons, the protagonist, who is traumatised and riddled with guilt over the death of her friend, constantly locks horns with her family and jumps from one dysfunctional relationship to the next. Most notably, her will-they-won't-they flirty relationship with The Priest, who is not allowed to have sexual or romantic relationships due to his Catholic faith. The show's title is inspired by its creator Waller-Bridge's nickname and shows the character's journey to loving herself and learning to love others, no matter what pain that could bring. She starts as someone who hates herself and ends up believing that she can love again and forgive herself. This Emmy award winning BBC series follows Pheobe Waller-Bridge's character Fleabag, a struggling millennial woman who runs a failing guinea pig cafe that she opened with her best friend Boo, who tragically took her own life Her will-they-won't-they flirty relationship with The Priest, who is not allowed to have sexual or romantic relationships due to his Catholic faith, has thrilled viewers Speaking about the show's plot, Waller-Bridge explained: 'It was really about a woman who felt she was really valued primarily by her sexual desirability. 'And I really wanted to write about that in a way that was accessible and funny so people didn't realise that's what it was about until it sneaks up on you.' On Rotten Tomatoes, reviewers called Fleabag 'a dirtier Bridget Jones' Diary' and gave it a sparkling 100 per cent score. Other viewers gave it a 93 per cent score on the Popcornmeter. One review reads: 'It's dirty, it's sexy, it's disgusting, it's hilarious - and it's about being a girl. As in, a real girl. Scared? You should be.' Another said: 'Fleabag starts off like a dirtier Bridget Jones' Diary, but it soon develops into a more nuanced and heartbreaking (still humorous) novella about a person trying to find her truest self.' Keeping Faith This thriller-cum-kitchen sink drama, set in small-town Wales, stars Broadchurch actress Eve Myles as Faith Howells, a lawyer forced to cut short her maternity leave after her husband and business partner suddenly disappears. When Faith returns to work to defend a homeless person accused of shoplifting, she discovers new information about Evan's private life and questions how well she knew the man she married. But when Faith goes on to uncover a dark and seedy criminal network in her home county of Carmarthenshire, Wales, she is accused of being involved and taken into custody. The show's central depiction of a mother struggling to keep a family's life on track despite heartbreak has captured its large fanbase. This thriller-cum-kitchen sink drama, set in small-town Wales, stars Broadchurch actress Eve Myles as Faith Howells, a lawyer forced to cut short her maternity leave after her husband and business partner suddenly disappears When Faith returns to work to defend a homeless person accused of shoplifting, she discovers new information about Evan's private life and questions how well she knew the man she married The first season broke records in Wales, becoming the most-watched series ever on Welsh TV. 'Women in the midst of motherhood aren't seen as sexy or interesting enough to play lead roles, Faith has busted that myth,' said Pip Broughton, the show's director. Keeping Faith received a pristine 100 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics. One review reads: 'What makes this show so good isn't the naturalism of the dialogue, the easy progression of the mystery, or the inventive use of close-ups and overhead shots. What makes Keeping Faith "must-stream TV" is Eve Myles.' Another said: 'Myles is fantastic in the title role, mixing boldness and vulnerability, verve and remorse as she searches for the reason behind Evan's disappearance. If "Keeping Faith" kept her from quitting acting, that alone justifies its existence.' Ludwig This murder mystery series stars David Mitchell as John 'Ludwig' Taylor, an introverted and reclusive puzzle setter. Against his better judgement, he is dragged into an exciting adventure after his identical twin brother goes missing. He is recruited by his sister-in-law, played by Anna Maxwell Martin, and the two start the hunt to find him. Ludwig cleverly impersonates his police detective twin brother in order to find out more information about his mysterious disappearance. This murder mystery series stars David Mitchell as John 'Ludwig' Taylor, an introverted and reclusive puzzle setter Against his better judgement, he is dragged into an exciting adventure after his identical twin brother goes missing But in a shock turn of events, he excels at solving crime and soon becomes absorbed into living as his brother. Each episode explores a new murder with mind-bending puzzles for Ludwig to solve. Ludwig received a golden 100 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and a respectable 93 per cent from other watchers on the Popcornmeter. One review said: 'Its a brilliant idea and a lovely bit of casting, and Mitchell is thoroughly convincing as an anxious intellectual struggling to fill his brothers shoes.' Another wrote: 'It's Kettle Chips viewing, best consumed with a glass of wine and a brain in neutral. Morse wouldn't like it, or Sherlock, but you might.' Mr Loverman This romance drama is based on the acclaimed 2013 novel by the Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo and tells the story of Lennie James' character Barry, a flamboyant 74 year old renowned for his dapper taste and fondness for retro suits. His wife of 50 years, Carmel , played by Sharon D Clarke, thinks he's been cheating on her with other women. However, she is only half correct as Barry has in fact been having a secret, passionate affair with his male best friend and soulmate, Morris, played by Ariyon Bakare. Now facing the final chapter of his life, Barry has big choices to make that will force his whole family to question their futures. This romance drama is based on the acclaimed 2013 novel by the Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo and tells the story of Lennie James's character Barry, a flamboyant 74-year-old renowned for his dapper taste and fondness for retro suits His wife of 50 years, Carmel , played by Sharon D Clarke, thinks he's been cheating on her with other women. However, she is only half correct as Barry has infact been having a secret, passionate affair but with his male best friend and soulmate, Morris, played by Ariyon Bakare And the drama has certainly proved a hit with viewers, as it boasts a 100 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes. One critic wrote: 'This is a different, spikier, much braver tale about the Windrush generation than usually makes it on to our screens. There is closeness, vibrancy, violence and sorrow in the mix, plus an examination of many forms of love.' Another said: 'Intertwined with Barringtons relationships with his two adult daughters and grandson, this is a tender, painful portrait of an older homosexual love affair in a drama that shows how bigotry makes people waste years of their lives.' Life On Mars This popular drama ran for two seasons between 2006 and 2007 and followed the story of DI Sam Tyler, played by John Simm. DI Tyler had a car accident in the year 2006 and mysteriously found himself taken back in time to 1970s Manchester. He wakes up in the year 1973, unsure if he's in a coma, has time-travelled, or has gone utterly insane. Sam's modern, forward-thinking values do not mix well with the old-fashioned policing and technology of the time period he is now in. He notices a connection between a 1973 murder and a 2006 kidnapping case, but he has to solve the murder to get back to the present time where he can solve the kidnapping. This popular drama ran for two seasons between 2006 and 2007 and followed the story of DI Sam Tyler, played by John Simm DI Tyler had a car accident in the year 2006 and mysteriously found himself taken back in time to 1970s Manchester. He wakes up in the year 1973, unsure if he's in a coma, has time-travelled, or has gone utterly insane Life on Mars is a touching and funny show about friendship, love, finding your place in the world and adapting to change. On Rotten Tomatoes it garnered a 100 per cent score on the Tomatometer from critics and a near-perfect score of 98 per cent from other viewers on the Popcornmeter. One review said: 'Life On Mars is more than just a jolly, tongue-in-cheek romp into the past. Once there, in 1973, we find ourselves immersed in a reasonably gripping police drama.' Another wrote: 'The show and its stars - particularly British TV vet John Simm, who effortlessly toggles Sam from his role as principled, cool cop one minute to that of lost soul in anguish the next - are top-notch.' Colin From Accounts This Australian romantic comedy, produced by Binge and Foxtel, has become an international hit in over 100 countries since its first season premiered in 2022. Set in Sydney, the series follows main character Gordon and Ashley, played by husband-and-wife duo Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer. They are brought together after Ashley flashes her breasts to Gordon while crossing the road. The distraction leads to him hitting a stray dog with his car, who they take in and name Colin. This Australian romantic comedy, produced by Binge and Foxtel, has become an international hit in over 100 countries since its first season premiered in 2022 Set in Sydney the series follows main character Gordon and Ashley, played by husband-and-wife duo Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer As they co-parent Colin the stray, they end up falling in love and moving in together whilst they try to find the pooch's original owner. On Rotten Tomatoes it scored 100 per cent on the Tomatometer from critics and a score of 95 per cent from other viewers on the Popcornmeter. One critic said: 'In todays despoiled blockbuster landscape, the fact filmmaking this energetic, ambitious and sheerly eccentric remains possible is no cause for complaint.' Another wrote: 'It is, in short, a wonderful and hilarious romantic comedy that rightly puts a twist here and there on the conventions of the genre, to build something essential for lovers of this type of fiction.' All the shows mentioned in this list are available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Sister Wives star Meri Brown revealed that she is single and ready to mingle after a recent split amidst her separation from ex-husband Kodi. The 53-year-old reality star - who recently admitted that she doesn't miss living in Flagstaff - talked about got candid about her journey finding love in an interview released with People magazine on Thursday. Meri went public with a new boyfriend named Amos in January but it proved to be short-lived as she announced their split just a month later. She told the weekly: 'He just wasn't my person. We dated exclusively for a few months, and he just wasn't my person.' Meri has had a wild dating life as she legally divorced Kody Brown in 2014 in order for him to marry his fourth wife, Robyn Brown, so he could adopt Robyn's children from her previous marriage. She also was catfished by a woman pretending to be a man and even had to deal with Kody's lack of effort in working on their relationship which led to their separation in January 2023. Sister Wives star Meri Brown revealed that she is single and ready to mingle after a recent split amidst her separation from ex-husband Kodi as she talked candidly about dating with People magazine Meri went public with a new boyfriend named Amos in January but it proved to be short-lived as she announced their split just a month later Meri has had a wild dating life as she legally divorced Kody Brown in 2014 in order for him to marry his fourth wife, Robyn Brown, so he could adopt Robyn's children from her previous marriage before ultimately separating in January 2023 She opened up about the 'dating process' with People magazine as she said: 'Right now, I'm dating, not exclusively. But you date non-exclusively, and then you're like, "Okay, I can focus on this person. Let's be exclusive." 'And then, see if it works into something. That one just didn't. And so, we broke that off and now I'm dating non-exclusively.' Meri is utilizing several different avenues to find love including dating sites and meeting through mutual friends which she preferred. However, she explained: 'But when you live in a small town, and then this day and age, it seems to be the thing is the dating sites.' She also believes that the most important thing is that she work on herself. Meri said: 'I'm learning about myself. I'm learning about other people. 'I am learning to trust myself and be like, "Hmm, I'm getting a funny vibe. This person's just not for me." 'Even if it's just not a funny vibe, nothing's wrong with a person. It's just not for me.' She opened up about the 'dating process' with People magazine as she said: 'Right now, I'm dating, not exclusively. But you date non-exclusively, and then you're like, "Okay, I can focus on this person. Let's be exclusive." And then, see if it works into something. That one just didn't. And so, we broke that off and now I'm dating non-exclusively' Last month, the reality star reflected on her time in Flagstaff, Arizona and seemingly did not miss it one bit. She was preparing to leave Flagstaff to Parowan, Utah, to run her bed and breakfast dubbed Lizzie's Heritage Inn, on the November 17 episode, following her split with Kody Brown. Now the reality star is opening up about the movie in a new interview with People, where she was asked about her time in Flagstaff. When asked if she missed the city, Brown bluntly said, 'Nope. Not at all,' though that was not because of the its scenic beauty. 'Flagstaff wasit's beautiful. We all know I love the trees. Watch any season and you'll know Meri loves the trees. And it's beautiful. It really is,' Brown admitted. However, she added, 'I lived there for three or four years and I never made any friends there.' Last month, the reality star reflected on her time in Flagstaff, Arizona and seemingly did not miss it one bit The 53-year-old Brown was preparing to leave Flagstaff to Parowan, Utah , to run her bed and breakfast dubbed Lizzie's Heritage Inn, on the November 17 episode, following her split with Kody Brown She moved there while she was with Kody Brown, who she was married to from 1990 to 2023, the first of his four wives he had at once, for many years, with just Robyn now remaining. 'It just wasn't for me. I moved there because the family did. It was not ever on my radar, "Oh, Flagstaff, Arizona. We should live there,"' she admitted. 'I think it's really important to find your place, especially in this age that we're in. We're all in our 50s, it's like, "Just find your place. Do what makes you happy,"' she said. Brown added returning to Utah, 'made sense to me because I already owned the house.' 'Contrary to popular belief in my family, I did not buy it as an escape route. Just putting that out there,' she said. 'I did buy it because it was always a dream of mine to have my old family home back in the family, so it made sense at the time,' Brown clarified. 'Why keep living in a town where I don't know anybody, I don't have friends? Kody and I are completely separating. I'm not going to be a part of the family. There's no point in me being there,' she said. 'And I had a house in Parowan, so let's do that. And I gave myself two years to just settle and then figure stuff out. We're coming up on two years,' Brown said. She moved there while she was with Kody Brown, who she was married to from 1990 to 2023, the first of his four wives he had at once, for many years, with just Robyn now remaining. 'It just wasn't for me. I moved there because the family did. It was not ever on my radar, "Oh, Flagstaff, Arizona. We should live there,"' she admitted The following episode on November 24 showed her ex Kody welling up with tears after helping her move to Utah The following episode on November 24 showed her ex Kody welling up with tears after helping her move to Utah. As they embraced, tears welled up in his eyes, and his voice cracked with emotion as he he told her he hoped to walk her down the aisle once she remarried. 'Meris just on point today. Shes just the wonderful woman that I would have liked to have been married to,' Kody gushed while back at Meri's home in Arizona during the Sister Wives episode that aired on Sunday, November 24. 'Hey, listen, we're like the best divorced couple ever,' Meri joked to her polygamist ex. Martin Roberts has revealed he fears how much longer he has left to live as he battles the ongoing effects of a heart condition. The Homes Under the Hammer presenter, 61, previously told how he was a few hours away from death after suffering from pericardial effusion and was rushed into surgery that saved his life. Pericardial effusion is a build-up of fluid in the structure around the heart, which can compress the organ and cause a life-threatening medical emergency. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Martin revealed that he still gets twinges in his chest that causes him to panic but he has refused to slow down despite warnings from doctors. He explained that he doesn't 'know how long he has left' and is trying to do as much good in the world as possible. Martin told MailOnline: 'The physical side of things took a lot longer than we thought to get around. I still get twinges and every single time I get a twinge in my chest, I panic. As anyone who has had any kind of problems with their heart would attest to it.' Martin Roberts has revealed he fears how much longer he has left to live as he battles the ongoing effects of a heart condition Martin continued: 'It sends you into a flurry of worry because they only sort of dribble out these stories afterwards. 'It was like I went to see the the consultant who did the emergency operation, and I said to him, "so how long would I have survived?" 'He said, "well, you probably wouldn't have made it through the night. So it was just as well I was on duty... you probably had maybe two or three hours to live." 'That was two to three hours from dying and not being here and not seeing the kids anymore and not fulfilling all my ambitions and doing all the things I want to do. 'So that's sort of the psychological side of that. It takes a lot longer to get over than the physical side. 'I was told I need to slow down and take things easy and all that kind of stuff, and I've gone a completely other way. 'This is why I've got this project in Wales where I'm renovating a pub, for the community, and we're using local kids to do the work and bringing kids who are disengaged and disadvantaged, giving them a chance to get construction skills. 'Just doing lots of good. I don't know how much time I've got left, so I just want to do as much as I possibly can to help. 'It's not really about money. It's about just making a difference, because that's what you'll be remembered for.' The Homes Under the Hammer presenter, 61, previously shared how he was told he had 'a few hours to live' after finding out he was suffering from pericardial effusion The presenter underwent the life-saving operation in 2022 after mistaking chest pains for long Covid. Symptoms of pericardial effusion can include shortness of breath, chest pains, discomfort when breathing, feeling light-headed or swelling in the abdomen or legs. While the condition can be treated with medication, in severe cases doctors may perform surgery to drain the excess fluid. Martin previously detailed his terrifying hospital ordeal on This Morning, telling Phillip Schofield and Rochelle Humes: 'I'd been feeling a bit poorly, under the weather for a couple of weeks. 'I've had a few chest infections over the last few years and I've had asthma since childhood, so I'm used to quite a tight chest. 'As it approached the Easter bank holiday weekend, it was starting to get really bad where I could hardly walk without struggling for breath.' He added: 'The confusing thing about this, it's a bit of a red herring, is that it gets you in the breathing side of things, so you don't think it's something to do with your heart. 'You think, ''It must be something to do with my chest.'' Then it's the dangerous thing of playing Google doctor. 'It looked like it could have been the symptoms for long Covid - real lethargy, a tightness in the chest, pain in the chest, difficulty breathing, so you pause it and pause it and by the time it got to just after the bank holiday weekend, I was starting to be delirious, putting letters the wrong way round, I said to Kirsty, ''We've got to go to hospital.''' His wife Kirsty added: 'Really worrying. We're thankful we got to to A&E when we did.' Speaking exclusively to MailOnline he revealed that he still gets twinges in his chest and it causes him to panic (pictured in 2022) What is a pericardial effusion? Pericardial effusion causes excess fluid to clog up the sac surrounding the heart, known as the pericardium. If the pericardium is diseased or injured, the inflammation can lead to excess fluid. Fluid can also build up around the heart without inflammation, such as from bleeding. Symptoms can include shortness of breath, chest pains, discomfort when breathing, feeling light-headed or swelling in the abdomen or legs. While the condition can be treated with medication, in severe cases doctors may perform surgery to drain the excess fluid. Advertisement Martin explained that he required surgery because the fluid build-up had placed so much strain on his heart, causing organ failure. He told Phillip and Rochelle: 'There's a sack around your heart and it was filling with fluid, it's called a pericardial effusion and that in turn is something called a tapenade, which basically means this sack is squeezing the heart it sits around, so the heart isn't able to expand, and therefore isn't able to pump, so it means all of your organs start failing. 'By the time they got to me, my kidneys were at 30 per cent, my liver was at 30 per cent, my lungs weren't getting the oxygen and at any point, I could have had a heart attack. The heart would have been strangled by itself.' He added, 'We're talking minutes stroke hours of life left here.' Asked what went through his mind, Martin said: 'You just put your life in the hands of professionals. I'm lying there in the specialist cardiac drain unit - there's a special operating theatre and there's a local anaesthetic. 'I'm watching as they stick a tube into the side of your heart and then with a big syringe, he starts pulling this dark red/black liquid, which is almost, I call death liquid, pulls it out and squirts it into a plastic beaker, pulls another one and squirts it in and I was just watching' Phillip asked Kirsty whether her husband's ordeal had sparked a reset for them, and she replied: 'Totally. We've said this, haven't we? I did send a card to Martin when he came out of hospital and I said, ''We do have to take this as a bit of a watershed moment.''' In a bid to help improve his health, Martin signed up for the E4 series The Big Celebrity Detox, which sees stars trying therapies including drinking their own urine. In a bid to help improve his health, Martin signed up for the E4 series The Big Celebrity Detox, which sees stars trying therapies including drinking their own urine In the debut episode, Martin admitted to feeling 'rocked to his core' by his health scare. Introducing himself on the gruelling show in 2023, which came with a warning for viewers not to try the tasks at home, Martin reflected on his 'frighteningly horrible year'. He said: 'This year has been a frighteningly horrible year for me. A few months ago, I had a near-death experience and that's rocked me to my core. 'I actually want this to make a difference, do I think it will happen? The jury's out.' Throughout the first episode, Martin took part in an array of extreme tasks, including drinking his own urine and digesting seeds which cause vomiting. But, Martin was unconvinced by the effects of the challenges and made his feelings known to spiritual expert Sah D'Simone. When being told the first task would include drinking his own urine, Martin remained sceptical. He said: 'How can something your body gets rid of as a waste product be good for you?' Despite his worries, Martin did take part in the challenge alongside his co-stars, including Kerry Katona, Megan Barton-Hanson and Princess Olga Romanoff. Since tying the knot with controversial rapper Kanye West nearly three years ago, Bianca Censori has gained worldwide attention for her shocking, X-rated style. From going panty-less in Paris to rocking nipple-baring bodysuits at LA hotspots, the 29-year-old Yeezy architect has done it all. Censori's racy outfits have often been so extreme that she's risked facing legal consequences for public indecency. They've even caught the ire of West's ex-wife Kim Kardashian, who warned him to tell Censori to 'cover up' in front of their kids, as source revealed to DailyMail.com. But Kim has since been accused of 'copying' her fearless fashion taste confirming Censori's status as a trendsetter. And with a new year ahead, DailyMail.com is taking a look back at Censori's most outrageous outfits of 2024... JANUARY 2, 2024 Bianca Censori kicked off the year strong as she emerged with West, 48, in Las Vegas She was seen posing up inside their suite at the Wynn Las Vegas casino-resort wearing high-waisted black latex shorts with suspenders During that same trip, Censori also strutted her stuff in a G-string thong and wore a fur bandeau as a top Censori kicked off the year strong as she emerged with West, 48, in Las Vegas. She was seen posing up inside their suite at the Wynn Las Vegas casino-resort wearing high-waisted black latex shorts with suspenders. Censori went topless, allowing only the skinny suspender straps to conceal her nipples. During that same trip, Censori also strutted her stuff in a G-string thong and wore a fur bandeau as a top. The photos were shared to West's now-deleted Instagram. JANUARY 19, 2024 Before heading out on the town, Censori posed for photos rocking her kinky headwear and only a nude-toned string bodysuit The outfit was extremely revealing Straying from nudity for a night, Censori headed out in Los Angele with West rocking a gimp head mask and Matrix-inspired black latex outfit. All that was visible of the 29-year-old beauty was her face as the outfit complete covered her from head-to-toe. Before heading out on the town, Censori posed for photos rocking her kinky headwear and only a nude-toned string bodysuit. They were shared to West's Instagram and gave fans a better look at her famous curves. FEBRUARY 5, 2024 In what many consider to be her most daring display, Censori went totally nude under a clear poncho as she headed to a music studio with West In what many consider to be her most daring display, Censori went totally nude under a clear poncho as she headed to a music studio with West. She did not appear to be wearing a bra or underwear beneath the see-through frock, which is often used to shield people from rainfall. It had 'daily prototypes as past present future' written on the front of the poncho in black lettering. FEBRUARY 12, 2024 Censori supported West at the first of many listening parties for his Vultures I album And she narrowly avoided a wardrobe malfunction at the invite-only event as she danced around in a nude triangle-shaped leotard Censori supported West at the first of many listening parties for his Vultures I album. And she narrowly avoided a wardrobe malfunction at the invite-only event as she danced around in a nude triangle-shaped leotard. Due to its side-less design and narrow silhouette, it barely concealed her modesty. FEBRUARY 23, 2024 In what marked a rare red carpet outing for her and West, Bianca wore a black iteration of her daring nude-toned triangle leotard She wore the daring look at a Milan Fashion Week show as well as at after-party held at Nuova Arena In what marked a rare red carpet outing for her and West, Bianca wore a black iteration of her daring nude-toned triangle leotard. She wore the racy look at a Milan Fashion Week show as well as at after-party held at Nuova Arena. Rocking a wet bob haircut, she styled her racy one-piece with pink knee-high boots. FEBRUARY 27, 2024 Censori tested the laws of exhibitionism in Paris, France by going underwear-free beneath a pair of sheer stockings during a public outing with her rapper husband Censori tested the laws of exhibitionism in Paris, France by going underwear-free beneath a pair of sheer stockings during a public outing with her rapper husband. Bianca did not attempt to conceal her genitals or bare backside in the garment as crowds of shocked onlookers rushed to take pictures. She also did not appear to be wearing a shirt or bra under a cropped fur coat as she returned to the Ritz Hotel with hoodie-clad West after enjoying dinner at Ferdi. Censori could have faced up to a year in prison if French officials deemed her look to be in violation of their decency laws. However, she seemingly came out of the ordeal unscathed. MARCH 18, 2024 For a night out at Saffy's with West in Los Angeles, Censori bared it all once again in a see-through black mesh catsuit For a night out at Saffy's with West in Los Angeles, Censori bared it all once again in a see-through black mesh catsuit. She didn't appear to be wearing underwear or a bra beneath the sheer garment. However, she did 'layer up' by adding stockings to her look. Around this time, speculation began to arise that Censori was being 'controlled' by West. Sources told DailyMail.com that Censori's dad Leo felt the Flashing Lights hitmaker had 'turned his beloved daughter into a trashy-looking marketable commodity.' APRIL 8, 2024 Wearing only a thing nude-toned thong beneath it, the Australian beauty held hands with West outside a restaurant in LA wearing a see-through clear strapless frock Censori's love for the sheer bodystocking only grew as 2024 went on. Wearing only a thing nude-toned thong beneath it, the Australian beauty held hands with West outside a restaurant in LA wearing a see-through clear strapless frock. It hugged her curves tightly and left her breasts totally exposed. JUNE 19, 2024 The couple hopped on a plane to France to attend Paris Fashion Week, where Censori made jaws drop in a revealing outfit made only from tape That same day, she was also seen wearing a nude mesh bodysuit that was only slightly less revealing than her suspenders look The couple hopped on a plane to France to attend Paris Fashion Week, where Censori made jaws drop in a revealing outfit made only from tape. The outfit, one of her most revealing to date, saw her wear bandage-like halter suspenders that only covered her nipples while out with her stylist Gadir Rajab. She had on a pair of beige low-rise pedal pushers, constructed from strips of beige tape wrapped around her legs, with slight gaps opening up as she walked toward the restaurant. Adding to the drama, Censori replaced her brunette bob with a wild pink wig. That same day, she was also seen wearing a nude mesh bodysuit that was only slightly less revealing than her suspenders look. AUGUST 2, 2024 While grabbing dinner at Italian restaurant Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica with her rapper husband, Censori left nothing to the imagination While grabbing dinner at Italian restaurant Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica with her rapper husband, Censori left nothing to the imagination. She confidently made her way to the eatery's valet wearing a nude mesh leotard and matching tights. Covered in sparkles and concealing not even an inch of Censori's body, the NSFW look turned more than a few heads. Lindsay Lohan's recent transformation has a celebrity plastic surgeon convinced that she's been 'abducted by aliens.' The Mean Girls star, 38, has stunned fans with her youthful appearance at recent public events, amid a resurgence in her career after years away from Hollywood. Lohan's glow-up has sparked a debate among fans who've been trying to figure out what procedures the star may have done to achieve the vibrant look. Most recently, Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Barrett said he was 'stumped' by her makeover, and shared a playful extraterrestrial theory on what may be responsible for the actress' metamorphosis. In a video shared to his Instagram page, Dr. Barrett who specializes in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery was asked to rank celebrity plastic surgery from 1-8. When asked about Lohan, he replied, 'I don't even know if that's plastic surgery, or if she was abducted by aliens. So you can't even put that one on there.' Lindsay Lohan's, 38, recent transformation has a celebrity plastic surgeon convinced that she's been 'abducted by aliens'; (L) seen in August, (R) seen in 2012 Dr. Barrett continued trying to pin down Lindsay's transformation in yet another Instagram video, saying she looked like a 'completely different person' and joking there may be an 'alien invasion' happening. 'What the eff is going on,' he asked, praising the star for looking, 'a lot different and much improved.' 'I personally am stumped here. I don't know what the eff is going on because she looks so dramatically different from even just a couple years ago. You know, overfilled, kind of frumpy facial feature.' He went on: 'I mean, you know, she's still a beautiful woman, but you know there's certain things about her cheek that are just really exaggerated that you typically see, and she has a tired and aged appearance back in 2020, and 2022.' 'And then in 2024 her skin looks completely tight. I don't even see any of the nasal labial folds.' He then wondered if the star perhaps 'just backed off all the filler, got everything dissolved... and did some dramatic skin tightening, combined with some weight loss, maybe Ozempic, some really good makeup.' He stated that Lohan's 'eyes are tighter, they look completely different. Eyebrows look completely different. The lips, they look smaller and tighter. The chin looks more defined. This looks like a completely different person.' 'Maybe it's an alien invasion, I don't know, coming in as Lindsay Lohan's new look. You tell me.' The Mean Girls star has stunned fans with her youthful appearance at recent public events, amid a resurgence in her career after years away from Hollywood; seen in November Most recently, Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Barrett said he was 'stumped' by her makeover, and joked that aliens may be responsible Dr. Barrett was asked to rank celebrity plastic surgery. When asked about Lohan, he replied, 'I don't even know if that's plastic surgery, or if she was abducted by aliens' Dr. Barrett continued trying to pin down Lindsay's transformation in yet another Instagram video, saying she looked like a 'completely different person' and joking there may be an 'alien invasion' happening Fans in the comments appeared to agree, with one writing: 'I want whatever Lohan had what aliens do I call' Many also compared Lindsay's look to Christina Aguilera's recent glow-up 'Lets hear more about Lindsey as kind-a-doubting she's been abducted by Aliens,' another asked 'She doesn't count! It's not fair to the other candidates who don't have the aliens' number to call them,' someone else wrote When his assistant asked if he thought Lohan had a facelift, he appeared flabbergasted and replied, 'uhh, yeah, sure, I mean, I don't know. I don't know what the hell she got.' The caption of the post read: 'Lindsay Lohans transformation has everyone guessing! From her radiant glow to a refreshed, natural look, fans cant stop speculating about what shes doneor hasnt done. Whether its good lighting, self-care, or subtle enhancements, one things for sure: shes absolutely thriving.' Fans in the comments appeared to agree, with one writing: 'I want whatever Lohan had what aliens do I call.' 'Lets hear more about Lindsey as kind-a-doubting shes been abducted by Aliens -what is going on here - obviously gorgeously accomplished,' another added. Others jokes that Lindsay 'doesn't count' because her transformation is simply too good to rate. 'She doesn't count! It's not fair to the other candidates who don't have the aliens' number to call them,' one person wrote. Many also compared Lindsay's look to Christina Aguilera's recent glow-up. 'Christina is also on alien abduction level lol she looks amazing right next to Lohan,' one wrote. This comes after her father, Michael Lohan, denied his daughter had ever had plastic surgery, but revealed she had done 'peels, fillers and Botox'; (L) seen November, (R) seen in 2012 Lohan's glow-up has sparked a debate among fans who've been trying to figure out what procedures the star may have done to achieve the vibrant look; seen in August Dr. Jonny Betteridge, an aesthetics doctor, recently claimed the star could have spent up to 300K in plastic surgery procedures to achieve the look Earlier this month Lindsay showed off her glowing and youthful face in a new selfie with anti-aging specialist Dr. Radmila Lukian. Lukian is the founder of the Lucia Aesthetic & Dermatology Center in Dubai, where Lindsay resides with her husband Bader Shammas and their son Luai, 16 months. 'With my dear @dr radmila Lucian for some skin care time,' she wrote on the snap, shared to her Stories. This comes after her father, Michael Lohan, denied his daughter had ever had plastic surgery, but revealed she had done 'peels, fillers and Botox.' 'Lindsay never had any plastic surgery done ever. Her look [is] so natural just like her talent,' he told Page Six. Previously, Dr. Jonny Betteridge, an aesthetics doctor, has claimed the star could have spent up to 300K in plastic surgery procedures to achieve the look. Betteridge, who is the founder of the London based clinic JB Aesthetics, and has a background in Emergency Medicine, Intensive Care and Anaesthetics, shared an Instagram video listing the cosmetic tweaks he believes the actress has undergone. Among the surgical procedures Betteridge believes the Parent Trap star has had are a face lift, an upper eyelid surgery, a nose job, and a surgical brow lift. This week she shared another flawless selfie to Instagram Earlier this month Lindsay showed off her glowing and youthful face in a selfie with anti-aging specialist Dr. Radmila Lukian Lindsay's face has looked flawless and taut during recent outings; pictured in November He stated that she most likely had 'some degree of surgical facelift' and it was likely done via an 'endoscopic approach', meaning it was minimally invasive. He also think the actress had 'botox, lip lift, lip fillers, and veneers.' Betteridge also analyzed Lohan's skin in her latest photos and came to the conclusion that she has done 'laser resurfacing' and had 'a dermatologist led skincare routine.' 'And the cost of this, if you combine everything together, would be in the range of $200-300K.' Lindsay's face has looked flawless and taunt during recent outings. The star revealed her low maintenance skincare routine in an October chat with Allure. The Mean Girls actress said her main beauty focus is 'taking care of my skin' but admitted to dabbling with 'laser, Morpheus and IPL' in the past. In the morning she uses a cold face towel and Avene Redness Expert Soothing Moisturizing Concentrated Cream or the brands Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Cream - which she praised for being 'lightweight and hydrating and not overly greasy.' The star's Paris Fashion Week appearance was dubbed 'an iconic comeback' by style commentators earlier this month when she cut a glamorous figure in a black sequin dress She also uses Peter Thomas Roth eye patches to de-puff her eyes. Her go-to make-up look is 'pretty light' with the star saying: 'If I wear anything, its Giorgio Armani Silk foundation or Kevyn Aucoin concealer. Maybe some eyeshadow if Im going out, and Westman Atelier mascara. 'One thing Ive embraced more since becoming a mom is going out naturally and not feeling the need to put something on my face all the time. I think we live under pressure to look made-up, but I dont feel that way anymore. I just want to look at myself and love myself for who I am.' At night Lohan uses 'Aveeno face wipes, some Avene face wash and then the redness cream at night again because after I take everything off, I get a little pink.' He found fame as a child, appearing in a classic family TV comedy with a twist. For though they thought they were just an average close-knit clan, no-one else saw them quite like that. Yes, there was the well-meaning father, the loving mother, the unsophisticated teen and the live-in relative with weird habits. And this actor played the precocious youngest member, complete of course with his scene-stealing pet Spot. The show ran for just two seasons on CBS in the mid-1960s, gaining a Golden Globe nomination but when ABC introduced Batman, ratings slumped and it was soon canceled, although it has run successfully in syndication ever since. So can you guess who the 71-year-old who was doing some last minute Christmas shopping in Los Angeles on Monday. The former child actor, now 71, was wearing a T-shirt which paid homage to his appearance in Geneseo, Illinois, at Spook the Loop The actor, who is rarely seen in public, was pictured with a female companion doing some last minute Christmas shopping in Los Angeles on Monday Patrick sported a classic pair of Ray-Bans, a dark pair of jeans, a black leather vest to complete the outfit and what appears to be a pair of green Slip-On Vans It's Butch Patrick Eddie from the Munsters. If you look carefully, his T-shirt gives a huge clue. There is a picture of his most famous character the child with the huge widow's peak staring out at you. Patrick whose real name is Patrick Lilley is rarely seen in public, was pictured with a female companion. He was wearing a T-shirt which paid homage to his hometown appearance in Geneseo this year at Spook the Loop a Halloween themed event featuring a classic car cruise and live music in a parade-like atmosphere. The shirt had a green, black and yellow font and featured a younger picture of Patrick as his former character, child werewolf Eddie Munster. He sported a classic pair of black Ray-Bans, a dark pair of jeans, a black leather vest to complete the outfit and green Slip-On Vans. Patrick's companion wore a black long sleeve shirt, a white vest and striped gray leggings, along with a large brown purse and eye-catching brown sunglasses The shirt was in a green, black and yellow font and features a picture of Patrick as his former character, child werewolf Eddie Munster In his most famous role in The Munsters, he starred as Eddie Munster, a young werewolf who was the son of a Frankenstein monster, played by Fred Gwynne, and his vampire wife, portrayed by Yvonne De Carlo Patrick was 11 years old when he was fitted with pointy ears and a toothy smile to play Eddie, the youngest member of The Munsters As an 11-year-old, Patrick started his screen career as Eddie Munster, a young werewolf who was the son of Frankenstein monster Herman, played by Fred Gwynne, and his vampire wife, Lily, portrayed by Yvonne De Carlo. The show ran for 70 episodes from 1964 to 1966 and was a play on the 1950s American household, but instead of the typical family it comprised of monsters. Eddie's pet was no family dog, he was a fire-breathing dragon. The beloved comedy fantasy show was cancelled after its second season's ratings plummeted. But Patrick told Fox News in a 2019 interview that the reason the show's popularity dropped was due to its rival Batman. 'I think Batman was to blame,' Patrick said. 'Batman just came along and took our ratings away.' His next hit would be the ABC children's show Lidsville which ran from 1971 to 1973. Patrick starred alongside veteran actors Billie Hayes and Charles Nelson Reilly as Mark - a boy lost in a strange land where humanoid hats walked, talked and sang. Pat Priest, now 88, and Patrick are the only two surviving members of The Munsters. They are seen in the 1965 episode Bronco Bustin' Munster Patrick's next big hit was as Mark in Lidsville which ran from 1971 to 1973. The show had humanoid hats that walked, talked and sang as Patrick followed them around in a fantasy land Patrick poses with the Munster Mobile at the Hollywood Collectors and Celebrity Show held at the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn in 2001, in North Hollywood, California Most of his other roles were guest appearances in television shows from the 1980s till now. He guest starred in 18 other television shows alongside heavy hitters such as Sidney Poitier, Judy Garland and Burt Lancaster leading up to the 2000s. But throughout the 2000s, Patrick encountered trials and tribulations when it came to addiction and even a brush in with the law. In 2021, the actor testified in court in Wisconsin after a woman charged with murdering her husband claimed five other people including Patrick were actually behind the shooting death. The case took 15 years to come to court and Patrick maintained his innocence saying he had met the couple at the Monster Hall Raceway in 2006 but didn't know he had been accused of murder until six years after the incident. 'I was in the process of booking an event when someone says, "Have you seen the National Enquirer today?" I said, "No," and when I looked it up I noticed I was on the cover with the headline that says "Munster Murder Bombshell at Monster Hall" and that's how I found out about my... supposedly my involvement in it,' Patrick said during his testimony. Crime lab witnesses did not find any evidence of Patrick or the four other suspects inside the couples' home, nor any DNA evidence linking him to the crime. Eventually the wife, Cindy Schulz-Juedes was found guilty. She was in the process of appealing the verdict when she was killed by her cellmate in Taycheedah Correctional Institution in July 2023. In 2021, the actor testified in court in Wisconsin after a woman charged with murdering her husband claimed five other people including Patrick were actually behind the shooting death Patrick revealed in 2011 that he had been battling prostate cancer. This was only a year after he entered a rehab to combat his years of drug and alcohol abuse that plagued him throughout his adult years Prior to this bombshell case, Patrick revealed in 2011 that he had been battling prostate cancer. This was only a year after he entered a rehab to combat his years of drug and alcohol abuse that plagued him throughout his adult years. Fortunately, his disease was caught early by a doctor in the facility he stayed in and he was able to remove the small mass shortly after. The star attributed his push to get sober as the reason he's still alive today. Patrick is one of only two surviving members of the fictional family, along with Pat Priest, who played his onscreen sister Marilyn and who is now retired from acting. Gwynne, who played his screen father Herman, died in 1993, while Al Lewis, who played Grandpa passed away in 2006 and Yvonne de Carlo the following year. The star has laid low for the past few years, but still continues to go to events that honor his old television show and attends several Comic Cons throughout the country for all things spooky. Justin Baldoni's publicist Jennifer Abel reportedly quit working with her past employer due to 'bullying' amid the alleged smear campaign against Blake Lively over the summer. This comes one day after Baldoni's ex-publicist sued his current publicist, Abel, in another turn of events surrounding the It Ends With Us drama. Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios and his crisis manager Melissa Nathan, in addition to Abel, are all named as the defendants in the suit alleging defamation and breach of contract. Concurrently, Baldoni is also facing a legal battle against Lively after his former It Ends With Us co-star sued him last week for sexual harassment and engineering a smear campaign against her. A source close to Baldoni's publicist Abel told The Wrap that she claimed there was 'bullying' going on at Stephanie Jones' public relations firm Jonesworks, where Abel was once a partner and the same one that previously represented the actor. Over the summer, Abel departed Baldoni's ex-publicist firm, Jonesworks, and founded her own firm, RWA Communications. Then, Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios left Jonesworks to join Abel at her new firm. Justin Baldoni's publicist Jennifer Abel reportedly quit working with her past employer due to 'bullying' amid the alleged smear campaign against Blake Lively over the summer; pictured December in Los Angeles One interesting thing to note is the conflicting timelines of when Abel is said to have quit as TheWrap is reporting that she voluntary resigned from Jonesworks on July 10 and set her departure date as August 23, but she was terminated on August 21. However a previous Variety report said that Abel was fired by Jonesworks on August 21, just days after It Ends With Us was released. On Tuesday, less than a week after Lively sued Baldoni, Jones filed a lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court against Abel and the rest of the crisis management team behind the alleged Lively smear campaign. Jones claimed she fired Abel after discovering she was stealing documents from her firm as she prepared to start her own business. Abel allegedly took 'documents and client information while also secretly contacting Jonesworks' clients to pave the way for her departure.' Jones and her agency are suing Abel for breach of contract, claiming she violated her employment terms and conspired to steal her clients, and also accusing her of defamation. According to legal documents obtained by The New York Times, Jones claimed she was ousted from representing Baldoni and Abel poached her clients. When she discovered what Abel was secretly doing, she terminated her employment at Jonesworks. This comes one day after Baldoni's ex-publicist sued his current publicist Abel (pictured) in another turn of events surrounding the It Ends With Us drama. Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios and his crisis manager Melissa Nathan, in addition to Abel, are all named as the defendants in the suit alleging defamation and breach of contract; pictured December 2014 in Los Angeles On Tuesday, less than a week after Lively sued Baldoni, Stephanie Jones (pictured) filed a lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court against Abel and the rest of the crisis management team behind the alleged Lively smear campaign Then, Abel voluntarily returned her work phone to Jonesworks 'in the presence of an employment lawyer.' It was from that same device where the incriminating messages and emails sent between Baldoni and his team and included in Lively's complaint 'were forensically extracted directly from that company phone' and 'have been preserved in their original state.' However, Abel is now claiming that she was not fired; rather, she voluntarily resigned on July 10, according to the insider's statement to The Wrap. She reportedly quit over 'bullying' from Jones. The targeted behavior was allegedly directed towards another colleague, Matthew Mitchell Abel's partner on accounts for Baldoni, the actor's production company Wayfarer Studios as well as the 'majority of other clients which she also references in her texts.' The source explained that Abel's last day was set for August 23 two weeks after It Ends With Us was released. Even though Abel initially resigned on July 10, Jones reportedly fired her on August 21 after learning of her alleged efforts to poach clients. The insider close to Abel claimed: 'Jennifer tendered her resignation in July and had agreed to stay on until August 23. She was terminated early after Jonesworks discovered that she had stolen over 70 documents. Concurrently, Baldoni is also facing a legal battle against Lively after his former It Ends With Us co-star sued him last week for sexual harassment and engineering a smear campaign against her; pictured August in New York City Abel (pictured) is now claiming that she was not fired; rather, she voluntarily resigned on July 10, according to the insider's statement to The Wrap. A source close to her said she claimed there was 'bullying' going on at Jonesworks The individual also alleged the defamation lawsuit against Abel was 'retalitatory behavior' because Baldoni and Wayfarer left Jonesworks for Abel's new firm. 'They were not "stolen," nor were any other clients.' The insider also claimed the other clients who left to join Abel's company were clients she already had working relationships with prior to her joining Jonesworks. One of them included a client that Abel 'had personally signed while at Jonesworks who had no relationship with Stephanie Jones,' per the insider. In email correspondence obtained by The Wrap that appears to be Abel's resignation letter to Jones, the former Jonesworks partner described an atmosphere where 'things continue to escalate between the two of us' and that she 'was constantly feeling like I was letting you down.' Abel wrote to Jones: 'I take full responsibility for my part in all of this. I'm not proud of how emotional I get in these situations, or the way I choose to step away when I feel like we are not making progress in our conversations.' 'I know I have things to work on as well with my communication, and this whole situation has been a good learning moment for me on the ways I need to improve how I get my point across.' Abel's resignation letter, which was dated roughly a month before the theatrical release of It Ends With Us, does not specify the issues between them. Abel's resignation letter, which was dated roughly a month before the theatrical release of It Ends With Us, does not specify the issues between them. However, its timing coincides with a period of escalating tensions between Baldoni and Lively, when the public was beginning to turn against the actress; pictured in movie still Earlier this year, fans began to question what was going on behind-the-scenes between the It Ends With Us castmates specifically leading star Lively and her co-star-slash-director Baldoni. While promoting the movie, which follows the story of a traumatic love story and intimate partner violence, rumors of an alleged feud started swirling online; pictured in movie still Months after the frosty promo tour and a seemingly contrived, negative media blitz and ahead of Christmas Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni. In her lengthy legal complaint, she accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and also orchestrating a smear campaign with the intention of 'destroying' her reputation to discredit her if she made public his misconduct on set; pictured in movie still However, its timing coincides with a period of escalating tensions between Baldoni and Lively, when the public was beginning to turn against the actress. This suggests that the alleged smear campaign may have played a role in those conflicts. Earlier this year, fans began to question what was going on behind-the-scenes between the It Ends With Us castmates specifically leading star Lively and her co-star-slash-director Baldoni. While promoting the movie, which follows the story of a traumatic love story and intimate partner violence, rumors of an alleged feud started swirling online. Months after the frosty promo tour and a seemingly contrived, negative media blitz and ahead of Christmas Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni. In her lengthy legal complaint, she accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and also orchestrating a smear campaign with the intention of 'destroying' her reputation to discredit her if she made public his misconduct on set. An expose by The New York Times detailed his alleged inappropriate behavior during production of their movie and his retaliation against her. Baldoni has denied all of the allegations. Halle Berry is enjoying her Christmas with her long time boyfriend Van Hunt, 54, in a tropical locale. The Catwoman star, 58, shared a handful of vacation snaps on Instagram including one in a black one piece swimsuit that accented her curves beautifully. She also wore a white straw fedora with a black band in the photo. She captioned the post: 'I can't decide if I want to be naughty or nice this Christmas, but I am having a hell of a good time. Merry Christmas everyone!' In the next photo, Halle wore an oversized Grinch t-shirt. She also shared a photo with Van who was wearing a Lollapalooza t-shirt. Other photos in the set included a shot of the beach and a small, cute wild animal getting into the villa and eating their food. Halle Berry is enjoying her Christmas with her long time boyfriend Van Hunt, 54, in a tropical locale Halle and Van have been dating since 2020 and the Monster's Ball star has been facing aging and menopause head on as of late. 'Men get sexy, they get grey hair, they're silver foxes. We're just old, and we're haggard.' At 58, the Catwoman star is on a crusade to change the narrative around aging for women. 'When I found out that I was in peri and that none of my doctors had even mentioned this time of life to me, it just got me on fire to get all the information I could about myself, for myself,' Berry told Glamour. The more she learned about what her own body was going through, the more she also wanted to help other women in the same situation so she launched Respin, a health and wellness platform serving women throughout their menopause experience. 'I realized if I knew so little [about menopause], I'm sure so many other women have the same little information,' she says. Since then, Berry has lobbied for the bipartisan Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women's Health Act. She also appears alongside four medical experts in MasterClass's The Magic of Menopause, which is streaming now. She captioned the post: 'I can't decide if I want to be naughty or nice this Christmas, but I am having a hell of a good time. Merry Christmas everyone!' She also shared a photo with Van who was wearing a Lollapalooza t-shirt Other photos in the set included a shot of the beach and a small, cute wild animal getting into the villa and eating their food 'I was probably 10 years into it and had no clue. I thought I was going crazy. I had really bad memory loss. I had a hard time concentrating,' Halle told the outlet about her earliest symptoms. 'I flooded my laundry room three times, and I would leave my keys stuck in doorways. I could never find my phone. I was walking into rooms and not remembering why I was there,' she explained. 'These were things that were not a part of my makeup before this time period. I started to think, "Oh God, am I starting to have early onset dementia? Is something happening to my brain?"' The Swordfish star said that she got very agitated and found herself wanting to pick fights over the smallest things, another trait that was not like her usual self. 'I had a hard time sleeping, and I guess sleep deprivation is a form of torture. It felt like I was falling apart at the seams, and nobody seemed to be able to relate. 'Everybody just said, Oh, it's just a time of life. You're getting old. Just deal with it. But I didn't feel old. I didn't feel like it was time for me just to pack it up and wander off to pasture, but yet that's kind of what everybody started to tell me,' she explained. Even when she told her doctor that having sex felt like she was being attacked by razor blades, he initially diagnosed it as 'the worst case of herpes he'd ever seen.' But it wasn't herpes at all, it was the hormonal changes she was going though. Halle and Van have been dating since 2020 and the Monster's Ball star has been facing aging and menopause head on as of late. Seen here on December 12, 2024 in Saudi Arabia 'Men get sexy, they get grey hair, they're silver foxes. We're just old, and we're haggard,' Halle said 'I felt crazy and alone and afraid. I felt ashamed,' she admitted, noting that she didn't have the words to explain what she was going through, and even once she did, she couldn't explain away a headache on set as menopause. No one would understand. When Halle found out everything she was experiencing could be traced back to perimenopause, she started researching and along that path realized she had a platform to help other women in that time in their lives. In May, the A-lister joined a group of bipartisan senators to push for legislation that would allocate $275 million toward research and education for menopause. Screaming, 'I'm in menopause!' on the steps of the US Capitol at the rally, Berry showcased her determination to age 'gracefully' and naturally. Heidi Klum and husband Tom Kaulitz packed on the PDA while continuing to enjoy their lavish ski vacation to Aspen, Colorado for the holidays. On Wednesday, the duo were spotted holding hands and sipping on a warm cup of coffee as they bundled up to beat the freezing temperatures. The 51-year-old supermodel wore a chic light blue snowsuit, a brown beanie and snowboarding goggles, strolling around the celebrity hotspot. The 35-year-old guitarist wore a blue puffy jacket and white snow pants as the duo enjoyed the up-scale getaway. And the couple who said 'I do' in 2019 were previously seen around the resort with Heidi's children, Leni, 20, Henry, 18, Johan, 17, and Lou, 14. We also saw the America's Got Talent judge treating herself to a festive shopping spree at a designer jewelry shop. Heidi Klum and husband Tom Kaulitz packed on the PDA while continuing to enjoy their lavish ski vacation to Aspen, Colorado for the holidays The pair and her children are reportedly spending time at the Buttermilk Ski Resort to hit the slopes and enjoy the snow. And just days ago, the German beauty and her daughter Leni were spotted outfit-swapping and sharing various wardrobe pieces in the winter wonderland. 'I get so excited when I see my daughters re-wearing my clothes,' Klum said back in November. 'My eldest daughter, she also is a model, and she goes to events and when she wears my clothes I'm not just proud but we can upcycle.' The L'Oreal Paris brand ambassador added: 'I'm passing clothes down to my kids. I think it's so important also to keep wearing your things. 'I think in the past, we'd wear something once and then we'd never wear it again, and it's so wrong to do.' As a beloved holiday getaway magnet to the stars for years, and this season is no exception. Stars along the likes of Justin Bieber, Kendall Jenner, Mariah Carey, Salma Hayek, Leonardo DiCaprio, Katy Perry and Elton John have previously been spotted at the high-end resort. The 51-year-old supermodel wore a chic light blue snowsuit, a brown beanie and snowboarding goggles, strolling around the celebrity hotspot The duo were spotted holding hands and sipping on a warm cup of coffee as they bundled up to beat the freezing temperatures The 35-year-old guitarist wore a blue puffer jacket and white snow pants as the duo enjoyed the up-scale getaway We also saw the America's Got Talent judge treating herself to a festive shopping spree at a designer jewelry shop And the couple who said 'I do' in 2019 were previously seen around the resort with Heidi's children , Leni, 20, Henry, 18, Johan, 17, and Lou, 14 Klum shares Henry, Johan and Lou with her British musician ex-husband Seal, 61. The pair were married for seven years before ultimately calling it quits in 2012. She and Italian businessman Flavio Briatore welcomed Leni back in 2004 after a brief, one-year relationship when Klum was 29 and he was 53. The five-foot-nine looker and her current husband, Kaulitz, were first linked in March of 2018 before tying the knot in February 2019. Wendy Williams was seen having a heated argument with her caretakers after dinner in Miami last week following her son Kevin Jr.'s college graduation. The TV personality, 60 - who made a rare outing to cheer on her son as he received his diploma from Florida International University - clashed with her team after they seemingly left the star without her mobility scooter upon leaving a restaurant. Crew from the We In Miami podcast caught the moment on video, and shared a snippet to Instagram on Wednesday. In the clip, Williams - who was diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia in 2023 - could be seen sitting on her scooter as she addressed a few of the caretakers. 'And then both of you walked away leaving my s**t in the middle of the street like this,' the star expressed in a frustrated tone while on the sidewalk of a busy street. Wendy appeared to also be upset after the wrong car was brought around to pick her up. Wendy Williams, 60, was seen having a heated argument with her caretakers after dinner in Miami last week following her son Kevin Jr.'s college graduation; seen in documentary Where Is Wendy Williams (2024) 'Just get the car please. Make sure it's the right car,' she added as the members of her team tried to reply. One of the podcast crew then approached Williams and asked, 'Wendy what happened? What they do?' 'They got the wrong car, so I knocked on the door and it was totally the wrong car. They left my scooter as they walked over there,' she explained while pointing to an area off camera. 'Leaving my most precious, most - this cost a f***ing mint motherf*****. They just left my s**t out there.' The incident seemingly occurred when Wendy made the decision to walk out of the restaurant without the aid of the mobility scooter. Members of her team then took the scooter outside, and she later accused them of leaving it unattended before heading off somewhere else on the street. The video then cut to Williams once again talking to her caretakers and said, 'Get the car over here, not over there, so I can go easily into the street to - for the car.' 'They supposed to be ordering the car, that's what you're supposed to be doing,' the star continued. 'And then both of you walked away leaving my s**t in the middle of the street like this,' the star expressed in a frustrated tone while on the sidewalk of a busy street; seen in 2019 in NYC She then added, 'They wanna work for me, that's what they're doing. They're making money from me, get the Godd*** car'; seen in 2018 in Atlanta She then added, 'They wanna work for me, that's what they're doing. They're making money from me, get the Godd*** car.' The host of the podcast - who is known as Stunt Lifestyle - explained at the end of the video that her son had taken the scooter outside to allow her to walk on her own while leaving the eatery. 'So, I think, according to Wendy's family, she was really upset about the disorganization and the lack of care. She indicated the car was not close to assure she was like, even getting into the right car.' 'It was just really messy, so she was really upset and her family was really upset, too,' he added. Last week on Thursday, Williams made a rare public appearance as she attended her son Kevin Jr.'s, 24, graduation from Florida International University. The former talk show host was seen on her mobility scooter while wearing a dark gray, sparkling sequin ensemble. She was also joined by her father, Thomas Williams Sr., at the event. Photos from inside showed the mom-of-one beaming as Kevin Jr. received his diploma in a traditional blue college robe. At one point she also appeared emotional as she watched her only son walk the stage. The star shares the college graduate with ex-husband Kevin Hunter, whom she was married to from 1999 until their divorce was finalized in 2020. Wendy's son also gave an update on his mother's health earlier this week on Monday after a guardian claimed she was 'permanently incapacitated.' Last week on Thursday, Williams made a rare public appearance as she attended her son Kevin Jr.'s, 24, graduation from Florida International University Radio and television personality Charlamagne Tha God congratulated Kevin Jr. on his accomplishment by on Instagram that began with Wendy looking healthy and happy. Kevin Jr. took to the comment section to reply: 'Thank you fam! [three prayer hand emojis] Let's get her home [fingers crossed emoji],' and later shed a little more light on what his mom has been going through. He added, 'While I'm here quick update on my mom. She's sober and wants to come home. We're fighting to make that happen because Isolation is killing her faster than anything else.' She was also recently spotted outside the Fort Lauderdale restaurant, Sista Sara's Shonuff Oysters, with her nephew Travis Finnie - though it's unclear what day the clip was taken on. Wendy appeared to be in good spirits in the video, smiling as she received her food order. She was also heard thanking the workers. The star's dementia diagnosis came one year after she was placed under a court-ordered legal guardianship that oversees both her finances and health. Last month, attorneys for the star's guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, claimed in new filings that Williams 'has become cognitively impaired and permanently incapacitated.' It was the latest update amid a legal wrangle over the star's tell-all documentary, Where Is Wendy Williams? - which prompted widespread backlash when it aired in February. He added, 'While I'm here quick update on my mom. She's sober and wants to come home. We're fighting to make that happen because Isolation is killing her faster than anything else'; seen in 2019 in Hollywood However, a family insider hit back at the claim regarding William's mental state and said: 'She is more clear now than shes ever been throughout the guardianship, which is a problem for some.' Where Is Wendy Williams? was set to explore Williams' life as she prepared to launch a new podcast- but featured shocking scenes showing the former host drinking vodka in bed and having panic attacks - leading to fan backlash against Lifetime. Morrissey is now locked in a legal battle with the network over the documentary. Williams also spoke exclusively with DailyMail.com a few months earlier and shared that she was doing well, before also slamming the documentary. 'I am doing really good,' she said in October. 'The documentary sucked. I understand that it is up for an award now. Everything is going really well.' New York lawyer Morrissey was assigned as her guardian after Wells Fargo froze her accounts in 2022, as a result of her financial adviser at the time claiming that she was of 'unsound mind.' In March, it was reported that Williams was allegedly paid $100,000 per episode for her involvement in the four-part docuseries. Last month, attorneys for the star's guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, claimed in new filings that Williams 'has become cognitively impaired and permanently incapacitated' Williams also spoke exclusively with DailyMail.com late last year and shared that she was doing well, before also slamming the documentary; seen in 2020 At the same time, it was revealed that William's guardian had filed a lawsuit against the parent company of Lifetime, A&E Television Networks with allegations of 'blatant exploitation' in 'disgusting' fashion. In response, A&E Networks argued that Morrissey has been 'exceeding her authority' in trying to get parts of the documentary changed and redacted. The American multinational broadcasting company filed a countersuit which claimed that Williams had signed a talent agreement before she was 'mentally incapacitated' as was claimed by the guardian. The popular network also claimed that there is no law against doing a documentary on a subject with dementia so, in effect, even if a talent agreement wasn't signed nothing that they had done would be considered wrong. The broadcasting company is suing Morrissey for attempting to infringe on A&E's First Amendment rights as they give the example of Morrissey's original suit filed in February in which she attempted to get a judge to stop the original documentary from being released. In response, A&E Networks argued that Morrissey has been 'exceeding her authority' in trying to get parts of the documentary changed and redacted; seen in 2021 Williams' publicist previously blasted the Lifetime documentary that she signed her famous TV client up for. Shawn Zanotti placed blame on the producers of the series, alleging the TV icon believed she was filming a program about her comeback - only for filmmakers to capture 'a circus to her downfall.' The Wendy Williams Show aired its final episode in June 2022 after 13 years without Williams herself making an appearance. She previously withdrew from the show in 2021 and embarked on what was initially supposed to be a temporary leave of absence to cope with health issues. Denham Hitchcock has received possibly the best Christmas gift imaginable - a newborn baby. The former Channel Seven reporter took to Instagram on Wednesday to announce the arrival of his second child with wife Mari. Denham, who has been living on a catamaran named Rio with his young family, shared a series of adorable family photos to introduce their son to the world. The journalist looked every bit the proud dad, wearing a Santa hat and beaming with joy as he posed alongside his wife and their three-year-old daughter, Kaia. Mari appeared equally delighted as she cradled their son, while Kaia looked excited to begin her journey as a big sister. One sweet photo captured Mari gently kissing the baby's head, while another showed Denham cradling his son close to his chest. Denham Hitchock (pictured) has received possibly the best Christmas gift imaginable While keeping quite about the newborn's name, Denham could not hide his excitement in the caption of his social media post. 'What a xmas present,' Denham enthused. 'Our stowaway finally came out of hiding just in time for xmas. Welcome to the Rio crew little man!' Continuing, Denham was full of praise for his wife and hospital staff who helped to welcome their bundle of joy into the world. 'Super mum was calm and composed as always. The Northern Beaches Hospital fantastic,' he wrote. 'Everyone is healthy and well and Dad's heart could not be more full.' He continued: 'Its also occurred to me how many people have helped us out the past few months as we sailed back into Australia. 'We are beyond grateful and ready for a lifetime of paying it forward in gratitude for the positivity, the help and the opportunities that have come our way.' The former Channel Seven journalist took to Instagram on Wednesday to announce the arrival of his second child The journalist looked every inch the proud dad, beaming broadly and decked out in a Santa hat as he posed alongside his wife and daughter Kaia, three Finishing the sweet post, Denham hinted that he could be in the market for another vessel in the very near future. 'We are going to need a bigger boat I reckon! Merry xmas from my family to yours yew.' The auspicious post was met with a flurry of congratulations from friends and followers. Dehham's former Channel Seven colleague Melissa Doyle offered her well wishes with: 'He's here !!!! Congratulations, so overjoyed for you all.' Summing up the sentiment of many, another jumped in with: 'Love you guys so much!!! This is the best Christmas gift! He is such a gorgeous bundle of joy. Love this family pic. Kaia looks so proud and happy to be big sister.' Denham Instagram back in August to share a clip of an intimate celebratory gender reveal party in Fiji. The video, augmented by the strains of Love and Happiness by Al Green, showed an excited Denham in a colourful floral shirt and grey shorts while holding his Kaia next to his Brazilian wife. Mari looked equally casual for the baby announcement, wearing a simple blue dress and going barefoot for the occasion, like her husband. One sweet photo showed a close-up of Mari gently kissing the baby's head Another showed new dad Denham tenderly cradling his son at his chest Denham's daughter Kaia looked excited to begin her lifelong career as a big sister Captioning the happy clip, Denham said that his boat Rio, in which his family is currently sailing around the world, was about to have a 'full crew.' 'We have a stowaway on board!' Denham excitedly wrote. 'Looks like Rio will have a full crew by the end of the year. Thanks so much to @sailing_thiswayup for organising the Fiji gender reveal. Geez can't tell I'm happy about the result. Denham made headlines in January 2022 when he resigned from the Seven Network to embark on a sailing trip with his young family. Best known as a top reporter for 7News Spotlight, Denham confirmed the news via a lengthy Instagram post, telling fans he plans to work as a freelance journalist while travelling at sea. Denham, who was living on a boat after selling all his possessions four years ago, when he resigned, said he was ready to follow his heart and live off-grid. 'The ocean is calling once more and this salty boat life needs further exploring, in the pacific islands, and potentially beyond,' he declared. He went on to praise his colleagues at Seven's Spotlight documentary unit and vowed to honour the network's commitment to 'fearless reporting' as he embarked on a freelance career. Denham returned to screens in May 2023, in the true crime documentary 'Who Killed Marea?', which examines a 20-year-old cold case. He led the Sky News investigation into the mysterious and brutal slaying of Marea Yann who was killed in her home in rural Victoria in 2003. Tori Spelling donned matching 'Silent Night Tree' PJs from The Black Sheep Fam with all five of her children - son Liam, 17; daughter Stella, 16; daughter Hattie, 13; son Finn, 12; and son Beau, 7 - on Christmas morning. The 51-year-old Beverly Hills, 90210 alum was joined by her estranged second husband Dean McDermott, who called himself 'Big Daddy Peppermint Swirl' while clad in a $95 Shinesty 'Holiday Peppermint Suit.' Tori seemed most concerned about keeping the magic of Christmas alive for their youngest child, whom she caught checking out the presents beneath the decorated tree at 7am. Spelling's mother Candy - who inherited most of her late father Aaron's $600M fortune - sent the family a 'Candy Gram' kit of expensive caviar for the holiday. The LA-born nepo-baby - who boasts 4.2M social media followers - Instastoried a snap of little Beau trying caviar on toast for the first time with the caption: 'Got another believer @candyspelling!' The 79-year-old Tony-winning producer spent her Christmas at home lavishing presents on her beloved Bichon Frise, Julie Spelling. Tori Spelling donned matching 'Silent Night Tree' PJs from The Black Sheep Fam with all five of her children - son Liam, 17; daughter Stella, 16; daughter Hattie, 13; son Finn, 12; and son Beau, 7 - on Christmas morning The 51-year-old Beverly Hills, 90210 alum was joined by her estranged second husband Dean McDermott, who called himself 'Big Daddy Peppermint Swirl' while clad in a $95 Shinesty 'Holiday Peppermint Suit' When Tori's famous father passed away, at age 83, in 2006 she only received $800K inheritance because Candy disapproved of her notorious spending habits. '[Tori] would close a store and drop $50K to $60K,' Spelling (born Marer) recalled to the New York Times in 2014. 'I never did anything like that. She just went crazy.' On Christmas Eve, Spelling treated Stella, Finn, and Beau to the immersive experience Holiday Road, which is held at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas, gushing: 'Our [favorite] holiday tradition!' The 9021OMG podcaster has likened Stella to a 'second mom' of the crowded household, and she recently procured her learner's permit to drive. Tori and the 58-year-old actor-chef both requested joint legal custody (and she wants sole physical custody) of their kids in the divorce filing. Spelling and McDermott had been sleeping apart for three years before they legally separated, and he checked himself into rehab for substance abuse following an explosive fight during January 2023. The former Oxygen reality stars were both married to other people when they originally met on the set of Lifetime's Mind Over Murder way back in 2005. Last month, Tori wrapped her role as a mother searching for her missing daughter in Damian Romay's Florida-set thriller Lost in The Everglades, which she also executive produced. Spelling will also portray a fortune teller in Jed Shepherd's interactive horror video game Ghosts, which Visible Games and Limited Run Games will release next year. Tori seemed most concerned about keeping the magic of Christmas alive for their youngest child, whom she caught checking out the presents beneath the decorated tree at 7am Spelling's mother Candy - who inherited most of her late father Aaron's $600M fortune - sent the family a 'Candy Gram' kit of expensive caviar for the holiday The LA-born nepo-baby Instastoried a snap of little Beau trying caviar on toast for the first time with the caption: 'Got another believer @candyspelling!' The 79-year-old Tony-winning producer spent her Christmas at home lavishing presents on her beloved Bichon Frise, Julie Spelling When Tori's famous father passed away, at age 83, in 2006 she only received $800K inheritance because Candy disapproved of her notorious spending habits (pictured in 2023) On Christmas Eve, Spelling treated Stella, Finn, and Beau to the immersive experience Holiday Road, which is held at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas, gushing: 'Our [favorite] holiday tradition!' The 9021OMG podcaster has likened Stella to a 'second mom' of the crowded household, and she recently procured her learner's permit to drive (pictured December 10) Last month, Tori wrapped her role as a mother searching for her missing daughter in Damian Romay's Florida-set thriller Lost in The Everglades, which she also executive produced (pictured November 21) Ada Nicodemou and James Stewart put on a very loved-up display as they celebrated Christmas together on Wednesday. The Home and Away lovebirds hinted that their romance is getting more serious as they shared a cosy couple's snap to Instagram on Christmas Day. In the picture, Ada, 47, appeared happier than ever as she flashed a huge smile while cuddling up to James, 49. She cut a summery figure in a strapped yellow and pink dress and added to her stunning features with a bronzed make-up palette. Meanwhile, James kept it casual in a white T-shirt but got into the festive spirit as he sported a red Santa hat while snapping a selfie of himself and Ada. The couple, who play an on-screen married couple, proved they are still going strong as they rang in the festive season together. Ada Nicodemou and James Stewart put on a very loved-up display as they celebrated Christmas together on Wednesday Alongside the snap, James simply penned: 'Merry Christmas everyone,' while Ada also re-shared the photograph to her own Instagram Stories. Later on Christmas Day, Ada gave a further insight into her celebrations as she posted some sweet photographs with her son Johnas, 12. She shared a photograph of herself embracing Johnas as they joined their extended family on Christmas Day. The soap star shares Johnas with her ex-husband Chrys Xipolitas, who she was married to for nine years. They went their separate ways in 2016 and Ada went on to date businessman Adam Rigby for eight years until their split in 2023. She has since found love with her co-star James following his divorce from their fellow Home and Away star Sarah Roberts in March this year. The couple, who play on-screen lovebirds Leah Patterson and Justin Morgan, were first linked in real life when they were seen sharing a kiss on Anzac Day. Ada finally broke silence on their relationship in July as she confirmed she had started dating James, describing their romance as 'unexpected'. Later on Christmas Day, Ada gave a further insight into her celebrations as she posted some sweet photographs with her son Johnas, 12, who she shares with her ex Chrys Xipolitas Ada and James, who play on-screen lovebirds Leah Patterson and Justin Morgan, were first linked in real life when they were seen sharing a kiss on Anzac Day 'Jimmy and I are together, yes. It's only early days,' she told Stellar Magazine. 'It's very recent and very unexpected. I'm super happy. It's really lovely.' Since James and Ada's romance was revealed, it has been claimed they are already considering moving in together. Ada and James have known each other since 1998, when they filmed Aussie drama Breakers, and have been co-stars on Home and Away for seven years. Olivia Munn says all her 'Christmas wishes came true' while celebrating the holiday with her husband John Mulaney and their two children. On Wednesday, the 44-year-old actress took to Instagram to share a carousel of snaps showing off sweet, intimate family moments during the festive season and the work she put in to adorn their home. In one snap, the brunette beauty sat on the floor of her living room while giving her three-month-old daughter Mei June a smooch in front of their Christmas tree. Fans also get a glimpse of 42-year-old Mulaney also giving their newborn a gentle kiss on the head while standing beside the brightly lit tree. She also posted a snap of their three-year-old son Malcolm Hiep playing with a snow globe. And she wrapped the post with a video displaying the messy aftermath of Christmas morning gift-opening. Her living room was covered in torn wrapping paper, gift boxes and other strewn items. Olivia Munn says all her ' Christmas wishes came true' while celebrating the holiday with her husband John Mulaney and their two children 'The house is a mess, Malcolm got safety glasses personally from the penguins of Madagascar and Mei is 100 days old today. All my Christmas wishes came true,' she penned in the caption. Olivia's post was a hit with fans who praised the mother-of-two for getting candid with her followers and spreading Christmas cheer in her home. 'I love that you are so REAL and you didnt stage your house for pictures! My house currently looks like 2 Tasmanian devils have ran through it, while everyone is posting beautiful Christmas photos in their impeccably clean homes! Thank you for being you and so genuine all the time,' one fan penned in the comments. 'Your house isnt a mess it looks like a happily celebrated Christmas,' one wrote. Another chimed in, 'Good for you, it completely should be a mess after a Christmas celebration. Your family is beautiful.' The Predator actress and the comedian secretly tied the knot over the Fourth of July weekend earlier this year, opting for an intimate ceremony at a friend's residence in New York. According to People Magazine, the very exclusive guest list included only their son, Malcolm, and a close witness. The lovebirds were first linked in 2021 and welcomed their son that November, just months after going public with their relationship in Spring earlier in the year. And in April 2023, Olivia faced a challenging breast cancer diagnosis, ultimately leading to a double mastectomy. She shared a carousel of snaps showing off sweet, intimate family moments during the festive season and the work she put in to adorn their home She also posted a snap of their three-year-old son Malcolm Hiep playing with a snow globe She shared a close up photo of their three-month-old daughter Mei June 'The house is a mess, Malcolm got safety glasses personally from the penguins of Madagascar and Mei is 100 days old today. All my Christmas wishes came true,' she penned in the caption The family-of-three became a party-of-four this September after welcoming their daughter via surrogate. The New Girl actress revealed that she had her eggs frozen for future IVF procedures before she had a hysterectomy since discovering chemotherapy and radiation can affect fertility. 'After my diagnosis, we decided to try one more round of egg retrievals and hoped it was a good month,' she told Vogue in May. She also revealed at that time that she had tried the procedure on three different occasions when she was 33, 39 and most recently 42. Olympia Valance and her husband Thomas Bellchambers have celebrated their first Christmas since welcoming their first child into the world. The Aussie actress, 31, gave birth to her baby boy Billy on December 3 and has spent the last few weeks enjoying the early stages of motherhood. And on Wednesday, Olympia gave an insight into how she and Thomas were spending their first ever Christmas with their newborn son. The former Neighbours star took to Instagram to share an adorable Christmas Day photograph of herself and Thomas as they sweetly cuddled up to baby Billy. Olympia cut a stylish figure in a powder blue collared shirt dress with cutout detailing, which she styled with a pair of chunky gold earrings. She looked every inch the doting mother as she cradled Billy in her arms while her baby boy looked like her mini-me in an adorable matching blue striped onesie. Olympia Valance took to Instagram on Christmas Day to reveal how she and her husband Thomas Bellchambers were spending the day with their newborn son Billy Thomas looked equally smart in a beige and cream crocheted shirt and white shorts as they got ready for their festive celebrations. He looked like quite the proud father as he flashed a smile while putting his arm around Olympia and Billy. 'Merry Christmas from The Bellchambers,' Olympia captioned the adorable photograph as she celebrated her first Christmas as a mother. The model welcomed Billy into the world on December 3 and shared the jovial news to Instagram at the time. Confirming his birth, Olympia shared an adorable black-and-white photograph of her newborn son bundled up in a blanket. When she announced her pregnancy in August, Olympia candidly opening up about her fertility struggles before her 'miracle baby' came along. 'I've been hiding away for the past 5 and a half months to make sure this wasn't all a dream,' she began in her caption. 'But you kept growing and growing and it's starting to look like our dreams have finally come true.' The Aussie actress, 31, gave birth to her baby boy Billy on December 3 and shared the news in an adorable Instagram post at the time (pictured) When she announced her pregnancy in August, Olympia candidly opening up about her fertility struggles before her 'miracle baby' came along 'I've been as open and honest as I could about our struggles with infertility and I truly believed that this day wasn't going to be possible for us. 'So when I saw this positive pregnancy test I have to admit, at the time, I wasn't jumping for joy. 'I was full of fear because that's all I've known. But as the weeks kept going by it was hard to wipe the smile off our faces.' She noted her excitement of starting a family while thanking their supporters who stood by them during their 'darkest days'. 'To the little one we never thought we'd meet, we can't wait to hold you in our arms. You were worth every tear, every setback, and every prayer,' she continued. 'To all the people who supported us through the darkest days, thank you. I know I wouldn't have made it to this point without the strength of my family and friends who managed to hold me up when I was falling apart.' In May, the former soap star told how the lengthy IVF process had left her worn out and she reached a low point following a tragic miscarriage. 'My body was exhausted and my mind was spent,' she said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph. Olympia and Tom began dating in June 2019 after Olympia met him on the ultra-exclusive celebrity dating app, Raya, and got married in June 2022 'I've always been an outgoing, happy person and found myself becoming a hermit. I needed a full reset.' In July 2023, Olympia revealed that she miscarried twin babies during the Covid pandemic and later that year revealed she had a second miscarriage at six weeks. She said she was reluctant to 'go down the IVF path' as she has 'never been good with hormones'. 'Adding more hormones to my raging cycle scares the s**t out of me,' she confessed, but said she was not seeing a fertility specialist. 'I want babies and I will do everything in my power to get them,' Olympia concluded. Olympia, who rose to fame when she joined Neighbours as Paige Smith in 2014, got engaged to Tom in October 2021. The couple finally tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in June 2022 as the pair exchanged vows in front of 250 family and friends in Daylesford, Victoria. The pair began dating in June 2019 after Olympia met him on the ultra-exclusive celebrity dating app, Raya. Blake Lively's brother-in-law has labelled Justin Baldoni a 'fraud' after the actress filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against her former co-star. The actor and director, 40, faces a lawsuit from his It Ends With Us co-star after she accused him of sexual harassment and spearheading an alleged smear campaign as retaliation for her raising concerns about his inappropriate behaviour on set. High School Musical star Bart Johnson, who is married to Lively's older sister Robyn, has since shared his own thoughts regarding Justin's character in a series of social media posts. Addressing X followers on Christmas Eve, he wrote: Hes a fraud. He puts on the costume of a hero, man bun and all. Used all of the trendy catchphrases & buzz words for his podcasts. None of its genuine. Its all theater. And everyone fell for it. For years. 'Rewatch his videos with a more critical eye and watch him compliment and praise himself with faux humility and self deprecation. What a performance.' Brad, 58, had previously weighed in after The New York Post shared a feature about the controversy on its Instagram platform in December. Blake Lively 's brother-in-law Brad Johnson has labelled Justin Baldoni a 'fraud' after the actress filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against her former co-star (L-R: Brad, Blake and Robyn Lively) High School Musical star Bart Johnson, who is married to Lively's older sister Robyn, has since shared his own thoughts regarding Justin's character in a series of social media posts Defending Lively in the comments section, he wrote: 'Her complaints were filed during the filming. On record. Long before the public conflict. The cast unfollowed him for a reason. Read this article before spitting ignorance. His PR team was stellar. Gross and disgusting but highly effective. 'Read the article, their text message exchanges and his PR campaign strategy to bury her by any means necessary. No one is without faults. But the public got played.' He added: 'And yes of COURSE mistakes were made. But just IMAGINE being a stay at home mom raising 4 kids, married to the busiest man in Hollywood and at the same time being a girl boss running multiple companies while writing, producing, running non profits and working 16+ hour days from home so you can be with your kids launching 2 new businesses you been working on / developing for many years (launch scheduled by distributors, not you, btw) all while getting attacked by a VERY expensive PR smear campaign because you filed a sexual harassment claim for the very film you have to go out and promote with just the right tone or you get cooked!? 'Looks like shes doing a hell of a job to me and trying to do good things for the right reasons. But yeah lets post from our couch how much we hate her for making mistakes. That makes sense. I mean, shes been rude in these interviews that magically played on repeat. 'I saw it. None of us have ever been wrong or mean. Never. We should discount decades of good for those few bad moments. Glad the microscope isnt on me every day of my life.' Journalist Andrew Billen has also reflected on his impression of Baldoni after he interviewed him after the release of his memoir, titled Man Enough: Undefining My Masculinity, in 2021. Revealing how Justin appeared to him, he concluded he was 'the most conflicted person I have ever interviewed.' While Andrew said on one hand Justin is a committed husband, father and male feminist, he wrote in The Times that on the other he was a 'materialistic, fast-car driving porn addict who objectified no body as much as his own.' Brad had previously weighed in after The New York Post shared a feature about the controversy on its Instagram platform in December The American actor is married to Blake's older sister, Robyn Lively (pictured together in 2022) Brad wrote a lengthy defence of Blake on Instagram after she was criticised by followers of The New York Post Allegations in the lawsuit include that Justin showed Blake nude videos and images of other women and discussed his alleged porn addiction. He allegedly showed Blake an explicit video of his wife, barged into the star's trailer while she was nude or breastfeeding and made her and other female staffers uncomfortable with overtly sexual comments. And Andrew confessed the full extent of Justin's porn addiction was revealed during his interview with the star when he admitted he had become addicted to the online explicit content at the young age of 10 and 11. Growing up in a strict religious household, Justin's parents followed the 19th century Persian religion called Baha'i meaning alcohol and sex before marriage was forbidden. Justin has also been described as 'conflicted' and a 'materialistic, fast-car driving porn addict' as its revealed he has been watching explicit online content since 10 years-old The actor and director faces a series of accusations from his former co-star (pictured in a rooftop scene from It Ends With Us) Justin later wrote in his memoir that at aged 19 his girlfriend tricked his penis into her and it impacted his sexuality going forward. While he confirmed he doesn't watch anything violent, Justin confessed that when he has the urge to watch porn, he still watches the same porn he watched aged 10 or 11. He told Andrew at the time: 'I could be out in the world, championing female voices, fighting for gender equality, go home, have this amazing conversation and dinner with my wife especially early on in our marriage and still feel this strange pull to wards porn. It's not rational.' Justin also confessed to having a complicated relationship with his body which he viewed as his sexual calling card and felt a pressure to maintain a muscly physique in order to get jobs. Recently revealed details in the lawsuit allege even more egregious behaviour, with court documents obtained by People claiming Justin 'improvised physical intimacy' during a scene without prior discussion or choreography. Revealing how Justin appeared to him, journalist Andrew Billen concluded he was 'the most conflicted person I have ever interviewed' Allegations in the lawsuit include that Justin showed Blake nude videos and images of other women and discussed his alleged porn addiction, which he previously admitted began aged 10 One incident reportedly involved Justin 'discreetly biting and sucking on Ms. Lively's lower lip' during multiple takes, allegedly insisting on reshooting the scene repeatedly despite her clear discomfort. The lawsuit alleges Justin made sexual inquiries, including asking Blake if she and her husband experienced simultaneous climaxes a question she found intrusive and refused to answer. These new allegations add to the already troubling claims against Justin, who has continued to deny all accusations. The lawsuit claims that before filming began, Justin 'inserted improvised gratuitous sexual content and/or scenes involving nudity into the film (including for an underage character) in highly unsettling ways.' Among the alleged changes were a 'scene in which Blake was to orgasm on-camera' and a 'detailed scene' depicting Lily Bloom, the younger version of Blake's character, losing her virginityneither of which appeared in the original novel. According to the complaint, these additions were made without Blake's consent after she had already committed to the project. When Blake raised objections, Justin allegedly defended the changes by claiming they were added because he was crafting the story 'through the female gaze.' While he ultimately agreed to remove most of the scenes, he reportedly fought to retain one depicting Lily and Ryle Kincaid, his character, climaxing together on their wedding night, stating it was 'important to him because he and his partner climax simultaneously during intercourse.' The allegations extend to the film's producer, Jamey Heath, who is accused of compounding the toxic environment. The lawsuit claims Heath pressured Blake to simulate nudity during a childbirth scene, despite prior agreements that no nudity was required. Bombshell text messages included in Blake's lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin show how his crisis management team allegedly launched an smear campaign against her The scene allegedly lacked standard industry protections, leaving Blake 'mostly nude with her legs spread wide in stirrups and only a small piece of fabric covering her genitalia.' Heath is also accused of showing Blake and her assistant a graphic, fully nude video of his wife giving birth, which Blake initially mistook for pornography. Additionally, both Justin and Heath allegedly entered Blake's trailer unannounced on multiple occasions while she was undressed, breastfeeding, or otherwise vulnerable. The complaint details an incident where Heath entered Blake's makeup trailer uninvited while she was topless. Although Blake requested he wait until she was clothed, Heath allegedly stared at her despite her explicit request that he avert his eyes. Another unsettling claim involves Justin improvising an intimate moment during a slow-dance scene. According to the lawsuit, Justin leaned in as himself, not in character, and 'slowly dragged his lips from her ear to her neck' saying, 'It smells so good.' When Blake objected to his actions, Justin allegedly retorted, 'I'm not even attracted to you.' Following a meeting in January 2024 between Blake, Justin, producers, and Ryan, Wayfarer Studios reportedly agreed to have an intimacy coordinator on set for all scenes involving nudity or simulated sex. The studio also assured that no further improvised kissing or physical intimacy would occur. Meanwhile, bombshell text messages how how Justin's crisis management team allegedly launched an smear campaign against Blake. Blake's team say messages included as part of the legal complaint reveal, 'a multi-tiered plan that Justin and his team described as 'social manipulation' designed to 'destroy' Blake's reputation', which they say began after she raised concerns about conditions on set. Rumors of a rift between the movie's leads began to swirl amid its press run, after eagle-eyed fans noted a frostiness between the pair on the red carpet. But Blake was wary of Justin even prior to filming according to her legal complaint and claims they clashed over him trying to add 'gratuitous' nudity and sex scenes to the movie. Many of the messages included in the complaint show exchanges between publicist Jennifer Abel and crisis management expert Melissa Nathan Relations soured even further during filming, and culminated in a HR meeting where various conditions were agreed to by Justin and his Wayfarer studio before Blake would consider resuming filming after the writers' strike, the filings state. Then sometime before August 2, Justin hired crisis management expert Melissa Nathan, whose previous clients have included Jonny Depp, as part of his PR team which also included publicist Jennifer Abel. Many of the messages in the lawsuit, obtained by a subpoena, are between the women, including one exchange in which Nathan states that she can 'bury anyone'. The message was sent in reply to Abel's text which says that Justin, 'wants to feel like she [Blake] can be buried'. 'Of course - but you know when we send over documents we can't send over the work we will or could do because that could get us in a lot of trouble,' Nathan responds, adding, 'We can't write we will destroy her'. She followed up the message with another which reads, 'Imagine if a document saying all the things that he wants ends up in the wrong hands. 'You know we can bury anyone but I can't write that to him. I will be very tough.' Another back and forth on August 2 appears to show Nathan joking about murdering Blake. 'I also sent you a present. Don't worry, I didn't kill her and send her in a box to your house. It's a congratulations present,' the message from Nathan reads, to which Abel responds: 'DAMNIT'. Later that same day, Abel wrote that she is, 'having reckless thoughts of wanting to plant pieces this week about how horrible Blake is to work with'. Meanwhile, Justin appears to have suggested that it would be beneficial if they could orchestrate a targeted social media campaign. He sent a message showing a screenshot of a Twitter thread about allegations of bullying against Hailey Bieber with the caption: 'This is what we would need'. When reports began to emerge of tensions between Blake and Justin, it was suggested that the differences were merely creative. The Gossip Girl star claims Justin fostered a toxic workplace environment during filming which included sexual harassment She claims that she was subjected to a smear campaign after she raised her concerns with Justin and his studio. This exchange appears to show Abel and Nathan joking about killing Blake Justin wanted to market the movie by spotlighting the domestic abuse which forms the heart of the story, while Blake felt it should be more hopeful and uplifting. Blake was subsequently criticized for the 'tone deaf' way she promoted the film after she failed to mention domestic abuse in several interviews. It is unclear if this reaction was engineered, but Justin's messages appear to show he was at least ready to capitalize on the negative press. 'What is the TikTok strategy?' Justin writes in one message. 'I'd like you guys to start posting me ONLY talking about domestic violence and clips and why this movie is so important'. But as the controversy around the film raged on, some of the more nefarious allegations Blake had privately levelled at Justin began to appear in the press. They included that he made inappropriate comments about her weight and 'lingered' too long during kissing scenes. The texts show how the crisis management team scrambled to try and 'shift the narrative' by reverting coverage back onto Blake . On August 11, Abel sent Justin a message reassuring him that the stories were not a threat. The duo starred opposite each other in the hotly-anticipated adaptation of the popular Coleen Hoover novel by the same name earlier this year Justin also appears to wade in at times and suggest his own tactics to discredit Blake The messages show the publicists celebrating after they manage to minimize reports about Blake's allegations in the press 'Very little pick up. Fans remain supportive of you and believe the issue of the 'feud' is because she took control of the movie,' she wrote. The day before, Nathan remarked to Abel that: 'The majority of socials are pro Justin and I don't even agree with half of them lol'. In another, Nathan revels in the 'genius' strategy. 'Jen this went so well I am f***king dying. I have to call you in a bit bit and tel you how this went. It was genius.' Further allegations about Justin's unwelcome behaviour are included in the legal complaint. They include claims that Justin showed Blake an explicit video of his wife, barged into the star's trailer while she was nude or breastfeeding, openly discussed his alleged porn addiction and made her and other female staffers uncomfortable with overtly sexual comments. The issues were dealt with during a January meeting between Blake, Justin and several studio representatives where several changes were agreed including the addition of an intimacy coordinator on set. 'Although our perspective differs in many aspects, ensuring a safe environment for all is paramount,' Wayfarer acknowledges, according to the legal complaint. However, a media strategy document apparently from the crisis management team also included in the legal complaint outlines how the team plans to protect Justin's reputation, along with that of lead producer Jamey Heath and Wayfarer. The document outlines several possible talking points to boost Justin, but also discredit Blake. One of the alleged strategies was to suggest that Blake had created a 'imbalance of power' on set by involving her husband Ryan Reynolds They include her, 'less than favorable reputation in the industry', how she involved her husband Ryan Reynolds to 'create an imbalance of power'. In post-production, Blake brought in her own editor to recut a version of the film which was the one ultimately chosen for distribution. In another message, Justin appears to suggest capitalizing on Reynolds' involvement as another means of targeting Blake. 'My partner asked about flipping the narrative from this leak this AM about Ryan saying script was a disaster and he saved the movie,' the message reads before suggesting, 'using their own words against them'. The document also suggests some crew members allegedly lost their jobs due to Blake's insistence on creative control. Justin has refuted the claims through his lawyer Brian Freedman. 'It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to 'fix' her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film,' he said. 'Interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real time and unedited, which allowed for the internet to generate their own views and opinions. In her lawsuit, Blake claims Justin showed her nude images and videos of women, talked about an alleged previous porn addiction and made sexual comments about the cast and crew The messages show Justin suggesting how they might 'flip the narrative' as more stories emerge about the controversy surrounding the film Others show the publicists celebrating when their efforts pay off 'These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media. 'Wayfarer Studios made the decision to proactively hire a crisis manager prior to the marketing campaign of the film, to work alongside their own representative with Jonesworks employed by Stephanie Jones, due to the multiple demands and threats made by Ms. Lively during production which included her threatening to not showing up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met. 'It was also discovered that Ms. Lively enlisted her own representative, Leslie Sloan with Vision PR, who also represents Mr. Reynolds, to plant negative and completely fabricated and false stories with media, even prior to any marketing had commenced for the film, which was another reason why Wayfarer Studios made the decision to hire a crisis professional to commence internal scenario planning in the case they needed to address. 'The representatives of Wayfarer Studios still did nothing proactive nor retaliated, and only responded to incoming media inquiries to ensure balanced and factual reporting and monitored social activity. 'What is pointedly missing from the cherry-picked correspondence is the evidence that there were no proactive measures taken with media or otherwise; just internal scenario planning and private correspondence to strategize which is standard operating procedure with public relations professionals,' Freedman added. Blake denied planting false or negative stories about her co-star or his company. 'I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,' she said. Jennifer Love Hewitt called out ageism in Hollywood and cruel internet trolls, who she claims expect her to look exactly the same as she did in her early twenties. While reflecting on the criticism that she endures online about her appearance, the actress, 45, revealed that she has come to terms with getting older, even if others have not. 'Age is age,' she recently told Fox News Digital. 'I think women really come into this acceptance of themselves and comfortability in their 40s that is beautiful.' Still, she admitted the hardest part of being in the spotlight is the expectation to look exactly the same as she did in her hit films, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and Heartbreakers. 'The times that it's hard for me though I feel like fans pick this age that they love that they think represents you, and you're never supposed to grow beyond that,' the mom-of-three explained. The performer continued: 'For me it was like me and my 20s people seem to have a really hard time accepting that I don't look that way anymore.' Jennifer Love Hewitt called out ageism in Hollywood and cruel internet trolls, who she claims expect her to look exactly the same as she did in her teens and early twenties; seen this month 'It's hard because I think as humans, we want to evolve we want to have lines on our faces, and you know our boobs be lower from breast-feeding our children, or you know our butt's bigger,' the star mused. Hewitt insisted that she just wants 'to have the freedom to be whoever' she is at her age without others nitpicking everything about her. 'It's hurtful sometimes when people reject you as you are verbally on Instagram or the internet because they're having a hard time adjusting to it,' she stressed. Her remarks come after recently sharing the secret to her successful 11-year marriage to husband and fellow actor Brian Hallisay. Although she tends to keep her personal and professional life separate, Hewitt shared a few tidbits of their romance with People earlier this month. While reflecting on more than a decade of wedded bliss and sticking together through thick and thin and three kids, the actress raved: 'That's like 190 years in Hollywood.' The couple tied the knot on November 21, 2013, just days before their oldest daughter, Autumn was born. They had met a couple years earlier, first on the set of Love Bites in 2011, but didn't have sparks fly until they worked together again on 2012's The Client List. While reflecting on the criticism that she endures online, the actress, 45, revealed that she has come to terms with getting older; seen with co-star Freddie Prinze Jr. in I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) 'I thought he was the most beautiful man I had ever seen in my life,' the 9-1-1 star told the publication. 'I said to my manager and friend at the time: "I'm going to marry that man, and I'm going to have his children." She said, "Sweetheart, I think everybody thinks they're going to marry that man and have his children." I was like, "Yeah, but I'm going to do it. Just watch."' And while it was love at first sight for Hewitt, she thinks it may have taken Hallisay, 46, a bit more time to warm up to the idea. 'I don't know that it was instant for him,' she admitted, 'But it was instant for me.' The I Know What You Did Last Summer star said she wasn't attracted to Hallisay just because he was handsome, it was also because 'He was kind and he was good and close with his family and he was smart.' 'Age is age,' she recently told Fox News Digital. 'I think women really come into this acceptance of themselves and comfortability in their 40s that is beautiful' (seen in 2012) 'We just had fun, and I was smitten. I got lucky enough to end up with him. And guess what? I did marry him, and I did have his kids.' The couple welcomed their second child, Atticus, nine in 2015. Hewitt and Hallisay moved houses in 2020, and the couple thought it the perfect time to renew their vows, and invited Autumn and Atticus to participate. 'It was very sweet, and it was so great for our kids to be there and have that as a memory,' the Ghost Whisperer star said of the experience. She has been happily married to fellow actor Brian Hallisay (pictured above) for over a decade 'They talk about it all the time, which I love. It was during [the height of] COVID, so we were just grasping for magic at that time. 'It really did become a magical time for us.' Another magical moment was when they increased their family with surprise baby Aiden in 2021. 'We, I think, struggle like most parents with three kids and full-time jobs and all of the things to find our time, but I really do wake up and choose Brian every day, and I would choose him every time,' she said of her honey. 'I genuinely feel that way, even when he makes me crazy. And he continues to choose me, thank God. I am always so profoundly happy that my kids are half him.' Married At First Sight star Ella Morgan took a swipe at her ex-boyfriend Alex James Ali on Wednesday, less than one week after the couple reportedly split. The reality star, 30, met Alex during her stint on Celebs Go Dating earlier this year but the pair are no longer together, according to The Sun. The publication claims that things have ended after she accused him of being unfaithful and messaging other women. And on Christmas Day, Ella fueled the rumours by posting a crytic Instagram caption alongside a picture of her and her pooch. She told her 252,000 followers: 'Merry Christmas to you all..from me & my main man.' In the sweet snap, Ella looked stunning as she posed with her dog in front of the Christmas tree. Married At First Sight star Ella Morgan took a swipe at her ex-boyfriend Alex James Ali on Wednesday, less than one week after the couple reportedly split The reality star, 30, met Alex during her stint on Celebs Go Dating earlier this year but the pair are reportedly no longer together She wrapped up in a cream knitted cardigan that featured pink floral details and allowed her blonde tresses to fall over her shoulders in loose waves. A source told The Sun: 'Ella is absolutely heartbroken and disappointed but the trust is gone now for her. On the outside they appeared so happy and loved up but there was cracks growing on the inside. 'Fans absolutely adored them and that initially spurred them on to try and make things work and they even planned to move into Alex's house at some point. 'She's going into the New Year single with a positive mind frame but it has come at the worst time with Christmas and her birthday just days away.' Ella has been contacted by MailOnline for comment. The trans activist found love with boyfriend Alex after sparking up a connection on Celebs Go Dating. Speaking to the Daily Record last month, Ella gushed about her new romance and admitted her joy at finding 'the one' at last. She said: 'He's honestly incredible I can't say a bad word about him, he's amazing. I'm just so glad I have found someone after all these years of being single and everything I have gone through.' They became official shortly after filming wrapped on the hit E4 show. On Christmas Day, Ella fueled the rumours by posting a crytic Instagram caption alongside a picture of her and her pooch Ella wrapped up in a cream knitted cardigan that featured pink floral details and allowed her blonde tresses to fall over her shoulders in loose waves The reality star, 30, met Alex during her stint on Celebs Go Dating earlier this year but the pair are no longer together, according to The Sun A source told the publication: 'Ella is absolutely heartbroken and disappointed but the trust is gone now for her' Before Alex she was linked to Strictly hunk Bobby Brazier. But in September Bobby rebuffed her advances as she appeared to make an attempt to rekindle things at the National Television Awards. The pair, who were first introduced in May when the 21-year-old, who plays Freddie Slater in Eastenders, was seen locking lips with Ella at the TV Baftas. And at the raucous afterparty, which was held at the O2's American Express Lounge, the Ella made a beeline for the actor once again, but this time Bobby was 'having none of it,' according to a fellow reveller. Revealing the 'cringe' moment, an onlooker told MailOnline: 'Ella was keen to show off her dress to Bobby and clearly hoped that sparks would fly again, but Bobby wasn't interested and gave her the cold shoulder. 'He was polite, but firmly shut down any suggestion that the pair of them would enjoy another drunken snog. 'Bobby made his excuses before darting across the room and hiding from Ella.' Speaking about her dalliance with Bobby, Ella said: 'We had a nice time, but now I'm putting everything into this (Celebs Go Dating). Before Alex she was linked to Strictly hunk Bobby Brazier (seen) 'Yes, we're friendly. Bobby's a lovely boy and we get on really well. He's aware I'm doing this show.' Recently Bobby, the son of television presenter Jeff Brazier and the late Big Brother star Jade Goody, was spotted kissing X Factor star Virginia Hampson, also 21, while in the streets of London however he is believed to be single. Following last year's Strictly, in which was a finalist, Bobby was seen out with Ellie Leach, who won the glitter ball. However, sources close to both parties insist they were only ever good friends. Bobby won the prestigious rising star award at last year's NTAs and went on to become somewhat of a national treasure while appearing on Strictly. Gwyneth Paltrow has said her parents' interfaith marriage was 'scandalous' for their respective families when they first tied the knot. The 52-year-old wellness mogul is the daughter of Meet The Parents actress Blythe Danner and the late director Bruce Paltrow. Blythe, who is Christian, and Bruce, who was Jewish, exchanged vows in 1969 and remained together until he died of cancer in 2002 at the age of 58. As a little girl, Gwyneth was raised celebrating holidays from both traditions and has apparently continued to do so into adulthood. Now she has shed more light on her ecumenical upbringing, in a video with Israeli activist Noa Tishby about Hanukkah. 'I grew up in a time in the '70s where I think it's still - like interfaith marriage was still kind of a big deal,' the Shakespeare In Love star shared. Gwyneth Paltrow has said her parents' interfaith marriage was 'scandalous' for their respective families when they tied the knot in the 1960s; she is pictured this month The 52-year-old wellness mogul is the daughter of Blythe Danner and the late Bruce Paltrow; Gwyneth is pictured with her parents at the 1999 Oscars, where she won best actress 'And so it was really hard for both of my parents' parents that they were marrying each other, and it was a bit scandalous,' she revealed. 'Nobody was happy about it,' she confessed, adding that the families 'definitely grew to accept it later in life and they've kind of let go of all of that.' Meanwhile Gwyneth 'felt so fortunate because I got to grow up with these two very different worlds and very different faiths.' Gwyneth said she 'always felt an incredible pull to my Jewish family,' noting: 'I still do,' and gushing about 'the traditions and the love and the unconditional warmth and the food and the yelling - and the family, you know?' She added: 'I'm so close to everybody on that side of my family. We're all kind of interwoven and so important to each other, and just showing up for each other.' Gwyneth, whose paternal ancestors hail from present-day Poland and Belarus and used to be called Paltrowicz, said: 'I came to find out we are from 17 generations of rabbis.' Looking back on her childhood, she shared fond memories of visiting her Jewish grandparents on Long Island 'and getting the Hanukkah gelt,' which can be either real money or chocolate coins given to children as a gift. Gwyneth, whose brother Jake had a bar mitzvah, explained that 'I have such a strong memory of the gold round coins and just my brother and I like tearing into them.' Blythe, who is Christian, and Bruce, who was Jewish, tied the knot in 1969 and were together until he died of cancer in 2002 at the age of 58; they are pictured with Gwyneth in 1998 'I grew up in a time in the '70s where I think it's still - like interfaith marriage was still kind of a big deal,' the Shakespeare In Love actress shared; pictured with her parents in 2002 She is now married to Brad Falchuk, who also comes from a Jewish family and who is known as Ryan Murphy's co-creator on Glee and American Horror Story. Gwyneth amicably co-parents her daughter Apple, 20, and son Moses, 18, with her ex-husband, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who was raised in a Christian family. Shortly after her son was born, Gwyneth explained that the decision to name him Moses was partly a tip of the hat to her father. 'When we were pregnant with Apple, if she was a boy, she wouldve been named Moses. We just always had the name,' she told Billy Bush on Access Hollywood. 'Moses to me is just such an amazing name. Plus, he was born on the holiest Sabbath of the year, which is the Saturday before Passover.' She added that he 'was born at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York' and explained that Moses had been 'my father's Hebrew name,' via People. Selena Gomez cozied up to new fiance Benny Blanco on Wednesday as they celebrated Hanukah with famous friends. The 32-year-old Rare Beauty founder smiled alongside her 36-year-old music producer beau in a snapshot shared by best-selling author Jake Cohen on Instagram. His caption featuring the two lovebirds read, 'Some lonely Jews on Christmas getting lit.' Also at the holiday soiree were actress Debra Messing and Real Housewives of New York City star Erin Lichy. Gomez also shared an outtake via her Instagram Stories as she expressed excitement over meeting actor Josh Radnor. 'Made my Christmas @joshradnor... huge fan of How I Met Your Mother,' she captioned a selfie of the two.' Selena Gomez cozied up to new fiance Benny Blanco on Wednesday as they celebrated Hanukah with famous friends The 32-year-old Rare Beauty founder smiled alongside her 36-year-old music producer beau in a snapshot shared by best-selling author Jake Cohen on Instagram Gomez announced her engagement to Blanco earlier this month, one year after she confirmed their relationship. The Golden Globe nominee revealed the news on Instagram, sharing photos of her huge diamond engagement ring with her 422million followers. 'Forever begins now..' she captioned a carousel of four images, including one of her husband-to-be holding her in his arms as he kissed her head. Prior to Blanco's proposal, the star was tied to a number of A-listers, most famously Blanco's collaborator Justin Bieber, 30. Gomez also dated The Weeknd, Zedd, Nick Jonas, Taylor Lautner and Zayn Malik. Selena confirmed her relationship with Blanco in December 2023 and said they'd already been together six months. It came after she liked and commented 'facts' underneath a Popfactions Instagram post that said she had seemingly confirmed that she's 'in a relationship.' She also revealed that he treats her better than anyone else. After she went public with the romance, Selena's fans called out Benny's prior comments referring to pop stars who tout various brands in tandem with their music as 'cookie-cutter' artists. 'Like you know, they're like, "This is my new single and here's my makeup line,"' he said to podcast host Zach Sang in 2020. Benny wore a cream-colored sweater and coordinating beige trousers Also at the holiday soiree was actress Debra Messing Real Housewives of New York City star Erin Lichy (pictured in denim) was also at the bash Gomez also shared an outtake via her Instagram Stories as she expressed excitement over meeting actor Josh Radnor Though some fans saw it as a jab, the multihyphenate appeared unbothered. As one fan slammed her as 'corny' for sticking by him despite the shade, Gomez replied: 'Lol yeah and he's still better than anyone I've ever been with. Facts.' She also told another upset fan who said Blanco has 'cursed' the star that 'he has been the best thing that's ever happened to me.' For Wednesday's celebration, the Lose You to Love Me hitmaker went casual in a plush, silvery gray sweatsuit with snowflakes embroidered throughout. The cozy ensemble had a hood attached and the fashionista added a knit gray hat, letting her brunette bob haircut fall out underneath. For his part, Benny wore a cream-colored sweater and coordinating beige trousers, accessorizing with layered gold chains. He was one of the most iconic comedy film actors of the 1980s. The 71-year-old Toronto native was seen on a rare outing in New York City on Christmas Eve. He left his acting career behind over 25 years ago in order to be a full-time parent after his wife passed away. The talented star has been rumored in recent years to return to his most iconic roles. The comedy legend has starred in the Ghostbusters film franchise in addition to several iconic films of the aforementioned 80s. Can you guess who the actor is? He was one of the most iconic comedy film actors of the 1980s - can you guess who? It is Rick Moranis! The reclusive actor was seen dressed perfectly for a cold day in the Big Apple as he sported an insulated jade green jacket over olive green trousers and black boots. He kept warm in a knitted multicolored patterned beanie and black gloves as he made sure to wear protection from the sun in the form of sunglasses. The rare outing comes as his reported return to the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids franchise has been delayed for several years after taking an acting hiatus in 1997. The actor made the decision to focus on being a single father after losing is wife, costume designer Ann Belsky, to breast cancer in February 1991. The couple had two children together: Rachel and Mitchell. News of his return to Hollywood by starring in the reboot of his highly-popular film franchise was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter in February 2020. He originally starred as protagonist Wayne Szalinski in 1989's Honey, I Shrunk The Kids. Original director Joe Johnston is set to return to direct the new project as Frozen's Josh Gad is set to star as Moranis' son Nick. It is Rick Moranis! The reclusive actor was seen dressed perfectly for a cold day in the Big Apple He sported an insulated jade green jacket over olive green trousers and black boots as the outing comes nearly 30 years after he left acting in 1997 The actor made the decision to focus on being a single father after losing is wife, costume designer Ann Belsky, to breast cancer in February 1991, as they are seen together at the 1990 Academy Awards The couple had two children together: Rachel and Mitchell, as Moranis is seen with his kids in 1989 In the first film, his scientist character's children stumble upon one of his experiments in the family home and end up shrinking themselves to the size of bugs. The original film was so successful that Rick returned for sequel Honey, I Blew Up The Kid in 1992. He completed the trilogy with straight-to-video sequel Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves in 1997 which was his last on-camera role before his hiatus. Despite taking a step back from the spotlight, he never retired from the industry as he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2015: 'I took a break, which turned into a longer break. 'But Im interested in anything that I would find interesting. I still get the occasional query about a film or television role and as soon as one comes along that piques my interest.' The Toronto, Canada native is a comedy film legend as he also starred in classics Ghostbusters and Spaceballs. He was offered a cameo in the 2016 female-driven Ghostbusters reboot alongside co-stars including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver but turned it down. The rare outing comes as his reported return to the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids franchise has been delayed for several years after taking an acting hiatus in 1997. He originally starred as protagonist Wayne Szalinski in 1989's Honey, I Shrunk The Kids Frozen's Josh Gad (pictured at The Oscars in February 2020) is set to star as Moranis' son Nick in the reboot 'I took a break which turned into a longer break': Despite taking a step back from the spotlight, he - seen in April 2017 - never retired from the industry he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2015 Cult classic: He also starred in Frank Oz directed sci-fi film LIttle Shop Of Horrors in 1986 'I wish them well,' he told the publication. 'I hope its terrific. But it just makes no sense to me. Why would I do just one day of shooting on something I did 30 years ago?' Moranis has since done voicework for a few animated projects including 2003 film Brother Bear and TV series The Animated Adventures Of Bob & Doug McKenzie but not appeared on camera since the Disney franchise. He also starred in Frank Oz directed sci-fi film LIttle Shop Of Horrors in 1986 in addition to 1989's Parenthood and 1983's Strange Brew. Reality TV star Peter Thomas is facing strict supervision after his tax fraud conviction. The former Real Housewives of Atlanta star will undergo two years of supervised release following his recent 18-month prison sentence, according to court documents obtained by TMZ. Thomas will also be required to participate in a substance abuse testing program. The 64-year-old, who was previously married to RHOA star Cynthia Bailey, will be closely monitored by a probation officer with the authority to conduct searches if any suspicion arises. The supervision comes with additional conditions, including restrictions on alcohol consumption. On top of his prison sentence, he's been ordered to pay $2.5 million in restitution to the IRS. Reality TV star Peter Thomas is facing strict supervision after his tax fraud conviction; (seen in 2015) The former Real Housewives of Atlanta star will undergo two years of supervised release following his recent 18-month prison sentence, according to court documents obtained by TMZ He allegedly failed to pay over $2.5 million in employment taxes from various sports-themed bars, restaurants, and lounges he owned in different states from 2017 to 2023. This figure also included $1,740,000 in trust fund taxes he collected from employee wages. 'Court documents show that instead of paying the trust fund taxes that were due on behalf of the Charlotte businesses, Thomas used the trust fund taxes for other purposes, including more than $2.5 million in cash withdrawals, $370,000 for travel, real estate purchases, and more than $250,000 in retail purchases, including on high-end purchases at Neiman Marcus, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Givenchy,' according to the Department of Justice. Thomas plead guilty to the charge over the summer but was only sentenced on Thursday. Prosecutors wanted Thomas to spend two years behind bars but his attorney, C. Melissa Owen, fought for a sentence of one year and one day, insisting he was 'incredibly remorseful', according to the Baltimore Banner. The reality alum said he was prepared to 'face the music' in video posted the day before his sentencing. Poignantly, Thomas made the announcement on the 50th anniversary living in the United States. 'Tomorrow, I'll be making an appearance in the United States government federal court house, here in Charlotte, North Carolina, to face the music. The 64-year-old, who was previously married to RHOA star Cynthia Bailey , will be closely monitored by a probation officer with the authority to conduct searches if any suspicion arises The supervision comes with additional conditions, including restrictions on alcohol consumption 'The music of not paying consistent, consistently withholding taxes for business for over 10 years,' he said. 'I thought it was something that I could rectify by getting on a payment plan and paying it but it doesn't work like that with withholding taxes. 'I was found guilty. Not found guilty, I plead guilty, and with my plea of guilty I have to sit down for a while. Thomas urged other small business owners to avoid making the same mistakes he did. 'So my public announcement is to tell all small business owners, this is one of those things that you will get locked up for if you don't pay those withholding taxes consistently. United States government don't play with that. 'So if you don't have that budget to handle your payroll consistently and enough to pay your payroll before you pay your rent, cause the landlord could evict you, you ain't going to go to jail though. Okay? But you will go to jail for not paying your withholding taxes to the United States government.' Thomas appeared to accept the consequences of his actions and was at peace with how things played out. 'Tomorrow I'm taking the flame away from all you bloggers out there. Tomorrow I'm in federal court and by tomorrow afternoon this time I'll know my fate.' Thomas exchanged vows with Bailey in a 2010 ceremony that was shown on the Bravo show's third season 'I have to stand up for it. Because I was wrong. And I have to pay the dues. My parents are not excited by this, I know my dad is rolling over in his grave now... and my mom, she wanted to make the trip here to Charlotte, North Carolina and I told her, "No, I don't want you to see me like that." 'Pay those withholding taxes. Don't fall in the same situation I have.' Thomas exchanged vows with Bailey in a 2010 ceremony that was shown on the Bravo show's third season. Thomas and Bailey separated in 2016 after three years of marriage and their divorce was formalized in 2017. He's had other brushes with the law, including a recent arrest for DUI. Is this the secret behind Jerry Hall's youthful glow at the age of 68? The Texan model posed with her two daughters with Sir Mick Jagger Georgia May, 32, and Elizabeth, 40, all in identical face masks in front of a Christmas tree. While Jerry kept her eyes concealed with black shades, Georgia and Elizabeth wore festive headbands. The kelp seaweed sheet mask is from Georgia's organic skincare line, May Botanicals. Gerry Hall posed with her two daughters with Sir Mick Jagger Georgia May, 32, and Elizabeth, 40, all in identical face masks in front of a Christmas tree Jerry Hall with her daughters Georgia (left) and Elizabeth (right) at the 2017 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Prince Andrew wasn't the only missing Royal yesterday Prince Andrew is not the only royal whose absence from a festive get-together has provoked comment. Princess Martha Louise and her husband, Durek Verrett, a bisexual shaman, failed to appear with the Norwegian royal family at a Christmas service. 'Durek is in hospital receiving dialysis, which he has to have three times a week,' Martha says of her husband. And she adds: 'I am very ill it's sad we have to justify why we are not at church. We would have attended if we could.' Norweigan Pincess Martha Louise with her husband Durek Verrett at their 2024 wedding party. The newlyweds missed Norweigen Royal Family festive get-togther becuase Durek is receiving dialysis Nice to see former Labour MP Kevin Brennan elevated to the bloated House of Lords. He suggested in 2016 that the upper house 'take a lesson from sport and introduce a squad system' so only the ablest peers took part in debates. Now Brennan, 65, will be paid to turn up, even if he never says a word in debates! Lady Amelia and Lady Marina try their crowns on for size Lady Amelia Windsor 43rd in line to the throne and her sister, Lady Marina, who were not invited to King Charles's Coronation last year, seem keen to 'crown' themselves. The Duke of Kent's granddaughters wore paper crowns from Christmas crackers on their festive walk in London after watching the King's televised broadcast at Kensington Palace. Lady Amelia, 29, and Lady Marina, 32, were joined by their cousin Cassius Taylor, who was 28 yesterday. Lady Amelia Windsor (left) 43rd in line to the throne and her sister, Lady Marina (right), who were not invited to King Charles's Coronation last year, seem keen to 'crown' themselves The unerringly shrewd Prince Rupert Loewenstein saved the Rolling Stones' bacon more than 50 years ago, extricating them from the clutches of a manager who was helping himself to half their royalties. But even now the Stones show no sign of settling for a gentle retirement their Hackney Diamonds tour grossed over 180million this year. And Ronnie Wood, who, at 77, is a youngster compared to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, both 81, has just reported his art firm, Ronnie Wood Private Collection, has 2.45million in its coffers with a 500,000 profit in the year to March. Ronnie Wood performs with the Rolling Stones in June 2024. Wood, who, at 77, is a youngster compared to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, both 81, has just reported his art firm, Ronnie Wood Private Collection, has 2.45million in its coffers Should cover the diesel on the canal boat which, I disclosed, Ronnie bought in the summer Stand-up comedian Milton Jones faced a bizarre outburst from a woman in the audience at one of his recent shows, which is called 'Ha! Milton'. Jones a regular on hit television show Mock The Week says: 'She shouted, 'I thought this was a musical!'. It turns out her husband bought her tickets to see me for her birthday, but she'd assumed she was going to see the musical, Hamilton. I'm afraid the audience laughed at her... I hope it works both ways. 'I like the idea of someone going to Hamilton and standing up to say, 'Where's Milton?' READ MORE: Seniors face cost that is outpacing Social Security and inflation The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to those carrying an important item in their wallets. Americans have been told not to keep their Social Security card on their person. Instead the Social Security Administration (SSA) advises keeping the card in a safe place and only providing it when absolutely necessary, which is rare. In fact, the agency recommends remembering the number on the card as this is normally all that is required, for example, for filing tax returns. However, when asked for your number the SSA says you should ask three simple questions to determine whether or not you should give it. 'You should always ask why your number is needed, how it will be used, and what will happen if you refuse,' the agency states on its website. The SSA also reminded Americans that Social Security cards are not identity documents, and in almost all cases another document can act in its place. For example, a birth certificate, permanent resident card or or I-94. The SSA has advised Americans not to keep their Social Security card on their person The need to guard your card has only become greater with the rise of online fraud. Criminals only need a name and Social Security number to apply for credit, open new bank accounts and even steal tax refunds. They also caution against carrying any other document that might have your social security number on it. Although it is important to keep your Social Security card safe if it does get lost there are options. The Social Security online service allows residents of 45 states and the District of Columbia to request a new card free of charge provided there are no changes needed. In October, it emerged money transfer app Moneygram was hit by major hack that exposed customer Social Security numbers and bank accounts. Meanwhile, Social Security is expected to run short on funds by 2035, according to a new report. Social Security relies on its trust funds to provide monthly benefit checks to around 70 million Americans. But an aging population is pushing up the cost of the program as a smaller share of people are paying into it, and spending is outpacing income. Gen Z cashiers are infuriating their bosses when they take cash from customers. According to reports young workers are deeming some bills counterfeit when they are in fact legitimate. According to one boss of a frozen yogurt shop in Florida, teenage employees had to be told that the bills they had refused to accept because they were fake, were actually 'just old.' Sam, 22, told Newsweek that the 10 and 5 notes that were confiscated at the store were 'pre-1999 as far as dating goes, so at least 25-30 years old. 'The $5 is even older, maybe from the 60s' the assistant manager explained. Sam acknowledged that some of the confiscated bills were older than the employees themselves and that as a generation they are probably unused to handling cash. 'It's a digital world nowadays,' he told the publication. Sam, 22, revealed the bills that the younger employees had deemed conterfeit 'We just should've shown the kids what all the bills people might pay with would look like since currency has changed in design a few times over the last 30 years.' Gen Z are those born between 1997 and 2012, and have largely grown up in a world of cards and payment apps. Indeed, a 2024 Talker Research poll found that around 30 percent of Gen Z avoided carrying cash for fear it could be stolen or lost. Other bosses shared their frustrations with the younger generation and their inexperience with cash on Reddit. One user recalled paying with a $100 bill only for the cashier to think it was fake and write on it with a marker. 'Took a closer look, it was from 1950, very crisp and good condition; not fake,' they wrote. 'From what I could tell, it'd be worth $200 if not for that cashier scribbling all over it.' 'I remember years back using a $2 bill for something and the cashier called over the manager because they thought it was a fake,' another recalled. Gen Z have largely grown up in a world of cards and payment apps 'The manager sighed and had to explain that $2 bills are real. Just not very common,' they explained. The rise of digital payments and online banking has led to mass closures of retail banks across the country. Major US banks are on course to close a staggering 1,000 branches this year, with more expected in 2025. New research also recently revealed that the last physical bank branch could close in the US in 2041. Experts from Self Financial reached by studying the rate of net closures across the country, which has averaged 1,646 each year since 2018. Despite the majority of Americans now opting to do the majority of their banking online, customers still prefer to use physical branches for particular services. It is also a struggle for some older clients to operate services such as mobile banking. Nearly two-thirds of Americans still use a physical branch to make cash deposits, while over half use them to speak to an in-person adviser, the report found. FORE School of Management celebrated the grand success of the FORE International Management Conference (FIMC) 2024, held from November 28-30 at its New Delhi campus. Themed AI, Business Models, and Future of Work, the conference brought together global leaders, scholars, and industry experts to explore AIs transformative impact. The event opened with workshops by renowned academicians, including Prof. Keng-Boon Ooi and Prof. Swanand J. Deodhar. The inaugural session featured visionary speeches by Dr. B.B.L Madhukar, Mr. Sanjeev Bikhchandani, and Dr. Vinayshil Gautam. Key highlights included insightful paper presentations, dynamic plenary sessions on AI applications and ethics, and engaging discussions on Indias global role. Networking events, a Qutub Minar heritage walk, and the prestigious Billimoria Session added cultural and professional depth. FIMC 2024 underscored FSMs commitment to innovation, collaboration, and academic excellence. VC Prof. Karamjeet Singh Interacts with Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff Amritsar: Prof. Karamjeet Singh, Vice Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, addressed the teaching and non-teaching staff of the university in separate sessions held at the Golden Jubilee Convention Centre today. GNDU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Karamjeet Singh Encourages Research for Societal Welfare Amritsar: Guru Nanak Dev University witnessed a significant moment as its newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Karamjeet Singh, addressed research scholars at the Golden Jubilee Convention Hall of the University. The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, undertook several key initiatives in 2024 to boost tourism in the country. These included infrastructure development projects under Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD schemes, promotion and marketing campaigns like "Bharat Parv" and "Dekho Apna Desh," and participation in international travel fairs to showcase India's diverse tourism offerings to the global market. nMinistry of Tourism has sanctioned a total of 76 projects for an amount of Rs.5287.90 Crore under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, out of which 75 projects are physically complete. nMinistry of Tourism has revamped its Swadesh Darshan Scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible destinations following a tourist & destination centric approach. 34 projects have been sanctioned for Rs.793.20 Crore under SD2.0. nMinistry of Tourism has sanctioned a total of 48 projects for an amount of Rs.1646.99 Crore under the PRASHAD Scheme, out of which 23 projects have been completed. nA total of 65 projects for an amount of Rs 937.56 Crore have been sanctioned under the Assistance to Central Agencies Scheme, out of which 38 projects have been physically completed. nMinistry of Tourism has formulated guidelines for 'Challenge Based Destination Development' as sub scheme of Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme to enhance tourist experience across all points of the tourist value chain. Under this scheme, proposals have been invited under four thematic categories (i) Spiritual Tourism, (ii) Culture & Heritage, (iii) Vibrant Village Program, (iv) Ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar Sites. The Ministry of Tourism has selected 42 destinations under various tourism themes for development under the scheme. nAs a follow up to the Budget Announcements 2024-25, a total of 40 projects across 23 States have been sanctioned for an amount of Rs. 3295.76 Crore under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) - Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale to infuse long term interest free loans for a period of 50 years to States for comprehensive development of iconic tourist centers in the country and branding & marketing them at global scale. nMinistry of Tourism organized "Bharat Parv" event at the Red Fort grounds, Delhi, as part of the Republic Day Celebrations from 23rd to 31st January, 2024. Thematic Pavilions of States/ UTs were setup to showcase diverse tourist attractions of the country. Cultural performances by various regional cultural associations were also organized. The event promoted Vocal for Local, through the participation of local artisans from across the country by displaying and selling their products. nLaunched 'Dekho Apna Desh People's Choice 2024' - a Nationwide poll to identify the most preferred tourist attractions under 5 categories. It is also an effort to identify attractions and destinations for development in mission mode, contributing to India's journey towards Viksit Bharat@2047. nMinistry of Tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Education is organizing a nation-wide Dekho Apna Desh Schools Contest for Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) and Navodaya Vidyalaya (NV) Schools. The students are expected to create physical brochure of their District's tourism attractions, destinations, experiences, and other offerings. The initiative aims to make the students aware about the tourism wonders and attractions present in each district of the country. nChalo India Global Diaspora Campaign was launched to enable Indian diaspora members become Incredible India ambassadors. The campaign has been implemented in the spirit of Jan Bhagidari for an Atulya and Viksit Bharat to encourage the Indian diaspora to invite their 5 non-Indian friends to travel to India every year. One lakh free e-visas for foreign tourists visiting India under 'Chalo India' campaign have been announced for the remaining part of the current Financial Year. nOn the occasion of the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi in July 2024, an 'Incredible India' exhibition was set up at Bharat Mandapam to highlight India's rich cultural heritage, age-old civilization, geographical diversity, hidden gems in tourism along with modern developments, for the delegates. While maintaining a facade of solidarity, Jordans actions often reveal a pragmatic, if controversial, approach to safeguarding its own interests in a volatile region Jordanian reality towards the Palestinians Jordanians have had a wounded, complicated, and manipulative history. House of Hashim or the Hashemite dynasty rules Jordan with the current King Abdullah II, as the 41st generation of the direct descendants of Prophet Muhammad. While Hashemites were the Sharif and Emir of Mecca with rule over larger Hejaz, they were violently ousted from the control over the same by the rival Saud family. This military loss led to the loss of the symbolically vital title of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Saud family, of modern-day Saudi Arabia. Hashemites were also to lose monarchial claim of rule on lands of Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq and were left with only the Jordanian swathes which unlike other Arab lands was bereft of oil, natural resources, ports, or any other meaningful lever of power. They had to be creative in dealing with the situation and remaining relevant and protected. Geographical contiguity to Palestinian lands led to Jordan demonstrating fluctuating concern that oscillated from supporting the Palestinian cause to willy-nilly, acting against the same. During the Arab-Israeli War of 1948, Jordan occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem (which it annexed in 1950), only to lose the same to Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967. Historians often note the unique culture of back channels (facilitating clandestine meetings) between the Jordanians and Israelis that led to counterintuitive accommodations, even amid war. In the subsequent Arab-Israel War of 1973 (Yom Kippur War), Jordan had curiously avoided joining Arab ranks against Israel. Jordanian King Hussein had secretly flown to Tel Aviv to warn Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir of the impending Arab plans to attack Israel. Ultimately when Jordan was morally forced to support the war against Israel, declassified accounts confirm that it was only to preserve Jordans image in the Arab world and that it had already entered into a tacit agreement with Israel that it would not attack Israeli elements. It wasnt the first time the Jordanians had worked duplicitously against the Arab or Palestinian cause, as just a couple of years earlier, the infamous and bloody Black September (Sep 1970 July 1971) had occurred. Jordanian Army had surrounded camps and townships with Palestinians fidayeen of various groups and brutally cut them down to size. Nearly 3500 were killed in the purge and the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organisation) fighters were expelled to neighbouring Lebanon. Again, the Jordanians had aligned with Israel before commencing this attack. Importantly Syrian forces that had intervened on behalf of Palestinian fighters were repulsed leaving 600 Syrians dead and a loss of 120 tanks. Interestingly, like the historically insincere support of Jordanians towards the Palestinians, one important figure who participated along the Jordanian forces in massacring the Palestinians was a then Pakistani Brigadier (later dictator) Zia-ul-Haq, who was on deputation!In 1987 Jordanian King Hussein and Israeli foreign affairs minister (later President) Shimon Peres met secretly to work on a peace treaty which was followed up with Jordanians forsaking their claim on the West Bank, the subsequent year. By 1994 the two countries signed a formal Peace Treaty (the second Arab nation after Egypt) and normalised relations with Israel. Odd public bickering on issues like Al Aqsa Mosque aside, the top leadership of both countries kept meeting discretely, whilst Jordan kept maintaining the facade of support towards Palestine. Practically, they engaged and operated as allies. Post the Hamas terror attack (7th Oct 2023) on Israel and the subsequent and disproportionate bludgeoning of the Gaza Strip, the Jordanians had no choice but to expel the Israeli ambassador to maintain face in the Arab world. However, as it was only Iran and its proxies like the Syrian Bashar Al Assad government and the Lebanese Hezbollah who were offering any meaningful resistance to the Israelis then the Jordanians did the unthinkable in favour of the Israelis when they shot down Iranian drones attacking Israel. Practically, the Jordanians weighed in favour of the Israeli military (all perfunctory concerns towards the beleaguered Palestinians, notwithstanding). Jordanians watched silently as Southern Lebanon was attacked and as the Syrian regime was overrun by forces born out of Al Qaeda, ending the last possible faction that had taken on the Israelis in favour of the Palestinians. For a long, Jordanian King Abdullah had warned against the spectre of a rising Shia Crescent (assertion of Shiite rule in Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon). He therefore would be presumably pleased to see the decimation of the sectarian rivals, which coincidentally also ended the last modicum of challenge to the Israelis.Beyond vacuous words, the practical conduct of the Jordanians has been suspiciously two-faced on the ostensible redlines as defined by King Abdullah i.e., No to abandoning the guardianship of Jerusalem and the holy sites, no to the one-state solution, and no for Jordan to be an alternative homeland for the Palestinians. The picture has perhaps never been further from the so-called Jordanian redlines, as now, the fate of Palestinians, Jerusalem, and the possibility of a two-state solution, is at its lowest. History will judge the conduct of Arab monarchies and their lip-serving commitment towards Palestine, but perhaps none as ambidextrously as the Jordanians, who often fancy themselves to be of the highest order. (The writer, a military veteran, is a former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry. The views expressed are personal) Despite legal interventions, witch-hunting remains a grim reality in parts of India, targeting marginalised women In 2014, Partners for Law in Development (PLD), a legal resource group working on social justice and womens rights, carried out a study to understand the reasons behind rising violence against women in the name of witch hunting in Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. They found that women were blamed for illness, death and even a bad crop and branded as witches. The targets of this belief system were largely middle-aged married women with little formal education, from lower economic strata and marginalised castes and communities. Moreover, victims and perpetrators were, more often than not, closely related to each other and, there was complicity in the community. Their study also revealed that although laws in Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh criminalising acts/offences particular to witch hunting, such as identifying any person as a witch along with the mental and physical torture accompanying such identification existed, the apathy of the state led to the continuation of witch hunting practices. Ten years later, nothing seems to have changed. Witch hunting continues to claim womens lives even in 2024. Over 663 were killed for allegedly practising witchcraft during 2015 and 2021 according to the National Crime Research Bureau (NCRB). Worryingly, the main perpetrators of this violence also remain the same, says Nirantar Trust, a NGO working on gender and education, Findings of the Trusts recent survey on witch hunting in 114 villages across 10 districts in Bihar showed 43 per cent of the victims were targetted by members from their own family. Their study, released earlier this month, also found a significant proportion of the women victimised as witches were between the age group 45 to 60. Moreover, 73 per cent of the victims had never been to school. Nirantar also found that more than single women or widows, it was married women who were branded as witches, corroborating the findings of the 2014 PLD study. In many instances, perpetrators were related to the male kin of the husband and thus negated the traditional belief that married women were safer than single women.Another grave concern raised in the 2024 study is the targeting of women from marginalised backgrounds who have shown agency and the courage to raise their voices against the deeply entrenched patriarchy. The inability of the government to sensitise men while pushing for womens empowerment has endangered many women in leadership roles. One of the easiest ways to show the woman her place has been to brand her as a witch. Of the 44 per cent of women who faced accusations of witchcraft from castes other than their own, the majority were from the upper caste. Nirantar found that most women preferred not to report this mental and physical assault as they were afraid it would lead to increased violence, greater social ostracisation and humiliation. They also lacked trust in the sincerity and efficacy of law enforcement agencies. The inability to provide timely justice can be fatal was found by Action Aid Association. The NGO, which detailed 102 case studies from Odishas 12 districts reporting maximum witch-hunting incidents in 2021, found that despite the law, more than 30 per cent of the total cases had led to the death of the woman branded as a witch. Chhutni Mahto, the firebrand social activist from Jharkhand, who received the Padma Shri in 2021 for her role in rescuing over 100 women accused of witchcraft, knows the pain because she too, was targetted as a witch. She survived and embarked on a mission to help others. But why is the onus only on survivors? NCRB data shows that since 2000, over 2,500 women have been killed for being witches. How many more women need to die before action against such inhuman acts is given the priority it deserves? (The author is a journalist writing on development and gender. The views expressed are personal) Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday directed Delhi Police for weekly interaction with senior citizens and requested divisional commissioner for setting up dedicated help desks for them at district magistrate offices. The Delhi LG Saxena interacted with over 600 senior citizens at the Raj Niwas during 'Samvaad@Raj Niwas' series of dialogues. In a post on X, the LG said he has directed the Delhi Police to hold weekly interactions with the senior citizens. Police have been instructed to increase patrolling in vulnerable areas, he said. Saxena also requested the divisional commissioner for dedicated help desks at DM offices for settlement of disputes concerning senior citizens. A majority of senior citizens from all across the city raised issues like waterlogging, dark spots, harassment & red tape at government offices, encroachment on footpaths, traffic congestion / road safety, cyber and street crime, et Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the architect of Indias economic reforms, died on Thursday night. He was 92. Singhs death was announced by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, where he was admitted in the Emergency ward around 8.30 PM in a critical condition. An AIIMS bulletin said he was treated for age related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home on December 26. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the medical emergency at AIIMS Delhi at 8.06 pm. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9.51 pm, said the bulletin. Singh, who was PM for two terms in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government from 2004 to 2014, had been in poor health for the last few months. He is survived by wife Gurcharan Singh and three daughters. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her mother Sonia Gandhi reached the hospital as soon as the news of his hospitalisation became known. Singh, who was Finance Minister under the then PM PV Narasimha Rao, was the architect and the brainchild of economic reforms in 1991 that pulled India from the brink of bankruptcy and ushered in an era of economic liberalisation that is widely believed to have changed the course of Indias economic trajectory. Singh died as the Congress party concluded its Congress Working Committee meeting at Belagavi in Karnataka, where all top party leaders were present. Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi rushed to Delhi from Belagavi followed by several top party leaders and workers from across the country. A galaxy of leaders across the political party lines condoled the death of Singh with Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarking We had extensive deliberations on various subjects relating to governance; his wisdom, humility were always visible. With the passing of former PM Manmohan Singh, India has lost a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, said Mallikarjun Kharge. Manmohan Singhs policy of economic liberalisation and rights-based welfare paradigm profoundly transformed lives of crores,Kharge added before leaving the CWC meet at Belagavi. Few people in politics inspire the kind of respect that Sardar Manmohan Singh did. Manmohan Singhs honesty will always be an inspiration for us. He remained steadfast in commitment to serve the nation despite being subjected to unfair, deeply personal attacks,Priyanka Gandhi said as her husband Robert Vadra was the first to announce on social media the demise of Dr Singh. Rahul Gandhi in his remarks said he lost a mentor and guide as millions like him admired Dr Singh who will be remembered with the utmost pride. Manmohan Singh Ji led India with immense wisdom and integrity. His humility and deep understanding of economics inspired the nation. My heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Kaur and the family, Rahul Gandhi said. Here is the timeline of his five-decade old career in bureaucracy and politics. 1954: Completed Masters in Economics from Panjab University 1957: Economic Tripos (3-year degree prog) from Cambridge University 1962: D.Phil in Economics from Oxford University 1971: Joins Government of India as Economic Advisor in Commerce Ministry 1972: Appointed Chief Economic Advisor in Finance Ministry 1980-82: Member, Planning Commission 1982-1985: Governor of the Reserve Bank of India 1985-87: Served as Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission 1987-90: Secretary General of South Commission in Geneva 1990: Appointed Advisor to Prime Minister on Economic Affairs March 1991: Appointed chairman of University Grants Commission 1991: Elected to Rajya Sabha from Assam, and re-elected in 1995, 2001, 2007 and 2013 1991-96: Finance Minister under P V Narasimha Rao government 1998-2004: Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha 2004-2014: Prime Minister of India. President Draupadi Murmu led the nation to condole the demise of former PM. Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh Ji was one of those rare politicians who also straddled the worlds of academia and administration with equal ease. In his various roles in public offices, he made critical contributions to reforming Indian economy. He will always be remembered for his service to the nation, his unblemished political life and his utmost humility. His passing is a great loss to all of us. I pay my respectful homage to one of the greatest sons of Bharat and convey my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and admirers, Murmu said in a statement. As a correspondent this reporter was fortunate to have covered Dr Manmohans last Press conference as PM when he announced to hang his boots from active politics on January 3, 2014 and from where he remarked that history will be kind to him than the contemporary India. In a development that could be a major setback to the India Bloc as the growing rift between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has escalated into open hostility thereby putting the alliance on shaky grounds. The AAP on Thursday threatened that it would talk to other parties of the INDIA Bloc to remove the Congress from the alliance, if it didnt take action against Delhi Congress leader Ajay Maken for making derogatory remarks against partys supremo Arvind Kejriwal, calling him an anti national. The AAP leaders now demanded that the Congress take disciplinary action against Maken and other party leaders within 24 hours. Slamming Congress for having crossed all boundaries, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh accompanied by Chief Minister Atishi warned that the AAP has given an ultimatum to its leadership to take immediate action against Maken within 24 hours, failing which AAP will be forced to demand Congresss expulsion from the INDIA Bloc. We will ask the other parties in the alliance to remove the Congress, Singh said. He further alleged that the Congresss Delhi unit is working with the BJP to ensure AAPs defeat in the Delhi polls due early next year. Atishi accused the Congresss candidates list is being prepared by the BJP, and their funding is also being provided by them. This comes amidst rising tensions and accusations from both sides, further weakening the opposition bloc. The reason for the AAPs grouse is the Congress FIR against Kejriwal on charges of fraud and forgery, accusing him of misleading and deceiving the public with promises of non-existent welfare schemes and derogatory remarks by senior Congress leaders Ajay Maken and Sandeep Dikshit on partys national convener. The tension escalated during the Winter session of Parliament when murmurs arose about changing the leadership of the INDIA Bloc, with some including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad suggesting Mamata Banerjee to take over. The INDIA Bloc, comprising parties like the Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress (TMC), RJD, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Shiv Sena (UBT), and AAP, face a crucial test of unity. The AAPs decision to hold talks with its allies could deepen the ongoing crisis. Singh accused Maken, and Dikshit of targeting AAP instead of focusing on the BJP. Singh slammed Maken for allegedly calling Kejriwal anti-national and urged Congress to take action against him within 24 hours. At this point, all limits have been crossed. Filing an FIR, calling someone anti-national-such audacity from Ajay Maken and his party is unacceptable. I demand that the Congress take action against Ajay Maken within 24 hours. Otherwise, we will appeal to the other constituent parties of the INDIA Bloc to expel Congress from the alliance, asserted the AAP Rajya Sabha MP. Ajay Maken reads the BJP script, makes statements at the BJPs behest, and targets AAP leaders on BJPs instructions. And yesterday, he crossed all limits and called our leader Arvind Kejriwal anti-nation, Singh said.The Congress or Ajay Maken have never called any BJP leader in Delhi anti-national, Singh said. The audacity Ajay Maken has shown, I demand that the Congress acts against him within 24 hours. Otherwise we will approach the partners in the INDIA Bloc and seek removal of Congress from the Bloc, he said. We had not said a single word against the Congress during the Haryana election. Yet the Congress seems to be reading out from the BJPs script. Its candidates list looks as if it was finalised at the BJP office, Singh said. Atishi echoed similar sentiments, stating that Congress is actively undermining AAP. Atishi said the Congresss actions and words make it clear that it has tied up with the BJP for the Delhi election. The Delhi CM also noted that Congress had filed an FIR against her and Arvind Kejriwal. Why? Has Congress filed any FIR against any BJP leader ever? We have found through credible sources that Congress candidates election expenditure is coming from the BJP. BJP is funding Congress candidates. We have heard that Sandeep Dikshit is getting funded by BJP, Atishi alleged. If Congress thinks we (AAP) are anti-national, then why did they contest Lok Sabha elections in alliance with us? It is clear that Congress leaders have reached some mutual understanding with BJP to defeat AAP and make BJP win in Delhi. If there is no understanding between Congress and BJP, then they should take action against Ajay Maken within 24 hours, she said. Earlier in its complaint, the Youth Congress claimed AAP was using false and deceptive promises to gain voters trust. The Congress also accused the AAP of misappropriating public funds through deceptive advertisements. AAP leaders, including MLAs and MCD councillors, have been actively collecting sensitive personal information such as voter ID details and phone numbers through an online registration process requiring OTP verification, the complaint alleged. Besides this, the Congress has questioned AAP and Kejriwal on two schemes, free treatment and Rs 2,100 per month to women. The schemes were announced in view of the upcoming Delhi assembly elections 2025. Adding fuel to the fire, several Congress leaders in Delhi have openly targeted AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal. Maken accused Kejriwal of corruption and administrative failure and called him an anti national. During the pandemic, when people were dying, Arvind Kejriwal spent crores on a luxurious bungalow. Even after 11 years, ration cards have not been issued to thousands of families in Delhi, Maken said. He also claimed that funds meant for welfare schemes were wasted on advertising campaigns. Moreover, former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshits son Sandeep Dikshit also attacked AAP and Kejriwal. Citing the conditions set out by the Supreme Court for his release from prison in the excise policy case, Dikshit said that Kejriwal is unfit for the CM post. He explained that Kejriwal cannot sign files or go to the office, thus, the necessity of appointing Atishi as the CM. Dikshit is contesting against Arvind Kejriwal from the New Delhi assembly constituency in the upcoming state polls. This contest is not just a political one but is also being seen as a means of settling scores against Kejriwal. The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday released the worlds largest electoral dataset for 2024 Lok Sabha and four State Assembly polls held this year. The move was aimed at enhancing "public trust" in the countrys electoral system at a time when the opposition has been raising doubts over its credibility after it changed its rules to restrict public access to CCTV footage of polling booths and other poll documents. Sources in the election watchdog said since the One Nation One Election (ONOE) has been tabled in the Parliament and a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is monitoring it, this data will help the stakeholders to tread the path of ambitious simultaneous polls in the country. The EC officials asserted that such granular data is not shared by any of the election management bodies in democracies across the world. "This suo motu initiative is to enhance the public trust that constitutes the underpinning of Indias electoral system," the EC said. In its 40 statistical reports related to LOk Sabha 2024 polls, released by the poll body on Thursday showed that the six national parties bagged over 63 per cent share of the total valid votes polled in the Lok Sabha elections held this year. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and National Peoples Party (NPP) are the six national parties. Six recognised National parties, 47 State parties and 690 registered, unrecognised political parties contested the Parliamentary polls. Besides, 3,905 independent candidates forfeited the deposits. Out of the 3,921 independent candidates, 279 were women, the EC noted. The datasets cover a range of variables, such as details of PC/AC /State wise electors, number of polling stations, State/ PC wise voter turnout, Party wise vote share, gender-based voting behaviour. It also included State wise participation of women electors and much more. "This suo moto initiative, is to enhance the public trust that constitutes the underpinning of Indias electoral system," the poll body said in the Statement. "The release of extensive data sets is also in furtherance of the Commissions policy of maximum disclosure, greater transparency and accessibility of election-related data for all stakeholders including academia, research and the general public," it added. The data showed Maharashtra had the highest number of women contesting candidates with 111 in the fray, followed by 80 in Uttar Pradesh and 77 in Tamil Nadu. But at the same time, out of the total 543 Lok Sabha constituencies, there were 152 where there were no women candidates. The data showed a total of over 97.97 crore citizens had registered themselves as electors as compared to over 91.19 crore in 2019, an increase of 7.43 per cent. Out of these registered electors, 64.64 crore had cast votes in 2024, compared to 61.4 crore in 2019. It also showed that 42.81 lakh postal votes were received but 5.35 lakh were rejected owing to various reasons, including late submission. The data on Lok Sabha polls, 2024 and four Assembly elections, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, held alongside parliamentary polls comes against the backdrop of allegations of non-disclosure by the EC. Referring to women participation in the polls, EC said the number of female contesting candidates was 800, compared to 726 in 2019. The data showed that total votes polled, using EVM and postal ballot option, stood at 64,64,20,869. Votes polled on EVMs alone stood at 64,21,39,275, with 32,93,61,948 male voters and 31,27,64,269 female voters. A little over 13,000 registered third gender voters exercised their franchise (27.09 per cent), according to the data. Nearly 43 lakh electors used the postal ballot option to vote. The Dhubri parliamentary constituency in Assam registered the highest turnout of 92.3 per cent while Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir registered the lowest turnout of 38.7 per cent, compared to 14.4 per cent in 2019. According to the dataset issued by the EC, as many as 11 parliamentary constituencies saw voting percentage of less than 50 per cent.Repolls, the EC pointed out, were held in 40 polling stations or 0.0038 per cent of the total 10.52 lakh polling stations as compared to 540 in 2019. Referring to overseas Indian electors, EC said over 1,19 lakh such people were registered in the category, including 1.06 lakh men, 12,950 women and 13 third gender, compared to 99,844 registered overseas electors in 2019. Overseas Indian electors are those who are Indian citizens residing abroad due to various reasons and eligible to vote here. They have come to India to vote showing their original passport as a proof of identity. The Delhi Police has registered a case against four individuals in connection with forgery in Voter ID card applications for the purpose of new voter registration and address shifting after the Election office flagged such suspicious cases to them in southeast Delhis Shaheen Bagh. On Wednesday, the Election Commission flagged four such suspicious cases to the Delhi Police, following which the police registered cases under section 336 (Forgery for the purpose of cheating) and Section 340 BNS (Using forged documents as genuine). It is to inform you that certain applicants have submitted online applications for voter registration through Form-6 and Form-8 by fraudulent means. These applicants have uploaded false documents, which have been tampered with, in support of their applications, the Election Registration Officer stated. The accused includes Md. Jamil Alam, for submitting forged Aadhar Card, and Kisunce, Mohd. Naim, and Sabana Khatoon, for submitting a tampered electricity bill. The Delhi Police, Shaheen Bagh police station, has registered a case following a complaint received from the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of AC-52 (Okhla). The complaint highlights serious instances of forgery in voter ID card applications, where fake documents were submitted by four individuals for the purpose of new voter registration and address shifting, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Ravi Kumar Singh said. He added that the applicants attempted to misuse these documents for shifting their registered address for voting purposes and registering as new voters in the constituency. The investigation is ongoing to identify the accused individuals and any possible accomplices or networks involved in these fraudulent activities, the DCP added. In its letter, the ERO said, It has been found that the applicants have attempted to deceive the authorities by tampering with documents, including Aadhar Cards and electricity bills, as proof of identity and residence. Describing it as a serious offence, it added that the applicants have intentionally provided false information and documents to manipulate the electoral roll. The Representation of the People Act, 1950, and other relevant laws prohibit such activities and provide for penalties for those found guilty, it said. The ERO asked the police to take prompt action to investigate the cases and prevent such fraudulent activities in the future. The police is requested to verify the documents and information provided by the applicants and take necessary actions against those found guilty of tampering with documents, the letter read, while also providing supporting documents as evidence. Meanwhile, the Delhi BJP welcomed the decision of ERO to lodge a police case and take legal action against four Muslim applicants seeking registration as voters in the assembly area on the basis of tempered documents. Reacting on the issue, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said, A Delhi BJP delegation had met the Chief Election Commissioner of India and other Election Commissions and requested that bogus voters and bogus vote applicants need to checked and legal action be taken to check bogus votes of Muslim Bangladeshis and Rohingyas getting registered. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Wednesday passed a resolution condemning former Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal for failing to implement the Narendra Modi-led Governments flagship scheme Ayushman Bharat. The Council is seeking legal opinion from the law department to cancel his membership as he has not been able to attend the meetings. The AAP Convenor is an ex-officio member of the council, which falls under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), since he is the MLA from the New Delhi Assembly constituency. Kejriwal has consecutively missed the meetings of the new council for the fourth time since the first took place on November 9 and also missed the oath taking ceremony. Launching an all-out attack on the AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal from all corners ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections 2025, NDMC Vice-Chairman Kuljeet Chahal flagged the issue of him remaining absent from the council meetings, stating that the law department has been consulted in the matter and will reply by the next weekly meeting about the legality of the matter. The matter will be raised in the next council meeting after receiving the departments response, he said while addressing the media. A condemnation resolution was also passed in the meeting against the AAP chief. The members of the Council also passed a censure motion against Kejriwal on the fraud of Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman and Sanjeevani Yojna. Chahal said, Kejriwal is not allowing the Ayushman Bharat Yojna implemented by the Prime Minister to reach the citizens of Delhi due to his personal and political reasons. New Delhi BJP Member of Parliament P Bansuri Swaraj, who is also a member of the NDMC, attended the meeting. Today I attended the weekly meeting of NDMC with the council officials. In the meeting, a resolution condemning the neglect of public interest by former Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal by not implementing the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Delhi was unanimously passed, she shared in a tweet. Chahal also informed that on May 25, 2022, the Council had given in-principle approval to the implementation of the Centres flagship Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) scheme for the residents of New Delhi area in a meeting in which the then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal himself was present. Ayushman Bharat Yojna, launched by the Prime Minister, is one of the flagship schemes of the Government of India. This scheme was created to achieve the goal of universal health coverage under the recommendation of National Health Policy 2017. The Prime Minister had ordered to implement this scheme in all the states, but the Delhi Government has deprived the citizens of Delhi of this scheme due to political reasons, he said. In a major crackdown against active gangs involved in various crimes, the Gurugram police have arrested 200 members of 80 gangs, between January 1 to December 13 this year. While revealing the data, police said a number of 406 cases were also registered against them, and Rs 3.67 Crore were also recovered from their possession. The arrested accused were mainly involved in robbery, house-breaking, theft, vehicle theft, snatching, ATM fraud, murder and others. The Gurugram polices crime branch teams and police station teams work hard to nab these criminals and recover huge amounts from them Vikas Arora, Commissioner of Gurugram Police, said. Meanwhile, police said a special drive was initiated against these criminals at the direction of the Gurugram Police Commissioner. Many among the apprehended offenders, were evading arrest for a long time. We identified such offenders by collecting data from courts, sources and other inputs to keep an eye on the movements and activities of the criminals and anti-social elements. We believe such elements can be a threat to the city and disrupt law and order situation or execute any crime, Varun Dahiya, ACP (Crime), said. He said that such operations against the Proclaimed Offenders (POs), bail jumpers and as well as other dreaded culprits will be continued in future to further ensure a sense of security and safety among the people. Dahiya said that specific information and public cooperation are very important when it comes to tackling and preventing crime. Apart from that, he emphasised that cooperation between police and the public plays a significant role in investigating and prosecuting criminals engaged in different offences. They were arrested after receiving information from specific resources to keep an eye on the movements and activities of the criminals and anti-social elements. We believe such elements can be a threat to the city and disrupt law and order situation or execute any crime, he said. Apart from this, the Gurugram police had also recovered Rs 83.41 crores from 1,658 Cyber Fraudsters, including 22 bank officials of different banks in just 11 months from January 2024 to 30 November 2024, the Gurugram police said. Senior police officers of the Gurugram claimed that the police are closely working with other agencies and organisations to counter these frauds. The cyber fraudsters commit fraud by luring people with good profits, investing in the stock market, reducing electricity bills, in the name of buying/selling cheap goods online, sextortion through video calls on WhatsApp, morphing, sending links through various means, posing as a customs officer/police officer in the name of implicating false case, in the name of issuing a No-Objection Certificate, digitally arresting people by showing the fear of implicating them in a criminal case, etc, Priyanshu Diwan, ACP (cybercrime), said. Cyber fraudsters call people and pretend to be police officers and commit fraud by telling them that any of their acquaintances or relatives have broken any law or that any of their relatives or acquaintances are ill, police said. They also dupe people; when people search for customer care numbers on Google for online hotel booking, wine delivery or for taking loans, cyber fraudsters keep their numbers there so that people call cyber fraudsters, and cyber fraudsters cheat them by taking them into confidence, Diwan said. As per the instructions of the Gurugram police chief, and to create awareness about cyber crimes, officials of RWA of residential societies, schools, companies and various institutions in Gurugram are being made aware by giving information about cyber crimes. We appealed to the public to steer clear of such dubious callers and advised caution in sharing personal details to strangers stalking them online, he added. A dedicated search function is a must for platforms to help users easily find content. However, traditional search results often provide only links to original posts without context or useful information. Reddit is changing this by introducing "Reddit Answers," an AI-generated search feature integrated directly into the platform to enhance user experience. Reddit's goal is to keep users on the platform and not rely on external search engines like Google or Microsoft's Bing to find content. This new feature offers a more optimized search experience for users. Reddit Answers: AI-Powered Search Experience Recently, Reddit restricted its content from being accessed by various search engines, making it impossible for users to find discussions using specific keywords or by adding "Reddit" to the end of their search terms. Google, however, was given limited access to fetch the latest content from Reddit. In response, Reddit has launched a new search engine-like feature called "Reddit Answers," which aims to provide users with a more efficient way to find information on the platform. Although currently in limited testing, users who have access to the feature can take advantage of its capabilities. Reddit Answers is an AI-powered tool that uses a conversational interface, similar to a chatbot. Users can ask questions or seek help to find specific topics, and the AI will generate a list of curated answers. These answers include links to relevant posts and are designed to be the most helpful and relevant to the user's query. The content generated by Reddit Answers is focused on providing summaries, recommendations, discussions, and other information from Reddit users. The feature offers an in-app experience that replaces the need for third-party services like Google, helping users find relevant content without leaving the platform. Using Reddit Answers to Replace Google and Bing Reddit Answers is currently in limited testing in the United States and is only available in English. Users can access the feature through a dedicated icon within the app, which allows them to pull up the experience at any time. After clicking or tapping the icon, users can ask questions and interact with the AI in a conversational manner, similar to using a chatbot. Reddit's Removal of Results from Search Engines Last year, as part of its efforts to prepare for an initial public offering (IPO), Reddit made significant changes to the platform, including restricting API access for users and developers. The company moved toward offering paywalled API access to strike licensing deals and allow broader access to its data. As part of these changes, Reddit removed itself from search engine results unless those search engines had a partnership with the platform regarding API access. This led to a licensing agreement between Google and Reddit to allow recent Reddit results to be included in Google's search results for AI training purposes. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the modern-day Bhagirath in the context of Madhya Pradesh. He stated that just as the Ganga River, brought to earth through the efforts of King Bhagirath, gave new life to everyone, similarly, Prime Minister Modi has initiated a new era in India. How conditions can improve over 10-12 years through positive thinking and efforts is best exemplified by Prime Minister Shri Modis tenure, and we are all witnesses to it. Yadav was addressing a programme organised at Khajuraho, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid foundation stone for the countrys first Ken-Betwa National Project on Wednesday. Yadav said that Bundelkhand, soil of brave warriors has always been affected by drought. Previous governments did not prioritize the development of Bundelkhand. Former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee dreamed of making the region drought-free and ensuring adequate water supply. Modi has taken the initiative to realize this dream. The inauguration of the Ken-Betwa Link Project and just a few days ago, the historic launch of the Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal Link Project worth Rs 35,000 crore mark significant milestones. These projects will provide drinking water and irrigation facilities to the Chambal, Malwa, and the entire Bundelkhand region, along with water supply for industries. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that Prime Minister Shri Modi had visited the Bundelkhand region three times previously. During these visits, he understood the hardships of the people of Bundelkhand, and today, he has given them gifts equivalent to celebrating Holi and Diwali. On behalf of the people of the state, Yadav expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Modi for these generous initiatives. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that under the leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Shri Modi, good governance is being ensured in the state. Along with caring for the poor, youth and farmers, Prime Minister Modi has also strengthened democracy. This is why it became possible for a person from a poor farming family to become the Chief Minister. He thanked Prime Minister Shri Modi for presenting an ideal governance model that equally prioritizes the government, society, and administration. Such a vision transforms peoples lives. By approving two major river projects for Madhya Pradesh within eight days, Prime Minister Shri Modi has sent a clear message to the states that our natural resources should be used for mutual prosperity and not for narrow self-interests. As a result of Prime Minister Shri Modis innovative initiatives, the countrys first Omkareshwar Solar Project is being inaugurated. This will pave the way for adequate power supply through solar energy. Chief Minister said that with Prime Minister Shri Modis visit to Madhya Pradesh on the completion of one year of the state government, a sense of pride and joy has been instilled among the people of the state. Yadav said that the Jankalyan Parv, organized to mark one year of the state government, is being concluded. During this Parv, which began on December 11 (Gita Jayanti), the state received gifts every day. Prime Minister Shri Modis gift of the Rs 35,000 crore Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal Link Project and the Bhoomi-Poojan of the Rs 44,000 crore Ken-Betwa Link Project are immensely significant for the state. On the concluding day of the Public Welfare Festival, projects worth approximately Rs 75,000 crore from river-linking initiatives, along with Bhoomi-Poojan and inaugurations of projects worth more than Rs 30,000 crore, took place. In total, projects exceeding Rs 1.10 lakh crore are taking shape in the state today. Yadav said that Prime Minister Shri Modi believes that our government should be accountable to the people, and the people should receive their rightful benefits. Indore witnessed a clash on Wednesday morning between Municipal Corporation employees and Bajrang Dal workers during an encroachment removal operation. The incident, which occurred in Satyadev Nagar and Dutt Nagar, saw both sides resorting to the use of sticks. Bajrang Dal workers also vandalized municipal vehicles. According to Municipal Corporation Deputy Commissioner Lata Agarwal, the operation began around 6:30 a.m. to remove encroachments and transport stray cattle in municipal vehicles. The Bajrang Dal workers arrived on the scene and protested against the action. When the municipal workers attempted to explain, the situation escalated into a violent confrontation. Three individuals sustained injuries in the clash, and 4-5 municipal vehicles were damaged. Notices had been issued earlier to the cow shelters against which the action was taken. Vishwa Hindu Parishad office-bearer Pappu Gochle alleged that municipal workers treated the cows inhumanely. "They pull the cows with ropes, twist their tails, and overload vehicles with 15-20 animals, despite the permissible limit being seven," he claimed. Gochle added that the Bajrang Dal intervened and protested, leading to the confrontation. Municipal Commissioner Shivam Verma visited the injured workers admitted to Shelby Hospital to assess their condition and assured them of all necessary assistance. Addressing the doctors, he emphasized the need for optimal care for the injured employees. Meanwhile, the municipal employees raised slogans and handed over a memorandum to Commissioner Verma, demanding the registration of a case against the Bajrang Dal workers under charges of obstructing government work and assault. They warned of a strike if action was not taken promptly. MG Road Police Station in-charge Vijay Singh Sisodia confirmed that 13 cows were sent to Hatod Gaushala in three vehicles under police protection. A team of 10 police personnel accompanied the municipal workers to ensure security during the operation. The minor girl who went missing from Berasia, Bhopal, four years ago has been found. The police successfully located her and recorded her statement. The girl, now an adult, revealed that she had left with her lover voluntarily. The two got married and now have a three-month-old child. In connection with the case, the police have arrested her husband and sent him to jail. According to Station In-Charge Arun Sharma, the girl, who was 16 at the time, went missing on November 11, 2020. The police had filed a kidnapping case against an unknown person after her disappearance. Despite extensive efforts, there were no clues about her whereabouts for the next four years. In an attempt to gather more information, the Superintendent of Police (SP) had announced a reward of Rs 2,000 for any information that could lead to her recovery. Recently, the police received a breakthrough when the missing girl's suspected companion contacted his family from an unknown number. With this lead, the police obtained the Call Data Record (CDR) of the number and discovered it was registered in Nagpur. This crucial information led the police to send a team to Nagpur, where they found the girl and her husband. The girl's husband, who had been working in a hotel in Nagpur, was arrested. In her statement to the police, the girl explained that she had married the man after turning 18, and they now have a young child. The police are investigating further, and her husband has been charged and taken into custody for his role in the case. The case, which had puzzled the authorities for years, has finally been resolved, but questions remain about the circumstances surrounding the girl's disappearance and her relationship with the accused. The Delhi BJP Mahila Morcha staged a protest outside AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal's residence on Thursday against recently announced 'Mahila Samman Yojana' demanding strict action against him for allegedly deceiving women with 'fraudulent promises.' Led by BJP Mahila Morcha president Richa Pandey, the protesters marched from Ashoka Road to Kejriwal's 5, Ferozeshah Road residence but were stopped by police. Some of the protesters climbed atop the police barricades and raised slogans against Kejriwal and the AAP. The BJP claimed that a similar scheme was announced by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls but the women there are yet to receive Rs 1,100 per month as promised by the party in 2022. Pandey said a similar scheme was announced by the AAP ahead of the Punjab polls but after the party came to power in the state, it failed to deliver on its promise of giving Rs 1,100 per month to women. "Under the guise of the Mahila Samman scheme, the AAP is organising camps to collect Aadhaar numbers, voter IDs and phone numbers, which is part of a larger scam," she alleged.The AAP is again "cheating" the women of Delhi in the name of the "Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana", she alleged. The protesters, including Pandey, BJP Mahila Morcha in-charge Shyambala and general secretary Priyal Bharadwaj, were detained by police as they tried to go past the barricades. They were released later on. "The AAP government has once again exposed its true face by peddling lies and fabricating schemes to mislead the public," Bharadwaj alleged.The BJP stands firm against such "deceit" and demands accountability for the deliberate attempt to "manipulate and exploit" women, she said. The Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana for a monthly payment of Rs 1,000 was announced by the Delhi government in its budget for 2024-25. Kejriwal has said the amount would be raised to Rs 2,100 if the AAP retains power in Delhi. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, on the occasion of Veer Bal Diwas, called upon the people to draw inspiration from the sacrifices made by the Sahibzadas, the sons of Guru Gobind Singh. Addressing the gathering at the state-level Veer Bal Diwas function in Kurukshetra, Saini said, Parents should teach their children the values of courage, sacrifice, and dedication, just like those exhibited by Sahibzadas and instill these values in their lives. This will be our true tribute to their unparalleled sacrifice. He also appealed to religious leaders and social institutions to unite in launching a mass movement against social evils like drug addiction, so that this grave issue can be eradicated from its roots and the youth can be saved. Paying tribute to the valiant Veer Sahibzadas, the Chief Minister said that the sacrifice of Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh serves as an inspiration for making the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the nation. "The immortal saga of the Veer Sahibzadas, who gave their lives at such a young age, is written in golden letters in the annals of history," he added. Saini said that between 20 to 27 December 1704, all members of Guru Gobind Singhs family sacrificed their lives for the protection of religion and the welfare of the common people. He described the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singhs family as the greatest sacrifice in the history of the world. Their sacrifices were made to protect the country, religion, and society, and to safeguard the weak and helpless. Through their actions, they delivered a timeless message of truth, justice, and righteousness to all of humanity, he added. Paying homage to the great Veer Baba Banda Singh Bahadur who avenged the martyrdom of Sahibzadas, the Chief Minister said that he was the first Sikh commander who broke the myth of the Mughals being invincible. Fulfilling the resolution of Guru Gobind Singh, he laid the foundation of Lohgarh, the capital of the sovereign Sikh state, which is located in Yamunanagar district of Haryana. Describing the Sikh community as a courageous and valorous community, the Chief Minister highlighted that Sikhism has gifted the country with 10 great Gurus, each of whom made countless sacrifices for the nation and society. He said that all the Gurus, including Guru Nanak Dev, shared a deep connection with the holy land of Haryana. He also mentioned Kushal Dahiya, a resident of Badkhalsa village in Sonipat, Haryana, who gave his life to bring the revered head of Guru Teg Bahadur, the Chadar of Hind, to Anandpur Sahib. Saini said that Lohgarh Bhagwanpur is being developed as a prominent tourism hub. To facilitate this, the Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Trust has been established in Lohgarh. To encourage religious tourism, Haryana has launched the Swarn Jayanti Guru Darshan Yatra Yojana, providing financial assistance to pilgrims visiting prominent Sikh shrines such as Hazur Sahib Gurudwara, Nankana Sahib, Hemkund Sahib, and Patna Sahib. PM declares Veer Bal Diwas to highlight overlooked chapter of history Earlier, Director General Information, Public Relations and Languages Department KM Pandurang welcomed the Chief Minister and said that this day honours the supreme sacrifice of Guru Gobind Singh's sons, Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, who gave their lives at a young age to protect their faith and principles. The Prime Minister Modi, decided to commemorate this day as Veer Bal Diwas to bring attention to a chapter of history that had been overlooked for many years. As a result, a state-level function is being organized here today to remember their valor and sacrifice, he added. Farmers organizations have announced a complete shutdown in Punjab on December 30 in support of their demands, including a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP) on crops. The bandh call would see suspension of all rail and road traffic, along with the closure of governmental and private institutions. The decision was taken during a pivotal meeting at Khanauri border on Thursday, where representatives from various sectors, including teaching, transport, electricity, ASHA workers, ex-servicemen, professors, journalists associations, and trade boards, participated. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher stated that all road and rail traffic, along with government and private institutions, will remain closed during the bandh from 7 am to 4 pm. Essential and emergency services will be exempted, ensuring minimal disruption to critical operations. Public awareness efforts, including installing banners at toll plazas and announcements in villages gurudwaras, aimed at ensuring a peaceful and well-informed protest. Despite the intensity of the bandh, the farmer leaders have assured that essential services will not be hindered. Medical services, examination schedules, and special events such as weddings will be allowed to proceed unhindered. Travelers heading to airports will also not face disruptions, said Pandher, reiterating, Our fight is against injustice, not the common man. We aim to maintain public convenience while amplifying our cause. To prepare for the bandh, district-level meetings are scheduled across Punjab on Thursday. Under the public awareness campaign for the bandh, the bus conductors will inform passengers about the closure before issuing tickets. Gurudwaras in villages will also be utilized as platforms to spread the message among people and seek public support for the farmers cause. The bandh is being organized as a peaceful demonstration of solidarity, with a call for unity and discipline from Punjabs youth and citizens. Emphasizing the significance of the protest, Pandher said: This bandh represents farmers rights and their fight for a secure future. We urge everyone to respect the decisions made by the farmers leadership and contribute to making this peaceful bandh a success. Dallewals Critical Health The agitations intensity has been heightened by the deteriorating health of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for 31 days at the Khanauri border. Dallewals fast aimed at pushing for the fulfillment of 13 primary demands, including the MSP guarantee. According to medical reports, Dallewals condition is critical, with alarming blood pressure levels and physical weakness rendering him unable to speak, communicating only through gestures. A medical bulletin issued by doctors attending him highlighted that Dallewal has consumed only water during his hunger strike. His hands have turned yellow due to prolonged fasting, and his overall condition remains precarious. Dallewals close aide and farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar demanded transparency in his health assessment, calling for government doctors to conduct tests and share the findings publicly. There should be complete transparencyAll medical tests, including ketone body analysis, for Jagjit Singh Dallewal ji should be conducted by the government-appointed doctors, he demanded. Kohar insisted that the findings of Dallewals health reports should be shared with the nation to dispel any misconceptions among the Central and State Governments or constitutional authorities. SKM Seeks Urgent Meeting with President Murmu to Address Farmer Issues Amid escalating farmer protests and farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewals critical health condition, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Thursday formally requested an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu to discuss pressing issues such as a legally guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, the National Agricultural Policy Framework, and the deteriorating situation in the agricultural sector. SKM, in a letter to the President, highlighted the growing unrest among farmers and the urgency of addressing their demands. The organization emphasized the need for immediate intervention, citing Dallewals precarious health, who has been on a hunger strike since November 26 at the Khanauri border. The farmer leader, aged 70, is protesting under the banner of SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. In their letter to the President, the SKM urged for an early appointment to present their concerns. A delegation of SKM requests an appointment with you at your earliest convenience to share our concerns about the precarious situation and the growing unrest among farmers across the country, it read. The SKM believed that dialogue facilitated by the President can pave the way for constructive discussions with the Union Government. Such intervention could be instrumental in addressing the long-standing issues plaguing Indian agriculture and ensuring a resolution that benefits the farming community. On December 23, farmers from over 500 districts joined the movement, submitting memoranda to the President through district magistrates. These memoranda call for her direct involvement in facilitating discussions between the Union Government and farmer organizations. Protests at district levels have been organized under the SKM banner to amplify these demands. Among the farmers key demands are a legal guarantee for MSP on crops; comprehensive debt waivers for farmers; pension schemes for farmers and agricultural labourers; rollback of increased electricity tariffs; withdrawal of police cases filed against protesting farmers; justice for victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence; formulation and implementation of a National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing, among others. In addition to MSP, the SKM has reiterated the necessity of a National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing. Such a framework would provide a sustainable roadmap for agricultural development, safeguarding farmers' rights while ensuring long-term economic viability for the agricultural sector. Farmers Question Haryanas MSP Commitment The farmers movement has also spotlighted the Haryana Governments recent notification, which promises MSP guarantees for 24 crops. Farmer leaders have questioned the feasibility of such a commitment without the Central Governments cooperation. State government agencies primarily purchase for the central pool, funded by the Central Government. Can a state independently finance MSP procurement for all crops? asked the leaders, urging Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini to provide clarity. The farmers agitation has received widespread support, with Khap Panchayats from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana joining the cause. A Khap Mahapanchayat is scheduled for December 29 at Hisar in Haryana, where further support for the movement is expected to be discussed. Previously, Khap Panchayats in Haryana had announced their backing for the farmers by holding a press conference in Chandigarh. Political leaders have also taken notice of the farmers distress, and criticizing the BJP-led Central Government for its apathetic attitude. On Wednesday (December 25), Aam Aadmi Partys Punjab unit president Aman Arora, accompanied by Cabinet Ministers and MLAs, met Dallewal to request him to accept medical care while continuing his protest. However, the farmers leadership remained steadfast, insisting that the agitation will persist until their demands are met. The agitation began on February 13, with farmers gathering at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana after being denied entry into Delhi. Since December 6, groups of farmers have made multiple attempts to march on foot to the capital but were stopped by security forces in Haryana. Punjab to Build 1,000 New Anganwadi Centers to Boost Child and Mother Care Chandigarh: To improve child and maternal care, Punjab Government on Thursday announced the construction of 1,000 new Anganwadi centers across the state. The project, spearheaded by the Social Security, Women, and Child Development Minister Dr Baljit Kaur, will be implemented under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Each new center will be built at a cost of Rs 12 lakh, with a focus on creating a child- and mother-friendly environment. The centers will feature upgraded flooring, plumbing, painting, electrification, and woodwork to ensure a safe and functional space for early childhood development. Minister said that so far, 53 centers have been completed, and the government is also upgrading 350 existing centers to improve service delivery. These upgrades are expected to be completed by January 31, 2025. Punjab Becomes First State to Resolve NRI Complaints Online Chandigarh: Punjab has taken a historic step, becoming the first state in India to offer an online platform for resolving complaints from NRI Punjabis. Launched in December 2024, the Online NRI Milni initiative allows NRIs to register issues related to Punjab directly with the NRI Departments minister, senior officers, and police officials. This effort is part of the Punjab Governments ongoing commitment to quickly and effectively address the grievances of overseas Punjabis. The state has prioritized resolving NRI complaints, including those related to the Revenue and Police Departments. As part of the program, district-level civil and police officials are tasked with addressing issues promptly. Punjab Cabinet Sub-Committee Meets Employee Unions Chandigarh: To address the pressing concerns of state employees, the Cabinet Sub-Committee, led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, met with representatives from several unions on Thursday. The gathering focused on resolving critical issues affecting workers across various sectors. Union representatives from Powercom CHB Lineman Theka Mulazan Union, Sarb Sikhiya Abhiyan Mid-Day Meal Daftri Mulazm Union, and Adarsh School Teaching Non-Teaching Mulazam Union presented their memorandums, outlining key demands related to job security, working conditions, and other essential welfare matters. Throughout the meeting, the Ministers engaged in thorough discussions with the union leaders, assuring them that many of their concerns were already being addressed. Pb & Hry under grip of severe cold conditions Chandigarh: Several places in Punjab and Haryana reeled under severe cold conditions on Thursday, with the common capital of the two states, Chandigarh, recording a low of 7.3 degrees Celsius, MeT officials said. Pathankot and Faridkot in Punjab recorded identical minimum temperatures of 4 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department here. Among other places in Punjab, Amritsar experienced a cold night at 5.7 degrees Celsius, while Gurdaspur recorded a low of 6 degrees Celsius. Ferozepur and Rupnagar also endured intense chill, recording respective minimums of 5.7 and 5.9 degrees, while Ludhiana and Patiala registered identical minimums of 7.4 degrees Celsius. In Haryana, Narnaul shivered at a minimum temperature of 4.5 degrees Celsius, while Sirsa recorded a low of 5 degrees Celsius. Karnal also reeled under intense cold, registering a minimum of 5.5 degrees Celsius. Ambala recorded a low of 7.6 degrees, while Hisar registered a low of 6.9 degrees. Gurugrams minimum settled at 8.8 degrees Celsius. 2 lakh posts lying vacant in Govt Deptts in Hry: Bhupinder Hooda Chandigarh: Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday said that unemployment is at its peak in the State and more than two lakh posts are lying vacant in government departments. BJP has come to power by promising to give two lakh permanent jobs, but there is no trace of recruitment in the new government. Even the few recruitment that are taking place, are falling victim to scams. It is clear that this government is playing with the future of Haryana youth, he added. Hooda alleged that a new scam has been seen in the recruitment of PGT English, as the government declared its result, despite 33 questions being wrong in the PGT English recruitment paper and has clearly refused to take the paper again. For this, a notice has now been sent to HPSC by the High Court. Earlier, when the scam in HSSC and HPSC was exposed, the High Court reprimanded and fined them many times, he stated. 2 killed, 1 injured in firing incident in Yamunanagar Yamunanagar: Two men died and another got injured when some unidentified armed miscreants opened indiscriminate fire on them in a village Lakha Singh Khedi in Yamunanagar on Thursday. According to Yamunanagar Police, as soon as the three men came out of a gym and were about to sit in their vehicle, four-five masked armed assailants arrived there on motorcycle and opened several rounds of fire at them, they said. While two men died, the condition of the other person is critical and he has been hospitalised. The police said the incident was also captured by a CCTV camera. The miscreants escaped after the incident. An investigation into the matter has been launched. The motive behind the killings was not yet clear, they said, adding that the two deceased were in their mid-30s, Police said. Hry Govt announces public holidays and special days for 2025 Chandigarh: The Haryana Government on Thursday announced the public holidays for 2025, which apply to all public offices under the State Government. According to the notification, the State Government has notified certain dates in the 2025 calendar as Special Days. However, these will not be designated as public holidays. The notification states that all Saturdays and Sundays will be observed as holidays throughout the year. The list of Public Holidays include Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti on January 6, Guru Ravidas Jayanti on February 12, Maha Shivratri on February 26, Holi on March 14, Eid-ul-Fitr on March 31, Mahavir Jayanti on April 10, Dr BR Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14, Parshuram Jayanti on April 29, Akshya Tritya on April 30, Maharana Pratap Jayanti on May 29, Sant Kabir Jayanti on June 11, Shaheed Udham Singh Martyrdom Day on July 31, Independence Day on August 15, Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti on September 22, Shaheedi Divas/Haryana War Heroes Martyrdom Day on September 23, Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti/Dussehra on October 2, Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti/Maharaja Ajmidh Jayanti on October 7, Diwali on October 20, Vishvakarma Day on October 22, Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti on November 5 and Christmas on December 25. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday highlighted the rich legacy of the Sikh tradition, emphasising their resilience in adverse circumstances. He praised the community for not only preserving their traditions but also inspiring others through their sacrifices for the nation and their faith. Addressing the main event of Veer Bal Diwas (Sahibzada Diwas) held at the chief ministers residence, he remarked, The Sikh community has a glorious history, yet we hear that only a handful of Sikh families remain in Kabul. Incidents in Bangladesh and atrocities in Pakistan remind us of the sacrifices of the Sikh gurus. The ideals of the Sikh Gurus provide us with the energy to move forward. Their blessings serve as our inspiration. By carrying forward their legacy, we can prevent situations like those in Kabul and Bangladesh. Places like Nankana Sahib will come to us naturally, without the need for agitation or struggle, the chief minister added. The event also saw a historical gathering and the commencement of 11,000 sahaj paaths. Additionally, the chief minister released a book based on the teachings of Guru Teg Bahadur. Chief Minister Adityanath praised the Sikh community as a resilient and prosperous segment of the nation, setting exemplary standards through their strength, dedication and hard work. At one time, Sikhs safeguarded India by joining the Army in significant numbers. Yet, there are forces conspiring to undermine their efforts, attempting to entrap the youth in drug abuse, he said. He emphasised the need to identify and remain vigilant against such adversaries. Sikhs and Hindus complement each other. We must steer clear of those who seek to create discord between us. May Guru Maharaj grant us the wisdom to distinguish between friends and foes, he said, stressing unity. Reflecting on past events, the chief minister noted that in 2019, during the 550th Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak Dev, a shabad-kirtan programme was held at his residence. Since 2020, the annual observance of Veer Bal Diwas has become a tradition at the chief ministers residence, he said. Today, this event has grown into a national observance. On this day, two sahibzaades (sons) of Guru Gobind Singh Baba Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh were walled up alive by Wazir Khan, he added. The chief minister also recounted the sacrifices made during the Battle of Chamkaur, where Guru Gobind Singhs elder sons, Baba Ajit Singh and Baba Jujhar Singh, attained martyrdom. Maa Gujri could not endure the immense pain of these losses. The suffering they endured is beyond imagination. Yet, their unwavering commitment to protecting the country and religion remained steadfast. By sacrificing their lives, the four Sahibzaadas laid a solid foundation for safeguarding the nation and its values. Their bravery continues to be a source of pride, not just for the Sikh community but also for the entire nation, he said. Highlighting Sikhisms origins rooted in service to the nation and religion, Chief Minister Adityanath remarked, Guru Nanak Dev was the first to stand against Babars atrocities. Guru Arjun Devs martyrdom in Lahore was to protect India from Jahangirs tyranny. Guru Teg Bahadur sacrificed his life but upheld Indias honour, ensuring that Kashmir remained an integral part of India. Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj witnessed the ultimate sacrifice of his sons and father for the nation, Adityanath said. The chief minister also noted that this year marks the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur. Recalling the historical significance of the UP capital, he said, Lucknow is fortunate that Guru Teg Bahadur ji had come here with Guru Gobind Singh ji. To honour this heritage, a comprehensive plan for the beautification of associated gurudwaras should be prepared in collaboration with the municipal corporation. He assured financial support from the state government and urged coordinated efforts, saying, The responsibility must not be passed around. The state government, municipal corporation and development authority should work together to rehabilitate shopkeepers by constructing high-rise buildings or malls on their land. Gurudwaras linked to this historical legacy must be aesthetically enhanced. A look-out circular has been issued against former RTO constable Saurabh Sharma. Following the seizure of 52 kg of gold and Rs 11 crore in cash from an Innova car in Bhopal's Mendori village, the process of questioning Saurabh Sharma has been initiated. With the issuance of the look-out circular, Saurabh Sharma will now come under the direct scrutiny of investigation agencies upon his arrival in India. Additionally, he will not be permitted to leave the country without the approval of the department. After it was confirmed that the gold and cash found in the car belonged to former RTO constable Saurabh Sharma, the Income Tax Department decided to issue a look-out circular two days ago. The process of sending a letter to the DRI had also begun. In two days, the process was completed, and the look-out circular was issued for further action regarding the questioning of Saurabh Sharma. It is reported that Saurabh Sharma is currently in Dubai, though no official information has been provided by the Income Tax Department or any other investigating agencies. Consequently, a look-out circular has been issued against him. Both the Lokayukta Police and the Income Tax Department are now involved in the investigation and are actively searching for him. Notices will also be issued to Sharad Jaiswal and other associates of Sharma. The Income Tax Department has questioned the car owner, Chetan Singh Gaur, after the gold and cash were seized. Following Gaur's statement, preparations are being made to issue notices to Saurabh Sharma and his associate Sharad Jaiswal. Additionally, notices will be issued to Saurabh Sharma's mother, wife, and other family members in connection with the restaurant 'Fogit' located in Chuna Bhatti, the capital. Close relatives of Sharma have gone underground and deleted their social media accounts. During raids on December 19, the Lokayukta and Income Tax Department recovered cash and jewellery worth Rs 8 crore, including 235 kg of silver, from Saurabh Sharma's hideouts. On the night of December 19, 52 kg of gold was recovered from a car in the Mendori jungle. Total Rs 11 crore in cash was also found. The car, abandoned outside a house, contained gold valued at approximately Rs 40 crore 47 lakh. Chetan Singh Gaur, the car owner, is known to be close to Saurabh Sharma. As the Hallyu wave spread beyond Korea, a plethora of idols from China are also debuting under Korean labels and establishing their names with their solid skills and visuals. Recently, the voting platform FanPlus garnered attention for its poll with the theme, "Chinese Idols with the Strongest Visuals." Here are the Chinese idols who dominated the list! NCT Chenle After a two-week voting, Chenle won with 3,295,535 votes, 58.5 percent of the total votes. Chenle is known for his porcelain skin and eye smile, the source of his signature bright energy. EXO Lay The third-gen icon ranked second with 1,379,744 votes (24.5 percent). Since his active days in EXO, Lay is known for his unrivaled stage presence, which increased when he debuted as a soloist and expanded his career in China. SEVENTEEN Jun SEVENTEEN Jun came in third with a total of 478,024 votes, or 8.5 percent. The idol boasts a model proportion, flawless features, and strong charisma. SEVENTEEN The8 Trailing behind Jun is his co-member, The8, who amassed 102,336 votes. His unique styling and artistic sense on stage ignite his overall appeal. ZEROBASEONE Zhang Hao The fifth on the list, Zhang Hao, earned 71,061 votes. Although he just debuted, his outstanding vocals, dance, and looks make him the rightful owner of the position as the boy group's center. ZEROBASEONE Ricky READ ALSO: 5 K-pop Male Idols Who Have Vampire Aura: ZB1 Ricky, Stray Kids Felix, More Ricky secured his spot in sixth place with 68,242 votes. During his participation in "Boys Planet," he quickly stole hearts and had fans lauding his handsome, vampire-like appearance. Kep1er Shen Xiaoting Xiaoting was chosen as the Chinese with the strongest beauty among girls, beating aespa NingNing. In Kep1er, she isn't just the visual. She is also popular for her diverse charms, especially in dancing. NCT Dream Renjun NCT Dream Renjun ranked eighth with 45,094 votes. Since his debut in 2016, the idol has been among the stars from China who strengthened the impact of Chinese idols in the music scene, thanks to his skills and popularity. aespa NingNing NingNing ranked ninth with 36,357 votes. In the industry, the aespa maknae has cemented her position with her flashy and powerful visuals since her debut in 2020. WayV Kun Kun, WayV's leader, completed the Top 10 with 30,365 votes. This idol is well-loved for his many talents. Aside from his angelic voice, he can also play the piano. He's also lauded for being smart as he has a bachelor's degree. RELATED ARTICLE: 10 Hottest K-pop Acts in China: EXO, (G)I-DLE, Jackson Wang, More! Local MP Alok Sharma opened Free Eye check-up and refraction error camp organized by Sewa Sadan Eye hospital here on Wednesday. This camp was organized on the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. As many as 115 out patients were diagnosed in the camp. Out of these, 23 persons were found to be suffering from cataract while 13 persons were ailing with other eye diseases. Sewa Sadan provided 36 spectacles free of cost to patients. While 50 patients were provided free medicines. MP Alok Sharma, praised the service activities of Sewa Sadan Eye Hospital. he also distributed free spaces and medicines to the ailing patients. He threw light on the personality and services to the nation of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpeyi. He distributed free specs and medicines to patients suffering from visual impairment. Sharma paid tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpeyi. MP also distributed blankets to the poor families living in nearby slums. SSEH Trustee Suresh Awatramani, Sr Optometrist Ajay Singh, BJP office bearer Rakesh Kukreja and others were also present in the programme. Punjabs arhtiyas (commission agents) have joined the ranks of the state farmers in vehemently rejecting the Centres controversial draft policy on agricultural marketing. In a move that could redefine the states agrarian future, Punjabs commission agents are not only voicing their discontent but also calling on the State Government to initiate action demanding a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to formally reject the proposal. The powerful stand against the policy, which is seen as a covert attempt to revive the now-repealed farm laws, has intensified the ongoing battle over the future of Punjabs mandi system one of the strongest in the country. At a high-stakes meeting chaired by Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, the arhtiyas voiced their vehement opposition, calling for a special assembly session to unequivocally reject the policy. The meeting, attended by representatives from across the State, saw arhtiyas articulating their apprehensions about the draft policy. The Agriculture Minister has appealed to the arthiyas led by Vijay Kalra and Ravinder Singh Cheema and Rice Millers led by Tarsem Saini to send their inputs and concerns to Punjab Mandi Board so that it could be incorporated in the reply to be sent to the Union Government. The state president of the Federation of Aarthiya Association Vijay Kalra accused the Centre of attempting to dismantle Punjabs robust mandi system in favour of corporate control. This policy is a direct attack on the mandi system, which safeguards both farmers and commission agents, said Kalra. He further urged the Punjab Government to take legislative action to nullify the Centres proposals, echoing the sentiments of agitating farmers who view the draft as a backdoor entry for privatization. Agriculture Minister Khuddian reassured all stakeholders of the State Governments solidarity, emphasizing that Punjab Mandi Board is not just the backbone of its agrarian economy but a model for the rest of Asia. The draft policy seeks to weaken this system under the guise of reforms. Punjab will not stand by as its agricultural foundation is eroded, Khuddian said. The resistance to the draft policy has fostered an unlikely but powerful alliance between farmers and arhtiyas. While farmers focus on retaining MSP and preventing privatization, arhtiyas fear losing their intermediary role, which has been instrumental in maintaining the mandi ecosystem. This alliance amplified Punjabs voice in opposing what is perceived as an overreach by the BJP-led Central Government. The Centres policies are designed to centralize control and disempower regional economies like Punjabs. We will not let that happen, said Kalra. Punjab Government, led by Bhagwant Mann, has already announced its intention to formally reject the draft policy. However, the Centre has set a tight deadline of January 10, 2025, for states to submit feedback. In the coming days, the Punjab Assembly may convene a special session to formally denounce the policy. The government has also already held brain storming sessions with the officials of Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), the Punjab State Farmers Commission, and the state Agriculture Department, besides all other stakeholders seeking their valuable inputs and suggestions on the draft of this policy. The state government do not want to leave any of its clauses unconsideredAlso a team of officers and agriculture experts is going through the document, decoding even the messages in between the lines, said a senior government official. What is Centres Draft Agricultural Marketing Policy Released on November 25, 2024, by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the draft policy outlined a total of 12 sweeping reforms that include permitting private wholesale markets, and enabling direct wholesale purchases by processors, exporters, organized retailers, and bulk buyers. It also designated warehouses, silos, and cold storage facilities as deemed markets. Additionally The policy also advocated the creation of an e-trading platform, the introduction of a single, unified market fee, a single license for operations, and the streamlining of market fees and commission charges. However, critics argued that these measures, particularly the promotion of contract farming and public-private partnerships in APMC markets, are eerily reminiscent of the contentious provisions of the three farm laws repealed after massive protests in 2021. Chapter 7 of the draft explicitly stated that private markets are essential to create competition and improve farmer-market linkages. Yet, Punjab stakeholders view this as a thinly veiled attempt to bypass state-controlled markets, leaving farmers vulnerable to exploitation by large corporations. Punjabs Stand Punjabs mandi system is a cornerstone of its agrarian economy, ensuring assured prices through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and shielding farmers from the volatility of open markets. The state feared that dismantling this system could lead to significant economic and social upheaval. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led State Government argued that the Centres new policy threatened to dismantle the states well-established mandi system, putting farmers at risk of exploitation by profit-driven private players. There is growing concern across Punjab that these reforms could destabilize the states agricultural economy, pushing farmers into an unregulated market where they would lose the protections and stability that the current system provides. During the in-depth discussions between the State Government and the arhtiyas that run for more than two hours on Thursday, it came to fore that the draft policy is totally silent on the Minimum Support Price (MSP), which is the most crucial for the state farmers and the clause regarding promoting the private markets will lead to overshadow the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) markets. They apprehended that once the APMC markets fall into disarray, it would lead to exploitation of the farmers and traditional traders. Rural Development Fee (RDF) and the Market Development Fee (MDF) is crucial for maintaining Punjabs extensive agricultural infrastructure, especially mandi infrastructure and maintaining roads connecting these mandis to the villages. Khuddian was unequivocal in his criticism of the draft policys provisions, particularly the imposition of a single tax system for mandis nationwide. Drawing parallels with the implementation of GST, he warned that such centralization could strip states of their financial autonomy. The GST experience has already shown us how states can suffer under centralized systems. Punjab will not let history repeat itself, he declared. The draft also proposed the creation of an Empowered Agricultural Marketing Reform Committee of State Agricultural Marketing Ministers to harmonize reforms across states. Critics argued that such centralization undermined the federal structure and the states ability to tailor policies to their unique needs. Farmers are voicing strong opposition, accusing the Union Government of undermining Punjabs highly regarded APMC system widely considered the best in the country. They argued that, while they continue to fight for the assurance of legal guarantee on Minimum Support Prices (MSP), the Centres plan threatened to strip the state of its financial autonomy and push the agricultural sector into the hands of private corporations. In a show of solidarity with the ongoing farmers' struggle, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Thursday met farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for 31 days at the Khanauri border. Sandhwan, accompanied by several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs, including Narinder Kaur Bharaj and Kulwant Singh Pandori, condemned the Centres failure to address farmers' concerns, emphasizing that the fight for farmers' rights is not just for Punjab, but for the entire nation. Sandhwan, speaking after the meeting, lauded Dallewal's unwavering commitment to humanity and the welfare of farmers, saying, Dallewal Sahib is leading a fight for farmers across India, not just for Punjab. Guaranteeing MSP is crucial not just for Punjabs prosperity but for the nations food security. He expressed deep concern over Dallewal's deteriorating health due to the prolonged hunger strike, warning the Central Government to refrain from testing the patience of Punjabis. Highlighting the sacrifices of farmers for the nation, Sandhwan urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to listen to their demands. Farmers, whose ancestors fought for India's freedom and whose children continue to safeguard our borders, deserve to be heard. Ignoring their struggles is akin to ignoring the nation itself, he stressed. Sandhwan criticized the Modi Governments approach, accusing it of pushing policies that benefit corporate giants at the expense of farmers. He pointed to the disparity in government subsidies for farmers, contrasting the situation in the United States, where only one percent of the population farms but receives significant subsidies. Also pledging unwavering support from AAP to the farmers cause, Sandhwan emphasized that the party is actively working both at the party and government levels to push for farmers rights. Our Finance Minister Harpal Cheema and Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar have been engaging with central officials. As Speaker, I will ensure this issue remains at the forefront in the Vidhan Sabha, he affirmed. The Speaker concluded by calling on the public to recognize the farmers' struggle as a national issue, urging collective action to safeguard the interests of Punjabs farmers and the future of the nation. On the occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a grand program was organized by 'Atal Vichar Vahini' to honor his legacy and contributions. The event, held at Kali Mati Road, resonated with slogans of "Atal Bihari Vajpayee Amar Rahe," paying tribute to the statesman who shaped Indian politics and governance. The program began with a floral tribute to Atal Ji's portrait and was presided over by Amarpreet Singh Kale, founder of 'Atal Vichar Vahini' and BJP state spokesperson. In his address, Kale said, "Atal Ji was the top man of Indian politics. His life symbolizes simplicity, dedication, and service. His policies and thoughts inspire all of us. Atal Ji was not just a politician, but an ideology who gave a new direction to India." Senior BJP leader Abhay Singh highlighted Atal Ji's visionary leadership, stating, "Atal Ji dreamed of making India a strong nation and turned it into a reality. His farsighted policies gave India a special identity on the global stage. The historic decisions taken under his leadership continue to guide us." Shailendra Kumar Singh urged attendees to imbibe Atal Ji's thoughts and ideals, saying, "We should follow the path shown by Atal Ji. His life teaches us that every challenge can be overcome through service and dedication." Senior journalist Brij Bhushan Singh commended the efforts of 'Atal Vichar Vahini,' calling the initiative to honor Atal Ji's legacy "commendable." The program saw participation from senior BJP leaders, journalists, community representatives, and dignitaries from various fields. Speakers included Neeraj Singh, Jaiprakash Rai, Anjani Pandey, MP representative Sanjeev Kumar, and Ravindra of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, who shared their insights on Atal Ji's multifaceted personality and his contributions to nation-building. The event also honored several dignitaries, including Zila Parishad member Devyani Murmu, Kusum Purti, former District President of Mahila Morcha Rajpati Devi, and others, with shawls and mementos. The dignitaries emphasized Atal Jis pivotal role in shaping modern India and urged everyone to carry forward his vision. The programs dignified execution, managed by Dhanurdhar Tripathi, drew a large gathering from various sections of society, reaffirming Atal Jis enduring legacy. The event concluded with a collective resolve to carry forward his vision and ideals for a better and stronger India. Led by Zone 3 DCP Riyaz Iqbal, a major campaign has been launched to take effective action against goons, vigilantes, and miscreants in Bhopal. The initiative focuses on curbing crime by targeting habitual criminals and tightening the noose on offenders. On December 23, 2024, DCP Riyaz Iqbal ordered a crackdown on active miscreants under surveillance. In response, all police station in-charges in Zone-03 formed teams to conduct thorough checks across the area. The teams focused on locations such as Nadra Bus Stand, DIG Bungalow, Bhopal Talkies Square, Lalghati Square, Kamala Park, and near Shahjahani Park, among others. During the operation, a total of 452 vehicles were checked, resulting in 40 drivers being fined under the Motor Vehicle Act. Teams also targeted habitual criminals, checking 99 goons and 51 monitored miscreants. Legal action was swiftly taken against those involved in criminal activities. The checks resulted in recovery of illegal drugs, arms, and liquor. In total, illegal liquor worth Rs. 15,000 was confiscated under the Excise Act, and action was taken under the Arms Act (5 cases) and NDPS Act (1 case). The campaign also involved executing warrants and taking preventive actions against criminals. This effective initiative has been widely appreciated by law-abiding citizens for its role in dismantling criminal networks and restoring safety in the city. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said 2025 will be a year for strengthening the organisation to fight those spreading lies as he called for nurturing new and regional leadership in the party to help make it poll-ready. With a resolve to come up with new ideas and strategy, he told party leaders that this is not the time for despair but for carrying forward the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru and the heritage of great leaders. He also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government are not accepting the "mistake" of Home Minister Amit Shah with his "extremely insulting" remarks about B R Ambedkar and asserted that the party will fight for the respect of the architect of the Constitution. The Congress chief asserted that 2025 will be the year of the party's organisational empowerment. "We will fill all the vacant posts in the organisation. We will fully implement the Udaipur Declaration. We will equip our organisation with the skills required to win elections from AICC to Mandal and booth," he said. "We will have to find such people who are ideologically committed. Who are ready to fight to protect the Constitution. Those who believe in the Congress party's idea of India will have to be connected to the party. They will have to be brought into the mainstream. They will have to be involved in the organisational work," Kharge said. "Only hard work is not enough, timely concrete strategy and direction are necessary. There is a need to give a chance to new strength, there is also a need to nurture local and new leadership," he said. In his opening remarks here at the Congress Working Committee meeting 'Nav Satyagraha Baithak' to mark the 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi assuming the presidentship of the party at the Belgaum session, Kharge alleged that constitutional institutions are being controlled and cited the example of the Election Commission. "The matter of concern is that people's faith in the electoral process is gradually decreasing because questions are being raised on the impartiality of the Commission. A few days ago, they changed the election rules so that the information that the court had ordered to be shared could be stopped. What is it that they are trying to hide," he asked. It is a matter of concern that people's faith in the election process is gradually decreasing because questions are being raised on the impartiality of the commission, he said. Noting that sometimes names of voters are deleted from the list, or people are prevented from casting their vote, while sometimes there is a sudden increase in the number of voters in the list, or vote percentage increases unexpectedly towards the end, Kharge said, "These are some questions that keep arising for which no satisfactory answer is found." Raising the issue of Shah's remarks on Ambedkar in Rajya Sabha earlier this month, he said the statement was "extremely insulting" to the maker of the Constitution. "We raised objections, protested and demonstrated. Now protests are taking place all over the country. But the Prime Minister and the government are not ready to accept their mistake. Far from seeking an apology and resignation from Amit Shah, they supported the objectionable statement," he said. The Prime Minister issued a statement in defence of the Home Minister and a false case was filed against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, he said. "This is the attitude of today's rulers towards the Constitution and its architect. But we are not going to be afraid of anyone nor are we going to bow down. We will fight till the last breath for the ideology of Nehru-Gandhi and the respect of Babasaheb," Kharge said. He also took a swipe at the prime minister, saying when he he bowed his head on the steps of old Parliament after winning his first election, the new Parliament was built. "We are afraid that this time before taking oath in the new Parliament House, he bowed his head before the Constitution," he said. Recalling Mahatma Gandhi's words that "Truth survives even when it does not have public support", Kharge said we have the truth and crores of people behind us. "That is why this is not the time to despair. We have to destroy the lies of our opponents with unity. We have to move ahead with confidence and face the challenges boldly. And we will definitely succeed," he said before ending his speech. He said the Congress has the power of ideology, the legacy of Gandhi-Nehru and the heritage of great heroes. "We will return from Belagavi with a new message and new resolution. That is why we named this meeting is named 'Nav Satyagraha' because today even those who hold a constitutional post, are questioning Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha," he said. "Those who have taken oath on the Constitution are the ones spreading lies. Those in power take the help of falsehood and accuse us. We have to expose and defeat such people," he said. The Congress chief also recalled how Mahatma Gandhi became the Congress president only for a year but he set such high standards that it is difficult for any political leader to match that. "Gandhiji gave the Congress Constitution a new form and established a place for the Congress in the hearts of the villages, poor, farmers and labourers and connected the Congress organisation with constructive works. He also included untouchability and discrimination with the main Congress agenda. You should all be proud that the Congress has Mahatma Gandhi's legacy and we are its inheritors," he said. Kharge said Gandhi ji expressed concern over the communal riots in Kohat and Gulbarga and Motilal Nehru brought a resolution at the Belgaum session condemning the riots. "It is unfortunate that even 100 years later the ruling party and its leaders are openly giving inflammatory slogans and their big leaders are disturbing peace and harmony in society and creating hatred among communities. They are also making people fight against others. Declaring the Telangana government's support to the Telugu film industry, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday said the former would take steps to make Hyderabad a destination for international film shootings. Reddy told this to a delegation of Telugu film personalities who called on him here. The meeting assumes significance as it came amid speculation about differences between the Congress government and the Telugu film industry following the arrest of top actor Allu Arjun in the December 4 theatre stampede case. During the meeting, Revanth Reddy said the cinema industry is as important to the government as the IT and pharma sectors, according to official sources. The CM said a cabinet sub-committee would be appointed to address the problems of the film industry and suggested the film fraternity also to form a panel to take up relevant issues. He said the government would take steps to attract the makers of English (Hollywood) and Hindi movies to the city. The government is considering organising a major convention to encourage other film industries to come to the city, he said. "Our intention is to take the (Telugu) industry to the next level," the sources quoted him as saying. Revanth Reddy also said it is his responsibility as chief minister to implement the rule of law. He also pointed out that the film industry should remember its social responsibility and join the efforts to check drugs and other societal problems. Leading film producer and Telangana Film Development Corporation (FDC) Chairman Venkata Ramana Reddy, popularly known as Dil Raju, said besides Telugu movies, shootings of other languages, including Bollywood, Tamil and Kannada, are also taking place in Hyderabad. "So, the view of the CM is that the film industry should give suggestions to government to see that, not just Indian films but Hollywood films are also shot in Hyderabad," he said. The CM sought feedback on what can be done to make Hollywood film makers to have their shootings in Hyderabad, Dil Raju said. The film industry would make suggestions in this regard, he said. "Industry and government would take steps to make Hyderabad an international hub for cinema industry," he added. Asked for the government's stance on allowing benefit shows and hiking ticket prices on special occasions, Dil Raju said they are only a "small part" of the issue and that the bigger vision is how to take Telugu cinema to the international level and to make Hyderabad an "international hub". Noted writer and Jnanpith award winner MT Vasudevan Nair, who died here on Wednesday evening, is known for elevating the art of Malayalam storytelling to a profound level through his works. Popularly known as MT, Vasudevan Nair is celebrated for his evocative storytelling, exploring human emotions and the complexities of rural life. The 91-year-old writer had been hospitalised in critical condition with a diagnosis of heart failure and breathed his last on Wednesday. He was suffering several health issues including respiratory ailments for a while, according to the literary sources. M T is a celebrated writer, screenwriter, and filmmaker, renowned for his profound contributions to Malayalam literature and cinema. Born in 1933 in Kudallur, a quaint village in Palakkad district, Kerala, M T, through more than seven decades of writing created a literary world that appealed equally to both ordinary people and intellectuals. At the time, Kudallur was part of the Malabar district under the Madras Presidency of British India. He was the youngest of four children born to T Narayanan Nair and Ammalu Amma. His father worked in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), while M T spent his early years in Kudallur and at his paternal home in Punnayurkulam, a village in present-day Thrissur district. M T's early life and surroundings deeply influenced his literary sensibilities. He completed his schooling at Malamakkavu Elementary School and Kumaranelloor High School and graduated with a degree in chemistry from Victoria College, Palakkad, in 1953. His professional journey began as a teacher and gramasevakan at a block development office in Taliparamba, Kannur, before he joined Mathrubhumi Weekly as a sub-editor in 1957. Over the course of seven decades, he has authored nine novels, 19 collections of short stories, directed six films, wrote around 54 screenplays and several collections of essays and memoirs. His novel Naalukettu (The Ancestral House) established him as a literary icon and is considered a classic in Malayalam literature. Over the years, he authored several acclaimed works, including Asuravithu, Manju, and Kaalam, which earned him the Jnanpith Award in 1995, India's highest literary honour. At the age of 25, he won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award for his second novel, Naalukettu (1959), and a decade later, Kaalam, his fifth novel, earned him the Kendra Sahitya Akademi award. M T made significant contributions to Malayalam cinema as a screenwriter and director. His films, including 'Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha' and 'Kadavu', are regarded as masterpieces, showcasing his ability to merge compelling narratives with visual storytelling. M T holds the distinction of winning the National Film Award for Best Screenplay a record four times, for 'Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha' (1989), 'Kadavu' (1991), 'Sadayam' (1992), and 'Parinayam' (1994), the most by any individual in Malayalam in this category. M T has been married twice. In 1965, he married writer and translator Prameela, but the couple separated after 11 years of marriage. They have a daughter, Sithara, who works in the United States. In 1977, he married Kalamandalam Saraswathy, a noted dance artist. They have a daughter, Aswathy Nair, who is a professional dancer. His residence on Kottaram Road in Kozhikode is named after his elder daughter, Sithara. In K-pop, idols are usually required to learn more than two languages: Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese. But the K-pop stars below went beyond and learned French before their debut. Yang Irae Yang Drea/Irae, one of the final members of the upcoming Girls on Fire girl group, is Korean-French. She was born in Paris and grew up there before coming to Korea to pursue her dream of becoming an idol. While there are a few clips of her speaking French, fans can watch her perfect introduction in the video above. (time stamp: 10:26). Stella Jang CSVC and soloist Stella Jang is renowned in the community for her fluency in reading and speaking French. In her vlogs and live streams, Jang often talks in French and even covers their songs with a perfect accent. ZB1's Seok Matthew Raised in Vancouver, Canada, Seok Matthew learned the language under their education curriculum after attending a French immersion school. BLACKSWAN's Fatou I did not understand anything literally, but for the first time I heard Fatou speak for a long time in French pic.twitter.com/ZKQU485VVv (@asrar0oc11) June 15, 2023 READ ALSO:MEET Fatou, The First Senegalese K-Pop Idol to Debut Through Upcoming Re-Brand Group BLACK SWAN Fatou, the first Senegalese-Belgian idol, is also skilled in speaking French. Her video above shows her answering the interview using the language. KINGDOM's Dann Dann speaking french I love him so much pic.twitter.com/3RsJGEn4OA Rina 6 YEARS WITH SISI (@baamgu) June 6, 2024 Kingdom Dann is a French speaker. Although he was born in Korea, he learned English and a bit of Arabic after his family moved to Dubai when he was 10. During his stay here, he attended an international school and learned French after taking it as his second language. RELATED ARTICLE: Asian K-pop Idols Who Resided/Came From Europe + Watch Them Speak European Language Recent developments within Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) have revealed a significant shift in the countrys military. A series of unexpected leadership changes, coupled with the ousting of high-ranking military lawmakers, suggest that President Xi Jinping is actively consolidating his control over the armed forces. These actions have raised questions about the PLAs internal dynamics and potential implications for regional stability. Get alerts: Two Military Lawmakers Abruptly Removed In a move that has captured international attention, Chinas top legislative body, the National Peoples Congress Standing Committee, recently revoked the membership of two prominent military lawmakers, You Haitao and Li Pengcheng. The official report cited violations of law and discipline as the reason for their removal, a phrase often used by the Communist Party to indicate corruption. You Haitao, a former deputy commander of the PLA Ground Force, and Li Pengcheng, the navy commander of the Southern Theater Command, are the latest casualties in what appears to be a widening purge within the militarys upper ranks. The Southern Theater Command, responsible for overseeing the South China Sea, has been a focal point of territorial tensions in recent years. Notably, Lis predecessor, Ju Xinchun, was also removed from the parliament a year ago under similar circumstances. Anti-Corruption Campaign Continues Unabated The removal of You and Li is seen as a continuation of the anti-corruption campaign that began sweeping through the PLA last summer. Initially, the campaign focused on the PLAs equipment procurement unit and the secretive Rocket Force. However, the recent purges indicate that the campaign has expanded to encompass other branches and high-ranking military officials. Last month, a senior official on the Central Military Commission, the nations highest military body, was suspended. Additionally, China recently appointed a new political commissar for the Ground Force, a move that surprised many observers. These developments have led to speculation about the extent of corruption within the PLA and the potential impact on its modernization efforts. The US Defense Department has expressed concerns that these graft probes could hinder the PLAs ability to modernize its forces. Xi Jinpings Consolidation of Power President Xi Jinping, often described as Chinas most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, has been actively strengthening his grip on the military. This year, he ordered a major reorganization of the armed forces, replacing the Strategic Support Force with three new branches. He also convened the first military-political work conference since 2014, a gathering he previously used to assert his authority over the PLA. These actions underscore Xis determination to ensure the militarys loyalty and obedience. The recent appointment of General Chen Hui as the new political commissar for the Ground Force further highlights the emphasis on political loyalty. Unexpected Appointment of General Chen Hui In a surprising move, China appointed General Chen Hui as the new political commissar for its Ground Force. This appointment, reported by the official Xinhua news agency, is seen as a clear indication of President Xi Jinpings ongoing efforts to tighten military discipline and ensure loyalty within the ranks. General Chen, who previously served in the Air Force and was recently named the political commissar of the new PLA Aerospace Force, replaces Qin Shutong. General Chens appointment is particularly noteworthy because he has no prior experience in the Ground Force and has been serving in the Aerospace Force for less than a year. As reported by state broadcaster China Central Television, the lack of an official explanation for Qins departure and the absence of both Qin and Ground Force Commander Li Qiaoming from Chens promotion ceremony have raised eyebrows. This apparent break from tradition has fueled speculation about potential internal disagreements or power struggles within the PLA. A Military in Disarray? The recent upheavals within the PLA suggest a military in flux. The ongoing purges, coupled with unexpected leadership changes, have raised questions about the stability and effectiveness of Chinas armed forces. While the anti-corruption campaign may aim to root out graft and improve efficiency, it could also have unintended consequences. The removal of experienced commanders and the appointment of individuals with limited experience in their new roles could disrupt the PLAs operational capabilities. Moreover, the climate of fear and uncertainty created by the purges could stifle initiative and hinder decision-making within the ranks. Everyone loves a good Christmas movie but how much do you actually know about your favourite festive films. Test your and your family's knowledge with these 50 teasers. The answers are below. 1: Who plays Buddy in the film Elf? 2: What name do the burglars give themselves in Home Alone? 3: Who provided the voice of Ebenezer Scrooge in the 2009 animated Christmas movie, A Christmas Carol? 4: In which Christmas movie does Buddy travel from the North Pole to New York to find his father Walter Hobbs? 5: Which English actor plays the villian in the first Die Hard movie? 6: In which film does Jim Carreys character try to ruin Christmas? 7: Which 2003 film features Billy Bob Thornton as a thief who disguises himself as a department store Santa Claus? 8: In which rom-com does the character Natalie fall in love with the British prime minister, played by Hugh Grant? 9: What is the name of the child that the story focuses on in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factor? 10: Which actor voiced several roles in The Polar Express? 11: What was Clarence the angel awarded for completing his mission in Its A Wonderful Life? 12: How much did Kevin McCallister spend on room service in Home Alone 2? 13: Tim Allen played a msn who has to take Santas place, in which film? 14: In which comedy is Clark Griswolds boss kidnapped and brought to Griswolds house? 15: Which animated 1993 film follows the misadventures of Jack Skellington, Halloweentowns pumpkin king? 16: Bill Murray plays a successful executive in which modern version of A Christmas Carol? 17: Joe Pesci stars as Harry and Daniel Stern is Marv in which comedy caper? 18: Who played Scrooge in The Muppet Christmas Carol? 19: Vince Vaughn played Santas older brother in which 2007 film? 20: Die Hard takes place on Christmas Eve in which city? 21: What is the Mogwi who is given to Billy in Gremlins? 22: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad battle it out for an action figure in which film? 23: Who starred as Kevin McCallister in Home Alone? 24: Which film sees the paths of Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy cross when they become part of an elaborate bet? 25: Who is the first child to meet a sticky end in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? 26: Richard Attenborough plays Kris Kringle in which film? 27: Which film sees Kate Winslett and Cameron Diaz swap Christmas and meet new romantic partners in Jude Law and Jack Black? 28: In Its A Wonderful Life, what is the name of George Baileys guardian angel? 29: Which animated film features the song Walking In The Air? 30: In Die Hard, what is the name of the building the terrorists take over? 31: What do the Kranks decide to do instead of having a traditional Christmas in Christmas with the Kranks? 32: When the lights on the house do not work, what gets used instead in Deck the Halls? 33: In Home Alone 2, which shop do the bad guys break into on Christmas Eve? 34: Where do Brad and Kate get trapped while traveling in the film Four Chritmases? 35: Who wrote the picture book that was inspiration for the 2000 film How the Grinch Stole Christmas? 36: Which Cheers actor provided the narration for the Disney movie, Mickeys Once Upon A Christmas? 37: In the 1946 film Its a Wonderful Life, who plays George Bailey? 38: At what department store does Kris Kringle work in Miracle on 34th Street? 39: What is Father Christmas known as in The Nightmare Before Christmas? 40: Who plays the title role in the film, Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? 41: What are the three rules that Billy is told he must obey in the film Gremlins? 42: What does a drunk Dan Aykroyd hide in his Santa costume in Trading Places? 43: Which Disney film do the creatures watch in the cinema in Gremlins? 44: Who narrated the film version of Dr Seuss How The Grinch Stole Christmas? 45: Perry van Shrike and Harmony Faith Lane are characters in which Christmas movie? 46: Which Irish actress plays the Pigeon Lady in Home Alone 2? 47: What job did Hugh Grant just get in the film Love Actually? 48: Who are the people who make the sweets in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? 49: In Die Hard 2, what airport is John McClaine waiting at when terrorists take over? 50: And finally, how many Home Alone movies are there? ANSWERS 1: Will Ferrell; 2: The Wet Bandits; 3: Jim Carrey; 4: Elf; 5: Alan Rickman; 6: How The Grinch Stole Christmas; 7: Bad Santa; 8: Love Actually; 9: Charlie Bucket; 10: Tom Hanks; 11: His wings; 12: $967; 13: The Santa Clause; 14: National Lampoons Christmas Vacation; 15: The Nightmare Before Christmas; 16: Scrooged; 17: Home Alone; 18: Michael Caine; 19: Fred Claus; 20: Los Angeles; 21: Gizmo; 22: Jingle All the Way; 23: Macaulay Culkin; 24: Trading Places; 25: Augustus Gloop; 26: Miracle on 34th Street; 27: The Holiday; 28: Clarence; 29: The Snowman; 30: Nakatomi Tower; 31: A ten-day Caribbean cruise; 32: Mobile phone lights; 33: Duncans Toy Chest; 34: San Francisco Airport; 35: Dr. Seuss; 36: Kelsey Grammer; 37: James Stewart; 38: Macys; 39: Sandy Claws; 40: Gene Wilder; 41: Keep them out of light; Keep them away from water; Never feed them after midnight; 42: A smoked salmon; 43: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; 44: Anthony Hopkins; 45: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang; 46: Brenda Fricker; 47: Prime Minister; 48: Oompa-Loompas; 49: Washington Dulles International Airport; 50: Five (but only the first two are worth watching. Having reflected on the close connections between Derry and Inishowen, namely the fact that the cityside of Derry is actually in Inishowen, we decided to do a bit of research on past Christmas traditions in common between Derry and Inishowen. Sean Beattie is a historian based in Inishowen but educated at St Columbs College in the 1950s. He began by reflecting on attendance at midnight mass. Mass was often attended the night before Christmas. While mass in Derry city was closer by peoples homes, many people in the country, in Donegal and throughout Ireland, would walk for an hour to reach the church. Sean remembers large groups of people walking on dark and silent country roads to the local church. People put a candle in their window on both sides of the border. Mass going was a very important tradition on both sides of the border. Sean was at school with Seamus Heaney and they were both boarders. The boys were not told what day the school would close for Christmas till the last morning. If students from Co Derry ordered a bus, they had to order it two days in advance so then the others would know what day they were going to get off. We referred to them as the County Derry boys, said Sean. Seamus Heaney and his brother Pat would have been on that bus. Sean said that many customs in Inishowen and Derry were based on the tradition of trading and of markets between the two areas. Eating turkey was not an Irish tradition. Turkeys were grown by Donegal farmers for sale, and sold in the market in Derry. Most Irish families in the fifties would have eaten bacon or goose, or a chicken. Derry was an important outlet for farmers in Carndonagh and Buncrana. Turkeys were raised for sale, not to eat they were their livelihood, said Sean. Some Donegal houses would have turkeys, but the most common dish was a goose. Meat was important. Fish was plentiful and cheap as it was a coastal area, but Meat was a treat. Chicken and bacon was what people were used to - turkey wasnt a custom to the same extent. People had a choice between a turkey and a goose, and well off families then would probably prefer a goose. You would have a wider range of shops and Christmas trees in the houses in Derry than in Donegal. The idea of a public Christmas tree was a feature in Derry, but its a more recent thing in Donegal. The Inishowen farmers were the suppliers of eggs, chicken and milk in Derry. The time the border was set up in the 1920s, a milk war went on. People were stopped from going into Derry In the 1950s and 1960s - they had their own milk suppliers. The Donegal farmers were very upset when they were stopped at the border, and a tariff on milk was put on. Eventually the Derry people got their own milk supply. You would get Christmas trees on both sides of the border - but only in the big houses in the early twentieth century. People made their own decorations, mainly of paper, that were recycled from year to year. Smuggling was another border tradition, said Sean. People used to come from Inishowen to buy toys in Woolworths in Derry. That was definitely a custom. You could buy small things very cheaply in Derry. People got a better range of Christmas cards. Things were cheaper in Derry. Certain foodstuffs were cheaper. In Inishowen you had a shop every two or three miles that just sold the basics, but if you wanted something exotic like tomatoes, oranges or coffee, you would have to go to Derry. You can read more about Sean Beatties reflections on Christmas traditions in the Christmas edition of Irelands Own. Northern Regional College proudly celebrated the achievements of its graduating Class of 2024 during this years graduation ceremonies at the Tullyglass House Hotel, Ballymena. The events brought together governors, students, staff, families, and special guests to honour the exceptional accomplishments of students from across the Colleges diverse programmes. Speaking at the ceremony, Mel Higgins, Principal and Chief Executive of Northern Regional College, highlighted the transformative power of education and the resilience shown by this years graduates. "Last week we celebrated not just academic achievements but the perseverance and determination that define the Class of 2024. The success of the students is a testament to their hard work and the unwavering support of their families and communities. As they step into the next chapter, they will remember the skills and values they have cultivated at Northern Regional College and these will serve as the foundation for all future endeavours." This years graduations also shone a spotlight on Northern Regional Colleges recent milestones, including the opening of the state-of-the-art Causeway Campus in Coleraine, which has already seen a 15% increase in full-time enrolments. Additionally, the Colleges innovative programmes, such as the Manufacturing and Hydrogen Academies, have continued to position Northern Regional College at the forefront of skills development for high-demand industries. Graduates from the Departments of Advanced Technologies; Creative, Computing & Professional Industries; and Health, Care & Access, were joined by dedicated staff members, who also completed their academic journeys this year. Their collective achievements underscore the Colleges commitment to lifelong learning and its role in preparing students for meaningful contributions to society and the economy. The ceremony concluded with an inspiring message from Graham Whitehurst MBE, Chair of Mid & East Antrim Manufacturing Task Force. Graham said, I believe college education has become even more important in todays world and Northern Regional College students should see todays current graduation as just another step on their lifelong learning journey. Its vitally important to continue to educate yourself throughout your career. Id like to personally congratulate all the students in the incredible achievement of graduation and wish everyone success in their chosen career paths. Northern Regional College extends its heartfelt congratulations to all 2024 graduates and looks forward to witnessing their continued success. Applications are open for all higher education courses starting in September 2025. 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An event to mark its anniversary was held recently at The Dunsilly Hotel, with speakers including Sir John Gillen, author of the Gillen Review, Geraldine Hanna, Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate for Northern Ireland, representatives from the Department of Justice NI, NSPCC staff and Young Witness Service volunteers. In 1999, NSPCC Northern Ireland created The Young Witness Service (YWS) which is the only one of its kind in the UK and is co funded by the Department of Justice NI. It was designed to provide specialist support and guidance for young witnesses because the charity realised that appearing in court as a witness could be a daunting experience, especially for young people. Since it began, the Service has supported more than 8000 children and young people across Northern Ireland. The Service had humble beginnings as a pilot project, housed in a small office in Antrim Courthouse with one staff member, Avery Bowser. Shortly afterwards, he was joined by volunteer Margaret Andrews. Together they provided support for young witnesses in Belfast Crown Court. The Young Witness Service started to provide support in the North West soon after, with Hugh Kennedy signing up as the first volunteer. The service then expanded over the next few years, to support children across all Crown Courts in Northern Ireland. Since then, the staff and volunteers of the Bishop Street based Service have continued to support children and young people in all the courts in the area. Hughs son, Gary Kennedy, has followed in his late fathers footsteps by joining the dedicated team of volunteers in the North West. In 2012, in collaboration with co-funders the Department of Justice NI that recognised the importance and impact of the work, the Service was extended to support young witnesses in both Youth and Magistrates Courts. This meant that every victim of crime under 18 years of age could be offered support from the YWS. Now, celebrating its 25th anniversary, the free and independent service has 15 staff and 55 dedicated volunteers. It operates in every court in Northern Ireland; last year alone the YWS provided support to almost 500 young people and their families. Sir John Gillen said: Borrowing from a Michelangelo quotation, the Young Witness Service is the angel in the marble of the criminal justice system. All children and young people, whilst often poignantly fragile, have unique talents, strengths, and capabilities waiting to be discovered and nurtured. Volunteers from the North West (left to right) Pearl Woodburn, Basil Dalton, Gary Kennedy, Jenni Boyce NSPCC Young Witness Service Partnerships Service Manager, Sir John Gillen, Geraldine Hanna, Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate for Northern Ireland, Jamie Laverty, Decoa Graham, Russell Brown and Linda Southhall. From within the raw material of the court system the NSPCC Young Witness Service, over the last 25 years, has carved a masterpiece that has served to release the full potential of those children and young people facing the daunting challenges of the legal process. Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Service - they meet the young person on the day of the case, sometimes before it starts, and support them throughout it. This is vital because parents or guardians cannot legally stay with them when they give evidence, which can be very distressing for the young person giving evidence. The volunteers take time to explain to the Young Witness what to expect at court, who they will meet and thus help them navigate their way through the system. They stay with them while they give evidence - sometimes this is done remotely in special remote evidence centres which have video-links to court. Although they are not permitted to speak to them, once cross-examination starts, volunteers are there as a reassuring and familiar presence. Geraldine Hanna, Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate for Northern Ireland, said: Im not sure anyone will ever be able to convey just how important the job of the NSPCC Young Witness Service is or the impact theyve had over the last quarter of a century. There are literally thousands of children who, when they were at their most lonely, their most frightened, had someone who cared to reach out and metaphorically put an arm around them. READ NEXT: Mayor congratulates official winners whose work will feature in the 2025 Age Friendly Calendar There are no words for just how life-changing that can be. The criminal justice system in Northern Ireland has serious challenges, I spend a lot of time talking about them. But I also know, that when things are bad, you look for the helpers. Jenni Boyce, Sir John Gillen and Geraldine Hanna. There is no better example of that than the NSPCC Young Witness Service staff and volunteers. We all owe them our thanks for the tireless, compassionate work they do for some of the most vulnerable in our society. Jenni Boyce, NSPCC Young Witness Service Partnerships Service Manager, said: We are so delighted to celebrate this important milestone. Our commitment to supporting young people hasnt wavered over the last quarter of a century, and indeed there have been many changes during this time which have improved the Criminal Justice system. "In the Young Witness Service, we have continued to grow - most importantly in the increased team of volunteers who provide support before and during court cases. Over the past 25 years, we have supported over 8,000 young people and we continue to advocate and lobby for the rights and needs of young witnesses across all courts in Northern Ireland. "We offer heartfelt thanks to our incredible team of staff and volunteers who have supported young witnesses since the Service began. Their contribution is immeasurable, and we are profoundly grateful for all they do. Two police officers have been assaulted and injured as they responded to reports of scrambler bikes being driven on roads in west Belfast. A police car was also damaged in the incident in the Glasvey Drive area of Twinbrook on Christmas Day morning. A 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of motoring offences. Police received several reports of scramblers being driven in the Bell Steele Road, Glenbawn and Stewartstown Road areas at around 11am on Wednesday. A PSNI spokesman said: Officers attended and were surrounded by a large group of people in the Glasvey Drive area, who assaulted two of our officers. One of the officers had a glass bottle thrown at him, cutting his hand. A second officer was kicked multiple times. A police car was also damaged during the incident. The 34-year-old was arrested on suspicion of several offences, including dangerous driving and use of a motorcycle while failing to wear protective headgear. He was released on police bail to allow for further inquiries. The PSNI spokesperson continued: We are lucky we are not looking at a much more serious incident. Our officers work tirelessly to protect our communities and do not deserve to be assaulted for simply doing their job. We urge the public to think about their use of scramblers and to learn the legalities surrounding their use. Scramblers do not generally comply with construction and use legislation and vehicle standards so are therefore restricted to off-road use only. The PSNI said an investigation had been launched to identify the suspects. Officers appealed to anyone who could help identify those in the area at the time, or with dashcam or doorbell footage of the events, to contact them. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Taoyuan's logistics advantages drive global AI supply chain integration Taiwan is a global leader in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, boasting the world's highest output value in semiconductor foundry and IC packaging and testing. Taoyuan, in particular, plays a pivotal role, accounting for 90% of the shipments of high-end AI servers. Its diversified industrial clusters encompass intelligent medical technology, aerospace, the Internet of Things (IoT), and smart logistics, creating a robust and well-integrated supply chain for the AI industry. Taoyuan's strategic geographic location, coupled with its advanced shipping, maritime transportation, and outbound road network, has made it a hub for cross-border logistics carriers. This infrastructure has attracted investments from global industry leaders such as Microsoft, Supermicro, and aircraft parts supplier NORDAM. Notably, half of NVIDIA's 43 key suppliers are based in Taoyuan, contributing critical technologies and components to the global production of AI servers. The city's logistics and transportation capabilities have been further enhanced by the adoption of intelligent logistics technologies, significantly impacting the global semiconductor supply chain. This integration of cutting-edge equipment and expertise has solidified Taoyuan's position as a globally competitive industrial powerhouse. Taiwan's Leading Logistics Hub Driving the AI Supply Chain Taoyuan is close to major ports such as the Port of Taipei and has the only international airport in Taiwan that allows for express customs clearance, the highest density of warehousing and logistics in the nation, and a logistics and transportation system that leads the way in terms of international competitiveness. As the location of the Farglory Free Trade Port Zone, Taoyuan, as the world's first multi-functional "within and outside the border" free trade port zone, provides 24-hour logistics, cold chain, and aviation and other integrated services, and has a cargo terminal, a value-added park, and warehousing and office buildings, With the cargo terminal, value-added park, warehousing, and office buildings, air cargo express warehouse, cold chain logistics zone and integrated international logistics center, enterprises in the park can engage in simple processing, deep processing and 19 types of value-added operations, and they can also enjoy a number of preferential measures, such as convenient customs clearance, preferential taxation and more flexible hiring ratios of foreign workers, etc. The combination of the Aviation City and the neighboring industrial zones to form a "front store, back factory" and "inbound and outbound" mode of operation facilitates the speedy operation of air cargo and global logistics integration. This facilitates the rapid operation of air cargo transportation and the integration of global logistics, which helps the resident manufacturers to integrate their production and upstream and downstream supply chains and has gradually become a popular choice for the investment layout of internationally renowned manufacturers in recent years. For example, ASML has chosen Taoyuan as its logistics base in the Asia-Pacific region because of its proximity to the semiconductor bases in Hsinchu, Taichung, and Tainan, as well as its advantageous transportation location that can easily support the semiconductor clusters in Kumamoto, Japan, and Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea. To expand its logistic network in Taiwan, Coupang will open two large-scale logistics centers in the Evergreen Dayuan logistics park in 2022 and 2023. DHL will move into the International Logistics Park in Taoyuan in 2024 in order to expand its business layout and meet the needs of the semiconductor and medical industries, demonstrating that international logistics giants attach great importance to Taoyuan's transportation and logistics system. In addition, the Taoyuan Airpark Free Trade Zone can also engage in trading, customs clearance, assembly, processing, manufacturing, inspection, and testing. There are 19 businesses which also enjoy exemption from customs duties and goods taxes, etc. Whether it is upstream chips and embedded components, midstream industrial computers, communications equipment, and server components, to cloud, IoT solutions, etc. in the downstream, enterprises will benefit from Taoyuan's logistics and transportation system, which will enhance the global competitiveness of the domestic import and export-related industries. SEMI plans Indian Semiconductor Academy to power country's chip dreams SEMI is stepping up to nurture India's critical talent pipeline as the country embarks on an ambitious journey to become a global semiconductor powerhouse. In an interview with Digitimes Asia, SEMI President and CEO Ajit Manocha revealed the industry body's plans to establish an India Semiconductor Academy, modeled after its successful American Semiconductor Academy initiative in the US. "In the United States, we formed a partnership with universities called the American Semiconductor Academy, which is a network of more than 250 universities and community colleges offering semiconductor curricula," Manocha said. "Now in India, I've already started conversations regarding this." According to Manocha, talent forms the backbone of any semiconductor ecosystem, and India possesses a tremendous raw talent pool that needs to be honed and made industry-ready. "One of our goals with the academy is to bridge the gap between academia and industry, ensuring India's engineers are equipped with the right skills to drive the country's semiconductor revolution," Manocha said. The academy will collaborate with India's top technical institutes and universities to develop specialized semiconductor curricula and training programs, leveraging SEMI's global expertise and partnerships. The initiative seeks to address a critical bottleneck that has often hampered the growth of semiconductor hubs worldwide by creating a steady supply of industry-ready graduates. "We've seen how the American Semiconductor Academy has helped the US nurture a robust talent pipeline," Manocha explained. "Now, we want to replicate that success in India, working closely with institutions like the IITs and NITs to create a sustainable talent ecosystem." Beyond talent development, SEMI is positioning itself as a key facilitator for India's semiconductor aspirations. The industry body has already forged a strategic partnership with the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), the country's premier electronics and semiconductor industry body, to jointly drive the sector's growth. "Our collaboration with IESA will be the bedrock of our efforts in India," Manocha said. "Together, we will leverage SEMI's global playbook and IESA's deep local expertise to create a vibrant semiconductor ecosystem, attracting investments, fostering innovation, and ensuring India's competitiveness on the global stage." This partnership will be crucial as India seeks to lure global semiconductor giants to set up shop in the country. While homegrown players like Tata have already announced ambitious fab projects, the real test will be in ensuring their successful execution - a challenge SEMI is eager to support. "The success of these initial projects will be a litmus test for India's semiconductor ambitions," Manocha acknowledged. "We will work closely with our partners to share best practices, provide market intelligence, and ensure these pioneering efforts set the right foundation for India's semiconductor future." As the country races to catch up with established hubs, the industry body's expertise and global network could prove to be the secret sauce India needs to realize its semiconductor dreams. Attracting global semiconductor giants SEMI's role in bringing international semiconductor players to India will also be crucial, as the country seeks to establish itself as a global hub. While the industry body does not directly broker partnerships, Manocha believes its neutral networking platform can facilitate valuable connections. "We bring roughly 1.5 million people together every year on various SEMI events for networking," Manocha said. "We provide the platform and let like-minded industry players connect and collaborate, whether through joint ventures, investments, or other forms of partnership." The success of existing semiconductor projects in India, such as those announced by Tata, will be crucial in attracting more global players to the country, Manocha added. "If we do well, if we show that we are competitive, other companies will come," he said. With a clear focus on talent development, ecosystem building, and project execution support, SEMI is positioning itself as a vital ally in India's quest to become a global semiconductor powerhouse. Taiwan govt warns budget cuts imperil foreign tech R&D subsidies The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) faces a projected budget cut of NT$29.7 billion (US$907.08 million) in 2025 following the Legislative Yuan's passage of amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures. According to Economics Minister Jyh-Huei Kuo, the reduction will impact subsidies promised to foreign companies like Nvidia, Micron, and AMD for their Taiwan investments. Kuo warned that abrupt policy changes could damage Taiwan's reputation among businesses, especially foreign investors. "The government has signed long-term contracts with these companies," he said, "and such sudden policy changes will make them quite shocked." During a recent meeting with European Union representatives, Kuo noted they had affirmed Taiwan's strong reputation as a reliable partner, an image built over years of government credibility and consistent policies. The Legislative Yuan passed the revised fiscal allocation law with limited bipartisan discussion. While the Presidential Office has indicated that President Lai Ching-te will promulgate the law following the Constitution, the Executive Yuan is actively exploring remedies. If the law is implemented, both central and local governments will need to overhaul their budgets. Broader economic implications The MOEA's funding shortfall is not the only concern. Taiwan's defense budget is set to decrease by NT$80 billion, raising potential concerns among international allies, particularly as Donald Trump prepares to assume the US presidency in 2025. Additionally, cuts to MOEA subsidies for Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) are expected to lead to higher electricity prices, driving the nation's Consumer Price Index (CPI) above 2% in 2025. Chien-Yi Chang, president of the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER), noted that while the previous fiscal allocation system had flaws, the new amendments have created inefficiencies and inequities among local governments. "Some counties or cities receive more than they need, while others get insufficient funds. This could lead to wasteful spending," he explained. Chang also warned that any external challenges arising during "Trump 2.0" would fall under the central government's purview, not local governments. Strong fundamentals amid uncertainty Fitch Ratings assigned Taiwan an AA long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating with a stable outlook in June 2024, citing strong external financing conditions, prudent fiscal policies, high governance standards, and a competitive business environment. Taiwan has maintained a current account surplus for over 40 years. The thriving global AI industry has bolstered high-tech exports in 2024, contributing to higher economic growth than in 2023. However, Fitch cautioned that the ruling party's loss of a Legislative Yuan majority could hinder policy execution. It also highlighted persistent challenges, including cross-strait tensions, energy security concerns, an aging population, and declining birth rates, which could weigh on Taiwan's medium-term economic prospects. Despite these challenges, Fitch stressed that escalating Taiwan-China tensions are unlikely to destabilize Taiwan's economy or political system. 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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 2 April 2024 Water supply related issues in Dundalk have come to the fore again, with water pressure problems causing huge issues for residents living along Tom Bellew Avenue in the town, and local TD Ruairi O Murchu saying that the local community needs to have confidence that Uisce Eireann are taking it seriously. **** There was a rise in theft related offences in the Louth Garda Division in the final Quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 according to CSO figures. **** St Nicholas' Church of Ireland Dundalk, known locally as the Green Church, has been included in Louth County Council's proposed PEACEPLUS Action Plan, with around 812,000 proposed for renovation works to make the church more suitable and usable. 9 April 2024 Dundalk's Darkness into Light Committee have announced that they will not be proceeding with this years event having grown frustrated with the slow progress of Pieta having a physical presence in Louth. Organisers of the Dundalk event, which started in 2017, have for the past number of years been advocating for the need for a physical presence for Pieta within Louth. **** Cross-border intercity rail services between Belfast and Dublin are set to benefit from a 165 million (141.9million) investment from the PEACEPLUS Programme. The funding will support a major programme to transform the cross-border Enterprise train service, paving the way for an hourly timetable between Belfast and Dublin. **** Louth councillors were paid a combined total of 1,066,739.52 in representational payments and expenses in 2022, figures released by Louth County Council have revealed. It is up 191,833.61 on the 874,905.91 paid out to Louth councillors in 2021. **** 16 April 2024 Pieta House have announced that they will soon be launching a new in-person support service at the Redeemer Family Resource Centre in Dundalk. Dundalks Darkness into Light organising committee had decided to cancel this year's event, but the event will now go ahead as planned on the morning of Saturday 11 May. **** An Bord Pleanala has granted planning permission with revised conditions, for a development at the former St. Joseph's Female Orphanage & Industrial School and St Malachy's Convent, at Seatown Place, Castle Street, Dundalk, into a new apartment complex. 23 April 2024 Dundalk councillors were left frustrated and angry, after hearing of Louth County Council's decision to proceed with the installation of a zebra crossing at the Avenue Road/Inner Relief Road roundabout, to replace pedestrian lights which have been broken since January. **** Five Dundalk families who were told that their sons had places at a second autism (ASD) unit at the De La Salle College had their offers for September 2024 withdrawn last month after the school said they were not now able to open another class. **** There were just three properties available to rent under the discretionary Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme in Dundalk, the latest Locked Out of the Market study undertaken by Simon Communities of Ireland has revealed. 30 April 2024 A sensational showcase is planned for SEEK Urban Arts Festival 2024, with the festival organisers revealing the exciting line-up of artists, both Irish and international, who will be taking part. **** Louth County Council are no longer progressing with plans to install zebra crossings at the Avenue Road/Inner Relief Road Roundabout and are to replace the current push button control pedestrian light system. **** Homeless figures in Louth and the North East region continue to climb higher, with the number of homeless adults in who accessed local authority managed emergency accommodation during the week of 25-31 March 2024 in the North East reaching a new high of 219. Darren McCreesh, manager of The Patrick Kavanagh Centre in Inniskeen, just over the Louth border, spoke to the Dundalk Democrat earlier this year for our Louth Life magazine. This is the story that featured in the spring edition. The Patrick Kavanagh Centre in Inniskeen is a cultural hidden gem of the North East, but centre manager, Darren McCreesh, believes that it is Inniskeen Village itself that is the hidden gem. Inniskeen, situated on the Monaghan/Louth border and actually shares a Louth postcode, hasn't changed all that much from how it looked during Patrick Kavanagh's time. We often say, says Darren, if Kavanagh came back today, he'd recognise the place. The look, the feel it does feel like you're walking back in time. That time being the 40s and 50s in Ireland, pre Celtic Tiger, pre progress. The centre which commemorates Patrick Kavanagh's life and the poetry, and celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, is located in the old Inniskeen church, a 200 year old building that closed in the early 1970's. In my view it's at the leading edge of arts experiences in the country, Darren reveals. Its a new type of arts venue. There's only ourselves and the Museum of Literature Ireland (MOLI) in Dublin, where there's a commercial aspect to it but also the civic and cultural responsibility, and the educational potential as well. Darren continues, to give a sense of what he have in here, we tell Patrick's story from his early years in Inniskeen through a series of touchscreens and display units and then his time in Dublin. Its all laid out biographically. Then when you go around the corner, you can hear the poems being recited. You can watch a short film, its only 15 minutes long, and ten of his most famous poems are recited. The centre when it originally opened, was developed by the Inniskeen Enterprise Development Group, but has since been taken over by Monaghan County Council, which has opened up opportunities. Along with providing an operating budget, there is the opportunity to seek funding from Creative Monaghan, the local arts office, as well as supports from Failte Ireland. We have a brand new website, we have a state of the art booking engine, which means we're fully digitally equipped to deal with the contemporary visitor, Darren adds. When Monaghan County Council took over the centre it decided to turn it into a multi functional space, which now can hold 200 people, and has expanded its cultural offerings. We had Blindboy Boatclub back in September. We had Lisa O'Neill here was well, she's amazing. We try to celebrate culture, cutting edge contemporary Irish culture. With the extra funding available, Darren was able to bring back and expand the Patrick Kavanagh Festival, following Covid. It was a multi venue festival, we took over the round tower church in the village as a venue space. We had public talks and screenings. We had a screening of Baggotonia by Alan Gilsenan, we had a screening of Pat McCabe's The Holy Hour, followed by a public interview. We had a three panel discussion on emerging writers from the North, which included Scott McKendry. The weekend went brilliant, people were delighted, we had 1,500 people through the village, we had music sessions in the pub every night, and there was a lovely energy about the village. Darren goes on to talk about the unique culture and traditions of the Oriel region, including Monaghan, Dundalk and south Armagh. They're talking about UNESCO status for the Armagh Observatory, they should be looking for UNESCO status for the Oriel as a distinctive cultural region in the way that Connemara is. We do have our own songs, we have our own musical traditions that's been popularised by the likes of The Mary Wallopers. Dundalk for me has always been a really fascinating town. It was always edgy, never looked fully to Dublin, never looked fully to Belfast. There was a little bit of commonality with northern English towns, that kind of industrial grime. All that lends itself to its own energy. You see it with Jinx Lennon he's a complete once off. You see it with The Mary Wallopers, you see it with that whole wave of street art. He adds the three leading modernists in Irish culture, Peter Rice, Paddy Kavanagh, and JJ Clarke (perhaps Ireland's first street photographer, who took street photography in the 1900s when he was a student in Dublin). Extraordinary photographs. But the three of them trace their roots back to Kilkerley and Inniskeen. It's completely nuts but there you go, one of those idiosyncratic facts of life. When it comes down to it however, what draws people to Inniskeen and Patrick Kavanagh, is the poetry. If you strip everything away, in a thousand year's time what is going to be remembered is the poetry. This place will be gone. Kavanagh will be a distant memory as a man but the poems will live on. The art and the man, they're interlocked really. That's one of the great things about Kavanagh. There are great poets today. Heaney was a great poet, but there's something about Kavanagh's life and his story and the mythology that's grown up around it. When we talk about our earliest ancestors, we look at their cave drawings that's the record of humanity, that's what's left behind. What will be left of Kavanagh in a thousand years time? The poetry. 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 If all publicity is good publicity, then entrepreneur Jim Bellamy must have been a very satisfied man in 1995. On September 18 that year, he opened the first ever sex shop in Cork city, selling saucy items such as PVC and leather underwear, adult tapes and magazines, and novelty toys. However, to say he faced a barrage of opposition would be an under-statement. Landlords in Cork had reportedly refused to rent properties to Bellamys Utopia chain of adult shops, forcing him to splash out 137,000 on a premises near Parnell Place and the bus station. Corks former Lord Mayor, Tim Falvey, had also opposed the arrival of the shop, saying: The idea is disgusting. He should invest his money somewhere else. Residents who lived near it were not too happy, and naturally Catholic Church authorities were appalled at the idea. However, a defiant Bellamy, a father-of-two from Aberdeen, brushed off the protests and insisted: We are in Cork to stay. We are responsible human beings. This is not illegal. We dont sell sex, we sell adults toys. The father-of-two came to Ireland after the Gulf War wiped out his childrens toy business when ships were unable to bring goods up the Suez Canal. He pivoted to the adult market when he arrived here. Various sex shop businesses had spent years trying to break into the Irish market from the early 1990s, facing opposition from citizens, politicians, and the Church. The breakthrough had finally come in January, 1995, when Utopia opened a shop in Ellen Street, Limerick. Religious groups called for prayers and a boycott of it, but an Examiner article revealed that not all local people were against the shops arrival - indeed, some traders found it was a blessing in disguise. Bookmaker Des Fitzgerald, who had a betting office across the road from Utopia in Limerick, said that it had brought a big increase in people into the area. Ive never seen so many people in the street, he said. There has been a constant flow of people walking up and down. I dont see the shop as being any harm. The Limerick sex shop manager, Preston Mahon, said he was delighted with the reaction of both customers and neighbouring traders. Parts of shelves were empty and extra orders had been placed to try and cope with the huge demand. The shop has a lot to offer women, and most of the customers have been women, stated Mr Mahon. Later in 1995, the Utopia sex shop opened in Cork, and Echo reporter Liam Heylin gave readers a peek inside. It is a shop with a difference, he said. You have to knock to get in and inside it is stacked with erotic magazines and sex aid goods. Its about the size of the average living room. Shelves are full of sex products imported from the UK, Amsterdam, and the Far East. There are hundred of pornographic magazines, which the owners prefer to describe as erotic girlie magazines, and life size inflatable dolls, ranging from 25 to 395. Many of the cheaper products are marketed as sex joke goods for stag and hen nights. They include vibrators ranging in price up to 90. PVC lingerie is also sold as well as a cat-o-nine-tails whip. An RTE report at the time also had fun with the sex shop opening. In a report entitled Fun not filth which can be seen on the RTE online archives, the reporter talks to dockers congregating nearby. One of them said he had looked inside the shop out of curiosity, but was shocked by what he saw, saying: You wouldnt get it in Bangkok. A long-term local resident told RTE he had visited the shop and bought himself a pirate eye-patch and made a coat for his dog from a pair of knickers. However, the Echo reported that some local residents were not happy having a sex shop on their doorstep. One woman living nearby vowed she would sell up and move if the shop remained. It will bring all the wrong people around here, she said. An 80-year-old resident of Oliver Plunkett Street complained: It will do nothing for the area and it wont give any local employment. It shouldnt be allowed in Catholic Ireland. Asked about residents concerns that schoolchildren getting on and off buses nearby may see explicit material in the window, owner Bellamy said he would only display lingerie and tasteful joke products. Only over 21s were allowed in the store, he said, and the door was locked at all times, with customers having to knock to gain admission. Cork Diocesan Office left parishioners in no doubt where it stood on the issue. The concept is one that sits uncomfortably with us because there is a danger in it - that a business could be built on dehumanising human sexuality. It makes the gift of sex into a business. It depicts intimacy as something that can be traded. The traditional Church teaching on sexuality was that it was something to be treasured from God. Although this was the first sex shop in Cork city, the Examiner ran a humorous article about a joke shop that had already been selling saucy items for six years, run by Joe Lingane in a quiet corner of the English market. In an over 18s section, said reporter Vincent Power, there was a full range of sex toys and novelties from vibrators, joke peckers, lingerie, to instant erection pills. Also on offer to broadminded customers are blow-up dolls called Randy Sandy, sexy studded male underwear, false boobs, extra large condoms, and other aids such as creams and sprays. Owner Mr Lingane said more than 80% of his customers were women who want to guarantee a thrill at hen parties, adding: In all our years of operation, we have never received a single complaint from any of the thousands who visited our shop. Truly, Ireland was a changing place in 1995. As reporter Vincent Power pointed out: The erotic toys on display in the market shop yesterday contrasted sharply with a video movie souvenir of Pope John Paul lls visit to Ireland in 1979... A small miracle happened on Christmas Day, the head of one of Corks oldest charities has said. From early morning, 30 or more volunteers from Cork Penny Dinners were hard at work in the Jamess Street Croi na Laoi centre, preparing more than 1,200 Christmas dinners for people in need. Caitriona Twomey, Penny Dinners volunteer co-ordinator, said the work had taken a small miracle but had all paid off. We were exhausted by teatime, but it was worth it just to see the smiles on peoples faces as they settled down to a meal in comfort, so were very happy." Lord Mayor At one point, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Green Party councillor Dan Boyle, donned a hairnet and gloves to help serve up dinners, and later he sang Those Were the Days, and hardy perennial Imagine. Caitriona Twomey, volunteer co-ordinator of Cork Penny Dinners, and the Lord Mayor of Cork, Green Party councillor Dan Boyle, serve up a take-away Christmas dinner. Picture: Donal O'Keeffe Its one of the privileges I get as Lord Mayor to visit places in Cork where important work is done on Christmas Day, and its a particular pleasure to visit Penny Dinners to mark not only today, but the excellent work done by volunteers throughout the year, Mr Boyle told The Echo. Community gardai Kay Griffin, Laura OConnor, Damien Desmond and Gheorghe Rosu called in between delivering food hampers and checking in on people around the city. Important day Garda Laura OConnor said it was an important day for Corks community gardai. Weve been to a lot of houses already and met with a lot of families, and with elderly people, and weve made a lot of food deliveries, and made sure that some people just had someone to say hello to them on Christmas Day." Volunteers from the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) helped to lay tables and worked alongside Penny Dinners volunteers, sharing quiet and warm conversations with the people to whom they served meals. This is such an important day in Penny Dinners, and we couldnt do it without our friends in the gardai, IUNVA, the River Lee Hotel, Il Padrino, Exec Cars, and all our volunteers, Ms Twomey said. She also thanked The Echo for its 2,000 sponsorship of the charity. The founder of a Gaelscoil being established in loyalist East Belfast has thanked the infant classes of Gaelscoil Mhuscrai in Blarney who sent her several Christmas cards to express support for the project and wish her and the prospective pupils Nollaig Shona/Happy Christmas. Linda Ervine, who was awarded an MBE by the late Queen Elizabeth II for her efforts to promote Irish language, described the Naionain classes of the Blarney school as thoughtful as she thanked them for the gesture. We were overwhelmed when we opened the envelope with all the beautiful cards this week these children were great to think about us. The leader of the school, Ciara, who hails from Limerick originally, was moved to tears by the gesture. Ms Ervine also extended her gratitude to the parents of the children. The Belfast school was due to open this year but a loyalist organisation which includes representatives of paramilitary organisations expressed hostility, leading them to have to postpone their plans. However, the plans are now back on track. Activist The Irish language activist has already established a pre-school Naiscoil na Seolta in East Belfast and Irish language classes she organises attract more than 600 adult learners. Were going to open the new building for the school in January and the pupils attending Naiscoil na Seolta will move in there and, in September, the first class will start and we have six confirmed pupils and possibly five more, said Ms Ervine. Gaelscoil Mhuscrai principal, Mairead Ui Charthaigh, said the pupils in the Blarney school were only delighted to send the cards after being approached by one of the parents. They all loved making and sending the cards and now weve been told theyre sending cards to us, said the Gaelscoil principal. Gardai in Cork are seeking the public's assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 33-year-old David Falvey, who is reported missing from Mayfield, Cork city since Sunday, December 22. David was last seen in the Mayfield area on Wednesday December 18 at approximately 6pm. David is described as being six feet tall, of slim build, and with black hair and brown eyes. When last seen, David was wearing a blue tracksuit, blue and black coat, navy runners and a black hat. David is also known to frequent the Dublin City area. A garda spokesperson said gardai and Davids family are concerned for his well-being. Anyone with information on Davids whereabouts is asked to contact Mayfield Garda Station on 021 455 8510, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Eva Osborne Ireland has the lowest rate of smoking among 15-year-olds in the EU, according to new research. A new OECD report has found teenagers here also rank among the lowest rates in cannabis smoking, at four per cent. While the rate of repeated drunkenness is also low, at 13 per cent. The level of obesity among 15-year-olds in Ireland is one in five, slightly lower than the EU average of 21 percent. However, the report also found that nearly half of teenagers here do not eat fruit or vegetables daily, below the average of 56 per cent. The study ranks Ireland among the top five countries in the EU in the proportion of 15-year-olds meeting recommended physical activity levels. Junior Health Minister, Colm Burke, said the results of the research are "very positive." (Photo: Courtesy Vatican News)Pope Francis waving to the crowds in Saint Peter's Square on Christmas Day 2024. Pope Francis has called for negotiations to end Ukraine's war in a Christmas Day message where he appealed for the laying down of weapons in global conflicts and reconciliation between enemies. Francis urged people from "all nations" to find courage in 2025 "to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions" plaguing the world, from the Middle East to Ukraine, Africa to Asia as he addressed crowds assembled at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. The 88-year-old pontiff's remarks came hours after a massive aerial attack by Russia and follow his push for a negotiated peace settlement to end the war in Ukraine, CNN reported as Rome preparers for a "Jubilee Year" celebrated every 25 years. Months of increased bombardment by Russia have left Ukraine badly hit as the war continues into a third winter since Moscow's forces invaded. "I invite every individual, and all people of all nations ... to become pilgrims of hope, to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions,'' the Pope said from St. Peter's Basilica to crowds of people below, NPR reported. "May the sound of arms be silenced in war-torn Ukraine!" Francis said during his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the city and to the world") address and blessing. "May there be the boldness needed to open the door to negotiation and to gestures of dialogue and encounter, in order to achieve a just and lasting peace." In the past the Pope had even suggested Ukraine should have the "courage of the white flag," remarks that were criticized by Kyiv, according to CNN. A peace deal to end the Ukraine war has become more likely following the re-election as U.S. President of Donald Trump, who says he can end the conflict. Ukraine President Volodmyr Zelensky has recently signaled he is willing to enter into negotiations to end the war according to CNN. While Francis has not laid out a detailed position on what a peace deal would look like in Ukraine, the Holy See's foreign minister has said the position is that they respect the "territorial integrity of Ukraine." According to People's Daily, on December 18, local time in Laos, CGNs Phase I 1 GW Solar PV Project for the Northern Laos Interconnected Clean Energy Base officially commenced construction. This marks the first large-scale solar PV project in Laos. The Northern Laos Interconnected Clean Energy Base Project, developed by CGN, is a key supporting power project for China-Laos power interconnection. Located in the northern provinces of Oudomxay, Luang Namtha, and Phongsaly, the project is designed to create a comprehensive clean energy base integrating wind, solar, and biomass energy. Through an innovative interconnected model, the project aims to transform Laos natural advantages into economic benefits, expand China-Laos power mutual support, and achieve shared resources, complementary markets, and industrial synergy between the two countries. Phase I of the solar PV project, with an installed capacity of 1 GW, is situated in the districts of Muang Xay and Namo in Oudomxay Province, northern Laos. Upon completion and commissioning, the project is expected to generate approximately 1.7 billion kWh of electricity annually, sufficient to meet the annual electricity needs of about 10 million households. The clean electricity generated will be transmitted to Yunnan Province through the China-Laos 500 kV power grid interconnection project, supporting Yunnan's energy transition and power supply stability. According to statistics, the Phase I project will involve over 40 Chinese enterprises from the new energy manufacturing, construction, and installation sectors, alongside more than 30 local Lao companies in construction, machinery supply, and raw material provision. During construction, the project will create thousands of jobs, contribute to establishing and improving Laos' new energy industrial chain, and drive local economic and social development. Sourcehttps://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/PE02NpoSbVpwOLcs2Ofx5A Wendy Williams was not playing when it comes to her scooter. The former talk show host was seen going off on a group of people when they, according to her, left her "precious" scooter unattended on a sidewalk. "And then both of you walked away leaving my s**t in the middle of the street like this!" she said. "Get the car please, make sure it's the right car," she continued in a video posted online. When a person off camera asked what happened, Williams, 60, explained in detail what occurred. "They got the wrong car... so I knocked on the door, it was the totally wrong car," Williams added. "They left my scooter as they walked over there... leaving my most precious [possession]... this cost a f*****g mil! They just left my s**t out here." "Get the car over here, not over there... where I can go easily into the street for the car. You're supposed to be ordering the car," she commanded. "They want to work for me, that's what they're doing. They're making money from me, get the got damn car." The interaction was posted days after Williams' only child, Kevin Hunter Jr., shared an update about his mother in an Instagram comment. "Quick update on my mom," he wrote. "She's sober and wants to come home. We're fighting to make that happen because isolation is killing her faster than anything else." The comment was under a reel featuring Wendy attending her son's college graduation in mid-December, Kevin wearing his cap and gown, and Wendy spending time with her family. Kevin who started his college journey at Barry University graduated from the university's Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, per the 'New York Post.' Those in attendance with Wendy at the ceremony included her father, Thomas Williams Sr., 93, and her sister, Wanda Finnie. Kevin, 26, reportedly took time away from his education back in 2021 and 2022 to help take care of his mother, who was publicly struggling with her health. Williams was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and primary progressive aphasia back in May 2023, and has battled various health issues, including Graves' disease, lymphedema, and alcohol abuse. In spite of her health challenges, there have been instances when Williams has been seen in public seemingly in good spirits, such as a recent sighting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During this outing, she was pictured smiling in an SUV as her nephew, Travis Finnie, collected a food order. Wendy's niece, Alex, also posted a smiling selfie with the former radio show host on Instagram on December 22. The post, which has since garnered nearly four thousand likes, included a short clip of Alex giving her aunt a kiss on the cheek. "It's the most wonderful time of the year," she wrote in the post's caption with a red heart emoji. "#FamilyOverEverything #MyHeart." China's actions speak volumes on commitment to global south 10:01, December 26, 2024 By Zhao Jia ( China Daily (Song Chen/China Daily) Beijing's significant diplomatic actions over the past year illustrate that China, as the largest developing country, will maintain its roots in the Global South and commit itself to providing new opportunities for worldwide development through its own modernization, according to officials and observers. China is also calling on the Global South to adopt a more open and inclusive approach and foster solidarity and collaboration to realize the modernization of all countries. This should feature peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation, and common prosperity, and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, they added. Kishore Mahbubani, a distinguished fellow at the National University of Singapore's Asia Research Institute, believes the coming decades belong to the Global South, which is home to 88 percent of the world's population. "Arguably, many Global South countries across Latin America, Africa, and Asia are no longer passive participants on the world stage, instead acting independently of the West in many ways," said Mahbubani, a former senior Singaporean diplomat. Xie Chuntao, vice-president of the Party School of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the Global South, representing emerging and developing countries, is changing the world's economic landscape and becoming a key force in the transformation of the international order. Xie told a forum in Beijing that the contribution of the Global South to the world's economic growth has reached 80 percent over the past 20 years and its share of global GDP has increased from 24 percent to more than 40 percent in the past 40 years. Amid the collective rise of the Global South, President Xi Jinping has, on several occasions, encouraged countries in the Global South to work together to be the staunch force for maintaining peace, open development, constructive global governance, and promoting mutual learning among civilizations. Pillar of development At the conference marking the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence held in Beijing in June, Xi reiterated China's advocacy for an inclusive and universally beneficial economic globalization. By promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and endeavoring to deliver on the Global Development Initiative, China aims to benefit all with the opportunity of development, to diversify development paths, and to help all nations share development fruits, Xi said. British scholar Martin Jacques said at the Mingde Strategic Dialogue 2024 held in Beijing in September that China has become a magnet with great attraction, and its influence on other countries is increasing. More countries believe their interests are interrelated with those of China. Engaging with China will be more conducive to improving these countries' living standards and spurring their economic and social development, Jacques said, adding that China's centripetal force can be reflected in many aspects, such as the Belt and Road Initiative. Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a symposium on the international situation and China's foreign relations last week, that substantive progress has been made in promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation in light of the urgent needs of participating countries. He cited the China-Europe Railway Express, which has provided over 100,000 freight train services, with 155 countries already joining the "big family" of Belt and Road cooperation. China is also moving ahead with the development of the multidimensional Belt and Road connectivity network, one that is led by the building of a green Silk Road, and will also empower a digital Silk Road. Apart from the BRI, Beijing has introduced numerous visionary concepts and undertaken practical actions to put development high on the international agenda. During the first session of the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in November, Xi announced eight major actions to support global development, which were considered the embodiment of China's role as a reliable and long-term partner for developing countries and an active contributor to global development. In September, during the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Xi pledged 360 billion yuan ($49.6 billion) in financing to Africa over the next three years as part of 10 partnership actions for jointly advancing modernization. He announced a decision to give all least-developed countries that have diplomatic relations with China, including 33 countries in Africa, zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines, a move that makes China the first major developing country and the first major economy to take such a step. Since its inception three years ago, the GDI has mobilized nearly $20 billion in development funding and initiated over 1,100 projects. In June, at the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, Xi said that China will work with interested parties to set up a tripartite center of excellence for the implementation of the GDI, so as to facilitate growth in the Global South countries. "China leverages its strength to provide tangible support to Global South countries, ensuring that no one is left behind in pursuing modernization," said Wang Youming, director of the department for developing countries studies at the China Institute of International Studies. "China shares its advanced capacities, such as new-energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar panels, with countries in regions like Africa, Latin America, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia, aligning with their needs for green transition and sustainable development," he added. Force for peace Chen Dongxiao, president of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, said in modern times Western powers' path to modernization had been characterized by war, colonization, and exploitation, which had caused immense suffering to the people of developing countries, including China. "In contrast, China has firmly committed to the path of peaceful development, a principle enshrined in both the Constitution of the Communist Party of China and the National Constitution," said Chen. China proposed the Global Security Initiative to help build global consensus to address security challenges and has played a constructive role in maintaining world peace and regional stability, he added. Kirtan Bhana, founding editor of the Diplomatic Society of South Africa, wrote in an opinion piece: "Xi's advocacy for peace and the launch of the GSI in 2022 present a clear alternative: a system rooted in stability, mutual trust and the inclusivity of shared humanity. This framework challenges the Western practice of imposing artificial divisions and conflicts over resources, promoting a vision of global cooperation instead." During the 2024 Summit of the FOCAC, China signaled its intent to deepen collaboration with African countries by integrating the principles of the GSI into the partnership, focusing on peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and sustainable security in Africa. Measures under the partnership include providing 1 billion yuan in military aid, training 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 law enforcement officers, and inviting 500 young officers to China. In the Ukraine crisis, China, with an objective and impartial stance, has actively promoted dialogue and facilitated negotiations for peace. It has sent a special representative to conduct three rounds of shuttle diplomacy over the year, jointly issued a six-point consensus on a political solution to the issue with Brazil, and initiated the "Friends of Peace" group together with Global South countries, further strengthening the forces supporting peace. As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsened and conflicts escalated, China proposed a three-step initiative, aiming to achieve a comprehensive, lasting, and sustainable cease-fire in Gaza, support post-conflict governance under the principle of "Palestinians governing Palestine," and calling for the implementation of a two-state solution. In July, China facilitated reconciliation among Palestinian factions in Beijing, paving the way for a political solution, an essential step toward finding peace in the Middle East. Beijing also announced in May it would provide an additional 500 million yuan in aid to support humanitarian relief work and post-war reconstruction in Gaza, on top of initial emergency humanitarian assistance of 100 million yuan. Improving governance Confronting deficits in governance, trust, peace, and development, China has championed genuine multilateralism and the global governance concept of joint consultation, construction, and sharing. At the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, President Xi announced eight pragmatic measures to advance high-quality BRICS cooperation and underscored the group's role as a primary channel for strengthening Global South solidarity and as a leading force for global governance reform. BRICS represents nearly half of the world's population, accounts for over 30 percent of global GDP, and contributes more than 50 percent of global economic growth. "Xi's remarks reflected a vision of shared prosperity, mutual respect, and inclusive growth, underlining China's leadership role in fostering a just and fair global order," Bhana, from the Diplomatic Society of South Africa, said of Xi's remarks made at the "BRICS Plus" leaders' dialogue. Xi also announced at the dialogue that China will build a World Smart Customs Community Portal and a BRICS Customs Center of Excellence. Bhana said these are "not just about boosting China's own economy, but about enabling all BRICS and Global South nations to participate in the digital economy and emerging technologies." China has offered "a comprehensive blueprint for the reform of global governance institutions", said Malik Ayub Sumbal, a political analyst. "His address placed significant emphasis on the need for equitable global governance, centered around the shared future and a multipolar world. In stark contrast to the prevailing atmosphere of rivalry that has marked international relations in recent years, Xi called for a development model based on cooperation, mutual benefit, and shared prosperity," he said. China will become an important leader in a world that develops toward multipolarity, former executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme Erik Solheim said, praising Beijing for offering more possibilities for cooperation instead of seeking hegemony. Dialogue of civilizations China has put forward the Global Civilization Initiative and is willing to provide more platforms for dialogue among civilizations, which reflects the international and historic responsibility of the world's second-largest economy, said Zheng Yongnian, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen). "Dialogue among civilizations is an international public good that can eliminate discrimination and prejudice, enhance understanding and trust, and promote the rational resolution of conflicts and disputes," he said. Unlike some Western countries imposing their own model of modernization on other countries, Zheng said China advocates dialogue and mutual learning among civilizations to jointly promote the modernization of the world. To better support Global South cooperation, Xi announced in June that China will establish a Global South research center, provide 1,000 scholarships under the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Scholarship of Excellence and 100,000 training opportunities to Global South countries in the coming five years, and also launch a Global South youth leaders program. To deepen exchanges on governance experiences, China has expressed readiness to work with Africa to establish a China-Africa network of knowledge for development and 25 China-Africa research centers. A total of 1,000 African political party members will be invited to China for exchanges over the next three years. Beijing will also invite 200 Arab party leaders to visit China every year, Xi said at the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in May. To deepen and solidify people-to-people exchanges, China said during the 2024 Summit of the FOCAC that it is willing to work with Africa to further promote the "Future African Vocational Education" plan, jointly establish engineering and technical colleges, and build 10 Luban Workshops. About 60,000 training opportunities will be provided to African people, mainly women and young people. When addressing the 16th BRICS Summit, Xi said China will establish 10 overseas learning centers in BRICS countries to provide training opportunities for 1,000 education administrators, teachers, and students. China proposes establishing an SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) digital education alliance, and is willing to provide at least 1,000 training opportunities on digital technology to fellow countries in the SCO over the next three years, Xi said at the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus Meeting" in Astana, Kazakhstan, in July. Xi also announced at the meeting that China will provide 1,000 youth exchange opportunities to SCO member countries over the next five years to enhance mutual understanding and friendship. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Leonardo Viana, a popular Brazilian TikToker better known as Leo Colhado, has captivated his followers after uncovering a chilling mystery involving crime and suspense. Famous for his second-hand shopping adventures, the Brazilian TikToker's latest find led him to take his latest purchase straight to the police. An unexpected discovery Leo shared a video on his TikTok account revealing that he had purchased a digital camera at a thrift shop for just 10 reais ($1.64 USD). But what seemed like a routine buy quickly turned into a shocking experience. While reviewing the camera's content, Leo discovered disturbing photos documenting crime scenes, including images of weapons and even a decapitated body. "For those who don't know, I look for cameras in thrift stores. I just found this one. I won't turn it on for you because there's something inside that I need to take to the police station. I think that's the only thing I should do," he explained in the video. He described the contents further, stating, "There are crime scenes here basically; that's it. Photos of weapons, blood, and a decapitated person covered in blood." Expressing his disbelief, Leo added, "These things only happen to me. I thought I'd find family photos or something fun." Leo mentioned that while he had previously encountered inappropriate content on other devices, this discovery was by far the most disturbing. Reporting to the authorities Leo immediately turned the camera over to the police. In a follow-up video he updated his followers on the situation. Police revealed the camera did not belong to a criminal but actually to a forensics expert and contained evidence from multiple crimes, including a case in Rio de Janeiro dating back to 2003. "They wanted to return the camera to me, but I told them they could keep it," Leo shared. Who Is Leo Colhado? Outside of his TikTok fame, Leonardo Viana is also an artist known for designing clothing and accessories. Through his Instagram, he showcases his fashion work and has even attended major conferences in Brazil as the face of his brand, 'Brecho Infini.' -- Originally posted on Latin Times. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Before 2024 slides into history, some noteworthy farm and food updates, please, to ensure these stories go with it. First, on Dec. 10, two judges one federal judge in Oregon, the other a Washington state judge ruled that mega-grocer Krogers two-year-old, $24.6 billion bid to buy mini mega-grocer Albertsons wont clear federal antitrust hurdles. The joint rulings effectively killed the deal. While Kroger officials said they were disappointed with the doubleheader loss, Albertsons sought a scapegoat. A day later, it sued Kroger claiming the grocery chain didnt do enough to secure regulatory approval. The merger of the second largest U.S. grocery seller, Kroger, with the fourth largest, Albertsons, would have created a national chain with 16.5% of the market. Even at that, however, the combination would still be a distant second to retail giant Walmart, with 24% of all U.S. grocery sales. Kroger isnt the only Fortune 500 company ending the year on a downbeat. In late November, Deere & Co. reported a 16% drop in overall 2024 sales and an even harder hit in net income, down 30% from 2023. John May, Deeres CEO, however, took credit for keeping both numbers from sagging even more because, he said, (W)e proactively adjusted our business operations to better align with the current environment. Thats MBA-speak for laying off employees. Green Deere played green Grinch to its workforce most of 2024, especially in Iowa where 1,700 employees lost their jobs in Waterloo, Davenport, Des Moines and Dubuque. And its not likely to improve anytime soon after Congress extends the 2018 Farm Bill for another year. U.S. sales of combines for the 10 months ending in Oct. 2024, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, are down 23%, On top of that bleakness, new and largely untested leadership in the U.S. Department of Agriculture will need time to find their feet in the sprawling, 100,000-employee agency that spent $437 billion via more than 500 programs in 2024. And all this will be taking place while the White House begins to deliver on two of its biggest, most worrisome campaign promises to American agriculture: migrant deportation and import tariffs. Now stir in a potential bureaucratic turf fight between the newcomers at USDA and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s Department of Health and Human Services over food standards, and farmers and ranchers may long for 2024s legislative dysfunction. Hope for me, however, springs from John Thune, the lean South Dakota Republican who will take over as Senate Majority Leader after the 119th Congress is seated in early January. Just how ardently polite and decent is John Thune? In 2004, after a sweaty appearance at the South Dakota State Fair, officials from the states Farmers Union asked me to address several hundred farmers and ranchers at their state office just across town from the fairgrounds. Tired and talked out from the long, hot day at the fair, I spent a few minutes handicapping then-Congressman Thunes red-hot race for the U.S. Senate against the long-time incumbent and Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle. Well, I did more than handicap the race; I took the hide off Thune as a do-little opportunist to ever-louder cheering and hooting. After I finished to thunderous applause I turned around just as the next speaker, a young, ramrod-straight cowboy dressed in shiny boots, starched blue jeans and an ironed Oxford shirt, approached the podium. Hi, he said warmly as he put his hand forward to shake. Im John Thune. And, he added as a broad smile broke across his tanned face, That was some speech. Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your childrens children Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt said it best: to cherish the natural resources we need, to cherish our land to the best we can. We never know what may happen to the land and natural resources when we are gone, but there is a way to ensure that it stays how we want it to. One of the programs that can achieve our preservation objectives is the Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP). This program provides funding for landowners to place an agricultural easement on their properties. Started in 2013, this program is run by the Ohio Department of Agriculture Office of Farmland Preservation. Landowners apply to this program through local sponsors such as counties, townships, Soil & Water Conservation Districts and land trusts. Most individuals do not understand what an easement may be. An easement is a voluntary legal agreement on ones farm to use the land primarily for agricultural purposes. With easements, the land in production cannot be developed and this helps encourage conservation farming practices. Through LAEPP, the land can still be sold, and the easement will be transferred to the new landowner, but the same practices will still be in effect. There is also a difference between a conservation easement and an agricultural easement. Many may get confused and think they are the same program. In Ohio, a conservation easement is an agreement to keep the propertys preservation values and forfeit the rights to develop the land for other purposes. An agricultural agreement protects the development so that future generations can still farm the property. Since 2020, Harrison Soil & Water Conservation District has had the unique opportunity to be a local sponsor and help landowners who want to put their properties into an easement. In 2024, our first landowner was successfully placed into the LAEPP program. Through his dedication, 121 acres will never be able to be developed and will help keep the agricultural integrity of Harrison County. If you are interested in this program, please reach out to your local sponsor to help preserve Ohios Farmland. The annual Christmas Bird Count is underway, and it has become as much of a holiday tradition for me as Christmas itself. Origins This inaugural event commenced on Christmas day in 1900, when ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an early officer of the fledgling Audubon Society, proposed a count that would take the place of a disturbing hunt. The Christmas Side Hunt was a competition between groups of hunters that would go afield each Christmas day and shoot as many birds and mammals as they could target. At the end of the day, the group with the largest pile of victims triumphed. Even back then, scientists were concerned with declining bird populations, so Chapmans newly implemented Christmas Bird Census was a welcome replacement, encouraging counting rather than killing. Christmas Bird Count Presently, the Christmas Bird Counts can be held on any day between December 14 and January 5. Each count is performed within a designated count circle encompassing a 15-mile diameter. Once a count circle is established, it should not be changed or moved. Each count circle has a designated manager to organize participants and compile the data, as well as a minimum of 10 volunteers to conduct the survey. These citizen scientists are divided into small parties and assigned designated routes within the circle. They have a 24-hour period in which to count every bird they observe. Volunteers with active bird feeding stations within the count circle are also encouraged to record the birds that visit their feeders on count day. This year, Audubons annual Christmas Bird Count is celebrating 125 years, boasting the longest-running science project in North Americas history! What started as count circles in 25 locations and a total of 27 volunteers in 1900, has now grown to nearly 2,700 count circles and over 83,000 participants. Counts are not only conducted in the U.S. but also in Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands. Using the data Since changes take place gradually over time, the longer the timeframe that data is collected, the more it begins to tell a story. The information that has been and continues to be gathered from this historical survey is beginning to paint a picture of how bird populations are faring. Data is analyzed by biologists, researchers and wildlife agencies to pinpoint the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. When information from the CBC is combined with other surveys, patterns begin to emerge on how bird populations are changing. Sadly, an article published by the journal Science in 2019 paints a foreboding picture. Using data from a combination of projects, including the CBC, scientists have made the grim discovery that since the 1970s, bird populations have declined by nearly 30%, a population loss of 3 billion birds. Valuable information gleaned from these research projects is now being used to help guide conservation action by allowing experts to identify environmental issues and protect essential habitats. Curbing pesticide use and supporting the regeneration of wetlands and habitat management are just a few of the solutions being implemented to save targeted bird species. Participating in Geauga County This year, I will be participating in my 41st Christmas Bird Count here in northeast Ohio. The count circle, whose center is situated in the quaint little town of Burton, was established in 1957 by the late Robert McCullough. The eventual park board president of Geauga Park District, Bob recognized the importance of and the need for the establishment of this survey in Geauga County. Lucky for me, he was also my high school biology teacher and introduced me to the CBC by inviting me along with him on my very first count in 1983. I accompanied him on many counts thereafter, and continue to participate in the survey today. This location is now in its 67th year and obvious patterns here have begun to emerge. Data has reflected the dramatic decline of specific bird species over the years, such as evening grosbeaks. It has also pinpointed irruption years for pine siskins, common redpolls and red-breasted nuthatches. Northern mockingbirds, a southern species, are shifting their territories northward and are now commonly recorded on this count. Success stories are also unfolding. Below are just a few examples of several species and the obvious changes that have taken place over the years within the Burton circle. Bald eagles During the latter half of the 20th century, bald eagles reached an all-time low in Ohio, dropping to a mere four breeding pairs. Having suffered the effects of the insecticide known as DDT, which weakened their eggshells, as well as a loss of quality habitat throughout most of their range, bald eagles were elevated to endangered species status on both state and federal levels. Fearing extinction, a concerned American public, combined with years of painstaking efforts put forth by wildlife biologists, has resulted in a thriving population of eagles, as well as a delisting from its endangered status. To date, over 900 nests have been tallied in Ohio, over a dozen of those in Geauga County alone. This success story is reflected in the Geauga County Christmas Bird Count. For the first 35 years of the count, not a single bald eagle was recorded. Yet since 1993, the number of eagles has taken an upward trend with over 20 individuals tallied on the count day last year the highest ever. Wild turkeys Once plentiful in North America, the wild turkey population dwindled to zero by 1904 due to the hunting pressures of the pioneers and the transition of their woodland habitat into cropland. Fortunately, conservation groups worked together to reintroduce the species in the 1950s, leading to one of the greatest success stories for a bird species. Ohio now hosts upward of 200,000 wild turkeys that can be found thriving in all 88 counties. Here in Geauga County, that success has been reflected in our CBC counts. During the first 30 years of the survey, not a single turkey was tallied. However, since 1987, the presence of wild turkeys has been following an upward trend. Eastern bluebirds Years ago, the prospect of seeing an eastern bluebird against a backdrop of snow was zero. Harsh winters offered the birds no choice but to migrate south to warmer climes where food was readily available. Yet winters here in northeast Ohio have changed dramatically. Snow that once consistently covered a frozen landscape from December through most of March is nothing more than a memory. Presently, two to three significant snow events per winter have become the norm, leaving a mild, muddy terrain in its place. This change in climate has made species such as bluebirds (as well as American robins) think twice about undertaking an arduous migration, and many individuals now choose to ride out the winter on their breeding grounds. This behavior could not be reflected more accurately than on the Geauga County CBC. Ever since 1991, the number of eastern bluebirds tallied has continued to rise yearly, with over 180 individuals sighted on the count day in 2022. This rise in numbers should not be confused with an increase in the population, but rather, on a more disturbing note, can be considered a warning sign of the increasing temperatures our world is experiencing. This years count This winters count falls on New Years Day, and I will be up before dawn, excitedly preparing to embark on yet another survey. If you live within 7 miles of Burton, Ohio, dont be surprised to see cars creeping along, containing volunteers with binoculars trained out over the landscape or even on your bird feeders. If youd like to be involved in a future count, whether joining a group or simply counting at your feeders, feel free to visit www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count/join-christmas-bird-count for more information. And heck, if you cant do that but would still like to help, we certainly would appreciate it if you would top off your feeders or even spread your manure close to the road so we can get a better tally of those snow buntings and horned larks (wink, wink). Farm leaders have criticised the government's move to ditch the 2031 cut-off date for adding unrecorded rights of way to the 'definitive map' in England. Labour said its move to reverse the previous Conservative government's 2031 cut-off date meant these paths would 'no longer be lost to the public'. England has thousands of miles of unrecorded rights of way which are used by walkers, cyclists and equestrians, but arent officially recorded or protected. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) argues the decision was made without engaging with farmers and landowners, as they would now face 'significant uncertainty'. CLA deputy president, Gavin Lane said: The vast majority of landowners are keen to promote responsible access, and work in collaboration with Defra and campaigning groups to ensure people can continue to experience the benefits of the countryside in decades to come." He called the announcement a 'backward step', on which was part of the government's 'latest attack' on the countryside and farmers. This country already has an enormous amount of public access with 140,000 miles of footpath and 3.5m acres of public access land in England and Wales alone. Under the changes, local authorities will have the required time to assess whether paths meet the requirements to be added to the 'definitive map'. This is the legal record of public rights of way and was established by the Atlee government when they passed the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 75 years ago. Once a right of way has been established, the relevant local authority will then be legally responsible for maintaining them along with the appropriate landowner. The government said this would ensure paths were 'maintained properly allowing more people to experience the benefits of spending time in the outdoors'. But NFU deputy president David Exwood said that public access needed to be balanced with productive farming. "This current plan simply perpetuates an outdated focus on routes that haven't been used for centuries," he said. "Instead, the focus should be on a network fit for the future that encourages responsible use, respects working farmland, and promotes safety in accordance with the Countryside Code." Maggie Angst covers homelessness, addiction and mental health for the San Francisco Chronicle's city hall team. Before joining the Chronicle in late 2023, she reported on California state politics for the Sacramento Bee. Maggie previously wrote for the Mercury News and East Bay Times, where she covered San Jose City Hall, reported from the front lines of California wildfires and exposed systemic deficiencies within an East Bay child welfare agency. She was awarded first place in local government reporting from the California News Publishers Association in 2021. Maggie was born and raised outside of Chicago and earned a bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. A person inserts an ID card while demonstrating the Transportation Security Administrations facial recognition technology at a Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport security checkpoint on April 26, 2023, in Glen Burnie, Md. Julia Nikhinson/AP This holiday season, millions of Americans will wait in long security lines, shuffle to the ID checkpoint, and be asked by a weary Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent to look into a camera as it scans our face to verify our identity. A small sign beneath the lens subtly notes that participation in the new facial recognition technology is optional. Im opting out and I think you should, too. TSAs new facial recognition system is being used in 80 airports, and the agency plans to expand it nationwide in the coming years. The technology uses a biometric camera to match your live image against photos in government databases, like the one on your drivers license or passport. TSA says most photos are deleted after verification, except at airports testing the technology, where they may be kept for evaluation. The agency is even piloting a fully touchless ID program for Precheck in some airports, where your face becomes your ticket and ID. Advertisement Article continues below this ad TSA envisions a future where we wont need photo IDs; our face itself will serve as a unique digital marker. But not everyone is on board. Last month, a bipartisan group of senators called for an audit of TSAs expanding facial recognition program, expressing concerns about its necessity, accuracy and privacy safeguards. The lawmakers warned the technology could soon become mandatory, creating a massive federal surveillance database without Congressional approval. I dont want to live in a world where facial recognition technology is ubiquitous. And I certainly dont want to help build that world. This is why I am opting out while I can. Granting TSA a government agency under the Department of Homeland Security the power to easily identify us with our face alone opens the door to a barrage of risks, from potential data breaches to the erosion of anonymity in public spaces to targeted discrimination against marginalized people. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Many of us rightfully worry about the rise of authoritarianism under Trump, a figure who has called for the prosecution of his critics and mass deportations. Facial recognition technology could help the incoming president achieve those goals. Its already being used by oppressive regimes. China offers one example, where facial recognition is used to track ethnic minorities like the Uyghurs, monitor public gatherings, and suppress dissent. As for legal safeguards to protect us from surveillance overreach, the U.S. legal system is lacking. George Washington University Law Professor Daniel Solove has characterized the legal landscape around facial recognition as incomplete and rickety, with a lot holes, concluding, As a general matter, is the law ready for facial recognition? Not even close. Many of the risks of facial recognition technology stem from function creep the phenomenon where technology developed for one purpose is repurposed for others. A tool originally designed to speed up airport ID checks could easily be adapted for mass surveillance at public events or protests, or even routine street monitoring. Weve already seen this happen: license plate readers meant for toll collection now track vehicle movements, and cell phone location data collected by apps is sold to law enforcement agencies. The leap from verifying identities at airport checkpoints to monitoring citizens in everyday life isnt hypothetical; its a well-trodden path. This is why opting out matters not just for individual privacy, but as a stand against the normalization of surveillance technologies that quietly erode our freedoms. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sure, a future with ubiquitous facial recognition sounds bad, but you may be wondering: Will my choice to opt-out really make a difference? After all, the system is already in place, and one refusal might feel insignificant. This question points to a broader ethical issue: How do we align our small, everyday choices with the large-scale changes we wish to see? Its the same dilemma we face with climate change whats the point of taking shorter showers or switching to reusable bags when the system itself needs an overhaul? 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 Opting out isnt going to singlehandedly stop TSAs facial recognition rollout. Real change will come from legislative action, organized anti-surveillance social movements, and holding TSA and other users the technology to account. But individual actions can spark conversations, raise awareness, and signal to those in power that the public wont accept surveillance without limits. Opting out also allows us to avoid being complicit in the creation of a future we oppose. This holiday season, as you trudge through airport security, take a moment to look into the camera then consider whether you want your face to become a small part of a much larger, troubling system. For me, the answer is clear: Ill opt out. Will you? The Book Meetings With Mozart Mozart's genius, fiery energy, wonderful sense of fun and extraordinary musical output make for a fascinating life story. Meetings with Mozart taps into that with a parallel modern story focusing on Mozart's own credo: Neither a lofty degree of intelligence, nor imagination, nor both together, go to the making of genius. Love, Love, Love. That is the soul of genius. Horace, a retired opera director, engages with a group of Mozart enthusiasts to help them discover his idols profound contribution to humanity love. Set in eastern South Africa, with its lush midlands, soaring mountains and arid bushveld, Meetings with Mozart vividly evokes the sense of time and place of its milieu: the fragrance of its flora, the music of its birdcalls, the torrential storms of its summers. The narrative interweaves the high and the low points of Mozarts life and his music genius, with the lives of present-day characters. The Author William Charlton-Perkins William Charlton-Perkins, a journalist and columnist, is one of South Africas eminent opera connoisseurs. He grew up with his three siblings in the Natal Midlands, in a home that brimmed with their parents passion for the artsa passion he inherited. A lapsed amateur pianist who has regarded Mozart as his musical deity since childhood, it is perhaps inevitable that Meetings with Mozart is his debut novel. Find out more at his website: williamcharltonperkins.com How the Book Came To Be William explains: I grew up as a shy little boy who listened to classical music at an early age. For four decades, my bi-monthly Classical Notes column in Durbans daily newspaper, The Mercury, was the only one of its kind in South Africa, completely focused on the world suggested by its title. My novella, Meetings with Mozart, began life as a libretto for an opera about Mozart. Due to a career change, the composer-friend with whom Id planned to collaborate never wrote a score. So, having written more than 5000 words, in what felt like an unstoppable flow, I set the MS aside for a while, then decided to take the plunge and turn it into a self-standing book. The Illustrator Christine Stilwell For most of her working life Christine Stilwell (nee Riekert) has been involved with books and libraries. She is a professor Emeritus and research fellow of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Christine has always been interested in drawing and was fortunate to join a group attached to the studio of the late Daryl Nero on two occasions, as well as having some sessions attached to the studio of Louise Hall. She grew up in the Eastern Cape Province with three siblings and enjoyed early exposure to music by her mother who played the violin, piano and had her voice trained. She has two sons and two granddaughters with whom she spends many happy hours drawing. She lives in the coastal village of Onrus, in the Western Cape, South Africa, where she draws, walks her whippet, does yoga and sees her friends. RELEASE DATE: 28/01/2025 ISBN: 9781835741221 Price: 7.99 by Natalie key for www.femalefirst.co.uk The United Kingdom imported garments worth $675.455 million from Cambodia during the first nine months of the current year. Among these, unisex garments dominated with a significant share of over 40 per cent, reflecting their versatility for wear by any gender. According to Fibre2Fashions market insight tool TexPro, imports of unisex garments from Cambodia were valued at $272.241 million in the first three quarters of the year, accounting for 40.30 per cent of the total garment imports from the country. Womens garments followed with imports worth $254.538 million (37.68 per cent), while mens garments amounted to $142.284 million (21.07 per cent). Baby garments comprised $6.381 million, representing 0.94 per cent of total imports. The UK imported $675.455 million worth of garments from Cambodia in January-September 2024, with unisex garments dominating at 40.30 per cent ($272.241 million). Knitwear accounted for 74.10 per cent ($500.491 million) of imports, and trousers & shorts led product types at 31.41 per cent. Man-made fibre garments made up 49.41 per cent of imports, followed by cotton at 32.04 per cent. The latest trade data revealed that the UK imported knitwear worth $500.491 million from Cambodia during this period, constituting 74.10 per cent of total apparel imports from the country. Woven garments accounted for the remaining $174.964 million, making up 25.90 per cent of total imports. From January to September 2024, the UK imported $333.767 million worth of garments made from man-made fibres, representing 49.41 per cent of total imports. Cotton garments followed at $216.421 million (32.04 per cent), while garments made from wool or animal hair were valued at $12.669 million (1.88 per cent). Garments made from other fibres contributed $112.580 million (16.67 per cent), as per TexPro. An analysis of trade data by product type shows that the UKs imports of trousers and shorts from Cambodia totalled $212.134 million, representing 31.41 per cent of the total during January-September 2024. Jerseys accounted for $161.402 million (23.90 per cent), T-shirts $62.597 million (9.27 per cent), shirts $42.084 million (6.23 per cent), and coats $27.732 million (4.11 per cent). In 2023, the UK imported garments worth $939.500 million from Cambodia. Of these, trousers and shorts contributed $273.574 million (29.12 per cent), jerseys $238.134 million (25.35 per cent), T-shirts $74.047 million (7.88 per cent), shirts $54.086 million (5.76 per cent), and coats $50.857 million (5.41 per cent). Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) The UN General Assembly (UNGA) recently adopted a resolution granting, on an exceptional basis, an extended preparatory period of five years to enable Cambodia and Senegal to prepare for graduation from the least developed country (LDC) status on December 19, 2029, and ensure a smooth transition out of the category. The standard period is three years. The UN Committee for Development Policy (CDP) took the decision earlier this year during an evaluation process. Cambodia was expected to graduate from LDC status in 2027. The UN General Assembly recently adopted a resolution granting, on an exceptional basis, an extended preparatory period of five years to enable Cambodia and Senegal to prepare for graduation from the least developed country status on December 19, 2029, and ensure a smooth transition out of the category. The standard period is three years. Cambodia was expected to graduate from LDC status in 2027. The General Assembly invited both countries to prepare their transition strategy with the support of the UN system and in cooperation with their bilateral, regional and multilateral development and trading partners. Criteria for graduation assessment include per capita income, the human assets index and the economic and environmental vulnerability index. After graduation, Cambodia will lose some of the trade benefits offered by the United States and the European Union, including duty-free status under the Generalised System of Preferences. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Taiwan's anti-trust regulator has blocked Uber Technologies Inc.'s (UBER) $950 million acquisition of Delivery Hero's Foodpanda business due to concerns that it would be anti-competitive.Delivery Hero has confirmed that the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission announced its decision to deny approval for the sale of Delivery Hero's Foodpanda business in Taiwan to Uber.Delivery Hero noted that Uber may appeal the decision by Taiwan Fair Trade Commission or terminate the Transaction. The companies are subject to appropriate deal protections including break fee arrangements subject to certain conditionsIn May 2024, Uber Technologies agreed to acquire Delivery Hero's foodpanda delivery business in Taiwan for $950 million in cash. The acquisition is targeted to close in the first half of 2025.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Greg Secker Foundation, a leading platform, marks a splash by celebrating the sixth anniversary of the Greg Secker Foundation Village. To address the latest approach, the Greg Secker Foundation is making waves by celebrating the sixth anniversary of the Greg Secker Foundation village. The milestone underscores the organization's vision of hope and resilience, redefining its services' standards for long-term initiatives. The Greg Secker Foundation Village was inaugurated in 2018, delivering 100 homes to families who had lost everything in one of the most catastrophic typhoons in history. Six years on, the village stands as a beacon of resilience and community spirit, empowering its residents through a range of sustainability initiatives and educational programs. Greg Secker, Founder of the Greg Secker Foundation, Comments on the Anniversary. "It fills me with immense pride to see how far the Greg Secker Foundation Village has come in just six years," said Greg Secker. "What started as a response to a natural disaster has grown into a thriving, self-sustaining community. The resilience and determination of the residents inspire us every day, and this milestone is a testament to what can be achieved when we come together to rebuild lives." By focusing on the innovations, the Greg Secker Foundation develops a bustling hub of economic activity in the village where residents can trade goods and services. The organization also works in the bakery department and provides fresh goods to the community and creates local employment opportunities. Through cultivating the nutrient-rich plant like moringa farms for both local consumption and external sales, boosting health and income. Built adjacent to the village, the school ensures that every child has access to quality education. Through unwavering dedication and support, the organization is empowering communities and ensuring the continued success of the village. Moreover, the organization takes a significant step forward by planning to expand the sustainability projects further and provide additional resources to the school, reinforcing the Foundation's mission to create lasting change. Furthermore, the Greg Secker Foundation allows everyone to take part in celebrating six years of resilience. The Greg Secker Foundation Village's milestone is a celebration of its residents as well as a call to action for others to contribute to meaningful initiatives that make a difference. To learn more about the Greg Secker Foundation and its projects, visit www.GregSeckerFoundation.com . About the Greg Secker Foundation: Established in 2010 by Greg Secker, the Greg Secker Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to positively impacting lives through education, sustainable projects, and rebuilding communities. From creating the Greg Secker Foundation Village in the Philippines to building schools and supporting leadership programs globally, the Foundation aims to empower individuals to lead better, more fulfilling lives. Recently, Greg Secker Foundation secured additional funding to extend the school facilities, further supporting the next generation. Media Contact: Contact Person: Greg Secker Email: info@gregseckerfoundation.com Website: https://www.gregseckerfoundation.com/ SOURCE: Greg Secker Foundation View the original press release on accesswire.com BEIJING, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from Poeple's Daily: In May 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Hungary. During this historic visit, leaders of the two countries announced the elevation of bilateral relations to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era, injecting renewed powerful impetus into cooperation between the two countries. As the interpreter for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during his meeting with President Xi, Simon Adrienn had the opportunity to again gain a firsthand glimpse into the charisma of President Xi as the leader of a major country. In 2009, Xi, the then vice president of China, visited Hungary. Simon accompanied him as an interpreter for the first time to explore a memorial hall with rich Hungarian ethnic characteristics. "As I provided explanations, Xi listened attentively, showing a genuine interest in Hungarian history and culture. I could sense that he was a leader of great knowledge and insight". Since then, she has worked as an interpreter during meetings between the leaders of Hungary and China on numerous occasions. In her memories, Prime Minister Orban and President Xi are both candid and wise leaders who know about each other and trust each other. "President Xi's clear articulation makes my job relatively easy. He is approachable, and respects and treats every staff member equally. In my view, this exemplifies the true essence of a great leader of a major country." Before kicking off this state visit to Hungary, President Xi published a signed article titled "Embarking on a Golden Voyage in China-Hungary Relations" in the Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet. The article provided a comprehensive overview of the successful practices and positive outcomes in the development of bilateral relations over the past 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Simon translated the article into Hungarian. She said this experience was a valuable learning process, allowing her to gain a deeper understanding of President Xi's views and thoughts. In fact, this was not the first time that she translated President Xi's books and articles. She once participated in the translation of President Xi's book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China". In her eyes, President Xi drew upon numerous Chinese historical and cultural references in the book, prompting her to delve into the materials to identify the most suitable expressions. The process of translation provided her with profound intellectual enlightenment. She deeply admires President Xi's statement "Friendship, which derives from close contact between the people, holds the key to sound state-to-state relations." As Hungary-China relations navigate a "golden channel," closer people-to-people ties stand as a vital cornerstone. The Hungarian and Chinese people share many similarities, both valuing family harmony. The Hungarian people hold a profound appreciation for Chinese culture, evident through the presence of multiple Confucius Institutes, numerous traditional Chinese medicine clinics, and bilingual schools in Hungary that nurture a plethora of young talents for cultural exchanges between the two nations. Hungarian Chinese communities have also made substantial contributions to fostering deeper friendship between the two countries. People-to-people and cultural exchanges continue to strengthen, laying a solid foundation for cooperation between the two nations. In the 1980s, student exchanges between Hungary and China began, and Simon was one of the beneficiaries. Her connection with China dated back to the third grade of primary school. At that time, she read many Chinese folk stories in the library. Upon graduating from high school, she seized the opportunity to study in China and spent six wonderful years there which had a significant impact on her life. Even today, she still enjoys reading Chinese folk stories and children's literature. She has translated them into Hungarian, and organized Hungarian children to read them. she is always learning and improving, hoping to enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples through her work and continue to write new stories of friendly exchanges with her Chinese friends. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/get-a-firsthand-experience-of-the-charisma-of-xi-302339216.html BEIJING, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from People's Daily: The situation in Syria has undergone dramatic changes in recent days, bringing more uncertainty to the already fragile security landscape in the Middle East. This once again reminds the international community that the security disorder in the Middle East should not continue indefinitely, and it is imperative to de-escalate tensions in the region. Over the past 13 years, the people in Syria have endured endless wars and conflicts. Now, the Syrian situation stands at a new crossroads, and the path forward depends on the choices of all parties involved. To stabilize the situation in Syria, the international community should effectively uphold Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, support Syria in realizing peace at the earliest, implement Security Council Resolution 2254, advance its domestic political process in line with the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned principle, and find a rebuilding plan that meets the wishes of the Syrian people through inclusive dialogue. The international community should earnestly respect the choice of the Syrian people and create conditions for restoring peace and order in Syria. To lift the Syrian people from the difficult situation, all countries should work together to extend a helping hand to Syria, ease its grave humanitarian situation, and prevent the resurgence of a Syrian refugee crisis. The international community should pay sufficient attention to the chaos and threats posed by terrorism and extremist forces after the dramatic changes in the Syrian situation. The future Syria should firmly oppose all forms of terrorism and extremist forces. The instability and frequent conflicts in the Middle East have seriously affected international peace and security. Since the outbreak of conflict in Gaza, the Middle East has been plagued by mounting crises, including Israel's conflicts with Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran, as well as tensions in the Red Sea and the recent upheavals in Syria. According to a report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a British think tank, this year was marked by a significant escalation in armed conflict in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with fatalities from violent events skyrocketing by 315%. The Middle East, once a pinnacle of civilization in human history, should by no means become a place where peace is missing in the present era. It is imperative to take practical measures to de-escalate tensions in the region. To resolve the chaos in the Middle East, the pressing task is to immediately cease fire, stop violence, and ease the humanitarian crisis. Security cannot be achieved by force, and using violence to end violence begets more problems. All relevant parties shall abide by the resolutions of the UN Security Council, cease actions that stimulate the escalation of regional tensions, and avoid setting up new obstacles for the realization of ceasefire. Countries with significant influence on the security of the Middle East must act responsibly, refrain from dangerous maneuvers that exacerbate the situation, and play a constructive role in quelling the flames of war. Humanitarian issues in conflict zones must not be politicized, and civilian lives should not be used as bargaining chips. All parties involved shall fulfill their obligations under international humanitarian law, assist in improving the humanitarian situation, and alleviate the suffering of the people in the region. To resolve the chaos in the Middle East, the fundamental way out is to adhere to political settlement and resume dialogue and negotiations. The UN Security Council should shoulder the responsibility of maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East, and all UN Security Council members should make active contributions to this end. They should continue their efforts for dialogue and consultation, maintain the momentum of regional reconciliation driven by the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, resolve differences through inclusiveness, enhance mutual trust through cooperation, and build a new sustainable security architecture in the Middle East on the basis of accommodating each other's concerns. The two-state solution should be implemented as soon as possible to prevent the Palestinian question from being marginalized again. The Middle East belongs to the people of the Middle East, while the future and destiny of the countries in the Middle East should have long been in the hands of the local people themselves. The international community should earnestly respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the region, truly proceed according to the merits of the matters themselves and international fairness and justice, and assist rather than replace regional countries in finding solutions to conflicts. The international community should work together to encourage all countries in the Middle East to put aside their past feuds and resolve their grudges. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, China will always stand on the side of peace, fairness and justice. It will continue to play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation in the Middle East and maintaining regional peace and stability. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/it-is-imperative-to-de-escalate-tensions-in-middle-east-302339221.html WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices edged higher on Thursday amid hopes for China's stimulus measures and expectations of a decline in U.S. crude inventories.Benchmark Brent crude futures rose 0.3 percent to $73.42 a barrel in European trade, while WTI crude futures were up 0.4 percent at $70.36.Earlier this week, China's finance ministry announced that it will ramp up fiscal support for consumption next year by raising pensions and medical insurance subsidies for residents as well as expanding consumer goods trade-ins.According to Reuters, authorities have agreed to issue 3 trillion-yuan ($411.04 billion) worth of special treasury bonds next year to revive a faltering economy.Meanwhile, there are expectations that fossil fuel production and demand will expand after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20.It is believed that demand will improve under Trump's reform programs and the U.S. crude inventories might face sharp daily drawdowns in 2025.Traders were also reacting to industry data showing a fall in U.S. crude oil and distillate stocks last week.The American Petroleum Institute figures revealed that U.S oil inventories fell by 3.2 million barrels during the week ended Dec. 20.Distillate inventories-which include diesel and heating oil-fell by about 2.5 million barrels but gasoline inventories rose by 3.9 million barrels.The latest data from the Energy Information Administration is due on Friday, with analysts anticipating a decline in U.S. crude and fuel inventories.Elsewhere, Libya's National Oil Corp (NOC) said on Wednesday that the country's average crude production in 2024 exceeded its target of around 1.4 million barrels per day.The United States government has imposed sanctions on four companies for their involvement in the transport of Iranian petroleum.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. A bill that would cap monthly co-pays for insulin at $35 is one of many measures making a return appearance during the new legislative session. Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press People line up to speak during a reparations task force meeting at Third Baptist Church in San Francisco on April 13, 2022. Black lawmakers and advocates said in August that they plan to bring back reparations legislation this session. Janie Har/Associated Press Dr. Shagun Bindlish, a diabetologist at One Medical in Dublin, has seen some of her patients forgo insulin purchases in order to cover their household expenses. Bindlish said that co-pays for insulin, which can financially burden diabetes patients, lead some to ration or improperly use the daily drug to make it last longer. Bindlish is pushing California lawmakers to pass a bill vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last year that would cap monthly co-pays for insulin at $35, including for those with private insurance. The insulin cap bill, by state Sen. Scott Wiener, is one of many making a return appearance during the new legislative session. Lawmakers regularly bring back legislation that did not make it across the finish line for another try at becoming law. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its extremely common, Wiener said. Its very normal when youre talking about important, impactful public policy for a state of 40 million people. But resurrected bills from last session face a number of obstacles that they did not during the last session, including more attention on the special session to prepare for President-elect Donald Trumps actions and continuing concern about the states finances. During the beginning of the legislative session, Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas both emphasized focusing legislation on financial relief for Californians. Rivas said that while voters in California continue to value protecting reproductive and LGBTQ freedoms, they sent a message that they are unhappy on economic issues. They dont feel that the state of California is working for them, he said. Here are more bills that lawmakers have pledged to resurrect in the coming year for another shot at becoming law. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Health Wiener has also reintroduced another health-related bill that would regulate pharmacy benefit managers, which the legislator described as a middleman between drug manufacturers and pharmacies. The legislation would require all pharmacy benefit managers to be registered with the states Department of Insurance, would prevent them from steering patients to affiliated pharmacies, and would limit the amount they can collect from fees. Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters, resurrected a bill that would provide 14 weeks of paid leave for pregnancy and pregnancy-related health issues for public school teachers. Aguiar-Curry said this effort is particularly important to eliminate a key reason women leave teaching amid a school staffing shortage. The legislation, sponsored by the California Teachers Association, passed the Assembly but died last session in the state Senate. Housing Assembly Member Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, plans to reintroduce legislation to get a housing bond onto the 2026 ballot that would set aside $10 billion for housing construction, similar to the climate and school bond measures voters approved in November. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The legislation, which was introduced last year, would fund affordable housing for rent and for sale. Wicks said the bond would provide necessary money to address the states housing shortage. We are out of housing money. Out of housing money, period, Wicks said. We are in a pretty dire situation for affordable housing funds. Wicks also plans to resume work on the select committee on permitting reform to introduce legislation changing permitting practices. She said that long, complicated processes slow and stall development. Wicks said that last sessions hearings before the committee really opened up Pandoras box on permitting reform. Wicks said that reintroducing legislation and tweaking previously passed bills is a typical part of lawmaking. She said that she plans to introduce changes to her major housing package from 2022, AB2011, like she did during the last session. Im six years in now; Im sort of legislatively middle-aged, Wicks said. I have a better understanding of when you do these big bills, like AB2011, a lot of what comes after that, year after year, is continuing to follow up and clean up. As the law goes out into the wild, you can see how its working or not working. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Artificial intelligence Legislation seeking to regulate artificial intelligence is also expected to be reintroduced this session. Wiener, whose AI safety bill was vetoed by Newsom in September, plans to reintroduce similar legislation. Newsom announced a working group on the topic after vetoing Wieners bill, but given the legislative calendar, the group is unlikely to give recommendations before Wiener and other lawmakers introduce new bills. We have a legislative calendar, and were going to stick to it, Wiener told Politico Playbook. Were a co-equal branch. Well do our work, and we really look forward to seeing the work product coming from this task force. Wicks also plans to reintroduce AI regulation requiring watermarks on images created by generative artificial intelligence. The technology would be required on AI platforms, marking in the metadata of photos that the images were created with AI, to avoid deepfakes and confusion. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its hard to know what is real versus what is fake or generated, Wicks said. Reparations Multiple bills that would have advanced recommendations from the states landmark reparations report, published last year, failed this year. Black lawmakers and reparations advocates said in August that they planned to bring back legislation this session. Assembly Member Lori Wilson, D-Suisun City, the chair of Californias Legislative Black Caucus, said at the time that she has always thought of the process of seeking reparations as a multiyear effort and that some bills will take multiple legislative sessions to get across the finish line. Former state Sen. Steven Bradford, who authored some of the reparations bills, expressed hope that the failed legislation would be revived under a new author. This is an issue thats still worth fighting for. As Ive constantly stated throughout this process, we knew it wasnt going to be a slam dunk, easy thing to do, or we would have done it years ago, Bradford said in September. Old and new bills Wicks also said she expects lawmakers to focus on energy affordability issues and cap-and-trade regulation. Republican legislators reintroduce their bills regularly, too. Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher plans to reintroduce legislation that would require hospitals to allow immediate family members to visit patients, especially in end-of-life situations, known as Diannes Law. Gallaghers bill which he said was prompted by concerns with isolated hospital patients during the COVID-19 pandemic passed, but was vetoed by Newsom on Sept. 20. Assembly Member Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale (Los Angeles County), plans to reintroduce legislation that would establish a voucher program for childrens swim lessons in an attempt to prevent drownings. The legislation died in committee last session. Wieners insulin capping bill, which passed with unanimous support in the legislature before it was vetoed by Newsom, could see pushback from health insurance companies again over its monthly $35 co-pay cap for the millions of Californians with private health insurance. Bindlish, who also serves as the scientific president and chair of the Northern California chapter of the American Diabetes Association, a supporter of the bill, said that by emphasizing the health impacts, the bill could see a different outcome. ABU DHABI, UAE, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Huasun Energy is set to redefine solar energy innovation at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2025, scheduled from January 14-16 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). As a global leader in heterojunction (HJT) solar technology, Huasun will present advanced solutions tailored to meet the region's unique energy demands. Middle East is abundant in sunlight but prone to high temperatures, raises unique challenges for photovoltaic (PV) systems. At Booth Hall 7-7200, Huasun will showcase its cutting-edge n-type silicon-based HJT solar cells and modules, engineered for superior performance in extreme environments like deserts, offering: Superior Temperature Coefficient of -0.24%/ ? : HJT solar cell's inherent bifacial symmetrical structure and distinctive material properties can facilitate enhanced charge carrier mobility and mitigate the risk of hotspots, ensuring consistent energy output even in scorching heat, with minimal power and efficiency loss. : HJT solar cell's inherent bifacial symmetrical structure and distinctive material properties can facilitate enhanced charge carrier mobility and mitigate the risk of hotspots, ensuring consistent energy output even in scorching heat, with minimal power and efficiency loss. Ultra-High Bifaciality Nearing 100% : Maximizing energy capture by utilizing both direct and reflected sunlight, particularly advantageous in high-reflectivity environments such as deserts, bringing a substantial increase in overall power output of the modules. : Maximizing energy capture by utilizing both direct and reflected sunlight, particularly advantageous in high-reflectivity environments such as deserts, bringing a substantial increase in overall power output of the modules. Strong Energy Yield : Absorbing more sunlight, extending the lifespan of solar panels, ensuring consistent performance over time. Take Saudi Arabia as example, Huasun's 720W HJT module in the first year generates approximately 115 hours (6.95%) more compared to a 660W PERC module. : Absorbing more sunlight, extending the lifespan of solar panels, ensuring consistent performance over time. Take Saudi Arabia as example, Huasun's 720W HJT module in the first year generates approximately 115 hours (6.95%) more compared to a 660W PERC module. Lower LCOE: Higher generation results in an increased IRR while reducing BOS, labour and other system costs, and thus deliver superior economic value to customers through a lower levelized cost of energy (LCOE). Visitors at WFES will experience Huasun's diverse product lineup, including the Himalaya G12-132 730W, Everest G12R-132 630W, G12R-108 520Wmodules, and ultra-high bifaciality module, which boosts near 100% bifaciality. These modules are equipped with Huasun's innovative 0BB (Zero Busbar) HJT technology, which enhances reliability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, setting a new standard for solar energy solutions. From improved energy yield in harsh conditions to cost savings and long-term durability, Huasun's solutions are tailored to meet the growing demands of renewable energy markets worldwide. With 8 GW+ shipments spanning over 60 countries, Huasun remains at the forefront of the solar industry, committed to advancing the global energy transition. Join Huasun at WFES 2025 to explore how its pioneering innovations are shaping the future of sustainable energy. Contact Huasun Energy Website: www.huasunsolar.com Email: sales@huasunsolar.com Follow "Huasun HJT" on LinkedIn for more heterojunction update Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2587740/Huasun_to_Pioneer_Heterojunction_Solar_Excellence_at_WFES_Abu_Dhabi_2025.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2393329/Huasun_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/huasun-to-pioneer-heterojunction-solar-excellence-at-wfes-abu-dhabi-2025-302339228.html LONDON, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Momcozy, the global mother and baby brand, is excited to reveal the champions of its "Love in Action" Charity Contest. This endeavor aims to back charities resonating with Momcozy's core values of comfort, health, and maternal wellness. The competition has disbursed $30,000 among three remarkable organizations devoted to uplifting maternal and family health. With 62 entries and almost 5,000 votes cast, the Charity Contest was a resounding success. Mamas for Mamas, an organization dedicated to aiding mothers and children in need, has secured the top grant of $15,000. Shannon Christensen, the Founder and National Director, expressed, "Collaborating with Momcozy was truly inspirational. This contest illustrated how a simple concept can unite a community." Let There Be Mom, the $10,000 second-place recipient, focuses on preserving the legacies of parents facing life-threatening illnesses, ensuring their children always have a means to remember them. Kipra Anderson, the Founder & Executive Director, noted, "Momcozy's dedication to supporting mothers and empowering crisis assistance organizations is evident." MMHLA, a nonprofit advancing maternal mental health through national policy and education, secured the $5,000 third-place award. Adrienne Griffen, the Executive Director, thanked Momcozy for the grant and national recognition, which will strengthen MMHLA's advocacy for enhanced mental health care for mothers during pregnancy and postpartum. The "Love in Action" Charity Contest involved the community in selecting mother-support charities. Athena, Momcozy's CEO, stresses community support for maternal wellbeing, saying, "Together, we profoundly impact mothers and families. This contest highlights collective power, backing remarkable charities. Let's sustain support for these winners in their crucial work." Part of Momcozy's "Joy for All, Love for You" campaign, the contest emphasizes spreading joy and love during the holidays. Momcozy remains committed to nurturing a community that prioritizes maternal wellbeing, ensuring they flourish with ample support and resources. About Momcozy Since 2018, Momcozy has been bringing the best in comfort to mothers with wearable breast pumps, nursing bras, and other mom care products, consistently holding the top position in relevant Amazon categories. Endorsed by over 4 million mothers in over 60 countries, Momcozy offers a range of comprehensive products on multiple platforms, such as Amazon, Babylist and Boots. With continuous innovation and a commitment to creating cozy designs born from love, to make moms' lives easier around the world. Contact: pr@momcozy.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/momcozy-unveils-winners-of-love-in-action-charity-contest-emphasizing-collective-power-302339104.html Ex-nat'l security official Miles Taylor memorializes former GOP figure with contributions Two years after the passing of former Republican Congressman Jim Kolbe, a significant charitable donation has been made in his name to organizations advancing freedom and democracy worldwide. The tribute was announced as a way to underscore Kolbe's enduring legacy as a champion of global democracy. Two prominent organizations - International Republican Institute (IRI) and Freedom House - have been named as the recipients. In partnership with these organizations, author and former national security official Miles Taylor will unveil a special initiative in 2025 to honor Kolbe's life and work, further advancing the late Congressman's vision of promoting stable governance and human liberty around the world. The contributions were made as part of Taylor's ongoing commitment to donate book royalties to charity. "Jim Kolbe was a true statesman and mentor whose dedication to democratic ideals inspired countless individuals, including myself," said Taylor. "This tribute is a small way to carry forward his legacy and honor the profound impact he had on the free world - and holding autocrats accountable." Taylor made the tribute as part of multi-year donations to the International Republican Institute (IRI) ($250,000) and Freedom House ($200,000). Both organizations are leaders in the global effort to strengthen democracy and human rights, aligning with Kolbe's lifelong mission. In recent years Taylor has made charitable commitments to these organizations and directed additional resources to groups such as the Committee to Protect Journalists ($100,000) and the Georgetown McCourt School ($25,000), among others, for their work to advance freedom including through technology. Jim Kolbe (1942-2022) was an American politician and businessman who served as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Arizona's 5th and later 8th congressional districts from 1985 to 2007. A Vietnam War veteran and graduate of Northwestern University and Stanford University, Kolbe was known for his focus on trade, budget reform, and immigration issues. He was widely recognized as a bipartisan lawmaker. After leaving Congress, Kolbe remained active in international trade and development, serving as a senior advisor to multiple pro-democracy groups. He began his career as a teenage Page messenger in Congress and proudly served as a mentor to Pages in the decades that followed. The forthcoming initiative honoring Congressman Kolbe will be unveiled in the new year, ensuring his legacy continues to inspire new generations of leaders. Former Congressional Pages, including the donor, will be a part of the announcement. The contributions fulfill Taylor's pledge to give away the vast majority of proceeds from his #1 New York Times bestselling book, A Warning , to nonprofit organizations that focus on government accountability and on supporting those who stand up for the truth in repressive countries around the world. Miles Taylor is the former Chief of Staff of the Department of Homeland Security and advises organizations on technology policy and national security. Copyright for A Warning belongs to Taggart Transcontinental Railroad (TTRR). Contact Information SOURCE: TTRR View the original press release on accesswire.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG) on Thursday announced the acquisition of Illinois-based Afina Insurance Advisors Inc., a property/casualty broker. The financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.The company expects the acquisition to boost its existing retail brokerage services in the Chicago area.Arthur J. Gallagher said George Van Denend and his team will remain in their current location under the direction of Ryan Isaacs, head of Gallagher's Midwest region retail property/casualty brokerage operations.'Afina Insurance is a highly regarded agency whose niche expertise complements our existing retail brokerage capabilities in the Chicago area,' said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman and CEO. 'I am delighted to welcome George and his associates to Gallagher.'During the pre-market hours, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.'s stock is trading at $288.59, up 0.08 percent on the New York Stock Exchange.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Users from virtually every industry, including the largest enterprises, startups, and government agencies, use AWS to reduce costs, improve agility, and accelerate innovation, resulting in a global boom in demand for cloud-based solutions. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a globally revered and adopted cloud platform, providing a broad spectrum of global computing, networking, analytics, storage, database, mobile, security, Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), and application services. Organizations are rapidly switching to AWS to enhance their operational scalability, security, and efficiency. Acknowledging the urgency to satisfy this demand, Hyperlink InfoSystem has incorporated AWS into its diverse lineup of offerings, allowing it to deliver full, customized cloud services to its worldwide clientele. Being a globally recognized leader in IT services and digital transformation, Hyperlink InfoSystem officially decided to join the cloud bandwagon and announce its pristine status as an official AWS Partner. This collaboration signifies a vital milestone in Hyperlink InfoSystem's journey to supplying premier cloud solutions and accentuates its dedication to empowering businesses with best-in-class technology. Being an official AWS Partner, Hyperlink InfoSystem will potentially utilize its comprehensive experience and pre-existing in-depth knowledge of AWS in assisting businesses of all sizes to migrate to the cloud. Enabling this will also empower organizations to unleash the true power of cloud computing and modernize their applications. With an exceptional 98% client retention rate, Hyperlink InfoSystem already persists in setting the benchmark in the cloud computing market. Adding to this, the official status as an AWS partner, the company will utilize the complete power of the AWS ecosystem to provide immaculate services in AI/ML integration, IoT solutions, DevOps support, cloud migration, application development, and data analytics. Hyperlink InfoSystem envisions capitalizing on its technological acumen and unique approach to help organizations embark on cloud transformation journeys. Their proven track record in deploying over 4,800 apps and collaborating with over 2700 global clients cements their position as a reliable partner for businesses looking to realize the true potential of AWS technologies. Commenting on this remarkable new status, Harnil Oza, CEO & Founder of Hyperlink InfoSystem, commented, "Our company has been a proud investor in all kinds of emerging technologies, and our new status as official AWS partners is only adding more feathers to our cap. With this partnership, we intend to deliver robust, scalable, and secure cloud solutions for different industries such as finance, healthcare, e-commerce, and logistics. Currently, AWS holds the top position as the ultimate partner for cloud innovation, and this partnership will bring us a step closer to delivering seamless digital transformation journeys to our clients while reinstating reliance." Hyperlink InfoSystem caters to organizations of all sizes and offers services in IoT, AR/VR, AI, and data analytics, expanding the adaptability of modern solutions for numerous sectors. With a growing consumer appetite for cloud-based solutions, the firm continues to serve clients throughout the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Considering its newly established status as an AWS Partner, Hyperlink InfoSystem looks forward to conducting training and certifications and investing in research to ensure staying at the forefront of cloud technology. Whether it's cloud migration, cloud-native application development, or infrastructure enhancement, Hyperlink InfoSystem strives to ensure success at every stage. To inquire more about their transformative AWS services, contact their team at +1(309) 791-4105 or email info@hyperlinkinfosystem.com. About Hyperlink InfoSystem Hyperlink InfoSystem is a prominent international enterprise excelling in IT solutions in many domains. Since its humble beginnings in 2011, its specialization in technologies has expanded across web development, mobile app development, enterprise software solutions, and now Artificial Intelligence (AI). With over 1200+ employees and a global presence in the USA, UK, UAE, France, India, and Canada, Hyperlink InfoSystem is dedicated to assisting corporations to leverage the complete power of technology to accomplish their goals. Contact Details: Hyperlink InfoSystem Harnil Oza +1-309-791-4105 info@hyperlinkinfosystem.com New York Address: One World Trade Center 285 Fulton Street suite 8500, New York, NY 10007, United States Ahmedabad Address: C-308, Ganesh Meridian, Opp Kargil Petrol Pump, S.G. Highway, Sola, Ahmedabad, 380061 India London Address: Level 30, The Leadenhall Building, 122 Leadenhall Street, London EC3V 4AB Canada Address: 151 Yonge Street, 11th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2W7, Canada Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2429933/4743119/Hyperlink_InfoSystem_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/driving-cloud-innovation-hyperlink-infosystem-becomes-an-aws-partner-302339240.html ROCK HILL, SC / ACCESSWIRE / December 26, 2024 / Recent regulatory changes have brought significant updates to the reporting obligations for companies filing beneficial ownership information with FinCEN. Following a federal Court of Appeals decision on December 23, 2024, reporting companies, except as indicated below, are once again required to file beneficial ownership information with FinCEN. The Department of the Treasury recognizes that reporting companies may need additional time to comply, given the period when the preliminary injunction had been in effect. As such, the BOI reporting deadlines have been extended as follows: Updated BOI Filing Deadlines: Reporting companies created or registered before January 1, 2024: The deadline has been extended to January 13, 2025 (originally January 1, 2025) for filing initial BOI reports with FinCEN. Reporting companies created or registered on or after September 4, 2024, that had a filing deadline between December 3, 2024, and December 23, 2024, now have an extended deadline of January 13, 2025. Reporting companies created or registered between December 3, 2024, and December 23, 2024: These companies are granted an additional 21 days from the original filing deadline to file BOI reports. Reporting companies created or registered on or After January 1, 2025: Must file BOI reports within 30 days of receiving actual or public notice of creation or registration. Reporting Companies Qualifying for Disaster Relief: Deadlines may extend beyond January 13, 2025. Follow the later deadline that applies. TaxBandits: The Solution for Timely and Stress-Free BOI Reporting With BOI Reporting reinstated, businesses must begin preparing the necessary information to ensure the timely submission of their BOI reports. TaxBandits offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to facilitate accurate and on-time BOI filing for reporting companies, tax professionals , law firms, and service providers. Key Features to Simplify BOI Reporting: BOIR Protect: In partnership with Protection Plus, BOIR Protect provides peace of mind with a $1 Million BOI Filing Defense, covering potential errors or issues with filings for a full year. Free Corrections or Updates: TaxBandits offers free corrections or updates for up to 7 days. Annual plan subscribers can file unlimited corrections or updates for one year. Retransmit Rejected Returns for Free: When FinCEN rejects a BOI report, it can be re-transmitted without additional charges, ensuring prompt corrections and resubmission. Easy Corrections: Update existing data and submit without needing to refile the entire report, saving time and ensuring accuracy. Invite Beneficial Owners: Securely invite beneficial owners to complete their details via a secure URL, ensuring only authorized individuals can access and complete the necessary information. AI-Based Data Extract: TaxBandit's AI-powered technology automatically extracts data from uploaded identification documents, eliminating the need for manual data entry and minimizing errors. Schedule Filing: Prepare reports, schedule submission dates, and ensure automatic submission as planned. Reports can be edited multiple times before the scheduled date, minimizing the need for subsequent corrections or updates. For CPAs and Service Providers: TaxBandits' BOI reporting solution empowers tax professionals with features that drive efficiency. Compliance reminders, customizable engagement letters, and BanditConnect streamline reporting. Secure Client Portal : BanditConnect provides a secure client portal for efficiently managing BOI filings. Businesses can customize the portal with their branding to enable seamless collaboration, secure data exchange, and an efficient review and approval process. Team Management: The BanditCollab tool enables the invitation of unlimited team members, assignment of predefined roles, and delegation of BOI report filings. This ensures efficient workload management and timely completion of tasks. Automated Reminders: Set up automated reminders for updates and upcoming deadlines from FinCEN, eliminating the need for manual follow-ups and ensuring timely action on all filings. Custom Engagement Letter: Customize engagement letters with specific terms and conditions, auto-fill client details, request e-signatures, and update them at any time, ensuring a streamlined and efficient agreement process for BOI filing services. Bulk Upload: Streamline BOI filings with the Bulk Upload feature! Use the standard CSV template to import data all at once, saving time and reducing manual effort. Partnership Opportunities to Increase Revenue TaxBandits provides an array of services tailored for large enterprises, accounting firms, and other businesses looking to expand their BOI reporting services . Referral Program: Clients can participate in TaxBandits' referral program , obtain a referral link, incorporate it into their website or social media, and earn commissions for each completed filing. API Integration: TaxBandits offers seamless API integration , enabling easy connection with existing business systems. This integration optimizes the BOI filing process by streamlining workflows and minimizing manual data entry, thus improving operational efficiency. White-Label Solution: TaxBandits provides a white-label solution, allowing firms to brand the BOI filing platform fully as their own. This customization ensures businesses can offer a consistent and professional experience to their clients. TaxBandits' BOI reporting solution empowers tax professionals with features that drive efficiency. Compliance reminders, customizable engagement letters, and BanditConnect streamline reporting. Watch the video to learn more about TaxBandits' BOIR filing solution and the original FinCEN requirements that have been reinstated: About TaxBandits TaxBandits is a SOC 2 Certified, IRS-authorized e-file provider specializing in various tax forms such as Form 941, Form 940, Form 1099, Form W-2, Form 1095-C, Form 1095-B, and Form W-9, etc., and BOI reporting. Serving businesses, service providers, or tax professionals of every shape and size, TaxBandits offers a complete solution that fulfills all filing needs. About SPAN Enterprises Headquartered in Rock Hill, South Carolina, SPAN has been developing industry-leading software tools for e-filing and business management tools for over a decade. The SPAN Enterprises Portfolio of products includes TaxBandits, ACAwise, ExpressExtension, 123PayStubs, and TruckLogics. Please direct all media inquiries to Stephanie Glanville, Marketing Manager, at stephanie@spanenterprises.com . SOURCE: TaxBandits View the original press release on accesswire.com Vivek Oberoi recalled they dated for five to six years before his girlfriend was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia read more Actor and entrepreneur Vivek Oberoi recently opened up about his heartbreaking love life, when he lost his girlfriend as she succumbed to acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at the age of 17. I thought, This is it. Shes the one. I envisioned us going to college together, getting married, and having kids. I had my life planned out in my mind," the Indian Police Force actor told Mens XP. When I couldnt reach her or her family, I called her cousin, who told me she was in the hospital. I rushed there. We had been in a relationship for 56 years, and she was the girl of my dreams. Then, I found out she was in the final stage of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. It was a complete shock. Despite everything we tried, she passed away within two months. I was broken and shattered," he added. Advertisement Oberoi tied the knot with Priyanka Alva in 2010 and the couple is blessed with two children. The family lives mostly in Dubai. My commitment with Priyanka is different. In fourteen years of marriage, I look at her every day and ask myself, Among all the women in the universe, would I still choose her? and the answer is yes, I will still choose her. It is the most liberating feeling because you are in it because you want to not because you have to," said the Dum actor. She only asks for my time and gets excited whenever she knows we are going out together. Expensive stuff dont excite her. And this makes you feel the luckiest that all that makes her happy is spending time with you," he added. Vivek was last seen in Rohit Shettys web series Indian Police Force. It also featured Sidharth Malhotra, Shilpa Shetty and others in prominent roles. The Tamil Nadu police have arrested 37-year-old Gnanasekaran for sexually assaulting a student on the campus of Anna University in Chennai. The accused, who runs a roadside eatery near Saidapet, is said to have been previously arrested for sexually assaulting a girl on campus in 2011 and has a long criminal record read more A student was assaulted on the sprawling campus of Chennai's Anna University. Image courtesy: https://www.annauniv.edu/ The sexual assault of a student at Chennais Anna University is rocking Tamil Nadu. The police have arrested a 37-year-old for the sexual assault, and the National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu congisance of the incident. Meanwhile, the political blame game has begun with the BJP and AIADMK pointing the finger at the ruling DMK. But what happened? And what do we know about the accused? Lets take a closer look? What happened? As per Indian Express, the incident occurred on Monday night around 8 pm. The survivor and her friend were at a secluded area on the 180-acre campus of the university when they were approached by Gnanasekaran. Advertisement The Times of India reported that Gnanasekaran intimated the students male friend into leaving after which he sexually assaulted her. The Hindu reported that the victim told the police she went for a walk with her friend after dinner. Around 8 pm, an unidentified individual came from behind them, beat up her friend and sexually assaulted her. The student then contacted the Internal Complaints Committee for Prevention of Sexual Harassment, which asked her to contact the police. But The News Minute quoted the FIR at the All Women Police Station (AWPS) Raja Annamalai Puram as saying that the accused filmed the survivor and her boyfriend on campus. Gnanasekaran then threatened to send their footage to the dean and their parents if they didnt comply with his demands. It was then that the victims friend left. Gnanasekaran then took the survivor to an abandoned road behind the Highway Lab Building and the EEE department building. Here, he threatened her with expulsion from the university by leaking the footage to the dean or she could spend time with him and another man who called him. She said the accused received a phone call from someone. He told the person he would leave the girl after threatening her. Advertisement However, he then sexually assaulted her. Gnanasekaran also took a picture of her college I-card and her fathers phone number before fleeing, as per The News Minute. Gnanasekaran approached the students and threatened them by saying he had taken their video. He then demanded that the male friend leave. The victim was assaulted thereafter. We have recovered his cellphone with evidence of the crime that he had recorded. We are now examining the device to find if there were more such crimes he committed and deleted evidence, an officer told Indian Express. He also threatened the survivor by taking her phone number, saying she must meet him whenever he called her, the officer added. Advertisement As per the newspaper, a case was registered under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The Kotturpuram all-women police then sent out four teams to apprehend the accused. Gnanasekaran was identified as the suspect after police thoroughly reviewed CCTV footage and arrested by the Kotturpuram all-women police. What do we know about accused? Indian Express reported that Gnanasekaran is a biryani vendor. As per The Hindu, Gnanasekaran, runs a road-side eatery near Saidapet near the university. The newspaper reported that the police have said that Gnanasekaran was previously arrested for sexual assault on a girl in 2011. The Deccan Herald reported that Gnanasekaran had assaulted another woman on the university campus. However, it remains unclear if the case ever went to trial. Advertisement Business Standard quoted the police as saying that Gnanasekaran has a long criminal record. The police said he has been booked in over 15 cases of theft and robbery. Political blame game begins Politics has already begun over the incident with the BJP and the AIADMK attacking the ruling DMK. Some members of the opposition have claimed that Gnanasekaran is a member of the ruling party. News18 quoted Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai as claiming that Gnanasekaran is the deputy organiser of DMKs Saidai East student wing, Annamalai claimed that he has pictures of the accused with top DMK leaders including Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Chief Minister MK Stalin. Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin (L) with the Anna university sexual assault accused (R). News18 A clear pattern emerges from such criminal cases across Tamil Nadu. A criminal becomes a member of the DMK and becomes close to the DMK executives in that area. All cases registered against him are being shelved. Furthermore, he is being released without being classified as a criminal with a criminal record and without being placed on the watch list of the local police station," Annamalai wrote on X. Advertisement Due to pressure from the respective local DMK executives and ministers, the police are not investigating the cases against him, which gives him room to commit further crimes," he added. A senior officer told The Hindu Gnanasekaran is said to be close to a local DMK leader. However, he is not officially part of the DMK. As per News18, Annamalai has slammed the police for purportedly revealing the victims identity. In the case of the female student at Anna University, what is even more intolerable is the fact that the Tamil Nadu Police has made public the details of the identity of the victim along with her residential address through the FIR copy," the BJP leader wrote in the letter. This heinous and imprudent act of the TN police is a blatant breach of the rights of the victim. The act seems to be a concerted effort of the TN Police and the ruling PuK dispensation to malign the victims character to salvage the states collapsed maintenance of Law and Order," the letter added. The DMK, for its part, has denied any links with the accused. Tamil Nadu Law Minister S Regupathi has said that Gnanasekaran is not even a primary party member. Regupathi said Gnanasekaran was arrested within a few hours and claimed that the government wasnt hiding anything. He said reports claiming that Gnanasekaran was an office-bearer of the students wing were wrong. Regupathi, addressing the photograph purportedly showing Gnanasekaran next to Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, said there was a gap between the two men in the picture. Protests on campus, NCW takes cognizance Indian Express reported that the incident has resulted in massive criticism of the security on campus. The campus is said to have over 400 CCTVs and even uses face-recognition software to track the entry and exit of staff. However, no measures have been taken to keep outsiders at bay at the university which has been without a vice-chancellor since August. The Hindu reported that affiliated to the Students Federation India (SFI) have protested on campus. An SFI member pointed out that there were no restrictions on anyone entering campus through the Kotturpuram gate. Members of the Students Federation of India (SFI) stage a protest against the assault. PTI A student said it is commonplace to see outsiders sitting and having lunch under the trees on campus. University staff have claimed that 50 per cent of the lights installed on the campus do not work. They also said several vacancies in the estate office have not been filled thus maintenance has not been at its best. But University Registrar J Prakash has defended the measures. Surveillance cameras are also installed. Despite all that, this unfortunate incident has taken place. Additional security measures will be taken at the university level to ensure that such incidents do not repeat, he was quoted as saying by Indian Express. The NCW, pledging its support for the survivor, has raised concerns about the fact that the accused is a habitual offender, as per India Today. The commission said the Tamil Nadu Polices failure to act on the previous cases emboldened the accused to commit the crime. The commission said this raises questions about the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu. NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has told the Tamil Nadus Director General of Police to give the survivor free medical treatment and ensure her safety. The commission also suggesting adding a punishment for repeat offenders to the accuseds charges. Rahatkar also told the DGP to act against officers publicly revealed the survivors identity. AIADMK leaders detained Meanwhile, senior leaders of the AIADMK leaders were detained while attempting to protest the assault. BJP senior leader and former governor Tamilisai Soundararajan was among those barred by the police from holding a demonstration. Soundararajan, claiming that sexual crimes were on the rise, said she had every right to protest. Soundararajan slammed the polices inaction. Meanwhile, AIADMK leader D Jayakumar was in a spat with police officers. This, after they said party had not been granted permission for the protest. Jayakumar demanded to know which parties, including Congress, VCK, and allies of the ruling party, had received approval. With inputs from agencies Tragedy struck the skies on Christmas Day, as 38 people on board an Azerbaijan Airlines flight died after the plane crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. Preliminary investigations show that a bird strike may have been behind the incident. But what exactly is this phenomenon and how common is it? read more A drone view shows emergency specialists working at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan. Reuters Flying from Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in Chechnya on Christmas Day turned fatal for many on board an Azerbaijan Airlines flight when it crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan after veering off its planned route. According to officials, 38 people of the 67, including crew, on board died in the crash. The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday (December 25) after Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 took off from the Azerbaijani capital Baku at 03:55 GMT and crashed around 06:28, data from flight-tracking website Flightradar24 showed. Advertisement The planes course on the Flight Radar website showed it flying away from its normal route, crossing the Caspian Sea and then circling over the area where it eventually crashed near Aktau, which is an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the sea. According to preliminary investigations, the pilot decided to make an emergency landing after a bird strike, leading to the crash. Even Azerbaijan Airlines initially said the plane flew threw a flock of birds but later withdrew the statement. We cannot disclose any investigation results at this time, the office of Azerbaijans prosecutor general said in a statement. So, what exactly happened to the plane? And what is a bird strike that is the possible reason for the plane going down in flames? What happened on board Azerbaijan Airlines flight? The Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 with 62 passengers and five crew members took off from Baku and was heading to Grozny in Russia when tragedy struck. However, it made an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometres (1.8 miles) from Aktau. Unverified video footage of the plane showed it bursting into flames as it hit the ground. Moments later, visuals showed dazed survivors emerging from the charred plane. One video, which has gone viral since the plane crash, shows what unfolded in the aircraft as it went down. In the video, the passenger is heard saying Allahu Akbar (God is great) as the plane goes into a steep descent. Yellow oxygen masks are seen dangling over the seats. Screaming and crying can be heard. Advertisement The final moments of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane before its crash in Kazakhstan were captured by a passenger onboard. Aftermath also included in the footage. pic.twitter.com/nCRozjdoUY Clash Report (@clashreport) December 25, 2024 Soon after the plane crashed, rescuers arrived at the scene and doused the flames. Officials later said that 29 people survived the crash, including two children. However, Kazakhstans Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said that 11 survivors were in critical condition. Advertisement Following the crash, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced Thursday to be a day of national mourning and even cancelled a planned visit to Russia for an informal summit of leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a grouping of former Soviet nations. The crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan. Of the 67 on board, 38 people have died in the crash. Reuters What about investigations into the crash? Kazakhstan has announced that it has opened an investigation into the cause of the crash. Furthermore, the black box of the plane has been recovered, which will help in determining what exactly happened to the aircraft. Shortly after the Azerbaijan Airlines plane went down, some conspiracy theories began floating with some speculating that the plane could have been shot down by Russian air defences, which mistook it for a Ukrainian drone. The Fighterbomber Telegram channel, believed to be run by Capt Ilya Tumanov of the Russian army, released a clip showing what appeared to be holes, which some suggested resembled the kind of damage caused by shelling or an explosion with shrapnel. Advertisement However, Russias aviation watchdog said that initial investigations suggest that the pilot had decided to make an emergency landing after a bird strike. Preliminary: after a collision with birds, due to an emergency on board, its commander decided to go to an alternate airfield - Aktau was chosen, Russias aviation watchdog said on Telegram. Emergency specialists work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25. AFP But what is a bird strike? As the name suggests, a bird strike is a collision between an aircraft and a bird. It has been expanded to include collisions on the ground with animals, including rabbits, deer, dogs and alligators. Bird strikes have become quite common since the first one was recorded by Orville Wright in 1905, over a cornfield in Ohio. According to data available, over 2,70,000 bird strikes were reported between 2016 and 2021 reflecting just how regular a phenomenon they have become. Aviation experts note that bird strikes occur as birds are attracted to planes and areas around airports. In monsoons, as water puddles emerge in open grounds attracting insects to breed, it also increases the presence of birds in these regions. Moreover, birds are migratory which often puts them in the path of air traffic routes. Birds often fly in flocks, which increases the likelihood of multiple fatalities in the event of a collision. Advertisement The wreckage of Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 lies on the ground near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan. Russias aviation watchdog said that preliminary information suggested the pilot had decided to make an emergency landing after a bird strike. AP Have people been killed or injured owing to bird strikes? The short answer is yes. Experts also note that bird strikes can threaten aircraft safety. According to aviation experts, the type of aircraft affects the effect of a bird strike. For instance, bird strikes can be fatal for smaller aircraft, particularly single-engine aircraft. Records show that there have been 262 bird strike fatalities since 1988 across the world, and 250 aircraft have been destroyed. The most famous instance of a bird strike occurred in 2009, when US Airways Flight 1549 encountered a flock of migrating Canadian geese shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport in New York. Both of the planes engines failed, and captain Sully Sullenberger was forced to pilot it to an unpowered landing in the Hudson River. An instance when a bird strike was fatal was in October 1960. An Eastern Airlines Flight was hit by birds, just 20 seconds after take-off from Boston Logan International Airport. The incident led to the aircraft losing power and crashing into the Boston Harbour killing 62 of the 72 on board. Another deadly bird strike occurred in 1988 when 35 of 104 people on board an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 aircraft were killed when it crashed after several birds flew into its engines during take-off from Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Can bird strikes be prevented? Bird strikes are preventable to a certain extent. Radar can be used to track flocks of birds. Pilots can also adjust their flight plans to avoid encountering birds. Conservationists have been advocating for the creation of safe migratory corridors for birds. These are networks of connected habitats that are created after identifying common migratory routes. They provide access to necessary resources such as food, water, and resting areas and help maintain biodiversity. With inputs from agencies China has approved a major hydropower project on Tibets Yarlung Zangbo River, which becomes the Brahmaputra River when it enters India. Billed as the worlds largest hydropower dam, it could generate 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually read more This photo taken on July 19, 2020 shows water being released from China's Three Gorges Dam, a gigantic hydropower project on the Yangtze river. File Photo/AFP China has green-lit a mega hydropower project on Tibets longest river. Touted as the worlds largest hydropower dam, it would be built in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, which becomes the Brahmaputra River when it flows into the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. India has earlier expressed concerns about the project which could affect millions downstream in the country and its neighbour Bangladesh. Lets take a closer look. Chinas mega hydropower project Chinas hydropower dam will come up on the Yarlung Zangbo River, also known as the Yarlung Tsangpo River, in the Tibet autonomous region. According to Chinas state news agency Xinhua, the dam will produce three times more energy than the Three Gorges Dam, which generates 88.2 billion kWh of electricity annually. Advertisement The proposed dam could produce 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity every year, Reuters reported citing the estimate of Power Construction Corp of China in 2020. As per a South China Morning Post (SCMP) report, the hydropower project could cost over 1 trillion yuan (US$137 billion), higher than any single infrastructure project worldwide. In comparison, the investment in the Three Gorges Dam was 254.2 billion yuan ($34.83 billion). It is not yet known when the construction will start and even the exact location of the dam. Challenges of the project Chinas huge hydropower project comes with its own technical and engineering challenges. A part of the Yarlung Zangbo falls 2,000 metres (6,561 feet) within a short span of 50 km, giving a major hydropower potential, Reuters reported. To tap into this potential, nearly six 20 km-long tunnels will have to be carved out from the Namcha Barwa mountain to divert half of the rivers flow at about 2,000 cubic metres per second, as per the SCMP report. The project site is also located along a tectonic plate boundary which is susceptible to earthquakes. Authorities have also not revealed how many people will be displaced by the Tibet project. Why Chinas hydropower dam is important As per Xinhua, the colossal hydropower project in Tibet would protect the local ecology. Through extensive geological explorations and technical advancements, a solid foundation has been laid for the science-based, secure and high-quality development of the project, the report said. Advertisement The project would also fuel the growth of nearby solar and wind energy resources, according to the news agency. This represents a major move in Chinas green and low-carbon energy transition, the report said. It is also of great importance to advancing the countrys strategy for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality and to coping with global climate change. Indias concerns about the project Chinas super hydropower dam has raised alarm bells in India. New Delhis concern stems from Beijings lack of transparency about the project. It fears the Tibet dam could trigger flash floods or lead to water scarcity downstream. India worries the project could result in the country depending on China for its water supplies, Genevieve Donnellon-May, a geopolitical and global strategy adviser, wrote for AsiaGlobal Online in 2022. Advertisement The Yarlung Tsangpo flows across the Tibetan Plateau and then enters India through Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, where it is called the Brahmaputra River. People commute by boat near the international border between India and Bangladesh, in the Brahmaputra river in Dhubri district, in Assam, August 4, 2018. File Photo/Reuters As she noted in her article, the Brahmaputra is important for India and Chinas socioeconomic development. The river accounts for nearly 30 per cent of Indias freshwater resources and 40 per cent of its total hydropower potential. For China, the Brahmaputras role in the countrys total freshwater supply is limited, but the river plays a significant role in Tibets agricultural and energy industries as well as civilisation. Yet, growing populations mean water resources are under increasing stress and demand in both countries, Donnellon-May wrote in her piece. Advertisement China being the upper riparian could affect the quantity of water available downstream, increasing New Delhis worries. India has long speculated about Chinas intention of using hydropower dams to control the Brahmaputra. Many Indian analysts argue that Chinas water ambitions and the growing competition over water between China and India will inevitably lead to water waters between the two nations, Donnellon-May wrote in her piece. To dent the impact of Chinas proposed dam on water flows, India is also planning to build 12 hydropower stations in Arunachal Pradesh, as per a Reuters report in July. The move has irked China, which claims the Indian state as the southern part of Tibet. Advertisement With inputs from agencies The Christmas Day crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane near Aktau, Kazakhstan, has raised alarming questions. Was it a tragic accident or a fatal error by Russian air defences? With 38 lives lost and evidence pointing to shrapnel damage, experts speculate that the aircraft may have been mistaken for a Ukrainian drone read more A drone view shows the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, December 25, 2024. File Image/Reuters The Christmas Day crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 near Aktau, Kazakhstan, resulted in 38 lives lost and 29 survivors. With everyone asking what could have been behind the crash, allegations ranging from a bird strike to the aircraft being shot down by Russian air defences, are being investigated. A time of the plane crash The ill-fated flight departed from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, bound for Grozny, Chechnya. It was carrying 67 people, including 37 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz nationals. While approaching Grozny, the plane diverted hundreds of miles off course, eventually crash-landing near Aktau. The Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, confirmed the diversion was due to worsening weather conditions. Advertisement In its final moments, the aircraft struggled to maintain altitude, with Flightradar24 data showing erratic movements, including a figure-eight pattern. Witnesses reported hearing a mid-air explosion before the crash, and survivors described shrapnel hitting the fuselage. One survivor told Euronews: We heard an explosion, and then pieces of the plane started breaking apart. It was chaos. Videos of the incident show the aircraft descending rapidly, erupting into flames upon impact. The wreckage lay scattered across the crash site, with parts of the fuselage torn apart. Reports confirmed that all survivors were hospitalised, including two children, with 11 in intensive care. The big question: Did Russia shoot down the plane? Speculation has centered on the possibility that the plane was mistakenly shot down by Russian air defences. Osprey Flight Solutions, a UK-based aviation security firm, stated: This incident is a stark reminder of why we do what we do. It is painful to know that despite our efforts, lives were lost in a way that could have been avoided. Russian military bloggers have pointed to evidence of shrapnel damage on the fuselage. Rybar, a popular Telegram channel, claimed that the damage to the fuselage resembled striking elements of an anti-aircraft missile. The holes look like those left after a shelling or explosion with striking elements, said Baza, a Telegram channel with links to the Russian security services. Emergency specialists work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan December 25, 2024. File Image/Reuters This aligns with reports that Ukrainian drones targeted sites in Chechnya shortly before the crash. Chechen official Khamzat Kadyrov confirmed: All drones were successfully shot down. FlightRadar24 noted strong GPS jamming disrupted the aircrafts navigation systems, a tactic Russia has employed in response to drone threats. This interference reportedly caused the plane to transmit faulty ADS-B data, making its actual position and trajectory unclear. Advertisement Adding weight to these claims, Euronews obtained information suggesting that surviving passengers heard an explosion, with shrapnel hitting the plane mid-air. A Russian military blogger quoted by the Azerbaijani news outlet AnewZ stated: The damage to the aircraft suggests it may have been accidentally struck by an air-defence missile system. Speaking to the Orda news outlet, Kazakh aviation expert Serik Mukhtybayev also dismissed the bird-strike theory, citing the planes altitude and the nature of the fuselage damage. He described external impact as the most plausible cause. What Russia has said The investigation is ongoing, with authorities from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Russia collaborating. Azerbaijans prosecutor general has opened a criminal inquiry, while a delegation, including Azerbaijans emergency situations minister and aviation experts, has been sent to Aktau for an on-site investigation. The aircrafts black box has been recovered and is expected to provide crucial data. Kazakh transport prosecutor Timur Suleimenov stated that the black box will offer insights into the final moments of the flight and help establish the cause of the crash. Advertisement Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated: It would be wrong to speculate before the investigation concludes. Azerbaijan Airlines has pledged full transparency, expressing condolences to the victims families. Aliyev, while refraining from speculation, stated the importance of uncovering the truth. In his address, he remarked: The information provided to me is that the plane changed its course between Baku and Grozny due to worsening weather conditions and headed to Aktau airport, where it crashed upon landing. What history tells us The tragedy bears striking similarities to the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 by a surface-to-air missile over eastern Ukraine. Grozny, the planes intended destination, is heavily fortified due to its strategic importance in Russias conflict with Ukraine. Ramzan Kadyrovs forces play a key role in the Kremlins military operations, making the region a frequent target for Ukrainian drones. This incident highlights the dangers of flying in conflict zones. Pro-war blogger Yuri Podolyaka noted that the damage seen on the wreckage is consistent with an anti-aircraft missile system adding everything points to that. Advertisement The GPS jamming reported by FlightRadar24 has been attributed to Russias counter-drone measures. This interference may have disrupted the planes navigation, contributing to its deviation from the planned route. Among the 67 on board, 38 were killed, including citizens from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Survivors are being treated in hospitals, with several in critical condition. Kazakhstans emergency ministry continues efforts to identify the deceased and support their families. The tragedy has reignited concerns over civilian aviation safety in volatile regions. Also Read | 20 years of Indian Ocean tsunami: The aftermath of the deadliest disaster in modern history With inputs from agencies Elon Musk has long considered turning the SpaceX launch site into a city. Now, the plan is official, with SpaceX employees gathering signatures and filing a petition for an election. But why does he want to build a separate city? read more Elon Musk is moving forward with plans to create a dedicated town for SpaceX and its employees in Texas. In recent years, Musk has expanded his operations in the state, relocating his companies from California and establishing offices, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities across several Texas counties. ALSO READ | Is Elon Musk calling the shots instead of Donald Trump? Now, Musk is venturing into a project that few, if any, titans have attempted: the creation of a company town. Advertisement Since SpaceX set up operations on the Texas coast a decade ago, Musks company has generated thousands of jobs near the Mexico border, launched several rockets, and built new homes in an area known as Starbase. What is Starbase? Starbase is the name Elon Musk has proposed for a new town in coastal South Texas, centred around the SpaceX rocket launch site. Musk expects to transform this area into an official city dedicated to supporting SpaceX operations and its employees. Since moving to Texas in 2020, Musk has expanded or relocated several of his companies to the state, citing its business-friendly climate. In July, Musk announced plans to move the headquarters of SpaceX and the social media platform X to Texas from California, describing a new gender identity law in California as the last straw. In September, Musk relocated Xs headquarters from San Francisco to Bastrop, Texas, leaving behind its California home of over a decade. In 2021, Teslas headquarters also moved to Texas, although California remains its engineering hub. The SpaceX launch site, already known as Starbase, has become home to many employees who live in refurbished midcentury houses or temporary accommodations, including silver Airstream trailers, in the shadow of SpaceX rockets. Earlier this month, SpaceX employees living near the site took the first major step toward incorporating Starbase as a town by gathering signatures and filing an official petition to hold an election. Advertisement Notably, the petition offers some of the first insights into the size and operation of the proposed city, as envisioned by Elon Musk and SpaceX, according to The New York Times. ALSO READ | Elon Musk says Singapore is going extinct. Is it true? The Starbase petition discusses a community of approximately 500 current inhabitants, including at least 219 primary residents and over 100 children. This area is located at the very end of State Highway 4 near Boca Chica Beach, the site of many SpaceX rocket launches. SpaceX HQ will now officially be in the city of Starbase, Texas! https://t.co/zpN4t3mJQT Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 13, 2024 Advertisement The proposed town would cover around 1.5 square miles, making it slightly larger than Central Park but small by Texas standards. According to the petition, nearly all residents are renters and work for SpaceX. Why Elon Musk wants to create a separate city for SpaceX employees The Starbase site currently employs over 3,400 full-time SpaceX workers and contractors, according to an impact study released earlier this year by Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. Musk has been considering the idea of turning the SpaceX launch site into a city for several years. Notably, SpaceX first approached officials in Cameron County, Texas, about the plan in 2021. Advertisement SpaceX Starbase in Brownsville, Texas, US. Reuters/File Photo However, the petition does not clarify why Musk and his company are seeking to create the new town of Starbase or what specific benefits they hope to gain from doing so. Previously, the company had expressed interest in merely changing the areas name for postal delivery purposes, and an application to do so is currently pending with a federal agency. ALSO READ | How Elon Musk became the first person with net worth of $400 billion What are the possible changes? Robert Greer, an associate professor at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, has studied how cities incorporate. He explained to AP that creating a city involves drafting its own charter, providing services, creating local ordinances, and levying taxes. This could also shift the tax burden onto residents or businesses. Advertisement If you create your own city, and its a relatively small area now, you have kind of control over that area, Greer said. SpaceX officials argue that incorporating Starbase as a city is necessary to continue expanding the areas workforce and supporting the companys growth. New construction near the SpaceX Starbase in Brownsville, Texas. Reuters Incorporating Starbase will streamline the processes required to build the amenities necessary to make the area a world-class place to live - for the hundreds already calling it home, as well as for prospective workers eager to help build humanitys future in space, Kathryn Lueders, Starbases general manager, stated in a letter to the county this week. However, SpaceX has faced local opposition regarding its impact on the area. Most recently, they were hit with a lawsuit from Save RGV, a regional nonprofit, which accused SpaceX of dumping polluted water into the nearby bay. SpaceX responded by stating that a state review found no environmental risks and labelled the lawsuit as frivolous. Jim Chapman, a board member of Save RGV, said, Some of the questions that we have is what this will mean in terms of regulation and oversight by the county. ALSO READ | Why Elon Musks SpaceX and not Isro launched Indias GSAT-N2 satellite Whats next? This month, residents took a major step toward creating a new city by filing a petition with Cameron County to hold an election. If approved, the election would allow voters to select three city officials, including Gunnar Milburn, SpaceXs security manager, as the proposed first mayor. As a city, Starbase would be eligible for state and federal grants, would enjoy certain immunity from lawsuits, and could also have the power to condemn property, The New York Times reported. In a letter filed with the petition, Kathryn Lueders stated that the company needed the ability to grow Starbase as a community, adding that SpaceX currently performs civil functions due to its remote location, including managing utilities and providing schooling and medical care. With inputs from agencies All is not well between Pakistan and Afghanistan. On Tuesday, Islamabad launched new airstrikes on the Barmal district of Paktika province in Afghanistan, killing 46 civilians. This is the latest spike in hostilities between the two nations since the Taliban took control of Kabul in 2021 read more They were once considered allies. However, in recent times, they have become enemies. We are talking about Pakistan and Afghanistan. Kabul, under the Taliban regime, has registered a strong protest with Islamabad over an airstrike the latter carried out on December 24 near the Pak-Afghan border, warning that Afghanistans territorial sovereignty was a red line. The aerial action has led to the killing of 46 civilians, said the Taliban government, which has termed the strikes as barbaric and a clear aggression. Advertisement The strikes are the latest spike in hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with tensions escalating since the Taliban seized power in 2021. Airstrikes in Paktika province On December 24, Pakistan reportedly carried out airstrikes on the Barmal district of Paktika province in Afghanistan, resulting in the death of 46 people, including women and children. Islamabad has not confirmed nor denied responsibility for the strikes, but a senior official told AFP that the strikes were on terrorist hideouts using jets and drones. The unnamed official added that the strike had taken out at least 20 militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). However, the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan has condemned the strikes, calling it a cowardly attack and even vowed retaliation for the strike. The Taliban defence ministry in a statement said, The Islamic Emirate will not leave this cowardly act unanswered, but rather considers the defence of its territory and sovereignty to be its inalienable right. Furthermore, the Afghan Taliban even summoned Pakistans charge daffaires on Wednesday (December 25) to register its strong condemnation against the strikes. In a statement, the Afghan foreign ministry condemned the aggression by Pakistani military. The killing of common citizens by certain quarters was an attempt to create distrust in relations between the two countries, it added. These strikes follow the March raids. Then, Pakistan launched airstrikes against several suspected hideouts of the TTP in Afghanistans Khost and Paktika provinces. The Afghan Taliban responded by firing on Pakistani positions along the border. Hostilities rise between Pak-Afghan In the recent past, tensions between the two neighbouring countries have been running high, with Islamabad repeatedly accusing the Afghan government of harbouring armed groups, especially the TTP, which it claims carries out cross-border attacks targeting Pakistani security forces. Just last week, TTP fighters claimed responsibility for killing at least 16 Pakistani soldiers in South Waziristan in one of the deadliest recent attacks on security personnel. In a UN Security Council briefing last week, Pakistani diplomat Usman Iqbal Jadoon said, The TTP, with 6,000 fighters, is the largest listed terrorist organisation operating in Afghanistan. With safe havens close to our border, it poses a direct and daily threat to Pakistans security. Advertisement Data shows that 2023 was among the bloodiest years in recent Pakistani history, with more than 650 attacks across the country, killing nearly 1,000 people, mostly from law enforcement agencies and the military. Most of the attacks on security personnel were claimed by the Pakistan Taliban, along with other relatively lesser-known armed groups. However, the Taliban denies providing refuge to armed groups or allowing their territory to be used for cross-border attacks. A man stands with his passport and identity cards of his family members, at a closed pedestrian crossing gate at the crossing border, in Torkham, Pakistan. File image/Reuters Cross-border skirmishes between Pakistan and Afghanistan also led Islamabad to shut down the Torkham border for three days. The closure of the key border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan caused heavy losses to already depreciating trade between the two neighbours. Advertisement In addition to this, Pakistan also has carried out mass deportations of Afghan refugees. After ousting about 541,000 Afghan refugees in November 2023, Islamabad announced in June that it would carry out a similar drive, expelling more than 800,000 Afghans from the country. The Pakistan government defended their actions, citing security concerns and a struggling economy. Unsurprisingly, this evoked a strong response from the Taliban government. The government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid had urged Pakistan to rethink its decision, adding that Pakistan should tolerate them. Sami Yousafzai, a journalist and a longtime observer of Pakistan-Afghanistan ties, said to Al Jazeera that the conflict between the two countries is similar to a fight between two cousins. These two neighbours act like they are cousins. They cannot leave each other, but they cannot find a way to fix their relationship either. And in all this fighting, it is impacting the public-to-public relations between them, he told Al Jazeera. Advertisement Afghan refugee children sit on a truck loaded with belongings as they along with their families prepare to return home, after Pakistan gives the last warning to undocumented immigrants to leave, outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) repatriation centres in Azakhel town in Nowshera, Pakistan. File image/Reuters From friends to foes Historically, Pakistan has been seen as a patron of the Afghan Taliban, which first rose to power in 1996. It was believed to hold considerable sway on the Taliban leadership, whom it sheltered, funded and shielded diplomatically. Fearing Soviet influence, Pakistan became a key conduit for Western aid to the Afghan Mujahideen, a collection of rebel groups fighting against the Soviets, Ubaidullah Khilji, an Afghan history researcher currently based in Islamabad, told DW. When the Taliban seized power in 2021, Islamabad assumed that their good ties would also resume. In fact, Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed, then head of Pakistans notorious Inter-Services Intelligence agency, took what seemed a victory lap in the Afghan capital, Kabul. Please dont worry everything will be OK, he told a Western journalist while smiling and sipping tea in the five-star Sarena Hotel. However, Pakistans hopes evaporated within the first 12 months of Taliban rule in Kabul. According to Adam Weinstein, deputy director of the Middle East programme at the US think tank, the Quincy Institute, the Taliban believed they were no longer reliant on Pakistan. Advertisement Moreover, the Taliban is forging new partnerships. Many countries such as China, Russia, Iran and some Central Asian states are cautiously engaging with the regime. It remains to be seen if Afghanistan-Pakistan ties can go back to those of the past, but experts believe that it may not happen. With inputs from agencies The year 2025 will bring in a wave of changes that will impact how Indian households, professionals, travellers, and families manage their finances and routines. From new GST compliances to revisions in mobile data charges and updated visa rules, heres what is about to change on January 1, 2025 read more As the new year begins, several updates will come into effect nationwide, shaping how households, professionals, travellers, and families manage their finances and routines. Image for Representation. Reuters With 2024 nearing its end, the stage is set for 2025 to usher in a wave of changes. As the new year begins, several updates will come into effect nationwide, shaping how households, professionals, travellers, and families manage their finances and routines. From new GST compliances to updated visa rules and revisions in mobile data charges, heres a glimpse into the major changes that may impact your budget and plans starting January 1, 2025. Advertisement LPG cylinder prices An increase in LPG prices could be on the horizon as crude oil in the international market is currently priced at $73.58 per barrel. While oil marketing companies review LPG prices on the first of every month, the price of domestic cylinders (14.2 kg) has remained unchanged for months, currently standing at Rs 803 in Delhi. Meanwhile, the prices of commercial cylinders have been steadily rising, indicating a potential shift in domestic LPG rates soon. Car prices Car prices are set to rise in the new year, making vehicle purchases more expensive. Starting January 1, 2025, major automakers such as Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Hyundai, Mahindra, Honda, and Kia, along with luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and BMW, will increase vehicle prices by 2 to 4 per cent. Manufacturers have cited higher production costs, increased freight charges, rising wages, and forex volatility as the reasons behind this hike. If youre planning to buy a car, be prepared to pay more in the coming year. Starting January 1, 2025, major automakers such as Maruti Suzuki will increase vehicle prices by 2 to 4 per cent. Reuters Data recharge plans Telecom giants like Jio, Airtel, Vodafone, and BSNL may soon adjust their data charge plans, thanks to the new Right of Way (RoW) regulations set to take effect from January 1, 2025. The Department of Telecommunications introduced the Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules, 2024, on September 19, 2024. These regulations will help telecom providers enhance their services as they aim to streamline the construction, use, and maintenance of underground communication facilities on public property. Fixed Deposit rules Starting January 1, 2025, the rules governing fixed deposits for Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) will change. This will happen as the Reserve Bank of India introduced updates earlier this year, that aimed to enhance the safety of public deposits. Some key provisions include regulations on accepting deposits from the public, maintaining a portion of liquid assets in a safe manner, and ensuring full coverage for public deposits. Advertisement Changes in pension withdrawal The new year will bring relief to pension holders, with simplified rules for pension withdrawals starting January 1, 2025. Pensioners will now be able to withdraw their pension from any bank branch across the country, without the need for additional verification. According to Business Today, the new Centralised Pension Payment System is expected to benefit over 78 lakh EPS pensioners of EPFO. Also read: How Indian stock markets are helping Canadians retire in peace Changes in GST compliance Starting January 1, 2025, taxpayers will face stricter GST compliance regulations. One significant change is the mandatory Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), which will be gradually implemented for all taxpayers accessing GST portals, enhancing security. Previously, this requirement only applied to businesses with an Annual Aggregate Turnover (AATO) exceeding 200 million. In addition, new restrictions on E-Way Bills will limit their generation to base documents no older than 180 days. This aims to curb fraudulent activities like backdated invoices and ensures the timely and legitimate movement of goods. Advertisement The extension period for E-Way Bills will also be capped at 360 days from the original generation date, promoting more efficient logistics and preventing indefinite transit delays. Transaction limit of UPI 123Pay The transaction limit for UPI 123Pay, a service launched by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for feature phone users who may not have internet access, will be increased. Previously, the maximum transaction limit was Rs 5,000, but starting January 1, 2025, this limit will be raised to Rs 10,000, offering greater flexibility to users of the service. Changes in Whatsapp for old Android users WhatsApp will soon stop working on several Android devices running older operating systems (OS) like KitKat. This change will affect popular models from brands such as Samsung, LG, Sony, HTC, and Motorola, particularly those with phones released 9 to 10 years ago. Users are advised to save any important data or chats before the deadline. Meta, WhatsApps parent company, has stated that this move to discontinue support for older operating systems is aimed at maintaining the apps security and functionality. Advertisement US Visa rules Starting January 1, 2025, the US Embassy in India will allow non-immigrant visa applicants to reschedule their appointments once without incurring additional fees. However, if applicants miss the rescheduled appointment or need to reschedule again, they will have to book a new appointment and pay the application fee once more. This change comes alongside a new rule by the US Department of Homeland Security to modernise the H-1B process, providing more flexibility for employers and smoother transitions for Indian F-1 visa holders. The new rule will take effect on January 17, 2025. The H-1B visa allows foreign workers to stay in the US. Thailands e-visa system Starting January 1, 2025, visitors from all over the world will be able to apply for a Thailand e-Visa through the official website. Previously, the e-visa system was only available to travellers from certain regions, but this expansion allows applicants from any country to complete the entire visa application process online, without the need for physical document submission. Advertisement This move simplifies the procedure for international visitors, making travel to Thailand more accessible. For many Indians, this will particularly ease the process, as Thailand is a popular holiday destination for Indian travellers. With input from agencies US President-elect Donald Trumps ambitious deportation strategy aims to remove millions of undocumented immigrants, but the costs are staggering. With estimates ranging from $86 billion to over $315 billion for a single year, the plan involves massive logistical efforts, including 100,000 detention beds and military support for transportation read more Migrants gesture while praying near the border, after rumours spread that they would be allowed to enter the United States, according to local media, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, December 18, 2024. File Image/Reuters United States President-elect Donald Trumps promise to deport millions of undocumented immigrants has raised the question about what the financial and logistical feasibility of such an operation would be. The initiative, described as the largest deportation effort in US history, carries staggering cost implications, making it a centrepiece of debate for policymakers, economists, and immigration experts. Trump has pledged to remove all 11 million undocumented immigrants from the US. This ambitious promise builds on his earlier immigration policies and aims to escalate enforcement significantly. Advertisement Tom Homan, Trumps appointed border czar, has revealed that the operation will require massive Congressional funding, additional detention facilities, and significant manpower. We need Congress to give us some money to get this done, Homan told CNN in an interview. His proposal includes the construction of detention facilities to hold between 50,000 and 70,000 people at a time, far exceeding the current ICE detention capacity. To put this into context, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers conducted 170,590 administrative arrests in FY 2023, representing a 19.5 per cent increase over the previous year. The scale Trump envisions would dwarf these figures. We take a look at the costs and logistics tied to this ambitious plan: The price tag for Trumps deportation plan is massive, with one estimate ranging from $88 billion annually for sustained efforts to $315 billion for a one-time mass deportation operation. Over a decade, the total cost could climb to $967.9 billion, making it one of the most expensive federal initiatives in US history. A look at the breakdown of costs To hold the millions of undocumented immigrants slated for deportation, the US would need to expand its detention infrastructure dramatically. The American Immigration Council estimates that to deport one million people per year, the US would need detention capacity 24 times larger than what ICE currently operates. Estimated cost of mass detention: $167 billion. Construction of detention facilities for 50,00070,000 individuals at any given time, as proposed by Trumps team, is a logistical and financial challenge. ICE would require an additional 30,000 officers, instantly making it the largest federal law enforcement agency in the US. The hiring and training costs for these new officers are not fully accounted for in most estimates, but they represent a significant long-term expenditure. Advertisement People attach a sign reading Trump, stop the mass deportations to the current border fence and near the prototypes of the US President Donald Trumps border wall, during a protest in Tijuana, Mexico, March 13, 2018. File Image/Reuters Deportation logistics would involve a massive scale-up of ICE Air Operations, which oversees deportation flights. Military planes are expected to supplement this effort. Current capacity would be insufficient, requiring additional charter aircraft and expanded transportation contracts. The deportation process involves legal hearings, appeals, and processing fees. The US would need to build and maintain over 1,000 new immigration courtrooms to handle cases at the required pace. Well be ready to launch the day of the inauguration, said Homan. However, he acknowledged that much depends on securing Congressional funding. What this means for US economy Beyond the direct costs, deporting millions of undocumented immigrants would have far-reaching economic consequences. Loss of tax revenue: Undocumented immigrants contribute significantly to the US economy: $46.8 billion in federal taxes (2022). $29.3 billion in state and local taxes (2022). Contributions to Social Security and Medicare amount to $22.6 billion and $5.7 billion, respectively, even though these individuals cannot access these benefits. Deporting this population would result in an immediate reduction in tax revenue, straining government budgets. Labour shortages: Undocumented immigrants are a vital part of industries such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality. Their removal would create labour shortages, potentially driving up costs for businesses and consumers. A report by the American Immigration Council highlights the indirect costs of mass deportations, including the disruption to businesses reliant on immigrant labour. Advertisement How Trump plans to fund it Trumps campaign argues that the cost of deportations pales in comparison to the expenses of providing housing, healthcare, and social services to undocumented immigrants. Karoline Leavitt, Trumps campaign press secretary, had told ABC News in November, Mass deportations of illegal immigrant criminals, and restoring an orderly immigration system, are the only way to solve this crisis. Also Watch: However, critics note that the funding mechanisms remain unclear. The operation would require Congressional approval for billions in new spending, a potentially contentious political battle. Homan, who has been tasked with spearheading the initiative, admitted, I dont know how much money I want to have to buy beds, transportation contracts, or detention facilities. What this means for the US in the long run Deporting even a fraction of the undocumented population would require sustained funding over several years. Sustained deportations: $88 billion per year. Decade-long costs: Nearly $1 trillion. The Trump campaign proposes invoking the Insurrection Act to mobilise National Guard units as part of the effort, potentially adding more costs for military deployment and operations. Experts question whether such a massive deportation effort is logistically possible. The scale of the operation would require unprecedented coordination across federal, state, and local agencies. Advertisement Mass deportations would face pushback from Democratic-led cities and states that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The societal and humanitarian costs, including family separations, would likely spark widespread protests and legal battles. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies Athos Salome, often referred to as the Living Nostradamus, has made some freaky predictions for 2025. The Brazilian parapsychologist warns that AI will reach a critical point of no return next year. He also predicts that the secret existence of genetically modified humans will be out in 2025 and foresees a deliberate global energy crisis read more Brazilian prophet Athos Salome, often referred to as the "Living Nostradamus", has made some eerie predictions for 2025. Image courtesy: facebook/@Athos Salome As we soon step into 2025, people are excited about whats to come in the forthcoming year, but the Brazilian prophet Athos Salome, often referred to as the Living Nostradamus, has some eerie predictions to offer. Known for his uncanny ability to foresee major world events, such as Queen Elizabeth IIs passing, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Salome has shared his forecasts for 2025 with the British tabloid Daily Star. Advertisement From AI getting out of control to the development of genetically modified humans, Salomes visions for 2025 paint a future filled with both breakthroughs and challenges for the world. Heres a closer look. Genetically modified humans Salome predicts that the veil will finally lift on secret genetic experiments, revealing the existence of genetically modified humans. These individuals will be engineered to be smarter, stronger, and resistant to diseases than average humans. He claims that governments and corporations have been quietly utilising advanced technologies like CRISPR and cloning to create these perfected individuals in hidden laboratories. According to Salome, the first instances of such enhanced humans are likely to emerge from Asian countries, recognised for their advancements in biotechnology. However, he warns that these improved humans could deepen social divides, ushering in an era of genetic inequality. Out of Control AI Salome warns that 2025 could mark the onset of a digital apocalypse, with artificial intelligence reaching a critical point of no return. He suggests that autonomous AI systemssome speculated to display early signs of self-awarenessmight begin making irreversible decisions in crucial fields such as cybersecurity and transportation, reported the outlet citing the Brazilian parapsychologist. Advertisement Salome warns that 2025 could mark the onset of a digital apocalypse, with artificial intelligence reaching a critical point of no return. Existence of ET Salome predicts that 2025 will be the year when authorities finally acknowledge the existence of extraterrestrial life, potentially presenting evidence of microbial organisms on Mars. However, he claims that nations such as China, Russia, and the US may withhold this information to prevent global chaos. Meanwhile, private organisations, including Elon Musks SpaceX, could play a pivotal role in bringing these revelations to light. Mass surveillance According to Salome, 2025 foresees a future where implantable chips will gain widespread adoption, under the guise of health and security advancements. However, he warns that these chips could evolve into tools for mass surveillance, potentially stifling dissent and eroding freedoms. According to him, the groundwork for such a shift was subtly laid during the Covid-19 pandemic, making this transition easier than many might anticipate. According to Salome, 2025 foresees a future where implantable chips will gain widespread adoption, under the guise of health and security advancements. However, he warns that these chips could evolve into tools for mass surveillance. Image for Representation. Pixabay Global energy crisis Salome predicts that a global energy crisis will be deliberately orchestrated as a means of maintaining control over resources and economies. He claims that revolutionary technologies, such as zero-point energy generators, already exist but are intentionally kept hidden from public knowledge. Advertisement Additionally, Salome warns of a strategic push to reintroduce fossil fuels as indispensable, a move that would disproportionately impact developing nations and further deepen economic inequalities. Also read: From asteroid collision to cruel wars: Nostradamus dreadful predictions for 2025 Manufactured climate disasters Salome warns that geoengineering could unleash unforeseen climate disasters, such as hurricanes and droughts emerging in regions where they were previously rare. He suggests that weather manipulation technologies may be weaponised, serving as tools for warfare and economic dominance. Also read: The carbon quandary: AI, big data, and impending environmental crisis Revelations about secret military operations According to Daily Star, Salome predicts that the world will soon be confronted with shocking revelations about secret military operations, including the exposure of underground bases and advanced technologies like gravitational propulsion. These leaks, he believes, will unveil the true extent of global military power and could spark widespread protests against the growing militarisation and lack of transparency in government actions. With input from agencies Under the new rules, passengers can only bring one piece of hand baggage on every flight. The weight restrictions differ based on the travel class and there are tight limits on size for the bag as well. Heres what has changed read more Any tickets booked after May 2, 2024, will follow the updated baggage rules. Reuters The holidays have come, airports are packed, and emotions are running high. However, as you hop onto your flight, its necessary to stay up-to-date with the rules and regulations. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Wednesday introduced new hand baggage rules to streamline the system. As airports get busier, new guidelines are being implemented to manage the increasing number of passengers and ensure better security. Advertisement Heres a detailed look at the latest changes: The new hand baggage rules Under the new regulations, travellers are only permitted to bring one piece of baggage on every flight. This is applicable for both domestic as well as international travel. You will need to check in the additional luggage if you are carrying more than one bag. The weight restrictions for hand luggage differ based on your travel class. One handbag up to seven kilos is permitted for passengers in Economy and Premium Economy class, and up to 10 kilos is permitted for those in First and Business class. Additionally, there are tight limits on size for your hand baggage. A height of 55 centimetres (21.6 inches), a length of 40 centimetres (15.7 inches), and a width of 20 centimetres (7.8 inches) are the maximum dimensions permitted. Make sure your bag fits within these limits to avoid any issues at security. The purpose of the new baggage rules is to facilitate passenger flow through security checkpoints. Airport congestion brought on by the rise in air travel, especially in India, has resulted in delays at security checks. The efficiency of the airport will increase as fewer bags need to be inspected, resulting in speedier security checks and less traffic. Also read: Should India move its capital out of New Delhi to escape air pollution, but to where? Who is not affected? Those passengers who booked their tickets prior to May 2, 2024, are exempt from the revised handbag weight regulations. Advertisement Certain exemptions apply to these passengers: Passengers in economy class are allowed to bring up to eight kilos, those in premium economy up to 10, and those in first and business class up to 12. The revised baggage regulations will apply to tickets purchased after May 2, 2024. Regardless of class, passengers will be limited to the new restrictions. To comply with the new regulations, airlines like IndiGo and Air India have also revised their baggage policy. Also read: Why has Russia asked Indian carriers to run domestic flights? The new Wi-Fi rule for domestic airlines The Indian government released new rules last month that govern using internet services on domestic flights. Advertisement The passengers will only be permitted to use Wi-Fi and other internet services until the aircraft reaches a height of 3,000 metres, or around 9,843 feet, above the ground, according to a statement made by the Civil Aviation Ministry. The move aimed to strike a balance between passenger convenience and the safety of aerial operation. These rules were issued at a time when passengers who want to stay connected even when flying at high altitudes are increasingly using in-flight internet services. Also read: No food or stay, only chaos: The ordeal of 400 IndiGo passengers are stranded at Istanbul airport The rise in airline passengers Over the past few months, there has been a notable increase in the number of passengers on airlines. Advertisement Due to increased demand for air travel, Indian airlines carried 1.42 crore passengers on domestic routes in November, which is about 12 per cent more than during the same month the previous year. Passengers carried by domestic airlines during January-November 2024 were 1,464.02 lakh as against 1,382.34 lakh during the corresponding period of the previous year, thereby registering an annual growth of 5.91 per cent and monthly growth of 11.90 per cent, according to the latest data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Airlines are expanding their fleets in order to meet the growing demand for domestic as well as international flights as more people join the middle class and have more financial freedom. Ciriums 2024 Fleet Forecast projects that the countrys passenger fleet will increase from 720 planes in 2023 to over 3,800 planes by 2043. Advertisement With an order book anticipated to reach 2,000 aircraft by March 2025, Indian airlines are predicted to account for 18 per cent of the Asia-Pacific regions fleet by that time, up from eight per cent currently. With inputs from agencies In the US, Donald Trump achieved the truly incredible feat of becoming the second person in history to win non-consecutive terms as US president. Closer to home, Chandrababu Naidu returned as chief minister of Andhra Pradesh for the fourth time. Lets take a look at the biggest political comebacks of 2024 read more The year 2024 witnessed some extraordinary political comebacks. In the US, Donald Trump achieved the truly incredible feat of becoming the second person in history to win non-consecutive terms as US president. Closer to home, Chandrababu Naidu returned as chief minister of Andhra Pradesh for the fourth time, and Ajit Pawar inflicted the heaviest defeat his uncle Sharad Pawar had seen in his political career during the Maharashtra polls. Lets take a closer look at the big comebacks made this year Advertisement Donald Trump: From political pariah to president There was no bigger comeback than Trump in 2024. After all, his political obituary had practically been written. Trump had lost the 2020 election term to US President Joe Biden the man hed mercilessly mocked as Sleepy Joe. Then, after his supporters had stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, Trump was a political pariah. He had left Washington in disgrace to take up residence in his club in Mar-a-Lago Florida. He was also impeached for the second time though yet again acquitted by the Senate. Trump also faced what seemed like a never-ending avalanche of legal cases. What seemed to be the nadir for him came in May 2024 when he became the first former US president to be convicted of a felony. He sat in a courthouse stone faced as the verdict was read as people outside the courthouse cheered. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial, an angry Trump told reporters after leaving the courtroom. The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people. They know what happened, and everyone knows what happened here. Advertisement Trump had also been found civilly liable in the rape case of writer E Jean Carroll. Then came arguably the most important inflection point of the election Trump in July survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania. The incident resulted in a flood of sympathy for Trump and caused billionaires like Elon Musk to throw their money and muscle behind him. Trump then accepted the Republican party nomination for president. Days later, Trump and his campaign received a setback when President Joe Biden dropped out of his re-election campaign following a disastrous debate. Trump and his campaign were thrown for a loop. Their entire plan had been to run against Sleepy Joe. They thought they had it in the bag. Advertisement President Joe BidenS exit from the race threw the Trump team for a loop. AP Now, they faced a new contender Vice-President Kamala Harris. Trump seemingly struggled to get a handle on how to hit Harris. He seemed angry and upset that Biden had dropped out thus denying him his favoured opposition in the upcoming election. Trump also had what people viewed as a disastrous debate against Harris. His claims that he won the debate and that there was thus no need for a follow up bout only resonated with the most hardcore of believers. Going into election day, most polls and pundits had it dead even between Harris and Trump. However, the momentum on the ground seemed to be with Harris. Her rallies were filled with excitement, enthusiasm and celebrities, while Trump struggled to draw crowds. Advertisement This despite Trump surviving a second assassination attempt at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Worse, Trumps rallies would often be a witness to a steady stream of people hitting the exits. He also continued to rail about how the election was rigged thus setting the groundwork to challenge a possible defeat. Trump at his final event seemed utterly deflated. He spoke about how things were coming to an end and that said he would not run again in 2028. Then Election Day came. And it wasnt even close. Though most people had thought the final result would take days, Trump never abandoned the early lead over Harris. Advertisement Indeed he utterly dominated Harris particularly in the all-important swing states. Trump racked up 332 Electoral Votes compared to just 226 for Harris. More impressively, Trump defeated Harris in the popular vote, which no Republican had done in decades. George HW Bush was the last Republican to prevail in the popular vote way back in 1988. Trump, at age 78, also became the oldest person ever to be elected president. But perhaps Trumps most impressive achievement is to join Grover Cleveland as just the second person to win non-consecutive terms as US president. Little wonder that many have hailed Trumps 2024 win as one of the most impressive feats in modern political history. Indefatigable When Trump takes power in January, he would have sealed his comeback to the highest office in the land in grand style. Perhaps it is only fitting that Trump has been named Time Magazines Person of the Year for 2024. Chandrababu Naidu: The indefatigable politico from Andhra Like Trump, Naidu, 74, too sealed an incredible comeback this year. Naidu, like Trump, had been handily defeated if not disgraced in the previous election. Five years ago, May 2019, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy snatched power from Naidus hands in Andhra Pradesh. This after the YSR Congress registered a historic victory during the 2019 general election winning 151 seats in the 175-member state Assembly. But that wasnt all. The YSR Congress also won 22 of 25 Lok Sabha seats. Meanwhile, Naidus Telugu Desam Party was left in the dust winning just 23 seats in the Assembly and three in the Lok Sabha. The Telugu Desam that ruled the truncated state since it came into being in June 2014 after creation of Telangana, had to be content with a mere 23 seats in the assembly and just three in Lok Sabha. Even Naidus son and heir Lokesh came a cropper. Reddy was sworn in as chief minister on May 30, 2019. As Reddy rose, Naidu fell and fell hard. Chandrababu Naidu became Andhra Pradesh chief minister for the fourth time. PTI After all, this was the man who had decades of political experience, had served three terms as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, gained acclaim as the CEO of the state and won a slew of awards. Naidu in 2021 left the Assembly after derogatory comments were purportedly made against his family by YSRCP MLAs in front of then chief minister Reddy. Naidu swore to return only as chief minister. But the worst was yet to come. Naidu in 2023 was arrested in the Skill Development Corporation Scam case by the YSRCP government. Fortunately for Naidu, he was granted bail in October. He then joined the NDA alliance a reversal from 2019 after Naidu left the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah combine seething. Naidu then sought to capitalise on the wave of sympathy of the wave of sympathy engendered by his arrest. His daughter Nara Bhuvaneswari, the child of TDP founder NT Rama Rao, then went on the Nijam Gelavali (Truth Should Triumph) yatra. Naidu himself went on the Praja Galam (Peoples Voice) yatra in March to mobilise public anger against the YSR Congress and Reddy. When the polls came, Naidu now gave Reddy the same treatment hed received in 2019. The TDP won an even more impressive 163 of the 175 Assembly constituencies and 21 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats. And Naidu was back in the saddle for the fourth time as chief minister. The grand old man of Andhra politics was back where he belonged. This time, when Naidu took the oath of office, it was Reddy who was absent in the House. Ajit Pawar: The comeback king of Maharashtra The King is dead. All hail the King. These words could well have been spoken after the recent polls in Maharashtra after Ajit Pawar handily defeated his uncle Sharad in a prestige battle. In 2023, Ajit split from his uncle to form a breakaway faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Ajit had rebelled before of course. In 2019, after a split between the BJP and Shiv Sena, Ajit joined the government as deputy chief minister alongside Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. But the government didnt last. Neither did Ajits defiance. The prodigal nephew returned to the NCP. But things were different in 2022. This time, the breach was permanent. Ironically, it was history repeating itself this time as tragedy for Sharad who broke himself away from the Congress in 1978 to form the NCP and led to the fall of the Vasantdada Patil government in Maharashtra. Like Sharad had taken senior Congress leaders Govindrao Adik and Sushilkumar Shinde with him, so did Ajit walk out the door with party stalwarts such as Dilip Walse Patil, and Chhagan Bhujbal. The events also mirrored what occurred in 2022 when Eknath Shinde broke apart the Shiv Sena and led to the fall of the then Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Shinde, with the help of BJP, became chief minister of Maharashtra. Ajit, on the other hand, joined the Maharashtra government as deputy chief minister. This time too, both factions of the party lay claim to be the real thing. The Election Commission ruled in favour of the Ajit faction and allotted it the partys famous clock symbol a decision which Sharad challenged in the Supreme Court. This after Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar in February determined that the faction led by Ajit was the real NCP. However, the apex court did rule that the Sharad faction could use Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar" as its name along with the symbol of a man blowing turha. But the consensus remained that the true winner could only emerge at the ballot box. Ajit Pawar inflicted on his uncle Sharad Pawar the worst defeat of his career. PTI Among the many mouth-watering battles in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, perhaps none was an enticing as Ajit vs Sharad in Maharashtra nephew taking on uncle. But the first contest wasnt one not really. This is because the two parties were directly facing each other in just two seats. Sharads NCP-SP easily outperformed against Ajits NCP, winning eight seats in Maharashtra compared to a paltry one seat for Ajit. Ajits wife Sunetra even lost to Sharads daughter Supriya Sule in the Baramati Lok Sabha seat which Ajit said he later regretted. This, as the Indi alliance made massive gains in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh and the NDA lost ground. But the real battle was yet to come. That would be the Maharashtra Assembly polls in November when the Mahyuti of the BJP, Shiv Sena and the NCP (Ajit Pawar) took on the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP (Sharad Pawar). This time, the Pawar family pulled out all the stops against Ajit including Pawar himself, his wife Pratibha and Supriya Sules daughter Revati campaigning for Sharads grandnewphew Yugendra. The result was an absolutely bloodbath for Pawar arguably the worst defeat of his political career including defeats in some of his most prestigious constituencies including the family stronghold of Baramati. The NCP (SP) won just 10 seats, while Ajits NCP took home 41 seats in the kitty. To make things even sweeter for Ajit, the NCP chief handily defeated his nephew Yugendra by 1.16 lakh votes. Now, Sharads political obituary is being written with the man himself dropping hints about retiring. Ajit, meanwhile, has returned as Maharashtra Deputy chief minister and has likely set his eyes on a far higher prize. With inputs from agencies Delhis Bahrisons Booksellers are selling a limited stock of Salman Rushdies controversial novel The Satanic Verses. It will be available in Pune soon. However, the development has been criticised by some Muslim organisations. How is the banned book available again? read more The Satanic Verses is available at a major bookstore in Delhi. X/@sorcerical Salman Rushdies The Satanic Verses is now available at bookstores in India, 36 years after its import was banned by the then Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress government. A limited stock of the book can reportedly be purchased at a major bookstore in Delhi. It is also expected to be available in Pune soon. However, the books sale in India has triggered controversy. Lets take a closer look. The Satanic Verses in India Indian-born British-American writer Salman Rushdies The Satanic Verses is being sold at Delhis Bahrisons Booksellers. @SalmanRushdie 's The Satanic Verses is now in stock at Bahrisons Booksellers! This groundbreaking & provocative novel has captivated readers for decades with its imaginative storytelling and bold themes. It has also been at the center of intense global controversy since it's pic.twitter.com/e0mtQjoMCb Bahrisons Bookseller (@Bahrisons_books) December 23, 2024 Advertisement As per an Indian Express report, the novel will also be available at Book World on Fergusson College Road in Pune from December 30. I have placed the orders for it and the book will be available from December 30. These will be imported versions. We will have an initial stock of 10-12 books, Narendra Chandan, the owner of the bookstore, said. Speaking to the newspaper, a senior employee at Crossword Pune said they will sell the book only when it is published in India, adding that they will not import it. The Satanic Verses stirs new row Rushdies The Satanic Verses being sold in India has sparked a row. Some Muslim organisations have objected to the development and demanded the Centre ban it. Maulana Kaab Rashidi, legal advisor for the Uttar Pradesh unit of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind (AM), told the news agency PTI, If freedom of expression hurts someones sentiments, it is a legal offence. The Satanic Verses is a blasphemous book. Selling such a controversial book under the pretext of freedom of expression cannot be accepted in any form. It goes against the spirit of the Constitution. Advertisement The foundation of Indias Constitution allows for freedom of expression, but it does not grant anyone the right to hurt sentiments. Resuming the sale of The Satanic Verses is an attempt at provocation. It is the governments responsibility to stop this. If the government allows it, it would amount to shirking its constitutional duties, he continued. Rashidi said that Allah and the Prophet are dearer to Muslims than their own lives and hence, the book will never be tolerated. Condemning the sale of Rushdies novel, Maulana Yasub Abbas, general secretary of the All India Shia Personal Law Board, appealed to the Central government to reinstate the ban. Advertisement The book mocks Islamic views, insults Prophet Muhammad and his companions, and hurts sentiments. Allowing its sale poses a threat to the countrys harmony. I urge the prime minister to impose a complete ban on this book in India, he said, as per the news agency. Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi, National President of the All India Muslim Jamaat, said in a statement that no Muslim can tolerate seeing The Satanic Verses on any bookstore shelf. This book insults Islam, Prophet Muhammad, and several Islamic figures. Its content is so offensive that it cannot be repeated. Allowing this book in the market will disturb the nations atmosphere, he was quoted as saying by PTI. Advertisement Calling for the novels ban, Razvi warned of protests from the Muslim community if it starts getting widely sold. Ban and return of The Satanic Verses in India The controversial book has returned to Indian bookstores after more than three decades. Its import was banned by the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1988 reportedly after a demand from Muslim clerics. Rushdies novel had sparked global protests, with some Muslims labelling it blasphemous. They said it mocked their faith. Activists of Pakistan Awami Tehrik party protest against British author Salman Rushdie in Lahore, June 21, 2007. Muslims around the world were outraged by his novel The import of The Satanic Verses was banned in India shortly after its release in 1988. The Indian governments move was criticised by many quarters, including Rushdie who wrote a letter to the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi expressing frustration. Irans Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against Rushdie in 1989, calling for his assassination. The author was forced to spend nearly 10 years in hiding in the United Kingdom and the United States. Advertisement The Booker Prize-winning author lost an eye in 2022 after being stabbed up to 10 times on stage at an event in Chautauqua, western New York by a man named Hadi Matar. In 2017, Sandipan Khan, a resident of West Bengal, had filed a Right to Information (RTI) request seeking the official notification banning the books import. However, after no conclusive response, he moved the Delhi High Court. After government departments failed to produce the notification in court for over five years, the Delhi High Court ruled last month that it had to presume that no such notification exists. With inputs from agencies The bald eagle has symbolised American strength and freedom for nearly 250 years, its image emblazoned on the Great Seal, military emblems, and currency. Yet, it wasnt until Christmas Eve 2024 that it was officially designated the United States national bird read more An American Bald Eagle perches on a branch above the Hudson River at Kingston Point in Kingston, New York, US, March 23, 2015. File Image/Reuters The bald eagle has been synonymous with the United States for nearly two and a half centuries, its majestic figure gracing the Great Seal, military insignias, currency, and countless symbols of American patriotism. Yet, astonishingly, it took until Christmas Eve 2024 for the bird to be officially designated as the countrys national bird. US President Joe Biden signed into law a bipartisan bill that corrected this historical oversight, marking a significant moment in American history. Advertisement The question that is being raised is why it took so long to bestow this honour upon a bird so deeply woven into the fabric of the Americas identity? Why it took nearly 250 years The bald eagle became a national symbol as early as 1782 when Congress approved the design for the Great Seal of the United States. The design depicted the bird clutching an olive branch and arrows in its talons, symbolising the nations capacity for both peace and defence. The bald eagles native habitat, striking appearance, and perceived strength made it an ideal emblem for the fledgling nation. Despite its prominence in American iconography, Congress never legislated the bald eagles status as the national bird. Uncle Sam, a 25-year-old bald eagle, sits on his perch in front of a US flag before the Extreme Raptors Show at the Permian Basin Fair in the Ector County Coliseum fairgrounds in Odessa, Texas, on September 11, 2013. File Image/AP Most Americans assumed that the bird already held the distinction. For nearly 250 years, we called the bald eagle the national bird when it wasnt, said Jack Davis, co-chair of the National Bird Initiative at the National Eagle Center. But now the title is official, and no bird is more deserving. The oversight went unnoticed for centuries until Preston Cook, a Minnesota resident and avid bald eagle enthusiast, discovered the discrepancy. Cook, who has collected over 40,000 bald eagle-related items, stumbled upon the issue in 2010 while conducting research for a book. He realised there was no legislative or presidential proclamation officially designating the bald eagle as the national bird. Alarmed, Cook began lobbying lawmakers, a process that spanned over a decade. It was a little bit of a challenge in the beginning because they wouldnt believe me, Cook said. But after thorough research by legislative staff and archivists, they came to the same conclusion: The bald eagle had never been formally recognised as the national bird. Advertisement With bipartisan support from legislators, particularly from Minnesota home to one of the largest bald eagle populations in the country the bill passed both houses of Congress without opposition. Today, we rightfully recognise the bald eagle as our official national birdbestowing an honour that is long overdue, said Rep. Brad Finstad, one of the bills sponsors. How the bald eagle was selected as a national symbol initally The bald eagle was not an uncontested choice as a national symbol. Founding Father of the US, Benjamin Franklin famously objected to the birds inclusion on the Great Seal. Writing to his daughter in 1784, Franklin described the bald eagle as a bird of bad moral character, criticising it for stealing food from other birds. Franklin championed the turkey, which he considered a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America. Advertisement Despite Franklins objections, the bald eagle was chosen for its grandeur and its exclusive presence in North America. Charles Thomson, the secretary of Congress, recommended the bird for the Great Seal, replacing earlier proposals that featured a small white eagle. Congress adopted Thomsons design in 1782, cementing the bald eagles status as a symbol of American strength and resilience. How the bald eagle survived endangerment While the bald eagle has long symbolised strength and freedom, its own survival has been a testament to resilience and the power of conservation. By the mid-20th century, the bird was on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss, hunting, and the widespread use of the pesticide DDT. The chemical caused eggshells to thin, leading to reproductive failure. In 1963, the population of nesting pairs in the lower 48 states dropped to an all-time low of 417. Alarmed by the decline, Congress passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act in 1940, making it illegal to kill, possess, or sell the birds. The 1972 ban on DDT further bolstered conservation efforts. Advertisement US President Bill Clinton speaks as he stands next to Challenger, an American bald eagle, as the president announces the removal of the American bald eagle from the endangered species list during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, July 2, 1999. File Image/Reuters Thanks to these protections and the dedication of conservationists, the bald eagle population rebounded dramatically. By 2007, the species was removed from the Endangered Species List, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service estimated there were over 316,700 bald eagles in the contiguous United States as of 2020. This is a remarkable recovery story, said Ed Hahn, communications director at the National Eagle Center. It shows what we are able and willing to do when we truly value something. What the bald eagle means today in America The formal recognition of the bald eagle as Americas national bird underscores the broader significance of protecting wildlife and natural habitats. Climate change, pollution, and urbanisation continue to pose challenges to the birds survival, even as its population remains stable. When we look at some of the issues facing other natural resources today, we can look again at our living national symbol, Hahn said. It shows the importance of acting decisively when something is important to us. Advertisement The birds newfound legal status also highlights its cultural and ecological importance. Native to North America, the bald eagle has lived in harmony with Indigenous communities for generations, where it is revered as a sacred animal. Today, the bird continues to inspire Americans, whether soaring over sporting events or nesting in urban areas like New York City and Washington DC. No one has to change anything; its just a correction, Cook said of his successful campaign. It is only a correction in history to make things right and make things the way they should be. For nearly 250 years, the bald eagle has represented the United States to the world. With inputs from agencies Han Duck-soo, who is the Prime Minister of South Korea, took over the presidents powers after Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached nearly two weeks ago. But why does the opposition Democratic Party want to impeach Han? read more South Korea's Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, second from right, became the country's acting leader after President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. AP After the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, now South Korean lawmakers want to remove acting president Han Duck-soo. Han, who is the Prime Minister of South Korea, took over the presidents powers after Yoon was impeached nearly two weeks ago. Executive power in South Korea remains with the president, but the prime minister leads the country if the president becomes incapacitated for any reason. If Yan is impeached too then the finance minister would take over. Advertisement But who is Han? And why do South Korean MPs want to impeach him too? Lets take a closer look: Who is Han? According to The Guardian, Han is a career technocrat. The 75-year-old has been prime minister since 2022. This is Hans second stint in the office. He previously served as prime minister under then liberal president Roh Moo-hyun in 2007-2008. Han has held leadership roles in South Korean governments for over three decades. He has served five presidents liberal and conservative alike. This includes including Roh, Kim Dae-jung and Lee Myung-bak under whom Han was South Korean ambassador to the United States. As per Mint, Han worked closely with top US officials including Joe Biden, who was at the time Vice-President, to bring the countries closer together. Han also previously served as finance minister, trade minister, presidential secretary for policy coordination, ambassador to the OECD, and head of various thinktanks and organisations. Han has a Harvard doctorate in economics. His knowledge of the economy, trade and diplomacy as well as his fame for rationality, moderate demeanour and hard work is why he is constantly sought after in South Korean politics, as per The Guardian. He is a civil servant through and through who didnt take on a political colour despite working under [five presidents], a former high-ranking government official said. Advertisement This is Han Duck-soos second stint as prime minister. AP Yoon, appointing Han in 2022, said he was the right person to lead his Cabinet citing his vast administrative experience at a time when South Korea faces grave environments at home and abroad. He has served in key posts in state affairs solely through recognition of his skills and expertise, unrelated to political factions, Yoon said in 2022 as per The Guardian. I think Han is the right candidate to carry out national affairs while overseeing and coordinating the cabinet, with a wealth of experience that encompasses public and private sectors. Han at the time said he feels both honoured and burdened by the nomination. Advertisement As per Mint, Han is fluent in English and is known across the world. He has served on the board of the private firm S-oil an affiliate of petrol giant Saudi Aramco. Why do they want to impeach him? There are several reasons why the opposition wants to impeach Han. According to BBC, Han has refused to appoint judges to the Constitutional Court nominated by the opposition Democratic Party. The Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, had urged Han to quickly fill vacancies on the court which will determine Yoons ultimate fate. The court can decided to dismiss Yoon or reinstate him. Han has revealed himself to be an acting insurrectionist, not an acting president, DPs floor leader Park Chan-dae was quoted as saying. Advertisement Filling the Constitutional Courts three empty posts could make conviction more likely, as it requires the support of six of the courts possible full nine members. The Democratic Party had also demanded independent investigators for a probe into Yoon over the martial law decree and his wife for corruption and other allegations. The opposition was also upset with Han for vetoing several opposition-sponsored bills, including a controversial agriculture bill. The party had set Han a deadline of Tuesday for passing the bills. However, Han on Tuesday did not reviewing either the bill demanding a probe into Yoon and his wife or the agriculture bill. Han on Thursday yet again declined to appoint the constitution court judges. Advertisement Han claimed he did this to give the ruling and opposition parties more time to reach a compromise. He said he would only do so when the parties arrived at a consensus. Protesters hold a banner showing images of impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol, right, and acting President Han Duck-soo. AP The consistent spirit reflected in our Constitution and laws is that an acting president should focus on maintaining stability in governance to help the country overcome crisis while refraining from exercising significant powers exclusive to the president, including appointments to constitutional institutions, Han said as per Washington Post. I will withhold the appointment of Constitutional Court justices until the ruling and opposition parties submit an agreed-upon proposal. However, Park accused Han of buying time and prolonging the insurrection. Weve clearly warned that its totally up to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo whether he would go down in history as a disgraceful figure, as a puppet of rebellion plot leader Yoon Suk Yeol, or a public servant that has faithfully carried out the orders by the public, Park said. Park said, it has become clear that Han Duck-soo is neither qualified nor willing to defend the constitution. He added that the opposition would immediately table the impeachment bill against Han, as per BBC. According to Washington Post, the impeachment against Han could occur as soon as tomorrow (December 27.) The impeachment vote against Han could also stoke further controversy. While the Democratic Party has 170 of the 300 seats in parliament and the opposition has 192 seats altogether, impeaching presidents requires two-thirds of a vote in the National Assembly. Yoon, remember, was only impeached after MPs from the ruling People Power Party crossed over. The parties also disagree about how many votes would be required to impeach an acting president a two-thirds majority or a simple majority like most other officials. The opposition has also accused Han of aiding Yoons martial law attempt on December 3. Han earlier apologised for failing to block it. The governing People Power Party said that the oppositions impeachment threats are interfering with Hans legitimate exercise of authority. Floor leader Kweon Seong-dong, a Yoon loyalist, said the Democratic Partys politics of intimidation have reached their peak. South Korean prosecutors and other officials are separately probing whether Yoon committed rebellion and abuse of power, but hes ignored requests by investigative agencies to appear for questioning and allow searches of his office. Yoons defense minister, police chief and several other senior military commanders have already been arrested over the deployment of troops and police officers to the National Assembly, which prompted a dramatic standoff that ended when lawmakers managed to enter the chamber and voted unanimously to overrule Yoons decree. With inputs from agencies Asma al-Assad, wife of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is reportedly battling acute myeloid leukaemia, an aggressive cancer of the bone marrow and the blood. The former first lady has previously battled breast cancer in 2019 read more Asma had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive cancer of the bone marrow and the blood. Reuters Asma al-Assad, wife of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is reportedly battling leukaemia. According to The Telegraph report, she only has a 50 per cent of survival. The former first lady, who was born in Britain, is receiving treatment in Moscow and has been isolated to reduce the risk of infection. Heres all we know about it. What do we know about Asmas battle with leukaemia? Asma had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, an aggressive cancer of the bone marrow and the blood. The report claims that the then-first lady has previously battled breast cancer in 2019. After a year of treatment, she had declared herself cancer-free. Advertisement As per The Telegraph, her leukaemia is thought to have returned following a period of remission. Asma is being isolated in order to prevent infection. Born to Syrian parents in London in 1975, the 49-year-old holds dual British and Syrian citizenship. In the face of rapid rebel advances, she is believed to have flown to Moscow for treatment before the Kremlin convinced her husband to leave. She has been under the care of her father, an established cardiologist on Harley Street, for the last six months, initially in the United Arab Emirates and now in Moscow. According to the latest reports, she has also filed for divorce from Bashar al-Assad as she is dissatisfied with her life in Moscow and seeks to get treated in London. However, the Kremlin has refuted the claims, saying, No they do not correspond to reality. Moreover, British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has said Asma is not welcome to return to the UK. Ive seen mentioned in the last few days Asma Assad, potentially someone with UK citizenship that might attempt to come into our country, and I want to confirmed that shes a sanctioned individual and is not welcome here in the UK, he told the Commons following the fall of the al-Assad regime. Advertisement What is leukaemia? Leukaemia is a cancer of the blood, defined by the rapid growth of abnormal white blood cells. The bone marrow, which produces the majority of the bodys blood, is where this excessive growth occurs. Typically, leukaemia cells are immature white blood cells that are still forming. leukaemia usually does not develop into a mass (tumor) that appears on imaging tests like X-rays or CT scans, in contrast to other cancers. What are different types of leukaemia? Leukaemia has four primary forms and multiple subgroups. While some are more prevalent in adults, others are more common in children. By the rate at which the disease progresses: Acute leukaemia advances swiftly as the leukaemia cells divide quickly. Within weeks of the leukaemia cells developing, a person with this form of cancer will experience sickness. Therapy must be started immediately since it poses a serious risk to life. The most prevalent type of cancer in children is acute leukemia. Advertisement Chronic leukaemia cells frequently exhibit both immature and mature blood cell characteristics. Though not to the same degree as their typical counterparts, some cells mature to the point where they perform as the cells they were intended to be. In contrast to acute leukaemia, the disease usually progresses more slowly. It could be years before you notice any signs if you have chronic leukaemia. Adults are more likely than children to experience this. By cell type: Myeloid cells are the source of myelogenous or myeloid leukaemia. Red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are all produced by normal myeloid cells. Lymphoid cells give rise to lymphocytic leukaemia. Your bodys immune system relies heavily on white blood cells, which are produced from normal lymphoid cells. Advertisement How common is it? Leukaemia is the sixth most common cancer in India, accounting for 4.83 per cent of all cancers from 1990 to 2019. In 2022, about 70,000 deaths due to blood cancer were reported in the country. The condition is also relatively common worldwide, accounting for 3.2 per cent of all new cases and 3.9 per cent of all cancer deaths. In 2022, there were 487,294 new cases reported globally. Leukaemia can affect anyone, but its more common among people who are aged 65 to 74, assigned male at birth, and Caucasian or white. What are its symptoms? Symptoms depend in part on the type of leukaemia one person has. Some common signs and symptoms include fatigue, tiring easily, fever or night sweats, frequent infections, shortness of breath, pale skin, unexplained weight loss, bone or joint pain, swollen lymph nodes in neck, underarm, groin or stomach, bruising and bleeding easily. How is it diagnosed and treated? Some diagnostic exams and tests may include routine blood work, blood cell examination, bone marrow biopsy, and lumbar puncture (spinal tap). Treatments can also depend on the type of leukaemia one has. Common options often including a combination of chemotherapy immunotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy, stem cell or bone marrow transplant and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Singh had lost consciousness at his home and was brought to AIIMS later on. He was declared dead at 9:51 pm on Thursday (December 26) read more Former Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, passed away at the age of 92. Reuters Former Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, passed away on Thursday (December 26). He was 92 years old. Dr Manmohan Singh had been hospitalised at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) prior to his death. In a statement, AIIMS Delhi said that Singh was being treated for age-related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home on 26th December 2024. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency at AIIMS, New Delhi at 8:06 PM. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 PM. Advertisement All Government programs scheduled tomorrow are to be cancelled. National mourning of 7 days to be declared. Cabinet is to meet tomorrow at 11 am. Dr Manmohan Singhs last rites to be conducted with full state honours, government sources said. A storied career A towering figure in Indian politics and economics, he was renowned for his integrity, intellect, and soft-spoken demeanor. Dr Singhs career in public service began in 1971 as an economic advisor in Indias commerce ministry. He later served in key roles, including Chief Economic Advisor, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, and Chairman of the University Grants Commission. From 1987 to 1990, he was Secretary General of the South Commission in Geneva. As Finance Minister under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao from 1991 to 1996, Dr Manmohan Singh emerged as a key architect of the countrys economic liberalisation. He spearheaded transformative economic reforms that pulled India from the brink of financial collapse. His policies dismantled decades of socialist-era controls, devalued the rupee, and opened the economy to foreign investment, setting the stage for Indias emergence as a global economic power. Dr Singh served as prime minister for two terms from 2004 to 2014 under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. Among his key achievements were the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), launched in 2005, which provided 100 days of guaranteed wage employment to rural households; the Right to Information Act (2005), and the National Food Security Act (2013). Advertisement Although bound by the political circumstances of his time, Dr Manmohan Singh steered his administration with his head held high. During his time in power, his administration faced criticism for corruption scandals and policy paralysis. Despite the media remaining a harsh critic, Dr Singh remained dutiful in attending press conferences. History is set to be kinder to Dr Manmohan Singh than the newspapers of his day were an astute prediction he had made years ago. With inputs from agencies The potential tax relief is expected to benefit tens of millions of taxpayers, particularly urban residents facing high living costs. A final decision is expected closer to the budget announcement on February 1 read more India is weighing a proposal to cut income tax for individuals earning up to Rs 1.5 million ($17,590) annually in its upcoming budget, aiming to ease the financial burden on the middle class and stimulate consumption amid a slowing economy, Reuters reported citing two government sources. The sources said the government has not yet decided on the extent of the tax cuts. A final decision is expected closer to the budget announcement on February 1. Advertisement Taxpayers in India currently have the option of choosing between two systems: the older framework, which allows exemptions for expenses such as housing rentals and insurance, and the 2020 system, which offers reduced rates but removes key exemptions. The exemption would apply to the new tax regime introduced in 2020. Under this system, incomes between Rs 300,000 and Rs 1.5 million are taxed at rates ranging from 5 per cent to 20 per cent, while incomes exceeding that threshold are taxed at 30 per cent. India gets a bulk of its income tax from persons earning at least 10 million rupees, the rate for which is 30 per cent. Who will benefit from the potential tax cut? The potential tax relief is expected to benefit tens of millions of taxpayers, particularly urban residents facing high living costs. The move, if it comes, may alleviate the anger of the Indian middle-class, upset over the 2024 full budget presented in August this year. Apart from that, boosting consumption is reportedly a major focus point in the discussions. The context for that is that the Indian economy, the fifth-largest in the world, grew at its slowest pace in seven quarters between July and September. This was attributed to low domestic consumption and a temporary slowdown in capital expenditure in the country. More money in the hands of the middle class might help rev up the economy. With inputs from agencies Indias Enforcement Directorate, investigating a money laundering case related to a Gujarati family who froze to death while trying to illegally cross over to the US from Canada, has found more than 260 Canadian colleges involved in an illegal migration racket read more The Enforcement Directorate has found an international syndicate of human traffickers that includes at least 260 colleges in Canada that issued student visas to 'illegal migrants' to take the Canadian route to the US. Source: Reuters. Indias anti-money laundering agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) probing a case linked to the Gujarati family that froze to death attempting to cross over to the US from Canada, has found a connection between an international syndicate of human traffickers and Canadian colleges. It has said that at least 260 colleges in Canada have been issuing student visas to illegal migrants to take the Canadian route to enter into the US. Advertisement The case On January 19, 2022, four members of a Gujarati family Jagdish Patel (39), his wife Vaishali (35), and their two children - an year old daughter and three-year-old son froze to death on the US-Canada border in Manitoba while trying to illegally cross over to the US. The traffickers had left them in the middle of a snowstorm at -37 degrees Celsius. This incident triggered ED to investigate deep into the money laundering operation linked to the trafficking of Indians to the US through Canada. The probe began following an FIR which was filed by Ahmedabad Police against Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel and others, who are accused of orchestrating a network facilitating illegal migration to the US via Canada. Provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) have been invoked in the case. How this network function As part of the trafficking scheme, Patel allegedly helped individuals gain admission to Canadian colleges. The report further mentioned that as per the ED, these individuals applied for Canadian student visas but failed to attend the designated institutions upon arrival. Instead, they used illegal routes to cross over to the US. The colleges allegedly refunded fees to the accounts of the students after having pocketed a commission, raising suspicions of their complicity. Investigations reveal that to send Indians to the US illegally, the agents arranged their admission in colleges/universities in Canada and sent them on student visas. Once in Canada, instead of joining the college, they illegally crossed the US-Canada border, the ED said. The ED suspects that of the 262 such colleges in Canada, a few, which are situated near the Canada-US border, may have been directly involved in the trafficking of Indian nationals. Aspirants pay up to Rs 60 lakhs, and become victims Indian nationals who found the student visa route convenient, compared to the donkey route to enter into the US, were asked by the agents to pay around Rs 55-60 lakh each to arrange their student visa and travel to Canada before being pushed into the US. According to reports, the ED carried out extensive searches across eight locations, including Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara, during which it uncovered two entities operating as intermediaries for student admissions to foreign universities. Advertisement The investigation is underway to gauge the transactions of the Canadian colleges and how much money they made from such illegal migrants. Meanwhile, the central agency has frozen Rs 19 lakh in bank accounts, seized vehicles, and confiscated documents and digital devices as part of its investigation. What else ED found During the recent searches across Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar and Vadodara at premises of several agents involved in sending illegal migrants through these Canadian colleges on December 10 and 19, the ED found that around 35,000 illegal migrants are sent abroad every year by just two agents, based in Mumbai and Nagpur. The probe also found that around 1,700 agents/partners in Gujarat and around 3,500 across India were involved in this racket. ED estimates that more than 800 agents are still active despite a multi-agency crackdown on them, the ED said on Wednesday. As part of the nexus, nearly 112 colleges based in Canada are found to have entered into an agreement with one of the Indian entities in Maharashtra and more than 150 with the other, the ED said. Advertisement The latest searches by the ED found that about 25,000 students were being referred by one entity and more than 10,000 students by the other to various colleges based outside India every year. The agency further said during the investigation, it was also found that at least two such agents based in Mumbai and Nagpur have signed agreements with several universities and colleges abroad for admission of students on commission basis. All potential illegal migrants are then prepared with required documentation for a student visa. With inputs from agencies. The crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J28243 is a tragic reminder of the interplay between operational decision-making, adverse weather, and technological vulnerabilities read more In this photo taken from a video released by the administration of Mangystau region, the wreckage of Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 lies on the ground near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, December 25, 2024. AP The crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J28243, an Embraer 190, serves as a grim reminder of the complexities and vulnerabilities of modern aviation. Scheduled to fly from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, the flight ended in tragedy when it was forced to divert to Aktau, Kazakhstan, after a series of compounding failures. Among the key factors in this disaster were adverse weather conditions, specifically dense fog at Grozny, fuel mismanagement, and GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) disruptions. The combination of these elements created a fatal chain of events, leaving critical lessons for the aviation industry. The Flights Fatal Journey Flight J28243 began its journey as a routine operation but quickly descended into chaos. Grozny Airport, the intended destination, was shrouded in dense fog, rendering visibility inadequate for a safe landing. Fog is one of the most challenging weather phenomena for pilots, as it severely restricts visibility and requires precision navigation and decision-making. Faced with this situation, the flight crew decided to divert to Aktau, Kazakhstan. However, reports suggest that the aircraft encountered GNSS disruptions en route to Grozny, including GPS jamming and spoofing. These disruptions likely caused deviations from the intended flight path, resulting in additional fuel consumption as the crew worked to regain control. By the time the diversion to Aktau was initiated, the aircrafts fuel reserves were critically low. This delay proved fatal, as the aircraft ran out of fuel before reaching the alternate airport, crashing in unforgiving terrain. Fog: The First Domino The dense fog at Grozny was the initial and most significant factor in this chain of events. Modern airports equipped with Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) can handle low-visibility conditions, but such operations require CAT I or better weather minima and pilots trained for such approaches. In this case, Groznys visibility conditions exceeded safe limits, forcing the crew to abandon their landing attempt. The presence of fog highlights the importance of robust alternate airport planning and timely diversion decisions. Aircraft hit: Second Domino Possibility of a hit on the aircraft by either a bird or a weapon of sorts also cannot be ruled out. Did that cause fuel leak/crash remains to be seen. Thats the second domino. Role of GNSS Disruptions Adding to the complexity of the situation was the reported GPS jamming and spoofing encountered by the flight. These forms of GNSS disruption are particularly dangerous in poor visibility conditions, where reliance on accurate navigation data is paramount. Jamming: GNSS jamming blocks satellite signals, rendering navigation systems ineffective. Without these systems, pilots are forced to rely on manual navigation or less accurate backup systems. Spoofing: GPS spoofing introduces false signals, causing navigation systems to display incorrect positions. This can lead to significant deviations from planned routes and increased fuel consumption. For Flight J28243, these disruptions likely caused the aircraft to stray off course en route to Grozny. The resulting course corrections consumed precious fuel, leaving the aircraft with insufficient reserves to reach its alternate destination. Fuel Exhaustion: The Final Blow Fuel management is critical during irregular operations (IROPS), particularly in adverse weather conditions. Diversions must be initiated promptly to preserve fuel reserves, and alternate airports must be carefully selected to ensure suitability. In this case, the delayed decision to divert, combined with the additional fuel burn caused by GNSS disruptions, left the aircraft with no margin for error. As the aircraft approached Aktau, its engines flamed out due to fuel exhaustion. The crew attempted a glide landing, but the terrain near Aktau was unforgiving. Without favourable terrain or sufficient altitude, the aircraft crashed, resulting in a tragic loss of life. Lessons from the J28243 Crash The crash of Flight J28243 highlights several critical lessons for the aviation industry: 1. Weather Preparedness and Alternate Planning: Fog at Grozny was the primary catalyst for the diversion. Alternate airports must meet stringent criteria, including CAT I weather minima, to ensure they can accommodate diverted flights under all conditions. 2. Timely Diversion Decisions: The delay in initiating the diversion to Aktau reduced the flight crews options and safety margins. Early decision-making is essential to avoid scenarios where fuel reserves are critically low. 3. Impact of GNSS Disruptions: The navigation deviations caused by GPS jamming and spoofing exacerbated the situation, increasing fuel consumption and disorientation during an already challenging flight. Pilots and operators must be prepared for such risks, particularly in regions prone to GNSS interference. 4. Fuel Planning in High-Risk Scenarios: Airlines operating in areas with known GNSS disruption risks must account for additional fuel consumption in their planning. Conservative fuel reserves and real-time monitoring of operational risks are critical. The Case for Technological Resilience The J28243 crash also underscores the need for more robust navigation systems to counter GNSS disruptions. Key technologies that can enhance resilience include: 1. Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS): SBAS improves the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of GNSS signals, reducing the impact of jamming and spoofing. Wider adoption of SBAS can significantly enhance safety in regions with frequent GNSS disruptions. 2. Multi-Frequency GNSS Receivers: These systems provide better resistance to interference and can operate even under degraded conditions. They act as a safeguard against malicious GNSS disruptions. 3. Inertial Navigation Systems (INS): INS provides reliable navigation data independent of GNSS signals. Integrating INS with existing systems can mitigate the impact of GNSS disruptions. Conclusion: A Preventable Tragedy The crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J28243 is a tragic reminder of the interplay between operational decision-making, adverse weather, and technological vulnerabilities. Dense fog at Grozny forced the crew to divert, while GNSS disruptions and delayed decision-making compounded the fuel crisis. The crash was not the result of a single failure but a series of interconnected factors, each exacerbating the next. Moving forward, the aviation industry must address these vulnerabilities by improving weather preparedness, ensuring timely diversion decisions, and adopting resilient navigation technologies. Proactive measures are essential to prevent similar tragedies and ensure the safety of all who take to the skies. Only by learning from incidents like J28243 can we hope to build a safer future for aviation. The author is a columnist, Group Captain (retd) and a former fighter pilot of the IAF. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Now that Bashar al-Assad is gone and Turkey has emerged as a clear winner in the regime change episode, Recep Erdogan will have a big role to play new Syria read more On December 8, 2024, a New Syria was born. The rebel offensive that began late last month took down the last remnants of Baathism from the Levant, ending the 54-year-long rule of the Assad family. The dramatic fall of the Assad regime and the takeover of the Syrian capital by the rebel forces came as a big surprise for everyone. Bashar al-Assads military and security institutions collapsed without much of a fight. Many analysts are interpreting Assads fall as a rebirth of the Arab Spring, but only time will tell whether the spirit of the revolution is adhered to and leads to a more prosperous and democratic Syria or the revolutionary fervour is manipulated and put upside down. All sane and democratic forces would never want Syria to become another Iraq or Libya, but there is no dearth of spoilers when it comes to the Middle East. The Syrian uprising deserves to bloom into a beautiful spring. Although the opposition forces have spread reassuring messages regarding the protections of rights of the Syrians, including minorities, and have also asked refugees to return back to Syria, the future of post-Assad Syria seems uncertain or unpredictable as of now. After 13 years since the start of the Arab uprisings, Syria has become a new hope for democracy in the Arab world. In the past few days, Syrians belonging to different sects and creeds have displayed a remarkable sense of unity and shown interest in an inclusive and democratic Syria where peoples aspirations and rights are respected. However, the long civil war has completely devastated the country and widened the ethnic, religious, or sectarian fault lines in the country. Syrians would need to rebuild the country and institutions before they can realise a better democratic future for themselves. There are too many factions and forces within Syria whose actions might derail the prospects of a prosperous and peaceful Syria. Then there are regional Arab states that, in the pursuit of their own narrow interests, would want to see a puppet Sunni regime in Syria that is dependent on Gulf money or passively subservient to them. The Gulf monarchies, especially the UAE or Saudi Arabia, would do everything possible to sabotage efforts to create an Arab democracy in their backyard. They are likely to treat a future democratic Syria as a threat to their own authoritarian regimes in the long term. In the past, they have played a counter role in Egypt, Libya, or even Sudan after the popular uprisings toppled the dictatorial regimes in these Arab countries. The UAE, in particular, has also been supporting Kais Saids power grab in Tunisia, diminishing the prospects of democracy taking root there. The raison detre of the Al-Sisi regime in Egypt isnt in supporting the Syrian revolution. Sisi knows Syrian events could have a domino effect and threaten his own regime. Its heard that ever since Assads fall, Sisi has increasingly become anxious. However, Turkey, because of its strategic location and closeness to the Syrian opposition forces that toppled the Assad regime, will play a crucial role in determining the political future of Syria. Theoretically, Turkey is the only Muslim democracy in the Middle East, and Syria is geopolitically significant for its national interests, including its security concerns on Syrias northern borders. Throughout the course of the Syrian civil war, Recep Tayyip Erdogan found himself in the anti-Assad camp. This was primarily because Erdogans government supported the anti-Assad opposition and Islamist groups in Syria. The problem with Assad was further aggravated by the influx of approximately four million Syrian refugees fleeing the war. The presence of Syrian refugees later became a thorny issue in Turkeys domestic politics, which has recently cost Erdogan and his AKP in the local elections. However, a bigger problem for Turkey was the presence of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and its Syrian counterparts, such as the Peoples Defence Units (YPG), which have been treated as a national security concern in Turkey. The civil war in Syria immensely increased the power of the Kurd separatists who controlled vast areas in the east and northeast of the country. Lately, Kurds in Syria had also cultivated a strategic understanding with the Assad regime to target Turkish interests and the Syrian National Army (SNA) supported by Erdogans government. The SNA continues to fight against Kurd fighters even after Assads fall. All this generated a lot of hostility between Bashar al-Assad and Recep Erdogan and became a prime reason for their frozen relations even when most Arab or Gulf countries had rehabilitated the dictatorship of Assad and restored diplomatic relations. In the meantime, Turkey expanded its reach within the Syrian opposition and cultivated contacts with the Islamist groups such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which recently spearheaded the militant offensive against the Assad regime. Now that Assad is gone and Turkey has emerged as a clear winner in Syria, as many analysts believe, Erdogan has a historic opportunity to play a constructive role in the evolution of a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Syria. Turkey can do this by encouraging dialogue within the Syrian opposition camp and also seeking favourable policy measures from the incoming Donald Trump administration; it will also have to find a solution to the Kurdish issue while seeking a safe return of millions of Syrian refugees back to their home country. This is important in the context that the rebels have spread reassuring messages regarding the return of refugees and also the safety of all minorities. The Syrian people across sects have also seemingly come out united in celebrating the ouster of the Assad family and expressed hopes for an inclusive administration in a united Syria. Seeking a democratic transition in the post-Assad Syrian regime can boost Turkeys image among Arab populations across the region and enhance its standing with its Western partners, including the US. Donald Trump has already recognised the role Turkey played in Assads ouster.Turkey is in a position to enlist US support against terrorist organisations such as ISIS in Syria and help rebuild the war-ravaged country. If Syria descends into chaos and violence again, it would be a threat of historic proportions for Turkey and other neighbouring countries in the region. Since Turkey has gained a lot of mediating power and channels of communication in the post-Assad regime in Syria, it can constructively engage the European Union too in support of a peaceful and democratic transition in Syria. Interestingly, EU Commission president Ursula Leyen, during her recent visit to Ankara, had emphasised and recognised the critical role that Turkey can play in a peaceful transition in Syria in which aspirations of Syrians of all sects are respected. The EU and Turkey can make it clear to the opposition groups to shun violence and extremism and initiate dialogue among themselves. While Turkey has an important role to play in post-Assad Syria, it must tread carefully. It shouldnt be blinded by its strategic victory in Syria. It cant also afford to antagonise the neighbouring Arab countries. Their support for a peaceful transition and reconstruction efforts in Syria is essential. If their concerns arent heard, they have the potential to become spoilers. We have witnessed it in Libya, Sudan, or Yemen. Erdogan can help revive the Astana process and bring Russia and the Iranians to the table again in support of a peaceful transition in Syria. Finally, Turkey must not push its hostility toward Kurdish rebels beyond a point. Kurd-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which have been backed by the Americans, have the potential to derail the entire transition process in Syria. Liyaqat Nazir is a doctoral fellow at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. December 25, 2024: Russias ability to continue the Ukraine war is being compromised due to catastrophic mismanagement of its railway system. This emerging situation is so dire that cutoffs of service to vast areas, starting with Siberia east of Irkutsk to the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk, to save the rest of Russia next year may happen next year. Russian railways account for about 43 percent of all transportation in Russia, and most of its east-west transport. The present rate of loss of rail cars and engines to worn-out axle bearings is so bad that that the Russian economy may come to a standstill and collapse in 1-2 years. One of the key issues here is rail transport of coal, which is declining fast but essential for electric power production. Running trains with worn-out axle bearings causes them to derail and damage tracks such that movement of trains with effective bearings is not possible until the wrecks are cleared and the rail beds are repaired. Such accidents have recently become significant problems. The degree of this problem is clouded because the Russian army has taken scores of thousands, perhaps more than a hundred thousand, rail cars out of service for use as storage of their cargos. It takes time and manpower to both unload them for local storage and then reload them for local transport. Its faster and takes less manpower to unload the rail cars once, directly from the rail cars onto trucks for local delivery. Plus the Ukrainians keep blowing up the unloaded cargo sites. The Russian army has no use for rail coal cars so the decline in rail transport of coal is a good proxy for the proportion of rail cars out of service due to worn-out axle bearings. It is difficult to distinguish rail cars deadlined for worn-out bearings from those with adequate bearings which the Russian army has deadlined as storage for their cargos. Plus there is probably some to considerable overlap between the two. The rail bearing problem arose for two reasons. The first was termination about 35 years ago of the old Soviet apprenticeship system of training manual labor specialists like rail axle bearing repackers, without creation of a new training system. This resulted in the age cohort of workers able to repack the old-style rail axle bearings aging out to the point that 90% are gone. This was not seen as a problem because the Russians planned on converting all their rail engines and rail cars to the new system of rail axle coil bearings around 2030 when the last bearing repackers retire. This didnt happen because of Western sanctions for the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. All modern rail axle coil bearings are produced in NATO countries. China produces its own rail axle coil bearings, but those arent anywhere near as good as Western ones, and China hasnt sold any to Russia because of the sanctions. The Western coil bearings the Russians bought prior to 2022 are starting to wear out and the old bearings which require repacking have increasingly few personnel capable of doing that. It is not possible for Russia to simply import rail cars from elsewhere because of the unique Russian rail gauge, which is wider than that of all other countries save other former Republics of the old Soviet Union, all of whom Russia has promised to conquer next if it wins the Ukraine war. Fixing this problem will take many years even if the war ends immediately and will actually grow increasingly worse for several years before the collapse levels off. Onset of horrific mass starvation with mass refugee flows is likely after three years and would involve the 75 million population Stans (Central Asia) in addition to Russia. Nothing is being done because Putin doesnt want to hear about it. The long-range implications of a Russian railway collapse are worse. Few of the many millions who successfully flee to countries with food will ever return. Russias oil and gas exports will cease due to lack of maintenance on the pipelines conveying those to the West. Pakistan, a country mired in economic troubles, socio-political instability, and sectarian violence, has long professed a first-strike nuclear policy against India. Therefore, reports of Pakistan seeking second-strike capability from China in exchange for allowing Beijing to build a military base in the port city of Gwadar seem strange. According to a report in Drop Site News by Murtaza Hussain and Ryan Grim, China has rejected Pakistans request. The report additionally states that Islamabad also wants Beijing to indemnify it against any potential Western political and economic sanctions in the future. Is Gwadar Port being used as a bargaining chip by Pakistan to leverage greater economic aid and assistance from China? Advertisement China and Gwadar Port Formal talks between Pakistan and China over the latter having a permanent presence in Gwadar are said to be currently underway, with Islamabad seeking economic guarantees from Beijing against possible future Western sanctions or economic blockades. Pertinently, Gwadar Port, built primarily with Chinese funding in the form of grants, serves as a vital component of Chinas strategic interests in the form of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Beijings primary objective has always been to set up a naval port at Gwadar for its vessels to operate and resupply and as a staging post in the Western Indian Ocean. Notably, while Pakistan has been reluctant to publicly acknowledge Chinas plans to establish a naval base at Gwadar, it is widely accepted that this will eventually become a reality. Reports indicate that Pakistan has already begun the process towards this objective. Pakistan has, from time to time, justified the dredging of Gwadar Port by citing the need to permit Chinese vessels to dock. Privately, Pakistan realises the strategic value of a Chinese naval presence in the Western Indian Ocean to counterbalance any Indian presence. Islamabad thus realises the advantage of a PLA Navys presence in the region given the wider regional situation prevailing in the Middle East today. Given this scenario, the request for a second-strike capability in return for a base in Gwadar appears to be a bargaining chip. Pakistan has always wanted more and is trying to extract the maximum from China, in return for permitting Beijing to build a naval base in Gwadar. Does Pakistan need second-strike capability? For decades, China has been assisting Pakistan build its nuclear arsenal, including the transfer of weapons designs and missiles. In fact, some analysts suspect that China has provided Pakistan with tactical nuclear weapons (TNW). Given multi-faceted strategic cooperation between China and Pakistan, under the umbrella of which Beijing has already equipped Pakistan with the wherewithal for full-spectrum nuclear deterrence, the question arises: would Pakistan truly make such a bold demand, especially in exchange for China constructing a military naval base in Gwadar? Second-strike capability is underpinned by a nations ability to withstand a first strike by an adversary and retaliate causing substantial damage in riposte. Pakistans nuclear deterrence and warfighting strategy exists to offset Indias conventional and nuclear capabilities. Unlike India, Pakistan has never professed a no-first use nuclear policy, leaving the door open for a first strike. Lt Gen Khalid Kidwai (retd), former director-general of Pakistans Strategic Plans Division, had identified (in the early 2000s) four red lines in which Pakistan could use nuclear weapons first: territorial losses, economic collapse, military attrition, and regime instability. However, over time, Pakistans nuclear doctrine has evolved to full-spectrum deterrence, primarily in response to the growth of Indias nuclear posture and capabilities. Advertisement Full-spectrum deterrence posture Full-spectrum deterrence means having the ability to use nuclear weapons in all domains. With substantial Chinese assistance, Pakistan is in the process of acquiring such a capability in terms of both weapons and delivery platforms. India, of course, remains the primary strategic concern for Pakistan. Today, the war in the Middle East and lessons from the Russia-Ukraine conflict have made Pakistan wary of the situation it could face in the future. However, as the 2016 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace paper argues, India has not only increased its nuclear arsenal, but also diversified the platforms from which it can deliver nuclear weapons. Additionally, the Ballistic Missile Defence programme gives an extra layer of protection against Pakistans missiles and other platforms. Therefore, Pakistan has shifted stances over time to prepare itself for any eventuality. Advertisement Rauf Khalid, in an article in Paradigm Shift, argues that Pakistans pursuit of second-strike capability mainly refers to the acquisition of nuclear submarines. The Babur-3 nuclear-capable cruise missile, with a range of 450 km, needs a sea-based platform. But recall that Pakistan could still use its Shaheen-III missile with a range of 2,750 km for a second strikeor even for a first strike. Notably, India continues to adhere to its no-first-use nuclear policy. The only reason for Pakistan, therefore, to seek second-strike capability is an assessment that India has quietly shifted its warfighting strategy in the realm of nuclear conflict. Pakistans demand from China, therefore, is for nuclear capability of a much higher order, which is more powerful and destructive. The authors of the Drop Site News report have argued that China is worried about its reputation as a nuclear weapon state and its commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons. Advertisement The international community knows fully well that China has for long violated international law and been a regular nuclear proliferator to both Pakistan and North Korea. So, clearly, Beijing would have no compunctions to give Pakistan more nuclear weapons, if it serves its interests. Lets be clear about that. As of 2022, the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation estimated that Pakistan had 170 nuclear warheads. Based on Pakistans 1998 nuclear tests, its [current warheads have yields ranging from 5 to 12kilotons (kt). Lest we forget, Pakistan also has tactical nuclear weapons and may already have warheads with yields of up to 40 kt, likely supplied by China. Given this situation, it seems there is more than meets the eye to Pakistan asking China for second-strike capability. For now, it can only be said that it is a bargaining chip for Pakistan to extract more from China in return for granting access to Gwadar Port. Advertisement The writer is former Director, NSCS. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. One of the most underreported cases of persistent persecution in the post-colonial period has arguably been that of the Bengali Hindus of East Bengal; it has few parallels in contemporary history read more One of the direct fallouts of the tumultuous regime change in Bangladesh has been a spate of mindless mayhem against the minority Hindu community. Observers of Bangladesh have long warned that the lingering apprehension surrounding the Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu episode is only a grim reality check. The annals of this Indian offspring nation on the eastern frontier are replete with such minority-bashing, consistently carried out with impunity since its creationa fact the world has largely failed to acknowledge. What sets this instance apart is the ubiquitous presence of social media, which has resisted every attempt by vested interests to obscure these gruesome episodes. Indeed, social media has compelled a reluctant mainstream media to provide coverage of the one-sided atrocities. One of the most underreported cases of persistent ethnocide in the post-colonial period has arguably been that of the Bengali Hindus of East Bengal. In terms of the magnitude of brutality and its spreadeven on the scale of timeit has few parallels in contemporary history. Starting with one-sided massacres in collusion with changes in administration; vandalising religious places on the slightest pretext; implicating conscientious leaders in false cases to stifle legitimate movements; dispossessing a particular community of its ancestral land by enacting pernicious legislation like the Enemy Property Act; and using rape as a tool for forced conversion (long before the world became aware of it during the Bosnian War)Bengali Hindus of East Bengal seem to have withstood it all, far from the public eye. Memes like all eyes on Rafah or movements like Me Too never resonated in the public sphere. Take, for instance, an evocative X (formerly Twitter) clip, purportedly depicting a sordid incident that caught attention. It shows a place called Puthia in Rajshahi, with one hapless Supriya Sarkar wailing in the open, after being forcibly dispossessed of her ancestral property, while the police stood by mockingly, serving only as bystanders. Rewind some seven decades. In his book Pak Bharater Ruprekha, Prabhas Lahiry gave a vivid account, portraying the pitiable lives of Hindus who remained in East Pakistan post-partition. The author wrote about the same Puthia and the adjoining Charani estate, where the widowed wife of the zamindar was deftly ousted from the estate of their forefathers by one Qamar Begum. This deceitful woman appeared seemingly from nowhere, just after the zamindars death, and falsely claimed to have been secretly married to him. Taking full advantage of the prevailing grief within the bereaved family, Begum colluded with the district magistratethe notorious Abdul Majid. First, the district authorities tricked the zamindars security into surrendering their firearms, on the pretext of inspection, and then withheld them. That same night, a gang of rabid jihadists rampaged through the zamindari estate and drove out all the family members. Prabhas Lahirys book was not unique. There were several such commentaries, like Jaile Trish Bachor by Trailokyo Nath Chakraborty and Rakte Ronjito Dhaka Barishal by Dinesh Singha, all portraying the grisly onslaught from the pages of East Pakistans history. These accounts had one thing in common: they were all allowed to go out of print, courtesy of the left-liberal establishment in Bengal. Not many know that, unlike on the western front, turmoil on the eastern front began somewhat later in 1950. Jogen Mondals famous resignation letter as Law Minister, after his unceremonious flight to India, may have been the point of inflection. But it followed a series of events, the most gruesome of which was the planned and devious slaughter of Hindus. Curiously, Khushwant Singhs Train to Pakistan, portraying a horrific story of mayhem on a moving train, became famous. But what went unnoticed was a similar incident that took place on the night of 10 February, on Anderson Bridge over the Meghna River, just beyond Bhairab Bazar in Mymensingh. Trains heading towards Dhaka and Chattogram were stopped on the bridgeone after the otherin collusion with railway officials. Then, the unsuspecting and wailing Hindus were taken out, butchered, and their corpses thrown into the dark waters of the Meghna River below, staining it crimson. While that gory incident came to light courtesy of sympathetic mainstream media in West Bengal, another incident of the same nature and no less magnitude took place at the little-known Santahar Railway Station, bordering Bogura and Rajshahi, but went almost unreported. Such a sudden surge in reckless, one-sided violence may have caused significant embarrassment for a fledgling nation globally. Consequently, the perpetrators changed their strategy, opting for low-level but persistent violence. Without unduly alarming the world, this kept the embers burning as a constant irritant for minorities. Analysts often liken this transition to a shift from jhatka to halalboth methods kill, but in different ways. Over the decades, the operating protocol remained the same. Hindu temples were the customary targets of attack, as were the minority communitys educational institutions. The sprawling campus of Rajshahis renowned Bholanath Bisweswar Hindu Academy was summarily taken over one morning, and its adjoining student hostel forcibly vacated. Even Prabhas Lahiry, then a member of the East Bengal Assembly and a minister, had to wage a protracted legal battle to recover the property, ultimately to little avail. In the case of Comillas Iswar Pathshala, established by the renowned Mahesh Bhattacharya, the massive building and its student hostel, Rammala, were requisitioned during Ayub Khans regime. Although the Dhaka High Court subsequently quashed the order, no one in the administration enforced it. The sordid saga of the Barendra Research Society of Rajshahi went to unimaginable lengths. It had a rich historical legacy, having been funded by the celebrated king of Dighapatia. Prabhas Lahiry writes, It was a centre for cultural excellencethe halls of the building were adorned with frescoes of Hindu gods and goddesses of artistic brilliance. Abdul Majid, the same magistrate, was behind this as well. He requisitioned the entire premises. Later, when a court order forced him to revoke the requisition, he turned the majestic museum into a morgue, ensuring the owner could never restore it to its former glory. The Town Hall in downtown Comilla suffered a similar fate. The building, an architectural novelty built by the Maharaj of Tripura (of which Comilla was a zamindari estate), had its panoramic wall adorned with photos of noted sages and freedom fighters. One morning, a gang of marauders descended upon it, tearing down these invaluable photographs and disdainfully discarding them in the adjoining pond. The news somehow reached Kolkatas newspapers. The fallout was swift and unexpected. The next morning brought a strong denial, which ironically confirmed the Hindus precarious situation. It came from three prominent Hindu leaders of Comilla, much to the surprise of those like Prabhas Lahiry, who were anguished by the turn of events. Ground-level inquiries, however, revealed a different story. One of the leaders later confided that they had been summoned that very night by the magistrate and forced to sign a typed statement while a violent mob bayed for their blood outside. Therefore, the recent spectacle of Hindu leaders eulogising the interim government of Muhammad Yunus, in a recently held staged meeting, should not have come as a surprise, had we known these closely guarded stories, beforehand! The individual witch-hunting was pervasive, as usual. The episode of Ajit Datta Choudhury would shake any sane mind to its core. A bright young man from Sylhet, Ajit was an idealist, singularly devoted to the cause of his fellow countrymen. In a time of extreme crisis, when most Hindus around him viewed independence as a disheartening defeat and were torn between staying or fleeing to India, Ajit chose to remain by their side, rejecting the safer option of migrating to India. He went on to become a member of the prestigious Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP). Over the next decade, he worked in various capacities within the government, consistently displaying exemplary courage and defying his adversarial political masters, particularly when they wronged the minorities. Ultimately, it was this principled stand that led to his downfall. During martial law, the Governor of East Bengal, Zakir Hossain, orchestrated his transfer to the position of District Judge in hostile West Pakistan. The covert plan, however, was to frame him in a false case and imprison him. Fortunately, one of Ajit Babus colleagues revealed the plot in time, enabling him to flee to India for his personal safety. In this long period of gloom, a thin line of support has come recently from a few plain-speaking international journalist-activists. However, the works of these contemporary commentators, such as Richard Benkin (A Quiet Case of Ethnic Cleansing: Murder of Bangladeshs Hindus), Joseph Allkin (Many Rivers, One Sea), and Garry Bash (The Blood Telegram), never received the minimal moral support from the establishment in Bengal. Without attempting to decode the psychological refrain of fellow Bengalis on the Indian side in response to the unspeakable suffering of their first cousins, it sometimes feels as though Sheikh Mujib might have given a reluctant nation independence, while his daughter, former PM Hasina, only did her bit to defer the inevitable. This forgotten chapter of human misery, endured by the Bengali Hindus of Bangladesh, has only resurfaced for the mainstream global audience to retrace the lessons that remain unlearnt. The author is a freelance writer, presently working on the translation of Pak-Bharater Ruprekha by Prabhas Lahiry. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. As Israel and Yemen-based Houthis have exchanged fire five times in the past two weeks, it increasingly appears that Yemen is the next battlefield in West Asia after Gaza Strip and Lebanon where an Iranian-backed group would face off Israel read more After silencing Iran, battering Hamas, and forcing Hezbollah into a ceasefire, Israel appears to have the next target in sights: the Houthis in Yemen. In the past two weeks, Israel and Houthis have exchanged fire at least four times. Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his confidant Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, have vowed to impose costs on Houthis for their continued aggression. Netanyahu has said that Israel would attack Houthis with determination. Advertisement The US, and also other countries, like us, see the Houthis as a threat, not only to world shipping, but also to world order. Just as we acted forcefully against the terrorist arms of Irans evil axis, so we will act against the Houthiswith force, determination and sophistication, said Netanyahu on Wednesday. Netanyahu vowed to reshape West Asia and he did Following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Netanyahu declared war on Hamas. Shortly after the conflict began, Netanyahu vowed to change the Middle East. What Hamas will go through will be tough and terrible, were already in the midst of the campaign and weve only just begun. I ask that you stand steadfast because we are going to change the Middle East, said Netanyahu at the time. More than a year later, the region indeed stands changed. Hamas, which ran Gaza with an iron fist, has been reduced to an insurgency from a totalitarian regime. Its leaders are dead, ranks are diminished, and much of its infrastructure has been destroyed, including its prized underground tunnels. In Lebanon, Hezbollah, which joined the war in purported solidarity with the Palestinians, has been battered. Its leadership has been neutralised, its war-waging capacities have been diminished significantly, thousands of its fighters have been killed, and its territorial control has been checked. The group has been reduced to a shadow of its former self after stunning intelligence-led pager and walkie-talkie operations followed by some of the most intensive bombing campaign in decades that was in turn followed by a full-scale ground invasion. Advertisement Around the same time, in two rounds of aerial battles with Israel, Iran also became significantly weakened. As Israeli attacks left Iran essentially naked and dealt a setback to its nuclear programme, Iran was in no shape to either help Hamas or Hezbollah as it was busy licking its own wounds. Therefore, Hezbollah decided to go for a ceasefire and Hamas appears to be falling in line as well as reports suggest a deal with Israel is on the horizon. As Iran was battered and Hezbollah had essentially laid down arms, the opposition groups in Syria seized the opportunity and ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad. With their man out of power in Syria, Iran and Hezbollah lost their strategic depth in the region. Advertisement Is Yemen the next battlefield? The Houthis in Yemen are the last ones standing in Irans Axis of Resistance against Israel. There have been reports that Iraq-based, Iran-backed Shia militias have also decided to not pursue the conflict with Israel. Since December 16, in response to Houthis attacks, Israel has conducted five rounds of airstrikes inside Yemen four of them within a week. On their part, the Houthis have fired more than 200 missiles and 170 drones at Israel in addition to continuing their terrorist campaign in the Red Sea. In the wake of escalating conflict and Israeli leaders statements assuring retribution, it increasingly appears that Yemen could be the next battlefield in West Asia after Gaza and Lebanon. Defence Minister Katz warned Houthis: We will strike [the Houthis] strategic infrastructure and decapitate its leaders. Just as we did to Haniyeh, Sinwar, and Nasrallah, in Tehran, Gaza and Lebanon we will do in Hodeidah and Sanaa. Advertisement But can Israel really punish Houthis? Even as Israel has laid bare the intention to punish Houthis, issuing a threat is much easier than implementing it. For one, Houthis are quite far from Israel, so Israel cannot batter them the way it did Hamas in Gaza Strip next door and Hezbollah in neighbouring Lebanon. Secondly, even though Houthis are part of the Iran-sponsored Axis of Resistance in the region, it does not share exactly the same relationship with Iran that Hamas or Hezbollah had. This means that even though they support each-other, Houthis have independent decision-making. This means that while Iran can pressure Hamas or Hezbollah into making peace with Israel, it cannot do it with Houthis. Moreover, as Houthis are the only remaining potent force, their assertiveness as well as support from Iran have increased. In short, the group is emboldened more than ever at the moment. Advertisement The relationship will grow closer now that Hezbollah has stood down and Assad has lost power, said Kenneth Katzman, a Senior fellow at Soufan Center, to The Times of Israel. However, Wolf-Christian Paes, a Senior Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), told ToI that Houthis would not meet Assads fate even if Irans support ends. If tomorrow you had, say, a regime change in Tehran or the government in Tehran would decide to stop this, it doesnt mean that necessarily the Houthis would stop, said Paes. Moreover, Houthis are well-adapted to withstand bombing campaigns and are experts in using the mountainous terrain of Yemen to their favour, which makes destroying their launchpads difficult, noted Lazar Berman in an article in ToI. Berman further said that Israel can only find success against Houthis by working for a more muscular American and Arab coalition against. He added that military moves would have to be accompanied by diplomacy, such as potentially moving toward closer ties with its natural allies in the region. Therefore, while Israel can conduct episodic airstrikes inside Yemen to punish Houthis, only a systemic joint-campaign with the United States and other Western militaries may deal a blow major enough to drive the group to scale down their activities. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem for prayer for the welfare of our soldiers, to swiftly return all the hostages and total victory with Gods help read more Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visits the Al-Aqsa compound during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, in Jerusalem's Old City, December 26, 2024. Source: X | @itamarbengvir. Israels ultranationalist security minister ascended to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem on Thursday for what he said was a prayer for hostages in Gaza, freshly challenging rules over one of the most sensitive sites in the Middle East. Israels official position accepts decades-old rules restricting non-Muslim prayer at the compound, Islams third holiest site and known as Temple Mount to Jews, who revere it as the site of two ancient temples. Advertisement Under a delicate decades-old status quo arrangement with Muslim authorities, the Al-Aqsa compound is administered by a Jordanian religious foundation and, under rules dating back decades, Jews can visit but may not pray there. In a post on X, hardline Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said: I ascended today to our holy place, in prayer for the welfare of our soldiers, to swiftly return all the hostages and total victory with Gods help. , , . pic.twitter.com/uSBQCk64aZ (@itamarbengvir) December 26, 2024 The post included a picture of Ben-Gvir walking in the compound, situated on an elevated plaza in Jerusalems walled Old City, but no images or video of him praying. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office immediately released a statement restating the official Israeli position. Palestinian militant group Hamas took about 250 hostages in its October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel in which 1,200 people were killed, according to Israeli tallies. In the ensuing war in Gaza, Israeli forces have killed over 45,300 Palestinians, according to health officials in the Hamas-run enclave. Advertisement Suggestions from Israeli ultranationalists that Israel would alter rules about religious observance at the Al-Aqsa compound have sparked violence with Palestinians in the past. In August, Ben-Gvir repeated a call for Jews to be allowed to pray at the Al-Aqsa mosque, drawing sharp criticism, and he has visited the mosque compound in the past. Ben-Gvir, head of one of two religious-nationalist parties in Netanyahus coalition, has a long record of making inflammatory statements appreciated by his own supporters, but conflicting with the governments official line. Israeli police in the past have prevented ministers from ascending to the compound on the grounds that it endangers national security. Ben-Gvirs ministerial file gives him oversight over Israels national police force. Advertisement In the wake of US President-elect Donald Trumps pledge to impose tariffs on Mexico over the failure to check the flow of drugs into the United States, Mexico has ramped up the crackdown on the drug business in the country read more Mexican authorities have ramped up action against production and distribution of drugs such as fentanyl in the country in recent days. (Representative photograph of Mexican police, Credit: Reuters) More than 400,000 pills containing the deadly opioid fentanyl were seized and destroyed by Mexicos Attorney Generals office, along with six tons of chemical precursors for the drugs, the agency said Wednesday. A statement said the narcotics were seized in multiple operations in the western Mexico state of Jalisco, where the powerful New Generation cartel operates. The agency seized 416,751 tablets and 6.9 kilograms (15 pounds) of fentanyl, 990 acetaminophen tablets and more than six tons of 20 different chemical precursors, all of which were destroyed. Advertisement Mexico has ramped up its operations against the trafficking of synthetic narcotics, especially fentanyl, with US President-elect Donald Trump ramping up pressure on the issue. The Republican, who will begin his second term on January 20, has threatened to levy 25-percent tariffs on Mexican exports if the country fails to contain drug trafficking and the influx of illegal immigrants to the United States. Earlier in December, the Mexican government announced the seizure of over one million fentanyl pills, described as the largest seizure of fentanyl in history by Mexican Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin, has been linked to tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the United States. Mexico is one of the main trafficking routes for the drug and for the chemicals to manufacture it, most of which come from China. Trump has also threatened tariff hikes on Canada and China over illegal migration and their alleged role in the US opioid crisis. As Turkish military has joined hands with its proxies inside Syria to wage a military campaign against Kurds, the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has also started fighting back against Turkey-backed militias inside Syria in multiple theatres read more Members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) hold weapons in Deir al-Zor, after U.S.-backed alliance led by Syrian Kurdish fighters captured Deir el-Zor, the government's main foothold in the vast desert, according to Syrian sources, in Syria December 7, 2024. (Photo: Reuters) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that Kurdish fighters in Syria face two choices: surrender or death. In the cover of the opposition forces push against the Assad dynasty, Turkey late last month opened a front against Kurds in Syria, an ethnic minority that runs an autonomous region called Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) in the countrys northeast. Turkey equates Syrian Kurds Peoples Defense Units (YPG), the mainstay of AANES military wing Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), with Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency inside Turkey for decades and has been designated as a terrorist organisation. As Turkey equates YPG and SDF with the PKK, it has essentially launched a full-scale campaign against them which involves Turkish military and Turkey-backed groups in Syria. Advertisement As Turkey-led attacks show no sign of ending, Kurdish forces have also started launching counterattacks in multiple theatres in Syria. As the Kurds once saw their region once ravaged by the Islamic State, there are concerns that the new alliance waging a war against them comprising Turkey, Turkey-backed militias like the Syrian National Army (SNA), and Syrias new rulers Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), could lead to another round of ethnic cleansing in the country and revive the Islamist violence that they spent years suppressing. Surrender or die, Erdogan tells Syrian Kurds In a speech to his party in the parliament, Erdogan on Wednesday (December 25) said that Kurds in Syria could either surrender or be buried. The separatist murderers will either bid farewell to their weapons or they will be buried in Syrian lands along with their weapons. We will eradicate the terrorist organisation that is trying to weave a wall of blood between us and our Kurdish siblings, said Erdogan. Earlier this week, Erdogan had said that Turkey would remove the PKK from the region. Together, these comments essentially amount to the declaration that Turkey is running a full-scale campaign against Kurds in Syria. Erdogan went on to say that PKK and what he called PKKs Syrian offshoots would undoubtedly be removed from the region. Erdogan said, These murderous groups, which deny anyone the right to live or speak, will undoubtedly be removed as a source of threat to our region." Syrian Kurds fight back on multiple fronts As Erdogan has launched a full-scale campaign against Kurds, the Kurdish SDF has also started to fight back on multiple fronts. The Turkish offensive against Kurds is primarily driven by SNA on the ground with aerial support by warplanes and drones from regular Turkish military. The most intensive fighting has been around the town of Manbij in Aleppo province that the SNA captured as the HTS-led opposition groups were on their march to Damascus late last month. Since the capture of Manbij, the SNA has attacked Kurds at Kobani and HTS has captured the town of Deir Ezzor from Kurds. Advertisement In recent days, the Turkish-backed groups have also launched attacks against Kurds near Raqqa, which SDF Spokesperson Farhad Shami said had been repelled. Wladimir van Wilgenburg, a journalist and author with expertise on Kurds and West Asia, told Al Arabiya that while the SDF has not entered Manbij, it has made territorial gains in the vicinity of the town. The assertion has been confirmed by the SDF as well. Shami said on X on Wednesday that the SDF continued to successfully engage Turkish-backed groups in the region. Our forces successfully thwarted the attacks of Turkish occupation mercenaries on villages south of the Tishreen Dam, eliminating and wounding many mercenaries, forcing them to flee, said Shami. Advertisement Sharing details not made public previously, Shami said that SDF in the vicinity of Abu Qalqal, southeast of Manbij, effectively countered the attacks of the Turkish occupation mercenaries and destroyed several military vehicles belonging to the mercenaries and eliminated many of them. Shami said intense clashes continue in the region. Shami said that the SDF was not just fighting SNA but was under attack from regular Turkish military as well. He said that Turkey had launched a barrage of heavy artillery fire upon areas surrounding the Tishreen Dam and the axes of engagement along with drones that caused significant damage to the dam. Advertisement Previously, Shami said on Monday that the Kurdish forces launched a counterattack at Tishreen Dam near Manbij. He said that the SDF seized 10 bodies of Turkish occupation mercenaries, captured one fighter, and destroyed five military vehicles. Last week, the SDF over the weekend said it killed 52 SNA fighters in battles around Tishreen Dam. In the second such instance, the SDF said it launched a counterattack against advancing SNA forces in Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor provinces, according to Rudaw. The outlet quoted SDF as saying that it lost 16 soldiers in fighting with the SNA in these areas. In the third case, Kurdish forces also successfully foiled an infiltration attempt by the Turkish occupation mercenaries on the village of um al-Baramil, east of Ain Issa, according to Shami. Advertisement Speaking to Al Arabiya, van Wilgenburg said that the SDF has made territorial gains in recent days, partly due to the weather that disallowed Turkey to provide substantial aerial support to SNA and others on the ground, allowing SDF to hit them hard. He said that the SDF has recaptured some villages close to Tishreen Dam near Manbij. Why do Kurds matter in Syria? The Kurds are the main US ally in Syria and mainstay in the counterterrorism operations against Islamic State (IS) and others in the region. As the SDF is under attack from the Turkey-SNA-HTS combine, its counterterrorism mission has been compromised. Moreover, the SDF runs several prisons housing as many as 40,000 Islamic State terrorists and their families. There are fears that there might be attempts to storm these prisons by utilising the Turkey-induced chaos. The Kurds are also concerned that, under conditions created by Turkeys actions, various factions of Islamists might come together and the community may face ethnic cleansing just like Nagorno-Karabakh faced at the hands of Turkey-backed Azerbaijan. Earlier this month, SDF chief General Mazloum Abdi told Fox News that he expected those Islamists, different factions to unite, to fight with ISIS and that will bring back tougher extremists, terrorist organisations back to the country. Separately, Fox Chief National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin quoted a Kurdish source as saying the community fears an ethnic cleansing may be in the offing amid Turkeys campaign against them. The Turks have begun moving toward Kobani. We need to stop this as quickly as possible. This is extremely dangerous and threatens the existence of the Kurds in Syria. Ethnic Cleansing ongoing and Civil War alarm bells start to ring, the source told Griffin. The 3-week old baby was the third to die from the cold in Gazas tent camps in recent days, doctors said, deaths that underscore the squalid conditions, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians crammed into often ramshackle tents after fleeing Israeli offensives read more People check the site on an Israeli strike at a house in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on November 22, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group. Image- AFP file A baby girl froze to death overnight in Gaza, while Israel and Hamas accused each other of complicating ceasefire efforts that could wind down the 14-month war. The 3-week old baby was the third to die from the cold in Gazas tent camps in recent days, doctors said, deaths that underscore the squalid conditions, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians crammed into often ramshackle tents after fleeing Israeli offensives. Israels bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza has killed over 45,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count. Advertisement The offensive has caused widespread destruction and displaced some 90% of Gazas 2.3 million people, often multiple times. Hundreds of thousands are packed into tent camps along the coast as the cold, wet winter sets in. Aid groups have struggled to deliver food and supplies and say there are shortages of blankets, warm clothing and firewood. Israel has increased the amount of aid it allows into the territory, reaching an average of 130 trucks a day so far this month, up from around 70 a day in October and November. Still, the amount remains well below than previous months and the United Nations says it is unable to distribute more than half the aid because Israeli forces deny permission to move within Gaza or because of rampant lawlessness and theft from trucks. The father of 3-week-old Sila, Mahmoud al-Faseeh, wrapped her in a blanket to try and keep her warm in their tent in the Muwasi area outside the town of Khan Younis, but it wasnt enough, he told The Associated Press. He said the tent was not sealed from the wind and the ground was cold, as temperatures on Tuesday night dropped to 9 degrees Celsius (48 degrees Fahrenheit.) Muwasi is a desolate area of dunes and farmland on Gazas Mediterranean coast. It was very cold overnight and as adults we couldnt even take it. We couldnt stay warm, he said. Sila woke up crying three times overnight and in the morning they found her unresponsive, her body stiff. Advertisement She was like wood, said al-Faseeh. They rushed her to a field hospital where doctors tried to revive her, but her lungs had already deteriorated. Images of Sila taken by the AP showed the little girl with purple lips, her pale skin blotchy. Ahmed al-Farra, director of the childrens ward at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, confirmed that the baby died of hypothermia. He said two other babies one 3 days old, the other a month old had been brought to the hospital over the past 48 hours after dying of hypothermia. Ceasefire complications Meanwhile, hopes for a ceasefire looked complicated Wednesday, with Israel and the militant Hamas group that runs Gaza trading accusations of delaying an agreement. In recent weeks, the two sides appeared to be inching toward a deal that would bring home dozens of hostages held by the militants in Gaza, but differences have emerged. Advertisement Although Israel and Hamas have expressed optimism that progress was being made toward a deal, sticking points remain over the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, people involved in the talks say. On Wednesday, Hamas accused Israel of introducing new conditions related to the withdrawal from Gaza, the prisoners and the return of displaced people, which it said was delaying the deal. Israels government accused Hamas of reneging on understandings that have already been reached. Still, both sides said discussions are ongoing. Israels negotiating team, which includes members from its intelligence agencies and the military, returned from Qatar on Tuesday evening for internal consultations, following a week of what it called significant negotiations." Advertisement During its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, Hamas and other groups took about 250 people hostages and brought them to Gaza. A previous truce in November 2023 freed more than 100 hostages, while others have been rescued or their remains have been recovered over the past year. Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Gaza at least a third whom it believes were killed during the Oct. 7 attack or died in captivity. Sporadic talks have taken place for a year, but in recent weeks theres been a renewed push to reach a deal. President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office next month for his second term, has demanded the immediate release of Israeli hostages, saying on social media that if theyre not freed before he is sworn in, there will be HELL TO PAY. Advertisement Families of the hostages are becoming increasingly angry, calling on the Israeli government for a ceasefire before Trump is sworn in. After Israels high-level negotiation team returned from Doha this week, hostage families called an emergency press conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, pleading for a ceasefire and a complete end to the war. Shir Siegel, the daughter of Israeli-American Keith Siegel, whose mother was released after more than 50 days in captivity, said every delay could endanger their lives. There are moments when every second is fateful, and this is one of those moments, she said. Families of the hostages marked the first night of Hannukah with a candle lighting ceremony in Tel Aviv as well as by the Western Wall in Jerusalem. The agreement would take effect in phases and include a halt in fighting, an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and a surge in aid to the besieged Gaza, according to Egyptian, Hamas and American officials. The last phase would include the release of any remaining hostages, an end to the war and talks on reconstruction. Houthi attacks Also Wednesday, a missile launched by Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels triggered air raid sirens across central Israel, sending residents fleeing to shelters. The Houthis said they operations were aimed at Israeli targets in the cities of Jaffa and Ashkelon. It was the fourth time in a week that fire from the Yemeni rebels set off sirens in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will strike anyone threatening lives in Israel and warned the Houthis that they would learn lessons that Hamas, Hezbollah and Syrias ousted President Bashar Assad have learned. Israel also requested an emergency meeting by the U.N. Security Council to address the recent attacks. The meeting is set for Monday. Israels U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said he expects the council to condemn the Houthi attacks and called on it to enforce international law and hold Iran, the Houthis patron, accountable. A massive fire broke out at Building 7 of the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka on Thursday which was brought under control after over six hours. While a high-powered team has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the blaze, heres what Muhammad Yunus-led interim government has to say about the incident read more Too early to determine whether the fire that broke out in the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday was a part of conspiracy or an act of sabotage, Muhammad Yunus-led interim government said. A massive fire broke out at Building 7 of the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka in the early hours of Thursday (December 26). It took over six hours to bring the blaze under control. The fire service was notified at 1:52 am, and they began operations at 1:54am. The fire was completely brought under control at 8:05am," Bangladeshs Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said, further informing that the blaze broke out on the fifth floor of the Building 7 around 1:50 am on Thursday before spreading on other floors upwards. Advertisement Security increased at Bangladesh Secretariat Security was amped up in and around the Bangladesh Secretariat, with members of the armed forces, police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) deployed at various gates of the complex. High-powered investigation committee constituted Addressing media during a visit to the fire site, Jahangir said, It is too early to determine whether the fire at Building 7 of the Bangladesh Secretariat was part of a conspiracy or an act of sabotage. He further said that the cause of the fire could only be confirmed after a thorough investigation. Jahangir further said that the formation of a high-powered investigation committee had been ordered to probe the incident. Fire soon started to spread upwards The fire caused significant damage to the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth floors of the building, a report by Dhaka Tribune quoted Fire Service and Civil Defence Director General Brigadier General Muhammad Jahed Kamal as saying. He further said that the flames had spread rapidly due to the electrical lines. The fire service chief further said that firefighters were now entering various rooms in the building to ensure all remnants of the fire were extinguished. One killed in Bangladesh Secretariat fire Soon after receiving the message about the blaze at the Secretariat, around eight fire tenders were rushed to the site. More units joined them later and in all, a total of 19 firefighting vehicles were deployed to douse the flames. However, a firefighter, identified as Sohanuzzaman Nayan, who was responding to a fire, died after being run over by a truck while crossing the road. He sustained injuries after being hit by a truck while crossing the road to connect a line from a local water pump. He was rushed to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital where he was declared dead. According to a report by Bangladesh-based media outlet Prothom Alo, Sohanuzzaman was working in the special unit of Tejgaon and was a resident of Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur. Cause of fire at Bangladesh Secretariat The origin of the fire could not be confirmed immediately, authorities said. As per the website of the Cabinet Division, Building 7 of the Bangladesh Secretariat houses various departments of the Ministry of Youth and Sports; Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology; Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives; Ministry of Labour and Employment; Ministry of Finance; and Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges. Advertisement The fire disrupted traffic on the main road in front of the Secretariat, from Paltan to Zero Point. Fire tenders and other emergency response units occupied the area, with several ambulances kept on standby. Also, a large number of onlookers congregated outside the Secretariat along with officials and staff who stood waiting, unable to enter their offices earlier. However, controlled entry at the Bangladesh Secretariat resumed on Thursday morning under tight security measures. Gate No 5 of the Secretariat was reopened, allowing officials and staff to enter one at a time. With inputs from agencies. The decline in Bangladeshi tourists, after the political crisis and coup, has adversely affected Indias foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs), according to a report, citing government data read more Indias tourism industry, already under considerable strain, is facing additional challenges due to the recent political crisis in neighbouring Bangladesh. According to a India.com report, citing government data, the decline in Bangladeshi tourists, after the political crisis and coup, has adversely affected Indias foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs). This is especially concerning, as Bangladeshi tourists represent the largest group of foreign visitors to India, making up 20 per cent of total FTAs, added the report. Advertisement For Bangladeshi nationals, India serves not only as a travel destination but also as a hub for medical treatment and shopping. According to the report, citing official data through August, 20.8 per cent of all tourists who visited India between January and August were from Bangladesh, down from 22.3 per cent during the same period last year. The situation worsened in August, with Bangladeshi tourists accounting for just 15.6 per cent of total arrivals, added the report. The decline has been more pronounced on a monthly basis. In July, Bangladeshi tourist arrivals fell by 20.3 per cent year-on-year, with only 157,000 visitors from Bangladesh that month. The numbers dropped further in August, plummeting by 38.1 per cent annually to just 99,000 visitors. From January to August, the total number of Bangladeshi tourists decreased by 9.1 per cent, totaling 1.286 million, reported India.com. Ever since COVID-19 pandemic, Indias tourism sector has been struggling to recover fully. In 2019, the country welcomed over 1.09 crore foreign tourists, but that number fell to 27.45 lakh in 2020 and 15.27 lakh in 2021 due to strict lockdowns and travel restrictions. While there was some recovery in 2022, with 6.191 million tourists visiting India, the figures still fell short of pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, the total reached 9.236 million, and as of August 2024, the foreign tourist arrivals stand at 61.91 lakh, still well below 2019 figures. In contrast, neighboring destinations like Qatar, Dubai, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka have surpassed pre-pandemic foreign tourist arrivals. Advertisement For instance, Qatar reported a 47 per cent increase in foreign tourists compared to pre-pandemic levels, highlighting the challenges India faces in reclaiming its status as a leading travel destination, added the report. With inputs from agencies A body of a person was found in the wheel well of United Airlines jetliner after a plane from Chicago touched down in Hawaiian island of Maui read more United Airlines said it was working with authorities on the investigation. Source: Reuters | Representational Image. A dead body was found in the wheel well of a United Airlines jetliner after the aircraft landed in the Hawaiian island of Maui, the airline said on Wednesday. The body was discovered in the one of the compartments that houses the airplanes landing gear when United Flight 202 from Chicago OHare International Airport landed at Kahului Airport on Tuesday afternoon, according to the airlines website. No further details about the deceased person were provided. Advertisement The wheel well was only accessible from outside of the aircraft. At this time, it is not clear how or when the person accessed the wheel well, it said. United Airlines said it was working with authorities on the investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Stowaways in the unpressurised wheel-houses and cargo holds of planes can face temperatures of between minus 50 degrees and minus 60 degrees Celsius (minus 58 and minus 76 degrees Fahrenheit), as well as a lack of oxygen. While the fatality rate for most wheel-well stowaways is high, some people have survived the ordeal. A person was found alive in the undercarriage bay of an Algerian carriers aircraft in Paris last year. In January 2022, a stowaway was discovered alive in the wheel section under the front of a Cargolux freight plane that arrived at Amsterdams Schiphol Airport from Africa. December 26, 2024: Russia invading Ukraine in 2022 has turned out to be a big mistake. So far nearly 800,000 soldiers have been killed, wounded or missing. Millions of 18-45 year old military age men have fled the country. That meant Russia was forced to take men as old as fifty or 60. All these losses created a labor shortage, with millions of jobs unfilled. That meant higher wages to attract scarce workers. This in turn led to high prices for consumers. There is also an in-progress collapse of the railway system that may result in economic collapse in 1-2 years and mass starvation in 3-4 years. That may somehow be avoided. If not, the losses will be immense and Russia may never recover. Many who left the country were university educated, or skilled tradesmen. These refugees were either able to speak another language like English, German or Polish or were willing to learn one quickly. While Poland bordered Russia it was not receptive to Russian refugees. Poland has been invaded, partitioned and occupied many times in the last two centuries, and Russians were usually the aggressor. If a Russian seeks asylum in Poland the Poles often encourage moving on to more hospitable nations further west. Migration, combat deaths and low reproduction rates are rapidly reducing the Russian population, which is currently about 145 million. It is expected to fall as low as 133 million by 2050. Russia conducted its first census in 1897. The population of what is now the Russian Federation was 125 million. That rose to about 136 million in 1920 but declined to 109 million in 1939. Until 1991 Russia was part of the Soviet Union, which was formed from the ruins of the centuries-old Russian Empire in 2022. When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, the population was 286 million. About 51 percent of that belonged to the 147 million people of what is now the Russian Federation. The declining number of Russians is not unique. All industrialized nations, with a few exceptions like the United States, are suffering population decline. The Americans avoid that because of continued legal and illegal immigration million. Currently the U.S. has 340 million people. By 2050 that is predicted to be 371 million. While 2024 was touted as the mother of all election years with 80 countries holding polls, the year 2025 will have fewer races. This does not mean that the year does not have the potential to be eventful read more The year 2024 witnessed several monumental elections from around the world. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi secured a third term in office, in the US erstwhile President Donald Trump made one of the most significant political comebacks in American political history. The elections that played out this year raise questions about what is in store for 2025. While 2024 was touted as the mother of all election years with 80 countries holding polls, the year 2025 will have fewer races. This does not mean that the year does not have the potential to be eventful. Here are some of the key races the world will closely watch next year. However, the list is not an exhaustive one. 2025 can also witness several surprise polls, given the political turbulence in countries like Israel, France, South Korea, etc. Advertisement Here are some of the key battles which can make the new year exciting in regards to the geopolitical arena. Belarus Presidential Elections - January 26 Belaruss president Alexander Lukashenko is expected to witness little to no challenges as Belarus heads to polls in January 2025. Lukashenko is touted as the last dictator of Europe. One of the main reasons for the title is the fact that the Belarusian leader has won every single election since the country became independent in 1994. Lukashenko has often been accused of rigging the polls and curbing the voices of dissent. Many believe that Lukashenko often crushed his opponent with the help of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was not eager to see a neighbouring country embrace democratic change. The Belarusian leader will now run for the seventh term in 2025 with no challengers at the site. Earlier this year, the draconian leader signed a law that gives him lifetime immunity and generous access to government resources should he ever step down as president. The same law also bars any presidential candidate from fighting from abroad. This clause was directed at Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who went into exile, despite many claims that she won the last elections in the country. Kosovo Parliamentary Election - February 9 The European nation is scheduled to go to polls in February amid brewing animosities with Serbia. The election is believed to mark a milestone in the countrys fourteen-year history. Prime Minister Albin Kurtis Levizja Vetevendosje (LVV), or Self-Determination Party will become the first Kosovan leader will become the first political group to complete a full four-year term in office. Polls in Kosovo are sparse, due to the turbulent political landscape of the country. Northern Kosovo is dominated by the Serbian population which operates as a separate entity. Not only this, Russia has been an ardent supporter of the Serbian cause, making things challenging for Kosovo. However, LVV looks poised to win a plurality, if not a majority, of seats in February polls. However, the party has strenuous ties with the European Union and the United States, which often accuse it of enflaming tensions with Serbs. The LVV in turn accuses the EU and the United States of appeasing Serbia. Hence, the part will be facing challenges from both Russia and the West. Germany Bundestag Election - February 23, 2025 The country is heading to polls earlier than scheduled because the governing coalition composed of Social Democrats, the Green Party, and the Free Democrats collapsed last month in the wake of conflicting policy visions. With the ruling coalitions poor performance at the recent state elections, the centre-right Christian Democrats are now touted as the party to beat. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is polling in second raising concerns across Europe. The party recently bagged endorsement from Tesla CEO Elon Musk. German Chancellor Olaf Scholzs Social Democrats are at number 3. However, it is quite likely that the Bundestag will see another coalition government. Hence, the stability of that government will be the bigger question. Advertisement Australian Parliamentary Elections - May 17 and September 27 While the election of the Australian Senate will take place on May 17, all 150 seats in the House, which selects the prime minister, will be decided before September 27. Polls indicate that Incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses popularity has dipped significantly in recent months and centre rights Peter Dutton has seen a major political rise. Albanese is running on the slogan of Building Australias Future, which lays out an ambitious spending agenda on education, health, and other social programs. Meanwhile, Dutton pledges to get Australia back on track by taming energy, housing, and living costs. However, he is known for making many questionable actions, when he was previously in government. Bolivia General Elections - August 17 The election in the Latin American nation will be all about the political rivalry between Former Bolivian President Evo Morales and his friend-turned-foe Luis Arce. While Morales is barred by the countrys court from contesting in the race due to his legal cases, the former Bolivian leader remained adamant about staying in the race and has been leading several protests across the country. Meanwhile, Arce is deeply unpopular because under his reign, Bolivias economic growth has slowed significantly poverty is growing, and Morales and others have accused him of organizing a self-coup this summer in a bid to regain public favour. With the ruling party suffering from major cracks, the tensions can lead to the rise of a new political party in the forefront. Advertisement Canadian Federal Elections - October 20 Another significant election which will take place next year is the Canadian Federal Election, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Liberal Party will witness significant challenges. Trudeau is heading into 2025 with less than one out of three Canadians approving of his job performance and some of his fellow Liberal Party members calling for him to step down. Trudeaus biggest rival in the race will be Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre. While Canadian law requires the federal election to be held by October 20, it could come earlieror even later. Interestingly, the deadline for the polls could be moved to October 27 because of the Hindu festival of Diwali. A visit of a senior Chinese ideologue to a Tibetan exhibition on the Dalai Lamas succession has signalled that Beijing has started setting the stage for the issue of succession read more Even as the Dalai Lama has assured his followers that he is in good health, the Chinese regime appears to be setting the stage for the succession struggle. China has maintained from the onset that Tibet has always been an intrinsic part of China and the appointment of Dalai Lama has always been subject to the approval of the Chinese leadership in Beijing. The Tibetans, meanwhile, have maintained that their homeland had never been a Chinese province. They maintain that the issue of Dalai Lamas success is solely their matter and has no role of Beijing. Advertisement As the Dalai Lama is nearing 90, China appears to have started making moves regarding the question of Dalai Lamas succession. Wang Huning, the Chairman of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top advisory body in China, attended an exhibition about the reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhist leaders on Monday, according to South China Morning Post. The newspaper said Wangs visit was a sign that China was preparing to face the issue of Dalai Lamas succession ahead of the Tibetan leaders 90th birthday. Earlier this week, Dolma Tsering Teykhang, the Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, told Reuters that the Dalai Lama could give more clarity on the issue of succession around the time he turns 90 in July 2025. The Dalai Lama has historically been the religious and political leader of Tibet and its Buddhist natives. Unlike the Pope, who is the leader of worlds Catholic Christians, the institution of the Dalai Lama does not just witness succession but reincarnation. It is believed that every Dalai Lama is a reincarnation of the first. The current Dalai Lama, whose birth name is Lhamo Thondup, is believed to be the 14th incarnation of the first Dalai Lama. Extensive preparation underway for Dalai Lamas succession: Analyst Wang visited the semi-official China Tibetology Research Centre (CTRC) in Beijing on Monday, according to SCMP. The CTRC maintains that the reincarnation of various Dalai Lamas and other significant living Buddhas have historically required approval from the central authorities, and illustrates that Tibet has been an inseparable part of China since ancient times. The CPPCC in its official newspaper said that Wang and members accompanying him vowed to maintain national unity and ethnic solidarity, with a focus on cultivating a strong sense of identity among all ethnic groups concerning the great motherland, Chinese culture, the Communist Party and socialism with Chinese characteristics. Advertisement The SCMP described Wang as the ideology czar of the Chinese regime and said cited Tibetan affairs analyst Barry Sautman to report that Wang has been quite active in visiting areas with a large Tibetan population, including Garze and Aba in Sichuan with President Xi Jinping and a Tibet Aid Programme conference in August. As the Chinese regimes key political theorist, Wang has repeatedly been in-charge of developing theoretical frameworks to counter Western narratives on ethnic minorities in China and articulate Beijings position, according to the newspaper. Serving as a key political theorist for Chinas leadership, Wang repeatedly emphasises developing theoretical frameworks to counter Western narratives on ethnic minority issues. Advertisement Sautman, a specialist on Chinas ethnic minorities at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, told the newspaper that since the CTRC was Chinas largest institution for Tibetan studies and Wang was a social scientist, the function of his trip could be to become acquainted with the centres latest research. Sautman further said, There is likely to be extensive preparation under way within Tibet-related central government institutions to deal with the issue of the Dalai Lamas succession. Whats the issue with Dalai Lamas succession? Shortly after the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), the Communist Chinese regime turned to subdue China. The Chinese regime invaded Tibet in 1949-50 and eroded its autonomy by essentially annexed it. Even though the agreement between Tibet and China, the 17-Point Agreement, promised autonomy to Tibetans, the Chinese rulers began a cultural crackdown that led to unrest. Advertisement In 1959, after years of Chinese occupation, the Tibetans revolted unsuccessfully against the occupiers. As the occupation forces prevailed, the Dalai Lama escaped Lhasa along with his followers and sought refuse in India. Since then, the Dalai Lama has been based in India where he and his followers established the Government-in-Exile of Tibet. The Dalai Lama and Tibetans in exile maintain that they retain all rights related to the succession whereas Beijing shares it would have the final say in the matter. As a Dalai Lama appointed by the Chinese regime would be a Chinese stooge and sing Beijings tune, the free Tibetans outside of the clutches of Chinese regimes rule say the appointment would not mean anything. Advertisement The Dalai Lama has said that he would leave a will before his death which would mention the issue of succession. He has said that he may even decide to discontinue the tradition of reincarnation. In 2019, the Dalai Lama told Firstposts Madhur Sharma at his home in Dharamshala that he is the final authority, not China. The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, the future of the Dalai Lama, is ultimately in my own hands. At the time of my death, I will write some will. So my rebirth, I think, will somewhere [be in the] Buddhist community. As early as 1969, I made clear even [that whether] the institution of Dalai Lama should continue or not [is] up to Tibetan people. Reincarnation is not important. Its important that Buddhas teachings remain, said the Dalai Lama in conversation with a media delegation to which Sharma belonged. On other occasions, the Dalai Lama has said that his successor may even be found outside of China-controlled Tibet, perhaps in a free country like India. Tartus, traditionally a bastion of loyalty to Assad, is now showing signs of internal fractures, with residents resisting security operations and pro-Assad factions turning against the state apparatus read more The portrait of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani is pictured on the back of a car in the coastal Syrian city of Latakia, on December 10, 2024. (AFP) Syrias security forces launched a military operation on Thursday (December 26) in the coastal province of Tartus, targeting armed groups loyal to the deposed government of Bashar al-Assad. The move came a day after deadly clashes left at least 17 people dead, including 14 security personnel, in what appears to be a significant escalation within the fractured remnants of Assads former regime. According to state media, the operation aimed to neutralise a certain number of fighters and restore order in Tartus, a province long considered a stronghold of Assads Alawite community. Advertisement The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group that relies on a network of sources inside Syria, reported three fatalities among the armed factions during the operation in Tartus city, describing them as pro-Assad gunmen. The province has witnessed growing unrest in recent days. On Wednesday (December 25), heavy clashes erupted in the town of Khirbet al-Maaza when security forces attempted to arrest an officer from Assads former government, linked to abuses at a notorious detention facility. The Observatory reported that resistance from local armed groups, including an ambush targeting security personnel, resulted in significant casualties. In the aftermath, dozens of individuals were reportedly detained as the authorities sought to reassert control. The escalating violence points to the challenges facing Syrias current leadership as it attempts to consolidate power. Tartus, traditionally a bastion of loyalty to Assad, is now showing signs of internal fractures, with residents resisting security operations and pro-Assad factions turning against the state apparatus. Adding to the tensions, unrelated protests broke out in other parts of western Syria on Wednesday. Demonstrators gathered after a video surfaced showing an attack on an Alawite shrine, sparking outrage in the community. In Homs city, security forces reportedly opened fire on protesters, killing one, according to the Observatory. With inputs from agencies Advertisement Western nations, including France, have consistently maintained that no decisions on Ukraines future can be made without its participation, maintaining a united front in support of Kyiv. But is the reality different? read more Pictured here (L-R) are the Presidents of Ukraine, France, and Russia, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Emmanuel Macron, and Vladimir Putin, respectively. Agencies/Firstpost Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday (December 26) claimed that France had attempted to engage in dialogue with Moscow on the Ukraine conflict without involving Kyiv. Paris has dismissed the claim swiftly, calling it intemperate. Lavrov, speaking at a press conference, alleged that French officials had approached Moscow through confidential channels on multiple occasions, proposing talks on Ukraine. Without Ukraine, he emphasised, adding that Russia was ready to listen. He did not provide specifics on when these overtures occurred or any further details about the alleged discussions. Advertisement France firmly denied the claim, with AFP quoting a diplomatic as saying that, The Russian authorities are accustomed to making intemperate remarks aimed at exploiting a war of aggression for which they bear full responsibility. The source reiterated that any negotiations must be determined by Ukraine, as the country under attack. Western nations, including France, have consistently maintained that no decisions on Ukraines future can be made without its participation, maintaining a united front in support of Kyiv. France has also raised the possibility of deploying Western troops to Ukraine to monitor any future ceasefire agreement, although such an idea remains in the early stages of consideration. The discussion over potential peace talks comes as US President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office next month. Trump has pledged to end the nearly three-year conflict but has not outlined a specific plan. Last week, on December 18, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to his Ukainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Macron expressed his wholehearted support for the bereaved and all Ukrainian people and assured Zelenskyy that Paris, with its European partners, was making continued, increased support for Ukraine its absolute priority. It would continue giving Ukraine the means to defend itself and defeat the war of aggression waged by Russia for nearly three years now, according to a press release by the French government. Advertisement With inputs from agencies France has rescued 107 people illegally travelling to the United Kingdom via the English Channel read more An official has suggested using facilities built by UK to deport illegal immigrants in Germany to Rwanda. Image used for representative purpose/AFP French authorities said they rescued 107 migrants trying to cross the Channel from France to England on Wednesday. Over the course of Christmas Day, 12 rescue operations were staged along the coast of northern France, including of a boat experiencing engine trouble, Frances Channel and North Sea maritime prefecture said in a statement. In the morning, 30 passengers were rescued from a boat near Dunkirk, while the others onboard wished to continue onwards and were taken into British custody once they reached British waters, the maritime authorities said. Advertisement Another boat experiencing engine damage was spotted later in the day, also near Dunkirk, and all 51 passengers were rescued. Later, 26 people were taken off a boat experiencing difficulty near Calais. The English Channel is a particularly dangerous area, especially at the height of winter for precarious and overloaded boats, the statement said. At least 73 migrants have died trying to cross the Channel to Britain this year, according to the Pas-de-Calais authorities, making 2024 the deadliest year on record for the crossings. Tens of thousands more have reached Britain, where the government has vowed to crack down on people-smuggling gangs. In November, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for greater international cooperation against the gangs, which he described as a global security threat similar to terrorism. Five staffers of the Palestinian TV channel Al-Quds Today, affiliated with the Islamic Jihad movement, were killed in an Israeli strike on their vehicle in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza read more Five members of the Palestinian TV channel Al-Quds Today, which is affiliated with the Islamic Jihad movement, were killed Thursday in an Israeli strike on their vehicle, the outlet said in a statement. The missile hit their broadcast truck as it was parked in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, according to the statement. The channel identified the five staffers as Faisal Abu Al-Qumsan, Ayman Al-Jadi, Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Khalil, Fadi Hassouna and Mohammed Al-Ladaa. Advertisement They were killed while performing their journalistic and humanitarian duty, the outlets statement said. Tonight, Israel carried out an attack on a broadcast vehicle belonging to journalists in front of Awda Hospital in Nuseirat, resulting in the deaths of five media workers. The victims are as follows: 1. Journalist: Ayman Al Jadi 2. Journalist and Correspondent: Faisal Abu https://t.co/m4MRzJwG91 pic.twitter.com/xKfOW1hurj Gaza Notifications (@gazanotice) December 26, 2024 We affirm our commitment to continue our resistant media message, it said. The Israeli army said in its own statement it had conducted a precise strike on a vehicle with an Islamic Jihad terrorist cell inside in the area of Nuseirat overnight. Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance and additional intelligence, it said. According to people who saw the attack in Nuseirat, a missile fired by an Israeli aircraft hit the broadcast vehicle, which was parked outside Al-Awda Hospital, setting it on fire and killing those inside. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said last week more than 190 journalists have been killed and at least 400 have been injured since the start of the war in Gaza on October 7, 2023. Advertisement The October 7 attack last year by Hamas resulted in 1,208 deaths on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Israels military campaign, launched in response, has killed at least 45,361 people in Gaza, a majority of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territorys health ministry that the UN considers reliable. The Israeli military relaxed its rules of engagement at the start of the Gaza war, allowing commanders to order attacks on targets despite an increased risk of civilian casualties, according to a report read more The silhouettes of a military vehicle and a soldier are seen near the Gaza border, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, in Israel, on December 16, 2024. Reuters File The Israeli military relaxed its rules of engagement at the start of the Gaza war, allowing commanders to order attacks on targets despite an increased risk of civilian casualties. According to a report by the New York Times on Thursday, after the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas-led gunmen, the military empowered mid-ranking officers to strike a variety of military targets, even if it could result in the deaths of up to 20 civilians. Advertisement This order permitted the military to target lower-ranking militants in their homes, surrounded by family and neighbors, rather than only when they were alone outside, the report added. The report was based on interviews with over 100 soldiers and officials, including more than 25 individuals involved in selecting and vetting targets. The New York Times claimed that the Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The report said the military acknowledged that the rules of engagement had changed after October 7 but said its forces had consistently been employing means and methods that adhere to the rules of law. The Hamas-led attack on communities around the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023 killed 1,200 people and saw more than 250 taken as hostages into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israels ground and air campaign in response has killed more than 45,000 people and wounded more than 107,000, according to Gaza health ministry figures, displaced most of the 2.3 million population and laid waste to much of the coastal enclave. In addition to raising the number of civilian casualties that could be risked in a single attack, the New York Times said the military removed a limit on the cumulative number of civilians that its strikes could put at risk each day. Advertisement On a few occasions, the military high command approved strikes that they knew would put as many as 100 civilian lives at risk, the newspaper said. It said the military often relied on a crude statistical model to assess the risk of civilian harm, mainly depending on estimates of cellphone usage rather than extensive surveillance of a single building. From November 2023 onward, the rules were tightened, including by halving the number of civilian casualties that could be risked in attacks on low-level targets, the newspaper said. It added that the rules remained far more permissive than before the war. With inputs from agencies Advertisement Japan Airlines (JAL) the countrys second-biggest airline after All Nippon Airways (ANA) is just the latest Japanese company to be hit by a cyber attack read more (FILES) This photo taken on August 24, 2024 shows a Japan Airlines (JAL) Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner passenger jet (C) sitting at a gate at Tokyo International Airport at Haneda. AFP Japan Airlines on Thursday reported a cyber attack which it said could impact flights, without offering further details. We can confirm that we have been subjected to a cyber attack and are addressing the situation, a Japan Airlines spokeswoman told AFP. It is likely to have an impact on flight operations moving forward, she said. There is a possibility that delays and cancellations may occur, the spokeswoman added, but said the carrier was not yet able to give details on specific delays. Advertisement Japan Airlines (JAL) the countrys second-biggest airline after All Nippon Airways (ANA) is just the latest Japanese company to be hit by a cyber attack. In 2022, the government said a cyber attack was behind disruption at a Toyota supplier that forced the top-selling automaker to halt operations at domestic plants for a day. More recently, the popular Japanese video-sharing website Niconico suspended its services in June because it was under a large-scale cyberattack, its operator said. On the Christmas day, Russia launched a combination of cruise and ballistic missiles at Ukraines energy infrastructure overnight leading to power outage in most parts of the country read more Rescuers of the State Emergency Service work to put out a fire in a private house after a drone strike in Kharkiv, on December 25, 2024, amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Source: AFP. It was a dark Christmas in several regions in Ukraine as earlier in the day, Russia launched cruise and ballistic missile strikes at energy sites in the neighbouring country which it invaded on February 24, 2022 that resulted in a massive power outage. Dark & scary Christmas in Ukraine Russias attack on Ukraine came when the latter officially celebrated Christmas on December 25 for only the second time, in a move to reduce the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church, which celebrates on January 7. However, on Christmas Day, the Ukrainian military launched a nationwide air raid alert in response to Russian missile launches, prompting people to take shelter in metro stations. As per Ukraines air force, the Russian missiles were fired at the eastern Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Poltava regions. Advertisement The Ukraines air force said that the strikes on Ukrainian fuel and energy sources included 78 air, ground, sea-launched missiles and 106 Shaheds as well as other types of drones. It further claimed to have intercepted 59 missiles and 54 drones, with 52 more drones being jammed. Inhumane Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attack by Russia on Christmas day was not a spontaneous decision. It is a deliberate choice not only of targets but also of timing and date Today, Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack. What could be more inhumane? Zelenskyy said in a post on social media platform X. Over 70 missiles, including ballistic ones, and more than a hundred attack drones, the Ukraines President said. Blackout in Ukraine Zelenskyy further slammed Russia and said that the target of the enemy is Ukraines energy infrastructure. They continue to fight for a blackout in Ukraine, he said. Meanwhile, Ukraines Energy Minister German Galushchenko wrote on messaging app Telegram, The enemy is again massively attacking the energy sector. Zelenskyy further said that as per preliminary reports, defensive forces managed to intercept more than 50 missiles and a significant number of drones. Unfortunately, there have been hits. As of now, there are power outages in several regions. Power engineers are working to restore power supply as soon as possible, he said. We will restore the maximum. Russian evil will not break Ukraine and will not spoil Christmas, Zelenskyy said. Every massive Russian strike requires time for preparation. It is never a spontaneous decision. It is a deliberate choice not only of targets but also of timing and date. Today, Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack. What could be more inhumane? Over 70 missiles, pic.twitter.com/GMD8rTomoX Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) December 25, 2024 Advertisement Destruction & loss of life in Ukraine The governor of the Kherson region informed that one person had been killed and three more were injured over the last 24 hours. At least six people were injured in Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine in the Russian missile assault, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said. In a statement on Telegram, Syniehubov further said the attack caused damages to civilian non-residential infrastructure. In central Ukraines Dnipro, at least one person was killed in Russias attack, informed Vice Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba on Telegram. He added that heating was disrupted for 155 residential buildings and 500,000 people in the Kharkiv region were without heat. Advertisement Dnipro Governor Serhiy Lysak said there were widespread attacks and he accused Russia of trying to destroy the regions power system. Power outage in Ukraine State energy operator Ukrenergo applied preemptive power outages across Ukraine due to a massive missile attack, leading to electricity going out in several districts of the capital, Kyiv. Ukraines largest private energy company, DTEK, said Russia struck its thermal power plants, making it the 13th attack on Ukraines power grid this year. This year, it is the 13th massive attack on the Ukrainian energy sector and the 10th massive attack on the companys energy facilities, the company said on Telegram. Denying light and warmth to millions of peace-loving people as they celebrate Christmas is a depraved and evil act that must be answered, Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK wrote on his X account. Advertisement Biden condemns outrageous attack US President Joe Biden condemned Russias latest assault on Ukrainian territory as outrageous and vowed to continue supplying arms and weapon to Ukraine. The purpose of this outrageous attack was to cut off the Ukrainian peoples access to heat and electricity during winter and to jeopardize the safety of its grid, Biden said. I have directed the Department of Defence to continue its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine, and the United States will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen Ukraines position in its defense against Russian forces," the US President further said. Washington has committed $175 billion in aid for Ukraine - although it is uncertain the flow of assistance will continue under Donald Trump, who will replace Biden on January 20. With inputs from agencies. Advertisement The canal, which was completed in 1914, was constructed by the United States and handed over to Panama on December 31, 1999, according to treaties signed approximately twenty years earlier read more A cargo ship traverses the Agua Clara Locks of the Panama Canal in Colon, Panama, September 2, 2024. File Image/AP Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino stated on Thursday (December 26) that he would not engage in negotiations with Donald Trump regarding control of the Panama Canal. This comes in response to the US president-elects suggestion that the canal should be returned to Washington. Additionally, Mulino dismissed the idea of reducing canal tolls for US vessels and denied any influence from China over the crucial waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Advertisement If there is an intention to talk, then theres nothing to talk about, Mulino told a weekly press conference. The canal is Panamanian and belongs to Panamanians. Theres no possibility of opening any kind of conversation around this reality, which has cost the country blood, sweat and tears, he added. The canal, which was completed in 1914, was constructed by the United States and handed over to Panama on December 31, 1999, according to treaties signed approximately twenty years earlier by then-US president Jimmy Carter and Panamanian nationalist leader Omar Torrijos. What had Trump said? Trump on Saturday (December 21) slammed what he called unfair fees for US ships passing through the canal and hinted at Chinas growing influence. If Panama could not ensure the secure, efficient and reliable operation of the channel, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question, he said. Mulino said the usage fees were not set at the whim of the president or the administrator of the interoceanic waterway, but under a long-established public and open process. There is absolutely no Chinese interference or participation in anything to do with the Panama Canal, Mulino said. On Tuesday, numerous protesters gathered outside the US embassy in Panama City, shouting Trump, animal, leave the canal alone and burning a picture of the incoming American president. With inputs from agencies December 26, 2024: The old saying of adapt or die is applicable to life in general and war in particular. While not adapting in your life can harm, discomfort, surprise or dismay you, its usually not fatal. In war, failure to adapt will often get you killed. History is replete with examples. In ancient times the Greek city states that did not adapt eventually lost their independence while the ancient Romans eventually lost their empire by not adapting to new threats. One of Romes foes was the Persian Empire. The Persians were enthusiastic adaptors and that enabled them to stop the previously unbeaten Roman army. The Persians did this with mounted soldiers, in an age before stirrups were invented. These horsemen were heavily armed with sword, lance, darts and a compound bow which was compact and accurate at more than 200 meters. Both rider and horse were armored. These mounted warriors were often called cataphracts, a term indicating that rider and horse were both armored. The use of cataphracts began over 2,500 years ago and declined rapidly with the appearance of gunpowder weapons. By the 1500s the cataphracts were obsolete and cavalry survived into the 20th century as scouts. Warfare underwent some major adaptations in the last century as satellite, aerial and drone surveillance made long distance combat possible. Explosives-equipped weapons continued to evolve into the 21st century when drones suddenly appeared during the Russia-Ukraine war that began unexpectedly in 2022. The rapid developments during the Ukraine War should not have been surprising because they follow a trend laid out during numerous 20th century conflicts. That was when combat continued to become more of a distant, but deadlier, experience. The campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq reminded military commanders worldwide that trends in how wars are fought over the last three centuries are continuing and accelerating. Three hundred years ago, in the early 18th century, gunpowder in muskets and mobile cannon extended the range of weapons beyond what any army had ever seen before. That was just the beginning, as over the last three centuries, weapons have achieved longer range, and greater accuracy. This has forced armies to spread out. By a century ago, it was often necessary for armies to spread out over many kilometers of frontage. For thousands of years before that, a few hundred meters of front was the most two armies would encounter. But with rifles and artillery being able to hit with increasing accuracy, at ever longer ranges, troops had to spread out and keep their heads down. No more standing tall together in large groups and marching into battle. In World War II, the average tank engagement was about 700 meters, but it took an average of 18 shots to knock out another tank. During the 1973 Arab Israeli war, the average range was about a kilometer, and it only took two shots to destroy the target. By the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the average range was over two kilometers, and it took a little more than one shot per kill. The wars in Kuwait, Israel and Iraq were unique, however, in that they were fought in generally flat, desert-like terrain with little vegetation. A large part of World War II was fought in urban or wooded areas, where the longest shot you could get, under any circumstances, was about half a kilometer. The increased accuracy of modern tanks makes their gun more lethal no matter what the range. But longer range means that enemy crews with less training, and less capable fire control equipment, are less likely to get off an accurate shot. And increasingly, the first shot is the one that will kill you. Bombing accuracy has also made enormous gains. During World War II, you had to drop about nine thousand bombs, from an altitude of 10,000 feet, to guarantee a hit on an 18x30 meter target. You had to stay that high to avoid most of the anti-aircraft fire. Back then, CEP/Circular Error of Probability was one kilometer. That meant that half the bombs dropped would fall into the one kilometer circle. By the 1950-53 Korean war, CEP had improved to 330 meters, meaning it only took 1,100 bombs to hit the target. A decade later, during the Vietnam war, CEPs of about 120 meters were achieved. This meant only 176 bombs were needed. By the 1991 Gulf War, the average CEP was 60 meters, and 30 bombs were needed. In 2003, the CEP was less than ten meters, and one bomb, and one aircraft, was all it took. During World War II, it required over 500 aircraft to get the hit, which is why back then, most of the bombing was either with hundreds of bombers, or a much smaller number of bombers coming in very low and very likely to get shot down if the target was heavily defended. In the last two decades, the U.S. Army has emphasized marksmanship. This means that infantry, machine gunners and tank crews are much more accurate than they have been in the past. This is a major reason why anyone fighting American troops takes such high casualties. While most opponents fire wildly, American troops fire back with deadly accuracy. All of these changes, and the American dedication to marksmanship, has greatly upset the leaders of many foreign armed forces. The highly accurate tanks and bombs require money. Not just for the equipment, but for the cost of wear and tear on equipment, and ammo used, for lots of training. Most nations keep defense costs down by not using their weapons a lot and not firing off a lot of ammo. But this has increasingly led to catastrophic defeats at the hands of more accurate and better trained troops like the Americans or British, or troops of any army that trains a lot. For decades, the Soviet Union built weapons that were not sturdy enough to be used a lot for training. These tanks, guns and other weapons were meant to be taken care of until there was a war, then they were used a lot, in the hope that a quick victory could be achieved. Now that the Soviet model has been, well, disgraced, many generals, and admirals, are being forced to rethink over half a century of accepted wisdom. In the end, adapt or face defeat now or eventually. The United States is trying to absorb the drone lessons of the Ukraine War but is having a hard time doing so while at peace. When at war you must adapt or be destroyed. In peacetime you can talk and study an innovation to death. This is why so many nations are paying attention to what happens in Ukraine and then trying to adapt their own forces to these new methods. Greenlands Prime Minister Mute Egede slammed US President-elect Donald Trump, insisting that the Arctic island is not for sale and will never be'. read more Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede hit back at US President-elect Donald Trump, insisting that the island is not for sale and will never be after the American leader reiterated his ambition to buy it. On Monday, Trump said that for purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity. Greenland is a large icy Arctic island, which houses 50,000 residents and is a self-ruling territory of Denmark. While dismissing Trumps remarks, Greenlands leader responded to the matter swiftly. Greenland is ours, Egede wrote. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom, he added. Advertisement Egedes remarks came hours after Trump nominated Ken Howery as the US ambassador to Denmark. Howery served as the American Ambassador to Sweden during Trumps first stint in the White House. Over the weekend Trump suggested that the US should take back the control over the Panama Canal, which is owned and operated by the Panama government-owned Panama Canal Authority. Panama President Jose Raul Mulino responded that every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue belonging to Panama. Well see about that! Trump replied to Mulinos remarks. Not the first time Back in 2019, Trump indicated that he wanted to purchase Greenland. At that time, he was mostly interested in the regions natural resources and geopolitical relevance. Despite the then presidents frequent remarks on the matter, leaders in Denmark were not jazzed about his instances. Greenland is not for sale. Greenland is not Danish. Greenland belongs to Greenland. I strongly hope that this is not meant seriously, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said during a visit to Greenland in 2019. Frustrated by the rebuttal, Trump cancelled a meeting with her because she called Trumps proposition absurd. Despite several attempts, the plan to purchase Greenland ultimately fizzled out during Trumps term. The idea was totally abandoned by US President Joe Bidens administration. With the recent comments, it seems that Trump is interested in reviving his project after he takes back the Oval Office. It is pertinent to note that Trump is not the only president who expressed intention to buy Greenland. The idea was first pushed by former US President Andrew Jackson in the 1860s. Amid the warning, the Danish government has allocated $1.5 billion for the islands defence. Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said that the timing of the package is an irony of fate. Poulsen said that the package would allow for the purchase of two new inspection ships, two new long-range drones, and two extra dog sledge teams, BBC News reported. He noted that the funds would be used to upgrade one of Greenlands three main civilian airports to handle F-35 fighter jets. We have not invested enough in the Arctic for many years, now we are planning a stronger presence," he added. Advertisement With inputs from agencies. An undersea power cable between Finland and Estonia broke down in the latest incident of disruption in the Baltic Sea. The authorities are not ruling out sabotage read more An undersea power cable which links Finland and Estonia broke down, joining the series of incidents involving cables and energy pipelines in the Baltic Sea. Finlands Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said that the incident took place on Wednesday. Shortly after the incident, the Finnish electricity grids head of operations, Arto Pahkin told Yle that sabotage could not be ruled out. In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Orpo said that the outage has not affected the Nordic nations electricity supplies. The Estlink 2 electricity transmission connection between Finland and Estonia has been disconnected this afternoon. Authorities are still on standby over Christmas and are investigating the matter, the Finnish premier wrote on X. The interruption of the transmission connection will not affect the electricity supply of Finns, he added. Advertisement Suomen ja Viron valinen Estlink 2-sahkonsiirtoyhteys on pudonnut iltapaivalla verkosta. Viranomaiset ovat joulunakin hereilla ja selvittavat asiaa. Siirtoyhteyden katkeaminen ei vaikuta suomalaisten sahkonsaantiin. Petteri Orpo (@PetteriOrpo) December 25, 2024 Meanwhile, Fingrid said that the EstLink 2 cable sending electricity to Estonia was cut at 12:26 pm (local time). The incident took place a month after two telecom cables that link Sweden and Denmark were cut, growing concerns among the authorities. China remains the prime suspect In the November incident, suspicions fell on the Chinese ship Yi Peng 3, which according to tracking sites had sailed over the cables around the time they were cut. On Monday, Sweden said that China had denied a request for prosecutors to investigate the vessel and that it had left the area. Meanwhile, European officials linked several incidents of sabotage to Russia, which is currently embroiled in a war against Ukraine. Kremlin, however, dismissed the claims, calling it absurd and laughable. On November 17, the Arelion cable running from the Swedish island of Gotland to Lithuania was damaged and the C-Lion 1 cable connecting Helsinki and the German port of Rostock was cut south of Swedens Oland island the very next day. Tensions reached an all-time high in the Baltic Sea, since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In September 2022, a series of underwater explosions ruptured the Nord Stream pipelines that carried Russian gas to Europe. The cause of the blast continues to remain a mystery. In October 2023, An undersea gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was shut down after damage caused by a Chinese cargo ship. Advertisement With inputs from AFP. At least 33 were killed and over 1,500 escaped after a prison riot broke out in Mozambique on Christmas Day. The country has been facing major unrest following the controversial October elections read more Mozambique military patrol the streets of Maputo after protests against election results. The justice minister claimed these protests were not linked to the prison riot. Reuters At least 33 people were killed and 15 were injured after a prison riot broke out in Mozambique on Christmas Day. According to Reuters, the riot erupted at the maximum security prison in the capital Maputo. Police general commander Bernardino Rafael confirmed the death toll and noted that the authorities are investigating the matter. Around 1,500 prisoners escaped from the establishment during the riots. Out of them, only 150 were recaptured by the capital police. The East African nation has been facing a major escalation of civilian unrest following the disputed elections in October. Advertisement The controversial poll results extended the long-ruling party Frelimos stay in power. Meanwhile, opposition groups and their supporters maintained that the ruling regime rigged the election. Were the prison riots and protests related? While Rafael maintained that the prison riot was linked to the protests that have been raging outside the facility, the countrys Justice Minister Helena Kida told local reporters that the unrest that started inside the jail had nothing to do with protests outside. The confrontations after that resulted in 33 deaths and 15 injured in the vicinity of the jail, Rafael told a media briefing. The identities of those who were killed and injured in the incident remain unclear. It is pertinent to note that there were separate incidents of unrest in Mozambique after the countrys top court confirmed Frelimos victory on Monday. On Tuesday, Mosambiques Interior Ministry said that at least 21 people were killed in the protests which broke out earlier this week. The Frelimo Party has been ruling the African nation since 1975. The initial results in the October polls revealed that Daniel Chapo gained a 71 per cent share of the vote to his main rival Venancio Mondlanes 20 per cent. The court has now ruled that he won 65% to Mondlanes 24 per cent. Amid the chaos, Frelimos offices, police stations, banks and factories have been looted, vandalised and set ablaze around the country. The opposition leader has fled Mozambique, and had been calling on his supporters to demonstrate against a rigged vote. In a social media message, over the weekend, Mondlane said that there could be a new popular uprising if the result was not overturned. With inputs from Reuters. Amid threats of tariffs from US President-elect Donald Trump, Saudi Arabia has frozen its bid to be a full member of Brics, according to a report read more Saudi Arabia has frozen the bid to join Brics, according to Russian news agency Interfax. The agency quoted Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy advisor to Kremlin, as saying that Russia has frozen its accession to Brics. Russia currently holds the presidency of Brics. Saudi Arabia was invited to join Brics in 2023 as the group was expanding at the time. While the group originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, it has expanded over the years to include Egypt, Iran, the UAE, and Ethiopia. Advertisement The report comes weeks after US President-elect Donald Trump pledged to impose 100 per cent tariffs on Brics members if the member-state adopted an own currency in a bid to overthrow US dollar. Even as Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar has said that there is such plan, Trumps camp has remained critical of the bloc. Even though Saudi Arabia had been invited to join Brics and even though it had engaged with the bloc, it had made it clear that it had not yet joined the bloc. In October, Russia had to withdraw a statement that mentioned Saudi Arabia as a member of Brics. Ahead of the Brics Summit in Russias Kazan, the Kremlin withdrew a statement issued a previous week that mentioned Saudi Arabia as a member and instead Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: The summit will take place now, we will supply additional information on who will represent Saudi Arabia, whether it will be represented at this summit, and we will draw conclusions from this. At least 14 members of the Syrian police were killed following an ambush staged by the loyalists of deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Demonstrations by Alawite and Shiite Muslims prompted the imposition of an overnight curfew in the city of Homs read more Demonstrators chant slogans and wave the new Syrian flag as they gather for Friday prayers at the Umayyad mosque in Damascus, Syria, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. Image- Reuters At least 14 members of the Syrian forces were killed in an ambush conducted by the loyalists of now-deposed President Bashar al-Assad in the Tartous countryside. The transitional administration confirmed the incident early Thursday. The ambush took place during demonstrations, which ultimately led to an overnight curfew in several parts of the country. This marked the most widespread unrest since the ousting of Bashars regime more than two weeks ago. While sharing updates on the matter, Syrias new interior minister said on Telegram that 10 police members were also wounded by what he called remnants of the Assad government in Tartous. He went on to vow to crack down on anyone who dares to undermine Syrias security or endanger the lives of its citizens," Reuters reported. Advertisement The incident took place after the Syrian police imposed a curfew in the city of Homs. Restrictions were imposed following demonstrations, which many claimed were led by members of the minority Alawite and Shiite Muslim religious communities. Some residents told Reuters that the protests were linked to rising violence against the Alawite minority, a sect long seen as loyal to Assad, who was toppled by Sunni Islamist rebels on 8 December. The religious rights of minorities remain a big question Syrian state media reported that the curfew was imposed in Homs for one night, from 6 pm (local time) to 8 am on Thursday morning. Ever since the takeover, the countrys new leadership has pledged to protect the rights of the religious minority groups in Syria. Spokespersons for Syrias new ruling administration led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, a former al-Qaida affiliate, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the curfew, Reuters reported. Meanwhile, small protests were held in other parts of the Syrian coast where Alawite minority live, including in Tartous. The demonstration took place soon after an undated video circulated online, which showed fire inside an Alawite shrine in the city of Aleppo, with armed men walking about inside and posing near human bodies. In a post on Telegram, the Syrian interior ministry clarified that the video dated back to the rebel offensive on Aleppo in late November and the violence was carried out by unknown groups. The ministry maintained that whoever was circulating the video now appeared to be seeking to incite sectarian strife. They also noted that the members of the former regime had attacked interior ministry forces in Syrias coastal area on Wednesday, leaving several dead and wounded. With inputs from Reuters. The three-hour exercise held on Thursday comes as the island faces renewed military threats from Beijing, according to a report read more Chinese and Taiwanese flags are seen in this illustration, on August 6, 2022. Reuters File Taiwans Presidential Office conducted its inaugural tabletop exercise simulating a military escalation with China, according to a Reuters report, citing several officials familiar with the situation. The three-hour exercise held on Thursday comes as the island faces renewed military threats from Beijing. According to the report, the exercise involved dozens of central and local government agencies as well as civil organisations. In recent years, China has intensified its military threats, including a significant buildup of naval forces this month and ongoing military activities near Taiwan, which it claims as its own following Taipeis rejection of Beijings authority. Advertisement The war game, taking place within the Presidential Office in Taipei, was led by Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu. The exercise explored scenarios involving Chinas high-intensity grey-zone warfare and situations where Taiwan is on the verge of conflict, aimed at assessing the readiness of government offices and civil society, added the report, citing a security official. Responding to the war game held earlier in the day, President Lai Ching-te said Taiwan is racing against time to build up its capacity to counter disasters and boost deterrence against an invading enemy." The peace and stability in the first island chain is being collectively challenged by authoritarian states, Reuters quoted Lai as saying in a statement from his office, although he did not name any specific country. The first island chain is a collection of archipelagos running roughly from Indonesia in an arc northeast to Japan, encompassing the South China Sea and East China Sea. Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. China has staged two rounds of major exercises around Taiwan this year to pressure Taipei, one in May and one in October, dubbed Joint Sword - 2024A and B, respectively. With inputs from agencies Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has rejected the idea of a simple truce with Ukraine and has said whats needed are ironclad agreements that safeguard Russian security interests read more Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that the Chinese peace plan for the Ukraine war is the most reasonable one so far. Source: Reuters Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has rejected the idea of a truce in the war on Ukraine. As the Russian war on Ukraine is about the reach the three-year in coming weeks, there have been calls for reaching a negotiated ceasefire. Most notably, US President-elect Donald Trump has said that he would reach out directly to Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Russia and Vladimir Putin of Russia to end the war. Amid such calls, Lavrov has said a simple truce is a path to nowhere and what Russia seeks is an agreement containing binding security guarantees for Russia. Advertisement A truce is a path to nowhereWe need final legal agreements that will fix all the conditions for ensuring the security of the Russian Federation and, of course, the legitimate security interests of our neighbors, said Lavrov, according to Reuters. Lavrov said that a simple truce would just enable the West to rearm Ukraine for the next round of confrontation. Lavrov said that Russia wants the eventual ceasefire agreement to be drafted in such a way that ensures the impossibility of violating these agreements. As for President-elect Trumps approach to the war, Lavrov said that he is hopeful about cooperation with the incoming administration. Trump and senior figures in his incoming administration have had a friendly relationship with Putin and Russia for years. Even as Russia has waged a shadow war on the West and the United States, Trump and his allies have continued to fawn over Russia and trust Putins words over the reporting and assessments of US intelligence community. With such a pro-Russia stance, there are fears that Trump could force Ukraine into a ceasefire that would essentially be a Russian victory. I really hope that the administration of Mr. Trump, including Mr. Kellogg, will get involved in the root causes of the conflict. We are always ready for consultations, said Lavrov, referring to Lieutenant General (Retired) Keith Kellogg, the envoy to Ukraine in Trumps incoming administration. Even as Russia is the aggressor and launched the invasion of Ukraine unilaterally in 2022, it has framed its war on Ukraine as a necessary military operation to safeguard its security interests. Russia has cited Ukraines insistence to join the Western military bloc Nato as the primary justification for the military operation. The idea has been to control Ukraine, overthrow Zelenskyys government and prevent Ukraine from becoming a Western military outpost at Russias border, and establish a puppet regime that would do Russias bidding in Kyiv. Advertisement In earlier comments, Putin has said that he is open to a deal as long as Ukraines neutrality is assured. If there is no neutrality, it is difficult to imagine the existence of any good-neighborly relations between Russia and Ukraine, said Putin last month. Despite the end of the Cold War and an expectation of neutrality, Putin said at the time that Ukraine did not stay neutral. Instead, in a swipe at the West, Putin said that Ukraine was constantly used as a tool in the wrong hands and to the detriment of the interests of the Russian Federation. Putin said that Ukraine needs to commit to not joining Nato for there to be any deal to end the war. Advertisement Ukrainian forces launched an incursion into Russias Kursk region in August, a move that undermined Russias military prestige and forced it to redeploy troops from eastern Ukraine, where its offensive has been slow read more North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region are facing heavy casualties and logistical challenges, Ukraines military intelligence agency said Thursday (December 26). Ukraines GUR intelligence agency reported that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka caused significant losses among North Korean units. The agency added that these troops are also struggling with supply chain issues, including shortages of drinking water. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that about 3,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded in the Kursk region. This was Kyivs first detailed estimate of North Korean casualties since announcing that Pyongyang had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to aid its war effort. Advertisement The casualty figures come as the Biden administration pushes to expedite military aid to Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office in January. Fighting in Kursk and beyond Ukrainian forces launched an incursion into Russias Kursk region in August, a move that undermined Russias military prestige and forced it to redeploy troops from eastern Ukraine, where its offensive has been slow. While the Russian army has regained some ground in Kursk, it has not managed to fully expel Ukrainian forces. Meanwhile, Russia has continued its aerial campaign against Ukraine, targeting critical infrastructure with waves of cruise missiles and drones. On Christmas morning, Russia launched 78 missiles and 106 drones, striking power facilities, Ukraines air force said. Ukrainian defenses intercepted 59 missiles and 54 drones, while jamming neutralized 52 other drones, it added. On Thursday, Russia launched 31 more exploding drones, with Ukraine claiming to have shot down 20 and jammed 11. Russian strikes also hit a central market in Nikopol in Ukraines Dnipropetrovsk region, wounding eight people, local officials said. Putins hypersonic missile warning Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday warned that Moscow could use its new Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile against Ukraine. The missile, first deployed in a Nov. 21 strike on Dnipro, has entered serial production, Putin said. We arent in a rush to use them, because those are powerful weapons intended for certain tasks, he said, adding that Russia could use them today or tomorrow if necessary. Putin also confirmed plans to deploy some Oreshnik missiles to Belarus, with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko saying his country could host 10 or more. Ukrainian counterstrikes Ukraine has also stepped up its own strikes. On Thursday, Ukrainian forces targeted a plant in Kamensk-Shakhtynsky in Russias Rostov region that produces propellant for ballistic missiles, Ukraines Center for Strategic Communications said. This strike is part of a comprehensive campaign to weaken the capabilities of the Russian armed forces to carry out terrorist attacks against Ukrainian civilians, the center said in a statement. The conflict, nearing its third year, shows no signs of abating as both sides ramp up military operations and escalate their rhetoric. With inputs from agencies US President-elect Donald Trump named Florida County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera as the ambassador of Panama after expressing his intention to take back the Panama Canal read more Days after expressing his intention to take back the Panama Canal, US President-elect Donald Trump named Florida County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera as the Ambassador to Panama. Cabrera served as the District 6 commissioner of Miami-Dade County and has been the Vice Chairman of its International Trade Consortium. He has actively worked for the Trump campaign in 2020 and 2024 and won the President-elects endorsement when he ran for vice chairman of the Florida Republican Party. During Trumps latest bid to the White House, Cabrera served as Floridas representative to the Republican National Committee platform committee. Advertisement Few understand Latin American politics as well as Kevin, Trump wrote on Truth Social on Christmas Day. He will do a FANTASTIC job representing our Nations interests in Panama! he added. Earlier this month, the president-elect said that the United States could take back control over the Panama Canal, complaining about the ridiculous cost of shipping through the passageway. Trumps eyes on the Panama Canal Even while announcing Cabreras nomination, Trump accused Panama of ripping us off on the Panama Canal, far beyond their wildest dreams. The Panama Canal is an artificial water passageway which stretches about 50 miles and connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans through the country. It is touted as a vital link in global shipping since it saves thousands of miles and weeks of travel around the tip of South America. It is pertinent to note that the United States had control over the canal when it was first built in 1914. However, the control lasted until 1979, when former President Jimmy Carter passed control to the Panama Canal Commission, a joint agency of the two countries. The complete control of the Canal was passed to Panama only in 1999. Trump has expressed concerns that the canal could fall into the wrong hands, indicating the growing influence of China, the second-largest user of the canal. A Hong Kong-based firm controls two ports near the waterway, but the Chinese administration has no control over the canal itself. Trump mentioned his ambition of taking over the canal and in his Christmas message as well. Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago), always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in repair money, but will have absolutely nothing to say about anything," he wrote on TruthSocial. Advertisement Panama President Jose Raul Mulino Quintero has pushed back against Trumps latest remarks in a video message. As president, I want to express clearly that every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent zone is part of Panama, and it will continue to be," he said in a statement. Cabrera thanks Trump Cabreras view of the Panama Canal is still unknown. However, on Wednesday, he thanked the President-elect for the appointment. Thank you, President Trump! he wrote on X, formerly known as Trump. Im humbled and honoured by your nomination to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Panama. Lets get to work! he added. Thank you, President Trump! Im humbled and honored by your nomination to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Panama. Lets get to work! pic.twitter.com/p1N8v3YYLJ Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera (@KMCabreraFL) December 25, 2024 Advertisement In the past, Trump has described Cabrera, a former lobbyist and political operative in Florida, as a fearless America First Conservative who has demonstrated his dedication to the MAGA movement. Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday said that Moscow will respond to President-elect Donald Trumps team if they have serious intentions to improve ties between the two countries, but emphasised that the first move must come from Washington read more Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks to the media as he attends the 31st Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial Council in Ta'Qali, Malta, on December 5, 2024. Reuters File Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday said that Moscow will respond to President-elect Donald Trumps team if they have serious intentions to improve ties between the two countries, but emphasised that the first move must come from Washington. If the signals that are coming from the new team in Washington to restore the dialogue that Washington interrupted after the start of a special military operation (war in Ukraine), are serious, of course, we will respond to them, Reuters quoted Lavrov as saying to reporters in Moscow. But the Americans broke (off) the dialogue, so they should make the first move, added Lavrov, Putins foreign minister for over 20 years. Trump, set to return as US president on January 20, portrays himself as a skilled dealmaker and has promised to quickly resolve the war in Ukraine, though he hasnt detailed how he plans to do this, aside from encouraging President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to agree to cease hostilities. Advertisement Trumps appointed envoy for Ukraine, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, said on Fox News on December 18 that both parties are prepared for peace talks and that Trump is well-positioned to broker a deal to end the conflict. Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine has left tens of thousands of dead, displaced millions of people and triggered the biggest rupture in relations between Moscow and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. US officials cast Russia as a corrupt autocracy that is the biggest nation-state threat to the United States and has meddled in US elections, jailed US citizens on false charges and perpetrated sabotage campaigns against US allies. Russian officials say the US is a declining power that has repeatedly ignored Russias interests since the 1991 break-up of the Soviet Union, while sowing discord inside Russia in an attempt to divide Russian society and further US interests. Peace in Ukraine Reuters reported last month that Putin is open to discussing a Ukraine ceasefire deal with Trump but rules out making any major territorial concessions and insists Kyiv abandon ambitions to join Nato. Russia holds about 20% of Ukrainian territory. Lavrov said Russia saw no point in a weak ceasefire to freeze the war but Moscow wants a legally binding deal for a lasting peace that would ensure the security of both Russia and its neighbours. A truce is a path to nowhere, Lavrov was quoted as saying. We need final legal agreements that will fix all the conditions for ensuring the security of the Russian Federation and, of course, the legitimate security interests of our neighbours, added Lavrov. Advertisement He said that Moscow wanted the legal documents drafted in such a way as to ensure the impossibility of violating these agreements. Putin says an arrogant West led by the United States ignored Russias post-Soviet interests, tried to pull Ukraine into its orbit since 2014 and then used Ukraine to fight a proxy war aimed at weakening - and ultimately destroying - Russia. After a pro-Russian president was toppled in Ukraines 2014 Maidan Revolution aimed at closer Western ties, Russia annexed the Crimea region and began giving military support to pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. The West says Russias invasion of Ukraine was an imperial-style land grab by Moscow that has strengthened the Nato military alliance and weakened Russia. Advertisement Ukraines Zelenskiy said on Sunday that its membership of Nato is achievable, but that Kyiv will have to fight to persuade Western allies to make it happen. With inputs from agencies The Russian government has warned against promoting hypotheses on the causes of the crash of a passenger plane bound for Russia that resulted in the deaths of 38 people in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, according to a report read more In this photo taken from a video released by the administration of Mangystau region, a part of Azerbaijan Airlines' Embraer 190 lies on the ground near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Thursday. AP The Russian government has warned against promoting hypotheses on the causes of the crash of a passenger plane bound for Russia that resulted in the deaths of 38 people in Kazakhstan on Wednesday. According to a BBC report, citing some aviation experts, the Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft may have been struck by air defence systems over the Russian republic of Chechnya, with Azerbaijani state media quoting officials claiming a Russian missile was to blame. Advertisement Before it went down near the Kazakh city of Aktau, the plane was rerouted over the Caspian Sea from its original destination in Chechnya to western Kazakhstan, added the report. Of the 67 people on board, 29 survived. Azerbaijan observed a national day of mourning on Thursday for the victims of the crash. This is a great tragedy that has become a tremendous sorrow for the Azerbaijani people, BBC quoted President Ilham Aliyev as saying on Thursday. In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it would be wrong to put forward any hypotheses before the investigations conclusions. We, of course, will not do this, and no-one should do this. We need to wait until the investigation is completed, BBC quoted Peskov as saying. On Wednesday morning, the Embraer 190 took off from Baku bound for Grozny in Chechnya. However, it was diverted due to fog, according to the airline. A surviving passenger reported that the pilot attempted to land twice in the dense fog over Grozny before an explosion occurred on the third attempt, causing part of the aircrafts skin to blow out. Advertisement The plane was redirected to Aktau airport, about 450 km (280 miles) east. Footage shows the aircraft descending rapidly, landing about 3 km (1.9 miles) short of the runway before bursting into flames. Kazakh authorities have recovered the flight data recorder, and an investigation is underway, reported BBC. Shortly after the crash, Russian state-controlled TV speculated that a bird strike might be the cause. However, aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia told Reuters that such kind of collision typically results in the plane gliding towards the nearest airfield. You can lose control of the plane, but you dont fly wildly off course as a consequence, Aboulafia was quoted as saying. Advertisement Justin Crump of risk advisory company Sibylline told BBC the pattern of damage inside and outside the plane indicated that Russian air defence active in Grozny may have caused the crash. It looks very much like the detonation of an air defence missile to the rear and to the left of the aircraft, if you look at the pattern of shrapnel that we see, he told BBC Radio 4. Late Thursday, Azerbaijans state-run AnewZ channel reported that a preliminary investigation found the plane had been hit by shrapnel from a surface-to-air missile from Russias Pantsir-S defence system. When asked about this, the chief prosecutors office told the BBC that all possibilities are being investigated. Advertisement Chechnya has faced Ukrainian drone strikes this month, and authorities in neighboring Ingushetia noted it had been targeted for the first time since the war in Ukraine began. A shopping center was struck when a drone was downed in nearby North Ossetia, resulting in one fatality. Most passengers were Azerbaijani nationals, along with some from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Video footage showed survivors escaping the wreckage, some with visible injuries. The injured were taken to the hospital, and on Thursday, Azerbaijans Azertac news agency reported that seven were stable enough to return to Baku. Azerbaijan Airlines stated the plane had been fully serviced in October and experienced no technical issues. Embraer, the Brazilian manufacturer, is known for its strong safety record. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Both men were suspected of violating laws and discipline, terminology commonly used by the Chinese Communist Party to indicate corruption read more The Chinese government, under Xi Jinping, has abruptly removed two military lawmakers from Parliament, intensifying a sweeping purge within the nations defence leadership. The countrys top legislative body, the National Peoples Congress Standing Committee, revoked the memberships of Mr. You Haitao and Vice Adm. Li Pengcheng during a meeting on Dec. 25, without providing an explanation. Mr. You previously served as deputy commander of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Ground Force, while Vice Adm. Li commanded the Southern Theatre Command Navy, which oversees the contested South China Sea region. Vice Adm. Lis predecessor, Vice Adm. Ju Xinchun, was ousted from Parliament last year, according to Bloomberg. Advertisement The legislative body said both men were suspected of violating laws and discipline, terminology commonly used by the Chinese Communist Party to indicate corruption. The removals are the latest development in a far-reaching anti-corruption campaign that has targeted Chinas military since 2023, including the PLAs equipment procurement unit and the secretive Rocket Force. In November, a senior official from the Central Military CommissionChinas top military body led by President Xi Jinping was suspended. Just days before the lawmakers removal, China named a new political commissar for the Ground Force on December 23, in another unexpected leadership shift. The campaign spotlights the ongoing efforts by Xi to consolidate control and address alleged corruption within the militarys upper ranks. How big is the corruption problem in the PLA? Corruption within Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) has reportedly been a critical issue. According to Pentagons annual report on Beijings military, released earlier this month, it may have disrupted its progress towards Chinas 2027 military modernisation goals. These aims include accelerating the integration of intelligence, mechanisation and other tools while boosting the speed of modernisation in military theories, personnel, weapons and equipment. With inputs from agencies Samsung is set to unveil its next-generation flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S25 Series, on January 22, 2025, according to a leak from the Korean publication FNNews. This launch is about a week earlier than the Galaxy S24 Series, which debuted on January 31, 2024. New Slim Model Addition The Galaxy S25 Series will introduce a slim model, joining the existing General, Plus, and Ultra variants. This move aligns with the growing demand for thinner and lighter smartphones. While the exact thickness of the slim model hasnt been revealed, it is expected to be thinner than the Galaxy S24 General model, which measures 7.6mm. Samsung last released a slim variant in March 2014 with the Galaxy Alpha, which was 6.7mm thick. The Galaxy S25 Slim will debut at the Galaxy Unpacked event, but its availability remains uncertain. Some reports suggest it will launch alongside the other S25 models, while others hint at a delayed release later in the year, the report noted. Features and Specifications The Galaxy S25 Series may see a price increase in some markets compared to the S24 lineup, according to the report. The series will be powered by Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, ensuring consistent performance across all global variants. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is rumored to feature a 50MP ultrawide camera, an upgrade from the 12MP ultrawide camera on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Additionally, the Ultra variant will come with 16GB of RAM for 512GB and 1TB storage options. The entire series will ship with One UI 7, Samsungs latest software, which includes enhanced security features for generative AI applications. Launch Details and Timeline According to the report, the Galaxy Unpacked event will take place on January 23, 2025, at 3 AM Korean Standard Time (KST), which corresponds to January 22, 2025, in the United States. Key dates for the launch include: Pre-orders: January 24 February 3, 2025 Early access for reservations: February 4, 2025 Official launch in Korea: February 7, 2025 Due to time zone differences, the global release timeline may vary slightly. For instance, the Korean release on February 7 may correspond to February 6 in the US and Europe. Source Soldiers patrol border area China Military Online) 10:35, December 26, 2024 Soldiers assigned to a border defense regiment under the Chinese PLA Xinjiang Military Command walk through the snow-clad jungle during a routine patrol mission on December 10, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wang Yue) Soldiers assigned to a border defense regiment under the Chinese PLA Xinjiang Military Command patrol the borderline on snowmobiles during a routine patrol mission on December 10, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wang Yue) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) France proposed to Russia to establish dialogue on Ukraine without Kiev - Lavrov Paris, Dec 26 (UNI) France proposed to Russia through closed channels several times to establish a dialogue on Ukraine without Kiev's participation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday. "Our French colleagues have contacted us several times through closed channels asking to establish a dialogue on the Ukrainian issue. By the way, without Ukraine," Lavrov told a press conference for Russian and foreign media. Such signals from Paris came as if in violation of the Western rule about "not a word about Ukraine without Ukraine," the minister said, adding that at the same time, France is also the initiator of sending peacekeepers to Ukraine and is training Ukrainian soldiers. Lucknow, Dec 26 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday highlighted the rich legacy of the Sikh tradition, emphasizing their resilience in adverse circumstances. The CM praised the community for not only preserving their traditions but also inspiring others through their sacrifices for the nation and their faith. Addressing the main event of Veer Bal Diwas (Sahibzada Diwas) held at the CM residence, he said, The Sikh community has a glorious history, yet we hear that only a handful of Sikh families remain in Kabul. Incidents in Bangladesh and atrocities in Pakistan remind us of the sacrifices of the Sikh Gurus. Yogi said, The ideals of the Sikh Gurus provide us with the energy to move forward. Their blessings serve as our inspiration. By carrying forward their legacy, we can prevent situations like those in Kabul and Bangladesh. Places like Nankana Sahib will come to us naturally, without the need for agitation or struggle. The event also saw a historical gathering and the commencement of 11,000 Sahaj Paaths. Besides, the CM released a book based on the teachings of Guru Teg Bahadur. Yogi praised the Sikh community as a resilient and prosperous segment of the nation, setting exemplary standards through their strength, dedication, and hard work. At one time, Sikhs safeguarded India by joining the army in significant numbers. Yet, forces are conspiring to undermine their efforts, attempting to entrap the youth in drug abuse," he said. He emphasized the need to identify and remain vigilant against such adversaries. Stressing unity, he said, Sikhs and Hindus complement each other. We must steer clear of those who seek to create discord between us. May Guru Maharaj grant us the wisdom to distinguish between friends and foes! Reflecting on past events, the CM said that in 2019, during the 550th Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak Dev, a Shabad-Kirtan programme was held at his residence. "Since 2020, the annual observance of Veer Bal Diwas has become a tradition at the CM's residence," he said. He said, Today, this event has grown into a national observance. On this day, two Sahibzaades of Guru Gobind SinghBaba Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singhwere buried alive by Wazir Khan. Yogi recounted the sacrifices made during the Battle of Chamkaur, where Guru Gobind Singhs elder sons, Baba Ajit Singh and Baba Jujhar Singh, attained martyrdom. He said, Maa Gujri could not endure the immense pain of these losses. The suffering they endured is beyond imagination. Yet, their unwavering commitment to protecting the country and religion remained steadfast. By sacrificing their lives, the four Sahibzaades laid a solid foundation for safeguarding the nation and its values. Their bravery continues to be a source of pride, not just for the Sikh community but for the entire nation. Highlighting Sikhism's origins rooted in service to the nation the CM said, Guru Nanak Dev was the first to stand against Babar's atrocities. Guru Arjun Devs martyrdom in Lahore was to protect India from Jahangirs tyranny. Guru Teg Bahadur sacrificed his life but upheld Indias honour, ensuring that Kashmir remained an integral part of India. Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj witnessed the ultimate sacrifice of his sons and father for the nation. He emphasized that the history of Sikh Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj, the four Sahibzaades, and the Panch Pyaras, is a testament to their martyrdom for the country and religion. This history is not just of the Sikh community, but of the entire nation, serving as a profound inspiration for all Indians, he said. He said, Guru Nanak inspired Shabad Kirtan to challenge caste discrimination. The tradition of Langarcommunity kitchens to share foodinitiated by him continues in every Gurudwara even today, fostering equality and togetherness. Respect for the Guru tradition is a source of prosperity and joy. The distinction we must recognize is not within families but between friends and foes." He said that this year marks the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur. Recalling the historical significance of Lucknow, he said, Lucknow is fortunate that Guru Teg Bahadur ji had come here with Guru Gobind Singh. To honour this heritage, a comprehensive plan for the beautification of associated Gurudwaras should be prepared in collaboration with the Municipal Corporation. He assured financial support from the state government and urged coordinated efforts, saying, The responsibility must not be passed around. The state government, Municipal Corporation, and Development Authority should work together to rehabilitate shopkeepers by constructing high-rise buildings or malls on their land. Gurudwaras linked to this historical legacy must be aesthetically enhanced. The CM recalled that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the observance of December 26 as Veer Bal Diwas, he emphasized that Rashtradharmathe duty towards the nationis the supreme religion for every Indian. For Indians, the country and its unity are of utmost importance. Maharaja Ranjit Singh exemplified this by donating as much gold to the Baba Kashi Vishwanath Temple as he did to the Golden Temple, gilding its spire and doors," he said. UNI AB BD Washington, Dec 26 (UNI) US President-elect Donald Trump has said that Chinese troops illegally operate in the area of the Panama Canal, ensuring that Washington "puts in billions of dollars in repair money." "Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago), always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in "repair" money, but will have absolutely nothing to say about 'anything,'" Trump said on Truth Social late on Wednesday. Trump said on Sunday that he would demand a return of the Panama Canal to US ownership unless the Panamanian authorities regulate its "ridiculously" high fees. Trump said the Panama Canal is considered a vital national asset for the United States because of its critical role in the economy and national security. However, he called the high fees charged by Panama "ridiculous" and said this "rip-off" must stop. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino said that the Panama Canal fully belonged to Panama under the 1977 treaty and the country's sovereignty was non-negotiable. On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that China will always respect Panama's sovereignty over the Panama Canal and will recognize it as "a permanently neutral international waterway." The Panama Canal is an artificial waterway on the territory of Panama in Central America, crossing the Isthmus of Panama at its lowest point and connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It is one of the most important transportation waterways worldwide. UNI SPUTNIK GNK Yemen says it foiled US-Israeli espionage plot IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 25, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Yemeni security services say they have neutralized an espionage plot hatched by the intelligence services of the United States and the Israeli regime amid the Arab country's ongoing support for Palestine. Al Mayadeen reported on Wednesday that the Yemenis had foiled the plot hatched by the CIA and Mossad. It comes amid reports that the US and Israel have increased their spying activity in Yemen to gain more information about the country's military capabilities. In a recent statement, a member of Yemen's High Political Council Muhammad Ali al-Houthi warned the US against its support for the Israeli regime. If Washington violates Sanaa's territorial integrity, Yemen will target the US interests all across West Asia without considering any red lines, al-Houthi said. He also said the Yemeni people are not afraid of the Zionists as the regime's threats, adding that if the US does not leave the region, its warship will easily be hunted by Yemen. 1483**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CENTCOM Forces Kill ISIS Operatives, Destroy Truckload of Weapons in Syria Airstrike U.S. Central Command Press Release | Dec. 23, 2024 USCENTCOM Dec. 23, 2024 Release Number 20241223-01 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TAMPA, Fla -- On Dec. 23, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted a precision airstrike in the Dayr az Zawr Province, Syria, killing two ISIS operatives and wounding one. The terrorists were moving a truckload of weapons which were destroyed during the strike. This strike occurred in an area formerly controlled by the Syrian regime and Russians. This airstrike is part of CENTCOM's ongoing commitment, along with partners in the region, to disrupt and degrade efforts by terrorists to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against civilians and military personnel from the U.S., our allies, and our partners throughout the region and beyond. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 2025 ASEAN chair Malaysia expected to revive bloc amid questions about neutrality But smoothly navigating global rivalries in the current geopolitical scenario will be a daunting task, analysts said. By Iman Muttaqin Yusof for BenarNews 2024.12.23 KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia will take over as the 2025 chair of ASEAN amid regional expectations that it will restore the Southeast Asian bloc's relevance during a time of global ferment, analysts said. Kuala Lumpur may well succeed but for one sticking point - questions about its neutrality amid big-power rivalry. "Inclusivity and Sustainability," Malaysia's theme for its year-long chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, points to a focus on the region's priorities, said Elina Noor, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "There are certainly expectations for Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship, but it will be up to Malaysia to live up to those expectations in pushing through with its agenda together with all the other [nine] member-states," she told RFA affiliate BenarNews. Additionally, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has indicated he "intends for ASEAN to reclaim its independent agency, to diversify its strategic engagement, and to not be pulled in any one direction among major powers," she said. Anwar's perceived tilt towards China and Russia versus the United States notwithstanding, he has stressed ASEAN collaboration in a polarized world. "As global tensions intensify - from strategic competition to climate disruption - ASEAN's collaborative spirit has never been more crucial," the PM wrote in a column published Dec. 16 on Project Syndicate, a website that publishes global commentary. "The choice is stark: ASEAN must move forward in unity or face the divisive forces gathering momentum across Asia and beyond," he said. As ASEAN chair, Anwar will also define Malaysia's own role as a middle power, analysts said. Explanations vary on what constitutes a middle power, but it broadly refers to states that are not superpowers yet have considerable influence on international relations. Anwar's diplomatic engagements, including visits to South America for the Asia Pacific economic forum APEC and the G20 summit reflect Malaysia's efforts to elevate its own global standing and its plans for ASEAN in 2025, said Yanitha Meena Louis, an analyst at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia. He has been consistently focussing "on ASEAN and ASEAN mechanisms and the aim to make it more fit for mobilizing efforts within the Global South," Yanitha told BenarNews. "It will be a defining year for ASEAN in the sense that we will be able to see where ASEAN stands and hopes to see itself in the Global South, a strategic configuration of growing consequence," Yanitha said. Anwar has reiterated that Malaysia has not shifted alliances eastward and remains non-aligned, but some have questioned his several trips to Beijing since becoming PM and his invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the 2025 ASEAN Summit. Hazree Mohd Turee, managing director of advisory firm Bower Group Asia, also noted that Malaysia and two other ASEAN member-states, Indonesia and Thailand, partnering with the China- and Russia-led BRICS grouping may give the impression the Southeast Asian bloc is taking sides. BRICS is an economic grouping that includes Brazil, Russia, India and China and South Africa. "Even though Anwar talks about neutrality, the perception is otherwise," Hazree told RFA affiliate BenarNews. "Singapore and the Philippines [ASEAN members], for example, have strong ties with the U.S. ... and may find it uncomfortable," Hazee added. It is imperative for Anwar to ensure that ASEAN is not only neutral, but seen as being so, said Southeast Asia expert Matthijs van den Broek. For example, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose massive tariffs on nations he believes are trying to weaken the U.S. dollar. His comments came after speculation that BRICS planned its own currency. "Both China and the U.S. are among ASEAN's top foreign trading and investment partners [respectively. ... Malaysia as chair will have to step up its diplomatic efforts to not alienate either." South China Sea and Myanmar Meanwhile, Malaysia's approach to the South China Sea dispute, where several ASEAN countries have overlapping claims, will test its diplomatic finesse, analysts noted. Unlike the Philippines, Malaysia has not adopted a hardline stance against China, and this could help or hinder its South China Sea work, they added. "Malaysia could provide the opportunities and platforms for more engagement between ASEAN members and China to resolve the Code of Conduct negotiations," Abdul Rahman Yaacob of the Australian think-tank, the Lowy Institute, told BenarNews. "[But] China may not be willing to accept Malaysia as a mediator as Beijing prefers to engage Manila directly," he said, adding that similarly, Philippines and Vietnam may look towards the United States for help in disputes over the contested waterway. In relation to another regional conflict, the civil war in ASEAN member-state Myanmar, some observers have questioned Anwar's recently appointing Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is perceived as being pro-military, an ASEAN informal adviser. Anwar has also suggested creating an advisory group of former ASEAN leaders to address the Myanmar situation. Since the February 2021 military coup, nearly 6,000 people have been killed, and over 21,000 remain in detention, many held incommunicado, according to U.N. experts. For Alice Ba, University of Delaware political science professor, Thaksin's appointment is a possible signal that Malaysia is looking to break the deadlock on Myanmar. "There remain significant divisions within ASEAN on how to engage with the Tatmadaw [Myanmar's junta], but these moves suggest that the desire to move beyond the current impasse might outweigh those concerns," she told BenarNews. However, Kamarulnizam Abdullah, a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia professor, said the Thaksin appointment was not a good move. "His comments on Thaksin's appointment have been met with cynicism both regionally and domestically," Kamarulnizam told BenarNews. "Anwar needs to play his cards right." BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content December not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mozambique: Statement by the Spokesperson on the Presidential elections European External Action Service (EEAS) 24.12.2024 Brussels EEAS Press Team The European Union (EU) takes note of the proclamation by the Constitutional Council of the results of the general elections held on 9 October, announcing Daniel Chapo as President of the Republic of Mozambique. The EU is extremely concerned by the post-election violence and deplores the considerable loss of lives that occurred so far. We urge all sides to maintain restraint and refrain from any action that may further exacerbate tensions. We also call for accountability and justice to tackle instances of human rights violations. As testimony of the EU's continued engagement on contributing to strengthening Mozambican democracy and following an invitation by the authorities of Mozambique, the EU deployed an Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to observe the electoral process. EU EOM noted irregularities during counting of votes and unjustified alteration of election results. It called on the electoral bodies for the maximum transparency of the counting and tabulation process. The EU remains available to support Mozambique on the reform of the electoral system. The up-coming EU EOM recommendations could contribute to such reform. The EU encourages the President-elect and the new Administration to swiftly engage in a constructive dialogue with the opposition and with relevant civil society organisations, to restore the social contract with the population and uphold democratic values and human rights. The EU-Mozambique partnership is far-reaching with the Mozambican people as its cornerstone. The EU renews its commitment to support a prosperous and peaceful future for the people of Mozambique. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Summary of the IDF Investigation of 6 Hostages Murdered by Hamas in a Tunnel in Rafah IDF Press Release December 24, 2024 24.12.24 The investigation into the murder of the six hostages, Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and MSG Ori Danino, may their memory be a blessing, was concluded by the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, and was presented to the families of the hostages today (Tuesday). The investigation was conducted by the Southern Command, the Headquarters of the Hostages and Missing Persons, the 162nd Division and Shayetet 13, which examined the IDF's operations during the battle to defeat Hamas's Tel al-Sultan Battalion, and the circumstances that led to the murder of the six hostages by Hamas terrorists. The investigation found that on August 15th, 2024, troops of the 162nd Division launched an operation to defeat Hamas's al-Tel Sultan Battalion, following approximately three months of operational activity in Rafah. The troops engaged in intense combat with Hamas terrorists deep inside the area of Tel al-Sultan, during which they located a central underground tunnel system in the area. In order to continue operations in the area, including the investigation and location of the underground tunnel system, a dedicated command center was established, led by Shayetet 13 and the 162nd Division, in collaboration with other security authorities. The command center integrated special forces, various intelligence units, precise underground operational capabilities, and the use of specialized equipment and technology, including for the potential location of hostages in the area. Before beginning the operational activities, comprehensive operational planning was conducted in full collaboration between the Southern Command, the 162nd Division, and the Headquarters of the Hostages and Missing Persons. As part of this process, it was assessed that the likelihood of hostages being present in the area was medium to low. However, the troops were instructed to operate under the assumption that hostages were in the area and to act with the necessary caution. They conducted ongoing situational assessments on the matter in coordination with relevant professional officials. On August 27th, 2024, the hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi was rescued from an underground compound, having been found alone and without prior intelligence regarding his location. Following the rescue, the troops conducted a dedicated situational assessment regarding the possibility of finding additional hostages in the area, and halted operations for the next 24 hours. Even after the rescue, the IDF did not possess intelligence indicating the presence of additional hostages in the area at that time. On the afternoon of August 31st, 2024, the troops of the division located the six hostages in the underground tunnel. The hostages were no longer alive and had signs of gunshot wounds on their bodies. According to the findings of the pathological report, the estimated date of the murder of the six hostages was August 29th, 2024. IDF troops discovered the tunnel shaft where the six hostages were found on August 30th, 2024, after they had been murdered. The investigation found that the six hostages were murdered by the terrorists holding them captive. The IDF's ground activities in the area, although gradual and cautious, had a circumstantial influence on the terrorists' decision to murder the six hostages. The Chief of the General Staff concluded that this was a painful and tragic event, with the extremely difficult outcome of the brutal murder of six hostages by Hamas. The Chief of the General Staff determined that, based on the investigation, the hostages were murdered by gunfire from Hamas terrorists, while IDF forces were operating in the area, however the circumstances of the events that took place in the tunnel that led to the murders, and the likelihood of these circumstances becoming clear in the future is low. The Chief of the General Staff emphasized the moral obligation to investigate the event for the hostages' families, as well as for operational learning purposes. He affirmed that the IDF will continue to make every effort to fulfill the national mission and war objective of bringing home the hostages. The Chief of the General Staff emphasized that it is our duty to return the hostages alive and to bring back those who have fallen for burial. In this case, we did not succeed in bringing the hostages back alive, and it is our responsibility to learn from this and thoroughly investigate ourselves. The IDF shares the grief of the families over their grievous loss and will continue to accompany them. The IDF is continuing to operate with all means to fulfill the supreme national mission of bringing home all the hostages. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lebanon lodges complaint with UNSC over Israel's ceasefire violations IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 24, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanon has lodged a formal complaint against Israel for its ongoing violations of a ceasefire agreement reached late last month, according to media reports. Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted the complaint to the United Nations Security Council through its permanent mission in New York. The complaint expresses strong objections to the repeated breaches of the ceasefire and the security arrangements stipulated in UN Resolution 1701. The Israeli regime has violated the ceasefire agreement 816 times in less than a month, according to the complaint. It emphasizes that Israel's violations, which include bombings of border villages and residential areas, and road blockages, undermine efforts to deescalate military tensions. The Israeli violations pose a serious threat to international efforts aimed at achieving security and stability in the region and hinder Lebanon's ability to implement Resolution 1701, the complaint says. 4353**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen's Ansarullah says military operations against Israel not to stop IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 24, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- A member of Yemen's Ansarullah movement has said that it will not halt its military operations against the Zionist regime of Israel. Hazam al-Assad, a member of Ansarullah's political bureau, wrote on his X account on Tuesday that the military operations against Israel will continue till the regime stops its aggressions against the Palestinian nation in Gaza. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will surely be dissatisfied with the new situation in the Middle East, the Ansarullah member noted. Late on Monday, the Yemeni Armed Forces announced that they had targeted two military bases of the Israeli regime through two Yafa-class drones in Jaffa and Ashkelon in the occupied Palestine. The Yemeni Armed Forces released a statement, saying that their attacks are in line with supporting the oppressed Palestinian nation and responding to the Israeli regime's crimes in the region. The Yemeni forces have repeatedly said that attacks and pressure campaigns by Western governments could never force the Arab country to withdraw its support from the Palestinian nation. Yemen has been targeting Israeli ships or other vessels destined for the occupied Palestinian territories to support the resistance of the Palestinian nation in the Gaza Strip. 1483**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni attack causes closure of Israeli airport IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 24, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Zionist media has reported that a Yemeni missile attack on the Israeli regime has caused its Ben-Gurion International Airport to halt operations. Yemeni armed forces launched a missile attack at the occupied territories in Palestine early on Tuesday, according to a report by the Israeli television channel Kan. The attack led to the closure of Ben Gurion Airport and caused authorities to briefly close the skies controlled by the regime, the report said. Despite the end of the war with Hezbollah at the northern borders, issues with air travel in Israel persist due to attacks from Yemen. Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine's struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory's Palestinian Resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity. 7129**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel raids West Bank amid clashes between PA forces, resistance fighters IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 24, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- There has been a surge in violence in the occupied West Bank where Israeli military forces have launched assaults on various areas amid armed confrontations between Palestinian resistance fighters and the security forces of the Palestinian Authority (PA). According to a Tuesday report by Palestine's Shehab news agency, the Israeli regime's army intensified its operations in the Balata refugee camp in the city of Nablus, where its forces kidnapped a Palestinian youth named Bayan Barham Dawood from his home in the Beita area. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that during the raid on Balata, a young Palestinian man and a woman were injured and that the regime's forces detained the wounded. The regime's forces also raided the Tulkarm refugee camp, where intense explosions were reported. A young Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli troops in this incursion. The Izz ad-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced that they had targeted an Israeli military bulldozer and several military vehicles in the Al-Ghanem neighborhood of the Tulkarm camp with explosives. Israeli forces also demolished several Palestinian homes and facilities in the Hizma town, northeast of occupied al-Quds. These developments came after heavy armed clashes were reported between resistance fighters and PA forces in the Tammun town, south of Tubas, following raids on various areas in the occupied West Bank, including the Jenin camp. 4208**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fate of Israeli captives tied to Israel's advance in north Gaza: Hamas IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 24, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The fate of some Israeli captives is tied to the Israeli army's advance in areas of northern Gaza, the spokesperson of the Hamas' military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, has said. Abu Obeida said on Monday that Israel was hiding its real scale of losses in the Gaza Strip to protect the image of its army. Abu Obeida added in posts via his Telegram channel that Israel also hides the deplorable condition of its soldiers in northern Gaza, saying that the occupation forces penetrating into the area have been faced with major operations led by the Palestinian Resistance. Abu Ubaida's comments came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed there had been "certain progress" in negotiations for a prisoner exchange with Hamas, without providing a specific timeline. Opposition critics have accused Netanyahu of sabotaging the negotiations and prolonging the war. The spokesperson warned that "the fate of some Israeli prisoners depends on the progress of the occupation army by hundreds of meters in certain areas under attack," without elaborating further. In recent weeks, families of Israeli captives in Gaza have intensified their calls for an agreement on a prisoner exchange and a cease-fire in Gaza. 6125**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zionist regime media say 38 Israelis killed in northern Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 24, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- News outlets of the Zionist regime have reported that some 38 Israelis have been killed in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza since the start of the occupying regime's military operation in the area in late October 2024. According to the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, three military forces of the regime were killed in northern Gaza during conflicts on Monday, Palestinian news agency Samaa quoted the service as saying. The Israelis, who were killed after an explosion of a bomb in Beit Hanoun in northeast Gaza, were members of the regime's Kfir Brigade. Meanwhile, Al-Qassam Brigades of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas said that its forces had destroyed a Merkava tank with a land mine in north of Al Nuseirat camp in the center of Gaza. In a statement, Al-Qassam said its fighters had targeted an armored vehicle and a Merkava tank through Yasin 105 shells. Over 45,000 Palestinians including women and children have been killed in Gaza since the war started in October 2023. The Health Ministry of Palestine has also reported the number of people injured in the war had reached nearly 108,000. 1483**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas warns against PA's attempts to sow discord in Palestine IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 24, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas has strongly condemned the divisive remarks made by the Palestinian Authority officials and their acts of aggression against resistance fighters in the occupied West Bank. In a statement on Monday, Hamas slammed the PA security services' dangerous acts of aggression in the West Bank, adding that divisive remarks made by PA authorities can have serious negative effects on the social and national institutions controlled by the Palestinians. It strongly condemned setting fire to the houses of people wanted by the Israeli regime in Jenin refugee camp and the use of weapons such as rockets against them, adding that such weapons should have been used by the resistance fighters to fight the aggressors. Hamas stressed that the acts of aggression would damage the national unity of Palestine to confront the Israeli crimes and would help the aggressors destroy the Palestinian cause. The statement comes after PA security forces recently attacked the Jenin camp in the West Bank. 9376**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen hits military targets in Israeli-controlled Jaffa and Ashkelon IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 24, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Yemeni Army says it has pounded two military positions of the Israeli regime in Jaffa (Tel Aviv) and Ashkelon using two Yafa drones. According to Yemen's Saba news agency, the Yemeni Armed Forces underlined in a statement late on Tuesday that the operations had been carried out in support of the oppressed Palestinian people and fighters, and in response to the atrocities committed by the Zionist regime in the Gaza Strip. The Yemeni Army added that the operations were part of the fifth phase of the confrontation against the Israeli aggressors and was also a response to the regime's aggression against Yemen. It also noted that in a first operation, a military target of the Zionist enemy in the occupied area of Ashkelon was struck using a Yafa drone, adding that the operation had successfully achieved its result. It said that in a second operation, a military target of the occupiers in Jaffa was targeted using the same type of drone. The Yemeni Army further emphasized that its forces will continue their military operations against the Zionist enemy in response to requests from the Palestinian resistance in Gaza and also to fulfill the requests of the free people of Yemen, the Arab nations, and the Islamic world. The military operations will only cease when the aggression against Gaza ends and the blockade of the territory is lifted, it added. 4208**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas calls for popular uprising against PA to break Jenin siege IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 24, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- A senior official of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas has condemned the siege of the Jenin refugee camp by Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces and called for the largest popular movement in the West Bank to end the inhumane conditions in the region. According to the Palestinian Sama'a News Agency, Abdul Rahman Shadid, on Monday held the PA responsible for all the bloodshed in Jenin and criticized Mahmoud Abbas for ignoring national calls to lift the siege. Hamas had also denounced PA security operations in the Jenin refugee camp in a previous statement calling it illegal and crime against Palestinian living in the camp. We strongly condemn the burning of houses in Jenin and the use of weapons such as rocket launchers; these weapons would have been better placed in the hands of resistance fighters to confront the occupiers, the statement said. Hamas added: We warn of the great dangers posed by the prosecution of resistance fighters by the PA security services in the West Bank with false claims, and we emphasize that these violations will undermine the Palestinian national unity to confront the crimes of the occupiers and settlers. Days ago, three main resistance groups- Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front also called for the formation of a national committee by including all Palestinian groups to end the aggression against Jenin and prevent the spread of these incidents to other areas of the West Bank. PA forces recently raided the Jenin camp apparently to arrest a number of resistance fighters leading to a fierce clash between the two sides. The Jenin Battalion captured some PA vehicles as bargaining chips in demanding their release. The PA security services are accused of arresting those wanted by the Israeli occupation, further complicating the situation in the occupied West Bank, which has witnessed a significant increase in attacks by Zionist forces and settlers since the start of the war on Gaza in October 2023. Earlier, the citizens of Jenin also went on strike in protest at the 18-day siege of the refugee camp by forces of the Palestinian Authority. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister's Office Announcement Israel - Prime Minister's Office Spokesperson notifications The 37th Government 24.12.2024 The Prime Minister's Office, today: The negotiating team, which includes senior personnel from the Mossad, the ISA and the IDF, will return this evening from Qatar to Israel following a week of significant negotiations. The team has returned for internal consultations in Israel regarding the continuation of the negotiations for the return our hostages. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas condemns Israeli evacuation order of Indonesian Hospital Iran Press TV Tuesday, 24 December 2024 11:03 PM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has strongly condemned Israel's evacuation order for the Indonesian Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip. Hamas said in a statement on Tuesday night that forced evacuation of patients and medical staff at gunpoint is an extension of Israel's war crimes, and its policy of ethnic cleansing and forced displacement of Palestinians. "The Israeli army's forced evacuation of medical staff, patients and displaced persons in the Indonesian Hospital at gunpoint came as part of the war crimes, ethnic cleansing and forced displacement operations that it is carrying out in the northern Gaza Strip," Hamas said in a statement issued on Tuesday night. It added that the regime systematically targets hospitals to put them out of service and destroy all aspects of life in Gaza. Hamas urged the international community to end its silence over Israel's crimes. "The international community must break its silence and unjustified helplessness in the face of the crimes of the fascist occupation, especially in light of the unprecedented violations of all laws of war, including the need to protect civilian facilities and hospitals," it added. On Tuesday, Israeli troops forced patients and medical staff out of the Indonesian hospital, making them walk to another hospital miles away in Gaza City. All three major hospitals in the northern territory area are out of service, an area that has been under an intense Israeli military offensive for nearly three months, according to the ministry. The Indonesian Hospital is one of Gaza's few hospitals that are still partially functioning. Meanwhile, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) condemned attacks on hospitals in the North Gaza governorate in recent days. OCHA said in a statement that they are deeply concerned by reports that the Israeli military entered the Indonesian Hospital in North Gaza and forced its evacuation. "In recent days, attacks have also been reported in and around Al Awda and Kamal Adwan hospitals, the two other facilities that are still minimally functioning in North Gaza," said OCHA. The Gaza Ministry of Health said on Tuesday the Israeli military has stepped up its attacks on hospitals in northern Gaza, calling for "urgent protection" of medical personnel and facilities. The ministry said that Israel has besieged and been "directly" targeting three major hospitals in the area, namely the Indonesian Hospital, Kamal Adwan Hospital, and al-Awda Hospital. The Israeli army is "forcing the wounded and patients to evacuate the Indonesian Hospital," it added. It stressed that the Israeli "bombing is targeting all the departments of the Kamal Adwan Hospital and its surroundings around the clock without stopping." Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against the Israeli regime in response to the occupying entity's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians. The regime's bloody onslaught on Gaza has so far killed at least 45,338 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured another 107,764 individuals, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under rubble. The Israeli military has systematically blocked the entry of lifesaving food, medicine, medical supplies, fuel, and tents into the besieged Palestinian territory since October 2023. The territory's critical infrastructure such as water networks, sanitation facilities and bread mills has all been razed to the ground. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Settlement expansion proves Israel cannot be trusted for any peace deal: Hamas Iran Press TV Tuesday, 24 December 2024 5:38 PM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says Israel's establishment of seven new settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank proves the regime should not be trusted for any peace deal. "The establishment of these settlement outposts and communities on lands classified as Area B in the West Bank, which fall under the administrative control of the Palestinian Authority, reaffirms the failure of relying on peace settlement options with the occupation," the Tuesday statement read. "It underscores the need to confront its criminal policies aimed at erasing the Palestinian presence on their land and its relentless efforts to displace the people of the West Bank," Hamas stated. Hamas also cited a report by Israeli human rights organization Peace Now, which revealed that Israeli occupying authorities had established at least seven new settlement outposts on Palestinian-owned land. This, according to Hamas, is part of the occupation regime's ongoing plans to annex and Judaize the area, in blatant violation of international resolutions and laws that criminalize settlement activity. Far-right Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, a close ally of Benjamin Netanyahu, recently urged the regime to take "control" of the Gaza Strip and adopt an "offensive" approach in the occupied West Bank to expand illegal settlements and block the creation of a Palestinian state. The Israeli occupation forces continue to raid and occupy more land of Palestinians across the West Bank as part of a broader strategy of land confiscation escalated significantly since the US-Israeli genocide in Gaza began in October 2023. Last week, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Israel was accelerating steps to consolidate the annexation of the occupied West Bank, including East al-Quds; replacing Palestinian communities with settlers in violation of international law. Israel must immediately reverse this trend and comply with its obligations under international law, including those set out by the International Court of Justice, the UN office demanded. The international community views the settlements in Palestine and elsewhere as illegal under international law and the Geneva Conventions. Israel is already engaged in a systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni forces strike Israeli military site with hypersonic missile Iran Press TV Tuesday, 24 December 2024 3:40 PM Yemen's armed forces say they have successfully carried out an operation against an Israeli military target within the occupied territories, in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Tel Aviv regime's ongoing genocidal war in the besieged Gaza Strip. In a statement on Tuesday, the country's forces said they have struck an Israeli military site in the occupied area of Yaffa, using a Palestine-2 hypersonic ballistic missile, adding that the operation successfully achieved its objective. The statement further noted that Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to confront the Israeli-American-British aggression, stressing that they will continue their military operations in support of Palestinians in Gaza until the aggression is ended and the siege on the blockaded territory is lifted. Yemeni forces have markedly intensified their pro-Palestinian strikes against the occupied territories and other Israeli targets in recent weeks. On Monday, the country's drone unit carried out an operation against an Israeli military target in the city of Asqalan, located 50 kilometers south of Tel Aviv, using a homegrown and long-range Yaffa kamikaze drone. Also on Saturday, at least 20 Israeli settlers were injured after a Palestine-2 hypersonic ballistic missile launched from Yemen struck Tel Aviv's southern Jaffa area. Since the onset of Israel's campaign of genocide in the Gaza Strip, the Yemeni forces have taken measures to assert their support for the Palestinian resistance in Gaza, targeting Israeli vessels in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Additionally, the Yemeni armed forces have launched several missile and drone attacks against Israeli-occupied territories, particularly focusing on Tel Aviv. They have pledged to continue these operations as long as Israel maintains its assaults on Gaza, signaling a potential for further escalation in the region. In October, the US military unleashed B-2 stealth bombers to bomb Yemen in support of Israel. Since then, attacks against Yemen from Israel, the US and the UK have continued in a bid to halt the retaliatory attacks by Sana'a. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni missiles alter US, Israel's calculations: Iranian FM Iran Press TV Tuesday, 24 December 2024 3:02 PM The precision of Yemeni missiles has significantly disrupted the strategic calculations of the Israeli-US alliance, according to Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Speaking to reporters in Tehran on Tuesday, Araghchi praised Yemen's impactful pro-Palestine operations, highlighting the unprecedented measures undertaken by the Arab nation in support of Gaza and other resistance fronts. He referenced a series of anti-Israel actions carried out by Yemen in recent days, including hypersonic missile strikes deep in the occupied territories. Yemen has also targeted US warships in its surrounding waters in retaliation for strikes on its territory. Notably, the USS Harry Truman was attacked this week with eight cruise missiles and 17 drones, resulting in the downing of an American F-18 Hornet warplane. "The people of Yemen, relying on their indigenous missiles and defensive equipment, have played an unprecedented role in defending the Palestinian people since the onset of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood," Araghchi said. "Even under the heaviest bombardments from the American-Israeli coalition, they target the heart of the occupied territories with their homemade missiles." Addressing Iran's position, Araghchi reaffirmed Tehran's unwavering support for all members of the resistance front. However, he singled out Yemen's resistance for its self-reliance. "The Yemenis have proven they need no external assistance. Despite dire economic and military conditions, they have stood firm and resisted," he said. Israel has intensified attacks on Yemen's civilian infrastructure, targeting power stations, ports, and other critical facilities. On Monday, Israeli minister of military affairs Israel Katz vowed to escalate these attacks and issued threats against Yemeni leaders. Israel will "damage their strategic infrastructure, and we will behead their leaders - just as we did to [Hamas leader Ismail] Haniyeh, [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar, and [Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan] Nasrallah in Tehran, Gaza, and Lebanon - we will do it in Hodeidah and Sana'a," Katz said. Yemen's support for Palestine has been vocal and direct since Israel's assault on Gaza began on October 7, 2023. The Arab country has imposed a semi-blockade on Israel, preventing Israel-linked ships from operating in waters near Yemen. These strikes have caused significant logistical challenges for Israel, forcing vessels carrying military hardware and supplies to reroute around Africa and effectively shutting down the port of Eilat at the southern tip of the occupied territories. Yemen has also launched many direct attacks on the occupied territories, some jointly with Iraqi resistance. The Yemeni armed forces have declared their commitment to continue operations until Israel ends its ground and aerial campaigns in Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza Health Ministry calls for urgent intl. help to protect hospitals as Israel intensifies attacks Iran Press TV Tuesday, 24 December 2024 11:08 AM The Gaza Ministry of Health says the Israeli military has stepped up its attacks on hospitals in the northern Gaza, calling for "urgent protection" of medical personnel and facilities. In a statement on Tuesday, the ministry said that Israel has besieged and been "directly" targeting three major hospitals in the area, namely the Indonesian Hospital, Kamal Adwan Hospital, and al-Awda Hospital over the past hours. The Israeli army is "forcing the wounded and patients to evacuate the Indonesian Hospital", it added. It stressed that the Israeli "bombing is targeting all the departments of the Kamal Adwan Hospital and its surroundings around the clock without stopping." "Shrapnel is scattered inside the hospital yard, causing terrifying sounds and serious damage," the statement added. "We appeal to all international and UN institutions and concerned parties to urgently intervene to protect the health system in the Gaza Strip," the ministry pointed out. Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against the Israeli regime in response to the occupying entity's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians. The regime's bloody onslaught on Gaza has so far killed at least 45,338 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured another 107,764 individuals, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under rubble. The Israeli military has systematically blocked the entry of lifesaving food, medicine, medical supplies, fuel, and tents into the besieged Palestinian territory since October 2023. The territory's critical infrastructure such as water networks, sanitation facilities and bread mills has all been razed to the ground. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas urges 'largest popular uprising' to break PA's inhumane siege on Jenin refugee camp Iran Press TV Tuesday, 24 December 2024 6:37 AM A senior official of the Hamas resistance group has called for "the largest popular uprising" aimed at lifting the inhumane siege imposed by the Palestinian Authority (PA) on the Jenin refugee camp, north of the occupied West Bank. Abdul Rahman Shadid made the request on Monday, as the PA "security forces" have over the past few weeks closed entrances to the Jenin camp, home to some 25,000 people, and clashed with resistance fighters there. He held Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas responsible for the "blood shed in Jenin or any other governorate as a result of the military campaign launched by the [Palestinian] Authority." The PA officials, Shadid added, refuse to respond to the various national calls and initiatives that demand an end to the blockade on the Jenin camp and the military campaign against the resistance in the West Bank, Since early this month, the PA security personnel and armored vehicles have been patrolling the Jenin camp. They have arrested a number of Palestinians affiliated with resistance groups, particularly the Jenin Brigades, sparking deadly clashes. Resistance factions say the Palestinian Authority and its security forces are actually doing the Tel Aviv regime's bidding amid reports that the Jenin military campaign is being carried out under Israeli military oversight. Last week, Hamas denounced the PA's campaign as a "fully-fledged crime," saying the weapons used against people in Jenin would have been better placed in the hands of resistance fighters to confront the Israeli occupiers. In a statement, it called for "popular mobilization to break the siege and protect resistance fighters, as well as to confront this security operation, which only serves the occupation army." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dec. 23: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation Iran Press TV Tuesday, 24 December 2024 6:14 AM By Press TV Website Staff Amid the West-backed Israeli genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed more than 45,300 Palestinians so far, resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against the Tel Aviv regime and its Western backers. The major operations by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Monday, December 23, are as follows: Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on Dec. 23: Targeted an Israeli army tank with a "Shawaz" bomb in the "Al-Tawam" area, northern Gaza City. Targeted an Israeli army force with a "TBG" shell while it was fortified inside a house, near Abu Sharkh junction, west of Jabalia al-Balad, northern Gaza Strip. Targeted and destroyed a Merkava tank with a self-detonating landmine in the New Camp area, north of the Nuseirat camp, central Gaza Strip. Targeted an Israeli military "Rebot" troop carrier and a "Merkava" tank with "Al-Yassin 105" shells and shot down a "Quadcopter" drone in the New Camp area north of the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip. Targeted an Israeli force that had taken refuge inside a house with an anti-personnel shell near the "Tawam" junction in northern Gaza City. Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers with mortar shells in the Al-Tawam area of northern Gaza City. In a complex military operation, stabbed and killed three Israeli soldiers who were on a mission to protect a building in the Beit Lahia project in the northern Gaza Strip where a battalion of Israeli forces was fortified. They stormed the building and killed all members of the occupation force from point-blank range, seized their weapons, and freed a number of civilians who were detained there. Al-Quds Brigades' operations on Dec. 23: Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles with regular mortar shells (60 mm caliber) at the Al-Mabhouh site east of Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip. Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades' operations on Dec. 23: In a joint cooperation with the Al-Quds Brigades, targeted Israeli military gatherings east of Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip with a barrage of 107 mm rockets. Al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades' operations on Dec. 23: In a joint military cooperation with the Martyr Omar al-Qassem Forces, targeted a command and control site of the Israeli military in the so-called "Netzarim Axis" with heavy mortar shells. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on Dec. 23: Shot down an Israeli military "quadcopter" in the vicinity of Balata camp in the city of Nablus, occupied West Bank, after targeting it directly and precisely. Mujahideen Brigades' operations on Dec. 23: Targeted a tented gathering of Israeli soldiers west of the school gate east of Al-Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip with a number of 80mm mortar shells. Yemeni military's operations on Dec. 23: Targeted a vital Israeli military target in the occupied Ashkelon area with a Yaffa drone The operation successfully achieved its goal. Targeted another vital Israeli military site in Tel Aviv with a Yaffa drone. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel admits assassinating Hamas leader, vows to inflict same fate on Yemeni fighters, people Iran Press TV Tuesday, 24 December 2024 12:14 AM The Israeli regime has admitted to assassinating the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas former political leader, alleging that it would visit the same fate on resistance fighters and people in Yemen, which has been conducting numerous anti-Israeli strikes. Israeli minister for military affairs Yizrael Katz made the remarks on Monday, claiming that the regime would escalate its attacks against Yemen, including by staging assassinations. "Just as we did to [Ismail] Haniyeh, [Yahya] Sinwar, and [Sayyed Hassan] Nasrallah in Tehran, Gaza, and Lebanon," Katz alleged, referring to the former Hamas Political Bureau chief, his successor, and the former secretary general of Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement, the regime would "damage the strategic infrastructure, and behead the leaders" of whatever party that takes aim at it. Haniyeh was assassinated back in July after the regime carried out a targeted killing operation against the Iranian capital Tehran, to which he had travelled as an official guest to attend the inauguration ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The regime assassinated Haniyeh's successor, Sinwar, in another attack against the Gaza Strip in October, and staged a targeted killing strike against Beirut in September that resulted in the assassination of Nasrallah. Katz threatened that the regime would carry out the atrocities that he had mentioned in Yemen's capital Sana'a and western port city of al-Hudaydah. "Whoever will raise his hand to Israel, his hand will be severed. The Israeli military's long arm will harm him and will settle the score." Katz further claimed that Tel Aviv had "defeated Hamas," adding, "We have won over Hezbollah, have blinded Iran's defense systems, and damaged the production systems, we have toppled [former Syrian president Bashar] al-Assad in Syria." The resistance groups and their fellow movements across the region have, however, vowed that they would always emerge stronger and more capable from the regime's attacks, and would not be affected by any hostile measures, including assassination of their leaders. The Israeli official, however, went on to say, "We have dealt a severe blow" to the regional Axis of Resistance, "and we will also deal a severe blow" to Yemen's popular resistance Ansarullah movement, "which remains the last to stand and fire at Israel." Yemen's Armed Forces have been conducting numerous pro-Palestinian strikes since October 7, 2023, when the Israeli regime began taking the Gaza Strip under a United States-backed genocidal war that has so far claimed the lives of more than 45,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children. The strikes have been targeting the American military assets that are deployed off Yemen's coastline, strategic and sensitive targets across the occupied Palestinian territories as well as the Israeli ships and the vessels heading towards the territories. Yemen's Defense Minister Mohammed Nasser al-Atifi recently warned Washington that the country was capable of sinking the US's naval fleets, and was in possession of weapons that it had refused to deploy so far. Yemen's pro-Palestinian strikes have mounted enormous pressure on the Israeli regime by forcing the vessels trying to ship military hardware and other commodities to the occupied territories to take the longer route around Africa. The operations have, among other things, effectively shut down the port of Eilat, which is located in the southernmost tip of the occupied territories. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US missile deployment in the Philippines is legitimate: Manila The Philippines rejects China's opposition to its acquisition of the Typhon missile system. By RFA and BenarNews Staff 2024.12.24 MANILA -- The Philippines' acquisition and deployment of a U.S. mid-range missile system is "completely legitimate, legal, and beyond reproach," its defense chief said on Tuesday. China protested against the plan by the Philippines to acquire a Typhon mid-range missile system from the United States to boost its maritime capabilities amid rising tensions in the disputed South China Sea. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning called the plan "provocative and dangerous," and said on Monday it was an "extremely irresponsible choice" not only for the Philippine people and people of all Southeast Asian countries, but also "to history and to regional security." Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro said any deployment for the security of the Philippines was its affair. "The Philippines is a sovereign state, not any country's 'doorstep'," Teodoro said in a statement. He did not refer to the Chinese comment on the missile system but reiterated that the enhancement of Philippine defense capabilities was intended to serve its national interest and "not targeted against specific countries." "Any deployment and procurement of assets related to the Philippines' security and defense fall within its own sovereign prerogative and are not subject to any foreign veto," Teodoro said. China and the Philippines have been trading accusations of provocation and intimidation over escalating tensions in parts of the South China Sea that they both claim, especially near reefs that lie inside Manila's exclusive economic zone, or EEZ, but are also claimed by Beijing. "If the Chinese Communist Party is truly intent on reducing tensions and instability in the region, they should ... stop their provocative actions ... withdraw their illegal presence from the Philippines' EEZ, and adhere to International Law," said Teodoro, who also accused Beijing of building up a nuclear arsenal and ballistic missile capability. Typhon system On Monday, Philippine army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido - while delivering his year-end report to an audience of domestic and foreign journalists in Manila - confirmed that the army has endorsed a plan to acquire a mid-range missile system "to boost the country's capability in protecting its territory." The mobile system, called Typhon, was deployed to the Philippines early this year as part of a joint military exercise with the U.S. military. Chinese defense minister Dong Jun said in June the deployment was "severely damaging regional security and stability." The missile system, developed by U.S. firm Lockheed Martin, has a range of 480 kilometers (300 miles), and is capable of reaching the disputed Scarborough Shoal as well as targets around Taiwan. Galido said that the Typhon would "protect our floating assets," referring to Philippine navy and coastguard vessels. The acquisition is taking place as the army is "tasked to come up with plans to contribute to the comprehensive archipelagic defense," according to Galido, who added that "one of our inputs is to be able to defend this land through this type of platform." Chinese spokeswoman Mao Ning criticized the plan, saying that the Philippines, "by bringing in this strategic offensive weapon, is enabling a country outside the region to fuel tensions and antagonism in this region, and incite geopolitical confrontation and arms race." BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization. Edited by Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content December not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Serbian List Set To Appeal Kosovar Election Commission's Decision Barring It From February Election By RFE/RL's Kosovo Service December 24, 2024 The president of the largest ethnic-Serbian party in Kosovo on December 24 said that he will file an appeal with the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) over a decision by the Central Election Commission (CEC) barring the party's from the February 9 elections due to its strong links with Belgrade. Zlatan Elek told a news conference that he expects the decision of the CEC against Serbian List (Srpska Lista) to be annulled. Elek used harsh words against Prime Minister Albin Kurti, saying he wanted to "eliminate" Serbian List from the race. "This is institutional and legal violence against the Serbian people, against the Srpska List, because Kurti does not want to see Srpska List MPs in the Kosovo Parliament, but wants obedient Serbs in that parliament," said Elek. The CEC said on December 23 when it announced its decision not to certify Serbian List that its main reason was its nationalist stance and close ties to Serbia. Some commission members noted that Elek has never referred to Kosovo as independent and continues to call it Serbia's autonomous province of Kosovo. The CEC also said that Serbian List has close ties with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and other Serb leaders who also refuse to recognize Kosovo's independence. Kurti, speaking his own news conference on December 24, accused Serbian List of being under the command of Belgrade. "The Serbian List is unfortunately representing the wide scope and high degree of Serbia's interference in Kosovo's internal affairs," Kurti said. Kurti has previously criticized Serbian List regarding its relationship with Vucic and fugitive former Kosovar Serb politician Milan Radoicic. Kosovar officials have accused Radoicic of being the ringleader of an ambush near the Serbian Orthodox Banjska Monastery complex in September 2023 that killed a policeman and injured another. Radoicic, who has taken responsibility for the armed attack, remains in Serbia, which refuses to extradite him. Kosovo has characterized the assault on the monastery as a terrorist attack and accused of being responsible for it. Belgrade has denied involvement and has said the attack was not terrorism. Kurti underlined that the Serbian List has never distanced itself from the attack nor condemned it. "Radoicic continues to be the de-facto head of Srpska Lista," Kurti said. "In my view, the Serb List is not an expression of the political organization of Serbs in Kosovo, but rather Belgrade's dictate to the Serbs of Kosovo by placing Radoicic as the leader of that party." Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani also said that the Serbian List is engaged in terrorist acts, acts of aggression, and violations of the constitutional order, according to her office in responses to RFE/RL's inquiries. "Every decision made by the CEC must be respected, as part of the commitment to the rule of law and preserving institutional integrity," Osmani said, according to her office. Petar Petkovic, head of the Office for Kosovo in the Serbian government, said that Osmani's "shameful" statement only confirms that the CEC's decision was political and made on Kurti's orders. "[Osmani] and Kurti know neither about democracy nor the rule of law. With this stance, Pristina is showing that the Serbian List and the unity of Serbs are a thorn in its side. Therefore, the Serbian List must win," Petkovic stated on X. Meanwhile, the international community has warned against the process of certifying political entities becoming politically motivated. The U.S. Embassy in Pristina assessed that "it is necessary for voters, not political bodies, to decide who represents them." German Ambassador to Kosovo Joern Rohde said that equal application of the law for all is necessary and the certification process should not be politicized. Similar reactions have been expressed by the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The Kosovo Democratic Institute said the CEC's decision was "contrary to the law and other applicable regulations." Eugen Cakolli of the institute said if the Serbian List appeals to the ECAP, it will be certified and the CEC's decision will be annulled. With reporting by AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kosovo-serbia-kurti-srpska-lista- election/33251795.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Moldova's Pro-Western President Sworn In For Second Term By RFE/RL's Moldovan Service December 24, 2024 CHISINAU -- Moldova's pro-Western president, Maia Sandu, was sworn in for a second term in what analysts call a critical milestone for the integration of one of Europe's poorest countries into the European Union. Sandu defeated her Russian-friendly opponent, Alexandr Stoianoglo, in the second-round of a hard fought election last month. The Harvard University educated, former World Bank official's victory -- coming just one week after another former Soviet republic, Georgia, suffered a setback on its EU path when elections were won by Moscow-friendly incumbents -- came as a relief for Moldova's Western partners, who hailed it as proof that democracy can win over Russian meddling. Sandu said in her inauguration speech that she hopes her second and final four-year mandate will tie her legacy to "Moldova being in the European Union." During Sandu's first term, Moldova secured EU candidate status in 2022 and opened accession talks earlier this year after firmly aligning itself with its neighbor, Ukraine, after Russia's unprovoked invasion in 2022, and joining the EU sanctions regime against Russia. "European integration is our path to security and prosperity, but let's not think of it as a business-class ticket to paradise," Sandu said in her inauguration speech. "It's not a miracle cure to all our problems. The French won't come here to run our judiciary. The Danes won't come in to clean up our garbage. The Germans won't come in to manage our border crossings. Only we are responsible for our lives, for our country." Last week the European Union applauded Moldova for the successful conduct of the presidential elections and of the referendum on enshrining EU accession in the constitution," while blasting the "hybrid attempts to undermine the country's democratic institutions." Moldovan officials had warned for months of threats from Russia that included disinformation and facilitating millions in illicit payments for an informal network of anti-EU organizers. At the same time, they also fended off cyberattacks and deepfakes, and publicly confronted what they regarded as false narratives aimed at influencing the outcome of the vote. Sandu, 52, became Moldova's first female president with a landslide victory in 2020, running on a strong pro-EU message and vowing to fight corruption. Stoianoglo, 57, from Gagauzia -- a Turkic-speaking autonomous region of Moldova with pro-Russian sentiment -- campaigned on a law-and-order theme, although critics slammed him for what they say was a failure to address high-level corruption during his time as Moldova's prosecutor-general. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/sandu-president-stoianoglo-eu- leyen-scholz-macron/33251159.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Vietnam signs $286 million in defense contracts at 2024 international expo By Peh Hong Lim December 24, 2024 Vietnam's ambitions to modernize its military and diversify international partnerships were on full display at the 2024 Vietnam International Defense Expo, an exhibition that concluded with defense enterprises signing 16 contracts worth over $286 million, along with 17 strategic cooperation agreements with international defense firms. The exhibition, which took place from Dec. 19-22 in Hanoi, featured more than 240 defense industry companies and represented 49 countries. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said the expo was "an affirmation of Vietnam's role and contribution in international defense cooperation" and a "symbol of trust, respect and goodwill in cooperation between nations for a world of peace, stability and prosperity." Experts noted that the vast number of international companies at the exhibition reflected Vietnam's long-term approach to diversifying its foreign partners. "If you look at the list of invited firms and defense firms and companies at the expo, you can see there's a wide range of companies from many different countries," said Hanh Nguyen, a research fellow at the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies based in Japan. "This decision reflects Vietnam's long-standing foreign policy approach, which is to strive to build partnerships with every country regardless of their political system or ideology," he added. Bich Tran, a postdoctoral fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore, shared a similar sentiment, explaining to VOA that the presence of Chinese, Russian and Western countries at the expo showed that Vietnam is committed to the principle of diversifying its foreign relations. "Vietnam has talked about diversifying its arms supplies for many years, but I think Russia's invasion of Ukraine forced Vietnam to facilitate the process. So with this expo, [Vietnam] has the opportunity to talk with many different partners, to look around to see what will work," Tran said. American firms Boeing and Lockheed Martin, French company Airbus, and Chinese state-owned China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) attended the expo. NORINCO's participation marked the first time for a Chinese company. Concurrently, Vietnam's general-secretary of the Communist Party, To Lam, met with visiting Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun. Despite the active participation and discussion between Beijing and Hanoi officials, Nguyen said the expo is unlikely to become a breakthrough point for arms sales between the two countries, noting that Vietnam has concerns over the transparency performance of Chinese military equipment. Nguyen The Phuong, a doctoral candidate in maritime security at the University of New South Wales, told VOA that "Vietnam will never, ever buy any lethal weapons from China," adding that Vietnam's reluctance to buy weapons from China is a "long-standing principle dating back to the '70s and '80s." Phuong said Vietnam is preparing to advance and upgrade its outdated systems, "focusing on the modernization of the Vietnamese army and maritime defense needs." "Vietnam is trying to modernize its navy and air force and trying to turn them into modernized and capable services after 2030. So, there are a lot of things that the Vietnamese military wants to improve from buying more aircraft for its air force, building more warships for its navy, and especially the capability to monitor." Contributing to Hanoi's need to modernize is the potential for conflict in the South China Sea, a geopolitically disputed territory that is both a critical maritime route for global trade and a region rich in resources, including oil, natural gas and fish stock. On Dec. 10, the South China Morning Post reported that Vietnam is actively building military facilities on several islands and reefs in the Spratly Islands key territories in the South China Sea. "Vietnam's military strategy in the South China Sea can be summed up in one word: deterrence. Or more precisely, deterrence by denial," said Phuong, explaining that Vietnam's decisions at the expo reflect an ambition to increase its coastal military capabilities. Another takeaway from the expo is Hanoi's cooperation with the United States. Speaking at the expo, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Napper said the United States' goal is to ensure that Vietnam "has everything it needs to defend its interests at sea, in the air, on the ground and in cyberspace." Tran said this goal demonstrates that the U.S.-Vietnam defense cooperation is shifting from a single arms assistance model to a broader multilateral cooperation framework. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mozambique's highest court upholds victory for the ruling Frelimo Party By Charles Mangwiro December 24, 2024 Mozambique's top court has declared election victory for the country's ruling Frelimo Party and its 47-year-old presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, in an election process marred by widespread rigging that sparked nearly two months of violent protests, causing the deaths of more than 100 people and injuring several others. Frelimo has been in power for 49 years. After more than 55 days of waiting, the chairperson of the Constitutional Council, Lucia Ribeiro, on Monday acknowledged irregularities in the election but said this did not substantially influence the results, and that Daniel Chapo of the governing Frelimo Party won with 65.17% of the vote, while opposition politician Venancio Mondlane had 24.29%. The Constitutional Council also gave Frelimo a majority in parliament and all the 10 provincial governors. The results were initially announced by the National Election Commission in late October and triggered protests for more than eight weeks after Mondlane rejected the result and called for protests that resulted in at least 130 deaths in clashes with the police. "One, proclaims citizen Daniel Francisco Chapo, elected president of the Republic of Mozambique. Two, validates the results of the parliamentary elections on October 9, 2024," said Ribeiro. According to the final ruling, for parliament, Frelimo's number of seats was cut from 195 to 169. The Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique, which supported Mondlane, remains the second-largest party. Its number of seats increased from 31 to 43. Mozambique held several elections on October 9: presidential, legislative and provincial. The results announced by the National Election Commission in October gave victory to Chapo. In his acceptance speech on Monday, Chapo said he is ready to serve the interests of all Mozambicans and not just for his party and promised to introduce several reforms. "It has become clear during these days that our electoral system needs profound reforms, and we all agree," said Chapo. "We need to build a new democratic architecture that responds to the aspirations of our society and not just partisan interests. I want to take this opportunity to say that I am willing to lead this reform process of our society and not just partisan interests. I want to take this opportunity to say that I am willing to lead this reform process." Soon after the announcement of the results, Mondlane's supporters again protested in the capital, Maputo, burning tires and blocking roads. Mondlane accused Frelimo of rigging the vote and called for a national shutdown starting this Friday. Human rights activist and director of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights Adriano Nuvunga says the results proclaimed by the Constitutional Council will only bring problems to the country instead of solving them. "It is unbelievable that the Constitutional Council read these results knowing that the general state of the nation in Mozambique feels attacked by these results. This would have been the moment for the Council bringing the nation together, mobilizing to find a formula for everyone to feel represented in what will be the next government," said Nuvunga. Multiple human rights organizations reported that violent and repressive measures were used by security forces against protesters who were taking part in peaceful demonstrations. At least 300 protesters have been arrested since October in connection with these demonstrations. With all the contesting parties rejecting the results on Monday, violent protests will continue in Mozambique at least for the coming weeks. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas says Israel's 'new conditions' delaying ceasefire agreement in Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 25, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has announced that imposing "new conditions" by the Israeli regime is the reason for delaying agreement on the Gaza ceasefire. In a statement on Wednesday, Hamas said that the ceasefire and prisoner exchange negotiations are continuing in Doha under the mediation of Qatar and Egypt in a serious manner, the Egyptian state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV reported. Hamas said; however, that it was showing flexibility and responsibilities in the talks, but the occupation regime has set new conditions concerning the withdrawal of its troops, the ceasefire, prisoners, and the return of displaced people, which has delayed reaching an agreement. Israeli negotiators returned to Israel from Qatar on Tuesday evening for consultations about a hostage deal after a significant week of talks, the Israeli regime's premier Benjamin Netanyahu's office said. Zionist sources stressed that the negotiations on the prisoner exchange agreement have reached a stage that requires political decisions in occupied Palestine. In this regard, the Zionist regime's Radio and Television Organization, quoting informed sources, stressed that the talks have not reached an impasse and that the process of talks is still ongoing. 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni army says it carried out fresh missile attack on Tel Aviv IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 25, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesman says that a new missile attack has been launched on an Israeli military position in Tel Aviv. In a statement on Wednesday, Brigadier General Yahya Saree said the Yemeni armed forces had targeted a Zionist military position in Jaffa (Tel Aviv) with the Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missile. According to the statement, the missile hit its target successfully. Saree said the operation was carried out in support of the Palestinian nation and in response to the acts of aggression against Yemen. He stressed that Yemen's military operations will continue until the aggression against Gaza stops and the blockade on the territory is lifted. Earlier on Tuesday, General Saree announced that the Yemeni Armed Forces had targeted an Israeli military site in the occupied Jaffa, located in the suburbs of Tel Aviv, using a Palestine 2 missile. The Israeli army claimed it had intercepted and shot down a Yemeni missile before it infiltrated the occupied Palestinian airspace. 9376**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fresh Israeli attacks kill 15 Palestinians across Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 25, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Fresh attacks by the Israeli regime's army on different areas of Gaza have left at least 15 civilians martyred and several others injured or missing. According to Palestinian media reports on Wednesday, some 10 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli bombardment of a house in the Ma'an district, in the east of Khan Younis in the south of Gaza while several others were injured or missing. The bombardment of a residential unit in the Al-Manara neighborhood in southern Khan Younis also left at least 2 martyred and several others injured. The Tel Aviv regime's fighter jets bombed a house in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, killing a Palestinian citizen while the bombing of a residence in the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp, located in central Gaza, resulted in 2 deaths and several injuries. Israeli fighter jets also struck a home in the southern part of the Al-Nuseirat camp. Despite killing more than 45,000 people in Gaza since October 2023, the Israeli regime has yet to achieve its declared objective of destroying Hamas and freeing the Zionist captives held in Gaza. 4208**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address No red line to target US interests if Yemen invaded: Ansarullah IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 25, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- A member of the political bureau of Yemen's Ansarullah movement has said that there will be no red line for Yemenis or the resistance group in targeting American interests in the region if the US invades the Arab country. IRNA on Wednesday morning citing Yemeni media reported that Mohammed Ali al-Houthi has issued a strong warning to the United States against any potential invasion of Yemen in support of the Zionist regime If the US invades Yemen, we will target US interests throughout the Middle East and we will not have a red line, he said. Addressing Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Al-Houthi said that the Yemeni people have no fear of the Zionists rather believe that their threats are empty. Reacting to the recent operation in the Red Sea, he said that three aircraft carriers left the region under fire from the Yemeni armed forces. Now you have brought the fourth carrier into the region, and if it does not leave, it will be an easy prey for the Yemeni forces, he rebuked the American military, saying USS Harry S. Truman, an aircraft carrier in the Red Sea is a declaration of war and a threat to Yemen's national security. The waning followed a statement on social media by US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Monday night claiming that its forces are preparing to attack Yemen. CENTCOM also released images on the X social network, saying sailors of the USS Harry S. Truman are preparing ammunition for attacks against targets in Yemen. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lebanese PM calls for immediate withdrawal of Zionist regime from border areas IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 25, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called for an end to the aggression of the Zionist regime and the immediate withdrawal of this regime from the border areas and to prevent the violation of the ceasefire by Israel. According to the Lebanese news agency "NNA", the ceasefire monitoring committee in Lebanon, chaired by Najib Mikati, the prime minister of the Lebanese government, held a meeting and reviewed the implementation of the ceasefire agreement. In this meeting, Mikati called for an end to the aggression of the Zionist regime and its immediate withdrawal from the border areas, and said, "Lebanon adheres to the terms of the (ceasefire) agreement, while Israel continues to violate this agreement and this is unacceptable." 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address It's Yemen again: Drone operation targets Israeli industrial zone Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 December 2024 6:42 PM Yemen's army says it has conducted another drone operation targeting the "industrial zone of the Israeli enemy" in the occupied Asqalan area. Army spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree made the announcement on Wednesday. The operation, he said, "achieved its goal successfully." According to Saree, the two-stage operation by the Yemeni Air Force included a strike on a vital Israeli position in the occupied Yaffa area as well. In the other stage of the operation, the industrial zone was hit. Yemen's courageous operations against Israel and in support of the Palestinians are an eyesore to the adversaries of the Axis of Resistance. Such operations have intensified in the recent past. On Tuesday, a Yemeni missile struck a military site in Tel Aviv's southern suburb of Jaffa. Asqalan saw another Yemeni drone strike on Monday. And on Saturday, a missile strike near Tel Aviv injured 20 settlers. Yemen's army has made it clear that these operations are not going to stop unless the regime stops its vicious campaign of genocide in the besieged Gaza Strip. Israel has killed more than 45,300 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. Yemenis have been actively supporting the cause of Palestine from the early days of the war. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas says Israel created new obstacles to Gaza truce deal Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 December 2024 4:49 PM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says Israel has created new obstacles to a ceasefire agreement, despite progress in negotiations in Doha. The resistance movement said in a statement on Wednesday that "negotiations are continuing in Doha under the mediation of Qatar and Egypt in a serious manner." "But the occupation has set new conditions concerning withdrawal (of troops), the ceasefire, prisoners, and the return of displaced people, which has delayed reaching an agreement." It said the resistance has demonstrated responsibility and flexibility in the negotiations. Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that there had been "some progress" in the talks. On Tuesday, his representatives returned from Qatar for consultations about a deal. In the meantime, the regime's military forces kept up attacks on the Gaza Strip, killing at least 23 people, including women and children, on Wednesday, according to medics. Among those killed were nine members of a single family in the northern town of Jabalia and a pregnant woman in Gaza City. Medics said they managed to save her baby, but the newborn now faces life without its mother. In its daily update on the death toll from more than 14 months of Israel's campaign of genocide, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Wednesday that more than 45,360 people have so far been killed across the besieged territory. Health officials say thousands of unidentified bodies are still buried under the rubble in Gaza; they are not yet included in estimates. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel attacks eastern Lebanon in yet anther violation of ceasefire Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 December 2024 2:27 PM Israel has carried out airstrikes against Lebanon in violation of a ceasefire reached last month between Tel Aviv and Hezbollah. The regime's warplanes hit targets in the Baalbek region in the east of the country before dawn on Wednesday, said the country's National News Agency. The attack near the town of Taraya did not result in casualties, it said, branding the strike as the "first violation of the ceasefire agreement" in the area. At least 300 Israeli violations have been reported since the ceasefire agreement took effect on November 27 to end over nearly 70 days of Israel's offensive on the country. A committee made up of France, the United States, Lebanon, and United Nations peacekeepers is tasked with monitoring the ceasefire and ensuring violations are identified and dealt with. Beirut has urged the parties -- particularly the US and France -- to press Israel to speed up its withdrawal from the country's south under the terms of the deal. The truce demanded an immediate halt to Israel's aggression on Lebanese soil and gave the regime's forces 60 days to withdraw from south Lebanon. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen fires second hypersonic missile at Israeli targets in as many days Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 December 2024 9:04 AM The Yemeni Armed Forces claimed responsibility for a missile strike on a military target within the Israeli-occupied territories in support of Gaza, marking the second attack in just two days. Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesman for Yemen's Armed Forces, stated on Wednesday that the operation involved a Palestine-2 hypersonic ballistic missile, and struck an Israeli military target in Tel Aviv. The Yemeni spokesman underscored that the missile strike was part of the fifth phase of the battle against the Israeli enemy, and could successfully attain its desired objectives. The Yemeni Armed Forces will continue their operations, and will strike all Israeli facilities within the occupied territories, he said. Such strikes will not stop unless the ongoing aggression on Gaza stops and the siege is completely lifted, Saree pointed out. Yemen has intensified its pro-Palestine strikes against Israeli targets and the occupied territories. 'Thousands of Israeli settlers run for shelters at night' Recent attacks include a Tuesday missile strike on a military site in Tel Aviv's southern suburb of Jaffa, a Monday drone attack on an Ashkelon site, and a Saturday missile strike near Tel Aviv, injuring 20 settlers. Yemeni strikes drive hundreds of thousands of settlers into shelters nightly, with Israeli authorities unable to respond, according to Israeli media. Yemen's arsenal includes long-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones capable of hitting targets up to 2,000 kilometers away. Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine's struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched its devastating war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, after the territory's resistance movements carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against the occupying entity. Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement has been also targeting ships linked to Israel, the United States, or the United Kingdom to force an end to the Tel Aviv regime's genocidal war on Gaza. These operations have effectively shut down the Eilat port south of the occupied territories, causing significant economic setbacks for the Israelis. The Yemeni armed forces have said they will not stop their attacks until Israel's ground and aerial offensives in Gaza end. So far, Israel has killed at least 45,338 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured another 107,764 individuals in Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dec. 24: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 December 2024 6:23 AM By Press TV Website Staff Amid the West-backed Israeli genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed more than 45,300 Palestinians so far, resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against the Tel Aviv regime and its Western backers. The major operations by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Tuesday, December 24, are as follows: Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on Dec. 24: Ambushed a gathering of Israeli soldiers near the Education Roundabout, east of Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip. Detonated a series of explosive devices on an Israeli military bulldozer of the "Ijal" type and a number of military vehicles in the "Harat Al-Ghanem" axis in Tulkarm camp, occupied West Bank. Detonated explosive devices on a convoy of Israeli military vehicles in the fighting axes in Tulkarem camp, occupied West Bank. Al-Quds Brigades' operations on Dec. 24: Ambushed an Israeli infantry force consisting of 12 soldiers by detonating a pre-rigged house they were holed up in, west of Beit Hanoun. Detonated a "Thaqeb" explosive device on a Merkava army vehicle in Beit Hanoun. Engaged in fierce close-quarters combat with Israeli soldiers fortified in a house west of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. Targeted Israeli military sites and illegal settlements in the Gaza envelope with a barrage of rockets from the heart of the incursion axes in the northern Gaza Strip. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on Dec. 24: Ambushed an Israeli infantry force in a tight ambush in Tulkarem camp, occupied West Bank, and showered them with bullets. Confront Israeli forces after they stormed Balata Camp in the occupied West Bank and targeted them with a heavy barrage of bullets and explosive devices. Yemeni military's operations on Dec. 24: Launched a "Palestine 2" hypersonic ballistic missile on an Israeli military site in occupied Yaffa, confirming that the operation "successfully achieved its objectives." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran condemns Israel's brazen admission of murdering of Haniyeh in Tehran Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 December 2024 2:11 AM Iran has strongly condemned Israel's "brazen admission" of the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran earlier this year, calling it a "heinous crime." Iran's permanent ambassador to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani commented on Tuesday in a letter addressed to the UN secretary-general and the president of the UN Security Council. "This brazen admission marks the first time the Israeli regime has openly confessed to its responsibility for this heinous crime," Iravani said. He said Israel's confession underscores the international responsibility of the regime for its acts of terrorism and aggression. "It also reaffirms the legitimacy and legality of Iran's defensive response on 1 October 2024," the Iranian diplomat said. Iravani reiterated that the occupying and terrorist regime of Israel remains the most serious threat to regional and international peace and security. He urged the UN Security Council to end the impunity of a regime that flagrantly defies international law and destabilizes the region. The Iranian envoy also warned that continued silence of the Council would only embolden this terrorist regime to commit more atrocious crimes. On Monday, Israel's minister for military affairs Israel Katz admitted his regime was responsible for the killing, the first time an official admission had been made. Katz also vowed that the Israeli regime would escalate its attacks against Yemen, including by staging assassinations. Haniyeh was assassinated on July 31 after the regime carried out a targeted killing operation against the Iranian capital Tehran, to which he had travelled as an official guest to attend the inauguration ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The regime assassinated Haniyeh's successor, Yahya Sinwar, in another attack against the Gaza Strip in October, and staged a targeted killing strike against Beirut in September that resulted in the assassination of Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. Katz threatened that the regime would carry out the atrocities that he had mentioned in Yemen's capital Sana'a and the western port city of al-Hudaydah. Yemen's Armed Forces have been conducting numerous pro-Palestinian strikes since October 7, 2023, when the Israeli regime began taking the Gaza Strip under a United States-backed genocidal war that has so far claimed the lives of more than 45,338 Palestinians, mostly women and children. The strikes have been targeting the American military assets that are deployed off Yemen's coastline, strategic and sensitive targets across the occupied Palestinian territories as well as the Israeli ships and the vessels heading towards the territories. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Authorities Seek Answers After Deadly Crash Of Azerbaijani Passenger Jet In Kazakhstan By RFE/RL's Kazakh Service and RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service December 25, 2024 The cockpit recorder has been recovered intact as authorities stepped up their investigation following the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet in Kazakhstan that killed at least 38 of the 67 people aboard on December 25. Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Qanat Bozymbaev said many of the 38 people who died aboard the Azerbaijan Airlines scheduled flight from Baku to Grozny in Russia's Chechnya region were not immediately identifiable due to massive burns suffered. He added the 29 survivors had injuries ranging from moderate to severe, many also suffering from major burns in the crash. Kazakhstan's Health Ministry said the injured included at least two children and that 11 people had been placed in intensive care. Some discrepancies remained over casualty figures provided by various authorities. The cause of the crash was not immediately known amid unconfirmed reports of heavy fog or a possible bird strike. Azerbaijani and Kazakh authorities have launched an investigation, and officials said the airliner's cockpit recorder had been recovered. Bozymbaev and Kazakh law-enforcement authorities would conduct the probe of the crash, although he did not suggest any foul play at this time. In Baku, the prosecutor's office said that "all possible scenarios are being examined." Azerbaijan Airlines said it was suspending all its flights from Baku to the Chechnya region, pending an investigation of the tragedy. Russia's Interfax news agency quoted officials as saying the plane, commissioned in 2013, had passed a maintenance check in October and that the pilot had "vast experience," with more than 15,000 flying hours. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who cut short his visit for an informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Russia, said it was too early to determine a cause but suggested bad weather could have contributed to the crash. "The information provided to me is that the plane changed course between Baku and Grozny due to worsening weather conditions and detoured to the Aqtau airport [before] it crashed," he said. Video showed the plane crashing along the coast of the Caspian Sea short of the airport. In a dramatic account of the incident, Elmira, a witness on the ground, told RFE/RL that she was on a company bus near Aqtau with other work colleagues when they saw a plane break up above them and that several people attempted to aid victims following the crash. "We rushed toward the scene, pulling people out from the tail section, which had separated," she said. "The nose of the plane was on fire. We rescued those alive from the back -- they were severely injured and crying." She said a young girl cried out, "Save my mom! My mom is there!" Others also pleaded for help, she added. "Ambulances arrived soon after, and we handed the injured over... I am in shock now and cannot get these scenes out of my mind." At the Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, the families of the passengers of Flight J2-8243 gathered in a designated area, anxiously waiting for news about the fate of their loved ones. Vugar Ismayilov, whose friend Habib Ismayilov, was on board the plane, told RFE/RL that he hadn't yet received any news about Habib. Ismayilov said that Habib, a 25-year-old native of the Aghdash region in central Azerbaijan, had been reluctant to go on this trip, which would take him to Daghestan via Grozny. "I dropped my friend off at the airport this morning. He was going to Daghestan for work, and it was his first time traveling to Daghestan," Ismayilov said. "He didn't really want to go on this trip. He went there because of work." Nezaket Bayramova, whose sister Jamila Bisloyeva was among the passengers of the ill-fated aircraft, told the Turan Information Agency that she had no information about her sibling's situation. "We called the hotline that was set up [for the relatives], they took our information and said they would inform us. But there is still no news," Bayramova said. "I don't know anything. From what I heard, a bird hit the plane. I don't know anything else," she said. There was a heavy police presence at the Baku airport, where ambulances and emergency crews could also be seen in the vicinity. Kazakhstan's Emergencies Ministry said in a statement that rescue teams were at the location of the crash and that fire services had put out a blaze at the site. Videos from the scene of the crash showed the aircraft lying upside down on the ground with part of its fuselage ripped away from the wings and the rest of the plane. Azerbaijan Airlines said the Embraer 190 aircraft, with flight number J2-8243, had been flying from Baku to Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, but was forced to make an emergency landing approximately three kilometers from Aqtau. The airline said it would keep members of the public updated and changed its social media banners to solid black. A spokesperson for Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency said that preliminary information showed that the pilot had decided to divert to Aqtau after a bird strike on the plane led to "an emergency situation on board." Media reports said earlier that the plane had been rerouted due to fog in Grozny. Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev has set up a special commission -- led by Deputy Prime Minister Bozymbaev -- to investigate the incident. Toqaev also instructed authorities to send a group of medics from the capital, Astana, to Aqtau to help treat the survivors. At Aliyev's instruction, representatives of the Azerbaijani government left for Aqtau, the Azerbaijani Press Agency reported. The delegation includes the ministers for digital aviation, transport and emergency situations, the deputy health minister, the deputy prosecutor-general, and the deputy director of the State Civil Aviation Agency among others, the news agency added. Officials said crew members were all Azerbaijani citizens. Including the crew, there were 42 citizens of Azerbaijan aboard, six from Kazakhstan, three from Kyrgyzstan, and 16 Russian nationals, officials said. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/plane-crash-kazakhstan- azerbaijan-airlines-aktau-survivors/33252268.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kosovo Panel Overturns Commission, Clears Serbian List Party For February Vote By RFE/RL's Kosovo Service December 25, 2024 PRISTINA -- A special panel in Kosovo overturned a decision by the election commission that had barred the country's largest ethnic-Serbian party from participating in upcoming elections due to its strong links with Belgrade. "The Central Election Commission (CEC) is ordered to certify the political entity Serbian List and the candidates of this political entity...for the elections for the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo to be held on February 9, 2025," the Electoral Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) said on December 25. The ruling stated that the party had fulfilled all obligations required regarding the political filings and was therefore entitled to be certified. On December 23, the CEC said when it announced its decision not to certify Serbian List that its main reason was the party's nationalistic stance and close ties to Serbia. Some commission members noted that Serbian List leader Zlatan Elek has never referred to Kosovo as independent and continues to call it Serbia's autonomous province of Kosovo. The CEC also said that Serbian List has close ties with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and other Serb leaders who also refuse to recognize Kosovo's independence. Serbia has close ties to Russia and has refused to join international sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, although Vucic has attempted to balance relations with the West and has continued to press Belgrade's desires to join the European Union. Elek on December 24 said he planned to appeal the order and said he was confident it would be overturned. The Serbian List -- which described the CEC decision as an attempt "to eliminate" it from the electoral process -- welcomed the latest ruling. The party said the CEC is now obliged to act on the PZAP decision but added it remains to be seen whether the commission will "continue to violate its own law and regulations and act on direct political pressure from the authorities in Pristina." The February parliamentary elections are expected to be a key test for Prime Minister Albin Kurti, whose party came to power in 2021 in a landslide in the Western-backed Balkan nation. Prior to the ECAP ruling, political analyst Albert Krasniqi of the Demokraci+ NGO told RFE/RL that the CEC decision is part of the preelection campaign being conducted by Kurti's Self-Determination party (Vetevendosje). He forecast that Serbian List would appeal the decision and predicted it would be successful in getting it reversed. "All this noise will last at most four days, and I am sure that the ECAP will reverse this decision of the CEC and will oblige the CEC to certify Serbian List," Krasniqi said. Kosovo proclaimed independence from Serbia in 2008. Belgrade still considers Kosovo a province of Serbia and has a major influence on the ethnic Serbian minority living there. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kosovo-serbia-election- appeal-list-vetevendosje-kurti/33252923.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Western attempts to destabilise Serbia 25 December 2024 19:27 2504-25-12-2024 The Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Pristina, with the connivance of the United States and the European Union, continue to invent ways to create intolerable conditions for the Serb population of Kosovo and, ultimately, to oust Serb communities from Serbia's southern province. There has been another outrageous case, where Kosovo's election authority tried to bar the largest ethnic Serb party, the Serb List, from participating in the election to the Kosovo "parliament." The party has long been the target of sordid unfounded attacks by Kosovo ultra-nationalist Albanian "Prime Minister," Albin Kurti, and his accomplices. Their goal is to weaken the Serb List and eventually completely banish the party from the political scene. According to the statements of the Kosovars, Albin Kurti is premeditating new inter-ethnic incidents during the New Year and Christmas holidays, while publicly placing the responsibility for them on the Serb party and the region's Orthodox community in advance. It is obvious that the local "authorities" are violating the citizens' fundamental rights and freedoms. Admittedly, this totally aligns with the modern European version of "democracy," where unwanted election results are cancelled and undesirable candidates are harassed. The Western capitals still have the opportunity to influence their proteges in Pristina and prevent political reprisals against representatives of the Serb community. It should be realised that replacing the Serb List with puppet parties runs the risk of a sharp aggravation of tensions with the most serious consequences. Simultaneously with the mounting tensions in Kosovo, the Republic of Serbia is struggling with an attempt to replace the legitimate government through a Western-inspired colour revolution, following a well-worn pattern used in other countries. Street protests led by various puppet groups and NGOs financed with foreign money, threats of sanctions, an obedient chorus of inveterate activists reciting the same texts - these are well-known, stereotypical signs of such attempts. We view the developments in Serbia in the context of the West's plans to destabilise the country and push its leadership to a line where it will be forced to choose between further pursuing its current policy that benefits the nation and changing track towards compromise, trading its commitment to Serbia's fundamental interests and time-tested cooperation with the country's traditional partners for dubious favours and praise for adhering to even more dubious "democratic values" invented by the European bureaucrats. We resolutely support friendly Serbia and the fraternal Serbian people. We demand an end to malign foreign influence in a sovereign state. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Third baby dies of cold in Gaza, doctor says By VOA News December 25, 2024 A baby girl froze to death in southern Gaza, the head of the enclave's Ministry of Health said Wednesday. The newborn was at least the third baby to die in recent days in the cold. The girl's father, Mahmoud al-Faseeh, told The Associated Press that he had wrapped her in a blanket to try to keep her warm in the family's tent in the al-Muwasi camp outside Khan Younis. "It was very cold overnight and as adults we couldn't even take it. We couldn't stay warm," he said. Baby Sila woke up crying three times in the night. In the morning, "she was like wood," he said. They rushed her to a field hospital, but she did not survive. "[Sila] died from the cold," her mother, Nariman, told CNN on Wednesday. "I was warming her and holding her. But ... [we] didn't have extra clothes for me to warm this girl." The overnight low was 9 degrees Celsius, and their tent did not keep the wind out, Mahmood al-Faseeh Dr. Ahmed Al-Farra, the children's ward director at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, confirmed the baby died of hypothermia, as did two others, both less than 1 month old, in the past two days. According to The Associated Press, Israel is allowing more aid into Gaza: an average of 130 trucks a day in December, up from about 70 in October and November. Before the war, about 500 trucks entered daily. Houthi missile attack The Yemen-based Houthi militant group said Wednesday that it fired a ballistic missile at the Tel Aviv area in central Israel, an attack that prompted air raid sirens to sound but caused no damage. Israel's military said it intercepted the missile before it crossed into Israeli territory. The missile was the second in the span of two days launched by the Houthis and the latest in a campaign they say is in solidarity with the Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. In addition to launching missiles at Israel, the Houthis have also disrupted the key shipping routes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden with attacks against ships. Israeli officials have become more direct in their rhetoric toward the Houthis in recent days, pledging to take action against the Iran-backed group. Hostage deaths The presence of Israeli troops inadvertently contributed to the deaths in August of six hostages held in Gaza, according to the results of an investigation by the Israeli military released Tuesday. The six hostages, including Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, were taken by Hamas militants during the October 7, 2023, raid on Israel. They were killed by Hamas after nearly 330 days in captivity. The military's report found that "ground activities in the area, although gradual and cautious, had a circumstantial influence on the terrorists' decision" to kill the six hostages. Their bodies were found 48 to 72 hours later in a tunnel in late August, the report said. The military was operating in that area of southern Gaza because the likelihood that hostages were there was considered medium to low, the report said. "The investigation published tonight proves once again that the return of all hostages will only be possible through a deal," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement on Tuesday. Hamas militants killed 1,200 people in their 2023 attack on southern Israel and took about 250 others hostage. There are still around 100 hostages being held in Gaza, though at least one-third are believed to be dead. Israel's counteroffensive in Gaza has killed more than 45,300 people, according to the Gaza health ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and fighters in its count. The United States, United Kingdom, European Union and others have designated Hamas as a terror group. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India faces diplomatic challenge as Bangladesh calls for Hasina's extradition By Anjana Pasricha December 25, 2024 A formal request by Bangladesh to India to extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after she was ousted by mass student-led protests, poses a diplomatic conundrum for New Delhi, say analysts. Since Hasina's exit, who was New Delhi's close ally during her 15-year rule of neighboring Bangladesh, India has been trying to build ties with the new administration that has requested her return to "face a judicial process." Confirming that it has received a diplomatic note for her extradition, India's foreign ministry said on Monday that "we have no comment to offer on this matter." Political analysts say relations with Dhaka, which are already fraught, are likely to be further strained over the extradition request. "This places Delhi in an uncomfortable position and will undermine ties with the interim government because India simply cannot accede to this request," said Manoj Joshi, distinguished fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi. "She has sought political sanctuary here." The extradition request for Hasina came two months after the Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal issued arrest warrants for the country's former prime minister. She was summoned to appear to face charges of "crimes against humanity" that took place during demonstrations in which hundreds were killed. However, analysts say there is no likelihood of India acceding to the extradition request. Both countries have an extradition treaty, but it allows for requests to be refused if the offense is of "political nature." "There are no circumstances under which I can envision New Delhi granting this request,'' said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute, Wilson Center, in Washington. ''Hasina has arguably been India's closest friend in the neighborhood, and for a long time. New Delhi isn't about to turn on her. It will likely try to invoke one of the clauses in the extradition treaty to justify not turning her over to Dhaka." The formal request to New Delhi comes two weeks after talks between India's foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, and the interim government in Dhaka raised hopes that ties between the South Asian neighbors would stabilize. It was the first high-level diplomatic meeting between the two countries since Hasina's exit stressed relations. India has complained about what it said were attacks on minority Hindus in the Muslim-majority country in recent months. Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, who met Misri, said the reports were exaggerated and asked India to help clear the 'clouds' that have cast a shadow over the relationship in recent times. Both countries said they were keen to pursue constructive relations. The extradition request, however, will be seen as a dampener on efforts to bring the relationship back on an even keel. "The Bangladesh government is putting pressure on India, saying that if you want friendly ties, then repatriate her," said analyst Joshi. India's strong backing for Hasina during her 15-year rule was seen by many in Bangladesh as having contributed to the erosion of democracy in the country and had deepened anger against India, according to analysts in Dhaka. Hasina was perceived as an authoritarian ruler who had clamped down on dissent. "In Bangladesh, there is widespread support to bring Hasina back to face trial. If India does not repatriate her, which it is unlikely to do, this will deepen anti-India sentiment in the country," according to Khandakar Tahmid Rejwan, a researcher with the Bangladesh Peace Observatory in Dhaka. Hasina's presence in India has made it challenging for Delhi to develop friendly ties with the new interim government in Dhaka. For India, a strong relationship with Bangladesh is important to ensure stability along their 4096-kilometer-long border in a neighborhood where it already confronts Pakistan and China along hostile borders. It is also important for the security of its northeastern states that share a border with Bangladesh. Trade has grown and both countries have built connectivity projects to boost economic ties. "India will soft pedal the extradition issue for the time being,'' said Tara Kartha, director of research and analysis at the Center for Land Warfare Studies in New Delhi. ''Hopefully, once an elected government comes, they will moderate their stand, over a period of time. There is an anti-India feeling, but you will certainly not give a signal to the entire neighborhood that you will not stand by a former ally." Yunus has said Bangladesh's next elections will be held in late 2025 or early 2026. While the issue will be an irritant over the coming months, analysts say in the long run, both countries will smoothen ties. "India likely knew Bangladesh would make the (extradition) request, and I'm sure Dhaka assumes New Delhi will say no," said Kugelman, who said that while the relationship is in a "bad place,'' the issue is "something that they can work around." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel, Hamas trade blame for delays in reaching Gaza ceasefire deal People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:27, December 26, 2024 JERUSALEM, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Israel and Hamas exchanged accusations on Wednesday, each blaming the other for delays in reaching a Gaza ceasefire deal. In a press statement, Hamas said the talks in Doha, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, were "progressing seriously." However, it accused Israel of introducing "new conditions related to the issues of the withdrawal (from Gaza), the ceasefire, the prisoners, and the return of the displaced people." These conditions, Hamas claimed, caused "the delay in reaching an agreement that was within reach." In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office released a statement denying Hamas's accusations. The statement said Hamas had backtracked on understandings already reached and was "hindering the negotiations." On Tuesday, Israel recalled its delegation from the talks in Doha, stating that the team had been involved in a week of "meaningful" discussions. "The team is returning for internal consultations in Israel regarding the continuation of negotiations for the return of our hostages," the office said. The withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the coastal Palestinian enclave and the length of the ceasefire have been key sticking points in previous failed negotiation attempts. Hamas seeks to end the war entirely, while Israel insists on removing Hamas' control over Gaza before any resolution and maintaining a military presence in the Palestinian enclave even after the ceasefire. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 25 December 2024 - Day 1036 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 31 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 sSince the beginning of the day, there have been 211 fighting clashes, the Russian enemy launched one missile and 12 air strikes using 78 missiles and 29 KABs, 690 kamikaze drones strikes and over 4.5,000 shells of positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements using different types of weapons. In the Kharkiv direction, three combat clashes with Russian zagarbnikami in the area of Vovchansk. In the Kupyans komu direction, the Russian opponent tried seven times to push Ukrainian units out of occupied positions near Dvoricnaya, Pi any, Kolisnikivka and Lozova. One battle is going on. Twenty-six times, Russian forces attacked in the Lyman direction, trying to advance in the directions of Novoyegorivka, Kopanok, Green Grove, Makiyivka, Terniv, Yampolivka, Serebryansky Forest and in the direction of Druzhelyubivka. Hope and Green Grove were under the blows of the enemies of NAR. In the sivers komu direction, Ukrainian warriors repelled two Russian attacks in the area of bilogorivka. In the Kramatorsky direction, the Defense Forces repelled 11 Russian attempts to advance near the settlements of Stupochka, Chasiv Yar and White Mountain. Russian forces tried to infiltrate Ukrainian defense 12 times in the Toretsky direction. Since the beginning of the day, the Russian occupiers in the areas of the settlements of Toretsk, Diliyivka and Scherbynivka received a harsh cut off from Ukrainian defenders eight times. Four attacks are ongoing so far. Intensely attacks the Russian enemy of Ukrainian defenders in the Pokrovsky direction. Here, during the day, the Russian aggressor committed 55 assault and offensive actions. The largest activity of the Russian occupiers is kept in the settlements of Zelene Pole, Vozdvizhenko, Mirolubivka, Ray, Lisivka, Dachenske, Pokrovsk, Novi Trud, Zelene and Novotroitske. Forty-seven attacks in the direction of Ukrainian defenders have already repelled, eight more boezitknen - continue. At the same time, Russian forces made aviation strikes of kabama on the settlements of pokrovsk and kotline. Ukrainian soldiers are making efforts to prevent the advancement of the Russian opponent into the depths of Ukrainian territory. According to the information available at this time, as of today, the Russian aggressor's loss in this direction has been 276 people, of which 149 are irrevocable. Destroyed 14 units of car equipment, two ATVs, one PTRC and one mortar of the Russian occupiers. In addition, a mortar and a car were damaged. In the Kurakhiv direction, at this time of the day, there are 31 combat encounters. Zagarbniki maintain high activity, trying to advance in the areas of settlements Petropavlivka, Slovyanka, Yasenove, Kurakhove, Andriyivka and Dachne. Defense Forces units repelled 24 attacks of the enemy, seven - ongoing so far. 34 combat occurred in the Vremivs 34komu direction. 33 Russian assaults have already been stopped by Ukrainian defenders in the districts of Konstantinopol, Amber, Konstantinople, Rozlivu, Velika Novosilka, Novosilka , Blagodatny and Vremivka. One attack is ongoing so far. Also the Russian enemy applied aviation in the areas of vremivki and burlac kogo. In the orihivs komu direction, Ukrainian defenders have successfully repelled two Russian attempts to advance in the area of novodanilivka. Twice unsuccessfully, the troops of the assailants tried to push the Defense Forces units from occupied positions in the Pridnipro direction. Twenty-six combat clashes took place today on the Kursk direction, three clashes are still ongoing. During the day, Russian forces carried out 420 artillery shelling. In the gulyajpils .komu direction since the beginning of the day, the Russian enemy has not been active. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that this morning, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered a mass strike by long-range precision weaponry and attack drones at critical power infrastructure facilities ensuring operation of Ukrainian defence industry enterprises. The goal of the strike has been achieved. All the targets have been engaged. In Kharkov direction, units of the Sever Group of Forces defeated armed formations of one mechanised brigade of the AFU and one territorial defence brigade near Liptsy and Volchansk (Kharkov region). The AFU losses were more than 40 troops, two pickup trucks, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer. The Zapad Group of Forces' units improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades, one assault brigade of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade close to Dvurechnaya, Zagryzovo, Kucherovka, Grigorovka, Borovaya (Kharkov region), and Terny (Donetsk People's Republic). One counter-attack launched by AFU units was repelled. The AFU losses were up to 400 troops, five motor vehicles, one UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 gun, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun, and one Zakhist-AF electronic warfare station. The Yug Group of Forces' units improved the tactical situation along the front line and hit fromations of two mechanised brigades and one airmobile brigade of the AFU near Seversk, Druzhkovka, Chasov Yar, and Dachnoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses were up to 245 troops, two motor vehicles, six 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and two ammunition depots. As a result of decisive offensive actions, the Tsentr Group of Forces' units liberated Novy Trud (Donetsk People's Republic). Russian troops delivered strikes at manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, one jaeger brigade of the AFU, two marine brigades, and one national guard brigade close to Novotroitskoye, Udachnoye, Nadezhdinka, Grishino, Andreyevka, Dzerzhinsk, Petrovskoye, Shevchenko, Krasnoarmeysk, and Novoolenovka (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, 10 counter-attacks launched by AFU units were repelled. The AFU losses were more than 550 troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, one armoured personnel carrier, three motor vehicles, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one U.S.-made 105-mm M101 gun. The Vostok Group of Forces' units continued advancing into the depth of the enemy's defences and defeated formations of three mechanised brigades of the AFU, one national guard brigade, and one territorial defence brigade close to Velikaya Novoselka, Vremevka, Razliv, Neskuchnoye, Zelyonoye Pole (Donetsk People's Republic), and Temirovka (Zaporozhye region). Two counter-attacks launched by the enemy's assault detachments were repelled. The AFU losses were up to 170 troops, one 152-mm D-20 gun, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one electronic warfare station. Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line and defeated manpower and hardware of one mountain assault brigade, one infantry brigade of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades near Novoandreyevka, Zherebyanki (Zaporozhye region), Pridneprovskoye, and Nikolskoye (Kherson region). The AFU losses were more than 90 troops, nine motor vehicles, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, three 152-mm D-20 guns, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system as well as one electronic warfare station. Two ammunition depots and one materiel depot were destroyed. Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces struck one deployment area of foreign mercenaries and units of the Security Service of Ukraine, infrastructure of military airfields, as well as engaged clusters of the enemy's manpower and hardware in 140 areas. Air defence units shot down five U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles and 119 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 650 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 38,539 unmanned aerial vehicles, 590 anti-aircraft missile systems, 19,969 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,504 MLRS combat vehicles, 19,991 field artillery guns and mortars, and 29,490 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. In the course of offensive operations, units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of one heavy mechanised brigade, five mechanised brigades, three air assault brigades, one marine brigade, and four territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Aleksandriya, Viktorovka, Lebedevka, Leonidovo, Martynovka, Nikolayevka, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Nikolsky, Novaya Sorochina, Russkoye Porechnoye, Sverdlikovo, and Cherkasskaya Konopelka. Seven counter-attacks launched by the enemy's assault detachments were repelled. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the enemy near Kositsa, Kruglenkoye, Kurilovka, Loknya, Makhnovka, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye as well as Basovka, Belovody, Vladimirovka, Vodolagi, and Zhuravka in Sumy region. Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses amounted to more than 230 troops, two tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles. Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 43,740 troops, 255 tanks, 194 infantry fighting vehicles, 136 armoured personnel carriers, 1,318 armoured fighting vehicles, 1,182 motor vehicles, 324 artillery guns, 42 MLRS launchers, including 11 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 13 anti-aircraft missile launchers, seven transport-loading vehicles, 80 EW stations, 13 counter-battery warfare radars, four air defence radars, 28 units of engineering and other materiel, including 13 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, seven 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 Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Xue Bing Visits Eritrea Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: December 23, 2024 23:00 On December 21, 2024, Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Xue Bing visited Eritrea, during which he met with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh Mohammed and Chinese Ambassador to Eritrea Li Xiang were present. President Isaias Afwerki spoke highly of bilateral relations and thanked China for its long-term support for Eritrea's economic and social development. He said that Eritrea is willing to work with China to advance the implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and expects China to play a more important role in the affairs related to the Horn of Africa and the African region. Xue Bing said that China attaches great importance to developing relations with Eritrea and is ready to follow the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state to advance the implementation of the outcomes of the FOCAC summit and the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa, so as to contribute to Eritrea's national development as well as regional development and prosperity. After the meeting, Special Envoy Xue Bing gave an exclusive interview to the Eri TV, introducing the achievements in the development of bilateral relations, the outcomes of the FOCAC summit, and the implementation of the Outlook. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement on the imposition of arbitrary sanctions against Canadian individuals and entities by China Global Affairs Canada Statement December 24, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada Global Affairs Canada today issued the following statement: "On December 22, 2024, the Government of the People's Republic of China arbitrarily targeted two Canadian civil society organizations and twenty human rights campaigners with sanctions. "Global Affairs Canada expresses solidarity with the members of the Canadian Tibet Committee and the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project and condemns the decision by the Chinese government to punish them for speaking out for human rights. "The Government of Canada will not tolerate any threats, acts of violence or harassment against people in Canada, or against their families and friends, because of their political opinions or to silence dissenting viewpoints. "Multiple independent United Nations experts and other established multilateral mechanisms have called on China to respond meaningfully to credible allegations of human rights violations. China must respect its obligations under international law. Canada views scrutiny of its own human rights record as an opportunity to improve its performance, and continues to call on China to do so, as well. "Canada continues to urge all Canadians in China to exercise a high degree of caution in China due to the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws. Global Affairs Canada stands ready to offer consular assistance to any Canadian nationals in China impacted by these sanctions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by Minister Joly on Hong Kong arrest warrants Global Affairs Canada Statement December 24, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement: "Canada deplores the decision by Hong Kong authorities to issue international bounties and cancel the passports of democracy activists and former Hong Kong lawmakers. Those targeted include Canadians and people with close ties to Canada. "This attempt by Hong Kong authorities to conduct transnational repression abroad, including by issuing threats, intimidation or coercion against Canadians or those in Canada, will not be tolerated. "Hong Kong authorities are targeting these people for actions that amount to nothing more than the exercise of freedom of speech by standing up for democracy and human rights. "These individuals are targeted under Hong Kong's National Security Law. The UN Human Rights Committee has called for this law's repeal, since it is incompatible with Hong Kong's international human rights obligations. "Canada reiterates its previous calls to repeal the Beijing-imposed National Security Law, to end prosecution of individuals under this law and withdraw all related warrants and bounties. "Canada will continue to stand with the people of Hong Kong." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HK government cancels passports of seven anti-China disruptors Global Times SAR issues arrest warrants for six individuals who fled overseas By Xu Yelu and Chen Qingqing Published: Dec 24, 2024 01:28 PM The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government issued a notice on Tuesday, listing seven anti-China disruptors as absconders, including Ted Hui Chi-fung and Dennis Kwok Wing-hang. Measures have been implemented against them, including canceling their SAR passports. These seven absconders have been engaging in acts and activities endangering national security overseas. After the warrants of arrest were issued and before the specification was made, these seven absconders who fled to the US and Australia respectively have not returned to Hong Kong to surrender themselves, according to the statement issued by the HKSAR government on Tuesday. According to the statement, the four measures applicable to all seven relevant absconders include: "Prohibition against making available funds etc or dealing with funds etc," "Prohibition against certain activities in connection with immovable property," "Prohibition in connection with joint ventures or partnerships with relevant absconders" and "Cancellation of HKSAR passports etc." Moreover, two measures, namely "Suspension of qualification to practice" and "Temporary removal from office of director" are applicable to individual relevant absconders, according to the SAR government. Secretary for Security of the HKSAR Chris Tang Ping-keung pointed out at a press conference on Tuesday that the aforementioned anti-China disruptors who absconded are continuing to engage in activities that endanger national security. Among them, Hui Chi-fung is still illegally raising funds online to conduct activities that endanger national security. The Hong Kong Police Force has issued a wanted notice for him and will confiscate his illegal proceeds. Tang emphasized that the implementation of a series of measures against those anti-China disruptor aims to combat and deter actions that jeopardize national security, delivering a heavy blow to those who have fled overseas. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (National Security) in Hong Kong, Kan Kai-yan, announced on Tuesday that the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force has issued a wanted notice for six individuals who have fled overseas: Joseph Tay, Tony Chung, Chung Kim-wah, Victor Ho, Chloe Cheung, and Carmen Lau, identified as anti-China disruptors. In response, at the regular press conference on Tuesday, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning said that we support the HKSAR government in performing duties in accordance with the law. "Hong Kong upholds the rule of law. No one has privileges above the law. Any illegal activities will inevitably be punished by law," Mao said. As absconders and fugitives broke the law and order and showed no respect to the law, they have completely lost their integrity and trust, Chu Kar-kin, a veteran current affairs commentator and deputy secretary-general of the Hong Kong Association for Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China, told the Global Times on Tuesday. Suspending their legal practitioners' qualifications, and preventing their engagement in professional services which may deal with documents and funds, protect the best interests of the community, Chu said. The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR issued a statement on Tuesday, firmly supporting the HKSAR government in lawfully carrying out law enforcement activities against anti-China disruptors, saying they are aimed at effectively upholding the dignity of the law and safeguarding national security. Maintaining national security, sovereignty, and development interests is the highest principle of "one country, two systems." The decision to cancel the passports of seven absconders is constitutional, lawful, and reasonable, and deserves the support of the general public, Willy Fu, a law professor who is also the director of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong & Macao Studies, told the Global Times. The only way out for these absconders is to return to Hong Kong and face the legal consequences they deserve, Fu said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA Southern Theater Command reveals amphibious landing drill in South China Sea Global Times By Global Times Published: Dec 24, 2024 07:39 PM Equipped with helicopters, hovercraft, and amphibious vehicles, a group of amphibious landing ships of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently conducted a combat exercise in the South China Sea, the PLA Southern Theater Command revealed on Tuesday in an official WeChat report, highlighting the commissioning of new warships in recent years as part of its progress toward far seas operations. A detachment of warships from the PLA Southern Theater Command conducted a multi-course combat drill in an undisclosed location in the South China Sea, according to a report published by the PLA Southern Theater Command's official WeChat account on Tuesday. During the drill, shipborne helicopters took off from flight decks, while air-cushioned landing craft and combat vehicles were deployed from the vessels' stern doors and ramps, transporting combat forces to carry out multi-directional assaults on simulated enemy beachheads, according to the report. With the addition of newly commissioned vessels, the detachment has continuously refined its combat readiness at the forefront of military operations, the PLA Southern Theater Command said, noting that the recent drill represents just a fraction of the detachment's broader training regimen. Warships from this detachment have progressively transitioned from coastal operations to far seas missions as they honed combat skills through diverse missions, with the goal of establishing itself as a leading force in amphibious warfare, the report said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on December 24, 2024 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: December 24, 2024 18:50 Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya is invited to visit China on December 25. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will hold foreign ministers' talks and attend the second meeting of High-Level Consultation Mechanism on People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges between China and Japan. Dragon TV: To follow up on your announcement that Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will visit China. Can you share the background and program of the visit? Mao Ning: In November this year, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held a meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima. They agreed to maintain high-level exchanges and make good use of high-level dialogue mechanisms in the fields of economy and culture. China attaches importance to Foreign Minister Iwaya's visit. Chinese leader will meet with him. Foreign Minister Wang Yi will hold talks with him and they will jointly attend the second meeting of the High-Level Consultation Mechanism on People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges. China stands ready to work with Japan to focus on common interests, enhance dialogue and communication, deepen practical cooperation, properly manage and control differences, fully advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit, and build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship fit for the new era. CCTV: On December 23rd local time, US President Joe Biden signed into law the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025," which contains negative content on China. What is China's comment on this? Mao Ning: The US determined to sign into law the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025" containing negative content on China, playing up the "China threat" narrative year after year. It has kept trumpeting for military support to Taiwan, abusing state power to go after Chinese sci-tech and economic development, limiting trade, economic and people-to-people exchanges between China and the US, undermining China's sovereignty, security and development interests and disrupting efforts of the two sides in stabilizing bilateral relations. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this and has lodged serious protests to the US. We urge the US to get rid of its Cold War mentality and ideological bias, view China's development and China-US relationship objectively and rationally, earnestly observe the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, stop arming Taiwan, stop politicizing and weaponizing sci-tech, economic and trade issues, stop finding pretext for increasing military expenditure and maintaining hegemony, and not to implement these negative articles concerning China. Otherwise, China will take strong and resolute measures to safeguard our sovereignty, security and development interests. Kyodo News: It is reported that the Chinese government is considering resuming imports of Japanese aquatic products starting from the first half of 2025. Samples of treated water from TEPCO's Fukushima power plant have been tested and proved to be safe. What is your comment on this? Mao Ning: On the issue of the discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the sea, what matters the most is Japan's earnest fulfillment of its own promise. After China participates substantively in the long-term international monitoring and the independent sampling and other monitoring activities are carried out, China will begin to adjust the relevant measures based on scientific evidence and gradually resume imports of Japanese aquatic products that meet the regulation requirements and standards. China's opposition to Japan's discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the sea remains unchanged. I am not sure whether the test you mentioned is carried out by TEPCO. Let me say that one single test does not prove much. The key is that Japan will fulfill its promise earnestly, and make sure that international monitoring will continue being implemented working, and China and all other stakeholders can carry out independent sampling and monitoring. Global Times: Yesterday, Russia announced the list of BRICS partner states, which received wide international attention. Could you share more details with us? Mao Ning: Last October, President Xi Jinping attended the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan and reached important consensus with the leaders of other BRICS countries on establishing a partner country mechanism, which is another milestone in the process of BRICS development after the historic membership expansion last year. After the summit, China has actively worked with Russia, the BRICS chair country, and implemented the mechanism with other BRICS countries. A list of BRICS partner countries was finally agreed on, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Uganda. With the partner countries on board the BRICS family, the BRICS cooperation is elevated to a new height, the BRICS mechanism has greater representation, and BRICS sees its appeal and influence grow more saliently, becoming the main platform to promote solidarity and cooperation between the Global South. China stands ready to work with other BRIC members and partner countries to follow the spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, expand practical cooperation in various fields, advance the high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. RT TV: We see so many Western delegations going to Syria now to meet with the new leadership. Can we expect Chinese authorities to do the same? Mao Ning: China has long followed a policy of friendship and cooperation towards Syria. We never interfere in Syria's internal affairs and as always, respect Syrian people's choice. China is closely following the situation in Syria and maintaining communication with relevant parties. As regard to your specific question, I have no information to offer for the time being. Reuters: The Hong Kong authorities today issued another round of arrest warrants for six activists living overseas and threatened to revoke the passports of some people. What's China's comment? Mao Ning: We support the Hong Kong SAR government in performing duties in accordance with the law. Hong Kong upholds the rule of law. No one has privileges above the law. Any illegal activities will inevitably be punished by law. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hong Kong offers bounties for 6 more democracy activists The government announced HK$1 million rewards for each of the democracy campaigners By RFA Staff 2024.12.24 -- The Hong Kong government announced on Tuesday rewards of HK$1 million (US$130,000) for help in arresting six more pro-democracy campaigners, accusing them of violating a national security law and working to undermine the territory with calls for sanctions against lawmakers and independence from China. Carmen Lau, Tony Chung, Chung Kim-wah, Joseph Tay and Chloe Cheung were accused of incitement to secession in a notice posted on the Hong Kong Police Force website. The police also accused journalist Victor Ho, 69, of subversion for calling a referendum over the proposed formation of a parliament-in-exile to push for Hong Kong's independence from China. All of the six live abroad. "Today was the last working day before our year-end holiday at HKDC and I just learned that I am now a wanted Hong Konger with a HK$1 million bounty for national security offences," former Hong Kong district councillor and current Hong Kong Democracy Council member Carmen Lau, 29, posted on social media platform X. "I have always considered serving Hong Kongers and fighting for our freedom and democracy my lifelong obligation since the day I was elected as a district councillor," she added. "I swear to put our fight for Hong Kong before anything else, even before myself." Lau called on governments including the U.K., where she lives, the U.S. and the E.U. to impose sanctions on Hong Kong "human rights perpetrators" without naming anyone. Chung Kim-wah is a former lecturer at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and host of a weekly RFA Cantonese political talk show, Voices Like Bells. He emigrated to the United Kingdom several years ago. Hong Kong Security Secretary Chris Tang said the six had endangered national security through their speeches and social media posts and by lobbying foreign governments to sanction Hong Kong officials. He told a news conference the six "had little conscience." "Illegal acts will be prosecuted and punished no matter how far away they are," Tang said. Nineteen people now have HK$1 million bounties on their heads following two previous announcements in July and December 2023. Authorities plan to cancel the passports of seven of the activists on the wanted list, including ex-lawmakers Ted Hui and Dennis Kwok, Hong Kong media reported. Hong Kong was a British colony from 1841 to 1997, when it was returned to Chinese rule under a "one country, two systems" agreement. The Sino-British Joint Declaration said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region would maintain a degree of autonomy from China for 50 years, maintaining the rights and freedoms set out in the Basic Law. In 2019, thousands of Hong Kong people took to the streets to protest against what they saw as the erosion of democracy, prompting a crackdown by the government. The following year Beijing imposed national security legislation that included new crimes like "collusion with foreign forces" and subversion. In April, the city passed its own version of China's national security law, known as Article 23, adding several new offenses, including treason, sabotage, and espionage and allowing police to hold suspects for up to 16 days without charge. Sedition was also added and its scope expanded to include "inciting hatred" against the Chinese Communist Party. The United States and Britain have condemned what they see as the erosion of the freedoms and rights that Hong Kong was promised when it returned to Chinese rule. The city government and Beijing reject the accusations saying stability is needed to safeguard the Asian financial hub's economic success. Edited by Mike Firn. This story has been updated to include background information on Chung Kim-wah. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content December not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Foreign Secretary has issued a statement following the latest arrest warrants issued under the National Security Law in Hong Kong. 24 December 2024 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary David Lammy said: On Christmas Eve, the Hong Kong police once again targeted individuals for exercising their right to freedom of expression, including British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders living in the UK. We will not tolerate any attempts by foreign Governments to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm their critics overseas, especially in the UK. We call on Beijing to repeal the National Security Law, including its extraterritorial reach. And we call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their targeting of individuals in the UK and elsewhere who stand up for freedom and democracy. The UK will always stand up for the rights of the people of Hong Kong. This Government is deeply committed to supporting all members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and made valuable contributions to life in the UK. Ensuring their continued safety remains a priority. Hong Kong issues arrest warrants, bounties for 6 democracy activists By Liam Scott December 24, 2024 Hong Kong police on Tuesday announced a new round of arrest warrants for six pro-democracy activists based abroad, with bounties set at 1 million Hong Kong dollars, or about $129,000, for information leading to their arrests. The six activists are wanted on charges that include secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces. The move underscores how the government of Hong Kong which is a special administration region of China targets activists living in exile in retaliation for their work. The six include Chloe Cheung, a 19-year-old activist with the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong; Carmen Lau, a former district councilor and current activist with the Hong Kong Democracy Council; and Tony Chung, the former leader of the now-defunct pro-independence group Studentlocalism. "Fear cannot restrain me. Suppression cannot silence me. I will wear this burden with pride and without fear," Cheung, who is based in the United Kingdom, wrote in a statement on Tuesday. Lau said she would not let the arrest warrant and bounty deter her work. "I have always considered serving Hong Kongers and fighting for freedom and democracy my lifelong obligation," she said in a statement on social media platform X. "As a member of the diaspora and as a Hong Konger, I swear to put our fight for Hong Kong before anything else, even before myself," Lau added. Others on the list Tuesday include Chung Kim-wah, a former member of independent polling organization Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute; Joseph Tay, co-founder of Canada-based group HongKonger Station; and YouTuber Victor Ho. The Hong Kong government has previously issued two rounds of arrest warrants and bounties for prominent pro-democracy activists, including ex-lawmakers Ted Hui and Nathan Law, and activists Anna Kwok, Joey Siu and Frances Hui. The latest arrest warrants bring the total number of wanted people to 19. Government orders passports canceled In a separate move on Tuesday, the Hong Kong government also issued orders for the cancellation of passports belonging to seven "absconders," including Kwok, who leads the Hong Kong Democracy Council; Siu, a prominent activist; and Frances Hui, with the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong. "Our crime? Calling on the world to hold the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] accountable for violating the autonomy of our home," Frances Hui said in a Tuesday statement on X. She made the statement in solidarity with her colleague Cheung. The passports of former Hong Kong lawmakers Ted Hui and Dennis Kwok also were canceled. The orders were made under Hong Kong's domestic national security law, which is known as Article 23. "This is one of the first instances in which Hong Kong authorities have utilized one of the provisions in Article 23," Siu said in a post on X. "The international community must continue to monitor its use and implications closely. And of course, please continue to watch our friends who are still in prison." Siu, who is an American citizen, also called on the U.S. government to do more to help exiled Hong Kongers who are targeted with transnational repression. Group calls charges 'absurd' The free expression group Article 19 condemned the arrest warrants and passport cancellations as "an outrageous escalation in transnational repression against overseas Hong Kongers." "These absurd, arbitrary charges only serve to further drive home the farce of Hong Kong authorities claiming to follow the rule of law," Michael Caster, the head of Article 19's China program, said in a statement on Tuesday. Hong Kong's Security Bureau did not immediately reply to VOA's email requesting comment. The arrest warrants and passport cancellations come as the trial against pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai continues in Hong Kong. The trial is widely viewed as a politically motivated sham. Lai, 77, rejects the national security charges against him. Some information in this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese FM refutes smearing of HKSAR police's legitimate law enforcement actions Global Times By Global Times Published: Dec 25, 2024 05:34 PM Refuting the remarks made by certain countries regarding the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), which misrepresent the actions taken by the HKSAR police against Kwok Fung-yee and 12 other anti-China disruptors, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Wednesday said "we strongly deplore and firmly oppose individual countries blatantly attacking and vilifying the legitimate law enforcement activities of the Hong Kong police." The persons mentioned above have absconded overseas and long engaged in destabilizing activities seeking to disrupt and undermine Hong Kong's development and social stability. What they did gravely undermines national security and Hong Kong's fundamental interests and has a serious impact on "one country, two systems," which is a bottom line that must not be crossed, Mao said. The Hong Kong police took law enforcement actions in accordance with the Law on Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. These are just acts that uphold the rule of law and meet people's aspirations. They are necessary acts to defend China's sovereignty and security and legitimate acts to uphold long-term stability in Hong Kong. They are also in line with international law and customary practice, Mao told a routine press conference. "Let me reiterate that Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs and there is no place for foreign interference. Relevant countries need to respect China's sovereignty and Hong Kong's rule of law and stop emboldening anti-China rioters. Spreading pessimistic or slanderous rhetoric against Hong Kong will end up nowhere and any attempt to interfere in Hong Kong's affairs under the pretext of human rights and freedom is doomed to fail," Mao said. The Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in HKSAR expressed strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition against the fallacious statements made by some officials and politicians from countries such as the US, the UK, Canada and the EU over HKSAR police force taking measures against 13 anti-China disruptors on Wednesday. "They openly slander the rule of law in the HKSAR, the practice of 'one country, two systems,' and interfere with the judiciary of the HKSAR," a spokesperson for the office said. The spokesperson emphasized that the core principle of the rule of law is that laws must be obeyed and violators must be punished. Strict law enforcement and the eradication of evil are standard practices for countries to safeguard national security, said the spokesperson. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korean military raises enlistment age limit from 23 to 25 Residents fear it means more of their sons will be sent to Russia to fight Ukraine. By Kim Jieun for RFA Korean 2024.12.24 -- North Korea has raised the maximum age for enlistment in the military from age 23 to 25, residents in the country told Radio Free Asia, a move they fear will result in more troops being sent to Russia to fight in its war with Ukraine. Able-bodied men are currently required to serve 10 years in the 1.2 million-strong military after high school, from around age 18, while able-bodied women must serve seven years. The new rule won't any have effect on most citizens' mandatory military service, but it will make it harder for people who are exempted from service -- due to illness or inadequate height -- to defer military service until the cutoff age. Up until the cutoff age, the exempt youth could be conscripted once if conditions change. They may recover from sickness, grow to the minimum height of 145 centimeters (4 feet 9 inches) or finish college. If this happens before the cutoff age, then they have to sign up. But if they haven't signed up before that point, they are exempt for the rest of their lives. Many young people are able to avoid military service in this way, or by bribing the right officials to classify them as unfit. But since the cutoff age is now 25, it means they'll have to find ways to avoid conscription for two more years. Discontent Authorities raised the maximum enlistment age in July, a resident of the northwestern province of North Pyongan told RFA Korean on condition of anonymity for personal safety. "Many residents are expressing discontent over the increase in the age of enlistment to 25," he said, adding that people think it is all a bid to send more soldiers to Russia. According to U.S. intelligence, North Korea has sent around 11,000 troops to Russia, and South Korea's military estimates that more than 1,100 have died in battle. Neither Pyongyang nor Moscow has outwardly confirmed North Korean involvement in the war, and North Korean state media has made no mention of it. But, according to the resident, "There is no one who does not know." Protecting their own Residents with enlistment age children who have been declared ineligible for recruitment at age 17, and who are past the previous cutoff age, are doing everything to help their children to be spared from enlistment and the backbreaking labor that awaits, the resident said. "The parents are willing to do everything they can to prevent their children from enlisting in the military, even if it means selling their house and all of their possessions," he said. People can often buy their way out of enlistment if they bribe the right officials, but the amount it costs for such a favor has more of an impact on those without means. Those who take this route will now have to keep it up for two years longer. "As it is now very difficult to make a living, there are not many families with more than one child," he said. "Families are afraid that their children will be shipped off to Russia." After stories about deployment to Russia spread among the public, the military told concerned families that their sons were sent there to work on farms, a resident of the northern province of Ryanggang, told RFA. "Many were at a loss, believing that the country had sent their sons to fight in Russia's war," she said. Many are anxious about the enlistment age increase, she said, adding that the additional years make it more likely that those who were exempt due to health or height reasons may now have to join. "Residents are desperately refusing to enlist their children," she said. "Once they send their children to the military, there is a great fear that their children will be sent to Russia and will not return alive." Residents understand that there is a duty for all to defend the country, but they think the war with Ukraine is outside of the scope of national defense, she said. "It is so unfair and infuriating to have to die in Russia without knowing what our sons are fighting for," she said. "This is the reason why there is extreme anger among residents against Kim Jong Un who sends soldiers to die on the battlefield." Translated by Claire S. Lee. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content December not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran military awarded $40 mln worth of vessel building contracts Iran Press TV Tuesday, 24 December 2024 7:05 PM The Iranian government has awarded contracts worth 31 trillion rials ($40 million) to the country's military for manufacturing more than a dozen vessels needed in operations in the ports. The contracts were awarded on Tuesday during a ceremony attended by transportation minister Farzaneh Sadegh and senior military commanders. Sadegh said the awarding of the contracts signaled a message to the world that Iran's military forces were ready to sacrifice their resources for the welfare of the country despite foreign sanctions that have put them under pressure. Companies linked to the Iranian army, the defense ministry and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) will build 26 vessels for use in fire-fighting, towing and docking and undocking operations at Iranian ports, according to reports published in the local media. CEO of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) Ali Akbar Safaei said in the ceremony that the IRGC has contributed actively to PMO's development plans in recent years, adding that the force will supply 32 new vessels and other equipment to Iranian ports authorities in early February as part of contracts signed in the past. IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri said that Iran has a long history of shipbuilding that dates back to the Achaemenid era. Tangsiri said that the IRGC boasts of its shipbuilding records and seeks to expand the manufacturing of various vessels to create more jobs and to help the government cut back on its hard currency spending for imports of ships and vessels. Commander of the Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said in the ceremony that defense industries in the country are capable of manufacturing the most complicated marine equipment. Irani added that the contracts signed with the transportation ministry were a major step toward tapping the potential of Iran's maritime economy. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's Cyberspace Council Votes To Lift Ban On WhatsApp, Google Play By RFE/RL's Radio Farda December 24, 2024 Iran's council on safeguarding the Internet has voted to lift bans on the WhatsApp messenger and the Google Play apps, state media reported. The Supreme Cyberspace Council voted unanimously in favor of lifting restrictions on some foreign-owned applications, including WhatsApp and Google Play, during a meeting on December 24, state news agency IRNA said. "Today, we took the first step toward lifting Internet restrictions with unanimity and consensus," Communications Minister Sattar Hashemi said on X. It was not immediately clear when the decision would come into force. The Supreme Cyberspace Council holds its meetings behind closed doors and its members' votes are not made public. IRNA reported that the members of the council voted to lift restrictions while at the same time "emphasizing the importance of rule-of-law governance in cyberspace." The two apps were restricted in 2022 following the Woman, Life, Freedom protests that were severely suppressed. The Supreme Cyberspace Council, which was established by order of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has also emphasized "supporting domestic platforms." On the eve of the council's meeting, Mehr News Agency published a document indicating that, based on a Supreme Cyberspace Council plan, an "advertising support package" is to be allocated to domestic messaging services. The document states that the "first phase" of the council's plan will include "building infrastructure" for domestic content platforms. While the bans on WhatsApp and Google Play were lifted by the council, other popular social media platforms including Facebook, X, Telegram, and YouTube remain blocked in Iran. Critics of the restrictions have argued that the controls have been costly for the country. "The restrictions have achieved nothing but anger and added costs to people's lives," social and political activist Ali Rabiei said on X on December 24. Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif added that President Masud Pezeshkian believes in removing restrictions and does not consider the bans to be in the interest of the people and the country. "All experts also believe that this issue is not beneficial to the country's security," Zarif said on December 24. Others, however, warned against lifting the restrictions. The reformist Shargh daily reported on December 24 that 136 lawmakers in Iran's 290-member parliament sent a letter to the council saying the move would be a "gift" to Iran's enemies. The lawmakers called for allowing access to restricted online platforms only "if they are committed to the values of Islamic society and comply with the laws of" Iran. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-internet-whatsapp- google-play-supreme-council-cyberspace/33251667.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia calls on IAEA to avoid politicizing Iran's nuclear case IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 25, 2024 Moscow, IRNA -- Russia has called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to adopt a fair approach in dealing with the issue of monitoring Iranian nuclear facilities, saying the UN body should refrain from politicizing the case. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a briefing with reporters on Wednesday that the IAEA should maintain impartially in its monitoring of Iran's nuclear activities and avoid succumbing to pressures by Western countries. "We hope that the IAEA will be able to ensure the objectivity and impartially of the monitoring within the framework of its technical mandate, without getting politicized, without succumbing to absolutely perverted tricks by the Western camp," Zakharova was quoted as saying by the official Tass news agency. "We see this as a necessary guarantee of constructive cooperation between the agency and Iran the strengthening of which we have invariably supported," she added. The remarks came after IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi claimed that Iran may develop nuclear weapons without providing any evidences. Iranian officials have slammed the remarks as going beyond Grossi's mission as an impartial UN official. Zakharova said "such manipulations counting on presenting the IAEA as an accomplice or even the initiator of political attacks on Tehran, always pursue a single goal - present Iran's nuclear program as the main threat in the Middle East which must be battled by any means." She also said that Western governments are trying to "get away with gross violations" they have committed with regard to a UN Security Council resolution enshrining the 2015 international agreement on Iran's nuclear program, known as the JCPOA. "The international community has a clear understanding that it was precisely the West that undermined an agreement on restoration while Tehran repeatedly indicated its readiness to return to the parameters of the joint plan in the event of reciprocal synchronized actions by Washington, Brussels and London," said Zakharova. She reiterated that Iranian nuclear program "has always been inspected to the utmost degree" by the IAEA. 2050**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran capable of producing advanced vessels domestically: IRGC Navy commander IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 25, 2024 Moscow, IRNA -- Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri has announced that Iran is now capable of manufacturing advanced vessels domestically, thanks to the expertise of its local specialists. Speaking at a ceremony on Tuesday for signing contracts for marine equipment production at the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, Tangsiri highlighted that while the country relied on the United States for maritime construction before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, it is now building vessels from aluminum. He also noted that the IRGC Navy's Shahid Mahalati Institute has built 17 vessels, which are ready to be added to the country's naval fleet. 9341**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia urges IAEA to uphold impartiality in monitoring Iran's nuclear facilities Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 December 2024 7:05 PM Russia has called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to uphold impartiality in monitoring Iran's nuclear facilities and refrain from politicizing its nuclear case. In a press conference on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the call when commenting on provocative remarks by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi who claimed that Tehran may develop nuclear weapons. "We hope that the IAEA will be able to ensure the objectivity and impartially of the monitoring within the framework of its technical mandate, without getting politicized, without succumbing to absolutely perverted tricks by the Western camp," Zakharova stated. "We see this as a necessary guarantee of constructive cooperation between the agency and Iran the strengthening of which we have invariably supported." Zakharova's remarks came after Grossi told the Italian news agency ANSA that Iran had "developed much stronger capabilities" regarding various aspects of its nuclear energy program, alleging, "It (the Islamic Republic) has uranium at 60% 90% is military grade." He went as far as claiming that the Islamic Republic "is thus practically at the same level as nuclear-armed states." Elsewhere in her comments, Zakharova said "such manipulations counting on presenting the IAEA as an accomplice or even the initiator of political attacks on Tehran, always pursue a single goal - present Iran's nuclear program as the main threat in the Middle East which must be battled by any means." She also slammed Western governments for their attempts to "get away with gross violations" they have committed with regard to a UN Security Council resolution enshrining the 2015 international agreement on Iran's nuclear program, known as the JCPOA. "The international community has a clear understanding that it was precisely the West that undermined an agreement on restoration while Tehran repeatedly indicated its readiness to return to the parameters of the joint plan in the event of reciprocal synchronized actions by Washington, Brussels and London," Zakharova further said. Iranian officials have already denounced Grossi's allegation as going beyond his mission as an impartial UN official. Earlier in the day, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Mohammad Eslami, called on Grossi to ensure the agency's impartiality by considering other parties' failure to fulfill their obligations toward the Islamic Republic. "It is not acceptable for an international institution to address only one aspect of the issue, in a provocative manner at that, and refuse to point to the main aspect, which is the obligated parties' non-commitment," Eslami said. Back in 2018, the Islamic Republic resorted to a number of legitimate retaliatory measures in line with its entitlement under the JCPOA. The steps came in response to the United States' unilateral and illegal withdrawal from the deal and its Western allies' refusal to restore the deal to its former glory by bringing Washington back into the accord. Tehran took the measures after a drawn-out hiatus, during which it allowed the parties to the deal to walk back their unconstructive steps. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian ships sailing safely in international waters: IRGC Navy chief Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 December 2024 6:39 PM The Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has dismissed claims there have been threats to Iran's commercial shipping activities, saying ships owned or operated by the country are sailing safely in international waters thanks to the protection provided by the Iranian military forces. Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri said in remarks published on Wednesday that Iranian military forces are completely ready to face any maritime threats affecting the fleet of cargo and commercial ships of the country. Tangsiri was speaking to the semi-official IRNA news agency and in response to a question whether Iranian ships have been facing threats in international waters amid heightened tensions between Iran and the Israeli regime because of the ongoing regional conflicts. He said Iranian military forces continue to escort the country's cargo and commercial ships. "Thanks to God, today (Iran's) shipping lanes enjoy absolute security and this is a sign of the readiness of the armed forces in the sea," said the senior IRGC commander. He also reiterated that no alien ships have entered Iran's territorial waters in the Persian Gulf. "There is absolute security in the Persian Gulf. There are movements (of ships) but not of the type that can disrupt our security," he said. The comments come nearly two months after Iran launched extensive missile attacks on the Israeli regime to respond to its sabotage operations in Iran and its acts of aggression against Palestine and Lebanon. Israel responded by firing a limited number of missiles at Iran's military sites, most of which were shot down by the Iranian air defenses. Iran has said it will respond to Israel's latest attacks at a time and manner of its choosing. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's Army, IRGC to stage 'powerful' inclusive military drills in coming days: Commander Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 December 2024 8:35 AM A senior Iranian commander has announced that the country's armed forces will stage "powerful" complex and inclusive military drills enlisting the Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). Major General Gholam-Ali Rashid, commander of the Islamic Republic's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, made the announcement on Wednesday, attending a meeting of military top brass from the Iranian Armed Forces. "The Islamic Republic's Armed Forces will perform a set of powerful defensive and offensive maneuvers over the pending days and weeks," he said. According to Rashid, the Army and the IRGC consistently take part in the joint drills, especially throughout the second half of the Persian calendar year, across the country's various terrains, its airspace, and waters. The maneuvers, the commander noted, deploy defensive and offensive military hardware, and would take place "towards confronting the enemies of the Iranian nation." Every year, approximately 30 extensive military maneuvers go underway, which are directed and navigated by the Headquarters that ensures their optimal implementation, the official stated. "Since implementation of the maneuvers translate into testing the Armed Forces in the face of threats, and they go underway with the aim of ensuring the country's defensive and offensive preparedness to crush the enemy, the drills are devised rigorously and resourcefully and performed in a serious manner as a means of taking the enemy off guard." 'Israeli regime's skies defenseless against Iran's attacks' Rashid said the Israeli regime had suffered from illusion and committed a miscalculation concerning the Islamic Republic, noting that the country's powerful offensive operations against the regime, especially its Operation True Promise II, "simply displayed no more than a small fraction of the Armed Forces' offensive capability." "The ballistic missiles that were fired [during the operation] struck military sites and pre-determined targets, proving to our commanders and the entire world that the occupied Palestinian territories' skies are, contrary to the regime's media propaganda, open and defenseless in the face of our attacks." The commander underlined that based on the Islamic Republic's defensive doctrine, the country never acts as the initiator of any war in the region. Therefore, the upcoming powerful drills are to take place in line with ensuring the country's defensive and offensive readiness to confront whatever sort of threat, Rashid asserted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Call for safety in Bangladesh Rohingya refugee camps after fatal fire By Sarah Aziz December 25, 2024 Sitting before a pile of dilapidated shacks and ashes in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, 80-year-old Rohingya refugee Amena Khatun began weeping as she talked about her 60-year-old son, Abul Hair. "He was well and alive next to us, less than 24 hours ago," she told VOA. "And then, the fire broke out." At least two people were killed and over 4,000 rendered homeless Tuesday by the sudden outbreak of a massive fire in the Rohingya refugee camp in Kutupalong. More than a million Rohingya people reside in bamboo-and-tarpaulin shacks across Cox's Bazar, with several thousand others pouring in over the last few months, fleeing clashes in their native Myanmar between the government and the rebel Arakan Army. At around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Khatun, alongside thousands of other Rohingya people in Kutupalong, first noticed the fire. "My son had initially left our shelter with us when the fire started. But he went back to retrieve some important documentsand never made it out as he got stuck behind the intense flames," said Khatun. "Our lives are made to depend on the few documents we do possess as stateless refugees. But now, my sona loving father of fiveis gone along with the documents, all because of the sudden fire." According to the Cox's Bazar-based Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, or RRRC, of Bangladesh, the casualties include at least 19 Rohingya people, who were injured in the fire. The catastrophe also destroyed crucial infrastructure in the refugee camp like water tanks, tap stands, toilets and bath stalls. Mosques and offices of RRRC's partner organizations were also damaged. Scant relief efforts RRRC Commissioner Mohammed Mizanur Rahman told VOA that the fire was brought under control by their officials, including the camp-in-charge, volunteers and the fire brigade. "We had to demolish some shelters to prevent the fire from spreading. We, alongside the UNHCR and partner NGOs, have ensured that everyone left homeless has a temporary roof to sleep under, starting tonight," he said. The U.N. World Food Program, WFP, will serve the fire survivors regular meals "until they are fit to take care of themselves again," Rahman said, adding that his team hopes to build them new shelters as soon as possible. While the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, fire service and civil defense senior official Tanharul Islam told reporters Tuesday that an investigation has been launched. However, survivors of the fire told VOA that as of Wednesday morning, they had not yet received any relief assistance. "We have not received any help from the authorities or local NGOs yet," said Khatun, the surviving parent of Abu Hair who lost his life yesterday. "We don't even know how the fire started." A six-year-old boy, Burhanuddin, was the other camp resident killed in Tuesday's fire. His father, 34-year-old Muzifur Rahman, echoed Khatun's remark regarding assistance after the tragedy. "In fact, our Rohingya refugee community in Cox's Bazar has never been educated on any safety measures or protocols we are to follow to prevent or survive such fires," he said. Recurring problem across borders Bereaved father Rahman said that he is especially worried about his surviving family members because such fires are "surprisingly common" in the Rohingya refugee camps. "It makes me wonder if many of these fires are caused deliberately," he said. Over 1,000 shelters were destroyed in a fire believed to have been started accidentally by a mud oven, mentioned by the UNHCR in their social media post, in the same camp in January of this year. In 2023, a fire that burned down the shelters of over 12,000 Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar was described as a "planned act of sabotage" by a senior government official, who said that the arson was carried out by militant groups. VOA had reported that the fire was started by feuding Rohingya gangs in the camps. On the other side of the border, in India, many Rohingya refugees living in camps face the same challenge. The Social and Political Research Foundation has reported that at least 12 "mysterious" fires broke out across Rohingya refugee camps in India between 2016 and 2021. Many of the incidents of arson are suspected to have been orchestrated by right-wing Hindu nationalist groups in the country. Responsibility for a 2018 fire in India that wrecked over 50 Rohingya refugee shelters was claimed by the youth wing of the ruling right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP. Mohammed Arfan, a senior member of the Wash, Sanitation and Hygiene project with Community Partners International in Bangladesh, said that Rohingya refugee families in Cox's Bazar live in overcrowded and extremely cramped shelters made of highly flammable material, often cooking with gas cylinders in unsafe conditions. "These families have survived a genocide and lost everything already. Now, they face yet another tragedy. They are not just statistics, but parents, children and grandparents who have lost their homes, memories and loved ones," he said. "This fire is a reminder that we need to do more, not just in the aftermath of these tragedies but to prevent them from happening at all." Ro Mayyu Islam contributed to this report from Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan Launches Air Strikes On Militant Hideouts In Afghanistan By RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal December 24, 2024 Pakistani military jets on December 24 conducted air strikes inside Afghanistan, targeting suspected hideouts of the Islamist militant group Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP positions targeted were in the Murgha area of the Bermal district in Afghanistan's Paktika Province, according to sources. The area borders the Angoor Adda town in Pakistan's volatile South Waziristan tribal district. Pakistani jets carried out strikes against one target in the Murgha area and two more areas of the Bermal district. There has been no official comment from Pakistan, but some accounts on X believed to be related to Pakistani intelligence confirmed the strikes and claimed casualties among the TTP militants. An Afghan Taliban leader, speaking to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity, confirmed the strikes but added that it is too early to report on casualties. The Afghan Taliban leader said an Afghan government official confirmed to him that there were strikes in three places in Paktika Province but it was not yet known who was targeted. Pakistani security sources say the hideouts of the TTP were hit and dozens of militants were killed. But a TTP official who spoke with RFE/RL said a camp of Pakistani displaced persons was bombed and civilians killed. Pakistan says that TTP militants are hiding across the border in Afghanistan, and Islamabad has repeatedly asked the Afghan Taliban to take action against them. But the Afghan Taliban say the TTP are in Pakistan. The air strikes on December 24 come just days after TTP militants carried out a raid near the northwestern border with Afghanistan that killed 16 security officers. The attack occurred when militants opened fire at a security checkpoint in South Waziristan in the early hours of December 21. Laddha Police Deputy Superintendent Hidayat Ullah told RFE/RL that, in addition to the 16 killed, eight officers were wounded. The TTP, which seeks to impose Shari'a law in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack and said it killed 35 Pakistani security officers. RFE/RL could not independently confirm the number of dead. Neither side said how many militants were killed during the attack. The year already had been one of the deadliest for the region. There has been a steady increase in TTP attacks in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province since the Taliban regained control of Kabul in August 2021. The Pakistan Center for Conflict and Security Studies said in its most recent report that more than 240 people were killed in "terrorist incidents" in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in November. The death toll included 68 security officers, the highest in a single month this year. Meanwhile, the Army Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) claims to have killed dozens of suspected militants in operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this month. The governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan say they are committed to wiping out the TTP. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-afghanistan-ttp- militants-air-strikes/33251760.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taliban accuse Pakistan of conducting strikes inside Afghanistan By Ayaz Gul December 24, 2024 Taliban authorities said Tuesday that Pakistan carried out airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan that resulted in several civilian casualties, including women and children. The Taliban Ministry of National Defense condemned the late-evening attack in Barmal, a district in the Afghan border province of Paktika. It asserted via the X social media platform that Pakistani refugee families residing in the area were the victims. The claims could not immediately be verified from independent sources. "The Islamic Emirate considers this brutal bombing a violation of international principles and a clear act of aggression," the ministry said, using the official title of the Taliban government. "This cowardly attack will not go unanswered," the statement warned without elaborating. The Taliban's reaction came hours after security officials in Pakistan anonymously confirmed to reporters that their forces had launched multiple aerial strikes against suspected terrorist targets in Barmal. The officials, who were not authorized to speak to the media, asserted the military action destroyed a training facility and eliminated several key militant commanders linked to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. The globally designated terrorist organization is waging deadly attacks against Pakistani security forces and civilians from its alleged Afghan sanctuaries. Pakistan has struck suspected terrorist targets inside Afghanistan in recent months. It was not clear whether Pakistani fighter planes or unmanned aircraft, known as drones, were employed to conduct Tuesday's strikes. Pakistani military spokesmen were immediately not available to comment on the reported counterterrorism cross-border strikes. They came two days after heavily armed TTP militants stormed a security outpost in South Waziristan, a Pakistani district adjacent to Barmal, and killed 16 soldiers in one of the deadliest attacks on Pakistan's military in recent months. Tuesday's alleged strikes came on a day when Taliban leaders hosted meetings with a high-level Pakistani delegation, marking the resumption of such interactions after a yearlong pause due to terrorism allegations. Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan's newly appointed special envoy for Afghan affairs, led his country's team at the talks in Kabul with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, among others. Muttaqi's office said in a post-meeting statement that the delegations focused on enhancing diplomatic, trade and transit relations between the countries, which share a nearly 2,600-kilometer border. The chief Taliban diplomat stated that his government "desires positive relations" with Islamabad. Muttaqi said without elaborating that to further develop trade and transit ties, both governments "must enhance mutual coordination, facilitate travelers' cross-border movement and address issues straining relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Taliban's statement quoted Pakistani envoy Sadiq as saying that his mission was to "bolster" bilateral political, economic, commercial and transit relations. "Held wide-ranging discussions. Agreed to work together to further strengthen bilateral cooperation as well as for peace and progress in the region," the Pakistani envoy wrote on X. Sadiq's predecessor, Asif Ali, visited Kabul in September 2023 when Pakistan was experiencing a dramatic rise in terrorist attacks attributed to the outlawed TTP, with Islamabad persistently alleging the militant group was orchestrating the deadly cross-border violence from its Afghan "hideouts." TTP attacks have since intensified and killed hundreds of Pakistani civilians as well as security forces, leading to a further deterioration in relations. "Given the current circumstances, we must expedite our collaborative efforts to safeguard the relationship between our peoples and ensure regional stability and development," Haqqani's office quoted him Tuesday as telling the Pakistani delegation. He stressed "the urgency of accelerating joint efforts to resolve security and political challenges," according to the statement. Taliban leaders have consistently denied allegations that Afghan territory is being used as a launching pad for attacks. The de facto Afghan government maintains it does not support the TTP or any other foreign militant group, describing the violence in Pakistan as an "internal problem" for the neighboring country to resolve rather than blaming Kabul for the crisis. Afghanistan is landlocked, relying heavily on Pakistani overland routes and seaports to conduct bilateral and international trade. Tensions over terrorism charges have led to a significant decline in Afghan trade and transit activities through Pakistan in recent months. The Taliban swept back to power in 2021, but no country has officially recognized them as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistani military conducts airstrikes on militant hideouts in eastern Afghanistan Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 December 2024 4:16 PM The Pakistani military has conducted a series of airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, targeting hideouts of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group. Media outlets quoting security sources said the strikes were conducted in Paktika province late on Tuesday night. The interim Afghan government, ruled by the Taliban in Afghanistan, stated that several refugees, including women and children, were killed or injured. "The Pakistani side should understand that such arbitrary measures are not a solution to any problem," Enayatullah Khowarazami, spokesperson for Afghanistan's Defense Ministry, wrote on X. "The Islamic Emirate (Afghanistan) will not leave this cowardly act unanswered and considers the defense of its territory an inalienable right." The first cross-border strike inside Afghanistan since March came after a spate of attacks by the Pakistani Taliban. The TTP militants claimed responsibility for killing at least 16 Pakistani soldiers last week in South Waziristan in one of the deadliest recent attacks on security personnel. The strikes came just hours after Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq met the interim Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul. Sadiq's visit to Kabul took place amid deteriorating relations between the two neighbors. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan government of harboring the TTP. While the Afghan Taliban deny providing refuge to militant groups or allowing their territory to be used for cross-border attacks, Pakistan says the TTP conducts its operations from Afghan sanctuaries. Pakistan maintains that it has repeatedly shared evidence with the Afghan Taliban regarding the TTP operations but claims these concerns have not been adequately addressed. During a United Nations Security Council briefing last week, Pakistan said thousands of TTP fighters have sought shelter in Afghanistan. "The TTP, with 6,000 fighters, is the largest listed terrorist organisation operating in Afghanistan. With safe havens close to our border, it poses a direct and daily threat to Pakistan's security," Pakistani diplomat Usman Iqbal Jadoon said at the UN briefing. Data indicates a rise in attacks and fatalities, particularly in Pakistan's restive northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and southwestern province of Balochistan, both of which border Afghanistan. Pakistan has reported more than 856 attacks so far in 2024, surpassing the 645 incidents recorded in 2023. According to Pakistan's Interior Ministry, more than 1,500 violent incidents in the first 10 months of this year have resulted in at least 924 deaths. Among the casualties were at least 570 law enforcement personnel and 351 civilians. The TTP has a strong presence in North Waziristan and elsewhere in the region. It is allied with the Afghan Taliban. The 2021 Afghan Taliban takeover has emboldened the Pakistani Taliban. Over the past years, the TTP militants have been involved in multiple terrorist attacks, including targeted bombings and killing of members of religious communities and security officials nationwide. On December 16, 2014, the group attacked Peshawar's Army School, where more than 150 people, mostly children, were killed. It was one of the deadliest massacres in Pakistan's history. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address More Than 40 Killed In Pakistani Strikes Inside Afghanistan, Taliban Claims By RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal December 25, 2024 Pakistani air strikes killed 46 civilians in eastern Afghanistan, the Taliban-led government in Kabul said on December 25, while Islamabad claimed it targeted suspected militant hideouts in border areas. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told RFE/RL that there were many women and children among the victims of the December 24 strikes, which hit four locations in the Barmal district of Paktika Province. There was no immediate comment from Pakistani authorities on the strike inside Afghanistan. However, the Pakistani Army said security forces killed 13 insurgents in an overnight intelligence-based operation in South Waziristan, a Pakistani district that borders Paktika. RFE/RL cannot independently verify the claims. The strikes are likely to further spike tensions between the two neighbors. Pakistan says that militants from the Islamist group Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are hiding across the border in Afghanistan, and Islamabad has repeatedly asked the Afghan Taliban to take action against them. But the Afghan Taliban say the TTP are in Pakistan. The latest Pakistani air strikes come just days after TTP militants carried out a raid near the northwestern border with Afghanistan that killed 16 security officers and wounded eight others. The attack occurred when militants opened fire at a security checkpoint in South Waziristan in the early hours of December 21. The TTP, which seeks to impose Shari'a law in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack and said it killed 35 Pakistani security officers. RFE/RL could not independently confirm the number of dead. Neither side said how many militants were killed during the attack. There has been a steady increase in TTP attacks in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in August 2021. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/taliban- says-dozens-killed-in-pakistani-air-strikes-in- paktika-afghanistan/33252533.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taliban allege Pakistani military strikes kill dozens in Afghanistan By Ayaz Gul December 25, 2024 Taliban officials in Afghanistan reported Wednesday that at least 46 people were killed in an eastern border region because of an overnight aerial bombing that allegedly was conducted by Pakistan. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban government spokesperson, stated that the attack on Tuesday evening targeted four locations in Barmal, a remote mountainous district in the Afghan border province of Paktika. "The total number of dead is 46, most of whom were children and women," Mujahid told the Agence France-Presse news agency, adding that six more civilians were wounded. The veracity of his claims regarding the purported casualties could not be ascertained from independent sources. The Taliban's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Wednesday that it had summoned the acting Pakistani ambassador to Kabul to deliver a "strong protest note regarding the airstrikes conducted by Pakistani military jets" in Barmal. The statement condemned the attack and warned that "such actions are viewed highly irresponsible and will inevitably bear repercussions." It did not elaborate. While Pakistan has not commented on the allegations it had carried out the strikes, Pakistani security officials told reporters on condition of anonymity that the country carried out counterinsurgency precision airstrikes in Barmal. The officials, who were not authorized to interact with the media publicly, asserted that the military actions targeted multiple locations in the Afghan district that were associated with the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. Islamabad maintains that the globally designated terrorist group orchestrates lethal attacks on Pakistani civilians and security personnel from its Afghan sanctuaries. The Afghan Ministry of National Defense condemned the strikes as "barbaric" and a "clear act of aggression" by Pakistan in violation of international laws. It asserted that both Afghan nationals and Pakistani refugee families residing in Barmal were the victims of the attack. "The Islamic Emirate considers this brutal bombing a violation of international principles and a clear act of aggression," said the Afghan Ministry of National Defense, using the official title of the Taliban government. "This cowardly attack will not go unanswered," the statement warned, without elaborating. The aerial attack came two days after heavily armed TTP militants stormed a security outpost in South Waziristan, a Pakistani district bordering Barmal, and killed 16 soldiers in one of the deadliest insurgent raids on Pakistan's military in recent months. Tuesday's strikes also came on a day when Taliban leaders hosted meetings with a high-level Pakistani delegation, marking the resumption of such interactions after a yearlong pause because of terrorism allegations. Taliban leaders have consistently denied allegations that Afghan territory is being used as a launching pad for attacks. The de facto Afghan government maintains it does not support the TTP or any other foreign militant group, describing the violence in Pakistan as an "internal problem" for the neighboring country to resolve rather than blaming Kabul for the crisis. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic 23 December 2024 21:45 2497-23-12-2024 On December 23, at the initiative of the Serbian side, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic. Particular emphasis was placed on the resolution of the Kosovo issue, with a focus on upholding the fundamental significance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, primarily the imperative to ensure Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The parties highlighted the unacceptable nature of Pristina's persistent obstruction of the agreements to establish the Community of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo. A common stance was articulated on the necessity to cease the ongoing terror by the Kosovo Albanian authorities against the Serbs in the province and the infringement of their fundamental rights. Sergey Lavrov reiterated Moscow's solidarity with Belgrade in safeguarding the essential rights of the Serbian people in line with the principles of international law, as consistently affirmed by President of Russia Vladimir Putin. The parties discussed matters of bilateral cooperation, including those within the oil industry and other areas of mutual interest. Views were exchanged on methods to continue collaboration, which the West attempts to hinder by imposing unlawful unilateral restrictive measures. Both parties expressed concern regarding the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The importance of respecting the status of the entities and state-forming peoples in accordance with the General Framework (Dayton) Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the sake of stability in that country, was reaffirmed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Cargo Ship Under U.S. And EU Sanctions Sinks In Mediterranean Sea By RFE/RL's Russian Service December 24, 2024 A Russian cargo ship sank in the Mediterranean Sea, leaving two members of its crew missing, Russian and Spanish authorities said on December 24. Fourteen members of the crew were rescued from a lifeboat and taken to Spain, the country's maritime rescue agency said. The Russian Defense Ministry said the ship began sinking after an explosion in the engine room, but Spanish authorities did not confirm that an explosion had occurred. The vessel is owned by a subsidiary of Oboronlogistika, a shipping and logistics company established under the Russian Defense Ministry that has been designated for sanctions by the United States and the European Union for its ties to Russia's military. Spanish authorities said they received an alert around 1 p.m. local time on December 23 when the vessel, the Ursa Major, was roughly 100 kilometers from the coast of southeastern Spain. A ship nearby reported poor weather conditions and said the Ursa Major was listing. Authorities said a Russian warship arrived later to oversee rescue operations and that the 142-meter-long vessel sank around midnight. On board the vessel were empty containers and two cranes, Spanish authorities said. The Russian Embassy in Spain told state news agency RIA Novosti that it was investigating and that it was in contact with local authorities. The Ursa Major left St. Petersburg on December 11 and its final destination was Vladivostok, where it was scheduled to arrive on January 22, according to open-source data. Some news outlets, including Mediazone, cited open-source information in reporting that the sunken dry cargo ship was actually heading to Syria, where the Kremlin-loyal regime of Bashar al-Assad was overthrown earlier this month, to help evacuate a Russian military base. Tracking data indicate that Russia also sent the dry cargo ship Sparta and three large landing ships to the Mediterranean amid reports that Russia was evacuating military personnel and equipment in the wake of the fall of the Assad regime. But an open-source analyst cited by RFE/RL studied the data on the cargo that was on board the Ursa Major and concluded that it was indeed heading to Vladivostok. A photo and video show that there were two port cranes on board the sunken ship as well as 45-ton hatch covers for the construction of nuclear icebreakers. According to analyst Alexander Oliver, the loss of the cargo will be a big blow to the port of Vladivostok and the icebreaker construction program. Oboronlogistika vessels have been repeatedly used to supply Russian military bases in Syria. The United States in May 2022 imposed sanctions against Oboronlogistika and several other Russian companies involved in maritime transportation for the Russian Defense Ministry. With reporting by Reuters and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ship-ursa-major-cargo- mediterranean-syria/33251600.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Sentences U.S. Citizen After Closed-Door Spy Trial By RFE/RL's Russian Service December 24, 2024 A Russian court has sentenced U.S. citizen Eugene Spector to 15 years in a penal colony for "espionage" amid accusations by several Western governments that Moscow is convicting foreign nationals to use as bargaining chips in prisoner swaps. Spector was sentenced on December 24 by the Moscow City Court after a trial that was held behind closed doors. Little is known about the charges the former pharmaceuticals executive faced as the court claimed classified materials during the trial warranted it being closed to the public. The case comes against a backdrop of deteriorating relations between Moscow and Washington, which are at their lowest point since the end of the Cold War. Moscow has also been accused of targeting U.S. citizens by detaining them on trumped-up charges to later use as bargaining chips in talks to bring back Russians convicted of crimes in the United States and other Western nations. At least 10 U.S. citizens remain behind bars in Russia even after a prisoner swap on August 1 involving 16 people that Moscow agreed to free in exchange for eight Russians convicted of crimes and serving prison terms in the United States and Europe. "Although the prisoner exchange can rightly be considered a victory for diplomacy, we should not hastily declare that justice has prevailed," Yulia Mineeva, an associate at Chatham House, said after the prisoners were swapped. "The Russian side held hostages to free their hitmen, spies, and hackers, while the West made a tough decision in favor of the freedom and lives of innocent people, not only their citizens but Russian nationals as well." The state TASS news agency said Spector was born in 1972 in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) and moved to the United States, where he became a citizen. His Russian name is Yevgeny Mironovich, TASS added. Spector was the chairman of the board of Medpolymerprom Group, a company known for its focus on developing cancer-curing drugs. He was sentenced in 2021 to four years in prison on alleged bribery charges. His sentence was reduced by six months after a retrial. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-sentences-us-citizen- spector-spy-trial/33251282.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview with 60 Minutes television programme, Moscow, December 25, 2024 25 December 2024 17:50 2501-25-12-2024 Question: The year 2024 has been far from easy and, arguably, quite challenging. The year ahead may prove equally difficult. It's been hard to have faith in bright prospects lately. Nevertheless, let's try to draw up preliminary results. Everyone and his brother is talking about almost unavoidable (if we believe the rhetoric and public statements) talks between Russia and NATO, the United States, and Ukraine about the Ukrainian settlement. They are talking about an unavoidable "deal" that will suit one side and put an end to the bloodshed. Judging by the statements made by President Putin at the Foreign Ministry on June 14, the conditions we have put forward are clear and articulate. And no one is going to fulfill them. What can you say about this? Isn't this rhetoric about talks a case of wishful thinking? Sergey Lavrov: We have not had any illusions about the prospects. Resolving the Ukraine crisis doesn't have any prospects, either. It has long been clear to everyone holding unbiased positions that it can be settled only in the context of agreements on lasting security and stability in Europe, which would take into account the interests of the Russian Federation and the legitimate interests of all other countries. Everyone thinks the arrival of the Trump Administration will change things. There is much speculation about this going on. As I earlier mentioned, we have no illusions. There is a fairly robust bipartisan consensus in Washington on supporting the Kiev regime. US doctrinal documents describe our country as an adversary that needs to be "strategically defeated." In free speeches, the Biden administration officials have even called us an enemy. We have never claimed that with the Trump Administration in the White House the negotiating process on global security and Ukraine will begin no matter what. This will not be, as many are now hoping, an inevitable outcome. We hear about Donald Trump's interest, who appointed Keith Kellogg as his special envoy for Ukraine, in stopping this war as soon as possible. We have always been in favour of it never beginning which fact is corroborated by our support for the document signed by Yanukovich and the opposition in February 2014. It was guaranteed by European countries, but the opposition tore it up the next morning. We also supported the Minsk agreements, which stopped the Kiev regime's terrorist attack against its citizens in Donbass. President Vladimir Putin keeps referring to the fact that we supported the Istanbul Accords in April 2022, which were also largely torn up at the behest of the West. President Putin has repeatedly stressed that we never walk away from talks. We need to see serious, concrete proposals. When we have them, we will decide on how to respond to them based on our national interests, the goals of the special military operation, and President Vladimir Putin's June 14 speech at the Foreign Ministry. You said this speech "contains conditions." By and large, there are no conditions there. It contains a demand to fulfill what has been repeatedly agreed upon over many years: militarisation of Ukraine (which is a direct violation of the agreements that NATO will not "gobble up" an increasing number of countries to the east and approach directly the border of the Russian Federation), and respect for the obligations under the UN Charter, including with regard to human rights, language and religious rights among them. Can these truly be called conditions? This is the bare minimum of what any normal member of the international community must do. Is the expression of the will by the regions in the DPR, LPR, and Kherson and Zaporozhye regions a pre-condition? No. The UN Charter explicitly says that all countries must respect the territorial value of those states that respect the right of nations to self-determination, as happened during the above-mentioned referendums. Most importantly, the Charter calls for respecting the territorial integrity of the countries whose governments represent the entire population living on the territory in question. Can the people of Crimea, Donbass, and Novorossiya say that their interests are represented by a Nazi regime that has announced the extermination of everything Russian, in fact, its main goal, as they continue to "play" in the interests of the West, which needs to remove a strong competitor such as the Russian Federation from the international arena? The West wants to remove any competitor. With regard to us, Ukraine has been chosen as a tool to this end. The principles formulated by President Vladimir Putin are not preconditions. They actually derive from international law. On the other hand, the prevailing discourse we are hearing both in the West and in Ukraine today is about a truce and only truce. It is about buying time to allow the Kiev regime to regain strength, with the help of the West, and resume its attempts to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, acting on their Western bosses' instructions. President Vladimir Putin has mentioned this repeatedly - during the Direct Line, at the Valdai Discussion Club meeting, and at the Russia Calling! investment forum. We will not be satisfied with a truce. We need reliable and legally binding agreements aimed at eliminating the root causes of the conflict, addressing problems such as common security in Europe, NATO expansion, the European Union's recent decision to become an appendage of the North Atlantic bloc, in fact, erasing all differences between these organisations, and above all, upholding the rights of the people living in these territories who have supported reunification with the Russian Federation. This does not mean that the demand for respect for the linguistic and religious freedoms, which have been legislatively abolished by Vladimir Zelensky, does not apply to the rest of Ukraine. Most of the people who live there speak Russian as their native language. The linguistic aggression started by the Kiev regime will certainly not be tolerated. As for a possible peace procedure envisioned by the Ukrainians and their handlers, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba has recently emerged in a new capacity. He announced that Ukraine needs to achieve NATO accession because, even if the current generation reaches some agreements and spends the next period rebuilding Ukraine, the generation after them will definitely seek revenge for the defeat that they believe Ukraine will suffer if it respects the will of its citizens. According to Dmitry Kuleba, the only way to stop Ukraine from inevitably attacking Russia in the future is to admit the country to NATO now, making it bound by legal obligations to the alliance not to attack Russia. Olga Skabeyeva, concluding her greeting, said that she had little faith in anything good. Faith and hope are our traditional underlying values. There are many proverbs involving these concepts and their meanings, including about hope - hope springs eternal. But this idea is disputed by another aphorism - hope is the nourishment of youth. What I am driving at is, to avoid being mislead by empty hopes, which may be "the nourishment of youth and the delight of old age," we need a final, fully-fledged, legally binding and lasting settlement of problems in Europe, including the Ukrainian crisis. Question: Let's discuss the current outlook. In your interview with Tucker Carlson, you mentioned that the world is closer to nuclear conflict than ever before. Quite frankly, it was rather unsettling. How do you feel about this situation? What actions should we take? People in the West are already investing in bunkers. Should we be preparing similarly? Sergey Lavrov: We are prepared to take all necessary measures to ensure that American citizens and those of other Western nations do not squander money (which is not in abundance for them at present) on constructing bunkers. We would be pleased to assist Western taxpayers in saving funds on these bunkers. We have never initiated a discussion regarding what should be done with nuclear weapons and whether they can be used. On the contrary, it was at Russia's initiative that in 2021, first at the level of Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden, and subsequently among the leaders of the entire G5 nuclear-armed states - the permanent members of the Security Council - the 1987 Gorbachev-Reagan principle was reaffirmed: there can be no victors in a nuclear war, thus it should never be instigated. This was a Russian initiative. Any other proposals or similar remarks, suggesting the possibility of nuclear conflict, have emanated solely from Western capitals. The Chief of the German Army's General Staff remarked a year ago that Russia should not intimidate them excessively, reminding them that NATO is a nuclear alliance. Everyone recalls Liz Truss's statement, in her capacity as Prime Minister of Great Britain, where she expressed no hesitation in pressing the nuclear button. French officials have also reiterated their status as a nuclear power. Recently, Pentagon generals have openly deliberated on the potential for "limited nuclear strikes" with the Russian Federation, with the intention to ensure they emerge victorious from such an "exchange." We directly inquired (since it was indeed a general who made the statement) about the meaning behind this. Their response was far from satisfactory, as they attempted to downplay the significance of such declarations, claiming they were purely theoretical. In practice, nothing of the sort was intended. But can such rhetoric be regarded as a serious expression of opinion from an official military department representative? In any event, we are not interested in escalating the issue of nuclear weapons usage risks. We firmly adhere to the principle I mentioned earlier: there can be no victors in a nuclear war. President Vladimir Putin has reiterated this on numerous occasions. Nonetheless, I would caution against testing our patience and resolve to defend our legitimate national interests by all available means. Vladimir Putin elaborated on this during the Direct Line and in previous addresses. We trust that those with ears will listen, and those with minds will comprehend. Question: There are daily provocations originating from the Ukrainian side, evidently with the assistance of NATO countries. One of the most recent incidents involves drone strikes targeting a residential building in Kazan. Even Western newspapers liken this to the events in New York on September 11, 2001, drawing parallels to that terrorist attack. We distinctly remember how the United States reacted at that time. Is there anything deterring us from responding similarly? Sergey Lavrov: Firstly, I would refrain from making direct comparisons with the September 11 terrorist attack. There are numerous theories (not all of them are conspiracy theories) that necessitate further clarification regarding what transpired then, who ultimately orchestrated the attack, and for what purpose. Regarding the incessant terrorist acts perpetrated by the Kiev regime, which deliberately targets purely civilian structures such as residential buildings, hospitals, clinics, shops, and places where people congregate and relax - this is outrageous. It is a blatant violation of all anti-terrorism conventions and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. We express our condemnation, although regrettably, almost no one in the West and none of the leaders of international organisations, including the UN, the OSCE, UNESCO, and others, join us in this denunciation. Naturally, we do not stop there. We regularly disseminate information and present relevant videos illustrating our efforts to dismantle facilities directly associated with the preparation and execution of activities by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We caution that any continuation of this path will be met with increasingly decisive responses on our part. As far as I can ascertain, despite not being a military expert, the impact on Kiev's military apparatus, not only in retaliation for these terrorist actions but also throughout the recent months of the special military operation, is quite substantial. It is not imperative to act immediately following a bandit strike on Kazan, or the Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod Regions. We can afford to bide our time. We are a patient people. Yet, sometimes one must "measure seven times, cut once." It is essential to measure carefully to ensure that when we do act, it is with complete efficacy. Question: If possible, let's talk about Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico. I'm fully aware that the talks were held behind closed doors, and no details are available. No news conference or statements for the media, either. Is there anything at all that you can share with our viewers? At least something? Everyone is hoping to see at least some progress during talks. Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico is here. Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban seems to be a sensible person. Where do things stand? Sergey Lavrov: I wouldn't say no information was provided. The Kremlin shared some, and Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov also provided a comment. There is nothing particularly secretive about it. The Prime Minister of Slovakia explicitly stated that the anticipated cessation of Russian gas transit through Ukraine, which Vladimir Zelensky had repeatedly and proudly announced publicly, was the immediate reason for his visit. We discussed options that would allow gas supplies to continue to countries like Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria, which, as I understand, are interested in this. This is their economic interest and has nothing to do with their EU obligations. They are being pushed into following a single foreign and security policy, but gas supplies are beyond politics. This is about ensuring normal conditions in the country during winter so that households, the manufacturing enterprises, and the social sector may function properly. Vladimir Zelensky's actions create problems specifically for European countries. Many there are proudly saying dependence on Russia must be eliminated. Remember head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen saying that American liquefied natural gas costs Germany less than Russian gas? When a journalist asked to clarify which numbers she was referring to, as the reality is quite the opposite, and it represents an extra burden on the economy, she replied that American gas is better and cheaper in a political sense. This demonstrates the readiness and ability to follow orders coming from the "elephant" which has so far been standing still, and the Democratic "donkey" is still running Washington D.C. and New York. However, the Republican elephants will soon move in, and we'll see how the "lapdogs" will position themselves. Speaking of gas, Vladimir Zelensky recently insulted Slovakia, Hungary, and other sensible political figures in an interview. When asked why he wouldn't approve the transit, since Slovakia can buy gas directly at the Russian-Ukrainian border (which would then become Slovakian or Hungarian gas), he said because even if they do so, they would end up paying Russia for gas and thus finance the war. He suggested that if they ensured the gas became Slovakian, not Russian, and refrain from paying Russia until the end of the war, then it could be considered. The way this person's mind works cannot be fathomed by normal people. I believe we don't need to comment on everything Zelensky has to cough up, especially since he coughs things up regularly, and things vary depending on his condition. Let me share one of his more recent gems with you. A couple of weeks ago, taking a question about what Russia should do in order to settle the crisis, he publicly stated it should go four-letter-word itself. A few questions later during the same interview, he suggested inviting Russia to a forum following the Burgenstock forum when their ultimatum if finalised and hand it to Russia. If you weigh these two statements (what Russia must do to achieve settlement, and that Russia must be present at the second summit), he effectively named and defined the purpose of this summit in his initial phrase. Question: A brilliant and exhaustive commentary on the situation. A brief follow-up question, though. Russia has been without an ambassador to the United States for quite some time now. Is this a technical pause or a kind of diplomatic demarche? Sergey Lavrov: No, it's not a demarche. The Americans welcomed the new candidate as a professional with extensive background in Soviet-American and Russian-American relations. The departure date is planned in alignment with the best timing for the new ambassador's arrival in Washington, D.C. considering the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump in just three weeks. There's no politics involved here. Question: On a lighter note, have you had the chance to decorate your New Year tree? Do you sense that holiday cheer? Sergey Lavrov: The cheer is combative, because easing up during the New Year holidays is not an option. Some serious politicians and analysts do not rule out the possibility of provocations from Kiev's nationalists and their Western backers during the New Year holidays and Orthodox Christmas. We will observe this holiday as we conduct an alert and active analysis of ongoing developments. Right after this interview, I'm heading to the tree in the Ministry's lobby. It's the Tree of Wishes, and my deputies and I actively participate in this noble drive. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel will be forced to withdraw from Syrian territory: Turkish pres. IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 24, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the Israeli regime will be forced to withdraw from the occupied Syrian territories. Sooner or later, Israel will withdraw from the territories it has occupied by abusing the conditions in Syria, Erdogan said on Monday night after a meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. He stated that Israel's goal with increasing aggression against Syria is to suppress the Syrian people's hopes, adding that "the new situation has once again drawn the world's attention to this country, and Turkey has the best understanding of this due to its brotherly ties." Erdogan emphasized that Turkey has been on the right side of history since the first moment of the Syrian crisis. He confirmed that Ankara will provide the necessary support to the Syrian people in order to make their success against the previous government sustainable. Erdogan stressed that Turkey will not deviate from protecting the territorial integrity and unity of Syria under any circumstances. Regarding the fight against the Kurdish groups known as the PKK / YPG", he said: "We will certainly work to eliminate this criminal gang and will not allow it to remain a source of threat to the region." Erdogan stressed his country's determination to continue carrying out "precise" military operations in Syria against Kurdish groups which Turkey has designated as terrorists. These statements were made after the Turkish Foreign Minister's visit to Damascus and meeting with new Syrian officials, including Ahmad al-Sharaa nicknamed "Abu Muhammad al-Julani, the commander of the armed opposition group "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham". 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese foundation donates bicycles to Lao students Xinhua) 13:05, December 26, 2024 VIENTIANE, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- A ceremony to hand over bicycles donated by the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) to Lao students was held in Lao capital Vientiane on Wednesday. In his speech, Vice President of the Lao National Assembly Sommad Pholsena said this project will provide transportation convenience for Lao students. He expressed the hope that the students receiving the donations would study hard and contribute to promoting friendly exchanges and mutual understanding between Laos and China. Also speaking at the event, Lin Yuan, assistant director of the International Development Department of CFRD, said that the donated 1,000 bicycles, delivered to Laos via the China-Laos Railway which symbolizes the friendship between China and Laos, serve as a concrete manifestation of the bond between the two peoples. Athit Khounthavong, a Lao student, was excited when he saw the brand-new bicycles. "It was very inconvenient to go to school before as it took me half an hour to walk. Now, with the bicycle, I can get to school in just 10 minutes. Going to school has become much more convenient!" The CFRD launched the International Charity Bicycle Project in 2021. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Iran says 'ready' to reopen embassy in Syria, holds talks with Damascus Iran Press TV Tuesday, 24 December 2024 9:56 AM The Iranian government spokeswoman has expressed Tehran's readiness to reopen its embassy in Damascus, amid challenges facing Syria two weeks after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militants took over the Arab country. During a press conference on Tuesday, Mohajerani stated that Iran would pursue the matter through diplomatic channels. "Our approach to reopening embassies is diplomatic, as it always has been, and we stand ready for this," she said. "They are also prepared, and we are currently engaged in diplomatic talks for the reopening of embassies," she added. After HTS militants seized control of Syria on December 8, which brought an end to Bashar al-Assad's 24-year presidency, the country continues to face significant challenges on both national and international fronts. Syria's stability and future are threatened by various factors, including Israel's illegal occupation of Syrian territory, driven by its expansionist policies, and the persistent presence of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which are backed by the US, in the country's northern regions. Additional challenges stem from the perpetration of human rights violations against minority groups by HTS militants, as well as escalating humanitarian crises, such as Syria's worsening food insecurity. Mohajerani, echoing previous statements by other Iranian officials, stressed the importance of a Syrian government based on the popular vote of its citizens, describing it as a key concern for Iran. "Iran prioritizes safeguarding Syria's territorial integrity as a critical issue," she said. Another critical concern, she noted, is preventing the rise and expansion of terrorism, as it significantly impacts both Syria and the entire region. "Iran's objective is to protect Syria from the adverse effects of terrorism while ensuring that neighboring countries remain unharmed," the spokeswoman highlighted. During a weekly press briefing in Tehran on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei also emphasized the Islamic Republic's unwavering commitment to preserve Syria's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. He asserted that the Syrian people hold the exclusive right to decide their fate free from foreign interference. "It is crucial to ensure that Syria does not become a breeding ground for terrorism and that all nations recognize the potential consequences of regional instability, as insecurity in one country can easily spread to others in the region," Baqaei pointed out. He also stated that the continued presence of American military forces in Syria undermines efforts to protect the country's territorial integrity and national sovereignty. He urged all nations concerned about Syria's future to adopt a clear position on this issue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraq's PMU masses resistance forces on border with Syria amid mounting concerns Iran Press TV Tuesday, 24 December 2024 9:24 AM Iraqi anti-terror Popular Mobilization Units, better known by the Arabic word Hashd al-Sha'abi, have sent fighters and military hardware to the country's long border with Syria, in a bid to ease concerns following the downfall of Bashar al-Assad's government by militant groups earlier this month. The media bureau of Hashd al-Sha'abi announced in a statement that the forces were sent to reinforce the frontier as part of the Nineveh Sector Operations, and amid bad weather conditions and a severe cold snap in the region. It emphasized that such measures fall within efforts to secure the Iraqi-Syrian border, and could be described as precautionary steps aimed at thwarting any hostile attempt to undermine Iraq's national security and stability. Hashd al-Sh'abai (PMU) fighters played a major role in the liberation of Daesh-held areas in the country. Back in November 2016, the Iraqi parliament approved a law giving full legal status to the PMU fighters. It recognized the PMU as part of the national armed forces, placed the forces under the command of the prime minister, and granted them the right to receive salaries and pensions like the regular army and police forces. Militants, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, launched a surprise two-pronged attack on Syria's northwestern city of Aleppo and the countryside around Idlib on November 27. They marched southward to seize control of several major cities, including Hama, Homs, Dara'a, and Suwayda, before entering and capturing the capital Damascus early on December 8. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN warns of 'dramatic consequences' as Kurds-Turkey tension mounts in northeast Syria Iran Press TV Tuesday, 24 December 2024 8:06 AM The United Nations envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has warned of "dramatic consequences" of the persisting hostilities between Kurdish-led militants and Turkish-backed groups in the country's northeast, calling for a political resolution to the conflict. "If the situation in the northeast is not handled correctly, it could be a very bad omen for the whole of Syria," Pedersen told Reuters by phone on Monday. "If we fail here, it would have dramatic consequences when it comes to new displacement," he added. Since former president Bashar al-Assad was ousted on December 8, hostilities have escalated between Turkish-supported militants and the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who are backed by the US, in the northeast of Syria. Ankara-backed armed groups took control of the SDF-held city of Manbij on December 9 and could be preparing for an attack on the key city of Ayn al-Arab (or Kobani) on the northern border with Turkey. The Kurdish YPG-led SDF has proposed to withdraw its forces from the area in exchange for a complete truce. But Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, speaking alongside Syria's de facto new leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani on Sunday in Damascus, said the YPG should disband totally. Ankara views the YPG as a terrorist organization tied to the homegrown Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been seeking an autonomous Kurdish region in Turkey since 1984. Pedersen said a political solution "would require serious, serious compromises" and should be part of the "transitional phase" led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham administration. Amid Kurdish groups' fears of being targeted by Syria's new administration, Pedersen said Julani had told him in meetings in Damascus last week that they were committed to "transitional arrangements that will be inclusive of all". Armed groups, led by the HTS militants, announced on December 8 that they had fully captured the Syrian capital and confirmed reports of the fall of the Assad government. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria: UN health agency launches $56.4 million appeal to meet critical needs By Vibhu Mishra 24 December 2024 - The UN World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday launched a $56.4 million flash appeal to address urgent health needs in Syria, where years of conflict have cripped the healthcare system. In addition, the developments since late November, culminating with the overthrow of the Assad regime added new dimensions to the crisis, including population displacements as well as return of Syrian refugees from neighbouring countries. Since November 2024, over 882,000 Syrians have been displaced amid surging violence, further straining the country's fragile healthcare system. Attacks on health facilities also escalated, with 37 incidents reported in the past month, according to WHO. Over half of Syria's hospitals are now non-functional, and 141 health facilities in northern Aleppo and Idlib face imminent closure due to funding shortages. Healthcare under unprecedented strain "The health infrastructure in Syria is severely strained, more than ever," said Christina Bethke, acting WHO Representative for the country. "Our teams are currently providing care through mobile clinics, restoring immunization services and integrating mental health support into health facilities, especially for those affected by trauma. This appeal is about safeguarding health and dignity while offering Syrians hope for a safer future." Fully funded, WHO's six-month strategy aims to further strengthen trauma care, deploy ambulances, restore maternal and child health services, enhance disease surveillance, and enable timely patient referrals. The agency also aims to bolster health system coordination through its hub in Gaziantep, Turkiye, which coordinates assistance to about five million Syrians, including those in hard-to-reach areas. UNHCR highlights refugee challenges Meanwhile, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported significant challenges for displaced populations and returning refugees, particularly for vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, women and children. Those returning from neighbouring countries face severe hardships, with destroyed homes forcing them to live in tents, with extended family members or pay exorbitant rental fees. Unexploded ordnance (UXO) particularly in agricultural land or homes near former frontline areas pose significant risks. Returnees also cited the need for legal assistance, psychosocial support and school rehabilitation. In response, UNHCR partners in Aleppo, Hassakeh, Ar-Raqqa and rural Tartous have resumed protection activities, including programmes to keep children engaged, livelihood grants, relief distribution, prevention of sexual violence, and awareness sessions on UXOs and other harmful objects. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Syrian authorities say armed groups will dissolve By VOA News December 24, 2024 Syria's new authorities said Tuesday that armed groups in the country agreed to dissolve and be integrated into the Defense Ministry. A statement said the decision followed a meeting between leaders of the armed groups and Ahmad al-Sharaa, who led the rebel advance that pushed longtime leader Bashar al-Assad from power. Sharaa has said the new authorities will "absolutely not allow there to be weapons in the country outside state control." That applies to Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, he said. The question of SDF's integration in the Syrian army "should be discussed directly," SDF spokesman Farhad Shami told AFP on Tuesday, adding that doing so would strengthen "the whole of Syria." His forces, he said, would prefer "dialogue with Damascus to resolve all questions." Sharaa's forces seized control of Syria's capital December 8 after a lightning advance that saw them claim several key cities in a matter of days after many years of relative stalemate in the country's 13-year civil war. Since Assad's ouster, governments throughout the region have sent envoys to Damascus amid questions about Syria's political future and concerns about additional instability in the region. One concern is the potential resurgence of the Islamic State militant group, which seized areas of eastern Syria in 2014 and western Iraq before losing much of that territory. The U.S. military said Monday it carried out an airstrike that killed two Islamic State militants in eastern Syria's Deir el-Zour province. [changed to AP spelling] U.S. Central Command said in a statement that the militants were "moving a truckload of weapons, which were destroyed during the strike." On Tuesday, the Turkish transport minister said Turkey is seeking to strike a maritime demarcation agreement with Syria after a permanent government is formed in Syria. "Of course an authority must first be established there," Abdulkadir Uraloglu, the minister, said. "It will be on our agenda for sure, but it's hard to say that it's on today's agenda." And in Egypt, Syrian refugees and residents are facing uncertainty as new regulations put into question their right to remain in the country following the fall of the Assad government in Syria. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrians welcome new rulers' pledge of moderation but are concerned about extremists in their midst By Sirwan Kajjo December 24, 2024 With the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) consolidating power in Syria following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, many Syrians fear the influence of extremist factions within the Islamist organization. HTS, a U.S.-designated terrorist group, emerged as the de facto ruler of Syria after Assad's fall on December 8, following an 11-day rebel offensive. Formerly known as al-Nusra Front, the HTS was the main affiliate of al-Qaida in Syria until 2017, when it formally severed ties with the global terror group. Since seizing control of Damascus, HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa -- formerly known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has adopted a more moderate stance, pledging to establish a state founded on tolerance and coexistence among the country's diverse ethnic and religious groups. Despite such overtures, many Syrians remain skeptical about the new rulers' ability to rein in the more radical elements within HTS. Al-Masri, a resident of Damascus who provided only his last name, acknowledged that the new authorities have largely maintained order in the capital and elsewhere but expressed concerns that this stability could be short-lived. "We know that Hayat Tahir al-Sham is trying to change, and we welcome that," he told VOA via a messaging app. "But there are two things that people in my circle are really concerned about. One is how genuine al-Sharaa is, and the other is how much control he really has over the more radical people in his group," said al-Masri, who is a Sunni Muslim. His fears were echoed by another resident of Damascus who spoke to VOA on the condition of anonymity. "Syrians in general, including the conservative ones, are not inclined to extremism," the resident said. "If al-Jolani keeps his promises and controls his men, then Syrians will support him. But if extremists dominate, Syrians will rise against them just as they rose against Bashar al-Assad," the resident added, referring to the popular uprising against the former regime that began in 2011. Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi, an expert on Islamist groups in Syria, says one of the main tensions he sees is "between the HTS leadership under al-Jolani and the action of individual members who for years were fed propaganda" about other religions and sects. "They may collectively impute guilt to Alawites and others like Christians and engage in attacks and insults," he told VOA. On Monday, armed gunmen burned down a Christmas tree in the Christian-majority town of Suqaylabiya in Hama province in central Syria. Shortly after that, the HTS issued a statement saying the perpetrators, whom it described as foreign fighters, will be punished. While their exact numbers are unknown, fighters from several countries have joined HTS over the years, with Uighurs from China's Muslim-majority region of Xinjiang being most notable. Aaron Zelin, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said there have not been any indications of opposition within the main ranks of HTS toward al-Jolani's current moderate approach. "Even if there are people on their farther right flank that might be upset with them, it is plausible that if they then act out, the HTS and the caretaker government will arrest them," he told VOA. "I'm sure there are a lot of internal discussions and debates about how far they can go," Zelin added. "There are also the questions for some of them like 'We will wait and see what this is like until the transition is over,' and if this is just a public relations campaign, then maybe we will see some differences and changes and more reactions," Zelin added. HTS has appointed a caretaker government, composed of loyalists, to manage affairs until March 1, 2025, the new government's own deadline for initiating a transitional process. Caroline Rose, director of the Strategic Blind Spots Portfolio at the Washington-based New Lines Institute, believes "that ultimately al-Sharaa will sideline the more extremist factions within HTS, the caretaker government, and the new government post-March 1." She told VOA that this approach could particularly work if foreign governments "keep normalization, sectoral sanctions relief, and delisting [from lists of designated terrorist groups] as an opportunity and a 'carrot' to incentivize behavioral change." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Curfew declared in Damascus, several cities after violent clashes Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 December 2024 11:17 PM Syria's security forces have clashed with armed men in the western city of Tartus, leaving several people dead and injured. Syrian media, quoting Interior Ministry officials, said over a dozen members of security forces were killed and 10 others injured during clashes in Tartus on Wednesday. The clashes came after angry protests erupted in many cities across Syria, including Latakia and Homs. According to some reports, one protester was killed and several others were wounded in Homs after security forces opened fire to disperse the crowd. The protests followed a video showing an attack on an Alawite shrine in the northern part of the country. Syria's new rulers have declared a curfew in many cities, including the capital Damascus, as well as Homs and Jabaleh. They claimed the video of the shrine attack dates back to the time of Aleppo's takeover by militants. They also said unknown groups carried out the attack and its reemergence is aimed at inciting discord among Syrians. The footage showing "the storming and attack" of the shrine in Aleppo is "old and dates to the time of the liberation" of the northern Syrian city earlier this month, an interior ministry statement said. It said the attack was carried out by "unknown groups" and that "republishing" the video served to "stir up strife among the Syrian people at this sensitive stage." The attack reportedly left five shrine workers dead, while the shrine itself was set ablaze. "We are calling for those who attacked the shrine to be held to account," said Ali Daoud, a protester in Jableh. Syria's state news agency SANA said police in central Homs imposed a curfew from 6:00 pm (1500 GMT) until 8:00 am on Thursday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Erdogan threatens to eliminate Kurdish militia in Syria if they refuse to surrender weapons Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 December 2024 3:01 PM Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed Kurdish-led militant group, will "be buried" if they do not lay down their arms. In a speech addressing lawmakers from his ruling AK Party in parliament on Wednesday, Erdogan stated that Kurdish militants, based in northern Syria, have no place in the Arab country's future, more than two weeks after the governemnt of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown. "The separatist murderers will either bid farewell to their weapons, or they will be buried in Syrian lands along with their weapons," the Turkish president threatened. The SDF is an anti-Assad alliance of predominantly Kurdish militants, whose backbone is the Syrian Kurdish militants of the People's Protection Units (YPG). Ankara views the YPG as a terrorist organization and the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been fighting for an autonomous region inside Turkey since 1984. For years, the United States policy has relied on collaborating with Kurdish militants in northern Syria with a goal of maintaining some leverage over the future of the conflict. "We will eradicate the terrorist organization that is trying to weave a wall of blood between us and our Kurdish siblings," Erdogan stated. Elsewhere in his remarks, he said Turkey would soon establish a consulate in Aleppo and that Ankara anticipates increased border activity next summer as some of the millions of Syrian migrants it shelters start to return. Separately on Wednesday, Turkey's defense ministry announced that the Turkish military had killed 21 Kurdish militants in northern Syria and Iraq earlier in the day. In a statement, the ministry said that 20 militants from the PKK and YPG, who were planning an attack, were killed in northern Syria, while another militant was killed in northern Iraq. "Our operations will continue effectively and resolutely," the ministry vowed. Militants, led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, launched a surprise two-pronged attack on Syria's northwestern city of Aleppo and the countryside around Idlib on November 27. They marched southward to seize control of several major cities, including Hama, Homs, Dara'a, and Suwayda, before entering and capturing the capital Damascus early on December 8. Since the fall of Assad, clashes have intensified between US-sponsored Kurdish forces and the Turkish-backed militants of the so-called Syrian National Army (SNA), who have captured Manbij and the surrounding areas. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran FM: 'Too early' to predict Syria's future for those thinking 'victories' achieved Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 December 2024 10:08 AM Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says it is "too early" to make any predictions for Syria's future as there are a multitude of developments in the making in the Arab country following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad's government. "It is premature to make judgments about Syria's future at this stage; numerous factors will shape the country's future, the future is highly uncertain," Araghchi said. The top Iranian diplomat noted that while some parties might claim to have achieved victories, the overall situation remains unpredictable. The militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took over Syria and brought an end to Assad's 24-year reign earlier this month. Araghchi's remarks came a day after Fatemeh Mohajerani, the Iranian government spokeswoman, stressed the importance of a Syrian government based on the popular vote of its citizens, describing it as a key concern for Iran. Another critical concern, she noted, is preventing the rise and expansion of terrorism, as it significantly impacts both Syria and the entire region. During a weekly press briefing in Tehran on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei also emphasized the Islamic Republic's unwavering commitment to preserve Syria's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. He asserted that the Syrian people hold the exclusive right to decide their fate free from foreign interference. Militants, led by HTS, took control of Damascus on December 8 and declared an end to Assad's rule in a surprise offensive that was launched from their stronghold in northwestern Syria, reaching the capital in less than two weeks. The HTS militant group, supported by the US and its regional allies, has promised to form an inclusive government but the United Nations says the situation remains "fluid." Regional countries have urged Syrians to work to avert a spiral into chaos after the HTS stormed and captured the capital Damascus. Syria's stability and future are threatened by various factors, including Israel's illegal occupation of the Syrian territory, driven by its expansionist policies, and the persistent presence of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which are backed by the US, in the country's northeast. Additional challenges stem from the perpetration of human rights violations against minority groups by HTS militants, as well as escalating humanitarian crises. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kurdish-led SDF beats back Turkish militants in Syria, says will 'thwart' Ankara's ambitions Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 December 2024 8:18 AM The so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-sponsored, Kurdish-led militant group, have engaged in clashes with the Turkish-backed militants of the so-called Syrian National Army (SNA), in northern Syria to regain control over areas close to the border with Turkey. The SDF spokesperson Farhad al-Shami said the group's forces pushed back the Ankara-sponsored militants from areas near the Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates, a key source of hydroelectric power located 90 kilometers (56 miles) east of Aleppo. He said the SDF also destroyed a tank belonging to SNA militants southeast of the key city of Manbij. According to the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, SDF forces have reclaimed four villages in the areas near the strategic dam following overnight fighting. Additionally, Ruken Jamal, spokesperson of the Women's Protection Unit under the SDF, stated that their fighters are just over 11 kilometers (seven miles) from the center of Manbij in their counter-offensive. She asserted that Ankara is trying to weaken Kurdish forces' influence in negotiations over Syria's political future through the SNA. "Syria is now in a new phase, and discussions are underway about the future of the country," Jamal said. "Turkey is trying, through its attacks, to distract us with battles and exclude us from the negotiations in Damascus." The head of SDF's media center also told Sky News Arabia news television channel on Tuesday that the Kurdish-led force is prepared for any military confrontation, particularly against Turkish-backed militants. "Turkey seeks to expand its control over Syrian lands, and the SDF stands firmly against such plans," Farhad al-Shami noted. The SDF spokesman went on to note that the SDF is open to diplomatic solutions, and is willing to join the new Syrian army, following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's government, but "the matter requires discussions." Shami clarified that the PKK operates exclusively within Turkish territory and that SDF forces are stationed away from border regions. Militants, led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, launched a surprise two-pronged attack on Syria's northwestern city of Aleppo and the countryside around Idlib on November 27. They marched southward to seize control of several major cities, including Hama, Homs, Dara'a, and Suwayda, before entering and capturing the capital Damascus early on December 8. Since the fall of Assad's rule earlier this month, clashes have intensified between US-sponsored Kurdish forces and Turkish-backed SNA militants, who have captured Manbij and the areas surrounding it. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The deadly tiger snake found hidden in the family home had to be safely removed by an expert. An Aussie family had quite a shocking end to their Christmas Day celebrations. They spotted something small and "deadly" moving under their child's bouncer. Luckily reptile catcher Mark Pelley answered the call just after 11.30 pm on Wednesday and rushed to the South Morang home, situated in northeast Melbourne, to help. "The first thing I lifted was the child's baby bouncer, and I found the tiger snake underneath it," he told Yahoo News Australia. "The snake could have been there for a lot longer, and it could have been crawling in around the baby's toys, but they just didn't notice it. It was a real Christmas Day surprise," he laughed. Four deaths from tiger snake bites have been recorded in Australia. Source: Facebook/TheSnakeHunter Tiger snakes are the 'fifth most venomous snakes' in the world The species of snake look unassuming as they are often small, but their venom packs a serious punch. ADVERTISEMENT "This eastern tiger snake is the fifth most venomous snake in the world and even though it's small it's still incredibly deadly. They hide in the most unique places inside the home," Mark said. Tiger snakes have a fierce reputation as they are known to "hold their ground", snake catcher Scott Smith told Yahoo News last week. However, many Aussies will never encounter one due to the snake's impressive ability to hide and adapt to some of the most inhospitable environments in Australia. "The cocktail of venom is lethal," Smith explained after finding one in among clothes in a Tasmanian resident's wardrobe. "[They] can be extremely deadly but like most snakes, they want to just be left alone to do their thing." Tiger snakes account for an estimated 17 per cent of snake bites in the country but only four official deaths have been recorded. Watch the moment unfold: Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Israeli occupation forces expand aggression in SW Syria, seize local weapons Iran Press TV Wednesday, 25 December 2024 7:09 AM The Israeli military has expanded its invasion of the province of Quneitra in southwestern Syria, forcing the locals there to hand over their weapons to the regime's occupation forces. Lebanon's al-Mayadeen television network said Israeli forces had fanned out across the provincial capital's countryside. The troops then ordered the locals and notable figures in the areas to surrender their arms. Local sources recently were quoted as saying that the Israeli military had transferred more military hardware from Syria's Tel Aviv-occupied Golan Heights to the province that is situated inside the occupied region. According to locals, Israeli troops had invaded the town of Jubata al-Khashab in the province. They said Israeli troops had occupied Quneitra's provincial government offices, turning them into a military site and positioning themselves on the facilities' rooftop. Meanwhile, Israeli helicopter gunships and spy drones are reportedly flying across the province's airspace as well as the Hawz Yarmouk District in the western part of the neighboring province of Dara'a. Recently, it was reported that the Israeli military had occupied as much as 95 percent of Quneitra. The developments take place amid markedly intensified Israeli aggression against Syria's civilian and military infrastructures in the aftermath of the Arab country's takeover by Western and Israeli-backed militants. The regime had also ramped up its attacks against Syria in the run-up to the takeover in an apparent attempt at paving the way for the fall of the country's government and the country's invasion by the militants. This is while numerous regional and international states and organizations have emphasized preserving the country's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian Islamist Rulers Shun The Taliban Governance Model By Abubakar Siddique December 25, 2024 Afghanistan's Taliban rulers were quick to congratulate fellow Islamists from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on toppling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government. As the HTS fighters seized the capital, Damascus, on December 8, the Taliban said it hoped that the group would "lay the foundations of a sovereign and service-oriented Islamic government." But over two weeks on, the HTS, a U.S. and EU-designated terrorist organization, appears keen on distinguishing itself from the way the Taliban has governed Afghanistan. Its leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, previously known by the nom de guerre Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, has publicly pledged to adopt moderate policies compared to the Taliban's extremist approach to women's rights, national reconciliation, and relations with the international community. "There are many differences between Syria and the Taliban," Sharaa told the BBC last week. "The way we govern is different." Women Sharaa said that his government would allow women to get an education. He said that in the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib, ruled by the HTS for the past eight years, more than 60 percent of university students were women. He also said Christian women would not be forced to observe the veil. The Taliban banned teenage girls from grade 7 and above one month after seizing the capital, Kabul, in August 2021. It also prohibited women from university and professional education in December 2022. In 1996, the Taliban took over Afghanistan and established a government that strictly adhered to Islamic law. A U.S.-led coalition overthrew them in 2001, but they reorganized as an insurgent force and eventually reclaimed power in 2021 after U.S. and NATO forces left. Senior Taliban leaders have adopted a "fringe opinion" of Islamic Shari'a law to enforce the ban, which is opposed internationally and by many inside Afghanistan. The HTS, however, is not in favor of full freedom for women and is considering various restrictions and limitations. "Regarding women assuming judicial authority, this is a subject for researchers and study by experts," said Obaida Arnaout, a spokesman for the HTS-led interim administration. Arnaout has similar views about women's work in the parliament and government. His comments provoked protests from women's rights activists who warned the Islamist group against imposing religious rule. 'Unity And Reconciliation' The HTS's main political message is unity and reconciliation among Syria's diverse ethnic, religious, and sectarian groups, some of whom have been fighting a bitter civil war since 2011. The Islamist HTS has appointed a transition government of figures from among its leaders. And it has largely shifted its administration from its northwestern Idlib stronghold to serve as the country's interim government until March. But leader Sharaa has pledged national reconciliation and inclusive government institutions. "Syria is a country for all, and we can coexist together," he told journalists on December 22. The HTS leader even invited a senior former Ba'athist leader and ex-vice president, Farouk al-Sharaa to participate in a future National Dialogue Conference in the capital. He has repeatedly pledged to work toward a constitution acceptable to all. This is unlike the Taliban, which, since 2021, has monopolized power. Its theocratic government, led by Taliban clerics, has shunned Afghans who are not Taliban and refrained from writing a constitution. Despite appointing a caretaker government in September 2021, there is no indication that the Taliban will ever allow the formation of an inclusive national government acceptable to all Afghans. Foreign Relations The international community is closely watching Syria's transition and how the HTS responds to fellow Syrians' aspirations. Sharaa has reportedly impressed diplomats and senior international officials who met with him in Damascus to discuss future governance, counterterrorism, and foreign policies. The initiative seems to be paying off. On December 20, Washington lifted a $10 million bounty on Sharaa. And the Syrian leader is pushing for a quick end to international sanctions on his country. "Sanctions must be lifted quickly in order for us to take our country forward," he told journalists alongside the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on December 22. In Afghanistan, most Taliban leaders remain on UN and U.S. sanctions lists. Some leaders have faced new travel bans and sanctions for imposing the education ban on women and other human rights violations. As HTS continues to entrench power in Syria, Western officials and diplomats are cautious about taking the militant group at its word. "The Taliban projected a more moderate face, or at least tried to, in taking over Afghanistan, and then its true colors came out," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at the Council on Foreign Relations think tank in New York on December 18. "The result is it remains terribly isolated around the world." Blinken advised "the emerging group in Syria" to focus on "moving the country forward" to avoid international isolation. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/syrian-islamist-government- women-taliban-sharaa-hts/33250490.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Constitutional Court in a bind after justice nominees rejected ROC Central News Agency 12/24/2024 03:55 PM Taipei, Dec. 24 (CNA) All seven justice nominees selected by President Lai Ching-te () to fill the vacancies on Taiwan's Constitutional Court were rejected by lawmakers on Tuesday, an expected outcome that may immobilize the court in the near future. None of the seven nominees, including law professor Chang Wen-chen () and former lawmaker Yao Li-ming () -- who were also tapped as the head and deputy head of the Judicial Yuan -- received the necessary 57 votes in the 113-seat Legislature for approval. In particular, 52 lawmakers from the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the two independents ideologically aligned with the party voted against all the nominees picked by Lai at the end of August. The outcome reflected the KMT's pledges to reject candidates that they felt were partisan nominees, especially Yao, who served as the director of Lai's presidential campaign headquarters in the 2024 presidential election. It was also in line with the party's fierce anti-abolition campaign launched following the Constitutional Court's death penalty ruling in September, which it denounced as effectively ending the statutory punishment in Taiwan in all but name. The eight lawmakers with the smaller Taiwan People's Party (TPP), which has collaborated with the KMT on many legislative proposals, joined with the KMT to vote down six of the seven nominees. They supported Liu Ching-yi (), who currently teaches at National Taiwan University, but ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers defied the president on Liu's nomination and joined with the KMT in rejecting her because of negative comments she has made about the ruling party and some of its leaders. Liu, who holds a Ph.D. in law from the University of Chicago, claimed for example that both former President Tsai Ing-wen and former Premier Su Tseng-chang () were corrupt, DPP party caucus whip Ker Chien-ming () said at a news conference later Tuesday. DPP lawmakers supported the six other nominees, but their 51 votes were not enough to get any of them confirmed. With amendments requiring a minimum of 10 justices to hear a case pushed through by opposition party lawmakers in the Legislature last week, Tuesday's votes will in effect immobilize the current eight-member Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court normally has 15 justices, but currently only has eight, as the eight-year terms of seven of its justices ended on Oct. 31. This marks the lowest number of justices since the introduction of judicial interpretation in Taiwan in 1947 and the first time that the Judicial Yuan, which overseas the Constitutional Court, is without a president and vice president. Speaking with local reporters on Tuesday, Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo () said the office respected the Legislature's voting results and would proceed with a renomination process, though she did not specify a timeline. The Legislature's review of judicial appointments has drawn criticism from civil society groups, including the Judicial Reform Foundation. In a statement last week, they bashed some lawmakers -- most of whom are from the KMT -- for determining the suitability of the nominees solely based on their stance on the death penalty. They noted that given the Constitutional Court's recent ruling, it was "unlikely" that the new justices would address the same issue in their eight-year terms. (By Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2024/12/24 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date 6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Monday to Tuesday, Dec. 23-24 2.PLA activities 8 PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 6 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan seeks tenders to upgrade C-130 aircraft ROC Central News Agency 12/25/2024 04:25 PM Taipei, Dec. 25 (CNA) Taiwan's military on Wednesday issued a public notice to invite tenders to upgrade its existing C-130 military transport aircraft, as part of a six-year project to overhaul its aging C-130 fleet. A public notice posted on the Government e-Procurement System shows that the R.O.C. Defense Mission to the U.S.A. is seeking tenders to purchase C-130 aircraft propellers for an estimated NT$126 million (US$3.85 million). The tender that will be awarded the contract will be announced on Jan. 8, 2025 and the contract is scheduled to be run until December 2025, according to information on Taiwan's Government e-Procurement System. CNA has learned that the public notice means that the military has officially started a planned overhaul of the Air Force's existing 20 C-130s to enhance its collision avoidance and sea rescue capabilities among other systems. The upgrade program will take place from 2025 to 2030. An unnamed military source confirmed in June that the main focus of the project will be on upgrading the warplanes so they have integrated cockpits and improved sea rescue capabilities. In addition, C-130 simulators will be purchased and aging systems will be upgraded to ensure each plane has an updated GPS and improved position report capabilities and collision avoidance systems, the source said. The estimated budget for the six-year project could surpass NT$10 billion, the source added. Taiwan's Air Force first bought 20 C-130Hs and another C-130HE, a modified electronic warfare aircraft, from the United States in the early 1980s. The first batch of 12 C-130Hs entered into service in Taiwan in 1986. It lost one of its 20 C-130Hs, serial number 1310, in a 1997 crash at Taipei Songshan Airport. The Air Force C-130 fleet currently has a total of 20 such models that serve as the main transporter aircraft for the nation's armed forces. C-130Hs have four Allison T56-A-15 turboprops with 4,591 prop shaft horsepower designed to take off and land on short runways. This means they can land on the 1,150-meter airstrip at Taiping Island, a Taiwan-controlled island known internationally as Itu Aba, in the disputed South China Sea. (By Matt Yu and Joseph Yeh) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Macao's achievements demonstrate robust vitality of 'one country, two systems'; we will actively explore Two Systems solution to Taiwan question: mainland spokesperson Global Times By Global Times Published: Dec 25, 2024 12:25 PM Since Macao's return to the motherland, its remarkable achievements have demonstrated to the world that "one country, two systems" possesses significant institutional advantages and robust vitality, said Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on Wednesday. He noted that efforts will continue to unite the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots and actively explore a Two Systems solution to the Taiwan question, enriching the practice of peaceful reunification. Chen made the remarks in response to inquiry that this year marks the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland. Since its return, principles of "one country, two systems," "Macao people governing Macao" and a high degree of autonomy have been fully guaranteed and demonstrated. Many insightful individuals from both sides of the Taiwan Straits, as well as from Hong Kong and Macao, have expressed that the practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong and Macao has achieved internationally recognized accomplishment, proving that "one country, two systems" has strong vitality and serving as a good example for Taiwan island. What's his comment on this? "One country, two systems" has been proved to be a good system for maintaining long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao, a good system for serving the construction of a strong nation and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and a good system for achieving peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation under different social systems, said Chen. In the past 25 years, Macao's key economic indicators have made significant strides, ranking among the top in the world, and the well-being of its people has greatly improved. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased sevenfold, making it one of the wealthiest cities in Asia. The visitor trips to Macao have grown from 7 million in 1999 to 32.54 million. The per capita GDP exceeds 559,000 patacas ($69,822), and the average life expectancy of residents is 83.1 years, both rank among the highest in the world, Chen said. These fully demonstrate that "one country, two systems" is entirely feasible, practical, and supported by the people, affirming that the motherland is reliable, and there are great benefits because of the return, said Chen. We will continue to unite the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots and actively explore a Two Systems solution to the Taiwan question, enriching the practice of peaceful reunification. The specific form of "one country, two systems" for Taiwan will fully take into account the realities of Taiwan, fully incorporate the opinions and suggestions of all sectors on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, and fully consider the interests and feelings of people in Taiwan, said Chen. Chen expressed confidence that "one country, two systems" will gain renewed recognition among the broad masses of Taiwan compatriots. In the process of both sides of the Taiwan Straits working together toward peaceful reunification, the scope and connotation of the "two systems" plan for Taiwan will be fully demonstrated, he noted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan Affairs Office vows no tolerance on external interference, NPC Foreign Affairs Committee expresses strong opposition over US NDAA Global Times By Liu Xuanzun Published: Dec 25, 2024 11:40 AM The State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) on Wednesday joined ranks to slam the US' signing into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 that contains negative content related to China, following the Chinese Foreign Ministry's serious protests on Tuesday. Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a regular press conference on Wednesday that Taiwan is China's Taiwan, and that the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affairs that will not tolerate any external interference. Chen stated that the US side insisted on inserting negative content related to Taiwan into the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2025 in an attempt to further arm Taiwan and add fuel to the fire in the Taiwan Straits, which grossly interferes in China's internal affairs, seriously violates the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques, sends a seriously wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and causes serious damage to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits. We express our strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to this, he noted. We urge the US to earnestly abide by the solemn political commitments it made to China on the Taiwan question, to reflect its statement of not supporting "Taiwan independence" in concrete actions, and to immediately stop arming Taiwan. We warn the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities that no matter how they collude with external forces or buy more US weapons, they cannot stop the historical trend of China's reunification. If they dare to take risks, they will surely bring about their own destruction, the spokesperson said. Xu Dong, spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Committee of the NPC, also responded to the US signing the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2025 on Wednesday. He said that the negative provisions related to China in this Act continue to hype the "China threat," incite military support for the island of Taiwan, suppress China's technological and economic development, restrict China-US economic and trade exchanges as well as cultural interactions, and grossly interfere in China's internal affairs, undermining China's sovereignty, security and development interests. China expresses strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to this, he emphasized. It is inevitable that China and the US, two major countries, have some differences and disagreements, but they should not undermine each other's core interests, still less engage in conflict and confrontation. Issues such as the Taiwan question, democracy and human rights, governance systems, and development rights are red lines for China that cannot be challenged. We strongly urge the US to abandon Cold War mentality and ideological biases, refrain from implementing the negative provisions related to China, and avoid making further mistakes on issues concerning China's sovereignty and core interests, Xu said. Chinese military expert Song Zhongping told the Global Times that US military spending is about to reach $900 billion annually, and it is still seeking more by hyping the "China military threat" to build its own global hegemony. This is by no means conducive to peace and stability in the region and the world. The NDAA incites an arms race and risks military conflict, and this in return could harm the US' own national security. The US should better focus on domestic security rather than hegemony, and save the military expenditure and use the money to improve livelihoods, Song said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's propaganda office taps Taiwanese god of cities as ally Cheng Huang, god of cities, is the latest deity to be co-opted in the cause of 'unification.' By Huang Chun-mei for RFA Mandarin 2024.12.25 -- The Chinese Communist Party's United Front Work Department is counting on a new ally in the fight to persuade Taiwan's 23 million people to give up their democratic way of life to be ruled by Beijing -- Cheng Huang, the god of cities. Officials in the southeastern province of Fujian, just across the Taiwan Strait from self-ruled Taiwan, invited hundreds of Taoists, temple representatives, scholars and experts to a lavish cultural exchange event last month, according to the provincial government's official website. The event included seminars on Cheng Huang temples across Fujian as well as beliefs around the god in Taiwan, particularly in smaller towns on the island, the Nov. 14 report said. Cheng Huang isn't the first supernatural being to be enlisted by the Chinese Communist Party in pursuit of its political goals, in this case, to control Taiwan, whether by soft power and propaganda or by military force if necessary. China has already tried to co-opt the sea goddess Matsu, widely revered in Taiwan, as part of a United Front operation targeting millions of voters. And it has also encouraged the worship of the controversial Tibetan dharma protector Shugden, a move at loggerheads with the Tibetan Buddhist Gelugpa sect of the exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. The United Front is a shadowy government agency in charge of seeking Chinese influence outside the country through individuals and often innocuous-sounding organizations. The Chinese Communist Party embraces atheism and exercises tight controls over any form of religious practice among its citizens, requiring them to join government-backed governing bodies and to display the Chinese flag, along with other demonstrations of loyalty to Beijing. But apparently it isn't opposed to using religion to further its political objectives. Religious cross-straits links Cheng Huang emerged in Chinese folk belief as a spirit protector of city walls and moats, and later diversified into a more complex deity with his own following and underworld bureaucracy mirroring structures found in the land of the living. "Cheng Huang culture is one of the important links connecting compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait," the report quoted Cheng Ming-hui of Taiwan's Wuji Sanching Temple as saying. "I hope we can to hold more such activities in the future to further enhance the understanding and friendship between believers on both sides of the Taiwan Strait," Cheng said. Taiwan has never been ruled by Beijing and is formally governed by the Republic of China government, formed after the 1911 fall of the Qing Dynasty under Sun Yat-sen, that later fled to Taipei after losing the civil war in 1949 to Mao Zedong's communists on the mainland. While China insists on eventual "unification" with Taiwan, by armed invasion if necessary, the majority of Taiwan's 23 million people have no wish to give up their democratic way of life to submit to Chinese rule. Ho Cheng-Hui, who heads Taiwanese civil defense organization the Kuma Academy, said China likes to cash in politically on religious devotion of any kind, citing its involvement in the cult of Matsu as an example. "They are catering to the customs of the Taiwanese people, but with other motives behind it," Ho said. "They call it religious exchange, but actually it's a United Front operation -- scholars have defined it as the warfare of influence in recent years." "Some Taiwanese take part in these so-called exchanges because of their religious feeling, or sense of the historical origins [of their beliefs]," he said. "But that's not what's happening here." He called on religious believers in Taiwan to become more aware of China's motives, "so as not to be used" by Beijing. 'Living chess pieces' Wu Se-Chih, a researcher at Taiwan's Cross-Straits Policy Association, agreed. "There is also a certain degree of United Front motivation," he said. "China will always try to leverage any United Front gains from the people of Taiwan." Wu said the "deep connection between folk beliefs and local politics" in Taiwan also offers a channel for funds to flow into -- and influence -- the island's messily democratic political life. The Chinese government has acquired a number of local temples in Taiwan in recent years, which he described as "living chess pieces" in Beijing's hands, to boost its influence in Taiwanese politics at a local level. "These interest groups haven't been subjected to enough supervision," Wu said. "That's the main reason the Chinese Communist Party targets local temples." And there are also personal risks involved for any religious believers traveling to China, according to Wu, who cited the recent detention of three elderly Taiwanese members of the I-Kuan Tao religion in Zhongshan city. "Sometimes the red lines aren't very clear ... so people need to think twice and be vigilant, which is the best way to protect themselves," Wu said. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content December not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2024/12/25 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date 6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Tuesday to Wednesday, Dec. 24-25 2.PLA activities 3 PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 of the aircraft entered Taiwan's eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities. 1131225_Diagram of PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mainland vows support for Taiwan enterprises in market expansion People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:34, December 26, 2024 BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said on Wednesday that it will work with relevant authorities to support Taiwan businesspeople and enterprises in expanding their markets on the mainland. Spokesperson Chen Binhua made the remarks in response to a media query about the mainland's supportive measures for Taiwan enterprises, noting that the mainland will facilitate cooperation in innovation and the integration of industrial and supply chains between enterprises across the Taiwan Strait. The mainland encourages Taiwan businesses to engage in emerging industries such as industrial internet, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things, and will support their efforts in advancing new quality productive forces, Chen said. The spokesperson added that the Supreme People's Court had recently released several typical cases concerning the protection of Taiwan compatriots' legal interests on the mainland, which underscores the mainland's judicial efforts to boost their confidence in investing and starting businesses in the market. He reiterated the mainland's support for enhancing connectivity between Fujian Province and Taiwan, noting that Fujian will further promote infrastructure construction to set up logistics channels linking Taiwan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. China's NEVC, Yutong sign agreement for new energy technology innovation On December 24, the National New Energy Vehicle Technology Innovation Center (NEVC) and Yutong Bus Co., Ltd. (Yutong Bus), a Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturer, signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Beijing, according to a post on NEVC's WeChat account. The duo aims to deepen collaboration in new energy technology innovation. Under the agreement, both parties will focus on technical research, design, development, testing, and verification of products related to new electronic and electrical architecture. They will also work on automotive-grade chip testing services, vehicle testing services, cloud-based digital simulation applications, and joint participation in government research projects. Photo credit: NEVC BYD Ocean Series introduces limited-time year-end incentives by Jan. 2025 BYD Ocean Series recently launched a limited-time offer, providing complimentary vehicle insurance valued at up to 5,000 yuan for customers purchasing models like the Seal 07 DM-i and the BYD Destroyer 05 Honor edition, until January 26, 2025. FAW Bestune puts B70 Black Knight Edition onto market, starting at 120,900 yuan On December 24, FAW Group's wholly-owned passenger vehicle band Bestune put its B70 Black Knight Edition onto the market. The new model is available in two variants, priced between 120,900 yuan and 123,800 yuan. China's SinoHytec launches all-new 300kW fuel cell engine On December 25, SinoHytec, a Chinese company engaging in R&D and industrialization of fuel cell engine systems, unveiled its latest-generation fuel cell engine, the M30+, according to a post on its WeChat account. Huawei so far deploys over 500 own-brand supercharging stations in China As of December 24, 2024, Huawei has deployed over 500 own-brand supercharging stations, according to a post on the WeChat account of HIMA, Huawei's smart car alliance. GAC Energy releases annual target for charging network expansion in 2025 Recently, GAC Energy unveiled its "Double Ten-Thousand Charging Piles Plan," according to a post on its WeChat account. This initiative is set to add 10,000 DC charging terminals and 10,000 AC charging terminals in 2025, aiming to position the company as the leading energy operator among automakers in terms of cumulative DC and overall charging terminals by the end of 2025. GAC AION's Rapow Technology sees 100,000th-unit electric drive assembly roll off production line On December 24, Rapow Technology Co., Ltd. (Rapow Technology) celebrated the rollout of its 100,000th-unit electric drive assembly at its intelligent ecological electric drive factory, according to a post on Rapow Technology's WeChat account. DeepWay secures 750 million yuan in Series B financing On December 26, new energy intelligent heavy-duty truck developer DeepWay announced the completion of its Series B financing, which raised a total of 750 million yuan. Huawei co-delivers 5,000-meter plateau unmanned mining project with partners On December 25, Huawei announced via WeChat the successful delivery of the worlds first 5,000-meter-high plateau autonomous mining project at Xizang's Yulong Copper Mine. Developed in collaboration with West Mining and China Railway 19th Bureau, the project demonstrates the adaptability and feasibility of autonomous driving technology in extreme environments. WeRide launches autonomous minibus service on Guangzhou's BRT system Autonomous driving technology company WeRide, in collaboration with Guangzhou Bus Group, commenced commercial operation of an autonomous minibus (Robobus) route on the Tianhe section of Guangzhou's BRT system. Mainland lauds voices within Taiwan against DPP's "Taiwan independence" education policy People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:33, December 26, 2024 BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson has lauded the people with vision in the Taiwan region for their strong opposition to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' "Taiwan independence" education "reforms." Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks at a press conference on Wednesday in response to an inquiry regarding the recent criticism from individuals in Taiwan's education circles on the education policy, which they said attempted to sever the ties across the Taiwan Strait and undermine the development of cross-Strait relations. Chen called such criticism an act of justice and responsible for the Taiwan youth and said the education "reforms" are poisonous and could only leave roots of trouble for tensions and conflicts in the Strait. By such so-called "reforms" and putting forward a "Taiwan independence" syllabus, the DPP authorities flagrantly distorted Chinese history and tried to poison Taiwan's younger generation and deprive them of the legitimate right to learn Chinese culture and the history of the Chinese nation, the spokesperson said. "Such acts were only for harming the kinship between compatriots on both sides of the Strait and inciting cross-Strait hostility, as well as promoting the DPP authorities' 'Taiwan independence' separatist claims," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mainland urges Taiwan's DPP not to obstruct cross-Strait tourism People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:32, December 26, 2024 BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday urged Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities to create favorable conditions for the normalization of cross-Strait tourism, rather than erecting obstacles. The mainland is pleased to see its residents, including those from Shanghai, resume travel to Taiwan as soon as possible, said Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, at a press conference when asked about Shanghai's announcement at the 2024 Shanghai-Taipei City Forum regarding group tours for Shanghai residents to Taiwan. Stressing that policies by the DPP authorities remain the root cause of the obstacles to cross-Strait tourism, Chen said they should remove the various barriers they have imposed on cross-Strait exchange and cooperation as soon as possible. The DPP authorities lifted a ban on group tours to the mainland in March but reversed the decision in June. Meanwhile, they have still maintained a Level-Orange alert for travels to the mainland. The DPP authorities should address the concerns of the tourism industry and people on the island and take concrete measures to facilitate travel by Taiwan residents to the mainland, Chen said. Regarding cross-Strait flights during the winter vacation and the Spring Festival, Chen said that mainland authorities have made relevant plans and instructed mainland airlines and airports to provide better and more convenient services for travelers. The mainland authorities will actively respond to the needs of cross-Strait travelers, especially Taiwan compatriots who want to return to Taiwan for family reunions or visit relatives on the mainland, and will support airlines in increasing cross-Strait flights, he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address More than 3,000 North Koreans killed, wounded in Russia's Kursk: Zelenskyy South Korea says the North is preparing to send more troops to help Russia. By Taejun Kang for RFA 2024.12.23 TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said more than 3,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded in Russia's Kursk region, while South Korea said the North appeared to be preparing to send more troops and military equipment to Russia. American, South Korean and Ukrainian authorities have said there are up to 12,000 North Korean soldiers inside Russia, deployed there primarily to help Russia push Ukrainian forces out of positions taken in Kursk. "According to preliminary data, the number of killed and wounded North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region already exceeds 3,000 people," said Zelenskyy on his Telegram channel on Monday, following a briefing by Kyiv's top commander, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, on the battle in Kursk. Zelenskyy's estimate of North Korean losses is higher than that of South Korea, where authorities said on Monday at least 1,100 North Korean troops had been killed or wounded. The Ukrainian president warned that North Korea could send more personnel and equipment for Russia's army and he criticized world leaders for doing "almost nothing" to counteract Russia's military cooperation with the North. "There are risks of sending additional soldiers and military equipment to the Russian army from North Korea," Zelenskyy added, vowing "tangible responses" to any such move. South Korea's military also said on Monday that it has detected signs of North Korea preparing to send more troops and weapons, including so-called suicide drones, or loitering munitions, to Russia. "A comprehensive assessment of multiple intelligence shows that North Korea is preparing to rotate or increase the deployment of troops [in Russia], while currently supplying 240 millimeter rocket launchers and 170 mm self-propelled artillery," the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or JCS, said. "There are also some signs of [the North] moving to manufacture and supply suicide drones, first unveiled during Kim Jong Un's on-site inspection in November," the JCS added. Kim observed an on-site test of various types of suicide attack drones, calling for the full-scale production of the weapons that are increasingly becoming important in modern warfare due to their cost effectiveness. On Sunday, Ukraine's Special Operations Forces, or SSO, posted photos of what it said were North Korean troops killed in Russia's western Kursk region, while uploading purportedly fabricated Russian military identity cards. "Russia is trying to hide the presence of military personnel from North Korea by issuing them with fake documents," said the SSO on its Telegram channel. The SSO's report came after Zelenskyy said last week that Russian forces were burning the faces of North Korean soldiers killed in assaults on Ukrainian positions to conceal their identities and keep secret their deployment to help Russia in its war, posting a video as evidence. Neither President Vladimir Putin nor North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has confirmed the North's troop deployment to Russia. But reports indicate that ties between two countries are progressing swiftly. North Korea has also been suspected of sending weapons to Russia to support its invasion of Ukraine. South Korea said in October that the North had sent about 7,000 containers of weapons over the previous two months, bringing the total number of containers to 20,000. On Monday, Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said that he thought it was likely North Korean troops would participate in Russia's Red Square parade next year. During a visit to Pyongyang last month, Russia's Defense Minister Andrei Belousov invited the North Korean military to attend the parade that marks the defeat of Germany at the end of World War II in 1945.. Edited by Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content December not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Attack On Kryviy Rih Kills 1 Amid Intense Clashes And Russian Push Toward Pokrovsk By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service December 24, 2024 One person was killed and 11 were wounded by a ballistic missile strike on an apartment block in the Ukrainian city of Kryviy Rih, local officials said on December 24 as clashes were reported along much of the front line in eastern Ukraine amid gains by Russian forces and speculation over the Kremlin's strategy. Ukrainian officials condemned the attack on the building in Kryviy Rih, calling it a direct hit on a four-story residential block with 32 apartments. Dnipropetrovsk Governor Serhiy Lysak said 11 people had been wounded and seven of them had been hospitalized. He described three of the wounded as two women, ages 69 and 72, and a 78-year-old man, and said all were in moderate condition. He said later that one man who had been pulled from the rubble could not be revived despite doctors doing everything possible to resuscitate him. Lysak added that there may still be people buried in the rubble. Ukraine's human rights ombudsman reacted angrily, noting that the strike occurred on Christmas Eve. "While other countries of the world are celebrating Christmas, Ukrainians are continuing to suffer from endless Russian attacks," Dmytro Lubinets said on Telegram. Kryviy Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has regularly been the target of Russian missile attacks throughout the war. Russia says it does not deliberately target civilians despite widespread evidence to the contrary and thousands of deaths among the civilian population. Ukraine's General Staff of the Armed Forces said earlier on December 24 that by mid-morning some 235 clashes had been recorded at the front since the start of the previous day, with intense fighting in the direction of Kharkhiv, Donetsk, and Kupyansk. It added that Russia lost over 1,600 soldiers and 30 armored vehicles during the period, though the claim could not be independently verified. Moscow rarely comments on its losses in the war. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in a report on December 24 that Russia's priorities in the current fighting remain unclear as troops make incremental advances south and southwest of the key city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. "It remains unclear if Russian forces will be able to exploit these gains to envelop the town or if they intend to advance to the administrative boundary of Donetsk region," the ISW said. Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that Moscow is nearing its primary goal in the war, though he didn't elaborate. Ever since Ukraine's counteroffensive to drive out invading Russian forces culminated with little success in October 2023, Russian troops have slowly pushed westward, capturing the Donetsk city of Avdiyivka and then the town of Vuhledar. Russia currently controls about 60 percent of Donetsk. Russian troops reportedly are just a few kilometers from the edge of Pokrovsk and could be on the verge of taking it. Pokrovsk is strategically significant because it serves as a major transportation hub, is close to the front lines, and serves as a supply hub for military operations in the Donbas region. Fighting between Russia and Ukraine has ratcheted up in recent weeks, with Moscow launching waves of drones and missiles across Ukrainian territory, mainly aimed at civilian and energy infrastructure. Kyiv has countered with attacks on Russian oil and energy targets just inside Russian territory and over the weekend struck high-rise buildings in Kazan, the capital of Russia's oil-rich republic of Tatarstan. A delegation from Kazan on December 24 traveled to Belgorod to study best practices in organizing civil defenses during drone attacks, according to Kazan media citing a statement by city's mayor, Ilsur Metshin. Metshin said that Kazan must establish a clear plan so that residents know how to respond in emergencies and where to find shelters. "Everyone should have this in mind. We will bring the best practice in the country by the end of the week," the mayor said. He said he understands that in Belgorod all residents can evacuate to shelters within minutes. Last week Putin dangled the prospect of Russian concessions, saying more than once during his annual question-and-answer conference that Moscow was ready for a compromise. But he attached numerous conditions to the idea of compromise, suggesting Moscow's goal of subjugating Ukraine and winning major security guarantees from NATO and the West remain in place, as well as saying he does not consider Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy a legitimate leader. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump -- whose inauguration is set for January 20 -- has said he would move to end the war quickly and during his remarks at Turning Point's America Fest convention on December 22, said, "We have to end that war. That war is horrible, horrible." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/clashes-ukraine-east-debate-russia- aims/33251052.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Defence Ministry reports on repelling AFU attempt to invade Russian territory in Kursk region (24 December 2024) 24.12.2024 The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise an enemy group, which broke into the territory of Kursk region. In the course of offensive operations, units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on formations of one heavy mechanised brigade, five mechanised brigades, three air assault brigades, one marine brigade, and four territorial defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Aleksandriya, Viktorovka, Zaoleshenka, Kubatkin, Lebedevka, Leonidovo, Martynovka, Nikolayevka, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Nikolsky, Novaya Sorochina, Sverdlikovo, and Cherkasskaya Konopelka. Four counter-attacks of enemy assault detachments were repelled. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery inflicted losses on AFU manpower and hardware close to Guyevo, Kositsa, Kruglenkoye, Kurilovka, Loknya, Malaya Loknya, Makhnovka, Russkoye Porechnoye, Staraya Sorochina as well as Basovka, Belovody, and Zhuravka in Sumy region. The AFU losses were more than 200 troops, one armoured personnel carrier, one armoured fighting vehicle, one electronic warfare station, and five motor vehicles. Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 43,510 troops, 253 tanks, 194 infantry fighting vehicles, 136 armoured personnel carriers, 1,316 armoured fighting vehicles, 1,179 motor vehicles, 324 artillery guns, 42 MLRS launchers, including 11 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 13 anti-aircraft missile launchers, seven transport-loading vehicles, 80 EW stations, 13 counter-battery warfare radars, four air defence radars, 28 units of engineering and other materiel, including 13 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, seven armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle. The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress. Department for Media Affairs and Information NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Briefing by Deputy Chief of the Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops of the Russian Armed Forces Major General Aleksei Rtishchev 24.12.2024 Materials of Russian Defence Ministry's briefing on U.S. and Ukrainian biological warfare activities The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation continues to analyse the military and biological activities of the United States of America in Ukraine and elsewhere in the world. We drew you attention to the relocation of unfinished Ukrainian projects on the territory of countries of the post-Soviet space and Southeast Asia. Africa is now the zone of heightened interest. The U.S. Administration sees the region as an unlimited natural reservoir of dangerous infections' agents and a test ground for experimental medications. After analysing the acquired documents, we understood the structure of the system created by the U.S. Administration to mitigate biological risks on the territory of other countries. This system has been successfully tested in Ukraine and Georgia and now it actively works on the African continent. The efforts within the framework of this system are directed at acquiring pathogens in endemic areas and natural foci, controlling and managing the biological situation for their own benefit. One of the tasks is analysing the epidemic situations along the borders of the geopolitical rivals in the presumed deployment areas of military contingents. I would like to remind you that the deployment of the American system of biological controls goes according to a plan that was used before. Concerns are primarily raised about regular outbreaks of, for example, anthrax and tularemia in one region, and foot-and-mouth disease and plague in the another. As a rule, these concerns are pointed out during meetings of the U.S. ambassadors with the representatives of the countries' ministries of health. American counterparts note that such outbreaks undermine the development of the region's economic potential. They question the training level of leadership and specialists, when it comes to neutralising biological threats, and state the need to improve their qualifications. Against this background, it is proposed to establish a centre for disease diagnostics and testing of medical products within one or two years, which will study dangerous pathogens and mechanisms of their mutations, and develop and test modern vaccines. It is also planned to involve local specialists in the research projects of the DoD Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) at the same time. It is proposed, that the U.S. are to prepare a three-month training programme for the centre's employees. The integration of regional information systems into the US electronic disease surveillance system is discussed. The representatives of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) often advise their partners to accelerate that process and pay particular attention to ensuring the non-stop work of the necessary equipment and network communications. 5-10 million U.S. dollars are allocated to achieve these goals with a possible increase in funding up to 20 million dollars taking into account the implementation of the first phase of the project. The U.S. government authorities and private contracting companies, including the so-called Big Pharma enterprises are involved to organise cooperation with the local relevant ministries. The result of this selective support is the transition to American personnel training standards, transfer and generalisation of the information on the biological situation, degradation of national health care systems, imposition of suppliers of medical equipment and medications. At the same time, the participating countries involved in this system lose their national sovereignty in the sphere of biosecurity and become fully dependent from the United States. The documents at our disposal confirm that the U.S. biological warfare presence on the African continent is growing at a rapid pace. Research of the U.S. Department of Defence (DoD) actively work in the region. For example, branches of the National Naval Military Medical Center are stationed in Ghana and Djibouti, where active work is carried out in natural disease foci, isolation, and sequencing of pathogens. The U.S. Army Military Medical Center in Kenya has deployed a network of field stations to monitor the spread of infectious diseases in Equatorial Africa. In Nigeria, a joint medical research centre and a military medical laboratory of the armed forces of the republic have been established in 2024, with 10 U.S. DoD specialists permanently on staff. A new $35 million laboratory facility is being completed in Senegal. . The project involves the same Pentagon contractors as in the former Soviet Union - in Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. Among them are CH2M HILL, Black & Veatch, and Metabiota. The Pentagon uses the relevant infrastructure and potential of African countries to conduct military-biological research. The U.S. Government customers are the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), the National Security Agency, and the U.S. State Department. The main consumers of the research results are the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. At the same time, the United States does not disclose the ultimate goals of the experiments to partners, who are often unaware of the risks associated with the implementation of U.S. programmes. Washington has deliberately exploited the economic problems of African states' healthcare systems to organise research. For example, the United States has channelled some 40 million U.S. dollars to support Guinea's health system. At the same time, the U.S. Administration initiated a project in the country to study Lassa Fever, a severe infectious disease for which there are no means of prevention or treatment. Special attention to this country is due to the U.S. desire to damage Russian-Guinean economic cooperation. American-funded biological projects in Nigeria are aimed at combating HIV/AIDS. As volunteers, Nigerian nationals are participating in a clinical evaluation of antiviral drugs from the Pentagon-affiliated company Gilead. I would like to remind you that this pharmaceutical company conducted trials of its drugs on Ukrainian citizens. This year, the Pentagon started active research of highly dangerous infectious agents in Zambia. At the same time, funding was directed at improving the capacity of military medical facilities and retraining medical personnel. The United States is working with South Africa to establish a collaborative study of the monkeypox virus at the South African Institute for Vector-borne Diseases. Washington has donated 10,000 doses of a vaccine for the disease, produced by the Danish company Bavarian Nordic, which has not received final approval from the WHO and can be used only in high-risk individuals. The Pathogen Genomics Initiative is studying patterns of infection and resistance of pathogens to medical drugs. More than 20 biological sites in 18 African countries are involved in the project.More than 20 biological sites in 18 African countries are involved in the project. Funding is provided through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as contractors and philanthropic foundations that work closely with the Pentagon. It is noteworthy that bioinformatics specialists are involved in the research, whose duties include editing the genomes of the identified microorganisms, which may lead to enhanced functions of pathogens. With the African Centre for Disease Control's African Union Biosecurity and Biosafety Strategy scheduled for adoption in 2025, the U.S. has intensified consultations with countries in the region to ensure Washington-friendly provisions in the document. The Americans are particularly concerned about the work being carried out by Russia and China with the countries of the continent to expose the true content of the U.S. military-biological programmes in connection with the possible restriction of the Pentagon's activities in this area. While the stated goals are to monitor infectious disease and assist developing countries, in practice we see a buildup of U.S. biological-military capabilities that circumvent BWC commitments. There is a clear trend: pathogens that fall within the Pentagon's area of interest subsequently become pandemic, and American pharmaceutical companies become the beneficiaries. An example is infections such as yellow fever, monkeys fever, and Rift Valley fever, whose outbreak has been detected in Cairo, where the U.S. Navy biological warfare laboratory was based. We have already drawn your attention to the real customers of military-biological projects and their attempts to work under the cover of contractors. For example, the Metabiota proposal on the slide is for the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases to train infectious disease specialists in Kenya and Uganda. The document indicates that pathogens in the African continent are being studied by the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and in order to give the appearance of humanitarian interaction, the U.S. International Development Agency. I would like to remind you that Metabiota's activity has now been discontinued in Africa. According to a report by an international panel of experts involved in fighting the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, company personnel concealed the fact that Pentagon employees were involved in the work. The main purpose of this activity was the isolation of virulent strains and their subsequent smuggling. As a result, samples of the Ebola virus were smuggled by representatives of the company and sent to the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. The slide lists the organisers and participants in illicit biological-military activities within African countries. They include servicemen of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, staff from the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) regional offices, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Africa, and representatives from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. These include: Alexis Robinson is the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency Attache for South, Central and East Africa, who has been involved in training local specialists in DTRA operations in exchange for intelligence of interest to the Pentagon. Helina Meri and Mark Breda are regional directors of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Nigeria and Tanzania. They acted as organisers of the collection of biomaterial from the local population for the benefit of the U.S. military, as well as the testing of unlicensed drugs. Jane Wachira is the chief executive officer of the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute. She facilitated unrestricted access for U.S. specialists to Kenya's collection of highly dangerous pathogens. John Nikoimo is the head of the Special Operations Command in Kenya. He supervised the DTRA programme to enhance the capability of Kenya's defence forces to handle chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear substances. As a result of the analysis of the documentation received, more than 30 persons were identified, including officials of government bodies, employees of intermediary organisations and private companies. It should be noted that the information previously voiced during briefings by the Russian Defence Ministry about the U.S. military-biological activities on the African continent was heard by the foreign media and the expert community. Relevant comments were posted in the European and American media, as well as on information portals in the Middle East region. Particular attention is paid to the relocation of unfinished military-biological research from the territory of Ukraine. Thus, the Daily Telegraph noted that: '... the Pentagon is forced to relocate unfinished research within the framework of Ukrainian projects to other regions...'. A similar publication is presented on the website of the Indonesian agency Asia Today. The articles in The Diplomat and Bulawayo expressed concern about the closed operations of American military biologists in natural hotspots in a number of African states, as well as the Pentagon's plans to deploy a network of biolaboratories. A number of publications have expressed concern about the activities of the U.S. private military campaign Bancroft on the territory of the Central African Republic on behalf of DTRA. The French RFI agency linked such activity of PMCs with an attempt to protect the main coordinator of military-biological projects from public attention. The Geopolitics online edition published an article on the joint activities of DTRA and the U.S. non-profit organisation RTI International to monitor infectious diseases in Africa, which, according to the publication, is a component of the Pentagon's broader 'biological espionage' initiative. In addition, the regional media have paid close attention to the fact that clinical trials of medicines that have not been approved by the WHO have been conducted on the population of African countries. Thus, against the backdrop of Russia's progressive strengthening of its position in Africa, including in the field of biosecurity, the United States seeks to prevent the weakening of its influence in the region. I would like to recall once again Washington's non-transparent working methods and warn our African partners against cooperating with the United States in the military biological field. As practice shows, such interaction results in the loss of national sovereignty in biosafety and a worsening of the disease situation. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation will continue to analyse the incoming information and will keep you informed. Department for Media Affairs and Information NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Christmas Greetings from the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 24 December 2024 - 17:00 This is the sound of light. This is the sound of a miracle. This is the sound of life. This is the sound of Christmas. Our "Shchedryk." Our Leontovych. Our history, which carries especially profound symbolism in times of war. The great Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych spent several years living and working in the city now known as Pokrovsk. There, he taught music to children, formed a choir, and it was in that very place that he composed the second edition of "Shchedryk," which is heard in every corner of the world these days. This is how a Ukrainian gifted the world the musical spirit of Christmas. And may everyone in the world remember Ukraine when they hear it. The way we are fighting today for the main symbol of this holiday - for hope and for the triumph of life. On our land, in every city and town, including Pokrovsk. The divine music composed there and the evil that russia brought there sharply illustrate the difference between us and them. We strive to create, while for some, the meaning of life is to sow death. We seek harmony, seek justice - we want peace. All we need is to live peacefully on our own land, to see the sun, our sky, and in it - a Christmas star, not Iranian Shaheds and russian missiles. But for some, life feels "boring and lacks excitement." These words are proof of how far they are from God, from Christianity, and from true faith. And this is proof of why their bondage and darkness will lose. We know this. The world knows this. And God knows this. Evil will be defeated. Ukrainians believe this and pray for it - pray for all this evil and filth to vanish from our land forever. And Ukrainians undoubtedly deserve it. Dear nation! Tonight is a very special evening. Christmas Eve. And this is our third Christmas during wartime. Our great Ukrainian family cannot fully celebrate it the way we would like to, the way it should be celebrated. Not all of us are home, unfortunately. Sadly, not everyone has a home. And tragically, not everyone is with us. Yet, despite all the hardships brought by the enemy, they have failed to take or destroy what matters most - our hearts, the light within us, our faith in goodness and mercy, and the humanity that lives in each of us. We have not lost our values, and that is why today we honor all those who gave their lives defending us. We pray today for everyone on the frontlines - to return alive. For all those in captivity - to come back home. For all those russia has driven into occupation. For all those it has forced to leave. For all those who face hardships but have not lost Ukraine within themselves - and because of that, Ukraine will never lose them. That is why, no matter where we are today, we are definitely together. For the second time, we celebrate Christmas on the same date as one big family, one country. For the second time in modern history, Christmas unites all Ukrainians. Today we are side by side. And we will not get lost. Whether in person or in our minds, we will greet each other, call our parents, kiss our children, hug our loved ones, and remember those close to us. In person, from afar, or in our hearts - Ukrainians are together today. And as long as we do this, evil has no chance. This unity and warmth toward one another are the true spirit of Christmas - the unique atmosphere that we will preserve within ourselves and share with those around us. With everyone we love. With everyone who is so dear to us. And today, that means every Ukrainian. Merry Christmas to all of you! May the light of faith shine in our souls, may our hearts be filled with hope, and may every home be blessed with love and abundance. May the Lord protect you, your families, and our Ukraine. With His help, may all the evil that entered our home disappear, replaced by goodness and justice. May there be peace and prosperity. And may every child be healthy, delight in their gifts, smile, and - despite everything - feel the joy of this holiday. And may the most precious thing - the sparkle of happiness in children's eyes - be seen. This is what we are fighting for. This is what we are praying for. This is what we deserve. Merry Christmas, dear Ukrainians! Christ is born! Glorify Him! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President of Ukraine Had a Phone Call with the President of Angola President of Ukraine 24 December 2024 - 15:22 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with President of Angola Joao Lourenco. The Head of State thanked Joao Lourenco for supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and emphasized that unity and support from Africa are crucial for restoring a just and lasting peace. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is interested in developing bilateral relations with Angola in various areas, including food security, logistics, agricultural development, the creation of grain hubs, and humanitarian demining. Additionally, preparations are underway to appoint Ukraine's Ambassador to Angola. Joao Lourenco accepted the invitation to visit Ukraine to continue the dialogue. The leaders instructed their teams to work on the arrangements for the visit. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainian forces destroy 36 Russian drones By VOA News December 24, 2024 Ukraine's military said Tuesday it shot down 36 of the 60 drones that Russian forces deployed in overnight attacks. The intercepts took place in the Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Kyiv, Poltava, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia regions, Ukraine's air force said. Serhiy Lysak, governor of Dnipropetrovsk, said on Telegram that the drone attacks and Russian shelling damaged several homes and a power line. In Khmelnytskyi in western Ukraine, Governor Serhii Tiurin reported the Russian attack damaged several homes. Officials in the Sumy region in northeastern Ukraine said a farm building was damaged there. Russia's Defense Ministry said Tuesday its air defenses destroyed four Ukrainian aerial drones, including three over the Rostov region and one over Voronezh. Both Rostov and Voronezh are located along the Russia-Ukraine border and are frequent targets of Ukrainian drones. The governors of Rostov and Voronezh each said on Telegram there were no reports of damage or casualties as a result of the Ukrainian attacks. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korean Troops Take Pounding As Kim Reportedly Doubles Down By Todd Prince December 25, 2024 If North Korea's elite troops were expecting an easy campaign against Ukrainian forces entrenched in Russia's Kursk region, they faced a harsh reality on the ground. About 1,100 North Korean special forces have been killed or injured in Russia since entering the fray against Ukraine a few weeks ago, South Korea's National Intelligence Service reported on December 19. A general was reportedly among those killed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on December 23 put the figure even higher, at more than 3,000, or about a quarter of the North Korean special forces sent to Russia, though he couched his statement by saying the data was preliminary. RFE/RL could not confirm either of the reported numbers. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, though, doesn't seem to be fazed by the rapid losses. The authoritarian leader is reportedly doubling down in his support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, in exchange for critical supplies of oil, cash, and military technology. Zelenskiy said on December 23 that North Korea may send more troops and weapons to the front. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff seconded that forecast, saying Pyongyang is preparing to rotate or supply additional forces to Russia. North Korean military support is coming at a critical time in the war. Russia is seeking to overpower an undermanned and under-resourced Ukrainian infantry and gain territory before its own manpower and resources become constrained. Russia has lost more than 600,000 soldiers in the nearly three-year war, the Pentagon said in early October. It has burned through so much war material that it is struggling to replace its artillery and missile needs amid sweeping Western sanctions. Now nearly two-thirds of the mortars and shells Russia launches at Ukraine come from North Korea, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing Andriy Kovalenko, a Ukrainian Army officer. And every third ballistic missile was made in North Korea, Ukrainian officials said. Pyongyang is ramping up arms production to meet Russia's growing need, experts said. Trench Warfare Russian troops are now gaining ground in Ukraine's east at the fastest pace since the start of the war. Kyiv carried out a surprise incursion into the Kursk region in August, seizing a swath of Russian territory in the hope of drawing enemy forces away from eastern Ukraine. That hasn't materialized, thanks in part to the supply of North Korean troops. The arrival of the North Korean troops in Russia in October was initially seen as an act of desperation on the part of Putin, who has had to significantly bump up salaries to attract new recruits. However, The New York Times reported on December 23, citing U.S. officials, that it was North Korea who approached Russia with the offer of troops and Putin accepted. It is unclear when Kim made the offer. Putin traveled to Pyongyang to meet Kim in June. During the summit, the two leaders agreed on a strategic treaty that includes a mutual defense provision. Putin signed the treaty into law in November. The supply of troops to Russia can help Kim evade sweeping sanctions on technology and materials for military use. North Korea was hit with international sanctions after conducting its first nuclear test in 2006. Pyongyang hasn't been engaged in a hot war in decades. Thus, its miliary brass and troops - which number more than 1 million -- have no combat experience. The deployment in Russia's war with Ukraine is a way for Kim and his military to acquire some. However, Kim's troops are ill-prepared for the type of trench warfare with widespread use of drones and missiles they are facing in Kursk, experts say. Hyunseung Lee, a North Korean who spent 3 1/2 years with an artillery and reconnaissance battalion in the early 2000s before defecting, told RFE/RL last month that Kim's troops "don't really train with that equipment." He said they cannot master drones and the high-tech equipment in such a short period of time. Videos circulating on social media show Ukrainian kamikaze drones striking and killing North Korean soldiers in Kursk's snow-covered fields. Commenting on the videos in a December 19 tweet, Lee called it a "sad predictable outcome." Modern warfare technology is not the only issue leading to large-scale deaths of North Koreans, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The Washington-based research firm said North Korean soldiers were struggling to communicate and coordinate with Russian forces due to language barriers. Perhaps more importantly, North Koreans are now conducting the initial attack in open territory on Ukrainian positions, ISW said. Some military experts cynically call such fighting tactics "meat assaults" because they result in a large loss of life among the attackers. Yevhen Yerin, a spokesman for the Ukrainian military intelligence service, told the AFP news agency on December 24 that Russia's use of North Korean troops has not had a major impact on the battlefield. "It is not such a significant number of personnel," he said, adding that they use tactics that are "primitive, linked, frankly speaking, more to the times of the Second World War." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/north-korean-troops-losses- ukraine-russia-kim-putin/33252720.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Beijing (Gasgoo)- On December 26, new energy intelligent heavy-duty truck developer DeepWay announced the completion of its Series B financing, which raised a total of 750 million yuan. Photo credit: DeepWay The round was co-led by ZhongAn Capital and Pu Hua Capital, with existing investor CCB Trust increasing its investment. Additional participants included the Greater Bay Area Fund, Hefei Industrial Investment Fund, and Feixi Industrial Investment Fund, providing substantial support for DeepWay's future development. The funds will primarily be used to accelerate the R&D and mass production of DeepWay's electrification and intelligent technologies in Hefei, as well as to strengthen the company's supply chain for key components in Changxing, Zhejiang. These initiatives aim to expand DeepWay's share in the new energy heavy-duty truck market and advance its global strategic ambitions. DeepWay has pioneered technologies such as bottom-part battery swapping and electric drive axles for commercial operations. With over a year of operation, DeepWay's trucks have collectively logged more than 100 million kilometers of operation distance. Its sales network now spans across the Chinese Mainland. Supported by 110 vehicle warranty and after-sales service centers, DeepWay ensures a seamless experience for users, reinforcing its commitment to safe and reliable green mobility. Ukraine Recovers After 'Inhumane' Christmas Day Attacks; Biden Vows New Weapons 'Surge' By RFE/RL's Russian Service and RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service December 25, 2024 KYIV -- "Massive" Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure showed no letup as night fell on Christmas Day following what President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called an "inhumane" assault by the Kremlin's forces - leaving hundreds of thousands in the bitter cold without heating and causing blackouts in the capital, Kyiv. "Today, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin deliberately chose Christmas to attack," Zelenskiy said on December 25, adding that Moscow continues to "fight for a blackout" throughout the country. "What could be more inhumane? More than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and more than a hundred attack drones." The Russian Defense Ministry, meanwhile, claimed its forces had conducted a "massive strike" on critical energy sites that were supporting Ukraine's "military-industrial complex." "The aim of the strike was achieved. All facilities have been hit," the ministry said in a statement. In Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden, who will leave office on January 20, offered new support and further aid for Ukraine in the face of the Christmas Day attacks. "In the early hours of Christmas, Russia launched waves of missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities and critical energy infrastructure," Biden said in a statement. "The purpose of this outrageous attack was to cut off the Ukrainian people's access to heat and electricity during winter and to jeopardize the safety of its grid." He added that "the United States and the international community must continue to stand with Ukraine until it triumphs over Russia's aggression." "I have directed the Department of Defense to continue its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine, and the United States will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen Ukraine's position in its defense against Russian forces," he said. Regional governors reported that six people were injured in the northeastern city of Kharkiv and one person was killed in the Dnipropetrovsk area, as residents struggled to recover amid the freezing cold. Governor Oleh Syniehubov also reported "damages to civilian nonresidential infrastructure" in the regional capital of Kharkiv . Kharkiv came "under a massive missile attack," Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on the Telegram social media platform. "A series of explosions was heard in the city and there are still ballistic missiles heading toward the city," Terekhov wrote early on December 25. Ukrainian authorities reported that there was no letup in drone attacks into the evening of December 25, with areas around Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Chernihiv being targeted. In Ukraine, where a majority of Christians identify as Orthodox Christians, this was the second Christmas that was officially designated by the government to be observed not on January 7, but on December 25, in line with Roman Catholic and many Western Christian traditions. In Russia, home to the largest number of Orthodox Christians, believers still celebrate Christmas on January 7. From outside the country, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also condemned what he called an "ongoing assault on Ukraine's energy infrastructure." "I pay tribute to the resilience of the Ukrainian people, and the leadership of President Zelenskiy, in the face of further drone and missile attacks from Putin's bloody and brutal war machine with no respite even at Christmas," Starmer said in a statement. Pope Francis, in his Christmas address, made an urgent plea for "all people, all peoples, and nations [to] silence the weapons and overcome divisions." "Let there be silence of the weapons in martyred Ukraine," Francis said while calling for negotiations to "achieve a just and lasting peace" in the war-torn country. Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said that Russia was "again massively attacking the energy sector" on December 25. "The transmission system operator is taking the necessary measures to limit consumption to minimize the negative consequences for the energy system," Halushchenko wrote on Telegram. Dnipropetrovsk Governor Serhiy Lysak reported that the province had been under a "major attack since the morning," with Russian forces "trying to destroy the region's power system." Air raid sirens rang out across Ukraine in the early morning, while the country's air force reported that Russian Kalibr cruise missiles had been launched from the Black Sea. Since the start of the war in February 2022, Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukraine's energy sector, severely damaging the country's power grid and causing frequent outages. In a similar attack on December 13, more than 90 missiles and more than 200 drones were used -- but 81 of the missiles were shot down, according to Zelenskiy. Inside Russia, authorities said the Ukrainian military attacked the city of Lgov in the Kursk region, hitting a residential building and killing four people. It wasn't immediately clear if the damage was caused by drones or shelling. Russian officials also reported Ukrainian drone attacks in the Belgorod region and Voronezh regions. The reports could not immediately be verified. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-attacks-ukraine-power- system/33252359.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Prime Minister of Japan Discussed Continued Support for Ukraine President of Ukraine 25 December 2024 - 16:32 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Japan Shigeru Ishiba. The Head of State congratulated Shigeru Ishiba on his appointment as Prime Minister and thanked Japan for all the humanitarian and financial aid provided to Ukraine in the total amount of USD 12 billion. In particular, the President noted the Japanese Government's decision to transfer to Ukraine an additional USD 3 billion secured by frozen Russian assets. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also welcomed the additional assistance for energy equipment and the construction of shelters approved by the Japanese Parliament. The Head of State highlighted Russia's mass attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure on Christmas night. Therefore, protecting and restoring energy systems is a priority as Russia tries to leave Ukrainians without heat and light during winter. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Shigeru Ishiba condemned the DPRK's involvement in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Prime Minister stated that Japan takes this escalation extremely seriously, considering it a major security threat in the Indo-Pacific region, and is ready to increase sanctions pressure on the aggressor. The President also thanked Japan for its readiness to work with the democratic world, particularly the new US Administration, to achieve a just and lasting peace for Ukraine as soon as possible. In addition, the parties agreed to meet and continue the dialogue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia damages Ukrainian energy facilities in attacks Zelenskyy calls 'inhumane' By VOA News December 25, 2024 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that Russian forces attacked his country with more than 70 missiles and that targets included Ukraine's energy infrastructure. "Today, Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack. What could be more inhumane?" Zelenskyy said. U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the attacks later Wednesday. "The purpose of this outrageous attack was to cut off the Ukrainian people's access to heat and electricity during winter and to jeopardize the safety of its grid. Let me be clear: the Ukrainian people deserve to live in peace and safety," Biden said in a statement. The United States, Biden said, "has provided Ukraine with hundreds of air defense missiles, and more are on the way. I have directed the Department of Defense to continue its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine." Ukraine's military said it shot down 59 of the missiles, as well as 54 of the 106 drones Russia used in its attacks. The drones and missiles targeted energy facilities in the Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Poltava and Zaporizhzhia regions, the Ukrainian air force said. Russia's Defense Ministry said in a statement it struck critical energy infrastructure facilities that support Ukraine's military. In northeastern Ukraine, Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov said the city came under a "massive missile attack" and was later hit with a Russian drone. Oleh Syniehubov, the regional governor, said the attacks damaged civilian infrastructure and injured at least six people. Ukraine's largest private energy company, DTEK, said Russian missiles caused "serious damage" and forced power cuts in Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa and Kyiv. "In an attack aimed at millions of Ukrainians simply wanting to celebrate the holy day, Russia caused serious damage to DTEK thermal generation facilities," the company said in a statement. The Russian Defense Ministry said its air defenses destroyed 58 Ukrainian aerial drones, a number that is higher than typical in the daily exchange of drone attacks between the two sides. The ministry said 26 of the intercepts took place over the Belgorod region and 23 over Voronezh, with other drones being shot down over Kursk, Bryansk, Tambov and the Sea of Azov. Officials in Kursk said Ukrainian shelling in the region killed at least three people. Voronezh Governor Aleksandr Gusev said on Telegram that the Ukrainian attacks damaged several houses and a power line. Some information for this report was provided by Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NEW YORK, Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the cryptocurrency $JENNER on the Solana and/or Ethereum blockchains between May 26, 2024 and the present, inclusive (the Class Period), of the important January 17, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased $JENNER during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the $JENNER class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=31137 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for more information. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 17, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, Defendant Caitlyn Jenner offered and sold $JENNER by means of written and oral communications which contained materially false and misleading statements, and omitted material facts necessary to make the statements not misleading, including but not limited to the following: (1) misrepresentations regarding the potential profitability, functionality, and value of $JENNER; (2) failing to disclose the risks associated with investing in $JENNER, including regulatory risks and potential lack of liquidity; (3) misleading statements about the projects financial health, business prospects, and future growth opportunities; (4) Jenners and other insiders own holdings and financial interests in the enterprise; and (5) false and misleading statements about getting $JENNER listed on centralized cryptocurrency exchanges (CEXs). When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the $JENNER class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=31137 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com Photo courtesy of TechEdge Developers LAS VEGAS, Dec. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TechEdge Developers, a premier software development and consulting company, is excited to announce its transformation into TechEdge Dynamics (TED). This change represents more than just a new name; it marks a fundamental shift in the company's character and approach to delivering value. TED is now the Growth Studio, focused on providing innovative solutions and strategic guidance that drive consistent and measurable results. Beyond software and hardware development, TED offers tailored support for businesses at all stages, from startups to established companies, helping them achieve sustained business growth and innovation. TEDs CEO and founder, Rafael Kartaszynski, and Management Consultant Tomasz Boinski emphasize that this transition comes at a time when businesses face critical innovation gaps challenges like technical uncertainty, missed product market fit, and ineffective execution, amid the rapid evolution of technologies. Whats New with TechEdge Dynamics (TED)? The Growth Studio serves startups looking to turn their ideas into actual market products and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) ready to take their operations to the next level. Unlike traditional software dev shops focused solely on technical delivery, TED's unique approach combines business expertise with technical innovation, ensuring that both immediate technical challenges and long-term business objectives are addressed while maximizing return on investment. Offering services like research-based customer experience design, RAPID MVP development, tailored digital solutions, or expert growth advisory, TED enables clients to navigate complex technologies, accelerate product launches, and uphold rigorous quality standards while delivering exactly what the market needs. With its expanded team, welcoming new members who bring expertise in marketing, business strategy and in-depth technical knowledge in areas like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, TED offers services that will provide businesses with capabilities to stop chasing potential and start realizing results. Achieving operational efficiency is just the beginning. TechEdge Dynamics (TED) helps businesses go further by leveraging digital transformation to gain a competitive advantage. TED addresses outdated technologies, eliminates bottlenecks, and optimizes ineffective processes. With the help of TEDs experts, organizations can harness innovation, unlock their full potential, and drive sustained growth in an ever-evolving marketplace. TED can also significantly enhance the customer experience that their clients deliver. By implementing cutting-edge technologies, streamlined processes, and customer-centric designs, TED ensures that businesses can provide faster, more reliable, and personalized services to their customers. For example, one of TEDs projects was awarded the prestigious Red Dot Award for its superior design and communication. Whether businesses are in the ideation stage and need early-stage mentoring, firms that want to innovate by exploring new technologies and leveraging data-centric information for sustainable growth, or those that would like to push their operations beyond current limits, TED caters to all stages of business development. The Growth Studio also emphasizes its devotion to building trust and long-term partnerships through strong relationships and communication with clients. "Potential alone is never enough," Tomasz Boinski mentions. Our Growth Studio delivers consistent, fast, repeatable time-to-market, higher-quality execution, and measurable business outcomes. TechEdge Dynamics is also preparing for new expansion plans. In 2025, the company will extend its services internationally, targeting markets such as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Rafael Kartaszynski mentions, We are excited to bring our successful US-born Growth Studio to businesses around the world. Our expertise has helped US startups get off to a strong start and enabled established companies to scale and reach new heights. We believe it can achieve even more for global businesses. Despite different needs, goals, and resources, our approach consistently turns strengths and potentials into sustained growth. Please visit TechEdge Dynamics to learn more about its comprehensive approach of turning ideas into reality. About TechEdge Dynamics TechEdge Dynamics (TED) is a cutting-edge Growth Studio dedicated to helping startups and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) realize their business goals. Combining deep business expertise with technical innovation, TED stands apart from traditional consulting or development firms by addressing both immediate technical challenges and strategic long-term objectives. Leveraging its mission-tested leadership, top-tier technical talent, and proven methodologies, TED resolves critical issues such as product-market fit, technical uncertainty, and execution quality. By navigating complex technological landscapes, TED transforms potential into tangible business results, enabling clients to establish clear value propositions and achieve a sustainable competitive edge. Contact Details: Contact person: Rafael Kartaszynski Company: TechEdge Dynamics (TED) Email: doctork@ted.studio Website: https://www.ted.studio/ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fe47b88b-0a96-48d9-b39d-96cc17df0978 Dublin, Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Fast Attack Craft Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2019-2029F" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Fast Attack Craft Market was valued at USD 4.76 Billion in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 6.85 Billion by 2029, rising at a CAGR of 6.31% The Global Fast Attack Craft (FAC) market is experiencing significant growth, driven by several key factors. Geopolitical tensions around the world have heightened the demand for advanced naval vessels capable of rapid deployment and effective combat operations. As nations seek to bolster their maritime security and maintain strategic advantages, there is an increasing emphasis on multi-mission capabilities for FACs. These vessels are not only utilized for traditional combat roles but also for surveillance, reconnaissance, and anti-piracy operations, reflecting the evolving nature of maritime threats and operational requirements. In 2024, The Indian Navy's Fast Attack Craft, INS Kalpeni, has arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka, as part of a goodwill visit to strengthen bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka. During its stay, the crew will engage in several activities, including professional exchanges with Sri Lankan naval personnel. This visit highlights the ongoing cooperation and collaboration between the two nations in maritime security and defense. Technological advancements and innovations are pivotal in shaping the FAC market. Modern fast attack crafts are equipped with state-of-the-art systems, including advanced radar, missile systems, and stealth technology, enhancing their effectiveness and survivability. The integration of automation and improved materials contributes to greater operational efficiency and reduced maintenance costs. The ongoing development in propulsion systems, such as advanced gas turbines and hybrid engines, further enhances the speed and agility of these vessels, making them more versatile and capable of responding to a broad spectrum of maritime challenges. Modernization and Upgradation One of the most prominent trends in the Global Fast Attack Craft market is the ongoing modernization and upgradation of existing fleets. Nations with significant naval capabilities are investing heavily in upgrading their existing FACs to enhance their combat capabilities and extend their operational lifespans. This trend is driven by the need to keep pace with evolving threats and technologies. Many countries have recognized that upgrading existing FACs can be a cost-effective approach, especially when compared to procuring entirely new vessels. Upgrades may include improving communication systems, navigation technology, weapon systems, and overall performance enhancements. For example, the United States Navy has undertaken a program to modernize and upgrade its Cyclone-class patrol craft to extend their service life and enhance their capabilities. Similarly, other nations such as India, Israel, and South Korea have initiated projects to modernize their FAC fleets. Adoption of Stealth Technology Stealth technology is increasingly becoming a focal point in the design and development of Fast Attack Craft. Stealthy FACs are equipped with features that reduce their radar cross-section, making them less detectable by enemy radar systems. This trend is in response to the need for increased survivability in modern naval warfare, where adversaries possess advanced anti-ship missile systems and surveillance capabilities. Stealthy design features may include shaping the vessel's hull to minimize radar reflections, the use of radar-absorbing materials, and incorporating advanced electronic warfare and countermeasures systems. These advancements enable FACs to operate closer to enemy coastlines without being easily detected and targeted. Nations like Sweden and the United States have been pioneers in developing stealthy FACs, such as the U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and Sweden's Visby-class corvettes. Other countries, including China and Russia, are also investing in stealth technology to enhance their FAC fleets. Emphasis on Multi-Mission Capabilities The Global Fast Attack Craft market is witnessing a growing emphasis on multi-mission capabilities. Traditionally, FACs were primarily designed for anti-ship warfare, but the changing threat landscape has led to a shift towards versatile platforms that can perform a wide range of missions. Modern FACs are being equipped with various mission modules that allow them to conduct not only anti-ship operations but also anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and even humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions. This trend reflects the need for naval forces to be flexible and adaptive in addressing diverse threats and challenges. For instance, the littoral combat ship (LCS) in the U.S. Navy is designed to accept different mission packages, making it a highly adaptable platform capable of various roles, from anti-submarine warfare to mine countermeasures. This approach enhances the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of naval operations. Growing Use of Unmanned Systems The deployment of unmanned systems is another significant trend in the Global Fast Attack Craft market. Unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and unmanned underwater vessels (UUVs) are being integrated into FAC operations, providing naval forces with enhanced capabilities for reconnaissance, surveillance, and my countermeasures. FACs are increasingly being used as launch and recovery platforms for these unmanned systems. This enables them to extend their operational reach and conduct missions in high-risk areas without putting human operators at risk. Countries like the United States, China, and Israel have been at the forefront of incorporating unmanned systems into their FAC fleets. For example, the U.S. Navy's LCS is designed to launch and recover various unmanned systems, including the MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned helicopter and the Knifefish UUV for my countermeasures. Segmental Insights Application Insights The non-missile armed Fast Attack Craft (FAC) segment is emerging as the fastest-growing sector in the Fast Attack Craft market due to several compelling reasons. One of the primary drivers is the increasing emphasis on cost-effectiveness. Non-missile armed FACs are generally less expensive to develop, procure, and maintain compared to their missile-equipped counterparts. This affordability makes them attractive to smaller navies and coastal defense forces that need capable vessels without the financial burden of advanced missile systems. Non-missile armed FACs are highly versatile and well-suited for a wide range of operational roles. These vessels often focus on lighter armament, such as machine guns, autocannons, and close-in weapon systems, which are effective for anti-piracy operations, maritime patrol, and coastal defense. Their design allows for high speed and maneuverability, enabling rapid response to emerging threats and efficient execution of hit-and-run tactics. This versatility is particularly valuable in regions with high maritime traffic or where asymmetric threats are prevalent. Technological advancements also contribute to the growth of non-missile armed FACs. Modern FACs are equipped with advanced sensors, communication systems, and surveillance technologies that enhance their operational capabilities without relying on missile systems. These innovations improve the effectiveness of non-missile armed FACs in intelligence gathering, maritime security, and counter-terrorism operations. The combination of lower costs, versatile operational roles, and advanced technology has driven the popularity of non-missile armed FACs. Their growing presence in the market reflects a shift towards more cost-effective and adaptable solutions in naval warfare, meeting the evolving needs of a diverse range of maritime forces. Regional Insights North America dominated the Fast Attack Craft (FAC) market due to several key factors. The region's robust defense budget and significant investments in naval modernization contribute heavily to its leadership in the FAC market. The United States, in particular, allocates substantial resources to maintain and enhance its naval capabilities, including the acquisition and development of advanced FACs. This financial strength allows for the procurement of sophisticated vessels equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, thereby reinforcing North America's position as a leading market. North America's strategic priorities and maritime security requirements play a crucial role. The United States and Canada, with their extensive coastlines and vital maritime interests, prioritize enhancing their naval fleets to address a range of threats, from conventional military challenges to asymmetric threats like piracy and smuggling. This focus drives a high demand for advanced, versatile FACs capable of performing various roles, including surveillance, coastal defense, and rapid response operations. North America benefits from a well-established defense industrial base and a strong network of defense contractors and suppliers. This ecosystem supports the rapid development, production, and deployment of advanced FACs, enabling the region to stay at the forefront of technological innovation in the maritime sector. The presence of leading defense companies and research institutions facilitates continuous advancements in FAC design and capabilities, further solidifying North America's market dominance. North America's dominance in the Fast Attack Craft market is driven by substantial defense investments, strategic maritime security needs, and a robust defense industrial base. These factors collectively support the region's leadership in both the development and deployment of advanced FACs, meeting its comprehensive maritime security objectives. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 183 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $4.76 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $6.85 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.3% Regions Covered Global Report Scope: In this report, the Global Fast Attack Craft Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below: Key Market Players Lockheed Martin Corporation General Dynamics Corporation BAE Systems plc Northrop Grumman Corporation Thales S.A. Navantia S.A. S.M.E. NVL B.V. & Co. KG Huntington Ingalls Industries Austal Limited FINCANTIERI S.p.A Fast Attack Craft Market, By Application Type: Missile armed FAC Non-missile armed FAC Fast Attack Craft Market, By End User: National Defense Fighting Others Fast Attack Craft Market, By Region: Asia-Pacific China India Japan Indonesia Thailand South Korea Australia Europe & CIS Germany Spain France Russia Italy United Kingdom Belgium North America United States Canada Mexico South America Brazil Argentina Colombia Middle East & Africa South Africa Turkey Saudi Arabia UAE For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/llghaz About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment SHANGHAI, Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NIO Inc. (NYSE: NIO; HKEX: 9866; SGX: NIO) (NIO or the Company), a pioneer and a leading company in the global smart electric vehicle market, today announced that it is notifying holders of its 0.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (CUSIP No. 62914VAF3) (the Notes) that pursuant to the Indenture dated as of January 15, 2021 (the Indenture) relating to the Notes by and between the Company and The Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, each holder has the right, at the option of such holder, to require the Company to repurchase all of such holders Notes or any portion thereof that is an integral multiple of US$1,000 principal amount for cash on February 1, 2025 (the Repurchase Right). The Repurchase Right expires at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Thursday, January 30, 2025. As required by rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), the Company will file a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO. In addition, documents specifying the terms, conditions and procedures for exercising the Repurchase Right will be available through the Depository Trust Company and the paying agent, which is The Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas. None of the Company, its board of directors or its employees has made or is making any representation or recommendation to any holder as to whether to exercise or refrain from exercising the Repurchase Right. The Repurchase Right entitles each holder of the Notes to require the Company to repurchase all of such holder's Notes or any portion thereof that is an integral multiple of US$1,000 principal amount. The repurchase price for such Notes will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus any accrued and unpaid additional interest, if any, to, but excluding, February 1, 2025, which is the date specified for repurchase in the Indenture (the Repurchase Date), subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture and the Notes. The Repurchase Date is an interest payment date under the terms of the Indenture and the Notes. As February 1, 2025 is a Saturday, pursuant to the Indenture and the Notes, on Monday, February 3, 2025, which is the next succeeding business day, the Company will pay accrued and unpaid interest on all of the Notes through January 31, 2025 to all holders who were holders of record as of close of business on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. As of December 25, 2024, there was US$378,525,000.00 in aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding. If all outstanding Notes are surrendered for repurchase through exercise of the Repurchase Right, the aggregate cash purchase price will be US$378,525,000.00. The opportunity for holders of the Notes to exercise the Repurchase Right commences at 9:00 a.m., New York City time on Monday, December 30, 2024, and will terminate at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Thursday, January 30, 2025. In order to exercise the Repurchase Right, a holder must follow the transmittal procedures set forth in the Companys Repurchase Right Notice to holders (the Repurchase Right Notice), which is available through the Depository Trust Company and The Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas. Holders may withdraw any previously tendered Notes pursuant to the terms of the Repurchase Right at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Thursday, January 30, 2025, or as otherwise provided by applicable law. This press release is for information only and is not an offer to purchase, a solicitation of an offer to purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell the Notes or any other securities of the Company. The offer to purchase the Notes will be only pursuant to, and the Notes may be tendered only in accordance with, the Companys Repurchase Right Notice dated December 26, 2024 and related documents. Holders of the Notes should refer to the Indenture for a complete description of repurchase procedures and direct any questions concerning the mechanics of repurchase to the Trustee by contacting The Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas. Holders of Notes may request the Companys Repurchase Right Notice from the paying agent, The Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, c/o DB Services Americas Inc., at 5022 Gate Parkway Suite 200, MS JCK01-218, Jacksonville, FL 32256 (email: db.reorg@db.com). HOLDERS OF NOTES AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES ARE URGED TO READ THE COMPANYS SCHEDULE TO, REPURCHASE RIGHT NOTICE AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT NIO INC. AND THE REPURCHASE RIGHT. Materials filed with the SEC will be available electronically without charge at the SECs website, http://www.sec.gov. Documents filed with the SEC may also be obtained without charge at the Companys website, http://ir.nio.com. About NIO Inc. NIO Inc. is a pioneer and a leading company in the global smart electric vehicle market. Founded in November 2014, NIO aspires to shape a sustainable and brighter future with the mission of Blue Sky Coming. NIO envisions itself as a user enterprise where innovative technology meets experience excellence. NIO designs, develops, manufactures and sells smart electric vehicles, driving innovations in next-generation core technologies. NIO distinguishes itself through continuous technological breakthroughs and innovations, exceptional products and services, and a community for shared growth. NIO provides premium smart electric vehicles under the NIO brand, family-oriented smart electric vehicles through the ONVO brand, and small smart high-end electric cars with the FIREFLY brand. For more information, please visit: http://ir.nio.com Investor Relations ir@nio.com Media Relations global.press@nio.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cambridge House International, a leader in producing North Americas largest resource conferences and Canadas largest technology investment conference, will host the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference (VRIC) on January 19-20, 2025, at the Vancouver Convention Centre West, 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC, Canada. As the flagship event in the resource investing space, VRIC will bring together over 9,000 attendees, including CEOs, senior executives, savvy investors, and key decision-makers from the mining and commodities sectors. This comes at a crucial time as investors, market participants, and analysts navigate a rapidly changing economic landscape shaped by accelerating de-dollarization, political shifts, geopolitical tensions, the rise of emerging markets, and growing demand for strategic commodities amid the AI boom and global energy transition. The event highlights the beginning of a new super-cycle in commodities, driven by years of underinvestment in the mining and hard commodities sectors. The event will feature over 120 keynote speakers, offering unique insights into macroeconomic trends, industrial conditions, investment strategies, and hedging tactics. Among the distinguished speakers are: Dr. Pippa Malmgren, Economist, Author, and Strategic Advisor, C10 Labs Robert Kiyosaki, Author and Investor David Rosenberg, Founder and President, Rosenberg Research Mark Moss, Host, Market Disruptors Podcast Col. Douglas Macgregor (Retd.), Former Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense Danielle DiMartino Booth, CEO and Chief Strategist, QI Research Grant Williams, Author, Publisher, and Host, The Grant Williams Podcast and Co-Founder of Real Vision Group The Vancouver Resource Investment Conference will be hosted by Jay Martin, President and CEO of Cambridge House International. A full list of speakers is available at the following link: https://cambridgehouse.com/VRIC/speakers The event will include a conference trade show, a One-on-One Deal Room, and a major media event, providing attendees with an unparalleled opportunity to network with thousands of investors. The exhibition will feature over 300 high-potential mining companies, including notable names like 55 North Mining Inc., Alaska Energy Metals, Banyan Gold Corp., Emperor Metals Inc., First Majestic Silver Corp., and KITCO News, among others. Cambridge House representatives will be on hand to connect attendees with potential partners, explore investment opportunities, and facilitate pre-arranged 1-on-1 conversations and private presentations to unlock hidden value in emerging opportunities. With the commodities sector set for a prolonged bull run, VRIC provides a prime opportunity to position investments and portfolios for success in the years ahead. Join us at VRIC to engage in world-class educational and networking experiences, forge new relationships, and participate in high-impact deal-making within the resource investing space. To register and learn more about the event, please visit: https://cambridgehouse.com/vancouver-resource-investment-conference About Cambridge House International At Cambridge House International, we believe in two simple philosophies: ideas are better when shared, and people are better when connected. For the past 25 years we have built on these ideals, producing flagship, must-attend events and providing industries with the platform for networking, education and investment discovery. We operate in several unique industries and currently produce North Americas largest resource conferences and Canadas largest technology investment conference. Our goal is simply connecting companies with capital. General Inquiries: Telephone 604-687-4151 Toll Free (US & Canada) 1-877-363-3356 Fax 604-687-4726 Email sheena@cambridgehouse.com About IBN IBN consists of financial brands introduced to the investment public over the course of 18+ years. With IBN, we have amassed a collective audience of millions of social media followers. These distinctive investor brands aim to fulfill the unique needs of a growing base of client-partners. IBN will continue to expand our branded network of highly influential properties, leveraging the knowledge and energy of specialized teams of experts to serve our increasingly diversified list of clients. Through our Dynamic Brand Portfolio (DBP) , IBN provides: (1) access to a network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets; (3) Press Release Enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) full-scale distribution to a growing social media audience; (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions ; and (6) total news coverage solutions. For more information, please visit https://www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the InvestorBrandNetwork website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: http://IBN.fm/Disclaimer Corporate Communications IBN Los Angeles, California www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com 310.299.1717 Office BALTIMORE, Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Urological Association (AUA) is pleased to announce Michael Davis, MD, MBA, MHA, FACS, has been named the 2025 AUA Gallagher Health Policy Scholar. A highly competitive award, the Gallagher Health Policy Scholar Program is a rigorous year-long training initiative aiming to equip urologists for leadership roles in health policy. Established in 2007, the program pays tribute to G. James Gallagher, former Executive Director of the AUA. The program sponsors the current scholar each year to participate in national conferences and meetings and provides mentorship from senior AUA physicians. Additionally, scholars engage in a week-long health policy seminar for surgeons supported by the American College of Surgeons. The program organizes educational activities yearly to enhance scholars' comprehension of contemporary health policy issues affecting urology care. "Dr. Davis embodies the excellence and leadership the Gallagher Scholar Award recognizes. With over three decades of transformative contributions to the field of urology, his dedication to clinical innovation, education and service is unparalleled, said AUA Public Policy Council Chair Dr. Mark Edney. "His extensive expertise, leadership roles and commitment to advancing health care make him a truly deserving recipient of this prestigious honor. Dr. Davis is a distinguished urologist, educator and health care leader with over 30 years of experience. He serves as chief of the Division of Urology, vice chair of Clinical Affairs and surgical director of the Renal Transplant Program at the University of New Mexico. A certified abdominal transplant surgeon, Dr. Davis has performed over 600 kidney transplants and has been repeatedly recognized as a Top Doc in urology. Dr. Davis holds advanced business and health care administration degrees and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is deeply committed to education, serving as a mentor to students, residents and colleagues and has contributed extensively to professional organizations, including the AUA, where he has been a member since 2003. In the last 20+ years, he has been a state representative for the South Central Section, an AUAPAC champion for the South Central Section and has presented posters and abstracts at numerous annual meetings. I am incredibly excited and deeply honored to be nominated as the next Gallagher Health Policy Scholar, said Dr. Davis. I look forward to this prestigious opportunity, which will give me a broader understanding of the health care policy that affects our ability to care for patients and the skills to advocate for urology as a specialty. Read more information on the Gallagher Scholarship on our website at auanet.org/gallagher About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology, and has more than 25,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy. Attachment AVENTURA, FL, Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cardone Capital, a leading real estate investment firm with $4.9 billion in assets under management, announced the launch of its 10X Space Coast Bitcoin Fund, combining institutional-quality real estate with Bitcoin purchases. Grant Cardone - 10X Space Coast The $87.5 million fund marks the first time a major real estate investment firm has paired cash-flowing multifamily properties with structured Bitcoin purchases. "After studying Bitcoin for over eleven years, we've developed an approach that pairs the stability of cash-flowing real estate with Bitcoin's growth potential," said Grant Cardone, founder and CEO of Cardone Capital. "We will continue to target a 12%-15% IRR on our underlying real estate investments while potentially boosting total returns through this hybrid strategy." Cardone Capitals announcement came on the same day Bitcoin's price surpassed the $100,000 milestone for the first time. Cardone notes this timing aligns with his long-term thesis on Bitcoin's evolution: "We believe Bitcoin ultimately will serve as an alternative to traditional stores of value such as gold and treasury bonds." Cardone Capital joins notable public companies, like Elon Musks Tesla, Inc., and Michael Saylors MicroStrategy Incorporated, in recognizing Bitcoins potential as a treasury reserve asset. Teslas Bitcoin holdings are valued at nearly $1 billion, while MicroStrategy now sits on over $42 billion. Major governments have also built significant positions, with the United States, China, and the United Kingdom now holding over $46 billion in Bitcoin combined.We're implementing a strategy that's been validated by both visionary CEOs and world governments, said Cardone. The difference is we're combining it with cash-flowing real estate to create something entirely new. The Fund will simultaneously close on the acquisition of a 300-unit, Class A multifamily asset in Melbourne, Florida, and make an eight-figure Bitcoin purchase. The Fund's real estate component will be purchased without debt and generate immediate positive cash flow. In addition, the real estate assets monthly income will fund ongoing, strategic Bitcoin purchases. During the first several years of the hold period, the Fund plans to place long-term debt on the properties, which, when combined with a partial sale of the Funds Bitcoin holdings, could potentially return 100% of investors' initial capital as a non-taxable event while maintaining ownership of both the real estate asset and Bitcoin holdings. This tax-free refinancing strategy has been used by the wealthiest real estate investors and institutions for decades to build generational wealth, said Ryan Tseko, Executive Vice President of Cardone Capital. Our investors potentially will get their initial capital back without paying taxes while keeping their entire ownership position in appreciating assets. It's how the ultra-wealthy compound their wealth, and we're making it available to our investors. Cardone Capitals strategy has already garnered significant investor interest with $100 million in commitments secured within 72 hours of the initial offering. This overwhelmingly positive response stems from investor confidence in Cardone Capital's sterling track record. Since 2016, Cardone Capital has raised over $1.5 billion and distributed more than $370 million to nearly 18,000 unique investors. The new fund launch extends Cardone Capitals momentum in 2024, during which time the firm has completed over $500 million in all-cash multifamily acquisitions and grown its portfolio to 14,000+ units. For more information about the 10X Space Coast Bitcoin Fund, visit CardoneCapital.com. About Cardone Capital Cardone Capital is a real estate investment firm specializing in the multifamily sector. Founded by Grant Cardone, the firm has built a $4.9 billion portfolio of premium real estate assets encompassing 43 multifamily properties and 500,000 square feet of Class A office space. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements describing future expectations, plans, results, or strategies. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those projected. Changes in product offerings, regulatory plans, and business strategies are potential factors influencing such differences. Disclosure This is not an offer; offers will be made only by means of the Regulation D Offering Documents (available at https://invest.cardonecapital.com) or the Regulation A Offering Circular (available at https://cardonecapital.com/fund), either of which may be updated or amended from time-to-time with the most recent Offering Circular or Offering Documents. The Regulation D offering under Rule 506(c) is for accredited investors only. The acquisition of any property identified in this communication is subject to various contingencies and may not be consummated. Past performance is not an indication of future results and actual performance may vary significantly from the projections contained herein. Bitcoin is highly speculative and its actual performance may not match investor expectation. Investing in both real estate and Bitcoin involves risk and may result in partial or total loss. Prospective investors should carefully consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses, and should consult with a tax, legal and/or financial adviser before making any investment decision. For additional information, visit www.cardonecapital.com/disclosure Media Contact Ryan Tseko 305-407-0276 Shanghai (Gasgoo)- As of December 24, 2024, Huawei has deployed over 500 own-brand supercharging stations, according to a post on the WeChat account of HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance), Huawei's smart car alliance. During December 16 to 22, the company newly deployed 34 supercharging stations spanning cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Xiamen, Qingdao, Chengdu, Wuhan, Changchun, Lanzhou, and Hohhot. Photo credit: HIMA HIMA said these stations are equipped with Huawei's 600kW liquid-cooled supercharging terminals, delivering peak currents of up to 600A. This technology can achieve charging speeds equivalent to one kilometer per second. Richard Yu, Huawei's Executive Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Intelligent Automotive Solution BU, previously revealed that Huawei aimed to deploy over 100,000 liquid-cooled ultra-fast chargers, 4,500 highway charging stations, and 700,000 public charging guns across 340 cities in China by the end of 2024. In addition, the company plans to establish at least 1,000 advanced technology-powered supercharging stations with around 7,000 supercharging piles by 2026. Beyond its proprietary charging facilities, HIMA continues to strengthen partnerships with other automakers to increase the range of charging options. In April this year, Huawei announced the formation of a "supercharging alliance" with Chinese automakers such as BYD, GAC Group, FAW-Volkswagen, Chery, Li Auto, SERES, XPENG, ARCFOX, AVATR, JAC Group, Great Wall Motor, and NETA Auto joining it. In July 2024, HIMA announced a collaboration with NIO Energy to enhance charging services. Under the collaboration, HIMA's users have been able to locate and utilize charging piles of NIO Power via the HIMA App, AITO App, and in-car systems for brands like AITO, LUXEED, and STELATO since July 17. Beijing, China, Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the heart of Rift Valley, located about 10 kilometers from Nakuru county in west Kenya, the country's first geothermal power plant built with 100 percent Chinese technologies, the 35-megawatt (MW) Sosian geothermal power plant, has been running for more than a year. During the period, the plant has generated an average annual power output of 38.5 MW. The electricity has been fed into Kenya's national grid and provided tens of thousands of households and companies in Nakuru - Kenya's 4th largest urban centre with a population of 570,674 - with reliable, clean and affordable electricity, the Global Times learned. Only 250 meters away from the Sosian plant, work on another 35-MW geothermal power plant, the Orpower 22 Geothermal Power Plant, is rapidly advancing since October. To be implemented in 17 months, the Orpower 22 power plant is believed to serve as a boost to Kenya's green energy switch, enhance climate resilience and stimulate the country's green economic growth. The two plants are part of the 105-megawatt Menengai geothermal project that consists of three modular power plants. The project, after completion, is expected to benefit around 500,000 households of which 70,000 in rural areas, 300,000 small businesses, according to a Word Bank report. A sustainable energy source Geothermal power harnesses heat from the earth's crust to convert groundwater into steam, which then drives turbines to generate electricity. The 6,400-kilometer East African Rift System (EARS), one of the largest rifts in the world, not only creates a magnificent landscape in Kenya, but also provides abundant geothermal resources with a power potential of 10,000 MW, according to the Xinhua News Agency. Kenya has been exploring its geothermal potential since the 1950s. The country now is the sixth largest geothermal power producer in the world, with geothermal energy accounting for over 50 percent of the national power mix followed by hydro power and thermal power, according to Xinhua reports. Geothermal energy is a clean and sustainable energy source. It is abundant in Kenya and more stable than wind and hydro energies. The commissioning of the Sosian geothermal power plant and the commencement of construction of the Orpower 22 geothermal power plant will have a profound impact on Kenya's efforts to promote the transition to green energy and address climate change, Li Haitao, a project manager from Kaishan Group, the contractor of Sosian and Orpower 22 plants, told the Global Times. 'Chinese technology is trustworthy' In recent years, the increasing electricity demand driven by the rapidly developing economy and the eagerness for green development transformation have compelled the country to accelerate its development of geothermal resources. Kenya is in urgent need of more efficient methods and technologies to expand its geothermal power generation capacity. It is under this circumstance through which the country has joined forces with its Chinese partners, who, although new to Kenya's geothermal energy market, however have rich experience and advanced technology in the renewable energy sector, to seek a solution. "The construction cycle of geothermal power generation projects that use traditional technologies is long, and the costs are high, with limited average operating time. However, our independently developed technology effectively addresses these issues," Li said. According to Li, it only took about 17 months to complete the Sosian plant, while traditional average construction cycle is more than 20 months. The technologies and equipment used in the construction of the Sosian and Orpower 22 plants are 100 percent developed by China. Compared to the equipment of enterprises from other countries, Chinese equipment also requires shorter downtime for maintenance each year, with the total annual power generation time exceeding 8,000 hours, reaching a world-leading level. The generation time of geothermal power plants built by traditional leading companies in the field, for example Fuji, Toshiba, and Mitsubishi from Japan, is normally 6,000 hours, requiring longer maintenance hours, according to Li. The Chinese company's cost-effective price also proved a crucial advantage. Kaishan unveiled on its website that its contracts with the Sosian and Orpower 22 plant were valued at less than $70 million. In contrast, the contract with the third plant of the Menengai project using Japanese technologies is a staggering $108 million. The price difference is rooted in innovative technology. The Global Times learned that, instead of traditional steam turbines, the Sosian's 35-MW plant employs steam screw expanders and a bottom cycle to handle the saturated steam discharge, reducing the steam to atmospheric levels throughout the entire process while eliminating the parasitic power typically consumed by vacuum systems. The overall efficiency compared to a traditional steam turbine is a huge game changer for this site. The project only needed a guarantee of 33.25 MW, and the target was 35 MW, but we're actually generating 38.5 MW per year, Li said. According to Li, the electricity generated by the Sosian plant is integrated into the Kenyan national grid at the price of $0.07 per kilowatt hour. While the electricity price in Kenya is about 28 Kenyan shilling (KES) ($0.22) per kilowatt hour, which is more than three times the highest level of electricity price in Beijing. "Chinese companies have brought new technologies for the development of geothermal resources [in Kenya], and the stable and efficient operation of the Sosian geothermal power station fully demonstrates that Chinese technology is trustworthy. Chinese technology will continue to support Kenya in accelerating the development of geothermal resources, promoting the country's energy transition and green development," Sosian Energy Ltd project leader Moses Rotich told the People's Daily. From power to empower China is not only bringing about electricity to Kenyans, but also helping cultivate a group of technical talents. Huang Hongwei, a manager at the PowerChina Fujian Engineering Co., Ltd. (POWERCHINA Fujian) Menengai geothermal project, told the Global Times that there have been several Kenyan employees who stayed in the POWERCHINA Fujian construction team for more than five years, and they have become close family with their Chinese colleagues. POWERCHINA Fujian is the constructor of Sosian and Orpower 22 plants. A Kenyan employee in the construction team named Duncan Maina told the Global Times that "I initially worked as an electrical site engineer, responsible for on-site supervision. Later, I was promoted to project engineer and took charge of safety and environmental protection. I recently joined the project management team. I am very happy to have this job, which shows the Chinese company trusts and values Kenyan employees." Another engineer in the team Vazira Dennis said, "This is my first job in the energy development field. With the help of my Chinese colleagues, I have learned a lot of technical knowledge and gained considerable project management experience. This will be very helpful for my future involvement in related work." In the operation team at the Sosiyan Power Station, the ratio of Chinese employees to Kenyan employees is 1:1, and the proportion of foreign employees will gradually increase in the future, according to Li. Kenya has laid out an ambitious Vision 2030 to generate 100 percent of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2030, among which geothermal power accounts for 60 percent, according to Xinhua. The country is committed to decarbonizing the national grid and accelerating progress toward achieving net-zero targets, guided by progressive regulatory and policy tools alongside targeted investments, Kenyan President William Ruto said at the launch ceremony of the Orpower 22 plant on October 24. Currently, Kenya has only tapped 950 MW out of the country's 10,000-MW geothermal potential, the president revealed, stressing that Chinese investors are pivotal in the sustainable exploitation of this clean source of energy. Starting from the Sosian geothermal plant, Chinese companies' cooperation with Kenyan partners have expanded far further to help foster comprehensive zero-carbon industrialization and directly benefit more people in the country. At the ceremony of Orpower 22 plant, Kaishan also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), outlining their cooperation in the production of sustainable green ammonia and green fertilizers, according to Li. Once completed and operational, the project will promote agricultural development in Kenya and East Africa, help reduce fertilizer imports, alleviate the financial burden of fertilizer subsidies on East African countries, and provide farmers with affordable, high-quality local green fertilizers, according to Xinhua. View original content: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202412/1325756.shtml Company: Global Times Contact Person: Xie Wenting Email: xiewenting@globaltimes.com.cn Website: https://www.globaltimes.cn/ Telephone: 18605648116 City: Beijing Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of KISS PR or its partners. This content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. KISS PR makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability, or validity of any information in this article and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis. MIAMI, Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PennantPark Floating Rate Capital Ltd. (PFLT) (NYSE: PFLT) announced that it has upsized its credit facility, led by Truist Bank (the Credit Facility) to $736 million from $636 million. Pricing on this facility remained unchanged at SOFR plus 225 basis points. We are appreciative of the support from all of our existing lending partners. Their support highlights the confidence they have in our excellent long-term track record, said Arthur Penn, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PFLT. We expect that this increased facility will expand our ability to serve middle-market sponsor and borrower clients by providing them with more comprehensive senior secured solutions. We believe that this enhanced credit facility positions us well to capture the opportunity in the core middle market, where our capital is strategic to our borrowers. As a result, we believe that the package of risk adjusted return we receive is attractive and includes higher yields, lower leverage and covenants which are not available in the upper middle market. The Credit Facility is secured by all of the assets held by PennantPark Floating Rate Funding I, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and includes customary covenants, including minimum asset coverage and minimum equity requirements. ABOUT PENNANTPARK FLOATING RATE CAPITAL LTD. PennantPark Floating Rate Capital Ltd. is a business development company which primarily invests in U.S. middle-market private companies in the form of floating rate senior secured loans, including first lien secured debt, second lien secured debt and subordinated debt. From time to time, the Company may also invest in equity investments. PennantPark Floating Rate Capital Ltd. is managed by PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC. ABOUT PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC is a leading middle market credit platform, managing approximately $8.9 billion of investible capital, including leverage. Since its inception in 2007, PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC has provided investors access to middle market credit by offering private equity firms and their portfolio companies as well as other middle-market borrowers a comprehensive range of creative and flexible financing solutions. PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC is headquartered in Miami, and has offices in New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Amsterdam. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You should understand that under Section 27A(b)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E(b)(2)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 do not apply to forward-looking statements made in periodic reports PennantPark Floating Rate Capital Ltd. files under the Exchange Act. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release are forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. PennantPark Floating Rate Capital Ltd. undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement made herein. You should not place undue influence on such forward-looking statements as such statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. CONTACT: Richard T. Allorto, Jr. PennantPark Floating Rate Capital Ltd. (212) 905-1000 www.pennantpark.com Lafayette, Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lafayette, Colorado - Encore Data Products has announced an expansion of its sales team, aiming to strengthen customer relationships and provide more personalized service. As a respected supplier of audio and technology products to schools, libraries, and businesses, Encore Data Products is enhancing its customer engagement with this strategic move. This sales team growth is intended to help Encore Data Products better address the changing needs of its diverse clientele. The expansion underscores the company's commitment to customer satisfaction by building a knowledgeable support system. Effective communication and dedicated service are keys to strong client relationships, and the company is focused on these goals. "By growing our sales team, we are not only improving our capacity to understand and cater to our customers' specific needs, but we are also dedicated to providing exceptional service," said a spokesperson from Encore Data Products. "This expansion allows us to interact with our clients on a more personal level, ensuring they receive the support and solutions they require." Encore Data Products is known for offering a wide range of audio and technology solutions. They provide an extensive variety of products, including all kinds of headphones suited for schools, AV technology, clean and healthy supplies, and AV accessories. With such a diverse offering, they can meet the needs of educational and professional settings. Further details about their extensive products range and services can be found on their corporate website. For instance, their headphone collection is vast, accommodating different educational stages. From economical options to high-end models with noise-canceling technology and built-in microphones, the variety is designed to support both virtual and distance learning. More information on their selection can be found at this link: https://www.encoredataproducts.com/classroom-headphones/. The spokesperson added, "Expanding our sales team shows our ongoing commitment to excellent customer service. We understand that our clients have varying needs, and by increasing our team, we can offer more personalized assistance and expert advice, which are essential in supporting both educational and professional goals." The decision to grow the sales team aligns with Encore Data Products' values, focusing on outstanding customer care and a commitment to education. By bolstering its sales force, the company intends to give clients a more responsive and tailored experience, especially for those seeking detailed product guidance. This strategic move also highlights the expected increase in demand for audio-visual solutions across different sectors. As businesses and schools continue to embrace new technology, the need for dependable, high-quality AV products is becoming increasingly important. Encore Data Products is committed to meeting these needs efficiently and effectively. Encore Data Products has always prioritized customer care by providing thorough product information and expert recommendations suited to specific client needs. Their extensive inventory, from budget-friendly school headphones to advanced AV systems, makes them a valuable partner for institutions looking for reliable audio-visual solutions. By expanding its sales team, Encore Data Products aims to enhance customer engagement and meet the unique needs of its clients more effectively. This growth strengthens their position as a leading provider of technology products, dedicated to supporting educational and business environments with quality service and products. The company encourages its clients and partners to experience the improved customer interactions that the expanded sales team will bring. They want to ensure that purchasing decisions are informed and efficient, supported throughout the process. With this strategic move, Encore Data Products aims to maintain its high level of service and expertise, reinforcing its role in providing important educational and business technology solutions. Recent News: Encore Data Products to Showcase Innovative Education Tech Solutions at FETC 2025 ### For more information about Encore Data Products, contact the company here: Encore Data Products Media Relations 866-926-1669 marketing@encoredataproducts.com https://www.encoredataproducts.com/ 1729 Majestic Drive, Suite 5 Lafayette, Colorado 80026 I personally attended the hearing online, analyzed the 111-page Olivet University decision, and heard from people at Olivet. The details were shocking. By Jozef Volansky Olivet University recently found itself in the headlines after its former state agency, California's Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE), cited it with 13 violations of California's Code of Regulations. In the months-long process of contesting the violations, Olivet University, apparently deciding that it could no longer rely on its state accreditor, transitioned its operations under California's religious exemption on December 11. While the move to religious exemption would not affect theology students or alumni with divinity degrees like myself, my eyebrows were raised as to what my alma mater did that posed such a grave threat to California that it needed to have its license revoked. I had nothing but positive experiences during my time at Olivet University, and from what I'd heard since I graduated, it's only grown in quality of education and size, expanding to over 10 campuses and dozens of degree programs. And that doesn't count the growth of its numerous overseas affiliates. When I asked around the alumni network, I heard that BPPE paid visits to Olivet multiple times, and what it found was that a handful of syllabi and faculty resumes weren't properly updated in school records. I didn't think it would make much sense for a university to have its license revoked for not updating a few syllabi. There must be more to the story, I thought. But surprisingly, when I looked into it, I found that BPPE has been given vast authority by the state to revoke the license of any university that is even found to have violated a single rule -- including, posting an out of date syllabus. I wondered, does every school in California state really have every single syllabus up to date? That didn't seem likely, so I checked other BPPE records for comparison. Over 90 institutions were cited for a comparable number of violations as Olivet (some schools had 26 violations) but none received an accusation, like Olivet did (see Addendum 1). It was clear that something wasn't adding up. Was it the apparent collusion between BPPE and the media? Meanwhile, numerous negative headlines were written about my alma mater having its license revoked in California, but when I actually read them, I realized none of the reporters actually read the BPPE report. If they had, they would have realized how evil it is that a Christian school just had its license revoked through a seemingly arbitrary action through collusion between the media and the state. In clicking some of the articles "covering" the issue, I found the media to be even worse than the BPPE -- the articles were full of lazy reporting, a general lack of fact checking, and an obvious ignorance of the BPPE's accusations or the issues at the center of the dispute. Furthermore, many of the reports stemmed directly from rewrites of Newsweek's initial article -- the same Newsweek that was proven to have colluded with BPPE in the first place to attack Olivet University. This sickening disinformation campaign was continuing to harm the public, including Olivet students and alumni, like myself. Believing BPPE to have engaged in significant bias and collusion in its process of reviewing Olivet University, I decided I should further analyze all 13 violations. What I found shocked me. None, as in zero, of the violations were actually brought as concerns by Olivet University students. No student was actually harmed because their syllabi weren't updated in an online database, or that the school's copy of their professor's resume was out of date. This comes as no surprise, having once been an undergraduate and master's student myself, and not remembering being concerned with the latest entries on my professors' resumes. What is a surprise, is that a university would have its license revoked over such trivial and arbitrary matters. It is almost as if BPPE was flaunting its own power to close down any university it wants, at any time, even if it's simply for being on the wrong side of media attacks. Not only did the 111-page report not provide even a single instance of a student being negatively affected by any so-called violation by Olivet University, but of the 13 violations, all of them were highly technical (like the syllabi issues) or arbitrary -- in the sense that the actual legal code doesn't mention the "violation" that led to Olivet University's punishment. An example of the latter type of issue is that BPPE found Olivet University in violation of a "hybrid course" requirement -- but "hybrid course" is not even defined in the statute that BPPE said Olivet violated. What follows is a brief summary and analysis of all 13 issues BPPE raised against Olivet, plus one that was rejected by the court. I believe that my findings will significantly benefit the public conversation surrounding this issue. You be the judge of whether these violations warrant the revocation of Olivet University's license by California state. I, for one, do not believe that they do. Here is the full list of allegations: First, BPPE alleges that Olivet has Insufficient Course Offerings in violation of CCR 71710(a), 71715(b), 71745(a)(1)(2). Specifically: - Failed to provide all educational courses represented in Approval to Operate. - Failed to ensure students admitted to the educational programs will complete them and obtain degrees and diplomas. Olivet disputed the following: - Olivet is not required to offer all educational courses represented in its Approval to Operate at all times. CCR 71710(a), 71715(b), 71745(a)(1)(2) state that there is no requirement that all education courses be offered at all times. - Further, OU's Course offering plan is substantiated by qualified faculty and for subsequent classes in newly launched programs, there is a one year hiring lead time to sign contracts for subsequent years as soon as the first cohort starts his/her studies. - There were miscommunications between the BPPE and Olivet regarding the student lists and available online classes. This was substantiated by exhibit. - Each of the students identified by the BPPE were offered sufficient courses that allowed them to fulfill the full-time enrollment requirements. - Olivet has provided evidence which demonstrates that all students admitted to each educational program have classes available that will allow them to complete and obtain their degrees on time. The judge has at least dismissed this allegation Second, BPPE alleged that Olivet Merged Classes in violation of Code 94898(a). Specifically: - Merged courses in a manner that could result in learning impairment, specifically: BIBL120 The Gospels & BIBL511 New Testament I - Gospels; BIBL240 Romans I & BIBL520 Studies in Romans I; and ECON310 Microeconomics & ECON610 Microeconomic Analysis. Olivet disputed the following: - The first two pairs of bible study classes are advanced standing courses in the Master of Divinity program. These courses are equivalent to each other, thus, "merging" of each pair is warranted and there is no learning impairment. Olivet responded that it remediated the following: - The merging of ECON310 and ECON610 was a mistake and remediated. The instructor was warned of the violation and provided corrective guidance. The academic council has ceased the cross-listing of these courses. - In addition, the Office of Academic Affairs conducted a University-wide faculty training for 2 days which covered, among other things, class rigor and instructional design. - In addition, preventatively, the advanced standing option for the Master of Divinity program has been discontinued from academic year 2023-2024 in order to prevent any future confusion. Third, BPPE alleged that Olivet Misrepresented the Method of Instruction in violation of CCR 71710(b), 71715, 71715(d). Specifically: - Failed to include a component of face-to-face instruction by duly qualified faculty. - Failed to present courses in a logically organized manner. Olivet responded that this is disputed and unsupported. - There is no definition of hybrid course in the Act or the CCR. Olivet's published definition of hybrid courses sufficiently explains how the University conducts such classes. Classes were run synchronously by duly qualified faculty members via livestream during which students could interact with the professors. This is compliant with accreditor requirements. See CCR 71710(b), 71715, 71715(d) (no definition of "hybrid" courses). - Even so, Olivet has revised its definition of hybrid courses to make this clearer in its published materials. - Teaching assistants did not teach courses but were merely present to assist faculty in student attendance and technological matters. Fourth, BPPE alleged that Olivet's Curriculum was in violation of CCR 71700, 71710(b), (e), & (f), 71715(d)(3)(5). Specifically: - Failed to present curriculum in a logical manner. - Failed to address the assessment of learning outcome by duly qualified faculty in course syllabi. Olivet responded that BPPE did not cite the regulations properly in regards to "presenting curriculum in a logical manner." The regulations do not mention syllabi in regard to this standard, which is appropriate because the syllabi's purpose is to provide a general course overview. The correct place for detailed curriculum information is in the course catalog, where Olivet has already placed it. Olivet responded that it remediated the following: Olivet has created a "Syllabus Checklist (BPPE Requirements)" that outlines all the elements required by BPPE to be included in every syllabus. All syllabi and Olivet's Syllabus template have been updated according to this checklist. Fifth, BPPE alleged that Olivet's Scholarship and Instrument of Indebtedness were in violation of CCR 71810(b)(6). Specifically: - Failed to address the financial arrangements or eligibility requirements for scholarships in the Institution's policies and procedures. Olivet disputed the following: - The information was clearly available on the website, as most students use the website to apply and not the catalog. Olivet responded that it remediated the following: - Students are informed that Olivet does not participate in state or federal financial aid programs. Because the University does not participate in the federal student aid program, it is not subject to consumer disclosures required under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. - The majority of Olivet students receive scholarships directly from the University. Olivet has established and consistently implemented a clear scholarship application process. This information is available on Olivet's website. - Olivet understands that this Cause for Discipline seeks to have this same information also published in Olivet's catalog. While Olivet did previously have limited scholarship information available in its catalog, it has since updated its catalog to include all the robust information available to students regarding scholarships from other sources. Sixth, BPPE accused Olivet of not having faculty with Minimum Education Requirements in violation of CCR 71720(a)(1), (5), (9), and 71850. Specifically: - Failed to have required NACES evaluations for faculty. - Failed to employ faculty that have degrees or terminal degrees in the fields of study offered - BPPE objects to Olivet's employment of its own graduates as professors. - Failed to maintain faculty personnel files. Olivet responded that it remediated the following: - The BPPE identified three faculty files that did not include third party foreign credentials evaluations from BPPE-approved evaluation services. Credentials for each of these faculty have been verified as detailed in the Response and Olivet has reinforced its self-monitoring process and engaged an external HR advisor to ensure faculty files are maintained properly on an ongoing basis. - Any missing or expired faculty contracts have been replaced and executed with current and valid copies. However, Olivet identified the following as disputed and unsupported: - There is no regulation or statute (and the BPPE cites to none) that prohibits a university from hiring its own qualified graduates. See CCR 71720(a)(1), (5), (9), and 71850 (no prohibition on hiring graduates). - CCR 71720 and 71850 make no mention of the contents of faculty contracts and there is no provision in the Code which mandates that contracts must contain specific terms. See CCR 71720(a)(1), (5), (9), and 71850 (no requirements for contents of faculty contracts). - As requested, Olivet provided BPPE with information for courses, faculty, and students enrolled "at this campus." As requested, Olivet also provided an "all student list" which includes online students. Logically, the list of faculty teaching during the Winter 2023 term at the Riverside and San Francisco Campuses will not align with an annualized global headcount of the in-person and online student body because the information requested does not cover the same universe. - In addition, BPPE requested a list of "current faculty" teaching "at this campus," which, again, logically, does not match the "faculty roster" in the catalog. The faculty roster includes any faculty for all delivery methods and locations who taught in the past five years and might be eligible to teach in the future as faculty may not teach every course every term. Accordingly, it is expected that the list of current faculty and the faculty roster will not align perfectly. Moving forward, Olivet has updated its faculty roster to include only individuals who are presently instructing a course in the ongoing academic year or those who have been scheduled to teach within the next two academic years. - There are faculty sufficient to teach all general education courses offered by Olivet. Seventh, BPPE accused that Olivet had a Failure to Demonstrate Possession of Sufficient Financial Resources in violation of CCR 71745(a)(6). Specifically: - Failed to demonstrate that it meets the requirements for financial resources. Olivet responded that it remediated the following: - Audited financials submitted with the Annual Report indicate that Olivet presently has an assets to liability ratio of 1.33 to 1, which exceeds the requirements in the regulations. Eighth, BPPE accused Olivet of not maintaining Minimum Operating Standards - Administration in violation of CCR 71730(d). Specifically: - Did not have adequate staff present to provide assistance required by the BPPE at onsite visit. - Staff listed in the Institution's organizational chart were inconsistent with staff identified at the Main location and San Francisco campus. Olivet responded that it has remediated the following: - Olivet has updated its handbook and organizational charts to reflect current staff. Olivet disputed the following: - The BPPE conducted two unannounced site visits. Had Olivet been aware that the BPPE would be conducting site visits, it would have ensured there were adequate staff available to assist with the BPPE's requests. - Olivet's registrar was also on vacation and its academic dean was returning from a conference both traveling internationally at the time and the majority of requested documents fell under their purview. While Olivet immediately engaged other staff members to assist, the tasks fell well outside their usual duties and, as a result, it took far longer than desired to collect the requested information and documents. - In addition, weeks before the visits, the Fairview Fire in Hemet, California came so close to the Riverside campus that staff, students, and important records were hurriedly evacuated off-site. Though returned to campus by the time of the visit, all records had not yet been replaced to their appropriate locations, which presented additional challenges in locating the correct records during the site visit. - Even so, the University undertook extraordinary efforts to gather the information and documents requested and produced them to the BPPE as quickly as possible. Ninth, BPPE accused that Olivet did not have Self-Monitoring Procedures in violation of CCR 71760. Specifically: - Failed to audit faculty personnel files and ensure they contained current information. Olivet responded that it remediated the following: - Olivet has conducted a thorough internal audit of the faculty files to ensure they are complete, accurate, and current. The HR office has a staggered faculty file revision plan in accordance with published university policy. Olivet disputed the following: - Only 5 of the 24 faulty files did not include transcripts (rather than all, as implied by the Accusation), but Olivet was in possession of the faculty transcripts and used them during the hiring process, the University simply did not timely file them in the faculty's permanent HR records. - In addition, weeks before the visits, the Fairview Fire in Hemet, California came so close to the Riverside campus that staff, students, and important records were hurriedly evacuated off-site. Though returned to campus by the time of the visit, all records had not yet been replaced to their appropriate locations, which presented additional challenges in locating the correct records during the site visit. Tenth, BPPE accused Olivet of not having proper Identification of Faculty in Course Catalog in violation of EDC 94909(a)(7). Specifically: - Failed to identify all faculty in the Institution's catalog and faculty member list. Olivet responded that this was duplicative of the sixth accusation, and any minor issue was remediated fully. Eleventh, BPPE accused Olivet of not having proper Student Records in violation of CCR 71920. Specifically: - Failed to have Enrollment Agreements in student records. Olivet responded that it remediated the following: - A detailed analysis of the student records reflects that while there were a few, minor deficiencies in the records, the issues were not systemic. The Admissions Office created a new Standard Operating Procedure which better streamlines the process of student record keeping and maintenance. - Any identified missing agreements have been collected from students if such deficiency was identified in the latest internal student file audit. Twelfth, BPPE accused Olivet not having proper Maintenance of Records in violation of CCR 71930(a) and Code 94900.5. specifically: - Failed to give BPPE immediate access to Institution records during the onsite visits. - Failed to properly maintain faculty records. - Failed to clearly differentiate the method of course delivery in the syllabi. Olivet responded that this was duplicative of the third, eighth, and ninth accusations. Thirteenth, BPPE accused Olivet of not meeting Minimum Requirements for School Performance Fact Sheet in violation of CCR 74112 and Code 94929.5. Specifically: - Failed to maintain SPFS data in its entirety. Olivet responded that it remediated the following: - Olivet appointed Dr. Martin Zhao as Director of Institutional Research and Compliance. He will assist in ensuring clear communications and uniform application of institutional policies. - Additional training has been provided to the registrar to ensure data is correctly recorded. - BPPE data compilation and record-keeping has been revised and approved by the University's academic administration. Fourteenth, BPPE accused Olivet of making Withdraws and Refunds in violation of CCR 71920(b)(3)(4). Specifically: - Failed to provide documentation of student withdrawal requests or proof of a refund of tuition fees for students listed on withdrawn student list. Olivet disputed the following: - Olivet pays refunds associated with withdrawal requests within no more than 45 days. However, a material percentage of students do not pay tuition or fees. Accordingly, when they withdraw there is no refund calculation performed because there are no funds due to be returned. - To the extent the BPPE disputes this, Olivet requires a listing of the student files that the BPPE relied upon in forming this accusation so it may specifically address this allegation. In conclusion, the BPPE decision against Olivet University was based on unequal treatment, false premises, and arbitrary punishment. This pattern raises serious concerns about transparency and fairness in BPPE's regulatory practices. Jozef Volansky is a graduate of Olivet University and currently ministers a church in Bratislava, Slovakia. Soh Or Kan(), a Malaysian Chinese Christian, looks back on his years of service in the university Christian fellowship with profound reflection. His experiences in the fellowship shaped his understanding of the Gospel mission, expanding it beyond campus boundaries to the wider community. His reflections was originally published in Chinese. Reflecting on My College Years: A Journey of Discipleship and the Great Commission Looking back at my college years, my experiences of serving in a Christian fellowship are like a mirror, reflecting how Christ expanded my understanding and responsibility of the Gospel mission. Every weekend, studying the Bible with fellow believers and actively participating in evangelistic efforts on campus not only helped me understand the true essence of the Great Commission but also gradually built a solid foundation of faith in Christ. When I read about the "5th Malaysia Intercollegiate Christian Week," I witnessed over 40 Christian fellowships and more than 500 students coming together, united in spreading the Gospel. I was reminded once again that the passion for the Gospel should not stop at our campuses but should spread like fire to wider communities. The Great Commission is not just a slogan-it is a profound call for the souls of all people and the responsibility of every Christian. I also deeply realize that I have quietly found my irreplaceable role and mission in this grand evangelistic movement. As Matthew 28:19-20 says, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." The Core Idea of Jesus Christ's Discipleship Training and Global Mission Jesus Christ's discipleship training is not only about shaping the knowledge and character of His followers but also about awakening a broad vision for global missions. The core of this calling is universal evangelism-"make disciples of all nations." In Jesus' teachings, disciples are not only to become wise and virtuous followers but also to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth, reaching every untouched corner. Every teaching and action of Jesus reminded His disciples that they were not merely believers but bearers of a mission. From the Samaritan woman to the Roman centurion, Jesus taught His disciples to cross racial and cultural boundaries to bring the Gospel to marginalized groups. Through His actions, He led them from a narrow perspective to embrace a global mission, revealing the truth that the Gospel is not confined to one place but is universal and transcends national borders. Jesus taught that disciples should love and be wise in their approach to their own culture, language, and environment, and spread the light of the Gospel in every place and detail. As Acts 1:8 says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." This means that the spreading of the Gospel is not limited to one place or country but must cross ethnic and cultural boundaries to illuminate the whole world. Heroes of Evangelism in the Bible: The Apostle Paul's Example The Apostle Paul is undoubtedly one of the most representative evangelists in the Bible. His life was closely tied to hardships, challenges, and sacrifices, yet his loyalty and dedication to the Great Commission never wavered. Whether in prison or during his many missionary journeys, Paul never forgot his mission-to preach the Gospel and train disciples. Through Paul's life and teachings, we see the key to discipleship training, which is legacy. Paul understood that evangelism is not just an individual responsibility but about passing the flame of faith to the next generation, ensuring the ongoing spread of the Gospel. In his letters to Timothy, Paul clearly instructed, "What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." This cultivation and passing down ensures the Gospel is handed down from generation to generation. Paul was not only a carrier of the Gospel but also a trainer of disciples. He knew that for the Gospel to be sustained, each disciple must continue to grow in their faith and teach others. In 1 Corinthians 9:23, Paul declares his unwavering determination to sacrifice everything for the sake of the Gospel: "I do it all for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings." This determination and action are the driving force behind the relentless advancement of discipleship training and evangelism. The Legacy of Discipleship Training: Dr. Baidu and Wang Mingdao's Evangelistic Endeavors Dr. Baidu and Wang Mingdao, through their respective work in university and Chinese churches, demonstrated how discipleship training became the core power of evangelism and church revival. Dr. Baidu focused on discipleship training in university campuses, cultivating students' foundation in faith and life transformation, guiding them from the transmission of knowledge to the mission of evangelism. He understood that discipleship training is a long-term, gradual process, helping believers fully comprehend the Gospel through practical life and live out God's teachings in daily life. As 2 Timothy 2:2 teaches, "And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." Wang Mingdao, through solid discipleship training, cultivated many courageous Chinese believers who took on the mission of evangelism. His training not only involved teaching biblical knowledge but also emphasized integrating faith into practical life, helping disciples handle life with a Christ-like heart. This deep integration into life propelled the revival of the Chinese church, demonstrating the irreplaceable role of discipleship training in the expansion of God's Kingdom, as Matthew 28:20 says, "Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Both of these preachers, through their discipleship work, injected continuous strength into the Gospel mission, achieving the expansion of God's Kingdom and church revival. Establishing Discipleship Training Systems in Modern Society The urgency of modern discipleship training arises from today's society's neglect of faith and growing cultural indifference. With the rapid development of modern technology and the arrival of the information age, people's faith lives are increasingly influenced by external factors, and many lack a deep understanding and practice of the Christian faith, even growing distant from traditional faith practices. In this environment, discipleship training is crucial and urgent. Discipleship training is not only the necessary means of passing on the Gospel but also the key to resisting the impact of secular culture and maintaining the vitality of the church. Only through effective discipleship training can believers have deep roots, resist the temptations of the world, and become the salt and light of the world. To effectively establish disciples in the modern era, we need to adopt more flexible and time-appropriate methods. First, discipleship training must be closely integrated with modern life through flexible educational formats. For example, using online groups, video teachings, and other methods allows believers to participate in learning anytime and anywhere, even in busy lives. Second, discipleship training should emphasize practical application in daily life. It should not only remain in the realm of knowledge transmission but also help believers put their faith into practice through service, action, and witness. We can organize actual evangelistic activities, community services, and other opportunities for believers to grow through participation. Furthermore, establishing a healthy discipleship training system requires cultivating leaders who can pass on the faith. Churches and fellowships should nurture spiritual leaders who provide guidance and examples in life. Through this multi-layered, multi-form discipleship training, believers will not only grow into steadfast followers but also spread the Gospel globally, undertaking the Great Commission and impacting many lives. Conclusion: Walking Together on the Road of the Great Commission Discipleship training is not only an essential part of every Christian's faith journey but also the foundation and driving force of evangelism. Through discipleship training, we stand on the shoulders of Jesus Christ, seeing a broader Gospel horizon and walking on the path of spreading His glory. As the hymn says, "May our footsteps cover miles, proclaiming the Lord's glory to the ends of the earth." On this path of mission, we not only train ourselves but also train more disciples, sharing the responsibility of spreading the Gospel, driving the expansion of God's Kingdom, and continuing to contribute to His Kingdom's growth. As Matthew 28:20 promises, "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." In my vision for 2025, I hope that through discipleship training, my personal faith will grow, and the spread of the Gospel will continue globally, cultivating more faithful disciples and contributing to the expansion of God's Kingdom. This path of mission is an unceasing journey, and may we walk together in God's grace, hand in hand, fulfilling this great mission. Only through continual discipleship training can our faith and mission become stronger, and our steps will firmly reach every untouched corner until the day of Christ's return. Next article: KFC, Lions Club donate food to children in orphanages during Christmas Featured Bawumia celebrates recovery of cured leper he sponsored, calls it his 'best Christmas gift' Graphic.com.gh Dec - 26 - 2024 , 14:54 2 minutes read The Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has described a visit from Priscilla, a four-year-old cured leprosy patient who now walks with a prosthetic leg, as his "best Christmas gift." Sharing the moment on his Facebook page on December 26, 2024, Dr Bawumia recounted Priscillas journey from the Weija Leprosarium to undergoing medical treatment in Italy for her amputated leg. Her return to Ghana and a visit to his home left him visibly moved. I got my best Christmas gift yesterday when Priscilla... returned to Ghana and paid me a visit at home to thank me and show that she can now walk with her new leg, he wrote. To God be the glory. Five months of recovery in Italy Priscilla, abandoned by her parents at birth due to her condition, had been under the care of Father Andrew Campbell at the Weija Leprosarium. After numerous failed attempts to treat her severely affected legs, her limb was eventually amputated in Ghana. Advertisement Dr Bawumia, a Patron of Lepers Aid Ghana and a regular visitor to the Weija Leprosarium, met Priscilla and was moved to assist. He sponsored her trip to Italy and bore the cost of a special procedure to treat her amputated leg and fit her with a prosthetic limb. Priscilla spent five months undergoing the treatment and recovery process which culminated in her return to Ghana, where she is now able to walk independently. Upon her arrival at Kotoka International Airport, Priscilla, accompanied by Father Andrew Campbell and officials from the Weija Leprosarium, went directly to Dr Bawumias residence to express gratitude. The video shows Priscilla walking confidently with her prosthetic leg and sharing an emotional embrace with the Vice President. Watch the video of the delightful encounter below: Next article: Warehouse fire will not affect progress of Saglemi Affordable Housing Project Featured Disregard misinformation on ammunition transport - Ghana Armed Forces Gertrude Ankah Dec - 26 - 2024 , 09:19 1 minute read The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has urged the public to disregard misinformation and stressed the importance of verifying details related to security operations before sharing them online. In a statement reacting to an allegation about the misuse of military facilities for transporting ammunition, the GAF described the allegation as baseless. The claim, made in an audio recording circulated on social media alleged that a civilian pickup truck was permitted entry into the Magazine at the 5 Battalion of Infantry to move boxes of ammunition to an undisclosed location. However, in a statement dated Wednesday, December 25, 2024. signed and issued by Brigadier General Eric Aggrey Quashie, the Director General of the Department of Public Relations, the Ghana Armed Forces clarified that the vehicle in question was used to deliver a newly acquired live cow. The animal was quarantined upon delivery and later relocated to a kraal near the Magazine. Advertisement The GAF therefore urged the public to disregard the misinformation and stressed the importance of verifying details related to security operations before sharing them online. Such actions tend to create unnecessary tension and also cause fear and panic in the country, especially around this period, the release cautioned. The armed forces further highlighted the risks of spreading unverified information, emphasising its potential to incite fear and disrupt national peace. Read the full statement below: Next article: 24-year-old jailed 2 years for setting stepfathers house on fire Previous article: Bawumia celebrates recovery of cured leper he sponsored, calls it his 'best Christmas gift' KFC, Lions Club donate food to children in orphanages during Christmas Gertrude Ankah Dec - 26 - 2024 , 12:16 1 minute read KFC Ghana, in partnership with the Lions Club of Tema, have donated food items to some children in Greater Accra as part of a move to reach children in orphanages during the Christmas season. 250 packs of meals and other items were given to the Kinder Paradise Orphanage in Prampram. Some meals were also handed over to some street children across Accra. Key distribution points included Nima Traffic Lights, 37 Roundabout, Accra Mall, and Oponglo, where hundreds of under served individuals received hot meals. Advertisement Speaking on the initiative, Lilian Akrofi-Boadu, a spokesperson for KFC Ghana, emphasised the companys dedication to spreading joy during the holidays. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Recently, GAC Energy unveiled its "Double Ten-Thousand Charging Piles Plan," according to a post on its WeChat account. This initiative is set to add 10,000 DC charging terminals and 10,000 AC charging terminals in 2025, aiming to position the company as the leading energy operator among automakers in terms of cumulative DC and overall charging terminals by the end of 2025. Photo credit: GAC Energy In collaboration with partners nationwide, GAC Energy has deployed a supercharging network spanning 202 cities across 31 provincial-level administrative regions in 2024. By capitalizing on various business models, including self-construction, joint ventures, franchising, and lease financing, the company brought ten thousand 1,000V high-voltage supercharging terminals online, achieving its 2024 "Ten-Thousand Charging Piles Plan". Thanks to these efforts, it has provided charging services to over 3 million users and facilitated the adoption of renewable energy in NEVs (new energy vehicles) through its energy trading platform. Expanding beyond passenger vehicles, GAC Energy remains committed to expanding its energy replenishment services to commercial vehicles, covering industries such as mining, ports, steel manufacturing, and logistics. The company is pivoting towards producing and commercializing charging piles to address the rising demand for multi-scenario energy replenishment and a growing user base. On the sales front, GAC Energy targets annual sales of 300,000 charging piles in 2025 and over 1 million units in 2027, with diversified marketing, channel, and business and government support. In the realm of partnership alliances and dealer networks, GAC Energy continues to enhance procurement frameworks to establish a sophisticated supply chain system. Measures such as centralized pricing and quality assurance ensure efficient project execution. Additionally, GAC Energy continues to lower costs through technology-business integration and centralized procurement of key components, establishing an innovative business model that combines direct sales, distribution, and online and offline channels. These efforts have laid the foundation for a global partnership alliance and distribution network. Next article: I did not speak against holding wrongdoers accountable or ORAL - Rev. Kwadwo Bempah Featured Greater Accra: NDC leadership divided over directive to submit nominees as govt appointees Mohammed Ali Politics Dec - 26 - 2024 , 13:13 2 minutes read The Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Theophilus Tetteh Chaie has circulated a letter directing all NDC constituency chair persons to submit nominees for national-level appointments in the John Dramani Mahama-led government beginning January 7, 2025. However, following the leakage of the said letter to the media and on social media, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore in a press statement dated December 25, 2024, has disassociated himself from the said directive. He has indicated that no meeting has been held for such a directive. He described it as a unilateral decision by the Regional Secretary that lacked proper consultation with party structures. Advertisement I am not aware of such a notification from the apex level of the party. Neither has the regional executive committee been consulted nor approved such a directive, Mr Ashie Moore stated. He went on to ask party members to disregard the letter, emphasising, This is indeed a sole decision of the Regional Secretary without any recourse to laid-down party structures. The Regional Secretarys letter, dated December 24, 2024, surfaced online and directed constituency chairpersons to submit nominees for key national appointments. The letter called for nominees to fill ministerial, deputy ministerial, ambassadorial, and other positions in the incoming John Dramani Mahama administration. Constituencies were instructed to submit details of qualified candidates, including their areas of interest, by December 30, 2024. While Mr Tetteh Chaie has not reacted since the issue came into the public domain, with the letter circulated online, there are indications it may have been leaked. The Regional Chairman's press statement did not also completely deny or touch on the authenticity except to explain that it was a unilateral decision of the secretary, something he, as chairman, was not a party to. The Regional Chairman further stressed that the President-elects transition team is focused on delivering Mahamas top policy priorities within the first 120 days of his administration and ensuring a smooth transition ahead of his swearing-in on January 7, 2025. Read below the attached copies of the letters: The state of Wyoming is still a principal figure in the advancement of women in government. This past Friday, Governor Mark Gordon along with Green River High School teacher Bridgette Neilson and students from her government class hosted a special ceremony to proclaim January 5, 2025, Nellie Tayloe Ross Day in acknowledgment of the 100th Inauguration Anniversary of Wyoming's and our nation's first female Governor. Nielsen's class prepared the Proclamation during a student-lead lesson inspired by Governor Gordon's Reimagining and Innovating the Delivery of Education (RIDE) education initiative. The event included opening remarks from the Chairman of the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners, Keaton West. West thanked Governor Gordon for attending to commemorate such an important event and introduced Budd Allen, who is the Chairman of the Sweetwater County Museum Board. Allen, along with museum director David Mead, were both active participants in aiding Neilson and her students with drafting the Proclamation. Allen recognized Nellie Tayloe Ross's Sweetwater County ties as she was best friends with Lucy Talaiferro of Sweetwater County. The Talaiferro family was represented by Bill Talaiferro, who aided in providing more information and photographs about Ross. Talaiferro still resides in the residence that Ross often visited. Allen went on to explain how Wyoming has played a pivotal role in achieving equality for women across America. "In 1869 we were the first state to give women the right to vote, right here in Sweetwater County," he said. "We had the first female justice of the peace, and of course the fist female governor in the United States. At various times in history, Wyoming has led the way and is truly the equality state." Museum board member and teacher Bridgette Nielsen followed Allen and offered more details on how Ross was elected governor. Nielsen also explained how her class became involved in writing the proclamation. "Nellie Tayloe Ross was elected 100 years ago in a special election, after her husband, who was the sitting Governor passed away," Nielsen said. "She accomplished so much in her tenure. She fought for education, bank regulation and tax relief for farmers." Neilson continued by explaining that after narrowly losing her reelection bid, Ross was appointed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt as the director of the U.S. Mint, which was the highest government appointment ever for a woman at the time. Regarding the process her students went through to draft the proclamation, Neilson said, "Students first read through examples of previous proclamations, and then each student researched Mrs. Ross, choosing character traits in accomplishments they felt deserved to be recognized. Each student wrote a 'where as' statement, again modeled after previous proclamations. In the end we chose bits and pieces from each statement and included them in our final proposal." Neilson went on to introduce several local women entrepreneurs who fittingly provided a luncheon following the event. Some of those entrepreneurs included Tami Bebee-Schwartz of Instructional Intensity, Courtney Joy of The Rock Academy, Sarah Page of SAP Virtual Resources, Sami Doak from Stellar Coffee, and Allison Dalling of Dough Momma Gourmet Cookies, among many others. Following Neilson was student Kyle Gonzales, who said it was a privilege to be a part of the class who wrote the proclamation. Gonzales then introduced Governor Mark Gordon, stating that "Governor Gordon is committed to quality education for all." After taking the podium, Governor Gordon recognized the presence of Senator Stacy Jones, stating that as she is "a female senator and a leader in the state, we should celebrate you in this day of legacy as well." Governor Gordon's remarks also reflected his appreciation of how Mrs. Neilson's students taking part in writing the proclamation aligns with the RIDE initiative. "Mrs. Neilson, your work here is everything that the RIDE is about," he said. Gordon also gave even more history about Wyomings role in women's suffrage, explaining, "They had to send Wyoming's constitution to the Congress to be approved, and it was sent back because congress did not like the idea of women voting. The legislature at that time came within one vote of resending women's right to vote. The letter sent by Wyoming back to congress stated, 'we will wait 100 years, but we are coming with our women.'" Governor Gordon closed the ceremony by signing and reading the proclamation, proclaiming January 5, 2025, as Nellie Tayloe Ross Day in the state of Wyoming. As the year ends and the nation prepares for the incoming of a new presidential administration in January, the hotly-debated fate of public lands in Southwest Wyoming seems to hang in the balance. When he was in town last Friday, Governor Mark Gordon met with the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners and local legislators to discuss the latest developments with the Bureau of Land Management's plans for the Rock Springs Field Office Resource Management Plan (RMP). On the same day, the BLM released their final Record of Decision (ROD) regarding the plan. With many Wyoming leaders still unhappy with the RMP, the Governor shared that he remains committed to fighting the proposed plan, and he is hopeful that the new presidential administration will help address the issue. At the beginning of last week, Governor Gordon submitted his appeal of the BLM's response to his Governor's Consistency Review. The consistency review, which the governor submitted at the end of October, shared recommendations for how the proposed RMP needed to be changed in order to be consistent with federal and state laws and statutes and to better align with a multiple use goal for public lands. The BLM gave a "perfunctory response" to the consistency review, according to Gordon, which prompted his appeal of that response. "They basically ignored the consistency review," Gordon told the Sweetwater County Commissioners and legislators at the beginning of their meeting. The BLM also rejected the Governor's appeal, with BLM Principal Deputy Director Nada Culver sending a letter to the governor maintaining that the BLM complied with all laws and policies, and detailing why the BLM rejected the governor's recommendations. The BLM then released their final Record of Decision on Friday, marking the end of the process to approve the updated RMP. With the release of the ROD, the BLM maintained that the final RMP took feedback and input from local stakeholders into account. "The approved plan incorporates input from the Governor and State representatives, local governments, the livestock, mining, oil and gas, and recreation industries, as well as conservationists, hunters and anglers, utility companies, and motorized recreation users," a BLM press release said. "The plan reflects the vast majority of the more than 100 recommendations made by the Governor's task force in its final report to the BLM." However, Governor Gordon made it clear that he is not satisfied with the final RMP, and that he hopes it can be changed under the incoming administration. "The Biden Administration's BLM did everything within its power to push this out the door before President Trump takes office and their Director leaves for a position with an environmental group," Gordon said in his official statement responding to the ROD. "While it is not surprising that Wyoming's comments were figuratively dumped in the trash, it is disappointing that despite years of collaborative work between state agencies, impacted counties, concerned citizens, and interest groups, all Wyoming is left with is this parting shot from the Biden Administration." Gordon shared similar sentiments with Sweetwater County leaders when he met with them on Friday, explaining that BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning told him that finishing the RMP was the one thing she wanted to be sure to get done before the Biden administration left office. He also noted that Stone-Manning has been hired by the Wilderness Society, and he confirmed that there will be a new BLM director and that he has been "very engaged in that process." Gordon said the hope is to find someone with a good understanding of minerals and the need for public access. In addition to his hopes for a new BLM director, Gordon shared his hopes for the new leaders of the incoming administration in general. "With President Trump in office, former Governor Burgum at the head of the Department of the Interior, and a Republican Senate and House, I am confident that we will have the ability to finish the job and right a course that has been so far off track over the last four years," Gordon said in his press release. Gordon shared more about his relationship with Doug Burgum, who has been nominated for Secretary of the Interior, during his meeting in Sweetwater County. Gordon said he and Burgum, the former governor of North Dakota, are "very good friends" and "have a good working relationship and will continue to." With high hopes for the incoming administration, Gordon and his staff shared their hopes of fighting against the RMP. "We're thankful November went the way that it did," Gordon's Senior Policy Advisor, Nolan Rap, said during the Sweetwater County meeting. "We're more than likely not going to have to live with what the Record of Decision says." Gordon and Rap both explained to the Sweetwater County leaders that there are several courses of action being considered when it comes to addressing the RMP. The primary course of action that has already been determined is that they will be challenging the RMP in courts. "I have no doubt that we'll be doing that," Gordon said. "We always knew at the end that there could be litigation... That's where we anticipate it going." Another potential course of action that the governor and his team are considering is a congressional review, provided for by the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which is meant to give congressional oversight of federal agencies' rules. However, a congressional review has never been used on an RMP in the past, Gordon pointed out. "We think it can happen, it just hasn't been tried before," Rap said. The other main course of action that could be pursued is amending the RMP, Rap explained. He noted that all three options have their own pros and cons. "CRA is the hammer approach, for lack of a better term," Rap said, adding that an amendment "would be more of a scalpel approach." Amending the RMP would open it up to the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) process again, but without having to totally start from scratch, Rap explained. He also pointed out that either the CRA or an amendment could be pursued at the same time as the RMP is being challenged in the courts. When it comes to the congressional review option, Rap admitted that there are some details that they are still researching, including whether it would be limited to overturning the RMP as a whole or if it could be used to address and overturn specific actions and not others, which Commissioner Island Richards asked about. "My preference would be if CRA could be implemented more surgically," Richards said. Richards and Gordon both pointed out that there were areas where the BLM took Sweetwater County's comments into consideration, such as in regards to Little Mountain. However, Richards said that the BLM lost the county's trust when they initially promoted the most conservative alternative for the RMP. "I hate to see the bomb go off if it's the CRA, but I think they're the ones that set the bomb off a year and a half ago," Richards said. Gordon shared that one of the main purposes of the meeting in Sweetwater County was to hear what local leaders are hoping for in regards to the RMP, and he reiterated his commitment to finding ways to fight it as it stands. Oneil Anthony Findley, 28, of Jackson, Wyoming, was convicted by a federal jury on Dec. 11 of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine, use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug offense, and drug conspiracy. The trial lasted three days and was held before U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, while investigating a possible drug distribution network in Jackson, agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and United States Postal Inspection Service learned that cocaine was being shipped to the area. Postal Inspectors intercepted a package that contained over a pound of cocaine and was being shipped to Findleys P.O. Box under a fictitious name. Findley attempted to pick up the package and was taken into custody for questioning. Findley claimed he was unaware that the package contained cocaine, but made inconsistent statements as it related to the fictitious name used on the package and who shipped the cocaine. Phone data showed the Defendant communicating with the individual who shipped the cocaine, checking the United States Post Office website for information related to the shipment, and Findley discussing the distribution of narcotics with other individuals. The Government was able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Findley knew the package contained the illegal substance and he intended to distribute it. Acting United States Attorney Eric Heimann said, This conviction makes it clear that drug traffickers will be prosecuted and punished for poisoning Wyoming communities. I want to thank the Postal Inspection Service and DCI for their work on this investigation. USPIS Denver Division Inspector-in-Charge Bryan Musgrove said: United States Postal Inspectors are dedicated to maintaining the sanctity of trust placed in the US Mail. We will aggressively pursue anyone who uses the US Mail to transport and distribute deadly drugs which impacts the safety of postal employees and postal customers. We thank our law enforcement partners for working with us to combat these crimes in hopes of making our communities a safer place to live and work. Sentencing has been set for February 28, 2025. Finley faces up to 44 years in federal prison with three years to life of supervised release, up to a $2.25 million fine, and a $300 special assessment. The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Fentanyl distribution sentencings from the U.S. Attorneys office Whitney Wesaw, 25, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was sentenced to 142 days incarceration with three years supervised release to follow, for distribution of fentanyl and aiding and abetting drug distribution. According to court documents, in January of 2024, agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) were conducting controlled purchases of illegal substances from known and suspected drug dealers on the Wind River Reservation. On Jan. 17 agents successfully purchased fentanyl from Wesaw. Wesaw was indicted on July 18. She was arrested on Aug. 23 and subsequently detained. She pleaded guilty on Oct. 2 and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Dec. 12, in Cheyenne. DCI and the FBI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Greyson Redman, 23, of Ethete, Wyoming, was sentenced to time served with three years supervised release to follow, for distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents, in December 2023, agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) were conducting controlled purchases of illegal substances from known and suspected drug dealers on the Wind River Reservation. On Dec. 19, 2023, agents successfully purchased fentanyl from Redman. Redman was indicted on July 18, brought into federal custody on July 30, pleaded guilty on Sept. 19, and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Dec. 13, in Casper. DCI and the FBI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released the final version of the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan (RMP). This plan replaces the existing, outdated plan for the 3.6 million-acre field office in southwest Wyoming which was issued in 1997, and incorporates many of the recommendations from Governor Gordons Rock Springs RMP Task Force. Joshua Coursey, President of Muley Fanatic Foundation and Member of the Governors Rock Springs Task Force released the following statement in response: Today is the culmination of fourteen years of hard work by hunters, anglers, and so many others who use and enjoy Greater Little Mountain. I want to thank the Bureau of Land Management for honoring the wishes of our communities and adopting a plan that will help conserve Little Mountains mule deer for years to come. Now, we must move forward. It would be a great disservice to the hunting and angling community of southwestern Wyoming if we tried to undo this plan. I trust that Governor Gordon will embrace aspects of the plan that his task force specifically recommended, including the conservation of Little Mountain, and will collaborate with BLM and anyone else who is interested in finding solutions that work for all of Wyomings stakeholders on implementing the Rock Springs plan, said Joshua Coursey, President and CEO of Muley Fanatic Foundation. This fall, the Wyoming Outdoor Council (WOC), The Wilderness Society (TWS) and the Center for Western Priorities (CWP) conducted two analyses of how well the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) incorporated public input into the proposed RMP. The first analysis, by the Wyoming Outdoor Council and Wyoming Wilderness Association, showed the Proposed Rock Springs plan was clearly informed by the recommendations from Governor Gordons Task Force. Over 80 percent of the recommendations are reflected in the plan. Composed of local representatives from various Wyoming interests and industries, the Task Force members found consensus for over 100 recommendations. The Task Force delivered the recommendations to Governor Gordon and submitted the recommendations to the Bureau of Land Management during the public comment period that closed in January. The incorporation of these recommendations illustrates the agency listened to, and took seriously feedback from, local stakeholders in the affected communities. The second analysis shows public comments submitted on the draft version of the Rock Springs plan influenced the proposed plan. TWSs successful public records request for the 35,000+ comments BLM received on the draft plan allowed CWP to analyze the proportion that were in favor of, or opposed to, conservation of wild lands, wildlife habitats, and important cultural areas. This analysis found that a stunning 92 percent of all public comments were in support of conservation measures. BLM clearly took this input seriously when retaining over 900,000 acres of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern in the Proposed plan, with a focus on important landscapes known locally as the Big Sandy Foothills, Northern Red Desert, and Greater Little Mountain. These areas contain unmatched wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and historical and cultural values. These two analyses showed the BLM committed to honoring input received during the public process and underscore the value of a plan with popularly supported conservation measures for key landscapes. With conservation on equal footing with mineral and energy development, and public access and grazing maintained across the 3.6 million acre planning area, the agency has developed a sensible roadmap for southwestern Wyoming. Wyoming leaders have consistently expressed their disproval of the Bureau of Land Managements plans for the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan (RMP). After the BLM released the final Record of Decision (ROD), they again issued statements detailing their disappointment. U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR), issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris administration released its record of decision for the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan: The Biden-Harris administration is issuing yet another misguided and malicious midnight rule on their way out the door. Given that Wyoming Governor Gordon just submitted his review of this plan two days ago, it is clear that the Department of the Interior did not seriously consider or respond to his concerns. I look forward to working with President Trump to repeal this disastrous plan, said Senator Barrasso. In response to the United States Bureau of Land Managements release of the published Record of Decision for the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan, Secretary Gray released the following statement: I am outraged by this outrageously wrong, slapped-together, rush-job from a radical, lame-duck, failed administration. This Record of Decision for the Rock Springs RMP continues to be disastrous for Wyomings core industries, and detrimental to the people of Wyoming. It is an unconstitutional abomination that infringes on the rights of the citizens of Wyoming. Members of the public with information about a family dog that died after being shot with an arrow on Christmas Eve are encouraged to contact the Guam Police Department, according to GPD spokesperson Berlyn Savella. Chalan Pago residents Scott and Stacey Anderson on Tuesday morning found a roughly two-foot-long arrow lodged in the chest of their dog Lia after she came back from using the bathroom. The arrow pierced Lias lungs, liver, and spleen, and she died after going into surgery at Wise Owl Animal Hospital later that day, the Pacific Daily News reported. A report was taken, and investigations are ongoing. Follow-ups are being conducted, GPDs Savella said Thursday. At this time, no further information is available, she said. Savella said that anyone with information that would help bring closure to the shooting or any other crime should contact GPD dispatch. GPD dispatch can temporarily be reached at (671) 475-8544 and (671) 473-3735. Christmas Eve shooting Scott and Stacey Anderson let 11-year-old Lia out of their house to use the bathroom around 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Stacey Anderson told the PDN Lia had been let out three or four times a day for years, and the couple had never received any complaints about Lia or any of the other four dogs they own. When Lia came back to the door, she had the tail end of an arrow sticking out of her, and the couple rushed her to Wise Owl in Tamuning. The dog went into surgery, but veterinary staff informed the Andersons that CPR had begun on Lia just a few minutes after surgery began, according to the couple. Veterinarian Dr. Joel Joseph said that it was discovered during surgery that Lia had terminal cancer, and would have had about three months to live had she not been shot. Scott Anderson described Lia as basically like our oldest child, and said they did not have a chance to say goodbye to her before she passed. Lia lay dead on an observation table at the veterinary clinic by about 11 a.m. on Christmas Eve. According to Stacey Anderson, home video cameras caught Lia limping back home, but did not capture any footage of the moment she was shot. The Andersons are seeking more information about the shooting, and the person that shot Lia. Stacey Anderson said she believed whoever shot her dog must have prepared ahead of time in order to shoot her at 8 a.m. in the morning. Whoever did it, woke up one Christmas Eve and chose violence, she told the PDN Tuesday. Veterinarian Dr. Joseph said that hed seen two dogs shot through with an arrow stateside, but Lia was the first hes seen on Guam. Guam dogs are often brought into Wise Owl after getting shot with high-powered pellet guns, Joseph told the PDN. Animal laws Under Guam law, a person that knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence causes serious injury to or the death of an animal is guilty of animal abuse as a third-degree felony. Causing the death of an animal under circumstances demonstrating malice aforethought is classified as aggravated animal abuse, a second-degree felony. A person may kill a pet or animal in self-defense or the defense of others, but is required to notify the Department of Agriculture immediately and remain with the carcass until an officer takes possession of it for examination. The right to kill an animal running at large or trespassing on private property was removed from law in the 2021 Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety Act, also known as Puguas Law. Pugua was a dog found shot dead in the driveway of his caretaker in 2018, PDN files show. In 2018, a man was accused of shooting and killing a dog named Pugua in the village of Yigo with a .22 caliber rifle. Gerald Wayne Cruz II was ultimately cleared of felony charges related to the killing of Pugua, after a trial court found that even if Cruz did kill Pugua, he did not do so in a cruel manner. The controversial case led to an overhaul of Guam animal cruelty laws and the passage and signing of Puguas Law. The law allows a pets owner the opportunity to file a civil suit in court for relief after their pet is abused. Staff at different senatorial offices got pay raises of between about $1,000 and $10,000 as they went into the last three months of 2024, while some got salary hikes as big as $21,000 after taking on new roles in their offices. Staffing records for the Legislature show some 17 staffers at different offices saw their pay go up between the last quarter of fiscal year 2024 and the start of fiscal 2025 on Oct. 1. Most got increases while staying in the same job position, though two switched to new job titles and one employee took on more hours, records show. Senators decide how to use funds allotted to their office, and choose how many staff to hire and how much to pay for them. Office funds can also be saved and rolled over year-to-year, and senators in leadership roles like chairing committees get bigger allotments, giving the spending advantage to long-serving senators and those in the majority party. Records show Democrat Speaker Therese Terlaje had 11 staffers on for the last three months of the legislative term, while Republican Sen. Joann Brown had just two, and at one point during the term had a single employee, for example. Guam law only prohibits raises after Oct. 1 of a senators last year in office, if they opt not to run for reelection, or after a senator loses an election. Biggest, smallest spends Sen. Will Parkinsons office saw more total salary increases than any other office, $42,120, between the end of fiscal 2024 and the start of fiscal 2025 on Oct. 1. One employee who went from a senior policy analyst to the chief of staff position also got a $19,240 increase in pay, the second-biggest bump of any individual staffer in that period. We changed up roles in the office, as one person left their responsibilities fell on other staff and that persons salary was distributed accordingly to compensate for the additional responsibilities, Parkinson said of the increases. We also decreased the salary of our highest paid employee to give more equity to other employees, he added, which helped close the gender gap as women in the office took on leadership roles, he said. Meanwhile, a staffer that switched positions from a legislative assistant to a research analyst at Sen. Telo Taitagues office got the biggest single end of term bump, $21,684, staffing records show. Taitague said her staffer had gone from delivering packages and answering phones to doing writing and research for her office after she discovered their talent as an analyst. Besides not getting any benefits, their salary of just over $41,000 a year was small in comparison to the highest-paid legislative staff. If youre going to get someone to put out good work, then you have to pay them what theyre worth, Taitague said. Among staffers that didnt get an official change in position in staffing records, a policy analyst at Sen. Amanda Sheltons office got the biggest pay hike, at $10,400. But Sheltons office also saw the biggest drop in overall funding at the end of the term, with the departure of one high-paid community relations director. Her salary costs dropped $76,160, going from $326,488 to $250,328. With Republicans taking the legislative majority this election year, the shift of who has money to fund a large staff will shift come January. Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes had the highest cost of any single senatorial office in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, with seven employees pulling down $384,092.80. Her cost for salaries was even higher the quarter before, at $430,456. Muna Barnes has held more terms than any other sitting senator, she will begin her 12th term in January, and was previously the speaker of the Legislature. Speaker Terlajes 11 employees drew down the second-biggest total salary cost at the start of fiscal 2025, at $379,600. Meanwhile, Republican Minority Leader Sen. Frank Blas Jr.s personnel costs were the smallest of any senator, at just $62,514.66 for two employees. Blas had previous salary costs of $122,502.64 but saw two staff leave before October reducing his office size and personnel costs. Sen. Brown has consistently had the leanest office of any senator in the 37th Guam Legislature, paying $86,944 for two employees. Increases What follows is list of raises by position and office between the end of fiscal 2024 and the start of fiscal 2025 on Oct. 1, based on legislative staffing records. Sen. Parkinson Kiana Yabuts salary went from $39,520 $58,760 after changing positions from senior policy advisor to chief of staff, a $19,240 increase. Committee director Keith Taliguyan, from $37,440 to $41,600, a $4,160 increase. Office manager Trisha Rosalin, from $33,280 to $37,440 a $4,160 increase. Legislative aide Danyel Young Lee, from $27,040 to $35,360, a $8,320 increase. Administrative assistant Danca Cacayan, from $24,960 to $31,200, a $6,240 increase. Sen. Taitague Office manager Rowena Fejeran went from $49,920 to $52,000, a $2,080 increase. Marc Catahay went from $19,500 two $41,184, a $21,684 increase. Sen. Shelton Policy analyst Jay Milan went from $35,360 to $45,760, a $10,400 increase. Sen. Dwayne San Nicolas Communications Director Isaiah J. Babauta went from $41,600 to $45,760, a $4,160 increase. Chief policy analyst Ray Bonita, from $41,600 to $45,760, a $2,080 increase. Office administrator Renae C. Sabang, from $41,600 to $43,680 after changing positions from director of administration. Communications specialist Haruo Simion went from $21,840 to $23,400, a $1,570 increase. Sen. Roy Quinata Policy analyst Genese Morrison went from $36,400 to $42,640, a $6,240 increase. Speaker Terlaje Office manager Patsy Cruz, from $37,440 to $39,520, a $2,080 increase. Policy analyst Prairie Garrido, from $37,440 to $39,520, a $2,080 increase. Sen. Chris Duenas Communications specialist Tyler Matanane went from $42,640 to $43,680, or a $1,000 increase. Sen. Tom Fisher Haiti - FLASH reform : Everything you need to know about the 14 secondary school subjects On Monday, December 23, 2024, as part of the reform of school programs, Professor Yves Roblin, Director General of the Ministry of National Education, at a press conference, presented and handed over the programs of the 14 subjects for secondary school. For more than three years, 40 Haitian technicians with the support of some experts from France Education Internationale have been mobilized as part of the New Citizen Education Looking to the Future (NECTAR) project to work on these documents in order to adapt them to the framework of the orientation program for the Haitian education system. Yves Roblin praised the quality of the work which should help the General Education Directory to better establish itself in all schools through the 10 Departmental Directorates of Education (DDE). Roblin recalled, following the instructions of Minister Augustin Antoine, that the Ministry will make a lot of efforts to gradually facilitate the development of the technological network. In addition to the general education thread, the technology thread will push for a school that takes into account young people aspiring to practice a profession after completing a traditional training. Joseph Job Maurice, the Coordinator of Education and Quality, stressed the coherence between the elementary and secondary curriculum of the third cycle and recalled that the development of these programs is done according to the pedagogical approach which is based on the strengthening of the skills of students, and this approach is a priority by the orientation of the study programs for the Haitian education system. The coordinators of the Departmental Directorate of Education encourage all educational agents to seek a better understanding of these secondary programs which propose that teaching, at this level, be done differently. According to Professor Yves Roblin, the unions, as privileged partners of the ministry, will have a major role to play in helping teachers master these programs. However, despite his appreciation for the efforts made by the Ministry, trade unionist Josue Merilien believes that there are imperative conditions for the proper implementation of these programs. He cited among these conditions, the financial means that the Ministry must have to be able to implement them. He believes that the implementation of these programs will not succeed if schools do not have the best conditions for teaching and learning to take place, emphasizing among other things the need for the school canteen to be a reality in all schools in the country. Access the downloads of the 14 subjects of the secondary school programs : https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CFJOYey0_VCmLobv1JY94M3uShGDpuj4 HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... FLASH : Minister of Health dismissed Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime dismissed the Minister of Public Health Dr. Duckenson Blema Lorthe for having, according to our sources, decided to reopen the General Hospital without notifying the police. A decision which during the attack by the bandits left 3 dead, 2 journalists and 1 police officer and injured including 8 journalists https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43918-haiti-flash-bloody-inauguration-at-the-general-hospital-videos.html . According to the Transitional Council, the Minister of Justice will act as interim while awaiting the appointment of a new Minister of Health. To be continued... Several bandits killed Several specialized units of the Haitian National Police (PNH) were mobilized on Saturday, December 21, 2024, in downtown Port-au-Prince, including at Champ-de-Mars, Oswald Durand Street, Monseigneur-Guilloux Street, Portail Leogane and Bel-Air, the police institution informed. Several bandits were killed and roads barricaded by the thugs were unblocked during these interventions, the PNH said. PNH : 2 racketeers neutralized Two members of the Grand-Ravine gang were neutralized at the Alerte alley by the police. The thugs, who were operating in the area, were trapped by the police while they were extorting money from public transport drivers in the area. Reinforcements mission late As of December 18, 2024, the United States, the United Nations, and other international partners had not yet released funding for the deployment of an additional 600 Kenyan police officers to Haiti, reinforcing concerns about financial constraints... After completing their training, the Kenyan police officers are now on standby, stranded at the Embakasi training center... Artist Myrlande Constant Wins Prince Claus Impact Award Myrlande Constant, a textile artist, is among six recipients of the 2024 Prince Claus Impact Award, one of the most prestigious awards in the world in the arts and culture. She is being honored for her work in promoting gender equality through her work with the Voodoo flag. As the Prince Claus Foundation pointed out, "Myrlande Constant, a visual artist from Haiti, is celebrated as one of the first women to work with Voodoo banners or Voodoo flags, a traditional art historically practiced by men." AGD : Special schedule for December 31 In order to meet the demands of economic operators, the General Administration of Customs (AGD) announces that the customs offices and counters of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on December 31, 2024. HL/ HaitiLibre The USA is targeting China's semiconductor production of so-called legacy chips. The government suspects distortion of competition behind the market power: while China is lagging behind in modern manufacturing processes due to trade restrictions, most chips with coarser structures come from the country. Anzeige These include controllers, sensors and power management chips (PMICs), which use structures of 60 nanometers or even coarser ("matured nodes") and end up in cars, household appliances and medical equipment, among other things In April 2024, the US and the EU launched a survey among companies to assess the spread of Chinese chips. At the time, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo warned that China could produce 60% of the world's legacy chips in just a few years. Demand remains high because most applications do not require advanced manufacturing technology. At the same time, only a few companies want to build up production capacity for such old process generations the margin on such chips, which only cost a few cents, is too low. Chinese chips also in the US military Based on the survey, the US Department of Commerce came to the conclusion that around half of US companies do not know the origin of their chips. This is said to include weapons manufacturers. This is surprising because the USA actually pays meticulous attention to the chips in weapons systems. There are specially certified US semiconductor plants for this purpose. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai is leading the investigation with her office. In a statement, it writes: "There is evidence that China seeks to dominate domestic and global markets in the semiconductor industry and uses extensive anti-competitive and non-market means, including the setting and pursuit of market share targets, to achieve indigenization and self-sufficiency. China's actions, policies and practices appear to have harmful effects on the United States and other economies." Speaking to the Reuters news agency, Tai emphasized that the artificially cheap chips could significantly damage and possibly even eliminate market-based competition. In addition to the chips themselves, the current investigation is also looking at US end devices with soldered semiconductor components. Anzeige Joe Biden's US government is initiating the investigation and will pass it on to Trump's administration at the end of January 2025. The first results are expected in March. The USA is already imposing punitive tariffs of 50 percent on Chinese semiconductors in January. They could be increased further after that. ASML also benefits The business figures of Dutch equipment manufacturer ASML underline the fact that China is investing heavily in the production capacity of older process technology. In the first three quarters of 2024 alone, Chinese manufacturers such as SMIC purchased lithography systems worth 7 billion euros almost half of ASML's total sales revenue. ASML managers have repeatedly emphasized that China only buys machines for older manufacturing processes. The company is not allowed to sell modern lithography systems to China. (mma) Fingrid on Wednesday communicated that efforts to repair the connection will start as soon as the site of the failure has been located. AUTHORITIES in Finland and Estonia are investigating a failure in Estlink 2, a 170-kilometre, mostly underwater electricity transmission link between the two countries, after the link was disconnected from the grid early yesterday afternoon. The failure, it added, has not endangered the operation of the electricity system in Finland. [The] system is functioning normally and electricity reliability is currently good. At the time of the failure, 650 [megawatts] of electricity was transferred from Finland to Estonia. Arto Pahkin, the manager of network operations at Fingrid, told Helsingin Sanomat that technicians should be able to test the operation of the two substations connected by the link, with the results expected by noon today. If the tests reveal no abnormalities in the substations, the assumption will be that the failure is in the transmission link itself. We have several lines of investigation from sabotage to a technical fault, and nothing has yet been ruled out. At least two vessels were moving near the cable when the failure started, he commented to the newspaper on Wednesday. Pahkin declined to identify the vessels in an interview with YLE. The authorities will comment on that. Theyll look into who was moving there, he said. Police took over public communication responsibilities in relation to the incident yesterday evening. Jointly owned by Fingrid and Elering, the national transmission system operator in Estonia, Estlink 2 runs from Porvoo, Finland, to Pussi, Estonia, and has a transmission capacity of over 650 megawatts. The link consists of 145 kilometres of submarine cable, 14 kilometres of overhead cable in Finland and 12 kilometres of underground cable in Estonia. The transmission link was inaugurated a decade ago. Aleksi Teivainen HT Reinvestigation: Better lives in Xinjiang villages refute "forced labor" allegations 13:07, December 26, 2024 By Wu Baoshu ( Xinhua BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- When Zhou Jin'an returned to the village he once worked in for years in southern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, he was warmly received by the villagers, who shook hands with him and invited him to their homes for a chat over tea. Zhou used to be a member of the residential work team in that village. Such teams are groups of personnel, either from regional government departments or state-run enterprises, dispatched to poor rural areas to help boost local development. Earlier this year, The Economist published an article claiming that work teams in Xinjiang villages sought to compel local Uygur farmers to seek alternative employment. However, such allegations, hyped by Western media in recent years, unravel when one observes the interactions between local farmers and Zhou and his colleagues. "THEY HELPED EVERY HOUSEHOLD" In early 2015, Zhou, who works for a state-run company, was dispatched to work in a village in Yutian, a county on the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert and among the last counties in Xinjiang to eliminate absolute poverty in late 2020. At that time, Zhou could not imagine he would work and live for over eight years in villages in Yutian. Almost all residents there are Uygur farmers, who traditionally earn a living by growing wheat, corn, and roses and raising sheep and poultry. "We brought agricultural experts to guide the villagers in farming. We built vegetable greenhouses and a small processing plant for local produce, such as roses and cistanche, a Chinese herbal medicine. We would help all households that had difficulties. That was what we were there to do," said Zhou. Zhou was part of an eight-member team working in a village of around 1,600 residents. One daily routine was visiting households so that he could get to know what assistance they needed. Since many middle-aged and elderly villagers were not fluent in Mandarin, Zhou's Uygur colleagues would translate for him. Sometimes, younger members of the household would translate. Rayila Matturzi was one of them. The 25-year-old, the eldest of four siblings, was a high school student when Zhou and his colleagues came to work in her village. With her mother farming at home and her father doing construction work, Rayila's parents brought in a limited income, while her younger brother was diagnosed with epilepsy, a chronic disease that requires long-term treatment. "The work team did so much for my family. They contacted a hospital for my younger brother, funded his treatment and my studies, and always came to see us with things like flour, meat, and the medicines my brother needed. And it was not just for my family. They helped every household in the village," said Rayila, now a senior student majoring in English at a university near Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital. She was especially grateful to Zhou. "Every time Uncle Zhou came to my home, he would ask about my life and studies and encourage me. He would say, 'If you need any help, just tell me.' I really liked sharing my stories with him. All the villagers think he is a great man," she said. To support Rayila's family, Zhou helped her mother secure a part-time job as a cleaner, providing an additional source of income. Earlier this year, through a friend's recommendation, Rayila's mother began working as a cook at her son's school, where the canteen staff are all from low-income households, as part of a program to support these families. "My family is much better off now. All the villagers are better off now. Everything in the village has been improved -- the roads, the houses, the school, the health facilities," said Rayila. "Without the work team, there would not have been such great changes." Tuersun Aibai, an associate professor at the School of Journalism and Communication at Xinjiang University, who has been studying social changes in southern Xinjiang, said that those work teams have been serving the local people and boosting the development of rural areas "with a pure intention and concrete achievements." The recognition and support of local people of all ethnic groups testifies to that, he added. "EVERYONE WANTS A BETTER LIFE" Rayila was surprised by Western media allegations that work teams in Xinjiang villages forced "reluctant farmers to leave and do other forms of work." "That is ridiculous. We earn money on our own and spend it for ourselves. Everyone wants a better life," she said. "The work team would help those looking for a job to find one that matches their skills. But we don't need to be 'forced' to work. Why would they talk about us like that?" Rayila noted that Uygur people, particularly the younger generation, are keen to seek employment instead of relying solely on farming at home. "Most villagers want to find a job nearby or in the county town. Some young people even explore opportunities in big cities or other provinces," she said. Official statistics show that the Uygur population in Xinjiang, concentrated in the southern part of the region, increased by 16.2 percent to 11.62 million from 2010 to 2020. Yan Xueqin, an associate professor at the School of History and Society at Xinjiang Normal University, said most of the Uygur population had long been farmers despite scarce arable land in southern Xinjiang, where the landscape features vast deserts and mountains. "The per capita arable land in southern Xinjiang has become even smaller, and the added value of farm products there is still low. Farming alone cannot help improve the living standards of the local people. That's one reason locals seek other forms of work to supplement their incomes," Yan said in a report. Yan's team surveyed 3,028 rural Uygur households in southern Xinjiang in 2020 and 2021 and found that their incomes had improved and diversified, with wage incomes making up the highest proportion at 41.5 percent, followed by household-based farming incomes at 33.7 percent. Across China, rural residents have long been moving in huge numbers to cities and towns to work. The trend has gained momentum among the Uygur population, with a younger generation more fluent in Mandarin, better educated, and willing to seek opportunities in more developed areas. Rayila has observed the trend. "A young couple in my village who once worked in Hubei (a central Chinese province) asked me to help them improve their Mandarin," she said. "They told me that they wanted to return to work and live there because they enjoyed working and living in a developed city." Zhou noted the changes in the lifestyles of his fellow Uygur villagers. "With higher incomes, people now like to refurbish their homes, enjoy better food and dress well, and want to provide their children with a better education and brighter future," he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) onald Trumps proposed new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is already earning praise and criticism in the United States weeks before the president-elects inauguration. So far, theres only vague information on how this new department headed by Tesla founder Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy plans to reach its stated goal to streamline and improve how the U.S. federal government operates. DOGEs goals may be desirable or detestable, depending on who you ask. But partisanship aside, could DOGE potentially have any benefits? Quite possibly, depending on how wisely its policies are implemented. Some parts of government operations could be removed without the loss of programs or any threat to public servants jobs. As public administration and management scholars, we believe DOGE should start by cutting red tape and reducing the onerous bureaucratic hurdles faced by ordinary citizens when using government services, an issue thats been dubbed administrative burden. No value Red tape and administrative burden refers to all the rules, forms, protocols and procedures that employees and citizens must use or follow, but do not add any value or help an organization to function. Red tape and administrative burden are perceived as pointless extra requirements that stand in the way of doing necessary work or providing or accessing services. There is a lot of evidence documenting the negative impacts of red tape at both individual and organizational levels. Red tape can reduce employee engagement, job satisfaction and workers commitment to their employers, and overall operational effectiveness. Cutting red tape would therefore be beneficial for public servants and taxpayers alike. Public servants would face fewer obstacles in delivering services to the public, and taxpayers would receive services in a more effective manner. We cant think of any key stakeholders or special interests lining up to defend red tape. DOGE should also turn its attention to administrative burden, which is basically red tape that citizens have to cut through in order to access programs and service. In terms of tangible drawbacks, administrative burden can erode citizens trust in government and even undermine democratic norms and inclusivity. People and programs are key stakeholders and the raison d'etre for government-provided service. Similar to red tape, its hard to imagine citizen advocacy groups opposing and lobbying against the reduction of burdensome administrative procedures. Elon Musk carries his son on his shoulders, with Vivek Ramaswamy on the far right, as they convene for a meeting of president-elect Donald Trumps planned Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Undercutting morale DOGE should be cautious, however, about gutting the administrative capacity of the federal government to the point that it cant fulfil its main responsibilities. It would be careless to broadly slash public service jobs. Evidence suggests that a scorched Earth approach to improving government efficiency could have unintended negative consequences. It can undermine employee morale, effort, motivation, productivity and operational effectiveness which is all counter to the goal of improving government efficiency. Instead, DOGE should start by building credibility with the public and key stakeholders and avoid appearing too partisan. If it looks like its disproportionately targeting parts of the government that had strong support from the previous administration like the environment, public housing and health-care departments that might erode the publics confidence and negatively affect DOGEs image over the long run. DOGE could also have an impact on public perceptions via its messaging and how it describes its work. Talk of thinning out the ranks of bureaucrats could be more acceptable in the eyes of the American public than laying off dedicated government workers or public servants. We think DOGE should avoid derisive depictions of bureaucracies that paint the whole public sector in an overly negative light. Refraining from badmouthing bureaucracies or bureaucrats may reduce some of the negative stereotyping and growing ire directed at public servants. Peeling back the layers of red tape The choice of name for the new unit the Department of Government Efficiency is worth considering. The term efficiency can be misunderstood as being synonymous with laying off employees. Thats one possible way of increasing efficiency, but its not the only way in either the private or public sectors. Efficiency can also be increased by producing more with the same resources through improvements in processes for example, by eliminating red tape. It can also be boosted by producing more desirable programs and services that align better with societys changing needs. In short, theres good reason to do away with pointless and cumbersome processes, rules and procedures, and to streamline and improve how the U.S. federal government operates. Partisan controversies aside, a worthwhile mandate for DOGE is to start peeling back the layers of red tape that have accumulated over many years, and then slowly begin focusing on redundant programs, regulations and non-essential agencies. It should avoid slashing public service jobs en masse, or eliminating valuable programs that easily pass the cost-benefit test. 9123524 1110 202635150004 1984 2011201516 2015 201520229850 2009199720091200011.21997101514009932280019864200014188 Sweden rape: Most convicted attackers foreign-born, says TV 22 August 2018 Reporting of rape is far higher in Sweden than in most other countries (file pic) About 58% of men convicted in Sweden of rape and attempted rape over the past five years were born abroad, according to data from Swedish national TV. Public broadcaster SVT said it had counted all court convictions to present a complete picture in Sweden. But Sweden had thousands more reported rapes, and there is no ethnic breakdown for those. Immigration and crime are major issues in Sweden's general election campaign. The vote is on 9 September. The anti-immigration Sweden Democrats hope to make significant ground, although they have slipped to third place in the latest opinion poll. The Mission Investigation programme, due to be broadcast on Wednesday by SVT, said the total number of offenders over five years was 843. Of those, 197 were from the Middle East and North Africa, with 45 coming from Afghanistan. "We are very clear in the programme that it is a small percentage of the people coming from abroad who are convicted of rape," chief editor Ulf Johansson told the BBC. He pointed out that the number of reported rapes in Sweden was far higher, so no conclusions could be drawn on the role of immigrants in sexual attacks. When Sweden took in its highest number of asylum seekers in 2015, the number of reported rapes declined by 12%. At the height of the migration crisis, some 160,000 migrants arrived there - more per capita than any other EU country. The steep rise in migration also raised questions about Sweden's ability to integrate immigrants. The centre-left Social Democrat-led government soon introduced restrictions and the number of arrivals fell dramatically. The SVT programme revealed that in cases where the victim did not know the attacker, the proportion of foreign-born offenders was more than 80%. A former police officer born in Afghanistan told the programme that some young Afghans who had come to Sweden in recent years had views that differed significantly from Sweden's idea of sexual equality. Responding to the report on Wednesday, key figures in both the populist Sweden Democrats (SD) and the centre-right Moderates said foreigners convicted of rape should be deported. The latest opinion poll on Wednesday suggests the populist party's support has dipped in recent weeks to just over 19% in the polls, but it is still on course for its best performance yet. The Social Democrats are leading the polls while the Moderates are just ahead of the anti-immigration SD. When asked why SVT had decided to produce a potentially inflammatory programme ahead of the election, Ulf Johansson stressed that every political party was tackling issues around immigration and it was important to give Swedes a better insight into their society. "I don't think this will have an effect on the election," he said. "There has been a lot of debate already about this and it's just more facts in an existing debate." In his offbeat, self-aware feature debut Cracking Up, Matt Mitler presents a portrait of Danny Gold, a desperate, attention-hungry performance artist stumbling through a labyrinth of career missteps, ego trips, and personal implosions on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The film, which Mitler wrote, directed, and starred in, plays out like a fevered, postmodern take on the fall of a wannabe star, an exuberant collision of biting satire, performance art, and low-budget absurdity. The film opens with a ludicrously funny skit where Danny, in his bid for authenticity, impersonates Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront, only to be mocked by a clueless onlooker who insists hes doing it all wrong. It sets the tone for what follows: a series of episodes where Dannys delusions of grandeur clash with the stupidity and apathy of the world around him. His encounters with inept magazine reporters, baffling industry execs, and a host of clueless strangers in the streets mirror the films central theme the futility of seeking validation in a society that is too consumed with its own ignorance. Mitler's Danny is a caustic, volatile antihero whose charm quickly dissolves into irritability and self-sabotage. From screwing up an audition to getting high while impersonating Sammy Davis Jr., Dannys manic path to nowhere becomes both darkly comic and painfully real. His only tether to reality seems to be a nurse (played by Camryn Manheim) who inexplicably falls for his brand of manic self-destruction. Despite its deeply cynical take on fame and ego, Cracking Up isnt entirely without heart. Its most striking moments come when Mitler lets his absurdist tendencies take flight. His impersonation of Robert De Niro impersonating Henny Youngman is an oddball highlight a perfect example of the films irreverence. But while Mitlers raw performance is captivating in its abrasiveness, the films overall disjointedness can be a challenge. Its a movie that feels like an extended improvisation, where the chaotic energy of the downtown New York scene pulses through every scene, but without a clear narrative or emotional anchor. Mitlers film also benefits from its time-capsule quality, offering a glimpse into the gritty performance art spaces and raw urban energy of 1990s Manhattan. The city is alive in the films visuals, from impromptu performances in Washington Square Park to the dingy clubs and apartments where Dannys downward spiral unfolds. Cracking Up is as much a portrait of an era of grubby artistic rebellion and manic, ego-driven self-destruction as it is a character study. In the end, Cracking Up is a fascinatingly abrasive, unapologetically chaotic exploration of fames underbelly, filled with oddball performances and a jaded perspective on the artistic struggle. Its a film that may alienate more than it engages, but for those willing to dive into its disorienting world, it offers a glimpse into a nightmarish, irreverent moment in independent cinema; and a raw, often uncomfortable reflection on the fragile nature of one's self. Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray Cracking Up performs its way to Blu-ray via Art Label and OCN Distribution. The sole disc is housed inside a hard, clear plastic case. There is a 1-page mini-movie poster of the film with the Director's comments on the backside. The double-sided artwork features a couple of images. One is the alternate movie poster capturing a man screaming. The reverse side is a blown-up image of three people from the movie. If you think you've seen it all when it comes to comedy, think again. Hundreds of Beavers is the film that rewrites the rulebook on slapstick, absurdism, and the downright surreal. Its the sort of movie that comes along once in a generationif were lucky. And its certainly the most fun youll have watching a movie with friends this year, possibly in the last ten years. The premise, if you can call it that, is deceptively simple: A man falls in love, but in order to win his romantic interest, he must navigate a bizarre wilderness filled with communicative beavers, gay rabbits, poker-playing dogs, and all manner of other animal obstacles. It's a Looney Tunes fever dream spliced with live-action absurdities. Think I Think You Should Leave meets Wet Hot American Summer with a splash of Buster Keaton's most daring pratfalls, and you'll get a sense of what Hundreds of Beavers has in store. But its not just the premise thats a triumph, its the execution. The films humor is impossible to categorize. It mixes highbrow wit with the sort of delightful, non-sequitur gags that make you wonder if the writers had a brief dalliance with madness before returning to penning their genius. A snowman repeatedly drops a fishing pole in a sight gag that stretches across several minutes, turning what could have been a throwaway bit into a running joke that somehow becomes funnier with every iteration. Its not just a snowman, its a buff snowman, and yes, he keeps dropping the pole, and yes, it is as hilarious as it sounds. But thats just one piece of the absurdist puzzle. A flashback to the iconic Dogs Playing Poker painting takes a turn into a murderous farce where the canine cast members are dispatched one by one, leaving only a solitary dog to play... solitaire. Theres a subtle brilliance in how these seemingly random moments are stitched together into a narrative that makes total sense in the context of the film; its randomness is its method. The comedy is electric, but what truly sets Hundreds of Beavers apart is the unexpected level of cinematic sophistication behind the chaos. The film gleams with the nostalgic glow of old-school black-and-white cinematography, recalling the golden era of cinema where the picture itself was as much a part of the comedy as the punchline. It's not just that the jokes are funny (they are) it's that theyre framed and shot with an exquisite understanding of visual storytelling. Director Andrew Flanagan and his team wield the camera with a reverence for classic cinema that elevates the slapstick into something almost... beautiful. The compositions, the lighting, the pacing, all of it serves to heighten the absurdity. It's like watching a Looney Tunes short in 4K, only with more beavers, rabbits, and dead dogs. The film's rapid-fire jokes, many of which wouldve felt right at home in a Saturday Night Live sketch or a Tim and Eric episode; come in such abundance that it feels almost like an embarrassment of riches. Youll find yourself pausing to catch your breath, only to be knocked over by another flawlessly executed gag or visual joke. The script is sharp, quick, and relentlessly inventive, with the kind of wit youd expect from a show like I Think You Should Leave, though it's delivered in a wholly unique style that's unafraid to dip its toes into slapstick and surrealism. It's hard to imagine another film in recent memory that mixes the old-school, the highbrow, and the completely nonsensical in quite the same way. Hundreds of Beavers is not just a tribute to slapstick's golden age, but a subversive reinvention of it. Its as if the ghosts of Buster Keaton, Chuck Jones, and Monty Python were invited to an all-night improv session, and the result was this strange, glorious, and hilariously chaotic masterpiece. Is it the funniest film in years? Maybe ever? It's difficult to say for sure, but whats clear is that Hundreds of Beavers is a comedy of rare and almost precious quality. In a world filled with safe reboots and predictable jokes, this film feels like an eruption of creativitya reminder that cinema can still surprise us, make us laugh until we cry, and even leave us in awe of its sheer audacity. A gem, in every sense of the word. F#@%, this is hilarious. If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor: grab the movie, get comfortable, and prepare to laugh harder than you thought possible. Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray Hundreds of Beavers builds its way to Blu-ray via Catruna and OCN Distribution. The two discs are housed inside a hard, clear plastic case. There is a 26-page booklet inside that showcases parody posters that will cause everyone to laugh out loud. The double-sided artwork features a couple of cool images. One is of the original movie poster with hundreds of beavers chasing that poor man. The reverse side is an image of the map of the film. Flower industry shows vitality in Kunming, SW China's Yunnan People's Daily Online) 13:17, December 26, 2024 The 2024 China Kunming Dounan Flower Exhibition was held in Dounan, Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, from Dec. 20 to 22. Spectators admire flowers displayed during the 2024 China Kunming Dounan Flower Exhibition in Dounan, Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Faxing) The well-developed cold chain logistics transportation system between Kunming's Dounan Flower Market and Bangkok of Thailand has enabled Dounan's fresh-cut flowers, including roses, carnations and lilies, to dominate 90 percent of the market share in the Thai flower market. Photo shows flowers displayed during the 2024 China Kunming Dounan Flower Exhibition in Dounan, Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Faxing) Having been involved in the flower business in Dounan for more than two decades, Zhou Fahua has witnessed the evolution of Dounan's flower industry from traditional cultivation to becoming a key player in the national flower industry. It now encompasses all aspects such as the latest flower information release, trade and distribution, transportation, foreign trade, and the promotion of new flower varieties. The exhibition attracted nearly 100 flower institutions and companies from various countries such as the Netherlands, Japan, Thailand, the U.S., as well as regions in China including Beijing, and Shandong and Zhejiang provinces. Over the course of three days, the exhibition welcomed nearly 40,000 visits, with 40 percent being professionals. Additionally, the event saw the introduction of over 40 new flower varieties of hydrangea flowers, roses, chrysanthemum flowers and more. Spectators take pictures of flowers displayed during the 2024 China Kunming Dounan Flower Exhibition in Dounan, Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Faxing) Photo shows a new variety of hydrangea flowers with independent intellectual property rights on display during the 2024 China Kunming Dounan Flower Exhibition in Dounan, Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Faxing) Since 2015, Dounan has actively hosted flower exhibitions, introducing over 400 new flower varieties. The exhibitions have attracted 1.02 million visits, driving the volume of consumption to reach 137 million yuan (about $18.77 million), according to Chen Jing, secretary of the Communist Party of China Chenggong District Committee in Chenggong district of Kunming. During the exhibition, the Chenggong district government signed strategic agreements with eight flower enterprises on production, trade, logistics, e-commerce, and market operations, with a total investment of 240 million yuan. Tourists buy fresh-cut flowers at the Dounan Flower Market in Dounan, Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Faxing) According to Chen, Dounan now offers over 1,600 varieties of fresh-cut flowers across more than 100 categories, which are exported to over 50 countries and regions. From January to October this year, Dounan traded 12.3 billion stems of fresh-cut flowers, with a transaction value of 9.5 billion yuan. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) News / National by Staff reporter Bulawayo was buzzing with energy yesterday as last-minute Christmas shoppers filled the city, creating a festive and vibrant atmosphere. Banking halls, supermarkets, and beauty salons were packed, while vendors and businesses recorded brisk sales.In the central business district (CBD), long queues formed outside banks as residents withdrew money to cover their festive season expenses. Popular money transfer agents like Hello Paisa, Mukuru, Homelink, and Western Union were overwhelmed with customers collecting remittances sent by relatives abroad.An elderly woman, Gogo Mpofu, expressed her happiness after receiving money from her children overseas. "It's heart-warming to receive something from our children abroad, especially during Christmas," she said. Ms. Sibongile Dube, who received money from her niece in Canada, added, "This will help me cover expenses and enjoy Christmas like everyone else."Meanwhile, Ms. Joyce Muleya, a 69-year-old pensioner from Ntabazinduna, praised her bank, CBZ, for its reliable service. "CBZ has been consistent with pension deposits, and the staff is always courteous," she shared.The city streets were heavily congested with vehicles and pedestrians, and vendors at the 4th Street marketplace enjoyed booming sales. One vendor shared, "Christmas shopping has kept me busy all day. The most sought-after items are butternuts, potatoes, tomatoes, and cucumbers."Supermarkets like OK, Pick n Pay, and Greens were bustling, with shoppers pushing trolleys filled with groceries. Pushcart operators were also busy, competing with cars as they ferried goods to taxi ranks and bus termini.Edgars Stores CEO, Mr. Sevious Mushosho, commented on the mixed performance of business. "Volumes are slightly below expectations, possibly due to the drought and delayed salary payments for civil servants. We hope for better sales as the day progresses," he said.Fast food outlets and shopping malls were similarly crowded, while popular hiking spots also saw high activity as travelers sought transport to different destinations.At the Beitbridge and Plumtree border posts, Zimbabweans, affectionately known as injiva, returned home to spend Christmas with their families. The Beitbridge Border Post saw a significant influx of people, with authorities deploying additional staff to manage the surge. Between December 16 and December 21, 85,846 people entered Zimbabwe, with 75,096 being returning residents. Vehicle traffic was also high, with 3,087 light vehicles, 2,403 buses, and 3,525 trucks crossing into the country. Assistant Regional Immigration Officer Mrs. Canisia Magaya confirmed the daily average of 13,976 entries."Although traffic has surged, statistics show a slight decline compared to last year. We've deployed adequate personnel to ensure travelers don't spend long hours at the border," she said.Travelers praised the introduction of the electronic Temporary Import Permit (eTIP) system, which significantly reduced waiting times for vehicle clearance. "This is a game-changer," said one traveler.Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Dr. Takaruza Munyanyiwa, visited the border to assess operations, noting, "Feedback from travelers has been positive. The categorization of traffic lanes into cargo, buses, pedestrians, and light vehicles has greatly improved efficiency."Plumtree Border Post, where injiva crossed from Botswana, saw similar activity. To ease the process, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) extended operating hours to 24/7 during peak periods. A statement from Zimra noted, "The extension of operating hours facilitates the movement of private travelers during the festive period."The 24-hour extension ended yesterday, but it will be operational again on January 4th and 5th, 2025. Zimra also encouraged travelers to use the eTIP app to streamline vehicle clearance, facilitating smoother border processes.The eTIP system is a mobile or web-based application that allows foreign-registered private motor vehicles to apply for a Temporary Import Permit before reaching the port of entry, ensuring a quicker clearance process. The menorah on the grounds of the Williams Inn is lighted on Wednesday night. The tree and the menorah are at the bottom of Spring Street. PreviousNext Menorah Lighting Begins 8 Days of Hanukkah, Thoughts of Gratitude Mia Wax gets some helping light as she works the controls. The full ceremony can be seen on iBerkshires' Facebook page. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. With a boost from her dad, Mia Wax on Wednesday turned on the first candle of the more than 12-foot tall menorah at the Williams Inn. Around 40 people attended the community lighting for the first night of Hanukkah, which fell this year on the same day as Christmas. They gathered in the snow around the glowing blue electric menorah even as the temperature hovered around 12 degrees. "We had a small but dedicated group in North Adams, so this is unbelievable," said Rabbi Rachel Barenblat of Congregation Beth Israel in North Adams. "This is honestly unbelievable." Barenblat had earlier observed the lighting of the city's menorah in City Hall, which the mayor opened briefly for the ceremony. In Williamstown, Rabbi Seth Wax, the Jewish chaplain at Williams College, with his daughter and her friend Rebecca Doret, spoke of the reasons for celebrating Hanukkah, sometimes referred to as the Festival of Lights. The two common ones, he said, are to mark the single unit of sacred olive oil that lasted eight days during the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem and the military victory over the invading Greeks. "For the rabbis of antiquity, who created and shaped Judaism, these two events were considered to be miracles," said Wax. "They happened not because of what humans did on their own, but because of what something beyond them, what they called God, did on their behalf. "And so when they spoke about the about Hanukkah in Jewish prayers, in the liturgy, we do it through the lens of gratitude, a special prayer for Hanukkah that occurs in the daily prayers occurs in the section where we express gratitude for what we receive." Gratitude "is a really wonderful thing," he said, noting parents teach their children to be grateful and say thank you. Others might have gratitude journals in which the list the things each day for which they grateful. "We know that having practices of gratitude can help us feel more calm, more connected and more at peace," Wax said. A Ukrainian teacher from the late 18th century, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, he continued, "taught that the gratitude that we cultivate on Hanukkah helps us nurture a yearning in our hearts for the world to come for a more perfect world." When the world becomes perfect, then the only thing people can offer each other is gratitude. "So in this light, gratitude is messianic to tie in with another holiday that many of us are celebrating today," Wax said, standing in the light of the adjacent Christmas tree, "it's not just about what we receive or what we have in this world. Rather, gratitude opens a doorway into what could be. "So as we celebrate this first night of Hanukkah, when the world so often feels broken, want to bless all of us with the capacity for gratitude, for the strength to practice gratitude for what we have received, to be nurtured by it, to be strengthened by it, knowing that feeling and expressing it is not self centered, but rather they can open us up to the possibility of what might be, to dream, to imagine what a perfected world might be." Then Mia was placed on her father's shoulders to reach the controls lighting the shamash, the central higher candle used to light the other eight, and the first candle. One candle will be lighted each evening in the hannukiah to represent the eight nights the oil burned. The holiday will end on Jan. 2 Barenblat explained that, facing the menorah, the candles are placed from right to left, then lighted from left to right (actual candles would be replaced each night); however, from the street, the lights would go from left to right. "So this might look backwards to you, but it looks frontwards to me, which I think is some kind of deep teaching about, you know, different points of view," she said. The gathering agreed that one song was enough in the frigid cold and they sang "Oh Hannukah" as Barenblat accompanied them on the guitar. News / National by Staff Reporter A Step Towards Rehabilitation and Reintegration How the Parole System Will Work Towards a Healthier Prison System In a progressive move aimed at aligning with global standards, Zimbabwe is set to introduce a parole system in 2025, signaling a shift in focus from punitive incarceration to rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders.Faced with overcrowded prisons - housing approximately 21,000 inmates in facilities designed for 17,000 - the government is exploring new strategies to alleviate the burden on correctional institutions. The parole system is expected to play a crucial role in reducing congestion and improving conditions for those who remain incarcerated.Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) Commissioner General Moses Chihobvu emphasized that the groundwork for this initiative is nearing completion. "The parole system is now at an advanced stage. What remains is benchmarking against countries with established programmes and conducting awareness campaigns to inform the public," he said.Legal experts and advocates for prison reform have lauded the introduction of parole, noting its transformative potential. Rather than solely punishing offenders, the system aims to reintegrate them into society under specific conditions.Lawyer Rungano Mahuni explained, "Parole allows offenders to serve part of their sentence under supervised freedom, subject to certain conditions. This approach enables them to contribute positively to society while reducing the risk of criminal socialization within prison environments."Another legal practitioner, Kudzai Tichawangana, highlighted additional benefits. "Decongesting prisons not only improves living conditions for those who remain but also provides parolees the opportunity to support their families. The vetting process ensures only deserving inmates are granted parole, maintaining public safety while fostering social and economic contributions."Parole entails the conditional early release of eligible inmates, who are then monitored by parole officers while living outside the prison. The approval process may involve the President, the State Parole Board, the Commissioner-General of Prisons, or the Minister responsible for Prisons and Correctional Services.Key considerations for granting parole include an inmate's conduct, responsibility, industriousness, and adherence to prison regulations. Once released, parolees enjoy a degree of freedom but must comply with set conditions to avoid re-incarceration.By easing overcrowding, the parole system is anticipated to create a more humane and sustainable correctional environment. It also reflects the government's commitment to modernizing its prison system and recognizing the importance of rehabilitation in reducing recidivism.As the country benchmarks against international best practices and engages stakeholders, the parole initiative underscores Zimbabwes resolve to embrace progressive reforms in its correctional framework. 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 Numerous celebrities have offered their support to Blake Lively after she filed a lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, who is accused of sexual harassment and causing severe emotional distress. The lawsuit states there was a meeting attended by individuals including Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, Baldoni and their lawyers to address The Age of Adeline stars claims. Lively had a number of requirements for her to work on the film that according to the lawsuit cited by the outlet included no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldonis alleged previous pornography addiction, no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crews genitalia, no more inquiries about Blakes weight, and no further mention of Blakes dead father. The New York Times has also published alleged text messages from Baldoni, who has since been dropped by his agency, suggesting that he had orchestrated a smear campaign against Lively. Baldonis lawyer Bryan Freedman has said It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to fix her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film. Earier this month, Baldoni announced he is suing Lively and Reynolds for allegedly attempting to destroy his reputation and career. In the wake of the revelations against Baldoni, Lively has received an outpouring of support from various famous faces. Colleen Hoover The author of It Ends With Us has supported Lively amid the claims against Baldoni. In a post to her Instagram stories, Hoover wrote: @blakelively you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met. Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt. open image in gallery Colleen Hoover on Instagram ( Colleen Hoover/Instagram ) Robyn Lively Blake Livelys sister Robyn has responded to the sexual harassment lawsuit that the Gossip Girl actor filed against Baldoni. 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 FINALLY justice for my sister @BlakeLively, the older Lively wrote on her Instagram Stories, highlighting specific sentences and phrases from the New York Times article. She then encouraged her followers to read the article in a follow-up post as she linked the article and wrote Blake Lively with a heart drawn around the name. America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel Blake Livelys longtime friends and co-stars on Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants released a joint statement on social media in support of the It Ends With Us actor. The joint statement of support from the cast of the 2005 coming-of-age comedy-drama was posted on Instagram and stated that the actors stand with Lively in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation. As Blakes friends and sisters for over 20 years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation, the statement read. Throughout the filming of It Ends With Us, we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set, and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice. Most upsetting is the unabashed exploitation of domestic violence survivors stories to silence a woman who asked for safety. The hypocrisy is astounding. We are struck by the reality that even if a woman is as strong, celebrated and resourced as our friend Blake, she can face forceful retaliation for daring to ask for a safe working environment. We are inspired by our sisters courage to stand up for herself and others. The statement ended with a call to look up the full complaint and was signed by Ferrera, Tamblyn, and Bledel. Gwyneth Paltrow In a subtle show of support for Lively, Paltrow shared an image of the stars Blake Brown haircare line on her Instagram stories, adding: Just added to my Christmas wish list. The Sliding Doors actor punctuated the endorsement with a queen emoji. open image in gallery Gwyneth Paltrow on Instagram ( Gwyneth Paltrow/ Instagram ) Amy Schumer The Trainwreck actor gave a short seal of approval to Lively after the news broke. The 43-year-old simply wrote on her Instagram stories: I believe Blake. Deadline notes that Schumers support for Lively is significant as she has previously mocked the actor on her Inside Amy Schumer sketch show and said that the two are not close friends. Paul Feig Feig, who directed Lively in the 2018 comedy A Simple Favor and its upcoming sequel, voiced his support for the star on X/Twitter. The 62-year-old wrote: Ive now made two movies with Blake and all I can say is shes one of the most professional, creative, collaborative, talented and kind people Ive ever worked with. She truly did not deserve any of this smear campaign against her. I think its awful she was put through this. Shawn Levy The Canadian director, who worked with Lively on Deadpool and Wolverine, shared a link to the New York Times story on Instagram, adding that he was Proud to call Blake Lively a friend. open image in gallery Shawn Levy on Instagram ( Shawn Levy/ Instagram ) Alex Saks Saks worked as a producer on It Ends With Us. She also shared her support for Lively by posting a link to the New York Times article on Instagram. Jenny Slate The comedian and actor played the sister of Baldonis character in It Ends With Us. In a statement to Today, the 42-year-old said: As Blake Livelys cast mate and friend, I voice my support as she takes action against those reported to have planned and carried out an attack on her reputation. Blake is a leader, loyal friend and a trusted source of emotional support for me and so many who know and love her. What has been revealed about the attack on Blake is terribly dark, disturbing and wholly threatening. I commend my friend, I admire her bravery, and I stand by her side. open image in gallery Ferrera, Paltrow, and Hoover have all shared their support for the star ( Getty ) Amber Heard Amber Heard has said that misinformation spread online is as horrifying as it is destructive in response to the revelation that It Ends With Us director and star Justin Baldoni hired the same PR crisis manager that Heards ex-husband Johnny Depp used during their high-profile defamation trial in 2022. In a statement to NBC News, Heard said: Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on. I saw this firsthand and up close. Its as horrifying as it is destructive. open image in gallery Amber Heard has offered her support to Lively after Baldoni hired Depps PR crisis manager ( Getty Images ) Brandon Sklenar Lively and Baldonis It Ends With Us co-star has defended Lively before, after she was called tone-deaf for her promotional interviews for the movie. Following the publication of the lawsuit, he urged his followers to go and read the document. Sklenar, who plays the teenage love interest of Livelys character in the adaptation of Hoovers novel, shared a photo of Livelys lawsuit as well as a link to the 80-page document. He captioned the Instagram post: FOR THE LOVE OF GOD READ THIS, and added a red heart emoji while also tagging Lively. open image in gallery Sklenar has shown his support for his co-star Lively ( Getty Images ) Bart Johnson Livelys brother-in-law and High School Musical star Johnson went public with a candid and scathing statement in support of Lively. He attacked Baldoni in a post on X/Twitter on 23 December, as he wrote: Hes a fraud. He puts on the costume of a hero, man bun and all. Used all of the trendy catchphrases & buzz words for his podcasts. None of its genuine. Its all theatre. And everyone fell for it. For years. Rewatch his videos with a more critical eye and watch him compliment and praise himself with faux humility and self deprecation. What a performance. Michele Marrone The Italian actor and model, who stars alongside Lively in the forthcoming A Simple Favor sequel, shared his support in a December Instagram video, saying: Its usually not my thing to make those kinds of videos, but I think its time to stand up for a person I really love and this person is Blake Lively. open image in gallery Michele Morrone shared his support of Lively in an Instagram video ( Getty Images ) I personally met Blake during A Simple Favor 2. We shot this incredible film together and I felt something was wrong, and I felt the pain, Marrone continued, adding that he was really tired of reading cruel and bad comments about Lively. Blake, I love you so much, he concluded. Keep it up and were going to see each other very soon. Love you. Kaitlin Olson In an Instagram reel featuring the bombshell NYT article, Hacks actor Kaitlin Olson, whos also the wife of Reynoldss Wrexham AFC co-owner Rob McelHenney, wrote: @blakelively is a kind, lovely, honest and generous person (and an incredible mom) FYI. 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 James Corden has admitted he wanted to trick everybody with the plotline for Gavin and Staceys eagerly awaited finale. The hit BBC sitcom originally aired between 2007 and 2010, and returned in 2019 with a one-off festive special that ended on a cliffhanger when Ruth Joness character Nessa proposed to James Cordens Smithy. *Spoilers ahead* In the finale, which aired on Christmas Day, fans were left completely shocked when it turned out that Smithy had spent most of the episode preparing for a wedding with one of the shows most disliked characters. Sonia, played by Laura Aikman, returned for the one-off episode in an unexpected turn of events as she prepared to marry Smithy. The pair had broken up in the 2019 Christmas special after Sonia left Barry Island early and Smithy turned down her invitation to join. At the wedding, Gavin, played by Mathew Horne, stands up to tell his friend Smithy that he is making a mistake. Nessa, meanwhile, is unable to attend the wedding as shes on her way to Southampton to work on the boats. In a dramatic turn of events, everyone rushes to stop Nessa leaving, as Smithy finally declares his love and gets down on one knee to propose. She says yes and the couple have an informal wedding in which the bride, true to her alternative nature, wears black. I remember it so vividly because I was in America at this point and I called Ruth, in this sort of, Will we do it? Wont we do it? Should we do it? Shall we do it? Corden told a panel at a screening of the finale in London, when asked about the bait and switch storyline. Corden said he had wanted to trick everyone ( BBC ) I had this idea at like three oclock in the morning and I called Ruth and I was like, I wonder if we could trick everybody into thinking that for the first six or seven minutes theyre just going to watch a wedding between Sonia and Smithy. He explained that fan theories had prompted the storyline, because what was really interesting is after the 2019 special, all that people would say to us was, What does he say? They would never say Who did he choose? I dont even think it was in peoples peripheral. These two have been up and down. 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 He shared Joness reaction as he said: I remember calling Ruth on my drive into work and saying, I wonder if we could do this, and the way that writing the show works is Ill just keep going to Ruth. Im like a sort of excitable energizer bunny going, What if? And Ruth goes, Nah, I go, What if? And then as soon as she goes, Oh, yeah, I know that its great. 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 Gavin & Stacey fans have been left disappointed after they waited six years for clarity on one of the shows biggest mysteries. The hit BBC sitcom aired between 2007 and 2010 and returned in 2019 with a one-off festive special that ended on a cliffhanger when Ruth Joness character Nessa proposed to James Cordens Smithy. Although fans were treated to the revelations about the pairs romance in the finale, which aired on Christmas Day, theres another enigma that has haunted the show since its first series was released. The question of what happened during a fishing trip between Uncle Bryn, played by Rob Brydon, and his nephew Jason West, played by Robert Wilfort, has been the centre of much fan speculation. Although the fishing trip does not take place during the series, and refers to an event outside of the timeline of the show, it has long been a running joke throughout its episodes. The first clips from the final episode of the hugely popular sitcom, which were shown during the Strictly Come Dancing finale, appeared to tease a revelation about the trip. But that did not happen. Id like to say now and forever, the joke has always been you dont find out, Wilfort told a panel at a screening of the finale in London. Fans did not find out what happened on the mysterious fishing trip ( BBC ) He defended the decision not to reveal what happened on the trip as he said: Im sorry everybody, but that has always been the joke and it always will be because its funny. He continued: Its funnier that way. And I was so pleased that we didnt reveal it because we never know what it is. 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 Ahead of the shows finale, Wilfort had told the BBC that he was prepared for mysteries surrounding the event to follow him to his grave. Im under strict instructions not to reveal any details, we want no spoilers, so youll just have to watch on Christmas Day, he said at the time. Im fully prepared for it to go on my gravestone: What happened on the fishing trip? He continued: People go mad trying to figure out what happened... its really lovely to be in this thing that has captured peoples imaginations. 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 An international investigation has begun into how an Embraer 190 passenger jet with 67 people onboard crashed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 people but leaving 29 survivors Azerbaijan Airlines flight J28243, which had been flying from Baku to Grozny, the capital of Russias Chechnya, crash-landed instead a few kilometres short of Aktau airport. It was the first fatal accident anywhere in the world involving a passenger jet in 2024. Unverified video footage of the crash showed the aircraft descending apparently with control problems and hitting the ground where it burst into flames. Children were among the survivors being treated at a nearby hospital, authorities said in a statement. Some of the videos posted on social media showed survivors dragging fellow passengers away from the wreckage. Russias aviation watchdog a preliminary investigation indicated the pilot decided to change landing site after a collision with birds. But Reuters news agency noted that the plane had diverted from an area of Russia that Moscow has recently defended against Ukrainian drone attacks. The news agency quoted Richard Aboulafia, an analyst at consultancy AeroDynamic Advisory, who also raised doubt over a bird strike. You can lose control of the plane, but you dont fly wildly off course as a consequence, he said. However, Azeri president Ilham Aliyev said that it was too soon to speculate on the reasons behind the crash, and said bad weather in Grozny had forced the flight to divert. open image in gallery Emergency specialists work at the crash site in Kazakhstan ( Kazakhstan's emergency situation ministry/AFP ) Mr Aliyev said: The information provided to me is that the plane changed its course between Baku and Grozny due to worsening weather conditions and headed to Aktau airport, where it crashed upon landing. Commercial aviation-tracking websites monitored the flight as it flew north on its scheduled route along the west coast before it disappeared. It then reappeared on the east coast, where it circled near Aktau airport before crashing into the beach. Kazakh officials said those aboard the plane included 42 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russian nationals, six Kazakhs and three Kyrgyzstan nationals. Five of the 67 were crew. Transport prosecutor, Timur Suleimenov, told a briefing that the planes black box, which contains flight data to help determine the cause of a crash, had been found, Interfax reported. President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences, while Mr Aliyev decided to return home from Russia where he had been due to attend a summit. Unfortunately, Azerbaijans President Aliyev was forced to leave St Petersburg [where he had a summit]. Putin has already called him and expressed his condolences in connection with the crash of the Azerbaijani plane in Aktau, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. We deeply sympathise with those who lost their relatives and friends in this plane crash and wish a speedy recovery to all those who managed to survive. open image in gallery Emergency workers at the crash site in Kazakhstan ( Kazakhstan's emergency situation ministry/AFP ) Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-backed leader of Chechnya, expressed his condolences in a statement and said some of those being treated in hospital were in an extremely serious condition and that he and others would pray for their recovery. Kazakhstani, Azerbaijani and Russian authorities said they were investigating the crash. Embraer said in a statement it is ready to assist all relevant authorities. Azerbaijan Airlines suspended all its flights from Baku to Russia's Chechnya until the investigation is finished, Russias state TASS news agency reported. 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 China has approved the construction of the worlds largest hydropower dam on the eastern rim of the Tibetan plateau despite protests over its ecological impact and concerns it could affect millions of people downstream in India and Bangladesh. The dam, located in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo river, could annually produce 300 billion kWh of electricity, according to an estimate provided by the Power Construction Corp of China in 2020. That is more than triple the 88.2 billion kWh capacity of the Three Gorges Dam, currently the worlds largest, in central China. The project is expected to play a major role in meeting Chinas carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, stimulate related industries such as engineering, and create jobs in Tibet, Chinese state media Xinhua reported on Wednesday. A section of the Yarlung Zangbo falls a dramatic 2,000m within a short span of 50km, offering huge hydropower potential as well as unique engineering challenges. The outlay for building the dam is expected to eclipse the 254.2bn yuan (27.80bn) it cost to construct the Three Gorges Dam. The Yarlung Zangbo river is seen during a government organised visit for journalists ( Getty ) Constructing Three Gorges required the resettling of 1.4 million people. Authorities have not indicated how many people the new project would displace and how it would affect the local ecosystem, one of the richest and most diverse on the plateau. The site of the project is located along a tectonic plate boundary which is a zone for earthquakes. At least four 20km-long tunnels must be drilled through the Namcha Barwa mountain to divert half of the rivers flow to harness its power, according to reports. But according to Chinese officials, hydropower projects in Tibet, which they say hold more than a third of Chinas hydroelectric power potential, would not have a major impact on the environment or on downstream water supplies. India and Bangladesh have nevertheless raised concerns about the dam, with the project potentially altering the rivers course downstream. India is concerned that Chinese projects in the region could trigger flash floods or create water scarcity downstream. An Indian lawmaker previously raised concerns over China building the dam in the bordering region of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as part of southern Tibet. The Yarlung Zangbo becomes the Brahmaputra river as it leaves Tibet and flows south into Indias Arunachal Pradesh and Assam states and finally into Bangladesh. We cannot trust our neighbour. You never know what they can do, Ninong Ering, a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) told the parliament in July. They can either divert the entire river flow drying up our Siang or release water at once causing unprecedented floods and havoc downstream. 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 South Koreas opposition party on Thursday submitted a motion to impeach acting president Han Duck Soo over his refusal to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies. It was initially reported the Democratic Party had decided to delay submitting the motion until later this week, but spokesperson Yoon Jong Kun confirmed the bill would be submitted today. We have decided to exercise patience, taking into account the sentiments of the people, and wait until the 26th to determine whether our demands are met, DP floor leader Park Chan Dae said. The court is set to review rebellion charges against impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol for declaring martial law on 3 December. Since six of the nine judges on the court must vote to formally remove Mr Yoon from office, a full bench is crucial. But three seats are currently vacant. The court plans to start pretrial hearings on Mr Yoons case soon. After Mr Yoon was impeached by the parliament and suspended from office, Mr Han, the prime minister, took over as the acting president. The parliament backed three nominees for the Constitutional Court on Thursday, but Mr Han has yet to formally appoint them. Mr Park said there was no room for negotiations regarding the investigation of Mr Yoon. Mr Hans stance left us no other option but to interpret it as his intention to continue the insurrection by delaying proceedings, Mr Park told the media, adding that they would initiate impeachment proceedings against Han. South Koreas acting president Han Duck Soo speaks at the government complex in Seoul on 26 December 2024 ( AP ) The opposition claims that only a simple majority in the 300-member National Assembly is needed to impeach Mr Han, as this is the threshold for a cabinet member. The ruling party argues that a two-thirds majority is necessary since Mr Han is currently acting as president. If Mr Han is impeached, finance minister Choi Sang Mok is likely to take over as new acting president. Mr Yoon has avoided questioning over the rebellion charges and blocked investigations into his office. The impasse between Mr Yoons conservative party and the liberal opposition has stalled governance in South Korea, disrupted diplomacy, and unsettled financial markets. 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 Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister who governed for two terms and steered an economic boom in the country, has died, aged 92. Singh was admitted to New Delhis All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to sudden loss of consciousness at home, the hospital said in a statement. He was being treated for age-related medical conditions, the statement added. Singh is credited with guiding India to unprecedented economic growth and lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty. Prime minister Narendra Modi said: India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of Indias longest-serving prime ministers for 10 years and earned a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. open image in gallery ( Reuters ) He was chosen to fill the role in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of assassinated prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. But his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. Singh was elected to a second term as prime minister from 2009-2014 that was clouded by financial scandals and corruption charges over the organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This led to the Congress Partys crushing defeat in the 2014 national election by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Modi.Singh adopted a low profile after relinquishing the post of prime minister. He was born into a poor family in a part of British-ruled India now in Pakistan, Singh studied by candlelight to win a place at Cambridge University before heading to Oxford, earning a doctorate with a thesis on the role of exports and free trade in Indias economy. He became a respected economist, then Indias central bank governor and a government advisor but had no apparent plans for a political career when he was suddenly tapped to become finance minister in 1991. During that tenure to 1996, Singh was the architect of reforms that saved Indias economy from a severe balance of payments crisis, promoted deregulation and other measures that opened an insular country to the world. open image in gallery ( REUTERS ) Famously quoting Victor Hugo in his maiden budget speech, he said: No power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come, before adding: The emergence of India as a major economic power in the world happens to be one such idea. Singhs ascension to prime minister in 2004 was even more unexpected. He was asked to take on the job by Sonia Gandhi, who led the centre-left Congress party to a surprise victory. Italian by birth, she feared her ancestry would be used by Hindu-nationalist opponents to attack the government if she were to lead the country. Riding an unprecedented period of economic growth, Singhs government shared the spoils of the countrys new found wealth, introducing welfare schemes such as a jobs programme for the rural poor. open image in gallery INDIA-MANMOHAN SINGH-DECESO ( AP ) In 2008, his government also clinched a landmark deal that permitted peaceful trade in nuclear energy with the United States for the first time in three decades, paving the way for strong relations between New Delhi and Washington. But his efforts to further open up the Indian economy were frequently frustrated by political wrangling within his own party and demands made by coalition partners. And while he was widely respected by other world leaders, at home, Singh always had to fend off the perception that Sonia Gandhi was the real power in the government. The widow of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, whose family has dominated Indian politics since independence from Britain in 1947, she remained Congress party leader and often made key decisions. Singh was not personally seen as corrupt. But he came under attack for failing to crack down on members of his government as a series of scandals erupted in his second term, triggering mass protests. The latter years of his premiership saw Indias growth story, which he had helped engineer, stall as global economic turbulence and slow government decision-making impacted investors confidence. In 2012, his government was tipped into a minority after the Congress partys biggest ally quit their coalition in protest at the entry of foreign supermarkets. Two years later Congress was decisively swept aside by the Bharatiya Janata Party under Narendra Modi, a strongman who promised to end the economic standstill and bring inclusive growth to the hinterlands. But at a press conference just months before he left office, Singh insisted he had done the best he could. I honestly believe that history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media or, for that matter, the opposition parties in parliament, he said. Singh is survived by his wife and three daughters. 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 MT Vasudevan Nair, one of Indias most renowned writers, died on Wednesday. He was 91. Nair died in a hospital in Kozhikode city in the southern state of Kerala. Madath Thekkepat Vasudevan Nairs seven-decade career spanned literature, journalism and film, leaving a lasting impact on Indias cultural landscape. His stories, often set in the countryside and drawing on his childhood, celebrated the range of human emotion and connection. Nair was born on 15 July 1933 in Kudallur, a small village in Keralas Palakkad area, and grew up a voracious reader. He started writing very young. I was born in a village, on the banks of the Bharathappuzha, where the world of literature, writing and books was non-existent. Newspapers used to come by post, delayed by three days. Books reached me once in a blue moon, he said in an interview with Sahapedia in 2019. Once I reached high school, I started reading everything. After reading, I wanted to write something. I knew I could not match the writing I had read, but, in my loneliness, I felt like scribbling something. After graduating college, Nair joined the Malayalam magazine Mathrubhumi in 1956 and went on to become its editor in 1968. In this role, which he stayed in until 1981, Nair is often credited with discovering and mentoring young writers who went on to have prolific careers. He was awarded Jnanpith, Indias highest literary honour, in 1995 and the Padma Bhushan, the countrys third-highest civilian honour, in 2005 . He received the highest civilian award given by Keralas state government, the Kerala Jyothi Award, in 2022. Nairs debut novel Naalukettu, meaning the legacy, about the decline of the traditional joint family in post-Independent India is considered a classic in Malayalam literature and won Nair his first Kerala Sahitya Akademi award in 1959, when he was only 25. The novel, first published in 1958, went on to be translated into 14 languages. It continues to feature on bestseller lists and was adapted into an award-winning television film in 1995. Characters, their predicaments thats what inspires me. The crossroads they find themselves in they trouble us, he said in 2023, in an interview with The Indian Express. He wrote nine novels and 19 collections of short stories, multiple essay collections, memoirs, and travelogues, all known for his particular style which looked at complex human emotions and how they operated within their specific social circumstances. His 1984 work Randamoozham, translated as The Second Turn, a retelling of the Hindu epic Mahabharata from Bhimas perspective, is considered a groundbreaking work in Malayalam literature. Nair also worked as a screenwriter and director in Malayalam cinema. His first screenplay, Murappennu in 1965, was described by The Hindu as one of the most significant films in the history of Malayalam cinema. He won the national award for best screenplay a record four timesfor Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989), Kadavu (1991), Sadayam (1992), and Parinayam (1994). Nair made his debut as a director in 1973 with Nirmalyam, which went on to win the national award for best feature film. Tributes poured in after news of Nairs death broke, with the Kerala state government announcing two days of mourning. Saddened by the passing away of Shri MT Vasudevan Nair Ji, one of the most respected figures in Malayalam cinema and literature, prime minister Narendra Modi said. His works, with their profound exploration of human emotions, have shaped generations and will continue to inspire many more. He also gave voice to the silent and marginalised. My thoughts are with his family and admirers. Om Shanti. Keralas chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, posted on X: With MT Vasudevan Nairs passing, we have lost a doyen of Malayalam literature who elevated our language to global heights. A true cultural icon, he captured the soul of Kerala through his timeless works. His steadfast commitment to secularism and humanity leaves behind a legacy that will inspire generations. Heartfelt condolences to his family and the cultural community. I shared a long-standing relationship with him. He gave me some of the most significant characters in my acting career. I also had the opportunity to work with him on two films under his direction. He was one of the popular novelists and screenwriters, not just in Kerala but across India, said Malayalam actor Mohanlal. Kamal Haasan, one of the biggest names in Tamil cinema, wrote: We have lost a great writer. The greatest personality of the Malayalam literary world, M.T. Vasudevan Nair, has left us. My friendship with him was fifty years old. He was the creator of 'Kanyakumari,' which introduced me to the Malayalam film world. Our friendship continued till the recent release of 'Manorathangal.' He has contributed great novels to the Malayalam literary world and became a successful screenwriter. His demise has caused me great pain. He contributed to all forms of writing with his own uniqueness and has retired. This is a huge loss. It will deeply distress South Indian literary readers. My heartfelt tribute to a great writer. 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 release of Aung San Suu Kyi and around 20,000 fellow political prisoners will be the most crucial step towards ending the conflict in Myanmar, the countrys government-in-exile has said. The National Unity Government, or NUG, which comprises former politicians from various parties and is leading the political opposition to the military junta that seized power in a 2021 coup, has raised concerns about Ms Suu Kyis health. Aung San Suu Kyi is arbitrarily detained. She is in isolation and it is inhumane for a 79-year-old lady who has sacrificed so much for her country, Kyaw Zaw, a spokesperson for NUG, said. He was responding to the documentary, Cancelled: The Rise and Fall of Aung San Suu Kyi, released by Independent TV. The film charts the political journey of Myanmars former leader, who was thrust into the political spotlight in the 1980s and spent many years in jail for advocating for democratic rule in the country. Mr Zaw said the military juntas rule has led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in northern Rakhine State where intense fighting between the army and an ethnic rebel group has reportedly displaced millions of people. Ms Suu Kyi, who was given the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, has been detained, probably in solitary confinement, since the coup overthrew her democratically elected government in February 2021 and plunged the country into crisis. open image in gallery A protester covered in fake blood next to an image of detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a demonstration outside the UN office in Bangkok ( AFP via Getty ) She was arrested by the military along with top members of her National League for Democracy party, including president Myint Swe, sparking widespread protests, civil disobedience, and armed resistance across the country. The Lady, as she is known in much of Myanmar, was given a sentence of 33 years in prison, later cut to 27 years. The charges against her ranging from corruption to owning illegally imported walkie-talkies have been widely condemned as politically motivated and designed to discredit Ms Suu Kyi and bolster the militarys claim to power. Mr Zaw claimed that Ms Suu Kyis representatives havent been allowed to contact or meet her. We urge the military leaders to release Aung San Suu Kyi. We also encourage the international community to raise this issue, either publicly or through diplomatic channels, to press the military to release Aung San Suu Kyi and all unfairly detained political prisoners, he said. While the international community may have shifted focus to the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, the people of Myanmar remain steadfast in their reverence for Ms Suu Kyi and their commitment to the cause of freedom, Mr Zaw said. People in the country still carry out protests and we see her pictures prominently displayed in the cities, keeping the fight for her release alive. Her party, the National League for Democracy, was overwhelmingly supported by the people of Myanmar due to her leadership. She is deeply loved by people from all walks of life in Myanmar, he said. open image in gallery Aung San Suu Kyi ( Getty ) This isnt the first time Ms Su Kyu has faced imprisonment. She was first put under house arrest in 1989 by the junta that ruled at the time. The house arrest would last nearly two decades and make her a symbol of peaceful resistance against oppression. International campaigns and protests calling for her release led to the end of 21 years of detention in 2010. Five years later, she became the leader of the country after her party won a landslide victory in the national election. In the documentary, her son Kim Aris says this situation is different to her last detention as she battles old age and bad health. Maymay is frail and in bad health, which is why I once again make this heartfelt plea for her to be released, he says. Her father died bringing freedom to his country. She has sacrificed so much of her life to give people fundamental human rights. Mr Aris laments that by her 80th birthday in June next year, Ms Suu Kyi will have spent a quarter of her life in military detention. open image in gallery Three former British foreign secretaries have called for Aung San Suu Kyis release ( Sipa/Shutterstock ) Mr Zaw said the NUG government and the people of Myanmar will continue fighting to end the brutal military rule. The goal is to ensure that there are no more arbitrary arrests or political prisoners. This is the path to freeing not only Aung San Suu Kyi but also the entire nation from the grip of this brutal military dictatorship, he said. Fighting resistance forces and rebel groups, the militarys control over the country is weaker than it has ever been, the NUG said. The military first seized power in Myanmar in a 1962 coup. As many as 90 towns and cities are held by the resistance forces, the government-in-exile said, with the military fully controlling just 21 per cent of the country. open image in gallery Members of the rebel Mandalay Peoples Defence Force at the gate of a captured army facility in Mogok township in July 2024 ( Mandalay People's Defence Force ) The NUG, set up by politicians barred from taking their seats in the parliament by the military takeover, claims to be Myanmars legitimate government and has launched attacks on junta facilities. It recently staged drone attacks on Naypyidaw city, reportedly causing significant damage, as part of a wider strategy to weaken the military. Their eventual fall is inevitable, Mr Zaw said. A nationwide civil war involving multiple ethnic minority armed forces seeking autonomy has deepened the humanitarian crisis caused by the coup. Millions have been displaced from Northern Rakhine, the heartland of the Rohingya minority, since the Arakan Army, a powerful ethnic armed group seeking autonomy from the central government, launched an offensive in November last year. The Arakan Army this month reportedly captured the entire western regional military headquarters based in the Ann township and took senior military leaders prisoner. Mr Zaw claimed that as the military loses ground, they increasingly target civilian populations using extreme measures including airstrikes. Immediate humanitarian assistance from the international community is urgently needed, the spokesperson said. However, it cannot be delivered through traditional channels such as Naypyidaw or Yangon, as the junta uses humanitarian aid as a weapon. Reports and images have shown that the military has weaponised aid, using rice bags meant for vulnerable people as barriers in their warfare. Mr Zaw said he hopes this powerful documentary will wake up the international community, not just to Ms Suu Kyis plight but also to the forgotten political prisoners and the people of Myanmar who have been largely overlooked. It also sheds light on the efforts of our National Unity Government, which, alongside the people of Myanmar, is fighting against this brutal military dictatorship, he said. This is the only way to ensure that genocide does not happen again, that the Rohingya people and millions of others can return home with dignity, and that citizenship rights are restored to those who deserve them. 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 Drake has wished all of his followers happy holidays but appeared to have a less festive message for a friend-turned-rival. On Wednesday (December 25) the One Dance rapper turned to Instagram where he shared various photos of him dressed up in winter clothing in a winter landscape covered in snow. One image showed the rapper dressed in a fur coat while others showed him dressed in camouflage with a black balaclava. Used to look up to some people then I hit a growth spurt$$$ he captioned the post. The caption appeared to allude to the years-long feud Drake has had with fellow rapper, Kendrick Lamar. The two of them first started off as friends with Drake even inviting Lamar out on his Club Paradise headline tour back in 2011. Lamar said in an early career interview that he and Drake clicked immediately, describing the fellow rapper as a genuine soul and revealing that Drake was the first person outside of his immediate team to hear his debut album Section 80. Drake later invited K-Dot to feature on his forthcoming second album, Take Care. In addition to his music, Drake is known for his feud with fellow rapper, Kendrick Lamar ( Getty Images ) Throughout their years as friends, it became clear that the two rappers had differing views on both wealth and fame as Lamar was a more private person compared to Drake. Slowly they started to make digs at each other in various songs released in 2013. The rappers feud recently sparked back up again when Lamar, Future, and Metro Boomin released the song Like That in March which rose to be Billboard Hot 100s number-one hit. In the song, Lamar appeared to directly respond to J Coles verse on First Person Shooter from Drakes For All The Dogs, where Cole raps: Love when they argue the hardest MC / Is it K-Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me? / We the big three like we started a league, but right now, I feel like Muhammad Ali. Motherf*** the big three, n***a, its just big me, Lamar raps on Like That. N***a, bum, What? Im really like that/And your best work is a light pack. However, Drake appeared to ignore the diss in one of his performances for the Its All a Blur tour alongside Cole. A lot of people asking me how Im feeling listen, the way Im feeling is the same way I want you to walk out of here feeling tonight about your f***ing self, he told the audience, according to social media footage. Because you know how Im feeling? I got my head up high, my back straight, Im 10 f***ing toes down and feeling like anywhere else I go and I know no matter what, theres not a n**** on this Earth that can ever f*** with me in my life, he shouted. And thats how I want yall to walk out of here tonight But, he continued, you know, you can get yourselves gassed up, riled up and move towards the future Sometimes youve got to acknowledge the mistakes youve made in the past right? So thats what I want you all to do. Everybody in here. 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 Every year on December 26, the annual commemoration of African-American culture that is Kwanzaa begins. Observed predominantly in the US and across nations of the African diaspora in the Americas, people celebrating Kwanzaa honour their African ancestry by exchanging presents and enjoying a large feast with loved ones. While Kwanzaa occurs around the time of other festive holidays such as Christmas and Hanukkah, it isnt associated with a religion. The festival was founded by Maulana Karenga, an author and activist who was involved with the Black Power movement in the 1960s and 1970s. It was first celebrated just over a half a century ago, in an effort to instil racial pride and unity within the black community. How did it begin? Kwanzaa was created by Karenga in 1966. Karenga was an activist during the 1960s, co-founding the black nationalist US Organisation in 1965. Kwanzaa is a celebration of community, family and culture that was established as a way for African-Americans to reconnect with their roots and heritage. Karenga explained the significance of the festival while at an event at the Memorial Art Gallery at the University of Rochester in 2013, during which he said: the celebration of Kwanzaa is about embracing ethical principles and values so the goodness of the world can be shared and enjoyed by us and everyone. Kwanzaa has been compared to Juneteenth, an American holiday that occurs on June 19 to commemorate the abolition of slavery in the US state of Texas in 1865. open image in gallery Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase matunda ya Kwanza , meaning first fruits of the harvest ( Rex Features ) When is it? Kwanzaa occurs over the same seven days every year, from December 26 until January 1. It lasts seven days in order to honour the core seven principles of the festival, as outlined by Karenga. These seven principles are called Nguzo Saba, otherwise known as the seven principles of African Heritage. These principles are Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (co-operative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuuma (creativity) and Imani (faith). What does Kwanzaa mean? Pronounced kwahn-zuh, the term Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase matunda ya Kwanza, meaning first fruits of the harvest or first fruits. First fruits festivals are celebrated in December and January in Southern Africa, to coincide with the southern solstice. Karenga purposely chose for Kwanzaa to have seven letters in its name in order to align with the holidays seven principles. How is it celebrated? Families that celebrate Kwanzaa do so in different ways. However, festivities usually involve dancing, singing, gifts and a large feast. Those observing the festival will often decorate their houses with fruits, a black, red and green flag, and a Kinara a candle holder that holds seven candles. Three red candles are placed on the left of the Kinara, three green candles are placed on the right and a black candle is placed in the middle. In addition to the Kinara, there are several symbolic items associated with Kwanzaa, including Muhindi (corn) and a Kikombe cha Umoja (a unity cup). All of these items are placed on a Mkeka (mat). The festival ends with a feast, or Karamu, on the last day. Those celebrating Kwanzaa will greet each other with the phrase "Habari Gani?" during the seven-day period, which means "How are you?" in Swahili. In 2009, author of Kwanzaa: Black Power and the Making of the African-American Holiday Tradition Keith Mayes told the Associated Press that he believes 500,000 to two million Americans celebrate Kwanzaa. However, a 2012 study conducted Public Policy Polling found that four per cent of participants said that they celebrate Kwanzaa, which therefore means that more than 13 million people in the US may observe the festival. 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 Jerry and Sibrina Barrett never spent a day apart over 35 years. They worked long hours, never took vacations, and liked to relax with their son at home. They had no idea that a hurricane could reach them in the mountains of East Tennessee. Living in Johnson City, they were barely aware that Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on September 26. The next day it was raining heavily, so Sibrina went in late to her once-a-week cleaning job at the Impact Plastics factory. It was the last time they saw each other. Today, Sibrina Barnett's clothes are just where she left them, on her side of the bed. Her nail polish and shampoo are still in the bathroom. Her sweater still hangs from the back of a kitchen chair. Jerry knows he will have to move them one day, but not yet. Helene caused catastrophic damage, the deadliest storm to hit the U.S. mainland since Katrina in 2005. At least 221 people were killed. Many were like Sibrina, drowning in floods hundreds of miles inland. Behind every number was a person whose absence is sorely felt. 'Just trying to enjoy life' She was 17 and he was 20 when they met, and "35 years later, we never left each others side, Jerry said. At first they would cruise in Jerry's Camaro and blast the stereo, which you could hear from a little way, he jokes. They would "catch a group of friends or something, maybe park and sit around and talk between her night shifts as a waitress. We wasnt really wild people or anything. We was just a couple young people trying to enjoy life a little bit, he said. A few years later, she was pregnant. They got married and made their future, in a mobile home in the same community Jerry has known all his life. Me and her, both, growing up as kids, didnt really have a lot, Jerry says. We wasnt poor, but we wasnt wearing Levis and Nikes and stuff either. They were both workaholics. He does HVAC repair, but she was proud to be the main breadwinner. Six days a week, she'd handle a morning cleaning job, then clean a private school in the evening. Clients loved her for being meticulous she'd sometimes go back over areas already cleaned by a different crew until they met her standards. Work making money, thats how youre going to have anything, Jerry says. She spoiled me and my son. Thats exactly what she did. Caimen is 21 now, but the first thing visitors see in the home he shares with his dad is a coffee-table-sized resin model of characters from the Dragonball Z anime show. Dozens of smaller models fill a living room display case. Still more line the hallway. Sibrina ordered the figures and they would assemble them together. Some came all the way from Japan and cost thousands of dollars. "We decided to kind of just enjoy it as we went, instead of trying to have a bunch for retirement or our older age, Jerry said. Given what happened, Im kind of glad we did. One of the display cases now holds Sibrinas urn. The Flood Sibrina hated driving in bad weather, so she went in late to Impact Plastics on Sept. 27. Rainwater would often pool on the factory parking lot, but she called Jerry on her break to report it was higher than usual. Then she called again the water had risen to the bottom of her car door. Jerry put his tools away and drove to get her, but the exit off the interstate was blocked. "Dont worry about even trying to get down in here, she told him. She said, Just go home. It looks like Im going to be here for a few hours. What happened next, Jerry learned second-hand. As the water kept rising, Sibrina and nine other workers retreated to the highest point the flatbed of a tractor-trailer loaded with giant coils of plastic tubing. It wasn't high enough. They called 911, but first responders were focused on a different emergency: Dozens of people were trapped on the roof of a nearby hospital. Then the truck flipped over, sending the workers into the raging water. Some managed to float on the tubing and were washed onto a pile of debris. Sibrina was one of six who died. Many Americans haven't thought of inland areas as being particularly vulnerable to severe weather, but places like Erwin, in a valley alongside the Nolichucky River, are increasingly prone to disasters. Jerry hung up with Sibrina and went back to work. He had no idea how bad the flooding was, and didn't learn she was missing until hours later. He tried searching for clues in YouTube videos. Eight days passed before her body was recovered. The litigation Jerry's lawyer, Luke Widener, said the workers relied on management to warn them of dangers outside because the factory had few windows. Some said they weren't allowed to stop work until the power went out. By then the access road was under water. Widener also represents Zinnia Adkins, who earned $11.50 an hour as a temporary employee at Impact Plastics. She's alive, she said, because a co-worker gripped her tightly in the chest-deep water. She can't swim and is deathly afraid of spiders, which were all over the water's surface. Months later, she still sleeps on the couch because the bed feels too open and unsafe. A lot of good people lost their lives that day," Adkins said. Its just its a hard memory for me to relive. The family of another employee, Johnny Peterson, filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the company and its owner, Gerald OConnor, who said the workers were dismissed with enough time to escape. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the states workplace safety office have opened investigations. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Russia's top security agency said Thursday that it has arrested several suspects accused of involvement in an alleged Ukrainian plot to assassinate senior military officers, an announcement that follows the killing of a top Russian general last week. The Federal Security Service, a top KGB successor known under its Russian acronym FSB, said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies that it had arrested four Russians accused of making preparations to kill senior Defense Ministry officials. The FSB said that the suspected organizers of the attacks were planning to kill one of the senior officers using a remotely controlled car bomb. It added that another top military official was to be assassinated by an explosive device hidden in an envelope. The agency didn't name the military officers who were targeted in the alleged plot. The FSB released a video showing the arrest and interrogation of the suspects, who weren't named. The statement follows the death of Lt. Gen Igor Kirillov who was killed on Dec. 17 by a bomb hidden on an electric scooter parked outside his apartment building as he left for his office. Kirillovs assistant also died in the brazen attack that was claimed by Ukraine and brought the conflict once again to the streets of the Russian capital. The FSB has arrested a suspect, a citizen of the Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan, and claimed that he said that he had been recruited by Ukrainian special services. Kirillov, 54, was the chief of Russias Radiation, Biological and Chemical Protection Forces. These special troops are tasked with protecting the military from the enemys use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and ensuring operations in a contaminated environment. Russian President Vladimir Putin described Kirillovs killing as a major blunder by Russias security agencies, noting they should learn from it and improve their efficiency. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Millions of people living in the UK will see their physical immigration documents expire in the new year as the Home Office transfers to a digital system. From 1 January 2025, foreign nationals will have to rely on digital records of their status to travel to the UK, prove their right to work, or rent a flat. Airline carriers, ferry and international train operators will be able to automatically access the immigration status of their passengers when they present their travel documents. Migrants rights charities and experts have raised concerns that previous glitches with Home Office systems, such as merging of peoples identities, could hit the new digital roll-out in the new year. But government ministers have promised a smooth transition with a three-month grace period for expired documents. How will my visa change on 31 December? Visas issued by the UK Home Office are being switched to digital systems in the new year. This means that most government-issued documents that confirm a persons immigration status will expire at midnight on 31 December 2024. From 1 January 2025, people will have to prove their immigration status by using the government website, View and Prove. This will show that they have an eVisa and give the user a share code, which they can give to others to prove their status. Foreign nationals should set up a UKVI account to access their eVisa before the 31 December deadline. Their online account will then be linked to their physical travel documents, such as a passport, to allow travel providers to run checks. open image in gallery Most government-issued documents that confirm a persons immigration status will expire at midnight on 31 December ( Simon Calder ) Dr Kuba Jablonowski, digital sociology lecturer at the University of Bristol, explained the changes, saying: Its not really that the documents are being switched over, its like theyre being switched off. Its like switching from vinyl to Spotify. You can still listen to music, but it is very different in lots of ways. For example, if Spotify stops working you lose access to all the music that you have. Essentially with Spotify you dont have any music, you rely on Spotify streaming the music to you. This is essentially what is happening with peoples immigration status. Will it affect my ability to travel internationally? Airline carriers will be relying on automated status checks as part of their check-in procedures. If these checks fail then they can also use the View and Prove website to check someone has the right to enter the country. Ferry and international train operators should also be able to access the immigration status of their passengers. Travellers need to have connected their travel documents to their UK Visas and Immigration account. How many people are affected? As of early December, 3.1 million had switched from physical documents to an eVisa already, according to the Home Office. open image in gallery There will be a grace period where physical documents can still be used up to 31 March ( Getty Images ) The government has not provided statistics for how many more people need to make the move, however more than four million people in total are thought to need to change to eVisas. That leaves nearly a million who had not yet made the switch by early December. Is there a grace period for expired documents? Yes, the Home Office announced in December that there would be a grace period where physical documents can still be used up to 31 March. This extension is to ease transition and address concerns with the system, officials have said. Airlines and other carriers will be allowed to accept expired biometric residence permits and cards for UK visa holders travelling back to Britain up to 31 March. The Home Office says that anyone with indefinite leave to remain who uses an ink stamp or vignette in a passport to prove their rights will be able to continue to use these documents as they do today. Will there be any problems with the switch to eVisas? Refugee charities and experts have raised concerns about how the switch to digital will work, given past complications with the Home Offices digital systems. The Home Office has already faced issues with an immigration database that saw thousands of people being listed with incorrect names, photographs or immigration status. Part of the problems involved merged identities, where two or more people had their biographical and biometric details linked incorrectly. Separately some people who are legally in the UK and have the right to work here, but who are waiting on visa renewals, dont have any documentation that they can use to prove their rights. This status is known as 3C leave, and despite a High Court judge telling the Home Office to provide these people with digital documents, this has not happened for many people. open image in gallery Refugee charities and experts have raised concerns about how the switch to digital will work ( Getty Images ) Nick Beales, at refugee charity Ramfel, warned people who could not prove their immigration status would see their livelihoods threatened, adding many people werent even being issued e-visas while they waited years for the government to process visa applications. Dr Jablonowski described the groups of people who might come across problems: You have people who havent made the switch at all - who dont have an online UKVI account. They may not know about it or havent been able to get one. They will have to hope that people who are boarding them when they travel will know that they have the right to come to the UK. Even if you have made the transition there could be problems with merged identities, which we have seen before with Home Office systems. The biggest concern is that the carriers will agree with the changes but the personnel might not be up to speed with those changes, which will create a lot of friction. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The RSPCA has revealed the level of animal neglect and abandonment in the UK is soaring, with the issue worsening around the festive period. Figures from the animal welfare charity paint a distressing picture of the struggles faced by animals across the country, as in the first nine months of 2024 alone, its emergency cruelty line recorded 48,814 incidents of neglect. This marks a nearly 25 per cent increase from the 38,977 cases reported during the same period in 2023. Neglect of animals does not cease over the festive period, with the charity receiving 775 calls on Christmas Day alone last year with a total of 25,230 reports made to its cruelty line between 18 December and 2 January. open image in gallery In the first nine months of 2024 alone, RSPCAs emergency cruelty line recorded 48,814 incidents of neglect ( PA ) The charity said the surge in pet ownership combined with the mounting financial pressures of the cost of living crisis has created a perfect storm, meaning more pet owners are finding themselves unable to provide the care their animals need. During Covid, people sought to own pets because they were looking to have companionship, RSPCA chief inspector Ian Briggs told Sky News. Then after lockdown was released and everyone got back to normal, we were then hit by the cost of living crisis. Then year on year were seeing finances stretched for everybody, so we believe weve got all these extra people who have pets and now some are feeling the financial strain. He added: Because of the Christmas period, were in the middle of winter, heating goes up, electricity costs even more, that adds an additional financial burden to people who are already struggling, and often the first thing they cut back on is their animals. The added strain means that many of the organisations centres across the country are full, with the charity being forced to spend thousands of pounds on private boarding facilities. open image in gallery The added strain means many of the organisations centres across the country are full ( PA ) RSPCA spokesperson Suzanne Norbury told the broadcaster: Our centres up and down the country are absolutely full, and were also taking animals into private boarding. So when our teams are out there, they rescue animals and we havent got space. Were spending money on private boarding facilities at the moment on top of running centres like this one. Its costing us 26,000 each and every week. The charity is working tirelessly to ensure every animal is safe this Christmas. On Wednesday, it shared a story of a starved dog who was dumped on Christmas Day in 2023 enjoying the day in her forever home this year. Rosie was left to die in a hedgerow last Christmas near Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, and was discovered hours away from death at 7.30am on Christmas morning. This year, shes spending the day with her new family, with the RSPCA issuing an update on social media reading: 365 days ago, Rosie was found collapsed in a ditch by a dog walker in North Yorkshire. Thankfully, her Christmas Day looks a lot different to last year and she is surrounded by a loving family Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy From sharing a concrete cell with rats and horrible black tarantulas to being chained to a steel chair in a windowless box, Sean Turnell said his more than 20 months as a prisoner in Myanmar was horrific. The prison cells ranged from rudimentary to terrible. At first, he was held in a box the size of a small shipping container, where he was interrogated and punched. Later he was moved to a sparse cell with an iron barred door which led straight to the elements, allowing Myanmars incredible heat and monsoonal rain directly into the cell. Apart from weather, theyre completely open to other elements so rats and spiders, and centipedes, and awful black tarantulas and scorpions, its really awful stuff, he said. The cells are not conducive to any sort of comfort at all, theyre really little more than animal pens." Watch: Cancelled: The rise and fall of Aung San Suu Kyi Documentary on Independent TV open image in gallery Turnell was held in a box the size of a small shipping container, where he was interrogated and punched ( The Independent ) The Australian economist and former economic adviser to Myanmars ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi said he used his imagination to escape his confines and took comfort in the small bit of exercise he could get pacing his small cell. But all of it does take a toll. The physical deprivation, the constant anxiety, the fear, the incredible insecurity of not knowing when or if youre going to be released definitely takes a toll on you, he said in an interview with The Independent. The time in prison gave me time to reassess just about everything I was doing. Mr Turnell was arrested on 6 February 2021, five days after the military launched a coup against Ms Suu Kyi and her civilian government. He had spent the previous five years working with the civilian Myanmar government on its economic policies. At first, he said the work was hopeful. We were creating a new country, and the enthusiasm would just bubble up, he said. A huge amount of stuff was achieved, much of it unfortunately unwound since by the military. open image in gallery A member of the ethnic armed group Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) keeping watch at a checkpoint in the town of Kyaukme in Myanmar's northern Shan State ( AFP via Getty ) Sean Turnell on life under the military junta in Myanmar Mr Turnell said the military was unwilling to cede power, seeking to undermine the civilian government at every turn. He said the military helped orchestrate Ms Suu Kyis fall from international grace, which began in 2017 when the Nobel Peace laureate failed to publicly condemn the violence against the countrys Rohingya Muslim minority. That fall from grace is now the subject of a documentary on Independent TV called Cancelled: The rise and fall of Aung San Suu Kyi, charting her life including her political emergence in the 1980s and her tumultuous time as Myanmars leader from 2015 to 2021. Mr Turnell said Ms Suu Kyis biggest mistake was travelling to the Hague to defend Myanmar against accusations of genocide. He said all she could do was negotiate with the military, but they had a rat cunning that made her job almost impossible. I know absolutely for certain that she was horrified beyond measure of what was happening, and sought desperately ways to try to bring it to an end, he said. So for me, her failure was not so much a moral one, but a political miscalculation. After the coup and his arrest alongside other civilian government leaders, Mr Turnell said he knew he would be found guilty the moment he was put on trial. Sentenced to three years in jail for violating Myanmars Official Secrets Act, Mr Turnell said what did come as a surprise was when a prison guard in November 2022 told him he was heading home. open image in gallery Turnell, a detained Australian adviser to Myanmars deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, getting vaccinated against the Covid-19 coronavirus in Insein prison in Yangon in 2021 ( MYANMAR NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty ) I said please dont joke about this, he said no, not joking, youre going home, youve got 10 minutes to grab your things and leave your cell, Mr Turnell said. Mr Turnell was flown back to Sydney, where he satisfied cravings hed had for two years: That evening, I had a glass of red wine and an ice cream. He has since written a book about his ordeal and said the readjustment was relatively easy, he counts himself lucky to have a wife, a daughter, and supportive friends. But more than two years on from his ordeal, Mr Turnell remains afraid for the safety of his former colleagues, including now 79-year-old Ms Suu Kyi. All the way to the present I maintain, I would say, terrible anxiety about my former colleagues still, for the most part, in prison in Myanmar, he said. 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 Labour claims it has broken the link between favourable weather conditions and an influx of migrant crossings, as the government embarks on its mission to crack down on illegal migration to the UK. The partys analysis of small-boat crossings indicates that people-smugglers are showing signs of being put off crossing on red days when low wind and calm waters make it easier to cross the Channel. It comes despite there having been a higher number of days with calmer conditions in the six months since the party took power than during the same period in both 2023 and 2022. The average number of arrivals per red day was 262.8 from July to 23 December 2024, compared with 360.8 in the final six months of last year, 383.8 in 2022, and 286.2 in 2021. open image in gallery A group of people thought to be migrants are brought into Dover, Kent, on board a Border Force vessel ( PA Wire ) Labour Party insiders claimed that the figures show it has broken the link between better weather and more migrant crossings, adding that the governments strategy is designed to ensure that the UKs border security is no longer at the mercy of either the weather conditions or the smuggling gangs, as it has been since the crossings began in 2018. They said: In 2023, the previous government celebrated a quiet end to the year in terms of arrivals that was entirely because of the record-low number of red days. This year, despite a final quarter with the highest number of red days on record, we are seeing signs in comparison with previous years that the disruption of the smuggling gangs is beginning to have an impact. Labour pointed out that the first six months of this year, when the Conservative Party was still in power, saw a record number of small-boat arrivals despite the number of good weather red days being lower than any previous year in which such crossings took place. This meant that the ratio of arrivals to red days in the first half of the year was also the highest on record. In the second half of 2024, by contrast, the number of red days is set to be the highest recorded in recent history but the ratio of small-boat arrivals to red days is set to be the lowest, the party said. It comes as more than 450 people made the dangerous crossing over the English Channel in small boats on Christmas Day, according to Home Office figures. Data updated on Thursday indicated that 451 migrants arrived on 25 December on 11 boats. The last time vessels carrying migrants are known to have arrived was on 14 December, when 160 people arrived in three boats. The figures take the total number of crossings in 2024 to 35,491, around 21 per cent higher than last year, but about 22 per cent down on 2022. The Labour Party has promised to smash the gangs and prevent illegal migration by clamping down on the individuals that smuggle refugees across the Channel. However, the party has been accused of continuing the previous Tory governments so-called hostile environment approach to migration after the Home Office hailed a new crackdown on immigration crime this month. open image in gallery Home secretary Yvette Cooper has promised to crack down on smuggling gangs ( PA Wire ) In December, the government announced that nearly 13,500 migrants had been removed from Britain since the election, as well as pledging to put 8m towards technology for immigration enforcement operations such as raids and arrests. It comes after Labour previously pledged that it would return more people who do not have a right to stay in the country by the halfway point in its first year in office than in any other six-month period since 2018. While the government said the figures show it is on track to deliver on its returns pledge, which would need to be met by early January, campaigners have hit out at the approach, comparing it to that of the previous Conservative government. Julia Tinsley-Kent, head of policy and communications at the Migrants Rights Network, told The Independent: They fail to understand that people are forced into making dangerous crossings because safe routes do not exist. Punishing migrants without permission to work or reside fails to address the fundamental failures within the immigration system that continuously pushes migrants into exploitative conditions because they can become undocumented so easily. A Home Office spokesperson said: We all want to end dangerous small-boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security. The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay. We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice. 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 Charities have welcomed the governments pledge to put 15m towards delivering thousands of tonnes of food that might otherwise go to waste to those who need it most, an initiative expected to save as many as 60 million meals. The funding, originally pledged by Rishi Sunak in February 2024, was temporarily delayed following the general election but was confirmed by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs on Friday. Some 330,000 tonnes of edible food a year is either wasted or repurposed as animal feed before it leaves farm gates, the Government estimates. The fund aims to help charities that redistribute food but often lack the means to collect it from farms and get it to those who need it. They could use the money to buy new equipment, such as balers or hoppers, which would allow charities to collect bulky food items or process them into parcels. The cash could also be used for new technology or to provide training to more staff. The announcement was welcomed by the Felix Project and FareShare - charities fighting food waste and hunger in the UK - who said the funding marks a step towards a zero-waste Britain. Charlotte Hill, the Felix Projects chief executive, said it is a scandal to see food grown on UK farms going to waste, especially given the increasing number of people experiencing food insecurity. open image in gallery The funding announcement was welcomed by the Felix Project and FareShare ( PA ) This 15m funding has the potential to unlock huge supplies of healthy and nutritious produce and help the Felix Project deliver even more meals in 2025, she added. The Felix Project found 1 in 8 working London families use a food bank every week to help feed their children. We deliver to around 1,200 community organisations, all working hard to feed people living with food insecurity, but the demand is so much more. We have a long waiting list of organisations desperately wanting food, but we do not have it to give. It comes amid a long term increase in the use of food banks in the UK, with the Trussell Trust, an anti-poverty charity that operates a network of food banks across the UK, reporting a 37 per cent increase in demand for food parcels between 2021/22 and 2022/23, and another 4 per cent increase between 2022/23 and 2023/24. In a joint statement from Ms Hill and FareShares chief executive Kris Gibbon-Walsh, the two charities said: "After years of campaigning by food redistribution charities, we are thrilled to see this fund come to fruition. We are pleased that the government has recognised that too much food goes to waste on our farms, and that it should be redistributed to feed people who need it." They added: "We look forward to acting quickly with the government, the charity sector, and farmers to maximise the impact of this initiative during British growing season, ensuring surplus food reaches as many people as possible. We have a proven model which funds farmers to redistribute their unsold food, which means that together, we can take meaningful steps toward achieving a zero-waste Britain." Volunteers with The Felix Project have already rescued nearly 100 tonnes of fresh produce this year alone. The Independent has previously partnered with the charity as part of its Help the Hungry campaign. The funding will allow the charity to expand their operations, ensuring surplus food reaches those in need, the organisation said. Meanwhile, Defra estimates the initiative could save 27,000 tonnes of food annually equivalent to 60 million meals. 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 Contingency plans are underway in Whitehall for a surge in demand for state school places amid concerns that private schools will shut due to fee increases, according to reports. Officials are said to be bracing for the possibility that some private schools will close when the policy to impose VAT on school fees comes into effect in the new year. Government sources have told The Times that smaller schools that charge less and are located in more competitive locations are most vulnerable. However, a government spokesperson also told the newspaper that the idea that officials were preparing for a collapse of the private schools sector was completely misleading. Labour will remove the VAT exemption from January and business rates relief for independent schools from April, with parents expected to foot some of the cost. The move has prompted a backlash from those who will be affected, but the government has refused to back down. The government estimates that the tax on fees will raise 460m next year, rising to 1.7bn by 2029-30 money that ministers said would be used to fund 6,500 new teachers for state schools. On average, the Treasury expects private school fees to increase by around 10 per cent as a result of the introduction of VAT, while it predicts that 35,000 pupils will move into UK state schools in the long-term steady state. A further 2,000 children are expected to leave private schools, comprising international pupils who do not move across to the UK state system and domestic pupils who will be homeschooled. open image in gallery The government has decided to remove the VAT exemption for private school fees from 2025 ( via Reuters ) Government sources are confident that state schools will be able to deal with the increased intake. One told The Times: We have to plan for the worst. But theres a limited amount we can do, so contingency plans are necessary. Officials are monitoring those schools most at risk of closure to help local authorities prepare better where the number in need is significantly greater. As many as 20,000 to 40,000 pupils are set to drop out of private schools as a result of the introduction of VAT, according to estimates from the Institute for Fiscal Studies in a report issued by the think tank last year. A government spokesperson told The Times that suggestions that officials were braced for the collapse of private schools were completely misleading. The spokesperson added that the government routinely uses data to inform policy design and to monitor the education system. They emphasised that less than 0.1 per cent of students might switch schools as a result of the changes, and expressed confidence that the state sector would be able to accommodate 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 33 people died and over a dozen sustained injuries in a prison riot in Mozambique's capital as civil unrest over October's disputed election continued on Christmas Day. Authorities in Maputo said that more than 1,500 inmates also escaped the prison on the third day of unrest in the African nation triggered by the controversial judicial confirmation of the ruling Frelimo party's victory in the election. The nations interior minister, Pascoal Ronda, blamed supporters of losing presidential candidate Venancio Mondlan for starting the violence. A total of 1,534 detainees escaped the prison located about 15km from the capital, national police chief Bernardino Rafael said. Among those attempting to escape, 33 were killed and 15 wounded in clashes with prison staff, he said. A search operation backed by the military, the police chief added, led to the arrest of some 150 fugitives. open image in gallery Burnt commercial structures in Maputo ( AFP via Getty ) While Mr Rafael blamed protests outside the prison for encouraging the riot, justice minister Helena Kida told local broadcaster Miramar TV that the unrest started inside the prison and had nothing to do with the protests outside. He said there were jailbreak attempts at two other prisons. "We are worried as a country, Mozambicans and security forces," he said. "We expect in the next 48 hours a rise in crime." The prison riots began a day after 21 people were killed in the unrest that ensued after the judiciary confirmed the victory of presidential candidate Daniel Chapo on Monday. The Frelimo leader won nearly 65 per cent of the vote but his opponent alleged the election was rigged, sparking widespread violence. open image in gallery Mozambican security forces seen next to a burning barricade in Maputo ( AFP via Getty ) Photos and video circulating on social media showed protesters burning and looting shops in the capital and the city of Beira, where some local officials were reported to have fled. Some demonstrators set up tables in the streets to occupy the space while celebrating Christmas, AFP news agency reported. Mr Mondlane called for a shutdown starting Friday even as the situation in the capital remained tense. Mozambique, a nation of 34 million people, has been on edge since the 9 October general election. Mr Mondlanes supporters, mostly young people, have been taking to the streets since the election, only to be met with gunfire by security forces. 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 Florida woman has been arrested after allegedly stabbing a man who didnt a good enough tip for the pizza she had just delivered to him. Brianna Alvelo, 22, was arrested on Monday following the incident in Kissimmee, Florida. She was charged with offenses including attempted murder and home invasion. The Osceola County Sheriffs Office responded to reports of a home invasion and stabbing at the Riviera Motel on Sunday. Arriving deputies located a victim who had been stabbed multiple times. He was transported to a local hospital and is currently in stable condition. open image in gallery Alvelo was arrested on Monday following the incident in Kissimmee, Florida, on Sunday ( Osceola County Sheriffs Office ) It was later discovered that the victim had ordered pizza from a local restaurant earlier in the evening, and Alvelo who had delivered the food became upset about the tip she had received. Alvelo later returned to the victims motel room with an unknown male suspect, who was armed with a firearm, and the two forced their way into the room, police reported. According to the sheriffs office, Alvelo, who was armed with a knife, began attacking the man who had tipped her. The victim was stabbed multiple times, and items were then taken from the room, according to police. open image in gallery Brianna Alvelo, 22, was arrested on charges of home invasion with a firearm, attempted murder, kidnapping, and aggravated assault ( Osceola County Jail ) Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for the offenses of home invasion with a firearm, attempted murder, kidnapping, and aggravated assault violations, authorities said. Following her arrest Alvelo was booked into the Osceola County Jail and has no bond. The male suspect has not been identified and remains at large. Detectives said that the incident was isolated and the matter remains under investigation. 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 Native American man has been arrested in connection with the suspected murder of a 7-year-old child on a Colorado reservation. Jeremiah Hight, 23, of the Ute Mountain Tribe, was arrested on Christmas Eve on top of a mesa, west of Oljato, by the Navajo Police Department after more than a week on the run, authorities said. He had been wanted for the murder of a minor on the Ute Mountain Reservation in the early morning hours of December 11. The child was killed in a shooting, targeted at a residence, according to the FBI, though authorities have not released any details about what led up to the shooting. Hights arrest warrant was sealed. open image in gallery Jeremiah Hight, 23, has been arrested following the shooting of a 7-year-old child on a reservation in Colorado ( FBI ) Law enforcement authorities had been searching for Hight in the Oljato area since Saturday, December 21, with a $10,000 reward offered for information leading to his capture. He was taken into federal custody without incident. Hight is described as having brown hair and brown eyes. He is 6 feet tall and weighs 400 pounds. He has tattoos on his right leg, left arm, right arm, right shoulder, neck, and left shoulder as well a a pierced left ear and a scar on his chest. According to the FBI, Hight has ties to Monument Valley in the Four Corners area. In a video message after the shooting, tribal chairman Manuel Heart called the shooting senseless and urged people to let authorities investigate the shooting rather than retaliate on their own. Heart also said he was working on a resolution to request the federal government to hire more police officers for the reservation and another to ban shooting within either of the reservations two communities Towaoc and White Mesa, Utah. We are not going to have any more of these type of events where somebody gets shot, he said. 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 Seven people were injured, including a child, when a taxi crashed into pedestrians on a sidewalk near Herald Square in New York City on Christmas Day. The accident happened next to the iconic Macys department store on the corner of West 34th Street and the Avenue of the Americas in Midtown Manhattan shortly after 4pm. It was reported that the 58-year-old driver lost control of his cab after suffering a medical emergency. open image in gallery The accident happened outside Macys flagship store in Midtown Manhattan ( Anadolu via Getty Images ) A nine-year-old boy suffered a cut and a 41-year-old woman sustained an injury to her head, police said. Both were taken to Bellevue hospital. Two women aged 49 and three others, aged between 19 and 31, were also injured. One of the women suffered an injury to her leg and was also taken to the hospital while the others declined treatment at the scene. Eyewitness News ABC 7 reported that a passer-by visiting from Oregon helped free the boy and his mother after they became trapped underneath the taxi. The tourist, who did not want to give his name, told the outlet that his wife was hit in the back on the shoulder as the vehicle mounted the sidewalk. He said he helped the boy. I ran over and noticed there was a little boy, his leg was underneath the front passenger tire as it was spinning. And then there was a group of people. One gentleman went over shut the car off, got into it shut it off. There was a whole group of us that ripped the fender off, lifted the car back and then thats when I grabbed the little boy, got him to the corner, realized that what ended up being his mom underneath. open image in gallery It is believed the driver of the taxi suffered a medical emergency ( Anadolu via Getty Images ) Sam Mohammed, 35, a hot dog stand worker told the New York Post he was serving customers when the taxi crashed feet away from him. He told the paper: I was parked in front of this car and I saw the car going onto the sidewalk and hitting people. This is scary. Macys flagship store, which is elaborately decorated and lit up for the holidays, is a popular attraction for tourists and New Yorkers alike. While the incident appears to be an accident, it comes in the wake of a deliberate attack by a driver on a crowd of Christmas shoppers in Germany last week, in which five people, including a nine-year-old boy, were killed. 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 Last fall, Elliston Berry woke up to a barrage of text messages. A classmate ripped photographs from her Instagram, manipulated them into fake nude photographs, and shared them with other teens from her school. They were online for nine months. She was 14 years old. I locked myself in my room, my academics suffered, and I was scared, she said during a recent briefing. She is not alone. So-called non-consensual intimate images (NCII) are often distributed as pornographic deepfakes using artificial intelligence that manipulates images of existing adult performers to look like the victims targeting celebrities, lawmakers, middle- and high schoolers, and millions of others. There is no federal law that makes it a crime to generate or distribute such images. Elliston and dozens of other victims and survivors and their families are now urging Congress to pass a bill that would make NCII a federal crime whether real or created through artificial intelligence with violators facing up to two years in prison. The Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act or TAKE IT DOWN Act unanimously passed the Senate on December 3. The legislation was attached to a broader bipartisan government funding bill with support from both Republican and Democratic members of Congress, including a final push from Ted Cruz and Amy Klobuchar two senators who are rarely if ever on the same side of an issue. Elon Musks X platform was even involved in lobby efforts to support the legislation, including other actions on child safety. But his pressure campaign against that government funding bill prompted Republicans to strike the TAKE IT DOWN Act language from the measure altogether. Efforts to revive the spending bill did not include it. open image in gallery Ted Cruz is sponsoring legislation that would criminalize the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery and require social media sites to remove it ( Getty Images ) Another measure from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would allow victims of digital forgery to file lawsuits to stop them. The congresswoman has spoken out about her own experience as a victim. The Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act or DEFIANCE Act marked the first-ever attempt to ensure federal protections targets of nonconsensual deepfakes. Legislation passed the Senate this summer. Victims of nonconsensual pornographic deepfakes have waited too long for federal legislation to hold perpetrators accountable, the congresswoman said in a statement at the time. As deepfakes become easier to access and create ... Congress needs to act to show victims that they wont be left behind, she said. open image in gallery Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sponsored legislation that gives victims of deepfakes an avenue to file federal lawsuits to protect them ( AP ) Many states have enacted laws intended to protect people against NCII, including 20 states with laws explicitly covering deepfakes, but the laws vary in application and uneven criminal prosecution, and victims often struggle to have the images removed from websites, increasing the likelihood the images are continuously spread and victims are retraumatized, according to lawmakers. The Take It Down Act would uniformly criminalize the publishing of NCII, defined in legislation to also include realistic, computer-generated pornographic images and videos that depict identifiable, real people. It also requires websites to take down NCII upon notice from the victim. Social media and other websites are required to have in place procedures to remove NCII within 48 hours of a request. open image in gallery Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar co-sponsored legislation to make publishing nonconsensual deepfakes a federal crime ( AP ) Last summer, Molly Kelley discovered images from her private social media account had been ripped and transformed into deepfake pornography. The images, which were created while she was six months pregnant, damaged her physical and emotional health and ability to work, she said. The stress of the discovery of seeing a hyper-realistic twisted version of myself that I had no part in creating was overwhelming, she said. When the initial shock wore off, a persistent reality set in: these images will likely exist forever It is an intolerable weight. Kelley was among 85 women who were affected by deepfake images that were created by a man who they say has yet to face any consequences. When she reported the images to law enforcement, the reaction was inconsistent and, at times, dismissive, she said. The dissemination of private explicit images and videos without a persons consent sometimes as intentionally malicious attacks known as revenge porn has also been used to extort countless victims. A South Carolina lawmaker whose 17-year-old son died by suicide in 2022 after he was the target of a sextortion plot made it his mission to turn state law he sponsored into the federal model supported by Cruz and Klobuchar. Both adults and kids deserve the right to have non-consensual intimate images, real or fake, removed from a site,South Carolina state Rep. Brandon Guffey wrote in The Hill this month. Because Big Tech wont do it willingly, legislation is needed to force these companies to act. open image in gallery Deepfake attacks targeting Taylor Swift brought renewed focus to national legislation to force social media platforms and websites to remove nonconsenual pornographic images ( Getty Images for TAS Rights Mana ) Samantha McCoy survived sexual assault while a junior in college in Indiana. Her attacker posted images of her assault online. Had the legislation been in place, I would not have experienced the constant and repeated pain as the video of the attack would have been promptly removed, significantly reducing the chances of wider circulation on these platforms, she said. Celebrities like Taylor Swift are among the most well-known targets, but the majority of NCII posted online are of women or teenage girls, according to the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative. Roughly one in eight social media users have been targeted, and one in 20 adult social media users are perpetrators, according to the group. More than two dozen members of Congress mostly women have also been the victims of sexually explicit deepfakes, according to research from the American Sunlight Project (ASP). The think tanks December report discovered more than 35,000 mentions of nonconsensual images depicting 26 members of Congress 25 women and one man on deepfake websites. Most of the images were removed after researchers shared their findings with impacted lawmakers. Nearly 16 percent of all women who are currently serving in Congress or roughly one in six congresswomen are victims of pornographic deepfakes. A recently released report from the House Bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence aims to give Congress a roadmap to both safeguard consumers and foster continued U.S. investment and innovation in AI, according to the groups Republican co-chair, congressman Jay Obernolte. The much-anticipated report included dozens of policy recommendations, including finding ways to appropriately counter the growing harm from the proliferation of deepfakes and harmful digital replicas. 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 race to lead the Democratic Party in the wake of Kamala Harriss election defeat expanded on Thursday as author and two-time candidate Marianne Williamson announced that she was seeking the role. Williamson is a long-shot candidate for the job and enters an already crowded field as the Democratic Party faces an internal debate about its future. Harriss defeat in swing states across the board led to Donald Trumps first popular vote victory, a crushing blow for the Democrats who also saw two incumbent senators unseated, throwing total control of the legislative and executive branches into Republican control. Williamsons two runs for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020 and 2024 both ended in defeat. But her first run, coupled with an energetic campaign and media presence, including on the debate stage, earned Williamson fans in progressive circles across the country. That was evident in 2024 when, despite the Democratic primary process being sidelined by the party in favor of propping up Joe Bidens bid for re-election, Williamson garnered 3 percent of the vote in Michigan, where an uncommitted campaign urged voters angry about Bidens response to the war in Gaza to register protest votes in the Democratic primary. Staffers who worked for her 2020 bid, speaking anonymously due to nondisclosure agreements, described the campaign as an intensely toxic environment perpetuated by Williamson, whom they said displayed intense flashes of anger and sometimes lashed out physically. She denied the allegations at the time, calling them slanderous and categorically untrue. In January of 2020, she laid off her entire campaign staff ahead of the Iowa Caucuses. With her typically flowery language, Williamson wrote in a statement Thursday announcing her DNC candidacy: [I]ts important that we recognize the psychological and emotional dimensions of Trumps appeal. We need to understand it to create the energy to counter it. As DNC Chair, I will not just have a 50-state strategy; I will have a 365 days-of- the-year strategy. We will create ways for the American people to be involved in the political process not only when theres an election, but all the time, Williamson went on to say. People will know not only what Trump might be doing that transgresses our values, but what Democrats are doing all around the country to promote them! Author Marianne Williamson on the 2024 campaign trail in Iowa. She announced her candidacy for DNC chair on December 26. ( AFP via Getty Images ) Before entering politics, Williamson was largely known as a self-help guru who wrote on matters of spiritualism; her work was supported by talk-show magnate Oprah Winfrey, to whom she became an informal adviser. Other candidates for the DNC job include seasoned party operatives, as well as both successful and failed candidates for elected office. The DNCs current chair, Jaime Harrison, is a former lobbyist and staffer to Rep. Jim Clyburn who was elected after losing a bid for Senate against Lindsey Graham. Along with less prominent names, former Maryland Governor Martin OMalley who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2016 is winning some support for his bid, as is Wisconsin state party chair Ben Wikler, who wowed Daily Show host Jon Stewart with his prescription for a new party. Minnesota DemocraticFarmerLabor Party chair Ken Martin is a leading contender as well, buoyed by the Democrats successes in his state while other parts of the blue wall turned red. The partys senior leadership is facing open ridicule from progressives and more measured criticism from others in left circles as furious younger Democrats demand answers from the Harris campaign and Bidenworld over the 2024 presidential election loss. Adding to their frustration has been the response from Harris campaign officials. In an appearance on Pod Save America, members of campaign leadership insisted that the vice president ran a flawless campaign, despite complaints that she turned away from key parts of the Democratic base in favor of winning political centrists and Republicans opposed to the former president with a campaign that embraced figures like Liz Cheney. Some, like Williamson, are openly resentful of the incumbent president for shooing away the idea of holding a real primary and stepping aside until it was far too late, when his vice president would be forced to run an awkward, protracted run for the office. Harrison is not running for the DNC position again, after proclaiming loudly that voters did not have concerns about Biden or his age after the presidents June debate with Trump. Biden and Harris have both been virtually silent since the election. The president sat down for an interview with MeidasTouch, a Democrat-aligned outlet, which avoided questions about Harriss defeat and his own performance in the campaign. He and Harris have not publicly discussed their own diagnoses for her defeat and are unlikely to do so before leaving office in January. Democrats are due to meet in Marylands National Harbor, just outside of the capital, at the end of January for the partys winter meeting; the chair elections and other leadership races will be decided then. 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 incoming border czar says the administrations plans for a mass deportation operation will include jailing immigrant families together in detention centers before they are removed from the country. Were going to need to construct family facilities, Tom Homan told The Washington Post in a recent interview. How many beds were going to need will depend on what the data says. Trumps pledge to arrest, detain and deport people living in the country without legal permission as part of his day one agenda would deploy federal, state and local law enforcement into immigrant communities across the nation. Trump and Homan have repeatedly said that even U.S. citizen children of non-citizen parents are expected to be deported along with their families. Heres the issue, Homan told The Post. You knew you were in the country illegally and chose to have a child. So you put your family in that position. open image in gallery Donald Trump has selected former ICE director Tom Homan as a border czar to implement the president-elects plans for a sweeping deportation operation ( REUTERS ) More than 16.7 million people share a home with at least one family member who is undocumented, and roughly six million of those people are children under the age of 18, according to the American Immigration Council. President Joe Biden ended the practice of family detention in 2021 and closed three Immigration and Customs Enforcement residential centers that housed roughly 3,000 beds. Minors held in family detention centers for 20 days must be released, according to the federal judge overseeing immigration detention programs involving children. ICE has largely focused deportation programs around adults, but Homan said that is expected to change under Trump, and the administration will be exploring how to hold families with children in tent-like structures. Homan served as acting director of ICE during Trumps first term, implementing the so-called zero tolerance immigration policy that separated more than 4,000 children from their families as soon as they crossed the U.S.-Mexico border He says it will be up to parents who are being deported whether to take their citizen children with them. Im not looking to separate families at all. Thats not my goal, Homan told Republican supporters in Chicago earlier this month. My goal is to enforce the law, but if you put yourself in that position, it may happen. But theres no plan in this administration right now to separate families. It just isnt. However, were going to enforce the law. So if you put yourself in that position, its on you. open image in gallery Trump has nominated his ally Kristi Noem to serve as director of Homeland Security, which oversees the department of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement ( Getty Images ) Trump has called on the National Guard to support federal, state and local law enforcement for the administrations deportation program, but troops wont be making arrests, according to Homan. I dont see this thing as being sweeps and the military going through neighborhoods, he told The Washington Post. Immigration arrests will be targeted at people with criminal records, he said. But ICE already goes after people with criminal records, all the time, which has been a priority of the last several presidential administrations, according to Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council. The overwhelming majority of people who would be the targets of a mass deportation campaign do not have criminal records, he told members of Congress this month. They are people who have been living otherwise law-abiding lives, living, working, and in many cases, paying taxes. Conservative estimated costs of launching such an operation over an 11-year period would cost at least $1 trillion, according to Reichlin-Melnick. ICE is separately considering proposals to expand its immigration detention capacity in at least six states, according to records obtained by the ACLU through a lawsuit. Private prison companies as well as other corporate entities that support the construction of facilities and monitor and staff them have recently submitted proposals for government contracts. You cannot have mass deportations without a significant expansion of ICE detention capacity in states across the country and thats exactly what the incoming Trump administration is preparing to do, ACLU National Prison Project senior staff attorney Eunice Cho said in a statement. Rather than permanently shutting down abusive detention facilities, the Biden administration is paving the way for President-elect Donald Trump to make good on his cruel and inhumane mass deportation proposals, she added. 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 Its unlikely Donald Trump will be able to realize his campaign promise that all remaining Bitcoin will be made in the U.S., according to observers who know the industry. It is a Trump-like comment but it is definitely not in reality, Ethan Vera, chief operating officer at Seattle-based Luxor Technology, which provides software and service to cryptocurrency miners, told Bloomberg News. Bitcoin is made through a process known as mining, in which operations use high-powered, fuel hungry computers to solve complicated math problems used to validate transactions in the network and post them to a public ledger, known as the blockchain. Crypto mining companies who solve these problems first are rewarded with payment, including in Bitcoin itself, a currency whose overall supply is currently capped at 21 million coins, not all of which have been issued. Considerable roadblocks stand in Trumps way to make good on his vow. Bitcoin mining is distributed across the world, particularly in places with cheap access to abundant energy needed to fuel the data centers needed to mine crypto. The U.S. is currently home to less than half of all crypto mining, according to the government Energy Information Administration. The Trump campaign courted the crypto industry, promising to promote pro-crypto regulation and buy up strategic reserves of Bitcoin ( EPA ) Theres not much Trump could do to change the distribution aside from encouraging favorable regulation and energy prices to get operators within the decentralized currency to come to the U.S. But its not clear how successful that would be, or how long it might take. Moreover, a trade war with China like Trump is proposing, would further hike costs in the U.S., since most miners use Chinese-made computers. Nonetheless, the Trump campaign courted the crypto industry throughout his 2024 campaign, promising to make the U.S. a Bitcoin superpower, with the government buying a strategic reserve of cryptocurrency, even though Trump once dismissed crypto as based on thin air. Trump also promised to remove Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, who is viewed as an opponent within the industry. Trump even unveiled a crypto venture of his own in September. The industry, in turn, has handsomely rewarded the Trump campaign. Trump Makes Keynote Address at Bitcoin Conference It contributed over $200 million to Trump and his allies, with donations from firms involved in crypto including Ripple, Coinbase, and venture capital powerhouse Andreessen Horowiz. In December, Bitcoin hit a record high price, in part because of optimism over the incoming administration. Crypto exchanges Coinbase and Kraken have also donated $1 million to the Trump inaugural committee. They join inauguration donors, including Amazon and Meta, as the tech industry seeks to build close relationships with the new White House. As The Independent has reported, the 2024 marked a sea change in tech politics, in which many top figures in the industry, including Elon Musk, left behind their traditional Democratic allies and supported Republicans. 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 President-elect Donald Trump is not someone who plays down expectations, whether about himself or the United States. And he raises the expectations of others accordingly. His re-entry onto the world stage after his victory in last years election prompted urgent shifts in international dynamics on the part of national leaders around the world, simply in anticipation. From midday on Monday, Mr Trumps power is real. With it comes promise and peril. Four years ago, the inauguration of Joe Biden as US president was greeted, especially in Europe, as heralding a welcome return to normality. By which was meant a re-emphasis on Atlanticism abroad, a respect for the constitution at home, and, above all, a steady, predictable hand on the global tiller. That is not quite how it turned out. From the chaotic end to the US-led intervention in Afghanistan to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the new hostilities in the Middle East, Bidens four years encompassed as much, if not more, destructive disruption as any recent US presidents term. That needs to be borne in mind as Mr Trump enters the White House again. Stuff happens. But Mr Trump is different and not just from his predecessor in both the scope of his personal ambition and how he believes he can use American power, but also in the extent to which his personality dictates the terms and draws the limelight for better and worse. Early proof of the promise his presidency could bring were the joyous scenes that followed the agreement between Israel and Hamas; the celebrations on the streets of Tel Aviv, the festivities even amid the devastation of Gaza, and the rapturous reception, on both sides, for the released captives. The Biden and Trump teams may dispute where the credit lies for this lamentably overdue ceasefire, but Mr Trumps imminent inauguration and the pressure exerted by his envoy on the hitherto immovable Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu are surely part of the explanation. It must be hoped that President Trump we must become used to hearing that combination again can follow through, not only to pre-empt any backsliding by either signatory to this agreement but to ensure that the next stages are honoured, bringing the release of all Hamas hostages, and the possibility of rebuilding in a peace that increasingly embraces the whole region. This will not be easy; Syria, Iran and maybe Turkey are, or could all be, in the throes of change. Mr Trumps other foreign policy projects, as so far outlined, present at least as much peril as promise. He has undertaken to end the war in Ukraine, but he must do so without placing Ukraines future at still greater risk or appearing to acquiesce in the change of national borders by military force. Unpredictability and risk-taking here could have lethal consequences. European members of Nato have been making some efforts to prepare for a time when they might have to take more responsibility for Europes security, but there is a long way still to go. Trump 1.0 raised concerns in the end unwarranted that the US could forsake Europe. There is less alarm over Trump 2.0 but no room for complacency, either. Mr Trump has a keen sense of where power lies, abroad as at home. He has US relations with China in his sights as a priority hence the invitation to President Xi Jinping to his inauguration. Mr Xi himself is not going but he is sending a deputy; the honour, in other words, was recognised, not spurned. Will Mr Trump suspend, or soften, the ban on the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, if only as a gesture? Is that the right thing to do? Will Mr Trump start a wider trade war with his threat to impose tariffs, or is the threat more by way of a signal from this arch-realist and disruptor that the rest of the world must strike new bargains to protect what he sees as the US national interest? Europe, in particular, must be as much on its guard as it was eight years ago, so as not to be wrong-footed by a US president whose exclusive concern, to a greater extent than many recent predecessors, is the security and prosperity of the United States. This is also how his striking talk about Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal might be taken, as a 21st-century Monroe Doctrine, which sees the US in hemisphere, rather than global, terms. There have been mixed signals about how far Mr Trumps British in fact, Scottish connection could translate into closer, or less close, relations with the UK. With gaps already evident over policy towards Ukraine and the Middle East, not to mention the Chagos Islands, this is already looking to be a delicate relationship, even as it has become more crucial for the UK after Brexit. If, however, as The Independent has reported, the new US administration could decide to reject Sir Keir Starmers nominee for ambassador, that could not but sour relations, while underlining the disparity in power. Lord Mandelson has his flaws but an ambassador with the ear of the prime minister and expertise in trade matters can be an asset for both sides. President Trump is nothing if not his own man, and a respecter of power his own and that of others. The UKs position vis-a-vis the United States under such a president would be stronger, the more it can make common cause with the EU and the European members of Nato. A strong and united voice in Washington from across the Atlantic would be one way, probably the best way, to make the most of Mr Trumps promise, while reducing the peril. 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 Donald Trump poised to pack the American law enforcement apparatus with loyalists who could implement an agenda of revenge on his behalf, some of his most prominent critics are bracing for possible impacts they may face. Recently, Georgia Representative Barry Loudermilk used his perch atop a House Administration Subcommittee to issue a report that called for the incoming Trump justice department to investigate and prosecute former House January 6 committee vice-chair Liz Cheney for what he describes as witness tampering in actuality the then-Wyoming congresswomans efforts to help ex-Mark Meadows aide Cassidy Hutchinson find new counsel after she was pressured to withhold information from the panel. Trump has also called for the entirety of the now-defunct House panel to be jailed, and he has also routinely called for critics and political opponents to face criminal sanctions as well. He filed a lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and the Iowa-based pollster whose pre-election survey found incorrectly that he was set to lose the Hawkeye State to Vice President Kamala Harris by a double-digit margin. His allies, including his FBI Director-designate Kash Patel, have also made a habit of suing media organizations and critics often on frivolous grounds and come January 20, Patel and his MAGA friends could have a free hand to deploy the full weight of the U.S. government against people they deem insufficiently sycophantic towards the new president. Its a long list, including a group Patel named in an appendix to his memoir, Government Gangsters, as members of an executive branch deep state. The former National Security Council staffer has repeatedly claimed in media appearances that such persons, including the two most recent Democratic presidents, the three most recent Democratic presidential nominees and other prominent law enforcement and intelligence officials whove incurred ire from Republicans over the years, deserve be jailed. Now, some of Trumps loudest critics are bracing for his return to power. Others are ready for a fight. open image in gallery Donald Trump is ready to return to the White House. That leaves his critics bracing for retribution ( AFP via Getty Images ) Mark Zaid, a Washington, D.C., national security lawyer who has advised whistleblowers and critics, has gone so far as to say that certain clients of his should find a reason to be beyond the reach of American law enforcement around the time of Trumps return to power in just over a month. He told Politico hes encouraged a small number of people to take a vacation outside of the country around the time of inauguration, just to see what happens. The range of what could happen should Trump turn the power of government against his perceived enemies is quite broad indeed. In addition to contriving reasons to investigate, arrest and prosecute political foes, a Trump administration bent on revenge could subject critics to invasive IRS audits, make it difficult for critics to travel abroad or access financial services, and could harass and intimidate them with all manner of compulsory process short of arrest. A number of prominent pro-democracy commentators and activists say there are already efforts in place to prepare for the possibility that the new administration will unleash untold amounts of harassment towards people who vexed the president during his first term in office. But some of Trumps most vocal critics arent letting themselves be intimidated. open image in gallery However, some critics, such as George Conway (pictured) arent backing down ( REUTERS ) Rick Wilson, the former Republican ad-man who co-founded and still helps run the Lincoln Project Super PAC, told The Independent that his organization plans to return to messaging that helped drive down Trumps popularity as he ran for re-election in 2020. The group focused on Trumps failures and incompetence rather than the more amorphous pro-democracy messaging that dominated the 2024 cycle. Democracy is unbelievably important, but unfortunately, it also didnt persuade most Americans its important now to use this period of time that were about to enter into to clarify that hes not going to deliver for the people who believed he would deliver hes already saying, I cant lower prices, I cant do this, I cant do that, and we feel like theres an opportunity space ahead of us where you know our kind of messaging is going to be effective and that were going to be able to get in there and make a persuasive case that you need to continue on with an idea of opposition to this guy, said Wilson, who stressed that his organization would not be part of what he described as the pink pussy hat crowd that dominated anti-Trump circles during his first few years in office. Wilson, who has had to fight lawsuits from Trump allies in recent months, said he knows it is possible that Trumps administration will go beyond civil litigation this time. But Wilson stressed that he would not back down from any fights. I suspect Ill be spending a non-zero amount of my time dealing with this kind of garbage, dealing with congressional committees, whatever it turns out to be. But I think its incumbent upon people like me to again, not comply in advance and to not work from fear, he said. Its not a productive emotion after a certain point, and I decline to live that way right now were going to keep doing what we do, and if they stop me they have to pull me out feet first. Im not just going to bow down to these people. Wilson added that over his years in politics he has been very careful not to commit crimes, including avoiding the stupid s*** he described as campaign finance violations, with the aid of very good legal counsel to tell him when to shut up and not do certain things. open image in gallery Trump has already targeted media groups and pollsters that he believes were unkind or unfair to him ( REUTERS ) Another prominent Trump critic, conservative attorney George Conway, said he doesnt worry about being placed in the crosshairs of the new administration because hes got nothing to investigate. Conway, an ex-corporate litigator who was previously married to Trump aide and GOP political strategist Kellyanne Conway, told The Independent that his life is pretty simple. I dont pay off porn stars. I dont have any funky investments. I dont have any cash businesses. All my money is invested in mutual funds because I spent 30 years at a law firm where we were only allowed to invest in mutual funds, he said. He added that the only conceivable way he could see himself being attacked by Trump or his allies is through defamation litigation, which he said would be great because it would allow him to take discovery. Im also not afraid of going right out after them and making their lives miserable by going after me theyre just going to give me a platform, he said. open image in gallery Trump has also filled his potential administration with others who have talked about going against MAGA enemies ( REUTERS ) Some Trump critics whove been in the crosshairs of the soon-to-be-presidents inner circle are more concerned because of their one-time proximity to Trump. Olivia Troye, a former homeland security adviser to then-Vice President Mike Pence, told The Independent she worries most about the people around Trump, such as Patel, incoming deputy White House chief of staff Steven Miller, Office of Management and Budget director-designate Russell Vought and others like them because they see her as more of a turncoat due to her former proximity to the center of power. Troye said she worries about what someone such as Patel, who has funded multiple lawsuits and legal threats against her, could do in power because hell have the backing of Trump and the support of Attorney General-designate Pam Bondi, another loyalist to the incoming president. She also said shes thinking about making security arrangements for herself and her family because Trump and his allies have a habit of exposing their adversaries to death threats and harassment by publicizing their names. This is a crazy time, and when they do things, weve seen that sometimes people get radicalized and they act on it. So I just need to do whats best for me and my family, Troye said. Wilson said he believes Trump will absolutely attempt to abuse power in a grotesque and profound way by going after critics if not him, than people like him. But he cautioned those who might end up in the crosshairs about complying in advance, and warned that those lower down on the administrations organizational chart wont have the same protections Trump has been given. Donald Trump is immune because of the Supreme Court, but not every person in his administration is immune from liability if they abuse their power, he said. We do not yet live in a world where there are no consequences for the guys like Kash Patel or or or other people inside the administration. 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 Five Palestinian journalists have been killed by an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip, the Health Ministry said Thursday. Israel's military said it targeted a group of militants allied with Hamas, which ignited the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, attack in southern Israel. The strike hit a vehicle outside the Al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp. Associated Press video showed the burned shell of a van with press markings. The journalists were working for the local Quds News Network. More than 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the start of the war, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Israel has not allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza except on military embeds. Israel's bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza has killed over 45,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count. Hamass attack on southern Israel in October 2023 resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people, while 250 others were taken hostage by Palestinian militants. Around 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza, although only two thirds are believed to still be alive. Heres the latest: Lebanese military says Israel violated ceasefire agreement by entering southern Lebanon BEIRUT The Lebanese military said Thursday that Israeli troops encroached on areas of southern Lebanon, violating a ceasefire agreement that ended the war between Israel and the Hezbollah group. The U.S.-brokered ceasefire that went into effect a month ago called for Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops to leave southern Lebanon over a 60-day period as Lebanese army soldiers gradually deploy in the country south of the Litani River. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the reported incident. Meanwhile, Lebanons state-run National News Agency said Israeli bulldozers are setting up dirt barricades that would close off the road between Wadi Slouqi and Wadi Hujeir. Lebanons military said it brought reinforcements into the areas entered by Israeli troops. NNA said the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, sent a patrol unit to an area near the southern town of Qantara where Israeli forces are present. UNIFIL in a statement expressed its concern at continuing destruction by the IDF (Israeli military) in residential areas, agricultural land, and road networks in south Lebanon. Lebanonese army chief General Joseph Aoun earlier Thursday traveled to Saudi Arabia as part of ongoing efforts by the cash-strapped military to find financial support to deploy in larger numbers. The Lebanese military and government have complained about Israeli strikes and overflights in the country to a new monitoring committee headed by the U.S. that also includes France. Israeli strike kills five Palestinian journalists, Gaza Health Ministry says DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip An Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in the Gaza Strip overnight, the Health Ministry said Thursday. The Israeli military said it had targeted a group of militants. The strike hit a car outside the Al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in the central part of the territory. The journalists were working for the local Quds News Network. The military said it targeted a group of fighters from Islamic Jihad, a militant group allied with Hamas, whose Oct. 7, 2023, attack into southern Israel ignited the war. Associated Press video showed the incinerated shell of a van, with press markings still visible on the back doors. The Committee to Protect Journalists says over 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the start of the war. Israel has not allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza except on military embeds. China pledges 2 more shipments of aid to Gaza BEIJING China has pledged two more shipments of humanitarian aid to Gaza, in an indication of support for the Palestinian Authority, state media reported Thursday. The agreement was overseen in Cairo by Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang and Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Diab al-Louh. To ease the humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, the Chinese government has continued to provide assistance to Palestine, Liao was quoted as saying. The types and quantities of aid to be delivered via Egypt were not given, but China has previously shipped food and medicine to Gaza. China has longstanding ties with the Palestinian Authority but has also sought to strengthen economic and political relations with Israel. Al-Louh voiced appreciation for Chinas consistent and firm support for the just cause of the Palestinian people and for raising this issue on international occasions," state media said. UN Security Council to hold emergency meeting on Houthi attacks UNITED NATIONS The U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday at Israels request to discuss recent attacks by Yemens Houthi rebels. Israels U.N. Mission said Wednesday the meeting will take place at 10 a.m. Monday. Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said he expects the council will condemn the Houthi attacks. He urged the council to enforce international law and hold Iran, the Houthis patron, accountable. Alluding to Israeli retaliation for the attacks, Danon said It seems that the Houthis have not yet understood what happens to those who try to harm the state of Israel. 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 Since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, Vladimir Putin has faced persistent opposition not only in Western capitals but also inside his own country. For Russians though, criticising the president comes at a cost one Salavat Abylkalikov knows all too well. Abylkalikov, 38, a former professor at one of Russias most prestigious universities, says he was compelled to flee Moscow last year to escape being conscripted to fight in the Ukraine war, and protect his wife and daughter from harm and separation. The war, which started nearly three years ago, has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians and Russians and made an estimated six million people refugees. Russia has suffered the biggest brain drain since the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, says Abylkalikov, who now lives in exile in the UK. Abylkalikov is one of 400 academics from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine who, since the start of the war, have fled or sought help to leave from the Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara), a British charity that assists foreign scholars looking to escape dangerous places or situations. Nearly 300 of the academics are from Ukraine the highest number of requests for support from scholars in a European country since the 1930s. open image in gallery Salavat Abylkalikov with his wife ( Sourced by The Independent ) Speaking to The Independent from his new home in England, Abylkalikov recalls escaping the clutches of police trying to round up men for conscription. When mobilisation started in Russia, I was actively teaching. But every day when I went to the university, I was afraid that they would catch me. There were no rules of exception for the science and academic community. So in the centre of Moscow, as I was approaching a metro station, I could see police waiting to catch hold of men like me, he tells The Independent. For a scholar opposing the war, the professor recalls, I faced serious risks, including potential criminal prosecution, dismissal from work, and possible attempts at forced conscription into the war against Ukraine. He says he became increasingly uncomfortable with the atmosphere at his university, where some people openly backed the war. At home, his wife grew more stressed by the day. After four years of marriage, Abylkalikov and his wife were expecting their first child in December 2022, just after Putin mobilised military reservists, widening the pool of men eligible to fight in the war. In Russia, there have been documented cases of children being separated from parents because of their anti-war and opposition activities, Abylkalikov says, adding that he didnt want such a fate to befall his family. open image in gallery Salavat Abylkalikov with his wife and daughter ( Sourced by The Independent ) For he and his wife, he says, life in Moscow became hell. As he continued telling students that war was not good for Russia many, he says, understood this the university appointed a Putin loyalist named Sergey Karaganov as the dean of his department. Karaganov openly backed the war and argued that Moscow could attack a Nato nation. Just before he left Moscow in the summer of 2023, a student at the university became a casualty of war, a life cut short by Putins so-called special military operation. Taras Konstantinovich Alekseev died heroically while performing his military duty, a university obituary read. He was 20 years old. The war now at his doorstep, the professor asked Cara for help and the charity helped get him to the UK. open image in gallery Salavat Abylkalikov and his wife now live in England ( Sourced by The Independent ) Abylkalikov, who is now a visiting researcher in humanities and geography and environmental sciences at Northumbria University, says the Kremlin is playing Russian roulette with the lives of young men. Russian volunteers heading to war are offered substantial one-time payments, ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 rubles, as well as monthly salaries of about 2,500 rubles. In the case of disability, they are compensated with 40,000 rubles. In the event of death, the payment to their families is reportedly around 70,000 rubles, he says. The payments arent uniform and depend on where the recruit comes from. The majority of the mobilised men reportedly come from small villages, industrial towns, and poor republics. Signing up for military service earns them thousands of rubles as opposed to the 300-400 rubles their jobs offer, he explains. The gamble, however, comes with the risk of death. Yet, they are often willing to take this Russian roulette gamble, and in many cases, their families are willing to support this decision, he tells The Independent. Research earlier this year by The Bell, an independent Russian website, found that 650,000 Russians had fled the country since the Ukraine war began. While some of them have since returned, Abylkalikov says academics like him are not going back any time soon. As the war grinds on with no end in sight, Cara is urging the international community to save the scholars affected by the deadliest conflict in Europe since the Second World War. The need for international support to protect the worlds greatest minds has never been more pressing, Caras executive director, Stephen Wordsworth, says, calling for support to provide safe haven to scholars under siege. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Russia and Kazakhstan have tried to calm speculation about the cause of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash, following claims that it was shot down by Russian air defence systems. On Thursday, Moscow urged calm as its foreign minister said it would be wrong to draw conclusions before an investigation into the crash was complete. The flight had been set to travel to Grozny, the capital of Russias southern republic of Chechnya, on Wednesday, but instead diverted and crash-landed a few kilometres short of Aktau airport in Kazakhstan. Unverified video footage of the crash showed the aircraft descending and hitting the ground, where it burst into flames, killing 38 of the 67 people on board. open image in gallery Rescuers transport wounded passengers from a medical plane after the crash ( Russian Emergency Ministry Press Service ) Russias aviation watchdog said a preliminary investigation indicated that the pilot had decided to change landing site after a collision with birds. But the Reuters news agency noted that the plane had diverted from an area of Russia that Moscow has recently defended against Ukrainian drone attacks. On Wednesday, Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukraines National Security and Defence Councils Centre for Countering Disinformation, said on X (formerly Twitter) that the plane had been shot down by a Russian air defence system. He claimed to have seen footage from inside the plane showing punctured life vests. Sources also made the same claim to Reuters. Mr Kovalenko said: However, admitting this is inconvenient for everyone, so efforts will be made to cover it up, even the holes in the remaining parts of the aircraft. An analyst at consultancy AeroDynamic Advisory also raised doubts over the possibility of a bird strike, adding: You can lose control of the plane, but you dont fly wildly off course as a consequence. Some commentators have also alleged that holes seen in images of the planes tail section after the crash might indicate that it came under fire. Both Moscow and Kazakhstan have sought to dampen speculation over Moscows possible involvement. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that an investigation into the cause of the crash is underway and that it would be wrong to speculate on hypotheses before that is complete. Kazakhstans senate chair stated that the cause of the crash is unknown, adding: None of these countries neither Azerbaijan, Russia nor Kazakhstan is interested in hiding information. All information will be made available to the public. open image in gallery Members of an investigation committee and local officials walk past the wreckage of the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 ( The Administration of Mangystau Region ) Azeri president Ilham Aliyev also said it was too soon to speculate on the cause of the crash, adding that he had been told that bad weather in Grozny had forced the flight to divert. Mr Aliyev said: The information provided to me is that the plane changed its course between Baku and Grozny due to worsening weather conditions and headed to Aktau airport, where it crashed upon landing. Commercial aviation-tracking websites monitored the flight as it flew north on its scheduled route along the west coast before it disappeared. It then reappeared on the east coast, where it circled near Aktau airport before crashing into an area close to the beach. Kazakh officials said that those on board the plane included 42 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russian nationals, six Kazakhs and three Kyrgyzstan nationals. Five of the 67 were crew. 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 Russian cargo ship that sank after an explosion ripped through its engine room was a victim of an act of terrorism, the vessels owner has said. The Ursa Major cargo ship went down in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Spain on Tuesday, leaving two of its 16-person crew missing, according to Russias foreign ministry. The vessel, built in 2009, had been placed under sanction by the United States for its ties to Russias military after the invasion of Ukraine. Russian state news agency RIA reported that Oboronlogistika, the company which owns the cargo ship, said in a statement that the vessel had been targeted in "a terrorist act. The company, which is part of the Russian defence ministry's military construction operations, said the 14 crew members located had reported consecutive explosions on the ship at 10.50am. The vessel was reportedly carrying two giant port cranes on its deck with their loading buckets, two heavy hatch covers for ice-breaking vessels, 129 empty containers, and a 20-foot container with roofing equipment. Survivors from Ursa Major disembark from a Spanish Maritime Rescue ship ( REUTERS ) Oboronlogistika had said that the ship had been en route to the Russian far-eastern port of Vladivostok. Oboronlogistika and SK-Yug, a company listed as the ship's direct owner and operator, were sanctioned by the United States in 2022 for their ties to Russia's military as was the Ursa Major itself. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service said it had received a distress signal from the Ursa Major on Monday when it was located about 57 miles off the coast of Almeira. Two vessels and a helicopter were sent to the scene and the 14 surviving crew members were taken to the Spanish port of Cartagena. LSEG ship tracking data shows the vessel departed from the Russian port of St Petersburg on 11 December and was last seen sending a signal on Monday between Algeria and Spain where it sank. On leaving St Petersburg it had indicated that its next port of call was the Russian port of Vladivostok, not the Syrian port of Tartous which it has called at in the past. Reuters contributed to this report. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Russia has claimed it has foiled several Ukrainian plots to assassinate senior officers and their families using bombs disguised as power banks or document folders. The countrys Federal Security Service said it had arrested four Russians accused of helping plan the attack, just weeks after a high-ranking officer was killed outside his Moscow apartment by a bomb attached to an electric scooter. Ukraines SBU intelligence service confirmed they were behind the attack on 17 December that killed Lieutenant General Kirillov, chief of Russias Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops. The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation has prevented a series of assassination attempts on high-ranking military personnel of the Defence Ministry, the FSB said on Thursday. Ukraines SBU did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. open image in gallery A view of the blast scene, which killed the commander of Russian armed forces' chemical, biological and radiation defence troops, Igor Kirillov ( AFP via Getty Images ) The FSB, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said that the Russian citizens arrested had been recruited by the Ukrainian intelligence services. It said one of the men retrieved a bomb disguised as a portable charger in Moscow that was to be attached with magnets to the car of one of the Defence Ministrys top officials. Another Russian man was tasked with surveilling senior Russian defence officials, it said, with one plot involving the delivery of a bomb disguised as a document folder. The exact date of the planned attacks was unclear, though one of the suspects said he had retrieved a bomb on 23 December, according to the FSB. Moscow holds Ukraine responsible for a string of high-profile assassinations on its soil designed to weaken morale, and says the West is supporting a terrorist regime in Kyiv. Ukraine, which says Russias war against it poses an existential threat to the Ukrainian state, has made clear it regards such targeted killings as a legitimate tool. open image in gallery Rescuers from Ukraines State Emergency Service work to put out a fire in a private house after a drone strike in Kharkiv on Christmas Day ( Sergey Bobok/AFP via Getty Images ) Meanwhile, US president Joe Biden has pledged to push forward a new tranche of military aid to Kyiv, in response to an outrageous attack launched by Russia on Christmas Day. Half a million people were left without heating in Kharkiv after Putins forces launched the inhumane attack on Wednesday. Zelensky said more than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and more than 100 attack drones were used to strike Ukraines power sources. Washington has committed $175bn in aid for Ukraine, but it is not certain the support will continue at that level under president-elect Donald Trump, who has said he wants to bring the war to a quick end. 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 large-scale Russian missile and drone attack targeting Ukraines energy system on Christmas Day has been condemned as inhumane by president Volodymyr Zelensky. Half a million people were left without heating in Kharkiv in temperatures just a few degrees above freezing, as blackouts were reported in Kyiv and other regions. At least one person was killed and six others wounded in the attack, described by one Ukrainian energy chief as Vladimir Putins state-sponsored terrorism. The massive attack came as Ukraine officially celebrated Christmas on 25 December for only the second time, in a move to reduce the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church, which celebrates on 7 January. It provoked outrage from outgoing US President Joe Biden who vowed to deliver more weapons to Ukraine after sending hundreds of air defence missiles in recent months. The Ukrainian people deserve to live in peace and safety, he said. Mr Zelensky said more than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and over 100 attack drones were used to strike Ukraines power sources. Nearly 60 missiles and 54 drones were shot down, according to Ukraines air force. Follow our blog for the latest updates open image in gallery Rescuers of Ukraines State Emergency Service work to put out a fire in a private house after a drone strike in Kharkiv ( Sergey Bobok/AFP via Getty ) Every massive Russian strike requires time for preparation. It is never a spontaneous decision. It is a deliberate choice not only of targets but also of timing and date. Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack. What could be more inhumane? Mr Zelensky said. The targets are our energy infrastructure. They continue to fight for a blackout in Ukraine. Mr Zelenskys comments were echoed by prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, who paid tribute to the resilience of the Ukrainian people ... in the face of further drone and missile attacks from Putins bloody and brutal war machine, with no respite, even at Christmas. The prime minister added: As we go into the new year, it remains vital that we redouble our resolve to place Ukraine in the strongest possible position to end Russias illegal aggression against the Ukrainian people. Mr Biden also released a statement condemning the outrageous attack by Moscow, while promising to continue a surge in weapon deliveries to Ukraine. Washington has committed $175 billion in aid for Ukraine - although it is uncertain the flow will continue under Donald Trump, who becomes president next month. Mr Biden said: I have directed the Department of Defense to continue its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine, and the United States will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen Ukraines position in its defense against Russian forces. Having spent Christmas Eve near the battlefields of the Kharkiv region reporting on Ukrainian drone operators destroying Russian military targets, The Independents Askold Krushelnycky described the attack. Two hours after I returned to my hotel I was awoken at 6.30am on Christmas morning by the Russian military attacking civilian targets in Kharkiv, he said. The city, in eastern Ukraine, is so close to the border that Russias missiles, glide bombs and drones, that attack Kharkiv most days, often hit their targets before the air-raid sirens have time to sound. Russias defence ministry said it had conducted a large-scale strike on what it claimed were critical energy facilities supporting Kyivs military-industrial complex. Ukraines energy minister German Galushchenko warned that restrictions on the countrys electricity supply were in place as a result. A thermal power plant was struck, prompting Ukrainians to take shelter in metro stations, with the military launching a nationwide air alert in response to Russian cruise missile launches. Ukraines air force said missiles were fired at the eastern Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Poltava regions. open image in gallery Rescuers evacuate a local resident from a residential building heavily damaged during a Russian missile attack on Christmas Eve ( Reuters ) The strikes wounded at least six people in the city of Kharkiv and killed one in the Dnipropetrovsk region, local governors said. Mr Krushelnycky said: I was woken by a loud bang which was followed in the next minutes by at least four more explosions and then a little while later by yet another. Since then air raid alarms have been sounding frequently and the sound of emergency vehicles sirens has provided the audio backdrop all Christmas Day. The hotel where I am staying informed me when I first stayed in it last year that they had no basement and, therefore, no air raid shelter of their own but there was one, a short dash away, available to guests. The air raid sirens can sound in the capital, Kyiv, and other large Ukrainian cities multiple times. In Ukraines second-largest city, Kharkiv, its a rare day they dont sound multiple times. So most Ukrainians dont rush to the shelters when the alarms sound or, in places like Kharkiv, even when there are distant explosions. Dnipropetrovsk governor Serhiy Lysak said the fatality occurred in an attack on regional power facilities. Since the morning, the Russian army has been massively attacking the Dnipro region. It is trying to destroy the regions power system, he said. Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov reported massive missile fire, adding: A series of explosions rang out in the city and there are still ballistic missiles flying in the direction of the city. Stay in safe places. open image in gallery Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Vladimir Putin had deliberately chosen to attack on Christmas Day ( EPA ) Ukraines largest private energy company DTEK said its generating facilities were attacked, with power equipment seriously damaged, in the 13th large-scale assault on the energy sector this year. We appeal to every ally of Ukraine to end this state-sponsored terrorism now by giving our armed forces the air defence ammunition they need to protect essential energy infrastructure, DTEK chief executive Maxim Timchenko said. Russia has intensified attacks on the Ukrainian energy sector since spring, damaging almost half of its generating capacity and causing prolonged blackouts. open image in gallery Ukrainian troops prepare to fire a mortar towards Russian troops ( Reuters ) The US ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, said: Russias Christmas gift to Ukraine: more than 70 missiles and 100 drones, directed at Ukrainian families celebrating in their homes and the energy infrastructure that keeps them. For the third holiday season, Russia weaponises winter. The latest attack came just a day after at least one person was killed and 15 injured in Mr Zelenskys hometown of Kryvyi Rih after a ballistic missile struck an apartment building in the central Ukrainian city. The monsters landed a direct hit on a four-storey residential block with 32 apartments, said local military chief Oleksandr Vilkul. Additional reporting by news 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 Ten people, including five journalists, were killed and 20 wounded in Israels latest attacks on Gaza, Palestinian authorities said. The journalists from the Al-Quds Today channel were killed in an airstrike at al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp, Al Jazeera reported. The strike hit their broadcasting van, which was clearly marked press, the outlet said. The slain were identified as Fadi Hassouna, Ibrahim al-Sheikh Ali, Mohammed al-Ladah, Faisal Abu al-Qumsan, and Ayman al-Jadi. Jadis wife was reportedly in the hospital at the time and in labour with their first child. According to the Quds News Network, civil defence teams recovered the bodies of the victims and put out a fire at the scene. The journalists were reportedly sleeping in the vehicle at the time of the airstrike. The Israeli military said its aircraft carried out a targeted attack on the vehicle as it contained members of the Islamic Jihad militant group. Prior to the attack, many steps were taken to reduce the chance of harming civilians, including the use of precision weapons, aerial observations, and additional intelligence information, the military said in a post on X. Another Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza Citys Zeitoun neighborhood killed five people and wounded 20, the medics reported. They warned the death toll could rise as many people remained trapped under the rubble. File. Palestinian women mourn relatives killed in an Israeli strike at al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee Camp in the central Gaza Strip on 7 December 2024 ( AFP via Getty ) Israel has been waging a war on Gaza since a Hamas attack in October last year killed 1,200 Israeli civilians and soldiers and saw nearly 250 taken hostage. Israel has so far killed more than 45,000 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the local health ministry. The dead include at least 141 journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Its air and ground offensive has caused widespread destruction and displaced around 90 per cent of the besieged territorys 2.3 million people, often multiple times. In a separate incident, a three-week-old baby girl named Sila reportedly froze to death in a tent camp in the Muwasi area outside the southern town of Khan Younis in the early hours of Christmas morning. Sila was one of three babies to die of hypothermia over the past 48 hours, authorities said. The others were aged three days and one month. Silas father, Mahmoud al-Faseeh, told the Associated Press that he had wrapped her in a blanket to keep her warm, but it wasnt enough. He said the tent wasnt sealed from the wind and the ground was cold, with temperatures dropping to 9C Tuesday night. It was very cold overnight and as adults we couldnt even take it. We couldnt stay warm, he said. In the morning, Sila was found unresponsive, and despite efforts to rush her to the hospital, her lungs had already deteriorated. A photo showed the baby with purple lips and blotchy skin. She was like wood, said Mr al-Faseeh. Ahmed al-Farra, director of the childrens ward at Nasser Hospital, confirmed Sila and the other babies died from hypothermia, according to Sky News. 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 Fourteen personnel of Syria's new security forces were killed in an ambush by suspected loyalists of ousted leader Bashar al-Assad in the Tartous countryside, the transitional government said on Thursday. The security forces, made up mainly of armed rebels who seized power earlier this month, clashed with the Assad loyalists near the Mediterranean port in western Syria as they sought to arrest a former government official accused of issuing execution orders and arbitrary rulings against thousands of inmates in the Saydnaya prison. New interior minister Mohammed Abdel Rahman said "14 interior ministry personnel were killed and 10 others wounded after a treacherous ambush by remnants of the criminal regime" in Tartus province "while performing their tasks of maintaining security and safety". He vowed to crack down on "anyone who dares to undermine Syria's security or endanger the lives of its citizens". Armed militias led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, an al Qaeda offshoot, took over the country in early December and forced the president to flee, ending five decades of the Assad family's rule. Syrian police had earlier imposed curfew in Homs city after unrest linked to demonstrations that residents said were led by members of the minority Alawite and Shiite Muslim communities. State media said the curfew was imposed overnight on Thursday. The protests in Homs, a stronghold of Assad's Alawite community, broke out after "a number of residents refused to allow their houses to be searched", the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in the UK, said. Some called for the release of soldiers from the former Syrian army now imprisoned by the HTS. It said one demonstrator was killed and five wounded in Homs. The protests were apparently sparked in part by a video showing the burning of an Alawite shrine. The interim regime insisted the video was old and not a recent incident. There were also protests on Christmas Eve against the burning of a Christmas tree, prompting renewed calls for the new rulers to protect religious minorities. The country's new leaders have repeatedly vowed to protect minority religious groups who fear they could impose a conservative Islamist government. The new regime claimed its forces raided warehouses in the capital Damascus on Wednesday, confiscating drugs like the stimulant Captagon and cannabis, which were allegedly used by Assad's soldiers. A million Captagon pills and hundreds of kilograms of cannabis were set ablaze, the interim administration said. Additional inputs from 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 Locally made weaponry, including night-vision equipment, rocket systems, drones and armoured vehicles, was pivotal in the shock ousting of Syrias Bashar al-Assad, top rebel commanders have revealed, as the interim government announced that rebel factions will dissolve and merge to form a new Syrian defence ministry. In interviews with The Independent, senior figures from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) the Islamist opposition faction that led the charge explained how they had planned the offensive for more than four years after devastating losses at the hands of the Assad regime in 2020 forced them to build a new military doctrine from scratch. This shift involved a new weapons programme including locally manufactured sniper systems that allowed them, for the first time, to fight at night as well as uniting disparate groups into a formal military structure, encouraging defection from the regime, and meticulously planning for the day after the end of Assad. Now, they are poised to reveal their new military structure, with the HTS chief who became the countrys de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa also known as Mohammed al-Golani saying on Tuesday that they had reached an agreement with disparate faction chiefs to consolidate under the defence ministry and build a new military together with those who defected from Assads forces. HTS commanders told The Independent that for four years they shed the mindset of the opposition or a militia and adopted the mindset of a state, including the creation of outreach programmes to encourage regime soldiers to desert, defect, and enrol in a new military force; barring rebels from conducting revenge attacks; and training rebel forces into a single institutional and national military body with a clear and well-studied plan. The most important lesson we learnt was the revival of science within the military institution, said Abu Hassan al-Hamawi, the head of HTSs military council, speaking to The Independent from Latakia province, once a government stronghold. There, he is now holding meetings with leaders from the Alawite sect, to which the Assad family belongs, with the aim of building a new state. open image in gallery People gather during a celebration called by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham at Umayyad Square in Damascus after the ousting of Syrias Bashar al-Assad ( Reuters ) One of the first military innovations was creating equipment that allowed them to fight at night, which accelerated [the regimes] collapse and disrupted [its forces] ability to reorganise. Al-Hamawi explained that they also focused on producing armoured vehicles capable of operating in mountainous areas. They then manufactured mortar launchers and the 82mm and 120mm ammunition to be used with them. Additionally, we developed a rocket artillery system, producing rockets similar to the Katyusha [rocket artillery first used by the Soviet Union in the Second World War] in 114mm calibre, and further developed rockets with a 220mm calibre. Sheikh Shreeh al-Homsi, another senior figure from HTSs military wing, said they also created Shaheen or Falcon drones, which they claim were more advanced than the governments and could target regime gatherings. After more than a decade of ferocious fighting and years of frozen battle lines, rebel forces led by the HTS, which was once aligned with al-Qaeda, succeeded in a stunning overthrow of the long-term autocracy earlier this month. open image in gallery The rebels took control of Aleppo, Hama and Homs before heading to Damascus ( The Independent/Datawrapper ) Syrias interim prime minister, Mohammed al-Bashir, said last week that the new defence ministry would be restructured and would incorporate officers who had defected from Assads army. Syrias new rulers have appointed Murhaf Abu Qasra, a leading figure in the insurgency that toppled Assad, as defence minister in the interim government. However, they face the daunting task of avoiding clashes between the myriad groups and keeping the peace in a deeply fractured and traumatised country. There is still fighting in the northeast of the country between Turkish-backed opposition forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Al-Hamawi said that recruitment into the military and police force would be the first step to enhancing security, with a recruitment drive across different cities set to start in the coming days. All of this, Al-Hamawi stated, relies on bringing a fractured society together. open image in gallery Syrias de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa attends a meeting with former rebel faction chiefs on Tuesday ( via Reuters ) I am currently in Latakia province, where I have met with Alawite leaders and heads of institutions most of whom are Alawites, he said. Our general approach has been to enter these areas peacefully and avoid any talk of revenge. We aim to rebuild the social fabric that the regime fractured. Steps will be taken to restore this social cohesion so that security and public services can operate effectively for citizens needs. Syrias battle lines had remained largely deadlocked, with Assads government crippling rebel forces for more than a decade with the support of Iranian and Russian forces. There were fears that the war would drag on indefinitely until a lightning assault was launched in early December, resulting in the shock overthrow of the Assad family after more than half a century in power. Rebel forces exploited a moment of weakness for the Assad regime, as its Russian backers were embroiled in a devastating war in Ukraine, Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah were reeling from recent conflict with Israel, and the countrys population was desperate for change after years of war, disappearances, and economic hardship. open image in gallery Rebels in the Bab Touma neighbourhood of Damascus ( Reuters ) But Al-Homsi said they did not solely rely on external factors but focused on a unified military command ensuring that no isolated operations or instances of chaos negatively impacted liberated areas. They also focused on immediate state-building, including instantly establishing institutions to engage with the local population, particularly minorities, in areas taken from the regime. The next issue, HTS commanders say, is bringing Syria back into the global fold. HTS and other figures are now lobbying hard for countries like the US to drop its terrorist designations, which Al-Hamawi described as unjust. If we talk about terrorism, we only see it in the Assad regime. We need international support for rebuilding Syria and removing economic and political restrictions so that Syria can rebuild itself properly, he said. Another issue is neighbouring Israel, which has long been locked in battles with the Iran-backed militias that once propped up the Assad regime. Israel has repeatedly bombed military infrastructure in Syria since Assads overthrow. Al-Hamawi said these actions had no justification except to exploit Syrias transitional phase. We also call for Israel to withdraw from Syrian territories. Syria has suffered immensely over the past 14 years, and now we seek stability, security, and rebuilding. We want to focus on improving services, the economy, and peoples living conditions while maintaining their dignity and security. 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 body was discovered in the wheel well of a United Airlines flight that arrived in Maui from Chicago. Flight UA202 arrived at the Kahului Airport on Tuesday afternoon. On the ground, officials discovered a body inside the wheel well of the aircraft, prompting an investigation by the Maui Police Department. The airline does not yet know how or when the person accessed the wheel well. Upon arrival at Kahului airport in Maui on Tuesday, a body was found in the wheel well of one of the main landing gears on a United aircraft, United Airlines said in a statement to CNN. The wheel well was only accessible from outside of the aircraft. The Maui Police Department has few details to release to the public, a spokesperson told local outlet Hawaii News Now. open image in gallery A body was found inside the wheel well of a United Airlines flight on Christmas Eve ( Getty Images ) The Maui Police Department is currently conducting an active investigation regarding a deceased individual discovered on an incoming flight from the mainland this afternoon, the department spokesperson said. At this time, no further details are available. The Independent has contacted the Maui Police Department for more information. Hiding in a planes wheel well is the most common method used by stowaways, according to CNN. However, its often fatal, as stowaways can develop deadly hypothermia and hypoxia as the plane climbs, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Stowaways can also get crushed as the landing gear retracts. This end-of-year holiday season, nearly 120 million people will travel away from home, according to the American Automobile Association. This will include a record number of air travelers, the organization predicts. Video footage has captured survivors miraculously emerging from the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash wreckage. An international investigation is underway into how an Embraer 190 passenger jet with 67 people onboard crashed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 people but leaving 29 survivors on Wednesday (25 December). Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243, which had been flying from Baku to Grozny, the capital of Russias Chechnya, crash-landed instead at Aktau airport. Russias aviation watchdog a preliminary investigation indicated the pilot decided to change landing site after a collision with birds. But Reuters news agency noted that the plane had diverted from an area of Russia that Moscow has recently defended against Ukrainian drone attacks. My Cultural Life DJ Kelly-Anne Byrne is a festival and nightclub favourite, playing with Horse Meat Disco on December 30 at Pygmalion, D2, for NYF Dublin, and on New Years Eve at Love Tempo, D8, with Mango. BOOK: The Girl with The Louding Voice I picked this up by Abi Dare in a charity shop a few months ago. Its a beautiful tale of a young Nigerian girl, Adunni, who is sold by her father to a much older man for marriage after her mothers death. Determined to escape her fate and get the education she has always longed for, she flees to Lagos. I love this book because its told in Adunnis unique, tenacious voice; her humour and intelligence bounce off the page. I laughed and cried in equal measure reading it. FILM: Kneecap This film is outstanding, a breath of fresh air. Apart from being a class band, Kneecap can really act. It depicts their upbringing in Belfast and subsequent rise to fame as a group. There are hilarious scenes of sex, drugs and rocknroll but the film also has incredible depth. Its full of poignant moments which I found deeply moving and made me want to brush up on my Irish (once my best subject in school). I love what Kneecap represent and think its wonderful that theyre inspiring young people in this country to speak as Gaeilge. ALBUM: Romance I cannot get enough of Fontaine DCs album, its their best work to date for me. Every time I go back to listen I find something new, another sound or lyric stands out, or a different song becomes a highlight. Its such an expansive record and I love its cinematic feel. In the Modern World is my favourite song of 2024. Ive followed Fontaines DC from the start; they deserve all the credit as not only are they brilliant musicians, theyre serious grafters. Their gig in 3Arena this year was epic. BEST NYE: The sugar club The Sugar Club in 2018 was one of the best New Years Eves. Brilliant line-up: Billy Scurry, Arveene, Paul Fogarty, Get Down Edits, Aoife Nic Canna, myself. When there are so many talented DJs playing, you really get inspired by their sets. I remember the energy from the crowd being infectious and how their love of music shone through. Ive a recording of the set which I sometimes listen back to because the cheers at the start remind me of how great the night was. Its hard to talk badly about the show, but season two was a mistake there doesnt need to be another one The biggest mistake of season two was killing off Grace, played by Anne-Marie Duff. Photo: Apple TV+ It was only a matter of time before someone asked Sharon Horgan about another season of Bad Sisters. We can hardly blame them. Back in 2022, shortly after the first season finished on Apple TV+, I began to miss my weekly dose of the awesome Garvey siblings. Eva (Sharon Horgan) and her sisters Becka (Eve Hewson), Ursula (Eva Birthistle), Bibi (Sarah Greene) and Grace (Anne-Marie Duff) rank among the greatest fictional families in Irish television history. Inspired by a one-off Flemish series about a group of close-knit sisters who conspire to murder a rotten in-law, the first Bad Sisters run was so sharp, so well executed, it was hardly a surprise when Horgan and her team announced a second season. But where would they go with it? How might Bad Sisters, season two, continue the story? More importantly, was there even a story to tell? Eve Hewson, Sarah Greene, Sharon Horgan and Eva Birthistle in Bad Sisters. Photo: Apple TV+ Sharon Horgans season 2 of Bad Sisters filming in Donabate, Dublin The second season came to an end this week, closing the curtain finally on a clumsy, knotted run that rarely, if ever, matched the charm and brilliance of its ingenious predecessor. Even the heartiest Garvey follower would be forced to admit Bad Sisters lost the run of itself this year. Its biggest mistake, without question, was (spoilers ahead!) killing off Grace, the heart and soul of chapter one, who fought so hard to free herself of her wicked late husband, JP, aka The Prick (Claes Bang). The second season came to an end this week, closing the curtain finally on a clumsy, knotted run that rarely, if ever, matched the charm and brilliance of its ingenious predecessor Graces untimely death she was killed in a road accident while fleeing from her new husband, Ian (Owen McDonnell) seemed a little forced, a cynical move that cheated the character and the audience out of a happy ending. And lets not forget, the first season of Bad Sisters wrapped things up perfectly. The Garveys got away with murder, JP got what he deserved and everyone celebrated with an ice-cold swim at the Forty Foot. Bad Sisters 2, on the other hand, got greedy and Horgans series poked its nose around in places it shouldnt have. Will there be a Bad Sisters 3? It is, perhaps, too early to tell, but not too early to ask questions. Speaking earlier this month, Horgan, who co-developed the series, said she enjoyed making season two, but had doubts about another follow-up. I love those girls so much, she said. My brain obviously had such a great time, but I feel like the ending is the ending. The biggest mistake of season two was killing off Grace, played by Anne-Marie Duff. Photo: Apple TV+ As sad as it is to say goodbye the events of season two had to be fully impacted by what happened in season one. These were always supposed to be ordinary women who an extraordinary thing happened to. And I didnt ever want it to be a thing where just crazy shit kind of happens to them. Its the actions of The Prick and his terrible legacy and how they deal with it and bad choices they make, but that cant keep happening because otherwise, its Nancy Drew. Its something else entirely. This is true. Horgan is a fine storyteller, with an eye for detail, and she knows when enough is enough. It hardly helps that the latest Bad Sisters finale was a major letdown If shed wanted to, she might have kept the wheels turning on Catastrophe, her delightful half-hour comedy with Rob Delaney. But she didnt and that masterful, unconventional sitcom bowed out after four accomplished seasons. Bad Sisters is a more complicated endeavour. If left unchecked if allowed to continue for the wrong reasons it could become a parody of itself, and nobody wants to see that. It hardly helps that the latest Bad Sisters finale was a major letdown. Ian turned out to be another violent bozo (we all saw that one coming). The story arc of Ian's character (Owen McDonnell) was predictable. Photo: Apple TV+ Fiona Shaws Angelica Muldoon survived her accident and became an ally. Becka, meanwhile, had a baby with Joe (Peter Claffey), Daryl McCormacks Matthew backed off quietly, and the sisters finally got the chance to scatter Graces ashes. Elsewhere, relationships were mended, scars healed and all the little things we worried about or that the show asked us to worry about, from Bibis baby anxieties to Ursulas addiction problem disappeared. The end. It isnt easy to say bad things about Bad Sisters. Like Horgan, I love these characters, and I love the luxurious, imaginary version of Ireland they inhabit. The humour is wonderful, the acting is superb and the chemistry between the Garveys is unlike anything else on Irish television. The first round was a hit, and nobody can argue with that. Still, I think Horgan is right: goodbyes are sad, but when you know, you know. So long, Bad Sisters. Well remember you at your best. Eve Hewson, Sarah Greene, Sharon Horgan and Eva Birthistle in Bad Sisters. Photo: Apple TV+ Bad Sisters - Season 2 Official Trailer Theatre for 2025: Hopeful choices for new year with safety-first offers in tough times From Abbeys new strategy to the The Gaietys festive turn-around, new year hopefully offers high-quality theatre Conleth Hill will star in 'King Lear' at The Gate Emer O'Kelly Thu 26 Dec 2024 at 03:30 The Abbey Theatre is our National Theatre, by statute. That means that theatrically, it is our official Irish stage, presenting our national life in artform for audiences at home and, hopefully, abroad, as well as ensuring Irish audiences are given a window on the best of international theatre. The Indo Daily: Why is even the mention of water charges like playing with fire for politicians? Its been almost two years since Ryan Tubridy sensationally quit The Late Late Show. Despite hosting the RTE chat show for 14 years, he has no regrets about stepping down from the hot spot. He also said he does not miss it. Not for one minute. I just needed to decompress from it, Tubridy said. The 51-year-old has since relocated to London and says he no longer watches his former show. I havent seen The Late Late Show since I moved away, and theres no badness in it, its just because I dont have the [RTE] Player in London, he said. Also, on Friday night Im normally out and about, or else I travel home to Ireland every two or three weeks. By all accounts hes doing grand. So good on him I wish him well I loved presenting it, and I wish everyone well at it. I just need to do other things. Im embedded in the UK now, so I need to focus on that. Since then, Patrick Kielty has filled the position, and his likeability and quick wit won over audiences. Tubridy said he feels the Co Down comedian was the correct replacement. I think hes great. I think he has the chops, he said. When I said I wanted to leave in March [last year] and they had a few months to pick [someone], he was very close to the top of my list, and by all accounts hes doing grand. So good on him I wish him well. Ryan Tubridy Ryan Tubridy on fresh start in London Kielty is the first-ever Ulster man to take on the role, with Tubridy saying thats a good thing. The Dubliner is now embracing his new lifestyle in London, where he currently works as a mid-morning presenter on Virgin Radio UK. Discussing his transition from Ireland, the father of two said his sense of Irishness has greatly worked to his advantage. It opens more doors than anyone will ever know, because were storytellers and people respond to that, he said. You can talk to somebody from anywhere in the world and ask, Good morning, how are you?, and theyll say, Im fine. If you say, How are you? to an Irish person, however, theyll say, Well, let me tell you. I went to the shop, I met my mother and then I bought my eggs, and before you know it, an hour has passed. Were a very different breed, and I notice that huge difference since living here for the past year. Its intriguing from an anthropological, societal and ethnic point of view its fascinating, so youd be a fool to be bored in London. It was widely reported that Tubridy did not return to his RTE radio show after the under-declaration of his salary was first revealed in summer last year. Although he is optimistic about his career change, he said he never believed he would be starting all over again at 50. Im having a wonderful time. Im having whole new experiences. Its been like a renaissance, he said. Little did I know at the age of 50 Id be living in another city and meeting new people and experiencing a whole other world, so I love it. As a history buff and a books nerd, Im surrounded by beautiful bookshops, museums and libraries, so Im having an adventure. Speaking about following the recent US presidential election in which Donald Trump beat Kamala Harris, Tubridy said: Its fascinating. I was watching it thinking, this is going to be close, and it was nothing of the sort. As somebody who loves history, it was historically fascinating, and I dont know where its going to go. I think as the line in the movie says, Buckle up its going to be a bumpy ride, so here we go. However, Trump winning has not put the brakes on Tubridy travelling to the US in the future. I think whatever your politics there are lots of great people in America, and lots of interesting places to go, so I wouldnt stop going to a country just because they elected somebody who wouldnt be very popular with everybody, he said. History moves in cycles, so you never know where well go. Lucy Coyle was one of four Irish victims in the tsunami The devastation left by the tsunami at one of the Phi Phi islands. Photo: Getty Tsunami victim Eilis Finnegan with her boyfriend Barry Murphy, who survived the disaster Memorial services will be held across more than 60 countries today to mark the 20th anniversary of the worst tsunami in recorded history, which claimed an estimated 230,000 lives. The tsunami, which was triggered by an earthquake measuring 9.1 on the Richter scale off the coast of Indonesia early on December 26, 2004, devastated coastal communities across the Indian Ocean, including many holiday resorts that were packed with Christmas revellers. A total of 14 countries were struck by the tsunami which, at its peak, involved a wave that reached almost 30 metres in height. Such was the power of the underwater earthquake, which was centred on an area of sea west of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, that the waves it generated travelled for thousands of kilometres with devastating force. Hundreds of coastal communities, many of which depended on tourism, were destroyed as the giant wave smashed through resorts and devastated low-rise bungalow-style housing typical of the region. Indonesia, which was closest to the epicentre of the earthquake, was hardest-hit but massive damage was also suffered by Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Malaysia. Tyrone man Conor Knightley died in the 2004 disaster The death toll affected more than 60 countries, as many European and North American tourists had taken Christmas holidays in idyllic Indian Ocean resorts. A total of four Irish tourists lost their lives. Dublin woman Eilis Finnegan, a 27-year-old United Airlines air hostess, died in Thailand. Ms Finnegan, from Ballyfermot, was on the beach in the Phi Phi islands with her boyfriend Barry Murphy (29) from Castleknock in Dublin when the tsunami struck. The other three Irish victims of the tsunami also died in Thailand. Tsunami victim Eilis Finnegan with her boyfriend Barry Murphy, who survived the disaster News in 90 Seconds - December 26 2024 Lucy Coyle (28), an accountant from Killiney, Co Dublin; student Michael Murphy (23) from Knockbawn, Blackwater, Co Wexford and Conor Keightley (31) from Cookstown, Co Tyrone were killed as the giant wave struck without warning. Other European countries were hit even harder by the tragedy. Sweden lost 543 of its citizens. Germany lost 539 of its nationals while 143 Britons died. But those figures were dwarfed by the staggering loss of life in Indonesia. Almost 168,000 Indonesians died as the mountain of water wiped out coastal communities, with the water reaching several kilometres inland in places. Hundreds of bodies were never found. The devastation left by the tsunami at one of the Phi Phi islands. Photo: Getty The December 26 earthquake and tsunami prompted a global reappraisal of seismic response systems given that thousands of lives might have been saved if an effective warning system had been in place. Hundreds died in coastal communities in India and Sri Lanka hundreds of kilometres from the earthquake epicentre and hours after the tsunami was triggered because no proper warning was given. Among the Britons to lose their lives was arts administrator, Jane Attenborough (49), daughter of acclaimed film director and actor Richard Attenborough. She drowned along with her daughter, Lucy, and her mother-in-law Audrey Holland when the wave hit the Thai resort of Khao Lak. Czech supermodel Petra Nemcova was in a Thai beach resort with her British boyfriend and photographer, Simon Atlee, when the tsunami struck. The couple were in their holiday bungalow in Khao Lak and only became aware of the disaster when the wave smashed into their accommodation. Tragically, they were packing to fly home just a few hours later. The model recalled her boyfriend calling for her before she was engulfed by the water. Her pelvis was shattered in four places and she had multiple glass shards driven into her body by the water as windows and doors were smashed. Ms Nemcova survived but her boyfriend drowned. I heard Simon screaming my name and it was the last time I heard him, she said. Mr Atlee had been planning to propose to his girlfriend, who was a Victorias Secret model. She survived by clinging onto a tree for almost eight hours. Mr Atlees body was only recovered and identified three months later. Lucy Coyle was one of four Irish victims in the tsunami Thousands of families are still struggling to recover from the tragedy 20 years on. British brothers, Louis and Theo Mullan, were on holiday in Khao Lak when their parents, Leonard and Catherine, were swept away. Louis said tourists couldnt figure out what was happening when the water suddenly began receding from the beach that morning. The water had retreated there were confused faces. People really didnt know what was going on, he said. Louis, who was then 16, ran back to his hotel room to double-check that he had locked the door. He was followed by his younger brother, Theo (11). They ran back to the beach but were unable to locate their parents. Suddenly, people were running in different directions as the tsunami became visible on the near horizon. You could see it coming through the trees and then through the buildings. The water catches up with you and sweeps you off your feet. I was holding on to Theo, but then after a while, the strength of water just pulled us apart, he said. Both brothers survived their ordeal that Louis described as akin to being thrown into a giant washing machine by grabbing on to a Coca-Cola machine that was floating like a raft. After being treated in a local hospital, both boys were brought home on an emergency flight. Weeks later, the bodies of their parents were located. The brothers were cared for by a neighbouring family who eventually raised them. Ms Nemcova established a charity, Happy Hearts Fund, to help children affected by such natural disasters. You learn many lessons, she said. Hearing children screaming for help and not being able to help them, that leaves such a powerful mark. Today and every day, I have a choice to help. A jump in career fields can be daunting in any case, but for the Butler County Chamber of Commerce's new Executive Director Rylee Olson, it's a wider jump than others. Olson figured it sounded like something she would enjoy, she said, as she had a relevant skill set. "I have experience in a little bit of everything, a lot of it is health care-related. In my previous position I had experience with marketing and sales and human resources and prior to that, I was in positions where I could really work on graphic design and my branding," Olson said. In fact, she did freelance work in those areas in high school, Olson said, before she started a family and slowed down a little bit. She currently keeps an interest in photography, she said in a letter to chamber members earlier this month, and teaches piano. "Now I'm looking, with my new position, to really bring that together and do what everybody needs me to, to be a resource if they have questions, if they want ideas, it they need help with something, I'm willing to step in wherever," Olson said. Being from Leigh (Colfax County), Olson said she wants to try a similar approach to what she saw work there in terms of strengthening business, schools and the community at large. "I almost want to do that, maybe not to the same extent, but as much as I can through the chamber for Butler County," Olson said. "I want to grow our chamber to be kind of like a hub for anything, so if there's an event that needs hosting or you need help planning an event, I want you to come to the chamber. I want people to come to the chamber knowing we're able to help them." Chamber members have more resources than they may realize, Olson said, even if that's simply other businesses to work with or bounce ideas off of. "I want to know what you're struggling with, how we can help. Is it something that other businesses are struggling with? I almost want to make it so that if there's other businesses in the same boat as you we can all kind of get together and see, 'Okay, what can we do to tackle it?'" Olson said. As an example, she said Leigh and Butler County both have legacy funds, with the former having ties with the Nebraska Community Foundation. Knowing and comparing those, she said, is a start to that process, though she has a lot more ideas she wants to workshop. She also wants to look at youth involvement. "We had something called the Youth Advisory Council and we did community service and fundraisers for projects within the community," Olson said. "With that program we had to attend city council meetings, I think it would be a good way to get some of our high schoolers looking to go off to college to potentially come back, maybe get them involved in what they want to see for David City and Butler County's futures." Country music star Nathan Carter reveals that hes set to release a new album early next year and has co-written all the tracks with the songwriter and producer behind some of Robbie Williams biggest hits. In an exclusive interview, Carter also looks back at 2024 and recalls how he expanded his career across the UK, launched his own clothing range and became one of the celebrity investors in award-winning The Muff Liquor Company He joined Hollywood actor Russell Crowe, Ed Sheeran, Ronan Keating, Alan Carr and Ryan Tubridy on the board of the Donegal-based gin and vodka enterprise. As well as performing sold out shows everywhere from Ireland to the UK, Spain, Australia and even in Las Vegas, managing his trad and folk group, Ceol, shooting TV adverts, releasing a Christmas album and editing a new live TV concert, 34-year-old Carter has also been building a brand new home in Fermanagh. Nathan Carter with songwriter Guy Chambers So how does he juggle such a hectic career and personal life.? Its probably been my busiest year ever and it has been a bit mental at times. The phone never stops, but I can do it now because Im not married with kids, Nathan says. It would be totally different if I was married. I couldnt do half the stuff, really. Well, you could, but youd be another casualty of the music business when it comes to marriages. I really hope thats something (marriage and children) Ill have down the line one day, but at the minute Im glad to be doing as much as I can. And I honestly couldnt have done any more this year. Nathan reveals that he hooked up with Guy Chambers, the man who co-wrote Robbie Williams hits such as Angels, Let Me Entertain You, Rock DJ, Feel and Millennium, after bumping into his manager Steve Abbott. Steve was the man who signed me to Decca Records in the UK 10 years ago, Nathan reveals. I met him by chance in Donegal where he has a holiday home. Ill be starting the recording of it in January, so thats going to be a big project for me in 2024. Im hoping to have the album out before next summer. It wont be a radically new direction for me musically, but it will be a fresh sound and something that I havent done before. One of Nathans biggest projects in 2024 was launching his own range of clothes called Carter Clothing that includes jumpers, cardigans, polo shirts, T-shirts, trousers, jeans and joggers. He says: Theyre now in half a dozen shops across Ireland, but the majority of the sales are online. People just shop online all the time now. We are really delighted with the manufacturer in Donegal who produces all the knitwear. To have an Irish manufacturer was really key, rather than buying stock that has been produced in sweat factories out in China. It's not cheap to do it that way, and that reflects in the price, but the clothing is sustainable. Youll have it for years, theyre not going to be discarded after six washes. I also wanted the clothing to be fashionable and taken seriously, and clothing that is unique, that you dont see day to day on everyone walking around. Its been a lot of work to get it off the ground. Its only been out in the last couple of months, but its flying now. The Black Friday sales, in particular, were great. So, hopefully, thats an indication that theres a good future for the business. We have a big discount in the January sale as well. Nathan says he put his own stamp on the various designs. I definitely wasnt fashionable growing up, but Ive got more into style in the last few years, he says. From wearing stuff through the years for photo shoots and the stage you pick up on various aspects from the different brands. Nathan has been working with a new PR team in the UK and in 2024 he made numerous appearances on Sky TV and other TV and radio channels. I did a lot of different TV appearances to raise my profiled in the UK, a lot of cooking shows that were good fun as well, he says. Live-wise, this year I played some of the biggest UK gigs of my career. This year I also got to do several TV adverts, including one for the Aer Lingus direct flight to Nashville launch, and I worked with Cadburys as well. Im open to doing collaborations with different companies, so hopefully therell be more of that in the New Year as well. As well as powering ahead with his own career, Carter has also been guiding his folk band Ceol, which he established and manages, through the music scene. Theyve been a huge hit with fans and have some very exciting stuff coming up in 2025 as well, he says. I cant reveal what it is, but Ceol are also set to be part of a big TV special on New Years Eve. Dont believe the scaremongers, heres how to make your trip to Bergen afjordable Featuring self-catering accommodation and smart use of travel passes Bryggen is a series of Hanseatic heritage buildings in the city of Bergen. Photo: Getty Emer Roche Thu 26 Dec 2024 at 03:30 Too expensive was a common refrain when I mentioned my dream trip to Bergen, Norways second-largest city, and the Western Fjords. However, with the Norwegian kroner at an all-time low, the cost isnt as prohibitive as many think. Security has a cost how that price is paid and by whom is the key to the regions future There are ways the EU can raise the funds, but each has pitfalls. Stock image: Getty US president-elect Donald Trump has European allies' Nato spending in his sights. Photo: Reuters Firefighters working on site after a Russian missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, last Friday. Photo: AP With a war raging at the European Unions eastern border, Russia posing a threat, and US president-elect Donald Trump pressuring allies to do more, the bloc urgently needs a viable plan to secure hundreds of billions of euro to bolster its defences. But while there is broad agreement Europe should be spending more, all potential options governments boosting their national budgets, joint EU borrowing, or creating a funding vehicle come with their own challenges, such as fiscal pressures, political resistance, or funding costs. The bloc estimates 500bn of investments are needed in the coming decade, though its new defence chief argues that would only cover an air defence programme. Andrius Kubilius also said Europe needed to act fast, warning that an EU country could become Moscows next target after Ukraine within the next decade. Nato head Mark Rutte struck a similar note, calling for the alliance, in which most EU countries are members, to adopt a wartime mindset, hinting at raising spending from its 2pc of output target to 3pc, similar to what Trump has been seeking. Getting there would require spending nearly 200bn a year more for the EU as a whole. There are ways the EU can raise the funds, but each has pitfalls. Stock image: Getty Even a lower target, between 2.5pc and 3pc, would be a tremendous increase and at the moment, they have not planned for it, said Dick Zandee, fellow at think tank Clingendael who previously headed planning and policy at the European Defence Agency. Given many members chronically stretched budgets, only Germany among major economies had room to substantially increase its defence spending, economists say. France is on track to meet Natos 2pc target, but political turmoil has added to budgetary pressures, leading to a rating downgrade. Spain and Italy are far behind, at less than 1.5pc. Poland, meanwhile, aims to spend twice as much as the alliances target, also stretching its budget. All those countries would benefit from some form of joint funding. We have a problem that some member states are more constrained fiscally, and some member states are further away from the military threats, so have much less incentive to pull their weight, said Sander Tordoir, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform. Solving it with common borrowing allows you to provide common security for all. Early diplomatic talks suggest two possible models, both with their own shortcomings. One would see the EU sell more joint bonds backed by its own long-term budget, in similar vein to its 800bn Covid-19 recovery fund that hands out grants and loans to member states. Another early idea is creating a special purpose vehicle modelled on the eurozone bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism, to provide loans by selling bonds backed by paid-in and callable capital from countries choosing to participate. Even proponents of the first option see it as a long shot since it would require approval of all 27 EU members and given Germanys history of resisting plans for pan-European borrowing. Berlin only accepted the pandemic spending as a one-off exception, and it is far from clear whether election in February will change its stance. You would expect the cost of funding to reduce over time, just because its a permanent structure The blocs budget also cannot be used to fund defence directly, raising the question of which expenses EU debt backed by the budget could fund. There are also concerns more EU debt would stretch the blocs already tight budget even further. A new investment vehicle could be more feasible since it would not require unanimous backing. It would also allow non-EU countries to participate, such as Britain or Norway, and the funds bonds would not count towards national balance sheets, though loans countries take still should. But two investors, a trader and a banker, said such a vehicle would have to pay higher interest than the EU itself at least initially, having to establish itself as a new borrower. The EUs 10-year bond yield at around 2.75pc is just under 20 basis points below Spains and 30 bps below Frances. The higher funding costs the new vehicle would face would limit the support it could offer. It would be just another issuer on the market, not something which really pulls the union together, said BlueBay Asset Management portfolio manager Kaspar Hense. US president-elect Donald Trump has European allies' Nato spending in his sights. Photo: Reuters He said he would seek 10-20 bps of additional yield over the EUs bonds. Some investors could also push back against investing in a borrower dedicated to defence, likely funding weapons, said a banker who runs government bond sales at a large European lender. For all the hurdles, markets see defence spending as a big opportunity to cement the EU as a permanent borrower, furthering European cohesion. Bonds sales financing the recovery fund have increased the EUs own debt more than tenfold since 2020, but its appeal has been limited, given the programmes temporary nature as new borrowing wraps up in 2026. If we were to use that structure moving forward ... you would expect the cost of funding to reduce over time, just because its a permanent structure, said Simon Bell, portfolio manager at Legal & General Investment Management. And if fiscal pressures are a reason for common funding, relying on loans only, as a new defence vehicle would do, may limit its impact. Joint EU borrowing, were it to provide grants, is different because theres genuine redistribution, Centre for European Reforms Tordoir said, describing defence as a common European good. The money goes out the door and it doesnt have to be repaid by whichever country we give it to. Enniscorthy Community Alliance (ECA) have launched an innovative new partnership with ECO-UNESCO that will deliver a series of environmental workshops in Enniscorthy secondary schools starting in January 2025. The programme was launched in Greentech HQ on Tuesday, December 17 with a strong turnout from representatives of local secondary schools, Youth Reach, Wexford County Councils Community Climate Action Officers and Biodiversity Officer, as well as the Slainte Care Community Health Officer. The Garda Siochana Junior Liaison Officer also attended the event, highlighting the community's collective commitment to fostering a sustainable future. ECA is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Enniscorthy through various projects focused on sustainability, community development, and environmental initiatives. They are currently implementing the Plants and Places Project, which has received funding from the 2024 Department of Justice Community Safety Initiative Fund. The alliance also supports over 20 Community Employment Scheme workers and is in the process of establishing an EcoHub in Enniscorthy. They recently successfully completed a spring bulb planting campaign involving all secondary schools and Enniscorthy Youth Reach, showcasing that school communities are committed to outreach and environmental stewardship. ECO-UNESCO is Ireland's leading environmental education youth organization that has been at the forefront of conserving the environment and empowering young people for over 30 years. The organisation runs the all-Ireland Young Environmentalist Awards program and has been appointed as a Sustainable Development Goal Ambassador, promoting awareness and action for sustainability among youth. The partnership will kick off with 22 environmental workshops across participating schools, including St Marys CBS, Enniscorthy Community College, Colaiste Bride, and Enniscorthy Youth Reach. These workshops will benefit approximately 200 students, providing them with the knowledge and skills to identify and implement their own sustainable development projects. The ECAs Plants and Places Project will further support these initiatives by facilitating students in delivering their projects within the local community. Both Enniscorthy Community Alliance and ECO-UNESCO envision expanding this pilot project to increase the number of workshops in the following school year. They are also exploring options to extend environmental learning opportunities to young people who have already left school and to other interested community youth groups, coinciding with the operationalisation of the EcoHub in 2025. For more information about the Enniscorthy Community Alliance and the upcoming workshops and project please visit their website or call 0876734376. Troop leaders of Sea Scouts with the 9th Wicklow Arklow, Denise Conroy and Yvonne Keogh at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel. A Sea Scout from 9th Wicklow Arklow receives their Air Activity Badges from a member of the Irish Air Corps at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel. Sea Scouts from 9th Wicklow Arklow make a presentation to members of the Irish Air Corps at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel. A group of Sea Scouts from 9th Wicklow Arklow recently had the extraordinary opportunity to earn their Air Activity Badge Level 4 with the Irish Air Corps, an experience few scouting groups have the privilege to undertake. The milestone event unfolded at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, County Dublin, a location synonymous with Irelands aviation history and operational excellence. The day began with an air of mystery as the Harbour Troop embarked on what had been described to them as a mystery tour. Only upon arrival at Casement Aerodrome did the scouts learn the true nature of their destination. Greeted by the Base Commander, who offered a warm welcome and an initial safety briefing, setting the tone for a day of discovery and inspiration, the scouts were then guided through an itinerary designed to immerse them in the multifaceted operations of the Irish Air Corps. From sitting in the cockpits of planes and helicopters to witnessing the launch of the Gardai rescue helicopter, the Scouts gained an unparalleled perspective on aviation and emergency response. One highlight was a comprehensive tour of the airbases crash and fire rescue centres, where scouts observed the specialised equipment and techniques used to respond to aviation emergencies. They also met with members of the Gardai response unit, further broadening their understanding of integrated emergency services. An unexpected and memorable part of the tour involved the Air Corps bird control unit. Scouts had the chance to handle the falcons used to safeguard the runways by deterring bird strikes, a critical component of airfield safety. Sea Scouts from 9th Wicklow Arklow at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel. In the control tower, scouts were introduced to the intricacies of air traffic management, witnessing firsthand the complexity of coordinating flights safely and efficiently. The visit also included time in the bases gymnasium, where scouts were allowed to handle and aim training rifles and pistols under supervision, deepening their appreciation for discipline and precision. One of the days most striking moments occurred when the Scouts witnessed the launch of a helimed air ambulance. They watched as a full crew of doctors and paramedics prepared and lifted off to respond to a real-life emergency involving a young child injured in a fire. The gravity and urgency of the situation left a lasting impression on the Scouts, underscoring the Air Corps vital role in saving lives. The day concluded with a formal presentation of the Scouts Air Activity Badges by members of the Irish Air Corps. This tangible recognition of their achievement was the perfect culmination of an experience they described as truly unforgettable. Sea Scouts from 9th Wicklow Arklow at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel. The Harbour Troops leaders, Denise Conroy and Yvonne Keogh, were instrumental in orchestrating the unique outing, working diligently behind the scenes to secure access to the military airbase, with their efforts reflecting a deep commitment to enriching the scouting experience for their troop. Both Conroy and Keogh recently achieved their Level 6 You the Scouter qualifications, earning their wood beads during a ceremony in County Cork. This accreditation underscores their dedication and expertise, qualities that continue to benefit the young people under their guidance. Special thanks were extended to Harbour Troop leaders Denise Conroy and Yvonne Keogh, as well as to Phil and Fergal of the Irish Air Corps, whose collaboration and generosity made this remarkable day possible. For the Scouts of 9th Wicklow Arklow, the trip to Baldonnel was more than a badge-earning exercise it was an immersion into the disciplines of aviation, emergency services, and teamwork, a Sea Scouts spokesperson said. The memories of their time at Casement Aerodrome will no doubt inspire them for years to come. Two Wicklow venues will host events this January as part of the annual First Fortnight Festival, which celebrates art forms including poetry, music, textile art and theatre at venues the length and breadth of the country. A charity that challenges mental health stigma through arts and cultural action, First Fortnight hosts an annual mental health, arts and culture festival that celebrates the arts as a powerful catalyst for sparking unscripted conversations around mental ill health and serves to challenge the stigma associated with mental ill-health. The festival aspires to make the beginning of each year synonymous with mental health awareness, actively challenging societal prejudices, and eradicating the pervasive stigma surrounding mental health. In that spirit, on January 12, Imaal Hall in Dunlavin will host the Songs from Near and Far community concert, celebrating diversity and connection through music, dance, and spoken word. Inspired by Irelands First Fortnight festival, the event aims to bring warmth and unity during a challenging time of year. The concert will welcome all members of our community, including refugee families from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East who have recently joined the community, celebrating their contributions and fostering shared bonds. Performances include the Dunlavin Childrens Choir, Polish and Ukrainian singing groups, and traditional Irish musicians, blending Irish, Polish, Ukrainian, Middle Eastern, and African influences in a powerful display of community spirit and cultural exchange. Songs from Near and Far will take place from 5 pm to 7 pm and admission is free. The following evening, the Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray will screen German director Nora Fingscheidts 2024 drama The Outrun, which is produced by and stars Irish actress Saoirse Ronan. After 10 years of spiralling into addiction in London, Saoirses character, Rona, returns home to the far-flung Orkney Islands in Scotland, hoping to maintain her recovery. Attempting to reconcile her complex family history as well as her destructive past behaviours, she takes a job with a wildlife conservation charity allowing her to connect with the nature of her childhood home. Fingscheidt (System Crasher) presents a vivid adaptation of Amy Liptrots personal memoir of addiction, powered by Saoirses performance as she portrays Ronas fragility and grit as she journeys from destruction to serenity. The Outrun will be shown on January 13 at 8 pm. Tickets are 10/8 via mermaidartscentre.ie. Well, thats it done now for another year. Presents have been exchanged, and if youre lucky, you may be in possession of some lovely vouchers or cash to buy yourself something nice. I know that people give out about vouchers, but if you are the kind of person who knows exactly what you like, theres nothing better. For beauty lovers, a voucher or cash gift can open the door to a product you simply cant justify buying the rest of the year. With that in mind, here are some frivolous or expensive items I would happily spend a voucher on: Danessa Myricks Beauty Lightwork VI Freedom palette 1. Danessa Myricks Lightwork VI Freedom Palette (160 via danessamyricksbeauty.eu) I admit, I bought this for myself as a Christmas present this year. Ive been obsessing over it for months, and Ive no regrets about making the purchase. Aside from its truly innovative packaging, the shadows themselves are stunning. From formula to shade range, if you are someone who likes to experiment with make-up, this palette will bring you joy. Haus Labs Bio Radiant Gel-Powder Highlighter 2. Haus Labs Bio Radiant Gel-Powder Highlighter (46 via hauslabs.com) This blush/highlighter hybrid needs to be seen in real life to be fully appreciated, which makes it a risky purchase for us in Ireland since its not on display in any of our shops. Trust me, though, its worth the risk. This formula delivers a tone-shifting sheen which leaves you looking absolutely radiant. I have Fire Opal, which is a peachy shade with a pink sheen, but Im craving Rose Quartz, which is a gorgeous light medium pink. These come in a beautiful opalescent compact, too, making it a pleasure to have in your handbag. Westman Atelier Pressed Skincare Powder in Pink Bubble 3. Westman Atelier Pressed Skincare Powder in Pink Bubble (80 via brownthomas.com) Westman Atelier is a luxury brand which truly feels luxurious. Each product is beautifully packaged and feels heavy and expensive in the hand, and they perform just as nicely as they feel to use. My current craving is this powder which is finely milled and delivers a beautiful finish to the skin. Its available in five shades, including translucent, but I would like this pink shade which brightens the undereye with ease. Byredo Tobacco Mandarin 4. Byredo Tobacco Mandarin (300 via brownthomas.com) If Im honest, I wish Id never tried this perfume, because ever since I did, its been on my mind. It perfectly blends sweet, spicy and smoky, with notes of mandarin orange, cumin, coriander, leather, tobacco, frankincense, oud and sandalwood. It smells sophisticated but lively, and I am absolutely desperate for it. Isamaya Liplacq 3.0 in Beetle 5. Isamaya Liplacq 3.0 in Beetle (36.16 via cultbeauty.com) While I fully accept that a black, glittery lip gloss wont appeal to everyone, this one by cool-girl brand Isamaya feels like exactly the thing which will help me reach my own cool-girl heights. Unlike some black glosses, this is quite pigmented and does genuinely leave the lips dark. What could be better for January, when winter darkness is lingering and heavy? Victoria Beckham Beauty Reflect Highlighter Stick 6. Victoria Beckham Beauty Reflect Highlighter Stick (46 via brownthomas.com) While softer, more blurred make-up looks are coming into fashion, I will never let go of the desire to glow. This cream highlighter stick contains fine pearlescent flecks of pigment which bring light to the cheekbones, cupids bow or wherever you would like them to. Packaged in a sleek gold tube, this feels almost like an accessory as well as a beauty product. Buying Irish Act + Acre Act+Acre is a haircare brand built around the importance of scalp health. This product is designed to refresh the texture and shine of your curls, as well as hydrating and soothing the scalp via glycerin, aloe vera and watermelon extract. According to the brand, the scalps delicate microbiome struggles to maintain moisture, which can lead to dehydrated curls and waves with compromised texture. This spray will work to solve that problem, along with immediately giving your hair a boost in appearance. Something old Laura Merciers Caviar Sticks If I was writing a list of my top 10 all-time favourite products (a future column perhaps!), Laura Merciers Caviar Sticks (31 via next.ie) would certainly feature. These cream eyeshadow sticks are excellent, and have always been so, since their arrival in 2012. Available in a range of shades and finishes, from matte to shimmer, this formula glides onto the lid with ease and blends beautifully. Once set, it stays where its put until its removed, making it the perfect base for any eyeshadow look. Frequently though, I wear a Caviar Stick on its own, simply applying it across the lid and along the lower lash line before blending the edges with a brush. My favourite shade for this purpose is Brick, a warm reddish-brown, which makes blue and green eyes pop. ... Something new Glossier Shadow Stick Glossier became THE make-up brand for millennials when it launched a decade ago, thanks to its clever branding and fun products. While the range has grown since then, new product launches are relatively rare, so when they happen, I pay attention. The latest launch from Glossier is Shadow Stick (27 via glossier.com), a lightweight, creamy eyeshadow stick which glides on easily to deliver a slightly undone effect. Available in five shades, from a shimmery champagne to warm metallics and a deep matte midnight blue, these were inspired by the music scene of the late 1980s and early 2010s (aka, the Indie Sleaze era). According to Glossier, these are for those who are looking for a perfectly undone effect. I think Charli XCX would love them. Helen Worth had a message for Coronation Street fans as her fabulous 50 years as Gail came to an end (ITV/PA) Soap actress Helen Worth thanked viewers for coming on the journey with me as she said farewell to her Coronation Street character Gail Rodwell after 50 years on the cobbles. Worth exited the soap in an emotional Christmas Day episode that saw Gail finally get her happy ending, as she married Jesse Chadwick (John Thomson) and said goodbye to her family and friends. After she had a nightmare in which her late serial killer ex-husband Richard Hillman tried to stop her marrying Jesse, Gail decided she wanted nothing more than to be Mrs Chadwick and to swap Weatherfield for a new life in France. The tears from her on-screen family were real as she was driven away down the cobbles, ITV said. Gail Rodwell and Jesse Chadwick leaving Coronation Street (ITV/PA) In a pre-recorded message shared on social media, which showed the actress sitting in her family living room on set, the 73-year-old said: Hello, all of you. Its wonderful to have this opportunity to say, ta ta!. Its been a fabulous 50 years, and I just wanted to thank all of you, some of you who may have been watching for 50 years. Is there anybody? And those of you whove been watching for a few years. Thank you. Thanks for coming on the journey with me. Ive had a wonderful time. Ive loved it all. All the stories, and of course, working with the wonderful Platts, which, for me, is what its all about. And therell be more Platt stories, and I hope youll be watching. Lots of love and thanks from me. Bye. 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 In the episode, Gail appeared at the altar where she vowed to adore Jesse to the day I die. I was a little mouse, I grew up in the shadow of a glamorous mother and glamorous friends, no-one expected I would amount to much little Gail Potter, pottering through life, she said. Ive been blessed and cursed, and now Im blessed again. It marks the end of half a century of playing the much-loved and often married Gail. Gail married her first husband Brian Tilsley, played by Christopher Quinten, in 1979 and they welcomed their first child, a son Nick, in 1980. Gail with Jesse Chadwick on their wedding day (ITV/PA) But their lives together became strained, with Gail divorcing him after having an affair with Brians cousin Ian Latimer. They later remarried when their daughter Sarah was born in 1987, but just a year later Brian was stabbed to death by a group of teenagers outside a nightclub. Following Brians death, Gail found herself in a relationship with Martin Platt, portrayed by Sean Wilson, who was 10 years her junior. Gail Rodwell and Jesse Chadwick at their wedding meal as her son David gives a speech (ITV/PA) They welcomed their son David in 1990 and married the following year before moving into the famous No 8 house with their children. After a decade together, the marriage fell apart in 2000 when Martin confessed to having an affair with Rebecca Hopkins, with the couple divorcing a year later. During the summer, Worths exit storyline was thrown into uncertainty after Wilson returned to the show briefly but later left for personal reasons. The actor, who had starred in the soap for more than two decades, later claimed he was axed when a historic assault allegation emerged which he denies. Meanwhile, Gails next marriage turned out to be her most tumultuous as husband Richard Hillman played by Brian Capron was a con artist and serial killer. Gail and Jesse on their wedding day (ITV/PA) After confessing his crimes to Gail, he attempted to murder Gail and her children by tying them up in the family car and driving them into the canal. The Platts were rescued from the water but Richard drowned, bringing his homicidal days to an end in 2003. Gail waited a while before diving into another marriage but she found herself in a secret relationship with Joe McIntyre, the father of Tina, who was dating Gails son David. Their relationship was discovered and the couple married in 2010 after Joe, played by Reece Dinsdale, sought help for his painkiller addiction issues. Their relationship also came to a dramatic end after Joe tried to fake his death to claim life insurance money, but drowned in the process. The Platt family as Coronation Street said farewell to Helen Worth after five decades on the soap (ITV/PA) Michael Rodwell (Les Dennis) was Gails fifth husband they first met when he attempted to burgle her house. They married in 2015, but split after a dispute over Michaels son. Not long after, Michael died from a heart attack in 2016. Having joined the cobbles in July 1974, Worths character has been a prominent figure in a number of explosive storylines gripping the soap over the years, with her ill-fated love life coming to define the character. In 2014, ITV honoured the long-serving actress with a documentary celebrating her 40 years on the soap with a one-off special titled Gail & Me. After being made an MBE for her services to drama in the Queens Birthday Honours in 2022, Worth told the PA news agency: To have had a job and one that I love, and to be able to work in it is quite extraordinary. And then to get an award for it is just the icing on the cake. LATEST | Azerbaijan Airlines flight downed by Russian air defences, says sources as at least 38 dead in plane crash Azerbaijan's preliminary thesis: Russia defences downed planeAt least 38 people were killed in Wednesday's crashPlane was in an area where Russia has downed Ukrainian drones Kazakhstan says no conclusions yet from its investigationKremlin: Not proper to comment until investigation is finished Emergency specialists working at the crash site of the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan Photo: Reuters Nailia Bagirova in Baku and Gleb Stolyarov in Tbilisi Thu 26 Dec 2024 at 19:44 Russian air defences downed an Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 people, four sources with knowledge of the preliminary findings of Azerbaijan's investigation into the disaster told Reuters on Thursday. Inhumane Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky hits out at Vladimir Putins Christmas blitz on his countrys energy system One killed, six injured and half a million left without heating in near-freezing temperatures after strikes on Christmas Day A firefighter at residential site of a Russian drone strike yesterday in Kharkiv. Photo: Reuters Pavel Polityuk Thu 26 Dec 2024 at 03:30 Russia attacked Ukraines energy system and some cities with cruise and ballistic missiles plus drones in an inhumane Christmas Day assault, Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky said. The unanswered questions after the harrowing Gisele Pelicot rape trail Beast of Avignon case shocked the world but culture must be addressed Gisele Pelicot is surrounded by supporters as she arrives at court in Avignon, France last month. Photo: Getty Andy Gregory UK Independent Thu 26 Dec 2024 at 03:30 Following three months of harrowing legal proceedings, Gisele Pelicots ex-husband and 50 men he recruited to sexually abuse her over the course of a decade were last week sentenced for their crimes. Pakistans airstrikes on eastern Afghanistan killed 46 people, mostly women and children, a Taliban government official said Wednesday, raising fears of further straining relations between the two neighbours. Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesman for the Afghan government, said those killed in the strikes that targeted four locations in Barmal, a district in the province of Paktika, were refugees, adding that six others were also wounded. Livermore, CA (94550) Today Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 54F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 42F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. India-Algeria Bilateral and Trade Relations: An Overview India and Algeria share a multifaceted relationship underpinned by a range of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, vibrant trade ties, and sectoral collaboration. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1962, the two nations have built robust partnerships across economic, cultural, and strategic domains. India and Algeria share a friendly and cooperative relationship, marked by mutual respect and developing economic and defence cooperation. As the global political and economic landscape evolves, the partnership between these two nations is poised for significant growth in the coming years. Economic collaboration between India and Algeria holds immense potential across various sectors. According to Ali Achoui, ambassador of Algeria to India, opportunities for Indian businesses exist in critical sectors, including solar power, pharmaceuticals, mechanical engineering, defense industries, and information and communication technology (ICT). Agriculture, food processing, logistics, and railways also present areas for investment. Achoui has also noted that in the services sector, software engineering, digital payments, higher education, healthcare, finance, and tourism offer substantial growth potential. Call for strengthening economic ties During her October 2024 visit, Indian President Droupadi Murmu addressed the Algerian-Indian Economic Forum, emphasizing the need for deeper economic cooperation. She highlighted Indias rapid economic growth and improvements in the Ease of Doing Business, inviting Algerian companies to participate in Indias Make in India and Make for the World initiatives. Murmu also underlined Algerias expanding economy as a source of vast opportunities for Indian businesses, highlighting the importance of mutual efforts to unlock the untapped potential in bilateral trade, which currently stands at US$1.7 billion. Trade relations between India and Algeria Trade between India and Algeria has evolved into a key pillar of their relationship. Indias exports to Algeria, valued at $848.16 million in 2023-24, primarily consist of rice, pharmaceuticals, granite, and boneless meat. Imports from Algeria, totaling $885.54 million, are dominated by petroleum oils, LNG, urea, and natural calcium phosphates. India Algeria Import-Export Data (Value in US$ Million) Trade FY 2019-20 FY 2020-21 FY 2021-22 FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 Indias exports to Algeria 611.02 594.74 703.25 613.83 848.16 Growth % -2.66 18.24 -12.72 38.18 Indias imports from Algeria 1,996.76 408.79 1,004.24 1,503.97 885.54 Growth % -79.53 145.66 49.76 -41.12 Total 2,607.79 1,003.53 1,707.49 2,117.80 1,733.70 Growth % -61.52 70.15 24.03 -18.14 Source: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI Indias export to Algeria (Value in US$ Million) Commodity FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 Growth % Cereals. 63.55 134.93 112.31 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof. 63.29 118.57 87.34 Pharmaceutical products 75.36 83.28 10.52 Organic chemicals 74.47 69.71 -6.39 Plastic and articles thereof. 38.56 55.89 44.94 Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers,and parts. 23.15 38.21 65.05 Optical, photographic cinematographic measuring, checking precision, medical or surgical inst. And apparatus parts and accessories thereof; 13.02 29.23 124.44 Meat and edible meat offal. 7.83 25.75 229 Salt; sulphur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement. 18.41 19.14 3.95 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof. 12.44 18.17 46.04 Tanning or dyeing extracts; tannins and their deri. Dyes, pigments and other colouring matter; paints and ver; putty and other mastics; inks. 13.83 17.84 28.97 Miscellaneous chemical products. 7.57 17.71 133.88 Man-made filaments. 10.71 15.62 45.76 Source: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI Indias Imports from Algeria (Value in US$ Million) Commodity FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 Growth % Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes. 1,136.82 717.46 -36.89 Salt; sulphur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement. 126.61 115.04 -9.14 Organic chemicals 24.92 20.16 -19.09 Fertilisers. 185.41 14.31 -92.28 Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; waste and scrap of paper or paperboard. 17.44 8.63 -50.5 Edible fruit and nuts; peel or citrus fruit or melons. 3.36 3.49 3.87 Cork and articles of cork. 2.34 2.63 12.45 Wool, fine or coarse animal hair, horsehair yarn and woven fabric. 1.35 1.07 -20.75 Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather 1.63 1.06 -35.01 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof. 0.4 0.51 26.7 Miscellaneous articles of base metal. 0.43 Plastic and articles thereof. 0.02 0.15 892.86 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 0.09 Source: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI Sectoral trends reveal growth in Indian exports, particularly in cereals (112.31 percent), meat and edible meat offal (229 percent), and medical instruments (124.44 percent). Conversely, imports such as mineral fuels and fertilizers have seen notable declines. Indian companies, including Shapoorji Pallonji, IRCON International, Larsen & Toubro, and Infosys, have played a pivotal role in infrastructure, IT, hydrocarbon, and power transmission projects across Algeria. Taxation agreements between India and Algeria At present, India and Algeria do not have a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) signed between them. On August 2, 2023, officials from India and Algeria initiated discussions for a bilateral income tax treaty. Once finalized, this would mark the first such agreement between the two nations, enhancing fiscal coordination and promoting investment flows. In a significant move, Algeria signed the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) on June 17, 2024. This makes Algeria the 103rd jurisdiction to join the BEPS Convention, strengthening global tax treaty networks and advancing measures against tax base erosion. Bilateral agreements The two countries have signed several agreements to institutionalize their cooperation. These include Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on media cooperation between national broadcasters (2015), a space cooperation agreement (2018), and a visa waiver for diplomatic and official passports (2021). Sectoral collaboration Energy and space cooperation stand out as vital areas of collaboration. The two countries have partnered in hydrocarbon projects, with Algeria actively participating in India-Africa Hydrocarbon Conferences to strengthen energy security ties. In space sciences, a landmark agreement in 2018 has facilitated collaboration in satellite-based applications, including disaster management and crop forecasting. Notably, India successfully launched four Algerian satellites in 2016 through its PSLV-C35 mission. Key platforms such as the Joint Commission Mechanism (JCM) and Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) serve as cornerstones of India-Algeria collaboration. Established in 1981, the JCM focuses on addressing bilateral issues and fostering mutual interests. The ninth JCM, held in Algiers in May 2015, emphasized trade and transport, while the upcoming tenth session is scheduled to take place in India at the ministerial level. Complementing this, the sixth FOC convened in November 2018 in Algiers, ensuring sustained dialogue and coordination. Future prospects India and Algeria are poised to expand their partnership, focusing on renewable energy, IT, infrastructure development, and trade diversification. The latest JCM meeting, held on November 4, 2024, coupled with ongoing sectoral collaborations, is expected to further solidify their ties, enabling the two nations to achieve shared goals on global and regional platforms. This comprehensive relationship underscores the mutual commitment of India and Algeria to strengthening their partnership for sustained development and global cooperation. It was indeed a Merry Christmas for K-pop fans as top stars of the industry gathered at Inspire Arena in Incheon on December 25 for the 2024 SBS Gayo Daejeon. Pictures and videos from the starry events have now surfaced on social media, leaving fans swooning over stunning visuals and energetic performances of their favourite idols. The event this year held a special significance as veterans like BigBang's G-Dragon and legendary girl group 2NE1 returned to the iconic stage. Meanwhile, 4th-gen idols such as Stray Kids' Hyujin, aespa's Karina, and IVE's Yujin also had surprises planned for fans. In case you missed the live broadcast on SBS or just simply want to revisit the event, we have compiled five highlights that you can't afford to miss. 1. Hyunjin debuts buzz cut Hyunjin of Stray Kids had the internet in a chokehold when he debuted his blonde buzz cut at SBS' annual event on Christmas Day. The K-pop idol, known for his long, luscious, shoulder-length hair with curtain bangs, surprised fans as he made a stunning red carpet-appearance with his bandmates. Fans have already dubbed him the internet's new boyfriend, declaring his buzz cut will inspire a new trend in the coming year. Several netizens also highlighted how his striking features make it easier for him to carry every style with effortless charm. ICYMI, check out his new look below: THIS HYUNJIN LOOK IS FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS pic.twitter.com/LEJ3nRSDXl (@spearhyunnie) December 25, 2024 2. Too Hot to Handle: aespa's Karina and IVE's Yujin set the stage on fire We knew something was cooking between Karina from aespa and IVE's Yujin, but nothing could have prepared us for their internet-breaking performance. The duo, dressed in stylish black attires, performed Valerie Broussards Killer, putting forward an insanely sizzling act on stage that now has the internet buzzing in disbelief. aespa's Karina and IVE's Yujin melt the stage while performing.pic.twitter.com/evrKIbmZzE About Music (@AboutMusicYT) December 25, 2024 3.BigBang's G-Dragon's iconic comeback BigBang's G-Dragon marked his comeback in ways no one, not even his fans, could have ever imagined. The K-pop legend returned to the SBS event with an energetic performance on his 2013 single Crooked from his second album Coup d'Etat. The rapper, who was embroiled in a drug controversy last year, further made a statement at the event donning a 'menace to society' shirt. gdragon performing crooked for the first time in years after the protests that happened in sk while wearing a menace to society shirt is ABSOLUTE CINEMA pic.twitter.com/4A2iYWsD7P (@seoulmogul) December 25, 2024 4, NewJeans' Happy Jump Amid a high-profile legal battle with their agency, one would assume idols to keep it low-key, but NewJeans is not your regular group, it's a cool group. The five-piece group, comprising Hanni, Haerin, Danielle, Minji, and Hyein, not only appeared their chirpy selves during their red carpet appearance, they also performed a medley of their hits, including Hype Boy, and ended their gig with their signature happy jump. NewJeans ending with their Happy Jump pic.twitter.com/vuSMftOyHh NEWJEANS NEWS (@newjeansnews_) December 25, 2024 5, 2NE1's Minzy's stunning split on stage Minzy said let me show how it's done and redefined her icon status as she did a swift split during 2NE1's group performance. All fans want for 2025 is now a 2NE1 comeback. Minzy of 2NE1 does a split on the stage.pic.twitter.com/pvwuyPtq5c About Music (@AboutMusicYT) December 25, 2024 Which performance stole the show for you at 2024 SBS Gayo Daejeon? Let us know. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. To ensure that China-U.S. sci-tech cooperation truly benefits both countries and world 13:35, December 26, 2024 By Zhang Siyuan ( People's Daily On Dec. 13, China and the United States signed a protocol to extend the Agreement Between the United States and China on Cooperation in Science and Technology for an additional five years. The extension of the 45-year-old Agreement is of great significance that goes beyond the realm of technology. Viewed from a historical context, the Agreement served as an ice-breaking accelerator for China-U.S. relations. It was one of the first intergovernmental agreements signed between the two countries after the establishment of diplomatic relations, playing a crucial role in stabilizing bilateral relations, enhancing mutual understanding, propelling sci-tech progress, and benefiting the peoples of both countries. Under the guidance of the Agreement, China and the U.S. have created numerous stories of mutual benefit. The sci-tech cooperation between the two countries has evolved from sporadic communication in the early days to comprehensive, multi-level, and wide-ranging collaboration, covering more than 20 sub-fields including energy, environment, natural resources, medicine and health, earthquakes, oceans, and atmosphere. For instance, the two countries launched a "folic acid revolution" within the framework of the Agreement, which confirmed the remarkable effects of folic acid supplementation in preventing neural tube defects, saving millions of newborn lives worldwide. The Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment is one of the largest collaborative projects between China and the U.S. in basic research. It is also the second-largest overseas investment by the U.S. Department of Energy in particle physics, second only to the Large Hadron Collider. The groundbreaking results from this experiment were recognized by Science Magazine as one of the top 10 scientific breakthroughs of 2012. The cooperation between China and the U.S. in influenza surveillance has substantially strengthened China's influenza monitoring capabilities, expanding China's influenza monitoring sites from a few dozen to over 30,000. The Chinese National Influenza Center was designated as a World Health Organization Collaborating Center, providing significant support for the global influenza vaccine development and pandemic preparedness. Today, the Agreement has become a propeller for the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations. Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that as two major countries, China and the U.S. should bear in mind the interests of the whole world, and inject more certainty and positive energy into the turbulent world. This is also a consensus widely shared by insightful American individuals. Over 1,000 American scientists and scholars signed a joint letter urging the extension of the Agreement, and many American experts emphasized the need for sci-tech exchanges to prevent bilateral relations from "derailing." They argued that restricting sci-tech cooperation with China would inevitably hinder the progress of U.S. science and technology. In recent years, certain individuals in the U.S. have unilaterally pursued technological hegemony, placing undue faith in suppressing China's technological advancements. This approach of "technological isolationism" will ultimately harm the U.S. interests and the shared interests of the world. The extension of the Agreement underscores the aspiration of both countries - and the broader international community - for mutually beneficial sci-tech cooperation between China and the U.S., rather than decoupling and severing industrial and supply chains. It reflects a call for openness and shared benefits, as opposed to building "small yard with high fences." Looking ahead, the Agreement should serve as a multiplier for China-U.S. relations benefiting both countries and the wider world. The advancement of science and technology thrives in openness, which is a fundamental rule of sci-tech progress. Recently, the First Committee of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution proposed by China - "Promoting International Cooperation on Peaceful Uses in the Context of International Security," which calls for the peaceful use of science and technology and safeguarding the development rights of all countries. The international community should work together to develop emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing, and address global challenges such as global warming. As the world's largest developing country and developed country, China and the U.S. cannot ignore global challenges or allow the world to splinter into "parallel systems." Instead, they must demonstrate leadership through cooperation. The renewal of the Agreement not only acknowledges the fruitful achievements of China-U.S. cooperation in the past 45 years, but also demonstrates the two countries' long-term commitment to sci-tech innovation, openness, and shared progress. It is natural for countries to have difference, yet science and technology should remain a vital bridge connecting China and the U.S. and benefiting all humanity. The extension of the Agreement has been widely welcomed by international media, which recognize the synergistic potential of sci-tech cooperation between the two countries. Over the past 45 years, Chinese and American scientists have jointly carried out extensive research, based on nearly 100 sub-agreements and cooperative projects under the Agreement. China remains committed to enhancing China-U.S. sci-tech cooperation and striving for openness and shared benefits for the global progress in science and technology. Sci-tech cooperation should become a "new oasis" in China-U.S. relations, and the two countries' joint pursuit of knowledge and progress should be a "source of stability" for the international community. It is hoped that the U.S. will adopt an open approach, work with China in the same direction, effectively implement the provisions of the Agreement, and ensure that the results of China-U.S. sci-tech cooperation truly benefit both countries and the world. (Zhang Siyuan is an observer of international affairs.) (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun) South Korean actor and K-pop boy band ASTRO's member Cha Eun Woo is currently renting a house in Finland, taking a break from the hustle and bustle of Seoul to spend some time in the serene countryside. He's not alone in this adventure, thoughhe's joined by fellow actors Lee Je Hoon, Lee Dong Hwi, and Kwak Dong Yeon for a variety show titled Rented in Finland. About Rented in Finland The show follows Cha Eun Woo, Lee Je Hoon, Lee Dong Hwi, and Kwak Dong Yeon as they leave their urban lives behind and immerse themselves in the self-sufficient lifestyle of the Finnish countryside without modern amenities such as electricity, internet, or even clocks. The synopsis of the show reads, "What unfolds when four of Korea's biggest stars swap their city lights for the raw wilds of Lapland, where even electricity and running water are a luxury? Brace yourself for a hilarious journey as the City Boys experience the self-sufficient lifestyle of local residents." When did the show premiere? The show premiered on December 6 and saw the four Korean stars immersing themselves in rural activities while also managing their daily chores such as cooking and cleaning. As they tackle the countrysides challenges together, fans also get a glimpse of their unfiltered humorous and wildly adventurous side. In one of the episodes, Eun Woo, the maknae of the group, was also seen pranking his seniors, leaving viewers in splits. Meanwhile, Lee Je Hoon, known for Taxi Driver and Where the Stars Land, had fans going ROFL with his funny cooking skills. Where to watch Rented in Finland? The highly-anticipated reality show premieres on tvN and its digital streaming platform TVING, offering viewers an exciting new travel variety series. For international fans, the show is also available to stream on Viki and Viu. With three episodes already released, the countdown begins for the next installment, as episode 4 is set to drop on December 27. Rented in Finland captures the international audience Rented in Finland has garnered significant attention and acclaim on Viu, with impressive rankings in several Southeast Asian countries. According to Viu's weekly chart for the fourth week of December (December 16-22), the program emerged as the number one non-drama title in Indonesia and Thailand. Furthermore, it secured the second spot in Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. White Rose OTT Release: Kayal Anandhi starred in a Tamil film earlier this year which arrived in theatres on 5th April. Produced by N Ranjani under the banner of Poombarai Murugan Productions, the thriller opened to mixed reviews. Now, after several months, White Rose is ready to stream on Aha Tamil from December 27, 2024. White Rose plot summary A simple middle-class womans life is torn apart when her husband is tragically killed in a mistaken police encounter. Devastated and struggling to cope with her loss, she finds herself vulnerable and eventually falls into the hands of a dangerous psychopath. As if things couldn't get worse, her young daughter is kidnapped, leaving her desperate and trapped in a terrifying situation. With her world crumbling around her, she must find the strength to escape her captor and navigate the struggle-filled journey to rescue her child. Will she be able to survive and reunite with her daughter, or will the nightmare consume them both? Know all of this about Rajashekar's directorial debut on OTT soon. White Rose cast and crew Other than Anandhi, the movie also features R. K. Suresh, Rooso Sreedharan, Vijjith, Baby Nakshatra, Sasi Laya, Suliyan Bharani, Rittika Chakraborthy, Hashin, Dharani Reddy and S. R. Jangid among others. The technical crew of White Rose consists of music by Johan Shevanesh, cinematography by Elayaraja V, editing by Gopikrishna and distribution by Uthraa Productions. White Rose review The Times of India rated this movie 1.5 out of 5 and a part of their review read, The reluctance of the characters to use their guns when faced with a clear threat feels out of place in a thriller. Despite the scripts potential, the screenplay lacks depth and the execution leaves much to be desired. Kayal Anandhis performance as Divya is limited in scope, largely focused on expressions of terror and panic. As for the technical aspects, they are functional yet unremarkable. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. It's now confirmed that Malaika Arora Khan and Arjun Kapoor have ended their relationship after several years of dating. While Malaika had stayed silent about the breakup, she has now responded following Kapoor's recent remark in an interview where he stated, 'I am single.' Arjun Kapoor confirms breakup with Malaika Arora: Here's what he said Rumours about a breakup between Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora had been circulating for some time. During the promotions of his film Singham Again, which released on November 1, the 39-year-old Kapoor had told the paparazzi, "Nahin, ab main single hoon, relax karo." (No, I'm single now. Relax.) His statement had finally confirmed what many had suspected. Malaika Arora opens up about her breakup with Arjun Kapoor Now, in a recent interview with ETimes, the Munni Badnaam responded, "I am a very private person, and there are certain aspects of my life which I don't want to elaborate on much. I will never choose a public platform to talk about my personal life. So, whatever Arjun has said is entirely his prerogative." She also reflected on the challenges of the past year, stating, "I just want to say that, yes, it has been a very trying year for various reasons. I think it is time for all of us to move on from whatever transpired in the year that went by. I am ready for the New Year and a new start in my life." Malaika-Arjun's love story Malaika Arora and Arjun Kapoor began their relationship in 2018, but kept it largely private. They often shared romantic pictures from their vacations, but rarely discussed their bond publicly. #MalaikaArora & #ArjunKapoor enjoying their Honeymoon in Austria . Full on Romance going on in Winter . pic.twitter.com/b8WpzLe940 Umair Sandhu (@UmairSandu) April 18, 2023 But even after their breakup news, Arjun remained supportive, especially when Malaika's father passed away. Reflecting on why he was there for her during that tough time, Arjun explained in a recent interview with Raj Shamani, "In life, without going into one instance, I'd like to say when what happened with Khushi, Janhvi, there is an instinct and impulse. In this case, also, there is an instinct and impulse." He added, "If I formed an emotional bond with somebody, I'd always lie to believe that I'd be there regardless of the good and the bad...I'm not somebody who is doing this for all and sundry. If I feel an emotion with someone, it will be there for life." For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. It seems like Justin Baldoni is stuck in a real-life soap opera. Just when we thought the drama with Blake Lively couldnt get any messier, the actor-directors former publicist, Steph Jones, has entered the chat, and boy, its spicy. According to reports from Variety, Jones is suing Baldoni for allegedly breaching their $25,000-per-month contract. And thats just the tip of the tea spill. Drama between Justin Baldoni and his former publicist Apparently, after Baldoni parted ways with Jonesworks in Augustfollowing his go-to publicist Jennifer Abel leaving the firmthings went south faster than you can say It Ends With Us. Joness lawsuit claims that Abel and fellow publicist Melissa Nathan launched a full-on smear campaign against Blake Lively without her consent. Yep, Gossip Girl herself is tangled in this mess. What did Blake Lively do? And it gets juicier. Blake Lively, who starred alongside Baldoni in It Ends With Us, is also suing him. She claims the actor created a hostile work environment on set and spearheaded a coordinated effort to destroy her reputation. In legal documents, Lively alleged that the situation got so bad there was an emergency all-hands-on-deck meeting during filming to address the chaos. Joness lawsuit doesnt hold back either. It accuses Abel and Nathan of falsely pointing fingers at her for their alleged misconduct and dragging her name through the mud. She claims this not only damaged her business but also caused emotional distress to her family. Justin Baldonis response Meanwhile, Baldonis lawyer Bryan Freedman isnt having it. In response to Livelys claims, he described the accusations as false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious. He also called them a desperate attempt to salvage Livelys negative reputation. Freedman doubled down, dismissing the allegations as an attempt to create drama in the media. As if things couldnt get more dramatic, Lively dropped receipts in the form of texts from her publicist, alleging that Baldoni wanted to bury her. This legal battle has officially turned into the Hollywood equivalent of a group chat fight gone public, and were just here for the popcorn. The violent and tragic events behind South Koreas Squid Game are rooted in a real historical conflict. While the show is a work of fiction, its creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, was inspired by the harrowing experience of workers during the 2009 Ssangyong strike. The second season of Squid Game, which debuts today (26th December) explores themes of desperation and economic inequality, and its this backdrop of real-life violence and struggle that influenced much of the show. Real-life violence that inspired Squid Game In May 2009, Ssangyong Motor, a major South Korean car manufacturer, announced it would lay off over 2,600 workersalmost 40% of its workforcedue to financial difficulties. This decision led to a dramatic and violent 77-day strike. Workers occupied the factory, demanding their jobs back, while the police responded with brutal force. Riot police armed with rubber bullets and tasers clashed with workers, who fought back using slingshots and steel pipes. The standoff ended with many union members severely beaten, some arrested, and several workers suffering from long-lasting physical and mental trauma. The aftermath of the strike was even more devastating. The workers not only faced legal battles but also dealt with devastating emotional and financial hardship. Around 30 workers, stressed by the years of legal battles and their economic struggles, took their own lives. Lee Chang-kun, one of the union leaders, once recalled how difficult it was for the workers to endure this prolonged suffering. He himself spent 100 days atop a factory chimney, protesting a court ruling that favoured Ssangyong over the workers. He was supplied with food through a rope and endured mental strain, including hallucinations. Lee and others who lived through these events see clear parallels between their struggles and the fictional world of Squid Game. The show follows Gi-hun, a laid-off worker who enters a deadly competition for a huge cash prize, showing how easily someone can fall from middle-class stability to total desperation. Hwang Dong-hyuk, the director and writer of Squid Game, explained to AFP that Gi-huns story was inspired by the Ssangyong workers and intended to show how ordinary people can suddenly lose everything and be forced to fight for survival. Squid Game Season 2 drops on Netflix on 26th December 2024 at 12:30 PM IST and 3 AM ET. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Veer Bal Diwas 2024 history & significance: Veer Bal Diwas, also known as the Day of Brave Children, is a national observance that honours the courage and sacrifice of the youngest sons of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru. This important day reminds us of their bravery and their unwavering commitment to their faith. On December 26th each year, people across India come together to commemorate their sacrifice and the contributions of the Sikh Gurus to the nations history. The History Behind Veer Bal Diwas Veer Bal Diwas is observed annually on December 26th, and in 2024, it will be observed on a Thursday. This day marks a significant event in Sikh history when, during the siege of Anandpur Sahib Fort, Guru Gobind Singh and his followers were surrounded by the Mughal forces. Amid the chaos of the forts fall, Guru Gobind Singhs two youngest sons, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, were captured. Despite being offered the option to convert to Islam, these brave young boys stood firm in their faith. Their refusal to abandon their Sikh identity led to them being cruelly bricked alive by the Mughal authorities under the orders of Wazir Khan. This tragic event occurred around December 26, 1705. The courage of these young martyrs exemplifies their loyalty to their religion and their nation. To honour their memory, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially declared December 26 as Veer Bal Diwas in 2022, ensuring that their remarkable sacrifice would never be forgotten. The Significance of Veer Bal Diwas Veer Bal Diwas holds immense significance as it celebrates the bravery and sacrifice of two young Sikh children, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, who chose martyrdom rather than compromise their beliefs. Their story is an inspiration to millions and serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of standing firm in one's principles, even in the face of unimaginable adversity. The day also highlights the larger context of Sikh history, honouring the ten Sikh Gurus who contributed significantly to shaping the Sikh community and its values. Veer Bal Diwas serves to remind us of the sacrifices made by Sikhs to safeguard their faith, honour, and community. Veer Bal Diwas 2024: How It Will Be Celebrated On December 26, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the national celebration of Veer Bal Diwas at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The event will include a ceremony where the Prime Minister will honour children, highlighting their role as the future of India. Today, on Veer Baal Diwas, we remember the unparalleled bravery and sacrifice of the Sahibzades. At a young age, they stood firm in their faith and principles, inspiring generations with their courage. Their sacrifice is a shining example of valour and a commitment to ones Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 26, 2024 In addition, Prime Minister Modi will launch the Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyan aimed at improving the nutritional well-being of rural communities through better implementation of nutrition services. This initiative reflects the government's commitment to enhancing the health and welfare of India's young generation. As part of the celebrations, a series of initiatives will take place across the country, including online competitions, interactive quizzes, and activities like storytelling, creative writing, and poster-making in schools and child care institutions. These activities are designed to engage young minds, spread awareness about the significance of Veer Bal Diwas, and inspire a culture of courage, dedication, and service to the nation. In addition, the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) will be awarded to 17 children for their outstanding achievements in various fields. The awardees will receive medals, certificates, and recognition for their contributions to society. Veer Bal Diwas 2024 is an occasion to honour the bravery and sacrifice of two young boys who gave their lives for their faith. By observing this day, we not only remember their sacrifice but also reflect on the importance of courage, loyalty, and dedication to one's principles. As the nation comes together on December 26th, it is an opportunity to inspire future generations to carry forward the legacy of these young martyrs. Let us commemorate Veer Bal Diwas with pride and gratitude, keeping the memory of Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh alive for generations to come. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. Nicole Kidman's highly anticipated film Babygirl is now in theatres! Movie buffs who managed to watch the early shows have now taken to X (formerly Twitter) to share their two cents, and while reactions are mixed, the consensus suggests: Babygirl is not the Christmas movie you would want to watch with your family. About Babygirl Starring Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson, Babygirl is written and directed by Halina Reijn. The erotic thriller follows Romy Mathis (Kidman), a hotshot CEO, who puts her high-profile job and stable family at stake after she begins a torrid affair with her intern Samuel (Harry Dickinson). The film was released on December 25. Babygirl movie X review After Babygirl's premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival in August, Nicole Kidman was touted as one of the strongest contenders for the 2025 Oscars in the Best Actress category alongside Angelina Jolie, whose Maria premiered to rave reviews on Netflix earlier this month. Kidman has been fiercely promoting her film for the last few months, fueling anticipation among her fans. Since the film was released in theatres on Christmas Day, many expected it to be a family watchbut users have now cautioned moviegoers, with one writing, "I dont know who needs to hear this, but #Babygirl is NOT a movie you go see with your mom." I dont know who needs to hear this, but #Babygirl is NOT a movie you go see with your mom. Isaac Sharfman (@IsaacSharfman) December 25, 2024 Another lauded the screenplay and storyline, "Very dramatic movie about the CEO of a large company having an affair with one of the interns. Great on-screen chemistry between Harris Dickinson and Nicole Kidman. Excellent script and storyline." #Babygirl is a thought-provoking film that explores the complexities of human desire, power dynamics, and the tension between societal norms and personal fantasies. Nicole Kidman's performance is outstanding, and the cast delivers absorbing performances throughout. pic.twitter.com/xGxY6Ftanv Movie Files (@MovieFilesLive) December 25, 2024 A third wrote, "Babygirl is a thought-provoking film that explores the complexities of human desire, power dynamics, and the tension between societal norms and personal fantasies. Nicole Kidman's performance is outstanding, and the cast delivers absorbing performances throughout." #Babygirl is a thought-provoking film that explores the complexities of human desire, power dynamics, and the tension between societal norms and personal fantasies. Nicole Kidman's performance is outstanding, and the cast delivers absorbing performances throughout. pic.twitter.com/xGxY6Ftanv Movie Files (@MovieFilesLive) December 25, 2024 "Babygirl is solid good. It goes to the common places you expect this type of story to go, but Nicole Kidman and a couple of smart decisions in the screenplay make it worth it. Solid 3.5 movie," one user shared. Babygirl is solid good. It goes to the common places you expect this type of story to go, but Nicole Kidman and a couple of smart decisions in the screenplay make it worth it. Solid 3.5 movie. Christian H. Morales (@cxhmorales) December 25, 2024 However, many highlighted how Nicole Kidman's appearance was distracting, calling the film 'messy' and how 'sex takes away' most of the plot. "Saw Babygirl on the Upper East Side today, and I cant remember the last time I saw a movie where so many people walked out in the middle." saw babygirl on the upper east side today and i cant remember the last time i saw a movie where so many people walked out in the middle Ben Kesslen (@benkesslen) December 25, 2024 Another wrote, "Babygirl is maybe the horniest movie Ive ever seen, and Ive seen a lot of porn." babygirl is maybe the horniest movie Ive ever seen and Ive seen a lot of porn sissy (@komb00bcha) December 26, 2024 A third wrote, "Why didnt anyone tell me that BABYGIRL was not good?! Silly movie!" Why didnt anyone tell me that BABYGIRL was not good?! Silly movie! (That brings me no joy to say, considering I believe BODIES, BODIES, BODIES to be a modern horror masterpiece) Ian Smart (@DrEgoTrip) December 26, 2024 "Chile I went to see #Babygirl thinking the movie was just about a CEO having an affair with her intern. Baby, this is BDSM!" added another X user. chile i went to see #Babygirl thinking the movie was just about a CEO having an affair with her intern. baby this is BDSM! https://t.co/l4HA7TM0mv pic.twitter.com/5T17WsXpNO B (@Ms_Britany) December 26, 2024 For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. A resident of Canada recently shared a now-viral video showcasing his hometown, which has been littered with garbage. In his post, he attributed the littering to the international student community, particularly pointing fingers at the Indian community, suggesting that their presence is to blame for the mess. He framed this as a reflection of the country's "diversity." 'Deport them all' "Indian international students are destroying communities across Canada," a user on X wrote while sharing the video, which was originally posted on TikTok. Indian International Students destroying communities across Canada pic.twitter.com/ZyOF9Q2Uc1 Chris (@Chris987612345) December 22, 2024 The video's caption reads, "International students illegally dumping garbage, Sault Ste. Marie, ON," with an Indian flag emoji next to "international students," implying that Indian students are to blame. The footage begins with a beautiful snow-covered landscape, quickly overshadowed by a mess of trash scattered across the ground. As the camera moves over the scene, a man's voice can be heard in the background, expressing his frustration and claiming the litter was left by "international students." He even suggests deporting them for their careless actions. The comments on the post echoed a similar sentiment: "Deport them all." Deport them all TeslaFUDKer (@technoking_420) December 23, 2024 India-Canada tensions Canada is home to one of the largest Indian communities in the world, with over 1.8 million people of Indian descent. According to a report from the National Foundation for American Policy, Indian immigration to Canada has surged dramatically, increasing from 32,828 individuals in 2013 to 139,715 in 2023an impressive 326% rise. However, recent diplomatic tensions between India and Canada after the latter expelled Indian diplomats, accusing them of involvement in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, have created significant challenges for the Indian diaspora. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending. As we prepare to welcome 2025 and bid farewell to this year, it seems some societal rigidities and intolerances refuse to fade. In a disheartening incident from Indore, a Zomato delivery executive dressed as Santa Claus on Christmas Daya gesture in line with the company's festive policywas confronted by a passerby who demanded he change out of the outfit, and the video is now going viral. An X account called 'hate detector' shared a video showing an unsettling interaction between a Zomato delivery person and a passerby in Indore. A #Zomato delivery man was stopped by workers of the #HinduJagranManch and asked to remove a #SantaClaus attire he was wearing for #Christmas celebrations. The incident occurred in #MadhyaPradeshs #Indore city. A video of the Zomato delivery man named Arjun being questioned by pic.twitter.com/GGQNkkgDZF Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) December 25, 2024 In the clip, the delivery guy, dressed as Santa Claus in line with Zomato's holiday policy, explains, "This is what Zomato has asked some people to wear." However, the man questioning him responds, "Most orders are from Hindus, so why wear this outfit? If it's Diwali, should we dress up like that too?" He continues, "What message are you sending to families by wearing a Santa Claus costume today?" The delivery person tries to explain, "Yeh toh pata nahi, yeh toh company ne diya hai." ("I don't know, the company gave it to me"), but the man dismisses his response, panning the camera to other Zomato riders nearby who aren't wearing Santa costumes. Shockingly, the man demands to know the delivery person's full name and, upon learning he's Hindu, orders him to remove the outfit, saying, "Arjun bhai, aap Hindu hai. Aapke Santa Claus costume pehen ke kya sandesh dena chahte ho? Utaaro yeh." ("Arjun brother, you are Hindu. What message are you trying to send by wearing this Santa Claus costume? Take it off"). Despite the rider's pleas that his company ID could be blocked, he is forced to strip off his red Santa jacket and trousers. The man making the demand is heard saying, "Ye iss tareeke ke log hain jo ki Hindu tyohaaro pe inki buddhi lagbhag maari jaati hai aur Christian aur Islamic tyohaar pe inko bahut achche sandesh dene rehta hain." ("These are the kind of people who forget Hindu festivals and always have to send messages during Christian or Islamic holidays.") The video ends with the man thanking the Zomato rider for removing the outfit, saying "Jai Shree Ram." In the comments, one person rightly noted, "He can't win. If he wears Lord Ram's outfit, they'll snap. If he wears the Christmas outfit, they'll snap. Just don't deliver to them during their holidays and keep moving." To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending. Former Director-General of Peter Obis Presidential Campaign Organisation, Doyin Okupe, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his performance. Mr. Okupe claimed that it will be very difficult for opposition parties to unseat President Tinubu in 2027, due to his current score card. The former presidential aide also noted that every alliances formed against Tinubu will end it futility. Advertisement Mr. Okupe stated that the South, not the North, should produce Nigerias president in 2027. Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Lagos State, Okupe argued that geopolitical considerations might deny former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, in the next general election. READ MORE: Tinubu Was Bold, Brilliant During Maiden Media Chat Okupe He said: Atiku failed in 2023, not because he was not a good person, but because people felt that a northern Muslim cannot succeed another northern Muslim after eight years. If Atiku still contests in 2027, he has a right. He is eminently qualified and one of the best we have, but geopolitics is an issue. The conditionality still persists, a Southerner would have just completed four years and needs another four-year term. Its not in the constitution, but we agree that when a Northerner does his eight years, a Southerner will do. So, the North cannot now terminate the tenure of the South in 2027. It is not going to work. Obi can contest. Obi is a young man, very dynamic and very ambitious; but geopolitics is important in a country that has not achieved horizontal and vertical unity. The person who is occupying the place right now, Tinubu, is also a Southerner, who is doing well. We can see what this gentleman (Tinubu) is doing. I wish Obi luck, but it is going to be an uphill task. I wish those who are trying alliance, I wish them luck but it is going to end up the same way it has always ended up. All the alliances will end up in futility. A Nigerian Air Force airstrike intended to target Lakurawa terrorists in Sokoto State has mistakenly hit two communities in Silame Local Government Area, killing at least 10 villagers and injuring several others. The affected communities, Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa, are located near the Surame forest, a known hideout for the Lakurawa sect and bandits. Malam Yahya, a resident of Silame, told Punch the airstrike occurred around 7am on Christmas Day, disrupting the holiday celebrations. Advertisement Abubakar Daftarana, Chairman of Silame Local Government Area, also confirmed the attack and expressed shock at the devastation. The villagers were sitting peacefully when the bombs started dropping on the communities. They were innocent and peace-loving people who had no criminal record. It is too early to confirm the number of people either killed or injured because we are still assessing the development, he said. READ ALSO: NDLEA Raids Kano Drug Hotspots, Arrests 34 Suspects The Nigerian Air Force has however promised to investigate the fallout of the airstrike. Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa stated that the operation was conducted based on credible intelligence and surveillance. However, Akinboyewa assured that the force would investigate claims of civilian casualties. The airstrikes were conducted based on credible intelligence from multiple sources, along with confirmatory aerial surveillance. Nevertheless, reports of possible harm to civilians will be thoroughly investigated and we will update you appropriately, he said. Reacting, the State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu, reacted to the incident via X on Wednesday saying, I visited the affected areas to assess the situation firsthand and have directed a donation of N20 million along with 100 bags of assorted food items to the families of the deceased. This support is intended to alleviate their suffering and cover the medical bills of those hospitalized due to their injuries from the bombardment. I want to assure you that I am in direct communication with the leadership of the Nigerian Army to ensure a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to this tragedy. The state government will do everything within its power to support the affected families and engage with the relevant authorities to prevent such occurrences in the future. Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, warned citizens against engaging in any form of trading or transaction with terrorists, bandits, and other non-state actors. Musa regretted that terrorism was not nipped in the bud when it began, which allowed it to fester to this day. In a separate incident, terrorists attacked a military base in Borno State with armed drones, injuring five members of the troops. Former vice president Atiku Abubakar has condemned the accidental bombing by the Nigerian Air Force which claimed lives of many villagers in Rumtuwa and Gidan Sama communities, Sokoto State. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the unfortunate incident which happened on Wednesday, left others injured. It was gathered that a Nigerian Air Force airstrike, intended to neutralise Lakurawa terrorists, mistakenly hit the affected a communities in the Silame Local Government Area of the state. Advertisement Reacting to the incident in a post shared via his X handle on Thursday, Atiku described the airstrike as devastating, outrageous and condemnable. The former Vice President stated that the indiscriminate killing of innocent citizens can never be justified, adding that it is a failure and a gross violation of humanity itself. Atiku said: The devastating airstrike that claimed the lives of nearly a dozen innocent civilians and left many others wounded in the peaceful communities of Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa in Sokoto State is an outrage that must be condemned in the strongest terms. READ MORE: Airstrike Meant For Lakurawa Terrorists Kills Villagers In Sokoto But this tragedy begs the question: What have we truly learnt from the heart-wrenching losses of the past? On December 3, 2023, tens of innocent lives were lost in a brutal airstrike on a religious gathering at Tudun Biri, near Kaduna. How many more lives must be lost before we take action? While targeting terrorists is a legitimate goal, these strikes must be carried out with unmatched precision and based on irrefutable intelligence. The indiscriminate killing of innocent citizens, our brothers, our sisters, our neighbours, can never be justified. It is not only a failure but a gross violation of humanity itself. We must stop this tragic cycle of death. The only way forward is to learn from the past, to make sure that every life is valued, and to ensure no more families have to mourn the loss of loved ones due to senseless violence. To the grieving families and the people of Sokoto, my heart goes out to you. May the souls of the departed rest in eternal peace. A Christmas Day accident on the Mile 2-Badagry Expressway in Lagos resulted in injuries to at least five individuals. Adebayo Taofiq, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, confirmed this in a statement on Wednesday. Taofiq explained that the accident involved two commercial buses, with the collision caused by a mechanical fault in one of the vehicles. Advertisement He mentioned that one of the buses was traveling at high speed when its brake system failed, resulting in the collision. READ MORE: No One Challenges Our Miracles And Lives Odumeje Issues Stern Warning To Church Critics The statement read, Preliminary findings indicate that the T4 commercial bus, bearing registration number LSD 668 YE, was travelling at an excessive speed toward Agbara when its braking system failed. This mechanical malfunction led to a rear-end collision with an LT commercial bus (BDG 728 YE), which was stationary while loading passengers at the Iyana-Iba bus stop. In a commendable demonstration of rapid response, LASTMA officials successfully rescued five severely injured passengersthree males and two females. The injured individuals were promptly transported to Eva-Life Hospital, situated at Pako near Iyana-Era, for immediate medical attention. In response to the accident, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, LASTMA General Manager, advised motorists to prioritise vehicle maintenance to avoid needless accidents. The GM, speaking through Taofiq, expressed his sorrow to the injured victims. The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, has conveyed his profound sympathies to the injured passengers and extended his best wishes for their swift and complete recovery. He further reiterated the importance of regular vehicle maintenance, particularly the braking system, urging all drivers to conduct thorough checks before embarking on journeys within or outside Lagos State. For any traffic-related concerns, the public is encouraged to contact LASTMA through its toll-free hotline: 080000527862, Taofiq concluded. The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, has appealed to Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administration. The former governor of Kano State, called for more support for the President amid hardship facing the country. Ganduje in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, on Wednesday, assured Nigerians of a robust and stable economy in 2025. Advertisement Ganduje said: Nigerians should be patient with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the bold economic reforms he has embarked upon, which have brought discomfort to many. Already results of the reforms are beginning to be seen. By next years Christmas, the economy would have stabilised and better. READ MORE: Tinubu Was Bold, Brilliant During Maiden Media Chat Okupe The governments effort in securing the country is yielding results as cases of banditry and kidnapping have significantly reduced. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that many Nigerians have been lamenting over economic hardship amid yuletide season, appealing to President Tinubu to reduce harsh economic policies. Recall that Tinubu, on the 29th of May, the President announced the removal of subsidy of petrol. Following this tough decision, many businesses have been experiencing setbacks. The mother of Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, the estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife, has sought help from Nigerians following her daughters remand in Agodi prison. The remand relates to a tragic stampede in Ibadan, which occurred during a childrens funfair that she had organised to bring joy to children during the Christmas season. Advertisement The event, which had been planned for 10 a.m., saw attendees arriving as early as 4 a.m., leading to overcrowding and chaos. This resulted in the deaths of 35 individuals. In an emotional video that went viral on Wednesday, Naomis mother tearfully declared her daughters innocence and pleaded for support. READ MORE: Ibadan Stampede: Queen Naomi Was Treated Like A Terrorist Ooni Of Ifes Ex-Wifes Sister Shares Ordeal She said, Help me, have mercy on me, dont let them destroy my life, my daughter has been doing this program for over 10 years, it is to help children. Please, the world, help free Naomi, help free my daughter, she is very innocent. It should be noted that Chief Magistrate Olabisi Ogunkanmi of the Oyo State Chief Magistrate Court 1 in Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Tuesday ordered the remand of Prophetess Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi. Along with her, Oriyomi Hamzat, owner of Agidigbo FM, and Fasasi Abdullahi Babatunde, Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, were also remanded at the Agodi Custodial Centre. The court stated that the remand order would remain in effect pending the issuance of legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) under the Oyo State Ministry of Justice. Watch her speak below https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEAtSk0N5CW/?igsh=MWloc2VpMXU2azlvbw== Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the former Minister of Women Affairs, has expressed no regrets over her actions during her tenure in President Bola Tinubus administration. In an interview on Channels Television, Kennedy-Ohanenye stated that she couldnt have acted better than she did while in office. When asked on Wednesday about her dismissal, Kennedy-Ohanenye replied, Im not a witch to know why I was sacked, and I have decided not to think about it. The important thing is that I have been sacked, and I have refocused on what I was doing before. Advertisement Kennedy-Ohanenyes time as minister was marked by controversy, including her threat to sue the United Nations for allegedly mismanaging funds meant for Nigeria. READ ALSO: Tinubu Destined To Fix Nigeria, Ill Fight Alongside Him Sacked Kennedy-Ohanenye Insists She also faced criticism for her handling of sensitive cases, with some Nigerians accusing her of not being diplomatic. In response, Kennedy-Ohanenye argued that she was appointed to serve the people, not to act as someone bigger than them. Being a minister of women affairs as at that time, I was handling sensitive cases. You can be in the office, and they will show you a girl who was raped. You will see the substance from the man in her. I wonder what you expect me to do, she said. Kennedy-Ohanenye maintained that her commitment to defending vulnerable individuals remains unchanged. I have no regrets in the way I did my job. I dont have regrets. I dont think I could have done it better. That was the highest way I could have done it. That issue of being diplomatic is what I dont understand, she concluded. Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, has pledged to significantly reduce the All Progressives Congress (APC) votes in Kano State during the 2027 elections. Kwankwaso made this declaration while receiving former councillors and senior special advisers at his residence in Kano on Wednesday. He attributed the New Nigeria Peoples Partys (NNPP) success in the 2023 elections to the hard work of his team, which led to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) struggling to secure only 15,000 votes in Kano. Advertisement READ ALSO: APC Failed Nigerians, PDP Is Dead Kwankwaso Declares, Says NNPP Fastest Growing Party In Nigeria The Party achieved this feat despite being a new political platform and starting its campaign late, Kwankwaso noted. He added, Now, its our turn to diminish APCs influence. We will work tirelessly to ensure their votes are reduced to less than 15,000 in Kano come 2027. Kwankwaso emphasized the need for dedication and grassroots mobilization to solidify the NNPPs position as a dominant political force in Kano and beyond. He encouraged his supporters to remain focused on delivering results that would secure the Partys success in future elections. A kidnapping attempt was thwarted and ten victims were rescued by the Katsina State Police Command. This was revealed in a statement provided to reporters on Wednesday and signed by ASP Abubakar Sadiq, the Commands Public Relations Officer. On December 24, 2024, armed bandits attacked a commercial vehicle at Kwanar Makera, along the Katsina-Magama Jibia road, attempting to abduct the occupants. Advertisement Acting on a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer of Jibia led operatives to the scene, engaging the attackers in a gunfight and rescuing all ten victims. According to the statement: On 24 December 2024, at about 20:30 hrs, some suspected armed bandits, wielding dangerous weapons and shooting sporadically, attacked a commercial vehicle at Kwanar Makera along the KatsinaMagama Jibia road in Jibia Local Government Area, Katsina State, in an attempt to kidnap ten (10) occupants of the vehicle. READ MORE: 19 IEDs Recovered As Police Raid Criminal Hideout In Anambra Upon receiving the distress call, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Jibia swiftly led a team of operatives to the scene. The team engaged the bandits in a gun duel, successfully thwarted the kidnapping attempt, and rescued all ten (10) victims. Four (4) of the rescued victims sustained gunshot injuries as a result of the attack and were rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention. Sadly, two (2) of the victims succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects as the investigation continues. The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, psc(+), has commended the officers for their exceptional display of gallantry and dedication to duty. He has also urged them to sustain the tempo. Furthermore, the Commissioner has called on members of the public to provide useful information on suspected criminal activities to the nearest police station for prompt and decisive action. 34 individuals with varying amounts of illegal substances have been taken into custody by the Kano State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The commands spokesman, ASN Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari, confirmed this in a statement on Wednesday in Kano. He cited the State Commander, Abubakar Idris-Ahmad, who explained that the arrest occurred during a raid conducted as part of efforts to maintain a safe and drug-free environment in Kano for the Christmas and New Year festivities. Advertisement On December 24, the agency dislodged several notorious drug joints across the state. These drug dens are located in Fagge Area, Sani Abacha Stadium, Danagundi, and the historically infamous Filin Idi drug den, he said. Idris-Baba stated that the command seized significant amounts of illegal narcotics such as cannabis sativa, suck and die, and Exol-5, among others. READ MORE: NDLEA Nabs 415 Drug Suspects, Secures 84 Convictions In Bauchi Other confiscated items include weapons reportedly used by drug dealers to pursue and attack officers. The drug users will receive the necessary counseling and support to aid their recovery, he said. The commander stated that the seizures demonstrate the agencys dedication to dismantling drug networks and reducing the availability of hazardous narcotics in the state during the holiday season. He noted that those found accountable will face charges once the investigation was completed. The commander reiterated the agencys commitment to protecting the health and safety of all Kano residents. We will continue to eradicate the menace of drug abuse from the streets of Kano and promote awareness about the dangers of substance abuse, as community cooperation is essential in this fight against drug-related issues, he added. At least four individuals have been detained by the Ogun State Police Command on suspicion of stealing a gas cylinder and a motorbike from the Odeda and Ajuwon Communities. PUNCH Metro gathered on Wednesday that police operatives from the Ajuwon and Odeda divisions arrested three individuals on Tuesday in connection with a series of theft and assault incidents. The suspects identified as Joseph Ogu and Sunday Jeremiah were apprehended for alleged theft, while Isikilu Azeez and Faruq Azeez were arrested for allegedly assaulting local security operatives who were trying to apprehend a fleeing suspect, known only as Lati, in the Iyana-Efon area of Odeda. Advertisement The Command spokesperson Omolola Odutola, while addressing the Ajuwon incident, explained that Adebiyi Philip, a commercial biker, had parked his Bajaj Boxer motorcycle with registration number TRE 228 WZ at Alapara Junction while looking for a passenger. When he returned to the spot, Adebiyi discovered that his motorcycle was missing. After a thorough search, the motorbike was found with Ogu, a 33-year-old man, who was caught tampering with its key and security system. READ MORE: NAFDAC Confiscates N3.8bn Worth Of Unregistered Food Products In Lagos Odutola stated that the suspect was promptly apprehended and detained, while the motorcycle was recovered from the scene. She also mentioned that the investigation is ongoing, with further updates to be provided. A related incident occurred in Iyana-Efon Kila, within the Odeda Local Government Area, where Dele Sosanya, a member of the Nigeria Hunter and Safety Group, reported that a suspect identified as Lati had stolen kolanut seeds from his farm on December 19 and 22. Sosanya explained that when he confronted the suspect, Lati fled the community. On Christmas Eve at 10:15 am, police spotted the suspect again. As authorities attempted to arrest him, he allegedly turned violent. According to Odutola, during the scuffle, two accomplices, Isikilu Azeez and Faruq Azeez, attacked security officer Segun Owolabi with a machete, leaving him severely injured. A patrol team arrived, arresting Isikilu and Faruq, while the primary suspect, Lati, escaped from the community. She said, Efforts are ongoing to apprehend Lati, who managed to flee. The case is under investigation by the DCB, and the suspects remain in custody. In another development within the Odeda Division, Odutola revealed that a 35-year-old man, identified as Jeremiah, was handed over to the police by the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation, and Safety Corps after being caught with a stolen gas cylinder. The cylinder was taken from Ijemo Secondary School in Odeda. Following the arrest, detectives were dispatched to the school, confirming that the cylinder had indeed been stolen from the school store. The school principal has been informed, and Jeremiah is currently in custody while we investigate further. All cases are under active investigation, and we are working to bring the perpetrators to justice, Odutola added. Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) have apprehended 20 suspects in connection with the recent killings in Tingbwa Gidan Ado community, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State. The Commander of OPSH, Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, disclosed this information during a Christmas luncheon for troops of OPSH and 3 Division of the Nigerian Army in Jos on Thursday. The arrests were made following hours of sustained night operations, which also resulted in the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition. Advertisement According to Abdulsalam, We have apprehended 20 suspects directly and indirectly involved in the last attack on Tingbwa Gidan Ado village in Riyom LGA on Dec. 22. READ ALSO: NDLEA Raids Kano Drug Hotspots, Arrests 34 Suspects The commander expressed his gratitude to the troops for their sacrifices, acknowledging that many of them were away from their families during the holiday season. He further urged the troops to remain disciplined, loyal, vigilant, and professional in their conduct. Abdulsalam also thanked Gen. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, and Lt.-Gen. Olufumi Oloyede, the Chief of Army Staff, for their leadership and strategic guidance, which have contributed to the troops operational successes. Nigerian actor Femi Branch has voiced his concerns over the detention of Queen Naomi Silekunola, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, and Islamic High School principal Abdullahi Fasasi, who are being held at the Agodi Correctional Centre until January 13. Their remand stems from a tragic stampede in Ibadan on December 18, which occurred during a childrens funfair organised by the trio to spread Christmas cheer. The event, planned for 10 a.m., saw attendees arriving as early as 4 a.m., resulting in overcrowding and chaos that led to the deaths of 35 individuals. Advertisement In a viral video on social media on Wednesday, Femi expressed his sympathy for the lives lost but argued that the case was unjust. He questioned the responsibility of the organisers for the tragedy, pointing out that the event was meant to begin at 10am, with security staff scheduled to arrive by 8am. Reports indicated, however, that parents had already been throwing their children over the fence into the venue overnight. READ MORE: Ibadan Stampede: Mother Of Queen Naomi Appeals For Help Amid Daughters Remand The actor also criticised the parents who endangered their childrens lives by throwing them into the venue. Femi further emphasised that Queen Naomi and Oriyomi Hamzat had only intended to help the community and were now facing charges. He urged the public to speak out, calling on the authorities to identify and prosecute the parents who threw their children over the fence. He said, I want to believe they have very good lawyers because this case is nonsense and this is not me being insensitive to the plight of the children that died, it is very tragic. But if the purpose is to punish those responsible for the death, how is it the organisers? Lets look at the facts on ground. The event was supposed to start by 10am, the security personnel were supposed to arrive by 8am. The venue was locked and wasnt meant to be open till the security personnel arrived by 8 for an event that was supposed to start by 10. From the reports we have, people came overnight, they started arriving overnight and started throwing their children over the fence and into the compound. I saw a very tragic one of one of the children that as the mum threw them over the fence, the child hit their head and died instantly. So how is this the fault of the organisers? Is it a problem to do good in this country right now because we are dealing with so much and a few people try once in a while with the little God has blessed them with to help peoples lives. This thing can happen to anybody o. We understand the root cause of this matter is that theres hunger in the land but is it hunger that will make you to endanger the life of your child? Throwing your child over a fence? How bad is that hunger? I think were sick, were not well as a people. And now the poor organisers who are trying to be a blessing are now arrested, charged to court. What is going on? Dont tell me youre just trying to make an example of them. To what end exactly? We need to be careful because were setting a very terrible precedent. I think people need to speak up about this. Why have the police not fished out those parents that threw their children over the fence and also charged them because as far as Im concerned, those are the real offenders. These people should be set free, they should be released and let those parents who threw their children over the fence be arrested and be prosecuted, those are the real offenders. Fake Pennsylvania vehicle inspection stickers shipped from Israel to Philadelphia were recently seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Read more U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Thursday that it recently had seized 22,000 counterfeit Pennsylvania vehicle inspection stickers that were shipped from Israel to Philadelphia with a total value if they were real of more than $1.4 million. Customs and Border Protection officers encountered 10,000 suspected fake stickers on Nov. 26 in a parcel from Israel destined for an address in Philadelphia, and 12,000 suspected counterfeits on Dec. 9, the agency said. Advertisement Pennsylvania authorities confirmed that the stickers were counterfeit and the fakes were officially seized on Dec. 16, the agency said. No immediate arrests were reported. The agency shared information about the seizure to other investigative agencies for possible further investigation. Pennsylvania requires that vehicles be inspected annually to verify that they comply with minimum mechanical, safety, and emission standards. Stickers are given to vehicles that pass inspections. A person buying a counterfeit sticker to bypass the inspection process possibly to avoid expensive repairs runs the risk of a $500 fine and potential jail time, the agency said. Unscrupulous actors peddling fraudulent vehicle inspection stickers create a very serious public safety concern. Fake inspection stickers mask unsafe motor vehicles that place all motorists on our roadways in harm, Cleatus P. Hunt Jr., the agencys area port director for the Area Port of Philadelphia, said in a statement. A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation could not be reached for comment late Thursday afternoon. Fake inspection stickers in Pennsylvania are a persistent problem, though they usually are reported at a small scale. The Pennsylvania State Police told CBS3 in 2022 that fake or stolen stickers are often sold on Craigslist, Facebook, and other online platforms. Two people were killed and four others were wounded in separate Christmas Eve shootings across Philadelphia, police said. Around 10:15 p.m., police found an 18-year-old man with numerous gunshot wounds to his head and body lying on the sidewalk on Roosevelt Boulevard near C Street in Feltonville, said Chief Inspector Scott Small. Advertisement The man was taken by police to Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:30 p.m. Police found 40 spent shell casings near where the victim was found, including some just inches from his body, Small said. It appears to be an execution-type homicide, Small said. Just after 10 p.m., police responded to a reported shooting on the 3900 block of Brown Street in Mantua and found two shooting victims inside a white Toyota, said Inspector D.F. Pace. A woman in her 30s was transported by police to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 10:13 p.m., Pace said. A man in his early 30s also was taken to Penn Presbyterian and was listed in critical condition. Police were investigating if that incident was connected to an earlier shooting several blocks away, Pace said. Around 7:55 p.m., a 24-year-old man was on the 3800 block of Wyalusing Avenue in West Philadelphia when he was shot several times. He was taken by police to Penn Presbyterian, where he was listed in stable condition. Just after 7:45 p.m., an 18-year-old man was shot once in the lower back on the 600 block of North 13th Street in North Philadelphia, police said. The man was taken by private vehicle to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. Shortly after 7:50 p.m., an 18-year-old man was in the area of Pennway Street and Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia when he was shot in the right thigh. He was transported by police to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. Police said they recovered two firearms but reported no arrests. No arrests were reported in any of the other Christmas Eve shootings. Police identified a 15-year-old girl killed in a North Philadelphia shooting last week in which at least 27 shots were fired, as they continue to investigate and search for her killer. Read more Police identified a 15-year-old girl killed in a North Philadelphia shooting last week in which at least 27 shots were fired, as they continue to search for her killer. After police responded to the 2700 block of North Dover Street, in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood, shortly after 7 p.m. Dec. 18, they found Angelique Holloman, who lived on the block, with multiple gunshot wounds, police said. She was taken to Temple University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead soon afterward. Advertisement Police did not release additional details Tuesday on the shooting, including a possible motive or whether any suspects had been identified. Investigators recovered 27 9mm shell casings and a weapon at the scene. No arrests had been made. Hollomans death came the week after a spate of shootings in the city, some of which left teens injured. On Dec. 13, a fight erupted into gunfire at Christmas Village at Dilworth Park and left three teens wounded, including a 14-year-old who lost his eye, police said. The teen victim had been sticking up for his brother when an earlier disagreement escalated. Fourth grade students, Cheyenne Wise, left, and Josiah Forney, read a book in 2024, during a reading class at the Hancock Elementary School in Norristown. With new state funding, the district has added staff, including reading specialists. Read more After years of battling Pennsylvania to level the playing field with wealthier school districts, some of the states poorest districts got a new influx of money this year to bring them closer to that goal. The $500 million increase in state funding was just the first step of a nine-year plan to send $4.5 billion to districts deemed inadequately funded or overburdened by local property taxes. While the added money part of a $1 billion increase that went to all public schools didnt close the gaps in a school funding system that was ruled unconstitutional last year by a Commonwealth Court judge, it did mean big changes for some communities. Advertisement In Norristown, for instance, district officials say they have continued to hire staff, including reading specialists, and have achieved class sizes on par with affluent suburban districts. Some other districts, meanwhile, say the money has mostly allowed them to stave off cuts. Its not nearly what we really need, said Upper Darby Superintendent Dan McGarry, whose district got a more than $10 million increase from the state this year, but still had to dip into its fund balance and raise taxes to make up for declining real estate revenue. With the next budget season approaching, Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg, a senior attorney with the Public Interest Law Center who successfully sued Pennsylvania to make school funding changes, said the state needs to stick to the plan to ramp up funding by $4.5 billion so districts can finally get some stability and continue to make some real investments. Here is a look at how some school districts spent the new money this year and what they are still lacking. Keeping taxes flat Pennsylvania has traditionally relied more heavily than other states on property taxes to fund public education. Because there are wide gaps in wealth between communities, there are large funding disparities between school districts with poorer districts often taxing themselves at higher rates than wealthier ones, but still unable to produce as much revenue. The new school funding system approved by lawmakers earlier this year tries to address that inequity, both by calculating how much more money a district needs to reach adequate funding, and by sending tax equity payments to districts with the greatest tax burdens. Districts like Norristown and Pottstown both beneficiaries of the new funding formula used some of the new money to keep taxes flat, saying their communities cannot afford to pay more. In Norristown, it was the fourth year in a row of no tax increases, said Superintendent Christopher Dormer; prior to that, the district had raised taxes by 35% over the last 12 years. We were on a path that was unsustainable, said Dormer, whose district, which has a budget of $207 million, got nearly $10 million more from the state this year. Hiring reading specialists and teachers During the trial that led to Pennsylvanias school funding being declared unconstitutional, school districts suing the state described overcrowded classrooms and insufficient supports for students. With the added money, leaders in other inadequately funded districts say they have been hiring more staff. Norristown this year added 59 positions; 21 were paraprofessionals that the district previously had contracted from outside agencies. Other hires occurred in prior years, when Norristown and other districts received added state money through an earlier program targeted to the poorest districts. The 8,000-student district now has 17 reading specialists to provide additional support to struggling students; two years earlier, it had none, Dormer said. Norristown also began offering Spanish at middle schools. But an ongoing teacher shortage has complicated plans, Dormer said: After creating three Spanish teacher positions, the district has hired only one fully certified teacher. A second teacher was emergency certified, and the district is still trying to fill the third. The investments are paying off, Dormer said, noting that most grade levels saw better-than-average growth last year on state standardized tests. READ MORE: How did your school perform on the PSSAs? 2024 scores are out. I think we just need the benefit of time to allow kids to go through a system thats resourced the way it should be, he said. Improving school culture Like Norristown, Pottstown also has added staff over the last few years, including for a specific mission: improving the culture in a middle school where fights often broke out. We literally had a physical altercation every other day, said Pottstowns superintendent, Stephen Rodriguez. To curb the unrest, the district decided to move to a house model for the middle school, Rodriguez said doubling the number of assistant principals from two to four, so each grade has an administrator in charge. It also doubled the number of middle school counselors from two to four. The assistant principals and counselors stay with each class of students as they advance to the next grade. The personnel changes have cost the district which got more than $4 million in additional state money this year more than $500,000 annually. But as principals and counselors have been able to give kids more attention, our suspension rates have gone through the floor, Rodriguez said. The number of suspensions at the middle school dropped from 448 between August 2022 and March 2023 to 246 for the entire school year in 2023-24, Rodriguez said. This school year, he said, there wasnt a fight at the middle school until mid-October. We had enough people to stop the violence that was going on in some of our under-resourced schools, Rodriguez said. Avoiding layoffs In some districts, the added money has allowed them to maintain what they already have particularly as federal COVID-19 money runs out. This years funding meant we didnt have to lay off staff, said Eric Becoats, superintendent of the William Penn School District one of the six school districts that sued the state over inadequate funding. It was critical to receive and we are grateful for it, but 10 years after we filed the lawsuit, and almost two years after we won it, we are barely keeping our head above water. In Upper Darby, new investments have been minimal, said McGarry, the districts superintendent. It added a few positions to support the districts English-learner population which has been growing on average by two students a day, McGarry said as well as staff for autistic support classrooms. That population has been growing by 15 to 20 students a year, McGarry said; for every eight students in the autistic support program, the district is required to open a new classroom, with an additional teacher and support staff. Meanwhile, as homeowners have been winning appeals over a countywide reassessment, local revenue has been declining, McGarry said. Upper Darby, like other cash-strapped districts, has aging facilities and extensive repair needs. McGarry is also fighting to keep staff from leaving for other districts after the township enacted a new 1% earned income tax. His areas of focus are increasing employee pay and improving facilities, which creates stability in a community, McGarry said. But he said thats impossible unless the state plugs the $4.5 billion hole for inadequately funded districts. (Upper Darby, for instance, is still owed $60 million more from the state under the adequacy formula.) If I dont get those dollars, how can you expect student achievement to go anywhere? It just wont, McGarry said. While legislators have acknowledged the scope of the states underfunding, they should write a timeline for remedying it into law, rather than just pledging to add money each year, said Urevick-Ackelsberg of the Public Interest Law Center. This year was really just the start, Urevick-Ackelsberg said. Districts need to be able to plan, as opposed to waiting to see what happens. Daniel Garman, of Harrisburg, drove two hours to Sang Kee on Wednesday, a Christmas tradition he's had now for two years. Garman brought a box of chocolates for the workers. Read more The spirit of the winter holidays was alive and well at Chinatowns Sang Kee Peking Duck House on Christmas afternoon. Amid steaming bowls of congee, cracks of crispy duck skin, and whiffs of beef chow fun, a tableau of Christmas in a major city lay bare, the antithesis of Edward Hoppers Nighthawks, and a reminder that Dec. 25 is what you make of it. Advertisement Some diners described heavy hearts the death of a loved one cast a fog on the day or travel to family was out of the question while others said the holiday held little meaning to them and was simply some a nice day off. Some ate alone; others corralled their large parties in round corner tables. They wore matching Christmas pajamas, their Sunday best, and athleisure their attire as varied as their ages and backgrounds. Diners like Daniel Garman, 35, came from as far as Harrisburg. Dressed in his best holiday garb, which included a hat with elf ears, Garman said most of his Christmas celebrations take place before the holiday because his family is so large and spread out. Garman said that in the lead-up to Christmas he tries to do one daily random act of kindness for others in a pay-it-forward fashion. His big meditative moment comes on Christmas Day. A lot of people say, Oh, Im so sorry you have to spend Christmas by yourself, said Garman. But I spend the whole month, the whole year, with other people. This is a nice time to just reflect, you know, take a step back. Also, duck is my favorite food. Why make the two-hour drive to Philly? Garman came upon Sang Kee during a work trip years ago at the behest of a Chinese colleague who vouched for the foods authenticity. Garman said hes tried other fancier spots for his Christmas tradition, and none has quite compared to Sang Kee. Garman lamented the potential disruption of his two-year tradition when he heard the city had shut down the restaurant earlier this month. Its electrical panel was threatened by a mysterious stream of steam pouring into its basement. A week later, the restaurant reopened just in time for the holiday. Its my Christmas miracle, joked Garman with a spread of rice, crispy duck, and other accoutrements before him. He left chocolate treats for the staff before scoping out the rest of Chinatown for sesame balls and other sweets. READ MORE: Chinatowns Sang Kee Peking Duck House has reopened after city-imposed shutdown Across the room, newly minted Philly residents Kara Lewis, 35, and Nina Shearer, 37, were figuring out what Christmas in their newly adopted city looks like. So far, its duck and wonton soup, congregating with newfound friends later in the day, and turning their attention to a bespoke and intricate miniature greenhouse. Were thinking, like, should that be our new Christmas tradition, getting a really complex craft? Shearer said. Lewis delighted in trying a new food spot with her wife, as well as people-watching. Pushing through the discomfort of trying to build and move new traditions is uncomfortable, but potentially you can learn to love and cherish these new memories as much as you did in childhood, she said. Im addicted to new, I dont want to experience the same thing. READ MORE: Sang Kee Peking Duck House was featured in The Inquirer's "The 76" Still, sometimes a nice lunch is just that. Sixteen-year-old Caleb Jeon and his family made the roughly 40-minute drive from Fort Washington for a change of pace they usually make crab at home for Christmas. Abby Holmes, 37, walked a few blocks to support the restaurant shed heard about in the news. Shes more intent on supporting Chinatown businesses amid fears a proposed Sixers arena could change the character of the neighborhood. Scott Rosenthal, 66, made the trek from South Philly to meet up with two friends for lunch. Hes Jewish, though he doesnt really celebrate Hanukkah either, so Wednesday was simply a day to eat with friends when most places are closed. For the last two or three years, Sang Kee has been their spot because its a crowd favorite. Another man joked about Sang Kee being part of his Jew Christmas. He had Chinese food for lunch followed by a movie, which he was rushing to. The hodgepodge of patrons warmed Sang Kee owner Henry Chows heart. He described an outpouring of support after news of the restaurant shutdown spread. Even his parents friends in China were sharing well wishes. Business has still not quite returned to normal levels since the reopening, he said, but the Sang Kee staff felt truly happy that the adage about eating Chinese food on Christmas is still true. Its the holiday season, Chow said, and people are always looking for Chinese food. When veteran newsmen L. Gordon Crovitz and Steven Brill started their news site rating company, they were prepared for the inevitable cries of bias from both sides. What they didnt anticipate was that NewsGuard, their company of about 50 employees, would become the target of congressional investigations and accusations from federal regulators that it was at the vanguard of a vast conspiracy to censor conservative views. Advertisement Since 2018, NewsGuard has built a business offering advertisers nonpartisan assessments of online publishers backed by a team of journalists who assess which sites are reputable and which cant be trusted. It uses a slate of nine standard criteria, such as whether a site corrects errors or discloses its ownership and financing, to produce a zero to 100 percent rating. Crovitz, a former publisher of the Wall Street Journal and a Republican, and Brill, a left-tending independent who founded Court TV and the American Lawyer magazine, engaged with publishers wanting to understand subpar ratings, sometimes wrangling for hours by phone over the details of a sites correction policy. But conservatives now question the companys premise. Brendan Carr, President-elect Donald Trumps pick to lead the Federal Communications Commission, accused the company of facilitating a censorship cartel, in a November letter to leading tech platforms. Noting that key legal protections depend on tech executives operating in good faith, Carr continued: It is in this context that I am writing to obtain information about your work with one specific organization the Orwellian named NewsGuard. NewsGuard, backed by legal experts, argues that Carrs letter may violate the First Amendment by threatening the speech rights of private companies. The only attempt to censor going on here is by Brendan Carr, Crovitz said in an interview. At a time when social media, podcasts and partisan outlets are displacing the mainstream media as news sources, the battle over NewsGuards future is symptomatic of a broader societal struggle over who gets to arbitrate the truth. And Carrs letter potentially heralds a Trump administration prepared to wield state power to win that battle. READ MORE: Pink slime sites masquerade as real news. There are 65 in Pennsylvania alone. When NewsGuard launched, fighting disinformation was still a bipartisan battle. Revelations the year before that Kremlin-backed operatives had manipulated American social networks to mislead and divide Americans had shaken Silicon Valley and troubled Republicans and Democrats alike. Tech executives such as Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg were lambasted by lawmakers in testy televised hearings for their failure to fight fake news. Despite the battering, tech giants didnt particularly want to play truth police on their platforms. Crovitz and Brill offered them a solution: Pay NewsGuard to sift the real news sites from the propaganda peddlers. Were going to apply common sense to a problem the algorithms havent been able to solve, Brill told CBS Mornings that year. Its going to be very simple telling the difference between the Denver Post and the Denver Guardian, which is a hoax site. Users of NewsGuard products which include a free browser extension for Microsoft Edge and extensions you can buy for other major browsers see each publishers credibility score beside any link to its articles in search results or on social media. A recent Google search for government shutdown, with NewsGuards ratings enabled, turned up articles from Rolling Stone magazine, which scored 87.5 percent; NBCs Austin affiliate, which scored 92.5%; and World Socialist Web Site, which scored 7.5%. Clicking on the rating for each brings up NewsGuards assessment of the site. (World Socialist Web Site, it warns, is a far-left, for-profit enterprise that has published false claims about the Russia-Ukraine War. Reached for comment, World Socialist Web Site spokesman Joseph Kishore said NewsGuards rating is not based on objective assessment but political prejudice against our socialist perspective.) But if rating news sites seemed like a straightforward endeavor, navigating an increasingly fractured and partisan information landscape has turned out to be anything but. Brand safety NewsGuard landed a high-profile early client in Microsoft, which incorporated the companys credibility ratings into its Edge browser. Google, Facebook, and other internet giants opted to use their own opaque algorithms to decide which sites and posts would rise to the top of users search results and feeds. Brill and Crovitz found more demand among online advertisers and brand safety groups looking for tools to ensure their ads dont run on scammy news sites or alongside bogus claims. While other such tools existed, including Integral Ad Science and DoubleVerify, NewsGuard stood out in the way that it publishes its assessments of media outlets. In addition to its publisher credibility ratings, NewsGuard began tracking specific false narratives that it saw spreading across disreputable sites. Brill said NewsGuard keeps a catalog of provably false claims not matters of opinion, such as abortion is bad, but definitively debunked factual claims such as the moon landing didnt happen. There are advertisers that dont want to advertise on a website that has articles saying that Dominion voting machines were rigged or the coronavirus vaccine will kill you, Brill said in an interview. Jason Kint, CEO of the publisher trade group Digital Content Next, said marketers need to assure brand safety. Given the Wild West nature of the web, its important to have tools that can provide accurate data, he said, to avoid harm to the brand and weed out fraudulent and illegal sites. The rise of generative artificial intelligence has expanded the potential market for NewsGuards products. No major AI company wants its flagship chatbot parroting falsehoods it found on fake news sites. Brill and Crovitz declined to say which ones theyre working with other than Microsoft. Six years after its launch, NewsGuard has attained what Brill called sustainable profitability. But he and Crovitz no longer enjoy friendly bipartisan audiences in Washington. Instead, they find themselves a central target of Republicans wide-ranging war on content moderation a practice many on the right deem censorship with their reputation and their business at stake. The censorship-industrial complex During his first term, Trump routinely clashed with the mainstream media and social networks over their attempts to fact-check his statements, especially when he began contesting the 2020 election as fraudulent. After the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the major social networks banned or indefinitely suspended Trump, earning his ire and stoking suspicion on the right that online content moderation was fundamentally a liberal plot to muzzle disfavored views. That sense helped to motivate Elon Musks purchase of Twitter in 2022 and intensified with the publication of the Twitter Files, a series of tweets by a group of journalists Musk handpicked to comb through internal Twitter documents for evidence of overzealous content moderation and anti-conservative bias. Among the documents was a 2021 pitch to Twitter executives by NewsGuard, which Twitter Files coauthor Lee Fang called an opaque proxy for its government and corporate clients to stifle views that simply run counter to their own interests. When Republicans took control of the House in 2023, newly installed committee chairmen including Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) of the Judiciary Committee, James Comer (R., Ky.) of the Oversight Committee and Roger Williams (R., Texas) of the Small Business Committee launched investigations into what they deemed censorship of Americans views. Their targets included Big Tech companies, the Biden administration, misinformation researchers and NewsGuard. Williamss Small Business Committee produced a 66-page report in September on what it called the censorship-industrial complex, which criticized the State Department and Defense Department for awarding hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to NewsGuard. The report found that NewsGuard selects winners and losers in the news media space through its ratings and products for advertisers. It accused the company of bias for, among other things, giving high ratings to mainstream outlets such as the Associated Press and NPR that ran what the report deemed misleading headlines about Donald Trumps comments on the 2024 campaign trail. Since Trumps election victory, some of his picks for top regulatory positions have made tackling online censorship a priority and cast NewsGuard as an emblem of the problem. His pick to succeed trustbuster Lina Khan as Federal Trade Commission chair, Andrew Ferguson, wrote in a December filing that he would support using antitrust laws to break up censorship cartels, mentioning NewsGuard by name. Carrs letter last month accused the tech executives of participating in a censorship cartel that included not only technology and social media companies but advertising, marketing, and so-called fact-checking organizations as well as the Biden-Harris Administration itself. In mentioning that the tech industrys prized liability shield, Section 230, only applies when they operate in good faith, Carr suggested that working with NewsGuard might be putting that protection at risk. NewsGuard has also been targeted by conservative regulators over its grants from the Pentagon to track disinformation efforts by Russia, China, and Iran targeting Americans and U.S. allies. Crovitz and Brill said they fought off an attempt by Congress last year to add a restriction to a key defense funding bill that would have barred the Pentagon from using NewsGuard. They believe that effort and Carrs letter followed inaccurate reporting about its work by right-leaning publisher Newsmax, which had expressed dissatisfaction with its low ratings from NewsGuard. NewsGuard replied to Carr in a Dec. 10 letter, saying his letter cited factual errors about its work that had been reported by Newsmax. The claim that advertising firms use NewsGuard to censor conservative views, for instance, is belied by more conservative outlets being rated as credible than liberal ones, NewsGuard said. Carr was also wrong about the companies that use its products, the company said. Of the four companies Carr wrote to Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and Google only Microsoft has publicly acknowledged working with NewsGuard, though it declined to comment on that work for this article. Meta and Google told the Washington Post they do not use NewsGuards products. Apple did not respond to requests for comment, and NewsGuard declined to say whether it works with Apple, citing a policy against discussing whether it works with specific companies unless those companies publicly disclose the relationship. Reached by email, Carr said he had heard back from all four companies and had never assumed that all of them had ties to NewsGuard. I wanted confirmation from the ones that I did not think worked with NewsGuard that they dont actually work with NewsGuard, he wrote. He said NewsGuard is purposely withholding information about its business. Suffice to say that NewsGuards response and its conduct since I raised these issues a few weeks back has only heightened and underscored my concerns, he said. NewsGuards response is a jumble of disinformation, deception and sleight of hand. In other words, it mirrors NewsGuards business model, in my opinion. Carr has not responded to NewsGuards request for a meeting, Crovitz said, apparently preferring to continue to rely on falsehoods to censor us. Brill said people on the Hill, whom he declined to name, told him Newsmax has been driving the Republican campaign against NewsGuard, offering legislators and regulators airtime whenever they criticize or take action against the company. Reached via email, Newsmax chief executive Chris Ruddy called Brill a longtime Democratic Party activist and said: Brill is free to make up any ratings he wants, but any business or ad agency that uses them is clearly taking political sides. Jawboning The kind of public pressure NewsGuard faces is making news a perilous environment for advertisers and their clients, industry insiders say. All of those companies have business with the government, said one former ad executive, who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of concern for retribution by the Trump administration. Nobodys going to want to risk their ire. What marketers will end up doing is avoiding news entirely. Musk, who has called NewsGuard a propaganda shop that will produce any lies you want if you pay them enough money, has already achieved that chilling effect. In August, his social media company X filed a lawsuit against the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), an industry coalition that develops brand safety guidelines, accusing the group of violating antitrust laws. Days later, GARM, which was led by the World Federation of Advertisers, shut down. In October, another industry effort to encourage advertisers to buy ads on credible news outlets collapsed after one of the agencies involved got a letter from Jordan alleging their work could be illegal. Some First Amendment experts say Carr leaning on tech companies to distance themselves from NewsGuard is closer to censorship than anything NewsGuard does. Offering opinions as to news sites credibility, as NewsGuard does, is emphatically speech, said Ari Cohn, senior tech policy counsel at the nonpartisan Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). For Carr to write to the platforms and basically threaten them that if they utilize this protected expression hes going to go after them is just First Amendment problem upon First Amendment problem, Cohn said. The irony, he added, is that it comes after four years in which Republican leaders criticized and even sued the Biden administration over allegations of jawboning, or applying undue government pressure to private entities to suppress speech. Thats exactly what Carr is doing now, Cohn argued. Brill said the pressure from the right hasnt cost the company any clients that he is aware of, but it has taken a toll on the company in other ways. Instead of focusing full-time on its misinformation research and news ratings, it has had to spend money on legal fees and time and energy explaining and defending its practices to politicians, clients and the public. Crovitz had a more personal complaint about the criticism he has received from some fellow Republicans. They refer to me as a liberal, he said, which I find to be slander. The Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia City Hall in December 2023. Read more Philadelphias civil courtrooms have a national reputation for the large verdicts personal injury lawyers secure in them, and this year the citys jurors didnt buck the trend. Juries heard nearly 220 cases that went to verdict this year heading into Christmas, and they awarded more than $3.3 billion in roughly 100 verdicts in favor of plaintiffs, according to data from Common Pleas Court. Verdicts ranged from $800 to $2.25 billion, but the majority of the overall sum came from 12 so-called nuclear verdicts of $10 million or more. Advertisement READ MORE: Philly and the Pa. Supreme Court are top judicial hellholes, a tort reform group says. Trial attorneys arent happy. Tort-reform proponents, who advocate for measures such as caps on civil trial verdicts, point to the growth in large verdicts as proof that Philadelphia is a judicial hellhole. But attorneys who litigate trials in Philly cite some of this years largest verdicts as evidence the system is working, with judges operating as checks following a jurys decision that can reduce the award size or even order a new trial. Here are the five largest verdicts of 2024: It doesnt get much larger than this. A Philadelphia jury hit agricultural giant Monsanto with the whopping verdict in January, after finding that the companys popular weed killer product, Roundup, caused the blood cancer of a Lycoming County man. The vast majority of the verdict $2 billion was in punitive damages, and the remaining $250 million was meant to compensate the plaintiff, John McKivison, for the harm he endured. Over the summer, a Philadelphia judge reduced the verdict by more than 80%, to $400 million in total. The case was one of dozens of lawsuits against Monsanto filed in Philadelphia, and thousands nationally, making similar claims. Philadelphia juries have heard seven Roundup cases since 2023, and Monsanto successfully defended itself in three. In another trial alleging that toxic exposure caused blood cancer, a Philadelphia jury in May awarded $725.5 million to Paul Gill, who worked in proximity to benzene-containing products starting in the 1970s, including as a gas station attendant in New York in 1974 and an auto mechanic in Hamilton Valley, Pa., from 1975 to 1980. Gill was diagnosed in 2019 with leukemia, which he argued in a lawsuit against Exxon Mobil was the result of exposure to the defendants benzene-containing products and the defendants wrongful conduct. A Philadelphia judge in September denied the Texas-based oil companys appeal of the verdict. Exxon Mobil appealed again, this time to Pennsylvanias Superior Court. Because the largest verdict of 2024 was reduced, the $725.5 million against Exxon Mobil is the years largest that remains intact. Monsanto still had its fair share of large verdicts. The Bayer-owned company was hit with $78 million in October after a jury heard nearly a month of testimony in the case of William Melissen, who developed blood cancer after using Roundup frequently for nearly 30 years. This time a jury awarded $3 million in compensatory damages and $75 million in punitive damages. A jury awarded $68.5 million to the family of a worker who was killed in a fall from a fifth-floor balcony at a Center City construction site. Siarhei Marhunou, 38, from Belarus, died in December 2021 after falling nearly 50 feet from a balcony of a development at 2330 Sansom St. A few months later, his widow sued OCF Construction and project subcontractors. The complaint accused the companies of carelessness, negligence, gross negligence, [and] recklessness because of a temporary guardrail that failed to prevent the fall. In June, after a four-day trial, a jury found OCF to be 50% responsible for the incident and split the other 50% among the other defendants. In the largest medical malpractice verdict of the year, a jury sided with a gunshot-wound survivor who aspirated food and suffered brain damage two days after his discharge from Temple University Hospital. Dylan Hernandez was shot in the neck in 2020, when he was 15, and was treated at Temple Episcopal and then the main campus on North Broad Street. His lawyers argued in a lawsuit that he and his mother did not receive proper instruction when he was discharged. Less than two days after he went home, Hernandez inhaled mashed potatoes, causing his brain to go without oxygen. A jury awarded him $45 million in August. But earlier this month, in a rare move, a judge ordered a new trial, saying that the jurys verdict did not make logical or legal sense and that its award of future medical costs was exorbitant. Che Guerrero, a Philadelphia comedian, came to this country as a child from the Dominican Republic. He's pictured here at a Dominican-owned neighborhood grocery not far from his home in South Philadelphia. His routine shines a light on his life as an undocumented person and on the lives of others who live without official permission to be in the U.S. This picture was taken on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. Read more Philadelphia comedian Che Guerrero recreated the most consequential day of his life on social media, modeling the awkward, posing-for-a-picture smile and squint of his 5-year-old self. The boys photo appeared on an immigration visa that would be overstayed, marking him as undocumented for nearly the next three decades. Advertisement Sorry America, Guerrero says in the caption, I wasnt the one who made the choice. Today, Guerrero, 36, works to inject laughs or at least a moments levity into the fractious national debate over immigration, writing and performing as a stand-up comedian, host, speaker, TikToker, and podcaster, a range of programming collectively offered as My Undocumented Ass. Hes not funny ha-ha. He doesnt do jokes about annoying spouses, or riff about the provincialism of Philadelphia the transplanted New Yorker actually loves the city. Instead, he points out the absurdity in situations where immigrants seeking better lives for themselves and their families are stuck in government systems that aim to dictate where they can and cannot live. At one point, as he discusses in a routine, he was held in jail in New York and nearly deported over $50 in traffic fees. He views his job as helping people see this is not normal, give them the tools to laugh, but also to push forward for change, Guerrero said. He now has permanent U.S. residency, whats known as a green card, which came to him in 2018 through a prior marriage to an American citizen. About 13 million undocumented in U.S. But his prior life experience being undocumented among about 13 million people, who could be deported at any time remains his focus. Hes performing his stand-up set Jan. 18 at 9:15 p.m. at Punchline Philly comedy club. Guerrero expects his work to take on new urgency as President-elect Donald Trump undertakes what he promises will be the largest mass-deportation program in American history. Polls show support for Trumps plan. In a Scripps News/Ipsos survey conducted after the election, 52% said they somewhat or strongly supported the mass deportation of people who are in the country illegally. That included 85% of Republicans and 54% of independents. A subsequent survey showed overall support for deportations dropped to 38% if it meant separating families. Bill Rhoads first saw Guerrero perform about four years ago, at First Person Arts, the storytelling collective where the comedian now works as social-media manager. I thought, This guy has something, said Rhoads, senior vice president of the Esperanza Arts Center, a hub for Latino arts and culture in North Philadelphia. I approached him because I loved his material, but also saw he had something that would be relevant to the community. Guerrero became artist-in-residence at Esperanza, spending a year working on his routines but also helping neighborhood youths hone their own material, then acting as host of their bilingual comedy show. He was not just an artist but also a mentor and advocate, Rhoads said. Hes using comedy to address really important issues, affecting especially the Latino community, around immigration, around systemic racism, he said. The thing Ive seen about Che over the last few years [is] his artist vision and his reach has really extended. Daniel Guarin, who studies sociolinguistics and Spanish at Temple University, where he teaches language classes and recently earned his doctorate, has never seen Guerreros routines but knows humor can bring insight and humanity to sensitive topics like migration and culture. Humor serves as a tool, a powerful one, to show people the other side of the coin, said Guarin, who was born and raised in Colombia. It can foster empathy, challenge stereotypes, and bring awareness of this reality migration, being undocumented, not being able to get a job legally, being threatened by the idea that you are doing something wrong just by being alive and the absurdities it entails. Whats so funny? Whats funny about being undocumented, which from the outside can seem scary and uncertain? You might be surprised, says Guerrero, who came here with his grandmother and sister from the Dominican Republic. Like the time he and a former girlfriend realized each had been eyeing the other as a potential route to legal status, not knowing that neither was a U.S. citizen. My grandmother grew up during [Gen. Rafael] Trujillos dictatorship, Guerrero said. She helped me realize how much humor could help people. Humor is a form of resistance, resilience, and healing. Guerrero, who lives in South Philadelphia, didnt plan to become a comedian. Growing up in Queens, N.Y., he wanted to be a doctor. His immigration status interceded, he said, after he received a partial scholarship to St. Johns University, the Catholic college in Queens. Thats when the hammer fell on me, he said. An aunt was like, How are you going to accept? Youre not a U.S. citizen. I didnt know the gravity of it. Until then, he thought that family warnings about lurking immigration officers were like ghost stories, tales parents tell to children to make them behave. Guerrero learned that people not legally in the U.S. generally are ineligible for state and federal college financial aid. And for drivers licenses, and work authorization, and programs like Medicare and Medicaid. All cash, no papers High school friends told him he was funny. So after graduation he started showing up at open-mic nights at comedy clubs. He got some laughs, and he thought, This pays cash and they dont ask you for papers its perfect! Guerrero threw himself into writing and performing. By 2018 he was a Phillys Phunniest finalist at Helium Comedy Club. Whenever somebody finds out I was undocumented, right away their first question would be, Oh, my God, howd you get here? he told the crowd. They want to hear an awesome escape story. How did I get here? American Airlines. I watched Erin Brockovich my whole way to freedom. His audience tends to be a mixture of people who have been affected by the immigration system, along with their families and allies who support migrants efforts to make lives in the United States. Trump has pledged to deport millions of undocumented people beginning on his first day in office. Experts say that the plan would demand billions in tax dollars and a radical expansion of the nations deportation apparatus, but that even partial success could cause huge disruption, not only to those who would be arrested but also to the economy and American civic life. At immediate risk would be 47,000 undocumented people in Philadelphia, part of 153,000 statewide. Guerrero said that he expects Trump to do what he says. And that he intends to speak out about it. My style of humor is going to be even more important under this administration, Guerrero said. When people start seeing the horrors, when they see families being ripped apart, theyre going to need stories to be told, and theyre going to need a moment of levity. The 1912-built structure that once housed the Oregon Electric Railroad station in Albany is currently topsy-turvy; green ceramic tiles that belong on the roof are in piles on the ground and large gashes in the floor are open like trenches. Watch your step, thats the pit to God knows where, Sybaris owner and Chef Matt Bennett said, pointing to a large hole in the concrete floor of what once was the unaccompanied ladies waiting room of the train station. Stacks of wooden floorboards sit in piles, exposing the original concrete down below. Bennett stood in front of one of the large arched windows and pointed to a series of black and white copies of photographs taped to the green tiled wall. Among them is an image of a man carrying luggage and a woman with a bustled dress from the days the building operated as a railroad station. Beside it another shows a group of motorcycles parked directly outside the building, from the days when it housed Ciddicis Pizza. And soon the building in downtown Albany will see another iteration, one that will become the new home of local favorite Sybaris Bistro. Earlier this year, Sybaris Bistros project to restore the Oregon Electric Railroad station appeared uncertain after a plea to secure more funding from the Albany Revitalization Agency was unsuccessful. Since then, Bennett has taken on more loans to make up for the escalating costs. He and wife Janel Bennett will be in debt for a while, he said; they anticipate the project will total about $2 million in the end. The project is a bit of a personal sacrifice, he acknowledged. But it's not a vanity play. This building is bigger than Sybaris. Its going to be here for a long time past us, Bennett said. While the building may look like a work in progress, its coming along. Bennett plans a lounge with a fireplace at one end, in the space that once kept the luggage. Some facets are easier to be excited about as they take shape, he said. For instance, the ceiling, a series of detailed square trims, revealed themselves under a layer of gray paint earlier in the restoration process. More recently, Bennett has celebrated small victories that help him not lose sight of the mission. For example, the couple have found a horseshoe and a metal piece that was once part of a harness back when horses were the primary mode of transportation, he said. You read about those types of things, but its different than seeing them, he said. These are the artifacts that make the city's history come alive, he said. Nearly every day at the restaurant, a passerby asks when the Bennetts will move Sybaris into the new location at 133 Fifth Ave. SE, he said. He isnt annoyed, he said; hes glad the community cares. The answer to the oft-asked question is that Bennett hopes to move in by summer 2025, though with Oregon weather being what it is, he wouldnt be surprised if that date gets pushed back, he said. The space, which includes an add-on to the building, will seat about 20 more diners than the capacity of the restaurants current location, he said. Bennett wants to maintain the historic character of the building, but at the same time, it will not be a train-themed restaurant, he said. He had architect Lori Stephens and local remodeling construction company Pyburn and Sons come to the existing Sybaris on a busy day, Friday, and a slow day, Wednesday, to get the vibe of the restaurant. Part of that feeling will carry over in the familiar faces of the staff and the artwork on display at the current location, Bennett said. But at least some part of that feeling will have to come together in the plans for the restaurant itself. It needs to feel like that place without looking like it, he said. Its like if your mom were to move thats still your moms house and we want it to feel that way, he said. Related stories: Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., wears a pendant in support of freeing hostages being held by Hamas home, before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to a joint meeting of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. Read more U.S. Sen. John Fetterman says its his duty as a senator to meet with President-elect Donald Trumps nominees. And, so far, the Pennsylvania Democrat seems to be taking that job seriously, having met with at least four of Trumps nominees, with plans to meet others. Advertisement Fetterman has been one of only a few Democrats to meet with Trumps picks, serving as another instance of the senators willingness to stray from party lines and insert himself in Trumps world. He has voiced his support for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) to be secretary of state, and for U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.), Trumps pick for U.N. ambassador. And earlier this month, Fetterman joined Truth Social, Trumps social media platform, in an effort to reach individuals across the political spectrum. With confirmation hearings in the U.S. Senate approaching, Fetterman and fellow senators have been meeting with Trumps picks for key positions. Its extremely rare for a nominee to be rejected in the Senate, but some of Trumps picks will likely face a more difficult hearing process than others. My votes will come from an open-mind and an informed opinion after having a conversation with them, Fetterman said, in part, on Truth Social and X about his meetings with Trumps nominees. Thats not controversial, its my job. A spokesperson for Fetterman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the senators plans to meet with other nominees or his voting plans during the confirmation process. Heres who Fetterman has met with so far: Pete Hegseth Fetterman was the first Democrat in the Senate to meet with Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Trumps pick to be secretary of defense. Hegseth is one of Trumps more controversial picks. Hegseth is facing assault and alcohol abuse allegations. Fetterman has not ruled out backing Hegseth, telling ABC This Week coanchor Jonathan Karl: My commitment, and I think Im doing the job, is Im going to sit down and have a conversation. And the president picked these people. Not gonna be my first choice, second choice, third choice, but thats democracy. And to me, it would be distressing if, if he is confirmed, if the Democrats are going to turn our back collectively to the leader of the defense. I mean, thats astonishing and thats dangerous. Hegseth voiced his appreciation for Fetterman and his fairness, courage & hospitality in a post on X earlier this month. Kash Patel Fetterman has met with Kash Patel, Trumps FBI director pick, who has pledged to go after Trumps perceived political enemies. U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D., Pa.) issued a statement earlier this month urging President Joe Biden to issue a blanket pardon of those who could be targeted by Patel, but Fetterman doesnt seem as concerned. Thats never going to happen, Fetterman told ABC of Patel using the FBI to target perceived adversaries. In a statement from Dec. 4, Boyle said Patel and Trump plan to investigate and prosecute perceived adversaries guided by an enemies list published in Patels book. In his 2022 book, Government Gangsters, Patel lists 60 individuals in the appendix, titled Members of the Executive Branch Deep State. The names on the list range from Bill Barr, Trumps former attorney general, to Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump has also threatened to target his perceived political enemies, making more than 100 threats since 2022 to punish or prosecute his foes, NPR reported. Tulsi Gabbard Fetterman met with Tulsi Gabbard, Trumps pick to be director of national intelligence, last week, and after meeting with Democratic and Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill, Gabbard told reporters: Its been great, were having great conversations. Gabbard, a former Democratic U.S. congresswoman from Hawaii, would not provide specifics on her conversation with Fetterman, and when asked by reporters if he had raised any concerns, she said: I wont speak for Senator Fetterman. Gabbards nomination has drawn some quiet concerns among Republicans over her perceived sympathy for dictators, NPR reported, as the GOP tiptoes around Gabbards switch to the Republican Party and her newfound prominence as a Trump ally. Gabbard served in the Hawaii Army National Guard and was deployed to Iraq with a medical unit but does not have any intelligence experience. Elise Stefanik Stefanik described her meeting with Fetterman this month as a very productive meeting where we discussed our shared commitment to standing with Israel and combating antisemitism. Senator Fetterman shared his ideas for strong national security leadership and I highlighted my ideas on implementing President [Trumps] America First peace through strength national security agenda, she continued in her post on X. Fetterman responded to the post, announcing his unequivocal endorsement of Stefanik. Always was a hard YES for [Elise Stefanik], he said. Support for Israel appears to guide Fettermans support of Stefanik and Rubio As it did in his backing of Stefanik, Fettermans unwavering allyship to Israel is appearing to guide his support or openness to some of Trumps other picks for key positions in his second administration. Last month, the Pennsylvania senator announced his intention to vote to confirm Rubio to lead the Department of State, calling the Florida senator a strong choice. Fetterman acknowledged that Unsurprisingly, the other teams pick will have political differences than my own. But Rubio and Fetterman are in agreement on their staunch support of Israel and Israels war against Hamas. Fetterman met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this summer, and his stance has caused tension with former progressive supporters who have demonstrated against the war in Gaza since last year. Rubio, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has likened the Israel Defense Forces operation in Rafah to the Allies pursuit of Adolf Hitler during the Holocaust, according to the Forward, an independent news organization geared toward the U.S. Jewish population. Hegseth, whom Fetterman appears to be open to voting for, also cited their shared support of Israel. I appreciate our time together and your commitment to the troops, American defense & our ally Israel, Hegseth said on X. Golden Sunrise Fancy division's Aidan Anderson struts down Market Street during the start of the Jan 1, 2024, Philadelphia Mummers Parade. Read more Advertisement For over a century, Philadelphians have rung in the new year with the colorful, quirky, and uniquely local tradition of the Mummers Parade. On Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, more than 10,000 Mummers from the Fancy, Wench, Comic, Fancies, and String Band divisions will strut down Broad Street starting at 9 a.m. Expect road closures, parking restrictions, and plenty of ways to watch whether youre heading downtown or tuning in from home. How to watch the 2025 Mummers Parade Watch the Mummers Parade in person The parade begins at 17th and Market Streets near City Hall and proceeds down Broad Street, ending at Washington Avenue. Viewing bleachers will be set up at the main performance area, at 15th and Market Streets. AccuWeather forecasts a cloudy, windy day with a high of 49 degrees and a 35% chance of rain. Watch the Mummers Parade from home The parade will be broadcast from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on: TV: On Channel 2 (MeTV2) or Channel 69 (WFMZ). Available on Xfinity, Fios, Service Electric Cable TV, Astound Broadband, Blue Ridge Cable TV, DirecTV Satellite, and DishNetwork Satellite. Streaming: On the WFMZ+ app, which can be downloaded on your Firestick, Roku, or Apple TV. Mobile: On the WFMZ+ app, which can be downloaded on your Apple or Android devices. Parade route The parade begins at 9 a.m. at 17th and Market Streets. From there, it turns right at City Hall and struts down Broad Street until it ends at Washington Avenue by 5 p.m. What is the Mummers Parade? The modern parade features more than 40 brigades grouped into five divisions: Fancy, Wench, Comic, Fancies, and String Band. Each has unique performances: Comic and Wench brigades: Satirical costumes and pop-culture references. Fancies: Elaborate floats and music. String Band division: Live music and Broadway-style performances. Fancy Brigades: The largest crews and performances that head to the convention center for a ticketed show and contest. Brigades compete for top honors at the 15th and Market Street performance area. The parade is a daylong party that often continues into the night in South Philly. Road closures and parking restrictions Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024 No parking on the west side of 15th Street from Arch Street to Ranstead Street from 6 p.m. on Dec. 29 through 6 p.m. on Jan. 2. Street/sidewalk vendors will not be allowed to park in this area either. Monday, Dec. 30, 2024 15th Street will be closed to southbound traffic at JFK Boulevard for equipment delivery and setup. Closure begins at 9 a.m. on Dec. 30 through 7 a.m. on Jan. 2. Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024 No parking on the following streets from 4 a.m. on Dec. 31 through 6 p.m. on Jan. 1: Market Street from 15th Street to 21st Street (both sides) JFK Boulevard from Juniper Street to 20th Street (both sides) 15th Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from JFK Boulevard to Market Street from 10 a.m. on Dec. 31 through 5 a.m. on Jan. 2. Market Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from 15th Street to 21st Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 31. At 3 p.m., Market Street will reopen and traffic will be allowed to travel eastbound on Market Street to 15th Street and continue southbound on 15th Street. Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025 These streets will be closed to vehicle traffic at 3 a.m. on Jan. 1 through the end of the parade: 15th Street from Arch Street to Chestnut Street Market Street from 15th Street to 21st Street Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 16th Street to 20th Street North Broad Street from Cherry Street to JFK Boulevard 16th Street from Chestnut Street to Race Street 17th Street from Ben Franklin Parkway to Ludlow Street 18th Street from Ludlow Street to Race Street 19th Street from Ben Franklin Parkway to Chestnut Street 1500 block of Ranstead Street 1300 block of Carpenter Street 1000 block of South 13th Street Chestnut Street from 15th Street to 18th Street (north side) Cherry Street from 15th Street to 17th Street Arch Street from 15th Street to 17th Street Washington Avenue from 12th Street to 18th Street Broad Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from South Penn Square (City Hall) to Washington Avenue on Jan. 1 at 7 a.m. through the conclusion of the parade around 5 p.m. Additional Parking Restrictions No parking on the following streets from 2 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Jan. 1 on both sides of street: Broad Street from Arch Street to Ellsworth Street Juniper Street from JFK Boulevard to East Penn Square (City Hall) South/East Penn Square (City Hall) from 15th Street to Juniper Street Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 16th Street to 20th Street Logan Circle (north side) North Broad Street from Cherry Street to JFK Boulevard 16th Street from Chestnut Street to Race Street 17th Street from Ben Franklin Parkway to Ludlow Street 18th Street from Ludlow Street to Race Street 19th Street from Ben Franklin Parkway to Chestnut Street 19th Street from JFK Boulevard to Market Street 1500 block of Ranstead Street 1300 block of Carpenter Street 1000 block of South 13th Street Chestnut Street from 15th Street to 18th Street (north side) Cherry Street from 15th Street to 17th Street Arch Street from 15th Street to 17th Street Washington Avenue from 12th Street to 18th Street SEPTA detours SEPTA recommends taking the subway, which wont be affected by detours. Bus routes will be altered on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. For details, visit SEPTAs website or mobile app. Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024 These SEPTA routes will be detoured from 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31, to about 2 a.m. on Jan. 1: 4, 16, 17, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 44, 48, 62, 124, 125, BSO and MFO. Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025 These SEPTA routes will be detoured from 2 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1: 2, 4, 7, 9, 12, 16, 17, 21, 27, 31, 33, 38, 40, 42, 44, 45, 48, 49, 64, 124, 125, BSO, and MFO. These SEPTA routes will be detoured from 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1: 29, 57, and 79. A brief history of the Mummers Parade The Mummers Parade traces its origins to New Years traditions brought to Philadelphia by Swedish, Finnish, Irish, German, English, and African immigrants. Their folk parades, masquerades, and revelry (often involving alcohol) evolved into the event we know today, which has been a uniquely Philadelphian tradition for 124 years. The parade has not been without controversy. Over the years, some performances and costumes have faced criticism for cultural insensitivity and offensive imagery. While efforts have been made to address these issues, debates over inclusivity and accountability remain part of the conversation surrounding this iconic event. The article has been updated to correct the names and number of Mummers divisions. This post is part of a series sponsored by Darkhorse Insurance. The insurance industry presents a range of challenges. From competing with other agents to managing client expectations and navigating relationships with carriers, it can feel like a constant uphill battle. Many agents today see joining an insurance cluster as an appealing option. But what exactly is it, and could it benefit your agency? Learn more about the details and explore the potential advantages and considerations of joining one. What Is an Insurance Cluster? Insurance clusters for new agents are groups of independent agencies that work together to improve their market presence and share resources. Think of it as a partnership that allows you to leverage the strengths of other agents while still maintaining your independence. By pooling resources, members can gain access to better relationships with carriers, share marketing strategies, and receive operational support. Pros of Partnering With a Cluster Clusters in insurance can provide substantial advantages for independent agents looking to grow their businesses. These benefits can enhance your agencys competitiveness and streamline operations. Increased Market Access: Joining an insurance cluster for new agents opens the door to a broader range of carriers and products. This access helps you better meet your clients diverse needs. Joining an insurance cluster for new agents opens the door to a broader range of carriers and products. This access helps you better meet your clients diverse needs. Cost Savings: By pooling resources within a cluster, agents can share marketing and operational costs. This collaboration significantly reduces individual expenses, enhancing overall profitability. By pooling resources within a cluster, agents can share marketing and operational costs. This collaboration significantly reduces individual expenses, enhancing overall profitability. Shared Resources and Expertise: Clusters typically offer valuable training, technology, and support services. These resources help agents sharpen their skills and improve their operational efficiency. Clusters typically offer valuable training, technology, and support services. These resources help agents sharpen their skills and improve their operational efficiency. Networking Opportunities: Being part of a cluster enables you to connect with other agents in the industry. This collaboration fosters experience sharing and can lead to valuable referrals. Being part of a cluster enables you to connect with other agents in the industry. This collaboration fosters experience sharing and can lead to valuable referrals. Collective Bargaining Power: A larger group within a cluster has more leverage when negotiating with insurance carriers. This can result in better commission rates and terms, boosting your agencys profitability. Cons of Insurance Clusters Despite their advantages, an insurance cluster group comes with potential drawbacks that agents should consider. Recognizing these drawbacks is crucial to making an informed decision. Limited Control: Joining a cluster may impose restrictions on how you operate your agency, which can affect your independence. Be prepared for potential limitations that could impact your decision-making. Joining a cluster may impose restrictions on how you operate your agency, which can affect your independence. Be prepared for potential limitations that could impact your decision-making. Membership Fees: Many clusters charge fees that might not offer a clear return on investment for every agent. Examine these expenses closely to confirm they work well with your financial objectives. Many clusters charge fees that might not offer a clear return on investment for every agent. Examine these expenses closely to confirm they work well with your financial objectives. Compatibility Issues: Not every cluster will fit your agencys values and goals, potentially leading to dissatisfaction. Take the time to assess how well a cluster aligns with your vision before committing. Not every cluster will fit your agencys values and goals, potentially leading to dissatisfaction. Take the time to assess how well a cluster aligns with your vision before committing. Potential for Overdependence: Relying too heavily on the cluster for resources and support may undermine your agencys self-sufficiency. Balance is key to maintaining your independence while leveraging cluster advantages. Relying too heavily on the cluster for resources and support may undermine your agencys self-sufficiency. Balance is key to maintaining your independence while leveraging cluster advantages. Commitment Requirements: Some clusters require long-term commitments, which can pose challenges if your agencys needs evolve. Understanding these terms is essential for planning your agencys future. Considerations Before Joining a Cluster in Insurance While the benefits are compelling, there are several factors to consider before joining one: Goals and Objectives: Clearly define your agencys goals and how joining a cluster aligns with them. Ensure that the clusters mission complements your growth strategies and desired outcomes. Training and Support: Research the level of training and support the cluster provides. Consider whether these resources will enhance your skills and help you navigate the complexities of the insurance industry effectively. Level of Control: While insurance clusters for new agents offer numerous advantages, they may also come with certain restrictions or requirements. For instance, some clusters may have specific guidelines regarding marketing practices or carrier relationships. Ensure you fully understand any limitations before joining. Reputation and Performance: Research the clusters reputation in the industry. Seek feedback from current or past members regarding their experiences and the overall performance of the cluster, as this can influence your decision. Market Conditions: Assess the market landscape and where your agency stands within it. Are there shifts in the industry that might affect your decision? Understanding the external factors that impact your agency can help you determine if joining a cluster is a strategic move for your future growth. Understanding the Difference Between Insurance Clusters and Insurance Aggregators Insurance aggregators and clusters are both viable options for independent agents, but they cater to different needs. Clusters allow independent agencies to pool resources and enhance collective bargaining power, making them suitable for agents seeking greater independence while still gaining access to more carriers. This structure is particularly beneficial for newer agents who appreciate the support and resources while working within a collaborative environment. In contrast, aggregators operate under a shared brand and provide centralized support, including agency management software and compliance assistance. This setup is more suited for experienced agents aiming to scale their operations efficiently. While both models offer valuable market access and resources, understanding these distinctions is crucial for choosing the right fit for your agencys growth strategy. The Revolutionary Hybrid Insurance Platform A hybrid model can offer more than what traditional insurance cluster groups or aggregators provide. Darkhorses platform merges the advantages of aggregation and carrier contracts typical of aggregators, along with the extra backing provided by a franchise model. This means access to more carriers and better commissions, along with extra resources like marketing and operational features to help your agency grow. What sets the hybrid model apart is the balance it gives you. You still run your agency independently, but you dont have to go it alone. Unlike a typical aggregator, where you might feel like just another agent in the network, a hybrid model offers hands-on support to help you scale while keeping your autonomy intact. Its a setup designed to maximize your agencys potential without the drawbacks of being tied down by one structure. Weighing Your Options Joining a cluster can really boost your agencys reach and resources. Youll benefit from increased market access and network, which can make your agency more competitive. But dont overlook the potential downsides, like limited control and membership fees that keep coming. Make sure the cluster aligns with your values and goals, and think about how it will affect your agency long term. Learn more about Darkhorse and the flexibility and support that comes with joining up, which elevates your agencys growth. A New Jersey appeals court has ruled that the state bar associations diversity policy of setting aside a certain number of its governance seats for members of under-represented minority groups is a legal exercise of the associations First Amendment right of expressive association. A three-judge panel of a Superior Court Appellate Division reversed a ruling by a trial court that had found the policy violated the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) because the quotas blocked certain members from eligibility for the seats reserved for minorities. In its ruling in support of the New Jersey Bar Association (NJBA), the appeals court relied upon a 2000 U.S. Supreme court opinion (Boy Scouts of America.v. Dale) that upheld the right of the Boy Scouts to fire a Scout leader because it learned he was gay. That opinion, which overturned a New Jersey high court opinion, found that a state requirement that the Boy Scouts retain the man as scoutmaster would significantly burden the organizations right to oppose or disfavor homosexual conduct, and the state interests did not justify such a severe intrusion on the Boy Scouts rights to freedom of expressive association. Applying Dale to the facts of the NJBA case, the appeals court concluded that compelling the lawyers group to end its practice of ensuring the presence of designated underrepresented groups in its leadership would unconstitutionally infringe its ability to advocate the value of diversity and inclusivity in the Association and more broadly in the legal profession. The state appeals court ruling came on an appeal of a lower courts granting of partial summary judgment on liability to plaintiff Rajeh A. Saadeh, a 15-year member of the NJBA and former member of its board of trustees, on his claim that the association has discriminated against him. The NJBAs diversity policy at issue in the case sets aside a certain number of at-large board and committee seats for members who are Hispanic/Latino/a/x, Asian/Pacific American, Black/African American, members of the LGBTQ+ community, or women; as well as three seats for senior lawyers over 70, attorneys with disabilities, or attorneys who are members of a diversity bar association recognized by the association. In ruling for Saadeh, the lower court had rejected application of the U.S. Supreme Court Dale opinion, maintaining that that opinion was about forced inclusion while the NJBA case was about forced exclusion. The lower court had also found that to accept the NJBAs argument would render the states law against discrimination meaningless. However, the appeals court noted that the bar association has a long tradition of fostering diversity as part of its mission. The group holds itself out as promoting and fostering a diverse and inclusive bar association, which it defines as including race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, and disability. It promotes diversity and inclusion within its ranks. It employs a director of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement to increase participation of diverse lawyers with the association. Its Diversity Committee facilitates its goal of fostering and promoting an inclusive environment that values the unique contributions of diverse individuals and organizations and the groups continuing legal education program expresses a goal to increase diversity on panels and presentations, so as to better reflect the diversity of the legal profession and its membership. Citing the NJBAs tradition, the appeals court concluded that notwithstanding the LADs prohibitions against discrimination in places of public accommodation and private associations, the Bar Association has a First Amendment right of expressive association that permits it to select the membership of its governing bodies through intentional inclusion of specified underrepresented groups, in furtherance of the ideological position it expresses in numerous ways: that it is necessary and beneficial to promote diversity and inclusion in New Jerseys legal profession. Preconstruction work to collect data to design a new Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is scheduled to begin in January, according to Maryland officials. The Baltimore Sun reports that work is scheduled to include topographic and underwater surveys, as well as soil sampling, according to Bradley Tanner, a Maryland Transportation Authority spokesman. The bridge collapsed March 26 after a container ship lost power and crashed into one of its supporting columns, sending six members of a roadwork crew plunging to their deaths. A Coast Guard notice obtained by The Sun alerts mariners to construction activity in the Patapsco River starting Jan. 7 through the states estimated completion of the new bridge in October 2028. Demolition is expected in the spring, said Jim Harkness, Maryland Transportation Authoritys chief engineer, The Baltimore Banner reports. The rebuilding effort is expected to take nearly four years and cost about $2 billion. In August, the Maryland Transportation Authority awarded the construction contract to the Omaha, Nebraska-based Kiewit Corporation. Top Photo: The collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge lay on top of the container ship Dali, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Baltimore. The FBI confirmed that agents were aboard the Dali conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. In late September, an experienced pilot at low-cost European airline Wizz Air felt anxious after learning his plane would fly over Iraq at night amid mounting tensions between nearby Iran and Israel. He decided to query the decision since just a week earlier the airline had deemed the route unsafe. In response, Wizz Airs flight operations team told him the airway was now considered secure and he had to fly it, without giving further explanation, the pilot said. I wasnt really happy with it, the pilot, who requested anonymity from fear he could lose his job, told Reuters. Days later, Iraq closed its airspace when Iran fired missiles on Oct. 1 at Israel. It confirmed my suspicion that it wasnt safe. In response to Reuters queries, Wizz Air said safety of crew and passengers was its utmost priority and would not be compromised in any circumstances, adding its decisions on where to fly are based on stringent risk assessments in collaboration with third party intelligence specialists. Our aircraft and crews will only fly in airspace that has been deemed safe and we would never take any risks in this respect, Wizz Air also said in a statement. The airline said it had conducted a thorough risk assessment before deciding to fly over Iraqi airspace in November and followed guidance from the European Commission and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which had deemed it safe on July 31. It also said it was rerouting some flights following EASA recommendations and its own risk assessment review. It did not give further details on which routes and flights were affected. The airline has suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv until Jan. 14. Reuters spoke to four pilots, three cabin crew members, three flight security experts and two airline executives about growing safety concerns in the European air industry due to escalating tensions in the Middle East following Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, that prompted the war in Gaza. The Middle East is a key air corridor for planes heading to India, South-East Asia and Australia and last year was criss-crossed daily by 1,400 flights to and from Europe, Eurocontrol data show. Pilot Unions The safety debate about flying over the region is playing out in Europe largely because pilots there are protected by unions, unlike other parts of the world. Reuters reviewed nine unpublished letters from four European unions representing pilots and crews that expressed worries about air safety over Middle Eastern countries. The letters were sent to Wizz Air, Ryanair RYA.I, airBaltic, the European Commission and EASA between June and August. No one should be forced to work in such a hazardous environment and no commercial interests should outweigh the safety and well-being of those on board, read a letter, addressed to EASA and the European Commission from Romanian flight crew union FPU Romania, dated Aug. 26. Right to Refuse In other letters, staff called on airlines to be more transparent about their decisions on routes and demanded the right to refuse to fly a dangerous route. There have been no fatalities or accidents impacting commercial aviation tied to the escalation of tensions in the Middle East since the war in Gaza erupted last year. Air France opened an internal investigation after one of its commercial planes flew over Iraq on Oct. 1 during Tehrans missile attack on Israel. On that occasion, airlines scrambled to divert dozens of planes heading towards the affected areas in the Middle East. The ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran and the abrupt ousting of President Bashar al-Assad by Syrian rebels at the weekend have raised concerns of further insecurity in the region. The use of missiles in the region has revived memories of the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 and of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 en route from Tehran in 2020. Being accidentally shot-down in the chaos of war is the top worry, three pilots and two aviation safety experts told Reuters, along with the risk of an emergency landing. Iran Airspace While airlines including Lufthansa and KLM no longer fly over Iran, carriers including Etihad, flydubai, Aeroflot AFLT.MM and Wizz Air were still crossing the countrys airspace as recently as Dec. 2, data from tracking service FlightRadar24 show. Some European airlines including Lufthansa and KLM allow crew to opt-out of routes they dont feel are safe, but others such as Wizz Air, Ryanair and airBaltic dont. AirBaltic CEO Martin Gauss said his airline meets an international safety standard that doesnt need to be adjusted. If we start a right of refusal, then where do we stop? [When] the next person feels unhappy overflying Iraqi airspace because theres tension there? he told Reuters on Dec. 2 in response to queries about airBaltic flight safety talks with unions. Ryanair, which intermittently flew to Jordan and Israel until September, said it makes security decisions based on EASA guidance. If EASA says its safe, then, frankly, thank you, were not interested in what the unions or some pilot think, Ryanair CEO Michael OLeary told Reuters in October, when asked about staff security concerns. EASA said it has been involved in a number of exchanges with pilots and airlines on route safety in recent months concerning the Middle East, adding that disciplining staff for raising safety concerns would run counter to a just culture where employees can voice worries. Insufficient Reassurances One Abu Dhabi-based Wizz Air pilot told Reuters he was comfortable flying over the conflict-torn region as he believes the industry has a very high safety standard. Wizz Air said it has a safety, security and operational compliance committee which assists the board by overseeing policies and their implementation. We always strive to be transparent and to keep our crew well informed, it said, referring to internal safety reporting system and regular updates to staff. For some pilots and crew members working at budget airlines, the reassurances of the companies are insufficient. They told Reuters pilots should have more choice in refusing flights over potentially dangerous airspace and requested more information about airline security assessments. The fact that Wizz Air sends emails asserting that its safe is irrelevant to commercial employees, read a letter from FPU Romania to Chief Operating Officer Diarmuid OConghaile, dated Aug. 12. Flights into these conflict areas, even if they are rescue missions, should be carried out by military personnel and aircraft, not by commercial crews. Mircea Constantin, a former cabin crew member who represents FPU Romania, said Wizz Air never gave a formal response to this letter and similar ones sent earlier this year, but did send security guidance and updates to staff. A pilot and a cabin crew member, who declined to be named for fear of retaliatory action, said they got warnings from their employers for refusing to fly on Middle Eastern routes or calling in sick. Congested Skies Last month, 165 missiles were launched in Middle Eastern conflict zones versus just 33 in November 2023, according to the latest available data from Osprey Flight Solutions. But airspace can only be enforcably restricted if a country chooses to shut it down, as in the case of Ukraine after Russias full-scale invasion in 2022. Several airlines have opted to briefly suspend flights to places like Israel when tension rises. Lufthansa and British Airways did so after Iran bombarded Israel on April 13. But this limits the airspace in use in the already congested Middle Eastern skies. Choosing to fly over Central Asia or Egypt and Saudi Arabia to avoid Middle Eastern hot spots is also more costly as planes burn more fuel and some countries charge higher overflight fees. Flying a commercial plane from Singapore to London-Heathrow through Afghanistan and Central Asia, for instance, cost an airline $4,760 in overflight fees, about 50% more than a route through the Middle East, according to two Aug. 31 flight plans reviewed by Reuters. Reuters could not name the airline as the flight plans are not public. Some private jets are avoiding the most critical areas. At the moment, my no-go areas would be the hotspot points: Libya, Israel, Iran, simply because theyre sort of caught up in it all, said Andy Spencer, a Singapore-based pilot who flies private jets and who previously worked as an airline pilot. Spencer, who has two decades of experience and flies through the Middle East regularly, said that on a recent flight from Manila to Cuba, he flew from Dubai over Egypt and north through Malta before refueling in Morocco to circumvent Libyan and Israeli airspace. EASA, regarded by industry experts as the strictest regional safety regulator, issues public bulletins on how to fly safely over conflict zones. But these arent mandatory and every airline decides where to travel based on a patchwork of government notices, third-party security advisors, in-house security teams and information sharing between carriers, leading to divergent policies. Such intelligence is not usually shared with staff. The opacity has sown fear and mistrust among pilots, cabin crew and passengers as they question whether their airline has missed something carriers in other countries are aware of, said Otjan de Bruijn, a former head of European pilots union the European Cockpit Association and a pilot for KLM. The more information you make available to pilots, the more informed a decision they can make, said Spencer, who is also an operations specialist at flight advisory body OPSGROUP, which offers independent operational advice to the aviation industry. When Gulf players like Etihad, Emirates or flydubai suddenly stop flying over Iran or Iraq, the industry sees it as a reliable indicator of risk, pilots and security sources said, as these airlines can have access to detailed intelligence from their governments. Flydubai told Reuters it operates within airspace and airways in the region that are approved by Dubais General Civil Aviation Authority. Emirates said it continuously monitors all routings, adjusting as required and would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so. Etihad said it only operates through approved airspace. Passenger rights groups are also asking for travelers to receive more information. If passengers decline to take flights over conflict zones, airlines would be disinclined to continue such flights, said Paul Hudson, the head of U.S.-based passenger group Flyers Rights. And passengers who take such flights would do so informed of the risks. Airlines flight paths over Iran https://reut.rs/49nYrnN (Reporting by Joanna Plucinska and Lisa Barrington; Editing by Joe Brock and Lisa Jucca) Topics Aviation Kazakh authorities said that a rescue team has recovered 38 bodies at the crash site of Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer SA 190 aircraft as clean-up efforts continue. As many as 29 people survived the crash and are in the hospital, while 38, including three crew members died, Kazakhstan Emergency Situations Ministry said Thursday. Rescuers have also retrieved the flight recorders, which should help to determine the cause of the crash. Representatives of Embraer SA and Brazils aviation accident investigation and prevention agency CENIPA are headed to Kazakhstan, the countrys authorities said. The planemaker said Wednesday it was following the situation and is focused on supporting authorities. The aircraft was carrying 62 passengers and five crew members from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to Grozny in Russias Chechnya region, when it changed course to make an emergency landing in Kazakhstan, the Azeri state-owned carrier said in a statement on Wednesday. The plane came down about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) from Aktau, Kazakhstan. The flight had initially been diverted to Makhachkala on Russias Caspian Sea coast because of fog, and then on to Aktau, according to the Tass news service. The Kazakh city is about 310 kilometers east of Makhachkala, across the water. A bird strike was the likely cause, Azerbaijan state news agency Azartac reported shortly after the crash, citing an airline representative. Some aviation experts have cast doubt on that explanation, after unconfirmed video from the wreckage emerged on Wednesday showing damages that they say are inconsistent with a collision with birds. The Wall Street Journal on Thursday reported claims from Ukraine and aviation safety consultants Osprey that the plane could have been damaged by Russian anti-missile system. Both Grozny and Makhachkala had earlier been targeted by the Ukrainian drones. Azerbaijan Airlines declined to comment on the speculation about the cause of the crash. A detailed investigation is under way at the moment, Azerbaijan Airlines President Samir Rzayev told reporters in Baku on Thursday. The Embraer 190 plane underwent full technical inspection in October and had no technical issues, Rzayev said. The airline also said its suspending flights to both Grozny and Makhachkala until the investigation is complete, without elaborating. It is highly unusual that an airline closes all its flights to the region. This indicates that they might suspect that the whole aerial space in that region is unsafe, said Moscow-based independent aviation expert and pilot Andrei Litvinov. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged all parties to wait for the end of the investigation, Interfax reported on Thursday. Flight #J28243 that crashed near Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan is an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer ERJ-190 with registration 4K-AZ65.#J28243 took off from Baku at 03:55 UTC time and was flying to Grozny. The aircraft was exposed to strong GPS jamming which made the aircraft pic.twitter.com/rM1Q0jmMPt Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) December 25, 2024 Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. What is the secret to an insurance claims experience that satisfies customers? For years, J.D. Power has conducted surveys and curated lists recognizing insurers that succeed at providing satisfactory claims experiences. Carrier Management recently asked claims leaders at two of the consistently higher-performing insurers to peel back the curtain and share what theyve found works. Training Center, Task Forces Bolster Eries Commitment to Service At Erie Insurance, Cody Cook brings an actuarial background to his work in claims. Cook is the insurers senior vice president of claimsa role he began in 2020 after experience as an actuary led him to a decade-long leadership role in personal lines. Erie works with 14,000 independent agents at about 2,300 agencies across 12 states and Washington, D.C. This year, the company hit 7 million policies in force. The insurer consistently ranks highly on both the J.D. Power property and auto insurance claims satisfaction studies. The company notched the third highest score on the property claims list in 2024, for example, and second on the auto list in 2023. (The 2024 auto numbers had not been published as of press time.) Cook believes Erie has built its reputation as a company with a successful claims experience is tied to how much Erie Insurance prioritizes itand prioritizes it much beyond just the claims division. This includes partnering with service-minded independent agents and creating coverage for policyholders. Erie searches for employees who share the companys commitment to service first, knowing the insurer can train for the technical aspects of claims handling. We really look for people that are good at service, Cook explained. Sometimes not even in the insurance application, but often times, we interact with service-minded people throughout their interactions outside of the company, and well recruit those kinds of people, and we attract those kinds of people. He also pointed to his companys investment in development. Erie has a 52,000-square-foot technical learning center used to teach employees both the technical aspects of claims handling as well as the expectation that we have, the empathy that we expect and the culture that Erie fosters. This story is an excerpt from an article first published in Carrier Management , Insurance Journals sister publication. To read the full story, consider becoming a member. At Amica, Transparency Is Key Amica Mutual Insurance ranked highest in overall auto claims customer satisfaction in J.D. Powers studies in both 2022 and 2023. The Lincoln, R.I.-based insurer also notched first place in J.D. Powers 2024 property claims study. In typed responses to emailed questions, company leadership said that Amica provides a claims experience thats both efficient and empathetic, helping customers feel supported during a stressful time, adding that representatives provide 24/7 claims support. Labor and material shortages for home and auto repairs have resulted in longer claim cycle times, which impacts when customers are made whole again, said Karen Chiappinelli, assistant vice president, claims executive department, Amica. We find that being transparent about this up front with our customersand clearly communicating expectationsbuilds trust and reduces anxiety. Topics Claims Leadership President-elect Donald Trump is adopting a wide-ranging legal strategy in suing media companies over what he describes as false or misleading coverage about him, filing cases under civil anti-fraud laws in addition to defamation lawsuits. Some legal experts say the cases appear aimed at punishing outlets for critical coverage, and that the novel legal strategies are an effort to get past steep hurdles in defamation lawsuits, which can be difficult for public figures in the U.S. to win. Trump has said the lawsuits, three of which were filed in the past year, are necessary because media companies are very dishonest and need to be held accountable. President Trump will continue to hold those who have committed, and are committing wrongdoings, accountable for blatantly false and dishonest reporting, which serves no public interest and only seeks to interfere in our elections on behalf of political partisans, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement to Reuters when asked about the president-elects legal strategy. Trump has one pending defamation case and is appealing a loss in another. His legal campaign against the media also includes at least two lawsuits brought under unfair trade practices laws and civil anti-fraud statutes aimed at protecting consumers from subpar products. Media advocacy groups said Trumps use of such laws against news outlets could be a way of circumventing legal protections for the press, which can only be held liable for defamation against public figures if they say something they knew or should have known was false. There is this broader trend of litigants trying to evade the First Amendment protections that the courts have recognized in the defamation context by pleading their claims as something other than defamation claims, said Jameel Jaffer of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, referring to the part of the U.S. Constitution that protects free speech. Trump on Monday told reporters he planned to aggressively pursue defamation cases against journalists. He followed through that night by suing the Des Moines Register newspaper in Iowa state court over an opinion poll by the newspaper that showed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris ahead of Trump before the Nov. 5 election but not for defamation. He instead brought his case under Iowas deceptive and unfair trade practices law, which makes it illegal to deceive or mislead consumers in the sale of merchandise. Trumps lawsuit said millions of Americans were deceived by the doctored Harris Poll. The Register acknowledged in a statement that the poll did not reflect Trumps ultimate margin of victory but said it stands by its reporting and believes the lawsuit is meritless. On Monday, Trump also mentioned his ongoing $10 billion lawsuit against CBS over the networks October 60 Minutes interview with Harris, which Trump said was deceptively edited. CBS said in a statement that it did not mislead the public and believes the lawsuit is meritless. That case in federal court in Texas was brought under the states deceptive trade practices and consumer protection act. Both of them are equally frivolous, said media attorney and Boston College Law School professor Jeffrey Pyle, referring to the lawsuits. CREATIVE LAWYERING Suing media companies under different laws could avoid some of the obstacles that often doom defamation cases, but it still carries risks, legal experts said. This is creative lawyering. It doesnt mean that its easier to win these other kinds of cases, said Ilya Shapiro of the conservative Manhattan Institute. Iowas consumer protection law, for instance, requires plaintiffs to prove a business knowingly did something deceptive and intended it to influence consumers. Some legal experts said Trump could have a hard time convincing a judge that news coverage aimed at selling newspapers fits under laws typically wielded against businesses that swindle consumers. In a long line of cases, courts have rejected efforts to bring what are essentially defamation cases under the guise of other laws. Trumps lawsuits could still saddle news outlets with litigation costs and force them to turn over potentially embarrassing internal documents. Some experts said it would be corrosive to press freedoms if judges allow the cases to proceed. If courts allowed Trump to use consumer protection laws to go after news outlets, for instance, it could open the door for state attorneys general to open official investigations using their broad authority to police the marketplace. Consumer protection laws are meant to insure youre not marketing harmful products to the public, and are not meant to cover situations like this, said Gabe Rottman of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. When theyre used this way, it can pose a chilling effect on news gathering and reporting. Trumps record with defamation cases is mixed. He claimed a recent success in a defamation case he brought against ABC News and anchor George Stephanopolous. ABC agreed to donate $15 million to Trumps presidential library and apologize for Stephanoplous comments about Trump. ABC said in a statement that it was pleased the parties had reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit. Trump lost a $475 million defamation lawsuit against CNN in 2022, when a federal judge in Florida found he could not sue over the networks comparison of him to Adolf Hitler and use of the term the big lie to describe his false claims that he won the 2020 election because those statements were opinions. The judge ruled those comments were opinions, and therefore protected speech. Trump is appealing. (Reporting by Jack Queen and Helen Coster in New York; Editing by Amy Stevens and Jonathan Oatis) Topics Lawsuits Children of the wealthy and connected get special admissions consideration at some elite U.S. universities, according to new filings in a class-action lawsuit originally brought against 17 schools. Georgetowns then-president, for example, listed a prospective student on his presidents list after meeting her and her wealthy father at an Idaho conference known as summer camp for billionaires, according to court filings in the price-fixing lawsuit filed in Chicago federal court in 2022. Although its always been assumed that such favoritism exists, the filings offer a rare peek at the often secret deliberations of university heads and admissions officials. They show how schools admit otherwise unqualified wealthy children because their parents have connections and could possibly donate large sums down the line, raising questions about fairness. Stuart Schmill, the dean of admissions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, wrote in a 2018 email that the university admitted four out of six applicants recommended by then-board chairman Robert Millard, including two who we would really not have otherwise admitted. The two others were not admitted because they were not in the ball park, or the push from him was not as strong. In the email, Schmill said Millard was careful to play down his influence on admissions decisions, but he said the chair also sent notes on all six students and later met with Schmill to share insight into who he thought was more of a priority. The filings are the latest salvo in a lawsuit that claims that 17 of the nations most prestigious colleges colluded to reduce the competition for prospective students and drive down the amount of financial aid they would offer, all while giving special preference to the children of wealthy donors. That illegal collusion resulted in the defendants providing far less aid to students than would have been provided in a free market, said Robert Gilbert, an attorney for the plaintiffs. Since the lawsuit was filed, 10 of the schools have reached settlements to pay out a total of $284 million, including payments of up to $2,000 to current or former students whose financial aid might have been shortchanged over a period of more than two decades. They are Brown, the University of Chicago, Columbia, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Northwestern, Rice, Vanderbilt and Yale. Johns Hopkins is working on a settlement and the six schools still fighting the lawsuit are the California Institute of Technology, Cornell, Georgetown, MIT, Notre Dame and the University of Pennsylvania. MIT called the lawsuit and the claims about admissions favoritism baseless. MIT has no history of wealth favoritism in its admissions; quite the opposite, university spokesperson Kimberly Allen said. After years of discovery in which millions of documents were produced that provide an overwhelming record of independence in our admissions process, plaintiffs could cite just a single instance in which the recommendation of a board member helped sway the decisions for two undergraduate applicants. In a statement, Penn also said the case is meritless that the evidence shows that it doesnt favor students whose families have donated or pledged money to the Ivy League school. Plaintiffs whole case is an attempt to embarrass the University about its purported admission practices on issues totally unrelated to this case, the school said. Notre Dame officials also called the case baseless. We are confident that every student admitted to Notre Dame is fully qualified and ready to succeed, a university spokesperson said in a statement. The South Bend, Indiana, school, though, did apparently admit wealthy students with subpar academic backgrounds. According to the new court filings, Don Bishop, who was then associate vice president for enrollment at Notre Dame, bluntly wrote about the special interest admits in a 2012 email, saying that years crop had poorer academic records than the previous years. The 2012 group included 38 applicants who were given a very low academic rating, Bishop wrote. He said those students represented massive allowances to the power of the family connections and funding history, adding that we allowed their high gifting or potential gifting to influence our choices more this year than last year. The final line of his email: Sure hope the wealthy next year raise a few more smart kids! Some of the examples pointed to in this weeks court filings showed that just being able to pay full tuition would give students an advantage. During a deposition, a former Vanderbilt admissions director said that in some cases, a student would get an edge on the waitlist if they didnt need financial aid. The 17 schools were part of a decades-old group that got permission from Congress to come up with a shared approach to awarding financial aid. Such an arrangement might otherwise violate antitrust laws, but Congress allowed it as long as the colleges all had need-blind admissions policies, meaning they wouldnt consider a students financial situation when deciding who gets in. The lawsuit argues that many colleges claimed to be need-blind but routinely favored the children of alumni and donors. In doing so, the suit says, the colleges violated the Congressional exemption and tainted the entire organization. The group dissolved in recent years when the provision allowing the collaboration expired. ___ The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Education Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrills Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Special Agents arrested a former employee with the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans on December 20 for allegedly committing workers compensation fraud. On August 27, 2024, LBI Special Agents received a complaint from a representative of the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans. The complaint alleged that a former employee might have knowingly committed Workers Compensation Fraud. Special Agents conducted a criminal investigation into the complaint and obtained an overwhelming amount of evidence that Ederik Trask of Lake Avenue in Metairie was employed by a rideshare company while obtaining Workers Compensation benefits. Special Agents secured an arrest warrant for Trask for violations of Louisiana law, prohibited acts as defined by L.R.S. 23:1208 C.1, Misrepresentations Concerning Benefits over $10,000. On December 20, 2024, Trask surrendered to agents at the Orleans Parish Jail where he was placed under arrest and booked without incident. An investigation is ongoing. Source: Louisiana Attorney Generals Office Topics Fraud At what point does a demand from an injured party constitute an insurance claim? In the case of a Georgia-based sperm bank, its when the injured party sends the letter a date that came before the clearly worded policy took effect, a federal judge in Georgia decided last week. The judgment by U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash means that Allied World Surplus Lines Insurance Co. does not have to defend the sperm company, which has made headlines after being accused of providing semen to Canadian and U.S. couples despite knowing about donors genetic conditions or failing to screen for abnormalities. Several Canadian babies were born and two tested positive for Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, a hereditary disorder that damages nerves and causes foot contractions and difficulty walking. Two others were found to have the genetic mutation for the disease. Georgia Cryoservices, the holding company of Xytex Corp., the sperm bank, was notified of the problems and went about notifying other recipient couples about the issues, according to Allied Worlds lawsuit complaint. By February 2019, several Canadian families were outraged and some demanded refunds and other compensation from Xytex. At some point, Xytex had purchased a professional liability policy from Allied World, but the policy period did not begin until March 2020. The policy had a $1 million limit for each claim and $3 million aggregate limit, inclusive of claim expenses. It also had a $250,000 deductible for each claim. Allied World argued that the policy did not cover the legal claims because notices came well before the policy period. Xytex attorneys countered that the letters and emails from the angry Canadian couples were not legal claims until 2020, when lawsuits were filed. But the judge pointed out that Allied Worlds policy is very clear: The insurer agrees to pay legal obligations from a claim resulting from medical incidents, as long as the claim is made during the policy period. Crucially, a claim is defined in the policy as a judicial proceeding or other written demand seeking monetary damages otherwise covered by this Policy. Xytex contended that emails from the couples provided only a notice of a wrongful act. The judge said at least two of the emails met the policys requirement of other written demand seeking damages. The Defendants contend that the email contains no demand for money, but instead her demand is for a response to the email. This is sophistry. The response she is asking for is a response to my requests,' Judge Thrash wrote, noting that the request is for thousands of Canadian dollars. At another point in his ruling, the judge noted: The timing of the lawsuits or whether these Clients were a part of those lawsuits are irrelevant. The Policy does not require any lawsuit at all. The heart-wrenching demand letters later became part of the many wrongful birth and negligence lawsuits that would be filed in the U.S. and Canada against the sperm bank firm, alleging that Xytex had failed to screen for many conditions, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other genetic problems from multiple donors through the years. In the case of Donor 3116, as alleged in the lawsuit underlying the Allied World request for declaratory judgment, Xytex had falsely represented that the donor was a Ph.D. candidate and was a cytogeneticist. In reality, the donor was only a lab technician and shown obvious signs of the Marie-Tooth disease when he donated semen, the complaints allege. Allied World Surplus Lines is owned by Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. Xytex may yet appeal the decision. Related: Liquid Nitrogen Leak at Xytex Sperm Bank Kills Deputy Sheriff Topics Lawsuits FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) A boat explosion at a South Florida marina has left one person dead and six others injured, officials said. The explosion occurred Monday night about 6 p.m. at the Lauderdale Marina, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue said in a social media post. Rescue workers transported injured people to local hospitals, three with traumatic injuries, officials said. Sebastian Gauthier, 41, of Quebec, was found dead in the water several hours later by the Broward Sheriffs Office, the Sun Sentinel news site reported. People at the dock had scrambled to assist the injured and search for Gauthier. Fire rescue officials said they didnt immediately know what caused the explosion but it came shortly after the boat was refueled and the engine was started, a witness told the Sentinel. The boat will be removed from the water and examined by investigators, a fire department spokesman said. A second boat, the Dirty Blonde, caught fire when the first vessel burned through its tie lines and drifted into the Dirty Blonde, according to news reports. Photo: The charred remains of two boats at the marina, a day after the explosion. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Florida The year 2025 is shaping up to be a confusing one for Californians unlucky enough to buy a new or used car that turns out to be a clunker. Starting Jan. 1, car buyers who purchase a faulty vehicle will have to navigate a new version of Californias lemon law that for five decades has given consumers the right to demand car companies fix or replace defective vehicles they sell. That is, unless lawmakers quickly pass a law that allows some of the car companies to opt out of the new requirements. The confusion stems from a law Gov. Gavin Newsom reluctantly signed in late September, after the bill was hastily jammed through the Legislature in the waning days of the session following secret negotiations between lobbyists. Newsom said it was important to address the problem of Californias courts getting clogged with lemon law cases, even as critics said the bill significantly watered down consumer protections. But Newsom said he signed it only after lawmakers said theyd introduce legislation next year to make the reforms voluntary for automakers. Lawmakers have already introduced legislation that they say meets Newsoms demands. Its now anyones guess how long it will take the bill to make it through the Senate and the Assembly and get Newsoms signature. Meanwhile, portions of the new lemon law take effect Jan. 1; others in April. Adding to the confusion, a month after Newsom signed the new lemon bill, Assembly Bill 1755, the California Supreme Court ruled that the states lemon law doesnt require manufacturers to honor a cars warranty when its re-sold as a used vehicle. Before the Supreme Courts ruling, courts had interpreted the lemon law to require manufacturers to replace or repair a defective used car or truck if the clunker was sold within the window of its original new-vehicle warranty. The justices said that if Californians have a problem with how theyve interpreted the statute, state lawmakers are welcome to write a new bill. Those arguments are best directed to the Legislature, which remains free to amend the definition of new motor vehicle to include used vehicles with a balance remaining on the manufacturers new car warranty, the court wrote in its Oct. 31 opinion. At least one lawmaker has suggested to CalMatters he and his colleagues could take the court up on that suggestion. As the Legislature sorts this out, Rosemary Shahan of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety said car buyers next year are going to have a tough time figuring out what to do if they drive a lemon off the lot. Its going to be really confusing for consumers, she said. Lemon Law Cases Clog California Courts Californias lemon law defines a lemon vehicle as one that has serious warranty defects that the manufacturer cant fix, even after multiple attempts. The lemon law applies only to disputes involving the manufacturers new vehicle warranty. If the manufacturer or dealer is unable to repair a serious warranty defect in a vehicle after what the law says is a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer must either replace it or refund its purchase price, whichever the customer prefers, according to the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Disputes can be resolved through arbitration or in court if a consumer sues. The new lemon law was a compromise between U.S. automakers, consumer attorneys and judges who came together to address a growing backlog of lemon law cases in the states courts. The number of such cases in California courts climbed from nearly 15,000 in 2022 to more than 22,000 last year. In Los Angeles County, nearly 10% of all civil filings are now lemon law cases. Proponents argue the bill Newsom signed will speed up the process of getting consumers a working vehicle, while setting new procedural rules for the litigation process that will ease the burden on courts. But Shahan and other critics argue the changes will primarily benefit U.S. car companies, since theyre the ones most commonly sued under the states lemon law at the expense of consumers. Foreign car companies largely opposed the measure. Shahan says the statistics on lemon law cases show why U.S automakers wanted the rule changed. U.S. car companies have a significantly higher number of lemon law cases in California than their foreign counterparts. Its also why, if lawmakers pass the bill Newsom wants, the foreign companies are likely to choose to abide by the original version of the lemon law. In the meantime, until lawmakers pass the pending legislation, buyers who purchase any defective new vehicle will have less time to sue, and theyll get less money from rebates, according to Shahan and other critics. The new rules also shrink the period they can use the lemon law to just six years instead of the entire life of a vehicles warranty, which can last longer, Shahan said. And because of the Supreme Courts ruling that said new vehicle warranties do not cover the car once its resold used, plaintiffs such as Mariana Alvarado Rodriguez are now feeling the squeeze. Court Ruling Impacts Used Lemon Vehicle Disputes In 2021, Alvarado Rodriguez, a seasonal farmworker who lives in Tulare County, purchased a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 with 40,002 miles from a Fresno County car dealer for $25,000, according to court records. Almost immediately after she drove it off the lot, she said the truck started having mechanical problems that she claims should have been covered under the vehicles warranties. But she said the cars maker, General Motors, refused to honor them. I kept making payments, she said in Spanish. Then I finally decided to get an attorney and told the dealership, That truck, it just doesnt work. A Fresno County judge tossed her lawsuit a year later after the Fourth District Court of Appeal ruled in a separate case that warranties that would apply to new cars dont carry over if the vehicle is sold again. The Supreme Court affirmed that judgment. Alvarado Rodriguez said she still doesnt have reliable transportation for when she returns to work this spring in the fruit-packing sheds. The process has been so long, she said. Its really, really affected me. Democratic Sen. Tom Umberg of Santa Ana is one of the authors of the new lemon law reforms slated to take effect next year. He also co-wrote the new legislation in December to address Newsoms concerns. For now, it doesnt address the Supreme Courts ruling that impacted used vehicle warranty claims like Alvarado Rodriguezs. He said lawmakers will likely take that issue up as well when they reconvene after the holidays. I would expect that there would be further conversation, he said. At least its my point of view that you dont want consumers to be hoodwinked. CalMatters reporter Sergio Olmos contributed to this story. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California Auto Bargain-hunters swopped sitting rooms for shops as the annual post-Christmas splurge got under way on St Stephens Day. There were queues outside Brown Thomas on Corks St Patricks Street before the store opened its doors at 10am, with dreary skies failing to put a dampener on the enthusiasm of consumers. Delighted punters smiled as they held up their bags, even if their choice of shop was limited by the decision of some stores not to open their doors until Friday. The sales come on top of a busy run-up to Christmas for retailers across the country and follows the big sales events of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. According to research by Retail Ireland, the average Irish household has spent 1,555 on retail this December up 1% on last December. Alisha and Ayesha Wasim at the St Stephen's Day sales in Cork City. It is expected the final tally for spending by all consumers in December will be just under 9bn, which is 3bn more than the monthly spend in other parts of the year, according to the retail body. Retail Ireland believes consumers are now feeling a little less burdened by the cost of living, with hopes this will continue into 2025. The December Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index also showed people were feeling a bit more optimistic about their finances at years end. According to the report, there is a significant improvement in consumer confidence in Ireland since December 2023. Cork is the worst hit county financially when it comes to storm flooding damage, the latest figures show. Data from the Irish Red Cross, which administers a flood relief fund to small businesses, gave 95% of the 9,273,963 administered in 2023, to businesses in Cork. Furthermore, in the same year, Cork received the highest daily rainfall in a single day compared to any other place in Ireland, according to Met Eireann. On October 18, 2023, during Storm Babet, a total of 55.6mm of rainfall was measured at Cork Airport the single highest fall in the country on a single day. Other data from Met Eireann also records Cork as being the most affected county in Ireland when it comes to water. Of the 14 major weather events in the 2023/2024 storm season, the highest wave was recorded off Cork on seven of those occasions. The highest wave recorded off the county was 17.8m high on December 31, 2023. In context, the next highest wave recorded measured at 19.2m, in January 2024, but in the deep Atlantic. However, the flooding experienced in Cork, especially in places like Glanmire during Babet in 2023, was a result of rain, and not related to tides. As a result of the extreme flooding, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment opened the Emergency Humanitarian Support Scheme for small businesses, sports clubs, community and voluntary organisations which were unable to secure flood insurance and were affected by the flooding in Cork. Pay-outs The Irish Red Cross administered the fund. The overall pay-out to business owners after Storm Babet was 9,273,963. A spokesperson for the Irish Red Cross told the Irish Examiner that well over 95% of these were for Cork. In total, 266 business owners were compensated, via two separate schemes the Emergency Flood Relief Fund with an initial payment of 5,000 rising to 20,000; and the Enhanced Flood Relief Fund with an initial payment of 10,000 rising to 100,000. The pay-outs under the first scheme came to 1,064,315 and to 8,209,648.00 for the second one. There were a total of 35 claimants who received 100,000. Businesses or community organisations in Cork were not the only ones affected, as other counties supported included Galway, Louth, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow. The storm season of 2024/2025 will run into spring. Therefore the final data for that period is not available. Politicians in Ireland have made a habit of standing in their wellies examining the clean-up after a flood. Who can forget the splash made in the newspapers when then tanaiste Joan Burton and her Labour colleague and Minister of State Ann Phelan, a Carlow-Kilkenny TD, were plunged into the icy waters of the river Nore in December 2015. The pair were visiting Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, where locals were reeling from the impact of Storm Frank, when their two-seat canoe titled and they ended up getting to observe the floodwaters more closely than they had anticipated. The mortification may have worn off for the politicians, but we are still dealing with the effects of climate change. With the planet heating up, are we headed for more severe storms into the future? The answer to that is far from simple. Storm Darwin struck Ireland on Darwin Day in February 2014, causing significant devastation and widespread disruption. It served as a turning point, prompting the introduction of the storm-naming system. Storm Darwin wreaked havoc across West Cork in 2014. Picture: Emma Jervis This began with Storm Abigail in November 2015, and since then, Ireland has witnessed an increasing number of named storms a trend unlikely to slow down. For Ireland, the most immediate and visible impact of climate change on storms is rainfall and flooding. Slow-moving storms like Storm Babet demonstrate the growing risk of intense rainfall over short periods. A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, and as a result, these rainstorms are becoming more intense and frequent, significantly increasing the risk of flash flooding. The impact of climate change on storm wind strength is less clear. According to a World Weather Attribution study, average wind speeds on stormy days have decreased slightly in recent decades and may continue to decline with warming. Interestingly, many of Irelands most severe wind storms occurred in the 1980s and 1990s and the all-time record gust of 182 km/h was recorded at Foynes Airport in January 1945. The storm season for Ireland and Britain officially begins on September 1, but recent years have seen an increase in August storms. For example, Storm Ellen in August 2020 set new records for low pressure and wind speeds at Roches Point. Similarly, Storms Antoni and Betty in August 2023 highlight how climate change may be extending the storm season into the summer months. The jet stream, the high-altitude air current that influences Irish weather, plays a critical role in storm development. Climate change is causing the jet stream to become wavier, which has profound impacts: More severe blocking weather patterns, leading to heatwaves or droughts; Prolonged periods of heavy rain and flooding caused by stalled low-pressure systems. These changes are also complicating storm forecasts. Rapidly developing storms, like Storm Darragh, challenge current weather models. Initially forecast as a weak low-pressure system south of Ireland on Tuesday, Darragh rapidly intensified and tracked north, leaving 400,000 premises without power by Friday night. Such unpredictability underscores the urgent need for improved forecasting systems and communication of changing weather warnings as storms quickly approach and change. Another looming concern is the possible slowdown or shutdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), often referred to as the Gulf Stream. A weakened AMOC could cool Irelands climate while contributing to sea-level rise. Storm Ophelia made itself known throughout the county in October 2017. However, its impact on storms remains uncertain; paradoxically, an AMOC shutdown could reduce storm activity in Ireland. While hurricanes were traditionally a concern for the US, events like Hurricane Ophelia (2017) have shown their potential to impact Ireland. Warming seas act as "rocket fuel" for hurricanes, enabling them to form further north and survive longer. As a result, Ireland faces an increasing risk of ex-hurricane systems bringing powerful winds and torrential rain. Preparing for the Future The impacts of climate change on Irelands storms are complex and multifaceted, but one outcome is clear: We face an increased risk of flooding. As a nation, we must move from reactive cleanup efforts to proactive solutions. Key measures include: Completing a comprehensive flood warning system; Investing in flood defences to protect vulnerable communities; Ensuring clear and timely communication of flood risk to the public. We must all play our part in reducing emissions and leading the transition toward renewable energy, moving decisively away from fossil fuels. As a nation, we have overcome severe weather before and will continue to do so. However, preparation is key. Our politicians need to forget about the photo ops standing in floodwaters promising millions for a clean-up and instead focus on genuine investment in prevention and resilience. Adaptation must become a central priority in both our national conversation and our long-term investments. Alan O'Reilly is a metrological commentator and founder of Carlow Weather An Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in the Gaza Strip overnight, the Israelie health ministry said early on St Stephen's Day. The Israeli military said it had targeted a group of militants. The strike hit a car outside the Al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in the central part of the territory. The journalists had been working for the local Quds News Network, which also reported the strike. The military said it targeted a group of fighters from Islamic Jihad, a militant group allied with Hamas, whose October 7 2023 attack in southern Israel ignited the war. The Committee to Protect Journalists says more than 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the start of the war. Israel has not allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza except on military embeds. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed across the border in a surprise attack on nearby army bases and farming communities. They killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israels air and ground offensive has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry. It says more than half the fatalities have been women and children but does not say how many of the dead were fighters. The offensive has caused widespread destruction and driven around 90% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes. Hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid tent camps along the coast, with little protection from the cold, wet winter. Russias top security agency says it has arrested several suspects accused of involvement in an alleged Ukrainian plot to assassinate senior military officers. The announcement comes after the killing of a top Russian general last week. The Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies that it had arrested four Russians accused of making preparations to kill senior Defence Ministry officials. The FSB said the suspected organisers of the attacks were planning to kill one of the senior officers using a remotely controlled car bomb. It added that another senior official was to be assassinated by an explosive device hidden in an envelope. The agency did not name the military officers being targeted. The FSB released a video showing the arrest and interrogation of the suspects, who were not named. The statement follows the death of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov who was killed on December 17 by a bomb hidden on an electric scooter parked outside his apartment building as he left for his office in Moscow. His assistant also died in the attack which was claimed by Ukraine and brought the conflict once again to the streets of the Russian capital. The FSB has arrested a suspect, a citizen of the Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan, and claimed he said he had been recruited by Ukrainian special services. Lt Gen Kirillov, 54, was the chief of Russias Radiation, Biological and Chemical Protection Forces special troops tasked with protecting the military from the enemys use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and ensuring operations in a contaminated environment. President Vladimir Putin described his killing as a major blunder by Russias security agencies, noting they should learn from it and improve their efficiency. Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by subscribing or making a contribution. Subscribe or contribute The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has rescinded a nationwide groundstop of American Airlines flights across the United States. Previously, American Airlines had halted all its flights in the country due to an unspecified technical issue, impacting the travel plans of thousands of passengers intending to fly out for Christmas Eve. The airline did not provide details on the reason for the flight suspension. Many passengers took to social media to report their flights were stuck on the tarmac at various airports and were now being returned to the terminal. An estimated timeframe has not been shared, but efforts are being made to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, the airline mentioned in a post on X, addressing a query from a stranded traveler. American Airlines operates thousands of flights daily to over 350 destinations in more than 60 countries. This grounding comes just months after airlines faced a widespread tech outage linked to Microsofts Azure cloud services and a software problem at cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. The FAA was not immediately reachable for additional comments. Two years ago, Southwest Airlines suffered a significant system failure during the holiday season, resulting in 16,900 flight cancellations and leaving 2 million passengers stranded. The airline was ultimately fined $140 million, marking the largest-ever civil penalty for a travel disruption. Biden: US to Maintain Weapons Support for Ukraine Following Russias Christmas Offensive US President Joe Biden has requested that the US Defense Department maintain its increased weapons deliveries to Ukraine following his condemnation of Russias Christmas Day assault on various Ukrainian cities and its energy infrastructure. The intent behind this unconscionable attack was to deprive the Ukrainian people of heat and electricity during winter and to threaten the stability of their power grid, Mr. Biden stated. Republican President-elect Donald Trump is set to assume office on January 20. Since the onset of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Washington has allocated $175 billion in aid to support Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously condemned the barbaric attack from Russia, which unleashed over 170 missiles and drones on the already war-torn nations energy grid on Christmas Day, resulting in the death of an energy worker. Putin intentionally chose Christmas for this attack. What could be more inhumane? Over 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, alongside more than a hundred attack drones targeted our energy infrastructure, Mr. Zelensky said. This incident marked the 13th large-scale offensive against Ukraines energy infrastructure this year, continuing Russias pattern of targeting the power grid during the winter months. A local resident reacts as she surveys her neighbors home, which was destroyed in a drone strike in Kharkiv. In the meantime, Russia reported that five people had died due to Ukrainian strikes and a falling drone in the border regions of Kursk and North Ossetia in the Caucasus. Ukraine claimed its air force intercepted 58 out of 79 missiles launched by Russia but did not manage to down the two Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced the strikes. I commend the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the leadership of President Zelensky, who continue to face drone and missile attacks from Putins brutal war machine, even on Christmas, Mr. Starmer said. Kyiv also reported a Russian missile had traversed Moldovan and Romanian airspace; however, Romania asserted there was no violation, while Moldova announced investigations were underway. Nothing sacred Regrettably, there have been some impacts. Currently, there are blackouts in multiple regions, Mr. Zelensky remarked. Ukraines DTEK energy company indicated that the attack inflicted severe damage to thermal power plant equipment. Denying light and warmth to millions of peaceful citizens during their Christmas celebrations is a reprehensible and malevolent act that warrants a response, DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko stated, urging allies to enhance air defense support. Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia launched more than 70 missiles and conducted 100 drone attacks (file image). According to Sergiy Lysak, governor of the central Dnipropetrovsk region, a Ukrainian thermal power plant worker was killed while 42 missiles were intercepted. He also mentioned that rescue operations had concluded at the site of a strike in Kryvyi Rig, where one person died and 17 were wounded the previous day. Engineers have restored electricity for residents in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. Christmas morning has once again demonstrated that nothing is sacred for the aggressor nation, said Svitlana Onyshchuk, head of the Ivano-Frankivsk region, earlier. Ukraine is officially observing Christmas on December 25 for the second consecutive year. The government changed the date from January 7 last year, which most Orthodox believers celebrate, as a gesture against Russia. Wont ruin Christmas The Christmas Day attack also targeted Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, situated near the Russian frontier. Missiles aimed at the citys boiler houses, thermal energy plants, and electricity facilities, as stated by Mayor Igor Terekhov, temporarily leaving 500,000 people without power. An unexploded missile was discovered in a private yard in Kharkiv, according to Mr. Synegubov. Governor Oleg Synegubov also reported that 46 people were evacuated from the Borivske and Kupiansk areas. We need your consent to load this rte-player content. We use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preferences Moscows forces are working to reclaim the town of Kupiansk, which was taken over during the conflicts first year. Ukraine regained control of Kupiansk in September 2022 as part of a rapid offensive that allowed its forces to recover significant portions of the Kharkiv region. Outnumbered Ukrainian troops are currently in a defensive position across the front lines in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions further south, yielding ground to better-equipped Russian forces. Russia announced it had captured the small village of Vidrodzhennia, located just a few kilometers south of the crucial rail and mining hub of Pokrovsk. Read more: Latest Ukraine stories Both sides are racing to secure an advantage ahead of the inauguration of US president-elect Donald Trump, who has claimed he could swiftly resolve the war, sparking concerns that Washington might pressure Kyiv into a deal favorable to Moscow. Ukraine continues to urge its allies for additional support to counter aerial assaults and repel ground troops. I am thankful to all who are working for our nation, who are on combat duty, and who protect our skies, Mr. Zelensky said. Russian aggression will not break Ukraine or ruin Christmas, Mr. Zelensky affirmed. An Embraer passenger jet en route from Azerbaijan to Russia crashed near Aktau city in Kazakhstan this morning, resulting in the deaths of 38 individuals, while 29 survivors were taken to the hospital for treatment, according to Kazakh officials. Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 veered hundreds of miles off its planned route before crashing on the opposite side of the Caspian Sea, following what Russias aviation authority described as an emergency that may have been triggered by a bird strike. However, an aviation specialist indicated that this explanation seemed doubtful. Authorities have not yet clarified the reasons for the planes deviation across the sea, but the crash occurred shortly after drone strikes targeted southern Russia. In the past, drone operations have disrupted airports in the area, and the nearest Russian airport along the flight path was out of service this morning. Emergency services respond to the crash scene this morning. This is a significant tragedy that has left the Azerbaijani people in profound sorrow, he lamented. Footage of the crash depicted the aircraft descending rapidly before igniting in flames upon striking the beach, followed by thick black smoke billowing upward. Injured passengers were seen emerging from a remaining piece of the fuselage. Reuters confirmed through visible landmarks that the video was recorded on the Caspian shoreline near Aktau. There were 62 passengers and five crew members on board. Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev disclosed the death toll during a meeting with an Azerbaijani delegation in Aktau, as reported by the Russian news agency Interfax. Kazakhstans emergencies ministry stated that fire services extinguished the blaze, and the survivors, including two children, were receiving treatment at a nearby hospital. Efforts to recover the deceased were underway. Azerbaijan Airlines reported that the Embraer 190 jet was traveling from Baku to Grozny, the capital of Chechnya in southern Russia, but was compelled to make an emergency landing about 3 km from Aktau in Kazakhstan. Preliminary investigation suggests that after a bird strike and an ensuing emergency aboard, the captain opted to divert to an alternate airfieldAktau was selected, stated Russias aviation authority via Telegram. Yet, Richard Aboulafia, an analyst at Aero Dynamic Advisory, argued that bird strikes usually lead to immediate landings in the nearest available area. You might lose control of the aircraft, but you typically wont stray far off course as a result, he explained. The nearest Russian airport along the flight path was closed. Aktau lies across the Caspian Sea from Azerbaijan and Russia. Aviation tracking websites monitored the flight heading north along its scheduled route before losing track; it reappeared off the eastern coast, circling near Aktau airport before crashing onto the beach. Authorities from two Russian regions neighboring Chechnya, Ingushetia and North Ossetia, reported drone strikes occurring this morning. An official at Makhachkala airport in Russia, the closest airport to where the flights tracking ceased, informed Reuters that it had been shut down to incoming planes for several hours this morning. Reuters also could not reach officials at the Grozny airport immediately. Kazakh authorities mentioned that a government commission had been established to investigate the incident, with its members instructed to travel to the site and ensure support for the families of the deceased and injured. Kazakhstan pledged to collaborate with Azerbaijan on the inquiry, stated the government. Azerbaijan Airlines has suspended flights from Baku to Chechnya until the investigation concludes, as reported by Russias state TASS news agency, citing the airline. President Vladimir Putin extended his condolences. Meanwhile, Mr. Aliyev, Azerbaijans president, decided to return home from Russia, where he was scheduled to attend a summit, according to his office. Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-supported leader of Chechnya, also expressed his condolences in a statement, mentioning that some individuals receiving hospital treatment were in critical condition and that he, along with others, would pray for their swift recovery. In an official statement, Embraer, the manufacturer, conveyed its condolences and expressed its willingness to assist authorities in their efforts. Pope Francis has expressed that the narrative of Jesus birth as the son of a humble carpenter should inspire hope that every individual has the potential to make a difference in the world. This message resonated as the pontiff led the global Roman Catholic community into the Christmas celebrations. In marking the 12th Christmas of his papacy, Pope Francis officiated a solemn Christmas Eve Mass at St Peters Basilica and inaugurated the 2025 Catholic Holy Year, which is anticipated to attract around 32 million tourists to Rome next year. Delivering a sermon centered on the virtue of hope, the theme for the Holy Year, the pontiff stated that hope is a summons not to linger, to be held back by our old habits, or to sink into mediocrity or laziness. Hope urges us to be concerned about what is amiss and to summon the courage to effect change, he remarked. At the start of the Christmas Eve ceremony, Pope Francis presided over the opening of a special bronze-panelled Holy Door at St Peters, which will remain open exclusively during Jubilee years. The Vatican anticipates that up to 100,000 pilgrims will pass through the door each day in the coming year. Pope Francis officially launches the 2025 Jubilee Year with the unveiling of the Holy Door at St Peters Basilica. During the papal Mass attended by thousands in St Peters Basilica and many more watching on screens in the square outside, the pope reiterated his previous appeal for developed nations to utilize the Jubilee as an opportunity to alleviate the debt burdens of low-income countries. The Jubilee summons us to spiritual renewal and compels us to transform our world, the pontiff declared. It is a time of jubilee for poorer nations that are oppressed by unjust debts; a time of jubilee for all those who are enslaved by various forms of bondage, both old and new. In 2000, a call for direct debt cancellation by the late Pope John Paul II during the Jubilee year sparked a movement that culminated in $130 billion of debt relief between 2000 and 2015. Pope Francis, who turned 88 earlier this month, has been unwell with what the Vatican described as a cold. However, he appeared to be in good spirits on Tuesday evening, though his voice was slightly raspy. On Wednesday, the pope will deliver his Christmas Day Urbiet Orbi (to the city and the world) message and blessing. The logo of Uber is seen at a temporary showroom at the Promenade road during the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2023, in the Alpine resort of Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 20, 2023. Photo by Reuters Taiwan has blocked Uber Technologies' $950 million purchase of Delivery Hero's Foodpanda business on the island because of concerns it would be anti-competitive, the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said on Wednesday. Uber and Foodpanda did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside regular business hours. Delivery Hero said in a statement Uber may either appeal the commission's decision or terminate the acquisition. In a media briefing, the commission said the merger's negative impact would outweigh the overall economic benefits, and corrective measures would not be able to address the competition concerns. "In the food delivery platform market, UberEats' main competitive pressure comes from Foodpanda. The merger would eliminate this competitive pressure," Chen Chih-min, vice chairman of Taiwan's FTC, said. "Post-merger, UberEats would be less constrained by competition, giving it more incentive to raise prices for consumers and even increase commissions for restaurant operators." Chen added that post-merger, the combined market share of both companies in Taiwan would exceed 90%. Uber and Delivery Hero announced in May the Taiwan deal that included a separate agreement for Uber to purchase $300 million worth of newly issued shares of the German food delivery firm. The U.S. company expected the acquisition to contribute at least $150 million annually to the adjusted core profit of its delivery business within a year of the deal's closing, which was seen likely in the first half of 2025. Online food delivery platforms represent a small fraction of Taiwan's competitive food delivery market. Foodpanda's operations on the island were break-even in terms of adjusted core earnings for the 12 months ended March 31, 2024, the companies said. Pope Francis, in his Christmas message, has urged for dialogue between Ukraine and Russia to bring an end to the war that has followed Moscows full-scale invasion two years ago, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. During his Christmas Day Urbi et Orbi address, Pope Francis addressed the Ukraine conflict specifically, calling for the boldness needed to open the door to negotiation. Speaking from the central balcony of St. Peters Basilica to the thousands gathered in the square below, the pope proclaimed: May the sound of arms be silenced in war-torn Ukraine! He further emphasized the need for gestures of dialogue and encounter, in order to achieve a just and lasting peace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously dismissed the possibility of peace talks without the restoration of Ukraines pre-war borders. However, since Donald Trumps re-election as US president, Mr. Zelensky has displayed a growing openness to negotiations. Earlier in December, Mr. Zelensky proposed the concept of a diplomatic resolution that would include a freezing of the current frontlines and the stationing of foreign troops in Ukraine. Russia has insisted that Ukraine renounce its aspirations to join the NATO military alliance. The 88-year-old Pope Francis, marking the 12th Christmas of his papacy, called for an end to conflictspolitical, social, or militaryin regions such as Lebanon, Mali, Mozambique, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. Gaza situation extremely grave Pope Francis, who has recently become more critical of Israels military operations in Gaza and referred to it last week as cruelty, also reiterated his plea for a ceasefire in the Israeli-Hamas conflict and called for the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas. He described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as extremely grave and urged that the doors of dialogue and peace (be) flung open. The Israeli-Hamas war commenced on 7 October 2023, following an attack by Hamas-led Palestinian militants on southern Israeli communities, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of over 250 hostages taken back to Gaza, according to Israeli officials. Israels retaliation campaign, aimed at dismantling Hamas, has claimed over 45,000 lives, primarily civilians, according to Gaza authorities. This campaign has left nearly the entire population displaced and much of the enclave in ruins. Pope Francis inaugurated a Holy Year for the global Catholic Church on Christmas Eve, which will continue until 6 January 2026. This Catholic Holy Year, also referred to as a Jubilee, is regarded as a period of peace, forgiveness, and pardon. The pope stated that the Jubilee year should serve as a time for every individual, and all peoples and nations to become pilgrims of hope, to silence the sound of arms and overcome divisions. Pope Francis also mentioned that this year should be a moment to tear down all walls of separation. He called for a mutually agreed solution to dismantle the border wall that has divided the Mediterranean island of Cyprus between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus since 1974. Angry demonstrations erupted in the heart of deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assads Alawite minority, according to a war monitor and witnesses, after a video surfaced depicting an assault on a shrine. In the central city of Homs, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that one protester was killed and five others injured after security forces opened fire to disperse the gathering. The monitor previously noted large-scale protests in the coastal cities of Tartus and Latakia, both strongholds of the Alawite community, as well as in other regions, including Mr. Assads hometown of Qardaha. Witnesses confirmed to AFP that protests occurred in Tartus, Latakia, and nearby Jableh, with estimates suggesting the crowd numbered in the thousands. The new Islamist rulers of Syria have attempted to reassure religious and ethnic minorities regarding the safeguarding of their rights. An aerial view displays devastated structures near the Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque in the center of Homs. The transitional authorities, installed by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which spearheaded the offensive that deposed Mr. Assad, stated that the shrine attack was not a recent incident. The video showing the storming and attack on the shrine in Aleppo is old and dates back to the period of the liberation of the northern city earlier this month, according to a statement from the interior ministry. It explained that the attack was executed by unknown groups and that reposting the video was intended to stir discord among the Syrian populace at this sensitive time. Images from Jableh displayed large crowds filling the streets, with some chanting slogans such as Alawite, Sunni, we desire peace. We demand accountability for those who attacked the shrine, declared Ali Daoud, a protester in Jableh. The state news agency SANA reported that police in central Homs instituted a curfew from 6pm (3pm Irish time) until 8am (5am Irish time), while local authorities in Jableh also declared a nighttime curfew. Appeals for calm The monitor indicated that protests ignited after a video started circulating earlier this afternoon depicting an assault by fighters on a significant Alawite shrine in the Maysaloon district of Syrias second city, Aleppo. It reported that five workers lost their lives and that the shrine was set ablaze. Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Observatory, mentioned that the precise date of the video was uncertain, but it was filmed earlier this month after the onset of the HTS-led offensive in late November. AFP was unable to independently validate the footage or the incidents date. The rebel forces executed a rapid offensive, taking control of major cities, including Aleppo on December 1, before ousting Mr. Assad a week later. Mr. Assad has long portrayed himself as a protector of minority groups within majority-Sunni Syria. In Latakia, protester Ghidak Mayya, 30, lamented violations against the Alawite community. For the moment we are paying heed to calls for calm, he remarked, cautioning that excessive pressure on the community could lead to an explosion. Fabrice Balanche, a Middle East scholar from Frances University Lumiere Lyon 2, estimated the Alawite population to be around 1.7 million, approximately 9% of Syrias total populace. The Alawites were very closely aligned with Bashars regime, he noted. Their association with the regime heightens the risk of collective vengeance against themparticularly as Islamists deem them heretics. A man observes a pile of illegal drugs burning in Damascus. Drug Bust The new authorities, in the meantime, incinerated a large cache of drugs, as reported by two security officials, including one million captagon pills whose mass production thrived under the fallen regime. Captagon is a banned amphetamine-like stimulant that emerged as Syrias largest export during the civil war that has persisted since 2011. We discovered a significant quantity of captagon, approximately one million pills, stated a balaclava-clad member of the security forces, who requested to be identified only by his first name, Osama. Read more: Latest Middle East stories An AFP journalist witnessed security personnel pouring fuel over and igniting a stockpile of cannabis, the opioid tramadol, and around 50 bags of captagon pills in a security compound previously used by Mr. Assads forces in the Kafr Sousa district of the capital. The security forces of the new government uncovered a drug warehouse while inspecting the security quarter, revealed another member of the security forces, who identified himself as Hamza. Authorities destroyed the alcohol and narcotics to protect Syrian society and disable smuggling routes used by businesses associated with the Assad family, he added. So far, Syrias new Islamist rulers have not detailed their stance on alcohol, which has historically been readily available in the nation. Since deposing Mr. Assad, the new authorities have claimed that vast quantities of captagon have been discovered in former government sites across the country, including security branches. Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) 2024 was a pivotal year for international humanitarian law. On the one hand, the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court functioned as they were intended to by the idealists who founded them. On the other, the International Humanitarian Law that underpins those institutions was profoundly, perhaps fatally undermined by the United States in the service of Israeli impunity. The humanitarian workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross witnessed tremendous atrocities during World War II, which violated the Hague Regulations of the early twentieth century as well as the 1929 Geneva Convention on the treatment of prisoners of war. The ICRC proved a force in lobbying the post-war political establishment, led by the United States, to tighten and make more explicit the international law governing warfare. As the full horror of the actions of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Imperial Japan became clear, many level-headed politicians and diplomats in Europe and the United States came to agree with the ICRC officials. Of course, the post-war steps taken to punish war crimes and legislate against their repetition excused the U.S. and its allies from any prosecution. Otherwise dropping atomic bombs on hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaka would have have resulted in war crimes trials of Truman administration figures. Out of this push back against the total war pursued in 1939-1945 came the United Nations and its Charter, the Genocide Convention, and the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1939. The International Court of Justice was formed to settle disputes among United Nations member states peacefully. Another push for the New Humanitarianism came out of Jimmy Carters presidency and then the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. In 1995-1998 dozens of countries crafted the Rome Statute as a charter for a new International Criminal Court, intended to allow for the trial of politicians who commit war crimes. It came into effect in 2002 and now has 124 signatories, out of the 193 countries in the United Nations. The US initially took part in the Rome deliberations but ultimately refused to sign. The thrust of these developments is that humanitarian law and the law of war merged into International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and it has been given some teeth, though not very sharp ones. For the most part, it continued to be applied only to enemies of the United States and Western Europe, the wealthiest and most powerful victors of the Second World War. One difficulty with the entire edifice, however, is that the post-war legislation put so much emphasis on intent in finding actors guilty of war crimes or genocide that the existing laws are difficult or impossible to deploy for the purpose of preventing genocide. In addition, so much latitude is given to war-fighting and its requirements that it is difficult to protect civilians. The political elites of the United States have been ambivalent about these developments. Washington likes IHL when it can serve as a cudgel against its foes. Joe Biden and Antony Blinken jumped up and down for joy on March 17, 2023, when the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for his war crimes in Ukraine. Note that neither Ukraine nor Russia are signatories to the Rome Statute, and so the ICC has no jurisdiction over Russian atrocities, either in Russia or Ukraine. It is true that Ukraine gave the ICC permission to make judgments about Russian IHL violations on Ukrainian soil. Still, the jurisdiction of the ICC here could be disputed. Biden and Blinken made no reference to this jurisdictional difficulty. Washington, however, has dismissed and even sought to punish the primary institutions of International Humanitarian Law when they come after the United States or its partners, such as Israel. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo put sanctions on the judges of the ICC for even thinking about looking into the behavior of US troops in Afghanistan. Congress has also behaved erratically. The Leahy Act forbade the US to provide weaponry to states violating humanitarian law. But Congress has also considered imposing sanctions against the ICC. In 2024, the International Court of Justice agreed to consider the case brought by South Africa against Israel for the commission of genocide in Gaza. South Africa then sought the equivalent of a preliminary injunction (provisional measures), seeking a ruling from the court forbidding the commission of acts by Israel constitutive of genocide while the ICJ considered the case (which is still ongoing). On January 26, 2024, the court ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of acts of genocide, finding it plausible that Israel was committing such acts. The court also ordered Israel to halt its invasion of Rafah in May 2024, saying Israel must immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part. Rafah was the last place in Gaza where the Israelis had not destroyed most of the infrastructure, and it was feared that if its population was driven elsewhere and civilian objects were reduced to rubble, the effects would be truly genocidal. These fears were later borne out when Israels government thumbed its nose at the court. It was this Israeli lawlessness that led Ireland, Norway and Spain to recognize the State of Palestine. International Criminal Court Undermined, Digital, Midjoourney / IbisPaint, 2024 Then this summer the International Court of Justice ruled that the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories (Gaza and the Palestinian West Bank) is in itself illegal. On November 22, 2024, the International Court of Justice issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant. As a result, Netanyahu cannot attend the commemoration in January in Poland of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp, for fear of being arrested by Polish authorities. Thus far, the institutions of International Humanitarian Law are working as they should be. The other development of the past year is more troubling. The United States, the most powerful country in the world, has repeatedly undermined these institutions. President Joe Biden flatly denied that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, as did Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The Biden administration rejected the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, even though Palestine became a UN non-state observer and acceded to the Rome Statute in 2015, and brought charges against Israel. The legal foundation for ICC jurisdiction in Palestine, including Gaza, is vastly more solid than its jurisdiction in Ukraine. Yet the US cheered the ICC warrant for Putin, while decrying the warrant for Netanyahu. Members of Congress threatened the ICC judges with sanctions once again. The US State Department viciously smeared Francesca Albanese. the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, as antisemitic for her straightforward reporting on what is going on in Gaza and the Palestinian West Bank. On a weekly basis, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller danced around Israeli atrocities, saying Israel should investigate itself and letting the Netanyahu government dictate the terms of discourse. He acted, as well, as though the US was not resupplying Israeli arms and ammunition in real time and actively participating in the Gaza war crimes. So this was our paradoxical reality in 2024. Key institutions of International Humanitarian Law finally stepped up to address the plight of the Palestinians and the Israeli genocide in Gaza, which was a substantial step forward for the international rule of law. But it was all undermined by the United States, Britain, France and Germany. 2024 was the year that the demand for impunity for Israel from those four countries broke International Humanitarian Law so badly that it is not clear it can survive. The even bigger danger: The Israeli demand for impunity and the willing collaboration of traitors in Congress and elsewhere in the US government could act as the tip of the spear in breaking the US Constitution and ending the First Amendment. By Daniel Lincoln, University of Alberta (The Conversation) The wheels of history have been turning rapidly in the Middle East over the last year. For a significant period of time, Irans status as a rising power within the region has been regarded as a consistent reality in assessing Middle Eastern geopolitics. But events since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel have seen Irans position in the region erode substantially. The balance of power in the Middle East has consequently been irreversibly altered. A key pillar supporting Irans previously powerful status in the Middle East has been its cultivation of the Axis of Resistance, a group of Iranian allies across the region that acted together against Israeli and American interests. The members of the axis, in addition to Iran itself, include Hamas, Hezbollah, Iraqi Shiite militias, the Houthis and Bashar al-Assads regime in Syria. Axis decimation Israels relentless war in retaliation for the Oct. 7 attack has seen several of the most important members of the axis severely diminished, if not entirely decimated. Both Hezbollah and Hamas have been humiliated through the destruction of their respective leaderships, and their operational capacities have been reduced significantly. The largest blow to Irans proxy network was arguably the recent ousting of Syrias Assad, ending a decades-long regime that was regarded by top Iranian strategists as Irans most important regional ally. The adverse consequences of these developments for Irans grand strategy raises questions of how a significantly weakened Iran will affect the world at large, especially in terms of its impact on great power politics in the Middle East. This undoubtedly represents a welcome development in the United States given the long-standing animosity towards post-1979 Iran among the American foreign policy establishment. But China is likely to have a more nuanced outlook predicated upon its commitment to pragmatic foreign policy maneuvering in accomplishing its top global objectives. Chinas engagement with Iran As China has grown richer and more powerful in recent decades, its turned its attention to increasing its diplomatic clout and economic presence throughout the world. Every region of the planet has been affected by this development, but the Middle East achieved a spot of particular importance for China. The Chinese governments motivation to deeply engage in the Middle East has been and continues to be driven by several key considerations: the Middle Easts status as a powerhouse of oil production, its strategic geographic location bridging east and west, and its status as a long-standing pillar of American foreign policy. China has fostered bilateral partnerships across the entire Middle East, but one of its longest regional relationships has been with Iran. In Iran, Chinese authorities saw a country that provided it with an opportunity to help it achieve Chinas main objectives in the region. China in the Middle East, Digital, Dream / Dreamland v3, 2024 Post-1979, Iran was inherently anti-American, which meant that China was more likely to be warmly received by Tehran, especially when compared to other regional powers like Saudi Arabia that had relatively warm relations with the U.S. Perhaps most importantly, Iran could be depended on to an extent to stymie American interests in the Middle East given its status as a rising regional power. This is not to say that Iran became a Chinese client state, but rather that China could provide diplomatic and economic support to Iran as the Iranians used their power to act disruptively in a region of great strategic importance to the U.S. Chinas future moves Given the motivations underlying deep Chinese-Iranian ties historically, its clear that the evaporation of Irans clout will likely greatly alter the character of their relationship moving forward. In a nutshell, a significant portion of Irans appeal to Chinese policymakers has disappeared with the near annihilation of its regional network. This will likely encourage China to seek deeper ties with other Middle Eastern heavyweights, like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, in accomplishing its goals in the Middle East chief among them, increasing its regional influence at the expense of the U.S. But its also unlikely China will entirely abandon Iran. While it may focus its most concerted efforts on developing deeper ties with other Middle Eastern countries instead of Iran, China would likely be hesitant to see Iran become even further isolated and therefore more predisposed to behaving aggressively. China was one of the main behind-the-scenes mediators of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal because it wanted regional tensions to dissipate via Irans abandonment of its nuclear program. Now that Iran is weakened, it has essentially been boxed into a corner, and has two main options moving forward: either it achieves a rapprochement with the West, or it reinvigorates its nuclear program and acts more aggressively. While Irans ultra-conservative factions that control the levers of power in the country may be tempted to take a more aggressive path, it is very possible China will attempt to use its substantial economic leverage over Iran to encourage them to pursue the rapprochement option. Thats because the Chinese need the Middle East as a source of petroleum to fuel their economy, and because China doesnt want to be viewed by the West as an implicit accomplice to a bellicose and destabilizing Iran. China a moderating influence? On the contrary, China is currently attempting to repair relations with many western countries given the importance of the Wests markets to Chinas ailing economy. In fact, China may wish to play a role in inducing Iran to strike a deal with the West in the near future, given that it would show the incoming Donald Trump administration which is notoriously hawkish on China that it can be trusted and worked with constructively. At the end of the day, China will seek the path that minimizes the likelihood of full-blown conflict in the Middle East given the importance of the region to the Chinese economy. The country has a strategic opportunity to signal trustworthiness and dependability to the West by working to prevent Iran from choosing a more aggressive path. Daniel Lincoln, Policy Research Analyst, Geopolitics, The China Institute, University of Alberta This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. ( RFE / RL ) The fall of Bashar al-Assads government at the hands of rebels, including Ankara-backed factions, has effectively made Turkey the dominant foreign actor in Syria at the expense of Iran and its ally Russia. Turkey and Iran have competed for years for influence in the South Caucasus, and this rivalry appears to have now extended to the Levant. The Islamic republic has had significant misgivings about Turkish influence in Syria, be it economic, political, or military, long before the fall of Assad. But with the loss of Irans sole state ally in the region, these concerns are set to be magnified exponentially, said Behnam Taleblu, an Iran analyst at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). Still, experts say Turkeys rising profile in Syria to the detriment of Iran does not necessarily mean Ankara-Tehran relations will be significantly impacted. What Is Turkey After? Since the onset of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Iran and Russia backed Assad while Turkey supported rebel groups opposed to his rule. Iran needed Assad to remain in power so that it could use Syria as a staging ground to fund and arm its proxies and partners, especially the Lebanese group Hezbollah. For Russia, Assads rule meant Moscow could maintain its Hmeimim air base and naval base in Tartus, which gave it easier access to the Middle East, North Africa, and the Mediterranean Sea. Ankara wanted a government in Syria more aligned with its regional vision and policies, especially those that would restrain Kurdish groups in northeastern Syria. A coalition of Kurdish parties, including the Democratic Union Party (PYD), heads the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. PYDs armed wing, the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), leads the U.S-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Turkey has had three core concerns in Syria: fighting the YPG/PYD, enabling the return of Syrian refugees to Syria, and preventing further refugee flows into Turkey, said Daria Isachenko, a Turkey expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Assads downfall on December 8 has stemmed the influx of refugees into Turkey, but the first two concerns remain, Isachenko added. Syria is now effectively ruled by the U.S.-designated terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies some of whom are linked with Turkey, Irans rival. Isachenko says Turkeys growing influence in Syria could further strengthen its position in the Mediterranean Sea if Ankara signs a Libya-style maritime deal with the new authorities in Damascus. The Road Ahead Turkeys growth in stature and Irans weakened position in Syria could have ramifications for developments in the South Caucasus, where Iran, Russia, and Turkey vie for influence. Experts say while the Astana talks a format sponsored by the three countries to end the conflict in Syria may be dead, it still served as a platform for managing different interests. Coordination and consultation on conflict management between Turkey and Iran as well as Russia on the Middle East and the South Caucasus should not be ruled out, Isachenko said. She adds that even in Syria, Turkey and Iran may find some of their interests aligned, such as finding a common adversary in Israel, which has moved into Syrian territory since the fall of Assad. Turkish Victory in Syria, Digital, Dream / Dreamland v3 / Clip2Comic, 2024 Still, some argue that Tehran will seek to undermine Turkey in Syria in the hopes of returning the country into its so-called axis of resistance Irans loose network of regional allies and proxies. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps will look for ways to claw back influence in Syria, said Taleblu of FDD. Downtrodden, disposed, and spurned local actors are easy to co-opt, particularly in states where central authority is weak. The Kurdish Question U.S. support for the Kurdish-led SDF has weakened in recent years due to a combination of factors, including the withdrawal of a majority of U.S. troops in 2018 and 2019 and pressure from Washingtons NATO ally, Turkey. Ankara, which launched an incursion into northern Syria in 2019 against Kurdish forces, is now in a strong position to further challenge the Kurds, experts say. Since Assads fall, Ankara-backed rebel groups have clashed with Kurdish forces and seized the previously Kurdish-controlled cities of Manbij and Tarafat near the border with Turkey. Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an Iraqi Kurdistan-based analyst who has co-authored books on Syrian Kurds, says the presence of the 900 remaining U.S. troops might offer some protection to the Kurds but the situation remains precarious. The new administration in Damascus likely will prefer relations with Turkey over the SDF, he said. The situation is difficult for the Kurds unless they reach an agreement with HTS. HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, previously known by the nom de guerre Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, wants to unify all armed groups in Syria under one banner. But if the SDF were to join, it would effectively end Kurdish autonomy in Syria, Wilgenburg says. Via RFE / RL Copyright (c)2024 RFE/RL, Inc. Used with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Thursday, December 26, 2024 Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has blasted President William Ruto and his government over the recent abductions of young people that have been witnessed in the country. In a statement yesterday, Raila affirmed that the government should take the matter seriously and ensure enforced disappearances come to an end. "The issue of abductions of innocent people. This is a primitive thing and it's very strange. We cannot live in a country where people disappear for no other reason and are kept incommunicado for a long time. That shows that there is no government. The government must take this thing seriously and it must come to an end this year. We want a safe and secure country," Raila stated. Gone are the days when they used to arrest you and take you to Nyayo house. But these days you are being taken to unknown places. It is primitive and unacceptable," he added. The country has been witnessing the abduction of young people in different parts of Kenya. Peter Muteti, was allegedly abducted outside his apartment in Uthiru, Nairobi after posting an AI-generated picture offensive to Ruto. His mobile phone was switched off shortly after the incident, and he has remained unreachable since. In another case, Billy Mwangi was abducted in Embu County after sharing a post on X which some might have considered offensive to President Ruto. Mwangi's family said that he was forcibly taken away from a barber shop by four armed men who wore masks and were traveling in a double cabin pickup before speeding off towards the Embu-Nairobi Highway. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, December 26, 2024 - Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang'wa has devised a way to end the abductions in Kenya. In a statement, Thangwa urged the public to make a citizens' arrest of the people abducting Kenyans on the streets. He noted that since the police have said they don't know the abductors, Kenyans should treat the individuals as 'thugs' and then call uniformed police. "Now that the National Police Service has confirmed they are unaware of who is abducting Kenyans, we should treat these abductors as thugs. Block their vehicles, make a citizen's arrest, and then call the uniformed police," Thang'wa stated. The abduction of young people in Kenya is on the rise, with the latest case involving social media influencer Peter Muteti, who was allegedly abducted outside his apartment in Uthiru, Nairobi, after posting an AI-generated picture deemed offensive to President William Ruto His mobile phone was switched off shortly after the incident, and he has remained unreachable since. In another case, Billy Mwangi was abducted in Embu County after sharing a post on X which some might have considered offensive to President Ruto. Mwangi's family said that he was forcibly taken away from a barber shop by four armed men who wore masks and were traveling in a double cabin pickup before speeding off towards the Embu-Nairobi Highway. The spate of abductions has seen leaders from different parties condemn the acts with the majority blaming the government for the abduction of young people critical of the President. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, December 26, 2024 - A distressed lady has taken to social media to raise an alarm over the mysterious disappearance of her younger brother. The missing man, identified as Steve Kavingo alias Mbisi, was reportedly abducted by two masked men from his house in Mlolongo on December 17, 2024. He has been missing since then and efforts to trace him have been futile. This comes amid a surge in abduction of young Kenyans, especially those with dissenting voices, in the country by suspected rogue state agents. Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has called for an immediate end to the ongoing mysterious abductions in the country Speaking on Wednesday, Odinga noted that the rampant abductions that have been witnessed in 2024 should be expeditiously addressed by the government lest they pose a huge threat to national security. Odinga noted that the tactics to use abductions as a way of administering foul justice have become of age and any Kenyan found to be contravening the law should be dealt with lawfully. The Kenyan DAILY POST. A person holds gold jewelry at a shop in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran Vietnam gold price gained slightly Thursday afternoon as the bullion rose globally, boosted by the U.S. dollars drop. Saigon Jewelry Company gold bar inched up 0.24% to VND84.5 million (US$3,321.93) per tael. A tael equals 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces. Gold ring price rose 0.24% to VND84.3 million per tael. Globally gold gained on Thursday in light holiday trading, boosted by slight weakness in U.S. dollar and geopolitical tensions, as investors eyed Federal Reserve's 2025 rate strategy and Trump's tariff policies, which could shape the metal's trajectory next year. Spot gold rose 0.5% to $2,626.10 per ounce. Bullion has risen 27% this year and is on track for its best performance since 2010, driven by major Fed cuts and heightened geopolitical uncertainties. Thursday, December 26, 2024 - A rogue police officer, who is believed to be a member of the ruthless squad formed to abduct young Kenyans with dissenting voices, exposed himself while on a covert mission in Ruiru. He reportedly went to a restaurant in Ruiru while dressed like a youth and asked a young guy who was wearing a T-shirt branded with kasongo image where he had bought the T-shirt. He claimed that he also wanted to buy the T-shirt. Sensing something fishy, the guy told him he had bought the T-shirt from a hawker. The suspected state agent ate chips and when he went to pay at the counter, he accidentally exposed handcuffs. He wanted to know where the T-shirts were being printed and sold and abduct those behind the business. Check out Aokos post. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Thursday, December 26, 2024 - Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has accused his ODM Party of doing nothing as President William Rutos government abducts young people critical of the government. Taking to his official X account yesterday, Onyonka demanded to know why the Orange party has not asked those in government about the abductions that are now targeting social media users. He questioned whether ODMs move to join President William Rutos broad-based government was part of a scheme to collaborate with the Kenya Kwanza administration in everything, whether good or bad. Why is my party ODM not asking those in government to stop the abductions of these young Kenyans? Or did we become part of a government that now were busy collaborating and conducting broad-based abductions? Onyonka questioned. Onyonkas statement comes hours after Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah warned that Kenyans will not be silenced through intimidation and oppression following the new wave of abductions. Three youths, Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, and Bernard Kavuli, were abducted after posting images deemed offensive against President William Ruto. According to Omtatah, the abductions are a result of Kenyans speaking the truth to power as a result of injustices in the country. Kenyans, lobby groups, and a section of the political class have been calling for the release of the missing youths who were recently abducted after posting controversial tweets about Ruto. The Kenyan DAILY POST China launches 1,737 tourist trains in first 11 months of 2024 People's Daily Online) 13:47, December 26, 2024 China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway) launched 1,737 tourist trains in the first months of 2024, up 17.6 percent year on year. Among the standout offerings is the panda-themed tourist train launched by China Railway Chengdu Bureau Group Co., Ltd. Introduced more than three years ago, the panda train tourism project includes three tourist trains, offering diverse services to passengers. A tourist train named Lindu, meaning "forest capital," runs on a railway line in the Lesser Hinggan Mountains in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Photo/Li Yu) Decorated with panda images, these panda trains featuring throw pillows printed with panda patterns and panda-shaped pastries are popular among tourists. A panda train named after Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, stands out with its advanced sound isolation technology and well-appointed accommodations, including standard double rooms and family suites, each equipped with a private bathroom. Travelers can take the panda trains to multiple destinations in 31 provincial-level regions, including Sichuan Province and northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Some tourist trains offer tailor-made tourism services. On Aug. 2, the tourist train Y201 arrived in Beijing after a trip to Xinjiang. The tourist train offered specially prepared meals suitable for elderly passengers, including Xinjiang cuisine, said a retired teacher from Haidian district in Beijing. "It's a tourist train for the silver-haired group," said Fan Mengwei, an economist of China Railway Travel Service Group Co. Ltd. A cross-border tourist train, connecting China and Laos, passes through the UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang, and arrives in Vientiane, capital of Laos. The tourist train features a tour package of six nights and seven days. In northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, a tourist train named Lindu, meaning "forest capital," allows tourists to enjoy the magnificent view of the Lesser Hinggan Mountains. The tourist train currently operates 12 trips annually, each lasting nine nights and 10 days while covering over 5,000 kilometers through destinations like Fuyuan, Mohe, Yichun, and Hulun Buir, according to Zhang Fusheng, a senior economist at China Railway Harbin Bureau Group Co., Ltd. China Railway Xi'an Bureau Group Co., Ltd. in northwest China's Shaanxi Province has launched tourist trains according to seasonal factors and local characteristics, including those for leisure tours and winter tourism around the Qinling Mountains. On Dec. 6, the tourist train Y666/7/6 carried over 100 tourists for a tour of many famous scenic areas around the Qinling Mountains. The tourist train connects scenic spots scattered across the Qinling Mountains, making up for the regret of not being able to visit them together during a regular trip, said a tourist surnamed Li from Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Indonesia is in a great position to capitalize the global need for nurses which has reached 6.4 million, according to the Ministry of Health. The ministry and the Ministry of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI) are trying to accommodate this from a regulatory perspective. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin told media on Dec. 24 that sending health workers abroad could help meet the global need and improve the workers' quality of life. For example, Indonesian health workers in Japan can earn around 30 million IDR (US$1,788) and those in Germany, can make up to 50 million IDR (US$2,981) per month. According to the minister, Indonesia has 38 health polytechnics, which are run by the Health Ministry. In the past five years, only 2,000 health workers were sent abroad, or an average of 400 people per year. The policy of sending health workers to work abroad will bring a lot of economic value and professional experience to Indonesia's workforce. However, the country set a limit to send less than 10,000 health workers abroad to ensure medical care services in the country. P2MI Minister Abdul Kadir Karding said both ministries are trying to meet the global standards for migrant worker placements, for example, in terms of health checks. He said they are trying to simplify the procedures, similar to other countries. He said Indonesia is also trying to standardize health check prices between regions. The P2MI will find a suitable financing model that does not burden prospective migrant workers. The P2MI minister said that Indonesia will prepare the healthcare workforce to meet requirements of developed countries such as Germany and Japan. Nicola Young writes: This weeks vote to demolish Wellingtons City to Sea Bridge is a waste of money that will needlessly remove a much-loved part of our waterfront, and replace it with an at-grade pedestrian crossing over six lanes of traffic. Incredibly, several leading engineers have said demolition isnt required, including advice to councillors from Spencer Holmes (shared below) during this weeks Environment and Infrastructure Committee debate. Were told the bridge is a seismic risk because of the few occasions when a large number of people stand on the deck (which includes the roof of Capital E) during major events at Civic Square. But demolition is an extreme measure, and there are smarter, more cost-effective solutions, like using temporary barriers and security staff to restrict numbers for these rare events. This would reduce the bridge to Importance Level 2, like all other footbridges in the country, rather than Importance Level 3 the standard required for large public venues. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Windy with thunderstorms developing this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 74F. Winds SSE at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Rain showers early, then cloudy and windy overnight. Low 37F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 40%. I decide to walk to metro stations after seeing how fit people are in Taiwan December 25, 2024 | 03:05 pm PT When I first arrived in Taiwan from Vietnam to study, I was reluctant to walk to metro stations. The idea of walking long distances just to catch a train felt inconvenient and unnecessary. I preferred using my motorbike, thinking it was faster and more convenient. However, living abroad opened my eyes to a different perspective. In Taiwan, I saw how people willingly walked to metro stations as part of their daily routine. Whether for work, school, or travel, walking wasnt just a means of getting to the trainit was also a way to stay active and healthy. This realization completely changed my attitude. At first, the habit of hopping on my motorbike seemed like the obvious choice, especially during hot summer afternoons or after a long day. But I soon noticed how frequent traffic jams, particularly during rush hour, turned a short motorbike ride into a frustrating ordeal. In comparison, walking to the station was not only simpler but also less stressful. People wait along the metro line track in Ho Chi Minh City, Dec. 22, 2024. Photo by VnExpress This habit of walking is not unique to Taiwan. In South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand, people embrace walking to metro stations as part of their daily lives. Their efficient metro systems are the result of decades of effortresearch, construction, and constant improvement. Vietnam, too, must take this path to develop a reliable urban transportation system. When I first began walking regularly, I observed how locals in Taiwanyoung and old alikemaintained their fitness and health through their walking routines. Their energy and physical fitness inspired me to make walking a part of my own commute. Over time, I found that it not only benefited my health but also saved me time and stress by avoiding traffic congestion. If we continue to resist walking to metro stationscomplaining about the weather, the distances, or the time it takesour cities will remain choked with traffic. Embracing walking requires a shift in mindset. Its a small change that can lead to significant improvements, both in personal health and urban life. For Ho Chi Minh City's metro system to succeed in alleviating traffic congestion and transforming urban living, a collective effort is needed. We must start with the simple act of walking. *This reflection is shared by kevinton150691, inspired by the article "I ride 18 km on HCMC's first metro line in just 26 minutes". By KTimes Actor Lee Min-ho shared memories of a devastating car accident he experienced at the age of 20 during an appearance on tvN's "You Quiz on the Block," aired on Wednesday. Lee recounted the 2006 accident, which occurred while he was traveling to Gangwon Province with his close friend, actor Jung Il-woo. Their vehicle collided with a drunk drivers car that had crossed the center line, resulting in a major accident. Lee sustained serious injuries, including a broken thighbone and torn cartilage, requiring seven months of recovery and nearly a year in the hospital. "The accident made major news in Gangwon Province because it was fatal," he said. "Everyone in the perpetrator's vehicle lost their lives. I spent almost a year confined to the hospital, unable to do anything but lie down." Lee reflected on the emotional toll the accident took on him during what he described as a formative time in his life. "I had just become an adult, full of dreams and ambitions. Suddenly, everything came to a halt. All I could do was think. I went through denial, anger, depression and eventually acceptance," he said. While Lee remained hospitalized, Jung Il-woo, who also suffered injuries in the crash and was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm, recovered more quickly and rose to fame through the sitcom "High Kick!" Lee admitted to experiencing mixed emotions as he watched his friend achieve stardom. "I hated myself for feeling that way," Lee confessed. "I wanted to cheer for him and celebrate his success wholeheartedly, but part of me felt impatient. I wanted to be recognized and make my mark in society, too. I wondered why I couldnt fully celebrate for my friend and felt conflicted." 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 Employees of the Korea Development Bank (KDB) were reportedly reassured regarding the bank's future following the passage of an impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol, which significantly reduced the likelihood of the KDB relocating its headquarters to Busan. More than a hundred workers left KDB during Yoon's time in government, protesting a proposal to relocate state-run financial institutions which are heavily concentrated in Seoul as part of an official push for more balanced regional development. The KDB was at the center of this plan. The plan, however, began to immediately lose momentum after the ruling People Power Partys (PPP) crushing defeat in the general elections in April. Under the circumstances, the National Assemblys passage of a motion to impeach Yoon in mid-December completely suspended the relocation project, sources familiar with the matter said. Id say KDB workers are relieved of their anxiety about moving to Busan, a member of the Korean Financial Industry Union said on condition of anonymity. The union is a labor group representing workers at private and public banks nationwide. The labor unionist noted that Yoon faces treason charges over his ill-fated declaration of martial law, along with the looming possibility of the president being ousted from office if the Constitutional Court upholds the National Assemblys impeachment motion. Even if the court vetoes the parliaments decision and Yoon returns to office, he may have to spend his remaining time in presidency as a lame duck, the labor unionist said. He noted that the opposition bloc dominates the Assembly whereas the PPP is currently dealing with internal struggle between Yoon loyalists and critics. The KDB saw 97 employees leaving in 2022 the first year of Yoons presidency when the relocation plan gained momentum with another 87 also leaving in 2023. Of these employees, more than 60 percent were in their 20s and 30s. Most worked at the state-run bank for less than five years, prompting the KDB to hire new employees. The KDB's labor union holds Chairman Kang Seog-hoon responsible for mismanagement of personnel after taking office in June 2022 as a parachute appointee. Kang, formerly Yoons economic adviser, advocated for the presidents KDB relocation plan. Well stop him from going for another term and pursuing a flawed plan, a KDB unionist said, referring to a rule that allows an extended term when a chairmans first two-year term expires. The bank should return to normal, and such a mission can be achieved under a new leader, the unionist said. Non-Korean residents become blue ocean in stagnant insurance sector By Jun Ji-hye The number of foreign residents in Korea who have signed up for insurance through domestic life and non-life insurance companies has exceeded 1 million for the first time, according to the Korea Credit Information Services (KCIS). With the continued rise in the number of foreign residents, coverage for non-Korean residents is emerging as a future growth engine for domestic insurers, whose growth has been hindered by the low birthrate and population decline in the country. Data from the KCIS revealed that the number of foreign residents insured through domestic firms reached 1.03 million as of September. This represents an increase of 56.3 percent compared to 2019 when the number stood at 660,000. Foreign residents in Korea are eligible to enroll in both national health insurance and private insurance, just like Korean nationals. As of September, there were approximately 2.68 million foreign residents in Korea, accounting for 5.25 percent of the total population. Among them, the number of long-term residents increased from 1.7 million in 2019 to 1.88 million in 2023. By September, this figure had surpassed 2 million, indicating a rapidly accelerating growth trend. With this rapid growth, from 2019 to 2023, the annual growth rate of insurance contracts for foreign residents reached 19 percent, surpassing the growth rate for Koreans, which stood at 13.2 percent. Foreign nationals exhibited a higher contract growth rate than Koreans across all age groups, with particularly notable growth among those aged 60 and above. In terms of contract distribution, foreign nationals had the highest proportions in accident insurance at 31 percent, followed by health insurance at 18 percent and automobile insurance at 14 percent. However, the insurance enrollment rate among foreign nationals stood at around 51.3 percent, significantly lower than the 88.3 percent for Koreans. As a result, the market for foreign nationals is seen as a blue ocean in the insurance industry, which has reached saturation with the majority of the domestic population already insured. "As the eligibility criteria for foreigners under the national health insurance system become stricter, the private insurance sector has the potential to grow by addressing the coverage gaps," a KCIS official said. Riding on the trend, insurance firms are actively competing to attract foreign customers by launching specialized products and services tailored to this demographic. Samsung Life Insurance established a dedicated sales organization specifically for foreign clients, while Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance operates a financial consultation center exclusively for foreign nationals. The number of foreign agents at five major life insurance companies Samsung, Hanwha, Kyobo, Shinhan and NH NongHyup and six non-life insurers Samsung, DB, Meritz, Hyundai, KB and Hanwha has increased by 55.1 percent from 2020 to May this year. Korea unlikely to attain ambitious goal of attracting 20 million inbound tourists by end-of-year By Lee Hae-rin Korea will consider a pilot program next year allowing Chinese tour groups to enter the country without a visa, as part of efforts to recover from setbacks in the tourism sector caused by President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law and subsequent impeachment, the government said Thursday. The initiative, aimed at boosting the nations tourism industry, was revealed during a meeting led by acting President Han Duck-soo at the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan District, Seoul. The meeting was attended by ministers and vice ministers from 11 ministries, as well as tourism industry officials and experts. The measures come amid concerns that the aftermath of the martial law fiasco could extend into the first half of next year. As the number of inbound visitors to Korea this year stood at 13.74 million from January to October, according to the Korea Tourism Organization, the countrys ambitious goal of bringing 20 million by the end of the year is unlikely to be achieved amid the ongoing political turmoil. The government has set a target of attracting 18.5 million foreign tourists next year. While this is lower than this year's target of 20 million, it exceeds the 17.5 million figure from 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, when foreign tourist numbers to Korea reached a record high. To achieve this, the government is actively considering allowing Chinese tour groups to enter the country without a visa. Currently, Chinese tourists are allowed to stay visa-free for up to 30 days, but only on Jeju Island. The government did not specify the duration of the visa waiver initiative. The move comes after the Chinese government implemented a visa waiver program for South Koreans. Since Nov. 8, the Chinese government has allowed passport holders from nine countries, including South Korea, to stay in China without a visa for up to 15 days. Chinese tour groups arriving by cruise ship can also disembark in Korea without a visa and stay for up to three days. The government will push for the plan as a pilot project and decide whether to make it a permanent rule after 2026. To prevent the potential for illegal immigration, the government will grant visa-free stays only to tourists invited by authorized Chinese tour group agencies. It will also strengthen regulatory measures for travel agencies to better prevent illegal stays. Meanwhile, the temporary exemption from the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) for foreigners entering Korea without a visa will be extended for another year until December 2025. In addition, the temporary exemption of visa fees ($15) for tourist groups from six countries, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia and India, will also be extended until the end of next year. The government also plans to actively host large-scale events and campaigns in the first half of next year to attract foreign tourists, allocating about 70 percent of the annual tourism budget for these initiatives. It will expand the Korea Grand Sale, held annually from January to February, to offer tourists discounts on airline tickets, department store goods, duty free products and convenience store items. Additionally, a Hallyu festival will be held in June next year. The Korea Beauty Festival will be expanded from June to July next year, and activities will be hosted to cater to foreigners visiting the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, inviting them to also go sightseeing in Korea. "The world's interest in Korean culture is driving more people to visit Korea, turning the everyday lives of Koreans into a key part of the tourism experience, Han said, noting that the countrys tourism market has recovered to pre-COVID levels. "Concerns persist that the recent domestic situation may hinder the recovery of Korea's tourism market. The government will implement various measures to facilitate the tourism market's recovery," he added. South Korea said Thursday it will impose independent sanctions on 15 North Korean IT workers and one entity over their roles in the illicit cyber activities to fund the country's nuclear and missile development. Fourteen of the 15 individuals, including Pak Hung-ryong, Yun Jong-sik and Ri Il-jin, are suspected of working overseas to earn foreign currencies through illegal cyber activities, such as crypto theft, to fund the North's nuclear and missile development banned under multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions, Seoul's foreign ministry said. All of them belong to the General Bureau 313 of the North's Munitions Industry Department, in charge of weapons production and related research and development. The department is also subject to the U.N. sanctions. The General Bureau 313 is alleged to be involved in the dispatch of North Korean IT experts to China, Russia and countries in Southeast Asia and Africa to fund the weapons programs and develop military software. Kim Chol-min of the same bureau is alleged to have worked for IT companies in the United States and Canada under false identities, sending large sums of foreign currency to Pyongyang. Kim Ryu-song was indicted in the U.S. earlier this month for years of violating U.S. sanctions. South Korea will also add the Chosun Kum Jong Economics Information Technology Exchange to its sanctions list, the ministry said. The entity is suspected of engaging in the dispatch of IT workers overseas and funneling the money they earn into the North Korean regime. Sin Jong-ho, an employee of the company, is also allegedly involved in the earning of hard currency. North Korea stole approximately US$1.3 billion in cryptocurrency in 2024, accounting for 61 percent of the global crypto theft for that year, according to an analysis by the global blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis. The amount marked the largest figure for North Korea's suspected crypto theft so far. The 2024 U.N. Panel of Experts report assessed that North Korea spent 40 percent of the money earned from the crypto theft on its programs for weapons of mass destruction. The sanctions will take effect Monday. (Yonhap) President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered the deletion of a public curfew in an initial draft of the martial law decree issued earlier this month, a lawyer for former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun claimed Thursday. Kim's lawyer, Yoo Seung-soo, said the former minister had originally written the draft that included the curfew, but Yoon ordered Kim to delete it in his review, citing the decree's focus on the National Assembly. "To sound an alarm against the National Assembly as intended, the president ordered its deletion to emphasize that the martial law is not targeted at ordinary citizens," Yoo told reporters. The decree issued shortly after Yoon's declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 included a ban on all political activities, including those by the National Assembly, among other restrictions. Kim, who has since resigned and been arrested over his alleged role in the incident, faces charges of insurrection and abuse of power in the prosecution's investigation. Kim's lawyers argued that as the martial law declaration was intended as a warning and within the president's authority, it could not amount to charges of insurrection. "The president's legal and justified declaration of martial law cannot amount to an insurrection," Yoo said. Lee Ha-sang, another lawyer for Kim, claimed that Yoon "clearly" ordered troops not to prevent lawmakers from entering the National Assembly during martial law, rejecting accusations that he instructed top military and police officials to block them. Lee also said Noh Sang-won, a former intelligence commander seen as a key suspect in plotting the martial law, has no connection to Yoon, noting the former minister worked a few times with him. "It is true that Kim sought advice from Noh," Lee said, adding he gave advice regarding a military leak in August and suspicions of a foreign power meddling in the election watchdog's servers. Lee also argued that preparing for martial law is a routine task for the defense ministry, rejecting accusations of such efforts as plotting for an insurrection. "As it is not known when the president could decide to declare martial law, preparation for it is a legitimate conduct of a minister's tasks," he said. (Yonhap) The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, or UNOWAS, is a United Nations political mission in Dakar, Senegal established in 2002 for diplomacy and political mediation in West Africa and the Sahel. Given the immense challenges faced by the people of West Africa and the Sahel, UNOWAS remains critical, said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield. One of those challenges is terrorism, she said. Governments are struggling to reclaim control over territory and are witnessing record levels of violence. And leaders who engage in heavy-handed counterterrorism tactics, while neglecting to address the drivers of marginalization, are only making the security situation worse. The security threat is further spreading into Coastal West Africa, as we see with recurrent attacks in Benin and Togo, and in the continual increase in displacement. According to UN reports, the Lake Chad basin has also experienced an uptick in attacks and abductions in northeastern Nigeria. Despite the terrorist threat, many examples of democracy remain in West Africa and the Sahel, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. We applaud Liberias and Senegals democratic transfer of power following elections this year and congratulate Ghana on its recent presidential and parliamentary elections. However, there are also clear signs of backsliding across the region, especially in countries shrinking their political and civic space by banning protests; arresting journalists and other civil society advocates; and curtailing freedom of expression. Leaders must reverse these deeply troubling trends. Human rights and freedoms must be respected, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. Across the region, millions of people are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, including more than 25 million people in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria. And across the region, nearly 33 million people are food insecure, warned Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield: The scale of displacement, according to [UN High Commissioner for Refugees], has also dramatically increased. The United States is the largest single humanitarian donor in Africa, having provided more than $6.7 billion dollars in humanitarian assistance across the continent in 2024. But this is not enough, and we cant do it alone. We, as the international community, need to do more. None of this work will be easy, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, but we must not waver in our resolve. Investigators issue 3rd summons to question president on Dec. 29 By Jung Min-ho President Yoon Suk Yeol exercised his power within the bounds of the law and the Constitution when he imposed martial law on Dec. 3, lawyers for former Defense Minister Kim Young-hyun claimed, Thursday. Kim is one of the key figures who allegedly plotted the martial law scheme with Yoon. In an apparent attempt to protect the president from allegations of treason and other legal risks, lawmakers Yoo Seung-soo and Lee Ha-sang also said Yoon told Kim not to block assembly representatives from entering parliament, where they voted to nullify the military rule about two hours after its imposition. As stated multiple times by the president, the goal of the martial law decree was to sound an alarm against the Assemblys unconstitutional behavior. If the goal was to impose martial law effectively, he would have deployed military forces in advance to block access to the Assembly and carried out the action under the cover of darkness, Yoo said during a press conference in Seoul. Yoo added that the president achieved the goal of sending a wake-up call and violated no law in doing so, claiming that the brief imposition of martial law does not constitute the criminal offense of treason. The Constitution says that a president has the sole authority to issue an emergency martial law, Yoo said. He did so to sound an alarm, and there were no casualties. After lawmakers vote to lift the decree, the troops apparently withdrew in an orderly way upon the direction of their commanders. The lawyers said the initial draft of the martial law plan was written by the former minister, who was arrested on charges of insurrection and abuse of power on Dec. 10. Yoon then ordered him to remove a part limiting citizens' freedom of movement, the lawyers said, adding that he did so out of consideration for the potential inconvenience it would cause to their economic activities and daily lives. Speaking of the reasons for the martial law decision, the lawyers also mentioned suspicions of election fraud a conspiracy theory popular among some far-right YouTubers and said it was necessary to investigate the National Election Commission. They also denied any connection between the president and Noh Sang-won, former chief of the Defense Intelligence Command. Noh, known to be close to the former defense minister, was arrested for allegedly playing a key role in drafting the martial law plan. Their denial comes amid investigations into Nohs notebook, in which shocking information about the martial law plan was written, including a plot to provoke military attacks from North Korea as a means of justifying the emergency measure. The lawyers said neither the president nor the former defense chief knew what was written in that notebook, but they admitted that the former minister and Noh had communicated in regard to issues related to election fraud speculation. Based on what was written there, liberal activists filed a complaint with the police the same day, accusing Yoon of provoking a military move by Pyongyang for his political interest. If what was written was true and implemented as planned, it would have caused military conflict and possibly war on the Korean Peninsula, the activists said in a statement. Yoon, Kim and other insurrectionists should be investigated thoroughly to get to the bottom of the matter and punished accordingly. Other shocking plots like removing certain politicians, journalists, judges and government officials were also written in the notebook. But so far, police have not been able to find any evidence showing that these were reported to the former defense minister or the president. After having so far failed to question Yoon over allegations of treason and other crimes, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials once again requested him to appear for interrogation at its office in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, on Sunday. The organization's first and second requests sent previously were ignored by the presidential office. Typically, if a criminal suspect refuses to comply with such a request without a justifiable reason three times, investigators ask the court to issue a warrant for detention. The investigative agency has been reviewing whether it would be necessary to request the warrant to enforce the law. How to respond to a potential third rejection by Yoon's office has not yet been determined, an official said. By KTimes Dissatisfaction is increasing among residents of Acro Vista, the apartment complex in Seocho-dong, Seoul, where President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee previously lived. Once a source of pride, the complex now symbolizes disillusionment following the controversial martial law declaration on Dec. 3. I used to support President Yoon since I saw him often as a neighbor, but not anymore, said Lee, a resident, 64. Watching the declaration of martial law made me think hes unfit to be president. If I ask a taxi driver to take me to Acro Vista, they always ask if I've seen President Yoon Suk Yeol. It's so embarrassing." Following the martial law declaration, public sentiment in the area, once strongly supportive of Yoon, has noticeably shifted. Yoon lived at Acro Vista for years before moving to the official presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul. His wifes exhibition planning company, Covana Content, was also based nearby. Many residents expressed disappointment and regret over Yoons actions. Jang Yi-taek, a 24-year-old student and resident, recalled his initial pride in sharing the same apartment complex as Yoon. After hearing about the martial law declaration, I felt betrayed and angry. I now regret voting for him, Jang said. A nearby resident, Ko, 33, noted that even neighbors historically supportive of conservative parties struggled to justify the move. This baseless martial law has only increased uncertainty about the future, he said. A mother in her 40s shared her childrens reaction to the controversy: They used to feel a sense of familiarity with the president and first lady after encountering them, but now they ask, Is the president going to jail? Its disheartening. Some residents also worry about the complexs real estate value. We thought having the president associated with the complex would boost property prices, but now were afraid theyll drop instead, said a woman in her 50s. Even casual conversations have shifted, as reflected by older adult residents who frequent the apartments sauna. They used to proudly talk about Yoon, but now they avoid political news altogether, asking for the channel to be changed or turned off, one resident remarked. Others expressed concern about the possibility of Yoon returning to Acro Vista after his presidency. Almost no one supports the martial law declaration, and most residents wouldnt welcome him back, another resident, Lee, 33, said. He voiced fears of disruptions: The complex could be overrun by supporters and protesters, creating chaos, or worse, someone might try to harm the president. 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. In 2025, Koreans will see a number of small and big changes, including some that will improve convenience in their daily lives and some that may even lead to changes in how they live. Among Korean companies, CJ Logistics is set to take what may be the most aggressive approach yet to promoting customer convenience while affording small and large companies here an extra day for their business. Starting from Jan. 5, CJ Logistics will begin delivering packages seven days a week, including on public holidays, under its "Everyday O-NE" delivery service. O-ne, pronounced oh-nae, means coming or visiting. The new service is expected to further intensify competition between CJ Logistics and Coupang Logistics Services, the logistics unit of e-commerce giant Coupang. Coupang has been strengthening its presence in the parcel delivery market with a seven-day delivery schedule and the next-day "Rocket Delivery" service. With the new weekend delivery service by CJ Logistics, more consumers will now be able to choose any day of the week to receive their orders or have their gifts delivered to their friends or loved ones on the exact day of their special occasions even when they fall on weekends. Korean firms are not the only ones with good, meaningful changes. Two renowned U.S. companies -- Meta Platforms, Inc. and Apple Inc. -- are also coming up with measures to better serve their Korean customers in the new year. Meta's photo-sharing app Instagram will introduce teenage accounts for users aged between 13 and 17 in South Korea starting next month as part of efforts to promote the safety of teens on social media. The "Teen Accounts" will limit unwanted contact and sensitive content, such as violent and sexually explicit materials, for their users. The accounts are also automatically set to only receive messages from other accounts they follow or have previously connected with, and hide potentially offensive comments and messages. Users will receive a reminder to close Instagram after spending a total of 60 minutes on the app each day. A parent or guardian will be allowed to supervise their teen's account, provided both the parent and the teen agree to the arrangement. Apple plans to launch its "Find My" service in Korea next year to help its users locate their Apple devices, personal belongings and even track their friends and family while ensuring the protection of their personal data. The introduction comes 15 years after Apple first created the feature in 2010. South Korea was the only country where Find My was not available due to unknown reasons. Some have speculated the absence was due to the government not providing map data to Apple, citing national security concerns. However, the Korea Communications Commission has clarified that there existed no restrictions on the service in the country. Amid mounting frustration among local Apple users, the company announced in September it will bring the feature to Korea in spring of 2025. On the systemic side, the cap on compensation for parents taking time off from work to take care of their child or children aged eight years or less will be raised to 2.5 million won ($1,738) per month starting in January, up from the current 1.5 million won, for the first three months of their leave. The cap will then drop to 2 million won per month for the following three months and to 1.6 million won for the next six months. The exact amount will vary depending on workers' ordinary wages. The government will also pay the full amount monthly, unlike the current policy where 25 percent of the amount is provided six months after the worker returns to his or her job. Early this month, Seoul also unveiled plans to have up to 70 percent of fathers take parental leave by 2030, sharply up from 6.8 percent in 2022, to help tackle the nation's pressing demographic challenges. The total fertility rate, which refers to the average number of expected births per woman in her lifetime, came to 0.76 in the third quarter, far below the 2.1 births per woman needed to maintain a stable population without immigration. The government is pushing to raise the fertility rate to 1 by 2030. In 2025, the minimum wage will exceed 10,000 won per hour for the first time since the country introduced the minimum wage system in 1988. The rate surpassed the 5,000 won mark in 2014. The minimum wage will increase by 1.7 percent to 10,030 won per hour next year from the current 9,860 won. The 2025 hourly wage translates to 2.1 million won per month, based on a 40-hour workweek. On the investment side, the government plans to resume stock short selling on March 31 after establishing a platform to monitor short selling that can help identify illegal transactions. Short selling has been a contentious political issue in South Korea, with retail investors often blaming the practice for driving stocks lower. Meanwhile, Korean students will see some changes in their schools next year. Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital textbooks will be introduced in local elementary and secondary schools, in response to a growing call for diversified learning content. AI digital textbooks have been pushed as part of the government's digital education innovation to offer diverse learning content through expanded virtual world (metaverse) and interactive AI technologies. The use of digital textbooks is also expected to make possible customized learning for individual students at different learning levels. Third- and fourth-grade elementary school students and middle and high school freshmen will be the first beneficiaries of digitally customized textbooks that will first be used for mathematics, English and informatics starting in 2025. Moreover, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to open an online classes-only school next year, allowing high school students to take courses that are not available at their own schools. The tentatively named Seoul Integrated Online School will open at the start of the new school year in March, and allow students to receive credit in the same way they do by taking courses at their own schools. The move comes in tandem with the scheduled start of a high school credit system, where students will be allowed to choose subjects they want based on their own career paths and aptitudes. (Yonhap) U.S. Ambassador to Korea Philip Goldberg was given honorary citizenship of Seoul on Thursday in recognition of his contribution to developing bilateral relations, municipality officials said. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon presented the outgoing U.S. ambassador with a certificate of honorary citizenship at a ceremony at City Hall. Goldberg is set to retire next month after assuming his current post in July 2022. "During his term of two and a half years, the Korea-U.S. alliance has grown even deeper and developed into a relationship that mutually supports one another very substantively," Oh said. "Even if you leave Korea, please always consider Seoul your second home." Goldberg said it was an honor to become an honorary Seoul citizen, and expressed faith in Korea's democracy and constitutional system, apparently referring to the recent political turmoil from President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched declaration of martial law this month. (Yonhap) Digital "textbooks" generated by artificial intelligence (AI), originally set to be introduced next year as part of the government's digital transformation efforts, will be utilized as "educational materials" rather than textbooks, officials said Thursday. The opposition-controlled National Assembly passed an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which defines AI-generated digital textbooks as educational resources. Under the revised act, textbooks are limited to printed books and e-books while AI-generated learning contents are categorized as supplementary class materials. School principals, rather than the education minister, will now have the right to decide whether or not to use the AI-based instruction materials. With the vote's passage, the education ministry's plan to introduce AI textbooks in English, mathematics and other courses at certain grade levels from elementary to high school starting next school year has been put on hold. Education Minister Lee Ju-ho said he will propose the parliament reconsider its decision, voicing concerns over "confusion" in schools and society. AI digital textbooks have been pushed as part of the government's digital education innovation to offer diverse learning contents through expanded virtual world (metaverse) and interactive AI technologies. (Yonhap) A probe into the top military intelligence commander's alleged involvement in martial law operations has been transferred to the military prosecution, the state anti-corruption investigation office said Thursday. Defense Intelligence Commander Maj. Gen. Moon Sang-ho has been under a probe by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) for allegedly sending troops to the National Election Commission's office on the night of President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law imposition on Dec. 3. He is also suspected of discussing martial law operations with Noh Sang-won, a former defense intelligence commander, alongside two other subordinates, at a burger franchise in Gyeonggi Province two days ahead of the martial law imposition. Moon was released from emergency arrest earlier this month after prosecutors rejected the police's detainment of him, claiming the military court has jurisdiction over the case. He was formally detained last Friday on charges of participation in critical duties related to the insurrection, as well as abuse of authority, after the case was transferred to the CIO. The CIO recently extended Moon's detention, initially set to end Friday, to Jan. 6. The military prosecution is expected to indict Moon after reviewing documents transferred from the CIO. (Yonhap) Han demands bipartisan agreement as condition for appointing Constitutional Court justices By Anna J. Park The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) submitted a motion to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo, Thursday, after he refused to accept the party's demand to immediately appoint three more Constitutional Court justices for President Yoon Suk Yeols impeachment trial. The DPK proposed the motion and reported it at a plenary session of the National Assembly, with plans to hold the vote on Friday. The Constitutional Court, currently operating with only six out of nine justices due to vacancies, normally requires seven judges to review cases. However, an injunction has temporarily waived this requirement, allowing the court to proceed with the impeachment case against President Yoon Suk-yeol, despite being understaffed. Yet an impeachment decision upheld by only six justices could face legitimacy concerns due to the significance of the issue. The motion to impeach the acting president came after Han issued an emergency public address to announce he would not appoint the new justices until the ruling and opposition blocs reach an agreement on the matter. The address was made about an hour before the opposition bloc approved their nominations at the plenary session, despite protests from the ruling People Power Party (PPP). In the address, Han called for the rival parties to reach a bipartisan agreement on the justice appointments. The opposition has called for the immediate appointment of two justices recommended by the DPK and one by the PPP, so the court can make decisions with a full panel of nine members. However, the PPP claims that the authority to appoint Constitutional Court justices lies with the president, not the acting president. "Once the ruling and opposition parties reach an agreement and submit their joint proposal on the matter, I will immediately appoint the justices," the acting president said during the address. Saying that historically, no Constitutional Court justice has ever been appointed without bipartisan agreement, Han argued that an acting president should refrain from exercising significant presidential powers, including appointments at constitutional institutions. "If such significant presidential powers are to be exercised by the acting president, bipartisan agreement must first be reached. It is the long-standing practice that has remained unbroken throughout the history of the nation's Constitution," Han noted. However, the DPK quickly moved to seek Han's impeachment, following through on earlier threats to do so if he refused to appoint the justices. While the vote for Han is slated for Friday, the required quorum for the impeachment vote is expected to become another point of political wrangling. The Constitution states that an impeachment motion against the president requires the approval of at least two-thirds of the National Assembly members 200 out of 300. However, an impeachment motion against a Cabinet minister only requires the approval of a majority, or 151 votes out of 300 lawmakers. The opposition argues that, since the acting president is the prime minister, the motion should require 151 votes. The ruling PPP, however, argues that since Han is serving as the acting president, the motion should meet the quorum requirement for a presidential impeachment. If the vote can be held according to the prime minister's standard, the 170-member DPK can pass the motion on its own, but if it follows the president's standard, at least eight defecting votes from the PPP would be needed. Meanwhile, the opposition bloc also approved the nominations for the three Constitutional Court justice nominees Ma Eun-hyuk, Jeong Gye-seon, and Cho Han-chang. Almost all PPP lawmakers boycotted the session, with only three Reps. Kim Sang-wook, Kim Yea-ji, and Han Zee-a participating in the vote despite their party's stance to abstain. They criticized their party's decision as "undemocratic and cowardly." By Neele Henry Seifert Korea and Germany, two nations with vastly different political histories, exemplify contrasting approaches to leadership changes and political crisis management. As both countries face pivotal political moments, their constitutional frameworks demonstrate how each navigates power transitions and maintains democratic legitimacy. In Korea, the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol has reignited debates about the constraints of the power of the National Assembly. Meanwhile, in Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholzs recent invocation of the Vertrauensfrage (vote of confidence) to trigger snap elections in February 2025 has drawn attention to parliamentary cohesion in a multiparty democracy. These events underscore how each country employs its constitutional tools to address crises and ensure stability. Koreas Constitution, shaped by its history of authoritarian rule, emphasizes curbing executive overreach through impeachment. An impeachment motion can be initiated by one-third of National Assembly members and requires a two-thirds majority for passage. Grounds for impeachment include constitutional or legal violations, and upon approval, the presidents powers are immediately suspended. The Constitutional Court then has 180 days to decide whether to uphold the motion. If confirmed, a new presidential election is held within 60 days. This mechanism has been used effectively, as seen in the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye in 2016 and potentially in the case of Yoon. During this suspension, the prime minister temporarily assumes presidential duties, providing continuity in governance. The impeachment process, however, is not exclusive to the presidency. The National Assembly can also impeach the prime minister, members of the State Council, heads of executive ministries, judges, justices of the Constitutional Court and other key public officials. This makes the Korean parliament a powerful entity with broad authority to scrutinize and suspend public officials. However, this strong parliamentary authority is not mirrored by mechanisms for dismissing members of the National Assembly. Neither the president nor the Constitutional Court can dissolve the legislature, ensuring its immunity from external interference. Only the National Assembly itself can vote to dismiss a lawmaker. This dynamic raises concerns about a potential power imbalance, as impeachment motions regardless of their outcomes can wield significant political influence. Koreas rigid electoral framework further compounds this, as presidential terms are fixed at five years and parliamentary terms at four years, with no constitutional provisions for early parliamentary elections. Germanys political framework revolves around the chancellor, the head of government and the nations most powerful political figure. Unlike Korea, the German chancellor is not directly elected by the people but typically emerges from the leading party in parliamentary elections. The chancellor can be removed through a constructive vote of no confidence, which requires the Bundestag to elect a successor with the majority of its statutory members. This mechanism does not require judicial approval and ensures continuity in governance by avoiding a leadership vacuum. While similar to impeachment in its aim of leadership change, the constructive vote does not necessitate constitutional or legal violations, making it a more flexible tool. However, it has only succeeded once, in 1982, when Helmut Kohl replaced Helmut Schmidt, reflecting the complexity of securing parliamentary agreement on a new leader in Germanys multiparty system. Another key mechanism in Germany is the Vertrauensfrage (vote of confidence), which allows the chancellor to test parliamentary support by formally asking the Bundestag for its confidence. If the chancellor loses this vote by not securing the majority of its statutory members, he can, within 21 days, request the president to dissolve parliament and call for snap elections within 60 days. This tool, recently invoked by Scholz and only used five times so far, provides a dynamic method to address political crises while preserving democratic legitimacy. This mechanism allows the Bundestag to initiate new parliamentary elections if deemed necessary, a flexibility not available within Koreas constitutional framework. Germanys president, in contrast to Koreas executive system, holds a largely ceremonial role and cannot dissolve parliament or dismiss state actors unilaterally. Although technically feasible, impeachment of Germanys largely ceremonial president is rarely invoked due to the offices limited authority. This institutional design reflects lessons from the Weimar Republic, where a powerful president with sweeping emergency powers contributed to political instability and the rise of authoritarianism. Korea and Germanys leadership change mechanisms reflect their distinct approaches to navigating the balance between stability, accountability and flexibility in governance. Koreas impeachment process underscores its vigilance against executive overreach, shaped by its struggle against authoritarianism, while its rigid electoral framework leaves limited room for dynamic crisis resolution. Germanys parliamentary tools, such as the constructive vote of no confidence and the Vertrauensfrage, reflect a commitment to stability and continuity born from the lessons of its troubled Weimar past, but they rely heavily on the complex interplay of coalition politics. To strengthen their systems, Korea could consider adopting mechanisms for parliamentary dissolution to address political impasses, while Germany might benefit from greater safeguards against executive overreach. Yet, these adaptations must honor the unique histories and political realities of each nation. As the political theorist Karl Loewenstein noted, A constitution that does not withstand crises is not worth the paper it is written on. Ultimately, constitutional mechanisms alone are not enough. A democracy thrives when its leaders and citizens engage with these systems responsibly, resisting the temptation to exploit crises for personal or political gain. This enduring commitment to democratic values, more than any single institutional design, is the foundation of lasting governance. Neele Henry Seifert is a student majoring in law at the University of Bielefeld. Acting President Han Duck-soo must promptly appoint Constitutional Court justices The issue of appointing three Constitutional Court justices has reached a critical point. On Thursday, the National Assembly passed a bill to name these justices, placing the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of Acting President Han Duck-soo. However, political tensions are escalating as the opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) threatens to initiate impeachment proceedings if Han delays the appointments any further. The DPK has set a deadline of Friday morning for Han to fulfill the demand, after extending the original deadline in an effort to push through the impeachment process on Dec. 24. Han has stated that he will not appoint the justices until both the ruling and opposition parties reach an agreement on the matter. At the same time, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) is resisting the idea of appointing the justices, arguing that Han, as acting president, does not have the authority to make such decisions. They claim Han is only temporarily filling in for President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose suspension does not alter his status as president. However, this argument is not only legally flawed, but it also stands in opposition to the position taken by both the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court, which have confirmed that Han does indeed have the authority to appoint the justices. The PPP's current stance is contradictory to its earlier position, when it urged Yoon to use his veto power to block various impeachment bills proposed by the opposition. The ruling partys actions now seem aimed at delaying the impeachment process in hopes of securing a more favorable court ruling in the future. This approach risks creating a dangerous precedent where political maneuvering, rather than legal principles, governs key decisions affecting the nations constitutional integrity. It is crucial that the appointment of the Constitutional Court justices be handled without political interference. The acting president must act promptly and decisively, exercising the power granted to him by law, regardless of political pressures from either side. The appointment of these justices is not a matter for party-based negotiations or bargaining. Rather, it is a constitutional duty that must be fulfilled to ensure the proper functioning of the judiciary and to allow the impeachment process to move forward as required by law. The impeachment process itself is a serious matter. It is not a political tool to be used in power struggles, but a constitutional mechanism by which the people hold their leaders accountable for any violations of trust. It is essential that this process be conducted in accordance with legal procedures and constitutional principles, rather than being influenced by partisan maneuvering. The delay in appointing the justices, driven by political considerations, undermines the Constitutional Court's ability to effectively carry out its role in overseeing such proceedings. In addition to the immediate concerns regarding the justices appointments, there are other significant issues that demand the government's attention. As the country faces mounting challenges across various sectors particularly in security, diplomacy, and the economy the delay in addressing these matters due to political disputes is highly irresponsible. The appointment of the justices should not be used as a bargaining chip in larger political negotiations. The government, under the leadership of the acting president, must take swift action to restore stability and normalcy to the administration. This requires that the impeachment process and other critical matters be addressed promptly, without delay or further dispute. Another issue that cannot be ignored is the ongoing controversy surrounding the presidents declaration of martial law and the allegations of stock fraud involving his wife, first lady Kim Keon Hee. The DPK has pushed for the appointment of a special counsel to investigate these matters, but this has also led to disputes about the constitutionality of such a move. There are concerns that the opposition's push for a specific special counsel could undermine the impartiality of the investigation. The process of investigating these serious allegations must be handled with utmost care to ensure transparency and fairness, avoiding any potential for political influence or interference. The solution to these challenges lies in close consultation and cooperation between the government, the ruling party, and the opposition. Political differences must not obstruct the countrys ability to move forward. The peoples trust in the government is at stake, and it is essential that the government acts in a manner that upholds the principles of justice and constitutional integrity. The acting president now faces a critical responsibility. He must not allow political disputes to delay his constitutional duties. The nations stability hinges on prompt and effective action in addressing the appointments of the justices, the impeachment process, and the investigation into serious allegations against the administration. It is time for Han to lead decisively and ensure that the country moves toward a more stable and lawful future. By Steven L. Shields Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea has its roots in the Protestant missionary community, which gathered in Korea in the mid-1880s. Primarily English-speaking, the missionaries launched into their work with gusto. Over the next decade, they began to issue missionary magazines aimed mostly at folks back home to excite donors about Koreas Protestant potential. The missionaries began arriving in the years of great turmoil in East Asia and Korea in particular. The tension over the peninsula between the three regional powers, Qing, Nippon and Russia, had divided Koreas elite. Many parties advocated change, such as the modernization of society in all aspects (government, economy, infrastructure). When a small group of diplomats and missionaries met in 1900 to form RAS Korea, there was a slight lull in the turmoil, enough of a break that many turned their attention to learning more about Korea and the region. Most missionaries were from the British Empire, so its unsurprising that they looked to the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland as leaders in Asian studies. The main goal of the founding brothers was to spread information about Koreas heritage. They had been told by many that Korea had nothing of note to contribute to the studies of history and culture. Their small society would change the shape of academia worldwide. The lull in 1900 was short-lived, and within a couple of years, the group quit meeting. The Russo-Japanese War, the 1905 protection treaty, and finally, annexation in 1910 effectively stopped extracurricular pursuits. As Korea moved into the new routine of foreign domination, RAS restarted but often trod lightly as the society tried to maintain political neutrality. This all came to an end when foreigners of the Allied nations were arrested and then expelled in the weeks following the declaration of war on Japan by the United States in late 1941. At the end of the Pacific War, missionaries were allowed back into a truncated Korea, arriving only in the southern part of the now-divided peninsula. As the South became an American satellite and installed the America-promoted Syngman Rhee as president, some, who had been RAS members got together again and restarted the society. Their enthusiasm was short-lived as the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950 put a stop to such programs. It wasnt until the late 1950s that RAS was again revived. During the 1950s, '60s and '70s, RAS Korea was in its heyday, and its membership read more than 1,000. During those years, as Korea was developing, the huge S military presence and the even larger affiliated civilian contractors and businesspeople offered an audience for which RAS filled the important purpose of lectures, presentations, cultural excursions and more. RAS was the only English-speaking organization engaging the ex-patriate community in such ways. Not only was RAS Korea then the worlds first and only Korean Studies organization, but the societys journal was, for decades, the only English-language journal publishing research on Koreas rich national heritage. Topics of history, geopolitics, religions, archaeology, anthropology, music and arts have been reported through more than 100 Transactions volumes, more than 1,500 lectures and possibly thousands of cultural excursions. RAS Korea was one of the first publishing enterprises to issue dozens of Korean history and culture monographs. What had been a membership-driven society funded by dues, events and book sales has declined significantly since the early 2000s. Membership numbers are the lowest in 60 years. RAS has increasingly had to rely on donations from organizations that were not necessarily part of RAS Korea. After several years of giving our level best, we have been unable to boost membership to adequate levels for support and have been thwarted in our efforts to find outside support. Weve had dozens of suggestions about grants and other funding sources, But weve already tried it all. I joined in the mid-1970s and have benefitted from and happily served RAS Korea. Ive been an excursions docent, an editor, a member of the RAS Council, and several years, most recently as vice president and president. Unfortunately, RAS Korea has reached a point of no return. In November, the RAS Council voted, with heavy hearts and an overwhelming sense of loss, to close the doors and dissolve the legal governing entity of the society. At the same time, we voted to find a new home for the RAS library. We hope to have an announcement about that in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the RAS office, which has been on the sixth floor of the Korea Ecumenical building at Daehag-ro in Seoul since the late 1970s, is now closed. After the holidays, we will vacate the office space. There is much to celebrate about the 124 years of RAS Korea's work. Now, the entire world knows about Korea. Korean and Asian Studies departments abounded in universities worldwide. Dozens of scholarly societies pursue their deep interest in all things Korean. There is good reason for hope in the future. RAS Korea has risen from the ashes over the past century and a quarter and may yet do so in the future. Rev. Steven L. Shields FRAS has been the Royal Asiatic Society Korea president since January 2021. He is a columnist for The Korea Times. Visit www.raskb.com for more information about the society. As Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently said, This has not been a good year for Iran. Its primary proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas, have been decimated. Its closest state ally, the Assad regime in Syria, has collapsed. Irans missiles have been proven ineffective. Many of its air defenses have been destroyed. Weakened though it may be, the Iranian regime continues to wield a strong and repressive hand against the Iranian people, especially those who have raised their voices in dissent or provided accurate news and information. On such example occurred in December when journalist Reza Valizadeh, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of collaborating with a hostile government. Valizadeh had worked for U.S.- funded Radio Farda, an outlet of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and sister station of the Voice of America. He left there in 2022 and worked in a variety of Farsi-language outlets. Reza Valizadeh returned to Iran to visit family in February 2024 and was arrested in late September. During his two court sessions in November, no prosecution representative was present; instead, the judge assumed that role. In addition to his 10-year prison sentence, Valizadeh was also sentenced to a two-year travel ban and other penalties. He is currently in Evin prison and reportedly has been denied visiting rights. At a press briefing, State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller strongly condemned Valizadehs sentencing, and called for his immediate release, and the release of all political prisoners in Iran. The Iranian Government has repeatedly suppressed press freedom through threats, intimidation, detentions, forced confessions and the use of violence against journalists in Iran, he said. The 2024 Press Freedom Index, published by Reporters Without Borders, ranks Iran number 176 out of 180 countries assessed. The assessment shows that Iran is continuing to keep up its reputation as one of the most repressive countries in the world in terms of freedom of the press. In his recent statement on the ancient festival Shab-e Yalda, when Iranians celebrate the longest night of the year, Spokesperson Miller said, On this Shab-e Yalda, we reaffirm our support for the Iranian people. Their courage in the face of repression and their unwavering pursuit of freedom inspires the world. We stand with them in their struggle, knowing that the dawn of a brighter future will come. By Jhoo Dong-chan SK Telecom topped the industry-wide National Customer Satisfaction Index (NCSI) rankings for the 27th year, according to the Korea Productivity Center (KPC) on Friday. Securing over 80 points this year, the company has topped the mobile carrier category for 27 years since the KPC started the list in 1998. SK Telecom has continuously done its best to satisfy the needs of our customers," SK Telecom said in a press release. We believe the list has reflected our long(-term) efforts. In a bid to maximize its customers' experience with artificial intelligence (AI), SK Telecom updated its conversational AI service, adot.ai, in August. The update includes upgrading its large language model (LLM) to offer a more natural conversation experience with users, strengthening its calendar scheduling service and revamping the apps user interface. Thanks to the upgrade, customers can now use the worlds cutting-edge LLM agents such as Perplexity, ChatGPT, Claude and A.X. The adot.ai agent also allows them to use customized services in music and media recommendations as well as stock investment. In September, SK Telecom also released the iOS version of the ZEM app, a self-monitoring app for customers aged under 14. Via the app, users can plan how much they will use their smartphone and what apps they will use during the day. Up to five guardians, who install the ZEM-For Parents app, can monitor the amount of time their kids spend on their smartphones and which apps they use. SK Telecom is the only mobile carrier that provides such services both on iOS and Android platforms. Last year, it also introduced a service plan exclusively designed for customers aged under 34 to offer up to 50 percent more 5G data in its package along with various coffee and movie ticket vouchers. According to the mobile carrier, seven out of 10 customers under 24 are using the plan. Hy tops NCSI rankings in milk category Dairy producer hy also topped the NCSI rankings for the 27th year in the milk/fermented milk category, the KPC said. It has held the top position on the list since the KPC began announcing rankings in 1998. The company stated in a press release that its relentless efforts to strengthen its probiotic technology are the reason behind its dominant position on the list. Hy has continuously worked on its probiotics technology to compete in the global market, hy Central Laboratory head Lee Jae-hwan said. Hy has been the No. 1 brand in fermented milk. We will continue our efforts to introduce better products in the future. Hy was the nation's first food company to establish a research center focused on dairy production technologies in 1976. Approximately 90 percent of the company's workforce hold master's or doctoral degrees. In a bid to strengthen its competitiveness, it also formed the Future Insight Advisory Committee, a joint study group with outside scholars to comprehensively analyze the dairy producers various probiotics. Renowned scholars, including Kim Yeon-soo, former Seoul National University Hospital head, and Gloria Kim, a cognitive science professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, are part of the groups advisory members. Samsung Card secures top spot in NCSI rankings in credit card category Samsung Card also secured the top position in the industry-wide NCSI rankings in the credit card category for the 11th consecutive year, according to the KPC. The companys strong performance reflects its unwavering commitment to safeguarding customers from the possibility of fraud. The credit card issuer also provides a comprehensive expenditure monitoring service to customers via its recently renovated in-app user interface. Collecting related data from its sister firms, Samsung Life, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance and Samsung Securities, it allows customers to get a wide range of financial analytic services in consumption, insurance, investment and pensions. In 2021, Samsung Card introduced the Samsung iD Card, a custom-made credit card designed by each cardholder. Each card is made with reusable plastic and low-carbon paper, a measure to fulfill its commitment to conserving environmental resources. To assist hearing-impaired customers, Samsung Card has provided an instant messaging service and a video-calling service. For disabled and older adult customers, its employees visit their houses during the credit card application review process. Samsung Securities named top brokerage in NCSI rankings Samsung Securities claimed the top spot in the NCSI in the overall Securities and consignment trading category, according to the KPC. The brokerage said in a statement that it offered differentiated asset management services for customers thanks to its diverse investment experts at home and abroad. Samsung Securities specializes in asset management for corporate customers, a Samsung Securities official said. We also provide networking events for CEOs and chief financial officers of renowned businesses here. It also offers custom-made digitalized asset management services for the mid and lower-income brackets as well as those in younger generations who just landed a job. Studying and analyzing each customers income and consumption flow, the firms one-stop digitalized consulting agent offers an ideal financial product for each customer. The brokerage also regularly collects each customers feedback to optimize the firms service structure, the official added. NCSI rankings this year Surveying over 300 companies, colleges and state-run institutions in over 80 industry sectors, the KPC has collected and studied related data to release the NCSI rankings with customer evaluations of products and services since 1998. This years overall customer satisfaction index averaged 78 points in 2024, down 0.2 points from the previous year. The NCSI has experienced a decline in two consecutive years, the KPC said in a press release. The prolonged downturn followed by low consumption adversely influenced the figure." By Nam Hyun-woo U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell called for the Department of States attention to the ongoing conflict regarding the control of the worlds largest zinc smelter, Korea Zinc, stressing the companys importance in Washingtons efforts to protect its critical minerals supply chains from possible Chinese leverage. According to Korea Zinc, Swalwell recently wrote to Jose Fernandez, U.S. undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, and asked for the U.S. governments attention to the ongoing battle between the company and an alliance between private equity fund MBK Partners and Young Poong Group. In the letter, Swalwell noted that Korea Zinc has maintained its position as a global leader in allied efforts to expand and diversify the supply of critical minerals and insulate these supply chains from PRC leverage, referring to China by its official name: the Peoples Republic of China. The congressman continued, stating that the companys technology and supplies enable major battery manufacturers in Korea, and across the globe, to have a reliable supply chain, free from PRC materials and technology. However, Swalwell noted that MBK Partners' close ties to China-based entities raise concerns about the potential transfer of Korea Zinc's technologies to Chinese firms. Given the focus and investment track record of MBK Partners, it is possible that PRC-based or PRC-financed entities may be welcomed into a variety of transactions, Swalwell wrote. This could result in technology transfer to PRC entities as well as the dismantling of an important global player in the joint United States-Korea effort to insulate and expand critical minerals supply chains from the PRC. The congressman added that he hoped that the undersecretary would continue to consult with Koreas Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that the pending transaction could be reviewed in a manner that takes U.S. national security interests into consideration. Swalwell is a founder and a co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Critical Materials Caucus. Korea Zinc and the MBK Partners alliance have been engaging in a fierce battle over securing enough shares to gain the companys management rights. Currently, the alliance is edging closer to gaining majority control of Korea Zinc, securing 40.97 percent of the companys total stake and 46.7 percent of the voting shares. The transaction is set to be decided at a general shareholder meeting slated for Jan. 23. As president-elect Donald Trump made his plans to deport millions of undocumented migrants known, Chinese border crossers began flooding group chats voicing fear that their stay in the U.S. could be precariously short. "Once Trump gets in office, he'll kick all of us out," said one. A letter written by Chinese migrants, pledging to obey U.S. laws and contribute to the country, began circulating soon after it was clear Trump had won. Those who signed the letter aim to present it to him on his inauguration day. So far, Trump has said he plans to declare a national emergency and use the U.S. military to accomplish his goal, as well as invoke the arcane Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to bypass migrants' due-process rights. Stephen Miller, his immigration policy adviser, has said that "vast holding facilities" will serve as "staging centres" for the operation. On November 19, Texas offered the federal government more than 1,000 acres near the southern U.S. border to host detention centres. Trump made immigration policy a cornerstone of his 2024 election campaign, often invoking polarising rhetoric to describe migrant groups. He has suggested the Chinese who entered the U.S. through the southern border were trying to build a covert army. On November 8, NBC News reported that Chinese migrants deemed of military age could be among the first targeted by Trump's plan, which he vowed to institute on "day one". The Trump transition team did not respond to a request for comment. But while Trump's deportation push is expected to surpass the scope of the efforts in his first term, it is likely to face significant legal and logistical challenges. Its success will also depend on cooperation from countries such as China that, until recently, have shown a lack of eagerness to repatriate their nationals. "My message to the [migrant] community is to get prepared but not overreact," said Jose Ng of Chinese for Affirmative Action, a San Francisco-based non-profit that provides support to Chinese immigrants. Ng said that many "undocumented" Chinese were unlikely to face immediate removal because they have pending cases in U.S. courts or may qualify for certain types of legal relief. Indeed, Tom Homan, Trump's new "border tsar", has said there will not be massive raids but "targeted" enforcement focusing on those with criminal backgrounds and outstanding deportation orders a group that experts note Joe Biden's administration has already prioritised. Still, Homan has encouraged migrants to self-deport. "Undocumented" is a term broadly used to refer to those who intend to stay in the U.S. but lack permanent legal status, regardless of whether they have overstayed a visa or entered the country without authorisation. Many have lived in the U.S. for decades, and most are not criminals. Various U.S. groups put the overall undocumented population at 11 to 13 million. But many individuals contained in that figure can qualify for or are in the legal process of obtaining permanent status, including through asylum. According to the Migration Policy Institute, about 241,000 undocumented Chinese were in the U.S. in 2021; that was before America began to see an unprecedented surge of more than 60,000 Chinese crossing its southern border without proper documentation between January 2023 and November 2024. Those with final-removal orders who have exhausted their right to appear in front of a judge are far fewer. Only about 72,000 Chinese received such orders between 1997 and 2024, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. Experts suggest that the recent wave of Chinese border crossers or others who entered during the Biden administration may be particularly shielded from Trump's plan, at least in its initial stages. "It's very unlikely that many Chinese who entered after January 2023 have a final order of removal because many of them are actually still waiting for their hearings," said Felipe Alexandre, an immigration lawyer who has worked extensively with Chinese clients in California and New York. Such hearings could take years to conclude, Alexandre added, citing the massive backlog in U.S. courts. Experts also say it is unlikely that Trump could bypass migrants' due process rights using the Alien Enemies Act, a measure intended for wartime use. "Some people on the political right argue that illegal migration can qualify as an invasion," said Ilya Somin, a law professor at George Mason University. But that's a "bad argument" that courts have rejected, he said, adding that the government would also have to show that a foreign nation orchestrated the movement of people. For those with removal orders, "it's a matter of [U.S.] Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) finding out where they are, picking them up and putting them on planes", said Stephen Yale-Loehr, an immigration law professor at Cornell University. But to carry out his full plan, Trump would have to ask Congress for more money to hire more ICE agents, create more detention camps for migrants awaiting deportation, and pay for flights, Yale-Loehr said. And that effort is likely to require Democratic support in both the U.S. House and Senate, where Republicans hold slim majorities. According to the American Immigration Council, a Washington-based pro-immigration group, a one-time mass deportation of an estimated 13.3 million undocumented people would cost at least $315 billion. Even with more funding, ICE would likely require some cooperation from U.S. states to identify individuals with removal orders - a push that could lead to stand-offs in some states. A number of Democratic lawmakers and governors, including those from California and New York which are home to the greatest numbers of Chinese migrants have indicated they would not cooperate with federal agents and would use legal tools to fight the administration's actions. The promises, partly driven by concerns over the disruption that a migrant exodus would cause to local economies, could lead to a patchwork of protections nationwide. Homan has threatened retaliation against non-cooperative states and law enforcement, but local authorities are not obliged to support federal immigration efforts. Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh of the Migration Policy Institute said that Trump in his initial months would probably seek obvious targets to show "high numbers and ease of removals", prioritising countries with friendly relations with the U.S., existing deportation or extradition agreements and geographical proximity. Topping that list, Putzel-Kavanaugh said, would be Mexico and Central American nations, instead of countries like China. Although not strictly required for deportations, China does not have a formal deportation or extradition agreement with the U.S.. It has also stressed a strict identity vetting process before accepting deportees. After a migrant with a removal order is apprehended by U.S. authorities, receiving countries generally need to verify that the individual is their citizen before accepting a limited number at a time for deportation. For Chinese nationals to be repatriated, U.S. authorities must provide their personal details often obtained through the immigration processing system to the Chinese embassy or consulates. The information is then forwarded to China's Ministry of Public Security, which tasks local authorities in the migrants' hometowns with verifying their identities an effort that may prove unsuccessful. Additionally, many Chinese will not have valid passports or other travel documents that ICE requires for removal, according to Sin Yen Ling, a former defence lawyer with 20 years of experience. In the past, China often would refuse travel documents for individuals with criminal records or denied asylum claims, Ling said. For years, the U.S. has accused China of stonewalling repatriation efforts, while Beijing has maintained that it would cooperate in returning those who could be confirmed to be Chinese citizens. In recent months, there have been some signs that Beijing's calculus has shifted. Although Chinese for decades have overstayed their visas in the U.S., the optics of tens of thousands of people leaving China, risking their lives traversing South and Central America and illegally entering the U.S., have not reflected well on Beijing. Washington has also been exerting greater pressure on China, and Chinese sources say the desire to improve tense relations has played a role in Beijing being more cooperative. This year, the U.S. and China have cooperated on at least four chartered deportation flights carrying a total of 475 Chinese citizens. The Chinese embassy in Washington told the South China Morning Post in a statement that China would continue to "strengthen international law enforcement cooperation and work with relevant countries to jointly address the challenges brought by organised migrant smuggling". That said, priorities could differ for the two sides. Beijing wants dissidents and fugitives returned and Washington wants to deport ordinary economic migrants. According to some observers, Beijing may be less eager to cooperate in the second Trump administration. "Friction over trade or human rights could well lead China to press pause on cooperation with the incoming Trump administration on migrants," said Thomas Kellogg of the Centre for Asian Law at Georgetown University, while noting that Trump's deal making approach could add pressure on Beijing. Other factors, though, work in favour of those seeking rapid removal. While several of Trump's plans would likely spawn lawsuits similar to those that stymied his first-term immigration policies he has experience from his first administration and, probably, Congress and the courts on his side. Since the start of his first term, the Supreme Court has reaffirmed that the president has broad powers over immigration, and the court's 6-3 conservative slant is the most pronounced in recent memory, thanks in large part to the three justices Trump nominated. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans have proposed using an expedited budget process to fast track deportation funding. Non-profits also say there are not enough resources to support undocumented migrants, including skilled immigration lawyers with language proficiency a particular issue for Chinese, according to Ng of Chinese for Affirmative Action. Without competent attorneys, the likelihood of losing a court case significantly increases. Chinese migrants who don't speak English may not be aware of their full rights, risking removal despite being legally entitled to stay. For the Chinese who do return, the future looks bleak. Chinese sources told the Post these individuals could face a three-year ban on applying for a new passport, inclusion on immigration blacklists and intense monitoring by local police and district officials. Some, based on China's Exit and Entry Administration Law, could pay fines or face prosecution because of the methods they used to leave the country and whether they played a role in smuggling others. Deportees' social credit would also likely be deducted and their children could encounter problems when applying for government jobs requiring political and background screening, sources said. And that does not count the backlash awaiting some migrants from people at home. "Please do not send them back to China, we don't want trash," said The Upright Brother Lei, a nationalist blogger with more than 600,000 followers on Weibo, after the U.S. announced its third deportation flight to China this year. For some still in the U.S., the fear of deportation has already come and gone. "All we can do at this point is abide by the law, prepare our asylum cases diligently and focus on living well," said Iris Zhao, who overstayed her tourist visa last year and whose brother and mother crossed the southern U.S. border earlier this year. "If, unfortunately, we are deported, we can only accept it as fate." Read the full story at SCMP. VMPL New Delhi [India], December 26: KnowDis AI, an AI company founded by IIT Delhi CS&E BTech alumnus Saurabh Singal, is proud to announce Mitesh Khapra and Anoop Kunchukuttan as the recipients of the prestigious KnowDis Machine Learning Award for 2024. Their remarkable contributions to AI, particularly in the domains of Indian language processing and AI applications in various industries, are reshaping the landscape of technology in India and beyond. Anoop Kunchukuttan completed his PhD in 2018 at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay, under the guidance of Prof. Pushpak Bhattacharyya at the Center for Indian Language Technology, where his research focused on machine translation and transliteration between related languages. Mitesh M. Khapra also conducted his research under Prof. Pushpak Bhattacharyya at IIT Bombay, with expertise in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning, further contributing to advancements in AI. Also Read | Egg Attack on N Munirathna Naidu: Karnataka Police Registers FIR After BJP MLA Attacked With Egg in Bengaluru (Watch Video). Dr Anoop Kunchukuttan, a Principal Applied Researcher in the Microsoft Machine Translation team and co-lead of AI4Bharat, is recognised for his groundbreaking contributions to AI and Indian language NLP. His work focuses on multilingual learning, machine translation, and instruction tuning of large language models (LLMs), addressing the unique challenges of India's diverse linguistic landscape. Dr. Kunchukuttan has been instrumental in building large-scale tools and resources such as the Indic NLP Library, IndicTrans, Samanantar Corpus, and IndicLLMSuite. These initiatives have bridged critical gaps in Indian language NLP, enabling AI systems to understand and process regional languages in a more effective way. His efforts have significantly advanced AI applications for machine translation, transliteration, and sentiment analysis, fostering inclusivity and accessibility for millions of Indian language speakers. Also Read | Xiaomi Pad 7 Launch in India on January 10, 2025; Check Expected Specifications and Features. Dr Mitesh M. Khapra is an associate professor at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Madras. He leads research in natural language processing (NLP) and deep learning, focusing on Indian languages. As part of the AI4Bharat initiative, Dr Khapra has developed scalable models and tools to bridge the linguistic divide in AI, enabling natural communication in India's diverse multilingual landscape. His work has laid the groundwork for more inclusive AI applications, ensuring that technology serves speakers of India's regional languages. Beyond academia, Dr. Khapra advocates for robust and scalable AI solutions that benefit industries such as healthcare, education, and e-commerce. KnowDis Machine Learning Award 2023 Recipients: Dr Sayan Ranu and Dr N.M. Anoop KrishnanThe recipients of the 2023 KnowDis Machine Learning Award were Dr Sayan Ranu and Dr N.M. Anoop Krishnan for their outstanding contributions to AI research. Dr Sayan Ranu is an Associate Professor at IIT Delhi, holding the prestigious Nick McKeown Chair in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and the Yardi School of Artificial Intelligence. His research focuses on machine learning, data mining, and graph-based techniques, with significant applications in healthcare and biomedical research. His pioneering work on graph data mining has enabled a better understanding of complex biological systems and molecular interactions, which has profound implications for drug discovery and disease modeling. Dr. Ranu has received several prestigious awards, including the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) Associate Fellowship (2023) and the Mrs. Veena Arora Early Career Faculty Research Award of IIT Delhi (2023). He has been recognised for his research excellence at conferences like WSDM and SIGMOD, receiving Best Paper awards and Outstanding Reviewer Awards. With five US patents to his name, Dr. Ranu continues to drive advances in AI for healthcare, solidifying his position as a leader in AI-driven solutions for biomedical applications. Dr N.M. Anoop Krishnan, an Associate Professor at IIT Delhi's Department of Civil Engineering, is a leader in the application of machine learning for materials discovery and process optimisation in civil engineering. Dr. Krishnan has been a trailblazer in developing AI technologies that improve efficiency, sustainability, and innovation in the civil engineering industry. His work focuses on using AI to optimise processes and create sustainable solutions for modern engineering challenges. His research contributions extend to over 100 publications and numerous patents that are revolutionising the way materials science is approached. Dr. Krishnan's achievements have earned him several prestigious awards, including the Google Research Scholar Award in 2023 and the W.A. Weyl International Glass Science Award in 2022. His work significantly impacts the global materials science community, advancing AI-based technologies for better engineering solutions. Previous Recipients of the KnowDis Machine Learning Award The KnowDis Machine Learning Award has recognised outstanding AI researchers since its inception, celebrating their contributions to various fields, including natural language processing, machine learning, and computational biology. Previous recipients of the award include Prof Mausam and Dr Manik Verma (2019), Dr Parag Singla (2020), Dr Partha Talukdar (2021) and Prof Pushpak Bhattacharya (2022). These distinguished researchers have made invaluable contributions to machine learning, shaping the future of AI applications in diverse domains. About KnowDis AI KnowDis AI is an innovative AI startup founded by Saurabh Singal, a former hedge fund manager and an alumnus of IIT Delhi and Carnegie Mellon University. KnowDis is well known for its world-beating NLP products, including recommendation systems and machine translation software. KnowDis AI models power IndiaMART's B2B platform. KnowDis is also involved in drug discovery using Artificial Intelligence. Find out more at: https://www.knowdis.ai/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (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 26 (PTI) The ruling BJP received contributions of over Rs 2,604.74 crore during 2023-24 while the opposition Congress got Rs 281.38 crore in its kitty, according to contribution reports of the two parties put in public domain by the Election Commission (EC). The donations listed in the reports were received till March 31, 2024 ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP had declared donations worth over Rs 740 crore ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, while the Congress had claimed to have received over Rs 146 crore in 2018-19. Also Read | Chhattisgarh Shocker: Woman Axes Husband to Death After He Threatens To Remarry To Have Child in Surguja, Investigation Underway. During 2023-24, while the BJP received over Rs 723 crore worth of donations from Prudent Electoral Trust, it also got over Rs 127 crore from Triumph Electoral Trust and over Rs 17 lakh from Einzigartig Electoral Trust. The Congress got over Rs 150 crore from the Prudent Electoral Trust, which was the sole trust donor to the party. Also Read | Ahmedabad: 2 Killed, 2 Injured As Massive Fire Guts 3 Trucks After Collision Between Vehicles in Bagodara, Video Surfaces. Interestingly, the Congress received multiple donations of Rs 1.38 lakh including those from top leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K C Venugopal and Digvijaya Singh, among others. Multiple donations were made to the Congress under the heading "Happy Birthday to our leader--JKB". The contributions declared by the BJP and the Congress do not include the donations received through electoral bonds as these have to be declared in the party's annual audit reports and not contribution statements. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is also a recognised national party, received contributions of over Rs 11.06 crore during the fiscal. Another recognised national party, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), received donations worth over Rs 7.64 crore. National People's Part (NPP), which is the only recognised national party from the North East, got over Rs 14.85 lakh in its kitty. The BJP was also a major beneficiary of electoral bonds purchased by big corporate groups like Vedanta, Bharti Airtel, Muthoot, Baja Auto, Jindal group and TVS Motors. The party also received Rs 3 crore through multiple donations from Future Gaming and Hotel Services Pvt Ltd owned by Santiago Martin, also known as the 'Lottery King' of India. He is under scanner of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax (IT) department for alleged money laundering. Future Gaming was also the biggest donor through electoral bonds route with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) being the top beneficiary. The company had donated Rs 542 crore to the TMC, Rs 503 crore to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Rs 154 crore to the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], December 26 (ANI): Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President BY Vijayendra in a press conference held on Thursday stated that the party would be holding a protest on December 26 to oppose the Congress convention taking place in Belagavi. Addressing the media, the President said "The BJP will hold a protest in Bengaluru on Friday opposing the Congress convention taking place in Belagavi." Also Read | Veer Bal Diwas 2024: PM Narendra Modi Pays Tribute to Sahibzades, Says 'Their Sacrifice Shining Example of Valour, Commitment to One's Values'. Further, the President alleged that the Congress was conducting the convention in Karnataka using the tax money of the people of Karnataka. "The Congress is conducting the convention using the tax money of the people of Karnataka. The protest will be held near the Gandhi statue at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru," he further added. Also Read | Pariksha Pe Charcha 2025: Registration Begins For PM Narendra Modi's Annual Exam Event, Know Steps to Register. Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah highlighted the reason behind the CWC meeting in Belagavi and stated that it was organized to mark 100 years of the 1924 Congress session. "To mark the 100 years of the 1924 Congress session, we are holding this convention here and AICC has taken the decision to hold a CWC meeting in Karnataka under the chairmanship of Mallikarjun Kharge," the CM said. Meanwhile, Congress MP and and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi arrived in Belagavi on Thursday to attend the two day meeting. Party leader Sowmy Reddy who arrived in Belagavi said that it was a proud moment for the Mahila Congress to take part in the meeting. Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Sowmya Reddy said, "It is a proud feeling for all of us from Mahila Congress to be here. The Congress party has always prioritised women. We are the ones who gave women reservation at the gram panchayat level. When Sonia Gandhi madam was president she said that they would give 33% reservation to women. It is a privilege to be a part of this historic event...." (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 26 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will chair the sixth edition of the Armed Forces Flag Day (AFFD) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Conclave, scheduled to take place in New Delhi on December 27, 2024. The event, organised by the Kendriya Sainik Board under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, will focus on raising awareness and mobilising CSR support for the rehabilitation, resettlement, and welfare of veterans, widows, and their dependents. Also Read | Bhopal Shocker: Three Miscreants Attack Youth, Chop His Nose With Knife After Fight in Madhya Pradesh; Probe Launched. At the event, Rajnath Singh will also felicitate key contributors to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund, recognising their commitment to the welfare of those who have served the nation. Other dignitaries attending the conclave will include Minister of State for Defence Sanjey Seth, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Secretary ESW Dr Niten Chandra, members of the CSR sector, veterans, and defence service personnel, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Defence. Also Read | Sabarimala Nada Temple in Kerala Witnesses Increase of 4 Lakh Pilgrims in First Phase. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday paid tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Lucknow. Addressing the public, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Atal Bihari Vajpayee's governance was appreciated by people around the world. "Atal Bihari Vajpayee's governance was appreciated all over the world. His good governance has brought the country to where it is today, and he showed how we can achieve good governance. The government of America has also said that if one wants to see good governance, they should come to India. Whether it was Atal's government or Narendra Modi's, we have achieved good governance today," Singh said while addressing the media. Further, he stated that governance could only be considered good when it fulfils the body, mind, wealth, and soul. "Governance can only be called good when it fulfils the body, mind, wealth, and soul. The Uttar Pradesh government has proven good governance. In the last eight years, India has lifted 25 crore people out of poverty - this is good governance. Our Prime Minister has fulfilled all his duties. Good education, employment, and many other schemes have been introduced for the people," the Defence Minister 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) Sangrur, December 26: Farmer leader of Kisan Mazdoor Sanghrash Committee-Punjab, Sharvan Singh Pandher, said on Thursday that 'Punjab Bandh' call for December 30 has gaining support from various groups. "Punjab bandh will be observed on 30th December from 7 am to 4 pm. We have received support from many unions and groups. Both Punjab govt and private offices will remain closed on this day. Rail movement and road traffic will also be closed on 30th December," Pandher said addressing a press conference at Khannur border. The protest organised by the farmers of Punjab at the Khanauri border in Sangrur district, near the Haryana border, entered its 318th day. They have been protesting since February 13, 2024, to press on their various demands including a law to guarantee the minimum support price (MSP). On Tuesday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann lashed out at the central government and said that they should abandon their "stubbornness" and open their way for talk with the farmers. Farmers Protest: Fight Will Last Till Last Breath, Says Jagjit Singh Dallewal Whose Fast Completes 28 Days for Kisan Rights. He also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and questioned him that if he can stop the war between Russia and Ukraine, then why can't he talk to the breadwinners sitting 200 kilometers away? Taking to social media X, the Punjab Chief Minister wrote in a post "The central government should abandon its old stubbornness and open the way for talks with the farmers' organizations... A cat does not run away when a pigeon winks.. I don't know what penance the central government is doing now?? If Modi ji can stop the war between Russia and Ukraine, then can't he talk to the breadwinners sitting 200 kilometers away? What time are you waiting for..?" Farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' March on Land Compensation Stopped at Noida-Delhi Border, Protesters Give 7-Day Ultimatum. Earlier, on the occassion of Kisan Diwas, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan emphasized the Central Government's commitment to farmers' welfare under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Srinagar, Dec 26 (PTI) PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said the alleged harassment of Kashmiri shawl sellers in Himachal Pradesh highlighted a "worrying pattern of targeted violence" and urged the governments to ensure a safe environment for them. "Kashmiri shawl sellers in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur District are facing harassment, assault, and threats from right-wing groups. Despite proper documents, they're being barred from doing business and evicted," Mufti said in a post on X. Also Read | Bhopal Shocker: Three Miscreants Attack Youth, Chop His Nose With Knife After Fight in Madhya Pradesh; Probe Launched. The former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir said it was the third such incident of its kind to come to notice and highlighted a "worrying pattern of targeted violence". "This othering of kashmiris will alienate them further. I urge @OmarAbdullah and @SukhuSukhvinder to intervene and ensure a safe environment for these traders," she said. Also Read | Sabarimala Nada Temple in Kerala Witnesses Increase of 4 Lakh Pilgrims in First Phase. The PDP president also condemned the lathi-charge on locals in Katra who were protesting against a proposed ropeway project for the Vaishnodevi pilgrimage. "The unwarranted crackdown on the Sangarsh Samiti has resulted in the arrest of 18 of its members," she said. Mufti said the "trend" of converting sacred sites into tourist destinations must be stopped as it not only threatens the livelihood of thousands but also disrespects the spiritual purpose and cultural importance of these sites. "Urge the authorities to reconsider the project and release the persons arrested," she added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Doda (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], December 26 (ANI): A potentially devastating forest fire that occurred in the Kellar Range near Bhaderwah of the Doda district was successfully extinguished through the combined efforts of the Indian Army 4 Rashtriya Rifles (Bravo company) and the local forest officials, as per a press release by the Indian Army. Range Officer Suresh Jamwal, and his team coordinated efforts on the ground, ensured a swift and effective response. Also Read | Veer Bal Diwas 2024: PM Narendra Modi To Launch 'Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyan' Today in Delhi. The timely intervention of the Indian Army played a crucial role in preventing the fire from spreading further and causing significant damage to the ecosystem and nearby villages, a statement from the release said. This operation highlighted the importance of collaboration between agencies in tackling natural disasters. The Indian Army's unwavering support to the civil administration during crisis reaffirms its commitment to serving the nation and protecting its citizen. (ANI) Also Read | Faridabad Horror: Class 11 Student Dies After Being Stabbed 14 Times by Men Armed With Knives and Sticks, 10 Accused Held After Disturbing Video Surfaces. (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 26 (PTI) The Delhi unit of Congress on Thursday said AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal is "blaming others" but his party is paying the price for being the "B-team of the BJP". This comes hours after the Aam Aadmi Party said it will push for the Congress' expulsion from the INDIA bloc if it fails to take any disciplinary action against its senior leaders within 24 hours, accusing it of colluding with the BJP and trying to harm the prospects of the Kejriwal-led party. Also Read | Simran Singh Dead: Popular Radio Jockey Known As 'Jammu Ki Dhadkan' Dies by Suicide at Her House in Gurugram, No Death Note Found. In a statement, Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav claimed that after the party released a 12-point white paper on Wednesday, "exposing Kejriwal's corruption", AAP's credibility hit a new low. It revealed the AAP's "betrayal" of the faith reposed on him by the people who had expected a transparent and honest government in Delhi, Yadav said. Also Read | Manmohan Singh Admitted to Hospital: Former Indian PM and Veteran Congress Leader Taken to Delhi AIIMS After His Heath Deteriorated, Say Sources. "With defeat staring at Kejriwal and leaders like Sanjay Singh, Manish Sisodia and Satyender Jain, who, after coming out of jail on bail, with the sword of arrest hanging over their heads still, have been desperately trying to salvage their damaged image and eroding support among the voters by blaming others for their plight, without admitting the fact that they were paying a heavy price for playing the role of the 'B-team' of the BJP," Yadav alleged. That Kejriwal has no control over his "dummy" Chief Minister Atishi became evident when the Delhi government departments issued a public notice to caution people that Kejriwal's promise of Rs 2,100 to women and health insurance for senior citizens have no government approval, the Delhi Congress chief said. AAP leaders collecting personal details of voters in the guise of registering their names for the schemes was a fraud being played on the gullible people, he said. "Delhi Congress had taken a consistent stand that an upstart like Kejriwal was dangerous for the people of Delhi, and Congress' stand was vindicated when he was jailed for corruption, along with his deputy Sisodia," Yadav said. "During his month-long Delhi Nyay Yatra, people said that Congress should not have aligned with a corruption-tainted Aam Aadmi Party in the Lok Sabha elections. People felt that had Congress fought the elections alone, its candidates would have been winners," he claimed. Earlier in the day, senior Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit complained to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena about the AAP's 'Mahila Samman' scheme, claiming that the ruling party was committing fraud with the women of Delhi. The Delhi government's Women and Child Development and Health departments issued public notices on Wednesday distancing themselves from the ruling AAP's promised schemes of providing Rs 2,100 to women and free treatment for the elderly. The two departments also cautioned the people against providing personal details to anyone on the pretext of registration for "non-existent" schemes, saying any private individual or political party collecting such physical forms or information is "fraudulent and without any authority". In a press conference earlier in the day, Chief Minister Atishi and senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh had accused Congress leaders Ajay Maken and Sandeep Dixit of targeting AAP instead of focusing on the BJP. It also claimed that senior AAP leaders refrained from making any offensive or critical remarks against the Congress or its leaders as the two parties were part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc. The Delhi Assembly polls are due in February. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dakshina Kannada (Karnataka) [India], December 26 (ANI): Mortal remains of Lance Havildar Anoop of the Maratha Light Infantry Batallion was brought to the Mangaluru International Airport. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brijesh Chowta offered his deep condolences on the death over the five soldiers who died in a road accident in the Poonch district. Also Read | Veer Bal Diwas 2024: PM Narendra Modi To Launch 'Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyan' Today in Delhi. Chowta who came to receive the remains of Lance Havildar Anoop, one of the deceased soldier said that the incident was a very unfortunate one. Speaking to ANI, the BJP MP said "It was an unfortunate incident which happened in the Poonch sector. As a former army officer and as an ex-serviceman, I offer my deepest condolences to the families of the five soldiers who have lost their lives... We have all come to receive his (Anoop) mortal remains. I pay my last respects to the departed soul." Also Read | Faridabad Horror: Class 11 Student Dies After Being Stabbed 14 Times by Men Armed With Knives and Sticks, 10 Accused Held After Disturbing Video Surfaces. Further, he said that the entire nation should stand with the families of the soldiers in their hard times. "I pray that God gives the strength to the family to bear this huge loss... The entire nation should stand with the families of the soldiers. It is because of them that the nation's flag flies high..." he further added. Chowta took to social media X and said that he had received the mortal remains. "When a Fauji brother from our region came home wrapped in the Tiranga... Received the mortal remains & paid my respects to Lance Hawaldar Anoop Poojari - whom we lost in the line of duty in the accident in Poonch - upon arrival at the Mangalore Airport late last night. Lance Hawaldar Anoop Amar Rahe..." the post read. On December 25, Indian Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi and members of the Indian Army also expressed grief over the death of the soldiers. Taking to social media X, ADG PI posted, "General Upendra Dwivedi and all ranks of the Indian Army express profound grief on the loss of Subedar Dayanand Tirakannavar, Lance Havildar Anoop, Naik Ghadge Shubham Samadhan, Sepoy Nikure Digamber, and Sep Mahesh Marigond in a tragic and unfortunate road accident while on operational duty in Poonch, J&K." (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], December 26 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav convened a 'Manthan 2024' meeting with state cabinet ministers and key officials from all departments at the Kushabhau Thackeray Auditorium (Minto Hall) in Bhopal on Thursday. The meeting reviewed the state's achievements over the past year and discussed a strategic action plan for future development. Key topics included the effective implementation of schemes aimed at youth empowerment, poverty alleviation, women's empowerment, and farmer welfare. Also Read | Simran Singh Dead: Popular Radio Jockey Known As 'Jammu Ki Dhadkan' Dies by Suicide at Her House in Gurugram, No Death Note Found. After the meeting, CM Yadav told reporters, "On the completion of one year of the government, we held a Manthan meeting with our ministers and officers, focusing on the four priorities set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi: the poor, farmers, youth, and women. This was done in coordination with various state departments. A development-oriented vision was established to ensure continuous progress across all sectors, benefiting the concerned groups and propelling Madhya Pradesh forward." The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction with the productive discussions during the meeting, highlighting the suggestions from ministers and the planning efforts to enhance the state's position. Also Read | Manmohan Singh Admitted to Hospital: Former Indian PM and Veteran Congress Leader Taken to Delhi AIIMS After His Heath Deteriorated, Say Sources. "I am satisfied that we had fruitful discussions throughout the day. Several ministers provided valuable suggestions, and plans were made to position Madhya Pradesh better, particularly in terms of economic growth," the CM said. He further emphasised that with the formation of the government, a strategy was devised to double the state budget, and efforts are underway to achieve this goal. "Continuous efforts are being made to promote small and medium industries in tier-2 and tier-3 cities while generating employment opportunities across sectors, including industries, agriculture, and animal husbandry. Additionally, we discussed increasing milk production capacity and enhancing the economic prosperity of cities," he added. The CM also announced that the next Regional Industry Conclave will be held in Shahdol district on 16 January 2025. He noted that the Global Investor Summit (GIS) is scheduled for February, with a focus on attracting investment proposals. The Regional Industry Conclaves serve as a prelude to the "Invest Madhya Pradesh-Global Investor Summit-2025." The GIS-2025 is set to take place in Bhopal on 7-8 February. Its primary objective is to establish Madhya Pradesh as a preferred investment destination and position it among the leading states in the country. The summit aims to showcase the state's resources, capabilities, and favourable industrial environment. (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, Dec 26 (PTI) Punjab farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Thursday said the call for a 'Punjab bandh' on December 30 is getting good support from various sections. The decision to give a call for a 'Punjab bandh' was taken last week by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. Also Read | Chhattisgarh Shocker: Woman Axes Husband to Death After He Threatens To Remarry To Have Child in Surguja, Investigation Underway. To ensure the success of the bandh, SKM (Non-political) and KMM convened a meeting of transporters, employees, traders and others at the Khanauri protest site on Thursday. "Punjab Bandh" will be observed from 7 am to 4 pm on December 30, he told reporters at the Khanauri border site. Also Read | Ahmedabad: 2 Killed, 2 Injured As Massive Fire Guts 3 Trucks After Collision Between Vehicles in Bagodara, Video Surfaces. There will be a complete bandh on December 30, said Pandher. However, emergency services will remain operational. Pander said traders, transporters, employees unions, toll plaza workers, labour, ex-servicemen, Sarpanches and teachers' unions, social and other bodies, and some other sections have lent their support to the bandh. Besides, common people are also supporting it. This bandh will force the Centre to accept the demands of farmers, the farmer leader said as he slammed the union government for failing to accept the demands of farmers. Farmers under the banner of SKM (Non-Political) and KMM have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces. A "jatha" (group) of 101 farmers made three attempts to enter Delhi on foot on December 6, December 8 and again on December 14. They were not allowed to proceed by security personnel in Haryana. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal (70) has been sitting on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border since November 26 to put pressure on the Centre to accept the farmers' demands, including legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP). Amid Dallewal's worsening health, on Wednesday, a delegation of Punjab's ruling AAP met the farmer leader at Khanauri protest site and urged him to take medical treatment saying that his health is "important". A senior leader of SKM (Non-political) Kaka Singh Kotra, who addressed the media at Khanauri on Thursday with Pandher, reminded the AAP leaders that "they sat on mass hunger strike when their leader Arvind Kejriwal was arrested. Now, why can't they go and sit and protest outside the Prime Minister's residence". Kotra felt that ruling AAP in Punjab was not exerting enough pressure on Centre to force them to accept protesting farmers demands. The role which they (AAP) should have played they have not done so, he said. "Will only Punjab farmers benefit if a legal guarantee to MSP is given," Kotra asked. Besides a legal guarantee on the MSP for crops, the farmers are demanding a debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in the electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21 are also part of their demands. (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 26 (ANI): The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliated organisations have begun preparations for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. The organisation plans to hold thousands of small meetings across the city to raise awareness on key issues such as development and the environment, while also encouraging people to vote. Also Read | Jammu and Kashmir: Protests Against Katra Ropeway Project Enters Second Day, Protestors Launch Hunger Strike Demanding Release of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti Members (Watch Video). A roadmap for this initiative was finalised in a meeting at the party office with top leaders from both the RSS and BJP. This strategy mirrors the approach adopted by the RSS during the Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections, which proved successful. Now, the same model is being implemented in Delhi. Also Read | Chhattisgarh Shocker: Woman Axes Husband to Death After He Threatens To Remarry To Have Child in Surguja, Investigation Underway. Instead of direct involvement by the main RSS organisation, leaders from affiliated groups have been tasked with organising small community meetings. These meetings, already underway, are aimed at discussing national, social, and environmental issues with local residents. According to sources within the RSS, these gatherings focus on raising awareness about important national and environmental topics, without direct reference to political parties or candidates. The goal is to encourage citizens to vote with consideration for these pressing issues, especially environmental concerns that affect daily life in Delhi. One of the key messages being conveyed is to vote with the environment in mind, in line with the RSS's broader vision during its centenary year, which emphasises five core themes, including sustainability. RSS workers are actively conducting meetings at the district and booth levels, urging local volunteers to engage people and spread the message. In these sessions, workers are being trained on how to approach the electorate and involve them in discussions. Over 13,000 booths in Delhi will be covered by RSS volunteers, ensuring a widespread grassroots effort. Earlier, ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly election, the BJP held a brainstorming session with the RSS at the BJP headquarters extension office in Delhi. The leaders discussed better coordination between the BJP and RSS for the election. According to a top source in the BJP, "A key meeting was held between the BJP and RSS regarding the Delhi Assembly elections at the BJP headquarters in Delhi today. Arun Kumar, who is overseeing the coordination of the BJP on behalf of the Sangh, reviewed the Delhi elections with BJP leaders." (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Baramati, December 26: Nationalist Congress Party-Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP) Member of Parliament Supriya Sule recently shared her personal views on the election recount issue in Baramati. Sule expressed her disagreement with Yugendra Pawar, the losing candidate in the Baramati assembly elections, who had requested a vote recount. "It is my personal view that Yugendra Pawar (losing candidate from Baramati assembly) should not ask for the recounting of the votes. Therefore, I asked him to withdraw the application for recounting, and he has done so," she stated. Sule, who has won four consecutive elections conducted via Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), defended the reliability of the system. "When I got elected four times by voting through EVMs, how can I claim there is a scam in it?" she questioned. Supriya Sule Should Apologise for Fielding Yugendra Pawar Against Ajit Pawar in Baramati Assembly Seat, Says NCP. However, she acknowledged concerns raised by some sections of society regarding electoral processes. "Many people are saying there are a lot of questions about the voters' list," she noted, highlighting ongoing debates over the legitimacy of the electoral process. The NCP leader underscored the importance of transparency in elections, regardless of the voting method. "If things are done transparently, be it EVMs or ballots, then what is the issue?" she asked. She added, "If people prefer elections using ballot papers, then let it be done that way. What is the problem?" Sule's comments reflected her belief in the necessity of a transparent electoral process and her opposition to the recount demands in Baramati. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for January 2025 on a plea filed by former Haryana Cabinet Minister and five-time MLA Karan Singh Dalal, seeking verification and scrutiny of EVMs used in the recent Haryana Assembly elections. Supreme Court Dismisses Plea for Ballot Paper, Criticizes EVM Conspiracy Theories, Says When You Lose, EVMs Are Tampered With; When You Win, EVMs Are Fine. The petition, co-filed with Lakhan Kumar Singla (a candidate in the Haryana elections), was presented before a bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna. Senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing the Election Commission of India, informed the bench that a similar plea had previously been withdrawn before a bench headed by Justice Dipankar Datta. In response, CJI Khanna directed that the petition be listed for hearing before Justice Datta during the week commencing January 20, 2025. Supriya Sule on EVM Tampering Row Pune, Maharashtra: NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule addressed concerns about alleged EVM and voter discrepancies, emphasizing the need for discussion and evidence before making accusations pic.twitter.com/elsdH3B0yz IANS (@ians_india) December 26, 2024 Dalal's petition, filed through advocate Aljo K Joseph, seeks a policy for EVM verification and compliance with a prior Supreme Court judgement on the issue. Dalal and co-petitioner Lakhan Kumar Singla, who secured the second-highest votes in their respective constituencies, have requested that the poll panel implement a protocol for examining the original "burnt memory" or microcontroller of the four EVM components: the Control Unit, Ballot Unit, VVPAT, and Symbol Loading Unit. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Agartala (Tripura) [India], December 26 (ANI): To celebrate the 121st birth anniversary of Vaishnavacharya Shri Manan Nambrata Brahmachariji, a blanket distribution ceremony was held at the Shri Shri Mahanam Angan in Banmali Pur, Agartala. The event was attended by prominent figures, including the Chief Minister of Tripura, Manik Saha, Mayor Dipak Majumdar, and other dignitaries. Also Read | Pune Kidnap-Rape-Double Murder: 54-Year-Old Man Abducts, Rapes and Drowns 2 Minor Sisters in Drum in Rajgurunagar Area, Arrested. During the occasion, Chief Minister Manik Saha distributed blankets to underprivileged people in need of warmth during the winter season. Additionally, he visited an old Kali temple, which is currently undergoing renovation, to inspect the ongoing work. "On the occasion of the 121st auspicious advent of Mahanambrat Brahmachariji, I participated in the winter clothing distribution program organized at Sri Sri Mahanam Angan in Banamalipur and distributed winter clothing to the needy. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the entrepreneurs for taking on this great initiative," the Chief Minister posted on X. Also Read | 'Shameful, Condemnable': Rahul Gandhi Slams Bihar Police Action Against Protesting BPSC Candidates in Patna. The event was a mark of respect and reverence for the teachings and contributions of Shri Manan Nambrata Brahmachariji to society. The ceremony reflected a commitment to uplifting the lives of the less fortunate and preserving the cultural heritage of the region. Earlier on Wednesday, CM Saha said that the recently concluded Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) would significantly benefit Tripura and other northeastern states by accelerating developmental projects in the region. Addressing a press conference, CM Saha stated that during the 72nd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC), all the Chief Ministers and Governors from the Northeast states attended and gained a better understanding of Tripura. Saha said that many people were not aware of Tripura. The representatives, after coming here, became well-informed about Tripura, its bamboo, agar, roads, and tourism. This is a great benefit for us. Meetings were also held on NESAC and the Bankers' Summit, where bankers from across the country participated. This is a significant advantage for us. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 4, 2024 shows a view of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian) BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- In a year marked by rising protectionism and "decoupling" attempts in the world economic arena, what has become of China's allure as a favored investment destination? Foreign enterprises' bullish moves have told a lot about it. As 2024 draws to a close, a recent landmark investment decision by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi has emerged as a compelling testament to global investors' consistent faith in the Chinese market. In early December, the company announced a plan to invest nearly 1 billion euros (about 1.04 billion U.S. dollars) in establishing a new insulin production base in Beijing. This will be Sanofi's largest single investment in China since entering the country in 1982. Sanofi has not been alone throughout this year in ramping up its commitment to the Chinese market. In the first eleven months, a record 52,379 foreign-invested companies were established in China, up 8.9 percent from the previous year, according to the Ministry of Commerce. In November, foreign direct investment in the Chinese mainland in actual use climbed 6 percent year on year. The influx of investors serves as a reality check for many China skeptics, who have spread a narrative of foreign companies fleeing the Chinese market en masse. But what allows China to maintain its pull for global investment? A key magnet is China's industrial system, which is the most comprehensive on a global scale and offers unparalleled supply chain advantages. It is the only country in the world with every industrial category classified by the United Nations, with its manufacturing added value constituting roughly 30 percent of the global total. This photo taken on Sept. 1, 2024 shows a dual-motor drive system for the new energy vehicle (NEV) in Yibin, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Tang Wenhao) The country's supply chain advantages for foreign investors present immense growth opportunities. Coupled with a vast consumer market of 1.4 billion people, the country remains a crucial destination for global investors. Michael Hart, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, recently shared his insight with Xinhua on why he does not believe that most foreign companies will leave the country. "One, they have invested in supply chains and built them up with their suppliers. Number two, there are no quick, easy replacement markets." Recognizing China's market potential and supply chain benefits, German optics giant ZEISS inaugurated a research and development (R&D) and manufacturing site in Suzhou, an industrial hub in east China, this year. Maximilian Foerst, president and CEO of ZEISS Greater China, said the site is a milestone in the company's efforts to localize R&D and expand its high-end product portfolio. China is a crucial sales and manufacturing base and an integral part of the company's global business, said Foerst. He noted that the company has full confidence in China's outlook and is committed to long-term investment in the country. As China pursues an innovation-driven growth model, the country's prominence in the global innovation landscape continues to increase. The Global Innovation Index 2024, released by the World Intellectual Property Organization, ranks China 11th among the world's most innovative economies, up one spot from the previous year. This makes China one of the fastest risers over the past decade. Riding the wave of China's innovation drive, ACWA Power, a Saudi Arabia-based electric power generation company, announced in October that it will establish a global innovation center in Shanghai. The center will focus on new technologies and products in areas such as photovoltaics, wind power and green hydrogen. Lyu Yunhe, executive vice president of ACWA Power, said China's supply chain companies in the renewable energy sector possess advanced technologies and competitive solutions. Establishing an innovation center in China will support the company's global strategy and project development, he added. To better allow foreign investors to leverage its advantages in supply chain, market and innovation, China has taken strides in further opening up this year. Throughout 2024, the Chinese government has unveiled an array of key measures designed to foster a more welcoming environment for global investors. These measures range from expanding access to key industries to initiating pilot programs that facilitate foreign investment. One of the key moves was the roll-out of the 2024 national negative list for foreign investment, effective Nov. 1, which removed all market access restrictions for foreign investors in China's manufacturing industry. This unprecedented breakthrough scraps the last few hurdles for global manufacturers entering a pillar industry of the world's second-largest economy. In addition to traditional growth drivers such as manufacturing, China is expanding its opening-up endeavors to the service sectors. In October, a pilot program was launched to allow foreign investors to operate wholly-owned businesses in value-added telecom services, such as internet data centers, and engage in online data processing and transaction processing. This program also grants greater access to cloud computing services and computing power service markets. To share with foreign investors the burgeoning opportunities arising from its population's increasing healthcare demands, the country announced a plan to further open up market access in its medical sector in September. A significant part of this plan is that hospitals wholly owned by foreign entities are now permitted to operate in China. Earlier this month, the first wholly foreign-owned, third-grade general hospital in China's history was officially licensed to provide medical services in the northern port city of Tianjin. As 2025 approaches, China is setting its sights on elevating its opening up to a higher level, building on decades of reform efforts aimed at increasing market openness. During the annual Central Economic Work Conference held this month, Chinese leaders identified "expanding high-standard opening up while keeping foreign trade and investment stable" as one of the key priorities for the Chinese economy in 2025. Notably, the meeting decided to expand "voluntary and unilateral opening up" in an orderly manner. "This means that China will embrace a more proactive strategy toward opening up," said Zhang Wei, vice president of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce, when commenting on the decision. As part of its agenda for the next year, China will expand the pilot programs in opening up such fields as telecommunications and healthcare while steadily advancing the opening of service sectors, including the internet and culture, according to the Office of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs. Zhang added that China would be more committed to building an institutional system that aligns with high-standard international economic and trade rules. "By improving the business environment and enhancing the transparency and predictability of policies, China will create a more level playing field for companies from home and abroad." Editor: WRX New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) As technological advancements like AI, machine learning and precision medicine revolutionise drug discovery, manufacturing and patient care, Indian pharmaceutical industry is set for a 'profound transformation' in 2025 with innovation, wider global access and improvement in quality becoming key themes for the future. The industry, which is expected to grow nearly two-fold to around USD 130 billion in size by 2030, is looking to take advantage of conducive policies, demographic and digital talent, in making India play a pivotal role in advancing global health for all. Also Read | Kolkata Fatafat Result Today: Kolkata FF Result for December 26, 2024 Declared, Check Winning Numbers and Result Chart of Satta Matka-Type Lottery Game. Currently accounting for around 20 per cent of the overall generic drug sales globally, the Indian pharma industry is focussing on research excellence and innovation in order to position the country as a global hub for high-quality, affordable pharmaceuticals. "The Indian pharma market is expected to move up to USD 120-130 billion by 2030 from the current size of USD 58 billion. Initiatives in terms of quality, innovation and wider global reach will help the Indian pharma sector to realise the potential," according to Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) Secretary General Sudarshan Jain. Also Read | Shillong Teer Results Today, December 26 2024: Winning Numbers, Result Chart for Shillong Morning Teer, Shillong Night Teer, Khanapara Teer, Juwai Teer and Jowai Ladrymbai. Given the conducive policies and the advantage of demographic and digital talent, India will play a pivotal role in advancing global health for all in years to come, he added. IPA represents 23 leading research-based Indian pharmaceutical companies like Sun Pharma, Cipla, and Dr Reddy's Laboratories, among others. Jain said innovation will continue to be a major focus for the industry going forward. He noted that the government is expected to soon announce the operational details of the Promotion of Research & Innovation Programme which would also spur innovation. Elaborating on the initiatives lined up in the private sector, he said that leading companies are increasing their focus on specialty portfolios and diversifying into higher-value drugs. "Additionally, the industry is set to make notable progress in areas such as CAR-T cell therapy, mRNA vaccines, and the development of complex molecules, which hold immense potential for driving future growth," Jain said. Besides, the patent expiries of blockbuster biologics by 2025 present a significant growth avenue in the global biosimilars market, he stated. Similarly, Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) Director General Anil Matai said the industry is set for a profound transformation in 2025. Technological advancements like AI, machine learning and precision medicine are set to revolutionise drug discovery, manufacturing and patient care, he said. OPPI represents research-based pharmaceutical companies, including AstraZeneca, Novartis and Merck, in India. Besides, strengthened regulatory frameworks will enable the swift adoption of innovative therapies while prioritising patient safety, Matai said. "A focus on research excellence and innovation will position India as a global hub for high-quality, affordable pharmaceuticals. Collaboration between policymakers, academia and industry stakeholders will address unmet medical needs, particularly in underserved regions," he stated. Also, adherence to Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) will uphold ethical standards, fostering trust and transparency across the healthcare ecosystem, Matai stated. Reflecting on the year gone by, Jain said 2024 has been a year of building on a robust foundation with sustainable growth and thrust on simplifying regulations and harmonisation with global standards. The PLI (production linked incentive) schemes have started seeing dividends with the launch of greenfield projects for the production of Penicillin G and Clavulanic acid, among others. Matai noted that the notification of the Patent (Amendment) Rules 2024, waivers for Phase 3 clinical trials for certain categories of drugs already approved in well-regulated markets, and the much-awaited Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states reflect India's progressive strides toward creating a dynamic, globally competitive pharmaceutical sector that is driven by innovation. Commenting on the healthcare segment, Fortis Healthcare MD & CEO Ashutosh Raghuvanshi said that the hospital market is projected to grow from nearly USD 99 billion in 2023 to an estimated USD 194 billion by 2032. "Our sector is not only expanding but evolving to meet the diverse needs of our population. This year has been particularly significant as hospitals have emerged as the leading recipients of foreign direct investment within the healthcare landscape," he added. Looking ahead, the industry must focus on several key trends that will shape the future of healthcare in India, Raghuvanshi said. "The ageing population will drive demand for specialised geriatric care, while a growing emphasis on preventive care will shift our focus from merely treating illness to promoting wellness," he stated. Additionally, the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and telemedicine will enhance diagnostic precision and operational efficiency, ultimately improving patient outcomes, he added. Commenting on the medtech sector, Poly Medicure MD Himanshu Baid said it is imperative for companies to step up their investments in R&D and innovation to sustain growth momentum. "The future belongs to those who can develop transformative technologies that address the healthcare needs of a dynamic and diverse world. With initiatives like the new medical devices scheme and a favourable regulatory environment providing the necessary foundation, India is well-positioned to expand its influence globally," he added. As the market is expected to reach USD 50 billion by FY30, the med-tech industry's growth story reflects the power of collaboration and self-reliance, he added. Metropolis Healthcare Promoter and Executive Chairperson Ameera Shah said as the diagnostics industry progresses from USD 13 billion in FY23 towards an expected USD 25 billion by FY28, it is fuelled by increasing awareness of preventive healthcare, an aging population, and broader insurance coverage. However, the path forward demands a strategic focus on technology, accessibility, and collaboration, she added. The future of diagnostics lies in embracing genomics, digitalisation and technologies such as AI, machine learning, and data analytics, Shah said. "Consolidation through mergers and acquisitions will be key to overcoming industry fragmentation, enabling companies to scale, expand reach, and ensure uniform quality," she 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, Dec 26 (PTI) Senior BJP leader Vijender Gupta Thursday claimed that the Vigilance Directorate has asked the Public Works Department of Delhi government to probe the source of expensive items found at 6, Flagstaff Road bungalow vacated by Arvind Kejriwal in October after resigning as chief minister. The Vigilance Directorate has asked the PWD to find out whether any government protocols were violated in purchasing these luxurious items, the leader of opposition in Delhi Assembly said. Also Read | Bank Holidays in 2025: From Festivals to National Holidays and More, Check Complete List of Bank Holiday Dates for Upcoming Year. Responding to the development, the AAP in a statement accused the BJP of pursuing sole agenda of "hurling abuses" at Kejriwal. "Let them conduct as many investigations as they want. So far, they have filed over 200 cases against us, and we have been acquitted in almost all of them, and we will ultimately be acquitted in the remaining ones also," the AAP said. Also Read | Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Dates: When and Where Is Mahakumbh? When Is Shahi Snan? From Important Dates to Key Locations, Here's All You Need To Know. The Vigilance Directorate, following orders of Delhi lieutenant governor, has instructed the PWD to investigate the matter and submit a report within five days, Gupta said in a statement. He had filed a complaint with the LG through a letter on November 20. The LG directed the Vigilance Directorate to investigate the matter on December 6, the statement said. In his letter to the LG, Gupta claimed that "discrepancies" were found in the lists of the items provided by the PWD at the reconstructed Flagstaff Road bungalow in 2022, and that of the items left behind by Kejriwal after stepping down in 2024. He claimed further that an inventory check conducted by PWD after Kejriwal vacated the bungalow, revealed presence of many additional luxurious items not supplied by the department. These included luxury toilet seats, expensive wash basins, reclining sofas, costly curtains, premium carpets, high-value TV sets, and refrigerators, he said. Gupta also shared documents including Vigilance Directorate communication to the PWD for the probe. The BJP has been raising the issue of Flagstaff Road bungalow calling it as "Sheesh Mahal", accusing Kejriwal of amassing top grade luxury items to have a comfortable living despite claiming to be a common man. In its statement, the AAP said, "The BJP is engaged in negative politics of filing false cases, and using ED and CBI to topple governments. However, nothing will stop Arvind Kejriwal from working for the citizen of Delhi." (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 26 (PTI) B2B manufacturing technology company Groyyo on Thursday said it has elevated its managing director (exports) Nitin Jain to the co-founder's position. Jain, who has been a part of Groyyo from day one, played a significant role in architecting Groyyo's exports shift and spearheaded the expansion of the company's international operations across various markets, including the UK, the EU, Australia, and South Korea, a company statement said. Also Read | Bank Holidays in 2025: From Festivals to National Holidays and More, Check Complete List of Bank Holiday Dates for Upcoming Year. "He has been pivotal in scaling our export order book in regions like the UK & EU, bringing on-board strategic customers like Next, John Lewis & Mango. We are confident his larger role will not only enable us to double down on these markets but also expand into newer & more exciting ones like Australia & South Korea," said Subin Mitra, Co-founder & CEO, Groyyo. Founded in 2021, Groyyo is backed by Tiger Global & Alpha Wave Global, among others. Earlier this year, it raised USD 5.5 million in venture debt from Trifecta Capital and Lighthouse Canton. Also Read | Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Dates: When and Where Is Mahakumbh? When Is Shahi Snan? From Important Dates to Key Locations, Here's All You Need To Know. (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 26 (PTI) A man who had set himself on fire near the New Parliament building is still in critical condition, police said on Thursday. "He received 95 per cent burns after he set himself on fire near the New Parliament building on Wednesday afternoon," a senior police officer said. Also Read | Bank Holidays in 2025: From Festivals to National Holidays and More, Check Complete List of Bank Holiday Dates for Upcoming Year. Police on Wednesday had said that security personnel deployed near Parliament rushed Jitendra of Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat to the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital. The man suffered 95 per cent deep burns and is undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the burns department. According to initial investigations, the man took the extreme step due to a dispute with some people back home in Baghpat. Also Read | Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Dates: When and Where Is Mahakumbh? When Is Shahi Snan? From Important Dates to Key Locations, Here's All You Need To Know. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, Dec 26 (PTI) The tourism industry witnessed a significant shift towards offbeat adventures, thanks to improved infrastructure and better visa regulations that made travel more accessible, convenient and exciting for everyone, industry players said. In 2024, Southeast Asian destinations have emerged as travellers' top choices and affordable travel and payment innovations played a significant role in driving growth this year. Also Read | Bank Holidays in 2025: From Festivals to National Holidays and More, Check Complete List of Bank Holiday Dates for Upcoming Year. According to a Cleartrip report, affordable travel options saw a doubling in adoption by Gen Z and Senior Citizens, reflecting the increasing inclusivity of travel offerings. Moreover, flexible travel payment options gained significant traction, with a 1.4 times higher adoption rate among Gen Z. "With relaxed visa and travel policies, Southeast Asian destinations have emerged as travellers' top choices. This year also marked a rise in the adoption of affordable travel options, particularly among GenZ and Senior Citizens, and an increase in flexible travel payment methods," Cleartrip Chief Business and Growth Officer Anuj Rathi to PTI. Also Read | Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Dates: When and Where Is Mahakumbh? When Is Shahi Snan? From Important Dates to Key Locations, Here's All You Need To Know. Southeast Asia continues to dominate as a favoured travel destination, driven largely by visa-free policies that simplify international travel, the report said. Notably, bookings to Denpasar (Bali) surged by 73 per cent compared to 2023, attributed to the launch of direct flights from Bengaluru to Bali by Indigo, making the destination more accessible to Indian travellers. Other international destinations also witnessed significant growth, including Tbilisi (27 per cent), Tashkent (100 per cent), Almaty (73 per cent), Da Nang (60 per cent), and Baku (133 per cent), it added. Domestically, beach and island destinations emerged as new favourites in 2024. Bookings to Agatti Island in Lakshadweep rose by 94 per cent, while Diu experienced a staggering 130 per cent growth, which were supported by the launch of direct flights, with Indigo connecting Bengaluru to Agatti and FLY91 linking Goa to Diu. Meanwhile, data by Booking.com found that travel in 2024 was an interesting mix of exploring both local and global destinations. Goa emerged as the top searched destination in 2024 experiencing a 200 per cent increase in flight searches year-over-year. Indian travellers also embraced cultural and spiritual exploration with Amritsar, for instance witnessing a 106 per cent increase in searches compared to 2023. Globally popular destinations like Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, London and Bangkok remained popular choices with flight searches reflecting a y-o-y surge of 90-150 per cent, it added. With ease of travel, offbeat destinations that were earlier not on the traveller's radar emerged as popular choices like Shahdag in Azerbaijan emerging as the top searched international destination based on accommodation searches in 2024. With Indian travellers seeking new experiences, unexplored international destinations like Stepantsminda (212 per cent), Baku (203 per cent) and Tromso (185 per cent) also emerged as popular choices, the global digital travel company stated. Domestically travellers sought authentic experiences with destinations such as Perumbakkam, Pangala and Tekkumuri gaining popularity, it added. In 2024, top searched attractions on Booking.com included iconic Indian experiences like the private car tour of the Taj Mahal from Delhi and the Old Delhi food and heritage walk. With sustainable travel on the rise, e-biking experience on the island of Divar in old Goa was also among the top 3 of most searched attractions in 2024. "With the popularity of destinations like Shahdag and Baku in Azerbaijan or Gudauri in Georgia rising, we see a shift towards offbeat adventures. Improved connectivity, infrastructure and better visa regulations are making travel more accessible, convenient and exciting for everyone," Booking.com Country Manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia Santosh Kumar added. (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 26 (ANI): The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) on Wednesday condemned the ongoing cases of enforced disappearances and targeted harassment of Baloch people in Pakistan, after the recent abductions of Zaman Baloch and Abul Hassan. In a post on X, BYC stated, "The enforced disappearances of Zaman Baloch and Abul Hassan highlight an ongoing pattern of targeted harassment against their family, who have endured relentless trauma, including multiple abductions and the devastating suicide of a cousin, Chakar Majeed." Also Read | Kazakhstan Plane Crash: Azerbaijan Airlines' Baku-Grzony Flight J28243 Crashes Near Aktau Airport, Killing 38, Say Officials. It also noted that on December 17, Zaman and Abul Hassan were detained by the District Chairman Hothman, and handed over to secret agencies. Notably, while their cousin Altaf was released, Zaman and Abul Hassan remain missing. This marks Zaman's third disappearance and Abul Hassan's second, underscoring a grave violation of human rights, the BYC observed. Also Read | 'Hanukkah Sameach': PM Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu Extend Hanukkah Greetings to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Jewish Festival of Lights. As per the BYC, the families of the abducted individuals have been protesting for the last three days, blocking the main CPEC road at Shapuk, Turbat, demanding their safe release. The BYC in its post said, "We stand in solidarity with them and call for the immediate release of Zaman and Abul Hassan." BYC also gave a call to establish an independent investigation into these enforced disappearances and called for an end to the systemic targeting of their family. "We urge authorities to act urgently and for civil society to amplify this demand for justice", the post concluded. https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1871962966624542953 The ongoing unrest in Balochistan is characterized by a disturbing pattern of abductions and killings, with a wide range of individuals including activists, politicians, journalists, and ordinary civilians falling victim to enforced disappearances by security forces. The Pakistani military is frequently accused of using enforced disappearances as part of a broader strategy to target insurgents or separatist groups. However, human rights organizations and Baloch nationalist groups contend that these abductions are primarily intended to suppress dissent. Enforced disappearances are often followed by torture and extrajudicial killings, further exacerbating the human rights crisis in the region. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Phnom Penh, Dec 26 (AP) A Cambodian court on Thursday convicted an opposition party leader of inciting social disorder and sentenced him to two years in prison, the latest legal assault on opponents and critics of the government of Prime Minister Hun Manet. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court also gave Nation Power Party president Sun Chanthy a permanent ban on voting or running for office and fined him four million riels (USD 1,000). He was convicted in absentia as he chose not to attend Thursday's brief trial. Also Read | US Shocker: Pizza Delivery Woman Stabs Customer, Steals Possessions After Dispute Over Bad Tip in Florida; Arrested. Sun Chanthy, 41, was arrested in May this year at Phnom Penh International Airport after returning from a trip to Japan where he held a meeting with several hundred Cambodian overseas workers. He spoke there critically about Hun Manet's government and urged that opposition political parties be allowed to operate more freely. Also Read | US Lawmaker Expresses Concerns Over MBK Partners Ltd's Takeover Bid for Korea Zinc. Under former Prime Minister Hun Sen, who held power for almost four decades, Cambodia was widely criticized for human rights abuses that included suppression of freedom of speech and association. He was succeeded last year by his American-educated son, Hun Manet, but there have been few signs of political liberalisation. Cambodia's government has long been accused of using the judicial system to persecute critics and political opponents. The government insists it promotes the rule of law under an electoral democracy, but political parties seen as mounting strong challenges to the ruling Cambodian People's Party have been dissolved by the courts or had their leaders jailed or harassed. Sun Chanthy had reportedly criticised the government's system of unfairness in issuing special cards to some poor families that allow them to receive social welfare handouts. The Justice Ministry explained that he was charged for his remarks about the cards because he had twisted information to dishonestly suggest that they would only be distributed to those who join the ruling Cambodian People's Party. Sun Chanthy had been a top leader of the former Cambodia National Rescue Party and was closely associated with its chief Sam Rainsy, the harshest critic and most popular opponent of the Cambodian People's Party for decades. Sam Rainsy has been in exile since 2016 to avoid serving prison sentences on charges of defamation, treason and other offenses, which his supporters consider politically motivated. The Cambodia National Rescue Party had been expected to present a strong challenge to the ruling party in the 2018 general election. But as part of a sweeping crackdown on the opposition before the polls, the high court dissolved the party, and the Cambodian People's Party subsequently won every seat in the National Assembly. Sun Chanthy then joined the Candlelight Party, the successor to the Cambodia National Rescue Party, but it in turn was barred from competing in the 2023 general election on a technicality. He later helped form the Nation Power Party in October last year. He chose not to attend Thursday's court hearing because he has been held in pre-trial detention almost 600 kilometers (375 miles) away and the drive would cause him to be carsick, said his lawyer, Choung Chou Ngy . He said to travel nearly 600 kilometers while handcuffed, it would feel like torture, the lawyer said. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kabul [Afghanistan], December 25 (ANI): The newly appointed Iran's ambassador to Afghanistan, Alireza Beikdeli, on Thursday stressed the importance of strengthening relations with the Taliban's Ministry of Interior during a meeting with Taliban Minister Eskander Momani. According to the Iranian Embassy in Afghanistan, Beikdeli emphasised enhancing cooperation between the two countries' interior ministries as part of strengthening cooperation and maintaining good neighbourly relations. Also Read | US Shocker: Pizza Delivery Woman Stabs Customer, Steals Possessions After Dispute Over Bad Tip in Florida; Arrested. "In a meeting between Alireza Bekdali, the acting head of the Islamic Republic of Iran's embassy in Kabul, and Eskandar Momeni, the Minister of Interior, the importance of strengthening cooperation between the ministries of Iran and Afghanistan within the framework of neighbourly relations was emphasised," the Iranian Embassy in Afghanistan said on X. Earlier, the embassy also stated that Beikdeli recently met with Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, to brief him on his diplomatic objectives in developing the relations and cooperation between the two nations. Also Read | US Lawmaker Expresses Concerns Over MBK Partners Ltd's Takeover Bid for Korea Zinc. "Alireza Bekdali, the new head of the Islamic Republic of Iran's embassy in Afghanistan, met with Foreign Minister Dr. Seyed Abbas Araqchi and, while presenting a report on the scope of his mission, explained the upcoming plans in the field of pursuing the development of relations and cooperation between the two neighbouring countries," the embassy said on X. Notably, Iran has not officially recognised the Taliban; it has increasingly engaged diplomatically with the group. This shift in Iran's approach reflects Afghanistan's growing geopolitical significance to Iran, particularly in terms of regional security and economic interests, Khaama Press reported. Looking ahead, this relationship could expand into areas such as trade, security, and regional stability, with Iran's future involvement with the Taliban likely influenced by both Afghanistan's political developments and broader regional factors. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Beijing [China], December 26 (ANI): Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi on Wednesday held a meeting and working lunch with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing, with their discussions focused on a wide range of issues, including economic cooperation, security concerns in the East China and South China Seas, and regional and global challenges such as Taiwan, Ukraine, and North Korea. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in a statement said, "The two foreign ministers, under a broad direction of comprehensively promoting a "Mutually Beneficial Relationship Based on Common Strategic Interests" and building "constructive and stable Japan-China relations," concurred that they would make joint efforts to reduce issues and concerns and increase cooperation and coordination. The two ministers confirmed that they would further strengthen communication at various levels and in a wide range of fields, accelerate necessary consultations and work, and make utmost efforts to realise concrete results by utilising opportunities including high-level communication and interaction, including between the leaders and foreign ministers." Also Read | Russia Using Bitcoin for Foreign Trade Following Legislative Changes; Check Details. Minister Iwaya during the meeting expressed Japan's serious concerns about the situation in the East China Sea, including the situation surrounding the Senkaku Islands, and the intensification of Chinese military activities, the buoys, and China's unilateral development of natural resources, and urged the Chinese side to address these issues. The Japanese Foreign Minister also expressed concerns about the situations in the South China Sea and others, and with regards to Taiwan, he stated that Japan is closely monitoring relevant developments, including the recent military activities, and reiterated that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is extremely important for the international community, including Japan. Also Read | INR vs USD: Indian Rupee Falls 10 Paise To Hit New Record Low of 85.25 Against US Dollar in Early Trade. The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on regional issues such as the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the response to North Korea, including the nuclear and missile issues and the abduction issue. The Japanese Foreign Ministry added, "The two foreign ministers also reaffirmed that Japan and China have an important responsibility in the peace and prosperity of the region and the international community and confirmed to actively engage in dialogue on the regional situation and global issues." This was Iwaya's first visit to China as Japan's top diplomat, according to Kyodo News. The last time a Japanese foreign minister travelled to China was in April 2023 when Yoshimasa Hayashi visited Beijing. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad, Dec 26 (PTI) Pakistan's military courts have convicted and sentenced another 60 civilians to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for their involvement in attacks on army installations during violence on May 9 last year, the army said on Thursday. The announcement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the military - came a week after the army announced the conviction of 25 individuals for involvement in attacks on military facilities when supporters of Imran Khan resorted to vandalism and violence during a protest against his arrest. Also Read | US Lawmaker Expresses Concerns Over MBK Partners Ltd's Takeover Bid for Korea Zinc. On May 9, 2023, Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters allegedly attacked several military installations, including the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and the ISI building in Faisalabad, to vent their anger against the arrest of their party founder in a corruption case. Hundreds of suspects were arrested in the countrywide swoop and at least 103 were handed over to the military authorities for trial due to their involvement in attacks on military installations. Also Read | Bapsi Sidhwa Dies in US: Renowned Author Known for Her Novel 'Ice Candy Man' Passes Away at the Age 86 in Houston. "Sequel to the announcement of the May 9 punishments in light of the Supreme Court's decision, the Field General Court Martial has promulgated the punishments to the following remaining 60 culprits after examining all evidence, ensuring the provision of all legal rights to the convicts, completion of due process and the appropriate legal proceedings, the army said. Top on the list of new convicts is Khan's nephew Hassan Khan Niazi, who was awarded 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the attack on the Jinnah House residence of Lahore Corps commander. The army also said that with the latest verdict, the trial of May 9 accused under military custody, has hereby been concluded under the relevant laws. "All convicts retain the right to appeal and other legal recourses, as guaranteed by the Constitution and law, it said. The army announced that the nation, government, and the armed forces remain steadfast in their commitment to upholding justice and ensuring that the inviolable writ of the state is maintained. The announcement of their verdict was delayed due to petitions filed in the Supreme Court against the trial of civilians. Though the final adjudication is still pending, the top court allowed the army to issue verdicts in the cases which have been completed. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Migrants wait to be deported in Tripoli, Libya, on Dec. 25, 2024. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) TRIPOLI, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Libya deported a group of migrants to Niger by land on Wednesday, the first such deportation in years, according to the Libyan Illegal Migration Control Department. The department said in a statement on its Facebook page that the deportation took place in the presence of Niger's charge d'affaires to Libya. The migrants were deported across the land border with Niger "for violating applicable Libyan laws" after completing necessary procedures, the statement said. It added that deportations of migrants from Libya to their countries of origin would continue. Libya became a major transit point for migrants, mostly from Africa, seeking to reach Europe by sea after the 2011 overthrow of its late leader, Muammar Gaddafi, plunged the country into chaos. The International Organization for Migration estimates that there are 787,326 migrants in Libya, with 41 percent of them reporting they experienced shocks such as environmental, political, or economic hardship before migrating to Libya. A Libyan staff member distributes documents to deported migrants in Tripoli, Libya, on Dec. 25, 2024. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) Migrants line up to get on a bus outside the Deportation Office of the Libyan Illegal Migration Control Department in Tripoli, Libya, on Dec. 25, 2024. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) Editor: Zhang Zhou Karachi [Pakistan], December 26 (ANI): A sit-in organised by the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) at the Numaish traffic intersection in Karachi entered its second day on Wednesday, protesting the ongoing violence and killings in Parachinar, Dawn reported. The MWM had called for nationwide protests to show solidarity with the people of Parachinar, who have been staging their sit-in for six days demanding justice and peace, as reported by Dawn. Also Read | US Lawmaker Expresses Concerns Over MBK Partners Ltd's Takeover Bid for Korea Zinc. According to the Dawn, both lanes of the main MA Jinnah Road at Numaish were blocked as protesters, including women and children, gathered in large numbers. A camp was set up at the intersection to accommodate the demonstrators, while traffic was diverted to alternative routes by the authorities to manage the congestion. The protest saw participation from a range of political, religious, and social leaders. Allama Shahenshah Naqvi, addressing the gathering, criticized both the federal and provincial governments, as well as security agencies, for failing to bring peace to the Kurram region. Also Read | Bapsi Sidhwa Dies in US: Renowned Author Known for Her Novel 'Ice Candy Man' Passes Away at the Age 86 in Houston. Naqvi accused the authorities of making empty promises while the situation in Parachinar worsened. Referring to previous threats from anti-state elements to turn Parachinar into a "Gaza-like" zone, he stated that this was now becoming a reality with innocent civilians, including children, paying the price. He also highlighted the ongoing road blockades, which have caused severe hardships for residents, escalating the situation into a humanitarian crisis. Naqvi further emphasized that the violence in Parachinar was not sectarian but part of a larger conspiracy involving both internal and external enemies. Other religious leaders, including Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi, Allama Mukhtar Imami, and Sheikh Sadiq Jafari, also addressed the protesters, voicing support for the people of Parachinar, Dawn reported. In addition to the Numaish sit-in, a similar demonstration took place on Abul Hasan Ispahani Road near Abbas Town, where protesters blocked both lanes, causing significant traffic disruptions. The traffic police managed the situation by rerouting vehicles to alternate paths. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) By Binod Prasad Adhikari Pokhara [Nepal], December 26 (ANI): Soaring high into the sky, embracing the picturesque Himalayas in the background, the first-ever International Balloon Festival of the Himalayan Nation has taken adventure tourism to newer heights. Also Read | US Shocker: Pizza Delivery Woman Stabs Customer, Steals Possessions After Dispute Over Bad Tip in Florida; Arrested. Participated in by 30 countries, the BYD International Balloon Festival is being held in the tourism capital of Nepal--the Pokhara City's Pame region, recognised for its adventure spots. "People are very much excited about this festival, not only the dwellers of Pokhara; I think the whole of Nepal is. I can feel that they're excited about this festival, and I've been briefed that more than 20 international pilots are coming in. All those pilots sharing their experiences in their respective home countries might also be one of the things that can promote tourism in their home countries. In the local tourism as well, people will be coming here, enjoying the ride," Sahil Shrestha, the CEO of Cimex Inc. Pvt. Ltd., the authorised importer of BYD in Nepal, the title sponsor of the festival, told ANI. Also Read | US Lawmaker Expresses Concerns Over MBK Partners Ltd's Takeover Bid for Korea Zinc. The nine-day festival covering a stretch of three kilometres, from Lauruk in Pokhara to Chankhapur in Pame, started on Christmas Eve and will be held till January 2, 2025. More than two dozen balloon companies around the globe, including the host nation, Nepal, have participated in the festival. The glimmering, snow-capped mountain ranges of Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, and Dhaulagiri in the early morning flights while the captivating sunset overseeing the Pokhara valley has been a chance no one would want to miss. "Having the Himalayas surrounding you, the local people take it for granted, but every time we see them, it's amazing. The best is when you fly in the balloon; you pass a certain height, and you go above the foothills, and the mountains are just there. Every time you see them, it's a spectacular sight," Derek Hamcock, one of the pilots from the US, told ANI after landing his balloon near the event venue. The concept of international balloon festivals isn't new. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, first held in the US in 1972, sees about 500 hot air balloons flying annually in New Mexico, attracting over a million tourists. Other notable festivals include the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta in England, the Saga International Balloon Fiesta in Japan, the Mondial Air Balloons Event in France, and the Cappadocia International Balloon Festival in Turkey. During the Pokhara festival, professional pilots representing different countries have been flying hot air balloons daily--in the morning, afternoon, and evening. The festival is expected to commence with about 500 commercial flights hosting around 3,000 passengers. In addition, another 300 non-commercial flights are also planned during the nine-day festival. The organisers estimate that Rs 68.3 million will be spent on the festival, which is expected to boost Pokhara's post-pandemic tourism recovery. Hot air balloon flights typically last around 40 minutes, offering a panoramic view of the Pokhara Valley, including the majestic snow-capped ranges of Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, and Dhaulagiri. (ANI) (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 26 (ANI): Leading the human rights movement of Pakistan, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has raised alarm over the rampant drug dealing and drug abuse taking place across Balochistan, allegedly under the supervision of the State. In a post on X, BYC noted, "Baloch Yakjehti Committee Mastung Zone held a press conference at Sarawan Press Club, Mastung. It was attended by members of the BYC Central Committee Shahji Sibghatullah Baloch and Sabiha Baloch. The press conference was aimed to address the issue of drug dealing and drug abuse being rampant across entire Balochistan under the supervision of the State." Also Read | Kazakhstan Plane Crash: Azerbaijan Airlines' Baku-Grzony Flight J28243 Crashes Near Aktau Airport, Killing 38, Say Officials. The BYC highlighted that the Mastung district of Balochistan has been made a centre for drugs where all types of narcotics are cheaply available. It noted that the territory of the drug access is spreading into areas such as Dareengarh and Pringabad which have become the hotspots of drugs. "The drug mafia has been operating with impunity under the supervision of the authorities. Baloch Yakjehti Committee urges the Baloch nation to unite against all social evils that are perpetuating the Baloch genocide. People must take notice of the drug dealers in their areas and inform the authorities promptly as responsible citizens," the BYC alleged. Also Read | 'Hanukkah Sameach': PM Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu Extend Hanukkah Greetings to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Jewish Festival of Lights. In its post, BYC concluded, saying, "Baloch nation must unite to raise awareness and take action against all such social evils and make sure the growth of a healthy environment for our young generations. #StopBalochGenocide" https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1871942924457451979 As per the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Balochistan has weak institutions, weak governance and poor law enforcement. The province is also marred by an unsettled security situation, difficult terrain and access, an uncertain water supply, and limited livelihood opportunities. Balochistan has the second highest headcount for multi-dimensional poverty out of all the provinces; at 71.2 per cent. Apart from the drug menace, Balochistan is also facing ongoing unrest due to a disturbing pattern of abductions and killings, with a wide range of individuals including activists, politicians, journalists, and ordinary civilians falling victim to enforced disappearances by security forces. Enforced disappearances are often followed by torture and extrajudicial killings, further exacerbating the human rights crisis in the region. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Damascus [Syria], December 26 (ANI): Violent clashes erupted in the Syrian village of Khirbet al-Ma'za in the southern countryside of Tartous, resulting in the deaths of 14 Public Security Forces personnel and three militants, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Syrian war monitor. The conflict began when a patrol team from the General Security Forces, under the Military Operations Department, attempted to apprehend Muhammad Kanjo Hassan, a former regime officer. Resistance from Hassan's followers and local gunmen escalated into a deadly ambush and further clashes. Also Read | Earthquake in Tajikistan: Quake of Magnitude 4.5 on Richter Scale Jolts Central Asian Country. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in a statement on Thursday said, "14 members of the Public Security Forces were killed in clashes with gunmen in the village of Khirbet al-Ma'za in the southern countryside of Tartous. Three militants were also killed, in addition to injuries on both sides." "The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that a patrol from the General Security Forces affiliated with the Military Operations Department was on a mission to arrest an officer in the former regime forces, Muhammad Kanjo Hassan, who held the position of Director of the Military Justice Department and Head of the Field Court from his place of residence in Khirbet al-Ma'za in the Tartous countryside. During the search for him, the wanted man's brother and armed young men from the officer's followers intercepted them and expelled the patrol from the village, set up an ambush for them near the village, and targeted one of the patrol cars," the statement added. Also Read | 'Ukrainian People Deserve To Live in Peace and Safety': US President Joe Biden Condemns Russian Missile Strikes on Ukraine. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights further said that the Military Operations Department sent military reinforcements to arrest the militants in the village, and violent clashes took place with the Military Operations Department elements. The Syrian Observatory indicated that violent clashes took place between gunmen from the village of Khirbet al-Ma'za in Tartous, and the General Security Forces affiliated with the Military Operations Department. The gunmen targeted a car belonging to the General Security Forces, which led to its burning, amid violent clashes between the two parties, and deaths on both sides. The Syrian opposition fighters took control of Damascus on December 8, leading to Assad's flight and ending his regime after over 13 years of civil war. Forces loyal to al-Sharaa have established a three-month caretaker government. On the same day, Qatar called for the swift lifting of sanctions on Syria, following the reopening of its embassy in Damascus and a high-level visit that marked a shift in diplomatic relations. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) [India], December 26 (ANI): The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the Tibetan government in exile, has released a statement on Thursday, highlighting China's systematic efforts to eliminate the Tibetan language, describing these actions as a "second Cultural Revolution" in Tibet. According to the CTA, these efforts include removing Tibetan from educational institutions, particularly in university entrance exams, which has raised concerns among Tibetan students, artists, and educators. Despite official denials, local reports suggest that Tibetan language may be excluded from upcoming exams, with the government using social media to gauge public reactions before implementing such policies. Also Read | US Lawmaker Expresses Concerns Over MBK Partners Ltd's Takeover Bid for Korea Zinc. According to the CTA statement, the Chinese government, since 2021, has systematically closed Tibetan language schools, especially in monasteries, and forced the closure of several Tibetan language programs. The crackdown intensified in 2022, targeting institutions that offered specialized Tibetan language education, despite prior government approvals. These actions align with a broader strategy of "cultural assimilation" outlined in a 2024 white paper, which emphasises "Chinese national unity" over ethnic identity. The policies aim to replace the Tibetan language and culture with Chinese, as evidenced by the closure of Tibetan language signage and the push for Chinese-medium instruction in schools. Also Read | Bapsi Sidhwa Dies in US: Renowned Author Known for Her Novel 'Ice Candy Man' Passes Away at the Age 86 in Houston. The article also highlights the forced separation of Tibetan children from their families and the promotion of Chinese language and "Patriotic Education" from a young age. This has led to protests in the past, such as the 2015 student protests in Malho Prefecture against the imposition of Chinese-medium education. The CTA has expressed concern about the future of the Tibetan language and culture, citing the increasing difficulty in preserving Tibetan traditions, including Tibetan medicine, astrology, and religious history. Despite protests and resistance, Chinese authorities continue to implement policies that threaten the survival of Tibetan culture, creating a growing linguistic and cultural crisis. The Tibet issue centres on Tibet's political status and its relationship with China.Tibet was an independent entity for centuries before the Chinese People's Liberation Army entered in 1950. In 1951, China claimed sovereignty over Tibet, leading to political unrest. In 1959, Tibetans revolted, and the Dalai Lama fled to India, where he has since led the Tibetan government-in-exile. China views Tibet as an integral part of its territory, while many Tibetans seek greater autonomy or independence. Human rights concerns, including restrictions on religious freedom and cultural preservation, remain central to the ongoing dispute. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Al Dhafra [UAE], December 26 (ANI/WAM): The Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority will host the second edition of the Al Wathba Dates Festival from 10th January to 28th February 2025 in the Al Wathba region of Abu Dhabi as part of the Sheikh Zayed Festival. The festival is held under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court. Also Read | US Lawmaker Expresses Concerns Over MBK Partners Ltd's Takeover Bid for Korea Zinc. The festival will feature 12 competitions for date packaging (both with and without additives) across six varieties: Khalas, Fard, Dabbas Boumaan, Shishi, and Zamli. A total of 120 prizes worth over AED2 million will be awarded. Additionally, a traditional market will showcase shops dedicated to dates and related industries and outlets offering agricultural tools and palm seedlings. Also Read | Bapsi Sidhwa Dies in US: Renowned Author Known for Her Novel 'Ice Candy Man' Passes Away at the Age 86 in Houston. The festival aims to raise awareness of the importance of palm trees, which aligns with the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan for the sustainable cultivation of palms. It also seeks to encourage the production and marketing of dates and related industries, while supporting initiatives that enhance food security and ensure its long-term sustainability. The Al Wathba Dates Festival attracts enthusiasts and visitors of the Sheikh Zayed Festival in the Al Wathba region, serving as a specialised platform for marketing and selling both Emirati and international dates and their derivatives. Beyond preserving the UAE's agricultural heritage, the festival promotes the exchange of expertise between farmers from around the world on advanced farming techniques, palm tree care, and authentic Emirati traditions.(ANI/WAM) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Hyderabad, December 26: The Department of School Education (DSE), Telangana, will release the hall tickets for the Telangana State Teacher Eligibility Test (TS TET) today, December 26. Registered candidates can download their hall tickets from the official websites, schooledu.telangana.gov.in or tgtet2024.aptonline.in, using their application number and password. According to reports, the TS TET hall ticket download link will be activated by noon. The TS TET 2024 exam is scheduled to be conducted from January 2 to January 20, 2025, at multiple exam centers across Telangana. The state-level exam is held for two teaching positions: primary teachers (Classes 15) and upper primary teachers (Classes 68). CTET Admit Card 2024 Out at ctet.nic.in: Hall Ticket for Central Teacher Eligibility Test December Examination Released, Get Direct Link and Know Steps To Download. Steps to Download TS TET Hall Ticket 2024: Visit the official TS TET portal. Look for the TS TET Hall Ticket Download 2024 link on the homepage. Click on the link to open the admit card page. Enter your application number and password. Submit the details. View and download the hall ticket in PDF format. Print a hard copy for future reference. Candidates must review the exam schedule, venue, and instructions mentioned on the admit card. For any updates or clarifications, they should refer to the official website. Early downloading is advised to avoid last-minute issues. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 26, 2024 10:24 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Mumbai, December 26: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday started a three-day exercise to assess his party's position in Mumbai, where civic polls are likely to be held next year, one of his close aides said. After the split in the Bal Thackeray-founded Shiv Sena in 2022, the recently concluded assembly elections were seen as a litmus test for Uddhav's party, which is a constituent of the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). BMC Elections 2025: Sanjay Raut Rebuffs Talks of Shiv Sena (UBT) Going Solo in Upcoming Civic Polls. However, the MVA performed disastrously winning only 46, including 20 by Sena (UBT), of the state's 288 assembly seats. Of the 36 assembly seats in Mumbai, Sena (UBT) contested in 21 constituencies and won 10. Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab said, Uddhav ji is taking stock of the poll preparedness of Sena (UBT) in all 227 municipal wards of Mumbai. The deliberations will go on for three days. Local body elections, including in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), could be held in March-April 2025 if the Supreme Court gives its verdict over the OBC (Other Backward Class) quota in January. Maharashtra Assembly Elections Results 2024: MahaYuti Outpaces Maha Vikas Aghadi in Mumbai, Set To Use Electoral Mandate To Win BMC Polls. Following the setback in the state polls, the Sena (UBT) is keen to retain the BMC, which is among Asia's richest civic bodies. The corporation's last budget outlay stood at nearly Rs 60,000 crore, higher than some states in the country. The five-year term of most municipal corporations, including the BMC, and many other local bodies in the state expired in 2022. In December 2021, the Supreme Court had ruled that reservation for OBCs in local bodies would not be allowed unless the government fulfilled the triple test laid down in the apex court's 2010 order. It had ruled that until the triple test criteria was fulfilled, OBC seats would be re-notified as general category seats. The triple test required the state government to set up a dedicated commission to gather data on the backwardness of OBCs in every local body, to specify the proportion of reservation in each local body in light of the commission's recommendations, and ensure that such reservation does not exceed the overall 50 per cent quota ceiling. New Delhi, December 26: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a member of the opposition INDIA bloc, on Thursday issued a stern ultimatum to the Congress, demanding action against its Delhi leader Ajay Maken within 24 hours, else the party would push for the Congress' removal from the alliance. AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, at a press conference here, demanded clarification from the Congress leadership and immediate disciplinary measures against Maken. Accusing him of making anti-AAP statements, they alleged that Maken has been acting at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "Ajay Maken crossed all limits on Wednesday by calling Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi's most popular leader, anti-national," Singh said. Delhi Assembly Elections 2025: Arvind Kejriwal Inducts Bodybuilders, Wrestlers and Fitness Influencer Rohit Dalal in AAP Ahead of Polls (Watch Video). He further accused the Congress of orchestrating smear campaigns against the AAP in collusion with the BJP, adding that the Youth Congress has even filed a complaint against Kejriwal and CM Atishi. Singh claimed that in the Lok Sabha elections, AAP campaigned for Congress candidates as part of the INDIA blocs strategy, yet Congress has been working against the alliance's spirit. "It appears that Congress' candidates list in Delhi comes directly from the BJP office. Funds for their candidates are also allegedly provided by the BJP," he alleged. Doubling down on the allegations, Atishi stated that sources have revealed BJP funding for Congress candidates in Delhi. "Sandeep Dikshit and the Congress candidate from Jangpura, Farhad Suri, are receiving BJP support. Its now evident that Congress has a nexus with BJP in Delhi elections," she claimed. Delhi Assembly Elections 2025: Congress Brings Out White Paper Targeting AAP, BJP; Ajay Maken Says Alliance Was a Mistake. "Ajay Maken's baseless and outrageous allegation of calling Arvind Kejriwal anti-national reflects Congress true intentions. Has Congress ever made such claims against the BJP? If Congress doesn't act against Maken, AAP will urge other INDIA bloc partners to expel Congress from the alliance." AAP will not tolerate attempts to weaken our position in Delhi or undermine the INDIA blocs mission. Congress must decide if it wants to stand with the alliance or against it," Atishi asserted. Maken, on Wednesday, had accused Kejriwal of corruption and administrative failure. His allegations included mismanagement during the Covid-19 pandemic and unfulfilled promises like implementing the Jan Lokpal Bill in AAP-ruled states. "Even after 3,652 days, the Jan Lokpal has not been implemented, despite these people coming to power on the promise of enacting it, he asked, adding: "Why have they not implemented the Jan Lokpal in Punjab, where they have complete autonomy?" "During the pandemic, when people were dying, Arvind Kejriwal spent crores on a luxurious bungalow. Even after 11 years, ration cards have not been issued to thousands of families in Delhi," Maken said. He also claimed that funds meant for welfare schemes were wasted on advertising campaigns. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 26, 2024 03:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Ranchi, December 26: In a brazen act of daylight robbery, two bike-borne criminals looted Rs 14 lakh from a petrol pump employee in Ranchis Kathitand under the Ratu police station area. The victim was on the way to deposit the cash at a State Bank of India branch when the incident occurred. The shocking crime, which unfolded in a busy market area, has left residents alarmed about the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. The employee, working for the Reliance Petrol Pump in Ratu, was carrying the days cash collections when he was intercepted by two criminals on a motorcycle. They snatched the bag of money and fled. Despite the area being crowded, the audacious crime went unchallenged, leaving bystanders stunned. Robbery Attempt Goes Wrong in Jharkhand: Minor Boy Dies, Another Suffers Severe Burns After Burning Candle Falls on Fertiliser During Break-In in Latehar District. The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras. A team from Ratu police station, on getting information about the incident, rushed to the scene. They have begun analysing CCTV footage from the petrol pump and other nearby areas to identify the culprits. The victim, who was carrying the money, is also being interrogated for more details. Authorities suspect that the criminals had been monitoring the employees routine, indicating prior planning. An FIR has been registered, and a city-wide checking operation is underway at major intersections to track down the culprits. Police are also investigating whether this incident is connected to a series of recent robberies in the region. This incident adds to a growing list of crimes in Ranchi and surrounding areas in the recent past. ATM Theft in Dumka: 5 Robbers Steal Over INR 20 Lakh From Indian Bank, Staff Assaulted and Locked Inside in Jharkhand (Watch Video). On December 25, jewellery worth Rs 14 lakh was looted from a jewellers shop in the Pandra Outpost area. On December 2, businessman Shaligram Mandal was killed during a robbery in Teen Pahad in Sahibganj district. The criminals, who gunned him down at around 10 a.m., escaped with Rs 11 lakh he was carrying to the bank. The brazenness of these crimes, especially in broad daylight and in crowded areas, has raised questions about the law and order situation in Ranchi. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 26, 2024 07:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). SANAA, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group said they launched two drones at the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Ashkelon on Wednesday, targeting "vital" and "industrial" areas. "We carried out two military operations, the first of which targeted a vital and sensitive zone in Tel Aviv city. The second operation targeted the industrial zone in Ashkelon city," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. "The two operations were carried out by two drones and achieved their goals successfully," he said in the statement, adding that the group's operations against Israel "will not stop until the aggression on Gaza stops and the siege on it is lifted." There has been no comment yet from the Israeli side. Earlier in the day, the Houthi group claimed responsibility for a "hypersonic ballistic missile" attack on Tel Aviv, which the Israeli army said had been intercepted. The Houthi group has ramped up its attacks on Israel following Israeli officials' pledges to initiate a significant offensive against it. Editor: Zhang Zhou Bareilly, December 26: A 45-year-old farmer was allegedly beaten to death over an old land dispute in Fatehgaj area here, police said on Thursday. The incident occurred on Wednesday night when Ahilkar, a resident of village Vandiya Khurd, was on his way to deliver food to his son at a field, said Fatehganj police station in-charge Inspector Santosh Kumar. At that time, some villagers stopped Ahilkar, hurled abuses at him and allegedly beat him with sticks before attacking him with sharp weapons, Kumar said. Varanasi Shocker: Man Shoots Dead Wife, 3 Children in Uttar Pradeshs Bhelupur Area; Hunt On for Accused (Watch Video). The farmer was taken to Faridpur Community Health Centre and given first aid, Kumar said. He was later referred to a private hospital in Bareilly city, where he died during treatment. The inspector added that the body has been sent for a post-mortem. Uttar Pradesh: 1 Killed, Another Injured in Clash Over Playing DJ Song at Wedding in Kokhraj Area. According to the police, the incident stemmed from an old land dispute. Based on a complaint from the deceased's relatives, a case has been registered against four individuals and an investigation is ongoing. New Delhi, December 26: Xiaomi is about to launch its latest tablet, the Xiaomi Pad 7, in India next year. The Xiaomi Pad 7 has already been introduced in China. The Indian version of the tablet is anticipated to have features that are quite similar to those of the Chinese model. The new tablet will be a successor to the Xiaomi Pad 6. The Xiaomi Pad 7 was introduced in China with the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro in October 2024. It is set to be launched in India on January 10, 2025, and will be available through Amazon India. The Xiaomi Pad 7 may come with black, blue, and green colour options. The Xiaomi Pad 7 is anticipated to start at a price of approximately INR 23,500 in India. OPPO A5 Pro Launched in China Featuring 6,000mAh Battery With 80W Fast-Charging; Check Specifications, Features and Price of Each Variant. Xiaomi Pad 7 Specifications and Features (Expected) Xiaomi Pad 7 is expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 chipset. The tablet may come with an 11.2-inch LCD display. The display of the device will likely support a 144Hz refresh rate and might deliver 800 nits of peak brightness, and 2,136 x 3,200 pixel resolution. The Xiaomi Pad 7 is expected to feature a 13MP primary sensor at the rear and an 8MP camera at the front. The tablet is anticipated to be equipped with an 8,850mAh battery, which will likely support 45W fast charging capability. Vivo Y29 5G Launched in India; From Price to Specifications and Features, Know Everything About Latest Smartphone From Vivo. The upcoming device is expected to run on HyperOS 2.0, based on Android 15. Additionally, the tablet is said to offer a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The Xiaomi Pad 7 is expected to come with a variety of connectivity options. It may include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4 for improved wireless device pairing, and an infrared port for remote control functions. Additionally, it is likely to feature a USB Type-C 3.2 port. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 26, 2024 01:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Moscow, December 26: Asma Al-Assad, wife of ousted Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, is reportedly battling acute leukemia with a 50% chance of survival, according to medical experts. Diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in May, the 49-year-old British-born former first lady is under medical observation in isolation to minimise infection risks. After surviving breast cancer in 2019, Asma has been receiving treatment in Moscow following the Assad regimes collapse in early December. Rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) forced the couple into exile, with Russia granting them asylum. However, reports suggest Asma is unhappy in Moscow and has filed for divorce in a Russian courtclaims dismissed by the Kremlin. Asma, Bashar al-Assad's Wife, Files for Divorce in Russian Court Weeks After Her Husband's Ouster From Syria; Wants To Move to UK: Report. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has stated that Asma, a sanctioned individual, will not be allowed entry into the UK. Lammy reiterated this stance following the Assad regimes downfall, citing her alignment with Bashar Al-Assads actions during Syrias civil war. Who Is Asma al-Assad? From Investment Banker to Syrias First Lady, Heres All You Need To Know About Ousted President Bashar al-Assads Wife. Born in London to Syrian parents, Asma holds dual British-Syrian citizenship and spent her early years in the UK, where she pursued a successful career at JP Morgan. She met Bashar while he was studying in London and married him in 2000. This latest development highlights the uncertain future of the once-powerful couple as they grapple with exile and serious health challenges. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 26, 2024 12:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Hard working Clean Up Laois Week volunteers discovered a shocking site of mass illegal dumping in Mountmellick early in the month. Over 100 black refuse bags filled with rubbish were found in the ditch beside the Portarlington approach road into Mountmellick. The discovery was made on Saturday, April 6 by a group that included Mountmellick Tidy Towns chairperson Kitty Creighton, and local teenagers carrying out community work to attain their Gaisce Award medals. Kitty spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live. We are absolutely shocked and disgusted. Its an ocean of waste, she said. There was good news on the jobs front in Portlaoise where retail giant Tesco opened a new supermarket on the Mountmellick Road in the Fairgreen Retail Park at Gandon Court. Tesco confirmed to the Leinster Express / Laois Live more than 40 jobs in the unit that was formerly occupied by Iceland. Meanwhile, the draft local area plan for Portlaoise Local Area Plan 2024-2027 went on public display listing a range of targets for the town. It predicted that Portlaoise would grow to some 26,400 residents by 2027, a huge jump from the 12,000 who lived there in 2002. A special tribute was paid to Joe Drennan at a journalism awards ceremony in the Mansion House in Dublin on Wednesday, April 10. The former fourth-year University of Limerick journalism student from Knocknagad, Camross, died in a hit and run in Limerick on October 13, 2023. MORE BELOW PICTURE. He had been the Editor of the Universitys newspaper. There was a standing ovation at the awards in the Mansion House after it was announced that from next year, the Journalism Relating to Road Safety Award would be renamed The Joe Drennan Award for Journalism Relating to Road Safety. A Garda investigation was launched after multiple cars were reportedly smashed by rocks thrown off an M7 motorway bridge at the Borris-in-Ossory Junction 21 exit on April 20. Gerry Kelly, who lives in Portlaoise, was hit just as he arrived to the area, to rescue a family whose car had also been smashed, as part of his job in a motorway breakdown rescue service. "There were people dropping rocks onto cars, not stones, rocks, he said. The sod was officially turned at the multi-million euro redevelopment of Portlaoise Presentation convent and it "couldn't come at a better time", said Sr Francis Crowe, a former resident of the convent. Sr Crowe was speaking to the Leinster Express/Laois Live during a visit by Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien to the county for the launch of the Church Avenue 52 social homes project. "We're 25 years trying to offer this site for social housing, and for all the obstacles and difficulties that we encountered, we're only getting there now. But maybe it was never a better time," said Sr Crowe. Zaragoza, capital of the Aragon region and fifth city in Spain, is arguably Europes best kept secret as a city break destination. Located between Madrid and Barcelona, Zaragoza is easily accessible from both cities in around an hour thanks to high-speed trains. With more than 2,000 years of history, Zaragoza is a melting pot of four ancestral cultures: Roman, Jewish, Muslim and Christian. Enjoy the lively streets of the old town, savour the delights of Spanish gastronomy in the many tapas bars and soak up the warm and welcoming atmosphere of this fascinating city. The Basilica of Nuestra Senora del Pilar is a symbol of the city and one of the most visited monuments in Spain. The Cathedral of the Saviour (La Seo) is Zaragozas first Christian cathedral and has a tapestry museum with an exceptional collection of Flemish tapestries. The Aljaferia Palace is an 11th century fortress, which was at different times an Islamic palace, a Medieval mudejar palace and a palace of the Catholic Monarchs, of impressive beauty and wealth. A museum is dedicated to Pablo Gargallo - one of the most important and innovative of the 20th century. Local gastronomy is another important reason to visit Zaragoza. Taste typical Aragonese products such as suckling lamb, borage, olive oil, Serrano ham from Teruel, and the excellent Aragonese wines. Aragonese Grenache is renowned worldwide and it is one of the mainstays of the excellent gastronomic panorama of the region. Zaragoza is also famous for its wide and varied green spaces. Three rivers and a canal run through the city, creating an ideal environment for nature lovers and outdoor activities, providing a refreshing respite amidst the urban hustle and bustle. The citys parks are true oases of tranquility and beauty, perfect for relaxing and enjoying nature. The Parque Grande Jose Antonio Labordeta, with its majestic tree-lined walks and ornamental fountains, is ideal for long walks or family picnics. The Parque del Agua Luis Bunuel, bordered by the riverside groves of the Ebro, offers walking or biking paths and family activities. Parque Bruil is a charming green corner that combines history and nature in the heart of the city. Zaragoza is also a festive city with events throughout the year. Dont miss Holy Week, the Fiestas del Pilar in October, the International Urban Art Festival "Asalto," the Ibero-American Music Culture Festival "Vive Latino" in September, and the Zaragoza Jazz Festival in November, among others. Overall, lovers of contemporary architecture will also appreciate Zaragoza. The site of the Expo Zaragoza 2008 is a perfect example of avant-garde architecture, featuring iconic buildings such as the Zaha Hadid Bridge Pavilion, the Water Tower, and the River Aquarium, the largest in Europe. All in all, a wonderfully diverse and thrilling city - and definitely worth a visit in 2025! GETTING THERE: Aer Lingus, Ryanair and Iberia Express run daily flights between Madrid and Barcelona and a high speed train from either city to Zaragoza with Renfe railway company (renfe.com) takes around 60 minutes. For more information, see https://www.spain.info/en/destination/zaragoza/ 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. Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Economy of Ukraine Two words that define Ukraines economy this year? Resilience and recovery. Despite attacks on energy infrastructure, the destruction of factories, and countless wartime challenges, Ukraines economy continues to grow. Over the past 11 months, GDP reached 4%. The Economist has highlighted Ukraines success in winning the economic war against russia. Even the IMF, which has been traditionally cautious, revised its GDP growth forecast for Ukraine in 2024, increasing it from 3% to 4%. Whether Ukraine is truly economically outperforming russia, will become clear once the war ends. However, we can already analyze the factors driving our economy forward today. For me, 2024 has been the year of Ukrainian manufacturers. In February, the President initiated the Made in Ukraine policy aimed at fostering economic growth by restructuring the economy. Currently, processing industry accounts for around 10% of GDPhalf the OECD benchmark which is considered a normal target. Achieving this goal shapes the design and focus of key programs implemented by the Ministry of Economy, which contribute to positive economic dynamics. In particular, we are focused on creating conditions where producing, investing in production, and exporting high-value-added goods are economically advantageous in Ukraine. These efforts are already visible. Of the 4% overall GDP growth this year, the "Made in Ukraine" initiative alone contributed 0.64%or more than UAH 88 billionaccording to Ministry of Economy calculations. Manufacturing has become a leading sector in tax contributions. In the first three quarters of 2024, it accounted for 16.7% of total Consolidated Budget revenues, with tax payments from the sector increasing by 19.6% year-on-year in the first nine months. Next year, we will continue focusing on strengthening Ukrainian producers and the manufacturing sector. In the meantime, lets reflect on what has been achieved. Generating Demand for Ukrainian Goods from the State, Businesses, and Citizens The localization policy in public procurement is designed to drive demand for Ukrainian goods from the state and communities. We aim to increase the share of local goods in public consumption to the European level. To achieve this, we are refining mechanisms for identifying Ukrainian producers and preparing to expand localization requirements to new categories, including defense. With exceptions for GPA countries. To boost demand from businesses, we reinstated the program providing 25% compensation to farmers for purchasing Ukrainian agricultural machinery. At the end of this year, we launched a similar initiative: 15% compensation for buying Ukrainian energy equipment, wheeled vehicles, elevators, demining machinery, and other equipment. These programs make buying new Ukrainian equipment more profitable than importing used foreign equipment. Nearly 150 manufacturers have already used these programs to scale up production. We also continued the School Bus program in 2024. Over the last two years, it helped communities to purchase 1,000 buses, ensuring that children could travel to school safely and comfortably. Ukrainian bus manufacturers and their suppliers benefited from these consistent orders, providing jobs to many. The eOselya mortgage program has been another important factor in demand, particularly for construction materials, the production of which grew by 37.1% in the first half of 2024. Our goal is to shift to the primary housing market to amplify the economic impact. This year, the share of mortgages issued for the primary market doubled. The program also contributes to de-shadowing the economydevelopers paid 2.2 times more taxes in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 (UAH 1.6 billion). Demand for Ukrainian goods has also been further stimulated by the National Cashback program. Research by the Retail Association of Ukraine shows that in its first months, the program increased sales of certain Ukrainian food products by 9.5% (in quantity) as consumers shifted from imported to domestic goods. Investments Continue in New Factories Despite the War Austrian company Kronospan launched a 200 million OSB production line in Rivne region, while British Unilever and Finnish Peikko are building plants in Bila Tserkva. Ukrainian investor MaRyzhany Hemp Company is preparing to launch an industrial hemp processing plant in Zhytomyr region. All these enterprises are situated within industrial parks, where the development policy is already yielding tangible results. Currently, 25 industrial enterprises, spanning sectors like agro-processing, woodworking, and mechanical engineering, are either completed or under construction in these parks. This year, we allocated nearly UAH 1 billion in state support to 15 industrial parks for developing their infrastructure. Each hryvnia of public investment is anticipated to leverage 56 hryvnias of private investment. The 5-7-9% loan program, which was refocused on investment purposes this year, partially solves the issue of access to credit resources. As a result, the share of investment loans doubled, reaching 46%. Positive dynamics are evident even in frontline regions, where the volume of investment loans increased from UAH 3 billion to UAH 25 billion over the year. We have also made it possible to purchase energy equipment under the 5-7-9 program to support manufacturers in times of energy challenges. A grant program offering up to UAH 8 million for developing manufacturing enterprises enabled over 1,000 small and medium-sized businesses to upgrade their production equipment. The program for supporting projects with significant investment has also shown results. Businesses investing at least 12 million can now qualify for compensation of up to 30%. The first agreement under this program involves a 76 million investment by Astarta in a soybean processing plant. We are also expanding war-risk insurance tools. To existing instruments provided by MIGA, DFC, and foreign export credit agencies, we added EBRD insurance this year, covering cargo, auto-, and rail transport, along with instruments from Ukraines Export Credit Agency. Exports Set to Exceed $40 Billion in 2024 For the first time since the full-scale invasion, Ukraines exports are growing. By year-end, we expect an 11% increase in merchandise exports compared to last year. This growth was supported by the extension of autonomous trade measures with the EU, continued tariff exemptions from the United States for Ukrainian steel, and updated free trade agreements with the UK and Canada. Ukraines Export Credit Agency also played a role, supporting UAH 7.22 billion in non-raw-material exports in the first 11 months of the yearnearly UAH 2 billion more than the same period in 2023. Programs supporting the development of manufacturing, investments, and non-raw-material exports, consolidated under the Made in Ukraine initiative, demonstrated their effectiveness in 2024. These efforts will continue to grow and expand in 2025. For me, the Year of Ukrainian manufacturers has no deadline or final date. Every year should be a year when we value and support Made in Ukraine, because every Ukrainian producer is laying the foundation for our recovery, resilience, and economic self-sufficiency. Fifteen-year-olds in Ireland rank favourably compared to the rest of the EU when it comes to low levels of smoking and alcohol consumption, a global report has said. It also noted that young people in Ireland ranked fourth highest in the EU for regular use of vapes. The OECD Health at a Glance report analysed health trends across EU countries, including comparable data on the health of young people in Ireland. It highlights that using tobacco, harmful alcohol consumption, poor nutrition, a lack of physical activity and obesity account for a substantial share of the total burden of morbidity and mortality in EU countries. In 2021, approximately 1.1 million deaths in the EU, equivalent to nearly 21% of all deaths, were attributable to the combined impact of smoking, excessive alcohol use and high body-mass index. The Health at a Glance report found that among 15-year-olds, Ireland has the lowest rate of smoking, at 7%, and among the lowest rates of cannabis smoking, at 4%, in the EU. The proportion of 15-year-olds reporting repeated drunkenness is among the lowest in the EU, at 13%. Ireland is also among the top five EU countries in terms of the proportion of 15-year-olds meeting recommended physical activity levels and is one of just eight countries which achieved an HPV vaccination rate for boys of more than 60% in 2023. The report also highlights some areas of concern: almost half (47%) of 15-year-olds report that they eat neither fruit nor vegetables daily, although this is below the EU average of 56%. The rate of overweight or obesity among 15-year-olds is 20%, marginally lower than the EU average of 21%. The rate of consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks among this age group is 8%, lower than the EU average of 14%. The publication cites the impact of Irelands Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Tax, introduced in 2018, which has led to an estimated reduction in sugar intake from carbonated soft drinks from 5kg per person in 2018 to less than 4kg in 2022. In relation to vaping which the report says is a possible smoking cessation tool but also suggests it may lead to tobacco smoking, especially among youth Ireland has the fourth highest proportion of young people who vape regularly. Over 10% of 15-24 year olds and over 5% of all adults in Ireland said they use vapes regularly, according to 2022 data, compared to an EU average of 2.7% and 2.1% respectively. Minister for public health Colm Burke said the report highlights encouraging trends, particularly among younger age groups. Ireland has long been a world leader in tackling smoking rates, and we continue to work towards the vision of a tobacco free Ireland, including raising the minimum age of sale of tobacco to 21. We are also making progress in reducing alcohol-related harm, with several measures in the Public Health (Alcohol) Act, 2018 designed to protect children. BT IRELAND'S annual Shop for Change event saw its employees take over ten Irish Cancer Society charity shops across Limerick, Dublin, Louth and Wicklow last month. The one-day event was part of their ongoing efforts to support those living with cancer by providing much-needed funds for cancer care and research. The initiative achieved a significant milestone, raising an additional 45,000 in November. This brings their total funds raised to over 1m since 2012. This year, BT volunteers from across the country participated in various activities such as stock collection, running charity shops, bucket collections, and organising fundraising events. They collected a total of 975 bags of donated clothing and other items for charity. We are incredibly proud of our teams dedication and the communitys generosity, said Shay Walsh, Managing Director of BT Ireland. The funds raised through Shop for Change will make a significant impact on the lives of those affected by cancer. READ MORE: Crimecall appeal to find man who stole vapes and cigarettes from Limerick shop As part of BTs commitment to responsible, inclusive and sustainable business, supporting good causes has been a long-standing priority for BT Ireland, positively impacting many local communities. Paul Hughes, General Manager Retail at the Irish Cancer Society, added, BT Irelands continued support through the Shop for Change initiative is invaluable. Almost 40,000 people in Ireland are diagnosed with cancer each year. The funds raised help us provide essential services and support to those in need. Any remaining stock collected by BT employees will continue to be available in the Irish Cancer Society charity shops across the country. You can find many high-quality clothes and other affordable items in the shops, and by buying second-hand, you also help reduce waste that would otherwise end up in landfills. Launched in 2012, the Great Charity Shops Challenge, since renamed to Shop for Change has raised a significant amount over the past 12 years. Total funds raised with this initiative amount to over 1 million and include annual fundraising efforts for the Irish Cancer Society in the Republic of Ireland, and previously Marie Curie Hospice in Northern Ireland. THE four-day Mr Binman Limerick Christmas Racing Festival gets underway today, St Stephen's Day, at Limerick Racecourse. The opening race of the Festival - which continues until December 29 - the Aqua Process Solutions three-year-old Maiden Hurdle, gets underway at Greenmount Park at 12.25pm. The feature race is the Grade 2 Lyons of Limerick Jaguar Novice Hurdle over two miles and seven furlongs, due off at 1.33pm. Limerick Racecourse CEO, Michael Lynch said the four-day Christmas Festival is 'very much the pinnacle' of the racing calendar at the Patrickswell venue. Michael Lynch said: "We are very conscious that the four days at Limerick at Christmas are, for a lot of people, almost like a pilgrimage where there is a lot of tradition of people coming to Limerick Racecourse for Christmas and it is very much the pinnacle of our racing calendar. "I want to pay particular credit to the team here who have worked incredibly hard in the preparations. I would like to thank them sincerely for that. "We are delighted to be working with Mr Binman once again this year as our main sponsor. Mr Binman Christmas Racing Festival - St Stephens Day Please click the link for bus times https://t.co/LDruvYJhFx Book tickets https://t.co/KadLFm4J4R pic.twitter.com/lfsvu86VAz Limerick Races (@LimerickRaces) December 18, 2024 "Obviously we kick off on St Stephen's Day, it's our biggest attendance. We are hoping to have a larger crowd than last year. "The advice to racegoers is to come early, to utilise the bus service, there's a really good return bus service which people can book through JJ Kavanaghs between the city and the races. "We are also working this St Stephen's Day with Big Boss and his team there. I would also like to thank Lyons of Limerick for being our key sponsor that particular day. "My advice to the public is to book their tickets in advance, it's easier for everyone. Come early because our hospitality is open. Our bars are open, you can have an early lunch, so make the most of the day. That's my advice, use the buses and come early. "If you are driving come early, we have upped our game in terms of car parking and traffic management. It is going to be busy, so that is the advice, come early. "The indications are that we are going to have a really good quality of horse running here over the four days. The prizemoney attracts that, with about 400,000 in total prizemoney on offer. "The ground conditions are also looking very favourable for us." See www.limerickraces.ie for ticket details and call 061-320000 for more information. Investors are accustomed to volatility in the semiconductor industry. But recent ups and downs have been especially discombobulating. On October 15th ASML, a supplier of chipmaking gear, reported that orders during its most recent quarter were only half what analysts had expected, causing its shares to plunge. Two days later TSMC, the worlds biggest chip manufacturer, reported record quarterly profits and raised its sales forecast for the year. Those contrasting signals reflect the diverging fortunes of the chips needed for artificial intelligence (AI), for which demand has been insane", according to C.C. Wei, TSMCs boss, and those needed for everything else, for which it is soggy. That pattern is reflected in memory chips. On October 7th Samsung, the market leader, issued a public apology for its lacklustre financial performance. On October 24th SK Hynix, which has surged ahead in the fast-growing segment of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, which are needed for AI, reported a record profit. HBM chips have become a vital component in the race to build more powerful and efficient AI models. Running these models requires logic chips that can process oodles of data, but also memory chips that can store and release it quickly. More than nine-tenths of the time it takes an AI model to respond to a user query is spent shuttling data back and forth between logic and memory chips, according to SK Hynix. HBMs are designed to speed this up by integrating a stack of memory chips together with the logic chips, boosting speed and reducing power consumption. Arete Research, a firm of analysts, estimates that HBM sales will hit $18bn this year, up from $4bn last year, and rise to $81bn by 2026 (see chart). View Full Image (The Economist) The chips are also highly profitable, with operating margins more than five times those of standard memory chips.SK Hynix, whose share price has more than doubled over the past two years, controls over 60% of the market, and more than 90% for HBM3, the most advanced version. Nam Kim, an analyst at Arete, says the company took an early bet on HBM chips, well before the AI boom. Its leadership has since been cemented by its close ties to TSMC and Nvidia, whose graphics processing units run most of the whizziest AI models. HBM chips are now emerging as another bottleneck in the development of those models. Both SK Hynix and Micron, an American chipmaker, have already pre-sold most of their HBM production for next year. Both are pouring billions of dollars into expanding capacity, but that will take time. Meanwhile Samsung, which manufactures 35% of the worlds HBM chips, has been plagued by production issues and reportedly plans to cut its output of the chips next year by a tenth. With a shortage of HBM chips looming, America is pressing South Korea, home to Samsung and SK Hynix, to restrict its exports of them to China. There are rumours that a further round of chip sanctions by America will include some advanced HBM versions. As demand for them rises, so too will interest from governments. 2024, The Economist Newspaper Ltd. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com Microsoft is trying a new approach to build excitement for its artificial-intelligence assistant Copilot: Give it to customers whether they want it or not. The tech company recently added Copilot to its consumer subscription service for software including Word, Excel and PowerPoint in Australia and several Southeast Asian countries. Along with the AI feature, it raised prices for everyone who uses the service, called Microsoft 365, in those countries. What about people who dont want to pay for an AI assistant to spruce up their documents and summarize emails? They are out of luck. Alistair Fleming uses Word to write scripts for his YouTube channel about 1990s Japanese wrestling. The Australian noticed that every time he finished a line, Copilots rainbow logo would pop up on screen and ask if it could help with his writing. It was very keen to be used, and this was irritating to me as a user," Fleming said. Fleming also noticed his monthly bill for 365 increased to 16 Australian dollars from A$11. Some users said on social media that Copilot pop-ups reminded them of Clippy, Microsofts widely derided Office helper from the late 1990s, that would frequently offer unsolicited help. A Microsoft spokesman wouldnt comment on the strategy behind the forced addition of Copilot in certain regions and whether the company plans a similar approach in other markets. The change demonstrates the lengths to which Microsoft is going to try to profit from its huge investments in AI. Copilot, which is built with technology from OpenAI, is a key part of Chief Executive Satya Nadellas plan to keep expanding Microsofts software business for consumer and corporate customers. Microsoft is OpenAIs biggest investor, having plowed close to $14 billion into the ChatGPT maker. Microsoft has been trying since early 2023 to use generative AI to gain ground in the market for consumer apps, where it has long struggled. It first integrated the tech into its Bing search engine as a chat tool, but failed to gain much ground against Google. It later launched Copilot, a chatbot and content generator that integrates with 365 software to help write emails, summarize meetings and create PowerPoint slides. The premium consumer version of Copilot launched in January at a price of $20 a month in the U.S. which is on top of the roughly $7 monthly fee for an individual subscription to 365. Like other tech companies playing catch-up in the AI market, Copilot has struggled against OpenAIs dominant ChatGPT. The Copilot chatbot app was downloaded 37 million times from May 2023 through mid-December, compared with 433 million downloads for ChatGPT, according to Sensor Tower data. Microsoft is also pushing Copilot to its enterprise software customers at a price of $30 a person. Business clients are the biggest part of Microsofts software business. Businesses have been mixed on Copilots usefulness and have questioned whether the AI tools outputs are accurate, if it protects their private data and if it is helpful enough to justify the cost. The Microsoft spokesman didnt respond to requests for comment on corporate customers satisfaction with Copilot. The company has said its AI protects user data and meets privacy standards across multiple regions. Microsoft hasnt released sales figures for Copilot, but recently said at a conference that nearly 70% of Fortune 500 companies use the AI assistant. It also recently said total AI revenue will soon surpass $10 billion on an annualized basis. That figure encompasses all its AI services, including cloud computing for other developers. The company is facing pressure from rival enterprise-software companies that have released their own AI-infused products, including Salesforce, as well as AI developers moving into corporate sales. One of the most significant is OpenAI. Jared Spataro, who heads marketing for Microsofts workplace AI efforts, has told employees that ChatGPT Enterprise is Copilots biggest competitor, according to a person familiar with the matter. Inside the company, Copilot is viewed as step one of its AI strategy. The next wave will center on agentsautomated tools that can handle more complex tasks such as customer-service interactions or booking travel. Selling customers on agents will be easier if they are already satisfied users of Copilot. In Australia, adding Copilot to 365 for individuals prompted some blowback on social media. Fleming looked into removing the AI feature from the software but found it wasnt feasible. Instead, he canceled his subscription. He uses Google Docs now. Write to Tom Dotan at tom.dotan@wsj.com From 2025, all pharmacies must join the Affordable Medicines drug cost reimbursement program, said Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Liashko. "We are talking about making the Affordable Medicines program available at the place of residence. Previously, only those pharmacies that wanted to join the program did it, in 2024 we obliged all pharmacies located in healthcare institutions or on the territory of hospitals to join the program. And from July 1, 2025, all pharmacies must work with the Affordable Medicines program," he said on the air of the Doctor Bulavinova channel. Liashko also noted that the Ministry of Health plans to expand the coverage of the Ukrposhta drug delivery program or mobile pharmacy points. Redington Ltd, Indias largest distributor of consumer gadgets, is looking to transform itself into a marketplace platform from a pure-play distribution company, a top executive at the $10-billion company said. The change stems from the sharp growth in its software and cloud segments, as the companies it works with focus more on cloud and AI. For the next few years, distribution and logistics will remain the mainstay of the company that distributes Apple iPhones, iPads and MacBooks in India; however, the marketplace platform will begin to take shape from 2025 and later become a larger play, group chief executive officer V.S. Hariharan said. Were investing a few million dollars on the platform called Cloud Quarks to make it more analytically oriented, and we're also building a marketplace around it with multiple vendors and software, so the resellers can also work with us to gain knowledge of this for their customers. We are working on that, as against pure hardware distribution which will be supply chain logistics driven with credit, warehousing," Hariharan said in an interview. Under its existing model, the Chennai-based company operates vast warehouses stocking a large number of gadgets from smartphones to laptops from vendors such as Apple and Samsung, a business that's based heavily on credit. In contrast, the marketplace platform will offer infrastructure and software as a service requiring no inventory, low warehousing and little credit, based on subscriptions and renewals that its network of 60,000 partners will take to market. It currently operates in 40 markets across the world, including Saudi Arabia which contributes $1.5 billion to the overall business. Also read | Redington in a spot over CEO Hariharan said companies in the segments where it operates are undertaking digital transformation of their businesses, which are likely to include creating capacities in the cloud and investing in adopting or integrating AI within their operations. This creates a situation where they may be working with a handful of independent software providers, which is where Redington's platform marketplace will be able to provide tailor-made solutions. The strategy would pan out over the next few years; however, Redington will be able to ascertain the timing of the marketplace pivot in the next 12-18 months. The inflection point will come when companies see the benefits of using AI on top of cloud, and begin getting the return on investments made in the infrastructure to create the cloud. Hariharan expects Redington's software business to double to $2.5 billion in the next three to five years, growing at 30-40% annually. Software business, currently part of the technology solutions unit, currently makes up 10% of the Redington Group's overall business. In the quarter ended September, the company's revenue was 24,952 crore, with a profit of 293 crore. India, South Asia and Singapore contribute two-thirds of its overall revenue, with the rest coming from other markets. Also read | Generative AI, data centres to define Indias tech industries in 2025 Distribution of smartphones and featurephones is Redington's largest contributor to global revenues at 8,713 crore, followed by consumer and commercial personal computers, print and supplies at 8481 crore and networking, security, software, server and storage that contributes 6,314 crore to overall revenue. Its cloud resell and managed services business is the fastest growing at 53% on-year, but contributing only 972 crore to overall revenue, as per the companys earnings presentation for the September quarter. Redington's single largest vendor is Apple, with a revenue contribution of 29% in the first half of FY25, followed by HP at 10%, Lenovo at 8%, and Samsung and Dell each contributing 7%. In FY24, Redington Ltds revenues stood at 89,600 crore, with a profit of 1200 crore. The group already works with major hyperscalers such as Microsoft, AWS and Google, which will enable it to bring software solutions from these entities to the platform marketplace. Also read | Mid-sized IT services companies lead AI charge with new investments To be sure, the hardware distribution and supply chain segment will remain strong as key brands and vendors introduce products with AI agents or AI features built into the hardware beginning 2025, which will be priced higher than existing models. The market is expected to see faster tech refresh cycles in the next three years on personal computers, mobile phones and servers, besides cloud solutions and new AI solutions. Hariharan further noted that the premiumization trend in smartphones and personal computers segments is expected to continue as higher spending becomes more pervasive in regions beyond metros. The company is integrating AI within its own processes and training its 7500 plus workforce on AI. We are making sure that all our people are getting trained in the language of AI. All our sales and marketing people are being trained on where they are headed, being able to understand what is an LLM, Gen AI, the different technologies available," he added. And read | In charts: How AI companies' data hunt is sparking copyright wars In order to build capacities, Redington has set up pre-sales teams in India and Middle East, and is building proofs of concept. It is also looking at multiple small-scale acquisitions in the cloud and software space as it intends to bring more capability and go-to-market competency. Having started operations in new markets of South Africa, ASEAN countries and Central Asian countries like Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Georgia over the last few quarters, the company intends to replicate its software strategy that it is developing at present in these markets before looking at more mature markets of US and Europe. Sophisticated cyberattacks leveraging AI-powered deepfakes, phishing, data manipulation, and malware are on the rise. To combat these complex threats, Indian companies are looking to upgrade their security infrastructure, experts said. Cybersecurity attacks that started around the 1980s have evolved in the past forty-odd years. Earlier, what was only about corrupting standalone devices with viruses now has the capacity to cripple an entire organization and even country. Cyberattacks are currently in the 5th or 6th generation of what is known as multi-vector attacks. These are not only targeting your endpoint devices, but also your networks, data centres, cloud, etc. All of it is happening in parallel, making it much more complex and sophisticated, and difficult to prevent," said Devroop Dhar, co-founder of management consulting firm Primus Partners. Multi-vector attacks are highly sophisticated cyber threats that exploit multiple vulnerabilities simultaneously to breach an organization's defences. A typical example is a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack that combines multiple techniques, such as flooding networks and overwhelming systems, to maximize disruption. AI: A double-edged sword Coupled with other sophisticated technologies such as machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI) can both be a boon or a bane depending on who is using it. Many cyber criminals are using AI technology to intensify their attacks. On the other hand, companies are using AI to build advanced cybercrime protection systems. AI is a double-edged sword. It is both a tool for companies to prevent and respond to attacks and also a tool for cyber attackers to increase the intensity of their attacks," Dhar highlighted. Companies are using AI tools to scan through humongous amounts of data to identify unusual patterns and detect cyber attacks, he added. As far as cyber criminals are concerned, they are using AI rampantly to generate sophisticated attacks using technologies like deepfake. Earlier, the algorithmic attacks were mostly numeric, so attackers would write scripts to go through millions of combinations of passwords to attack a user id. But now, with AI, the ability to create attacks such as deepfakes, is much higher and to automate them is significantly higher," said Ajay Trehan, chief executive officer of authentication firm Authbridge that helps companies with identity management. He added that he sees this trend grow further in 2025. Cybercrime is becoming a rising concern for organizations. In the Indian outlook of PwC's Global economic crime survey 2024, the consulting firm noted that 33% of senior executives surveyed in India highlighted cybercrime as one of the biggest problems faced by businesses. Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, which is the countrys largest software services company, has highlighted cyber threats posed by Gen AI. GenAI is enhancing operational efficiencies, but organizations must equip themselves to counteract cyber threats. It is imperative for organizations to harness these advancements and implement GenAI-powered threat detection and response systems to stay ahead of the curve," said Ganesa Subramanian Vaikuntam, global head of cybersecurity at TCS, as part of the TCS 2025 Cybersecurity Outlook released on 10 December. GenAI is transforming organizational operations, but is also being exploited by cybercriminals for advanced attacks like deepfakes, phishing, data manipulation, and new malware. In response, organizations must fight fire with fire by deploying GenAI-powered threat detection and response systems," the TCS report added. Ransomware attacks, supply-chain disruptions and identity thefts of executives are the biggest threats. Organizations are shuffling to ramp up and build a security system that is capable of countering the advanced attacks powered by AI and other advanced technologies. Companies are taking steps to counter these cyber threats, especially supply-chain attacks. There is an increased focus on third-party security and governance. The third parties also connect to a companys own technology through APIs, so API security is also being ramped up," said Siddharth Vishwanath, partner, PwC. APIs or application programming interfaces are sets of defined rules that enable different software systems, applications, or services to communicate with each other. They allow these systems to exchange data, perform actions, or request services in a standardized and secure way. While companies are looking to nullify these cyber threats, IT services companies have ramped up their cybersecurity offerings to clients, making use of AI. Accenture Plc, which is the worlds largest technology services company, introduced four new cybersecurity services on 19 November. These services would detect cyber flaws and deepfakes in an AI system, provide solutions, and help clients build strategies around their cyber programmes. Homegrown software services companies have also been ramping up their cybersecurity offerings. TCS expanded its partnership with Google Cloud on 3 September by launching two AI-powered cybersecurity solutions -- TCS Managed Detection and Response and TCS Secure Cloud Foundation. These solutions would reduce the time taken by TCSs clients to detect, and respond to threats, and also strengthen cloud security by leveraging AI, machine learning, and automation. Almost two months later, on 2 December, Noida-based HCL Technologies Ltd announced a similar collaboration with Google Cloud to provide AI-driven Managed Detection and Response (MDR) solutions to help clients detect and respond to cyber threats. A day later, Wipro Ltd announced a partnership with Netskope, a US-based cybersecurity company, to provide enterprises with an integrated service that analyzes the clients current cybersecurity and infrastructure investments, provides consolidation guidelines, and delivers cost-optimized methods Shares of KFin Technologies Ltd hit a new lifetime high of 1,620 apiece on Thursday, marking a meteoric rise from its lacklustre debut in December 2022 at 364, slightly below its public issue price of 366. The stock has more than quadrupled since then, a sharp reversal after languishing below its issue price for nearly six months. What has sparked this dramatic turnaround? Perhaps, the market's realization that KFins business as a registrar and transfer agent (RTA) offers a proxy play on the mutual fund (MF) industry. With only two dominant playersKFin and Computer Age Management Services Ltd (CAMS)the sector presents a significant growth opportunity. Notably, KFins market capitalization has now surpassed that of CAMS, which services over two-thirds of the total MF industrys assets under management (AUM). Since KFins listing, its shares have surged 300%, compared to CAMSs relatively modest gains of 100%. Is this surge justified? Before taking a view on that, investors should note the fundamental difference in the revenue streams of both companies. KFins revenue stream is more diversified than that of CAMS. For FY24 and H1FY25, domestic MF operations accounted for about 70% of KFins total revenue, compared to CAMSs higher dependency at 87% during the same period. Note that, KFins diversification stems from its exposure to the international MF business and its strong presence in the domestic corporate registrar segment. Read this | A lot has to fall in place for IDFC First Banks stock to rebound Though KFins non-domestic MF business growth rate is strong at 23% in H1FY25, the current boom in domestic MF overshadows it with 37% growth in its domestic MF business. Nevertheless, if domestic MF goes through a tough time, non-domestic MFs contribution will become more significant. KFin is also the leader in the corporate registrar business, now rebranded as issuer solutions, serving 6,677 corporate clients in FY24a substantial increase from 4,413 in FY21. This segment contributed 13% of the companys total revenue in FY24. The boom in initial public offerings (IPOs) has further bolstered this business, with new clients such as NTPC Green Energy and Hexaware Technologies added in Q2FY25. International operations are another growth area for KFin. Operating in markets like Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, the company provides fund accounting and solutions for alternative investment funds (AIFs). This segment contributed 10% of revenue in FY24. Note that international business offers higher yields of about 5 basis points on AUM as against 3 basis points in India during H1FY25. KFIN has a strong pipeline of new clients, which should lead to significant expansion of international business in the second half of the fiscal year. Risks and valuation premium Despite its strong performance, KFin is not immune to risks shared by the industry. Regulatory tightening by the Securities and Exchange Board of India on the total expense ratio of asset management companies (AMCs) could reduce payouts to RTAs. Other risks include potential slowdowns in MF inflows due to equity market downturns or shifts toward lower-revenue passive funds from active funds. Read this | CAMS shines on upbeat mutual fund prospects, but risks lurk While KFins diversified revenue streams provide a competitive edge over CAMS, this advantage is already reflected in its valuation premium. KFins stock trades at 66x FY26 Bloomberg consensus EPS estimates, significantly higher than CAMSs 44x. The stocks recent momentumrising 50% in the last two monthshas even led brokerages like Jefferies India to adjust their targets repeatedly, raising it from 930 to 1,140 in October and again to 1,530 in December. Investors in shares of hotel companies are enjoying a good view. So far in 2024, stocks of The Indian Hotels Co. Ltd (IHCL), EIH Ltd, Chalet Hotels Ltd and Lemon Tree Hotels Ltd have gained 97%, 64%, 41%, and 27%, respectively. A good part of the recent stock performance can be attributed to the recovery seen in the September quarter (Q2FY25), after a challenging Q1 due to heatwaves and elections. The sector saw a pickup in growth across the board last quarter led by strong occupancies and improvement in ARRs or average room rates. Investor sentiments could also be boosted by the Q3 outlook, which appears decent owing to strong demand, aided by a higher number of wedding dates and robust meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) activity. Motilal Oswal Financial Services expects key hospitality players, especially in the luxury and upper upscale category, to report about 10-12% RevPAR growth in Q3, driven by about 8-10% ARR growth and 100-200 basis points improvement in occupancy. RevPAR is short for revenue per available room and one basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point. We anticipate hotel companies to post healthy growth in 2HFY25/FY26, aided by: an increase in ARR across hotels, due to a favorable demand-supply scenario, corporate rate hikes, and room upgrades through renovations; and healthy operating leverage," said Motilal Oswal analysts in a report dated 16 December. Expressing optimism about continued revenue growth, IHCL managing director & CEO Puneet Chhatwal said in the Q2 earnings call, With 30% higher wedding dates and an increase in foreign tourist arrivals expected in H2, we remain confident of comfortably delivering double-digit revenue growth, even excluding the positive impact of TajSATS." TajSATS is IHCLs airline catering division. Also Read: Indian Hotels has grown at a scorching pace under Puneet Chhatwal. Can he sustain the bull run? In general, enhanced connectivity, growing interest in spiritual and wildlife tourism and higher foreign tourist arrivals are expected to aid demand from a medium-to-long term perspective. The near-term outlook appears mixed with a deceleration in broader markets while key cities of Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Mumbaiwhich form 30% of the branded inventoryseem to be doing well," point out analysts from Nuvama Research. Still, not all is hunky dory. While the short-term outlook for the sector is positive, the medium to long-term like-for-like growth assumption of 7-8% may limit operating leverage benefits," said the analysts. Shares of IHCL, Chalet and Lemon Tree have hit new 52-week highs this month. After the sharp rally, valuations have become elevated, making investors cautious. Valuations for IHCL are running well ahead of its historical averages, which compelled us to downgrade the stock to reduce," said the Nuvama report earlier this month, adding, We remain optimistic on the business though." Also Read: Three hotel stocks riding Santas wave: Is more cheer coming in 2025? Meanwhile, to capitalize on the robust demand trends, hotel companies are raising funds, which could be used for expansions. For instance, Schloss Bangalore (Leela Hotels), Ventive Hospitality and Brigade Hotels are looking at initial public offerings (IPOs). Cumulatively, these companies are looking to raise around 8,000 crore in IPOs including fresh raise of nearly 6,000 crore. This follows a 1,000 crore QIP by Chalet Hotels earlier in year and three IPOs (Samhi Hotels, Park Hotels & Resorts, Juniper Hotels), which cumulatively raised around 4000 crore," said a Jefferies India report on 10 December. ITC Ltd is also going to demerge its hotels business in Q4FY25. As the listed universe of hotels expands with potential IPOs of four new companies, industry ARRs and occupancy rates will become key monitorables for investors. Also Read: Chalets next 1,000: Acquisitions, new builds to fuel hotel chains aggressive expansion Mumbai: The Sanskrit language has a fascinating lexicon. It may not match up to English in the size of vocabulary but more than makes up for it by morphing the same word into different context-dependent meanings. Unravelling the common thread between these seemingly different meanings is like solving a crossword. In Sanskrit, the word for a tooth, a bird and a Brahmin is the same: Dwij. Literally translated, it means twice-born. Milk teeth give way to permanent teeth; a bird is born as an egg before it is born in its avian form and Brahmin is believed to be spiritually reborn after the thread ceremony. Or take the word simhavalokana. As a lion walks in the jungle, he periodically stops and looks back at the path he traversed. This retrospective glance is called simhavalokana but at an abstract level, it means reviewing elapsed time. As an investor, this is my simhavalokana for the year, or for the listicle-minded, ten (+1) things that Mr. Market taught me in 2024. Investing experience can be a liability In a roaring bull market, having an investment memory can be a handicap. In two decades as a professional investor, one has lived through business and economic cycles, shenanigans of unscrupulous promoters or companies that have held promise but never delivered. I evaluated MakeMyTrip (MMYT) early in the year when the price was around $45 per share. I had assessed the company a few times over the past decade but had opted not to invest. What bothered me was that for over a decade, MMYT had reported negative Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) for all years except two. Irrational competition or weak consumer spending had proved to be the spanners in the works. In my internal note, under the head credit where it is due, I acknowledged the turnaround in operating performance but assigned more weightage to my memory of weak, inconsistent profits. A 25-year-old, without the baggage of the past, might have approached this differently. The stock is up over 130% for the year and when I narrated the story of this miss to a friend, he sardonically replied: Dumbledores dont make money in bull markets." Pay attention to changing industry structure Over the last few years, many industries in India have consolidated; from cement, airlines to telecom. If one is early to catch on to this change, there is multi-year money to be made by investing in the survivors and share-gainers. The causes for consolidation can be variedoperating losses for inefficient players, weak balance sheets or regulatory changesbut the resultant pricing power and improvement in return ratios are generally received warmly by investors. On the other hand, just because an industry is a duopoly does not guarantee handsome returns. Ask Boeing and Airbus. Mean reversion is never automatic In the risks section of their India reports, equity strategists have a chart showing the price-to-earnings (PE) premium of India over other emerging markets. At the beginning of 2024, this premium was quite elevated at 87% or about 1.5 standard deviations higher than the long-term average and the common refrain was that this metric has to mean revert i.e. the premium will shrink and head back towards the average. At the end of 2024, the premium is at the same level as the beginning of the year which means that the much-anticipated mean reversion has not happened. We have seen a starker expansion in the PE premium of the US markets to the rest of the world. Mean reversion does not happen mechanically; it needs a catalyst. Strong relative growth can lead to valuation premiums remaining elevated for a long time. Climate change versus monetary policy Many emerging market economists began the year with expectations of sizable interest rate cuts. Central Banks had hiked rates in the preceding few years, inflation was cooling off and markets were anticipating an easing cycle. But food inflation had different plans. Extreme weather events led to large, unanticipated spikes in food prices causing headline inflation to remain stickier than forecast. Given the chunky weightage of food in most emerging market inflation indices, this factor could not be brushed away. In India, too, we learnt a new termtomato-onion-potato (TOP) inflation. And despite a cooling core inflation, the overall CPI remained sticky and we got no succour on rates. In a clash between climate change and a headline inflation-targeting monetary policy, the scales are tilted towards the former. Instant gratification versus cold logic During the pandemic, most families have had to shoulder a large, if not crippling, hospital bill for a loved one. This, I theorized, would create a strong demand for health and life insurance and companies selling these products would be beneficiaries of this trend. However, post FY22, the volume growth for such insurance products has barely been in the high-single digit. This defies logic but the reason for the tepid growth is possibly psychological. Consumers feel that they do not get anything in return for paying a sizable health or life insurance premiumno shiny new phone, no monthly SIP statement, not even a Insta-worthy vacation picture. The urge for instant gratification can sometimes defy the cold logic of risk mitigation. Count your blessings Taking your privileges for granted is human nature. It is only when you step back and broaden your gaze that you learn to count the blessings. A statistic that has confounded me, is that despite being the shining light of capitalism, the number of listed companies in the US has steadily dwindled. Staying or going private may be a consequence of massive amounts of private capital that chases US companies. In India though, its a blessing for the public market investor that startups aspire to be listed. This is borne out by the fact that the number of listed companies in India has gone up by almost 20% over the past decade. Also, for every one listed company with over half a billion dollars of revenue, there are almost two in the unlisted space. The combination of listing aspirations and a large reservoir of reasonably-sized corporates can only bode well for the future depth and breadth of public markets. Look for bad macro news Argentina. Pakistan. Sri Lanka. China. Whats common to all these countries? Of late, you have probably read only bad macro and political news about all of them. Yet, even after adjusting for local currency depreciation, their stock market indices have done exceedingly well in 2024. Even Germany, which seemed to be at the epicentre of all that was going wrong for Europe had its benchmark DAX index climb to an all-time high in December. If dire news about a country has been making the headlines for a while, odds are that the markets have already bottomed. Do not fixate on events Investors tend to fixate on the outcomes of events like an important election or a monetary policy meeting. There is a strong itch to rejig your portfolio in anticipation of what you think will be the outcome. This is a mugs game because for you to make money from an event, you have to get two things simultaneously right: the outcome of the event and more importantly, the market reaction to that outcome. Lets assume that on the eve of Indias general election results you had the clairvoyance of seeing 240 seats for the Bharatiya Janata Party. The portfolio tinkering itch would have made you sell down your holdings or buy large amounts of portfolio protection or add defensive consumer staples names. That would have meant that you lost out on over 15% NIFTY returns in the next three months or your portfolio was saddled with what proved to be the worst-performing sector for the rest of the year. Beware the IPO Of late, India has seen a spate of IPOs263 to be precisesince April 2019. An IPO, especially with a strategic investor or promoter selling stake, is a lopsided transaction. In effect, it matches up a very knowledgeable and motivated seller with an almost naive buyer. Data from IIFL Equities analyses the performance of IPOs that listed during the five years from April 2019 till March 2024 and concludes that on average, if you bought the newly listed shares on the day after listing, you underperformed the respective sectoral indices by over 1% and if the IPO involved a selling strategic investor, the underperformance widened to almost 5%. Simple message on average, the bulk of an IPOs outperformance is captured on listing day. Post that, its a hard grind. Also, it is worth noting that these middling performance numbers are despite the strong market uptrend of the past five years. The FII flow obsession Foreign Institutional (FII) flows to India or the lack of them caused a lot of hand-wringing and theorizing in 2024. In fact, accounting for the YTD outflow of about $14 billion, FIIs have cumulatively invested nothing in the Indian secondary market since 2019. Even after considering their primary investments in IPOs, QIPs etc., the cumulative inflow over the last four years is only $6 billion or about two-three months worth of SIP inflows. It is perplexing that this has happened in the backdrop of exceptionally strong earnings growth for corporate India, a stable macro setting and robust domestic flows leading to strong market performance. But to answer the frustrating question, What do the FIIs want?", it may be useful to step into the shoes of the global asset allocator. The most important fact of her life in the last few years has been the upward march of US markets resulting in its unprecedented weight in the MSCI ACWI (67%) and MSCI World index (74%). These are the benchmarks that most global asset allocators are measured against. India, by comparison, has about 2% weight in both the indices. All across the globe, one can almost hear a whooshing sound of capital rushing back to the US. What FII asset allocators want, like all of us, is to keep their jobs and that leads to a behaviour that Charlie Munger observed: Show me the incentive and Ill show you the outcome." The man in the arena Investing, at the end of the day, involves a leap of faith. Warren Buffett advises us to avoid leaping over 7-foot bars but to try and find 1-foot bars that you can easily cross over. But the fact that you will have to make a jump is unavoidable. Most times, you will be doing it amid a cacophony of unsolicited advice, the chatter of your inner fears or even relentless heckling. Its only natural that sometimes you will end up making an investing mistake. But when you feel downcast by errors or when the inner and outer din seems unbearable, I urge you to remember what Theodore Roosevelt said: It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." Just the fact that you choose to be in this riveting arena of investing, is worthy of admiration. Happy investing fellow travellers! I wish you a great 2025. Swanand Kelkar is the managing partner at Breakout Capital Advisors. Views are personal. The makers of Titanic were certain the ship wouldn't sink . In World War II, Germany was certain it wouldn't lose. In 2007, traders at Lehman were certain the bank couldn't go bust. More recently, the campaign managers of Joe Biden were certain that Trump wouldn't win. Unfortunately, stock markets also proclaim false certainties from time to time. And unsuspecting investors get trapped. One such certainty that investors often swear by is that buying the stocks of well-known or reputed companies in any proportion, at any time, is never a bad idea. For instance, a news report recently pointed out that a bunch of Tata group stocks are trading lower compared to 52-week highs. It, therefore, advised investors to consider this a golden opportunity to load up on Tata stocks from the group as much as they want". Now, there is no doubt that the Tata group enjoys reputation that few other corporate groups across the world do. Plus, there are several other factors that offers the Tata companies an edge. The group is well-diversified across sectors and across geographies. Many companies in the group have backward and forward integration. Being part of the group offers Tata companies economies of scale and access to cheaper funds. The listed businesses under the group have a reasonably long track record of fundamental soundness. Also, they have largely been minority shareholder friendly. So, isn't a correction in valuations an icing on the cake? 'Where is the false certainty?' you make ask. The problem is that valuations often far exceed the economic potential and earnings growth prospects. So, stock prices do not move in sync with volatility in the economy. Also, steep valuations either follow good earnings or precede a slowdown. So, loading up on stocks from any corporate group without ascertaining the intrinsic value of individual stocks is fraught with risk. It is a fact that stock prices rise and fall much more than the economies and companies that underlie them. The market behaviour is hard to predict and often seems unconnected to economic events and company fundamentals. Economics and finance, assume that all investing decisions are based on sound rationale. But the crucial role played by psychology and emotion often causes this assumption to be mistaken. And this applies to even the most mature stock markets. To prove this point, Howard Marks shared the following data in his July 2024 memo. It shows the annual deviation in the benchmark S&P 500 index versus deviations in the US GDP and corporate profits, over a 40-year period. View Full Image ... As we can see the deviations in the index are almost 25% higher than changes in corporate profits. Also, they are six times higher than the economic growth. Investor sentiment can sway based on a variety of external and uncorrelated factors. It is for this reason that no matter how certain the future of a corporate group is, it's still necessary to ascertain the future of individual stocks. Of course, most investors in India would dismiss concerns about Tata group stocks citing their willingness to hold on to the stocks for the long term. But that alone cannot guarantee commensurate risk adjusted returns. Now, let's take the opposite case with yet another group of stocks - public sector undertakings (PSUs). Indian PSU stocks are known to be a poorly governed lot. At least they were until a few years back. Not surprisingly, their stock market performance for decades reflected the poor investor sentiment. I was not surprised when my bullish views on PSU defence and railway stocks, back in 2018 and 2019, were initially met with a lot of scepticism. After all, there were stocks listed for long that had remained in the back burner for years. So, the share of stock market wealth created by PSUs shrunk from almost 50% in 2005 to negligible by 2020. View Full Image ... But anyone who shunned all PSU stocks without checking the fundamentals of a handful of them, missed out on massive opportunities. Since 2020, this group of stocks has handsomely outperformed the benchmark BSE Sensex. View Full Image ... Therefore, buying stocks from a particular group is a good idea if the upside in individual stocks is thoroughly assessed. Having said that, no matter what the reputation of the group, one must stick to asset allocation rules. This will ensure that the portfolio is reasonably safeguarded even if stocks from a particular group underperform. Disclaimer: This article is for education purposes only. It is not a recommendation and should not be treated as such. This article is syndicated from Equitymaster.com Mumbai: Its that time of year when people plan fresh starts. While gym memberships are part of many peoples resolutions, some take a step back to review their investment portfolios. In fact, several people make it a habit to review their portfolios at the end of every year. But the question remains: how often should you tweak your portfolio? Theres no straightforward answer, say registered investment advisors. Abhishek Kumar, founder of Sahaj Money, said his sweet spot is reviewing his investment portfolio once every six months. Its not too frequent nor too laid back." Kumar added that if the equity portion of an investors portfolio swells up when stocks do well, it is advisable to bring it back to the pre-decided allocation level as per the investors risk tolerance. But do note: tax and other fees should be carefully considered before selling investments, he said. Equities are taxed at 12.5% of the gains if held for 12 months or longer and at 20% if held for under a year. There is an exemption limit of up to 1.25 lakh in a year in capital gains of equity and equity-oriented funds. Debt funds are taxed at the slab rate. Rebalancing investments Probitus Wealth founder Kavitha Menon suggested that investors consider making fresh investments before exiting investments and incurring a capital gains tax. For instance, if you feel the markets are overvalued and want to trim your exposure to equities, you can start by cutting down on your systematic investment plan (SIP) payouts towards equity mutual funds and investing more in debt or liquid funds. Menon said she recommends this strategy to her clients based on the performance of the stock markets. If someone targets a 50:50 portfolio between debt and equity, then they can make it 60:40 if they feel the markets are overvalued." Mapping the exit routes Harsh Roongta, founder of Fee-Only Investment Advisors, said that while people should keep their goals in mind while investing, they should also plan their exit strategy so emotions dont come into play at a later stage. Just like we plan the entry in any volatile asset class, the withdrawal should also be systematic," said Roongta. Lets say you plan to buy a car 5 years from now and started putting money aside for it in equity mutual funds. After 4 years, you can start systematically withdrawing 1/12 of the money every month and put it towards liquid funds, which are less volatile and safe." Menon of Probitus Wealth added that retail investors should also invest in diversified funds such as multi-asset, hybrid, or equity savings funds. Asset allocation in such funds is managed by a fund manager with greater expertise than the average investor, and besides, investors dont have to pay taxes when a mutual fund shifts its asset class within the scheme, she said. Toby Rice, who leads one of Americas largest natural-gas producers, says the Drill, Baby, Drill" mantra that resurfaced during the presidential campaign is passe. Now, it is all about Build, Baby, Build." Natural-gas investors are looking ahead to potential growth after a year in which historically low prices dinged profits and drilling plans. At the same time, the Biden administration questioned the benefits of making the U.S. liquefied-natural-gas-export machinethe worlds biggesteven bigger. As climate advocates have increasingly warned of planet-warming emissions, President Biden has ramped up environmental rules and directed unprecedented sums into clean energy, rarely discussing record oil-and-gas output. Now, with President-elect Donald Trump set to take office, climate concerns are out. New LNG hubs are slated to come online. The White House-in-waiting has promised to fast-track future infrastructure that could help gas companies funnel fuel to new buyers at home or abroadpotentially locking in another era of development. Political force has overwhelmed market forces," said Rice, chief executive of Pittsburgh-based EQT, which produces gobs of gas in the Marcellus Shale stretching across Appalachia. Let market forces work." The U.S. natural-gas market has been constrained in recent years by public aversion to new pipelines and an arduous permitting process that Washington has tried and failed to overhaul. Rice, who recently visited Capitol Hill to talk up natural gas, says this Congress could be different. But Wall Street is betting that more immediate change under Trump will be better prospects for future LNG facilities, where skyscraper-size tankers load up on supercooled supplies en route to power plants and factories abroad. Already the worlds largest LNG exporter, the U.S. is set to debut projects that are expected to begin to ship gas in earnest next year, with more scheduled to open by 2028. Trump has pledged to support additional projects beyond then. Bidens Energy Department warned this month that unfettered exports" would boost global emissions, increase market volatility and push up domestic wholesale prices 31% by 2050. But some other analysts, as well as Rice, dispute the ultimate cost impact on households. When you say prices are going up, well, thats because weve had historic low natural-gas prices," said Rice, whose company was among those that curbed drilling in response to languishing prices over the past two years. For an industry with a long history of overdrilling into painful busts, the longer-term threat now might be overbuilding export facilities in the face of a potential global glut. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm warned in a statement on her agencys study that projects that have already been approved will be more than sufficient to meet global demand for U.S. LNG for decades to come." Rice doesnt buy it. In his view, American LNG is well-suited to replace the Russian gas that Europe still imports. Ditto for the record-setting amounts of coal still burned to power China, India and the rest of the world. We still have global emissions that are skyrocketing," Rice said, adding that his recent meetings in Washington suggested an evolution in thinking on energy. People are reassessing how we got here, and the conclusion theyre going to get to is we need to build more of everything." Write to David Uberti at david.uberti@wsj.com The burrito chain requires staffers to be in four days a week, Monday through Thursday, a policy the company announced in May of last year. The mostly in-office policy helps preserve the companys culture and has worked well for Chipotle, said Chief Financial Officer Adam Rymer, who is often at his desk five days a week. But the companys end-of-the-week flexibility could vanish if productivity slips, according to Rymer. Our execution on Friday is on point, people are available," he said. If that ever comes into question, I can see us switching back quickly." Chipotles decision to hold at four days in the office comes as large companies are cracking down on back-to-office policies, which will be in the spotlight again for C-suite leaders in the year ahead. AT&T, Amazon.com and Dell Technologies in recent months have called certain staffers back to offices five days a week. Starbucks in October warned employees they risk termination if they dont comply with the companys existing three-days-a-week mandate. And with President-elect Donald Trump set to return to the White House in the coming year, federal workers too could soon see a push to return to the office under the new Department of Government Efficiency advisory group, the latest sign of leaders wrangling with RTO mandates. Years after the Covid-19 pandemic normalized remote work, the recent developments have executives wondering which companies will pull staff back to the office nextand who will benefit. Finance chiefs, who tend to be involved in setting remote work policies, continue to evaluate how often workers should be at their desks and whether their companies are getting the right mix of productivity and flexibility. Some see others retreat from remote work as a competitive edge for them. Many employers continue to see the benefits of hybrid working schedules, from the ability to attract employees to retaining top talent. But the degree of flexibility at the workplace is shifting. A third of U.S. employers mandate that employees be in an office five days a week, down 16% from a year ago, according to Flex Index, which tracks workplace strategies. Twenty-five percent of U.S. companies offer fully flexible arrangements, down from 33% a year ago. And hybrid arrangements, when companies require a certain number of days in the office but leave at least one for remote work, are growing in popularity. Forty-three percent of U.S. companies have hybrid office policies, compared with 29% a year ago, Flex Index data shows. Some executives are still working out what the best policy is. At footwear and apparel maker Deckers Outdoor, some workers are encouraged to come in often, particularly those on the creative side of the business, said Chief Financial Officer Steve Fasching. The owner of Ugg footwear and Hoka sneakers hasnt set a required number of days at a desk for any employeesWe havent gotten to that yet"the CFO said. One reason is office space. Deckers increased the number of workers to 4,800 as of March 31, a 14% jump from 2023. With many, including Fasching, choosing a hybrid work routine, the company hasnt expanded its square footage to meet a full return to office. We want to make sure we dont overdo it, so we dont want to commit to too much space," he said. But at the same time, we want to make sure that were offering options that allow people to connect and collaborate." DirecTV executives are sticking with the call made in 2021 to be a remote-first workplace, said Chief Financial Officer Ray Carpenter. Some were initially concerned that productivity would suffer. The opposite happened; in fact, the companys roughly 7,000 employees are more productive nowincreasing DirecTVs share of new customers and adding to the offered services, for instancehe said. Consequently, DirecTV has cut costs by shedding around 30% of its physical space, according to Carpenter. And the flexibility gives the company an edge when hiring and retaining workers. The recent push by some companies for five days in the office adds to the advantage, the CFO said. It makes it more current and relevant for us to discuss and ensure were not being complacent," he said. But it also means someone from one of these companies may look for a remote alternative." At Yelp, staffers left offices in 2020 and have remained fully remote since. Initial challenges such as figuring out how to onboard people, maintaining a collaborative culture and measuring the performance of a workforce scattered primarily across the U.S., U.K. and Canada have been worked out, said CFO David Schwarzbach. The reviews platform has seen millions of dollars in savings. The company has cut its office space by over 90%, to around 60,000 square feet, since going fully remote. Yelp is down to just two office floors in the U.S., according Schwarzbach. We have saved tens of millions of dollars doing this," he said. Yelp reported net income of $38 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, down 34% from a year earlier. The move by some away from looser workplace policies hasnt shaken Yelp executives resolve on the subject, Schwarzbach said. Remote work works for Yelp," he said. We dont see a need to revisit that." Write to Jennifer Williams at jennifer.williams@wsj.com President-elect Donald Trump appears keen to expand on the long-standing American belief in the United States manifest destiny" to dominate its part of the world. His utterances on buying up Greenland, enrolling Canada as a state and forcibly taking over the Panama Canal all suggest that the US guiding principle under Trump would be Might is Right. This might work in the face of a few small nation-states in no position to resist, but would rile bigger powers and also weaken the alliances that have held Pax Americana in place under Washingtons watch. It is not just economic and military might that underpins US leadership, but also its moral suasion, as articulated by its diplomacy and cultural advocacy. To abandon that, as Trump seems disposed to do once he takes office on 20 January, would be to unravel the power structures that uphold the world order and open up at least a brief phase of instability. Indias stance of being non- or multi-aligned should help it be one of the countries least rattled by any Trumpian overreach. The 19th century US gloried in the notion that destiny had given it the duty to spread the republican form of government and American way of life across the Americas. Its key role in World War II, the rebuilding of Europe and setting of global rules, coupled with its economic success, domination of the worlds financial system and the rise of Communism, led its leaders to envision its manifest mission as a girdle for the whole globe, even if it was not polite to say so openly. The US forged strategic alliances in Europe, apart from the Far and Middle East, to maintain its hegemony over what it liked to call the free world," never mind that this world had a dozen-odd dictators, such as Iraqs Saddam Hussain, Indonesias Suharto, The Philippines Marcos, Pakistans Zia ul-Haq and also Irans Shah Reza Pahlavi, whose 1979 overthrow in an Islamic Revolution opened a theatre of geopolitics that often seemed to rival its pre-1991 Cold War with the Soviet Union. Trump seems to see the past as irrelevant to future deals and likes to tell it like it is. He appears bent on the pursuit of US self-interest without making any bones about it, even if that means casting aside rules, conventions and treaties, or leaving American allies and dependents in the lurch. The per capita GDP of Missouri, the poorest state of the US, is higher than that of Britain. The market cap of US tech giants is greater than the value of all of Europes listed firms. The US military budget, at 40% of the global total, is larger than the combined outlays of the next seven biggest defence spenders. In technology, only China can foreseeably hope to rival the US. All this adds up to American hubris, signs of which co-exist with anxiety over this turning out to be an Asian rather than American century. However, hubris is brittle and can shatter, as it did in Vietnam. Trumps disposition risks pushing US allies to seek alternate security arrangements, potentially disrupting current power equations. The only countries this would not impact adversely are a handful like India, which are either non-aligned or multi-aligned, depending on the context. For the rest, it would mean a painful and costly reconfiguration of relations with other major powers. The global order, once scrambled, would be hard to unscramble, even with the horsepower of Make America Great Again behind the effort. Also read: The US Fed seems as clueless as markets about its policy path from here on Ukraine plans to pay another UAH 2 bln within third stage of winter e-Support Citizens of Ukraine who applied for participation in the winter e-Support program on the Diia portal from December 4-11 will receive UAH 2 billion during December 26-27. As reported on the website of the Ministry of Economy on Thursday, taking into account these payments, already 6.4 million citizens who applied to Diia will receive UAH 1,000 of financial assistance from the state, including 1.7 million payments for children. The ministry added that as of December 26, the total number of applications for participation in the program on the Diia portal reached 8.6 million, of which 2.2 million were for payments for children. The winter e-Support program, initiated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is designed to provide social support to citizens during the difficult winter period. One-time state aid in the amount of UAH 1,000 is provided to all Ukrainians, in particular, children who are on the territory of Ukraine (except for temporarily occupied territories). One can apply for the winter e-Support until February 28 inclusive, and spend the funds until the end of 2025. DAMASCUS, SyriaSyrias new rulers are facing challenges to their authority, including clashes with allies of the old regime and protests accusing them of destroying religious symbols. Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched the assault that overthrew dictator Bashar al-Assad and has now positioned itself as the countrys new government. In the largest incident, it said at least 14 members of the new governments security forces were killed Wednesday in an ambush conducted by loyalists of the old regime. The killings happened in Tartus province, along the coast, an area heavily populated by Syrias minority Alawite sect, which included the Assads. The transitional government said it launched an operation to pursue Assad loyalists and restore order. It also set overnight curfews for several areas of the country. Also on Wednesday, protests were sparked after footage circulated showing a famed Alawaite shrine burning as armed fighters stood by. HTS said the video is old, from when it took the city of Aleppo at the end of November, and that it is working to protect religious sites. Separate protests broke out among the countrys Christian minority after a video circulated of a Christmas tree that was set ablaze by members of the armed forces. HTS officials subsequently met with religious minorities and said they detained the foreign fighters who burned the tree. HTS, an offshoot of al Qaeda, has routinely promised to respect the countrys diversity and protect religious minorities. But many people worry about how it will govern. The U.S., United Nations and European Union all designate HTS as a terrorist organization and say they are waiting to see how the group will approach human rights before deciding to lift that designation and ease Assad-era sanctions. Alawites are particularly concerned, given the Assads affiliation with the group and the fact that Sunni extremists view them as heretics. There is a perception that we are rich and that we benefited from the Assad regime and supported him, which is widely not the case," said Firas Maalla, an Alawaite living in a Damascus neighborhood that is home to many members of the sect. For now, fear governs us, and it is too early to judge HTS and how our future will turn out." The tensions raise the risk that Syria could enter a period of new conflict as the celebrations over the downfall of the widely despised Assad regime fade. The country is divided along religious and ethnic lines and is home to many armed rebel groups no longer focused on a common enemy. While HTS controls Damascus and other major cities, swaths of the country are beyond its reach, and foreign powers are pursuing their own agendas on Syrian territory. In the resource-rich northeast, which HTS doesnt control, fighting has heated up between Kurdish-led groups and militias supported by Turkey, which consider the Kurdish groups enemies. Without control of the northeast, a future central Syrian government would be stymied in its reconstruction efforts, as most of the countrys oil fields are located there. In the southwest, Israel is deepening its presence in Syrian territory and continues to hold areas in a buffer zone between the countries it seized as the Assad regime fell. The Israeli military fired toward people in a Syrian town earlier this week, after it said troops called upon protesters approaching them to back away. Write to Omar Abdel-Baqui at omar.abdel-baqui@wsj.com The recent sad death of Joan Barrett (nee OSullivan) severs a link with the past for the members of the Longford Association in Dublin. Joan, of Artane, Dublin 5 and formerly of Drumlish, Co Longford and Pompano Beach, Florida, died peacefully, in the care of Beaumont Hospital, surrounded by her loving family, on Friday, November 15. She was predeceased by her husband Tim and sons Tim and Joe. Very sadly missed by her loving children John, Mary, Denis, Michelle, Kay and Fergal, sons-in-law Leo and Rodney, daughters-in-law Elaine, Ruth, Maire and Teresa, her adored grandchildren Tim, Sean, Niall, Amy, Sarah, Ciara, Tadhg, Dylan, Niamh, Evan, DJ, Saibh and Gavin, great grandchildren Erin-Lily, Layla, Robyn, Isabella, NJ, Ellie, Rosie, Sophie and Lucy, her beloved brother John, nieces, nephews, extended family, friends and neighbours. Joan Barrett joined the Longford Association in Dublin in 1982 and brought with her a great vibrancy, energy and a love of music, song and performance, remembers Gerry Quinn, the then Association secretary. She produced the Associations talent show, which won outright the talent competition in 1983 and 84 then organised by the Laois Association in Dublin. We enjoyed many great nights performing on stage in the Capital, says Gerry. Caption: The Longford Association Inter County Talent Team, who in 1984, won for the second year in succession, the All-Ireland Talent competition, sponsored by the Laois Association Joan was also our PRO, reporting into The Longford News and Leader on the Associations behalf during separate periods. Joan (nee OSullivan) was born and raised in Esker North, Drumlish. She attended her local primary school, Drumshanbo, where, incidentally, she was later a substitute teacher a testament to her love of learning and giving back to her roots, says her son, Fergal. She completed her secondary education as a boarder in St Marys Holy Faith, Glasnevin, Dublin, which experience, Fergal believes built the foundations of her resilience and independence, which later was to hold her in good stead when her life was hit by a dreadful tragedy. Also read: Longford campaign aims to reduce anti-social behaviour and promote responsible nightlife After school Joan emigrated to Slough, west of the city of London, and soon she met Kerryman, Tim Barrett - and their love story began. They got married in England, but soon felt the pull of home and returned to Dublin in 1960. Tim took up the role of a clerk before securing a position with ITGWU at Liberty Hall. In 1966 they moved to Hazelwood Park, Artane (still the family home) and, remembers Fergal, built a family home filled with love and laughter. It was an idyllic life, but sadly a terrible tragedy struck in February 1973, when Joan lost her beloved, Tim, and the children lost their loving young dad, in a road accident. It was then that mams strength shone brighter than ever, says Fergal with admiration. It was a shocking time for Joan, then just 35, and her seven young children; it would have broken a lesser human being, but Joans innate fortitude and resilience came to the fore and she used all her considerable personal resources to do what she had to do to look after her family she transformed her home into a creche and kindergarten, providing care and early education for up to 19 children at one stage, says Fergal; she also worked as a substitute primary teacher in a school close to her home and took another job as an accounts assistant. And night time saw her going to work in the famous Stardust night club to manage the cloakroom. Indeed, she was working on the fateful night of the big fire in the Stardust on St Valentines night, February 1981, miraculously escaping uninjured with the help of one of the bouncers on duty. Also read: Longford County Council is first local authority in country to be presented with Amber Flag After what shed been through in her life up to the 1980s youd think she would have taken it a little easy! Not Joan, however; her adventurous spirit saw her with her daughters, Michelle and Kay, and son, Fergal, join her son, Denis in Pompano Beach, Florida in 1988, where together they opened the Harp and Piper bar which became a vibrant centre for the Irish community. Fergal continues, from behind the bar, Mams passion for community and connection flourished. She co-ran the Irish Emigration Society with Dennis McAllister, hosted Noraid fundraisers, and was a driving force behind the founding of St Patricks GAA Club of South Florida. Joan returned to Dublin ten years later, in 1998 and didnt stop there! She became a published author as a member of the Ardlea Writers Group in Artane and co-wrote with the group - which included three grandmothers (one of whom was Joan) and a nun - Last Tango in Ibiza, a somewhat steamy novel on the goings-on on the famous Mediterranean island! It was published in 2001 and sold 4,000 copies in Ireland alone; it had been launched by the then Lord Mayor of Dublin at the Mansion House. The media were naturally intrigued and the group featured on the Late Late show with Gay Byrne and had numerous pictures and stories in the Irish newspapers. It was an exciting time for Joan. Also read: Mean Scoil Mhuire ranked as Longford's leading feeder school for progression to third level education By any measure Joan lived an extraordinary, indeed inspirational, life, demonstrating great resilience in the face of adversity, emphasises Fergal, who sees his mams life as a blend of strength, love and tireless dedication to family and community. She wasnt just a mother - she was a leader, a caregiver, and a shining light for all who knew her, he says. For our part we feel privileged to have had Joan as a leading member of our organisation for so long and, speaking personally, I will miss receiving her Christmas card every year. The members of the Association extend our deepest sympathy to her family John, Mary, Denis, Michelle, Kay and Fergal (sadly her son, Joe, predeceased her last January), her brother, John, Drumlish, extended family and myriad friends. Rest In Peace, Joan. (My thanks to Fergal Barrett for his great help with this obituary) ESB recently marked the start of construction of Middleton House Solar Farm, located to the northeast of Lanesboro, with its Executive Director, Generation and Trading, Jim Dollard. On the same day, ESB marked the official transfer of land and a building on the former Lough Ree Power site. The main construction phase of the multi-million-euro solar farm project commenced in September and once complete, the solar farm will generate 57MW of clean electricity that will have enough capacity to power over 15,000 homes. The project is aligned with ESBs net zero by 2040 strategy and will utilise existing infrastructure from the former peat station at Lough Ree Power to connect to the national grid. An underground cable will connect the solar farm back to the grid connection at Lanesboro via a disused railway track formerly used to transport peat to the power station. Also read: Longford campaign aims to reduce anti-social behaviour and promote responsible nightlife A significant building on the site of the former power station in Lanesboro is being handed over to Longford County Council for the benefit of local organisations for community use and long-term community gain. The building, known locally as the Tomato Shed was so called as a horticultural business operated on the site previously with water provided from the old Lanesboro Peat Station. Also read: Planning to ensure Longford is 'a safer, thriving and greener' county In more recent years, the building was refurbished as a store for the subsequent Lough Ree Power development. In addition, ESB recently made available a 500k community benefit fund to Longford County Council. CAPTION: At the official transfer of land and a building on the former Lough Ree Power site known locally as the Tomato Shed to Longford County Council is Jim Dollard, ESB, Mark Casey, Cathaoirleach, Longford County Council, and Paddy Mahon, Chief Executive, Longford County Council Picture: Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography 2024 Jim Dollard, ESB Executive Director, Generation and Trading, commented: ESB has a long history in electricity generation in the Midlands. We believe this will continue through projects like Middleton House which will help the region remain a strategic energy hub as part of Irelands clean energy future with solar very much helping to power this transition. I am delighted to be here to mark the construction phase of the project, along with the official transfer of the building. We are very pleased to do this and handover the building to Longford County Council for the benefit of the surrounding community. Paddy Mahon, Chief Executive, Longford County Council, commented: "As ESB starts construction of Middleton House Solar Farm, it marks a major milestone in the development and delivery of renewable energy infrastructure in the county. Also as the building at Lough Ree Power is transferred to Longford County Council, along with the 500k in funding that is being made available to local community groups, we thank the ESB knowing that this contribution will make a real and meaningful difference for communities in the area." The project will be delivered for ESB by partners Wills Bros, Powercomm and Voltalia. Also read: Longford County Council is first local authority in country to be presented with Amber Flag ESBs Net Zero by 2040 strategy includes a commitment to deliver more than a fivefold increase in renewable generation to 5,000MW, with solar playing an important part in this alongside offshore and onshore wind, battery and green hydrogen projects. Middleton House Solar Farm forms part of ESBs pipeline of utility-scale solar farms throughout the midlands, south & south-east of the country. For more information, visit www.middletonhousesolarfarm.ie The community of Ballinalee is mourning the passing of Mai O'Reilly (nee McGrath) of Old Clonbroney House, Clonbroney, Ballinalee, Longford who died suddenly in her home on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. Mai, formerly of Moatfarrell, Ballinalee, is reunited with her beloved husband John, brothers Petie and Paddy, sister Chriss and her parents. Mai will be sadly missed and always remembered with love by her heartbroken family, sons Peter, John and Damien, daughters Arlene (Hughes), Kathy (Gregg), Patricia and Susanne (Tully). The popular Ballinalee woman was very involved with the Hillside Club, an active retirement group. READ NEXT: Longford County Council is first local authority in country to be presented with Amber Flag The club meets every second Wednesday in Currycahill Hall, where they take part in many activities, enjoy refreshments, and occasionally venture away on day trips. She loved socialising, she loved going out and about, her son Damien said, My father died a year and a half ago. Before that they loved to go out for coffee and things like that. She was involved in the ICA years ago. Also read: Longford GAA club mourns man with an incredible knowledge of local history and love for his native parish Mai contributed to the 1997 book Clonbroney with Ballinalee: A Local History that was compiled by the local ICA. This invaluable record of local history is testament to the contribution of the voluntary group. Mai, a mother of seven, married John in 1961 and his life as a farmer and bus driver made them a very well known couple in the area. READ NEXT: Longford campaign aims to reduce anti-social behaviour and promote responsible nightlife Damien stated his mother loved meeting people. Our father travelled all around the country. She used to go with him on the bus. She had two brothers and a sister, they died in the last six years," he said. She loved meeting people and travelling. The car would never leave the house without her being in it. Also read: North Longford volunteers angered as vandals wreak havoc at Leebeen Park Damien recalled how when his dad John was driving the bus "she used to go off on tours with him". Mai was a nurse earlier in her life. She spent four years in Stoke-on-Trent in the UK. She had to give up her job when she got married. She met the love of her life, my father, and came back and got married in 1961," Damien said. They got to celebrate their diamond anniversary just after COVID up in Donegal. They got to 61 years and then unfortunately he died after that. They had a long fulfilled life." Also read: Longford's man in New York: Late Mike Prunty opened his doors to many people Mai will also be mourned by her sons-in-law John, Richard and Peter, her adored grandchildren Charlotte, Ian, Laura and Abbey, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, dear friends and neighbours. Her Mass of the Resurrection took place at the Holy Trinity Church, Ballinalee followed by a cremation service in Lakelands Crematorium, Dublin Rd, Cavan. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: December 26 2024 Governor Hochul Fought To Pass the Nations First-Ever Paid Prenatal Leave Policy, Helping Pregnant Women Facing Economic Challenges. Governor Hochul today kicked off a statewide campaign to raise awareness of New Yorks first-in-the-nation paid prenatal leave policy, which takes effect on January 1, 2025. This nation-leading policy, proposed in Governor Hochuls 2024 State of the State and signed into law in April, gives workers the ability to take paid leave for any pregnancy-related medical appointments. In the past year alone, Governor Hochul has made New York more affordable for working families through investing $1.8 billion in child care, delivering $2.3 billion in property tax relief, brokering a landmark affordable housing deal and more. No pregnant woman in New York should be forced to choose between a paycheck and a check-up and thats why I pushed to create the nations first paid prenatal leave policy, Governor Hochul said. From raising the minimum wage to investing in affordable child care, were making New York the best and most affordable place to raise a family. Led by the States Department of Labor, New Yorks statewide public awareness campaign is aimed at promoting New York States groundbreaking Paid Prenatal Leave policy. The campaign will officially kick off with the unveiling of subway ads. The goal of the awareness campaign is to educate New Yorkers and businesses about the new law and to remind pregnant women in New York State that they never have to choose between a paycheck and prenatal care. Additional campaign efforts will include social media outreach, a dedicated webpage, newsletters, a virtual media tour with New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon, and collaboration with various stakeholders and influencers to raise awareness throughout 2025. New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, With Paid Prenatal Leave, New York is not only taking care of pregnant women, but also future generations of our workforce. I applaud Governor Hochuls ongoing commitment to New York State families. Effective January 1, 2025, any privately employed pregnant New Yorker will now be able to receive an additional 20 hours of paid sick leave for prenatal care. The New York State Department of Labor estimates that about 130,000 pregnant women per year will be eligible for this benefit, with about 65,800 of those being hourly workers. Pregnancy-related health care includes: Physical examinations Medical procedures Monitoring Testing Discussions with a health care provider needed to ensure a healthy pregnancy Fertility treatment End of pregnancy care The paid prenatal leave benefits are in addition to New York State Paid Family Leave, existing employer-provided leave and existing sick leave benefits, ensuring workers can receive the health care needed to address all pregnancy related care to create healthy outcomes without jeopardizing their employment or finances. The law applies to all private employers in New York State, with no minimum employee threshold, and is applicable to both full-time and part-time employees. New York State Health Commissioner James McDonald said, Governor Hochuls unwavering commitment to protecting pregnant workers in New York is critical to ensuring access to quality care throughout their pregnancy. Giving pregnant people paid leave for pregnancy-related care will protect their health, the health and safety of their unborn children and improve health outcomes. Without paid leave, many women are forced to choose between getting medical care or earning a paycheck. In New York, rates of infant mortality are highest among those who had no prenatal care or did not begin accessing prenatal care until the third trimester. Yet too many women are not able to receive this medical care because they cannot take unpaid leave; one recent study found that nearly 40 percent of women who did not get prenatal medical care reported this was due to a lack of paid leave or unaffordable care. Studies show that prenatal health care is highly correlated with improved health outcomes for mothers and infants; and that pregnant women who have access to regular prenatal medical visits are less likely to die in childbirth, and their newborns are more likely to be healthy. Compared with infants born to mothers who received prenatal care, infants whose mothers did not receive prenatal care were three times more likely to have a low birth weight, less than 5.5 pounds, and five times more likely to die in infancy. Additionally, women who do not receive prenatal care are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than those who do receive care. Pregnant women of color, especially Black women, face disproportionately higher rates of pregnancy complications and maternal mortality nationally. Black women are overrepresented among pregnancy related deaths, accounting for 14.3 percent of all births in New York in 2018 but more than half, 51 percent, of maternal deaths. Black women are five times more likely to die from pregnancy than white women and are also more likely to experience complications, and the preeclampsia rate is 60 percent higher in Black women than in white women. New York State Office of Child and Family Services Commissioner DeMia Harris-Madden said, This innovative and meaningful legislation is another example of the Governors commitment to addressing maternal and infant health. Introducing this premiere paid prenatal medical leave is a deliberate action to protect women and babies while promoting equitable workforce advancements. With more than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths being preventable, increased access to consistent prenatal care without a penalty of lost wages will lead to positive health outcomes to include a reduction in pregnancy and birth complications. New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said, New Yorks new Paid Prenatal Leave law will improve health outcomes for women by helping ensure that all pregnant workers in New York have the support and resources they need to access vital pregnancy-related health care. We are grateful to Governor Hochul for prioritizing maternal and infant health and well-being and for her steadfast commitment to supporting women and families in New York State. As New Yorks first mom Governor, Governor Hochul has continued to build on the states commitment to maternal health care and supporting families. In addition to paid prenatal leave, as part of her broader plan to improve maternal and infant mortality, the Governor established 12 weeks of paid parental leave benefits for more than 80 percent of the state workforce, extended postpartum coverage for up to a full year for Medicaid and Child Health Plus enrollees, established statewide Medicaid coverage for doulas, created the states first doula directory, and has taken steps to eliminate cost-sharing for certain pregnancy-related benefits for those enrolled in the states Essential Plan or Qualified Health Plans. New York's publicly funded child care system and the new, online application launched in July is part of the Governors ongoing effort to make child care more affordable, accessible and equitable for New York families. Governor Hochul has improved access to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) by raising the child care income eligibility limit to the federal maximum, capping families' out-of-pocket child care costs, and increasing State reimbursement rates to child care programs. The enacted 2024-25 state budget more than doubled funding for CCAP to $1.8 billion, and in 2023, Governor Hochul also announced a combined $100 million commitment in capital grants for child care center construction and business tax credits for workplace-based child care expansion to address a critical shortage of child care supply in New York State. Shabaabs statement announcing the death of Mohamed Mire. Earlier today, Shabaab, Al Qaedas branch for East Africa, publicly announced the death of Mohamed Mire, one of the groups senior-most officials. The jihadist group stated that Mire was killed in a US airstrike. The US has yet to comment on any such airstrike as of the time of publishing. With pride, honor, and gratitude, we announce to the Muslim Ummah [worldwide Islamic community] the passing of the Mujahid Sheikh Mohamed Mire Jama, the Governor of the Islamic Provinces in Somalia, the statement begins. Shabaab refers to various states within its shadow governance of much of southern and central Somalia as provinces of its envisioned future Islamic emirate. As the so-called governor, Mire acted as the groups interior emir, tantamount to an interior minister, within its shadow structure. [Mire] achieved what he wished for, the statement continues, after more than 40 years as a defender of the religion of God, striving to raise Gods word and implement his laws, and supporting Muslims and the oppressed. Offering just a brief look into Mires background, Shabaabs statement also notes that he was among the first generation of Somali mujahideen, having made a prominent effort in confronting the Christianization campaigns of the 1990s that targeted the Muslim Somali people in order to destroy their faith. While not directly statedand thus, unconfirmedit is possible that Mire was originally a member of Al Ittihad al Islamiyya (AIAI), Somalias largest jihadist group in the 1990s, and a direct predecessor to Shabaab. AIAI was heavily involved in combating forces from the United Nations, United States, and Ethiopia during this time, all of which Shabaab had previously demonized for attempting to promote Christianity in Somalia in the early 1990s. Additionally, the statement includes information on how and when Mire was killed. Shabaab states that though the jihadi leader was able to avoid death before, he was not so lucky this month when American planes bombed him on the night of December 24, 2024. The group does not say where he was killed. However, the Somali government was quick to put out a statement, saying that its forces, backed by international partners, successfully neutralized Mohamed Mire Jama, alias Abu Abdirahman [] the operation was conducted in Kunyo-Barow, Lower Shabelle. The US militarys Africa Command has not yet confirmed participating in this strike as of the time of publishing. Turkey has also conducted drone strikes against Shabaab in Somalias Lower Shabelle region in the past, though the United States has carried out most operations in that area. Mire had a long history within the ranks of Shabaab. He was previously the groups shadow governor for Somalias central Hiraan region before he became the groups Zakat emir, overseeing Shabaabs taxation efforts across areas it controls. In 2016, he was reported killed in a US drone strike, though he obviously survived. As stated above, Mire most recently acted as the groups de facto interior minister. This role was also specified within his designation as a global terrorist by the US State Department in 2022. State also noted that Mire was involved in Shabaabs strategic decision-making, as he was a member of the groups central shura (or leadership) council. Mire is the first senior official confirmed killed by the group since Abdullahi Yare, the groups dawah [proselytizing] emir, was killed in a US drone strike in October 2022. However, Shabaab never confirmed Yares death as it did with Mire. Somali officials also previously claimed that Maalim Ayman, a senior military commander who oversees the eponymous Jaysh al Ayman military unit in southern Somalia and northeastern Kenya, was killed in December 2023. However, the most recent United Nations Sanctions and Monitoring Team report from July 2024 noted that Maalim Ayman is, in fact, still alive. As with Abdullahi Yare, Shabaab also never confirmed Maalim Aymans purported death. [For more on key leaders and personnel of Shabaab, see this 2023 study by FDDs Long War Journal.] Though Shabaab conceded that this terrorist leader has been killed, it promises to not forget about Mohamed Mire. The group stated that following his death, Mires blood turned into light and fire. Light that illuminates the path of his soldiers after him; and fire, which burns as revenge and retribution against those who killed him, the group stated. Caleb Weiss is an editor of FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa. Photo: https://www.5.ua/polityka Ukraine is supported by more members of the Republican Party in the US Congress than not, but the results of voting on all issues related to Ukraine depend on the wavering representatives of this political force, says MP of Ukraine, leader of the European Solidarity Party, Petro Poroshenko. "In the Republican majority in Congress, about a hundred Republican congressmen strongly support Ukraine. About 90 are against us. This is the largest number, and this is the defeat of the struggle for bipartisan support that the current administration has unfortunately suffered. And there are a little more than 30 congressmen who are wavering, who have not decided," Poroshenko said in an interview with the Channel 5. "Now, among these slightly more than 30 Republican congressmen, the majority vote on the Ukrainian issue is being decided. And so far we have not won a number of issues," the politician added. He also noted that Donald Trump, the president-elect of the United States, is "a man of results, a man of action," and this gives him a chance to end the war. "On the one hand, this gives Ukraine a very big chance that this result will be achieved. On the other hand, this is a very narrow window of opportunity that we cannot miss... Trump has arguments for Putin. But Ukrainians must do their homework. We have no right to allow ourselves to be weak, because if we are weak, Putin lacks the motivation to end the war," Poroshenko noted. Apple Intelligence is just about all Apple can talk about. The latest products released in the second half of 2024 are all Built for Apple Intelligence and every one of the ads for the new iPhones focuses entirely on it. But even if you got an iPhone 16 in September, you still had to wait for an iOS update to get the first Apple Intelligence features. And even after the iOS 18.1 and 18.2 updates Apple Intelligence wouldnt automatically have been running on your iPhones. So if youre wondering why Apple Intelligence is missing from your iPhone, heres how you turn it on. What you need for Apple Intelligence For starters, youll need a compatible iPhone. Apple Intelligence only works on an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 model. Youll also need iOS 18.1 or laterApple Intelligence features are being released in stages, with even more features coming in later iOS updates throughout 2025. Heres a broad schedule of Apple Intelligence features and when youll get them. Apple Intelligence is also available on any Apple silicon-based Mac or iPad as well as the A17 Pro iPad mini with macOS 15.1 or iPadOS 18.1 or later. Finally, you also need both your system settings and Siri language to be set to a supported language. Right now those are: English (Australia), English (Canada), English (Ireland), English (New Zealand), English (South Africa), English (UK), and English (US). More languages will be added in 2025. How to get Apple Intelligence elsewhere Apple Intelligence isnt available in the E.U. (due to regulatory issues) and other locations including China. If you want to use Apple Intelligence in a country that isnt included in the list above you need to change your device language and Siri language. Follow these steps: Go to Settings. Tap on General. Swipe down to Language & Region and tap on it. Tap on Add Language. Choose one of the languages above. Return to the Language & Region screen. Tap on Region and change it to one of the regions above. Go back to Settings. Tap Apple Intelligence & Siri. Tap on Languages. Choose one of the options above. Return to Settings. Go to Privacy & Security. Tap on Location Services and deselect it. How to turn on Apple Intelligence Apple Intelligence isnt turned on by default, You need to enable it to get started and can turn it off at any time. To get going, open Settings (System Settings on Mac), then select Apple Intelligence & Siri. On the next screen, tap Get Apple Intelligence. Your iPhone (or Mac or iPad) will start downloading the Apple Intelligence models for your language. Its several gigabytes and might take a while on a slower connection. Apple How to enable ChatGPT for Apple Intelligence With iOS 18.2, Apple added integrated support for ChatGPT in Apple Intelligence. It can be used with Siri, Writing Tools, and Visual Intelligence. To turn on ChatGPT on your iPhone follow these steps: Open Settings. Choose Apple Intelligence & Siri. Look for the ChatGPT menu under the Extensions heading. For more on ChatGPT integration, including examples of how you can use it and how to log in to your OpenAI account if youre a ChatGPT subscriber, read our guide. How to find the new Apple Intelligence features Once the models are downloaded and installed you can start using nearly all of the Apple Intelligence features. Some things are automatic, such as notification summaries, which will scan related notifications and summarize them into a quick blurb, and Mail summaries, which distills longer messages in your Primary inbox into a blurb that calls out the important bits. Other features you can play with are: Writing Tools: Click the arrow to the right of the text tray above the keyboard to open the menu and then select the Writing Tools button (the one that looks like an Apple Intelligence logo with a pencil inside it). This will bring up numerous options, including proofreading and rewriting text, summarizing and organizing text, and composing text, which requires Chat GPT (see above). Image Playground: This is a separate app that youll see on your iPhone when you install iOS 18.2. (Its the one with a picture of a white kitten inside a bubble.) Launch it and youll be able to type a prompt to get a photo in either illustration or animation style. You can also drag a photo of a person to turn them into an illustration. Genmoji: On the emoji keyboard, youll find a new button to the right of the search bar. Tap it and youll enter Apples Genmoji creator, which allows you to make any emoji you want (with some obvious restrictions) and use it just as you would a regular emoji. Once created, itll appear in the emoji list on all of your devices. Image Wand: When in Notes, theres a new tool called Image Wand. When sketching a picture, click the new wand tool next to the ruler and youll be able to turn it into a professional sketch by describing what you want it to be. Visual Intelligence: This ones solely for the new iPhone 16 models. When you click and hold the Camera Control button for a second, youll enter Visual Intelligence, which will let you interact with what the camera sees, whether its a street sign in a foreign language, a restaurant, or a pair of sneakers you want to buy. Also read: Where is Apple Intelligence on my Mac? U.S. President Joseph Biden instructed the Pentagon to increase arms supplies to Ukraine in connection with the "outrageous" massive attack by the Russian Federation on Christmas, the White House website reports. "I have directed the Department of Defense to continue its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine, and the United States will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen Ukraines position in its defense against Russian forces," Biden said in a statement. He noted that over the past months, the USA has delivered hundreds of air defense missiles to Ukraine, and more are on the way. "In the early hours of Christmas, Russia launched waves of missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities and critical energy infrastructure. The purpose of this outrageous attack was to cut off the Ukrainian peoples access to heat and electricity during winter and to jeopardize the safety of its grid," the statement notes. "The Ukrainian people deserve to live in peace and safety, and the United States and the international community must continue to stand with Ukraine until it triumphs over Russias aggression," Biden stressed. A woman suspected of weeks of package thievery, earning her the scorn of South Boston residents, was arrested Tuesday by police officers as they delivered gifts for Christmas, authorities said. While bringing toys to children around South Boston late Tuesday morning, a police cadet spotted Kerri Flynn, 34, who matched the description of a notorious neighborhood package thief, a statement from the department said. The suspect had been spotted stealing packages in South Boston for weeks, and residents who contacted police have referred to her as the Tom Brady of stealing packages, according to a police report. Officers found Flynn with two bags stuffed with unopened packages, the report said. She also had outstanding arrest warrants on charges of shoplifting in Taunton and receiving stolen property in the Boston area. Flynn was arrested and is expected to be arraigned in the South Boston division of Boston Municipal Court on charges of larceny from a building, police said. According to court records, she appeared in the South Boston courthouse later Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of receiving stolen property. She was released without bail. The stolen packages were returned to their rightful owners, police noted in their report. Four people died on Christmas in New Hampshire due to carbon monoxide poisoning, according to New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Sean P. Toomey, Wakefield Fire Rescue Chief Todd Nason and Wakefield Police Chief Michael Fenton. The Wakefield Police Department went to 2962 Province Lake Road in Wakefield for a welfare check around 4:21 p.m. on Christmas. When officers arrived, they found multiple people deceased. Investigators believe the people died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Autopsies are scheduled to be performed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on Thursday. Officials did not release the names of the four people, all adults, while next of kin are still being notified. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is encouraged to contact the New Hampshire State Fire Marshals Office at (603) 223-4289 or fmo@dos.nh.gov. Officials reminded people of the importance of having working carbon monoxide alarms in their homes and to call 911 if the alarm goes off. A GoFundMe page is raising money for the burial costs of Owen Kasozi, a Danvers woman who died after falling into a lake in Beverly while she was walking her dog on Christmas Eve. Kasozi, 30, was walking her dog in J.C. Phillips Nature Preserve at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve but did not return. A search for Kasozi was conducted by the Beverly Police Department, Beverly Fire Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the state police Airwing unit, and the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC). The dog was located without Kasozi on Tuesday night in Topsfield and on Christmas, authorities reported that Kasozi was found dead in Wenham Lake in Beverly. Police believe Kasozi fell into the lake and could not get herself out. No foul play is suspected. The campaigns description reads that Kasozi was a vibrant soul who brought joy and laughter to everyone she met. Her passion for life was infectious, and she had a unique ability to make those around her feel valued and loved, the campaign description reads. She cherished her family and friends deeply, and her absence will be felt profoundly in our lives. With a goal of $30,000, the campaign has raised $2,338 from 36 donations as of Dec. 26. A missing Danvers womans body was found in Wenham Lake in Beverly after she had been walking her dog near the lake on Christmas Eve and didnt return. Owen Kasozi, 30, was walking her dog in J.C. Phillips Nature Preserve at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve but never returned. Beverly Police Department, Beverly Fire Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the state police Airwing unit, and the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) began looking for the woman. The dog was located without Kasozi Tuesday night in Topsfield. On Christmas, authorities said Kasozi was found dead in Wenham Lake. Police believe Kasozi fell into the freezing lake and was unable to get herself out. No foul play is suspected. This is not the search outcome that anyone was hoping for, said Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker. We appreciate the efforts of all our law enforcement partners who worked diligently over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to locate Owen Kasozi. Our thoughts are with her family as they begin to cope with this painful loss. SPRINGFIELD Christmas came a few days early for parents Yeliann Ayala and Martin Figueroa, as their 5-year-old daughter, Arianne, was sent home from Franciscan Childrens hospital in Boston on Monday morning. The pair were told about the possibility of Arianne being strong and stable enough to travel to their Springfield home a few weeks prior, but werent sure if it was actually possible. Over the past day and as of 8:30 Thursday, December 26, units of the Defense Forces shot down 20 enemy drones, 11 imitator drones were lost locally, the press service of the Air Force reported. "As of 08:30, the downing of 20 Shahed-type attack UAVs and drones of other types has been confirmed in Kharkiv, Kyiv, Chernihiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions," the message says. It is noted that on the night of December 26 (from 19:00 on December 25), the enemy attacked with the 31 Shahed type UAVs and drones of other types from Orel, Millerovo - the Russian Federation. The air attack was repulsed by anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, mobile fire groups of the Air Force and the Defense Forces of Ukraine. It is also reported that due to the active countermeasures of the Defense Forces, 11 enemy drone imitators were lost in location (without negative consequences). SPRINGFIELD Investigators from the Fire Departments Arson and Bomb Squad ruled a heating appliance malfunction caused a fire in a two-family home over the holidays. A total of 10 residents were displaced in the fire, which was originally reported at about 1:40 p.m., Monday, at 763 Dickinson St., fire officials said. There were no injuries in the fire. Jessica Lam of Uxbridge was seeking a miracle. In January 2023, the then-24-year-old Northeastern University student was diagnosed with kidney failure. Lam was terrified. One moment, she was attending concerts with her friends and studying at her graduate school. Now, all of a sudden, she was back at home with her parents, heading to treatment three times a week, taking dialysis and feeling incredibly sick. I was supposed to graduate in the spring of 2023, Lam said. So I had to delay starting my life. In desperation, Lam wrote a post on Facebook in April 2023 asking if people were willing to be a live donor, or knew anyone who was. She wasnt sure anyone would respond. That message resulted in Lam finding a new kidney and forming a new relationship with her donor, who lives just one town over from Lam. Lams donor is 53-year-old Cara Bernard of Whitinsville, who donated her kidney through surgery at UMass Memorial Medical Center on Nov. 7, 2023. Bernard told MassLive she was no stranger to donations before, as she donated blood and bone marrow to people in her town. She was inspired to donate her kidney after her daughter, Lauren, showed her Lams Facebook post. Im a big believer in it, Bernard said about donations. I want to be a donor for any of these people no matter who they are. The surgery was successful and both Lam and Bernard are living healthy lives, they both told MassLive. One year after the surgery, the two officially met in person for the first time. Since then, the two have been in contact wishing each other a happy Thanksgiving and staying in touch mostly by text. I didnt know Jess, but shes my daughters age, Bernard said. I cant imagine what goes through everybody when someone all of a sudden becomes ill and youre in such a need for this (kidney) for survival. Getting sick and asking for help Lam, now 26, was attending her second year in graduate school at Northeastern University. She had a full-time job, a group of friends and was excited to graduate the following spring. During the Christmas break, however, Lam began to get sick. She first experienced headaches, which she initially thought was due to stress from school work. Lam then began to grow sicker and weaker, and thought she may have caught COVID. After a trip to the emergency room, however, Lam was told by doctors that her kidneys were not functioning properly. She was put on dialysis, but was told that there was a chance her kidneys could repair themselves because she was so young. A month later, Lam was diagnosed with kidney failure. I was terrified, Lam said. I was living in Boston, doing normal things and I felt that all got ripped away from me. For months, Lam was waiting for a potential matching donor. In desperation, she posted a plea on Facebook in April 2023, calling on those who were or are interested in being a kidney donor to contact UMass Memorial Medical Center. As you can imagine, my life changed drastically as one moment Im a healthy 24-year-old getting ready for a new semester of grad school at Northeastern, and the next moment, I find myself facing kidney failure and having to learn how to adapt to this illness and new life, Lam wrote. I am currently on the kidney transplant list and it may take years to receive a kidney. Until then, I will be on dialysis for the foreseeable future until I am able to receive a transplant. Lam told MassLive she was embarrassed and scared at first to write the post but soon realized that if she didnt reach out for help, she could be waiting up to 10 years for a new kidney. I was told that having a living donor is much more beneficial than having regular donor, Lam said. The kidney from a living donor will give you a longer life. Getting the message Lams plea on Facebook caught the attention of Bernards daughter, Lauren, who shared Lams story with Bernard. Bernard had donated before and upon reading the post she realized that she and Lam had matching blood types. Bernard told MassLive that she originally planned to donate her kidney to a co-worker but that plan did not come to fruition. As a result of the post, Bernard decided to start the process of donating her kidney to Lam. Throughout the process, Bernard was asked by the UMass Memorial staff whether she wanted to continue. She told MassLive that she had never thought about stopping the donation process, even though she did not know Lam. I always took the next step, Bernard said. I said yes. I want to proceed. Lam said after much back and forth, the surgery date was scheduled for Nov. 7, 2023. I dont remember anesthesia, Lam said. The next thing I knew I woke up and I was like, I have my kidney. This is my new life. Dr. Dheera Reddy, surgical director of living donation at UMass Memorial Medical Center performed the surgery on Bernard. She told MassLive the surgery was successful and that those who donate their kidneys like Bernard are superheroes. I think they truly embody the spirit of giving with their generosity and altruism and we at UMass are truly grateful for their gift, she said. After the surgery Following the surgery, both women are living their lives respectively. Lam said she is still attending Northeastern University while Bernard continues her work as a senior client manager for Unum in Worcester. In October of this year, the two finally met for the first time in person. At first, Lam was hesitant to meet with Bernard. How do you thank someone for literally saving your life? she said. That could be someone elses mom, that could be someones daughter. That could be someones loved one. That gave me chills. Bernard was open to meeting Lam but said she would respect her decision if she did not want to meet. I didnt go into this to get a thank you, Bernard said. I would have been OK with respecting her decision. Nevertheless, the two met and a relationship was formed. The two wished each other a happy Thanksgiving in November this year and have also been texting each other. Bernard told MassLive that she feels Lam is part of her family and has been inspired to continue donating to those in need. Bernard said she is even considering donating her liver anonymously. Its like getting a tattoo, Bernard said about donations. You cant just have one. During the month, Ukrainians declared 1,930 units of firearms and more than 263,000 units of ammunition, the Ministry of Internal Affairs told Interfax-Ukraine. "During the month of the law's validity, Ukrainians declared 1,930 units of firearms and more than 263,000 rounds of ammunition," the department informed. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is confident that the campaign to declare weapons by civilians has already had a good result, Ukrainian society understands the importance of recording and controlling weapons, because it is a component of the security of the state and every Ukrainian. "Combating the illegal arms trade in the conditions of a full-scale war is a complex and multi-stage task, but I am confident that we will cope with it," Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Igor Klymenko told the agency. "We are counting on the Ukrainians to make a conscious decision to declare and legally store weapons, as well as the realization that weapons can only be used against the occupiers, but in no case for criminal purposes. The issue of security is complex and includes not only the work of law enforcement officers, but awareness of citizens as well," the Minister of Internal Affairs emphasized. by Fern Siegel , December 26, 2024 Washington, D.C. creative agency Outright appointed Tracy Mathews as managing director, a new post. Previously, she worked at APCO Worldwide as senior creative director, North America and earlier, as an senior art director. Darin Ruchirek, Outright's CEO, cited Mathews' blend of strategic foresight, creative brilliance,and inspiring leadership. said. Her ability to cultivate a vibrant sense of community, transform ideas into successful campaigns, and inspire collaboration among diverse creatives is truly impressive. Mathews brings nearly 20 years of experience in brand identity, advertising and content creation for global brands. Her remit is to identify new business opportunities for the agency. Separately, in 2019, she received the award for best director at the 2019 Capitol Hill Film Classic for her short film "The Last Meal." Mathews said joining the agency was a chance to collaborate with the talented team to push creative boundaries that elevate our clients brand stories and craft innovative solutions. Outright client work includes YouTube, Marriott, NHL, Ocean Conservancy and Me Too. by Ray Schultz , December 25, 2024 The Des Moines Register and its owner Gannett have won a round in the election-interference case filed against them last week by incoming President Donald Trump. They have succeeded in having the case removed from the District Court of Polk Country court to the U.S. District Court. This move to a federal court, where the defense will or will not get a fairer shake, is made possible by what Above The Law calls a legal trick. The Trump side served Gannett with the suit, but not the local defendants, as required, Above The Law reports. Trump accuses pollster Ann Selzer, The Des Moines Register and Gannett of brazen election interference, based on a poll by Selzer that put Kamala Harris 16 points ahead of Trump in Iowa, as Reuters reported. Trump comfortably won Iowa and enough of the rest of the country to be elected. The Selzer poll, which was published three days before the election, obviously didnt affect the race. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua In the Kurakhove direction, the enemy is accumulating forces for assault operations, it is noted that the Russians are increasingly using anti-thermal cloaks at night, said Major Viktor Trehubov, spokesman for the operational-strategic group of forces Khortytsia. "So far, we are noting the accumulation of enemy forces for assault operations in order to improve the tactical situation in this area," Trehubov said on the air of the telethon on Thursday. He pointed out that 31 combat clashes had taken place in the Kurakhove direction over the past 24 hours. In the urban development of Kurakhove, in the areas of Dalne, Dachne and Uspenivka, assault groups of Russians are trying to "further infiltrate our combat formations." "This happens mainly at night or in conditions of poor visibility (during fog). It should be noted that we are increasingly noticing the use of anti-thermal cloaks by the enemy at night," the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported. The speaker noted that the Russians tactics are to move in small groups and try to "cling" to buildings and bypass the urban development in the vicinity. "The fact that the enemy is advancing in small groups does not mean that there are few of them," Trehubov added. The 8th and 29th Russian armies, the 90th tank division, the 20th motorized rifle division and the 5th and 110th separate motorized rifle divisions are operating against Ukrainian forces there, the speaker noted. In addition, enemy artillery is trying to attack Ukrainian positions in the city, but as a rule, it destroys city buildings, the Ukrainian Armed Forces indicated. by Ray Schultz , December 25, 2024 A judge has ordered Utah businessman Wayne Aston to pay $393,597 in legal fees to the Millard CountyChronicle Progress, a newspaper he unsuccessfully sued for libel last year. Aston filed the suit, which asked for $19.2 million, after the Chronicle Progress alleged that he planned to manufacture modular homes next to the local Fillmore airport, and that he wanted public funding for infrastructure improvements that would help the plan, according to Fox 13. A 2023 state law designed to support the First Amendment allows defendants who win cases to pursue attorney fees. Judge Anthony Howell stated that Aston did not challenge many facts in the story, Fox reports. Aston plans to appeal the decision. Jeff Hunt, an attorney for the newspaper, told Fox News that Astons suit would have imposed enormous financial cost on the on the newspaper just to defend itself. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, December 26, 2024 The ongoing antitrust case against Google could reshape the paid search landscape by increasing competition, according to Stagwell media agency Assembly, which has issued a list of predictions for the 2025 marketing landscape. Per the agency, changes to default search engine agreements or stricter ad practices may open the door for alternative platforms, enabling advertisers to diversify strategies for clients. advertisement advertisement Among the firms other predictions: Research into Gen Alpha, often dubbed iPad kids, will accelerate, driving a surge in YouTube content tailored to their interests. Searches starting with do I need or should I are surging 65% to 85% signaling a shift in how people seek personalized information. Statewide elections in New Jersey and Virginia and major mayoral campaigns in New York, Atlanta and Detroit will significantly affect the advertising landscape. The shopping revolution will accelerate as we move beyond QR codes and static Buy Now buttons to fully embedded, seamless commerce. Social media will become the go-to search engine for younger consumers. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, December 26, 2024 Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is seeking to revive his battle with Meta Platforms over ads that misappropriated his name and image to sell CBD gummies. In a proposed amended complaint filed earlier this month with U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Williams in Delware, Huckabee argues that Meta was reckless when it published phony ads that made it appear as if he endorsed CBD. For more than four years now, Meta has known that public figures, such as the governor, have had their names, images, and likenesses used to promote CBD products without their knowledge and consent, Huckabee alleges, adding that author J.K. Rowling, actress Jennifer Aniston and skateboarder Tony Hawk are among the people to publicly condemn the wrongful use of their images in phony CBD endorsements. Huckabee's papers come in a battle dating to June, when Huckabee sued Meta over phony endorsements in ads -- including one that linked to a fake Fox News site. The complaint included a claim that Meta violated an Arkansas right-of-publicity law that gives people the right to control the commercial use of their names and images. advertisement advertisement Williams dismissed Huckabee's case with prejudice last month, ruling that even if the allegations in his complaint were proven true, they wouldn't show that Meta knew the ads were fake. Governor Huckabee has failed to make any allegations that would allow the reasonable inference that Meta had any 'fault,' Williams wrote at the time. Huckabee, who was recently tapped to serve as ambassador to Israel, is now asking Williams to reconsider his dismissal order and allow the filing of an amended complaint. Huckabee's attorneys say in the proposed amended complaint that Arkansas doesn't only impose liability when companies know they are misappropriating someone's identity. Instead, according to his lawyers, the state's right-of-publicity law also imposes liability when companies recklessly misappropriate identity. The amended complaint alleges that Meta has its systems review ads before they're published, and says the production process provides Meta with ample opportunities to detect ads that are fraudulent or that misappropriate information or images that belong to others. Even though Williams threw out the lawsuit last month, he ruled against Meta on a key point: He said Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act didn't protect Meta from Huckabee's claims. That law generally immunizes web platforms from liability for content created by third parties (with some exceptions, including one for content that infringes intellectual property rights). Until August, Meta would likely have had a clear argument that Section 230 immunized the company from lawsuits over ads created by others. But in August, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals -- which covers Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania -- issued significantly curbed Section 230's protections in a lawsuit involving TikTok. (TikTok has said it is considering appealing that ruling to the Supreme Court, but hasn't yet done so.) Without Section 230, lawsuits against tech companies over content provided by third parties are likely to include assertions similar to Huckabee's allegations of recklessness, according to Santa Clara University law professor Eric Goldman. This is what a world without Section 230 is going to look like, he says of Huckabee's amended complaint. We're going to debate over who knew what when. A new antibody blocks immune suppression in aggressive breast cancer by targeting molecular bridges in the tumor microenvironment. Trusted Source CD84 as a therapeutic target for breaking immune tolerance in triple-negative breast cancer Go to source Trusted Source Did You Know? Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women in the United States. It is the second leading cause of death from cancer among women. #medindia #cancer #breastcancer Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women in the United States. It is the second leading cause of death from cancer among women. #medindia #cancer #breastcancer Advertisement Blocking Molecular Bridges to Slow Disease Progression Advertisement Investigating Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Advertisement Impact of CD84 on Immune Suppression CD84's Role in Immune Suppression and Cancer Development Broad Potential for Anti-SLAM Antibodies in Cancer Treatment CD84 as a therapeutic target for breaking immune tolerance in triple-negative breast cancer - (https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(24)01271-3) "Build your enemy a golden bridge to retreat across" is advice from Sun Tzu inand it appears that cancer uses a similar tactic to evade the immune system . A new study published inreveals that an aggressive form of breast cancer encourages nearby immune cells to formthat prevent them from attacking the cancer, resulting in immune suppression. Anwas found to restore the immune system's ability to fight back, slowing cancer progression in a mouse model ().In the past, cancer treatment focused on destroying the malignant cells by, for example, using radiation treatment or chemotherapy. In recent decades, however, it has become evident that a tumors development depends on the communication between the cancer and the nearby noncancerous cells. In an earlier study, researchers from Shachars lab in Weizmanns Systems Immunology Department showed that blood cancer cells create molecular bridges with nearby support cells in order to survive and proliferate otherwise they die within a matter of days. The researchers identified(SLAMF5), that is used to construct these bridges: When this protein is present on the surface of a specific immune cell, it can bind to a similar protein on a different cell, creating anIn the type of blood cancer studied, CD84 is expressed in high quantities on the cancerous cells themselves, creating physical bridges between these cells and adjacent ones. The researchers even developed an antibody that blocks the bridges, slowing down the disease. As a result of these findings, the scientists began collaborating with the City of Hope cancer treatment and research center in California."We are presenting a treatment that might help a wide range of patients, since it focuses on the tumor microenvironment and not on the cancer cells themselves"We then wanted to see whether the molecular bridges between cells in the tumors microenvironment are also important in types of cancer other than blood malignancy, Shachar says. Dr. Steven Rosen, an executive vice president at City of Hope, proposed that we examine samples from patients with the most aggressive type of breast tumors triple-negative breast cancer. One of the reasons there is still no cure for these tumors is that their cells show no external signs that would allow us to identify and destroy them. Thats why it is especially important to find a treatment that can suppress the cancer by affecting a component of its supportive microenvironment, rather than the cancer cells themselves.In the new study, led by Stav Rabani, a doctoral student in Shachars lab, the researchers analyzed the genetic sequences of growths taken from women with triple-negative breast cancer and discovered that the level of CD84 expression in the tumor microenvironment was much higher than normal. One of the surprising findings of the study was that even though breast cancer cells themselves express very low levels of CD84, they cause nearby immune cells to express it in large quantities and to create bridges between themselves, suppressing the immune response. The researchers also found that patients with higher levels of CD84 in their tumors did not survive as long as others.Next, the researchers studied the progression of breast cancer in mice that had been genetically engineered not to express the CD84 protein and found that these mice developed significantly smaller growths. This finding prompted the scientists to test their previously developed antibody which had successfully prevented the building of molecular bridges as a treatment for breast cancer. Injections given twice a week to mice that had started developing breast cancer significantly slowed tumor growth and, in some cases, even led to complete recovery.The researchers discovered that CD84 helps the cancer to develop by causing a buildup of cells that suppresses the immune response. They decided to focus on one of the cells that plays an unclear role in cancer the regulatory B cell. They found that, like other immune cells, B cells build more molecular bridges in a breast tumor environment than in healthy tissue. The construction of the bridges causes these cells to produce a small protein that is known as a key suppressor of the immune response. When this protein is expressed in the tumor microenvironment, it is picked up by the immune systems T cells the warrior cells that are supposed to destroy the cancer cells suppressing their activity and preventing them from attacking the tumor.The antibody we developed only works on cells that express a high level of CD84, Shachar explains. In a healthy person, most of the cells do not express this protein at all and immune cells express it at low levels, so the treatment works specifically in the tumor microenvironment. The company is currently focusing on using anti-SLAM antibodies to treat blood cancers in which the cancer cells themselves express high levels of CD84, but our new findings open the door to trying the antibody on many other kinds of growth, including those in which the cancerous cells dont express this protein at a high level. In the age of personalized medicine, we are presenting a treatment that could help a wide range of patients since it focuses on the tumor microenvironment and not on the cancer cells themselves.Source-Eurekalert PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) Pakistans airstrikes on eastern Afghanistan killed 46 people, mostly women and children, a Taliban government official said Wednesday, raising fears of further straining relations between the two neighbors. Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesman for the Afghan government, said those killed in the strikes that targeted four locations in Barmal, a district in the province of Paktika, were refugees, adding that six others were also wounded. This comes a day after Pakistani security officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity in line with regulations, told The Associated Press that Tuesdays operation was to dismantle a training facility and kill insurgents in Paktika. Earlier Wednesday, Mohammad Khurasani, the spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, claimed in a statement that 50 people, including 27 women and children, died in the strikes. He said they were "unarmed refugees" who fled to Afghanistan because of Pakistans offensive in the northwest. The TTP a separate group but also a close ally of the Afghan Taliban also shared photos, alleging they were of children killed during the Pakistani operation. The strikes came hours after Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistans special representative for Afghanistan, traveled to Kabul to discuss a range of issues. Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry in Kabul summoned the Pakistani envoy and lodged a strong protest over the strikes by Pakistan's military. In a statement, it said while a representative of the civilian government of Pakistan was busy in talks with the Afghan officials, the strikes were carried out by Pakistani forces to "create mistrust in the relations between the two countries. It said Kabul will not accept the violation of the countrys territory under any circumstances, and the country is ready to defend its independence and territory and "such irresponsible actions will definitely have consequences. Pakistan has not commented on the latest strikes. However, the Pakistani military said Wednesday that security forces killed 13 insurgents in an intelligence-based operation in South Waziristan, a district located along eastern Afghanistans Paktika province. Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised Pakistans brave security force in a statement for thwarting the nefarious designs of terrorists." He didn't mention the Pakistani air strikes inside Afghanistan The Taliban Defense Ministry denounced the attacks on Tuesday and promised retaliation. On Wednesday, the situation along the shared border seemed to be business as usual. However, security analysts say the TTP could launch retaliatory attacks in Pakistan. Syed Muhammad Ali, an Islamabad-based security analyst, said heavy casualties suffered by Pakistan due to TTP attacks prompted the military to target insurgents in Afghanistan. He said Pakistan's patience has finally run out as its diplomatic efforts aimed at persuading the Afghan Taliban to rein in TTP yielded no result. Pakistan has seen innumerable militant attacks in the past two decades but there has been an uptick in recent months. The latest was this weekend when at least 16 Pakistani soldiers were killed when the TTP attacked a checkpoint in the countrys northwest. Pakistani officials have accused the Taliban of not doing enough to combat militant activity across the border, a charge the Afghan Taliban government denies, saying it does not allow anyone to carry out attacks against any country. North and South Waziristan are former strongholds of Pakistani Taliban, who have fled to Afghanistan. Tensions were at an all-high in March when Pakistan said intelligence-based strikes took place in the border regions inside Afghanistan. ___ Associated Press writers Rasool Dawar in Peshawar, Pakistan, and Ishtiaq Mahsud in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan, contributed to this report. At about 14:15 on Thursday, the Russian occupation forces dropped two guided aerial bombs on a farm in Slatyne, as a result of which one person was killed and two people were injured, Head of Kharkiv Regional Military Administration Oleh Synehubov has said. "One civilian man was killed, he was a farm employee. Another two [people] were injured," he said on the Telegram channel. At 14:30 on the same day, Zolochiv came under an enemy strike, as a result of which a man, 41, was injured and hospitalized. Aviation experts said Thursday that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured. Azerbaijan Airlines' Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan's capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons still unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan after flying east across the Caspian Sea. The plane went down about 3 kilometers (2 miles) from Aktau. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before crashing into the ground and exploding in a fireball. Other footage showed a part of its fuselage ripped away from the wings and the rest of the aircraft lying upside down on the grass. Azerbaijan mourned the crash victims with national flags at half-staff across on Thursday. Traffic stopped at noon, and sirens sounded from ships and trains as it observed a nationwide moment of silence. Speaking at a news conference Wednesday, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that it was too soon to speculate on the reasons behind the crash, but said that the weather had forced the plane to change from its planned course. The information provided to me is that the plane changed its course between Baku and Grozny due to worsening weather conditions and headed to Aktau airport, where it crashed upon landing, he said. Russias civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, said that preliminary information indicated the pilots diverted to Aktau after a bird strike led to an emergency on board. Authorities in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Russia were tight-lipped about a possible cause of the crash but a lawmaker in Azerbaijan blamed Moscow. Rasim Musabekov told the Azerbaijani news agency Turan that the plane was fired on while in the skies over Grozny and urged Russia to offer an official apology. Those who did this must face criminal charges, Musabekov was quoted by Turan as saying, adding that compensations to the victims should also be paid. If it doesn't happen, relations will be affected. As the official crash investigation started, some experts pointed out that holes seen in the planes tail section could indicate that it could have come under fire from Russian air defense systems fending off a Ukrainian drone attack. Ukrainian drones had previously attacked Grozny, the capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, and other regions in the countrys North Caucasus. An official in Chechnya said another drone attack on the region was fended off on Wednesday, although federal authorities didn't report it. Mark Zee of OPSGroup, which monitors the worlds airspace and airports for risks, said that the analysis of the images of fragments of the crashed plane indicate that it was almost certainly hit by a surface-to-air missile, or SAM. Much more to investigate, but at high level we'd put the probability of it being a SAM attack on the aircraft at being well into the 90-99% bracket, he said. Osprey Flight Solutions, an aviation security firm based in the United Kingdom, warned its clients that the Azerbaijan Airlines flight was likely shot down by a Russian military air-defense system. Osprey provides analysis for carriers still flying into Russia after Western airlines halted their flights during the war. Osprey CEO Andrew Nicholson said that the company had issued more than 200 alerts regarding drone attacks and air defense systems in Russia during the war. This incident is a stark reminder of why we do what we do, Nicholson posted online. It is painful to know that despite our efforts, lives were lost in a way that could have been avoided. Yan Matveyev, an independent Russian military expert, noted that images of the crashed plane's tail reveal the damage compatible with shrapnel from a small surface-to-air missiles, such as the Pantsyr-S1 air defense system. It looks like the tail section of the plane was damaged by some missile fragments, he said. Matveyev added that it remains unclear why the pilots decided to fly hundreds of miles east across the Caspian Sea instead of trying to land at a closer airport in Russia after the plane was hit. Perhaps some of the plane's systems kept working for some time and the crew believed that they could make it and land normally, Matveyev said, adding that the crew could also have faced restrictions on landing at another venue in Russia. Caliber, an Azerbaijani news website with good government connections, also claimed that the airliner was fired upon by a Russian Pantsyr-S air defense system as it was approaching Grozny. It questioned why Russian authorities failed to close the airport despite the apparent drone raid in the area. Khamzat Kadyrov, head of Chechnya's Security Council, said that air defenses downed drones attacking the region on Wednesday. Caliber also wondered why Russian authorities didn't allow the plane to make an emergency landing in Grozny or other Russian airports nearby after it was hit. Asked about the claims that the plane had been fired upon by air defense assets, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that it would be wrong to make hypotheses before investigators make their verdict. Kazakhstans parliamentary speaker, Maulen Ashimbayev, also warned against rushing to conclusions based on pictures of the planes fragments, describing the allegations of air defense fire as unfounded and unethical. According to Kazakh officials, those aboard the plane included 42 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russian nationals, six Kazakhs and three Kyrgyzstan nationals. Russias Emergencies Ministry on Thursday flew nine Russian survivors to Moscow for treatment. ___ Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Aida Sultanova in London contributed to this report. Department of the Air Force recruiters will now offer waivers for future airmen and Space Force Guardians with certain diagnoses of asthma, hearing loss and food allergies, a major policy change that could open up service to more civilians. The change, announced publicly this week, is expected to open up service to around 600 new applicants each year, the Department of the Air Force said in a news release. "We are constantly evaluating how we can bring in the best talent while ensuring our members can serve effectively and safely," Brig. Gen. Christopher Amrhein, the commander of the Air Force Ascensions Center, said in the release. "By expanding waiver criteria for manageable health conditions, we can access a wider pool of qualified applicants without compromising mission readiness." Read Next: Biden Signs Defense Bill with Junior Enlisted Pay Hike, Ban on Treatments for Transgender Military Kids The new waivers come as the Air Force managed to scrape by its active-duty recruiting goals, in large part due to policy changes for recruits ranging from allowing higher percentages of body fat to permitting certain tattoo sizes. Under the prior policy, all cases of asthma -- no matter the severity -- were disqualifying conditions for service, Col. David Gregory, director of the Accession Medical Waiver division at the Air Force Ascensions Center, said in the news release. Now, applicants with diagnosed asthma can join. "provided they do not require daily preventive medication, and their rescue inhaler use is kept to a minimum," the service explained. In addition to waivers for asthma, the service will now start waiving some circumstances of hearing loss. If one ear has "moderate hearing impairment" and the other ear "meets the standards of mild hearing impairment," a waiver can be considered, the Air Force said in the release. Applicants with diagnosed food allergies will also now be considered for a waiver, "provided there has been no anaphylaxis or serious systemic reaction," the service said. Retired Chief Master Sgt. Eric Benken, the Air Force's top enlisted leader from 1996 to 1999 under former President Bill Clinton's Department of Defense, told Military.com in an interview Thursday that the changes were "long overdue." "I trust the medical community of the Air Force to know when someone is deployable, when they're not deployable," Benken told Military.com. "I always felt that, in some cases, it was far too restrictive." These new waiver changes followed the Department of the Air Force missing its recruiting goal in 2023, by 10%, for the first time since 1999. In 2024, several policy changes led the way for the service to hit its active-duty goals, barely skating by with 39 extra enlisted recruits to hit its benchmark of 27,100 new service members. Increasing the Department of the Air Force's body fat composition requirement up to 26% for men and 36% for women brought in a staggering 5,196 new recruits across the Air Force, Space Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, Military.com previously reported. Related: Prep Courses, Policy Tweaks Largely Drove the Military's Recruiting Success in 2024 A plan to turn a contaminated former Navy airfield in Dallas into a neighborhood with 6,800 new homes continues to be delayed two years after officials approved a blueprint for the redevelopment they hoped would transform a long overlooked area of the southern half of the city. A decades-long legal fight with the Navy that is still winding its way through court is behind the delay and costing taxpayers more money to pay legal fees to try to get the military branch to clean the site enough to allow residents to safely live there. Its been seven years since the Navy missed its 2017 deadline to clear Hensley Field of chemical contamination in the soil and groundwater on the 738-acre site that is about 10 miles from Downtown Dallas and borders Mountain Creek Lake. The Navy leased the property from the city from 1949 to 1999 and the cleanup agreement was the result of a 2001 lawsuit the city filed against the federal government, citing the contamination as a breach of contract. The Dallas City Council in 2022 approved an estimated $390 million, 20-year plan to transform Hensley Field into a mixed-use neighborhood that could be home to around 12,000 residents. The plan included new parks, waterfront trails, shops, restaurants, a marina, school and film studio. Dallas sued again in 2023 arguing the Navys delay on environmental cleanup has put the citys redevelopment plans in limbo, diminished the sites market value, and illegally infringed on the citys property rights. This has been a long-time discussion and the fact that we got to a point where we developed a master plan is progress, said Dallas council member Zarin Gracey, who represents the area. The last update I got was that theyre still going through negotiations on remediation and Im trying to be patient in terms of what could come. But Im looking forward to it, we all are. The City Council on Nov. 13 approved increasing its contract with Washington D.C.-based law firm Covington & Burling to $850,000, a $300,000 increase, to continue the legal fight. The city initially agreed to a $100,000 contract in June 2023. The November increase was the third contract amendment approved by the council. No clear timetable has been announced for when Hensley Field will be clear of contaminants like perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS. The compounds can be hazardous to humans and studies have shown they could lead to increased risks of cancer, liver damage, pregnancy complications, birth defects and other health effects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Parts of Hensley Field are used for an assortment of city storage, including old police squad cars and Confederate-era monuments. David Bennett, a Navy spokesman, declined to comment when asked by The Dallas Morning News if the military branch had any estimate on when the cleanup would be complete and how much has been spent on the effort. Nick Starling, a Dallas spokesman, said the city declined to comment because of the ongoing lawsuit. The city bought the Hensley Field site in the late 1920s and leased it to the U.S. Army to train reserve pilots. A naval reserve air station was built in 1941, administration of the field was transferred to the Navy in 1949. The Navy agreed in a 2002 court settlement with Dallas to pay the city more than $18 million and clean up the site by 2017. City officials in 2022 said the Navy had spent $92.4 million in clean up costs, that the soil was clean enough to meet Texas Commission on Environmental Quality standards, but groundwater contamination still hasnt been fully addressed. The Navy, in a May 2024 response to the citys lawsuit, said it shouldnt be held to performance under the 2002 settlement agreement on grounds of impracticability or impossibility. The Navy said it tried to meet the 2017 deadline and speed up the cleanup process. But strategies to do so were ruled out, in part because of the soil conditions. Moving forward with other options to clean the groundwater would be extremely expensive and unlikely to cut down on how quickly the site was cleaned. The Navy also argued that cleaning up PFAS wasnt on the table when the 2002 settlement was reached. Remediation of PFAS would vastly increase the cost of performance of the 2002 settlement agreement, such that it would cause extreme and unreasonable difficulty and expense and would constitute a cardinal change to the agreement, the Navys response said, claiming that monitoring the natural decline of PFAS in groundwater could require at least 100 years to meet state and federal environmental standards. A June court filing said both sides had been in talks about how to resolve the case without a trial since before the 2023 lawsuit and have continued those discussions on a bi-monthly schedule during this litigation. Both parties anticipate the lawsuit going to trial if a settlement or some other resolution couldnt be reached, the document said. An updated status report is due by Dec. 13, court records show. 2024 The Dallas Morning News. Visit dallasnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. DETROIT -- A drunk driver was arrested Christmas night after he crashed into a Michigan State Police patrol vehicle along westbound I-94 near Mt. Elliott. MSP say a trooper was investigating an abandoned car along the freeway around 11:30 p.m. when a suspect driving a Ford Fusion crashed into their vehicle. The patrol vehicles lights were activated at the time of the crash and the vehicle was blocking the right lane of the freeway. After hitting the MSP car, the suspect continued driving along westbound I-94 for some distance. Troopers eventually caught up to the suspect after his vehicle became disabled along the freeway. Police determined the 47-year-old man was impaired and he was placed under arrest before being lodged at the Detroit Detention Center. The trooper was uninjured in the crash. We were fortunate that the trooper was not struck by this suspect, said F/Lt. Mike Shaw. We continue to ask drivers to avoid risky driving behaviors that cause traffic crashes. This driver not only failed to move over for an emergency vehicle, they were drunk behind the wheel as well. STEPHENSON, WI -- A 25-year-old man was killed Tuesday night in a rollover crash that threw him from his vehicle. According to the Marinette County Sheriffs Office, deputies were dispatched to the area of County Highway X near Silver Creek Road around 7:35 p.m. after dispatch received an iPhone crash detection call. Once on scene, deputies found that Chase Cutty of Crivitz had been ejected from his vehicle and he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Police say Cutty was traveling west on County Highway X when he attempted to pass another vehicle. However, Cutty lost control of his vehicle and drove into a ditch before hitting several trees. Cutty died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. Marinette County Sheriff Randy Miller says speed and alcohol appear to be factors in the crash. YPSILANTI, MI - Some officers the Ypsilanti Police Department sponsored academy training for left once they were finished, according to Chief Kirk Moore. Due to these departures of these two officers, the department now will enter into contracts with potential police officers before it pays for their academy training, Moore said during a Dec. 19 community meeting. As a community this small, we cant shoulder the burden of paying for someone to go through the academy to have them just go to another organization, he said. And plus, its just irresponsible, quite frankly, and its a character issue to me. There also were a few other officers who were not successful in their field training, Moore said, and had to be let go. He said this is normal. Most of the interest from applicants has been for police academy sponsorship. Moore said there were about 22 at last count. Police academy training is a minimum of 14 weeks in Michigan and costs about $25,000 per new cadet. Moore said in June that state grants were covering the costs of academy sponsorship. The department pays police officers a salary between $54,738 and $84,999, according to the citys job listings . YPD really wants more lateral hires meaning officers from other departments with experience, Moore said. They are a more immediate resource to the department, he said, as academy sponsorship is a longer process. Theres one lateral hire meaning an officer from another department who is likely starting close to January, he said, and another in the background checking process. Weve been creative, of course, with the help of the city manager and our finance team to be a little bit more competitive with the wage gap and our salaries, Moore said. One sergeant candidate is slated to start in January, Moore said. Another sergeant candidate is undergoing the vetting and interview process. Im very hopeful if we get both of those sergeants, that will give me the opportunity to place a sergeant over investigations, which is the first step in us taking back our jurisdictional obligation to reopen our investigations division, Moore said. Read More: Capacity limitations prompt Ypsilanti police to temporarily turn over homicide investigations to sheriff The Ypsilanti Police Department has faced more vacancies since Moore took over in 2023. He previously said he is working to change the organization and some are adverse or resistant to that change. Read More: 7 vacancies remain as Ypsilanti police chief addresses staffing shortages Roughly 13 officers and command officers left the department between Moore taking over in April 2023 and February 2024, according to a memo from the Ypsilanti Police Officers Association, which voted early this year that it does not have confidence in Moore and Capt. Timothy Anderson. Read More: Ypsilanti officers union passes vote of no confidence in chief, captain Among the unions issues is Andersons return to his role after three years on administrative leave. Anderson had been placed on leave for threatening to assault a subordinate, according to an ongoing lawsuit filed by former Lt. Brent Yuchasz. Yuchaszs lawsuit , filed in October, alleges a racially discriminatory workplace. Anderson also sued the city of Ypsilanti in 2020, claiming he was the victim of racial discrimination and retaliation for reporting use-of-force violations. He agreed to settle with the city for $93,000 in December 2023. Anderson is Black, while Yuchasz is white. Six officers resigned as a direct result of Andersons return, according to the union memorandum. The union said officers had previously experienced a hostile work environment while working with Anderson, according to the February memo. GRAND RAPIDS, MI The owner of a French pastry shop in downtown Grand Rapids wants to sell specialty cocktails that customers can enjoy with their desserts. Bobbi Jo Blanton, the owner of Le Macaron, 132 Monroe Center St. NW, says mimosas with a scoop of gelato, adult hot chocolate, and chocolate-dipped wine glasses could be among the drinks her shop would offer if the state approves her liquor license request. The specialty drinks would pair well with Le Macarons selection of macarons, French pastries and other sweet treats, and would give evening customers another beverage option besides coffee, she told the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority (DDA) last month. Her liquor license request was approved by the DDA and the Grand Rapids City Commission. It must now be OKd by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC). Related: French pastry shop opens in downtown Grand Rapids Tim Kelly, president and CEO of Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., which oversees the DDA, said it typically takes the MLCC four to six months to approve a liquor license request. Le Macaron is a national chain specializing in macarons, coffee, gelato, cakes, eclairs and other French pastries, and candies. The chain opened a location in on Monroe Center around June 2022. Blanton said the addition of specialty cocktails could give her business a boost. While the shop is known for its coffee, some customers would like to pair cocktails with their desserts during the evening. Her shop gets a lot of to-go orders, but she hopes that adding cocktails to the menu would entice customers to dine-in, she said. We would like to have this opportunity for them to stay and spend a little more time, Blanton said. GRAND RAPIDS, MI West Michigan Works! announced 175 regional businesses were awarded a combined $10.4 million through the Going PRO Talent Fund. The funding will help companies train, develop and retain more than 5,171 workers, including 2,001 new hires, 977 apprentices, and 2,193 incumbent workers. An additional 17 businesses have pending awards totaling $984,865. The Going PRO Talent Fund is a game-changer for both employers and employees, Angie Barksdale, CEO of West Michigan Works! said in a statement For businesses, it supports talent attraction, development and retention that drives sustainable growth, while employees gain invaluable skills and certifications that progresses their careers and earning potential. Notable employers include Corewell Health West Grand Rapids, which received $112,885; Steelcase in Kentwood, which received $61,129; Haworth Holland, which received $31,069; Mission Design and Automation in Holland, which received $89,302; and Samaritas in Muskegon, which received $62,060. RELATED: Plan for 52 layoffs paused by West Michigan organization Samaritas said it would use the funds for on-the-job training for 21 new hires and a variety of classroom training for 12 incumbent workers. In total there were 68 recipients in Kent County, followed by 41 in Ottawa County. Muskegon County had 13 awarded businesses, while Allegan County had 14. Barry and Ionia counties each have two business who are benefiting, and Montcalm County has three. By industry, 85 manufacturing companies received awards, alongside 39 construction firms, 33 health care organizations, eight tech companies, seven agribusinesses and three uncategorized companies. Eligible training from this round of funding will go from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025. Employers can contact a business solutions representative at West Michigan Works! now to prepare for the next round of funding before it opens in spring 2025. Eligible companies must do business in Michigan and demonstrate a need for training that will allow them to grow and contribute to the local economy. The training must lead to full-time employment or continued employment, among other requirements. West Michigan Works! is a staffing and recruiting agency serving Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon and Ottawa counties. Since its inception in 2014, the Going PRO Talent Fund has awarded 7,480 grants, benefiting more than 220,000 Michigan workers. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. National Guard in process of getting Zuzana, DITA howitzers, personnel being trained to use these systems commander Over the past few months, the National Guard of Ukraine has received Zuzana and DITA 155mm self-propelled howitzers and the process of obtaining the systems is underway, Commander of the National Guard Oleksandr Pivnenko said. "Realizing the need and analyzing our experience, on my initiative we have created a separate Artillery Brigade with Ukrainian 155mm Bohdana self-propelled howitzers (NATO standard artillery caliber) in service. Also, in the last few months, Zuzana and DITA 155mm systems have arrived. We are already using them along the frontline," he said in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency. The commander added that the National Guard is now in the process of receiving the systems, and personnel is being trained to use them. All these systems will be used directly in the units and separately in the Artillery Brigade, he said. Speaking about the assistance of allies, Pivnenko admitted that the National Guard had a hard time in this area, but "over the past year we have leveled out the situation and are working more efficiently with partners in various areas." "We started to be helped with such vehicles as M113, FV432 and others. The National Guard has received funds to strengthen mobile fire groups it is important to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure," he said. KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI Kalamazoo Countys Public Housing Commission unveiled four new modular homes in Sugarloaf Mobile Home Park in November. Kalamazoo Countys Public Housing Commission launched the $700,397 project in July as a way to quickly add needed housing in the area. The county needs about 7,750 more homes by 2030 in order to meet population trends, officials said in 2022. The Schoolcraft Township park, 11443 Bonnie Drive, will host a total of 10 county-owned modular homes for low-income families. Funding for the project came from the countys 2015 housing millage, said Public Housing Commissioner David Anderson. That funding is intended to help families with children in one of the countys nine school districts. So far, four of the homes are ready to welcome families six more are on site, but still under construction. MORE: New county-funded mobile homes arrive for families facing homelessness One of the floor plans of the homes being purchased to house families in Schoolcraft Township. The 10 homes will have different configurations and number of bedrooms and bathrooms, ranging from $60,670 to $82,544.(Courtesy | Kalamazoo County Housing Department) Each home comes with amenities like a washer and dryer, but differ in the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. A two-bedroom, two-bathroom home will cost $870 a month to rent, while a three-bedroom will run $920 a month, commissioner Gwendolyn Hooker said. The housing commission owns the homes, but not the lots they sit on. Monthly rent includes an $440 lot rental fee. The home rent portion of the new homes would go directly to the housing commission, plans state. County-owned homes could come to more mobile parks in the future I think that we are off to a really great start, Hooker said. Im really excited about what the future may hold for additional homes like this. There are 28 mobile home parks in Kalamazoo County, Housing Director Mary Balkema said. Its naturally-occurring affordable housing, she said. Quite a few folks do live in them and do call (them) home. I think there is some wisdom in keeping the momentum. There may be space for new homes in Portages Pavilion Estates, where some homes were destroyed by the May 7 tornado, Balkema said. Anderson said the county could also consider running its own park in the future. RELATED: $292K will help mobile home residents rebuild from Kalamazoo County tornado Any next steps are at least a year out, Balkema said. The project will help kids succeed in school While children living with relatives or in motels may not meet the federal governments definition of homeless, changing schools and the lack of consistent housing impacts their ability to succeed academically, said Robin Greymountain, Kalamazoo Public Schools homeless liaison and McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act coordinator. Greymountain is working with the housing commission to make sure children can continue to attend the school they were enrolled in before moving to Sugarloaf. She, along with a team of homelessness navigators within the school system, helped identify families in need of housing, Balkema said. With support, children experiencing housing insecurity can graduate high school and significantly reduce the odds that they become homeless as adults, Greymountain said. Building housing outside of cities is key There are at least 1,702 homeless students spread throughout every school district in Kalamazoo County, according to data provided by Balkema. Homelessness is the most visible in the city of Kalamazoo, Anderson said, but families all over the county are struggling to afford housing. RELATED: As student homelessness rises, program aims to house 150 families by summer Building affordable homes in every part of the county will help students and families remain connected to their community, wherever that may be, he said. Plans include on-site services, infrastructure upgrades In addition to the 10 new homes, the county will renovate an office to house support services for families in Sugarloaf, Hooker said previously. The park plans to install a $25,000 fenced-in playground and complete remediation and repair removal of the remaining blighted housing units there. There were unexpected costs, too. The county approved a $321,500 interest-free loan to cover necessary infrastructure upgrades in the park, Balkema said. Concrete lot pads also had to be expanded. Theres no fast way to build housing, (and) theres no cheap way to build housing, Balkema said. So weve learned some lessons. The project is part of the countys rapid rehousing efforts Building a traditional, single family home could take years and cost several hundred thousand dollars, Anderson said. Within six months or less, you can get a brand new mobile home up and ready to go, Anderson said. The 10 modular homes in Sugarloaf were built in Indiana and transported to Michigan for about $70,000 each, Balkema said. That price point keeps rates low for renters, and allows county officials to produce more housing, sooner. People turn their noses up at the idea, but go out and look at these things. Theyre beautiful, Anderson said. Maybe its not the perfect solution, but its a solution that can be executed on and can be taken to scale. The homes will offer transitional and long-term opportunities The families moving into the modular homes may not be homeless or living in a shelter, Hooker said. Maybe their rent increased, and things spiraled from there. A situation likely occurred that kind of spun them out of being able to afford their rent, Hooker said. This is opportunity to help people get stabilized. Some families may use the homes while in a transitional housing program, Hooker said, and only stay for 18 months while receiving support from on-site services. Others may stay as long as they pay rent and are happy with their living situation, Hooker said. Members of the Kalamazoo County Public Housing Commission, Kalamazoo Public Schools and Integrated Services Kalamazoo celebrate the completion of four mobile homes at Sugarloaf Mobile Home Park in Schoolcraft Township on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024.Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com Creative solutions to the housing crisis, like this one, require unique funding, Anderson said. The countys 2015 and 2020 county-wide millages were unique at the time they passed, Balkema said. Now, other Michigan counties are interested in how they made it happen. Housing is an issue, not just in Kalamazoo County, but in every county in Michigan, Balkema said. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. KALAMAZOO, MI -- Western Michigan University is on the hunt for its next president. WMU President Edward Montgomery announced earlier this year hes retiring in June 2025, when his five-year contract ends. Montgomery has been WMUs president since 2017. The university is in the recruitment phase of the search, said Shelly Edgerton, president of WMUs Board of Trustees. The university is working with Storbeck Search to find candidates. Interested individuals can apply or nominate someone else for the position on the university website. Edgerton encouraged people to use the nomination and application so the search committee can reach out to prospective candidates. The next president has the following responsibilities, according to a packet on the universitys website: Articulate a bold and innovative vision for the future of the university as a national leader in higher education Oversee student recruitment, enrollment and retention strategies Provide leadership in shared governance and labor relations Strengthen the universitys financial standing Serve as advocate-in-chief for the university Enhance and expand WMUs commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion Increase opportunities for academic innovation and research Define the future of internationalization at WMU The packet also lists multiple skills the next president must have including relationship developments, creating a positive campus climate, continuous self-development and leadership in face of adversity. The university estimates the selected candidate will receive a salary offer between $450,000 and $550,000. Montgomerys annual salary is $522,061 after the WMU Board of Trustees approved a $14,000 increase to his base pay earlier this month. Montgomery started as president with a $450,000 annual salary and three-year contract. His contract was extended in 2019. Montgomerys tenure has been marked by significant achievements, but also some blowback from university stakeholder groups. An anonymous donor gave the university the $550 million Empowering Futures Gift in 2021. The donation is the largest to a public university in national history, according to the Washington Post. RELATED: Historic $550M donation will revolutionize WMU for years to come, university president says The university has also seen increases in retention in recent years. And in 2024, the university saw the first enrollment increase in more than a decade. Two years into his term, Montgomery had to navigate the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, the university saw a sharp drop in enrollment and cut $76 million from its $421 million budget in 2019-20. During Montgomerys tenure, the universitys faculty union voted no-confidence in his leadership in 2021 and 2024. Most recently, the universitys other two instructional unions for teaching assistants (TAU) and part-time instructors (PIO) also voted no-confidence in his leadership. WMU eventually approved raises for professors in October. The university expects to have the next president selected by July 2025, according to the website. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. Ford Motor Company and General Motors are donating vehicles and $1 million each to President-elect Donald Trumps January inauguration ceremony. A GM spokesperson confirmed Thursday, Dec. 26, to MLive that the company is making a $1 million donation to Trumps inaugural committee and working to provide vehicles as well. GM has donated money and provided vehicles to previous presidential inaugurations, the spokesperson said before declining to elaborate on which past inaugurations. Ford likewise plans to donate $1 million and a fleet of vehicles to Trumps inauguration, a Ford spokesperson confirmed Friday. The spokesperson did not immediately return comment about any donations to previous inaugurations. The last of the Big Three, Stellantis, did not immediately return a request for comment on its plans. Inaugural committees are in charge of the presidential inaugural ceremony and activities connected with the event, according to the Federal Election Commission. The donations from the two Michigan auto giants are the latest from big business leaders attempting to curry favor with the incoming president. Of particular concern to Michigans auto companies are Trumps proposed 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, which Reuters has reported could increase costs for those companies and raise the price of vehicles for U.S. customers. Trumps proposal to kill President Joe Bidens $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit could also slump electric vehicle sales. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Gideon Saar has said he had a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha during which they discussed the situation in the Middle East and Ukraine. "I spoke with the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha on the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Ukraine. We discussed the ongoing developments in the Middle East and Ukraine. Iran poses a threat towards both countries," Saar said on the X social network Thursday. He also emphasized the importance of designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization in the Ukrainian parliament. "I reiterated Israel's support for Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity and my concern regarding recent attacks on Ukrainian cities," the minister said. He also described the military and diplomatic steps Israel is taking against the Houthis' aggression. "We agreed to meet soon and to work to strengthen the relations between our nations," Saad said. On November 8, 2024, Gideon Saar was appointed as Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs. Photo: president.gov.ua Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on the current increase in military aid from the United States. "Today there was a report from Commander-in-Chief Syrsky, Defense Minister Umerov. Front. Provision. It is very important that the United States is now increasing supplies. This is necessary to level the situation. I am grateful to our partners," Zelenskyy said in an evening video address on Thursday. According to him, "the pace of supplies should be such as to slow down the pace of Russian assaults." "We need a large force of weapons. And strong positions for diplomacy. And each unit, each brigade that provides this brings the possibility of a normal world closer for us," the head of the Ukrainian state said. The targets in Russia that Ukraine is striking are exclusively military, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. "I would like to note now all of our soldiers who are carrying out long-range strikes against Russian territory. And we have the right results in destroying the enemy's military infrastructure and only that. Ukraine is defending itself from aggression and our strikes are aimed exclusively at military targets," Zelenskyy said in an evening video address on Thursday. "The Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Main Intelligence Agency, the Foreign Intelligence Service I am grateful to you for your accuracy, to all the structures involved," the head of the Ukrainian state said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, during which the parties discussed cooperation between the states. "I spoke with the President of Serbia, thanked Mr. Vucic for supporting our state, our people. We discussed our interaction bilateral and also with other partners," Zelenskyy said in an evening video address on Thursday. He said he greatly appreciates the Ukrainian-Serbian dialogue. "Maximum constructive relations for Ukraine and joint security with partners," the head of the Ukrainian state said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and government representatives will hold a meeting with business representatives on Friday, December 27, to find systemic solutions for the country's economic development. "We are preparing for another conversation with representatives of Ukrainian business tomorrow about what systemic solutions are needed now and in the future to give Ukraine more confidence and a strong economic breath," the head of state said in his evening address on Thursday. According to him, on Thursday he paid a lot of attention to domestic issues "those decisions, those innovations that are needed in the future so that Ukraine has the opportunity to return as many of our people as possible who left because of the war." "We must create all the necessary economic and social incentives for Ukrainians to work in Ukraine, to work for Ukraine, to make more potential for Ukraine in order to be on an equal footing in global competition," Zelenskyy said. He said he had held a meeting on this matter with Deputy Prime Ministers Mykhailo Fedorov and Oleksiy Kuleba, as well as the team of the Presidential Office. In November, the Presidential Adviser on Communications Volodymyr Lytvyn said that a permanent format of communication between the head of state and business could be created, similar to the one that exists with journalists and which is being developed with representatives of civil society. The last time Zelenskyy met with business was on February 15, 2024, and then business was represented by members of the Council for Support of Entrepreneurship in Martial Law ("Council of Seven"), while a broader meeting with business, which was attended by about 30 business owners and managers, as well as representatives of business associations, was held at the end of June 2023. Baba Vangas Shocking Predictions 2025-5079: Her Rebirth, When Will the World End, and More Prophecies Revealed Neha Mewari 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 Samir Jain is a Jaipur-based astrologer who has over 28 years of experience in the field of Astrology, Numerology, Palmistry and Vastu Shastra. He is also an expert in Jain Temple Vastu and Jain Jyotish. For more details, visit planetsastro.com, call/WhatsApp +91 8696930617 or email jainksamir@gmail.com. Neha Mewari USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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I Accept Rajni Pandey is a seasoned content creator with over 15 years of experience crafting compelling stories for digital news platforms. Specializing in diverse topics such as travel, education, jobs, science, wildlife, religion, politics, and astrology, she excels at transforming trending human-interest stories into engaging reads for a wide audience. Rajni Pandey 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 Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has proposed holding talks on a peaceful settlement of the war between Russia and Ukraine on the territory of his country, Vladimir Putin said. "As for the venue, he [Fico] said that if it comes to negotiations, they would be happy to provide his country's platform for such negotiations," Russian media said, citing Putin. According to him, "Slovakia takes such a neutral position." "From our point of view, this position is neutral and this is an acceptable option for us," Putin said. He also claims that Russia "also seeks to end the conflict." The head of the aggressor state also commented on the statements of representatives of the current and future U.S. administrations that the war in Ukraine could allegedly be frozen under the condition of a "guaranteed delay in Ukraine's entry into NATO for 10-20 years." "What difference does it make to us today, tomorrow or in 10 years? And in this sense I am not familiar with these statements by the future team of the elected president but if this is so, then what is the difference between the current administration and the proposals you just mentioned? There is no difference. I do not know how the situation will develop further, what the elected president's instructions will be to his colleagues in the administration. We will see," Putin said. For Further Updates: Stay tuned to the ICAI website for official announcements and additional information regarding the result and the next steps. Future Reference: Candidates are advised to save a copy of their results and take a printout for any future requirements. Direct Link to Results: To directly access the ICAI CA Final Result November 2024, visit the official website Details Expected with Results: ICAI is expected to release the names and marks of the top scorers along with the results. Candidates can check the toppers list on the ICAIs official website. Steps to Check ICAI CA Final Result: Visit icai.nic.in. On the homepage, locate the CA Final Result 2024 link. Enter your login credentials. View and download your result for future reference. Minimum Passing Criteria: To pass the ICAI CA Final November 2024 examination, candidates must secure at least 40% marks in each subject and an aggregate of 50% in the overall exam. Credentials to Check Result: To view their results, candidates will need to visit the ICAI website and log in using their registration number and roll number. Ensure that these details are entered correctly to access your result. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is likely to release the results for the ICAI CA Final November 2024 exam today, December 26. Candidates who appeared for the examination can access their results through the official website, icai.nic.in. Archisha Yadav 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 *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 ICAI CA Final Result 2024 out today for Post Qualification course @icai.nic.in, direct link here Saurav Pandey 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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I Accept Dil Raju shares updates after meeting Telangana CM Revanth Reddy: Stop asking about benefit shows, ticket hikes, they are unimportant, CM wants... Vaishnavi Gavankar 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 Sarika Sharma 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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"Appoint Yuriy Volodymyrovych Vitrenko as Permanent Representative of Ukraine to international organizations in Vienna," reads the text of decree No. 881/2024 of December 26, published on the website of the head of state on Thursday. Vitrenko previously held the position of Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations. Subsequently, he headed the Main Directorate for Foreign Policy Activities of the Directorate for Foreign Policy and Strategic Partnership of the President's Office of Ukraine. As reported, on December 21, Zelenskyy signed a decree on the cancellation of the decree on the appointment of Emine Dzhaparova as Permanent Representative of Ukraine to international organizations in Vienna as unimplemented. Nani's Telugu crime thriller Hit: The Third Case to release in May 2025 Sarika Sharma USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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I Accept National Guard Commander: Due to enemy activity, some of our brigades have fought on three axes this year Photo: National Guard Exclusive interview with the Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine Oleksandr Pivnenko to Interfax-Ukraine (Part 1) Part 2 is available here: https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/interview/1036976.html Brigadier General, Hero of Ukraine Oleksandr Pivnenko, was appointed to the position a year and a half ago, becoming the youngest commander of the National Guard in the history of independent Ukraine. He is 38. However, Pivenko is no novice in military affairs: he has a military education, served in the Omega special forces unit, took an active part in the Anti-terrorist Operation (ATO)/Joint Forces Operation (JFO) and, of course, helped repel the Russian invasion during the full-scale invasion, defending Kharkiv region and Bakhmut. Pivenko commanded a brigade and was the head of the territorial administration. He ushered in a period of change and innovation for the National Guard. In the interview, the National Guard commander spoke about many aspects of the war, including the situation at the front, the operational situation, replenishment of brigades, AWOL, recruiting, weapons and technologies. Interview by Valeria Proshchenko, Oksana Gerontieva Brigades, the front and challenges It's been about a year and a half since you were appointed commander of the National Guard. Back then, you said that your main task was to put the offensive brigades into action. What has changed since then and what is the National Guard doing now? The National Guard is a military formation with law enforcement functions. Law enforcement functions were and are the following: protection of critical infrastructure facilities, ensuring public safety, escorting are important tasks both in wartime and in peacetime. This will continue to be the case. Our military component is the Offensive Guard, my task was to man and prepare seven National Guard brigades. It was important that they perform tasks as part of brigades, and not as separate units. Today, all seven brigades perform tasks on the front line (from the north of Kharkiv region to Kherson region), that is, the goal has been achieved. But more than 20 units of the National Guard are involved in containing the enemy at the front. Currently, the main and complex areas of work of the brigades are the Kupyansk, Lyman, Pokrovsk, and Toretsk axes, that is, those sections of the front where it is very "hot." The National Guard brigades were significantly involved in stabilizing the front in the north of the Kharkiv region, in the Serebryansk forest. In Selydove (Pokrovsk axis), for example, the fighters of National Guard 15th Brigade, Kara-Dag, performed tasks and inflicted significant losses on the enemy during the period of massive assaults. In general, our brigades already have sufficient experience, as do the commanders, who enjoy authority not only in the National Guard, but also in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The provision of funding for the National Guard continues, and will not be reduced next year an increase is even planned. In 2024, we purchased dozens of units of various types of equipment (armored vehicles, armored personnel carriers, tanks, vehicles for transporting personnel, weapons, equipment, etc.) Understanding the need and analyzing our experience, on my initiative we created a separate Artillery Brigade, which is armed with the Ukrainian Bohdan 155mm self-propelled (NATO standard artillery caliber). Also, in the past few months, Zuzana 155mm self-propelled guns and DITA self-propelled howitzers have arrived. We are already using them on the front. That is, we are currently in the process of receiving vehicles. In parallel we are training people and will already use all these systems directly both in units and separately in our artillery brigade. What about help from partners? This has been difficult, but over the past year we have leveled the situation and are working more effectively with partners in various areas, we have begun to be assisted by vehicles such as M113s (U.S. militarys amored personnel carrier), FV432s (British militarys armored personnel carriers) and others. The National Guard has received funds to strengthen mobile fire groups this is important for strengthening the protection of critical infrastructure. How do you provide ammunition? We purchase ammunition independently, a large part of our budget goes to this. We purchase the entire possible line for ourselves: from 60-155mm rounds. The greatest demand is for 122mm and 155mm shells. Additionally, we also receive ammunition through the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Due to state programs and our own purchases, our units receive Mavic UAVs of all types and other UAVs. Volunteers also constantly interact with our UAV brigades and units. This is also tangible support and it is necessary in many areas, since the number of drones in the area of active fighting is very large, but the enemy is not advancing. Tell us about the general operational situation in specific areas where the brigades are currently deployed It is not easy in the Kupyansk sector. We are standing, defending ourselves and withstanding the onslaught. Yes, the enemy is pressing and trying to advance, but our soldiers are effectively destroying enemy manpower. As for the Toretsk, Pokrovsk and Kurakhove axes, the situation there is very difficult. But the Defense Forces are doing everything necessary to contain the enemy. I am sure that the enemy "feels" what price they are paying for these attacks. And, at the same time, there are no offensive actions that continue constantly. As for the enemy's involvement in equipment at the front - the situation is certainly different, but these are no longer the same numbers and volumes that we saw before, when the invaders were storming aboard scooters and Zhiguli sedans. And I will add that the enemy is not just attracting military personnel from the DPRK. The Russian military has suffered losses and has certain problems with personnel. But now we need to mobilize recruits inside the country. This is the most important thing. Everyone must do what they can to win. What is the percentage ratio of the law enforcement and combat components of the National Guard? Some 60% are at war, 40% are law enforcement. I am not at liberty to specify the numbers. Does the fact that the National Guard is within the structure of the Ministry of Internal Affairs give you certain advantages? Of course, at the government level, the Minister supports our needs in logistical support, making the necessary changes at the legislative level to optimize the activities of the National Guard. We carry out many tasks throughout the country together with other units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and this is about quick interaction. The Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is often on the front line, knows the situation at the front and in other areas and tasks. What is the current combat capability of the brigades, taking into account all the challenges and actions of the enemy? I will say this: we hold our ground, and sometimes we counterattack. One brigade can hold a larger line of combat contact than is foreseen or be incompletely manned. But these are the realities of war, where the front line is over 1000 kilometers long and the enemy has a numerical advantage and aviation. We destroy more than 10-20 units of equipment daily. And when repelling massive assaults in cooperation with adjacent units, this figure can grow many times over. Mobilization and the need for recruits How are brigades replenished? What gives better results recruitment or mobilization? Most of our recruits have been conscripted. Of course, there is recruiting, but that accounts for about 40%. This is an important issue, because there are newly created units, there is a large front line and there are losses, as in all military units. And all this, of course, affects the rotation of troops to and from the front line Yes, this is what rotation depends on. People can't be in a trench for 50 days or at the front for months without rest. We need to rest, take leave. The war is hard, the enemy outnumbers us. Therefore, we need to recover. But due to the enemy's activity at the front, some brigades have already fought in three sectors during the year. Of course, this has consequences for the brigade's combat capability. Drones and aviation The National Guard manufactures and tests unmanned systems on its own. How important is their role in the brigade's effectiveness? Unmanned systems are of great importance: if the brigades are sufficiently equipped with UAV crews, the enemy will not reach the position. And this is our main goal. On average, a good figure for a brigade is about 60 UAV crews, 85-90 is already a high level of provision with unmanned systems and crews. Separate units engaged in the manufacture and testing of drones were created even before I took office. I initiated the creation of the Omega Wings and Typhoon units. They operate in important areas. For example, there is a serious offensive in the Torets direction, I transfer these crews there, and they work together with the brigade commander. The units will have operational subordination and act additionally. The Separate Artillery Brigade works in the same way: to reinforce difficult areas. That is, if we are talking about unmanned systems, then we are talking about such a unit and increasing its number, in order to then help those brigade commanders who have not yet fully appreciated that unmanned systems are a force for the successful performance of combat missions or have smaller units at their disposal. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, our unmanned systems units have destroyed enemy equipment worth several billion dollars. This includes 1,454 tanks, 2,496 armored personnel carriers, 4,064 artillery systems, 58 air defense units, and much more. We have also created a Center for the Control and Analysis of the Use of Unmanned Systems. We have written our own software, are working with those introduced in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and are integrating. A very effective direction is the shooting down of Russian reconnaissance drones with our FPV drones. In three months, 270 enemy drones (Orlan, Zala, Supercam, etc.) were shot down. There are additional payments for shooting down our fighters are actively hunting them. What is the role of aviation on the battlefield? We have aircraft, crews and aircraft that constantly perform tasks for fire control in mission areas, aeromedical evacuation, etc. Every day, helicopters perform combat missions. They take off, work on targets, and return. Of course, it would be better if we still had airplanes and helicopters. Does the National Guard use robotic systems? We are working in this area. Currently, such complexes are available in Azov, Khartia, and some other units. An offensive operation has already been carried out with drones, practically without the involvement of infantry (north of Kharkiv region). This is, if not the first in history, then definitely the first such operation in the history of the National Guard. But this is not a mass operation. And this is currently objective. Robotic systems cannot operate separately, only in the battalion system, so they must be integrated. We want to create effective robotic ground complexes. We have already determined our needs, we are waiting. To be continued Shaleen Agrawal 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 Yearender 2024: Of mules & phishing in the dark web how scamsters played us 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. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept From buzzing IPOs to fight for leadership: Key trends that shaped Indias EV 2W market in 2024 and what lies ahead Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Bhavya Dilipkumar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Khushi Keswani 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 BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, December 26. Deputy Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan Aibek Moldogaziev expressed condolences on behalf of himself and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan to the families and relatives of the victims of the crash of AZAL airplane near Aktau, Trend reports. The Deputy Minister visited the Azerbaijani Embassy in Kyrgyzstan and made a note in the book of condolences opened due to the loss of life as a result of the crash of the passenger airplane. He conveyed words of sympathy and wished all the victims a speedy recovery. To note, AZAL's Embraer 190 passenger plane on the Baku-Grozny route crashed 3 km away from Aktau airport on December 25. A total of 67 people (62 passengers and 5 crew members) were on board the Embraer 190 airplane, flying Baku-Grozny, which crashed in Aktau. Following the crash of the passenger airplane near Aktau, 27 people were hospitalized. Of them, 15 people are citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 8 - of the Russian Federation, and 3 - of the Kyrgyz Republic. The identity of one person has not been established yet. Of the victims hospitalized, 11 are being treated in the intensive care unit, 13 - in the traumatology department, 2 - in the neurosurgery department, and 1 - in the surgical department. These persons are under the control of professional doctors from Kazakhstan and those expelled from Azerbaijan and Russia. They were provided with prompt and specialized medical and psychological treatment. Both crew pilots as well as the flight stewardess were lost, but two crew members survived. 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 Attacks on police posts to underlying pro-Khalistani networks: 2024 saw sharp spike in militant activities in Punjab Parimal Peeyush USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Priyanjali Ghose 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 Congress CWC meeting begins today: 'Insult' to Ambedkar, 2025 resolution and more on agenda in Karnataka session Priyanjali Ghose 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 'Incorrect' Indian map row in Belagavi: D K Shivakumar says posters will be removed 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 ED probe reveals 260 Canadian colleges involved in trafficking of Indians into US Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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 Shishir Tripathi is a journalist and researcher based in Delhi. He has worked with The Indian Express, Firstpost, Governance Now, and Indic Collective. He writes on Law, Governance and Politics. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Armaan Bhatnagar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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 BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. A memorial corner has been set up in the Azerbaijan House in Salzburg, Austria, to honor fellow citizens who lost their lives in the crash of an AZAL aircraft near Aktau, which was en route from Baku to Grozny, Trend reports citing the Austrian Azerbaijanis Society. "On behalf of the Azerbaijanis Society of Austria and the Azerbaijan House in Salzburg, we express our condolences to the families of the deceased and wish a speedy recovery to those who survived the accident. All our prayers are with our brothers and sisters affected by this tragic event. We wish patience and convey our deepest sympathy to the families of the victims," the statement said. To note, on December 25, an "Embraer 190" aircraft operated by "Azerbaijan Airlines," on flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny, was diverted to Aktau for an emergency landing and subsequently crashed near Aktau. The report indicated a total of 67 individuals present, comprising 62 passengers and a contingent of 5 crew personnel. Preliminary assessments suggest that a cohort of 32 individuals has emerged unscathed, albeit with several presenting in a state of critical distress. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Former PM Manmohan Singh passes away: Timeline of his five-decade old career 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 'Judges were so independent that Nehru...': Senior lawyer KK Venugopal on judiciary's independence Priyanjali Ghose 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 *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 Mahatma Gandhi's legacy under threat from those in power: Sonia Gandhi writes to CWC 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 Manchester United want to build a 100,000-seater stadium. How will it fund 2-billion plan? War in Ukraine to end? This is what Trump said after 'productive' talks with Putin Following the killing of three suspected Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) terrorists in an encounter with police in Pilibhit, security agencies have ramped up their search for local collaborators in the Terai region. The terrorists, allegedly involved in a grenade attack in Gurdaspur, were linked to a Pakistan-sponsored terror module, with Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav calling it a significant breakthrough. Bareilly Range IG Rakesh Singh stated that police and intelligence agencies remain on high alert, with investigations ongoing and security tightened in the border areas. BJP women workers protested outside former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwals residence, accusing the AAP government of deceiving women through the Mahila Samman Yojana, which promises Rs 1,000 monthly payments. The BJP claimed similar promises made before the Punjab Assembly elections in 2022 remain unfulfilled. Delhi Police detained several BJP protesters. Meanwhile, AAP leader Atishi accused former BJP MP Parvesh Verma of distributing cash to women and called for investigations by ED and CBI. With Delhi Assembly elections approaching, both parties are trading allegations over unfulfilled promises and pre-election tactics. Delhis air quality remained in the "very poor" category on Thursday, with a 24-hour average AQI of 341, despite a declining trend. The Centres air quality panel revoked Stage IV GRAP curbs, including bans on construction activities and entry of non-essential polluting trucks, due to improving conditions. AQI levels in various areas ranged from 297 at DTU to 391 at R.K. Puram. Weather changes are expected to further improve air quality. Simran Singh, a 25-year-old Instagram influencer and freelance radio jockey from Jammu and Kashmir, was found dead in her rented apartment in Gurugram's Sector 47, Haryana, on Wednesday night. The police suspect suicide, although no suicide note was discovered at the scene. Simran, known as RJ Simran to her seven lakh Instagram followers, had last posted a reel on December 13, captioned, Just a girl with endless giggles and her gown, taking over the beach." The incident came to light when her roommate informed the police. Investigations are underway. "Deeply concerned about the health of Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh ji. Wishing him a speedy recovery and good health," posted senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on X. Chandrima Sanyal 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 Sonalee Borgohain 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 Chandrima Sanyal 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 'The Satanic Verses' returns: Throwback to 1989 when Salman Rushdie's book unleashed chaos in Mumbai J. Kumar is an author, journalist and a political commentator based in in Mumbai who writes on crime and Maharashtra politics. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Armaan Bhatnagar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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 BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Now we are returning from Kazakhstan together with the Minister of Emergency Situations. There we visited the citizens of Azerbaijan and other passengers. We inquired about their health. Some of them can move independently, Azerbaijan's Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev told reporters, Trend reports. According to him, based on the doctors decision, the Azerbaijani citizens injured in the plane crash will remain in Kazakhstan. "They will return when doctors make the appropriate decision. At the same time, we have patients in intensive care who are being treated under the supervision of doctors from Kazakhstan and doctors sent from Azerbaijan. There is no chance of delivering the bodies of the deceased today. The investigation is ongoing. The final decision will be made tomorrow or in the coming days. Black boxes have been found. They will be investigated in accordance with the law," the minister said. Aurobindo Das 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 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 Rohit Singh 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 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 Armaan Bhatnagar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept How China is using this mysterious island for developing 'fast breeder' nuclear weapons Surabhi Pandey 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 Trump doubles down on 51st US state attack on Canada: To Governor Justin Trudeau Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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 BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. In observance of the day of mourning following the crash of an AZAL passenger plane flying from Baku to Grozny, the Azerbaijan Embassy in China lowered the countrys national flag, Trend reports. The embassy sent a note to Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UN offices, the Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Arab Leagues representation in China, and diplomatic missions in Beijing, informing them of the establishment of a memorial book at the embassy. Additionally, posts related to the disaster were shared on the embassys social media accounts in China. Diplomatic missions of foreign countries in China have expressed condolences to the Azerbaijan Embassy, with ambassadors visiting to offer their sympathies and sign the Memorial Book. To note, AZAL Airlines' Embraer 190 passenger plane, flying the Baku-Grozny route, crashed three kilometers from Aktau Airport yesterday. A total of 67 people were on board the aircraft, including 62 passengers and 5 crew members. The updated data shows that among the passengers were: 37 citizens of Azerbaijan, of whom 23 died, 14 survived; 3 citizens of Kyrgyzstan, all survived; 16 citizens of Russia, of whom 7 died, 9 survived; 6 citizens of Kazakhstan are all dead. Both pilots of the airplane were killed. Of the five crew members, three survived. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel 'A global disaster for which humanity is not prepared': Next massive supervolcano eruption coming soon, scientists warn Sheetal Kumari 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 1/25 Curious Connection: A chimpanzee gazes down intently as its family traverses Gabon's Loango National Park. Captured by Nora Milligan, this moment highlights the Rekambo group's captivating behaviour. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) 2/25 Earth and Sky: Francisco Negroni captured Villarrica volcano's fiery glow illuminating a rare double lenticular cloud at nightfall, showcasing the unpredictability of one of Chile's most active volcanoes. (Image: Natural History Museum) 3/25 Sneak Attack: Erlend Haarberg captures a polar bear cub in Svalbard attempting playful underwater hunts on a fulmar, showcasing essential survival skills for life in the Arctic. (Image: Natural History Museum) 4/25 Snuffling Sengi: Ian Wood's photo captures a Eurasian badger ambling beneath badger graffiti in St Leonards-on-Sea, illuminated by a lamppost, highlighting urban wildlife coexistence. (Image: Natural History Museum) 5/25 Concert in the Forest: Vincent Premel captures a Surinam golden-eyed tree frog puffing its cheeks during explosive breeding season in French Guianas first rains. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) 6/25 Unsold: Jose Fragozo captures a cheetah cub hissing during a rescue in Ethiopia, highlighting illegal wildlife trafficking. The cub was safely relocated. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) 7/25 The Arrival: Brad Leue captures floodwaters channelling into Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, South Australia, bringing life to the desert and its rare wildlife. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) 8/25 Annoying Neighbour: Bence Mate captures a European roller ambushing a little owl during breeding season in Hungarys Kiskunsag National Park. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) 9/25 Aspen Shadows: Devon Pradhuman captures four grey wolves crossing snowy aspens in Yellowstone, USA, during early spring as they search for their next meal. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) 10/25 Drifting Dinner: Noam Kortler captured a decorator crab on a sea squirt, camouflaged with Tubularia, feeding on plankton during a night dive in Komodo, Indonesia. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) 11/25 A Good Scratch: Mark Williams captures a beluga whale exfoliating in Canadas Arctic. These sociable canaries of the sea gather here, safe from orcas. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) 12/25 Slap Shot: Photographer Savannah Rose captures a beaver in Wyoming using a dramatic tail slap to alert its family to a potential newcomer. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) 13/25 The Brave Gecko: Photographed by Willie Burger van Schalkwyk, a giant ground gecko bravely defends itself against a pale chanting goshawk in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) 14/25 Evening Song: Photographer Christian Brinkmann captures a singing Eurasian blackbird silhouetted against colourful fairground lights in Munster, Germany, blending nature and festivity. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) 15/25 Forest of Dreams: Photographer Samuel Bloch captured a northern giant petrel on Enderby Island, New Zealand, where it nests near a rata tree forest. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) 16/25 Spiked: Photographer David Northall captured a bloodied honey badger, determined to finish off a Cape porcupine after a fierce, quill-filled battle in Botswana. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) 17/25 Togetherness: Ivan Ivanek captures red-shanked douc langurs mating gracefully in Vietnams Son Tra peninsula. Critically endangered, these primates face threats from habitat loss and hunting. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) 18/25 Scanning the Realm: Aaron Baggenstos captures a puma in Chile's Torres del Paine, showcasing conservation efforts that balance ecotourism, sheep farming, and coexistence with wildlife. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) 19/25 Wolf Pack: Indian wolves, photographed by Arvind Ramamurthy, play in Bhigwan's fields, showcasing resilience despite habitat loss, disease risks, and dwindling numbers, with hopes for a strong comeback. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) 20/25 Fallen from the Sky: Carlo D'Aurizio captures a haunting scene of dead butterflies and moths floating in an Italian stream, their mysterious deaths unexplained. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) 21/25 Meeting in the Marsh: Michael Forsberg captures a biologist checking an endangered whooping crane's health in Louisiana, aiding conservation efforts for a population now exceeding 800. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) 22/25 Edge of Night: Jess Findlay captured a barn owl leaving a derelict barn near Vancouver, using precise timing and lighting for this stunning nocturnal shot. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) 23/25 Icy Repose: Photographer Sue captured a peaceful Weddell seal resting on an ice floe in Neko Harbour, Antarctica, showcasing its thick blubber for warmth (Image Credit: Natural History Museum). 24/25 Whiteout: Photographer Michel d'Oultremont captures a stoat blending into Belgium's snowy landscape, observing its territory before hunting. (Image Credit: Natural History Museum) Airtel down: Calls, data and broadband services are not working for thousands of users Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Shaurya Shubham USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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 IRCTC down: Users complain of login issues and more as website suffers outage Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Aabhas Sharma 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 BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Kazakhstan's embassy in Baku has lowered its flag due to the day of mourning declared following the crash of a passenger plane of Azerbaijan Airlines near Aktau, Trend reports. Among the casualties, six individuals of Kazakh nationality perished in an aviation incident in proximity to Aktau. The competent authorities of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are jointly working to identify the causes of the accident and provide all necessary assistance. Yesterday Kazakhstan demonstrated a remarkable example of solidarity: rescuers and medics worked promptly, state structures acted in a coordinated manner, and citizens donated blood and carried flowers to the Azerbaijani foreign missions in Astana and Aktau. To note, on December 25, an "Embraer 190" aircraft operated by "Azerbaijan Airlines," on flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny, was diverted to Aktau for an emergency landing and subsequently crashed near Aktau. The report indicated a total of 67 individuals present, comprising 62 passengers and a contingent of 5 crew personnel. Preliminary assessments suggest that a cohort of 32 individuals has emerged unscathed, albeit with several presenting in a state of critical distress. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu telephoned Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov today, Trend reports via Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Minister Nurtleu expressed profound sorrow upon receiving the news of the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft near the Kazakh city of Aktau. The Kazakh minister sent profound condolences to the families, friends, and fraternal Azerbaijani people affected by the disaster. It was seen that from the initial moments of the incident, Kazakhstani emergency services were completely mobilized and engaged in mitigating the aftermath of the catastrophe. A working group was formed to examine the reasons for the accident, and suitable remedies were implemented. Minister Bayramov thanked his Kazakh counterpart for his condolences and, in turn, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased citizens of Kazakhstan. He expressed gratitude for the provided support. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov telephoned the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov today, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. It was noted that during the telephone conversation, the Uzbek minister expressed condolences on behalf of the state and people in connection with the tragic accident that occurred the day before near the city of Aktau of the airplane flying Baku-Grozny. He wished the deceased people the grace of God, the relative's patience, and the wounded healing. It was informed that the Republic of Uzbekistan stands in solidarity with the brotherly Republic of Azerbaijan in these difficult days, shares the grief, and expresses hope that such a tragedy will never happen again. Minister Bayramov expressed gratitude to the brotherly Republic of Uzbekistan for the support provided in this difficult day for our country and people. The minister said that following the instruction of the president of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev from the first minutes of the accident, a state commission was established to investigate the causes of the plane crash. A delegation consisting of the leaders of the relevant bodies of our country was sent to the crash site, and several measures were taken. To note, on December 25, an "Embraer 190" aircraft operated by "Azerbaijan Airlines," on flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny, was diverted to Aktau for an emergency landing and subsequently crashed near Aktau. The report indicated a total of 67 individuals present, comprising 62 passengers and a contingent of 5 crew personnel. Preliminary assessments suggest that a cohort of 32 individuals has emerged unscathed, albeit with several presenting in a state of critical distress. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Can beehives help humans and elephants co-exist? A simple nature-based solution is keeping the peace EuroNews Illegal trade booms in South Africas super-strange looking plants BBC Boom in US retail real estate defies prediction of ecommerce apocalypse FT Due to evolving legal landscape & changes in the framework of administrative law, Federal Reserve Board will soon seek public comment on significant changes to improve transparency of bank stress tests & reduce volatility of resulting capital requirements (press release) Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Climate Syndemics China? Africa Syraqistan European Disunion Dear Old Blighty New Not-So-Cold War New Geopolitical Words We Learned in 2024 Foreign Policy Trump Transition Biden Administration Spook Country And what a great show My So-Called Life was: She explicitly describes attending a spy camp where prominent journalists and actors and CIA spooks and State department officials all hang out and coordinate narratives https://t.co/3mfhOvdK0g 12 Ball (@BoltzmannBooty) December 24, 2024 US agency focused on foreign disinformation shuts down France24 The Final Frontier The case to build a new ISS: the International Solar Sunshade Space News Christmas Post-Game Analysis The Bezzle Class Warfare Late bloomer: the exquisite craft of Mary Delany The British Museum Antidote du jour (Alexandre Buisse (Nattfodd)): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. Photo: Official website of the President of the Republika Srpska of Bosnia and Herzegovina BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. President of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik has sent a letter of condolences to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in connection with the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane in Kazakhstan, Trend reports. "Your Excellency, Honorable President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, dear friend, Allow me to express my most sincere expressions of sadness and sorrow on the occasion of the tragic plane crash that occurred to the Azerbaijani plane that crashed in Kazakhstan. Lost lives are always the most irreplaceable asset, and our deep condolences is being expressed to the families that lost their dearest ones. To those who suffered injuries, I wish a speed and full recovery. Honorable President, Your Excellency, Allow me to reiterate expressions of deep sympathies towards your people, and I wish you wisdom and togetherness in those challenging times," the letter reads. Christmas market attack exposes Germanys security failures A 50-year-old Saudi doctor, Taleb A., deliberately drove into a crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, killing five (including a child) and injuring over 200, reigniting debates on security and immigration. Taleb A., a psychiatrist with a history of anti-Islam rhetoric and support for far-right parties like the AfD, had expressed frustration with Germanys refugee policies and perceived leniency toward Islam. German security agencies had previously deemed Taleb A. a non-threat, despite his extremist views and warnings from Saudi authorities, raising concerns about the effectiveness of Germanys intelligence system. The attack has intensified debates over Germanys immigration policies, with the far-right AfD likely to gain from growing unease, potentially polarizing the nation ahead of national elections. The tragedy highlights the challenges of protecting public events like Christmas markets, underscoring the need for Germany to balance its commitment to openness and diversity with the urgent need for enhanced security. In a chilling echo of past tragedies, a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, became the site of a horrific attack on Friday evening, leaving five dead and over 200 injured. The assailant, a 50-year-old Saudi doctor with a history of anti-Islam rhetoric, deliberately plowed his vehicle into a crowd of holiday revelers, shattering the festive spirit and reigniting debates over security, immigration, and the limits of German tolerance. The attack, which unfolded over just three minutes, was carried out with chilling precision. The suspect, identified only as Taleb A., used emergency exit points to navigate his vehicle toward the market before accelerating into the crowd. Among the victims were a nine-year-old child and four adults, while dozens more remain in critical condition. The scene was one of chaos and horror, with witnesses describing the sounds of children screaming and cries for help. What makes this attack particularly alarming is the suspects background. Taleb A., a psychiatrist who has lived in Germany for nearly two decades, has a history of vocal opposition to Islam and support for far-right parties like the Alternative for Germany (AfD). His social media posts, verified by Reuters, reveal a man deeply frustrated with Germanys handling of Saudi refugees and its perceived leniency toward radical Islam. In 2019, he even appeared in interviews with German and international media, declaring, There is no good Islam. Yet, despite his extremist views and repeated warnings from Saudi authorities, German security agencies deemed him a non-threat. A risk assessment conducted last year concluded that Taleb A. posed no specific danger, according to German media. This glaring oversight raises serious questions about the effectiveness of Germanys intelligence and security apparatus, particularly in light of the upcoming national elections in February. The attack has already sparked a fierce debate over Germanys approach to immigration and security. With opinion polls suggesting a strong showing for the far-right AfD, the tragedy could further polarize the country. The AfD, which has long called for stricter immigration policies, issued a statement condemning the attack but stands to gain politically from the growing unease over Germanys open-door policies. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, visiting the scene of the attack, called it a terrible act of brutality and expressed solidarity with the victims and their families. However, his governments response has been criticized for its lack of urgency and clarity. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser acknowledged the suspects Islamophobia but declined to comment on the motive, fueling speculation that the attack may have been politically motivated. A dangerous clash of cultures The tragedy also underscores the vulnerability of public spaces in Germany. While security measures like concrete barriers and increased police presence are now common at major events, Fridays attack shows that no amount of preparation can eliminate the risk entirely. As one police official noted, It is not 100 percent possible to protect such events. The attack in Magdeburg is not an isolated incident. It comes nearly eight years after a similar attack in Berlin, where an Islamic extremist killed 13 people by driving a truck into a Christmas market. The pattern is clear: Germanys openness and tolerance, while admirable, have made it a target for both domestic and foreign extremists. As the nation mourns its dead and tends to the injured, the question remains: How can Germany balance its commitment to freedom and diversity with the need for security? The answer is far from simple, but one thing is certain: the days of assuming that there is no more peaceful and cheerful place than a Christmas market are over. In the wake of this tragedy, Germany must confront the uncomfortable truth that its policies of tolerance and openness have created vulnerabilities that extremists are all too willing to exploit. The upcoming elections will be a critical test of the nations resolve to address these challenges, but for now, the people of Magdeburg are left to grapple with the aftermath of an attack that should never have happened. The Christmas market, once a symbol of joy and community, has become a grim reminder of the dark side of Germanys values. As the nation moves forward, it must do so with a renewed commitment to protecting its citizens and preserving the freedoms that define it. The alternative is unthinkable. Sources include: Reuters.com Yahoo.com WashingtonExaminer.com AssociatedPress.com Efforts to ban Alternative for Germany Party face hurdles as political landscape evolves The motion to ban the Alternative for Germany (AfD) is unlikely to move forward due to lack of support from key political parties, including the CDU and SPD. While the initial proposal for the AfD ban had support from some MPs across parties, including the Greens and SPD, prominent political leaders have distanced themselves from the idea, citing concerns about protecting democracy. Political parties involved in the ban initiative have become increasingly vocal about their intent to protect democracy, but there are significant concerns about the ban process taking years and potentially benefit the AfD in upcoming elections. The Greens, who have been leading calls for the AfD ban, are now exploring alternative procedures they believe may have a better chance of success, such as a two-stage process requiring sufficient evidence to establish a certain prospect of success. Constitutional law expert Christoph Mollers proposed a solution involving a framework to set up a commission to form an opinion on the AfD ban, keeping the party out of the process while ensuring that it is legally possible. A motion to ban the Alternative for Germany (AfD) is unlikely to move forward due to lack of support from the majority. In November, the proposed ban, originally proposed by Christian Democratic Union (CDU) MP Marco Wanderwitz, seemed likely to move forward with 105 MPs from across parties showing support. This backing included Claudia Roth and Katrin Goring Eckardt from the Greens and Ralf Stegner and Helge Lindh from the Social Democratic Party (SPD). However, the motion now faces significant opposition from key political players. Carmen Wegge, an SPD c0-signer of the motion, claimed that the "AfD represents the greatest threat to our democracy," despite the party actually proposing measures for direct democracy in the country, which would enable nationwide referendums - a form of democracy that is arguably more pure than the current democratic system in Germany. (Related: Germany to hold confidence vote in January following the dismissal of Christian Lindner as finance minister.) Political parties involved in the motion have echoed similar statements and grown increasingly vocal about their intent to protect democracy. Even CDU and SPD leaders, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Friedrich Merz, respectively, are now distancing themselves from the idea. The motion can only proceed if a majority supports it, but both the CDU and SPD have opposed it. There are significant concerns that a ban process could take years and with elections scheduled for February, it might benefit the AfD. Additionally, the SPD and CDU do not anticipate success with the Constitutional Court, which has the final decision on any ban procedure. Greens are exploring alternative procedures for AfD ban The Greens, which have been at the forefront of calls to ban the AfD, are now exploring alternative procedures that they believe may have a better chance of success. Among the skeptics is Green MP Renate Kunast, who is drafting her motion to ban the AfD party. In November, Kunast invited constitutional law expert Christoph Mollers to discuss the feasibility of an AfD ban in a video conference attended by Green MPs, as well as MPs from the SPD and Free Democratic Party (FDP). The discussion centered on Kunast's motion, which differs from the Wanderwitz motion in that it proposes a two-stage process. This process requires providing sufficient evidence to establish a certain prospect of success before a main trial can proceed. "If you don't do that, the motion will be rejected in the preliminary examination, and that's exactly the big risk in proceedings without a corresponding preliminary examination," Green politician Lukas Benner explained during the conference. This could result in the AfD receiving a letter from the Federal Constitutional Court declaring them to be constitutional or stating that there is not enough evidence for a main trial on unconstitutionality, thus posing a significant risk to those pushing for the ban. Visit BigGovernment.news for similar stories. Watch this video exposing the suppression of X of AfD supporters. This video is from the Henrik Wallin - All knowledge channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Germany prepping nuclear bunkers as WWIII with Russia looms. Christian Democrat Union chancellor candidate urges unemployed Syrian refugees in Germany to return to their homeland. Russian ship fires at Germany's army helicopter, German foreign minister reports. Ryanair CEO O'Leary: Germany is run by 'idiots.' NATO draws up plans to deploy 800,000 troops through Germany to fight Russia. Sources include: RMX.news 1 RMX.news 2 Brighteon.com Half of the West is doomed: Heres why Only a few years ago, most of Western Europe seemed like a fortress of stability in international politics. With robust economies, solid social systems, and the grand edifice of European integration, it gave an impression of permanence, impervious even to major geopolitical upheavals. Now, however, it has become an inexhaustible source of peculiar headlines and confusion. (Article by Timofey Bordachev republished from RT.com) We see endless talk of sending European peacekeepers to Ukraine, drawn-out dramas over forming a government in France, or pre-election storms in a teacup in Germany. There are attempts to meddle in the Middle East, and above all, a deluge of irresponsible, often meaningless statements from Western European politicians. For outsiders, these developments provoke a mix of bemusement and concern. In Russia, the Western side of our shared continents apparent decline is met with suspicion but also a certain sadness. For centuries, Western Europe has been both an existential threat and a source of inspiration for Russia. Peter the Great famously reformed the country to borrow the best from European thoughts and culture. In the 20th century, the Soviet Union, despite great sacrifices, secured victory over Nazi Germany during World War II. And for many Russians, Western Europe has long been an Eden, offering respite from what were often harsh realities back home. But a Western Europe that is economically unstable, politically chaotic, and intellectually stagnant is no longer the same as what once inspired reforms or envy. Its no longer a place Russia can look to as a neighbor worth emulating or even fearing. How the rest of the world sees Europe For most of the world, Western Europes problems provoke only curiosity. Major powers like China and India are happy to trade with its various countries and benefit from its technology and investment. But if Western Europe were to disappear from the global stage tomorrow, it wouldnt disrupt their plans for the future. These nations are vast civilizations in their own right, historically shaped far more by internal dynamics than by European influence. Meanwhile, African and Arab nations still view Western Europe through the lens of colonialism. For them, its decline is of material interest but little emotional consequence. Turkiye sees European countries as prey, aging and weakened rivals. Even the United States, a supposed ally, approaches the continents crises with a businesslike detachment, focused solely on how to maximize its own interests at Europes expense. Why is this happening to Europe? Its tempting to blame Western Europes odd behavior on the degeneration of its elites. After decades under US patronage, its leaders have lost the ability to think critically or strategically. The end of the Cold War allowed them to govern without serious competition, leading to complacency and mediocrity. Many of the brightest minds went into business, leaving politics to those less capable. As a result, Western European foreign policy departments now resemble provincial bureaucracies, out of touch with global realities. The expansion of the EU in the early 2000s, which brought in several small former Eastern European nations, only exacerbated this problem. Their provincial outlook often dominates discussions, reducing complex issues to simplistic, parochial concerns. Today, Western Europes politicians are adept at convincing the world and perhaps even themselves of their own incompetence. But the root of the problem runs deeper. Western Europe faces a growing contradiction: its political insignificance clashes with its still-considerable material wealth and intellectual legacy. For centuries, its countries have accumulated vast resources and developed unparalleled intellectual traditions. Yet its strategic irrelevance renders these assets useless. Even Frances nuclear arsenal, once a symbol of power, now garners little respect on the world stage. Germany, the EUs economic powerhouse, exemplifies this impotence. Despite its wealth, it has failed to translate economic strength into political influence, even over its own affairs. The destruction of the Nord Stream pipeline in 2022, allegedly at the hands of its American allies, symbolizes the blocs inability to defend its interests or hold its partners accountable. The United Kingdom, often touted as Western Europes most active foreign policy player, plays this role largely under American patronage. Brexit, for all its drama, did little to change this dynamic. Read more at: RT.com Mexico prepares: Trumps deportation plans progressing The 2024 election has reignited debate over Trump's proposal to deport millions of illegal migrants, emphasizing the need for border security and immigration law enforcement. Mexicos government, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, is actively preparing to receive deportees, with Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente spearheading efforts to protect Mexican nationals in the U.S. Trumps transition team is reportedly engaging in back-channel talks with Mexico and El Salvador to lay the groundwork for mass deportations, building on previous successes like the Remain in Mexico program. Critics warn of humanitarian crises and strained diplomatic relations, but proponents argue that unchecked illegal immigration poses greater risks to public safety, economic stability, and national sovereignty. The issue of illegal immigration requires a coordinated international response, with Mexico addressing migration root causes while the U.S. prioritizes border security and enforcement. As the political landscape shifts in the wake of the 2024 election, one issue remains a cornerstone of national debate: Trump's plan to deport illegal migrants en masse. The recent developments surrounding Mexicos preparations for potential mass deportations under a second Trump administration highlight the critical importance of securing our borders and enforcing immigration laws. This is not just a matter of policy; it is a matter of national sovereignty, public safety, and economic stability. Mexicos government, under President Claudia Sheinbaum, has openly acknowledged the possibility of mass deportations and is actively preparing for such an eventuality. Reports indicate that Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente has been leading efforts to protect Mexican nationals in the United States, expediting paperwork processes, and providing legal support to prepare for potential deportations. These actions underscore the seriousness of the situation and the need for the United States to take decisive action to address the issue of illegal immigration. The Mexican governments proactive stance is a stark reminder of the challenges we face. For years, the United States has grappled with the consequences of an unsecured border, including the strain on public services, the exploitation of our welfare systems, and the rise of criminal activity associated with illegal immigration. The fact that Mexico is now preparing to receive deportees should serve as a wake-up call to those who continue to downplay the severity of the problem. President Trumps transition team has reportedly begun back-channel discussions with Mexico and El Salvador to lay the groundwork for mass deportations. This initiative reflects a commitment to prioritizing stricter immigration policies, a cornerstone of Trumps 2024 campaign. The goal is to expedite the return of millions of undocumented immigrants, ensuring that the enforcement of immigration laws is swift and effective. This approach is essential if we are to regain control of our borders and protect the interests of American citizens. Critics of such measures argue that mass deportations could create humanitarian crises and strain diplomatic relations. However, the alternative continuing to allow illegal immigration to flourish unchecked poses far greater risks. The economic and social impacts of an unsecured border are already evident, and the longer we delay in addressing the issue, the more difficult it will be to resolve. Cooperation is key The cooperation of Mexico and other Central American nations will be critical to the success of any deportation plan. During his first term, Trump successfully negotiated agreements with Mexico, such as the Remain in Mexico program, which reduced the flow of migrants at the southern border. These efforts demonstrated that international cooperation is possible when the stakes are high enough. The challenge now is to build on these successes and ensure that our immigration policies are both effective and humane. It is worth noting that Mexicos government has expressed a commitment to addressing the root causes of migration, such as poverty and violence, to reduce the need for people to flee their home countries. While this is a positive development, it does not absolve the United States of its responsibility to secure its borders and enforce its laws. The two goalsaddressing the causes of migration and securing our bordersare not mutually exclusive. In fact, they are complementary, as a secure border allows for more effective and targeted assistance to those in need. The debate over immigration policy is far from over, and the stakes have never been higher. As we look ahead to the 2024 election, it is imperative that we prioritize border security and hold our leaders accountable for their promises. The fact that Mexico is preparing to receive deportees should serve as a reminder that the issue of illegal immigration is not just an internal matter for the United States; it is a global issue that requires a coordinated and resolute response. One thing is certain: The American people agree that the time for action is now. We cannot afford to delay in securing our borders and enforcing our immigration laws. The recent developments in Mexico underscore the urgency of the situation and the need for a comprehensive and effective strategy. Let us not disappoint those who are preparing to receive deportees; instead, let us take decisive action to protect our nation and ensure a brighter future for all Americans. Sources include: InfoWars.com EconoTimes.com MexicoNewsDaily.com PRION-CONTAMINATED PORK ALERT: All across the United States, pigs can be vaccinated with millions of deadly prions via mRNA clot shots UNLABELED Pork producers in America have been administering mRNA-based gene therapy to pigs secretly, contaminating pork with self-assembling nanoparticles. Harrisvaccines pioneered RNA-based livestock vaccines, acquired by Merck Animal Health in 2016, leading to the prevalence of unregulated gene therapy in the livestock sector. Merck introduced Sequivity, a swine vaccine platform in collaboration with Moderna, without safety testing, raising concerns about consumer health risks. Companies plan to expand mRNA "vaccines" to avian influenza, cows, and cattle, prompting the need for transparent labeling and stringent regulations to protect public health. Consumers are advised to avoid pork products possibly tainted with mRNA vaccines, highlighting the urgent need for transparency and accountability in the food industry. Theres never been a more tell-tale sign that the medical industry in America wants to kill Americans than the injection of mRNA technology into farm animals we consume. These animals were never in danger of contracting or dying from Covid-19, so why inject them with vaccines that create millions of spike prions in the blood and body? The globalists, like Bill Gates, want everyone, not just the naive vaccinated, to have bodies polluted with nanoparticles that create horrific health conditions for Big Pharma to treat with more poison. It has come to light that pork producers in America have been quietly administering customizable mRNA-based gene therapy to animals, particularly pigs, for several years now. This practice, shrouded in secrecy, involves injecting mRNA clot shots into pigs without any disclosure on food labels. The implications of this clandestine operation are alarming, as consumers unknowingly ingest pork contaminated with millions of self-assembling nanoparticles that pose serious health risks, including heart problems, immune dysfunction, and dementia. The pioneering company behind this controversial method, Harrisvaccines, introduced the first RNA-based livestock vaccine in 2012, followed by an avian influenza mRNA shot in 2015. Subsequently, Merck Animal Health acquired Harrisvaccines in 2016, signaling a significant development in the mRNA-based gene therapy industry. CureVac also joined the fray by developing an mRNA-based rabies shot for pigs, further solidifying the prevalence of this unregulated practice in the livestock sector. Shocking Revelation: mRNA Clot Shots Injected into Pigs Across America Unbeknownst to Consumers The introduction of Sequivity, a swine vaccine platform in 2018 by Merck in collaboration with Moderna, marked a significant milestone in the integration of mRNA technology in livestock production. Shockingly, these mRNA "vaccines" undergo no safety testing, raising serious concerns about the long-term effects on consumers who have been unknowingly consuming gene therapy-treated pork for almost five years. Moreover, the expansion of this controversial practice looms large as companies set their sights on implementing mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccines for avian influenza and cows. Lobbyists for the Cattlemens Association have confirmed plans to introduce mRNA "vaccines" in cattle, potentially impacting both dairy and beef products. The lack of transparency surrounding the use of Sequivity in pork production raises red flags about the integrity of the food supply chain and consumer safety. The urgency of addressing this issue cannot be overstated, especially with the impending Trump administration. Missouri House Bill 1169 emerges as a beacon of hope in protecting consumers from gene-therapied pork and other meats by mandating transparent labeling of products that can alter genetic composition. The resistance from industry players against this bill raises questions about their motives and underscores the need for stringent regulations to safeguard public health. As the debate rages on, consumers are advised to exercise caution and avoid pork products, including organic options, that may have been tainted with mRNA vaccines. The ramifications of consuming gene-altering foods extend beyond individual health concerns to broader ethical and regulatory implications that demand immediate attention and action. In a landscape fraught with hidden dangers and corporate interests, the call for transparency and accountability in the food industry has never been more critical. The veil of secrecy shrouding mRNA injecting of livestock must be lifted, and stringent measures must be implemented to protect consumers from the insidious effects of unregulated gene therapy in our food supply. #mRNAPollutedPigs Tune your food news frequency to FoodSupply.news and get updates on animal meat and byproducts that are highly contaminated with self-assembling nanoparticles that are reducing the worlds population quickly. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com X.com Planet-Today.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has sent a letter of condolences to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev over the crash of the Baku-Grozny AZAL plane near Aktau, Trend reports. "Excellency and my Dear Brother, On behalf of the people and Government of Pakistan, as well as on my own behalf, I extend our deepest condolences to you and to our brothers and sisters in Azerbaijan, on the tragic air crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines flight near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on 25 December, 2024. The news of this sad incident that resulted in the loss of precious lives, has been received with great sorrow by the people of Pakistan. We stand in solidarity with Your Excellency and the people of Azerbaijan, at this time of grief. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families and we pray for the swift recovery of those who have been injured. I am confident that the resilience and unity of the brave people of Azerbaijan will help the nation overcome this difficult time. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration," the letter reads. Earlier in the week, American Airlines was forced to ground flights for up to an hour on Christmas Eve, one of the busiest travel days of the year. American asked US Federal Aviation Administration to issue a nationwide groundstop at 6:50 am Eastern Time on Tuesday, preventing any of its aircraft from flying. The advisory was lifted an hour later. Vendor technology issue The airline blamed the problems on a vendor technology issue in a message sent from its official X/Twitter account. The issue was in networking equipment managed by DXC Technologies, according to an American Airlines statement cited by several news outlets. Neither DXC nor American immediately responded to our requests for comment. American has been working with DXC to modernize mainframe systems using a devops approach, according to a blog post by its in-house technology team. In a separate modernization initiative, it also transformed its analytics tools, so it should be well placed to evaluate the consequences of Tuesday mornings outage. Amaravati/New Delhi, Dec 25 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some Central ministers including Amit Shah and Nirmala Sitharaman in Delhi on Wednesday, seeking special financial assistance from the Centre. Chandrababu Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is a key ally of BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, explained to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues the poor financial condition of the state and sought special assistance. The TDP chief, who is heading the NDA government in Andhra Pradesh, told the Prime Minister that the previous government utilised five years' revenue deficit grant in just three years and sought financial help through special assistance. The Chief Minister explained in detail the programmes taken up by his government, financial issues and other matters. Informing the Prime Minister that the works of Polavaram and Amaravati have been resumed, Chandrababu Naidu thanked him for extending the help to complete these projects. Chandrababu Naidu also brought to the notice of PM Modi the diversion of funds by the previous government meant for 94 Centrally sponsored schemes. He mentioned that of these 94 schemes, 74 have been relaunched. Informing the Prime Minister about the establishment of ArcelorMittal Steel Plant unit in Andhra Pradesh, the Chief Minister sought the Central assistance for supply of raw material for the plant besides helping to get the necessary permissions at the earliest possible, according to a statement by Chief Ministers Office (CMO). Chandrababu Naidu sought the Centre's cooperation for the setting up of the steel plant in the State clearing all the technical snags. The Chief Minister submitted a copy of the Swarnandhra Vision-2047 document and explained the targets set by the State Government as part of Vikasith Bharat. He sought the Centre's cooperation to realise the Vision-2047 and also explained to the Prime Minister the proposed programmes next month, including laying of foundation stones and inauguration of some projects. Later, the Chief Minister had separate meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, wherein he explained in detail to them the poor financial condition of the State and the efforts that he is making to bring the state back on track. He also sought release of funds from the Centre under different heads and sought a special Central assistance keeping in view the poor financial condition of the State. State Finance Minister Payyavula Kesav, Union Ministers K. Ram Mohan Naidu, Pemmasani Chandrasekhar and Srinivasa Varma, along with party MPs were present. The Chief Minister also had meetings with the Union Minister for Steel Kumarasway and the Railway Minister Ashwini Vishnav. The TDP chief also attended the meeting of NDA leaders at the residence of BJP national president J.P. Nadda. The Chief Minister began his day by offering tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Atal Samadhi. He accompanied Prime Minister Modi, Amit Shah and other leaders. CM Naidu also took to X to pay his tributes to Vajpayee on his 100th birth anniversary. "Atal was a visionary leader and a true Bharat Ratna who dedicated his life to the service of our nation. A statesman par excellence, he championed democracy, dialogue, and consensus-building, leaving an indelible mark on India's democratic fabric. Atal Ji was an astute parliamentarian and a poet at heart. He led the nation with exceptional foresight, paving the way for transformative reforms that propelled India toward global leadership in pivotal sectors such as IT, telecom, defence, infrastructure, and space. His unparalleled contributions have shaped the course of our nations democratic history and future," posted Naidu. I remain deeply grateful for the privilege of working under his guidance, particularly his support for my vision of transforming Andhra Pradesh into an IT powerhouse. May his legacy continue to inspire us, and may we always strive to uphold his principles and realize his vision for a prosperous India, the TDP leader added. St. Petersburg, Dec 26 : The growth of gross domestic product (GDP) of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) members will reach 4.7 per cent this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at an informal CIS summit held in Leningrad Oblast. "The macroeconomic indicators of our countries have improved significantly. Thus, by the end of 2024, the growth of total GDP of the Commonwealth countries is projected to reach 4.7 per cent," Putin said Wednesday. He described the figure as "higher than the world average." Russia's trade turnover with other CIS members in January-October increased 10.6 per cent and amounted to more than 93 billion USD, the president noted, adding that in the 10 months, the industrial production of CIS countries rose 4.3 per cent, the volume of cargo transportation went up 7.4 per cent, and retail sales added by 7.7 per cent, Xinhua news agency reported. According to him, cooperation in financial and monetary fields is being strengthened among the CIS members, and independent payment systems and settlement instruments are increasingly being used to facilitate mutual economic transactions. The share of national currencies in the settlements of commercial transactions between the Commonwealth members has exceeded 85 per cent. Russia is chairing the CIS this year. Putin recalled that during Russia's chairmanship period, priority was given to deepening economic cooperation, ensuring free movement of goods and services, eliminating trade barriers and simplifying customs procedures. "Russia's main efforts as the CIS chair were aimed at developing integration in the Eurasian space and strengthening the international authority of the Commonwealth," said Putin. "Priority was given to deepening economic cooperation, ensuring the free movement of goods and services, eliminating trade barriers, and simplifying customs procedures," the Russian president added. Seoul, Dec 26 : South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's political future hangs in the balance as the Constitutional Court deliberates on his impeachment trial over his short-lived martial law declaration, raising concerns over a leadership vacuum amid economic and security challenges. Yoon faces an uphill legal battle next year after being impeached and subjected to widening probes into his failed attempt to impose military rule on the nation's democracy on December 3. The impeached president has defended his imposition of martial law as an act of governance and denied insurrection charges, Yonhap news agency reported. The allegations include insurrection and abuse of power for deploying military forces to the National Assembly to block lawmakers from repealing the decree. The final decision on his impeachment rests with the Constitutional Court, where at least six of nine justices must uphold the motion to remove him. The process could take up to 180 days. If Yoon, who was elected in May 2022 to a single, five-year term, is removed from office, a snap election would be held within 60 days. Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), is currently seen as a top contender, though he faces his own legal risks, including several trials on corruption and other allegations. Since Yoon's suspension from office on December 14, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has assumed interim leadership. A seasoned technocrat versed in diplomacy and trade, Han has pledged to stabilize state affairs and uphold the country's security and economic resilience during the transitional period. The political turmoil comes at a challenging time for South Korea, as it works to strengthen alliances with the US and other partners to counter growing threats from North Korea amid its deepening military ties with Russia. The instability also raises concerns about South Korea's ability to effectively address economic and security uncertainties, especially with the return of former US President Donald Trump to the White House next month. While Yoon had sought to meet Trump as early as his inauguration in late January, it remains unclear whether there will be top-level diplomacy in the early days of the second Trump administration under Seoul's interim leadership. The leadership vacuum is also likely to affect South Korea's relations with Japan, as the two nations are set to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship next year, as well as with China. As part of diplomatic efforts, Han held phone talks with US President Joe Biden to ensure the robust bilateral alliance and talked with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba over the phone to reaffirm the commitment to trilateral cooperation among the US, South Korea and Japan. Domestically, Han has to perform a careful balancing act between the ruling People Power Party and the DP, which holds a majority in parliament, to make decisions about contentious bills and implement next year's budget to boost the sluggish economy. The DP has urged Han to promptly promulgate the bills mandating special probes into Yoon's martial law decree and allegations against first lady Kim Keon Hee, vowing to hold him responsible if he fails to do so. The special counsel bill targeting the first lady marks the fourth such bill, as similar were vetoed by Yoon and scrapped in revotes. Han has until January 1 to decide whether to promulgate the bills or demand parliamentary reconsideration of them. Jaipur, Dec 26 : As dense fog covered parts of Rajasthan on Thursday, the meteorological department has warned of rain, hailstorms, and an impending cold wave in the coming days. Visibility in Jaipur was reduced to approximately 200 metres at 7 a.m. as dense fog covered Jaipur on Thursday. Even by 11 a.m., the sun remained obscured. In many parts of the city, the fog persisted till 10 a.m. Similar conditions were observed in Fatehpur Shekhawati, Sikar, where visibility dropped below 40 metres. The dense fog forced vehicles to move at reduced speeds with the headlights on. The minimum temperature in Fatehpur Shekhawati was recorded at a chilly 3.5C. Meanwhile, the met department warned that Rajasthan is set to experience a spell of rain over the next three days, lasting until December 28. Hailstorms and cold wave conditions are also expected. Rain is likely in 18 districts, including Jaipur, starting on Thursday. The Meteorological Department issued an orange alert for seven districts on December 27 and a yellow alert for rain and hailstorms in 22 districts. On December 28, rain is forecasted in 23 districts, including the capital Jaipur. During the cold wave, daytime temperatures are expected to remain below 20C. Fog will persist across the state from December 28, accompanied by northern winds, further intensifying the cold wave in the subsequent days. On Thursday morning, dense fog was reported in Jaipur, Sikar, Sawai Madhopur, and Kota, with visibility ranging between 30 and 50 metres. Radheshyam Sharma, Director, Meteorological Center in Jaipur, stated that an induced cyclonic wind system has become active over southeastern Rajasthan. This system will bring widespread rainfall starting Thursday, with its peak impact expected on December 27. In Sawai Madhopur, dense fog reduced visibility to 50 metres on Thursday morning. The maximum temperature on Wednesday was recorded at 23C, while the minimum stood at 13C. The region remained cloudy, and the Meteorological Department issued a yellow alert for rain on Thursday in Sawai Madhopur. On Friday, December 27, as many as 29 districts may witness cloudy weather and light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning. Hailstorms are also possible in some areas, particularly in parts of Jaipur and Ajmer divisions. The Director further noted that once the cyclonic system weakens on December 28, a cold wave originating from northern India will grip the state. This will lead to a significant drop in nighttime temperatures, with many cities expected to record minimum temperatures as low as 5C or even lower. Chennai, Dec 26 : South Indian superstar Kamal Haasan has paid tribute to Jnanpith awardee and doyen of Malayalam literature M. T. Vasudevan Nair. Kamal Haasan, who collaborated with Nair in iconic films such as 'Kanyakumari' and 'Manorathangal', mourned the loss of a mentor and a creative giant. Nair, celebrated for his immense contributions as a screenwriter, director, and producer, was a towering figure in Indian literature and cinema. In a post on the social media platform X, Kamal Haasan reflected, "My friendship with him, as the creator of the film Kanyakumari, which introduced me to the Malayalam screen world, spans fifty years and continued until the recent Manorathangal." In an emotional audio tribute recorded in Malayalam, the actor said, "Be it those who want to be writers, those who think of themselves as writers, or those who are acknowledged as writers - when they think of M. T. Vasudevan Nair Sir's works, it evokes many feelings within them: respect, jealousy, fear, and love." Recounting his early years, Kamal Haasan shared, "I was just 19 years old when I acted in the film Kanyakumari (1974). At that time, I didn't fully understand M.T. Sir's greatness. A short while later, I watched his film Nirmalyam (1973). If my love for cinema was a small lamp, Nirmalyam turned it into a blazing fire. In my view, legends like Satyajit Ray, Shyam Benegal, M.T. Vasudevan Nair, and Girish Karnad may have been born in different states, but they are kindred spirits." He further added, "Bidding farewell is something we do for ordinary individuals. M.T. Sir and his literary contributions will stay with us for hundreds of years. They will live on even after we are gone. I dont have the heart to say goodbye, Sir. Please forgive me." Nair, who had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kozhikode following heart failure, passed away on Wednesday night at the age of 91. Fondly known as MT, he was one of the greatest writers in Malayalam and served as the editor of Mathrubhumi Weekly, a prestigious literary periodical from Kerala. Born on July 15, 1933, in Kudallur, Ponnani Taluk, MT was the youngest of four sons of T. Narayanan Nair and Ammalu Amma. His childhood, often depicted in his semi-autobiographical works, was marked by poverty and hardship. MT began his education at Malamakavu Elementary School, continued at Kumaranellur High School, and graduated with a degree in Chemistry from Victoria College, Palakkad, in 1953. Following his graduation, he briefly worked as a teacher before joining Mathrubhumi as a sub-editor in 1957. A recipient of the Padma Bhushan, MT was a literary giant and a cinematic visionary. His contributions to both fields left an indelible mark, cementing his place as one of the most celebrated writers in the Malayalam language. MT won four National Film Awards for screenwriting, directed seven films, and scripted approximately 54 others. His screenplays, now published in book form, are considered essential reading for aspiring filmmakers. Over the years, MT received numerous accolades, including the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award, Vallathol Award, Ezhuthachan Award, Mathrubhumi Literary Award, and O.N.V. Literary Award. In 2013, he was honoured with the J.C. Daniel Award for lifetime achievement in Malayalam cinema. In 2022, he received the inaugural Kerala Jyothi Award, the highest civilian honour bestowed by the Kerala Government. He was awarded the Jnanpith, India's highest literary honour in 1995. Nair's works continue to resonate deeply, offering profound reflections on lifes complexities and human emotions. The passing of this literary giant marks the end of an era, but his legacy will forever remain etched in the hearts of countless admirers and the annals of Malayalam literature and cinema. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili has expressed condolences to the families of victims of the recent crash of the passenger plane, en route from Baku to Grozny, near Aktau, during a phone talk with her Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov, a source in the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan told Trend. Botchorishvili also wished patience to the friendly Azerbaijani people. Bayramov thanked the friendly Georgian side for the support provided during such a difficult day for Azerbaijan. The tragedy occurred on December 25, when an Embraer 190 plane operated by AZAL, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed just 3 kilometers from Aktau Airport. The Embraer 190 was carrying 67 people, including 62 passengers and five crew members. In the aftermath of the crash, 27 people were hospitalized. Among them, 15 are citizens of Azerbaijan, eight are from Russia, and three are from Kyrgyzstan. The identity of one individual remains unknown. Of those hospitalized, 11 are being treated in intensive care, 13 in the trauma ward, two in the neurosurgery ward, and one in the surgical ward. They are under the care of experienced doctors from Kazakhstan, as well as specialists sent from Azerbaijan and Russia. All patients have received prompt and specialized medical and psychological support. The crash claimed the lives of both pilots and a flight attendant. Two other crew members survived. December 26 has been declared a day of mourning in Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Sabarimala, Dec 26 : There has been a record turnout of pilgrims at Kerala's Sabarimala temple, where the first phase of the two-month-long 2024-25 pilgrimage ends on Thursday. Compared to the first phase of the 2023-24 festival season, this time there has been an increase of 4,07,309 pilgrims and the total number touched 32,49,756, up from 28,42,447 in 2023-24. The two-month-long season is spread between two phases, phase one began on November 16 and will close on Thursday evening (December 26). Phase two will commence on December 30, with the most important day of the pilgrimage being on January 14, and then, it will close after a few days. This time, the temple authorities have decided to regulate the number of pilgrims who are allowed to have darshan every day to 70,000, which includes 60,000 who have to book online and 10,000 who are given spot bookings. To manage the milling crowds, the timings also have been altered as the temple opens every day at 3 a.m. and closes at 1 p.m. and then, opens again at 3 p.m. and closes at 11 p.m. Situated on the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats at an altitude of 914 metres above sea level, Sabarimala temple is four kilometres uphill from Pamba in the Pathanamthitta district, which is around 100 km from the state capital. The temple, which bars the entry of women who have attained puberty, is accessible only on foot from the Pamba River. As per practice, before setting off to the holy shrine, a pilgrim normally undertakes an intense 41-day penance where he does not wear footwear, wears a black dhoti, and sticks to strict vegetarian food. Every pilgrim carries 'lrumudi', a prayer kit which contains coconuts which are broken just before climbing the 18 steps, on his head, during the pilgrimage and without it, no one is allowed to step onto the holy 18 steps at the 'Sannidhanam'. This season, a record close to 14,000 police officials, along with volunteers, are posted on security duty and give a helping hand to the pilgrims. The parking facility for pilgrims has now been increased to 10,000 parking slots besides there are rate cards in various South Indian languages on display at all the restaurants in and around the temple town. The healthcare facilities in and around the temple town also have state-of-the-art facilities for the pilgrims. To make the pilgrimage more pilgrim-friendly, the authorities this season launched a multilingual microsite (https://www.keralatourism.org/sabarimala/) which provides pilgrims across the country with information about the hill shrine's traditions, customs, and culture, as well as the latest updates and geographical insights. The site is available in five languages: English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada. It also includes short footage providing all the details of southern Indias prominent pilgrim site. The microsite includes details of other important temples near Sabarimala, a detailed route map, and hotel facilities near temples, which will help pilgrims travel from other states. It also features a dedicated gallery with hundreds of pictures related to Sabarimala. It also includes a detailed pilgrim guide that provides in-depth information about the customs and traditions of Sabarimala and the temple's history. New Delhi, Dec 26 : Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, renowned economist and architect of Indias economic reforms, passed away on Thursday at the age of 92. He was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here following a deterioration in his health. The news of Dr. Singh's death has been confirmed by the AIIMS in a statement that read: "With profound grief, we inform the demise of former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh aged 92. He was being treated for age related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home on December 26. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the medical emergency at AIIMS. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9.51 p.m." Dr. Singh had been admitted for treatment in the hospital on Thursday night after being critically ill. Dr. Singh, who served as countrys Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, was known for his transformative role in steering Indias economy through a period of significant liberalisation. His tenure is often credited for initiating major economic reforms in 1991 when he was the finance minister, which helped modernise India's economy and integrate it into the global market. A man of humility and intellect, Dr. Singh was a respected figure both in India and globally. Under his leadership, India saw consistent economic growth, reducing poverty and strengthening the countrys position on the world stage. His government was also known for implementing crucial legislations in areas such as education, food security, and information. Dr. Singhs death has left the nation in mourning, with leaders from all political parties and across the world paying tribute to his legacy. His contributions to the field of economics and public service will be remembered for generations. He is survived by his wife, Gursharan Kaur, and their three daughters. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced soon, with the nations leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expected to participate in honouring his memory. Dr. Singh's death marks the end of an era in Indian politics. His leadership and legacy will continue to inspire future generations. In April this year, Manmohan Singh retired from Rajya Sabha, with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge praising his long parliamentary career. Manmohan Singh shot to prominence as the country's Finance Minister in the government headed by PV Narasimha Rao during 1991-96, having brought in sweeping reforms that transformed the economy. As the two-term Prime Minister of the UPA, he stayed at the top post from 2004 and 2014, and served as a member of the Rajya Sabha till early this year. In his political career, Singh has been a member of the Rajya Sabha since 1991, where he was Leader of the Opposition between 1998 and 2004. Manmohan Singh was sworn in as Prime Minister on May 22 after the 2004 general elections and took the oath of office for a second term on May 22, 2009. He represented Assam for five terms in the Upper House and shifted to Rajasthan in 2019. His last intervention in Parliament was against demonetisation, describing it as an "organised loot and legalised plunder. Born on September 26, 1932, in Punjab, Singh received his Bachelors and Masters in Economics from Panjab University in 1952 and 1954 respectively. Manmohan Singh completed his Economic Tripos from Cambridge University in 1957. He followed this with a D.Phil in Economics from Oxford University in 1962. New Delhi, Dec 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed grief over the death of former PM Manmohan Singh, who passed away here in the AIIMS at the age of 92. Taking to X, PM Modi wrote: "India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people's lives." Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, renowned economist and architect of India's economic reforms, passed away on Thursday at the age of 92. He was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here following a deterioration in his health. The news of Dr. Singh's death has been confirmed by the AIIMS in a statement that read: "With profound grief, we inform the demise of former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh aged 92. He was being treated for age related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home on December 26. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the medical emergency at AIIMS. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9.51 p.m." Dr. Singh had been admitted for treatment in the hospital on Thursday night after being critically ill. Dr. Singh, who served as the country's Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, was known for his transformative role in steering India's economy through a period of significant liberalisation. His tenure is often credited for initiating major economic reforms in 1991 when he was the finance minister, which helped modernise India's economy and integrate it into the global market. A man of humility and intellect, Dr. Singh was a respected figure both in India and globally. Under his leadership, India saw consistent economic growth, reducing poverty and strengthening the country's position on the world stage. His government was also known for implementing crucial legislation in areas such as education, food security, and information. Dr. Singh's death has left the nation in mourning, with leaders from all political parties and across the world paying tribute to his legacy. His contributions to the field of economics and public service will be remembered for generations. He is survived by his wife, Gursharan Kaur, and their three daughters. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced soon, with the nation's leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expected to participate in honouring his memory. Dr. Singh's death marks the end of an era in Indian politics. His leadership and legacy will continue to inspire future generations. In April this year, Manmohan Singh retired from Rajya Sabha, with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge praising his long parliamentary career. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Windy with a mix of clouds and sun. High 81F. Winds SSE at 25 to 35 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Windy with strong thunderstorms likely. Storms could contain damaging winds. Low 58F. Winds S at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 90%. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States Kubanychbek Omuraliev has sent a letter of condolences to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in connection with the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane flying from Baku to Grozny near Aktau city in Kazakhstan, which claimed the lives of a large number of people, Trend reports. "Your Excellency, I am deeply saddened by the tragic news of the plane crash involving an Azerbaijani airline on the Baku-Grozny flight near Aktau, Kazakhstan. This heartbreaking incident, which has claimed so many lives, is a profound loss for Azerbaijan and all those affected. I extend my heartfelt condolences to Your Excellency and the people of Azerbaijan, as well as to the families and loved ones of the victims. Our thoughts and prayers are with the survivors as they navigate the challenges of recovery, and we sincerely hope for their swift healing. This tragedy touches all of us in the Turkic World, serving as a poignant reminder of the importance of unity and support in moments of grief. Please know that we stand in solidarity with the people of Azerbaijan during this difficult time and share the sorrow. With my deepest sympathy and respect," the letter reads. Trans-fatty acids (TFA) are a major cause of cardiovascular diseases. These harmful fats can accumulate along artery walls, restricting blood flow and increasing the risk of heart attacks. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), TFAs are responsible for over 278,000 annual deaths worldwide, and it recommends that TFA consumption should be limited to less than 1% of daily energy intake. Common sources of TFAs include fried (junk) foods and processed foods such as margarine, ghee, biscuits, cakes, etc. In processed foods, TFAs are produced through the hydrogenation of vegetable oil, a chemical process that saturates the oil with hydrogen. While the formation process of TFAs in processed foods is well-known, evidence suggests that they can also be created at home during cooking. Studies indicate that unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) can undergo trans-isomerization, a molecular reconfiguration that transform them into TFAs when heated at 150 C or higher. On the other hand, sulfur-containing compounds, such as isothiocyanates and polysulfides, which are found in many vegetables, are known to promote geometrical isomerization of carotenoids (e.g., lycopene in tomato) - natural pigments that give vegetables their red, orange, or yellow color. This raises the question that whether these sulfur compounds also promote the trans-isomerization of UFAs in everyday cooking. Understanding the impact of natural sulfur compounds on the cooking process can help regulate TFA intake, particularly for those who avoid processed foods. To explore this, a Japanese research team led by by Mr. Junji Obi of Nissui Corporation and Dr. Masaki Honda of Meijo University assessed the role of isothiocyanates and polysulfides in promoting the trans-isomerization of vegetable UFAs during cooking. The research was published online on November 27, 2024, in the journal Food Research International. The researchers first evaluated the effects of sulfur compounds in triacylglycerols (TAGs) in a model system using reagents. Then, tests were conducted using ingredients (garlic, onion, leek, cabbage, horseradish, and broccoli sprouts) and vegetable oils (soybean and olive oils) to simulate actual cooking processes. "We wanted to understand the principal characteristics of UFA isomerization in TAGs promoted by sulfur compounds through a model system using reagent-grade sulfur compounds and triglycerides," explains Junji Obi, the first author of this paper. "We were interested in the effects of temperature, reaction time, sulfur compound concentration, the type of sulfur compounds, and addition of antioxidants on UFA isomerization." The team also assessed the role of antioxidants such as -tocopherol in reducing the isomerization of UFAs in triglycerides like triolein and trilinolein. The study revealed that sulfur compounds significantly promote heat-induced trans-isomerization of UFAs in vegetable oils, especially when cooking temperatures is above 140C. The addition of antioxidants significantly reduced the promotion of UFAs isomerization by isothiocyanates, whereas they did little to inhibit the promotion of isomerization by polysulfides. This explains that cooking polysulfide-rich vegetables such as garlic and onions in vegetable oil at high temperatures can generate TFAs. In fact, this study demonstrated that garlic and onions significantly promote the trans-isomerization of UFAs. Under normal cooking conditions, the corresponding increase in the trans isomer ratio is expected to be minimal, at most a few percentages. Therefore, while excessive caution is not necessary, it is important to recognize that cooking with ingredients rich in sulfur compounds may increase the risk of TFA intake. "Release of TFAs under normal cooking conditions is expected to be minimal. Therefore, excessive caution is unnecessary," concludes Dr. Honda, the corresponding author of this paper. "However, it is important to understand that cooking with ingredients rich in natural sulfur compounds may increase the risk of TFA intake." FM Nirmala Sitharaman Holds Pre-Budget Talks With Export, Trade And Industry Experts Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 13:19 IST Pre-Budget Talks: The Union Budget 2025-26, which will be the eight consecutive Budget to be presented by Sitharaman, will be tabled in Parliament on February 1. FM Nirmala Sitharaman meets stakeholders and experts from export, trade and industry sectors, on Thursday in New Delhi. (Photo: X/ Finance Ministry) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday met the stakeholders and experts from export, trade and industry sectors, in New Delhi, to discuss the upcoming Budget. The Union Budget 2025-26, which will be the eight consecutive Budget to be presented by Sitharaman, will be tabled in Parliament on February 1. Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman chairs the fourth Pre-Budget Consultation with the stakeholders and experts from export, trade and industry sectors in connection with the upcoming Union Budget 2025-26, in New Delhi, today," the Ministry of Finance said in a post on X. related stories Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. @nsitharaman chairs the fourth Pre-Budget Consultation with the stakeholders and experts from export, trade and industry sectors in connection with the upcoming Union Budget 2025-26, in New Delhi, today.The meeting was also pic.twitter.com/5PcWlWodwg Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) December 26, 2024 The meeting was attended by Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary; Finance Secretary and DIPAM Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey; Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth; and Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal. Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran also attended the meeting. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On Tuesday, PM Narendra Modi also met a group of economists and sector experts under the theme Sustaining Indias growth momentum amid global uncertainty, to discuss the strategy and key points for the upcoming Budget. The prime minister discussed topics ranging from job creations, long-term growth towards Viksit Bharat, increasing farm productivity, and tackling geopolitical crises. During the meeting, PM Modi said a developed nation needs a fundamental shift in mindset, with a focus on making India a developed country by 2047. Among the economists present in the meeting were Ashok Gulati, D K Joshi, Surjit Bhalla, Janmejaya Sinha, Soumya Kanti Ghosh, and Amita Batra, among others. First Published: December 26, 2024, 13:19 IST Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO Allotment Out: GMP At 61.38%, A Step-By-Step Guide To Check Allotment Status Online Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: December 27, 2024, 03:21 IST Unlisted shares of Senores Pharmaceuticals Ltd are currently trading at Rs 631 per share in the grey market, which is 61.38 per cent higher than the IPO issue price of Rs 391. It indicates a stellar listing on December 30. Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO. Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO Allotment Status: The allotment of the Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO has been finalised. The initial public offering of Senores Pharmaceuticals Ltd closed on Tuesday and received an overall 97.86 times subscription. The Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO listing will take place on Monday, December 30. The latest GMP currently stands at 61.38 per cent, signalling a robust listing. The initial public offering of Senores Pharmaceuticals Ltd, which was opened on between December 20 and December 24, received an overall 97.86 times subscription. The retail category recieved a 93.16 times subscription in total, the NII (non-institutional investors) portion got 100.35 times subscription. Its QIB (qualified institutional buyer) category has been subscribed by 97.84 times. related stories The price band of the IPO was fixed at Rs 372 to Rs 391 apiece. The shares of Senores Pharmaceuticals Ltd are scheduled to be listed on both BSE and NSE on December 30, Monday. The IPO allotment has been finalised in the Thursday evening. Investors who have been allotted the IPO received a bank debit message. Investors can also check the IPO allotment status on the websites of BSE and NSE, as well as on registrar Link Intimes portal. Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO GMP Today According to market observers, unlisted shares of Senores Pharmaceuticals Ltd are currently trading at Rs 631 per share in the grey market, which is Rs 240 or 61.38 per cent higher than the IPO issue price of Rs 391. It indicates a stellar listing on December 30. The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing. Grey market premium indicates investors readiness to pay more than the issue price. Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO: How To Check Allotment Status Online? The IPO allotment status can be checked online by following these steps: 1) Go to the official BSE website via the URL https://www.bseindia.com/investors/appli_check.aspx. 2) Under Issue Type, select Equity. 3) Under Issue Name, select Senores Pharmaceuticals Ltd in the dropbox. 4) Enter your application number, or the Permanent Account Number (PAN). 5) Then, click on the I am not a robot to verify yourself and hit Search option. Your share application status will appear on your screen. You can also visit direct Link Intime Ltds portal https://www.linkintime.co.in/Initial_Offer/public-issues.html and check the Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO allotment status. Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO: More Details The Ahmedabad-based companys IPO is a combination of fresh issuance of shares worth Rs 500 crore and an offer-for-sale (OFS) of up to 21 lakh shares valued Rs 82.11 crore, by promoters and other selling shareholders, at the upper-end of the price band. Senores Pharmaceuticals Ltd has secured nearly Rs 261 crore from anchor investors. Proceeds from the fresh issue will be utilised for setting up a manufacturing facility for production of sterile injections in its Atlanta facility; funding the working capital requirements of the company and its subsidiaries, supporting inorganic growth through acquisition and other strategic initiatives and payment of debt. Besides, a portion will be used for general corporate purposes. Senores Pharmaceuticals specialises in identifying, developing, and manufacturing a wide array of specialty, underserved, and complex pharmaceutical products, positioning itself as a preferred partner for select customers. The company has several products in major therapeutic segments, including antibiotics, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and blood lines. As of March 2024, the company had three R&D facilities in India and the US and is in the process of consolidating R&D facilities into one proposed dedicated facility in Ahmedabad. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Equirus Capital, Ambit, and Nuvama Wealth Management are the book running lead managers to the issue. The equity shares are proposed to be listed on the BSE and the NSE. First Published: December 26, 2024, 12:49 IST IRCTC Shares Down Over 1% As Website, App Face Outage; Details Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 14:15 IST IRCTC Website, APP Down: Shares of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) fell by 1.4% to a day's low IRCTC Shares of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) dropped 1.4% to Rs 778.80 on the BSE following reports of a major outage on its e-ticketing platform. Passengers took to social media to report issues with booking tickets online, sharing screenshots of error messages indicating maintenance activity" in progress. related stories Downdetector, a real-time outage tracking website, recorded over 2,200 complaints related to the platforms services. Many users expressed frustration over the downtime, especially during business hours. IRCTC later confirmed the outage, citing technical reasons for the unavailability of the ticketing service. This marks the second time this month that the platform has faced such an issue. Due to maintenance activity, e-ticketing service will not be available. Please try later," the company said in a statement. For those seeking ticket cancellations, IRCTC advised filing a TDR by contacting customer care or emailing the company. The ticket booking service has since resumed after being down for more than an hour. Over the past year, IRCTCs shares have risen by 10%, and are up by 8.6% year-to-date. However, they have seen declines of 13.8% in the last three months and 21% in the past six months. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On technical charts, the stock is currently trading below its key exponential moving averages and has an RSI near 36, according to Trendlyne data. Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. First Published: December 26, 2024, 14:15 IST BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Zhang Ming has sent a letter of condolences to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in connection with the crash of an AZAL (Azerbaijan Airlines) plane near Aktau, Trend reports. "Your Excellency, I was deeply shocked to hear the news of the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane on the territory of Kazakhstan, resulting in casualties among both passengers and crew members. I extend my deepest condolences to you and the families of the deceased and wish a swift recovery to all the injured," the letter reads. Stocks To Watch: India Cements, Swiggy, IndiGo, Ola Electric, Dabur, And Others Reported By : Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 07:58 IST Stocks to watch: Shares of firms like India Cements, Swiggy, IndiGo, Ola Electric, Dabur, and others will be in focus on Thursday's trade Stocks To Watch: Check Latest Market Trend On December 26 Stocks To Watch On December 26: The domestic market ended flat ahead of the holiday on Tuesday, with metal and power stocks weighing on the overall performance. In todays trading session, shares of Bharat Forge, Nalco, Panacea Biotec, Amber Enterprises, and others will be in focus due to recent developments. India Cements: India Cements (ICL) announced the resignation of its former promoter, N. Srinivasan, as the companys Managing Director and CEO, effective immediately. The companys board also approved the resignations of whole-time director Rupa Gurunath and two non-independent directors, Chitra Srinivasan and V. M. Mohan. related stories Swiggy: Swiggy aims to onboard at least 100,000 female delivery partners by 2030, as stated by company MD and Group CEO Sriharsha Majety. Speaking at an event at the NSE headquarters, Majety emphasized the positive impact of more women joining as delivery partners. InterGlobe Aviation: IndiGo expects to carry 112 million passengers in 2024 and is on track to become a key global aviation player, according to its CEO Pieter Elbers. The airline flew over 100 million passengers in 2023. Ola Electric: Ola Electric has expanded its store network to 4,000 locations across India, marking a four-fold increase from 800 stores reported just a few weeks ago in December. The company added 3,200 new stores in less than a month. Indian Oil Corporation: Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) plans to invest Rs 61,000 crore in a naphtha cracker project at Paradip, Odisha. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Odisha government will be signed in January during the Utkarsh Odisha Make in Odisha 2025 summit. Dabur: Dabur has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court against Patanjali Ayurved, seeking an injunction against disparaging" advertisements targeting its Chyawanprash products. The lawsuit alleges that Patanjalis ad falsely claims its Chyawanprash is the only original" version, discrediting competitors. Bharat Petroleum Corporation: Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) has approved pre-project activities for its Rs 95,000-crore greenfield refinery project in Ramayapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, with a capacity of 9 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). Bharat Forge: Bharat Forge shares will be in focus today after the company announced an investment of Euro 39 million (Rs 345 crore) in its wholly-owned subsidiary, Bharat Forge Global Holding GmbH (BFGH). Nalco: Nalco has signed a mining lease deed for the amalgamated Utkal-D and Utkal E-Coal blocks to increase coal production capacity to 4 MTPA. The lease deed is valid until April 21, 2051. BPCL: BPCL emerged as the lowest bidder for NTPCs 150 MW ISTS-connected Solar PV power project, valued at an estimated Rs 756.45 crore. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Apollo Hospitals: Apollo Healthco, a subsidiary of Apollo Hospitals, will acquire the software business from Searchlight Health for Rs 67.5 crore. Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. First Published: December 26, 2024, 07:58 IST Housing Sales Fall 4% YoY In 2024 But Sales Value Up 16% in Top-7 Cities: Report Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 14:39 IST The housing sector's overall sales value surged by 16 per cent year-on-year, reaching Rs 5.68 lakh crore, up from Rs 4.88 lakh crore in 2023, according to the latest report by Anarock. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) led sales with about 1,55,335 units sold, a 1 per cent increase from the previous year. (Representative Photo) Housing sales across the top seven cities witnessed a 4 per cent decline, with about 4,59,650 units sold in 2024 compared to 4,76,530 units in 2023, according to a report by real estate consultancy firm Anarock. However, the sectors overall sales value surged by 16 per cent year-on-year, reaching Rs 5.68 lakh crore, up from Rs 4.88 lakh crore in 2023. Strong homebuyer demand and hardening property prices coupled with the general and state elections dented Indias residential growth momentum in 2024. Housing sales in the top 7 cities witnessed a marginal 4% decline in 2024 approx. 4,59,650 units in 2024 against 4,76,530 units in 2023," Anarock said in a report. related stories However, the overall sales value of housing units saw a 16 per cent yearly jump from about Rs 4.88 lakh crore in 2023 to nearly Rs 5.68 lakh crore in 2024, it added. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) led sales with about 1,55,335 units sold, a 1 per cent increase from the previous year. Pune followed with 81,090 units sold, despite a 6 per cent decline. The two western cities accounted for a significant portion of total residential sales in 2024. Price Surge and Demand for Bigger Homes Average residential prices across the top seven cities rose by 21 per cent, driven by increased input costs and strong homebuyer demand. Delhi-NCR saw the steepest rise of 30 per cent, with prices jumping from INR 5,800 per sq. ft. in 2023 to INR 7,550 per sq. ft. in 2024. The average price across all cities rose from INR 7,080 per sq. ft. in Q4 2023 to INR 8,590 per sq. ft. in Q4 2024. The demand for larger homes and branded developers continued unabated, with the luxury housing segment seeing exponential growth. New luxury housing supply across the top seven cities rose by 24 per cent in 2024, reflecting the post-pandemic trend for better homes. New Launches and Inventory Trends New residential launches dropped by 7 per cent, from 4,45,770 units in 2023 to 4,12,520 units in 2024, primarily due to election-related project approval delays. Despite the decline, MMR and Bengaluru accounted for nearly half of the new supply. Notably, NCR bucked the trend with a 44 per cent increase in new launches, driven by the ultra-luxury segment priced above INR 2.5 crore. Meanwhile, Bengaluru saw a 30 per cent increase in new supply, predominantly in the mid-range segment priced between INR 40 lakh and INR 2.5 crore. Available inventory at the end of 2024 dropped by 8 per cent, with Pune witnessing the highest decline at 20 per cent, reducing its unsold stock from 1,01,220 units to 80,670 units. In contrast, Bengaluru and Chennai saw an increase in unsold inventory. Sector Outlook for 2025 Anuj Puri, chairman of ANAROCK Group, described 2024 as a mixed bag" for the housing sector. While elections and project approval delays slowed new supply, the rise in sales value and average prices underscored the markets resilience. Looking ahead, Puri anticipates stabilisation in price hikes, with steady growth driven by increased input costs and sustained demand. He also expects a robust influx of new supply in 2025 as developers address the backlog caused by election-related disruptions. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The luxury housing segment is expected to remain strong, with no signs of tapering demand. 2025 will see generous new supply infusions by listed developers who have significant inventory lined up," Puri added. With high homebuyer demand and strategic adjustments by developers, the residential market is poised for steady growth in the coming year. First Published: December 26, 2024, 14:39 IST Govt May Cut Income Tax In Budget 2025, Those Earning Up To Rs 15 Lakh A Year May Benefit: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 17:48 IST The size of the income tax rate cut has not been decided yet and the final decision would be taken closer to the budget on February 1, according to Reuters. Eminent economists have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cut income tax rates to ease the burden on citizens. In order to provide relief to the middle class, the central government is likely to cut income tax for individuals earning up to Rs 15 lakh per annum in the upcoming Budget 2025-26, according to a Reuters report citing two government sources. The move will be aimed to boost consumption in the economy amid slowing growth. The sources, who did not want to be named because they were not authorised to talk to the media, said they had not decided on the size of any cuts. A decision would be taken closer to the budget on February 1," according to Reuters citing the sources. related stories Eminent economists have also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cut income tax rates to ease the burden on citizens. PM Modi on Tuesday met eminent economists and sectoral experts at NITI Aayog to hear their views and suggestions for the upcoming Budget. In the meeting, the economists and sectoral experts have reportedly asked the government to cut income tax, rationalise customs tariffs and introduce measures to support exports in the upcoming Budget. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Budget for 2025-26 in the Lok Sabha on February 1, 2025. FM Nirmala Sitharaman in the last Budget 2024-25 in July announced a comprehensive review of the Income Tax Act. Following this, the review committee was constituted led by Chief Commissioner of Income Tax V K Gupta. The panel is expected to submit its report before the Budget 2025-26. However, according to a Moneycontrol report citing an official, The new I-T Act, unlikely to be presented in the upcoming Budget Session, will take more than a year to come into effect." It is likely to take more than a year. Systems have to adapt to the changes. Since it will be a whole new Act, it will be much more complex. All rules and new forms have to be enabled, tested, and system-integrated, and that will require time," a senior government official told Moneycontrol. Moneycontrol has also reported that the committee will not propose changes to tax rates but will focus on simplifying the legislation to make it more concise and user-friendly. The income tax cut expectations come against the backdrop of worries around the deceleration of economic growth. The Indian economy grew 6.7 per cent in the June quarter and 5.4 per cent in the July-September period. Recently, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) lowered Indias economic growth forecast to 6.5 per cent for the current financial year from its earlier estimate of 7 per cent due to lower-than-expected growth in private investment and housing demand. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The multilateral development bank has also lowered Indias growth forecast for the 2025-26 financial year. Earlier this month, the Reserve Bank of India also significantly lowered the growth projection for the current fiscal year to 6.6 per cent from 7.2 per cent earlier. First Published: December 26, 2024, 16:50 IST CLAT 2025 Counselling Postponed As Consortium Plans To Approach SC, What Happened So Far? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 13:23 IST CLAT 2025: The CNLUs filed an appeal in the division bench of Delhi HC but it didnt intervene in the single-judge bench order. Hence, the Consortium will be approaching the SC for appropriate relief against the order at the earliest, it stated. The CLAT 2025 counselling process would be delayed and a new schedule would be released after the appeal process (Representational/File) The Delhi High Court recently directed the Consortium of National Law Universities (CNLUs) to revise the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) results 2025. The Consortium has now announced plans to approach the Supreme Court to seek relief from the Delhi High Courts directive to revise the CLAT 2025 merit list. This means, that there will be a delay in the CLAT 2025 counselling process, the Consortium has said in an official notice. A revised schedule will be released soon after a resolution has been reached. As per the earlier counselling schedule, the Consortium was set to release the first seat allotment result today, December 26, 2024. related stories Students Allege Errors In Question Paper The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2025, conducted on December 1 for undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) admissions, saw its final answer key published on December 7. Subsequently, several aspirants raised objections to the CLAT PG final answer key, pointing out alleged errors. They also criticized the unreasonable" fee of Rs 1,000 per question for submitting objections. Petition Filed In HC An aspirant had filed a writ petition challenging the final answer key and sought a revision of his result. The petitioner, a 17-year-old candidate, Aditya Singh, who had appeared for the CLAT 2025 UG exam also demanded corrections to the remaining contested questions. He claimed that due to the errors in the answer key, he lost marks which affected his admission to top institutes. Delhi HC Finds Two Errors In CLAT 2025 Question Paper Last week, the Delhi High Court identified two errors in Set A of the question paper. This includes questions 14 and 100. The errors in question Nos 14 and 100 are demonstrably clear and shutting a blind eye to the same would be an injustice to the petitioner albeit this Court is conscious of the fact that it may impact the result of other candidates," the court had stated. Responding to a writ petition, the Delhi High Court directed the Consortium to revise the merit list published on December 7 on its official website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in. On December 20, a single-judge bench ruled that answers to two questions in the entrance test were incorrect and instructed the Consortium to update the merit list accordingly. Following this, the Delhi High Courts division bench declined to overturn the single benchs order. What The Consortium Said? The CNLUs filed an appeal in the division bench of Delhi HC but it didnt intervene in the single-judge bench order. Hence, the Consortium will be approaching the SC for appropriate relief against the order at the earliest, it stated. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all We wish to inform you that the single bench of Honble Delhi High Court had issued an order directing the Consortium to revisit the Merit List published on December 7, 2024. In response, we filed an appeal in division bench of Delhi HC, however division bench didnt intervene the single judge bench order. We are approaching the SC for appropriate relief against this order at the earliest available date due to vacation," the official notice states. It further added that the counselling process would be delayed and a new schedule would be released after the appeal process. We understand that this development may result in some delay in the scheduled counselling process, and we assure you that the Consortium is committed to ensuring transparency and fairness in the process. Consequently, the release of the first admission list for NLUs, originally scheduled for December 26, will be delayed and there on the counselling process. The fresh calendar to be announced after our SC appeal process and expected relief," the notice added. First Published: December 26, 2024, 13:14 IST ICAI CA Final November Session Result 2024 Declared At icai.nic.in, Check Direct Link To Scorecard Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 23:41 IST ICAI CA Result 2024: Those who took the exam can view their results at icai.org, the organisation's official website. Candidates will need to provide their registration number and roll number to view their results ICAI CA Result 2024 has been declared. (Image: Freepik) ICAI CA Final November Session Result 2024: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India has announced the results of the ICAI CA Final examinations for the November 2024 session today, December 26. Those who took the exam can view their results at icai.org, the organisations official website. Candidates need to provide their registration number and roll number to view their results. Important Announcement: CA. Ranjeet K. Agarwal, President, and CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda, Vice President, along with ICAI Exam Committee Members, signed the CA Final Examination results held in November 2024, today, 26th December 2024, in Delhi," ICAI said in a post on X. related stories Important Announcement: CA. Ranjeet K. Agarwal, President, and CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda, Vice President, along with ICAI Exam Committee Members, signed the CA Final Examination results held in November 2024, today, 26th December 2024, in Delhi. #ICAIat75 #icairesults pic.twitter.com/Zssd2RR5ZJ Institute of Chartered Accountants of India ICAI (@theicai) December 26, 2024 ICAI CA Final November Result 2024 Pass Percentage Overall, a total of 11,500 candidates have qualified as Chartered Accountants following the declaration of the results. Group I : Out of 66,987 candidates who appeared for Group I, a total of 11,253 candidates successfully cleared the exam. The pass percentage for this group stands at 16.8% . : Out of 66,987 candidates who appeared for Group I, a total of 11,253 candidates successfully cleared the exam. The pass percentage for this group stands at . Group II : For Group II, 49,459 candidates appeared, and 10,566 of them passed. The pass percentage for this group is 21.36% . : For Group II, 49,459 candidates appeared, and 10,566 of them passed. The pass percentage for this group is . Both Groups: Among 30,763 candidates who appeared for both groups, 4,134 candidates managed to clear the exam. The pass percentage here is 13.44%. ICAI CA Final November Result 2024: How To Check? Step 1. Go to icai.org, the organisations official website. Step 2. Select the link labelled ICAI CA Result 2024" that appears on the homepage. Step 3. After entering your login information, click Submit." Step 4. The ICAI CA result will appear on the screen. Step 5. Examine the result carefully and save the document. Step 6. For later use, keep a physical copy of the same. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all ICAI CA Result 2024 Direct Link Last year, 65,294 candidates appeared in the ICAI CA Final Group 1 exam, out of which only 6,176 candidates passed. The pass percentage of this group was 9.46 per cent. On the other hand, 62,679 candidates appeared in the Group 2 exam, out of which only 13,540 passed, and the pass percentage of this group was 21.6 per cent. First Published: December 26, 2024, 23:02 IST Last Updated: December 27, 2024, 00:02 IST ICAI CA November Result 2024 Live Updates: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) finally announced the CA Final November 2024 results today, December 26. Candidates can check and download their results from the official website at icai.nic.in. The Group 1 exams were conducted on November 3, 5, and 7, while Group 2 exams took place on November 9, 11, and 13, 2024. For live updates on the ICAI CA Final Result 2024 for the November session, candidates can follow the News18.com blog. Delhi Assembly Elections: Preparation On Track, Electoral Roll By Jan 6; Poll Dates By Jan 10 Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 13:33 IST News18 has learnt that the poll body is planning to announce the elections by January 10 and the polling will be held in the first half of February. Both BJP and AAP have filed official complaints with the ECI over the electoral roll issue. The poll body last week also met political parties where they were assured that all their issues will be addressed. (File pic/PTI) The preparations for assembly polls in Delhi are underway in full swing with the publishing of final electoral roll by January 6 and election dates announcement by January 10, News18 has learnt. The final electoral roll, which has been witnessing a lot of politics in the past few weeks, is likely to be published on January 6. Review meetings were held last week. The Commission has met police, polling officials and district officials. Everything is going as per the plan. The commission is ready from its end for the elections," a poll body official told News18, demanding anonymity. related stories They also said that since the term of the Delhi assembly is ending on February 23, 2025, the commission has time before that to hold the polls. There is sufficient time before the term is ending," they said. News18 has learnt that the poll body is planning to announce the elections by January 10 and the polling will be held in the first half of February. In 2020, the date for elections was announced on January 6. The nomination filing process started from January 14 and February 8 was the polling date. Votes were counted on February 11. It is important to note the Special Summary Revision (SSR) of the Electoral Roll with respect to January 1, 2025, as the qualifying date started on October 29. The last date for claims and objections for additions, deletions, or modifications in electoral records was November 28, however, the submission of forms for continuous updating will remain open until elections are announced. Both BJP and AAP have filed official complaints with the ECI over the electoral roll issue. The poll body last week also met political parties where they were assured that all their issues will be addressed. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The ruling AAP is claiming that mass deletion of voters is taking place in Delhi on the behest of BJP. The BJP, on the other hand, is saying that the AAP is allowing illegal migrants to register as voters. For the help of the voters in Delhi, the poll body has reminded that Helpline 1950 serves as the first point of contact for citizens seeking assistance with electoral services. They can also visit the official website of the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi. First Published: December 26, 2024, 13:33 IST How Syria Sets Stage For Israel, Turkey Showdown, Rivalry And Relations Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 15:36 IST With Bashar al-Assad gone, Turkish President Erdogan wants to position himself as de facto leader of the Sunni Muslim world. Israel, on the other hand, is clearly perturbed by the rise of rebel Islamist groups in Syria and fears its transformation into a jihadist state... Read More Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) has opposed any concessions by the HTS to the minority Kurdish population in Syrias northeast, which he regards as supporters of the Kurdish separatists in Turkey. The relations between Israel and Turkey have collapsed after the attacks in Gaza on October 7, 2023. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had announced severing ties with Israel last month, noting that Turkey would do all it can to hold Benjamin Netanyahu accountable for his actions in Gaza. With the recent political turmoil in Syria, which led to the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, Israel and Turkey have emerged key players in the Middle Eastern geopolitical competition, instead of Russia and Iran, who have been backing Damascus all this while. related stories With the worsening of Turkey and Israels relations over the past few months, the Syria descent sets stage for the two non-Arab states for a bitter showdown. How Turkey-Israel Relations Deteriorated Over Time The ties between Turkey and Israel began to degrade since the meeting of their leaders in New York in September of last year. The meeting was supposedly intended to reconcile relations between Erdogan and Netanyahu. But the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023 and the subsequent Israeli strikes in Gaza, which killed more than 44,000 Palestinians, intensified bitterness between the two countries. This led to a series of sanctions because Erdogans ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) faced the brunt in local elections over its weak response to the war on Gaza. Since September, ongoing Turkish trade with Israel through third countries and Palestine has sparked a public pressure campaign by the opposition, who accused Erdogan of failing to close loopholes that allow continued interaction with Tel Aviv. Earlier this year, Turkey intervened in a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in support of Palestine and advocated for an arms embargo against Tel Aviv. Erdogan said 52 countries and two international organisations had expressed their support for the arms embargo on Turkey launched at the United Nations in early November to prevent the shipment of weapons and ammunition to Israel. We recently submitted our formal letter regarding this initiative to the president of the UN Security Council and the secretary-general of the United Nations," Erdogan said. During our summit in Riyadh, a decision was made to invite all organisations and members of the Arab League to sign this letter." Impact On Trade And Cooperation Turkey, which recognised the Palestinian state in 1988, signed key agreements in 1996 with Israel, such as the Defence Coorporation and Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The FTA, in particular, played a crucial role in boosting economic relations, with bilateral trade exceeding $1 billion by 2000. The agreement laid the foundation for strong bilateral economic ties that have remained active until after October 7 crisis in Gaza. The relations strained in 2000s with the collapse of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, along with the outbreak of Second Infitada. Ankaras condemnation of the 2008-2009 Israel-Gaza conflict marked the beginning of a grim era, followed by the one-minute" crisis in Davos in 2009 and the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid, leading to the deaths of nine Turkish citizens. Despite Erdogan suspending military and commercial ties" with Israel after nearly every crisis, the bilateral trade relations have not been significantly impacted. On the contrary, they have expanded in the last 20 years. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), the bilateral trade volume of $1.41 billion in 2002 rose to $8.91 billion by 2022, favouring Turkey. Experts see the rhetoric as mere facade aimed at securing domestic gains, while prioritizing the Israel-Turkey economic interests over politics. How Syria Is An Opportunity For Turkey Several reports have suggested that Turkey had backed the offensive led by the Sunni rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), to throw out Assad from Syria, thus betraying Damascus traditional allies Iran and Russia. Iran believes that without Turkeys support, HTS would not have pulled off a coup against Assad. With Assad gone, Erdogan is believed to be positioning himself as de facto leader of the Sunni Muslim world. The first step Turkey performed after the Assad governments fall was immediately reopening its embassy in Damascus and offering help to HTS in transition and establishing Syrias new Islamist order. Interestingly, Erdogan has said if the Ottoman Empire had been divided in a different way following its defeat in the World War I, several Syrian cities, including Aleppo and Damascus, would have likely been part of modern-day Turkey. Erdogan has also opposed any concessions by the HTS to the minority Kurdish population in Syrias northeast, which he regards as supporters of the Kurdish separatists in Turkey. This comes after HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa (also known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) had said in interviews that the new governments focus would include security of minorities in Syria and growth and development of the country based on moderate methods. How Israel Sees Syrias Current Political Situation After Assads fall, Israel took control of a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria near the Golan Heights, which it already occupied, citing the need for increased security along the border until a deal with the new government can be reached. It also executed a massive bombardment of Syrias military assets across the country. Israels foreign minister said destroying these assets, which included ammunition depots, fighter jets, missiles and chemical weapons storage facilities, was important to ensure they didnt fall into the hands of extremists" that could pose a threat to the Jewish state. The action was condemned by Arab countries, who demanded Syrias sovereignty and territorial integrity. Israel is clearly perturbed by the rise of rebel Islamist groups in Syria and fears the transformation of Syria into a jihadist state. What Is The US Thinking? Washington, which is an ally of both Turkey and Israel, has launched intense diplomatic efforts to ensure that HTS moves Syria in a favourable direction. It is keen to see a post-Assad system of governance aligned with Americas interests, which include HTS support for Americas Kurdish allies in northeast Syria and the continued presence of 1,000 American troops in the country. The US also wants HTS to continue to prevent the Islamic State terror group from reviving in Syria. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The US will also have to manage the emerging geopolitical rivalry between Israel and Turkey in Syria. Some political observers have not ruled out the possibility of an Israeli-Turkish military showdown, should Israel turn its temporary occupation" of the demilitarised zone on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights into a permanent one, as per an article by Amin Saikal, Adjunct Professor at The University of Western Australias School of Social Sciences and Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies at Australian National University, in The Conversation. First Published: December 26, 2024, 14:14 IST Why Ken-Betwa River Project Will Be Boon For Bundelkhand But Bane For Environment | Explained Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 16:55 IST The 77m-tall Daudhan Dam would submerge 8,650 hectares of land, including a part of the biodiversity-rich reserved forests of Madhya Pradeshs Panna Tiger Reserve, as per a government report A committee formed by the Supreme Court to study the Ken-Betwa river-linking plan had cautioned against the diversion of forest land in a protected area, which could impact the wildlife. (Image: Shutterstock) Indias first-ever river-linking project has officially begun. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the massive Rs 45,000 crore Ken-Betwa River Linking project in the heart of the country to transfer surplus waters" from Ken to water-deficit" Betwa river the two north-flowing tributaries of Yamuna. In the next eight years, a 77-metres tall dam will be built across Ken river at Daudhan, along with two powerhouses and a 231 km-long link canal to transfer water from Ken to Betwa river to provide water to nearly 10.62 lakh hectares of land (8.1 lakh ha in Madhya Pradesh and 2.5 lakh ha in Uttar Pradesh) covering as many as 13 districts. related stories In his speech on Thursday, PM Modi called the project the grand campaign of river interlinking created for the water-scarce Bundelkhand region". Last year alone, approximately 2.5 lakh tourists visited the Panna Tiger Reserve. I am pleased to share that the link canal being constructed here will also take care of the wildlife at Panna Tiger Reserve," he said. Overall, the project plans to provide drinking water supply along the route benefitting a population of 62 lakh (41 lakh in Madhya Pradesh and 21 lakh in Uttar Pradesh). Additionally, it will generate 130 MW of power, including 103 MW of hydro power and 27 MW of solar power. But this ambitious project has also sparked intense concerns over its huge environmental cost as a significant part of the project lies within the biodiversity-rich, reserved forests of Panna Tiger Reserve, renowned for successfully reviving the tiger population from zero. Lets take a look. Submerge 8,650 Ha Land, Displacing Hundreds Of Families According to the governments project report, the dam will submerge nearly 8,650 hectares, out of which 6,400 hectares comprise dense and moderate forest. The rest of submerged areas include 2,171 hectares of culturable land, and 79 hectares of unculturable land. At least 10 villages will be fully-submerged, and about 900 families with a total population of about 8,550 will be displaced. However, the number of affected villages and residents is likely to be higher as the project work begins. Impact On Critical Tiger Habitat More critically, a part of the submerged forest land lies within the biodiversity-rich Panna reserved forests. The core area of the Panna Tiger Reserve spans 542.66 km2 (and a buffer area of 1002.42 km2), out of which around 45.96 sq km area of reserved forest falls under the submerged area of the reservoir. A 2021 study in Current Science found high densities of vegetation and prey species in this submerged area. The protected area is not only home to several wildlife species such as panther, jackal, wild cat, leopard, spotted deer, wild boars, but as many as 153 species of birds, but also shelters Indias magnificent national animal Tiger, and its major prey species chital and sambar. The latest government-led All India Tiger Estimation Report captured as many as 55 individual tigers (>1 year of age) on camera in the reserve. The report also highlighted that a substantial portion of the biodiverse Panna Tiger Reserve is under threat of submersion due to the proposed Ken-Betwa river-linking project, which poses a significant risk to the conservation efforts in the area". The concerns are heightened because Panna had suffered a severe blow in 2009 when it lost all its tigers due to excessive poaching. But it became a successful conservation model by reviving the population by 2019 through several reintroduction measures. Experts have highlighted that this region represents a relatively intact wildlife habitat in an otherwise fragmented forested landscape of northern Madhya Pradesh, and is therefore precious. Additionally, it is also home to another critically-endangered vultures species. These magnificent birds of prey are fighting extinction globally. Alarmingly, an area of about 25 hectares is also to be cleared for the construction of the project staff colony near the existing Gangau barrage. This will include felling of as many as 23 lakh trees in an ecosystem home to some important species of the forest trees and scrubs. What Next? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) formed by the Supreme Court to study the river-linking plan had also cautioned against the diversion of forest land in a protected area for the project, which will also lead to habitat fragmentation for wildlife. While the project was designed to alleviate the water stress in the drought-prone region, its high environmental cost cannot be overlooked. This is just first of the largest National Perspective Plan for inter-linking of river Linking Project formulated by the government to transfer nearly 170 km2 of water across 37 rivers, through a proposed network of about 30 river links, 3000 storages and 12,000 km long river links and canals. Out of the 30 identified projects, pre-feasibility studies of all the 30 links have been completed, while feasibility reports of 24 links and detailed project reports of 8 links have also been completed. First Published: December 26, 2024, 16:55 IST Why Rajiv Gandhi Banned Salman Rushdies The Satanic Verses, Row Over The Book Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 11:00 IST The Satanic Verses, which was banned by the Rajiv Gandhi government 36 years ago, is now available in Indian bookstores after the Delhi High Court disposed of a petition challenging the notification purportedly issued by the custom authorities in 1988 banning the import of book Under pressure from religious groups, the Congress government, led by Rajiv Gandhi, issued a customs order banning the books import on October 5, 1988. Salman Rushdies The Satanic Verses is back in Indian bookstores after facing a ban of 36 years by the Congress government led by Rajiv Gandhi. The renewed sale of the controversial book has upset certain Muslim organisations, who have appealed to the Central government to reinstate the ban. The Delhi High Court in November closed proceedings on a petition challenging the Rajiv Gandhi governments ban on the books import. The court stated that the failure of officials to present the relevant notification from October 5, 1988, led to the assumption that the notification did not exist. related stories A limited stock" of Satanic Verses has reportedly been available in Delhis Bahrisons Booksellers. The book and its author, Rushdie, have faced massive backlash globally, with many Muslim organisations labelling it blasphemous. Why Was Satanic Verses Banned In India? The book sparked global outrage when it was published in September 1988. The Muslims around the world were enraged with the content of the book, and many labelled it blasphemous". Protests began taking place in different parts of the world, including India. In January 1989, Muslims in Bradford in the UK ritually burnt a copy of the book, and newsagents WHSmith stopped displaying it there. In Mumbai, Rushdies hometown, 12 people were killed during intense Muslim rioting, the British embassy in Tehran was stoned, and a $3 million bounty was put on the authors head. Under pressure from religious groups, the Indian government, led by then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, issued a customs order banning the books import on October 5, 1988. The decision was widely criticised as it was seen that the Congress government was giving into religious pressure. Rushdie himself wrote an open letter to Rajiv Gandhi denouncing the ban. The government later claimed the restriction applied only to the books import, not its content a distinction that did little to appease critics. The ban on The Satanic Verses came amidst political turbulence in India. The Rajiv Gandhi government was grappling with a series of controversies, including the Bofors scandal and media censorship. Additionally, the government was facing backlash for overturning a Supreme Court verdict in the Shah Bano case to appease to conservative Muslims, at the same time, steering through the Ayodhya temple movement. How The Ban Ended? In its order passed on November 5, a bench of Justices Rekha Palli and Saurabh Banerjee of the Delhi High Court had said that the petition filed in 2019, was infructuous, and the petitioner would be entitled to take all actions in respect of the book as available in law. Petitioner Sandipan Khan had moved court arguing that he was unable to import the book because of a notification issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs on October 5, 1988, banning its import in the country in accordance with the Customs Act. The bench observed: What emerges is that none of the respondents could produce the said notification dated October 5, 1988, with which the petitioner is purportedly aggrieved and, in fact, the purported author of the said notification has also shown his helplessness in producing a copy of the notification during the pendency of the writ petition since its filing way back in 2019." In light of the aforesaid circumstances, we have no other option except to presume that no such notification exists, and therefore, we cannot examine its validity and dispose of the writ petition as infructuous," it concluded, as quoted by The Times of India. Why Are Muslim Organisations Want The Book To Be Banned Again? Maulana Yasub Abbas, general secretary of the All India Shia Personal Law Board, has criticised the renewed availability of the book, stating, There is talk of lifting the ban after 36 years. On behalf of the Shia Personal Law Board, I appeal to the Indian government to ensure the ban remains firmly in place." The book mocks Islamic views, insults Prophet Muhammad and his companions, and hurts sentiments. Allowing its sale poses a threat to the countrys harmony. I urge the prime minister to impose a complete ban on this book in India," he said. Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi, National President of the All India Muslim Jamaat, said in a statement, The ban on The Satanic Verses had expired. Now, some publishers are planning to reprint the book in India. Back in 1988, Rajiv Gandhis government immediately banned it, but now preparations are underway to reintroduce it in India after the expiration of the ban." This book insults Islam, Prophet Muhammad, and several Islamic figures. Its content is so offensive that it cannot be repeated. Allowing this book in the market will disturb the nations atmosphere. No Muslim can tolerate seeing this hateful book on any bookstore shelf," Razvi added. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, who served as Minister of State for Home Affairs in 1988, told The Indian Express that the ban was a mistake. Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor welcomed the courts decision, asserting that Indians should have the freedom to read Rushdies work and form their own opinions. Who Is Salman Rushdie? Rushdie, 77, is one of the most celebrated and successful British authors of all time, with his second novel, Midnights Children, winning the illustrious Booker Prize in 1981. But it was his fourth novel, The Satanic Verses, published in 1988, which became his most controversial work bringing about international turmoil. Soon after The Satanic Verses release, Rushdie received death threats, which forced him to go into hiding, with the British government placing him under police protection. Iran quickly severed relations with the UK in protest and the countrys supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, issued a fatwa calling for the novelists assassination in 1989 the year after The Satanic Verses publication. Rushdie was born in Mumbai in 1947 to British-American Kashmiri Muslim parents. He has been married four times to Clarrisa Luard, American novelist Marianne Wiggins, Elizabeth West and Indian-American actress Padma Lakshmi. He studied at the Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai; Rugby School in Warwickshire, England and Kings College, Cambridge, from where he graduated in BA in history. He became a British citizen, and allowed his Muslim faith to lapse. He worked briefly as an actor and then as an advertising copywriter, while writing novels. Some of the most prolific work of Rushdie includes a novel for children, Haroun and the Sea of Stories (1990), a book of essays, Imaginary Homelands (1991), and the novels East, West (1994), The Moors Last Sigh (1995), The Ground Beneath Her Feet (1999), and Fury (2001). He was involved in the stage adaptation of Midnights Children which premiered in London in 2003. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In the last two decades he has published Shalimar the Clown, The Enchantress of Florence, Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights, The Golden House and Quichotte. Rushdie has been married four times, and has two children. He now lives in the US, and was knighted in 2007 by the Queen for his services to literature. First Published: December 26, 2024, 10:51 IST BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Governor of the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation Igor Babushkin has sent a letter of condolences to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in connection with the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane flying from Baku to Russia's Grozny that crashed near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, Trend reports. "Dear Ilham Heydarovich! I am deeply saddened by the news of the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the city of Aktau, which was en route from Baku to Grozny. On behalf of all the residents of the Astrakhan oblast and myself, please accept our condolences regarding the tragic consequences of the plane crash, and our wishes for speedy recovery to the injured. Our sympathies are with you," the letter reads. Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses Returns To Delhi Bookstores After 36 Years, Big Row Erupts Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 11:02 IST The book was banned by the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1988 after outrage over it as parts of it were considered blasphemous. Satanic Verses was banned by the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1988 after outrage over it as parts of it were considered blasphemous. (Image: Shutterstock) The go-ahead by Delhi High Court to release Satanic Verses, the controversial book written by Salman Rushdie, has stirred the political pot. The book was banned by the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1988 as parts of it were considered blasphemous. It was considered to be a knee-jerk and regressive step by the Rajiv Gandhi government after the Shah Bano case. The Rajiv Gandhi govt had justified saying that the book was not banned but its import was stopped following protests and outrage. This failed to placate his critics. related stories Following the High Court verdict, the controversy over the book is back. Questions are being raised about the ban as the book is now freely available and selling well at bookstores. Advisor to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry Kanchan Gupta said the book was proscribed way before there were protests over it. This is how Congress spins it fables and media amplifies it, turning fact into fiction: That Salman Rushdies book The Satanic Verses was proscribed due to protest and pressure by Muslims. This is NOT true. The Satanic Verses was proscribed (its import prohibited) even before the book went on sale or anybody had read it or there had been any protests. It was released in the UK on 26 September 1988. It was banned in India on 5 October 1988. In less than 10 days. Penguin India director Khushwant Singh had received and read an advance copy. He wrote a letter to then PM Rajiv Gandhi asking him to proscribe the book. And so it happened. Everything else, including the fatwa for Rushdies head, about Satanic Verses followed," Gupta posted on X. This is how Congress spins it fables and media amplifies it, turning fiction into fact: That Salman Rushdies book The Satanic Verses was proscribed due to protest and pressure by Muslims.This is NOT true. The Satanic Verses was proscribed (its import prohibited) even https://t.co/9ZIEFYZntY Kanchan Gupta (@KanchanGupta) December 26, 2024 It is very apt that the book appearing in Indian bookshops for the first time should coincide with the birth centenary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee," Gupta said. Atal Ji used to say: The answer to a book you dont like is a book you would endorse; the answer does not lie in either burning a book or proscribing it," Gupta added. The Congress has said it is wrong to blame Rajiv Gandhi. There are sensitivities which are what we need to be mindful of. But we never banned the book, only imports were stopped," said the party in a statement. The timing of the court order has also coincided with the recent developments. Post the injury on two BJP MPs after allegedly being pushed by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, the BJP carried 1984 bags in Parliament to make the point that the Congress has a history of being violent and curbing freedom. In fact, each time the Congress questions the government on constitutional rights being threatened, the BJP reminds it of Emergency. This release of Satanic Verses has once again given the BJP the chance to point a finger at the Congress and question the Gandhis and the Congress on their claims that only they can protect freedom and Constitution. It also gives the BJP the chance to accuse the Congress of appeasing the minorities for a few votes. Meanwhile, opposition to the book being available in public has already begun. Maulana Kaab Rashidi, legal advisor for the Uttar Pradesh unit of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind (AM), said that religious sentiments cannot be hurt under the garb of freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all If freedom of expression hurts someones sentiments, it is a legal offence. The Satanic Verses is a blasphemous book. Selling such a controversial book under the pretext of freedom of expression cannot be accepted in any form. It goes against the spirit of the Constitution," he said. Maulana Yasub Abbas, general secretary of the All India Shia Personal Law Board, also criticised the availability of the book. There is talk of lifting the ban after 36 years. On behalf of the Shia Personal Law Board, I appeal to the Indian government to ensure the ban remains firmly in place," he said. The book mocks Islamic views, insults Prophet Muhammad and his companions, and hurts sentiments. Allowing its sale poses a threat to the countrys harmony. I urge the prime minister to impose a complete ban on this book in India," he said. First Published: December 26, 2024, 08:54 IST Manmohan Singh, Former PM & Architect Of India's Economic Reforms, Passes Away At 92 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 23:16 IST Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh News Live Updates: Manmohan Singhs legacy is marked by the reforms he undertook as an economist, which not just rescued the country from economic collapse, but also prepared the foundation for sustainable growth Singh was born on September 26, 1932, in Gah, West Punjab, which is now a part of Pakistan. (Photo: PTI file) Former Prime Minister and veteran Congress leader Manmohan Singh passed away at AIIMS Delhi on Thursday night. Singh, who held the position of the Prime Minister of India from 2004 until 2014, was 92. In a medical bulletin, AIIMS Delhi announced Singhs death. With profound grief, we inform the demise of Former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, aged 92. He was being treated for age-related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home on December 26, 2024. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency at AIIMS, New Delhi at 8:06 PM. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 PM," it read. related stories Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh News Live Updates Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled Singhs death and said he made extensive efforts to improve peoples lives. India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve peoples lives," the PM said in a post on X. India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic pic.twitter.com/clW00Yv6oP Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 26, 2024 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Manmohan Singh played a key role in rebuilding Indias economy during difficult times. He was widely respected for his service and intellect. His contribution to Indias progress will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti!" he wrote on X. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed condolences said Singhs erudition and wisdom were unquestionable, and the depth of the financial reforms ushered in by him in the country are widely acknowledged . Manmohan Singh was also the first Sikh Prime Minister of the country, who is credited for the transformation of the Indian economy. Singh was born on September 26, 1932, in Gah, West Punjab, which is now a part of Pakistan. He pursued his education at Panjab University and received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Economics in 1952 and 1954, respectively. He went on to study in the University of Cambridge and in 1957, he received a First Class Honours degree in Economics and postgraduate work with a D.Phil. from Nuffield College, Oxford, in 1962. His early career spanned as a teacher at Punjab University, Delhi School of Economics, and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Manmohan Singhs legacy is marked by the reforms he undertook as an economist, which not just rescued the country from economic collapse, but also prepared the foundation for sustainable growth. The entrepreneurial spirit cultivated during his tenure catalyzed the growth of a dynamic economy, giving rise to an expanding middle class and a surge in consumer activity. Singhs policies played a pivotal role in transforming Indias economic framework by championing liberalisation and tackling critical social challenges through focused initiatives. His leadership is widely regarded as a defining era that propelled India onto the trajectory of an emerging global economic powerhouse. First Published: December 26, 2024, 22:25 IST Class 11 Student Stabbed 14 Times In Faridabad Market, Dies; 10 Detained Published By : PTI Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 07:36 IST A Class XI student was fatally stabbed 14 times in Faridabad, allegedly by two main people and their accomplices over a prior argument. Faridabad student stabbed to death (PTI/Representative photo) Ten people have been apprehended for allegedly stabbing a class XI student to death in a market in Faridabad, police said on Wednesday. The victims family staged protests and accused police of inaction and laughing off" the matter when they had complained of Anshul receiving death threats on Instagram a few days ago. related stories Anshuls sister, Anjali, narrated the incident to the police and said that her brother had an argument with the accused a few days ago. On Tuesday, they had gone to the market when the accused Himanshu Mathur and Rohit Dhama along with a few other men attacked Anshul with sticks and knives. Seeing this, she and some locals rushed to help Anshul and took him to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday. He was stabbed 14 times, police said. Anmol, the victims friend, told the police that the accused wanted to spread hooliganism in the Baslewa colony and used to sell drugs. They would often misbehave with the girls in the area. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A few days ago, Anshul reportedly had an argument with the accused. In a bid to take revenge, the accused killed Anshul, Anmol told the police. Based on Anjalis complaint, an FIR was registered and 10 people, including Mathur and Dhama have been apprehended. Further investigation is underway, police said. Location : Faridabad, India First Published: December 26, 2024, 07:36 IST India Mourns The Loss: Modi Pays Tribute To Manmohan Singh, Rahul Says He Lost Mentor Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 27, 2024, 00:37 IST Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his predecessor, Dr Manmohan Singh, worked extensively to improve the lives of people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, shakes hands with his former counterpart Manmohan Singh during a ceremony. Manmohan Singh, Indias former prime minister, passed away on December 26 at the age of 92. (IMAGE: AP PHOTO) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is mourning the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders on Thursday following the news of his predecessor Dr. Manmohan Singhs passing. India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve peoples lives," he said in a social media post on X, joining a chorus of leaders from across the political spectrum who extended their condolences on the demise of the man who played a pivotal role in transforming Indias economy. related stories India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic pic.twitter.com/clW00Yv6oP Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 26, 2024 Joining PM Modi in extending condolences was his cabinet minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda and Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of his rival party, the Indian National Congress, a party of which Dr Singh was a veteran member. Manmohan Singh Ji led India with immense wisdom and integrity. His humility and deep understanding of economics inspired the nation.My heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Kaur and the family. I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the pic.twitter.com/bYT5o1ZN2R Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 26, 2024 Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader and leader of opposition in the Parliament, said he lost a mentor and guide". Manmohan Singh Ji led India with immense wisdom and integrity. His humility and deep understanding of economics inspired the nation. My heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Kaur and the family. I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X. Nadda, who rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi after hearing reports of Dr Singh falling ill, said the death of the former prime minister was an immense loss to the nation. The passing of Former Prime Minister and Economist Shri Manmohan Singh ji is an immense loss for the nation. A visionary statesman and a stalwart of Indian politics, throughout his remarkable career in public service, he consistently voiced for the welfare of the downtrodden," Nadda said. Dr Singhs own partys chief, Mallikarjun Kharge, said history would remember the former prime minister kindly. Undoubtedly, history shall judge you kindly, Dr. Manmohan Singh ji! With the passing of the Former Prime Minister, India has lost a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, and an economist of unparalleled stature. His policy of Economic Liberalisation and Rights-based welfare paradigm profoundly transformed the lives of crores of Indians, virtually creating a Middle Class in India and lifting crores out of poverty," Kharge said in a long social media post on X. A man of action rather than words, his immense contribution to nation-building will forever be etched in the annals of Indian history," he further added. President of India Droupadi Murmu said Manmohan Singh straddled the worlds of academia and administration with equal ease". Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh Ji was one of those rare politicians who also straddled the worlds of academia and administration with equal ease. In his various roles in public offices, he made critical contributions to reforming Indian economy. He will always be remembered for his service to the nation, his unblemished political life and his utmost humility. His passing is a great loss to all of us. I pay my respectful homage to one of the greatest sons of Bharat and convey my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and admirers," she said in a post on social media. Home minister Amit Shah said the news of Dr Singhs demise was extremely sad". The news of the demise of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is extremely sad. From being the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India to the Finance Minister of the country and as the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh played an important role in the governance of the country. I express my condolences to his family and supporters in this hour of grief. May Waheguru grant peace to his soul and give strength to his family to bear this grief," Shah said on X. External affairs minister S Jaishankar said Dr Singh was not just the architect of Indian economic reforms" but also responsible for the strategic corrections to our foreign policy". Deeply grieved at the passing away of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today. While regarded as the architect of Indian economic reforms, he was equally responsible for the strategic corrections to our foreign policy. Was immensely privileged to work closely with him. Will always remember his kindness and courtesy. My deepest condolences to his family. Om Shanti," Jaishankar posted on social media. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said very few people in politics inspire the kind of respect that Sardar Manmohan Singh ji did". Few people in politics inspire the kind of respect that Sardar Manmohan Singh ji did. His honesty will always be an inspiration for us and he will forever stand tall among those who truly love this country as someone who remained steadfast in his commitment to serve the nation despite being subjected to unfair and deeply personal attacks by his opponents. He was genuinely egalitarian, wise, strongwilled and courageous until the end. A uniquely dignified and gentle man in the rough world of politics," the Wayanad MP said. First Published: December 26, 2024, 22:49 IST Last Updated: December 27, 2024, 22:53 IST Manmohan Singh Death News: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh passed away at AIIMS Delhi on Thursday. He was 92. AIIMS Delhi informed about the development in its bulletin. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and top BJP leaders reached Dr Singhs residence to pay their last respects to the visionary leader and architect of Indias economic reforms. Congress MPs Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi also arrived there to pay tributes. The Centre has announced a seven-day national mourning in honour of Dr Manmohan Singh ahead of a Cabinet meeting scheduled today at 11 am. The Cabinet also passed a condolence resolution to honour the late former Prime Minister. Condolences poured in from all ends of the spectrum. President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed condolences on the passing away of former PM Manmohan Singh. PM Modi condoled the demise and said that the former PM rose from humble origins and made extensive efforts to improve peoples lives. Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed condolences and recalled the former PMs contribution to the nation. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi also paid tributes to Dr Singh, stating that he lost a mentor and guide. Over 260 Canadian Colleges, Rs 60 Lakh Per Person: Trafficking Of Indians Into US Under ED Lens Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 10:33 IST The Enforcement Directorate is investigating a human trafficking and money laundering racket involving 262 Canadian colleges, facilitating illegal migration of Indians to the US through student visas. ED investigating case of Indians illegally crossing over from Canada to the US (Photo: Royal Canadian Mounted Police) In an explosive investigation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has revealed that as many as 262 colleges in Canada have been suspected of being involved in a money laundering case linked to the trafficking of Indians into the United States from the Canadian border. Moreover, once lured into the conspiracy, the individuals were also being charged nearly 60 lakh to cross over to the US, it said. The investigation is linked to the death of a four-member Indian family in Canada on January 19, 2022. The family, which hailed from Dingucha village in Gujarat, died due to extreme cold weather conditions in the country, while the four were trying to cross over to the US illegally. related stories The ED said it began its investigation as it took cognisance of a First Information Report (FIR) the Ahmedabad Police had registered against one Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel, who emerged as the main accused in the matter. A case was also registered against a few others, under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). According to the probe agency, Patel and others were alleged to have hatched a well-planned conspiracy to send people (Indians) to the USA through Canada via illegal channels thereby committing the offence of human trafficking." HOW INDIANS WERE BEING ILLEGALLY SENT FROM CANADA TO US Earlier, the ED had found that as part of the racket, the accused arranged" admission for people, desirous to go to the US illegally, in colleges and universities based in Canada. A Canadian student visa was applied for such people and once they reached that country, instead of joining the college, they illegally" crossed the US-Canada border, the agency said in a statement on Tuesday. In view of this, the fee received by colleges based in Canada was remitted back to the individuals account," the ED alleged. Indians were lured" into the racket and charged between Rs 55 and Rs 60 lakh per person, according to the ED. ED UNDERTAKES SEARCHES, SEIZES DOCUMENTS The agency said it undertook fresh searches in this case on December 10 and December 19 at eight locations in Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar and Vadodara. Following the searches, the ED found that two entities", one based in Mumbai and the other in Nagpur, entered into an agreement" for admission of Indians in universities based in foreign countries on a commission basis. The agency said the latest searches revealed that about 25,000 students were being referred by one entity and more than 10,000 students by the other to various colleges based outside India every year. Further, it is gathered that there are around 1,700 agents/partners based in Gujarat and around 3,500 agents/partners of other entities all over India out of which around 800 are active. It is further revealed that around 112 colleges based in Canada have entered into an agreement with one entity and more than 150 with another entity. Their involvement in the instant case is under investigation," the ED said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The agency also suspected that out of the total 262 such colleges in Canada, a few, which are geographically located near the Canada-US border, are involved in the trafficking of Indian nationals. As the Enforcement Directorate conducted searches, it said it froze Rs 19 lakh in bank deposits, some incriminating" documents and digital devices, It also seized two vehicles in connection with its probe. First Published: December 26, 2024, 10:33 IST Manmohan Singh Dies: Govt Announces 7-Day National Mourning, State Honour For Former PM Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 27, 2024, 08:51 IST As per government sources, all government programs scheduled for Friday has been cancelled and the union cabinet will meet to mourn Singh's death Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. (File image/PTI) The Government of India on Thursday announced a seven-day mourning in honour of former prime minister Manmohan Singh. The two-term PM breathed his last at AIIMS Delhi on Thursday night. The government said in a press release, It has been decided that seven days of state mourning will be observed throughout India from 26.12.2024 to 01.01.2025 both days inclusive. During this period the National flag will be flown at half mast throughout India where it is regularly flown and there will be no official entertainment during the period of state mourning. It has also been decided that the state funeral will be accorded to late Dr. Manmohan Singh." The National flag shall also fly half-mast on the day of funeral in all Indian Missions/High Commissions of India abroad," it added. related stories All central government programmes scheduled for Friday have been cancelled, and the union cabinet will meet to mourn Singhs death. Meanwhile, a seven-day mourning period has been announced in Karnataka after the demise of Manmohan Singh. A government holiday has been declared on 27 December. The Telangana government has also declared a holiday on Friday for government offices and educational institutions. The state government has declared a mourning period of seven days. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has also cancelled all her government programmes. Karnatakas Belgavi, which was decorated with lights for the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Thursday, soon descended into darkness after the death of the former PM. A public meeting of Congress was also planned on 27 December, as part of the centenary celebrations of the 1924 Indian National Congress session that was presided over by Mahatma Gandhi. Manmohan Singh, who served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 until 2014, was being treated for age-related medical conditions. He had a sudden loss of consciousness at home on 26 December 2024 and was subsequently hospitalised, AIIMS Delhi said. Singh, widely regarded as one of Indias finest economists, is credited with opening up Indias economy in 1991. Singhs policies played a pivotal role in transforming Indias economic framework by championing liberalisation and tackling critical social challenges through focused initiatives. When Singh took the reins of the Finance Ministry in 1991, Indias fiscal deficit was close to 8.5 per cent of GDP, the balance of payments deficit was huge, and the current account deficit was close to 3.5 per cent of GDP. To make things worse, foreign reserves were just enough to pay for two weeks of imports, indicating that the Indian economy was in deep crisis. Against this backdrop, the new economic era was brought in through the Union Budget 1991-92 presented by Singh. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all It was a turning point in the economic history of independent India, which witnessed bold economic reforms, abolition of the licence raj and opening of many sectors to private players and foreign players so that capital could flow in. He is credited with putting India on the new economic policy path, which allowed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), rupee devaluation, moderation in taxes, and privatisation of public sector companies. His role in ushering in a comprehensive policy of economic reforms is now recognised worldwide. First Published: December 27, 2024, 00:00 IST News18 Evening Digest: Angry AAP Wants Congress Out Of INDIA Bloc & Other Top Stories Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 16:25 IST We are also covering politics over Anna University sexual assault case, Bashar al-Assad's wife's ill-health. AAP leader Sanjay Singh said that they want Congress to take action against Ajay Maken for calling Kejriwal anti-national. (Photo: PTI file) In todays evening digest, News18 covers various important stories including AAPs ultimatum to Congress, Telugu actors meeting with Telangana CM, Virat Kohlis match fee fine & other top stories. Hand In Glove With BJP: Angry AAP Wants Congress Out Of INDIA Bloc, To Consult Other Parties related stories Congress is working hand in glove with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to make it win in Delhi, Chief Minister Atishi alleged on Thursday. Read more No Compromise On Law And Order: Revanth Reddy To Telugu Film Body Amid Pushpa 2 Row Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy told Telugu movie actors, directors and producers that there will be no compromise with regards to law and order in the state. Read more Anna University Sexual Assault Case: BJP Links Accused With Udhayanidhi Stalin, DMK Responds Amid the massive outrage and political tussle over the sexual assault case from Anna Universitys campus in Chennai, BJP alleged that the arrested accused is a repeat offender" from DMK. Read more Bashar al-Assads Wife Asma Severely Ill With Cancer, Has 50 Per Cent Survival Chance: Report Asma al-Assad, wife of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is reportedly severely ill and has been isolated by her doctors, who have expressed she has a 50-50 chance of survival. Read more top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Virat Kohli Fined 20 Percent Match Fee And Given A Demerit Point For Bumping Into Sam Konstas The ICC has reportedly handed out punishment to India batting superstar Virat Kohli for shoulder-bumping Australian debutant Sam Konstas during the first day of the 4th Test. Read more First Published: December 26, 2024, 16:25 IST 'Please Be Lenient, Sir': When Manmohan Singh Had Requested JNU VC To Go Soft On Protesting Students Last Updated: December 27, 2024, 00:19 IST Dr Manmohan Singh died at AIIMS Delhi on Thursday night at the age of 92 after he had sudden loss of consciousness at home. Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh (PTI File Image) Former prime minister Manmohan Singh was shown black flags at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) by Left-backed students who were staging a protest during his visit to the campus in 2005. The incident led to show-cause notices to students by the university with few of them getting detained by the Delhi Police. However, a day later Singh intervened, suggesting to the then vice chancellor (VC) B B Bhattacharya to be lenient with students. related stories Singh died here on Thursday night at the age of 92 after he had sudden loss of consciousness at home. In his speech at the university where he went to unveil a statue of former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Singh had said, Every member of a university community, if he or she wishes to aspire to be worthy of the university, must accept the truth of Voltaires classic statement. Voltaire proclaimed I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it. That idea must be the corner stone of a liberal institution." The students waved black flags at him. The VC had then received a call from the PMO asking him to be lenient with students as protesting is their right. The students were then let off after a warning," a retired JNU professor said on condition of anonymity. JNU has been an epicentre of widespread protests in the past decade with the sedition controversy in 2016 triggering a debate about freedom of speech and expression on campus. Bhattarcharya had in 2016 narrated the incident during an interview. Manmohan Singh had told me please be lenient, Sir. I said I have to at least warn them but the problem today is that lines of communication with students have broken down," he had said. Former JNU student leader Umar Khalid, who was also booked in the sedition row in 2016 and continues to be in jail in a separate case, had also shared the incident. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In 2005, Manmohan Singh faced black flags in JNU as a protest against his economic policies. It became a big news. The admin immediately sent notices to students. The very next day, PMO intervened & asked the admin not to take any action as protest was students democratic right," he had said in a post on X (then Twitter) in 2020. PM Manmohan Singh facing sloganeering and black flags from student protestors began his speech by quoting Voltaire: I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to death your right to say it," he had added. First Published: December 27, 2024, 00:19 IST Pune Shocker: Man Kidnaps, Rapes And Drowns 2 Minor Sisters In Drum Published By : IANS Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 16:54 IST The dual crime occurred on Wednesday when the two girls were playing outside their home around noon, but later suddenly disappeared The two girls bodies were found at Das home, in a huge drum filled with water, with their heads below and their feet up, pointing at murder by forcible drowning.(Representational image) In a shocking case, the Pune Police have arrested a 54-year-old man for the alleged kidnapping, rape and murder of two minor girls in the Rajgurunagar area of Pune. The man, identified as Ajay Das, is accused of committing the heinous double crime with the two siblings aged nine and eight before he absconded, said a police official. related stories The dual crime occurred on Wednesday when the two girls were playing outside their home around noon, but later suddenly disappeared. The family, which was keeping an eye on them, started a frantic search in the vicinity but failed to trace them and finally in the evening lodged a complaint with the Khed Police Station. Responding promptly, Police Inspector Prabhakar More formed teams to launch a system effort to trace the two missing sisters but did not get any clues. Late in the night, around 10.30 p.m., the police and the family inspected the two siblings room on the upper floors of their building and made the shocking discovery. The two girls bodies were found at Das home, in a huge drum filled with water, with their heads below and their feet up, pointing at murder by forcible drowning. As the discovery created a sensation in the vicinity, the case was handed over to a woman Investigation Officer Snehal Raje, said the officials, while the victims bodies were sent to the Sassoon Hospital in Pune for autopsies. Cracking the whip, the Khed Police launched a manhunt for Das and apprehended him from his hideout in a shady lodging house early in the day (December 26) as he was packing up and preparing to flee out of Maharashtra. This morning the grieving families along with other relatives, staged a sit-in dharna outside the police station, demanding that the culprit should be given the noose, and refused to accept the bodies of the two little girls. As per preliminary questioning, Das is understood to have confessed to the double crime and also admitted that he had to kill them to suppress the matter secretly and also prevent them from screaming or attracting attention. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Although the accused was arrested by the police, the girls relatives gathered at the Rajgurunagar police station, saying they would not take possession of the bodies till they got justice. The brutal kidnap-rape-double murder has evoked strong reactions from Nationalist Congress Party (SP) Working President and MLA Rohit R. Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT)s Sanjay Raut and Kishore Tiwari and local Congress leaders, who slammed the ruling Mahayuti for what they termed as utter failure on the law-and-order front. First Published: December 26, 2024, 16:54 IST BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan, Head of the State Protocol and International Relations Department of the Presidential Administration Serdar Muhammeddurdiyev has paid a visit to the Embassy of Azerbaijan in connection with the day of mourning declared following the tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) passenger aircraft, Trend reports via the embassy. Muhammeddurdiyev conveyed his heartfelt condolences to Ambassador of Azerbaijan Gismet Gozalov. The deputy minister also recorded his sincere words in the book of condolences at the embassy, expressing the deepest sorrow and support to the brotherly people of Azerbaijan. The tragedy occurred on December 25, when an Embraer 190 plane operated by AZAL, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed just 3 kilometers from Aktau Airport. The Embraer 190 was carrying 67 people, including 62 passengers and five crew members. In the aftermath of the crash, 27 people were hospitalized. Among them, 15 are citizens of Azerbaijan, eight are from Russia, and three are from Kyrgyzstan. The identity of one individual remains unknown. Of those hospitalized, 11 are being treated in intensive care, 13 in the trauma ward, two in the neurosurgery ward, and one in the surgical ward. They are under the care of experienced doctors from Kazakhstan, as well as specialists sent from Azerbaijan and Russia. All patients have received prompt and specialized medical and psychological support. The crash claimed the lives of both pilots and a flight attendant. Two other crew members survived. December 26 has been declared a day of mourning in Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Aaliyah Kashyap Is Turning Up The Heat In Fabulous Swim Sets And Floral Dresses In Her Honeymoon Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 14:22 IST From a monochrome bikini top to floral dresses, Aaliyah Kashyap was a complete vision to behold. Aaliyah Kashyap and Shane Gregoire's Maldives honeymoon was all about beaches, good food, and romantic dates. Aaliyah Kashyap, the daughter of filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, recently got hitched to her long-time boyfriend, Shane Gregoire, in Mumbai. Just a few days after her wedding, the couple flew away to the Maldives for their honeymoon. While the lovebirds dished out travel goals by visiting some of the most picturesque places, Aaliyah slayed the beachwear game in some oh-so-hot fits, one more striking than the other. From a monochrome bikini top to floral dresses, the diva was a complete vision to behold. In her latest Instagram story, Aaliyah dropped a series of pictures and videos, and we can clearly see the fun she is having at the place. Her colourful beachwear, relaxed look, and messy hair are exactly what beach holiday dreams are made of. related stories Blooming in Blue Aaliyah Kashyap left the viewers gasping for breath in her most recent photo dump from the Maldives. She flaunted her bombshell body in a strapless white and blue floral dress. Complementing her look was natural makeup, feathered brows, and nude lipstick. Her tresses were pulled back into a sleek bun with some hairs cascading down her face. On the backdrop of a picturesque location, Aaliyah looks quite relaxed as she enjoys her time in the foreign city. Beauty in Black Aaliyah is undoubtedly a beach girl, and her next picture is proof of this. We can see Aaliyah clad in a black swimsuit as she walked hand in hand on the sandy beaches of the Maldives with her husband. These pictures of the beauty strolling comfortably around the beach are nothing short of spectacular. Pastels Reign Supreme Needless to say, Aaliyah effortlessly aced different colour palettes. In another look, she looked like a real-life Barbie in this lavender bikini set during her honeymoon. Keeping it chic and classy, she draped a matching sarong over her bottoms. In the picture, she can be seen striking a hot pose for the lenses while flaunting her toned legs. Stripes Are The New Trend top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Aaliyah is definitely dishing out some major beach outfit goals during her Maldivian getaway. After floral dresses and monochrome beachwear, Aaliyah switched to a striped monokini for paddling in the pristine sea waters. The halter-neck fit looked perfect with her messy bun and stylish sunglasses. Which bikini look is your favourite? First Published: December 26, 2024, 12:32 IST Understanding Brain Clots and Recurrent Strokes Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 12:37 IST Brain clots can develop due to various underlying factors, including high blood pressure, certain malignancies, and substance abuse. The symptoms of brain clots can vary significantly, ranging from mild to severe Brain clots are a serious medical condition that occur when abnormal clots form in the brain, leading to a type of brain stroke. Dr. Amit Jaiswal, Director & Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon at Manipal Hospital, Bhubaneswar, explains that brain clots can result from blood clotting disorders and conditions such as hemorrhagic stroke, aneurysm, or cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. These clots can develop due to various underlying factors, including high blood pressure, certain malignancies, and substance abuse. The symptoms of brain clots can vary significantly, ranging from mild to severe. Common signs include headaches, vision changes, sudden weakness in the limbs, and difficulty speaking. In severe cases, brain clots can be life-threatening, which makes timely medical intervention crucial. Dr. Jaiswal emphasizes the importance of recognizing these symptoms early to ensure better outcomes and minimize complications. Seeking immediate medical attention can significantly reduce the impact of these conditions," he advises. related stories In addition to isolated brain clots, some individuals experience recurrent strokes due to repeated clot formation. Dr. Harisha P N, Senior Consultant, Neurosurgery at Manipal Hospital Yeshwanthpur, explains that recurrent strokes are often caused by clots either forming within the brains arteries or migrating from other parts of the body, such as the heart. The latter, known as an embolic stroke, occurs when a clot formed elsewhere travels through the bloodstream to the brain. Atherosclerosis, or the fat deposition in the arteries, is a common cause of clots forming in the brains arteries, leading to narrowing of the blood vessels. The treatment for recurrent brain clots largely depends on the cause of the stroke. For clots formed within the brains arteries, treatment often involves blood thinners like low-dose aspirin and optimization of risk factors," says Dr. Harisha. Managing conditions like high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol are essential in preventing further strokes. He further explains that quitting smoking can also play a significant role in reducing stroke risk. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all For recurrent embolic strokes, Dr. Harisha stresses the importance of thorough evaluation to pinpoint the origin of the clots. Certain heart conditions, such as atrial fibrillation, may require long-term use of blood thinners. Additionally, when recurrent strokes are caused by atherosclerosis in the large arteries of the neck (carotid arteries), surgical interventions like carotid endarterectomy or stenting may be necessary to lower the risk of future strokes. Both Dr. Jaiswal and Dr. Harisha highlight the critical importance of early detection, proper management, and lifestyle modifications in preventing and treating brain clots and strokes. By addressing the underlying conditions and taking proactive measures, patients can significantly improve their health outcomes and reduce the risk of recurring strokes. First Published: December 26, 2024, 12:37 IST Kumbh Mela 2025 Preparations: Spiritual, Mental, And Meditation Tips For Pilgrims Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 09:48 IST Kumbh Mela 2025: Preparing spiritually and mentally for the religious gathering will help deepen the experience and bring a sense of peace and purpose. Kumbh Mela 2025: Maha Kumbh Mela will commence from January 13 to February 26, 2025. (Image: Shutterstock) Kumbh Mela 2025: The Kumbh Mela, one of the worlds oldest and largest religious gatherings of faith and spirituality, draws millions to the sacred river. There are four types of Kumbh Melas: Purna (complete) Kumbh Mela, Ardh (half) Kumbh Mela, and Maha Kumbh Mela. Among all, the Maha Kumbh Mela is considered the most auspicious, and it takes place every 12 years. This year, the Maha Kumbh Mela will be held in Prayagraj from January 13, 2025, to February 26, 2025. Kumbh Mela 2025: How to Prepare Spiritually and Mentally related stories Before attending the Kumbh Mela, pilgrims may engage in spiritual practices such as meditation, fasting, and prayer. Preparing spiritually and mentally for the religious gathering will help deepen the experience and bring a sense of peace and purpose. Meditation: In the weeks leading up to Kumbh Mela, engage in regular meditation to calm the mind and deepen self-awareness. Focus on your breath or a mantra. ALSO READ: Kumbh Mela 2025: Dates, Location, And The Cultural Significance Of Maha Kumbh Fasting: Some pilgrims observe fasting for self-discipline and to purify the mind and body. Spiritual Tools: You can also use tools like spiritual bracelets, Rudraksha malas, and meditation beads to deepen your spiritual practice during the mela. Connect with Saints: Seek out guidance from spiritual gurus who will be attending the Maha Kumbh Mela to prepare mentally and emotionally for the pilgrimage. Scripture Reading: Consider reading sacred texts in the months leading up to the event to gain insights and inspiration. Chanting: Chanting mantras or devotional songs can create a positive and uplifting atmosphere. Tips for Meditation and Reflection at the Kumbh Mela Find a Quiet Spot: Despite the crowds, seek out quieter areas along the riverbank or within your camp for meditation. Early Mornings: The early morning hours offer a peaceful time for self-reflection before the crowds gather. PHOTOS: Kumbh Mela 2025: The 8 Sacred Rituals Of Divine Purification Journaling: Keep a journal during your stay to record your experiences, thoughts, and insights during the Mela. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Observe the Sadhus: Observing the practices of sadhus can be inspiring and provide insights into spiritual life. Engage in Satsang: Attend discourses by spiritual leaders to deepen your understanding of philosophy and spirituality. Location : Prayagraj, India First Published: December 26, 2024, 09:15 IST Inside Katrina Kaif-Vicky Kaushal's Christmas: Adorable Santa Claus, Beautiful Tree And All The Gifts Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 08:12 IST Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif shared inside glimpse of their Christmas celebrations with family. Fans are reacting to it Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif wish Merry Christmas to everyone Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif have wished Merry Christmas with heartwarming photos from their cozy celebration. This year, the Chhaava actor celebrated the festival with Katrinas family. The photos are going viral as fans can keep calm seeing their favourite couple in beautiful attires. The couple gave fans a glimpse of their holiday mode. Taking to her Instagram handle, Katrina shared a series of pictures capturing the essence of Christmas. In the first photo, she posed with her sisters. Katrina looked radiant in a red sweater paired with black pants and a furry black cap. The second photo featured Katrina and Vicky posing with Santa Claus. The third picture offered a glimpse of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree decorated with lights and surrounded by gifts. Another picture showed Katrina inside a Christmas-themed house, enjoying coffee with her sisters. Sweet treats like a beautifully crafted Christmas cake and a handwritten card wishing Happy Christmas, Sister". related stories Take a look here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Katrina Kaif (@katrinakaif) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vicky Kaushal (@vickykaushal09) Vicky Kaushal also shared a photo with Katrina Kaif. In the photo, the couple was seen standing in front of the Christmas tree. Katrina opted for a red sweater and hugged her husband Vicky. Merry Christmas," read the caption. One of the fans wrote, You beauties! You cuties!!! in these adorable sweaters." Another wrote, What a beautiful click!!!! Ma Sha Allah." Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif got married on December 9, 2021 in Rajasthan. On the work front, Vicky Kaushal will be seen in Chhaava. The makers have shifted the films release date to avoid a clash with Allu Arjuns Pushpa 2: The Rule. Initially scheduled to hit screens on December 6, 2024, alongside the much-anticipated Pushpa 2, Chhaava will now release on Valentines Day, February 14, 2025. The teaser of Chhaava has already garnered widespread praise, with fans lauding Vicky Kaushals intense portrayal of the brave warrior. The clip showcases his character in fierce battle sequences. The anticipation surrounding the film continues to grow as audiences eagerly await this powerful retelling of Maratha history. First Published: December 26, 2024, 08:12 IST J-Hope Is Excited For BTS Reunion, Expresses Gratitude To ARMYs For Their Constant Support Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 14:36 IST As per reports, BTS might release their new album in the second half of 2025, followed by a world tour in 2026. J-Hope was discharged from the military in October. (Photo Credit: Instagram) In mid-October, BTS J-Hope, aka Jung Hoseok, was discharged from the military after completing his mandatory service. Since then, he has maintained a low profile and barely engaged in any activities. Recently, the 30-year-old BTS star spoke about his life after his military service and expressed his excitement about reuniting with his bandmates in just a few months. In the latest interview with Weverse Magazine, published on December 24, J-Hope stated that his military service led to his personal growth, and he also started joy in regular things. Further, he got candid about the future endeavours of BTS, saying, There are certain things we need to do as BTS. When were all back together as a group, its going to have a huge impact, and everybodys going to be watching." related stories Earlier, a report by Korean media revealed that the world-famous K-pop boy band BTS is set to release their new album in the second half of 2025. This would come after all seven members are discharged from the military by the first half of 2025. Moreover, fans were elated to know that the septet might also embark on their highly anticipated world tour in 2026. As ARMYs await the reunion of the group, J-Hope, too, talked about his eagerness to meet with all his bandmates together. While speaking with the magazine, he expressed, Im excited to see what itll feel like when we perform together again. I want to come back in style and say, This is us. This is BTS." Meanwhile, the BTS rapper-dancer acknowledged that he was at such heights in his career all because of the group. Appreciating them, he continued, What hasnt changed is that I really, really love to do it. Even now. Im here because of the group. And working with the others is still so fun and fulfilling and makes me so, so happy." J-Hope also did not forget to thank BTS ardent followers, aka ARMYs. He thanked their fandom for always waiting, watching, supporting, and acknowledging" the septet. We made it here with ARMY at the heart of it all, and thats something we must never forget or be lost on us as we continue moving forward. Its incredible. Theyre the whole reason I made it through," mentioned the K-pop idol, further adding, ARMY is the reason I can keep moving forward. Theyre like the gas to my car, or just my core?" First Published: December 26, 2024, 14:36 IST Padma Bhushan M.T. Vasudevan Nair, Icon Of Malayalam Literature And Cinema, Dies At 91 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 25, 2024, 22:50 IST Jnanpith laureate and legendary writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair, has passed away. Jnanpith laureate and legendary writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair, a towering figure in Malayalam literature and cinema, passed away on Wednesday while undergoing treatment for age-related ailments at a private hospital in Kozhikode. Fondly known as MT, he leaves behind an extraordinary legacy spanning literature, cinema and cultural thought. The writer was in the hospital for 11 days after suffering a cardiac arrest. On Tuesday, doctors said he was off ventilator support, but his condition became very critical on Wednesday night. related stories Born on July 15, 1933, in Kudallur, Ponnani Taluk, MTs early life was marked by poverty and challenges, experiences that deeply influenced his writing. After earning a degree in Chemistry from Victoria College, Palakkad, in 1953, he briefly worked as a teacher before beginning his career as a sub-editor at Mathrubhumi in 1957. MTs literary journey began in his school days, gaining momentum during his college years with the publication of his first short story, Raktam Puranda Mantharikal (Blood-Stained Soil). His debut novel, Naalukettu (The Legacy), published in 1958, earned him the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and established him as a literary force. Over the decades, he penned timeless works such as Kaalam, Asuravithu, Randamoozham (The Second Turn) and many other short stories, earning a place among Indias literary greats. His Randamoozham, a reimagining of the Mahabharata through Bhimas perspective, remains a landmark in Indian literature. In cinema, MT redefined storytelling with his screenwriting debut for Murappennu, followed by a directorial career with films like Nirmalyam (which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film), Bandhanam and Kadav. Throughout his illustrious career, MT received many accolades, including the Jnanpith Award (1995), Padma Bhushan (2005), Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, and multiple honorary doctorates. A rare genius whose contributions bridged literature and cinema, MT Vasudevan Nairs legacy will continue to inspire generations. A few months ago, an anthology of films called Manorathangal, based on his short stories, was released on OTT. It was his last work for the screen. Location : Kozhikode, India First Published: December 25, 2024, 22:45 IST Sunny Deol, Riteish Deshmukh And More Bollywood Stars Mourn Manmohan Singh's Demise: 'Deeply Saddened' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 27, 2024, 00:12 IST Bollywood mourns Manmohan Singhs passing; Sunny Deol, Genelia Deshmukh, and others honour his legacy. Bollywood celebs mourn the loss of former PM Dr Manmohan Singh. India mourns the loss of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who passed away at the age of 92 at AIIMS in New Delhi on December 26. The veteran Congress leader, economist, and architect of Indias economic reforms served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, leaving an indelible mark on the nations history. As news of his demise broke, Bollywood celebrities took to social media to express their grief and pay tribute to the legendary statesman. related stories Sunny Deol shared a heartfelt message on his X (formerly Twitter) account, writing, Im deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Manmohan Singh, a visionary leader who played a pivotal role in shaping Indias economic liberalization. His wisdom, integrity & contributions to the nations growth will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences." Im deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Manmohan Singh, a visionary leader who played a pivotal role in shaping Indias economic liberalization. His wisdom, integrity& contributions to the nations growth will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences. #RIPDrManmohanSingh pic.twitter.com/Y5lybTCmTv Sunny Deol (@iamsunnydeol) December 26, 2024 Actor Nimrat Kaur described Singh as a scholar-statesman" in her emotional note. A scholar-statesman, an architect of Indias economic reforms, his peerless wisdom and humility has left an indelible mark on the fabric of our nation. Rest in grace and glory Dr. Manmohan Singh ji. Satnaam wahe guru," she wrote. Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar honored Singhs transformative role in shaping modern India. The passing of Dr. Manmohan Singh ji marks the end of an era. As the architect of Indias economic reforms, his dedication to public service has shaped modern India. My deepest condolences to his family members & admirers," he shared. Actress Genelia Deshmukh called Singh a statesman, economist & a true patriot" in her tribute, writing, Deeply saddened to hear about the demise of our former PM, Shri Manmohan Singh ji. He leaves behind a legacy of integrity, wisdom & selfless service to the nation. May his soul rest in peace." Actor Riteish Deshmukh shared throwback photos of his father, Vilasrao Deshmukh, with Singh. Today we have lost one of Indias finest Prime Ministers. The man who propelled Indias economic growth. He epitomised dignity and humility. We will forever be indebted to his legacy. May his soul rest in eternal glory," he wrote. Today we have lost one of Indias finest Prime Ministers. The man who propelled Indias economic growth. He epitomised dignity and humility. We will forever be indebted to his legacy. May his soul rest in eternal glory. Thank you Shri Manmohan Singh ji pic.twitter.com/dLWMyk5STc Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) December 26, 2024 Saddened by the passing of our former Prime Minister. A statesman whose contributions in every aspect of our nations growth will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family. #RIPDrManmohanSingh pic.twitter.com/9wandeOHjJ manoj bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) December 26, 2024 Manoj Bajpayee also expressed his sorrow, stating, Saddened by the passing of our former Prime Minister. A statesman whose contributions in every aspect of our nations growth will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family." First Published: December 27, 2024, 00:12 IST Global Watch | Understanding Sanctions On Pakistans Long-Range Missile Programme Written By : News18.com Last Updated: December 25, 2024, 18:26 IST Pakistans missile systems, if misused, could easily become instruments of chaos within its terrorist networks, further complicating an already precarious geopolitical landscape The Shaheen-III missile is displayed during the Pakistan Day parade in Islamabad, Pakistan, March 23, 2016. A portrait of Pakistan's national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal is seen in the background. (Pic/Reuters) The United States and Pakistan have experienced a relationship characterised by tension and collaboration across various domains, especially in defence and security matters. A major point of friction has been Pakistans long-range missile programme, which has been targeted by US sanctions for many years. On a notable Wednesday in 2024, the US imposed sanctions on four Pakistani entities, alleging their role in furthering Pakistans ballistic missile advancements. This latest sanctioning effort represents merely one episode in a lengthy, decades-old narrative concerning the spread of missile technology and weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) within South Asia. In this article, I will analyse the reasons behind the US sanctions, the consequences these measures hold for Pakistan and the international community at large, and the enduring patterns of missile proliferation in the region. Additionally, this piece will investigate Pakistans response to the sanctions and the wider geopolitical landscape, which encompasses regional security concerns, non-proliferation initiatives, and international diplomatic efforts. related stories Pakistans long-range missile programme originated in the early 1980s, when the nation began concentrating on developing missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads. This initiative gained additional traction during the 1990s, following Pakistans successful nuclear weapons tests, thereby solidifying its status as a nuclear-armed state. The advancement of long-range missiles, notably the Shaheen series, formed a crucial component of Pakistans nuclear deterrence strategy, intended to balance Indias conventional military dominance. The United States has long expressed apprehension regarding Pakistans missile programme, particularly due to the potential utilisation of such technologies for deploying weapons of mass destruction. These concerns have been exacerbated by Pakistans track record of nuclear proliferation, including previous allegations of Pakistani entities assisting other countries in acquiring nuclear and missile technologies. The most notable instance of this is the AQ Khan network, unveiled in the early 2000s, which was identified as a significant operator in the global black market for nuclear technology. In response to these issues, the United States has consistently levied sanctions against Pakistani entities engaged in missile development, nuclear proliferation, and associated activities. These sanctions are frequently presented as part of the USs dedication to non-proliferation and the international endeavour to curb the spread of WMDs. Nonetheless, they also mirror the USs wider geopolitical interests in the region, encompassing its relationship with India, strategic objectives in South Asia, and counterterrorism initiatives. The latest sanctions On the designated Wednesday, the US State Department declared the imposition of sanctions on four Pakistani entities due to their involvement in advancing Pakistans long-range missile programme. These entities were identified under Executive Order (E.O.) 13382, which targets individuals and organisations that contribute to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and their delivery systems. The entities sanctioned were: 1. National Defence Complex (NDC): The National Defence Complex (NDC) is widely recognised as the principal organisation responsible for Pakistans ballistic missile development. Headquartered in Islamabad, the NDC has played a pivotal role in advancing Pakistans missile technology, particularly concerning the Shaheen-series missiles, which are capable of delivering nuclear warheads over long distances. According to the US State Department, the NDC has been involved in procuring specialised equipment and materials that further Pakistans missile development, including vehicle chassis for missile launchers and testing apparatus. 2. Affiliates International: The commercial entity is reportedly engaged in supplying equipment for Pakistans ballistic missile programme. According to the US government, this company has been implicated in providing material support that enhances Pakistans missile capabilities. 3. Akhtar and Sons Private Limited: Another Pakistani commercial entity is alleged by the US to have supplied missile-related equipment. The companys involvement in facilitating missile proliferation has resulted in its designation under the US sanctions regime. 4. Rockside Enterprise: Another private entity is accused of conducting transactions that have contributed to Pakistans missile development. Similar to the other entities, Rockside is purported to have been involved in supplying items essential for advancing Pakistans long-range missile capabilities. These entities were sanctioned under Executive Order (EO) 13382, Section 1(a)(ii), which targets individuals and organisations involved in activities that contribute to or pose a risk to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and their delivery systems. Specifically, the United States accuses these entities of materially contributing to or posing a risk to the proliferation of missile technologies capable of delivering nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction. Rationale behind American sanctions The United Statess imposition of sanctions on Pakistani entities engaged in missile proliferation underscores its commitment to non-proliferation and concerns about the strategic stability of South Asia. The US government has consistently asserted that Pakistans missile programme, particularly its development of long-range missiles, poses a threat to both regional and global security. By enforcing these sanctions, the US aims to restrict Pakistans missile development capabilities and to express its disapproval of actions it views as heightening the risks of nuclear proliferation. Additionally, the sanctions reflect the broader US policy of holding states and entities accountable for contributing to the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Since the 1970s, the United States has utilised sanctions as a tool to prevent the dissemination of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, as well as missile technology. Executive Order 13382, enacted in 2005, specifically targets individuals and organisations involved in the development, acquisition, or transfer of technologies related to WMDs and their delivery systems. Furthermore, the sanctions on Pakistani entities must be viewed within the context of US-Pakistan relations, which have been characterised by periodic tensions over defence and security issues. The US has frequently criticised Pakistan for its role in facilitating the spread of nuclear technologies, notably through the AQ Khan network, and for its support of militant groups in Afghanistan. Although Pakistan is considered a key ally in the US-led war on terror, these strategic differences have led to ongoing disagreements over matters such as missile development, nuclear proliferation, and arms control. Pakistans response As anticipated, Pakistan responded vehemently to the sanctions, rejecting the US decision and accusing Washington of bias and double standards. In a statement released by the Pakistani Foreign Office, Islamabad described the sanctions as unfortunate and biased", and reaffirmed that Pakistans strategic capabilities, including its missile programme, were intended solely for the defence of its sovereignty and regional peace. The Pakistani government stressed that its missile programme was a legitimate component of its national defence strategy, particularly in light of the ongoing security threats posed by India, with whom Pakistan has engaged in several wars. Islamabad contended that the development of long-range missiles and nuclear weapons was necessary to maintain a credible deterrent against its larger neighbour, which possesses a significantly larger conventional military force. In this context, Pakistan views its missile programme as vital for sustaining strategic stability in South Asia, especially in response to Indias own missile and nuclear advancements. The Foreign Office also criticised the US for its double standards", citing instances where the United States had relaxed restrictions and licensing requirements for the transfer of advanced military technology to other nations. Pakistans condemnation of US actions reflects the broader frustration in Islamabad regarding what it perceives as a pattern of unfair treatment by Washington, particularly concerning its nuclear and missile programmes. Geopolitical implications of the sanctions The sanctions imposed by the US have profound implications not only for Pakistan but also for regional and global security dynamics. The US decision to target entities associated with Pakistans missile programme highlights enduring concerns regarding the proliferation of missile technology and the threats it poses to international security. For Pakistan, these sanctions serve as a reminder of the intricate and often strained nature of its relationship with the US. While both nations collaborate on counterterrorism and other matters, strategic disparities, particularly concerning missile and nuclear programmes, continue to be sources of tension. Pakistans reaction to the sanctions is likely to further deteriorate its relationship with the United States, especially against the backdrop of the shifting US-India relationship, where India has emerged as a pivotal ally for Washington in its strategy to counter Chinas expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Concurrently, the sanctions may also impact regional security in South Asia more broadly. The enforcement of sanctions on Pakistani entities is expected to intensify the security dilemma between Pakistan and India, as both nations persist in developing advanced military technologies, including nuclear arms and long-range missiles. This persistent arms race, driven partly by the perceived necessity for deterrence, could undermine regional stability and heighten the risk of miscalculation or escalation should a crisis arise. While Pakistans missile programme is chiefly perceived as a strategic deterrent against its regional adversary, India, it also forms part of a wider and more intricate security dynamic that raises significant concerns for both regional and global stability. The US sanctions embody longstanding apprehensions that Pakistans missile development, particularly its long-range capabilities, might contribute to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and their delivery systems, potentially heightening tensions in an already volatile region. However, beyond the issues of nuclear deterrence between two nuclear-armed neighbours, there exists another, perhaps more destabilising aspect to this matter. Pakistans missile systemscapable of deploying nuclear and other WMD payloadscould fall into the wrong hands, especially given the countrys extensive network of militant and terrorist groups. Many of these groups, some of which have historically been supported or tolerated by elements within Pakistans security apparatus, operate with significant autonomy and have frequently clashed with neighbouring countries such as India and Afghanistan. The potential for Pakistans missile systems to be diverted or misused by these groups, either for direct strikes or for exacerbating regional instability, is a major concern. Pakistan has a history of permitting certain non-state actors to operate from within its borders, and the possibility of these groups accessing sophisticated missile technology is not a remote threat. Such a scenario could have catastrophic consequences for neighbouring nations and beyond, not only destabilising the region but also triggering global security alarms. In this context, Pakistans missile programme is a double-edged sword: while it functions as a strategic deterrent against India, it also presents a significant proliferation risk. The US sanctions, designed to hinder Pakistans ability to advance its missile and nuclear capabilities, aim not only to limit the states military reach but also to prevent these technologies from potentially falling into the hands of groups that could use them to escalate violence and jeopardise regional peace. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The international community must remain vigilant regarding these risks, as Pakistans missile systems, if misused, could easily become instruments of chaos within its terrorist networks, further complicating an already precarious geopolitical landscape. The writer is an author and columnist and has written several books. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: December 25, 2024, 18:26 IST Opinion | Beyond Border Protection: BSFs Crucial Role In Disaster Management Written By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 18:54 IST With its resources, extensive knowledge of difficult terrain along the borders, and training in crisis management, the BSF is the natural first responder for disaster-affected populations in border areas The Border Security Force (BSF) was established 59 years ago, on 1 December 1965. (File pic/PTI) The Border Security Force (BSF) was established 59 years ago, on 1 December 1965, and was tasked with promoting a sense of security among border populations. The BSF achieves this by continuously patrolling the borders to prevent trans-border crimes and by providing security to people as they go about their daily routines near the border. However, a lesser-known aspect of the BSFs contributions is its role in supporting border populations during times of natural and other disasters. As the sole visible face of government authority in remote border areas, it is natural for the local population to expect the BSFs assistance during emergencies. The BSF leverages its disciplined manpower, expertise, and resources to mitigate and manage natural and manmade disasters, playing a critical role in disaster management. related stories The BSF has performed this role admirably during numerous disasters, such as the Gujarat earthquake in 2001, where it was the first to provide aid to distressed people. Similarly, during the 2005 earthquake and the 2014 floods in the Kashmir Valley, BSF personnel and resources played a crucial role in evacuation efforts and providing medical relief to affected populations. The BSFs Water Wing detachments also rendered yeomans service during the December 2004 tsunami. BSF rescue and medical response teams are deployed every year to provide coverage for the Amarnath Yatra. These teams comprise BSF personnel who have worked with the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF). These troops are well-trained in Medical First Response (MFR) as well as Collapse Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR). The training of these troops is invaluable in stabilising pilgrims who need medical attention, providing first aid, CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation), and later evacuating them to nearby medical centres. The BSF can assist in disaster management in various ways, including coordination with state and local civil authorities and various government agencies to ensure a coordinated response during disasters. For this purpose, the BSF participates in joint training exercises and simulations to enhance preparedness for disaster scenarios. With its resources, extensive knowledge of the difficult, remote terrain along the borders, and training in crisis management, the BSF is the natural first responder for disaster-affected populations in border areas, thus becoming involved in rescue and evacuation efforts from the very beginning. The strong medical setup of the BSF, consisting of doctors and paramedical staff deployed with each unit, is an invaluable resource in providing immediate medical assistance to victims, particularly in remote and inaccessible areas, before they are evacuated for advanced medical care by specialists. During the Covid-19 pandemic and other instances of disasters, these medical teams have done great work, saving numerous lives through immediate medical help and emergency medications. The Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) systems available with the BSF are fully utilised to save precious lives. The BSF has procured and stationed several ambulances in border areas, which, in addition to being used for evacuations of needy border residents during normal times, prove extremely useful during disasters. The BSF also provides infrastructure support in the form of temporary shelters, using resources such as tentage, etc., available to it. The BSF has been offering such assistance to the border population, especially in West Bengal, during floods and cyclones that occur regularly. Additionally, the BSF provides food and shelter within the Border Outposts (BOPs) to displaced victims. The BSFs expertise in logistics and communication management is of great assistance in restoring connectivity in disaster-affected areas. Equipment such as satellite phones, wireless sets, and trained manpower are capable of restoring and establishing communication networks in disaster-hit areas, which is of critical importance in coordinating the delivery of rescue materials and identifying the exact locations where they are needed. The transport available to the BSF plays a significant role in delivering relief materials and resources to affected regions. The BSF air wing is also of immense use for reconnaissance of affected areas, air-dropping supplies, and evacuating stranded individuals. The BSF water wing resources have been extensively utilised for rescue and evacuation efforts for people affected by cyclones and floods. They were also effectively deployed in tsunami-affected areas. In addition to the above Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) functions, the BSF also engages in community outreach programmes to educate local populations about disaster preparedness, response strategies, and risk reduction measures. For this purpose, they organise drills and training programmes to enhance community resilience. The BSF can also be utilised for Post-Disaster Recovery" by assisting in rebuilding efforts, such as restoring infrastructure and supporting the rehabilitation of affected communities. They can also assist in assessing damage and coordinating with other agencies for effective recovery. Given its deployment in border areas, the BSFs disaster management efforts naturally have a Border Area focus, where the impact of natural disasters can be more severe due to remoteness, geography, and infrastructure challenges. However, its capabilities and potential extend far beyond this, and it can be effectively deployed to help manage disasters in other areas. Besides dealing with disasters near their areas of deployment, the BSF has made a significant contribution to the raising of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Four BSF battalions, located in Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, and Patna, are part of the NDRF, a multi-disciplinary force capable of responding to disasters by air, sea, or land. The NDRF is equipped to handle all types of natural disasters, including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) disasters. The troops are seconded to these Disaster Management (DM) battalions from regular BSF battalions. Twenty per cent of these troops are repatriated to their parent battalions every year, and they also impart training to other troops in DM, thereby enhancing the BSFs capabilities in dealing with disasters anywhere. To train our troops for disaster response, they undergo DM training during their induction into the BSF. The training covers aspects of disaster response, rescue operations, first aid, and crowd management. Additionally, the BSF has an Institute for Disaster Response (BIDR) located at the BSF Academy in Tekanpur, Gwalior, for the preparedness and training of BSF personnel. The personnel repatriated from the NDRF are an important asset, as they further impart training to others within the BSF and also educate locals, familiarising them with response drills for specific disasters, in order to minimise loss of life and property. These drills include those for earthquakes, floods, and thunderstorms, among others. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The role of the BSF in disaster management is multifaceted, focusing on immediate response, rescue, recovery, and long-term resilience-building in communities, particularly in challenging and sensitive border areas. Their experience, manpower, and logistical capabilities make them an essential component of Indias disaster management framework. Sanjiv Krishan Sood is Additional Director General, BSF (Retd). He tweets @sood_2. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: December 26, 2024, 18:54 IST Opinion | Collective Amnesia Over Hindu Genocides: Why We Have Forgotten Sambhal 1978 Written By : News18.com Last Updated: December 25, 2024, 23:23 IST While we are summarily condemning the targeted mass murder of Hindus in Bangladesh for what it is, maybe its time to seek justice for those who perished or were forced to leave their homes and hearths in Sambhal in 1978 Security personnel deployed outside the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. (File pic/PTI) As someone who has spent years keeping an eye on instances of communal violence in India, my own ignorance regarding the anti-Hindu pogrom in Sambhal in 1978 has left me shell-shocked. While I have to admit culpability in collective amnesia about the incident, what is shameful is the recurrent, pointed, targeted, and repeated drawing of attention to the Gujarat violence in 2002also in the context of the discussions around the Communal Violence Bill which was abandoned by the UPA in early 2014 after fierce debates. The overarching narrative-building machinery has principally shoved all uncomfortable truths, including instances like the violence that claimed the lives of 184 Hindus and triggered large-scale outmigration of members of the community from sensitive" areas, under the carpet. Quite comfortably so. In fact, the level of comfort with ignoring one set of victims while not only acknowledging but privileging another set of victims of communal violence is so unnerving that one looks over the shoulder to ensure that no unjust claims are being made. related stories What happened in Sambhal in 1978? Large-scale targeted violence against the Hindu residents of the mohallas of Sambhal was perpetrated, continuing for about two months and resulting in the deaths of an estimated 184 people. Local residents whose families fled the mohallasmany of them in a hurry and to protect their lives and propertyhave claimed that no justice has been done in almost all of the cases involving Hindu petitioners. Some have pointed at the pro-minority bias of the incumbent state government led by Ram Naresh Yadav of the Janata Party, who later joined the Congress. Others lament the lack of mere attention given to the matter until the latest bout of violence rocked the tiny mofussil town in Uttar Pradesh following the court-validated survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in November 2024. For more than 46 years, the ghosts of Sambhal remained buried until templeshidden from public viewwere unearthed and ritual puja was restarted by the administration. Like the ghosts of 1978, these temples too were buried, locked away, hidingalmost fearfullybehind two-and-three-storey buildings, mostly occupied and built by members of the Muslim community. It is difficult to find facts, even clues about the timeline and the bloodletting that unfolded in 1978. As to the cause celebre of the violence, little is known. One narrative points towards the killing of a local maulana by a Hindu man, while the other firmly pins the blame on the Muslim opposition to the fact-finding mission following the riots that broke out in 1976. What remains undisputed is the disproportionate number of Hindus killed and forced to flee their homes due to fear of later reprisals. What also remains in the realm of an uncompromising truth is the fact that a disproportionately skewed demography now highlights mohallas that were once dominated by Hindus, mostly businessmen and their families. The media these past few days has been focusing on one particular case of the Goyals who lost their patriarchpopularly known as Mamaji in the localityto an irate mob during the riots that preferred chopping off his legs and arms rather than granting him dignity in death. Ironically, the story of Mamaji would never have been known had it not been for the stone-pelting mob that challenged the survey team at the Shahi Jama Masjida mosque said to have been constructed after breaking down a temple round about the same time as the erstwhile Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. Another incident of the mass murder of Hindus occurred when close to 25 men, women, and children, hiding in a wood factory, were burnt alive by a Muslim mob. The pervasive yet completely problematic normalisation of a view that presupposes culpability only of the Hindus as opposed to the victimisation of the Muslims could be held responsible for this collective amnesia that has surrounded the 1978 violence in Sambhal. This when Hashimpura 1987, Gujarat 2002, Muzaffarnagar 2013 and several others are invoked and re-invoked repeatedly, including being the trigger for the tabling of an obnoxiously one-sided Communal Violence Bill by UPA-2, which was thankfully shown the door and not written into law. Hindu genocides and collective amnesia From the forced acceptance of the dhimmi status to blood-soaked episodes of mass conversion during the early incursions by Islamic armies, the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate, and the coming of the early Mughals to the coercion of Hindus into accepting Christianity by the Portuguese in Goa and the Konkan coast, Hindus have suffered ignominious, immeasurable violence. The Mappila riots, the Noakhali pogrom, the Great Calcutta Killings, and the Mirpur and Rajouri massacres are several instances of extreme, gruesome violence against Hindusamounting to genocidethat have been summarily ignored by historians of British India, cutting across schools, barring the nationalist school. Surely, the wanton murder of Hindus was not considered important enough to dwell on while being inconvenient enough to relegate to minor mentions and single paragraphs in textbooks. What is more, historians have not shied away from whitewashing the Mappila riots as a class war" where the oppressed Muslims rose up against their Hindu oppressors. In fact, it took a film (The Sabarmati Report, 2024) and the viewing of it by the Prime Minister for a large proportion of people I personally know to acknowledge that the burning alive of 59 Hindu karsevaks on the Sabarmati Express in Godhra was indeed genocide. But dont we usually dismiss films as fiction and therefore not to be taken as verified historical data? Again, a result of a deep-seated collective consciousness (or the lack of it!) to acknowledge anything outside of the normalised discourse as either true or correct. I know, as I have been guilty of it myself, for years. The truth, however, has a way of emerging, whatever be the popular narrative. A massacre of Hindus occurred in Chamba in 1998, leading to the deaths of close to 35 migrant labourers in the district bordering Jammu and Kashmir. Perhaps the 2002 fidayeen attacks on the Raghunath Temple and that on the Akshardham Temple in the same year are some other instances of targeted killing of Hindus. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all These assertions might be dismissed by the woke citizenry as terrorist attacks, followed by the ridiculous lineterror has no religion. Given as it may have been, the question of Sambhal 1978 being one of the largest instances of Hindu genocide in post-Independence India that was entirely obliterated from public consciousness for political expediency remains an unanswered one. Hence, while we are summarily condemning the targeted mass murder of Hindus in Bangladesh for what it is, maybe its time to seek justice for those who perished or were forced to leave their homes and hearths in Sambhal in 1978. It might just be atonement for our collective amnesia. Roshni Sengupta is professor of politics and media at IILM University Gurugram. The views are hers and do not reflect those of the institution. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: December 25, 2024, 23:23 IST BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Speaker of the Parliament of Montenegro Andrija Mandic, has sent a letter of condolences to Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova, following the tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) aircraft, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Parliament's Public Relations Department. "We were deeply saddened to learn of the tragic plane crash that occurred yesterday, claiming the lives of dozens of people. In these difficult times, I extend my heartfelt condolences to you, the families of the victims, and the people of Azerbaijan on behalf of the Parliament of Montenegro and on my own," the letter reads. The Speaker of Parliament expresses profound shock at the catastrophic event and extends wishes for a swift recuperation to the individuals affected by the incident. To note, on December 25, an "Embraer 190" aircraft operated by "Azerbaijan Airlines," on flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny, was diverted to Aktau for an emergency landing and subsequently crashed near Aktau. The report indicated a total of 67 individuals present, comprising 62 passengers and a contingent of 5 crew personnel. Preliminary assessments suggest that a cohort of 32 individuals has emerged unscathed, albeit with several presenting in a state of critical distress. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Opinion | Sambhal As Symbol: Hindus Hounded In Their Own Country Written By : News18.com Last Updated: December 29, 2024, 12:38 IST The temples abandoned by Hindus, which recently came to light in Sambhal, are symbolic of how the demographic situation turned against them in independent India, under the veneer of official secularism Although Hindus are the majority in Uttar Pradesh, the situation is markedly different in Sambhal, a Muslim-majority town. (Image/PTI) Sambhal, in western Uttar Pradesh, hit the headlines in late November when a court-order ASI survey of the early 16th century Babri Masjid in the township ran into trouble with the local Muslim populace, leading to a volatile situation. Protestors rained stones upon the police, leaving around two dozen personnel injured. Five Muslim youths, including a minor, were killed, allegedly in police firing on protesters, a charge that police vehemently denied. The autopsy discounted the culpability of police as the ammunition recovered from the bodies of victims was not used by the UP Police. The police have made a counter-claim of recovering empty cartridges of Pakistani origin from the spot. They claim that a day before the survey was scheduled to begin, Zia-ur-Rehman Barq, MP, Sambhal visited the mosque and delivered a provocative speech. An FIR registered by the police names him in addition to Sohail Mahmood, the son of local MLA Iqbal Mahmood, for inciting the mob through social media posts. An anti-encroachment drive was launched by the administration. This led to interesting revelations since then, that have shifted the discourse from early 16th century to late 20th century events. These revelations are equally suggestive. related stories The local Hindus, who are a minority in the township, insist that the mosque was built by the Mughal invader Babur in 1526 by demolishing a temple of Lord Vishnu, originally erected by Prithviraj Chauhan in the 12th century. This belief appears deeply ingrained, though H.R. Nevill, ICS, in the district gazetteer (1911), discounts the idea, arguing that Sikander Lodi, a known iconoclast, would not have allowed a Hindu shrine to occupy the loftiest site in his temporary capital (Moradabad: A Gazetteer, p. 147). While acknowledging that Babur visited Sambhal, Nevill attributes the construction of the mosque to his general, Hindu Beg, to which Babur set up an inscription. However, the revised Gazetteer of Moradabad (1968), written by Esha Basanti Joshi, IAS (Retd), presents a different view. She states that the town of Sambhal (originally perhaps Sambhalpura) stands on a series of scattered mounds, each said to mark the site of some ancient building or settlement. The highest of these mounds is known as the Kot (fort) and indicates the ruined site of the old fort of Sambhal, which was built before the advent of Muslims in the area. The only building left standing on the site was once a Hari Mandir (a temple of Vishnu) but was later converted into a mosque (Gazetteer of India: Uttar Pradesh Moradabad, p. 26). She bases her account on the description of A. Fuhrer in Monumental Antiquities and Inscriptions in the North-Western Provinces and Oudh (1891). Joshi informs us that Babur visited Sambhal on 2 October 1527 and stayed there for two days. Earlier, he had sent his general, Hindu Beg, to subjugate the Afghan governor of Sambhal, Qasim Sambhali, who was subsequently defeated (Gazetteer of India: Uttar Pradesh Moradabad, p. 42). A recent WhatsApp wisecrack cuts through the Gordian knot of this debate, asking why Muslims would oppose an ASI survey unless there is something to hide from the public eye. II Following the violence in Sambhal and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths vow that no miscreant involved would be spared, the police and local administration sprang into action. A manhunt was launched to apprehend the culprits, while simultaneous drives against encroachment and electricity pilferage were undertaken. These efforts unexpectedly revealed two temples in Muslim-majority areas that had been closed for decades. The first discovery was a Shiva/Hanuman temple in Khaggu Sari, adjoining the Deepa Sarai locality. The temple had reportedly been closed for the past 46 years. This struck a chord in the collective memory of Sambhal, as it had been abandoned following the riots of March 1978, after which the Hindus vacated the locality. Bulldozers clearing encroachments near the temple uncovered three mutilated deity images from an adjacent well. Shortly thereafter, a closed Radha-Krishna temple was discovered in the Sarai Tareen locality. At the time of writing, a third temple, referred to as the Banke Bihari Temple, has come to light in Laxmanganj, Chandausi, within Sambhal district. It appears that the Hindu community withdrew from Laxmanganj as the Muslim population grew, leaving the temple abandoned. Meanwhile, in a related development, a neglected temple of Siddheshwar Mahadev was reopened in the Madanpura area of Varanasi. The temple was located by Ajay Sharma, President of the Sanatan Raksha Dal. Although the temples closure was reportedly not due to any dispute, it had fallen into disuse as Hindus withdrew from the area, which experienced a significant growth in the Muslim population. In almost all these temples, with help from the administration, daily rituals and bhajans have started. However, the long-term challenge remains sustaining these activities, given the demographic shifts that had initially alienated the Hindu community from these areas. Critics often accuse the Ram Janmabhoomi Movement, which culminated in the demolition of the abandoned Babri Mosque in Ayodhya (1992), of being catastrophic for communal peace and harmony in India. This raises the question: why did Hindus feel compelled to migrate from mixed localities in Sambhal following the 1978 riots? What exactly transpired in Sambhal on 29 March 1978? According to the statement made by S.D. Patil, the then Minister of State for Home Affairs, in the Rajya Sabha on 23 November 1978 (unstarred question no. 301), Sambhal experienced severe communal disturbances on 29 March 1978. The unrest apparently began when some members of the Muslim community objected to Holi titles conferred by the student union of the local college upon two Muslim girls. This led to violent clashes accompanied by widespread looting and arson. Police had to resort to firing in three locations to control the mob. As per the minister, 17 people lost their lives, 33 were injured, and the estimated loss was around Rs 25 lakhs. It might be noted, provided the ministers description is authentic, that the violence was not provoked by the sprinkling of colours or water on any unwilling individual during Holi. Instead, it was sparked by a cultural act performed by the student union of the local college. Holi, after all, is a cultural festival; it is not even Vande Mataram, which used to rile former Sambhal MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq so much that he walked out of Lok Sabha when the House was dissolved sine die on May 8, 2013. B. Rajeshwari, in Communal Riots in India: A Chronology 19472003 (IPCS Research Paper, 2004), notes that the Sambhal riots of 1978 were attributed to a bootlegging rivalry between Hindus and Muslims, with the latter allegedly seeking to dispossess Hindus of their property (p. 8). It is worth noting that the Sambhal riots occurred during a period marked by infamous communal clashes in Varanasi (1977), Hyderabad (1978), and Moradabad (1980). However, as the recent rediscovery of the Siddheshwar Mahadev temple in Varanasi illustrates, it is not always necessary for open conflict to precede the dispossession of Hindus from their property. Such outcomes can occur gradually and seemingly peacefully as the Muslim population becomes increasingly dominant. Firhad Hakim, who holds the dual positions of Mayor of Kolkata and Minister of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs in West Bengal, alluded to this peaceful demographic transformation when he recently remarked at an event that Muslims could shift from being a minority to becoming a majority. III The trademark secularists often rue that India is becoming assertively Hindu, thereby losing its secular character in public life under the Modi and Yogi administrations. The symbolic events in Sambhalthe loss and recovery of three abandoned templesillustrate that secularism, much like a flawed calendar, had been going astray in India long before Modi and Yogi emerged. The communal demographic balance was shifting at the micro-level on the ground. Constitutional secularism (notwithstanding the fact that the word secular was only incorporated in 1976) naturally places all communities on an equal footing. Nay, it grants special community rights to linguistic and religious minorities, while providing fundamental rights to everyone. Although the Constitution references minorities, it makes no mention of the majority community, presumed to be Hindus. The Constitution, however, has always stated linguistic and religious minorities (it nowhere speaks of religious minorities independently). However, political discourse in independent India ensured that while linguistic minorities could be completely forgotten, religious minorities were given overriding importance. Secularism erroneously presumes that Hindus being in the majority in India are automatically immune to communal danger. The UPA government, under the influence of the National Advisory Council (NAC), had prepared the draft of a Bill viz. Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2011 which would have subverted the principle of equality before the law and penalised the majority community (read Hindus) in cases of communal violence, merely for being a majority. The idea that the majority community like Hindus are immune to communal danger is historically and geographically fallacious. Historically, one implies that Hindus have been subjected to invasion, assault, displacement and conversion despite being in majority. Geographically, one implies that while Hindus may be the majority across India, majority-minority dynamics can shift at the level of districts, tehsils, villages, and localities, potentially creating flashpoints. For instance, although Hindus are the majority in Uttar Pradesh, the situation is markedly different in Sambhal, a Muslim-majority town, or Madanpura, a Muslim-majority locality in Varanasi. These are areas where Hindus could experience significant stress, as the environment might change and even become hostile. India represents a unique exception amidst vast stretches of land, from Mauritania in West Africa to Malaysia and Indonesia in Southeast Asia, where Islam is predominant. This makes the Hindu population less invulnerable than secularists often project. The premise of the two-nation theory, rooted purely in religion, led to the partition of India in 1947. While the partition was a human tragedy marked by widespread displacement, it was assumed to have resolved communal tensions permanently. Dr BR Ambedkar, whose legacy is now claimed by both the BJP and the Congress, argued in his book Pakistan or the Partition of India (Thacker & Co Ltd, 1946) that partition should have been accompanied by a compulsory exchange of populations along religious lines, similar to the exchange between Greece and Turkey under the Lausanne Treaty of 1923. The only way to make Hindustan homogenous," writes Dr. Ambedkar, is to arrange for exchange of population. Until that is done, it must be admitted that even with the creation of Pakistan, the problem of majority vs minority will remain in Hindustan as before and will continue to produce disharmony in the body politic of Hindustan" (Pakistan or the Partition of India, P.104). top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sambhal serves as evidence supporting Dr Ambedkars observations. Uttar Pradesh (formerly the United Provinces) was a stronghold of the Muslim League, whose support primarily came from landlords. However, only a small number of Muslims migrated to Pakistan after independence. With its significant Muslim population, it is unsurprising that the state has frequently been a hotspot for communal disturbances in independent India. The writer is author of the book The Microphone Men: How Orators Created a Modern India (2019) and an independent researcher based in New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: December 26, 2024, 18:39 IST Opinion | The Silent Majority: When Hindu Voices Go Unheard Written By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 15:47 IST The tendency to ignore, or worse, malign the majority Hindu community by dismissing their concerns as majoritarian while prioritising those of religious minorities sets a dangerous precedent In November, violence erupted in the Muslim-dominated town of Sambhal in UP after a court mandated a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. (PTI Photo) It has become fashionable within Indian liberal" circles to frequently write about the importance of addressing the concerns of religious minorities while often ignoring or sometimes even deriding the concerns of the majority community. This is not to suggest that the concerns of religious minorities should not be addressed they must be. However, why should this involve ignoring the concerns of the majority community? A democracy thrives on the balance between both minorities and the majority. It is, however, unfortunate that the intellectuals of this country often preoccupied with writing or discussing the threats to democracy choose to dismiss the concerns of the majority community. The worst part is that they characterise these concerns as majoritarian" a term frequently used by them to portray such concerns as a danger to the countrys pluralist culture and democracy. related stories The Recent Violence In Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh In November, violence erupted in the Muslim-dominated town of Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh after a court mandated a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, a 16th-century mosque. Hindu groups believed that it was built on the ruins of a Hindu temple dedicated to Kalki, who will be the last avatar of Lord Vishnu according to Hindu scriptures. On the day of the second survey, a violent mob began throwing stones and even attacked police officers with locally made weapons. Four men from the Muslim community were killed in the violence, and several police officers were also injured. While the Muslim side and Opposition parties alleged that the four deaths resulted from police firing, there is still no concrete evidence to support this claim. Lets not forget that the survey was intended solely to ascertain the religious character of the site not to alter the nature of the worship. Nevertheless, violence broke out due to the presence of an angry mob armed with stones and weapons. One of the key questions that arises is: who is responsible for the Sambhal violence? Is former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud responsible, as alleged by liberals and some opposition leaders? Or is it the mentality of provoking ordinary Muslims with the agenda of keeping them as mere vote banks for a particular party? Or, more significantly, is it the tendency to address only the concerns of religious minorities while ignoring those of the majority Hindu community that is responsible for this violence? The Places of Worship Act The recent Sambhal violence has once again reignited an old debate the constitutionality of the Places of Worship Act. In 1991, the Narasimha Rao-led Congress government introduced a bill named the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which subsequently became law after being passed by Parliament. The law, introduced in the wake of the Ayodhya Ram Temple movement, prohibits altering any place of worship as it existed on the day of independence. This was strongly opposed by the then main Opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Notably, the law excluded the Ram MandirBabri Masjid dispute in Ayodhya. It is worth mentioning that the Act has been in the spotlight in recent years due to petitions filed in court challenging the current status of various mosques allegedly built over demolished temples. In 2022, then Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, while hearing the case of the Gyanvapi Masjid dispute in Varanasi, orally observed that the 1991 Act did not bar the ascertainment of the religious character of a place at any time in the past. This observation by Chandrachud has been criticised by liberals and even by the main opposition Congress for opening a Pandoras box. On 12 December, the Supreme Court paused district courts from surveying any place of worship until further orders. The apex court is yet to decide on petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Act. It also remains to be seen whether the Centre will support or oppose the Act in the Supreme Court. Arguments Always Overriding Majority Hindu Sentiments Set A Dangerous Precedent The disputed Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi and the Shahi Idgah Masjid in Mathura have been claimed by Hindu groups as having been built on demolished temples during the reign of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. Historians such as Jadunath Sarkar and S. A. A. Rizvi support these claims. The temples in both Varanasi and Mathura hold immense significance for Hindus, similar to Ayodhyas Ram Temple. While the Supreme Court has the authority to decide on the constitutionality of the Act, the Indian Parliament, which enacted it, also has the power to amend or repeal it although such actions could again be subject to judicial scrutiny. The real issue arises when the past is not acknowledged, particularly when it favours Hindus. Whenever Hindu groups raise concerns about temples demolished by invaders or non-Hindu rulers with bigoted agendas, liberal-leaning intellectuals invariably point to the Places of Worship Act. This raises an important question: shouldnt the law also consider the sentiments of the majority Hindu community? Let us be clear barring some radicals among followers of all religions, no one wants communal violence. This, however, doesnt mean the history of demolished temples should be kept hidden. It is a well-known fact that liberals and some prominent historians more accurately, propagandists of the liberal ecosystem had dismissed the existence of a temple beneath the Babri Masjid. However, in its historic 2019 judgement, the Supreme Court rejected the agenda of these propagandists who are still yet to recover from that significant setback on the basis of textual references and scientific evidence. The tendency to ignore, or worse, malign the majority Hindu community by dismissing their concerns as majoritarian" while prioritising those of religious minorities sets a dangerous precedent. This practice of minority appeasement creates a false sense of privilege for a section of religious minorities over the majority community. For these liberals, the only individuals considered truly Hindu" are those who reject their scriptures and culture, and who often mock them. Basically, for them, some radical atheists, who disguise themselves as Hindus, or converts with Hindu names, are the actual followers of Hinduism! This kind of radical thinking among the liberals has fuelled counter-polarisation in the form of Hindutva, which they falsely equate with fascism. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Sambhal violence is an outcome of this radical liberal thought. As the country celebrates 75 years of the Constitution, it is time to address the concerns of both religious minorities and the majority Hindu community with the same yardstick. Lets not punish the Hindus simply for being the majority in the country. Their concerns related to their religion, culture and places of worship also deserve attention and, most importantly, solutions. The author is a political commentator and tweets @SagarneelSinha. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: December 26, 2024, 15:45 IST 2024 Done & Dusted, Can Mahayuti Live Up To Maharashtras Expectations Next Year? Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 09:28 IST The alliance focused on a strategy that combined grassroots welfare schemes with targeted campaigning, turning the tide in its favour As Maharashtra enters a new political chapter, the Mahayuti must build on this momentum by ensuring that its welfare schemes continue to benefit the masses while addressing emerging challenges. (News18) The Mahayuti government, then led by chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, entered the state polls facing criticism. The MVA, which consists of the Shiv Sena UBT, Congress, and NCP factions, had gained momentum after their improved performance in the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year. Many expected the assembly polls to be a tougher battleground for the Mahayuti. However, the alliance focused on a strategy that combined grassroots welfare schemes with targeted campaigning. By addressing specific voter concerns and delivering tangible benefits, the Mahayuti turned the tide in its favour. related stories The Ladki Bahin scheme, aimed at empowering young women and providing financial assistance for their education, struck a chord with rural and urban families alike. This initiative demonstrated the governments commitment to gender equality and was particularly effective in reaching first-time women voters. By addressing educational aspirations and family financial burdens, the scheme created a strong emotional connection with the electorate. ALSO READ | Mahila, Kisan, OBC Safe Hain, Vidarbha Flip & Sharads Collapse: 5 Factors Behind Mahayutis Maharashtra Win Another scheme the Mahayuti floated was three free LPG cylinders to eligible women. Under this initiative, women from lower-income households, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, were provided with three free LPG cylinders annually. This scheme eased household burdens, appealing to a broad base of women voters who often influence family voting decisions. Agriculture remains the backbone of Maharashtras economy, and the Mahayuti governments solar water pump scheme directly benefited farmers struggling with unreliable power supplies. By offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution, this initiative won the trust of rural voters. Farmers appreciated the governments focus on long-term solutions rather than temporary fixes, translating into significant support for the Mahayuti in rural constituencies. In addition to solar pumps, the governments subsidy on electricity bills further cemented its image as a farmer-friendly administration. At a time when energy costs were rising, this scheme provided much-needed relief, ensuring loyalty from the agricultural community. The elderly population, often overlooked in welfare policies, found recognition through the free tar post (speed post) scheme. This move symbolised respect for senior citizens and gave them a sense of inclusion in governance. Senior citizens, in turn, became vocal advocates for the Mahayuti, encouraging younger family members to support the alliance. ALSO READ | Sangh Strategist Who Manoeuvred Mahayutis Maharashtra Sweep: Meet Atul Limaye Transport concessions for women traveling by bus became another standout initiative. The scheme not only eased the financial burden on daily commuters but also sent a strong message about the governments commitment to womens welfare. It resonated particularly well with working women and students, further bolstering the Mahayutis appeal. The Mahayuti also excelled in delivering these welfare narratives on the ground level. Local leaders were tasked with explaining the benefits of these schemes directly to voters, ensuring that the message reached every household. Social media campaigns highlighted beneficiary stories, creating a ripple effect of trust and goodwill. While the MVA relied on highlighting the shortcomings of the Mahayuti government, it struggled to present a cohesive vision for the future. Internal conflicts within the MVA, particularly between Shiv Sena UBT and NCP factions, also diluted their campaign. The success MVA had in the Lok Sabha polls led them to rely on those numbers instead of hitting the ground and campaigning aggressively against the Mahayuti. The biggest mistake MVA made was not finding an alternative to the Ladki Bahin scheme. Initially, the MVA criticised the scheme but later came up with a similar one with an increased amount in their manifesto. The disorganised seat-sharing talks within the MVA also worked against them. Shiv Sena UBT and Congress remained at loggerheads until the last stage of seat-sharing, and their leaders openly criticised each other. In contrast, the Mahayuti leadership trio Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar worked cohesively to secure a comeback. Shinde, with his grassroots appeal, connected well with rural voters, while Fadnavis brought administrative credibility and urban support. Ajit Pawar provided the Mahayuti with significant reach in rural Maharashtra, particularly in the sugar belt of western Maharashtra. This trio showcased unity and efficiency, which contrasted with the MVAs fragmented image. ALSO READ | Ek Hai Toh Safe Hai: The Slogan Game That Gave Edge To Mahayuti Over MVA In Maharashtra Despite the resounding victory, the Mahayuti faces significant challenges moving forward. Delivering on its promises will be critical to maintaining public trust. Rising costs of welfare schemes could strain the state budget, and balancing populist measures with fiscal responsibility will require careful planning. Additionally, the MVA remains a formidable opposition, and its performance in the Lok Sabha polls serves as a reminder that the political dynamics in Maharashtra can shift quickly. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Mahayutis victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections is a testament to the power of welfare-oriented governance and effective communication. By addressing voter concerns directly and offering tangible solutions, the alliance not only overcame the odds but also reinforced its position as a trusted administration. As Maharashtra enters a new political chapter, the Mahayuti must build on this momentum by ensuring that its welfare schemes continue to benefit the masses while addressing emerging challenges. For now, the alliances strategy stands as a model of how grassroots policies can shape electoral success in Indias dynamic political landscape. First Published: December 26, 2024, 09:28 IST 'Hand In Glove With BJP': Angry AAP Wants Congress Out Of INDIA Bloc, To Consult Other Parties Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 16:18 IST The AAP is upset with the Congress after it filed a complaint against Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of "misleading and deceiving" the public with promises of "non-existent" welfare schemes AAP leader Sanjay Singh said that they want Congress to take action against Ajay Maken for calling Kejriwal anti-national. (Photo: PTI file) Congress is working hand in glove with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to make it win in Delhi, Chief Minister Atishi alleged on Thursday. The statement comes amid claim by sources that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is likely to consult other parties of the INDIA bloc to remove the grand old party from the alliance. The move could be a big blow to the opposition unity ahead of the upcoming Delhi elections. The AAP is upset with the Congress after it filed a complaint against party convener Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of misleading and deceiving" the public with promises of non-existent" welfare schemes. related stories If National Congress is not involved in Delhi Congress conspiracy, then they should take action against their Delhi leaders," Atishi added. AAP leader Sanjay Singh said that they want Congress to take action against Ajay Maken for calling Kejriwal anti-national". Otherwise we will talk to other allies of INDIA bloc to remove Congress from alliance," he threatened. Amid Row Over Ads, A New Controversy Over Ajay Makens Remark After the massive row over advertisements erupted on Wednesday, Maken said that the grand old partys decision to support the AAP in 2013 led to its decline in Delhi. He added that there was a need to rectify the mistake" of aligning with the AAP for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Supporting AAP on the issue, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Fakhrul Hasan Chaand said that the language used by Ajay Maken is not good, and cannot be accepted. SP wants everyone to be united against BJP. Akhilesh Yadav ji has already said that AAP can defeat BJP in Delhi. So we will support Kejriwals party. The dignity of language should always be maintained," he added. Chaand further said that national leadership of both parties should talk to each other. If need be, SP will mediate, SP leader added. He also said that everyone knows AAP is full of corruption. Congress Rebuttal Reacting to the latest controversy, Congress leader Abhishek Dutt told News18, Kejriwal has looted Delhi. He has been abusing Sandeep Dikshit for no reason. Kejriwal knows he will lose the election." Kejriwal knows Manish Sisodia is losing from Jangpura, hence, using low tactics," Congress candidate from Jangpura, Farhad Suri told News18, adding that the sense he is getting in his constituency is that the fight is between Congress and BJP, while the former deputy CM is losing". Suri called Atishis allegations low thinking of CM and AAP". No Congressman is going to take money from BJP. Anyone can check my family background. Its nothing but a foolish talk. God give them sense," the leader said. How AAP vs Congress Began Over Kejriwals False Schemes The Delhi Youth Congress had on Wednesday lodged a complaint against AAP chief over non-existent" schemes. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all It has come to light that various Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Councillors of AAP have been actively collecting sensitive personal information from the public, including Voter ID details and phone numbers. This data is being collected through an online registration process, which requires OTP verification," the complaint alleged. However, it has been publicly clarified by the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department, via an official advertisement, that no such scheme is being implemented. This unequivocally establishes that the Aam Aadmi Party has engaged in fraudulent practices, thereby breaching the trust of the people of Delhi," the Youth Congress complaint alleged. First Published: December 26, 2024, 13:33 IST AAP's Controversial Mahila Samman Scheme Gathers Steam, Over 22 L Registrations In 3 Days Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 06:00 IST The registration for the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, promising Rs 2,100 per month to every woman in Delhi above the age of 18, started on Monday AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal. (File pic/PTI) Reaching almost half of its potential beneficiaries in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi partys Mahila Samman scheme seems to be gathering steam with around 10 lakh registrations done on Wednesday, taking the total number of sign-ups to a staggering 22 lakh. The registration for the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, promising Rs 2,100 per month to every woman in the city above the age of 18, started on Monday. related stories It faced backlash from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress after newspapers across the national capital on Wednesday carried public notices from the women and child development (WCD) department of the Delhi government warning the people that they are not running any such scheme, as promised by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party. Row boosted numbers? Speaking to News18, an AAP leader said the controversy seems to have helped the party. There has been a consistent rise in the registrations. On the first day, Monday, just five lakh registrations took place, but on the third day (Wednesday), ten lakh women enrolled for the schemedouble from day one," the leader said, requesting anonymity. The party is expecting that there could be around 35 to 40 lakh potential beneficiaries in the national capital for the scheme. If we go by this speed, we will cover the entire city before this weekend. This itself shows the trust of people in (Arvind) Kejriwal," the leader added. A poll promise of AAP convener Kejriwal, the Mahila Samman Yojana offers Rs 2,100 to all women in Delhi above 18 years of age. They will get the money every month as direct monetary support in their bank accounts. The registration started on December 23, days after Kejriwal announced the scheme. On December 24, Tuesday, 7.5 lakh registrations took place under the scheme. On Wednesday morning, sharing the data till Tuesday evening, Kejriwal said that almost 12.50 lakh women have registered for the scheme. It is important to note that the implementation of the scheme will take place only after the elections are completed in Delhi early next year and if AAP retains power. The controversy On Wednesday, there was a public notice in newspapers from the department of women and child development that said it had learnt about a claim of a political party that it will disburse Rs 2,100 per month under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana to women in Delhi. It is clarified that no such scheme has been notified by the Government of Delhi," it said, adding that if and when such a programme is notified, the department will launch a digital portal for eligible individuals to submit their applications online as per the approved guidelines. Details of all WCD Department Schemes are available only on the website of the Department. It is emphasized that since no such scheme exists, the question of physical forms/applications for the registration under this non-existent scheme does not arise," it said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The department also warned the public that any private individual or political party collecting such physical forms and applications or collecting information from applicants under the name of the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana is fraudulent and without any authority. Citizens are cautioned that sharing personal details, such as bank account information, voter ID card, phone numbers, residential address, or any other sensitive information in the name of this scheme, are at a collateral risk of putting out information in public domain that may lead to crime/cybercrime/banking fraud, targeting them and they will be entirely at their own risk and will be liable for any such consequences," it added. First Published: December 26, 2024, 06:00 IST 'Another Attempt To Divide Nation': BJP Slams Congress Over Distorted Map, To Hold Massive Dharna In Belagavi Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 20:36 IST The posters in question allegedly depicted 'Kashmir as part of Pakistan' and excluded the Gilgit region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the Aksai Chin region under Chinese administration, both of which are considered integral parts of India Ahead of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on December 26 and 27, these controversial posters cropped up across the city. File pic The Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka has found fresh ammunition to target the Congress after a distorted map of India has created quite a furore during the Belagavi winter session of the assembly, where special focus is being given to commemorating the centenary of the 1924 Congress session led by Mahatma Gandhi. The Karnataka BJP will hold a massive dharna in Belagavi to protest against this major error". related stories We will organise a dharna in front of the Suvarna Soudha near the Gandhi statue, involving all our MLAs and former MLAs, to expose how the Congress distorted the Indian map and misused public funds," BJP state president BY Vijayendra said. Ahead of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on December 26 and 27, these controversial posters cropped up across the city. Vijayendra said that even though the posters featuring the distorted map have been removed, it clearly reflects the mindset of the Congress party not just in Karnataka but across the country". He called the centenary celebrations a waste of taxpayers money". He also accused the Congress of neglecting the plight of farmers. Farmers in Raichur, Gulbarga, and Belagavi are suffering without adequate compensation. Instead of addressing their problems, the Congress is wasting taxpayers money on such events," he said. They are misusing public funds for an event in Belagavi. The Bharatiya Janata Party strongly opposes this misuse of taxpayers money." The posters in question allegedly depicted Kashmir as part of Pakistan" and excluded the Gilgit region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the Aksai Chin region under Chinese administration, both of which are considered integral parts of India. When asked if the map distortion was accidental or deliberate, Vijayendra termed it intentional. This is not the first time the Congress has done this. Such incidents have occurred repeatedly across the country. It is not a mistake but reflects their mindset," he said. As Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said that history is repeating itself, with the current Congress embodying the spirit of Mahatma Gandhis freedom struggle against a particular rule, Vijayendra was quick to retort. Todays Congress is a nakli Congress. It neither follows Mahatma Gandhis ideology nor believes in a strong and united India. They are wasting taxpayers money in Belagavi instead of addressing real issues," he said. Senior BJP leaders termed this another attempt by the Congress to divide the nation". BJP IT cell national convener Amit Malviya also weighed in, accusing Sonia Gandhi of being co-president of a George Soros-funded organisation that advocates Kashmiri independence. Sonia Gandhi, as co-president of the George Soros-funded Forum of Democratic Leaders in Asia Pacific (FDL-AP) Foundation, which supports Kashmiri independence, shows the Congresss true intent," he alleged. Malviya further accused the Congress of displaying a distorted map of India at the Belagavi event, featuring party leaders like Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Vadra, with Kashmir shown as part of Pakistan. It is not a mistake; it is a deliberate statement. This reflects their appeasement politics, suggesting Indian Muslims are more loyal to Pakistan than India," Malviya said. The Congress is the new Muslim League. It wants to divide India again." BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla condemned the incident, calling it an attack on Indias sovereignty. This is yet another example of the Congresss Bharat Todo, tukde-tukde agenda," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all RaGas Mohabbat Ki Dukaan is always open for China. They divided the nation once and will do it again," the BJPs official party handle posted on social media site X. Congress leader Srinivas BV responded fiercely. This controversy has been created by the BJP and RSS (the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ruling partys ideological mentor)," he told news agency PTI. They have a problem with this celebration of 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi taking over as president of the All India Congress Committee and taking historic decisions to bring reform. They are spreading lies." First Published: December 26, 2024, 20:33 IST Choppy Road Ahead For Congress In INDIA Bloc As Allies Push Party On The Backfoot Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 17:47 IST Whats worse for the Congress is the fact that a few others like the Trinamool Congress (TMC) could end up agreeing with the AAP. While the Congress has tried to defend the break as state level politics, the fact is that with TMC backed by many other parties pushing for West Bengal Chief Miniter Mamata Bannerjee as the leader of INDIA bloc, the acrimony has had an impact on the future of the bloc. (AFP) The start to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) couldnt have been worse. While all the top Congress leaders have assembled in Belagavi to chalk out the roadmap for 2025, the day hasnt turned well for the party. The road ahead seems choppy for the Congress with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) insisting that the grand old party should be thrown out of the INDIA bloc. Whats worse for the Congress is the fact that a few others like the Trinamool Congress (TMC) could end up agreeing with it. The TMC has made no bones about the fact that it cannot do business with the grand old party any more. Inside Parliament, the TMC stayed away from all INDIA bloc protests as it felt it was being dictated by the Congress and was being run only on Rahul Gandhis agenda. Thats why, even when Rahul Gandhi faced FIRs, the TMC refused to murmur a word in his support. related stories While the Congress has tried to defend the break as state level politics, the fact is that with TMC backed by many other parties pushing for West Bengal Chief Miniter Mamata Bannerjee as the leader of INDIA bloc, the acrimony has had an impact on the future of the bloc. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Add to this is the AAP versus Congress fight. The charges hurled by both the parties against each other are grave. The Congresss political compulsion is that it cannot overcome the fact that its a pan-India party. It needs to assert itself, and cannot be seen to be on a backfoot or buckling under pressure from its INDIA bloc partners. The CWCs agenda is also to project itself as the sole national alternative to the BJP. But given the nature of politics in the country, political survival minus coalition seems impractical. The narrative is gaining traction that the Congress is a liability and the roadblock to an effective fight against the BJP and Narendra Modi. The AAP-Congress fight is unlikely to remain restricted to only Punjab and Delhi. It will, like in the case of the TMC, have a national impact on the future of the Congress in the INDIA bloc. What remains to be seen now is whether 2025 could be the year of withering away of the Congress and INDIA bloc. First Published: December 26, 2024, 16:28 IST Dr Manmohan Singh Was Right: Here's Why History Will Remember Him Kindly Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Pathikrit Sen Gupta Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 22:40 IST The one image that remains etched in memory is when he came in a wheelchair to vote in the presidential polls of 2022. Frail but determined. A man who, in the end, had his way Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. (File image/PTI) At his last press conference before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Dr Manmohan Singh said, History will be kinder to me than the media has been." This was when he demitted office amid massive scandals and allegations against him, and some personal attacks as well. Indeed, he leaves behind many memories, achievements, and a rich legacy. Dr Manmohan Singh was Indias 14th Prime Minister, from May 22, 2004, to May 26, 2014. Beginning his career as an educationist, he joined the economic advisers position in the commerce ministry in 1971, and after that, there was no looking back. He held important positions like chief economic adviser, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, and RBI governor. related stories As finance minister from 1991 to 1996, Dr Singh led many economic and liberalisation programmes for the country. When he took charge as finance minister, the country was reeling under fiscal deficit, balance of payment deficit, as well as falling foreign exchange reserves. But he insisted on many reforms, like privatisation of public sector undertakings, opening up of the skies, and easing export-import rules. He ensured more disposable income in the hands of the middle class so that they could spend more. Ease of doing business was his mantra, and slowly India emerged out of the fiscal crisis and deficit. Armed with these credentials, he became Sonia Gandhis safe bet and choice as the PM in 2004. Modest yet firm, Dr Singh managed to have his way in geopolitics. Widely respected by global leaders, one remembers how former US President Barack Obama effusively praised Dr Singh when he left office as PM of India in 2014. It has been a great pleasure to serve with you," he said. There are very few people in public life that I have admired or appreciated more." Dr Singh was in many ways a reluctant PM". When Sonia Gandhi made up her mind not to become the Prime Minister, she needed someone who had the gravitas and credentials. Dr Singh was chosen despite there being many other claimants. The economist-politician did display some reluctance, but he was not a pushover. For instance, when he was committed to passing the Indo-US nuclear deal, he was prepared to put his government at stake. Sonia Gandhi saw this determination in him and backed him completely. But those close to him also saw his pain when he faced embarrassment as Rahul Gandhi publicly castigated the UPA government for issuing an ordinance to negate a Supreme Court order on disqualifying convicted MPs and MLAs, terming it complete nonsense" that should be torn and thrown out". At the time, Dr Singh was in America on an official visit. He also had to swallow his pride when the DMK threatened to walk out of UPA 2 if some of its leaders, like TR Baalu, were not made ministers. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all But despite the lack of complete backing from his cabinet and some troubles from the Congress, Dr Singh held his head high. His visits abroad grabbed attention, and he was widely respected. Under him, many flagship programmes saw realisation, like MGNREGA, the Food Security Bill, and Aadhaar. In February 2014, he walked into the sunset with a decision to end his political career. That was the last time he was seen in the Rajya Sabha. But the one image that remains etched in memory is when he came in a wheelchair to vote in the presidential polls of 2022. Frail but determined. A man who, in the end, had his way. And, like he said, history will remember him kindly. First Published: December 26, 2024, 22:40 IST Won't Wear Shoes, Whip Self 6 Times: Annamalai Vows To End DMK Rule In Tamil Nadu Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 19:57 IST Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai removed his shoes at a press conference and vowed not to put it back on until the DMK is removed from power. Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai vows not to wear footwear until DMK is removed from power (Photo: IANS) In a massive drama unfolding in Tamil Nadu over the governments handling of the Anna University sexual assault case, state BJP chief K Annamalai on Thursday vowed to whip himself six times tomorrow, fast for 48 days, and not wear sandals until the DMK is removed from power. Addressing a press conference, Annamalai removed his shoes and vowed to walk barefooted until the MK Stalin-led DMK government is uprooted from power. related stories Annamalai Makes Dramatic Announcements He announced that he would hold a protest in front of his house on Friday, where he would whip himself six times. Starting from tomorrow, I will fast for 48 days and appeal to the six-armed Murugan. Tomorrow, a protest will be held in front of the house of every BJP member. From tomorrow until the DMK is removed from power, I will not wear sandals. There must be an end to this," he said. Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu: During a press conference, BJP State President K Annamalai removed his shoe and says, I will not wear any footwear from tomorrow until the DMK is removed from power"Tomorrow, K. Annamalai will protest against the governments handling of the sexual pic.twitter.com/Fyr5UfN8Co IANS (@ians_india) December 26, 2024 Anna University Sexual Assault Case Annamalais dramatic announcements come after he alleged that the person, who was arrested in the Anna University sexual assault case, was a history sheeter with over 15 cases pending on him and accused the arrested person of being linked to DMK. He claimed that Gnanasekharan, the accused, was a deputy organiser of DMKs Saidai East student wing. Annamalai wrote to National Commission for Women and made the allegations. On behalf of @BJP4TamilNadu, we have today written a letter to @NCWIndia seeking strenuous action against the persons involved in this detestable act of revealing the victims identity to the general public, the State Police Department for their willful negligence, and also pic.twitter.com/HTxZuBcJgt K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) December 26, 2024 A second-year student of the university in Chennai was sexually assaulted on the campus on Monday night when she was talking to her friend at around 8 pm. She lodged a complaint at the Kotturpuram All Women Police Station, after which the Chennai Police said that one person, a Biryani seller, was arrested. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Earlier today, BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan and other party workers were detained by the Tamil Nadu Police as BJP and AIADMK staged protests. This is atrocious. They want to crush our voice," Soundararajan said. First Published: December 26, 2024, 19:57 IST 'True Tribute To Atal Ji Only When BJP Rules Bihar': Dy CM Vijay Sinha Sparks Row Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 13:16 IST Vijay Kumar Sinha's remarks at Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birth anniversary sparked political tension, challenging Nitish Kumar's leadership. Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha (PTI Photo) Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha has stirred a political storm in the state, adding fuel to the already heated political environment. Speaking at the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Wednesday, December 25, Sinha said that until the BJP formed its own government in Bihar, a true tribute to the ex-PM would not be possible. BJP workers have rid Bihar of those who tarnished its image, but the mission is not yet complete. Only when BJP has its own government will Atal ji receive the true honour he deserves. Even today, the people of Jungle Raj are attempting to disrupt the states social harmony," he stated. related stories Just a day before Sinhas statement, Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal had made a public declaration in Delhi, stating that the upcoming Bihar assembly elections would be contested under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. Sinhas comments, made within 24 hours, sparked a rift within the BJP and also caused a stir in the JD(U) camp. While Sinhas comments clearly alluded to the rule of Lalu Prasad Yadav and the period often referred to as Jungle Raj", the Deputy CM seemed to have overlooked the pivotal role of Nitish Kumar, especially in his capacity as a leader within the NDA (National Democratic Alliance). By focusing on the past struggles during the RJD era, Sinha failed to acknowledge the political trajectory and challenges that Nitish Kumar has faced over the past two decades. However, in an attempt to clarify his stance, Sinha quickly issued a follow-up statement, where he praised Nitish Kumar, saying, Nitish Kumar was Atal jis favoured leader, entrusted with the responsibility of ending Jungle Raj in Bihar. He freed Bihar from the clutches of Jungle Raj." However, the political climate in the state has been increasingly charged, with speculation surrounding the future leadership in Bihars government. The absence of BJP leaders during Nitish Kumars Pragati Yatra" became a talking point for the opposition, with figures like Tejashwi Yadav openly accusing the state government of being run not by Nitish Kumar but by a handful of officers under the influence of Delhi. Although two BJP ministers attended the Yatra in West Champaran, the lack of warmth between the two parties was palpable. This growing unease was further highlighted by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, who recently reaffirmed that the NDA in Bihar will contest the 2025 elections under Nitish Kumars leadership. This declaration is in direct contrast to Sinhas recent remarks, and it raises questions about the cohesion of the alliance. The growing public discourse hints at the possibility of underlying fractures between the BJP and JD(U), even as both parties continue to emphasise their unity in public. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Meanwhile, JD(U) has been actively posting messages of solidarity within the NDA. On the official X (formerly Twitter) handle, JD(U) shared a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Nitish Kumar, with the caption, United NDA, United Bihar, Nitish Kumar again in 2025." Despite these public displays of unity, the conflicting statements from top leaders indicate that all may not be well within the NDA coalition in Bihar. As tensions simmer, all eyes will be on how the BJP and JD(U) navigate this delicate situation ahead of the 2025 state elections. First Published: December 26, 2024, 13:16 IST BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Rustam Minnikhanov, President of the Republic of Tatarstan (Russian Federation) and Chairman of the "Russia-Islamic World" Strategic Vision Group, sent a letter of condolence to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, following the tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane in Kazakhstan, which resulted in fatalities and injuries, Trend reports. "Dear Ilham Heydarovich, With deep sorrow, the Republic of Tatarstan received the news of the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane on December 25, 2024. I kindly ask you to convey condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones, and wishes for a swift recovery to the injured. We sincerely share the grief of these losses and mourn together with the brotherly people of the Republic of Azerbaijan," the letter reads. Amid Debate Over Immigration, Perplexity AI Senior Exec Thanks Sriram Krishnan For 'Creating 100+ American Jobs' Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 16:40 IST Trump appointed Indian-origin Sriram Krishnan as the Senior White House Policy Advisor for AI. Aravind Srinivas co-founded Perplexity AI in 2022. (Photo Credits: X) The immigration of Indians has emerged as one of the most debatable topics in the United States, particularly after the election of Donald Trump for a second term. Recently, the President-elect appointed Indian-origin Sriram Krishnan as the Senior White House Policy Advisor for AI. Many Americans opposed the move, claiming Sriram would use his power to promote immigration. Amid all the chaos, a senior executive of Perplexity AI has expressed gratitude to Indian-origin CEO Aravind Srinivas for creating job opportunities in the US. The man, Dmitry Shevelenko, dropped a short note on X (formerly Twitter) where he hailed Srinivas for creating 100+ American jobs". Im an American who is gainfully employed because an Indian immigrant on a visa founded a company in the US. Thanks, Aravind Srinivas," Shevelenko wrote. related stories Im an American who is gainfully employed because an Indian immigrant on a visa founded a company in the US. Thx @AravSrinivas for creating 100+ American jobs. Dmitry Shevelenko (@dmitry140) December 25, 2024 The post garnered mixed reactions from the social media community. Some users criticised Dmitry Shevelenko for his remarks and questioned, Why didnt Srinivas open his company in India?" Meanwhile, others felt talented individuals should be allowed to grow in any country irrespective of their origin. One such user commented, Let builders build in America. Where you are born doesnt matter, where you choose to build does. We need to keep attracting the top talent to continue to grow our economy." Same. Let builders build in America. Where you are born doesnt matter, where you choose to build does. We need to keep attracting the top talent to continue to grow our economy. Alex Lang (@alexhunterlang) December 26, 2024 Echoing the same sentiment, another said, It will be safe to assume that America lost 100s of founders like Aravind if not 1000s in the last 25 years due to the existing skewed policy." It will ve safe to assume that America lost 100s of founders like Aravind if not 1000s in the last 25 years due to the existing skewed policy. Starman (@StarmanF) December 26, 2024 A user argued, Discussion is not about Indians, it is about Per Country CAP. Do not conflate." Discussion is not about Indians , it is about Per Country CAP. Do not conflate. DOGE-latest (@finguru1980) December 25, 2024 Another person raised questions on Dmitry Shevelenkos origin and claimed, Youre Ukrainian. Zelensky needs your presence back home. Nothing against you or him personally, but do you see how your argument is worthless?" You're Ukrainian. Zelensky needs your presence back home. Nothing against you or him personally, but do you see how your argument is worthless? Mimetic Value ? (@Return2Mimetic) December 26, 2024 Those who are feeling threatened by skilled immigration are hardly qualified enough to get a basic job," quipped a user. Those who are feeling threatened by skilled immigration is hardly qualified enough to get a basic job Wealthy Goals (@Stats_on_Earth) December 26, 2024 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A far-right political activist, Laura Loomer, recently voiced her concerns over the use of H1B visas meant for highly skilled workers living and working in the US. It also allows immigrants to receive green cards under certain conditions. Our country was built by white Europeans, actually. Not third-world invaders from India," Loomer wrote in a social media post. Aravind Srinivas co-founded Perplexity AI in 2022 with Andy Konwinski, Denis Yarats and Johnny Ho. He is currently the CEO of the technology firm. Srinivas graduated from IIT Madras and worked for OpenAI before starting his own business. He still works in the US on a visa. Recently, Elon Musk showed his support for Srinivas, saying he should be given a green card. Location : Delhi, India First Published: December 26, 2024, 15:58 IST Are Uber, Ola Charging More From iPhone Users? Viral Post Sparks Debate Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 09:38 IST The discussion broke out on social media after a user shared photos of ride estimates on two phones, one running on Android and another running on Apples iOS Apps may charge higher fares for users who frequently check prices or make regular bookings, say experts. (News18 Hindi) Are cab aggregators like Ola and Uber charging more from customers using an iPhone than those using Android devices? The discussion broke out on social media after a user shared photos of ride estimates on two phones, one running on Android and another running on Apples iOS. The debate gained traction after a survey in Chennai. Fares for the same ride were compared on both devices at three locations, and every time, the fare on the iPhone was higher. However, this cannot be considered conclusive evidence, as cab fares are often dynamic, fluctuating based on demand. The differences were more pronounced in short-distance or single rides. related stories Same pickup point, destination & time but 2 different phones get 2 different rates. It happens with me as I always get higher rates on my Uber as compared to my daughters phone. So most of the time, I request her to book my Uber. Does this happen with you also? What is the hack? pic.twitter.com/bFqMT0zZpW SUDHIR (@seriousfunnyguy) December 23, 2024 What Did the Companies Say? According to a Times of India report, Uber and Ola responded to the survey. Uber denied any policy of personalising fares based on device type, attributing any differences to factors like time, distance, and real-time demand. Ola declined to comment. Experts Weigh In Experts suggest that fares might be influenced by hardware data permissions granted during app installation. C Ambigapathy, Managing Director of Fastrack (Chennai), stated that companies can easily adjust fares using hardware details, describing this as a dynamic pricing algorithm. P Ravikumar, former director of C-DAC Thiruvananthapuram, explained that companies collect data like device type, app usage, and search patterns, using machine learning tools such as Google Cloud AI or Azure ML to adjust fares accordingly. User Behaviour Also Plays A Role Apps may charge higher fares for users who frequently check prices or make regular bookings. By analysing user behaviour, companies estimate the likelihood of booking and adjust fares upward. Users who delay booking in hopes of lower prices may still end up paying more. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Tips For Users Compare fares on different devices before booking Clear the apps cache regularly Report pricing irregularities to the appropriate authorities First Published: December 26, 2024, 09:38 IST China Funeral Homes Spooky Job Requirement: Spend 10 Minutes In A Freezing Morgue Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 17:19 IST The morgue manager position requires male candidates, under the age of 45, with at least a junior secondary school education. The monthly salary for this position is 2,200 yuan (around Rs 25,600). (Representative Image) A bizarre job advertisement in China has sparked a mix of amusement and shock online. A funeral home in Rushan is hiring for the position of morgue manager," with a monthly salary of 2,200 yuan (around Rs 25,600). However, theres a unique requirement for this job a candidate must spend 10 minutes inside a freezing cold morgue to qualify for an interview. According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the job was listed by the Rushan Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security on December 6. The morgue manager position requires male candidates, under the age of 45, with at least a junior secondary school education. related stories Applicants must also be available to work 24-hour shifts. In addition, they need to pay a 70 yuan (approximately Rs 816) exam fee. The job is based on a three-year contract and the hiring process includes various stages, such as the morgue test, interviews, medical exams, background checks and a six-month probation period. The position does not come with bian zhi, a system that guarantees permanent, lifelong employment in China. A staff member from the Rushan Funeral Services Centre explained that the 10-minute morgue test was a way to assess if candidates could handle the jobs environment. The special requirement is just a test method because some people have strong taboos or fears of staying too long in such settings, but our work requires someone who can remain in the room for more than 10 minutes," the staff member said. The unusual job ad has sparked a wave of reactions online with many finding it both funny and strange. One user joked, This is much better than interviewing 10 living people. At least they did not ask me to stay in a crematorium for 10 minutes!" Another commented, You have never worked before? The dead are not frightened because after starting to work, your grievances will weigh more than that of a ghost." I could stay for 10 hours, just give me a book and a bottle of water. But the pay is too low," someone remarked. It is not the fear that holds you back, but the salary," said another person. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The monthly salary for this position is 2,200 yuan after tax and social insurance payments with additional allowances for night shifts. In practice, jobs like body management and crematory work offer higher pay because theyre more specialised," said a funeral home management expert from southwestern China. You can use professional psychological tests or set up internships, but this method is inappropriate." Location : Delhi, India First Published: December 26, 2024, 17:19 IST Meme Coin Helps US CEO Raise Rs 3.4 Crore For Daughter's Brain Tumour Treatment Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 18:02 IST Siqi Chen, a tech entrepreneur and founder of finance platform Runway, in a post on X, revealed that his daughter has been diagnosed with a benign tumour. His post caught the attention of a humble crypto user who created a meme coin to generate funds. (Photo Credits: X) An emotional fathers plea for help in treating his daughters rare brain tumour has sparked an extraordinary crowdfunding effort from the online community. Siqi Chen, a tech entrepreneur and founder of finance platform Runway, in a post on X, revealed that his daughter has been diagnosed with a benign tumour. Though it is a survivable condition, the tumour is located in an extremely dangerous area of the brain and associated with the worst quality of life outcomes," Siqi Chen shared on X (formerly Twitter). His post caught the attention of a humble crypto user who created a meme coin" to generate funds. The idea was an instant hit as Chen collected enough money from cryptocurrency and donated that to the Hankinson Lab at the University of Colorado where the research is underway. related stories If you could press a button that cures your childs brain tumour in exchange for ending your life immediately, every parent would hesitate for zero seconds before fighting to be the first to press it. The cruellest thing is that no such button exists," Siqi Chen wrote in his initial post. He also shared details about the rare disease. if you could press a button that cures your childs brain tumor in exchange for ending your life immediately, every parent would hesitate for zero seconds before fighting to be the first to press itthe cruelest thing is that no such button exists. but there is always a move pic.twitter.com/mlAbmeOpvx Siqi Chen (@blader) December 25, 2024 According to him, his daughter Mira has been suffering from a benign tumour called Adamantinomatous Craniopharyngioma. Though it is a survivable condition, the tumour is located in a very dangerous area of the brain" and may lead to some of the worst quality of life outcomes". We have already identified multiple promising new treatments over the past few months," Siqi Chen added. though there is still no cure, with the help of our research team, we have already helped dr. hankinson's lab identify promising new drugs for mira's tumor.but we need your help. because of its rarity, research and funding for this disease has been severely lacking. pic.twitter.com/783fDyTT48 Siqi Chen (@blader) December 25, 2024 Once he learned about the meme coin, Siqi Chan revealed in an X post, Uh so some random guy 20 minutes made an SOL meme coin called $MIRA to help with research fundraising and sent me half the entire supply and its now worth like $400K (roughly Rs 3.4 crore) and I literally dont know what to do because I certainly dont want to rug a bunch of random people." uh so some random guy 20 minutes made a SOL memecoin called $MIRA to help with research fundraising and sent me half the entire supply and it's now worth like $400K and i literally don't know what to do because i certainly don't want to rug a bunch of random people https://t.co/P78bLq52fB Siqi Chen (@blader) December 26, 2024 Chan later shared a screenshot of how fast the meme coin was generating funds for the research. Expressing his gratitude, he wrote, I just want to say that whoever said crypto has no legitimate use cases, you can tell them that funding for rare disease research is a pretty legitimate use case." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all i just want to say that whoever said crypto has no legitimate use cases, you can tell them that funding for rare disease research is a pretty legitimate use case(again, ALL proceeds from this will go directly to rare disease research at hankinson lab, my family and i will keep pic.twitter.com/diO9636V1V Siqi Chen (@blader) December 26, 2024 His daughter Mira has been kept under the supervision of Dr Todd Hankinson at the Hankinson Lab. The team has already started clinical trials on Mira and expects to slow the growth of the tumour. Location : Delhi, India First Published: December 26, 2024, 18:02 IST NASA Astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore Celebrate Christmas Aboard ISS, Internet Asks Who Delivered Hats? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 09:31 IST So, from all of us to all of you, Merry Christmas, said NASA's Sunita Williams, joined by her fellow astronauts, in a heartfelt holiday message. NASA's Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore and others celebrated Christmas aboard ISS. (Image: X/@NASA) NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stationed at the International Space Station (ISS) since June, sent a heartwarming video message wishing everyone on Earth a Merry Christmas. The astronauts, accompanied by their colleagues Nick Hague and Don Petitt, were seen donning Christmas hats and other Christmas paraphernalia. They were seated next to a Christmas tree as they recorded their heartfelt messages. This particular video unleashed a wave of conspiracy theories online, with wondering how the astronauts, who went to space on an eight-day mission, have managed to pack for the festival. Others speculated about who might have delivered the Christmas hats and decor to the space station. related stories Who delivered the Christmas hats and decorations? So, you thought far enough in advance to pack them when extra space in the capsule is at a very high premium?" asked an individual. Another joined, Wait if they were supposed to be back on earth many moons ago, why did they pack Christmas hats and candy canes?" Did they take Santa hats with them before they launched in September? Or did they knit them while they were there? Asking for a friend," chimed in a third. A fourth commented, Seriously? How did they know to have all these Christmas decorations with them when they were only going on an 8-day mission? This has to be parody." Before we address these questions, let us take you through the video that NASA shared. To everyone on Earth, Merry Christmas from our NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station," wrote NASA while sharing a video on X (formerly known as Twitter). Welcome to the International Space Station as we get ready for the Christmas holidays. Its a great time of year up here. We get to spend it with all of our family up on the International Space Station. Theres seven of us here and so were going to enjoy company together," Williams said in the video. She further expressed, And one of the best things that I like about Christmas is the preparation and just getting ready. The anticipation of everybody getting together and preparing stuff and just getting ready for the holiday." Hague chimed in with his holiday message: You know Christmas time, the holiday season, its about spending time with friends and family and loved ones. This year, were going to be in orbit away from them. So, we want to send our heartfelt Merry Christmas and we hope you have a wonderful holiday." Hague also acknowledged the dedication of the ground team supporting the ISS mission, noting that they, too, would spend the holidays away from their families. I want to thank them for the sacrifices that theyre making. Together, we work hand-in-hand with the ground every day and over the holidays we keep this mission going. Merry Christmas!" he added. Pettit pointed out that Christmas often revolves around food and feasting. Holding up a box of neatly packaged food, he highlighted that the astronauts also had a special feast prepared to mark the occasion. Wilmore then took the mic, delivering a heartfelt message: And of course, Christmas is Christ. Hallelujah, a saviour is born." The video concluded with Sunita Williams cheerfully saying, So, from all of us to all of you, Merry Christmas," as candy canes and festive decorations floated around them in microgravity. Watch the video right here: top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all To everyone on Earth, Merry Christmas from our @NASA_Astronauts aboard the International @Space_Station. pic.twitter.com/GoOZjXJYLP NASA (@NASA) December 23, 2024 For those speculating whether the astronauts packed for Christmas before heading to the ISS, the answer is no. A SpaceX cargo ship delivered the festive goodies to the International Space Station in early December. The holiday treats included smoked turkey, green bean casserole, candied yams, cranberry sauce, and fruitcake. Additionally, there were shortbread and butter cookies, complete with tubes of icing for decorating. First Published: December 26, 2024, 09:31 IST Notre Dame Welcomes Devotees, Holds First Christmas Midnight Mass Since 2019 Fire Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 13:54 IST Among the attendees was Marie-Christine Bascourret, a retiree who attended the cathedral for mass every year before the fire. People formed long queues early on Christmas Day. (Photo Credits: X) Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris held its first Christmas midnight mass since a devastating fire five years ago. The iconic Paris monument, first built in 1163, suffered extensive damage during the 2019 fire. Over the past five years, the cathedral underwent a meticulous restoration, including a new roof and spire. After its reopening earlier this month, the cathedral welcomed devotees for Christmas celebrations. On Christmas Eve, Bishop Ulrich addressed the congregation, offering heartfelt wishes for joy in heaven, peace on earth." He praised the talents deployed on the restoration site" that made the restoration possible, expressing the joy of reuniting in the sacred space once again. related stories Beautiful to see the Christmas Midnight Mass at @notredameparis! Thank you @Paris @EmmanuelMacron and everyone who contributed to the incredibly fast renovation! pic.twitter.com/Tt757rbUUt clem ? (@ClementDelangue) December 25, 2024 Among the attendees was Marie-Christine Bascourret, a retiree who attended the cathedral for mass every year before the fire. She described her experience as magnificent," waiting for an hour in line to secure her spot. It gave me heart," she said. Daniel James, a 46-year-old American from Seattle, shared his emotional return to Notre Dame. Im so happy to come back, its so magical and special, its a feeling of hope, of joy," he said. For ten years before the fire, Daniel had attended mass regularly at the cathedral. Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris hosted its first Christmas mass on Tuesday since it was reopened, five and a half years after a catastrophic fire nearly destroyed the historic landmark, decimating its spire and roof.During the service, the priest, the Rev. Henry de Villefranche, pic.twitter.com/Y0QXZeyiDN Voice of America (@VOANews) December 25, 2024 Long queues began forming early on Christmas Day. Valentin Lacroix, who managed entry, noted that by 3 pm, a hundred people were waiting outside. Visitors included families, couples, and individuals from Paris, the provinces, and even abroad. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Due to limited capacity, the Diocese of Paris said no reservations were available for Christmas masses. Access is granted on a first-come, first-served basis, with visitors advised to arrive 30 minutes early. The cathedrals website warns that long waits and the possibility of not securing entry should be anticipated. The restoration of Notre Dame has been a symbol of hope and resilience for many Parisians and visitors, bringing the community together to celebrate the festive season in this historic landmark. Location : Delhi, India First Published: December 26, 2024, 13:54 IST Rs 25,000 Salary For Spending 10 Minutes With Dead Bodies: Creepy Job Offer Goes Viral Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 15:56 IST Applicants need to pass rigourous tests, including one where they must remain around dead bodies in freezing temperatures for 10 minutes. The job role is intended for those working at a funeral home. (Representative Image) In an age where job seekers are willing to go to great lengths for a good paycheck, a peculiar and chilling job offer from China has caught the attention of social media users worldwide. The job, offering a monthly salary of Rs 25,000, comes with a set of tests so extreme that just hearing about them might make your spine chill. The advertisement, which recently went viral across social media platforms, garnered attention for its unusual and unsettling selection process. The job position is available at a funeral home in Rushan, located in Chinas Shandong province. Applicants will need to pass a series of rigourous tests, including one where they must remain surrounded by dead bodies in freezing temperatures for a full 10 minutes. related stories According to reports by the South China Morning Post, the job opening was posted on December 11 by Rushan Xinmike Human Resources Corporation Limited. The role, intended for those working at a funeral home, includes unique conditions that not everyone is prepared to face. Among these conditions is the disturbing test where applicants will have to endure an extremely cold environment surrounded by deceased individuals for a gruelling 10-minute duration. This chilling test is part of the rigourous selection process to assess the candidates mental and physical endurance. Only male applicants aged 45 or younger are eligible for the position, which involves 24-hour shifts. In addition to the freezing test, candidates must undergo a comprehensive background check, a medical examination, and an interview. Furthermore, they will have to successfully complete a six-month probation period before officially landing the job. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Residents of Rushan are given special preference for the role, and they are required to pay an application fee of approximately Rs 853 to be considered. While the job offers a salary of Rs 25,000, its noteworthy that workers will receive extra compensation for night shifts. While many are having a laugh at the jobs bizarre nature, there are those who view it as a rare opportunity. For some, the promise of a stable salary, even with the gruelling conditions, is enough to take the risk. But for others, the idea of working in such extreme circumstances for Rs 25,000 might not seem worth the effort. Location : China First Published: December 26, 2024, 15:56 IST Student, 16, Develops Human-Carrying Drone, Takes Inspiration From Chinas Air Taxi Written By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 13:02 IST Gwalior: The student has previously built remote-controlled aeroplanes, cars, and even suicide drones. Class 12 student Medhansh Trivedi with the drone. (Special arrangement) A 16-year-old student has developed a heavy-duty drone capable of carrying a human weighing up to 80 kg after being inspired by Chinas advanced drone technology. Medhansh Trivedi from The Scindia School, Gwalior, has developed the drone named MLDT 01 at a cost of Rs 3.5 lakh. It took him three months to develop the drone. One day I was scrolling YouTube about how to make drones. A recommendation came about Chinas air taxi. So, I clicked on that video and watched it. It was a four-seater drone that was very expensive. Since that day, I started developing a drone of my own on a budget," Trivedi, who is now in Class 12, told News18.com. related stories Trivedi mentioned that the current version of his drone is electric, but he is working on developing a hybrid model to enhance its performance. The MLDT 01 drone, according to Trivedi, boasts 45 horsepower and can remain airborne for six minutes at a speed of 60 kmph. It can carry a load of up to 80 kg. Measuring 1.8 meters in both length and width, the drone is currently limited to a maximum altitude of 10 meters for safety reasons. It uses four motors commonly found in agricultural drones. Gwalior student builds drone capable of carrying a person. pic.twitter.com/rB7n5hgByk Bharat Tech & Infra (@BharatTechIND) December 19, 2024 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Trivedi has previously built remote-controlled aeroplanes, cars, and even suicide drones. He plans to start his own venture once he completes his further studies. He credits the schools deen Manoj Mishra for assisting him throughout the development of the drone. One day, I gave a class on how aeroplanes are built. Thats when Trivedi got inspired and began asking me more about the process. He took it upon himself to conduct his own research online and, with guidance from his teachers, started building things on his own," Mishra told News18.com. First Published: December 26, 2024, 13:02 IST This Woman Was Encouraging Her Husband To Cheat, He Wised Up To Her Con In Time Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 15:08 IST A Chinese husband grew suspicious of his wife's unusual behaviour, uncovering a shocking marriage fraud. The wife and her boyfriend, burdened with debt, conspired with accomplices to trap a man via a matchmaking app To avoid returning the bride money, the woman devised a plan to compel her husband into infidelity. In a shocking incident that has gone viral, a woman in China was reportedly pressuring her husband to cheat on her and pursue another woman as part of an elaborate con to part him with this money. The incident, which occurred in Guizhou province, China, came to light when the husband grew suspicious of his wifes unusual behaviour. The matter eventually reached the court in Longli County, where the woman herself admitted her actions. related stories According to a report by South China Morning Post, the wife was persuading her husband to be unfaithful. Just days into their marriage, she started making excuses to avoid living with him, raising the husbands suspicions. Matters escalated when two men, claiming to be the brides brothers, left her at her husbands place. The husband, sensing something amiss, called the police. What followed left not only the husband but also the authorities stunned. The Motive Behind the Deception top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As it turned out, the woman and her boyfriend were heavily in debt. They collaborated with two accomplices who introduced them to the concept of marriage fraud. Using a matchmaking app, they ensnared a man, registered the marriage, and accepted 16 lakh yuan as bride money (dowry) along with jewellery worth around 6 lakh yuan. To avoid returning the bride money, the woman devised a plan to compel her husband into infidelity. Under Chinese law, if a husband elopes with another woman, the bride is not required to return the bride money. However, the husband outsmarted the scheme, and their plan ultimately failed. Location : China First Published: December 26, 2024, 15:08 IST UK Drug Dealer's Glamorous Mugshot Goes Viral, Internet Says Doesnt Look Guilty Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 11:05 IST Despite the serious crime, Kirsty Sansum gained unexpected attention when her mugshot, shared by Gloucestershire police, went viral. Kirsty Sansum was caught smuggling cocaine worth between Rs 2-3 Crore. (Photo Credits: X) A group of drug dealers who tried to smuggle 3 kg of cocaine into Gloucestershire, UK, have been sentenced to over 17 years in prison. John Rogers and Kirsty Sansum were caught at Strensham Services on the M5 with three large blocks of cocaine, worth between 240,000 and 300,000 (approximately Rs 2-3 Crore), hidden in their car. Both were arrested for attempting to supply the drugs. Investigations revealed they were working with two other men, Kingsley Williams and Aaron Russell. Despite the serious crime, Kirsty gained unexpected attention when her mugshot, shared by Gloucestershire police, went viral. In a grey hoodie, she looked more like a model than a criminal, which led to her receiving unexpected admiration. related stories The 30-year-olds tattooed neck, eyebrow ink and lip piercings made her look different from a typical mugshot. The image quickly caught the attention of social media users, who were surprised by her appearance. Despite her involvement in the drug smuggling plot, Kirsty was sentenced to 32 months in prison, which was reduced to two years. She was also given a nine-month drug rehabilitation order and 100 hours of unpaid work, according to a press release shared by Gloucestershire Police. KIRSTY SANSUM CAUGHT WITH 3 KILOS OF COCAINE GETS PROBATION ?Sansum was given a two year suspended sentence, with drug rehabilitation order for nine months and 100 hours unpaid work QUESTION ??: HOW DO YOU GET CAUGHT WITH 3 KEYS AND GET PROBATION ? pic.twitter.com/pS0wRDIyou i Expose Racists & Pedos (@SeeRacists) December 25, 2024 Reacting to the post, a user wrote, Shes a hot white girl." An individual shared, Well she doesnt look guilty at all." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As per Gloucestershire Police, Detective Inspector Matt Phillips, of the Serious Organised Crime Unit, said, This was a significant conspiracy to bring thousands of pounds worth of drugs into our county. These drugs would have eventually ended up on our streets, bringing misery to the lives of our communities. Considering no drugs were found on Russell or Williams, the level of investigation and the length of their sentences demonstrates that we will work tirelessly to bring those involved in the drugs trade to justice." While Kirsty Sansum avoided prison time, the other three accused, John Rogers, Kingsley Williams and Aaron Russell, received stricter sentences for their involvement in the crime. During the court proceedings, Rogers received over five years in prison, Williams was given nearly seven years and Russell was sentenced to six years. Meanwhile, the court was told that Williams and Russell were showing good behaviour. Location : Delhi, India First Published: December 26, 2024, 11:05 IST BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has visited the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Islamabad to express his condolences regarding the crash of an Azerbaijani aircraft near Aktau, Trend reports via the prime minister's office statement. "Today, the head of government met with the Ambassador of Azerbaijan Khazar Farhadov, and left a note in the book of condolences, emphasizing his support for the people of Azerbaijan during this difficult time," the statement said. Sharif highlighted the importance of solidarity and underscored Pakistan's readiness to provide the necessary assistance in connection with the tragic incident. The tragedy occurred on December 25, when an Embraer 190 plane operated by AZAL, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed just 3 kilometers from Aktau Airport. The Embraer 190 was carrying 67 people, including 62 passengers and five crew members. In the aftermath of the crash, 27 people were hospitalized. Among them, 15 are citizens of Azerbaijan, eight are from Russia, and three are from Kyrgyzstan. The identity of one individual remains unknown. Of those hospitalized, 11 are being treated in intensive care, 13 in the trauma ward, two in the neurosurgery ward, and one in the surgical ward. They are under the care of experienced doctors from Kazakhstan, as well as specialists sent from Azerbaijan and Russia. All patients have received prompt and specialized medical and psychological support. The crash claimed the lives of both pilots and a flight attendant. Two other crew members survived. December 26 has been declared a day of mourning in Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel 'Act Of Sabotage': Official Documents Damaged In Massive Fire At Bangladesh Secretariat Published By : PTI Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 16:48 IST The fire broke out in Building 7 of the Bangladesh Secretariat and it was brought under control after nearly six hours of firefighting efforts. Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka (PTI File Image) A massive fire broke out at a major building of the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka on Thursday, damaging official documents that prompted authorities to form a high-powered investigation committee amid suspicions that it could be an act of sabotage. The fire broke out in Building 7 of the Bangladesh Secretariat and it was brought under control after nearly six hours of firefighting efforts. related stories According to officials, the fire broke out Thursday early morning in the nine-storey building housing seven ministries inside the high-security complex. However, no casualties were reported. The fire broke out in three spots (of the building) simultaneously hours after midnight yesterday," fire service chief Brigadier General Zahed Kamal told newsmen indicating it might not be an accidental inferno. Officials said a power outage caused by the fire forced as well other ministries apart from the building to halt their normal work while security agencies restricted entry inside the complex preventing many staff and officials from entering into the complex at the central part of the capital. They said most rooms on the sixth, seventh and eighth floors of building no 7 were severely damaged while a huge volume of documents from the local government and post & telecommunications ministries were burnt alongside the furniture. The water used to douse the fire also damaged many documentspigeons which made different parts of the building were seen dead and window spans were broken," an official said after visiting the building. Local government adviser or de facto minister Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, a leader of the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement that led the ouster of ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasinas regime on August 5 said, The conspirators have not stopped their activities" He said the documents which were damaged included papers and proofs of corruption of millions of dollars during the ousted Awami League regime. But no one will be given a single inch pace to escape (punitive actions) if found involved to fail us," said Bhuiyan. Meanwhile, authorities formed a seven-member committee comprising senior civil bureaucrats, fire service and police officers. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The committee, headed by Additional Secretary (district and field administration) Mohammad Khaled Rahim, was asked to submit its report within seven working days. The probe panel has been tasked with finding out the source and cause of the fire, uncovering whether anyone had personal or professional responsibility for it, and making recommendations to prevent such accidents, said an office order of the Cabinet Division. Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh First Published: December 26, 2024, 16:46 IST Bashar al-Assad's Wife Asma 'Severely Ill' With Cancer, Has 50 Per Cent Survival Chance: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 14:40 IST Ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's wife is reportedly critically ill with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia and has been isolated in Moscow to minimise infection risks. Asma al-Assad (Photo: Reuters) Asma al-Assad, wife of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is reportedly severely ill and has been isolated by her doctors, who have expressed she has a 50-50 chance of survival. According to a report with The Telegraph, no one is allowed to meet Asma to minimise the risk of an infection. In May this year, months before Bashar al-Assad and his wife sought asylum in Russias Moscow, Syrias presidency had announced that Asma had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, an aggressive cancer of the bone marrow and the blood. related stories She had also been previously treated for breast cancer, and in August 2019, the presidency had announced that she was completely" free of the disease after a year of treatment. However, the report claims Asmas leukaemia is believed to have reappeared after a period of remission. It also suggested her father, Fawaz Akhras, has been caring for his daughter in Moscow and was described as heartbroken" by sources in direct contact with her family. Quoting a source who directly communicated with a representative of the family, The Telegraph stated, Asma is dying". She cant be in the same room with anyone because of her condition," the source added. Another source, who has been in contact with the family in Moscow, was quoted as saying, When leukaemia comes back, its vicious. She has been 50/50 in the last few weeks." Meanwhile, the Kremlin on Monday rejected Turkish media reports which suggested that Asma wanted a divorce and to leave Russia. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also rejected Turkish media reports which suggested that Assad had been confined to Moscow and had his property assets frozen. Earlier, Turkish and Arabic media reported that Asma had filed for divorce in Russia. First Published: December 26, 2024, 14:04 IST Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crash: External Damages, Pilots Distress Call Spark Sabotage Theories Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 08:48 IST The shrapnel marks on the rear fuselage of the Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft, which crashed near the city of Aktau, sparked several 'sabotage' theories. Shrapnel marks on the rear fuselage of the Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft, which crashed near the city of Aktau | Image/X The shrapnel marks on the rear fuselage of the Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft, which crashed near the city of Aktau, killing at least 38 passengers out of 67 onboard, has sparked several sabotage theories on social media. The airliner, Embraer 190, took off from Baku in Azerbaijan and was headed to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus. Reports claimed that the plane crashed after it was diverted and attempted an emergency landing kilometres from Aktau, a city in Kazakhstan. related stories While Russias aviation watchdog stated that the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing after a bird strike in Aktau, some sabotage theories claimed that it could have been mistaken for a Ukrainian drone and shot down by Russian forces. CNN-News18 couldnt independently verify the authenticity of the claim. The users pointed out the shrapnel marks on the aircrafts rear fuselage, saying it doesnt appear consistent with an avian collision. The pilots sent a distress call around the time Russian air defence was responding to a Ukrainian drone attack," reported BNO News. DEVELOPING: Plane which crashed in Kazakhstan suffered external damage, according to experts.The pilots sent a distress call around the time Russian air defense was responding to a Ukrainian drone attack. Kazakh deputy PM, asked whether the plane was shot down: I dare not pic.twitter.com/ZnJyJSmZES BNO News (@BNONews) December 25, 2024 When asked whether the plane was shot down, Kazakhstan Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said, I dare not make premature statements," reported BNO News. According to the Wall Street Journal, the planes intended destination in southern Russia was in an area where Moscows air defences have recently battled Ukrainian drones. In 2018, international investigators concluded that Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, which was shot down on July 17, 2014, while flying over eastern Ukraine, was hit by a Russian missile. Fuelling the speculations behind what could have caused the crash, an X user said, Speculation is growing that the Baku-Grozny Azerbaijan Airlines flight may have been shot down by Russian air defence, which mistook it for a Ukrainian #drone. Damage to the fuselage will remind many of the MH17 airliner shot down by the Russians in East Ukraine." Another user noted that the plane may have been mistakenly shot down by either Russian or Ukrainian air defences, possibly confusing it with a drone launched by the opposing nation. We cant be certain, but its likely that the Azerbaijan Airlines flight was hit by shrapnel from a air defence system as it was in the vicinity of Grozny. There might have been a drone attack in the area as well. Crew made heroic attempt to save situation before the crash. pic.twitter.com/71MnakMWlF Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) December 25, 2024 Bird Strike Behind Crash? An oxygen tank exploded inside the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger aircraft which crashed on Wednesday in western Kazakhstan, Kazakh media outlets reported. They also said that flyers started to fall unconscious before the flight crashed. Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 had flown hundreds of miles off its scheduled route to crash on the opposite shore of the Caspian Sea, after what Russias aviation watchdog said was an emergency that may have been caused by a bird strike, according to a report by Reuters. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev cut short a visit to Russia where he had been due to attend an informal summit of leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a grouping of former Soviet nations, his office said in a statement. He also declared Thursday a day of national mourning. The flights course on Flight Radar showed it crossing the Caspian Sea from its normal route and then circling over the area where it eventually crashed. Kazakhstan said it had opened an investigation. Why Did The Plane Change Its Course? Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said preliminary investigation revealed that the plane changed its course between Baku and Grozny due to worsening weather conditions and headed to Aktau airport, where it crashed upon landing. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all While Aliyev did mention that the plane changed course due to poor weather, he maintained that the reason behind the fatal crash of the plane would be fully investigated. Those aboard the plane included 42 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russian nationals, six Kazakhs and three Kyrgyzstan nationals. Location : Kazakhstan First Published: December 26, 2024, 08:29 IST Body Found In Wheel Well Of United Airlines Flight Upon Arrival In Hawaii Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 09:11 IST The body was discovered in one of the compartments that house the aeroplane's landing gear, according to officials. United Airlines planes at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago | File Image/Reuters A dead body was found in the wheel well of a United Airlines jetliner after the aircraft landed in the Hawaiian island of Maui, the airline said on Wednesday. The body was discovered in one of the compartments that house the aeroplanes landing gear when United Flight 202 from Chicago OHare International Airport landed at Kahului Airport on Tuesday afternoon, according to the airlines website. No further details about the deceased person were provided. related stories The wheel well was only accessible from outside of the aircraft. At this time, it is not clear how or when the person accessed the wheel well," it said. United said it was working with authorities on the investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Stowaways in the unpressurized wheel-houses and cargo holds of planes can face temperatures of between minus 50 degrees and minus 60 degrees Celsius (minus 58 and minus 76 degrees Fahrenheit), as well as a lack of oxygen. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all While the fatality rate for most wheel-well stowaways is high, some people have survived the ordeal. A person was found alive in the undercarriage bay of an Algerian carriers aircraft in Paris last year. In January 2022, a stowaway was discovered alive in the wheel section under the front of a Cargolux freight plane that arrived at Amsterdams Schiphol Airport from Africa. Location : Hawaii, USA First Published: December 26, 2024, 09:11 IST China To Build World's Largest Dam In Tibet Which Poses Risks To India And Bangladesh Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 12:17 IST The dam, which will be located in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, could produce 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. A section of the Yarlung Zangbo falls a dramatic 2,000 metres (6,561 feet) within a short span of 50 km (31 miles), offering huge hydropower potential as well as unique engineering challenges. China has approved the construction of what will be the worlds largest hydropower dam, kicking off an ambitious project on the eastern rim of the Tibetan plateau that could affect millions downstream in India and Bangladesh. The dam, which will be located in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, could produce 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, according to an estimate provided by the Power Construction Corp of China in 2020. related stories That would more than triple the 88.2 billion kWh designed capacity of the Three Gorges Dam, currently the worlds largest, in central China. The project will play a major role in meeting Chinas carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, stimulate related industries such as engineering, and create jobs in Tibet, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday. A section of the Yarlung Zangbo falls a dramatic 2,000 metres (6,561 feet) within a short span of 50 km (31 miles), offering huge hydropower potential as well as unique engineering challenges. The outlay for building the dam, including engineering costs, is also expected to eclipse the Three Gorges dam, which cost 254.2 billion yuan($34.83 billion). This included the resettling of the 1.4 million people it displaced and was more than four times the initial estimate of 57 billion yuan. Authorities have not indicated how many people the Tibet project would displace and how it would affect the local ecosystem, one of the richest and most diverse on the plateau. But according to Chinese officials, hydropower projects in Tibet, which they say hold more than a third of Chinas hydroelectric power potential, would not have a major impact on the environment or on downstream water supplies India and Bangladesh have nevertheless raised concerns about the dam, with the project potentially altering not only the local ecology but also the flow and course of the river downstream. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Yarlung Zangbo becomes the Brahmaputra river as it leaves Tibet and flows south into Indias Arunachal Pradesh and Assam states and finally into Bangladesh. China has already commenced hydropower generation on the upper reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo, which flows from the west to the east of Tibet. It is planning more projects upstream. Location : China First Published: December 26, 2024, 12:17 IST Donald Trump Jabs Justin Trudeau: 'If Canada Becomes Part Of US, Will Significantly Cut Taxes' Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 13:21 IST Donald Trump published a more lengthy "Merry Christmas" message that claimed Chinese soldiers were operating the Panama Canal. US President-elect Donald Trump. US President-elect Donald Trump published a mid-morning Merry Christmas" message on Truth Social on Wednesday with a photo of himself and his wife Melania, followed by over two dozen retweets of articles or other social media posts. The posts backed his political positions on topics including controversial Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth and his pursuit of Greenland and the Panama Canal. Later, Trump published a more lengthy Merry Christmas" message that claimed Chinese soldiers were operating the Panama Canal, and criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Biden and Democrats. related stories Merry Christmas to the Radical Left Lunatics, who are constantly trying to obstruct our Court System and our Elections," Trump wrote. They know that their only chance of survival is getting pardons from a man who has absolutely no idea what he is doing." Also, to Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada, whose Citizens Taxes are far too high, but if Canada was to become our 51st State, their Taxes would be cut by more than 60%," Trump wrote. Trump also nominated Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera to serve as ambassador to Panama on Wednesday. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Trump described Cabrera as a fierce fighter for America First principles" who he said has been instrumental in driving economic growth and fostering international partnerships. Few understand Latin American politics as well as Kevin He will do a FANTASTIC job representing our Nations interests in Panama!" he said in a post on Truth Social. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: December 26, 2024, 13:21 IST Israel Retaliates Against Houthis Missile Attacks, Strikes Yemen's Sana'a Airport Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 21:14 IST Israel carried out strikes at Sana'a Airport In Yemen, in response to week-long missile strikes by Houthis against Israel. Israel strikes Yemen's Sana'a Airport (Reuters Image) The Israeli military carried out strikes on Sanaa International Airport in Yemens capital on Thursday, Haaretz newspaper reported, citing an Israeli official. The IDF also struck the Hodeidah seaport in western Yemen. related stories Israels retaliation comes after a week of continued missile launches by the Houthis against Israel, which also included a recent hypersonic ballistic strike on Tel Aviv. The Houthis have time and again launched missiles targetting Israel since the beginning of the war in Gaza, in solidarity with the Palestinians. IDF Reacts To Strikes The IDF took to X and said that it carried out strikes against Houthis. Following the approval of operational plans by the Chief of the General Staff, the Minister of Defense and the Prime Minister, IAF fighter jets conducted intelligence-based strikes on military targets belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime on the western coast and inland Yemen a short while ago," the IDF tweeted. The Houthi terrorist regime has repeatedly attacked the State of Israel and its citizens, including in UAV and surface-to-surface missile attacks on Israeli territory," it added. The military said that it struck the military infrastructure used by the Houthis for its military activities in both the Sanaa International Airport and the Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power stations. In addition, the IDF struck military infrastructure in the Al-Hudaydah, Salif and Ras Kanatib ports on the western coast," it said. These military targets were used by the Houthi terrorist regime to smuggle Iranian weapons into the region and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. This is a further example of the Houthis exploitation of civilian infrastructure for military purposes," the IDF tweeted. Following the approval of operational plans by the Chief of the General Staff, the Minister of Defense and the Prime Minister, IAF fighter jets conducted intelligence-based strikes on military targets belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime on the western coast and inland Yemen pic.twitter.com/GnjyZgZv4m Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 26, 2024 Israel Preparing For Major Military Strike In Yemen: Reports Israel is reportedly gearing up for a major" military strike inside Yemen to target Houthis, in response to the ongoing missile and drone attacks, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Thursday. The reports emerged shortly before the information of an Israeli military strike on Sanaa airport came to the fore. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the Israeli government, in collaboration with the United States, may be weighing the option of escalating military actions following the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump in January 2025. A source informed the newspaper that discussions with American officials have included the possibility of launching a significant operation on Yemeni soil," emphasising the strong coordination between the two sides, with Washington recognising the need to intensify these attacks." Location : Yemen First Published: December 26, 2024, 20:08 IST Manhattan Taxicab Hits Many At Busy Herald Square On Christmas Day, 6 Injured Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 08:09 IST A taxi in Manhattans Herald Square hit multiple people, injuring six pedestrians. The driver was possibly suffering a medical episode, some officials said. Taxicab hits multiple pedestrians in Manhattan (Image: Social Media) At least six people, including a nine-year-old boy, were injured after a taxicab hit multiple pedestrians in midtown Manhattan, New York, on Wednesday. According to the Associated Press, three of the injured were taken to a hospital and were being treated for their injuries. The other three people who were hit by the taxi refused medical attention and were reported to be stable. related stories The report quoted a New York Police Department spokesperson as saying that the taxi driver may have suffered a medical episode". However, an official confirmation on the same was awaited. Video footage at the scene showed a damaged yellow taxi on the sidewalk cordoned off by police tape. The cars front bumper appeared to have fallen off. Later in the evening, the taxi was towed away. On Christmas Day, December 25, 2024, a taxi driver in Herald Square, Manhattan, possibly due to a medical episode, crashed into multiple pedestrians outside Macys at 34th Street and 6th Avenue.Six people were injured, including a 9-year-old boy. Three victims were pic.twitter.com/wurdPRfdiF The Informant (@theinformant_x) December 25, 2024 Two people, including the 9-year-old boy, were taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center, and one person was taken to Bellevue Hospital, the spokesperson was quoted as saying. The taxi cab jumped the curb near Macys flagship store at Herald Square around 4 pm (local Manhattan time) and hit the pedestrians on the sidewalk, the report quoted the police as saying, adding that the driver remained at the scene. One gentleman went over [to] shut the car off, got into it and shut it off. There was a whole group of us that ripped the fender off, lifted the car back," one of the witnesses, whose wife was among those injured, told the New York Post. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all I was parked in front of this car and I saw the car going onto the sidewalk and hitting people," Sam Mohammed, 35, a hot dog stand worker told the New York Post. He was serving customers when the taxi slammed onto the sidewalk mere feet away from him. There was no information on whether the taxi driver was arrested. First Published: December 26, 2024, 08:09 IST Azerbaijan Airlines Crash: Russian Missile May Have 'Shot Down' Plane, Kremlin Reacts Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 26, 2024, 18:36 IST According to Russian independent media outlet Meduza, footage of the plane shows traces of a large surface-to-air missile impact on the tail section of the plane. A drone view shows emergency specialists working at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan. (IMAGE: REUTERS) The Azerbaijani jet, which crashed in southwestern Kazakhstan and killed at least 38 passengers, may have been shot down by a Russian surface-to-air missile, international reports stated. Even as Russias aviation watchdog said that preliminary information suggested the pilot had decided to make an emergency landing after a bird strike, officials did not immediately explain why the plane had crossed the sea. related stories According to CNN, the crash came shortly after drone strikes hit southern Russia. The media house mentioned that the drone activity has shut airports in the area in the past and the nearest Russian airport on the planes flight path was closed on Wednesday morning. A report by the Wall Street Journal cited an alert to airlines by UK-based independent aviation security firm, Osprey Flight Solutions, which stated that the flight was likely shot down by a Russian military air-defence system." Video of the wreckage and the circumstances around the airspace security environment in southwest Russia indicates the possibility the aircraft was hit by some form of antiaircraft fire," Matt Borie, the chief intelligence officer of the firm was quoted as saying in an interview. According to Russian independent media outlet Meduza, footage of the plane shows traces of a large surface-to-air missile impact on the tail section of the plane. Azeri government sources told Euronews that the jet was hit by a Russian surface-to-air missile. Russia, reacting to the report, said that it is wrong to speculate". The investigation into the cause of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash is underway and it is wrong to speculate before it gives its conclusions," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. Similar-looking holes in the fuselage have reportedly been documented in numerous images and videos of military and civilian aircraft downed by surface-to-air missiles, The Kyiv Independent stated. On Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it would be wrong to speculate about the cause of the plane crash before an investigation had been carried out, according to Russian state media RIA Novosti. Embraer, a Brazilian manufacturer, said in a statement it is closely monitoring the situation and we remain fully committed to supporting the relevant authorities." Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 was traveling from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to Grozny in the Russian region of Chechnya before it made an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Aktau, the carrier said. Footage from the crash site captured the moment dazed survivors emerged from the charred plane. All of the survivors have been taken to hospitals, Kazakh authorities said earlier. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The bodies are in poor condition, mostly burnt, all collected," Bozumbayev said. Now they will be in the morgue, and identification will take place." There is only one survivor whose identity remains unknown, according to Bozumbayev. She is unconscious, has no documents, and is in the hospital," he added. Location : Kazakhstan First Published: December 26, 2024, 16:39 IST BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Chief Advisor of the Government of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus has sent a letter of condolences to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev regarding the crash of a passenger plane belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines near the Kazakh city of Aktau, Trend reports. "The people of Bangladesh and I are deeply shocked to hear reports of a passenger plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines that crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. We are profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of lives resulting from this plane crash. I offer my prayers for the departed souls of the victims and extend my heartfelt condolences to their grieving families. Additionally, I pray for the swift recovery of those who have been injured. Please know that in this moment of grief, we stand firmly in solidarity with the Republic of Azerbaijan, and our thoughts are with the people of Azerbaijan. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration," the letter said. Maryland Governor Wes Moore has officially received a Bronze Star, 18 years after his service in Afghanistan, following a mix-up over the initial processing of the award. The decoration was presented during a private ceremony at the governor's residence in Annapolis, confirmed by the governor's office. Lt. Gen. Michael Fenzel, a long-time friend and Moore's former commander, pinned the medal for "meritorious service" on Moore, acknowledging the overdue recognition by saying, "I'm so happy to be in a position to right a wrong." The controversy originated when Moore included the Bronze Star on a 2006 White House fellowship application, despite the paperwork being in flux at the time. Both men explained that Fenzel had advised Moore to list the award due to prior approval confirmations. However, the paperwork stalled, and although Moore won the fellowship, the medal was never officially granted until now. After the media reported in August that Moore had claimed the award without receiving it, Fenzel contacted the Army to rectify the omission and gather the necessary approvals from Moore's former superiors. The official citation was signed on November 19, with the news of Moore's award relayed personally by Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth at the Army-Navy game on December 14. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP) Gov. Greg Abbott, who once pledged to "eliminate all rapists" from his state of Texas, is now warning migrants that traffickers could rape and abuse them if they try to make their way to the United States. Per the Washington Post , Abbott is doing so via 40 or so billboards in four different languagesSpanish, Chinese, Arabic, and Russiansprinkled throughout Mexico and Central American nations like Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. "How much did you pay to have your daughter raped? Many girls are raped by the coyotes you hire," reads one sign in Spanish. Another warns, "Your wife and daughter will pay for the trip with their bodies." "These billboards tell the horror stories of human trafficking," Abbott says in a statement. "They implore those people in Central America to consider the violent, horrific realities of what will happen to the women and children they bring with them." He adds that his controversial Operation Lone Star for border control has done "incredible work" to tamp down on illegal immigration, "but this new effort is about stopping their journey from even beginning in the first place." He also warns that the arduous trip to the US could all be for naught. "The message is, 'Do not risk a dangerous trip just to be arrested and deported,'" he says, per the Post. The Texas Tribune reports that the billboard campaign is estimated to run about $100,000, according to Abbott. The Post notes that Texas is being positioned "to provide a blueprint for the expansive immigration crackdown promised by President-elect Donald Trump." Still, some experts aren't so sure that Abbott's newest initiative with the billboards will put a dent in immigration numbers. The violence migrants may face, for example, "is something they already know," UC Davis sociologist David Kyle tells the Post. Plus, "migrants or asylum-seekers come for reasons that go well beyond any threatening message that one can put on a bulletin board," adds Brad Jones, a poli-sci instructor from the same school. (More Texas stories.) Get the news faster. Tap to install our app. Access Newser even faster. Click here to install our app on your desktop. X An Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in the Gaza Strip overnight, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said early Thursday. The strike hit a car outside the Al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in the central part of the territory, per the AP . The journalists were working for the local Quds News Network. The Israeli military said it had targeted a group of fighters from Palestine Islamic Jihad, a militant group allied with Hamas. AP footage showed the incinerated shell of a van, with press markings still visible on the back doors. CNN, which notes that the news station has been tied to the PIJ, says that its own footage showed the vehicle engulfed in flames, with the words "TV" and "Press" seen on it. Other reporters present say that Ayman Al-Jadi, Faisal Abu Al-Qumsan, Mohammed Al-Lada'a, Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Ali, and Fadi Hassouna were all sleeping in the van when the strike took place. Al-Quds Today TV has slammed the attack and said the five died "while performing their journalistic and humanitarian duty." An Israeli military spokesperson, however, said on social media that claims about journalists being targeted were "fake," per the New York Times. "The IDF eliminated Islamic Jihad terrorists," wrote the IDF's Nadav Shoshani. The Committee to Protect Journalists says that more than 130 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the war started, per the AP. (More Israel-Hamas war stories.) Two brothers were lucky to make it to Christmas after a Tuesday avalanche nearly took out both of them. Hunter and Braeden Hansen were enjoying a Christmas Eve backcountry adventure on their snowmobiles in Utah's Logan Canyon, near the Idaho border, at about 8,400 feet elevation, per a release from the Utah Avalanche Center . Braeden was ahead of his older brother as they were ascending to a higher meadow when he "saw the snow ripple" around his sled and realized an avalanche had been triggered, NBC News reports. Braeden was able to avoid the worst of the rushing snow himself, but he watched as it barreled down the slope and swept Hunter away, burying him. The younger Hansen whipped out a transceiver to locate his brother, who'd been carried about 150 yards from the place where he'd been standing next to his snowmobile. "By the time I got to him ... his head was about 2 feet under the snow," Braeden tells NBC. "I could see his hand, his gloves, kind of poking out, waving." Braeden quickly dug the snow out from around his brother's head so that Hunter could breathe, then dug the rest of his body out. "The most violent thing I've ever felt," Hunter, who suffered just minor injuries, says of the avalanche. "It just washed me down the mountain." The brothers note that they always carry safety gear like beacons, shovels, and probes during their backcountry treks. Meanwhile, local officials warn that conditions on nearby mountains may still be perilous. "Remotely triggered avalanches remain possible, and dangerous avalanches might be triggered from flat terrain below steep slopes," says the UAC, warning that most slopes in northern Utah are currently "plagued by very poor snow structure," per KSL. (More avalanche stories.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. The Head of the Republic of Dagestan of the Russian Federation Sergey Melikov has sent a letter of condolences to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in connection with the crash of an AZAL airline passenger plane en route from Baku to Grozny, Trend reports. "Dear Ilham Heydarovich, On behalf of all Dagestanis and myself, I express my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who perished in the crash of the AZAL passenger plane that was flying from Baku to Grozny. We sincerely share in your grief and mourn together with you. Wishing a swift recovery to all the injured," the letter reads. Police in Colorado have arrested two parents and are trying to determine why they apparently left their infant in a road median, still in a car seat. The 1-month-old child appears to be OK, despite being clad only in a diaper on the cold morning, reports KDVR. The strange case began about 9:20am on Christmas when a motorist spotted the car seat, with the baby boy inside, in the median of what the station describes as a busy road. Temperatures were in the 30s that morning. A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen on Thursday targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization's director-general said that the bombardment occurred close to where he was at the time, getting ready to board a flight in Sanaa and that a crew member was injured. "The air traffic control tower, the departure loungejust a few meters from where we wereand the runway were damaged," tweeted Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The Israeli strikes followed several days of Houthi launches setting off sirens in Israel. The Israeli military said it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports in the cities of Hodeida, Al-Sali, and Ras Qantib, along with power stations. The strikes came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that "the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assad's regime and others learned" as his military has battled those more powerful proxies of Iran. Tedros was in Yemen to negotiate the release of detained UN staffers and to assess the overall humanitarian situation, he wrote. "We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave," he added. The Iran-backed Houthis' media outlet confirmed the strikes in a Telegram post but gave no immediate details. Israel has not responded to questions on whether it knew Tedros and WHO staffers were at the airport. Houthis control large swaths of the country from which they have launched frequent attacks on Israel, per the Washington Post. (More Israel stories.) The director of Home Alone has shot down a long-running urban legend about the source of the McCallister family's money. "Not organized crime," Chris Columbus said on the Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast. The question has been batted about for years because the McCallisters live in a Chicago mansion, but the parents' jobs are never spelled out, notes USA Today . Many have speculated that Kevin's dad, Peter, was in the mafiasee Exhibit A but it's not so, says Columbus. So how do the parents make their money? Mom Kate McCallister "was a very successful fashion designer," says Columbus, adding that he and writer/producer John Hughes discussed it while making the Christmas classic. (Note that Kevin used mannequins to fool the inept burglars.) And Peter's job? "I don't remember," says Columbus, adding that his best guess was advertising. But he is sure that Peter was not in the mob. "Even though there was, at the time, a lot of organized crime in Chicago." (More Home Alone stories.) Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India's economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the US, died Thursday. He was 92. Singh was admitted to New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated, the hospital said in a statement, and was treated for "age-related medical conditions," the statement said, per the AP . Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Singh as one of India's "most distinguished leaders," saying in a post on X that "he made extensive efforts to improve people's lives." A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of India's longest-serving prime ministers at 10 years and earned a reputation as a man of personal integrity. He was chosen to fill the role in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of assassinated Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. But his image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. Singh was elected to a second term as prime minister that was clouded by financial scandals and corruption charges over the organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This led to the Congress Party's crushing defeat in the 2014 national election by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Modi. Singh is credited with leading the country to unprecedented economic growth with policies that pulled hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, per CNBC. Modi also called Singh's interventions in Parliament as a lawmaker "insightful" and said "his wisdom and humility were always visible." The country's first Sikh prime minister, Singh adopted a low profile after relinquishing the post. (More obituary stories.) TDT | Manama Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com The recent gravel shortage affecting Bahrain's construction industry is expected to end gradually next month, according to industry sources. They attributed the shortage, which began in October, to several Bahraini companies securing contracts for a major project in the UAE. This led to the temporary diversion of barges typically used for gravel transport to the UAE, creating a supply bottleneck in the Bahraini market. These barges are expected to begin returning to Bahrain in January 2025, with a complete return anticipated by April, coinciding with the completion of the six-month UAE project. The Daily Tribune quoted an industry expert early, Riyadh Al Barmi, as saying that the price of gravel has soared to over 110 Bahraini dinars per ton, resulting in lengthy waiting lists for the essential building material and the creation of a black market. In the preceding months, gravel prices had fallen to unsustainable levels (BD 5.5 - BD 6 per ton), below the cost of production, due to a period of low demand and surplus supply. As per industry sources, companies were forced to operate at a loss to keep their vessels in operation. This, coupled with extended payment terms from construction companies (up to 12 months), created significant financial strain on gravel importers. Industry sources pointed out that previous gravel prices were unrealistic and below production costs. "Currently, importing companies are demanding cash payments from concrete and construction firms to settle outstanding dues before delivering new gravel supplies. This has contributed to heightened discussions about a severe shortage in the market," a source explained to the Daily Tribune, adding that :"Clients often request payment terms ranging from 70 to 90 days, while suppliers in Ras Al Khaimah require payment within just 15 days. This situation, along with other costs such as diesel fuel, vessel maintenance, and crew salaries, has forced local suppliers to bear these upfront expenses, making the continuity of supply a significant challenge. "The gravel prices were around 6 dinars a few months ago but have recently increased to approximately 7 dinars. Companies must now adopt new policies, providing gravel only to customers who pay immediately. Credit transactions are no longer feasible due to their negative impact on the market, he said. It's worth noting that Bahrain's annual demand for gravel is estimated at around 4.5 million tons. Concrete companies have increased ready-mixed concrete prices from approximately 28 dinars per cubic meter to 34 dinars, while the price for masonry blocks has risen from 22 to 26 dinars per hundred blocks over the past two months, in conjunction with changes in gravel prices. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Umaro Sissoco Embalo, President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, has sent a letter of condolences to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev regarding the deaths resulting from the crash of a passenger plane belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines, Trend reports. "It is with great sadness that, I learned about the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane on December 25, resulting in the tragic loss of many lives. In this time of mourning, I would like, on behalf of the people of Guinea-Bissau and in my own name, to express to Your Excellency, as well as to the people of Azerbaijan, my sincere condolences and sentiments of sympathy. Please accept, Your Excellency and Dear Brother, the assurances of my highest consideration," the letter said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Modular-type hospitals will be constructed in the cities of Jabrayil and Gubadli of Azerbaijan, Trend reports referring to the single internet portal for public procurement. The portal mentioned that the ball is already rolling on the design and cost documentation preparations. The data provided states that the "Innovation and Supply Center" public legal entity under the Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB) has completed its preparations for this project. The organization has tasked Storm Building LLC with developing the project and cost documentation for the construction of the hospitals and signed a contract worth 217,400 manat ($127,882) with the company. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel A fire early Monday gutted a bayfront Long Beach Island home and an Ocean County employee suffered head trauma in a fall during cleanup of the charred remains. The member of the Ocean County Road Department was flown by helicopter to a trauma center. His condition was not immediately available. The fire broke out at the 5,500-square-foot bayfront home on Holly Drive in the Loveladies section of Long Beach Township around 4:15 a.m. Monday, Barnegat Light Assistant Fire Chief Jeffrey Sponge Washburn said. The injured road department employee had just finished putting an excavator on a flatbed attached to his truck when he fell and injured his head, Washburn said. The owners of the home were in Hawaii when the fire occurred, said Washburn, who was among the first at the scene with Barnegat Light Fire Chief Fred Grimste. Its a total loss, Washburn said. Loveladies fire sceneBob Birdsall Zillow records show the house has 4 bedrooms, 7 baths and more than 5,500 square feet. More than 100 firefighters responded from Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Surf City, Ship Bottom, Beach Haven and from Stafford Township, Waretown, Forked River, and West Tuckerton, Washburn said. Washburn said firefighters were hampered by severe weather. It was below freezing, and everything was icing up. It was terrible because as soon as we put water on fire, everything started icing over our hoses and our nozzles, Washburn said. Barnegat Light First Aid Squad and Stafford Township Emergency Medical Services set up tents to help warm the firefighters, he said. Firefighters also were challenged by space, since the house was located on the Barnegat Bay lagoon. There was only one house next to it and it got no damage, Washburn said. Firefighters did a good job stopping the fire from spreading. Washburn said two firefighters had to be rescued after falling into a backyard pool while fighting the fire. Its a very large house. We had two people fall in a pool because the backyard had filled up with water, Washburn said. You couldnt see the pool because the cover had melted off. The fire was so hot that two jet skis on a nearby dock melted. It was intense, Washburn said. Firefighters remained on the scene until 4 p.m. Monday. They were called back for a small rekindle Monday night, he said. But we found it was just smoldering, Washburn said. Firefighters also had to pull water from the bay to battle the blaze, Washburn said. The Ocean County fire Marshal is investigating the cause and origin of the fire. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Stephanie Loder may be reached at SLoder@njadvancemedia.com. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. In accordance with the instructions of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, a group of experienced psychologists, doctors and rescuers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan, equipped with the necessary equipment, was sent to the city of Aktau by the Be-200 ES amphibious aircraft of the Ministry of Emergency Situations immediately after the crash of the passenger plane belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines, Trend reports, citing the ministry. In accordance with the assigned tasks, the ministry's psychologists provide emergency psychological assistance to the victims, and, if necessary, medical interventions are carried out by doctors. The ministry's rescuers also take appropriate measures in the area where the accident occurred. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. A delegation from the State Civil Aviation Agency under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has arrived in Kazakhstan following the recent crash of an Embraer 190 aircraft near Aktau, Trend reports via the Kazakh Ministry of Transport. "According to the Rules for the Submission of Data and Investigation of Aviation Accidents and Incidents in Civil and Experimental Aviation, the Ministry of Transport has established a Commission to investigate the aviation accident. Employees of the Department for the Investigation of Transport Accidents and Incidents are on-site conducting the field phase of the investigation. The delegation from Azerbaijans State Civil Aviation Agency and AZAL representatives have arrived," the ministry stated. The investigation is being carried out in close collaboration with Azerbaijani aviation authorities. "Representatives from the aircraft manufacturer, Embraer, and CENIPA [Brazils Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center] have also flown to Kazakhstan. The Government Commission, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, includes the Minister of Transport Marat Karabaev, Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastaev, Director of the Department for the Investigation of Transport Accidents and Incidents Nurzhan Malayev, Chair of the Civil Aviation Committee Saltanat Tompieva, and General Director of RGP 'KazAeroNavigation' Nurzhan Akhmetov," the ministry added. To note, the Embraer 190, operated by AZAL and flying from Baku to Grozny, crashed three kilometers from Aktau airport yesterday. The aircraft had 67 people on board, including 62 passengers and 5 crew members. Among the passengers, 37 were Azerbaijani nationals, with 23 confirmed dead and 14 survivors. The 16 Russian passengers included 7 fatalities and 9 survivors, while all 6 Kazakh passengers died. Both pilots were killed in the crash, and 3 of the 5 crew members survived. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Today, 12 surviving passengers of the AZAL airplane that crashed in Aktau will be flown to Azerbaijan, Trend reports. According to the information, 7 people, whose condition is satisfactory, will be delivered to their homeland by regular flight, and 5 passengers, whose condition is assessed as moderately serious, by a special plane of the Ministry of Emergency Situations accompanied by a special medical brigade. To note, AZAL Airlines' Embraer 190 passenger plane, flying the Baku-Grozny route, crashed three kilometers from Aktau Airport yesterday. A total of 67 people were on board the aircraft, including 62 passengers and 5 crew members. The updated data shows that among the passengers were: 37 citizens of Azerbaijan, of whom 23 died, 14 survived; 3 citizens of Kyrgyzstan, all survived; 16 citizens of Russia, of whom 7 died, 9 survived; 6 citizens of Kazakhstan are all dead. Both pilots of the airplane were killed. Of the five crew members, three survived. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Today, 12 surviving passengers of the AZAL airplane that crashed in Aktau will be flown to Azerbaijan, Trend reports. According to the information, 7 people, whose condition is satisfactory, will be delivered to their homeland by regular flight, and 5 passengers, whose condition is assessed as moderately serious - by a special plane of the Ministry of Emergency Situations accompanied by a special medical brigade. To note, AZAL Airlines' Embraer 190 passenger plane, flying the Baku-Grozny route, crashed three kilometers from Aktau Airport yesterday. A total of 67 people were on board the aircraft, including 62 passengers and 5 crew members. The updated data shows that among the passengers were: 37 citizens of Azerbaijan, of whom 23 died, 14 survived; 3 citizens of Kyrgyzstan, all survived; 16 citizens of Russia, of whom 7 died, 9 survived; 6 citizens of Kazakhstan, are all dead. Both pilots of the airplane were killed. Of the five crew members, three survived. EIGHT TAKEAWAYS How Israel Weakened Civilian Protections When Bombing Hamas Fighters An investigation by The New York Times has found that Israel, in the weeks after Hamass Oct. 7 attack, severely undermined its system of safeguards to make it easier to strike Gaza, and used flawed methods to find targets and assess the risk to civilians. The Israeli military acknowledged changes to its rules of engagement but said they were made in the context of an unprecedented military threat and always complied with the laws of war. Here are some of the main takeaways from the investigation. Raised threshold for civilian harm per pre-emptive strike Expanded list of targets Often dropped large, inaccurate bombs Frequently used a crude risk assessment Lifted caps on how many civilians could be endangered each day Struck too fast to vet all targets properly Used artificial intelligence to help search for targets Often relied on outdated intelligence Lifted caps on how many civilians could be endangered each day Struck too fast to vet all targets properly Raised threshold for civilian harm per pre-emptive strike Expanded list of targets Used artificial intelligence to help search for targets Often dropped large, inaccurate bombs Frequently used a crude risk assessment Often relied on outdated intelligence Lifted caps on how many civilians could be endangered each day Struck too fast to vet all targets properly Raised threshold for civilian harm per pre-emptive strike Expanded list of targets Used artificial intelligence to help search for targets Often dropped large, inaccurate bombs Frequently used a crude risk assessment Often relied on outdated intelligence Raised threshold of civilian harm per pre-emptive strike In previous conflicts with Hamas, Israeli officers were usually only allowed to endanger fewer than 10 civilians in a given strike. In many cases the limit was five, or even zero. At the start of this war, the Israeli military increased that threshold to 20, before reducing it in certain contexts a month later. Strikes that could harm more than 100 civilians would also be permitted on a case-by-case basis. In previous conflicts Officers mostly authorized strikes that risked zero, up to five or up to 10 civilians. Level 0 0 civilians Level 1 Up to 5 Level 2 Up to 10 In this war Officers ordered strikes that risked killing up to 20. Standard Up to 20 On rare occasions, senior commanders approved one-off strikes on top Hamas leaders who planned the Oct. 7 attack that they knew would each endanger more than 100 civilians. With approval More than 100 In previous conflicts In this war Officers mostly authorized strikes that risked killing zero, up to five or up to 10 civilians. Officers ordered strikes that risked killing up to 20. Standard Up to 20 Level 0 0 civilians On rare occasions, senior commanders approved one-off strikes on top Hamas leaders who planned the Oct. 7 attack that they knew would each endanger more than 100 civilians. Level 1 Up to 5 Level 2 Up to 10 With approval More than 100 In previous conflicts In this war Officers mostly authorized strikes that risked killing zero, up to five or up to 10 civilians. Officers ordered strikes that risked killing up to 20. On rare occasions, senior commanders approved one-off strikes on top Hamas leaders who planned the Oct. 7 attack that they knew would each endanger more than 100 civilians. Level 0 0 civilians Level 1 Up to 5 Level 2 Up to 10 Standard Up to 20 With approval More than 100 In previous conflicts In this war Officers mostly authorized strikes that risked killing zero, up to five or up to 10 civilians. Officers ordered strikes that risked killing up to 20. On rare occasions, senior commanders approved one-off strikes on top Hamas leaders who planned the Oct. 7 attack that they knew would each endanger more than 100 civilians. Level 0 0 civilians Level 1 Up to 5 Level 2 Up to 10 Standard Up to 20 With approval More than 100 Expanded list of targets Israel vastly increased the number of military targets that it proactively sought to strike. Officers could now pursue not only the smaller pool of senior Hamas commanders, arms depots and rocket launchers that were the focus of earlier campaigns, but also thousands of low-ranking fighters as well as those indirectly involved in military matters. In earlier wars, Israel focused on senior commanders. In this war, all lower-ranked militants also became a priority. In earlier wars, Israel focused on senior commanders. In this war, all lower-ranked militants also became a priority. Removed limits on how many civilians could be put at risk each day The military leadership briefly ordered that its forces could cumulatively risk killing up to 500 civilians a day in preplanned strikes. Two days later, even this limit was lifted, allowing officers to conduct as many strikes as they deemed lawful. Officers were permitted to risk killing hundreds of civilians per day across various strikes Officers were permitted to risk killing hundreds of civilians per day across various strikes Officers were permitted to risk killing hundreds of civilians per day across various strikes Struck too fast to vet all targets properly The pace of the bombing campaign was one of the most intense in 21st-century warfare, which officers said made it far harder to vet targets properly. Israel dropped or fired nearly 30,000 munitions into Gaza in the first seven weeks, at least 30 times more than the U.S.-led coalition fired in the first seven weeks of its bombing campaign against ISIS. 50,000 40,000 Around 30,000 munitions fired in first seven weeks 30,000 20,000 10,000 Oct. Jan. June 2023 2024 Around 30,000 munitions fired in first seven weeks 50,000 munitions fired 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. March April May June 2023 2024 Used a simplistic risk assessment Israel often used a simplistic statistical model to assess the risk of civilian harm: It regularly estimated the number of civilians in a building where a target was believed to be hiding by using a formula based largely on the level of cellphone usage in the surrounding neighborhood. To gauge the number of civilians in a building listed for attack, the military often depended on estimates of cellphone usage in the surrounding neighborhood. The model wasn't always accurate. Officers said they couldnt pinpoint the exact location of every phone. The model also assumed that people would be spread throughout the area, instead of clustering in large groups. If the network was down or Gazans didn't have electricity to power their phone, their devices were much harder to trace. To gauge the number of civilians in a building listed for attack, the military often depended on estimates of cellphone usage in the surrounding neighborhood. The model wasn't always accurate. Officers said they couldnt pinpoint the exact location of every phone. The model also assumed that people would be spread throughout the area, instead of clustering in large groups. If the network was down or Gazans didn't have electricity to power their phone, their devices were much harder to trace. Dropped large, inaccurate bombs In previous wars, the air force would often use a roof knock, a smaller munition to give civilians some time to flee an imminent attack. From the first day of this war, Israel significantly reduced its use of roof knocks. The military also sometimes used less-accurate dumb bombs, as well as 2,000-pound bombs. In previous wars In this war Residents may have received a "roof knock," or a warning shot first, before an attack. Israel sometimes used 2,000-pound bombs, which form 40-ft craters and can spread lethal shrapnel 400 yards. In previous wars In this war Residents may have received a "roof knock," or a warning shot first, before an attack. Israel sometimes used 2,000-pound bombs, which form 40-ft craters and can spread lethal shrapnel 400 yards. Used AI to propose targets Israel used an artificial intelligence system in a widespread way for the first time. It helped officers analyze and sign off on targets exponentially more quickly, increasing the number of targets that officers could propose each day. 1. One version of the system automatically tracked the phones of targets. When the phone appeared to be at the militants home, the system would alert intelligence officers. 2. The machine was taught to identify certain phrases in the phone calls. 3. Humans would then analyze and sign off on the target. But the automated system made that process exponentially quicker. It also depended on unreliable data. 1. 2. 3. One version of the system automatically tracked the phones of targets. When the phone appeared to be at the militants home, the system would alert intelligence officers. The machine was taught to identify certain phrases in the phone calls. Humans would then analyze and sign off on the target. But the automated system made that process exponentially quicker. It also depended on unreliable data. 1. 2. 3. One version of the system automatically tracked the phones of targets. When the phone appeared to be at the militants home, the system would alert intelligence officers. The machine was taught to identify certain phrases in the phone calls. Humans would then analyze and sign off on the target. But the automated system made that process exponentially quicker. It also depended on unreliable data. Delayed strikes Hours often passed between when an officer vetted a target and when the air force launched a strike at him. This meant strikes often relied on outdated intelligence. It's now just a distant, and at times very vague memory, but 'The Harriers' in Tullamore was the spot for a number of generations to head to on a Saturday night and there was no bigger night than New Year's Eve!!! And it wasn't just people from Tullamore who descended on the venue. Buses came from all across Offaly and further afield emptying their loads of excited teenagers in the car park. Take a trip down memory lane and see how many of these 15 things you remember! 1 Waiting nervously in the queue to more than likely be asked for ID you most certainly didn't have. No such thing as Age Cards back in the day which made life much easier for intrepid 15, 16 and 17-year-olds. This was followed by the sense of sheer relief or bitter disappointment when you did or didn't get past the front desk. It was all down to confidence and, for the lads, that little scruffy bit of facial hair. 2 Finding someone in the long, long line for the cloakroom who would hang up your denim jacket or alternatively, finding a dark corner up the back to dump it for the night as standing in the queue was wasting valuable drinking time. 3 Getting in early on a busy night to avoid the long queue when the buses arrived from all points in the midlands. You were also trying to get a booth near the bar or up the back in 'The Restaurant'. 4 Being a hero at the bar and ordering double vodkas or double Famous Grouse knowing full well it was all going to end badly before you got out the door that night. 5 If you were a lad, prowling the floor when you knew the slow set was about to start in the hopes of getting the shift. 6 If you were a girl, watching out for the lads prowling the floor when the slow set was about to start and doing your level best to dodge them. 7 The sound of numerous teens puking in the toilets while you waited outside the door trying desperately not to lose the contents of your stomach all over the floor! 8 What live music was really like and how many great Irish bands were touring the country during the late 80s and early 90s with The Stunning, The 4 of Us and An Emotional Fish being among the regular visitors. 9 The pain in your neck the next day after head banging to Thunderstruck, Whole Lotta Rosie, Black Betty and various other metal tunes. 10 The helpful hand picking you off the floor in the mosh pit after you unwisely chose to bounce off someone twice your size and half as drunk when Smells Like Teen Spirit was blasted out. 11 The drunk lad who seemed to knock a drink out of everyone's hand no matter how much you tried to dodge him while coming up the steps from the dance floor 12 Gyrating your body in some weird and wonderful way and trying to convince other people that you were actually dancing. 13 Trying to jump the queue to get your coat from the cloakroom (if you bothered putting it there in the first place) as the girl you were snogging earlier in the night had already left with her friends and you were desperate to catch up with her before she got on her bus to God knows where. 14 Staggering home afterwards with a curry chips because someone told you that hid the smell of alcohol on your breath. Turns out it didn't and you spent a lot of time trying to convince your irate parents you really only had one pint despite the puke stains all down your clothes. 15 Not having to worry about your every move and indiscretion being posted all across social media the next day. Back then we had to rely on vague flashbacks and the day after postmortem with friends to piece together what we did. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. The tragedy in Aktau demonstrated that Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are allies not in words but in deeds, Kazakh Ambassador to Azerbaijan Alim Bayel told reporters, Trend reports. A friend in need is a friend indeed. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan share both joy and sorrow together. On the instructions of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President Ilham Aliyev, the competent authorities of both countries are jointly taking all necessary measures to investigate the causes of the plane crash and provide priority assistance, he said. The official underscored that the fraternal nations exemplify a robust paradigm of solidarity and reciprocal support. State structures go on coordinating processes; rescuers, medics, and transport workers worked promptly; many concerned citizens of Kazakhstan prayed, donated blood, and carried flowers to the Azerbaijani diplomatic missions in Aktau and Astana. Today the flag is lowered in the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Baku. The tragedy demonstrated that Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are allies not in words but in deeds. This inspires optimism and confidence in the future, Alim Bayel added. To note, AZAL's Embraer 190 passenger plane on the Baku-Grozny route crashed 3 km away from Aktau airport on December 25. A total of 67 people (62 passengers and 5 crew members) were on board the Embraer 190 airplane, flying Baku-Grozny, which crashed in Aktau. Following the crash of the passenger airplane near Aktau, 27 people were hospitalized. Of them, 15 people are citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 8 of the Russian Federation, and 3 of the Kyrgyz Republic. The identity of one person has not been established yet. Of the victims hospitalized, 11 are being treated in the intensive care unit, 13 in the traumatology department, 2 in the neurosurgery department, and 1 in the surgical department. These persons are under the control of professional doctors from Kazakhstan and those expelled from Azerbaijan and Russia. They were provided with prompt and specialized medical and psychological treatment. Both crew pilots as well as the flight stewardess were killed, but two crew members survived. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Three crew members of an AZAL aircraft operating the Baku-Grozny flight died in a crash near Aktau, Kazakhstans Ministry of Emergency Situations said, Trend reports. According to the ministry, two pilots and one flight attendant were killed, while two other crew members survived the incident. Additionally, the identities of seven people who perished in the crash near Aktau have been identified. To note, AZAL's Embraer 190 passenger plane on the Baku-Grozny route crashed 3 km away from Aktau airport on December 25. A total of 67 people (62 passengers and 5 crew members) were on board the Embraer 190 airplane, flying Baku-Grozny, which crashed in Aktau. Following the crash of the passenger airplane near Aktau, 27 people were hospitalized. Of them, 15 people are citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 8 of the Russian Federation, and 3 of the Kyrgyz Republic. The identity of one person has not been established yet. Of the victims hospitalized, 11 are being treated in the intensive care unit, 13 in the traumatology department, 2 in the neurosurgery department, and 1 in the surgical department. These persons are under the control of professional doctors from Kazakhstan and those expelled from Azerbaijan and Russia. They were provided with prompt and specialized medical and psychological treatment. Both crew pilots as well as the flight stewardess were killed, but two crew members survived. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Following the AZAL passenger plane crash near Aktau, medical personnel from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan are working at the site under the instructions of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports. Dr. Nigar Panahova, a physician with the medical service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan, informed the media about the situation on Thursday. According to her, a team of psychologists from the Ministry's medical service has met with the victims and provided psychological support. "The total number of injured is 29. Of these, 27 were hospitalized at the Mangistau regional hospital. Two children were taken to a different hospital. The condition of three patients is critical," she said. Panahova also noted that patients in stable condition are expected to be transferred to Baku soon. To note, AZAL's Embraer 190 passenger plane on the Baku-Grozny route crashed 3 km away from Aktau airport on December 25. A total of 67 people (62 passengers and 5 crew members) were on board the Embraer 190 airplane, flying Baku-Grozny, which crashed in Aktau. Following the crash of the passenger airplane near Aktau, 27 people were hospitalized. Of them, 15 people are citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 8 of the Russian Federation, and 3 of the Kyrgyz Republic. The identity of one person has not been established yet. Of the victims hospitalized, 11 are being treated in the intensive care unit, 13 in the traumatology department, 2 in the neurosurgery department, and 1 in the surgical department. These persons are under the control of professional doctors from Kazakhstan and those expelled from Azerbaijan and Russia. They were provided with prompt and specialized medical and psychological treatment. Both crew pilots as well as the flight stewardess were lost, but two crew members survived. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. As previously stated, December 26 was designated a day of mourning in Azerbaijan in response to the sad fatalities resulting from the AZAL jet disaster near Aktau, Kazakhstan, Trend reports. In a solemn embrace of national sorrow, the flags of the nation have been gently lowered, draping the land in a shroud of respect and remembrance. Additionally, the central Baku New Year's trees have had their lights switched off. We also present photos taken by one of our agencys employees to our readers, depicting the lowered state flags in the capital of Azerbaijan in commemoration of the victims of the plane tragedy. To note, AZAL's Embraer 190 passenger plane on the Baku-Grozny route crashed 3 km away from Aktau airport on December 25. A total of 67 people (62 passengers and 5 crew members) were on board the Embraer 190 airplane, flying Baku-Grozny, which crashed in Aktau. Following the crash of the passenger airplane near Aktau, 27 people were hospitalized. Of them, 15 people are citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 8 of the Russian Federation, and 3 of the Kyrgyz Republic. The identity of one person has not been established yet. Of the victims hospitalized, 11 are being treated in the intensive care unit, 13 in the traumatology department, 2 in the neurosurgery department, and 1 in the surgical department. These persons are under the control of professional doctors from Kazakhstan and those expelled from Azerbaijan and Russia. They were provided with prompt and specialized medical and psychological treatment. Both crew pilots as well as the flight stewardess were lost, but two crew members survived. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. In response to the tragic crash of an AZAL passenger plane near Aktau, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijans political parties issued a joint statement expressing their sorrow and solidarity with the victims' families, Trend reports. The tragic news of the December 25, 2024, crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) passenger plane traveling from Baku to Grozny has deeply saddened the entire Azerbaijani nation. In response, President Ilham Aliyev cut short his visit to the Russian Federation, urgently returning to Azerbaijan to lead an operational meeting regarding the crash. Following his orders, a state commission was established to investigate the causes of the incident, provide assistance to the families of the victims, and address matters related to injured foreign citizens. A national day of mourning has been declared in the country. We believe that the responsible authorities will swiftly analyze the consequences of this tragedy, provide the public with detailed information, and offer necessary state assistance to those affected. The political parties that signed the statement expressed their deep condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims and wished a swift recovery to those injured. In these difficult times, we stand united with our people and the state, and we condemn any attempts to politicize this tragic event. We call for solidarity among all our citizens and Azerbaijanis around the world. May the Almighty protect our people from troubles! 1. New Azerbaijan Party 2. Civil Solidarity Party (CSP) - Sabir Rustamkhanli 3. Ana Veten Party - Fazail Agamali 4. All-Azerbaijani Popular Front Party - Gudrat Hasanguliyev 5. Great Revival Party - Fazil Mustafa 6. Democratic Reforms Party - Asim Mollazade 7. Democratic Enlightenment Party of Azerbaijan - Elshan Musayev 8. National Front Party - Chairman Razi Nurullayev 9. National Independence Party of Azerbaijan - Arzukhan Alizade 10. Great Azerbaijan Party - Elshad Musayev 11. Law and Justice Party - Ali Insanov 12. Unity Party - Tahir Karimli 13. Umid Party - Igbal Aghazade 14. National Revival Movement Party - Faraj Guliyev;" reads the statement. To note, AZAL's Embraer 190 passenger plane on the Baku-Grozny route crashed 3 km away from Aktau airport on December 25. A total of 67 people (62 passengers and 5 crew members) were on board the Embraer 190 airplane, flying Baku-Grozny, which crashed in Aktau. Following the crash of the passenger airplane near Aktau, 27 people were hospitalized. Of them, 15 people are citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 8 of the Russian Federation, and 3 of the Kyrgyz Republic. The identity of one person has not been established yet. Of the victims hospitalized, 11 are being treated in the intensive care unit, 13 in the traumatology department, 2 in the neurosurgery department, and 1 in the surgical department. These persons are under the control of professional doctors from Kazakhstan and those expelled from Azerbaijan and Russia. They were provided with prompt and specialized medical and psychological treatment. Both crew pilots as well as the flight stewardess were lost, but two crew members survived. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Oljas Bektenov, signed the condolence book at the Azerbaijani Embassy in Astana following the tragic crash of an Embraer 190 passenger plane operated by AZAL near the Aktau airport, Trend reports via the Prime Minister's press service. "In this difficult moment, on behalf of the Government of Kazakhstan and myself, I express my deepest condolences to the families, relatives, and loved ones of the victims. Sharing the pain of the loss, I wish a swift recovery to those affected by the crash and patience and strength to the Azerbaijani people. We will provide the fraternal Azerbaijan with the necessary assistance and full support," Bektenov wrote. Earlier, Olzhas Bektenov extended his condolences to the families of the deceased Kazakh citizens and instructed that full support be provided to the affected citizens of Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan. Assistance is being offered to the families of the deceased passengers who have arrived in Aktau. To note, AZAL's Embraer 190 passenger plane on the Baku-Grozny route crashed 3 km away from Aktau airport on December 25. A total of 67 people (62 passengers and 5 crew members) were on board the Embraer 190 airplane, flying Baku-Grozny, which crashed in Aktau. Following the crash of the passenger airplane near Aktau, 27 people were hospitalized. Of them, 15 people are citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 8 of the Russian Federation, and 3 of the Kyrgyz Republic. The identity of one person has not been established yet. Of the victims hospitalized, 11 are being treated in the intensive care unit, 13 in the traumatology department, 2 in the neurosurgery department, and 1 in the surgical department. These persons are under the control of professional doctors from Kazakhstan and those expelled from Azerbaijan and Russia. They were provided with prompt and specialized medical and psychological treatment. Both crew pilots as well as the flight stewardess were lost, but two crew members survived. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel KHANKENDI, Azerbaijan, December 26. On December 26 at 12:00 p.m. in Khankendi city, as well as in the whole territory of Azerbaijan, a minute of silence was marked to honor the memory of those who died in the crash of the plane belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), Trend reports. According to the information, traffic and pedestrian movement were suspended, and state flags were lowered. In connection with the tragedy, the Winter Fairy Tale fair, which was scheduled for December 26 in Khankendi city, was postponed indefinitely. To note, on December 25, an Embraer 190 passenger plane belonging to AZAL, flying on the Baku-Grozny route, crashed 3 kilometers from Aktau airport. To note, AZAL's Embraer 190 passenger plane on the Baku-Grozny route crashed 3 km away from Aktau airport on December 25. A total of 67 people (62 passengers and 5 crew members) were on board the Embraer 190 airplane, flying Baku-Grozny, which crashed in Aktau. Following the crash of the passenger airplane near Aktau, 27 people were hospitalized. Of them, 15 people are citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 8 of the Russian Federation, and 3 of the Kyrgyz Republic. The identity of one person has not been established yet. Of the victims hospitalized, 11 are being treated in the intensive care unit, 13 in the traumatology department, 2 in the neurosurgery department, and 1 in the surgical department. These persons are under the control of professional doctors from Kazakhstan and those expelled from Azerbaijan and Russia. They were provided with prompt and specialized medical and psychological treatment. Both crew pilots as well as the flight stewardess were lost, but two crew members survived. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel In today's world of widespread poverty and unprecedented wealth, how about raising the wages of the most poorly-paid workers? This October, the World Bank reported that "8.5 percent of the global population-- almost 700 million people-- live today on less than $2.15 per day", while "44 percent of the global population-- around 3.5 billion people-- live today on less than $6.85 per day". Meanwhile, "global poverty reduction has slowed to a near standstill". In early 2024, the charity group Oxfam International noted that, since 2020, "148 top corporations made $1.8 trillion in profit, 52 percent up on 3-year average, and dished out huge payouts to rich shareholders". During this same period, the world's five wealthiest men "more than doubled their fortunes from $405 billion to $869 billion", an increase of $14 million per hour. As corporate elites gathered in Davos for a chat about the world economy, ten corporations alone were worth $10.2 trillion, more than the GDPs of all the countries in Africa and Latin America combined. The world's vast economic inequality "is no accident", concluded a top Oxfam official. "The billionaire class is ensuring corporations deliver more wealth to them at the expense of everyone else." Although inequalities in income and wealth have existed throughout much of human history, they have been softened somewhat by a variety of factors, including labor unions and-- in modern times-- minimum wage laws. Designed to provide workers with a basic standard of living, these laws create a floor below which wages are not allowed to sink. In 1894, New Zealand became the first nation to enact a minimum wage law, and-- pressured by the labor movement and public opinion-- other countries (including the United States in 1938) followed its lead. Today, more than 90 percent of the world's nations have some kind of minimum wage law in effect. These minimum wage laws have had very positive effects upon the lives of workers. Most notably, they lifted large numbers of wage earners out of poverty. In addition, they undermined the business practice of slashing wages (and thus reducing production costs) to increase profit margins or to cut prices and grab a larger share of the market. Even so, the growth of multinational corporations provided businesses with opportunities to slip past these national laws and dramatically reduce their labor costs by moving production of goods and services to low-wage nations. This corporate offshoring of jobs and infrastructure gathered steam in the mid-20th century. Initially, multinational corporations focused on outsourcing low-skilled or unskilled manufacturing jobs, which had a negative impact on employment and wages in advanced industrial nations. In the 21st century, however, the outsourcing of skilled jobs, particularly in financial management and IT operations, rose dramatically. After all, from the standpoint of enhancing corporate profits, it made good sense to replace an American IT worker with an Indian IT worker at 13 percent the cost. The result was an accelerating race to the bottom. In the United States, this export of formerly good-paying jobs to low-wage, impoverished countries-- combined with "free trade" agreements, a corporate and government assault on unions, and conservative obstruction of any raise in the pathetically low federal minimum wage ($7.25 per hour)-- produced a disaster. The share of private sector goods-producing jobs at high wages shrank, since the 1960s, from 42 to 17 percent. Increasingly, U.S. jobs were located in the low-paid service sector. Not surprisingly, by 2023 an estimated 43 million Americans lived in poverty, while another 49 million lived just above the official poverty line. Little wonder that, in this nation and many others caught up in corporate globalization, there was an alarming rise of right-wing demagogues playing on economic grievances, popular hatreds, and fears. If, therefore, wages in underdeveloped nations and in advanced industrial nations are not keeping pace with the vast accumulation of capital by the world's wealthiest people and their corporations, one way to counter this situation is to move beyond the disintegrating patchwork of wage-floor efforts by individual nations and develop a global minimum wage. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Portlands vibrant vegan food scene has claimed six first place wins in the second annual Restaurant Awards by VegNews magazine. VegNews, which claims to be the largest vegan media brand in the world, asked readers across the country to nominate their favorite eateries, then added a panel of judges to weigh in on the winners. Across 20 categories, Portland restaurants claimed six No. 1 spots, tying for Los Angeles as the city with the most first place wins. Here are the best vegan spots in Portland, according to VegNews: Vertical Diner at 8124 S.W. Barbur Blvd.Courtesy of Vertical Diner Vertical Diner: Best Vegan Diner This diner started in Salt Lake City, but opened a Portland location at 8124 S.W. Barbur Blvd. in 2019. Located inside a retro diner building, VegNews says Vertical Diner is known for its juicy mango-habanero chicken tenders, all-day American breakfast classics, and even some not-what-youd-expect diner fare like vegan escargot with carrot butter and crostini. Chicharron tacos from Mis TaconesCourtesy of Mis Tacones Mis Tacones: Best Vegan Mexican Restaurant The is the second time Mis Tacones, 1670 N.E. Killingsworth St., won this honor. VegNews specifically recognized the Chicano- and queer-owned vegan taquerias hand-pressed nixtamalized tortillas, crispy bean curd chicharron (and) sunflower cotija cheese. The restaurant also came in No. 5 in The Oregonians recent readers choice poll for Best Mexican Restaurant. The vegan fried chicken (made from all plant ingredients) at Dirty Lettuce.Courtesy of Dirty Lettuce Dirty Lettuce: Best Vegan Soul Food Starting as a food cart, Dirty Lettuce opened a brick-and-mortar location at 4727 N.E. Fremont St. in 2021. And though it might be a surprise for a Portland spot to have the best of a Southern cuisine, restaurant owner Alkebulan Moroski hails from Jackson, Mississippi. As The Oregonians Michael Russell wrote, Dirty Lettuce fries up seitan chicken to a satisfying crunch and slathers tender ribs in a sweet-tangy barbecue sauce. This is serious comfort food, hold the meat. Zucchini rye cakes by Orange & Blossom.Courtesy of Orange & Blossom Orange & Blossom: Best Vegan Bakery This new Portland patisserie, 1612 N.E. Killingsworth St., opened in 2023 after first starting as a farmers market stand. Founder Marisa Kroes was the executive pastry chef at the James Beard Award-winning Slanted Door in San Francisco before starting Orange & Blossom. VegNews recommends trying the miso butterscotch sticky bun or hazelnut apple financier. Kates Ice Cream: Best Vegan Ice Cream Spot As The Oregonians Lizzy Acker wrote, Kate Williams, the creator of Kates Ice Cream, began making vegan ice cream in a basement in Boston eight years ago, first for her sister who couldnt eat dairy, and then for a wider and wider audience. In 2019, after moving to Portland, she started selling Kates Ice Cream at the PSU Portland Farmers Market. Three years later, she opened a brick-and-mortar shop at 3713 N. Mississippi Ave. VegNews recommends Kates homemade take on Choco Tacos. Feral, 1640 N.E. Killingsworth St., open last November and was named VegNews' Best New Vegan Restaurant of the Year.Courtesy of Feral PDX Feral: Best New Vegan Restaurant Feral, 1640 N.E. Killingsworth St., open last November. Here, VegNews writes, wild and foraged foods take center stage, and the menu changes regularly based on whats seasonably available. The magazine gives a shoutout to the restaurants baked leek fondue with Vtopian cheese and fried Triscuits, and cheesecake miso-apple cider butterscotch. Subscribe to The Best Thing I Ate This Week newsletter Each week, restaurant critic Michael Russell takes Oregonian/OregonLive subscribers along on his culinary explorations. Not a subscriber? You can receive a few weeks of The Best Thing I Ate This Week newsletter as a free trial. Sign up here. Samantha Swindler covers features for The Oregonian/OregonLive and Here is Oregon. Reach her at sswindler@oregonian.com. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. Each year the Census Bureau calculates what share of school-aged children in every U.S. school district live below the poverty line. New figures released last week show that Lake Oswego and Sherwood rank among the 5% of U.S. districts with at least 1,000 residents aged 5 to 17 in which child poverty is rarest. The bureau estimates that just 3% of children 5 and older in each of those districts lived in a household with an income below the poverty line in 2023. Among all 7,200 U.S. districts with at least 1,000 school-aged residents, the median child poverty rate was 13%, the bureau reported. The Oregon school district closest to that typical rate was Bethel, home to nearly 6,300 students in the Eugene area, an estimated 13% of whom were poor according to the federal standard. That district is known for its notable successes at teaching children to read. At the other end of the spectrum in Oregon, no district ranked in the 5% of U.S. districts with the highest child poverty rates. But one Klamath Falls City Schools ranked among the 10% of districts with the greatest share of school-aged children navigating poverty. An estimated 28% of Klamath Citys more than 3,800 children faced that challenge, the bureau reported. Most Oregon districts with the highest child poverty rates are located in rural areas, including Sweet Home at 22%, Ontario at 23%, and Milton-Freewater at 24%. The Census Bureau bases its yearly child poverty estimates on data it collects plus information from the IRS and food stamp applications. The estimates cover all children living in a school districts boundaries, regardless of whether they attend that districts schools. Schools that serve high shares of children living below the poverty line have to work harder and smarter to help those students become proficient in core academics, earn diplomas and go on to college or promising careers. Oregons school funding formula partially takes that into account by giving districts 25% more funding per pupil for each of those living below the poverty line. Among the nations roughly 450 districts with at least 20,000 residents ages 5 to 17, the perhaps aptly named Prosper Independent School District in Texas had the lowest child poverty rate, at 2%, the Census Bureau reported. Detroit Public Schools had the highest rate, with more than 44% of its 115,000 school-aged children navigating poverty. Three of Oregons four school districts that are home to at least 20,000 schoolchildren ranked in bottom third among districts that size for their child poverty rates: Beaverton, at 8%, and Hillsboro and Portland, both with 9%. The fourth large Oregon district, Salem-Keizer, faces a much tougher situation, with 18% of its school-aged children estimated to live below the poverty line. Betsy Hammond oversees coverage of state politics and government as well as education, Portland City Hall, Multnomah County and homelessness. Reach her at betsyhammond@oregonian.com BAKER CITY Coyote, the storyteller, has taken up residence at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Baker City. And hes using his voice to share a side of history sometimes forgotten. The 23,000 square-foot facility, operated by the Bureau of Land Management, opened a new Native American exhibit at the end of October. The displays include a gallery dedicated to the history, culture and languages of the tribes who have inhabited the land along the Oregon Trail for thousands of generations prior to the mass European American migration that began in the early 1840s. In the language of the Umatilla Tribe, Coyotes name is spilyay. His role at the center is to teach visitors the Oregon Trail story from the Native American perspective. Great change is coming! spilyay proclaims in colorful signs along the centers main gallery, lined with life-sized dioramas of settler men, women and children, covered wagons, oxen, sheep, horses, Native American men and a howling coyote. I see the storm of your future, he warns. The suyapuma (European Americans) will come in greater numbers than in any season past. Their need will be unquenchable. Their wagons bring wonders and comforts, but their ways are not your ways; their friendship brings pain. They are wildfire, consuming the land and all I have prepared. Are you listening? Coyotes narrative adds to numerous Native American exhibits already woven throughout the center, including a diorama depicting the importance of trade among settlers and Native Americans, and a display describing contact and confrontation on the frontier, often a result of cultural differences, lack of communication and government inaction. Baker City resident John Bearinside was one of the first visitors to see the new exhibit at the Interpretive Center and related the plight of the Umatilla, Cayuse, Walla Walla and Nez Perce who were moved to reservations through the Treaty of 1855 to that of his own ancestors. A member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and Apache, Bearinside grew up on the Choctaw Reservation. His great-great-great grandparents were removed from their homeland in Mississippi and forced to relocate to a reservation in Oklahoma. Bearinside, who speaks on Native American culture and history, emphasized that not all written accounts of Native American history are accurate. Its amazing to me how much transpired, but its not put into books technically, its put into books not realistically, its put into books in a way to sell the booksbigger than life, he explained. My grandmother would tell us, Read between the lines, of your history books, of your newspapers, your stories, your wanted posters. You know, when they say he murdered 25 people, he might have murdered two people, Bearinside said. If a person has a real serious interest and we feel that we can trust them, only then can we tell them our stories. The stories of many diverse groups of people whose lives were forever altered by the Oregon Trail are told through photos, films, artifacts and quotations at the Interpretive Center. The idea for an Oregon Trail museum began as part of former Gov. Neil Goldschmidts Oregon Comeback plan following the 1980s recession, said Dave Hunsaker, the Interpretive Centers original project manager and its first director. Planning was tied in with construction of several other cultural centers: The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Oregon City, the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles, Tamastslikt Cultural Institute on the Umatilla Indian Reservation near Pendleton and the Four Rivers Cultural Center and Museum in Ontario. Each of those centers focused on the way the Oregon Trail affected their region, Hunsaker noted. Were the one that really focused broadly on the Oregon Trail itself, he said. The Baker City facility was the first to open, in May 1992, and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation blessed the building at its grand opening. The original plan focused on six themes, Hunsaker said, one of which was Native Americans, with the goal of expanding that theme later, after Tamastslikt was up and running. The seed for developing the new Native American exhibit was planted in 2015, said Bobby Reis, curator of collections and exhibitions at the Interpretive Center, but development was delayed due to renovation work and COVID-19. Bobbie Conner, director of Tamastslikt Cultural Institute, was involved in the early planning stages. Tamastslikt opened in 1998 and is the only Native American museum directly on the Oregon Trail, focusing in detail how settlers arrival caused diseases, wars, broken treaties and attempts at assimilation, including boarding schools. The new displays at the Interpretive Center are a permanent addition and are viewable year-round. Read more: Tamastslikt museum shows Oregon history through a Native American lens The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Centers winter hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Sunday; 22267 Hwy. 86, Baker City; free admission in December; Jan. 2-March 31, $5 for 16 and older, $4 for seniors, good for two days with receipt; blm.gov/learn/interpretive-centers/national-historic-oregon-trail-interpretive-center 13 1 / 13 Nez Perce traveling exhibit Another exhibit making the rounds through Oregon highlights the history and resilience of the Wallowa Band Nez Perce, or nimiipuu. Titled Nez Perce in Oregon: Removal and Return, the traveling exhibit was created by the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture in Joseph through a grant from the Oregon State Capitol Foundation, said Rich Wandschneider, director of the Josephy Library of Western History and Culture and a Wallowa County historian. Currently on display at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, the exhibit will move in mid-January to Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton before finding a home at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem next September. Wandschneider consulted with Nez Perce tribal elders in developing displays that interpret the history of the Wallowa Band Nez Perce and how the lives of its people, who had lived in the Wallowa Valley from time immemorial, were changed irrevocably by the arrival of European American explorers, fur traders, missionaries, gold miners and settlers. The exhibit discusses settlement and conflict in the Wallowa Valley, starting with the wave of Oregon Trail settlers who edged ever-nearer to Nez Perce territory in the 1860s. Old Chief Joseph constructed stone monuments to keep them out, but after his death in 1871, settlers began flooding in. Although the Nez Perce were friendly toward the newcomers, tensions grew between them. As the exhibit explains, treaties are part of The supreme Law of the Land, according to the U.S. Constitution. In 1877, Young Chief Joseph was forced to comply with the Nez Perce Treaty of 1863although his father had refused to sign itand lead his people out of the Wallowa Valley to a reservation in Lapwai, Idaho Territory. On the way to Lapwai, overwhelming emotions sparked a young Nez Perce man, whose father had been murdered by a settler, to lead a deadly revenge attack on Idaho Territory settlers, and according to the exhibit, the Nez Perce War was on. The fighting retreat sent some 800 Nez Perce people on a nearly 1,200-mile journey across four states, with the U.S. Army close behind. Just 40 miles from the Canadian border, with his people cold, exhausted and starving and most of his chiefs killed in some 13 battles and skirmishes, Chief Joseph surrendered. He and most of his tribe were exiled to Kansas and Oklahoma, and finally sent to the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington, while Chief White Bird and 200 others escaped to Canada. Charlie Moses, 88, who grew up on the Colville reservation in Nespelem, Wash., and now lives in Vancouver, has close ties to the Nez Perce War. His grandfather and great-grandfather both fought in the war, and his great-uncle was killed at the bloody Battle of the Big Hole. My tribe really is the White Bird, Moses said, but after we came back from Oklahoma, my grandfather, Black Eagle, followed Joseph to Nespelem. Moses, who retired following a 30-year career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, has spent much of his time speaking about his family lineage and history in the Nez Perce War, providing that information to the Josephy Center, which created the new exhibit. Hes been involved with the Wallowa Homeland Project since the 1990s and makes regular journeys to Wallowa County to participate in the Tamkaliks Celebration and the Chief Joseph Days Rodeo. Chief Joseph remained an activist for his people until his death in 1904, and although never allowed to go back to his Wallowa Homeland, he made several trips to Washington, D.C., to plead for his peoples return. In 1879, he summarized his thoughts on the relationship between Native Americans and European Americans: Whenever the white man treats an Indian as they treat each other, then we will have no more wars. We shall be alikebrothers of one father and one mother, with one sky above us and one country around usthat all people may be one people. Nez Perce in Oregon: Removal and Return is viewable 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday; Loso Hall, Eastern Oregon University; Sixth Street, La Grande; no admission fee. The exhibit will move to Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton in mid-January and to the Oregon State Capitol in Salem in September; library.josephy.org/the-nez-perce-in-oregon-removal-and-return Kathy Patten, for The Oregonian/OregonLive The line of people curled around the back of the Portland Art Museum on Wednesday, waiting to get out of the rain for a hot meal on Christmas Day. Two hours into Potluck in the Parks 30th free Christmas Day meal, at least 800 people had been served buffet-style in the museums ballroom in downtown Portland, while more waited to get in. Its beautiful, said Chris Giordani, 47, his cheeks still red from the cold as he sat down with a plate full of turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes and string beans. He said he felt a bit of the spirit of the holiday, seeing so many people in the community out in the same place, as a pianist played Frosty the Snowman. Typically, Giordani said he sleeps during the day wherever I end up, including on public transportation, and walks around in public places at night for his safety. David Utzinger, the coordinator, started the first free Potluck in the Park Christmas dinner in 1994, an outgrowth of the weekly Sunday meals offered outdoors. That year, Christmas fell on a Sunday, and he said he looked for a location to offer a warm meal indoors for the holiday. He scouted for a location and held the first one in the downtown YWCAs gym. It remained there for 20 years, was held at the Crystal Ballroom for two years and moved to the Portland Art Museum in 2014, Utzinger said. There was a hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the dinner was offered outside in the park blocks. We are very excited to be able to continue bringing joy every Christmas to a lot of Portlanders who dont always see much joy, he said. Its important to us that our guests feel they are special. Those who came checked their bags in the entryway of the museums ballroom, lined up at either of two buffet lines and then found a spot to sit along 15 long, white tablecloth-covered tables. Bob and Carolyn Heymann, from the Hands on Greater Portland volunteer organization, coordinated more than 100 volunteers who handled varied tasks, from greeting visitors, cooking or serving meals to checking bags, handing out gifts of crocheted winter hats and socks, or organizing donated transportation to and from the site. Theyve supported the Christmas meal for 15 years. On Wednesday, their four grown children joined them. Rodney Harris, 59, posed for a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus, as did his dog Lovey, a pit bull mix, in front of a large, decorated Christmas tree. He then left with an extra packaged meal, a baggie full of turkey strips for his dog and his photo with Santa. Harris said he stays at a shelter near the Moda Center and receives disability benefits but is looking for housing. At least for a little while, he said, you feel like youre not out there by yourself. Others said they were appreciative for a moment to relax and feel safe on the holiday. Cheryl Harvey, 61, said she saw a flier about the Christmas meal in the elevator of her Northwest Portland apartment. Its the sixth year shes attended. I love the food and the company, she said. Nikki Todd, 40, said this was her second year attending, having learned about it from the Portland Rescue Mission. She said she lives outside in a tent, moves all over, and doesnt know what she would have done without the free meal. A hot meal goes a long way, she said. Volunteer Amelia Tompkins, 31, wore an apron and looked for plates to clear. Tompkins said she moved from England to Portland just four days earlier and searched on the internet for an event she could lend a hand at for the holiday. Ive met so many lovely people, she said. After eating, Rosina Strebig, 51, who has been homeless for five years, stopped to talk with the organizer before heading back outdoors. Thank you, Strebig told Utzinger. Every year, we try to come, and I appreciate it. On their way out, visitors were offered a loaf of bread and a bag of pet food. They then were directed to a tent set up on the Southwest Park blocks to select a gift that included a warm hat or pair of socks. Teresa Kedor, of Portland, crocheted more than 190 hats that she donated for the event. She helped hand them out Wednesday afternoon. Its my hobby. I love doing it, she said. Estacada couple David Alley, 73, and Beverly Alley, 72, posed as Santa and Mrs. Claus in the ballroom, their second year at the Portland Art Museum on Christmas Day. Its a great event, David Alley said, during a brief break. Obviously, theres a big need. -- Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. Reach her at 503-221-8212, mbernstein@oregonian.com, follow her on X @maxoregonian, or on LinkedIn. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. A former top manager in the Washington County District Attorneys Office sexually harassed colleagues by circulating a shirtless photo of himself, discussing his sex life and commenting on the physical appearance of job candidates and others in the office, a human resources investigation found. The investigation into former Chief Deputy District Attorney Bracken McKey was written by Camille Hughes, a senior human resources staffer for the county. UPDATE: Power restored to thousands in Portland area; thousands of others still waiting If youre waking up to a dark house Thursday morning, its likely due to strong winds that have been blowing across the region and bringing trees and limbs down on power lines. The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory in much of the Willamette Valley including Portland and Vancouver. The advisory is in effect until 6 a.m. and warns of gusts of 35-50 mph. Several metro locations were seeing gusts in the 40s as of 5 a.m. Thursday. Portland General Electrics outage map reported more than 27,000 customers without power due to 282 outages in the greater metro area including Salem. #pdxtraffic Gusty winds early Thursday have caused power outages around the metro area. If you come to a malfunctioning traffic signal, treat it as an ALL-Way stop. Use caution. Here are current winds gusts as of 5 a.m. pic.twitter.com/Ao53FFKT1p PDX Traffic Alerts (@TrafficPortland) December 26, 2024 The Oregon Department of Transportation warned of lines down across U.S. 30 closing the busy highway at about 6 a.m. in both directions near Cornelius Pass Road. Visit TripCheck.com for details. The weather service says a strong pressure gradient will bring gusty south to southwest winds across the region through the morning, but that the strength of the winds should taper off by mid morning. Peak wind gusts overnight have mostly been 60-65 mph along the coast. Willamette Valley gusts have been clocked up to 50 mph. Portland will have a windy morning Thursday with rain showers through the lunch hour. The high temperature will reach about 52 degrees. Friday will also come with gusty winds at times and showers that linger into the early afternoon. After a break of a couple of hours, rain will kick in again after about 4 p.m. The high temp will be about 52 degrees. The Cascades will see several rounds of new snow over the next few days with most of it falling above about 5,000 feet. Pass roads will see a mix of rain and snow both Thursday and Friday with windy conditions at times. Travelers should be ready for winter weather conditions and have chains available or tractions tires. The weekend is promising more rain showers both on Saturday and Sunday. High temperatures will be near 52 Saturday, but cool to 49 degrees on Sunday. First of all, Merry Christmas to all! I hope that youve had a joyous Christmas season and that you will enjoy this day to the full with family and friends and food and music and whatever else will make for a very satisfying and memorable time. On Monday last, Meridian Magazine republished a Christmas-themed column that my late and still sorely missed friend Bill Hamblin and I originally wrote for the 11 December 2015 edition of the Deseret News. Perhaps youll enjoy it or gain something from it: The Nativity, According to Luke. Here are a few of the other Christmas-related columns that I wrote for the Deseret News: Defending the faith: Christmas celebrates part of divine plan Christmas in the Holy Land somber, yet triumphant (16 December 2010) Pure love led Christ to descend the courts of glory (22 December 2011) And here are three that I wrote for Meridian Magazine: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day: How Christ Transforms Darkness into Light (11 December 2018) Christmas Beyond Christendom (19 December 2023) Christmas and a Condescending God (28 December 2021) Well, I was intending to gather quite a few more of these. But it turns out that certainly for a tech-illiterate person such as I (and I suspect that Im not entirely alone in my computer-clumsiness), and perhaps inescapably the process of locating my past columns is very cumbersome, inefficient, and time-consuming. Which raises a question: Ive thought for years about trying to gather past columns and writings of mine (and other things, such as speaking engagements and the like) onto a personal website. (Ive never had one. And I dont really know how to create one.) I simply have no idea whether there would be even the slightest interest in such a thing beyond myself and perhaps my pet tortoise, who depends upon me for his lettuce and cantaloupe and winter lodgings. We spent last evening with my wifes extended family up in Davis County, including a separate visit with her father, who will turn ninety-eight early next week. He was doing reasonably well and living on his own (across from the parking structure for the Bountiful Utah Temple) until a few months ago, but his health has now taken a distinct turn for the worse and hes living in a care facility. Driving back down to Utah Valley, we took our incredibly cute five-year-old granddaughter to what I think is called Orem City Center Park, which is located between Center Street and First North, to the east of the Orem Public Library. It is a place of sheer wonder. The lighting of the trees is absolutely spectacular, and our granddaughter ran about in rapturous delight among them until we told her that it was simply too late and too cold and that we needed to get her home. The brilliant and varied lighting of the trees reminded me of the indescribable colors to which many accounts of near-death experiences refer. Here are a couple of short notes that Ive written on that subject: Even Some Colors Id Never Seen Before Colors That Dont Exist on Earth: Insights into the Way the Skies in Heaven Look If youre in the area and you have children, please take them, while you can, to see these lights (and to get out and wander and wonder among them) after dark and before theyre removed with the end of the holidays. In a comment posted here two or three days ago, a reader of this blog named Raymond Takashi Swenson shared a very Latter-day Saint Christmas poem that he had written, entitled Name the Angels. I like it very much, and I wrote to him seeking permission to include his poem in the main body of this blog. I havent heard back from him yet. However, reasoning that he has already shared it here and that Im simply making it a bit more prominent and knowing that it will seem at least slightly less relevant after Christmas Day Ive decided to go ahead and post it here. If he would rather that I not, Ill remove it instantly upon receiving his request. In the meanwhile, here it is: NAME the ANGELS Come name the angels, one by one, Who sang the birth of Gods own Son: How Adam Michael led them all To praise Salvation from the Fall. How Noah Gabriel rejoiced, The Spirit Prisons freedom voiced. How Moses, giver of the Law, Its true fulfillment sang with awe. Isaiah saw Emanuel Make earth a holy place to dwell. And in their midst Were You and I! Our voices joined in the great, glad cry! (c) Raymond Takashi Swenson I return yet again to the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File: Ive been sharing a piece of Christmas music once daily, on average, since the beginning of the month of December, and I yet havent even begun to make a serious dent in the number of offenses inflicted upon the Winter Solstice season by theists and theism. Nonetheless, todays will be the final entry in my Christmas musical catalog, and Ive selected a relatively new piece that many probably dont associate with the holiday. (It would work equally well at Easter or, for that matter, on any day of the year.) The lyrics of my selection, The Lord of the Dance, were written by Sydney Carter in 1963 and then set to the tune of an old American Shaker hymn. I havent found a performance of the hymn that is entirely to my liking. But this version, performed by the Marionettes Chorale, from Trinidad and Tobago, in an arrangement by the late Sir David Willcocks, is quite beautiful: I danced in the morning when the world was begun, And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun, And I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth: At Bethlehem I had my birth. Dance, then, wherever you may be, I am the Lord of the dance, said he, And Ill lead you all, wherever you may be, And Ill lead you all in the dance, said he. I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee, But they would not dance and they wouldnt follow me; I danced for the fishermen, for James and John; They came with me and the dance went on: Dance, then, wherever you may be, I am the Lord of the dance, said he, And Ill lead you all, wherever you may be, And Ill lead you all in the dance, said he. I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame: The holy people said it was a shame. They buried my body and they thought Id gone; But I am the dance, and I still go on: Dance, then, wherever you may be, I am the Lord of the dance, said he, And Ill lead you all, wherever you may be, And Ill lead you all in the dance, said he. I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black; Its hard to dance with the devil on your back. They whipped and they stripped and they hung me on high, And they left me there on a cross to die: Dance, then, wherever you may be, I am the Lord of the dance, said he, And Ill lead you all, wherever you may be, And Ill lead you all in the dance, said he. They cut me down and I leapt up high; I am the life thatll never, never die. Ill live in you if youll live in me: I am the Lord of the dance, said he. Dance, then, wherever you may be, I am the Lord of the dance, said he, And Ill lead you all, wherever you may be, And Ill lead you all in the dance, said he. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Condolences from the international community continue to pour in to Azerbaijan following the tragic crash of an AZAL plane operating the Baku-Grozny route, Trend reports. The President of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, the President of Nepal, Ram Chandra Paudel, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of Pakistans National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the Chairwoman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, Tanzila Narbaeva, as well as the Muslim Council of Elders, foreign ministers from various countries, and diplomatic representatives in Azerbaijan expressed their condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. They also wished a swift recovery to the injured. To note, AZAL's Embraer 190 passenger plane on the Baku-Grozny route crashed 3 km away from Aktau airport on December 25. A total of 67 people (62 passengers and 5 crew members) were on board the Embraer 190 airplane, flying Baku-Grozny, which crashed in Aktau. Following the crash of the passenger airplane near Aktau, 27 people were hospitalized. Of them, 15 people are citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 8 - of the Russian Federation, and 3 - of the Kyrgyz Republic. The identity of one person has not been established yet. Of the victims hospitalized, 11 are being treated in the intensive care unit, 13 - in the traumatology department, 2 - in the neurosurgery department, and 1 - in the surgical department. These persons are under the control of professional doctors from Kazakhstan and those expelled from Azerbaijan and Russia. They were provided with prompt and specialized medical and psychological treatment. Both crew pilots as well as the flight stewardess were lost, but two crew members survived. December 26 has been declared a day of mourning in Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Im still here. I wrote almost 150 blog posts a year for 13 consecutive years. And then blogging in general declined, due to social media restrictions (Facebook et al. not sharing posts with links to keep people from clicking away from the social media sites) and because of many readers short attention spans. And then Pagan blogging declined, meaning the kind of deep (if sometimes contentious) conversations we had back in the mid-2010s have pretty much stopped happening. And then 2024 turned out to be a very difficult year for me, on about six different fronts. But Im still here. I kept blogging, because I had something to say and I couldnt not say it. Most of my posts are on Paganism in one form or another: posts about the Gods, spiritual practice, our seasonal celebrations, and our way of understanding life and the world. Ive tried to write more about magic and witchcraft this year, not just because I finally claimed the title of witch but because these are traditions and tools we all need in these difficult times. I review books I think are helpful to Pagans, or that cover topics of interest to us. And sometimes as with my movie-related posts, I write about something just because I like to write about it. Im trying to limit my political posts, but sometimes I need address an issue from a Pagan perspective, or Im struggling to deal with a political situation and I know other people are struggling too. But unlike those years when I was writing 150 posts a year, Im not pushing myself to hit a fixed schedule. If I have something to say Im going to say it. If I dont, then there wont be a blog post that day. Either way, Im still here. And whether I write 156 posts (as I did in 2018) or 68 (as I did this year) there are always some that dont get the response I expect. They have important concepts in them, and if you missed them the first time, I hope youll read them now. Sign up for my personal newsletter Writers want to be read, but what I want most is for what I write to be read by the people who are interested and invested in Paganism, polytheism, witchcraft, and all the other spiritual, religious, and magical topics I write about. If youre reading this post, thats probably you. The best way to make sure you dont miss anything is to sign up for my personal weekly newsletter. This isnt the Patheos newsletter. This is my personal e-mail newsletter that goes out most Friday mornings (but not this coming Friday morning Im on vacation and the next newsletter will be on January 3rd). Sign up on my teaching site at: https://undertheancientoaks.com/newsletter/ The newsletter has links to the current weeks blog posts. It also covers things that dont fit into the blog format, mostly in my usual range: Paganism, polytheism, and witchcraft. Current events and politics. Interesting stuff from other people. What Im working on that youll see in the near to medium future be the first to find out about new classes, appearances, and such. Enter your e-mail in the big green block and do the not-a-robot thing. Youll get a confirmation e-mail respond to it and youre set. You have to respond to the confirmation e-mail my mailing service wants to make sure you really want the newsletters and someone isnt signing you up for something you dont want. The four best posts of 2024 that you didnt read Dealing With Doubt: A Modern Pagan Approach (August 2024, #56 in readership) A Catholic priest wrote about doubt from a Catholic viewpoint, oversimplifying a complex situation by saying have faith! Pagans can have religious and spiritual doubt too. But if we are wise, we will approach our doubts differently, beginning by acknowledging that religious questions are inherently uncertain, and that believing the right things is not whats most important. Hold loosely but practice deeply. Remain open to new evidence, new experiences, new ways of thinking. If what you find or what finds you convinces you that your ideas arent correct, or that theres something better, then change your mind change your life. But while youre following that path, explore it as deeply as you can. Go all in with whatever it is: worship the Gods, do divination, work magic whatever beliefs and practices call to you. See where they take you. If it works for you, keep going. If it doesnt, try something else. How to Make a Monster (March 2024, #58 in readership) A meme I see occasionally says: Knowledge is knowing Frankenstein isnt the monster. Wisdom is knowing Frankenstein is the monster. This is a dangerous oversimplification. This post starts with the history of Frankenstein, and with my experiences with both the novel and the movie adaptations. Then it explores the question of how do you make a monster? and comes to a conclusion: There are two monsters in this story, and two ways of becoming a monster. Treat people monstrously and they will become monsters. Treat people monstrously and you will become a monster yourself. A UU Pagan Looks at Death and Beyond (October 2024, #60 in readership) My sermons usually arent well read. Theyre much longer than typical blog posts, and while theyre unapologetically Pagan, theyre tailored towards a Unitarian Universalist audience. But this sermon / blog post went up just before Samhain and it reminds us all that the time to think about death and what comes after is not when were about to die, or when were at the funeral of a loved one. The time to think about death is on a beautiful Sunday morning when we feel like were going to live forever, even though we know we wont. To be human is to be aware that we are alive, and to also be aware that someday we will die. How do we deal with this great and terrible knowledge? Reading Tarot How I Interact With Clients (September 2024, #62 in readership) Given the current popularity of Tarot, Im genuinely disappointed that this post wasnt more widely read. Its one thing to be able to read the cards. But even if youre the worlds best reader, you still have to figure out how to communicate what you see to the querent. Thats an entirely different process and skill set. And the need for these skills is just as strong when the querent is yourself. Im planning to re-open for readings next year, once the new Call of Cernunnos class is finished in February. Ill announce it in the newsletter when I do. (A Dharma talk first delivered by Edward Sanshin Oberholtzer, Roshi a couple of days ago and now reprinted here with a tiny bit of editing making it for today rather than those few days ago. Edward is the guiding teacher for Empty Moon Zen. Shared with permission.) *** Within nothingness the road is free of dust If you can simply avoid mentioning the emperors name, you will surpass the eloquence of the Sui dynasty poet. Third of the Three Ranks, translated by Robert Aitken Its Christmas And what can an old heathen do but turn to Charles Dickens Christmas Carol for a bit of inspiration. My mind this morning is still a little foggy, so..Once upon a timeof all the good days in the year, on Christmas Eveold Scrooge sat busy in his counting-house. It was cold, bleak, biting weather; foggy withal; ..ah, foggy,yes, now theres a theme.The fog came pouring in at every chink and keyhole, and was so dense without, that, although the court was of the narrowest, the houses opposite were mere phantoms. To see the dingy cloud come drooping down, obscuring everything, one might have thought that nature lived hard by, and was brewing on a large scale. And if you had looked out of my windows this past week, you might have wondered the same. Youd have seen a different world at first, a world blanketed in white, snow as far as you could see, snow on snow on snow, deep enough that only the occasional broken stalk of unharvested corn could poke through. And, as morning came and the temperture rose a bit, and those vast fields covered in wet snow exhaled clouds of fog, , the hills behind here, off to the south, were obscurred by fog and clouds, clouds that lowered down, brushing the tops of trees, fog that rose up to meet those clouds, the whole, a blur of an impenitrable miasma. The oak tree in the middle of the corn field just barely emerging from the whiteish grey of the cloud banks, its outline the faintest black against the gloom of the morning fog. Birds, the only spots of color, gathering on the feeder, scattering bits of seed on the snow below. The next day, we drove down to Washington. The highway runs along the Susquahanna River, though where it was was anyones guess. The fog was so dense that the river and the hills beyond had vanished in the grey white mist. The barest forms of the trees emerging with their fractal branches fading in and out of the fog. Carl Sandburgs fog was only a faint echo of this. Here is his Fog, a kind, as he thought, of American haiku The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on. Sandburgs fog comes with wisps of clouds drifting quietly over the surface of Chicagos Lake Michigan. Ours seemed a more robust older cousin, more fitting for the ancient hills of Appalachia, a fog that calls out to an emptiness, a visual metaphor for the absolute. And this leads me, however befogged I might be, to the third of Dongshans Five Ranks, Sho Chu Rai (J: coming from within the essential), which examines this deep emptiness. Now, at the time of the winter soletice, this deep midwinter feels as though it were the ideal time to look. When I step onto the snow covering my yard, or for that matter, even when I step onto the lawns grass in the height of summer, the smooth surface belies the rough nature of the ground beneath., stones and clods of dirt, holes that are obscured by the eveness of the snow or grass. Dongshan relates: There is a path in nothingness that is free of dust. But are we ever free from dust? Would we ever want to be free from dust? Dongshan speaks to a kind of emptiness that arises from the particular, an emptiness that follows the IChings hexagram 28, the Vast Beyond as David Hinton terms it, which is vast beyond vastness, a vastness swirled in those banks of fog that arise from the hillsides and rivers they envelop. This absolute may only be found just here, in the particularity of the trees and grasses, of the road signs and oncoming automobiles that bring with them the great emptiness of those mists and cloud banks, a kind of flavorless reality. The particularity of the single hand, of Guteis finger, each complete in itself, each encompassing all of that vastness, each presenting that absolutness.The pure presentation that arises from, that does not deny the hard thusness of the world enveloped by the silvery grey of fog, the whiteness of drifts of snow. Fence posts, the tracks of deer, the tunnels of field mice, scurrying under the snow, waiting for spring, all of these as a full presentation In Case 73 of the Blue Cliff Record, Mazus One Hundred Nos, we witness three teachers simply state what is true for them in that moment, expressing both the particular and, in doing so, answering a monks buring question, why did Bodhidharma come from the west?, what is the Dharma? and demonstrating how to point to the absolute: A monk asked Great Master Ma, Aside from the Four Phrases and the One Hundred Negations, please tell me directly why Bodhidharma came from the West. The Great Master said, I am tired today and cannot explain it to you. Go and ask Zhizang. The monk asked Zhizang about it. Zhizang said, Why dont you ask Master Ma? The monk said, He told me to ask you. I have a headache today and cant explain it to you. Go and ask Brother Hai. said Zhizang. The monk asked Brother Hai about it. Hai said, I dont know anything about that. The monk told Great Master Ma about this. The Master said, Zhizangs head is white, Hais head is black, arent they? A lovely, and slightly comic presentation of the absolute emerging from the particular, Words carry their own meaning and present, just in their articulation, pure emptiness. A reminder that the absolute is always just there. Form is no other than emptiness. Red Pine, in Finding Them Gone, his travelougue relating his pilgrimage to the graves of Chinas poetic greats, talks of mountains whose names were changed because they came too close to the names of emperors, names that mustnt be spoken. Dongshan tells us that, if we can only avoid mentioning the emperors name, If you can simply avoid mentioning the emperors name, You will surpass old worthies that cut out tongues. Dongshan invites us to be silent, but this is a silence that, like so much of the Dharma, has us use words, words that contain both their individual meaning and are themselves simply there, simply a call to the absolute. Flavorless. John Cage, one of our fellow travellers on the Way, was fascinated by the idea of silence. Other composers have flirted with silence, Debussy famously saying that music was the silence between the notes. But Cage took it more seriously than most. When he heard that the psychology department at Harvard had a sensory deprivation tank, he jumped at the chance to experience pure, unadulterated silence, only to find, as he lay in total darkness in a body temperture tub housed in a noise dampened room, that he could not escape the sound of his blood coursing through his veins, the beating of his heart, sounds that were always there, filling the void. Silence arose from the mundane sounds, the everyday workings that permeate our bodies, Cage went on to write the infamous 433, a piano piece consisting solely of rests, a piece that leaves us with the random sounds of the everyday. Flavorless sounds, cars driving by, the wind in the trees, birds calling to one another, each complete in themselves, each presenting the absolute. Cages music, was only ever just this, harsh, baffilling, and every bit as humourous as that case in the Blur Cliff Record. So, yes, that path through to the absolute is free of dust, where, after all, can dust alight? But even the sidewalks have cracks, even the roads have potholes, and it is out of these particulars that the vast plain of the absolute arises. As William Blake said, To see the universe in a grain of sand and eternity in an hour Robert Frost, another Ameican poet, knew the quiet thusness of a snow filled woods and left us with a meditation on that moment of stillness, his poem Stopping by woods on a snowy evening Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sounds the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. Frosts little horse, shaking its bells, stamping its feet, pulling at its reins with only a bit of impatience. Frosts little horse with its Just this, just this. This post about the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas special Joy to the World will contain spoilers, because this is an episode that a religious studies professor who writes about Doctor Who has to comment on, and theres no way to do so without discussing details, including the ending. The episode Joy to the World doesnt just have the vague holiday connection that Christmas episodes tend to. The Doctor finds himself at the Time Hotel, which allows people to visit Christmas in just about any time period. The Doctor quips early in the episode (and mentions again later) that this explains why there was no room at the inn. That isnt the main storyline as far as one can tell, and yet it will nonetheless turn out to be. The main focus is a briefcase by the arms manufacturer Villengard, which contains a star in the making. It will require billions of years to develop and so they realized they can use the Time Hotel. Just get the briefcase to billions of years in the past and then pick it up when the star is ready. Presto, a ready-made source of power. It turns out that this isnt a weapon intended to destroy earth, but Villengard certainly is perfectly happy to have numerous sentient beings lives end in the process of accomplishing their mission. The briefcase gets eaten by a dinosaur and then billions of years later has ended up in a shrine, suggesting that it became the object of religious devotion. The Doctor comments that the briefcase possesses people, and thats basically how you start a religion. In the end, the character Joy ends up united with the star seed, so that literally the star seed will bloom and the flesh will rise. She ascends into the air where the power source that she is now a part of can be collected by Villengard. For a moment, however, it shines at Christmas time in different eras, including Let me point out the obvious plot hole. The star needs to appear to guide the magi to Bethlehem. That was the point. Yet in what we watch in Joy to the World, the star just then went up into the sky, and moments later there are three camels parked at Bethlehem. Theres more to be said about timing, since not only this episode but the source material in the Gospels has issues. Just as a reminder, this was not the first visit of the Doctor to Bethlehem. Indeed, there may be multiple Doctors visiting this moment, if this episode provides a clue. The Doctor says in Voyage of the Damned that he was there for the first Christmas and got the last room. A scholar of early Christianity is going to have to nitpick in other ways as well. At least they didnt make it the year 0. But lets talk about the date of the story depicted in the Gospel of Matthew and featured in this episode, with a star and Bethlehem. Matthew places the event when Jesus is roughly two years old (since the star appears to herald his birth and after the magi explain when they saw the star appear, Herod proceeds to order the slaughter of all male infants two years and under. The fact that Herod the Great has not died means that Jesus birth must take place in or before 6 BC based on the details Matthew provides, with the story happening in 4 BC at the latest. Lukes Gospel has completely different geographical movements and connects Jesus birth with the census under Quirinius which happened in 6 AD after the transfer of Judaea to direct Roman rule. This happens after Herods son Archelaus is deposed, which happened in turn after Herod the Great died and his kingdom was divided into tetrarchies ruled by his children. It is not just a difference of date. There is no way for Jesus to have been born at least 2 years before Herod the Great died and yet also after his son Archelaus is no longer ruling. Note as well that Matthew 2:21-23 explicitly says that Archelaus is ruling Judaea when Matthew makes the family, originally from Bethlehem, settle instead in Nazareth for the first time. With such contradictory and problematic source material, Im not going to hold it against Doctor Who that they didnt get the date right. There is no right date if one takes seriously the contradictions between the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Hopefully this interesting exploration of religion wont distract from a more subtle and religiously interesting plot thread. Because of how events unfold, the Doctor has to spend a year waiting for the next chance to access the Time Hotel. As a result, he spends a year in the hotel on Earth where he first meets the character Joy. There he makes a connection and becomes friends with the manager of the Sandringham Hotel whose name is Anita. They hang out once a night, as a result of a deliberate effort by the Doctor, after he notices that his TARDIS has no chairs because he never expects guests to stop by. The whole story is more about human connection and the time and deliberate choice it takes to foster that. Such things are what make life meaningful. When we cant be there for those we love, it may leave us with a feigned smile and bubbling rage beneath the surface. You need to find a friend. There were many great lines, including Evil must logo, a hotel room is you without the makeup, the code (to the briefcase) came from nowhere but so did the universe and no one seems to mind about that, and the mansplaining by the briefcase (and the Doctor as mansplaining central). Related to this topic, see my previous posts about time travel and Christianity, and also read my short story Certainty for my own fictional take on time travel to the first century. See as well Garry Kilworthys classic story Lets Go to Golgotha. It envisages time travel tourism akin to what is featured in this Doctor Who episode. As so often, this is an episode that is not free of logical issues (time travel stories never are) but that has emotional depth and seriousness that makes it a rewarding watch. What did you think of Joy to the World? You may have already experienced it yourself with a new desktop PC or notebook: After the final installation of Windows 11, the desktop is covered in icons much of which is bloatware. Common culprits are test versions of security suites and virus scanners as well as programs for image editing, photo books, and cloud services. get windows 11 pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro The PC manufacturers (OEMs) arent thinking of your interests with the software, but rather filling their own bank account. This is because money is paid for each installation of bloatware, and if the customer (i.e. you) takes out a paid subscription to the software, there is a tidy commission thanks to tracking links and traceability. In addition to bloatware some also call it crapware there are a number of other Microsoft programs and apps on your PC that you probably neither know nor need. This is because Windows itself also installs numerous applications. See also: 10 Windows 11 tips and tricks we use to customize our PCs A freshly installed Windows 11 23H2 comes with some applications that you may not even need and can therefore safely uninstall. IDG It would be nice to be able to choose which additional software should be installed during the initial installation of Windows 11. But thats a pipe dream. So you have no choice but to clean out Windows 11 manually or with suitable tools. Important note: As you are sometimes intervening deeply in the Windows system, you should create a backup before you start uninstalling the apps and programs. A backup minimizes the risk of data loss in the event of a problem. We recommend the free. See our roundup of the best backup software for Windows for recommendations. As a general rule, be careful and do not uninstall any applications that you are not sure can be safely removed. Some applications may be necessary for the smooth functioning of the operating system. Why you should remove bloatware It is not particularly time-consuming or complicated to remove superfluous software under Windows 11. The few minutes that it takes will provide many benefits. The fewer applications running in the background, the lower the actual resource consumption. This improves the performance of the system. Bloatware takes up storage space on the hard drive or SSD. By uninstalling these programs, you can free up storage space for important data and applications. In the past, PC manufacturers have repeatedly used bloatware to unknowingly introduce malware. For example, Lenovo delivered notebooks with the adware Superfish. Pre-installed applications can therefore always pose a security risk. By removing bloatware, you minimize potential attack surfaces. How to identify annoying bloatware The website Should I Remove It provides comprehensive information on bloatware on PCs from various manufacturers. IDG The operators of the Should I Remove It website specialize in finding and removing bloatware. Here you will find comprehensive overviews of bloatware on OEM PCs, i.e. what Toshiba, Sony, Lenovo, Dell, HP, Asus, and Acer include on their Windows devices. In the case of Toshiba, there are/were more than 30 applications partly proprietary programs, partly test versions from third-party providers. The instructions provide good explanations and describe in detail how to remove the bloatware using standard Windows tools. A search in the huge and always up-to-date database helps you to identify unknown software. Powershell tricks: Windows 11 Debloater Tool The Windows 11 debloater tool allows deep interventions in the operating system. You should therefore be particularly careful. IDG After unpacking the zip archive, you can start immediately without installation by double-clicking on the file Windows11Debloater.exe. The interface offers numerous functions in a total of 15 tabs to remove Windows apps and game components, for example. The tool uses ready-made Powershell scripts that are called up via the GUI. But be careful: It is best to experiment first on a test system in a virtual machine or on a second PC. You should always create a backup of a production system. Many of the deleted components and settings cannot be restored or can only be restored with difficulty. Before using special uninstall tools, you can try to remove bloatware manually. However, please note that not all pre-installed applications can be easily uninstalled, as some are an integral part of the operating system. Open the Settings app with the key combination Windows + I. Go to Apps on the left-hand side of the window and then to Installed apps on the right-hand side of the window. The installed programs and (now also apps) are now listed here. Use the filters to limit the display to specific drives and sort the programs by name, date of installation, and size. Scroll through the list and check which programs you can uninstall. Click on the three dots on the right in the line of the program you no longer want and select the Uninstall menu item. Then follow the instructions of the uninstall wizard. Repeat this process for all unwanted applications. There has recently been a significant change for Windows apps: To install them, you must go to the Microsoft Store, which you can open via the icon in the taskbar or via the Start menu. In the application window, click on Library at the bottom left. All installed apps are displayed on the right-hand side of the window both Windows apps and third-party apps. Until Windows 11 23H2, apps could also be uninstalled here Microsoft has now moved this function to the Settings app. However, this only applies to third-party apps such as Spotify and Netflix. Windows own apps such as Xbox, Mail and Calendar, Windows Photos, and gaming services do not appear here. For a more comprehensive removal of unwanted programs and apps, you should use special tools that automate many tasks and offer additional functions. You dont need to spend any money. Even the free versions of well-known tools offer corresponding functions for removing programs and apps. We present three recommended tools. Remove Windows apps with Powershell commands Installed apps can also be removed using appropriate commands in Windows Powershell. IDG Experienced Windows users can use Powershell as an administrator to uninstall Windows with the appropriate commands. Powershell is hidden in the Windows Terminal, which you can open by right-clicking on the Windows logo in the taskbar and clicking on Windows Terminal (as administrator). A tab for Powershell should be open here. If not, click on the plus sign. For an initial overview, enter the following command and press the Enter key: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Select Name, PackageFullName A list of the installed apps is now displayed. In addition to Windows own apps, the apps from third-party providers also appear. To uninstall an individual app, enter the following command: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers [App-Name] | Remove-AppxPackage Instead of the placeholder [App name], accept the name of the app as it appears in the list. With the addition -AllUsers, you ensure that the app is removed from all user accounts. If you briefly see a blue-colored text, the app has been successfully removed. The free Appbuster from O&O Software specializes in removing programs and apps. It can also be used to safely uninstall and reinstall Windows apps. IDG Even the free version of the versatile cleaning and optimization tool CCleaner allows you to uninstall programs. Click on Extras on the left and then on Uninstall at the top right. In the large window area on the right, all installed programs and apps are now displayed with additional information such as publisher, installation date, size, and version. Click on a list entry and then on the blue Uninstall button in the top right-hand corner. Then follow the instructions and finalize the removal of the software. Please note: The Delete command (if offered) only removes the list entry, but not the software from the drive. Removing bloatware is similarly easy with the free tool IObit Uninstaller. Under Programs on the left-hand side of the window, you can limit the display according to various criteria. Click on the recycle bin icon at the end of the line on the right-hand side of the window to start uninstalling the selected application. Unlike CCleaner, the IObit tool uses its own engine for this and works more thoroughly. The IObit Uninstaller also detects remnants of software installations and removes them thanks to deep cleaning. Further extras: IObit Uninstaller Free can also be used to remove bundled programs, browser extensions, and apps from the PC. In the case of apps, a distinction is made between Windows apps and third-party apps. With just a few mouse clicks, you can remove unnecessary apps and free up storage space. The O&O Appbuster is another useful tool. The tool can be started directly without installation and is therefore also suitable for use with USB sticks on other peoples PCs. After starting the software, the system is analyzed for a few moments. The three tabs All, Desktop, and Windows then provide an overview of the installed applications with details such as manufacturer, installation date, status, and memory used. You can display a further System tab via View > Show system apps. Tick the checkboxes in front of the list entries and click on the red Remove button that then appears. Depending on the user configuration, select whether you want to remove the programs only for the currently active user account or for all user accounts. Click on OK to continue. The programs and apps are uninstalled one after the other. To be on the safe side, you should create a Windows restore point. You can find the appropriate command in the Actions menu or when uninstalling apps. O&O Appbuster can also be used to restore some uninstalled apps. The Status column will then show Installable. Select the app and click on the green Install button. A better life without bloatware Removing bloatware in Windows 11 can lead to a significant improvement in system performance and user-friendliness. By manually uninstalling and using specialized tools, you can safely and reliably clean up your system. And always remember that you should not unnecessarily bloat Windows 11 yourself. Our tip: Limit yourself to the applications that best meet your needs and remove software that you have not used for a long time. Tiny 11: Slimmed-down Windows 11 as a minimal edition Tiny 11 is a slimmed-down Windows 11 23H2. The setup ISO image was created with the free NTLite tool. Tiny 11 does without many Windows apps. IDG If you dont want to have to slim down Windows 11 afterwards, you should take a look at Tiny 11. This unofficial minimal edition of Windows 11 reduces the system requirements and dispenses with unnecessary ballast. Windows Tiny 11 was developed by the YouTuber NTDev. This special version of Windows 11 is optimized for devices on which the official edition of the operating system cannot be installed or whose performance is too weak. Tiny 11 offers a quick and simple user interface that only contains the most important functions and applications. In detail, Tiny 11 requires a 1GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, and 64GB of free storage space. This corresponds to the system requirements of Windows 10. When fully installed, Tiny 11 only requires around 1GB of memory. This is a fraction of what Windows 11 normally requires. This is made possible by the omission of some system components, programs, and Windows apps. For example, the Edge browser and most of the gaming components are missing. The Tiny 11 developer has not created anything truly revolutionary, but simply created an ISO file for the Windows 11 setup using the free NTLite tool. This can be recognized by the fact that the ISO file contains the NTlite configuration files. You can use these as a template for your own customizations. When you click together your personal Windows installation with NTlite, you delete Windows apps from the installation medium, for example. These are then not copied to the hard drive during a new installation. Even if you have a little more work to do, it is actually advisable to create a system like Tiny 11 yourself. When downloading from unverifiable sources, there is always the risk of malware being included. get windows 11 pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de. Its been a big year for Googlebut then as the de facto leader in online search, browser, and advertising, its always a big year for Google. Perhaps the biggest news is undeniably tied to the companys status as an official and illegal monopoly, according to the US Department of Justice. While a potentially historic breakup is hanging over Google like the sword of Damocles, we wont truly know how it ends until next year (at least). In the meantime, lets look back at Googles wins, losses, and WTF moments for 2024. Fail: The US Department of Justice wants Google to sell Chrome Michael Crider/Foundry After a historic ruling that found Google guilty of violating US anti-trust laws, the Department of Justice has recommended that Google be forced to sell the part of its business that handles the Chrome browser. This is the proposed fix for Googles abuse of its position dominating search and advertising all across the web, tied in with things like Android, Gmail, YouTube, and pretty much every facet of its business. Forcing Google to break off Chrome would be devastating. Chrome is the #1 browser on the planet for both desktop (including laptops) and mobile, to say nothing of the decade-plus Google has spent trying to make Chromebooks a viable alternative to Windows-powered laptops. And thats ignoring other proposed recompense, including a moratorium on high-dollar search contracts with companies like Apple and syndicating search data to its competitors. But the story (which has stretched for over four years since the original indictment) is far from over. Google will undoubtedly appeal, both the judges guilty ruling itself and any proposed penalty, dragging the case out for months or years. And the incoming Trump administration is a huge wildcard, sure to steer the DoJ to be both friendly to Americas mega-corporations and punitive toward the technology industry to suit the presidents goals. The outcome of the trial, whatever it is, could shake Google to the core in ways we havent seen since AT&T was broken up in the 1980s. Win: The Pixel 9 series is good! Luke Baker Google has been trying to sell its own-branded Android phones for almost as long as Android has been around first with the Nexus series, then evolving into a more mass-market form with the Pixel. Apple and Samsung still rule the roost in the smartphone world, but its undeniable that after nine iterations, the Pixel is now a force to be reckoned with. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 phones are very, very good, especially if youre hunting for a phone that takes great photos. The Pixel Fold and its horribly-named follow-up the Pixel 9 Pro Fold are also good, albeit still way too expensive for most users. The Pixel Watch 3 is good Im wearing it right now, and Im very pleased with it. And there are more affordable (if not quite budget) alternatives in the Pixel A variant phones, which deliver almost all the same features at a far more palatable price. Its been a slow, ponderous process of more than a decade, but Google finally has its own phone brand that most people are familiar with, and which is distinct from Android as a platform. There are regular users not die-hard Android fans like me who are seeking out Pixel phones because they like them, not just because theyre in all the carrier stores (though they are). Thats a win in anyones book. WTF: What the hell is Google doing with non-phone hardware? Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Ive literally bought more Google tablets than I can remember. I will always love you, Pixel C, even if Google doesnt. But amid news of Google trying again to create a branded laptop years after closing the team that already did that, only to hear that its once again given up on a Pixel-branded Android tablet, I gotta ask: What the hell, man? For all the progress that Google has made in smartphones and wearables, not to mention ChromeOS with its Chromebook partners, it seems to be as clueless as ever as to what to do with its hardware brand beyond that. Even after watching this company closely for my entire professional career, I couldnt tell you what its going to do next for a tablet or a laptop. But I can tell you what I want it to do, and what I think would be successful. Oh look at that, I have! Fail: AI search is turning tons of people away Mattias Inghe Google is pushing hard on its Gemini AI system across its business, but its most immediately visible in Search. And thats not necessarily a good thing. While the initial blowback from Googles AI Overviews in Search (including such infamous results as using glue as a pizza topping) seem to have died down, its a symptom of a deeper and much more widespread problem. Web users seem to have soured on Google, a name that used to be synonymous with search as in let me Google that for you. Between more and more advertising in results, and results themselves becoming far less useful as targeted SEO and AI-generated text becomes more prevalent, its easy to see why. Googles dominant position isnt going away anytime soon, but its clear that people are hungering and thirsting for an alternative, if not exactly a replacement. Perhaps more daunting for Google is that it doesnt seem to have a clear solution. Search is the bedrock of Googles empire, and if it cracks up with or without a one-two punch from losing Chrome the entire company could be in danger. Win: Web tab is how search should be Google For all the belly-aching that I gave Google Search in the section above, I confess that its so integrated into both my personal life and my workflow that Im not ready to give it up. And I dont have to. Google introduced a new Web search tab this year, and its almost like Google Search used to be. Almost. Clicking Web will strip out the AI overview results, the dont-call-it-advertising shopping suggestions, the Maps business listings (again, essentially advertising!). Its ten blue links again, giving Google Search a sense of focus and intention its been missing for a long time. I adjusted all my default searches to this view almost immediately, and its been a marked improvement. Granted, this doesnt solve all of Searchs problems. Sometimes I want that Maps info right away, and theres no way to pick-and-choose which bits you get, its All or (not quite) nothing. The Web view still periodically serves up alleged search results that are Sponsored again, ads right at the top, forcing you to scroll to get more organic info. And this view cant do anything about junk SEO or AI-generated text, both of which make searching for genuine information far harder. But its an improvement. And it feels like a long time since Ive been able to say that about Google Search. WTF: Google can auto-generated video games Google I feel like I constantly have to remind people that what theyre being sold as AI is not artificial intelligence in the sci-fi sense, a la Commander Data or HAL 9000. But darn it if that isnt hard to keep in mind when you see some of the things these models can do, like create simple but complete video games from just a prompt. I dont mean code a game thats kind of like the original Zelda. I mean full games with 3D movement and graphics that are generated on the fly, no polygons necessary. The Genie 2 system has apparently analyzed so many video games that it can generate basic playable systems, including what looks like physics interaction and multiple viewpoints. Granted, we only have Googles word for it. And as impressive as the results are (or at least the videos Google deigns to share), theres no way the juice is worth the squeeze in terms of computing resources. But I could see this kind of system giving the tools to make simple games to kids and the non-tech-savvy, a step or two above RPG Maker or Dreams on the PS4, in a very cool way. Fail: Chrome users rebel after ad-blocker fiasco Google/Vivaldi As if Google didnt have enough to worry about from alienating regular search users, its also managed to piss off power users with a shift to a new series of Chrome extension guidelines. Manifest V3 seems specifically targeted to hamstring ad-blockers an implication, if not a direct allegation, from more than one ad-blocker developer among other more laudable goals. And users are taking note. While most extensions are updating to bend the knee, the developer of the popular uBlock Origin refused, instead creating a separate and deliberately less powerful alternative as a means of demonstrative protest. As some form of ad-blocking becomes almost essential for using the web both efficiently and safely, alternative browsers are suddenly on the rise. I cant claim objectivity here, as I bid adieu to Chrome after using it for over a decade in favor of the far more customizable Vivaldi. But Vivaldi, like almost every browser from a small company or development team, is based on Chromium. The only notable exception is Firefox. If theres a reckoning for browsers on the horizon, itll have to go through Google firstat least if Google still controls Chrome at that point. Win: Google could combine ChromeOS and Android Dave Parrack / IDG With that huge uncertainty hanging over Googles continued control of Chrome, there was a story that broke and gave us reason to celebrate. Google is, apparently, working on a new version of ChromeOS that uses Android as a base. ChromeOS and Android already have a lot in common theyre both open-source operating systems maintained by Google, after all but moving them closer could solve a lot of problems. Chromebooks could handle Android apps much more fluently and gracefully. That, in turn, would make ChromeOS tablets (a small but important part of the market) better all-around. On the flip side, it could give Android a much better way of handling multitasking on tablets, something that its not great at right now, and one of many reasons that the iPad kicks its butt in almost every metric. Android and ChromeOS both have long histories of being more or less distinct products unified by Googles ecosystemand that ecosystem isnt great. But moving them closer together could go a long way towards fixing that, and making Google a more integrated alternative to both Microsoft and Apple. Granted, all of this is extremely tentative in more ways than one. WTF: Russia fines Google more money than exists in the world New Line Cinema Alright, youve got to admit this ones funny. As a result of the Russian governments crackdown on social media and some very bad math, a court has ordered Google to pay two undecillion rubles, the equivalent of 20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 US dollars, in fines. Probably a lot more by this point. The details of how and why are hardly important, since thats more than a hundred trillion times the amount of money that exists on the planet, in all currencies, everywhere. Though Google still serves most of its products to Russian residents, its business operations in the country have shut down in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine. The odds of Google ever being forced to pay even a tiny, tiny portion of that ludicrous sum are about, hmmm, Id say two undecillion to one. By Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News (TNS) Bryan Kohberger was reportedly investigated in connection with another home invasion attack that occurred not far from where hes accused of slaying four University of Idaho students in an off-campus home. The 29-year-old suspect was arrested at his parents Pennsylvania home in December 2022, weeks after four students were killed in a house where three of them had lived and a fourth was visiting overnight. Police believe Kohberger, who attended nearby Washington State University, killed the four in Moscow, Idaho, then later drove cross-country with his father for the holidays. A not-guilty plea has been entered on his behalf. Bryan Kohberger at a hearing in 2023. (Zach Wilkinson/Pool/Getty Images/TNS, file)TNS According to ABC News, a year before those killings, police were called to a Washington state home 10 miles from Moscow where a woman said she fought off a masked intruder armed with a knife in her bedroom around 3:30 a.m. They flew into my closet then ran out the door and went up the stairs, she told cops on bodycam footage obtained by the outlet. The victims roommate called police, who found no evidence pointing them to any suspects. A couple weeks after Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were killed, Kohberger reportedly became a person of interest in the Washington case. However, the Washington home invader was said to be at least 7 inches shorter that Kohberger, whos 6 feet tall. And Kohberger hadnt yet been enrolled at Washington State University at the time of that incident, according to ABC News. Despite Kohberger seemingly being ruled out as a suspect in the Washington case, an ABC News contributor suspects his defense team might use that incident to convince jurors their client isnt the Idaho killer. Without a doubt, Bryan Kohbergers defense team is going to try to raise reasonable doubt by pointing to an alternative suspect in using this alleged burglary, said legal analyst Brian Buckmire. That trial is scheduled to begin in August in Boise, Idaho. A 33-year-old Indiana woman was arrested after she regained consciousness and drove away after possibly overdosing, Upper Allen Township police said. Police were called to the first block of Andes Drive in Upper Allen Township at 4:24 a.m. Tuesday for the report of a possible overdose. While officers were responding, the person believed to have overdosed, Pamela Baumgartner, regained consciousness and left, police said. Her vehicle was stopped, and an investigation determined that she was driving under the influence on a suspended drivers license, police said. Baumgartner of Fort Wayne was transported to Penn State Health Holy Spirit Hospital in East Pennsboro Township for treatment. While in custody, Baumgartner attempted to hit an officer in the face, police said. She was then transported to Cumberland County Central Booking for arraignment. She remains in Cumberland County Prison after she was unable to post the $20,000 bail amount, according to court records. Baumgartner was charged by Upper Allen Township Police with aggravated assault, a felony; driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, a misdemeanor; and driving with a suspended license (third offense), a misdemeanor, according to county records. She also was charged by East Pennsboro Township Police with simple assault, a misdemeanor, according to county records. A preliminary hearing will be held on Jan. 2 in front of Magisterial District Judge Mark Martin. Former child star Hudson Meek, best known for his role in Baby Driver, has died after he fell from a moving vehicle, according to multiple reports. CNN reported that Meek sustained blunt force trauma after falling on December 19. The site said the 16-year-old was admitted to the University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital and that is where he died on December 21. A post to his Instagram account addressed his death. His 16 years on this earth were far too short, but he accomplished so much and significantly impacted everyone he met, the post read. It also asked followers to please pray for Hudsons family and friends as we all process this sudden and tragic loss. CNN said that the Vestavia Hills Police Department in Alabama is still investigating the circumstances surrounding Meeks death. Along with the Baby Driver movie, Meek had acting credits on the MacGyver series and voiced Bada in 52 episodes of Badanamu Cadets. His credits ran right into 2024 with a one-episode gig on Genius, and an appearance in The School Duel. Gerard Karam, central Pennsylvanias top federal prosecutor since June 2022, said Thursday that he will resign effective Jan. 10. Karam did not offer a reason, but the move is typical for the 93 United States attorneys around the nation, who are political appointees, upon the change in a presidency. Donald J. Trump, a Republican, will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Jan. 20. Karam, a partner at a law firm in Scranton who had served as chief public defender of Lackawanna County earlier in his career, was appointed by President Joe Biden, a Democrat. It was his first tour of duty as a prosecutor. By Julia James and Joseph Morton, The Dallas Morning News (TNS) Retiring U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, has missed votes in Congress since the summer and her son said she has been having some dementia issues late in the year. The last time the 81-year-old Texas congresswoman cast a vote on the House floor was the morning of July 24. House Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger, R-Texas, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)AP In a statement from her office, Granger expressed gratitude for the publics concern and said that since early September, her health issues have made frequent travel to Washington, D.C., both difficult and unpredictable. As many of my family, friends, and colleagues have known, I have been navigating some unforeseen health challenges over the past year, the statement said. She added she was able to return to Washington in November to hold meetings and oversee the closure of her office. From South Carolina, her son, Brandon Granger, 52, told The Dallas Morning News that its been a hard year. Brandon said his mother is living at Tradition Senior Living in Fort Worth, but she is not in a memory care facility, as some media reports have stated. He said that while the facility has a memory care community on the same property, Rep. Granger resides in the independent living facility. On its website, Tradition Senior Living says it offers resort-style living with ultra-inclusive services on approximately six acres along the Trinity River with miles of walking trails. Brandon said she made the move because she wanted to be in a more active community of other older people. Rep. Granger has three children and five grandchildren, according to her congressional website. She announced in November 2023 she would not seek reelection. Its time for the next generation to step up and take the mantle and be a strong and fierce representative for the people, she said in a statement at the time. State Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth, won the race for the seat and will be sworn into office Jan. 3. Rep. Granger closed out her long tenure in Congress by missing several months of votes. She missed votes the night of July 24 and the next day before the House broke for its August recess. The House did not vote again until Sept. 9. Lawmakers left for the campaign trail after voting Sept. 25 and did not vote again until they returned Nov. 12. The final vote of the 118th Congress was Friday, when the House passed a spending bill to keep the government open. The tally was 366-34. Rep. Granger was one of 29 members who did not vote. Despite missing these votes, Rep. Granger did attend a celebration of her career on the House Appropriations Committee in mid-November in Washington. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Azerbaijan Army has observed a minute of silence in honor of victims of the crash of Azerbaijan Airlines' Embraer 190 passenger aircraft, which had been en route on the Baku-Grozny flight, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense. The ministry reiterated that, pursuant to a directive promulgated by the President of Azerbaijan, December 26, 2024, has been designated as a Day of Mourning nationwide to honor the victims of the crash. "The memory of the passengers and crew members who tragically lost their lives in the crash was honored at 12:00 (GMT +4)," added the ministry. The tragedy occurred on December 25, when an Embraer 190 plane operated by AZAL, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed just 3 kilometers from Aktau Airport. The Embraer 190 was carrying 67 people, including 62 passengers and five crew members. In the aftermath of the crash, 27 people were hospitalized. Among them, 15 are citizens of Azerbaijan, eight are from Russia, and three are from Kyrgyzstan. The identity of one individual remains unknown. Of those hospitalized, 11 are being treated in intensive care, 13 in the trauma ward, two in the neurosurgery ward, and one in the surgical ward. They are under the care of experienced doctors from Kazakhstan, as well as specialists sent from Azerbaijan and Russia. All patients have received prompt and specialized medical and psychological support. The crash claimed the lives of both pilots and a flight attendant. Two other crew members survived. December 26 has been declared a day of mourning in Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Today, all mosques across Azerbaijan, including the Juma Mosque in the Old City (Icherisheher), held prayers in honor of those who lost their lives in the crash of an AZAL plane near Aktau, Trend reports via the Executive Authority of Baku. Haji Surkhay Mammadli, a member of the Veterans Council of the Caucasus Muslims Office (UMK) and chairman of the religious community of the "Juma Mosque" in the capital's Icherisheher, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss. The news of the tragic deaths resulting from the crash of the plane belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) in the city of Aktau deeply shocked everyone, he said. On the instruction of the Chairman of UMK, prayers from the Quran were recited at the Juma Mosque in Icherisheher for the souls of the victims of the crash. As a religious community, we once again express our heartfelt condolences to our people and wish the Almighty to heal those injured in the tragedy. May the Almighty protect our people from all misfortunes, Mammadli added. To note, AZAL's Embraer 190 passenger plane on the Baku-Grozny route crashed 3 km away from Aktau airport on December 25. A total of 67 people (62 passengers and 5 crew members) were on board the Embraer 190 airplane, flying Baku-Grozny, which crashed in Aktau. Following the crash of the passenger airplane near Aktau, 27 people were hospitalized. Of them, 15 people are citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 8 - of the Russian Federation, and 3 - of the Kyrgyz Republic. The identity of one person has not been established yet. Of the victims hospitalized, 11 are being treated in the intensive care unit, 13 - in the traumatology department, 2 - in the neurosurgery department, and 1 - in the surgical department. These persons are under the control of professional doctors from Kazakhstan and those expelled from Azerbaijan and Russia. They were provided with prompt and specialized medical and psychological treatment. Both crew pilots as well as the flight stewardess were lost, but two crew members survived. December 26 has been declared a day of mourning in Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. The DNA analysis will be required to identify the remains of people who died in the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane near Aktau, the Azerbaijani consul general in Aktau, Aikhan Suleymanli told reporters, Trend reports. The identification process will take some time. As soon as the identities of the dead are confirmed, their remains will be sent to the relevant countries. The expert group of the Ministry of Health and the General Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan, which arrived in Aktau to identify the dead, is conducting an investigation. DNA analysis will be required to identify the bodies. So far only 3 out of 26 dead citizens of Azerbaijan have been identified, he said. Suleymanli noted that since the incident the relevant official structures of Kazakhstan have acted promptly and professionally. Immediate and safe transportation of the victims to the hospital was carried out. Residents of Kazakhstan come to donate blood for the victims. Also, residents carry bouquets to the consulate of Azerbaijan, he said. He added that since the incident the consuls general of Turkiye, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan in Aktau have been demonstrating support to Azerbaijan. To note, the passenger plane Embraer 190 belonging to AZAL, which was on the Baku-Grozny route, crashed 3 kilometers from Aktau airport on December 25. A total of 67 people (62 passengers and 5 crew members) were on board the plane. Following the crash of the passenger plane, 27 people were admitted to hospital. Of them, 15 people are citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 8 - of the Russian Federation, and 3 - of the Kyrgyz Republic. The identity of one of them has not yet been established. Of the victims hospitalized, 11 are being treated in the intensive care unit, 13 in the traumatology department, 2 in the neurosurgery department, and 1 in the surgical department. Their treatment is under the supervision of professional doctors from Kazakhstan and physicians sent from Azerbaijan and Russia. They were provided with prompt and specialized medical and psychological assistance. Both pilots of the crew as well as the flight attendant were killed, two crew members survived. Azerbaijan has declared December 26 a day of mourning. Tunde Ajose, the Head of the organising Committee at Badagry Heritage Festival, announces a unique start to the festival with a Yoruba classical ballet titled: Obi ati Orogbo at the Lagos State Theatre Building on Friday. Speaking with a journalist in Badagry on Wednesday, Mr Ajose said the grand opening would be an unforgettable experience, with a red-carpet ceremony starting at 3 p.m. According to him, the events highlight will be the premiere of the Yoruba Classical Ballet, Obi ati Orogbo. The first screening, scheduled for 4.00 p.m to 6.00. p.m. It will be exclusively for royals and political dignitaries, while the second screening, starting at 6.00 p.m., will be open to the general public and youths. The festivals grand finale will be on Sunday, with cultural displays showcasing the peculiarity of Badagrys Heritage at the Marina Waterfront. Different communities in Badagry will feature their cultural performances, which include Zangheto masquerades, the beating of Sato drums, boat displays, and other attractions. Support Mr Ajose said the lawmaker representing Badagry Constituency 1 in Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA), Mr Bonu Solomo, will be hosting Badagry traditional rulers, Baale and notable political leaders in Badagry at the Festival. The festivals organiser expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Lagos State Government and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture for their approval and support. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He also commended Solomon, the chairman of the House Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, for his instrumental role in facilitating the event. Mr Ajose urged tourists to visit Badagry during this festive period and get ready to immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage of the coastal town. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print At least 10 civilians were reportedly killed on Christmas day in mistargeted military airstrikes against Lakurawa terrorists in Sokoto State. Daily Trust reported that the residents of Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa villages in Silame LGA of Sokoto were hit around 7 a.m. on Wednesday. The villagers were sitting peacefully when the bombs started dropping on the communities, the Chairman of Silame LGA, Abubakar Daftarana, said. They were innocent and peace-loving people who had no criminal record. It is early for me to confirm the number of people either killed or injured because we are still assessing the development, the council chairman added. Military defends killings Olusola Akinboyewa, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force, did not immediately respond to an SMS sent to him Thursday morning. However, a military operation, tagged the Joint Task Force North West Operation Fansan Yamma, justified the strikes, saying those killed have been positively identified as associated with the Lakurawa group. The task force spokesperson, Abdullahi Abubakar, a lieutenant colonel, said in a statement that the operation followed intelligence gathering. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He said: The Joint Task Force, North West, Operation Fasan Yamma has addressed recent reports concerning a military fighter jet allegedly bombing civilian structures in the Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State. These reports have raised concerns; however, it is crucial to clarify that all military operations are conducted based on thorough intelligence and reconnaissance missions. This rigorous process is particularly important when targeting groups like the Lakurawa terrorist organization, as it aims to ensure precision and protect civilian lives. Given the serious nature of these operations, the public is urged to rely on confirmed information to prevent misinformation and unnecessary panic. There is a significant risk that terrorist groups may attempt to undermine military successes through media disinformation, necessitating caution concerning unverified claims, especially in the ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry. Importantly, the targets struck in the vicinity of Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa have been positively identified as associated with the Lakurawa group, reinforcing the justification for the military action taken. Recently, the Nigerian military declared Lakurawa a new terror group, but PREMIUM TIMES reported that the group had been operating in some parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states for a few years. Local communities first invited the al-Qaeda-linked group as mercenaries to fight bandits who infiltrated Sokoto through Zamfara. However, the group became so strong in these communities, implementing extreme Islamic laws. The group also killed one of its hosts, a local chief in Sokoto, following a disagreement between them. Innocent civilians previously mis-targeted This is not the first time the military would mistake civilians for terrorists in air raids. In December 2023, the military bombed scores of civilians in Tudun Biri, Kaduna State who had gathered to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The village is still trying to recover from the incident one year after. In Kurebe, a terrorised village in Shiroro LGA of Niger State, civilians have repeatedly been accidentally hit by military bomb jets. One of those incidents claimed the lives of six girls in 2022, PREMIUM TIMES reported. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Supporters of Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who was remanded alongside two other persons on Tuesday in connection with last Wednesdays funfair tragedy, have launched a petition seeking a fair trial. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the tragedy occurred on Wednesday at the Islamic High School in Bashorun, Ibadan, during a Fun Fair carnival event meant to bring joy to children but ended in chaos. The Oyo Police Commands spokesperson, Adewale Osifeso, said at the time that 35 minors were killed. At the same time, six other individuals were critically injured in the stampede that occurred during the childrens Christmas party. Delivering his judgment, Chief Magistrate Olabisi Ogunkanmi of the Iyaganku Chief Magistrates Court in Ibadan did not take the defendants plea due to lack of jurisdiction and asked that the 31-year-old ex-queen, 51-year-old popular broadcaster Oriyomi Hazmat, and 56-year-old school principal Fasasi Abdullahi be remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre in Ibadan. They are also facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, and negligent acts causing harm. These charges stem from their alleged roles in the organisation and management of the ill-fated funfair event. While ruling on the case, Mrs Ogunkanmi said she was remanding the defendants pending the issuance of legal advice from the state Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) and adjourned the matter until 13 January for mention. Petition Yetunde Ola, who started a petition on change.org titled Demand Fair Judicial Process for Queen Silekunola Naomi on Thursday, said the embattled queen has been an active beacon of hope in her community, often seen extending a helping hand to those in desperate need. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Her actions were driven by an earnest intention to alleviate hungry childrens suffering when an unfortunate stampede occurred. Now, she finds herself unfairly entangled in a web of legal accusations that are both disheartening and misplaced. We, the supporters of Queen Naomi, are seeking justice. It is paramount that her court cases are addressed with utmost impartiality and integrity. We must hold our judicial systems accountable for their actions and ensure they remain transparent, fair, and unbiased in their proceedings. Ms Ola also said Queen Naomis actions were driven not by malicious intent but by the noble goal of supporting underprivileged children. Our plea is, thus, simple. Give Queen Silekunola Naomi a fair trial, unaffected by bias and calumny. We present this petition to highlight the necessity for a just legal process that respects the evidence and complies with the principles of justice. We reinforce our commitment to stand by Queen Naomi, championing justice, fairness, and truth. As of press time, 4,149 signatures have been recorded from the intended 5,000. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Movie Title: Alakada Bad and Boujee Running Time: 2 hours Director: Adebayo Tijani Release Date: 20 December Cast: Toyin Abraham, Kolawole Ajeyemi, Ini Edo, Odunlade Adekola, Opeyemi Famakin, Kiekie, Toke Makinwa, Bimbo Ademoye and Bimbo Akintola, Ik Ogbonna, Chimezie Imo, Ronke Odunsanya. Streaming platform: Cinemas Toyin Abrahams Alakada: Bad and Boujee, directed by Adebayo Tijani, is the latest chapter in the beloved Alakada franchise. The franchise, known for its blend of humour and social commentary, follows the comedic journey of Yetunde Animashaun, a young woman torn between her aspirations for a glamorous lifestyle and the realities of her humble upbringing. This latest instalment continues the franchises tradition of sharp satire and relatable comedy. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later With a star-studded cast and a blend of humour and satire, the movie delves into themes of social media culture, class struggles, and societal expectations in contemporary Nigeria. Plot The story follows Yetunde (Toyin Abraham), a self-proclaimed social media influencer who fabricates a glamorous online persona with the help of her friends Rebecca (Bimbo Ademoye) and Abebi (Bimpe Oyebade). Her relentless pursuit of fame, validation, and acceptance in elite circles propels her to chase fame despite her modest background. However, as the story unfolds, she is forced to confront her insecurities and discovers the importance of staying true to herself. Character analysis Yetunde Animashaun (Toyin Abraham) Yetunde, the heart of the Alakada series, creates laugh-out-loud moments with her exaggerated lies and outrageous schemes. Yet, her vulnerability adds emotional depth, making her a character many can relate to. Abebi (Bimpe Oyebade) Abebi adds a dynamic mix of humour and realism to the story. As Yetundes assistant and friend, she often acts as the voice of reason; her relatable struggles mirror those of many young Nigerians navigating societal pressures and friendship dynamics. Rebecca (Bimbo Ademoye) Rebecca serves as Yetundes manager and confidant. She balances humour with moments of sincerity, often cautioning Yetunde against her escalating lies. Brother Jide (Odunlade Adekola) As a street-smart tout entangled in Madam Sharons organ-harvesting scheme, his character warns Yetunde against her choices while grappling with his questionable actions. His memorable line, One day, youll need someone to believe you, and no one will, resonates deeply after his tragic death. Madam Sharon (Ini Edo) Madam Sharons duality as a philanthropic socialite and a sinister organ harvester provides the films dramatic twist. Ini Edo delivers a commanding performance, blending elegance with menace as her crimes catch up with her. Mayowa (Lolade Okusanya) Mayowas subplot addresses the sensitive issue of domestic abuse, adding emotional weight to the narrative. Her eventual reconciliation with Yetunde after a harrowing experience underscores themes of forgiveness and family. Shola Shine Shine (Ronke Odusanya) Shola Shine Shine lends clothes to Yetunde to help her maintain her fake social media persona. She is romantically involved with Cash, one of Madam Sharons men. As the movie unfolds, she helps Yetunde get justice against her brothers death. Cash (Kola Ajeyemi) Cash, one of Madam Sharons enforcers, starts questioning his role in her nefarious activities. Despite his growing discomfort and desire to leave, Madam Sharon refuses to let him quit. His betrayal of Madam Sharon leads to a violent confrontation, where he ultimately loses his life during a scuffle with her. Supporting cast Notable mentions include IK Ogbonna as Laka Yetundes love interest and Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, KieKie, who plays his sharp-witted personal assistant. While their screen time is limited, their performances stand out, particularly KieKies. Her role as the one who exposes Yetundes lies adds humour and intrigue, with her impeccable comedic timing leaving a lasting impression. Ogbonnas portrayal of Laka brings a refreshing balance to the film, and Adeaga-Iloris performance as the sharp-witted assistant is a delightful addition to the cast. Themes The protagonist, Yetunde, continues her journey of living beyond her means to maintain a glamorous appearance. This theme examines the pressure to project an idealised version of oneself on social media, often at the expense of authenticity. The film delves into the impact of social media on personal and societal expectations. It portrays how platforms can create unrealistic standards, distort reality, and sometimes lead to comical situations when online personas dont align with real-life circumstances. The movie explores the allure and challenges of fame, including the pursuit of validation, the pitfalls of superficial relationships, and the drama that accompanies life in the spotlight. Through its humour, the movie effectively critiques societal values, including materialism, obsession, and the lengths people go to fit into a particular class or lifestyle. This societal critique will leave the audience intellectually stimulated. Critical review The movie successfully revives the franchises signature humour and satire, offering a sharp commentary on modern societal pressures. Toyin Abraham delivers a standout performance, bringing energy and charm to her role. Her character is further enriched by the dynamic performances of Bimbo Ademoye and Bimbo Oyebade, whose portrayals add depth to the film. However, the plot heavily relies on recycled themes from previous movies, offering little innovation or fresh ideas. The storyline, though predictable, however, engages the audience by mirroring the struggles of many young Nigerians grappling with societal pressures. Verdict The movie is a fun and relatable comedy that will resonate with franchise fans. Its satire on social media culture and societal pressures is entertaining and thought-provoking. However, the movie doesnt reveal anything new and doesnt stray away from its previous movies. Rating: 5/10 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police have confirmed that 22 persons were injured on Wednesday afternoon after a car ploughed into a Christmas procession in Gombe State. A statement by the police spokesperson in the state, Buhari Abdullahi, on Wednesday, said the incident happened at about 2 p.m. when a yet-to-be-identified driver lost control of his vehicle and ran into Christian faithful from Tumfure community who were on a procession to the emirs palace and the Government House, Suddenly, a Sharon bus loaded with bags of rice and driven by a yet-to-be-identified person lost control and rammed into the procession. The incident led to 22 persons being injured but no loss of life, he stated. Mr Abdullahi said the injured persons were swiftly evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre and Specialist Hospital in Gombe. However, anger flared among bystanders, leading to the vehicle being set ablaze by an irate mob. The driver managed to escape and remains at large, with police efforts underway to apprehend him. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Meanwhile, Governor Inuwa Yahaya has commiserated with the victims of the accident and urged the youths in the area to remain calm. Mr Yahaya commiserated with the victims when he received the state leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on a Christmas homage at the Government House, Gombe. He further urged the Christian faithful to continue to live peacefully with their neighbours. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print KHOJALY, Azerbaijan, December 26. The memory of those killed in the crash of a plane belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) was honored with a minute of silence in Khojaly district on December 26 at 12:00, as well as in the whole of Azerbaijan, Trend reports. To note, the passenger plane Embraer 190 belonging to AZAL, which was on the Baku-Grozny route, crashed 3 kilometers from Aktau airport on December 25. A total of 67 people (62 passengers and 5 crew members) were on board the plane. Following the crash of the passenger plane, 27 people were admitted to the hospital. Of them, 15 people are citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 8 of the Russian Federation, and 3 of the Kyrgyz Republic. The identity of one of them has not yet been established. Of the victims hospitalized, 11 are being treated in the intensive care unit, 13 in the traumatology department, 2 in the neurosurgery department, and 1 in the surgical department. Their treatment is under the supervision of professional doctors from Kazakhstan and physicians sent from Azerbaijan and Russia. They were provided with prompt and specialized medical and psychological assistance. Both pilots of the crew as well as the flight attendant were killed; two crew members survived. Azerbaijan has declared December 26 a day of mourning. The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission, Abdullahi Usman, has approved the appointment of Alidu Shutti as acting secretary of the commission. The appointment was announced in a statement by the Assistant Director, Information and Publications Department of the commission, Fatima Usara, on Wednesday. She said Mr Shutti will replace Abdullahi Rabiu-Kontagora who voluntarily resigned from the services of the commission on 6 December. Prior to his new appointment, Mr Shutti was the director, Inspectorate and Compliance of NAHCON since 2023. The statement said, Shutti has served the commission in various capacities from 2007 to date. A seasoned Hajj and Umrah administration and dedicated sta of NAHCON, he rose through the ranks from lower rungs of Civil Service cadre to the position of a director. He has also served as Head-Tour Operators Division, Assistant Director- Licensing Division, Deputy Director- States and Zones, Deputy Coordinator-Makkah Oce (2022 & 2023) and counting. Shutti bagged academic qualifications including Masters in Public Administration (MPA), Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies and a Diploma in Journalism as well. He gathered additional knowledge on Hajj from attending related local and international seminars in the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia among others. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Having displayed a deep understanding of Hajj operations, Mr Shutti is perceived as possessing the requisite expertise to run the oce of the acting secretary that will lead to a seamless and successful Hajj operation. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print An early morning fire on Wednesday gutted some shops near the General Post Office at Ibokwu Street by Old Market Road, Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inferno destroyed goods and property, including equipment, worth millions of naira. Chidimma Ike, an eyewitness and an owner of one of the affected houses, said the fire started from one shop. She said residents saw thick flames as the fire spread to other shops before they mobilised, alongside passers-by, to put off the fire and rescue goods in the shops. Mrs Ike said no firefighters came to the scene despite several calls to the state fire service. She added that residents successfully put off the fire and prevented it from escalating to other buildings in the neighbourhood. Most of the traders and shop owners did not come for business today (25 December) as they were at home for Christmas, she said. Chinedu Nnamdi, who lives in the area and whose shop was affected by the fire, said he saw smoke from afar and thought somebody was burning some waste because the shops were closed for the Christmas celebration. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Nnamdi said he did not know that the smoke was from the fire that engulfed their shops until his neighbours called him. As of the time this report was filed, the Anambra State Fire Chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, had not responded to our reporters calls. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of four plots of land linked to a land fraud scheme under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The case involves Homadil Realty Limited and its Managing Director, Bilkisu Aliyu, also known as Rebecca Godwin, who are accused of forging land documents and illegally selling the plots to unsuspecting buyers. The judge, Emeka Nwite, issued the interim forfeiture order on 20 December following an ex parte application dated 11 December, filed by EFCC. The properties are Plot 4022, Guzape District Cadastral Zone A09, and Plots 1861, 1862 and1863 in Cadastral Zone B07 Katampe, all in Abuja. Granting EFCCs ex parte application in a ruling on 20 December, the judge ordered the interim forfeiture of the plots of land to the federal government for 60 days, during which the EFCC is expected to conclude its investigations. That an order is hereby made forfeiting in the interim to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the property set out in the schedule to this application pending the period of 60 days of the investigation, a copy of the courts enrolled order seen by PREMIUM TIMES reads. The judge fixed 20 February 2025 for a report of investigations. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later How it started Documents from FCT authorities showed that the alleged scheme began with some officials within the Lands Department of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) reportedly conspiring with Mrs Aliyu. In a report of investigation dated 17 October 2023 and signed by the FCT Legal Services Secretariat Director of Investigation and Prosecution, Eriki Joseph, detailed how the fraudulent activities were carried out. Mr Joseph chaired the investigative panel, which included Chief Land Officer Mahmud Jibril and Development Control officials Michael Bawa and Grace Ogbole as members. According to the report, Mrs Aliyu allegedly forged a Power of Attorney, which was fraudulently introduced into the Land Information System (LIS) of the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS). The document claimed that the forged entry allowed Mrs Aliyu to obtain Development Control approval illegally. When Development Control discovered the irregularities, it suspended the building plan on Plot 4022 in Guzape and sealed off the property. However, Mrs Aliyu allegedly refused to comply with the directive. The investigative panel concluded that the development on Plot 4022 in Guzape was illegal and recommended its removal. The report also recommended the prosecution of Mrs Aliyu for tampering with the LIS and forging title documents. That the developer should be prosecuted for tampering with the Land Information System (LIS) and forging title documents to Plot 4022, Guzape District Cadastral Zone A09, Abuja, the report stated. Victims speak Mero Yesufu told PREMIUM TIMES that her family is a victim of the alleged fraud regarding the plots in Guzape and Katampe. She alleged that Mrs Aliyu illegally developed their plot in Guzape and sold some of their plots at Katampe using forged documents. This fraud has destroyed our lives, said Ms Yesufu, the matriarch of the Yesufu family. Weve lost not just our property but also our trust in the legal and property systems. Aliyu denies allegations When contacted via phone on Thursday, Mrs Aliyu denied all the allegations, claiming her company conducts business transparently and lawfully. Homadil Realty has never been involved in fraudulent land transactions. These allegations are baseless attempts by detractors to tarnish our reputation, she said. She added that the police never invited her for questioning or investigation, insisting that she legitimately acquired the land. Its absurd to suggest I grabbed it, she said. She also accused the EFCC of treating her unfairly, having allegedly taken a position before inviting her. She said, The person who sold me the property, Mr Richard John, admitted in front of EFCC officials, the Director of Investigations, and other parties that he sold the land to me and that I paid in full. She maintained that her title documents were not fake and that she had done nothing wrong to acquire any property. I built my house on it, where my family lives. Would I risk my familys safety if the land was not legitimate? Police accused of shielding suspect The Human Rights and Torture (INAHURAT) on Monday accused the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, of shielding Mrs Aliyu despite glaring fraud. The groups lawyer, Maxwell Opara, shared copies of two letters written to the IGP and the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, alleging that the police chief used his office to protect Mrs Aliyu. Despite overwhelming evidence based on the outcomes of thorough investigations by competent authorities such as the EFCC, FCTA Legal Secretariat, and more recently the ICPC, and the directive of the High Court mandating her to submit herself for investigation, justice has been obstructed by your order to keep her escort to restrict lawful arrest. Alarmingly, your alleged affiliation with the suspect and the unlawful protection extended to her through the deployment of numerous armed police escorts have compromised the integrity of the Nigeria Police Force and frustrated justice, he said. Mr Opara said the controversy deepened in November 2023 when the FCT Police Commissioner sealed the contested property and arrested suspects linked to the fraud. However, he said they (Homadils workers) were reportedly released on the direct orders of the IGP. INAHURAT alleged that six armed police officers were subsequently deployed to guard the illegal construction site, obstructing EFCC attempts to arrest Mrs Aliyu. Mr Opara said the IGP has misused the police resources in protecting Mrs Aliyu. INAHURAT called for an independent investigation into the case and compensation for the Yesufu family. It also sought a public statement from the IGP affirming his commitment to justice. The group urged EFCC to issue a public warning for Nigerians not to engage with the suspects or their companies to protect innocent citizens. It also called for swift prosecution of the suspects, forfeiture of proceeds from their alleged crimes, and restitution to the rightful owners of the assets. This newspaper contacted both the Nigeria Police Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, and the FCT Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, via SMS and WhatsApp messages and phone calls on Tuesday, but none responded. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A former Commissioner for Information in Kwara State and one-time General Manager of the state-owned newspaper, The Herald, AbdulRaheem Adisa, is dead. Mr Adisa died in the early hours of Thursday at the age of 91. His remains were interred on Thursday at the Muslim Cemetery, Osere, Ilorin according to Islamic injunctions. Mr Adisa retired as an editor with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and was a one-time chairman of Moro Local Government. Journalists, including two former chief press secretaries to Kwara State governors, Nurudeen AbdulRaheem and Masud Adebimpe; the state chairman of the National League of Veteran Journalists (NALVEJ), Tunde Akanbi; politicians; Islamic scholars and families of the deceased were at the cemetery to pay their last respects. Meanwhile, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has commiserated with the family of the late veteran journalist. In his condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor said Mr Adisa made huge contributions, especially as a former staff member of NAN. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The Chairman of the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), AbdulLateef Ahmed, described the death of Mr Adisa as painful. For his part, the chairman of NALVEJ, Mr Akanbi, described him as a hardworking and versatile journalist. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has said the tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly recommend an increase in the allocation of Value-Added Tax to Kano and Zamfara states. He said the provisions recommended 6.17 per cent to Kano compared to the current 0.89 per cent the state is receiving and that Zamfara will get 1.21 per cent of the total VAT allocation instead of the 0.05 per cent it currently receives. Mr Bamidele, the Ekiti Central Senatorial District senator, gave the breakdown in his Christmas message to Nigerians. The tax bills have faced criticism, especially from northern political and religious leaders. In a recent interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, said except Lagos State, the bills will not benefit other states of the Federation. He also said they could have devastating consequences for the northern region, especially preventing the states from paying salaries. But Mr Bamidele debunked the claim, explaining that Lagos, which is currently receiving 80.26 per cent of the total VAT, will reduce to 15.28 per cent, and Rivers State, which currently receives 7.74 per cent, will decline to 4.6 per cent if the bills are passed. The senator said that those criticising the tax reforms were only spreading false narratives, not what is contained in its provisions. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later As credible data have shown, for instance, the new model recommends 6.17 per cent to Kano compared to 0.89 per cent currently due to it. It recommends 1.21 per cent for Zamfara compared to 0.05 per cent. Currently, Lagos gets 80.26 per cent, but the new model only recommends 15.28 per cent, representing an 81 per cent decrease. Under the new model, Rivers share will decline from 7.74 per cent to 4.6 per cent, accounting for 41 per cent. With these figures, the narrative around the new derivation model is utterly incorrect and unfounded, he said. Mr Bamidele, however, noted that the National Assembly has taken note of all concerns raised on the bills. We have taken due note of public concerns about these initiatives. We are, as well, looking deeply into the areas of public concern. Our duty, as democrats, is not just to listen to our constituents, but also give effect to policy initiatives that will positively impact their lives, he said. Exemptions from paying taxes Mr Bamidele also said that contrary to the claims of some critics, the tax reform bills also recommended that those earning N83,000 monthly or N1,000,000 annually should be exempted from paying VAT on consumption and essential services. He argued that the bills promote justice and fairness in the distribution of VAT to all states. For the record, the tax reform bills, when finally enacted, utterly exempt all employees earning N1,000,000 annually or N83,000 monthly; exempt start-ups, shared services and technologically-driven services from taxation and recommend zero VAT on essential services and consumptions. Even though it reviews the derivation formula to 60 per cent, this proposal is guided purely by the principles of equity, fairness and justice. The new model will eventually guarantee a significant increase in VAT distributable to every state of the federation, the senator added. What Christ taught us Mr Bamidele said, in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ, the National Assembly will not deviate from the oath of allegiance they took in ensuring the interest and welfare of Nigerians in whatever decisions they will eventually make on the tax bills. Amid the debates about the tax reform bills, as Christ, our Lord has taught us and as the Parliament of the people, we shall never pursue any agenda outside our oath of allegiance or undertake policy initiatives adversarial to or conflicting the interest and welfare of all our constituents and indeed our Fatherland, he said. The senate leader wished Nigerians a merry Christmas celebration and a happy New Year in advance. With all my heart, I wish you all happy celebrations in this season of deep reflection. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance, he stated. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The wife of the late former governor of Ondo State, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has launched an attack on the Ondo State Government and the Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, over plans to hold a memorial lecture for the former governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. Mrs Akeredolu strongly rejected the plans, saying she and her family were unaware of the lecture. She also described the planned lecture as a yahoo or 419 lecture. About lecture The Ondo State Government has scheduled to organise a memorial lecture in honour of Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Friday in Akure. According to the government, the lecture is to honour the late governors legacies, especially his role in protecting the people against those described as vandals. Mrs Akeredolu-Anyanwu kicks Her reaction to the lecture was in a statement titled Re: Purported Aketi lecture by Ondo State Government, and she posted on her verified X account that she alleged that the governor may be trying to make money from the lecture. Her statement reads: Lucky cant be serious! Which legacy? Mtcheew. Lecture, my foot! This is not for Aketi because I and my family are not aware. Damn it! Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later As the saying goes, You and your co-travellers cannot shave Aketis head in his absence. You cannot weep more than the bereaved. This is an insidious propaganda carried too far! Lucky, you are preoccupied with rubbishing Aketis legacy; you cant succeed, anyway. Anybody close to Aketi and Arabinrin becomes your enemy. Your minions are scared to get close; otherwise, they lose their appointments. Now you want to pretend by organising one yeye lecture for Aketis memorial as an entry point to chop money on Aketis head. You are on your own o! If this is not #yahoo #419 lecture, tell me what it is! Government reacts However, the state government has insisted it will go ahead with the scheduled lecture despite opposition by the late former governors wife. The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Aiyedatiwa, Ebenezer Adeniyan, posted on his Facebook handle, Please, join us on Friday as we honour our former governor. Mr Adeniyan also posted the flier of the event. Jingle of the lecture has been aired on broadcast media and circulated on social media platforms. Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu died on the 27th of December, 2023, after an unsuccessful battle with illness. Before then, he had issues with the deputy over allegations of disloyalty. Although there were attempts to impeach Mr Aiyedatiwa, the plots were thwarted by legal encumbrances he initiated. The bad blood between Mr Aiyedatiwa and the Akeredolus worsened after the former governor died and Mr Aiyedatiwa took over as a governor. He also won reelection on 16 November despite strong forces against him. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Management of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) has denied allegations that the governing council is attempting to impose a candidate in the ongoing recruitment process for a substantive vice-chancellor. The universitys spokesperson, Habib Yakoob, said in a statement on Wednesday that the allegations are both misleading and exaggerated. He said: The University remains confident in the Councils commitment to conducting a transparent, fair, and merit-based selection process in strict adherence to the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act and other relevant statutes. The Council has meticulously structured the process to ensure the emergence of the most competent and visionary leader to steer the institution toward greater achievements. He explained that a senate meeting scheduled for Tuesday was postponed to allow for alternative avenues of amicable resolution between the council and two senate members who staged a walkout at the council meeting on Monday. The two members walked out shortly after their inauguration as members of the selection committee on Monday. The UNIABUJA council, therefore, scheduled a senate meeting to address the grievances of the two members who walked out of the meeting or have them replaced. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He said: On the matter of the Senate meeting, while it is true that a meeting was initially scheduled to address the issue of two Senate members who walked out of the Joint Council/Senate Selection Board meeting regarding the selection criteria, no such meeting ultimately took place. The meeting was postponed to allow for alternative avenues of amicable resolution. Regarding claims of protests by some professors, the university affirms that it respects the right of staff to peaceful expression. However, it categorically denies any allegations of coercion or confrontation during the supposed Senate meeting, particularly as no such meeting occurred. As the institution continues to uphold its mission of providing quality education and fostering innovation, it calls on all stakeholders to allow the selection process to proceed without undue interference or politicisation. The process will be concluded with the utmost integrity and in the best interests of the university. UNIABUJA and its VC logjam The selection of a vice chancellor for UNIABUJA has been controversial since March when the administration of the immediate past vice chancellor, Abdulrasheed NaAllah, a professor, released an advertorial for the position. But the advertorial sparked controversy on the campus after the institutions chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) rejected it, saying the university council is the only body empowered by law to recruit for the position. Meanwhile, there was no council at the time as President Bola Tinubu dissolved governing councils of all tertiary institutions in June 2023. ALSO READ: UniAbuja ASUU suspends strike after 82 days The union subsequently embarked on an indefinite strike over the matter. The national leadership of ASUU also issued the federal government a two-week ultimatum to reconstitute the dissolved governing councils. The government reconstituted the councils and appointed Yusuf Kaita, a retired Air Vice Marshal, to lead that of UNIABUJA. Earlier in June, the Senate of the university had appointed Aisha Maikudi, a professor of law, as acting vice chancellor to take over from Mr NaAllah, pending the appointment of a substantive vice chancellor. The appointment was subsequently ratified by the governing councils. The council called for another application and began the selection process of a new vice chancellor. It received over 80 applications and had pruned them down to about 40 out of which a top three are expected to emerge. But controversy has continued to trail the new process over allegations and counter allegations by different parties. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Aliyu, said he has demanded the investigation of the killing of civilians in military airstrikes at Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa villages in Silame Local Government Area of the state. PREMIUM TIMES reported that at least 10 civilians were reportedly killed on Christmas day in the airstrikes against Lakurawa terrorists. Governor Aliyu said in a statement that he was in direct communication with the leadership of the Nigerian Army to ensure a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to this tragedy. He added that the state government would do everything it can to support the affected families and engage with the relevant authorities to prevent such occurrences in the future. Below is the full statement from the governor It is with a heavy heart that I address you following the tragic incident in the communities of Gidan Bisa and Runtuwa in the Silame Local Government Area. This heartbreaking event, caused by an accidental misfire from the Nigerian Army, has claimed the lives of innocent citizens and left several others injured. As your governor, I am deeply saddened by this avoidable loss of life. On behalf of the government and the people of Sokoto State, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. We also pray for the swift recovery of those injured in this unfortunate incident. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later I want to assure you that I am in direct communication with the leadership of the Nigerian Army to ensure a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to this tragedy. The state government will do everything within its power to support the affected families and engage with the relevant authorities to prevent such occurrences in the future. This is a time for us to stand united as a community. I urge all residents to remain calm and pray for peace in our state and nation. May the Almighty comfort the bereaved families and grant eternal rest to the departed souls. I visited the affected areas to assess the situation firsthand and have directed a donation of N20 million along with 100 bags of assorted food items to the families of the deceased. This support is intended to alleviate their suffering and cover the medical bills of those hospitalized due to their injuries from the bombardment. Together, we will overcome this difficult moment and work towards ensuring that such tragedies do not happen again. AAS Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Osun State judiciary Thursday justified the death penalty imposed 10 years ago on fowl thief convict Segun Olowokere and his accomplice, Sunday Morakinyo. Mr Olowokere and his co-suspected were arrested in Oyan, Odo-Otin Local Government of Osun State in November 2010. They were sentenced to death by the Osun State High Court, Ikirun Division, on 17 December 2014. Speaking through the Chief Registrar of Osun State High, F. I. Omisade, states judiciary said the facts of the case had been distorted and maliciously misrepresented to the generality of the people. What has been laid before the public domain is that this boy was convicted and sentenced to death for stealing one fowl. The purveyors of this falsehood are mischief makers, and they have exposed their abysmal level of intellectual bankruptcy, the statement read. Governor Ademola Adeleke had announced move to pardon Mr Olowokere following uproar on social media after the convicts mother claimed that her son was sentenced to life imprisonment for stealing fowl. Social media buzz suggested that Mr Olowokere was a minor at the time of his arrest and conviction Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Human rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, was part of notable figures that have urged Governor Adeleke to pardon the two convicts. But states judiciary said Thursday that, unknown to many people, records showed that the two convicts had a history of robbery. According to the chief registrars statement, both of them were going about in Oyan town and its neighbourhood robbing innocent and unsuspecting people at gunpoint. Luck ran out on them in April 2010 when they were caught in action while robbing a poultry farm. Arms were recovered from them. They equally confessed to committing several armed robberies, the statement added. It added that the punishment prescribed by the law for such offences was hanging to death. They were charged before the High Court of Justice, Ikirun Judicial Division presided over then by Hon. Justice S.O. Falola. After a full trial which lasted from 11 February 2013 to 17 December 2014 they were found guilty and convicted of armed robbery, the statement said. Underage controversy The chief registrar further noted that Mr Olowookere was not underage when he committed the crime and prosecuted as alleged on social media. He said the convict was 19 years old, and not 17 years old then. His extra judicial statement and the information upon which they were tried attest to this. The second accused person, Morakinyo, was 18 years as at that time, he added. He further urged the general public to look into the facts of the case, and not malign the personality of the trial judge and denigrate the Osun State High Court as an institution. The trial judge, in His Lordships characteristic magnanimity, large heart and fatherly disposition, did what the law prescribed and went further to recommend them for mercy of the governor, he added. Background Messrs Olowookere and Morakinyo were arrested in Oyan, Odo-Otin Local Government of Osun State in November 2010. They were accused of robbing Tope Balogun a policeman attached to the Divisional Police Headquarters, Okuku, of two fowls and eggs. On 30 January 2013, the police arraigned them before Justice Jide Falola of the state High Court in Ikirun for robbery and stealing. Messrs Olowookere and Morakinyo were said to have conspired in November 2010 to rob one Oguntade Faramade of his fowls and eggs worth N20,000. They were also accused of robbing one Balogun Taye of his two mobile phones and attempting to rob another person, Alhaja Umani Oyewo, in her house. According to the charges, the convicts were armed with cutlasses and a Dane gun to rob one Elizabeth Dare of a gallon of vegetable oil. Both of them pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were caught. However, Mr Olowooke was said to have made a confessional statement to the police in which he admitted to committing the crime. On 17 December 2014, the trial judge, Mr Falola, convicted and sentenced the two of them to death for conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and life imprisonment (or robbery, and three years imprisonment for stealing. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print At least 10 civilians killed in a military airstrike on Christmas Day in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State have been buried, residents have said. The residents said the Christmas Day airstrike also killed dozens of livestock at Gidan Sanma and Rumtuwa villages. Residents told a local news outlet, Sokoto Obstacles, that several food silos and houses were also burnt. Some survivors narrated how the airstrike caused human and animal casualties. Its multiple airstrikes. The big one fell here, causing heavy destruction which affected our houses and food silos, a resident said. They said nine victims died instantly while the other later succumbed to their injuries. Many residents, largely peasant farmers, have been displaced as a result of the attack. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The military has, however, claimed that the attack was based on intelligence and that those hit were terrorists. The state governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has demanded an investigation of the incident. Governor Aliyu said in a statement that he was in direct communication with the leadership of the Nigerian Army to ensure a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to this tragedy. He added that the state government would do everything it could to support the affected families and engage with the relevant authorities to prevent such occurrences in the future. Although the military is yet to take responsibility for the killing of the civilians, this would not be the first such fatal errors during air attacks. PREMIUM TIMES has reported similar incidents in Borno, Niger and Kaduna states leading to the deaths of dozens of civilians. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 26. The memory of the victims of the plane crash belonging to AZAL was honored in front of the Azerbaijani Consulate in Aktau, Trend reports. The relevant footage was shared in the Akimat of the Mangistau region. "The representatives of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, various spheres, public figures, youth, and residents of Aktau continue to come to the building of the consulate to share the grief of the brotherly people. Akim of Aktau city Abilkair Baipakov, left a note in the book of condolences, expressing words of support to the Azerbaijani people. The leaders of the region expressed condolences to the loved ones of the victims, wished the Azerbaijani people fortitude, and supported them in this tragic bereavement, the information notes. To note, AZAL's Embraer 190 passenger plane on the Baku-Grozny route crashed 3 km away from Aktau airport on December 25. A total of 67 people (62 passengers and 5 crew members) were on board the Embraer 190 airplane, flying Baku-Grozny, which crashed in Aktau. Following the crash of the passenger airplane near Aktau, 27 people were hospitalized. Of them, 15 people are citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 8 - of the Russian Federation, and 3 - of the Kyrgyz Republic. The identity of one person has not been established yet. Of the victims hospitalized, 11 are being treated in the intensive care unit, 13 - in the traumatology department, 2 - in the neurosurgery department, and 1 - in the surgical department. These persons are under the control of professional doctors from Kazakhstan and those expelled from Azerbaijan and Russia. They were provided with prompt and specialized medical and psychological treatment. Both crew pilots as well as the flight stewardess were lost, but two crew members survived. Security operatives have arrested a notorious kidnapper in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigerias South-east. The suspect, Pablo Mamu, a 38-year-old man, hails from Ughelli in Delta State, South-south Nigeria. The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, said the suspect was arrested when a joint security team raided his residence on 23 December. The spokesperson said the operation was conducted by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and members of the vigilante operatives. The joint security team acted on credible information provided, burst the suspect in his harbour and during a search conducted, he said. READ ALSO: Police recover vehicle belonging to kidnapped lawmaker One OFN rifle, one locally made pistol, one live 9mm ammunition, eight live cartridges and one black Lexus 330 SUV with a different number plate were among the items recovered from the suspect, according to the police. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Nnaghe Obono, has commended the synergy between security operatives and residents of the state who provide information for operations, Mr Ikenga said. Mr Obono, according to the statement, stressed the importance of continued collaboration between security operatives and residents in ensuring security, especially during and after this festive season. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian government has again denied allegations that it is colluding with France to destabilise its neighbour, Niger. The Nigerian Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, issued a statement on Thursday describing the allegation as unfounded and counterproductive. He said Nigeria respects the sovereignty of individual countries and is focused on tackling terrorism within its borders. It is, therefore, absurd to suggest that Nigeria would conspire with any foreign power to undermine the peace and security of a neighbouring country, he said, a few days after the foreign ministry issued a similar rebuttal. Mr Idris said Nigerias partnership with France is not centred on disrupting the peace and security of Niger or any other African country. Tension between both countries The relationship between the two West African countries went sour after soldiers toppled the Niger president, Mohamed Bazoum, in a coup that would eventually lead to the countrys withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Before Niger announced it was withdrawing from ECOWAS, Nigeria led other West African countries to impose sanctions on Niger following the coup. ECOWAS has since lifted the sanctions and called on Niger, as well as junta-led Mali and Burkina Faso, not to exit the regional body. Amidst the climate of mistrust, Niger recently accused Nigeria of sponsoring terrorist attacks in its borders as a means of undermining the new leadership. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The military leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, accused the Nigerian government of colluding with Lakurawa, a terrorist group operating in the border communities of both countries. The junta blamed the Nigerian government for the recent attack on the Niger-Benin oil pipeline launched by Lakurawa. The attack is said to have severely damaged the oil pipeline, which is set to become the largest in Africa. The pipeline was reportedly bombed between Lido and Karakara in the Dosso region of Niger. PREMIUM TIMES reports that the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier distanced Nigeria from the attacks. Oil pipeline In his Thursday statement, Mr Idris said It was illogical to suggest that Nigeria would undermine initiatives it actively promoted. Nigeria has consistently supported Nigers economic development through joint energy and infrastructure projects, such as the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and the Kano-Maradi Railway Project, he said. According to him, claims that the attack was purportedly orchestrated by Nigeria in collaboration with France and executed through the local terrorist group are baseless. Nigeria has been a regional leader in combating terrorism, dedicating significant resources and lives to ensure stability in the Lake Chad Basin and beyond, he added. The minister said neither the Nigerian government nor any of its officials has ever been involved in arming or supporting any terror group to attack Niger. Recently, the Nigerian military launched Operation Forest Sanity III, specifically addressing the Lakurawa threat, Code Named Operation Chase Lakurawa Out. How can a government actively fighting the Lakurawa menace now be accused of harbouring the same group within its borders? he said. Mr Idris also noted that Nigeria has never permitted foreign powers to establish military bases on its territory. This, he stated, demonstrates the countrys commitment to national independence and regional leadership. ECOWASs stance against military rule The minister also described the accusations as part of a broader attempt to deflect attention from Nigers internal challenges. He called the allegations a dangerous attempt to divert attention from the shortcomings of the Niger junta. He asked the public to disregard the allegations, noting that those making the claims must provide credible evidence. Any attempt to blackmail Nigeria over ECOWASs principled stance against the unconstitutional seizure of power in the Niger Republic is both disingenuous and doomed to fail, the minister said. Nigeria remains committed to fostering regional stability and will continue to lead efforts to address terrorism and other transnational challenges. We urge Niger to focus on constructive dialogue and collaboration rather than peddling baseless accusations, he added. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Field Marshall sleeps... The fields gained through consistent resistant to policies and programmes designed to perpetuate anachronism have been ceded to greed and overweening arrogance. The combination of avarice, treachery and political illiteracy ensures that the new handlers of the unfortunate amalgam of ethnic nationalities adopt measures aimed at surrendering our sovereignty, ultimately, to the Caliphate, despite the dubious pretensions at emancipation. It is a year since the gadfly transited. It has been a whole season of revelations. The suspicions of treacherous and lecherous leanings have been stamped with confirmatory deeds, culminating in utter denudation of masked hypocrites and traitors. Yes, it has been a period which affords the people of Ondo State, nay Nigerians, the opportunity to examine the vile acts of political moths aspiring to the attainment of the same altitude with the Eagle in a flight of hubris. The Shakespearean admonition holds true; not even members of the great mans family are immune to the affliction of the malady of treachery. The nearer, the bloodier. How else should unalloyed love be measured than the impatient, anxious anticipation of the passing of an erstwhile benefactor? Human nature remains essentially slippery and continually conditioned by existential exigencies. This is perhaps another convenient moment for whimpering sycophancy, feigned ululations on the presumed loss of a pearl, a rare species among homo sapiens. This moment allows for the ostentatious display of hypocrisy. It is not unlikely that triumphalism will mount the podium. The vacuous postulations of duplicitous inanities will descend on an audience, mostly populated by the rabble, present only for political correctness and partaking in whatever measly spoils that treachery dispenses. Keen eyes and perceptive minds have since settled for equanimity, a noncommittal election of quietude, for the complete unravelling of quislings and mediocrities. This period has witnessed a marked lull in the countrys political firmament. There has been, without doubt, a resurgence of the onslaught on the much cherished democratic principles by the new power mongers at the centre. And unlike before, when reasoned opposition to the policies of the Federal Government came, consistently, from the Sunshine State, where the Spartacus, the ultimate galvaniser, presided as the peoples Chief Servant, increased allocations, ill-education and cluelessness seem to have quietened dissent. Let all those who proclaim affinity with the great man search themselves. Vacuous avowals and infantile tantrums bordering on disgrace are a disservice to his memories. He was a successful legal practitioner. That fact is not debatable. He was a consummate Bar politician. Even his adversaries acknowledge this truth. He accommodated and promoted many undeserving felons, including some with acclaimed kinship. He was not a perfect human being. No mortal has attained that utopia. He lived and impacted simply as Aketi, the man with the heart of gold. The Field Marshall sleeps. Amotekun is famished, humiliated and hobbled by the combined onslaughts of the inordinately ambitious mediocrities and the descendants of expansionist and dubious religionists, notorious for ingrained kleptocracy, fanaticism and genocide. The fields gained through consistent resistant to policies and programmes designed to perpetuate anachronism have been ceded to greed and overweening arrogance. The combination of avarice, treachery and political illiteracy ensures that the new handlers of the unfortunate amalgam of ethnic nationalities adopt measures aimed at surrendering our sovereignty, ultimately, to the Caliphate, despite the dubious pretensions at emancipation. Politically dangerous decisions, such as local government autonomy, tax reforms among others, are being bandied as redemptive panacea to our socio-economic woes. Let all those who still think in our immediate space speak out now or be damned. The current holders of the transient illusion confused as power will stop at nothing to dump us in the sea. The continual amendments of the unitary Constitution to suit immediate greed and consolidate the current hold on power to support an emerging fiefdom would have been challenged by the man Aketi, the quintessential gentleman of the Bar. The duplicitous rabble-rousing, masked as activism, would not have escaped acerbic excoriation from the man reputed for fearlessness and honesty. Remembering him on the anniversary of his transition should not be limited to the ostentatious exhibition of grovelling sycophancy. No public talk can approximate the legacy of a man who dared when others chose to be politically correct. Let all those who proclaim affinity with the great man search themselves. Vacuous avowals and infantile tantrums bordering on disgrace are a disservice to his memories. He was a successful legal practitioner. That fact is not debatable. He was a consummate Bar politician. Even his adversaries acknowledge this truth. He accommodated and promoted many undeserving felons, including some with acclaimed kinship. He was not a perfect human being. No mortal has attained that utopia. He lived and impacted simply as Aketi, the man with the heart of gold. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later May he continue to maintain his space in the pantheon of our ancestors. Doyin Odebowale is the former SSA, Special Duties and Strategy to Aketi as the governor of Ondo State. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print We a panel of seven comprising Dr Reuben Abati (ARISE TV/ThisDay), Maupe Ogun-Yusuf (Channels TV), Nnamdi Odikpo (NTA), Jide Otitoju (TVC), Umar Farouk Musa (VOA), Ruth Olurounbi (Bloomberg News), and I wanted to have this interview live and for two hours for the reasons Ive explained That didnt happen. Hours before the interview, which was postponed from Sunday to Monday because of the tragic deaths from palliative stampedes in different parts of the country, we finally settled for 90 minutes. The questions were entirely ours to decide, and that was what happened. Apart from General Sani Abacha, I have met one-on-one with every Nigerian leader since 1992, from General Ibrahim Babangida. However, I have only participated in one televised live group media chat with former President Olusegun Obasanjo. If you have met Obasanjo before whether for an interview or anything else you might agree that hes a handful and more. You never know what to expect with Obasanjo, especially when he is in his lair. I narrowly missed being punched by the former president during an un-televised interview in his Library in the Villa in 2004, for asking why his government was letting a political outlaw, Chris Uba, run amok in Anambra State. The combined effort of presidential aides, the late Remi Oyo and Professor Julius Ihonvbere, rescued me from Obasanjos fury. Are You OPC? My experience wasnt very different during the live presidential media chat. I had asked him why he ordered a shoot-on-sight against members of the militant Yoruba self-determination group, Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), which operated mainly in the South West, Obasanjos home base. He was livid. He warned me, on air, that if I were going to bring the irreverence of my weekly column to the Villa, he would immediately throw me out of the panel. I insisted on an answer, to which he said, If youre a member of OPC, tell your people that I mean what I said! Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Three Presidents, Different Styles Presidents Umaru Musa YarAdua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari, whom I also met at different times in different untelevised encounters in the line of duty, were distinct in their peculiar ways. YarAdua spoke a little, measuredly and candidly. Jonathan was gentle, felicitous, and vulnerable, without a care in the world. Buhari was taciturn, defensive, and tight-lipped, except when you touched on a raw nerve, mainly around his family or his relationship with Babangida, with whom he has had a fascinating Tom-and-Jerry relationship. I poked Buhari on this soft spot in an untelevised group interview in 2016. His unusually animated, angry reply inspired a widely publicised story that covered The Interview magazine, entitled Why Babangida removed me from power. When I received a message on 18 December that I had been selected for a panel to interview the president, I assumed it would be live. Not that theres any journalistic rule forbidding a recorded interview. Some of the best interviews Ive read about or seen, from Oriana Fallaci to Larry King, were recorded. In a more recent example, the CNN interview with President-elect Donald Trump was recorded on 25 November and aired on 12 December. Road to Interview The Monday televised interview with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu differed in many ways. Multiple sources, including those inside his cabinet, had pressured him to host an interview many times, but he refused, insisting that the time was not right and that there was much to be done. In October, 17 months into his presidency, there was nearly an interview on the eve of the planned second round of the #EndBadGovernance protest. He cancelled at the last minute for personal reasons. When I received a message on 18 December that I had been selected for a panel to interview the president, I assumed it would be live. Not that theres any journalistic rule forbidding a recorded interview. Some of the best interviews Ive read about or seen, from Oriana Fallaci to Larry King, were recorded. In a more recent example, the CNN interview with President-elect Donald Trump was recorded on 25 November and aired on 12 December. Live Or Recorded? However, I hoped the interview with Tinubu would be live a point I later found was shared by all panel members because this was the first, nearly halfway into his presidency. If eating this toad had taken 19 months, its better to eat it big, for Nigerians to hear their president engaging them unfiltered. The choice of live or recorded can sometimes be tricky. Like Ebenezer Obeys famous story in the song of the Journeyman and his Donkey, you cant please everyone. Some want it live because it allows spontaneity and could sometimes be a window to the persona of the interviewee. Others prefer a live interview for traps to catch the interviewee in their unguarded moments, which is why others oppose it. The Panel We a panel of seven comprising Dr Reuben Abati (ARISE TV/ThisDay), Maupe Ogun-Yusuf (Channels TV), Nnamdi Odikpo (NTA), Jide Otitoju (TVC), Umar Farouk Musa (VOA), Ruth Olurounbi (Bloomberg News), and I wanted to have this interview live and for two hours for the reasons Ive explained. That didnt happen. Hours before the interview, which was postponed from Sunday to Monday because of the tragic deaths from palliative stampedes in different parts of the country, we finally settled for 90 minutes. The questions were entirely ours to decide, and that was what happened. Some folks have been upset that the interview was not live and, to make matters worse, not a brawl. One gentleman, obviously with a heavy heart, said, I expected my seniors on the job to rattle the President. I get that. Another was not even interested in the interview. He aimed at me instead, saying that even though Im an Igbo man (which Im not), I did not wear a red cap (which Ive never worn) because of an inferiority complex! His answers were fascinating. He described Wike as a performing minister and a very good man. He said it twice, slowly but louder and with a hearty laughter of approval the second time. In response to the Supreme Courts judgement on local government autonomy, he said, There are at least two ideological views on that. The thing is that the constitution created the local governments, and there isnt such a thing as unfunded mandate. To Cut Or Not? Its the nature of recorded interviews and this one was no exception that not everything is aired. Twenty questions were prepared, and at least 17 were asked point-blank, excluding unscripted queries and follow-ups. Among the unaired questions were whether the President considered Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a political liability and whether direct payments to the local governments were not a derogation of the principle of federalism, which recognises the centre and the states as the fundamental constituent units of the federation. Questions also arose about #EndSARS and state police and whether the president would request the Code of Conduct Bureau to release his assets, as one or two newspapers requested under the FOIA of 2011. His answers were fascinating. He described Wike as a performing minister and a very good man. He said it twice, slowly but louder and with a hearty laughter of approval the second time. In response to the Supreme Courts judgement on local government autonomy, he said, There are at least two ideological views on that. The thing is that the constitution created the local governments, and there isnt such a thing as unfunded mandate. Translation: If the law created local governments, it is not unlawful for them to receive their funding directly. That debate continues. Ill Consider On state police, he said he didnt expect any obstacles but expected a negotiated outcome in the countrys best interest. His response to the question on asset declaration was even more fascinating. I remember that in 2012 this question left Jonathan with a media chat black eye. He was asked if he didnt care about the growing public demand that he should declare his assets. In what was initially thought to be a slip, he said, I dont give a damn! That turned out to be a damn good headline the next day. Tinubu took a different approach. He said he had done his part by filing his assets as required by the law and would do so again at the point of exit. But when asked if he would ask the CCB to release it since there is currently no law mandating the CCB, despite the FOIA, he said, I will consider doing so. That, I think, is worth holding onto. Everything couldnt be covered in a one-hour broadcast, and perhaps one live or recorded interview will hardly satisfy the pent-up hunger to hear the president. But one presidential interview at a time, the gap is closing. Azu Ishiekwene is the Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP and author of the new book, Writing for Media and Monetising It. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A large crowd of people gathered at the Kafin Hausa Central Mosque on Wednesday to offer funeral prayers for late Maryam Namadi, the mother of Governor Mallam Umar Namadi of Jigawa State. Mrs Maryam Namadi was later laid to rest in the Kafin Hausa cemetery in the presence of a large number of family members, mourners, friends, and dignitaries who came from far and near. Mrs Maryam Namadi passed away in the early hours of Wednesday at the age of 90. She breathed her last at a private hospital in Kano after a brief illness. A matriarch of her family and a figure of immense respect in the community, she left behind a legacy of kindness and humility. She is survived by her two sons, Governor Mallam Umar Namadi and Dr Abdullahi Namadi. The funeral rites were witnessed by a host of dignitaries, notable among whom were the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, Aminu Usman, Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Haruna Aliyu Dangyatin; the emirs of Dutse, Hadejia, and Machina. Others were members of the National Assembly and the Jigawa State House of Assembly as well as community leaders, government officials, mourners and residents from various walks of life. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print At least 15 banditry kingpins were killed by military operatives or rival bandits in 2024. Yet, the war on banditry may linger, taking the dimension of the more than a decade-long insurgency in the North-east. Those killed include Halilu Sububu, a wealthy criminal figure connected to Sahelian jihadists. Nigerian soldiers killed him and some of his foot soldiers in a joint operation with local vigilantes in September. Also killed this year were Sani Dangote, Boderi Isyaku, Buharin Yadi, Sani Black and other bandit leaders. These terrorists led their men to terrorise communities and hinder farming activities in Kaduna, Sokoto, Katsina and Niger states. Their deaths, according to analysts and researchers, were a significant achievement for the military. Killing the Bandits King The most significant blow against bandits in 2024 The killing of Mr Sububu unsettled the bandits, especially in the North-west. Born into a family of bandits in Maniya, Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara State, Mr Sububu was also an arms supplier, illegal gold miner and godfather of terrorists in the region, including Bello Turji and Dogo Gide. His close ties with French-speaking jihadists in the Sahel region of West Africa Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Senegal, up to Libya in North Africa enhanced his gunrunning and gold mining businesses. He was believed to have supplied weapons to terrorists operating in Maradun, Shinkafi, Kaura Namoda, Zurmi, Bakura, Isa, and Sabon Birnin in Sokoto and Zamfara states. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Locals close to the late terror kingpin said he stockpiled weapons, motorcycles, and other valuables in his houses, especially in Sububu and Rudani. Murtala Ahmad-Rufai, a researcher on banditry in northern Nigeria, wrote that Mr Sububu greatly influenced over 46 out of more than 80 bandit camps across the North-west region. Mr Sububu was among 43 terrorists in the region the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) declared wanted in March. Others include Alhaji Shingi, Malindi Yakubu, Boka, Ado Aliero, Dan Bokkolo, Labi Yadi, Nagala, Saidu Idris, Sani Gurgu, Kachalla Rugga, Messrs Turji and Gide. The fall of Halilu was a major landmark in the fight against armed banditry in the Northwest, Mr Ahmad-Rufai wrote. A large number of bandits, including his boys, are now demoralised, psychologically weakened by the death of their father, mentor, mediator, arms supplier and supporter. It was gathered that the military took away Mr Sububus phones after killing him. Had the phones not been confiscated, his followers could have used them to link up with his foreign partners in Libya, Burkina Faso and Mali. However, the death of Mr Sububu resulted in a leadership struggle between his lieutenants Najaja and Dullu. According to experts, this infighting will further destabilise the late bandit kingpins powerful camp. However, none of his lieutenants can wear his shoes as a well-connected bandit leader and trainer. The only person who can match Mr Sububu is Shehu Rekep, one of his close allies. However, according to sources privy to the situation, Mr Rekep, who speaks more than three languages, has abandoned banditry and fled the country. IED attacks in the North-west. Why the military must tackle it The death of Mr Sububu was one of three or more factors that unsettled the banditry industry this year. This is so because the arms supply chain has broken, forcing surviving bandit leaders, especially Mr Gides camp, to resort to Improvised Explosives Devices (IED) attacks as recently seen here and here. Other factors include military offensives and peace deals in Shinkafi, Zamfara State, and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna. In addition, rivalry clashes disrupted the banditry industry during the year, claiming Sani Dangote and others. Although the police claimed that the IED attacks in Zamfara were staged by Lakurawa, a jihadist group that has existed in the North-west since 2018, a source with firsthand knowledge of the attacks said they were executed by supporters of the late Ali Kawaje, who joined Mr Gides camp after Mr Kwajes death. The source, who pleaded anonymity because he works closely with the military, said Mr Gides camp is now fabricating IEDs. This showed that they are now out of weapons as their major supplier has been killed, he said, adding that resorting to the use of IEDs is a setback for the terrorists but a worry for the military. The military must identify the materials being used in making these IEDs and those specialised in it within the Dogo Gides camp, he added. It is believed that the late Kawaje and his boys were introduced to IEDs-making by the jihadists with whom they staged the Abuja-Kaduna train attack in 2022. The use of IEDs by terrorists is not a common phenomenon in the North-west. It is, however, part of the guerilla warfare strategy by jihadists in the North-east and North-central. According to the Explosive Violence Monitor 2023 report by Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), IED attacks caused the most civilian casualties in 2023, killing 141 in 37 incidents. These fatalities were attributed to Boko Haram and its rival group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Arguing that the use of IEDs is problematic for local bandits, some observers and conflict journalists said jihadists might have infiltrated the region to stage the IED attacks independently or collaborate with the bandits to set the deadly traps. While the military is expected to tackle the use of IEDs by these terrorists, it is also important that it conducts holistic kinetic operations against the terrorists. It will be too ambitious to believe that the war against banditry can be won by simply killing kingpins, a Zamafara-based expert who asked not to be named for security reasons said. Military offensive should be conducted holistically alongside peace and mediation efforts between the communities and bandits leaders. The expert believes that the killing of terrorism bigwigs sometimes leads to more trouble for society. Weve seen that with Buhari Tsoho or Buharin Daji who was killed by one of his subordinates, Dogo Gide. His group got divided, and several bigwigs formed a separate group. Even the recent killing of Halilu Sububu led to the creation of several groups under Sububu. We now know that there is Mati, there is Babuga, there is Najaja. Most of these bandits leaders were answerable to Sububu, he added. He advised that apart from targeting the top leaders, security agents also need to pay attention to the younger or junior ones. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, has announced the death of his mother, Maryam Namadi-Umar. The governors spokesperson, Hamisu Gumel, made the announcement in a statement on Wednesday. Mr Gumel said she died in the early hours of Wednesday after a brief illness. Read the full statement below GOVERNOR MALLAM UMAR NAMADI ANNOUNCES THE PASSING OF HIS BELOVED MOTHER From Allah we came, and unto Him is our return! With deep sorrow and submission to the will of Allah, His Excellency Mallam Umar Namadi, Governor of Jigawa State, announces the passing of his dear mother, Hajiya Maryam Namadi Umar. She departed this world in the early hours of Wednesday, December 25th, 2024. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The burial rites will take place today at 4:30 PM in her hometown of Kafin Hausa, in accordance with Islamic traditions. His Excellency and his family request prayers for the repose of her soul. May Allah, in His infinite mercy, grant her eternal rest in Jannah and provide comfort to the family during this difficult time. Hamisu Mohammed Gumel Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Jigawa State December 25, 2024 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Notorious terrorism kingpin Bello Turji has said suspects recently arrested by the Nigerian military are not bandits and has threatened the residents of the surrounding communities over the arrests. Mr Turji, in a video released on Christmas Day, said that those arrested were innocent elderly people in his ancestral community. The Director of Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Buba Edward, a major general, on 20 December said soldiers had arrested some lieutenants of Mr Turji during an operation. Mr Edward named those arrested as Bako Wurgi, Hamisu Sale (aka Master), and Abubakar Muhammad. He said Mr Wurgi was suspected to be linked to the murder of a Sokoto monarch. The arrested terrorist leader, Bako Wurgi, eventually succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during the firefight. He, nevertheless, provided valuable intelligence to support troops operations before he died, Mr Edward said. But five days after the statement, Mr Turji, surrounded in the video by armed men brandishing sophisticated arms, said the military did not capture the three suspects in a battle, but arrested them in market places and in the hospital. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Turji also blamed residents of the areas for providing information to the military that led to the arrests, vowing to punish the communities for their actions. The message is for the residents of Zamfara and Sokoto States, specifically, residents of Shinkafi, to release our brothers who are with them; otherwise, the year 2025 is going to be deadly for them with frequent kidnapping for ransom, he said. Edward Buba, look at the elderly people you arrested. They are above 75 years old. And look at me. I am 35 years old, and you said those people you arrested are my accomplices. Edward Buba, be mindful of what you are telling people. If you cannot go to the battlefield, go inside your room and rest and stop lying to the people, Mr Turji said. He also challenged the military to display the guns it claimed soldiers seized from the bandits at battle. Display them to the people if you fought the battle with us, he said. Our brothers whom you arrested were picked up at the markets and others in the hospital. We never fought any battle with you. If you actually want to fight us, not our parents, you know where we are. Come, let us fight. We are calling on the residents of Shinkafi, Isa, Zurmi, and its environs in this coming year, 2025 if you dont address those informants responsible for the killing of our brothers, you will face the consequences. You know we are killers, we know how to kill. You people see us as uncivilised; we also see you as such. Any town that fails to obey our directives, we are going to turn it into rubble, Mr Turji said, pointing at some dilapidated buildings close to him. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police in Anambra State have recovered a vehicle belonging to Justice Azuka, the abducted member of the State House of Assembly. The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. Abduction PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Mr Azuka was kidnapped on Tuesday night along Ugwunapampa Road in Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State. The lawmaker, who represents Onitsha North State Constituency I in the state assembly, was returning home for Christmas celebration when he was kidnapped. Recovery of vehicle Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, said police operatives attached to the Inland Town Division recovered the vehicle. He said the vehicles recovery followed an intense ongoing operation to rescue the lawmaker. The spokesperson said the police operatives sighted the vehicle which was abandoned at Upper Iweka Road, several kilometres from the scene of the attack. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He did not disclose the vehicles model, but a picture attached to his statement indicated that the recovered vehicle is a Ford SUV. The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Nnaghe Obono, has charged the deployed police operatives to intensify efforts to rescue the abducted lawmaker, Mr Ikenga said. Increased attack Like other states in Nigerias south-east, security has deteriorated in Anambra State with frequent attacks by armed persons. The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities. The Nigerian government has repeatedly accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. However, the group has repeatedly denied its involvement in the attacks. IPOB is a group leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants carved out from the south-east and some parts of south-south Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Chairman of the Majilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerlan Koshanov sent a letter of condolences to Chairperson of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova over the crash of the plane of Azerbaijan Airlines, Trend reports. Meanwhile, it was noted that in the letter, the Chairman of the Majilis of the Parliament, on behalf of himself and Kazakh MPs, expressed condolences to the Azerbaijani people and families of people who died as a result of the crash and wished a speedy recovery to the victims. I wish the fraternal Azerbaijani people patience and fortitude in these difficult days, the letter reads. To note, AZAL's Embraer 190 passenger plane on the Baku-Grozny route crashed 3 km away from Aktau airport on December 25. A total of 67 people (62 passengers and 5 crew members) were on board the Embraer 190 airplane, flying Baku-Grozny, which crashed in Aktau. Following the crash of the passenger airplane near Aktau, 27 people were hospitalized. Of them, 15 people are citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 8 - of the Russian Federation, and 3 - of the Kyrgyz Republic. The identity of one person has not been established yet. Of the victims hospitalized, 11 are being treated in the intensive care unit, 13 - in the traumatology department, 2 - in the neurosurgery department, and 1 - in the surgical department. These persons are under the control of professional doctors from Kazakhstan and those expelled from Azerbaijan and Russia. They were provided with prompt and specialized medical and psychological treatment. Both crew pilots as well as the flight stewardess were lost, but two crew members survived. Drivers in Vacaville seeking a versatile, fuel-efficient and capable truck can opt for the 2025 Toyota Tundra at Ammaar's Toyota Vacaville. VACAVILLE, Calif., Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Adventure enthusiasts and truck lovers, take note! Ammaar's Toyota Vacaville is thrilled to announce that the highly anticipated 2025 Toyota Tundra is now part of its extensive inventory. This full-size powerhouse is built for thrill-seekers and everyday drivers alike, combining cutting-edge technology, muscular performance and premium comfort into one extraordinary package. 2025 Toyota Tundra in sandy terrain The 2025 Toyota Tundra boasts impressive capability thanks to its advanced i-FORCE powertrains. With a choice between the 389-horsepower i-FORCE 3.4-liter Twin-Turbo V6 and the electrifying i-FORCE MAX hybrid engine delivering 437 horsepower and 583 lb.-ft. of torque, the Tundra is ready for towing, hauling or hitting off-road trails. Tailored driving modes, including TOW/HAUL and Sport S+, let drivers customize performance for any journey, while a stop-and-start system ensures efficiency even in stop-and-go traffic. Cutting-edge features make the 2025 Tundra stand out in its class. Trailer Backup Guide with Straight Path Assist uses sensors and cameras to simplify reversing with a trailerideal for camping trips or boat launches. The Panoramic View Monitor offers a bird's-eye view of the surroundings, making tight maneuvers and parking a breeze. Meanwhile, the 14-inch multimedia touchscreen delivers crisp visuals and intuitive controls for navigation, audio and more. Inside, luxury meets utility. With heated and ventilated seats in the front and rear, the Tundra ensures ultimate comfort no matter the weather. The crafted interior features leather-trimmed materials and a panoramic moonroof, creating a first-class experience for every passenger. If customers need space for gear, the rear seats flip and fold for extra storage, while the massive center console keeps essentials like tablets and flashlights within reach. Engineered for adventure, the Tundra combines rugged design with aerodynamic efficiency. Its lightweight body panels, boxed steel frame and active aero front splitter deliver a perfect balance of strength and agility. Premium LED headlights, dynamic taillights and a stamped tailgate complete its aggressive yet stylish look. Ammaar's Toyota Vacaville invites drivers to explore the 2025 Toyota Tundra in person. For more information or to schedule a test drive, shoppers can visit the dealership at 500 Orange Dr., Vacaville, CA, call 707-446-7000, or explore the dealership's website. SOURCE Ammaar's Toyota Vacaville VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Aritzia Inc. (TSX: ATZ) will release its third quarter fiscal 2025 financial results after market close on January 9, 2025. A conference call to discuss the earnings results will follow. Conference Call Details Date: Thursday, January 9, 2025 Time: 1:30pm PT / 4:30pm ET To participate in the conference call: Please dial 1-844-763-8274 or 1-647-484-8814. The call is also accessible via webcast at http://investors.aritzia.com/events-and-presentations/. A recording will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call: Please dial 1-855-669-9658 and the replay access code 5238527. An archive of the webcast will be accessible on Aritzia's website. About Aritzia Aritzia is a design house with an innovative global platform. We are creators and purveyors of Everyday Luxury, home to an extensive portfolio of exclusive brands for every function and individual aesthetic. We're about good design, quality materials and timeless style all with the wellbeing of our People and Planet in mind. Founded in 1984 in Vancouver, Canada, we pride ourselves on creating immersive, highly personalized shopping experiences at aritzia.com and in our 125+ boutiques throughout North America for everyone, everywhere. Our Approach Aritzia means style, not trend, and quality over everything. We treat each in-house label as its own atelier, united by premium fabrics, meticulous construction and an of-the-moment point of view. We handpick fabrics from the world's best mills for their feel, function and ability to last. We obsess over proportion, fit and that just-right silhouette. From hand-painted prints to the art of pocket placement, our innovative design studio considers and reconsiders each detail to create essentials you'll reach for again, and again, and again. Everyday Luxury. To Elevate Your World. SOURCE Aritzia Inc. ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. today announced the acquisition of Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois-based Afina Insurance Advisors Inc. (Afina Insurance). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Afina Insurance is a property/casualty insurance broker serving clients in greater Chicago. George Van Denend and his team will remain in their current location under the direction of Ryan Isaacs, head of Gallagher's Midwest region retail property/casualty brokerage operations. "Afina Insurance is a highly regarded agency whose niche expertise complements our existing retail brokerage capabilities in the Chicago area," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman and CEO. "I am delighted to welcome George and his associates to Gallagher." Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG), a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Gallagher provides these services in approximately 130 countries around the world through its owned operations and a network of correspondent brokers and consultants. Investors: Ray Iardella, VP - Investor Relations Media: Paul Day, Communications Manager 630-285-3661/ [email protected] 630-285-5946/ [email protected] SOURCE Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America Corporation announced today that it will redeem all outstanding shares of its Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series MM (CUSIP No. 060505FR0), liquidation preference $25,000 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), and the corresponding depositary shares each representing a 1/25th interest in a share of the Preferred Stock (CUSIP No. 060505FQ2) (the "Depositary Shares"). The Depositary Shares will be redeemed simultaneously with the Preferred Stock on the upcoming dividend payment date on January 28, 2025 (the "Redemption Date"), at a redemption price of $1,000 per depositary share. Declared dividends of $21.50 per depositary share in respect of the outstanding Depositary Shares for the full current semi-annual dividend period from, and including, July 28, 2024 to, but excluding, January 28, 2025 will be paid separately on January 28, 2025, to holders of record on January 1, 2025, in the customary manner. Accordingly, the redemption price of $1,000 per depositary share does not include any accrued and unpaid dividends. Dividends on the redeemed Depositary Shares will cease to accrue on the Redemption Date. The Depositary Shares are held through The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and will be redeemed in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC. Payment to DTC for the Depositary Shares will be made by Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., collectively, as redemption agent. The address for the redemption agent is as follows: Computershare Trust Company, N.A. Attn: Corporate Actions 150 Royall St. Canton, MA 02021 This press release does not constitute a notice of redemption under the certificate of designation governing the Preferred Stock or the deposit agreement governing the Depositary Shares. Bank of America Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,700 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 58 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future results or performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions difficult to predict or beyond our control. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement and should consider the uncertainties and risks discussed under Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in any of our subsequent Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statement was made. For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts. www.bankofamerica.com Investors May Contact: Lee McEntire, Bank of America Phone: 1.980.388.6780 [email protected] Jonathan G. Blum, Bank of America (Fixed Income) Phone: 1.212.449.3112 [email protected] Reporters May Contact: Jocelyn Seidenfeld, Bank of America Phone: 1.646.743.3356 [email protected] SOURCE Bank of America Corporation BEIJING, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from People's Daily: Gonzalo Rios is the deputy general manager of COSCO Shipping Ports Chancay Peru S.A. Before joining the Chancay Port project, he worked for over 40 years in government departments in Peru. He was familiar with the pragmatic cooperation between China and Peru and hoped for an opportunity to personally participate in a major national project. In 2019, he received an invitation to join the Chancay Port project. This year, he was on site to witness the port's opening and to see Peru-China pragmatic cooperation enter a new stage. On the evening of Nov. 14, 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte attended the opening ceremony of the Chancay Port in the Government Palace in Lima, Peru, via video link. Members of his team and himself were present during the ceremony at Chancay Port. After the two heads of state jointly issued the command to open the port, operations began in the evening. The towering quay cranes lifted cargo in a well-coordinated manner, while the COSCO Shipping Peru and the Xin Shanghai, two container ships operated by China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited (COSCO Shipping Group), began unloading and loading operations, respectively. Meanwhile, another vessel of COSCO Shipping Group, named the COSCO Tengfei, slowly sailed away from the dock, sounded its horn as it embarked on its voyage. At the same time, autonomous container trucks moved effectively around the port. "No words can fully capture how I felt at that moment. Every effort we made over the past five years had been for this moment. The cooperative blueprint jointly charted by China and Peru was finally becoming a reality," he said. It is very inspiring and encouraging to see such a modern port take shape in just a few years, President Xi said in his speech at the opening ceremony. "From Chancay to Shanghai, the Belt and Road Initiative is bearing fruit in Peru before our eyes. A new Asia-Latin America land-sea corridor for the new era is taking shape," President Xi said. In Gonzalo's opinion, the opening of Chancay Port is a historic moment that all the people of Peru are proud of. The recognition from both heads of state and their praise for the builders filled him with honor and gave him great confidence in the future of the port. "I believe this port will serve as a bridge for exchanges between two ancient civilizations and deepen the friendship between the peoples of China and Peru", he said. As a barren beach was transformed into a modern port, the blueprint for China-Peru cooperation has slowly unfolded. The port shortens shipping time from Peru to China to just 23 days, cutting logistics costs by more than 20 percent, and generates $4.5 billion in annual revenue for Peru. These figures demonstrate the immense development potential of Chancay Port. The Peruvian government is considering establishing a special economic zone around the port, which will inject new vitality into regional economic development. Since the construction of Chancay Port began, the project has not only created over 8,000 direct jobs, but has also spurred development in surrounding areas, improving the lives of countless families. "Chancay Port carries my dreams as well as the dreams of many other Peruvians. It embodies the hard work of the builders from both China and Peru", he said. He is confident that the route "from Chancay to Shanghai" will become a road of prosperity for promoting the shared development of China, Peru, and Latin America, bringing opportunities and hope to more people. SOURCE People's Daily NORTHPORT, N.Y., Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FireflySci Inc., a small American-based manufacturer of high-quality quartz cuvettes for spectroscopy, has announced a necessary price adjustment following the introduction of proposed import tariffs by President-elect Donald Trump. Starting January 1 2025, FireflySci will increase prices by 20% across its product range. FireflySci Custom Cuvette Manufacturing These proposed tariffs, aimed at reshaping international trade relationships and encouraging domestic manufacturing, are expected to significantly raise costs for businesses reliant on imported materials. For FireflySci, which produces quartz cuvette essential to spectroscopy analyses, the new tariffs will directly impact the cost of raw materials sourced globally. The company has made the difficult decision to adjust pricing to offset these increased expenses. "At FireflySci, we have always prioritized delivering the highest quality products to our customers at competitive prices," said Sim Woitovich, CEO at FireflySci Inc. "However, the proposed tariffs leave us with no choice but to make this adjustment. It is necessary for us to adapt so we can continue to operate sustainably while maintaining the standards our customers have come to expect." Founded in 2014, FireflySci has earned a reputation as a trusted supplier in the spectroscopy community. Its dedication to precision manufacturing and excellent customer service has been the backbone of its success. Despite the upcoming price hike, the company is reaffirming its steadfast commitment to delivering top-tier cuvettes and accessories to clients worldwide. "Our customers rely on us for accurate and durable products that perform under the most rigorous conditions," said Sim. "We want to reassure them that, even with these changes, our passion for quality and reliability remains unchanged. Our goal is to weather this uncertain economic climate without compromising the excellence that defines FireflySci." The company recognizes that this news may be challenging for customers and partners alike. FireflySci plans to work directly with clients to address concerns regarding the new pricing structure and help them plan for the transition effectively. While these economic pressures have created a need for change, FireflySci views this as an opportunity to strengthen its commitment to American innovation and ingenuity. By navigating these challenges thoughtfully, the company aims to emerge as an even stronger partner to the spectroscopy community. "We believe in the resilience of small businesses and the strength of our nation's spirit to overcome obstacles," Sim added. "We remain hopeful that initiatives supporting domestic manufacturing will, in the long-term, stabilize industries across the spectrum including ours." The updated pricing will take effect January 1, 2025, and the company encourages customers to reach out with any questions or concerns. FireflySci remains fully committed to supporting the needs of researchers and professionals who depend on its precision-engineered products. For more information visit www.fireflysci.com. FireflySci Inc., based in Long Island, NY, is a leading provider of quartz cuvettes and spectroscopy accessories used in laboratories and research facilities worldwide. Committed to innovation and precision, FireflySci serves customers in a wide range of industries, from pharmaceuticals to academia. SOURCE FireflySci BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, December 26. Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Adylbek Kasymaliev, has expressed his condolences to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, following the tragic plane crash near the Kazakh city of Aktau, Trend reports via the countrys Cabinet of Ministers. Kasymaliev visited the Azerbaijani Embassy in Bishkek, where he then signed the condolence book set up in honor of the victims of the crash. "On behalf of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic and personally, I express my deepest condolences for the loss of Azerbaijani citizens. I sincerely mourn with the families of the victims and wish a swift recovery to all those injured," the minister wrote. To note, AZAL's Embraer 190 passenger plane on the Baku-Grozny route crashed 3 km away from Aktau airport on December 25. A total of 67 people (62 passengers and 5 crew members) were on board the Embraer 190 airplane, flying Baku-Grozny, which crashed in Aktau. Following the crash of the passenger airplane near Aktau, 27 people were hospitalized. Of them, 15 people are citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 8 - of the Russian Federation, and 3 - of the Kyrgyz Republic. The identity of one person has not been established yet. Of the victims hospitalized, 11 are being treated in the intensive care unit, 13 - in the traumatology department, 2 - in the neurosurgery department, and 1 - in the surgical department. These persons are under the control of professional doctors from Kazakhstan and those expelled from Azerbaijan and Russia. They were provided with prompt and specialized medical and psychological treatment. Both crew pilots as well as the flight stewardess were lost, but two crew members survived. December 26 has been declared a day of mourning in Azerbaijan. BEIJING, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from Poeple's Daily: In May 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Hungary. During this historic visit, leaders of the two countries announced the elevation of bilateral relations to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era, injecting renewed powerful impetus into cooperation between the two countries. As the interpreter for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during his meeting with President Xi, Simon Adrienn had the opportunity to again gain a firsthand glimpse into the charisma of President Xi as the leader of a major country. In 2009, Xi, the then vice president of China, visited Hungary. Simon accompanied him as an interpreter for the first time to explore a memorial hall with rich Hungarian ethnic characteristics. "As I provided explanations, Xi listened attentively, showing a genuine interest in Hungarian history and culture. I could sense that he was a leader of great knowledge and insight". Since then, she has worked as an interpreter during meetings between the leaders of Hungary and China on numerous occasions. In her memories, Prime Minister Orban and President Xi are both candid and wise leaders who know about each other and trust each other. "President Xi's clear articulation makes my job relatively easy. He is approachable, and respects and treats every staff member equally. In my view, this exemplifies the true essence of a great leader of a major country." Before kicking off this state visit to Hungary, President Xi published a signed article titled "Embarking on a Golden Voyage in China-Hungary Relations" in the Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet. The article provided a comprehensive overview of the successful practices and positive outcomes in the development of bilateral relations over the past 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Simon translated the article into Hungarian. She said this experience was a valuable learning process, allowing her to gain a deeper understanding of President Xi's views and thoughts. In fact, this was not the first time that she translated President Xi's books and articles. She once participated in the translation of President Xi's book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China". In her eyes, President Xi drew upon numerous Chinese historical and cultural references in the book, prompting her to delve into the materials to identify the most suitable expressions. The process of translation provided her with profound intellectual enlightenment. She deeply admires President Xi's statement "Friendship, which derives from close contact between the people, holds the key to sound state-to-state relations." As Hungary-China relations navigate a "golden channel," closer people-to-people ties stand as a vital cornerstone. The Hungarian and Chinese people share many similarities, both valuing family harmony. The Hungarian people hold a profound appreciation for Chinese culture, evident through the presence of multiple Confucius Institutes, numerous traditional Chinese medicine clinics, and bilingual schools in Hungary that nurture a plethora of young talents for cultural exchanges between the two nations. Hungarian Chinese communities have also made substantial contributions to fostering deeper friendship between the two countries. People-to-people and cultural exchanges continue to strengthen, laying a solid foundation for cooperation between the two nations. In the 1980s, student exchanges between Hungary and China began, and Simon was one of the beneficiaries. Her connection with China dated back to the third grade of primary school. At that time, she read many Chinese folk stories in the library. Upon graduating from high school, she seized the opportunity to study in China and spent six wonderful years there which had a significant impact on her life. Even today, she still enjoys reading Chinese folk stories and children's literature. She has translated them into Hungarian, and organized Hungarian children to read them. she is always learning and improving, hoping to enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples through her work and continue to write new stories of friendly exchanges with her Chinese friends. BEIJING, Dec. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislative body, on Wednesday started to seek for public comments on seven draft laws, including a draft law on private sector promotion. The draft law was deliberated during the Standing Committee of the 14th NPC 13th session held from Saturday to Wednesday. The draft law on private sector promotion and six other draft laws, including a draft revision to the Anti-Unfair Competition Law, are open for public comments from Wednesday to January 23, 2025. This marks a crucial step in the formulation of the private sector promotion law, which, according to the Xinhua News Agency is China's first basic law specifically focused on the development of the private sector. Publishing the draft law for public comment will further boost confidence among entrepreneurs, a Chinese political advisor and entrepreneur said on Wednesday. During the deliberations on the draft law, all attending personnel believe that it establishes the principles, policies and effective practices in promoting the development of the private economy since the start of reform and opening-up, especially in the new era, as a legal system, and it is of great significance for consolidating the achievements of reform, responding to the concerns of all parties and boosting confidence in development, Xinhua reported. As the draft law is open to the public for comment, private entrepreneurs feel encouraged and excited, according to Qi Xiangdong, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairman of Qi An Xin Technology Group. "It is inspiring confidence among private entrepreneurs to focus on development and strive for new achievements. This is an important milestone in promoting development in the private economy," Qi told the Global Times on Wednesday, adding that the content of the draft law responds to the expectations of private entrepreneurs. As the first basic law in China specifically about the development of the private economy, the draft of the private economy promotion law for the first time enshrines the adherence to "two unwaverings" in law; for the first time, it enshrines the promotion of "two healths" in law; and for the first time, it clearly stipulates in law that promoting the sustained, healthy, and high-quality development of the private economy is a major policy direction that the state will adhere to over the long term. Xu Hongcai, deputy director of the Economic Policy Committee of the Chinese Policy Science Research Association, said that adhering to this principle will help better leverage the critical role of the private sector in the national economy, including expanding employment and innovation. "The unwavering support for the development of the private sector is of great significance in promoting high-quality economic development," Xu told the Global Times on Wednesday. According to a report released by the All-China Federation and Commerce (ACFIC) on Tuesday, private businesses continue to play a stabilizing role in employment. In 2023, the number of private businesses exceeded 53 million, accounting for 92.3 percent of the total number of businesses in China, and providing more than 90 percent of newly added urban jobs, the report showed. Private firms have continued to strengthen their role as a main innovator. In 2023, the top 1,000 private firms spent a total of 1.39 trillion yuan ($190.48 billion) on research and development, up 12.7 percent year-on-year, according to the ACFIC's report on private businesses' social responsibilities. Another highlight of the draft law is that for the first time, it is written into law that promoting the sustained, healthy and high-quality development of the private economy is an important policy that the country will adhere to in the long run, according to Xinhua. "From the macroeconomic perspective, the private sector accounts for a large proportion of China's economy, especially in terms of employment Therefore, its development is very important for the Chinese economy," Su Jian, a professor at the School of Economics at Peking University and director of the National Center for Economic Research at Peking University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. Su said that many top documents have stressed the importance of further creating a favorable business environment for the private sector. "Creating a favorable business environment, clearly defining the legal rights and liabilities of the private sector and standardizing regulations are conducive toward ensuring all economic activities will be conducted in a transparent, fair and predictable environment. This will offer a huge boost to China's economy." The Central Economic Work Conference held from December 11 to 12, during which Chinese leaders set priorities for economic work in 2025, said that a private sector promotion law should be rolled out. The meeting also stressed that efforts must be made to resolutely combat corruption and maintain a fair and just market environment and a clean business environment, according to Xinhua. Meanwhile, at the session of the NPC Standing Committee that concluded on Wednesday, lawmakers considered a draft revision to the Anti-Unfair Competition Law, which is also open for public comment. The draft revision focuses on clarifying the general requirements for anti-unfair competition, refining regulations to address unfair practices, and strengthening enforcement and penalty measures, according to Xinhua. Some government departments have already taken concrete actions to support the private sector. For example, on Friday, the National Development and Reform Commission, the top economic planner, launched a comprehensive online services platform aimed at bolstering the private economy. SOURCE Global Times BEIJING, Dec. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China Daily: For all tourists to Haikou, capital of South China's Hainan province, Qilou Old Street is a must-go spot. With hundreds of old buildings dating back to 1840s, the street offers a glimpse into the city's historical culture. Haikou, capital of South Chinas Hainan province, is a vibrant metropolis known for its bustling ports, golden beaches and profound culture. Join Michael and Ani on a scavenger hunt in Haikou to explore its unique charm Qilou, or arcade house, is a unique architectural style that combines elements of both Western and Chinese architecture. It features a covered walkway or a porch that extends from the buildings along a street, with the upper stories of the buildings extending over the sidewalk. This architectural blend creates a truly exotic atmosphere, showcasing the island city's cultural diversity and tolerance. The street was recognized as a famous historical and cultural street in 2009 and was listed as a city block for tourism and leisure by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2022. According to local officials, the street's cultural significance lies not only in architectural beauty but in its preservation of Hainan's intangible cultural heritage such as Qiong Opera and traditional puppet shows. Every year, a diverse array of cultural activities are held in Qilou Old Street to promote traditional culture and boost tourism. During the Haikou Urban Art Week held in October, the street staged a traditional costume exhibition, a grand parade and several performances. "These events are very interesting and impressive, allowing us to appreciate the fusion of tradition and modernity in the city," said Zhang Zhihong, a tourist from Datong, Shanxi province. In addition to historical spots, Haikou offers tourists stunning sea views as well as culinary experiences and various outdoor activities. For people looking for relaxation, they can enjoy the sunset at the Holiday Beach; outdoor enthusiasts can hike and explore the volcanic landscapes in the Leiqiong Global Geopark of China. Modern industrial system During the past few years, Haikou has made remarkable progress in establishing a modern industrial system, fueled by its dedication to sci-tech innovation. Official data showed that the total output value of industrial enterprises above a designated size in Haikou increased from 54.35 billion yuan ($7.51 billion) in 2018 to 88.51 billion yuan in 2023, marking a year-on-year growth of 14.5 percent. Notably, the pharmaceutical industry achieved output value of 27.36 billion yuan, up 10.4 percent compared with 2022. As a main driver for the city's pharmaceutical industry and one of the 13 key parks of the Hainan Free Trade Port, the Haikou National High-tech Industrial Development Zone is sparing no efforts to advance the digital and intelligent transition of pharmaceutical companies. Among the companies is Qilu Pharmaceutical (Hainan), which specializes in the research and production of generic drugs for oncology, cerebrovascular diseases and the psychological and neurological systems. The drugmaker completed the construction of its high-end intelligent manufacturing project this year. With the combined investment of 690 million yuan, the new factory can achieve full-process automation and produce 500,000 tablets per hour, said Yang Baoquan, deputy general manager of the company. Beyond the pharmaceutical industry, emerging industries such as the digital economy, new energy vehicles and artificial intelligence are thriving in Haikou. During the seventh Digital China Summit held in May, Haikou was announced as one of China's first batch of data annotation pilot bases. In collaboration with Baidu AI Cloud Chinese tech heavyweight Baidu's cloud computing unit the city has established the (Haikou) Artificial Intelligence Data Annotation Center in Xiuying district. By the end of November, there were 10 enterprises and some 1,100 employees in the center. Its annual output value is expected to reach 50 million yuan. Since the center started operations in April 2023, it has given a boost to the city's data service industry and talent development, said officials from the Haikou science, technology, industry and information technology bureau. For the next step, the city will continue to improve its supportive policies on digital economy and attract more companies of the AI data annotation industry to create a national digital and intelligent economy industrial cluster, they said. Commitment to opening-up In May 2022, when the American business data analytics group Dun & Bradstreet set up its subsidiary in Haikou, the company only had three employees. "We have experienced fast growth during the past two years. Based on the Hainan FTP's data cross-border flow policy, the company has provided data-processing services to more than 150,000 Hong Kong companies," said Kang Kai, vice-chairman of Dun & Bradstreet China. "Our team has also expanded to dozens of people," he added. As the core area of the Hainan FTP, Haikou has become a magnet for global investors thanks to its robust infrastructure and preferential policies on entrepreneurship, investment as well as trade in goods and services. The city has been committed to introducing institutional innovations and aligning with high-standard international economic and trade rules to create a favorable business environment, local officials said. According to statistics from the Haikou market regulation bureau, 4,850 new foreign-funded companies were established in the city from 2020 to November this year, representing an average annual growth rate of 13.3 percent. From January to November, Haikou's import and export of goods rose 8 percent year-on-year to 77.01 billion yuan. The city also plays an increasingly significant role in the global transport network. By Tuesday, the Haikou Meilan International Airport had operated 39 international passenger routes and six international cargo routes this year, with some 26.34 million passenger trips handled, up 10.9 percent year-on-year. Local officials said that they are accelerating preparations for the independent customs operations of the Hainan FTP in 2025, which will contribute to the efficient cross-border flow of goods, people, capital and data. Meanwhile, they aim to develop Haikou into two bases: one for Chinese enterprises to enter the international market and another for foreign companies to enter China. SOURCE China Daily ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The one-year anniversary of the launch of the International Network for Immigration Research (INIR) was marked by two conferences in Paris that examined the economic/fiscal impacts of mass migration and asylum reform proposals. The five INIR member institutions were represented by: International Network for Immigration Research Nicolas Monti , Co-Founder and Director General of France's Observatoire de l'Immigration et de la Demographie (OID); , Co-Founder and Director General of Observatoire de l'Immigration et de la Demographie (OID); Eric Ruark , Director of Research at NumbersUSA; , Director of Research at NumbersUSA; Yonatan Jakubowicz , Founder of the Israeli Immigration Policy Center (IIPC); , Founder of the Israeli Immigration Policy Center (IIPC); Viktor Marsai , Director of Hungary's Migration Research Institute (MRI); and , Director of Migration Research Institute (MRI); and Mark Krikorian , Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS). The conferences were held on November 20-21. The first one, on economic and fiscal impacts, was organized by OID and held in an auditorium at France's National Assembly. The second, on asylum reform and co-sponsored by OID and the Martens Centre for European Studies in Brussels, was held in the Luxembourg Palace, home of the French Senate. Both conferences also included many other scholars and practitioners from France, the UK, the Netherlands, and Greece. About INIR International Network for Immigration Research is a collaboration of research centers which examine both the benefits and challenges of immigration. INIR members are independent but share the bedrock principle that sovereign nations have the right to pursue and enforce their chosen immigration policies, based on the preferences of their own societies rather than an ideologically driven humanitarian agenda. INIR publishes the semi-annual journal Limen , as well as occasional papers by members. About NumbersUSA NumbersUSA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that supports a balanced immigration system that welcomes the spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, is responsive to acute refugee crises, attracts those with extraordinary ability and talents, addresses temporary labor shortages, and protects the most vulnerable. As America's largest single-issue advocacy group, focused exclusively on immigration reform, NumbersUSA has 8 million grassroots supporters spread across every congressional district. Founded by Roy Beck in 1996 to promote civil debate on the immigration recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform chaired by civil rights icon Barbara Jordan NumbersUSA continues to advocate for immigration policies that ensure Americans' safety, promote economic fairness, while protecting the environment and quality of life. Media Contact: Eric Ruark (202) 997-7756 [email protected] SOURCE NumbersUSA Bryant's best-selling book, Financial Literacy for All, will be featured in 2,000 Walmart stores across the U.S., as part of their "New Year, New You" campaign ATLANTA, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Operation HOPE CEO John Hope Bryant today announced his latest best-selling book, Financial Literacy for All, will be featured in 2,000 Walmart stores throughout the U.S. as part of their annual "New Year, New You" campaign. The book will be highlighted on special promotional endcap displays in participating stores, a list of which can be found HERE. Orders can also be placed on Walmart.com. Bryant's best-selling book, Financial Literacy for All, will be featured in 2,000 Walmart stores across the U.S. Post this From the best-selling author of "Up from Nothing," "Love Leadership" and "How the Poor Can Save Capitalism," John Hope Bryant's new book: "Financial Literacy for All" delivers a powerful resource for everyday Americans seeking to build a stronger financial future. Available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble. and Walmart. (PRNewsfoto/Operation HOPE, Inc.) John Hope Bryant- Founder, Chairman & CEO of Operation HOPE and Bryant Group Holdings (PRNewsfoto/Operation HOPE, Inc.) Released in April 2024, Financial Literacy for All, with a foreword by Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, debuted at #13 on the USA Today Bestseller List, #9 on Publisher's Weekly, and continues to hold the #1 spot in multiple categories on Amazon's bestseller lists. It has also spurred a new national conversation on financial literacy: How can we expand access? How can the private and public sector help? What can individuals do? Where can I get assistance? In response, Mr. Bryant initiated a "Campaign for America", outlining how every American can advance financial literacy for themselves and their communities. The Campaign - which offers six specific calls to action - is grounded in the belief that everyone can do something where they live, learn, work, or play to improve their own financial future or help someone else with theirs. Building on Mr. Bryant's stated belief that "financial literacy is the civil rights issue of this generation," a core component of the Campaign for America is a Change.org petition urging Congress to ensure that every classroom in America includes comprehensive financial literacy education as part of its curriculum. Seeking to frame thought leadership on the issue in corporate America, Mr. Bryant announced a "Business Plan for America" in May 2024 at the Milken Global Conference in Los Angeles. The Plan emphasizes diversity and opportunity as the cornerstones for economic growth, sustaining the United States' position as a global leader, and ensuring our shared prosperity. In it, Mr. Bryant lays out a blueprint for inclusivity and prosperity, urging all people to "embrace our inherent strength our diverse demographics as a path to sustained economic strength. Our future as a nation depends on our willingness to 'extend the table and add some chairs' to shift our economic trajectory." Demand for conversations about the book in cities and communities around the country led to the launch of the American Aspiration Tour, aimed at igniting a new national dialogue on financial literacy and economic inclusion. The tour features Mr. Bryant in a series of hosted conversations with elected officials and corporate leaders across America. The Tour began in Atlanta, home to Operation HOPE's national headquarters, hosted at City Hall by Mayor Andre Dickens. Other civic leaders hosting events included Memphis Mayor Paul Young, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, and Montgomery, AL Mayor Steven Reed, with additional dates to be announced for the first half of 2025. About Operation HOPE, Inc. Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from civil rights to "silver rights" with the mission of making free enterprise and capitalism work for the underserveddisrupting poverty for millions of low and moderate-income youth and adults across the nation. Through its community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which received the 2016 Innovator of the Year recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $4.2 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communitiesturning check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners, minimum wage workers into living wage consumers, and uncertain disaster victims into financially empowered disaster survivors. For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn. Operation HOPE Contacts: Lalohni Campbell, Per/Se Media Group 404-593-7145 [email protected] Kevin Boucher, Operation HOPE [email protected] SOURCE Operation HOPE, Inc. DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In the world of entrepreneurship, there are leaders who inspire through their actions, and then there are those who break new ground by rewriting the rules. Tarlan Musaev, a visionary entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Dubai Yachts and MTR Group, belongs to the latter category. Through his dynamic leadership and unique approach to business, he has not only built a thriving company but also redefined what it means to be a leader in today's fast-paced, ever-evolving business world. From Ground Zero to Greatness Tarlan Musaev Tarlan Musaev Tarlan's journey is a testament to resilience, vision, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Starting his business from scratch, Tarlan faced the challenges that come with being a male leader in a highly competitive and sometimes overlooked industry. But rather than allowing these obstacles to hinder his progress, he used them as steppingstones to success. "When I started the business, I faced numerous challenges, but I always knew that leadership isn't about conforming to others' expectations. It's about using your unique strengths to make an impact," Tarlan reflects. "I realized early on that breaking the glass ceiling doesn't always mean standing apartit means using the stereotypes and societal expectations to your advantage, and once the ceiling is broken, not only will the external world take notice, but your own team will view you differently as well." A Leadership Philosophy Built on Character and Integrity Unlike many business leaders who focus solely on resumes and qualifications, Tarlan places immense value on character. He believes that a person's ability to work as part of a team, their work ethic, and their integrity are just as importantif not more sothan their formal qualifications. This philosophy has allowed him to nurture a loyal, dedicated workforce that is truly invested in the company's success. His approach has resulted in long-term success for both the company and its employees. Many who have worked with Tarlan over the years have stayed with his organization, witnessing firsthand the power of a leader who sees people for who they are and what they can becomenot just what they bring to the table on paper. Empowering Others: A Commitment to Mentorship One of Tarlan's core values as an entrepreneur is mentorship. He has made it a priority to not only lead his team but to also mentor them. When he sees potential in someone, regardless of their position or background, he takes it upon himself to invest time and resources into their growth. The Power of Leadership in Business "The power is with the person who writes the cheques," Tarlan affirms. "In business, if you can control the purse strings, you can drive change. People should not undermine the agency they hold. I've always made decisions based on what I believe is best for my business, not what society expects from me as a leader. And I believe that's what has allowed me to succeed." Breaking Barriers and Shaping the Future Today, Tarlan's companies, Dubai Yachts and MTR Group, stand as shining examples of what can be accomplished when leadership is based on integrity, empowerment, and a relentless focus on growthboth personal and professional. But his success isn't just about building a profitable business. It's about changing the narrative surrounding leadership, showing that anyone, regardless of their background or gender, can succeed and thrive when given the right opportunities and support. As he looks to the future, Tarlan remains committed to breaking down barriers and paving the way for others to follow. His leadership isn't just about guiding a business; it's about creating a legacy of empowerment, mentorship, and success that will inspire generations of entrepreneurs to come. Tarlan Musaev's journey is a powerful reminder that true leadership is not just about reaching the topit's about lifting others as you climb. Through his unwavering commitment to mentorship, integrity, and personal growth, he has not only broken the glass ceiling but has also shown others how they too can rise to new heights. Contact: Ibtissem Mannai [email protected] 0567744361 SOURCE Dubai Yachts BETHESDA, Md., Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Northwest Biotherapeutics (OTCQB:NWBO) (the "Company" or "NW Bio"), a biotechnology company developing DCVax personalized immune therapies for solid tumor cancers, today announced that on December 19, 2024 it entered into a $5 million convertible Promissory Note financing with YA II PN, Ltd., an investment fund managed by Yorkville Advisors Global, LP ("Yorkville"). The term of the Note is 13 months. The Note carries an Original Issue Discount of seven percent but no interest. Repayment of all outstanding amounts is due at maturity; no payments by the Company are due until maturity. The Note includes customary default provisions. During the term of the Note, it is convertible at the option of the holder, at a small discount to the then prevailing market price. The amounts of such conversions are limited to one sixth (1/6) of the overall Note amount in any given calendar month unless the conversion price is above $0.315. The Company plans to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes, including both its lead product and its in-licensed portfolios. The Company and Yorkville also entered into a standby equity subscription agreement (the "Subscription Agreement") which the Company may use after the Note is repaid or converted. Under this Subscription Agreement, NW Bio has the option, in its discretion, to require Yorkville to subscribe for up to $50 million of common shares in the Company at any time during the 24-month term of the Subscription Agreement at a small discount to the then prevailing market price, after the Note is repaid or converted. The Company has no obligation to make any such use of this arrangement, and the Company can cancel the arrangement at any time after the Note is repaid or converted. The Company has no current plans to draw upon this standby facility; however, the Company believes it will be useful to have this facility available for special funding needs in connection with certain key potential upcoming milestones. Joseph Gunnar & Co., LLC acted as the exclusive placement agent for the offering. About Northwest Biotherapeutics Northwest Biotherapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing personalized immunotherapy products that are designed to treat cancers more effectively than current treatments, without toxicities of the kind associated with chemotherapies, and on a cost-effective basis. The Company has a broad platform technology for DCVax dendritic cell-based vaccines. The Company's lead program involves DCVax-L treatment for glioblastoma (GBM). GBM is the most aggressive and lethal form of primary brain cancer, and is an "orphan disease." The Company has completed a 331-patient Phase III trial of DCVax-L for GBM, presented the results in scientific meetings, published the results in JAMA Oncology and submitted a MAA for commercial approval in the UK. The MAAA is currently undergoing review. The Company has also developed DCVax-Direct for inoperable solid tumor cancers. It has completed a 40-patient Phase I trial and, as resources permit, plans to pursue Phase II trials. The Company previously conducted a Phase I/II trial with DCVax-L for advanced ovarian cancer together with the University of Pennsylvania. Disclaimer Statements made in this news release that are not historical facts, including statements concerning plans for DCVax are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expect," "believe," "intend," "design," "plan," "continue," "may," "will," "anticipate," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement. Readers should not rely upon forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, without limitation, risks related to delays or uncertainties in regulatory processes and decisions, risks related to the Company's ability to achieve timely performance of third parties, risks related to whether the Company's products will be viewed as demonstrating safety and efficacy, risks related to the Company's ongoing ability to raise additional capital, and other risks included in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings. Additional information on the foregoing risk factors and other factors, including Risk Factors, which could affect the Company's results, is included in its SEC filings. Finally, there may be other factors not mentioned above or included in the Company's SEC filings that may cause actual plans, results or timelines to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or developments, except as required by securities laws. CONTACTS Northwest Biotherapeutics Dave Innes 804-513-6758 [email protected] Les Goldman 240-234-0059 [email protected] SOURCE Northwest Biotherapeutics NEW YORK, Dec. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) resulting from allegations that Unisys may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. So What: If you purchased Unisys securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=9648 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. What is this about: On October 22, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it had charged four companies, including Unisys, with "making materially misleading disclosures regarding cybersecurity risks and intrusions." Further, the SEC also charged Unisys with disclosure controls and procedures violations. On this news, Unisys stock fell 8.6% on October 22, 2024. Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A. SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Design and Construction, a leading construction company with a legacy of excellence since its founding in 1995, is thrilled to announce its latest ambitious project: a state-of-the-art mixed-use development in the heart of Austin, Texas. This transformative project is made possible through a dynamic partnership of state funding and private capital investment, reflecting a shared commitment to sustainable growth and community enhancement. Set to break ground in early 2024, the development will redefine urban living by seamlessly integrating residential and retail spaces. The project includes plans for 14 diverse retail spaces designed to cater to local businesses and entrepreneurs, fostering economic vibrancy and community engagement. Alongside the retail component, Texas Design and Construction is prioritizing affordable housing by constructing 300 low-cost living units, offering modern, comfortable homes to individuals and families in Austin's fast-growing population. "This project embodies Texas Design and Construction's mission to build more than just structureswe build communities," said Jack Moseman, Vice President at Texas Design and Construction. "Austin is a city of innovation and inclusivity, and we're proud to contribute to a development that not only meets the needs of today but lays the foundation for a brighter future." The mixed-use development will feature: 14 Retail Spaces : Designed to support a variety of businesses, from local boutiques and cafes to essential services. : Designed to support a variety of businesses, from local boutiques and cafes to essential services. 300 Affordable Housing Units : Aimed at addressing the housing affordability crisis while maintaining high standards of design and sustainability. : Aimed at addressing the housing affordability crisis while maintaining high standards of design and sustainability. Sustainable Design Elements: Incorporating green building practices, energy-efficient systems, and community-focused amenities such as shared green spaces and pedestrian-friendly pathways. Strategically located to maximize accessibility, the development is poised to become a hub for residents and visitors alike. With its combination of retail opportunities and affordable housing, the project aligns with Austin's vision for a more inclusive and interconnected city. Texas Design and Construction's decades of experience in delivering high-quality projects have positioned the company as a trusted leader in construction and development. This latest initiative underscores the company's dedication to innovation, community investment, and sustainable growth. For more information about Texas Design and Construction and its upcoming projects, visit www.texdesignandconstruction.com or contact Mel Demore, Vice President, at [email protected] or (210) 503-0587. About Texas Design and Construction: Founded in 1995 in San Antonio, Texas, Texas Design and Construction is a premier construction company specializing in innovative, community-driven projects. With a reputation for excellence and a commitment to sustainability, Texas Design and Construction continues to shape the future of urban development across Texas and beyond. SOURCE Texas Design and Construction MIAMI, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Donald B. Olson is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Life Achiever for his contributions in Leading Oceanography and Marine Science Innovator. Dr. Donald B. Olson has established himself as a prominent figure in oceanography, marine, and atmospheric science over his illustrious 50-year career. Currently a professor at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science since 1979, Dr. Olson's contributions span across education, research, and international collaboration. Donald B Olson, Professor Dr. Olson's academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wyoming in 1974, followed by both a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy from Texas A&M University in 1976 and 1979, respectively. His early academic achievements paved the way for a distinguished career focused on advancing our understanding of oceanographic systems and their impact on marine ecosystems. Throughout his career, Dr. Olson has been instrumental in fostering educational opportunities in South American oceanographic programs. He served as visiting faculty at the University of Buenos Aires and the University of Sao Paulo, pioneering graduate courses in physical oceanography tailored for fisheries and climate studies across Latin America. Additionally, Dr. Olson led a groundbreaking summer program on biophysical interactions in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology, supported by funding from the U.S. Navy to enhance biophysical models of the ocean. Dr. Olson's expertise spans multiple disciplines within oceanography, including marine ecosystem ecology, mesoscale oceanography, and mathematical physiology. He is a member of prestigious scientific organizations such as the American Meteorological Society, American Geophysical Union, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Oceanographic Society, and American Fisheries Society, reflecting his influence and recognition in the field. His prolific research has garnered numerous grants from institutions like the Office of Naval Research, the National Science Foundation, and NASA. Dr. Olson's work is widely published, with over 150 articles in scholarly journals and contributions to various book chapters. He has also served as an associate editor for Oceanography magazine, the Journal of Marine Research, and as editor of Geophysical Research Letters-Oceans. Recognized for his outstanding contributions, Dr. Olson received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Wyoming, celebrating his impact on oceanographic research and education. Looking ahead, Dr. Olson remains committed to advancing oceanographic knowledge, fostering international collaborations, and mentoring future generations of scientists in the field. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. The U.S. Embassy has lowered its flag in solidarity with Azerbaijani partners following a tragic plane crash in Kazakhstan's Aktau, said U.S. Ambassador to Baku Mark Libby, Trend reports. "The United States extends its sincere condolences to the families of the victims of yesterdays tragic accident and best wishes for a speedy recovery to those injured. [...] We stand ready to facilitate any assistance that may be necessary in the difficult days ahead," the U.S. Embassy's post, citing Mark Libby, on X reads. On December 25, an Embraer 190 passenger plane operated by AZAL, flying from Baku to Grozny, crashed 3 kilometers from Aktau Airport. The flight carried 67 people, including 62 passengers and 5 crew members. Following the crash, 27 people were hospitalized. Among them, 15 were citizens of Azerbaijan, 8 of Russia, and 3 of Kyrgyzstan. The identity of one individual remains unknown. Of those hospitalized, 11 are being treated in intensive care, 13 in the trauma department, 2 in neurosurgery, and 1 in the surgical ward. They are under the care of experienced doctors from Kazakhstan, as well as specialists sent from Azerbaijan and Russia, and have received prompt medical and psychological support. Both pilots and a flight attendant were killed in the crash, while two other crew members survived. Azerbaijan declared December 26 a national day of mourning. COLUMBIA, Maryland, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mexico Fund, Inc. (NYSE: MXF), today issued its fiscal 2024 Annual Report for the period ended October 31, 2024. A full version of the report is available at the companys website www.themexicofund.com Annual Report 2024 Highlights During fiscal year 2024, the Fund's NAV per share and market price registered a total return of -3.14% and -2.10%, respectively, while the Morgan Stanley Capital International ("MSCI") Mexico Index, decreased -2.14%. As of October 31, 2024, the Funds NAV outperformed its benchmark during the three-, five-, ten-year periods and since December 2008, when current portfolio management team assumed investment management responsibilities. Annualized % Return in USD 1-year 3-years 5-years 10-years Dec-08 MXF Market Price -2.10 2.87 5.24 -1.10 6.66 MXF NAV -3.14 4.58 6.48 0.45 6.84 MSCI Mexico Index -2.14 4.42 5.75 -0.40 5.23 As of October 31, 2024, the Fund's market price and NAV per share were $14.01 and $17.61, respectively, reflecting a discount of 20.44%, compared with a discount of 20.40% at the end of fiscal year 2023. The Funds Expense Limitation Agreement was renewed for fiscal year 2024 with a cap on the ordinary expense ratio (which excludes the performance component of the Investment Advisory fee, among other extraordinary expenses) of 1.40%, so long as Fund net assets remain greater than $260 million. The Fund's ordinary expense ratio during the fiscal year 2024 was 1.35%, below the limit of 1.40%. The Fund has declared a distribution of $0.22 per share to be paid on January 30, 2025 to stockholders of record as of January 22, 2025. About The Mexico Fund, Inc. The Mexico Fund, Inc. is a non-diversified closed-end management investment company with the investment objective of long-term capital appreciation through investments in securities, primarily equity, listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange. The Fund provides a vehicle to investors who wish to invest in Mexican companies through a managed non-diversified portfolio as part of their overall investment program. This release may contain certain forward-looking statements regarding future circumstances. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Fund's current expectations and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements including, in particular, the risks and uncertainties described in the Fund's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results, events, and performance may differ. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Fund undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. The inclusion of any statement in this release does not constitute an admission by The Mexico Fund or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material. CONTACT: Tofi Dayan +5255-9138-3350 Email: [email protected] SOURCE The Mexico Fund, Inc. DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Trinasolar, a global leader in smart PV and energy storage solutions, proudly announces its strategic partnership with AMEA Power to supply its cutting-edge Elementa 2 platform (5MWh) for the 300MWh Abydos Battery Energy Storage Project in Aswan, Egypt. This landmark project is the largest solar PV initiative in Africa and the first to incorporate a utility-scale Battery Energy Storage Solution (BESS) in Egypt. Project site, image source: PV-Tech Developed by AMEA Power, the Abydos Solar PV Project is a transformative expansion of the existing 500MW Abydos Solar PV power plant, which is in operation, in Kom Ombo, Aswan Governorate. By pioneering the integration of a 300MWh BESS, the project underscores Egypt's commitment to sustainable energy innovation and resilience. The inauguration ceremony for the 500MW Abydos Solar Power Plant, organized by AMEA Power, was attended by esteemed dignitaries, including His Excellency Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt, and His Excellency Dr. Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy in Egypt, alongside Trinasolar executives. As Trinasolar's first energy storage project in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), Abydos represents a major milestone for the company and the region. Highlighting Trinasolar's commitment to the MEA market, Vincent Wu, Global Sales VP & MEA MU Head at Trinasolar, stated: "This groundbreaking project highlights Trinasolar's vital role in driving innovation, ensuring safety, and supporting the region's transition to a more sustainable and dependable energy future. We are proud to contribute to such a transformative endeavor, bringing clean energy to Egypt and setting a benchmark for utility-scale energy storage solutions in North Africa." Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of AMEA Power, added: "AMEA Power is dedicated to advancing renewable energy projects that make a significant impact. The integration of Trinasolar's innovative Elementa 2 technology at the Abydos Solar PV Project represents a key step forward in Egypt's energy landscape and exemplifies the power of collaboration in achieving sustainability goals." Energy china ZTPC, founded in 1958, belongs to Energy China Construction Group Co., LTD. After decades of development, has become a set of thermal power stations, nuclear power plants, clean energy projects, power plant maintenance and repair, power grid project construction as one of the general contracting and professional contracting enterprises. The 500MW Abydos Solar Power Plant has been commercially operated. Zhang Dan, Vice President Director, stated: "Abydos project is a milestone for Egypt as well as for ZTPC. We will fully dedicate ourselves to the project construction, contributing to the energy transition in the Egyptian region." The deployed Elementa 2 platform (5MWh), featuring Trinasolar's in-house vertically integrated LFP cells, is an advanced grid-scale battery storage system built for efficiency, safety, and reliability. Key features include an innovative module design to enhance energy density and compatibility with multiple PCS systems, precise thermal management through smart liquid cooling technology, and comprehensive safety systems with advanced fire mitigation and suppression features. Engineered for adaptability, efficiency, and cost-effective maintenance, this platform optimizes performance while reducing overall project costs. As the first utility-scale energy storage project in North Africa, Abydos marks a new era of energy innovation. By integrating renewable energy with advanced storage solutions, the project enhances grid stability, minimizes outages, and accelerates the region's shift toward a sustainable energy future. Trinasolar remains at the forefront of the renewable energy revolution, delivering smart solar and energy storage solutions designed to empower a more sustainable future. With its Trina Storage portfolio, the company is setting new benchmarks in safety, efficiency, and innovation, enabling transformative projects like Abydos to enhance energy resilience and support the global transition to renewable energy. Together with its cutting-edge technology and commitment to excellence, Trinasolar continues to power sustainability across the world. SOURCE Trina Storage BEIJING, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report by China.org.cn on China's county economy: The Christmas and New Year shopping carnival has arrived again. While, in eastern China's Yiwu, the hustle and bustle already began months ago. As the largest hub for the world's Christmas decorations, Yiwu provides more than 20,000 types of Christmas items for over 100 countries and regions every year. Since mid-summer, international merchants have been flocking there, crowding the shops in Yiwu. Unlocking the great economic vitality in small counties Yiwu, as a small county-level city, has shaped its own unique development path based on its own strengths and with the help of policy support. Now, it is home to multiple specialized market clusters with modern logistics campuses. Last year, the city's GDP exceeded 200 billion yuan (about 28 billion USD) for the first time. Yiwu is a microcosm of the many Chinese county-level administrative divisions in the "100-billion-yuan-GDP club." Back in 2013, only nine counties and county-level cities had such a GDP scoresheet. Ten years later, the number has reached 59 according to the latest statistics. Represented by Yiwu and its like, the rapid progress in the county economy has denoted the vitality of China's whole economy. We can start with numbers to back the conclusion up. China now has 2,844 county-level administrative divisions, with their economic output accounting for about 40% of the country's total GDP. While, the 59 counties in the "100-bln-yuan-GDP club" alone have contributed 7.6% of the country's GDP, and more than 10% of the country's output value of industrial enterprises above the designated size. Moreover, the counties and county-level cities are witnessing industrial transition and upgrading. In an automobile production workshop in Feixi County, Anhui Province, the production line churns out a new energy vehicle every 58 seconds; the county is now the hub for over 100 companies along the industrial chain of new energy vehicles. In Shouguang County, which is known as the "vegetable capital" of China, a smart campus measuring more than 23,000 mu (about 3,788 acres) has been built in collaboration with over 40 scientific research institutions. In accelerating industrial innovation and cultivating new industries, the county economy has exemplified new potential for growth. What's more notable is how consumption in counties and county-level cities is bolstering domestic demand. In recent years, an array of tea beverage, dining, and fashion brands have mushroomed in the counties. In 2023, one-third of newly opened cinemas are in counties and county-level cities; coffee consumption is growing even faster than in first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou; more than 60% of the 100-bln-yuan-GDP counties enjoy a consumption capacity higher than the national average. Besides, more and more young Chinese are traveling to counties. For example, Anji County in Zhejiang Province has branded its ecological tourism, attracting numerous tourists with its "Sea of Bamboo in China" and Hello Kitty Park; Liuyang in Hunan Province has built its own tourism brand by hosting the China Liuyang International Fireworks Festival. One can say, the county economy is turning into a significant growth driver for domestic demand. In China, "county" is a different concept than that in western countries. Chinese county-level administrative divisions cover primarily and mainly the rural areas. Therefore, what we see as a positive momentum in the county economy, is to a great degree the fruits of China's rural revitalization. Some also believe that it's living proof of China's ever-growing solid economic foundation. The recently convened Central Economic Work Conference proposed to vigorously boost county economies, and placed "expand domestic demand on all fronts" at the top of its agenda. Amid complexities, by growing local specialty industries, strengthening talent pool building, and improving local business environment, even the seemingly smallest counties will unleash gigantic vitality. China Mosaic http://chinamosaic.china.com.cn/index.htm Unlocking the "great" economic vitality in "small" counties http://www.china.org.cn/video/2024-12/26/content_117630805.htm SOURCE China.org.cn If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Damascus, Dec 26 : Violent clashes erupted between local armed residents and security personnel from the military coalition led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in northwestern Syria's Tartus province, a Britain-based war monitor reported. The fighting started in the village of Kharbet al-Ma'zza when locals opposed home inspections by the security forces, prompting armed residents to set fire to a vehicle belonging to the HTS, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. There were casualties on both sides, it said, adding that the military coalition dispatched reinforcements, including a specialised division and ambulances, as clashes continued. A large convoy comprising fighters from Unit 82, K9 squads of the military coalition headed to the region near the Latakia province, it said, adding that Syria's new authorities aim to apprehend the armed locals they describe as "remnants of the previous regime" and to prevent any sectarian unrest in the demographically diverse area. The military coalition took control over capital Damascus and most parts of Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government on December 8. Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers opened fire on a gathering of protesters and injured at least three civilians in southern Syria, including a child, Israeli and Syrian sources said Wednesday. According to Syrian media reports, Israeli troops opened fire on a group of civilians who were gathering in the Quneitra area to protest Israel's seizure of Syrian territory in the Golan Heights. Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on social media platform X that "several gatherings were identified in the area of southern Syria, with individuals approaching IDF (the Israel Defense Forces) forces operating in the region." The forces called on the protesters to move away and then "responded with warning shots," he said, adding that the Israeli military was aware of reports of casualties and was investigating into the incident, and that its deployment in the area "will continue." Earlier in December, the Israeli military seized the UN-monitored demilitarised buffer zone in the Golan Heights, where it claimed to expand settlements, a move that drew widespread international condemnation. --IANS int/rs Harare, Dec 26 : Zimbabwean President and Southern African Development Community (SADC) Chairperson Emmerson Mnangagwa welcomed a court ruling that proclaimed Daniel Chapo the winner of the October 9 general elections of Mozambique. "The ruling by that country's top electoral court, which upheld Frelimo party's victory, completes and thus exhausts all lawful processes on determining election results, in line with that country's national laws, and in keeping with SADC's Election Guidelines and expectations," Mnangagwa said in a statement on Wednesday. He said SADC expects all parties to the electoral process to abide by the decision of the Constitutional Council of Mozambique, noting that the ruling should provide a constitutional way forward for the country and facilitate greater peace, normalcy, and stability in the southern African country, Xinhua news agency reported. "SADC stands ready to assist the incoming government and the people of Mozambique, in consolidating their electoral democracy on the basis of the aforesaid Court decision which should be held sacrosanct by all," Mnangagwa said. Mnangagwa also urged the international community to respect the sovereign will of the people and the Republic of Mozambique and encouraged constructive support towards peace, law, and order by all those concerned. On Monday, Mozambique's Constitutional Council, the body in charge of constitutional and electoral affairs, proclaimed Daniel Chapo the winner of the October 9 general elections. Chapo will take the baton from the incumbent president Filipe Nyusi to become the fifth president of the Republic of Mozambique. As the presidential candidate of the ruling party Frelimo, Chapo has won 65.17 per cent of the votes, less than the 70.67 per cent announced on October 24 by the National Electoral Commission (CNE), according to the data released by President of the CC Lucia Ribeiro in Maputo, the Mozambican capital. Venancio Mondlane, supported by the extra-parliamentary Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique or Podemos, obtained 24.19 per cent of the votes, higher than the 20.32 per cent announced by the CNE. SADC is a regional economic community comprising 16 member states including Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Aden, Dec 26 : Hospitals in Yemen's capital Sanaa have been placed on heightened alert over potential Israeli attacks, Yemen's Houthi group said. The health ministry under the Houthi-controlled government, which is not internationally recognised, issued a circular directing all public hospitals to raise readiness levels across departments and blood banks, and all ambulance services to be ready to respond to any potential emergencies, Xinhua news agency reported. "The exceptional circumstances the country is experiencing as a result of the brutal Israeli aggression require heightened preparedness," it said. Earlier in the day, Houthis claimed responsibility for launching a long-range "ballistic missile" toward a military target in Tel Aviv. "Our military operations against Israel will continue until the aggression on Gaza stops and the siege on it is lifted," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. On Wednesday morning, Israeli media reported that sirens sounded after a "missile" from Yemen approached Tel Aviv. Yemen's Houthi group later said they launched two drones at the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Ashkelon on Wednesday, targeting "vital" and "industrial" areas. "We carried out two military operations, the first of which targeted a vital and sensitive zone in Tel Aviv city. The second operation targeted the industrial zone in Ashkelon city," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. "The two operations were carried out by two drones and achieved their goals successfully," he said in the statement, adding that the group's operations against Israel "will not stop until the aggression on Gaza stops and the siege on it is lifted." There has been no comment yet from the Israeli side. The Houthi group claimed responsibility for a "hypersonic ballistic missile" attack on Tel Aviv, which the Israeli army said had been intercepted. The Houthi group has ramped up its attacks on Israel following Israeli officials' pledges to initiate a significant offensive against it. The Houthis have sporadically targeted Israel since October 2023 in support of Palestinians in Gaza. In retaliation, Israel has launched several large-scale airstrikes on Yemen. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Azerbaijani citizens injured in the crash of an Embraer 190 aircraft near Aktau have returned to Azerbaijan, Trend reports. On December 25, the AZAL Embraer 190, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed 3 kilometers from Aktau Airport. There were 67 people on board the aircraft, including 62 passengers and 5 crew members. Following the crash, 27 people were hospitalized. Of those, 15 are citizens of Azerbaijan, 8 are from Russia, and 3 are from Kyrgyzstan. The identity of one individual is still unknown. Among the injured, 11 are being treated in the intensive care unit, 13 in the trauma department, 2 in neurosurgery, and 1 in surgery. They are under the care of doctors from Kazakhstan, along with medical teams from Azerbaijan and Russia. All have received prompt medical and psychological assistance. Both pilots and a flight attendant lost their lives in the crash, while two crew members survived. December 26 has been declared a national day of mourning in Azerbaijan. Abu Dhabi, Dec 26 : President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on strengthening bilateral ties and addressing pressing regional issues. During the meeting on Wednesday, Fidan conveyed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's wishes for the UAE's continued prosperity, while the UAE president expressed his hope for Turkey's sustained growth and development, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Emirates News Agency (WAM). They highlighted the expanding cooperation between the two countries in areas such as trade, investment, and energy, it reported. They emphasised the importance of collaboration to address regional challenges and safeguard regional stability, and reiterated their commitment to preventing the escalation of conflicts that threaten regional security, it reported. The two sides reviewed developments in the Middle East, stressing the need to intensify efforts to prevent the expansion of regional conflict, which threatens security and stability, and pursue a clear path to peace that ensures stability and security for all. They both stressed unwavering support for Syria's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the aspirations of the Syrian people for peace, stability, and progress, it said. They also agreed on the need for concerted international efforts to promote Syria's reconstruction and ensure its long-term stability, it added. The meeting was attended by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Adviser; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; Ali bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for National Security, and Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State. Beirut, Dec 26 : An Israeli airstrike hit a house in eastern Lebanon's Baalbek area, despite a ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, Lebanese official and military sources said. Beirut, Dec 26 (IANS) An Israeli airstrike hit a house in eastern Lebanon's Baalbek area, despite a ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, Lebanese official and military sources said. The official National News Agency said the dawn strike hit a house in the plain of Taraya village, near the Litani River west of Baalbek on Wednesday, causing no casualties. It accused Israeli warplanes of "violating the ceasefire agreement." A Lebanese military source told Xinhua that Israeli artillery also fired several shells at the village of Maroun al-Ras in the southern border area at noon. The source added that "Israeli elements raised the Israeli flag on the Awaida hill on the southern outskirts of the Marjeyoun district." A ceasefire, meant to halt nearly 14 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, came into effect on November 27. The agreement stipulated an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory within 60 days, with the Lebanese army deploying on the border and in the south to assume security control and ban weapons and militants, Xinhua news agency reported. Earlier the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants has filed a complaint through the country's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York with the UN Security Council (UNSC) in response to Israel's repeated violations of its ceasefire agreement with Lebanon. The Lebanese ministry said on social media platform X that between November 27 and December 22, Israel launched over 816 land and air attacks against Lebanon, shelling border villages, booby-trapping homes, destroying residential neighborhoods, and blocking roads. Such violations complicate Lebanon's efforts to implement the provisions of UN Resolution 1701, hinder the Lebanese army's deployment in the south, and represent a serious threat to international efforts aimed at achieving regional security and stability, it said in the complaint Despite the ceasefire, Israel has conducted intermittent strikes in Lebanon, some of which have caused casualties. Israel maintains the strikes target Hezbollah militants it accuses of violating the agreement. Jerusalem, Dec 26 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Houthi forces in Yemen would face consequences similar to those experienced by other anti-Israel groups. "The Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas, Hezbollah, the Assad regime, and others have learned, and even if it takes time, this lesson will be understood across the Middle East," Netanyahu said in a video statement. Earlier on Wednesday, Houthi forces launched a ground-to-ground missile toward Israel for the second consecutive day. In the evening, they fired a drone, which crashed into an open field in southern Israel, Xinhua news agency reported. Israel is reportedly weighing a new large-scale strike against Houthi forces in Yemen, following a series of retaliatory missile and drone launches attributed to the Houthis. On Tuesday, Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported that the military has been preparing for a potential operation. Citing senior security officials, Kan TV said the Israeli Air Force, Military Intelligence, and Operations Directorate have been "developing significantly more aggressive plans and expanding the target database" across Yemen after the previous attack last week. Since October last year, Houthi forces have launched sporadic missile and drone attacks on Israel, citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Israel has responded with several large-scale airstrikes, the most recent of which occurred last week, resulting in at least nine deaths. On Wednesday morning, Israeli media reported that sirens sounded after a "missile" from Yemen approached Tel Aviv. Yemen's Houthi group later said they launched two drones at the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Ashkelon on Wednesday, targeting "vital" and "industrial" areas. "We carried out two military operations, the first of which targeted a vital and sensitive zone in Tel Aviv city. The second operation targeted the industrial zone in Ashkelon city," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement. Los Angeles, Dec 26 : A person was found dead in the wheel well of a United Airlines plane after it landed at an airport in US Hawaii, according to the company and local news outlets. "Upon arrival at Kahului airport in Maui on Tuesday, a body was found in the wheel well of one of the main landing gears on a United aircraft," the company said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that it is working with law enforcement authorities on the investigation. The company said it is still not clear how or when the person accessed the wheel well, noting that the wheel well was only accessible from outside of the plane, Xinhua news agency reported. The body was reportedly discovered on a Boeing 787-10 aircraft departed from Chicago's O'Hare airport. It was in one of the compartments that houses the airplane's landing gear when United Flight 202 from Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The Maui Police Department is currently conducting an active investigation regarding the deceased individual discovered, reported local news outlet Hawaii News Now. Officials said operations at the airport are normal and not affected by this incident, according to the report. Low oxygen levels in wheel storage compartments and extreme temperatures as flights climb to cruising altitudes make surviving in the wheel wells or other areas of commercial aircrafts rare, the Federal Aviation Administration has previously said. The agency did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The police did not say on Tuesday that the person who was found dead on Maui was a stowaway. Others have died over the years after being in the landing gear compartment. New Delhi, Dec 26 : As venture capital (VC) funding surged in India this year, China saw a 22.5 per cent decline in VC funding by both volume and value in the January-November period, a report showed on Thursday. A total of 2,313 VC funding deals were announced in China during January-November 2024, while the total disclosed funding value of these deals stood at $32.3 billion, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. This represents a year-on-year (YoY) decline of 23.1 per cent in VC deal volume, whereas the total disclosed funding value fell by 22.5 per cent, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. In the same period last year, a total of 3,006 VC deals were announced in China while the total disclosed funding value of these deals was $41.7 billion. According to Aurojyoti Bose, lead analyst at GlobalData, VC funding activity in China has continued to remain subdued in 2024 as investor sentiments seem to have taken a hit on the back of a crackdown on companies, macroeconomic challenges, and uncertain market conditions. "However, despite the decline, China, apart from being the top APAC market for VC funding activity, also continues to be a key global market, standing just next to the US both in terms of deal volume and value," Bopse mentioned. China accounted for a 15.2 per cent share of the total number of VC deals announced globally during January-November 2024 while its share in terms of the corresponding funding value stood at 13.6 per cent. Among the notable VC funding deals included $1.5 billion worth of funding raised by Changxin Technology, $1.4 billion fundraising by AVATR, $1.1 billion worth funding secured by IM Motors, and $1 billion funding received by Moonshot AI, among others. Meanwhile, VC investment in India surged considerably to $4 billion in the April-June period (Q2 2024), from $2.9 billion in the previous quarter. On the other hand, China saw a massive decline in VC investment from $13.5 billion to $6.9 billion in the same period. VC investment is expected to continue to pick up in India, driven in part by the country's stable government and positive economic environment, according to a recent KPMG report. IANS na/ Damascus, Dec 26 : Fourteen officers from Syria's interim Ministry of Interior were killed and ten others injured in a "treacherous ambush" in the northwestern province of Tartus on Wednesday, the interim government's Interior Minister Mohammed Abdul Rahman announced. The minister described the attackers as "remnants" of the former government, reports Xinhua news agency, citing local Al-Watan newspaper.The ministry said the slain officers were carrying out duties aimed at maintaining security and protecting civilians. No further details were provided. Earlier, it was reported that violent clashes erupted between local armed residents and security personnel from the military coalition led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Tartus province. The fighting started in the village of Kharbet al-Ma'zza when locals opposed home inspections by the security forces, prompting armed residents to set fire to a vehicle belonging to the HTS, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. A large convoy comprising fighters from Unit 82, K9 squads of the military coalition headed to the region near the Latakia province, it said, adding that Syria's new authorities aim to apprehend the armed locals they describe as "remnants of the previous regime" and to prevent any sectarian unrest in the demographically diverse area. Following the recent collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria earlier this month, several high-profile incidents have heightened sectarian tensions across the country. On Wednesday, a video circulated depicting an alleged attack on a shrine revered by Alawite worshipers in Aleppo sparked protests and calls for accountability. Demonstrations also erupted in several predominantly Alawite areas, with community members voicing concerns that the new authorities were not doing enough to protect their religious symbols. Meanwhile, security officials insisted such events were isolated and warned that remnants of the former government might exploit sectarian fault lines to sow discord. Kolkata, Dec 26 : Despite being a holiday, a special court of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Kolkata will conduct a hearing on Thursday to monitor the progress of the formalities for framing charges in the Enforcement Directorate (ED)-registered cash-for-school job case. The year-end holidays in the courts have started from Wednesday, the occasion of Christmas and they will reopen again on January 2, 2025. Although the process for charge framing was scheduled for December 23, it could not be completed as yet because of several complications. First, nine out of 53 named in the subsequent charge sheets filed by ED have filed a petition seeking relief from the case. Secondly, another hurdle in the charges framing process surfaced in the beginning as some of those named in the charge sheets complained to the court that instead of sending hard copies of the case-related documents, the ED forwarded digital copies of the documents to them, which were posing difficulties for them to spot and go through the relevant portions. Thereafter, the special court directed the central agency to ensure that hard copies of the case-related documents were physically delivered to the doorsteps of all the accused named in the charge sheets. Sources aware of the development said that the special court hearing on Thursday will be specially conducted to review the progress in the delivery of case-related documents so that the charges framing process can be completed as early as possible following which the trial process in the matter will begin. In the subsequent charge sheets filed by ED is the matter, a total of 53 have been named as accused out of which 29 are individuals and the remaining are corporate entities and trusts. Former West Bengal Education Minister and Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee and his close associate Arpita Mukherjee have been shown as the highest beneficiaries in the total scam amount of Rs 151.26 crore in the cash-for-school job case in the records of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as elaborated in its fifth and last supplementary charge sheet. As per the supplementary charge sheet filed at a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Kolkata, of the total amount of Rs 151.26 crore confiscated by the ED so far, the combined share of proceeds of Chatterjee and Mukherjee in the entire amount is Rs 103.78 crore. The confiscation is in terms of cash and gold seized and immovable property attached. New Delhi, Dec 26 : The micro-insurance premiums in the life insurance sector in the country has surpassed Rs 10,000 crore for the first time in FY24, according to industry data. Micro insurance helps people in the low-income group via offering affordable products. According to data by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), the new business premium (NBP) in life insuranceas micro-insurance segment reached Rs 10,860.39 crore in FY24, up 23.5 per cent from Rs 8,792.8 crore in FY23. While individual NBP declined 23.78 per cent to Rs 152.57 crore, the group NBP went up 24.61 per cent to Rs 10,707.82 crore. According to the IRDAI data, the number of micro-insurance agents stood at 102,000 in FY24. Nearly 19,166 of them belong to public-sector life insurers and the rest to private ones. Among the micro-insurance agents, non-government organisations (NGOs) constitute 4.49 per cent, self-help groups 0.25 per cent, microfinance institutions 0.24 per cent, business correspondents 0.12 per cent, and others 94.90 per cent, the data showed. Meanwhile, more than 21 crore people have benefited under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) scheme that provides life insurance coverage. The PMJJBY, launched in May 2015, is a term life insurance plan. Under this scheme, in case of death due to any reason, the family of the insured gets Rs 2 lakh. The scheme saw a cumulative enrolment of 21.67 crore till October 20. On the other hand, the cumulative number of claims stood at 860,575, worth Rs 17,211.50. According to reports, Indiaas insurance sector clocked a robust 11 per cent compound annual growth rate to cross the $130 billion mark during FY2020-23, surpassing Asian peers China and Thailand, which grew at less than 5 per cent. The McKinsey report said that while the country's life insurance industry grew to $107 billion as of 2023, the general insurance industry touched $35.2 billion. A growing middle class, greater awareness, rising healthcare costs, and supportive regulations have combined to offer high growth for Indiaas insurance industry over the last few years, the report added. a"IANS na/ New Delhi, Dec 26 : Days after President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Odisha Governor Raghubar Das, criticism has been mounting in the state against the Mohan Majhi-led government, alleging inaction in an assault case involving his son. In July, Raghubar Das's son was accused of assaulting a government employee, Baikuntha Pradhan over not sending a luxury car to receive him at the railway station. It was alleged that Pradhan was assaulted and mentally tortured by Das's son and four others at the Governor's House in Puri on July 7 when President Murmu visited the town to witness Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra. Pradhan was posted there to supervise the preparation for the President's visit. On July 10, he lodged an FIR, seeking justice. Soon after the incident, the state government transferred him from the Governor's secretariat The issue was later raised in the Odisha Assembly where the state government said the Puri district magistrate was investigating the allegations and would submit a report within a month. Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who raised the issue in the Assembly, alleged that action was not taken against the accused persons because one of them was the son of the Governor. Following Das's resignation, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday renewed its demand for action against the outgoing Governor's son. The party said an investigation was promised into the allegation after the state's opposition parties raised the demand in July this year. "The government announced an investigation by the Puri district magistrate with a report to be submitted within days. However, this promise remains unfulfilled, and no action has been taken," BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said. He further said the BJP government's silence on this incident highlighted the weak law and order situation in the state. "Although Raghubar Das has been removed, it remains to be seen whether the BJP government will now deliver justice to the assistant section officer," Mohanty added. The family members of the government employee have also expressed hope that action will be taken against the accused as per the law. Earlier, a press release issued by the Raj Bhavan here said that Das tendered his resignation citing personal reasons. A former chief minister of Jharkhand, Das was appointed as Governor of Odisha on October 18, 2023. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) will be providing compensation to the victims and families of those who lost their lives in Aktau plane crash, Trend reports. Following the decision of the Supervisory Board of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), each passenger who was injured in the December 25, 2024 crash of the Embraer 190 aircraft, which was operating flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny and crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, will receive compensation of 20,000 manats. The families of those who lost their lives in the crash will receive 40,000 manats. Additionally, all passengers will receive insurance compensation in accordance with Azerbaijani law and international best practices. As a reminder, on December 25, the AZAL-owned Embraer 190 aircraft, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed 3 kilometers from Aktau Airport. There were 67 people on board, including 62 passengers and 5 crew members. Following the crash, 27 people were hospitalized, including 15 citizens of Azerbaijan, 8 from the Russian Federation, and 3 from the Kyrgyz Republic. The identity of one person remains unidentified. Both pilots and the flight attendant tragically lost their lives, while two crew members survived. December 26 was declared a national day of mourning in Azerbaijan. New Delhi, Dec 26 : Indian Railways has successfully carried out a trial run of a tower wagon on the Anji Khad Bridge, the country's first cable-stayed rail bridge, located in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. The achievement is a major step forward in enhancing railway connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, with services expected to commence in January 2025. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video of the trial run on the social media platform X, highlighting the progress of the crucial project. "The trial run on the Anji Khad Bridge, a key component of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project, has been successfully completed," according to the Ministry of Railways. Completed last month, the Anji Khad Bridge is an engineering marvel featuring a single pylon that rises 331 metres above the riverbed. It is supported by 48 cables on its lateral and central spans and stretches 473.25 metres in total length. The viaduct measures 120 metres, while the central embankment spans 94.25 metres. This is the second-highest railway bridge in India after the Chenab Bridge, which is the highest in the world at a record 359 metres above the riverbed. Both bridges are part of the ambitious USBRL project aimed at increasing connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir. The USBRL project stretches across 272 kilometres, of which 255 kilometres have already been completed. The remaining portion between Katra and Reasi is expected to be completed by the end of this month. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) is a 272 km railway project that connects Jammu and Kashmir to the rest of India. It is considered one of the most challenging railway projects in the Indian subcontinent. The project will reduce travel time between Srinagar and Jammu from six hours to 3.5 hours. The railway projects have been constructed after overcoming natural challenges such as extreme temperatures, major earthquake zones, and inhospitable terrain. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the Vande Bharat train to provide a fast link for passengers travelling between Kashmir and Delhi in January 2025. Seoul, Dec 26 : The opposition-controlled National Assembly of South Korea is set to vote on the appointment of three Constitutional Court justice nominees at a parliamentary plenary meeting on Thursday. It remains to be seen whether acting President Han Duck-soo would approve the final appointment of the three new judges. The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has vowed to impeach Han unless the acting president approves their appointments, Yonhap news agency reported. If appointed, the three nominees will fill vacancies on the court's nine-member bench, where six justices are currently seated, to deliberate President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial. By law, at least six votes are required to uphold an impeachment motion. The DP earlier pushed ahead with the confirmation hearings for the nominees -- Ma Eun-hyuk, and Jeong Gye-seon, both of whom are nominated by the DP, and Cho Han-chang, recommended by the ruling People Power Party (PPP). The DP and minor opposition parties, which together hold 192 seats in the 300-seat Assembly, are expected to unilaterally pass the appointment motions. A motion to appoint a Constitutional Court justice nominee requires a majority of the sitting lawmakers to be present and a majority approval in the National Assembly. The DP has called on Han to appoint the justices without delay if the motions pass the plenary session, saying it will propose an impeachment motion against Han if he refuses. The PPP, however, has argued that Han lacks presidential authority to make the appointments and has vowed to file a suit with the Constitutional Court seeking an injunction if he proceeds. New Delhi, Dec 26 : The Delhi BJP Mahila Morcha staged a peaceful protest outside AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal's residence on Thursday against recently announced 'Mahila Samman Yojana' demanding strict action against him for allegedly deceiving women with 'fraudulent promises.' The scheme, which promised Rs 2,100 per month to women if AAP comes back to power, has been labelled as "fraudulent" by the BJP, accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of misleading and exploiting women for electoral gains ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections. BJP workers who were protesting alleged that the scheme was designed to collect personal data from women under the guise of financial aid. They cited similar promises made by the AAP in Punjab, where the party had pledged Rs 1,000 per month to women but failed to deliver after coming to power. Addressing the protest, Delhi BJP Mahila Morcha president, Richa Pandey said, "We are here to question Arvind Kejriwal about his promise. He had made similar commitments in Punjab but failed to fulfill them. This is a fraudulent scheme aimed at collecting data and misleading women ahead of elections. He thinks women are fools and is insulting their intelligence. We will also file a police complaint against this deceitful act." Expressing similar views, BJP councillor Yogita Singh said, "This is not the first time Arvind Kejriwal has deceived people. He promised Rs 1,000 to women in Punjab, which was never delivered. Now, a similar fraudulent scheme has been introduced in Delhi. Women have reported unauthorized deductions from their accounts, which is outright fraud. Kejriwal and Delhi CM Atishi must apologise for misleading and insulting women." The protesters accused the AAP of exploiting the scheme to gain votes as their hold on power weakens. "If Kejriwal was sincere, why didn't he introduce such schemes during his decade-long tenure? These fake promises are mere election stunts," Pandey added. The BJP has vowed to take legal action against the alleged fraud and demanded accountability from the AAP, accusing the party of using deceptive tactics to secure votes. Los Angeles, Dec 26 : Hollywood actress Kaley Cuoco, who is known for 'The Big Bang Theory', enjoyed Christmas with her little one. The actress, 39, took to her social media, and showed off her holiday celebration alongside fiance Tom Pelphrey, 42, and their 20-month-old daughter Matilda, reports 'People' magazine. The couple posted adorable photos of their toddler celebrating her second Christmas. On Christmas Eve, the Big Bang Theory star reposted actor Will Von Vogt's Instagram Story of Pelphrey holding Matilda in his arms as Cuoco kicks off a festive night of White Elephant with her family. As per 'People', Cuoco also added a sweet selfie of the mother-daughter duo, with both smiling wide. The Emmy nominated actress posted another happy selfie with Matilda and her fiance, with Pelphrey holding their toddler in between the two. Cuoco also shared a shot of Matilda in a red velvet dress holding a blue-lit snowflake and blue ribbon. On Christmas Day, Cuoco posted a cute moment of Matilda and the proud parents on Christmas morning. "When you see what 'ho ho' brought you for the first time", she captioned the video. In the clip, the family of three all sport their matching red Christmas pajamas and Cuoco and Pelphrey hold Matilda's hands as they walk out of a bedroom, but as soon as the toddler spots the Christmas tree adorned with gifts, she drops her parents' hands and makes a run for it. The little girl holds a stuffed animal in her arms as she runs directly to her Minnie Mouse toys, with her excited parents smiling as they watch. In November, Cuoco celebrated another trip around the sun with balloons and cards, sharing a glimpse on her Instagram Stories of the sweet way her fiance showed his love on her 39th birthday. Cuoco posted a short clip featuring the pair's 20-month-old daughter Matilda walking around their living room while holding a balloon as Pelphrey, 42, surprised Cuoco with several additional decorations, a red plush cat with a unicorn horn, a pair of birthday cards and some wrapped presents. The actress wrote, "Sweetest east coast bday wakeup courtesy of @tommypelphrey. Tildy thought it was all for her lol". Jammu, Dec 26 : The 72-hour-long shutdown against the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine ropeway project entered the second day in Katra town of Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district The protest began started on Wednesday. Shoppers, transporters, hoteliers, Pony and Palki Wallahs in addition to other businessmen have been protesting against the proposed ropeway project from Tarakote to Sanjhi Chhat. In November, clashes erupted in Katra town between the protesters and the police when police used force to disperse the agitators. Police claimed that the agitators did not have permission to take out a protest march. The call for the 72-hour-long shutdown has been given by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti against the proposed ropeway from Tarakote to Sanjhi Chhat. Supported by all the local stakeholders, including pony owners, shopkeepers and transport operators, the shutdown left the town in disquieting silence. All business establishments remained shut and roads wore deserted look, leaving thousands of pilgrims stranded without access to essential services. The Sangharsh Samiti leader, Bhupinder Singh spearheads the protest. The Samiti accused the government and the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board of ignoring public concerns. "The ropeway project threatens the livelihoods of thousands who depend on the traditional pilgrimage routes. Instead of engaging in talks, the administration is resorting to force, which is unfortunate," Singh told reporters. BJP leader and former Minister Ajay Nanda, party leader and ex-Chairman of Municipal Committee Katra Shashi Gupta, DDC Member Katra Nirmala Devi, and DDC Panthal Rajinder Mengi, joined the agitation at Shalimar Park to express solidarity with the protesters. Protesters claim that the proposed ropeway would destroy their livelihood, and local shoppers, transporters, hoteliers, pony and Palki wallahs are demanding that the Rs 300 crore project be cancelled. The ropeway, intended to connect Tarakote on Katra's outskirts with Sanjichhat, just 2.5 km from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, aims to reduce the 14-km trek and bypass the traditional Katra-Ban Ganga-Adi Kunwari route. However, protesters argue it will devastate businesses along the old route. Bengaluru, Dec 26 : Karnataka Police have registered an FIR in connection with the egg attack on BJP MLA N. Munirathna Naidu in Bengaluru. In the complaint, MLA Munirathna said the act was part of the conspiracy to attack and murder him. The police had taken three persons into custody from the spot on Wednesday when the incident took place. However, they have also lodged a counter-complaint on assault by a group. MLA Munirathna was admitted to the hospital following the incident and he alleged that the eggs used to attack him were filled with acid and harmful chemical substances. After being discharged from the hospital, MLA Munirathna said, the doctors had given him medicines. When asked about whether there was any acid in the eggs thrown at him, he claimed: "The Police Department is acting like a puppet and he will talk about it in detail in the press conference." Talking about the incident, a senior Congress leader from Bengaluru, Hanumantarayappa, said: "MLA Munirathna is a lowly person and goes to any extent. He is stuck in rape charges and facing allegations of trying to infect opponents with HIV through honey trapping. To divert the case, he enacted this drama." "Initially, Munirathna claimed that the voice was not his in the audio recording where he allegedly used filthy language to abuse the Vokkaliga community. Later, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report confirmed that it was his voice. Now, he is being rejected by everyone and to divert the issue, he is enacting drama," Hanumantarayappa said. Reacting to the development, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka said: "Let the Police Department probe the matter first. Repeatedly our MLAs are targeted. If there is an attempt to divert, it will come out open in the investigation. It is not fair to make comments before the probe is conducted." "Let the Congress leaders conduct an investigation and submit the report as well. Why the police are required," Ashoka said, reacting to the Congress claiming that the egg attack was a diversion tactic. An egg was hurled at Munirathna in Bengaluru on Wednesday, after which he blamed Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar for the incident. The incident occurred when Munirathna along with a large number of supporters arrived in Laxmidevinagar of RR Nagar Constituency to attend an event on the occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Speaking to media persons, Munirathna said: "Deputy CM Shivakumar and his brother and former Congress MP D. K. Suresh attacked me, as they want to make local Congress leader Kusuma Hanumantarayappa the MLA in my constituency." Munirathna, who was jailed in connection with the rape and honey-trapping case and lodged at the Central Prison in Bengaluru, was released on bail after a month. Mumbai, Dec 26 : Veteran actress Hema Malini celebrated the spirit of 'girl power' in a delightful way by twinning with her daughter, Esha Deol, and granddaughters, Radhya and Miraya. Esha posted a picture of them dressed in matching outfits. The pictures, featuring three generations, show Hema wearing matching outfits with Esha and her kids. Hema, dressed in a green ensemble, stood beside her daughter Esha, who wore a similar outfit. The granddaughters, Radhya and Miraya, added to the charm of the moment with their cute smiles and coordinated looks. Sharing these photos on her Instagram handle, Esha captioned it, "It's a girl power Merry Christmas at ours, love & joy to you all." The first image showed Hema and Esha flaunting their radiant smiles while posing together. In the second one, Esha is seen bonding with her little daughter, with a decorated Christmas tree in the background. Esha, who is the daughter of veteran actors Dharmendra and Hema Malini, issued a joint statement in February this year, announcing that her marriage to Bharat Takhtani had ended. The statement read, "We have mutually and amicably decided to part ways. Through this shift in our lives, the best interests and welfare of our two children are and will be of utmost importance to us. We'd appreciate it if our privacy is respected." Esha Deol and Bharat Takhtani, who tied the knot in 2012, share two daughters Radhya, born in 2017, and Miraya, born in 2019. On the work front, Esha, half-sister to actors Bobby and Sunny Deol, and cousin to actor Abhay Deol, featured in several films like "Dhoom," "Dus," and "No Entry." She made her acting comeback in 2023 with the thriller series "Rudra: The Edge of Darkness" alongside actor Ajay Devgn. Esha Deol also appeared in the series "Invisible Woman" alongside actor Suniel Shetty. The action-packed show, backed by Yoodlee Films, marked Shetty's digital debut. The two have previously worked together in films such as "LOC Kargil" and "Cash." Belagavi : , Dec 26 (IANS) Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge arrived here to take part in the two-day centenary celebrations of the 1924 Indian National Congress session. State Congress President and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar welcomed Kharge and Rahul Gandhi at the Belagavi airport. He also presented both leaders with badges for the AICC centenary session. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah welcomed them by handing over the party flag and bouquets. K.C. Venugopal, the National General Secretary and Congress MP and other dignitaries were present. As part of the centenary celebrations, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah officially inaugurated the SARAS Fair, Khadi Utsav, and Exhibition-cum-Sale at Sardar High School Grounds in Belagavi on Thursday. He inaugurated the 'Asmita Trade Fair-2024' a massive exhibition and sale of self-help group women's products and Khadi goods. The SARAS Fair and Khadi Utsav, organised in collaboration with the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, and Livelihood, Karnataka State Rural Livelihood Campaign, Karnataka State Khadi and Village Industries Board, Department of Industries and Commerce, District Administration, Zilla Panchayat, and City Corporation, will be held from December 26 to January 4. Women from self-help groups (SHGs) across all districts of Karnataka have participated in the SARAS fair, showcasing key products from their respective regions. A total of 150 stalls have been set up, including 10 food stalls and 50 stalls dedicated to Khadi products. The fair is open to the public with free entry, and the exhibition will be accessible daily from 10.30 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. Various cultural programmes will be held every evening from 6.30 p.m. to 9 p.m. As announced in the 2024-25 state budget, 50 'Akka Cafes are being implemented statewide with a uniform design. The programme aims to support the livelihood of approximately 1,200 women from SHGs. As part of this initiative, the food court at the fairgrounds has been attractively set up under the "Akka Cafe" theme, adding a unique charm to the event. New Delhi, Dec 26 : Politics over the controversial Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana in Delhi heightened on Thursday as Congress candidate from New Delhi Assembly constituency Sandeep Dikshit said Delhi L-G V.K. Saxena should order the registration of a cheating case against AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Atishi over the 'fraudulent scheme'. Ahead of going to Raj Niwas to give his complaint, Dikshit told media persons that after a public notice was issued by the Delhi government on Wednesday against the scheme it had become clear that the Atishi government was perpetrating fraud and collecting personal data of women through deceit. "I want cheating cases to be filed against Kejriwal and the CM. The data collected from women should be confiscated and returned to each of them. The personal details of women can even be misused," he said, sharing his plans to give a written complaint to L-G Saxena. Dikshit told media persons that money for spending in Delhi Assembly elections was being brought by the AAP into Delhi from Punjab, where the AAP is in power, in government vehicles from neighbouring states. The son of three-time Congress Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit also alleged that the AAP government in Punjab had sent policemen in plain clothes to Delhi to collect "electoral information", an act amounting to spying. The Congress leader alleged two Punjab cops were recently spotted near his house, confirming the alleged misuse of Punjab government machinery in Delhi. Under the stewardship of Kejriwal, the ruling AAP recently launched the registration process for the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana financial support to vulnerable groups in Delhi. The AAP government promises to pay Rs 2,100 monthly to eligible women over 18 years of age. The party has also set up kiosks across Delhi to enrol beneficiaries for the scheme. Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Devender Yadav earlier said that after the public notice was issued by the Delhi government against the women's scheme there could not be a bigger indictment of Kejriwal's deceit. The public notice issued by the Departments of the Delhi government clarified that the Rs 2,100 scheme announced for women under which Kejriwal and other AAP leaders were conducting fake registrations was a political stunt, he said. Seoul, Dec 26 : A member of the United States Congress has expressed concerns over private equity firm MBK Partners Ltd's takeover bid for Korea Zinc, together with its biggest shareholder, Young Poong Corp, due to critical minerals' supply chain issues, the zinc company said on Thursday. Seoul, Dec 26 (IANS) A member of the United States Congress has expressed concerns over private equity firm MBK Partners Ltdas takeover bid for Korea Zinc, together with its biggest shareholder, Young Poong Corp, due to critical minerals' supply chain issues, the zinc company said on Thursday. Korea Zinc has been caught in a monthslong battle to fend off a takeover bid by the MBK-Young Poong alliance, which initiated the management tussle on Sept. 13 by launching a tender offer for an additional stake in the world's biggest refined zinc smelter. In response, Korea Zinc, with the support of US-based Bain Capital, conducted a massive stock buyback. In his letter sent to Jose Fernandez, US undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, US Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) said, "Korea Zinc has maintained its position as a global leader in allied efforts to expand and diversify the supply of critical minerals and insulate these supply chains from PRC leverage." PRC is short for China's official name, the People's Republic of China. Korea Zinc is vital to US-led global efforts to loosen China's grip on the supply of metals for energy transition. Given the focus and investment track record of MBK, it is possible that PRC-based or PRC-financed entities may be welcomed into a variety of transactions in case of the MBK side's acquisition of Korea Zinc, Swalwell said in the letter. "This could result in technology transfer to PRC entities as well as the dismantling of an important global player in the joint United States-Korea effort to insulate and expand critical minerals supply chains from the PRC," Swalwell said. The congressman asked the undersecretary to consult with his counterparts at Korea's foreign and trade ministries "to ensure that this transaction continues to be reviewed in a manner that takes into consideration a variety of factors, including the economic impacts as well as our shared national security interests." When contacted by Yonhap News Agency, MBK said it has no statement on the letter. Last month, the Seoul government added Korea Zinc's high-nickel precursor manufacturing process to the list of national core and high-tech strategic technologies at the request of the company. With this designation, any exports of this technology or any foreign investment involving mergers, acquisitions or joint ventures will require approval from the trade ministry, the letter said. The Young Poong camp now controls 40.97 per cent of Korea Zinc, while Korea Zinc Chairman Choi Yun-beom and related parties own about 34 percent of the company. Korea Zinc plans to hold a shareholders' meeting on January 23 to vote on the appointment of two groups of new board members recommended by Korea Zinc and the Young Poong camp. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Seven more Azerbaijani citizens injured in the crash of an Embraer 190 passenger plane flying from Baku to Grozny were transferred to Yeni Klinika medical facility, Trend reports. The injured, who suffered minor injuries, were flown to Baku on a special AZAL flight. Earlier, the bodies of four individuals who died in the crash, along with seven injured Azerbaijani citizens, were transported from Aktau to Baku on Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243. Additionally, a few hours earlier, seven critically injured Azerbaijani citizens were flown to Baku on a special aircraft provided by the Ministry of Emergency Situations. A dedicated medical team accompanied the injured on the flight. They have also been admitted to Yeni Klinika for treatment. An Embraer 190 passenger plane operating the Baku-Grozny route crashed on December 25, three kilometers from Aktau Airport. The plane had 67 people on board, including 62 passengers and 5 crew members. Following the crash, 27 people were hospitalized. Among them were 15 Azerbaijani citizens, 8 Russian nationals, and 3 citizens of Kyrgyzstan. The identity of one individual has not yet been confirmed. Seoul, Dec 26 : The South Korea's anti-corruption investigation body on Thursday summoned President Yoon Suk Yeol to appear for questioning this weekend over his brief imposition of martial law. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) issued the summons ordering Yoon to appear at its office in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, at 10 a.m. Sunday. This marked the CIO's third summons after Yoon ignored two previous summonses, including one for questioning on Christmas Day. The CIO has teamed up with the police and the defense ministry's investigation unit to look into allegations Yoon incited an insurrection and abused his power when he declared martial law on December 3, Yonhap news agency reported. Meanwhile, South Korean President Yoon's political future hangs in the balance as the Constitutional Court deliberates on his impeachment trial over his short-lived martial law declaration, raising concerns over a leadership vacuum amid economic and security challenges. Yoon faces an uphill legal battle next year after being impeached and subjected to widening probes into his failed attempt to impose military rule on the nation's democracy on December 3. The impeached president has defended his imposition of martial law as an act of governance and denied insurrection charges. The allegations include insurrection and abuse of power for deploying military forces to the National Assembly to block lawmakers from repealing the decree. The final decision on his impeachment rests with the Constitutional Court, where at least six of nine justices must uphold the motion to remove him. The process could take up to 180 days. If Yoon, who was elected in May 2022 to a single, five-year term, is removed from office, a snap election would be held within 60 days. Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), is currently seen as a top contender, though he faces his own legal risks, including several trials on corruption and other allegations. Since Yoon's suspension from office on December 14, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has assumed interim leadership. A seasoned technocrat versed in diplomacy and trade, Han has pledged to stabilise state affairs and uphold the country's security and economic resilience during the transitional period. The political turmoil comes at a challenging time for South Korea, as it works to strengthen alliances with the US and other partners to counter growing threats from North Korea amid its deepening military ties with Russia. The instability also raises concerns about South Korea's ability to effectively address economic and security uncertainties, especially with the return of former US President Donald Trump to the White House next month. New Delhi, Dec 26 : Accusing the ruling AAP and the Congress of indulging in a "friendly fight" to mislead voters, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said on Thursday that the two corrupt parties are two sides of the same coin and both are fighting for their survival in the coming Assembly election. Sachdeva said: "Congress looted Delhi for 15 years before the AAP government spread its network of corruption over 10 years and the BJP fought both these parties which are each others' 'B-team'." "Staring at a big defeat in the Assembly election, the two INDIA bloc partners are trying to chase a particular vote bank to win a few seats and remain relevant in Delhi politics," he said. AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader Ajay Maken are old allies who even formed a coalition government in Delhi and supported each other in the recent Lok Sabha polls, he said. Where was these two parties' rivalry when Kejriwal was carrying Congress candidates for LS elections in his vehicle and seeking votes for them? he asked. AAP leaders like Kejriwal and Atishi who were shaking hands with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are now feigning rivalry, he said. "The voters must keep in mind that voting for the AAP in Assembly elections means voting for the Congress and vice versa. It is only the BJP which has been fighting these two corrupt parties for the past 26 years and will continue to do so," he said. Sachdeva's fresh allegations of an alleged tie-up between the AAP and the Congress followed a similar charge by Chief Minister Atishi about the BJP funding the election campaign of a few Congress candidates in the city. The Delhi BJP President said, "Barbad gulistan karne ko bus ek hi ullu kafi hai (You need only one fool to destroy heaven). But in Delhi, we don't just have one incapable person but two a" Kejriwal and CM Atishi." New Delhi, Dec 26 : The Delhi High Court has ordered the Border Security Force (BSF) to process the benefit of the third financial upgradation under the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) Scheme to the personnel who have completed 30 years of service. A bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur was hearing a plea by retired BSF personnel challenging the rejection of their representations for grant of the third financial upgradation under the MACP Scheme for fixing their pension. The petitioners sought the extension of the benefit of the 3rd MACP upon the completion of 30 years of service in their cadre before them attaining the age of 60 years, and sought revision of the basic pay and their pension. The petitioners had joined the BSF on various dates at their respective ranks in the General Duty and Radio Cadre. Initially, they were serving as Personnel Below Officers Rank (PBORs), and, with the progression of time, the petitioners were promoted to the non-gazetted officers rank (i.e. Assistant Sub-Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors, and Inspectors). In 2019, the Delhi High Court had held that having two different ages of superannuation for different ranks is discriminatory and unconstitutional, and directed for a uniform retirement age for all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel, regardless of rank, within 4 months. It had said that for the purposes of calculation of retiral benefits, including pension and gratuity, the differential period (in the event of enhancement of the retirement age) will be added to the period of service actually rendered by each of them. "In other words, their notional date of retirement would be arrived at by adding the differential years to their actual date of retirement. On such calculation, they would be entitled to the arrears of retirement benefits after adjusting the amount already paid," the Delhi HC had ruled. Earlier, under the BSF Act and Rules, the age of superannuation of officers from the rank of Constable to Commandant was 57 years, and from Deputy Inspector General of Police to Director General was 60 years. In their plea filed before the Delhi High Court, the petitioners claimed that they completed 30 years of service from the date of their entering into the entry grade, between the period of them attaining the age of 57 and 60 years, adding that if the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had implemented the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission in a timely manner, they would not have been made to retire at the age of 57 years, and they would have served till the enhanced age of 60 years, when they would have completed 30 years of service. They added that the differential period of 3 years, gained on account of the enhancement of the age of superannuation to 60 years, should be deemed to be aregular servicea for the purpose of computation of benefits like the MACP to personnel like the petitioners, who had not crossed the age of 60 years on the date of 2019 judgement. It is for this reason that the court had directed the authorities to provide three equivalent annual increments of basic pay to the petitioners, as these annual increments are given only upon regular service, the petitioners further contended. They claimed that applying the same yard-stick to the MACP Scheme, the petitioners are entitled to the benefit of financial upgradation under the MACP Scheme upon completion of 30 years of regular service and that the same would have fixed the pay of the petitioners to the next available grade pay. The petitioners added that the said upgradation would also have enhanced the quantum of the basic pay for calculation of their pension to the next available grade pay but the said benefit of refixation was never granted. They claimed that since the date of completion of 30 years of service for each of the petitioners falls prior to the enhanced age of superannuation, they are entitled to all such benefits which would have been granted to them had they been serving at the relevant time. Further, the petitioners argued that as the third financial upgradation under the MACP Scheme directly affects the amount of pension and arrears payable by enhancing the quantum of basic pay, therefore, in terms of the 2019 judgement, the enhanced age of superannuation should be considered for determining the applicability of the third financial upgradation under the MACP Scheme. In its judgment, the Delhi High Court said that once the authorities have themselves extended to the petitioners the increments that would have been earned by them had they served till the age of 60 years, by treating the petitioners to have been in service till the age of 60 years, the authorities now cannot plead that the other consequential benefits emanating from the extension of service, including the MACP, will not be granted to the petitioners. Allowing the petition, the Delhi HC ordered to place the case of the petitioners before a Screening Committee appointed to evaluate the claim of the officials for the MACP, which would consider their case by treating them to have remained in aregular servicea till they attained the age of 60 years, and accordingly process their claims for the grant of the benefit of the 3rd financial upgradation in accordance with the MACP Scheme. "The said exercise must be completed within a period of three months and in case the petitioners are found entitled to grant of the benefit of the 3rd MACP, the relief in that regard be released to the petitioners and their pension be accordingly modified with retrospective effect," it said, clarifying that the grant of the 3rd MACP will only be notional and the petitioners will not be entitled to extra pay. Jammu, Dec 26 : The BJP has alleged that the Congress put up a 'distorted' map of India in Belagavi city where the party is holding a CWC meet. The Congress has now accused the BJP of spreading misinformation, rejecting the party's claims as a mere "tactic of distortion and diversion." The banners, part of Congress' ongoing event in Belagavi, have sparked outrage for omitting Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Aksai Chin in the map, leading to fresh political bickering. Speaking to IANS, Ravinder Sharma said, "Jammu and Kashmir, including PoK, is an integral part of India. The BJP is simply trying to distract attention from its failures. They should first clarify their stance on B.R. Ambedkar's statement." Sharma emphasised that the ongoing controversy was an attempt to deflect from real issues. Sharma also trains guns at the BJP's allegations that Congress is seeking to defame India. He pointed out that the party was soon to mark the 140th Foundation Day of the Congress, a party he said has always fought for unity and national integrity. "Congress has always worked to unite the nation, bringing together Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians. Look at our sacrifices before and after independence. The BJP, on the other hand, has no legacy to show," Sharma argued. He further accused the BJP of exploiting religious and regional divisions for political gain, aiming to stay in power by creating divides within the country. Meanwhile, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) is holding a two-day event in Belagavi on December 26 and 27 to commemorate the centenary of the 1924 Indian National Congress session, which was presided over by Mahatma Gandhi. The event, which is drawing attention for its historical significance, will see the participation of Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi. Pune : , Dec 26 (IANS) In a shocking case, the Pune Police have arrested a 54-year-old man for the alleged kidnapping, rape and murder of two minor girls in the Rajgurunagar area of the city. The man, identified as Ajay Das, is accused of committing the heinous double crime with the two siblings aged nine and eight before he absconded, said a police official. The dual crime occurred on Wednesday when the two girls were playing outside their home around noon, but later suddenly adisappeareda. The family, which was keeping an eye on them, started a frantic search in the vicinity but failed to trace them and finally in the evening lodged a complaint with the Khed Police Station. Responding promptly, Police Inspector Prabhakar More formed teams to launch a system effort to trace the two missing sisters but did not get any clues. Late in the night, around 10.30 p.m., the police and the family inspected the two siblingsa room on the upper floors of their building and made the shocking discovery. The two girlsa bodies were found at Dasa home, in a huge drum filled with water, with their heads below and their feet up, pointing at murder by forcible drowning. As the discovery created a sensation in the vicinity, the case was handed over to a woman Investigation Officer Snehal Raje, said the officials, while the victimsa bodies were sent to the Sassoon Hospital in Pune for autopsies. Cracking the whip, the Khed Police launched a manhunt for Das and apprehended him from his hideout in a shady lodging house early in the day (December 26) as he was packing up and preparing to flee out of Maharashtra. This morning the grieving families along with other relatives, staged a sit-in dharna outside the police station, demanding that the culprit should be given the noose, and refused to accept the bodies of the two little girls. As per preliminary questioning, Das is understood to have confessed to the double crime and also admitted that he had to kill them to suppress the matter secretly and also prevent them from screaming or attracting attention. Although the accused was arrested by the police, the girls' relatives gathered at the Rajgurunagar police station, saying they would not take possession of the bodies till they got justice. The brutal kidnap-rape-double murder has evoked strong reactions from Nationalist Congress Party (SP) Working President and MLA Rohit R. Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT)as Sanjay Raut and Kishore Tiwari and local Congress leaders, who slammed the ruling Mahayuti for what they termed as 'utter failure on the law-and-order front'. Chennai, Dec 26 : South Indian superstar Kamal Haasan has paid tribute to Jnanpith awardee and doyen of Malayalam literature M. T. Vasudevan Nair. Kamal Haasan, who collaborated with Nair in iconic films such as 'Kanyakumari' and 'Manorathangal', mourned the loss of a mentor and a creative giant. Nair, celebrated for his immense contributions as a screenwriter, director, and producer, was a towering figure in Indian literature and cinema. In a post on the social media platform X, Kamal Haasan reflected, "My friendship with him, as the creator of the film Kanyakumari, which introduced me to the Malayalam screen world, spans fifty years and continued until the recent Manorathangal." In an emotional audio tribute recorded in Malayalam, the actor said, "Be it those who want to be writers, those who think of themselves as writers, or those who are acknowledged as writers - when they think of M. T. Vasudevan Nair Sir's works, it evokes many feelings within them: respect, jealousy, fear, and love." Recounting his early years, Kamal Haasan shared, "I was just 19 years old when I acted in the film Kanyakumari (1974). At that time, I didn't fully understand M.T. Sir's greatness. A short while later, I watched his film Nirmalyam (1973). If my love for cinema was a small lamp, Nirmalyam turned it into a blazing fire. In my view, legends like Satyajit Ray, Shyam Benegal, M.T. Vasudevan Nair, and Girish Karnad may have been born in different states, but they are kindred spirits." He further added, "Bidding farewell is something we do for ordinary individuals. M.T. Sir and his literary contributions will stay with us for hundreds of years. They will live on even after we are gone. I donat have the heart to say goodbye, Sir. Please forgive me." Nair, who had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kozhikode following heart failure, passed away on Wednesday night at the age of 91. Fondly known as MT, he was one of the greatest writers in Malayalam and served as the editor of Mathrubhumi Weekly, a prestigious literary periodical from Kerala. Born on July 15, 1933, in Kudallur, Ponnani Taluk, MT was the youngest of four sons of T. Narayanan Nair and Ammalu Amma. His childhood, often depicted in his semi-autobiographical works, was marked by poverty and hardship. MT began his education at Malamakavu Elementary School, continued at Kumaranellur High School, and graduated with a degree in Chemistry from Victoria College, Palakkad, in 1953. Following his graduation, he briefly worked as a teacher before joining Mathrubhumi as a sub-editor in 1957. A recipient of the Padma Bhushan, MT was a literary giant and a cinematic visionary. His contributions to both fields left an indelible mark, cementing his place as one of the most celebrated writers in the Malayalam language. MT won four National Film Awards for screenwriting, directed seven films, and scripted approximately 54 others. His screenplays, now published in book form, are considered essential reading for aspiring filmmakers. Over the years, MT received numerous accolades, including the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award, Vallathol Award, Ezhuthachan Award, Mathrubhumi Literary Award, and O.N.V. Literary Award. In 2013, he was honoured with the J.C. Daniel Award for lifetime achievement in Malayalam cinema. In 2022, he received the inaugural Kerala Jyothi Award, the highest civilian honour bestowed by the Kerala Government. He was awarded the Jnanpith, India's highest literary honour in 1995. Nair's works continue to resonate deeply, offering profound reflections on lifeas complexities and human emotions. The passing of this literary giant marks the end of an era, but his legacy will forever remain etched in the hearts of countless admirers and the annals of Malayalam literature and cinema. Sabarimala : , Dec 26 (IANS) There has been a record turnout of pilgrims at Kerala's Sabarimala temple, where the first phase of the two-month-long 2024-25 pilgrimage ends on Thursday. Compared to the first phase of the 2023-24 festival season, this time there has been an increase of 4,07,309 pilgrims and the total number touched 32,49,756, up from 28,42,447 in 2023-24. The two-month-long season is spread between two phases, phase one began on November 16 and will close on Thursday evening (December 26). Phase two will commence on December 30, with the most important day of the pilgrimage being on January 14, and then, it will close after a few days. This time, the temple authorities have decided to regulate the number of pilgrims who are allowed to have darshan every day to 70,000, which includes 60,000 who have to book online and 10,000 who are given spot bookings. To manage the milling crowds, the timings also have been altered as the temple opens every day at 3 a.m. and closes at 1 p.m. and then, opens again at 3 p.m. and closes at 11 p.m. Situated on the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats at an altitude of 914 metres above sea level, Sabarimala temple is four kilometres uphill from Pamba in the Pathanamthitta district, which is around 100 km from the state capital. The temple, which bars the entry of women who have attained puberty, is accessible only on foot from the Pamba River. As per practice, before setting off to the holy shrine, a pilgrim normally undertakes an intense 41-day penance where he does not wear footwear, wears a black dhoti, and sticks to strict vegetarian food. Every pilgrim carries 'lrumudi', a prayer kit which contains coconuts which are broken just before climbing the 18 steps, on his head, during the pilgrimage and without it, no one is allowed to step onto the holy 18 steps at the 'Sannidhanam'. This season, a record close to 14,000 police officials, along with volunteers, are posted on security duty and give a helping hand to the pilgrims. The parking facility for pilgrims has now been increased to 10,000 parking slots besides there are rate cards in various South Indian languages on display at all the restaurants in and around the temple town. The healthcare facilities in and around the temple town also have state-of-the-art facilities for the pilgrims. To make the pilgrimage more pilgrim-friendly, the authorities this season launched a multilingual microsite (https://www.keralatourism.org/sabarimala/) which provides pilgrims across the country with information about the hill shrine's traditions, customs, and culture, as well as the latest updates and geographical insights. The site is available in five languages: English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada. It also includes short footage providing all the details of southern Indiaas prominent pilgrim site. The microsite includes details of other important temples near Sabarimala, a detailed route map, and hotel facilities near temples, which will help pilgrims travel from other states. It also features a dedicated gallery with hundreds of pictures related to Sabarimala. It also includes a detailed pilgrim guide that provides in-depth information about the customs and traditions of Sabarimala and the temple's history. Chandigarh, Dec 26 : Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, on the occasion of Veer Bal Diwas, called upon the people to draw inspiration from the sacrifices made by the Sahibzadas, the sons of Guru Gobind Singh. Addressing the gathering at the state-level Veer Bal Diwas function in Kurukshetra, he urged parents to teach their children the values of courage, sacrifice, and dedication, just like those exhibited by the Sahibzadas, and instil these values in their lives. "This will be our true tribute to their unparalleled sacrifice." He also appealed to religious leaders and social institutions to unite in launching a mass movement against social evils like drug addiction, so that this grave issue can be eradicated from its roots and the youth can be saved. Paying tribute to their valiant, the Chief Minister said Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh "serve as an inspiration for making the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the nation. The immortal saga of the Veer Sahibzadas, who gave their lives at such a young age, is written in golden letters in the annals of history". CM Saini expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the decision to annually observe the martyrdom day of the Veer Sahibzadas as Veer Bal Diwas. He said with the Prime Minister's efforts, Veer Bal Diwas is now observed with deep reverence across the country every year on December 26. The Chief Minister said between December 20 and 27, 1704, all members of the Guru Gobind Singh family sacrificed their lives for the protection of religion and the welfare of the common people. He described the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh's family as the greatest sacrifice in the history of the world. Their sacrifices were made to protect the country, religion, and society, and to safeguard the weak and helpless. Through their actions, they delivered a timeless message of truth, justice, and righteousness to all of humanity, he added. Describing the Sikh community as a courageous community, the Chief Minister highlighted that Sikhism has gifted the country with 10 great Gurus, each of whom made countless sacrifices for the nation and society. He said all the Gurus, including Guru Nanak Dev, shared a deep connection with the holy land of Haryana. He also mentioned Kushal Singh Dahiya, a resident of Badkhalsa village in Sonipat, who gave his life to bring the revered head of Guru Teg Bahadur, known as the Chadar of Hind, to Anandpur Sahib. Referring to the Kapal Mochan Tirtha in Yamunanagar, CM Saini highlighted its historical significance, stating it was from this sacred place that Guru Nanak Dev, the first Nanak or the founder of Sikhism, introduced the concept of 'langar', 'sangat' and 'pangat' as part of the vision of Sarvadharm Sambhaav (equal respect for all religions). Mumbai, Dec 26 : Newly-appointed Maharashtra Industry Secretary P. Anbalagan, an IAS officer of the 2001 batch, said on Thursday that his priority will be to make all efforts to consolidate the state's status as the most favoured destination for domestic and foreign direct investments, and provide hand-holding to investors. Anbalagan, who had worked as the chief executive officer of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation and the chairman and managing director of the state-run generation company MahaGenco, said that the department will work as a facilitator to the investors so that they can complete their projects in a hassle-free manner. Anbalagan on Thursday took over as the industry secretary from the outgoing principal secretary Harshdeep Kamble. "The priority will be hand-holding of all the investors, facilitating the existing investors for next level expansion. We will have the same level of involvement with all investors, be it small, medium or major investors. I will see that the investors will have an absolute level of comfort in dealing with government and other agencies," he told IANS. "Maharashtra has always been an attractive investment destination for both domestic and foreign direct investments. We will ensure that the services are delivered in a time-bound manner. We will take the ease of doing business to the next level and consolidate the state's pre-eminent position in attracting investments. It will be done with the cooperation of all stakeholders," he added. As far as the release of New Industrial Policy is concerned, Anbalagan said that it has been due since March 2024, and it will be expedited for its launch. "Our efforts will be to attend the hitherto unattended areas that is taking the industries to other areas to exploit the potential of other districts," he said. On the prospects of emergence of Maoist-affected Gadchiroli district as the next steel hub of India as asserted by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Industry Secretary said: "Companies have already gone there. It will be the steel capital of the country. Of course, it will take some time. Being an area with a lot of thermal plants and other industries, there is a scope for development of the specialty steel sector. We will be able to concentrate on the downstream steel industry. The entire value chain can be created not only in Gadchiroli but Nagpur, Chandrapur and other adjoining districts from Vidarbha." To a question whether Maharashtra would be able to attract new investments, especially on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum's annual summit at Davos in January next year, Anbalagan said: "You will come to know some exciting figures." Anbalaganas appointment comes at a time when Maharashtra has topped in getting FDI in two consecutive years, 2023-24 and 2024-25. The state topped the country in foreign direct investment with Rs 1,25,101 crore in 2023-24, and it again topped the country in the first two quarters, from April to September of this year, 2024-25, with FDI of Rs 1,13,236 crore, which is more than 90 per cent of last year's total FDI. "Maharashtra is one of the leading industrial states in the country. Maharashtra contributes more than 14 per cent to the country's total GDP. The government has set a very ambitious target of making Maharashtra the first state in the country to achieve the target of $1 trillion economy by the year 2027-28," said the Governor in his address to the joint session of the state legislature on December 9. Further, the government has announced a policy of giving Anchor Industry status to mega-projects in the thrust sector and high-tech manufacturing sector, such as semiconductors, electric vehicles, aerospace and defence, chemicals and polymers, lithium iron batteries, steel and other products and special incentives to attract more investment in the state. Approved projects in the last eight months under the said policy, will attract total investment of approximately Rs 3,29,000 crore, and it will generate direct and indirect employment for around 1,18,000 people. The government has also announced the State's Information Technology and Information Technology Supported Services Policy, 2023 and also Green Data Centre Policy. The policy aims to make Mumbai the 'Data Centre Capital' of India. As part of this policy, Green Integrated Data Centre Park will be set up in the Mumbai and Navi Mumbai areas, which will lead to an approximately Rs 1 lakh crore investment and generate employment for approximately 20,000 people in the state. However, Anbalagan also faces a major challenge in the implementation of the recently enacted legislation ensuring the single window clearance to investors by curbing red-tapism. (Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in) Ranchi, Dec 26 : In a brazen act of daylight robbery, two bike-borne criminals looted Rs 14 lakh from a petrol pump employee in Ranchi's Kathitand under the Ratu police station area. Ranchi, Dec 26 (IANS) In a brazen act of daylight robbery, two bike-borne criminals looted Rs 14 lakh from a petrol pump employee in Ranchias Kathitand under the Ratu police station area. The victim was on the way to deposit the cash at a State Bank of India branch when the incident occurred. The shocking crime, which unfolded in a busy market area, has left residents alarmed about the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. The employee, working for the Reliance Petrol Pump in Ratu, was carrying the dayas cash collections when he was intercepted by two criminals on a motorcycle. They snatched the bag of money and fled. Despite the area being crowded, the audacious crime went unchallenged, leaving bystanders stunned. The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras. A team from Ratu police station, on getting information about the incident, rushed to the scene. They have begun analysing CCTV footage from the petrol pump and other nearby areas to identify the culprits. The victim, who was carrying the money, is also being interrogated for more details. Authorities suspect that the criminals had been monitoring the employeeas routine, indicating prior planning. An FIR has been registered, and a city-wide checking operation is underway at major intersections to track down the culprits. Police are also investigating whether this incident is connected to a series of recent robberies in the region. This incident adds to a growing list of crimes in Ranchi and surrounding areas in the recent past. On December 25, jewellery worth Rs 14 lakh was looted from a jewelleras shop in the Pandra Outpost area. On December 2, businessman Shaligram Mandal was killed during a robbery in Teen Pahad in Sahibganj district. The criminals, who gunned him down at around 10 a.m., escaped with Rs 11 lakh he was carrying to the bank. The brazenness of these crimes, especially in broad daylight and in crowded areas, has raised questions about the law and order situation in Ranchi. 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. Chennai, December 26 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday reaffirmed that the DMK-led alliance is not just a principle-based partnership but a permanent one. He made this statement during a public programme to felicitate freedom fighter and veteran CPI leader R. Nallakannu on his 100th birthday. Chief Minister Stalin extended his tributes to R. Nallakannu and acknowledged his unwavering support for the people-centric welfare schemes implemented by the Dravidian model government. Stalin praised the veteran leader as calm, diplomatic, and deeply analytical, adding that Nallakannu continues to inspire and guide the youth of Tamil Nadu. To honour the veteran leader's legacy, the Chief Minister announced the upgradation of the Srivaikuntam Government Hospital, where R. Nallakannu was born. The new building will be named the "Comrade Nallakannu Centenary Building". During his address, Stalin highlighted the strength and success of the DMK-led alliance, which has remained intact for seven years and has consistently secured electoral victories. He urged alliance partners to stay united and firm, expressing confidence that the alliance would win more than 200 seats in the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections. The DMK has already begun preparations for the elections, with the leadership instructing full-time in-charges in each Assembly constituency to promote the state government's welfare schemes. These schemes, introduced under Stalin's leadership, aim to create grassroots-level transformation. To ensure focused election efforts, the ruling DMK has appointed full-time representatives for every Assembly constituency. These representatives report to a dedicated election cell headquartered at the party's state office, Anna Arivalayam. The election cell is led by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who also serves as the DMK youth wing leader. Senior DMK leaders, including Organising Secretary R.S. Bharathi and Ministers Thangam Thenarasu, E.V. Velu, and K.N. Nehru, are members of this cell. According to party sources, the full-time representatives are tasked with directly engaging the public to emphasise the impact of the government's welfare initiatives. --IANS aal/khz Beijing, Dec 26 : A Chinese military spokesperson on Thursday condemned US arms sales to Taiwan and vowed to smash any "Taiwan independence" separatist plots and foreign interference. Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, made the remarks at a press conference when asked to comment on reports of the arrival of a new type of battle tanks purchased by Taiwan from the United States. "We urge the US side to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiquAs, earnestly honour its commitment not to support 'Taiwan independence,' immediately stop arming Taiwan, and cease its dangerous moves that undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," Zhang said. Seeking independence by soliciting US support is doomed to failure, and resorting to force to resist reunification leads nowhere, he added, Xinhua news agency reported. "Several pieces of US weaponry won't be the 'magic straw' that can save a drowning man; they are nothing but easy targets on the battlefield," Zhang said. "The People's Liberation Army will comprehensively improve its combat readiness, enhance its capability to fight and win, and firmly smash any 'Taiwan independence' separatist plots and foreign interference," he added. On Wednesday, China had denounced the "negative Taiwan-related content" included in the recent US National Defence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025. Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks at a press conference, adding that the inclusion of such content was an attempt by the United States to further arm Taiwan and stir up trouble in the Taiwan Strait. "The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair, which allows no foreign interference," the spokesperson said. The inclusion of the content sent seriously wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist elements and seriously jeopardized peace and stability in the Strait, which "we strongly deplore and firmly oppose," Chen said. He urged the United States to match its action with its commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence" and stop arming Taiwan while warning Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities that no matter how many US arms they buy, they cannot stop the historical trend toward the reunification of China. Bhopal, Dec 26 : The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal to build a 29-km-long pathway on the banks of river Shipra and 'ghats' in view of the Simhastha Kumbh-2028 in Ujjain. According to the state government, it has estimated that around two crore people will visit every day during the one-month-long Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Ujjain, therefore, several 'ghats' need to be developed accordingly. State Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya told the media that the pathway and 'ghats' will cost around Rs 771 crore. "A 29-km-long pathway will be constructed between Shani temple (on the right portion of the river) and Nagda bypass. A decision has been taken to provide an easy passage for the visitors," he added. As the state government has begun preparation for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, several projects have been approved in the past few months, including a metro line from Indore to Ujjain. Last month, CM Mohan Yadav-led MP cabinet approved a four-lane highway project worth Rs 2,312 crore between Ujjain and Indore. Two other roads are part of this proposed project -- Indore-Ujjain Greenfield Road worth Rs 1,370 crore, and Indore to Depalpur Road worth Rs 239 crore. A large number of people from different corners of the country and overseas nations will visit the holy city of Ujjain for a month-long Simhastha Mela, the largest congregation of Hindus every 12 years in Ujjain. All 13 Akharas of saints and seers will take a dip one after another for which elaborate arrangements were made along the banks of the Shipra river. The state government has decided to build separate 'ghats' for saints. The state government has also announced a plan to develop the facilities of ashrams and 'dharamshalas' for saints and seers in Ujjain on the lines of Haridwar. New Delhi, Dec 26 : BJP spokesperson Gourav Vallabh, on Thursday, welcomed the Delhi High Court's decision to lift the 36-year-old ban on the distribution and sale of author Salman Rushdie's controversial book 'The Satanic Verses'. Vallabh urged people to respect the court's verdict and refrain from commenting on it. He also recalled the original ban, calling it a result of the Congress government's appeasement politics. Salman Rushdie's 'The Satanic Verses' is now available in Indian bookstores after being banned in 1988 by the Congress government led by Rajiv Gandhi. The Delhi High Court, in November, gave the order on a petition challenging the ban, stating that the officials failed to produce the October 5, 1988 notification supporting the ban, leading to the assumption that such notification did not exist. In recent days, limited copies of the book, which sparked global protests for its allegedly blasphemous content, have been spotted at bookstores such as Bahrisons Booksellers in New Delhi. The availability of the book has triggered objections from certain Muslim organisations, which have appealed to the Central government to reinstate the ban. Reacting to the development, Vallabh told IANS, "The Delhi High Court has given its decision, which concluded that the notification under which the book was banned 36 years ago did not exist. The High Court has made its ruling, and I would not like to comment on that." He emphasised India's democratic values, stating, "India, being a democratic country, provides space and respect for all kinds of ideas. If the book is back in circulation today, it is because of the High Court's decision." "The book was banned 36 years ago under an appeasement policy. I do not know the exact reasoning behind the High Court's decision, but it has ruled on the non-existence of the notification. Therefore, the book is being sold today. Any political party or individual should refrain from commenting on the court's decision," Vallabh further told IANS. The High Court's ruling has reignited debates over freedom of expression and political decision-making related to controversial works. Bhopal, Dec 26 : At least three labourers were killed and six others severely injured after a 400 KV transmission line tower fell on them in Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi district on Thursday. The tragic incident occurred in Aamda village under Rampur Naikin police station, around 50 km from district headquarters Sidhi. A huge-sized tower collapsed on labourers working on the project. Local people rushed to the spot and took the injured labourers to hospital. Meanwhile, local area police were also alerted. Two persons died on the spot, while another succumbed to his injury during treatment at a government primary healthcare in Rampur Naikin. The injured have been admitted to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital (SGMH), Rewa. The fatalities in the incident are likely to increase as the condition of three injured labourers was said to be critical. The injured were on ventilator support. According to police, nine labourers were working when the tower collapsed on them. They were replacing the old transmission lines on the tower with a new one. "A tower collapsed on a group of labourers, killing two on the spot, while a third person succumbed to injuries en route to hospital. Six persons were injured and have been admitted in Rewa," Sidhi Superintendent of Police Ravindra Verma said. A 400 KV transmission line has been established between Satna district and JP Nagar power plant in Sidhi. According to Rampur Naikin Police Station in-charge Sudhanshu Tiwari, a West Bengal-based private company was carrying out transmission tower work. "Identification of the labourers, including deceased was being done. The contractor and other senior staff of the firm have been summoned for questioning. Whether the mandatory safety norms were complied with during the work will also be examined," Tiwari added. Jodhpur, Dec 26 : Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Thursday that this year's Kumbh will showcase India's strength and cultural power on a global scale. Speaking to the media about the upcoming Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, Union Minister Shekhawat highlighted the event's ancient legacy, mentioning its references in the Vedic civilisation, the Mahabharata, the Gupta period, the Chalukya dynasty, and throughout medieval history. Reflecting on past gatherings, he noted that 20 crore pilgrims attended the Kumbh Mela in 2013 and the 2019 Ardh Kumbh attracted 25 crore. The Union Minister estimated that 45 crore people will participate in the Mahakumbh this year. Union Minister Shekhawat emphasised that the district administration, the Uttar Pradesh government, and the Indian government are collaborating on an unprecedented scale to make the Kumbh even more divine and grand. He also mentioned that the number of Kalpavasis, who stay for the entire period of Kumbh and practise spiritual penance, will reach 20 lakh this time, which is double the usual number. The Minister added that around 20 lakh foreign tourists are expected to attend this year, with preparations made to ensure they experience the richness of Greater India in one place. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 13 inaugurated and launched multiple development projects worth around Rs 5,500 crore at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister bowed in devotion to Prayagraj, the auspicious land of Sangam, and paid his respects to the saints and sadhus attending the Mahakumbh. PM Modi expressed gratitude towards the employees, shramiks and Safai Karmacharis who have made the Mahakumbh a grand success with their hard work and dedication. Reflecting on the magnificent scale and size of the Mahakumbh, the Prime Minister said that it is one of the largest gatherings in the world where lakhs of devotees are welcomed daily for the Mahayajna lasting 45 days and a whole new city is set up for the occasion. "A new history is being written on the land of Prayagraj," the Prime Minister exclaimed while underlining that the organisation of Mahakumbh next year would take the spiritual and cultural identity of the nation to new peaks and said that such a 'MahaYagya' of unity would be discussed around the world. "India is a land of sacred sites and pilgrimages," said PM Modi. He added it was a land of rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Kaveri, Narmada and many other innumerable rivers. Describing Prayag as the confluence, collection, congregation, combination, influence and power of the sacred flow of these rivers, the importance of many pilgrimage sites and their greatness, the Prime Minister said that Prayag was not just a confluence of three rivers, but more than that. Explaining the importance, PM Modi remarked that it has been told about Prayag that it is a pious time when the sun enters the house of Makar, and then all the divine powers, nectar, sages and saints descend down to Prayag. He added that Prayag was one such place without which the Puranas would be left incomplete. He further noted that Prayag was one such place which was praised in the verses of the Vedas. "Prayag is a place where there are holy places and virtuous areas at every step," said PM Modi. Throwing light on the cultural and spiritual significance of Prayagraj, the Prime Minister recited a Sanskrit shloka and explained: "The effect of the Triveni, the glory of Venimadhav, the blessings of Someshwar, the land of penance of Rishi Bhardwaj, the special place of Lord Nagaraj Vasu ji, the immortality of Akshayvat and the grace of God - This is what makes our Teertharaj Prayag." He further explained that Prayagraj is a place where all four elements of 'Dharma', 'Arth', 'Kama' and 'Moksha' are available. Imphal, Dec 26 : Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Thursday said that given the current situation of law and order in the state, the newly recruited constables would undergo specialised training. After visiting the Manipur Police Training Centre at Pangei, Imphal, the Chief Minister, speaking on the sidelines of the inspection, said that the proposed specialised training is essential to enhance the strength and readiness of the police force to ensure safety and security across Manipur. "We are committed to equipping our police personnel with the best facilities and training to meet any challenges effectively," Singh said. Earlier this week 1,946 newly recruited Manipur police personnel successfully completed their year-long training at Lachit Borphukan Police Academy at Dergaon in Assam's Golaghat district. The Manipur Chief Minister thanked Assam Chief Minister Hianta Biswa Sarma, his colleagues in the government, as well as Assam's Director General of Police G. P. Singh and other senior officials of the state for providing training to his state's police personnel. According to officials, out of the 1,946 recruits, caste distribution is diverse with 62 per cent being non-tribal Meiteis, 12 per cent are tribal Kuki-Zo and the remaining 26 per cent belonging to Naga and other tribes. "Among the newly recruited police personnel there are people belonging to the Meitei, Kuki-Zo and Naga communities and the government would try to keep them as a united team without dividing them along ethnic lines," Singh said. The Chief Minister said that 1,946 new recruits for the 10th and 11th Indian Reserve Battalions of Manipur Armed Police were specially raised for highway protection. Considering the present situation in the state and the spirit of discipline shown by the new recruits, barracks were constructed at Pangei, he said. Around 800 to 1000 of the new recruits would be stationed at the temporary barracks where they would undergo further special commando training, he said, adding that they would form special teams to meet any eventuality concerning law and order situation in the state. Singh said that construction and maintenance work at the Battalion Headquarters of the 10th and 11th Manipur Armed Police (IRB) at Nungba and Saivom respectively are going on at present. The Chief Minister further highlighted the need to conduct refresher training for state Police personnel to check and maintain their fitness and health. Stressing on the importance of a strong police force, the Chief Minister said that the Police is considered as the backbone of the society and the government and that they should not be demoralised. "We need to boost the morale of the police," he said and stressed that the government is in the process of procuring full equipment including helmets required by police personnel in controlling incidents of mob violence. There are certain anti-social elements who threaten police personnel controlling crowds and mobs, he said, adding that such behaviour demoralises the personnel." The Chief Minister also appealed to parents and guardians of the new recruits against the practice of getting involved in the transfer and posting of the new recruits through political pressure. We should allow the young and fresh recruits to serve their state and nation according to the transfer posting policy of the government, he added. There are still some displaced families staying at relief camps opened at educational institutions, but they would soon be shifted to under-construction prefabricated houses at Phubala and in some other areas, he added. During the visit, the Chief Minister was accompanied by Ministers Govindas Konthoujam and Leishangthem Susindro Meitei, Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi, and Deputy Commissioner of Imphal East district Khumanthem Diana Devi. Mumbai, Dec 26 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that the path to a trillion-dollar economy will be strengthened through good governance while underlining 'Ease of Living' as a crucial factor for the progress of the state. Speaking after unveiling the Maharashtra District Good Governance Index, 2024 report, Fadnavis said: "The progress of a state depends on the 'Ease of Living' there. Therefore, the government is always working to improve the 'Ease of Living' in the state. Good governance in the state is reflected in whether the citizens of the state get government services without delay or not. The state's economy has to become $1 trillion. Good governance is very important. The path to making the state's $1 trillion economy will be strengthened through good governance." Fadnavis said that with the support of the Central government, the District Good Governance Index shows the scope of good governance according to the parameters of various sectors. "This is a very comprehensive index. In the past, the government emphasised people-centric administration and provided a platform called 'Aaple Sarkar' to the citizens to resolve their complaints. "The District Good Governance Index method is not just about showing rankings, but also provides scope for improvement. The difference in scores between the districts getting the maximum and the districts getting the minimum scores in the state is small. Therefore, all the districts are seen making progress," he said. Stating that the District Good Governance Index is based on 161 parameters in 10 development sectors, the Chief Minister congratulated the district administrations for performing well in the index. Meanwhile, Fadnavis reviewed the planning for the next 100 days and asked all departments to deliver concrete performance within the 100-day plan. "Departments are preparing a plan for the next 100 days for the all-round progress of the state. This plan should include people-centric schemes, schemes that benefit citizens easily through the use of technology, and achievements that will maintain the state's progress and take it to the pinnacle of progress," he said. Fadnavis reviewed the next 100-day plan of the Higher and Technical Education, Forest and Agriculture Departments. Suggesting that the Forest Department should take measures using artificial intelligence and information technology to reduce human-wildlife conflict, he said a rapid rescue team should be established to provide quick help in human-wildlife conflict. "The manpower in this team should be given high-quality training. The Forest Department should include such measures in the next 100-day plan. It should be implemented permanently to instill the culture of tree plantation. Work should be done through this plan," the Maharashtra Chief Minister said. Fadnavis said that considering the increasing number of leopards, arrangements should be made to provide them with sanctuaries in other states as per the requirement. The Chief Minister stressed that the capacity of leopard shelters should be increased. The department should come up with a policy to establish a carbon credit company. "The Miyawaki tree plantation method should be used in cities to increase afforestation in urban areas," Fadnavis said. He said that the Agriculture Department should implement schemes keeping farmers at the center of its plan. The Higher and Technical Education Department should attract foreign universities to the country and create educational complexes. The secretaries of the concerned departments presented the departmental plans. Officers of the concerned departments were present at the meeting. Ulan Bator, Dec 26 : Mongolia is seeking to strengthen its support for the wool, cashmere, and leather processing industries, according to a statement from the presidential press office on Thursday. As part of the national campaign "White Gold," initiated by President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry, in collaboration with 10 major commercial banks, signed a financing agreement on Thursday. Under the agreement, enterprises in these sectors are expected to receive 788.9 billion Mongolian tugriks (over 231 million US dollars) in circulating capital and concessional investment loans in the coming year alone, the press office announced. Within the framework of the national campaign, which will run until 2028, Mongolia aims to significantly enhance its cashmere processing capacity. The Asian country is expected to increase the level of full cashmere processing from the current 20 percent to 40 per cent, and expand exports from 398 million US dollars to 690 million US dollars under the framework of the campaign. Additionally, the campaign seeks to increase the level of wool processing from 25 per cent to 55 per cent, with exports projected to grow from 52 million US dollars to 119 million US dollars, Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, the level of deep processing of leather and hides is estimated to increase from 30 per cent to 50 per cent, and exports are expected to grow from 9.6 million US dollars to 22.4 million US dollars. Altogether, the campaign is expected to significantly boost Mongolia's economic growth, creating over 8,000 new jobs across the wool, cashmere, and leather sectors, while enhancing the country's industrial capacity and export potential. Mongolia has an average annual production capacity of 37,000 tonnes of sheep wool, 10,000 tonnes of goat cashmere, 2,000 tonnes of camel wool, 400 tonnes of yak fur, and 18 million pieces of hides and skins, according to the presidential press office. Promoting livestock husbandry is considered a key strategy for diversifying Mongolia's mining-dependent economy. As one of the world's last remaining nomadic nations, Mongolia had 64.7 million livestock at the end of 2023, according to the National Statistics Office. New Delhi, Dec 26 : The Vishva Hindu Parishad on Thursday announced a countrywide public awakening campaign from January 5, 2025, to free Hindu temples from government control. Addressing a press conference, VHP Organizing General Secretary Milind Parande said that all the state governments should detach themselves from the control, management and daily works of temples because such activities are discriminatory towards the Hindu society. "When no mosque or church is under government, then why this discrimination against Hindus?" asked Parande. "Under the leadership of the revered Sant Samaj and the leading figures of the Hindu society, we are going to start a countrywide public awareness campaign on January 5. The call for this all-Bharat campaign will be given at a special gathering of lakhs of people called 'Haindava Shankhaaraavam' to be organised in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh," he said. The VHP Organising General Secretary said that it is unfortunate that after Independence, many temples that should have been handed over to the Hindu society were kept under state governments. Parande said that the work of management and control of temples should now be handed over to the devoted and capable people of the Hindu society. "To address this, we have formed a Think Tank comprising of eminent lawyers of the Supreme Court, retired Chief Justices of HCs, leading figures of the Sant Samaj and Karyakartas of Vishva Hindu Parishad, which has prepared a draft after studying the protocols of management of temples and to resolve any kind of dispute related to it," he said. It has also been kept in mind as to when the governments return the temples to the society, what would be the protocols to accept it and under what provisions, he said. "That is why some persons holding constitutional posts will constitute a Dharmic Council at state levels comprising revered Dharmacharyas, retired judges and retired government officials and also other eminent people of the society who are experts in Hindu scriptures and Aagam Shaastras and rituals," he added. "These state-level councils would elect the district level councils which, in turn, will choose the trustees of the local temples in which various sections of the society along with scheduled castes and tribes would participate, he said, adding that a process will be decided for resolving disputes. "Last week, we met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and handed over a draft of such a proposed to him for his consideration. We are also holding similar discussions with other state governments and various political parties," he said. Earlier, on September 30, the VHP had submitted a memorandum to the Governors of all the states and requested their governments to withdraw from the management of temples. "This All Bharat Jagran Abhiyan for the liberation of temples, the awakening of Hindu society has begun to protect the movable and immovable properties of these temples and to make proper use of them for the service of the Hindu society and propagation of religion, he said. Before handing over the temples to the Hindu society, the VHP urged that all encroachments and constructions made by non-Hindus and all encroachments and illegal constructions whatsoever on temple lands should be removed. The income of temples should be spent only for the propagation of the Hindu religion, service to society and related issues, never on government works, the VHP said. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 26. Uzbekistan is preparing for the fourth session of the Joint Working Group, which will be held in March next year, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced, Trend reports. He made this statement during his speech at the latest meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in St. Petersburg. Mirziyoyev highlighted the priorities for mutually beneficial cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union, particularly calling for the gradual removal of trade barriers in bilateral trade. "In this regard, it was suggested to work at the expert level on the issue of eliminating tariff and non-tariff restrictions in trade between Uzbekistan and the EAEU member states," he said. The president also expressed readiness to hold consultations soon on aligning technical regulation systems and adopting a practical action plan. Jerusalem, Dec 26 : Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on Thursday that he visited East Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and "said a prayer," which appeared to have breached the long-standing status quo in the site. The Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam, is administered by the Jerusalem Awqaf Department, an Islamic religious trust affiliated to Jordan. Jews revere the site as the Temple Mount. Under the status quo, non-Muslims are permitted to visit the hilltop compound but not allowed to pray there. This sacred site has long been a flashpoint for deadly violence between Jews and Muslims. According to a statement from Ben-Gvir's office, the far-right minister "prayed for the well-being of our soldiers, for the return of the hostages, both living and deceased, and for Israel's total victory in the war." Ben-Gvir posted a photo of himself walking through the compound's plaza in the Old City of Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem via his account on social media platform X. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu distanced himself from the visit, with his office immediately releasing a statement saying, "The status quo on the Temple Mount has not changed," Xinhua news agency reported. The visit drew sharp criticism from Mansour Abbas, chairman of Israel's Arab Ra'am party, who accused Ben-Gvir of "desecrating the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque" and attempting to "drag Arab citizens of Israel into a confrontation with the state." In a statement, Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also denounced the visit as a violation of the historical and legal status quo and of "Israel's obligations as the occupying power in Jerusalem." In October, Jordan had condemned "the storming" of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by extremist settlers under the "protection" of Israeli forces. Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said on October 20 that the storming constitutes a blatant breach of international law, the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites, and Israel's obligations as "the occupying power," according to a statement by the ministry. Spokesperson of the ministry Sufian Qudah said that Israel must halt all ongoing violations and breaches of the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites, calling for an end to the imposition of new realities at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Xinhua news agency reported. He reiterated that the Al-Aqsa Mosque is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, through the Jerusalem Awqaf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, is the sole legal authority responsible for managing all affairs of the mosque and its yards. Mumbai, Dec 26 : The Tata Group plans to create 500,000 manufacturing jobs over the next half-decade in sectors like battery, semiconductors, electric vehicles and solar industries, Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran said on Thursday. In his annual letter to group employees, Chandrasekaran said these jobs will come in part from facilities across India - factories and projects that will produce batteries, semiconductors, electric vehicles, solar equipment and other critical hardware destined to play a central role in the economy of tomorrow. "This is in addition to the many services jobs we expect to introduce across retail, tech services, airlines, and hospitality, among other sectors," he wrote. In a recap of 2024 for the salt-to-software conglomerate, Chandrasekaran highlighted key milestones like groundbreaking ceremonies at over seven new manufacturing plants, including India's first semiconductor fab at Dholera in Gujarat and an outsourced semiconductor assembly and test facility in Assam. Ground-breaking ceremonies and construction began at over seven new manufacturing plants in 2024, including India's first semiconductor fab in Dholera, Gujarat and a brand new semiconductor OSAT plant in Assam. "There is the electronics assembly plant in Narasapura, Karnataka, an automotive plant in Panapakkam, Tamil Nadu and new MRO facilities in Bengaluru, Karnataka. We also have new battery cell manufacturing factories in Sanand, Gujarat, and in Somerset, UK. We inaugurated the C295 final assembly line (FAL) in Vadodara, Gujarat, and began solar module production in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu," he said. This year, TCS and Tejas Networks delivered the first indigenous 4G mobile telecom stack for BSNL, and stand poised for 5G. "Our retail companies continue to scale up. Air India has brought together four airlines to create one integrated airline group to serve India and the world. And Indian Hotels' Taj brand continues to be the world's strongest hotel brand," Chandrasekaran told the employees. Stressing that sustainability remains a focus of growth plans, he mentioned that in Bhutan, "we began our hydroelectric power initiative, with a commitment to developing five GW renewable capacity". "With the UK government, we announced 1.25 billion pounds of investment in the transition to high-quality, low-CO2 steel production in South Wales," the Tata Sons Chairman noted. While AI-led breakthroughs in healthcare and mobility can help the whole of humanity, manufacturing has the potential to transform our economy in India. "Global supply chains continue to shift in India's favour as the world's largest businesses strike a new balance between resilience and efficiency," he said. Suva, Dec 26 : Fiji has been experiencing relentless rainfall with heavy downpours and flash flooding, with weather systems moving from the Western Division to the Central, Eastern and Northern Divisions in the next few days. People in flood-prone areas are urged to prepare for possible evacuation, keep essential items in elevated locations and secure food, water and gas supplies, reported Fiji Broadcasting Corporation on Thursday. According to the Fiji Meteorological Service, the West of the country had a brief break from torrential rainfall and Christmas Day floods, but the weather situation remains critical as a new weather system is expected to bring in even more rain and flooding. The meteorological service has warned of a second slow-moving trough which is expected to bring heavier rain than Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported. Although the rain is expected to ease by late Friday, the effects of flooding could last for weeks. Weather conditions should improve over the weekend, with clearer skies and a shift in winds. There are currently no signs of tropical cyclone activity but long-range forecasts suggest possible weather developments near northern Vanuatu around New Year's Eve, the Fiji Meteorological Service said. Fijians are reminded to remain vigilant, stay updated on warnings and to prioritize safety. The country is currently helping neighbouring Vanuatu recover from last week's devastating 7.3-magnitude earthquake which has till Thursday claimed 14 lives and injured over 200 people besides causing widespread damage, with homes flattened and vehicles destroyed. UNICEF has said that an estimated 40,000 children are in need of humanitarian assistance in the South Pacific Ocean nation. A local surgeon, Basil Leodoro, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the recovery efforts in Vanuatu would likely take years. Fiji Airways had on Monday restarted commercial passenger operations to Port Vila, capital of Vanuatu after days of suspension following the 7.3 magnitude earthquake that hit Vanuatu on December 17. Kolkata Dec 26 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday informed a special Kolkata court that the huge cash and gold recovered from the twin residences of Arpita Mukherjee in July 2022 in connection with the multi-crore cash-for-school job case in West Bengal, actually belonged to her mentor and former West Bengal Education Minister and Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee. The ED counsel informed the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court that Mukherjee, who is currently out on conditional bail now, had confessed during her interrogation by the central agency that the twin residences registered in her name were used by Chatterjee to stock that cash and gold. The process of framing of charges about all named as accused - some individuals and some corporate entities and trusts - started at the special PMLA court on Thursday. On Thursday, Chatterjee's counsel also filed a petition seeking relief from the ED-registered case in the matter. Chatterjee is the 10th accused in the case to file a relief petition in the matter and earlier this week, nine other accused individuals have filed relief petitions. The special court has observed that as per rules, the process of charge framing will start with those who have filed relief petitions in the case. So, accordingly, on Thursday, the process of charge framing started with those 10 accused individuals who have filed relief petitions so far. After the process of framing of charges is over, the trial process will begin. Chatterjee and Mukherjee have already been shown as the highest beneficiaries in the total scam amount of Rs 151.26 crore in the cash-for-school job case in the records of the ED as elaborated in its fifth and last supplementary charge sheet. As per the supplementary charge sheet filed at the special court, of the total amount of Rs 151.26 crore confiscated by the ED so far, the combined share of proceeds of Chatterjee and Mukherjee in the entire amount is Rs 103.78 crore. The confiscation is in terms of cash and gold seized and immovable property attached. Bengaluru, Dec 26 : The Karnataka BJP unit on Thursday challenged Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge asking whether he is in a position to ask forgiveness for the injustices done to Ambedkar by the grand old party. Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru at the party headquarters, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, asked, "Mallikarjun Kharge, being the Congress President, will you be able to ask forgiveness for injustice done to Ambedkar by the Congress?" "You (Kharge) are the Congress President now. You are so helpless. You said on the floor of the House that it is only Sonia Gandhi who can do anything to you, no one else. Why have you become the Congress President? Do Dalits need such slavery? This is my question. Can you ask once now why B.R. Ambedkar was not given Bharat Ratna by the Congress party? You don't dare to question. You are happy with the power that you wanted and got in the party," Narayanaswamy said. "Union Home Minister Amit Shah has insulted the Congress and not Ambedkar. I want to question Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. I have respect for him, he was all right when he was in Karnataka. Now he has become a puppet. Are you strong enough to ask forgiveness as a Congress President for injustice done to Ambedkar by the Congress party?" he reiterated. Narayanaswamy also said, "Ambedkar was not a member of the Congress. The party had opposed his ideals from the days of the roundtable conference till his death. During the formation of the interim government, it was not a single-party government. Ambedkar, Syama Prasad Mukherjee were included," he said. "Ambedkar contributed immensely and why did he have to resign? Then PM late Jawahar Lal Nehru could not tolerate him. After the Constitution was formulated, his workload became lesser. Ambedkar had a vision of the economy and expressed his wish to handle the Finance portfolio and also the Planning department. Nehru did not agree and refused," the BJP leader added. "Ambedkar fought for the voting rights of women. Ambedkar tried to introduce the Hindu Code Bill and the Congress opposed it. Against this backdrop, Ambedkar quit the Congress. Ambedkar was behind the establishment of the Reserve Bank of India and not Jawahar Lal Nehru," Narayanaswamy underlined. "I want to ask the Congress leaders where is the resignation letter of Ambedkar. It should be preserved in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Is it there? It is not available. Because Ambedkar has exposed the Congress and that's why it was destroyed. Ambedkar in his 40-minute speech in the Parliament has exposed the Congress and it is available," he said. "Union Minister Amit Shah has only said that the Congress party which insulted Ambedkar all through now made it a fashion to take Ambedkar's name for electoral gains," he said while targeting the Congress-led state government. "The Congress is arranging sponsored protests across the state and country. When Ambedkar came out with the Constitution the BJP was not established. The BJP took birth to support the ideology of Ambedkar," Narayanaswamy added. "What happened to Jagjivan Ram, a senior Congress leader? He quit Congress and established his party. What happened to Sardar Patel? It is the BJP which gave him the respect, not the Congress. V.P. Singh had to quit the Congress to become the PM. What happened to former PM late Lal Bahadur Shastri?... Sitaram Kesari, Pranab Mukherjee? None barring the Gandhi family in the Congress are tolerated," he said. State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra said: "The Congress never wasted any opportunity to insult Ambedkar. From the time of Jawahar Lal Nehru to the present day, the Congress never showed respect to Ambedkar. Narayan Sadoba Kajrolkar, the personal assistant of Ambedkar, was made to contest elections against him. The Congress defeated Ambedkar in the Lok Sabha election and even awarded Padma Bhushan to Kajrolkar." "Jogendra Nath Mandal, a close aide of Ambedkar, vacated his seat in West Bengal for him. But the evil Congress conspired and the region where the seat represented by Ambedkar was located was given away to the then East Pakistan. Ambedkar has clearly stated that the Congress is a burning house and there is no future for Scheduled Castes in the party," Vijayendra underlined. "Union Minister Amit Shah has exposed the Congress. The Congress is trying to misguide the people of the country and they can't succeed," he added. Chandigarh, Dec 26 : Protesting farm unions on Thursday announced that they have received assurance from a wide spectrum of employee unions, traders, and transporters for joining their Punjab shutdown on December 30 in support of their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Slamming the Centre for not accepting the demands of protesting farmers, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher clarified that emergency services, passengers bound for airports, and students going for exams would be exempted from the shutdown. "Emergency services like medical services will continue, airport passengers will not be stopped, vehicles of marriage parties also will not be stopped. Besides, students will also be allowed to go for their exams. We urge the entire Punjab, especially the youth, to follow what the forum decides," he told the media. The farmers have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri borders between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 in support of their long-pending demands. Besides the legal MSP for crops, they have been demanding loan waivers and reforms to improve conditions in the agricultural sector. Another farm union, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has written to President Droupadi Murmu, seeking an appointment with her to discuss their issues. The SKM said they wanted to address the situation surrounding farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal's hunger strike and other "pressing issues", including the introduction of a National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing. Meanwhile, Dallewal's fast-unto-death entered the 31st day on Thursday. Earlier, railway commuters faced inconvenience in Punjab with a three-hour "rail roko" protest on December 18 by farmers who squatted on rail tracks. The protest was carried out at over 100 locations in the state, badly impacting the railway services, at the call of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. A group of 101 farmers attempted to march to Delhi on foot thrice between December 6 and 14 but were stopped by security personnel of Haryana. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on December 24 slammed the BJP-led Union government for "stepmotherly treatment" of farmers by not even giving them an opportunity to air their genuine demands. In a statement, the Chief Minister has said global leader Narendra Modi "is more worried about intervening in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine but the Prime Minister is apathetic towards the food growers of the country". He has said the Union government has been blatantly ignoring the genuine demands of the farmers of the country, which is highly deplorable. The Chief Minister reminded PM Modi that when the country was facing a serious crisis in food production, the hard-working and resilient farmers of the state had made the country self-reliant in grains. He has said the farmers of the state had even over-exploited the only available natural resources in terms of fertile soil and water, just to fill the national food pool. Bengaluru, Dec 26 : Karnataka BJP has announced that it would stage a protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue here, condemning the centenary celebration by the Congress party in Belagavi. BJP has called Congress a "fake" party, just like the fake celebration in the name of Gandhi ji. Speaking at a press conference held at the BJP State Office Jagannath Bhavan on Friday, BJP chief and MLA B. Y. Vijayendra criticised that the Congress party in the country and the state is not the original Congress but a fake one. "A protest will be held on Friday (Dec 27) at 10.30 a.m. in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Bengaluru against the fake policies of Congress during its session in Belagavi," Vijayendra announced. He stated that it is not right for the Congress party to use crores of taxpayers' money from the people of the state to organise a grand session in Belagavi. Members of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council will participate in this protest, he added. "The Congress party has thrown aside the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Ambedkar. Congress lacks the moral standing and qualification to invoke the names of Gandhi and Ambedkar," the state BJP head asserted. He accused the Congress of having no commitment to the country's unity and integrity, alleging that it is Congress that is responsible for dividing the nation. Vijayendra highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has developed five key locations associated with Babasaheb Ambedkar into sacred pilgrimage sites (Panchtirth). He also criticised the Congress for using crores of rupees from taxpayers' money to organise a grand session in Belagavi, calling it "inappropriate." Mahatma Gandhi clearly stated to dissolve the Congress party after achieving Independence for the country. Former PM Jawahar Lal Nehru and others retained the party and pursued the policy of divide and rule of the British. The current Congress party is also continuing the same policy, charged Vijayendra. "The Congress party was a movement that came to existence to achieve Independence. The present Congress party is a fake Congress party. The present Congress leaders don't deserve to take the name of Mahatma Gandhi. They can't even take his name of Mahatma," he slammed. In Belagavi, the hoardings for centenary celebrations of the 1924 Indian National Congress session presided over by Mahatma Gandhi (the only Congress session presided over by Mahatma Gandhi) "are made out of systematic conspiracy by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and CM Siddaramaiah. The Indian map is distorted in the hoardings and posters. The Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) region and Siachen region is given away to Pakistan and China," he pointed out. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear that not an inch of our country will be given to Pakistan or China. But the Congress party has changed the map of India. There is no commitment by the Congress party towards the country. It also shows their stand on the sovereignty of the country. Their stand has come out again during the time of the centenary session in Belagavi," he stated. Kolkata, Dec 26 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday that she will visit Sandeshkhali on December 30 in North 24 Parganas district, which came on the national radar before the general elections earlier this year, following allegations of sexual harassment of local woman and land grabbing of people by local Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan. Speaking to the media persons at the end of the last meeting of the Cabinet for the current calendar year at the State Secretariat Nabanna on Thursday noon, the Chief Minister told about her scheduled trip to Sandeshkhali. "I will be going there to attend an official programme on December 30. I will hand over documents of public services to 100 beneficiaries there. A total of 20,000 individuals will be handed over such papers from different camps established there on that day," Banerjee said. Doubts were raised from different quarters, including the opposition parties in the state as to why the Chief Minister was avoiding a visit to Sandeshkhali while it witnessed violence earlier this year, following a protest by local women there against sexual harassment and land grabbing. However, political observers feel that the Chief Minister's visit to Sandeshkhali on December 30 is significant as she is expected to make any important announcements from there on that day. Speaking at the end of the Cabinet meeting, Banerjee also said that on January 1, Trinamool Congress will be organising blood-donation camps throughout the state on the occasion of the party's Foundation Day. "On January 2, there will be an overall administrative review meeting at Nabanna. On January 6, I will be going to Sagar Islands in South 24 Parganas district on the occasion of Gangasagar Mela," the Chief Minister added. CM Banerjee said: "An administrative meeting has been called on January 2 in Nabanna hall. All departmental work will be reviewed. I will go to Gangesagar on January 6. I will go to the Bharat Seva Ashram Sangh first. The Maharaj of Kapilmuni Ashram is quite old. I don't want to disturb him. He has opened a fourth temple. I will visit the Bharat Seva Ashram first followed by Kapilmuni Ashram." Amaravati, Dec 26 : Andhra Pradesh's opposition YSR Congress Party has called for protests across the state on Friday over the hike in the power tariff. During the protests, the YSRCP will submit memorandums to divisional engineers and other designated officials at Electricity Department offices, demanding urgent relief for the public. The opposition party has strongly condemned the TDP-led government for imposing an exorbitant electricity tariff. It said within six months, Rs 15,485 crore in power charges were levied, including Rs 6,000 crore in November bills and Rs 9,412 crore projected for December. Speaking to media persons at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli, former minister Dr Merugu Nagarjuna underscored the escalating financial strain on citizens. He highlighted that power tariffs have surged by 25-55 per cent even during the winter season, sparking fears of unaffordable rates in the upcoming summer months. Despite a 1.17 per cent reduction in power demand compared to the previous year, unofficial load shedding persists, exposing the operational inefficiencies of the TDP government, he said. Nagarjuna also decried the revocation of 200 free units of electricity for SC/ST families. He claimed that the YSRCP government extended Rs 47,800 crore in subsidies to DISCOMs between 2019 and 2024. In contrast, the subsidies of only Rs 13,255.76 crore were provided during the TDP's earlier tenure (20142019). He accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of betraying public trust with unfulfilled promises, including the much-hyped "Super 6" manifesto. Nagarjuna also reminded citizens of past injustices, such as the 2000 Bashir Bagh police firing on farmers protesting against a power tariff hike. The YSRCP has called for an immediate rollback of Rs 15,485 crore in increased tariffs and the reinstatement of the 200-unit free power benefit for SC/ST families. The party reaffirmed its commitment to be the voice of the people through peaceful and democratic means. Mumbai, Dec 26 : Over 150 families applied for medical insurance benefits worth approximately Rs 7 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) at a two-day camp for senior citizens organised in Dharavi, said Dharavi Social Mission (DSM) on Thursday. Lok Vikas Camp, organised at Prajapati Sahakari Utpadak Mandal in Kumbharwada on December 20 and 21, focused on offering access to government healthcare schemes and enrol eligible beneficiaries under the PM-JAY, said a statement. A dedicated desk was set up to cater to the super senior citizens, aged 70 years and above, to facilitate ease of registration. The initiative addressed a pressing need for awareness and accessibility of government schemes in Dharavi whose residents, despite being in the heart of Mumbai, were unaware of such benefits. The beneficiaries expressed their gratitude for this initiative. Chitroda Manibai Hamir, a beneficiary at the camp, shared, "This scheme is very helpful. I am very happy to get this card." Laxmi Chitroda, who came to register her father-in-law, appreciated the awareness created by DSM, stating, "I was not aware of this scheme earlier. DSM has been very helpful in creating awareness and assisting us in the process." One of the Ayushman Bharat applicants was 96-year-old Sonabai Kamalia, who was personally assisted in enrolling for the scheme. The event showed a ray of hope to all senior citizens, empowering the elderly and their families with vital healthcare benefits. The event evoked a positive response from the community, with residents expressing the need for more such camps in Dharavi. DSM has announced plans to organise similar initiatives in other sectors of Dharavi, aiming to take these government welfare schemes to a larger population. Dharavi Social Mission (DSM) is an initiative of Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Limited (DRPPL), dedicated to fostering wholesome development of Dharavi residents encompassing social, economic and infrastructure dimensions. The Mission has a special emphasis on youth, women, industries and underprivileged groups within Dharavi. The focus of the Missionas efforts is to enhance skill-based employment, education, healthcare & hygiene, social engagement and community welfare. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 26. Uzbekistan plans to join the Eurasian Development Bank in 2025, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced, Trend reports. The president made the statement during his speech at the latest meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in St. Petersburg. "To establish reliable financial sources for advancing joint projects, we plan to complete the necessary procedures and join the Eurasian Development Bank early next year," he said. Additionally, to encourage more active business involvement and create favorable conditions for strengthening business ties, Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed holding a meeting of the EAEU Business Council in Tashkent in April 2025. New Delhi, Dec 26 : As the AAP warned the Congress of expulsion from the INDIA bloc unless it takes action against senior leader Ajay Maken for his remarks against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, BJP leader Rohan Gupta on Thursday slammed Congress for its repeated blaming EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) for its electoral defeats, urging the party to introspect instead. Speaking with IANS, Gupta slammed Congress for its failure to understand the pulse of the nation. "The whole country knows the reason behind the defeat of Congress, except them. Now, leaders of the INDIA bloc have said such things against their member. I want to say this is the truth," Gupta said, adding that Congressas habitual blaming of EVMs for its losses was a sign of its detachment from the reality of public sentiment. "The Congress has completely lost the trust of the people. Instead of accepting responsibility, they blame EVMs," he continued. He further pointed out that Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had also advised against blaming EVMs, urging the Congress to acknowledge why the public had lost faith in them. "It would be better if they accept their defeat. And work on their shortcomings if they really want to win in the polls. Abdullah also urged Congress to stop making remarks on the functionality of EVMs," he stated. Gupta further accused both AAP and Congress of misleading voters in the Lok Sabha elections in the name of the INDIA bloc. "The people of Delhi have been cheated in the name of the INDIA bloc. They fought together in the Lok Sabha elections, yet now they are exposing each other as corrupt. I want to ask about their ideology," he said. The BJP leader further claimed that the people of Delhi will make them both lose in the forthcoming Assembly polls. "Delhi is the heart of the country, and its people will give both parties a fitting response by making us win in the Assembly polls," he declared. Meanwhile, the AAPas frustration with the Congress stems from several recent developments. A complaint filed by the Youth Congress accused Kejriwal of misleading the public with false welfare promises like the Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana, which government departments confirmed as non-existent. Adding fuel to the fire, Congress leader Ajay Makenas remarks on the partyas decline in Delhi - blaming it on the 2013 decision to support AAP - did not sit well with AAP leaders. Maken also reportedly labelled Kejriwal as "anti-national." In a heated press conference, AAP MP Sanjay Singh demanded swift action from Congress, warning that if no action was taken against Maken within 24 hours, the AAP would consult the INDIA bloc to consider removing Congress. "Ajay Maken is reading from the BJPas script," Singh declared, flanked by Delhi Chief Minister Atishi. Gupta also reacted on the return of Salman Rushdieas banned book The Satanic Verses, asserting that there should be no restrictions on truth. "The truth should come to light without any appeasement. The public should decide what is right and wrong," Gupta said. Ahmedabad, Dec 26 : Gildar Singh Dawar, a native of Madhya Pradesh, faced a life-threatening situation when he was detected with blood cancer (leukemia) in 2017 and has been undergoing expensive treatment since then, only to find big relief in 2022 when he enrolled himself as one of the beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). Under the flagship scheme of Prime Minister Modi-led government, Dawar is not only recuperating from failing health but also saving incurred expenses since 2017, to the tune of about Rs 25,000 every month. Speaking to IANS, he shared his plight and informed: "I was detected with blood cancer i.e. leukemia in 2017. I have been getting treatment for the same, since then, in an Indore hospital. It used to cost me Rs 25,000 a" Rs 30,000 per month. "But, after I got to know about Ayushman Bharat and started availing the benefits of this scheme, I am getting the same treatment, free of cost. I have been getting treatment in Ahmedabad only since December 2022," he added. He further stated: "My hospitalisation and medical expenses are being borne by the Ayushman Bharat scheme. I have seen significant improvement in my health. Also, I donat have to shell out a single rupee for the treatment." He said that he is also getting the medicines from the hospital free of cost. "This scheme is very beneficial for those families who canat afford their medical expenses. We are very thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His governance should continue for more years as he has done a lot for the poor and marginalised," he remarked. Notably, PM-JAY is the largest health assurance scheme in the world, offering secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation benefits of up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually. The focus of AB PM-JAY scheme is to attain universal health coverage for all citizens. In September this year, the Union Cabinet approved expansion of the scheme, offering health insurance to senior citizens aged 70 and above. This move will provide free health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family, regardless of income, benefiting around 6 crore senior citizens across 4.5 crore families. New Delhi, Dec 26 : The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) in its meeting on Thursday unanimously passed a condemnation resolution against former Delhi Chief Minister and NDMC member Arvind Kejriwal regarding the fraudulent "Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana" and "Sanjeevani Yojana" launched by the Delhi government. Kejriwal was absent for the fourth straight meeting of the newly-constituted council, the council members took on record. While addressing the media at the NDMC headquarters, Palika Centre, Vice-Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal said the council had on May 25, 2022, given in-principle approval for the implementation of the Central government's flagship "Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana" (AB-PMJY) for the residents of the New Delhi area. In that meeting, the then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal himself was present but now he has been blocking the implementation of this scheme for political gains. "Additionally, he is misleading the citizens of Delhi with fraudulent schemes like the "Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana" and the "Sanjeevani Yojana". These schemes falsely promise Rs 2,100 per month for women and other benefits for citizens aged 60 years and above," said Chahal. While the Delhi government's Women and Child Development Department and the Health and Family Welfare Department clarified through media and social media that no such official schemes exist, they emphasised that no registrations or applications will be accepted for these schemes, he added. On this occasion, Delhi BJP Mahila Morcha General Secretary Sarita Tomar said, "The 'Chief Minister Women's Honour Scheme' is a complete fraud by Arvind Kejriwal. This scheme is just a way to mislead the women of Delhi." BJP leader Anil Valmiki said, "I am a resident of New Delhi myself, but to date, I have never seen Arvind Kejriwal stand for the people of New Delhi, nor does he have any office in New Delhi, which clearly indicates that he does not care about the people of this area. He is only focused on fulfilling his political ambitions." Chahal, a senior BJP leader, also appealed to all the citizens of New Delhi to be cautious and avoid schemes like "Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana " and "Sanjeevani Yojana" and not to share any personal information such as bank account details, voter ID, phone numbers, or other sensitive information. "Such information may leak into the public domain and could lead to cybercrimes or bank frauds. In such cases, citizens will be fully responsible for any consequences and the risks involved," he warned. --IANS rch/khz New Delhi, Dec 26 : Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay have developed a shockwave-based needle-free syringe that ensures painless and safe drug delivery with lesser damage to the skin and lower risk of infection. The novel needle-free shock syringes may help people with needle phobia, many of whom miss out on vaccinations and other medical treatments. It can also be beneficial for patients who have diabetes and require frequent insulin injections. The team, from the Department of Aerospace Engineering at IIT Bombay, explained that, unlike syringes with needles, the shock syringe doesn't rely on piercing the skin with a sharp tip. Instead, it uses high-energy pressure waves (shock waves) that can travel faster than the speed of sound to pierce the skin. These waves, when generated, compress the surrounding medium (such as air or liquid) through which they travel, the team said in their study published in the Journal of Biomedical Materials & Devices. "The shock syringe is designed to deliver the medication rapidly. However, if a regular syringe is inserted too quickly or with excessive force, it can cause unnecessary trauma to the skin or underlying tissues," said lead author Priyanka Hankare, a research scholar at the varsity. To minimise tissue damage and ensure consistent and precise drug delivery, the pressure in the shock syringe is continuously monitored and "rigorous testing on tissue simulants (such as synthetic skin) helps to calibrate the force and speed of jet insertion, ensuring safety and comfort", Hankare said. In addition, the researchers optimised the nozzle design to have an opening of just 125 m (roughly the width of a human hair). "This ensures it is fine enough to reduce pain during insertion but strong enough to handle the mechanical forces needed for quick deployment of microjet," Hankare said. To test how efficiently the shock syringe delivers the medication, the researchers conducted three different tests in which they injected three different types of drugs into the rats. They measured the drug levels in the blood and tissues to monitor drug distribution and absorption in the body using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. When an anaesthetic (Ketamine-Xylazine) was injected through the skin of the rats for the tests, the shock syringe achieved the same effect as needles. In both cases, the anaesthetic effect started three to five minutes after injection and lasted up to 20-30 minutes. This proves the suitability of the shock syringe for drugs that require slow and sustained release. For viscous drug formulations, such as an antifungal (Terbinafine), the shock syringe outperformed regular needles. The rat skin samples showed that the shock syringe deposited more terbinafine deeper into the skin layers than needle delivery. When insulin was administered to diabetic rats, the researchers observed that the blood sugar levels were lowered effectively and maintained at the lower level for a longer time when using a shock syringe compared to needles. Further, tissue analysis revealed that the shock syringe caused less damage to the rat's skin than syringes. As shock syringes cause less inflammation, they allow the wound at the injection spot to heal much faster. The development of a shock syringe promises more than pain-free injections. "Shock syringes are designed to perform multiple drug delivery shots (e.g., over 1,000 shots tested), offering reliability and cost-effectiveness over time at the expense of nozzle replacement," Hankare added. New Delhi, Dec 26 : India has strengthened its leadership role in digital payments, with the DIGIDHAN Mission driving the consistent growth in transactions that have surged to an unprecedented 223 lakh crore from January to November 2024, according to the Finance Ministry's year-end review. BHIM-UPI has recorded over 15,547 crore transactions during the January-November phase this year, underscoring its role as a key enabler of Indiaas digital economy, the statement said. The important developments during the year include Google Pay India signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) International for Global Expansion of Unified Payments Interface (UPI). This has led to UPI now being accepted in France after already being in use for cross-border transactions with Sri Lanka and Nepal, where UPI merchant transactions have surpassed the 100,000 mark. RuPay Credit & Debit Cardholders can now avail 25 per cent cashback on in-store purchases in Canada, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, the UK and the US. The review highlights that NPCI International is spreading its footprint globally through various partnerships with banks in other countries. These include a tie-up with Bank of Namibia for deploying Indiaas UPI Stack in Namibia. Besides, NPCI International and the Central Reserve Bank of Peru partner to develop UPI-like real-time payments system in Peru. NPCI International has partnered with Network International to enable UPI QR (Quick Response) payment acceptance across its merchants in the UAE. It has also tied up with Qatar National Bank (QNB) to launch UPI Payments in Qatar. NPCI International and Eurobank have also signed an MoU in view of forming a strategic alliance on Foreign Inward Remittances (FIR). "UPI One World" wallet service extends to all inbound international travellers, which is helping to spread its outreach. On the domestic front, BOBCARD Limited has also launched a Corporate Credit Card on RuPay Network. NPCI Bharat BillPay has partnered with State Bank of India (SBI) to introduce National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) recharge as a new biller category. The review also lists key digital payment initiatives at Global Fintech Festival 2024, which include: Seoul, Dec 26 : A probe into the top South Korean military intelligence commander's alleged involvement in martial law operations has been transferred to the military prosecution, the state anti-corruption investigation office said on Thursday. Defence Intelligence Commander Major General Moon Sang-ho has been under a probe by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) for allegedly sending troops to the National Election Commission's office on the night of President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law imposition on December 3. He is also suspected of discussing martial law operations with Noh Sang-won, a former defence intelligence commander, alongside two other subordinates, at a burger franchise in Gyeonggi Province two days ahead of the martial law imposition. Moon was released from emergency arrest earlier this month after prosecutors rejected the police's detainment of him, claiming the military court has jurisdiction over the case, Yonhap news agency reported. He was formally detained last Friday on charges of participation in critical duties related to the insurrection, as well as abuse of authority, after the case was transferred to the CIO. The CIO recently extended Moon's detention, initially set to end Friday, to January 6. The military prosecution is expected to indict Moon after reviewing documents transferred from the CIO. Earlier in the day, South Korea's anti-corruption investigation body summoned President Yoon Suk Yeol to appear for questioning that weekend over his brief imposition of martial law. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) issued the summons, ordering Yoon to appear at its office in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, at 10 a.m. on Sunday. This marked the CIO's third summons after Yoon ignored two previous ones, including one for questioning on Christmas Day. The CIO had teamed up with the police and the Defence Ministry's investigation unit to look into allegations that Yoon had incited an insurrection and abused his power when he declared martial law on December 3, Yonhap news agency reported. Meanwhile, South Korean President Yoon's political future hangs in the balance as the Constitutional Court deliberates on his impeachment trial over his short-lived martial law declaration, raising concerns over a leadership vacuum amid economic and security challenges. Yoon faces an uphill legal battle next year after being impeached and subjected to widening probes into his failed attempt to impose military rule on the nation's democracy on December 3. The impeached president has defended his imposition of martial law as an act of governance and denied insurrection charges. Damascus/Baghdad, Dec 26 : Syria's interim authorities met here with visiting Iraqi intelligence chief Hamid al-Shatri on Thursday, according to an official statement carried by Syrian state media outlets. Ahmed al-Sharaa, head of Syria's de facto governing group and commander of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, alongside Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and newly-appointed intelligence chief Anas Khattab attended the meeting with an Iraqi delegation headed by al-Shatri. Syria's media outlets offered no further details on the agenda or outcomes of the meeting, Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, the official Iraqi News Agency, citing Iraqi government spokesman Basim al-Awadi, reported that al-Shatri engaged in discussions with the new Syrian leadership on the situation in Syria and the necessary measures for ensuring security and stability along their shared borders. Last week, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani stressed the importance of concerted efforts to assist Syria in managing its affairs without interference that compromises its sovereignty and territorial integrity. On December 18, Syria's interim authorities said that the previous government's soldiers and officers fleeing to Iraq are now welcome to return home without fear of reprisal. In a statement, the interim authorities had pledged that military personnel who fled to neighbouring Iraq during the final stages of the previous government's downfall would not face harassment or punishment upon their return. A day later, the Iraqi authorities stated that they have started to return Syrian soldiers who entered Iraq earlier this month before the overthrow of the former Syrian government. Iraqi Interior Ministry Spokesman Muqdad Miri said in a brief statement that the Syrian soldiers had been sent back to their home country through the Qaim border crossing in the western Iraqi province of Anbar, after coordination with Syria's interim authorities. On December 7, more than 1,000 Syrian army personnel entered Iraq through the Qaim border crossing, according to the Iraqi News Agency. The Iraqi side had stressed that their presence was temporary until arrangements were made for their return to their country. Fatehgarh Sahib, Dec 26 : Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Thursday paid obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib here to commemorate the martyrdom of the two youngest sons of Guru Gobind Singh, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh, and his mother Mata Gujri. The Governor said that the valour with which Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh, at the tender ages of 9 and 7, respectively, confronted the tyrannical Mughal regime, stood firm in their faith with unwavering courage and determination and ultimately laid down their lives, sets a unique example. He said that the great sacrifice of the younger Sahibzadas would always be remembered. He emphasised that the government of India also honours the martyrdom of the younger Sahibzadas and Mata Gujri across the country. The annual three-day congregation, officially named 'Shaheedi Sabha', began on Wednesday. The three were kidnapped when the Sikhs were attacked by Mughal forces in a surprise attack in 1704. On December 26, 1704, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh were bricked alive on the orders of Wazir Khan, the Mughal faujdar of Sirhind, for refusing to renounce their faith. Soon after they were walled up alive, their grandmother Mata Gujri (Guru Gobind Singh's mother) died of shock. Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib stands today at the same place where the two Chote Sahibzade were martyred. The sons are fondly called Sahibzade. Since then, the sacred land of Fatehgarh Sahib "is a source of inspiration for not only Sikhs but the entire humanity as tens of thousands converge there every year to pay respect to Chotta Sahibzadas and Mata Gujri on their martyrdom day." The supreme sacrifice made by the Sahibzadas at a tender age hardly finds any parallel in world history. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has described the unprecedented and supreme sacrifice by Chotta Sahibzadas along with Mata Gujri as inspiration for the coming generations to fight against tyranny, oppression and injustice. The Chief Minister, who paid obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib on Monday, eulogised the supreme sacrifice of Chotta Sahibzadas and Mata Gujri and said that these sacrifices were unprecedented in the annals of the history of mankind across the globe. Mumbai, Dec 26 : The Maharashtra Congress on Thursday alleged that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led government is attempting to 'suppress' the recent Parbhani judicial custody death of a Dalit man and the Beed Sarpanch murder case. "With demands from various quarters for proper action in these cases, the BJP is not serious and unwilling to accept the truth, making it evident what the probe would reveal, so the outcome of the investigations is predictable," said state Congress President Nana F. Patole. Patole's remarks came to mediapersons when he reached Belagavi (Karnataka) to take part in the two-day 'Nav Satyagraha' program as part of the AICC Special Session being held there. He was referring to the death in judicial custody of a law student, Somnath Vyankat Suryawanshi, 35, on December 15, three days after he was arrested in the violent flare-ups following the desecration of a statue of B.R. Ambedkar in Parbhani, besides the kidnap, brutal torture and killing of Massajog village headman Santosh Pandit Deshmukh, 45, on December 9, when he attempted to foil an extortion racket. Congress Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had called on the Suryawanshi family on December 23 and directly alleged that Fadnavis had lied in the Assembly and the Dalit man was 'murdered' by the police, sending ripples in political circles. Earlier, on December 21, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar had also visited both the Deshmukh and Suryawanshi families and demanded a thorough investigation in their cases, besides similar sentiments of other Maha Vikas Aghadi party leaders plus the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi led by Prakash Ambedkar. Patole pointed out that Suryawanshi's death due to police assault was nothing less than a 'murder', while Deshmukh's killing exposes the lawlessness in Beed which has acquired political overtones. "Despite citizens and even ruling party members highlighting the facts in these cases, the MahaYuti coalition government is not ready to acknowledge them. Sadly, since the government is complicit, even a CID investigation will not yield any results," contended Patole. He expressed concerns over what he termed as an 'authoritarian regime' prevailing in the country that is raising eyebrows in all quarters, and against this backdrop, the AICC Special Session is critical for the Congress party and the people of the country. Mandya : , Dec 26 (IANS) Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, alleging that "fake Gandhis are flaunting themselves in Belagavi at the expense of taxpayers' money". Speaking to the media during a DISHA meeting in Karnataka's Mandya, the Union Minister criticised the Congress for the Mahatma Gandhi centenary celebrations in Belagavi. "The Congress government is planning programmes under Mahatma Gandhi's name and is spending crores on his centenary events. However, I did not see Mahatma Gandhi's photo anywhere in the posters at the event. Instead, massive cutouts of fake Gandhis have been put up," he remarked. "What we see today is not the original Congress, but a fake Congress. The Congress conducting these programmes in Belagavi is that very fake Congress. After Independence, Mahatma Gandhi himself suggested dissolving the Congress party. That Congress no longer exists. What we have now is 'Alibaba and 40 thieves' Congress," Union Minister Kumaraswamy said. He clarified that he had no objection to programmes convened under Mahatma Gandhi's name. "He (Mahatma Gandhi) fought a united struggle to achieve Independence. But has Gandhi's vision of Ram Rajya been realised in today's governance? Has his dream of Gram Swaraj been fulfilled?" he added. "The Central government has released Rs 448.29 crore from the 15th Finance Commission's grants to develop villages through panchayats. However, despite months passing since the funds were released, they have still not reached the panchayats," he lamented. He also expressed concern about the poor state of government hospitals in the state. "The condition of government hospitals is pathetic. Due to the lack of quality treatment, there have been repeated deaths of mothers and infants. There are no doctors or nurses in these hospitals. Over two lakh government posts are lying vacant. How can governance be effective in such a situation?" Union Minister Kumaraswamy asked. He criticised the state government's guarantees, saying, "The government keeps harping about guarantees every day. Let them give people another Rs 2,000, I have no objection. But they are imposing exorbitant taxes. They've taken loans of Rs 2 lakh crore to provide these Rs 2,000 payments. Who is going to repay this debt? Isn't it the common people who will ultimately bear this burden?" Union Minister Kumaraswamy expressed grief over the death of three soldiers from Karnataka in an accident in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district where an Army vehicle plunged into a gorge. "I am deeply saddened to learn about the death of soldiers in this accident. Among the deceased, three soldiers were from Karnataka. May God give strength to their families to bear this loss. It was a heart-wrenching incident. The Central government will extend all necessary support to these families," he said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. The bodies of seven victims of the crash of a passenger plane of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) near Aktau have been identified, Trend reports via the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan. As previously indicated, the bodies of 38 individuals were recovered and subsequently transported to the forensic medical examination facility for further analysis. Included in this cohort are six nationals from Kazakhstan, alongside three personnel from the operational crew. Experts continue to work with the black box found at the scene of the tragedy. To ensure the investigation and liquidation of the consequences, a round-the-clock duty has been organized. The operation involves 306 people, 101 units of equipment, two aircraft, and six canine units, the information says. Psychologists of the Center for Disaster Medicine continue to assist relatives of the victims arriving in Aktau. The hotline and emergency psychological assistance have already received 1,032 calls. To note, on December 25, an "Embraer 190" aircraft operated by "Azerbaijan Airlines," on flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny, was diverted to Aktau for an emergency landing and subsequently crashed near Aktau. The report indicated a total of 67 individuals present, comprising 62 passengers and a contingent of 5 crew personnel. Preliminary assessments suggest that a cohort of 32 individuals has emerged unscathed, albeit with several presenting in a state of critical distress. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Mumbai, Dec 26 : Amid demands for his exclusion from the Maharashtra Cabinet in connection with the murder of Beed Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, newly appointed Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dhananjay Munde on Thursday broke silence, saying that the killers of the sarpanch should be hanged. After meeting Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Munde, who took the charge his department, told reporters: "It has been my demand since day one that the killers of the young Sarpanch of Massajog Santosh Deshmukh and whoever was behind them should be hanged. It has also been my demand since day one that the investigation in this case should be completed, the charge sheet should be filed immediately, the case should be tried in a fast-track court and justice should be given to Deshmukh's family as soon as possible." "The murder of a young sarpanch in Beed district is extremely unfortunate and equally horrific. Therefore, no one can be supported in this case, even if he is close to anyone. Therefore, the government will not support anyone in this case. The police investigation is underway at full speed to find out the root cause of this case," said Munde, who is under fire from various sections. Anti-corruption crusader Anjali Damania has targeted Dhananjay Munde over the brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh. She claimed that there is "solid evidence" of the financial relationship between Munde and Walmik Karad, who she alleged runs a mafia empire in the district. Munde, who is a close confidant of NCP president and Deputy Maharashtra Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, claimed that politics is being done by many about the killing of Santosh Deshmukh. "Unfortunately, politics is done to prevent me from getting the post of minister and the post of guardian minister, and this is continuously tarnishing my image. Some people are spending their days criticising me and trying to link me to this incident when I have no connection with it," he said. "Some people are trying to remove me from social and political life under the cover of this incident, but this incident is unfortunate and my stance is that the accused should be hanged and the real mastermind should be brought to light, and that has been clear from day one. Therefore, let those who want to make allegations do so, eventually the truth and the mastermind of the incident will come to light," said Munde. He reiterated that the investigation in this case should be transparent and the charge sheet should be filed at the earliest. Meanwhile, Munde held a meeting with the officials of the Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection, and directed them to adopt the three principles of honesty, transparency and accountability in its functioning as the department has a very important job to provide services. "The department should do well by adopting the three principles of honesty, transparency and accountability. This department is related to the daily life of all common citizens, so it should work more transparently and with more responsibility. The smart ration cards and modern warehouse systems will be given priority," he said. While preparing the 100-day programme, Munde gave instructions to include digitisation of the department and modern warehousing system saying that the functioning of the department should be further improved, a system should be created to get updated information at every stage from grain procurement to grain distribution. "To speed up the distribution of food grain, the One Village One Warehouse scheme should be implemented immediately, smart warehouses should be set up, the losses due to improving the distribution system will be reduced and the consumers and beneficiaries will benefit, the process of distributing smart ration cards to the beneficiaries should be started, a proposal should be prepared to decentralise foodgrain procurement and maximum warehouses should be set up," he said. Munde further said that a digital dashboard should be developed for consumer protection and food distribution, awareness should be created on a large scale for consumer protection, schools and colleges should be involved in it, and a mechanism should be created that would provide easy and quick grievance redressal to the beneficiaries. Imphal, Dec 26 : Two days after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) introduced a border pass system for Indian and Myanmar nationals residing within 10 km along the international borders, allowing limited entry into either territory for specific purposes, apex body of majority Meitei community in Manipur on Thursday strongly opposed the notification. The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an umbrella body of the majority Meitei community in Manipur termed the MHA notification of December 24, unfortunate and said that it would harm the interest of the state and its people. Describing MHA notification as a threat to Manipur's security and communal harmony, COCOMI Media Coordinator Yumkhaibam Surjit Kumar Khuman on Wednesday accused the Assam Rifles of "bias and of facilitating illegal activities." He urged the withdrawal of the notification, saying that such measures would compromise the state's integrity. "Already Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists and infiltrators from Myanmar damaged a lot of Manipur and harmed the interest of the people, such an order would further spoil the security, integrity and social harmony of the state," the COCOMI leader said. The MHA in a letter to the state Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi on December 24 said that it has introduced a border pass system for Myanmar nationals residing within 10 km of the India-Myanmar border, allowing limited entry into Manipur for specific purposes. The scheme, communicated to the Manipur government, replaces the previously suspended Free Movement Regime (FMR) and also applies to Manipur residents residing within 10 km of the border visiting Myanmar. Under the scheme, the Assam Rifles would issue border passes valid for one week for specific purposes such as visiting relatives, tourism, business, medical needs, sports, official duty, border trade affairs, attendance in seminars or conferences and cultural exchange programmes. Travellers would be required to provide proof of identity and residence, and movement would be strictly regulated within 10 km of the border, the MHA notification said adding that "movement of people from 43 designated crossing points would be granted to holders of 'Border Pass' issued by authorised representatives of Assam Rifles." According to the MHA notification, the Border Pass would be issued only to one adult person aged 18 years or above and persons below the age of 18 years are to be accompanied by their parents. "The entry/exit points would be made functional by the deployment of at least two state police representatives and at least two state health representatives at each entry/exit point for smooth implementation of the system," the MHA notification said. Manipur has around 400 km of unfenced international border with Myanmar and the Assam Rifles have been guarding the mountainous and difficult border. New Delhi, Dec 26 : Amid the raining poll promises of 'free revadis' and financial assistance under the proposed Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevni Yojana, a section of people in New Delhi constituency continue to face problems of water scarcity, accumulating filth and poor drainage facility. New Delhi, Dec 26 (IANS) Amid the raining poll promises of afree revadisa and financial assistance under the proposed Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevni Yojana, a section of people in New Delhi constituency continue to face problems of water scarcity, accumulating filth and poor drainage facility. A couple of inhabitants from the Princess Park, situated near India Gate spoke to IANS, sharing their woes and also speaking about the city governmentas acallous and indifferenta attitude towards their plight. They claimed that political parties and leaders knock on their doors during election time but after they get elected, they leave them to their fate. New Delhi is the Assembly constituency of former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, from where he is seeking re-election. The Assembly turned into a battleground as Congress fielded ex-Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit's son Sandeep Dikshit to challenge him in the ensuing polls. BJP is also contemplating to field a abig facea from the constituency. An elderly woman from the constituency, slamming the city government said that the residents are perturbed and peeved over the state of affairs. She also mocked the Mahila Samman Yojana, a poll promise by AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and termed it nothing more than hollow promises. "We face water crisis on a daily basis. We have to scramble for arranging drinking water everyday. Nobody is bothered. Leaders only take votes and then vanish," she said. When questioned on Rs 2,100 assistance as promised by AAP, if voted to power, she taunted, "just forget it, you will get 2,100 slippers and not Rs 2,100 cash". Another woman said that some people came to the locality for registration yesterday but she and many like her are acluelessa about whether and when they will get this allowance. Many other residents of the locality complained about dirt and filth in the area while others asked the ruling AAP as to when it will fulfill its promises of cleaning river Yamuna. "We live in a miserable situation here. There is too much filth. There is no one to look after our plight," said another resident. A couple of inhabitants admitted that a water pipeline has reached the locality but they have not got a connection yet. Bhopal, Dec 26 : Chief Minister Mohan Yadav-led Madhya Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday discussed the state government's performance of the current year, 2024, and also set new goals for the upcoming year - 2025. The hours-long cabinet meeting, named 'Manthan', was attended by all council of ministers and the senior officials from different departments. Discussions during the meeting focussed on economic and industrial growth and providing employment opportunities for people. The Cabinet also held a detailed discussion on the Ken-Betwa river interlinking project initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Besides, deliberations were also held on steps taken on Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal river linking project between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Briefing the press, Chief Minister Yadav said it was the first 'manthan' meeting of this year, during which the council of ministers held a healthy discussion on each and every step taken in the past one year. "Upon the formation of the government, we decided to double the budget size of the state in the next five years. We have taken several steps on this direction, and regional industrial meeting is one part of it," Yadav said. The Chief Minister said he has asked all his Cabinet ministers to review the performance of their departments and prepare a roadmap for the upcoming year. "The ministers have been asked to prepare a detailed plan on how we can use our maximum available resources for the growth of the state," he added. During the meeting, the council of ministers also held a discussion on agricultural growth of the state and providing all possible help to farmers, including adequate electricity and financial assistance on production. "We have planned to connect all 11 KV power transmitting lines with a solar system. The step will help to make farmers self-reliant on power," the Chief Minister said. Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his guidance and support by the Centre to bring several key projects on ground in the past one year in Madhya Pradesh. "In the last few days, PM Modi has given a big gift Ken-Betwa and Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal river linking project, which will change the agricultural growth of the state. The Cabinet today expressed its gratitude to PM Modi," CM Mohan Yadav said. Chandigarh, Dec 27 : Noting the draft policy of the National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing is silent on the minimum support price (MSP), the most crucial for the state farmers, Punjab on Thursday said it "is minutely studying it and is in no mood to leave any of its clauses unconsidered". A team of officers and agriculture experts "is even decoding the message in between the lines", a state government statement said. Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, along with Punjab Mandi Board Chairman Harchand Singh Barsat and officers, conducted a brainstorming session with aarthiyasa (commission agents) and rice millers of the state seeking their inputs and suggestions on the draft of the policy. During the discussions, it came to the fore that the draft policy "is totally silent on the MSP, which is the most crucial for the farmers and the clause regarding promoting the private markets will lead to overshadowing the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) markets", the statement said. The meeting apprehended that once the APMC markets fall into disarray, it would lead to exploitation of the farmers and traditional traders. The minister said the rural development fund (RDF) and market development fund (MDF) "are crucial for maintaining stateas extensive agricultural infrastructure, especially market infrastructure and maintaining roads connecting these marketing yards to villages". He appealed to the aarthiyasa led by Vijay Kalra and Ravinder Singh Cheema and millers led by Tarsem Saini to send their inputs and concerns to the Punjab Mandi Board so that it could be incorporated in the reply to be sent to the Union government. Minister Khudian reiterated the state government is committed to protecting the interests of the farmers of the state and will do everything possible to safeguard the farmersa rights. Thane : , Dec 26 (IANS) A Special POCSO Court in Kalyan town granted Vishal Gawli and his wife Sakshi Gawli to police custody for a week till January 2 in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl who was reported missing since Monday, officials said here on Thursday. Thane district was rocked by a sensational sex crime perpetrated on the girl, who had stepped out of her home to buy some provisions but then went 'missing' till her body was found on December 25 (Wednesday). Coming nearly five months after the Badlapur sexual assault on two nursery class girls in August, this is the second case that has sparked outrage with people demanding the death penalty for the alleged perpetrators -- Vishal Gawli, 35, and his wife Sakshi Gawli, 25. Vishal Gawli is accused of kidnapping the girl from near her home, forcibly taking her in an autorickshaw to his house, assaulting, raping, killing and then dumping her body near a cemetery in the neighbouring Bhiwandi town, nearly 8 km away. As the girl failed to return home for several hours, the family had lodged a missing complaint and a probe had started on Monday night, with the needle of suspicion pointing at the Gawli couple after the girl's body was found. The Thane Police formed six teams to hunt him down, but Vishal Gawli had already fled to Shegaon in Buldhana district, where his in-laws reside. There, he was spotted in a crowded restaurant through CCTV footage buying liquor, and the Shegaon police caught up with him in a local hair-cutting salon where he had gone for a clean shave, ostensibly to conceal his identity. This morning (December 26), the Kalyan Police which registered the case, took custody of Vishal Gawli from Shegaon police while his wife Sakshi, who is said to be a party to the heinous crime, was nabbed from outside her house in Kalyan, late on Tuesday. During police questioning, Sakshi revealed that her husband Vishal had committed the crime and kept the girl's body at their home till she returned around 7 p.m. on Monday. Later, Vishal asked a friend to lend him his autorickshaw and along with Sakshi went to the Bapgaon area in Bhiwandi where they dumped the girl's body in a desolate area near a cemetery before decamping from there. After taking in custody by Buldhana Police, Vishal Gawli was handed over to the Kolsewadi police station in Kalyan town (Thane) on Thursday and he was produced before a Kalyan Magistrate Court which remanded the couple to police custody till January 2. The police prosecutor said that they wanted to probe the circumstances leading to the crime, how he kidnapped the victim, took her in the autorickshaw, the killing, his escape and involvement of any others besides his wife, and other angles in the case. Initial probe revealed that Vishal Gawli was a history-sheeter in sex crimes, facing three molestation cases involving two women and a minor girl, plus two assault cases. Arrested in a POCSO case lodged in August 2023, he was released on bail and had been married thrice, with Sakshi being his third wife. As the matter assumed political colours, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke to the Thane Superintendent of Police and directed that no efforts should be spared to ensure the death penalty for the accused, and the case should be transferred to a fast-track court. Ruling ally Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde -- in whose Lok Sabha constituency the tragedy occurred -- met the victim's family and assured that the government would ensure that the accused is tried and hanged. The incident attracted huge flak from the opposition parties, including Shiv Sena -UBT's Sanjay Raut, who said that Thane -- the native district of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde -- has become a hotbed of gruesome crimes against women and young girls. Earlier on Thursday, several relatives of the victim and other women carried out a silent protest outside the police station, seeking the death penalty and refusing to take the girl's body till the accused was hanged. Bettiah : , Dec 26 (IANS) Archana Kushwaha is now running her own factory in Bihar's Bettiah with the help of the state government. The factory provides employment to at least 25 people. The company is manufacturing sarees, lehengas, and suits. Bettiah (Bihar), Dec 26 (IANS) Archana Kushwaha is now running her own factory in Biharas Bettiah with the help of the state government. The factory provides employment to at least 25 people. The company is manufacturing sarees, lehengas, and suits. The products are sent to various places, including Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, Siwan, Patna, and West Champaran. Archana, who once worked in a factory in Surat, is now the owner of a factory with an annual turnover of several crores. Talking about how her fortunes changed, Archana shared her story with IANS. She said: "When the pandemic hit, work in Surat came to a halt, and we decided to return to Bihar. During our journey back, I had many thoughts about what we would do to make a living. With the support of the local DM and the state government, we received a loan of Rs 25 lakh, which enabled us to start our own business. Today, we run a factory that employs 25 people, and we manufacture lehengas, sarees, and suits here." "Our products are distributed across various parts of Bihar. Returning to Bihar has been a great experience, and this year our factory achieved a turnover of Rs 3 crore. I used to work in another factory in a different state, but today I am the owner of my own factory. I want to thank the state and Central government for helping me reach this position." It is worth mentioning that Archana Kushwaha received a loan of Rs 25 lakh through the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) in 2020, facilitated by the district administration. With this loan, she set up a factory in Chanpatia for making sarees and lehengas. She gradually started the operations, brought in machines from outside, and has now reached this milestone. This is how her earlier struggles came to an end with her own factory. New Delhi, Dec 26 : An attempt to use forged electricity bills and forged Aadhaar cards by four residents of Okhla Assembly constituency for new voter registration and change in address was detected by election department officials who later got an FIR registered, an official said on Thursday. A case has been registered at Police Station Shaheen Bagh following a complaint by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of Assembly Constituency-52 (Okhla), the official said. The forgery came to light during routine verification of applications by the ERO. Three applications were supported with forged BSES electricity bills while another carried a copy of a forged Aadhaar card, he said. "Based on the evidence provided and a preliminary investigation, a case has been registered under the penal provisions related to forgery for the purpose of cheating under section 336 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and using forged documents as genuine under section 340 BNS," said a police official. The police said they are still investigating to identify the accused individuals and any possible accomplices or networks involved in these fraudulent activities. A Delhi Police official said that they take the sanctity of the electoral process very seriously. "Any attempts to manipulate or subvert the system through illegal means will be dealt with strictly. This case serves as a reminder of the vigilance required to maintain the integrity of voter registrations and ensure free and fair elections," he said. The police will continue working in coordination with the Election Commission and relevant authorities to identify and prevent any such cases in the future and to ensure free and fair elections, he said. The incident comes at a time when the BJP has been alleging that the ruling AAP has got election cards issued to illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators settled in the city to increase its support base. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva has claimed that his party has launched a campaign to disenfranchise illegally residing Rohingyas and Bangladeshis and expel them from India. The ruling AAP and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have denied the presence of any illegal voters' names in the electoral rolls and slammed the BJP for its attempts to get the ruling party's votes cut through deletion of names from the list. Bhubaneswar, Dec 26 : Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday said that if election is held through ballot paper again, his party Biju Janata Dal (BJD), will support it. The BJD supremo made the statement while interacting with mediapersons after taking part in the state level 28th BJD foundation Day ceremony held at the party headquarters here on Thursday. Answering a query on the role of alleged EVM irregularities in the defeat of BJD in 2024 elections, Patnaik said that these allegations need to be examined carefully. The BJD supremo also targeted the ruling BJP over the EVM discrepancies saying that why the ruling party is disturbed over the memorandum presented to Election Commission of India by the BJD seeking investigation into alleged irregularities in the EVM machine. It is pertinent here to mention that a BJD delegation on Monday presented a formal complaint to the Election Commission of India (ECI) alleging a difference in the total votes polled in a booth and the total number of votes counted from the EVM of the booth. The BJD had also drawn the attention of the ECI towards a difference in the votes cast for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections despite the polls being held simultaneously. Countering the allegations made by BJD supremo, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said: "The EVM is good when you are winning but the same is flawed when you face defeat. This is pointing towards a feeling of desperation." Pradhan said the BJD is in a shock following the defeat in the elections hence it is bringing such allegations. Meanwhile, BJP state unit president Manmohan Samal stated that they should approach the ECI if they came to know about some discrepancies in polling after six months to the elections. He noted that a political party can present its views on EVM before the election commission which will take the appropriate decision on the issue. On the other hand, the former CM Patnaik on Thursday also stated that the BJD is still examining the issue of One Nation One Voting. Patnaik during the interaction with the mediapersons said that he has no idea why his name was proposed for Bharat Ratna. Notably, Union Minister and senior BJP leader Giriraj Singh on Wednesday proposed Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, for both Naveen Patnaik and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. New Delhi, Dec 26 : Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday was admitted to Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after his health deteriorated, sources said. It is being said that his condition is critical. The 92-year-old former Prime Minister was brought to the emergency department of the hospital, around 8 p.m., sources said. The reason for his hospitalisation was not immediately known. According to his office, the former Prime Minister is facing "extreme breathlessness" and has been shifted to the ICU. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived at the premier institute to take stock of Singh's health condition. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot posted on X, "Deeply concerned about the health of Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ji. Wishing him a speedy recovery and good health." In April this year, Manmohan Singh retired from Rajya Sabha, with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge praising his long parliamentary career. Manmohan Singh shot to prominence as the country's Finance Minister in the government headed by PV Narasimha Rao during 1991-96, having brought in sweeping reforms that transformed the economy. As the two-term Prime Minister of the UPA, he stayed at the top post from 2004 and 2014, and served as a member of the Rajya Sabha till early this year. In his political career, Singh has been a member of the Rajya Sabha since 1991, where he was Leader of the Opposition between 1998 and 2004. Manmohan Singh was sworn in as Prime Minister on May 22 after the 2004 general elections and took the oath of office for a second term on May 22, 2009. He represented Assam for five terms in the Upper House and shifted to Rajasthan in 2019. His last intervention in Parliament was against demonetisation, describing it as an "organised loot and legalised plunder". Born on September 26, 1932, in Punjab, Singh received his Bachelor's and Master's in Economics from Panjab University in 1952 and 1954 respectively. Manmohan Singh completed his Economic Tripos from Cambridge University in 1957. He followed this with a D.Phil in Economics from Oxford University in 1962. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. A second black box has been found at the crash site of the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plane in Aktau, said Kazakhstans Transport Prosecutor Abilaybek Ordabaev, Trend reports. "Two cockpit voice recorders have been discovered and will be handed over to the accident investigation team for further analysis," Ordabaev said. He also mentioned that the investigation of the crash site, covering more than 4,000 square meters, is nearing completion. On December 25, an Embraer 190 passenger plane belonging to AZAL, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed about 3 kilometers from Aktau airport. The plane had 67 people on board, including 62 passengers and 5 crew members. Following the crash, 27 individuals were hospitalized. Of them, 15 are citizens of Azerbaijan, 8 from Russia, and 3 from Kyrgyzstan. The identity of one person remains unknown. Among the hospitalized, 11 are being treated in the intensive care unit, 13 in the trauma ward, 2 in the neurosurgery department, and 1 in the surgery unit. They are under the care of professional doctors from Kazakhstan, as well as medical teams sent from Azerbaijan and Russia. The injured have received emergency, specialized medical, and psychological assistance. Both pilots and a flight attendant lost their lives in the crash, while two crew members survived. Azerbaijan declared December 26 a day of mourning. New Delhi, Dec 26 : Defender Alberto Rodiguez struck a brace of goals as holders Mohun Bagan Super Giant returned to winning ways with a 3-1 come-from-behind triumph over Punjab FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Thursday. Punjab FC struck first, courtesy of a great strike by Ricky Shabong whereas the Mariners retaliated with a strong second-half performance which saw Rodriguez score in the 48th and 69th minutes while Jamie Maclaren converted from the spot in the 64th minute to seal victory. It was a swift start for the hosts as Nikhil Prabhu tried his luck from long range and struck the crossbar, handing the Mohun Bagan Super Giant defenders and Vishal Kaith a wake-up call early on. In the 12th minute of the match, the visitors were again caught ball-watching, and this time Punjab FC made them pay, courtesy of a brilliant solo effort from Ricky Shabong. The young midfielder found a pocket of space on the left flank and drove forward. He eventually nestled the ball into the net past Kaith as the defenders failed to close down the space in the penalty area. Mohun Bagan Super Giant almost came up with the equaliser when Asish Rai found himself in space and made a great volley on target. But Punjab FC custodian Ravi Kumar was alert to the danger as he parried it away. While the Mariners were clearly lacking a creative outlet on the field, Punjab FCas all-Indian backline also made life difficult for Jason Cummings and Maclaren upfront. The most impressive of the lot was Pramveer Singh, who became the youngest player to start an ISL match at the age of 17 years and 189 days. The second half started strongly for the visitors as Rodriguez rose highest from a corner delivered by Cummings to turn in the equaliser in the 48th minute. It was an excellent delivery as the Spaniard reacted before Ravi Kumar headed it home. This was Mohun Bagan Super Giantas seventh goal from a corner this season, the highest in the competition. Three minutes later, things turned from bad to worse for Punjab FC as Ezequiel Vidal was penalised for a challenge on Liston Colaco. He was initially booked for the foul and was later sent off for dissent, reducing the hosts to 10 men. Jose Molinaas men were rewarded for their persistent pressure as the referee pointed to the spot after Anirudh Thapa was brought down in the penalty area. Maclaren stood up to the spot and hammered it home, handing Mohun Bagan Super Giant the lead in the 63rd minute. Eventually, they scored the third goal in the 69th minute when Thapa turned creator following a corner and found Rodriguez in space in the penalty area. The Spaniard made no mistake in completing his brace. Molina turned to Sahal Abdul Samad in the 78th minute replacing Maclaren and he almost increased the lead but his effort was parried away by Ravi Kumar. Eventually, the visitors did enough to secure all three points as they ended their year five points clear atop, with 29 points as compared to the second-placed Bengaluru FCas 24. Both teams will now play in the new year, with Mohun Bagan Super Giant returning home to host Hyderabad FC next on January 2 whereas Punjab FC will lock horns against Kerala Blasters FC on January 5. Hyderabad, Dec 26 : A city court on Thursday granted bail to BRS leader and former chairman of Telangana SC/ST Commission Errolla Srinivas, hours after he was arrested for obstructing policemen from performing their duties. Srinivas was arrested from his residence in the morning and was later taken to Masab Tank Police Station. The police later took Srinivas to Osmania Hospital for medical tests before presenting him in Nampally Court. After hearing the arguments, the court granted conditional bail to Srinivas. He was directed to arrange Rs 5,000 personal bond, submit two sureties and cooperate with the police in the investigation. BRS leaders Harish Rao, Vivek and E. Dayakar Rao met Srinivas at Masab Tank Police Station. BRS student leaders tried to stop police vehicle when he was being taken to court. Police dispersed the protestors. Srinivas and others booked along with BRS MLA P. Kaushik Reddy early this month for obstructing policemen from performing their duties. The former chairman of SC/ST Commission was called thrice by police for questioning. Kaushik Reddy, the BRS MLA from Huzurabad, along with others had gone to Banjara Hills Police Station on December 4 to lodge a complaint that his phone was being tapped. When the MLA was coming to the station, the Circle Inspector or the Station House Officer Raghavendra was going out. Kaushik Reddy insisted that the SHO should leave only after taking his complaint. When the police officer told him that he was going for some urgent work and would take the complaint on his return, the MLA vented his ire. Kaushik Reddy had a heated argument with the SHO and told him that when a MLA comes to the police station it is the duty of the SHO to receive him properly. He was heard threatening the police officer. The MLA's supporters stopped the SHO's vehicle and raised slogans. The SHO came back and took the complaint from the MLA. Later, on the complaint of the SHO, the police booked Kaushik Reddy and others for unlawful assembly; using force to obstruct the duties of a public servant; criminal intimidation; wrongful restraint, public nuisance, and rioting against Kaushik Reddy and others. Kaushik Reddy was arrested the next day but was granted bail by a court the same day. BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao condemned the arrest of Srinivas. He alleged that the Congress government is targeting BRS leaders for questioning the ruling party for not fulfilling the promises made to Dalits and Bahujan sections. New Delhi, Dec 26 : Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, renowned economist and architect of India's economic reforms, passed away on Thursday at the age of 92. He was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here following a deterioration in his health. The news of Dr. Singh's death has been confirmed by the AIIMS in a statement that read: "With profound grief, we inform the demise of former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh aged 92. He was being treated for age related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home on December 26. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the medical emergency at AIIMS. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9.51 p.m." Dr. Singh had been admitted for treatment in the hospital on Thursday night after being critically ill. Dr. Singh, who served as country's Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, was known for his transformative role in steering India's economy through a period of significant liberalisation. His tenure is often credited for initiating major economic reforms in 1991 when he was the finance minister, which helped modernise India's economy and integrate it into the global market. A man of humility and intellect, Dr. Singh was a respected figure both in India and globally. Under his leadership, India saw consistent economic growth, reducing poverty and strengthening the country's position on the world stage. His government was also known for implementing crucial legislations in areas such as education, food security, and information. Dr. Singh's death has left the nation in mourning, with leaders from all political parties and across the world paying tribute to his legacy. His contributions to the field of economics and public service will be remembered for generations. He is survived by his wife, Gursharan Kaur, and their three daughters. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced soon, with the nation's leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expected to participate in honouring his memory. Dr. Singh's death marks the end of an era in Indian politics. His leadership and legacy will continue to inspire future generations. In April this year, Manmohan Singh retired from Rajya Sabha, with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge praising his long parliamentary career. Manmohan Singh shot to prominence as the country's Finance Minister in the government headed by PV Narasimha Rao during 1991-96, having brought in sweeping reforms that transformed the economy. As the two-term Prime Minister of the UPA, he stayed at the top post from 2004 and 2014, and served as a member of the Rajya Sabha till early this year. In his political career, Singh has been a member of the Rajya Sabha since 1991, where he was Leader of the Opposition between 1998 and 2004. Manmohan Singh was sworn in as Prime Minister on May 22 after the 2004 general elections and took the oath of office for a second term on May 22, 2009. He represented Assam for five terms in the Upper House and shifted to Rajasthan in 2019. His last intervention in Parliament was against demonetisation, describing it as an "organised loot and legalised plunder". Born on September 26, 1932, in Punjab, Singh received his Bachelor's and Master's in Economics from Panjab University in 1952 and 1954 respectively. Manmohan Singh completed his Economic Tripos from Cambridge University in 1957. He followed this with a D.Phil in Economics from Oxford University in 1962. New Delhi, Dec 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed grief over the death of former PM Manmohan Singh, who passed away here in the AIIMS at the age of 92. Taking to X, PM Modi wrote: "India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve peopleas lives." Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, renowned economist and architect of Indiaas economic reforms, passed away on Thursday at the age of 92. He was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here following a deterioration in his health. The news of Dr. Singh's death has been confirmed by the AIIMS in a statement that read: "With profound grief, we inform the demise of former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh aged 92. He was being treated for age related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home on December 26. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the medical emergency at AIIMS. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9.51 p.m." Dr. Singh had been admitted for treatment in the hospital on Thursday night after being critically ill. Dr. Singh, who served as the countryas Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, was known for his transformative role in steering Indiaas economy through a period of significant liberalisation. His tenure is often credited for initiating major economic reforms in 1991 when he was the finance minister, which helped modernise India's economy and integrate it into the global market. A man of humility and intellect, Dr. Singh was a respected figure both in India and globally. Under his leadership, India saw consistent economic growth, reducing poverty and strengthening the countryas position on the world stage. His government was also known for implementing crucial legislation in areas such as education, food security, and information. Dr. Singhas death has left the nation in mourning, with leaders from all political parties and across the world paying tribute to his legacy. His contributions to the field of economics and public service will be remembered for generations. He is survived by his wife, Gursharan Kaur, and their three daughters. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced soon, with the nationas leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expected to participate in honouring his memory. Dr. Singh's death marks the end of an era in Indian politics. His leadership and legacy will continue to inspire future generations. In April this year, Manmohan Singh retired from Rajya Sabha, with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge praising his long parliamentary career. New Delhi, Dec 26 : Adani Group Chairman, Gautam Adani, on Thursday expressed his deepest condolences at the demise of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, saying that he was a rare leader who spoke softly but achieved monumental strides through his actions. Dr. Singh, renowned economist and architect of India's economic reforms, passed away at age 92. He was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here following a deterioration in his health. "Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Manmohan Singh. History will forever honour his pivotal role in the transformative 1991 reforms that reshaped India and opened its doors to the world," Gautam Adani posted on X. Gautam Adani further stated that Dr Singh was "a rare leader who spoke softly but achieved monumental strides through his actions". "Dr Singh's life remains a masterclass in leadership, humility and service to the nation and will inspire generations to come," added the Adani Group Chairman. The news of Dr Singh's demise was confirmed by AIIMS New Delhi. "With profound grief, we inform the demise of former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh aged 92. He was being treated for age related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home on December 26. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the medical emergency at AIIMS. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9.51 p.m.," said the hospital in a statement. Dr. Singh, who served as the country's Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, was known for his transformative role in steering India's economy through a period of significant liberalisation. New Delhi, Dec 26 : Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday expressed grief over the demise of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh who passed away here in the AIIMS at the age of 92, and offered condolences to the late ex-PM's family. Taking to X, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha wrote: "Manmohan Singh Ji led India with immense wisdom and integrity. His humility and deep understanding of economics inspired the nation. My heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Kaur and the family. I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride." The news of Dr Singh's demise was confirmed by AIIMS New Delhi. "With profound grief, we inform the demise of former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh aged 92. He was being treated for age related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home on December 26. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the medical emergency at AIIMS. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9.51 p.m.," said the hospital in a statement. Dr. Singh, who served as the country's Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, was known for his transformative role in steering India's economy through a period of significant liberalisation. He is survived by his wife, Gursharan Kaur, and their three daughters. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced soon, with the nation's leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expected to participate in honouring his memory. Dr. Singh's death marks the end of an era in Indian politics. His leadership and legacy will continue to inspire future generations. In April this year, Manmohan Singh retired from Rajya Sabha, with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge praising his long parliamentary career. Manmohan Singh shot to prominence as the country's Finance Minister in the government headed by P.V. Narasimha Rao during 1991-96, having brought in sweeping reforms that transformed the economy. Guwahati, Dec 27 : On the occasion of Veer Bal Diwas on Thursday, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, paid heartfelt tributes to the unparalleled courage and sacrifice of Sahibzade Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, the sons of Guru Gobind Singh. Attending the event at Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Assam's Dibrugarh, Sonowal expressed his gratitude for participating in the celebrations alongside the Sikh community. On this significant occasion, the Union Minister paid tribute to the two valiant sons and bowed in reverence to Mata Gujri and Guru Gobind Singh. "Every generation must draw inspiration from the indomitable courage and sacrifices of these martyrs to serve the motherland with devotion and patriotism," Sonowal said during his address. He further remarked, "At a tender age, Sahibzade Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh endured the brutal atrocities of the Mughal aggressors with unparalleled resilience. Their supreme sacrifice for the honour of their faith and homeland is not just a chapter in India's history but a beacon of inspiration for humanity. Through Veer Bal Diwas, we aim to spread awareness about their great sacrifice and inspire generations to uphold justice and righteousness. This observance reinforces our commitment to the ideals of service and patriotism." Sonowal, the BJP MP from Dibrugarh, urged everyone to unite in their dedication to faith, justice, and a virtuous path. "Veer Bal Diwas is not merely a day of remembrance; it is a living stream of inspiration," the Union Minister added. "It embodies the essence of 'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat' and reflects the legacy of Guru Gobind Singh's vision of placing the nation first. In New India, we are committed to correcting past missteps and reviving our rich heritage. Honouring the supreme sacrifice of the Sahibzadas through this initiative is a matter of great pride." The Union Minister said, "I am confident that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visionary efforts and genuine respect for our heroes will continue to inspire the youth to understand their history and contribute to the nation's bright future. On this special day, I once again bow to the courage and determination of Sahibzadas Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, who sacrificed their lives at the young age of 6 and 9, standing undeterred against the vast army of Aurangzeb." Additionally, Union Minister Sonowal laid the foundation stone for a cultural centre at the Kacharibari Puberuan Sangha in Dibrugarh. Funded through the MP Local Area Development Scheme, the Centre is envisioned as a significant hub for cultural and artistic excellence in the region. Bengaluru, Dec 27 : The Karnataka government has announced seven days of mourning and also declared a one-day holiday for schools and colleges on Friday in the backdrop of the demise of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh who passed away at the age of 92 in Delhi on Thursday night. Deputy Karnataka Chief Minister and state unit Congress President D.K. Shivakumar has announced in the emergency press meet at Belagavi that the party has cancelled "Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan' convention scheduled to take place on Saturday. The convention was planned as part of the centenary celebration of Mahatma Gandhi taking over as president of the Congress. "In the very platform where the convention was organised, a condolence meeting for Manmohan Singh is being organised at 10.30 a.m. We will announce programmes after talking to the CM and party seniors," Shivakumar said. "On Friday, all programmes of the government and party have been cancelled. It is our duty to take part in the final rites of our leader Manmohan Singh. Including senior leaders of the party, few of us are travelling to Delhi. Dr. Manmohan Singh has contributed to Karnataka especially to Bengaluru. One day is not enough to talk about him," he added. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said: "I am deeply saddened by the passing away of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Ji. Immense knowledge, visionary thoughts and efficient leadership will make him an eternal personality in India. A statesman of unparalleled wisdom, his leadership and vision left an indelible mark on our nation "It was during his tenure as PM that I became the CM of Karnataka for the first time. His encouragement of our budgetary measures and the influence of landmark UPA policies like the Right to Food Act shaped Karnataka's progress and welfare initiatives. The UPA government's Right to Food Act has given a new dimension to our state's progress." "Bharat has become poorer by losing a statesman politician who preferred work over words. Let his soul rest in peace. His family and crores of supporters get strength at this hour," he added. Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said: "Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Manmohan Singh avaru, a visionary economist, statesman, and former Prime Minister who steered India through critical times with grace and wisdom. "His contributions to India's economic reforms, global stature, and democratic values will forever be remembered. Dr. Singh was a beacon of integrity, humility, and intellect in public life, inspiring generations of leaders and citizens alike. His loss leaves a void that cannot be filled. May God grant his family and friends the strength to bear this irreparable loss." Karnataka unit BJP president B.Y. Vijaynedra said: "Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Manmohan Singh. From pioneering economic reforms that opened India's gates to global markets, to steering the nation through turbulent times as Prime Minister, his contributions remain monumental. He will be remembered for his dignity, his intellect, and his unwavering commitment to India's progress. May his soul rest in peace, and may his family find strength in this difficult hour." Chennai, Dec 27 : Tamil Nadu BJP President, K. Annamalai has hit out at the DMK and said that he won't wear sandals and walk barefoot until the latter is removed from power in the state. He was addressing the media on Thursday at Coimbatore. He accused the DMK government of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. BJP leader Annamalai also said that he would undertake a fast for 48 days and visit all the six holy abodes of Lord Murugan. He also lashed out against the state police for leaking the FIR in the sexual assault case at Anna University. He said that the leak was intentional and led to the revealing of the identity of the 19-year-old rape victim, who is also an engineering student at Anna University. He alleged that the accused Gnanashekaran was not on the list of criminals of the Tamil Nadu Police despite being involved in several crime cases. BJP leader Annamalai said that this was due to Gnanashekaran's proximity to the DMK leaders. The Tamil Nadu BJP President, who is also a former IPS officer, said that the accused Gnanashekaran was a DMK functionary and provided evidence of it. He also added that the DMK was trying to divert attention from the failing law and order situation in the state by creating a false narrative of the North-South divide. A roadside biriyani vendor Gnashekaran was arrested by the Chennai police for allegedly raping a student of Anna University. According to the police, the incident occurred when the girl and her male friend were sitting in a secluded area of the campus after attending a midnight Christmas mass at a nearby church. The accused attacked the male friend, brutally assaulting him before dragging the girl to a nearby shrub and raping her. The Greater Chennai Police have come under severe criticism following the incident. Authorities had earlier claimed to have implemented fool-proof security measures for Christmas celebrations, deploying more than 8,000 officers on duty. This horrific incident comes amid ongoing criticism of the DMK government over the state's law and order situation. A third-year college student with mental health issues was allegedly raped by a group of 10 men over 10 months in which four of the accused have been arrested till now. The case came to light after the victim's father, a single parent working as a load man, filed a complaint with the Chintadripet All Women police station, which was later transferred to the Egmore police station. The father discovered obscene material on his daughter's phone and questioned her about it. Initially evasive, the girl later revealed that she had been repeatedly raped by a group of men who took her to various lodges and other isolated locations. Based on the rape victim's statement, police have registered a case under nine sections, including those dealing with the rape of women with mental or physical disabilities and kidnapping. Preliminary investigations revealed that the rape survivor met three of the suspects through a mutual college friend in October last year. The men allegedly raped the victim at multiple locations. She also reported being assaulted by others she met via a social networking application. New Delhi, Dec 27 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has expressed grief over the demise of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, remembering the ex-PM as "a man of action rather than words", and asserting that his immense contribution to nation-building will forever be etched in the annals of Indian history. Taking to X, the Congress chief wrote: "Undoubtedly, history shall judge you kindly, Dr. Manmohan Singh ji! With the passing of the Former Prime Minister, India has lost a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, and an economist of unparalleled stature. His policy of Economic Liberalisation and Rights-based welfare paradigm profoundly transformed the lives of crores of Indians, virtually creating a Middle Class in India and lifting crores out of poverty. "I mourn the loss of a lifelong senior colleague, a gentle intellectual and a humble soul who embodied the aspirations of India, having risen through the ranks with unwavering dedication. I am proud to have been a part of his Cabinet as Labour Minister, Railway Minister and Social Welfare Minister." Kharge further wrote: "A man of action rather than words, his immense contribution to nation-building will forever be etched in the annals of Indian history. In this moment of sorrow, I extend my deepest and heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and countless admirers. May they get the strength to overcome this huge loss. His enduring legacy of ushering in India's growth, welfare, and policies of inclusivity will forever be cherished. May his soul rest in eternal peace." The news of Dr. Singh's demise was confirmed by AIIMS New Delhi. "With profound grief, we inform the demise of former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh aged 92. He was being treated for age related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home on December 26. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the medical emergency at AIIMS. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9.51 p.m.," said the hospital in a statement on Thursday. Dr. Manmohan Singh was 92. Dr. Singh, who served as the country's Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, was known for his transformative role in steering India's economy through a period of significant liberalisation. He is survived by his wife, Gursharan Kaur, and their three daughters. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced soon, with the nation's leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expected to participate in honouring his memory. Dr. Singh's death marks the end of an era in Indian politics. His leadership and legacy will continue to inspire future generations. In April this year, Manmohan Singh retired from Rajya Sabha, with Kharge praising his long parliamentary career. Dr. Manmohan Singh shot to prominence as the country's Finance Minister in the government headed by P.V. Narasimha Rao during 1991-96, having brought in sweeping reforms that transformed the economy. As the two-term Prime Minister of the UPA, he stayed at the top post from 2004 and 2014, and served as a member of the Rajya Sabha till early this year. In his political career, Dr. Singh has been a member of the Rajya Sabha since 1991, where he was Leader of the Opposition between 1998 and 2004. Dr. Manmohan Singh was sworn in as Prime Minister on May 22 after the 2004 general elections and took the oath of office for a second term on May 22, 2009. He represented Assam for five terms in the Upper House and shifted to Rajasthan in 2019. His last intervention in Parliament was against demonetisation, describing it as an "organised loot and legalised plunder". BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, December 28. Kyrgyzstan imported 410.003 million cubic meters of natural gas from Russia from January through October 2024, which is a 48 percent increase compared to 276.032 million cubic meters during the same period in 2023, Trend reports. The State Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan reported that the value of these imports reached $61.5 million, reflecting a 48.5 percent increase from $41.4 million in the initial ten months of 2023. Overall, Kyrgyzstan imported 421.438 million cubic meters of natural gas worth $63.215 million during this period. The volume increased by 37.3 percent year-on-year, and the value rose by the same percentage. In addition to Russia, Kyrgyzstan imported 11.434 million cubic meters of natural gas from Uzbekistan, worth $1.715 million. Kyrgyzstan's foreign trade turnover amounted to $13.4 billion in 10 months, which is 6.4 percent more than in the same period of 2023. Note that exports grew by 25.2 percent year-on-year to $3.1 billion, while imports increased by 1.8 percent to $10.3 billion. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, December 26. Kyrgyzstan is rolling out the red carpet for citizens of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain, as theyll be able to walk in without a visa starting January 4, 2025, Trend reports via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan. Visitors from the specified countries, coming for a little sightseeing, can kick back in Kyrgyzstan without a visa for as long as 180 days within a rolling 360-day window. However, for other purposes of entry, such as employment or education, a visa corresponding to the purpose of the visit will be required. The Ministry stressed that the goal of these measures is to boost tourism and increase Kyrgyzstan's attractiveness for investment and business. It is worth recalling that in late October, Kyrgyzstan also introduced a visa-free regime for organized tourist groups from China. The groups, consisting of 5 to 25 people, should follow a pre-approved tourist itinerary to benefit from this advantage. With the approval of the authorized tourism body, these groups can stay in Kyrgyzstan for up to 21 days without a visa, provided they have return tickets to their home country or a third country. Note that tourists can reenter the country after 21 days. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Refresh your linen closet with high-quality sheet sets and more from QVC during our White Sale. Treat yourself to an impressive variety of warm and cozy pillows, blankets, throws, and quilts. We carry the styles you adore and offer them at a price that's difficult to pass up. Put a fresh spin on the design of your bedroom and bathroom with a selection of premium linens that'll make your space look and feel brand new. Shop QVC for top-rated linens, pillows, shams, furniture covers, and bed ensembles. 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So when the mercury begins to drop, turn to QVC to keep cozy with a snuggle-worthy selection of blankets, linens, bed sheet sets, and more. Disney+ and BBC released a first-look teaser for the upcoming season of Doctor Who after the premiere of the sci-fi show's latest Christmas special, Joy to the World, on Wednesday. ADVERTISEMENT This will be the second season starring Ncuti Gatwa as the titular, shape-shifting space alien and Millie Gibson as his companion Ruby Sunday. Varada Sethu will join the cast this season as Belinda Chandra and is introduced in the 40-second preview. "The Doctor meets Belinda Chandra and begins an epic quest to get her back to Earth," a synopsis said. "But a mysterious force is stopping their return and the time-traveling TARDIS team must face great dangers, bigger enemies and wider terrors than ever before." No premiere date has been announced yet for the new episodes. IndiGo on Wednesday said it was exploring an earlier introduction of wide-body planes in its fleet to meet the growing demand for international travel. Photograph: Vivek Prakash/Reuters Industry sources said the airline was in talks with Norse Atlantic Airways to wet-lease six B787 planes in its fleet. Under a wet-lease, the lessor provides flight and maintenance crew along with the aircraft. In a dry-lease, the lessor provides just the plane. IndiGo had in April announced an order for 30 A350 wide-body aircraft, marking a major change in its business model that had been focused on all-economy operations. However, the deliveries of A350 aircraft will begin from 2027 onward. IndiGos competitor Air India has, in the last two years, expanded its presence on domestic metro-to-metro routes and started new long-range international flights to far-flung destinations in Europe, North America and Australia using wide body planes. IndiGo has a fleet of about 427 planes in its fleet. The airline has some experience in operating wide-body planes. Two out of the 427 planes are B777 wide-body planes, which have been leased from Turkish Airlines, and they are being used on India-Istanbul routes. IndiGo, which started business class operations from September this year, wants to increase its presence in the premium arena. In a statement, the airline said, IndiGo is committed to constantly evolve to provide our customers an alternate and differentiated travel experience, which is best in class. "In April, IndiGo announced the order for wide-body A350-900 aircraft with deliveries starting 2027 and alongside the XLR aircraft expected next year (2025), IndiGo is well positioned to expand our geographic reach and serve the ever-growing demand for international travel to and from India. In order to address this growing demand and in keeping also in mind global supply chain challenges, IndiGo is exploring interim solutions for an earlier introduction of long range aircraft to its fleet. "Route and network opportunities related to these solutions are being explored at present, it added. IndiGos discussions with Norse Atlantic Airways are happening at a time when the Central government is close to allowing airlines to operate wet-leased wide body planes on new routes. The government is considering this measure as the new aircraft supply from Boeing and Airbus have slowed in the last several months due to supply chain issues, etc. To meet growing demand in the countrys air travel market, Indian carriers have made four significant aircraft orders since last year. In February 2023, the Tata-run Air India Group placed an order for 470 planes: 250 with Airbus and 220 with American plane maker Boeing. In June 2023, IndiGo made the worlds largest aircraft order by signing a deal for 500 A320neo family planes from Airbus. In January 2024, the new airline Akasa Air placed an order for 150 B737 MAX aircraft with Boeing. In April 2024, IndiGo placed the aforementioned wide-body aircraft order. No single individual, institution, or action is to blame for this. The BJP is responding in kind -- definitely not without checking with its government. And they wait for Mr Trump, notes Shekhar Gupta. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi with then US president Donald J Trump at the Howdy Modi event in Houston, September 23, 2019. Photograph: @narendramodi/X A most important event in our politico-strategic history passed with somewhat less debate than it deserved. It was the Bharatiya Janata Party's attack not merely on the 'deep state', now seen as a formidable, undefinable, and mysterious pan-national demon, but also on the US State Department. When the BJP's official Twitter (sorry, Elon, X) handle posted a 16-part thread attacking the US deep state for launching an all-out war on India and its Modi government, you might have normally been inclined to say, 'It's OK. Trump is the new President. He's railing against the same monster. So, it's just as well that the BJP also joins in. Be on the winning side.' Except, the 13th of these posts went beyond the deep state and accused the US State Department of leading this conspiratorial cabal. The key lines: 'It has always been the US State Department behind this agenda... The deep state had a clear objective to destabilise India by targeting Prime Minister Modi... the French investigative media group Mediapart revealed that OCCRP is funded by the US State Department's USAID... In fact, 50 per cent of OCCRP's funding comes from the US State Department.' There are specific mentions of the Pegasus controversy, several exposes on the Adani Group, and also references to other 'deep state' figures like George Soros. The substantively new thing here was the BJP launching a direct and unqualified attack on the US State Department. Please note that Mediapart is also the hard-left French platform that led the investigations into the Rafale deal, providing the Congress and Modi critics with much ammunition to attack him. So far, for the BJP, it might have been part of some French left deep-state plot to undermine India and the Modi government. Now, it's a credible ally. That irony just died isn't a phrase that works in hard politics. Here, irony dies and resurrects, just like the serial storyteller of Vikram aur Betaal. In this latest avatar, Betaal Mediapart's story was actually quite damaging to the US establishment. It isn't just too clever by half, but also cynical in the extreme to be funding (without disclosure) investigative journalism across the world while simultaneously holding a veto over appointments of key personnel and issues, as revealed by Mediapart. Cynicism, however, must be a core requirement for becoming a superpower. Equally, a political party was within its rights to question it, if it felt its government was hurt by this US government-funded initiative. Complications, however, arise at a more substantive level. It isn't the first time a ruling party in India has attacked the "foreign hand" or specifically the US. The Congress did so routinely in the Indira era. IMAGE: Then President Giani Zail Singh, left, with then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi at Delhi airport, February 3, 1987. Photograph: Richard Ellis/Reuters In the early 1970s, as Mrs Gandhi came under pressure from the Opposition, she and her party routinely accused their opponents of being CIA agents. It was then that Rajya Sabha member Piloo Mody, who had been a founding member of the Swatantra Party, walked into the House one day wearing a badge saying, 'I am a CIA agent'. Later, Rajiv Gandhi and even P V Narasimha Rao routinely attacked America when under pressure. Rajiv with his 'naani yad kara denge' ('we will make them remember their grandmothers'), and Rao in a parliamentary intervention. Sidelight: Later, the ministry of external affairs tried explaining this to the US embassy by dismissing it as a slip of the tongue. In a conversation with some of us editors, a furious William Clarke, Jr, the US ambassador at the time, asked, "Was his tongue slipping for 15 minutes?" So far, so good, but those times were different. This was India's Cold War anti-Americanism. Now, we live in a different era, when three successive Indian prime ministers and five US Presidents have hailed ours as the most consequential bilateral relationship of the 21st Century. India and America see each other as strategic partners if not allies. Some lines spoken during Mr Modi's official State visit to Washington in 2023 are relevant here. IMAGE: Modi with US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on the Truman balcony of the White House at the start of Modi's State visit to Washington, DC, June 22, 2023. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters Mr Modi said, 'Our... important decisions have added a new chapter to our comprehensive and global strategic partnership.' Joe Biden had described this as 'a partnership that is among the most consequential in the world, that is stronger, closer and more dynamic than any time in history.' And this, from the 6,500-word joint statement, was the cherry on the cake: 'No corner of human enterprise is untouched by the partnership between our two great countries, which spans the seas to the stars.' This gives context to the BJP's attack on the US State Department now. Of course, diplomatically, both sides maintain at the highest levels there's no problem with the relationship. So, how do two great powers, who mutually and repeatedly hail each other as vital strategic partners, reconcile this contradiction?. That the Congress party has now latched onto this by accusing the Modi government of ruining a vital strategic relationship to 'protect his friend Adani' is just another irony in this season of contradictions, given its traditional anti-Americanism, which Manmohan Singh had to defy for that epochal nuclear deal. IMAGE: External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar meets United States Secretary of State Antony J Blinken, in Fiuggi, November 26, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo It's the Opposition's job to prey on the government's contradictions. But how does the government balance this without sacrificing a relationship it says it values?. The answer won't be as simple as saying the party has its view and the government will keep doing its thing. India and America may have become friends, but anti-Americanism has always survived in popular opinion. Lately, it's been turbo-charged with Mr Trump railing against his deep state, its many 'conspiracies', and woven into it the curious new appeal of the idea of de-dollarisation, something S Jaishankar has tried to squash unambiguously more than once. So strong is our anti-Americanism that so many smart and influential people are seduced by the idea of a BRICS currency, never mind if it will be just another name for the Chinese Yuan. It goes without saying that anti-Americanism is probably the safest ideology to flaunt. Doubts and disputes will arise in the closest partnerships. As Mr Biden winds up, each side thinks it caught the other with their hands in the cookie jar. The US on the Pannun issue and India now paying back on OCCRP. How can you do such a thing to a friend? That's the question each is asking the other. Could the Modi government/BJP have handled it differently? Would they have spoken differently if Kamala Harris had won? You can speculate. My point would instead be, has the US handled this much better? IMAGE: Modi with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, Biden, and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 19, 2024. Photograph: Leah Millis/Pool/Reuters See some of the statements of Ambassador Eric Garcetti. Was it really necessary -- or diplomatic -- for him to talk of the 'red lines' on the Pannun issue when India was already responding to it very differently than to Nijjar-Canada? Or his statement that the US made a distinction between talk and acts of terrorism. His country knows as well as ours how terror talk can turn into action. These were among the most insensitive words spoken in India by a US Ambassador in three decades. We acknowledge that his Bollywood dancing moves are way better than the bhangra we saw from Justin Trudeau even if their costumes seemed tailored by the same guy in Palika Bazaar. Dancing to Bollywood music or dholak is no way to win the hearts and minds of Indians in the 21st century, especially not when you are schooling them on the 'difference' between terror talk and action. No single individual, institution, or action is to blame for this, but the relationship has entered a stressful phase in the final months of the Biden administration. The BJP, I'd guess, is responding in kind -- definitely not without checking with its government. And they wait for Mr Trump. By special arrangement with The Print Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com The Aam Aadmi Party launched a scathing attack on the Congress on Thursday, accusing it of colluding with the Bharatiya Janata Party for the upcoming Delhi assembly polls to harm the prospects of the Arvind Kejriwal-led party. IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and AAP MP Sanjay Singh address a press conference, in New Delhi. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and Rajya Sabha MP of the AAP Sanjay Singh alleged at a press conference in New Delhi that the actions of the Congress are damaging the unity of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). "We had not said a single word against the Congress during the Haryana election. Yet the Congress seems to be reading out from the BJP's script. Its candidates' list looks as if it was finalised at the BJP office," Singh said. He accused Congress leaders Ajay Maken and Sandeep Dikshit of targeting the AAP, instead of focusing on the BJP. "Ajay Maken has crossed all limits by calling Arvind Kejriwal anti-national. Despite campaigning for the Congress in past elections, Kejriwal now faces an FIR, while the Congress had never filed a single FIR against any BJP leader," Singh said. Atishi echoed similar sentiments, claiming that the Congress is actively undermining the AAP. "It is evident that Congress candidates like Sandeep Dixit and Farhad Suri are receiving support from the BJP. This collusion raises questions about the Congress's commitment to the INDIA alliance," she said. The AAP demanded disciplinary action against Maken and other Congress leaders within 24 hours and said if no step is taken, it will push for the grand old party's expulsion from the INDIA bloc. "We will ask the other parties in the alliance to remove the Congress," Singh said. The Delhi assembly polls are due in February. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party received contributions of over Rs 2,604.74 crore during 2023-24 while the opposition Congress got Rs 281.38 crore in its kitty, according to contribution reports of the two parties put in public domain by the Election Commission. Image used for posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo The donations listed in the reports were received till March 31, 2024 ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP had declared donations worth over Rs 740 crore ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, while the Congress had claimed to have received over Rs 146 crore in 2018-19. During 2023-24, while the BJP received over Rs 723 crore worth of donations from Prudent Electoral Trust, it also got over Rs 127 crore from Triumph Electoral Trust and over Rs 17 lakh from Einzigartig Electoral Trust. The Congress got over Rs 150 crore from the Prudent Electoral Trust, which was the sole trust donor to the party. Interestingly, the Congress received multiple donations of Rs 1.38 lakh including those from top leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, KC Venugopal and Digvijaya Singh, among others. Multiple donations were made to the Congress under the heading "Happy Birthday to our leader--JKB". The contributions declared by the BJP and the Congress do not include the donations received through electoral bonds as these have to be declared in the party's annual audit reports and not contribution statements. The Aam Aadmi Party, which is also a recognised national party, received contributions of over Rs 11.06 crore during the fiscal. Another recognised national party, Communist Party of India-Marxist, received donations worth over Rs 7.64 crore. National People's Party, which is the only recognised national party from the North East, got over Rs 14.85 lakh in its kitty. The BJP was also a major beneficiary of electoral bonds purchased by big corporate groups like Vedanta, Bharti Airtel, Muthoot, Baja Auto, Jindal group and TVS Motors. The party also received Rs 3 crore through multiple donations from Future Gaming and Hotel Services Pvt Ltd owned by Santiago Martin, also known as the 'Lottery King' of India. He is under scanner of the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department for alleged money laundering. Future Gaming was also the biggest donor through electoral bonds route with the Trinamool Congress being the top beneficiary. The company had donated Rs 542 crore to the Trinamool Congress, Rs 503 crore to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Rs 154 crore to the YSR Congress Party. A controversy has erupted over the alleged misrepresentation of the India map on the posters displayed by the Congress to commemorate the centenary of 1924 Congress session in Karnataka's Belagavi, with the Bharatiya Janata Party dubbing it as 'vote bank' politics by the national party. Image used only for representation. Photograph: Ritik Jain/ANI Photo The ruling Congress has put up these posters throughout Belagavi town as part of celebrations for the centenary event. According to the BJP, the Indian map featured on the posters omits the Gilgit region of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir as well as the Aksai Chin region, currently under the Chinese administration, which are integral parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The national unit of BJP strongly criticised the Congress. In a post on X it said, 'RaGa's Mohabbat ki Dukaan is always open for China! They would break the nation. They've done it once. They'll do it again.' The BJP Karnataka unit termed the 'incorrect depiction' of the Indian map as a way to appease its 'vote bank'. '@INCKarnataka, has shown utter disrespect for India's sovereignty by displaying a distorted map at their Belagavi event, portraying Kashmir as part of Pakistan. All this just to appease their vote bank. This is shameful!' the party posted on X. Hitting out at the Congress, BJP's Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal demanded that the police register a case against the organisers. 'The publication of an incorrect map of India not only constitutes a breach of Geospatial information standards but also violates the law,' Yatnal said in a post on X. According to him, under section 74 of the IPC, displaying a wrong map of India is a clear offence. It is also a violation under the National Honour Act. 'This is the way how the Congress celebrates its historic CWC session by distorting the map of India, not showing PoK as part of Indian territory. Shame on @INCKarnataka. 'I appeal to the @SPBelagavi to register a case against the organizers for wrongfully depicting the map of India immediately,' he said. The BJP and Congress have called out the 'Delhi model' as a hoax, built on sustained propaganda when the ground reality is different. Photograph: Ritik Jain/ANI Photo IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, right, and Aam Aadmi Party national Convenor Arvind Kejriwal with beneficiary women during the start of AAP's Mahila Samman Yojana in New Delhi, December 23, 2024. In a couple of months from now, the country's biggest, its oldest and its youngest national parties, would face off in a triangular contest for the Delhi assembly polls. The first two, namely the biggest, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the oldest, the Congress, would share a rare common agenda of defeating the third -- the Aam Aadmi Party, the latest to secure the 'national party' tag. The term of the Delhi assembly expires on February 23, and the polls are likely in the middle of February. The contours of the battle have already been set. The AAP has taken to showcase its 'Delhi model', comprising affordable and quality education and healthcare, free transport for women, expansion of Delhi Metro network, free water supply up to 20,000 litres and lower electricity tariffs. The BJP and Congress have called out the 'Delhi model' as a hoax, built on sustained propaganda when the ground reality is different. Earlier this week, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi announced the rollout of the CM Mahila Samman Scheme, under which the state government will deposit a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 in the bank accounts of women, and promised to increase it to Rs 2,100 if the party were to return to power. However, with registration of women beneficiaries to begin later this week, it is unlikely that the first instalment would be disbursed before the Election Commission announces the schedule for polls. Over the years, women have emerged as a committed support base for the AAP. According to think-tank CSDS' exit poll data for the 2020 assembly elections, 60 per cent women said they voted for AAP compared to 49 per cent men. The BJP and Congress, in contrast, received 8 percentage and 2 percentage points lower vote share, respectively, among women as compared to men. Just after the CM Mahila Samman Scheme was announced, the BJP and Congress were quick to point out that the AAP government in Punjab had promised a similar scheme for women ahead of the 2022 assembly polls, but failed to keep its word. The Congress' Punjab legislator Sukhpal Singh Khaira released a video message imploring Delhi's electors to 'wake up to AAP's lies'. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva even wrote to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann asking him to clarify AAP's position on the issue. High-stakes contests on cards The assembly polls promise a clash of titans with former two-time Lok Sabha MP from East Delhi and Congress leader Sandeep Diskhit set to challenge Kerjiwal from the New Delhi seat. Sandeep, the son of Delhi's longest serving chief minister Sheila Dikshit, claims Kejriwal has sullied his mother's name by making unfounded allegations of corruption against her. In the 2013 assembly polls, Kejriwal had defeated Sheila Dikshit by a margin of nearly 26,000 votes. The BJP is yet to release its list of candidates, but Parvesh Verma, son of former Delhi chief minister Sahib Singh Verma, is likely to throw his hat in the ring against Kejriwal and Sandeep, according to sources. The AAP's theme for the seat would be: 'do CM ke bete aur ek Dilli ka beta (sons of two CMs versus Delhi's son)'. The AAP has dropped 17 sitting legislators and changed the seats of some, including former deputy CM Manish Sisodia from Patparganj to Jangpura. Sisodia had struggled to win the seat in the 2020 assembly polls. Stiff challenge to AAP IMAGE: Applicants fill up the registration forms at the Rozgar Mela, organised by the BJP aimed at providing employment opportunities for the youth, especially including those from slum areas. Photograph: ANI Photo The AAP and Congress have ruled out an alliance for the Delhi assembly polls. The two parties had a seat adjustment for the Lok Sabha polls in Haryana and Delhi, but contested separately in the Haryana assembly polls. There is a section within the Congress that believes it is important to defeat the BJP, but others are of the view that it is more important to revive the party in Delhi. The Congress' vote share collapsed to 4.26 per cent in the 2020 assembly polls, and it could not open its account for a second successive election in Delhi. However, in the 2022 civic polls, the Congress secured 11.68 per cent vote share, performing well in seats with a significant Muslim population. The AAP's vote share declined from 53.57 per cent in the 2020 assembly polls to 42.05 per cent in the civic polls, with the minorities, especially Muslims, preferring the Congress. The upcoming assembly polls could become tougher for the AAP, if the minorities drift away. Over the past three decades, the BJP has managed to keep its vote share between 34 to 38 per cent. But, the party has failed to form a government in Delhi for 26 years failing to offer a face that could challenge Sheila Dikshit, Kejriwal, and now Atishi. Over the past couple of months, former Union minister Smriti Irani has been active in Delhi politics, but there was no formal word on whether she would be BJP's CM face. The party has launched a drive to reach out to Delhi's slum dwellers, and also the national capital's sizable Dalit population -- both sections seen as a bedrock of AAP voter base. According to a BJP strategist, the party believes that unlike 2015 and 2020, Kejriwal's reputation as an 'anti-corruption crusader' had dented, and a triangular contest would hurt AAP the most. The Congress is hoping that it would emerge as the kingmaker if AAP falls short of majority mark. Delhi Govt Depts Disown Kejriwal's Schemes After the BJP and the Congress termed two of the AAP's recently announced welfare schemes a hoax, two senior Delhi government officers issued public notices on Wednesday, December 25, 2024 disowning these schemes. With the Delhi assembly set to expire on February 23, the Election Commission is likely to announce the poll dates soon, and the war of words between the three principal parties in the fray -- the ruling AAP, BJP and the Congress -- has become more rancorous with each passing day. Over the past few days, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, and Kejriwal have launched a drive to register Delhi's voters for two of their party's proposed welfare schemes -- the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, and Sanjeevani Yojana. Under the Mahila Samman Yojana, for which Delhi's 2024-2025 Budget had allocated Rs 2,000 crore (Rs 20 billion), eligible women will get a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000. This Yojana received the Delhi cabinet approval earlier this month. Under the Sanjeevani scheme, the AAP has promised that those over 60 years of age among Delhi's voters will be treated free of cost in government- and private-run hospitals. AAP sources have claimed that the party has deployed 3,000 workers to register Delhi's voters under the two schemes, with 150,000 having registered under the Sanjeevani scheme and 1.3 million women under the Mahila Samman Yojana. On December 25 morning, the Delhi government's Women and Child Development and Health departments issued public notices that disowned the two schemes. In notices published in newspapers, the two departments cautioned people against providing personal details to anyone on the pretext of registration for 'non-existent' schemes, saying any private individual or political party collecting such physical forms or information is 'fraudulent and without any authority'. Kejriwal responded by stating that AAP's opponents were 'rattled' by the two schemes. He alleged that his opponents have hatched a plan to slap a false case against Atishi and engineer her arrest. The AAP chief also alleged that BJP leader Parvesh Verma sought to project himself as his party's chief ministerial candidate and has taken to distribute Rs 1,100 in cash to women in Delhi. He urged the city's women to queue up to collect that money but vote for AAP. Atishi said her government, once it returns, will take disciplinary action against the officials behind the two notices. However, the 'Services' department of the Delhi government, after a tweak in the law, comes under the jurisdiction of Delhi's lieutenant governor, who as the administrator of Delhi has the final say in transfers and postings of officials. In its notice, Delhi's Women and Child Development department said that if and when the Mahila Samman scheme begins, the department will launch a digital portal for eligible individuals to submit their application online as per the approved guidelines. Since no such scheme exists, the question of physical forms for registration under this non-existent scheme does not arise, read the notice. The BJP and the Congress leadership slammed Kejriwal and the AAP, questioning why the AAP government had failed to fulfil its promise to women in Punjab, which it rules, of a monthly allowance. Congress leader Ajay Maken called Kejriwal 'Farziwal' and 'anti-national', and said his party's support to Kejriwal's 40-day government in 2013 has been the primary reason for the 'weakening' of the party in the national capital. There is a need to rectify the repeated mistake of (Congress) aligning with AAP, as it did in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Maken added. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, December 26. The President of Kyrgyzstan has appointed a new ambassador to the United States, Trend reports via the press service of the President's office. "President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Zhaparov, signed a decree appointing Aibek Moldogaziev as the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United States of America," the statement from the president's office reads. Aibek Moldogaziev had previously served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan since February 2022. From August 2017, he worked as a counselor and envoy at the Kyrgyz Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, and since February 2021, he has headed the Legal Department of the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Following Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan's Barmal district of Paktika province, which left 46 dead and six injured, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan on Wednesday summoned the Charge d'Affaires of the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul. IMAGE: An Afghan boy carries a weapon in the Barmal district of Paktika province, Afghanistan. Image used only for representation. Photograph: Ali Khara/Reuters In a post on X on Wednesday, spokesperson of Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Hafiz Zia Ahmad wrote, 'The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan summoned the Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul to deliver a strong protest note regarding the airstrikes conducted by Pakistani military jet in the Barmal district of Paktika province near the theoretical Durand Line.' 'The attack by the Pakistani military was categorically condemned, and the Embassy of Pakistan was informed that while representatives of Pakistan's civilian government were engaged in dialogues with the Afghan officials in Kabul, the violation of Afghanistan's airspace and martyring civilians by Pakistani military are perceived as deliberate attempt by certain circles in Pakistan aimed at undermining trust and causing frictions in the relations of the two nations. 'The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, with its longstanding history of defending the country against major powers, strongly rejects any breach of territorial integrity and firmly remains committed to defending Afghanistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity,' the post added. The MoFA spokesperson further underscored that the protection of Afghanistan's national territory is a 'red line' for the nation and warned that such actions would have consequences. 'Furthermore, the Pakistani side has been clearly informed that protecting Afghanistan's national sovereignty is a red line for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and such actions are viewed highly irresponsible and will inevitably bear repercussions,' Zia Ahmad wrote. A day before, the Pakistani military had said that the airstrikes, which took place on the night of December 24, were aimed at bases of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan, resulting in the deaths of several militants and the destruction of four TTP bases, Khaama Press reported, citing the Pakistani media outlets close to the Pakistani Army. However, the Taliban's Ministry of Defence argued that the strike also hit 'Waziristani refugees', disputing the claim that only militants were targeted. This escalation in violence has sparked tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with the Taliban warning of retaliation. The Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has increased its attacks on Pakistani forces in recent months, with Pakistan accusing the Afghan Taliban of providing shelter to these militants. Tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have been building for some time, fuelled by the ongoing presence of TTP militants in Afghanistan. While Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of harbouring these militants, the Taliban insists it is not collaborating with the group. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms and a consensus builder in the rough world of politics, died in New Delhi on Thursday night. IMAGE: File image of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with party leader Sonia Gandhi (left). Photograph: ANI Photo He was 92. An AIIMS bulletin said "he(Singh) was treated for age related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home" on December 26. "Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to medical emergency at AIIMS Delhi at 8.06 pm. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9.51 pm," the bulletin said. Described as a reluctant politician and an accidental prime minister, Singh, who headed the Congress-led UPA government for two terms from 2004 to 2014, had been in poor health for the last few months. IMAGE: Manmohan Singh's mortal remains being taken from AIIMS to his residence. Photograph: ANI on X He is survived by his wife Gursharan Kaur, a history professor, and three daughters. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her mother Sonia Gandhi reached the hospital as soon as the news of his hospitalisation became known. Government sources said a seven-day national mourning will be observed and that Singh's last rites will be conducted with full state honours. Singh, a renowned economist who was the finance minister under the then prime minister P V Narasimha Rao, was the architect and the brainchild of economic reforms in 1991 that pulled India from the brink of bankruptcy and ushered in an era of economic liberalisation that is widely believed to have changed the course of India's economic trajectory. Singh's appointment as the finance minister was a turning point in the economic history of independent India which witnessed bold economic reforms, abolition of licence raj and opening of many sectors to private players and foreign players so that capital could flow in. A former RBI governor, he is credited with allowing Foreign Direct Investment, rupee devaluation, moderation in taxes, and privatisation of public sector companies. Singh died as the Congress party concluded its Congress Working Committee meting at Belagavi in Karnataka, where all top party leaders were present. The Indo-US nuclear agreement clinched in 2008 during Singh's first term was a landmark that enhanced India's global status. Singh stood firm on the nuclear deal which will remain a crowning glory of his prime ministership. The Left Front withdrew support to his government over the deal but the prime minister won the vote of confidence after the Samajwadi Party(SP) gave its backing. A soft-spoken leader, a gentleman politician and a man of few words, Singh battled allegations of corruption against his government including the coal scam and the 2G telecom scam which eroded the UPA government's hold over power and gave an opportunity for the BJP's rise and march to victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Paying tributes to his predecessor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders whose wisdom and humility were always visible. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist, Modi said, noting that Singh served in various government positions as well, including as finance minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. In a post on X, Modi said, "His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people's lives." During the fag end of his tenure as PM, Singh was seen defending his government's record and the Congress' positions on controversial issues and said he was not a weak prime minister. "I hope history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media," Singh, who was often described as a man of thought and of integrity, had said in January 2014. Though Singh was politically inactive in his final years, the Congress used his stature to take on the Modi government on a range of issues. He was highly critical of demonetisation exercise in 2016 as "organised loot and legalised plunder". In May this year, Singh had delivered a scathing rebuke to his successor Narendra Modi, accusing him of diminishing the stature of the Prime Minister's office through his "hateful and unparliamentary" rhetoric targeting a specific community. Maintaining that his two terms as prime minister in UPA I and UPA II displayed the Congress's ability to run a coalition government and dispelled the perception that this party cannot run coalitions, Singh had also earlier said that though some compromises were made in the process, they were on "peripheral issues and not on national problems". President Droupadi Murmu described Singh as "one of the greatest sons of Bharat" who made critical contributions to reforming the Indian economy. Forrmer Deputy National Security Adviser Pankaj Saran, who had worked with Singh during his prime ministerial tenure, said he was a man who symbolised humility and collegiate style of functioning. "He was a consensus builder. A very simple man who did not expect to become the prime minister," Saran told PTI. NN Vohra, who was appointed Governor of Jammu and Kashmir during Singh's tenure, said his death is the end of a "truly rare species of political leadership, which was marked by exceptional intellectual capability, honesty, transparency and unparalleled humility." "A man of very few words, he heard everyone, high and low, and tackled the most complex issues by taking his own decisions which best served the national interest," he said. Singh is the only PM who held prime minister's office without winning a popular vote. He ended his 33-year-long parliamentary innings in the Rajya Sabha on April 3 India's epochal civil nuclear agreement with the United States in 2008 will remain a crowning glory for Manmohan Singh's prime ministership in the foreign policy domain as it not only ended the country's nuclear apartheid but created a favourable geopolitical configuration. IMAGE: File image of Manmohan Singh's swearing-in ceremony as prime minister. Photograph: ANI Photo Singh, the then prime minister, was so convinced about the futuristic outcomes of the historic deal he showed steely determination to push it strongly though the survival of his government was at stake during a no-confidence vote in Parliament. The civil nuclear deal changed India's overall engagement with the US as it paved the way for building the bonds of a strategic partnership, especially in areas of high-technology and defence. In July 2005, India and the US announced that they would cooperate in civil nuclear energy following Singh's talks with then American President George W Bush. In an address at a joint session of the US Congress on July 19, Singh elaborated on the need for India-US collaboration in the civil nuclear energy sector and explained New Delhi's impeccable record in nuclear non-proliferation. "We have adhered scrupulously to every rule and canon in this area. We have done so even though we have witnessed unchecked nuclear proliferation in our own neighbourhood which has directly affected our security interests," he had said. "This is because India, as a responsible nuclear power, is fully conscious of the immense responsibilities that come with the possession of advanced technologies, both civilian and strategic," Singh said. "We have never been, and will never be, a source of proliferation of sensitive technologies," he said. Following a series of negotiations, the IAEA approved the safeguards agreement with India on August 1, 2008 following which the US approached the Nuclear Suppliers Group to grant a waiver to New Delhi to commence civilian nuclear trade. The NSG granted the waiver to India on September 6, 2008, allowing it to access civilian nuclear technology and fuel from other countries. The agreement was signed by then External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice, on October 10. Following the deal, India's overall strategic cooperation with the US witnessed a major upswing. Singh's tenure as the prime minister in the first UPA government also saw better relations between India and Pakistan, a phase that began in 2004 with then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the helm. However, it changed following the terror attack in Mumbai in November 2008. Singh died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on Thursday. He was 92. North India is shivering under an intense cold wave as temperatures plummet across the region. The India Meteorological Department has issued warnings of cold to severe cold wave conditions in several states, with Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir bearing the brunt of the icy chill. The Harshil valley in Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand received heavy snowfall on Christmas eve resulting in the area covered in snow. IMAGE: A tourist car submerged in snow in the Harshil valley in Uttarkashi. All Photographs: ANI Photo IMAGE: Another vehicle covered by snow. IMAGE: A road covered in a thick layer of snow. IMAGE: A tourist rides a snowmobile in Chamoli. IMAGE: An aerial view of a snow-covered area in Doda, Jammu. Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff.com Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Manmohan Singh had joined a pre-medical course as his father wanted him to become a doctor but pulled out after a couple of months, losing interest in the subject, according to a book on the former prime minister by his daughter. IMAGE: File image of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with Rahul Gandhi. Photograph: ANI Photo Singh died in New Delhi on Thursday night at the age of 92 after he had sudden loss of consciousness at home. In her book Strictly Personal: Manmohan and Gursharan, published in 2014, Daman Singh also said economics was a subject that appealed to him. She also wrote that her father was a funny man saying he had a good sense of humour. In April 1948, Singh was admitted to Khalsa College in Amritsar. "Since his father wanted him to become a doctor, he joined the two-year FSc course that would lead to further studies in medicine. After just a couple of months, he dropped out. He had lost interest in becoming a doctor. In fact, he had also lost interest in studying science," Daman wrote. "I didn't have the time to think," the author, who based her book on conversations with her parents and hours spent in libraries and archives, quoted her father as saying. "I went and joined my father in his shop. I didn't like that either, because I was not treated as an equal. I was treated as an inferior person who ran errands bringing water, bringing tea. Then I thought I must go back to college. And I entered Hindu College in September 1948," Singh was quoted as saying. Economics was a subject that appealed to him immediately. "I was always interested in issues of poverty, why some countries are poor, why others are rich. And I was told that economics is the subject which asks these questions," Singh told his daughter. While studying at Cambridge University, money was the only real problem that bothered Singh. "His tuition and living expenses came to about 600 pounds a year. The Panjab University scholarship gave him about 160 pounds. For the rest he had to depend on his father. Manmohan was careful to live very stingily. Subsidised meals in the dining hall were relatively cheap at two shillings sixpence," Daman wrote. She said her father never ate out, and seldom indulged in beer or wine yet he would be in crisis if money from home fell short or did not arrive on time. "When this happened, he skipped meals or got by on a sixpence bar of Cadbury's chocolate," she said. He also asked a friend to lend him 25 pounds for two years but the friend could send only 3 pounds. Daman found her father a very funny man. "When in a reflective mood, he sat with an index finger perched on the side of his nose. He was completely helpless about the house and could neither boil an egg, nor switch on the television." He also had a sense of humour of sorts, she said. "This was evident when he was with friends, even if they were economists. It was comforting to know that he could laugh and crack jokes as well. With us, he rarely did either. "The lighter side of him liked to give nicknames to people. Unknown to them, one of our uncles was John Babu, another was Jewel Babu and a third - to commemorate his pointed turban - was Chunj Waley. My mother was Gurudev, and the three of us were Kick, Little Noan and Little Ram. Some of the other names he coined were less charitable," Daman wrote. Born in a village in undivided Punjab, now in Pakistan, former prime minister Manmohan Singh's family witnessed first-hand the tragic Partition and he often spoke of communal harmony in his long public life. IMAGE: File image of then PM Manmohan Sindh addressing the UN. Photograph: ANI Photo Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms, died here on Thursday night. He was 92. He was born in Gah in Punjab province's western region, which now falls in Pakistan. Singh was a noted economist and a respected figure in India and abroad. According to his profile on the website -- pmindia.gov, "Dr Singh completed his matriculation examinations from the Punjab University in 1948. His academic career took him from Punjab to the University of Cambridge, UK, where he earned a First Class Honours degree in Economics in 1957." Singh followed this with a D.Phil in Economics from Nuffield College at Oxford University in 1962. His book, 'India's Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth' was an "early critique of India's inward-oriented trade policy", the profile reads. He served two terms as India's prime minister from 2004 to 2014. A man of few words, but immense wisdom, he often spoke of communal harmony and democratic values that are at the core of India as a nation. At an event in Amritsar in 2004 marking the 400th anniversary of the installation of Guru Granth Sahib, he had recalled his roots. "The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, touched an emotional cord while addressing a mammoth gathering in Amritsar, recalling his roots and paying tributes to the teachings of Guru Garnth Sahib," reads a September 2004 statement carried on the website -- archivepmo.nic.in. In his speech, then then prime minister had underlined that there could be "no better way" to honour the holy text than to abide in practice by its teachings of "living in peace with one another". "In celebrating the 400th anniversary of the Adi Granth's installation, we pay homage and tribute to these values as much as to the scholarly and devout men and women who have helped preserve this sacred text, and have disseminated its tenets to generations of people. "There can be no better way to honour the Guru Granth Sahib than to abide in practice by its teachings of living in peace with one another, and in harmony with nature. We must also learn to solve our problems through dialogue, while learning to respect our fellow men, irrespective of status, creed or caste," he said. In these troubled times, the wisdom of the Gurus "provided us with simple truths from which we much learn", he said. Six people, who were arrested for allegedly trespassing into the residence of top Telugu actor Allu Arjun and engaging in vandalism, are students pursuing PhD, post-graduation, and other courses. IMAGE: Actor Allu Arjun addresses the media after being released from Chanchalguda Central Jail in Hyderabad, December 14, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo These people who claim to be the members of Osmania University -- Joint Action Committee, allegedly damaged flower pots and threw tomatoes at Arjun's residence on December 22 evening, demanding justice for the woman who died in Pushpa-2 screening stampede. In the remand report, the police said the accused went to Arjun's house, forcibly entered the premises, beat up the security staff, and damaged the property. As per the report, two of them are pursuing PhD while two others are students of MA course. Three of the accused hold different posts of the OU-JAC while another one is National Students Union of India state secretary, the report stated. The protesters, who raised slogans against Allu Arjun, demanded Rs 1 crore in financial assistance to the woman's family. Apart from these six people, a few others were found to have been involved in the trespassing and vandalism. These six were arrested and later granted bail by a local court. The police had also beefed up security at the actor's residence after the incident. The police further said two of the accused have a history of crime cases against them, and face several cases in different police stations. A 35-year-old woman died during the stampede at the Sandhya theatre in Hyderabad on December 4 where Pushpa 2 movie was screened and her eight-year-old son was hospitalised. Allu Arjun was arrested on December 13 in connection with the incident and later granted interim bail by the Telangana high court. Days after Mohan Bhagwat frowned at the resurgence of temple-mosque disputes in the country, the latest issue of an Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-linked magazine has said from Somnath to Sambhal and beyond, it is a battle for knowing historical truth and seeking 'civilisational justice'. IMAGE: Police personnel instal metal detectors at the entrance of Shahi Jama Masjid, in Sambhal. Photograph: ANI Photo Amid a cacophony over who has insulted Dr B R Ambedkar, even though historical records 'clearly indicate' how the Congress treated the chairman of the Constitution's drafting committee, recent developments in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal have struck 'a chord with the masses', the editorial published in the latest issue of Organiser noted. It said the dispute that started with a petition to survey the Shri Harihar Mandir, 'now structured' as the Jama Masjid in the 'historic town' of Uttar Pradesh, is opening up a new debate about various constitutional rights given to individuals and communities. 'Instead of limiting the debate to the Hindu-Muslim question from the pseudo-secularist prism, we need a sane and inclusive debate on the quest for civilisational justice based on truthful Itihasa, involving all sections of the society,' the editorial penned by Prafulla Ketkar, the editor of Organiser, noted. 'From Somnath to Sambhal and beyond, this battle for knowing the historical truth is not about religious supremacy. It is against the Hindu ethos. It is about reaffirming our national identity and seeking civilisational justice,' it said. RSS chief Bhagwat expressed concern last week over the resurgence of several temple-mosque disputes in the country and asserted that certain individuals, after the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, seem to believe that they can become 'leaders of the Hindus' by raking up such issues. Delivering a lecture on 'India - The Vishwaguru' at the Sahjeevan Vyakhyanmala (lecture series) in Pune on Thursday, Bhagwat pitched for an inclusive society and said the world needs to be shown that India can live in harmony. "We have been living in harmony for long. If we want to provide this harmony to the world, we need to create a model of it. After the construction of the Ram mandir, some people think that they can become leaders of the Hindus by raking up similar issues at new places. This is not acceptable," the RSS chief said. The Ram temple was constructed since it was a matter of faith for all Hindus, he added. "Every day a new matter (dispute) is being raked up. How can this be allowed? This cannot continue. India needs to show that we can live together," Bhagwat said, without mentioning any particular site. The editorial in Organiser noted that the story of religious identities in India is not very different from the caste question. 'The Congress tried to duck the caste question, delayed the implementation of social justice and exploited the caste identities for electoral gains. The story of religious identities is not very different,' it said. 'After the painful partition of the motherland on Islamic lines, instead of striving for civilisational justice by telling the truth about Itihasa (history) and resetting the present for a harmonious future, the Congress and Communist historians chose to whitewash the sins of the invaders,' the editorial in the weekly magazine added. It noted that Ambedkar went to the "root cause" of caste-based discrimination and provided constitutional remedies for it. 'The time is ripe to address this quest for civilisational justice. We need a similar approach to end the religious acrimony and disharmony,' it said. This approach, based on accepting the truth about history, dissociating 'Bharatiya Muslims' from the perpetrators of 'iconoclasm and religious supremacy', and addressing the quest for civilisational justice, offers hope for peace and harmony, the editorial added. 'Denying such access to justice and the right to know the truth just because some colonised elites and pseudo-intellectuals want to continue with the application of shoddy secularism would encourage radicalism and hostility,' it noted. The weekly magazine, which published a cover story on the Sambhal dispute in its latest issue, alleged that the Congress 'cabal', by presenting larger-than-life images of bigoted rulers like Mughal emperors Babar and Aurangzeb, gave a false impression to 'Bharatiya Muslims' that they were the rulers here before the British. 'The Muslims of Bharat should realise that they are the inheritors but the victims of barbaric Islamic invasions. Their ancestry is from the diverse sects of Hindus, and therefore, they must reject the ideology of iconoclasm,' it added. China's defence ministry on Thursday said that the Chinese and Indian militaries are "comprehensively and effectively" implementing the agreement to end the standoff at eastern Ladakh and "steady progress" has been made. IMAGE: Indian Special Representative and NSA Ajit Doval with Chinese Special Representative, director of the central foreign affairs Office Wang Yi at the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives on the China-India boundary issue, in Beijing, December 19, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Chinese defence spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang made the remarks during a media briefing in Beijing while answering a question on the December 18 Special Representatives talks. "At present, the Chinese and Indian militaries are comprehensively and effectively implementing the border-related solutions reached between the two sides, and steady progress has been made," he said. He said that in recent times, based on the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, China and India have maintained close communication on the border situation through diplomatic and military channels and achieved great progress. Following the October 21 agreement between India and China, Special Representatives for border question NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing and held a comprehensive dialogue on the implementation of the agreement and restoration of the relations which were frozen since the standoff began in April 2020. In October, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Kazan, Russia, on the sidelines of the BRICS summit and approved the Oct 21 agreement. Col Zhang said that bringing China-India relations back on the right track serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples. "The Chinese military is ready to make concerted efforts with the Indian side to faithfully implement the important consensus of the two leaders, conduct more exchanges and interactions, and promote China-India mil-to-mil relationship, in a bid to jointly safeguard lasting peace and tranquillity in the border areas," he added. The sexual assault on a varsity student triggered strong protests by Opposition parties, with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Bharatiya Janata Party hitting the streets on Thursday. IMAGE: A police official speaks to the SFI and AIDWA members protesting outside Anna University over a students alleged assault in Chennai, December 25, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo The Saffron party alleged that the accused was a DMK office-bearer, which was denied by the ruling party. The Saffron party's state unit chief K Annamalai said he would not wear sandals and walk barefoot until the DMK regime is dislodged and would lash himself with a whip on Friday. Annamalai, showing photographs of the accused with DMK leaders, alleged that he was a ruling party's student wing office-bearer. The BJP leader alleged that the accused committed the crime emboldened by his affiliation with the ruling party. "This is very simple," he told reporters at Coimbatore. Since he was associated with the DMK, the police did not act against him, he asserted and wanted to know about the use of Nirbhaya funds to prevent such crimes. Tamil Nadu law minister S Regupathi said the accused in the varsity student sexual assault case was not even a primary member of the DMK. Fresh details on the student sexual assault case emerged, meanwhile, with the police ascertaining that the 37-year-old accused had already been involved in at least 10 criminal cases. The accused, Gnanasekaran had intimidated her and asked her to meet him whenever he called her. In the meantime, the National Commission for Women took cognizance of the incident and condemned it. The NCW wrote to the Tamil Nadu DGP, Shankar Jiwal, asking him to invoke Section 71 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, dealing with repeat offenders, against the accused. "It has been observed by the Commission that the accused is a habitual offender and has even committed similar crimes in the past, and is the deputy organizer of the DMK's Saidai East student wing. Furthermore, it has been alleged that all cases registered against him are being shelved." Further, the panel asked the state police chief to send copies of all the FIRs against Gnanasekaran (inclusive of previous and current cases), and the details of the action taken in such cases. The NCW said the victim must be provided with free of cost medical treatment including psychological counselling. The panel said police made "public the details of the identity of the victim," and strict action must be taken against the delinquent police officer for compromising the victim's identity. Parties including the AIADMK, BJP and Communist Party of India-Marxist condemned the police for disclosing the details of the victim through the FIR copy. Annamalai also questioned the way the FIR was written and said it was drafted as if the victim had committed a crime. "The DMK should be ashamed of disclosing the identity of the victim." He declared that he would lash himself with a whip six times on December 27, 2024 at 10 am outside his residence in Coimbatore in order to draw people's attention over the varsity issue. Also, he announced he would not wear footwear till such time the DMK government is ousted. He would also go on a 48-day 'Viratham' (spiritual vow) by worshipping Lord Muruga and he would offer prayers in all the six 'Aarupadai' temples in the state by February. Earlier in the day, led by leaders including D Jayakumar and B Valarmathi, AIADMK cadres gathered in Chennai raising slogans and they were quickly taken away in vehicles by the police. The AIADMK also announced a state-wide protest on December 27 on the same issue. BJP senior leader and former governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and others from the saffron party too were prevented by the police from holding a demonstration. She argued with the police officials that she had every right to hold a protest and alleged that sexual crimes were on the rise and slammed alleged police inaction. Meanwhile, according to the police, while the student was conversing with her male friend, the accused arrived at the spot and said he had filmed them talking and intimidated, by asking them about the consequences if he were to release that video clip. Though both of them pleaded with him to delete the video he did not budge. Later, he threatened the young man, also a student to leave the spot immediately and later sexually assaulted the woman ignoring her pleas. He took her mobile number and pressured her to meet him later, whenever he called her. He scared her saying he would release the video clip in social media if she did not oblige. DMK leader and MP Kanimozhi, expressing shock over the incident, said it was appalling that the same accused was a "history-sheeter,' who had "sexually intimidated" several girl students for a long time. She demanded tough punishment for the accused. Regupathi said the accused, Gnanasekaran, was arrested in a matter of five to six hours showing the police's swift action and the government had no necessity to hide anything, he told reporters. While the accused was not even an ordinary party member, some sections of media claimed as if he was an office-bearer of the students wing and it was wrong. One photograph that purportedly showed the accused, close to deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, was being circulated. There was also another photo that showed the accused with Health Miniser Ma Subramanian. It was clear that there was a gap between Gnanasekaran and the Dy CM, and it showed the picture was clicked by someone. Such instances cannot be prevented and it was usual for people to click selfies and take photographs with leaders, he added. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 26. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is issuing a sovereign loan of up to $66.4 million to the National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan (Uzbekistan's national power transmission utility) for construction of a new high-voltage transmission line, the bank told Trend. The new 500 kV transmission line will span 230 kilometers, connecting Sarimay in the Khoresm region with Muruntau in the Navoi region of Uzbekistan. This crucial project aims to eliminate grid bottlenecks and reduce electricity outages, particularly during peak demand periods. It will also facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources, supporting Uzbekistan's low-carbon development strategy for its power sector, which was created with the bank's assistance. The project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4,143 tonnes annually and decrease electricity losses by 34,636 MWh each year. To date, the EBRD has invested approximately 5.3 billion euros in 171 projects across Uzbekistan. Over 70 Indian Hindu pilgrims returned home on Wednesday after performing religious rituals at the sacred Katas Raj temples in Pakistan's Punjab province. Image used only for representation. Photograph: Mohsin Raza/Reuters Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) additional secretary Shrines Saifullah Khokhar presented special gifts and bouquets to the pilgrims at Wagah Border in Lahore. In the morning, the pilgrims had breakfast at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore and visited the historic Anarkali Bazaar. They were escorted to the Wagah border in special buses under tight security. During their seven-day visit to Pakistan, the Hindu pilgrims performed religious rituals at the Katas Raj temples and spent three days in Lahore, visiting the Krishna Mandir on Ravi Road and Valmiki Mandir in Anarkali. They also toured the Lahore Fort. "We are thankful to ETPB Chairman Syed Ataur Rehman for ensuring the preservation and renovation of our places of worship. I encourage the global Hindu community to visit Pakistan and witness these sacred sites," the leader of the group, Vijay Kumar Sharma, told reporters at Wagah. Vivek Pandey, another pilgrim, said that the construction of residential complexes has enhanced the beauty of the Katas Raj temples. "We spent seven days in Pakistan and were met with warmth and respect wherever we went. Lahore is a beautiful city, and visiting our religious sites at Katas Raj and Lahore brought us immense spiritual peace," said another pilgrim. Saifullah Khokhar reaffirmed the ETPB's commitment to promoting religious tourism and extending hospitality to visiting pilgrims. He said significant funds are being allocated for the restoration and beautification of temples and gurdwaras. Earlier this month, the ETPB inaugurated a residential complex built for Hindu pilgrims at the Katas Raj temples. According to the ETPB, a 36-room residential building next to the Katas Raj temples has been constructed for PKR190 million. "It has been ensured that Hindu pilgrims coming from all over the world, including India, can stay here with all facilities," Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain said at the inaugural ceremony. He said that in addition to improved facilities, 6,000 plants of different species have been planted for the health of the temple's environment. He further said the ETPB has installed a 40-KW solar system and spacious parking facilities at the Katas Raj Temples so that Hindu pilgrims and tourists can enjoy complete facilities. Katas Raj Temples, also known as Qila Katas, is a complex of several Hindu temples connected by walkways. The temple complex surrounds a pond named Katas, regarded as sacred by Hindus. As many as 64.64 crore voters exercised their franchise in the Lok Sabha polls held earlier this year with women voters outnumbering men, according to statistical data released by the Election Commission on Thursday. IMAGE: Women voters show their voting papers as they wait in queues to cast their vote for the Lok Sabha elections, in Ramgarh, Jharkhand, May 20, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo The female voter turnout stood at 65.78 percent as compared to 65.55 percent for male electors, the EC said. EC functionaries asserted that such granular data is not shared by any of the election management bodies in democracies across the world. The data on Lok Sabha polls, 2024 and four assembly elections -- Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh -- held alongside parliamentary polls comes against the backdrop of allegations of non-disclosure by the EC. "This suo motu initiative is to enhance the public trust that constitutes the underpinning of India's electoral system," the EC said. Referring to women participation in the polls, EC said the number of female contesting candidates was 800, compared to 726 in 2019. Maharashtra had the highest number of women contesting candidates with 111 in the fray, followed by 80 in Uttar Pradesh and 77 in Tamil Nadu. But at the same time, out of the total 543 Lok Sabha constituencies, there were 152 where there were no women candidates. A total of over 97.97 crore citizens had registered themselves as electors as compared to over 91.19 crore in 2019 -- an increase of 7.43 percent. Out of these registered electors, 64.64 crore had cast votes in 2024, compared to 61.4 crore in 2019, the EC said. According to the poll panel, any Indian citizen who registers in the electoral roll is defined as an elector. The elector who eventually votes is called voter. Total votes polled -- using EVM and postal ballot option -- stood at 64,64,20,869. Votes polled on EVMs alone stood at 64,21,39,275, with 32,93,61,948 male voters and 31,27,64,269 female voters. A little over 13,000 registered third gender voters exercised their franchise (27.09 percent), according to the data. Nearly 43 lakh electors used the postal ballot option to vote. The Dhubri parliamentary constituency in Assam registered the highest turnout of 92.3 percent while Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir registered the lowest turnout of 38.7 percent, compared to 14.4 percent in 2019. According to the dataset issued by the EC, as many as 11 parliamentary constituencies saw voting percentage of less than 50 percent. Repolls, the EC pointed out, were held in 40 polling stations or 0.0038 percent of the total 10.52 lakh polling stations as compared to 540 in 2019. Referring to overseas Indian electors, EC said over 1,19 lakh such people were registered in the category, including 1.06 lakh men, 12,950 women and 13 third gender, compared to 99,844 registered overseas electors in 2019. Overseas Indian electors are those who are Indian citizens residing abroad due to various reasons and eligible to vote here. They have come to India to vote showing their original passport as a proof of identity. Election officials recount the vote to make sure the counts match at a polling station in Brattleboro on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. WINDHAM School Board members approved a budget and articles to go to voters in March, preparing for a future in which the elementary school Now, its been 15 years. Most of the girls that are coming in here today dont know anything about Jessica, said Debbie Bolognani. But, she Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. Nancy Braus is a long-time political activist who writes from Guilford. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media. Editor's note: This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. Over the decades, cultural and artistic activities -- especially musical events -- have played a vital role in normalizing and enhancing bilateral ties. As early as 1973, a historic tour by the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra signaled a thaw in cultural exchange between China and the United States. Today, the musical landscapes of both countries are more closely interwoven than ever, reflecting a high level of mutual learning in the fields of culture and the arts. This week, Xinhua will release a series of three profiles on this topic, and the following text is the first piece. by Xinhua writers Wang Xiaopeng and Shi Yifei BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Jazz and Chinese folk songs may seem worlds apart, as distant from each other as the space between China and the United States. However, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by U.S. trumpet master Wynton Marsalis, brought to Chinese audiences an amazing blend of the two arts during their recent China tour. Over four weeks, up to Nov. 3, the orchestra staged performances in multiple cities including Beijing, Shenzhen and Hangzhou, captivating fans eager to experience the latest trends in the world of jazz. In Shenzhen, the ensemble performed jazz arrangements of popular Chinese folk music like "Where's the Road that You'll Take" for the first time. The arrangement is the theme song from a renowned TV adaptation of "Journey to the West," a classic novel centering on Sun Wukong, or the Monkey King. With his hallmark cross-cultural flair, Marsalis, the artistic director and leader of the world-renowned big band, infused "Horse Racing" -- a classic piece of Chinese folk music traditionally performed on the erhu -- with a jazz interpretation, leading his ensemble in collaboration with the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra. The creative, experimental blending of jazz with Chinese musical heritage, as well as selections from Symphony No. 4 "The Jungle," Marsalis' acclaimed original work, wowed an audience of around 1,400 at Shenzhen Concert Hall on Oct. 15. "Changes in instrumentation and harmony have enhanced the auditory experience of the folk music," Shenzhen resident Liu Gang said, expressing appreciation for the richness of the performances. The pieces performed in Shenzhen represent the latest results of Marsalis' deep dive into Chinese musical heritage, an interest initially sparked by the influence of his Chinese friends. Acknowledging the difficulty in fathoming the meaning of melodies in another culture, Marsalis told Xinhua in an exclusive interview during his recent tour that he had "listened to Chinese traditional music many times." Over time, the nine-time Grammy Award-winner reflected, he had tuned into Chinese folk music; the instruments, the sound of the space in the music and the lyrics and the directness of the melodic nature all resonated deeply with him. This kind of music is "distilled through a lot of people over a long time," he said, adding that he also likes Chinese folk music that features high-pitched voices because it has "a very penetrating quality and a kind of clear emotion." The orchestra arrived in Beijing -- the first leg of their tour -- on Oct. 7, ready for the 27th Beijing Music Festival. At the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Marsalis and other artists in the orchestra performed the "Shanghai Suite," an intriguing album composed to blend jazz with Chinese mythology, folklore and traditional musical heritage. The performance was the first time an audience in the Chinese capital had heard the arrangements live. The 9-movement suite, inspired by Marsalis' experiences in Shanghai, premiered at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai in 2019 and was staged in Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York in 2022. One movement called "Hot Pot!" was particularly memorable. Paying tribute to its namesake culinary inspiration, Marsalis said he enjoys this Chinese meal partly because "it's like a dish we have in New Orleans called gumbo, everything in one pot." "And also I like hotpot because it's such a communal dish. I like that people get around," he added. Marsalis reflected on the sheer variety of Chinese cuisines, confessing that he is also a fan of Beijing Roast Duck, also known as Peking Duck, and often gets roast duck on New Year's Day in the United States. There is another highlight in the suite called "Li Bai's Blues," which reveals his enthusiasm about Chinese poetry. Li was a renowned Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet. At Marsalis' home back in New York, there is an English-translated anthology of ancient Chinese poetry. Among the authors, he especially felt kinship with Li. "I like Li Bai's embrace of life," Marsalis said. "He embraces the ephemeral nature of life. We're here, we're gone." "And I like also Li Bai's ability to accept as it comes," he added. The poems of Li, a household name in China, much like the Monkey King, have been translated into multiple languages and are a treasure trove for many people studying Chinese culture. "I love the Chinese culture," Marsalis said, adding that with a deep history and rich culture, China is "one of the great cultures and countries in the world." Though he did not visit China until the 1990s, Marsalis' connection with the country dates back to the 1960s, when he was still in short trousers. "I have a coin collection and in the coin collection are some Chinese coins," he recollected, adding that at that time he never thought he would go to China. More than 50 years on, he has traveled to China on multiple occasions and boasts a growing fanbase here. He said that there are many things he likes about today's China, including the increase of trees, the modern railway system, the nightlife and the ever-evolving skyline. Believing that everything is connected to people, Marsalis highly values the role played by people-to-people exchanges. "A building is a building. But if somebody takes you through it and shows you and tells you, then it becomes more of an experience." As one of the most influential figures in modern jazz, Marsalis has been working hard to bring people together through music throughout his busy, prolific career. Over the decades, Marsalis, also director of Jazz Studies at the Juilliard School, has made education a significant mission and devoted much of his career to teaching and advocating music education, assisting young musicians from various backgrounds. On Oct. 22, he interacted with young musicians at Hangzhou-based Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, tutoring them in improvisation techniques. Huang Ye, a Gen-Z clarinetist, first met Marsalis during a high school jazz contest 10 years ago. Today, the trumpet master remains an inspiration for him. Since 2017, Huang has worked with Marsalis on many programs, performing with the U.S. artist on some movements of the Shanghai Suite. Marsalis' performances in China are a significant access point for many people into the world of jazz, said Huang, adding that he is working on programs that integrate Chinese musical heritage, such as elements of Kun Opera, into jazz, and encourage more Chinese musicians to perform their works in the United States. "Wynton has not only taught me the techniques of music, but also how to be an artist with a sense of responsibility," Huang said. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 27. Emirati Air Arabia will begin direct flights from Tashkent to Ras Al Khaimah starting December 27 as part of its winter season schedule, Uzbekistan Airports management told Trend. The flight operations will be conducted on a weekly basis, specifically on Fridays, utilizing Airbus A320 airframes for optimal performance and efficiency. This represents the tertiary emirate within the operational purview of the airline's service network. Air Arabia, a budget airline based in Sharjah (UAE), facilitates air travel from Sharjah and Alexandria, in addition to four Moroccan airports, to a diverse array of destinations spanning the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the CIS region. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel When a passenger plane with 67 people on board slammed to the ground on Kazakhstans Caspian Sea coast early on December 25, Russian authorities and state media were quick to name possible causes: heavy fog, a bird strike, and -- after footage showing pre-crash damage to the jet emerged -- the explosion of an oxygen tank in the cabin. But mounting evidence suggests the Azerbaijan Airlines plane, which was headed from Baku to Grozny, the capital of Russias Chechnya region, may have been hit by an air-defense missile defending against an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on Chechnya before crossing the Caspian and crashing near Aqtau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 passengers and crew. The evidence, much of which has not been corroborated by authorities in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, or Russia, includes footage from inside the plane before the crash, images of the planes hole-pocked tail section after the crash, a survivors comments, and accounts indicating that there was a suspected drone attack around the time the plane apparently tried to land in Grozny. If a surface-to-air strike is confirmed as the cause, it would be the second time a Russian missile has shot down a passenger jet since Moscows war on Ukraine started with the occupation of Crimea and the conflict in the Donbas a decade ago. A Russian Buk missile that was brought into territory held by Moscow-backed forces in the Donetsk region downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 passengers and crew. After that crash, Russia unleashed a hail of false claims and outlandish theories about the cause. 'Exposed To GPS Jamming' The Embraer 190 left Baku before dawn with 62 passengers and five crew. The short flight northwest to Grozny was apparently uneventful for half an hour, at which point the aircraft encountered significant GPS interference, according to Flightradar24, a site that tracks air traffic worldwide. It said that from then until about 20 minutes before the crash, Flightradar24 at times received no data at all from the plane and at other times received data in which details about its position were absent or inaccurate. The aircraft was exposed to GPS jamming and spoofing near Grozny, Flightradar24 said. While these measures themselves are unlikely to have caused the crash, they are signs that efforts to defend against a drone attack may have been under way on the ground. Reports of a drone attack on Grozny around the time the aircraft was in the area were posted by both a Chechen opposition Telegram channel and Baza, a Russian outlet with ties to the security services. Baza also said the Grozny airport stopped accepting incoming flights due to the alleged attack. Open-source researchers confirmed a drone strike on Chechnya through geolocation. A post on an Instagram account run by Chechen Security Council Secretary Khamzat Kadyrov, a nephew of the autocratic regional leader Ramzan Kadyrov, said that a drone attack was successfully repelled and included a brief clip of what the account suggested was a drone being hit and bursting into flames. The post was subsequently taken down. State-run news outlet Grozny-Inform, apparently referring to the same Instagram post, also reported that Khamzat Kadyrov wrote all [drones] have been shot down. 'Something Exploded' According to a purported transcript of a radio exchange between the cockpit crew and a Grozny dispatcher that was published on December 25 by VChK-OGPU, a telegram channel that posts on the war in Ukraine and has been designated a foreign agent by the Russian state, the crew reported that they had lost control of the plane due to a bird strike. The VChK-OGPU report and the authenticity of the transcript could not be verified. The channel itself cast doubt on the notion of a bird strike, saying in a December 26 post that the damage visible in images of the remnants of the jet after its crash indicates that a missile launched by an air-defense system probably exploded next to the plane. A surviving passenger told state-run Russian channel RT that they made three attempts to land in Grozny and that on the third approach something exploded. I wouldnt say it was inside the plane and that a piece of shrapnel flew between his legs and punctured a life jacket. The pilots pulled the plane away from Grozny, with the purported transcript indicating that they asked the control tower about the weather in Mineralniye Vody and Makhachkala, two cities relatively close by. But the plane eventually crossed eastward over the Caspian and crashed near Aqtau at 11:28 a.m. local time, about an hour after the first reports that a drone attack on Grozny had been repelled. A video of the jet descending and then hitting the ground indicates that it was intact and not on fire until it crashed. Post-crash images and footage of the tail section of the plane show numerous holes, tears, and dents that observers say look like damage from shrapnel. The edges of the holes are bent inwards, indicating an explosion outside the plane, not inside the cabin. Military analyst Yan Matveyev told Current Time that the explosion of a Russian Pantsir S-1 missile at some distance from the fuselage could have caused the damage. In addition, footage from inside the plane before the crash shows substantial damage. According to The Wall Street Journal, British-headquartered aviation-security firm Osprey Flight Solutions said in an alert to airlines that the flight was likely shot down by a Russian military air-defense system. Video of the wreckage and the circumstances around the airspace security environment in southwest Russia indicates the possibility the aircraft was hit by some form of antiaircraft fire, the Journal quoted Ospreys chief intelligence officer, Matt Borie, as saying. The plane was shot down by a Russian air defense system, Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, wrote in a post on X on December 25. He did not cite evidence beyond the existing footage, media reports, and open-source information. Ukraine has carried out numerous drone attacks on military targets in Russia since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Drone attacks on Chechnya and other parts of the North Caucasus have increased in recent months. Kazakh, Russian, and Azerbaijani authorities have said they wont comment on the cause of the crash until an investigation is complete, and Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, urged others not to air hypotheses. In Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov has not commented beyond expressing condolences. RFE/RLs Azerbaijani Service, Kazakh Service, Russian Service, and Current Time contributed to this report. Kazakh experts are due to arrive on December 27 to examine the crash site and black box of the ill-fated Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet, as speculation and evidence mounted suggesting that a Russian air defense missile may have inadvertently struck the craft. Even as the probe intensifies, countries with victims aboard the plane Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan -- continue to mourn their dead and treat the injured among the 67 passengers and crew who were aboard when the Embraer 190 aircraft fell from the sky on December 25. The plane went down on a scheduled flight from the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, to Grozny in Russia's Chechnya region after it was diverted and attempted an emergency landing near the city of Aqtau in western Kazakhstan, killing 38 and injuring 29, many with severe burns suffered in the flaming crash. Speculation swirled around the tragedy, with some experts pointing to holes seen in the planes tail section as a possible sign that it could have come under fire from Russian air defense systems engaged in thwarting Ukrainian drone attacks. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told news agencies that indications suggest a Russian antiaircraft system struck the airliner, although the official provided no details. Canada expressed concerns about reports that Russian air defenses may have caused the crash. "We call on Russia to allow for an open and transparent investigation into the incident and to accept its findings," the Canadian Global Affairs office said on X. Evidence, yet to be corroborated by authorities, includes footage from inside the plane before the crash, images of the planes hole-pocked tail section after the crash, a survivors comments, and accounts indicating that there was a suspected drone attack around the time the plane apparently tried to land in Grozny. Reuters quoted an Azerbaijani source familiar with the investigation as saying results indicated the plane was hit by a Pantsir-S air defense system, a self-propelled antiaircraft gun and missile system designed by Russia. It was not immediately clear where the black box would be examined. The process can be highly technical, and not all countries have the resources to undertake such work. Gulag Aslanli, a leader of Azerbaijan's opposition Musavat movement, told RFE/RL that an international commission was needed to investigate the incident. "Russia cannot be allowed there," he said. "If the black box is going to be taken to Russia and examined there, I will look at its outcome with suspicion." Talgat Lastaev, Kazakhstan's vice minister of transport, told RFE/RL that experts are scheduled to arrive at the site on December 27 to assess the next steps regarding the black box. Officials said it typically takes about two weeks to fully assess a black box, although various conditions can alter that time frame. Commenting on unconfirmed reports that the plane may have been shot down by a missile, Kazakh Senate Speaker Maulen Ashimbaev said it was not possible to say what may have damaged the aircraft until the investigation is finished. "Real experts are looking at all this and they will make their conclusions. Neither Kazakhstan, Russia, nor Azerbaijan, of course, is interested in hiding information, it will be brought to the public," Ashimbaev said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made a similar comment, saying: "We need to await the end of the investigation. It was wrong to speculate before the investigators gave their findings, Peskov added. Russia's Interfax news agency quoted officials as saying the plane, commissioned in 2013, had passed a maintenance check in October and that the pilot had "vast experience," with more than 15,000 flying hours. Azerbaijan Airlines President Samir Rzayev also told reporters the plane had been fully serviced in October and that there was no sign of technical malfunction. But he said it was too early to determine a cause: "The plane has been found with a black box. After detailed research, all aspects will be clear." The airline suspended flights along the route of the crash pending completion of the investigation. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also said it was too early to determine a cause but at one point had suggested bad weather could have contributed to the crash. The office of Azerbaijans Prosecutor General said that "all possible scenarios are being examined." As the first seven survivors arrived back in the country on December 26, Azerbaijan observed a national day of mourning. Burials of four of those who lost their lives were conducted during the day, with additional funerals expected in the coming hours and days. National flags were flown at half-mast across Azerbaijan, and signals were sounded from vehicles, ships, and trains as the nation observed a moment of silence at noon to honor the victims of the plane crash. Officials in Baku said the wounded arrived on a special flight arranged by Azerbaijan's Emergency Affairs Ministry and that the injured were accompanied by medical professionals. There was no immediate word on the condition of the injured, who were among 29 survivors from the crash, many of whom suffered severe burn wounds. Ayhan Solomon, Azerbaijans chief consul in Aqtau, told reporters that 26 of those killed were Azerbaijani citizens. He said initial reports indicate that 16 Azerbaijani citizens survived. Of those, 10 to 12 are in good condition and others remain critically stable, he added. Azerbaijan Airlines' supervisory board said on December 26 that the families of those killed will be compensated with 40,000 manats ($23,460), while those injured would receive 20,000 manats ($11,730). Along with the 42 Azerbaijani citizens, those aboard Flight J2-8243 were listed as 16 Russian nationals, six from Kazakhstan, and three Kyrgyz citizens, officials said. The survivors include nine Russian citizens, who were flown to Moscow on December 26 by the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry. Three of the Russian survivors were in critical condition, according to Russian health authorities. Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Qanat Bozymbaev -- who is in charge of a special government commission to investigate the incident -- said many of those who died in the crash were not immediately identifiable due to massive burns suffered. Bozymbaev said the 29 survivors had injuries ranging from moderate to severe, with many also suffering from major burns. According to Kazakhstans Health Ministry, the injured included at least two children and 11 people had been placed in intensive care. Ukraine has agreed to a US proposal for a 30-day cease-fire in the war against the Russian invasion, prompting the United States to say it would immediately lift the suspension of military aid, including the sharing of intelligence. The outcome of nine hours of talks on March 11 in Jeddah marked a stunning turnaround less than two weeks after an acrimonious meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The clash between the two leaders preceded the US pause in aid and limits on intelligence sharing, which the United States said were imposed because of doubts that Ukraine was committed to seeking peace. "The President wanted this war to end yesterday... So our hope is that the Russians will answer 'yes' as quickly as possible, so we can get to the second phase of this, which is real negotiations," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters after the agreement was announced. A joint statement issued by the two countries said Ukraine expressed a "readiness" to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day cease-fire, "which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation." Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump said a meeting with Russia would take place later on March 11 or the following day. Rubio, who attended the talks in Saudi Arabia along with national-security adviser Mike Waltz, said the cease-fire plan puts the ball in Russias court. Were going to tell them this is whats on the table, he said of Russian President Vladimir Putins government. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now itll be up to them to say yes or no." Russian officials have repeatedly said that they want a comprehensive peace deal, not a cease-fire or other temporary arrangement. Russia's Foreign Ministry said it wouldn't rule out contacts with US officials over next several days, but gave no further comment. The US and Ukrainian delegations said they also discussed the importance of humanitarian relief efforts as part of the peace process, particularly during the cease-fire, including the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children. "I have confirmation that the security assistance from the United States has been restored," Pavlo Palisa, deputy head of the Ukrainian President's Office and a member of the delegation, said in a post on Facebook. "Arrangements are starting to be fulfilled." In addition, Ukraine and the United States agreed to conclude a pact on joint development of Ukrainian critical minerals and other resources as soon as possible. That deal had been expected to be signed at the White House meeting on February 28, but Zelenskyy left early after the argument in the Oval Office, leaving it in limbo. Ukraine Invasion: News & Analysis RFE/RL's Ukraine Live Briefing gives you the latest developments on Russia's invasion, Western military aid, the plight of civilians, and territorial control maps. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. The talks were closely watched across Europe, which has grown concerned Washington's renewed contacts with the Kremlin would sideline both Kyiv and Brussels from the peace process. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recently traveled to the White House to meet Trump, congratulated the US and Ukrainian delegations, saying it is now up to Moscow to end the fighting. European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saidthe proposal for a ceasefire agreement and the resumption of U.S. intelligence sharing and security assistance was a welcome development. "This is a positive development that can be a step towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine. The ball is now in Russias court," she added. The talks in Jeddah on March 11 followed a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack that struck the Moscow region and other Russian provinces overnight, killing three people. John Herbst, a former US ambassador to Ukraine, said before the joint statement that restoring intelligence cooperation should be seen as a positive result for Kyiv. He also said sequencing in future negotiations will be crucial. While an early cease-fire can be key part of a future peace process, he stresses that it's important that it be followed by further steps toward a lasting peace deal, such as continued military shipments to Ukraine, a potential demilitarized zone, and a greater role for European countries, including their forces deployed as peacekeepers. These are all serious ideas that have been floated, Herbst said. That might not be a just peace, because a just peace wouldnt see Ukraine have to concede territory, but it could still be a durable one that makes it very hard for Russia to renew aggression. What Role Will Russia And Europe Play In Peace Talks? As Ukrainian and US officials met in Saudi Arabia, attention was also shifting to the other two players that will decide how the war ends: Russia and Kyivs European allies. Top military officials from more than 30 nations met in Paris on March 11 for talks on the creation of an international security force for Ukraine. The force is being envisaged by Britain and France. Its aim is to reassure Ukraine and deter another large-scale Russian offensive after any cease-fire. The force might include heavy weaponry and weapons stockpiles that could be rushed within hours or days to aid in Ukraines defense. Russia has so far said it is against accepting European troops in Ukraine as part of a deal. The Kremlin has also spoken about getting Western sanctions lifted on its economy as part of a peace process, including in Saudi Arabia where US and Russian officials held talks nearly a month ago. Marie Dumoulin, a former French diplomat and an analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations, says that this gives European governments some leverage when the dust settles from the talks in Jeddah. She said that doubts remain in European capitals about whether Russia is willing to make any concessions of its own and that Europe can use both its own offer of security guarantees to Ukraine and the possibility of lifting European Union sanctions on Russia as a way to shape discussions in both Moscow and Washington. This gives Ukraine a few more cards to hold at the table, Dumoulin told RFE/RL. These can give Ukraine some room to say whether the deal being offered to them is good enough yet or not. RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and RFE/RL's Kosovo Service contributed to this report 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 BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 26. Iran has been granted observer status in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Trend reports. The decision was made today during today's meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Russian St. Petersburg. Meanwhile, Iran's request for observer status in the EAEU was considered in August 2024. Participants in the discussions highlighted the steady growth in trade and economic cooperation between EAEU member states and Iran. Additionally, Iran's exports to EAEU countries increased by 21% in value and 22% in volume during the first nine months of the current Iranian year (from March 20 to December 20, 2024), compared to the same period last year (from March 21 to December 21, 2023). In these nine months, Iran exported 3.86 million tons of goods to EAEU countries, worth approximately $1.5 billion. The Eurasian Economic Union constitutes a transnational entity facilitating regional economic synergies and collaborative frameworks. The entity possesses an international legal personality and was constituted through the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union, executed on May 29, 2014, in Astana. The primary aim is to establish a unified marketplace analogous to the EU. The objective is to realize this through the synchronization of economic policy frameworks, the eradication of non-tariff trade impediments, the alignment of regulatory standards, and the modernization of the economic infrastructures across its quintet of member states. US President Donald Trump has urged Russia to agree to a 30-day cease-fire, warning he would slap additional sanctions on the country if it refused the US proposal, as Moscow made more gains on the battlefield. "Russia has no way out but cease-fire. If needed we will sanction it, but I hope we won't need to," Trump told reporters at the White House on March 12. "In a financial sense we can do very unpleasant, very bad things, devastating for Russia, but I don't want to," he said. His comments come a day after Kyiv agreed to the temporary cease-fire following nine hours of talks with Trump administration officials in Saudi Arabia. Trump has made ending Russia's more than three-year full-scale invasion of Ukraine a top priority since taking office for a second term less than two months ago, quickly dispatching his top officials to Moscow and Kyiv to prepare the groundwork for peace talks. He has used Washington's significant leverage over Ukraine -- namely military aid and intelligence sharing -- to get Kyiv to agree to the cease-fire proposal, which if implemented, would leave almost 20 percent of the country in Russia's hands for the time being, at least. But Trump lacks that type of leverage with Russia, which has navigated sweeping US and European sanctions placed on its economy following the invasion much better than most experts forecasted. Putin may seek to drag out talks with the US over a cease-fire to improve Russia's position on the battlefield and hence at the negotiating table when and if Moscow and Kyiv hammer out a peace deal. As Trump spoke at the White House, Putin was visiting troops in Russia's Kursk region, where fierce fighting is currently taking place and Moscow's forces are advancing. Ukraine seized a swath of the Kursk region in a stealth incursion in August seen as an effort to divert Russian forces from eastern Ukraine and use the territory as a bargaining chip during any peace talks. That strategy is now at risk of failing as Russian forces slowly push the Ukrainians out of Kursk. Russians forces have retaken more than half the territory initially captured by Ukraine. Putin's visit to Kursk was his first since the incursion and signals the momentum Russia has in that theater of the war. The Kremlin leader urged his troops to retake the region in its entirety "as soon as possible." Ukraine's top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskiy, said that fighting continued in and around Sudzha, the largest town in the part of the region that Ukraine occupied. Unconfirmed reports on March 12 indicated that Ukraine has begun to draw back units as Russian officials claimed their troops had captured more settlements, including Sudzha. "Despite increased pressure from the Russian and North Korean forces, we will maintain the defense of the Kursk region as long as it is appropriate and necessary," Syrskiy wrote on Telegram. In a Facebook post, Syrskiy said that saving soldiers lives is a priority and that Ukrainian troops "maneuver to more favorable positions, if necessary," wording often used top describe a retreat. Concessions? Trump hinted that Ukraine would have to make concessions on land, something more and more experts say is inevitable given Russia's momentum on the battlefield. "When we talk cease-fire [with Ukraine], we talked land, who's withdrawing -- we discussed a lot of things [with Ukraine]," Trump said. "We don't want to waste time, people are dying. Russia is not in the best situation now. I hope [Putin] gets a cease-fire." Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the cease-fire proposal and said he hoped it would be used as a draft for a lasting peace deal that included security guarantees for Ukraine. "It's now up to Russia what is next," he said at a March 12 press conference, and whether "it wants to continue its aggression against Ukraine or not." On the streets of Kyiv, some Ukrainians told RFE/RL's Current Time that they doubted whether Russia would sign on to, and adhere to, a cease-fire deal. "I'm not sure what to say, but it all seems implausible, frankly speaking," said one Kyiv man, while a woman in the capital said the cease-fire talks were "meaningless without Russia taking part." Moscow has so far declined to comment on the specifics of the proposal for the 30-day cease-fire, and it's unclear whether Putin has made up his mind on the agreement. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was "carefully studying" the joint US-Ukraine statement issued following the Jeddah talks and will wait to comment until Russian negotiators receive more detailed information from Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who represented the United States at the talks, said Washington "will have contact with Russians" today. Trump on March 11 said he would soon speak with Putin to secure his commitment. Mike Waltz, the White House national-security adviser, spoke with his Russian counterpart on March 12, while Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff also planned to travel to Moscow, possibly to meet Putin. CIA Director John Ratcliffe held a phone call with Sergei Naryshkin, director of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, late on March 11, the Interfax news agency reported. Rubio told reporters on March 12 in first comments since leaving the talks in Jeddah that the United States hoped to have a positive answer from Russia toward the cease-fire deal and "strongly urge[s] Russians to end all hostilities. Konstantin Kosachev, an influential lawmaker in Russia's upper house of parliament, seemed to imply that Moscow would not simply accept the US-backed ceasefire proposal but attach conditions, taking into account that Russian forces have the momentum on the battlefield. "Russia is advancing, and therefore it will be different with Russia," Kosachyov said in a Telegram post. "Any agreements (with all understanding of the need for compromise) will be on our terms, not American," he said. "And this is not boasting, but an understanding that real agreements are still being written there, on the front line. Which Washington should also understand." Rubio also said Ukraine will need a strong deterrent to prevent future attacks and that Europeans will "need to be involved in this regard." He added that further discussions would need to tackle to topic of the European Union lifting sanctions on the Russian economy. "I would imagine that in any negotiation, if we get there, hopefully with the Russians, they will raise these European sanctions that have been imposed upon them," Rubio said. Moscow has so far been against a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated Russia's position during an interview with three right-wing US bloggers that it will under no conditions accept the presence of NATO forces in Ukraine. Minerals Deal Washington and Kyiv could sign a framework agreement as early as this week on sharing the revenue generated from Ukraine's mineral resources. Trump and Zelenskyy intended to sign the deal during their meeting at the Oval Office on February 28. However, the two got into a heated, public exchange over security guarantees for Ukraine and the meeting was abruptly ended without any deal. Rubio cautioned that he "would not couch [the] minerals deal as a security guarantee." But he added that "if the United States has a vested economic interest thats generating revenue for our people as well as for the people of Ukraine, wed have a vested interest in protecting it if it were to be challenged or threatened." The parade of comments come after Russia and Ukraine traded air attacks overnight just hours after Kyiv agreed to accept the cease-fire proposal. Two Russian missile strikes hit the central Ukrainian city of Kryviy Rih on March 12, killing one person, while a separate attack killed four crew members of a cargo ship near the southern port city of Odesa. Russia's Defense Ministry said its air-defense systems shot down six drones overnight on March 12, one over Ukraine's Russia-annexed Crimea and five over the Black Sea. The Krymsky Veter Telegram channel reported loud explosions and air-raid sirens over Crimean towns and near Russian military sites. The United States announced after the talks in Saudi Arabia that it would immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and restore military aid to Ukraine, which could be a boost to Ukrainian forces. Ukraine's battlefield positions have been under heavy pressure, particularly in Russia's Kursk region. By David Young, PA The Northern Ireland tourism sector faces a significant hit if visitors arriving across the Irish border are not exempted from the UKs new visa waiver scheme, industry chiefs have warned. From January 8th, all non-European visitors to the UK who do not require a visa will instead need to purchase an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). From April 2nd, European visitors will also need an ETA, which cost 12 (10) and is linked to a travellers passport. The initial introduction of the ETA earlier this year applied only to travellers from the Gulf states. By April 2025 all visitors who do not need a visa will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). From today, information about ETA eligibility is available on https://t.co/rB6h281erE pic.twitter.com/0hyINwyos1 Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) September 10, 2024 Irish citizens travelling into Northern Ireland do not require an ETA because they are entitled to move freely in the UK under the Common Travel Area arrangements, and non-Irish citizens who are resident in Ireland are being granted an exemption under the visa waiver scheme. Tourism businesses in Northern Ireland have been warning for more than two years about the potential consequences of the post-Brexit scheme, highlighting that 70 per cent of international visitors to the region travel across its land border having arrived in the Republic of Ireland first. They fear that individual travellers and tour companies organising trips to the island of Ireland will decide against taking in the region when they learn of the need to apply for and pay for an ETA. Their concerns are intensifying as the full rollout approaches and with the UK Government showing no appetite to grant an additional exemption under the scheme. Joanne Stuart from the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance (Joanne Stuart/PA) Tourism promotion bodies Tourism NI and Tourism Ireland have also expressed concern about the impact on the sector, as has the Irish Government. Stormont Economy minister Conor Murphy is pressing the UK Government to grant an exemption to tourists who cross the border into Northern Ireland. A collective of 25 key players in the industry has written to the minister for migration and citizenship at the Home Office, Seema Malhotra, warning of the implications if an exemption is not granted. Joanne Stuart from the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance (Nita), which is spearheading the lobbying effort, said up to 20 per cent of revenue around 241 million (200 million) from overnight tourist stays in Northern Ireland is generated by international visitors. She said the prospect of a tourist without an ETA being stopped and potentially detained and deported would cause serious reputational damage to the local tourism industry. Northern Ireland Economy Minister Conor Murphy said solutions were needed to protect the tourism sector (PA) Ms Stuart said tourist businesses are also concerned that overseas tour operators will stop trips over the border to avoid the administrative hassle of arranging ETAs for all their clients. Nita is liaising with the Government to ensure information about the ETA is effectively communicated to all visitors planning trips to Northern Ireland next year amid fears that many tourists landing in Dublin will be unaware of the new requirement to travel north. Northern Ireland is doing really well for tourism, said Ms Stuart. Weve come out of the pandemic, the industry has shown how resilient it is. We are starting to get back to where we were before the pandemic and this is an obstacle that we do not need. We need to grow our international markets. We are promoted as the island of Ireland and this is something that makes people think about whether they want to come to Northern Ireland or not. We are on an island, so theres a lot of choice for tour operators to decide not to include Northern Ireland in their trip. And although this is very small numbers from a UK perspective, this is a significant impact financially for Northern Ireland at a time when we have a cost-of-living crisis, we have the impact on business costs, with the National Insurance increase for employers and the increase in the National Minimum Wage. So businesses are dealing with a lot, and the last thing that we need to do is put any of our business at risk due to this permission to travel. Minister for migration and citizenship at the Home Office Seema Malhotra (PA) A spokesperson for Tourism Ireland said: Typically around 70 per cent of non-British visitors to Northern Ireland arrive first in Ireland. Tourism industry partners on the ground have voiced concerns that for international visitors travelling on the island of Ireland, the requirement of an ETA to visit Northern Ireland could create a sense of friction or an extra step in travel planning. Knowing that the ETA scheme will be introduced next year, Tourism Ireland will continue to ensure easy access to the right information for overseas visitors and travel trade contacts and will showcase all the must visit reasons for them to choose Northern Ireland. Mr Murphys department said the minister shared the concerns articulated by the industry. The introduction and planned rollout of the ETA scheme is consistently raised with the minister, a departmental spokesperson said. Our all-island economy is vital, and seamless all-island travel is key to building on the growth we have seen in our tourism sector. The strong concerns expressed by the tourism and travel industry in the north and its potential impact on our tourism product and our wider economy, are concerns that the minister shares. Minister Murphy reiterated these concerns recently during a meeting with Minister Malhotra and outlined that this is an issue where he believes solutions are needed to protect our tourism, travel and hospitality sector in the north, especially as these businesses are facing a range of challenges such as rising energy and staff costs including additional impacts from the British Governments recent Budget. A UK Government spokesperson said: People arriving in Northern Ireland need to enter in line with the UKs immigration framework, including obtaining an ETA if required. We are committed to working with a wide range of stakeholders to help ensure the ETA requirement is communicated effectively and to mitigate against it being seen as a barrier to cross-border tourism on the island of Ireland. Dr Manmohan Singh Death News Today Dr Manmohan Singh was known to have recovered sinking ship of Indian economy Dr Manmohan Singh Death News Today: Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, a distinguished economist and a pivotal figure in Indian politics, passed away on December 26, 2024, at the age of 92. He breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, where he had been admitted following a decline in his health. Born on September 26, 1932, in Gah, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Dr. Singhs family relocated to India during the partition in 1947. He pursued higher education in economics, earning a doctorate from Oxford University. Dr. Singhs career encompassed roles as an academician, bureaucrat, and politician. He served as the Chief Economic Advisor (19721976), Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (19821985), and head of the Planning Commission (19851987). Advertisement In 1991, amid a severe economic crisis, Dr. Singh was appointed as the Finance Minister by then-Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao. He implemented significant economic reforms that liberalized Indias economy, steering the nation towards a path of rapid growth. His tenure as the 13th Prime Minister of India, from 2004 to 2014, was marked by key legislations and projects, including the National Rural Health Mission, the Rural Employment Guarantee scheme, and the Right to Information Act. Dr. Singh was the first Sikh to hold the office of Prime Minister in India and was the first since Jawaharlal Nehru to be re-elected after completing a full five-year term. His leadership was instrumental in navigating India through various economic challenges and achieving significant milestones in development. His demise marks the end of an era in Indian politics. Tributes have poured in from across the nation, with leaders and citizens alike mourning the loss of a visionary who dedicated his life to the service of the country. Advertisement (For more on Dr. Manmohan Singhs death news, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Mild Earthquake Jolts Haryana for Second Consecutive Day Experts suggest these recurring tremors may indicate the possibility of a larger earthquake in the coming weeks. Earthquake Haryana Today on Second Consecutive Day Latest News: Haryana experienced yet another earthquake within 24 hours, as mild tremors were recorded on Thursday morning at 9:42 AM. The epicenter was once again located in Sonipat, at a depth of 10 kilometers beneath the surface, with a magnitude of 2.6 on the Richter scale, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS). The tremors follow Wednesday's earthquake at 12:28 PM, which had a magnitude of 3.5 and an epicenter 5 kilometers deep near Kundal village in Kharkhoda, Sonipat. The earlier quake caused strong jolts across Rohtak, Sonipat, Panipat, Jhajjar, and Gurugram, prompting residents to rush out of their homes. Advertisement Concerns Over Potential Bigger Earthquake Experts suggest these recurring tremors may indicate the possibility of a larger earthquake in the coming weeks. Sources predict that a significant seismic event could occur by January 7-8, heightening concerns in the Sonipat district, which is increasingly being classified as a sensitive seismic zone. Recent Seismic History in Haryana Advertisement This is not the first time Haryana has faced consecutive earthquakes. Five months ago, Faridabad experienced two earthquakes within an hour, both with a magnitude of 2.4. Those tremors were traced to an epicenter 5 kilometers deep within the district. As the state braces for potential seismic activity, residents in affected areas are advised to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions. (For more news apart from Earthquake Haryana Today on Second Consecutive Day Latest News, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Haryana Government Announces Public Holiday Schedule for 2025 The notification confirms that all Saturdays and Sundays will be observed as holidays throughout the year. Haryana Government Announces Public Holiday Schedule List for 2025: The Haryana Government has officially released the list of public holidays for 2025, applicable to all state government offices. The announcement, made by Chief Secretary Dr. Vivek Joshi, also includes a selection of special days and restricted holidays, ensuring a balanced calendar for employees across the state. Haryana Government Key Public Holiday Schedule List 2025: The notification confirms that all Saturdays and Sundays will be observed as holidays throughout the year. Notable public holidays for 2025 include: Advertisement Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Jayanti : January 6 Guru Ravidas Jayanti : February 12 : February 12 Maha Shivratri : February 26 : February 26 Holi : March 14 : March 14 Independence Day : August 15 : August 15 Diwali : October 20 : October 20 Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti : November 5 : November 5 Christmas: December 25 While these dates ensure state-wide closures, certain festivals like Republic Day (January 26) and Janmashtami (August 16), which fall on already closed days, are excluded from the holiday list. Haryana Government Special Day Schedule List for 2025: The state government has designated several days as "Special Days" to honor key historical and cultural figures, though they will not be public holidays. These include: Advertisement Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti : January 23 Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jayanti : April 11 : April 11 Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti: October 31 These days aim to encourage reflection on the contributions of notable personalities without disrupting official working hours. Haryana Negotiable Instrument Act Holidays List for 2025: Under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instrument Act, of 1881, the government has declared holidays applicable across all sectors except judicial courts. Key dates include: Advertisement Guru Ravidas Jayanti : February 12 : February 12 Holi : March 14 : March 14 Annual Bank Closing Day : April 1 : April 1 Diwali: October 20 Haryana Restricted Holidays List for 2025: Employees are allowed to choose up to three holidays from a list of Restricted Holidays, which includes: Good Friday : April 18 : April 18 Hariyali Teej : July 27 : July 27 Karva Chauth : October 10 : October 10 Chhath Puja: October 28 Cultural Inclusivity and Flexibility The comprehensive holiday list reflects Haryanas commitment to cultural inclusivity, ensuring recognition of diverse traditions and practices. It also offers employees flexibility through restricted holidays, empowering them to celebrate occasions meaningful to them. With the announcement, Haryanas workforce can look forward to a well-structured calendar for 2025, balancing work responsibilities with opportunities for rest and celebration. (For more news apart from Haryana Government Announces Public Holiday Schedule List for 2025, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) SGPC President Dhami Criticizes Depiction of Younger Sahibzadas in Kerala School Event Photos of the event, which were shared on the schools social media, sparked outrage. Amritsar, December 26, 2024: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami has condemned the portrayal of Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, the younger Sahibzadas of Sri Guru Gobind Singh, during an event organized under the Centre Governments Veer Bal Diwas program at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Payyanur, Kerala. Advocate Dhami expressed strong disapproval, emphasizing that such imitations are inappropriate, especially when the Sikh community is observing the martyrdom days of the Sahibzadas. He stated, The depiction of the younger Sahibzadas in this manner is not aligned with Sikh principles and deeply hurts the sentiments of the Sikh community. Advertisement Photos of the event, which were shared on the schools social media, sparked outrage. Following objections raised by the SGPC, the school removed the images. However, Dhami asserted that the Centre must take concrete steps to prevent such occurrences nationwide. He called upon the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Women and Child Development, and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to ensure that future observances related to the Sahibzadas adhere to Sikh principles and history. Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dhami reiterated that the title Veer Bal Diwas, given to commemorate the martyrdom of the Sahibzadas, has not been accepted by the SGPC, Sri Akal Takht Sahib, or other prominent Sikh institutions. He urged the government to adopt the name Sahibzade Shahadat Diwas, as recommended by the SGPC, and issue an updated gazette notification. Advertisement The younger Sahibzadas achieved unparalleled martyrdom with courage at a tender age. As per Sikh principles, they are honored with the term Baba. The government must respect this sentiment, Dhami stated. Christmas in Romania Christmas customs and traditions in Maramures -craciun brad- foto pasja1000 pixabay Eugen Nasta, 26.12.2024, 14:00 The celebration of Christmas is one of the years most popular and most eagerly-awaited celebrations. It is a time of traditions and customs, handed down from one generation to the next. The carol, the adorned fir tree, the episodes with religious motifs and the lavish meals are something usual all-around Romania, far and wide, mainly in the rural regions, there where customs and traditions are best preserved. Located in northern Romania, Maramures is one of the most sought-after regions for people to spend the winter holidays. Our stopover today is an area made of twelve authentic villages, lying along the valleys of rivers Mara and Cosau; they are somehow embraced by the Gutai Mountains. The twelve villages make the Eco Maramures Destination. Welcoming us is manager Edi Pop. These authentic villages entice visitors to spend their winter holidays there. What does that mean? It just means visitors are enticed to be part of the village life. Tourists are expected, for Christmas and the winter holidays, to find out more about the local traditions and customs. There are a great many traditions that have still been preserved. There are those dishes typical for the winter holidays which the hosts prepare them with utmost care. Since we are in a ecotourism destination and activities in nature are those we mainly offer for tourists, we invite them, the very moment they come to spend their winter holidays in the villages of Maramures, to take a walk along the streets of the village. We invite them to discover the uniqueness of the place, to discover the wood civilization, the local architecture inside the villages and discover the hay culture in the villages surrounding areas. We shall find those hayfields, with hundreds of haystacks scattered there, which, at wintertime, create a fairy-tale scenery. At Christmas time, the old wooden churches become the main attraction of the Maramures village. Locals and tourists alike head towards the beautiful religious edifices with tall steeples. It is practically the main activity or attraction for tourists. They are invited to take part, alongside locals, in everything related to observing customs and traditions during the winter holidays. And they, if they turn up a little bit earlier as part of their Christmas package, can take part in pig slaughter on December 20 on Saint Ignatius feast. The most interesting are Christmas and Christmas Eve since on the Eve of Christmas all houses are floodlit, all gates are open, children and youngsters go a- caroling from one house to the next, announcing Nativity. It is only after that when the Christmas celebration begins. They are rewarded, by the hosts, with Hogmanays, nuts and apples because until the Morning Star rises in the sky, the Maramures villages still observe Advent. Everybody in the village dresses in traditional apparel. The tourists who are in their holiday destination are being dressed by the locals in traditional clothes and are asked to join them for the Nativity mass. There are loads of activities tourists can do at the end of the year. If were lucky enough to have snow, the horse-drawn sleighs are quite trendy. If we do not have snow, sleighs are being replaced by the wagons taking tourist to fairy-tale places, Maramures is beautiful with snow, yet it is also beautiful without snow. And, in all that dream scenery, standing out are the finely-carved gates, the fences of the house, all made of wood. With details on that, here is Eco Maramures destination manager, Edit Pop. The wood civilization or the story of wood, just as were wrapped it as part of a tourist offer, is somehow the cultural spine of the destination. Wood has been the raw matter at hand, of course, in the villages of yore. Of wood were made both the houses and the outhouses, of wood were made the carved gates. Of wood was made the braided fence and also of wood were made the churches, which make the cultural attraction of the villages in the destination. Every village has a wooden church or there also are a couple of villages that have even two churches. We have very many tourists from the Nordic countries, from the United States, Australia, Israel. I dont know how that happens, but there are quite a few of them, who come to get acquainted with Europe, and Maramures is never left out. They are fascinated with village life, there isnt a single thing about which you can say they do not like. It is that spirit foo the place. It is a way of life, the way of life of the Maramures village that has still preserved its uniqueness. About the warm atmosphere of the winter holidays in Maramures, we also found out more from Father Valeriu Mircea Vana. There are also specific events. The Customs and Traditions Festival in Sighetu Marmatiei has reached its 55th edition. It is held in the this day of Christmas. Also, each guesthouse, but also the public authority, because they collaborate, try to offer joy since it is a celebration of family and of joy, a cozy atmosphere where people also take part in traditions, and everybody enjoys the culinary delicatessen. Apart from that, there also is a part saved for the soul, the authentic part, the clean part. And that comes as an extra, apart from the visiting of the assets, as there are also cultural objectives, museums, wooden churches, the eight churches included in the UNESCO heritage list, the monasteries, and Maramures puts on its feast clothing. By all means, those who come will not regret it, but for that, they need to get in touch with people who are in the know, with specialists, if they want their experience to be unique, in a positive way. We also found out, from Father Valeriu Mircea Vana, about how important craftsmen are, at a time of celebration. Craftsmen are present as part of the holiday tourist packages. Not only is it important for us to participate in the show, but also we need to experiment, to carve a saucer ourselves. Here we have the art of weaving, the art of carving, the art of glass painting, the Dacian ceramic. You can take part on various workshops, for instance, in pottery-making workshops, not at professional level, though, but we can experiment. What we do, everyone of us, looks interesting, beautiful and we take this gift with us, back home. After we pay a visit to a monastery of the UNESCO world heritage list, we move on to the interactive side, irrespective of the age. Children and adults alike, but also the elderly, can participate in a glass painting workshop. After that, we can get to know the cuisine, as well as the traditional outfit, as mans relationship with the divine has always been eternal. We can thus find the motifs, the colours with their own symbolism. In Maramures you can also opt for accommodation in traditional houses, preserved just as they were over a hundred years ago. The interiors are specific while the windows are small, with the window frames made of wood. They are decorated with interior objects manufactured by the local craftsmen. They can be visited but they can also accommodate tourists, being examples of local initiative. Unveiled at Watches & Wonders 2024, Parmigiani Fleuriers revamped Toric collection blends timeless design with contemporary flair. But what are the secret details behind its success? When Parmigiani Fleurier CEO Guido Terreni revitalised the Tonda PF collection in 2021, it set a new benchmark for the brands modern appeal. With the relaunch of the dressy Toric collection at Watches & Wonders this year, Terreni then turned his attention to one of Parmigianis foundational models, first introduced in 1996. Parmigiani Fleurier CEO Guido Terreni Parmigiani Fleurier The revamped Toric line now comprises two distinct models, united by a shared design language of classical elegance: the minimalist 40.6mm Petite Seconde in platinum with a Grey Celadon dial or in rose gold with a Sand Gold dial, and the 42.5mm Chronographe Rattrapante, a 30-piece limited edition in 18k rose gold with a Natural Umber dial. Toric hand-grained 18k gold dial closeup Parmigiani Fleurier Each piece embodies a perfect synthesis of the clear vision and guiding principles of company founder Michel Parmigianis, enhanced splendidly by Terrenis contemporary touch. When I saw the first new Toric, I experienced immense pleasure and emotion, says Michel Parmigiani. The codes and identity have been honoured. The new Toric introduces a touch of modernity that makes it appear more contemporary than the original model. This is evidence of its timeless nature. The New Toric Chronographe Rattrapante in rose gold Parmigiani Fleurier Here are six design details behind the Toric that help make it the hit dress watch it is today. Whats in a Name? The name Toric is steeped in architectural geometry. As Michel Parmigiani explains: Toric derives from the word 'torus,' a geometric shape that represents a curved tube closed in on itself, found at the base of Greco-Roman columns. These tori inspired the name 'Toric.' This architectural influence underscores the watchs timeless appeal, connecting the collection to the enduring principles of classical design. Case Gadroons and Knurled Bezel A defining feature of the Toric collection is the gadrooned case design, characterised by incremental steps that add depth and texture. The knurled bezel, inspired by Doric columns, is one of these layers. A hallmark of ancient Greek architecture, Doric columns are known for their fluted shafts and plain capitals, embodying a robust and timeless aesthetic. Their unadorned simplicity conveys strength and balance, qualities mirrored in the refined design of the Toric. Gadrooned case design and the knurled bezel inspired by Doric columns Parmigiani Fleurier Michel Parmigiani shares an unexpected source of inspiration for the gadroons: On a beach in Malaysia, I found shells shaped like a hat with gadroons. When you tilt them 45 degrees and look at them, they seem flat. He continues: This optical illusion was fascinating. I thought that if I ever wanted to make a watch with a complicated movement, which increases the case thickness, by adding gadroons to the case, I could achieve a flattening effect: the watch would appear flatter. By combining the optical effect of the gadroons with the robust influence of the Doric columns, the Toric case achieves a balance of architectural beauty and subtle engineering ingenuity. Proportions Rooted in the Golden Ratio The harmonious proportions of the Toric watches are no coincidence. They are grounded in the Golden Ratio, a principle celebrated in art, architecture and nature. Torus shape that inspired the new Toric design Parmigiani Fleurier Michel Parmigiani explains: It embodies harmonious proportionality in its form. I refer here to the golden ratio. Many artists and architects for example, Antoni Gaudi, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Le Corbusier have used this mathematical concept to create balanced, harmonious, and aesthetic structures. We also find this golden ratio in Renaissance timepieces. Divine proportion is a language understood by any civilisation. Michel Parmigiani Parmigiani Fleurier Le Corbusier and Natural Tones Le Corbusiers influence doesnt stop with the use of the Golden Ratio. The new Torics dial and strap colours Grey Celadon, Sand Gold and Natural Umber are said to be inspired by the chromatic palette of renowned architect and designer. These earthy tones help to evoke a sense of natural harmony and purity forming a chromatic identity that is perfectly aligned with the Torics classical design language. Exquisite Hand-Grained Dial The Torics hand-grained 18k gold dials are a testament to traditional craftsmanship. 40.6mm Petite Seconde in platinum Parmigiani Fleurier As Michel Parmigiani explains: We find these grained dials on antique marine chronometers and table clocks. When I restored Breguet's Sympathique clock, its dial was black, the result of silver oxidation. In some cases, these silver dials can be restored using tartar cream, a soft brush and water. But when they can't be saved, you must strip them with abrasive material. This creates a very regular matte surface, to which we apply a mixture of cream of tartar, sea salt and silver with demineralised water. He further describes the meticulous process: Using special brushes, the dial is rubbed in circular motions in all directions. Starting with a hard brush gives it a lead colour. To achieve a denser, whiter grain, we use a much thinner, softer brush, whose bristles easily fold. As pressure is applied by hand... the dial begins to be covered with silver particles that adhere to the material. On the Toric, this time-honoured grene technique creates a dial texture that diffuses light with exceptional softness. Whats more, the edges of the Toric dials are bevelled using the cheve technique, creating a subtle curvature at the edges that integrates with the case. Movements in 18K Rose Gold Finally, the Toric collection has taken a bold step with its use of 18K rose gold movements, a rarity in modern watchmaking. The brand-new Calibre PF780 in the Petite Seconde and the high-frequency PF361 in the Chronographe Rattrapante both showcase this precious metal that is used to make the plates and bridges. The Petite Seconde's PF780 Calibre Parmigiani Fleurier The PF780 features three large bridges adorned with Cotes de Fleurier, while the PF361 incorporates skeletonised elements with satin brushing and hand-bevelling, offering an unobstructed view of its mechanical brilliance. The Chronographe Rattrapante's high-frequency PF361 Calibre Parmigiani Fleurier For more information, please visit the Parmigiani Fleurier website. December 26, 2024 A roundup of domestic and world news Newsflash Newsroom, 26.12.2024, 13:55 Christmas For New Rite Orthodox Christians, Greek Catholics and Catholics all over the world, including Romania, which has a majority Orthodox population, December 26 is the second day of Christmas, the celebration of the Nativity, one of the biggest in Christianity. On December 26, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, one of the oldest feasts in honor of the Virgin Mary. The holiday was established 1,500 years ago. Christmas is a celebration of generosity and compassion, of the revival of hope for a better future, President Klaus Iohannis wrote on a social network. Christmas is a celebration of joy, and true faith is the one that works through love, says the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Daniel. At the Vatican, Pope Francis made a new call for peace in Ukraine and in the Middle East. Old Rite Orthodox believers, who form the majority in Russia, Ukraine, Serbia and Georgia, celebrate Christmas on January 7. Government One of the priorities of the new Romanian government is to draft next years budget, which seems to be, at the same time, the main difficulty it will face in the assumed effort to reduce expenses. The draft budget is based on a new emergency ordinance regarding fiscal-budgetary measures, which is to be approved in the following days. In includes a large part of the unpopular measures that the government must implement in order to reduce the deficit. Some of the measures are the freezing of salaries and pensions in 2025 or the taxation of large fortunes. The investiture of the new government in Bucharest, made up of the PSD-PNL-UDMR, sent a positive signal to Romanian businessmen and to foreign investors, claims the Prime Minister and social-democratic leader Marcel Ciolacu. Schengen As of January 1, 2025, when Romania enters the Schengen free travel area also with land borders, 33 border crossing points with Hungary and Bulgaria, as well as from the Black Sea and the maritime Danube, will be permanently closed, namely 17 road and rail crossing points located on Romanias western border with Hungary and 14 road crossing points, including ferry crossings, rail and port crossing points on the border with Bulgaria and two port crossing points from Braila and Cernavoda. The Interior Ministry has put up for debate a draft government decision in this regard. From the beginning of 2025, there will no longer be checks at the borders with Hungary and Bulgaria at the crossing points. Such checks will only be done randomly, based on risk analysis. Lifting controls at the land borders takes place after the so-called partial accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area, made at the end of March, when they joined the area only with the air and sea borders. Recovery and Resilience At the beginning of this week, Romania received over 37 million Euros from the European Commission as part of the second payment request from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan following the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, Romania has received 9.4 billion Euros out of a total of over 28 and a half billion Euros allocated to it. In mid December, the Romanian Government sent the European Commission the payment request number three, which involves a financing of 2.7 billion Euros. The money is given in the form of grants, and a series of reforms must be carried out in return. Moldova The Russian Foreign Ministry accused NATO, on Wednesday, of trying to turn the Republic of Moldova into a logistics center for the supply of the Ukrainian army and of trying to bring its military infrastructure closer to Russia. Maria Zaharova, the spokeswoman for the ministry, said that the majority of the population of the Republic of Moldova (mostly Romanian speaking) does not want to join the military alliance. She referred to the extensive arms transfers to Moldova in recent months and to Maia Sandus pro-Western views. In Bucharest, President Klaus Iohannis congratulated Maia Sandu on taking over her second mandate. Romania and the Republic of Moldova will continue to work for well-being, stability, European values, resilience and democracy, said Klaus Iohannis. On December 24, Maia Sandu was officially inaugurated as president of the Republic of Moldova. In her speech, she emphasized that European integration and justice reform remain the main objectives in her second term. Despite the regional and global crises, caused by the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, external threats and the Kremlins energy blackmail, the Republic of Moldova managed to maintain peace and advance on the European path, she said. Maia Sandu is the first woman to hold this position and the first president elected by direct vote, who obtained two mandates. (LS) Oil prices edged higher on Thursday amid hopes for China's stimulus measures and expectations of a decline in U.S. crude inventories. Benchmark Brent crude futures rose 0.3 percent to $73.42 a barrel in European trade, while WTI crude futures were up 0.4 percent at $70.36. Earlier this week, China's finance ministry announced that it will ramp up fiscal support for consumption next year by raising pensions and medical insurance subsidies for residents as well as expanding consumer goods trade-ins. According to Reuters, authorities have agreed to issue 3 trillion-yuan ($411.04 billion) worth of special treasury bonds next year to revive a faltering . Meanwhile, there are expectations that fossil fuel production and demand will expand after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20. It is believed that demand will improve under Trump's reform programs and the U.S. crude inventories might face sharp daily drawdowns in 2025. Traders were also reacting to industry data showing a fall in U.S. crude oil and distillate stocks last week. The American Petroleum Institute figures revealed that U.S oil inventories fell by 3.2 million barrels during the week ended Dec. 20. Distillate inventorieswhich include diesel and heating oilfell by about 2.5 million barrels but gasoline inventories rose by 3.9 million barrels. The latest data from the Energy Information Administration is due on Friday, with analysts anticipating a decline in U.S. crude and fuel inventories. Elsewhere, Libya's National Oil Corp (NOC) said on Wednesday that the country's average crude production in 2024 exceeded its target of around 1.4 million barrels per day. The United States government has imposed sanctions on four companies for their involvement in the transport of Iranian petroleum. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis Being a global model, Maruti eVitara will be launched in markets like Europe, Japan and India along with Urban Cruiser EV Toyota counterpart For the first time ever, Suzuki is venturing into electric vehicles and the company has unveiled the eVitara ahead of launch. This is companys first fully-electric offering and is styled in SUV guise. The car has a dual motor 4WD layout for some off-road prowess. The companys new TVC shows eVitara blitzing through snow in Japan. Lets take a look. Maruti eVitara Electric SUV With the advent of EVs and increased acceptance in electric mobility, Maruti Suzuki and Suzuki Global have ventured into this segment with eVitara. This is their first electric vehicle and will launch sometime in 2025. There will be a Toyota counterpart of this vehicle as well, called Urban Cruiser EV. Production of both these vehicles will happen in Maruti Suzukis Gujarat plant in India. eVitara is a global product and will be launched in markets like Europe and Japan. India launch of this vehicle is highly likely too. Ahead of launch, Suzuki has released a new TVC showing eVitara blitzing through snow, demonstrating its SUV credentials. On Christmas, Suzuki aired a test drive movie of an eVitara prototype in snow at one of Japans proving course in Hokkaido prefecture. The company mentions that this test mule was tested on the Snow to identify any malfunction in tricky terrains and low temperature conditions. In the video, we can see eVitara heroically drifting through snow in Japan. While many of the rivals are more interested in offering single motor FWD vehicles, Suzuki is going a different route. eVitara is predominantly a FWD vehicle with higher-spec models getting a second motor on rear axle for 4WD capability. In Suzukis TVC, we can see a sophisticated suspension system too with an edge for off-roading. Specs & Features Where dimensions are concerned, eVitara measures 4,275 mm in length, 1,800 mm in width, 1,635 mm in height and has a 2,700 mm long wheelbase. There are disc brakes on all corners and these are ventilated discs too. Wheel sizes go up to 19-inches wrapped with 225-section tyres. Battery options include 49 kWh and 61 kWh. Lower 49 kWh model is only offered with 2WD, while 61 kWh model is offered in both 2WD and 4WD drivetrain. Lower-spec 49 kWh model gets a sold 142 bhp and 189 Nm electric model. 61 kWh 2WD model gets 172 bhp and 189 Nm motor. With 4WD variant, theres a second 64 bhp motor on rear axle with 300 Nm in total. The features list include 360-degree camera, ADAS suite, panoramic sunroof, LED headlights and tail lights, a large infotainment and instrument screens, a 2-spoke steering, a floating centre console and electronic parking brake among others. Launch will happen in early 2025. The youngest son of Prince William and Kate Middleton, 6-year-old Prince Louis, became the main character of social media thanks to a touching moment that was captured in a photo. The young royal appeared with an armful of gifts from fans during a special Christmas service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in the Sandringham estate with his parents, brother, and sister. ADVERTISIMENT In the photos that are rapidly spreading on social media, Louis was captured with a happy smile, holding a brightly wrapped box of chocolates, a stuffed anima,l and a chocolate Santa Claus. His sincerity and ease charmed the royal family's fans, who commented online that the prince looked cute. After the service, members of the royal family greeted the fans who came to the church. Photos of 6-year-old Louis, who could hardly hold all the gifts, were shared online. ADVERTISIMENT "Prince Louis is a gift that keeps on giving. He was very happy to receive Cadbury chocolates, Christmas crackers, stuffed animals, and toys from royal fans during his annual Christmas walk in Sandringham. He's growing up so fast," shared her impressions internet user Mollie's Mama. "This little guy gives Prince Louis some Paskesz Encore chocolate on the Royal Christmas Rope Line," wrote Jessica Rassack-Hoffman. "Sweet little Prince Louis with his chocolate stash," noted royal fan Prince William's Jaw. "Such a cute moment when Prince Louis smiles while holding a stuffed animal at Sandringham 2024," says Lee Hood. ADVERTISIMENT However, Prince Louis's brother and sister, George and Charlotte, also received their gifts from visitors. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Kate Middleton was spotted during the British royal family's traditional walk to St. Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate. This is where the monarchs usually spend Christmas every year. ADVERTISIMENT On December 25, the Princess of Wales, together with her husband Prince William, and children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, as well as other members of the royal family, walked out to the British people lined up along the route to congratulate citizens on the holiday. King Charles and Queen Camilla led the Christmas walk, People writes. The Princess, holding hands with her youngest son Louis, looked festive in a green Alexander McQueen coat, which she has worn before, including during a visit to Leeds in January 2023. She paired the outerwear with a plaid scarf, as well as black gloves and boots. ADVERTISIMENT After the service, Kate warmly greeted people who wanted to see the monarchs. With a bright smile, she shook hands, accepted flowers, and knelt down to talk to small children. This year's festive appearance is especially significant for Middleton after a tumultuous 2024 in which the princess had to undergo chemotherapy. During the year, mostly dedicated to her health, Kate rarely appeared at official royal events. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Ukrainian actress Natalka Denysenko told her fans that her military husband, Andrii Fedinchyk, who has been defending his homeland since the beginning of the full-scale war, was hospitalized and underwent a major operation. The couple is currently in Uzhhorod. ADVERTISIMENT The soldier chose a private clinic for the surgery. Natalka Denysenko told about it on InstaStories. According to the actress, the doctor did an incredible job. "We came to Uzhhorod, specifically to the clinic of Anton Antonovych Shkyriak. It was here that my husband underwent a very complicated operation. That's why we have been here for several days. Anton Antonovych did something incredible. I will tell you the details a little later," Denysenko said. The actress decided not to go into details and promised to share them later. Nevertheless, she showed up with her husband in the same ward and told him about Andrii Fedinchyk's health. "The operation was successful," the actress added. It is known that the doctor about whom the celebrity spoke specializes in neurosurgery and oncology. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Kerry Rea's first novel, The Wedding Ringer, is a funny, profane romance with unexpected depth. It begins with Willa Callister, resigned to being "Princess effing Sparkleheart" for her sister's event company, accidentally ruining a birthday party. Willa used to be an influencer in Columbus, Ohio, with a hugely popular blog detailing her visits to local places--until the day she found her fiance in bed with her best friend and deleted all her social media accounts. Now disillusioned about both love and friendship, and unable to manage even washing her hair, let alone hitting the hottest new restaurants, she glumly plays the world's worst princess at birthday parties. Willa is stuck in this terrible rut, unable to see a way out, until the day she meets a flustered woman named Maisie in a coffeeshop, and Maisie tries to hire Willa as her bridesmaid. Willa, somewhat to her own astonishment, finds herself agreeing to the scheme. And as she and Maisie fake their friendship, and Willa is drawn deeper into Maisie's circles of friends and family (including the handsome groomsmen), she discovers that maybe, just maybe, she could find both love and friendship again. Hilariously funny, but also sweet and poignant, The Wedding Ringer is the sort of romance novel to be gobbled up in an afternoon. It's a charming rom-com, perfect for anyone who's ever hoped for a second chance, or for readers of Kerry Winfrey or Susannah Nix. --Jessica Howard, bookseller at Bookmans, Flagstaff, Ariz. About a month before the Budget presentation, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has announced Arunish Chawla, who is currently the Secretary in the Department of Pharmaceuticals, as the new Revenue Secretary. Chawla is a 1992-batch IAS officer from the Bihar cadre and will take over from Ajay Seth, the current Economic Affairs Secretary. Seth is holding additional charge of revenue secretary following Sanjay Malhotras appointment as Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor. Chawla has been serving as secretary in the Department of Pharmaceuticals within the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers since November 1, 2023. The appointments panel, in a notification, said Chawla will continue to hold additional charge of secretary in the Ministry of Culture until a regular appointment is made. Chawla has more than three years in service left with his tenure scheduled to end in July 2028. Between 2014 and 2016, Chawla served as a joint secretary in the Expenditure Department of the finance ministry. He has also held the position of minister (economics) at the Indian Embassy in the United States and worked as a senior economist with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Chawla holds a postgraduate and PhD in economics from the London School of Economics. Over the course of his career, Chawla has held numerous significant positions as well. He served as additional chief secretary of planning and development, during which he also acted as secretary of the Bihar State Planning Board and project director of the Bihar Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Society. In addition, he also made contributions to urban development as additional chief secretary for urban development and housing. He was also managing director of the Patna Metro Rail Corporation. Chawla's responsibilities will include implementing a comprehensive review of the Income Tax Act, rationalising goods and services tax (GST) rates, conducting a review of Customs duty, improving tax collection and digital transformations, among others. Also, the appointments committee appointed textiles secretary Rachna Shah as new secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training. Neelam Shami Rao, currently secretary in the National Commission of Minorities, is the new textiles secretary. Amit Agrawal, chief executive officer (CEO) at the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), will become secretary in the Department of Pharmaceuticals. Vineet Joshi has been appointed secretary in the Department of Higher Education. The Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) is gearing up to conduct its SpaDeX mission scheduled for December 30. It involves autonomously docking two satellites orbiting at an altitude of 470 kilometers, setting India apart from the list of nations exploring the cosmos. Aboard the PSLV rocket, launched would be two satellites named 'Chaser' and 'Target', with a mass of around 220 kg each. Traveling at a speed of 28,800 km/h (36 times faster than a commercial airliner), the satellites will use the indigenously developed Bhartiya Docking System to achieve a precise docking. This advanced system is cost-effective and requires only two motors, a stark contrast to the 24 motors used in NASA's International Docking System Standard (IDSS). ISRO has already patented this cutting-edge docking technology. This mission, developed over a decade, demonstrates Indias capability to achieve autonomous in-space docking, a feat previously mastered by Russia, the US, and China. The technology is essential for future projects such as the Chandrayaan-4, a lunar sample return mission, and the development of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), Indias space station. While ISRO scientists conceived and designed SpaDeX, final assembly, and integration were carried out by Bengaluru-based private space technology company Ananth Technologies, marking a significant collaboration between Indias public and private sectors. According to ISRO Chairman Dr. S Somanath, mastering docking is crucial for Indias ambitions in human spaceflight and space station development. The current version of the Bhartiya Docking System, measuring 450 mm in diameter, will eventually expand to 800 mm to support docking with larger modules like the Gaganyaan Crew Module. India is on the brink of joining the exclusive league of nations capable of autonomous space docking, propelling its space program to new heights. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, inaugurated 10,000 newly established Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (MPACS), along with Dairy and Fisheries Cooperative Societies, in New Delhi. The event witnessed the presence of several dignitaries, including Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, alias Lalan Singh, Union Ministers of State for Cooperation Shri Krishan Pal and Shri Murlidhar Mohol, as well as the Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperation. Shri Amit Shah began his address by paying homage to two eminent figures Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya and former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee on their birth anniversaries. He lauded Pandit Malviya as a leading figure in India's freedom struggle who dedicated his life to promoting the nation's independence, culture, and Indianness, as well as upholding the values of Hinduism. Speaking about Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shri Shah highlighted his remarkable contribution as the voice of India and its culture in Parliament for over five decades. He credited Atal Ji's visionary leadership as Prime Minister, which laid the foundation for India's rise, including the establishment of nuclear power capabilities and steadfast leadership during the Kargil War. Shri Shah also noted Atal Ji's transformative initiatives, such as the creation of a separate ministry for tribal affairs, the development of the Golden Quadrilateral highways, and the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to connect villages with state highways. Shri Shah further observed that the day also marks the death anniversary of Shri C. Rajagopalachari, a revered freedom fighter and scholar of Vedic and ancient Indian literature. He praised Rajagopalacharis significant contributions to the drafting of Indias Constitution and his enduring legacy in the nations history. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation announced the launch of 10,000 new Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (MPACS), along with Dairy and Fisheries Cooperative Societies, coinciding with the birth centenary of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He emphasized that this milestone is deeply symbolic, as it was during Atal Ji's tenure that the 97th Constitutional Amendment was enacted, highlighting his commitment to revitalizing the long-overlooked cooperative sector. Shri Amit Shah highlighted that on September 19, 2024, an SOP was established, and within just 86 days, the registration of 10,000 PACS was successfully completed. He noted that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, upon establishing the Ministry of Cooperation, introduced the motto Sahkar Se Samriddhi (Prosperity through Cooperation). Shri Shah emphasized that achieving this vision requires the presence of cooperatives in every Panchayat, actively contributing in some capacity. He explained that primary cooperative societies are the foundation of Indias three-tier cooperative structure, which is why the Modi government has set an ambitious target to establish 2 lakh new PACS. Union Minister of Cooperation acknowledged the crucial role of NABARD, NDDB, and NFDB in facilitating the registration of 10,000 PACSs. He highlighted that one of the most significant initiatives after the establishment of the Ministry of Cooperation was the computerization of all PACS. This modernization has enabled the integration of PACS with 32 diverse activities, including storage, manure, gas, fertilizer, and water distribution, making them more versatile and effective. Shri Amit Shah noted that these advancements require skilled manpower, which led to the launch of a comprehensive training module. This module aims to equip PACS members and employees with the necessary knowledge and skills. He emphasized that district cooperative registrars must take responsibility for implementing the training program effectively, ensuring the secretaries and executive members of PACS receive quality training. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah distributed the RuPay Kisan Credit Cards and Micro-ATMs to 10 cooperative societies, marking a significant step towards empowering farmers. He stated that every primary dairy will soon be equipped with a Micro-ATM as part of the ongoing campaign. These tools will enable farmers to access low-cost loans, facilitating financial inclusion and support. Shri Shah highlighted that the expansion of PACS is guided by four key principles: visibility, relevance, viability, and vibrancy. By integrating 32 different functions into PACS, their visibility and viability have been significantly enhanced. He explained that transforming Common Service Centres (CSC) into PACS in villages ensures that every citizen benefits from their services, increasing their relevance. Furthermore, PACS involvement in activities such as gas distribution, storage, and petrol distribution adds vibrancy and sustainability to their operations. Shri Shah described the initiative as a comprehensive program aimed at strengthening farmers and the rural economy, ensuring the long-term impact and multi-faceted growth of PACS. Shri Amit Shah emphasized that the integration of computerization and technology will enhance transparency within PACS, enabling their expansion at the grassroots level. This modernization will not only improve operational efficiency but also create employment opportunities for women and youth. He highlighted that PACS will play a vital role in ensuring the easy availability of essential agricultural resources for farmers. Shri Shah further noted that the establishment of three new national-level cooperatives NCOL, BBSSL, and NCELwill unlock new opportunities for farmers by promoting organic products, quality seeds, and exports. Additionally, he stressed that the adoption of new model bylaws ensures the active participation of women, Dalits, backward communities, and tribals, fostering social and economic equality and enhancing social harmony. Union Minister of Cooperation shared that the Modi government has set an ambitious target of establishing 2 lakh new PACS within the next five years and expressed confidence that this goal will be achieved ahead of schedule. He detailed the phased approach for this initiative, with NABARD forming 22,750 PACS in the first phase and 47,250 in the second. Similarly, NDDB will establish 56,500 new societies while strengthening 46,500 existing ones, and NFDB will create 6,000 new fisheries cooperative societies while empowering 5,500 existing ones. Additionally, state cooperative departments will contribute by forming 25,000 PACS. Shri Shah highlighted that, to date, 11,695 new primary cooperative societies have been registered under the new model bylaws, marking a significant milestone. He emphasized that once the target of 2 lakh PACS is achieved, it will greatly facilitate the seamless integration of farmers' produce into global markets through robust forward and backward linkages. VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. Actor Hudson Meek, a child star who is best known for his role in Baby Driver, has died. He was 16. Meek died Dec. 21, two days after he was critically injured when he fell from a moving vehicle in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, AL.com reports. The accident occurred around 10:47 p.m. on Dec. 19, when Meek sustained blunt force trauma injuries, according to Jefferson County Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates. He was transported to the University of Alabama at Birmingham hospital and was pronounced dead on Dec. 21. Our hearts are broken to share that Hudson Meek went home to be with Jesus tonight, read a post to Meeks Instagram account on Dec. 22. His 16 years on this earth were far too short, but he accomplished so much and significantly impacted everyone he met. RELATED: Die Hard 2 actor dies at 82 A celebration of life for Meek will be held on Dec. 28, according to the Instagram post. Vestavia Hills police are investigating Meeks death, per AL.com. Meek received his first on-screen acting credit in 2014 TV movie The Santa Con, acting alongside his older brother, Tucker. Three years later, Meek played the role of Young Baby in Edgar Wrights 2017 crime heist film Baby Driver. He also appeared in 52 episodes of Badanamu Cadets and Badanamu Stories, MacGyver, Found and The School Duel. An active ingredient in popular cold and cough medicines is in the process of being phased out due to concerns over its efficacy. Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed removing phenylephrine -- an active ingredient in hundreds of over-the-counter medications, including some versions of Tylenol, Benadryl, NyQuil and Theraflu -- from oral medications, citing evidence of its ineffectiveness as a nasal decongestant. Based on our review of available data, and consistent with the advice of the advisory committee, we are taking this next step in the process, said Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D., director of the FDAs Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), regarding the proposal. Before the FDAs proposal, several experts had set in motion the questioning of its effectiveness. Researchers at the University of Florida, Leslie Hendeles and Randy Hatton, petitioned the FDA to reconsider the drugs use in 2007 and again in 2015. Hendeles and Hattons 2015 call to remove non-prescription decongestants from the market followed a study led by Eli Meltzer, M.D., of the Allergy & Asthma Medical Group & Research Center in San Diego, published in the same journal. The study -- conducted with 539 participants with seasonal allergic rhinitis over seven days -- found that doses ranging from 10 to 40 milligrams of phenylephrine did not provide significantly better results than a placebo. This is a good drug, but not when its swallowed, Hendeles said on the ingredient. Its inactivated in the gut and doesnt get into the bloodstream, so it cant get to the nose. According to the FDAs release, the agency conducted a thorough review of all available data on the safety and efficacy of oral phenylephrine. This included both the historical data used to support its effectiveness as a nasal decongestant 30 years ago and more recent clinical studies on the ingredient. The panels opinion of its ineffectiveness applies only to oral phenylephrine, which generates about $1.8 billion in annual U.S. sales. The drug is still considered effective in nasal sprays, though these are far less commonly used. Phenylephrine wasnt always the go-to ingredient in cold and allergy medicines. Many products were initially formulated with pseudoephedrine. However, a 2006 law banned over-the-counter sales of cold medicines that contain the ingredient pseudoephedrine due to concerns they could potentially be processed into methamphetamine. What are some effective decongestants? Most over-the-counter nasal sprays and solutions are still considered effective. Saline drops and rinses provide a quick solution for clearing mucus from the nose. For longer-term relief from seasonal congestion, itching, and sneezing, doctors often recommend nasal steroids such as Flonase, Nasacort, and Rhinocort. Nasal steroids generally works best when it is used daily. The future of oral phenylephrine The process of removing oral phenylephrne medicines from the shelves can take years. For six months, the FDA must take comments on its proposal, including from consumers and companies, AP Health Writer Matthew Perrone wrote. Then, the FDA must review the feedback before writing a final order. Even after that decision is finalized, companies will likely have a year or more to remove or reformulate products. Associated Press material was used in this report. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Nearly six weeks after former Republican Rep. Michael Grimms paralysis was made public, a GoFundMe campaign to cover his medical expenses has raised more than $700,000. In September, Grimm was injured in a horse-riding accident that rendered him paralyzed, according to a Facebook post by Vincent Ignizio, a former South Shore City Councilman and current deputy executive director of the New York City Board of Elections. Grimm, an avid horseman, frequently shared on social media his passion for horseback riding and polo. Following the accident, Ignizio called for prayers and a donation for Grimm, posting a link to the Help Michael Grimm Walk Again GoFundMe page. The page was organized by Michael Grimm Supplemental Needs Trust. Staten Island always steps up when someone is in need, and Im hopeful that they do the same for a former congressman and friend, Michael Grimm, Ignizio previously told the Advance/SiLive.com. As of Thursday, Dec. 26, the GoFundMe campaign has garnered more than 9,000 donations for a total of $729,000, with a fundraising goal of $2.5 million. Former Fox 5 morning anchor Greg Kelly, a fellow Marine and colleague of Grimm at Newsmax, said that Grimm had sustained a neck injury requiring surgery and was recovering at an undisclosed hospital in Westchester. Grimm was reportedly thrown from his horse while playing polo. Grimm represented Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2010 until January 2015 -- when he resigned following a federal indictment related to fraudulent practices at an Upper East Side health food restaurant he co-owned. The former congressman pleaded guilty to tax fraud and served seven months in prison, being released in 2016. Grimm attempted a political comeback in 2018, but lost a GOP primary to Rep. Dan Donovan, who was later defeated by Democrat Max Rose that year. Since then, Grimm has largely stayed out of Staten Island politics but has supported Republican candidate Marko Kepi, who ran a failed state Senate campaign this year. The two, both Marine Corps veterans, share a political mentor in former Brooklyn GOP State Sen. Marty Golden. A gruesome Egyptian mummy, who died in terrible agony, revealed for the first time in a millennium the terrible secret of the 14th century plague. "The Black Death claimed the lives of millions of people around the world. ADVERTISIMENT According to the researchers, the 3,290-year-old embalmed remains belonged to a man who suffered from terrible symptoms before his death potentially from the bubonic plague. And it was this terrible disease that spread in North Africa thousands of years before the Black Death devastated Europe, TheSun writes. "The Black Death" is the second-largest plague pandemic in history, which began in Eastern China and swept across Asia, Europe, and parts of Africa in the mid-14th century. The Yersinia pestis infection is notorious for causing the rapid and massive deaths of up to 200 million people, according to Wikipedia. ADVERTISIMENT However, scientists have discovered that the Black Death originated much earlier. According to recent research, the oldest confirmed case of plague outside of Eurasia was found in an ancient Egyptian mummy. The newly studied mummy has allowed experts to gain a deeper understanding of the deadly disease in North Africa and help to clarify how it spread over time. In the past few years, research has found traces of Y pestis DNA in prehistoric corpses. This indicates that the pathogen and the terrible disease existed and were in circulation thousands of years before the historic pandemic, scientists say. An ancient Egyptian mummy preserved in the Museo Egizio in Turin, Italy, has revealed that plague was also present in North Africa at the dawn of the Bronze Age. The examined remains contained traces of Y pestis DNA in both bone tissue and intestinal contents. ADVERTISIMENT According to the scientists, this revolutionary discovery indicates that the disease had progressed to an advanced stage when the infected person had already died. "This is the first recorded prehistoric Y pestis genome outside of Eurasia, providing molecular evidence for the presence of plague in ancient Egypt. However, we cannot conclude how widespread the disease was at this time," the study authors noted. Despite the lack of understanding of the prevalence of the Black Death in ancient Egypt, previous studies have suggested possible outbreaks along the Nile River at the time. As they did more than 20 years ago, experts found fleas in the archaeological village of Amarna, where workers once lived to build Tutankhamun's tomb. Since fleas are predominantly plague carriers, experts began to think that the disease might have existed in ancient Egypt. ADVERTISIMENT A 3,500-year-old medical text called the Ebers Papyrus describes a disease of the time that "formed a tambourine, and the pus was petrified." Therefore, some researchers believe that the plague may have originated from fleas that lived on Nile rats. Then they moved on to black rats that flew on ancient ships, spreading the horrific "black death" around the world. According to scientists, the new discovery of the mummy's DNA can confirm the truth of the theory that the disease was present in ancient Egypt. According to previous DNA analyzes of medieval plague victims and their contemporaries who were lucky enough to survive, the terrible pandemic of those times continues to affect humans today. The BBC noted that the deadly epidemic triggered processes in our immune system that are still ongoing. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Utica, N.Y. Several New York state prison guards held an inmate while they punched and kicked him in the groin and chest earlier this month at a Utica-area prison, according to a state investigator. The inmate was handcuffed during the assault and later manacled on his legs, the investigator said in court papers. At the end he appeared to only be in a shirt and underwear. The inmate, Robert L. Brooks, 43, later died at a Utica hospital. He appears to have been fatally asphyxiated. Court documents filed Tuesday provide the first details of what happened inside the Marcy Correctional Facility on Dec. 9. The paperwork obtained by syracuse.com | The Post-Standard includes a sworn statement by a prison system investigator who reviewed body camera footage. Preliminary findings of an autopsy by the Onondaga County Medical Examiners Office show concern for asphyxia due to compression of the neck as the cause of death, as well as the death being due to actions of another, troopers wrote in the court papers. Brooks, originally of Greece in Monroe County, was sentenced in 2017 to 12 years in prison on a first-degree assault charge. He was arrested after stabbing his girlfriend multiple times, according to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. The chain of events described in court papers by the investigator, Ryan Paparella, begins at Marcy prison on Dec. 9. His statement detailed the following events: Brooks is first seen sitting on the ground near the prison entrance, the investigator said. His hands are cuffed and he is wearing a green shirt and a green pair of pants, he said. Several corrections officers lift up Brooks and carry him toward the prison infirmary. Robert T. Kessler has his left wrist and Nicholas J. Anzalone has his right. David Kingsley is holding his feet, the investigator said. As they walk away, Officer Nicholas Kieffer is seen shaking a pepper spray canister. Its not clear in the statement if the pepper spray was used. Brooks is next seen on his back on a medical exam table, the investigator said. Brooks shoes are removed by Anzalone, who then strikes Brooks with his right hand, he said. The investigator and court papers make no mention of any resistance by Brooks. Kingsley and Anzalone are then seen holding Brooks in a seated, upright position. He is bleeding from the right side of his face, the investigator said. Officer Anthony Farina lifts his left leg and strikes Brooks in his lower torso near his genitals, the investigator said. Anzalone delivers another strike with his right hand, he said. Officer Christopher Walrath is seen grabbing what appears to be Brooks left leg. Anzalone and Kingsley use their hands to apply pressure to somewhere on Brooks upper torso. Farina then strikes Brooks three times in the buttocks with his left fist, the investigator said. Anzalone gives Brooks a sternum rub in the center of his chest. A sternum rub is a technique to test an unconscious persons responsiveness by rubbing their chest with the knuckles of a closed fist. Officer Mathew Galliher enters with leg irons and applies them to Brooks, the investigator said. Kingsley is seen with his right hand on the front of Brooks neck as he lies back on the exam table, he said. Anzalone and Kingsley then pull Brooks to a seated, upright position at the edge of the exam table. Brooks says something to them, and Anzalone delivers a closed fist strike to Brooks chest, the investigator said. The two officers grab Brooks by the collar of his shirt and shoulder area, picking him up off his feet. He is forced against a window shade in the back corner of the room. The officer wearing the body camera leaves the room. Time goes by. Anzalone, Kingsley and Kessler are next seen pushing Brooks into the wall. Officer Shea Schoff is washing his hands. Again, more time passes. Brooks is next seen lying on his back on an exam table with medical staff around him, the investigator said. Anzalone, Kingsley and Kessler are also standing nearby. Brooks is only wearing his shirt and underwear. It is not mentioned how or when his pants came off. Brooks was later taken by ambulance to Wynn Hospital in Utica, troopers said. He was pronounced dead at about 4 a.m. Dec. 10. The investigators statement was included in applications filed Tuesday by troopers in Oneida County for extreme risk protection orders for three of the 13 prison guards under scrutiny for the assault. Law enforcement can ask a judge to order firearms and other weapons be taken away for a time from a person who is deemed a possible threat to themselves or others. State Supreme Court Justice Peter Rayhill declined to issue the proposed orders. He wrote that he did not think the three officers Anzalone, Galliher and Kessler were likely to engage in conduct that would result in harm to themselves or others. Rayhill ordered troopers to conduct background investigations into the three men. Hearings for each are scheduled Jan. 7. The state Attorney Generals Office is expected to soon release body camera footage of the assault, possibly including the video clips described in court papers. An attorney for the Brooks family said in a statement that the final moments of Brooks life, as captured in that video, were horrific and violent. The family was shown the video earlier this week. We will not rest until we have secured justice for Roberts memory, and safety for the prisoners at Marcy Correctional Facility, the attorney, Elizabeth Mazur, said. She won $12 million for the family of Daniel Prude in a police brutality lawsuit against the city of Rochester. The death is under investigation by four different agencies the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the state AGs office, the State Police and the state Commission of Correction. The state Education Department, which licenses nurses and other professionals, was aware of the matter, a spokesperson said. Gov. Kathy Hochul last week ordered 14 state employees involved in the assault one a nurse, the rest corrections officers to be fired. One of the corrections officers, Farina, has already resigned. The union representing corrections officers, the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, denounced the actions of the officers involved in the assault. This incident not only endangers our entire membership but undermines the integrity of our profession, the union said in a statement. We cannot and will not condone this behavior. Multiple state lawmakers have visited the prison, according to Spectrum News. A Harlem assemblyman said he planned to visit on Christmas Eve because he was worried about the fallout from the incident. The Marcy prison is a medium-security facility located in Oneida County, about seven miles west of Utica. It had 846 inmates as of Dec. 1, records show. An independent monitoring group, the Correctional Association of New York, has identified issues in the past at the prison. The group interviewed more than 100 inmates in fall 2022 and said inmates reported rampant abuse by employees. A pervasive culture of fear and retaliation was observed, the group wrote in its report. Staff writer Jon Moss covers breaking news, crime and public safety. He can be reached at jmoss@syracuse.com or @mossjon7. CONCORD, N.H. (AP) A growing number of U.S. colleges and universities are advising international students to return to campus before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated, over concerns that he might impose travel bans like he did during his first administration. More than a dozen schools have issued advisories, even though Trumps plans remain uncertain. At some schools, the spring semester begins before Trump will take office, so students may have to be back in class anyway. But for anyone whose ability to stay in the United States depends on an academic visa, they say its best to reduce their risks and get back to campus before Jan. 20. President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)AP Heres a look at what Trump has said and done and how schools and students are preparing for his second term: What did Trump do in the past? Trump issued an executive order in January 2017 banning travel to the U.S. by citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. Travelers from those nations were either barred from getting on their flights or detained at U.S. airports after they landed. They included students and faculty as well as business people, tourists and visitors to friends and family. Trump later removed some countries and added others to the list 15 nations were affected at some point during his presidency. More than 40,000 people were ultimately refused visas because of the ban, according to the U.S. State Department. President Joe Biden rescinded the orders when he took office in 2021. How are students being affected? More than 1.1 million international students were enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities during the 2023-24 school year, according to Open Doors, a data project partially funded by the U.S. State Department. Students from India and China have accounted for more than half of all international students in the U.S., and about 43,800 come from the 15 countries affected by Trumps travel restrictions. Jacky Li, a third-year environmental studies major at University of California, Berkeley, will be traveling home to China Dec. 21 and returning Jan. 16. Though he made his plans months before Berkeley officials sent the advisory, he said worry is growing among international students. Theres a fear that this kind of restriction will enlarge into a wider community, considering the geopolitical tensions nowadays around the world, so the fear is definitely there, said Li, who urged Trump to support, rather than thwart, important academic research. If the U.S. is really a champion of academic freedom, what you should do is not restrict this kind of communications between different countries of the world, he said. What might Trump do now? Trumps transition team did not respond to questions on the topic this week, but in the past he has said hell revive the travel ban and expand it, pledging new ideological screening for non-U.S. citizens to bar dangerous lunatics, haters, bigots and maniacs. We arent bringing in anyone from Gaza, Syria, Somalia, Yemen or Libya or anywhere else that threatens our security, Trump said at an October 2023 campaign event in Iowa. Trump also vowed to revoke the student visas of radical anti-American and anti-Semitic foreigners at our colleges and universities in response to campus protests. What are schools telling students? School officials have advised international students heading home for winter break to return before Inauguration Day and to prepare for possible delays at immigration control. The list includes Ivy League universities such as Harvard and Brown, Boston schools such as Northeastern University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and other schools around the country, from Johns Hopkins University to the University of Southern California. Some offer classes that begin the day after Inauguration Day. Cornell University told its students that a travel ban involving the 13 nations Trump previously targeted is likely to go into effect soon after inauguration, and that new countries could be added to the list, particularly China and India. It advised students, faculty and staff from those countries to return to campus before the semester starts Jan. 21. Other schools didnt go so far as to say a ban is likely but instead advised students to plan ahead and prepare for delays. Advertisement Eating outRestaurant news High-profile Palm Beach restaurant permitted to open at night after $200K court battle It was plainly absurd: A landmark venue has announced a reversal of the controversial council decision to limit night operations due to noise objections. Bianca Hrovat December 26, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share Palm Beach restaurant The Joey will be allowed to open its waterfront terrace for sunset drinks this Sunday after its owners spent more than $200,000 on a seven-month legal battle to overturn a Northern Beaches Council decision restricting trade past 4pm. The council denied The Joeys application to modify its opening hours in March after seven Palm Beach residents claimed the beachfront restaurant, located 600 metres from the nearest home, was too loud to operate at night. The decision sparked a highly publicised dispute, which concluded on Christmas Eve when a court upheld The Joeys appeal and approved a modified management plan permitting the restaurant to open until 11pm every day, year-round, and host two private events each week. The Joey opened at the former Barrenjoey boat shed in February. Dion Georgopoulos The council and The Joey had agreed to the terms during court-ordered mediation in September after repeated acoustic testing resolved noise concerns, the court heard. Advertisement It was just so plainly absurd and unfair to have a site as incredible as this and not be able to let people have a sunset drink on a Sunday, said co-owner Ben May, who took over the 77-year-old property with Rob Domjen in August 2023 and spent more than $7 million on its refurbishment. The impact of this decision will be huge. It takes the business from ticking over and doing OK to becoming what we hope to be a long-lasting, successful business able to employ double the number of staff it does now. While the restaurateurs said their team was over the moon to have come to an agreement with the council, the outcome was far from ideal. More than $7 million was spent on the venues refurbishment. Alex Marks For now, this is what weve got, and this is what weve got to take, because summer arrived and we still couldnt open past 4pm on a Sunday afternoon, almost a year later, May said. Advertisement But theres nothing stopping us from trying harder again next year. May said the number of functions they were allowed to host remained a key concern as events represented a large source of potential income and other Palm Beach venues in closer proximity to residential areas werent subject to the same restrictions. For long-term residents such as Shane Oxenham and Nick Burton Taylor, who wrote to the council supporting plans to refurbish the old Barrenjoey boat shed in 2021, The Joey was a much-needed asset in a community where facilities had dwindled for decades. Burton Taylor, who lamented the loss of venues such as The Teahouse, Blue Haven Restaurant and Greasy Joes during his 65 years living on the peninsula, said the courts decision represented common sense. Co-owners Rob Domjen (left) and Ben May at The Joey site in 2023. Alex Marks Advertisement [Its a] solution to what has been an entirely unnecessary and frustrating obstruction by [an] unrepresentative group in the community seeking to frustrate the overwhelming desire of most residents and visitors to Palm Beach to enjoy an amenity which replicates what has been there for over 50 years, he said. After The Joey reopened in February and applied to modify its closing time from 4pm to 11pm, Burton Taylor contributed one of 139 submissions made to the council. The majority supported the change. Seven did not. Noise remained the key concern, regardless of provisions to direct outdoor speakers away from residential areas and the installation of a noise limiter. One objector emailed the council with claims The Joey could not comply with noise criteria and described how the local community is becoming enraged. Despite an independent recommendation for approval, three staff members on the Northern Beaches Council panel rejected The Joeys application on the basis that an increase in operating hours and the inevitable increase in functions, noise traffic and other amenity issues resulting from these extended hours [did] not meet the requirement to be of minimal environmental impact. Sunset drinks are back on at The Joey. Dion Georgopoulos Advertisement NSW Premier Chris Minns said he was troubled by the councils decision. In May, the state government passed a bill to force local councils to review new vibrancy guidelines when assessing trading-hour applications by venues at least 500 metres from the nearest homes. The bill was supported by both sides of the NSW parliament so theyve acted on it, and moving forward, thats why we feel more comfortable to go back and try to improve this situation down the track, Ben May said. Weve held our rights to pursue the matter further, and we most certainly will, and we think the council will be in a position to more easily be supportive of us, whilst taking legitimate concerns into account. For now, the owners look forward to a busy summer. We have one of the best sunsets in Australia. Its such a beautiful sight. And now we can finally serve a bucket of prawns and a glass of wine during the nicest time of the day, Domjen said. From Friday, The Joey will open from 7am until late, Wednesday to Sunday. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up For Sydneys transport officials, it is all about the bump in and bump out for New Years Eve fireworks. Thats transport-speak for managing a system under immense strain as more than a million revellers descend on the harbourfront to watch the 9pm and midnight shows and want to get home quickly afterwards. Transport for NSW co-ordinator general Howard Collins in the joint operations centre at Eveleigh. Credit: Rhett Wyman After a short reprieve from major industrial action by rail workers, the public transport network faces its single busiest day of the year next Tuesday. New Years Eve also marks the biggest test for the city section of Sydneys M1 metro line since the mega-project opened in August. While the metro line boosts the rail networks capacity by 10 per cent, Transport for NSW co-ordinator general Howard Collins said the new line equated to an extra bump-in pipe, which meant more people were likely to use it, particularly those in Sydneys north-west. Sydney will on Friday swelter through its final scorcher of 2024, with the mercury to hit 37 degrees in the city and up to 41 degrees in the west. Temperatures are tipped to match last weeks heatwave, with tops of 34 degrees in Bondi, 41 in Penrith, 40 in Liverpool and 39 in Parramatta. A total fire ban will be in place for the Sydney and Hunter regions and parts of northern NSW. Braylin Lobegeir and his uncle Ben Core fish under the Yarramundi Bridge on the Nepean River. Credit: Nick Moir The city might be in for its hottest day this season, but its just another hot day for the western suburbs, the Bureau of Meteorologys Helen Reid said. This will be the standard sort of dry fire weather. The popularity of tropical countries for winter tourism is growing. It seems like a real dream to get from a gloomy and cold winter to a sunny beach, and one of the countries of Southeast Asia is ready to make this dream come true right now. ADVERTISIMENT According to Express, it is the Philippines. The territory of this country consists of more than 7000 islands, but the majority of the population lives on only 11 of them. The main flow of tourists passes through the capital city of Manila, from where they travel to vacation destinations. The Philippines is famous for its beaches, beautiful landscapes, volcanoes, and impressive dense jungle. The average temperature here is around 26 C all year round. In January, it drops slightly to 24 C, but it's still warm in summer. The most popular beaches in the Philippines include White Beach on Boracay Island, Nacpan Beach in El Nido on Palawan Island, and Alona Beach in Bohol Island. They are called a real earthly paradise with rich colors of sand, water, and greenery. Tourists call the sunset on such a beach one of the most romantic spectacles in their lives. ADVERTISIMENT Other places worth visiting during your trip to the Philippines include the Puerto Princesa Underground River. This unique body of water is one of the largest navigable areas of its kind, located on the island of Palawan. The river has even been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and tourists are offered fascinating boat trips here. Another must-see place is the Banaue Rice Terraces. They were laid more than 200 years ago and rice is still grown here. The sight of an artificial landscape covered with bright greenery leaves an unforgettable impression. Subscribe to the OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events. Police are exploring possible organised crime links after a Fortitude Valley tobacco shop was destroyed overnight in an explosion. A masked man entered the business on Wickham Street next to Prohibition nightclub about 3am with a jerry can and assaulted the owner. CCTV shows the alleged attacker running away partially on fire as flames erupted from the building. The business in Fortitude Valley on Thursday morning. Credit: William Davis Inspector Jane Healy spoke to reporters at the scene on Thursday morning, with the air smelling of smoke and heat still radiating from the front doors. Baku: Russian air defences downed an Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 people, four sources with knowledge of the preliminary findings of Azerbaijans investigation into the disaster have told Reuters. Flight J2-8243 crashed on Christmas Day near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan after diverting from an area of southern Russia where Moscow has repeatedly used air defence systems against Ukrainian drone strikes. A part of Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 lies on the ground near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan. Credit: AP The Embraer passenger jet took off from Azerbaijans capital, Baku, heading for Grozny in Russias southern Chechnya region before veering off hundreds of miles across the Caspian Sea. It crashed on the opposite shore of the Caspian after what Russias aviation watchdog earlier said was an emergency that may have been caused by a bird strike. Jerusalem: Syrias new leadership has taken steps to try to unite disparate rebel factions under a single government in the latest move to try to assert authority over the country following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. A number of rebel factions have agreed to dissolve themselves and be integrated under the Defence Ministry, according to SANA, the Syrian state-run news service. Beyond dissolving rebel factions, the man born Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa but formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the leader of the offensive that overthrew the Assad dictatorship, has taken other actions recently aimed at building a new state. His administration has appointed a caretaker prime minister to lead a transitional government until March and has promised that a legal committee would draft a new constitution. France hands over first base in Chad amid withdrawal N'Djamena, Dec 26 (AFP) Dec 26, 2024 France has handed over its first military base as part of the withdrawal of its military forces from Chad, the French and Chadian militaries said Thursday. Chad's military chief of staff said the base at Faya-Largeau in the north of the country had been handed over and that it would inform the public about progress concerning the withdrawal of French forces from bases in the eastern city of Abeche and the capital N'Djamena. It said French troops had left in vehicles for the capital N'Djamena, 780 kilometres (480 miles) to the south, without providing a precise figure. "The handover took place in accordance with the calendar and the conditions agreed with Chad," the French military chief of staff said separately. Chad last month abruptly ended military cooperation with its former colonial power and French troops began leaving the country last Friday, ten days after French warplanes left. The move comes as Chad holds parliamentary and local elections on Sunday. The French army had some 1,000 personnel in the country. Chad's military said an Antonov 124 took off Thursday with 70 tonnes of cargo as part of the withdrawal. French authorities said military vehicles would leave by January and be repatriated via the Cameroonian port of Douala. Chad had been a key link in France's military presence in Africa and its last foothold in the wider Sahel region after the forced withdrawal of French troops from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in the wake of a series of military coups. The military authorities in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have pivoted towards Russia in recent years. Chad's leader General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno has also sought closer ties with Moscow in recent months, but talks to strengthen economic cooperation have yet to bear concrete results. French soldiers and fighter aircraft have been stationed in Chad almost continuously since the country's independence in 1960, helping to train the Chadian military. The planes provided air support that proved crucial on several occasions in stopping rebels moving to seize power. The election of Deby in May brought an end to a three-year political transition triggered by his father's death in clashes with rebels in 2021. Longtime ruler Idriss Deby Itno had received support from the French army to quell rebel offensives in 2008 and 2019. UN calls for investigation into air strikes on Afghanistan border Kabul, Dec 26 (AFP) Dec 26, 2024 The UN mission to Afghanistan on Thursday called for an investigation into Pakistani air strikes in Afghanistan, in which the Taliban government said 46 people were killed, including civilians. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it had "received credible reports that dozens of civilians, including women and children, were killed in airstrikes by Pakistan's military forces in Paktika province, Afghanistan, on 24 December". "International law obliges military forces to take necessary precautions to prevent civilian harm," the agency said in a statement, adding an "investigation is needed to ensure accountability". The Taliban government said the 46 deceased were mainly women and children, with another six wounded, mostly children. An AFP journalist saw several wounded children in a hospital in the provincial capital Sharan, including one receiving an IV and another with a bandaged head. A Pakistan security official told AFP on Wednesday the bombardment had targeted "terrorist hideouts" and killed at least 20 militants, saying claims that "civilians are being harmed are baseless and misleading". On a press trip to the area organised by Taliban authorities, AFP journalists saw four mud brick buildings reduced to rubble in three sites around 20-30 kilometres (10-20 miles) from the Pakistan border. AFP spoke to multiple residents who said the strikes hit in the late evening, breaking doors and windows in villages and destroying homes and an Islamic school. Several residents reported pulling bodies from the rubble after strikes targeted houses, killing multiple members of the same families. Afghanistan's Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs Noorullah Noori called the attack "a brutal, arrogant invasion". "This is unacceptable and won't be left unanswered," he said during the site visit. Pakistani foreign ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch did not confirm the strikes but told a media briefing on Thursday: "Our security personnel conduct operations in border areas to protect Pakistani from terror groups, including TTP." She was referring to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) -- Pakistan's homegrown Taliban group which shares a common ideology with its Afghan counterpart. The TTP last week claimed a raid on an army outpost near the border with Afghanistan in which Pakistan said 16 soldiers were killed. Baloch said Pakistan prioritised dialogue with Afghanistan, and that Islamabad's special envoy, Sadiq Khan, was in Kabul meeting with officials where "matters of security" and "terror groups including TTP" were discussed. The strikes were the latest spike in hostilities on the frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with border tensions between the two countries escalating since the Taliban government seized power in 2021. Islamabad has accused Kabul's authorities of harbouring militant fighters, allowing them to strike on Pakistani soil with impunity -- allegations Kabul denies. Israeli strikes hit airport, military targets in rebel-held Yemen Sanaa, Dec 26 (AFP) Dec 26, 2024 Israeli air strikes pummelled Sanaa's international airport and other targets in Yemen on Thursday, a day after the latest attacks on Israel by Iran-backed Huthi rebels. The strikes targeting the airport, military facilities and power stations followed rising hostilities between Israel and the Huthis, part of Iran's "axis of resistance" alliance against Israel. The rebel-held capital's airport was struck by "more than six" attacks with raids also targeting the adjacent Al-Dailami air base, a witness told AFP. A series of strikes were also fired at a power station in Hodeida, a witness and the Iran-backed Huthis' official Al-Masirah TV station said. Huthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam called the strikes, which came a day after the Huthis fired a missile and two drones at Israel, "a Zionist crime against all the Yemeni people". The Israeli military said Israeli "fighter jets conducted intelligence-based strikes on military targets belonging to the Huthi terrorist regime". The targets included "military infrastructure" at the airport and power stations in Sanaa and Hodeida, as well as other facilities at Hodeida, Salif and Ras Kanatib ports, an Israeli statement said. "These military targets were used by the Huthi terrorist regime to smuggle Iranian weapons into the region and for the entry of senior Iranian officials," the statement said. "The Huthi terrorist regime is a central part of the Iranian axis of terror," it added. - Netanyahu warning - On Saturday, days ahead of Wednesday's missile and drone strike on Israel, 16 people were wounded by a Huthi attack in Tel Aviv. The incident prompted a warning to the Huthis from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said he ordered the destruction of the rebel group's infrastructure. "I have instructed our forces to destroy the infrastructure of Huthis because anyone who tries to harm us will be struck with full force," Netanyahu said in parliament. The Huthis have fired a series of missiles and drones at Israel since the eruption of war in Gaza in October last year, claiming solidarity with the Palestinians. The rebels, part of Iran's "axis of resistance" against Israel and the United States, have also waged a months-long campaign against shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Scores of drone and missile attacks on cargo ships have prompted a series of reprisal strikes by US and sometimes British forces. Israel has also previously struck the Huthis in Yemen, including hitting ports and energy facilities, after rebel attacks against its territory. In July, a Huthi drone attack on Tel Aviv killed an Israeli civilian, prompting retaliatory strikes on Hodeida. Last week, before the latest volley of attacks, Netanyahu said the Huthis would "pay a very heavy price" for their strikes on Israel. "After Hamas, Hezbollah and the (Bashar al-)Assad regime in Syria, the Huthis are almost the last arm of Iran's axis of evil," he said. The Huthis control large parts of Yemen, including much of its most populated areas, after seizing the capital and ousting the internationally recognised government in September 2014. A Saudi-led coalition launched a military campaign to dislodge them in March 2015, triggering a war that has caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Sanaa's airport, which reopened to international flights after a six-year gap in 2022, offers a regular service to Jordan's capital, Amman, on the home-grown Yemenia airline. strs/th/dcp Azerbaijan believes Russian missile caused plane crash: reports Baku, Dec 26 (AFP) Dec 26, 2024 Azerbaijani authorities believe the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people was caused by a Russian surface-to-air missile, several media reported Thursday. The jet was en route from the country's capital Baku to the city of Grozny in Chechnya, southern Russia, on Wednesday but crashed near Aktau in Kazakhstan. Euronews cited Azerbaijani government sources as saying that "shrapnel hit the passengers and cabin crew as it exploded next to the aircraft mid-flight". Military and aviation experts have pointed to apparent shrapnel damage on the fuselage of the plane. Euronews also cited its sources saying the damaged plane "was not allowed to land at any Russian airports despite the pilots' requests for an emergency landing". They said the plane was instead ordered to fly across the Caspian Sea to Aktau -- far off its original route. Turkey's official Anadolu news agency carried a similar report citing the preliminary results of the investigation, saying "the plane was attacked by a Pantsir missile system" as it approached Grozny. Ukrainian drone strikes have been registered in Chechnya in recent weeks, and there was reported drone activity in nearby Ingushetia and North Ossetia before the crash. "The aircraft's communication system was completely paralysed due to the use of Russian electronic warfare systems, which resulted in the plane disappearing from radars while in Russian airspace," Anadolu reported. The New York Times reported that "two Azerbaijanis briefed on a government inquiry said that Azerbaijani officials now believe that a Russian Pantsir-S defence system damaged the plane". Azerbaijan Airlines initially said the plane flew through a flock of birds before withdrawing the statement. Russia's aviation agency also mentioned birds as a possible cause. The specialist website Flightradar24 said the flight had experienced "significant GPS interference". It said the plane "stopped sending positional data" for a few minutes. The plane was carrying 62 passengers and five crew members. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier on Thursday cautioned against "hypotheses" about the crash before the official Kazakh investigation is completed. bur/dt/js Israeli strikes kill three in Yemen as Netanyahu fires warning Sanaa, Dec 26 (AFP) Dec 26, 2024 Israeli air strikes pummelled Sanaa's international airport and other targets in Yemen on Thursday, leaving three people dead, a day after the latest attacks on Israel by Iran-backed Huthi rebels. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was at the airport during the strike, he said, adding that "one of our plane's crew members was injured". The strikes targeting the airport, military facilities and power stations in rebel areas follow rising hostilities between Israel and the Huthis, part of Iran's "axis of resistance" alliance against Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel's strikes would "continue until the job is done". "We are determined to cut this branch of terrorism from the Iranian axis of evil," he said in a video statement. His defence minister Israel Katz said Israel would "hunt down all the Huthi leaders... No one will be able to escape us". Tedros, who was in Yemen to seek the release of detained UN staff and assess the humanitarian situation in war-torn Yemen, said he and his team were about to board their flight when "the airport came under aerial bombardment". He said the air traffic control tower, departure lounge and runway were damaged in the strike. The rebel-held capital's airport was struck by "more than six" attacks with raids also targeting the adjacent Al-Dailami air base, a witness told AFP. A series of strikes were also fired at a power station in Hodeida, a witness and the Iran-backed Huthis' official Al-Masirah TV station said. Two people died and 11 were wounded at the rebel-held capital's airport, and one person was killed and three were missing at Ras Issa port, Huthi statements said. Huthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam called the strikes, a day after the Huthis fired a missile and two drones at Israel, "a Zionist crime against all the Yemeni people". The Israeli military said its "fighter jets conducted intelligence-based strikes on military targets belonging to the Huthi terrorist regime". - Tel Aviv attack - The targets included "military infrastructure" at the airport and power stations in Sanaa and Hodeida, as well as other facilities at Hodeida, Salif and Ras Kanatib ports, an Israeli statement said. "These military targets were used by the Huthi terrorist regime to smuggle Iranian weapons into the region and for the entry of senior Iranian officials," the statement said. "The Huthi terrorist regime is a central part of the Iranian axis of terror," it added. Iran's foreign ministry condemned the strikes as a "violation" of peace and security. "These aggressions are a clear violation of international peace and security and an undeniable crime against the heroic and noble people of Yemen," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a statement. Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is fighting Israel in the Gaza Strip, condemned the attack as an "aggression" against its "brothers from Yemen". On Saturday, days ahead of Wednesday's missile and drone strike on Israel, 16 people were wounded by a Huthi attack in Tel Aviv. The incident prompted a warning from Netanyahu, who said he ordered the destruction of the rebel group's infrastructure. The Huthis have fired a series of missiles and drones at Israel since the eruption of war in Gaza in October last year, claiming solidarity with the Palestinians. The rebels, part of Iran's "axis of resistance" against Israel and the United States, have also waged a months-long campaign against shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Scores of drone and missile attacks on cargo ships have prompted a series of reprisal strikes by US and sometimes British forces. - 'Pay a heavy price' - Israel has also previously struck the Huthis in Yemen, including hitting ports and energy facilities, after rebel attacks against its territory. In July, a Huthi drone attack on Tel Aviv killed an Israeli civilian, prompting retaliatory strikes on Hodeida. Last week, before the latest volley of attacks, Netanyahu said the Huthis would "pay a very heavy price" for their strikes on Israel. The Huthis control large parts of Yemen after seizing the capital and ousting the internationally recognised government in September 2014. A Saudi-led coalition launched a military campaign to dislodge them in March 2015, triggering a war that has caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. strs/th Bodies of about 100 Kurdish women, children found in Iraq mass grave Tal al-Shaikhia, Iraq, Dec 26 (AFP) Dec 26, 2024 Iraqi authorities are working to exhume the remains of around 100 Kurdish women and children thought to have been killed in the 1980s under former Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein, three officials said. The grave was discovered in Tal al-Shaikhia in the Muthanna province in southern Iraq, about 15-20 kilometres (10-12 miles) from the main road there, an AFP journalist said. Specialised teams began exhuming the grave earlier this month after it was initially discovered in 2019, said Diaa Karim, the head of the Iraqi authority for mass graves, adding that it is the second such grave to be uncovered at the site. "After removing the first layer of soil and the remains appearing clearly, it was discovered that they all belonged to women and children dressed in Kurdish springtime clothes," Karim told AFP on Wednesday. He added that they likely came from Kalar in the northern Sulaimaniyah province, part of what is now Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, estimating that there were "no less than 100" people buried in the grave. Efforts to exhume all the bodies are ongoing, he said, adding that the numbers could change. Following Iraq's deadly war with Iran in the 1980s, Saddam's government carried out the ruthless "Anfal Operation" between 1987 and 1988 in which it is thought to have killed around 180,000 Kurds. Saddam was toppled in 2003 following a US-led invasion of Iraq and was hanged three years later, putting an end to Iraqi proceedings against him on charges of genocide over the Anfal campaign. Karim said a large number of the victims found in the grave "were executed here with live shots to the head fired at short range". He suggested some of them may have been "buried alive" as there was no evidence of bullets in their remains. Ahmed Qusai, the head of the excavation team for mass graves in Iraq, meanwhile pointed to "difficulties we are facing at this grave because the remains have become entangled as some of the mothers were holding their infants" when they were killed. Durgham Kamel, part of the authority for exhuming mass graves, said another mass grave was found at the same time that they began exhuming the one at Tal al-Shaikhia. He said the burial site was located near the notorious Nugrat al-Salman prison where Saddam's authorities held dissidents. The Iraqi government estimates that about 1.3 million people disappeared between 1980 and 1990 as a result of atrocities and other rights violations committed under Saddam. Starting from January 1, 2025, Ukrainian individual entrepreneurs (IEs) will pay taxes at new rates the law on the application of the updated rules was signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In particular, the law introduces mandatory payment of military duty for individual entrepreneurs. As a result, sole proprietors of the 1st and 2nd groups will have to pay a fixed additional UAH 800 of the military tax per month, while entrepreneurs in the 3rd group will have to pay a tax amount depending on their income. ADVERTISIMENT OBOZ.UA writes about the tax rules that will apply to individual entrepreneurs from January 1, 2025. The introduction of the military fee for individual entrepreneurs will definitely take place in the new year, as on December 25, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Bill No. 9319, the amendments to which postpone the application of this rule retroactively to January 1. IE taxes 2025: who will pay how much and what are the limits The main innovation in 2025 for individual entrepreneurs is the need to pay the military tax, which for other taxpayers has already increased from 1.5% to 5% as of December 1, 2024. However, sole proprietors will not pay 5%: Individual entrepreneurs of the 1st, 2nd and 4th groups For these individuals, the military fee is fixed at 10% of the minimum wage. Since the minimum wage will not be increased from the new year and will remain at the level of UAH 8000, you will have to pay a fixed amount of UAH 800 per month. The payment is due by the 20th of each month, along with the single tax. ADVERTISIMENT Individual entrepreneurs of the 3rd group The rate of the military fee for the third group of single taxpayers is set at 1% of income. For example, for a sole proprietor with a monthly income of UAH 30 thousand, it will be UAH 300. Payment is due within 10 days after submitting the quarterly declaration. You also need to submit an annual declaration by February 10 of the year following the reporting year (i.e., for 2025 by February 10, 2026). However, sole proprietors pay not only the military fee. For example, sole proprietors have to pay a single social contribution (SSC) even if they have no income. The minimum UST rate is 22% of the minimum wage. This is UAH 1760 per month or UAH 21120 per year. You can pay more (this affects the amount of your future pension), but this amount is mandatory. ADVERTISIMENT Individual entrepreneurs also pay a single tax directly. Its amount depends on the group: in 2025, it will be UAH 302.8 for the first group; UAH 1600 for the second group; and 5% of turnover (not income) for the third group. Annual income limits for individual entrepreneurs are calculated based on the minimum wage. That is, in 2025, they will not change and will be as follows: for sole proprietors of the 1st group UAH 1,336,000 (167 minimum wages); Group 2 sole proprietors UAH 6,672,000 (834 minimum wages); Group 3 sole proprietors UAH 9,336,000 (1,167 minimum wages). New rules for bank checks await individual entrepreneurs Due to widespread tax evasion schemes in Ukraine, new, stricter financial monitoring measures will be introduced for individual entrepreneurs. In particular, special attention will be paid to a sharp increase in transactions and exhaustion of limits, splitting of transfers, and significant amounts of income. ADVERTISIMENT This was agreed by the largest banks of Ukraine in the memorandum "On Ensuring Transparency of the Banking Payment Services Market." The document was signed on December 10 by the National Bank of Ukraine, the National Association of Banks of Ukraine (NABU), the Association of Ukrainian Banks (AUB), PrivatBank, Oschadbank, Raiffeisen Bank, and Universal Bank, which includes monobank. Group 1 sole proprietors registered within the last 6 months will be subject to the most thorough scrutiny, as they will face enhanced financial monitoring. Banks will apply their own risk-oriented approaches to sole proprietorships of the 2nd and 3rd groups. Sole proprietorships will also be checked for split-up schemes, namely, they will be subject to scrutiny: significant receipts to the sole proprietorship's accounts from a legal entity or other business entities; ADVERTISIMENT payment by a legal entity for services to a sole proprietorship, the cost of which is difficult to estimate; a significant volume of financial transactions on the accounts of the new sole proprietorship; reaching the maximum amount of income per year for a sole proprietorship within 2-3 months; use of one payment terminal of a financial institution by several business entities. The innovations will help to overcome widespread tax evasion schemes, said Danylo Hetmantsev (Servant of the People), Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Taxation and Customs Policy. This is especially true of counteracting the fragmentation of medium and large businesses that hide from paying taxes behind fake individual entrepreneurs. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! 10 civilians killed in 'accidential' Nigerian army strike Kano, Nigeria, Dec 26 (AFP) Dec 26, 2024 Airstrikes by Nigerian military forces targeting suspected jihadists in the northwest Sokoto state killed 10 civilians and injured six others, local officials said Thursday. The strikes were aimed at positions of the Lakurawa jihadist group in a forest in Silame district but instead hit Gidan Bisa and Runtawa, two villages on the edge of the forest, destroying homes and livestock. "Two military jets carried out the attacks on the two villages during an operation against Lakurawa terrorists in nearby Surame forest around 7:00 am (0600GMT)," said Abubakar Muhammad, the local administrator of Silame, who attended the funeral of the victims. "We lost 10 people in the incident while six others were injured. Many homes, livestock and grain silos were destroyed in the airstrikes." Sokoto's state governor Ahmad Aliyu blamed the deaths on an "accidental misfire from the Nigerian Army", without giving a toll. Aliyu said he was in contact with the Nigerian military to seek a "thorough investigation" on the cause of the incident that caused "avoidable loss of life." The governor posted pictures from the scene showing at least seven bodies wrapped in clothes and plastic mats, as well as charred livestock and scorched mud houses. An aide to President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday walked back his earlier description of the civilian deaths as fake news. "I deeply regret any misunderstanding my initial report may have caused," Dada Olusegun wrote on X. "These findings underscore the challenges of reporting on complex operations in areas where civilian and bandit presences overlap." But a Nigerian military spokesman insisted the targets of the airstrike in the two villages were jihadists. "The targets struck... have been positively identified as associated with the Lakurawa group, reinforcing the justification for the military action taken," Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi said in a statement. "All military operations are conducted based on thorough intelligence and reconnaissance missions...to ensure precision and protect civilian lives." The Nigerian military has a history of accidental bombings of civilians in their battle against jihadists and criminal gangs in Nigeria's northeast and northwest. In December 2023, a Nigerian force mistook a Muslim religious gathering for bandits in Tudun Biri, a community in northwestern Kaduna state, killing at least 85 people, mostly women and children. Gabon jails eight officers accused of torturing soldier to death Libreville, Dec 26 (AFP) Dec 26, 2024 Gabon's defence ministry said Thursday that eight officers suspected of torturing to death a young soldier accused of stealing had been detained, in a case that has rocked the junta-led country. Two generals will also be questioned after an emergency meeting presided by coup leader General Brice Oligui Nguema, according to a ministry statement read on state TV late Wednesday. Images of the mutilated body of the soldier, Johan Bounda, at a morgue sparked outcry across the Central African nation. Authorities scrambled to respond with promises of an inquiry, and Oligui himself visited the victim's family on Wednesday, Christmas Day. Prosecutors say Bounda was accused of attempting to rob a superior's home, with media reports saying he was taken to the headquarters of the military security service, widely known as B2, for torturing. The junta earlier this month lifted an overnight curfew in force since it seized power in August 2023. Just days before, police had arrested dozens of young protesters in Libreville for breaching the curfew, with some claiming they had their heads shaved by the authorities as a punishment. Oligui has promised to return Gabon to civilian rule, and this week a new constitution was decreed after its approval by Gabonese voters in November. But he has not set a date for new elections, and has made no secret of his presidential ambitions. Israeli strikes hit Yemen as Netanyahu fires warning Sanaa, Dec 26 (AFP) Dec 26, 2024 Israeli air strikes pummelled Sanaa's international airport and other targets in Yemen on Thursday, with Huthi rebel media reporting six deaths. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media he was at the airport during the strike, adding that "one of our plane's crew members was injured". The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether they were aware of his presence at the time. The strikes targeting the airport, military facilities and power stations in rebel areas follow rising hostilities between Israel and the Huthis, part of Iran's "axis of resistance" alliance against Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel's strikes would "continue until the job is done". "We are determined to cut this branch of terrorism from the Iranian axis of evil," he said in a video statement. His defence minister Israel Katz said Israel would "hunt down all the Huthi leaders... No one will be able to escape us". Tedros, who was in Yemen to seek the release of detained UN staff and assess the humanitarian situation in war-torn Yemen, said he and his team were about to board their flight when "the airport came under aerial bombardment". He said the air traffic control tower, departure lounge and runway were damaged in the strike. "We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave," he added. The rebel-held capital's airport was struck by "more than six" attacks, with raids also targeting the adjacent Al-Dailami air base, a witness told AFP. A series of strikes were also fired at a power station in Hodeida, a witness and the Iran-backed Huthis' official Al-Masirah TV station said. The station said six people were killed in the strikes. Earlier, Huthi statements said two people died at the rebel-held capital's airport, and one person was killed at Ras Issa port. Huthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam called the strikes, a day after the Huthis fired a missile and two drones at Israel, "a Zionist crime against all the Yemeni people". The Israeli military said its "fighter jets conducted intelligence-based strikes on military targets belonging to the Huthi terrorist regime". - Tel Aviv attack - The targets included "military infrastructure" at the airport and power stations in Sanaa and Hodeida, as well as other facilities at Hodeida, Salif and Ras Kanatib ports, an Israeli statement said. "These military targets were used by the Huthi terrorist regime to smuggle Iranian weapons into the region and for the entry of senior Iranian officials," the statement said. "The Huthi terrorist regime is a central part of the Iranian axis of terror," it added. Iran's foreign ministry condemned the strikes as a "violation" of peace and security. "These aggressions are a clear violation of international peace and security and an undeniable crime against the heroic and noble people of Yemen," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a statement. Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is fighting Israel in the Gaza Strip, condemned the attack as an "aggression" against its "brothers from Yemen". On Saturday, days ahead of Wednesday's missile and drone strike on Israel, 16 people were wounded by a Huthi attack in Tel Aviv. The incident prompted a warning from Netanyahu, who said he ordered the destruction of the rebel group's infrastructure. The Huthis have fired a series of missiles and drones at Israel since the eruption of war in Gaza in October last year, claiming solidarity with the Palestinians. The rebels, part of Iran's "axis of resistance" against Israel and the United States, have also waged a months-long campaign against shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Scores of drone and missile attacks on cargo ships have prompted a series of reprisal strikes by US and sometimes British forces. - 'Pay a heavy price' - Israel has also previously struck the Huthis in Yemen, including hitting ports and energy facilities, after rebel attacks against its territory. In July, a Huthi drone attack on Tel Aviv killed an Israeli civilian, prompting retaliatory strikes on Hodeida. Last week, before the latest volley of attacks, Netanyahu said the Huthis would "pay a very heavy price" for their strikes on Israel. The Huthis control large parts of Yemen after seizing the capital and ousting the internationally recognised government in September 2014. A Saudi-led coalition launched a military campaign to dislodge them in March 2015, triggering a war that has caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. strs/th/dcp/jsa US says kills two Al-Shabaab fighters in airstrike Washington, Dec 26 (AFP) Dec 26, 2024 The US military said Thursday it had killed two members of the jihadist Al-Shabaab group in southern Somalia in an airstrike. The strike took place on Tuesday about 10 kilometers (six miles) southwest of the town of Quyno Barrow, south of Mogadishu, the United States Africa Command (US AFRICOM) said in a statement. The strike was conducted "in coordination" with Somalia's federal government, it said. "The command will continue to assess the results of the operation and provide additional information as appropriate," the statement said, providing no further details. The Somalian government issued a statement lauding a "meticulously planned operation" that was conducted alongside "international partners" in the same district. That statement said the operation "has successfully eliminated the terrorist ring leader Mohamed Mire Jama, also known as Abu Abdirahman, in the Kunyo-Barow district of Lower Shabelle province." Somalia is one of the poorest countries on the planet, enduring decades of civil war, a bloody insurgency by the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab, and frequent climate disasters. Washington has invested massively for several decades in the fight against the insurgency. During his first term, US President-elect Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of US troops from Somalia, a decision reversed by his successor Joe Biden. Earlier this week, Egypt said it was joining a new African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia. The mandate of the current African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) ends on December 31, and it will make way for a new force against the Al-Shabaab insurgents, the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). Azerbaijan Airlines said it would keep members of the public updated and changed its social media banners to solid black. It also said that it would suspend flights between Baku and Grozny, as well as between Baku and the city of Makhachkala in Russia's North Caucasus until its investigation into the crash has been concluded. 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 In 2025, "Ukrposhta" plans to revise some tariffs. In particular, the cost of sending parcels to a number of foreign destinations may increase. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by Yuliia Pavlenko, director of the company's international operations department. At the same time, she said, the cost of sending to some countries will remain unchanged, while to others it will decrease, Interfax-Ukraine reports. "We will have a small correlation, but only for a few countries with a large delivery leverage. The cost of delivery to other countries will not change or decrease, as in the case of the UK and the US. Among the countries for which the tariff will be slightly increased is Turkmenistan due to the need to make a large hook during air travel. We, as a state-owned company, cannot afford to work in the red," Pavlenko says. Tariffs for parcels up to 10 kg will remain unchanged in key destinations. There will be a slight correlation in tariffs to the following countries: ADVERTISIMENT Armenia; Israel; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Moldova; Tajikistan; Turkmenistan. The following tariffs will also increase: EMS shipments (parcels up to 30 kg) to Poland; letters in the weight category of 1001-2000 grams by $2; registered letters up to $3.5; small PRIME packages (1-2 kg) for zones 1 and 3 - by 10% on average; In addition, the tariffs for parcels over 10 kg with a declared value are planned to be equal to the tariffs for parcels up to 10 kg. Thus, it will become more profitable and cheaper to send parcels over 10 kg. In addition, the share of the tariff in Ukraine, which is already included in the tariff for parcels, EMS shipments, registered letters (subject to payment by electronic stamp), and small packages/PRIME, will change. It is worth noting that in 2024 "Ukrposhta" has already revised several tariffs. In particular, due to changes in tax legislation, the prices of stamps have increased, which is why they, labeled envelopes and cards will be subject to a 20% value-added tax (VAT). OBOZ.UA also reported that starting from January 1, 2025, "Ukrposhta" will introduce tariffs that will depend only on the volume of the parcel. Prices will start from 40 hryvnias per shipment, ensuring the availability and fairness of the service for all customers. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! As of January 1, 2025, Romania will close more than 30 checkpoints on its land border due to the country's full accession to the Schengen area. However, control at the closed checkpoints will be "selectively carried out". ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the country. As noted, the checkpoints will be closed, as joining the Schengen area abolishes control over the movement of people on the internal land borders between Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary, which are part of Schengen. However, Romania will continue to control documents at these borders for six months after accession and then will introduce enhanced control along the border. The reason is the problems with illegal migration faced by the country. The border police will also be able to conduct random checks both in the area of the old customs and in the green zones that delimit the territory of the state without customs posts. "The abolition of control at the internal border implies the need to strengthen measures to ensure public order and security, given that Romania is currently facing a diverse range of illegal migration methods, given its geographical location," the media quoted the country's Interior Ministry as saying. ADVERTISIMENT Moreover, since "border control can be temporarily restored in accordance with Schengen laws," all customs buildings and border facilities along all sections of the border will be put on hold. As reported by OBOZ.UA, on January 1, 2025, not only Romania but also Bulgaria will become full members of the Schengen area. Negotiations on this began in 2012, but the decision was approved by the EU recently. Austria, which until recently opposed it because of the high level of illegal migration in Bulgaria and Romania, has recently lifted its veto. Currently, the Schengen area covers 29 states that joined the agreement signed in the Schengen village in Luxembourg in 1985. The Schengen zone has border controls only on the external border, without border controls on the internal borders of the states that are part of this zone. Only verified information is available in our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes! This is what Cronkite said: "The bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate. To say that we are closer to victory today is to believe in the face of the evidence, the optimists who have been wrong in the past. To say that we are mired in stalemate seems the only realistic if unsatisfactory conclusion. On the off chance that military and political analysts are right, in the next few months we must test the enemy's intentions, in case this is indeed his last big gasp before negotiations." Airmen stationed at Kunsan Air Base eat inside O'Malley Dining Facility at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, Dec. 25, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes) KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea Airmen at this air base in western South Korean have a new place to eat with the opening of the new OMalley Dining Facility, a state-of-the-art, $22 million project that doubles the size and capacity of its predecessor. The facility officially opened Wednesday, Christmas Day, on a site adjacent to the old dining hall, now demolished. The new facility features a host of upgrades. At approximately 39,000 square feet, the new facility is more than twice the size of the old building and can seat up to 800 personnel at a time, compared to just 300 in the old facility, 8th Fighter Wing spokesman Capt. Alvin Nelson said by email to Stars and Stripes on Thursday. Salad bar inside O'Malley Dining Facility at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, Dec. 25, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes) It can also feed more than twice as many people during each meal period than its predecessor. The previous DFAC was designed to service 830 personnel per meal period, but the number of personnel on meal cards has increased over the years, Nelson wrote. The new facility is designed to service just under 2,000 personnel and can serve approximately 15,000 meals daily during normal feeding hours. A post on Kunsans official Facebook page Dec. 23 labeled the new facility the largest of its kind in Pacific Air Forces. By comparison, the largest dining facility in the Air Force is Mitchell Hall at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. It can serve the entire cadet wing, about 4,000 people, in less than 30 minutes, according to the academy website. The expanded size and upgraded features at the OMalley have been well-received by both staff and diners, said Senior Airman Ambrielle Allen, a shift leader at the facility. Walking in and seeing the dining room and the open space its huge and impressive, she told Stars and Stripes on Wednesday. It has more space, newer equipment, and more opportunities because its getting a lot of new faces in. The modernized facility is designed to enhance safety and efficiency, with wider kitchen pathways, freezers with safety alarms and a dedicated indoor area for carry-out and box meal pickups, according to Nelson. The larger food storage capacities and the largest generator on base will also help prevent food waste during a power outage, he wrote. Airman 1st Class Brandon Valente, an aircraft metals technology specialist with the 8th Maintenance Squadron, said the new design and atmosphere are significant improvements. Its a big upgrade with a lot more atmosphere, Valente said Wednesday at the dining hall. The booths on the side -- I dont see many DFACs with those. The facility also includes higher ceilings and more natural light, creating an inviting environment for airmen. Its great for getting together with friends during lunch or after shifts, Airman 1st Class Christian Driver, also with the 8th Maintenance Squadron, said Wednesday. Its size and ease of access, no long lines and efficient service make it special. Construction on the dining facility began in 2022 and was completed earlier this year, Nelson wrote. The project was funded by South Korea through the Ministry of National Defenses Defense Installation Agency, with oversight from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron. The transition from the old facility, which ceased operations on Oct. 1, came with challenges, such as moving large equipment. Allen said she considered her part in the project an accomplishment. Im proud because my hands were part of making this happen, she said. Pfc. Britney Moyeda, right, hugs her recruiter, Staff Sgt. Joseph Adams, after her boot camp graduation at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego on Oct. 25, 2024. Moyeda was diagnosed with leukemia at age 12, but the cancer fight only strengthened her long-standing desire to become a Marine, she said. (U.S Marine Corps) For newly minted Marine Pfc. Britney Moyeda, getting through boot camp was no sweat in comparison with what she had endured just to get there in the first place. The 18-year-old was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at age 12 and spent the following four years receiving treatment that included multiple rounds of chemotherapy and surgery before her cancer went into remission in 2022. With a new lease on life, Moyeda decided to chase the career she had become enamored with after seeing an elementary school classmates father in a Marine Corps uniform, People magazine reported in a July story just weeks before her arrival at boot camp. Moyedas ambition became reality with her October graduation at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in California. Shes now at Camp Johnson, N.C., for occupational specialty school in ground supply, and she aspires to become a drill sergeant. I have always believed if God left me here, its because I have a purpose that I have to fulfill, Moyeda told Stars and Stripes in a recent interview. So, I went for what I wanted most, and it was to be a Marine. Not long after being declared cancer-free in 2022, the Houston native went to a local recruiting station, where she met with area recruiter Staff Sgt. Joseph Adams. I never sugar-coated anything to her, Adams said in a recent Marine Corps statement. I told her there was a chance that it would take months, possibly years, just to get an answer on whether she would qualify to even go to boot camp. Moyeda compiled more than 2,000 pages of paperwork documenting her diagnosis and treatment for the agency that medically qualifies applicants to the Corps, according to the statement. For the next year-and-a-half, she faithfully attended weekly training and held on to the hope that it would all work out for her one day. Staff Sgt. Adams and I were prepared for the worst, which was not being able to enlist, Moyeda said. Her waivers were finally approved, allowing her to take the oath of enlistment into the Delayed Entry Program, which prepares future Marines for basic training. My mother was against it at first because she felt that she almost lost me and Id just be leaving her, Moyeda said. I sat down and talked to her, explaining that it was my dream and that I was going to do it with or without her help. I made her understand that it was my turn to make my life. Britney Moyeda, top, with her sister during Moyedas cancer treatments at Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston in 2018. Moyeda graduated Marine Corps boot camp in October after beating cancer four years ago. (Texas Children's Hospital) Before she could enter boot camp, she spent about two years in and out of the gym relearning how to walk and run after her medical treatment had necessitated the use of a wheelchair. On Oct. 25, she earned her moment at long last, walking across the parade deck in San Diego as a Marine. Waiting to congratulate her was Adams, a reunion that surprised Moyeda. He didnt write me or call me during the entire boot camp experience, she said in the Marine Corps statement. But when they called the dismissal, that was the first person I saw. Now a watch commander in the provost marshals office at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona, Adams said most people couldnt fathom what Moyeda had gone through in her life. I am happy I was able to facilitate in getting her to where she is today, he said in the statement. But really, she did it all on her own. Sign Up for Daily Headlines Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets from around the world. Sign Up Now Timothee Chalamet, seen here in A Complete Unknown, first picked up a guitar for his role in Call Me By Your Name. He also learned to play the harmonica for the new Bob Dylan biopic. (Searchlight Pictures/AP) How many roads must a man walk down to play Bob Dylan? Quite a few, at least, if youre Timothee Chalamet. Off and on for some six years, Chalamet has been obsessively working toward his performance in A Complete Unknown. He has visited Dylans childhood home, learned how to play the guitar (and the harmonica) and immersed himself in the early 60s New York that Dylan emerged out of even if much of it has faded with history by now. Cafe Wha? was funny because they have Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan painted along the staircase and everything but now its just, like, Aerosmith covers, Chalamet says, chuckling. I was like: I dont think this is what it was like when Bob was here. Chalamet has been building his Dylan for so long that hes been seen playing Dylan songs while in costume as Willy Wonka and on the set of Dune. His Dune co-star, Oscar Isaac (who famously played a fictional Dylan-adjacent folk musician in Inside Llewyn Davis), said, My first thought, it sounded like a really bad idea. Isaac certainly wasnt the only one to doubt whether Chalamet, or anyone, could tackle someone as iconic and enigmatic as Dylan. But Chalamets performance complete with singing and guitar playing in the James Mangold-directed film, now in theaters, has drawn near-universal praise. Chalamet has been nominated for a Golden Globe; if he were to be nominated and win at the Academy Awards, the 28-year-old would be the youngest best actor winner ever. Even Dylan, who gave Mangold notes on the film, has said: Timmys a brilliant actor, so Im sure hes going to be completely believable as me. Or a younger me. Or some other me. The Dylan in question in A Complete Unknown, loosely based on Elijah Walds 2015 book, Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties, is a young, just-starting-out Dylan. By the end of the film, which culminates in the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, hes gone from folk messiah to Judas. Chalamet recently spoke to The Associated Press about how he navigated the biggest acting challenge of his career: Associated Press: There might not be a much more daunting undertaking for an actor than playing Dylan. How did you decide you wanted to do it? Chalamet: I like how you framed the question initially, that its an undertaking. Bob Dylan is not only someone whose behaviorism and whose presence as a cultural figure is iconic, but, more importantly, as a thinker, as an artist, as a shaper of American culture through the last 60, 70 years, hes The Guy in a lot of ways. I obviously felt like you cant go near that if youre not ready to do it. Equally, I had five years to work on this, or six, so there was no truncated process at any point. If you play any real-life figure, its sort of a gift. Theres the reality of how it happened. But with a musician, your education becomes twofold, or tenfold, because theres not only the record of what he went through in his work, but the feeling he can give you as a person which for me, with Bobs music, was exponential. It was indescribable like many people, maybe yourself. And I wouldnt even try to describe it because he wouldnt. Where did you begin? Weirdly, it was the press conferences. This came to me in an email in 2018. Bob Dylan, to me, was limited to the good friend of my fathers in New York, growing up, who had a striking black-and-white portrait of Dylan on his apartment wall. I didnt know much of his music. You know, stuff like Blowing in the Wind or Times They Are a-Changin are so enwoven in American culture that, of course, I knew those. I just went up YouTube and before songs popped up, the San Francisco press conference popped up in 65. I was just so fascinated to see an artist who was a definitive figure of the 60s, but who clearly was as much a thinker as he was a forward-facing entertainer. Its really, really rare to find the people that are deep thinkers and lyricists and artists that as much forward-facing entertainers. So when these artists pop up, like Bob Dylan, or I think in todays culture, Frank Ocean, we all have a responsibility to champion these artists. Usually the sensitive nature, or whatever you want to call it, would encourage someone with a deep brain like that to not put themselves out there like that thats my theory. Were any of the documentaries helpful? It was really D.A. Pennebakers Dont Look Back. That was a bible to me on this. I love, love, love that film. I love music documentaries. Theres a Lil Wayne documentary called The Carter thats all these moments. Its just so special when you can get your camera on these music artists when theyre at a moment like Bob was in Dont Look Back. Lil Wayne in The Carter is the same thing where theyre learning to turn their back in some way, but they havent done it yet. Whatd you get from Dont Look Back? The great thing about Dont Look Back is its just really raw. There arent the talking heads. Its whats great about Suze Rotolos book. Its really raw. Its more raw than a lot of the other books about Bob Dylan. Its very clear-sighted about the young relationship she had with Bob. With an artist of such reverence, its important as an actor not to simply revere him. Then youll do justice to the people that already revere him, but to everyone else in the room, they wont get it. When did you first pick up a guitar? I picked up a guitar on Call Me By Your Name because I pluck out the chords of a song in that film. So I had, like, a really rudimental experience with that. I think sometime in 2018 I had my first lesson with this great guitar teacher named Larry Saltzman who at some point became less of a teacher and more a co-sanity artist through COVID. I think we were keeping each other sane. We would Zoom three, four times a week and doing songs that never made it into the movie. What songs did you gravitate toward? All of it. I really liked all of it. I like the more intimate songs like Girl From the North Country or Boots of Spanish Leather or One Too Many Mornings or Tomorrow Is a Long Time. But then I also liked North Country Blues and Rocks and Gravel or Ballad of Hollis Brown things where you hear the iron ore in Bobs voice, the North Country in Minnesota, the Hibbing. The Hibbing that when I visited you really felt like you were on the edge of America, like the edge of the world. These factories that are covered in snow and the icy roads. That stuff, as a New Yorker, I just started to fall in love with. So much of the movie is about the onset of fame for Dylan and his rejection of the expectations others have for him. Were you able to connect with that experience? Yeah, absolutely, in ways that are more unspoken than I could be definitive about. I just do. I dont know how to use more words than that. And it was empowering to play someone that really just bucked off all pressure. Ive heard you mention his infamous speech in 1963 accepting the Tom Paine award where he said it is not an old peoples world. That is a young man saying: Why are the older people in this room the signifiers and those who determine who the young lights forward are? Maybe the way he said it talking about hair loss for older people being representative of their old age (laughs) wasnt the nicest way of putting it. But what he was saying, it has an element of truth. And at a time when media was more centralized or something, I think his attitude toward it was I dont know, I dont want to speak for him. You havent met Dylan, but have you thought about what youd ask him if you did? I think Id just say thank you, really. Not thank you for the opportunity to meet, or thank you for the opportunity to play the role. Thank you for his music and his art and his work. You traveled through some of the Midwest to retrace his footsteps. How did that help? I spent time in Duluth and Hibbing and Wisconsin and Chicago. I tried to retrace those steps leading to New York where he arrived in the early 60s. That wasnt some academy process. That wasnt trying to excavate the exact footprint and see if there was some DNA remaining and what that meant about where he was psychologically at the time. That was simply to be in the energy of these places and quell some insecurity I had about growing up in midtown Manhattan in the 2000s and how that would be different from growing up in iron ore country in the 50s and 60s. Granted, thats a different place than it was 60, 70 years ago which was also moving to me, honestly. The unspoken metaphor I was feeling was: The world goes on. The times they are achanging and things have changed. Being a brilliant poet or artist like Bob isnt the remedy for everyone. I also have this personal affinity for these artists that come from the Midwest of the United States. Kid Cudi is obviously a hip-hop artist Im hugely admiring of who came from Cleveland. Its beyond me. Because I had a hard enough time getting my career going being from New York. When I got to Hibbing, you think of this heros journey of this young man. You sound altered by this experience. Did it in some way shift your DNA as an actor? I feel changed by the experience. I cant speak about the actual film. The process of it, the yearslong endeavor into it, the dignity in playing something that actually happened. Those were new facets to my experience as an artist. Beyond that, people will make of it what they will, which is totally fair. I think thats a great Bob worldview, too. Do with it what you want. Priest visit the Lychakiv cemetery on the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in Lviv on Dec. 6, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Yuriy Dyachyshyn, AFP, Getty Images via TNS) (Tribune News Service) Russia rebuffed incoming U.S. President Donald Trumps call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, while saying its ready to hold negotiations on a long-lasting peace agreement to end almost three years of war. A ceasefire is a road to nowhere that Ukraine will use to build up its military capacity, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an online news conference on Thursday. We need conclusive, legally-binding agreements which will create all the conditions for ensuring the security of the Russian Federation and, of course, the legitimate security interests of our neighbors. With Ukraine on the defensive as Russia makes grinding progress on the battlefield, Trump and his advisers have given signals that President Vladimir Putin could keep de facto control of the almost 20% of Ukrainian territory his forces occupy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also softened his stance by suggesting his government could use diplomatic means to recover its territory. Moscow is also demanding that Ukraine formally gives up its bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and agrees to strict limits on the size of its military, conditions that Kyiv has firmly rejected. I hope the Trump administration focuses on the causes of the conflict, Lavrov said. As President Putin said, we are ready to look at any serious, concrete proposals. 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Bagirov carried a painted spinning star while signing holiday carols and playing the tambourine. (Ed Ram for The Washington Post) DNIPROPETROVSK REGION, Ukraine - Christmas on Ukraines front line started, fittingly, in an old barn filled with hay. Soldiers filed in as Lt. Mykola Bagirov, the brigades chaplain, began chanting prayers in a setting straight out of a Nativity scene - never mind the M113 armored personnel carriers parked beside him. Bagirov spent the rest of the day dressed in a colorful jacket and carrying a painted spinning star while merrily singing traditional Ukrainian carols and banging a tambourine against his thigh. His audience, though thankful for the attempt at holiday cheer, was noticeably less enthused. Theres no good mood, said Kyrylo, a deputy battalion commander with Ukraines 33rd Mechanized Brigade. The Post is identifying the 37-year-old and other Ukrainian service members by just his first name, in keeping with military protocol. No one feels like the end is near, Kyrylo said. The morale keeps sinking lower and lower, getting worse and worse. This holiday season marks Ukraines third straight since Russias invasion, and President-elect Donald Trumps promise of negotiations to end the war has many questioning if there will be a fourth. Trump is already pressuring European nations to increase aid to Ukraine while signaling that security assistance from the United States - Ukraines biggest backer - will decline. But he has not disclosed details of how he plans to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, and Ukrainian and Russian delegations have not met since the first months of the war in 2022. In past years, officials in Kyiv and soldiers on the battlefield expressed commitment to fighting until the occupying Russian forces were defeated and pushed off Ukrainian land. Asked for their thoughts about a potential ceasefire in 2025, soldiers in Ukraines 33rd brigade said theyd welcome a reprieve but were skeptical one was coming soon. Many expressed doubt that Putin would settle for peace while Russian forces have continued to make gains and maintain the offensive initiative. A peace deal would likely also see Moscow keep the territory it has captured - more than 20 percent of Ukraine. Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky has said recently active hostilities could end next year and Kyiv would then work to diplomatically return its occupied lands at a later date. Some soldiers on Wednesday said they feared the United States would discontinue its critical weapons support if Kyiv didnt agree to territorial concessions in the interim. Others acknowledged that theyre ceding land now even as they continue to fight. Where we used to talk about victory before, now its unclear, Kyrylo said. He then ushered chaplain Bagirov into a home where three soldiers had the day off from combat tasks because theyd attended a funeral for their comrade a day earlier. In the entranceway, a portrait of 27-year-old Vitaliy in his camouflage uniform was propped up on a table. He was killed in a Russian drone strike over the weekend. Im worried we will just be abandoned, said Oleksandr, 26. Those are the thoughts that creep in - that the support and deliveries from our allies, the ammunition, will just stop. If we dont have that, we wont have anything to shoot with. But most Ukrainian military personnel acknowledge that soldier shortages are now just as critical as the weapons deficits. Some specialized jobs in the 33rd - such as a driver for armored personnel carriers - were down to just one person in a battalion, soldiers said, complicating logistics to transport troops safely back and forth from trench positions. Do we even have infantry? said 37-year-old Denys, a drone operator. Its down to a couple of guys and theyre over 50 years old. What are they going to do? Felix, 39, who is responsible for providing logistical and moral support for his unit, said fighters are simply exhausted. He hoped Trumps January inauguration would mark a turning point in the war toward negotiations because it could provide soldiers with a much-needed break. It cant go on like this, Felix said. Were withdrawing. And theyre pushing further and further. What kind of victory will happen? If our officials cant put an end to it, maybe Mr. Trump can. Ukraines 33rd brigade was initially created out of optimism - to take back territory. Ahead of the highly anticipated counteroffensive on the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region last year, the brigade was one of several new units formed. Its members were trained by allies abroad to operate donated Western equipment, such as the German Leopard tanks. But after the counteroffensive stalled due to a stout Russian defense, the brigade shifted to defensive duties. Now its one of the units holding the hottest part of the front line, around the town of Kurakhove in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region. Russian forces have made rapid gains here, intensifying their attacks in what analysts and Western officials have said is likely a bid to occupy as much land as they can before Trumps inauguration and the possible start of ceasefire negotiations. Celebrating Christmas on Dec. 25 is a new tradition for most Ukrainians, who until last year officially recognized the holiday on Jan. 7, in the tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The switch to Dec. 25 was another way to move closer to Western ways. Across Ukraine, the day started with a massive Russian missile barrage targeting Ukraines energy infrastructure, causing rolling blackouts throughout the country. Christmas should be a time of peace, yet Ukraine was brutally attacked on Christmas Day, Keith Kellogg, Trumps special envoy for the war in Ukraine, wrote in a post on X. The world is closely watching actions on both sides. The U.S. is more resolved than ever to bring peace to the region. As chaplain Bagirov visited one group of soldiers after another, lifting his robe as his boots sank into the heavy mud, he acknowledged the troops mood was grim. What mood? he joked. His prediction for the next year was a ceasefire by Easter, followed by Christmas caroling with families away from the front line. We cant live without hope, he said. Inside one of the brigades medical stations for soldiers with minor injuries, 48-year-old Oleh was spending Christmas recovering from shrapnel wounds in his spine. This wont end soon, he said. The Russians wont stop this, he said. They dont want to live peacefully. Anastacia Galouchka in Kyiv contributed to this report. The High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) has banned the sale of the seized property of high-profile traitor Viktor Medvedchuk. The decision applies even to the ex-MP's property that has already been sold at auctions. ADVERTISIMENT According to the head of the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA), Olena Duma, the HACCU made this decision on December 25. The court attributed the request to the risk of asset loss. "This property, in particular, includes objects that have already been sold by the National Agency through the Prozorro.Sale system, such as a Maybach car, watches, paintings, ATVs and buggies totaling more than UAH 10.2 million," Duma wrote. According to the court's ruling, the ban is justified by the possible risks of alienation and reduction of the value of assets owned by the defendants or their related companies. The court believes that the sale of these assets may make it impossible to enforce the court decision in case the claims for their recovery to the state revenue are satisfied. "At the same time, ARMA has already sold part of this property, and the proceeds were transferred to the state budget of Ukraine. However, the HACCU decision calls into question the legality of such procedures in the Prozorro.Sale system and undermines confidence in the transparent management of seized assets," Duma said. ADVERTISIMENT According to her, the court did not involve the National Agency in the case, although the HACC was informed that some of the assets had already been transferred to the needs of Ukraine's defense during the war. In particular, we are talking about a Gulfstream G650 airplane and a Bell-427 helicopter, which were sent to the needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. "The Agency has already suspended all active bidding to ensure the enforcement of the court decision and is preparing to appeal the decision in the appellate instance. We expect a fair and lawful decision of the Appeals Chamber that will take into account the interests of the state and society. In this regard, an important question arises: does the same fate await Medvedchuk's arrested yacht Royal Romance, the sale of which will bring billions to the budget?" the head of the ARMA summarized. Earlier, OBOZ.UA reported that Viktor Medvedchuk's brother also had his property, which he tried to hide from the investigation, confiscated. We are talking about "Betonbud," a company registered in Lviv, which bought sand illegally mined in the Lviv region from "Kerambud" LLC, which was also confiscated. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Kelly is currently serving 19 years for a tiger-kidnapping robbery. INFAMOUS gangland criminal Paschal Kelly told gardai he wont be fighting a Criminal Assets Bureau case against him Kelly who is serving 19 years for a tiger-kidnapping robbery was served notice of the case in prison earlier this month He indicated he would not be opposing CABs application and there would be no need for an order to have him brought to court, it was heard in the High Court. Lawyers for the bureau recently said in court they will be making an application to take over assets worth 20,000. The Section 4 application will bring an end to the long running case which saw a High Court judgement against him in 2014. That led to the sale of his house in Cavan and also to a jail sentence for making threats to kill a CAB officer. The Sunday World previously reported how his run-in with CAB soured his relationship with the Dublin criminal known as Mr Big in a row over money. In 2014 the High Court gave CAB the go ahead to sell his home Hillview at Cormeen, Castlerahan in Ballyjamesduff in Cavan. He was described by a judge as playing a "leading role in an organised criminal gang". He had bought it ten years previously for 190,000 and built stables on the grounds for horses. He had claimed that he was unemployed and worked casually as a window cleaner and that he sold scrap and cars. Kellys luxurious home at Ballyjamesduff in County Cavan sat on three quarters of an acre of manicured grounds. Inside he had installed a Jacuzzi and bar and he parked his top-end cars on the drive. Kelly was once one of Irelands most prolific criminals specialising in tiger kidnap raids, often used to raise cash to fund other criminal activities. But after the fall-out with the major criminal known as Mr Big he fled initially to the UK before being eventually arrested back in Ireland. Posing as Patrick Smith, Kelly had been reduced to living in a rented one-bed holiday home in Castlepollard terrified of being caught or killed. Whether you want to immerse yourself in the local culture, observe wildlife, explore the magnificent natural landscapes, or simply relax on the beach, the best vacation destination is the islands. Each island is unique, with its own inimitable charm and beauty. ADVERTISIMENT Experts have selected the 10 best options to go on a trip and discover the most magical corners of the planet. They have a special atmosphere that will give an unforgettable experience. Macquarie Island, Australia One of the most remote islands on Earth, Macquarie is located about halfway between Tasmania and Antarctica. Its main attractions are colonies of one hundred thousand seals, and four million penguins, including about 850 thousand pairs of royalty (who raise their young only here and on the neighboring Bishops and Clerks Islands). The fact that these huge colonies have survived is a miracle. Hunting seals and penguins have historically posed a great threat to the populations. After the discovery of the then uninhabited Macquarie in the early 19th century, the wildlife was almost wiped out. ADVERTISIMENT Haida Gwaii, Canada Centuries-old totem poles reach for the sky at the edge of a misty rainforest, while the crash of waves echoes through the treetops. About 80 kilometers off the coast of British Columbia, the Haida Gwaii Islands showcase a world ruled by nature. Sudden thunderstorms and icy winds do not frighten tourists who want to watch black bears, bald eagles, and other wildlife. The cultural treasures of Haida Gwaii are also inspiring. The Haida people have been living on their ancestral land for over 10,000 years, and there are historic villages and ancient archaeological sites. Ile de Re, France ADVERTISIMENT Ile de Re is a charming island located off the west coast of France. It enchants with its sandy beaches, picturesque towns, fresh seafood, and unique atmosphere. The island can be reached by car or bus from mainland France. There are also regular flights from La Rochelle and La Rochelle-Ile. Channel Islands, USA The Channel Islands National Park, called the Galapagos Islands of North America, is home to an extraordinary diversity of plants and animals, including about 150 species that are found nowhere else on Earth. Volcanic activity has shaped the mountainous archipelago that lies off the coast of Southern California. Although there are traces of human presence on the island, including Chumash communities that have lived on the island for over 13,000 years, today these uninhabited islands offer a great opportunity to reconnect with the original wilderness. ADVERTISIMENT Jeju-do, South Korea Jeju-do Island is a real pearl of South Korea. Mount Hallasan is the highest point in the country and an extinct volcano. You can climb the mountain on foot or by cable car. The top offers a panoramic view of the island. At lower altitudes, Jeju-do has a humid subtropical climate, which has made it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region. Kangaroo Island, Australia Kangaroo Island rose from the ashes after the Black Summer wildfires of 2019-2020, when almost half of the territory burned. It is the third largest island in Australia, located 112 km south of Adelaide. It is famous for its unspoiled nature, diverse wildlife, and stunning scenery. Most of the island is protected as a national park. Here you can enjoy hiking, wildlife watching, and just relaxing in nature. ADVERTISIMENT Isle of Skye, Scotland The Isle of Skye is one of the largest islands in the Inner Hebrides, located in the west of Scotland. It is known for its incredible landscapes, rich history, and mystical atmosphere. Skye is home to fairy-tale castles, colorful fishing villages, museums, galleries, and craft shops in the island's lively towns. However, bring a raincoat: the name Skye comes from the Old Norse word sky-a, which means "island of clouds". The weather here is unpredictable. Chiloe Island, Chile This island off the coast of Patagonia attracts foreigners with its rainforests, historic churches, and clean beaches. However, if you ask a Chilean why they came here, they are likely to wax poetic about the culture, dialect, and aesthetics that distinguish the island from the mainland after centuries of historical isolation. The wooden houses on stilts in Chiloe's capital, Castro, are as colorful as the characters in local mythology. ADVERTISIMENT Vis, Croatia Cut off from the rest of the world from the 1950s to 1989, this former Yugoslav military base is a delight for travelers seeking tranquility and unspoiled natural beauty. Some of Vis's most beautiful natural spots are somewhat spoiled by bunkers, weapons chests, and submarine pens left behind by the Yugoslav National Army when it packed up camp and left the island in 1992. Remnants of Greek and British naval cemeteries, Roman baths, and an English fortress are other witnesses to the interesting history of this mysterious island. Cape Verde Rising out of the Atlantic Ocean 500 km west of Senegal, this magnificent chain of islands offers a charming mix of mountains, beaches, and laid-back seaside villages. The rocky peaks of Santo Antao hide green valleys of flowers and sugar cane, ideal for hiking. The cultural capital of Mindelo, teeming with bars and music clubs, is located on the island of Sao Vicente. On Sal and Mayo, wavy windy dunes merge with the ocean on pristine white sand beaches. Subscribe to the OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events. His comments come amid reports that the cartels bosses have a plan to flee to Russia as the net tightens on its operations in Dubai Ambassador says Russia is not very welcoming for criminal characters such as gangland boss Daniel Kinahan Russia is not a country that welcomes criminal characters such as gangland boss Daniel Kinahan, the countrys ambassador to Ireland has said. His comments come amid reports that the cartels bosses have a plan to flee to Russia as the net tightens on its operations in Dubai. Daniel Kinahan and his father Christy Sr have reportedly built up a significant relationship with the Russian mafia. Gardai believe they have a contingency plan for relocation to Russia at a moments notice as soon as they get a tip-off that the authorities will move against them. A hard-won extradition treaty with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) means gardai hope to eventually return the cartel leadership to Ireland to face justice. However, Russias ambassador to Ireland Yuriy Filatov said Russia was not a welcoming place for criminals and backed an extradition treaty to be established between Russia and Ireland. The initiative of the Irish Government our relations essentially have been frozen, including the political dialogue We are not generally very welcome for, you know, criminal characters, he said. He said while it was a hypothetical whether the cartel may actually flee to Russia or not, he said the embassy previously on numerous occasions pushed for an extradition treaty between Russia and Ireland before the war in Ukraine. We have discussed with the Irish government before the change of circumstances, and we have suggested on numerous occasions that modern crime is something which is transnational, in many instances, like these Kinahans, he said. So we have to have instruments to deal with that. But, well, probably well have to wait until better times to develop [a treaty]. Criminals should be in prison. But for that to happen, we have to have instruments. He rejected completely that Russia could be a safe haven for criminals, such as Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia after his regime collapsed by rebel forces. For more than 50 years, the Assad family ruled over Syria, with long-documented reports of mass incarceration, torture, extra-judicial killings and atrocities against Syrians. The former president of Syria is not a criminal, said Mr Filatov, saying refuge had been granted on humanitarian grounds for him and his family. On the emotional side of things, there is a narrative that he has been a brutal tyrant who brought up immeasurable suffering on his people. We normally do not interfere [with] the internal affairs. Weve seen what can happen, and it did happen after this movement by terrorists and opposition groups, there have been some lynching, etc thats not the way to handle things. So its just a matter of humanitarian concern. He said he sympathises with Syrian refugees in Ireland and said that Russia never tried to impose a project on Syria. What has happened, really, is that its a result of internal developments in Syria. We have had nothing to do with that. He said he had not met any Ukrainian refugees living in Ireland, but said some of them have applied through the Russian embassy for visas and asked for charges to be waived. Mr Filatov said those requests had been granted. Russia has found itself isolated from the EU and the US after it invaded Ukraine in February 2022, leading to more than seven million people fleeing their homes and around 100,000 of them seeking refuge in Ireland. The ambassador said Irish politicians should still be travelling to Russia on trade missions but said he didnt see any realistic chance of that happening. By the initiative of the Irish Government our relations essentially have been frozen, including the political dialogue, he said. I dont even know whether there is a Cobalt Mr Filatov said before the war in Ukraine, the relationship between Ireland and the Kremlin was quite lively. Right now, its just, to me, looks like an impossible proposition. Of course, we would be open for that, but I dont know, my prognosis is not very good. He insisted Russias war in Ukraine will not end unless there is a transfer of territory from Ukraine to Russia to protect Russian speakers. But he said Russia was large enough and didnt actually need these lands, arguing that they belonged to Russia despite territories being annexed by staged referendums. Its not about territories, per se. Its about people who live on these territories who rejected what has happened in their country, Ukraine, and they have been subjected to war by the regime which came to power. We simply cannot ignore these Russian, essentially Russian people, and thats about them. Russia is a big country. We dont need territory. Its about people. It is for this stance that the ambassador has found himself diplomatically isolated in Ireland, with neither Tanaiste Micheal Martin meeting him since he took up post as Foreign Affairs Minister, nor Taoiseach Simon Harris since he came into office. He insisted, however, that he does have some allies, including among African and Arab countries. It would be very wrong to assume that no, there is nobody to talk to. We have a very real sort of community of friends and colleagues, the exception is the European Union bloc, he said. Simon Harris has not met with the ambassador since becoming Taoiseach. Photo: Getty He said he had met some Russian citizens of which around 5,000 live in Ireland who have raised the war in Ukraine with him. He said the majority supported Russia, but some did not. He said a really small portion were blaming Russia. Some disagree. Some feel sad, he said. The ambassador branded as ridiculous reports from the Sunday Times earlier this year of Cobalt, an Oireachtas member who has been allegedly recruited by Russian intelligence. He said he had no idea of who Cobalt may be and said: I dont even know whether there is a Cobalt. He said he did not think former MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace, who were accused of having pro-Russian views, are pro-Russian, instead saying instead they are pro-truth. The narrative for putting labels on people has been developed exclusively for political purposes He said labelling politicians who do not follow the general line as pro-Putin aims to exclude them from the political process. The narrative for putting labels on people pro-Russian Putin is a narrative which has been developed exclusively for political purposes to exclude from the political process people who somehow do not follow the general line. More than 10,000 people speak Russian in Ireland, but only around half of those are citizens. They work in small business, education and IT. In August, Vladimir Putin brought in a law which aimed to simplify the relocation process for foreign citizens who want to move to Russia because they support traditional Russian spiritual and moral values and oppose the neoliberal ideology of their home countries. The ambassador said this had resulted in a real increase in visa requests from Irish people who want to go and live in Russia, citing dozens of cases. We have had quite a response, he said. These are serious people. They have very similar viewpoints, and they have friends in Russia. They are making decisions to relocate to a country which they think is more comfortable for them. Thats not to say that Ireland is bad, but yes, Im just stating the fact. The response came in the wake of retailers pleading for help against both organised gangs and the surge in stealing by individuals of all types A determined garda operation against shoplifting in the wake of the November 2023 riots has resulted in over 8,000 arrests and 20,000 charges in its first year. The response came in the wake of retailers pleading for help against both organised gangs and the surge in stealing by individuals of all types as a result of the cost of living crisis. Operation Tairge tackles organised retail crime, which has become a major feature of Irish life after first erupting in Britain. It is often accompanied by violence when discovered by a shopkeeper. Launched a month after the riots, Justice Minister McEntee said today she was delighted to see that the great work done by Operation Tairge has yielded significant results. Retail crime is not a victimless crime. It not only has significant economic impacts on our retail sector, but also on staff retention, recruitment and personal safety, she said. I have been engaging with retailers across the country and can assure them we will continue to work to tackle organised retail crime. Ms McEntee said. Organised retail crime involves a number of people acting to plan in targeting outlets to steal significant quantities of goods which are then sold back into the supply chain via the black market. It also involves swarming a shop and brazen looting, but can also involve goods interceptions and refund fraud. The kingpins recruit others to commit theft from retailers. A total of 8,460 arrests and 20,052 charges were logged in the first year of the operation, which is now likely to become permanent. Prosecutions for the November 23 riots are meanwhile slowly beginning in the courts, with many to process. In November, gardai arrested a man in his 50s over thefts from retail stores across North Dublin. He was taken to a garda station in North Dublin and subsequently charged with 46 counts of theft and one of assaulting a retail worker. In the same month, gardai attached to the Coolock and Raheny districts arrested and charged 21 people as part of ongoing investigations under Operation Thor and Operation Tairge, targeting robbery, burglary and theft in the North East Dublin Metropolitan Region areas of Coolock and Raheny. One officer had a glass bottle thrown at him and another was kicked multiple times during the incident Police make an arrest in Twinbrook while scramblers continue to tear up fields nearby Two police officers were injured while dealing with anti-social behaviour in the Twinbrook area of west Belfast on Christmas Day. One officer had a glass bottle thrown at him and another was kicked multiple times during the incident. A police car was also damaged and one man has since been arrested. Police issued a warning after officers were tasked to a really dangerous incident in west Belfast involving 15 scrambler bikes. PSNI staff were deployed to pitches in the Twinbrook area of the city shortly before 11am following reports of motorbikes on the wrong side of the road. A police helicopter was scrambled and an evidence-gathering operation mounted. Police deal with scramblers in the Twinbrook area of west Belfast on December 25th 2024 Several scramblers could be seen tearing up a grass area and performing wheelies on the wrong side of the road. It is understood some of the bikes were brought to the area in vans and flat-bed vehicles from the nearby Lisburn area. Officers withdrew from the area shortly after 1.45pm before returning again at 3pm. Inspector McCann said: "We received a number of reports of multiple scramblers being driven in the Bell Steele Road, Glenbawn and Stewartstown Road areas at around 11am. "Officers attended and were surrounded by a large group of people in the Glasvey Drive area, who assaulted two of our officers. One of the officers had a glass bottle thrown at him, cutting his hand. A second officer was kicked multiple times. A police car was also damaged during the incident. "One man, aged 34, was arrested on suspicion of a number of driving offences, including dangerous driving and use of a motorcycle failing to wear protective headgear. He has since been released on police bail to allow for further enquiries." Police deal with scramblers in the Twinbrook area of west Belfast on December 25th 2024 Inspector McCann continued: "We are lucky we are not looking at a much more serious incident. Our officers work tirelessly to protect our communities and do not deserve to be assaulted for simply doing their job. "We urge the public to think about their use of scramblers and to learn the legalities surrounding their use. Scramblers do not generally comply with construction and use legislation and vehicle standards, so are therefore restricted to off-road use only. "An investigation has been launched to identify the suspects, and we would appeal to anyone who can help identify those in the area at the time, or with dashcam or doorbell footage, to contact police on 101 and quote reference 401 of 25/12/24." Police deal with scramblers in the Twinbrook area of west Belfast on December 25th 2024 A report can be made using the online reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport. Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. Columba McVeigh was abducted and killed by the IRA nearly 50 years ago The family of a missing man murdered and disappeared by the IRA has challenged those responsible to do the decent thing and return his body after new information about his murder came to light this week. Columba McVeigh was abducted and killed by the IRA nearly 50 years ago. And a republican disclosed to the Belfast Telegraph this week the names of three people who he says were involved in his disappearance. The said two IRA members were directly involved in the 1975 murder and another man helped to dig the grave. The information has passed to the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains. And yesterday, Columbas brother Oliver called on the IRA to come forward immediately with credible information on his brothers whereabouts so his family can give him a Christian burial. He said: We are in the month of Christmas and the people responsible for abducting and killing Columba should use it as the moment to bring our family heartache to an end. Every Christmas Columbas mother Vera bought her missing son new clothes to wear over the festive season. And she had carefully stored the garments in three drawers, before the IRA finally admitted murdering her son. For many years, Mrs McVeigh refused to leave her house in Donaghmore, near Dungannon, on the off-chance that Columba might walk through the door of the family home. But Vera McVeigh went to her grave without seeing Columba ever again or knowing what had happened to him. Next November sees the 50th anniversary of Columbas disappearance. And yesterday, Oliver called on those responsible to finally put the McVeigh family out its misery. He told the Sunday World: In a few days time it will be Christmas and it would be an ideal time for the IRA to let us know where Columbas remains are buried. It would be the decent thing to do. The lives of 16 people and Im not including my mother were badly affected by what happened to Columba. In particular, my mother never got over it. When I think of Columba, all I can think about is the pain my mother was forced to endure for most of her life. It was appalling. All I can do is ask the IRA to do the decent thing. Christmas is the perfect time to bring this heartache this to an end, said Oliver. Vera finally acknowledged her son was dead after her husband died in 1997. And pleading for the return of Columbas body at the time, campaigning priest Fr Denis Faul described the youngster as an innocent victim of the sick society of Northern Ireland. Sunday World investigations into the disappearance and death of Columba (20) revealed he was more than likely murdered by two very senior IRA men. Columba who worked as a painter went missing shortly after returning home from Dublin where he had been working. On a number of occasions, the McVeigh familys hopes were built up only to be dashed, when the authorities acting on information received carried out detailed digging operations at a number of bog locations, but all to no avail. Oliver said: Of all the horrible crimes of the Troubles, I honestly believe the Disappeared is the worst of the lot. Victims are just gone. No longer there and no longer human beings. To us it seems cruel in the extreme. But weve never given up hope. Columba is one of four Disappeared victims whose remains are still unaccounted for. To my friend, gone but never forgotten: thank you for checking on me, even years later. Im holding your voice close today A close friend of Irishman Graham Dale who was killed in Ukraine fighting Russian forces last year has recalled the poignant moment she discovered a voice mail left by Dubliner on the anniversary of his death. Dale (45), originally from Raheny in Dublin, was killed on December 8, 2023 while fighting for the Ukrainian Army against the Russian forces. Outgoing council member of Austin City Council, Mackenzie Kelly, who knew Dale after he moved to city from his native Raheny in 2000, said she was taken aback to hear his voice again. Posting on social media, Mackenzie wrote that sometimes life gives you a small nudgea reminder of something bigger. Today, I experienced a moment like that, a God wink, that Ill never forget. Let me share. She then relates how a friend had posted an old voicemail from her dad on Facebook, and it reminded me to look for a saved voicemail from a family member who has passed. While searching, I stumbled across a file I hadnt listened to in years. It was named voicemail-13. Out of curiosity, I opened it. The voice on the other end wasnt from a family member, but from a dear friend of mine who passed away a year ago in the war in Ukraine. The voicemail was from 2016. In it, my friend was checking on me, saying he hadnt heard from me in a while and was worried. His kindness and care came through so clearly, even across the years. The same Irish accent Ive always known. After listening, I went to look him up on Facebook to reflect on his life. Thats when I realized the voicemail had resurfaced. Graham was killed fighting in Ukraine last December This felt like more than a coincidence. It reminded me of how much a simple voicepreserved in a voicemailcan mean, years or even decades later. Mackenzie advised her followers that if you have voicemails from loved ones, dont take them for granted. Back them up, she urged. Save their voices. Hearing someones voice again can be a powerful comfort and a way to hold them close. Life is short, and connections matter. Take the time to reach out to the people you care aboutdont wait for a missed call or a lost moment to remind you how much they mean. And when those God winks happen, cherish them. Sometimes theyre just what you need to feel a connection to someone youve lostand to remind you that love transcends time and space. She added: To my friend, gone but never forgotten: thank you for checking on me, even years later. Im holding your voice close today. Dale (45) died on Friday, December 8, 2023 while fighting for the Ukrainian Army. He was originally from Raheny in north Dublin but moved to the United States in 2000 and became a dual Irish-American citizen. Following the September 11 terror attacks he enlisted in the Marines and later served on a number of tours in Iraq. His time in combat was detailed in the book The Green Marine: An Irishmans War in Iraq which was based on a journal of his deployment in the country and published in 2009. Mr Dale later relocated to Cedar Park, a suburb in Austin, Texas, where he worked as a computer network engineer. Following the outbreak of the Ukraine-Russian war he travelled to Poland to provide humanitarian assistance to refugees fleeing the violence. However, in an interview with a US television station in May 2022, the Marine veteran said he felt compelled to assist Ukrainian forces. This is somewhere that Ive been to on vacation before. To me, this is an attack on all of Europe, he said of the Russian offensive. And I felt compelled with my current skillset and so forth that I could help in any way I could, he added. In his book, Graham Dale detailed how he grew up in Raheny and secured a Green card before moving to Texas. He was volunteering with a Texan fire department when two planes hit the World Trade centre on 9/11. That day was the catalyst," he told the Irish Independent in 2008. "To know that firemen and innocent people had been murdered, kids orphaned. I'm a very reactive person. I take things personally. Even when I was a child, if one kid was hitting another kid I felt a moral duty to say, 'stop that'. I really never subscribed to the idea that it's someone else's job to look after things." A number of other Irish men have also been killed while fighting in the Ukraine war. Finbar Cafferkey from Achill died fighting Russian troops in Ukraine. Photo: Shell to Sea/PA Wire In April 2023, Finbar Cafferky (40s), from Achill Island, died while fighting in the east of the country. Mr Cafferky had previously fought with an arm of the Syrian Democratic Forces against ISIS. He took part in the Shell to Sea protests against the Corrib Gas project and, in later years, worked in Copenhagen on a construction project. The previous September Rory Mason (25), from Co Meath, died while fighting with the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region. In a statement after his death the Mason family said: "Rory was a private young man of drive, purpose and conviction. Those who fought alongside Rory speak of a truly brave and courageous man who could have left at any time but chose not to". In August of this year Alex Ryzhuk (20), an Irish citizen who grew up in Dublin and has Ukrainian parents, was officially deemed missing in action and presumed dead while serving on the frontline. Earlier this month, the life of a Kildare soldier killed fighting in Ukraine was celebrated with a final salute in his honour. Robert Deegan (29), from Newbridge in Co Kildare died fighting for the Ukrainian special forces while on the front line in September of this year. Mr Deegan was a highly skilled and dedicated soldier who had formerly served in the Army Ranger Wing and the Engineers Unit of the Defence Forces Training Centre. He joined the Ukrainian effort fighting against the Russian invasion in 2022, shortly after the start of the war. Later that year, he was medically evacuated back home to Ireland after losing an eye in a bomb attack. Following his recovery, he returned to Ukraine for a second time to continue the fight, but tragically died in combat in Vovchansk. The former Ulster Rugby man gave up a high-flying finance job in London to become an artist in Belfast Niall Conlon is a self taught Irish artist. The former professional rugby player & Cambridge Blue left a lucrative career in the city of Londons financial district to follow his inner calling to become an artist. Niall Conlon is a self taught Irish artist. The former professional rugby player & Cambridge Blue left a lucrative career in the city of Londons financial district to follow his inner calling to become an artist. Niall Conlon took the advice of pal Jamie Dornan to follow his dream and hes never looked back. The former Ulster Rugby man gave up a high-flying finance job in London to become an artist in Belfast. He now has a worldwide following, celebrity fans and a new life back home where hes inspired by Belfasts street art. And his More series, a response to the racism faced by immigrants to 1950s London has become his calling card. Landlords in London often placed notices in windows declaring no Irish, no blacks, no dogs. Nialls comeback, with this trademark red dog declaring more Irish, more dogs, more blacks has become a sought-after print, with EastEnders star Diane Parish among his champions. Im a big fan of Richard Harris and Id seen an interview where he talked about coming to London in the fifties and sixties when these signs were up, he says. I was quite shocked. I started reading about it and there are some people who say the signs existed and some who say they didnt. Diane Parish says her folks experienced all of that. I flipped the sign on its head as a positive message, and that was one of the first pieces to sell. I thought there could be something in this, so I started doing prints and they really caught on. Now theyre sold all over the world, in America, London, Australia and New Zealand, says Niall. The Trinity College and Cambridge graduate took an unusual path to his passion, working in finance in the City of London for ten years. He was part of the Ulster Rugby squad and then played for the prestigious UK uni but when sport took a backseat to his day job he missed the outlet for his energy. Covid was a turning point when Niall started painting during the lockdowns and found his creative side. I was working in finance and found it soulless. It wasnt for me. After ten years of that I could feel myself getting low and depressed. Id always wanted to do something creative but I went down this safe path which was not what I wanted to do at all, he says. I was doing little bits and pieces of art as a hobby and then when Covid and lockdown happened and no one was going out I just started painting and got addicted to it, and then I was painting flat out. Looking back it was probably a bit mad but Im glad things turned out OK. Wife Lara was right behind his career change, and their move back to Belfast, before son Oisin arrived in December 2022. Childhood friend Jamie Dornan also encouraged Niall to follow his dream. I knew if I didnt take the leap Id always regret it. Lara is from Belfast and she could see that I was unhappy in what I was doing and how much the art lifted me up and gave me passion and energy. Im so lucky to have that. Jamie is a good friend, whos been really supportive and hes taken big risks in his life to get to where he is. Niall, 41, now works from his Lisburn Road studio and says being self-taught has given him the freedom to work out his style. I call it chaotic mad Irish expressionism. Ive been doing it for a couple of years now and you learn what works. Youve got to be prepared to fail until something sticks. Theres a lot of trial and error, he says. I think its a more authentic expression of yourself when you dont have any baggage from the art world. That frees you. Since changing career Nialls been inspired by the changes in his home city and the street art. Belfast is one of the street art capitals of Europe and Im always looking for something to throw into my work. Belfast has changed so much. There are lots of languages and lots of tourists and still a raw energy. Hes also determined to give back and has worked with WAVE patrons and Aware NI, as well as staging the Minding Minds Together exhibition with artist Paul Doran, with whom he initially shared a studio in Rosss Auctions in Belfast. Hes had commercial backing with a commission from Gary McCauslands company Hubflow for its London office, and Nialls next ambition is a solo show in Belfast. His growing success was tinged with sadness this year following the death of his mother Pauline in October, from MND, after spending months in hospital. She was so brave. Painting was very helpful in taking my mind off it, he says. For me art is really helpful for my mental health, expressing myself on canvas. Before I would have got my emotions out on the rugby pitch. And he urges anyone with a passion to pursue it. If youd told me four or five years ago Id be an artist now Id have said no way. Im so happy I did it. You only have one crack of the whip, says Niall. This follows the Labour Court overturning - on appeal by Virgin Media Ireland - a compensation award of 30,000 to Presentation and Scheduling Assistant, Sian Shepherd Television company, Virgin Media Ireland has succeeded in its bid in having a 30,000 discrimination award to a long serving Schedule Planner overturned. This follows the Labour Court overturning - on appeal by Virgin Media Ireland - a compensation award of 30,000 to Presentation and Scheduling Assistant, Sian Shepherd made by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in April of this year. At the WRC, Adjudicator, Davnet ODriscoll found that Ms Shepherd was discriminated against by Virgin Media Ireland as a parent after concluding that the selection process for appointment of Planning or Scheduling Team Lead was tainted with discrimination. Ms Shepherd had availed of maternity leave between August 2021 and August 2022 and in early October 2022, Virgin Media Ireland advertised internally for the position of Scheduling Team Lead and Ms Shepherd and four colleagues applied for the position. Ms Shepherd was unsuccessful following being placed joint third in the selection process. In the Labour Court ruling, deputy chairman, Alan Haugh found that Ms Shepherd has not established any facts from which it would be possible for the court to infer that she may have been treated less favourably by Virgin Media Ireland on grounds of her family status. After a hearing in the appeal case earlier this month, Mr Haugh stated by Ms Shepherds own admission, the candidates that were placed ahead of her in the promotional competition are both parents of young children. He said: It follows that their family status is the same as hers. In those circumstances, and in the absence of the complainant establishing any other relevant facts to ground her complaint, it is not open to the court to find that the complainant has made out a prima facie case of discrimination on the family status ground. In a submission Ms Shepherd stated that she has worked for Virgin Media Ireland for a total of 15 years - eight years consecutively. She said that she was passed over on a promotion which I was led to believe I was the natural successor for. She said: Prior to maternity leave I was the most senior member of the team, with the most experience and trained every other member, including the successful candidate. Ms Shepherd said that on her return to work, she was excluded from an important planning meeting dealing with the death of Queen Elizabeth II. At the WRC, Virgin Media Ireland contended that Ms Shepherds complaint of discrimination due to family status is groundless and misconceived. The TV firm argued that the decision to appoint another member of staff to Team Lead followed a robust, fair and transparent recruitment process which considered five internal candidates including the Complainant. The company told the WRC that the Planning Lead is required to unite two teams with low morale and support new team members. It stated that Ms Shepherd presented some good ideas regarding content of the role. However, the successful candidate displayed greater understanding of business needs, strategic knowledge, other recommendations, and a structure to unite both teams. In an exclusive interview, Carter also looks back at 2024 and recalls how he expanded his career across the UK Country music star Nathan Carter reveals that hes set to release a new album early next year and has co-written all the tracks with the songwriter and producer behind some of Robbie Williams biggest hits. In an exclusive interview, Carter also looks back at 2024 and recalls how he expanded his career across the UK, launched his own clothing range and became one of the celebrity investors in award-winning The Muff Liquor Company He joined Hollywood actor Russell Crowe, Ed Sheeran, Ronan Keating, Alan Carr and Ryan Tubridy on the board of the Donegal-based gin and vodka enterprise. As well as performing sold out shows everywhere from Ireland to the UK, Spain, Australia and even in Las Vegas, managing his trad and folk group, Ceol, shooting TV adverts, releasing a Christmas album and editing a new live TV concert, 34-year-old Carter has also been building a brand new home in Fermanagh. Nathan Carter with songwriter Guy Chambers So how does he juggle such a hectic career and personal life.? Its probably been my busiest year ever and it has been a bit mental at times. The phone never stops, but I can do it now because Im not married with kids, Nathan says. It would be totally different if I was married. I couldnt do half the stuff, really. Well, you could, but youd be another casualty of the music business when it comes to marriages. I really hope thats something (marriage and children) Ill have down the line one day, but at the minute Im glad to be doing as much as I can. And I honestly couldnt have done any more this year. Nathan reveals that he hooked up with Guy Chambers, the man who co-wrote Robbie Williams hits such as Angels, Let Me Entertain You, Rock DJ, Feel and Millennium, after bumping into his manager Steve Abbott. Steve was the man who signed me to Decca Records in the UK 10 years ago, Nathan reveals. I met him by chance in Donegal where he has a holiday home. Ill be starting the recording of it in January, so thats going to be a big project for me in 2024. Im hoping to have the album out before next summer. It wont be a radically new direction for me musically, but it will be a fresh sound and something that I havent done before. One of Nathans biggest projects in 2024 was launching his own range of clothes called Carter Clothing that includes jumpers, cardigans, polo shirts, T-shirts, trousers, jeans and joggers. He says: Theyre now in half a dozen shops across Ireland, but the majority of the sales are online. People just shop online all the time now. We are really delighted with the manufacturer in Donegal who produces all the knitwear. To have an Irish manufacturer was really key, rather than buying stock that has been produced in sweat factories out in China. It's not cheap to do it that way, and that reflects in the price, but the clothing is sustainable. Youll have it for years, theyre not going to be discarded after six washes. I also wanted the clothing to be fashionable and taken seriously, and clothing that is unique, that you dont see day to day on everyone walking around. Its been a lot of work to get it off the ground. Its only been out in the last couple of months, but its flying now. The Black Friday sales, in particular, were great. So, hopefully, thats an indication that theres a good future for the business. We have a big discount in the January sale as well. Nathan says he put his own stamp on the various designs. I definitely wasnt fashionable growing up, but Ive got more into style in the last few years, he says. From wearing stuff through the years for photo shoots and the stage you pick up on various aspects from the different brands. Nathan has been working with a new PR team in the UK and in 2024 he made numerous appearances on Sky TV and other TV and radio channels. I did a lot of different TV appearances to raise my profiled in the UK, a lot of cooking shows that were good fun as well, he says. Live-wise, this year I played some of the biggest UK gigs of my career. This year I also got to do several TV adverts, including one for the Aer Lingus direct flight to Nashville launch, and I worked with Cadburys as well. Im open to doing collaborations with different companies, so hopefully therell be more of that in the New Year as well. As well as powering ahead with his own career, Carter has also been guiding his folk band Ceol, which he established and manages, through the music scene. Theyve been a huge hit with fans and have some very exciting stuff coming up in 2025 as well, he says. I cant reveal what it is, but Ceol are also set to be part of a big TV special on New Years Eve. Patrick Radden Keefe says he stands by the claim made in his book The author behind the hit Disney+ series which alleges Old Bailey bomber Marian Price shot dead Jean McConville has said that he was completely certain its true. Patrick Radden Keefe says he stands by the claim made in his book Say Nothing that Price was allegedly the mystery third member of an IRA team that shot dead the mother-of-ten in what was one of the most notorious murders of the Troubles. In an exclusive interview with the Sunday World before the Disney series was made, Radden Keefe, a US journalist who lives in New York, says he wouldnt have said she fired the gun that killed her if he had even one per cent of doubt. Marian Price/McGlinchey has always denied any involvement in the murder of Jean McConville and has since said she is going to sue Disney for their portrayal of her being the IRA member who pulled the trigger. When the book was published six years ago she also threatened to sue the publishers but we can reveal no legal action ensued. However, her solicitor Peter Corrigan told us legal action would be pursued against Disney because it is categoric about Marian murdering Jean McConville. Old Bailey bomber Marion Price, (left), pictured with her sister Dolours in prison The creators of Say Nothing, which featured nine episodes on the streaming channel, have given few interviews since it was released. Radden Keefe and the actors involved in the series have also not, largely, been giving interviews about the content something which usually happens when a much-anticipated, big budget show attempts to drum up business through media promotion. But Radden Keefe did give the Sunday World an interview before the Disney show was made. I wouldnt have published Marians name and suggested that she murdered Jean McConville if I had even one per cent doubt that it was true, he told us. It would be unconscionable to make such an accusation if I was not completely certain. But I was certain. She has denied it, though I would note that it took her five months from when I initially approached her solicitor for comment back in May to do so. I stand by my reporting. Im quite transparent about my process of deduction in the book, so readers can decide for themselves whether they are persuaded. In the book, he also claims that police have known since 2013 that, according to Dolours Price, Marian was alleged to have been involved in the murder. Mrs McConvilles family called that awful and shocking and at the time had asked for a face- to-face meeting with the PSNI Chief Constable. Radden Keefe also told us he didnt think Marian Price would ever be charged with the murder. I dont think there is any chance Marian will be charged. Dolours Price told more than one person that her sister shot Jean McConville, but Dolours is dead now, and there are no other living witnesses. Radden Keefe, an award-winning journalist, told us he was attracted to the story of Jean McConville and the Price family because the story was so extreme. Marian Price outside her home in West Belfast One theme of the book is the costs of our actions, the price we are willing to pay for our ideals, and the suffering were willing to inflict on others, he explains. It took one squeeze of a trigger to end Jean McConvilles life, but the consequences of that act were devastating, and they reverberated on down the decades, right to today. I think thats part of the reason the McConville case has become so iconic. Her story is extreme, but you could tell a similar story about each victim in the Troubles: the way the suffering ripples outward from a single act of violence. In that sense, Jean McConville became a symbol, in my mind, of the human cost of the Troubles. He says he was also drawn to the story of former Provo bomber Dolours Price who died in 2013 from a toxic drugs mix following a battle with mental illness. A big part of what drew me to this project was Dolours Price, because she was so full of contradictions, and she wrestled, in such a public way, with her own actions. Scenes from the Disney series, Say Nothing Shes really the central character in Say Nothing, in a way, and I hope the book captures her complexity. Radden Keefe told us he was drawn to the grim murder of a mother in west Belfast after the reaction he received on an article he wrote about the controversial Boston Tapes in 2014. Like a lot of Americans, before I started work on Say Nothing Id had a naive perception that after the Good Friday Agreement, the Troubles were done and dusted. That the peace had pretty much resolved everything and tensions had subsided. How wrong I was. It was the Boston Tapes that drew me into the story. Im from Boston, and I was interested in the idea that there was this huge fight over the taped reminiscences of people talking about things that happened before I was even born the idea that history could be so dangerous in the present day. In 2014, I wrote an article about Dolours Price, Gerry Adams and the Boston Tapes. It was a typical story for me but after the initial article came out, I felt as though Id only scratched the surface. During researching the book Radden Keefe visited Northern Ireland seven times and had extensive meetings with the McConville family. He says he didnt want to write a book for someone who has already read 20 books about the Troubles. I wanted to write a nonfiction book that would read more like a novel, not trying to tell the whole history, but focusing on a handful of characters and relating their personal stories in a way that people who may not know much about the Troubles could relate to. The research behind the book is serious there are 100 pages of endnotes. But I wanted to write something that would be approachable to the general reader who knows nothing about these events. It helped to be an outsider, in some ways. I have no tribe, no dog in this fight. I showed up, talked to as many people as I could, and told the story as I saw it. The Disney+ adaptation of the book has sparked a massive debate about the Troubles and in particular Gerry Adams alleged involvement with the IRA, even carrying a disclaimer that he has always said he wasnt after each episode. Marian Price Theres one too about Marion Price in the last episode. At the time the book was published Marian released a statement through Peter Corrigan. He said: My client Marian Price vehemently denies any involvement in the murder of Jean McConville. She outright refutes any assertion to the contrary. We have now been instructed to review the publication in question, and the appropriate action will follow if necessary. But no legal action ensued. However, speaking to the Sunday World last night, Mr Corrigan says the Disney show was less ambiguous than the book about the central allegation. He said: Having read all of the Boston Tapes transcripts, theres not one single mention of Marian McGlinchey and, crucially, when police reinvestigated the Jean McConville murder they didnt even have a reasonable suspicion that she was involved or else they would have arrested her at the very least. Quite rightly, the police, when they reinvestigated the murder, left no stone unturned. They arrested others but they didnt arrest McGlinchey. The author cant get round that Im afraid. If theres a source saying Marian did this then she would have been arrested. Who is his source on this claim? The book is one thing its more ambiguous but the Disney show is categoric about Marian murdering Jean McConville. For that action you can be sure we have our statements from our sources. This is different than the book and we will definitely be pursuing this claim. New Zealand is delivering a triple punch in the fight against narcotic smuggling in the Indian Ocean next year by taking command of an international task force and deploying a frigate and a mine countermeasures team to the front line. Commodore Rodger Ward will command Combined Task Force 150, dedicated to interceptions of vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the international waters of the Middle East and northern Indian Ocean. It is part of the Combined Maritime Forces coalition safeguarding maritime security throughout the Gulf regions. Counter-terrorism is one of the coalitions primary missions, since terrorist organisations are commonly funded through criminal activities such as smuggling narcotics. For the first time in nine years, a Royal New Zealand Navy frigate will take part. HMNZS Te Kaha will join CTF 150 and be directed to intercept vessels suspected of smuggling. The last time a New Zealand frigate deployed for this role was in 2015, when Te Kaha operated under a French-led CTF 150. Another first is the deployment of a Royal New Zealand Navy Mine Counter Measures Task Unit from HMNZS Matataua to the region. The team will consist of specialist mine clearance divers, hydrographers and autonomous systems to undertake mine countermeasures and clearance operations from May to December. It is the second time New Zealand has commanded CTF 150, with Commodore Ward taking up his six-month appointment in January, headquartered in Bahrain. Commodore Ward said his appointment was both an honour and a privilege and he was looking forward to it. This is a tremendous opportunity for the Royal New Zealand Navy to demonstrate our ability to lead and conduct expeditionary maritime security operations, while developing partnerships with other nations, he said. He follows in the footsteps of the first New Zealander to command CTF 150, Captain Brendan Clark in 2021. During that tenure CTF 150 intercepted 14 suspect vessels, with more than $NZ3 billion of drugs seized and destroyed. It was tempting to measure success through drug interceptions, Commodore Ward said. But the real success would be if the drugs werent going on the water, and where criminals decide not to move drugs over the water, because the maritime security is too great. As an information warfare specialist, I look at it in terms of effects, as well as the actual actions. Sailors from HMNZS Te Kaha (seen in the background) aboard a suspect vessel during an Arabian Sea deployment in 2015. Another big plus is developing the next generation of sailors and leaders by exposing them to contemporary maritime security operations in a complex operating environment. This is awesome exposure for our people, he said. I think of it as a home and away game. Were playing an away game in the Middle East, in order to develop the skills to play and win the home game. The Pacific is getting more complex, so we have to go somewhere to learn these skills, in order to be prepared at home. Having Te Kaha in direct support was tremendous but it would not be alone, he said. There will be other assets available to work for us, to give us more ability to coordinate the maritime security and maximise the interdiction effect. The drug busts will be important. But for me the satisfaction will be seeing our people learn, getting to work with other nations, and demonstrating that as a small nation, we can go to the other side of the world and do the job, and do it well. Commodore Rodger Ward, Commander of CTF 150. Commodore Ward joined the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1987 as a midshipman. He has served in Royal New Zealand Navy vessels as a warfare officer, including a posting as Operations Officer in Te Kaha in the Arabian Sea in 1999. Commodore Ward has since specialised in communication and information warfare, been a directing staff officer at the Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College in Kuala Lumpur, Operations Commander at Joint Forces Headquarters New Zealand and Defence Adviser to Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and Myanmar, and Chief of Information Warfare, New Zealand Defence Force. Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine Andrii Yermak met with the newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Kyiv Ma Shengkun. The day before, the latter presented his credentials to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy. ADVERTISIMENT According to Yermak, the parties discussed "prospects for bilateral cooperation between China and Ukraine." The head of the OP also reminded the Chinese diplomat of China's possible role in achieving a just peace for Ukraine. "In addition, we talked about the possibility of bilateral dialogue at the highest level," Yermak added without elaborating. President Zelenskyy accepted Ma Shengkun's credentials on December 24, the Presidential Administration reminded. Chinese diplomat Ma Shengkun worked at the Permanent Mission in Geneva and the Department of Arms Control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, and in 2019 he was promoted to Deputy Director of the Department of Arms Control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. As reported by OBOZ.UA, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan suggested that China could be involved in the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. The idea of China's involvement in "creating conditions for a just peace in Ukraine" was previously expressed by US President-elect Donald Trump, and according to Sullivan, it is "not crazy." Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! Kiwis throughout the country will be heading to the beach to enjoy the seas bounty this summer. But, before you go gathering shellfish, New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle has some fast facts to share about toxic shellfish poisoning and how to keep yourself, your whanau and friends safe. New Zealand hasnt had a toxic shellfish poisoning outbreak for a decade Toxic shellfish poisoning can cause serious illness and can even be fatal. Fortunately, we havent had an outbreak of toxic shellfish poisoning since 2014, when 13 people fell ill. New Zealand Food Safety works hard to keep it that way by monitoring key recreational shellfish harvesting areas around the country for biotoxins. New Zealand Food Safety regularly tests water and shellfish for biotoxins to keep the public safe New Zealand Food Safety has more than 40 monitoring sites, with water tested weekly for toxic algae and shellfish tested fortnightly for biotoxins. The commercial shellfish industry also provides their own biotoxin monitoring data from more than 30 sites, giving us even greater coverage. If shellfish are found to contain biotoxins at unsafe levels, we issue public health warnings and post signs at affected beaches. In 2023 we issued 17 biotoxin alerts. Cooking does not destroy biotoxins Its important to know that cooking will not make toxic shellfish safe to eat, because cooking doesnt destroy biotoxins. If anyone becomes ill after eating shellfish from an area where a public health warning has been issued, phone healthline for advice on 0800 61 11 16, or seek medical attention immediately. We advise that you also contact your nearest public health unit and keep any leftover shellfish for testing. Shellfish become poisonous by feeding on toxic algae Shellfish with 2 shells (bivalve shellfish) can each filter more than 200 litres of water a day. They do this to filter out microscopic algae (called phytoplankton) and other particles as a food source. If these algae are toxic, the biotoxins can build up in the shellfish, making them poisonous. Generally, the more toxic algae there are in the water, the more toxic the shellfish get. Bivalve shellfish are the most affected by biotoxins Shellfish affected by biotoxins usually include bivalves like mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles and scallops. But pupu (cats eyes) and Cooks turban and can also have elevated levels of some biotoxins. Generally, you can still eat paua, crab and crayfish, but only if you remove the gut before cooking, as biotoxins accumulate in the gut. Finfish are not affected by biotoxins from algal blooms, but we advise discarding the liver before cooking. Not all species of phytoplankton are toxic Phytoplankton are photosynthetic microscopic algae, meaning that, just like plants, they use the sunshine to grow. And, like plants, they also need nutrients (which they get from the water) to grow. If conditions are right, phytoplankton can multiply to high numbers and form algal blooms. Most species of phytoplankton are harmless, but some can naturally produce highly toxic chemicals we call marine biotoxins. Algal blooms occur naturally under particular conditions Algal blooms usually occur naturally when wind and water currents are favourable for their growth. Causes can include slow water circulation or unusually high-water temperatures. Some blooms have happened after extreme weather events like cyclones, floods, or drought. New Zealand Food Safety does extra monitoring during a toxic algal bloom to track its spread and see how it is affecting different kinds of shellfish. There are four main types of toxic shellfish poisoning in New Zealand Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is potentially the most serious of the four main types of toxic shellfish poisoning found in NZ. PSP symptoms usually appear within 10 minutes to 3 hours of eating and may include: - numbness and tingling around the mouth, face, hands, and feet - difficulty swallowing or breathing - dizziness and headache - nausea and vomiting - diarrhoea - paralysis and respiratory failure - and, in severe cases, death. If you suspect someone has PSP poisoning after eating shellfish from an area where we have issued a public health warning, seek medical attention immediately. Lakes senior maritime officer Roly Bagshaw said he was anticipating another busy summer for boating in the Bay. The regions harbourmaster and maritime team are also emphasising lifejacket rules after a series of water deaths around the country prior to the holiday period. The team who enforce rules on the water in the Bay of Plenty are anticipating a busy few months after dishing out 150 infringements last summer. The former Tauranga Sport Fishing Club manager has been with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council for four years and recently took Local Democracy Reporting on a trip to Lake Okareka in Rotorua to go over some of the work he and the team do. He hoped educating boaties would be easier this summer than in other years. Weve gone through Covid-19 where everyone was buying a boat ... we were on this major education drive to get everyone up to speed. There were a couple years of thinking this is crazy, he said, with many more people out on the lakes who did not know the rules or have the right skills. Things improved last year, Bagshaw said. The maritime team began their regular patrols after Labour Day and these involved making sure harbour and lake users knew the rules. He said improving boaties water safety skills was his favourite part of the job. I think after people talk to our patrol they come away with a greater understanding and operate more safely. Bay of Plenty Regional Council lakes senior maritime officer Roly Bagshaw on Lake Okareka. Photo / Laura Smith Thats a nice feeling. Things patrols looked for included vessels sticking to speed limits such as 5 knots within 200m of the shore, and kept clear of swim-only zones. Both of these were relevant to Okareka, with the first 600m of Acacia Bay being a 5-knot limit and a swim-only zone at Boyes Beach. He said it gave the many passive lake users a nice buffer zone. That might be people swimming or in kayaks and stand-up paddleboarding, which is really popular now. Bagshaw said wearing a lifejacket was something the team could not stress enough and was a heavy focus of the patrols. The present law required boats to have lifejackets on board of the correct size and type, while an incoming council rule change subject to Ministry of Transport approval meant lifejackets must be worn in vessels under 6m while under way. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council harbourmaster and maritime team ensure rules like boat speed and keeping clear of swimming areas are adhered to. Photo / Laura Smith Bagshaw said the rules were important. Weve seen a number of fatalities on the lakes in the last few years and really dont want to see anything else. It was great to see children wearing lifejackets, he said. Its all just about going home to our loved ones at the end of the day after enjoying these amazing scenes. Bagshaw said it was important people read the signage at boat ramps and know before you go. Harbourmaster Jon Jon Peters presented the teams annual report in June. Summer in the Bay of Plenty is extremely busy for our maritime team with visitors and locals alike using our rivers, harbours and coastal waters. Last summers initiatives were delivered by 30 patrol crews and five students on board six vessels, and at boat ramps across the region. The team completed 520 on-water patrols, producing 400 bylaw breaches and 150 infringements. Data gathered from the 1150 surveys completed help us paint a picture while informing and measuring our recreational craft harm prevention work and related compliance activities, allowing evidence-based decision-making for next season. In a December statement to Local Democracy Reporting, he emphasised safety messages after a series of drownings and water-related incidents in the lead-up to the holiday season, including four in 24 hours nationwide. One of these included a man who leapt from a boat into the water off Whakatane and could not be revived. Following the tragic drownings around the country in the weekend, we would like to reiterate Water Safetys message that people need to stay safe and be cautious around water. From a boating perspective that includes checking the tides and weather before you head out and most importantly, wearing a lifejacket. According to Water Safety New Zealand, of the 90 people who drowned last year, five were in the Bay of Plenty. None related to boating. The 10-year average was 7.7 drownings a year. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council harbourmaster and maritime team ensure rules like boat speed and keeping clear of swimming areas are adhered to. Photo / Laura Smith Preliminary 2024 data recorded 67 drownings nationally as of mid-December. Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Daniel Gerrard previously told Local Democracy Reporting the importance of a lifejacket could not be overstated. Of 14 watercraft-related deaths in the first nine months of this year, 13 had not worn lifejackets. Wearing a lifejacket significantly increases your chances of survival, and it is a simple step that can save lives. He praised the regional council for its rule change and said it was a critical measure to reducing drowning fatalities. A man reported missing from Otorohanga yesterday has been found by Police this morning and is safe. "Police would like to thank members of the public who contacted us with possible sightings of the man's car, which helped officers find the man," said a police spokesperson in a statement. EARLIER: Waikato Police are appealing for sightings of Steven Rolls, who has been reported missing by his family. Steven left his Otorohanga home at around midday yesterday (Christmas Day) to drive to Huntly, however did not arrive in Huntly as expected, said a police spokesperson. "Police and Stevens family have serious concerns for his welfare. "If you have seen Steven or his car (a gray Kia Rio, registration FRG486) since 12pm yesterday, please contact Police and quote file number 241225/1782." She believes the problem will get worse over summer. Now, the holiday parks operations manager, Kelsi Hira, said the council should take responsibility for the rubbish her team collects daily and reinstate the bins. Every morning, the staff at the Rotorua Blue Lake TOP 10 Holiday Park collect a bag of rubbish from the lakefront carpark. Were taking it out of the water, too. While the council said it removed the bins for a wasp problem and encouraged people to take home their rubbish, Hira believed it was because it did not want the expense of emptying the bins at the lake. She believed if it was really about waste minimisation and encouraging people to take their rubbish away then other places, such as the Rotorua Lakefront, would not have bins either. Hira said the Blue Lake was arguably just as popular with visitors as the Lakefront was but, in her view, the council did not take the same pride with Tikitapu. In her opinion: Its 100% cost-driven. She said the cost of cleaning up was falling on the holiday park because its bins were filled instead. We let them better to go in a bin than the alternative. Just annoying we pay for that. A pile of rubbish that was collected from the Blue Lake carpark one December morning. Waste that staff collected included takeout rubbish. Used nappies were another common find. It was embarrassing having people come to the area and see that, she said. We are very aware of the privilege we have being in an area like this and what will happen to a lake like ours if it becomes polluted. We want to respect the place we have got. She did not feel that the council was listening to her concerns when she made contact through social media. The council later told Local Democracy Reporting, that under its social media policy, people who have a problem to report need to contact its customer service team by phone or email so a request for service can be logged and the matter can be resolved appropriately. Hira did not believe people would report seeing the uncollected rubbish to the council and so it would not have complaints. She wanted the bins to be reinstated, have more of them than before and for them to be serviced the same as at the towns Lakefront. She did not think wasps would be an issue since the council had traps put up, as she had at the park. Council waste and climate change manager Craig Goodwin said there were 11 rubbish-related callouts in the past year. Five were from the public and the rest from staff and contractors in the area. Goodwin said the park had not contacted the council about its concerns but he would be happy to discuss this with them if they wish. Rotorua Lakes Council removed bins at Blue Lake to deter wasps. Photo / Laura Smith The councils expectation was for the public to take responsibility for their rubbish and where there were no bins to take it home with them or to transfer stations. While it is not our expectation that people pick up others rubbish in public spaces, we are very appreciative of those in the community who do help to keep our spaces and our local environment clean and tidy on a voluntary basis. We work with people and groups that do this regularly and can provide the likes of bags and gloves. He said council staff and contractors in reserves, including Tikitapu, cleaned up when working. These patrols increase during the summer months. Misuse of public litter bins has increased over the years, he said, including at the Blue Lake, with illegal dumping of household and business waste. The removal of bins in popular reserves is becoming more common around New Zealand. In Auckland, all regional parks operate on a take your rubbish with you policy and it is our understanding this has worked well and is strongly supported by the public. Rotorua's Blue Lake, or Lake Tikitapu, is a popular spot for walkers, swimmers, jet skiers and holiday-makers. Photo / Laura Smith Other areas in the district did not have bins and rubbish is not an issue. These included Te Putake o Tawa, the Mountain Bike Hub near Tikitapu, which is a destination hotspot with hundreds passing through each week. We know that our community - and visitors to our district - place a high value on our lakes, forest and green spaces and in general care about the environment and keeping it looking great for generations to come. Questions unanswered included whether the impact on businesses was considered when the bins were removed and whether the impact on visitor perception was considered. The council also did not answer how often the bins were serviced before removal or the cost. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. North Korean troops continue to suffer huge losses in the Kursk region. Despite this, the terrorist country Russia continues to use militants from the DPRK for "meat assaults." ADVERTISIMENT On the front lines, North Korean units lack even drinking water. This was reported by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine. Ukrainian intelligence officers noted that on December 20, the DPRK army attack aircraft suffered sanitary losses of at least 5 servicemen in one of the areas. The defeat of a mortar unit of the DPRK Army was also confirmed. In addition, as a result of a fire attack by the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine on the enemy's concentration near the village of Novoivanovka, Kursk region, North Korean troops suffered significant losses in killed and wounded. However, Russian officers ordered them to continue to hold their positions. The DIU also added that on December 21, the Russians continued to supply the DPRK army units with ammunition and food to replace losses in positions and continue assault operations. The very next day, as a result of a successful strike by the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine, probably on one of the key communication hubs of the North Korean army, a sharp decrease in radio communication between the DPRK military was recorded. ADVERTISIMENT The intelligence also reported that on December 24, North Korean units conducted combat operations, in particular in the area of Darino-Novoivanovka, Kursk region. The DPRK militants fired from mortars/AGS with adjustments using UAVs. The enemy's calculations are changing positions and are located at a distance of about 1 kilometer from the line of contact. Also, the DPRK troops deployed at least 5 additional observation posts with the codenames "Border 1-5" for more effective reconnaissance. As a reminder, according to preliminary data, more than 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded at the front in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation. There is a risk of additional units and military equipment being deployed from the DPRK, which will be met with a tangible response from Ukraine. Earlier it was reported that the DPRK militants are helping the Ukrainian military and are engaged in self-destruction. The video shows the moment when a North Korean soldier killed his fellow soldier. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Update: Big Lots announced Friday that it has struck a deal to save some stores from closing. The company has not said which locations will stay open; its website still said All stores closing with a going-out-of-business sale Saturday. From earlier: Two national retailers are having going out of business sales after announcing all their stores will close soon. Party City filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Saturday, according to USA Today. The company, known for selling party supplies and costumes, said all corporately-owned Party City locations will close; sales of up to 50% off are already underway at hundreds of stores. A day earlier, Big Lots announced it would also close all of its stores. CBS reports the discount retailer revealed Thursday that plans to sell its remaining assets to private equity firm Nexus Capital Management fell through after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September. Big Lots website now says all its stores are closing with going out of business sales of up to 25%. The company had 1,400 stores at the beginning of 2023, but already closed hundreds of locations this year, including CNY-area stores in Ithaca and New Hartford. Party City will close all 43 shops in New York state, according to USA Today, including two in the Syracuse area. The store at Northern Lights Plaza in Salina first announced its closing in September, and now the Marshalls Plaza location on Erie Boulevard East in DeWitt will also get the ax. The chains corporate parent, Party City Holdco Inc., previously filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in 2023 and emerged from bankruptcy nine months later with $1 billion less in debt. Party City CEO Barry Litwin reportedly fired corporate employees immediately on Friday, with the rest of the business operations winding down in the coming weeks. Approximately 700 Party City stores will close, according to Fox 7 in Austin, Texas, but a small number of franchise locations may stay open. None of them are located in New York state. Big Lots said it would continue to negotiate with Nexus and explore other avenues to stay in business, but still plans to shutter all of its 908 remaining brick-and-mortar locations. Big Lots website currently lists 49 stores in the Empire State, including Upstate New York locations in Auburn, Buffalo, Cortland, Elmira, Liverpool, Niagara Falls, Oneida, Oswego, Pulaski, Rochester, Rome, Utica, Vestal and Watertown. We all have worked extremely hard and have taken every step to complete a going concern sale, Big Lots CEO Bruce Thorn said in a statement. While we remain hopeful that we can close an alternative going-concern transaction, in order to protect the value of the Big Lots estate, we have made the difficult decision to begin the [going out of business] process. A new movie shot in Syracuse is headed to a prestigious film festival. Plainclothes, starring The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes actor Tom Blyth, will premiere Jan. 26 in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The film will have multiple screenings during the festival and be available to watch online at sundance.org from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2. The tense drama, set in the 1990s and inspired by true events, centers on an undercover police officer (Blyth) assigned to lure and arrest gay men when he falls in love with a target. Plainclothes is brimming with an atmosphere of paranoia and anxiety, a Sundance film description says. Writer-director Carmen Emmi, making his feature directorial debut, cleverly deploys lo-fi VHS footage at key moments to ramp up the sense of unease, alternately signifying the police surveillance that haunts his conscience as well as flashes of memory. A shrewd play with chronology similarly keeps the audience on its toes, wondering if Lucas will be able to handle the stress of his secret or if hell finally reach a breaking point. Emmi, a Jamesville-DeWitt High School graduate, said he was inspired to write the movie after reading a Los Angeles Time article about undercover cops arresting men in a California park bathroom. He also reflected on his own coming out experience to craft the story after speaking with his brother, who was becoming a police officer at the time. Plainclothes was shot earlier this year in Central New York, including at The Galleries of Syracuse, with coordination by the Syracuse Film Office. Ive always wanted to bring a movie back home to Syracuse, Emmi said in a Meet the Artist interview for Sundance. I wrote it here. I set it here in the 90s, which was around the time that I started suppressing my feelings as a boy. And looking back and thinking about this whole experience, I think that I made this as away for my 7-year-old self to finally exhale. Blyth, best known for playing a young President Snow in last years Hunger Games prequel, leads the cast that also includes Russell Tovey (Sherlock, American Horror Story); Maria Dizzia (Orange is the New Black); Amy Forsyth (CODA, The Gilded Age); Christian Cooke (Point Blank); Gabe Fazio; Darius Fraser; and John Bedford Lloyd. Emmi, who graduated from J-D in 2008, is a New York-based filmmaker who studied film and television at the University of Southern California. His past credits include The Ultimate Evil series and short films like Tina for President, The Abandoned, The Forrest Boys and Para Olivia. Plainclothes is one of 10 movies competing in the drama category at Sundance, along with Bubble & Squeak starring Himesh Patel (Yesterday), Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead) and Sarah Goldberg (Barry); Twinless starring Dylan OBrien (Teen Wolf, The Maze Runner); and Atropia starring Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development) and Callum Turner (Masters of the Air). The festival will feature a variety of other titles, including Middletown, about a group of Upstate New York teens in the 1990s whose student film uncovered a vast conspiracy involving toxic waste, plus documentaries about Pee-wee Herman, Sly Stone, Sally Ride, and the birth of house music in Chicago. Tickets for the Sundance Film Festival, including online-only screenings, go on sale Jan. 16 at festival.sundance.org. A single-film online screening ticket, such as for Plainclothes, costs $35. RELATED: Syracuse movie becomes one of the most popular on streaming service New horror movie shot in CNY aims to be a Halloween tradition, boost filmmaking in Syracuse The Christmas Letter: How to watch new CNY movie featuring Christmas Vacation reunion The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. DSK0909 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: Hyderabad, Pune Posts: 21 Thanked: 89 Times A 'Maha' trip to tick items from the bucket list | Pune to Tadoba for Jungle Safaris A 'Maha' trip to tick items from the bucket list Travelogues is invariably the first page that I go to on Team bhp and have been on some delightful journeys through the words and photos of the authors. This is my first travelogue after having read so many excellent write up by members hope it meets the standards of this forum. This road trip is to finally complete 3 items from the bucket list which have been in the list for a long time now. 1. Lonar lake: This one has been on my wifes bucket list right from right from 2018 onwards. Also, my son read about Lonar lake when we visited the Birla Planetarium in Hyderabad sometime in 2021. We had in fact booked the MTDC resort for 1 night in Mar 2024 but could not travel due to some work emergency. 2. Drive on Samruddhi Mahamarg: This has been on my bucket list since Aug 2022 when we visited Ajanta & Ellora. We travelled on a small portion of the expressway and was amazed at the infra similar to the ORR in Hyderabad. Got to know about the Samruddhi Mahamarg connecting the 2 capitals of MH after some research. Then began the following the updates on completion and official opening and the TBHP travelogues. 3. Tadoba Jungle Safari to watch Tigers in their natural habitat: This has been on my bucketlist since I read ramnath_77s Tadoba Diaries travelogue in Oct 2022 especially the pic of Matkasur exhibiting the Flehman response behaviour. Since I could not get the tickets for Dec 2022, did some research and went on a road trip to Gir all the way from Pune (Thats a story for another time). The Plan Since getting the Safari permits is the most difficult, booked the tickets on 05-Oct. During the earlier, getting permits for the Core zone safari was the most difficult and that too for the Moharli core that was the first to be booked. The Ride Our trusted 2018 Baleno CVT which has completed 43K on the odo. Since the servicing was done at 40K comprehensively, did the basic long journey checks: Air, Fuel, Oils & Wiper fluid top ups. The Execution Day 1 - Monday (16-Dec): The Travel Generally, we leave between 6am and 7am for road trips. But I convinced my wifey for starting at 4am considering we have to cross Ahilya Nagar (Ahmed Nager) and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad). I avoid driving at dark but the other option driving in maddening traffic, we chose to leave early. This turned out to be a great decision since by the time we reached our stay in Tadoba it was 6 pm and it was getting dark. We drove without any breaks till Ch. Sambhaji Nagar and had buffet breakfast at Having read multiple travelogues / updates on Samruddhi, I knew what to expect cement road and straight as an arrow road. But I could not comprehend why people would get bored of driving on empty roads at 100 kmph. Boy I was so wrong after driving for about an hour of driving that too after a sumptuous breakfast I felt my head nod. All the passengers (Wife and 2 kids) were happily asleep. I immediately stopped on the side, freshened up and made a commitment to myself to take a break every 100 kms or 1 hour whichever comes first. The petrol pumps are nicely spaced at every 100 kms or so. Regarding the quality of the road as I mentioned I was prepared for the road noise. I was really sceptical of the joints on the roads there were none on the cement portion. But there were joints on the tarred portion on the bridges that were jolting especially going at a speed. Tunnel carved in the mountain to make way for Samruddhi Ahhh - after going on the Samruddhi Mahamarg my need for speed was finally satiated. After exiting Samruddhi at Wardha its still approx. 120 kms to Tadoba (Moharli Gate). I had to start using the brakes again but I did not mind it because we were so close to the land of the tigers. As we neared the Tadoba buffer zone, we were able to spot some monkeys and spotted deers. We reached the The care taker in the resort informs us that there has been tiger sighting on the road in front of resort quite often. He suggests people go on the road at night in their cars slowly to sight some wildlife/Tigers. Couple of days later another visitor shows me whatsapp status of his friend where there a tiger was sighted on the same road. Day 2 - Tuesday (17-Dec): First blood We woke up late as we had the safari only in the afternoon and had some nice breakfast of poha, chai and boiled eggs. It was a good thing that we did not book the morning safari as we needed that rest after the 700+ kms of drive. There was a plan was to visit the butterfly world near Agarzari gate in the morning but that was dropped in the morning once we woke up late. Our first Safari was in afternoon at Dewada Buffer zone. We were at the gate well before time and got the Gypsy allocated. We were the 3rd Gypsy to enter the gate and after about 500 mts after entering from the gate, both the guide and me feel the left back tyre wobble. I get an ominous feeling and the guide confirms that the tyre is flat. The driver and guide immediately start to replace the tyre with the four of us still sitting in the Gypsy. They manage to replace the tyre with a bald spare tyre with 10 15 mins. I keep hoping that no other puncture happens as the guide was just telling us that we should not get down from vehicle at any time during the safari. For the next 2.5 hours, the driver and guide take us on whirlwind on the various pathways marked for tourists. I tell the Guide if we can stop to take some snaps of other wildlife like Gaur and Boars. They stopped briefly but they were focussed on making a sighting keener than us. We get to know that there was sighting of tiger and by the time we reach that place, there must by atleast 20+ jeeps waiting. We wait for some time and then the guide takes to a lake where he expects that tiger could make an appearance. We were almost at the lake then we get to know that the tiger has been sighted and we rush to that place. We just missed sighting the tiger as it went into the bushes. My heart sank when one of the tourists in another gypsy is beaming from ear to ear and says that sighting was amazing and the tiger was nearby. Its 5 pm now and just 1 hour to exit the gate and the guide is even more determined to make the sighting. When he gets to know of alarm calling, he asks the driver to drive fast to that place. The driver quickly rushes at 30Kmph to that place and wait. The gypsys cannot go faster than 30 kmph in the forest as they are monitored using GPS. Considering that the forest pathways are not levelled properly, even driving at 30 kmph throws around the passengers on the back seat. Finally, we get to see for what we were hoping Choti Madhu makes an appearance from behind the trees. The Driver and Guide have positioned the Gypsy at such a correct place that the Tiger walks past the Gypsy within a couple of feet. Let the pictures do the talking now: The Queen emerges Marking her territory The tiger sighting was spectacular - all credit to our guide-driver who got us prime spots for viewing our top celebrity Choti Madhu doing the catwalk. Choti Madhu was regal and royal and she held her gaze up high with pride. She carried herself with immense grace & dignity and she was a queen in her own right. By the time the catwalk is completed, we have to start for the gate. Any delay is exiting the gate after 6 pm, the driver and guide are penalized. We had a fulfilling safari experience inspite of the initial scare of a flat tyre. Day 3 - Wednesday (18-Dec): Fate and Deadly Destiny Today is the big day with 2 core safaris scheduled in the prime zones of Tadoba: Moharli Core in the morning and Zari Core in the Afternoon. Morning safari starts at 6:30 am and ends at 10:30 am and the afternoon safari starts at 2 pm. The Zari gate being 60 kms away from the resort; we had planned and packed everything. What we did not plan for is 18-Dec to be one of the coldest days in MH. On top of that riding in an open top Gypsy in the middle of jungle; all of us were shivering. Morning in Moharli Core All packed up but still feeling the cold Here, I would like to point out the importance of the Guide in the safari experience. The guide assigned to us for the Moharli Core was one of the most unenthusiastic people who was just going through the motions. Made a 15 min stop for making some entry into register and then a 30 min stop for a relaxed breakfast. The guide was not at all interested in making a sighting and was just following other Gypsys. When he got to know that there were 2 cubs sighted in a thicket, we joined the queue of 20 other gypsys for a glance of the cubs somewhere deep in the forest. They were so far away they very well might have been an odd leaf. The cubs in the distance Overall, a forgettable experience on the Safari that I had the most hopes on. Moharli Core being the flagship gate, it has the greatest number of Gypsys entering the forest. The majority of the safari routes are tarred and it felt like a zoo safari. The underwhelming experience of the Moharli core was exacerbated by the indifferent guide and the extreme cold weather. Other wildlife sightings: Peacock & Spotted Deer Our guide informed us that this is the State Bird of Maharashtra: Yellow Footed Green Pigeon We completed our morning Safari and had lunch back at the resort. Left the resort at 12 noon for the 2 pm safari following the google maps for the Zari gate. We switched on the maps started following the maps without any 2nd thought. We were in for surprise when we reached the Khutwanda gate after about 20 mins and then we realized that we followed the wrong route as this one was going through the jungle. After the Dewada gate, I had come to appreciate even minutes and how a minute difference could mean you lose a potential tiger sighting. Now I drove fast so as to cover up the 40 min delay so as to reach the Zari core by 2:05 pm. The resort care taker had noticed that I took a wrong turn after exiting the resort, he tried calling my number. But he called my wifes number and her mobile was kept at the resort itself as the mobiles are not allowed in Tadoba safaris. Fate and deadly destiny hit us badly today multiple times. Anyways we started the safari in Zari Core along with the other 5 gypsys and were excited to catch a glimpse of the big cat in a beautiful back drop. Alas, this safari was a washout with no sightings at all although the it felt like we will come face to face with the Tiger at any turn as we were able to spot paw prints of Tiger and Leopard at multiple places. The guide and the driver were very energetic and tried their best to get us a sighting full points to their efforts. The Zari core is a beautiful jungle and going around it is an experience in itself. We bid adieu to Zari with a mental promise to return sometime in future. Picturesque Zari Beautiful Zari Leopard Pawprints Sambar Deer To catch a flying bird Peacock running away frantically from us Indian Gaur Breathtaking sunset at Zari We ate our dinner glumly and then put up a bonfire since it was extremely cold that night. The bonfire with its heat and warmth cheered us up a little bit. We went to sleep snugly hoping for the best for tomorrow. Travelogues is invariably the first page that I go to on Team bhp and have been on some delightful journeys through the words and photos of the authors. This is my first travelogue after having read so many excellent write up by members hope it meets the standards of this forum. This road trip is to finally complete 3 items from the bucket list which have been in the list for a long time now.This one has been on my wifes bucket list right from right from 2018 onwards. Also, my son read about Lonar lake when we visited the Birla Planetarium in Hyderabad sometime in 2021. We had in fact booked the MTDC resort for 1 night in Mar 2024 but could not travel due to some work emergency.This has been on my bucket list since Aug 2022 when we visited Ajanta & Ellora. We travelled on a small portion of the expressway and was amazed at the infra similar to the ORR in Hyderabad. Got to know about the Samruddhi Mahamarg connecting the 2 capitals of MH after some research. Then began the following the updates on completion and official opening and the TBHP travelogues.This has been on my bucketlist since I read ramnath_77s Tadoba Diaries travelogue in Oct 2022 especially the pic of Matkasur exhibiting the Flehman response behaviour. Since I could not get the tickets for Dec 2022, did some research and went on a road trip to Gir all the way from Pune (Thats a story for another time).Since getting the Safari permits is the most difficult, booked the tickets on 05-Oct. During the earlier, getting permits for the Core zone safari was the most difficult and that too for the Moharli core that was the first to be booked.Our trusted 2018 Baleno CVT which has completed 43K on the odo. Since the servicing was done at 40K comprehensively, did the basic long journey checks: Air, Fuel, Oils & Wiper fluid top ups.Generally, we leave between 6am and 7am for road trips. But I convinced my wifey for starting at 4am considering we have to cross Ahilya Nagar (Ahmed Nager) and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad). I avoid driving at dark but the other option driving in maddening traffic, we chose to leave early. This turned out to be a great decision since by the time we reached our stay in Tadoba it was 6 pm and it was getting dark.We drove without any breaks till Ch. Sambhaji Nagar and had buffet breakfast at Click Hotel . We have had breakfast at Click Hotel once before and knew that the food there was fairly good and also there was a buffet breakfast (we love buffet breakfasts). Post our breakfast, got a fuel & air top up at Petrol bunk. And we got on to the much famed Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg. After the initial excitement went down after about 50 KMs of hard driving at 115 Kmph speed, settled down to 90 100 Kmph.Having read multiple travelogues / updates on Samruddhi, I knew what to expect cement road and straight as an arrow road. But I could not comprehend why people would get bored of driving on empty roads at 100 kmph. Boy I was so wrong after driving for about an hour of driving that too after a sumptuous breakfast I felt my head nod. All the passengers (Wife and 2 kids) were happily asleep. I immediately stopped on the side, freshened up and made a commitment to myself to take a break every 100 kms or 1 hour whichever comes first. The petrol pumps are nicely spaced at every 100 kms or so.Regarding the quality of the road as I mentioned I was prepared for the road noise. I was really sceptical of the joints on the roads there were none on the cement portion. But there were joints on the tarred portion on the bridges that were jolting especially going at a speed.Tunnel carved in the mountain to make way for SamruddhiAhhh - after going on the Samruddhi Mahamarg my need for speed was finally satiated. After exiting Samruddhi at Wardha its still approx. 120 kms to Tadoba (Moharli Gate). I had to start using the brakes again but I did not mind it because we were so close to the land of the tigers. As we neared the Tadoba buffer zone, we were able to spot some monkeys and spotted deers. We reached the Wagharanya Resort by around 6 pm. We checked into our rooms and settled down. The room was cramped and small - we dont like cramped and small rooms having been used to Airbnb. The resort co-owner Mr. Mangesh came by to meet us & the first thing he asks us is did you see the Tiger?. I was flabbergasted! We had just arrived and missed a tiger sighting. He said there was tiger nearby the forest gate and people were able to spot it on the road.The care taker in the resort informs us that there has been tiger sighting on the road in front of resort quite often. He suggests people go on the road at night in their cars slowly to sight some wildlife/Tigers. Couple of days later another visitor shows me whatsapp status of his friend where there a tiger was sighted on the same road.We woke up late as we had the safari only in the afternoon and had some nice breakfast of poha, chai and boiled eggs. It was a good thing that we did not book the morning safari as we needed that rest after the 700+ kms of drive. There was a plan was to visit the butterfly world near Agarzari gate in the morning but that was dropped in the morning once we woke up late.Our first Safari was in afternoon at Dewada Buffer zone. We were at the gate well before time and got the Gypsy allocated. We were the 3rd Gypsy to enter the gate and after about 500 mts after entering from the gate, both the guide and me feel the left back tyre wobble. I get an ominous feeling and the guide confirms that the tyre is flat. The driver and guide immediately start to replace the tyre with the four of us still sitting in the Gypsy. They manage to replace the tyre with a bald spare tyre with 10 15 mins. I keep hoping that no other puncture happens as the guide was just telling us that we should not get down from vehicle at any time during the safari.For the next 2.5 hours, the driver and guide take us on whirlwind on the various pathways marked for tourists. I tell the Guide if we can stop to take some snaps of other wildlife like Gaur and Boars. They stopped briefly but they were focussed on making a sighting keener than us. We get to know that there was sighting of tiger and by the time we reach that place, there must by atleast 20+ jeeps waiting. We wait for some time and then the guide takes to a lake where he expects that tiger could make an appearance.We were almost at the lake then we get to know that the tiger has been sighted and we rush to that place. We just missed sighting the tiger as it went into the bushes. My heart sank when one of the tourists in another gypsy is beaming from ear to ear and says that sighting was amazing and the tiger was nearby. Its 5 pm now and just 1 hour to exit the gate and the guide is even more determined to make the sighting. When he gets to know of alarm calling, he asks the driver to drive fast to that place. The driver quickly rushes at 30Kmph to that place and wait. The gypsys cannot go faster than 30 kmph in the forest as they are monitored using GPS. Considering that the forest pathways are not levelled properly, even driving at 30 kmph throws around the passengers on the back seat.Finally, we get to see for what we were hoping Choti Madhu makes an appearance from behind the trees. The Driver and Guide have positioned the Gypsy at such a correct place that the Tiger walks past the Gypsy within a couple of feet. Let the pictures do the talking now:The Queen emergesMarking her territoryThe tiger sighting was spectacular - all credit to our guide-driver who got us prime spots for viewing our top celebrity Choti Madhu doing the catwalk. Choti Madhu was regal and royal and she held her gaze up high with pride. She carried herself with immense grace & dignity and she was a queen in her own right.By the time the catwalk is completed, we have to start for the gate. Any delay is exiting the gate after 6 pm, the driver and guide are penalized. We had a fulfilling safari experience inspite of the initial scare of a flat tyre.Today is the big day with 2 core safaris scheduled in the prime zones of Tadoba: Moharli Core in the morning and Zari Core in the Afternoon. Morning safari starts at 6:30 am and ends at 10:30 am and the afternoon safari starts at 2 pm. The Zari gate being 60 kms away from the resort; we had planned and packed everything. What we did not plan for is 18-Dec to be one of the coldest days in MH. On top of that riding in an open top Gypsy in the middle of jungle; all of us were shivering.Morning in Moharli CoreAll packed up but still feeling the coldHere, I would like to point out the importance of the Guide in the safari experience. The guide assigned to us for the Moharli Core was one of the most unenthusiastic people who was just going through the motions. Made a 15 min stop for making some entry into register and then a 30 min stop for a relaxed breakfast. The guide was not at all interested in making a sighting and was just following other Gypsys. When he got to know that there were 2 cubs sighted in a thicket, we joined the queue of 20 other gypsys for a glance of the cubs somewhere deep in the forest. They were so far away they very well might have been an odd leaf.The cubs in the distanceOverall, a forgettable experience on the Safari that I had the most hopes on. Moharli Core being the flagship gate, it has the greatest number of Gypsys entering the forest. The majority of the safari routes are tarred and it felt like a zoo safari. The underwhelming experience of the Moharli core was exacerbated by the indifferent guide and the extreme cold weather.Other wildlife sightings: Peacock & Spotted DeerOur guide informed us that this is the State Bird of Maharashtra: Yellow Footed Green PigeonWe completed our morning Safari and had lunch back at the resort. Left the resort at 12 noon for the 2 pm safari following the google maps for the Zari gate. We switched on the maps started following the maps without any 2nd thought. We were in for surprise when we reached the Khutwanda gate after about 20 mins and then we realized that we followed the wrong route as this one was going through the jungle. After the Dewada gate, I had come to appreciate even minutes and how a minute difference could mean you lose a potential tiger sighting. Now I drove fast so as to cover up the 40 min delay so as to reach the Zari core by 2:05 pm. The resort care taker had noticed that I took a wrong turn after exiting the resort, he tried calling my number. But he called my wifes number and her mobile was kept at the resort itself as the mobiles are not allowed in Tadoba safaris. Fate and deadly destiny hit us badly today multiple times.Anyways we started the safari in Zari Core along with the other 5 gypsys and were excited to catch a glimpse of the big cat in a beautiful back drop. Alas, this safari was a washout with no sightings at all although the it felt like we will come face to face with the Tiger at any turn as we were able to spot paw prints of Tiger and Leopard at multiple places. The guide and the driver were very energetic and tried their best to get us a sighting full points to their efforts. The Zari core is a beautiful jungle and going around it is an experience in itself. We bid adieu to Zari with a mental promise to return sometime in future.Beautiful ZariLeopard PawprintsSambar DeerTo catch a flying birdPeacock running away frantically from usIndian GaurBreathtaking sunset at ZariWe ate our dinner glumly and then put up a bonfire since it was extremely cold that night. The bonfire with its heat and warmth cheered us up a little bit. We went to sleep snugly hoping for the best for tomorrow. In the temporarily occupied Crimea, a Ukrainian drone hit the Fedor Uryupin ship, which the invaders appropriated after the illegal annexation of the peninsula. "Hit" found it in a bay near the village of Chornomorske. ADVERTISIMENT The incident occurred on December 23. This was reported by the Crimean Wind monitoring Telegram channel, citing a source. It is noted that at about 17:00 on Monday, the UAV flew into the side of the tugboat Fedor Uryupin. The impact occurred above the waterline, the vessel did not sink, but it was damaged. The tugboat Fedor Uryupin (IMO: 9443499), built in 2010, was seized from Ukraine in 2014 during Russia's occupation of Crimea. "According to our source, it has not been used recently," the channel said in a statement. According to the Marinetraffic database, the Fedor Uryupin has a Russian flag, but the owner is listed as the Ukrainian state-owned company Chornomornaftogaz. As OBOZ.UA reported, in early December, Ukrainian surface drones hit enemy surveillance systems in the Black Sea. They were deployed off the coast of Crimea on gas platforms seized by the Russians. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! What just happened? Netflix is suing Broadcom, alleging infringement of multiple patents related to virtual machine operations. The video streaming giant alleges that VMware products like vSphere and their cloud solutions violate up to five Netflix patents related to managing and optimizing virtual machines. The patents in question cover some critical behind-the-scenes tech that helps keep virtual machines running smoothly, according to the lawsuit filed in a California federal court. Three of the patents deal with tracking and allocating CPU resources to virtual machines efficiently. The other two describe methods for a load balancer to seamlessly start up virtual machines on physical servers as needed. Netflix says VMware's virtualization tech flat-out uses these patented innovations without permission. They claim "VMware has infringed and continues to infringe" on these patents through products like vSphere Foundation, VMware Cloud Foundation, and their cloud offerings for AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and more. Netflix also asserts that VMware knew it was potentially infringing as far back as 2012 when some of these patents came up during one of the company's own patent applications. Netflix says the infringement has been "willful and deliberate" after VMware had this knowledge. Reuters reports that Netflix now wants VMware's new owner Broadcom, who bought them last year for a massive $69 billion, to award monetary damages. It's worth mentioning that this patent brawl actually has roots going back to 2018, when Broadcom first sued Netflix claiming it infringed on Broadcom patents for video streaming technology. That legal fight spans across multiple countries, including the US, Germany, and the Netherlands. The US lawsuit is slated for trial next June. Previous reports suggested that Broadcom's 2018 lawsuit came as a result of Netflix's meteoric growth during the Covid-19 pandemic when viewers flocked to streaming services. This boom came at Broadcom's expense, with dwindling sales of its TV set-top box chips as cable subscriptions declined. Broadcom also has a history with patent infringements: In 2017, it sued LG, Vizio, and other smart TV manufacturers as well as rival Mediatek for patent violations. VMware's software powers huge swaths of enterprise data centers and clouds so Netflix's offensive could have major ramifications if their patent claims prevail. Both sides are yet to issue comments. What just happened? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted preliminary approval for a pilot project allowing Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC to construct a road using phosphogypsum a radioactive byproduct of fertilizer production on its property in New Wales, Florida. This decision has sparked concern among environmentalists and raised questions about potential health and environmental hazards. Phosphogypsum contains radium, which decays into radon gas. Both are radioactive and known carcinogens, according to the EPA. Historically, the agency has opposed using phosphogypsum in road construction due to the risks it poses to construction workers and future residents living near such roads. But the EPA claims that public exposure to the road will be limited. However, Mosaic has described this effort as part of a broader initiative to "demonstrate the range of ... road construction designs," suggesting that this could be a stepping stone towards more widespread use of phosphogypsum in road construction. As billions of tons of phosphogypsum accumulate, particularly in states like Florida, the search for solutions remains contentious. While some see potential in repurposing the material, opponents argue it poses significant public health risks. The pilot project involves constructing four test road sections, each 500 feet long and 24 feet wide, using phosphogypsum from the New Wales South stack. These sections will contain up to 50% phosphogypsum by weight in a single 10-inch road base layer. For comparison, four control sections without phosphogypsum will also be built. Environmental groups strongly oppose the EPA's decision. Ragan Whitlock, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, called the approval "mind-boggling," citing concerns about risks to road crews and water quality. Whitlock accused the EPA of caving to pressure from the phosphate industry, potentially opening the door to widespread use of hazardous waste in roads nationwide. EPA's timing has also raised eyebrows. A request for public comment on the project was issued on October 9, just hours before Hurricane Milton was expected to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area as a Category 5 storm. This timing was particularly concerning given the history of environmental issues associated with phosphogypsum stacks during severe weather events. In fact, days after Hurricane Milton struck as a Category 3 storm, Mosaic reported that contaminated water had been discharged from its Riverview site into Tampa Bay due to excessive rainfall. This incident underscores the ongoing environmental challenges associated with phosphogypsum storage. The EPA's decision marks a departure from its 1992 stance, which deemed phosphogypsum use in road construction an unacceptable public health risk. Since then, regulations have required phosphogypsum to be stored in stacks on private land due to its cancer risks and other health hazards from radon emissions. Although the EPA insists the risk from this specific project is "extremely low," critics argue it sets a dangerous precedent for future use of phosphogypsum in public infrastructure. Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust What just happened? Another undersea cable in the Baltic Sea has been disrupted. At around 12.26 pm local time on Christmas Day, the Estlink 2 power cable linking Finland and Estonia experienced an outage. Finland said sabotage could not be ruled out as a cause. Finland's prime minister, Petteri Orpo, said the outage had not affected the country's electricity supplies. However, Reuters reports that the capacity between the countries was reduced from the installed capacity of 1,016 MW to 358 MW. "The authorities remain vigilant even during Christmas and are investigating the situation," Orpo wrote on X. According to Finnish public broadcaster Yle, Estlink 2 was unserviceable for several months earlier this year due to planned maintenance, but the connection was restored in September. Arto Pahkin, Operations Manager of Finnish national electricity transmission operator Fingrid, said the possibility of sabotage cannot be ruled out, adding that an investigation into the matter had been initiated. Authorities in the Baltic Sea area have been on high alert since two undersea cables a communications cable between Lithuania and the Swedish island of Gotland, and one between Finland and Germany were damaged in November. Tracking sites showed that Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 had sailed over the cables around the time they were cut. The Wall Street Journal reported that Western intelligence services believe the ship's Chinese captain was "induced by Russian intelligence" to damage the cables using the vessel's anchor. Earlier this week, Sweden said that China had denied a request for prosecutors to conduct an investigation on the vessel and that it had left the area. Russia has said that claims it was involved in the sabotage of undersea cables as retaliation against Western nations aiding Ukraine are "absurd" and "laughable." This month saw the International Telecommunication Union, a UN agency that oversees global communication technologies, announce the formation of the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience. As the name suggests, the organization aims to strengthen the resilience of these cables, which carry over 99% of international data exchanges. NATO is also developing a way of protecting undersea cable sabotage: a fleet of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) that will patrol high-risk naval zones in regions such as the Baltic and Mediterranean. A hot potato: It's been posited that Universal Basic Income (UBI) could be the best, or perhaps only, way to address the problem of AI-driven job losses. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman backed a three-year study to investigate the viability of such a program, and the lead researcher has revealed the latest findings: there are benefits to UBI, but it's not a silver bullet. The impact generative AI is having on the jobs market is well documented. Altman, boss of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, said that in 2016, he started realizing the effects that advanced AI could have on society, especially jobs, and conducted an experiment aimed at showing that UBI could negate some of these issues. That program gave 1,000 people $1,000 per month, while a 2,000-person control group was given $50 per month. Most UBI programs gave the payments to adults in the form of recurring payments, regardless of how much money they have or their employment status. The Altman-backed program focused on giving payments to low-income adults. Total running costs of the study came to $60 million. Altman reportedly contributed $14 million of his own money to the project, along with $10 million from OpenAI. Elizabeth Rhodes, the research director for the Basic Income Project at Open Research, told Business Insider that while basic-income payments are beneficial in many ways, these programs also have "clear limitations." The initial findings of the project were released in July. Most people only increased their spending on basic needs, such as food, housing, and transportation. Recipients were also more likely to visit a hospital, see a specialist, go to the dentist, and cut down on excess alcohol and drug use, though the researchers noted that there was no direct evidence of greater access to healthcare or improvements in physical and mental health. For many participants, "the additional $1,000 per month alone may not be sufficient to overcome the larger systemic barriers to healthcare access and reduce health disparities." Interestingly, recipients were more selective when it came to choosing work: some chose lower-paid jobs for more independence or the opportunity to enter a certain industry. They were also more likely to start their own business. The latest set of findings released this month show that recipients actually valued work more after receiving the monthly payments, challenging the long-held belief the UBI will lead to people not wanting to work. Stress, mental distress, and food insecurity also diminished in the first year, though the effects faded in the program's second and third years. "Poverty and economic insecurity are incredibly difficult problems to solve," Rhodes said. "The findings that we've had thus far are quite nuanced." "It [the project] reinforced to me the idea that these are really difficult problems that, maybe, there isn't a singular solution." In May, Altman said that UBI could be supplanted by what he calls universal basic compute. "[E]verybody gets a slice of GPT-7's compute and they can use it, they can resell it, they can donate it to somebody to use for cancer research," Altman suggested. One of the many big names in the tech world that support UBI is Geoffrey Hinton, one of the Godfathers of AI. He said these programs are a necessity in the face of AI-related job losses. On the other side of the coin, Dario Amodei, CEO of AI startup Anthropic, thinks UBI won't be enough to address the problem. Every year, there is a new and exciting product from Samsung that is introduced and made available later on, last year, the company focused on the Galaxy Ring announced during the Galaxy S24 event. This year, rumors claimed that Samsung will introduce its version of smart glasses which remains unnamed, featuring augmented reality (AR) capabilities for all to enjoy. Next year's massive and explosive rumored product for Samsung is yet another wearable from the company, but this time, the South Korean tech giant will focus on a new kind of device according to various rumors. Samsung Smart Glasses is Coming: Everything You Need to Know Leakers are now centering on an upcoming Samsung smart glasses that is coming next year, and like the previous teaser about a new wearable from the South Korean Big Tech, it will be unveiled come Unpacked 2025. However, the leaker claimed that it is likely that Samsung will only show images and videos of the smart glasses' prototype instead of showing off the real thing, and much remains unknown about the device as of this writing. Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images. Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024 One of the key features of these new smart glasses will be augmented reality, and it is known that the world has long been awaiting the "real" AR glasses in the tech industry which feature a heads-up display, real-time detection features, and more. The leaker also shared a corroborating story from a Korean news publication platform which claims that the prototype will be unveiled next year. According to the leaks, Samsung will also feature an introduction to the new XR (extended reality) platform that will power the experience of its future AR glasses, but there are still no exact details behind the software. The story from the Korean publication revealed that this device would be called the "UNPACER AR Glasses," based on the translation, but it remains unknown if this will be the wearable's official name. Additionally, the Korean source claimed that it would weigh around 50 grams, and will also feature AI capabilities that will help users complete payments, but it said that Samsung will demo the device, unlike Jukanlosreve's claims. Further reports claimed that the upcoming smart glasses from Samsung will rival the Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses which offers a camera that can capture the outside world, but it is a device that does not feature AR capabilities. Galaxy Unpacked in January 2025 to Feature AR Wearable As revealed by Jukanlosreve, the company will unveil the new wearable device's early prototype come the said event, to be teased by the company after the expected Galaxy S25 smartphone lineup. Instead of the smartphone event focusing solely on the new flagship smartphone from the company, it will also feature the AR wearable that may steal the show, similar to the Galaxy Ring's teaser. The Race to Deliver the First Real AR Glasses There are many companies who were rumored to be working on real AR glasses that would be able to deliver legitimate augmented reality features as is expected, to be the first to introduce it to the consumer world. Meta is one of those companies rumored to do so, following up on its Meta Ray-Bans. On the other hand, the classic rival of Samsung, Apple, was also rumored to be developing its AR glasses for users that will take advantage of its Vision Pro success. In the notebook of the North Korean special forces officer Gyong Hong Jong, who was killed in Kursk region, an "instruction" on how to fight drones was found. It involves the use of live bait. ADVERTISIMENT The decryption of another entry from the North Korean soldier's trophy notebook was published on the Telegram channel of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Reportedly, Private Hyong Hong Jong, even before meeting with Ukrainian special forces, described in detail the tactics of shooting down UAVs and avoiding Ukrainian artillery strikes. It remains unclear whether this is an authentic North Korean tactic or one borrowed from Russian instructors. The recordings are accompanied by illustrations that describe in detail the method of eliminating drones. "When detecting a drone, you need to create a three-man team (3 people), with the one who lures the drone keeping a distance of 7 meters, and those who shoot 10-12 meters. ADVERTISIMENT If the luring person stands still, the drone will also stop moving. At this point, the one who shoots will eliminate (the drone)," the mercenary's notes say. In addition, Private Gyong Hong Jong described in detail the ways to avoid artillery fire. "In case of getting into the shelling zone, having appointed the next gathering point (group), you need to split into small groups and leave the shelling zone. Another way: since artillery does not fire at the same point, you can hide at the point of (previous) hit and then leave the shelling zone," the DPRK soldier wrote in his notes. Ukraine's Special Operations Forces continue to eliminate North Korean special forces in the Kursk region of Russia. It is reported that the SSO continues to decipher entries from Private Jong's trophy notebook. In the first part of the decrypted materials, he wrote a congratulatory letter to a friend on the occasion of his birthday. However, instead of a festive party, he received an assault rifle and a trench on foreign soil, and instead of candles on the cake, a 5.56 caliber bullet from Ukrainian defenders. As reported by OBOZ.UA, according to preliminary data, more than 3 thousand North Korean soldiers were killed and wounded at the front in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation. There is a risk of additional units and military equipment being deployed from the DPRK, which will be met with a tangible response from Ukraine. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Tsunami memorials begin as Asia mourns disaster 20 years on Banda Aceh, Indonesia, Dec 26 (AFP) Dec 26, 2024 Emotional ceremonies began across Asia on Thursday to remember the 220,000 people who died two decades ago when a tsunami devastated coastal areas around the Indian Ocean, in one of the worst natural disasters in human history. On December 26, 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake off Indonesia's western tip generated a series of massive waves that pummelled the coastline of 14 countries from Indonesia to Somalia. In Indonesia's Aceh Province where more than 100,000 people were killed, a siren rang out for three minutes at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, followed by Islamic prayers to kick off a series of memorials scheduled around the region. Indonesian mourners will attend a mass grave ceremony and a communal evening prayer in provincial capital Banda Aceh, while beachside memorials and religious ceremonies were scheduled in Sri Lanka, India and Thailand, some of the worst hit countries. "I thought it was doomsday," said Hasnawati, a 54-year-old teacher who goes by one name, at the mosque which was damaged by the tsunami. "On a Sunday morning where our family were all laughing together, suddenly a disaster struck and everything's gone. I can't describe it with words." Victims of waves as high as 30 metres (98 feet) included many foreign tourists celebrating Christmas on the region's sun-kissed beaches, bringing the tragedy into homes around the globe. The seabed being ripped open pushed waves at double the speed of a bullet train, crossing the Indian Ocean within hours. A total of 226,408 people died as a result of the tsunami, according to EM-DAT, a recognised global disaster database. There was no warning of the impending tsunami, giving little time for evacuation, despite the hours-long gaps between the waves striking different continents. But today a sophisticated network of monitoring stations has cut down warning times. - Candlelight, train vigils - Indonesia suffered the highest death toll, with more than 160,000 people killed along its western coast. "I hope we will never experience that ever again," said Nilawati, a 60-year-old Indonesian housewife who lost her son and mother in the tragedy and was attending Thursday's ceremonies. "I learned the devastation of losing a child, a grief I can't explain with words. It feels like it just happened yesterday. Whenever I am reminded of it, it feels like all the blood rushes out of my body." The disaster also ended a decades-long separatist conflict in Aceh, with a peace deal between rebels and Jakarta struck less than a year later. In Sri Lanka, where more than 35,000 people perished, survivors and relatives were to gather to remember around 1,000 victims who died when waves derailed a passenger train. The mourners will board the restored Ocean Queen Express and head to Peraliya -- the exact spot where it was ripped from the tracks, around 90 kilometres (56 miles) south of Colombo. A brief religious ceremony will be held with relatives of the dead there while Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Muslim ceremonies are also organised to commemorate victims across the South Asian island nation. In Thailand, where half of the more than 5,000 dead were foreign tourists, unofficial vigils were expected to accompany a government memorial ceremony. At a hotel in Phang Nga province, there will host a tsunami exhibition, a documentary screening and introductions by government and UN bodies on disaster preparedness and resilience measures. Nearly 300 people were killed as far away as Somalia, as well as more than 100 in the Maldives and dozens in Malaysia and Myanmar. "My children, wife, father, mother, all of my siblings were swept away," said Indonesian survivor and fisherman Baharuddin Zainun, 70. "The same tragedy was felt by others as well. We feel the same feelings." burs-jfx/hmn In the Kursk region, the Ukrainian military covered the enemy's control center. During the attack, the deputy commander of the 810th Marine Brigade of the Russian Federation, Salim Mukharbetovich Pashtov, was killed. ADVERTISIMENT This is stated in the message of the Operational Armed Forces of Ukraine Telegram channel. The information was also confirmed by the sister of the deceased in the brigade's VKontakte group. ADVERTISIMENT In addition to it, the attack on the control center was confirmed by the local Telegram channel of the city of Lgov, which noted that all residents of the settlement knew about its location. "Together with the deputy, there were other Russian military in the building, seven of whom were killed. It was probably the brigade's officers who were in charge of managing the units and issuing orders," the publicist writes. As a reminder, the Defense Forces launched a missile strike on the Kursk region of the Russian Federation on the morning of December 25. The building of a sugar factory in the village of Lgov, where Russian soldiers were stationed, was attacked. Later, the Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed the attack. They noted that in the city of Lgov, Kursk region of the Russian Federation, the Ukrainian Defense Forces hit the control center of the 810th Separate Marine Brigade of the Russian Navy. The enemy placed it in an abandoned building. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Gaza hospital says three babies die of 'severe temperature drop' Khan Yunis, Palestinian Territories, Dec 26 (AFP) Dec 26, 2024 The chief paediatric doctor at a southern Gaza hospital told AFP that three babies had died of "severe temperature drop" this week, as the war-ravaged Palestinian territory grapples with winter cold. In the most recent case, Dr. Ahmed al-Farra of Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis city said a three-week-old girl "was brought to the emergency room with a severe temperature drop, which led to her death". Farra, the head of the hospital's paediatric services, mentioned two other cases his team handled on Tuesday. "A three-day-old baby and another baby, less than a month old, both died after a severe temperature drop," he said. "This is due to the fact that they live in tents," added the doctor, referring to Palestinians displaced by the more than 14-month war in Gaza who have sought shelter in makeshift camps, many in the coastal Khan Yunis area. "The tents do not protect from the cold, and it gets very cold at night, with no way to keep warm," said Farra. The risk to newborns is particularly acute, he added, as many mothers suffer malnutrition affecting the quality of the milk their babies feed on. The deceased three-week-old girl, Sila al-Faseeh, lived in the Al-Mawasi tent city, on the Mediterranean coast near Khan Yunis. Her father, Mahmoud al-Faseeh, told AFP that in her final hours, "the little girl woke up two or three times during the night to breastfeed". In the morning, the parents saw "she had bitten her tongue and was bleeding", said the father. "We took her to the doctor, who told us it was due to the cold, and there have been several cases with similar symptoms." Faseeh said it was "extremely cold, and the tent is not suitable for living. The children are always sick." The vast majority of the Gaza Strip's 2.4 million residents have been displaced at least once since the war broke out with Palestinian militant group Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. According to Israel's weather service, temperatures in Gaza in recent days were as low as eight degrees Celsius (46 Fahrenheit) at night. There were so many big political stories in 2024 that my initial list ran well past the usual dozen or so items. I considered trying to convince my colleagues that a column on the years top 17 political stories would be clickbait gold, but then I remembered Im decades older than most of them and know nothing of how clickbait actually works. In the Russian occupation army, the command refuses to take the bodies of their soldiers killed by the Ukrainian Defense Forces from the islands in Kherson region. They throw their subordinates into murderous assaults and then do not want to evacuate the "two hundredths" in order to avoid paying their families. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the Atesh guerrilla movement. They received this information from their agents who serve in the Russian army. In particular, Atesh agents reported arbitrariness of the command of the 61st Separate Guards Marine Brigade. For example, after one of the assaults, where more than half of the company was killed, the command refused to take their dead subordinates. "This is being done on the instructions of the higher command in order to avoid paying compensation to the families of the victims. According to the documents, the servicemen who died on the islands are considered 'missing'," the report says. ADVERTISIMENT The occupants who were lucky enough to survive are in conflict with the commanders because the bodies of their comrades are not taken away, while the boats continue to run empty. Atesh agents also say that the situation in the ranks of the occupation army in Kherson region is exacerbated by the cynical behavior of commanders. When asked about awards, one of them said: "Until I hang orders on my chest, I don't give a f*ck about medals." This attitude has led to increased cases of sabotage and diversions among the invaders. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, Vladyslav Voloshyn, a spokesman for the Southern Defense Forces, said that Russian occupants continue to try to advance towards Kherson in the southern direction. Their goal is to land on Kozatsky Island, and they have also become more active on Velyky Potemkinsky Island. Earlier, Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, also said that the Russians are actively preparing for a new offensive on Kherson and have already assembled 300 boats to cross the Dnipro. The enemy is trying to establish control over the river islands and recently launched a large-scale attack on Kozatsky Island, located near Nova Kakhovka. As OBOZ.UA reported earlier, according to Atesh, cases of Russian army soldiers committing suicide have become more frequent in Kherson region. The reasons are repression by the command, especially against those who refuse to go on assaults. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Advertisement Eating outTrends Lollipop custard, prawn toast and cookbooks no one asked for: The Good Food Guide Cap Awards for 2024 From Most Improved Trend to Dumbest Collaboration of the Year, we present the Good Food Guides other hat awards. Callan Boys December 27, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share Crack open a Yellow Tail and pop the French onion. Its the second-ever Good Food Guide Cap Awards. Similar to last year, The Caps are just like the coveted hats we award to restaurants, only looser fitting and occasionally frayed. Newly launched Delta Rues mobile banh mi trolley. Supplied The Arthur Fonzarelli Memorial Plate for Jumping the Shark When Bar Tilda opened inside the newly refitted Sofitel Sydney Wentworth in late October, the opening cocktail menu promised tableside Manhattan service. Three cheers, hip and hooray. Weve had tableside martinis and gueridon service in the CBD for an age, but Ive never been offered whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters from a trolley. Then, a week or two later, Tildas owners also launched Vietnamese-French-inspired Delta Rue upstairs, complete with a banh mi trolley lapping the room. Im all for a freshly made sandwich, but this is just getting silly. The Vegemite Dairy Milk Ribbon for Dumbest Collaboration of the Year Advertisement The other week, I received a press release from a Victorian fast-food franchise launching a ham and orange pizza. Drawing inspiration from Italys deep-rooted love of oranges, this unexpected twist is set to shake up summer menus. Dear, God. Kill it with fire. Meanwhile, in NSW, Coles tried to flog hot cross buns seasoned with Arnotts Pizza Shapes, and Pauls released a lollipop-flavoured custard. Best served cold, recommended the label for the pink goop inspired by Chupa Chups Strawberry Creams. Well, yeah. As opposed to what? Lukewarm out of a Hoka running shoe? No one is heating lollipop custard in the microwave. One dumb collaboration rose above them all, however, and its a big round of applause for Donut King Cinnamon Twisties. Twisties took home the same ribbon last year, too, after the snack brand partnered with Angel Aromatics to produce scented candles in both cheese and chicken flavours. Twisties X Lynx Africa for 2025? Go on, make it a hat trick. Hunter Candles X Babas Place soy-wax collaboration. Supplied The Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue Medal for Best Collaboration of the Year Advertisement Vianney Hunter started professionally making candles in a backyard eight years ago, and she now has three store locations across Newtown, Surry Hills and The Strand. Hunter Candles is all about collaborating with other local businesses to create new aromas, including three-hatted Saint Peter for a candle crafted with leftover Murray cod fat (it smells more like red gum and mossy rocks than greasy fish, dont worry). Pepe Saya has its own buttered popcorn soy-wax candle (I can confirm that it really enhances the experience of watching Dune: Prophecy on the couch), and Marrickvilles Babas Place has also joined the party with a little frankincense and oakwood scented number. Decanter of the Year Riedel and Plumm still rule the top-end stemware market, but if youre a restaurant without a decanter from Sydney-based glass artist Brian Hirst, are you even serious about full-bodied reds? Joking, of course Ive aerated wine in everything from a Zalto Axium to a Pringles can, but gee, those individually signed Hirst decanters have become popular. (Theyre the organic-looking hand-blown ones, by the way, usually shaped like a chubby penguin or bowling ball thats let itself go.) You can also buy them at more and more online wine stores if youre looking for an ace present for that Lakes Folly fan in your life. Speaking of wine, Im lifting the next paragraph from The Age Good Food Guide editors Emma Breheny and Ellen Fraser, who wrote about sexist wine service in their Melbourne restaurant trends feature we published in November. Best just placed in the middle of the table, really. Justin McManus Advertisement This ones for anyone who believes the wine list should be handed to the man. That a table of women should be offered a glass of sparkling to start, but the blokes next to them deserve to peruse the full selection. For anyone whos fobbed off a woman asking about wine with a one-line response, we implore you: do better. Were ready to spend money and engage with you. Meet us halfway. Indeed. While there are many excellent sommeliers out there, well rehearsed in the line who would like to have a look at the list, too often, Im still handed the wine menu ahead of my partner. It can feel like youre dining at one of those ancient Michelin-starred French joints, the ones with a separate ladies menu that doesnt list prices*. (*Im not entirely against bringing this concept back, but in the form of a price-removed dads menu for family dinners when the kids are paying. It would certainly stop a lot of How bloody much are they charging for steak? related ranting.) The Ticketmaster Trophy for Unexplained Surcharges If penalty rates in hospitality are set to continue (which they probably should if the industry is keen to attract more young Australians to the workforce), every second cafe, bar or restaurant will continue to add a surcharge to your bill for visiting on a weekend. Like TikTok and Yo-Chi, theres no point fighting it; just accept the new status quo. Advertisement But regarding the CBD restaurant charging a 10 per cent service charge to dine on a Friday night (you know who you are), that aint on. It feels suspiciously like the dynamic pricing tactics used by companies to drive prices up according to demand, and few things ruffle consumer feathers more. Lets keep that nonsense restricted to Uber. Ive also noticed more venues adding a discretionary service fee of 3 or 5 per cent to the bill, which reportedly goes directly to staff. Provided that charge is clearly noted on the menu, Im not completely against it. However, it does raise the question of why customers are being asked to boost floor staff pay rather than the restaurant group restaurant groups that seem to have no problem spending millions on flash fit-outs. Can I suggest less Carrara marble and improved staff pay instead? Song Birds prawn toast with Spencer Gulf kings and Baker Bleu sourdough. Supplied Most Improved Trend Nice work, prawn toast. What was a minor trend last year is now a full-on sesame-spangled assault. Why? For the same reason that Robert Downey Jr is returning to the Marvel Universe: Give em what they want. I know people who would rather eat Weet-Bix dipped in hummus than ever touch seafood, but prawn toast is OK. Australians bloody love it. Advertisement A running list compiled by my Good Food Guide co-editor David Matthews includes bug toast at Promenade Bondi Beach; the knife-and-fork-required slab at Boronia Kitchen, Gladesville; Peter Gilmores fermented chilli-spiked version at Bennelong Bar; lobster toast at the new Wans Cantonese in Darlinghurst; Neil Perrys showcase of Spencer Gulf king prawn at Song Bird, Double Bay; and the Abrolhos Island scallop-topped prawn medallions at Lana Dining near Circular Quay. Lulu Bondis scallop toast. Hannah Singleton Theres also Lulu Bondis doorstopping wodges of deep-fried Hokkaido scallop lit up by flying-fish roe; the plus-sized king prawn rolled in airy mousse and golden pastry at Bones Ramen, Potts Point; a pressed round of prawn mousse at Soluna, North Sydney; and still a contender for Sydneys best after all these years Spice Temples heavyweight division, bacon-enhanced, wheel of fortune prawn toast. Beyond city limits, you have Sawtells Bar Que Sera topping its contribution to the form with a rich sliver of wagyu bresaola, and Byron Bays Bar Heather squishes green kings between two slices of crisp-fried pain a lancienne. The Pet Rock Plate for Savvy Marketing Advertisement You may have seen Bay Lobster popping up with increased frequency this year. Its a fine bit of shellfish produced by a Northern Rivers company that sustainably farms the crustacean year-round. But lets not call a duck a golden goose or, indeed, a bug a lobster. Bay Lobster is simply a trademarked brand name for good ol Moreton Bay bug. Buyer beware any restaurant charging lobster-level prices for it. The Cookin With Coolio Literary Prize for a Celebrity, Film or Television-Related Cookbook No One Asked For Consider this your yearly reminder that Alan Jones and Mark Latham once published a cookbook together 2018s Conversations in the Kitchen. Thats a thing. That exists. In this world. I think Annabel Crabb owns two copies. In 2024, Dolly Parton and her sister Rachel released a recipe collection titled Good Lookin Cookin, and it actually looks pretty ace. You just know that banana pudding recipe is a banger. Pamela Anderson put out a cookbook, too. Its vegan, and its probably fine. Drew Barrymore says it is The most beautiful cookbook I have ever seen. (I guess Drew isnt familiar with Darryl Brohmans Big Marns Barbeque, then.) Absolutely no one, however, besides the Paramount Pictures marketing department, asked for a photography-free cookbook themed on Clueless, a movie that came out in 1995. Yes, I know its a cult classic, but the publisher might have more respect for the fan base than a book of illustrations for recipes including gnarly skateboarders breakfast sandos and cute plaid lemon sugar cookies. It has one star and one review on Amazon. Advertisement Firepop owners, chef Raymond Hou and his partner, Alina Van. Edwina Pickles Spice of the Year Cumin, come on down! The mainstay of vegetarian kitchens has enjoyed headlining roles in Middle Eastern and Indian spice blends for decades, and (Northern Chinese) Xinjiang-style lamb skewers buzzing with cumin and chilli are hardly new to Sydney. But this year, the Good Food Guide included more cumin-powered skewers than ever before, leading withour New Restaurant of the Year winner, Firepop in Enmore. Were also very into the skewers at Hurstvilles Shang Lamb Soup (only $2 a stick, how good), Shi Gol Jip in Belmore (and its 20-skewers-per-table minimum order), and the deceptively tender cumin lamb ribs at My Aunts Handmade Noodles, a newcomer on Burwood Road (with free noodle refills, by the way.) Bonus shout-out to the cumin-thwacked Algerian-style fried eggs at Cafe Tanja, Surry Hills. Josh Niland (centre) at the new Saint Peter, in Paddingtons Grand National Hotel. Jennifer Soo Advertisement Overachiever of the Year With other restaurants to oversee in Singapore and Hamilton Island (not to mention raising four children at home), you might wonder if there are two Josh Nilands at the helm of Saint Peter, a bit like Christian Bales twin roles in The Prestige. (Spoilers for The Prestige.) Theres not of course, its only him and his wife Julie, backed by the skill of a passionate team. We expected the new-look Saint Peter at Paddingtons Grand National Hotel would be special, but the ambition and commitment to quality something else, even for the Nilands. One-hat bar; two-hat-level lunch service; and a seven-course tasting dinner that might start with coral trout consomme and noodles made from the fishs pressure-cooked bones and finish with a caviar-crowned canele. Now were just waiting for the restaurants boutique accommodation to launch. A Paloma with blood orange. Simon Schluter The Ins and Outs of Drinking for 2024 Advertisement IN Self-serve, batch-brew coffee. See you later, morning long-black queue. Palomas. Accept no gin and grapefruit substitutes. If it aint tequila, it aint a Paloma. Tap water. Forget cocaine as Gods way of saying you make too much money; its Acqua Panna Still. Manhattans on the rocks. This ones more of a personal request than a trend, to be honest. Advertisement OUT Dirty martinis. Alright, funs over. Nine olives is too much. Garnishes fixed to the cocktail with a tiny peg. Ive been pushing for this stop for the past 10 years, and Im going to keep pushing until every last tiny peg is eliminated. Non-alcoholic, low-kilojoule canned cocktails. Just drink a kombucha. Imported ice. Im all for a big ol, precision-cut cube in my Boulevardier, but shipping ice from Japan, or hunks of ancient Greenland glacier, is luxury gone mad. Granted, I havent seen imported ice in a local bar yet, but if its happening in Dubai and the US, you can be sure some doofus Sydney operator will give it a crack. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up The Grampians bushfire is expected to burn for weeks, emergency services say, as fire crews take advantage of mild weather in coming days to back-burn and residents return to their homes. The major blaze that threatened communities surrounding the national park on Thursday has burnt through more than 75,000 hectares. A fire-fighting helicopter shrouded in smoke from the Grampians fire. Credit: Justin McManus Authorities are still assessing the extent of the damage but have confirmed eight property losses, including a home in Moyston, along with six sheds and other structures in the town. One non-residential structure in Pomonal was also destroyed, along with livestock and fences. About 15,000 hectares of private land has burnt. The NSW government has drastically watered down the justification necessary for spending taxpayer dollars as accusations insist a new business case policy allows the premier to make major investment decisions via media release. NSW Treasury documents, quietly updated in November, reveal the government has provided a fast track pathway for investment decisions, meaning certain projects will not be subject to a business case assessment if they qualify under certain criteria. Under quietly updated reforms of NSW business case guidelines, the threshold for investment now includes a public commitment by the premier. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer A business case usually includes an overview of the purpose, benefits and costs of the investment decision, providing government justification for spending taxpayer dollars and a cost-benefit analysis providing a metric for whether taxpayers dollars are being spent efficiently. The government has come under fire from the states audit office for a lack of transparency in financial reporting. An audit released in December found eight of the 15 most significant ongoing investment decisions did not have estimated total costs, while one-third did not have an estimated completion date. The Armed Forces provided updated information on the hit on the Russian army command center in Lgov, Kursk region of the Russian Federation. It is noted that the missile strike killed 17 occupants from the 810th Marine Brigade of the Russian Federation and probably killed their deputy commander. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the StratCom of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram. Most of the killed soldiers are staff officers. "As reported, on December 25, 2024, the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the command post of the 810th Separate Marine Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces in the village of Lgov, Kursk region. According to updated information, the building housing the command post of the 810th Brigade was partially destroyed. The strike probably killed the deputy brigade commander and 17 other Russian servicemen, most of whom were staff officers," the statement said. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, on the morning of December 25, the Armed Forces launched a missile attack on the Kursk region of the Russian Federation. As a result, the building of a sugar factory in the village of Lgov was attacked, where Russian troops were stationed. The occupiers themselves complained about the strike on the control center of the 810th Russian Marine Brigade with "grave consequences." Later, the StratCom of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the hit on the command post of the 810th Separate Marine Brigade of the Russian Navy, which the enemy had placed in an abandoned building. Our military noted that the strike on the military target in Lgov is part of a comprehensive campaign to weaken the ability of the Russian Armed Forces to coordinate military operations against Ukraine. Later, the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported the elimination of the deputy commander of the 810th Marine Brigade of the Russian Federation, Salim Mukharbetovich Pashtov. This information was also confirmed by the sister of the deceased in the brigade's "VKontakte" group. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane was caused by a Russian missile. Putin's army used an anti-aircraft missile system against a civilian vessel during drone activity over Grozny in the Chechen Republic. ADVERTISIMENT The pilots attempted to make an emergency landing near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan, but the plane crashed as a result. This was reported by Euronews. According to preliminary data, the missile was fired at Flight 8432 during drone activity over Grozny, and the debris hit the passengers and crew when it exploded near the plane during the flight. Euronews cited government sources as saying that the damaged plane was not allowed to land at any Russian airport, despite the pilots' request for an emergency landing. Instead of assisting with the emergency landing, the pilots were ordered to fly across the Caspian Sea towards Kazakhstan. Moreover, the aircraft's GPS navigation systems were jammed throughout the flight over the sea. Russian terrorists fired a missile from the "Pantsir-S" anti-aircraft missile and gun system. As the plane flew over the territory of Chechnya, Russian air defense forces were actively trying to shoot down the UAV. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, an Embraer E190 passenger plane flying from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to Grozny (Chechnya) crashed in Kazakhstan. There were 62 passengers and five crew members on board, including Russians. As reported by OBOZ.UA, on the morning of December 25, Chechnya came under drone strikes. At least 5 explosions were heard in the capital of the region, Grozny. At least one of the UAVs exploded in the area of the 2nd Regiment of Special Police named after Akhmat Kadyrov. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Serial killer who murdered 11 men in 18 months nabbed RUPNAGAR (Punjab) : POLICE in Punjabs Rupnagar have arrested a man for allegedly killing 11 persons in the past 18 months, officials said on Tuesday. The accused, identified as Ram Saroop alias Sodhi of village Chaura in Hoshiarpur district, was arrested on Monday in another case and during interrogation it came to light that he was a serial killer, they said. Police said his victims were men whom he used to offer lift in his car, and then rob them and kill them if they resisted. Senior Superintendent of Police, Rupnagar, Gulneet Singh Khurana said that instructions were issued to police officers to solve the cases of heinous crimes in the district. Khurana said a police team was formed to nab culprits involved in murder cases. Referring to a murder case in Kiratpur Sahib, he divulged that a man aged about 37 years, who used to serve tea and water at Toll Plaza Modra, was murdered on August 18. The investigations in this case led to the arrest of Ram Saroop and later his involvement in other cases got revealed during interrogation, police said. Police said his victims were men whom he used to offer lift in his car. He used to later rob them and kill them if they resisted. During the interrogation, the accused admitted. 29 survive, over 38 feared dead Azerbaijani airliner with 67 onboard crashes The wreckage of Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 lays on ground near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan on Wednesday. (AP/PTI) MOSCOW : Preliminary information showed that the pilot of aircraft, on way to Russia, had chosen to divert the flight to Kazakhstani city of Aktau after a bird strike on the aircraft led to an emergency situation on board KAZAKHSTAN officials say 38 people have died after an Azerbaijani airliner crashed on Wednesday near the Kazakhstan city of Aktau. Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbaev disclosed the death toll while meeting with Azerbaijani officials, the Russian news agency Interfax reported. Azerbaijans prosecutor generals office said previously that 32 of the 67 people on board the plane had survived. The Embraer 190 was en route from the Azerbaijani capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus. Preliminary information showed that the pilots diverted to Aktau after a bird strike led to an emergency on board, Russias state news agency RIA Novosti quoted Russias civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, as saying. Kazakhstans Emergency Ministry said in a Telegram statement that those onboard included five crew. A total of 29 survivors, including two children, have been hospitalised, the ministry told RIA Novosti. Another Russian news agency, Interfax, quoted medical workers as saying that four bodies have been recovered and emergency workers at the scene as saying that both pilots died. The plane crashed while attempting an emergency landing 3 kilometres (1.8 miles) from Aktau, Azerbaijan Airlines said. The Prosecutor Generals Office said that the number of 32 survivors wasnt final, and according to Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry some of them were in critical condition. The number of survivors could mean that over 30 people may be dead. According to Kazakh officials, those aboard the plane included 42 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russian nationals, six Kazakhs and three Kyrgyzstan nationals. Mobile phone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Other footage showed part of its fuselage ripped away from the wings and the rest of the aircraft, lying upside in the grass. The footage corresponded to the planes colours and its registration number. Some of the videos posted on social media showed survivors dragging fellow passengers away from the wreckage. Flight-tracking data from FlightRadar24.Com showed the aircraft making what appeared to be a figure-right once nearing the airport in Aktau, its altitude moving up and down substantially over the last minutes of the flight before impacting the ground. FlightRadar24 separately said in an online post that the aircraft had faced strong GPS jamming, which made the aircraft transmit bad ADS-B data, referring to the information that allows flight-tracking websites to follow planes in flight. Russia has been blamed in the past for jamming GPS transmissions in the wider region. Speaking at a news conference, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that it was too soon to speculate on the reasons behind the crash, but said that the weather had forced the plane to change from its planned course. The information provided to me is that the plane changed its course between Baku and Grozny due to worsening weather conditions and headed to Aktau airport, where it crashed upon landing, he said. Azerbaijan Airlines said it would keep members of the public updated and changed its social media banners to solid black. It also said that it would suspend flights between Baku and Grozny, as well as between Baku and the city of Makhachkala in Russias North Caucasus, until its investigation into the crash has been concluded. Azerbaijans state news agency, Azertac, said that an official delegation of Azerbaijans emergency situations Minister, the deputy general prosecutor and the Vice President of Azerbaijan Airlines were sent to Aktau to conduct an on-site investigation. Aliyev, who was travelling to Russia, returned to Azerbaijan on hearing news of the crash, the Presidents press service said. He was due to attend an informal meeting of leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a bloc of former Soviet countries founded after the collapse of the Soviet Union, in St. Petersburg. Aliyev expressed his condolences to the families of the victims in a statement on social media. It is with deep sadness that I express my condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to those injured, he wrote. He also signed a decree declaring Dec. 26 a day of mourning in Azerbaijan. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to Aliyev on the phone and expressed his condolences, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Speaking at the CIS meeting in St. Petersburg, Putin also said that Russias Emergency Ministry sent a plane with equipment and medical workers to Kazakhstan to assist with the aftermath of the crash. Kazakhstani, Azerbaijani and Russian authorities said they were investigating the crash. Embraer told The Associated Press in a statement that the company is ready to assist all relevant authorities. 46 killed in Pakistan airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan: Taliban PESHAWAR : PAKISTANS airstrikes on eastern Afghanistan killed 46 people, mostly women and children, a Taliban Government official said Wednesday. Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesman for the Afghan Government, said that six people were also wounded in the Paktika province bordering Pakistan. This comes a day after Pakistani security officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity in line with regulations, told The Associated Press that Tuesdays operation was to dismantle a training facility and kill insurgents in Paktika province. Meanwhile, in a statement, Mohammad Khurasani, the spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, claimed that 50 people, including 27 women and children, have died in the strikes. Residents in the area told an AP reporter over the phone that at least 13 people were left dead, adding that the death toll could be higher. They also said the wounded were transported to a local hospital. Pakistan has not commented on the strikes. However, on Wednesday, the Pakistani military said security forces killed 13 insurgents in an overnight operation. The Talibans Ministry of Defence has vowed to retaliate following the airstrike on Barmal, Paktika. The Ministry stated that defending their land and sovereignty is their legitimate right, and condemned the attack, claiming that Waziristani refugees were among those targeted. This comes amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly regarding the presence of Pakistani militants in Afghanistan. The Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has increased its attacks on Pakistani forces in recent months, with Pakistan accusing the Afghan Taliban of providing shelter to these militants, Khaama Press reported. Enayatullah Khwarazmi, a spokesperson for the Taliban Ministry of Defence, denied the Pakistani claims and posted on X that civilian people, mostly Waziristani refugees, had been killed in the airstrike. The Waziristani refugees are civilians who had been displaced by military operations in Pakistans tribal areas. However, Pakistan maintains that many TTP commanders and fighters have fled to Afghanistan, where they are reportedly being protected by the Afghan Taliban in border provinces., Khaama Press reported. Tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have been building for some time, fuelled by the ongoing presence of TTP militants in Afghanistan. While Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of harbouring these militants, the Taliban insists it is not collaborating with the group. Baby blues By Farina Salim Quraishi : A Bollywood remake of a Southern blockbuster, helmed by a director straight from the South Indian film industry, Baby John, headlined by Varun Dhawan, promisesand deliversexactly what one would expect. Relentless action, larger-than-life heroics, dollops of sugary romance, and an overload of over-the-top moments that stun both senses and sensibilities. Debutant director, Kalees, in his first Hindi outing, sticks to the tried-and-tested template of Vijay-starrer Tamil blockbuster Theri, yet manages to sprinkle in a little bonus flair. Sure, its the quintessential commercial potboiler, but with Varun rocking a man bun, juggling daddy duties, and blasting through bombastic set-pieces, Baby John does pack a punch - or two - even if theyre all too familiar. The non-linear film opens with John (Varun Dhawan) living a quiet life with his precocious daughter, Khushi (Zara Zyanna). Happy to be a father and bakery owner, Johns life revolves around Khushi. While at school, Khushi forms a special connection with her teacher, Tara (Wamiqa Gabbi). FILM REVIEW Though Tara is enchanted by John and Khushi, she senses theres more to John than meets the eye. Soon, the story rewinds to reveal Johns past as the fearless DCP Satya Varma, a man who swears by good vibes only. While solving a horrific rape and murder case, he crosses paths with the powerful and ruthless politician Nanaji aka Babbar Sher (Jackie Shroff). Satya ends up killing Nanajis son, Ashwin, for his role in the crime. What follows is a storm of vengeance - Satya loses his mother (Sheeba Chaddha) and wife Meera (Keerthy Suresh) in a brutal attack, leaving Khushi as the only survivor. Satya makes an unlikely choice: he fakes his own death to escape the chaos and carnage and starts a new life in Kerala as John. But when Babbar Sher uncovers his true identity, will Satya hide again or finally bring his deadly feud to an explosive end? Much like the original Tamil film, the story and plot play second fiddle to the action and the hero. Its an unabashed no-holds barred actioner and does not even try to be any different. Embracing the action mantle, the film serves up a variety of action treats at regular intervals. But not all events add up, and several sequences feel like theyre inserted purely for optics, leaving you perplexed and struggling to make sense of them. However, in a style reminiscent of his mentor, Atlee, Kalees knows how to toss in a whistle-worthy moment, a laugh-out-loud punchline, or a heart-tugging scene just when the film risks slipping into monotony or incredulity. And yes, Atlees trademark pigeons show up in Baby John as well! But while these touches keep it afloat, the length of the film overstays its welcome. With four songs crammed in before the interval, one fight sequences too many, and sermons that just dont seem to end, the 164-minute runtime of Baby John feels like an endless loop. Its fun - but exhausting! Kalees leans heavily on over-familiar tropes - the sweet, understanding mother; the superbly supportive wife; the family first mantra; and many more - making Baby John yet another formulaic offering. Its just age-old wine packed in a glittering, massy bottle. Moreover, true to the Southern template, societal issues are jam-packed into the narrative - rape, trafficking, smuggling, lawlessness etc -aimed squarely at tugging heartstrings and manipulating audience sympathies. This, coupled with the over-dramatic approach, makes the film tedious and, at times, boring. "Mere pehle bahut aaye hai par mai pehli baar aaya hoon!, drawls Varun several times in the film! And he couldnt be be any more right! Varun Dhawans action avatar finally gets its due, and boy, does he deliver! After catching us off guard with his gritty spy act in Citadel:Honey Bunny, Varun ups the ante as the superhero cop, blending gritty action with his infectious charm. Despite the unmistakable Southern influences, he seamlessly shifts gears - playing the tough guy, the softie, and even the lively charmer with effortless finesse. The action sequences, choreographed by Sunil Rodrigues, pack a punch and give Varun plenty of room to shine. Adding to the adrenaline rush is Thaman Ss groovy background score. Its loud but never grating, and its infectious beats turn every fight scene into pure joy. However, despite all efforts to make Satya a larger-than-life messiah of the masses, he ends up being a do-gooder with a heart of gold - a hero weve seen far too often on the big screen. Wamiqa Gabbi as Tara has a poorly etched role. One minute shes a loving kindergarten teacher; the next, a steely undercover cop - oscillating between the two without rhyme or reason. Rajpal Yadav, however, has a more defined role and does justice to it. Keerthy Suresh is a bright ray of sunshine with her natural beauty and grace. Jackie Shroff as Nanaji is fearsome despite his character arc being a cliche. Breathing evil life into his role, Jackie is a worthy nemesis. With little else to make Baby John stand out apart from the action and a charming Varun, the film will be enjoyed only by die-hard fans of cop-vigilante dramas. If youre okay with yet another round of formulaic potboiler with a dose of good action, Baby John might be worth your time. Others can give it a miss! The Hitavada Rating: O O PS: Oh Bhai! Dont rush out of the theater - theres a post-credit scene. Despite making very little sense, its worth delaying your hurried exit! Beware of fake wedding invitations spreading malware By Dheeraj Fartode : The Maharashtra Cyber Police have issued an urgent warning to citizens about a new scam in which fraudsters are sending fake wedding invitations through social media platforms. The aim is to trick unsuspecting victims into downloading a malicious APK file, which contains malware capable of stealing personal information, compromising privacy, and potentially leading to financial losses. Amid ongoing wedding season, several residents of Nagpur have reported receiving suspicious wedding invitations via WhatsApp, Instagram, and other messaging platforms. The invitations include links that, when clicked, redirect users to a webpage that automatically downloads a harmful APK file onto their phones. Once installed, the malware can hack into the users phone, robbing them of sensitive data leading to significant security breaches. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Cyber, Lohit Matani, expalined the issue and stated that the scam is a new tactic employed by cyber criminals. This type of fraud is based on sending a wedding invitation link through messaging apps like WhatsApp. When the user clicks on the link, the device is redirected to a site that triggers an automatic download of malware in the form of an APK file. The malware can then infect the phone which could lead to compromised personal information and potential financial harm, explained DCP Matani. DCP Matani urged citizens to be extremely cautious when receiving unsolicited invitations with download links. He advised that users should always be alert about unknown messages which redirect to download link. He further recommended that whenever in doubt, the citizens should confirm the legitimacy of the invitation directly with the sender. Maharashtra Cyber police officials also alerted citizens on the banking apps and stated that always download any banking apps from trusted sources like the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Before installing any banking app, check the developers name and read user reviews. Never click on links received via unknown emails, SMS, or social media, suggested DCP Matani. Delhi Govt deptts distance themselves from AAPs non-existent schemes NEW DELHI : Women and Child Development and Health Departments issued public notices calling AAPs schemes of providing Rs 2,100 to women and free treatment for the elderly people as fraudulent. THE Delhi Governments Women and Child Development and Health Departments issued public notices on Wednesday distancing themselves from the ruling AAPs promised schemes of providing Rs 2,100 to women and free treatment for the elderly, triggering a fresh row ahead of Assembly polls. The two departments also cautioned the people against providing personal details to anyone on the pretext of registration for non-existent schemes, saying any private individual or political party collecting such physical forms or information is fraudulent and without any authority. The development, which came days after AAP leaders launched the exercise of registering people for the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana with much fanfare, left the AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal furious. Kejriwal, who is leading the registration drive, alleged that BJP was rattled by the schemes and claimed that Chief Minister Atishi could be arrested in a fake case in the coming days. They are completely rattled with Mahila Samman Yojna and Sanjeevani Yojna. They have hatched a plan to come up with a fake case and arrest Chief Minister Atishi in the next few days, he said on X. He also claimed that before Atishis arrest, raids would be conducted against senior AAP leaders. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj had on Tuesday claimed that she spoke to the Health Secretary of the Delhi Government and was informed that there was no Sanjeevani Yojna in existence. Both the schemes were announced by Kejriwal ahead of Assembly polls in February next year and AAP had started registrations for the schemes in campaign mode. Human trafficking ED unravels Nagpur link to India-Canada-US syndicate Staff Reporter : Facilitating illegal immigration to the USA, the Nagpur-based firm was helping students gain admission to foreign varsities in exchange for a commission The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has uncovered a large human trafficking racket which involves Canadian colleges and Indian businesses, including one based in Nagpur. The Nagpur-based firm was helping students gain admission to foreign universities in exchange for a commission. The firm was also involved in facilitating illegal immigration to the USA. According to ED officials, the accused arranged for Indian nationals to be admitted to colleges in Canada and helped them get Canadian student visas. However, once the students reached Canada, instead of attending college, they crossed the Canada-US border illegally. The tuition fees paid to Canadian colleges were refunded to the students once they crossed into the US. In addition to the Nagpur firm, another organisation in Mumbai was also found to be involved. The ED conducted searches in both cities on December 10 and 19, revealing that these firms were charging large sums for their services. They collected Rs 60-75 lakh per individual, Rs 1-1.25 crore for couples, and Rs 1.25-1.75 crore if children accompanied their parents. The accused lured Indians with promises of a better life in the US, charging between Rs 55 lakh and Rs 60 lakh per person. The firms were responsible for sending over 35,000 students annually to foreign institutions, including more than 112 colleges in Canada. The ED suspects that some Canadian colleges near the US border may have been involved in helping with the illegal border crossings. Thousands of agents and partners were part of the operation, with 800 still active. This investigation began after the tragic deaths of a family from Dingucha village, Gujarat, near the Canada-US border in January 2022, and has uncovered a widespread network. Nagpur records 4,433 animal bite cases between Apr-Aug 2024: RTI Staff Reporter : 3,809 cases of dog bite were reported by NMC during the period Cat bite cases, too, on the rise in city A staggering 4,433 animal bite cases have been recorded in Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) limits in just four months between April and August 2024. In this whopping number, 3,809 cases are of dog bite which has become a menace for citizens as well as for the civic body. As per the information provided by NMC in a Right To Information (RTI) reply to RTI activist Abhay Kolarkar, Nagpur city witnesses other animal bite cases also like monkey, rat, horse, rabbit, pig, mongoose and cat every year. This year, after dog bite, NMC reported the second highest 421 cases of cat bite between April and August, followed by 132 cases of rat bite, 55 cases of monkey, 7 cases of mongoose, 2 cases of rabbit, 1 case of horse and 6 cases of other animals in city. However, the stray dog menace has become expensive deal for the civic body as it spent Rs 61 lakh in last three years, besides the cost of treating the grievous injuries from bites to common citizen. As per the RTI reply, in last six years from April 2019 to August 2024, total 41,455 cases of dog bite have been reported by NMC in city. Similarly, 2,797 cat bite cases has been reported in last six years in city. During pandemic, when the lockdown was imposed in 2020-21 the lowest number of animal bite cases were reported but post pandemic the cases has increased drastically. In 2020-21, there were only 2,764 cases of animal bites recorded by the civic body in which 2,584 cases were of dog bites. In 2021-22, the number of animal bite cases increased by 7,335 and it increased every year. In 2022,23, the animal bite cases were 8,925 and in 2023-24, the number was 10,246. As per the data provided by NMC, in just four months, this year, the number crossed the overall tally of pandemic year. The civic body should find out a permanent solution of such animal bite cases along with dog bites which is on rise in city. Though the number of other animal bites are less as compared to dog bite cases in the city, but NMC should address it by providing vaccines and medicines in hospitals like rabies for dog bites, Kolarkar told The Hitavada. For increasing dog bite cases in city, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been also filed in the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court and the legal proceedings are underway. However, more efforts are needed to address such cases in near future, said Kolarkar. Most citizens of Western European countries believe that Ukraine's international allies are not doing enough to help in the fight against Russia, both in terms of economic sanctions and military assistance. But at the same time, they are against increasing it. ADVERTISIMENT This is evidenced by the results of a December YouGov poll, The Guardian reports. The survey covered France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, and the United Kingdom. According to the results, about 66% of Danes, 63% of Swedes and Spaniards, 59% of Britons, 53% of Germans and Italians, and 52% of French people believe that the overall assistance to Ukraine is not enough to effectively counter Russia's aggression. However, less than a quarter of respondents in each country are in favor of increasing support. For example, only 29% of Swedes, 21% of Britons and Germans, 14% of French, and 11% of Italians believe that their governments should provide more assistance to Ukraine. At the same time, the majority of respondents support maintaining or even reducing the level of aid. ADVERTISIMENT When it comes to specific measures, such as toughening sanctions, supplying more weapons, or sending troops to support NATO in Eastern Europe, support for such initiatives remains stable or declines compared to previous polls. Doubts remain about the future development of the situation in Ukraine. The majority of respondents do not believe that either side, Russia or Ukraine, will win the final victory in the next year. Instead, most believe that either the fighting will continue or a peaceful settlement will be reached. In countries such as Denmark (47%), Germany (40%), the United Kingdom and France (38%), and Italy (36%), a peaceful resolution of the conflict is considered the most likely option. However, in Spain (36%) and Sweden (35%), more respondents expect the fighting to continue. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier it was reported that, according to the results of opinion polls, support for the restoration of nuclear weapons in Ukraine has grown significantly over the past three decades. Currently, 73% of Ukrainians are in favor of nuclear weapons, 20% of citizens do not support them, and another 7% have not decided on the answer. As reported by OBOZ.UA, according to the survey, Ukrainians demonstrated a fairly high level of confidence in the newly elected US President, Donald Trump. 44.6% of respondents in Ukraine expressed their support for Trump, which is significantly higher than in European countries. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! PRSI Ntnl President Dr Pathak honoured PRSI National President Dr Ajit Pathak after being honoured posed for a group photo session with the Raipur Chapter members. Staff Reporter Raipur, The 46th National Conference of the Public Relations Society of India (PRSI) marked a moment of pride as National President Dr Ajit Pathak was felicitated with an honorary symbol of Bastars rich art and culture. Members of the Raipur Chapter were also awarded for their exceptional contributions to the field of public relations. For the first time, Raipur hosted this prestigious three-day conference at Hotel Babylon International, drawing nearly 200 public relations professionals, scholars, and distinguished guests from across the country. The grand event aimed to redefine the scope and impact of public relations in modern times. During the valedictory session, Raipur Chapter Chairman Dr Shahid Ali presented a commemorative token of honour to Dr Ajit Pathak. Notable dignitaries including PRSI National Vice President Anu Majumdar, former Jaipur Chapter President Ravi Shankar Sharma, and Dr Ragini Pathak from Delhi were also honoured for their contributions. Dr Ajit Pathak lauded the conference as a resounding success, attributing its achievements to the dedicated efforts of the Raipur Chapter and the support of the people and government of Chhattisgarh. He aslso extended gratitude to Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma and Arun Sao for their unwavering encouragement. Dr Pathak praised Raipur Chapters efforts under the leadership of Dr Shahid Ali, commending the team for their meticulous planning and execution. He described the event as a landmark moment that would pave the way for new opportunities in public relations. Shared Future SRI Lankan President Mr. Anura Kumara Dissanayakes recent visit to India, joint bilateral statement, and the Sri Lankan Cabinets approval to Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost socio-economic development and bilateral ties between the two countries, are all indicative of the commitment of both the neighbours to tread the path towards a shared future. India has been the closest friend and neighbour of Sri Lanka. Both the countries share a civilisational relationship dating back to the Ramayana era. In the modern times, Sri Lanka is Indias closest maritime neighbour with integral importance in Indias vision Sagar and Neighbourhood First policy. During Mr. Dissanayakes visit all these factors figured in discussion and a sincere attempt was made to foster partnership indicating continuity in bilateral relations irrespective of political change in Sri Lanka. Mr. Dissanayakes interaction with the Indian CEOs in IT, renewable energy, agriculture, textiles, startup ecosystem and other sectors created a positive atmosphere and a renewed confidence in Sri Lankas potential as a good destination for investment. India has been well aware of the economic crisis that Sri Lanka has been trying to overcome under Mr. Dissanayakes leadership. India has converted the line of credit for several projects in Sri Lanka into grants, as a gesture of goodwill that only a friend can extend. Also, India extended crucial assistance of around $4 billion through aid over the previous two years. These steps reflect Indias commitment to stabilising the Sri Lankan economy when the latter needs it the most. While all this is happening, some quarters are cynical too about the bilateral relationship between India and Sri Lanka especially since Mr. Dissanayakes ascendance to power. They often cite his party Janatha Vimukti Peramunas Marxist-Leninist origins and critical stand taken in the past against India. However, international politics is a different ball game from the domestic politics. Those understanding the finer dimension of this may read appropriate message in Mr. Dissanayake choosing India for his first foreign visit after assuming the office as the President of the island nation. This choice demonstrates the importance Sri Lanka and Mr. Dissanayake attach to the good bilateral ties with India. The India-Sri Lanka joint statement can be treated as a continued, but not status quoist, document when it comes to strengthening bilateral relationship. There are several sectors in which both the countries have resolved to deepen bilateral ties. Sri Lanka following up Mr. Dissanayakes visit to India with Cabinet approval to MoU to boost bilateral ties with India in education, health, and agriculture sectors shows its seriousness about rebuilding. Apart from the Parliamentary exchanges, development co-operation, debt restructuring, energy and agriculture sector co-operation, trade and investment etc, an important part of the joint statement is mention of strategic and defence engagement. Given the developments over the past few years, the influence that the Communist China tried to wield by docking its submarines at Hambantota port, this prominent mention of strategic and defence engagement with India in the joint statement is noteworthy. Since realpolitik is all about competing priorities, both the countries will have to be cautious about external forces. Sri Lanka has emerged as a bright spot as compared to Bangladesh where internal strife disturbed democratic traditions. The Economist magazine, which chose Bangladesh as the Country of the Year, did not find reason to celebrate Sri Lanka that upheld democratic traditions despite economic and political crisis. The India-Sri Lanka strategic and defence engagement assumes greater significance in this context too. President of the United States Joe Biden responded to the massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine that Russia launched on Christmas Day, December 25. He ordered the Pentagon to continue to increase the supply of weapons to our country. ADVERTISIMENT Biden's statement was published on the White House website. He noted that the aggressor country's targets this time were again Ukrainian cities and critical energy infrastructure. "The goal of this horrific attack was to cut off Ukrainians' access to heat and electricity in the winter and jeopardize the security of their grid," Biden said. The US leader emphasized that the Ukrainian people deserve to live in peace and security. The United States and the international community must continue to support Ukraine until it wins the fight against Russian aggression. Biden said that in recent months the United States has provided Ukraine with hundreds of missiles for air defense systems, and more such munitions are on the way. "I have ordered the Department of Defense to continue to increase the supply of weapons to Ukraine, and the United States will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen Ukraine's position in its defense against Russian troops," the US president summarized. As reported by OBOZ.UA, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy sector on the morning of Wednesday, December 25. He noted that it is necessary to increase assistance to Ukraine so that Kyiv can speak from a position of strength during possible negotiations with the Russian aggressor. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! In the United States, there is no official language, but there is clearly unofficial one: English. Spoken by the majority of the population, it is used by 241 million people according to 2019 census data, and 95% understand the language. However, Spanish, spoken by nearly 63 million people according to the Cervantes Institutes latest yearbook, is the second most common language. Other languages like Chinese (four million speakers as of 2019), Tagalog (1.8 million), Vietnamese (1.6 million), and Arabic (1.3 million) also have significant presences, uniting their communities and fostering vibrant social, cultural, and economic dynamics. But what happens when your language is spoken by just 200 people, a dozen, or perhaps only by you? In such a vast country, these endangered languages also exist more than you would expect. Photographer, reporter, poet, and researcher B.A. Van Sise has traversed much of the U.S. to document over 100 endangered languages. An American citizen of Italian heritage (with family roots in Belgium and France), Van Sise has Jewish ancestors who were expelled from the Spanish city of Seville he even speaks Ladino. For him, languages form the core of identity, and a few years ago, he set out to explore their distribution across the United States. The result of that three-year project is a collection of photographs featured in both a book and an exhibition. On the National Language: The Poetry of Americas Endangered Tongues is published by Schiffer Publishing and is on display at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles until next March. Seated on a sunny terrace at Skirball, amidst the cool Los Angeles winter, Van Sise explains how his passion for capturing people in their environments fueled this project. Initially, he began photographing experts with the deepest knowledge of these endangered languages. But when he spoke to these groups to ask for portraits, he found himself invariably directed to older men. But that wasnt what he was looking for: he wanted to know how these languages lived and breathed. So he began to photograph teachers sharing the language, housewives speaking it at home, and schoolchildren learning it. Thats when I realized two things, he says. First, its a project about the future, not about the past. And B, I realized that I would do much better to entirely bypass the political organizations that are involved in all of this, which is a controversial decision. He wanted to focus on people, on survival, on how much is needed to protect these languages. The exhibition features 50 portraits of individuals who are fighting to preserve their languages in the United States which is no easy task, but one he is committed to bringing to the forefront. It is not just about language; its not just about Navajo, which still boasts 150,000 speakers, Tongva, Oodham, Koyukon, Kouri-vini, and Cahuilla, which has only five speakers left in Californias deserts. It is about entire cultures, words that do not exist in other languages, systems of thought. Van Sise collaborated with over 70 communities, many Indigenous and dispersed across the U.S., to spotlight what might otherwise remain unseen. In his work, he emphasizes: if it isnt seen, it doesnt exist. Windy Goodloe, a speaker of Afro-Seminole Creole, in Georgia. B. A. Van Sise Citlali Arvizu, a speaker of Nahuatl, the Aztec language with the longest survival thanks to its 1.5 million speakers, photographed in Los Angeles, California. B. A. Van Sise Guillaume Leduey in Paris, France. He is a speaker of Eyak, a now-extinct language of southern Alaska. B. A. Van Sise Anna Clock, from Palmer, Alaska, a speaker of Koyukon, which has about 300 speakers in total. B. A. Van Sise Virginia Carmelo, a member of the Tongva people and speaker of the Tongva language, in Los Angeles, California. B. A. Van Sise Sarah Aroeste, who speaks Judeo-Spanish, photographed in New York. B. A. Van Sise Kirby Verret, a Houma French speaker, pictured in Louisiana (USA). B. A. Van Sise But why do languages die? Its caused by power. Its caused by war. Its caused by money. Its caused by somebody who speaks X and Y and Z language, who happens to be sitting on top of a reserve of oil or a lot of land, explains Van Sise. He also believes the unique idiosyncrasies of the United States contribute to the fragility of these languages. If you have a big nation state that drives a language, its different. If youve got 25 people doing their best in an angry environment, the language change quickly to adapt to this situation. The majority of endangered languages in the U.S. between 80% and 90% belong to Indigenous peoples. But not all. The list extends beyond these groups, including languages from the Black diaspora, Haitan Creole, and Judaic-based tongues. Van Sise estimates that around 120 languages in the country are at high risk of extinction: Thats a lot, he says. Reflecting on history, he notes that when Spanish and English colonizers arrived, they encountered several thousand languages across the continent. According to Van Sise, Americans have a deep fascination with how and what is spoken because of an underlying desire to reconnect with their origins. Theyre anxious to recover the umbilical cord to their origins, he says. Americans, I think, crave the ability to build that back, and you build that back through conversation, through language. Americans cling to origin in a way that I think a lot of folks dont. Thats why genealogy is such a big pastime in America, and elsewhere it isnt. Europeans dont care about their genealogy. Writer and photographer B.A. Van Sise, in a recent portrait provided by him. B. A. Van Sise For Van Sise, the incoming Donald Trump administration, significantly more conservative than Joe Bidens, poses a potential threat to the expansion and survival of endangered languages. If I was an Indigenous person working on language revitalization, I would be beside myself with grief right now for whats happening in an American government, he says. Were going to have this really big turn away from this multiethnic understanding of America. I do not feel that the incoming government is inclined to create a great deal of space for American diversity. I think theyll appoint plenty of people to move in the opposite direction. Youre going to see people drilling on reservations, natural reserves and places that are sacred, he continues. Youre going to see the money for language and cultural vitalization dry up. Youre going to see really big challenges going forward. I dont know if I think that the change is going to be permanent, he adds, an optimist by nature. All the languages Van Sise documented are from within the United States; he hasnt ventured across its borders, though he would have liked to expand his research to Canada and Mexico. He admits to cheating a little by including Nahuatl, the most important language of the Aztecs and the most widely spoken Indigenous language in the Americas, with 1.5 million speakers. Most Nahuatl speakers are in Mexico, but its true its also spoken by some residents in the U.S., especially in California. He regrets not being able to explore the languages of the Pacific. He had plans to document seven endangered tongues in Hawaii but ran out of time before his books deadline. Van Sise does not know if he will make the trip, because he is already preparing a new project about U.S. citizens who have spent many years in prison, a work he describes as more focused on the human than the criminal element. For now, Hawaii will have to wait. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The latest diplomatic clash under the Argentine government of President Javier Milei erupted over a breathalyzer test conducted on Christmas Day in the upscale Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Russia condemned the actions of Argentine security forces as a serious violation of international law after two Russian diplomats refused to take the breathalyzer test and present the documentation for the vehicles they were driving. The incident began in the morning and continued past noon, when the drivers were escorted to the Russian embassy and issued a traffic ticket. The strong Russian response to the event caught Argentine authorities off guard, prompting both the Ministry of Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intervene. Tensions between the two countries escalated due to the differing interpretations of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The Argentine government, which is responsible for traffic control, pointed to Article 41 of the convention, which states that individuals enjoying privileges and immunities must respect the laws and regulations of the receiving state. Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy emphasized that the same article also asserts that diplomatic vehicles cannot be stopped or searched. The drivers of the vehicles were identified as Sergei Baldin, a trade representative of the Russian Embassy, and Cardmath Salomatin, co-director of the Russian House. Baldin was the first to arrive at the road safety operation and the first to refuse to take the breathalyzer test. There was a brief conversation in which he was asked to undergo the control. He indicated that he did not want to undergo the procedure and when we explained the importance of doing the control, he simply rolled up the window and stayed inside, a traffic officer told the press. He has to comply, as we are instructed, the officer added, citing the enforced compliance of local law as mandated by international norms. The Russian Embassy provided its version of events through a spokesperson outside the diplomatic headquarters, followed by an official statement and a formal complaint to Argentinas Foreign Ministry. The Russian government of Vladimir Putin strongly condemned the incident, stating that the means of transport of the [diplomatic] mission cannot be subject to any embargo and called on Argentina to prevent any attack on the person, freedom, or dignity of any member of the diplomatic mission while demanding that the country guarantee their freedom of movement and transit. The Vienna Convention prohibits the arrest of diplomats in the host country and shields them from criminal prosecution, limiting the actions local authorities can take. If diplomats are caught committing a crime in fraganti, the Foreign Ministry must request their expulsion as persona non grata. It would be a clearly excessive reaction for an infraction, Argentine government sources told the newspaper La Nacion. Lawmaker Marcela Pagano sided with Russia, filing a legal complaint against the Buenos Aires City Traffic Department to investigate its actions against the Russian diplomats, and against the rest of the diplomatic missions that were detained under the pretext of a traffic control. On social media, Pagano suggested that the diplomatic clash could have been intentional. This action, which is being explained away as a result of lack of training and negligence in respecting international norms, could be attributed not only to the traffic agents but also to the superiors coordinating these operations, the legislator claimed. It is true that it could well have been a planned episode with the sole purpose of affecting our countrys relations with a foreign power. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The advent of the new Syria has not ended the queues at bakeries or bus stops. But other lines have appeared in an unprecedented place: at police stations and other security forces buildings, once feared as centers of brutal torture. Now, these buildings are occupied by fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the militia that led the lightning offensive that toppled dictator Bashar al-Assad a couple of weeks ago, and milling around their doors are policemen, soldiers, and army officers who served under the old regime and are now seeking some kind of amnesty. Just days after their triumphant entry into Damascus, officials of the new interim government appointed by HTS issued a call on social media and television to all former members of the armed forces, including medical workers, to hand over their IDs, weapons, and vehicles. Registration centers are spread across the country and in former regime strongholds such as the city of Latakia hundreds of people have been seen in recent days trying to regularize their status. In the busiest centers, soldiers have to wait for hours to get a number. Once inside the premises, the process is always the same. First, a police officer from the new government registers each persons name and, after having taken a photo of them in front of a white wall, creates a new identification card for them. Then, they go to another room where they must hand over their weapon. In some photographs from these centers, published by the national press and news agencies, dozens of pistols and Kalashnikovs can be seen piled up. To top it off, and to symbolize their renunciation of their past in the service of Assad, the candidates must step on a portrait of the dictator. This is one of the first measures aimed at stockpiling the tens of thousands of small arms circulating after nearly 14 years of civil war, in order to pacify the country. For now, the first to get rid of them are members of the army, which has been formally dissolved. Then it will be the turn of the constellation of opposition militias that fought Assad. On Tuesday, at a meeting sponsored by HTS, more than a dozen opposition militias agreed to disband and join the new army. We will not allow weapons to remain in the country outside the control of the state, whether by revolutionary factions or by those present in the SDF [Syrian Democratic Forces] area, said Ahmed al-Shara, the leader of HTS known until recently by his nom de guerre of Abu Mohammad al-Julani last Sunday at a press conference following the visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. This trip, the first by a foreign minister since the fall of Assad on December 8, has highlighted Ankaras influence in the new Syria thanks to its years of support for opposition militias based in the north of the country. Handing over weapons to the new authorities does not guarantee amnesty as this can only be granted after an investigation to verify that the former agent or soldier did not commit war crimes. If this is the case, in principle, he could even be reinstated in his former position. For the time being, all those registered are urged to return to the same premises after two or three months to learn their future. If we want to achieve social peace, there must be justice, and there will not be any without responsibilities being established. Those who have blood on their hands will not be granted amnesty, said Obeida Arnaut, a spokesman for the new government. While most of those who have signed up for the reconciliation process are low-ranking soldiers, there are also some members of the former military leadership, such as Talal Makhlouf, a general in the Republican Guard who is accused of having cracked down extremely harshly on numerous peaceful protests in 2011. For this reason, Makhlouf, a member of the family of Bashar al-Assads mother, is on the list of regime officials sanctioned by the European Union, among other countries. The fact that Makhlouf was able to register his request for amnesty without being arrested has sparked a huge controversy among activists and relatives of the victims of a conflict that claimed the lives of more than half a million people. In addition, there are still more than 100,000 people missing who are feared to have died in the atrocious prisons of the former regime, so the number could rise considerably. What happened with Makhlouf is worrying for all those who want a transitional justice process. Makhlouf is a person known to all Syrians, who know that he participated in torture and the bombing of cities, Rami Abdurrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, warned on Al Arabiya television. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A youth from Murshidabad, who arrived at Jamalpur in East Burdwan in search of job was arrested on rape charges yesterday. Amir Sohail, according to the police, had raped a 12-year-old girl of a locality in Jamalpur the day before yesterday. The girl had come to her maternal uncles house there in East Burdwan. Robbery with toy gun: Miscreants looted passengers of a four wheeler from Kolkata at gunpoint on the NH-19. It was later revealed that the weapon was a toy gun. A group of miscreants started pelting stones at a running car. The car driver, surprised by the pelting, stopped the car when five miscreants attacked the car and brandished a toy pistol and looted Rs 25,000 in cash, gold chains and cellphones. Advertisement Youth cheated: A youth from Jamuria, West Burdwan, Kiran Majhi, who had sold his car after giving an advertisement in OLX was cheated with a false demand draft by the buyer, a resident of Canning area, a few days ago. Advertisement Congress and the Aam Aadmi party (AAP), two major constituents of INDIA bloc, were on a collision course on Thursday with the AAP accusing the grand old party of being hand in glove with the BJP in Delhi ahead of the assembly elections, likely to be held in February. The AAP on Thursday sought action by the Congress senior leadership within 24 hours against its leader Ajay Maken for reportedly calling former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal anti-national or, else it will call for the expulsion of the grand old party from the I.N.D.I.A bloc. Advertisement Its leader Sanjay Singh while addressing a press conference here, asserted that the party will ask all the other parties of the INDIA bloc to take view of Maken calling Kejriwal anti-national, the insult to AAP and the FIR against Kejriwal by Youth Congress, if the grand old party does not take appropriate action against its leader. Advertisement The senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that the Congress in Delhi is in favour of the saffron party, and is doing everything that will benefit BJP in the upcoming assembly polls. He accused Congress leader Maken of working at the behest of the saffron party and making statements as asked by the BJP. Singh alleged, Yesterday Maken crossed all the limits by calling the most popular leader of Delhi and AAP supremo anti-national. The AAP leader further said that the Congress has never called out any BJP leader in this manner, and alleged that Maken was reading out the script written by the saffron party. Sharpening his attack on the grand old party and its leader, the AAP leader said that Kejriwal is the same person who campaigned for the Congress in the last Lok Sabha elections in Delhi and also in Chandigarh. AAP always stands with the Congress with regard to the decisions in connection with parliamentary affairs, said the MP. Singh accused the Congress party of not being ready to contest recent Haryana assembly polls in alliance with the AAP, despite efforts made by his party till the end. He said that no AAP leader ever made any statement against the grand old party despite not contesting polls together . The Chief Minister Atishi, who was also present at the press conference ,claimed that her party has got know from official sources that poll expenses of the Congress candidates are being financed by the BJP. She alleged that prominent candidates of the Congress, including Sandeep Dikshit and Farhad Suris poll expenses are being funded by the saffron party. Atishi alleged that the Congress and BJP have colluded to inflict damage to the AAP in the upcoming polls.The CM further said that if the Congress is not hand in glove with the BJP, then they must prove it by taking action against Maken within 24 hours, and also take action against those leaders of their youth wing who got a FIR registered against her and Kejriwal. The Delhi BJP Mahila Morcha on Thursday staged a strong protest near the residence of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of allegedly misleading women, and offering false promises under the name of Mahila Samman. The women protesters of the Delhi BJP including Mahila Morcha president Richa Pandey Mishra and party leaders Shyam Bala and Priyal Bhardwaj, crossed the police barricades, as they headed towards AAP chiefs residence. They were detained by the police, and were released later. Advertisement BJP leader Mishra speaking at the protest alleged that the AAP government has betrayed the women in the national capital by introducing fraudulent schemes. Advertisement Mishra, pointing towards the registration drive by AAP leaders for the Mahila Samman scheme, alleged that by setting up camps and collecting Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, and mobile numbers, the party is planning a large scale scam. Delhis saffron party leader claimed that women in the city will not tolerate such deceit, and cited AAPs unfulfilled promise of giving Rs 1,000 in Punjab. She questioned how the AAP plans to provide Rs 2,100 in Delhi, when they could not give Rs 1,000 in Punjab, dismissing it as yet another empty poll promise. BJP women leader Shyam Bala criticised the AAP government for issuing public warnings in newspapers, asking women not to share their personal details with anyone, and on the other hand, still conducting allegedly deceptive campaigns. Present during the protest, another saffron party leader Shikha Rai alleged that Kejriwal has misled women for the past decade in view of political gains. She further suspected that a sudden announcement of Rs 2100 monthly assistance without a sanction from the cabinet, particularly with the signs of impending electoral defeat, highlighted AAPs desperation, especially when their similar promises in Punjab remain unfulfilled. The protest, led by Mahila Morcha president Richa Pandey Mishra, saw participation of vice-president and other leaders of the women wing and scores of supporters. On Wednesday, Delhi governments Women and Child Development Department had issued a public notification saying that any political party collecting information from applicants in the name of the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana was committing fraud and has no authority. This triggered a controversy, as the advertisement came a day after AAP ministers, MLAs, and volunteers began their campaign to register people for the said scheme. The Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni legal feud is intensifying with every passing day. Recently, the actress sued her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni. After she accuses him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her, new developments have come to light. Now, Baldonis former publicist Stephanie Jones has sued the actor. She alleges that Baldoni breached their contract, which required him to pay Jonesworks $25,000 per month. Their contract was terminated abruptly in August after Jennifer Abel left Jonesworks. As per a New York Post report, the lawsuit also accuses Abel and Baldonis new publicist Melissa Nathan of orchestrating a smear campaign against Blake Lively. Jones claims that she was unaware and has no involvement in the alleged smear campaign. She accuses Abel and Nathan of attempting to shift the blame onto her. After Abel returned her company phone to Jones, Jones found messages and emails suggesting Abels collaboration with Baldoni and his studio, Wayfarer. At that point, Jones realized that her employee was part of the smear campaign against Lively. The suit states, To this day, Abel and Nathan continue to point the finger falsely at Jones, now that their own misconduct is coming to light. The suit also accuses them of trying to defame and attack Jones in the industry. Advertisement Moreover, as per the lawsuit, during It Ends With Us promotions, Justin Baldoni started fearing a lawsuit from Blake Lively over sexual harassment. Jones complaint alleges that Abel, Nathan, and Wayfarers Jamey Heath conspired to hatch a plan to tarnish Livelys reputation. The suit alleges them of creating a no-holds-barred strategy to discredit and suppress any potential revelations about Baldonis on-set behaviour. The trio allegedly launched a smear campaign against Lively as part of their plan. Going by Jones suit, Baldoni and his team conspired to turn Blake from a victim to a perpetrator with their manipulative campaign. Moreover, Blake Livelys complaint against Justin Baldoni also submits text exchanges between his PR team. The said messages suggest that his team developed a meticulous plan and resorted to astroturfing to manipulate public opinion. Moreover, the texts reveal plans to leverage Taylor Swift and Hailey Biebers public image to influence Livelys image. For more details: Taylor Swift and Hailey Biebers name surfaces in Justin Baldonis smear campaign against Blake Lively Meanwhile, last week Blake Lively sued Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment and for launching a smear campaign against her. This included forcing unwanted kiss scenes on set and watching her naked. The lawsuit claims that Baldonis behaviour created a hostile work environment. Moreover, he retaliated against Lively after she raised concerns about his actions. As per the complaint lodged with the California Civil Rights Department, a meeting took place during the production of It Ends with Us. It was to address Livelys claims and her demands for working on the film. Some of the demands addressed allegedly included No more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake. No more mention of Baldonis alleged previous pornography addiction, no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others. For further information: Blake Lively sues It Ends with Us co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment The Uttar Pradesh government has made special cyber security arrangements to safeguard devotees attending Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. A team of 56 cyber warriors are being deployed in Mahakumbhnagar for the safety of devotees coming from both within the country and abroad. The SSP of Mahakumbhnagar will oversee complete monitoring of the Digital Mahakumbh. An action plan has been formulated to tackle cyber criminals as part of the cyber security measures. Advertisement Additionally, a special cyber help desk is being set up in all the police stations of Mahakumbhnagar, where experts will be deployed for cyber patrolling. Advertisement Awareness campaigns are also underway with information being shared through films on Variable Messaging Displays (VMD) and across various social media platforms in Prayagraj. For this, AI, X, Facebook, and Google are being effectively used. About 45 crore devotees are expected to visit Mahakumbh Nagar. To ensure that such a large number of devotees are well-informed, the Yogi government has decided to utilize every platform, including print, digital, and social media. As part of this initiative, preparations have been completed to install VMD at various locations throughout the fair area and commissionerates. A total of 40 VMDs will be installed in both the fair area and the commissionerates, where devotees will be informed about cybersecurity measures to help them stay vigilant against cyber criminals. A Mahakumbh cyber police station has been set up to protect devotees from cyber threats such as AI, fraudulent websites, and social media scammers. The primary goal is to provide robust online security for attendees, eliminating the risk posed by fake links used by cybercriminals. Currently, the states team of experts has identified around 50 suspicious websites, and action is underway against them. Additionally, a mobile cyber team has been deployed to raise awareness and address online threats on a large scale. A dedicated helpline number, 1920, has been issued for information related to the Mahakumbh mela. Along with this, people are encouraged to use government websites with the .gov.in domain for reliable details. Fake websites can also be reported to the local police stations, where the cyber police will take immediate action. Furthermore, cyber experts are actively monitoring and investigating gangs that exploit AI, Facebook, X, and Instagram to scam people. Apart from these, strict action will also be taken against those who commit fraud through fake websites and links. In addition, cyber experts are monitoring criminal gangs that extort money from people using AI, Facebook, X, or Instagram. Prompt action will be taken against them upon receiving a complaint. Apart from these, strict action will also be taken against those who commit fraud through fake websites and links. Rajesh Dwivedi, SSP Mahakumbh, said here on Thursday that Cyber help desks are being set up in all 56 police stations to assist and protect devotees. To raise awareness about cyber threats and keep people vigilant against cyber criminals, a film will be shown on Variable Messaging Displays (VMD) in the entire fair area. With the opposition parties training their guns on the DMK Government in the in the sexual assault of a girl student at the prestigious Anna University campus in the heart of Chennai, City Police Commissioner, A Arun ,on Thursday denied any slackness on the part of the police in arresting the accused. We are not bothered about the political affiliation of the accused, whichever party he might belong to. Within a day of receiving the complaint, we have arrested the accused, Gnanasekaran, after holding enquiries with many suspects. The victim is safe and secure and she is satisfied about the progress in the case, the Commissioner told the media. Advertisement The opposition has been alleging that the arrested accused is a functionary of the ruling DMK and he had organised events in which ministers have participated. BJP state president K Annamalai had released photographs of the accused with DMK ministers. Advertisement To a query on the FIR getting leaked in the public domain which has put the police in the dock, he said FIRs are uploaded online. Those who have downloaded it could have shared it on social media. On the details in the FIR over which questions are raised, his response was that the police are necessarily duty bound to record all the details that the affected give. Now the option of downloading FIRs has been blocked and police have warned of stringent action against those spreading FIRs or posting them on social media. While crediting the police for swiftly taking action, he said the accused Gnanasekaran was a habitual offender. On the security at Anna University, he said of the 70 CCTV cameras installed in the campus, only 56 are functional. Now, security has been strengthened in the campus in consultation with the university authorities. Anna University, a premier institution for technical education, has been without a VC and the process to find a new one is yet to start due to the ongoing tussle between the Governor-Chancellor and the state government. Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women, taking suo motu cognizance of the sexual assault case, has directed the Tamil Nadu DGP to ensure free medical care to the victim and protection to the victim. In a post on X, it said Chairperson Vijaya Rathatkar had directed the DGP to add section 71 of BNS to the FIR and take action against officers for revealing the victims identity, violating SC guidelines and Section 72 of BNS. Further, she pointed out that the negligence of the police in acting against the accused in previous cases had emboldened him to commit such crimes, raising serious concerns about the collapsing law and order situation in Tamil Nadu. The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 held a meeting here on Thursday to record oral evidence from state representatives as part of its deliberations on the proposed legislation. Talking to mediapersons after its conclusion, JPC chairman and BJP MP Jagdambika Pal said that the panel had a meeting with the principal secretaries and revenue secretaries of the Department of minority affairs of Karnataka, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to know the registered and unregistered properties and the status of the Waqf properties there. Advertisement We have given some extra time to Madhya Pradesh We are yet to receive any reply from Karnataka and Rajasthan and then we will decide on them after that, he said. Advertisement Earlier in a post on X, Pal said, Chaired the meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee constituted on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in New Delhi today. Representatives of the Karnataka state government presented oral evidence, views and suggestions in the meeting. On Friday, the panel will have another meeting where it will hear state representatives of UP, Odisha and Delhi. On December 19, the JPC met Muslim representatives from Lucknow and Rajasthan in its meeting. Talking to a news agency after the meeting, the JPC chairman said, Former VC of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University, Lucknow and former chairman of Rajasthan Waqf Board came with their proposed amendments. There was a clause-by-clause discussion on it. MPs also posed questions to them. The committee included Syed Abubakar Naqvi, the former Chairman and State Minister of the Waqf Board in Rajasthan, and Prof. Mahrukh Mirza, the former Vice Chancellor of Khwaja Chishti Moinuddin Language University, Lucknow. Earlier, on December 18, the committee held a meeting with the All India Shia Personal Law Board members. It heard the views of the board on the Bill. Recently, the Lok Sabha approved a motion to extend the tenure of the JPC on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and mandated the presentation of their report by the end of the 2025 Budget Session. On December 5, Jagdambika Pal noted that the committee had held 27 meetings in Delhi before the extension of its tenure. These meetings included discussions with multiple stakeholders and various ministries of the Government of India. The JPC comprises 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha, including 13 Opposition members (nine from the Lower House and four from the Upper House). The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to bring significant reforms, including digitisation of records, stricter audits, increased transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied Waqf properties. The Bill, aimed at reforming the management and regulation of Waqf properties across the country, has been deferred due to heated debates and disruptions within the JPC between ruling BJP members and Opposition leaders. The JPC is holding a series of meetings to gather input from government officials, legal experts, Waqf Board members, and community representatives from different states and Union Territories, aiming for the most comprehensive reform possible. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Thursday for an hour, sources said. Shinde met Union Minister JP Nadda alongwith his son Shrikant Shinde who is the Senas Lok Sabha MP from the Kalyan constituency in Maharashtra and his daughter-in-law Vrushali Shinde. It is also learnt that Shindes family will proceed to Kashmir on a holiday soon. Advertisement Incidentally, Deputy CMs son happens to be a part of the Joint Parliamentary Committee to study the One Nation One Election bill for simultaneous polls. The committee will be asked to submit its report during the Budget session. Advertisement After Eknath Shinde met PM Modi on Thursday, he told media persons that this was the first time he met the PM after the Maharashtra Cabinet was expanded. After the establishment of the cabinet, this is the first time I am in Delhi where I met Prime Minister Modi in person. I also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, JP Nadda and Kiran Rijiju. This meeting was not a political one. During the last two- and- a half years, we have shown how projects and welfare schemes can be implemented and the people have given us credit for that. I would also like to thank Prime Minister Modi for the time he spent in Maharashtra during the assembly election, Shinde said about his meeting, which was previously described as a goodwill visit. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, we, as a team, will take the state forward. We will do what we have not been able to do in the last two- and -a half years. We will make a road map on how to make Maharashtra a fully developed, number one state. Our Prime Ministers vision is to develop the country and achieve the goal of a 5-trillion dollar economy. Maharashtra will achieve more than a 1-trillion dollar economy, Shinde said, after meeting the PM. Speaking about the One Nation One Election concept, he said that the Congress and opposition parties are against it. If you look at the reality, a lot of public money is spent on elections. If we implement One Nation One Election, the progress of the country will improve. A lot of public money is spent by the government on elections and the other parties never say anything about it, he said. It may be recalled that Eknath Shinde had first met Modi on July 22, and hence Thursdays meeting with the PM, is his second such visit. Moreover, though the fight for Maharashtra Cabinet posts is over, the fight for the coveted guardian minister posts of districts is still on within the BJP-dominated Mahayuti parties. Maharashtra is divided into 36 districts, each overseen by a guardian minister, who typically hails from the same district. In Maharashtra, the guardian minister is a cabinet-level position to oversee and facilitate the development of a specific district. Sources said that he wants to be the guardian minister of his resident Thane district, while Deputy CM Ajit Pawar wants to be the guardian minister of Pune. This is because the role of a guardian minister is crucial since it involves controlling the District Planning and Development Council (DPDC) funds, which are allocated for development and beautification projects at the district level. Sources said that the matter has been discussed with Mr Shah. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis gave all credit to Prime Minister Modi and fellow Nagpurian Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari for the victory in the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections. Speaking at an event in Nagpur orgnaised to felicitate Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), he said, I have to thank honourable Nitin Gadkari, who went to every nook and cranny of Maharashtra and held election meetings there. By creating enthusiasm among BJP workers, he worked to give a new direction to the election campaign. Of course, the mantra given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi also worked wonders in Maharashtra. Whatever I am is because of the BJP. Devendra Fadnavis does not exist without the BJP. Therefore this party is everything to me. Advertisement The chief minister also used the opportunity to go down the memory lane. In fact, I never thought that I would ever enter politics. In eleventh standard, I started working with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). My plan was to do that work and study for law. I finished 12th standard and was admitted to law college and after my father passed away I wanted to work full time with the ABVP. I still remember that in 1990, we all went to Ayodhya as kar sevaks. We were all kept in the Budaun District Jail. I was the eldest and I was only 20 years old. One day, after returning from Ayodhya, our then Sunil Ambekar called me and said it has been decided that from tomorrow you have to work in the BJP, Fadnavis recalled. Advertisement Fadnavis said he actually fought against the decision, but Ambekar said, We dont make our decision here (in the RSS) and if you have any questions, go to Vilas Fadnavis and tell him. So, I went to Vilas the next day and told him that I dont want to work in politics. However, Vilas convinced me after some time. I still remember the day when I was told to contest the municipal election. I agreed, but I had not yet come of age and did not know when the election would be held, but God had written something else in my destiny. I came of age and all these leaders urged me to stand for election from Ward 69. That is how I got elected as a corporator from Nagpur. Later I became the leader of the opposition party and became the deputy chief minister again after which I became the chief minister, he added. All of you have witnessed it but the truth is that Nitin Gadkari, the late Gopinath Munde, Bhausaheb Phundkar, and others who are our leaders, played a very important role in all my progress. It is because of their guidance that an ordinary worker like me has come so far. I have been able to reach here due to the hard work that many people put in. I have always been aware that there are many workers of my capability or maybe even much more than me. Thats why I can definitely tell you that no matter how much power I get, power will never go to my head, because I know that whatever I am is because of the BJP alone. The workers who build this party are like gods to me, Fadnavis said. Launching a scathing attack on the BJP-led government at the Centre on Thursday, Sonia Gandhi alleged that the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi is under threat from the ruling dispensation. Regretting her absence at the extended Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting titled Nav Satyagrah Baithak in Karnatakas Belagavi in a message on Thursday, the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson said Mahatma Gandhi became Congress president when the party and the independence movement was at a turning point. Advertisement The two-day Baithak, which kicked off on Thursday, has been called by the party to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhis presidency of Congress. Advertisement Citing the 39th session of the Congress held exactly hundred years ago at this very location, she said, Mahatma Gandhi becoming the Congress president here was a turning point for our party and for the independence movement. It was a transformational milestone in our countrys history. Recalling the contribution of Gandhi, the CPP Chairperson said, Today, we rededicate ourselves to preserve, protect and promote the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. He has been and will continue to be the fundamental source of our inspiration. It was he who moulded and guided all our remarkable galaxy of leaders of that generation. Attacking the ruling BJP, she said, His (Gandhis) legacy is under threat from those in power in New Delhi and the ideologies and institutions that have nurtured them. These organisations never fought for our freedom. They opposed Mahatma Gandhi bitterly. They created a toxic atmosphere that led to his assassination. They glorify his killers. Asserting that Gandhian institutions in various places across the nation are under assault, the CPP chairperson said, It is now our sacred duty to renew our resolve to confront these forces with all the might at our command and with uncompromising determination. She said the Congress party, with a glorious history, has, time and again, demonstrated its resilience. Let us individually and collectively move forward from this meeting firm in our resolve to meet the many challenges our party faces with a renewed sense of urgency and a refreshed sense of purpose, she added. The Mexican president arrived at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro with a declaration of intent. Claudia Sheinbaum held bilateral meetings with Joe Biden of the United States; Xi Jinping of China; Justin Trudeau of Canada, and Emmanuel Macron of France. She embraced Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva upon her arrival and sat down with Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Chilean leader Gabriel Boric to strengthen her alliance with progressive governments in Latin America. She also found time to talk with members of MIKTA (Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, and Australia) and to present to the main world leaders her proposal to allocate 1% of military spending to reforestation programs to combat climate change. After a six-year absence and despite a few exceptions, the Mexican government returned to the front line of international politics. Sheinbaums first international trip, in mid-November and just over a month after taking office, continues to echo and still divides opinion on whether it represented a significant shift from the line that her predecessor and mentor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, had marked out in the world. It was an important change from what was done before: she held meetings at the highest level and brought the country out of the isolation to which it had been subjected during the previous government, says retired diplomat Ernesto Campos. She also finds herself in a complex situation, especially in light of Donald Trumps victory in the United States, he adds. The Mexican president, however, maintained several elements that were passed down to her: from the symbolic the decision to travel on a commercial flight or the references to Benito Juarez in her speech to the programmatic, by taking advantage of the showcase for policies such as Sembrando Vida (Sowing Life) or insisting on equal treatment with the United States. Continuity with change was her campaign slogan, an omnipresent paradox at the beginning of her mandate and which has also been reflected in the first glimpses of her foreign policy. This apparent contradiction has also set her margins of maneuver in the presidential chair, by accepting the role of heir to Lopez Obradors political project and, at the same time, sending the message that she will seek to put her own stamp on the movement she now leads. Claudia Sheinbaum during her participation in the G20 summit on November 18 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Presidencia Mexico After the G20 and the international spotlight received by the first woman to hold the presidency of Mexico, the arrival of Trump has captured the attention and efforts of her government abroad. The Republican returns to the White House on January 20 with a battery of threats under his arm, which have called into question the future of critical circuits and the health of the bilateral relationship: threats of a trade war, pressures in the fight against drug trafficking, and heavy-handed measures against migration that have unleashed fears among a Mexican diaspora that exceeds five million people in the U.S. The letters, the exchange of statements on social networks, the calls and the misunderstandings that have arisen, have fueled the forecasts of four years of turbulence and tension, but they have also represented a first contact to measure personal affinities and the possibility of finding negotiated solutions in the midst of recent frictions. Sheinbaum has not yet decided whether Trumps inauguration will be her first visit to U.S. territory. She also has to designate who will be her interlocutors with the incoming Republican government in key positions, such as her representative at the Embassy in Washington or the members of her team for the renegotiation of the USMCA free trade agreement. She has already sent signals of restraint against Trump, with the mobilization of her consular network in the face of the threat of mass deportations and the largest seizure of fentanyl in the countrys history. But the majority of analysts still have doubts about the underlying strategy on the multiple open fronts. Mexico has reacted well by standing firm in the face of threats, but the time has come to negotiate through formal and informal channels, says Andrew Selee, director of the Migration Policy Institute, who warns that the challenges posed by Trump 2.0 will be greater than those faced by the previous government. The lights of events such as the G20 contrast with some shadows that predominate in domestic politics. The scandal of a private party held at the National Museum of Art by Martin Borrego, who was in the inner circle of trust of former foreign minister Alicia Barcena, has taken its toll, as well as the express designation of Rutilio Escandon, former governor of Chiapas, as consul in Miami. It sends a terrible signal, because he does not correspond to the profile of what is needed at this time in the United States. It is also a serious error because the role of [career] consuls is underestimated, says Campos. Concerns about the health of public finances have hovered over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for years, even since the government of Enrique Pena Nieto, and have deepened at a critical moment for the mobilization of the countrys diplomatic resources. Before Trump, Nicolas Maduro will be sworn in again in Venezuela on January 10, amid criticism from abroad and suspicions of electoral fraud. Colombia has insisted in recent weeks on the need for Mexico to take a tougher position in the face of political crises and to draw on its regional leadership alongside Brazil. The Mexican government, however, has kept its distance under the premise of respecting its foreign policy principles, but also as host of negotiations between Chavismo and the opposition. In an unexpected turn, both governments announced this week that they will send a diplomatic representation to Maduros inauguration, thus moving from impartiality and negotiations to support for the Chavista leader. Campos, who has experience in various embassies in Latin America, predicts that regional politics will be one of the most challenging issues in the coming weeks. In addition to the crisis in Venezuela, there are also legacies such as the stagnation of political contacts with Peru, the break with Ecuador, and the indifference toward regimes such as Daniel Ortegas Nicaragua. There is continuity, and that is not necessarily bad, says the diplomat about the diplomatic alliance with other left-wing governments. But I do see it as bad that there is no rapprochement with Peru or a negotiated agreement with Ecuador. Gustavo Petro, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Claudia Sheinbaum and Gabriel Boric on November 18 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Presidencia de Mexico (EFE) Another point where there has been more continuity than change has been the cooling of the political relationship with Spain, which led to the snub of Felipe VI and the first international controversy of Sheinbaums administration, even before she assumed office. The channels in other areas remain open, with nods such as the appointment of the European country as guest of honor at the Guadalajara International Book Fair, and a dynamism that remains in economic ties, but few trust that the situation will be unblocked in the short term, in the midst of the current controversy over the requests for apologies for the abuses committed during the Conquest and the colonial era. The figure of Trump again influences other corners of the world, such as the need to recalibrate the relationship with China and to diversify diplomatic contacts with allies such as the European Union, which has already made progress in deepening its economic integration with the Mercosur countries, but not with Mexico. The Sheinbaum administration has made other attempts to influence the international arena, by condemning the abuses of the Israeli government in Palestine or having a greater presence in multilateral forums, although without distancing itself from Lopez Obradors critical tone toward the UN and other organizations. Despite the road ahead, the presidents first months have already left a series of gestures on how she will stand up to an increasingly challenging and turbulent world context. But challenges that are already imminent can set the tone and priorities for what will come for the rest of the six-year term. It will be, as the official doctrinaire says, a time for definitions. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition In a bid to ensure transparency and professionalism in Manipurs police force, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has urged families of newly recruited personnel to refrain from seeking political intervention in matters related to transfers and postings. Speaking during an inspection of the Manipur Police Firing Range at Wairi Pangei, Imphal, he stressed the need for adherence to the governments transfer and posting policy. We should allow the young and fresh recruits to serve their state and nation according to the governments policies. Political interference undermines the integrity and transparency of the police department, Singh stated, highlighting the significance of discipline and accountability in law enforcement. Advertisement The inspection also showcased the construction of temporary barracks to accommodate about 1,946 recruits from the 10th and 11th Indian Reserve Battalions (IRB), who recently completed training at an academy in Assam. These battalions were raised to address critical highway security concerns in Manipur, a state grappling with prolonged unrest and volatile law and order scenarios. Out of these recruits, 800 to 1,000 personnel will receive advanced commando training at the temporary barracks. This training aims to prepare specialized rapid-response teams capable of managing crises effectively. Advertisement Singh emphasized that the recruits discipline and commitment were pivotal in the decision to construct the barracks and implement additional training. The CM reiterated the governments focus on equipping law enforcement with adequate skills and facilities to handle emerging challenges. The state has been navigating a challenging phase since inter-community violence erupted in May 2023, displacing thousands and straining local law enforcement. The states strategic highways, critical for connectivity and supplies, have become hotspots of tension, necessitating the deployment of specialized forces for protection. Highlighting concerns over undue influence, Singh warned that political interference could erode the professionalism of the police force. He urged families to trust the system and allow recruits to serve without external pressure. On a related note, the CM addressed the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the state. Thousands displaced by violence are currently residing in relief camps, including those set up in educational institutions. Singh assured that prefabricated housing is being constructed at designated sites such as Phubala to provide these families with permanent shelter. The state government has also ramped up procurement of advanced protective gear for its police force, including helmets, to ensure officer safety during crowd control operations. Singh condemned acts of violence and threats against police personnel, emphasizing the need to uphold their morale in such turbulent times. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for defending Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the Ambedkar controversy and accused his government of making all attempts to control Constitutional institutions. Notably, while replying in a debate in the Rajya Sabha marking the 75th anniversary of the Constitutions adoption, Shah, in an attack on the Congress on 17th December, said, It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. If they had taken Gods name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven. Advertisement Addressing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting titled Nav Satyagrah Baithak in Belagavi, Karnataka, in the presence of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and senior party leaders, including KC Venugopal, he said, We heard a grossly derogatory statement by the Home Minister about Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar during the discussion on the Constitution in the Parliament session. We condemned it and held demonstrations. Advertisement Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of defending Shah, he said, The PM and the government are not ready to accept the mistake. Instead of offering an apology or seeking Amit Shahs resignation, he supported the objectionable statement. The PM issued a statement in defence of the Home Minister. Moreover, a false case was registered against Rahul Gandhi. This reflects the attitude of todays rulers towards the Constitution and its creator. But we are not afraid of anyone, nor will we bow down. We will fight until our last breath for the ideology of Nehru-Gandhi and the honour of Babasaheb, the Congress chief said. Referring to the recent amendment made in the Conduct of Election Rules, he said, Constitutional institutions are being controlled. If we look at the Election Commission of India (ECI), it appears that they have no respect for the Constitutional institutions, they want to capture everything. Therefore, we will have to fight this battle continuously. He asserted that peoples faith in the electoral process is gradually decreasing as questions are being raised on the impartiality of the Commission. Accusing the government of failing to address farmers issues, the Congress chief said this has led to protests by farmers demanding their rights. Emphasising the need to strengthen the party, he said, Hard work alone is not enough, a time-bound concrete strategy and direction is necessary. We have to counter the lies of our opponents with unity. We have to move forward with confidence and face challenges boldly. We will definitely succeed. The two-day Baithak, which kicked off on Thursday, is being organised by the party to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhis presidency of Congress. On the first day, the CWC discussed important issues facing the country, and an action plan of the party for the next year. Uttar Pradesh government has strictly warned its employees to submit their assets details by January 31, 2025 or they will not be considered for promotion in their service. The government has made it clear that those employees who do not provide details, will not be considered for promotion. All employees will have to give their details on the Manav Sampada Portal by January 31,2025, a government order here on Thursday said. Advertisement In the letter issued by the state government, it was said that the state employees will have to give details of their assets by January 31 otherwise promotion will not be considered. Advertisement Besides, action will also be taken against the concerned. It has been clearly stated that all the officers and employees of Uttar Pradesh state should compulsorily submit the details of their movable and immovable assets by January 31, the letter stated. Those personnel or officers who do not update their details by January 31, action will be taken against them under Uttar Pradesh Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal), the order said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the e-Distribution of SVAMITVA Property Cards on Friday via video conferencing, marking a monumental milestone in Indias rural empowerment and governance journey. The event will witness the distribution of 58 lakh SVAMITVA Property Cards across approximately 50,000 villages spanning ten states Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and the two Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Advertisement This event will also mark a major milestone of crossing more than two crore property cards preparation and distribution under the SVAMITVA scheme and distribution of more than 58 lakh property cards on a Single Day. Advertisement During the event, the PM will interact with selected beneficiaries and deliver a nationwide address, in the presence of Union Panchayati Raj Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh and other ministers and officials. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, in collaboration with the States and Union Territories, proposes to maximise outreach and awareness about the SVAMITVA Scheme and other flagship initiatives of the Ministry by organising orientation programmes at around 20,000 locations across the country on Friday. Key achievements under the SVAMITVA Scheme include: Drone Mapping Coverage: Survey completed in 3.17 lakh villages; Property Card Distribution: Over 2.19 crore property cards prepared across 1.49 lakh villages; Improved Governance: Digitally validated property records have strengthened local governance and enhanced Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs); Financial Inclusion: Property cards have facilitated access to institutional credit, empowering rural citizens; Women Empowerment: Legal ownership of properties has provided women with enhanced financial and social security; and Dispute Resolution: Accurate property mapping has significantly reduced property disputes. Launched on 24 April 2020 (On National Panchayati Raj Day) by the PM, the SVAMITVA Scheme aims to provide Record of Rights to property owners in rural Abadi areas using drone and GIS technology. Despite the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the PM virtually distributed the first set of Property Cards on 11th October 2020, demonstrating the Governments resolute commitment to this transformative initiative. The SVAMITVA Scheme exemplifies the Whole-of-Government approach, fostering inter-Departmental synergy to bring about financial inclusion, rural stability, and economic growth. It has not only empowered property owners but also enabled better infrastructure planning, financial stability, and sustainable development in rural India. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah said on Thursday that the Bhartiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) should focus more on the seed production that requires less water and pesticides. Chairing a review meeting of the BBSSL here, the home minister said efforts should be made to ensure that small farmers achieve the highest possible yields and that the maturity period of their crops is extended. Advertisement Addressing the meeting, the Union home minister and minister of cooperation said the BBSSL has a crucial role in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of Sehkar Se Samriddhi and empowering farmers. Advertisement He calls on the BBSSL to focus on the collection and preservation of Indias traditional seeds. In this context, he set a target for Samiti to connect with an additional 20,000 cooperatives by the year 2025-26. The Union home minister said the BBSSL is working rapidly towards the collection and preservation of Indias traditionally nutritious seeds. He emphasised that the IFFCO and the KRIBHCO should evaluate the nutritional value of our indigenous and hybrid seeds. He added that the priority of the BBSSL is to promote and preserve traditionally nutritious seeds which are now in less usage along with increasing the production of pulses and oilseeds without reducing their nutritional value. He noted that the IFFCO and the KRIBHCO should strive to make their laboratories exemplary and the best in the field. Shah also mentioned that all cooperative institutions should encourage farmers to practice farming with certified seeds. The Union home minister and minister of cooperation highlighted that more than 20,000 different cooperative societies from 34 states and union territories across the country are shareholders of BBSSL. He added that the BBSSL should utilise the scientists and laboratories of all government universities working towards seed production, research and promotion. The minister stressed the preparation of a 10-year roadmap and its regular review to achieve the goals related to increasing seed production. During Rabi 2024, the BBSSL is producing foundation and certified seeds over an area of 5,596 hectares across six states. Under this programme, an estimated production of 1,64,804 quintals of seeds from 49 varieties of 8 crops is expected. The BBSSL has set an ambitious target of achieving a total turnover of Rs 18,000 crore by the year 2032-33. Since its operations began, BBSSL has sold/distributed 41,773 quintals of seeds, primarily from four cropswheat, groundnut, oats, and berseemwhich have a market value of approximately Rs 41.50 crore. While construction of toilets has received a lot of attention in Indias sanitation campaigns in recent times, another important sanitation need, that of bathrooms, has not received the same attention. This has happened despite the fact that the non-availability of adequate and properly covered bathing spaces in the homes of weaker sections results in several problems for the women of these families. When they have no other option but to take their bath in more or less open places exposed to the view of passers-by, women cannot have a proper bath. The essential requirements of sanitation and proper hygiene cannot be met in a hurriedly completed bath in an open space. Such problems can be even more for adolescent girls or young girls. In addition problems can increase for women who are unwell. While this is a problem mainly from the perspective of hygiene, health and sanitation, there is also another aspect of the dignity and security of women. In the widely acclaimed film on slum life Chakra, a bathing scene filmed on Smita Patil brought out in stark terms the extent of indignity that can be suffered by a woman engaged in the routine act of having a bath just because she has to bathe in an open space and cannot get rid of a lout staring all the time at her despite being rebuked time and again by her. Advertisement Keeping this in view I was not at all surprised when I found that a voluntary organization which constructed proper bathrooms for women of weaker sections in villages named them as Samman Ghar (Places of Dignity). There is also the related aspect of the security of women and saving them from harm and harassment. There is thus a strong case for a programme of construction of community bathrooms for women living in hamlets of weaker sections in particular where homes do not have proper bathing places. Such bathrooms should be built near reliable water sources, ideally supplied with tap water. The responsibility of keeping the bathroom and its surroundings clean and safe and for arranging any repairs can be given to a group or committee of women within the hamlet. This programme can be useful in rural areas as well as in urban slums. Advertisement Some lessons can be learnt from the experience of those voluntary organizations which have taken up this work on a small and limited scale in their work areas. This writer recently visited one such project area in Hussainabad block of Palamau district, Jharkhand. Here a voluntary organization, Sahbhagi Shikshan Sansthaan (SSK) has taken up a project called HRIDAY and while this has been a many-sided development project supported by LIC (HFL), one important component in all villages of the project area was to construct community bathrooms for women living in hamlets of weaker sections. I talked to many women in these hamlets regarding the usefulness of these bathrooms for them, and all of them stated that these have been very useful. By the time we reached the Dalit hamlet of Basari village, it was already evening, an unlikely time for bathing. But the community bathroom was still in use. This has been constructed near a water source, using water lifted by a solar pump, so water can be obtained very easily. Malti Devi, who is a member of a local self-help group of women, said that this looks like a simple construction to outsiders but for them it has proved very useful. In addition, she and other women pointed out that several water sources including hand-pumps and their surroundings have been improved so that it is easier to take water from here. The surroundings are also free from waterlogging and dirt. This is a sanitation programme worth taking up on a much larger scale but in addition there is a need also to complete the half-finished work of toilet constructions taken up earlier. In many villages that I have visited recently, particularly in hamlets of the weaker sections, people complain that due to a number of reasons the toilet construction campaign did not work well in their areas. In addition the work should be taken up with the close involvement of peoples committees. (The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Man over Machine, A Day in 2071 and When the Two Streams Met.) Bangladeshs request for the extradition of its former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina from India marks a pivotal moment in South Asian diplomacy. This demand, rooted in allegations of severe crimes, presents India with a challenging decision that extends beyond legal obligations into the realms of regional stability and political strategy. The stakes are high, not just for bilateral relations but also for domestic politics in India, where any perceived misstep could spark debates about national interests and ethical responsibilities. The backdrop of this situation is a politically volatile Bangladesh, grappling with the aftermath of violent protests that led to Sheikh Hasinas overthrow and the more recent atrocities on its minority Hindu population. While the interim government of Mohammad Yunus frames its request as a pursuit of justice, the timing and nature of the charges raise questions about political motives. In a region where judicial processes often overlap with vendetta, this move risks deepening divisions within Bangladesh and fueling further unrest. For India, the decision on whether or not to extradite the former leader is fraught with complexities. Granting the request could be seen as aligning with Bangladeshs interim government accused of failing to protect its minorities and also potentially alienating Bangladeshis who remain loyal to the ousted leader. Advertisement On the other hand, refusing to comply risks straining ties with Dhaka, which could have repercussions on trade, border security, and regional cooperation, with the rider that these could possibly impact Bangladesh more than it does India. The implications also extend to Indias domestic sphere, where political opponents may use the decision to question the governments priorities and its handling of sensitive foreign policy issues. Any move could become fodder for debates on Indias role as a regional leader and its commitment to humanitarian values. This moment also serves as a broader test for South Asias diplomatic landscape, where political exiles and extradition requests often spark prolonged tensions. Advertisement Indias response will likely set a precedent, not only for its relationship with Bangladesh but for how it navigates similar situations in the future. While respecting Bangladeshs sovereignty, India must consider the humanitarian aspects of the case, and whether it is prepared to deliver a leader long considered a friend to those seeking her extradition, some for vengeful reasons. Quiet diplomacy, aimed at fostering dialogue between Bangladeshs interim government and the ousted leader, could offer a pathway to resolve the issue without igniting further unrest. Moreover, India must also weigh the potential impact on its regional image. A decision perceived as overly partisan or insensitive could weaken its standing as a neutral and stabilising force in South Asia. Conversely, a balanced, principled approach could reinforce its role as a key regional power that values justice, sovereignty, and dialogue, setting a standard for others to follow. Ultimately, this is not just about one decision. By adopting a measured approach that prioritises long-term regional stability, India can manage its relationship with Bangladesh while safeguarding its own interests at home and abroad. Agreeing and disagreeing with each others political position is essential in a healthy democracy. However, there is an onus on those in the Government of India or those holding Constitutional positions to abide by the sovereigns official position ~ or else clarify that they personally hold a different view from the one held by the government of which they are a part. While such personal honesty of holding a contrarian position from that of the dispensation of the day is common in mature democracies like Great Britain, it is not so common in India. On the contrary, Indian politics is given to painfully insincere homilies like, abide by the decision of the party like a disciplined soldier etc. Brexit is a great example of how many prominent people within Britains various party ranks held divergent views, and often made common cause with many across the parliamentary aisle ~ as voting for-or-against their partisan lines is the norm there. But an essential feature of British politics is the relative probity, integrity, and steadfastness to hold a contrarian opinion publicly (not secretly fearing any career backlash). Advertisement They do not resort to mealy-mouthed innuendoes, loaded statements, or even resort to surreptitious dog whistling to suggest a position that is contrary to that of their party (or the government, if they are part of the same). Within the Conservative ranks, David Cameron was rep laced by Theresa May, who was replaced by Boris Johnson, who was replaced by Liz Truss, till she was finally replaced by Rishi Sunak. Advertisement In each of these instances of replacing an individual from the Prime Ministership of the same partisan persuasion ~ the views of the individual holding the post were found to be untenable and those of the dissenting voice were given preference, facilitating an official change of governmental stand and position. So, those who wanted to change the sovereigns official position did so in the most honest, mandated, and defined way, without resorting to metaphorical cover fire from what we in our context call fringe elements, troll armies, or any other form of unaccountable personnel. In Indian politics, the IsraelPalestine (now even the Lebanon) War is an example of divided opinions, as it should be. Expectedly, the Left wing broadly supports one side i.e. the Palestinian perspective, whereas the Right wing tends to support the Israeli governments viewpoint. To some extent it mirrors the broad spectrum of positions held in British politics where the Labour Party is more sympathetic to the Palestinian woes, whereas the Conservative ranks, less so. Even though now the Labour Party under Keir Starmer is far less pro-Palestinian in its position, as compared to his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn. There seems to be a lot more centrism in Starmers Labour politics, and that formally manifests in the official governmental stand. However, Indias own societal polarisation and partisan politics based increasingly on religious-identity and denominations, has given an unnatural fillip to making common cause on the Israel-Palestine War. Somewhere the simplistic spirit of my enemys enemy is my friend (predicated on religion) has created logic to defend or oppose the sides in this distant war. Given the dangerously charged throes that the national mood is in, it has forsaken all pretensions of nuance, maturity, and now even official sovereign position, to take stands that are not in conformity with the official governmental view. It is perfectly fine for individuals to hold such extreme views but not for those in governmental or constitutional posts, as they are supposedly subscribing to the governmental position. It took the controversy of a bag carried by an opposition leader with Palestine emblazoned on it to elicit reactions from the Chief Minister of a State to query if the opposition felt the same way about the ensuing chaos in Bangladesh. So far so good, as it fits well with the noisy, boisterous, and even baiting style politics that is only natural in the competitive domain of the worlds largest democracy. Soon that democratic banter gave way to questionable suggestions of clear preference and defence of the Israeli viewpoint (in defiance to the stated Indian position). While the electoral logic of this Chief Ministers chosen reasoning was understandable, the larger and far more acute responsibility of upholding the sovereign stand was seemingly com promised. Incidentally days earlier, the said Chief Minister had also jumped to the defence of a High Court Judge (who too had forsaken the mandated restraint) and commented on a certain religious minority on the Uniform Civil Code ~ he was later called up by the Supreme Court collegium and presumably reprimanded and asked to refrain. But as it often happens, many times political officials in high office make many loose comments invoking the regrettable tact of societal othering and are tellingly never repriman ded or taken to task, willy nilly sanctifying extremist positions. Recently, while answering a Lok Sabha question on Indias stance on the much-bandied Palestine issue, the Minister of External Affairs reiterated, Indias policy towards Palestine has been long standing and includes support for a negotiated two State solution, and the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine within secure and recognized borders, living side by side in peace with Israel. India also supports Palestines membership of the UN. This (along with the rightful and additional denunciation of the 7th October terror attack by Hamas) has been the historical and unchanged official Indian position. Importantly, it is not a position that is liked by the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who does not agree with the two-state solution or for UN membership of Palestine. That said, India has simultaneously not allowed its historically principled position on Palestine to come in the way of engaging further with Israel, on other fronts. In fact, there is a healthy and growing trend of trade and commerce, purchase of military hardware and sharing of crucial intelligence with Israel that need not warrant surrendering a moral position on Palestine. Statecraft and diplomacy need not fall prey to bigoted partisan politics that demonstrates a smallness of spirit based on religiosity and consequently, societal divide. Not disabling or pulling up those who do not respect the countrys sovereign position (who also do not state their individual opinion to be at variance with the governmental stand), is tantamount to legitimizing double-speak where perhaps one thing is officially stated but another is publicly (and deliberately) implied. (The writer is Lt Gen PVSM, AVSM (Retd), and former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry) Exclusive: P Sandosh Kumar Speaks On Minority Rights In conversation with The Statesman Talk, Rajya Sabha MP P Sandosh Kumar stated that CPI is the first political party to condemn the recent developments in Bangladesh and says it stands with the genuine rights of minorities there. He also emphasised that the party firmly supports rights of the minorities. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that Israeli forces will remain in Gaza and maintain security control over the Palestinian territory, raising concerns that the latest round of ceasefire talks may face further deadlock. During a visit to a buffer zone along the Gaza-Egypt border, Katz said security control in Gaza will remain in the hands of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces). Advertisement He stated that Israeli forces would remain in security zones, buffer areas, and control positions within the Gaza Strip, describing the measure as necessary to ensure the safety of (Israeli) communities. Advertisement There will be no Hamas government here, nor a Hamas military a new reality will emerge thanks to the ongoing fighting, Katz added. The ministers comments came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office and Hamas accused each other of delays in reaching a Gaza ceasefire agreement, each claiming the other had introduced new demands. A key demand by Hamas has been an Israeli withdrawal from the enclave, which has been devastated by Israels heavy bombardment and airstrikes. In a press statement, Hamas said the talks in Doha, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, were progressing seriously. However, it accused Israel of introducing new conditions related to the issues of the withdrawal (from Gaza), the ceasefire, the prisoners, and the return of the displaced people. These conditions, Hamas claimed, caused the delay in reaching an agreement that was within reach. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office released a statement denying Hamass accusations. The statement said Hamas had backtracked on understandings already reached and was hindering the negotiations On Tuesday, Israel recalled its delegation from the talks in Doha, stating that the team had been involved in a week of meaningful discussions. The team is returning for internal consultations in Israel regarding the continuation of negotiations for the return of our hostages, the office said, Xinhua news agency reported. The team included senior officials from the Mossad, Shin Bet security agency, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the coastal Palestinian enclave and the length of the ceasefire have been key sticking points in previous failed negotiation attempts. Hamas seeks to end the war entirely, while Israel insists on removing Hamas control over Gaza before any resolution and maintaining a military presence in the Palestinian enclave even after the ceasefire. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said that there has been progress in efforts to secure a ceasefire-for-hostages deal with Hamas, but cautioned that the timeline for reaching an agreement remains unclear. Speaking before the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, Netanyahu said, I do not know how long it will take, while vowing to continue to act in every possible way until we bring everyone home. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also outlined parts of the deal during a closed meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, describing it as a phased, gradual framework. Israels Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli told Kan Reshet Bet public radio that there had been some progress toward an agreement, adding that the sides are closer to a deal than in recent months. He said the initial phase would be a humanitarian phase, involving a 42-day ceasefire and the release of some hostages. This ceasefire could last six months or 10 years, depending on the dynamics that develop on the ground, Chikli said. 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 1200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage. It was an off-the-cuff idea aired at the beginning of the Christmas holidays, but within hours its impact triggered a chain reaction throughout Latin America. The intention of the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, to regain control of the Panama Canal was not only met with immediate rejection by the president of the Central American country, Jose Raul Mulino, but also gave rise to a wave of far-reaching solidarity, from Mexico to Chile to Colombia. The response was practically unanimous: The interoceanic route belongs to the Panamanians. But the underlying argument was just as clear: the sovereignty of the territories in the region is not to be touched. Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent zone belongs to Panama and will continue to do so, Mulino said, days before the 25th anniversary of the complete handover of the infrastructure to Panama City agreed upon in 1977 with the signing of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, referring to former U.S. president Jimmy Carter and Colonel Omar Torrijos. The Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum, the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, the governments of Chile, Bolivia, and Venezuela, and the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, demanded compliance with these agreements. Even so, Trumps suggestion was enough to sow concern in broad political sectors of Latin America. First, it was through a message on his social network, Truth, on Saturday in which Trump reopened the debate on about the management of the canal, an issue that is not on the table. The following day, before 20,000 of his supporters at a conference of an ultra-right youth political campaigning organization in Phoenix (Arizona), he raised the tone by demanding that the Central American country reduce the fees for U.S. shipping crossing the canal or return its management to the United States. This complete rip-off of our country will immediately stop, he promised, thus adding another pending issue for his in-tray when he returns to the White House on January 20, the day of his inauguration. Trump then threatened the Panamanian president, who flatly rebuffed the suggestion as an affront to the countrys independence, and even posted a meme with an American flag flying over the infrastructure in the background with the message Welcome to the United States Canal. In a message to the nation and the international community, Mulino stressed that rates are not a whim and explained his criteria: They are and will be established, publicly and in an open audience, considering market conditions, international competition, operating costs and the maintenance and modernization needs of the interoceanic waterway. Mulino, a right-wing politician who was catapulted to power last May promising a heavy hand on the back of a campaign with many parallels to that of the Republican magnate, insisted that the canal is not under direct or indirect control, neither by China nor by the European community, by the United States or by any other power, and offered to cooperate with Washington on security issues such as illegal migration, drug trafficking and organized crime. Trump, however, did not give up. On Christmas Day, in another post on Truth, he wished everybody a merry Christmas including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago), always making sure that the United States puts up billions of dollars in repair money but will have absolutely nothing to say about anything [relating to its management]. In the message, Trump also took the opportunity to address Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the authorities of Greenland, two targets of an outbreak of expansionist fever that seems to have taken hold in the president-elect. Trump also named an ambassador to Panama on Christmas Day: Kevin Marino Cabrera, who meets two essential requirements to be part of the new presidents team: his loyalty to Trump (before serving as commissioner of the Miami Dade district, he worked on the 2020 Republican presidential campaign) and the fact that he is from Florida, the state that is contributing the largest number of recruits to the president-elects administration. I am committed to supporting President Trumps America First vision and will work tirelessly every day to defend his bold approach to international diplomacy, Cabrera, who speaks Spanish, said in a statement Wednesday. Trumps argument for the canals return to U.S. control rests on two exaggerations. China does not control the infrastructure, even though a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchinson Holdings operates two ports at the canals Caribbean and Pacific entrances, respectively. Nor did 38,000 Americans die during the construction of the 51-mile (82-kilometer) man-made shortcut, which, when it came into operation in 1914, revolutionized international shipping by allowing vessels to pass from one side to the other without having to go all the way around the continent. That is a ridiculous figure, University of Maryland history professor Julie Greene, author of The Canal Builders: Making Americas Empire at the Panama Canal (Penguin, 2010), says in an email. The official statistics have 5,800 people dying during the US construction of the canal. Most likely the numbers were higher than that, as it was difficult for the US government to keep close track of all its workers and their causes of death. In any case, the vast majority of deaths were suffered by the Black Caribbean workers, not the US citizens. The figure of US citizens dying during the construction may have been as low as 1,000 to 1,200 people lower rates than in some industrial sites in the US, explains Greene, who is about to publish another book about the Panama Canal next January. In his series of broadsides, Trump also criticized former President Jimmy Carter, who turned 100 last September, for foolishly giving away the canal for a dollar when the accords were signed in 1977. If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question, the president-elect said in Phoenix. Greene disagrees with this idea of a magnanimous gesture. It resulted from careful negotiations, corrected many decades of colonialism, and returned full sovereignty over its territory to the Republic of Panama, which allowed its territory to be divided by the creation of the Panama Canal Zone a vast region that cut through the heart of the nation that became US property. In addition to providing the land, Panama supported the project by contributing workers as well as providing economic and political resources. The decolonization processes of the 1960s and 1970s made it clear that the denial of sovereignty to Panama could not be sustained. In that perspective, Trumps threats fall, for the historian, into a long pattern of the U.S. treating Latin America as territory to be exploited and resources to be stolen away, rather than nations to be respected. And it fits into Trumps fundamental gangsterism of trying to seize assets wherever and whenever he can. The disrespect he is showing to the Republic of Panama is shocking. I dont know of a precise precedent to this seeking to change the treaty itself. However there are many precedents of the US making demands on Panama, before and after the Carter-Torrijos treaty was passed in 1977. For example, the US invaded Panama in 1989 to depose [ruler] Manuel Noriega. The dispute, for the moment rhetorical, over the interoceanic route contributed to rekindling a feeling of national pride in some neighboring countries as well. Beyond support for Panama, Colombian President Gustavo Petro took advantage of the opportunity to put the emphasis on the development and autonomy of the region, rejecting precisely the exploitation that Greene points to. If the new United States government wants to talk business, we will talk business, face to face, and for the benefit of our people, but dignity will never be negotiated. President Trump has made a mistake and contradicted himself. If he does not want myriads [of migrants] crossing the Darien, increased by millions from Panama to Mexico, he must understand that it will depend on the prosperity and freedom of our people. If it seems expensive to pay to pass through the Panama Canal, in the hands of the Panamanians, it will be much more expensive to plunge Panama, South America, Central America, or Mexico into poverty, he wrote in a long message on X, before concluding: If they do not want us in the United States, we must make all the Americas prosperous. Following his inauguration on January 20, this will be just one of the Republican magnates open fronts in Latin America. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Mongolia has officially commenced the export of live sheep to Uzbekistan, marking a significant step in agricultural trade between the two nations, local media reported on Wednesday, citing the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry. The initiative stems from an agreement made during Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukhs state visit to Uzbekistan in June, the ministry said in a statement. Advertisement During the visit, the two countries leaders pledged to enhance cooperation in agricultural trade, specifically in the supply of wool, cashmere, leather, meat, and meat products from Mongolia to Uzbekistan and, through Uzbekistan, to other Central Asian markets. Advertisement As part of this agreement, Mongolia committed to exporting 100,000 live livestock to Uzbekistan, according to the ministry, Xinhua news agency reported. The agreement has now been officially implemented, and the first shipments have already begun. Since December 21, Mongolia has transported 1,440 live sheep to Uzbekistan on two flights, the ministry said. Promoting livestock husbandry is considered a key strategy for diversifying Mongolias mining-dependent economy. Mongolia is one of the worlds last surviving nomadic countries, where livestock husbandry plays a crucial role in diversifying the landlocked nations mining-dependent economy. As of the end of 2023, the country had 64.7 million livestock, with goats comprising 38.1 per cent of the total and sheep making up 45.5 per cent, according to the National Statistics Office. The livestock sector is a cornerstone of the Mongolian economy, but frequent outbreaks of livestock diseases pose significant challenges to the industry. Earlier this month, an outbreak of a highly contagious disease affecting sheep and goats was reported in the western Mongolian province of Khovd. Several cases of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), commonly known as sheep and goat plague, have been confirmed in Bulgan soum (an administrative subdivision) of the province, the Bulgan soum governors office said in a statement. In October, the southeastern Mongolian province of Dornogovi was placed under quarantine for an undetermined period due to an outbreak of CCPP, as reported by the countrys General Authority for Veterinary Services on Thursday. Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP), a severe disease which affects goats, is caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma Capricolum Subsp. Capripneumoniae. Approximately 15,000 goats in Khatanbulag and Khuvsgul soums (administrative subdivisions) of the province were estimated to be infected. The authority stated that measures are being implemented to contain the disease, cull the infected goats, and disinfect the affected areas. Notably, CCPP has not been reported in Mongolia since the 1950s, marking a 70-year absence, according to the authoritys statement. This highly contagious disease spreads among animals in close contact through infected respiratory droplets. Symptoms in goats include anorexia, fever, and respiratory issues such as dyspnea, polypnea, coughing, and nasal discharge. Ahmed Enaba, a master of Middle Eastern dish Shawarma and a Syrian by birth, embarked on a new chapter in Egypt in 2016 when he opened a restaurant in October City, a bustling hub near Cairo. His culinary creations, a fusion of Syrian flavours and Egyptian hospitality, quickly won over the local palate, turning his eatery into a cherished community spot. Advertisement I always dream of having my own place, said Enaba, a 32-year-old with a proud gleam in his eyes. Its truly a blessing to see it come to life here in Egypt. Advertisement A militant alliance led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham waged a major military operation from northern Syria on November 27. It swept southwards, captured the capital Damascus, and overthrew former Syrian President Bashar al-Assads government within 12 days. Following the recent power shift in Syria, Enaba started to feel the pull of his hometown, Aleppo. But the middle-aged man has already cultivated a deep-rooted life in Egypt, which he holds dear. This is my home now. I have built a life and a future here, he said. Yet, his heart remains tethered to Syria, and he envisions a day when he can contribute to its revival by opening a branch of his restaurant in Aleppo once the situation becomes more stable. I want to be part of the solution to bring jobs and hope back to my people, he said, his voice resolute. To make that possible, Enaba plans to split his time between Egypt and Syria, nurturing his businesses and contributing to both communities at the same time. Egypt has given me so much, but I also want to give back to Syria, he said. When Enaba first set his foot on Egypt, the gift of the Nile, he was struck by the generosity of the Egyptian people, who offered him shelter and guidance. I was overwhelmed by their kindness, Enaba recalled. They made me feel like family. I found work quickly, and with the support of the local community and government services, I was able to establish my restaurant. Enaba said he cherishes the friendships he has forged with Egyptian colleagues and customers, sharing laughter and stories over plates of steaming Shawarma. I will never forget what the Egyptian people have done for me, he said earnestly. According to the International Organisation for Migration, Egypt is home to 9 million migrants and refugees, including 1.5 million Syrians, among whom is Khaled Omar, who has been living on the other side of Greater Cairo for 10 years. Omar, a Syrian tailor with a passion for design, has also carved out a successful life for himself in Egypt. His wedding dress shop, nestled in the bustling downtown area, is a haven of creativity and craftsmanship. I pour my heart into every dress, Omar, a 38-year-old father of three, told Xinhua news agency. Each one is a dream come true. Cairo has been good to me. I have built a successful business and a good life here, Omar said. Still, the latest developments in Syria have rekindled his dream of returning to his beloved hometown of Damascus. Damascus is in my blood, he said, his voice filled with yearning. I can almost smell the scent of my mothers cooking filling our Damascus home. He envisions walking the familiar streets, inhaling the intimate scents of spices and jasmine, embracing his family after years of separation, and contributing to the rebuilding of his war-torn city. I want to be part of its rebirth, he said, already considering how he can contribute to Syrias economy after he returns. Maybe I will open a workshop in Damascus. I may share my skills and create jobs. Omar said his heart will always hold a special place for Egypt. I will never forget the kindness I have experienced here. This is my second home, and I will always cherish it. Omar is particularly grateful for the opportunities he has been given in Egypt, where he felt welcomed and supported from the moment he arrived. He credited Egypt for allowing him to live and work freely, build a life and a career, and integrate into the society. Egypt gave me a chance to rebuild my life. I was able to live like any other Egyptian, with no restrictions, and for that, I am eternally grateful, he said, with a touch of warmth in his voice. US President-elect Donald Trump has repeated his call to acquire the Panama Canal, Canada, and Greenland, citing national security and economic benefits, in his Christmas greetings. Through a series of posts on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Wednesday, Trump reiterated his long-standing views on the importance of these territories for the United States. Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago), always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in repair money, but will have absolutely nothing to say about anything, Trump wrote. Trump added, Also (Merry Christmas), to Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada, whose Citizens Taxes are far too high, but if Canada was to become our 51st State, their Taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other Country anywhere in the World. On Greenland, he said, Likewise, to the people of Greenland, which is needed by the United States for National Security purposes and, who want the U.S. to be there, and we will! Trump also took a jab at his political opponents, saying, Merry Christmas to the Radical Left Lunatics, who are constantly trying to obstruct our Court System and our Elections, and are always going after the Great Citizens and Patriots of the United States but, in particular, their Political Opponent, ME. They know that their only chance of survival is getting pardons from a man who has absolutely no idea what he is doing. Also, to the 37 most violent criminals, who killed, raped, and plundered like virtually no one before them, but were just given, incredibly, a pardon by Sleepy Joe Biden. I refuse to wish a Merry Christmas to those lucky souls but, instead, will say, GO TO HELL! We had the Greatest Election in the History of our Country, a bright light is now shining over the U.S.A. and, in 26 days, we will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. MERRY CHRISTMAS! added Trump. Earlier, Trumps son, Eric Trump, fuelled speculation further by posting a meme showing Trump purchasing Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal, captioned, We are so back!!! Trump has long expressed interest in Greenland, calling its ownership necessary for national security and freedom throughout the world. He also referred to the Panama Canal as a vital national asset for the United States due to its critical role to Americas economy and national security. Trump had also taken a jibe at Canada and said that the country should consider becoming the 51st state of the United States as this move would benefit Canadians through reduced taxes and military protection. Advertisement Advertisement Mayor Eric Adams (center) at an event in support of Joe Biden on October 1 in New York. Adam Gray (REUTERS) Justice has made Republican Donald Trump, the president-elect of the United States, and Democrat Eric Adams, the mayor of New York, strange bedfellows. The legal troubles of the incoming president and the corruption indictment hanging over the mayor have brought the two theoretical rivals closer together, as has an issue that worries both of them: immigration policy. New York has received more than 225,000 migrants since the spring of 2022, the reception of whom has cost the municipal coffers over $6 billion. The convergence of interests between Trumps immigration policy and Adams request for help to resolve the pressure the newcomers have placed on the city has worked the miracle of understanding, as much as Trumps promised pardon for the criminal case against Adams for charges related to contributions from foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official to fund his mayoral campaign in 2021. As City Hall crumbles by the minute a top police official resigned over the weekend after being accused of sexual harassment, and an aide to Adams was charged with corruption last Friday, the latest in a long list of collaborators the gestures of conciliation between the two politicians are increasing. Trump has said he is considering pardoning Adams, after the latter repeatedly praised him. Politically in a slump despite being charged, Adams has not given up on running for re-election next year the former police officer turned mayor further alienated his fellow party members last week when, in an interview on the conservative television network Fox News, he criticized the administration of President Joe Biden with arguments so right-wing that the presenter asked him if he was considering re-affiliating with the Republican Party. A few months ago, Adams dropped the idea that he might seek re-election as mayor on the conservative ticket, although he denied it shortly afterward. In this uneven balance of interests, it is Adams who stands to lose, and not just politically. New Yorks campaign finance board recently voted to withhold up to $4.3 million of the mayors matching funds, making his re-election bid much more difficult. A representative of the more moderate or centrist faction of the Democrats, Adams is not, however, the only New York Democrat trying to curry favor with the incoming Trump administration; New York Governor Kathy Hochul, also a Democrat, has also expressed her willingness to cooperate. In the Fox News interview, Adams said that the Democrats lost the presidential election because they had spent the campaign demonizing Trump instead of addressing the real needs of the people. Adams called the border czar of the future Republican administration, Tom Homan, a partner; he said that the Biden administrations border policy had created a pipeline for criminality, and raised the possibility of circumventing the laws in force in New York which is obliged to offer shelter to new arrivals to allow the collaboration of local police with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Adams referred specifically to allowing federal agents to enter the Rikers Island jail, where hundreds of illegal immigrants, convicts, or those awaiting trial are crowded together. According to Trumps team, the first to be deported in its mass expulsion plans will be foreigners with criminal records. As much as immigration pressure has been steadily declining for the past five months the city plans to close 25 shelters by March Adams has a more pressing need: his corruption trial, scheduled for April. His political rivals, and quite a few fellow Democrats, say that praise for Trump is an obvious way to receive favorable treatment if he is convicted, something the councilman denies. After the Republicans election victory, the New York mayor pointed out that the president-elect had also been politically persecuted in the courts, Trumps favorite phrase to describe his judicial processes. Adams conciliatory or at least cautious attitude is completely opposite to the stance adopted by New York officials eight years ago, when Trump was first elected president. It is also a far cry from the messages of Democratic governors in Illinois or California, who have taken a much more belligerent stance toward the incoming administration, denouncing Trumps plans, calling for urgent legislative sessions, and forming special groups to preserve the rule of law. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, for example, has promised to uphold the citys sanctuary laws, drawing harsh criticism from Homan, who has threatened to prosecute him. Adams, on the other hand, has expressed his intention to resort to an executive order to change this policy of reception, in force since the 1980s and which has made New York one of the countrys sanctuary cities. Not content with the change of direction, Adams has also echoed a false claim made by the Republicans from Trump to his number two, J. D. Vance, or the magnate Elon Musk according to which hundreds of thousands of migrant children have disappeared at the border and could be victims of child labor abuse or sexual trafficking. Adams expressed his willingness to collaborate with the Republican immigration authorities to find the minors. In addition to Adams and Hochul, who have expressed their agreement with the president-elect on border security issues, New York Attorney General Letitia James, also a Democrat who has initiated and won several cases against Trump in court, has indicated that she is willing to work with the president-elect or anybody, regardless of party. Such statements have angered representatives of the more progressive or leftist wing of the Democratic Party in New York, although the more pragmatic maintain that antagonizing Trump would only harm the city and the state. Starting in January, Republicans will have control of both chambers of Congress, as well as the presidency, and clearly gained ground in the city and the state in the elections last November. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is expected to declared the results of the November 2024 CA Final examination on December 26. Where to check CA Final exam results? Candidates can check their scores on the official website icai.nic.in. In a statement, ICAI said, "The result of the Chartered Accountant Final Examinations held in November 2024 is likely to be declared on Thursday, the 26th December 2024 (Late evening) and the same can be accessed by candidates at the website icai.nic.in." The candidates have to enter their registration number and roll number to access the results. "It may be noted that for accessing the result at the above mentioned website the candidate shall have to enter his/her registration no. along with his/her roll number," added the statement. How to check CA Final exam results Join us to shape the future of family enterprises with ICAI's 1st Advanced Flagship Program(Residential) on Empowering Trusted Advisors Unlocking the Potential of Family Enterprises Date 7-11 January 2025 Venue-ICAI Centre of Excellence, Hyderabad Register https://t.co/p2ywXKbD7q pic.twitter.com/c2dtgkZ3UF Institute of Chartered Accountants of India - ICAI (@theicai) December 26, 2024 Go to icai.nic.in. Click on CA Final Result 2024 on homepage. In the new window that appears, enter roll number, registration number and captcha code. Once Submitted, the results will be displayed. Candidates can download the score card and print them. The CA Final exams were held last month, with Group 1 exams being held on November 3, 5, and 7 while Group II exams were held on November 9, 11 and 13. Important things to note If the Statement of Marks displays # sign next to the score, the candidate is exempted from reappearing for the paper. Insead of 'Fail', their Group status will be shown as F-Ex. The minimum marks to clear the CA Final exams is 40 per cent for each paper and 50 per cent for each group, If the candidates have passed, they will be issued pass certificate within 60 days. If the candidates do not get the Statement of Marks with four to five weeks after the results are announced, they can seek help by emailing at dms_examhelpline@icai.in. Real estate fraud seemed to be the norm this week for Navi Mumbai, the satellite township to Mumbai, as multiple police reports reported various cases being registered regarding sale deals. Police officials said that a 48-year-old doctor was allegedly cheated of Rs 70 lakh by three persons with the intent of selling a flat in Navi Mumbai. The alleged perpetrators, including a woman, showed the flat to the doctor. However, it was already sold to someone else. They asked the doctor to pay Rs 70 lakh, but when he found out he did not get possession of it, they evaded his calls. When the doctor could not reach the accused to get his money back, he filed a complaint with the police, who registered a case amounting to cheating and criminal breach of trust, according to law enforcement officials. In another case, the Navi Mumbai police announced they registered a case against the owner of a private firm and four others for allegedly duping 36 persons of at least Rs 2 crore in land deals. According to police, the victims and the accused entered deals regarding the sale of land at Jui in Navi Mumbai and took around Rs 2.07 crore from them. Yet, they did not provide the victims with possession of the land. They also refused to return the money. An official at the Vashi police station said that the case was registered after the victims lodged a complaint against the company owner and four others. Forex fraud during Christmas week Another alleged crime that was reported in Navi Mumbai had a 26-year-old Tempo driver as the victim. An official from the APMC police station said that the accused met the victim between December 21 and 22 and allegedly took Rs 5 lakh from him in exchange for a bundle of notes they claimed to be US dollars. However, when the victim later checked the notes, he discovered that only the facing note was a US dollar note and the rest were blank pieces of paper. The police said they registered an FIR against three accused following the victim's complaint on Tuesday. Even as the first batch of M1A2T Abrams tanks arrived in Taiwan from the US, China warned that the weaponry from America is "nothing but easy targets on the battlefields." China claims the stringed island of Taiwan as part of its mainland. The arrival of M1A2T, a specialised version of the M1 Abrams, tailored to suit Taiwan's defence needs, is set to boost the country's military capabilities amid rising tensions with China. This was the first time in 23 years that Taiwan received tanks from the US. According to Taiwan's ministry of national defense, its armed forces will receive 38 M1A2T tanks this year, 42 next year, and 28 in 2026. ALSO READ: What is China's anaconda strategy, the 'slow and steady' tactic against Taiwan China urged the US to abide by the one-China principle and stop arming Taiwan. Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang asked the US to stop its dangerous moves that undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, according to Global Times. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will comprehensively improve its combat readiness, enhance its capability to fight and win, and firmly smash any Taiwan independence separatist plot and foreign interference, he said. He claimed that the Taiwan question is purely China's internal matter and no external force will be allowed to interfere. Zhang said the PLA is confident and capable of thwarting all such external influence. Indian Navy is set for a major capability boost in the New Year with the induction of two frontline warships and a submarine next month. INS Nilgiri, the the first stealth frigate of Project 17A class; INS Surat, the fourth stealth destroyer of Project 15B Class; and INS Vagsheer, the sixth and final submarine of the Kalvari-class, are expected to bolster the Navy's operational capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), even as China is constantly trying to expand its footprint in the region. The Navy's Warship Design Bureau designed the two warships built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL). Equipped with cutting-edge advanced technology and comparable to the finest ships of similar class anywhere in the world, INS Nilgiri, the first of class (FoC) ship of Project 17A, incorporates design concepts for improved survivability, seakeeping, stealth and ship manoeuvrability. ALSO READ: Indian Navy stealth guided missile frigate INS Tushil begins journey home from Russia What makes this warshippacked with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors and has an all-round capability against enemy submarines, surface warships, anti-ship missiles, and fighter aircrafttough to detect is the shaping of the hull and radar transparent deck fittings. MDL said INS Nilgiri is mounted with guns for close-in defence capability and effective naval gunfire. The warship is enabled to operate independently without supporting vessels and to function as the flagship of the Naval task force. INS Surat, the fourth ship of Project 15B and is a potent platform capable of undertaking a wide variety of tasks and missions, spanning the full spectrum of maritime warfare, is armed with supersonic surface-to-surface Brahmos missiles and 'Barak-8 medium-range surface-to-air missiles. READ MORE: Pakistan to have 40 fifth-generation stealth J-35 fighter jets soon. Is this a threat to India's air dominance? The destroyer, significantly more versatile than the previous classes of destroyer and frigates in the Indian Navy's inventory, is fitted with indigenously developed anti-submarine weapons and sensors, prominently the hull-mounted Sonar HUMSA-NG, heavy-weight torpedo tube launchers and ASW rocket launchers. INS Surat's all-round capability against enemy submarines, surface warships, anti-ship missiles and fighter aircraft will enable it to operate independently without supporting vessels and also to function as the flagship of a Naval task force, the company said. "Surat has been delivered to the Indian Navy ahead of the contractual time as the most combat-worthy platform to date. This reaffirms MDL's commitment towards continuous improvement and exceeding global benchmark," the MDL said. INS Vagsheer, the sixth Scorpene Submarine of Project-75 launched in April 2022, was designed by French naval defence, and can operate in all theatres of operation. The addition of Vagsheer will help address gaps in India's underwater warfare capabilities as the Navy's number of submarines has been reduced from 21 in the 1980s to 16 now. The navies of India and Sri Lanka carried out joint naval exercises, including gun firings and communication procedures, as part of the Sri Lanka-India Exercise 2024 SLINEX 24. The joint exercise was conducted in two phases from December 17 to 20 at Visakhapatnam under the aegis of the Eastern Naval Command in two phases. The harbour phase was held on 17 and 18 and the sea phase from 19 to 20. During the harbour phase, the participants engaged in professional and social exchanges, while the sea phase saw joint exercises by special forces of both the navies, gun firings, communication procedures, seamanship as well as navigation evolutions and helicopter operations. READ MORE: Come 2025, Indian Navy's cutting-edge warships, submarine will dominate Indian Ocean SLINEX series of bilateral exercises were initiated in 2005, and since then regular exercises have been conducted. "The current edition of the exercise has further strengthened the ties between the two maritime neighbours and contributed towards creating a safe and rule-based Maritime domain, thereby taking forward the government of Indias resolve and vision of Security And Growth for All in the Region," the defence ministry said in a release. Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit complained with Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena on Thursday, accusing the Aam Aadmi Party of collecting sensitive details in the name of non-existent programmes like its 'Mahila Samman' scheme. The scheme promising to provide Rs 2,100 for women in Delhi is AAPs key plank for the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls. Accusing AAP of committing fraud with women in the national capital, Dikshit said AAP workers were collecting phone numbers and addresses of women by making them fill out forms for a scheme that does not exist. Dikshit charged Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal claimed the 'Mahila Samman Yojana' was already operational in the city, which is not the case. "Any political party can promise anything. If they had said that they would give Rs 2,100 if they win the elections, then there was no issue. But they said that a scheme of Rs 1,000 is going on, and they will convert it to Rs 2,100. And they are making you (women) fill forms for the scheme," PTI reported quoting Dikshit. Congresss complaint comes a day after a couple of departments under the Delhi government clarified there is no such scheme and distanced themselves from AAPs promises. The Delhi government's women and child development and health department cautioned the people against providing personal details to anyone on the pretext of registration for "non-existent" schemes. The departments also said any private individual or political party collecting such physical forms or information is "fraudulent and without any authority". Dikshits complaint comes a day after Congress treasurer Ajay Maken launched a scathing attack against Kejriwal and called the latter anti-national. Maken also called the former Delhi chief minister king of fraud. Furious with Congress leaders accusations against the Aam Aadmi Party and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, AAP leaders said they would urge other opposition parties to expel Congress from the INDIA bloc if it fails to take action against Ajay Maken. Addressing presspersons, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh charged Congress has some understanding with the Bharatiya Janata Party for Delhi election. Congress's senior leader Ajay Maken said that Arvind Kejriwal is anti-national. I want to ask the Congress party if they have ever levelled the same allegations against any BJP leader. No, Atishi charged. #WATCH | Delhi CM Atishi says, "Congress's action makes it clear that the party has made some arrangements with BJP for Delhi elections. Yesterday, Congress's senior leader Ajay Maken said that Arvind Kejriwal is anti-national. I want to ask the Congress party if they have ever pic.twitter.com/eoWpD6Guvr ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2024 The Delhi CM alleged the BJP is funding the election campaign of a few Congress leaders in the national capital. We have heard that Sandeep Dikshit is getting funded by BJP. If Congress thinks we (AAP) are anti-national, then why did they contest Lok Sabha elections in alliance with us? she asked. Atishi said the Congress party must take action against Ajay Maken within 24 hours else they would consult with other parties to remove Congress from the INDIA bloc. AAP's move comes amidst growing support for the call to make Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee leader of the INDIA bloc, replacing Rahul Gandhi. On Wednesday, Congress leader Ajay Maken came down heavily on AAP and called Arvind Kejriwal an anti-national. Maken said the Congresss alliance with AAP during Lok Sabha polls on Monday was a mistake. Maken alleged, If anyone is the king of fraud in the entire country then it is Kejriwal and that is why we have come here with a white paper on the Kejriwal government and also on the BJP government at the Centre. AAPs charges also come after Congress filed a complaint against it over its flagship 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana' scheme. Sanjay Singh also accused the Congress of colluding with the BJP against AAP. "We had not said a single word against the Congress during the Haryana election. Yet the Congress seems to be reading out from the BJP's script. Its candidates' list looks as if it was finalised at the BJP office," Singh charged. Singh added, "Ajay Maken has crossed all limits by calling Arvind Kejriwal anti-national. Despite campaigning for the Congress in past elections, Kejriwal now faces an FIR, while the Congress had never filed a single FIR against any BJP leader. An academic symposium on the violation of human rights upon the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh was held at a hotel in Kolkata on Thursday by the All India Legal Aid Forum (AILAF). Rabindra Ghosh, the prominent advocate in Bangladesh defending the arrested Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, was also present at the meeting. Ghosh, who was allegedly heckled and attacked while he was trying to appear on behalf of Chinmoy Krishna Das at the Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions judges court, told the symposium how successive governments in Bangladesh have shifted away from the countrys foundational ideals of democracy based on socialism and secularism. Talking about how even the judiciary has been taken over, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh advocate said, In many cases, I have appeared where the victims were Hindus. I told the judge in similar cases a Muslim had been given bail. All grounds are the same. I asked then why a Hindu wouldnt be given bail. Nothing happened. I was forced to withdraw a case related to the protection of a temple. We tried to register 3000 such cases but the court didnt help us, he added, claiming theres a sense of ethnic cleansing in how the minorities are being violated of their rights. The septuagenarian lawyer, who is also associated with Bangladesh Minority Watch and Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities, said that they have reached out to the United Nations and the Rome Statute of International Criminal Court. If they dont give us justice, then surely we have to go to higher authorities. The AILAF extended its support to Ghosh and issued a powerful statement, wherein it condemned the "traumatic torture" faced by the minority Hindu community and said it is a direct violation of Human Rights, Fundamental Rights and International Rights. The forum called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), the International Court of Justice, and the Bangladesh government to take immediate action to safeguard the Hindu community, halt violence against them, conduct thorough investigations into these incidents, and release Hindu religious leaders involved. Several former Indian Army officers, including Brigadier Debasish Das and Colonel Soumitra Roy, were also present at the symposium, along with Samir Kumar Mitra, the former DIG of BSF, and C.S. Karnan, a former judge of Calcutta and Madras high courts. Colonel Roy said, Indian soldiers shed their blood and died for the independence of Bangladesh. Whats happening in the neighbouring country is unexpected. India will take the right steps at the right time. Following the Supreme Court of India's deadline, a special ED court in Kolkata began framing charges on Thursday against former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment scam. On December 13, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjala Bhuyan, while granting Chatterjee conditional bail, instructed the trial court to finalise the framing of charges either before the winter vacation or by December 31, whichever came first. Even though the courts are now on winter break, a special court sat on Thursday to frame charges against the former minister and 53 others. According to the law, all those named in the chargesheet appeared at the court. The framing of charges was supposed to start on Monday but several of the accused alleged that the ED had not submitted all the required documents, prompting the court to ask the central agency to be more cooperative. After reviewing the charges against Partha Chatterjee, who has filed for discharge from the case, the trial court is set to record witness statements by the third or fourth week of January, as per the Supreme Court's directive. Chatterjee may be granted bail by February 1, but he will have to attend every court hearing thereafter. Meanwhile, the ED has claimed to have evidence of financial transactions between Chatterjee and Sujaykrishna Bhadra, a key accused in the money laundering case. However, despite the potential relief in the ED case, the TMC leader is likely to remain in custody, as his bail plea in a separate case under investigation by the CBI was dismissed earlier this week. This case involves an alleged recruitment scam within the West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBPE). On Tuesday, Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty of the Calcutta High Court rejected the bail applications of Chatterjee and four others, Subiresh Bhattacharjee, Kalyanmoy Gangopadhyay, Ashok Saha, and Shanti Prasad Sinha. On November 20, a two-judge bench of the high court issued a split verdict on the bail pleas of nine individuals connected to the CBI case. While four of the accused were granted bail, the remaining five were denied, as the judges could not reach a consensus. Subsequently, the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court referred the matter to a single bench led by Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty for resolution. KYODO NEWS - Dec 26, 2024 - 09:50 | All, Japan Defense contractor Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. generated about 1.7 billion yen ($11 million) in slush funds over six years through bogus transactions with subcontractors, using part of the money to buy goods or meals for members of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force, sources close to the matter said Wednesday in disclosing the figure. The Defense Ministry will demand that Kawasaki Heavy, which handles maintenance and repairs of MSDF submarines, repay the amount overcharged since fiscal 2018, according to the sources. The ministry, which will soon release an interim report on its investigation into the scandal, found that the company's repair work included procurement that never took place. By charging the MSDF for such fictitious purchases as part of repair contract work, Kawasaki Heavy generated slush funds used to buy goods requested by submarine crew members or pay for their meals, the sources said. Kawasaki Heavy sources have said company officials and MSDF crew customarily dine together when a submarine undergoes a repair, a practice that likely led to the scheme of pooling money to cover personal items and meal expenses. The revelations of the scandal in July came on the heels of a spate of misconduct cases, including mishandling of classified information, power harassment cases and fraudulent receipt of duty allowances, which resulted in disciplinary actions against 218 SDF members and Defense Ministry bureaucrats. The MSDF's submarines are manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., with both companies providing regular maintenance and repair services. Following the discovery of Kawasaki Heavy's slush funds, the ministry has also investigated Mitsubishi Heavy and discovered that the company purchased items not specified in contracts and failed to conduct some of the contracted services. Mitsubishi Heavy will also be asked to repay the ministry, according to the sources. Related coverage: Kawasaki Heavy fails to declare billions of yen in taxable income Japan's top admiral steps down as SDF hit by scandals Japan parliament passes bills to improve political fund transparency The death toll in the tragic fire incident in Jaipur increased to 19 as another person undergoing treatment at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital succumbed to burn injuries on Thursday. Hospital authorities said 11 are still undergoing treatment at the hospital. Dr Sushil Bhati, superintendent of SMS Hospital informed that one more death was recorded on Thursday. The patient, Lalaram (28), suffered severe burn injuries in the incident and was on ventilator support. Dr Bhati said the deceased suffered 60 per cent burns in the fire. "Currently, 11 people are undergoing treatment at the hospital," he said. Dr Bhatti added two or three patients are doing better and they are likely to get discharged on Thursday. Lalaram's friend Ramavtar told PTI that the victim was working as a security guard in an IT company at the Mahindra SEZ. He was on his way to work on a motorcycle when he got engulfed in flames. He had a morning shift that day. He was a resident of Sanganer but had shifted to the Kanota area on the Agra highway sometime ago. He was on a motorcycle when the incident happened," Ramavtar told PTI. A massive fire occurred on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway on December 20 after a truck loaded with chemicals hit against an LPG tanker and other vehicles. According to police, in the collision, the outlet nozzle of the LPG tanker got damaged, leading to a gas leak and it caused a massive fireball. At least five succumbed on the spot itself and close to 40 vehicles got completely gutted in the fire. Three persons succumbed to burn injuries on Wednesday. Jaipur police recently interrogated the driver of the tanker who managed to escape from the accident site immediately after the clash. The driver, Jaiveer (40), a resident of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, reportedly called and informed the vehicle owner about the clash immediately after the incident and switched off his phone. In recent days, the BJP and its allies have made a concerted effort to assert that the next Bihar election will be fought under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's leadership, even though the state polls are still months away, in October-November. This issue has gained significance in light of the NDAs recent decision in Maharashtra, where the BJPs Devendra Fadnavis was appointed Chief Minister, with the incumbent Eknath Shinde accepting the position of Deputy CM. This has sparked speculation that a similar model could be adopted in Bihar, where the BJP holds more seats than its ally, the JDU, to which Nitish Kumar belongs. Home Minister Amit Shahs comment that the leadership will be decided "later" has only fueled further debate. Nitish Kumar is known for not tolerating challenges to his leadership, having switched sides in the past when necessary. As the buzz intensified in Bihar, the BJP recalibrated its strategy. After a key meeting of its core group last week, the party announced that the upcoming election would be fought under both Nitish and Modis leadership. This was a clear attempt to send a reassuring message to the state, particularly to Nitish Kumar, who has become important in countering the INDIA alliances social justice agenda, as well as the recent controversy surrounding B.R. Ambedkar. At the same time, the central government appointed Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan as the new Governor of Bihar. Khan, a Muslim, is the first such appointee in the state in 26 years. His appointment is likely to send a positive message to the states Muslim population17% of the electorateand may help strengthen the BJPs appeal in a state where the opposition RJD draws significant support from Yadavs and Muslims. As Governor, Khan will have ample time to engage with and improve the dialogue between the NDA and these key voter groups. Khan has demonstrated a willingness to take positions that may not align with local leadership, particularly in his previous standoff with the Left government in Kerala. In his new assignment, Khan will have a more conciliatory approach with Nitish Kumar. Nonetheless, he is likely to be proactive in his public engagements as the election draws nearer. As Bihar moves closer to the polls, all eyes will be on Nitish Kumar and how he reacts to the overtures of his allies, particularly, the BJP. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi after his health deteriorated on Thursday night. The 92-year-old veteran Congress leader was brought to the emergency department of the hospital, PTI reported quoting sources. His condition is said to be critical. The reason for his hospitalisation was not immediately known. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has reached the hospital while party president Mallikarjun Kharge and former chief Sonia Gandhi are expected to arrive shortly. BJP president J.P. Nadda has also arrived at the hospital. #WATCH | Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrives at AIIMS, Delhi pic.twitter.com/4IRFy3AfsP ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2024 Singh, who served as the prime minister in two consecutive terms from 2004 to 2014, retired as a Rajya Sabha MP in April this year. He had been a member of the upper house since 1991. Singh is considered the key architect of Indias economic reforms which were implemented during his tenure as the finance minister in the P.V. Narasinha Rao-led government from 1991-1996. He also served as the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha from 1998 to 2004. The town of Katra has come to a halt with a three-day strike to oppose the proposed construction of a ropeway connecting Tarakote Marg to Sanjhi Chhat. The protest, spearheaded by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti and backed by a coalition of pony owners, shopkeepers, and local transport workers, has disrupted everyday life and left many pilgrims in distress. The protesters contend that the ropeway project will divert pilgrims away from the traditional footpath route, threatening the livelihoods of thousands who depend on the pilgrimage for their income. According to Bhupinder Singh, a representative of the Sangharsh Samiti, the project disregards local concerns. The authorities are making decisions without considering how this will affect families who have served pilgrims for generations, Singh stated. The situation intensified when police stopped an unauthorised march organized by the protesters. Minor scuffles broke out as law enforcement resorted to a light baton charge to disperse the gathering. Seventeen individuals were detained, six of whom have since started a hunger strike while in custody, demanding their grievances be addressed. Adding to the protests momentum, local political leaders have voiced their support. Former ministers Ajay Nanda and Jugal Kishore Sharma joined the demonstrations, emphasizing the projects adverse effects on local businesses. Sharma criticized the Shrine Board for its alleged insensitivity, saying, Dialogue is essential to resolve this impasse. Force is not the answer. Meanwhile, pilgrims heading to the Vaishno Devi shrine are bearing the brunt of the shutdown. With shops, restaurants, and transportation services non-operational, many visitors are struggling to find food, shelter, and other basic amenities. Protesters have reiterated their demand for the project to be scrapped entirely, citing its potential to undermine the economic stability of the region. Despite repeated efforts to raise these concerns with the authorities in the past, no resolution has been reached, deepening the sense of discontent among residents. Security agencies have started a massive probe to identify local helpers of slain Pakistan-sponsored Khalistani terrorists who were recently gunned down in a joint operation by police of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Senior police officials said security forces are alert and conducting a probe to identify local helpers of the three terrorists killed in Pilibhit. Bareilly Range IG Rakesh Singh said police and intelligence agencies are keeping vigil following the threats. "Investigations are underway, and security measures have been intensified in the border areas. Action will be taken against anyone who is found to have helped the terror elements," Singh said. In a joint operation, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh police recently gunned down three members of terror outfit Khalistan Zindabad Force at Pilibhit on Monday. The deceased militants were identified as Gurvinder Singh (25), Virender Singh alias Ravi (23) and Jaspreet Singh alias Pratap Singh (18) and all three hail from Gurdaspur. The militants were allegedly involved in the grenade attack on a police establishment in Gurdaspur. Police also recovered two AK-47 rifles, two Glock pistols and a huge cache of ammunition from the militants. Punjab police chief Gaurav Yadav termed it as a major breakthrough against a Pakistan-sponsored terror module. Yadav said further probe is underway to unveil the entire terror module. Following the incident, security agencies, including the police and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), have intensified surveillance in the Puranpur region. IG Singh said that the border is under strict surveillance and that there is strong coordination between the police and the SSB to stop infiltrators from crossing the border. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, described as the architect of Indian economic reforms, died on Thursday. Here is the timeline of his five-decade old career in bureaucracy and politics. 1954: Completed Master's in Economics from Panjab University 1957: Economic Tripos (3-year degree prog) from Cambridge University 1962: D.Phil in Economics from Oxford University 1971: Joins Government of India as Economic Advisor in Commerce Ministry 1972: Appointed Chief Economic Advisor in Finance Ministry 1980-82: Member, Planning Commission 1982-1985: Governor of the Reserve Bank of India 1985-87: Served as Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission 1987-90: Secretary General of South Commission in Geneva 1990: Appointed Advisor to Prime Minister on Economic Affairs March 1991: Appointed chairman of University Grants Commission 1991: Elected to Rajya Sabha from Assam, and re-elected in 1995, 2001, 2007 and 2013 1991-96: Finance Minister under P.V. Narasimha Rao government 1998-2004: Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha 2004-2014: Prime Minister of India In his last address to the nation as prime minister, Manmohan Singh said he had undertaken the responsibility of being PM with diligence as my tool, truth as my beacon and a prayer that I might always do the right thing. As Singh breathed his last on Thursday, he will be remembered for all the right things he did. He was 92. In his own words, Singh was an underprivileged child of partition who was empowered enough to rise and occupy the high office. He was prime minister for 10 years from 2004 onwards His elevation as the prime minister was a significant moment in Indian history as he became the first Sikh and the first member from a minority community to attain the top post. With an impeccable CV and world-class experience, Manmohan gave hope to the countrys middle class and its educated citizens. During his first term, he worked on revitalising the economy and also gave the country some of its landmark rights-based legislations like the NREGA, Right to Education and Right to Information. In the Nehruvian tradition, his government set up a ministry of minority affairs and appointed the Sachar Committee to study the socio-economic and educational condition of Muslims. He also personally reached out to the Sikhs by apologising for the pogrom of 1984. Even before he became the prime minister and left a mark with his genteel manners, Singh as a finance minister under P.V. Narasimha Rao, heralded the country into an era of economic prosperity and brought about landmark economic reforms. No power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come... India as a major economic power in the world happens to be one such idea, Singh had said in his first 1991 budget speech. He also steered the country during the difficult time of the economic slowdown of 2008. As a prime minister, Singh came with a pacifist agenda and a desire to improve relations with neighbours and the Western powers. The high point of his tenure was the civil nuclear deal with the US, an issue over which he was even willing to sacrifice his government. This enhanced the India-US relations to the next level. However, his tenure witnessed the creation of two power centresthe PMO and the National Advisory Council headed by United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi. His second tenure was marked by allegations of corruption and his loosening control over the government as allies and several Congress leaders undermined his authority. Owing to his personality of being a quiet and reticent politician, a quality often misunderstood in the Indian polity, he had to face persistent attacks from the Opposition. During his lifetime, Singh did not get the due credit for the kind of work he had done during his tenure. My silence is better than a thousand answers. If I start answering, it will throw up several more questions which will beg for answers, he once told the Opposition. Singhs legacy will be analysed in the days ahead. He may get the due credit for how the country progressed due to his economic and rights-based policies. History will judge me better, Manmohan had remarked when faced with persistent criticism. History will cast a kind eye on him. Israel and Hamas blamed each other after negotiations for the release of hostages seemed to have come to a grinding halt. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office accused Hamas of lying about the ceasefire negotiations and backtracking on their promises. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "Just as we have acted forcefully against the terror arms of Iran's axis of evil, so too will we act against the Houthis. https://t.co/wo9MTm0F7x pic.twitter.com/mEYiTfINKG Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 22, 2024 The terrorist organization Hamas is lying again, reneging on the understandings already reached, and continuing to make it difficult for the negotiations," the PMO said in a statement. Netanyahu's office said Israel will continue its efforts to get the hostages released. However, Iran-backed Hamas alleged that Israel is making new demands during the negotiations. The group said it was "responsible and flexible" in the ceasefire negotiations mediatated by Qatar and Egypt. But Hamas said Israel brought up new demands for withdrawal, ceasefire, prisoners and rehabilitation of dispaced Palestinians. Meanwhile, Hamas has refused to provide the list of living and dead hostages who would be released in the first phase of the ceasefire. The proposed truce is planned in three stages. Israel and Hamas are yet to finalise the number of Palestinian prisoners who will be released. Hamas has also sought to end the war permanently. Hamas has asked Israel to withdraw from Palestinian cities and allow people to return home. Though Israel has approved rehabilitation of people in Gaza City, it is opposed to people returning to northern areas near its border. New Delhi, Dec 25 (PTI)Leading cement maker UltraTech has completed the acquisition of promoters a 32.72 per cent stake in India Cements Ltd, following which N Srinivasan and other promoters of the South-based cement maker have stepped down. The Aditya Birla Group firm has completed the acquisition of 10.13 crore equity shares of India Cements Ltd (ICL), representing 32.72 per cent of the equity share capital of the company. "This, together with the existing shareholding of 7.05 crore equity shares (22.77 per cent) of the equity share capital of ICL, has resulted in the Companys shareholding increasing to 17.19 crore equity shares representing 55.49 per cent of ICL's equity share capital," UltraTech had informed in a late-night regulatory filing on Tuesday. Consequently, ICL "has become a subsidiary of the Company" with effect from December 24, 2024, it added. On Wednesday, ICL informed that pursuant to the completion of the transaction and due to the consequent cessation of control by the existing promoters over the company, N Srinivasan has stepped down as Vice Chairman and Managing Director. Besides, his daughter Rupa Gurunath, wife Chitra Srinivasan and V M Mohan have also stepped down from the board of the company, according to a regulatory filing by ICL. Moreover, "pursuant to the consummation of the Transaction on December 24 2024, UltraTech has acquired sole control of the company and has become the promoter of the company in accordance with the LODR Regulations", informed ICL. Further, the board also recorded the resignation of certain independent directors - S Balasubramanian Adityan, Krishna Srivastava, Lakshmi Aparna Sreekumar and Sandhya Rajan with effect from the end of business hours on December 25, 2024, it added. The board has also appointed four new directors - K C Jhanwar, Vivek Agrawal, E R Raj Narayanan and Ashok Ramachandran. Besides, three independent directors - Alka Bharucha, Vikas Balia and Sukanya Kripalu - have come on board of ICL. Last week, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) cleared over Rs 7,000-crore deal, wherein billionaire Kumar Mangalam Birla promoted UltraTech Cement had proposed to acquire a majority stake in India Cements Ltd. The fair trade regulator also granted its clearance to UltraTech Cement to acquire up to 26 per cent of the paid-up equity share capital of India Cements by way of an open offer, it added. On July 28, UltraTech Cement announced the acquisition of a 32.72 per cent stake in India Cements Ltd (ICL) from promoters and their associates in a Rs 3,954-crore deal, which will expand its footprint in the highly competitive and fast-growing southern cement market. Besides, Ultratech has also announced a Rs 3,142.35 crore open offer to acquire 26 per cent share of ICL from its shareholders. Earlier, in June UltraTech acquired 23 per cent shares of ICL. It had acquired Damani-groups stake in India Cements Ltd (ICL) through two block deals in a deal which is estimated to be around Rs 1,900 crore. The Indian cement industry is witnessing consolidation and heightened rivalry between two corporate houses -- Kumar Mangalam Birla-led Aditya Birla Group and Gautam Adani-led Adani Group -- snapping smaller players. The Adani group has plans in the works to raise its production capacity to 140 MTPA by FY28, just a shade below market leader UltraTech's current capacity of 156.66 MTPA of grey cement. Adani Cement recently announced the acquisition of CK Birla group firm Orient Cement, through which it will achieve a capacity of 100 MT (million Tones) per annum by the end of FY25 and a gain of 2 per cent in the overall market share in the country. It has completed the acquisition of Saurashtra-based Sanghi Industries, and Penna Industries and recently announced the acquisition of CK Birla group firm Orient Cement as part of its inorganic growth strategy. Aditya Birla Group also plans to maintain its lead with 200 MTPA capacity by FY27. UltraTech is also in the process of acquiring Kesoram Industries' cement business and is awaiting regulatory clearance. New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) Greeting cards and gifts major Archies Ltd on Thursday said it has partnered with Al Hasnae Gifts to expand in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) market. Archies had recently commenced operations in the UAE. Through the collaboration it plans further expansions into Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, establishing a robust presence across the Middle East, the company said in a regulatory filing. "The GCC region is a dynamic market with immense potential, and we are excited to bring Archies' signature gifting range to a new audience," Archies Executive Director Varun Moolchandani said. Partnering with Al Hasnae Gifts, a renowned name in the GCC gifting industry, has facilitated Archies' seamless integration into established retail networks, including Carrefour (MAF Retail), ADCOOP outlets in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, and Union Co-op locations across Dubai, the filing said. "Our partnership with Archies aligns with our vision of curating heartfelt gifting experiences for customers across the GCC region," Al Hasnae Gifts CoFounder Al Hasnae S said. This partnership ensures a robust supply chain, enhanced market reach, and a seamless shopping experience for customers, both in-store and online, the company said. China's top legislature concludes standing committee session Xinhua) 08:06, December 26, 2024 Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the closing meeting of the 13th session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Tao) BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) concluded its 13th session here on Wednesday. At the closing meeting, lawmakers voted to adopt a law on value-added tax, a decision on amending the Supervision Law, and a revised Science and Technology Popularization Law. They adopted a decision on removing Wang Guanghua from the post of minister of natural resources and appointing Guan Zhi'ou to the position. President Xi Jinping signed four presidential orders to promulgate the laws and the decisions. Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the closing meeting. The meeting decided to submit a draft amendment to the Law on Deputies to the National People's Congress and Local People's Congresses at All Levels to the third session of the 14th NPC for further deliberation, and entrusted Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, to make explanatory remarks to the NPC session. The meeting adopted a decision on convening the third session of the 14th NPC. According to the decision, the third session of the 14th NPC will open on March 5, 2025. Lawmakers ratified an extradition treaty between China and Zimbabwe and another one between China and Suriname. They voted to adopt the name list of the members of the sixth-term Macao Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee of the NPC Standing Committee. They also adopted a deputy qualification report and personnel-related bills. Addressing the closing meeting, Zhao urged lawmakers to maintain the correct political orientation in their work, fulfill their duties in accordance with the law, take on responsibilities, and continuously improve the quality of the work of people's congresses. He called for practical, efficient, thorough and meticulous preparations and organization for the upcoming third session of the 14th NPC. Zhao also called on lawmakers to make thorough preparations and arrangements for next year's work in accordance with the key tasks of the NPC Standing Committee for 2025, as well as its work plans on legislation, oversight, deputies and foreign affairs. Zhao chaired a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee before the closing meeting and presided over a lecture for lawmakers after the closing meeting. He also granted letters of appointment to members of the sixth-term Macao Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee of the NPC Standing Committee. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, poses for a group photo with members of the sixth-term Macao Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee of the NPC Standing Committee after granting letters of appointment to them at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Tao) Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, grants letters of appointment to members of the sixth-term Macao Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee of the NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Tao) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) KYODO NEWS - Dec 26, 2024 - 17:31 | All, Japan, World Nippon Steel Corp. said Thursday it will delay the deadline for its planned acquisition of United States Steel Corp. to March 2025 instead of the end of this year, citing an ongoing review of the deal in the United States. The move came after a U.S. panel of federal agencies could not reach a consensus on whether to approve the $14.1 billion sale of U.S. Steel to the Japanese company, leaving the final decision to President Joe Biden. Biden, who leaves office on Jan. 20, must announce a decision within 15 days of the referral, which was made on Monday, according to Nippon Steel. The decision to delay the acquisition deadline also reflected the ongoing review process by U.S. antitrust authorities, the company said. "Nippon Steel hopes that the president will use this time to conduct a fair and fact-based evaluation of the acquisition," it said in a statement. Related coverage: Biden to decide on sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel within 15 days Nippon Steel pledges $5,000 worker bonus after U.S. Steel acquisition Nippon Steel hopes to finish U.S. Steel buyout by year-end Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], December 26: Plutus Education is a platform that is primarily focused on professional certification training. The organization provides quality online classes for a variety of global certifications. The courses provided are meant to help students advance in their careers. 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It's the best for career advancement. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) The government has notified a new set of subordinate legislations under the Post Office Act and the latest rules and regulations signal a shift from the traditional approach of providing mail services to the delivery of citizen-centric services, and entail opening of new avenues and generation of employment through services that can be offered through the post offices, according to an official release. The norms have been framed with the motto of Dak Sewa Jan Sewa' and aim to create a subordinate legislation with simplified language and vision of Maximum Governance and Minimum Government' and Atmanirbhar Bharat', it further said.
The Department of Posts, initiated legislative reforms and framed a new legislation Post Office Act, 2023 in December last year. The Act came into effect in June this year. "To furtherance this initiative, new set of subordinate legislations under the Post Office Act, 2023 that is the Post Office Rules, 2024 and the Post Office Regulations,2024 has also been framed. The Government of India has notified said subordinate legislations through official gazette and they came into force with effect from December 16, 2024," the release said. The Post Office Rules, 2024 are framed as an enabler for the services to be provided by the post offices. It entails opening new avenues of the Department and generation of employment through services which can be offered through the Post Office, by utilising the vast postal network to provide access for delivery of citizen centric services, even in the distant and remote parts of the country through collaborations with public and private entities. The rules also have futuristic aspects of address identifiers (digital address) and Digital mode - payment of postage or other charges. It further recognises the sovereign function regarding issue of postage stamps including stamps in digital form and enabling provision for grievance redressal. These rules do not contain penal provision, the release added. The Post Office Regulations, 2024 entail details and operational aspects of products and services offered by the post office across the country and it also contain enabling provisions for Insurance and Financial Services offered through the post office network. Outlining key features of the new regulations, it said the limit of amount of remittance through money order has been doubled to Rs 10,000 to cater the disbursement of various social welfare schemes. "The parcel has been made compulsorily accountable with track and trace features to promote ease of doing business for small businesses and micro small and medium enterprises. The provision of utilising the post office network for providing services of public and private entities through agreement, has also been made," the release added. Chandigarh, Dec 26 (PTI) Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian on Thursday conducted a brainstorming session with 'arhtiyas' and rice millers of the state seeking their inputs and suggestions on the draft policy on 'National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing' here. An official statement after the meeting said, "Punjab is in no mood to leave any of the draft policy's clauses unconsidered, and a team of officers and agriculture experts is even decoding the message in between the lines". On December 19, Khuddian, held discussions with various farmers' bodies on the draft policy, had then said the state government is concerned "as this policy could have serious implications for the state and its farmers, so we want to analyse and consult on each and every aspect of the draft policy shared by the Government of India". On Thursday, Khuddian along with Punjab Mandi Board Chairman Harchand Singh Barsat and senior officers of the state government, conducted a brainstorming session with 'arhtiyas' (commission agents) and rice millers of the state seeking their inputs and suggestions on the said draft policy. "During the in-depth discussions that went on for more than two hours, it came up that the draft policy is totally silent on the Minimum Support Price (MSP), which is the most crucial for the state farmers and the clause regarding promoting the private markets will lead to overshadowing the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) markets," the statement said. Khuddian said the inputs and suggestions received from them would be incorporated in the reply to be sent to the union government regarding the draft policy. The Punjab government statement further said that it is apprehended that once the APMC markets fall into disarray, it would lead to exploitation of the farmers and small traders. The Agriculture Minister said that Rural Development Fund and Mandi Development Fund is crucial for maintaining Punjab's extensive agricultural infrastructure, especially Mandi infrastructure and maintaining roads connecting these mandis to the villages. Khuddian reiterated that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government is committed to protect the interests of farmers of the state and will do everything possible to safeguard farmers' rights. Meanwhile, speaking to reporters after Khuddian held discussions with various farmers' bodies on the draft policy, Samyukta Kisan Morcha leader Balbir Singh Rajewal had last week said farmers have outrightly rejected the draft policy. "We have said that this is the central government's conspiracy to implement the now-repealed laws through a new way," said Rajewal. If this policy is implemented, then farmers will hold an agitation on a big scale, he added. Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) Joginder Singh Ugrahan had said this draft policy should be rejected. Noida, Dec 25 (PTI) Filmmaker Boney Kapoor and Bhutani Infra-backed firm Bayview Projects has submitted the master plan for the development of the first phase of the much-anticipated Noida International Film City and hopes to complete the work within three years post approval, officials have said. For Bayview Projects, Kapoor submitted the master plan to the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) on Tuesday. YEIDA CEO Arun Vir Singh confirmed receiving the master plan and told reporters, "It will be our endeavour to ensure that the plan is approved at the earliest if it conforms to all norms and guidelines." The ambitious project of the Uttar Pradesh government is to be built on a 1,000-acre land in a public-private partnership in Sector 21 of YEIDA along the Yamuna Expressway near Delhi. About 230 acre will be developed in the first phase. Bayview Projects won the bid on January 31 with the offering of 18 per cent revenue share to the Uttar Pradesh government - the highest among four bidders. Addressing the media alongside Singh, Kapoor detailed his vision for the film city's development, emphasising its potential to revolutionise filmmaking in India and attract global talent. Kapoor said the first phase of the project would include the completion of sound stages and a dedicated film university. "The university is being built to train talent from across the country, particularly Uttar Pradesh, enabling individuals to come with a script and leave with a complete film," Kapoor said. Facilities will encompass all aspects of production, including post-production, he added. "Filmmakers won't need to go elsewhere for resources. Everything, including equipment and infrastructure, will be available right here," he said. The first phase, targeted for completion within three years, will serve as a foundation for expanding the film city, he said. Kapoor plans to invite filmmakers from around the world to utilise the infrastructure. "Our aim is to make this a one-stop destination for filmmaking," he added. Kapoor outlined several standout features of the film city like Virtual Studios, underwater filming facilities, etc. Additionally, there will be a designated floor equipped with advanced technology to replace traditional green screens, enabling actors to visualise scenes on LED screens in real-time, he said. There will also be large water tanks for shooting complex underwater scenes and ship-based sequences, he added. Kapoor envisions a setup similar to Parliament's visitor galleries, where the public can witness live shooting and interact with directors or actors during breaks, depending on their convenience. Drawing parallels to international filmmaking hubs, Kapoor expressed confidence in positioning Noida International Film City as a global destination. "Once Phase One is ready, we'll reach out to international filmmakers and directors who've shifted from Los Angeles to Canada, Italy, and Spain. Our aim is to provide them with world-class facilities at significantly reduced costs potentially saving up to 50 per cent," he said. Kapoor also highlighted the importance of government incentives. "Just as other countries offer subsidies, we'll work with the central and state governments to secure incentives for filmmakers, making this destination more attractive." Beyond filmmaking, the film city will also feature auditoriums, hotels, and food and beverage setups, transforming it into a tourist destination. Kapoor said, "Mathura is just an hour-and-a-half away. With proper hospitality, this area could become a magnet for visitors seeking a blend of filmmaking and tourism." Kapoor also shared plans to begin shooting a film of his own in the Noida Film City to inspire confidence in the project. "I aim to start with one of my own films here after March. Filmmakers often follow trends, and if I lead by example, others will see the potential of this facility." Islamabad, Dec 26 (PTI) A close aide of Imran Khan said on Thursday that the jailed former prime minister's call to overseas Pakistanis to withhold remittances was still in place to coerce the government to accept his demands. Last week, Khan threatened to ask his supporters to resort to civil disobedience and urge his overseas followers to stop sending remittances to the country, a key source of foreign exchange, amidst pressure on the current account payments. However, he had initially put the call for civil disobedience on hold after talks began with the government to find a negotiated solution to the political problems faced by the country. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's negotiation committee spokesperson, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, met Khan in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi to discuss the issue talks before the next round planned for January 2. Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail, Raza said that Khan reiterated that the call to overseas Pakistanis to withhold remittances remains active as a protest against the alleged suppression of PTIs rights, the suspension of civil and human rights, and what he described as the theft of the partys electoral mandate. As a result, our call to halt remittances will remain in place, Raza added. He also said that the PTI would like to complete the talks by the end of next month. The cut-off date for negotiations is January 31, Raza said, adding that Khan's party would give the deadline to the government on January 2, when its committee meets the government to continue the negotiations. Raza also said that Khan was willing to forgive the acts of violence carried out against him. He also emphasised that the partys demands remained the same, namely judicial probes into the events of May 9, 2023, and November 26 and the release of incarcerated party workers and members. We are held responsible for May 9 by the other side, we categorically say we are not responsible and the other side is, he said. To resolve this issue, we need a judicial commission by the SCs senior-most judges so that there is a comprehensive investigation. Speaking about November 26, Raza said, We maintain that live rounds were fired (by the authorities) and our exact data shows that to date, 13 people have been killed, 64 bullet injuries have been recorded and between 150 and 200 people are missing. Demanding an inquiry, Raza called the states heavy-handedness an attack on Pakistans people and democracy and said that those who ordered authorities to fire on PTI supporters were responsible. Raza also reiterated that jailed PTI workers must be released. Thane, Dec 26 (PTI) Maharashtra's Navi Mumbai township has seen a rise in drug related crimes with 654 such cases being registered this year compared to 475 in 2023, a senior police official said on Thursday. The total value of contraband seized in these cases was Rs 33.27 crore against Rs 22.97 crore last year, according the official said citing the Navi Mumbai police's annual report. As many as 939 persons were arrested in 2024 for offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, compared to 811 last year, he said. Among those arrested, 58 were foreign nationals, predominantly Africans, marking a rise from 37 in 2023, the official said. The contraband seized from foreign nationals this year was valued at Rs 25.70 crore, an increase from Rs 11.61 crore in 2023. Among the seized drugs, cocaine accounted for the highest value at Rs 16.70 crore, a staggering increase from Rs 1.25 crore in 2023, the official said. The police seized mephedrone (MD) valued at Rs 12.67 crore, up from Rs 9.33 crore last year, while the MDMA seizure rose to Rs 29.98 lakh from Rs 22.10 lakh in 2023, he said. The seizures of ganja and brown sugar were also high, with the values increasing to Rs 67.83 lakh and Rs 30.10 lakh, respectively, compared to Rs 8.46 lakh and Rs 1.78 lakh last year. Besides, LSD blots valued at Rs 33.55 lakh were also seized, an increase from Rs 19.80 lakh in 2023, while charas seizure of Rs 67.81 lakh and methadone of Rs 55,000 were newly recorded in 2024, the official said. Conversely, some substances, such as methaqualone and tramadol, which recorded seizures valued at Rs 5.96 crore and Rs 3.64 crore, respectively, in 2023, were not confiscated this year, he said. Similarly, no heroin was seized in 2024, compared to the contraband of Rs 33,160 seized last year, the police added. Belagavi, Dec 26 (PTI) The Congress on Thursday called upon all party workers to protect, preserve and promote Mahatma Gandhis precious legacy, asserting that those very ideologies that bitterly opposed him during his lifetime are now hypocritically invoking him. The party claimed that the "patronage provided to Mahatma Gandhi's killers and their glorification" in recent years reveals the true colours of these ideologies and institutions. In a resolution, the Congress Working Committee reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the values that defined Mahatma Gandhis entire life, to the causes he championed relentlessly and the ideals he upheld. "The Congress Working Committee is meeting in Belagavi where exactly a hundred years ago Mahatma Gandhi became President of the Indian National Congress. He occupied this position for a year and continued to provide it moral and political leadership till his assassination in January 1948," the resolution said. It recalled that Mahatma Gandhis life was anchored in truth, non-violence, fearlessness and simplicity, and was dedicated to the gaining of political freedom along with profound societal transformation. Noting that India has achieved a great deal since Independence, the resolution said that even as the country has progressed impressively, his relevance has only become more significant. "In our continued quest for deeper social and economic justice and growth with ecological balance he continues to be a guide and a moral compass. In our continued pursuit of communal harmony and amity, without which economic advancement will have little meaning, he remains the exemplar," the party said. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) believes that it is ironic, even reprehensible, that those very ideologies that bitterly opposed him during his lifetime are now hypocritically invoking him, it said. "The patronage provided to his killers and their glorification in recent years reveals the true colours of these ideologies and institutions. The politics of polarisation and divisiveness is a rejection of the very essence of Gandhian beliefs," the resolution said. The CWC called upon all party workers to stand united and work tirelessly to protect, preserve and promote Mahatma Gandhis precious legacy. The resolution was passed at the extended CWC meeting -- 'Nav Satyagraha Baithak' -- to mark 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi assuming the presidentship of the party at the Belgaum session. New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) Landmark decisions such as abolishing the electoral bonds scheme for political funding, establishing guidelines for "bulldozer" justice and prohibiting all courts from hearing disputes over religious sites kept the Supreme Court busy in 2024. The year also marked a shift in leadership for India's highest court. India's new chief justice Justice Sanjiv Khanna took over the reins on November 11 following the superannuation of Justice D Y Chandrachud. Touted as a stickler for effective execution, he introduced significant reforms to how cases are listed in the Supreme Court to reduce the backlog of new cases. He abolished the long-standing practice of oral mentioning matters for urgent listing. The year also witnessed a rise in legal disputes over places of worship in the country, many of which reached the Supreme Court. Notable cases include Gyanvapi, Mathura, Bhojshala and Sambhal, highlighting a communitys claims to rights of worship. The apex court, which on January 16 stayed the Allahabad High Court order allowing survey at Shahi Idgah mosque at Mathura in the Krishna Janambhoomi temple dispute, passed a significant order on December 12 prohibiting all the courts in the country from entertaining or passing any effective interim or final orders in such matters. Certain cases decided by the Supreme Court had political ramifications. In a landmark decision on February 15 in the electoral bonds case, a five-judge bench scrapped the scheme of anonymous political funding that paved the way for political accountability. In another crucial directive, the court, in January and February, passed two separate orders refusing to stay a law on the appointment of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners by a panel that didnt include the CJI. When petitions sought the recall of the erstwhile paper ballot voting during elections, the top court castigated the demand. What happens is, when you win the election, EVMs are not tampered with. When you lose the election, EVMs are tampered (with), remarked the top court which had dismissed the main plea on April 26 and the review petition on July 30. When punitive action by several state administrations resulted in the demolition of accuseds homes, the top court stepped in and established pan-India guidelines on November 13. Property should not be demolished without a show cause notice and a 15-day response period, according to the guidelines. Malpractice claims rocked the NEET-UG 2024, which was taken by over 23 lakh medical aspirants seeking admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other relevant courses. The Supreme Court, however, refused to cancel the controversial test on July 23, saying there was no proof of a "systemic breach" of its sanctity. Matters involving large corporations reached court too. While the Adani Group scored a big win on January 3 when the apex court refused to transfer the investigation into charges of stock price manipulation by the Indian corporate giant to a special investigation team or the CBI, Vedanta Limited suffered a setback. The top court denied Vedanta's request for reopening its copper smelting plant in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi, which had been halted since May 2018 due to pollution concerns. On November 7, the top court ordered the liquidation of the once-high-flying Jet Airways, which has remained grounded since April 2019. The court issued directions for the forfeiture of Rs 200 crore infused by the successful bidder, and permitted the lenders led by SBI to encash Rs 150 crore performance bank guarantee. The Supreme Court ruled that states have the legislative authority to impose taxes on mineral rights and that royalties paid on minerals are not considered taxes, which will increase the states revenue stream. Another ruling saw states being allowed the authority to regulate the manufacturing, distribution and production of industrial alcohol. There were also instances where the Supreme Court took a tough stand especially when accused persons, lodged in jail for prolonged periods, were denied bail. The apex court, during the year, granted bail to political heavyweights like former Delhi chief minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, his colleague Manish Sisodia, BRS leader K Kavitha, and DMK leader V Senthil Balaji and emphasised "bail is the rule and jail is the exception. Throughout the year, a number of constitutional bench rulings were rendered on important cases. These included quota-based sub-classifications within Scheduled Castes, Aligarh Muslim University's minority status, the requirements for LMV driving licenses, government employment appointments, and PSUs selection of arbitrators in commercial disputes. In order to assure the feelings of crores of people, the Supreme Court established a five-member impartial special investigations team to look into the claims that animal fat was used in preparing Tirupati laddus. On August 18, Indias highest courts took note of the national outcry over the rape and death of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Agust 9. It censured the West Bengal polices "shoddy" initial investigation and kept a watch on the CBIs probe. To develop a policy to guarantee the safety and security of physicians and other healthcare professionals, a 10-member National Task Force was constituted. The top court ordered a tree census in a bid to increase green spaces in Delhi, which struggles with pollution every year. This year, the battle against pollution persisted as the highest court issued several orders to stop the threat. The Supreme Court has urged the states in the national capital region to think about emulating Delhis decision to outlaw firecrackers all year long. Prompted by the furore over the unceremonious statements made by sitting high court judges, the top court took stock of the situation. While Allahabad High Courts Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav appeared before the Supreme Court collegium over his contentious remarks made at a public function, Karnataka High Court judge Justice V Srishananda came under fire for allegedly making misogynistic remarks. It warned judges not to say anything that may be interpreted as "misogynistic" or aimed at a specific "gender or community". It said no area of Indian territory should be referred to as Pakistan. Justice Yadav presented his version of the statements before the Supreme Court collegium, presided by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna. The Supreme Courts decision to keep the DND flyway tool-free on the final working day of the year was a huge relief to the thousands of commuters who travel between Delhi and Noida. The hands of the top court will be full in 2025. It will deal with important matters like marital rape, petitions and cross-pleas on the validity of a law on religious places, hijab ban and pleas on challenging the constitutional validity of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. The new year will see three CJIs. Justice Khanna will demit office on May 13 and Justice B R Gavai, the senior most judge, will take over a day after and remain on the post till November 23. Justice Surya Kant would become the CJI on November 24 and remain at the helm till February 9, 2027. PTI ABA PKS SJK AMK MIN MIN Kozhikode, (Kerala) Dec 26 (PTI) Prominent figures from the Malayalam film industry including Mammootty, Mohan Lal and Manju Warrier paid their final respects to legendary M T Vasudevan Nair, who died here on December 25. Known for his immense contributions as a screenwriter, director, and producer, Vasudevan Nair, popularly known as MT, was a towering figure in Indian literature and cinema. Leading actor Mohanlal visited 'Sithara', MTs residence, to pay his last respects, where the public was also allowed to bid farewell. Reflecting on his cherished association with the Jnanpith awardee, Mohanlal said, MT gave me some of the most memorable characters in my film career. He even travelled to Mumbai to watch my Sanskrit plays and used to meet him whenever I visited Kozhikode. Acting in roles penned by MT has been an unparalleled privilege. Actor Mammootty shared a heartfelt Facebook post, expressing a deep sense of loss. Finding a place in MT's heart is the greatest blessing of my career, he wrote. I have portrayed many characters that carried his soul, though I cant recall all of them now. A whole era is fading away, leaving my mind empty. When I held him after he stumbled during a programme in Ernakulam four-five months ago, I felt like I was holding my father. Veteran actor and filmmaker Kamal Haasan, who worked with MT in films like 'Kanyakumari' and 'Manorathangal', mourned the loss of a mentor and dear friend. My friendship with him as the creator of the film 'Kanyakumari', which introduced me to the Malayalam screen world, is now fifty years old, continued till the recent 'Manorathangal, he posted on X. My heartfelt tribute to a great writer. Director Hariharan, who collaborated with MT on numerous critically acclaimed films, broke down while paying homage. In her tribute, Actor Manju Warrier likened MT to a father figure among modern Malayalam writers. The only character I portrayed, written by MT Sir was named 'Daya' (kindness), the epitome of tenderness. Thank you for making Malayalam literature and cinema timeless, she wrote. Warrier also recalled a treasured 'ezhuthola' gifted by MT during a visit to Thunchan Parambu, a memorial for the father of Malayalam language. MTs legacy in cinema is unparalleled. He directed seven films and penned scripts for around 54, many of which are regarded as classics, including 'Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha', 'Kadavu', and 'Sadayam'. His works seamlessly blended profound narratives with compelling visual storytelling, earning him four National Film Awards for Best Screenplay, the most by any individual in Malayalam cinema. He made his directorial debut in 1973 with 'Nirmalyam', a poignant tale of a village oracle grappling with social change, which won the National Award for Best Feature Film. MTs repertoire extended beyond feature films to include documentaries, songs, and even a TV series. Throughout his career, MTs screenplays reflected the cultural and social crises of Kerala, delving into themes of alienation, identity, and the disintegration of human relationships. Works like 'Kanyakumari', 'Varikkuzhi', 'Sadayam', and 'Perumthachan' stand as testaments to his genius. Beyond his creative achievements, MT served as chairman of the Indian Panorama jury at the 46th National Film Awards and was a member of several film committees. MT Vasudevan Nairs funeral is scheduled for 5 pm on Thursday. Hyderabad, Dec 26 (PTI) Three bodies, including that of a woman police constable and a sub-inspector, were found under mysterious circumstances in a lake in Kamareddy district, Telangana, police said on Thursday. The police launched a search operation after learning that the three individuals had been missing since late Wednesday afternoon. Based on mobile phone location data, they discovered the bodies of the woman constable and a computer operator in a lake in Sadashivnagar mandal during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. The body of the SHO of Bhiknoor police station was subsequently found in the lake on Thursday morning, Kamareddy District Superintendent of Police Sindhu Sharma told the media. A thorough inquiry is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding their deaths, Sharma said, adding that the exact cause will be ascertained following the post-mortem examination. The woman constable was stationed at Bibipet police station. Further investigation will reveal the events leading to their deaths, police added. KYODO NEWS - Dec 26, 2024 - 15:18 | All, Japan Around 65 percent of companies in Japan employ foreign workers to resolve labor shortages, a government survey showed Thursday. In the multiple response survey, 56.8 percent of companies said foreign workers are employed with the expectation that they will perform as well or better than Japanese staff, while 18.5 percent cited efforts to promote diversity, the labor ministry survey said. The survey was the first conducted by the ministry on the employment and recruitment of foreign workers, with the number continuing to increase amid Japan's graying and declining population. The survey of companies with foreign workers that have five or more employees, conducted in October and November 2023, received responses from 3,534 businesses and 11,629 workers. Asked about workplace challenges, 44.8 percent of the companies pointed to difficulties in communicating with foreign workers. The survey also found that 51.5 percent of foreign workers in Japan were introduced to their jobs by agencies or individuals in their home countries, while 13.5 percent secured employment via agencies or individuals in Japan. Meanwhile, 82.5 percent of foreign workers said they did not face problems in their workplaces. "We'd like to continue conducting the survey and use it as a basic document for policymaking," a ministry official said. Related coverage: Japan revises foreign trainee rules to allow job transfers over abuse Cambodian trainee seeks damages over alleged rapes at Japan farm No. of foreign residents in Japan hits record 3.5 mil. as of June New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) The Congress on Thursday announced that all party official programmes, including its foundation day celebrations, will be cancelled for the next seven days as a mark of respect for former prime minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away at AIIMS here. Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, on Thursday night at the age of 92. Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala said that as a mark of respect for Dr Manmohan Singh, the Congress has cancelled its 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan Rally' in Karnataka's Belgaum on Friday. Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal said that as a mark of respect for the departed former prime minister, all official programmes of the Indian National Congress, including its foundation day celebrations, stand cancelled for the next seven days. "This includes all the agitational and outreach programs. Party programmes will resume on 3rd January 2025. The party flag will be flown at half-mast during this period of mourning," Venugopal said on X. Singh died as the Congress party concluded its Congress Working Committee meeting at Belagavi, Karnataka, where all top party leaders were present. New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) Union minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday condoled the demise of former prime minister Manmohan Singh and said that India has lost a multifaceted personality who earned a global recognition. "Today I have the conviction to say that more than a former Prime Minister, India has lost a multifaceted personality an academician who earned global recognition, an economist who went down in history for giving a different turn to economic culture in India," he said in a post on X. The Union Minister of State for Personnel said that Manmohan Singh was a statesman who for 10 years presided over a "Congress-led government blemished with a series of scams & scandals" and yet there was "never a single insinuation on him". The minister remembered the former PM as "a thorough gentleman who would, despite the constraints of protocol, choose to walk out to the road to see off his personal guests". "...May I say this with all the humility at my command, on one occasion, I too was privileged to receive this courtesy from him, much to my embarrassment," the minister said. Ex-PM Singh breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here. He was 92. "Hailing from district Jhelum, now in Pakistan, Dr Manmohan Singh was among the last iconic leaders groomed through the eventful period of the Partition of Indian subcontinent," he added. Srinagar, Dec 26 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday said addressing public grievances is a top priority for the government. The chief minister held a meeting with the MLAs of the district during which they raised concerns regarding issues including water scarcity, the power crisis, and other challenges faced by the residents, a statement read. The meeting was attended by MLAs Ali Mohammad Sagar, Shameema Firdous, Tanvir Sadiq, Salman Ali Sagar, Mushtaq Guroo, and Ahsan Pardesi. The chief minister assured the legislators that Srinagar would receive top priority and that all issues would be promptly addressed. He acknowledged the public grievances regarding power and water shortages and emphasised that the government is actively working to resolve these issues. During the meeting, Abdullah said the concerned departments have been directed to adhere to published schedules for power cuts and optimise resource usage to minimise public suffering. He also said instructions have been given to authorities to ensure a steady water supply to address the water shortage in Srinagar. Despite challenges posed by a prolonged dry spell and cold weather, the chief minister assured the MLAs that every possible step would be taken to alleviate the people's difficulties. Abdullah struck a chord with the MLAs on issues such as the deteriorating heritage, the preservation of historical monuments and shrines, the poor condition of roads, and the declining state of water bodies, the statement read. The chief minister stated the government is dedicated to reversing the development setbacks of the past decade by making significant investments in urban renewal, focusing on sustainable development and creating urban job opportunities. Viewed of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. China and Japan agreed Wednesday to set up talks on often contentious security issues as they seek to improve a relationship riven in recent years by a range of issues, from territorial disputes to the discharge of water from Japans tsunami-wrecked nuclear power plant. Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, on his first trip to China since assuming the post in October, sounded positive after meetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, saying the talks were very candid and wide-ranging. I feel we were able to build a personal relationship that would lead to the future, he told reporters in the Chinese capital. Wang agreed to visit Japan next year for a high-level economic dialogue including cooperation on the environment, energy conservation and health and nursing care. Japan announced an easing of visa requirements for Chinese visitors, following Chinas recent decision to allow Japanese to enter without a visa. The two countries also have major differences. Iwaya raised Japans concerns about Chinas military activity near a group of uninhabited islands that both countries claim, as well as Chinas territorial disputes with other countries in the South China Sea. Efforts to improve ties are in their early stages following a commitment to do so made by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at a meeting last month during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru. Currently China-Japan relations are at a critical period of improvement and development, Li said at the start of his meeting with Iwaya. China is willing to work together with Japan to move toward the important direction proposed by the leaders of the two countries. Iwayas one-day trip came just before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January and the uncertainty his presidency is expected to bring to Americas global relations. Trump has threatened to hike tariffs on Chinese goods, reigniting a trade war he unleashed in his first administration. Its unclear how he will impact the U.S.-Japan alliance, which President Joe Biden has sought to buttress during the last four years as part of his strategy to confront a rising China. Japan has revamped its approach to defense i n response to Chinese actions in recent years, boosting military spending and shifting away from a principle of self-defense. Earlier this year, Japan protested when a Chinese military plane flew into Japans airspace, while in the summer, a Chinese survey ship sailed into Japanese territorial waters. Wang agreed to Iwayas proposal for a Japan-China security dialogue, which would try to improve communication over some of these issues. Iwaya called for an early lifting of a ban on Japanese seafood imports that China imposed after a Japanese utility began discharging treated but still radioactive water from the former nuclear power plant in Fukushima. The two sides agreed to keep working on the issue, and also resume talks on Japanese beef and rice exports to China. Japans easing of visa requirements included allowing group tours to stay for 30 days, up from 15, and increasing the validity of multiple-entry tourist visas from five to 10 years. Both sides hope that people-to-people exchanges can help improve relations. In that context, Iwaya asked China to improve security for his countrys citizens, following recent attacks on Japanese school children, and also raised the detention of several Japanese businesspeople on spy charges. Both are making some Japanese hesitant to travel or work in China, he said. (AP) New evidence has surfaced suggesting that the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet that crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday was likely shot down by Russian antiaircraft fire, the Wall Street Journal reports. The crash, which claimed the lives of at least 38 people, initially puzzled investigators who considered bird strikes and poor weather as possible causes. However, aviation experts and Ukrainian officials now believe the plane was accidentally targeted by Russian air defenses. The Embraer 190 jet was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, with 62 passengers and five crew members aboard. While approaching Grozny, the flight unexpectedly changed course over the Caspian Sea and attempted to make an emergency landing near Aktau. Despite the crash, 29 passengers miraculously survived. Video footage from the crash site, analyzed by aviation security firm Osprey Flight Solutions, revealed patterns of damage on the aircraft that align with missile strikes or antiaircraft fire not a bird collision. Footage shows perforations in the tail section, which experts say resemble impacts from shrapnel or heavy-caliber rounds. Ukrainian national security official Andriy Kovalenko concurred with this assessment, blaming Russias failure to close airspace over Grozny, an area where Moscows air defenses have been highly active due to increased Ukrainian drone attacks. Russia should have closed the airspace, but they didnt, Kovalenko said. The plane was damaged by Russian forces and diverted to Kazakhstan instead of landing urgently in Grozny to save lives. In recent weeks, Russias Defense Ministry reported intercepting dozens of Ukrainian drones over southern Russia, including the North Caucasus region near Grozny. On the night before the crash, Russian air defenses reportedly shot down 59 drones, including one over Vladikavkaz, west of Grozny. This heightened military activity raises concerns that the Azerbaijan Airlines jet may have been mistaken for a hostile target. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 also showed heavy GPS interference in the region, which can obscure aircraft positions and complicate emergency diversions. Experts suggest this could have contributed to confusion during the flight. Azerbaijan Airlines initially suggested the crash could have been caused by a bird strike, while Azerbaijans president said the plane diverted due to poor weather conditions. However, neither explanation fully accounts for the patterns of damage found on the wreckage. Russian officials have not yet commented on the claims from Osprey Flight Solutions and Ukrainian authorities. Meanwhile, investigators have recovered the planes black box, which could provide further insight into the final moments before the crash. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Every Chanukah, like clockwork, the same outrage resurfaces: Donut prices are outrageous! Highway robbery! And every year, I cant help but ask are we serious right now? Lets break this down. When did stuffing your face with donuts for eight days straight become a core part of Chanukah observance? Yes, theres an inyan to eat fried foods, but in case anyone forgot, that used to mean homemade latkes. When I was a kid (and Im not that old), donuts were a treat not a staple. Youd get one at the Chanukah mesiba in school and maybe another at the family party. That was it. Today? You cant walk three feet without being assaulted by a pile of donuts, each one bigger, fancier, and pricier than the last. But lets set aside the absurdity of donut overconsumption. You know why donuts cost $8+? Because youll pay it. You stand there staring at that price tag in disbelief $8 for this fluff of fried flour and sugar? and then promptly buy two dozen. What message do you think that sends to the seller? Should they lower the price out of the goodness of their heart, or keep charging what they know youll pay? Heres the hard-to-swallow truth: The problem isnt the bakery, its you. Want to see prices drop? Stop buying them. Or at least stop buying them from the expensive places. I promise you, there are still places that sell donuts for less. Better yet, dust off a recipe and make them yourself. And if that sounds like too much effort, heres a wild idea skip the donuts. Thats right. Imagine surviving Chanukah without gaining 10 pounds and flirting with heart disease. Hashem yerachem! How will we ever celebrate without stuffing ourselves silly with overpriced pastries? Lets get real. Donut inflation isnt a mystery. Its basic economics supply, demand, and the collective inability to say no. So next time youre tempted to complain about prices, take a second and remember: You set the market. And if you want to change it, put down the donut. Sincerely, Overstuffed Baalebus The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review. Holocaust survivor Yosef Viner, zl, who suffered the brutal murder of three of his grandchildren in the Hamas assault on October 7, passed away on Tuesday at age 98. After Viner lost his entire family in the Holocaust, he built his own family in Israel. Tragically, three of his grandchildren were killed by Hamas terrorists in Kfar Aza on October 7. He later wrote a Facebook post about his life that went viral. I am Yosef Viner, 97 years old. I survived the fire of the Nazi beasts; my entire family perished. Disconnected from my roots, I dedicated myself to their memory. Exhausted and despairing, I held onto the land and moved to Israel. I married Aviva, and we raised two wonderful children, Ofer and Nurit. From Ofer and Michal, we had four grandchildren, all born in Kfar Aza. From Nurit and Miki, we had six grandchildren, all born in Kfar Aza. I achieved a deeply rooted family tree planted in the homelands soil that bore fruit. But then, on October 7, 2023, we encountered pure evil. The horrifying sights of fire and ash, murder, and the ruthless killing of innocent people struck me once again. My beloved grandson Yahav, Hyd, was murdered while protecting his wife, Shai-Li, and their one-month-old daughter, Shiya. My dear granddaughter Hadar, Hyd, and her husband Itay, Hyd, were murdered while protecting their 10-month-old twin sons, Roi and Guy. Once again, I am utterly exhausted, in despair, drowning. And now, I have no land left to cling to. One of Viners relatives told Ynet: Yosef was a strong man, a true survivor. But when they came to tell him about the murder of his grandchildren, it was the first time I ever saw him cry. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Avida Bachar lost his wife, his 15-year-old son, and one of his legs in the Hamas October 7 assault. The 50-year-old farmer was born on Kibbutz Beeri and raised his kids there. On October 7, he saw his wife and son bleed to death before his eyes. He was close to death himself when he was rescued that evening but he miraculously survived after undergoing emergency surgery. The doctors had to amputate his leg to save his life and he underwent six months of grueling recovery and rehabilitation to learn to walk again. Along with a new prosthesis, Bachars formerly left-wing views about his Arab neighbors took a 180-degree turn. On October 7, he saw innocent Gazan civilians ranging in age from young children to elderly people invading his kibbutz and looting whatever they could. He said during interviews from his hospital bed after the massacre that if he could, he would wipe out the entire Gaza Strip. In a recent interview with Channel 12, Bachar said something surprising: Im going to say something difficult. Its mazal that the October 7 massacre happened at Beeri. He continued by explaining: I think that if it had happened in Gush Etzion, what would I have said at that moment? I would have said, Why do they live there? I might have said, They deserve it. I would have said all the worst things in the world. Its mazal that it happened in my home, its mazal that I paid a very high price for this lesson. Its mazal that I learned this lesson. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) The IDF on Thursday morning announced that a reservist soldier was killed in battle in Gaza. He was named as Cpt. (res.) Amit Levi, Hyd, a 35-year-old father of four from Kibbutz Shomria, a religious kibbutz in southern Israel. He served as a commander of a reconnaissance team in the 6551st Battalion of the 551st Brigade. He was killed by sniper fire in the Netzarim Corridor in the central Gaza Strip. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- China once again urges the Philippines to withdraw the U.S. Typhon missile system at an early date, as the deployment of the system brings the risk of geopolitical confrontation and an arms race to the region, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday. Spokesperson Mao Ning made the comments at a daily press briefing after Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro attempted to justify U.S. deployment of the Mid-Range Capability missile system in the country. In a statement quoted by the media, Teodoro said that any deployment and procurement of assets related to the Philippines' security and defense fall within its own sovereign prerogative and are not subject to any foreign veto. In response, Mao said that China has repeatedly stated its firm opposition on the deployment of the system, adding that the Typhon missile system, with both nuclear and conventional capabilities, is a strategic and offensive weapon, rather than a defensive one. The Philippines has cooperated with the United States in introducing the system, handing over its own security and national defense to others, bringing the risk of geopolitical confrontation and an arms race to the region, and posing a substantive threat to regional peace and security, Mao noted. "Whose interests does this move serve, and who is the one to talk about independent diplomacy? This is nothing but a typical 'harm set, harm get' situation," said Mao. The spokesperson said that the Philippines has made a clear commitment that it will not take sides among major countries, nor participate in any actions against China, and it has no intention to trigger regional tensions. With that being said, the Philippine side has repeatedly pandered to the deployment of military forces and provocation of confrontation in the region by forces outside the region, Mao added. The Philippine side has publicly stated that the system was only used for one routine exercise and promised to withdraw it after the exercise ended in September this year, but then it backtracked, saying that the country wants to permanently deploy the missile system and is even prepared to procure it. "This is blatant dishonesty," said Mao. Countries in the region can see clearly now who is constantly stirring up trouble in the South China Sea, who is cooperating with forces outside the region to flex military muscle, and who is committing illegal actions under the banner of international law, Mao noted. The only correct way to safeguard national security is to adhere to strategic independence, good-neighborly friendship and peaceful development, Mao stressed. "We once again urge the Philippines to honor its previous commitments and withdraw the missile system at an early date, as required by regional countries, and stop going down the wrong path," she said. "Certain individuals in the Philippines should correct their understanding of the issue, reflect on themselves, stop confounding right with wrong and blaming the innocent," said the spokesperson. "We warn the Philippine side that China will never sit idly by while its security interests are jeopardized or threatened, and if the Philippines insists on its current course of action, it will end up shooting itself in the foot," Mao said. The Houthi terror group has established an extensive network of underground tunnels and military bases in the same manner as Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, the Saudi media outlet Al Arabiya reported this week. The report, based on an investigation by a Yemeni platform specializing in military affairs, shows that in a systematic manner over the years, the Houthis have transformed the rural and western mountainous areas of Yemen into secret underground military bases, allowing them to avoid aerial attacks and arm themselves with advanced weapon systems. The Houthis were aided in their efforts by experts from Irans Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah. The Houthis initial goal in building the network was to hide weapons and ammunition they stole from the warehouses of the official Yemeni army, as well as hiding weaponry they received from Iran. They also built secret military bases to avoid airstrikes by the Arab coalition countries in 2015, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Satellite images and intelligence analyses show that the Houthis have invested significant resources in establishing networks of underground tunnels and facilities for storing weapons, equipment, fuel, money, and military warehouses, which contain not only ammunition and military gear but also advanced military technologies from Iran. Some of the tunnels include launch facilities for missiles, drones, and explosives as well as facilities for the production of anti-ship missiles and explosives. They even built underground offices for foreign experts and consultants. Analysis of satellite images revealed the establishment of dozens of military bases in the Saada area and the Amran mountain range, in Hajjah and Al-Jawf, in the Saada district, and even in the mountainous areas surrounding the capital, Sanaa, where the terror group dug massive tunnels to house stockpiles of weapons and ammunition. The bases are spread along the Red Sea coast, with bases and maintenance service centers located in the city of Hodeidah and nearby islands. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) In a coordinated overnight operation, the IDF and Shin Bet targeted and eliminated a cell of Islamic Jihad terrorists in the Nuseirat area of Gaza. The precise strike, conducted by the Israeli Air Force (IAF), neutralized multiple high-ranking operatives within the terrorist organization. The strike resulted in the deaths of five key Islamic Jihad members: 1. Ibrahim Jamal Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Ali Operations and combat propaganda operative 2. Faisal Abdallah Muhammad Abu Qamsan Head of Security for Islamic Jihad in Nuseirat 3. Mohammed Ayad Khamis al-Ladaa Combat propagandist 4. Ayman Nihad Abd Alrahman Jadi Combat propagandist and former naval operative 5. Fadi Ihab Muhammad Ramadan Hassouna Combat propagandist in Nuseirat Intelligence gathered from multiple sources indicated that the operatives were posing as journalists to conceal their activities. One significant piece of evidence was a list of Islamic Jihad members found by IDF forces during operations in Gaza. This document explicitly identified four of the individuals targeted in the strike as Islamic Jihad operatives. The IDF said that extensive measures were taken to minimize the risk to civilians. These precautions included detailed aerial surveillance, the use of precision-guided munitions, and corroborating intelligence to ensure accurate targeting. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The Beer Sheva District Court has convicted 72-year-old Israeli citizen Moti Maman of acting on behalf of Iranian intelligence and illegally entering an enemy state, the Attorney Generals Office announced on Thursday. According to Mamans confession, he traveled to Iran twice and engaged in discussions with Iranian agents about carrying out terrorist activities on Israeli soil. Maman reportedly demanded a $1 million advance payment from Iranian intelligence before proceeding with any planned actions. This conviction is the first of its kind since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, though multiple indictments have been filed against Israelis suspected of being recruited by Iranian intelligence. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Bankers are set for a 2bn fees bonanza after a year of frenzied takeover activity. The value of mergers and acquisitions involving British companies has jumped 36 per cent this year to 250bn, according to data from Dealogic. And fees earned by investment bankers working on the deals have risen 19 per cent to 2.1bn the highest level since 2021. Accountants, lawyers and other advisers are also set to have scooped huge payouts following a wave of takeovers. Among the biggest deals this year are the 5.4bn purchase of Hargreaves Lansdown by private equity giant CVC, the sale of Britvic to Carlsberg for 3.3bn, and the 2.9bn buyout of Virgin Money by Nationwide. Others include the 3.7bn takeover of Direct Line by Aviva, though mining giant BHP failed in its 39bn bid for Anglo American. Takeover bonanza: A wave of buy-outs and mergers has hit the City this year Advisers typically share fees of between 1 per cent and 5 per cent of the takeover value, with bankers taking the lions share. Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell, said a bumper year will be music to the ears of investment bankers and other advisers. Among those to hit the jackpot are advisers working on the 3.6bn takeover of Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services (IDS) by billionaire tycoon Daniel Kretinsky. Deal documents reveal bankers, lawyers and others will share 146m 4 per cent of the price. Among those cashing in is the former Labour frontbencher Chuka Umunna, who now works for JP Morgan and is advising Kretinsky. From Chancellor to banker: George Osborne now works for Robey Warshaw George Osborne is another former politician to have benefited from the takeover frenzy. The former Chancellor now works for boutique investment bank Robey Warshaw and was one of four partners to share a 70m payday this year. Robey is advising Direct Line on its deal with Aviva, having previously defended it from a takeover by Belgian group Ageas this year. The investment bank, where Osborne has worked since 2021, also advised video games company Keyword Studios when it was bought by private equity group EQT for 2bn. Also in the money are bankers at Goldman Sachs, which advised on more takeovers involving UK companies than any other bank in the first nine months of the year, according to LSEG. Lucille Jones, senior manager at LSEG, said that the surge in activity has been driven by mega deals as foreign buyers and private equity made moves. Coatsworth said: There has been a lot of action in the large and mid-cap space music to the ears of bankers and legal advisers if theyre collecting a fee based on the size of the deal. The UK is on sale. SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's main liberal opposition Democratic Party said on Thursday that it will vote on a motion to impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Friday. Park Chan-dae, the party's floor leader, said in a statement that his party had submitted the impeachment motion against Han and reported it to the National Assembly's plenary session. Han became an acting president following President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment over his martial law declaration on the night of Dec. 3 which was revoked by the National Assembly hours later. Yoon was impeached by the National Assembly on Dec. 14. Since then, the constitutional court would deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power is suspended. Han said in a televised address earlier in the day that he will delay the appointment of constitutional court justices until the ruling and opposition parties reach an agreement. The Democratic Party floor leader called Han's address as an official refusal to approve the appointment contributing to insurrection, over which investigative agencies looked into the impeached president. Park Sung-joon, the party's deputy floor leader, told reporters that the Democratic Party will vote on the motion to impeach the prime minister during a plenary session on Friday. The voting process was underway in the National Assembly to appoint three constitutional court justice nominees, who are required to be approved by an acting president. COLOMBO, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Maldivian government plans to increase tourism revenue to 5 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, PSM News, the official state media of the Maldives, reported on Thursday quoting Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal. The minister told a ceremony held on Thursday morning that the country has seen 2 million tourists in 2024. In 2025, tourism revenue will increase to around 5 billion dollars, Faisal said, adding that to achieve the goal, the administration is working to complete the construction of the new passenger terminal at Velana International Airport by next year. DAMASCUS, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Fourteen officers from Syria's interim Ministry of Interior were killed and ten others injured in a "treacherous ambush" in the northwestern province of Tartus on Wednesday, the interim government's Interior Minister Mohammed Abdul Rahman announced. Our progressive friends share a useful guide that MORE PEOPLE WILL NEED amid worsening recession and the threat of trades wars and worse . . . Check-it: "Some cities have rules to make sure that safety issues like heat get fixed quickly. In Kansas City, Missouri, you can file a Healthy Homes complaint to get problems fixed. In Overland Park, you can submit an OPCares request to ask a city inspector to take a look. "Heres a guide to what the law requires of your landlord, as well as some renter-friendly tips on how you can keep your apartment warm and safe during the winter months." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . BEIRUT, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Thursday that any actions threatening the fragile cessation of hostilities in Lebanon must stop. "Both Israel and Lebanon have confirmed their commitment to the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and to addressing outstanding issues. Both parties are called upon to utilize the newly established mechanism as agreed in the understanding," UNIFIL said in a statement. UNIFIL urges the Israeli army to withdraw on time and the Lebanese Armed Forces to deploy in southern Lebanon as per the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. The UN peace mission stressed it is working closely with the Lebanese army to accelerate its recruiting efforts and deployment to the south. The mission said it stands ready to play its part in "monitoring progress, including ensuring the area south of the Litani River is free of any armed personnel, assets, or weapons other than those of the Lebanese government and UNIFIL, as well as respect for the Blue Line." It expressed concern over "the continued destruction by the Israeli military of residential areas, agricultural land, and road networks in southern Lebanon, which constitutes a violation of Resolution 1701." Earlier in the day, UNIFIL informed the Lebanese army that Israeli forces had kidnapped a Lebanese citizen who was shot while passing through Wadi al-Hujayr on his way to his duty station at the UNIFIL center in Aadshit al-Qusayr. Lebanon's official National News Agency indicated that Israeli vehicles advanced through Wadi al-Hujayr in southern Lebanon, conducting combing operations with heavy machine guns. A ceasefire, meant to halt nearly 14 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, came into effect on Nov. 27. The agreement stipulated an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory within 60 days, with the Lebanese army deploying on the border and in the south to assume security control and ban weapons and militants. Despite the ceasefire, Israel has conducted intermittent strikes in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah militants it accuses of violating the agreement. ULAN BATOR, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia is seeking to strengthen its support for the wool, cashmere, and leather processing industries, according to a statement from the presidential press office on Thursday. As part of the national campaign "White Gold," initiated by President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry, in collaboration with 10 major commercial banks, signed a financing agreement on Thursday. Under the agreement, enterprises in these sectors are expected to receive 788.9 billion Mongolian tugriks (over 231 million U.S. dollars) in circulating capital and concessional investment loans in the coming year alone, the press office announced. Within the framework of the national campaign, which will run until 2028, Mongolia aims to significantly enhance its cashmere processing capacity. The Asian country is expected to increase the level of full cashmere processing from the current 20 percent to 40 percent, and expand exports from 398 million U.S. dollars to 690 million U.S. dollars under the framework of the campaign. Additionally, the campaign seeks to increase the level of wool processing from 25 percent to 55 percent, with exports projected to grow from 52 million U.S. dollars to 119 million U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, the level of deep processing of leather and hides is estimated to increase from 30 percent to 50 percent, and exports are expected to grow from 9.6 million U.S. dollars to 22.4 million U.S. dollars. Altogether, the campaign is expected to significantly boost Mongolia's economic growth, creating over 8,000 new jobs across the wool, cashmere, and leather sectors, while enhancing the country's industrial capacity and export potential. Mongolia has an average annual production capacity of 37,000 tons of sheep wool, 10,000 tons of goat cashmere, 2,000 tons of camel wool, 400 tons of yak fur, and 18 million pieces of hides and skins, according to the presidential press office. Promoting livestock husbandry is considered a key strategy for diversifying Mongolia's mining-dependent economy. As one of the world's last remaining nomadic nations, Mongolia had 64.7 million livestock at the end of 2023, according to the National Statistics Office. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home 5 Journalists killed in Israeli bombing near Gaza hospital In what is recorded as the highest journalist causalities in a single day, as many as five Al-Quds TV Channel reporters were killed in an Israeli bombing near al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza Thursday December 26, 2024 Thursday December 26, 2024 6:45 PM , ummid.com News Network Gaza: In what is recorded as the highest journalist causalities in a single day, as many as five Al-Quds TV Channel reporters were killed in an Israeli bombing near al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat Camp in Central Gaza Thursday December 26, 2024. The Al Quds Today Channel Journalists were reporting from near the Al Awda Hospital when their van clearly marked with the word PRESS, was targeted. The Israeli bombs dropped in the morning on Thursday killed all of them, Al Quds Today said. The deceased journalists have been identified as: Fadi Hassouna Ibrahim al-Sheikh Ali Mohammed al-Ladah Faisal Abu al-Qumsan Ayman al-Jadi Among the victims, Ayman al-Jadi had been waiting for his wife in front of the hospital while she was in labour to give birth to their first child when the Israeli bombs killed him, according to Al-Jazeera Journalist Anas al-Sharif. "Targeted Attack" A screenshot taken from a video of the white-coloured van shows the word PRESS in large red lettering across the back of the vehicle. The Israeli military however said it had carried out a targeted attack against a vehicle carrying members of Islamic Jihad" and that it would continue to take action against terrorist organizations in Gaza. Civil defence teams retrieved the bodies of the victims and extinguished the fire at the scene, the Quds News Network said. In another Israeli airstrike on civlian areas of Gaza City last night, at least 13 members of the Daloul family were killed. "Deadliest war for Journalists" With this the number of Journalists killed in Israeli airstrikes since October 07, 2023 has crossed 200 mark. According to Gaza health authorities 201 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Israeli attacks since the start of the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Israels genocidal war on Gaza has been considered the deadliest for journalists and media workers in the world in 30 years, according to media freedom organisations. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) earlier this month condemned Israels killing of four Palestinian journalists in the space of a week, calling on the international community to hold the country accountable for its attacks against the media. 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 CA Final Nov 2024 Result: Where and How to Check The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) CA Final Novermber 2024 result can be checked on the official website 'icai.nic.in' following the steps given here Thursday December 26, 2024 5:46 PM , ummid.com News Network ICAI CA Final Nov 2024 Result: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is set to declare today i.e. Thursday December 26, 2024 the result of the CA Final exam that was held in the month of November 2024. The ICAI had conducted CA Final Group 1 exams on November 3, 5, and 7, and CA Final Group 2 exams on November 9, 11, and 13, 2024. In a notification released on its official website, the ICAI said the CA Final result will be declared today. "The result of the Chartered Accountant Final Examinations held in November 2024 is likely to be declared on Thursday, the 26th December 2024 (late evening)", the ICAI said. The ICAI further said that once released, the result can be accessed by candidates at the website icai.nic.in. Steps to check CA Final 2024 Result Go to the official website here: icai.nic.in. Click on the link marked as "CA Final Result November 2024". Enter your Roll No, Registration No and the code as shown on the web page Click on Submit to check your CA result and score Along with the result, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) will also publish the CA Final Merit List containing the names of toppers with details of their score and rank. To qualify for the ICAI CA November exam, candidates must score at least 40% in each section and 50% overall. CA Final May 2024 Toppers In the CA Final exam held in May 2024, Ghilman Saalim Ansari, Kushagra Roy, Shivam Mishra, Yug Sachin Kariya and Varsha Arora were the toppers. Shivam Mishra held the top rank AIR 1 with a score on 500 whereas Varsha Arora bagged 480 marks and bagged the All India Rank (AIR) 2 in the CA Final 2024 exams. Ghilman Saalim Ansaari had jointly shared the All India Rank (AIR) 3 with Kiran Rajendra Singh Manral in the ICAI CA exams, according to the CA Final May 2024 Toppers List released by the ICAI. CA Foundation, Intermediate January 2025 Meanwhile, the ICAI is also set to conduct CA Foundation and Intermediate exams in January 2025. According to the ICAI Exam Calendar, the CA Foundation next year will be held on January 12, 14, 16 and 18, 2025. On the other hand, the CA Inermediate (Group 1) in the coming month will be held on January 11, 13 and 15, 2025. The CA Inermediate (Group 2) in the coming month will be held on January 17, 19 and 21, 2025. The ICAI had earlier also declared the results and merit list of CA Foundation, CA Intermediate and CA Intermediate UNITS exam in October 2024. The exams were held in September 2024. 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 Manmohan Singh, the Architect of Economic Reforms in India, no more Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India for two consecutive term who laid the foundation of strong Indian Economy, passed away in New Delhi Thursday December 26, 2024 Friday December 27, 2024 0:19 AM , ummid.com News Network New Delhi: Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India for two consecutive term who laid the foundation of strong Indian Economy, passed away in New Delhi Thursday December 26, 2024. He was 92. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, where he was admitted, confirmed the sad demise of the former Prime Minister of India in a statement released issued about an hour ago today. "With profound grief, we inform the demise of former Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, aged 92", AIIMS said. "He was being treated for age-related medical conditions and had a sudden loss of consciousness at home on 26 December 2024," the statement read. "Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the medical emergency at AIIMS, New Delhi at 8.06 pm. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9.51 pm," AIIMS said. Dr Manmohan Singh is survived by wife Gurcharan Singh Kaur and three daughters. Condolences Pour in India is mourning the demise of one of his distinguished sons, and condolence messages are pouring in from all corners. "History will always remember Dr. Manmohan Singh ji for his dignified conduct, commitment to public service, immense knowledge and humility", the Congress Party said. The Congress while mourning the death of one of the party's tallest leaders in the last two decades said Dr Manmohan Singh left behind a legacy of economic reforms, political stability and dedication to uplift the lives of every Indian. "His tenure, first as a technocrat and then as Prime Minister of India, will be remembered for economic prosperity and strengthening India's position on the world map with a focus on social welfare", the Congress said. "A Man of Principle" The Congress also hailed Dr Manmohan Singh's leadership saying: "Known for his quiet but effective leadership, he was a man of principle who took tough decisions with a firm commitment to the welfare of the country." "As a leader, Dr. Manmohan Singh's decisions have left a deep mark on every aspect of Indian society. The trust and respect he earned from political allies, opponents and world leaders is a testament to his profound impact", the Congress said. "A statesman, a scholar, a leader, a visionary - one of India's proudest sons... your demise is deeply saddening, you will be missed dearly", the party said in a tribute to the departed leader. 'Gentle Intellectual, Humble Soul' Paying tribute to one of his senior colleagues, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called Dr Manmohan Singh a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, and an economist of unparalleled stature. "I mourn the loss of a lifelong senior colleague, a gentle intellectual and a humble soul who embodied the aspirations of India, having risen through the ranks with unwavering dedication", Kharge said. "A man of action rather than words, his immense contribution to nation-building will forever be etched in the annals of Indian history", the Congress President said. Paying a rich tribute to Dr Manmohan Singh, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi said, "Manmohan Singh Ji led India with immense wisdom and integrity. His humility and deep understanding of economics inspired the nation." "I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride", he added. "A uniquely dignified and gentle man" Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi accompanied with her daughter and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had rushed to the hospital as soon as the news of Manmohan Singh's hospitalisation became known. "Few people in politics inspire the kind of respect that Sardar Manmohan Singh ji did", Priyanka wrote in her condolence message. "His honesty will always be an inspiration for us and he will forever stand tall among those who truly love this country as someone who remained steadfast in his commitment to serve the nation despite being subjected to unfair and deeply personal attacks by his opponents", she added. "He was genuinely egalitarian, wise, strongwilled and courageous until the end. A uniquely dignified and gentle man in the rough world of politics", she said. Before becoming Prime Minister in 2004, Dr Manmohan Singh had served as Finance Minister under the then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. Dr Manmohan Singh was the architect and the brainchild of economic reforms in 1991 that pulled India from the brink of bankruptcy and ushered in an era of economic liberalisation that is widely believed to have changed the course of India's economic trajectory. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. ISLAMABAD, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and four others injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province on Wednesday, police confirmed. The incident happened in the Turbat district where the explosive device detonated near a vehicle carrying civilians, the district's police confirmed to media. Local authorities said the explosion caused significant damage to the vehicle traveling along a rural road. Security personnel reached the site after the attack and cordoned it off to facilitate the rescue operation and investigation process. The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment, officials added. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson on Thursday condemned U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and vowed to smash any "Taiwan independence" separatist plots and foreign interference. Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a press conference when asked to comment on reports of the arrival of a new type of battle tanks purchased by Taiwan from the United States. "We urge the U.S. side to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, earnestly honor its commitment not to support 'Taiwan independence,' immediately stop arming Taiwan, and cease its dangerous moves that undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," Zhang said. Seeking independence by soliciting U.S. support is doomed to failure, and resorting to force to resist reunification leads nowhere, he added. "Several pieces of U.S. weaponry won't be the 'magic straw' that can save a drowning man; they are nothing but easy targets on the battlefield," Zhang said. "The People's Liberation Army will comprehensively improve its combat readiness, enhance its capability to fight and win, and firmly smash any 'Taiwan independence' separatist plots and foreign interference," he added. Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain on Wednesday reiterated Pakistan's commitment to fostering long-term partnerships with Turkiye to unlock the full potential of the agricultural sector, creating economic opportunities for both countries ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Dec, 2024) Minister for National food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain on Wednesday reiterated Pakistan's commitment to fostering long-term partnerships with Turkiye to unlock the full potential of the agricultural sector, creating economic opportunities for both countries. The minister held a meeting with the Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan and discussed enhancing agricultural cooperation between Pakistan and Turkiye. Both sides agreed to explore new avenues for partnership under the Strategic Economic Framework (SEF), focusing on boosting agricultural trade and technology transfer. The minister highlighted Pakistans ability to provide quality agricultural products such as rice, wheat, mangoes, and dry fruits. He expressed Pakistan's readiness to expand exports to Turkiye and emphasized the mutual benefits of strengthening agricultural trade. Both sides agreed to enhance agricultural cooperation, particularly in technology transfer and disease control. Pakistan offers quality agricultural products, including rice, wheat, mangoes, and livestock products, to the Turkish market. The two countries planed to establish joint ventures in agricultural mechanization, aquaculture breeding, and advanced irrigation systems and focus on increasing bilateral trade through compliance with international SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) standards. The minister also expressed the commitment to facilitating Turkish investment in Pakistans agriculture and livestock sectors. During the meeting, both parties agreed to develop an action plan to improve agricultural productivity and trade. The Turkish side appreciated Pakistans high-quality agricultural products and expressed interest in enhancing economic ties in the agriculture and livestock sectors. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) injected Rs575.8 billion in the market through Open Market Operation (OMO) reverse repo purchase on Thursday KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Dec, 2024) The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) injected Rs575.8 billion in the market through Open Market Operation (OMO) reverse repo purchase on Thursday. The SBP, as per results issued here, conducted Open Market Operation, Reverse Repo Purchase (Injection) on December 26, 2024 for 8-day tenor and accepted an amount of Rs575. 8 billion offered through 3 bids. The central bank received 3 quotes for 8-day tenor cumulatively offering an amount of Rs 575.8 billion at the rate of return ranging from 13.07 to 13.10 percent. The SBP accepted the entire offered amount at 13.07% rate of return. (@FahadShabbir) SHARJAH, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 26th Dec, 2024) The Board of Trustees of Al Qasimia University (AQU) has approved the launch of the master's programmes in jurisprudence and its principles and the Arabic language and literature in light of the university obtaining the approval of the Academic Accreditation Commission at the UAE's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The announcement came during the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees for the academic year 2024-2025, held at the university's headquarters in Sharjah. It was headed by Jamal Salem Al Turaifi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of AQU and President of the University. During the meeting, the board approved the graduation of the eighth batch of university students who completed the graduation requirements for bachelor's programmes in the university's five colleges. They also discussed the university's annual plan for the academic year 2024-2025 and the methodology of the new strategic plan 25-30. The board also extended their highest thanks and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and Founder of the University, praising his pioneering vision and continuous support for AQU, which contributed to strengthening its position as a global academic centre. Professor Dr. Awad Al Khalaf, Chancellor of AQU, presented detailed reports on the university's performance during the previous academic year and the work plan for the academic year 2024/2025. He also presented the university's achievements in education and scientific research, community service, and cooperation agreements with a number of international institutions and universities. The board also reviewed the reports of the various committees related to resource development, academic affairs, commitment and auditing, recruitment and international relations, as well as initiatives aimed at enhancing students' academic experience and various activities that hone their skills and abilities. At the end of the meeting, Al Turaifi praised the efforts of the board members and their valuable contributions to achieving the AQU mission. AL DHAFRA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 26th Dec, 2024) The Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority will host the second edition of the Al Wathba Dates Festival from 10th January to 28th February 2025 in the Al Wathba region of Abu Dhabi as part of the Sheikh Zayed Festival. The festival is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court. The festival will feature 12 competitions for date packaging (both with and without additives) across six varieties: Khalas, Fard, Dabbas Boumaan, Shishi, and Zamli. A total of 120 prizes worth over AED2 million will be awarded. Additionally, a traditional market will showcase shops dedicated to dates and related industries and outlets offering agricultural tools and palm seedlings. The festival aims to raise awareness of the importance of palm trees, which aligns with the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan for the sustainable cultivation of palms. It also seeks to encourage the production and marketing of dates and related industries, while supporting initiatives that enhance food security and ensure its long-term sustainability. The Al Wathba Dates Festival attracts enthusiasts and visitors of the Sheikh Zayed Festival in the Al Wathba region, serving as a specialised platform for marketing and selling both Emirati and international dates and their derivatives. Beyond preserving the UAEs agricultural heritage, the festival promotes the exchange of expertise between farmers from around the world on advanced farming techniques, palm tree care, and authentic Emirati traditions. CAIRO, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 26th Dec, 2024) The Arab Republic of Egypt has strongly condemned the incursion of Israeli Minister of National Security into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, carried out under the protection of Israeli occupation police, and expressed its outright rejection of this provocative act. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Egypt warned against such extremist actions, describing them as a blatant violation. It called on Israel to comply with its obligations as an occupying power and stressed the importance of respecting the status of Al-Aqsa Mosque as a place of worship exclusively for Muslims. ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 26th Dec, 2024) The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) has launched an international standard carbon Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) programme as a pivotal step towards addressing carbon emissions in the emirate. EAD has made significant progress in studying the possibility of implementing carbon pricing mechanisms, as a pivotal step in addressing carbon emissions and climate change within Abu Dhabi and the broader UAE, to accelerate the emirate's transition to a low-carbon economy and support the decarbonisation of emission-intensive and hard-to-abate sectors. The agency has invested in the build up to COP28, substantial resources in close collaboration with its partners at the Federal and local levels, as well as the private sector. Studies conducted by the EAD have shown that developing a domestic carbon pricing scheme supports industries in Abu Dhabi decarbonise, particularly in emission-intensive sectors. The MRV programme aims to enable accurate tracking of greenhouse gas emissions, laying the groundwork for a successful carbon pricing mechanism. The system is designed to standardise and strengthen the reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across Abu Dhabis industrial and energy sectors, aligning local efforts with global best practices, to drive international competitiveness, manage long-term GHGs, and foster technical innovation at the forefront of the global climate change agenda in the region. The programme will generate reliable data that meets global climate requirements like those defined by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is also aligned with the Enhanced Transparency Framework of the Paris Agreement and international collaborations for climate mitigation initiatives. Finally, it fortifies the outcomes of the UAE Consensus adopted in COP28. The MRV emissions programme will require the large carbon emitting facilities to monitor, report and verify by third parties their emissions on an annual basis with the first reports due in 2026. The design of the programme, inclusive of emitting sectors and thresholds, has been in close consultation with key stakeholders from public and private sector entities; ensuring collaboration and alignment. Dr. Shaikha Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of EAD, said, Abu Dhabi has fortified its position as a forward-thinking leader on climate action, through working closely with our government, industrial and energy sector partners, as we are integrating new mandatory Measurement, Reporting and Verification efforts into our broader carbon accounting framework. Transparent data is essential for assessing climate policies, such as carbon pricing mechanisms, and supports Abu Dhabi's commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 22 per cent by 2027 and contribute to the emirates continued sustainable economic prosperity. Through this journey, we are very keen to proactively take the necessary steps as part of the national pathways towards Net Zero by 2050. Ahmed Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Under-Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, highlighted the Departments commitment to driving collaboration with partners and stakeholders to advance the energy sectors transformation. He emphasised the importance of this collective effort in supporting Abu Dhabis sustainable development goals and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. He said, Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems are crucial for providing accurate data to track carbon emissions, ensure transparency, build trust, and drive effective climate action. Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), said, The GHG MRV solution will help EGA to meet evolving regulatory requirements while maintaining transparency and auditability of our emissions data throughout the value chain of our production processes. This tool is an important step in achieving our bold aspiration of embedding sustainability in everything we do and reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. EAD will be responsible for the implementation and administration of the MRV programme in the emirate, providing a vital operational stepping-stone in decarbonisation through development of clean technologies and delivering the UAEs 2050 targets. ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 26th Dec, 2024) Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian Navys historic and iconic Training Ship, Ambassador of UNESCO, UNICEF and Italy, stops in the UAE for the first time in its 93-year history. It will dock in Abu Dhabi from 27th to 31st December, as part of its global tour, which began in Italy on 1st July 2023. Amerigo Vespucci is sailing around the world, visiting over 30 ports, 28 countries, 5 continents. Its arrival in the UAE marks the 31st stop of the ship's global tour. A welcoming ceremony is planned at the Port Zayed in partnership with Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal and in collaboration with the Experience Abu Dhabi initiative. During its stay in Abu Dhabi, the ship will bring its festive Villaggio Italia to Port Zayeds Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, which celebrates Italian excellence and the Made in Italy excellence while highlighting the strong ties between the UAE and Italy. The Abu Dhabi stop is the seventh for the Villaggio Italia exhibition, following visits to Los Angeles, Tokyo, Darwin, Singapore, Mumbai, and Doha. Both the Amerigo Vespucci and the Villaggio Italia exhibition will be open to the public for free during the Abu Dhabi visit. Entry will be managed via pre-booked slots through the website: tourvespucci.it/en/abu-dhabi-27-31-december-2024. (@FahadShabbir) MOSCOW, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 27th Dec, 2024) Moscow today declared a national state of emergency following an oil spill caused by two separate incidents involving Russian tankers in the Black Sea. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said in a statement that a severe storm hit the two tankers on 15th December, causing one to split in half and the other to run aground. This incident resulted in an oil spill, polluting the shores of the famous Anapa resort and surrounding areas, as well as causing serious problems for wildlife. The Ministry stated that more than 10,000 people are working to contain the oil spill and clean the affected beaches. SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said on Thursday that the country will review a visa-free pilot project for Chinese group tourists. Han, who became an acting president following President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment, said in a tourism strategy meeting that the project will be actively reviewed and rapidly implemented to contribute to a fast and strong recovery of the local tourism market. He vowed to front-load next year's tourism budget in the first half and take emergency measures such as financial support and special loans to stabilize the management in the tourism industry. (@FahadShabbir) RIYADH, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 27th Dec, 2024) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expressed its condemnation and denunciation of the continued Israeli violations, including the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyard by the Israeli National Security Minister, and the incursions of the occupation forces in southern Syria. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Kingdom affirmed that these systematic practices in Al Aqsa Mosque constitute a flagrant transgression and provocation of the feelings of Muslims around the world, and that the continuation of military operations in Syria is a further undermining of the chances of Syria restoring its security and stability. (@ChaudhryMAli88) NEW YORK, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 26th Dec, 2024) The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has expressed deep concern over the continued destruction carried out by the Israeli military in residential areas, agricultural lands, and road networks in South Lebanon, which constitutes a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. UNIFIL called for the immediate cessation of any actions that threaten the fragile cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel. In a statement issued today (Thursday), the international mission reminded all parties of their obligations, including the full implementation of Resolution 1701 and the need to address outstanding issues. The statement urged Lebanon and Israel to utilise the newly established mechanism agreed upon as part of their understanding. UNIFIL reiterated its ongoing efforts to press the Israeli military for a timely withdrawal, the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces in South Lebanon, and the comprehensive implementation of Resolution 1701 as a pathway to peace. It noted that it is working closely with the Lebanese Armed Forces while accelerating efforts to recruit and redeploy forces in the south. The mission also affirmed its readiness to support both countries in fulfilling their commitments and monitoring progress. This includes ensuring that the area south of the Litani River remains free from armed personnel, assets, or weapons, except those of the Government of Lebanon and UNIFIL, and respecting the Blue Line. UNIFIL concluded its statement by pledging that its peacekeepers will continue to carry out their mandated duties, including monitoring all violations of Resolution 1701 and reporting them to the UN Security Council. Director General of the Pakistan Academy of Letters, Sultan Nasir, laid floral wreath at a grave of Renowned Urdu poetess Parveen Shakir to remembered him on her 30th death anniversary here on Thursday ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Dec, 2024) Director General of the Pakistan academy of Letters, Sultan Nasir, laid floral wreath at a grave of Renowned urdu poetess Parveen Shakir to remembered him on her 30th death anniversary here on Thursday. The occasion saw a significant presence of literary and academic circles, including representatives from the Parveen Shakir Trust, Pakistan Customs Service, the Federal Ombudsman, and private literary organisations. Speaking to media representatives, Sultan Nasir remarked, "Parveen Shakir is among the most celebrated poets of Pakistan. " She boldly expressed human emotions, particularly feminine experiences, and her poetry exquisitely captured the subtleties of human relationships. "Her legacy is also honored in the Academy's Hall of Fame," he hailed. Born on November 24, 1952 Parveen Shakirs acclaimed poetry collections included 'Khushboo,' 'Sad-Barg,' "Khud Kalami,' 'Inkar,' and 'Kaf-e-Aina.'. Her complete works have been compiled and published under the title 'Mah-e-Tamam.'. She died on December 26, 1994, due to a traffic accident. (@FahadShabbir) Yunus Emre Institute Country Director Professor Dr. Halil Toker Thursday said that Pakistan was only the country where three branches of the Pak-Turk Culture Center had been established ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Dec, 2024) Yunus Emre Institute Country Director Professor Dr. Halil Toker Thursday said that Pakistan was only the country where three branches of the Pak-Turk Culture Center had been established. He said this while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Yunus Emre Institute, Turkish Culture Center, at Allama Iqbal Open University. "Pakistan and Turkiye share almost common culture, religion, and values," Dr. Halil Toker shared proudly. "We are teaching the Turkish language to students who have plans to go to Turkiye so they will not face any language barrier there," he informed. "We are also teaching archery and calligraphy classes," he added. "Yunus Emre Institute is providing scholarships to PhD scholars, and they will research the common values of Pakistan and Turkiye," Toker concluded. Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Shaikh underscored the transformative power of education in nation-building, citing examples such as China, which lifted 700 million people out of poverty through education. "It is heartening to see that 50% of university students in Pakistan are female. However, the fact that 26 million children are still out of school is a stark reminder of the challenges we face. Institutions like AIOU are making significant contributions toward bridging this gap and fostering educational inclusivity," he stated. He praised the establishment of the Yunus Emre Institute at AIOU as a milestone in strengthening cultural and educational ties between Pakistan and Turkiye. "The Yunus Emre Institute has a global reputation for promoting Turkish language, culture, and the shared Turkish-Islamic heritage. This collaboration with AIOU will undoubtedly deepen the historic bonds between our two nations and open new avenues for cultural and academic exchange," he added. The Ambassador of Turkiye Dr. Irfan Naziroglu expressed his gratitude to AIOU for hosting the Institute, which will introduce Turkish culture and language to Pakistani students and scholars. "This partnership is a testament to the enduring friendship and shared values between Turkiye and Pakistan," he remarked. The Vice Chancellor of AIOU Nasir Mahmood highlighted the university's commitment to fostering global partnerships and inclusive education. He expressed optimism that the Yunus Emre Institute would enrich the academic and cultural environment of the university and enable students to explore Turkish heritage and its profound influence on Islamic civilization. Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture Attaullah Tarar also spoke on the occasion. The event concluded with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by a tour of the Institute's facilities, showcasing its state-of-the-art resources for language and cultural education. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Qaiser Ahmed Shaikh, inaugurated the Yunus Emre Institute Pakistan Chapter at AIOU. He was accompanied by Ambassador of Turkiye to Pakistan, the Vice Chancellor of AIOU, and a distinguished gathering of academia, diplomats, and cultural enthusiasts. Shields and Calligraphy frames were also distributed among the honourable guests. It is to mention here that Yunus Emre Institute, operating under the Ministry of Culture of the Government of Turkiye, has over 90 branches across five continents. The newly established branch at AIOU is expected to become a hub for cultural and linguistic exchange, furthering the mission of unity and mutual understanding between Pakistan and Turkiye. \395 Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage, and Culture Attaullah Tarar on Thursday, welcoming the convictions of those involved in May 9 arson, underlined the need for military trial of its mastermind and his accomplices ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Dec, 2024) Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage, and Culture Attaullah Tarar on Thursday, welcoming the convictions of those involved in May 9 arson, underlined the need for military trial of its mastermind and his accomplices. Talking to the media, the minister said the military courts have convicted some 60 individuals involved in the May 9 attacks on Lahores Jinnah House, PAF Airbase Mianwali, Qila Chakdara, and other sensitive installations. This is a significant step forward, as those responsible for attacking sensitive installations have been brought to justice, he said, while attributing the attacks to a nefarious conspiracy masterminded by the PTI founder. He declared it a landmark day for Pakistan as justice was served to those who attempted to undermine the nations defense institutions. "This will strengthen national security, establish the rule of law, and ensure that no one dares to attack defense installations again for fulfilling the dreams of the enemies," he added. This day marks a turning point for Pakistan. Justice has been served, and the rule of law has prevailed. The martyrs can now rest in peace knowing their sacrifices have been honored, he remarked. Highlighting the due process of the law followed during the trials, he said the decisions in these cases were not taken in the haste. "The prosecution spent extensive time gathering evidence and ensuring all legal requirements during the trial process," he explained. The trials adhered to Pakistans constitutional framework and international treaties, he said while stressing on the right to fair trial given to the accused. "The accused were given opportunities to engage legal counsel of their choice, access court records, and meet their families," he said, adding the trials were not conducted in absentia. He said the convicted individuals have two avenues for appeal as they could appeal within the military judicial hierarchy and through writ petitions in high courts. The minister said there are irrefutable evidence, including video and technical records, demonstrating the involvement of the convicted individuals in vandalism and arson on May 9. "These individuals attacked the Jinnah House, destroyed national symbols, and desecrated the uniforms of our brave soldiers," he regretted. He also condemned the burning of an aircraft displayed at the Mianwali Airbase, which had been used by national hero MM Alam. On the occasion, the minister criticized ongoing efforts by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to weaken the nation through foreign lobbying and misinformation campaigns, asserting that these attempts would not succeed. He said the country is on the path of progress which is also admitted by the PTI founder today in conversation with the media. The EU on Thursday threatened further sanctions against Russian vessels after Finland said it was probing an oil tanker that sailed from a Russian port for the "sabotage" of a power cable linking the country and Estonia Brussels, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Dec, 2024) The EU on Thursday threatened further sanctions against Russian vessels after Finland said it was probing an oil tanker that sailed from a Russian port for the "sabotage" of a power cable linking the country and Estonia. On Christmas Day, the Estlink 2 submarine cable that carries electricity from Finland to Estonia was disconnected from the grid, just over a month after two telecommunications cables were severed in Swedish territorial waters in the Baltic Sea. "We commend the Finnish authorities for their swift action in boarding the suspected vessel. We are working with the Finnish authorities on the ongoing investigation," the European Commission and the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said. "We strongly condemn any deliberate destruction of Europe's critical infrastructure. The suspected vessel is part of Russia's shadow fleet, which threatens security and the environment, while funding Russia's war budget," they added in a joint statement. "We will propose further measures, including sanctions, to target this fleet." The shadow fleet refers to ships that transport embargoed Russian crude and oil products. There have been several similar incidents in the Baltic since Russia's 2022 invasion. The EU said in response to the incidents that it was "strengthening efforts to protect undersea cables, including enhanced information exchange, new detection technologies, as well as in undersea repair capabilities, and international cooperation". EU countries agreed earlier this month to blacklist around 50 more oil tankers from Russia's "shadow fleet", used to circumvent Western sanctions over the Ukraine war. The move was part of a 15th package of sanctions to be imposed by the 27-nation bloc since Moscow's invasion. France's new Prime Minister Francois Bayrou will visit the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, which was devastated by a cyclone, on Sunday and Monday, his office said Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Dec, 2024) France's new Prime Minister Francois Bayrou will visit the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, which was devastated by a cyclone, on Sunday and Monday, his office said. The prime minister, who has been criticised for not visiting the ravaged archipelago sooner, will be accompanied by several top cabinet members such as education Minister Elisabeth Borne and Manuel Valls, the new overseas territories minister, his office said Thursday. The most devastating cyclone to hit Mayotte in 90 years caused colossal damage in France's poorest department in mid-December, killing at least 39 people and leaving more than 4,000 injured, according to the latest count. Authorities have warned the death toll could rise. However on Monday, Bayrou hit out at "alarmist" claims about a significant death toll from Cyclone Chido, saying he believed the disaster had killed "dozens" and not "thousands." Bayrou, 73, has faced criticism for attending a town hall meeting in his home city of Pau, where he is mayor, while Mayotte grappled with the aftermath of the deadly cyclone. (@FahadShabbir) UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Dec, 2024) Concluding the main part of its seventy-ninth session today, the General Assembly adopted a 10-year action programme to address the unique challenges faced by landlocked developing countries, a historic cybercrime convention and the $3.72 billion United Nations budget for 2025. Adopting a draft resolution titled Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 20242034, the 193-member Assembly called upon all relevant stakeholders to commit to implementing the instrument, which outlines a series of commitments for action across five priority areas. They included structural transformation and science, technology and innovation; trade, trade facilitation and regional integration; transit, transport and connectivity; enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change and disasters; and means of implementation. The Programme of Action was initially scheduled for adoption at the third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in 2024, but the event has been postponed twice. New dates and the venue are yet to be announced. The 2025 regular budget of $3.72 billion, recommended by the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), is about $100 million more than the budget proposal laid out by the Secretary-General in October. The Assembly also adopted other draft resolutions contained in the report of the Fifth Committee, including texts concerning financing of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals as well as the Organizations pension system. Also adopted were two texts forwarded by the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian & Cultural), including a text on United Nations Convention against Cybercrime; Strengthening International Cooperation for Combating Certain Crimes Committed by Means of Information and Communications Technology Systems and for the Sharing of Evidence in Electronic Form of Serious Crimes .' Also adopted was another regarding Preventing and combating corrupt practices and the transfer of proceeds of corruption, facilitating asset recovery and returning such assets to legitimate owners, in particular to countries of origin, in accordance with the United Nations Convention against Corruption The United Nations Convention against Cybercrime is the outcome of five years of painstaking work by Member States, said the Russian Federations delegate. Even though negotiations were tense, with certain countries using dubious methods to undermine the process and extort political pressure, he stressed that the adopted treaty is a strong foundation for combating crimes using information and communications technology. However, this universal treaty should not stand still, he asserted, underscoring that it needs to further evolve by developing additional protocols. It is the first international legal instrument that governs cyberspace and exemplifies the UNs multilateral approach to tackling global challenges, echoed his counterpart from Vietnam. The Convention bridges the divide by fostering collaboration between nations. It is a collective accomplishment by all Member States, regardless of size, development level and geographical region, he said, welcoming that Hanoi was chosen as the venue for the signing ceremony in 2025. In his closing remarks, Assembly President Philemon Yang congratulated all delegates for their hard work and commitment to multilateralism during the past four months of intense discussions and negotiations, in which many important decisions were taken to consolidate the action and presence of the UN worldwide. Noting that the programme budget implications of the Pact for the Future were just approved, he added that in January, his Office will launch several activities aimed at strengthening multilateralism and accelerating the implementation of the Pact. He also commended States for their continued support to the resident coordinator system, which has proven its worth as a mechanism to help accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. APP/ift TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iran's intelligence forces have arrested an individual on charge of spying for a neighboring country in the northwestern province of Ardabil, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday. The individual was arrested by the provincial intelligence unit of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in a "technical intelligence" operation, the report said. It added that the arrestee spied on behalf of the intelligence service of a neighboring country, without specifying which country. The suspect has then been handed over to the Iranian judicial authorities. Militant group al-Shabab said one of its top commanders, Mohamed Mire, was killed in a drone strike near Kunyo Barrow in Somalias Lower Shabelle Region. Al-Shabab did not say when the strike took place but blamed the United States for the killing. The United States military command in Africa, AFRICOM, late on Thursday confirmed conducting a Dec. 24 airstrike against al-Shabab, killing two militants some 10 kilometers southwest of Kunyo Barrow. The AFRICOM statement did not name the targeted militants but said no civilians were harmed. The command will continue to assess the results of the operation and provide additional information as appropriate. Specific details about the units involved and assets used will not be released to ensure operational security, said AFRICOM, which confirmed the strike was carried out in coordination with the Somali government. Somalias Ministry of Information issued a statement calling the operation well-planned and conducted in coordination with international partners with whom it and long been hunting Mire. Earlier, Lower Shabelle Region Governor Mohamed Ibrahim Barre told VOAs Horn of Africa Service that the operation occurred two days ago. Barre said Mire was traveling from the town of Jilib to Kunyo Barrow when he was targeted outside of the town. Mire was head of al-Shababs regions department, the militant groups equivalent of an interior ministry. He also held multiple other positions within the group. In July, Somalias anti-money laundering committee issued a sanctions list targeting Mire and seven other al-Shabab commanders. U.S. officials designated Mire a global terrorist in October 2022, describing him as a senior al-Shabab leader responsible for the groups strategic decision-making and head of the groups interior wing, overseeing many of the groups activities in Somalia. Somalia remains central to the security environment in East Africa. U.S. Africa Command's forces will continue training, advising and equipping partner forces to degrade al-Shabaab, AFRICOM said. Despite longstanding divisions, Kurdish political leaders and analysts say Syrian Kurdish groups are seeking a unified delegation to represent their interests in Damascus in negotiations with Syrias new authorities. Since 2012, northeast Syrias Kurdish region has been under the control of forces affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, a key U.S. partner in the fight against the Islamic State terror group. The region is predominantly governed by the Democratic Union Party, or PYD, whose military arm forms the backbone of the SDF. For its part, Turkey views all these groups as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. Turkey, a major actor in post-Assad Syria, has pledged to eliminate these Kurdish groups if they refuse to disarm. The Kurdish National Council, or ENKS, is another coalition of Kurdish parties in Syria that have opposed the PYDs de facto rule in the northeast. The ENKS has ties with Turkey and the Kurdistan Democratic Party, the ruling party in Iraqi Kurdistan. This week, ENKS and SDF held a meeting attended by officials from the U.S.-led coalition against IS. The meeting was to discuss the formation of a unified Kurdish position within the framework of the new Syria, according to a joint statement. The sides agreed on the importance of urgently continuing meetings to resolve contentious issues. Sulaiman Oso, the ENKS president who attended the meeting on Monday, said the discussion between the two sides was transparent. This was our first meeting with SDF commander Mazloum Abdi in four years, he told VOA. We were clear and transparent about our demands, including an end to arrests of our members and the burning of our offices, he added, referring to recent incidents in which ENKS members have been targeted by local security forces. Oso said that trust between the two sides has significantly eroded in recent years. We cannot go to Damascus with a unified delegation if these internal matters arent resolved first, he said, adding that the U.S., U.K. and France are pushing both Kurdish sides to reach an agreement soon. None of these countries has publicly commented on their involvement in supporting intra-Kurdish dialogue in Syria. However, since Bashar al-Assads fall on Dec. 8, U.S., French and British officials have highlighted the need to safeguard the rights of Syrias ethnic and religious minorities, including the Kurds. Saleh Muslim, a senior PYD official, emphasized the importance of forming a unified Kurdish delegation that includes Arabs and Christians from northeast Syria to effectively represent the regions diverse population and their demands. The current meetings are still in the consultation stage, he told VOA. Nothing concrete has emerged yet, but the ENKS has already sent representatives to Damascus for discussions. The ENKS says its representatives are in the capital to hold meetings with community leaders, not with the new authorities, which are dominated by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, the rebel group that led the 11-day offensive resulting in Assads downfall. The HTS is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., although initial meetings have taken place between U.S. diplomats and HTS leaders in Damascus. Oso of ENKS said no current presence should replace a unified Kurdish representation in Damascus. Observers warn that the slow progress between the two Kurdish sides could undermine efforts to establish a Kurdish foothold in Damascus. This is a historic moment for Syria, said Zara Saleh, a Kurdish political analyst in London. If the Kurds dont have a unified and strong representation in Damascus, Kurdish demands could be ignored by the new Islamist authorities, who already view them with suspicion. HTS officials, including leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, have said that Kurdish rights will be protected in Syria. But in a recent interview with the Saudi news channel al-Hadath, Murhaf Abu Qasra, who was appointed by the HTS as defense minister in Syrias caretaker government, rejected the concept of federalism, describing it as a means to divide Syria. Syrian Kurdish groups are advocating for federalism as a solution to both their political demands and the broader issues facing the country. But that is something that the SDF, PYD and ENKS have failed to clearly articulate, says analyst Zara Saleh. Their political rhetoric expired the moment the Syrian regime fell, Saleh said. Therefore, there is an urgent need to include Kurdish experts, civil society leaders and influential social figures in any delegation heading to Damascus, and the United States, along with other stakeholders, should advocate for this. Emotional ceremonies were expected across Asia on Thursday to remember the 220,000 people who died two decades ago when a tsunami devastated coastal areas around the Indian Ocean in one of the worst natural disasters in human history. On Dec. 26, 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake off Indonesia's western tip generated a series of massive waves that pummeled the coastline of 14 countries from Indonesia to Somalia. Beachside memorials and religious ceremonies will be held across Asia in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand, which were the worst hit countries. "I hope we will never experience that ever again," said Nilawati, a 60-year-old Indonesian housewife who lost her son and mother in the tragedy. "I learned the devastation of losing a child, a grief I can't explain with words, she said. It feels like it just happened yesterday. Whenever I am reminded of it, it feels like all the blood rushes out of my body." Victims of waves as high as 30 meters included many foreign tourists celebrating Christmas on the region's sun-kissed beaches, bringing the tragedy into homes around the globe. The seabed being ripped open pushed waves at double the speed of a bullet train, crossing the Indian Ocean within hours without warning. A total of 226,408 people died because of the tsunami, according to EM-DAT, a recognized global disaster database. There was no warning of the impending tsunami, giving little time for evacuation, despite the hourslong gaps between the waves striking different continents. But today a sophisticated network of monitoring stations has cut down warning times. Indonesia suffered the highest death toll, with more than 160,000 people killed along its western coast. In its westernmost province, Aceh, mourners were to hold a moment of silence before visits to a mass grave and a communal prayer at the grand mosque in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh. The disaster also ended a decadeslong separatist conflict in Aceh, with a peace deal between rebels and Jakarta struck less than a year later. In Sri Lanka, where more than 35,000 people perished, survivors and relatives were to gather to remember around 1,000 victims who died when waves derailed a passenger train. The mourners will board the restored Ocean Queen Express and head to Peraliya the exact spot where it was ripped from the tracks, around 90 kilometers south of Colombo. A brief religious ceremony will be held with relatives of the dead there while Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Muslim ceremonies are also organized to commemorate victims across the South Asian island nation. In Thailand, where half of the more than 5,000 dead were foreign tourists, unofficial vigils were expected to accompany a government memorial ceremony. At a hotel in Phang Nga province, there will be a tsunami exhibition, a documentary screening and introductions by government and U.N. bodies on disaster preparedness and resilience measures. Nearly 300 people were killed as far away as Somalia, as well as more than 100 in the Maldives and dozens in Malaysia and Myanmar. "My children, wife, father, mother, all of my siblings were swept away," said Indonesian survivor and fisherman Baharuddin Zainun, 70. "The same tragedy was felt by others as well. We feel the same feelings." Azerbaijan on Thursday observed a nationwide day of mourning for the victims of the plane crash that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured as speculation mounted about a possible cause of the disaster that remained unknown. Azerbaijan Airlines' Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan's capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan after flying east across the Caspian Sea. The plane went down about 3 kilometers from Aktau. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Other footage showed part of its fuselage ripped away from the wings and the rest of the aircraft lying upside in the grass. On Thursday, national flags were lowered across Azerbaijan, traffic across the country stopped at noon, and signals were sounded from ships and trains as the country observed a nationwide moment of silence. Speaking at a news conference Wednesday, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that it was too soon to speculate on the reasons behind the crash, but said that the weather had forced the plane to change from its planned course. "The information provided to me is that the plane changed its course between Baku and Grozny due to worsening weather conditions and headed to Aktau airport, where it crashed upon landing," he said. Russia's civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, said that preliminary information indicated that the pilots diverted to Aktau after a bird strike led to an emergency on board. According to Kazakh officials, those aboard the plane included 42 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russian nationals, six Kazakhs and three Kyrgyzstan nationals. Russia's Emergencies Ministry on Thursday flew nine Russian survivors to Moscow for treatment. As the official crash investigation started, theories abounded about a possible cause, with some commentators alleging that holes seen in the plane's tail section possibly indicate that it could have come under fire from Russian air defense systems fending off a Ukrainian drone attack. Ukrainian drones had previously attacked Grozny, the provincial capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, and other regions in the country's North Caucasus. Some Russian media claimed that another drone attack on Chechnya happened on Wednesday, although it wasn't officially confirmed. Osprey Flight Solutions, an aviation security firm based in the United Kingdom, warned its clients that the "Azerbaijan Airlines flight was likely shot down by a Russian military air-defense system." Osprey provides analysis for carriers still flying into Russia after Western airlines halted their flights during the war. Osprey CEO Andrew Nicholson said that the company had issued more than 200 alerts regarding drone attacks and air defense systems in Russia during the war. "This incident is a stark reminder of why we do what we do," Nicholson wrote online. "It is painful to know that despite our efforts, lives were lost in a way that could have been avoided." Asked about the claims that the plane had been fired upon by air defense assets, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that "it would be wrong to make hypotheses before investigators make their verdict." Kazakhstan's parliamentary Speaker Maulen Ashimbayev also warned against rushing to conclusions based on pictures of the plane's fragments, describing the allegations of air defense fire as unfounded and "unethical." Other officials in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have similarly avoided comment on a possible cause of the crash, saying it will be up to investigators to determine it. A Cambodian opposition politician was sentenced on Thursday to two years in jail and banned from elections for inciting social unrest, his lawyer said, the latest in a series of cases that activists say are attempts to silence government critics. Sun Chanthy, president of the Nation Power Party, was arrested and charged in May after meeting supporters in Japan. Police said he had spread false information on Facebook to mislead the public but his arrest was not politically motivated, local media reported at the time. His lawyer, Choung Chou Ngy, on Thursday told reporters Sun Chanthy was sentenced in absentia as he was unable to travel from a provincial prison to attend court in Phnom Penh due to travel sickness. He joins a long list of politicians, journalists and labor and environmental activists in Cambodia imprisoned after speaking out against the government, which has been led by the Cambodian People's Party for four decades. Cambodia's justice ministry did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on the sentence. For years the government has denied curtailing free speech and cracking down on its opponents, saying those jailed or subjected to legal action had broken the law. The CPP government has led a ruthless, years-long crackdown on its opponents, with scores of politicians jailed, many in absentia, and hundreds more fleeing into exile. Sun Chanthy formed the Nation Power Party in 2023 after Cambodia's only opposition, the Candlelight Party, was barred from an election last year that was won by the CPP in a landslide. According to human rights group LICADHO, which tracks cases against government critics, 102 people have been arrested and jailed in Cambodia this year, with 76 still in detention as of Dec. 10. Thousands of workers are facing an unsettling reality heading into 2025. After years of working from the comfort of home, they're being told its time to return to the office full-time for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic. We talk with Evan Starr a professor of management & organization at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. A deadly gang attack in Haiti earlier this week underscores the dangers facing journalists in a nation that has been plagued by gang violence for years. At least two journalists including one who worked with Voice of America were killed and at least seven other journalists were wounded when armed men fired on reporters gathered for the reopening of Haitis largest public hospital in the capital, Port-au-Prince, earlier this week, according to media reports and the Haitian government. The Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ, said it was appalled by the attack. We send deepest condolences to the families of those killed and call on Haitian authorities to swiftly bring these killers to justice, a CPJ spokesperson said in a statement this week. Among those killed in the Christmas Eve attack was Marckendy Natoux, who did marketing for VOAs Creole Service. Natoux worked for VOAs umbrella organization, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, but also reported for various local outlets, including Heritage Express News and Boston Caribbean Network. Natoux began working for USAGM in 2022 and was dedicated to publicizing VOA Creoles work, according to the journalists USAGM colleague, Iscar Blanco. "He always offered a smile to everyone and a helping hand to anyone who needed it, Blanco told VOA. Natoux is remembered as someone who was always eager to help his colleagues and community members. Blanco recalled how Natoux was always quick to help whenever journalists needed a microphone, a cable or anything else. And on the weekend, Natoux often volunteered to help the local community, according to Blanco. I am sure that he will always be remembered for his dedication to his work, but beyond work, for his love as a father, husband and friend, Blanco added. Natoux is survived by his wife and two children. Jimmy Jean, a reporter with the online TV outlet Moun Afe Bon, was also killed in the Tuesday morning attack. One police officer was also killed, and another police officer was wounded in the shooting at State University of Haiti Hospital, which is known locally as the General Hospital. A local gang leader named Johnson Izo Andre of the Viv Ansanm, or Living Together, gang coalition posted a video on social media claiming responsibility for the attack. Members of the Viv Ansanm coalition of street gangs, which have taken control of much of the Haitian capital, surrounded the hospital and opened fire through a metal gate. The gangs later said they were angry that the government had announced the hospitals reopening without their permission. The Haitian Association of Journalists said the attack was a macabre scene comparable to terrorism, pure and simple. The association also called for authorities to act prudently in their rush to make decisions, to avoid exposing to danger the journalists and others who accompany them at their events. In a statement posted on social media, the prime ministers office said, This heinous act, which targets an institution dedicated to health and life, constitutes an unacceptable assault on the very foundations of our society. In a video statement, Leslie Voltaire, president of Haitis transitional presidential council, said that the shooting was unacceptable, adding, This act will not remain without consequences. I send my sympathies to the people who were victims, the national police and the journalists, Voltaire also said. According to The Associated Press, on Thursday two government officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic said Health Minister Duckenson Lorthe would be replaced by Justice Minister Patrick Pelissier until a new health minister was found. Haiti has been rocked by severe gang violence and political instability since President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in his home in 2021 by a group of foreign mercenaries in a plot that authorities said involved elite Haitian police officers. More than 5,300 people have been killed in gang-related violence in Haiti in 2024, according to the United Nations. And more than 2,100 people have been injured in gang-related violence. Also in 2024, CPJ ranked Haiti worst in the world in terms of impunity in journalist killings. The press freedom group has documented seven targeted journalist killings in the Caribbean nation over the past decade. To date, none of those killings have been solved. With increased violence, the dangers to journalists rise, CPJ chief Jodie Ginsberg told VOA in October. Haiti being at the top of this years impunity index is really a reflection of that increased violence. Haiti ranks 93rd out of 180 countries on the Global Press Freedom Index, where 1 reflects the best media freedom environment. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press. An undersea power cable linking Finland and Estonia suffered an outage Wednesday, Finland's prime minister said, the latest in a series of incidents involving telecom cables and energy pipelines in the Baltic Sea. Arto Pahkin, the head of operations of the Finnish electricity grid, told public broadcaster Yle that "the possibility of sabotage cannot be ruled out." Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the power outage "does not affect electricity supplies for Finns." "The authorities remain vigilant even during Christmas and are investigating the situation," he added on X. Operator Fingrid said current on the EstLink 2 cable sending electricity to Estonia was cut at 12:26 p.m. local time. Last month two telecom cables in the Baltic linking neighboring Sweden and Denmark were cut. Suspicions rapidly fell on the Chinese ship Yi Peng 3, which according to ship tracking sites had sailed over the cables around the time they were cut. Sweden said Monday that China had denied a request for prosecutors to conduct an investigation on the vessel and that it had left the area. European officials said they suspected several of the incidents were sabotage linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with the Kremlin dismissing that as absurd. Early on November 17, the Arelion cable running from the Swedish island of Gotland to Lithuania was damaged. The next day, the C-Lion 1 submarine cable connecting Helsinki and the German port of Rostock was cut south of Sweden's Oland island. Tensions have mounted around the Baltic since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In September 2022, a series of underwater blasts ruptured the Nord Stream pipelines that carried Russian gas to Europe, the cause of which has yet to be determined. In October 2023, an undersea gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was shut down after it was damaged by the anchor of a Chinese cargo ship. SHENZHEN, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The southern Chinese metropolis of Shenzhen has recently hosted a series of exhibitions, attracting numerous overseas executives eager to explore opportunities and expand investments in China's vast market. The 2024 Shenzhen Global Investment Promotion Conference, held in early December, drew representatives from over 700 companies and institutions across 33 countries and regions, including more than 200 Fortune Global 500 companies. Over 400 projects were signed at the conference, with a total investment exceeding 900 billion yuan (about 125.18 billion U.S. dollars). Featuring companies like Rockwell Automation, Knorr-Bremse and Dassault Systemes, these projects span key sectors such as low-altitude economy, intelligent connected vehicles and biomedicine. The success of the conference highlighted Shenzhen's efforts to attract foreign investment and businesses. In 2024, 15 foreign heads of state and government leaders visited Shenzhen, nearly double the number from the previous year. Exhibitions have become a key channel and driving force for China's market opening, boosting global confidence and invigorating the world economy. The 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) held in Shanghai in November attracted nearly 3,500 exhibitors and 800 procurement groups, recording 80.01 billion U.S. dollars in intended transactions, up 2 percent from the previous year. In the same month, the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) held in Beijing saw the participation of more than 600 companies, up approximately 20 percent from the first edition of CISCE in 2023. The share of overseas exhibitors rose from 26 percent to 32 percent of the total, with participants from nearly 70 countries and regions. U.S. companies took the lead in participation, while involvement from Europe and Japan also saw notable growth. Similarly, the China International Travel Mart 2024 held in Shanghai welcomed over 1,000 international exhibitors and 600 overseas travel agents from more than 80 countries, hosting over 600 business matchmaking sessions. Analysts have highlighted China's crucial role in the global supply chain. Shenzhen, for instance, has developed a comprehensive automotive supply chain, covering vehicles, batteries, motors, autonomous driving and smart cabins. "I am so proud that Apple has an exhibit here with our partners. We could not do what we do without them," said Apple CEO Tim Cook while visiting Apple's booth at the CISCE. Pharmaceutical giants like Eli Lilly, Pfizer and Bayer have also established new R&D and innovation centers in Beijing, marking key milestones in their business expansion in China. This year, China has actively built platforms for international exchange and cooperation, demonstrating its commitment to openness through policies designed to streamline these efforts. Notable initiatives include the use of facial recognition for faster customs clearance, relaxed restrictions on foreign investments, enhanced cross-border payment systems, and extended visa-free stays for eligible foreign travelers. "China's vast market remains essential for global businesses and will continue to strengthen its attractiveness to international investors," said Cao Zhongxiong, director of the Department of Digital Strategy and Economics at China Development Institute. French authorities said they rescued 107 migrants trying to cross the Channel from France to England on Wednesday. Over the course of Christmas Day, 12 rescue operations were staged along the coast of northern France, including of a boat experiencing engine trouble, France's Channel and North Sea maritime prefecture said in a statement. In the morning, 30 passengers were rescued from a boat near Dunkirk, while the others onboard wished to continue onward and were taken into British custody once they reached British waters, the maritime authorities said. Another boat experiencing engine damage was spotted later in the day, also near Dunkirk, and all 51 passengers were rescued. Later, 26 people were taken off a boat having trouble near Calais. The English Channel is "a particularly dangerous area, especially at the height of winter for precarious and overloaded boats," the statement said. At least 73 migrants have died trying to cross the Channel to Britain in 2024, according to the Pas-de-Calais authorities, making it the deadliest year on record for the crossings. Tens of thousands more have reached Britain, where the government has vowed to crack down on people-smuggling gangs. In November, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for greater international cooperation against the gangs, which he described as a "global security threat similar to terrorism." The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. With the spread of false information on social media, journalists in Mozambique are on the front line in the fight against mis- and disinformation. Amarilis Gule has the report from Maputo. Palestinian medics said an Israeli airstrike early Thursday killed five journalists in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza. The Al-Quds Today television channel, which is affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group, said in a statement the strike hit a broadcast truck and killed its five staffers. The channel said the group was killed "while performing their journalistic and humanitarian duty." The Israeli military said its forces struck a vehicle containing Islamic Jihad terrorists in the Nuseirat area. A baby girl froze to death in southern Gaza, the head of the enclave's Ministry of Health said Wednesday. The newborn is at least the third baby to die in recent days in the cold. The girl's father, Mahmoud al-Faseeh, told The Associated Press that he had wrapped her in a blanket to try to keep her warm in the family's tent in the al-Muwasi camp outside of Khan Younis. "It was very cold overnight and, as adults, we couldn't even take it. We couldn't stay warm," he said. Baby Sila woke up crying three times in the night. In the morning, "she was like wood," he said. They rushed her to a field hospital, but she did not survive. Sila "died from the cold," her mother, Nariman, told CNN on Wednesday. "I was warming her and holding her. But [we] didn't have extra clothes for me to warm this girl." The overnight low was 9 degrees Celsius, and their tent did not keep the wind out, Mahmood al-Faseeh said. Dr. Ahmed Al-Farra, the children's ward director at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, confirmed the baby died of hypothermia, as did two others, both less than 1 month old, in the past two days. According to The Associated Press, Israel is allowing more aid into Gaza: an average of 130 trucks a day in December, up from about 70 in October and November. Before the war, about 500 trucks entered daily. Hamas militants killed 1,200 people in their October 2023 attack on southern Israel and took about 250 others hostage. There are still around 100 hostages still being held in Gaza, though at least one-third are believed to be dead. Israel's counteroffensive in Gaza has killed more than 45,300 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and fighters in its count. The United States, United Kingdom, European Union and others have designated Hamas as a terror group. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Japan and China are seeking to improve relations ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trumps return to the White House, but analysts say Beijings aggressive military activities across the Indo-Pacific region will make it hard for the sides to reduce longstanding tensions. Tokyo does want to have smoother ties with Beijing, given the likely tumultuousness of the U.S.-China relationship and also the global situation more broadly once Trump comes into office, said Ian Chong, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore. However, the basic positions of both countries are too far apart, and as long as Beijing continues to make claims on the East China Sea and is demonstrating its ability to use military force to pursue those ends, its difficult for China and Japan to pursue a fundamental reset in bilateral relations, he told VOA by phone. Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Wednesday. Both sides agreed to facilitate a visit by Wang to Japan in 2025 and improve relations on a basic societal level. China and Japan should also strengthen people-to-people exchanges, consolidate public support for China-Japan friendship, and properly handle disputes and differences, Wang said on Wednesday, adding that Tokyo should calibrate its strategic perception and pursue a positive policy toward China. While Beijing focused largely on the positive aspect of the meeting, Iwaya reiterated Tokyos concerns about the increased Chinese military activities in areas near Japan and Japanese citizens safety in China during his meeting with Wang. Iwaya expressed Japan's serious concerns about the situation in the East China Sea, including the situation surrounding the Senkaku Islands, and the intensification of Chinese military activities, the Japanese foreign ministry said in a statement released on Wednesday. Despite these concerns, Iwaya and Wang agreed to hold a high-level economic dialogue and organize the Japan-China Security Dialogue to improve communication over security issues. Experts say Japan believes it can extract some positive goods from China because of Beijings increasing concern about the incoming Trump administration. Tokyo sees the Trump administration as likely being very difficult on China in terms of tariffs and security issues, and they understand they may have a little bit more leverage now, Stephen Nagy, a professor of politics and international studies at Tokyo's International Christian University, told VOA by phone. He said because China remains committed to reshaping the security environment in its surrounding region, Japan is focusing on securing short-term gains in improving ties rather than resetting the relationship. They believe there might be an opportunity to extract some positive goods from the Chinese, whether its business or increasing the flows of people between the two, Nagy added. Countries dispute Fukushima discharge One of the main disputes between China and Japan is Tokyos discharge of treated radioactive wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant. Beijing has repeatedly opposed Tokyos move and imposed bans on the import of Japanese seafood. While both governments agreed on steps that would allow stakeholders like China to independently sample the treated waters in September, Wang and Iwayas discussion on the topic didnt show signs of Beijings import ban being eased. Wang reiterated China's opposition to Japan's ocean discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water, stressing that Japan should fulfill its international obligations and commitments to China, establish a long-term international monitoring mechanism, and allow China to sample and test independently, Chinese state-run tabloid Global Times reported on Wednesday. Despite China's continuation of the ban on Japanese seafood, Nagy said China will still try to seize this chance to strengthen relations with Japan and possibly weaken Washington-Tokyo ties. The Chinese government has a long track record of using economic incentives to drive a wedge between Washington and Tokyo, but since Japan has seen these strategies for decades and the Chinese economy is in decline, whether Beijings efforts can translate into sustainable changes is a different story, he told VOA. Japan will prioritize US ties, says political scientist While Japan seeks to smooth ties with China, Chong in Singapore said the relationship with the U.S. will still be Tokyos priority once Trump returns to the White House in January. Tokyo will align [with the U.S.] as much as it can because the Japanese economy is very much tied with the U.S. economy, he told VOA. During a press conference on Tuesday, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he wanted Japan to bolster its alliance with the U.S. I think it's important to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance even further ... and share a common understanding of the situation in northeast Asia, he said. Although the relationship with the U.S. remains a priority for Japan, Nagy said Tokyo will still try to influence how U.S.-China competition develops under the second Trump administration. Japan will try to convey to Washington that their relationship with China isnt simple because they cant simply cut off the relations and over-securitize the relationship since Beijing remains a neighbor that is not going away, he told VOA. When Tokyo engages with the U.S., its a relationship of cooperation, coordination, and an attempt to influence the decision-making process in Washington so that they dont take an over-securitized approach to the competition with China, Nagy added. Experts say Kyrgyzstans efforts to enforce Western sanctions against companies supplying dual-use goods and equipment to Russia are constrained by opposition from business, limited bureaucratic resources, and unwillingness to antagonize the Kremlin. Since 2022, the U.S. and EU governments designated a dozen Kyrgyz companies as violators of international Russia sanctions. According to the U.S. Treasury Department website, "Entities based in the Kyrgyz Republic have been frequent exporters of controlled electronics components and other technology to Russia since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Some of these shipments have subsequently supplied sensitive dual-use goods to entities in Russias defense sector." There has been a significant rise in trade between Kyrgyzstan and Russia since Moscows 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with this years Kyrgyz exports to Russia through November up 47% from the same period last year, according to the Kyrgyz State Statistical Committee. Kyrgyzstan and Russia are both part of the Eurasian Economic Union, which also includes Armenia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. As some media reports have claimed, the Kremlin has relied on Kyrgyzstans membership in the bloc as a backdoor channel for sanctions evasion. Western actions targeting Kyrgyz companies have irked Kyrgyz officials, but they have taken a series of measures to avoid more sanctions. In October 2022, Kyrgyz banks stopped processing transactions with Russian MIR cards, the go-to payment system for Russian citizens. In August of this year, the Kyrgyz government set up a new government State Trading Company to engage in external trade and monitor private import and export transactions. A month later, a government decree obliged Kyrgyz banks to suspend monetary transactions of all local and foreign companies involved in reexporting goods from China, South Korea and the EU through Kyrgyzstan to Russia. The State Trading Company has been exempted from this requirement. Kyrgyz officials have portrayed the measures as effective, with Economy and Trade Minister Daniyar Amangeldiev saying in October, "We have obligations, and we are fulfilling them. Accordingly, such [sanctioned] goods never came to us, and they didnt go through our territory." However, regional experts paint a different picture. Bishkek political analyst Emil Juraev told VOA by email that Kyrgyzstan has limited capacity to enforce Western sanctions. "It is the purview of the [Kyrgyz] Customs Service, which must have full information about what kind of goods are being exported and imported. That way, it would be possible to see what is being shipped to Russia. But in our country, such [sanctioned] goods are brought through contraband [channels]," he said. Meanwhile, the government action to control external trade through State Trade Company has caused consternation among Kyrgyz businesses. Askar Sydykov, head of the International Business Council, a Bishkek-based business association, told an Oct. 15 roundtable in Bishkek the number of commercial transactions can reach hundreds and thousands, which may be beyond the capacity of the government to deal with. "Given that the company has been created only recently and it lacks experience in such transactions," he said, referring to the State Trading Company, "this can have significant [negative] implications on the country's interests and profitability of the banking sector and business community." Sydykov also added that Kyrgyz entrepreneurs have vague ideas about what constitutes sanctioned "dual use goods," implying that Kyrgyz authorities need to do more to raise awareness of the issue among exporting businesses. Kyrgyz authorities have also grappled with punishing companies involved in sanctions evasion. As of December, the Kyrgyz government only revoked registration of two Kyrgyz companies that were included on the U.S. sanctions list. "Closing down a few companies will not make big difference," a Kyrgyzstani entrepreneur whose company imports goods from China told VOA, on condition that she be identified by only her first name, Nazira. "Hundreds of [Kyrgyz] companies are involved in this business," she said, referring to sanctions evasion. Fears of antagonizing Russia At a Nov. 25 news conference, Russian Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Sergei Vakunov took a jab at Western secondary sanctions against Kyrgyz companies, portraying them as "direct interference of foreign countries into affairs of a sovereign country such as Kyrgyzstan." A Kyrgyzstani political analyst, who spoke to VOA on condition of anonymity out of fear of official retribution, said that the Kyrgyz government is loath to take measures that can antagonize Russia. In an early October interview with Russia state media, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov criticized Western pressure on Kyrgyzstan. Traveling around Europe, he said, he hears EU officials on one hand say Russia should be punished for the invasion of Ukraine but those countries continue to cooperate with Russia. "They should not tell us or ask us not to cooperate with Russia or the CIS," he said, referring to the Commonwealth of Independent States, an alliance of a number of former Soviet republics. Western diplomats apparently know that putting too much pressure can push Kyrgyzstan closer to Russia. In a March interview with Kyrgyz media, U.S. Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Lesslie Viguerie, said sanctions "are not intended to prevent Kyrgyzstan from maintaining economic relations with Russia," adding "We do not pursue such a goal." Nevertheless, Western governments are unwilling to reduce pressure on Kyrgyzstan. In late October, the U.S. government added four more Central Asian companies including one company from Kyrgyzstan to its sanctions list, a sign that illicit trade continues. Some experts doubt this latest measure will have impact. Joanna Lillis, a journalist based in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and the author of Dark Shadows: Inside the Secret World of Kazakhstan, told VOA, "It is clear that the current system is not acting as a sufficient deterrent, and that further measures should be taken to thwart this trade." "It is possible," she said, "that singling out individuals for sanctions rather than companies might boost the deterrent factor." Syrias new authorities launched an operation Thursday against militias aligned with ousted President Bashar al-Assad, according to state news agency SANA. The reports said the operation was focused in the western province of Tartous, and that some militia members had been killed. The development came a day after pro-Assad fighters killed 14 members of the rebel group that led the offensive that pushed Assad from power. Syria's new interior minister said on Telegram that 10 other people were wounded in what he called an ambush, and he vowed to crack down on anyone who undermines Syrias security. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rebel fighters were attacked while trying to arrest a former official from Assads government who was accused of issuing execution orders at the notorious Saydnaya prison. Syrian refugees U.N. refugee chief Filippo Grandi said Thursday that more than 50,000 refugees have returned to Syria during the last three weeks, with the rate of return slowly increasing. Material conditions inside Syria remain dire - more humanitarian and recovery assistance must be delivered to returnees and all those in need, Grandi said. By comparison, the U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, said earlier this month that it verified the return of 34,000 Syrian refugees during the first eight months of this year. More than 13 years of civil war pushed about 5 million people to flee the country, while 7 million others were displaced within Syria. More than half of the refugees went to Turkey, while most of the others fled to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt. A UNHCR report earlier this month said while many of the refugees are interested in returning to Syria, many are choosing to wait for now and evaluate the security situation and political stabilization. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Nigerian authorities in northwest Sokoto state launched a probe Thursday into a Christmas Day airstrike by the military that killed at least 10 people. Sokoto Governor Ahmed Aliyu said in a statement he's in talks with the Nigerian Army to ensure a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the airstrike on early Wednesday. The military said in a statement Wednesday it was targeting the terror group Lakurawa in the villages of Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa, but Aliyu said the attack claimed the lives of innocent citizens. State authorities said 10 people were killed and many others injured. Aliyu extended his condolences to the victims' families and pledged to support them with cash and food. The incident is the latest in a series of accidental strikes in recent years, raising concerns among human rights groups, including Amnesty International. "This is yet another sign that the Nigerian military has not changed, and they have not learned a lesson from previous airstrikes that killed civilians, said Isa Sanusi, Amnestys country director in Nigeria. I believe that they have to review their procedures, they have to investigate these incidents thoroughly, and they have to find a way to end this reckless deadly use of force. The military said that it did not target civilians and that it took necessary measures to avoid such accidents. The Nigerian Air Force said it will investigate. Nigeria has been waging deadly wars against terrorists, armed gangs and separatists for years, but accidents have been recurring. Last December, a military airstrike that hit Tudun Biri village in northern Kaduna state killed more than 120 people. In September, another airstrike in Kaduna killed 24 people. Nigerian authorities have promised to be more cautious, but in a Christmas broadcast, Nigerian Air Staff Chief Hassan Abubakar said, "To every member of the Nigerian Air Force family, I want to especially thank you for your unwavering dedication, resilience and sacrifice in service of our great nation. Your commitment and professionalism have been instrumental in ensuring the security and stability of our beloved country." In November, Nigerian authorities announced the emergence of the Lakurawa sect in the northwest and said security forces were tracking the group's activities. A military court in Pakistan on Thursday sentenced 60 supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for allegedly attacking army facilities. A nephew of the 72-year-old imprisoned leader and two former army officers are among those convicted, as reported by the Pakistani armys media wing. Khan has been in jail since August 2023 and faces a range of charges, including corruption, sedition, and inciting violence against the military. The nation, government, and the armed forces remain steadfast in their commitment to upholding justice and ensuring that the inviolable writ of the state is maintained, the military statement said. The convictions came less than a week after a military court handed down sentences to 25 members of Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or PTI, party on the same charges. The allegations against Khan supporters stem from nationwide protests in May 2023, during which demonstrators stormed and ransacked several military installations in an unprecedented show of public outrage against the powerful Pakistani institution. The PTI has rejected the secretive" military trials. Khan and his aides deny any wrongdoing, saying intelligence agency operatives had infiltrated the ranks of peaceful PTI protesters and carried out the vandalism to justify a subsequent state crackdown on the opposition party, charges government officials rejected. Last weeks sentencing of the initial group of 25 PTI members to vigorous imprisonment of up to 10 years drew an international backlash. The United States urged Pakistani authorities to respect the right to a fair trial and due process in line with the countrys constitution. The United States is deeply concerned that Pakistani civilians have been sentenced by a military tribunal. ... These military courts lack judicial independence, transparency, and due process guarantees, said a State Department statement on Monday. Britain also criticized Pakistan for putting civilians on trial in military courts, saying they lack transparency, independent scrutiny and undermine the right to a fair trial. The European Union condemned the sentencing of Pakistani civilians by military courts, calling the practice inconsistent with the obligations that Pakistan has undertaken under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Pakistani government has defended the military trials and subsequent convictions, stating they uphold the right to a fair trial and allow appeals within military tribunals and civil courts. We also have underlined on multiple occasions that Pakistan's constitution and Pakistan's legal system have the capacity to resolve any issues that arise internally, foreign ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Baloch told her weekly news conference Thursday. [The] Pakistani system has the remedy of judicial review by superior courts. We will continue to uphold our Constitution and Pakistani law and our obligations under international law. Most world countries remain Russias military allies and partners, Russian President Vladimir Putin said addressing the defense ministry board meeting in Moscow on December 16. "[W]e need to continue to further expand military and military-technical cooperation with allies and partners who are ready and willing to work with us, which includes most countries around the world." That is false. Moscows formal alliances are limited to five ex-USSR states-members of Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization, or CSTO, that include Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Beyond CSTO, Moscow is engaged in transactional military partnerships with China, Iran, India, and North Korea. By comparison, NATO has 32 members. Additionally, Russia is dealing with a broad spectrum of international sanctions intended to weaken its military industrial capabilities and aimed at forcing the Kremlin to halt the war in Ukraine. Declining arms exports, international isolation, and the constraints of ongoing wars in Ukraine and Syria further undermine Putins claims of extensive global influence. Instead of representing a majority, Russias military relationships reflect a concentrated and declining sphere of influence, shaped by pragmatic and often transactional ties. Russia's strategic partnerships are important in their own right, but they represent only a small portion of the global community. They include China, India, Iran, North Korea, and Syria [until the December 8 overthrow of Bashar al-Assads regime]. Russia and China have fostered a close strategic relationship, particularly in defense and technology. However, this partnership does not constitute a formal military alliance. Both nations have cooperated on military exercises and arms deals but maintain independent geopolitical goals. Historically a significant buyer of Russian arms, Indias reliance on Russia has decreased in recent years as it diversifies its defense procurement to include the United States, France, and Israel. While India remains a key partner, its broader geopolitical stance remains non-aligned. Under Putin, Russia has strengthened military ties with Iran, particularly in regard to drones and missile systems. This relationship has grown amid shared opposition to Western policies but lacks the scope of a formalized alliance. Since September 2023, North Korea has supplied Russia with up to 5 million artillery shells, exceeding Russias annual production. Russia also has deployed North Korean KN-23/24 missiles, though with high failure rates. In June, they signed a strategic partnership, and in October, 10,000 North Korean troops were sent to Russia to train and fight against Ukraine. Russia supported Bashar al-Assads government in Syria since 2011, providing political backing and military aid. From September 2015 to December 2024, Russias direct military involvement bolstered Assads position. Following Assads overthrow in December, however, this alliance dissolved. Estimates of Russia's financial support for the Assad regime vary from more than $20 billion to $27.5 billion over nine years. On the South American and African continents, Russias partnerships are limited to a few nations, such as Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua. These relationships are exceptions rather than the norm in the regions largely influenced by Western powers. Russia has leveraged arms sales and private military contractors such as the Wagner Group to maintain influence in parts of Africa. These engagements are primarily transactional, though, and they lack the depth of formal alliances. In the Asia-Pacific region, apart from India and China, Russias military partnerships are minimal. Countries like Japan, South Korea, and Australia remain aligned with the United States and its allies. Russias arms exports dropped by 53% between 201418 and 201923, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). In 2019, Russia exported arms to 31 countries, but by 2023, this number dwindled to just 12. In 201923, 68% of the total Russian arms exports went to Asia and Oceania. India and China dominated as recipients, accounting for 34% and 21%, respectively. This trend demonstrates that Russias influence is concentrated in a few key markets and highlights its reduced global reach in defense trade. Furthermore, competition from other major arms exporters, such as the United States and France, combined with the impact of sanctions and logistical challenges, has significantly curtailed Russias ability to expand its arms trade. The current geopolitical landscape further disproves Putins claim. The United Nations comprises 193 member states. Most of these nations are not aligned with Russia militarily or engaged in terms of military-technical cooperation. In contrast, many are either neutral or part of Western alliances, such as NATO and the European Union, which directly oppose Russian policies. Lights, music and Christmas decorations light up the spirits in parts of the world struggling with conflict. While many of the worlds trouble revolves around religion, we talk with someone who says theres more commonality among the worlds major religions than there is difference. Were joined by Harvard Divinity School professor of comparative theology Francis X. Clooney. DAMASCUS/BAGHDAD, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Syria's interim authorities met here with visiting Iraqi intelligence chief Hamid al-Shatri on Thursday, according to an official statement carried by Syrian state media outlets. Ahmed al-Sharaa, head of Syria's de facto governing group and commander of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, alongside Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and newly-appointed intelligence chief Anas Khattab attended the meeting with an Iraqi delegation headed by al-Shatri. Syria's media outlets offered no further details on the agenda or outcomes of the meeting. Meanwhile, the official Iraqi News Agency, citing Iraqi government spokesman Basim al-Awadi, reported that al-Shatri engaged in discussions with the new Syrian leadership on the situation in Syria and the necessary measures for ensuring security and stability along their shared borders. Last week, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani stressed the importance of concerted efforts to assist Syria in managing its affairs without interference that compromises its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Taiwan's Defense Ministry warned of "serious impact" to security after opposition parties passed laws that require a cut in defense spending of about $2.45 billion as the island is facing an elevated Chinese military threat. Taiwan's opposition parties, which hold a majority in parliament, last week passed legislation to shift spending from the central government to local municipalities, a move strongly contested by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and thousands of protesters. In a statement late Wednesday, the Defense Ministry said it might need to cut its defense budget plan by 28% for next year, equivalent to around $2.45 billion, to meet the new funding requirements. "It is set to deliver a serious impact to the national forces' military buildup and combat preparedness," the ministry said. Upgrades to some equipment will not continue, and it will be difficult to make payments for purchased items in accordance with contracts, resulting in delays or cancellations, it said. The ministry said the defense budget for next year amounted to about 2.4% of Taiwan's gross domestic product, but the possible cut would take the sum below 2%, even as other countries in the region are increasing military spending. "How do we persuade international friends to help us in critical moments when the enemy is invading us?" the ministry said. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has ramped up military pressure in recent years to assert those claims, which Taipei strongly rejects. Joseph Wu, secretary-general of Taiwan's National Security Council, told reporters on Wednesday that more discussions were needed because the budget cut would lead to "serious consequences." He did not give details, but said the cut would "send a wrong message that Taiwan does not want to defend itself. Seeing that, like-minded countries might not want to help our nation." The Cabinet in August proposed a 7.7% year-on-year rise for military spending to $19.8 billion, a record high for Taiwan as the island adds fighter jets and missiles to strengthen deterrence against the rising threat from Beijing. The DPP lost its parliamentary majority in January elections and is in a standoff with the opposition on several issues. As the world prepares for U.S. President-elect Donald Trumps return to the White House, Taiwan finds itself sandwiched between Washington and Beijing as it grapples with uncertainties about the outlook of U.S.-Taiwan relations and growing military pressure from China. Trump has already picked several politicians known for their hawkish stances on China as potential nominees for his Cabinet, including Marco Rubio and Mike Waltz, but analysts say the president-elect's comments about Taiwan on the campaign trail and in recent interviews have not offered much clarity about how he might handle one of Washingtons most delicate relationships. We don't know if [Trump] means it when he wants to return the United States to a more isolationist position, said J. Michael Cole, a Taipei-based senior fellow with the Global Taiwan Institute. During an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek in July, Trump said Taiwan should pay the United States for defense and compared U.S. military spending on Taiwan to an insurance policy. I know the people very well. Respect them greatly. They did take 100% of our chip business. I think Taiwan should pay us for defense, he said. In October, Trump pledged to impose additional tariffs on China if Beijing were to go into Taiwan. I would say: If you go into Taiwan, I'm sorry to do this, I'm going to tax you, at 150% to 200%, the President-elect said during an interview with The Wall Street Journal. In his first post-election interview with NBC News on Dec. 8, Trump didnt publicly say whether the U.S. would militarily defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion. Id prefer that they dont do it, Trump said, adding that he has a very good relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping and that the two have been communicating since last months election. During his time in office, U.S. President Joe Biden has on multiple occasions said his administration would defend Taiwan if it was attacked. Not panicking, but concerned Some Taiwanese residents worry about what they describe as a lack of clarity from the Trump administration. Im slightly concerned about how Trumps return to the White House might affect relations between the U.S. and Taiwan because he always prioritizes U.S. interests, which makes it hard to predict how his administration might form their Taiwan policies, Angel Chi, a 28-year-old medical worker, told VOA in a recent interview on the streets of Taipei. Others say while Trumps position on Taiwan seems uncertain, they do not think his administration will reduce support for Taipei. I still have faith in the U.S. democratic system because he cant decide everything by himself, Christine Chiu, a 42-year-old accountant, told VOA. The strong bipartisan support for Taiwan in Congress and some potential Trump Cabinet members track records on foreign policy could prevent U.S.-Taiwan relations from undergoing major changes during Trumps second term, experts said. I dont think there is panic in Taipei because we dealt with this situation before and we have confidence in our congressional support in the U.S., said Lai I-Chung, president of The Prospect Foundation, a Taiwan-based think tank made up of academics and government officials. The mood [in Taiwan] is we will be careful and watchful about the development, but we are not panicking, he told VOA in an interview in Taipei. Taiwan-US relations In recent weeks, Taiwans government has been reaching out to Republican congressional leaders and Trumps transition team. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te spoke with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson on the phone during his first overseas trip to the Pacific region in early December. On that trip, Lai had stopovers in Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam. Additionally, two senior national security officials from Taiwan traveled to the U.S. last week to meet members of Trumps transition team, hoping to establish ties before next months inauguration, Reuters news agency reported last on Dec. 19. Cole said there should be enough institutional resistance in the U.S. government to prevent longstanding policies toward Taiwan from being abruptly altered. During a regular press conference on Dec. 6, Chinas Foreign Ministry responded to a question on Lais stopover in Guam and Hawaii and said, No one should underestimate the firm resolve, will and ability of the Chinese government and people to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity. Chinas military pressure campaign As Taiwan tries to deepen its engagement with U.S. officials and the incoming Trump administration, China has been increasing military pressure on the island throughout 2024. Beijing has conducted two blockade-style military exercises around Taiwan since Lai took office in May. Last week, Taiwans Defense Ministry said Beijing deployed the largest number of naval and coast guard vessels to regional waters in almost three decades. Apart from military exercises, China has increased pressure on Taiwan through a range of what are called gray zone operations, measures that involve irregular tactics but stop short of combat. Chinas use of its coast guard to intimidate and test Taiwan is one example of those gray zone tactics. Beijing has repeatedly sent coast guard vessels to patrol waters near Taiwans outlying Kinmen and Matsu islands since February. Kinmen and Matsu are closer to China than they are to the main island of Taiwan. The Prospect Foundations Lai said China has some coast guard vessels that are similar in size to naval destroyers, making it harder for Taiwans coast guard to respond proportionately. It would be difficult for Taiwan to [deploy] naval vessels against the Chinese coast guard, and when Taiwan responds by deploying its coast guard forces, the vessels are smaller ships [while] the Chinese coast guard vessels are as big as navy ships, he told VOA. Countering China To counter the growing military pressure and gray zone operations from Beijing, Taiwan has incorporated more unscripted, real-combat drills into its annual military exercises. The island has also increased its defense budget in recent years, which is set to reach a new high of $19.74 billion dollars in 2025. This year, Taiwans government also established a committee to help strengthen the islands civil defense capabilities. Cole said Taiwan still faces challenges in that regard. There is still quite a bit of resistance not only within the security apparatus and armed forces, which dont like the idea of involving citizens in defense, the opposition parties have also sought to derail [relevant] plans and fundings, he told VOA. What may come next depends on Taiwans actions and Beijings assessment of Trumps policies toward the island after he takes office in January. Ukraines military said Thursday it shot down 20 of the 31 drones that Russian forces launched in overnight attacks. The intercepts took place over the Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv and Kyiv regions, Ukraines air force said. Russias Defense Ministry said Thursday it destroyed five Ukrainian aerial drones over the Volgograd, Voronezh and Belgorod regions. Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram a drone attack damaged several apartment buildings and a house, but that no one was hurt. The latest round of aerial attacks between the two sides followed a more active than usual day of drone and missile assaults. U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday condemned a massive Russian attack that Ukraines military said included 106 drones and 78 missiles. "The purpose of this outrageous attack was to cut off the Ukrainian peoples access to heat and electricity during winter and to jeopardize the safety of its grid. Let me be clear: the Ukrainian people deserve to live in peace and safety," Biden said in a statement. The United States, Biden said, "has provided Ukraine with hundreds of air defense missiles, and more are on the way. I have directed the Department of Defense to continue its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia targeted energy infrastructure as part of an attempt to "fight for a blackout in Ukraine." Russias Defense Ministry said in a statement it struck critical energy infrastructure facilities that support Ukraines military. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. The World Bank raised on Thursday its forecast for China's economic growth in 2024 and 2025, but warned that subdued household and business confidence, along with headwinds in the property sector, would keep weighing it down next year. The world's second-biggest economy has struggled this year, mainly due to a property crisis and tepid domestic demand. An expected hike in U.S. tariffs on its goods when U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January may also negatively impact Chinas growth. "Addressing challenges in the property sector, strengthening social safety nets, and improving local government finances, will be essential to unlocking a sustained recovery," Mara Warwick, the World Bank's country director for China, said. "It is important to balance short-term support to growth with long-term structural reforms," she said in a statement. Thanks to the effect of recent policy easing and near-term export strength, the World Bank sees China's gross domestic product growth at 4.9% this year, up from its June forecast of 4.8%. Beijing set a growth target of "around 5%" this year, a goal it says it is confident of achieving. Although growth for 2025 is also expected to fall to 4.5%, that is still higher than the World Bank's earlier forecast of 4.1%. Slower household income growth and the negative wealth effect from lower home prices are expected to weigh on consumption into 2025, the Bank said. To revive growth, Chinese authorities have agreed to issue a record $411 billion in special treasury bonds next year, Reuters reported this week. The figures will not be officially unveiled until the annual meeting of China's parliament, the National People's Congress, in March 2025, and could still change before then. While the housing regulator will continue efforts to stem further declines in China's real estate market next year, the World Bank said a turnaround in the sector was not anticipated until late 2025. China's middle class has expanded significantly since the 2010s, encompassing 32% of the population in 2021, but World Bank estimates suggest about 55% remain "economically insecure," underscoring the need to generate opportunities for citizens. Zimbabwes President Emmerson Mnangagwa who is chairing SADC has said the regional bloc is ready to assist troubled Mozambique engulfed in post-election violence that has claimed more than 100 lives of protesters, according to human rights organizations. South Africa calls for dialogue in the former Portuguese colony, where the opposition is claiming its electoral victory was stolen in the Oct. 9 polls. In a statement, Zimbabwes President Emmerson Mnangagwa, current chairman of the 16-nation Southern African Development Community, SADC, said the post-election violence in Mozambique must end after the countrys Constitutional Council this week gave 65% victory of the October to the ruling Frelimo party. Ronald Lomola, South Africas minister of international relations and cooperation, released an audio message on social media weighing in on post election violence in Mozambique. South Africa calls on all parties to commit to an urgent dialogue that will heal the country and set it on a new political and developmental trajectory. Furthermore, South Africa is ready to assist Mozambique in any manner to facilitate this dialogue," he said. So did Venancio Mondlane, Mozambiques runner-up to Frelimos Daniel Francisco Chapo in the disputed October presidential election. He said We not focused on our brother who is also suffering, who has been massacred by Frelimo. Thats not our focus. If you want change in the country, a revolution, my brothers, lets defend the shops of our neighbors, the companies of our neighbors, lets defend them. Khanyo Farise, Amnesty International deputy regional director for east and southern Africa, urged Mocambique government to end what she called one of the worst crackdowns on protesters. Since the outcome of the elections on Oct. 9, police have responded with excessive use of force against those who decide to express themselves and to exercise their right to freedom of association and assembly. We've seen police using live ammunition, using rubber bullets and using various forms of excessive force against protesters. Many people have been seriously wounded, and over 110 people have been killed, she said. Borges Nhamirre, a researcher with the Institute for Security Studies, said peace is important so the countrys closed ports can open to service countries like Zimbabwe, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and South Africa. "So, nothing is happening. Everything has been paralyzed in Mozambique. It means that people will face more hardship[s] even after this is over. So, the fastest way to solve this problem is dialogue. There is no alternative to dialogue," said Nhamirre. With the opposition and regional organizations such as SADC and African Union now calling for peace in Mozambique, there is hope that the situation can change. Columbus Mavhunga Mount Hampden, ZIMBABWE Zimbabwes President Emmerson Mnangagwa who is chairing SADC has said the regional bloc is ready to assist troubled Mozambique engulfed in post-election violence that has claimed more than 100 lives of protesters, according to human rights organizations. South Africa calls for dialogue in the former Portuguese colony, where the opposition is claiming its electoral victory was stolen in the Oct. 9 polls. In a statement, Zimbabwes President Emmerson Mnangagwa, current chairman of the 16-nation Southern African Development Community, SADC, said the post-election violence in Mozambique must end after the countrys Constitutional Council this week gave 65% victory of the October to the ruling Frelimo party. Ronald Lomola, South Africas minister of international relations and cooperation, released an audio message on social media weighing in on post election violence in Mozambique. South Africa calls on all parties to commit to an urgent dialogue that will heal the country and set it on a new political and developmental trajectory. Furthermore, South Africa is ready to assist Mozambique in any manner to facilitate this dialogue," he said. So did Venancio Mondlane, Mozambiques runner-up to Frelimos Daniel Francisco Chapo in the disputed October presidential election. He said We not focused on our brother who is also suffering, who has been massacred by Frelimo. Thats not our focus. If you want change in the country, a revolution, my brothers, lets defend the shops of our neighbors, the companies of our neighbors, lets defend them. Khanyo Farise, Amnesty International deputy regional director for east and southern Africa, urged Mocambique government to end what she called one of the worst crackdowns on protesters. Since the outcome of the elections on Oct. 9, police have responded with excessive use of force against those who decide to express themselves and to exercise their right to freedom of association and assembly. We've seen police using live ammunition, using rubber bullets and using various forms of excessive force against protesters. Many people have been seriously wounded, and over 110 people have been killed, she said. Borges Nhamirre, a researcher with the Institute for Security Studies, said peace is important so the countrys closed ports can open to service countries like Zimbabwe, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and South Africa. "So, nothing is happening. Everything has been paralyzed in Mozambique. It means that people will face more hardship[s] even after this is over. So, the fastest way to solve this problem is dialogue. There is no alternative to dialogue," said Nhamirre. With the opposition and regional organizations such as SADC and African Union now calling for peace in Mozambique, there is hope that the situation can change. More than 1,500 prisoners escaped from a Maputo prison Wednesday, taking advantage of the third day of unrest triggered by the controversial confirmation of the long-ruling Frelimo party as the winner of recent elections. A total of 1,534 detainees escaped the high-security prison located about 15 kilometres (nine miles) from the capital, said national police chief Bernardino Rafael at a press conference. Among those attempting to escape, 33 were killed and 15 wounded in clashes with prison staff, he added. A search operation, backed by the army, led to the arrest of about 150 fugitives, he said. Around 30 of the prisoners were linked to armed groups that have been behind unrest and attacks in the northern province of Cabo Delgado for the past seven years. "We are particularly concerned about this situation," Rafael said. The Portuguese-speaking African country's highest court had confirmed on Monday that Frelimo, in power since 1975, won the October 9 presidential election that had already triggered weeks of unrest. Frelimo leader Daniel Chapo won 65.17 percent of the vote, about five points less than the initial results declared by the country's electoral commission. Chapo's main challenger, exiled opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, has claimed the election was rigged, sparking fears of violence between rival party supporters. Mondlane has said that a separate count shows he won enough votes to take office, which he intends to do. On Wednesday, groups of protesters had approached the penitentiary, creating confusion and triggering unrest inside the prison, where inmates ended up knocking down a wall through which they escaped, he explained. Barricades remained erected in several areas of the capital Wednesday, limiting movements, as acts of vandalism continued. - Insecurity - In addition to stores and public buildings that were already ransacked Monday, ambulances were set ablaze along with a drugstore and other businesses, according to an AFP correspondent. Some demonstrators also set up tables in the streets to occupy the space while celebrating Christmas with family or neighbours, an AFP journalist witnessed in several working-class districts of Maputo. A few residents ventured out to buy food and drink, but many supermarkets had been vandalized. Those that did reopen had shortened hours. Monday's final results extend Frelimo's half-century grip on power and lines up Chapo to take over from President Filipe Nyusi whose second term ends on January 15. It came despite claims of irregularities from many observers. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller had said there was "a lack of transparency" about the results and urged all parties to "refrain from violence and engage in meaningful collaboration to restore peace and foster unity". But on Tuesday, the Mozambique interior ministry said that 21 people including two police officers had been killed in 24 hours in street clashes. Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda also said 236 "acts of serious violence" occurred. "Groups of armed men using bladed weapons and firearms have carried out attacks against police stations, penitentiary establishments, and other infrastructure," Ronda had said. At least 25 people were wounded, while more 70 people had been arrested, he said. The ensuing unrest has claimed the lives of at least 150 people, according to several NGO reports. str-ger/giv/rl Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino on Thursday ruled out negotiations with Donald Trump over control of the Panama Canal, which the US president-elect threatened to demand be returned to Washington. Mulino also rejected the possibility of reducing canal tolls for US vessels, and denied that China had any influence over the vital waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. "If there is an intention to talk, then there's nothing to talk about," Mulino told a weekly press conference. "The canal is Panamanian and belongs to Panamanians. There's no possibility of opening any kind of conversation around this reality, which has cost the country blood, sweat and tears," he added. The canal, inaugurated in 1914, was built by the United States but handed to Panama on December 31, 1999, under treaties signed some two decades earlier by then-US president Jimmy Carter and Panamanian nationalist leader Omar Torrijos. Trump on Saturday slammed what he called unfair fees for US ships passing through the canal and hinted at China's growing influence. If Panama could not ensure "the secure, efficient and reliable operation" of the channel, "then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question," he said. Mulino said the usage fees were "not set at the whim of the president or the administrator" of the interoceanic waterway, but under a long-established "public and open process." "There is absolutely no Chinese interference or participation in anything to do with the Panama Canal," Mulino said. On Tuesday, dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the US embassy in Panama City chanting "Trump, animal, leave the canal alone" and burning an image of the incoming American president. jjr/fj/dr/mlm By the end, its clear this film about a female CEO embroiled in an affair with a young intern is less scintillating and more a chilly, half-formed womens picture. Photo: A24 Warning: This piece involves description of Babygirls ending. Spoilers ahead. Babygirl is bookended by the orgasms of Romy Mathis, a highly visible CEO of a tech company with the kind of moneyed, idyllic life whose enviable surface always hides a stunning lack of fulfillment. Played by Nicole Kidman, she is married to the loving theater director Jacob (Antonio Banderas), who is more engaged in her interiority than she is in his. Her wardrobe primarily consists of cool beiges, slate grays, creams, and ochres. She lives in a luxe high rise apartment and an upstate home on plush acreage; what she has in obvious material wealth, she lacks in sexual and sensual satisfaction. That first orgasm, a brittle, unenthusiastic moan rippling as the A24 logo fills the screen, isnt so much experienced as performed. Kidman plays Romy as hyper-focused on convincing Banderas character that she is finding pleasure: the tossing of her hair (or more accurately, the splintered broom bristles that operate as Kidmans atrociously stiff wig), the breathiness of her vocal delivery, the offhanded coolness of her love you in response to his I love you that communicates a distance lurking between them, apparently unbeknownst to him. Their sexual dynamic is clear: He initiates, she keeps quiet about what she truly wants. Later, we come to learn shes never had a real orgasm with him in their 19 years as a couple. Romy doesnt wait for her husbands sweat to dissipate before jumping from bed, vaulting to the other side of her minimalist abode, and opening her laptop to watch porn while masturbating on the floor. Here, her moan is raw and guttural. Its akin to the final orgasm of the film, which she finally, actually experiences with her husband, after a primal truth about what she really craves is slowly revealed to him over the course of the movie: she wants to be told what to do. In Babygirl, the girlboss isnt being vilified or even critiqued, but explored with a canny interest. What precedes the final orgasm is a cool-eyed look at a middle-aged white woman with great influence who risks her marriage and her relationship to her children all in order not to be remade by desire but hopefully revealed by it. All thanks to a new presence that stuns her out of her regimented stupor: Samuel (Harris Dickinson), an assertive new intern at her company with whom she begins a BDSM-tinged affair. His toying and obvious attraction to her awakens something within Romy. Consider an early exchange when she asks how he calmed an unleashed black dog running havoc-fueled on a New York City street. Samuel: I gave him a cookie. Romy: You always have cookies on you? Samuel: Yeah why? Do you want one? Babygirl is about the various forms of power that shape the interpersonal and how that power is cultivated, maintained, and wielded, particularly within the bounds of heterosexual relations. The films writer-director, Halina Reijn, has crafted a movie with a supreme handling of structure, but it never thrilled me or turned me on. It doesnt function from the gut in the ways erotic thrillers of yore did, tapping into base cinematic pleasure centers. Thats because Babygirl isnt an erotic thriller, it operates moreso as a chilly womens picture if women were allowed to fuck in womens pictures, that tricksy subgenre that was momentarily a powerful force in 1940s and 50s cinema cementing stars like Barbara Stanwyck, Bette Davis, and Joan Crawford. Babygirl has some crucial hallmarks of that classic Hollywood mode: a melodramatic plot that places a morally ambiguous womans concerns at its center though Babygirls melodrama is subdued in favor of stately psychological introspection. These detours might make you think Babygirl is an erotic thriller, but it ultimately lacks the genres signature emotional thrust. Reijn simply throws tepid dom-sub dynamics into the mix, which makes for at least minimal intrigue, but ultimately ends up lifting different narrative weights. Harris Dickinson and Nicole Kidman in Babygirl. Photo: A24 via YouTube To start with, the sex scenes: they might be well-choreographed, but they never quite overheat. The playful, awkward negotiations between Samuel and Romy at the beginning of their tryst shrewdly communicate the difficulties of turning a flush of desire into action. That felt authentic. But there is little fire here beyond what Kidman is trying to produce; not even the sensual dance cast against a George Michael song gets feverish. The film is otherwise measured, outright crisp in its cerebral plunge into the liminal spaces of modern sexuality. The very light BDSM power plays, the notion of threatened domesticity, all the arguments and ruptures are not easily pinned down or morally untangled. This is a film marked by ambiguity which is its strength overall, even if there are crucial times in the film the narrative would be better served by directness. This is doubly true of the ending, which brings to the fore undeniable symmetry, but also a consideration that kept gnawing at me throughout the film: why is cinema so keen on exploring female sexuality primarily through abjection? By abjection, I am talking about a kind of sexuality primed on crossing borders that calls into question the nature of consent and autonomy. The kind of sexuality that doesnt easily square with beliefs that women need to be faultless and every corner of our lives must adhere to prevailing (and individualistic) liberal-feminist beliefs. The kind of sexuality that finds pleasure in the fear that comes from sexual experiences that threaten the symbolic and material order of a womans life. Babygirl, for all its craft, is an unsatisfying exploration of the ways in which women are emptied of their sexual responsibility, and conditioned to primarily come to understand themselves through the eyes of a man. I genuinely believe healing and understanding can be found within romance and great sex; you cant self-love yourself into breaking the noxious patterns that guide your relationships, and a sense of personal desire often comes into view in sexual experiences with other people. But when so much of the outre sexuality of women portrayed on-screen exists in this lane, it grates. The impulse toward sexual submissiveness is understandable its a position, I imagine, that is more common, regardless of gender, in an era of information overload, when you have to make taxing decisions multiple times a day, and to be lifted of that responsibility is freeing. But I dont want films to merely or even primarily reflect real life. Why cant we culturally envision womens sexuality within heterosexual relationships as one of asserting their own desires rather than being taught them? Are we still so deeply uncomfortable with watching a man dominated sexually by a woman, whereas women being dominated and brought low by their desires is more palatable? Im not saying these experiences arent shared by women. I just question the fantasies women are repeatedly sold. Namely because Romys sexual abjection is riddled with empty contradictions that demonstrate the limitations of the script. It is initially freeing for Romy to be told what to do by Samuel, to be made animalistic by her desires. Their affair is tentative at first. He laughs when he demands for her to get on her knees in their first sexual encounter at a tacky hotel. But they start to find a rhythm. They have sex in Romys corner office bathroom, in swankier hotels. He tells her to take off her panties and spread her legs, and she does. He beckons her to lap milk from a saucer like his own personal sex kitten. She does. They crash into each other, pushing boundaries away like smoke from their eyes. But this affair is also imprisoning, for the price of all she has acquired hangs in the balance of each kiss, each touch. The suggestion that Romy could lose everything at any moment is reaffirmed by Samuels dialogue and a pointed conversation with an older male power player in her company who makes allusions to knowing what happened with her (now former) intern near the end of the film. But theres never a moment that felt all that bracing. After a certain point, the idea of her losing everything wasnt glaring but ambient to the story. The film is remarkably soft on Romy, even though she puts herself at risk again and again: having sex with Samuel in her office bathroom, getting an expensive hotel with him for a night-long tryst, flittering through intimate situations with Samuel where prying eyes would love to feast. The film cares more for Romys enveloping sense of self than the depths of her immorality. Even that understanding of Romys character is thinly drawn, only given real shape due to Kidmans skill as an actress and her history. (How can you not think of Eyes Wide Shut when watching this movie?) Were told Romy grew up in cults and communes in an off-hand line she delivers, a threadbare fact thats meant only to bring some shading as to why Romy believes her vanilla needs are so dirty. In my first viewing, I believed her affair with Samuel was a means of self-revelation. But by the end of the film and certainly during my second viewing it felt more like self-negation. Shes emptying herself of history, allowing Samuel to treat her as a vessel. Both Dickinson and Kidman go full throttle toward this vulnerability. He carries the charm of a man who doesnt have any idea how young he is or what awaits him in that vast, unknowable dark of deeper adulthood. Dickinsons line readings are barbed yet beckoning, delivered with wild subtext bubbling just beneath the surface of his speech. But Dickinsons performance remains stuck somewhere between an outright projection and a portrait of a more fully realized, wounded young man. Kidman, in turn, plays Romy as a woman overcome by her own needs but unwilling to look at them directly. Unfortunately, even with the actors commitment I find both figures underwritten, too ill-defined to make Babygirl a true character study, in the same way the film is too sedate to be deemed an outright erotic thriller. By the time their characters discuss choosing a safeword, an hour and fourteen minutes into the film, its evident the forces and figures in Romys life are on a collision course: Romy suggests the safeword be her husbands name, Jacob. Another warning: Babgirl ending spoilers to follow. Photo: A24 Romys affair finally punctures her life in the last twenty-five minutes of the film, when Romys assistant Esme (Sophie Wilde) shows up at her home: I know whats going on between you and Samuel. It isnt a fiery collision but a snag. A momentary ruffle in the otherwise smooth pleats of Romys overly-tended life. Romy first plays coy, but she drops the facade, Youre confusing ambition with morality, she tells Esme, who responds, I have no interest in taking you down, okay? Fuck. Youre one of the few women who made it to the top. My interest is in keeping you there. Not as you are now. But as a version of you I can look up to. Esme forgoes a generic entreaty at the feet of her girlboss and instead makes a cunning personal plea for better judgment from her mentor. But is it surprising to anyone that a white woman of Romys ilk wouldnt just lack a certain morality, but never choose to possess it? Ultimately, Romy confesses to Jacob she had an affair, though she refuses to be wholly honest with him or herself. She says the affair was a one-off fling with a stranger. It is telling that in trying to explain her dark, dark thoughts and the desires that led her to threaten the unity of her household, she struggles to find the right language. She still cant describe what she wants. Jacob reaches his limit and kicks her out of the house. She flees to the upstate home, only to wake one evening to find Samuel swimming in her pool. Did I mess with your head? she asks him. Yeah but I messed with yours too. Were equally responsible. The reconnection that Esme warned would never happen finds its tenderness dashed by the sudden appearance of Jacob. First the viewer notices his shadowed form rooted in the doorway, then Romy does. Soon enough things get ugly. Jacob is rightfully pissed for being lied to two times over. Samuel and Jacob become a furious tangle of limbs, punches thrown, wounds tended with frozen vegetables. Jacob believes Romy used and abused Samuel, that her fantasies are not quite her own. Thats a dated idea of sexuality. Im sorry you dont understand, Samuel counters. Samuel could easily be deemed more progressive sexually, but hes also someone who tells Romy, You know I dont want a girlfriend if thats what youre afraid of. Because you look like a mother and Im not interested in that. Jacob has his own contradictions or, at least, he should. Hes a loving, engaged husband who hasnt clocked that his wife has faked all her orgasms for almost two decades. When, after Jacob has returned to the city and the theater where he works and Romy seeks him out to apologize, he doesnt say a word. The scene feels like a flimsy ellipsis rather than the long held exhale it should. And the final scene, in which Romy truly opens up sexually with Jacob, all the while imagining Samuel with the black dog, reads strangely ephemeral. The thin characterization beyond Kidman the opaqueness of the world around her is also a tell. The men in womens pictures especially the husbands are archetypes. They are simply screens upon which ideas about patriarchal control and the increasingly complicated nature of heterosexual pairings play out. For erotic thrillers to work, all characters involved in the centralizing relationship(s) need to be more than socio-cultural screens. They have to be people. Raw-nerved, ravenous, and revealing in every gesture. They need to feel mordant in the observations their lives dramatically bring to the fore. In Babygirl, Romys mind is the intellectual playground; meanwhile, Jacob isnt been given so much as a stray line to explain why he remains so committed to her, or why she would recommit to him. He isnt a counterweight, hes too seemingly perfect. And so Babygirl is less about Female Sexuality broadly, and more, even if accidentally so, about white womens sexual anxieties. What they feel they are losing as the pedestal that has always propped up their narrow rendition of femininity becomes hobbled as they dare to age. Babygirl and its shifting tides of interpersonal relationships indeed make it intellectually worthwhile to consider, but the film is drafty, even as a half-formed womens picture. I hunger for more radical visions of female sexuality, the kinds that arent so cerebral about the nastiness of its female lead. The kinds that imagine womens sexuality beyond the limitations of abjection. If film is used to picture wild worlds of a variety of hues and temperaments, why is there such a dearth exploring alternative forms of womens becoming in middle age? A former deputy speaker of the Croatian parliament has hailed China's visa-free policy and voiced his belief that this policy will boost bilateral relations between Croatia and China and attract more Croatians to travel to China. Pontiff brings message of hope to prisoners at Rebibbia. Pope Francis opened a Holy Door at Rome's Rebibbia prison on Thursday as part of ceremonies to mark the Vatican's Jubilee Year which the pontiff launched on Christmas Eve. Standing up from his wheelchair, Francis knocked on the bronze door at the chapel in Rebibbia jail before walking inside, in a historic ceremony attended by 300 people including about 100 prisoners as well as Italy's justice minister Carlo Nordio and Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri. I opened the first Holy Door at Christmas in St Peters but I wanted the second one to be here, in a prison" - the pontiff said - I wanted each of us here, inside and out, to have the opportunity to throw open the doors of our hearts and understand that hope does not disappoint. Using the metaphor of a rope tied to an anchor to describe hope, Francis urged the prisoners not to lose hope and to hold on to the rope even if it sometimes hurts their hands. "I pray for you every day" - the 88-year-old pope told the prisoners - "It's not a figure of speech, I think of you and I pray for you". The holy door at Rebibbia is one of only five that the pontiff will open to mark the Jubilee Year which is dedicated to hope. Since becoming pope in 2013 Francis has made numerous visits to Rebibbia, including as part of a Holy Thursday tradition in which he washes the feet of prisoners. In the coming days the pope will open holy doors at the papal basilicas of San Giovanni in Laterano, Santa Maria Maggiore and St Paul's Outside the Walls. Faithful who pass through these holy doors during Jubilee Year can obtain a plenary indulgence, a form of forgiveness of sins, in a special grace granted by the Catholic Church. Vatican jubilees take place every 25 years and the current celebration is expected to bring about 32 million pilgrims and tourists to Rome in 2025. Photo Vatican News The number of people attending confession has increased at Mount Melleray in recent weeks, with some sessions lasting multiple hours. The community come looking for reassurance, clarity over the beloved abbeys future. A stack of pages sits close by during the sacrament, which people can take home with them if they wish. Crowds gathering at Mount Melleray Abbey for the consecration of the church and the feast of Saint Bernard, circa 1952. Courtesy: Waterford County Museum The pages read: After much reflection and soul searching we as an Order have had to make some very difficult decisions with the aim of ensuring a future for Cistercian life in Ireland. We have been confronted with these difficult decisions as we address the reality of falling numbers and ageing communities; issues which other similar communities are also addressing at this time. We have decided that with effect from 26th January 2025, three of our communities, namely, Mount Melleray, Mellifont and Mount St Joseph, which since 3rd November, the Feast of St Malachy, have already merged as one new single community, will be based, for an interim period, at Roscrea. This new community has been given the name of The Abbey of Our Lady of Silence'. Clergy members and staff at Melleray, who are understandably confused and saddened by the move, have been working diligently in the past number of months to assure the public that although great changes are taking place, it is being done to consolidate the future of Cisterian life for all. At present, the order has three novices, with others expressing an interest in joining. The community remains strong, confident that amongst the difficulties the daunting move away from Waterford poses, the Cistercian way will continue to be of service to the community long into the future, albeit in a different way, or at a different location. Group of monks outside church at Mount Melleray Abbey, circa 1900. Courtesy: Waterford County Museum This point may do little to console the people of Waterford who remain devastated at the news that Melleray will be vacated. The mutterings amongst congregants are about what will happen next for them, for the beloved monks, the abbey itself, the shop, the cafe, the graveyard. Reassurance comes from the abbeys priests, who have been offering such reassurance to the community from the slopes of Cappoquin since 1832. In the 193 years since its foundation, Mount Melleray has been a beacon of hope for the people of Waterford through times of famine, civil war and financial crises. The abbey continues to play this role today, with the community being assured that despite the difficulty in closing a chapter at Melleray, a new one is yet to begin. Until tomorrow The monastery's vast and ever expanding story began in 1831, when 64 Irish monks, refugees evicted from the monastery of Melleray in France after the French Revolution, took up temporary residence at Rathmore in Co. Kerry. After a short time it became evident that the place was unsuitable for the erection of a regular monastery, and so the weary search from one end of Ireland to the other continued. After six months of travelling, the Cistercians obtained possession of Mount Melleray from landlord Sir Richard Keane. A cross was planted on the barren Waterford mountainside, soon to followed by a small cottage with two rooms and a kitchen, a stable where monks slept and a small wooden chapel in which rain and snow could quite easily penetrate. A distant view of Mount Melleray Abbey, circa 1900. Courtesy: Waterford County Museum It was from day one, and would remain to this day, a symbiotic relationship between the monks and the Waterford community. It was written in 1890 by novellist and poet Rosa Mulholland, that "every Irishman who could shoulder a pickaxe or shovel" toiled on the land to uproot the Melleray we know today from the once barren mountainside in the west of the county. One story from the time surrounds that of Lord Richard Keane, who granted the monks the scrubland on the mountain. Lord Keane apparently proposed the condition that the monks could have the land, from today until tomorrow, or in other words, that he could reclaim the land from them as he pleased. The Liberator, Daniel OConnell, who was political leader of Ireland's Roman Catholic majority in the first half of the 19th century, would on occasion pass through Mellerays gates, and was approached by the monks to help secure their future at the site. OConnell conjured up an ingenious method of countering Lord Keanes from today until tomorrow provision, and was able to prove into law that the land could remain in the hands of the monks, because tomorrow never comes. A well-known feature of the Melleray is the Miracle bin, a long wooden container, which remains there today. Interior of the Community Church, Mount Melleray Abbey, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, circa 1910. Courtesy: Waterford County Museum During the famine, the Lord Abbot of Melleray travelled to deliver sermons around the country in order to raise funds. He told the remaining monks at Melleray that nobody be turned away hungry from the monastery whilst he was away. Miraculously, the monks at Melleray managed to keep the wooden bin full with Indian meal during the entirety of the Abbots absence, despite it requiring to feed around 100 monks and countless locals from the area on a daily basis. The Lord Abbot at the time, Dom Vincent, said: "A poor and numerous community of religious men, located on the side of a barren mountain, improvided with funds, resources, or human means necessary to support existence, labouring incessantly in the arduous and painful enterprise of reclaiming its stubborn and neglected soil, depending on the casual charity of humane friends, are thus enabled, I will presume to say miraculously, not only to maintain their own existence, but to feed and preserve the lives of nearly five thousand of their fellow creatures during a period of no ordinary calamity and distress." Schools, scouts and safety The monastic tradition of hospitality dates back to the earliest monks, with monasteries acting as the hostels of early medieval Europe. Mount Melleray is no different, and has welcomed guests since its inception. Throughout the history of Melleray, weary travellers and pilgrims would journey from all over the country on private retreats to pray with the monks. The abbey was on the track from Youghal, which was once a major port, and so Melleray was a hub of activity, just as it remains so today with the St. Declans Way route attracting a large amount of footfall to the site daily. The Community Refectory at Mount Melleray Abbey. The two rows of tables are laid out for meals, circa 1950. Courtesy: Waterford County Museum During the height of the troubles, a large number of people living amidst the chaos in the North sought refuge at Mellerary. Coming from violent areas, they moved into the school at the abbeys front entrance, offering them both safety and escape from the conflict. In 1977, the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland held an International Jamboree at Mount Melleray, which was attended by 20,000 scouts from around the world. They enjoyed some of the best weather Ireland had seen for many years. Mellerary has always been a focal point for education, and throughout its history has had an agri college, a secondary school and primary school. Rosa Mulholland wrote in 1890, that as children learn to write and spell at Melleray, "the birds that live in the schoolroom hop about their feet or fly from cage or porch to alight on St. Bernards shoulder." The site also has a long tradition of helping people with addiction. Changing tides On November 3, the monks of Mt Melleray Abbey, Mount St Joseph Abbey (Roscrea) and Mellifont Abbey (Louth) voted to form a union. The monks of these three communities are coming together to form a new community that will be called the 'Abbey of Our Lady of Silence', a sign of the communities bond and agreement that changes must be made to solidify the future. On January 26, 2025, the feast day of the Cistercian Founders, the monks of this new community will move to Roscrea, on an interim basis, for at least a year, to begin the life of the new community. Mount Melleray Abbey with cars parked near the entrance to the church, circa 1958. Courtesy: Waterford County Museum During this time the definitive location of the community of Our Lady of Silence will be decided. It is being stressed that the location of the new community at Roscrea is an interim arrangement until the permanent location is decided. The monks of Mount Melleray would like to thank the local community, guests and visitors for their interest, support and concern, especially at this time of transition. Let us continue to remember each other in our prayers, a representative said. St Ursula's Primary School in Waterford City recently held their Red Kettle Christmas show. The show was sponsored by the Parent's Committee and looked like a lot of fun. Check out some of the snaps below. St Ursula's Primary School Red Kettle Christmas Show St Ursula's Primary School Red Kettle Christmas Show St Ursula's Primary School Red Kettle Christmas Show St Ursula's Primary School Red Kettle Christmas Show St Ursula's Primary School Red Kettle Christmas Show St Ursula's Primary School Red Kettle Christmas Show St Ursula's Primary School Red Kettle Christmas Show Sean McCarthaigh A new study has shown that one in every 14 individuals who report a rape or sexual assault at specialist health clinics in Ireland suffered sexual violence while travelling abroad. The findings of the research have prompted doctors working in the countrys six Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATUs) to urge people who experience sexual violence while outside Ireland to immediately seek medical attention as well as appropriate follow-up care upon returning home. The research showed seven per cent of all people who attended a SATU between 2017 and 2023 had disclosed an incident of sexual violence that had occurred in another country. It also revealed that the annual number of cases of sexual assault reported happening outside Ireland has grown steadily each year (excluding 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic) from 55 in 2017 to 126 last year an increase of 129 per cent. An analysis of the six SATU centres in Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Mullingar, Galway, and Letterkenny over the seven-year period showed 443 cases out of 6,447 attendances had recorded a sexual assault taking place outside of Ireland. A total of 66 different countries were listed by people who attended SATUs with approximately 50 per cent of cases having occurred on continental Europe. The UK was the second main location, accounting for 19 per cent of reported sexual assaults followed by Africa (17.8 per cent), North America (6.1 per cent), Australasia (3.4 per cent), the Middle East (2.0 per cent) and Central/South America (1.8 per cent). The study, which is published in the International Journal of Legal Medicine, found the average age of the person reporting such cases was 26.6 years with females accounting for just over 90 per cent of the total. The largest single age group affected by what are categorised as international cases were 18-25 year-olds who represented 43 per centof the total. Three out of 10 individuals reporting having experienced sexual violence abroad were either in school or third-level education. Irish citizens represented two-thirds of all international cases with African nationalities accounting for 17 per cent of the total. Almost a quarter of all cases attended a SATU in July or August. The study found that 38 per cent of individuals attended a SATU within a week of the incident with 24 per cent seeking assistance between seven days and one month after the sexual assault. Just under 30 per cent of cases of someone experiencing sexual assault while abroad was reported over a month after the incident, while eight per cent of cases were described as presenting after long-term abuse or prostitution. As only a small proportion of individuals attended a SATU within a week of the incident, most were outside the timeframe for the collection of DNA evidence, toxicology sampling, emergency contraception and HIV post-exposure prophylaxis, if they had not received care prior to returning home. More than seven out of 10 international cases attended a SATU for a health check, while of the remainder 26 per cent sought a forensic examination including 17 per cent who were accompanied by a garda. The researchers said such a trend was encouraging as people were seeking appropriate screening and utilising specific post-sexual assault services which were essential for infection detection and treatment. According to the study, individuals who suffered sexual violence abroad are significantly less likely to disclose having taken drugs in the 24 hours before the incident or being assaulted in the assailants home. However, it said there is also a significant number of cases where there was a concern that people have been the subject of a drug-facilitated sexual assault, such as someone having their drink spiked. Individuals involved in international cases are also significantly more likely to have been assaulted by a stranger or someone they have known for less than 24 hours. The analysis revealed that individuals were also significantly more likely to be involved in a multiple assailant assault when outside Ireland as well as being sexually assaulted in locations such as hotels or hostels. The study found there was no significant statistical difference in alcohol consumption levels or prevalence of assaults outdoors between international and domestic cases. The study by academics and medical staff from SATUs noted that international travellers who experience sexual assault may face unique challenges including isolation from social and family supports, language barriers and absence of familiarity with local forensic and sexual assault health services. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, its embassies and consulates had responded to 125 reports of sexual assaults on Irish citizens while abroad between 2017 and 2023. However, the study said there was still a glaring lack of research and data addressing the frequency and circumstances of these incidents. The authors noted that the majority of the incidents which were reported as occurring abroad had taken place in non-English speaking countries. The vulnerability of international travellers is also highlighted by the fact that the perpetrator was significantly more likely to be a stranger or a recent acquaintance compared to cases of assault in Ireland, they added. The study observed that lifestyle behaviours that may be more frequently adopted by travellers such as alcohol consumption and recreational substance misuse, may impact a persons judgement and vulnerability while also reducing their ability to recognise and avoid dangerous situations. It claimed the anonymity and transient nature of travel may also embolden potential offenders who may perceive tourists as easy targets due to their unfamiliarity with the local area and customs as well as their potential reluctance to report crimes to local authorities. The study said its findings highlighted the importance of education and prevention and recommended that pre-travel advice should focus as much on personal safety as the risk from infectious diseases. Routine pre-travel advice, perhaps particularly for novice travellers, should also include discussion around personal safety and protection as well as the prevention of sexual violence, it added. The researchers said people should also be encouraged to report crime to their embassy and local police if still abroad. However, they also noted that criminal justice systems may have different guidelines on whether evidence collected in one country can be used or presented in another. For that reason, they recommend that a forensic examination should be availed of locally where the incident occurred if possible. The studys authors said the importance of SATU care for those who have been sexually assaulted while abroad cannot be overstated. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. By Rachel Vickers-Price, PA Here are the stories making headlines this St Stephen's Day. The Irish Times leads with an expert on investigating child sexual abuse calling for gardai to have the ability to run undercover sting operations targeting online predators. The Irish Examiner reports on electric vehicle industry experts saying the collapse in consumer confidence over the last year is in spite of market conditions being as "good as you need them to be". An image of a Christmas swim graces the front page of the Irish Independent. The paper's front page also features a piece on Moscow's ambassador in Ireland saying that Russia is not a country that welcomes "criminal characters" like gangland boss Daniel Kinahan. The Irish Daily Mail leads with Revenue taking action to collect almost 14 million in unpaid Local Property Tax this year. A sister of feud victim Gareth Hutch has said her family are relieved that all those responsible for his murder are now jailed, reports the Irish Daily Star. The Irish Daily Mirror reports on a Christmas Day collision in Co Cavan that saw a man (80s) die and two children injured. In the UK... Several newspapers feature images of members of the Royal Family after they attended the Christmas Day church service in Sandringham. The Daily Mirror features a picture of a beaming Princess of Wales smiling and embracing a woman, 73-year-old cancer patient Karen Maclean, during the royal Sandringham church walk. The Daily Mail dubs Catherine an inspiration to cancer patients everywhere. Introducing #TomorrowsPapersToday from: Daily Mail Kate's an "inspiration' to all cancer patients Discover more newspapers at https://t.co/vX9dQF0H0Y Support press freedom and buy a newspaper #buyapaper #pressfreedom #journalist pic.twitter.com/gnpzu1IzRI The Sentinel Current (@sentinelcurrent) December 25, 2024 The Daily Express splashes on the post-Christmas sales, which retailers hope will be the industrys saving grace in the wake of National Insurance hikes. EXPRESS: Shops relying on sales to beat budget blues #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/khe9BvqWcl Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 25, 2024 The i reports on Reform UK rocking the status quo as public favour pulls Nigel Farages party now almost even with Labour and the Conservatives. Introducing #TomorrowsPapersToday from: i Labour facing growing threat as voters shift to Reform UK Discover more newspapers at https://t.co/vX9dQF0H0Y Support press freedom and buy a newspaper #buyapaper #pressfreedom #journalist pic.twitter.com/KKX90MAg6o The Sentinel Current (@sentinelcurrent) December 25, 2024 The Independent reports on a Russian assault on Ukraines energy grid on Christmas Day, with Sir Keir Starmer dubbing the attack inhumane as residents around the country lost heating and power during the European nations bitter winter. According to The Times, Whitehall is preparing for a private schools collapse in the new year thanks to a rise in fees that could see schools go bankrupt. THE TIMES: Action plan as private schools face bankruptcy #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/pQjFKQXBKs Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 25, 2024 Lastly, the Daily Telegraph writes that trail hunters are set to face bigger penalties and even prosecution under new plans from Labour. ADEN, Yemen/JERUSALEM, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israeli airstrikes targeted key infrastructure and Houthi-controlled sites in Yemen's capital Sanaa and Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Thursday, according to media reports. The strikes reportedly hit Sanaa International Airport and Hezyaz power station, both located in areas under the control of the Houthi group. Simultaneously, additional targets in Hodeidah were also subjected to Israeli airstrikes. The airstrikes coincided with a televised speech by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi. Israel's state-owned Kan TV also reported that Israel launched an intense air attack targeting Sanaa and Hodeidah. Citing an anonymous Israeli official, Kan TV reported that Israeli warplanes carried out several waves of airstrikes, focusing on Sanaa's airport and Hodeidah's port. Footage circulating on social media showed large explosions, with black smoke and fire rising above buildings in Yemen. The strikes were carried out based on an assessment that Houthi forces intended to escalate their attacks on Israel and shipping routes, the Israeli broadcaster said. Australia is welcoming a record number of working holidaymakers into the country with numbers surpassing 200,000 for the first time as a strong labour market and a surge of British backpackers boost the ranks of working travellers this summer. Their arrival is a boon to regional industries but will compound the Albanese governments challenge in bringing down migration levels as it heads into a federal election campaign dominated by voters concerns about the cost of living, housing and immigration. Hundreds of backpackers flocked to Sydneys Bronte Beach on Christmas Day. Credit: Wolter Peeters There were a record 213,400 people on working holidaymaker visas in Australia at the end of November 43,000 more than last Christmas and 72,300 more than the pre-COVID level of 141,100 in December 2019. Last year, Australia took in about half of the worlds working travellers. Those numbers will put pressure on Australias annual migration targets, which the Albanese government is scrambling to meet after overshooting Treasurys forecasts for the past two years as visitors delay their departures from the country. Frankfurt: Finnish authorities have detained a ship linked to neighbouring Russia as they investigate whether it damaged a Baltic Sea power cable and several data cables, police said, in the latest incident involving disruption of key infrastructure. Finnish police and border guards boarded the vessel, the Eagle S, early on Thursday (Friday AEDT) and took over the command bridge, Helsinki Police Chief Jari Liukku told a news conference. The ship was being held in Finnish territorial waters, police said. Finnish National Police Comissioner Ilkka Koskimki attends a press conference in Helsinki, Finland. Credit: AP The Eagle S is flagged in the Cook Islands but was described by Finnish customs officials and the European Unions executive commission as part of Russias shadow fleet of fuel tankers. Those are ageing vessels with obscure ownership, acquired to evade Western sanctions amid the war in Ukraine and operating without Western-regulated insurance. Russias use of the vessels has raised environmental concerns about accidents, given their age and uncertain insurance coverage. Kyiv: Russia attacked Ukraines energy system and some cities with cruise and ballistic missiles plus drones in an inhuman Christmas Day assault, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Half a million people in Kharkiv region were left without heating, in temperatures just a few degrees Celsius above zero, while there were blackouts in the capital Kyiv and elsewhere. Firefighters put out the fire following a Russian missile attack on the countrys energy system in Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, on Christmas Day. Credit: Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP Today, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin deliberately chose Christmas to attack. What could be more inhuman? More than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and more than a hundred attack drones, he said. Russias Defence Ministry confirmed it had conducted a massive strike on what it said were critical energy facilities supporting the work of Kyivs military-industrial complex. The aim of the strike was achieved. All facilities have been hit, it said in a statement. JERUSALEM, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli military commander has been killed during combat in the Gaza Strip, the army said on Thursday. Amit Levi, 35, a squad commander in a patrol battalion of Israel's elite "Arrows of Fire" infantry and paratroop brigade, "fell during combat in central Gaza," the army said in a statement. Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported that Levi was killed by Palestinian militant fire in central Gaza's "Netzarim Corridor," which is now controlled by the army. The army troops have established new bases in the area. Levi's death marked the 822nd Israeli soldier killed since the start of Israel's wars on multiple fronts last October. SHANGHAI, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- China Eastern Airlines said on Thursday that beginning Jan. 1, 2025, the domestically-produced C919 jetliner will operate regular flights between Shanghai and Hong Kong. It will make the company the first airline to use the C919 for scheduled commercial flights to Hong Kong. According to China Eastern Airlines, it has placed orders for 105 C919 aircraft, the largest C919 fleet in the world. Hong Kong will become the ninth city served by the airline's C919 fleet on regular commercial routes. The company plans to conduct daily round-trip flights following the launch of the regular route. The C919 conducted its first commercial flight from Shanghai to Beijing in May 2023, marking its official entry into the civil aviation market. The Shanghai-Beijing route became regular in January this year. The C919 is China's first self-developed trunk jetliner in accordance with international airworthiness standards, and with independent intellectual property rights registered. China launched the C919 project in 2007. Developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC), the first C919 aircraft rolled off the production line in Shanghai in November 2015. Leesville, LA (71446) Today Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers this afternoon. High near 80F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy skies with periods of light rain late. Low 66F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. DAMASCUS, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Syria's interim administration initiated a security campaign in rural Damascus on Thursday, alongside an operation targeting armed groups in the coastal province of Tartus, local media Al-Watan Online reported. The campaign targeted neighborhoods including Qudsaya, al-Hameh, Ash al-Warour, Jabal al-Ward, and Hay al-Wuroud in the countryside of Damascus. Officials said the operation aimed to "comb the area" by confiscating illegal weapons and detaining individuals identified as "instigators of discord," Al-Watan said. Meanwhile, in Tartus, authorities announced they had "neutralized" several fighters, whom they referred to as the "remnants of Assad's militias" in wooded areas and on hilltops. The report indicated that operations have been ongoing to apprehend additional fugitives. The crackdown came as part of a series of security initiatives nationwide, aimed at consolidating the new leadership's authority. It also came a day after protesters took to the streets in Tartus, Latakia, Homs, and Damascus, condemning the alleged attacks on a religious shrine belonging to the Alawite minority. Security officials insist that such incidents are isolated and warn that remnants of the former regime may be exploiting sectarian divisions to sow discord. Council Discusses Growth, Fills Openings New faces were approved at the Dec. 17 Kimball City Council meeting for appointments to city boards and commissions. The council approved the appointment of Jack Shaw to fill the open seat on the Board of Public Works, and Aaron Abraham became the newest member to fill the seat on the Planning Commission. In other regular business, Mayor John Morrison signed the State of Nebraska Department of Transportation City Maintenance Agreement renewal, which requires yearly approval. The previously approved development agreement between the City of Kimball, the Estate of Darlene Janice Gardner, and Iron Guard Housing, LLC was amended to install and connect utility improvements to the citys waste and sewer system. According to a letter from M.C. Schaff & Associates regarding the Iron Guard Housing Mobile Home Park, it is served by a domestic well and septic system. There are plans to add additional dwellings that would exceed the capacity of the well and septic system. Currently there are 75 homes with the potential for 25 additional to be added. The estimates from Schaff show a total population of 250 with 100 homes. Another amendment of a different kind was approved of by the City Council for the Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades. The 25-page amendment and attachments included in the city packet detailed the general provisions, scope of services, reimbursable expenses, and responsibilities and limitation of authority of the RPR. A Jan. 7 public meeting regarding project financing is planned. The city seeks $5.7 million in financial assistance from the USDA. (See public notice on Page B5..) Reports and public comments concluded the City Council meeting. Mayor Morrison reported that the council would need to study, discuss and approve the citys building fee schedule. Don Lonsdales comments centered on the speed of emergency vehicles in town; he suggested that certain streets are more conducive for emergency vehicles. Kimball resident Gabriel Miller asked about building permits for the Lighthouse subdivision area. Two show homes have been erected on the acreage west of Ace Hardware. Council members are unable to comment on public comments at their meetings. Now Theyre Over New Jersey, But Its So Similar To Sightings Here 5 Years Ago The drones are back in the news, this time in New Jersey and not here. The recent surge in sightings of unidentified drones over New Jersey and other eastern parts of the United States has sparked a wave of speculation and concern. This reality is reminiscent of the drone invasion over Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas in late 2019 and early 2020, leaving residents in New Jersey and beyond puzzled about their origin, purpose, and the entities behind them. According to news reports, the New Jersey drones were first spotted on Nov. 18, appearing late at every night except Thanksgiving. In this area, former Kimball County Sheriff Harry Gillway told the Observer in 2020 that there were sightings of drones in Kimball County on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, but not Sunday, and then they came back with a vengeance on Monday night. Then there were reports that late one Tuesday night brought more of the same, when what were believed to be drones buzzed loudly over downtown Kimball before darting away. Kimball County sheriffs deputies confirmed 10 sightings near Dix and Clean Harbors, among other areas. It is difficult to say what they are, but there is lots of suspicion that they are government in nature, former Sheriff Harry Gillway said at the time. I dont think they pose a threat. Gillway had plans to use his night vision binoculars to try to get a better view of the drones. Like the drones that were spotted in this area, New Jersey officials cannot pinpoint, explain their origination or what they are doing. There have been at least 400 sightings and possibly as many as thousands of sightings, according to reports. Governors, senators and other elected representatives have all commented on the publics concern and frustration about the mysterious flying drones. Even President-elect Donald Trump has commented, saying the government knows more than it is reporting but he didnt think they were enemy drones. President Joseph Biden said the flying objects were being investigated and do not pose a threat or public danger. In Colorado, the Yuma County Sheriffs Office reported that the drones flew in clusters of six to10 and appeared to be 600 to 9,000 feet high. The sheriffs office stressed these were large drones, costing in the neighborhood of $100,000, about 6 feet in length, and they appeared to be flying in a grid pattern. They had red, green and white lights. Experts referring to the New Jersey drones cautioned people not to shoot them down. Shooting drones is illegal, and injuries may occur, according to the FAA. In late Dec 2019, the Observer reported that Cheyenne County 911 issued a statement:DO NOT SHOOT AT THEM OR SHOOT THEM DOWN. IT IS A FEDERAL OFFENSE. DO NOT SPOTLIGHT THEM EITHER ... If anyone sees a suspicious vehicle or vehicles, we would like to know. For instance, a van or other vehicles with an enclosed trailer sporting more than one antenna or any vehicles spotted in an area where they dont look like they belong or look suspiciously out of place. In the eastern United States the White House, FBI, FAA, Homeland Security Department and others have been investigating the drone activity but have no answers for the public. In January 2020, many agencies were contacted, such as Homeland Security, NORAD, Air Force, FBI and FAA, but no one confirmed any knowledge of the drones. Local speculation on who was piloting the drones focused on different agencies, gas and oil exploration companies, missile mapping, Amazon, Google and the military, and the list goes on. But eventually public theories turned to some specialized section of the military in search of something in particular. The Nebraska State Patrol website reported in 2020 that NSP is working with several offices, local police departments and federal authorities, including FAA, on reports of drone activity in many areas of Nebraska and Colorado. But the public received no clarification on the drone activity, and by the end of January 2020 drone activity ceased to exist in this area. And so the speculation, rumors, and gossip continues on the drone mystery but now New Jersey and other areas are dealing with it instead of Kimball County and surrounding areas. RWE, a world leader in renewable power generation, has celebrated the first anniversary of the innovative Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) test facility in Bangor Erris in North Mayo. RWEs partner on the test site, Kitepower, has had a very successful start in its testing programme with over 90 flights and 100 hours of test time. RWE has also announced that it will be continuing its partnership with Kitepower in Bangor Erris into 2025. AWE is a wind energy technology that RWE has been testing in Ireland in collaboration with its technology partner Kitepower, its partners in Mayo County Council and the MegaAwe Project, with funding from Interreg North West Europe. With its vast space and excellent wind conditions, the RWE test site is perfect for scaling up Kitepowers innovative technology. The extension for the site will allow Kitepower to finalise testing of its kite system and advance research on larger-scale airborne wind energy solutions. Peter Lefroy, Head of Offshore Development, RWE Ireland and UK West, said: We are pleased that RWE will continue to partner with Kitepower to further develop this new wind energy technology. RWE is exploring many different technical innovations to identify whether airborne wind technology could complement our existing renewables portfolio of offshore and onshore wind, solar energy and battery storage. Johannes Peschel, CEO Kitepower, added: This extended collaboration not only strengthens the partnership between Kitepower and RWE but also opens the door to valuable insights into the large-scale offshore potential of airborne wind energy. Flights have increased to five per week on average with flight times increasing to over 35 hours and the longest flight recorded of five and three quarter hours. Our test kite (the Falcon) can has a capacity of up to 100 kilowatts (kW), up from our smaller Hawk system with a capacity of 30 kW. Kitepower has established a permanent crew on-site to ensure continuous research and development efforts and plans to further expand its testing team in Ireland. This move underscores the companys commitment to driving advancements in airborne wind energy and enhancing the efficiency of its systems. Kitepower uses a large kite structure with a hybrid inflatable and fixed fibreglass skeleton to hold the kite open. It has a wingspan of 60 square metres and weighs only 80kg, including the Kite Control and sensor unit. The Kitepower Falcon system can generate up to 100 kWh and be flown up to 350m in altitude using a Kite Control Unit (KCU) attached to the tether, to control the direction the kite flies. In Ireland, RWE has four projects in operation, including an onshore wind farm in Dromadda Beg in Co Kerry, two battery storage facilities in Co Dublin and Co Monaghan and the Airborne Wind Test site in Bangor Erris. The company has renewable energy projects in different stages of development including two offshore wind farms, 10 onshore wind farms and a further battery storage facility. RWEs objective is to be a long-term energy partner for Ireland during the countrys transition to carbon neutrality. Santa has always been good to me. Even when I discovered tough things about him. Like his lack of existence. That went down hard. But Christmas itself continues its glorious existence. And it is the soothing palliative we need after this Most Important Election Ever, painful prices, and all manner of existential dread. Weve never needed the nog and the carols more. First, the matter of Santa: Imagine my psychic upheaval when, at age eight, I made the wretched discovery, under my parents bed, of the toy I wanted most: the Motorific Torture Track, a hazard-filled slot car track. There it was weeks before Christmas already in my house. I began to feel ill. Something in my head broke. Was Santa now making early runs in select neighborhoods? Did my parents know he had been in the house? When the 25th came, I received the race track, smiled, and acted like nothing was amiss. But of course, everything was now amiss. My own crisis of truth began a personal torture track of epistemological angst. (Decades before such crises were popular.) Nevertheless, I clung to belief. Two Christmases later, at age 10, I was still clinging. I yearned for the truth, and I didnt want the truth, at the same time. I sneaked downstairs at 3 a.m. on Christmas morning, desperately hoping I would not catch my parents in the act of dispersing the presents. Relief: the packages were in place. Someone put them there. The truth was indeterminate. Of course, many things are clearer now. One of them is that Christmas remains a balm for unsettled souls. The neighborhood is luminous; people are cheerier; Andy Williams, Mariah Carey and Percy Faith provide our sound track for weeks on end. (Too long, probably.) Not that our troubles will be out of sight, if youll pardon the expression. But everything does seem a little brighter, if only for a little while. This respite from the regular is especially needed for many this year. Our political warring has been traumatizing and exhausting; our collective credit card debt has topped a trillion dollars; and were seeing higher levels of loneliness and isolation. For me, retirement arrived this year along with a cancer diagnosis. I head into Christmas without the daily trip to the office and without a prostate. The infernal disease has spread beyond the now-removed gland, but my treatment regimen is going well. I have been looking forward to this Christmas. I long for joy, catharsis, and my wifes Toll House cookies. Of course my own youthful agitation over Santa was easily enough dissolved when the cookies and the presents appeared, the stuff I had circled in the Sears Wishbook, which, evidently, both my parents and Santa read. Things like the Johnny Seven gun, (seven weapons in one just what a kid needs); the Rock Em Sock Em Robots; my Tasco telescope; and my first snare drum (yes, I became a little drummer boy). Gift-giving is part of what makes Christmas useful as a distress dissolver. You shift your thoughts off yourself and onto others and what would make them pleased. (Although I rarely know what to get for my wife, which is its own source of angst.) Gift-giving is said to trace back to the biblical Magi a.k.a. the Wise Men who took gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus. Or to the earlier Roman practices surrounding the December holiday of Saturnalia. Or perhaps to an amalgam of those things. Whatever its provenance, the buying and giving of gifts is itself cathartic. Christmas is about the very idea of gift, of blessing others, and of receiving something you didnt expect or earn. The New Testament asks followers of Jesus a basic question: What do you have that you did not receive? We are receivers of many things that are not in our control: the families into which we are born, our health, our energy to work, our intellects, and more. This suggests that undergirding our labors and successes in life is something we rarely think about: a gratuitous infrastructure of support and privilege that we dont control and that we usually take for granted. In an important sense, life is all gift, all the way down. Which is why the Scripture so frequently enjoins us to be grateful. The story of the baby born in a stable in what is now the West Bank is cathartic in another way for Christians. It tells me I am not all I could be just ask my wife and says that despite my foibles, internal inconsistencies, contradictions, and self-aggrandizing (variegated expressions of selfishness that we once called sins), I can enjoy what I need most: forgiveness. The Christian way is about a gift of pardon given to the believer clemency, absolution, catharsis usually accompanied by a great sense of relief and gratitude. As the late New York minister Timothy Keller put it: [Christmas] means not just hope for the world, despite all its unending problems, but hope for you and me, despite all our unending failings. But even for those who are not Jesus followers, the Christmas season is welcome respite from our troubles. You can apply yourself to the gift-buying, the cookies, and the music. And watch a little less news. Good things, all. Im off to the store to buy presents. Im pretty certain, at last, that I cannot count on a fly-by from Santa. Better to enjoy the shopping, the lights and the egg nog while theyre here. Allentown, PA (18103) Today Any morning clouds give way to partly sunny skies; a milder afternoon with highs back above the 60-degree mark. . Tonight Becoming cloudy overnight with some patchy fog and drizzle possible late at night. ISLAMABAD/KABUL, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday that the country's security forces conducted anti-terror operations in border areas with Afghanistan to protect its people from terror groups, including the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The spokesperson for Pakistan's foreign office Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, on the strikes, said that the operations were carefully planned and based on authentic and concrete intelligence. Reiterating Pakistan's respect for Afghanistan's sovereignty, Baloch highlighted the country's preference for dialogue and cooperation to address the persistent terror threats, hoping that Afghanistan would take measures to prevent the use of its territory for terror attacks against Pakistan. The spokesman of the Afghan caretaker government Zabihullah Mujahid said Wednesday that Pakistan bombarded four locations in Barmal district of Paktika province on Tuesday night, resulting in 46 deaths, most of whom were women and children. Hamdullah Fitrat, the Afghan government's deputy spokesperson, later confirmed to Xinhua that at least 51 people were killed in the airstrikes. The Afghan caretaker government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Wednesday summoned the charge d'affaires of the Pakistani embassy in Afghanistan over the attack. Afghan foreign ministry strongly condemned the attack in a statement, saying protecting Afghanistan's national sovereignty is a red line for the country and such actions are highly irresponsible. BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists have successfully assembled the chromosomal-level genome of the critically endangered Ochetobius elongatus, a rare fish species from the Yangtze River. This marks the first time that a high-quality genome at the chromosomal level and annotation information has been obtained for the species, and it represents a significant advancement to restore the fish population, China Science Daily reported on Thursday. The achievement was made by a research team led by Professor Lu Jianguo from the School of Marine Sciences at Sun Yat-sen University and researchers of the agricultural science institute of Jiujiang City, east China's Jiangxi Province. The research findings were published in Scientific Data, a scientific journal under Nature, on Dec. 19. The Ochetobius elongatus, once an important freshwater economic fish in China and widely distributed in the Yangtze River Basin, has experienced a sharp decline in population over the past three decades due to environmental degradation and human activities, said Liang Xuanguang, co-first author of the research article. The fish has a small and slender body, with a maximum length of 55 centimeters and a weight of 500 to 1,000 grams. As a migratory fish, it reproduces from April to June each year. After hatching, the young fish leave the rivers and migrate to lakes for feeding and overwintering. It takes three to five years for them to reach sexual maturity. The species was listed as "critically endangered" in China's Red List of Biodiversity in 2023, Liang said. Following the implementation of the 10-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River at the beginning of 2020, an improvement has been seen in the fishery resources of the river. In December 2020, seven individuals of Ochetobius elongatus were discovered in the Gong'an section of the Yangtze River. This marked the third time the species had been observed since June 2017 and November 2020, and it was the first instance of multiple individuals being recorded in recent years, said Liang. The reappearance of the rare fish provides an opportunity for conservation efforts. Despite the application of conservation genetics and genomics in the protection of several endangered species within the Yangtze River Basin, such as the Yangtze finless porpoise, Gobiocypris rarus (a freshwater species of cyprinid fish endemic to China), and Leptobotia elongata (a species of botiid fish) -- all of which have had their genomes sequenced and assembled, the critically endangered Ochetobius elongatus had yet to have its genome assembled until this time. The researchers assembled the chromosomal-level genome of the Ochetobius elongatus based on various sequencing technologies. According to Liang, a total of 28,674 protein-coding genes were predicted, with 28,637 genes (99.87 percent) annotated, indicating the high quality of the genome assembly. "This is the first release of the genome information of Ochetobius elongatus. It is crucial for understanding genetic diversity, identifying unique adaptations, and formulating effective conservation strategies for the species," said Lu Jianguo, the corresponding author of the research article. In the future, Lu's team plans to focus on research on artificial breeding and aquaculture techniques for the rare fish, aiming to achieve sustainable artificial breeding of the species. Meet Raylam Mattursun, a young Uygur woman in Xinjiang and mother of three. She has a stable job income, achieves economic independence, and improves her family's living conditions. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Customers select newly arrived Chilean cherries at a supermarket in Tianjin, north China, Dec. 26, 2024. A container vessel loaded with about 8,000 tonnes of Chilean cherries arrived at Tianjin Port on Thursday, marking the arrival of the first shipment of Chilean cherries in northern China this winter. A total of four vessels carrying over 1,500 containers of Chilean cherries are scheduled to arrive Tianjin in succession this winter, more than triple the amount compared to the previous cherry season. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) A truck transports newly arrived Chilean cherries to the customs for check at a container terminal of Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 26, 2024. A container vessel loaded with about 8,000 tonnes of Chilean cherries arrived at Tianjin Port on Thursday, marking the arrival of the first shipment of Chilean cherries in northern China this winter. A total of four vessels carrying over 1,500 containers of Chilean cherries are scheduled to arrive Tianjin in succession this winter, more than triple the amount compared to the previous cherry season. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) Customs officers check imported cherries at a designed area for imported fruits in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 26, 2024. A container vessel loaded with about 8,000 tonnes of Chilean cherries arrived at Tianjin Port on Thursday, marking the arrival of the first shipment of Chilean cherries in northern China this winter. A total of four vessels carrying over 1,500 containers of Chilean cherries are scheduled to arrive Tianjin in succession this winter, more than triple the amount compared to the previous cherry season. (Photo by Xiong Feixue/Xinhua) Staff members of a supermarket carry Chilean cherries in Xiqing District of Tianjin, north China, Dec. 26, 2024. A container vessel loaded with about 8,000 tonnes of Chilean cherries arrived at Tianjin Port on Thursday, marking the arrival of the first shipment of Chilean cherries in northern China this winter. A total of four vessels carrying over 1,500 containers of Chilean cherries are scheduled to arrive Tianjin in succession this winter, more than triple the amount compared to the previous cherry season. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) A truck transports newly arrived Chilean cherries to the customs for check at a container terminal of Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 26, 2024. A container vessel loaded with about 8,000 tonnes of Chilean cherries arrived at Tianjin Port on Thursday, marking the arrival of the first shipment of Chilean cherries in northern China this winter. A total of four vessels carrying over 1,500 containers of Chilean cherries are scheduled to arrive Tianjin in succession this winter, more than triple the amount compared to the previous cherry season. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) A staff member guides a customer to buy Chilean cherries online at a supermarket in Tianjin, north China, Dec. 26, 2024. A container vessel loaded with about 8,000 tonnes of Chilean cherries arrived at Tianjin Port on Thursday, marking the arrival of the first shipment of Chilean cherries in northern China this winter. A total of four vessels carrying over 1,500 containers of Chilean cherries are scheduled to arrive Tianjin in succession this winter, more than triple the amount compared to the previous cherry season. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) This aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 26, 2024 shows a container vessel loaded with Chilean cherries docking at a container terminal of Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin. A container vessel loaded with about 8,000 tonnes of Chilean cherries arrived at Tianjin Port on Thursday, marking the arrival of the first shipment of Chilean cherries in northern China this winter. A total of four vessels carrying over 1,500 containers of Chilean cherries are scheduled to arrive Tianjin in succession this winter, more than triple the amount compared to the previous cherry season. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) WUHAN, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The restored statues of a pair of fossil human skulls, dating back to one million years ago, were unveiled by the Hubei Provincial Museum in central China on Thursday. Two sets of ancient fossil human skulls were unearthed in 1989 and 1990 in Hubei Province. In 1994, paleoanthropologist Jia Lanpo named the fossils "Yunxian Man" after the location where they were excavated. The analysis concluded that the fossils belonged to Homo erectus and are roughly one million years old, and they were from a male and a female aged between 25 and 45. The brain volumes of the fossil skulls were 1,094 milliliters and 1,152 milliliters. The researchers from the Hubei Provincial Museum, Shanxi University, the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan University, and Beijing Union University accurately reconstructed the fossil skull models using high-precision industrial scanners. They used the modeling techniques such as sculpture, painting and computer images to restore the faces of the skulls, including eyes, noses, mouths, ears, skin and hair. The "Yunxian Man" fossil human skulls are the most complete ones found in Eurasia for the same era, providing key evidence for the study of the evolution of Homo erectus in East Asia, according to the Science and Technology Daily on Thursday. 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... A group of Chinese teenagers, who are living in Japan, are weaving their unique cultural memories, and stories of growing up, through a special platform. It's all thanks to Chai Yinghua, an overseas Chinese. The Japan Children's Chinese-Language Club, a non-profit organization founded by Chai, provides comprehensive support and care to Chinese children and teenagers living in Japan. Enhancing Mutual Understanding Chai has lived in Japan for decades. She returned to her hometown, East China's Shanghai Municipality, to live for about five years when she was in primary school. This experience gave her a deeper understanding of both Chinese culture and the Chinese language. In Japan, given the language barrier and cultural differences, Chinese inevitably encounter misunderstandings when living amongst and working with Japanese. Chai, who works as a Chinese-language teacher in Japan, says, "I want to create opportunities for people from the two countries to communicate with each other, so they can better enhance mutual understanding." With that objective, Chai established the Japan Children's Chinese-Language Club in August 2022. Many of the club's members parents and children alike affectionately refer to Chai as "Teacher Jiajia." Jia means excellent in Chinese. Chai hopes the platform will help Chinese children integrate into Japanese society more quickly, and, more importantly, allow "Chinese children and teenagers living in Japan to have a place to show themselves." Chai and a Chinese friend, a Chinese calligraphy expert, initially organized an activity for children, so they could experience Chinese calligraphy. Two children and their parents participated in that activity. "It was the first time we hosted such an activity, so we didn't invite too many people. With just two children, it was not hard for us to organize the event," says Chai. Currently, the club hosts an activity every month. Chai always organizes a "reflection meeting" after each activity, during which she and her staff review the process, discuss ways to improve organization of future activities, and then begin planning the next event. Chai believes in communicating with the children and their parents, and especially in listening to their suggestions. "People will succeed through trial-anderror learning," Chai says. Cultural Exchanges Many Chinese-language-training courses, and other clubs for Chinese children, exist in Japan, and almost all of them have been designed to help the children improve their Chinese-language proficiency. "Although we are called a Chinese-language club, and it sounds like a place to teach children Chinese, we work hard to create a very relaxed environment. Being relaxed, pleasant and interesting are the highlights of our club's activities," Chai says. Activities are divided into two major categories. One is for preschool children. Through playing games, the children have access to and communicate with the Chinese community. The other category is for children (primary school aged) and teenagers. Volunteers teach them Chinese pinyin, calligraphy and poetry, so they can better understand traditional Chinese culture. "The main purpose is to let the children realize where their roots are," Chai says. Chai, assisted by volunteers, organizes various activities to mark traditional Chinese festivals. For example, during an activity to celebrate Lantern Festival (which falls on the 15th day of the first month on the Chinese lunar calendar), Chai and volunteers taught children how to make sweet, glutinous rice balls (tangyuan or yuanxiao), the traditional food served during that festival. The volunteers also read picture books with the children, and discussed the cultural traditions related to the festival. The activity helped the children deepen their understanding of Chinese culture. "I think it's good to have this kind of cultural experience in Japan. While helping Chinese children identify themselves, it allows more local people to have access to traditional Chinese culture," Chai says. Bringing Hearts Closer Children with special needs face more challenges in determining their cultural identity and integrating socially, Chai says. Therefore, she adds, the club pays special attention to this special group of children, and it provides help and support to autistic and other special-needs children. "I want to give these children an environment, outside of their schools, where they can come into contact with the general community," Chai says. By organizing colorful activities, such as birthday parties, painting, singing and playing games, Chai allows special-needs children to interact with their peers, in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, and she provides them with opportunities to both learn about society and have contact with the outside world. During the activities, volunteers provide one-on-one companionship, and they help the children adapt to their new environment and improve their social skills, through language communication, game interaction and other methods. The volunteers are not only companions, but also guides to the children. With love and patience, the volunteers help the children open their hearts, and regain and/or build their confidence. One boy, who has a congenital disease, has been especially impressive to Chai. Although his physical condition is poor, and he needs to go to the hospital regularly for treatments, he insists on participating in every club activity. He is usually quiet during the activities, but he enjoys helping others whenever he can. The boy's mother has told Chai he is happy after each activity, and he always looks forward to the next gathering. The boy's mother has also said the activities have made the boy's life more fulfilling, and given the family the feeling of hope and warmth. Chai plans to register the club as a small charity organization, which will allow it to raise donations and collect supplies more effectively, through a more formalized operation, so it can support more in-need people. Photo from Interviewee Source: People's Daily Overseas Edition (Women of China English Monthly October 2024) Editor: Wang Shasha BEIRUT, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- "Xinjiang has always intrigued me as a place where cultures meet and histories converge," said Waref Kumayha, president of the Silk Road Institute for Studies and Research, a Beirut-based private organization. In an interview with Xinhua, Kumayha shared his reflections on his recent visit to northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. "I anticipated a region defined by tradition, yet I was welcomed by a remarkable combination of ancient heritage and modern innovation," he said. As a proponent of cultural diplomacy, Kumayha emphasized the need to share Xinjiang's developmental success and cultural heritage with the Arab world. "The integration of various ethnic communities and their shared prosperity is a model Lebanon can learn from, given our own diverse religious and cultural landscape," he said. He cited opportunities for cooperation between Xinjiang and the Arab world, particularly in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and cultural exchange. During his visit, Kumayha also experienced the vibrant cultural tapestry of Xinjiang firsthand. He recounted a friendly moment spent with a Uygur farmer, Osman Abdullah, in Kashgar. "Osman welcomed me into his traditional home, where we shared freshly baked naan bread and sweets. It was more than a meal -- it was an authentic glimpse into a life balancing tradition with modernity," he said. Another highlight was witnessing Uygur folk dances, an art form that resonates deeply with the spirit of the region. "The performances reflected both pride in heritage and optimism for the future," Kumayha said. Kumayha observed the region's rapid transformation with admiration. "I saw infrastructure projects and urban developments that redefined Xinjiang as an economic powerhouse," he said. "My role as a writer and researcher is to provide a balanced narrative, countering stereotypes and promoting understanding," he said. Kumayha revealed plans to document his Xinjiang experience in his upcoming book, "Xinjiang, A Journey into the Manifestations of Beauty, Happiness and Prosperity," which will highlight connections between Chinese and Arab civilizations. "Xinjiang is not just a story of development; it is a story of cultural crossroads that can inspire a deeper bond between our peoples," he added. A damaged vehicle is seen after an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2024. The Israeli army killed five Palestinian journalists on Thursday after attacking their vehicle in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Palestinian sources. (Photo by Marwan Dawood/Xinhua) GAZA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army killed five Palestinian journalists on Thursday after attacking their vehicle in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Palestinian sources. "At least five Palestinian journalists were killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a vehicle of the Al-Quds Today satellite channel stationed in front of Al-Awda Hospital in the al-Nuseirat camp," Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for Civil Defense in Gaza, told Xinhua. Ibrahim Eid, a local eyewitness who happened to be at the hospital when the attack occurred, said he was surprised to hear a missile fired from an Israeli plane, followed by the sound of a massive explosion in front of the hospital, where those present rushed to find that the broadcast vehicle had been targeted. "We tried to put out the fire and retrieve the five victims, but some of them were mutilated," he added. The Hamas-run Gaza government media office condemned the Israeli attack, accusing Israel of deliberately attacking the journalists to hide its "crimes." Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that acting on intelligence, the Air Force conducted a "precise strike" on an Islamic Jihad "terrorist cell" inside a vehicle in the area of al-Nuseirat. A number of Islamic Jihad militants were killed in the strike, and intelligence from multiple sources confirmed that these militants posed as journalists, it added. Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a rampage led by Hamas through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza has risen to 45,399, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Thursday. A damaged vehicle is seen after an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2024. The Israeli army killed five Palestinian journalists on Thursday after attacking their vehicle in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Palestinian sources. (Photo by Marwan Dawood/Xinhua) A damaged vehicle is seen after an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2024. The Israeli army killed five Palestinian journalists on Thursday after attacking their vehicle in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Palestinian sources. (Photo by Marwan Dawood/Xinhua) A Palestinian mourns the journalists killed in an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2024. The Israeli army killed five Palestinian journalists on Thursday after attacking their vehicle in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Palestinian sources. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians mourn the journalists killed in an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2024. The Israeli army killed five Palestinian journalists on Thursday after attacking their vehicle in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Palestinian sources. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians mourn the journalists killed in an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2024. The Israeli army killed five Palestinian journalists on Thursday after attacking their vehicle in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Palestinian sources. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians mourn the journalists killed in an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2024. The Israeli army killed five Palestinian journalists on Thursday after attacking their vehicle in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Palestinian sources. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians mourn the journalists killed in an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2024. The Israeli army killed five Palestinian journalists on Thursday after attacking their vehicle in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Palestinian sources. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians mourn the journalists killed in an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2024. The Israeli army killed five Palestinian journalists on Thursday after attacking their vehicle in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Palestinian sources. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Visitors watch a cargo vessel sailing on the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, Aug. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) "We have never been, we are not, nor will we ever be, an associate state, colony or protectorate, nor will we add another star to the flag of the United States," said the late Panamanian leader General Omar Torrijos. "The United States has vetoed Panama's resolution, but the world has vetoed the United States," said then Panamanian Foreign Minister Juan Antonio Tack. PANAMA CITY, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Panama's decades-long struggle to reclaim sovereignty over the Panama Canal reached a boiling point in the 1960s. Escalating protests and international diplomacy ultimately reshaped the country's relationship with the United States. Inspired by Egypt's 1956 nationalization of the Suez Canal, Panamanians intensified calls to revise the Panama Canal Treaty. On Jan. 9, 1964, the "Flag Protests" escalated into violent clashes after U.S. residents in the Panama Canal Zone tore a Panamanian flag, recalled Federico Alvarado, now 78, who was among the protesters. Over four days, U.S. forces opened fire on demonstrators, leaving more than 20 dead and several hundred others seriously injured. The violence prompted Panama to appeal to international bodies. In 1973, the United Nations Security Council held a rare session in Panama City, with the late Panamanian leader General Omar Torrijos delivering a blistering speech condemning U.S. colonialism. "We have never been, we are not, nor will we ever be, an associate state, colony or protectorate, nor will we add another star to the flag of the United States," Torrijos declared. A draft resolution supporting Panamanian sovereignty won the backing of 13 out of 15 Security Council members, with Britain abstaining. However, the United States exercised its veto power, blocking the resolution despite its broad support. "The United States has vetoed Panama's resolution, but the world has vetoed the United States," said then Panamanian Foreign Minister Juan Antonio Tack. The veto galvanized international sympathy for Panama's cause. The world finally understood Panama's struggle, said Julio Yao, former foreign policy advisor and honorary president of the Center for Asian Strategic Studies of Panama. In September 1977, the Torrijos-Carter Treaties were signed by Torrijos and then U.S. President Jimmy Carter, establishing that the Panama Canal would be turned over to Panamanian control on Dec. 31, 1999. All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Soaps.com may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Andrew Walker has been a veteran on Hallmark Channel for more than a decade, but before he perfected the art of the meet-cute and the Christmas movie kiss, he almost played one of Earths mightiest heroes: Johnny Storm, also known as Human Torch, in the 2005 Fantastic Four movie. More from Soaps.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chris Evans and I tested for that role in Fantastic Four, Walker told Soaps.com while promoting his new Hallmark Christmas movie, Jingle Bell Run. As heartbreaking as this is for actors, so many friends of mine have a story of the one role that got away. For me, that was Fantastic Four. More: See all the Curious Caterer movies in order While the role of Human Torch ultimately went to Evans who also played the role in the 2007 sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and 2024s Deadpool & Wolverine Walker has no regrets about how his career turned out. I dont think Id be doing what Im doing today [if I booked Fantastic Four] and I would not change a thing about my career right now. I love doing these Hallmark movies. Theyre 15-day shoots. I can be a present dad, a present husband. Im not leaving for six months out of a year to Bulgaria to shoot movies or six months going to Atlanta or Toronto. So right now. This has been the perfect case scenario for me as an actor. Andrew Walker Was Almost Cast in Fantastic Four as Chris Evans' Human Torch More: Meet your favorite Hallmark stars real-life partners Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walker also confirmed that he never heard back from Marvel about why Evans booked the role over him. They never go into that much detail. I mean, at that point, it is a blonde to brunette to how tall you are to the rest of the cast kind of thing. It could be so nuanced, he said. And while he remained confident that the role couldve been his, Walker also acknowledged noticing something special about Evans when they were both in the test room together for Fantastic Four. You never want to think that way, because then youre talking yourself out of a job. But you definitely go there. Youre like, OK, this guy is more buff than me. Hes taller than me. His hairline is better than mine. You can talk yourself out of anything, he said. Jingle Bell Run More: All the Hallmark stars on Cameo But Fantastic Four isnt the only role that got away for Walker. He also revealed that his guest role as Mike, a love interest for Kaley Cuocos Penny, in The Big Bang Theory Season 1 was supposed to be a bigger character. I auditioned to play Kaley Cuocos boyfriend. They brought me back for an episode of Big Bang Theory, but it was actually going to be a much larger role in the first season, and they ended up writing it out, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though he never got to play a Marvel superhero, Walker still acknowledges his gratitude for Hallmark for giving him the career he never imagined hed have. More: The top 10 Hallmark hunks ranked Before Hallmark, I was just trying to book jobs. I was just trying to fill my year so I could pay my bills doing episodics and trying to book a pilot that would get picked up. All the way until Christmas, and Christmas would hit, and I would unplug but I was still thinking, Whats next? immediately, right after New Years, what do I have in the hopper? he said. Whereas now with Hallmark, I feel like Ive been living in this bubble, where I get to celebrate Christmas three times a year. July hits, and Im shooting a Christmas movie, and then I get to shoot another Christmas movie sometimes in September. But its an appreciation now that I have a job in a world where there are so many actors not working, and incredible actors way more talented than I am. Jingle Bell Run is available to stream on Hallmark Plus. For more on Andrew Walker, check out his best Hallmark movies ranked in the gallery below. Hudson Meek, a teen actor who appeared in Edgar Wrights film Baby Driver, died on Dec. 22 in Alabama after falling from a moving vehicle. He was 16. Our hearts are broken to share that Hudson Meek went home to be with Jesus tonight, read a post on his Instagram account. His 16 years on this earth were far too short, but he accomplished so much and significantly impacted everyone he met. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The accident occurred Thursday night in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, according to local news site AL.com. Meek sustained blunt force injuries after falling to the road from a moving vehicle, Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates told AL.com. Meek was taken to a hospital and died Saturday night. Vestavia Hills police are investigating his death. Meek had several acting roles in the 2010s and 2020s, with the biggest being in the 2017 action movie Baby Driver. He played a young version of Ansel Elgorts main character Baby, a professional getaway driver with a passion for music. He also appeared in MacGyver, The School Duet, Genius, Found, Legacies, Union, Momma Jenny & the Brooks Boys, Providence, Half Pint, 90 Minutes, The List and The Santa Con. Specific details regarding a Celebration of Hudsons Life to be held on December 28, as well as how to contribute to a scholarship in Hudsons memory at Vestavia Hills High School in lieu of flowers, will follow, the post on his Instagram account said. Please pray for Hudsons family and friends as we all process this sudden and tragic loss. Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Back in July, Ice Spice unveiled her highly anticipated debut album, Y2K! including its digital release which featured 11 songs and contributions from Central Cee, Gunna and Travis Scott. Led by singles like Think U the S**t (Fart), Gimmie A Light and Did It First, the high-energy offering scored a top 20 placement on the Billboard 200 and landed on charts in countries like France, Canada and Nigeria. Trending Following a last-minute announcement, the Bronx emcee decided to gift her fans with an updated version of the project on Christmas Day (Dec. 25). Y2K! : Im Just A Girl (Deluxe) arrived with five additional cuts, including the remix to Popa with Anuel AA and the NLE Choppa and DaBaby-assisted Hannah Montana. Rising Spanish talent Bb Trickz also made an appearance on a revision of BB Belt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement https://tidal.com/browse/album/407196197?u Over the summer, Ice Spice celebrated Y2K! with an international tour of the same name. During July and August, she touched stages and rocked out to packed audiences in North America and Europe. In an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, the Like..? creator spoke on the concept behind her introductory LP, which was inspired by her mother. Growing up, Id see her really embody the Y2K aesthetic in its truest form, she explained. Its duck nails. Its a tramp stamp. Its brown lip liner no matter where you go. So, thankfully, I had her as my inspo growing up. And of course ... the internet, you feel me? Just like anyone else. The NYC frontwoman continued, The crazy thing is, it wasnt just a definitive moment, it was just this ongoing process of, What should we name the album? And then I have a book full of pages of album names and different ideas, and I just really find the beauty in simplicity, and I was just like, You know what? I want it to be short. I dont want it to be this super long phrase. You Might Also Like VIENTIANE, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The governments of Laos and Thailand will collaborate more closely in joint efforts to combat drugs and address the drug problem along their border areas. Representatives from the governments of the two countries gathered in Lao capital Vientiane on Wednesday for the 20th Lao-Thai ministerial meeting on drug control cooperation, according to a report from the Lao Ministry of Public Security. The meeting reviewed the development of mechanisms and channels for coordination, information sharing, joint intelligence, investigations, and the suppression of narcotics at the central, provincial, and local levels, aiming to make these efforts more effective. The meeting discussed ways to expand cooperation to improve the effectiveness of investigations, disrupt financial networks, and curb the drug trade through legal frameworks. The Lao and Thai delegations also vowed to reinforce cooperation mechanisms between bordering provinces and drug control coordination offices in border areas and create neighboring drug-free villages along the Lao-Thai border. Joint cooperation in drug testing and research was also advised, alongside the sharing of information about the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts, both at the community level and at treatment and rehabilitation centers. A greater effort will be made to counter the harmful effects of drugs among various target groups, as well as provide operational support, materials, equipment, and other resources. What a difference a year makes: Kimberly Guilfoyle, former Fox News host, spent this time last year likely prepping for Donald Trump Jr.'s birthday. But since the couple called it quits some reports suggest an Easter breakup the former fiance of Trump Jr., whom she called "the love of her life," is preparing for her new role as ambassador to Greece. Earlier this month, Trump Jr. publicly stepped out with model and Palm Beach, Florida, socialite Bettina Anderson. Days later, Donald Trump appointed Guilfoyle as his representative overseas. Advertisement Advertisement It's a far cry from the several Instagram posts on Guilfoyle's feed about her "soulmate," Donald Trump Jr. The couple first started dating in 2018, and she played a pivotal role in Donald Trump's re-election campaigns in 2020 and 2024. On Dec. 31, 2023, Guilfoyle posted a photo album of Donald Trump Jr. on her Instagram: "Happy birthday to the love of my life @donaldjtrumpjr. These past years have been full of unforgettable memories. I love you to the moon and back! #happybirthday #loveofmylife #donaldtrumpjr #maga #maga24 #trump24 #birthday #soulmate #kimberlyguilfoyle" In 2021, the couple bought a home together in Jupiter, Florida, in the exclusive gated community Admirals Cove. Property records show the luxury waterfront home is not on the market, and neither Donald Trump Jr. nor Guilfoyle have made any public comments about the future of their home. Where do Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump Jr. live in Florida? Donald Trump Jr. and girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, just paid $9.7 million for this house in Jupiter's Admirals Cove community When is Donald Trump Jr.'s birthday? Donald Trump Jr., the eldest child of Donald Trump and the late Ivanka Trump, was born on New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, 1977. His siblings are Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump, half-sister Tiffany Trump born to Donald Trump and Marla Maples, and half-brother Barron Trump, born to Donald and Melania Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump Jr. previously was married to former model Vanessa Trump from 2005 to 2018. They have five children: Kai Madison Trump, Donald Trump III, Tristan Trump, Spencer Trump and Chloe Trump. Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle started dating in 2018 after his divorce was finalized from Vanessa Trump. The pair were engaged and bought a house together in 2021 and split sometime in 2024. Though some news reports, including a column from the Palm Beach Daily News society columnist Shannon Donnelly, suggested Donald Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle broke up before Easter 2024, Guilfoyle posted "happy anniversary" love notes to her Instagram followers about her "soulmate" Donald Trump Jr. in April and May. She also appeared by Donald Trump Jr.'s side multiple times throughout his father's 2024 presidential campaign including the high-profile Republican National Convention in July 2024 and on Election Night at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in Palm Beach. Donald Trump Jr., in turn, posted an anniversary message to Guilfoyle on April 24, 2024, to his Instagram followers: "Happy 6 year anniversary @kimberlyguilfoyle thanks for always being there no matter what the haters are throwing our way. I love you." Advertisement Advertisement Who is Bettina Anderson? When did model and socialite Bettina Anderson of Florida start dating Donald Trump Jr.? When it comes to Palm Beach society, the model and socialite is a well-known figure. She has an Instagram following of 50,000 as of Dec. 26, 2024, with lots of photos and Reels touting designers and her entourage. Photos of Bettina Anderson kissing Donald Trump Jr. were posted earlier this month on British tabloid sites. US Weekly also reported Trump and his longtime live-in girlfriend, former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle, split and called off their wedding before the presidential election in November. Since then, Donald Trump Jr. has been spotted in public with the socialite. A report in the Daily Mail on Dec. 26 said the former president's eldest son brought Anderson to a Christmas party at Mar-a-Lago. Before that, the pair vacationed together in Italy, according to the New York Post and other news sites. For years, Anderson has attended Palm Beach society events. She also co-hosted an invitation-only Trump fundraiser in October. Advertisement Advertisement (This story was updated to add new information.) Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Guilfoyle, Trump Jr. split and he vacations with Bettina Anderson It's almost time to say goodbye to 2024 and hello to 2025. Celebrants can find plenty of fun options across Oklahoma for ringing in the New Year, including the OKC Thunders annual New Year's Eve home game, the Oklahoma City shows on Trans-Siberian Orchestra's 2024 Winter Tour and First Day Hikes in more than 20 state parks spread across the Sooner State. Plus, many music venues across the state have booked high-energy lineups of touring and/or homegrown acts for their New Year's Eve festivities. Advertisement Advertisement Here are 25+ New Years events across Oklahoma where partygoers can celebrate the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025: The character TV Head appears in Factory Obscura's temporary art installation Profitopia," which is a collaboration with the OKC orchestral dream punk band stepmom, on Oct. 31 in Oklahoma City. 'Profitopia: An Immersive stepmom Experience,' OKC When: Through Dec. 30. Where: Factory Obscura, 25 NW 9. Tickets and information: https://www.factoryobscura.com. stepmom, an all-female OKC orchestral dream punk band known for multi-part harmonies, elaborate stage productions and a penchant for pink, collaborated with the Factory Obscura artist collective to reimagine the traditional album launch, turning the band's new EP into a surreal, multi-sensory workplace mystery. The band is giving a closing performance, where the group will play all four songs from its new EP "Profitopia" followed by a panel discussion, from 8 to 10 p.m. Dec. 27. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra performs on Nov. 14 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Trans-Siberian Orchestra, OKC When: 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 30. Where: Paycom Center, 100 W Reno, downtown OKC. Tickets: https://www.trans-siberian.com/tour. The multiplatinum-selling progressive rock group is wrapping up its 2024 with two OKC concerts on the 20th anniversary tour celebrating "The Lost Christmas Eve." Darci Lynne speaks to the press on Aug. 28 during the red carpet for the movie "Reagan" in Edmond. Oklahoma Opry New Year's Eve Eve, OKC When: 6 p.m. Dec. 30. Where: Oklahoma Ranch, 425 Kings of Leon Lane, downtown OKC. Information: https://www.ohfo.org/tickets. Advertisement Advertisement Oklahoma singing ventriloquist and "America's Got Talent" winner Darci Lynne will headline the Oklahoma Opry's fundraising concert and auction, which will include homegrown performers Zach Ray, OK3, Owen Pickard, Tanner Massey and more. The Oklahoma Opry last year launched its $10 million Brick by Brick Capital Campaign so it can convert the 114-year-old warehouse at 19 E California Ave. into its new music hall and school. The fully interactive exhibition "Expedition: Dinosaur," featuring large, animatronic dinosaurs, is on view through Jan. 5, 2025, at Science Museum Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. Advertisement Advertisement Noon Year's Eve at Science Museum Oklahoma, OKC When: 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 31. Where: Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Pl., OKC. Information: https://www.facebook.com/ScienceMuseumOk/events. Families can ring in 2025 on the morning of Dec. 31 with tinkering and crafting, including a homemade float-filled parade. Plus, attendees can visit the fully interactive exhibit "Expedition: Dinosaur," featuring large, animatronic dinosaurs, which is on view through Jan. 5. Metro Library Noon Year's Eve Celebrations, Oklahoma County When: Around 11 a.m. Dec. 31. Where: Multiple Metropolitan Library System branches. Information: https://www.metrolibrary.org/events/upcoming. Several Metro Library System locations will celebrate New Year's at midday with activities, crafts, music, dancing, games and more. Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams smiles after a play against the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec 18, 2023, at Paycom Center. Alonzo Adams/USA TODAY Sports OKC Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, OKC When: 7 p.m. Dec. 31. Where: Paycom Center, 100 W Reno, OKC. Information: https://www.nba.com/thunder/schedule. The Thunder will continue their long-running tradition of playing a New Years Eve game in front of a home crowd. Third Annual Bison Ball Drop New Year's Eve, Medicine Park When: 6 p.m. Dec. 31. Where: InnHabit, 218 E Lake Dr., Medicine Park. Information: https://www.facebook.com/cobblestonehillmp. Revelers can bid farewell to 2024 with food, craft beer, live music and Champagne in the historic Oklahoma resort town. The Floozies perform in concert at Vinyl Music Hall in Pensacola, Florida. Uptown Get Down NYE, OKC When: 8 p.m. Dec. 31. Where: Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23, OKC. Information: https://towertheatreokc.com. Advertisement Advertisement The Floozies, an electronic-funk powerhouse duo from Kansas City, will headline the 21-and-older NYE celebration that will include local talents Gold Lincoln, Ric Float B2B Aeyvo and L!PB!TE! Ole Red New Years Eve Party, Tishomingo When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 31. Where: Ole Red Tishomingo, 214 W Main St., Tishomingo. Information: https://olered.com/tishomingo. Blake Sheltons hometown restaurant, bar and venue is featuring a live performance by crowd favorite TNT Dueling Pianos and a special scratch-made NYE dinner. The menu will include a shrimp cocktail and caprese skewers appetizer, a bone-in pork chop topped with cinnamon apples and paired with cheddar smashed potatoes, loaded green beans, cornbread and bourbon pecan cobbler. A complimentary midnight Champagne toast is included. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., with dinner served at 8 p.m. and music beginning at 9 p.m. Mike Hosty plays in the lobby of City Hall during the Opening Night New Year's Eve event in downtown Oklahoma City on Dec. 31, 2019. Doug Hoke/The Oklahoman File Mike Hostys New Years Eve Show, Norman When: 8 p.m. Dec. 31. Where: The Deli, 309 White St., Norman. Information: http://www.hosty.com. The beloved Oklahoma one-man band will play his signature stage: The Deli, a 21-and-older, nonsmoking bar on Campus Corner, where he routinely serves up his original songs and free Pizza Shuttle slices. Riverwind Casino's Staying Alive in 2025, Norman When: 6 p.m. Dec. 31. Where: Showplace Theatre, Riverwind Casino, 1544 State Highway 9, Norman. Information: https://www.riverwind.com/entertain/showplace-theatre. Advertisement Advertisement The NYE event will include live music from Superfreak and the Wavetones, followed by an afterparty with DJ Devin Long leading up to the midnight countdown. Rockin' New Year's Eve Bash with Shortt Dogg, OKC When: 9 p.m. Dec. 31. Where: The Bryant Center, 2200 N Bryant Ave., OKC. Information: https://www.facebook.com/BringBackTheMusicOKC. Funky local favorites Shortt Dogg play Bring Back the Music's sixth annual New Year's Eve "party with a purpose," supporting the nonprofit performing arts education program. Tickets include breakfast provided by B&B Catering. Midnight Masquerade: A New Years Eve Cabaret, OKC When: 9 p.m. Dec. 31. Where: Anthem Brewing Company, 908 SW 4, OKC. Information: https://www.springproductions.net. The 21-and-older masked event will include performances by circus acts, Anthem brews, hors doeuvres, music, dancing and a countdown to the New Year with a Champagne toast. A crowd gathers in 2022 before the first concert at Beer City Music Hall in Oklahoma City. Advertisement Advertisement Beer City Music Hall NYE, OKC Oklahoma rockers Gannon Fremin & CCREV will headline the 21-and-older Red Dirt music show that also will feature Chance Anderson and The Smokin' Oaks. Pawnee's New Year's Eve Celebration and Ball Drop When: 9 p.m. to midnight Dec. 31. Where: Courthouse Square, 500 Harrison, Pawnee. Information: https://www.facebook.com/pawneechamber. Welcome the New Year with a bonfire, black-eyed peas, hot cocoa and fireworks. My So Called Band is a popular Oklahoma tribute band that covers 1990s and early 2000s hits. New Years Eve at The Jones with My So Called Band, OKC When: 7 p.m. Dec. 31. Where: The Jones Assembly, 901 W Sheridan Ave. Information: https://www.facebook.com/TheJonesOKC/events. Partygoers can dance the night away to the popular Oklahoma tribute band's covers of 1990s and early 2000s hits. DJ Litebrite is on the lineup for the 21-and-older event, too. All NYE party tickets include a midnight Champagne toast, but not dinner. Booth guests will be able to order dinner with table service at their booths, and the walk-up patio window will be open for general admission and mezzanine attendees. Opolis NYE 2025, Norman When: 8 p.m. Dec. 31. Where: Opolis, 113 N Crawford Ave., Norman. Information: https://www.facebook.com/opolis. Advertisement Advertisement The Merry Walkers and Reece Carmen's Dead on Arrival will ring in 2025 at the Norman micro venue. The event also will include a live drum DJ set and midnight toast. The Zuits are a Tulsa swing, jazz, and funk band. New Years Eve with The Zuits, Tulsa When: 9:30 p.m. Dec. 31. Where: LowDown, 108 N Detroit Ave., Tulsa. Information: https://www.lowdowntulsa.com. The Tulsa swing, jazz, and funk band will help music lovers greet 2025 at a 21-and-older event that features dancing, a charcuterie grazing table, dessert table, party favors and a Champagne toast at midnight. In partnership with Iron Gate, the venue is accepting donations of nonperishable food items to help stock the charity's grocery pantry. Donations can be dropped off at LowDown during show nights in December. Adele Wolf's New Year's Follies, OKC When: 10 p.m. Dec. 31. Where: Civic Center Music Halls Little Theatre, 201 N Walker. Information: https://www.okcciviccenter.com/events. The internationally renowned Oklahoma performer and producer will ring in 2025 with her annual world-class, Las Vegas-style revue. The show is for attendees ages 18 and older. Mark McGrath performs on Dec. 7 at Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding concert at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix. Hard Rock Tulsa's NYE 2025 with Mark McGrath When: 9 p.m. Dec. 31. Where: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, off Interstate 44 at exit 240. Information: www.hardrockcasinotulsa.com. Advertisement Advertisement The doors open at Hard Rock Live with DJ 2Legit spinning along with a performance by producer/DJ duo ATCK, featuring DJ Lux and Aaron Space. At 11:30 p.m., Sugar Ray frontman Mark McGrath takes the stage for a special performance and countdown to the 16,000-balloon drop at midnight. The event is free and open to the public, but guests must be 21 or older. Attendees get complimentary hats, horns and tiaras. The casino-resort will feature live music across several stages on Dec. 31, starting at noon with DJ Queen Jesseen in the Grand Lobby. Gatsby's House NYE, OKC When: 8:30 p.m. Dec. 31. Where: Skirvin Hilton, 1 Park Ave., downtown OKC. Information: https://vipnightlife.com. Partygoers can celebrate in glitzy 1920s flapper fashion at the 21-and-older event with a prepaid bar, live DJ, dancing, casino games and festive party favors. The King Cabbage Brass Band from Tulsa plays during the June 4, 2023, Gay Pride Parade in Oklahoma City. THE OKLAHOMAN FILE Advertisement Advertisement NYE with King Cabbage Brass Band, Tulsa When: 9 p.m. Dec. 31. Where: Fassler Hall, 304 S Elgin Ave., Tulsa. Information: https://kingcabbagebrass.com/upcoming-shows. Billed as Oklahomas only New Orleans-inspired brass band, the Tulsa-based ensemble will play its fourth NYE show at Fassler Hall, with fellow Tulsan Paul Benjaman on the bill. Bluebonnet Bar NYE, Norman When: 10 p.m. Dec. 31. Where: Bluebonnet Bar, 321 E Main, Norman. Information: https://www.facebook.com/bluebonnetbar. Local band The Contraband will play a hometown show in downtown Norman. People participate in a First Day Hike despite cold weather at Foss State Park. First Day Hikes at Oklahoma State Parks When: Various times on Jan. 1. Where: State parks across Oklahoma. Information: https://www.travelok.com/articles/first-day-hikes-at-oklahoma-state-parks. More than 20 state parks across Oklahoma are participating in America's State Parks First Day Hikes initiative, which takes place in all 50 states and encourages people to stay active with a hike outdoors. From the Osage Hills to Lake Texoma, people are urged to dress warmly, put on sturdy shoes, explore the diverse natural wonders of Oklahoma's state parks and, hopefully, start on the path to a healthy habit. Scissortail Parks First Day Walk, OKC When: 11 a.m. Jan. 1. Where: Scissortail Park Loves Travel Stops Stage, 415 S Robinson, OKC. Information: https://scissortailpark.org/events/first-day-walk-2025. Start off 2025 with a walk in the downtown OKC park. Evan Felker of Turnpike Troubadours performs on Jan. 19 at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Cain's Ballroom's Hangover Ball, Tulsa When: 6:30 p.m. Jan. 1. Where: Cain's Ballroom, 423 N Main, Tulsa. Information: https://www.cainsballroom.com. Coming off its centennial year in 2024, the legendary Tulsa venue continues its tradition of starting the New Year with a strong dose of Red Dirt, Texas country and Americana music. This year's lineup includes Cody Canada, Robert Earl Keen, Evan Felker, BJ Barham, Mike McClure, Wade Bowen, John Fullbright, Jamie Lin Wilson, and special guests Elle Gorman, Elysha Lemaster, Shelby Stone and Graycie York. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 25+ Oklahoma New Year's events, from a masquerade to ball drops Most often a beer drinker is given few serving options when offered a cold one beside a choice between a glass or a can. Regardless of how quippy the slogan is on your koozie, it's never going to beat the straight-up feeling of coolness that you get while sipping your suds out of a goblet or chalice. Just because a goblet is more aesthetically pleasing than a plain old can of bear, that doesn't mean it's the right vessel for your brew. We spoke to Geoff Bragg, a Master Beer Judge Certified Program Judge and award-winning homebrewer to find out the best kind of beer to drink out of a goblet or chalice. According to Bragg, one style of beer that has been tailor-made for some fancy glassware comes from Belgium. "Traditionally, each brewery in Belgium develops their own glass to highlight the special nuances of their beer along with a bit of advertising," he explains. "When you see that beautiful Belgian Tripel at the table next to you with its golden hue and effervescent thick cap of Belgian lace foam, you are going to have what she's having." This is a typical "if you've got it, flaunt it" case where the glassware is not only functional, but it serves a brand marketing purpose as well. Read more: We Asked A Mixologist: Here's Exactly How To Make A Perfect Old Fashioned Every Time Why Does Belgian Beer Taste Better In A Goblet? A man serving goblets of beer from a tray - Buena Vista Images/Getty Images If you've been around the beer block then you're well aware that there are actually a variety of beer glasses each with their unique functions. For example, beer steins, largely famous for providing temporary housing for German ales, were created in the 14th century when the bubonic plague and fly infestations were running rampant throughout Europe. Their lids act as a cover to keep bugs and bubonic germs out of the beer. Similarly, Belgium, home to a thriving beer scene, has cracked the code to the ideal serving vessel for their high-ABV beers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only are goblets and chalices beautifully made with long, thick stems and a nice hefty bowl, but the sophisticated glassware is designed in the same manner as a wine glass, meaning you hold the stem to avoid your body heat from warming up the beer in the bowl. In general, different beer glasses are designed to maintain the head of their respective beers, where the aroma is stored. Goblets and chalices are no different, their typically wide mouths, and roomy bowls, provide ample space for the aromas to thrive at the forefront of your nose as you drink. So next time you throw a dinner party or want to feel a little more elegant as you sip your beer, order a Belgian brew, and be sure to get it in a goblet for maximum enjoyment. Read the original article on Tasting Table. PROVIDENCE The state Department of Environmental Management is inviting people and leashed dogs to a First Day Hike at Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick on New Year's Day. The two-mile, self-guided walk is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will cross paved and gravel roads with some uneven ground. DEM staff members will be there with information about the agency's programs and services. The agency will offer commemorative pins to participants, while supplies last. Hikers walk through Goddard Memorial State Park. Hikers should park at the beach parking lot in the park, which can be accessed via the second entrance on Ives Road, the DEM says. Finns French Crepes Food Truck will be there with food and drinks available for purchase. The walk will be held, even if it rains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DEM Director Terry Gray said, "First Day Hikes are part of DEM's Strategic Plan to promote our state's natural resources by encouraging people to visit (Rhode Island's) natural areas and state parks as part of an active and healthy lifestyle." Goddard Memorial State Park is nearly 480 acres and located along Narragansett Bay. It's Rhode Island's most popular metropolitan park, according to the DEM. First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide effort led by Americas State Parks to encourage people to get outdoors. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Goddard Memorial State Park is setting for First Day Hike Kentucky Kingdom Theme and Water Park revealed a Christmas surprise Wednesday that park visitors can look forward to this spring. The Louisville theme park will open a new "family-themed land" starting in May 2025, park officials announced in a news release. The $11 million area will feature new rides, attractions and dining options along with themes that showcase the park's Kentucky roots. Park officials said they're opening three all-new family friendly rides as part of the new area, and 10 pre-existing rides will be revamped with a "Kentucky twist." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The park will also get a new 4,800-square-foot playground and two reimagined dining locations serving local favorites. COMING MAY 2025 Excitement is building at Kentucky Kingdom as we look ahead to next season! While we can't reveal all the details just yet, $11 million worth of new experiences will be ready for you in May 2025! Learn more: https://t.co/YbaGiTHqWN pic.twitter.com/XrBthHm2td Kentucky Kingdom Theme & Water Park (@KentuckyKingdom) December 25, 2024 Officials didn't share additional information about the changes, though details about the three new rides will be released soon, according to the release. As a family-centered park, were dedicated to creating spaces that bring loved ones together, and this new land is our way of celebrating our Kentucky roots while offering exciting new experiences for our guests, Kentucky Kingdom General Manager Sarah Worrell said. The announcement is the first part of Kentucky Kingdoms plan to invest $25 million in the park over the next two seasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our hosts are so excited to share what we have in store for next season, but we also want everyone to know that there is even more on the way for Kentucky Kingdom soon," Worrell said. More: Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom: Here is your complete guide to the new holiday experience Contact reporter Killian Baarlaer at kbaarlaer@gannett.com or @bkillian72 on X. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Kingdom upgrades: New family land, rides, playground, dining STEVENS POINT This year is quickly coming to a close, and several celebrations are planned throughout the Stevens Point area to welcome the new year. If youre looking for a New Year's Eve event or party in the area, we have you covered. For the kids The Central Wisconsin Children's Museum is hosting New Year's at Noon from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 31 at 1100 Main St. in Stevens Point. People can reserve spots for their families at givebutter.com/CWCMNYN. The event includes art activities, a photo booth, a countdown to noon with a balloon drop and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Stevens Point Area YMCA will host a New Year's Day Bash from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 1 at 1000 Division St. in Stevens Point. The event is free and open to all community members, and features gaga ball tournaments and free swim in the Adventure Pool. Horseshoes & Hand Grenades The Holiday Inn and Convention Center in Stevens Point is hosting New Year's Eve with Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, Dig Deep, Sloppy Joe & Bryce Thomaschefsky starting at 8 p.m. Dec. 31. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the show. Bryce Thomaschefsky will perform at 8 p.m., Sloppy Joe will start at 9 p.m., Horseshoes & Hand Grenades will perform at 10:15 p.m. and Dig Deep will start at 12:15 a.m. Music will continue until 1:30 a.m. The event will have tables and chairs, as well as a large dancing area. A cash bar will serve beer, liquor and wine. Tickets are $25 in advance or $35 the day of the show. Local bars Most bars will be open with special festivities for New Years Eve. Check out your favorite local spots to see what theyll offer. Do you have an event to add to this list? Please email cshuda@gannett.com with all event details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Year in Review: 9 Stevens Point and Plover restaurants and businesses that opened in 2024 This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: Looking for a New Year's Eve party in Stevens Point? Don't miss these events. When thinking about olive oil and where it comes from, a few regions typically come to mind Italy, Spain, and Greece, to name a few. And it's true, those countries do boast some of the highest-quality olive oils in the world not to mention, produce and consume the most. But one famous chef, Michelin-starred restaurant owner, and famed hot-headed T.V. host has an opinion of his own when it comes to the subject. Gordon Ramsay's favorite olive oil actually comes from a little-known region along a peninsula in Croatia known as Istria. And well, if you're going to trust one person with choosing arguably the most widely-used ingredient in all of cooking, shouldn't it be the master himself? On a 2021 episode of the National Geographic series "Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted," the chef visited the coastal region of Croatia to soak in the food and culture. Using fresh seafood caught in the Istrian Peninsula, a Croatian staple, Ramsay cooked up a quick stew. He used a locally-grown olive oil to not only saute the vegetables and fish, but also added generous splashes of it throughout the cooking process. Ramsay said, "This country produces some of the best olive oil anywhere in the world," and he even compared it to "liquid gold." The preferred oil in question is Brist Extra Virgin Olive Oil, an award-winning, family-owned and operated olive mill in Istria. They specialize in small-batch, artisanal oils that have a bitter yet sweet taste. Read more: Gordon Ramsay Constantly Praises One Cookware Brand, And You Should Take Note Istria Is An Olive-Rich Region With A Distinct Flavors Bottles of Croatian Olive Oil with herbs - Sandra Alkado/Getty Images Though it may be news to you, Croatia has an incredibly long and rich history when it comes to producing olive oil. The Istrian region, which sits on the northern Adriatic Sea, is home to Brijuni National Park. Within the vast natural beauty of the park that spans across 14 islands sits a 20-foot tall olive tree that's at least 1,600 years old, making it one of the longest-living olive trees in the world. Nearly 70 pounds of olives are still collected from this tree each year, and it produces around 10 pounds of extra virgin oil. Of course, that tree is just a fraction of the olive groves that make up Istria. In fact, 23 varieties of olive trees thrive in the region, which also houses more than 70 different olive oil mills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every country that produces olive oil has its own distinct flavor profile, color, and aroma. For example, Italian oil tends to be milder or bolder based on where the olives are grown, while Greek oil tends to have a distinctly green color and a grassy yet fruity flavor. Similar to Italy, Croatian olive oil's unique flavors tend to vary based on the exact area and climate in the Adriatic coast where the olives are grown. Several of their most popular varietals have intense sweet and savory notes, while remaining subtle enough to cook almost anything with. Needless to say, Ramsay's bold claim is backed up with facts Croatian olive oil is certainly some of the best. Read the original article on Chowhound. Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Marriott Bonvoy will deepen their collaboration, providing Privelege Club members even more ways to enjoy global travel experiences. Moving forward, Privilege Club members with a Marriott Bonvoy account can convert their Avios into Marriott Bonvoy points. Its a first-of-its-kind program for airline loyalty members in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe region, providing member benefits across Marriott Bonvoys wide-ranging portfolio, including 30 brands across 10,000 destinations. Qatar Airways Privelege Club members can spend their Avios in more ways With the partnership, Qatar Airways Privelege Club members can spend their Avios in even more ways. That includes complimentary stays with brands like JW Marriott, Westin, W Hotels, Moxy Hotels, and Autograph Collection. Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Loyalty, Mr. Thomas Vadakedath, said: Qatar Airways Privilege Club is pleased to expand its long-standing partnership with Marriott Bonvoy. With the latest enhancement, we are excited to offer Privilege Club members a new way to spend their Avios, and access rewards of their choice with Marriott Bonvoy. As the loyalty programme of the Worlds Best Airline we aim to offer members with benefits that elevate their travel experiences, and the latest advancement in our partnership is testament to this commitment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marriott International Vice President Loyalty & Partnerships, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Mr. Jitendra Jain, said: We are excited to expand our collaboration with Qatar Airways to further elevate travel experiences of our most loyal customers. The addition of this benefit reflects our commitment to curate and deliver enhanced benefits and extraordinary travel experiences for our members across our global network. The post Qatar Airways and Marriot partner for these loyalty member benefits appeared first on The Manual. The holiday season is coming to an end, and for those who deck their halls with trees, there are several places ways across Newport County to dispose of them. In many urban and suburban areas, Christmas trees are collected from curbside during the first two weeks in January. All non-organic decorative and other materials that are not part of the tree should be removed. Typically, trees are chipped and made into mulch and in some cases are made available free to city or county residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christmas trees should never be burnt in a fireplace or wood-burning stove. Burning trees could contribute to a creosote buildup, which could lead to a chimney fire. Here is how local communities in Newport County are disposing of trees. It's that time to be out with the old, especially your Christmas tree. Newport The Waste Management Transfer Station will be closed for the holidays on Christmas and New Years Day. All residential collections following the holiday will be delayed one day. Christmas trees are due to be collected the second week of January (1317), on your normal collection day along with any other live decorations and yard waste that you may have. After the week of Jan. 13-17, yard waste collection is not scheduled again until March 10-14, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what you need to know: Remove all artificial decorations such as tinsel, garland, ornaments, lights and bulbs. Put your Christmas tree out on your regularly scheduled collection day by 6 a.m. Please do not put trees in plastic bags. No artificial trees or artificial greenery will be collected. Middletown No trash pickups on Christmas or New Year's Day. Christmas trees and yard waste will be collected the week of Jan. 13, 2025. Portsmouth The Portsmouth Department of Public Works will pick up discarded Christmas trees using the following schedule based on voting precincts: Monday, Jan. 6: Precinct 2702Tuesday, Jan. 7: Precinct 2703Wednesday, Jan. 8: Precincts 2704 and 2705Thursday, Jan. 9: Precinct 2706Friday, Jan. 10: Precinct 2707 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you dont know your precinct, contact Canvassing at (401) 683-3157 or go to https://vote.sos.ri.gov/ and choose View/Update My Voter Record. Trees must be placed at curbside by 7 a.m. on your collection day. Trees must NOT be in plastic bags and must be totally stripped of ALL decorations and tinsel. Residents that miss their pick-up date can bring Christmas trees to the Department of Public Works located off Hedly Street. Trees will NOT be accepted at the Transfer Station. Trees will be recycled into mulch that will be available free of charge to Portsmouth residents. For more information on when mulch is available, contact Portsmouth Public Works at 401 683-0362. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the event of inclement weather, this schedule may change. Contact Public Works at 401 683-0362 for your new pick-up date. Tiverton Tiverton residents are allowed to place two non PAYT 30 gallon or less (regular) trash bags per household at curbside on their collection day from Thursday, Dec. 26 to Tuesday, Dec. 31, courtesy of the Town Council. Christmas trees (natural only) will be collected at curbside on your trash day, weather permitting, from Monday, Jan. 6 through Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. Please place trees at curbside and remove lights, ornaments and tree stands. Jamestown Drop off at the Transfer Station,1218 North Road, December through March. Jamestown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hours: Thursday-Monday, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Closed Tuesday and Wednesday) Little Compton Drop off at the Transfer Station, 40 Commons, in December and January. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Alternative methods The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is again partnering with the Rhode Island Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU) for the Trees for Trout habitat restoration program, which collects donated conifer Christmas trees to improve habitat for wild brook trout and other aquatic organisms. The public can drop off their Christmas trees at a collection event in the New Year. WHAT: Trees for Trout Christmas tree collection Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 4, 10 a.m. 2 p.m. WHERE: Arcadia Check Station, Wood River Arcadia Management Area, 2224 Ten Rod Road, Exeter Donors are urged to read the following information before dropping off trees: DEM is only accepting real trees, not fake ones or trees sprayed with fire-retardant chemicals. All decorations, tinsel, ornaments, lights and the stand must be removed before the tree is brought in. Only whole conifers will be accepted, do not bring tree trimmings. Trees larger than 5 tall are preferred. DEM will not accept large drop-offs of surplus trees from businesses. This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: How to dispose Christmas trees in Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) The New Year often feels like a new beginning, a time to make life better. For nearly a third of Americans, like West Virginia University freshman Fiona Bechtel of Beckley, making changes may involve making a New Years resolution. Bechtel said on Wednesday, December 25, 2024, that she was planning changes for 2025. How the West Virginia Department of Transportation deals with potholes during the winter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The main one is to cook from scratch three nights a week, just because, as a college student, I get pretty busy, said Bechtel, a 2024 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. You know, its easy to put stuff off, but I just want to prioritize my health going into the New Year. The dorm food is not always the best for you, so I just want to stay on top of the health a little bit. Bechtel is not alone. YouGov data shows eating healthy is ranked as the fifth most popular resolution for 2025. The top resolution is to save more money, followed by improving physical health, exercising more and being happy, according to the data. Salvation Army collections donations of the last day of the season But people who dont make New Years Resolutions, like Elijah Shifflett, an elementary school student who lives in Kanawha County, told 59News that they still have goals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elijah said he already works hard to be a nice person every day, whether following rules at home or being helpful to classmates while standing on a line at his school. I usually let people get in front of me, if they want to get in front of me. Like, if they ask, Hey, can I get in front of you? Im like, Sure,' he explained. Sometimes, I actually just say, by myself, Im like, You can get in front of me, sometimes. You Gov statistics show almost half (47 percent) of Hispanic folks who were surveyed make New Years resolutions, while only 38 percent of Black Americans and 27 percent of white Americans plan to make resolutions in 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. VALLETTA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- "If Russian natural gas stops transiting from Ukraine to the EU, European countries including Croatia will feel the impact and maybe a new energy supply crisis could occur in Europe," Frano Kalac, a Zagreb citizen, voiced his concerns about further increases in gas prices. Ukraine announced recently that it would no longer allow Russia to transport natural gas via its pipeline network to European countries after the five-year transit agreement with Russian energy giant Gazprom expires at the end of the year. The concerns are shared not only by European citizens but also by industries, which have struggled with high energy costs and declining competitiveness since the EU sought to reduce its reliance on Russian energy following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Despite the efforts, the EU's dependence on Russian natural gas will likely persist in the foreseeable future amid challenges such as high energy costs, a sluggish economic recovery, and divisions among member states. SUPPLY WORRIES Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirmed the country's refusal to extend the transit agreement after meeting with EU leaders in Brussels on Dec. 19, noting that the ban would apply to all gas flows "coming from Russia." On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that there would be no new deal with Kiev. Under the current agreement, gas transiting through Ukraine accounts for about half of Russia's pipeline exports to the EU. In 2023, roughly 15 billion cubic meters of gas were transported via Ukraine to Europe. Once the deal expires, the Turkish Stream pipeline under the Black Sea will become the sole remaining route for transporting Russian gas to Europe. European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jorgensen said recently that Brussels is "preparing for" a shut-off, which "is not something that comes as a surprise." However, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned of a looming gas crisis. Slovakia imports about 3 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia via Ukraine annually, covering nearly two-thirds of its demand. During Fico's surprise visit to Moscow on Sunday, Putin reportedly expressed willingness to continue supplying gas to Slovakia, but Fico acknowledged this would be "practically impossible" without Ukraine renewing the transit agreement. Meanwhile, Hungary, which now largely relies on the Turkish Stream for Russian gas imports, also stressed the importance of maintaining the Ukrainian route to ensure supply security. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that the Hungarian authorities are still in talks with Russia and Ukraine to secure the continued flow of Russian gas through Ukraine. Regarding alternative solutions in the EU's effort to reduce dependence on Russian energy, Croatian political analyst Robert Frank argued that the EU has long struggled to find "right answers" and is unlikely to do so this time. "Each EU member state will be forced to seek solutions on its own," Frank said. ECONOMIC CONCERNS "The EU has already faltered when it comes to the economy, Germany is facing a historic crisis, and now it will be even more difficult for Europeans to get energy if the transit contract is not renewed," Frank said. "If there is a crisis in energy supply, Europe will be the most affected and this will weaken its economic power even more." "A sudden stop of Russian gas will likely intensify cost pressures for Slovenian industries, and by extension, raise consumer prices," Joze P. Damijan, professor of economics at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia, told Xinhua. He highlighted the significant challenges faced by sectors like agriculture and electricity production, which rely heavily on affordable gas supplies, warning that the lack of Russian gas will create a "serious obstacle." In a letter to the European Commission president on Dec. 17, gas suppliers, network operators and industrial consumers from Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Italy expressed concerns that the end of the transit deal could "complicate gas supply" and "lead to higher gas prices for European consumers." According to a recent report from Bruegel, a Brussels-based economic think tank, energy prices in the EU are higher than those in most other industrialized economies. The report said in 2024, EU gas wholesale prices averaged nearly five times than those in the United States. The cessation of Russian pipeline gas will force the EU to rely more heavily on liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports to fill the gap. The imports are more expensive and less reliable, increasing the economic burden on both consumers and industries. RELIANCE PERSISTS While the EU has reduced its reliance on Russian pipeline gas since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, LNG imports from Russia have risen. In fact, despite its goal to completely stop importing fossil energy, including natural gas, from Russia by 2027, the EU remains the largest buyer of Russian pipeline gas and LNG. According to the European Commission, Russian gas still accounted for roughly 15 percent of the EU's total energy imports, though this marks a significant decline from around 40 percent before the conflict. To achieve the 2027 goal, massive capital investments are required, not only in gas infrastructure and renewables but also in upgrading electricity grids, said Mojmir Mrak, a professor at the University of Ljubljana, in an interview with Xinhua. "The financing question remains partly unanswered, especially for smaller EU economies." Data from Kpler, a commodities data provider, shows a rise in the EU's imports of Russian LNG, making Russia the EU's second-largest LNG supplier after the United States, the Financial Times reported. As of mid-December, Europe had imported a record 16.5 million tonnes of Russian LNG, surpassing the 15.18 million tonnes imported last year. A market monitoring report by the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators confirmed this upward trend. Although the EU's overall LNG imports decreased year-on-year during the first nine months of 2024, Russia's share climbed to 20 percent, a six-percentage-point increase from the same period last year. The Czech Republic, which cut Russian gas imports to nearly zero in the summer of 2023, resumed significant imports in 2024. Analysts attributed this shift to the competitive pricing of Russian gas. According to statistics from Czech pipeline operator Net4Gas, Russian gas flowing through Slovakia accounted for more than 95 percent of the country's supply in November. Royal Caribbean, like any cruise line, tries to minimize how often it changes itineraries. Many people book their cruises around where the ship will stop, and they get angry when a change is made. That's because they have planned excursions and what they will do in port that day. Related: Another Caribbean cruise destination raising port fees A change means having to figure out new activities, and sometimes, the new port is not as desirable as the previous one. That, of course, is a matter of opinion as people have different favorite ports, and sometimes getting to visit someplace new is part of why people book a cruise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Changes, however, are sometimes out of the cruise line's control. Weather, for example, can force a cruise line to skip a port. Some ports don't have tugboats to help ships dock safely. Others may have bridges that can't be crossed under by certain ships in rough weather. Cruise lines make every effort to deliver the itinerary they promised, but that's not always possible. Royal Caribbean, however, has been forced to stop visiting two popular ports, one because of damage at the port and the other for safety reasons. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. Symphony of the Seas has not been able to dock in San Juan. LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images Royal Caribbean can't visit San Juan Royal Caribbean has not been able to dock in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with Symphony of the Seas because the port's dock that can accommodate the Oasis-class ship has been undergoing repairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pier has been out of commission since April and it needs U.S. Coast Guard approval to resume operations. "San Juans Pier 3 West receives the largest cruise ships in the world. Since the loss of the facility's mooring structure, Coast Guard Prevention personnel have been actively working with the San Juan Cruise Port and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority to determine if the structure remains sound for cruise ship operations," said Capt. Luis J. Rodriguez, commander of USCG Sector San Juan SeaTrade Cruise News reported. That has forced Royal Caribbean to cancel stops in San Juan, and it has canceled its Dec. 28 and Jan. 12 calls on the city. It shared that with passengers via email. We wanted to inform you about some changes to your upcoming cruise. Due to ongoing construction at the pier in San Juan, the port authority has advised us that the port will not be ready in time for our visit. We understand how important each destination is to your vacation, so we have worked diligently to find the best alternatives for you," Royal Caribbean Blog reported. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Manzanillo, Mexico visits halted as well While Royal Caribbean has not made any comment on the reason why, the cruise line has also stopped calling on Manzanillo, Mexico. That's likely due to the U.S. State Department warning against travel to that part of Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The warning is explicit. "Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping. Violent crime and gang activity are widespread. Most homicides are targeted assassinations against members of criminal organizations. Shooting incidents between criminal groups have injured or killed bystanders. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping," the State Department shared. Have questions about booking a cruise? Schedule a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner Postcard Travel Planning. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise) Royal Caribbean did not cancel any sailings to the port. It simply stopped scheduling them. In better times, the cruise line described the area as "Pure Pacific Chill." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Manzanillo might not be the first place on Mexico's Pacific Coast you think to visit, but its golden beaches, lively fishing harbor, and emerald rainforest will leave memories that will last a lifetime. Frolic on Playa Miramar as seagulls dive into the waves in front of you to catch their lunch, or learn from a local expert how to fish for striped marlin, sailfish, or tuna in the depths of the Pacific," it shared on its website. Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered. LAURINBURG, N.C. (WBTW) A 16-year-old has been arrested by Laurinburg police in a Christmas Day shooting that killed a 20-year-old man and wounded his brother. Kevin Marshall died in surgery at UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, after initially being treated at Scotland Memorial Hospital, police said. His brother, Kavone Marshall, 18, was treated at Scotland Memorial and released after the incident. The 16-year-old was arrested Thursday and charged with murder, police said. He will be held in a juvenile holding facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers found Kavone Marshall with a gunshot wound after being called at about 6:20 p.m. to investigate a shooting on Harrison Street. Police said he was uncooperative and would not talk about where the incident happened. While officers were still at the scene, they got a report about another gunshot victim Kevin Mashall who was already at the hospital. He also refused to speak to officers, police said. The incident remains under investigation by Laurinburg police. Anyone with information is asked to call 910-276-3211 or to contact Scotland Crimestoppers by downloading their free mobile app P3Tips.com, by visiting www.scotlandcountycs.com or by calling 910-266-8146. A reward of up to $1,000 is available for information that leads to an arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A 16-year-old boy is dead and a 13-year-old boy in critical condition after an early Thursday morning crash in Orange County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash involved a Hyundai Elantra sedan that lost control around 3:37 a.m. after traveling south on Avalon Park Boulevard approaching Timber Springs Boulevard, FHP stated in its crash report. The car traveled southeast running off the roadway left onto the median into the northbound lanes and sidewalk while rotating clockwise with the left side of the vehicle striking a utility pole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver was pronounced dead on the scene while a passenger was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center in critical condition, the report stated. Both teens, who were not identified, were from Orlando. Neither one was wearing a seatbelt, FHP reported. The crash remains under investigation. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Metro police are investigating a shooting that left one man dead and another critically injured. Las Vegas Metropolitan police said the shooting was reported on Monday, Dec. 23 around 3 p.m. in the 900 block of West Owens Avenue, east of MLK Boulevard. According to police, when officers arrived at the scene, they found a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds inside a business. He was taken to University Medical Center and later pronounced dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another man suffering from a gunshot wound was found in the businesss parking lot. He is hospitalized in critical condition, police said. Anyone with any information about this is urged to contact the LVMPD Homicide Section by calling (702) 828-3521, or by email at homicide@LVMPD.com. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Seven people were shot and one of them has died early Thursday morning, WGXA reported. Deputies in Bibb County say they were called to a home on Triple Hill Drive in Macon just before 1:15 a.m. where they found three victims, who were rushed to the hospital. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Detectives later learned that four other victims had arrived at the hospital themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One man, 34-year-old Jawasaiki Guyton, died at the hospital just after 3 a.m. A 18-year-old man is in critical condition. The other five victims are expected to survive their injuries. TRENDING STORIES: Investigators havent commented on possible suspects or motives. Anyone with information that could help investigators should call the Bibb County Sheriffs Office at 478-751-7500. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] UPDATE: Eric Rios, 46, was arrested in connection with the shooting death of Anthony Campbell, 44, in Burlington on December 25. Rios was charged with first degree murder and is being held on no bond. The investigation is ongoing. Eric Rios (Burlington Police Department) EARLIER: A man is dead after a shooting in Burlington on Christmas night, according to a new release from the Burlington Police Department. The Burlington Police and Fire Departments were called to a residence in the 1800 block of Madison Avenue about a possible shooting victim on Wednesday, December 25 at about 7:35 p.m. When emergency medical services and police arrived, they found a man inside the home who was pronounced dead at the scene. The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of relatives, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case is under investigation by the Burlington Police Departments Criminal Investigations Division, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the DCI Crime Lab Crime Scene Team. Anyone with information about this incident should call the Greater Burlington Area Crime Stoppers at (319) 753-6835 or the Burlington Police Department at (319) 671-7001. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. COXS CREEK, Ky. (FOX 56) Kentucky State Police have released new information about a Christmas officer-involved shooting. The Nelson County Sheriffs Office said deputies were dispatched to a Coxs Creek home around 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday for a wellness check. But when deputies arrived, they found 51-year-old Scott Hart at the front door with a pistol. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Deputies asked Hart to put the gun down, but he reportedly shut the door. A short time later, Hart reportedly came back outside with the pistol, and after a confrontation ensued, a deputy shot Hart in the arm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He received treatment on scene before being taken to an area hospital. According to Kentucky State Police, Hart is now in the Nelson County Detention Center facing wanton endangerment, attempted murder of a police officer, and disorderly conduct charges. Hes set to appear in court on Dec. 30. Previous story: An individual has been injured in a Christmas Day officer-involved shooting, according to the Nelson County Sheriffs Office. It happened around 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday at a home in Coxs Creek after deputies were dispatched for a welfare check. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: According to the sheriffs office, a confrontation broke out with an armed individual, resulting in shots being fired. The individual was reportedly shot, and their condition is unknown at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting is under investigation by Kentucky State Police, and the names of those involved havent been released. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. A 15-month-old girl critically injured after a Piqua man reportedly slammed her on the floor earlier this month has died. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The toddler, Vivian Gardner, died on Dec. 19 at Dayton Childrens Hospital, according to the Montgomery County Coroners Office. The girl passed away as a result of the injuries inflicted upon her by Michael Mayor, court documents filed on Dec. 20 stated. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As News Center 7 previously reported, the child was hospitalized after being found breathing but unresponsive on Dec. 5. A babysitter told dispatchers that a 1-year-old girl was pale, had bruises on her head, and she was unsure of where they came from, according to a Piqua police report. The toddler was flown to Dayton Childrens Hospital for treatment. A doctor there later told police that she had suffered a fracture in the rear of her skull, had a subdural hematoma, and other complex injuries that were caused by a massive impact. The toddler had been dropped off at the babysitters on the morning of Dec. 5. The babysitter left her with Mayor and other kids while she took some of the children to school. While the babysitter was gone, Mayor had reportedly tried to put the girl for a nap on the bedroom floor. When she got back, the girl was on the bedroom floor and appeared to be sleeping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The babysitter checked on the girl multiple times during the day and noted she appeared to be okay and breathing but was concerned that she had not woken up by 3 p.m. At that point, she tried to wake the girl up and found that she was unresponsive. Police spoke with prosecutors and they decided Mayor should be arrested and charged since he was the last person with the child. While being interviewed by police, Mayor admitted to injuring the child after she wouldnt stop crying while he was trying to put her down for a nap. He stated he shook her and when she cried louder, he began to slam her on the floor of the bedroom, the police report stated. He stated this was not done on the blankets and he did this several times until she stopped crying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor thought at that point that she had fallen asleep, so he put her down and walked away. Mayor has been indicted on felonious assault and endangering children, according to court documents. News Center 7 has contacted the Miami County Prosecutors Office to see if more charges will be filed against Mayor. We have not received a response at the time of this report. He remains booked in the Miami County Jail. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A woman is dead after she was hit and killed by a vehicle in Peters Township, after taking her dog to the emergency vet on Christmas evening. Washington County dispatchers said emergency crews were called to the 2000 block of Washington Road at 7:35 p.m. Peters Township Police said the 79-year-old woman and her 43-year-old daughter were crossing the road near the lower entrance of Pizzaz and Simmons Farm Markets parking lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman was hit by a Honda traveling in the northbound lanes. Her daughter was not hit. The woman was taken to St. Clair Hospital where she later died. The driver of the Honda, a 73-year-old man, immediately stopped and cooperated at the scene. Police said he was not impaired. First responders believe the women had run out gas and were searching for a gas station. The Get Go is two doors down, but was closed on Christmas. Peters Township Police chief, Joe Glover, told Channel 11s Cara Sapida, This was a tragedy, and we are thankful that no one else was hurt in the incident. While working the scene, several officers were almost struck by an inattentive operator who was subsequently arrested for DUI. It was a reminder for all involved to always stay vigilant. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW KABUL, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan exported 3,960 tons of hand-woven carpets in 2024, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad told local media. Quoting Jawad, TOLOnews reported on Thursday that the exported carpets were worth more than 15.3 million U.S. dollars during the cited period. He said the valuable Afghan products have been mostly exported to Pakistan, Australia, Iran, Turkiye, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Germany. Afghanistan's main export items include hand-woven carpets, handicrafts, saffron, fresh and dry fruits, coal, and precious and semi-precious stones. DES MOINES, Iowa The Des Moines Police Department has located the missing 12-year-old. Nora has been located and reunited with her family. According to police she is healthy and well. Police thank all who assisted in the efforts to locate her. ***ORIGINAL POST*** DES MOINES, Iowa The Des Moines Police Department is asking for the communitys help locating a missing 12-year-old girl. 12-year-old Nora Rash was reported missing from the northwest side of Des Moines around the area of Allison Avenue and 27th Street. She was last known to be with friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities say Nora is around five feet and two inches tall and weighs around 100 pounds. If you have any information or if you see Nora, police ask you to call 911. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. CHICAGO (WGN) An 18-year-old man is dead after he was shot and killed inside a South Side residence Tuesday afternoon, according to the Chicago Police Department. CPD said an 18-year-old male victim was inside a residence in the 5700 block of South Michigan Avenue around 2:15 p.m. he was shot multiple times in the body. The 18-year-old boy was pronounced dead shortly after police arrived on scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Body found in wheel well of United Airlines flight from Chicago to Maui CPD said they have no one in police custody as area detectives continue to investigate. If you or someone you know has information that could help police make an arrest and conviction in the investigation of this incident, anonymous tips can be filed online at cpdtip.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 WGN-TV. Ukrainian troops hit a Russian command post in the town of Lgov in Kursk Oblast, allegedly killing 18 Russian soldiers, Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communications reported on Dec. 26. Ukrainian forces reportedly hit the command post of Russia's 810th Separate Marine Brigade, located in an abandoned civilian building in Lgov, overnight on Dec. 25. Following the attack, Kursk Oblast Acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein claimed that Ukraine attacked civilian facilities and infrastructure in Lgov, killing four people and injuring five others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The strike killed 18 personnel and partially destroyed the command post, Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communications claimed in a Dec. 26 statement. A deputy brigade commander was most likely among the killed, and most of the killed soldiers were staff officers. The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims. Russia has reportedly deployed over 10,000 North Korean troops to help oust Ukrainian troops, who have been fighting in Kursk Oblast since early August. Despite the high losses within Russian and North Korean ranks, Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast seem to be increasingly on the back foot, facing a Russian advantage in manpower and equipment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine's foothold in Kursk is considered a possible bargaining chip ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's expected push for peace negotiations. Read also: Ukraine ends year battered, with Russian troops pushing north, east, and south Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Flies landing on pastries in a bakery display case and employees who failed to wash their hands after talking on a cellphone, carrying soiled plates and wiping hands on a dirty cloth were among the violations that forced the state to temporarily close three South Florida restaurants last week. The Sun Sentinel typically highlights restaurant inspections conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in Broward and Palm Beach counties. We cull through inspections that happen weekly and spotlight places ordered shut for high-priority violations, such as improper food temperatures or dead cockroaches. Any restaurant that fails a state inspection must stay closed until it passes a follow-up. If you spot a possible violation and wish to file a complaint, contact Florida DBPR. (But please dont contact us: The Sun Sentinel doesnt inspect restaurants.) BROWARD COUNTY La Calenita Restaurant & Bakery 1931 Pembroke Road, Hollywood Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ordered shut: Dec. 19 Why: 13 violations (five high-priority), including: About 13 live flies landing on guava pastries, apple turnovers at front counter display case (stop sale ordered) and on glass shelves, walls of front counter bakery display case. Stop sale also ordered for raw tilapia packaged on-site using a reduced oxygen packaging method fully thawed in walk-in cooler. Raw beef stored above ready-to-eat corn in walk-in cooler. Bottle of windshield washer fluid stored on prep table with beverages, unwashed produce. Status: Reopened the same day after a second visit found four violations (three intermediate and one basic), with a follow-up inspection required. Fat Freddys Sub Shop 221 Prospect Road, Oakland Park Ordered shut: Dec. 17 Why: Seven violations (four high-priority), including: Operator seen talking on cellphone [then engaging] in food preparation without washing hands. Entire establishment has no potable water. Inside of beverage-air, reach-in cooler interior has accumulation of food debris. Observed raw sausage over rolls not all commercially packaged in Frigidaire reach-in freezer. Status: Reopened Dec. 18 after a follow-up visit found one high-priority violation. PALM BEACH COUNTY Strathmore Bagels & Deli 4095 State Road 7, Wellington Ordered shut: Dec. 16 Why: 10 violations (six high-priority), including: More than 180 live flies behind front counter landing on clean plates, packaged bread, cutting boards used to prepare food, display cases, in kitchen bagel preparation area on walls by bagel roller and speed racks and in kitchen dry storage area outside of walk-in cooler flying around landing on walls and boxes. Three dead roaches behind front counter on shelves with clean plates over make-top cooler and in kitchen inside drawers under flat-top with commercially packaged cheese stored. Cook wiped hands on visibly soiled wiping cloth after removing from back pocket and then handled ready-to-eat food while putting on plate without washing hands. Waitress handled soiled plates while removing from table and then handled clean plates of food from serving window to take to customers table without washing hands. Time/temperature issue involved front-counter turkey. Status: Remained closed on Dec. 17 after a next-day inspection found three violations, but it reopened later that day after a third visit found one intermediate violation. Two men who were charged in a cocaine trafficking operation that originated in Puerto Rico have been sentenced to prison. Luciano Bratini Rivera, 37, and Markus Hobel, 35, both of New Castle, were two out of 17 people from Lawrence County, Puerto Rico and Ohio to be charged in relation to the drug operation. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Pittsburgh-area residents charged in connection to cocaine trafficking originating in Puerto Rico Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rivera was sentenced to 97 months in prison followed by a four-year supervised release. Hobel was sentenced to 72 months in prison followed by a five-year supervised release. Evidence in court implied Rivera was working with Daniel Feliciano, the alleged leader of the trafficking organization, to import the cocaine from Puerto Rico. He then allegedly worked with Hobel who distributed the drugs throughout New Castle and Ellwood City. Police said Rivera was storing more than $11,000 and at least five kilograms of cocaine when they arrested him in March 2024. Lawrence County is considered a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area by the White Houses Office of National Drug Control Policy. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW The Ohio State Highway Patrol says there were two fatal crashes this Christmas. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The reporting period started Tuesday, Dec. 23 at midnight and ended midnight Wednesday, Dec. 25, OSHP says. TRENDING STORIES: During this two-day period, troopers arrested 44 people for impaired driving and 11 others for illegal drugs, troopers say. Eighty-four people were issued citations for seatbelt violations and 34 people were cited for distracted driving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Troopers assisted 434 motorists throughout Ohio, according to OSHP. For 2023s holiday reporting period, which lasted four days, 12 people were killed in crashes in Ohio. Troopers would like to remind the public to report dangerous drivers by using #677. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] On a Monday in August 2020, Camryn Kuehl and her family embarked on a snorkeling trip in Jupiter, Florida, on a boat operated by a company that specializes in shark encounters. During the trip, the boat's crew, John R. Moore Jr. and Tanner Mansell, spotted what they described to the Kuehls as an "illegal longline fishing line" attached to a buoy. With the Kuehls' help, Moore and Mansell hauled in the line and freed the 19 sharks caught on ita rescue operation they encouraged the Kuehls to document with their cellphones. Moore called Florida Fish and Wildlife Officer Barry Partelow to report the incident. As Partelow ultimately discovered, Moore and Mansell had made a mistake. The line had been set by Scott Taylor, a seafood distributor whom the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had authorized to catch sharks for research purposes. Although Moore and Mansell clearly thought they were doing good by releasing illegally ensnared sharks, they were nevertheless convicted of theft at sea, a federal felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Prosecutors alleged that Moore and Mansell had stolen Taylor's fishing gear, which they left on the dock, where marina employees discarded it in a dumpster. In addition to a year of probation, Moore and Mansell were saddled with felony convictions that trigger lifelong disabilities, including barriers to employment and loss of their Second Amendment rights. They challenged their convictions on the grounds that the jury instructions included a broad, counterintuitive definition of stealing that did not require an intent to use Taylor's gear for their own benefit. Last September, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit rejected that challenge. Moore and Mansell are now asking the full appeals court to reverse that decision and correct the flagrant injustice of treating them as federal felons based on an honest, well-intentioned error. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moore and Mansell were convicted under 18 USC 661, which applies to someone who "takes and carries away, with intent to steal or purloin, any personal property of another" within "the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States." During their trial, they asked U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks to instruct the jury that stealing property means wrongfully taking it "with intent to deprive the owner of the use or benefit permanently or temporarily and to convert it to one's own use or the use of another." After the prosecution objected to including a conversion element, Middlebrooks omitted it, although he did tell the jury that the defendants maintained they had "removed property without the bad purpose to disobey or disregard the law and therefore did not act with the intent to steal or purloin." The jurors, who sent the judge half a dozen notes while deliberating for two days (longer than it had taken to present the evidence against Moore and Mansell), struggled to reach a verdict. When they told Middlebrooks they had been unable to reach a unanimous decision, he gave them an Allen charge, encouraging them to continue deliberating and saying they should be open to changing their positions, provided they could do so "without violating your individual judgment and conscience." After sending one more note asking whether they should consider any other defense theories, the jurors found Moore and Mansell guilty of one charge each. In an opinion by Judge Charles Wilson, the 11th Circuit panel ruled that Middlebrooks had been right to conclude, based on the relevant precedents, that Section 661's definition of stealing does not require evidence that the defendant "carrie[d] away" property for his "own use or the use of another." But in a concurring opinion, Judge Barbara Lagoa, joined by Judge Britt Grant, highlighted the perverse consequences of that reading and harshly criticized Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Watts-FitzGerald for his "imprudent exercise of discretion" in choosing to prosecute the case. Lagoa noted that Moore and Mansell had openly stated their motivation in freeing the sharks, had enlisted their customers to help and to take pictures while doing so, had reported the incident to the relevant law enforcement agency, and had "returned the gear to the marina dock as instructed." Kuehl, for her part, "thought [they] were doing a great thing," and she "shared pictures on social media reporting as much to her friends." Yet "for reasons that defy understanding," Lagoa said, Watts-FitzgGerald "learned of these facts andtaking a page out of Inspector Javert's playbookbrought the matter to a grand jury to secure an indictment for a charge that carried up to five years in prison." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite evidence that "plainly suggests a good-faith mistake on Moore and Mansell's part," Lagoa wrote, Watts-FitzGerald "determined that this case was worth the public expense of a criminal prosecution, and the lifelong yokes of felony convictions, rather than imposition of a civil fine." Explaining that decision during oral argument last August, the government's lawyer likened the case to car theft on federal property. "If someone steals a car on a military base," she said, "the proper response isn't, well, pay restitution for that. That's a crime." Grant called that "a silly example," adding, "There's no comparison." In her concurring opinion, Lagoa proposed a different analogy. "Imagine that Bob, walking along a path in a federal park, sees a man rush up to an elderly woman from behind, pull a gun from his pocket, and yell 'Give me your purse or I'll shoot,'" she wrote. "Bob rushes the robber, yanks the gun from his hand, and ushers the old woman out of harm's way." What if "what Bob witnessed was not a genuine robbery, but a scene being acted out by some students from the local community college"? In other words, Lagoa wrote, "the robber was not a robber at all, but the elderly woman's scene partner for drama class. Bob, of course, had no way of knowing that when he interrupted what he believed to be a violent crime." Under "the government's theory in this case and applying 661 as broadly as the government did here," Lagoa noted, "this genuine mistake would be of no moment, because all that matters is that Bob took the 'robber's' property with the intent to deprive him of it. Perhaps it would move the needle if Bob's lawyers requested an instruction on mistake of fact, aiming to undermine the mens rea needed to convict." But for Lagoa, the bottom line is that Bob, like Moore and Mansell, "should not be prosecuted in the first instance." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What happens when prosecutors nevertheless defy fairness and common sense by pursuing criminal charges in a situation like this? In a brief urging the 11th Circuit to reconsider Moore and Mansell's case, the Cato Institute emphasizes the vital role that juries can play in correcting such injustices. "From a purely originalist standpoint, perhaps the single greatest protection against unjust convictions and punishments was the institution of jury independence, which includedbut was by no means limited tothe power to acquit against the evidence," writes Clark Neily, Cato's senior vice president for legal studies. "At the Founding, criminal jurors were not relegated to the role of mere fact-finders, as they are today. Indeed, the conception of criminal juries as having no proper role in assessing the wisdom, fairness, or legitimacy of a given prosecution is a more recent invention that early American lawyers and jurists would rightly have condemned as antithetical to centuries of common-law understanding and practice." Neily notes that "the jury in this case appeared reluctant to convict, and only did so after sending out seven notes and receiving an Allen charge from the trial judge." If the jury instructions had "better embodied the Supreme Court's directive that 'ambiguity concerning the ambit of criminal statutes should be resolved in favor of lenity,'" he argues, "the verdict would likely have obviated this appeal by more accurately reflecting how ordinary people understand the word 'steal' in the context of potentially ruinous felony charges." Although "the spectacle of an imperious national government prosecuting virtuous citizens for activities within its 'special maritime jurisdiction' would have been entirely familiar to the Founders," Neily writes, "they would likely have been dismayed by the identity of that government and by the miscarriage of justice that occurred here. It is highly doubtful that a Founding-era jury, fully cognizant of its historic powers and duties, would have branded John Moore and Tanner Mansell lifelong felons for their misguided attempt to fulfill what they perceived to be a civic duty. The Court can still avoid that result by granting the Petition and applying a suitably restrained interpretation of the relevant statute." The post 2 Florida Men Who Thought They Were Freeing Illegally Caught Sharks Are Now Felons appeared first on Reason.com. WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) Two juveniles were charged when officers allegedly caught them with a stolen vehicle on Christmas Eve, according to Waterbury police. Officers from the Waterbury Police Departments Auto Theft Task Force (ATTF), Gang Task Force, and the Connecticut Violent Crime Task Force were patrolling along Burton Street around 12:16 p.m. Tuesday when they reported seeing a 2024 BMW X7 reported stolen from Nassau County, New York, parked in the area. 15 DUI arrests made during Christmas holiday Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said they watched two males get into the vehicle, but before they could drive away, officers stopped them. The individuals were identified as a 17-year-old and a 14-year-old, both from Waterbury. The 17-year-old was the driver. The younger teen reportedly attempted to run away, but was taken into custody after a brief pursuit, police said. Delivery van robbed at gunpoint in Fairfield The juveniles were both charged with larceny of a motor vehicle and interfering with an officer. For one of them, it was a second-offense larceny charge. Anyone with information related to this investigation or recent car thefts to contact the Waterbury Police Auto Theft Task Force at (203) 574-6941 or provide anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers at (203) 755-1234. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. FOSTER, R.I. (WPRI) Two people have died after a head-on crash in Foster Tuesday afternoon, according to police. Officers responding to Hartford Pike around 3 p.m. found two cars with heavy front-end damage. An investigation revealed a car heading westbound crossed into the eastbound lanes to pass several cars when it crashed into the second car. The driver of the passing car, identified as 34-year-old Aaron McCrory, of Danielson, Connecticut, was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A passenger in the second car, 81-year-old Sandi Brooks, of Vernon, Connecticut, was also rushed to the hospital where she later died. The driver of that car, who has not been identified, was also taken to the hospital and is in stable condition. The crash remains under investigation. 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 photo taken on Dec. 26, 2024 shows a press conference on the results of the fifth national economic census held by the State Council Information Office in Beijing, capital of China. China on Thursday published the results of its fifth national economic census, which showed that the country's economy has achieved progress while maintaining stability over the past five years. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday published the results of its fifth national economic census, which showed that the country's economy has achieved progress while maintaining stability over the past five years. The census results reflected that China has witnessed a significant increase in the number of entities and persons employed in secondary and tertiary industries, Kang Yi, head of the National Bureau of Statistics, said at a press conference on the census. China had 33.27 million legal units engaged in secondary and tertiary industries at the end of 2023, up 52.7 percent from the end of 2018. The secondary and tertiary industries employed over 428.98 million people at the end of 2023, up 11.9 percent compared with the end of 2018. The number of self-employed units was nearly 88 million with 179.56 million persons employed, according to the results. In particular, the fifth national economic census has included the digital economy for the first time. The capacity for technological innovation, as well as labor productivity, has continued to improve, said Kang, adding that the industrial structure has been optimized, and the digital economy has experienced robust growth. China had 2.92 million corporate enterprises engaged in the core industries of the digital economy, with 36.16 million persons employed as of the end of 2023. The total yearly business revenue for the core industries of the digital economy reached 48.45 trillion yuan (about 6.74 trillion U.S. dollars). The economic census, one of China's key national surveys, provides a comprehensive overview of the country's secondary and tertiary industries, offering valuable insights into its social and economic development. China carried out four national economic censuses in 2004, 2008, 2013 and 2018, respectively, and formally started its fifth national economic census in 2023. To ensure the authenticity and reliability of the census data, Kang said a plan for the economic census had been formulated scientifically, and the quality control of the data had been strengthened throughout the entire process. The post-enumeration check, sampling 21,000 units, 1,099 enumeration areas, and 249 county-level regions from 31 provincial-level regions, showed that the combined error rate was 0.47 percent, which met the standard for data quality. Two women named in an indictment against eight gang members have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to prison for their part in a human trafficking ring in Gwinnett County. Last year, Attorney General Chris Carr indicted eight members of the LOTTO (Last One To Take Over) gang on 97 total counts after five women were rescued. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Jadah Henry, 22, pleaded guilty to racketeering, gang and human trafficking charges. She was sentenced to 25 years with 10 to serve in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jayda Wilson, a 27-year-old also known as Thump, pleaded guilty to racketeering charges and was sentenced to 15 years with five to serve in prison. As we have said since the beginning anyone engaged in human trafficking will be held accountable for their actions, said Carr. Were committed to securing justice for survivors, and were working to combat gang activity in every corner of our state. All Georgians deserve to feel safe in their communities, and were fighting each day to ensure thats a reality. Another of the defendants, 27-year-old Tyreek Lee, previously pleaded guilty to racketeering, gang and human trafficking charges. He was sentenced to 20 years with 10 to serve in prison. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case against the remaining five defendants is still active. They include: Sean Aaron Curry (also known as Jaak), 33, of Gwinnett County Sean Patrick Harvey (also known as Shootah), 35, of Gwinnett County Eric Duane Johnson (also known as EJ), 46, of DeKalb County Bobby Jamaine Downing (also known as Kahlil), 41, of DeKalb County Hilton Lance Dobbins (also known as Sporty), 33, of Fulton County According to Carr, the LOTTO gang has origins in the Gangster Disciples and the Crips national gangs. Gang members are believed to have conspired with each other to illegally obtain money, weapons and property through racketeering. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG) A woman is injured, and a man is in critical condition after they were shot while driving down McDonald Road on Christmas Day, according to the Mobile County Sheriffs Office. Body found in Mobile police investigating An MCSO release said the Mobile Police Department told them a shooting happened in the area of McDonald Road and I-10, with two people being admitted to a local hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman, who was driving the vehicle, was shot in her lower leg, while the male passenger was shot in the neck. The woman told detectives that she saw a burgundy Hyundai with a Virginia tag driving ahead of her when it started to slow down and make multiple break checks. Officials said the suspects vehicle then slowed down and began driving parallel to the womans car when an unknown man smiled at her and fired a shot. The male victim then pulled out a gun and returned a shot to the suspects vehicle, according to the release. Officials said the victim and suspect began exchanging gunfire while driving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman allegedly told detectives that she saw where her passenger slumped over on his side with a serious gunshot wound and drove him to a local hospital. The release said the male passenger was immediately taken to a different hospital because of his injuries and is listed in critical condition. Greene County inmate who escaped from prison has been recaptured: GCSO Anyone with information can contact MCSO at 251-574-8633. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. TOPEKA (KSNT) City leaders are due to meet again in early 2025 to discuss an update to Topekas camping ordinance which impacts the local homeless population. 27 News checked out agenda documents for the upcoming Topeka City Council meeting set to happen on Jan. 7, 2025. Councilmembers will discuss a non-action item during this meeting impacting sections 9.45.350 and 9.45.360 of the Topeka Municipal Code. These sections of the code concern camping prohibitions in the city which primarily impact the growing homeless population. If the Topeka City Council approves of the amendments, it will expand the definition of public infrastructure and clarify the specifications for camping on private property. This includes changing the definition of camp to exclude camping at camping sites for recreational vehicles, travel trailers, campers or tents. The term Public Infrastructure would also be changed to bring it in line with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) language. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People trying to camp in Topeka would also be impacted by two other amendments to language in existing ordinances if these changes are eventually approved. These include adding in within 100 feet instead of 500 feet of any Public Infrastructure and camping is illegal on private property (except by the owner on record or lawful tenant) exceeding 10 days within a six-month period. Topeka Docking Building reconstruction project nears finish line The Topeka City Council agenda lists an impact of $12,000 coming from the citys operational budget. The cost will come from 20 known camps in the city which will need to be cleared with the approval of the amendments. Topekas most recent count of the homeless population in August 2024 found more than 540 people are experiencing homelessness in the city. The homeless population has experienced steady growth over the past few years, with 365 people in 2022 and 412 in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more Homeless Issues news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Every year, our stories go ever further into our vast and diverse state, and ever deeper into the lives of the people who live here. From the northernmost tip of the Panhandle to the southernmost point in the Rio Grande Valley, from El Paso to Beaumont, from the largest cities to the smallest towns, Texas Tribune photographers were there, helping reporters tell the stories of we, the Texans. JANUARY This town wants to be named the quinceanera capital of Texas DIBOLL, Jan. 4 The growing Hispanic population in Diboll, a town about 11 miles south of Lufkin in East Texas, has inspired a new economy of party planners and DJs to produce quinceaneras. City leaders are taking notice. More here from reporter Jess Huff and photojournalist Joel Andrews. Guests stand and applaud as Sienna Raley, flanked by her parents Maria and Troy, begins the grand entrance at her quinceanera on Dec. 16, 2023, in Diboll. Credit: Joel Andrews for The Texas Tribune This West Texas town has a lot of money in the bank. Why can't it pick up its trash? KERMIT, Jan. 4 Like local leaders in many other towns in West Texas, the Kermit City Council spent years saving its tax revenue fearing the energy economy would crash. Now it is struggling to keep up with essential services like trash and road repair. Story by Carlos Nogueras, photos by Eli Hartman. Texas Department of Public Safety contractors pave the intersection of Austin Street and Pine Street Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023 in Kermit. The intersection, according to the mayor of Kermit, David Holbrook, is one of the busiest in town with a large majority of the traffic consisting of 18-wheelers hauling sand for the oilfields. Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune Left: Kermit Mayor David Holbrook: Our home was not getting taken care of and we had a huge savings account, Holbrook said about Kermits history of neglecting itself. Right: Oilfield traffic travels east along State Highway 302 out of Kermit. Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune The most hated people in Gunter: How the government of this North Texas town broke apart GUNTER, Jan. 18 Late in 2023, all five members of the City Council in this small Texas town north of Dallas quit. A fight over a railroad development had spiraled into political mudslinging, broken trust and conspiracy. Reporter Zach Despart and photojournalist Shelby Tauber on a town paralyzed by political dysfunction. Read the story here. Gunter Mayor Karen Souther next to the historic water tower outside city on Jan. 11, 2024. Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A railroad runs through the heart of Gunter, a town about 50 miles north of Dallas with a population of around 2,500. Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune Uvalde victims families get an official acknowledgement of botched shooting response but some want criminal charges UVALDE, Jan. 18 Some relatives of the 21 people killed in Texas deadliest school shooting demanded criminal charges after federal officials said delayed police response cost lives. Read more here from reporters William Melhdo, Madeleine Rubin and Poojah Salhotra here. Photo by Chris Stokes. Kimberly Mata-Rubio, mother of Alexandria Rubio, one of the children killed in the 2022 Uvalde mass shooting, speaks to media after U.S. Justice Department officials detailed failures in the law enforcement response to the Robb Elementary shooting. Credit: Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribune In Eagle Pass, a tense border standoff between Texas and the federal government is reaching a crescendo EAGLE PASS, Jan. 22 A park in a remote town on the Rio Grande has the focus of a battle over border enforcement between the state and federal government. Story by reporter Uriel J. Garcia, photos by Eddie Gaspar. A group of migrants wades through the Rio Grande under the watch of Texas National Guard members near the riverbank at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass on Jan. 19, 2024. Texas has closed off Shelby Park, cutting access to federal agents to part of the Texas-Mexico border, according to a federal legal filing. The situation is escalating tensions between the Biden administration and Gov. Greg Abbott. Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune Maverick County residents Mike Garcia, left, and his daughter Amerika Garcia Grewal, right, at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass. The two have different political beliefs but are both alarmed at Gov. Greg Abbott's tactics on the border. Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Migrants traverse the bank of the Rio Grande at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, on Jan. 19, 2024. Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune FEBRUARY House Speaker Dade Phelan, enemy of the far-right, faces toughest reelection yet BEAUMONT, Feb. 5 Attorney General Ken Paxton, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and former President Donald Trump accused Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan of being a RINO, even as Phelan oversaw the passage of some of the most conservative bills in recent history. Learn more here from reporter Zach Despart and photojournalist Mark Felix. Outgoing Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan at his office in Beaumont. Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune Despite mounting doubts about his guilt, Ivan Cantu running out of time to avoid Texas death chamber LIVINGSTON, Feb. 8 Convicted of killing his cousin and his cousins fiancee, the death row inmate hoped recanted testimony and other new details would spur a review of his case. Cantu was executed on Feb. 28. Reporter William Melhado and photojournalist Maria Crane with the story. Ivan Cantu in prison at the Allan B. Polunsky Unit in Livingston on Jan. 31, 2024. Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune These three bandidas are changing the face of Texas barbecue LUBBOCK, Feb. 15 With menu items like birria brisket ramen, the Bar-B-Que Bandidas in Lubbock are challenging the norm of Texas barbecue and a male-dominated industry. Regional reporter Jayme Lozanos Carter reports. Justin Rex took the photos. Simone See seasons ribs before putting them on the smoker at Hill Barbecue in Lubbock on Feb. 9, 2024. Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune From left: Simone See, Jewel Hill and Raquel Lopez in the alley behind Hill Barbecue in Lubbock. Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune The Panhandle Wildfires TEXAS PANHANDLE, Feb. 26 In late February, wildfires swept across the Texas Panhandle in what became the largest such disaster in state history. Firefighters finally contained the largest, the Smokehouse Creek fire in Hutchinson County. That inferno and a series of other blazes killed at least two people as they burned more than 1 million acres across several counties. The Smokehouse Creek fire wasn't declared contained until March 16, almost three weeks after it started. Screenshots from the Texas A&M Forest Service of the fire in its early hours and a map of the fires raging in the Texas Panhandle taken at 8:44 A.M. on Feb. 29, 2024. Credit: Texas A&M Forest Service A home near Fritch was destroyed by fire on Feb. 29, 2024. Credit: Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribune Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MARCH Smoke hangs in the Canadian River Valley south of Stinnett after multiple days of wildfires on March 1, 2024. Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune A plane drops retardant on the Roughneck fire near Sanford on Sunday, March. 3, 2024. Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune Charred ground is all that's left on March 3 after the Smokehouse Creek fire burned through Currie Smiths ranch in Hemphill County. Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune Left: Cattle stand in the burn scar from the Smokehouse Creek fire on March 3 in Hemphill County. Right: A dead cow lays in a pasture burned by the Smokehouse Creek fire in Roberts County on March 3. Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the Hemphill County Extension building in Canadian, Martin Ocasio loads pallets of cattle cubes onto a trailer to be delivered to a rancher on March 3, 2024. Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune With Texas births rising post-Roe, disability advocates say child services need bolstering CENTRAL TEXAS, March 11 Texas fertility rose after new abortion restrictions, raising concerns that special education and specialized health care will be stretched even thinner. Neelam Bohra reports. Photos by Maria Crane. Debbie Wiederhold talks with her 31-year-old son Daniel at their home in Hutto on Feb. 29, 2024. Though Daniel was born with a rare brittle bone disorder, he lives an active life with support from state services. Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune Neglected and exposed: Toxic air lingers in a Texas Latino community, revealing failures in states air monitoring system CLOVERLEAF, March 14 Public data from a network of state air monitors around the Houston Ship Channel is hard to interpret and is often inadequate, leaving Latino-majority neighborhoods like Cloverleaf unaware of whether the air they breathe is safe. The story is from Alejandra Martinez and Wendy Selene Perez in English and Spanish. The photographers on the project were Go Nakamura and Danielle Villasana. Cristina Lazo starts the daily routine of washing her daughter Alinas hands, changing clothes and rubbing an ointment on her irritated eyes after coming home from outside. Lazo believes the fumes from the nearby industrial sector are contributing to her 7-year-old daughters symptoms. Credit: Danielle Villasana for The Texas Tribune Alina Lazo watches a video while her mother Cristina Lazo looks out her front door while talking on the phone at their home in Cloverleaf. Sometimes the wind brings smells like chemicals and you can see the dust in the house and in the cars, Lazo said. Credit: Danielle Villasana for The Texas Tribune Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of chemical plants, refineries and terminals line the ship channel as seen in Pasadena, less than 15 miles southeast of downtown Houston. According to a report by Amnesty International, people living near the Houston Ship Channel, often low-income communities of color, have lower life expectancies than those living in wealthier, mostly white neighborhoods further from the industrial area. Credit: Go Nakamura for The Texas Tribune Taking a cue from the pews, Texas churches expanding mental health services AUSTIN, March 28 Many Texas faith groups have offered counseling services in the past. But more of them are expanding their programs and partnering with providers to help meet the growing need here for mental health services. Stephen Simpson reports. Photos by Montinique Monroe. Photojournalists Evan L'Roy and Chris Stokes also contributed to the story. People attend praise and worship service at Rehoboth Baptist Church in Austin on March 24, 2024. The church has expanded its services to include mental health counselors as a resource for the congregation. Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune Church members attend worship service at Rehoboth Baptist Church in Austin on March 24, 2024. Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune APRIL Years ago, Texas hustled to get kids on state health care. Now its kicking them off. McKINNEY, April 2 Texas recent unwinding of Medicaid and CHIP has been criticized after more than 1 million people eligible for the health insurance programs were dropped. Decades ago, Texas officials got kids health insurance in record time. Story by Karen Harper, photos by Azul Sordo. August looks through the glass door of the birthday venue while cradling a balloon on Dec. 9, 2023. He had inoperable brain cancer and depended on Medicaid to pay for full-time home nursing care from a private agency to help his mother take care of him throughout years of health crises. Credit: Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribune Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement August opens his birthday presents while surrounded by friends, a few with similar diagnoses, on Dec. 9, 2023. It was his first birthday party August spent three of his five birthdays in the hospital. Credit: Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribune PHOTOS: Clouds break just in time for many in Texas to view eclipse April 9 In some parts of the state, the skies cleared enough for people to see the total solar eclipse. Left: The Austin skyline begins to light up as spectators watch the solar eclipse reach its totality in Zilker Park on April 8, 2024. Right: Attendees view the total solar eclipse at Cooper Lake State Park near Sulphur Springs. Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune, Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune An edited image showing the phases of the total solar eclipse from Cooper Lake State Park near Sulphur Springs on April 8, 2024. Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune Spectators in Llano and Boerne take in the total eclipse of the sun. The eclipse's path cut a diagonal across Texas from Red River County in the northeast to Maverick County southwest of San Antonio. Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune, Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Texas farmers are in peril as the Rio Grande Valley runs dry again April 18 With the hottest days still ahead, local leaders have declared emergencies. And farmers are lobbying for the U.S. government to pressure Mexico to release water. Regional reporter Berenice Garcia reported. Ben Lowy took the photos. Mike England walks across one of the fields on his farm near Mercedes on April 18, 2024. Credit: Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribune Texas politics leave transgender foster youth isolated during and after life in state care AUSTIN, April 23 Support once afforded LGBTQ+ foster kids has vanished and a culture of silence has blanketed the agency tasked with raising children growing up in the foster care system. See reporter William Melhado's and visual journalist Greta Diaz Gonzalez Vazquez' story here. Kayden Asher walks in a park near downtown Austin last year. Earlier this year, Asher moved in with his adoptive parents, whom he met while advocating for LGBTQ+ people at the Texas Capitol in 2021. He plans to stay with his family through his graduation in August. Credit: Greta Diaz Gonzalez Vazquez/The Texas Tribune Isabella Morningstar talks with Marcus Anthony, a case manager at Thrive Youth Center in San Antonio as he looks for an update on her new birth certificate. After she aged out of the foster care system in 2020, she had a difficult time updating her paperwork to reflect her legal name and gender marker. Credit: Greta Diaz Gonzalez Vazquez/The Texas Tribune University of Texas at Austin Protests AUSTIN, April 24 Demonstrations supporting Palestinians turned chaotic at the University of Texas at Austin in spring 2024 as protesters and students clashed with school officials and law enforcement. More than 100 people were arrested. Leaders accused demonstrators of trying to disrupt campus, while protesters criticized law enforcements use of force. More of our coverage from various reporters and photographers here. Pro-Palestinian supporters chant as law enforcement begins to remove demonstrators from an encampment on the UT-Austin campus on April 29, 2024. Credit: Julius Shieh for The Texas Tribune Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement disperses a crowd at a pro-Palestinian demonstration with flash bangs at the University of Texas Austin campus on April 29. Credit: Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribune MAY Mangroves, expanding with the warming climate, are re-shaping the Texas coast PORT ARANSAS, May 6 The tropical shrubs have been spreading north and growing more abundantly as climate change makes temperatures warmer. Scientists are unravelling what that means for coastal habitats. Story by Emily Foxhall, images by Angela Piazza. Victoria Congdon, a marine scientist with Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve, and Max Portmann, a doctorate student at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, talk about coastal ecology on April 18, 2024, in Port Aransas. Credit: Angela Piazza for The Texas Tribune Left: A young black mangrove grows with pickleweed, a succulent forb, near Oso Bay in Corpus Christi. Right: A whooping crane hunts in a salt marsh where a few mangrove trees dot the shoreline. Mangroves crowd out native plants, including Carolina wolfberry, a food source for the endangered cranes. Credit: Angela Piazza for The Texas Tribune The government wants to buy their flood-prone homes. But these Texans arent moving. HARRIS COUNTY, May 20 In Harris County, the flood control district wants to buy properties along the San Jacinto River that have flooded repeatedly. Some residents arent leaving. Reporter Emily Foxhall and photojournalist Danielle Villasana with more. Rodger Pace, left, and Veronika Scheid next to the tent where theyre currently living after flooding struck parts of Harris County. Scheid said that if the property owner took a buyout she would have nowhere to go. Credit: Danielle Villasana for The Texas Tribune At Texas GOP convention, Republicans call for spiritual warfare SAN ANTONIO, May 28 At the three-day convention, delegates moved the needle further to the right, preaching Christian nationalism and approving rules that would give them unprecedented control of elections. Robert Downen with the convention wrap-up, Tribune photographers Eddie Gaspar and Eli Hartman with the photos. Nancy Leclerc poses for a photo in front of a GOP elephant statue during the Texas GOP Convention on May 23, 2024 in San Antonio. Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune Conventioneers browse a Donald Trump-themed clothing stand at the Texas GOP Convention on May 23, 2024. Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune Attendees at the Texas GOP Convention in San Antonio on May 24, 2024. Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune JUNE How a chance meeting helped Texas become the nations top beekeeping state SAN ANTONIO, June 3 Twelve years after a state law gave tax breaks for keeping bees on at least five acres, people are still getting into the trade or throwing in the towel and hiring professionals to do it for them. Reporting by Emily Foxhall, photos by Jordan Vonderhaar. Students learn how to inspect a bee hive at entomologist Molly Kecks house during a beekeeping class in Boerne on May 10, 2024. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune A hive at Molly Kecks house during a beekeeping class in Boerne. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune First: Gary Barber transports hives under red lights that help calm the bees during the move. Beekeeper Kasey Needham prepares for deliveries that can last until nearly dawn. Last: Honey Bees Unlimited hives are delivered to a property in Pilot Point. Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune Unchecked growth around Big Bend sparks debate over water a prelude for Texas TERLINGUA, June 6 No one knows how much water sits beneath the desert of Terlingua. Residents worry their wells will run dry, as developers and local officials cheer the tourism boom. Regional reporter Carlos Nogueras Ramos and photojournalist Eli Hartman file from Far West Texas. Diners sit for an evening meal at the Starlight Theatre in Terlingua Ghost Town. Despite its name, the Ghost Town has become a commercial hub in the region, offering art galleries, live shows, multiple restaurants and apparel shops for tourists to enjoy. Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune Left: Bill Gilles, president of the Study Butte Water Supply Corporation in Terlingua, recalls an incident where one of the corporation's wells went offline and created an emergency in late 2023. Right: Thomas Skinner, co-owner of Skinners Drilling and Well Service, examines the type of rock his rig is excavating while drilling a water well outside of Alpine. Skinner, who also services the southern part of Brewster County, says new wells in that area can cost more than $30,000 and aren't always guaranteed to produce water. Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune JULY As the Rio Grande runs dry, South Texas cities look to alternatives for water EDINBURG, July 18 Many of the solutions are costly, putting them out of reach for small towns. But the region's most populous cities are getting innovative. Berenice Garcia and Eddie Gaspar report from the Valley. Jairo Benavides, center, removes soil as the crew works on upgrading pipes and valves at a North Alamo Water Supply Corporation water plant in Donna on July 18, 2024. In order to increase the amount of water the plant is able to distribute, pipes were upgraded and replaced. Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune GEORGETOWN and TAYLOR, July 20 After an assassination attempt against Donald Trump and growing divisions among national Democrats, Williamson County voters mulled the November election. James Barragan with the story, Eli Hartman with the photos. 2024 Texas Elections Left: Members of the Sun City Democrats meet to assemble Taylor Swift friendship bracelets in an effort to engage younger voters ahead of the upcoming elections on July 18, 2024, in Georgetown. Right: Annette Maruska, president of the East Williamson County Republicans, center, welcomes members to a July 18 meeting in Taylor. Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune Sun City, an age-restricted community, on July 18, 2024, in Georgetown, Williamson Countys seat. Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune San Antonio church leaders train to serve as mental health counselors SAN ANTONIO, July 22 Under a Harvard Medical School pilot program, church members and leaders will work as interns before counseling on their own, referring more serious cases to medical providers. Story by Stephen Simpson, photos by Olivia Anderson. The St. Dominic Catholic Church in San Antonio on July 16, 2024. The church is one of eight in the city integrating mental health resources into their available services. Credit: Olivia Anderson/The Texas Tribune AUGUST Texas overcrowded and understaffed jails send people awaiting trial to other counties and states TRINITY, SABINE AND HARRIS COUNTIES; August 13 Limits on who can be released without paying bail and difficulties hiring guards worsen the situation. Reporting by Pooja Salhotra, photos by Mark Felix and Hope Mora. Left: A room where the personal items of inmates are stored at the Harris County Joint Processing Center. Right: A sheriff's officer drops off his belongings outside of the Harris County Detention Center in Houston. Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune Sorcha Costigan holds up Jess Hamptons army jacket in the bedroom of her home on Aug. 10, 2024 in Rosevine. The goal is to get him out of jail, so he and I can both work on fighting this from the outside and get his name cleared, Costigan said. Credit: Hope Mora for The Texas Tribune Inmates rest on their bunks on June 4, 2024 in the Trinity County jail in Groveton. Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune When Texas jail standards push inmates to lockups in other states, oversight doesnt follow HOUSTON, August 14 Jaleen Andersons mom is on a quest for details about her sons death in a Louisiana prison that houses hundreds of Harris County inmates awaiting trial. Read Pooja's follow-up story, with photos from Danielle Villasana. Raven Hall, right, shows Aminah Anderson, 9, left, where Anderson's father's name will be engraved on May 13, 2024 at the Paradise Funeral Home and Cemetery North in Houston. Hall's brother and Anderon's father, Jaleen Anderson, died while being held in LaSalle Correctional Facility in Louisiana. Credit: Danielle Villasana for The Texas Tribune In a North Texas House race, two Asian candidates campaign on their version of the American Dream GARLAND, Aug. 20 A Texas House race in the Dallas suburbs features the first Asian to win Miss Texas and the second Asian woman to serve in the state Legislature. Issac Yu has the story; Desiree Rios took the photos. 2024 Texas Elections DFW Chinatown in Richardson on Aug. 19, 2024. The mall is in state House District 112, a largely suburban North Texas district where Democrat Averie Bishop is challenging Republican incumbent Angie Chen Button. Credit: Desiree Rios for The Texas Tribune Left: State Rep. Angie Chen Button, R-Richardson, (second from right) speaks to volunteers before they block walk at Big Springs Elementary School in Garland on Aug. 19, 2024. Right: Averie Bishop, the Democratic candidate for Texas House District 112 and former Miss Texas, puts on sunblock before block walking in Rowlett on Aug. 4, 2024. Credit: Desiree Rios for The Texas Tribune The oil industry is booming. This West Texas small business worries its been left behind. GOLDSMITH, Aug. 22 Before the pandemic, Ben Bilbrey worked with some of the largest oil companies. Now hes waiting for the phone to ring. Carlos Nogueras Ramos and Eli Hartman with a story from a small town in the Permian Basin. Benny Ford carries a damaged tube anchor catcher to his truck from a well site outside Goldsmith on Aug. 14, 2024. Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune Odessa is still healing five years after a mass shooting ODESSA, Aug. 29 Its like time passes, but it also freezes, said Rosie Granados, whose twin sister was killed during the shooting. Carlos Nogueras Ramos looks back. Callie Cummings provided the photos. The Bright Star Memorial on opening night in Odessa on Aug. 29, 2024. Credit: Callie Cummings for The Texas Tribune SEPTEMBER What Texas can learn from Italys big bet on tiny community health homes EMILIA-ROMAGNA, ITALY, Sept. 3 In Italy, as in Texas, funding hospitals over primary care leaves many feeling medically homeless. Italys post-COVID plans show another way. Eleanor Klibanoff reports from Italy, with photos by Margherita Mirabella. Cardiologist Paolo Pattoneri runs into several of his patients that see him at the community health clinic in San Secondo Parmense outside Parma, Italy. Credit: Margherita Mirabella for The Texas Tribune The entrance of Casa della Comunita di San Secondo Parmense outside Parma, Italy. Formerly a hospital, the building was converted in 2012 to become a community health home that provides a variety of health services to residents. Inside, a patient works through a session of physiotherapy. Credit: Margherita Mirabella for The Texas Tribune Many Americans say immigration is out of control, but 24 hours on the Texas-Mexico border showed a new reality. Will it last? TEXAS-MEXICO BORDER, Sept. 25 The Texas Tribune and The Associated Press visited five locations along the 1,254-mile span to separate the facts from the political narrative during a heated election year. A team of reporters and photographers from the Tribune and AP tell the story. Bernie Sanders tells Texas progressives to back Harris, says Allred win would make all the difference OCTOBER AUSTIN, Oct. 1 Joining Sanders as he campaigns up and down the Interstate 35 corridor are Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Greg Casar, and former El Paso congressman Beto ORourke. Jasper Scherer with the story; Lorianne Willett took the photos. 2024 Texas Elections From left, Beto ORourke, Lloyd Doggett, Greg Casar, Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speak at a rally organized by the University Democrats organization at the University of Texas at Austin on Oct. 1, 2024. Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune How a school voucher supporter won in a Texas House district with almost no private schools SPLENDORA, Oct. 2 Gov. Greg Abbott said the primary showed Texans want vouchers. In House District 18, an ad blitz and immigration fears may have played a larger role. Reporter Jaden Edison filed this story, with photos from Annie Mulligan. 2024 Texas Elections Cheer teams chant on beat during the "Meet the Wildcats" community event at Splendora High School on Aug. 16, 2024. Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune First: Attendees watch as students from different teams are introduced during the "Meet the Wildcats" community event at Splendora High School on Aug. 16, 2024, in Splendora. Next: Young participants show goats during a fundraising event for the FFA program. Last: Matilda Shaefer asks her mom Allyson to look over a class folder on their way to Timber Lakes Elementary School on Aug. 29, 2024, in Splendora. Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune Colin Allred, Ted Cruz blast each other as extreme, throw jabs on border and abortion in Senate debate DALLAS, Oct. 15 The debate proved combative from start to finish, with Cruz and Allred trading barbs on nearly every issue that came up. Political reporters Jasper Scherer and Renzo Downey reported, Tribune freelancer Shelby Tauber was the pool photographer. U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, left, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, take part in a debate for the U.S. Senate hosted by WFAA on Oct. 15, 2024, in Dallas. Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune via POOL Delta-8 hemp and Texas medical marijuana industries to face off in the upcoming legislative session AUSTIN, Oct. 23 Medical marijuana providers say they must operate under strict rules while hemp products like delta-8 can proliferate. Stephen Simpson reports, with photos from Lorianne Willett. Jason Sanders, director of cultivation at Texas Original medical marijuana dispensary, gives a tour of his facility on Sept. 26, 2024. Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune NOVEMBER Election Day Nov. 6 After a protracted series of pitched partisan battles over how elections should be conducted, a mostly quiet Election Day ensued in Texas. Donald Trump was reelected and state Republicans won handily down the ballot, showing strong gains in traditionally Democratic South Texas. The whole newsroom at the Tribune was on, and photographers fanned out across the state north to south, east to west, and many points in between. Read our extended coverage here. Ector County residents cast their vote at a polling location inside a Market Street grocery store on Election Day in Odessa. Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune Presiding election judge Dina Patel, center, gives final instructions to election workers before polls open on Election Day at Parker Elementary in Houston. Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) speaks at his election night watch party after losing the U.S. Senate seat to incumbent U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz at the Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas. Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune Ted Cruz celebrates on stage at his watch party on Nov. 5, 2024, in downtown Houston. Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune Voters wait in line to cast their ballots in the 2024 presidential election at the Esperanza Acosta Memorial Library in El Paso. Some voters waited in line for around two hours. Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune DECEMBER Texas farmers say sewage-based fertilizer tainted with forever chemicals poisoned their land and killed their livestock JOHNSON CO., SAN ANTONIO, FORT WORTH AND ARLINGTON; Dec. 2 The fertilizer was promoted as an environmental win-win for years. An untold number of farmers and ranchers across Texas have spread it on their land. Alejandra Martinez has the story. Photojournalists Azul Sordo, Erika Nina Suarez and Chris Stokes provided the images. Tony and Karen Coleman stand over a plot of land where they buried a deceased calf and bull on their property in Grandview on Aug. 5, 2024. Credit: Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribune The two most common ways to dry sewage sludge is through a belt press or drying beds. The belt presser is a mechanical device that sandwiches the sewage sludge between two tensioned belts. The sludge is passed over and under rollers, which squeezes out the water. Sand drying uses rectangular sand beds where sewage sludge is spread and left to dry using sunlight. Heat from the sun evaporates the moisture from the sludge. Once dried, it looks like a crumbly material. Credit: Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribune Tony Coleman pets "Tank," a bull they raised and bottle-fed as a calf on their property in Grandview on Aug. 5, 2024. Credit: Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribune Handshakes, murals and ministry: A reopened Texas prison focuses on rehabilitation BARTLETT, Dec. 2 The Bartlett Unit in Williamson County will house 1,049 male inmates who will participate in educational programs aimed to help them secure a job after theyve served their time. Pooja Salhotra reports; Lorianne Willett was the photographer. Men incarcerated at the Bartlett Innovation Unit sit in a dormitory-style room on Nov. 21, 2024. Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune As landowners resist, Texas border wall is fragmented and built in remote areas TEXAS-MEXICO BORDER, Dec. 19 At least one-third of landowners approached by state officials have refused to let wall be built on their properties. Thats forced the state to largely build on ranch land in remote areas, or erect sections that are full of gaps. Read the monthslong investigation from Zach Despart, data visual journalist Yuriko Schumacher, Uriel J. Garcia, and photographers Ben Lowy and Eli Hartman. Border wall construction near Del Rio in Val Verde County in September. Texas has allocated $3.1 billion for wall construction to date. It says it has built 50 miles. The state pays between $17 million and $41 million per mile of construction. Credit: Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribune Eduardo Riojas, 84 was shot by a stray bullet from Mexico in 2021 that went through the wall of his house, pierced his hand, and went through his hip as he was sleeping in bed. Credit: Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribune A man rides a horse next to border wall in Starr County. The Legislature prohibited the use of eminent domain for the wall in 2021, meaning the state cant seize land for the infrastructure project. But a bill for consideration in the new legislative session could change that. Credit: Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribune Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. Slowdowns in traffic have begun on Olympias east side as construction crews take on one of the citys largest and most complex road projects to date. Project Manager Jim Rioux said the Fones Road Corridor project is meant to create a safer street for more modes of transportation, in an area that sees about 16,000 vehicle trips a day. Rioux said right now bicycle and pedestrian access on Fones Road is really inadequate, and he believes the upcoming improvements will transform the road into one that works for everyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City spokesperson Carrie McCausland said the Fones Road Corridor project is one of the largest and most complex road projects ever taken on by the city, at an estimated construction cost of $24.5 million. According to the citys website, the city has received more than $11M in grants from funding partners at the Federal Highway Administration and the Transportation Improvement Board. Improvements include construction of a roundabout in front of the Home Depot on Fones Road, sidewalks, bike lanes, trail crossings and more. Rioux said crews are working on tree and vegetation removal now, but folks wont be seeing too much construction over the holiday season. Come the new year, people should expect slowdowns in traffic and temporary lane closures while crews are working. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The volumes on Fones Road are so high all the time that thats going to result in very quick backups, Rioux said. What were doing is limiting those lane closures to really just about five minutes, and then getting people moving again. He said this is what people are going to be experiencing for the duration of the project, which is scheduled to be complete in the summer of 2026. Rioux said there are a number of reasons Fones Road is such a high traffic area. He said the north end of the road carries a lot of traffic because two of the citys most important industrial facilities, Crown Beverage Packaging and Georgia-Pacific Corp., are located just south of the Woodland Trail, which is just south of where Fones Road meets Pacific Avenue. Pacific Avenue itself is a very busy corridor for the city, and a lot of traffic is directed onto Fones, because Fones becomes one of the better routes to travel from the Lacey area and the commercial district, along Pacific Avenue to east Olympia, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rioux said if youre trying to get from Yelm Highway into either downtown Olympia or Lacey, Fones Road becomes one of your best options under normal traffic conditions. He said industrial traffic, combined with commuters who live in the area and regional commuters, makes for a busy road. McCausland said there are 5,000 people who live within a half mile of Fones Road. And the 16,000 vehicle trips per day is expected to grow to 19,500 by 2040. Upcoming improvements Rioux said there are two major components to the project. The first one is at the north end, around the Woodland Trail. He said where the trail crosses Fones Road has become a source of significant safety concerns. He said crews will be improving that crossing by installing a raised pedestrian crossing, which will hopefully lead to slower traffic for people to cross. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rioux said there will also be a pedestrian refuge island in the middle of the roadway at that crossing. The other component is the roundabout in front of the south entrance of Home Depot. Called a compact roundabout, Rioux said it will have traffic calming influences. He said this project involves a lot of underground work as well. Crews will be improving the underground stormwater management system, the drinking water system and communications and power systems. There will also be sidewalks throughout the corridor, separated bike lanes, landscaping and new lighting. The citys project website includes an interactive map that shows what and where improvements will be made. A standout project Rioux said hes been involved in a number of roundabout projects, and this one really stands out. He said a lot of the complexity is related to trying to accomplish the project while maintaining normal function of the road so businesses in the area are still accessible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another prong of the complexity is all the underground systems below Fones Road. Rioux said the road is a great corridor for underground utilities and water. So underneath that road, I guess the best way to say it is theres just a lot of pipe carrying water and a lot of cables carrying communication and power, he said. Theres also a significant gas main that runs down the road. So all of this adds to the complexity of getting this all done within a reasonable time frame and cost. He said the addition of separated bike lanes is a first for the city. Instead of the normal painted strip on pavement, bike lanes will be separated from the road by a planter strip and a curb. Crash kills pedestrian, closes Fones road Tuesday morning Coroner IDs 2 pedestrians who died in fatal crashes this week Russia continues to import foreign-made aircraft in violation of US and EU sanctions. At least 28 aircraft have entered Russia from abroad, including both small aircraft and large passenger liners, since the beginning of 2024. Source: The Moscow Times, citing Russian opposition publication Verstka, which accessed confidential customs data The majority of aircraft banned from being sold to Russia were imported via Turkiye (11 times), with three aircraft coming through Oman, two through the United Arab Emirates, and two through Germany. Other intermediary countries listed in Russian customs records included Serbia, Sweden, Kazakhstan, China, and Mongolia. Ireland, Cyprus, and Kyrgyzstan were mentioned only by code in the customs declarations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the 28 aircraft, several were passenger planes, including Bombardier, Airbus, ATR 42-500, and Hawker 800 XP. One of the Bombardier aircraft, valued at approximately US$45.5 million, was imported under the name of Denis Krasnopolskyi, the CEO of the JSC Inpromaktiv, which specializes in aircraft manufacturing. Additionally, Bombardier aircraft, valued between US$24.5 million and US$32.8 million, were imported by the UAE-based airline Meridian. These planes are used for passenger flights between Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Tehran, Baku, Astana, and other cities. Another Bombardier, valued at approximately 16 million, was delivered to the Kyrgyz airline Skylight from Bishkek. It currently operates flights to China, Turkiye, Dubai, and the Maldives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A French Airbus A319-111, worth around US$35 million, was purchased by the Russian airline Aurora via Lithuania and now operates flights in Russia's Far East. Additionally, a Boeing 737-800 was acquired by the Yakutian airline Alrosa for flights to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Blagoveshchensk. Customs documents indicate that nine aircraft were imported by Modern Technologies, a company founded by 52-year-old businessman Yevgeny Kabanov. He is also the founder of the Turkish company Edermont LTD and the Kyrgyz company Edermont Pamir, through which planes are being supplied to Russia. Kabanov's companies facilitated the import of Cessna aircraft, Aero Commander 680V planes intended for civilian use, and an American Piper PA-28RT-201T. Additionally, Kabanov's associated company openly promoted the import of planes in violation of sanctions. Kabanov suggests two options for transporting the aircraft. The first is to fly it independently or hire a pilot. In this case, the plane is flown to a base where it undergoes Russian registration and receives a certificate of airworthiness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second option involves transporting the aircraft by land or sea. In this case, Kabanov explains, the plane must be disassembled, loaded into a container, and shipped to an intermediate destination. After customs clearance, the aircraft is transported to its final destination, where it undergoes customs procedures once again. Once at the base, the plane must be reassembled, test-flown, and obtain the necessary documentation. Background: Since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, Russia's aviation industry has managed to produce only seven aircraft suitable for civilian use the SuperJet 100. Support UP or become our patron! WARNING: This article contains mentions of death, bodily harm, and murder. Please proceed with caution. As your friendly neighborhood enjoyer of all things spooky and unexplainable, it's no surprise I've covered a ton of true crime cases and other unsolved mysteries in 2024. Now that the year is coming to a close, I decided to round up 28 of the most unforgettable ones I researched and shared with you all this year: Did you learn about a true crime case or unsolved mystery this year that you can't get out of your head? If so, share it with us in the comments below! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1.The "coincidental" murders of Mary Ashford and Barbara Forrest. Both women were 20 years old, killed on the same day (May 27), and found in Pype Hayes Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Both of their bodies were found in ditches and showed signs of rape. Mary and Barbara both had gone out dancing the night they were murdered, and the main suspects of both their cases had the last name "Thornton." Both suspects went to trial and were found not guilty due to lack of evidence. Both women even expressed having senses of dread leading up to their deaths, confiding in friends and explaining they felt something bad was going to happen. The only difference, though, was that their murders occurred 157 years apart. Mary's death was in 1817, and Barbara's was in 1974. Their cases are eerily similar. You can read more about them here. Mirrorpix / Getty Images 2.The Circleville Letters. From the late '70s to the mid-'90s, residents of the town of Circleville, Ohio were plagued by mysterious, anonymous letters. The author of these handwritten letters accused the people of infidelity, domestic violence, embezzlement, and murder. For instance, the author accused a local school bus driver, Mary Gillispie, of having an affair with the school's superintendent, Gordon Massie. Mary and her husband received many threatening letters about it. In August of '77, her husband supposedly got a call from the writer and that same day was suspiciously killed when his car ran into a tree. The author struck again a few months later when Mary saw "an obscene sign about her 13-year-old child." She noticed a box attached to the sign when she tried tearing it down, which she later learned housed a booby-trapped gun ready to go off. The gun belonged to Paul Freshour Mary's brother-in-law. Paul was tried and convicted for attempted murder. He was in prison for ten years specifically without being allowed pens or paper and, yet, the letters kept coming. They finally stopped in 1994, when Paul was released. The author is still unknown. You can read more about the case here. Erkki Makkonen / Getty Images 3.The disappearance of an extra from Scarface. There's a scene in the movie where Tony and others are upstairs in an apartment while Manny is supposed to keep watch from his car. Manny gets distracted by a blonde girl in a bikini and starts hitting on her. That blonde girl was Tami Lynn Leppert. Tami was a Florida beauty queen and model who, near the time of shooting the movie, went to a party one night and came back as a completely different person. It was like she changed overnight. She became paranoid, began isolating herself, and was convinced someone was trying to kill her. On the fourth day of filming, a character in the movie was shot, and she saw the blood packet get activated. She had a breakdown on set and began to hysterically cry. Tami eventually quit the film, and went back home. According to Unsolved Mysteries, her mother claimed there were good and bad days with Tami, but eventually, she snapped and began smashing the windows in their home and attacking family members, fearing they were trying to poison her. Tami went in for a psych eval and showed no signs of drug or alcohol use. The following day, she and her friend went for a drive to the beach, and Tami never came home. The friend told the police they'd gotten into an argument, and Tami wanted to get out of the car, and he let her. She was left near Cocoa Beach, five miles from her home, with no shoes and her purse. She was never seen again. Universal Pictures 4.The mysterious green children of Woolpit. The legend is that two children with green skin reportedly appeared in the village of Woolpit in Suffolk, England, around 1150. The brother and sister duo spoke in an unknown language and refused to eat anything but raw fava beans. They were taken to the home of a man named Richard de Calne, who, over time, slowly got them to consume other foods and learn to speak English. Eventually, their skin lost its green color. When asked where they came from, they claimed to be from "the land of St. Martin," where the sun doesn't rise. They didn't know how they got to Woolpit but recalled that "on a certain day, when we were feeding our father's flocks in the fields, we heard a great sound, such as we are now accustomed to hear at St. Edmund's, when the bells are chiming; and whilst listening to the sound in admiration, we became on a sudden, as it were, entranced, and found ourselves among you in the fields where you were reaping." The children were then baptized, and the boy died shortly after due to an unknown illness. The girl stayed with Richard. You can read more about them here. Andrew Howe / Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 5.The vanishing of Mary, Fannie, and Jessie Stuart. On December 10, 1978, Mary Stuart and her two daughters, Fannie and Jessie, left their home in Honeydew, California, for a day of errands specifically, grocery shopping, to get their TV repaired, and the optometrist. The three did not make it home that night, so one of Mary's friends reported them missing. Police checked with local optometrists and TV repair places, asking if they'd seen the Stuart girls, but none had. Almost a month later, their car was found on an old logging road just a few miles from their home. Detectives found their bags of groceries and a now-repaired TV inside and noticed the car's gas line was broken. There was no sign of the family, nor were there indications of foul play. The prime suspect in the case was Byron McGray Stuart Mary's husband and the girls' father. He had a history of violence and aggression, but police did not have enough evidence to tie the case to him. While it was reopened in 2009, the case remains unsolved, and Mary, Fannie, and Jessie have never been found. You can read more about it here. Pong6400 / Getty Images/iStockphoto 6.The Great Kentucky Meat Shower, or the "Kentucky Shower of Flesh." On the third of March in 1876, large chunks of fresh meat most of which were about 5x5 cm rained down from the sky in Olympia Springs, Kentucky, "like large snowflakes." It was not actually raining, though in fact, the sky was crystal clear, minus the chunks of flesh falling from it. Two local men tasted the strange meat and believed it was either venison or mutton. Later, two histologists analyzed the meat and determined it (or at least, the pieces they had access to) was made up of lung tissue, muscular tissue, and cartilage. What exactly happened in Kentucky that day remains a mystery, though there have been several hypotheses. One of which is that the "meat" was actually nostoc, which is a gelatinous bacteria also known as "witch's butter" or "star-slubber" that swells and floats when it rains. As previously stated, it was a perfectly clear day when the meat rained down, so most aren't too convinced about the supposed explanation. Other theories range from it being projectile vulture vomit or alien flesh from a UFO explosion in space. You can read more about it here. Parth Rasse / Getty Images/iStockphoto 7.The disappearance of Branson Perry. In April of 2001, 20-year-old Branson was at his home in Skidmore, Missouri, with a family friend. Branson's dad had been in the hospital, so the two were getting the house ready for his return. Branson went to the shed near his family's home to put a pair of jumper cables back...and simply never returned. He left all his belongings including his car behind. One officer on the case suspects Branson's disappearance may have been a drug-related kidnapping. In 2012, his stepfather purchased him a burial plot. While his name is on the headstone, the plot remains empty. You can read more about his case here. Machine Headz / Getty Images/iStockphoto 8.The "Lost Girls" of Panama. In April of 2014, two Dutch women Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon were hiking the "El Pianista" trail near Boquete, Panama. They were in the region to volunteer at a local school and learn Spanish. They were informed that their assistance wasn't needed for another week, so they decided to explore the area in the meantime. Unfortunately, neither Kris nor Lisanne ever returned from that hike. Search parties were sent out but came back empty-handed. Two months later, Lisanne's left foot which had been detached at the ankle was found in her hiking boot. Kris's pelvis was also discovered, split in two. Later, locals found Lisanne's backpack, which held their bras, phones, $87 in cash, and a Canon Powershot camera. The camera had dozens of strange photos on it, most of which were taken at night, dated a week after the women initially disappeared. Not much is known about what happened to Lisanne and Kris. According to police, the duo asked an innkeeper for directions before their hike and later that day asked for assistance returning to town. It was the last time they were seen. You can read more about them here. Rodrigo Arangua / AFP via Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 9.The lost nuclear bomb off the coast of Tybee Island, Georgia. In 1958, a fighter jet and a B-47 bomber had a mid-air collision during a training exercise, resulting in the pilot dropping the bomb into the water to prevent it from going off if the plane crash landed. The bomb wasn't found during their search, but the government claimed it "didn't pose a threat unless it was disturbed." However, in 1994, a declassified document suggested otherwise. It revealed that the bomb did contain a nuclear capsule and, according to Savannah Morning News, "the resulting explosion would include a fireball with a radius of over a mile and thermal radiation for up to 10 times that distance." The bomb still hasn't been located to this day. You can read more about it here. Jeff Schreier / Getty Images/iStockphoto 10.The 169th victim of the Oklahoma City bombing. In the late 1990s, an additional leg was found in the rubble. DNA tests showed it belonged to another victim who had already been buried, but seemingly with the wrong left leg. Testimony reports from the trials claim that it wasn't possible to obtain DNA from the leg at the time, according to Fox 25, but it turns out that the state did have a DNA profile of it after all. The sample was compared to that of 10 known victims, but didn't match any of them. So, who did this leg belong to? All other legs had been accounted for in other victims. They found no other body parts, and nobody else had been reported missing. In 2015, they were finally able to get DNA from the leg, but who it belongs to is still unknown to us. A few conspiracy theories have popped up, like maybe it was a second bomber that got caught in the blast, but it's still unknown. You can read more about the 169th victim here. Gregory Smith / Corbis via Getty Images 11.Tim Molnars disappearance and death. One day in 1984, he left home to go to class. He was never seen by his family again. According to an episode of Unsolved Mysteries, the night after he vanished, the family received a silent phone call. They believed Tim may have run away to start a new life and wanted to call them, but he got nervous and hung up. Two weeks later, the family's credit card was used at a gas station in Lake City, Florida, and witnesses claimed Tim was traveling alone. Months later, his car was found in a parking lot in Atlanta, Georgia, where it'd been abandoned. The lot was near a Greyhound bus station, and the car had reportedly been left there six days after he left. He'd nearly drained his bank account, took the valuable items out of his car, and left behind his wallet, license, and credit cards. Here's a plot twist: In early 1996, a Wisconsin man was watching Tim's episode of Unsolved Mysteries on TV. According to the Wisconsin State Journal, he'd found a body in a secluded wood lot, frozen in a block of ice with a ring of keys. Tim drove a 1969 Dodge Dart, and Dodge car keys had been found with the body. Helen Tim's mom still had the same locks on the doors of her home, so she mailed the man a copy of her house key to match it with the one found with the body. It was a match. DNA tests confirmed it was Tim. Unsolved Mysteries / Via youtube.com 12.The disappearance of Asha Degree. On Valentine's day in 2000, she walked out of her home in the middle of the night. She was only 9 years old. According to the FBI, there were no signs of forced entry or indications of where she went. Asha was sighted multiple times walking down an extremely rural and desolate highway by herself including by one truck driver at 4 a.m. in the middle of a storm. She ran into the woods after being spotted and was never seen again. Candy wrappers and a hair bow in a nearby shed hinted that she'd perhaps taken shelter there. 18 months later, Asha's book bag was discovered 26 miles away, wrapped in a trash bags. You can read more about Asha's case here. Elva Etienne / Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 13.The Tunguska Mystery. At a little after 7 in the morning on June 30, 1908, residents near the Podkamennaya Tunguska river in rural Romania reported seeing a smoking fireball in the sky, an incredibly bright flash of light, a loud boom, and felt themselves being blown into the air. Some reported going unconscious and that their homes were destroyed. Trees in the area were flattened and burned. According to Scientific American, other parts of the world experienced huge silver clouds, spectacularly colored sunsets, and bright skies even in the dead of night. Expeditions did not make it to the region until 1927 due to a variety of factors, including the area being difficult to get to, WWI, and the Russian Revolution. When they finally did, they did not find the source of the explosion. There was no impact site, no bolide, nothing. Just the destruction it left behind. Today, most scientists believe it was an asteroid or comet gunning for Earth that was vaporized in the mid-air explosion, explaining the lack of evidence found in the area. Later expeditions found microscopic particles that were definitely from somewhere in space, though scientists couldn't determine what exactly they'd come from. Others, however, believe perhaps there's a more paranormal explanation for the blast, like aliens. You can read more about the Tunguska Event here. Photo 12 / Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Universal History Archive / Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Bettmann / Bettmann Archive 14.The whereabouts of Byron Preiss's treasure. In 1982, Bryson Preiss published The Secret (treasure hunt), a fantasy book about "the Fair People," which were creatures like dragons, fairies, goblins, and the like who fled the "Old World" for the human world and brought heaps of treasure with them. In the book, Byron invites readers to find the 12 lost treasures of the Fair People, which he actually hid across North America. Through a series of 12 paintings, verses, and riddles, Byron and his team hint at the locations of 12 ceramic casques containing keys. Upon the discovery and redemption of a key, the winners get their cut of $10,000 worth of jewels (in 1982 dollars which, today, would be worth about $31,960.31). Since its publication, only three of the twelve treasures have been found one in Chicago in 1984, one in Cleveland in 2004, and one in Boston in 2019. According to the clues, the others are believed to be buried in New Orleans, New York City, San Francisco, Houston, Roanoke, Charleston, St. Augustine, and Montreal. You can learn more about the treasure hunt (and find the book for yourself) here. Boston Globe / Boston Globe via Getty Images 15.The peculiar case of Pauline Piccard. In April of 1922, in the small French village of Goas Al Ludu, a young girl went missing from her parent's farm. Searching had proved to be futile, and eventually, the family assumed she'd been kidnapped. That was until a young girl matching Pauline's description was found wandering in Cherbourg, 400 kilometers away. The family travelled there, identified the girl as Pauline, and brought her back home with them. The strange thing, though, was that the girl didn't seem to recognize the parents. When spoken to in Breton, which Pauline knew and spoke, she remained silent. Some of these questions, however, were answered about a month later. According to a 1922 publication by the New York Times, a farmer about a mile out from the family's town found the body of a small, naked girl with her clothes folded neatly nearby. The body was unrecognizable, but the mother noticed the clothes were those Pauline wore on the day she disappeared. Nonetheless, the discovery incited more questions than it answered. What happened to Pauline? Who killed her? And finally, who was the girl they brought home? You can read about her case here. Motortion / Getty Images/iStockphoto 16.The Setagaya Family Murders. On December 30, 2000, two kids and their parents were murdered in their home in Setagaya, Tokyo. The children's grandmother, Haruko, lived next door, and went to check on them as they hadn't answered her calls. She found all four members of the Miyazawa family dead, the son having been strangled and the others stabbed. The creepiest part, though, is that the killer stayed in the family's home for hours after killing them. According to ABC Australia, "He left his DNA everywhere. He left clothes at the scene. He left the murder weapon. He used the victims' computer. He ate at least four ice creams from their freezer." Over 250,000 investigators have worked on this case, but it still remains unsolved over 20 years later. You can read more about the case here . Pm Images / Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 17.The Voynich manuscript. The manuscript which lives in the rare book library at Yale was written in the 15th or 16th century in Central Europe. It's written in an undecipherable script and assumed to be scientific or magical in nature. According to Yale, the manuscript seemingly consists of six sections: unidentifiable plant species, astronomical and astrological drawings, biology (which consists mostly of women with swollen stomachs "immersed or wading in fluids and oddly interacting with interconnecting tubes and capsules"), nine cosmological medallions, drawing of medicinal herbs, and long pages of text, thought to be recipes. While it is possible the manuscript is a hoax, it would be a rather elaborate one, as it was believed to have had two to eight writers and taken years to complete. Though the manuscript has been handed down from many owners including Emperor Rudolph II of Germany the puzzle of what exactly it is or what it's saying has yet to be cracked. Universal History Archive / Contributor / Getty Images 18.The disappearance of Jodi Huisentruit. Jodi was a morning news anchor at KIMT-TV a news station in Mason City, Iowa. On the morning of June 27, 1995, Jodi didn't show up to work. A producer called her, and, frazzled, she said she'd overslept and would be in ASAP. The producer called again later, but she didn't pick up the phone or show up to work that day. So, they called the police for a welfare check. They found a bottle of hairspray, a pair of red shoes, and a blow dryer next to Jodi's red Mazda Miata. There were signs of a struggle at the scene, including a bent car key and handprints on the car. In an unexpected twist, private investigator Steve Ridge later revealed that the red Mazda wasn't even Jodi's car. She'd planned to buy it but hadn't actually paid for it prior to her disappearance. Jodi's mother purchased the car after her death. Neither Jodi nor a suspect was ever found, and to this day, we still do not know what exactly happened that morning. With Jodi being well-known to the public, though, her case quickly became the topic of many rumors. One particularly popular one revolves around a budding romance of Jodi's prior to her disappearance. The relationship was allegedly very new so much so that her friends and family didn't know about it yet. While Ridge doesn't believe the man she was seeing was involved in her disappearance, he did think it was possible that a frequent viewer or admirer found out about him (or simply that she was dating) and grew jealous, potentially giving them a motive for an abduction. You can read more about her case here and here. Steve Kagan / Getty Images 19.The Max Headroom signal hijacking. On November 22, 1987, the Nine O'Clock News was being televised as usual on Channel 9, until the signal cut out without warning. It was hijacked by a person in a suit and smiling rubber mask inspired by the character Max Headroom jumping around to the sound of static. It lasted for about 30 seconds before the studio was able to regain control of the broadcast. But, Max wasn't done. Two hours later on a completely different channel Max returned. Unlike the previous one, this broadcast lasted for a minute and 20 seconds, and included audio. Speaking in "a voice that sound[ed] like a cartoon villain," Max called out the sports broadcaster he'd previously interrupted, and made various TV references while flailing and throwing a rubber penis. It all ended with Max bent over and a mostly-off-camera woman spanking his bare butt with a fly swatter. Then, it returned to the episode of Dr. Who that was airing, as though nothing had happened. Though the FBI and FCC were on the hunt, the culprit has never been found. You can read more about it here. WTTW / Via youtube.com 20.The Taos "hum." In Taos, New Mexico, some residents report hearing an inexplicable low-frequency humming noise, which they describe as sounding like a swarm of bees or the humming of a truck. The noise, which has been reported since 1993, is usually heard when the surrounding atmosphere is quiet and still. Hearing an unexplainable noise like this isn't a unique occurrence it's been the complaint of residents in several cities across the globe. How Taos differs, however, is that nobody has figured out where the sound is coming from. In the '90s, an engineering professor at the University of New Mexico did a study and found that only 2% of Taos residents heard the hum. They set up equipment in their homes, hoping to record vibrational, electromagnetic, and auditory data, but they found nothing. The Air Force's local laboratory did their own research and also came up empty. Possible explanations for the humming noise vary, ranging from the psychological to the paranormal. Everything from mass tinnitus, to underground UFO bases, to government mind control experiments have been thrown around. Some particularly spiritual residents feel as though the hum is pulling them in, making them feel ~one~ with the land and nearby Sangre de Cristo mountains. Others believe that because such a small portion of the population hears it, it's meant to drive them out of the town. The less spiritual believe that the sound is simply people looking for something where there is nothing, their minds filling the space because they are expecting to hear something. You can read more about the hum here. Mona Makela Photography / Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 21.The disappearance of Tiffany Sessions. On February 9, 1989, 20-year-old Tiffany left her home in Gainesville, Florida, at 6 p.m. to take a walk. She was never seen or heard from again. Thirty-five years later, neither Tiffany nor her remains have been found. It's suspected that Paul Rowles a convicted rapist and murderer may be responsible. In 2013, a detective received a box of Paul's personal belongings, including a black notebook. In it were references to Linda Frida and Elizabeth Foster two women whose murders he was linked to. The notebook also had a page with the date "2/9/89" and the number 2 written on both sides, which some believe ties him to Tiffany's case, as that was the day she went missing, and the number two could imply she was his second victim. Unfortunately, detectives didn't link Paul to the case until after his death in 2013. You can read more about her case here. Erdark / Getty Images 22.The "Bloody Benders" of Labette County, Kansas. They were believed to be one of the first serial killer families in America. In the 1870s, the family of four ran a one-room inn and sold supplies in a small town in Kansas. People began to go missing, but nothing was formally looked into until the brother of an up-and-coming politician, Alexander York, disappeared. In the search for his brother, York interviewed the Benders and called them "odd and hostile," but didn't outright accuse them. Instead, he decided to search every home in the town so as not to alert them. The details after this become a bit fuzzy. After speaking to York, one source said the Bender family fled from their homes, knowing they would soon be caught for their crimes. Another source claimed they seemingly abandoned their homes out of nowhere, and townspeople searched it believing they'd become the latest victims. Either way, the townspeople certainly weren't expecting what they found in the cabin. There was a trap door in the floor, which led to the blood-soaked floor of the cellar. Between the cellar, their well, and a nearby orchard field, eleven bodies in total were found, all with their skulls smashed in. People reported seeing the parents flee to Missouri and the kids to Texas via trains, and locals occasionally reported their whereabouts, the family was never formally caught or tried. You can read more about them here. Benoitb / Getty Images 23."The perplexing Yonaguni Monument. Located off the coast of the Ryukyu Islands in Japan is a series of rectangular rock formations that make up these strange, pyramid-like structures 25 meters underwater. It's about 50 meters by 20 meters in total and kind of looks like giant, carved steps. At first glance, it certainly seems man-made, so it makes sense that people have dubbed it "Japan's Atlantis." According to scientists, the "monument" is estimated to be over 10,000 years old. Now, the mystery lies in who or what exactly created it. Some believe that the perfect, shelf-like structures were crafted by nature, gradually building up over time and aided by the region's frequent earthquakes. People in this school of thought often cite the Giant's Causeway in Ireland as their "proof" a similar, naturally-formed structure. Others, however, believe that the monument's perfect 90 angles could only be manmade, perhaps by prehistoric civilization likely the Jomon people who could have inhabited the area as far back as 12,000 BC. You can read more about the monument here and watch a video of if up-close right here. Jason Edwards / Getty Images / Via youtu.be 24.The Rectangle Galaxy. If you've ever seen an image of a galaxy in space, odds are you've seen something that either looks like a disk or some kind of blob. Well, astronomers from Australia's Swinburne University of Technology discovered a galaxy that doesn't quite fit the mold of what we're used to seeing. That galaxy is LEDA 074886, or the "emerald-cut galaxy." Scientists aren't yet sure what precisely made this rectangular (or diamond-shaped, depending on how you look at it) galaxy look the way it does, but leading theories are around two disk galaxies colliding, or some gravitational-tidal interaction. According to Dr. Alister Graham at the university, "Its one of those things that just makes you smile because it shouldnt exist, or rather you dont expect it to exist." You can read more about it here and see it for yourself here. Heritage Images / Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 25. Who blew up the Georgia Guide Stones. The monument was made up of four 16-foot high panels that acted as a sundial, an astronomical calendar, and were inscribed with "guidance for living in an age of reason" in eight different languages. There's a lot of mystery surrounding the stones, including why they're there and who is behind them. The Guide Stones were erected in 1980, though the person or people who commissioned them remained anonymous, simply using the pseudonym R.C. Christian. Both the messages on it and the monument itself were very controversial some considered it to be satanic, while others jokingly called it "America's Stonehenge." On July 7, 2022, it was mysterious blown up in the early hours of the morning. Despite security footage, the culprit is unknown. (1/4) The GBI is releasing additional surveillance video that shows an unknown person leaving an explosive device at the Georgia Guidestones. The video is unclear, but agents are still actively working to identify the person leaving the scene after the explosion. pic.twitter.com/WK61R7MKrs GA Bureau of Investigation (@GBI_GA) July 7, 2022 Twitter: @GBI_GA You can read more about it here. 26.On December 5, 1872, a ship called the Mary Celeste was found empty and drifting in the Atlantic. It had set sail from New York City eight days prior and was headed to Genoa, Italy, but was found 400 miles east of the Azores. The ship's cargo was still intact, the crew's belongings were still in their rooms, and six months of food still on board, according to Smithsonian Mag. While there was three and a half feet of water in the ship's bottom, it was still seaworthy. The only thing missing was a lifeboat, which it appeared had been boarded in an orderly fashion. No one knows what happened to the crew or why they left the ship. You can read more about the Mary Celeste here. Hulton Archive / Stringer / Keystone / Stringer / Getty Images 27.The mystery of the Phaistos Disc. In 1908, the disc was discovered inside the Minoan Palace of Phaistos in Crete, Greece. On it are various pictograms featuring images of everything from people and plants to a bell and a cat's head. The images are arranged into 61 total "groups," separated by lines drawn between the images. Many assume these groups are intended to represent words. The disc has long been a particularly fascinating mystery, as no one has been able to decipher what it says, let alone what its purpose was. Loads of theories have been floated, ranging from it being a prayer to a curse. According to Discovery UK, it's additionally been theorized to be all of the following things: a board game, a prayer to the Minoan earth goddess Aphaia, a nursery rhyme, a magical spell, a poem, a hymn, a healing ritual, and a list of religious centers. You can read more about it here. Dea / De Agostini via Getty Images 28.The disappearance of Brandon Swanson. On May 14, 2008, Brandon was driving home from a party and drove into a ditch. He called his parents asking for help, and they set out in their pickup truck to find him. According to Brandon's dad, Brandon was sure he knew where he was. When they got there, he was nowhere to be seen. Eventually, they all got frustrated, and Brandon decided to walk back to his friend's place. Brian dropped his wife off at home and went back out to look for his son. He stayed on the phone with Brandon, who was trying to direct his father to where he was walking. Eventually, Brandon told Brian to meet him at a nightclub parking lot. Suddenly, Brandon yelled, "Oh shit!" and the line went dead. They never heard from him again. You can read more about the case here. Stephanhoerold / Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is there a true crime case or unsolved mystery you learned about this year that you can't stop thinking about? If so, please share it with us in the comments! A month after a woman was caught stowing away on a Delta Air Lines flight headed to France, ABC News has confirmed another unticketed individual was caught on a flight headed to Hawaii, this time on Christmas Eve. The recent stowaway was apprehended after boarding a flight from Seattle to Honolulu on Dec. 24, according to the airline. Delta flight 487 was taxiing for departure when it returned to the gate after the crew learned of an unticketed passenger onboard. The identity of the individual has not been released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Stowaway arrested by FBI after returning to US from France: Official "As there are no matters more important than safety and security, Delta people followed procedures to have an unticketed passenger removed from the flight and then apprehended," Delta said in a statement to ABC News. The flight was delayed more than two hours as TSA conducted additional security checks and rescreened all passengers, according to the airline. PHOTO: A Delta Air Lines aircraft lands at Miami International Airport. (Carlos Yudica/Adobe Stock) Law enforcement responded to SeattleTacoma International Airport and detained the unticketed passenger. According to the airport officials, the stowaway exited the plane after it returned to the gate, and the Port of Seattle Police located them in a terminal restroom with the help of video surveillance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The passenger was arrested for trespassing and booked into South Correctional Entity jail, according to Seattle Tacoma International Airport authorities. In their investigation, airport authorities found that the stowaway had gotten through a TSA security checkpoint the evening before the flight without a boarding pass but was properly screened otherwise. In a statement to ABC News, TSA also said the individual had gone through the standard screening and "did not possess any prohibited items" but that they had bypassed the identity verification and boarding status stations and boarded the plane without a boarding pass. The agency said it "takes any incidents that occur at any of our checkpoints nationwide seriously. TSA will independently review the circumstances of this incident at our travel document checker station at Seattle/Tacoma International." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TSA said it is working with the Port of Seattle Police on this incident. Additionally, Delta said the investigation is ongoing, but preliminary findings suggest the passenger boarded the plane without showing a boarding pass at the gate. News of the second Delta Air Lines stowaway comes after Svetlana Dali, a Russian national, was caught stowing away on a Delta Air Lines flight from the United States to France in November. PHOTO: Booking photo for Svetlana Dali who was arrested for the second time this month on Dec. 16. 2024, after she cut off her ankle monitor and tried to sneak into Canada, Dec. 15, 2024, law enforcement sources told ABC News. (Niagara County Sheriff's Office) Dali had snuck aboard Delta Flight 264, which departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and was bound for Charles-de-Gaulle International Airport in Paris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a statement from the French Interior Ministry at the time, "She was not admitted to French territory due to lack of a valid travel document (visa) and was placed in the waiting area for the time necessary for her re-routing to the United States since she held a valid US residence permit." MORE: Svetlana Dali, the Delta Air Lines stowaway, arrested again trying to flee US Just over a week later, Dali was arrested again on Dec. 4 after cutting off her ankle monitor and trying to sneak into Canada, law enforcement sources told ABC News at the time. The person she was staying with in Philadelphia discovered the bracelet cut and alerted authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dali was apprehended in Buffalo, New York, while aboard a Greyhound bus trying to cross into Canada. ABC News' Aaron Katersky contributed to this report. Unticketed passenger caught on Delta Air Lines flight on Christmas Eve originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Gunfire at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Christmas night left three people wounded, police say. Another person was stabbed. One was in critical condition. Then there was a second incident involving firearms, authorities said. According to police, officers responded to reports of gunfire at about 9:45 p.m. local time at a restaurant in Terminal 4 outside a security checkpoint and found a woman and two men suffering from gunshot wounds. All were hospitalized. The woman's condition was listed as life-threatening. The men were in stable condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers then detained a man and juvenile female in a parking garage. He was taken to a hospital with at least one stab wound and was listed in stable condition. There was no initial indication that she was wounded. Police say early information was that the people involved all knew each other and were "engaged in a physical altercation that escalated" when one produced a gun. It wasn't clear which one. No one else at the airport was hurt, police said. The security checkpoint was temporarily closed and Sky Train operations were paused as a precaution but, police said, "The incident has been resolved, and operations have returned to normal." Later, police said, a man got a text about a possible active shooter at the airport, showed up with firearms and got into "an altercation" with an officer. He was detained and booked on several charges. Police say the two incidents were unrelated. FDA issues highest-level recall for Costco eggs over salmonella risk Passenger airliner crashes in Kazakhstan Popular cat food recalled after death linked to bird flu WAKEFIELD, N.H. (WPRI) First responders are reminding everyone to make sure their carbon monoxide detectors are working properly after four New Hampshire residents were discovered dead inside their home on Christmas Day. Officers were called to a home off of Province Lake Road in Wakefield, New Hampshire, to conduct a wellbeing check Wednesday afternoon and found the adults residents had died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, according to authorities. The victims have not been identified, and their exact cause of death remains under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Sean Toomey urged everyone to make sure their homes are equipped with working carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that, if inhaled, can cause sudden illness or death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 400 Americans die from carbon monoxide poisoning each year, the CDC said, while more than 100,000 visit the emergency room for treatment. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning come on suddenly and typically include headaches, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. Breathing in too much carbon monoxide can make you pass out or kill you, according to the CDC, which is why those who are sleeping typically die before ever experiencing symptoms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The best way to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in your home is to make sure there are working detectors in each bedroom. It is highly recommended that homeowners put new batteries in their carbon monoxide detectors twice a year, specifically in the spring and fall while changing their clocks. Carbon monoxide detectors should also be replaced every five years. Heating systems and water heaters, as well as other gas, oil or coal burning appliances, should be regularly serviced to prevent carbon monoxide fumes from escaping into your home. Cars and trucks produce carbon monoxide as well, which is why you should never leave your vehicle running in a closed garage, especially one thats attached to a house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The purpose of communication and exchanges between the Chinese and U.S. militaries is not a political show to the world, said a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense on Thursday. The current difficulties in China-U.S. military engagement are created solely by the U.S. side, said Zhang Xiaogang, the spokesperson, when commenting on a U.S. report on China's military and security development at a press conference. China always develops bilateral and military relations with the United States under the principle of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, he said, adding that the two sides have maintained effective communication through military diplomatic channels. He urged the U.S. side to earnestly respect China's core interests and major concerns, and refrain from crossing the lines on issues related to Taiwan, democracy and human rights, China's path and system, and China's development rights, so as to create a favorable atmosphere for dialogue and communication between the two sides. In response to a media query about the U.S. Space Force's new component in Japan, Zhang said that China has consistently adhered to the peaceful use of outer space and opposes its weaponization and militarization. China urged the United States to carefully examine its actions in the space domain, cease provoking confrontation, stop spreading false narratives, and make due contributions to maintaining lasting peace and security in outer space, he said. When commenting on remarks made recently by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Japan, Zhang reiterated that the Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islets are an inherent part of China's territory and China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and their adjacent waters. He called on the United States, Japan and certain other countries to stop spreading false narratives about China and to contribute to regional peace and stability. Christmas Eve, 10:30 a.m. Terry was scraping the flattop, and Shorty was sweeping up near the counter. Harolds Drive-In was closing early. A lot of our customers are water department, utilities, metro people who work downtown, said owner Deb Walker, and a lot of them dont go in today. Walker would know. Shes been working at Harolds, a 600-square-foot shack at 1337 Admiral Blvd., since 2003. She bought the restaurant from its former owner, Nancy Smith, just prior to the pandemic. Its been rough sledding ever since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We never really recovered, Walker said. Youve got a lot of these downtown workers who work from home three or four days a week now. Some of their offices shut their doors because its cheaper to keep people at home. And then a lot of our regulars have been retiring or dying. We just dont have enough customers. For a while now, Walker has been borrowing money to keep Harolds open. More recently, she and her landlord, Charles Cacioppo, have been unable to come to terms on a lease. So she made the call earlier this month: After 66 years in business, Harolds will permanently close Tuesday, Dec. 31. Im going to get my CDL (commercial drivers license) and drive for a while and kind of regroup, Walker said. Then, I dont know what. The building at 1337 Admiral Blvd. is up for lease. Harolds dates back to 1958, when Harold and Pat McBain took over a walk-up ice cream shop called Dairy Supreme. They changed the name and expanded the menu, selling burgers, sandwiches and fries to customers in the neighborhood, which sits between downtown and Northeast Kansas City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the quirks of the joint are the lunch specials inspired by the letters of Harolds name: An H is a pork tenderloin with fries and a soda ($11.99), an A is a triple cheeseburger with fries and a soda ($12.75), an R is an Italian steak with cheese fries and a soda ($11.99), and so on. They used to be served in boxes, like they do at Go Chicken Go, Walker said. Some of our old-timeys will still order an H box. Open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays, Harolds serves breakfast all day and has become known in more recent years for its breakfast sandwiches. The sausage, egg and cheese, thats our most popular, Smith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its regular drive-in food, but everythings fresh and cooked right in front of you, Walker said. Thats the main difference. Smith and two sisters, Caramae and Mary Moore, worked at Harolds during the 1980s, and Smith eventually bought it from Harold McBain in 1999. She left for a few years after selling to Walker in 2020, but came back as an employee in 2023. Mary still works in the kitchen, too. Deb Walker, Mary Moore,and Nancy Smith are part of the core group behind Harolds Drive-In. Ive spent most of my life in this building, Smith said. I was born about a city block away from here, at the old osteopathic hospital. We grew up at 9th and Benton, 11th and Indiana. My sister worked at the old Admiral Inn next door (now the Rodeway Inn), then she got a job here, and I just followed her. Its about 40 years Ive been here, Smith said. My heart is aching a little, knowing its going away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The closing of Harolds leaves one less 1950s-style drive-in around the metro. Remaining ones include Humdinger (about a mile east of Harolds at 2504 E. 9th St.), Pauls Drive-In at 10424 Blue Ridge Blvd., Mugs Up at 700 E. 23rd St. in Independence, and Christys Tasty Queen at 1405 S. 55th St. in Kansas City, Kansas. Harolds will be open Thursday and Friday, closed per usual over the weekend, and back open for two final days of service Dec. 30 and 31. Weve had a lot of city workers and people from the neighborhood come by to say goodbye, Walker said. We even had a few people say theyre trying to string together some money to keep us open. But I dont know if I can handle the stress of it anymore. I think its probably just time. A 77-year-old Howard man has gone missing in Centre County, and state police are asking the public for help in finding him. Leon Bowman, of Howard, is believed to be at special risk of harm or injury, or may be confused, according to the Missing Endangered Person Advisory that state police issued Tuesday. He is listed as 6-foot and 110 pounds, and is described as gray and balding with a beard. Howard Fire Company said it assisted Pennsylvania State Police on search detail Wednesday. The state police advisory says that Bowman was last seen in the area of Bowman Camp Road in Curtin Township around 11 a.m. on Dec. 16. However, the fire company said on Facebook that Wednesdays search efforts uncovered that he was last seen Monday around Howard Divide Road. Anyone with information on Bowman is asked to contact police immediately by either calling 911 or state police at Rockview at 814-355-7545. HOLLADAY, Utah (ABC4) An 80-year-old man was found dead at Mount Olympus Trailhead after sustaining injuries from a fall, according to the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office. On December 25, deputies responded to a report of a body around 3:20 p.m. Detective Arlan Bennett with Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office said that the man was located roughly a mile up the trail. READ NEXT: Two brothers survive Logan Valley avalanche Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emergency responders were able to reach him on the trail, but he was pronounced dead on scene. At this time, it appears he died as a result of a fall he sustained while hiking, said Detective Bennett. Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office identified him as William Thomas, an 80-year-old male. No further information is available at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) Grant Polluck met his late wife Janet in a quaint restaurant in Maynard, Massachusetts in 1955. The Korean and Vietnam War Veteran said he was home early for the holidays. He recalled attending a Christmas party hosted by a company his mother worked for during the time. While sitting in the dining area conversing with his parents, a vibrant woman walked up and gently tapped him on his shoulder. She boldly asked Grant, Do you want to dance sailor? He quickly replied, I certainly do. And just like that, the love story of Grant and Janet Polluck took flight. As the 93-year-old would tell it, the pair had an instant spark but he still had no idea she was his wife to be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I started dating her right away, he said. I come home and see if Jan was available. Wed go out and have dinner or dance or go out and have a couple of drinks. The two quickly formed an undeniable bond and walked down the aisle three months after the Christmas party, and shared a happy life together for 63 years before she passed away. Janet died of respiratory complications. She had a little girl, 8 years old when I married her, and Sandy is my oldest daughter who lives in upstate New York nowadays, she says. And then we had two of our own, well, we had seven of our own, but we lost four to miscarriages. This time of year was always festive and filled with tradition for the Polluck household. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the biggest holiday tradition was Christmas, and always getting ready for Christmas, says Grant. And what we could get for the kids for Christmas. That was the big thing! She was a good cook and she cooked so much better than her own mother. It was unbelievable. And thats not all he remembers about his leading lady. The thing I miss most about my wife is she spoke her mind, wherever it was or with whomever it was, says Grant. And sometimes it was good, and sometimes it was bad. And we always had a good time together. Grant believes the key to a successful marriage is great communication and to never forget to say I love you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grant Polluck is currently under the care of the Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center in Virginia Beach. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Mike Jeffries, the gay 80-year-old embattled former CEO of clothing brand Abercrombie & Fitch, has dementia and Alzheimers disease, his lawyers have said in court documents filed this week. They are requesting a hearing to determine if Jefferies is fit to stand trial for federal criminal charges in connection to sex trafficking. Jeffries lawyers said that a neuropsychologist diagnosed the businessman after his legal team questioned his health and concentration, according to the documents, NBC News reports. "The Michael Jeffries who presented himself did not even come close to resembling a masters degree-educated individual, who was just nine years earlier, the chief executive officer of a publicly traded company," the new filing states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police arrested Jeffries earlier this year in Florida on one charge of sex trafficking and 15 counts of interstate prostitution. Jeffries pleaded not guilty after posting a $10 million bond and being ordered by a judge to home detention. Authorities allege that Jeffries and his boyfriend Matthew Smith along with associate James Jacobson operated the trafficking scheme, with Jacobson acting as a recruiter. The men were indicted one year after Abercrombie & Fitch announced it would be hiring an independent law firm to investigate allegations against Jeffries and Smith, revealed in a report by the BBC, claiming that the pair sexually exploited young men during Jeffriess time as CEO, which spanned 1992 to 2014. Company officials have said current leadership was not previously aware of the allegations. Authorities said in an indictment that the men allegedly "employed coercive, fraudulent and deceptive tactics in connection with the recruitment, hiring, transportation, obtaining, maintaining, solicitation and payment of the men to engage in commercial sex." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said that the men were told not doing certain sexual acts would harm their careers. Many of the men allegedly targeted by Jeffries and the others were also in precarious financial situations. The doctor concluded that Mr. Jeffries currently suffers from dementia with behavioral disturbance ... Alzheimers disease with late onset (probable) ... and Lewy body dementia," the recent filing says, according to NBC News. The outlet reports that a competency hearing has been set for June. Heather Cucolo, a New York Law School professor who specializes in mental disability and criminal law, told the BBC that there is limited data on how the U.S. justice system treats those with dementia. "If Mike Jeffries is found competent, the case will move forward," she told the outlet. "But if he's deemed incompetent, and it's found there's no reasonable likelihood that his competency will be restored, then the charges would have to be dropped." Visitors were invited to pose questions to the AI Jesus, viewed on a monitor behind a latticework screen. (Courtesy of the Catholic Church of the City of Lucerne, CC BY) This autumn, a Swiss Catholic church installed an AI Jesus in a confessional to interact with visitors. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The installation was a two-month project in religion, technology and art titled Deus in Machina, created at the University of Lucerne. The original Latin phrase literally means god from the machine; it refers to a plot device used in Greek and Roman plays, introducing a god to resolve an impossible problem or conflict facing the characters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This hologram of Jesus Christ on a screen was animated by an artificial intelligence program. The AIs programming included theological texts, and visitors were invited to pose questions to the AI Jesus, viewed on a monitor behind a latticework screen. Users were advised not to disclose any personal information and confirm that they knew they were engaging with the avatar at their own risk. Some headlines stated that the AI Jesus was actually engaged in the ritual act of hearing peoples confessions of their sins, but this wasnt the case. However, even though AI Jesus was not actually hearing confessions, as a specialist in the history of Christian worship, I was disturbed by the act of placing the AI project in a real confessional that parishioners would ordinarily use. A confessional is a booth where Catholic priests hear parishioners confessions of their sins and grant them absolution, forgiveness, in the name of God. Confession and repentance always take place within the human community that is the church. Human believers confess their sins to human priests or bishops. Early history The New Testament scriptures clearly stress a human, communal context for admitting and repenting for sins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Gospel of John, for example, Jesus speaks to his apostles, saying, Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven, and whose sins you shall retain they are retained. And in the epistle of James, Christians are urged to confess their sins to one another. Churches in the earliest centuries encouraged public confession of more serious sins, such as fornication or idolatry. Church leaders, called bishops, absolved sinners and welcomed them back into the community. From the third century on, the process of forgiving sins became more ritualized. Most confessions of sins remained private one on one with a priest or bishop. Sinners would express their sorrow in doing penance individually by prayer and fasting. However, some Christians guilty of certain major offenses, such as murder, idolatry, apostasy or sexual misconduct, would be treated very differently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These sinners would do public penance as a group. Some were required to stand on the steps of the church and ask for prayers. Others might be admitted in for worship but were required to stand in the back or be dismissed before the scriptures were read. Penitents were expected to fast and pray, sometimes for years, before being ritually reconciled to the church community by the bishop. Medieval developments During the first centuries of the Middle Ages, public penance fell into disuse, and emphasis was increasingly placed on verbally confessing sins to an individual priest. After privately completing the penitential prayers or acts assigned by the confessor, the penitent would return for absolution. The concept of Purgatory also became a widespread part of Western Christian spirituality. It was understood to be a stage of the afterlife where the souls of the deceased who died before confession with minor sins, or had not completed penance, would be cleansed by spiritual suffering before being admitted to heaven. Living friends or family of the deceased were encouraged to offer prayers and undertake private penitential acts, such as giving alms gifts of money or clothes to the poor, to reduce the time these souls would have to spend in this interim state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other developments took place in the later Middle Ages. Based on the work of the theologian Peter Lombard, penance was declared a sacrament, one of the major rites of the Catholic Church. In 1215, a new church document mandated that every Catholic go to confession and receive Holy Communion at least once a year. Priests who revealed the identity of any penitent faced severe penalties. Guidebooks for priests, generally called Handbooks for Confessors, listed various types of sins and suggested appropriate penances for each. The first confessionals Until the 16th century, those wishing to confess their sins had to arrange meeting places with their clergy, sometimes just inside the local church when it was empty. But the Catholic Council of Trent changed this. The 14th session in 1551 addressed penance and confession, stressing the importance of privately confessing to priests ordained to forgive in Christs name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon after, Charles Borromeo, the cardinal archbishop of Milan, installed the first confessionals along the walls of his cathedral. These booths were designed with a physical barrier between priest and penitent to preserve anonymity and prevent other abuses, such as inappropriate sexual conduct. Similar confessionals appeared in Catholic churches over the following centuries: The main element was a screen or veil between the priest confessor and the layperson, kneeling at his side. Later, curtains or doors were added to increase privacy and ensure confidentiality. A 17th-century confessional at the Toulouse St. Stephens Cathedral. (Didier Descouens via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA) Rites of penance in contemporary times In 1962, Pope John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Council. Its first document, issued in December 1963, set new norms for promoting and reforming Catholic liturgy. Since 1975, Catholics have three forms of the rite of penance and reconciliation. The first form structures private confession, while the second and third forms apply to groups of people in special liturgical rites. The second form, often used at set times during the year, offers those attending the opportunity to go to confession privately with one of the many priests present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The third form can be used in special circumstances, when death threatens with no time for individual confession, like a natural disaster or pandemic. Those assembled are given general absolution, and survivors confess privately afterward. In addition, these reforms prompted the development of a second location for confession: Instead of being restricted to the confessional booth, Catholics now had the option of confessing their sins face-to-face with the priest. To facilitate this, some Catholic communities added a reconciliation room to their churches. Upon entering the room, the penitent could choose anonymity by using the kneeler in front of a traditional screen or walk around the screen to a chair set facing the priest. Over the following decades, the Catholic experience of penance changed. Catholics went to confession less often, or stopped altogether. Many confessionals remained empty or were used for storage. Many parishes began to schedule confessions by appointment only. Some priests might insist on face-to-face confession, and some penitents might prefer the anonymous form only. The anonymous form takes priority, since the confidentiality of the sacrament must be maintained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2002, Pope John Paul II addressed some of these problems, insisting that parishes make every effort to schedule set hours for confessions. Pope Francis himself has become concerned with reviving the sacrament of penance. In fact, he demonstrated its importance by presenting himself for confession, face-to-face, at a confessional in St. Peters Basilica. Perhaps, in the future, a program like AI Jesus could offer Catholics and interested questioners from other faiths information, advice, referrals and limited spiritual counseling around the clock. But from the Catholic perspective, an AI, with no experience of having a human body, emotions and hope for transcendence, cannot authentically absolve human sins. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Data centers needed to support the artificial intelligence industry may come with a costly environmental toll and the loss of human life, researchers say. Air pollution that is emitted from centers that are being opened all over the U.S. could result in as many as 1,300 early deaths each year by 2030. When we talk about the costs of AI, there has been a lot of focus on measurements of things like carbon and water usage. And while those costs are really important, they are not whats going to impact the local communities where data centers are being built, Adam Wierman, director of Information Science and Technology at Caltech, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The findings were included in a recent report co-authored by Wierman along with scientists at Caltech and UC Riverside that has yet to be peer-reviewed. To produce the energy necessary to power computing systems and AI servers requires a massive amount of electricity. The computer power dedicated to AI is doubling every 100 days, according to an April estimate from the World Economic Forum. Much of the electricity production uses greenhouse gas-emitting fossil fuels. An Amazon Web Services data center is seen close to homes in Stone Ridge, Virginia, last July. New research is highlighting the health costs of new data centers being built across the US (Getty (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)) Fossil fuels contribute to climate change and can cause respiratory illness, produce cancer-causing particulate matter, contribute to smog and acid rain, and pollute waterways. Air pollution from fossil fuels has been found to kill millions: one in five people around the world, according to a 2021 study from scientists at Harvard University and U.K. institutions. While the future of AI-based centers is still relatively murky and more companies are turning to nuclear and cleaner energy sources to mitigate their impacts, the effects are expected to escalate. Recent Department of Energy estimates found that data center energy use is expected to either double or triple by 2028. Last year alone, data centers produced at least 106 million metric tons of emissions rivaling those of the domestic commercial airline industry, according to researchers at Harvard and UCLA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Generating the electricity needed to train a large language model at the scale of Metas Llama-3.1 produced air pollution that was equivalent to more than 10,000 round trips by car between Los Angeles and New York City, the report said. Meta, which is looking to build a new center in Louisiana, did not immediately respond to The Independents request for comment. While AI offers significant benefits, Wierman stressed that we need to make sure that we have our house in order, and that the negative impacts that come from it are recognized, quantified, minimized, and shared equitably. The authors recommend that tech companies should be required to report the air pollution caused by their power generation and usage, in addition to compensating communities that could be hit the hardest by air pollution from the data centers. Air pollution from AI would disproportionately affect certain low-income communities, although the pollution drifts across county and state lines, they noted. In some areas, the public health costs of these centers may exceed what the tech companies pay for electricity, the researchers found. Those costs are approaching an estimated $20 billion a year, the report said. Metas Facebook data center is seen in Eagle Mountain, Utah, last July. Meta and others are working to open new data centers to support AI ventures ((Photo by GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images)) Those health costs were estimated using statistical methods developed by the Environmental Protection Agency, and account for known epidemiological risks associated with air pollution from power plants and backup diesel generators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The findings were released shortly before a report from Politicos E&E News, which said that the White House is weighing whether to take executive action to speed up the construction of these centers. The White House called statements from sources in the report inaccurate, but Democrats have urged the Biden administration to reconsider that possible course of action. As your administration considers how to support this technology, we urge you to uphold critical clean air and water standards and ensure that the energy needs of technology companies are not prioritized over the needs of households, Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, Brian Schatz, Peter Welch, Ed Markey, and Elizabeth Warren wrote. The U.S. has introduced legislation to mitigate the environmental impacts of AI, and Shaolei Ren, a UCR associate professor and co-author of the report, has previously suggested solutions for companies to combat environmental injustices tied to AI. If you have family members with asthma or other health conditions, the air pollution from these data centers could be affecting them right now. Its a public health issue we need to address urgently, he said. An Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed in Kazakhstan, killing 38, including both pilots. Remarkably, nearly half the passengers 29 people survived. The airline's president praised the "heroism" of the pilots and crew while speaking to reporters. The president of Azerbaijan Airlines praised the pilots of flight J2-8243 after the plane, carrying 67 people, crashed in Kazakhstan on Wednesday. Although both pilots were among the 38 fatalities reported by Kazakh authorities, nearly half the passengers 29 people survived. Samir Rzayev, who heads up the airline, also known as AZAL, told reporters on Wednesday that the two pilot's "heroism will never be forgotten." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "While this tragic accident brought a significant loss to our nation, the crew's valiant dedication to their duties until the last moment and their prioritization of human life have immortalized their names in history," Rzayev said, according to the Azerbaijani news agency Report. Rzayev said the pilots collectively had over 15,000 flight hours and that the plane had recently passed a technical inspection. "Despite these measures, the causes of the incident are still under investigation," Rzayev added. The Associated Press posted a video of the crash showing some passengers being pulled from the aft section of the aircraft, an area which is traditionally safer in a crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per a 2015 analysis by Time Magazine of US federal data from 1985 to 2000, the seats in the back of the plane had a fatality rate of 32%, compared to 39% in the middle and 38% in the front. The back middle seats had the lowest fatality rate, at 28%. Still, the circumstances of the crash play a bigger role, like how a jet lands and the actions of its pilots. The Embraer 190 jet had departed from Baku, Azerbaijan, early Wednesday, bound for Grozny, Russia. Adverse weather conditions led to a diversion, the airline told BBC News. The flight-tracking website Flightradar24 shows that the plane made a crash-landing at about 06:28 local time near Aktau, Kazakhstan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kazakhstan's Senate Chairman Ashimbayev Maulen told Reuters on Thursday that the cause of the crash remains unknown. Preliminary information from Russia's civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, suggested that the plane diverted after a bird strike caused an onboard emergency, according to AP. And Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov cautioned against speculating on the cause of the crash before the completion of an investigation, per the Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti. However, Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, put the blame on Russia. On Wednesday evening, he claimed in an X post that the commercial airline was "shot down by a Russian air defense system." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the post, he said there is video footage from inside the plane, showing "punctured life vests and other damage." Others have also suggested Russian involvement. Osprey Flight Solutions, an aviation security firm, told The Wall Street Journal on Thursday that the plane may have been damaged by a Russian anti-missile system. The firm cited footage of the crash, the apparent damage to the aircraft, and recent military activity in the area. "Incidents of civilian airliners being misidentified and shot down by air-defence systems are not unprecedented in the region," a critical alert issued by Osprey and provided to Business Insider said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oliver Alexander, an OSINT analyst, said in a message to BI that "at this point, I don't think there is enough available evidence to conclusively say what exactly happened (type of missile etc)." But he added that "all the evidence I have seen points to the aircraft being hit by shrapnel from an air defense missile which severely damaged the elevator and rudder controls." Ukrainian drones have targeted Grozny in recent weeks, and the governor of the Russian region of North Ossetia said in a Telegram post on Wednesday that there were Ukrainian drone attacks carried out in a number of regions of the North Caucasus Federal District that day. The district includes Grozny and the surrounding area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The post specifically mentioned a drone being taken down in Vladikavkas, about 70 miles west of Grozny. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in a statement: "There are videos of the plane crash available in the media and on social networks, and everyone can watch them. However, the reasons for the crash are not yet known to us." This wouldn't be the first time Russia was blamed for the shooting down of a passenger aircraft. In 2014, Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was hit by a Russian-made surface-to-air missile over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people onboard. Investigators said the missile system used originated in Russia and was launched from a part of Ukraine controlled by Russian-backed forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia has denied involvement in the MH17 crash. Azerbaijan Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Rzayev, the airline's president, told reporters that the plane's black box had been recovered and that "its analysis is being conducted in line with international aviation standards." Embraer, which built the aircraft that crashed Wednesday, said in a statement that it was "deeply saddened" by the crash and was working closely with relevant authorities to support the investigation. Read the original article on Business Insider BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's 2023 gross domestic product (GDP) has been revised to 129.4 trillion yuan (about 18 trillion U.S. dollars), official data showed Thursday. The amount represents an increase of 3.4 trillion yuan from the preliminary calculation, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). China's annual GDP goes through two rounds of accounting: preliminary calculation and final verification. The final verification is conducted based on annual statistical data, final fiscal accounts, and departmental administrative records. Revising GDP data is an international practice, and it is also a long-standing practice in Chinese government statistics, deputy NBS head Lin Tao told a press conference on Thursday. Work to revise the 2023 GDP of China's provincial-level regions is ongoing, with results to be unveiled in 2025, according to Lin. Dec. 25An Albert Lea man was injured Tuesday night after he reportedly struck a parked car on Highway 22 in Wells. Duane William Becker, 78, of Freeborn, was taken to United Hospital District in Blue Earth for injuries deemed not life-threatening. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Becker was driving a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee southbound on Highway 22 in Wells at 9:27 p.m. when he struck a parked 2012 Cadillac CTS near the highway's intersection with Fourth Street Southwest. The road was dry at the time of the crash, and alcohol was a factor. Actor Alec Baldwin got the best Christmas gift of all this year: spending the holiday with his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, and his seven children without worrying about whether he will be facing jail time. The "30 Rock" actor was facing 18 months behind bars due to an involuntary manslaughter charge stemming from the accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of "Rust" in October 2021. Only a few days before Christmas, Santa Fe prosecutor Kari Morrissey dropped the criminal charges against him. A judge had dismissed the charges in July with prejudice after determining that the prosecution had failed to turn over relevant evidence to the actor's defense team. Alec Baldwin Stands Out As Kids, Wife Wear Matching PJs For Christmas On Christmas day, his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, shared a photo of the family gathered around the Christmas tree. The whole family is wearing matching red-and-black festive pajamas, except for Alec, who is barefoot as he sits in a black long-sleeve shirt and black slacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merry Christmas and much love to you all. Mucho amorfeliz Navidad, Hilaria wrote in the caption along with a red heart emoji. The former yoga instructor has monitored comments on her Instagram page since the Rust shooting happened over three years ago, which meant that the comments were nothing but positive as fans and friends wished her happy holidays. Merry Christmas to all of you! Wishing for 2025 to be filled with abundance, peace, and happiness and for all your desires to come to fruition! one fan commented. Thank you for sharing your family, your wisdom, and your kindness! You bring a happy positivity to this world! Alec Shares His Own Christmas Video On Instagram Although the Supercell actor does not monitor comments on his Instagram page, the comments were also mostly full of holiday well-wishes as he shared a video of his son Edu drinking from a glass. The holiday shirt looks to be a different style than the one he was wearing in the group photo, although various children can be seen wearing matching pajamas in the background of the video. Merry Christmas, Alec wrote in the caption of the video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although most of the comments wished the actor a Merry Christmas, one user seemed to take the actor to task for his parenting skills, writing, Id never let my kids drink water with ice cubes, oh well. Alec Baldwins Rust Criminal Case Is Finally Over MEGA The Hunt For Red October actors legal struggles are finally over. Although he is still facing several civil lawsuits from Halyna Hutchins family and other cast and crew members, he no longer has to worry about facing jail time for the accidental fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film in October 2021. On December 23, a press release confirmed that special prosecutor Kari Morrissey had dropped the notice of appeal that she had filed on November 21 while trying to revive the criminal charges against Baldwin that the judge had already dismissed. The press release states that "The Special Prosecutor intended to pursue an appeal of the dismissal, however, the Office of the Attorney General notified the Special Prosecutor that the Attorney General did not intend to exhaustively pursue the appeal on behalf of the prosecution. Special Prosecutor Insisted She Wanted Justice For Halyna Hutchins MEGA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State insisted that it strongly disagrees with the courts decision to dismiss the involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin and denied concealing evidence, which is what ultimately led to the charges being dismissed. This has always been about seeking justice for Halyna Hutchins," Morrisey said in a statement, per the release. "We regret that Mr. Baldwin will not be held accountable for the role he played in the death of Halyna Hutchins and as we withdraw the appeal, we do so with the hope that the outstanding lawsuits bring some measure of justice to the family of Halyna Hutchins. In their own statement released on Christmas Eve, Baldwins legal team said, "Yesterday's decision to dismiss the appeal is the final vindication of what Alec Baldwin and his attorneys have said from the beginning - this was an unspeakable tragedy but Alec Baldwin committed no crime. The rule of law remains intact in New Mexico." Halyna Hutchins' Family Speaks Out MEGA On Christmas Eve, attorney Gloria Allred, who represents Hutchins mother, father, and sister in a civil lawsuit against Alec Baldwin and other Rust producers, released a statement insisting that no justice was served and that The Grinch won this Christmas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There was no justice because a jury couldn't hear the evidence," Allred said at a news conference held in Los Angeles, insisting that Baldwin was responsible, and he is responsible. "It's not over until it's over, and it's not over yet," Allred said. "Although the attorney general of New Mexico, Raul Torrez, is the Grinch who stole this Christmas, we will work to ensure that a future Christmas will be without this Grinch." Almost 200 absentee ballots in Madison went uncounted during the November election, the Madison Clerk's Office announced Thursday. During post-election clean-up and reconciliation, officials discovered 193 ballots had not been processed from Wards 56, 65 and 68. The number of ballots was not enough to affect the outcome of any races on the ballot in these areas, the Clerk's Office said. Clerk's Office staff discovered the first round of uncounted ballots on Nov. 12, a week after Election Day, according to a statement from Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. Personnel were emptying out tabulator bins for Ward 65 and found a sealed courier bag with 68 unprocessed ballots 67 of them from Ward 65 and one from Ward 68. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Dec. 5, nearly a month after Election Day, the Clerk's Office found an additional 125 unprocessed ballots from Ward 56. These were found between two sealed envelopes during the election reconciliation process for the ward, which is when election officials compare vote counts and log voter participation in WisVote. The Wisconsin Elections Commission certified results of the election on Nov. 29, and Clerk's Office emailed the commission on Dec. 18 to inform them of the uncounted ballots, according to Rhodes-Conway's statement. The mayor also said her office was not informed of the incident until Dec. 20. More: Milwaukee Election Commission deputy director returns to City of Madison Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Here's how the City of Milwaukee processes its absentee ballots on Election Day, into the night "While the discovery of these unprocessed absentee ballots did not impact the results of any election or referendum, a discrepancy of this magnitude is unacceptable," Rhodes-Conway said. "This oversight is a significant departure from the high standard our residents expect and must be addressed and avoided in future elections." The Clerk's Office said it will individually contact each affected voter to notify them and apologize. For future elections, the office also said every polling location will receive a list of the seal numbers for absentee ballot envelopes, so they can be verified as ballots are counted. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 193 absentee ballots in Madison went uncounted in 2024 election MOSCOW (AP) A tightly-scripted meeting of the Russia-dominated economic alliance of several ex-Soviet nations briefly went awry Thursday when two leaders engaged in bickering during a live broadcast of the event. Russian President Vladimir Putin and other heads of states attended the meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union, which includes Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who has increasingly sought to phase down his country's ties with Moscow and forge closer relations with the West, joined the meeting via video link after canceling his trip following a positive test for COVID-19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The carefully choreographed session at a resort near St. Petersburg veered off script when Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, whose country was taking the rotating chairmanship in the economic grouping from Armenia, urged Pashinyan to visit Belarus for the union's next meeting. Pashinyan responded that he plans to attend the Belarus meeting via video call, after which Lukashenko pressed for an explanation and even offered to send a plane to fly the Armenian delegation to the Belarusian capital. Pashinyan then pointed to his earlier decision to freeze high-level visits to Belarus over Lukashenko's support for Armenia's rival, Azerbaijan. I don't think this is the right format for discussing these issues," Pashinyan added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Lukashenko kept arguing and Pashinyan snapped back. Putin, who sat next to Lukashenko, and other leaders watched the altercation in stony silence. The Eurasian Economic Union was formed a decade ago to encourage stronger business ties and facilitate trade between its members, but it has been marred by economic and other dispoutes between members. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A new Amazon facility is being planned for just outside of the Miami Valley. Our partners at the Record Herald in Washington Court House were reportedly told by Amazon officials that a roughly $5 billion data center will be constructed somewhere within Fayette County. The exact location was not provided, as officials cited security reasons. Amazon plans to keep building and investing in Ohio, reportedly upwards of $10 billion for data center operations. Our partner was reportedly told that $5 billion will be made by 2030. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Herald reported that the new centers being built will have many assets, including, but not limited to the following: Artificial intelligence Computer servers Data storage drives Machine learning Networking equipment Power cloud computing Within five years, the company plans to create 100 jobs in Fayette County, according to our partner. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Dec. 26 (UPI) -- An ambush in Syria by suspected loyalists to deposed President Bashar al-Assad killed as many as 20 members of Syria's new security force in the west of the country Thursday, officials said. The security forces, consisting mostly of former opposition rebels, had been fighting with remaining Assad supporters in western Syria, trying to take into custody former government officials. Mohammed Abel Rahman, the interior minister for the new government, promised that the new leaders would crack down on those seeking the undermine them. The country is under the control of the al Qaeda affiliate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which chased Assad out of the country in early December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials reported that Syrian forces attempted to apprehend a former Assad officer with ties to the infamous Saidnaya prison near the capital Damascus when they were attacked. A conflict ensued when locals in a Tartus province village refused to allow the security forces to conduct house-to-house searches. HTS, which is looking for enough support to overturn global sanctions, has promised that it would allow freedom for religious and ethnic minorities in the country. It has long been designated as a terrorist group by the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Britain. The burning of a Christmas tree in the Christian-majority town of Suqaylabiyah in central Syria renewed worries that the new government would not protect those freedoms and sparked demonstrations. CARTHAGE, N.Y. (WWTI) The American Red Cross is helping one person after a Monday fire in Jefferson County. Volunteers from the Central and Northern New York Chapter of the agency are providing immediate emergency aid to one person after a fire Monday on Boyd Road in Carthage. Red Cross officials provided financial assistance which can be used for necessities such as shelter, food, and clothing, to one adult. Volunteers also offered emotional support, comfort kits containing personal care items, and health services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the coming days, Red Cross staff and volunteers will remain available to help those affected by the fire as they navigate the road to recovery. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com. From rural Tennessee to Democratic presidential politics, Ive lived in both worlds of "us and them." Heres my take on why: my neighbors dont trust Democrat a convicted felon is returning to the White House. Theres plenty of blame to go around. Biden himself is among those to blame among Democrats Opinion: Kamala Harris is the best Democrats can do? Looks like they don't want to beat Trump MAGA voters and justice system are responsible for returning Trump to the White House MAGA: For placing a racist/rapist/convicted felon over our Constitution. Other Republicans: Most of them, for striking Faustian bargains in normalizing Trump, sacrificing their integrity for power, none more craven than Sen. Lindsey Grahams betrayal of Amigo John McCain on his deathbed to worship at the orange altar. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, for not saving us this national nightmare by ordering his minions to remove the Insurrectionist-in-Chief, forever barring him from federal office Howard Baker he is not. Right-wing Supreme Court justices: For not checking the presidency, instead placing Trump above the law, dismantling our rights and democracy itself. Judge Juan Merchan: For delaying sentencing on 34 felony convictions until after the election, instead of letting Trump campaign from a New York City jail cell. Opinion: Tennessee Democrats should build upon the movement Gloria Johnson created Media, dictators, billionaires and Congress bear responsibility too Opinion: Nashville's star is fading. The Big Sort is creating a rural and red revolution. April Lieberman April Lieberman is a former appellate attorney with family experience in presidential politics, a Yale Law School graduate who studied philosophy at Vanderbilt, and Democratic politics in the backwoods of West Tennessee. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Trump prevailed because of Democrats, MAGA and institutions | Opinion TheWall Street Journals explosive report detailing President Joe Bidens rapid mental decline and the extensive, deliberate cover-up by aides should be a wake-up call to the fragile balance upon which our Republic rests and underscores the vital role transparency plays in preserving its integrity and health. For years, the White House dismissed obvious issues with Biden and spun tall tales of a vigorous president working behind the scenes. If the reports are true, it seems that for much of his administration, Biden either abdicated his authorities or they were assumed by unelected bureaucrats. For too long, unelected bureaucrats have wielded too much power in Washington operating outside the limits of checks and balances and unaccountable to voters. This is fundamentally un-American and undermines the very foundations of our nation. We elect our leaders, and they derive their authority from the consent of the people. Regardless of your party affiliation, this is a fundamental principle that makes America the beacon of hope for freedom loving people across the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats also what makes Elon Musk and his relationship with President-elect Donald Trump so concerning. Its not that Musk was wrong when he used his platform to expose the Christmas tree funding bill masquerading as essential legislation to keep government open. In truth, this short-term funding bill never should have seen the light of day. Voters made it clear in November that they were tired of business as usual in Washington and any attempts to load up a spending bill with pet projects should have been a non-starter for the speaker of the House. No, the problem we are facing is that we have someone that appears to be making decisions and pushing an agenda who has no accountability to the voters. Musk is an unelected official and no amount of spin will wipe away the fact that it was Musk that drove the policy debate and possibility of a government shutdown. Trump only weighed in hours later. Americans will never believe this was all part of some genius plan concocted by Trump to expose excessive spending by Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unfortunate, because things were going well for Republicans. Trump hit the ground running essentially assuming office the moment he was elected. Sure, there have been some misses with his appointments, but the Senate seems to take its advise and consent role seriously. Luckily, Americans were spared the certain disaster that would have been if former Rep. Matt Gaetz been sworn in as attorney general. There was a renewed sense of hope in America. Maybe it was because the election was decisively won. Maybe its because after the stock market soared in the days following Trumps victory and Americans saw more money in their retirement accounts. Maybe its because there is a new vigor in Washington that sharply contrasted with that of Bidens low energy. While it might not be at the level of morning in America optimism, echoes of history repeating itself were unmistakable. Thats one reason the shutdown showdown felt like an unforced error unnecessary chaos that derailed the progress and questioned Republicans ability to govern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the funding crisis has been delayed and the threat of a shutdown will soon fade from our memories, the ramifications will be lasting. The showdown illustrated that Musk has the ability and desire to alter policy. Just because we may agree with the outcome, we must say no to unelected bureaucrats making decisions and driving policy. The ends do not justify the means. This is our government, and accountability starts with each of us actively participating. Its not just a right its our shared responsibility to make sure our government truly serves the people. This holiday season, lets commit to embracing transparency, speaking out and reclaiming the strength of our collective voice. The time for absentee citizenship is over. Together, we can shape a government that reflects the will and values of the people. Matt Wylie is a South Carolina-based Republican political strategist and analyst with more than 25 years of experience working on federal, state and local campaigns. While strolling on a beach in Maui over the weekend before Christmas, admiring the massive waves that were pounding the coast the same ones that were fueling the iconic Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational over on Oahu a pair of siblings stumbled upon a sacred remnant of Hawaiian tradition. They found bones. Ancient ones. Unearthed by the extra-large swell unloading on the sand. We were out there just to check out the huge surf that was going on, and to see the waves, Benjamin Medler told Hawaii News Now. But then it turned out to be this whole exploration after Danielle [his sister] found a bone on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Danielle continued: At first I just thought it was just like another animal bone. Then, the waves started uncovering more of them. We started to explore more and found out it wasnt an animal bone. It turned out to be an entire burial ground, or iwi kupuna, an ancient Hawaiian cemetery, which experts speculate could date back to the 18th century. According to a historical documentation of pre-contact Hawaiian traditions, as related to iwi kupuna, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs describes: In pre-Christian creeds of Hawaii, mans immortality was manifest in his bones. Mans blood, even bright drops shed by the living, was haumia (defiled and defiling). Mans body, when death made flesh corrupt, was an abomination and kapu (taboo). The iwi survived decaying flesh. The bones remained, and cleanly, lasting portion of the man or woman who once lived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no mention of what will happen to these newly unearthed remains. Maybe theyll go to a lab for further studies, followed by a preservation site away from the public? Who knows. But one local with a long native lineage, Kiai Colliar, hopes the remains will be respected above all else. Just be very respectful, he said. Honor the descendants. Related: 20 Years Later: Remembering the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami (Photos) by Xinhua writer Wu Baoshu BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- When Zhou Jin'an returned to the village he once worked in for years in southern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, he was warmly received by the villagers, who shook hands with him and invited him to their homes for a chat over tea. Zhou used to be a member of the residential work team in that village. Such teams are groups of personnel, either from regional government departments or state-run enterprises, dispatched to poor rural areas to help boost local development. Earlier this year, The Economist published an article claiming that work teams in Xinjiang villages sought to compel local Uygur farmers to seek alternative employment. However, such allegations, hyped by Western media in recent years, unravel when one observes the interactions between local farmers and Zhou and his colleagues. "THEY HELPED EVERY HOUSEHOLD" In early 2015, Zhou, who works for a state-run company, was dispatched to work in a village in Yutian, a county on the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert and among the last counties in Xinjiang to eliminate absolute poverty in late 2020. At that time, Zhou could not imagine he would work and live for over eight years in villages in Yutian. Almost all residents there are Uygur farmers, who traditionally earn a living by growing wheat, corn, and roses and raising sheep and poultry. "We brought agricultural experts to guide the villagers in farming. We built vegetable greenhouses and a small processing plant for local produce, such as roses and cistanche, a Chinese herbal medicine. We would help all households that had difficulties. That was what we were there to do," said Zhou. Zhou was part of an eight-member team working in a village of around 1,600 residents. One daily routine was visiting households so that he could get to know what assistance they needed. Since many middle-aged and elderly villagers were not fluent in Mandarin, Zhou's Uygur colleagues would translate for him. Sometimes, younger members of the household would translate. Rayila Matturzi was one of them. The 25-year-old, the eldest of four siblings, was a high school student when Zhou and his colleagues came to work in her village. With her mother farming at home and her father doing construction work, Rayila's parents brought in a limited income, while her younger brother was diagnosed with epilepsy, a chronic disease that requires long-term treatment. "The work team did so much for my family. They contacted a hospital for my younger brother, funded his treatment and my studies, and always came to see us with things like flour, meat, and the medicines my brother needed. And it was not just for my family. They helped every household in the village," said Rayila, now a senior student majoring in English at a university near Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital. She was especially grateful to Zhou. "Every time Uncle Zhou came to my home, he would ask about my life and studies and encourage me. He would say, 'If you need any help, just tell me.' I really liked sharing my stories with him. All the villagers think he is a great man," she said. To support Rayila's family, Zhou helped her mother secure a part-time job as a cleaner, providing an additional source of income. Earlier this year, through a friend's recommendation, Rayila's mother began working as a cook at her son's school, where the canteen staff are all from low-income households, as part of a program to support these families. "My family is much better off now. All the villagers are better off now. Everything in the village has been improved -- the roads, the houses, the school, the health facilities," said Rayila. "Without the work team, there would not have been such great changes." Tuersun Aibai, an associate professor at the School of Journalism and Communication at Xinjiang University, who has been studying social changes in southern Xinjiang, said that those work teams have been serving the local people and boosting the development of rural areas "with a pure intention and concrete achievements." The recognition and support of local people of all ethnic groups testifies to that, he added. "EVERYONE WANTS A BETTER LIFE" Rayila was surprised by Western media allegations that work teams in Xinjiang villages forced "reluctant farmers to leave and do other forms of work." "That is ridiculous. We earn money on our own and spend it for ourselves. Everyone wants a better life," she said. "The work team would help those looking for a job to find one that matches their skills. But we don't need to be 'forced' to work. Why would they talk about us like that?" Rayila noted that Uygur people, particularly the younger generation, are keen to seek employment instead of relying solely on farming at home. "Most villagers want to find a job nearby or in the county town. Some young people even explore opportunities in big cities or other provinces," she said. Official statistics show that the Uygur population in Xinjiang, concentrated in the southern part of the region, increased by 16.2 percent to 11.62 million from 2010 to 2020. Yan Xueqin, an associate professor at the School of History and Society at Xinjiang Normal University, said most of the Uygur population had long been farmers despite scarce arable land in southern Xinjiang, where the landscape features vast deserts and mountains. "The per capita arable land in southern Xinjiang has become even smaller, and the added value of farm products there is still low. Farming alone cannot help improve the living standards of the local people. That's one reason locals seek other forms of work to supplement their incomes," Yan said in a report. Yan's team surveyed 3,028 rural Uygur households in southern Xinjiang in 2020 and 2021 and found that their incomes had improved and diversified, with wage incomes making up the highest proportion at 41.5 percent, followed by household-based farming incomes at 33.7 percent. Across China, rural residents have long been moving in huge numbers to cities and towns to work. The trend has gained momentum among the Uygur population, with a younger generation more fluent in Mandarin, better educated, and willing to seek opportunities in more developed areas. Rayila has observed the trend. "A young couple in my village who once worked in Hubei (a central Chinese province) asked me to help them improve their Mandarin," she said. "They told me that they wanted to return to work and live there because they enjoyed working and living in a developed city." Zhou noted the changes in the lifestyles of his fellow Uygur villagers. "With higher incomes, people now like to refurbish their homes, enjoy better food and dress well, and want to provide their children with a better education and brighter future," he said. The inmate accused of fatally attacking prison guard Andrew Lansing on Christmas Day was issued a misconduct report in April for making threats, according to Lansing's brother and the prison guard union. Lansing wrote the misconduct report against Rashawn L. Cannon, 27, for threatening to kill someone, though it isn't immediately clear if Lansing or someone else was the target of those verbal threats, according to the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the fatal attack on Lansing as he worked an early morning shift at Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mike Lansing said his brother continued to work the increasingly dangerous job at the prison so that he could provide for his family. "He had been taken out of there twice because of fentanyl exposure. They had to Narcan him once," said Mike Lansing, who is a retired correction officer. "I kept telling him then he needed to get out, but like I said he had so much time invested. It's hard to walk away from something like that and start over at our age." Andrew Lansing with his wife, Elmond Chun Lansing. Andrew Lansing, a correction officer at Ross Correctional Institution was killed on Christmas Day by an inmate. Mike Lansing said his brother was known as "fair and firm" inside the prison. To his friends and family, "he was a great guy who'd do anything for anybody." Mike Lansing said family members were able to say their goodbyes to Andrew at the Adena Medical Center in Chillicothe before he was transferred to Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University. He said his brother died on route to OSU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrew had been badly beaten in the face and head and showed no defensive wounds, Mike Lansing said. He added that he doesn't know what happened to his brother's "man-down button," which triggers an alarm when an employee needs emergency help. Chris Mabe, president of the state employees union, said chronic understaffing has led to dangerous conditions inside Ohio prisons. Andrew Lansing, right, with his wife, Elmond Chun Lansing, and their son, Edward Lansing. Andrew Lansing, a correction officer at Ross Correctional Institution was killed on Christmas Day by an inmate. Andrew Lansing\'s career in Ohio prisons Andrew Lansing started his career with a brief stint at Marion Correctional Institution from Dec. 1985 to Jan. 1986. He was later hired at Ross Correctional Institute in January 1994 and worked there more than 13 years until February 2007. He left the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and joined MPRI International Services LTD, a private military contractor. During the nearly five years he worked there, Lansing assisted the Iraq government in developing a safe and secure correctional facilities for humane care, custody and treatment of persons incarcerated in the Iraqi corrections system to enhance public safety, according to Lansing's LinkedIn page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lansing returned to Ross Correctional Institution in March 2013. Lansing was also a military veteran, serving from Oct. 1981 to April 1992 with the U.S. Army, his LinkedIn page shows. Gov. Mike DeWine ordered flags in Ross County, a state prisons and the Ohio Statehouse to be lowered in honor of Lansing. Lansing is survived by his wife, Elmond Lansing, and two children as well as three sisters and three brothers. He is preceded in death by two sisters. Funeral arrangements are pending. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Who was Andrew Lansing? More on the killed Chillicothe prison guard All products featured on Teen Vogue are independently selected by Teen Vogue editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Conde Nast may earn an affiliate commission. Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take You cannot kill the working class. Born out of the Depression Era was Angelo Herndons fight. And those six words became his singular mission. It was also the title of a pamphlet he wrote at 24. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the Great Depression, the American labor movement was at a crossroads. Unions, once seen as radical threats, gained momentum as workers sought relief from economic hardship. Yet, the wraith of anti-union sentiment loomed large. Against this backdrop, Herndon, a young Black labor organizer, emerged as a pivotal figure in the struggle for workers' rights. His story is not a vestige of the past. His resolve resonates with workers today as they grapple with issues like systemic discrimination, the precarity of the gig economy, and the erosion of labor protections. As Herndon recalled in his manifesto, his journey toward activism kickstarted in 1930 at 17 when he became involved with the Communist Party USA, aligning himself with its vision of economic equity, racial parity, and working-class advancement. He was also deeply inspired by the Scottsboro Boys case nine young men between 12 and 19 falsely accused of raping two white women. The blatant injustice of the trial, combined with Herndons growing conviction that the unity of Black and white laborers could lead to meaningful social change, drove him further into action. He believed that a collective, interracial labor movement was essential to dismantling the economic and racial hierarchies that oppressed workers. This ideology led him to spearhead a bold campaign for worker solidarity during the height of the Depression when financial instability and racial tensions were at a peak. On June 30, 1932, Herndon led around 1,000 unemployed workers in a rally at the Fulton County Courthouse, in downtown Atlanta, demanding food, jobs, and the renewal of unemployment payments. What made this protest particularly stirring and alarming to Jim Crow southerners was that Herndon, with his charisma and persuasive speeches, united Black and white workers in a peaceful march. For Herndon, capitalism was built off the backs of the working class, and their shared hardship transcended race. It was about survival. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The protest rattled the city, raising concerns about future unrest. What was also revolutionary was not just that a teenager had united young and old but that he disrupted Southern racial norms. Local leaders buckled, fearing an uprising and labor shortage. They approved emergency funds on July 1 within 24 hours of the protest, according to an article in Phylon, a magazine on race and culture published by Clark Atlanta University. This came at a cost for Herndon. Authorities arrested him on July 11 while he was collecting mail from the post office. While he was in custody, police searched his home, found communist materials, and charged him with inciting insurrection under the 1866 version of the states insurrection law, a statute with a history rooted in the suppression of slave revolts but later broadened in scope to address other forms of rebellion. It imposed the death penalty for possessing or distributing insurgent materials. His trial quickly became a high-profile legal battle, and he soon emerged as an international symbol of resistance, championing the fight against racism and the oppression of African Americans and workers alike. Herndon's legacy of defiance, rooted in the strife of economic hardship, began long before that pivotal moment. One of eight siblings, Herndon was born Eugene Angelo Braxton Herndon on May 6, 1913, in Wyoming, Ohio. After his father, Paul, died from pneumonia contracted in the mines, 13-year-old Herndon left home with his brother Leo in search of work to support their mother, Hattie. As he recalls in his manifesto, they first found work as coal shoveling contractors for DeBardeleben Coal Corporation in Lexington, Kentucky, earning $70 a month. There, Herndon witnessed the companys exploitation: workers were underpaid, lived in squalid conditions, and bore the costs of gear and commuting. Without a union, they had no protection and could do little but grumble. By early 1930, with the Depression setting in, Herndon recalled DeBardeleben cutting pay by 26%, prompting most workers to quit. The brothers did, too joining Goodyear Rubber in Birmingham, where Herndon says they faced similar mistreatment when the company withheld their first paycheck to cover transportation and food. Unprotected by any union, the brothers moved on to Tennessee Coal, Iron, and Railroad, where a co-workers death due to a foremans negligence spurred Herndon to take a stand. Backed by his co-workers, Herndon would later write in his manifesto that he succeeded in getting the foreman fired and compensation for the workers family, marking his first lesson in organizing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Energized, he attended a Birmingham Unemployment Council meeting, where he met members of the Communist party. Though small, the party's Depression-era evangelism to African Americans, especially in the South, emphasized racial parity and class struggle. As the Depression deepened, their message resonated with the hungry, tired, and desperate seeking food, shelter, and work. I knew that this was what I'd been looking for all my life, he wrote of that moment. That date means a lot more to me than my birthday or any other day in my life. They believed in organizing and sticking together. They believed that we didn't have to have bosses on our backs. They believed that Negroes ought to have equal rights with whites. He formally joined the Council and became a party organizer, mobilizing workers of all races on the shared struggles of the working class. In 1930, as hed later write in his manifesto, the 17-year-old represented Birmingham at the National Unemployment Convention in Chicago, organized an anti-lynching conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and represented at the Trade Union Unity League in New Orleans shortly after the Scottsboro Boys arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After drawing scrutiny from Alabama officials for his union activity, Herndon headed to Atlanta, where he soon began organizing workers. Shortly after, according to an article in The Journal of Negro History, Herndon spearheaded a committee to mobilize interracial groups to advocate for rent assistance and unemployment insurance. I couldn't say how many workers were unemployed, hed later write. The officials [kept] this information carefully hidden. By mid-June 1932, unemployment checks stopped altogether for thousands of residents, and the state shut down relief centers, forcing some people to leave for farm work. Many objected, demanding more help from the city. Herndon, now 19, stepped up, calling on officials to end the out-of-city work campaign and restore unemployment relief. This is what led Herndon to galvanize the unemployed in the unforgettable march that last day in June one that catapulted him into history. It also led to his subsequent monitoring and arrest. I was placed in a [cell] and was shown a large electric chair, and told to spill everything I knew about the movement, Herndon later remembered. I refused to talk, and was held incommunicado for eleven days. Finally, I smuggled out a letter through another prisoner, and the International Labor Defense got on the job. During his first trial, beginning on January 16, 1933, two young Black lawyers from the International Labor Defense Benjamin J. Davis Jr. and John H. Geer represented Herndon. This legal organization, affiliated with the Communist party, focused on defending workers and immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Herndon took the stand, he directly addressed the jury, explaining the plight of the working class and justifying his actions. He argued that economic justice and a fair standard of living should be accessible to all, regardless of race, and that systemic inequalities that create disparities in wealth and income must be addressed to achieve true societal parity. On January 18, 1933, the all-white jury found him guilty but did not impose the death penalty. Instead, they urged the court to show compassion, sentencing him to 18-20 years in a chain gang, a 2023 Atlanta Journal Constitution article recalled. After losing physical prisons in the Civil War, Georgia used chain gangs for correctional reform, forcing prisoners to work on state projects like railroad construction and sawmills. This method saved the state money by eliminating the need for new prisons. In his manifesto, Herndon writes that he addressed the court at his sentencing, saying: "They can hold this Angelo Herndon and hundreds of others, but it will never stop these demonstrations on the part of Negro and white workers who demand a decent place to live in and proper food for their kids to eat. Herndons case wound through the court system for years, going before appeals judges, the state Supreme Court, and ultimately before the U.S. Supreme Court, which in April 1937 ruled in Herndons favor, declaring the law under which he was tried unconstitutional, finding it violated the 1st Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon his release, he changed his name to Eugene Braxton and continued working with the Party in various roles, supporting the poor and unemployed. By the 1950s, he left the Party and moved to Chicago, living a quiet life as a salesman until his death on December 9, 1997. Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue Want more labor coverage? YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Its been a long year for animal shelters and humane agencies across the Valley, as they struggled with an overwhelming need across the board. This summer, Animal Charity of Ohio moved into a new building off Southern Boulevard as it took in hundreds of new rescues at the facility. Executive Director Jane MacMurchy said the nature of cases they saw changed a lot this year. Since COVID, we had dealt with a large hoarding crisis, MacMurchy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They still have about 600 animals, which is well over capacity for even its largest facility. However, MacMurchy said there were still fewer hoarding cases than in years past. To do the same amount of intakes, if not more, by the end of the year, but having less hoarding, that means there are more actual physical people abusing animals within our county, MacMurchy said. The shelter also got a new part-time humane agent Ashley Wagner, who appointed within the courts earlier this month. Wagner brought their numbers to two full-time and three part-time agents to deal with the increase in responses. To be able to cover all of the 425 square miles of this county effectively, we needed to get other agents on staff, MacMurchy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im very excited to be a part of a team here and being able to help the mission that animal charity has for the county. I am coming with some experience from another county, so its a very comfortable position for me to be in. Im glad I can continue to help the area, Wagner said. Looking into 2025, MacMurchy says they want to start working with lawmakers for stronger statewide anti-tethering laws for pets. Right now, those ordinances are left up to cities and towns, and many often dont have agents to enforce them. We want stronger laws. We want stronger penalties, and so were going to work with our state senators and try and make some change, MacMurchy 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 WKBN.com. Russian forces have begun using improvised counter-drone buggies armed with a weapon made up of 24 barrels that fire shotgun-like ammunition, as well as six AK-series infantry rifles on a single mount. The cluster of shot-firing barrels highlights how shotguns have become a go-to option for both sides of the conflict in Ukraine to help provide local defense against uncrewed aerial threats, but also the limitations of those weapons in this role. A video from the Russian Ministry of Defense, seen below, shows a pair of the new counter-drone vehicles. An accompanying official post on the Telegram social media network says they are based around a chassis taken from an unspecified model of the long-popular 44 Lada Niva series. The most advanced development of Russian air defense systems. The Russian Ministry of Defense presented an "anti-drone buggy." The buggy is armed with a turret made of 6 assault rifles. The second system (which looks like a mini-grad) is most likely welded together barrels for pic.twitter.com/C0bgYlJ7I7 Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) December 26, 2024 The cluster of 24 barrels is installed on a remotely operated turret on the top of the front of the vehicles open center frame. Though it evokes the look of a small multiple rocket launcher, a machine translation of the Russian Ministry of Defenses Telegram post says that these shoot buckshot. They could well just be repurposed shotgun barrels. It is unclear how this weapon is aimed. Another look at the 24-barrel cluster on one of the Russian anti-drone vehicles. Russian MoD capture Then there is the manually operated mount at the rear of the vehicle with the six AK-pattern guns installed in a row. These look to be 7.62x39mm AK-12s based on what can be seen of their features, such as distinctive muzzle devices and front sights. The only aid for aiming the rifles looks to be a large open cross-hair-type sight. What appear to be six AK-12 rifles also mounted on one of the anti-drone buggies. Russian MoD capture A stock shot of an AK-12 rifle. Kalashnikov Group Other arrangements involving multiple AK-series rifles for use against drones, including ones mounted on vehicles, have already been seen in use by Russian and Ukrainian forces in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Un canon antiaereo improvisado de las Fuerzas Armadas de Ucrania a partir de 6 AK-74. pic.twitter.com/du42rJl2iu Fibrik (@Fibrik_Oficial) July 7, 2023 Another style of a Russian anti-drone buggy with a mount armed with six AK-12s at the rear. This vehicle also has a pair of what looks to be 7.62x54mmR PK-series machine guns on a remotely operated mount at the front. Alexander Reka/TASS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another multi-AK-mount in Russian service. This example has five 5.45x39mm AK-74 rifles. Alexei Konovalov/TASS The Russian Ministry of Defense says the new buggies can also employ heat traps, a term typically used to refer to thermal countermeasure capabilities like decoy flares. There are launchers at the front of the vehicles, but what exactly they fire is unclear. Flares could be used to try to blind optics, especially infrared and other night vision cameras, on enemy drones. A screen capture from the Russian MoD video showing one of the buggies firing its front-mounted launchers. Debris from the launch can be seen to the right. Russian MoD capture The daily use of various tiers of drones, including first-person view (FPV) kamikaze types and ones that drop small munitions on their targets, by both Russia and Ukraine, has come to be a central symbol of the ongoing fighting between the two countries. There is now a steady cycle of development of anti-drone countermeasures, and then of new uncrewed capabilities in response, on both sides. Russian correspondent hides from a Ukranian drone it looks for him like in a scary movie. pic.twitter.com/XPPQGzDzn0 Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) September 11, 2024 Reposting this video showing a Russian T-80BVM tank with a roof screen and deploying smoke surviving multiple FPV hits and misses.https://t.co/nS5v1Vx15F https://t.co/YpwuUrelOT pic.twitter.com/A6ethi6l0O Rob Lee (@RALee85) December 13, 2023 A Ukrainian drone from the 79th Air Assault Brigade drops a 40mm HEDP grenade on a Russian UR-77 Meteorit, causing a catastrophic payload explosion. pic.twitter.com/SsaQCKXsNL OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) August 14, 2023 The ubiquity of drones has also created a demand for defensive capabilities that can be widely and quickly fielded down to the smallest units. As already noted, the shotgun barrel cluster on the new Russian anti-drone vehicles highlights traditional shotguns, including commercial sporting and hunting types, being widely fielded by both sides of the conflict in Ukraine to help meet these anti-drone needs. Russian soldiers at a training range in Rostov oblast training to counter UAVs with shotguns. 14/https://t.co/TA1154jwdZ pic.twitter.com/6p94zcF7xR Rob Lee (@RALee85) December 23, 2024 A member of the recently raised Western Battalion (affiliated with the Kalinouski Regt.) engaging a drone with shotgun. Likely fairly effective against lower flying drones, definitely takes some still though.#Ukraine #UkraineWar #UAV #SALW pic.twitter.com/4rlB8ph76x Matthew Moss | Historical Firearms (@historicfirearm) November 4, 2023 Despite their widespread use, questions have emerged about the effectiveness of shotguns, specifically, in the anti-drone role. A video, seen below, emerged online earlier this month showing Ukrainian service members testing commercially available shotgun ammunition against small quadcopter-type drones with poor results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian soldiers test the effects of shotgun cartridges on attacking FPV drones. Apparently knocking down an FPV with a shotgun is a challenge. pic.twitter.com/UIa4jbigNb Roy (@GrandpaRoy2) December 12, 2024 A shotgun does not penetrate, does not damage the FPV drone, a Ukrainian service member says at one point in the video. He hit the antenna [on the drone], but it didnt stop him anyway, another individual says in the clip. Firing a burst of shotgun shells at once from a cluster of barrels could help maximize total damage to the target, as well as increase the overall likelihood of scoring hits. However, the effective range of typical buckshot shotgun ammunition, as well as its penetrative capabilities at longer distances, has long been a limiting factor in the battlefield use of shotguns, broadly speaking. As a prime example of this, the U.S. militarys abortive late Cold War-era Close Assault Weapon System (CAWS) combat shotgun program notably also involved development of new ammunition types to try to provide better terminal effects at extended ranges. The War Zone more recently highlighted exactly these issues after the U.S. Marine Corps expressed interest earlier this year in the possibility of acquiring shotgun pellet-like ammunition for its standard service rifles to help defend against drones. New specialized ammunition could still be a way to improve the utility of shotguns and other small arms against drones. Pictures of the shotgun German gunmaker Heckler & Koch developed in cooperation with the Olin Corporation in the United States for the U.S. militarys CAWS program (at left) and special metal-cased buckshot rounds that went with it (at right). Heckler & Koch At the same time, engaging small and highly maneuverable drones like FPV kamikaze types with small arms can be a tall order, in general. The U.S. military, among others, has been fielding computerized gun sights on a limited level to help individual shooters better engage uncrewed aerial threats. The Marine Corps has also at least tested another counter-drone system for existing standard infantry rifles that includes an automatically moving buttstock, as you can read more about here. Still, at least when it comes to the U.S. Army, kinetic defeat capabilities involving an augmented primary weapon optic are considered [a] last line of defense for a squad-sized element, according to a recent contracting notice. A promotional image showing a rifle equipped with Smart Shooters SMASH 2000L (also now known as the SMASH 3000), a computerized optic multiple branches of the U.S. military are fielding now to individual shooters engaging drones. Smart Shooter A promotional image showing an individual holding an M4-style carbine equipped with a Smash 2000L/Smash 3000 optic. Smart Shooter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A US Marine aims an M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle equipped with the ZeroMark Fire Control System (FCS), which includes an automatically moving buttstock. USMC When it comes to the 24-barrel weapon on the new Russian counter-drone vehicles, there is also a question of how quickly and easily that system can be reloaded after firing. It is important to stress that multiple layers of capabilities would offer the best defense against drones, even just localized attacks by smaller kamikaze types. What the optimal mix of anti-drone systems might be remains a hot topic of debate globally. Options that incorporate guns do look set to be part of that ecosystem in the foreseeable future. Shotguns and other weapons that fire similar pellet-filled ammunition, like the one that has now emerged on the Russian counter-drone buggies, are still very much in the mix when it comes to protecting against uncrewed aerial threats despite questions about their overall utility. Contact the author: joe@twz.com TALLAHASSEE An appeals court Thursday, Dec. 26 upheld a circuit judges ruling that rejected five candidates for municipal offices in Riviera Beach because they used debit cards instead of checks to pay qualifying fees. A three-judge panel of the 4th District Court of Appeal issued a one-paragraph opinion that provided little explanation. But in a Dec. 12 ruling that blocked the five candidates, Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Reid P. Scott cited a state law that requires qualifying fees to be paid with a properly executed check drawn upon the candidates campaign account. Scott wrote that the law does not make an exception for the use of a debit card to pay the qualifying fee. The court finds that the plain language of the statute is clear and unambiguous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Riviera Beach candidates blast lawsuit challenging how they paid campaign filing fee More: Riviera Beach City Councilman Douglas Lawsuit blasts election qualifying lawsuit Thursdays appeals court opinion shared by Judges Robert Gross, Spencer Levine and Jeffrey Kuntz cited a precedent in another election-qualifying case that said the law must be enforced as written. The rulings blocked mayoral candidates Kendrick Wyly and Kendra Wester and city council candidates Joseph J. Bedford, Sr., Madelene Irving-Mills and Douglas Lawson from running in the March municipal elections. After a November qualifying period, other candidates challenged a decision by the city clerk that Wyly, Wester, Bedford, Irving-Mills and Lawson had properly qualified to appear on the ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The qualifying fee for the mayor race was $1,212, while the qualifying fee for the council races was $1,140, according to a brief filed in the appeals court by Mark Herron, an attorney for the five blocked candidates. An appeals court upheld a circuit judges ruling that rejected five candidates for municipal offices in Riviera Beach because they used debit cards to pay qualifying fees. The candidates were, from left, Joseph Bedford Sr., Douglas Lawson, Kendra Wester and Madelene Irving-Mills. Also a candidate but not shown is Kendrick Wyly. In appealing Scotts decision, Herron focused, in part, on another state law that allows political candidates to use debit cards to pay campaign expenses. Under that law, he wrote, debit cards are considered bank checks for such expenses. He wrote that the two laws about paying qualifying fees and campaign expenses need to be construed together. Thus, payment of a candidates qualifying fees by a debit card linked to the candidates campaign account is authorized by Florida law, Herron wrote. But attorney Dedrick Straghn, who represents those who filed the lawsuit Mayor Ronnie Felder, District 1 Councilman Tradrick McCoy and District 5 candidate Farcella Davis-Painter filed a brief that drew a distinction between the two laws. That brief contended that campaign expenditures and qualifying fees are not interchangeable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Florida Election Code contains no explicit language allowing the use of debit cards as payment for qualifying fees, Straghn wrote. If this (appeals) court were to construe the Election Code allowing payment of the qualifying fee with debit cards in the absence of specific language, it would literally be legislating by reinserting the language. This is beyond the courts power. Moreover, allowing such payments would undermine the statutory framework intended to ensure transparency, traceability, and immediate fund verification. A candidate qualification issue tripped up a previous race in Riviera Beach. Julia Botel was not allowed to seek re-election to City Council earlier this year after she paid her campaign filing fee with a cashier's check and not with one drawn from her campaign account. The Riviera Beach clerk, who oversees elections in the city, disqualified Botel, and her would-be opponent, Glen Spiritis, took her seat when her efforts to overturn that disqualification failed. Lawson had told The Palm Beach Post that "we did have consultants and advisors that stated that they would accept a debit card." He said one of those advisors was former Belle Glade City Clerk Debra Buff, "a consultant, hired by the city." Buff is a former president of the Florida Association of City Clerks and has been honored by that organization for her work. But Lawson told The Post he did not blame Buff or anyone else for the legal turmoil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I blame the process of this being a frivolous lawsuit," he said. Palm Beach Post reporter Wayne Washington contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Candidates in Riviera Beach blocked from running after court ruling A senseless fight over a cellphone left a 36-year-old man dying on a Bronx street on Christmas Eve, according to officials and surveillance footage. Arkmayer Davis, 30, was fatally stabbed after arguing with his assailant over a cell phone inside Kleen Panda Laundromat near East Tremont Avenue and Morris Avenue in Mount Hope around 11:43 a.m., the video obtained by The Post shows. Arkmayer Davis was stabbed to death after arguing with his attacker about a cellphone. Obtained by NY Post Arkmayer Davis was found covered in blood outside Kleen Panda Laundromat. Obtained by NY Post Arkmayer Davis was found covered in blood on a Bronx street. Peter Gerber Give me my phone, bro! Give me my phone, the suspected attacker repeatedly yells at Davis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis, wearing a dark jacket and hoodie, then tosses the phone on a table before the man snatches it away. Get away from me! Shut the fk up, bro! I dont want to be around you no more, the enraged suspect screams at Davis before storming out. Police later found Davis outside the laundromat covered in blood with stab wounds on his chest, legs, and arms. Medics rushed him to Saint Barnabas Hospital, but he could not be saved. Davis lived steps away from where he was murdered. His attacker has yet to be nabbed. Murder has skyrocketed by 92.3% in the 46th Precinct which covers Mount Hope and University Heights with 25 homicides recorded through Dec. 15 compared to 13 for the same time period in 2023, according to police data. Authorities on Thursday arrested a suspect who police say shot and wounded a juvenile on Christmas Day in Gulfport. Police responded at 4:51 p.m. Wednesday to the intersection of 44th Avenue and 13th Street and found a juvenile with a gunshot wound, Gulfport Police said in a news release. The juvenile was brought to a local hospital and was listed in stable condition, the news release said. Police are searching for Joshua Wells, 40, who is a suspect in a shooting on Christmas Day in Gulfport. Police were searching Thursday morning for Joshua Wells, 40, who authorities say arrived at a home Wednesday afternoon and turned an argument physical. Authorities allege Wells fired at the victim then left in a 2017 black Chevrolet Impala with the Mississippi license plate BOSLDY5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said just before noon on Thursday that Wells had been arrested. Wells is facing one count of aggravated assault. Police had warned that Wells was armed and dangerous. Gulfport Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the Gulfport Police Department at 228-868-5959 or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898. Soldiers with the 10th Mountain Division, which is currently deployed in Romania, recently became the first Army unit to field the services newest reconnaissance drones. The 317th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, out of Fort Johnson, Louisiana, employed the Skydio and GhostX systems during training operations at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, according to an Army release. The new drones fit different mission profiles at the tactical level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Skydio X10D drone is a short-range recon aircraft that can fly up to 5 kilometers and stay aloft for approximately 30 minutes, according to the release. Typically, the Skydio is deployed by infantry and scout platoons on dismounted patrols, providing soldiers with a better snapshot of their immediate area during mission planning. The GhostX, made by Anduril, goes a bit farther. It can fly up to 15 kilometers and stay in the air for an hour. This platform is geared toward a company commanders needs in a larger area of operation. Make counter-drone training as routine as marksmanship: Army general Soldiers flying the new drones, meanwhile, nabbed new skills during the operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You have to be a qualified aircraft operator before youre able to put the aircraft in the air, so we run an initial qualification program for multiple units in our brigade, said Staff Sgt. Kevin Sweeny, counter-drone NCO in charge for Delta Company, 317th BEB. During the late November training, the unit qualified 132 Skydio operators, according to the release. They can take the [Sydio] aircraft out of its case, assemble it, mission plan and get it in the air in less than 10 minutes, Sweeny said. Every company in the 3rd BCT is slated to receive a Skydio system, with next steps expected to include using the systems in training at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hoehenfels, Germany. Spc. Elijah Jean-Paul, with Delta Company, 317 Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division performs drone operator qualifications Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase, Romania. (Sgt Kourtney Nunnery/Army) The end state of this whole exercise is to test the personnel, the structure of the platoon and the communication between the squads and how we work together as a whole, said 1st Lt. Alexis Gavrillis, an intelligence officer in the battalion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to implementing the GhostX drone, the system is slated to go to each of the battalions in the BCT. While the Army began including counter-drone training as part of basic training this year, the field training this particular outfit recently concluded is likely to be replicated throughout many more Army units. The drone certification process is MOS-agnostic. Soldiers with the training can apply it in their units when needed, regardless of their primary job. Defense News reported in September that the Army awarded Anduril Industries and Performance Drone Works a $14.42 million contract for its small drone program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Army recently released a sources sought notice for industry to solicit pitches on an interim capability for tactical drones at the brigade level, according to a service release. *CORRECTION: This article has been updated with the correct home station location for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team. SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) An arson investigation is underway after a car was set on fire Christmas night in Spartanburg County. The Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office responded to the fire around 7:30 p.m. at a business at the 900 block of Hayne Street. Upon arrival, deputies spoke with a man who reported his Ford Explorer had been set on fire. According to the incident report, the man was on the phone inside the business when he heard a car honking outside. When the man exited the building, he saw the front of his car was on fire, deputies said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies said the fire was quickly extinguished leaving a small portion of the drivers side bumper melted. It was reported that the car that alerted the man by honking had sped away from the business so no information was able to be obtained from the witness. The fire is being investigated as arson according to deputies. The case remains under investigation by the SCSO. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Beijing Eight Imperial Handicrafts, namely Jingtailan (Cloisonne), Carved Lacquer, Jade Carving, Palace Carpet, Gold Lacquer Inlaid, Filigree Inlaid Metal Art, Ivory Carving, and Beijing Embroidery, once reached the art peak of handicraft in ancient China when they were used only by the Royal family. Thanks to the efforts of generations of masters, those handicrafts have been preserved well and given a new life. Let's walk into the studios of those masters to see how they work on their art. Beijing Embroidery, also called Imperial Embroidery, dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and is one of the Beijing Eight Imperial Handicrafts. Made initially for the extended royal families, the embroidery became famous worldwide for its delicacy during the Guangxu Period (1875-1908) of the Qing Dynasty. It was not until the end of the Qing Dynasty that some folk embroidery workshops appeared in Beijing, making embroideries suitable for common people. Thereafter, Beijing Embroidery is used for calling embroideries made around the city of Beijing. Beijing Embroidery emphasizes on the auspicious meanings of its patterns and is usually made with elegant and gorgeous designs and colors. Adopting expensive silks and satins as the fundamental materials, it not only uses threads made with natural silk but also with gold or silver foils to embroider the patterns. The craftsmen still inherit traditional tools such as embroidery needles, scissors and embroidery stands. The making goes through procedures like selecting materials, drawing patterns, rubbing patterns, selecting threads, embroidering and brushing paste. In 2014, the craft of Beijing Embroidery was listed as one of the national-level intangible cultural heritages. Jin Xin introduces one of her artwork displayed at an exhibition hall of Beijing Embroidery in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Jin Xin introduces her exhibits to visitors at an exhibition hall of Beijing Embroidery in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) This photo taken on Nov. 26, 2024 shows the details of a Beijing Embroidery artwork displayed at an exhibition hall of Beijing Embroidery in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li Xin) This photo taken on Nov. 29, 2024 shows colorful threads for making Beijing Embroidery displayed at Jin Xin's workshop in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li Xin) This photo taken on Nov. 26, 2024 shows a vest with Beijing Embroidery displayed at an exhibition hall of Beijing Embroidery in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Jin Xin, a woman of Yao ethnic group born in 1977 in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has loved embroidery since her childhood when she saw women in her village embroidered on clothes. In 2003, she quit her former job and started to study Beijing Embroidery after taking part in an event on the restoration and replica of cultural relic embroideries in Beijing. Having no basic knowledge of the art, she learned from purchasing materials, copying and rubbing patterns, to stitching in various ways and completing a whole product. Jin Xin draws patterns at her workshop on Beijing Embroidery in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Jin Xin introduces one of her artwork displayed at an exhibition hall of Beijing Embroidery in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Jin Xin smells a flower when reading on embroidery patterns at her workshop on Beijing Embroidery in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Jin Xin shows a box combining Beijing Embroidery craft with traditional box making craft at an exhibition hall of Beijing Embroidery in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Jin Xin introduces one of her artwork displayed at an exhibition hall of Beijing Embroidery in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Jin Xin talks with visitors at an exhibition hall of Beijing Embroidery in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Jin Xin works at her workshop on Beijing Embroidery in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) In 2005, Jin started her own business on Beijing Embroidery. In 2008, she set up her company which has been dedicated to the inheritance and innovation of the art and the creation of patterns. In 2010, she became an apprentice of Yu Meiying, an inheritor of Beijing Embroidery. During her study, Jin tried to combine the traditional handicraft with modern art, creating a series of Beijing Embroidery products such as embroidery screens, tea table mats, scarfs and capes, handbags and ties, in a bid to apply the art to modern products and attract young people's attention. "I hope more people will see the beauty of Beijing Embroidery and our traditional crafts," said Jin Xin, "My ultimate goal is to bring it to the international stage." Jin Xin (C) and her teacher Yu Meiying (L) guide an apprentice to do embroidery at an exhibition hall of Beijing Embroidery in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Jin Xin prepares to draw patterns at her Beijing Embroidery workshop in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) This photo taken on Nov. 26, 2024 shows handbags with Beijing Embroidery displayed at an exhibition hall of Beijing Embroidery in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Jin Xin shows a handbag with Beijing Embroidery at an exhibition hall of Beijing Embroidery in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Jin Xin checks displaying boards at an exhibition hall of Beijing Embroidery in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) This photo taken on Nov. 26, 2024 shows an artwork of Jin Xin displayed at an exhibition hall of Beijing Embroidery in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Jin Xin (L) introduces a Beijing Embroidery artwork to foreign guests during an exchange event in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Jin Xin looks at her exhibits at an exhibition hall of Beijing Embroidery in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Filigree Inlaid Metal Art, a traditional imperial handicraft dating back to the Spring and Autumn period (770 B.C.-476 B.C.), reached its peak in the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). In 1958, five cooperatives specialized in Filigree Inlaid Metal Art in Beijing merged into one factory, which revived this traditional art from almost extinction. In 2008, Filigree Inlaid Metal Art was listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage. Four main crafts, namely making filigree, inlaying jewels, engraving and making the rough-body, are involved in the art, where a product needs to go through about 100 procedures. Nowadays, these skills are still being imparted by a master to an apprentice in a literally hand-holding manner, and can only be grasped through long-time practices. A Filigree Inlaid Metal artwork is displayed at Dong Ruijing's studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue) A Filigree Inlaid Metal artwork is displayed at Dong Ruijing's studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue) Filigree Inlaid Metal artworks are displayed at Dong Ruijing's studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) A Filigree Inlaid Metal artwork is displayed at Dong Ruijing's studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue) Dong Ruijing, a Beijing native born in 1970, started to learn the art when he was 15. In 1988, he entered the Beijing Filigree Inlaid Metal Artwork Factory and became an apprentice of three masters Yang Rui, Wu Kenan and Bai Jingyi. In 2006, he set up his own company to further develop the art. For more than three decades, Dong and his apprentices have been dedicated to the innovation of the art, integrating it with other crafts such as lacquer carving and enamel art. Their products are now exported to markets including Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia. Dong Ruijing makes a Filigree Inlaid Metal artwork at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Dong Ruijing makes Filigree Inlaid Metal artwork at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Dong Ruijing sketches designs of Filigree Inlaid Metal artwork at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Dong Ruijing shows a pair of Filigree Inlaid Metal earrings at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) An artwork integrating Filigree Inlaid Metal art and the craft of lacquer carving is displayed at Dong Ruijing's studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Dong Ruijing prints designs of Filigree Inlaid Metal artwork at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) A semi-finished Filigree Inlaid Metal artwork is displayed at Dong Ruijing's studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) By far, Dong has cultivated over 20 craftsmen on the art, and has built up a production base on Filigree Inlaid Metal artwork in Zunhua of north China's Hebei Province, where he has also trained nearly 100 farmers. Joining hands with Beijing Cultural Development Foundation, Dong started a project in 2023 on cultivating new-generation Filigree Inlaid Metal art talents across Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. "It's lonely and tough in persisting the art," said Dong, "My love for it has encouraged me all along the way." In his view, to pass down the craft, artists should come up with products that cater to modern aesthetics and people's daily needs. Artworks integrating Filigree Inlaid Metal art and the craft of lacquer carving are displayed at Dong Ruijing's studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Dong Ruijing shows a decoration with Filigree Inlaid Metal art at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) An artwork integrating Filigree Inlaid Metal art and the craft of ivory carving is displayed at Dong Ruijing's studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue) Dong Ruijing (L) instructs his apprentices on Filigree Inlaid Metal art at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) An ancient Filigree Inlaid Metal artwork is displayed at Dong Ruijing's studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Dong Ruijing takes a tea break at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) A Filigree Inlaid Metal artwork is displayed at Dong Ruijing's studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Dong Ruijing poses for a photo at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue) A Filigree Inlaid Metal artwork is displayed at Dong Ruijing's studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Gold Lacquer Inlay Art, a main category of traditional Chinese lacquer art, has a history of more than 7,000 years. Developing on the basis of the imperial art dating back to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, the art has formed a classically elegant and splendid Beijing-style. It has been applied to a wide range of aspects in life, from pillars in ancient buildings, screens, thrones and furniture in the palace, to tableware, tea sets, writing materials and jewelry in people's daily life. Adopting pine as the body and covering it with natural lacquer, a Gold Lacquer Inlay artwork costs at least four months to finish through a series of processes such as color painting, inlaying and carving. In 2008, the craft was listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage. A Gold Lacquer Inlay Art screen is displayed at the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xin) A Gold Lacquer Inlay Art screen is displayed at the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue) A Gold Lacquer Inlay Art cabinet is displayed at the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Hu Xin, born in 1957, is an inheritor of Gold Lacquer Inlay art. She entered the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Co., Ltd. in 1976 after graduation to learn color painting from senior master Liu Xiheng. Over the 48 years of her career, Hu has achieved a new breakthrough on the craft that paints colors on gold foils. Many of her artworks, winning important prizes in China and abroad, have been collected by the National Museum of China. Hu Xin paints colors on a Gold Lacquer Inlay artwork at the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xin) The detail of a Gold Lacquer Inlay artwork is pictured at the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Hu Xin touches a Gold Lacquer Inlay artwork at the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue) A Gold Lacquer Inlay Art artwork by Hu Xin is displayed at the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Hu Xin paints colors on a Gold Lacquer Inlay artwork at the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Gold Lacquer Inlay Art artworks are displayed at the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Hu Xin introduces a masterpiece of Gold Lacquer Inlay Art to her apprentices at the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) A Gold Lacquer Inlay artwork by Hu Xin is made at the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Hu has trained about ten apprentices, some of whom have become arts and crafts masters in Beijing. In 2015, the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Co., Ltd. started cooperation with Beijing Arts & Design Technology Institute to train new talents. As a visiting professor, Hu has given lectures every week in the institute since then. In 2019, Hu also set up a studio of her own, where she and her apprentices design and make new Gold Lacquer Inlay artworks that meet the demand of the market and pass down the traditional art. Hu Xin instructs an apprentice on a Gold Lacquer Inlay artwork at the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Furniture of Gold Lacquer Inlay Art are displayed at the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Hu Xin introduces a masterpiece of Gold Lacquer Inlay Art to her apprentices at the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Tools for making Gold Lacquer Inlay artwork are pictured at the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xin) A staff member introduces a Gold Lacquer Inlay Art cabinet to visitors at the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) The detail of a Gold Lacquer Inlay artwork is pictured at the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue) A staff member introduces a Gold Lacquer Inlay Art cabinet to a visitor at the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Gold Lacquer Inlay artworks are displayed at the Beijing Gold Lacquer Inlay Art Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Ivory Carving, an ancient craft in China, was famous for its elegance due to its pure white material -- ivory. The earliest ivory carving artwork was found in a cultural relic in China during the Neolithic Age, dating back to 7,000 years ago. Beijing Ivory Carving, featuring elegant and luxuriant styles inherited from the imperial art, goes through several main procedures before completion such as designing, hewing, shoveling, face shaping and grinding. China has been intensifying its efforts in wildlife protection over the years. On Dec. 30, 2016, China declared it would enforce a complete stop to its domestic ivory trade within a year. On Dec. 31, the last day of 2017, processing or selling ivory and its products was officially illegalized in China with the complete ban entering into force. Nowadays, carvers use mammoth tusks or antlers as substitutes. This photo taken on Dec. 17, 2024 shows a mammoth tusk carving artwork displayed at the studio of Li Chunke in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) This photo taken on Dec. 17, 2024 shows a mammoth tusk carving artwork displayed at the studio of Li Chunke in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li Xin) This photo taken on Dec. 17, 2024 shows a mammoth tusk carving artwork displayed at the studio of Li Chunke in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) An apprentice of Li Chunke makes an antler carving artwork at Li Chunke's studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) An apprentice of Li Chunke works at the studio of Li Chunke in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Li Chunke, born in 1949 in Beijing, a national-level intangible cultural heritage inheritor of ivory carving, started to learn the art at 15 years old. In his sixty-year career, Li has formed a uniquely simple and crisp style in his carving. He emphasizes on using the most simple lines and skills to express the theme of the artwork, also stressing on the traditional Chinese aesthetics. Many of his works have won important prizes in the art, with some being regarded as art treasures in China. Li Chunke stands in front of the displaying cabinet of his artworks at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) An apprentice of Li Chunke makes an antler carving artwork at Li Chunke's studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Li Chunke draws a design for ivory carving artwork at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) This photo taken on Dec. 17, 2024 shows a picture for designing ivory carving artwork displayed at the studio of Li Chunke in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) Li Chunke makes a mammoth tusk carving artwork at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xin) This photo taken on Dec. 17, 2024 shows a mammoth tusk carving artwork made with micro-carving skills displayed at the studio of Li Chunke in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li Xin) This photo taken on Dec. 17, 2024 shows a mammoth tusk carving artwork displayed at the studio of Li Chunke in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Li Chunke introduces a mammoth tusk carving artwork at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xin) In recent years, Li has passed down the craft at the Chinese National Academy of Arts, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology and Beijing Light Industry Polytechnic College. He has cultivated over 20 students with master's degrees in arts and crafts and over 100 apprentices in ivory carving. He has also presided over the maintaining and repairing projects on 100 plus ancient ivory carving artworks at the Beijing Arts & Crafts Museum. For him, the art should lay importance to its subtle beauty inherited from the traditional Chinese culture. To further develop it, China needs more young talents and should explore new carving materials. Apprentices of Li Chunke work at the studio of Li Chunke in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) This photo taken on Dec. 17, 2024 shows a mammoth tusk carving artwork displayed at the studio of Li Chunke in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Li Chunke instructs his apprentice at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xin) This photo taken on Dec. 17, 2024 shows a mammoth tusk carving artwork made with micro-carving skills displayed at the studio of Li Chunke in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) This photo taken on Dec. 17, 2024 shows a mammoth tusk carving artwork displayed at the studio of Li Chunke in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi) This photo taken on Dec. 17, 2024 shows a mammoth tusk carving artwork displayed at the studio of Li Chunke in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li Xin) KANSAS (KSNT) Earlier this year, hospitals with the Ascension network were hit with a ransomware attack that has left a lasting impact. Now, the company is reaching out to patients who may have had their personal data compromised by the situation. Ascension shared a new update on Dec. 19 regarding the cyber attack and will now contact people whose data was impacted. Ascension said the type of data is varied but can include medical, payment, insurance, government identification and other personal information. Although patient data was involved, importantly, there remains no evidence that data was taken from our Electronic Health Records (EHR) and other clinical systems, where our full patient records are securely stored, Ascension wrote in the press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ascension has started to send letters to people who couldve had their personal information stolen. The company said those letters should arrive in the mail in two to three weeks. Ascension manages hospitals and clinics in Wichita, Pittsburg, Wamego and Manhattan in Kansas. Teen actor from Baby Driver dies after falling from moving vehicle Ascension reminds patients that systems have been restored in a safe and secure fashion and that downtime procedures have ended. If you have any other questions about services being offered at Ascension institutions in Kansas, click here. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. 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 KSNT 27 News. (This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) The most widely used roofing material might soon be on the outs with state policymakers at least its getting there for the state's top insurance regulator. Michael Yaworsky, commissioner of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, at a gathering of state and insurance industry leaders, alluded to a future in which a new asphalt shingle roof is looked upon as less-than-ideal in the calculus of each homeowners premium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its probably time to look past asphalt shingles, Yaworsky said, noting at last months Florida Chamber of Commerce 2024 Insurance Summit that asphalt shingles often do not last 30 years, as manufacturers claim. Asphalt shingles are Maybe its time to start writing them out of the plot in Florida. Yaworsky could not be reached for further comment to discuss what he meant when he referenced the evolving space for covering Florida homes, be it by ceramic tile, asphalt shingles or financial fortification. But if state officials and elected leaders chatter is any indication, the focus for shoring up the states wobbly insurance industry in the coming year is on increasing structures storm resistance, not regulating market conditions that have made Floridians No. 1 in highest-average property insurance premiums in the country. To that aim, the Legislature is likely to be asked to allocate a fresh infusion of cash for the program that incentivizes Floridians to stormproof their homes, according to the Department of Financial Services. Also, the powerful chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, said hell introduce legislation that proposes to freeze the property taxes of those who build homes out of the storm surges reach. Roofing company employees at work at a home in Broward County December 22, 2024 in Margate. Even in the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton, which produced scenes awash in flooding and destruction, the homes built to codes adopted after Hurricane Andrew fared better, Ingoglia points out. There were also live demonstrations of buildings that resisted Mother Natures destructive power entirely. Just 12 miles north of Siesta Key by boat, where Milton made landfall, a new development in the village of Cortez, on the southern end of Anna Maria Island, escaped with the lights still on, according to reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ingoglia said he'd like to see more of that. The fundamental problem that we have is: How do we replace or upgrade old building stock to current standards? Ingoglia said. That is a question I think the Legislature needs to answer. The state Office of Insurance Regulation has said they have no plans to propose any new changes to rules governing the insurance market directly. The effects of changing the state's tort laws, which in 2022 vastly took away many incentives for the insured to drag their insurer into court over settlement disputes, is still working its way out, state officials said at the same insurance summit last month. Improving roofing standards in Florida? Longer term, and with wider potential impact, it looks as though Yaworksys uncertainty about the future of asphalt shingle roofing in Florida is a growing concern for existing housing built even after Hurricane Andrews building codes went into effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) was founded by the property-casualty industry to look at best construction practices. It has concluded that asphalt shingles are failing American homeowners, and their durability has not advanced. Its because consumers dont know how to be more discriminating in choosing roof materials, and insurers are footing the roofing bill 30% of the time, according to the nonprofits Strategy 2026. Those observations are coming out of IBHS research, which is the result of experiments in the worlds only lab created to simulate high winds against full-scale housing construction, according to IBHSs materials. IBHS will evaluate the relative wind performance across roof systems both for residential and commercial construction, forming the basis for a series of Roofing Roadmaps that provide guidance on the best and worst performing roof systems over their lifetime, says the organizations Strategy 2026: Turning Science Into Solutions publication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People in the construction industry may beg to differ on the efficacy of asphalt shingles, however. Billy Venhuizen, general manager of Hermitage Roofing, based in Mangonia Park, said hes been stunned by the roofs that insurance companies have refused to insure. Hes seen insurers force homeowners to get new roofs based on their existing ones chronological age, even if there are no visible signs that the shingles need replacing. We were shocked at the roofs they (insurance companies) told people they had to replace, he said, noting that his experience installing roofs in Virginia was notably different. Its hard on people. Not everyone can afford a $23,000 new roof. Switching to other roofing materials, either ceramic tile or metal, would not likely improve the states affordability housing problems, he noted. Concrete (ceramic) tile is 50% more (than asphalt shingles) and metal tile is even more about 65% more, Venhuizen said. More Florida funding for home improvements planned Meanwhile, the state Legislature is likely to be asked to appropriate more money for My Safe Florida Home, which has already subsidized thousands of new asphalt shingle roofs. In that program, the state will match every dollar that homeowners spend with $2 for specific home-hardening projects that also include hurricane-impact glass installation and new garage doors, should a state home inspection prove the need for it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Financial Services said in October that Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis would seek to make My Safe Florida Home a permanent part of the budget. No change in that course has been announced since Patronis resigned his post to run for the congressional seat that former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R- Niceville, vacated. According to the latest news release, Patroniss office plans to ask for $480 million to continue hardening Florida homes against hurricane damage. That would almost double the $587 million in grant funding thats been doled out since the program was revived in 2022. The credits that homeowners realized because of these state-boosted upgrades have meant an average of $1,000 a year in savings on premiums for each participating homeowner, according to the Department of Financial Services. Florida senator wants incentives for people to build higher off ground Roofing company employees at work at a home in Broward County December 22, 2024 in Margate. Ingoglia, the state senator, says hed vote for more My Safe Florida Home funding and also go further, adding incentives for homeowners to build higher, especially if they are rebuilding after a storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of the damage is done to older homes that are built at ground level in these flood-prone areas. And that is something where we need some big ideas, Ingoglia said. And I think that freezing property taxes for 15 to 20 years, which would probably result in anywhere between a $30,000 to $50,000 property tax savings would be helpful. Anne Geggis is the insurance reporter at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at ageggis@gannett.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Citizens Insurance: Asphalt shingle roofs in Florida may need to go Dec. 26ANDERSON The City of Anderson took a step this week toward helping the community's homeless population. The administration of Mayor Thomas Broderick Jr. awarded $900,000 in American Rescue Plan funding to Aspire Indiana Health. The award was recommended by the city's committee on the homeless during the appropriation of American Rescue Plan funds. The $900,000 earmarked to help with the homeless population was approved in the plan by Anderson City Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City council last week voted to provide $250,000 to the city's Homeless Task Force, which was created this year. Aspire Indiana "is a nonprofit, fully integrated 'whole health' provider with wide-ranging services including primary medical care, behavioral health, substance use disorder and programs addressing social drivers of health," according to the organization's website. Broderick said Tuesday that Aspire will provide homeless services to address mental health, substance abuse and housing. The Anderson Community Development Department is working with the U.S. Housing and Urban Development agency to secure $1.4 million to purchase housing for the homeless, the mayor said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We wanted an agency that has been involved with providing outreach services to the homeless population," Broderick said, noting that the federal funds could be available by April. He noted that housing will also be purchased with funds available to make needed repairs. Broderick said his administration considered utilizing a school building not currently used by Anderson Community Schools to help the homeless. But the building was not within city limits. "The funds had to be spent in the city," he explained. Terms of the two-year agreement with Aspire include the city providing a house from the Community Development Department at 718 W. 17th Street for transitional housing for a family with children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The contract provides $528,138 for outreach services to include the hiring of two outreach workers, one peer review worker, a case manager and a part-time public safety officer. It also provides $371,864 for housing to include the hiring of a housing navigator to help find affordable housing for homeless families. The programs have to start by April 1, 2025, and be completed by April 30, 2027, according to American Rescue Plan rules. Aspire Indiana operates several medical care and substance abuse centers in Anderson, including the Mockingbird Hill Recovery Center and the DeHaven Mental Health Clinic. Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863. SALT LAKE CITY (WJHL) Associated Food Stores (AFS) helped raise more than $73,000 for Hurricane Helene relief efforts. Jonathan Badger, an independent grocer and member of AFS, and several members of AFS executive team wanted to take action to help support Hurricane Helene relief efforts, according to a news release. AFS, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, joined forces with Food City to create a plan. Kevin Stafford, vice president of marketing for Food City, connected AFS with the United Way of Southwest Virginia, and AFS launched a month-long fundraising campaign to support the relief efforts, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout October, Lees Market, Maceys, Dans, Dicks Market, Lins Market, Fresh Market, Petersons Market, D9 Grocery, Solebergs Market and the AFS team hosted a fundraiser for the United Way of Southwest Virginia to help with disaster recovery and basic-need supplies. Donations from guests and team members totaled $73,825.19. We are incredibly thankful to Associated Food Stores, D9, Lees Marketplace, Petersons Market, Solbergs Market and Associated Retail Operations for responding to the call for support for our neighbors who have experienced unimaginable loss throughout Southwest Virginia as a result of Hurricane Helene, Executive Director of United Way of Southwest Virginia Megan Parks said in the release. The funds will allow the United Way to help families repair and rebuild homes impacted by flooding over the next 24-36 months, according to a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Astronauts take hundreds of stunning photos from the International Space Station. This year's best snapshots reveal both Earth and space in glorious detail. Check out astronauts' views of eclipses, northern lights, storms, and Earth's grandest landscapes. Every year, the International Space Station produces some of the world's best photography. Astronauts tend to be technically skilled with a camera, yes. Many of them are engineers, after all. Their real photography advantage, though, is the glorious view from space as they circle our planet every 90 minutes. From blue comets and pink northern lights to snowy volcanos and winding rivers, the view 250 miles above Earth does not disappoint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are the best photos of 2024 from the space station. You simply can't beat the views from the International Space Station. An icy lake in southwestern China's high plateau region north of the Himalayas. NASA So astronauts take hundreds of photos each year. The snow-covered Onekotan Island, part of Russia's Kuril Islands, is home to the Tao-Rusyr Caldera stratovolcano in this photograph. NASA "How would you not want to take pictures and try and share that with the rest of humanity?" NASA astronaut Matt Dominick told ABC News Radio in August. The Sao Francisco River in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. NASA This year brought a special treat: the bold, bright Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, or Comet A3. Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), roughly 44 million miles away from Earth at the time of this photo. NASA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, astronauts also get front-row seats to the northern lights, aka the aurora borealis. An aurora radiates brightly above the Indian Ocean around the Soyuz MS-25 crew ship docked to the ISS. NASA In April, they watched the shadow of the moon creep across the US during the total solar eclipse. The moon's shadow covers portions of Quebec, New Brunswick, and Maine during the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. NASA Earth's atmosphere offers other unique spectacles, such as colorful sunsets and sunrises. NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps used long-exposure camera settings to capture an array of colors across Earth's horizon. NASA This eerie sheen is noctilucent clouds extremely rare ice-crystal formations much higher in the atmosphere than any other cloud. Wispy noctilucent clouds in Earth's upper atmosphere are illuminated by the sunlight just after sunset above the South Pacific Ocean. NASA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even these gorgeous photos don't do the real views justice, according to Dominick. Lake Rakshastal (left) and Lake Manasarovar (right) in Tibet. NASA "I've spent a fair amount of time trying to capture what I can see with my eye. I've not been able to achieve it yet," he said. Lake Manicouagan, carved out by the impact of an ancient meteorite, in Quebec. NASA Not all the views are fun or comforting. Astronauts can see wildfires clearly. Wildfires in South Africa's Great Escarpment, near the coast of the Indian Ocean. NASA Every year they get a bird's-eye view of hurricanes, too. Hurricane Helene above the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Mississippi on September 25, 2024. NASA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stretching hundreds of miles wide, major storms like Hurricanes Helene and Milton seem to swallow the world below. Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 storm at the time of this photograph, churns in the Gulf of Mexico on October 8, 2024. NASA Astronauts can even see lightning blaring through the clouds. Lightning (at right) illuminates the clouds above the South China Sea with the city lights of Southeast Asia shining through. NASA One thing they can't often see is borders like in this spot where Libya, Sudan, and Egypt meet in the Sahara desert. The borders between Libya, Sudan, and Egypt meet in the Sahara desert. NASA Astronauts have long described a profound shift in perspective when they first see Earth from above. It's called the "Overview Effect." The southern coast of Africa shines through the International Space Station's cupola, aka the "window to the world." NASA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They talk about overwhelming feelings of awe, unity, and a sense of Earth's fragility. A snow-covered South Georgia Island in the southern Atlantic Ocean. NASA The actor William Shatner described it after his 2021 spaceflight with Jeff Bezos: "There's the blue down there and the black up there. There is Mother Earth and comfort, and there is is there death? I don't know." The Himalayas stretch across Earth's curvature. NASA "It really is difficult for me to imagine people on Earth not getting along together," NASA astronaut Suni Williams told reporters in September. "It just changes your perspective." The night lights of civilization highlight the Nile River and dimly outline the shores of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Suez, and the Gulf of Aqaba around midnight. NASA Williams and her crewmate, Butch Wilmore, have been stuck on the space station for months. Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore (at center) pose with their fellow astronauts Mike Barratt (far left) and Tracy C. Dyson (far right). NASA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were the first people to fly on Boeing's Starliner spaceship for a roughly week-long flight in July. The Starliner spacecraft approaches the International Space Station carrying astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. NASA Starliner returned to Earth without them after engine issues made NASA officials concerned about its safety. Boeing's uncrewed Starliner spacecraft backs away from the International Space Station on September 6, 2024. NASA Now, Williams and Wilmore are scheduled to return to Earth aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spaceship in March. The SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft docked to the ISS, with astronaut Matt Dominick peering out of the left window and the Milky Way appearing in the background. NASA They've taken the setback in stride. "This is my happy place. I love being up here in space," Williams said. Salt evaporation ponds south of the Dead Sea in between Israel and Jordan. NASA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The space station's days are numbered, though. It will reach the end of its operational life in 2030. The Paraguay River separates the nations of Argentina and Paraguay. NASA NASA has asked SpaceX to design a vehicle to push the ISS out of orbit, to a fiery plunge into the Pacific Ocean. The Mexican states of Baja California and Baja California Sur stretch between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California. NASA The ISS will have a "big legacy," Dominick said: "Look what humanity can do when they come together and work together." NASA astronaut Mike Barratt captured this image of sea ice off the coast of Newfoundland. NASA Read the original article on Business Insider Dec. 25RUSSELL A state Attorney General's Office of Special Investigations report says a state police trooper was justified in the Aug. 10, 2023, fatal shooting of fugitive Shawn G. Sheridan. The 34-year-old was hiding in the Donnerville State Forest with his girlfriend, Chantelle A. Myatt, now 20, near his family home after having been sentenced to 12.5 years in state prison for shooting his ex-fiancee in the neck. On that morning, police tactical teams that included state troopers and county sheriff's deputies located and surrounded Sheridan and Myatt's campsite where he'd been hiding for a month. After finding Sheridan armed with two guns, each of which was later found to be loaded, state police K9 handler Trooper Connor Sutton released his dog, Skiff. Sheridan then fired one .30-06 round and Sutton returned six shots from his .223 rifle. One of them hit Sheridan in the left eye, exiting the back left of his skull, the report states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Through counsel, Trooper Sutton refused to be interviewed by OSI or to provide a written statement," the AG's report says. Part of the incident was caught on county sheriff's Det. Benjamin Rockwood's body-worn camera. He activated it at 12:50 p.m., which the AG's report says is "immediately after the shooting." Included in the shooting report is 23:30 of that footage, "redacted pursuant to OSI's published video release policy." The audio at the beginning is difficult to hear because there is a helicopter hovering overhead. A minute and 57 seconds in, Myatt and a police officer can be seen walking across the camera shot as she's being escorted from the scene. Starting at three minutes and two seconds, officers can be heard shouting commands to Sheridan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Shawn! Move the gun off your chest! Do it now!" "Shawn take your hand off the gun so we can get you some aid, get you some help. Let us get you some help!" Every so often, Rockwood and other officers can be heard saying they can still see Sheridan breathing. Rockwood's camera is facing about 90 degrees right of where Sheridan was on the ground. His body can't be seen until the very end, after he's dead. For about the next 13:30, Rockwood is hiding behind a tree yelling commands at Sheridan, off camera, to push the gun off of his chest. Other officers on the video can be heard yelling similar commands. At this point, Sheridan is lying on the ground bleeding out from the bullet wound to his head. Photos of his corpse included with the report show he had a shotgun across his chest with his right hand just below the grip, with a rifle on the ground to his right. His left arm is extended horizontally. He's wearing full camouflage and what appears to be three bandoleers of shotgun and rifle ammo across his abdomen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the 16:45 mark, a sheriff's deputy in full camo comes into view on Rockwood's camera. Holding up a pair of binoculars, the camouflaged deputy says, "he's not breathing." The officers in the last minute of the video walk over to Sheridan, whose face is blurred out, and one of them says he's "clearly deceased." That's the end of the body cam video. The report details how police zeroed in on Sheridan. After failing to appear on July 18, 2023, for sentencing on an attempted first-degree assault conviction, the court issued a bench warrant for Sheridan's arrest. Nine days later, Myatt's mother reported the then-19-year-old missing. Police used cell phone data, bank records and business records to track the pair near a foot path in the Donnerville forest near Sheridan's family's cabin. On Aug. 10, 2023, police in a helicopter hovering above the area used a device called Triggerfish to find Myatt's cellphone, which she'd been using and was turned on. "A 'Triggerfish' is a mobile cell site simulator that receives and transmits signals like a cell tower," the attorney general's report says. "Nearby cellular devices identify the simulator as a cell tower and transmit signals to it. Based on the direction and strength of the signal, law enforcement can identify the general location of a cell phone. Believing exigent circumstances existed, officers did not obtain a search warrant or court order authorizing the use of the Triggerfish." Following the shooting, the report says state police forensic investigators found Sheridan's rifle with one discharged round in the chamber and six .223 casings on the ground where Sutton fired from, about 45 feet south from Sheridan's body. Testing showed the .223 shells matched Sutton's rifle, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "An ATF Firearms Trace revealed that Mr. Sheridan's twin brother had purchased the guns in 2021," the report says. The complete report can be read at http://wdt.me/q4DRgM, which includes a link to the body camera video. Three weeks after the shooting, Myatt sat down with the Times and talked about her relationship with Sheridan and the month they spent together in the woods leading up to his death. She said she didn't know about Sheridan being convicted of shooting his ex-fiancee and wanted on a bench warrant for not showing up to be sentenced. After a couple of weeks, she wanted to leave but stayed because she started to feel threatened. "No physical threat that was given. There were statements, 'You're not going to like what happens if you step away at this point,'" she said Sheridan told her. "Shawn was the only one with the firearms," she said, adding that she had no weapons of any sort. Go to http://wdt.me/fFtafV for more details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 9, 2022, Sheridan was arrested after shooting his then-fiancee, Katrina A. Pierce, in the neck. He was charged with felony counts of first-degree assault and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. They are both punishable by lengthy terms in state prison. The deputy who responded to the shooting, Matthew T. Merria, was later credited by Sheriff Brooks J. Bigwarfe with saving Pierce's life by applying pressure to her neck wound after cuffing Sheridan. The bullet narrowly missed her carotid artery. In a previous interview with the Times, Pierce said that day she had been house-sitting for her dad in Rossie, a secluded town, when the two began verbally fighting so much that they took their daughter to her mom's house so she wouldn't hear them yelling. They went to a friend's house in Gouverneur and then to a Stewart's Shops, continuing the argument until arriving back at her father's house in Rossie. Shortly after 1 a.m., Pierce said Sheridan retrieved a .22-caliber gun and threatened to use it on himself. As the argument worsened, Sheridan turned the gun on her and shot her in the neck. More details on that can be read at http://wdt.me/L7Gb9H. AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Austintown Trustees will have an important task in the New Year finding a new chief of police. Weve learned Robert Gavalier has submitted his retirement papers. Hes spent his entire career with Austintown, some 38 years, as well as five more working as a reserve officer. Gavalier says hell step down effective February 28. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Police have charged three Missouri residents with child neglect after discovering a small child under their care in severe physical distress. James Lamb of Kirksville, Mo., faces five counts of felony child abuse against his 4 year-old daughter, while Aireal Cole and Derrick Barnby each face two counts. Police discovered the girl in an unresponsive condition on Dec. 12 at a home in Kirksville. She had numerous bruises and other physical injuries, according to affidavits signed by Det. Aaron Followwill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After being airlifted to a children's hospital in Saint Louis, doctors discovered that the child was suffering from severe brain injuries, including hemorrhaging, as well as an "altered mental state," malnutrition, and "extensive" cavities in her teeth. When Det. Followwill interviewed Lamb, he reported being told the girl had fallen down the stairs six days prior, but said he didn't think the injuries were severe. Upon phoning a relative of Barnby who Lamb described as a "medical professional," Lamb said they were told to monitor the child and to give her Tylenol and Motrin, according to the affidavits. But doctors allegedly found several signs that Lamb may not have been honest with police, according to the affidavits, which claimed the extensive nature of the child's injuries were inconsistent with a single fall down the stairs. In the affidavits, police also said the fall down the stairs wouldn't explain what authorities described as the girl's "severe malnutrition" which caused her to be "significantly underweight," as well her cavities. Further, another child removed from the home, Lamb's 1-year-old daughter, was allegedly found to be suffering from severe diaper rash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lamb, Cole, and Barnby, the three caretakers of the children, were placed under arrest on Dec. 19. When Followwill interviewed Lamb again, Lamb allegedly admitted he had anger issues but denied taking that anger out on others, according to the affidavits. Related: Georgia Couple Who Sexually Abused 2 Boys They Adopted in House of Horrors Get 100 Years in Prison 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. Lamb denied abusing his daughter, and said he believed Cole and Barnby had not either, but Followwill reported Lamb couldn't provide an alternate explanation for the injuries aside from a fall down the stairs, the affidavits state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lamb and Cole are being held in the Adair County Jail pending a bond hearing, according to court records. Barnby was released on his own recognizance on Dec. 23. The Missouri State Public Defender's office, which is representing Lamb, did not immediately return a request for comment from PEOPLE. Attorney information was not immediately available for Cole or Barnby. Read the original article on People Authorities are asking the public for help Thursday in locating a 15-year-old girl described as at risk after she disappeared in Los Angeles County Thursday morning. Jewel Kim was last seen near the 6300 block of Zindell Avenue shortly after 1 a.m., the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department stated in a special bulletin. Jewels family is concerned for her well-being as she suffers from a mental disorder, the Sheriffs Department stated in the bulletin. Jewel Kim is seen in an image provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Investigators believe Kim had a possible destination of Koreatown in Los Angeles but did not provide any further details about her disappearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was described as a female Asian juvenile standing 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing about 130 pounds. Kim has light brown shoulder-length hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black hooded sweater, blue-green horizontal striped PJ shorts, pink fluffy slippers, two silver necklaces with a heart pendant and a ring. Anyone with information about Kims whereabouts was asked to contact the Sheriffs Department at 323-264-4151. Anonymous tips can be made by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or going to the lacrimestoppers.org website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. SAN DIEGO (Border Report) In the course of 2024, vehicle theft has been the most reported crime in Tijuana, followed by domestic violence and drug dealing, according to statistics provided by Juan Manuel Sanchez Rosales, Secretary of Public Safety and Protection. Numbers show almost 6,000 cars have been reported stolen in Tijuana this year. Since October, Tijuana Police has been conducting operations to reduce the number of vehicles stolen in the city, Sanchez Rosales explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We just finished two months of operations with other agencies, weve targeted groups involved in auto theft and have set up in strategic places where car theft is prevalent, said Sanchez Rosales. Owner reclaims impounded car with body in trunk He also stated, while still high, the numbers are down compared to 2023 when there were almost 6,500 cars stolen including 873 carjackings. Sanchez Rosales encourages victims of auto theft to report the crime immediately through Tijuanas 9-1-1 system. The area where most cars are taken is in downtown Tijuana. Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The head of public safety promised operations will continue as they try to and reduce the number of cars stolen throughout the city. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TOKYO, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The competition rate of employment examinations to become public school teachers in Japan hit a record low in fiscal 2024, the education ministry said Thursday, amid a continued decline in applicants. There were 115,519 applicants nationwide for the exams that decide who can become new teachers at public elementary, junior high or senior high schools for the school year starting in April, a drop of 5,344 from the previous year. Of those applicants, 36,421 were employed, meaning one in 3.2 applicants passed the tests, the lowest competition rates since the data began in fiscal 1979. The declines reflected the mass departure of teachers who reached retirement age, which led to increased demand for new recruits, as well as a decrease in the number of applicants, according to the ministry. To increase the number of applicants, the ministry is working to reduce teachers' working hours and create an environment that encourages them to take maternity and childcare leave. By Nailia Bagirova and Gleb Stolyarov BAKU (Reuters) -Russian air defences downed an Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 people, four sources with knowledge of the preliminary findings of Azerbaijan's investigation into the disaster told Reuters on Thursday. Flight J2-8243 crashed on Wednesday in a ball of fire near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan after diverting from an area of southern Russia where Moscow has repeatedly used air defence systems against Ukrainian drone strikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Embraer passenger jet had flown from Azerbaijan's capital Baku to Grozny, in Russia's southern Chechnya region, before veering off hundreds of miles across the Caspian Sea. It crashed on the opposite shore of the Caspian after what Russia's aviation watchdog said was an emergency that may have been caused by a bird strike. Officials did not explain why it had crossed the sea. The nearest Russian airport on the plane's flight path, Makhachkala, was closed on Wednesday morning. One of the Azerbaijani sources familiar with Azerbaijan's investigation into the crash told Reuters that preliminary results showed the plane was struck by a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system. Its communications were paralysed by electronic warfare systems on the approach into Grozny, the source said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "No one claims that it was done on purpose. However, taking into account the established facts, Baku expects the Russian side to confess to the shooting down of the Azerbaijani aircraft," the source said. Three other sources confirmed that the Azeri investigation had come to the same preliminary conclusion. Russia's Defence Ministry did not respond to a request for comment. A U.S. official told Reuters on Thursday there were early indications a Russian anti-aircraft system may have struck the plane. Canada said it was deeply concerned by reports that Russian air defence may have struck the aircraft. "We call on Russia to allow for an open and transparent investigation into the incident and to accept its findings," the Canadian foreign ministry said in a statement on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Qanat Bozymbaev said he could neither confirm nor deny the thesis that Russian air defences downed the plane. Asked about the possibility that Russian air defences shot at the plane, the Kazakh transport prosecutor for the region where the plane came down said the investigation had yet to reach a firm conclusion. The Kremlin, asked before the Reuters report about the idea that the aircraft had been shot at by Russian air defences, said it would be improper to comment until the inquiry was concluded. "It is wrong to build hypotheses before the conclusions of the investigation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WRECKAGE Footage shot by passengers on the plane before it crashed showed oxygen masks down and people wearing life vests. Later footage showed bloodied and bruised passengers climbing out of the plane. There were 29 survivors. Pictures of the plane wreckage showed what appeared to be shrapnel damage to the tail section of the plane. Aviation security firm Osprey Flight Solutions said in an alert to airlines on Wednesday that footage of the wreckage and the circumstances around the air space in southwest Russia indicated the possibility that the airliner was hit by some form of anti-aircraft fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian military drones have repeatedly targeted Russia's southern regions in recent months, triggering Russian air defences. Russia and Ukraine have been at war since Moscow's invasion of its neighbour in February 2022. Earlier on Wednesday, the Russian Defence Ministry had reported the downing of 59 Ukrainian drones over several regions. Some were reportedly shot down in closed air space over regions bordering Ukraine, including the Sea of Azov. Flight operations were reportedly temporarily suspended at Russias Kazan Airport due to the activity. In addition, publicly available ADS-B flight tracking data shows that the Azerbaijani aircraft experienced GPS jamming throughout its flight over southwest Russia, the alert said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia uses advanced electronic jamming equipment to confuse Ukrainian drone location and communication systems and a large number of air defence systems have been deployed to shoot down the drones. (Reporting by Nailia Bagirova in Baku and Gleb Stolyarov in Tbilisi; Additional reporting by Tamara Vaal in Astana, Joanna Plucinska, Filipp Lebedev in London; writing by Felix Light, Angus MacSwan, Guy Faulconbridge and Alistair Bell; editing by Andrew Heavens, Mark Heinrich and Howard Goller) Azerbaijani authorities believe the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 people, was shot by a Russian anti-aircraft missile, multiple reports said on Thursday. The Turkish state news agency Anadolu cited anonymous senior state officials in Azerbaijan as saying the plane was hit by a missile on Wednesday. In Azerbaijan, the internet news portal caliber.az also referred to unnamed government sources. According to these sources, the Embraer 190 en route from Azerbaijan's capital Baku to Grozny, Russia was hit by a Russian Pantsir S anti-aircraft missile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian drone activity had been registered in the Russian region of Chechnya of which Grozny is the capital, around the same time. The pilots requested an emergency landing at the nearest Russian airports, Mineralnye Vody or Makhachkala. This was not authorized, so the crew steered the damaged aircraft across the Caspian Sea to Aktau in Kazakhstan, according to the caliber.az report. The plane with 67 people on board crashed and exploded during the attempted landing in Kazakhstan. There were 29 survivors. Photos of the tail section of the aircraft show damage that resembles the impact holes of shrapnel from anti-aircraft weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Kazakhstan, the two flight recorders were found on Thursday. The analysis of the devices, along with radio communications, is expected to help investigators determine the cause of the crash. Earlier on Thursday, the Kremlin urged restraint in speculating about the cause of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash. "An investigation is currently under way; every incident in aviation must be investigated by specialized aviation authorities," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Russian state-run TASS news agency. "It would be wrong to hypothesize before the conclusions of the investigation are available." Azerbaijan meanwhile observed a national day of mourning, with flags flying at half-mast, according to Kazakh agency Tengrinews, citing local media. Cultural events planned for the day in theatres and concert halls were also postponed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bodies of the deceased passengers and crew members are being repatriated to Azerbaijan, according to a joint statement issued by the airline and the Azerbaijani Ministry for Emergency Situations on X. The airline also stated it has temporarily suspended flights to the Russian cities of Grozny and Makhachkala in the North Caucasus. The crash cause should be clarified before resuming operations, it said. According to Tengrinews, the casualties included Russian, Azerbaijani and Kyrgyz citizens. Nine injured Russian passengers in serious condition, including a child, were picked up by a special aircraft to be treated in Moscow, according to the Russian state-run news agency TASS. Azerbaijan Airlines initially attributed the suspected damage to the aircraft to a possible collision with a flock of birds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Survivors were reportedly rescued from this part of the wreckage while the nose and middle sections of the aircraft were destroyed. Meanwhile, Israel's flagship carrier El Al said on Thursday that it had suspended all flights to Moscow for this week, citing "developments in Russias airspace." It will reassess the situation next week and decide whether to resume the flights from Tel Aviv. A Russian surface-to-air missile caused the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines flight near Aktau, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijani government sources reportedly confirmed to Euronews on Dec. 26. The plane, en route from Baku to Grozny, carried 67 passengers, including 42 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz citizens. Thirty-eight people have been confirmed dead. The missile was fired from a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system, the Baku-based outlet AnewZ reported, citing official Azerbaijani government sources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The missile allegedly targeted Flight 8432 during drone activity over Grozny on Dec. 25. According to Euronews sources, shrapnel from the explosion reportedly struck the passengers and cabin crew as the missile detonated mid-flight near the aircraft. The reported use of air defense systems aligns with multiple media reports of drone attacks in Chechnya on the morning of Dec. 25. The aircraft attempted to land in Grozny, but Russian airports reportedly denied it permission for an emergency landing, forcing the pilots to divert toward Aktau in Kazakhstan. The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims. Footage analyzed by independent media outlets Meduza and Mediazona shows damage consistent with surface-to-air missile impacts, including holes in the fuselage and traces of a missile strike on the tail section. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Survivors recounted hearing an explosion before the failed landing attempts in Grozny. Upon trying to land in Aktau, the plane broke apart on impact and caught fire. Rasim Musabekov, a member of Azerbaijan's parliament and foreign affairs committee member, told Azerbaijani news agency Turan that it was evident that the plane was "shot down over Russian territory, in the sky above Grozny. It is impossible to deny this." "Those responsible for this must be held criminally accountable, and compensation must be paid for the deaths and injuries. If this doesn't happen, the relations will certainly shift to a different level," Musabekov added. Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) initially attributed the crash to a collision with a flock of birds, causing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The black box from the crash site has been recovered, and Azerbaijani media reported that its analysis will be critical in confirming the events leading up to the crash. Read also: Ukraine hits ballistic missile propellant plant in Rostov Oblast, Stratcom reports Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. NORWALK, Iowa The Norwalk Fire Department will soon have Iowas third Safe Haven Baby Box, according to the department. We had a tragic event happen here in the community a couple years ago in February that did result in the loss of a newborn. This is our effort to ensure that something like that doesnt happen again within our community, said Fire Chief Jennifer Porter. In March 2023, Norwalk Police found a newborn baby dead in a ditch on Delaware Avenue. Police initially charged the babys mother, Megan Staude, and grandfather, Rodney Staude, of first-degree murder. Since then, Megan has pled guilty to second-degree murder and a judge ruled Rodney was incompetent to stand trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief Porter said conversations about installing a baby box in Norwalk began after the newborns murder. In Iowa, people can anonymously leave newborns up to 90-days-old in baby boxes so they can be found and cared for. The Fort Dodge Fire Department and MercyOne Hospital in Des Moines currently have Safe Haven Baby Boxes. When a baby is placed in the box, an alarm will alert the dispatch agency. Porter said thats why fire stations are ideal places for baby boxes. 1 dead, 1 critical in Sheridan Gardens shooting, DMPD investigates We do staff 24/7, so theyre able to come and then get the baby out of the box and render any aid, if necessary, and transport to a local hospital, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lieutenant Jacob Pemberton with the Norwalk Fire Department brought the idea to the Norwalk City Staff and City Council earlier this year, because he felt the community would benefit from one. It just allows some anonymous-ness to the individuals that arent able to keep the baby. It allows either the parent themselves to drop off the baby or someone designated to come up here and drop the baby off, said Lieutenant Pemberton. The Norwalk Firefighters Association is currently fundraising for $50,000 for the initial purchase, installation, and annual yearly expense for the baby box. A non-profit account for the Norwalk Safe Haven Baby Box (SHBB) has been set up at City State Bank. The city has provided approval for the Norwalk Fire Department to provide on-going staffing support for the SHBB. Local non-profits donated half of the needed sum so far, including the 100 Men of Norwalks $9,700 donation made last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [The Safe Haven Baby Box Program] really spoke to us and it was a clear cause of how we wanted to help be a small part of this program and a great thing for our community, said Carson Forst, a representative for the 100 Men of Norwalk. In 2025, community members will be able to donate directly to the initiative. The Norwalk Fire Department will release further information to the community about how they can donate in the coming weeks. We did feel a large community response when the event happened, so we want them to feel like this is a project they can participate in, said Porter. The Norwalk Fire Department is now in the process of ordering the baby box and deciding where they want to put it in Firehouse 61. Metro News: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. Two people have been arrested and are facing charges of felony child abuse after a one-month-old baby was discovered in the median of a Colorado road Christmas morning. The Adams County Sheriff's Office said the baby was left sitting in a car seat in the median near 7490 Pecos Street wearing only a diaper. Authorities said they received a 911 call around 9:30 a.m. Christmas morning from someone who discovered the abandoned baby. / Credit: Adams County Sheriff's Office "We are hoping someone recognizes the car seat or knows something about the baby or family so he can be reunited with his loved ones and the person who abandoned him can be brought to justice," said ACSO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A social worker is with the baby at Children's Hospital Colorado, where he is under observation as a precaution. Authorities said they don't yet know when he was left in the median, and the baby had no visible injuries. The sheriff's department provided an update around 4:30 p.m. thanking the public for helping to locate the baby's family. "As an update, our investigators have been in contact with the family members of the infant and are continuing the investigation and will pursue criminal charges if deemed appropriate," said the ACSO. Just after 8:30 p.m., the sheriff's office announced they had arrested the child's parents, Jarvis Sims and Christina Thurman. Both are facing felony child abuse charges in connection with the case. Jarvis Sims, left, and Christina Thurman / Credit: Adams County Sheriff's Office Historical weather data shows temperatures of about 34 to 37 degrees Fahrenheit in Denver at the time the baby was found and in the hours leading up to it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams County investigators say at this point, they have no idea how long the baby was left unattended. Sims and Thurman are due in court Thursday morning. FDA issues highest-level recall for Costco eggs over salmonella risk Passenger airliner crashes in Kazakhstan Investigation underway after body found in wheel well of United Airlines plane in Maui A baby Jesus figurine was returned to a Colorado nativity scene where it was stolen from just days before Christmas and an apology note was left behind. The statuette was taken from the Old Town Square nativity scene on Sunday, Dec. 15, according to a social media post shared by the Fort Collins Police. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The department shared a photo of the Grinch they were looking to catch for trying to ruin Christmas with their antics. The person captured on camera appeared to be holding the baby Jesus in both hands while leaving the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four days later, the figurine was anonymously dropped off at Poudre Fire Authority Station #1 in Fort Collins, the police said. They also shared an image of the letter left behind, presumably by the person who took the statuette in the first place. Fort Collins Police Firefighters pose with the baby Jesus stolen from a Colorado nativity scene Firefighters pose with the baby Jesus stolen from a Colorado nativity scene Related: Woman Has Received Christmas Cards from Strangers for 7 Years Says Shes Excited to 'See These Kids Grow' (Exclusive) I am really sorry, the person wrote. I made a dumb mistake in the moment. It wont happen again. In photos released by the police, firefighters posed with the baby Jesus figurine, which did not appear damaged. They added that no further information has been obtained about the person who swiped the statuette. Fort Collins Police did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. Read the original article on People DERRY While Family Promise of Southern New Hampshire continues renovating its new Derry facility, some of the expenses are being taken care of by a donation from a New Hampshire-based bank. Merrimack County Savings Bank, also called The Merrimack, donated $10,600 for the Nashua-based nonprofit that offers transitional housing for homeless families. This second location allows us to provide a warm safe home to more families experiencing homelessness throughout Western Rockingham County, said Pamela Wellman, the executive director of Family Promise of Southern New Hampshire. Were grateful to The Merrimack and all of the donors supporting our mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Family Promise of Southern New Hampshire received approval from the Derry Planning Board in September 2023 to open a new location at 12 Peabody Road, which used to be Vintage Grace. Right now, the centers renovation and construction are expected to be completed by early 2025. With homelessness on the rise, its important that we give back to local organizations on the front lines, said Linda Lorden, President of The Merrimack. Family Promise has helped families transform their lives and future. Board of directors member Marc Siragusa said at the 2023 Planning Board meeting that the center will house up to nine families in dorm-style units. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organization does not accept individual applicants and puts an emphasis on families. All incoming residents will have to pass a background check before being allowed to move in. Aside from housing, families also receive the counseling, education and support needed to regain stability and achieve long-term success, Siragusa said. Its a more hands-on approach; we dont just bring them a bed and a meal, Siragusa said. The goal is to get [residents] back on their feet and teach them everyday life skills that everybody should have. Siragusa said that the dorm-style means that each apartment will have private bedrooms, bathrooms, and some living space, but kitchens and recreation areas will be shared between everyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Siragusa said that most families who come through the program will stay approximately a year before moving into permanent housing. He said 90% of graduates will still be in housing a year after graduating from the program. With this expansion, we are dedicated to our integral case management, service delivery, including career search, family education, and financial literacy programs, Family Promise said in a statement. Our goal is to empower families to regain stability and achieve long-term success. We are grateful for the communitys ongoing support and look forward to making a positive impact. Together, we can build a brighter future for families in need. A beachgoer discovered part of a human leg washed up along the rocks of a Southern California beach on Christmas morning, according to a report. Someone reported finding a portion of a human leg along the beach on Palos Verdes Estates on the Bluff Cove Trail on Wednesday morning, The Daily News reported. The leg was the only body part that has been recovered, Capt. Aaron Belda of the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department told the outlet. A cadaver dog searched the area but reportedly didnt find any other remains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The alarming discovery came one day after two fishermen departed Cabrillo Beach on a small boat, but never returned. Cabrillo Beach is just 13 miles south of where the body part was found. The Coast Guard, Palos Verdes Estates Police, and other agencies began searching for the missing men both in their 50s on Tuesday and came across their vessel overturned, the Coast Guard announced. After nearly 34 hours, with assistance from drones and a helicopter, the federal agency suspended its search for the fishermen on Wednesday due to no signs of distress. Hours later, the Coast Guard called the paused search an active suspension, which means it will restart the search if signs of distress are reported, according to CBS News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not immediately clear if the leg belonged to one of the fishermen. Were not ruling anything out, but that has not been determined at this point, Belda told The Daily News. No identification has been made and we dont have any supporting information to believe that they are connected. The Independent has reached out to Palos Verdes Estates Police Department for more information. A beachgoer who came across the wrecked vessel described the scene to KTLA. The [boat] was completely overturned, the eyewitness said. There were holes in the hull and stuff scattered across the beach, a couple of life jackets, a propeller, coolers and kids life vests. All you have to do to become a South Dakota resident is spend one night. Stay in a campground or hotel and then stop by one of the businesses that specialize in helping people become South Dakotans, and theyll help you do the paperwork to gain residency in a state with no income tax and relatively cheap vehicle registration. Noem wants to cut $3M from $5M in tobacco prevention The system brings in extra government revenue through vehicle fees and offers refuge to full-time travelers who wouldnt otherwise have a permanent address or a place to vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And thats the problem. State leaders are at a stalemate between those who say people who dont really live in South Dakota shouldnt be allowed to vote in local elections and those who say efforts to impose a longer residency requirement for voting violate the principle that everyone gets to vote. And at least one state has gotten wind that its residents might be avoiding high income taxes with easy South Dakota residency and is investigating. Catering to the nomadic lifestyle Easy South Dakota residency for nomads has become an enterprising opportunity for businesses such as RV parks and mail forwarders. Thats the primary concept here, is the people that have given up their sticks and bricks and now are on wheel estate, we call it, and theyre full-time traveling, said Dane Goetz, owner of the Spearfish-based South Dakota Residency Center, which caters to full-time travelers. They need a place to call home, and we provide that address for them to do that, and they are just perpetually on the move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goetz estimated more than 30,000 people are full-time traveler residents of South Dakota, but the actual number is unclear. The state Department of Public Safety, which handles driver licensing, says it doesnt track the number of full-time traveler applications. Man indicted in Yankton officer-involved shooting incident Officials of the South Dakota Secretary of States Office did not respond to emailed questions or a phone message seeking the states tally of full-time travelers registered to vote. The office is not responsible for enforcing residency requirements, Division of Elections Director Rachel Soulek said. Victor Robledo, his wife and their five kids hit the road a decade ago in a 28-foot (8.5-meter) motorhome to seek adventure and ease their high cost of living in Southern California. They found South Dakota to be an opportunity to save money, receive mail and take a residency in a state that really nurtures us, he said. They filed for residency in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was as simple as coming into the state, staying one night in one of the campgrounds, and once we do that, we bring in a receipt to the office, fill out some paperwork, change our licenses. I mean, really, you can blow through there gosh, 48 hours, Robledo said. Residency rules spark election concerns Residency becomes thorny around voting. Some opponents dont want people who dont physically live in South Dakota to vote in its elections. I dont want to deny somebody their right to vote, but to think that they can vote in a school board election or a legislative election or a county election when theyre not part of the community, Im troubled by that, said Democratic Rep. Linda Duba, who cited 10,000 people or roughly 40% of her Sioux Falls constituents being essentially mailbox residents. She likes to knock on doors and meet people but said she is unable to do relationship politics with travelers. The law the Republican-controlled Legislature passed in 2023 added requirements for voter registration, including 30 days of residency which dont have to be consecutive and having an actual fixed permanent dwelling, establishment, or any other abode to which the person returns after a period of absence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Dakota elk herd to be culled to fight disease The bills prime sponsor, Republican Sen. Randy Deibert, told a Senate panel that citizens expressed concerns about people coming to the state, being a resident overnight and voting (by) absentee ballot or another way the next day and then leaving the state. Those registered to vote before the new law took effect remain registered, but some who tried to register since its passage had trouble. Dozens of people recently denied voter registration contacted the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota, according to the chapters advocacy manager, Samantha Chapman. Durational residency requirements for voting are, in general, unconstitutional because such restrictions interfere with the interstate right to travel, said David Schultz, a Hamline University professor of political science and a professor of law at the University of St. Thomas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its kind of this parochialism, this idea of saying that only people who are really in our neighborhood, who really live in our city have a sufficient stake in it, and the courts have generally been unsympathetic to those types of arguments because, more often than not, theyre used for discriminatory purposes, he said. State lawmakers at odds over residency law Earlier this year, the Legislature considered a bill to roll back the 2023 law. It passed the Senate but stalled in the House. During a House hearing on that bill, Republican Rep. Jon Hansen asked one full-time traveler when he was last in South Dakota and when he intends to return. The man said he was in the state a year earlier but planned to return in coming months. Another man who moved from Iowa to work overseas said he had not lived for any period of time, physically in South Dakota. I dont think we should allow people who have never lived in this state to vote in our state, Hansen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican Sen. David Wheeler, an attorney in Huron, said he expects litigation would be what forces a change. Its unlikely a change to the 30-day requirement would pass the Legislature now, he said. It is a complicated topic that involves federal and state law and federal and state voting rights, and it is difficult to bring everybody together on how to appropriately address that, Wheeler said. Out-of-state residents may see tax benefits More than 1,600 miles (2,500 kilometers) east, Connecticut State Comptroller Sean Scanlon has asked prosecutors to look into whether some state employees who live in Connecticut may have skirted their tax obligations by claiming to be residents of South Dakota. Standing room only: Carolers pack into the Nora Store Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Connecticut has a graduated income tax rate of 3.0% to 6.99%. Connecticut cities and towns also impose a property tax on vehicles. South Dakota has none. Scanlon and his office, which administers state employee retiree benefits, learned from a Hartford Courant columnist in September that some state retirees might be using South Dakotas mail-forwarding services for nefarious reasons. Asked if there are concerns about other Connecticut taxpayers who are not state retirees possibly misusing South Dakotas lenient residency laws, the Department of Revenue Services would only say the agency is aware of the situation and were working with our partners to resolve it. A South Dakota legislative panel broached the residency issue as recently as August, a meeting in which one lawmaker called the topic the Gordian knot of politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It seems like its almost impossible to come to some clear and definitive statement as to what constitutes a residency with such a mobile population with people with multiple homes and addresses and political boundaries that are easy to see on a map but theres so much cross-transportation across them, Republican Sen. Jim Bolin said. ___ Dura reported from Bismarck, North Dakota. Associated Press Writer Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Climate change is a big problem that requires a lot of big solutions, and one of the big swings is the construction of the worlds first artificial energy island off the coast of Belgium. Now this project is facing some financial headwinds as the war in Ukraine, as well as plans to implement high-voltage direct current (HVDC), has ballooned the cost. The Belgium transmission operator Elia, the projects builder, is now auditing the design and cost of the project and hopes to have a new plan in place by early 2025. For the past few years, the Belgian transmission operator Elia, powered by funding from the European Investment Bank, has embarked on one of the most ambitious green energy projects in the world: the construction of an artificial island. The island, located 28 miles off the coast of Belgium in the North sea, will host both 3.5 gigawatts of offshore wind potential as well as a landing point for interconnectors leading to other European countries. One researcher from Ghent University described the project as basically an extension cord with multiple sockets. Planned for years, the project officially got underway in September 2023 when a team in Flushing, Netherlands, began building the massive caissonsthe watertight support structuresthat will support the island, known as Princess Elisabeth Island, which lies in the Princess Elisabeth Zone (a wind energy generation region in the North Sea). These blocks take three months to complete, and once finished, will weigh approximately 22,000 tons each. In its original plan, the island aimed to host converter stations for both high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) and high-voltage direct current (HVDC). While appliances and homes run on alternating current, transmitting high-voltage direct current is more efficient when transmitting farther than 400 miles. It's so important, the U.S. Department of Energy just invested $11 million just last month to improve its HVDC capacity, so having both converters on the energy island is a must. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, a new report suggests that the wind project may be facing the headwinds of financial realityin other words, the project is way over budget. According to The Brussels Times, the Princess Elisabeth Island project was originally estimated to cost around 2.1 billion Euro ($2.3 million) but has quickly ballooned to 7 million Euro ($7.3 million); the most expensive component of the project is the HVDC infrastructure, which has exploded in cost. Last week, Elia announced the appointment of a new CEO, Bernard Gustin, who told The Brussels Times that the company was concerned about the costs but stressed the importance of a future-proofing of the project. We must also look to the long term, Gustin said. We must not regret our decision in ten years. We are already an international group, but the energy transition is broader than Belgium and Germany. I think the United States remains interesting for Elia. The complexity of HVDC infrastructure isnt the only culprit. The onset of the war in Ukraine in 2022 suddenly created high-demand for green energy projects in an effort to wean off reliance on Russian oil. Thats a win-win for those who support climate action and democracy, but it quickly became apparent that the supply of necessary materials couldnt meet this newfound green energy demand, according to Eastern Progress . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, forgoing these ambitious projects only increases reliance on dirty energy sources that got us in this mess in the first place. Currently, Elia is already auditing the design and associated costs and plans to have a new design for the island in place by 2025. You Might Also Like BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese defense spokesperson on Thursday denounced the Philippines for attempting to play victim to elicit sympathy from the international community. The Philippine side repeatedly organized its coast guard vessels and fishing boats to violate China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea, while playing victim to elicit sympathy from and cause confusion in the international community. "This will never work." Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a press conference in response to a media query regarding relevant statements by Philippine officials. "The maritime disputes between China and the Philippines have nothing to do with the size of countries. Rather, it is the merits of fact that matter," he noted. China has indisputable sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao, known in English as the South China Sea islands, and their adjacent waters, Zhang said. He urged the Philippine side to change course and return to the right track of resolving issues through negotiation and consultation. NEW BERN, N.C. (WNCT) A 20-year-old man faces drug charges after being arrested by New Bern police. According to a news release from NBPD, at approximately 8:33 PM on Christmas Eve, while on patrol, an officer observed a suspicious vehicle in the 1200 block of Pinetree Drive and initiated an investigation. The release says the officer detected the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Zykeem Brooks, a 20-year-old male and an 18-year-old female were inside the car. During a search of the vehicle, officers discovered over 70 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, packaging materials, an AR pistol, a significant amount of ammunition, and an extended magazine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators say Brooks is charged with Possession with charged with Intent to Sell and Distribute (PWISD) marijuana. His next court date is Friday, December 27 or Monday, December 30. The female was not charged and was released. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) KRQE works hard to keep New Mexicans informed and updated. KRQEs Investigative Team covers news differently. Below is a list of investigative pieces from KRQEs Ann Pierret and Gabrielle Burkhart. Money, drunk driving arrests, and a well-known defense attorney. KRQE is getting a first-hand look at how those things may be connected in whats being called possibly the biggest police corruption scheme the City of Albuquerque has seen. KRQE Investigative reporter Gabrielle Burkhart sat down with a man who claims he has proof of the scheme. Read full story here. Its an experience countless New Mexicans share their lives impacted by drunk driving. We were surprised when they didnt show up. But the phone call came in, I dont know, 11:30 p.m., 12:00 a.m., something like that, Kent Cravens said. On Christmas Eve in 1992, he, his wife, and kids were waiting up for Cravenss brother to stop by with his wife and three daughters for a Christmas carol sing-along. But the family of five never showed up. Read full story here. One after another, Albuquerque police officers have decided to give up their badge rather than be interviewed by internal affairs. All of this is happening during a federal and internal investigation into what KRQE News 13 has learned involves accusations about officers getting paid to get DWI cases dismissed. Read full story here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In DWI cases, the state has two chances to hold drunk drivers accountable. There are criminal penalties in court, and New Mexico can take away your drivers license. KRQE Investigates revealed what happens when officers dont show up to those hearings and drivers get a free pass. KRQE Investigates also uncovered another problem involving a law enforcement agency going rogue. Read full story here. Members of an Albuquerque homeowners association are now paying much closer attention to what the association is doing with their money, and they want other HOA members to learn from their experience. Fed up with how their neighborhood looked, a few members asked to look at their associations finances; they wanted to know what their monthly dues were going toward. Their HOA is now under new leadership, as the Albuquerque Police Department investigates suspected mishandling of finances. Read full story here. More than two years since a government-sparked wildfire took everything from victims in northern New Mexico, hundreds of those victims say the federal government is still failing them. KRQE Investigates visited the burn scar where families say theyre fighting another battle, this time with FEMA. Read full story here. Its been a year since New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham created a council of child welfare professionals meant to share insight and recommend policy changes to improve the many problems within the states Children, Youth & Families Department. KRQE has detailed a long list of systemic issues that have led to things like kids sleeping in state office buildings and even children dying after CYFD intervention. Read full story here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. It hasn't been the easiest year for the British royal family. In January, King Charles and Kate Middleton were hospitalized within days of each other, and shortly thereafter, the two royals both announced cancer diagnoses. While the Princess of Wales shared in September that she had completed chemotherapy, King Charles is still in treatment. Last month, Prince William revealed 2024 has "been dreadful," adding, "It's probably been the hardest year in my life." Despite the turbulent times, the royal family is ending 2024 on a high note, celebrating Christmas together at Sandringham. Yesterday morning, numerous members of the House of Windsor stepped out to attend the Church of St Mary Magdalene. As they walk to and from Christmas service, they greet the members of the public who come out to wish them a Merry Christmas. King Charles and Queen Camilla led the royals, joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children, Charles's siblings Princess Anne and Prince Edward, and Princess Margaret's children and grandchildren. Here, see all the best photos of the royals at their annual Christmas walk: King Charles and Queen Camilla led the group as they walked to church. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images After a difficult year, King Charles was all smiles as he greeted the crowd. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images Directly following the King and Queen were Kate and William and their three children. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images The Wales family coordinated in blue and green for the holiday. Read more Samir Hussein - Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Princess of Wales wore a green Alexander McQueen coat. Read more on her outfit Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images She also accessorized with a green and blue check scarf. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales both chose green outfits for the holiday service. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Kate held Prince Louis's hand and spoke with him as they walked to church. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lady Louise Windsor, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Sir Tim Laurence, followed by James, Earl of Wessex and Prince Edward, walk to church. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Princess Anne chose a striking red jacket and matching scarf for the occasion. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Princess Beatrice was the only member of the York family to attend, joined by her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and her stepson Christopher Woolf. Read more Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Both the King and Queen carried umbrellas on their walk. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Princess Margaret's children and grandchildren were among the royals in attendance this morning. Read more Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Zara Tindall walked in with her daughter, Lena, her niece Isla Phillips, and her brother Peter Phillips on Christmas morning. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images King Charles and Queen Camilla were the first to exit the church, followed by Prince Louis. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images Kate smiled at her children as they departed from St Mary Magdalene. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Princess Charlotte's navy coat dress coordinated with her mom's scarf. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Princess Charlotte stood next to her cousin, Mia Tindall, as they left church. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images The cousins chatted as they left. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Kate and William chatted as they departed services. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Princess of Wales received a bouquet of flowers from a royal fan. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images The Princess of Wales was in a upbeat mood as she spoke with well wishers who gathered to see the royals. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images Prince Louis received numerous gifts from wellwishers, including candy and toys. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images Princess Charlotte and Prince George also received presents. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Princess Beatrice leaned down to speak with her stepson as they exited the church. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images Kate bent down to speak with a young fan. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images King Charles stopped to chat with those who camped out to meet the royals on Christmas. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images Princess Charlotte carried a bouquet as she followed her dad and brothers back to Sandringham. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You Might Also Like It hasn't been the easiest year for the British royal family. In January, King Charles and Kate Middleton were hospitalized within days of each other, and shortly thereafter, the two royals both announced cancer diagnoses. While the Princess of Wales shared in September that she had completed chemotherapy, King Charles is still in treatment. Last month, Prince William revealed 2024 has "been dreadful," adding, "It's probably been the hardest year in my life." Despite the turbulent times, the royal family is ending 2024 on a high note, celebrating Christmas together at Sandringham. This morning, numerous members of the House of Windsor stepped out to attend the Church of St Mary Magdalene. As they walk to and from Christmas service, they greet the members of the public who come out to wish them a Merry Christmas. King Charles and Queen Camilla led the royals, joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children, Charles's siblings Princess Anne and Prince Edward, and Princess Margaret's children and grandchildren. Here, see all the best photos of the royals at their annual Christmas walk: King Charles and Queen Camilla led the group as they walked to church. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images After a difficult year, King Charles was all smiles as he greeted the crowd. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images Directly following the King and Queen were Kate and William and their three children. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images The Wales family coordinated in blue and green for the holiday. Read more Samir Hussein - Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Princess of Wales wore a green Alexander McQueen coat. Read more on her outfit Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images She also accessorized with a green and blue check scarf. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales both chose green outfits for the holiday service. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Kate held Prince Louis's hand and spoke with him as they walked to church. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lady Louise Windsor, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Sir Tim Laurence, followed by James, Earl of Wessex and Prince Edward, walk to church. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Princess Anne chose a striking red jacket and matching scarf for the occasion. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Princess Beatrice was the only member of the York family to attend, joined by her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and her stepson Christopher Woolf. Read more Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Both the King and Queen carried umbrellas on their walk. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Princess Margaret's children and grandchildren were among the royals in attendance this morning. Read more Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Zara Tindall walked in with her daughter, Lena, her niece Isla Phillips, and her brother Peter Phillips on Christmas morning. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images King Charles and Queen Camilla were the first to exit the church, followed by Prince Louis. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images Kate smiled at her children as they departed from St Mary Magdalene. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Princess Charlotte's navy coat dress coordinated with her mom's scarf. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Princess Charlotte stood next to her cousin, Mia Tindall, as they left church. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images The cousins chatted as they left. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Kate and William chatted as they departed services. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Princess of Wales received a bouquet of flowers from a royal fan. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images The Princess of Wales was in a upbeat mood as she spoke with well wishers who gathered to see the royals. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images Prince Louis received numerous gifts from wellwishers, including candy and toys. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images Princess Charlotte and Prince George also received presents. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Princess Beatrice leaned down to speak with her stepson as they exited the church. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images Kate bent down to speak with a young fan. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images King Charles stopped to chat with those who camped out to meet the royals on Christmas. OLI SCARFF - Getty Images Princess Charlotte carried a bouquet as she followed her dad and brothers back to Sandringham. Aaron Chown - PA Images - Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You Might Also Like President Biden on Thursday arrived in St. Croix for his last vacation as president before leaving office next month. The president left the White House the day after Christmas with first lady Jill Biden. He arrived in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands around 2 p.m. EST Thursday, along with his daughter Ashley Biden. Biden has traveled to St. Croix for the New Years holiday throughout his time as president and was criticized last year for making the trip amid a crisis at the U.S. southern border. At the time, a migrant caravan gained attention because it was heading to the U.S. and border crossings were increasing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, the president took off for his annual trip after he signed 50 bills on Christmas Eve and days after he signed a stopgap measure to avert a government shutdown. He was criticized last week for being absent during talks to keep the government open, while President-elect Trump helped kill a bipartisan measure Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) negotiated. The White House on Friday blew off a host of questions over Bidens absence from the talks. The trip to St. Croix isnt his last as president before Trump is sworn in on Jan. 20. He plans to travel to Italy next month for meetings with Pope Francis, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Italian President Sergio Mattarella. 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. President Biden on Wednesday denounced Russias latest attack on Ukraine, declaring the wave of missiles and drones outrageous. The purpose of this outrageous attack was to cut off the Ukrainian peoples access to heat and electricity during winter and to jeopardize the safety of its grid, Biden said in a statement. Let me be clear: the Ukrainian people deserve to live in peace and safety, and the United States and the international community must continue to stand with Ukraine until it triumphs over Russias aggression, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia, in the early hours of Wednesday, launched an attack on Ukraines energy supplies and infrastructure using 78 air and ground missiles and 106 Shahed drones, Ukraines air force said. The strikes damaged equipment and caused power outages. It was the 13th time Russia has attacked Ukraines energy system, according to DTEK, the countrys biggest private energy company. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as inhumane. Today, Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack, he wrote on the social platform X. What could be more inhumane? Over 70 missiles, including ballistic ones, and more than a hundred attack drones. The targets are our energy infrastructure. They continue to fight for a blackout in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden in his statement touted the equipment the U.S. has already sent Ukraine since Russia invaded the country in 2022, and he said more are on the way. I have directed the Department of Defense to continue its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine, and the United States will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen Ukraines position in its defense against Russian forces. President-elect Trump, meanwhile, has long been critical of U.S. aid to Ukraine. He has endorsed the idea of a deal between Kyiv and Moscow and has pledged to swiftly end the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was open to meeting with the incoming president to discuss potential outcomes during their first conversation in four years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps choice for special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, also condemned the Christmas Day attack. Christmas should be a time of peace, yet Ukraine was brutally attacked on Christmas Day, Kellogg wrote on X. Launching large-scale missile and drone attacks on the day of the Lords birth is wrong. The world is closely watching actions on both sides. The U.S. is more resolved than ever to bring peace to the region. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. U.S. President Joe Biden directed the Pentagon to "continue its surge" of weapons deliveries to Ukraine in response to Russia's mass attack on the country on Christmas Day, he announced on Dec. 25. Russia launched 78 missiles and 106 drones on Dec. 25, striking multiple cities and causing damage. Kharkiv endured "massive fire" from ballistic missiles, leaving six injured, according to local authorities. Biden condemned the attacks and pledged continued support for Ukraine until it defeats Russian aggression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ukrainian people deserve to live in peace and safety, Biden said. He added that hundreds of air defense missiles have already been sent to Ukraine in recent months, with additional deliveries underway. Biden reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to bolstering Ukraines defenses. The United States will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen Ukraines position in its defense against Russian forces, he said. The strikes on Dec. 25 caused significant damage, prompting emergency blackouts in several Oblasts of Ukraine. Ukraines largest private energy company, DTEK, confirmed that Russian strikes severely damaged equipment at thermal power plants, though the locations were not disclosed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President-elect Donald Trumps nominee for Ukraine peace envoy, Keith Kellogg, also criticized the assault, calling Christmas a time of peace. Read also: Zelensky wishes Ukrainians peace and unity in third wartime Christmas address Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. (NewsNation) President Joe Biden has granted clemency to Terry Southwest T Flenory, co-founder of the organization Black Mafia Family (BMF). Flenory was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2008 after prosecutors linked him and his brother, Demetrius Big Meech Flenory, to an international drug trafficking operation, according to WXIA-TV. In 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic, Terry Flenory was released from federal prison and ordered to serve the rest of his sentence on house arrest, WXYZ-TV reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Which members of Congress have missed the most votes and why? Terry Flenory celebrated the decision on Instagram, sharing a photo of his clemency affidavit and videos of him removing his house arrest device, writing, Its been a journey, but prayer and unwavering faith beyond mere human comprehension got us to this point. Demetrius Flenory has not yet been pardoned. However, in October, he was transferred to a residential reentry program in Miami to serve the remainder of his sentence. Known for their leadership in BMF, both Terry and Demetrius Felonrys stories have been widely covered in the media and are dramatized in the Starz series BMF. 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. Following Russia's large-scale attack on Ukraine on Christmas Day, US President Joe Biden has said that he has directed the Pentagon to boost the supply of weapons to Ukraine. He said that hundreds of air defence missiles have already been provided in recent months, with more on the way. Source: statement by President Biden on the White House website Quote: "In the early hours of Christmas, Russia launched waves of missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities and critical energy infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The purpose of this outrageous attack was to cut off the Ukrainian peoples access to heat and electricity during winter and to jeopardise the safety of its grid." Details: Biden stressed that "the Ukrainian people deserve to live in peace and safety" and said that the United States and the international community must continue supporting Ukraine until it triumphs over Russian aggression. Quote: "In recent months, the United States has provided Ukraine with hundreds of air defence missiles, and more are on the way. I have directed the Department of Defence to continue its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine and the United States will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen Ukraines position in its defence against Russian forces." Background: On the night of 25 December, Russian forces launched a combined attack on Ukraine's fuel and energy infrastructure using various types of missiles launched from air, land and sea, as well as Shahed drones and decoy UAVs. During the Christmas attack, Ukrainian defence forces intercepted 55 cruise missiles, 4 guided air missiles and 54 Russian drones out of 184 air targets launched by Russia. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Biden administration may not manage to send Ukraine all the military aid funds approved by Congress before the end of Bidens term in January 2025. Some decisions will likely transfer to Donald Trump's incoming team. The Pentagon has said that it has reached the limit of weaponry it can send to Ukraine monthly without jeopardising its own readiness and is facing logistical challenges in deliveries. Previously, Biden asked Congress for an additional US$24 billion in military aid for Ukraine and to replenish US weapons stockpiles already provided to Kyiv. However, the future Republican-majority Congress has had a lukewarm response to this request. Meanwhile, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller noted that the current US administration believes the military aid already provided or planned during Biden's term will suffice for Ukraine to continue fighting through the end of 2025. Support UP or become our patron! WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Christmas was a quiet day in Washington, but the president and incoming president used their social media to wish the country a Merry Christmas. This is now the fourth year the Bidens have celebrated Christmas in the White House. The president wrote on X, For the last time as your president, its my honor to wish all of America a very Merry Christmas. President- elect Donald Trump and President Biden offered two different messages to the American public this Christmas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a video posted to social media, the current president urged unity, from the White House where he and the first lady called service members to wish them happy holidays. Meanwhile Trump from Florida, launched a series of comments from Truth Social, where he also wished the country a Merry Christmas. Trump also previewed his policy goals for his next term, including a threat to take over the Panama Canal, The United States has a big investmentof the Panama Canal. No word on how Trump will be spending the rest of his week. President Biden departs from the White House Thursday morning to head to the Virgin Islands where he will bring in the new year with his familya Biden tradition. 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. BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday published the results of its fifth national economic census, which showed that the country's economy has achieved progress while maintaining stability over the past five years. The census results showed that China had 33.27 million legal units engaged in secondary and tertiary industries at the end of 2023, up 52.7 percent from the end of 2018. The secondary and tertiary industries employed over 428.98 million people at the end of 2023, up 11.9 percent compared with the end of 2018. The number of self-employed units was nearly 88 million with 179.56 million persons employed, according to the results. The economic census, one of China's key national surveys, provides a comprehensive overview of the country's secondary and tertiary industries, offering valuable insights into its social and economic development. China carried out four national economic censuses in 2004, 2008, 2013 and 2018, respectively, and formally started its fifth national economic census in 2023. Returning legislation in Missouri hopes to crack down on the state's "puppy mill problem" (Photo by Dan Brandenburg/Getty Images). A Democrat from St. Ann is once again pushing for legislation placing more restrictions on commercial dog breeders, though it faces long odds thanks to resistance from pet stores and large agriculture operations. A bill that would regulate commercial animal breeders is awaiting the 2025 legislative session though its sponsor predicts pushback from pet stores and large agriculture operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Rep. Doug Clemens, a Democrat from St. Ann, filed the bill last year and unsuccessfully tried to attach it as an amendment to legislation that wouldve forbid municipalities from banning pet stores that sell dogs. Lets just take care of it so Missouri consumers can be assured that theyre not buying an animal that has been exposed to horrible conditions and is genetically messed up from inbreeding, he told The Independent in an interview this month. The bill would have barred municipalities from placing restrictions on pet stores, which often sell dogs bred from high-volume commercial breeders. Clemenss legislation would put regulations on the treatment of breeding animals, such as requiring veterinary care and photographing the animals enclosures quarterly. Information on the health of animals parents would also be required to be shared with purchasers. Clemens amendment was shot down, and the pet store bill never made it to the governors desk. The stand-alone bill Clemens filed never received a committee hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The biggest hurdle for his bill, Clemens contends, is opposition from those who worry it could impact livestock operations. More specifically, that it may set up hurdles for concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs. We support and encourage (CAFOs) in Missouri, and those have everything but kindness to animals about them, he said. In March 2023, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that it was unlawful for municipalities to restrict the operations. Clemens bill does not explicitly name cats and dogs as the target of the legislation but specifies it applies to animals used for breeding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cody Atkinson, Missouri state director for the Humane Society of the United States, told The Independent that lawmakers seem receptive to animal welfare laws as long as it doesnt affect livestock. Everybody understands that there is a problem with puppy mills, he said. The real hang up is making sure the language is appropriate to toll these dog-breeding operations and keeping it wholly separate from other livestock within the state. Atkinson said the bill finally recognizes the need for greater transparency in the state of Missouri when it comes to breeding dogs. Missouri ranks 37th in animal-welfare legislation, according to advocacy group the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Missouris history with animal-welfare legislation The Humane Society of the United States annually publishes a list of the hundred worst dog breeders identified through inspections. For 12 years, Missouri has topped the list for the most breeders on the Horrible Hundred list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Missouri remains a hotspot for large commercial breeding operations even after reforms in 2010 and 2011 that sought to crack down on the problem. Voters passed a ballot measure in 2010 called the Puppy Mill Cruelty and Prevention Act that specified appropriate living conditions for breeding operations with at least 10 female breeding dogs. It also capped the number of animals that a business could use for breeding at 50. In 2011, lawmakers passed a bill sponsored by then-state-senator Mike Parson, who finishing up his final year as governor, that peeled back parts of the new law including the cap on the number of breeding dogs. The change was widely criticized by advocates as a political move inspired by large agricultural interests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Atkinson said he frequently sees breeders violate the law, keeping dogs suspended on wire floors and in unsafe climates. It really all comes down to the lack of funding and support for inspections and prosecution whenever these shortcomings are found, he said. The Missouri Department of Agriculture has 15 inspectors in its animal care division. Atkinson said the annual inspection currently prescribed by law is not frequent enough. Clemenss legislation adds requirements for female breeding dogs to be examined by a veterinarian each breeding cycle, or about every six months. The legislation protecting pet stores has yet to be filed. Clemens said he plans to offer his bill as an amendment if it is filed. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX This article has been updated with new information Bird flu has been identified on a Burnett County commercial poultry farm, the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection said Thursday. Nine people connected with the farm are being monitored for H5N1 symptoms but none of them have shown any yet, according to the state Department of Health Services. The identity of the farm, in northwest Wisconsin, was not revealed. However, the 20,000 turkeys were destroyed to prevent spread of the H5N1 virus and will not enter the food system, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement H5N1 outbreaks have led to the losses of commercial flocks in Burnett, Barron, Trempealeau, Washburn and other Wisconsin counties. The virus has also infected wild birds including cases in mallards, northern pintails and trumpeter swans in the state. Dec. 18, Wisconsin's first case of H5N1 bird flu in a human was identified, and later confirmed, on a Barron County turkey farm. That case involved a farmworker who had relatively mild symptoms, such as a slight fever, sore throat, and some fatigue. She was treated with antiviral medication and appeared to be making a full recovery, officials said. Nineteen people on that commercial poultry farm, also in northwest Wisconsin, may have been exposed and have been monitored for symptoms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To date, there's been no evidence of human to human transmission of bird flu anywhere in the United States. The spread of H5N1 has become the deadliest ever virus for U.S. poultry producers. Since February 2022, the outbreaks and related culling operations have wiped out tens of millions of birds across most states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The disease can be spread by contact with infected birds, commingling with wild birds or their droppings, equipment or clothing worn by anyone working with the animals. Wisconsin has a sizable poultry industry. In 2022, 5,834 farms in the state reported poultry and egg production, according to the Census of Agriculture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poultry and egg production farms in Wisconsin reported $780.4 million in sales, or $133,769 per farm. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bird flu found on turkey farm in Burnett County, Wis.: What to know BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) The Birmingham Zoo is bringing in the new year with two events highlighting endangered red pandas. The family friendly events are scheduled for December 31 at 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Visitors can expect educational activities and a NYE countdown drop featuring a giant 2025 lantern specifically created for the celebrations. The celebrations are included in the cost of regular zoo admission or Glow Wild admission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. TOPEKA (KSNT) Bison may not be as abundant as they once were, but can they still be hunted in the Sunflower State? 27 News reached out to two state agencies and a big game hunting business to learn more about whether or not bison can be hunted in the Sunflower State. Hunters who want to bring down one of the big animals can do so, but under a limited basis. Is there a bison hunting season? A quick check of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) website will show there is no mention of bison for the states big game hunting seasons. Laura Clawson, a spokeswoman for the KDWP, confirms no official hunting season exists for the animals as they are considered livestock and not a game species. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milford Lake named top tourist destination in Kansas Bison can often be found in private herds around the state such as at the Flint Hills Bison Company in the Manhattan area. The KDWP will occasionally hold auctions for bison from the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge which people can acquire for their private herds. There are no wild bison in Kansas, so all bison are privately owned as private herds, said Heather Lansdowne, Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) spokeswoman. If any hunting is taking place, that would be on private property so we wouldnt have any oversight or official awareness of it taking place. Bison in a field near Manhattan. (Photo Courtesy/Flint Hills Bison Company) Where can you hunt bison? People looking to hunt for a bison will have to do a little extra research and find a private range. Joe Isch with Kansas Trophy Outfitters said he stocks his land near Lyndon with big game like elk, whitetail deer and rams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve got 350 acres of high fence at our place, Isch said. Whatever animals we put in there are ours. Hunters shoot, kill federally protected pelicans in Kansas Isch said his hunting range currently doesnt stock bison as they were difficult to manage and had little fear of people. He got rid of the last of the 2,000-pound animals in early 2024. We had about eight or so of them it wouldve been the last winter, Isch said. Most of our bulls were around eight-years-old. They were pretty big gnarly bulls and they got a little too rough on everything. Isch said hunters look for places to claim a bison as they can provide big trophies and contain an abundance of lean and healthy meat. Some restaurants in Kansas use bison meat in their menus for its reported healthy qualities such as at the Clover Cliff Ranch in Chase County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre pretty incredible animals with how fast they are and how big they are, Isch said. Where are the best places to go shed hunting in Kansas? A state symbol Bison have special significance in Kansas as they were made the state animal in 1955, according to the Kansas Historical Society. The species was also named the national mammal of the U.S. in 2016, marking them as a symbol of American identity, according to the Department of the Interior (DOI). The National Park Service (NPS) said bison were once numerous across much of the Great Plains, living in the prairie regions and helping to give Native American tribes sustenance. Hunters played a large role in pushing the species to the brink of extinction with overhunting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ranchers made efforts in the late 1800s to save the remaining bison and establish conservation herds, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Bison have since bounced back with many living in commercial herds and are no longer threatened with extinction but are still facing challenges such as the loss of genetic diversity. Will this legendary Kansas catfish world record ever be beat? For more Kansas Outdoors, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf 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 KSNT 27 News. Earlier this month, MSNBC host Joy Reid stated that Black women have resigned from efforts to save America after Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris to become this nations next president. In a TikTok video, Reid told white progressive women who are planning to protest against President-elect Donald Trump to not invite Black women to their plans. This sentiment deeply resonated with Black women across America. Im just gonna tell you right now: Theyre not coming, she said in the clip. Im pretty sure Black women have resigned from the save America coalition, save democracy coalition and definitely the save the Democratic Party coalition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, Reid explained that we are instead looking out for our communities first and foremost. I think Black women are now on the save Black women, prioritize Black men and prioritize Black communities, Black businesses and ... you know, the Black spaces, Reid stated. But save America, save the Democratic Party yeah, I dont think thats happening. According to the Associated Press, Black women comprised 6% of votes in the 2024 presidential election, with 89% of that group voting for Harris and 10% supporting Trump. The outlet also noted that forty-percent of this years voters were white women, with 53% voted for Trump. A similar occurrence happened in 2016 when the majority of white women voted for Trump as well as in 2020, according tothe New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, in 2017, white women still clamored together for the Womens March protest which was held the day after Trumps inauguration. More than 500,000 people attended the demonstration in Washington, D.C. There were subsequent protests around the country. After Trump lost to in 2020 to President Bidensomething he denies until this dayhis attempt to regain the White House became even more vicious and dehumanizing. He questioned if Harris was really Black throughout his campaign, quoted Hitler, falsely insisted that Black migrants in Ohio were eating residents pets and doubled down on anti-immigrant rhetoric. Not only was Trump victorious but he became the first Republican in 20 years to seize the popular vote even though it was a by a small margin. When Harris announced her official candidacy in July, Black women immediately got behind as Win With Black Women to raise funds for her historic campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Harris defeated Trump, she would have become the first Black and first South Asian woman to become President of the United States. From the Civil Rights Movement to #MeToo to Black Lives Matter, Black women have been instrumental in galvanizing communities and fighting for this countrys greater good. Trumps victory signifies that our efforts, though not entirely in vein, are unappreciated and routinely disregarded. Dont look to us for showing up at your anti-Trump demonstrations: Black women did what we had to do at the polls. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Dec. 26Bond was set at $200,000 Thursday for a Hamilton man indicted by a Butler County grand jury in a fatal crash last summer that killed a 64-year-old woman in Liberty Twp., according to court records. Charles Lee Sullivan III, 40, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated vehicular homicide, possession of cocaine and failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer all felonies, for the Aug. 13 crash that killed Hue Nguyen. Sullivan was driving west in the eastbound lanes of Ohio 129 when he crashed head-on into Nguyen, according to the Butler County Sheriff's Office crash report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nguyen, a nail technician at True Nails in Hamilton, was traveling from her residence in Franklin to Hamilton when her vehicle was hit head on by Sullivan, according to investigators. She died of her injuries on Oct. 7. According to investigators and prosecutors, Sullivan was pulled over traffic violation on OHio 129 and fled. He went the wrong way down 129 and stuck Nguyen's vehicle near the intersection I-75. Cocaine was found in Sullivan's vehicle, according to officials. As a nail technician, to her younger clients, Nguyen was a mother figure, and to her older clients and colleagues, she was like a sister, her family said. She was known for her hard work, often working 10-hour days, six days a week, tirelessly supporting her family, her daughter said. Sullivan is scheduled to be back in Butler County Common Pleas Court on Jan 14. A Boston police officer was arrested on Christmas Day following an alleged domestic disturbance at his Hull residence. Terrence Murray was charged with one count of assault and battery on a family/household member, one count of improper storage of a firearm, one count of vandalizing property, and two counts of Class E drug possession. According to a Boston Police spokesperson, Murray is a four-year department veteran assigned to District 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officer is currently on Administrative Duty and the Boston Police Bureau of Professional Standards is investigating the incident, the spokesperson said. Murray was arraigned Thursday in Hingham District Court where he pleaded not guilty. His bail was set at $500 with conditions and he will return to court in February 2025. 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 KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) The man suspected of killing a Kalamazoo County mother of eight in 2022 was ordered on Thursday to stand trial on an open murder charge. Heather Kelley, 35, of Portage, disappeared two years ago this month. Her body has never been found. Carlos Watts Jr., identified as Kelleys boyfriend, is accused in the December 2022 murder. An undated photo of Heather Kelley. (Courtesy National Missing and Unidentified Persons Systems) I have no issue here today binding over this case of homicide open murder, Kalamazoo District Judge Tiffany A. Ankley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her ruling followed a preliminary hearing held over two days and after closing arguments on Thursday. Police didnt search landfills for mom of 8s body despite dumpster claim Its a case largely of circumstantial evidence, the judge said. But the circumstantial evidence in this case is compelling. Kalamazoo County Senior Prosecutor Chelsea Huber said theres plenty of evidence even though police havent recovered Kelleys body. Murder cases without bodies are more challenging, Huber said, but not altogether unusual. There are 604 known cases in the U.S., including 36 that have gone to trial in Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sign up for breaking news alert emails Killers who successfully dispose of a body should not be rewarded, Huber said. She argued that Watts was a jealous, controlling boyfriend who tracked Kelley. Witnesses called it a toxic relationship. They say he even forced her to leave her phone on while she slept so he could watch to make sure she wasnt with someone else. A July 2023 booking photo of Carlos Watts Jr. from the Ingham County Jail. Among those who testified were Kelleys family members, including her mother and children. They testified that Kelley would never have just left her kids behind. She loved them. They loved her, the prosecutor argued. Timeline: The disappearance of Heather Kelley Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watts allegedly told someone he hit Kelley on the head and placed her body in a dumpster, according to court records. Police say they have plenty of other evidence against Watts, who was recently released from federal prison, where he was serving time for escape. Investigators say that when Kelley disappeared, she was with Watts. Her car was later found in Kalamazoo with her blood on the front and back seats. They also found clothing in a field about half a mile from Kelleys vehicle, including womens underwear, womens jeans, boots and a durag. Tests later determined that the jeans and durag had DNA from Kelley and Watts, court records say. Hard, but we got them: Family cares for missing womans 8 children Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The probable cause document says cellphone records and surveillance video put Kelley outside the downtown Kalamazoo club where Watts worked when he clocked out around 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 10, 2022. Police say the surveillance video shows a man believed to be Watts getting into Kelleys car shortly after leaving work. Cellphone data shows the two were on the phone together for more than an hour until he got into her car. A short time later, a message from Kelleys phone was sent to one of her children, saying she would be home in a lil bit, according to court records. Her phone appears to turn off near Western Michigan Universitys campus and never turned back on. Watts phone was turned off around the same and not turned back on for several more hours. Cellphone data appears to show Watts walking away from the area where Kelleys car was found and walking toward the KPEP halfway house in Kalamazoo where he was a resident, according to court records. When Watts returned to KPEP, residents told investigators they noticed scratches on his body, which he said were from Kelley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Joseph Benza III faces up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law for beating a man who gave him the finger. According to court documents, Benza abandoned a domestic disturbance call when he saw Emmett Brock flip him off. He followed Brock's car for 1.8 miles, reaching speeds over 50 mph, without ever attempting to stop him. During that time, Benza called another officer saying the driver had flipped him off and that he planned to use force against him. When Brock pulled into a 7-Eleven parking lot, Benza approached and said he'd just stopped him. When Brock said he hadn't been stopped, Benza threw him to the ground and repeatedly punched him. Brock was charged with three felonies and, as a result, he lost his job as a teacher; the charges were later dropped when the Los Angeles Times posted video of the encounter. Several sergeants directed Benza not to include the real reason he stopped Brock in his incident report. A sheriff's office investigation previously cleared Benza of violating policy in the incident, but a spokesman now says there will be a new administrative investigation. It isn't clear if any of the other deputies mentioned in court filings face charges. The sheriff's office spokesman said other employees could potentially face discipline after it concludes a new investigation. The post Brickbat: For the Birds appeared first on Reason.com. As the United States prepares for a new administration, the international community has voiced hope for a stable, healthy, and sustainable China-U.S. relationship, which is critical to the world's peaceful development and humanity's future. SALEM, Ohio (WKBN) The Brightside Project in Salem is looking to continue expanding its services. Earlier this month, the organization received a $25,000 grant from Norfolk Southern so the Brightside Project could reach more children in Columbiana County. The organization also recently opened its new building on North Ellsworth Avenue. Now, those at the organization are looking to expand mobile operations. Their work includes the Sunshine Bus, which travels around Columbiana County bringing necessities to children in need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The challenge were facing with the Sunshine Bus is the need is so great, and we only have one bus, so looking ahead into 2025, 2026, we want to expand our fleet of vehicles, said co-director Lisa Vittorio. They have reached six out of the 11 school districts in Columbiana County, along with helping out during the fallout of the East Palestine train derailment. The purpose is to give kids the basic needs they are struggling to receive. Give them food, give them hygiene products, and then books, and they always get a Brightside buddy to support their social and emotional development which is a stuffed animal, Vittorio said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its going to take time to raise the money, but the Brightside Project wants to make sure they get to the kids who cant get to them. The concept of the Sunshine Bus is the mobile unit to go around to the community, to go to where the children are and slay through their barriers. If parental buy-in is an issue, if transportation is an issue, the Sunshine Bus is going to them, Vittorio 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 WKBN.com. Colder weather could mean more car issues, and your vehicle could be towed if its left on private property for too long. Property owners in North Carolina have the right to request any vehicles left on their land be towed after a certain amount of time has passed, according to state law. If your vehicle is towed, you could have to pay a hefty fee to get it back since there is no cap on how much companies can charge for towing services. Though many North Carolina towns, including Charlotte, once had limits on how much tow companies could charge, a 2014 N.C. Supreme Court ruling said municipalities do not have the authority to set fee caps for towing services, The Charlotte Observer reported. What happens to your vehicle if left on private property? According to the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles, property owners have a few options when a vehicle has been abandoned on their property: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement can be contacted to identify the vehicle if it has been reported as stolen. After seven days, the property owner can contact a tow company to remove the vehicle. If the vehicle remains unclaimed for 30 days, it is considered abandoned and the property owner can begin the process to sell the vehicle. For more information on abandoned vehicles, you can call the NCDMVs License and Theft Bureau at 919-615-6035. What if you leave your car on an NC highway? If your car is left parked on or along a highway for more than 24 hours, it can be towed by law enforcement, according to state law. In North Carolina, it is illegal to leave your car parked or standing on any highway unless the vehicle is disabled to such an extent that it is impossible to avoid stopping and temporarily leaving the vehicle, state law says. It is also against the law to leave your car parked on the shoulder of any highway unless the vehicle can be seen from a distance of 200 feet in both directions and does not obstruct the normal movement of traffic, according to state law. What happens after your car gets towed? If your car is towed, North Carolina law requires that you be notified by phone or by mail within 24 hours with the following information: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A description of your vehicle The place where your vehicle is stored The violation you are charged with, if any The procedure you must follow to get your vehicle back The procedure you must follow to request a probable cause hearing on the towing You can get your vehicle back by paying the towing fee or posting a bond for double the amount of the towing fee, according to state law. What if you cant find your vehicle? If you suspect your vehicle has been towed but are unable to locate it, you can search for it using the N.C. Department of Public Safetys towed vehicle database. The database gives you the option to search by owner name, vehicle plate number, or vehicle ID number, and will provide the name and address of the tow company holding your car. Ask the North Carolina Service Journalism Team Have a question about your community youd like answered? Or maybe a tip or story idea youd like to share? The service journalism teams at The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer want to hear from you. CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) Massachusetts has gone through a variety of changes throughout the year, as new businesses opened their doors for the first time, while others shut down for good. The Federal Restaurant and Bar, a 22-year-old establishment in Agawam, closed in October. Co-owner Ralph Santaniello said that family health reasons were one of the deciding factors in selling the 162-year-old building. Santaniello and his brother-in-law and business partner Michael Presnal may no longer run The Federal together, but months earlier in April they opened up Lolas, a Mexican restaurant that opened in the Longmeadow shops nearby their other restaurant, Posto Italian. Lolas combines Mexican and coastal flavors that have kept customers coming back for more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local restaurants see Christmas day rush Another Mexican restaurant made its appearance this year when BarBurrito opened in Ludlow in July. The restaurant, co-owned by Bill Collins, Ernesto Quinteros and Manfredy Carballo, takes a modern approach to Mexican cuisine and incorporates Asian flavors into their dishes. Carballo also serves as the executive chef at Center Square Grill in East Longmeadow. Cinephiles living in the Worcester area lost another movie theater as the West Boylston Cinemas shut down in May. The closure of this budget-friendly theater left only one cinema in the Worcester area, the Elm Draught House in Millbury, expanding what some are referring to as the movie theater desert. The Holyoke Mall invited new vendors and brands in throughout the year, filling in empty storefronts from previous departures. Notable shop openings within the mall include Kings Jeweler, A Sneaker City, ITSUGAR, and MINISO. New restaurants and food vendors also set up shop at the mall this year, such as Milkshake Lovers and Monsoon Bistro, which specializes in Southeast Asian cuisine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Big Lots announced in December that after closing down hundreds of stores across the state and filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, they are planning to officially close all of their locations. More than 400 of their stores have already shut down in Massachusetts, and a total of 963 more have begun their going-out-of-business sales to bring an end to Big Lots and the new year. While Massachusetts has seen the coming and going of different businesses in 2024, there is sure to be more to experience in 2025. 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. Editors note: This is the first in a series of stories in the lead-up to President Donald Trumps inauguration aimed at exploring how a second Trump administration could impact SLO County, with coverage spanning key policy areas such as immigration, tariffs, education and more. Last month, California Gov. Gavin Newsom called a special session of the state legislature to safeguard California values and fundamental rights against a second incoming Trump administration. The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack and we wont sit idle, Newsom said in a statement announcing the special session on Nov. 7, the day after former President Donald Trump was declared the president elect. California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom started the session on Dec. 2 and asked the legislature full of newly elected representatives to set aside $25 million for the California Department of Justice for anticipated litigation of Trumps new administration. From rolling back access to reproductive and gender affirming care to mass deportations of immigrants, and even threatening to dissolve the U.S. Department of Education, Trump has promised massive overhauls of national policy that directly challenge Californias laws. And the state is preparing a fight. A number of these issues also will hit close to home for San Luis Obispo County residents, local representatives and community leaders said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So much is on the line, whether its emergency response, whether its reproductive care access, or its around immigration protections and protections from mixed status families, Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-30), who represents SLO County, told The Tribune. We need to be ready on day one to protect the Central Coast and to protect California in those situations. Going into the winter months, Addis said she particularly concerned about Trumps threats to withhold emergency response funds. After the January 2023 storms, FEMA provided $11 million to help repair SLO County, she said. That is a huge, huge hit to a place like SLO County, if that money is not coming in, Addis said. It is also an issue that is intimately wrapped up in attacking California taxpayers, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California is one of the states that pays the most in federal income taxes, Addis said. When theres a threat not to provide FEMA dollars, thats a huge problem for the California taxpayers, because weve paid in to these federal tax coffers, and then all this money is not coming back to our state that we really need. The threat of mass deportations of undocumented immigrants is another issue that could directly impact SLO Countys immigrant communities and local economy. Trump has suggested deporting entire mixed status families made up of both undocumented and legal residents, which Addis said is illegal. Erica Ruvalcaba is the director Corazon Latino, a local non-profit which provides mental health support and other resources to Latinx communities in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said fear and uncertainty of what is to come is reverberating through immigrant communities across both counties, and the need for preparation is potent. We are forced to go back to what we experienced eight years ago, Ruvalcaba said. We have to make sure we are prepared. It is also an issue that directly impacts the economy. Were definitely concerned about some of the things that have been said, particularly because agriculture is important to SLO County and the Central Coast, and agriculture relies on an immigrant workforce, Sen. Monique Limon (D-21), who represents a portion of southern SLO County, told the Tribune. If people think the cost of food is expensive, imagine not having enough people to work in that sector. Dawn Addis attended an Election Night party hosted by the SLO Dems at Bennys Pizza Palace and Social Club on Nov. 5, 2024. California sued the first Trump administration over 120 times and won most of the closed cases. Even more lawsuits are expected this time around. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Attorney General Rob Bonta said he has already begun preparing plans to defend California policies. California will seek to work with the incoming president but let there be no mistake, we intend to stand with states across our nation to defend our Constitution and uphold the rule of law, Newsom said in a written statement following the election. Federalism is the cornerstone of our democracy. Its the United STATES of America. The goal of the special session is to create a robust legal defense fund. The legislature is currently in deliberations and is expected to take action in the new year prior to the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20. Early on in the special session, the senate introduced a bill that would allocate $10 million to California city attorneys and county counsels in addition to the $25 million to the Attorney General to fight Trump administration policies in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SLO County Counsel Rita Neal told The Tribune on Dec. 18 she had not heard anything about potential funding or the senate bill. Whatever action is taken, Addis said it is only a starting point, and that more money could be dedicated to litigation as needed in future legislative sessions. This isnt meant to be the end, Addis said. Its meant to be just the beginning of what might be needed. Police in California are looking for a man they suspect killed a mother and her teenage son. Alicia Montejano, 43, and 19-year-old Reuel Huerta were found slain in their Stockton, Calif., home on Monday, Dec. 23, local police said in a statement. The Stockton Police Department did not name the victims, but they were identified in a GoFundMe, as well as by ABC 10 and KCRA, which cited the San Joaquin County Medical Examiners Office and family members, respectively. (ABC 10 reported Montejanos first name to be Alice, but KCRA and the GoFundMe referred to her as Alicia). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police named 38-year-old Julio Ceasar Valdez as a suspect, but have been unable to locate him and consider him a fugitive. A relative told KCRA that Valdez was Montejano's boyfriend, and authorities believe the killing was domestic in nature. Stockton Police Department Julio Ceasar Valdez Julio Ceasar Valdez Marisa Vigil, Montejanos daughter, told KCRA 3 hat she had not heard from her mother all day on Monday and grew concerned. Vigil said she dropped by Montejanos residence to check on her and Huerta, only to find their bodies inside the residence. She then called 911, she said. Inside the home, officers found lacerations on Reuel's body as well as a weapon, police told KCRA 3. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. In the GoFundMe set up by family members, the mother and son are being remembered for bringing joy to all those around them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [They] shared a family with an unbreakable bond, reads the fundraiser. At a memorial event on Christmas eve, Vigil pleaded to the community to help find the suspect. I just want you to keep them remembered, don't forget about it, please, she said, per KCRA. Tipsters could be eligible for cash rewards in exchange for information that assists the apprehension of Valdez. The public is urged to call Stockton Crime Stoppers Inc. at 209-946-0600; or submit a Tip online using the Stockton Crime Stopper's Website at StocktonCrimeStoppers.org; or download the P3 Tips Mobile App to submit anonymous tips. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Read the original article on People On Monday, Dec. 23, civil rights activists assembled in front of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in Northridge, California to demand justice for 13-year-old SalVyion Sal Torres. Torres, who is Black, was the victim of an alleged racist attack. He is also an eighth grade student at Ernest Lawrence Middle School in Chatsworth. According to the San Fernando Sun, the violent attack happened on Dec. 6. Torres told authorities that he was helping his grandmother carry a few things from the school out to her car when he was assaulted by a white man in his mid-40s. The man, who is also a parent at the school, allegedly called Torres a slew of racial slurs including the N-word. The teen suffered a contusion, concussion, neck sprain and closed head injury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had his knee on my neck with all his weight and was just yelling the N-word at me, Torres told the publication. My neck still hurts when I move it around, its sore. And the same thing with my knee. Theres pressure when I step on it and everything. A police report was filed by Torres parents shortly after the incident on behalf of their son. However, the alleged perpetrator has not yet been arrested. Salvador Torres, the teens father, claimed that his family barely received a police report number from LAPD nearly two weeks after the incident. The Torres family also said that Ernest Lawrence Middle School has not contacted them or provided any type of counseling for their son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The familys attorney, Bradley C. Gage, said they are merely seeking justice, fairness, equality, and the person responsible who executed the attack to be held accountable. Everyone deserves an education. No one should be afraid to be at school. No one should be persecuted because of the color of their skin, said Gage. Schools, once they know of a problem, have an obligation to take action to protect these kids. The police department nor the school have publicly commented on the incident. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. SACRAMENTO, California California farmers could soon enjoy bumper crops thanks to President-elect Donald Trumps pledge to lift water restrictions. But who will pick them if he follows through on his deportation threats? The countrys largest agricultural constituency backed Trump in November, bucking Californias deep-blue electorate over his campaign promises to open the faucet and deliver more water to the states parched, conservative-leaning Central Valley. But now its reckoning with an uncomfortable contradiction: Trump also campaigned on mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, who make up at least half of the states agricultural workforce. Thats left Californias agricultural barons, who employ the most farm workers of any state in the nation and grow half the produce consumed in the United States, nervously parsing Trumps rhetoric. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To say it would have an impact on California would be an understatement, said Chris Reardon, vice president of policy advocacy at the industry group California Farm Bureau Federation. Reardon, who declined to say who he voted for, has been fielding calls from members asking him what exactly will happen to workers. We just dont know yet, hes told them. Trump has appointed anti-immigration hawks to top positions, like Thomas Homan as border czar, and pledged to begin deportations on Day One of his administration, through executive orders crafted to evade legal challenges and by undoing Biden-era restrictions on deportations. Dave Puglia, the president and CEO of the Western Growers Association, called the prospect of sweeps on farms very troubling. Deporting hundreds of thousands of undocumented farmworkers from California would be logistically difficult and time-consuming, to say nothing of the legal challenges Californias Attorney General Rob Bonta and other Democratic officials are already preparing. Homan has said the administration would prioritize deporting undocumented people whove committed serious crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If that is indeed the focus of the administration's effort, then I think most people would support that, said Puglia, who also declined to say who he voted for. So there's a little bit of a wait and see thing here. During his first term, Trump also said he wouldnt go after workers in the food sector. But his administration still conducted raids at Mississippi poultry plants and Nebraska produce processing facilities, arresting hundreds of workers. The extent of Trump 2.0s deportations efforts will determine how much Californias farmers could potentially sacrifice their water access to sway his immigration policies. So far, theyre primarily focused on building relationships with Trumps cabinet, including Brooke Rollins, his pick for Agriculture Secretary whos seen as a trusted adviser on other issues too. Puglia said hell continue to advocate for stalled bipartisan legislation born out of a 2019 deal between the ag industry and the United Farm Workers. The bill would set up a new temporary worker visa program specifically for agriculture and create a pathway to citizenship for longtime undocumented farmworkers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the bills moderate Republican champions, John Duarte, just lost his reelection bid to represent the Central Valley in the House. A fourth generation farmer himself, he has said he is now eyeing a Trump administration job in water or natural resources. Puglia also sees an opportunity in the Trump administration, which is likely to undo a Biden-era rule that increased labor protections for temporary farmworkers under the H2-A visa. A federal judge in Georgia has stayed the rule following challenges from ag and business groups and Republican attorney generals. Puglia said hed like to see the H2-A program simplified and expanded for farmworkers instead. Antonio De Loera, communications director at the United Farm Workers, said that doesnt necessarily address the threat of deportations. Anything that happens needs to first do right by the workforce that is here, the current workforce that has been feeding us for decades, said De Loera. We will not allow that workforce to be discarded and replaced by expansion of an exploitative gap worker program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His main focus, he said, will not be on legislation but on organizing and educating workers. Even if Trump doesnt go through with mass deportations or if California refuses to carry them through or wins its anticipated legal challenges the threat still has an impact on workers, who may be less likely to report rights violations, and families who may be torn apart. The main thing we're doing across the organization is trying to just reassure workers and empower workers, so that they're not scared by this rhetoric into accepting working conditions that are dangerous, he said. This article was originally published in CalMatters. Californias public school students are continuing to rebound from the pandemic, with more showing up for class, more graduating and fewer misbehaving at school, according to new data released today. The California School Dashboard, a color-coded snapshot of how students and schools are faring, showed improvements in many categories during the 2023-24 school year a relief for schools trying to help students recover academically and social-emotionally after the 2020 campus closures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most notable improvement was in attendance. The percentage of students who were chronically absent, missing more than 10% of school days in a year, dropped to about 20%, a significant decline from when it peaked at 30% three years ago. Prior to the pandemic about 12% of students were chronically absent. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter This is good news, said Hedy Chang, director of Attendance Works, a nonprofit that advocates for school attendance. Im pleasantly surprised. To benefit from all the services that schools are offering, kids have to show up. Since the pandemic, schools across the state have been doubling down on efforts to lure students back to school. Many used their federal and state COVID-19 relief money to hire outreach workers, add bus routes, host pizza parties and otherwise make it easier and more enticing to come to school. Some districts had social workers connect directly with parents to solve transportation and other obstacles. Chronic absenteeism continues to improve after pandemic peak Those efforts paid off, Chang said. While the pizza parties helped, she pointed to many schools focus on improving campus climate overall. That includes counseling, social-emotional learning, stronger relationships between school staff and families, and health and wellness services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pandemic relief grants expired this year, so some districts will be scrambling to maintain these programs going forward. But the states recent investments in community schools, arts education, transitional kindergarten and other services will help, Chang said. Recognition for long-term English learners Another noteworthy item in the Dashboard is the inclusion of a new student group: long-term English learners, or students who were not fluent in English after seven years. The reasons for these students delays vary, but in general theyre not receiving adequate help learning English and as a result, lag far behind their peers academically. About 10% of students who were ever classified as English learners were considered long-term English learners last year, according to state data. Those students had some of the lowest math and English language arts scores of any of Californias 13 other student groups. Were celebrating this significant milestone, that long-term English learners get the spotlight they deserve and they are no longer invisible, said Martha Hernandez, director of Californians Together, which advocates for students who are English learners. But now the work begins to ensure their needs are met. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schools and other education agencies need to work together to help families who are recent immigrants by finding translators, provide counseling to students, boost bilingual education and bring in tutors to help with English and academic skills, said Lindsay Tornatore, director of systems improvement and student success at California County Superintendents, which represents county office of education superintendents. Not good enough Elsewhere on the dashboard, the graduation rate was 86.4%, up a bit from the previous year and higher than the pre-pandemic rate of 84.2%. But a related item on the dashboard raised alarm bells with researchers. The number of students meeting the requirements for admission to Californias public universities was up only slightly an increase of just 3,700 students among a graduating class of 438,000. Close to half of high school graduates are ineligible for the University of California or California State University. Thats just not good enough, said Alix Gallagher, interim managing director at the nonpartisan think tank Policy Analysis for California Education. It means the recovery has been anemic, and thats a problem. We need a different approach, starting at the state level. Most California high schoolers graduate in four years But only about half of graduates meet University of California or California State University admission criteria, also known as A-G requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She pointed to some districts policies of placing students on math tracks that dont allow them to meet the college admission requirements by their senior year. While not all students should be expected to enroll in four-year colleges, they should at least have the option available, she said. The Department of Education hailed a drop in the suspension rate, among all student groups. Student misbehavior had increased after schools re-opened, and schools struggled to maintain a positive atmosphere for staff and other students. The rate dropped from 3.6% to 3.3% last year. No major changes to format The dashboard itself has been under fire recently. The data is too hard for parents to navigate, and the color coding can be misleading, according to a report from the Center for Reinventing Public Education at Arizona State University. For example, a school might earn an orange color, the second-from-lowest designation, for showing slight improvements, but its scores might actually be lower than schools that earned a red, the lowest ranking. The state said it would consider making some changes but hadnt made any major alterations on this years version. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dashboard was released a few weeks earlier than it was last year. By 2026 the dashboards release will coincide with the Smarter Balanced test score announcement in mid-October. This story was originally published on CalMatters. Dec. 25 (UPI) -- The famed Santa Cruz Wharf on the California coast will remain indefinitely closed until further notice after part collapsed this week with city leaders fearing for its future due to growing effects of climate change, according to officials. About 150 feet of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf fell into the Pacific Ocean on Monday before 1 p.m. PST. Three people fell into the ocean but suffered only minor injuries. Police evacuated the wharf Monday and called in a drone to be certain additional victims were not in the water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, local officials met to decide if the wharf should stay closed until further notice while city engineers perform a full damage assessment on the structure built in 1914 and known as the longest pier on the West Coast. Lost was the Dolphin Restaurant and a restroom on a part of the wharf -- which was in the middle of a $4 million project to fix part of the aging structure -- closed to the public since December last year after lingering damage by previous winter storms. On Tuesday, local officials met to decide it should stay closed until further notice while city engineers perform a full damage assessment on the structure built in 1914 and known as the longest pier on the west coast. Photo Provided By Santa Cruz Fire Department/UPI The area that failed the wharf and came down "was an active construction site and was closed at the time," a city official said. On Christmas Eve, I visited Santa Cruz Harbor to see the significant damage caused by powerful surf. I'm committed to working with all levels to ensure recovery efforts move quickly. My thanks to first responders & harbor crews for their tireless work to protect lives & property. pic.twitter.com/tJrl2ajmtH Rep. Jimmy Panetta (@RepJimmyPanetta) December 25, 2024 "We are currently assessing and working towards understanding what structural integrity metrics need to be evaluated as we work with our consultants and our contract engineering firms," said Ryan Reber with the city of Santa Cruz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are looking forward to learning more as we make decisions forward for the wharf," Reber added. Notably, a rusty War War II-era bomb washed up on a beach near Santa Cruz in January. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta visited the scene of "significant damage" on Christmas Eve and pledged federal support for recovery efforts. "I'm committed to working with all levels to ensure recovery efforts move quickly," the California Democrat posted to social media. On Monday, an advisory to stay out of the water went into effect and remained through Tuesday due to large amount of debris washing up on beaches as far south as Manresa State Beach nearly 10 miles from Santa Cruz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayor of the city of more than 61,500 residents highlighted the importance of taking into account the ever-expanding effects of climate change. "What happens when you are in jurisdiction, on the edge of the continent, in the world with climate change?" Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley asked. A handful of incidents were reported along the coast in recent days, including one deadly incident that was related to the Santa Cruz County wharf collapse. "Do you simply say that was that, and we're going to put everything back and see how it goes? I'm not as sanguine about that," Keeley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think we need to take time outside of the context or the heat of the moment and understand what it is we're going to do," he added. Meanwhile, the city should locate a private contractor to build, design and operate a new wharf to get up and running quickly while minimizing taxpayer cost, a visiting fellow at the California Policy Center suggested Wednesday. "Instead, I anticipate analysis paralysis," Marc Joffe, president of the Walnut Creek-based Contra Costa Taxpayers Association, posted on social media. PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - A Cambodian opposition politician was sentenced on Thursday to two years in jail and banned from elections for inciting social unrest, his lawyer said, the latest in a series of cases that activists say are attempts to silence government critics. Sun Chanthy, president of the Nation Power Party, was arrested and charged in May after meeting supporters in Japan. Police said he had spread false information on Facebook to mislead the public but his arrest was not politically motivated, local media reported at the time. His lawyer, Choung Chou Ngy, on Thursday told reporters Sun Chanthy was sentenced in absentia as he was unable to travel from a provincial prison to attend court in Phnom Penh due to travel sickness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He joins a long list of politicians, journalists and labour and environmental activists imprisoned after speaking out against the government, which has been led by the Cambodian People's Party for four decades. Cambodia's justice ministry did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on the sentence. For years the government has denied curtailing free speech and cracking down on its opponents, saying those jailed or subjected to legal action had broken the law. The CPP government has led a ruthless, years-long crackdown on its opponents, with scores of politicians jailed, many in absentia, and hundreds more fleeing into exile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sun Chanthy formed the Nation Power Party in 2023 after Cambodia's only opposition, the Candlelight Party, was barred from an election last year that was won by the CPP in a landslide. According to human rights group LICADHO, which tracks cases against government critics, 102 people have been arrested and jailed in Cambodia this year, with 76 still in detention as of Dec. 10. (Reporting by Chantha Lach; Writing and additional reporting by Martin Petty; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) JERUSALEM, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on Thursday that he visited East Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and "said a prayer," which appeared to have breached the long-standing status quo in the site. The Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam, is administered by the Jerusalem Awqaf Department, an Islamic religious trust affiliated to Jordan. Jews revere the site as the Temple Mount. Under the status quo, non-Muslims are permitted to visit the hilltop compound but not allowed to pray there. This sacred site has long been a flashpoint for deadly violence between Jews and Muslims. According to a statement from Ben-Gvir's office, the far-right minister "prayed for the well-being of our soldiers, for the return of the hostages, both living and deceased, and for Israel's total victory in the war." Ben-Gvir posted a photo of himself walking through the compound's plaza in the Old City of Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem via his account on social media platform X. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu distanced himself from the visit, with his office immediately releasing a statement saying, "The status quo on the Temple Mount has not changed." The visit drew sharp criticism from Mansour Abbas, chairman of Israel's Arab Ra'am party, who accused Ben-Gvir of "desecrating the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque" and attempting to "drag Arab citizens of Israel into a confrontation with the state." In a statement, Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also denounced the visit as a violation of the historical and legal status quo and of "Israel's obligations as the occupying power in Jerusalem." PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) A Cambodian court on Thursday convicted an opposition party leader of inciting social disorder and sentenced him to two years in prison, the latest legal assault on opponents and critics of the government of Prime Minister Hun Manet. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court also gave Nation Power Party president Sun Chanthy a permanent ban on voting or running for office and fined him four million riels ($1,000). He was convicted in absentia as he chose not to attend Thursdays brief trial. Sun Chanthy, 41, was arrested in May this year at Phnom Penh International Airport after returning from a trip to Japan where he held a meeting with several hundred Cambodian overseas workers. He spoke there critically about Hun Manets government and urged that opposition political parties be allowed to operate more freely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under former Prime Minister Hun Sen, who held power for almost four decades, Cambodia was widely criticized for human rights abuses that included suppression of freedom of speech and association. He was succeeded last year by his American-educated son, Hun Manet, but there have been few signs of political liberalization. Cambodias government has long been accused of using the judicial system to persecute critics and political opponents. The government insists it promotes the rule of law under an electoral democracy, but political parties seen as mounting strong challenges to the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party have been dissolved by the courts or had their leaders jailed or harassed. Sun Chanthy had reportedly criticized the governments system of unfairness in issuing special cards to some poor families that allow them to receive social welfare handouts. The Justice Ministry explained that he was charged for his remarks about the cards because he had twisted information to dishonestly suggest that they would only be distributed to those who join the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sun Chanthy had been a top leader of the former Cambodia National Rescue Party and was closely associated with its chief Sam Rainsy, the harshest critic and most popular opponent of the Cambodian Peoples Party for decades. Sam Rainsy has been in exile since 2016 to avoid serving prison sentences on charges of defamation, treason and other offenses, which his supporters consider politically motivated. The Cambodia National Rescue Party had been expected to present a strong challenge to the ruling party in the 2018 general election. But as part of a sweeping crackdown on the opposition before the polls, the high court dissolved the party, and the Cambodian Peoples Party subsequently won every seat in the National Assembly. Sun Chanthy then joined the Candlelight Party, the successor to the Cambodia National Rescue Party, but it in turn was barred from competing in the 2023 general election on a technicality. He later helped form the Nation Power Party in October last year. He chose not to attend Thursdays court hearing because he has been held in pre-trial detention almost 600 kilometers (375 miles) away and the drive would cause him to be carsick, said his lawyer, Choung Chou Ngy . He said to travel nearly 600 kilometers while handcuffed, it would feel like torture, the lawyer said. Peck reported from Bangkok. The extent to which 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh had found herself in uncharted military territory became clear at a NASCAR event in February, where her dual-hat duties required her to execute quick changes between her Air Force combat utility uniform and full pageant regalia. Her schedule had her meeting the Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team and then a collection of military generals before shifting to a more conventional Miss America crowd-greeting public appearance at the race. Marsh, 23, who will complete her year as the first active-duty Miss America in January, said she realized a level-setting conversation was in order as she scrambled to conform to wildly different appearance standards in rapid succession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obviously, the Miss America people, they dont know Air Force uniform standards, so no one knows, Oh wait, you cant wear lashes and a long giant ponytail and red lipstick and eyeshadow in uniform, Marsh said. And its like, no I cant do both of those at once. Eyelashes aside, Marsh, a 2023 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and Truman Scholar whose next plans involve a study program at Harvard, found a mutually beneficial way to serve out her dual identity in 2024. In conversations that began when she was crowned Miss Colorado in May 2023, she began to plan out with her chain of command how it might be feasible and practical to serve out a potential Miss America role while on active duty. I know a lot of people from all across the country, on many different bases, had to pour in a lot of time after I had won, she said, figuring out the legal logistics of what this is actually going to look like and trying to look at some of the Air Force memos and how we can really make this work. 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, February 2024. (Miriam Thurber/Air Force) Ultimately, the Air Force moved her into a highly customized public affairs position, building off her existing slate of public engagements for Miss America to conduct outreach for the service and generate awareness and interest in joining the military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since she won the title in January, Marsh said, shes participated in 106 Air Force-related public engagements involving conversations with students, parents and other influencers to promote military service. Weve really found an amazing way to overlap both of these jobs to make sure that were still hitting the standard and reaching the people in the environment that we want to reach, she said. Marshs grueling travel schedule hasnt allowed for many conventional military activities and experiences in what is essentially her first active-duty role. Marshs time spent on base at her home station, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, she said, has largely consisted of mandatory activities, including drug testing, medical appointments, meetings with commanding officers and performance reviews. Occasionally, she said, shes gotten recognized by other service members while running errands in utilities and a ballcap. While she enjoys making the connections, she said, its also a little stressful given the appearance standards and requirements for Miss America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even last week, I was doing my outprocessing for my base and showed up to work with no makeup, she said. And one of the people who worked at the front was like, Oh, weve got to get the major. Even sans makeup, she said, she agreed to a group photo with the office staff. Everyone always has the opportunity to do small things for other people and make their day, Marsh said. So, thats been cool, to give people joy like that this year. Even apart from her top title in one of the nations most prestigious pageant competitions, Marshs achievements and aspirations demonstrate her fearlessness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes had internships with prestigious organizations such as NASA; became an activist for pancreatic cancer research at age 17 following the death of her mother from the disease; has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do; and possesses a pilots license, which seeded her initial ambition to fly for the Air Force. Marsh told Military Times her experience in military training should be an encouragement to young women who fear they couldnt hack it in uniform or at war. Polling data made public by the Defense Department in December showed that just one in four women aged 16 to 21 believe they could make it through boot camp, and just 8% believe they have what it takes to fight in a war. When I entered basic [training] I was 17 years old. I was on the cheer team in high school. I was very scrawny maybe 110 pounds, Marsh said. I worked very hard the year before I went into basic to make sure I was going to go above and beyond the standards that were going to be expected of me, and also having the mental resilience to keep going when you fail. I think that willingness to learn is going to carry people so much farther, and also not closing yourself off from opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reflecting on her experiences as a Truman Scholar and her upcoming studies at the Harvard Kennedy School, Marsh noted, I never would have gotten that if I would have counted myself out before I even showed up to basic. After Marsh hands off her crown, shes headed to Hanscom Air Base, Massachusetts, where shell complete her final year-plus of studies to earn a masters of public policy from Harvard under the Air Force Institute of Technologys Civilian Institutions program. With her fiance also in the Air Force, Marsh said she plans to continue to serve, though shes not fully certain how long shell be in or what military career shell pursue. While she initially joined through a desire to be a pilot, Marsh said she has ruled out a return to flight training, adding that she wants to find a service job that shes fully passionate about. The Air Force has treated me extremely well so far, she said. So, I can only imagine what other opportunities are going to be in store. Unhoused Lewiston residents huddle for the evening at the citys new warming center. (Photo by Eesha Pendharkar/ Maine Morning Star) With restaurants shut down during the pandemic, Brian Arborio found himself unemployed, unable to pay his rising rent and eventually evicted. He lived on the streets of Portland for about 10 months, but left after an encounter with police. His next stop was Westbrook, then the woods of Scarborough, and Old Orchard Beach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arborio said law enforcement had him on their radar because he had broken into empty buildings to avoid the cold. One snowy night, as the soles of his shoes were peeling away, he said he returned to his tent to find it slashed, and his sleeping bag pepper sprayed. What he thought would be three months of camping outdoors and couch surfing turned into almost three years of homelessness. He landed in a Portland-area hospital and found housing through Section 8, the federal governments housing assistance program. But even now, as the weather gets colder and he passes people living on the streets, its hard not to flash back to his experience. Youre not considered a citizen when youre homeless. Youre subhuman. Thats how youre treated, said Arborio, who now advocates for policy to help people experiencing homelessness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Being chased away constantly is the most inhumane aspect. You are not welcome indoors anywhere anyway, and you have no place to sit down and rest outside. And these are meant to be public places. Youre not considered a citizen when youre homeless. Youre subhuman. Thats how youre treated. Portland resident Brian Arborio, who now advocates for policy to help people experiencing homelessness. Backed by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in an Oregon case that local governments can legally impose criminal penalties for public camping bans, police across the country are enforcing ordinances that advocates say threaten to worsen homelessness and further deplete their limited resources to help. As long as were using our resources whether it be our human resources, our public forums, our financial resources to chase and police, surveil, punish and hide unhoused people, thats taking away from how we could invest into actual solutions, said Heather Zimmerman, a legal fellow with the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine. Advocates and officials say they could benefit from a coordinated approach to share information and resources among municipalities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Maine cities are considering adding camping bans, while those with laws are ramping up enforcement, according to the ACLU. The organization found 10 municipalities with loitering bans. Six ban solicitation, begging or panhandling. At least 12 have constructive camping bans, which means they use other ordinances such as loitering prohibitions and park regulations to enforce a camping ban in public spaces. Every ban is worded differently. Lewiston explicitly prohibits sleeping or camping in public places. Portland bans public camping as long as there is available shelter space. But even in municipalities such as Bangor, which, according to a city spokesperson, does not have a camping ban, police routinely sweep encampments and ask unhoused people to leave public property. Maine tracks homelessness through point-in-time counts, which record the number of unhoused people on one day, typically in January. This years count recorded 2,695 people experiencing homelessness. While the number is lower than the past two years, the number of unsheltered people those not housed temporarily in shelters, motels or transitional housing has been increasing, with 299 in 2023 and 273 in 2024, compared with 95 unsheltered people counted five years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People without shelter might be another reason municipalities are again enforcing camping bans, according to Katie Spencer White, president and CEO of Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter in Waterville. We had a lot of folks experiencing homelessness, but what we didnt have is a lot of unsheltered homelessness, where people couldnt find a place in a bed, she said. So thats where many municipalities like, if theyre like Waterville, theyre now reposting these signs and enforcing something thats already on the books, or some municipalities are creating new ordinances where they didnt already have one. According to the ACLU, at least two cities Sanford in southern Maine and Presque Isle in northern Maine have considered camping bans since the Supreme Court ruling. Shelters as solutions to camping bans City leaders and advocates both believe homeless shelters can be a short-term solution to camping ban enforcement, since most agree that being outside, especially in Maine winters, is the worst case scenario. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MaineHousing, the state agency that oversees distribution of federal and state funding for affordable housing and homelessness solutions, has allocated more than $60 million in emergency housing assistance since 2020. But that funding is not enough to provide adequate resources to help people find beds or safe places to sleep, Spencer White said. As long as we're using our resources whether it be our human resources, our public forums, our financial resources to chase and police, surveil, punish and hide unhoused people, that's taking away from how we could invest into actual solutions. Heather Zimmerman, ACLU of Maine We want to be the solution to the camping ban, she said. Its hard to do that when youre paid $18 a night for a product that costs almost $100 a night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In early December, 33 people needed shelter from freezing temperatures at Watervilles warming center, but its funding can only support 25. Without financial support for staffing and operational costs, shelters cant keep operating to meet the increasing demand, Spencer White said. Often, municipalities are left to find their own solutions. In cities with shelters, they are overcrowded or have restrictions that ban pets, require sobriety or separate residents by gender. A majority of cities in Maine dont have permanent shelters, and their expansion is often met with resistance from city government or local business owners, according to council meetings and media reports. In 2022, the Lewiston City Council imposed a six-month moratorium on building any new shelters, despite the lack of low-barrier shelters in Maines second largest city. Three city council members who had opposed a shelter expansion lost re-election and the new council is now building partnerships to expand services, according to Scott Harriman, who has served on the council since 2021. One of their arguments was that, basically, if you build it, they will come, Harriman said, explaining the previous councils opposition to shelters. So theyre concerned that if we just open up more shelters, we just attract more people here to use them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of the political shift, nonprofit Kaydenz Kitchen recently received approval and funding from MaineHousing to build the citys first low-barrier homeless shelter. In other cities, pushback to shelters is being led by business owners. After the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter in Waterville received $700,000 to build a new permanent shelter and expand its current capacity, some business owners asked the city to consider a six-month pause on any expansion. Municipal leaders said bans allow them to strike a necessary balance between the interests of residents and business owners who complain to the city about tents or encampments. From a city perspective, we have to manage both sides of the issue, said Jessica Grondin, Portlands spokesperson. Weve got residents and business owners who are saying we dont want people outside in tents on our property, leaving behind trash and going to the bathroom on my doorway, combined with the fact that we do provide shelter for 600 people a night; theres no other municipality around whos stepping up in the way that we already are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Portland Mayor Mark Dion said the city keeps shelter beds open in case people want them, but they cant force everyone to use the shelter. The city has removed 809 tents in the past year, and law enforcement and park rangers regularly sweep for encampments, but by providing notice, Grondin said. But data has shown that removing tents does not necessarily result in unhoused people going to shelters. Often, they relocate to a different part of the city or another town. There are no more large encampments in the city of Portland, but that doesnt mean there arent unsheltered people all over the city, Zimmerman said. Unhoused Lewiston residents wait for a van to pick them up at Kennedy Park around 7:30 pm to bring them to the citys new warming center, where some can stay overnight. (Photo by Eesha Pendharkar/Maine Morning Star) Lack of coordinated state response While the state has helped with funding for shelters and affordable housing initiatives, it has not weighed in on policy decisions, including camping bans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many who work in the field believe homelessness in Maine can be solved made rare and brief but we have to all want to solve for it and we have to do it together and in collaboration across many sectors, governments, nonprofits and individuals, said Scott Thistle, a spokesperson for MaineHousing. But MaineHousing does not endeavor to tell local elected officials what the best solution is for their community is or should be we support them in finding and funding those solutions. Nobody wants to take full responsibility. Municipalities dont want to say this is for us to fix, the state doesnt want to say it. Everybodys pointing somewhere else, said Spencer White of the Mid-Maine shelter. Theres ways that we could leverage the existing resources at our disposal, but what we lack is coordinated and committed leadership, leadership that will actually bring the municipalities to the table and work through the issues. Ahead of the upcoming session, the Maine Legislature recently amended committees to break up Labor and Housing and make a permanent committee focused on housing and economic development. Maine Morning Star reached out to several legislators focused on housing issues but didnt hear back by publication. A spokesperson for the Governors Office of Policy Innovation and the Future did not answer questions related to the states role. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Dion said theres a statewide council of mayors, where city leaders discuss solutions to homelessness, but without coordination, theres no opportunity to share resources between municipalities. Having somebody facilitating data on resources and demand, thats a state responsibility, he said. What Im looking for is a dedicated office and staff to help us. At the front end of the problem, I mean, they could stand up some shelter space, and especially at the back end in terms of securing housing. Supreme Court ruling paves way for heightened enforcement Though Lewistons City Council is now supporting the establishment of a permanent shelter, the citys camping ban is still on the books. Several unsheltered Lewiston residents said police are still giving out warnings when tents are reported, although a new warming center also operated by Kaydenz Kitchen that opened last month is the only legal place for them to stay. We literally got asked to move our tent with all our stuff in it because we had it set up under a bridge and someone called the cops on us, said Linda Chagnon, who was at the warming center on a snowy December night with her husband. After the warning, her family will soon have to move the tent if they want to keep their belongings, since taking everything with them from a day center to the public library to the warming center overnight isnt possible, she said. Like the experiences of both Chagnon and Arborio, the constant moving and fear of interacting with law enforcement can be among the most challenging aspects of homelessness. Arborio traveled to Washington, D.C., earlier this year with the ACLU to speak against the Grants Pass, Oregon ruling. Since then, Grants Pass officials have limited where about 600 homeless people can pitch a tent or sleep to just two locations in the city of 39,000. Grants Pass officials have been publicly chastised for the ordinance. At an August council meeting, City Manager Aaron Cubic met withering criticism after he said the city was not legally obligated to provide water at city-designated spots. There is no legal requirement the city do anything more than designate a place to rest or a place to camp, he said at the meeting, adding that other services and amenities could include water and shade. The city has provided portable toilets and handwashing stations, though not water. Mayor Sara Bristol said that balance is necessary to avoid the perception the city is encouraging people to come there. Maine advocate Arborio said the impact of a camping ban is hard to understand without experiencing the despair and lack of hope and support unhoused people live with daily. If the shelters are full and theres no warming center, you have to let them at least have a chance outdoors, he said. People in warm city halls dont understand the impact of these policies, the trauma of marching somebody around all day long in this weather. Ben Botkin of Oregon Capital Chronicle, which like Maine Morning Star is part of the States Newsroom network, contributed to this report. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Unhoused Lewiston. Maine, residents huddle for the evening at the citys new warming center. (Photo by Eesha Pendharkar/Maine Morning Star) This is the third in a three-part series. With restaurants shut down during the pandemic, Brian Arborio found himself unemployed, unable to pay his rising rent, and eventually evicted. He lived on the streets of Portland, Maine, for about 10 months but left after an encounter with police. His next stop was Westbrook, then the woods of Scarborough and Old Orchard Beach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arborio said law enforcement had him on their radar because he had broken into empty buildings to avoid the cold. One snowy night, as the soles of his shoes were peeling away, he said he returned to his tent to find it slashed and his sleeping bag pepper sprayed. Also in this series: What he thought would be three months of camping outdoors and couch surfing turned into almost three years of homelessness. He landed in a Portland-area hospital and found housing through Section 8, the federal governments housing assistance program. But even now, as the weather gets colder and he passes people living on the streets, its hard not to flash back to his experience. Youre not considered a citizen when youre homeless. Youre subhuman. Thats how youre treated, said Arborio, who now advocates for policy to help people experiencing homelessness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Being chased away constantly is the most inhumane aspect. You are not welcome indoors anywhere anyway, and you have no place to sit down and rest outside. And these are meant to be public places. Backed by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in an Oregon case that local governments can legally impose criminal penalties for public camping bans, police across the country are enforcing ordinances that advocates say threaten to worsen homelessness and further deplete their limited resources to help. As long as were using our resources whether it be our human resources, our public forums, our financial resources to chase and police, surveil, punish, and hide unhoused people, thats taking away from how we could invest into actual solutions, said Heather Zimmerman, a legal fellow with the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine. Advocates and officials say they could benefit from a coordinated approach to share information and resources among municipalities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Maine cities are considering adding camping bans, while those with laws are ramping up enforcement, according to the ACLU. The organization found 10 municipalities with loitering bans. Six ban solicitation, begging, or panhandling. At least 12 have constructive camping bans, which means they use other ordinances such as loitering prohibitions and park regulations to enforce a camping ban in public spaces. Every ban is worded differently. Lewiston explicitly prohibits sleeping or camping in public places. Portland bans public camping as long as there is available shelter space. But even in municipalities such as Bangor, which, according to a city spokesperson, does not have a camping ban, police routinely sweep encampments and ask unhoused people to leave public property. Maine tracks homelessness through point-in-time counts, which record the number of unhoused people on one day, typically in January. This years count recorded 2,695 people experiencing homelessness. While the number is lower than the past two years, the number of unsheltered people those not housed temporarily in shelters, motels or transitional housing has been increasing, with 299 in 2023 and 273 in 2024, compared with 95 unsheltered people counted five years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People without shelter might be another reason municipalities are again enforcing camping bans, according to Katie Spencer White, president and CEO of Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter in Waterville. We had a lot of folks experiencing homelessness, but what we didnt have is a lot of unsheltered homelessness, where people couldnt find a place in a bed, she said. So thats where many municipalities like, if theyre like Waterville, theyre now reposting these signs and enforcing something thats already on the books, or some municipalities are creating new ordinances where they didnt already have one. According to the ACLU, at least two cities Sanford in southern Maine and Presque Isle in northern Maine have considered camping bans since the Supreme Court ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Shelters as solutions to camping bans City leaders and advocates both believe homeless shelters can be a short-term solution to camping ban enforcement, since most agree that being outside, especially in Maine winters, is the worst-case scenario. MaineHousing, the state agency that oversees distribution of federal and state funding for affordable housing and homelessness solutions, has allocated more than $60 million in emergency housing assistance since 2020. But that funding is not enough to provide adequate resources to help people find beds or safe places to sleep, Spencer White said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to be the solution to the camping ban, she said. Its hard to do that when youre paid $18 a night for a product that costs almost $100 a night. In early December, 33 people needed shelter from freezing temperatures at Watervilles warming center, but its funding can only support 25. Without financial support for staffing and operational costs, shelters cant keep operating to meet the increasing demand, Spencer White said. Often, municipalities are left to find their own solutions. In cities with shelters, they are overcrowded or have restrictions that ban pets, require sobriety, or separate residents by gender. A majority of cities in Maine dont have permanent shelters, and their expansion is often met with resistance from city government or local business owners, according to council meetings and media reports. In 2022, the Lewiston City Council imposed a six-month moratorium on building any new shelters, despite the lack of low-barrier shelters in Maines second largest city. Three city council members who had opposed a shelter expansion lost re-election and the new council is now building partnerships to expand services, according to Scott Harriman, who has served on the council since 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of their arguments was that, basically, if you build it, they will come, Harriman said, explaining the previous councils opposition to shelters. So, theyre concerned that if we just open up more shelters, we just attract more people here to use them. Because of the political shift, nonprofit Kaydenz Kitchen recently received approval and funding from MaineHousing to build the citys first low-barrier homeless shelter. In other cities, pushback to shelters is being led by business owners. After the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter in Waterville received $700,000 to build a new permanent shelter and expand its capacity, some business owners asked the city to consider a six-month pause on any expansion. Municipal leaders said bans allow them to strike a necessary balance between the interests of residents and business owners who complain to the city about tents or encampments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From a city perspective, we have to manage both sides of the issue, said Jessica Grondin, Portlands spokesperson. Weve got residents and business owners who are saying we dont want people outside in tents on our property, leaving behind trash and going to the bathroom on my doorway, combined with the fact that we do provide shelter for 600 people a night; theres no other municipality around whos stepping up in the way that we already are. Portland Mayor Mark Dion said the city keeps shelter beds open in case people want them, but they cant force everyone to use the shelter. The city has removed 809 tents in the past year, and law enforcement and park rangers regularly sweep for encampments, but by providing notice, Grondin said. But data have shown that removing tents does not necessarily result in unhoused people going to shelters. Often, they move to a different part of the city or another town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are no more large encampments in the city of Portland, but that doesnt mean there arent unsheltered people all over the city, Zimmerman said. Lack of coordinated state response While the state has helped with funding for shelters and affordable housing initiatives, it has not weighed in on policy decisions, including camping bans. Many who work in the field believe homelessness in Maine can be solved made rare and brief but we have to all want to solve for it and we have to do it together and in collaboration across many sectors, governments, nonprofits and individuals, said Scott Thistle, a spokesperson for MaineHousing. But MaineHousing does not endeavor to tell local elected officials what the best solution is for their community is or should be we support them in finding and funding those solutions. Nobody wants to take full responsibility. Municipalities dont want to say this is for us to fix, the state doesnt want to say it. Everybodys pointing somewhere else, said Spencer White of the Mid-Maine shelter. Theres ways that we could leverage the existing resources at our disposal, but what we lack is coordinated and committed leadership, leadership that will actually bring the municipalities to the table and work through the issues. Ahead of the coming session, the Maine Legislature recently amended committees to break up Labor and Housing and make a permanent committee focused on housing and economic development. Maine Morning Star reached out to several legislators focused on housing issues but didnt hear back by publication. A spokesperson for the Governors Office of Policy Innovation and the Future did not answer questions related to the states role. Dion said theres a statewide council of mayors, where city leaders discuss solutions to homelessness, but without coordination, theres no opportunity to share resources between municipalities. Having somebody facilitating data on resources and demand, thats a state responsibility, he said. What Im looking for is a dedicated office and staff to help us. At the front end of the problem, I mean, they could stand up some shelter space, and especially at the back end in terms of securing housing. Supreme Court ruling paves way for heightened enforcement Though Lewistons City Council now supports the establishment of a permanent shelter, the citys camping ban is still on the books. Several unsheltered Lewiston residents said police are still giving out warnings when tents are reported, although a new warming center also operated by Kaydenz Kitchen that opened last month is the only legal place for them to stay. We literally got asked to move our tent with all our stuff in it because we had it set up under a bridge and someone called the cops on us, said Linda Chagnon, who was at the warming center on a snowy December night with her husband. After the warning, her family will soon have to move the tent if they want to keep their belongings, since taking everything with them from a day center to the public library to the warming center overnight isnt possible, she said. Like the experiences of both Chagnon and Arborio, the constant moving and fear of interacting with law enforcement can be among the most challenging aspects of homelessness. Arborio traveled to Washington, D.C., earlier this year with the ACLU to speak against the Grants Pass, Oregon, ruling. Since then, Grants Pass officials have limited where about 600 homeless people can pitch a tent or sleep to just two locations in the city of 39,000. Grants Pass officials have been publicly chastised for the ordinance. During an August council meeting, City Manager Aaron Cubic met withering criticism after he said the city was not legally obligated to provide water at city-designated spots. There is no legal requirement the city do anything more than designate a place to rest or a place to camp, he said at the meeting, adding that other services and amenities could include water and shade. The city has provided portable toilets and handwashing stations, though not water. Mayor Sara Bristol said that balance is necessary to avoid the perception the city is encouraging people to come there. Maine advocate Arborio said the impact of a camping ban is hard to understand without experiencing the despair and lack of hope and support unhoused people live with daily. If the shelters are full and theres no warming center, you have to let them at least have a chance outdoors, he said. People in warm city halls dont understand the impact of these policies, the trauma of marching somebody around all day long in this weather. Ben Botkin of Oregon Capital Chronicle, which like Maine Morning Star is part of the States Newsroom network, contributed to this report. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE An aerial view of people gathered near a homeless encampment in the afternoon heat on July 21, 2022 in Phoenix. Photo by Mario Tama | Getty Images A man is sleeping on the ground next to a bus stop wrapped in a blanket when he is spotted by a police officer. A City of Las Vegas Marshal notices the 55-year-old while patrolling near the Fremont Street Experience in Downtown Las Vegas on a recent November morning, according to the police report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officer James Blaisure determines the man is unhoused and violating an expanded ban passed by the city council earlier in the month that restricts camping or lodging citywide even if there arent available shelter beds. The officer sees the mans walker covered in clothes next to him as he sleeps. Blaisure unwraps his blanket and tells him he cannot sleep there. The man is asked if he has been to the Courtyard Homeless Resource Center, roughly a mile away that can accommodate up to 550 people with a sleeping mat at night. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX He tells the officer he was going to make his way over there eventually, according to the police report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was the second time in a week that officers had warned him for the same offense camping or lodging without consent, a misdemeanor that could carry a $1,000 fine. Experts and advocates suspect such encounters are on the rise following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June that cities dont violate the 8th Amendments restriction on cruel and unusual punishment when they criminalize those experiencing homelessness for sleeping outside even if there arent other adequate accommodations for them to go. The National Homeless Law Center tracked cities that have passed anti-homeless camping bans or expanded existing camping bans to make them more punitive since the high courts decision. It found 99 ordinances were passed in 26 states that restrict unhoused people from sleeping and camping, according to data it provided to States Newsroom in November. Another 66 ordinances were pending at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with homelessness rising, driven by the lack of affordable housing, low wages, and limited access to social services among other factors, advocates say the court decision stands to worsen an issue that has become more politicized in recent years. Every bill is a little bit different, said Jesse Rabinowitz, the communications and campaign director for the National Homelessness Law Center. The main two things they all have in common are that none of them solve homelessness and all of them will make homelessness worse. A full report from the law center on recent criminalization trends is expected to be released in early 2025. Roughly a third of all camping bans the National Homeless Law Center has tracked since July were passed in California, the state with the largest homeless population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illinois had the second highest with 13 ordinances, all that featured language crafted by the Illinois Municipal League. Eric Tars, senior policy director at the National Homeless Law Center, said there is a common refrain across cities adopting ordinances with local officials saying its not our intent to criminalize people experiencing homelessness. The camping bans passed in Illinois cities start with a $75 fine, a hefty price for someone experiencing homelessness. The cost can increase each time. Violating camping bans could result in a $50 fine in Merced, California and a $100 fine in Phoenix. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A West Virginia city expanded a ban in September, prohibiting camping and storing personal property in public spaces, West Virginia Watch reported. Morgantown officials set penalties ranging from fines of $200 to $300 for second and third offense as well as possible jail time. Kinsburg, California has fines up to $500. Similar to Las Vegas fine, ordinances passed in some California cities like Fresno, Indio and Hemet could come with up to $1,000 fines. Las Vegas City Marshals, which oversee public safety and enforcement on city-owned property, issued citations to three unhoused people sleeping near the Fremont Street Experience in November. In addition to a potential $1,000 fine, the 55-year-old man also faces up to six months in jail after his 2025 court date. In an email, a Las Vegas official said that its up to the judge to decide whether to implement the full amount. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unhoused people who are arrested under many of these new ordinances could also face jail time ranging from 10 days to a year, the law center reported. In the Illinois cities that passed similar camping bans, jail time is possible if someone violates the ordinances more than six times in a two-year period. Not all the bans tracked in the last five months are new, but some have been amended to be more restrictive following the Supreme Court ruling, according to the law center. Cities including Las Vegas; Oceanside, California; Paso Robles California; Bremerton, Washington; and Auburn, Washington all updated existing camping and sleeping bans in recent months to remove provisions that prevented enforcement if shelter beds werent available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When passing these ordinances, Tars said officials often try to assuage their conscience and say things like we want to push them into services or were working on other shelters. Things like those will take longer, if ever, he said. The camping ban they pass goes into effect immediately. Even without those services theyre already moving toward enforcement. Thats the only piece they prioritize. That really tells you what their priorities are. Public pressure to do more The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found that nationally 654,104 people experienced homelessness on a single night in 2023, a 12% increase from the previous year. The numbers are largely viewed as an under count as the method of counting individuals on a single January night comes with challenges and an already transient population can easily fall through the cracks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marcy Thompson, vice president for programs and policy at the National Alliance to End Homelessness, said data doesnt give a full picture of homelessness. If you just look at that data, its easy to assume that things arent working and that homelessness response systems arent doing their job, or that resources arent being spent appropriately, Thompson said. What you dont see in those numbers are things like, how many people are becoming homeless each year for the first time. Low wages not keeping up with the cost of rent, the lack of access to health care and mental health resources and systemic racism have all contributed to the homeless crisis, she said. On the list of policy issues that contribute to homelessness, Thompson said the lack of affordable and available housing nationwide is at the top. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, signed into law by President Joe Biden, provided cities and states with an historic, one-shot infusion of flexible dollars that some used to address housing shortages or stand up homeless resources. Lauren Lowery, the Housing and Community Development director with the National League of Cities, said those funds resulted in $6.7 billion for housing-related expenditures, which is like over 10 years of the home investment block grant. ARPA dollars were very significant about helping cities to address those at risk for homelessness and those experiencing homelessness as well, she said. But the investments, while significant, were never enough, Thompson said. There isnt sufficient housing, she said. As homelessness becomes more visible, theres often a lot of public pressure to do something. The law center said of the 187 cities previously surveyed in recent years they found that each one had at least one, if not multiple, laws criminalizing homelessness in some form, Tars said. In 2023, Georgia lawmakers passed a bill that mandates local governments to enforce ordinances prohibiting unauthorized public camping and sleeping on sidewalks and other public spaces, the Georgia Recorder reported. The measure also requires an audit of how public funding is used for programs to help people experiencing homelessness. Gov. Bill Lee allowed a Tennessee law banning camping on public property to take effect without his signature in 2022, calling for the need to seek solutions to address homelessness, the Tennessee Lookout reported. Almost nowhere in America can you do all of the activities that you and I do every day and take for granted, Tars said. Eating, sleeping, resting, sitting. Were all sitting right now. If we were doing that and we were homeless and doing that outside in a public space, it might be considered a crime. There were attempts to limit punitive measures. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed Republican-sponsored legislation in 2023 that would have made it illegal for unhoused persons to camp in public spaces. And the Missouri Supreme Court struck down that states public camping ban on a technicality. An appellate court in 2022 ruled in favor of unhoused people who sought to overturn city ordinances passed in Grants Pass, Oregon, that restricted and fined people for sleeping and camping in public even though there arent other places to go. Many Western cities within the jurisdiction of the court submitted amicus briefs the following year asking the Supreme Court to overturn the decision. Many argued their hands were tied to address homelessness because of the federal courts ruling. Anit Jindal, an attorney representing the League of Oregon Cities, wrote in a brief that the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decision limits the tools available to local governments for tackling this complex and troubling human issue. When we talk to cities about the need to build housing or the need to fund outreach or services, they say cities cant move quickly because government is slow, Rabinowitz said. They have moved very, very quickly to pass these bills that make homelessness worse. Even as the federal courts ruling stood, cities carried out encampment removals and adopted carefully worded ordinances to criminalize sleeping in a public right of way but only when shelter beds werent available. In a 6-3 ruling this June, the Supreme Court reversed Johnson v. City of Grants Pass paving a way for cities to adopt camping and sleeping restrictions. In a statement to States Newsroom, Jeff Olivet, executive director of U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, said cities are facing a difficult decision when it comes to the rising number of encampments. Encampments raise significant, legitimate concerns about the health and safety of neighborhoods and local businesses, he said. However, the criminalization of homelessness is ineffective, expensive, and inhumane. Housing and health care, not handcuffs and fines, solve homelessness. An uncertain future In the days following his re-election, Republican Donald Trump vowed in his second term to use every tool, lever and authority to get the homeless off our streets. Trump proposed an urban camping ban. He said he would open up large parcels of inexpensive land and create tent cities where the homeless can be relocated and their problems identified. He plans to bring in doctors, social workers and job rehab specialists. The threat of a national camping ban from Trump isnt new and something he spoke about during his first term. Before the Grants Pass decision, the 9th Circuit ruled in the 2018 case Martin v. Boise that cities cant punish people for sleeping on the streets if there isnt any alternative shelter. The Supreme Court declined to review the case in 2019. Tars said the courts decision might have prevented Trump from pursuing aggressive plans toward pressuring cities to enact punitive measures toward the unhoused. Now that the Supreme Court has overturned the Martin v. Boise principle in the Grants Pass case, that has basically paved the way for him to pick up right where he left off, only bigger, better and worse, Tars said. There are still mounting questions around what legal authority Trump would have federally to criminalize homelessness. Thompson said there are other ways the federal response to homelessness and the housing crisis could change in a second Trump term. When awarding grants, HUD gives points to communities who are demonstrating that they are not criminalizing homelessness, she said. Another administration could choose to take those points away or offer those points for something else, right? she added. HUD isnt the only department that could change how it approaches homelessness. Weve seen the Department of Justice over the years provide guidance around the importance of not criminalizing, Thompson added. Weve seen guidance around good first responder and community partnerships that are housing focused from Department of Justice. Weve seen them speak out against community and state level tactics that have been enforced. Those guidances, she added, could change and push more punitive tactics. Even who is appointed to agencies could impact the direction the federal government takes to address homelessness, Rabinowitz said. The 2019 pick to head the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, Robert Marbut, had been against housing first strategy. While it is still unclear about a second Trump administration, Rabinowitz said early indicators show that Trump could force more people into homelessness by gutting further the social safety net. Once people are homeless, they (Trump administration) have no plan to address it other than literally rounding people up and putting them in detention camps, he added. Little daylight between Republicans, Dems Although many are worried about what a more punitive approach to homelessness could look like under Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress, Tars said its not just Republicans who have embraced harsh stances toward the unhoused. Democratic mayors, governors, people who should know better, are aligning themselves with the same position that Trump is taking, he said. One example Tars points to is Californias Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who signed an executive order less than a month after the Supreme Court decision around encampments. The directive orders state agencies to remove an encampment if they determine it poses an imminent threat to life, health, safety or infrastructure and if feasible to remove the encampment. The order requires notices be posted 48 hours prior to an encampment removal. Following the directive, Newsom said there is now no excuse not to clean out encampments. Tars warned moving people out of encampments isnt easy, especially if there isnt enough housing or shelter space for people to go. He warned the method to remove people could lead to more people ending up in jail. Rabinowitz said Newsoms push to clear out encampments shows theres often little daylight between what Democrats like (Gov.) Gavin Newsom and what far right extremists like Donald Trump want to do in regards to homelessness. The governors office declined to answer questions about whether the directive could push more unhoused people into the criminal legal system or how the effectiveness of the directive is being monitored. In a statement to States Newsroom, the office said Governor Newsoms stance is not to forcibly remove homeless encampments or people. We cannot comment on hypotheticals for the next administration or policies which have not yet been enacted, but California always stands ready to protect the best interests of our state and people, said Tara Gallegos, a spokeswoman for the governor. California will continue to advance person-centered approaches to help people access help, shelter, and affordable housing options. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A recent report that one-third of our states hospitals are losing money providing care is very concerning. Wisconsinites rely heavily on our hospitals, which are the only facilities that provide 24/7 medical care. Wisconsinites visited emergency departments nearly 2.4 million times last year. Nationally, most visits, 61%, occur after normal business hours and on weekends when other clinics are closed. The financial challenges our hospitals face should give policymakers pause. But instead, some are pushing drastic cuts. This month lawmakers announced a plan to impose site-neutral cuts on hospitals, which would slash up to $140 billion from Medicare and put seniors access to care at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Letters to the Editor: We can't overlook the buildout of hospitals and clinics over past 20 years Opinion: We interviewed men who left the workforce. Their reasons don't fit narrative. As a cancer survivor, I know how important our hospitals are. It was at my local hospital that I received chemotherapy, checkups and follow-up care. During treatment I made many unplanned emergency visits. Only by the grace of God and reliable access to care am I here today. Whether a person is fighting a serious disease or a common illness, we all deserve access to quality health care. As many Wisconsin hospitals teeter on a financial cliff, policymakers should be providing support not working against them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tiffany Koehler, Slinger Tips for getting your letter to the editor published Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@jrn.com or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Politicians should support local hospitals, not propose cuts | Letters WASHINGTON (DC News Now) D.C. police arrested the owner of the now-shuttered Canna Coffee for allegedly threatening someone with a knife last week. Gregg Harris was arrested for threats to do bodily harm. He previously gained notoriety after a video on TikTok showed him berating a Venezuelan delivery driver went viral in September. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Viral video on social media shows DC business owner berating Venezuelan delivery driver Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), on Dec. 16, just before 1 p.m., two people met up to exchange property in an alley on Florida Avenue in Northwest D.C. When one of the victims arrived on a motorized scooter, Harris was there toward the back of the alley. The two got into a verbal altercation and Harris began repeatedly cursing at the victim, who then called the person they were meeting up with and said that they were getting verbally assaulted. In a police report obtained by DC News Now, Harris then saw the other victim approaching and began repeating the same curse words while holding a knife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris swung the knife in their direction but didnt hit them. After that, MPD was called to the scene. After police did an ID check on Harris, they found out that he had a pending warrant for a simple assault hate bias incident stemming back a couple of months. He was then arrested and taken to the police station in the 2nd District for processing. Woman hospitalized after car crashes into DC building, ignites fire On Sept. 16, MPD said a delivery driver was picking up an order at Canna Coffee, located at 1810 Florida Ave. NW when Harris began berating and aggressively yelling at the driver. The driver began recording the interaction, later posting it to TikTok, of Harris yelling at him to learn English along with other racial slurs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris then forcibly placed a bag of food on the drivers chest. The driver told MPD that he felt disrespected and humiliated by Harris actions due to his race. Canna Coffee was then shut down due to health code violations. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) A car crashed into the Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza on Wednesday, according to the San Francisco Fire Department. SFFD said the crash was a minimum to no-injury collision. Alaska Airlines flight to Seattle diverted back to San Jose The car was in the southbound lanes and appears to have suffered front-end damage, based on photos from the scene. Delays are expected, according to officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the California Highway Patrol incident log, the left and center lanes were temporarily blocked. But as of 2:26 p.m., all lanes were back open. Officials said to expect residual delays. KRON4.com has reached out to officials for more information. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Deputies are investigating after a vehicle crashed into a home in Rush early Thursday morning. The Monroe County Sheriffs Office said the crash happened at the intersection of Rt. 15A and Rush Lima Road. The driver nor anyone in the home was injured. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. All roadways have been re-opened. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) A car slammed into three parked cars, pushing one into a home on Fruit Hill Avenue in North Providence on Christmas Day. Chief Alfredo Ruggiero said no one was injured but the home and car were significantly damaged. The 17-year-old driver hit the accelerator instead of the brakes, Ruggiero said. 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. SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's parliament on Thursday voted for the appointment of three constitutional court justices to fill vacancies on the nine-member bench for President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment trial over his martial law imposition. Two justices were nominated by the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, and one was nominated by the ruling conservative People Power Party, most of whose lawmakers boycotted the vote. The impeachment motion against Yoon was passed in the National Assembly on Dec. 14 and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power is suspended. Yoon, who was named by investigative agencies as a suspect on insurrection charge, declared an emergency martial law on the night of Dec. 3, but it was revoked by the National Assembly hours later. To oust Yoon from office, at least six out of nine constitutional court justices are required to uphold the impeachment motion. Of nine justices, three are nominated by the National Assembly, three by the president and three by chief justice of the Supreme Court. The appointment of the three justices, which was passed in the opposition-controlled National Assembly, needs to be ceremonially approved by the president. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who became an acting president following Yoon's impeachment, officially refused to approve the appointment, saying in an address earlier in the day that he will delay the approval until the ruling and opposition parties reach an agreement. The Democratic Party said it will table an impeachment motion against Han and report it to the National Assembly later in the day, planning to vote on the motion Friday. CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A Cumberland County couple was allegedly scammed by a person posing as a medicare employee. According to Pennsylvania State Police, on Dec. 17, PSP Carlisle received an identity theft report. An unknown male had contacted the victim, allegedly pretending to be a medicare employee in an attempt to get personal information from the victim. Police said the victim, a 66-year-old woman, gave the caller her and her husbands social security numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pennsylvania State Police are asking the public to provide any additional information regarding similar incidents. Individuals are encouraged to double-check before providing any personal information to callers. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Santa Tecum wept softly as she hugged the clear plastic folder of photos to her chest. The snapshots of her daughter, Emily Garcia, were the way Tecum wanted to remember her: Laughing, smiling, dancing to banda music, her makeup immaculate as ever. Not lying in a casket at a public viewing after her sudden death this year the last time she laid eyes on Garcia. Its been very hard, Ive been very, very sad," Tecum said in a recent interview with The Times, speaking through a Spanish interpreter. "Emily would always hug me when she would see me. She was always loving in that manner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garcia, 25, was found dead on a Tuesday in mid-October, in a truck parked outside the Hollywood shelter in the 1200 block of Lodi Place where she lived. Another person was also found dead in the vehicle. Los Angeles police have said that preliminary investigation indicates Garcia died of a drug overdose and that no foul play is suspected, but the case remains open and her family and friends are still seeking answers. Read more: L.A. promised $30 million to people wronged by gang curfews. Why has only half been spent? Their pleas have been raised at City Council meetings and on social media, with supporters saying too often the deaths of trans people are overlooked by elected officials and the media. Tecum and two of her other daughters stood beside Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez at City Hall last month, as he honored Garcia on Trans Day of Remembrance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She came to the U.S. as an "unaccompanied minor," he said, and as a young trans Latina living in L.A. she had faced "unimaginable obstacles with fierce resilience, bravery and determination." Authorities counted a record-breaking number of hate crimes across L.A. County last year. According to the Los Angeles Police Department statistics, trans people were reported as victims in 69 incidents in 2023, up from 54 the year before. Across the country, trans people and advocates say they fear for their safety after the election of Donald Trump, who ran a virulently anti-trans campaign, while also vowing to conduct mass deportations. Garcia's death was a painful reminder of the challenges she and other trans people are forced to overcome, her older sister, Maria Tuch, said. Behind all her joy and her happiness, there was sadness mainly from the discrimination that she faced from humanity or from others based on who she was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuch said that her sister's death had been hard on everyone in their close-knit family. Garcia grew up poor but was finally finding her footing in life, her sister said. She had found purpose and community while doing outreach for the TransLatin@ Coalition, an L.A.-based advocacy group that assists transgender immigrants. She was supposed to start a new marketing job a day before her body was found. Garcia dreamed of being financially independent and finding an apartment of her own, Tuch said, and the roughly $28 an hour she stood to earn would've helped achieve her goal. She had also received her U.S. citizenship and was working to help their mother get her papers too, according to Tuch. She described her sister as very caring and loving." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Even when we would fight she would say, 'Come here, give me a hug,' she said. Weekends were when they would hang out together, Tuch said. Garcia taught her how to apply lip liner and foundation and would offer fashion advice on their frequent shopping trips. Before I would wear just any random shoes," Tuch said, remembering how Garcia used to gently chide her about her appearance, saying things like, You should be able to express yourself and try to put together a nice outfit. Garcia, her sister said, used to always tell them jokingly: I would rather be dead than to show up looking humble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She always very full of cheer and joy and now she's no longer here, Tuch said. Tecum said Garcia was a loving daughter, who would call her regularly to check on her. She would say, 'Do you love me for who I am?' And I would say, 'Yes, if I didnt then I wouldnt pick up the phone,' Tecum said. Thats why, when she hadnt heard from Garcia in a while, Tecum became worried. On the weekend before her body was found, Garcia had obtained a pass from the shelter to attend a baby shower. Afterward, she went out with friends, some of whom told her family that they had received texts from her as late as Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Spirit Air, cramped hotels, In-N-Out: Police say Chicago hit men killed in L.A. on a budget A security guard found her and the other person in the truck roughly 48 hours later, on Oct. 15, police said. They were in a truck parked outside Hollywood Studio Club, an L.A. landmark that opened nearly a century ago as a residence for women aspiring to work in the then-fledgling movie industry. Most recently it has been a shelter, including for trans women. The truck windows were tinted, which police say explains why two days passed before the bodies were discovered. Police said officers at the scene found a white powdery substance that looked like fentanyl, but the results of a toxicology report remain pending. The absence of physical trauma to either Garcia or the person she was found with also suggests a drug overdose, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's standard for homicide detectives to investigate overdoses with two or more deaths or involve a minor. LAPD Det. Tyler Adams, a supervisor with the West Bureau homicide unit, said it appears Garcia's death was accidental. "Obviously, I'm open to any other possibilities," Adams said. Byron Jose, a police and advocacy strategist at TransLatin@ Coalition, said advocates have been speaking to people at the shelter and reaching out to their local council office and the LAPD. Garcia's family is seeking security video recordings from the shelter, hoping it will provide more answers. Tuch said her sister wasn't known to use drugs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's been hard to accept because I don't think it was an overdose, she said. And we would like to again follow up with the authorities to make sure that they do a thorough investigation. Tuch said she also found it suspicious that Garcia had been found in a pair of sweatpants, saying her sister took great pride in her appearance. Asked about Garcia's family pushing back on the overdose theory, the detective said: "It's a loved one and it's difficult to accept, but the best I can do is to answer questions and to be truthful." Public health officials announced earlier this year that drug overdose deaths plateaued countywide in 2023 with 3,092 deaths the first time in a decade that such fatalities had not continued a year-over-year rise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuch said she was grateful to the LAPD for meeting with them and going over the facts of the case. But, a lot about what happened to her sister still didn't add up, she said. Questions kept building in her mind. Had anyone else been in the truck with Garcia and the other person? Why hadn't the medical examiner's office released her purse and other personal items yet? And why hadn't someone from the shelter noticed that Garcia hadn't checked back in? Read more: Jim McDonnell sworn in as LAPD chief amid concerns over immigration enforcement Garcia had struggled to find stable housing, an issue she discussed in a podcast by the TransLatin@ Coalition about how the homeless shelter system fails transgender people. Tuch said that she was going through her sister's phone after her death and was shocked and angered by the level of harassment that her sister faced as a trans woman. I can see messages where people would tell her, 'I know that youre still a man,' and she would say, 'No, I am a young lady,' she said. The messages, she said, make her believe someone was capable of harming her sister. "I don't know if it was revenge or vengeance," Tuch said. "She was always very proud, very outspoken to be a transgender woman." 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. A cat food maker is recalling a line of raw and frozen chow that was sold in Michigan after authorities on Tuesday linked the death of a cat to a batch of feed contaminated with bird flu. Northwest Naturals is telling people to toss 2-pound bags from a single batch of its Feline Turkey Recipe that have a best-by date between May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026. The bags tested positive for H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza bird flu, the company warned in a voluntary recall notice posted online. Northwest Naturals is recalling a batch of cat food that was sold in numerous states, including Michigan, because it is contaminated with the bird flu virus. "Consumption of raw or uncooked pet food contaminated with HPAI can cause illness in animals. To date, one case of illness in a domestic cat has been reported in connection with this issue," the company said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oregon Department of Agriculture linked the death of a house cat in Washington County to eating the Northwest Naturals pet food. We are confident that this cat contracted H5N1 by eating the Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food, Oregon State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz said. Dozens of people have been infected with the virus across the country in unrelated cases. California has declared a state of emergency and the spread among livestock has begun impacting the food supply. The virus has been detected in several locations in Michigan. Can cats get bird flu? How to protect them and what else to know amid the outbreak Where was the contaminated product sold? The product is sold nationwide, according to Northwest Naturals, through distributors in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington. It is also sold in British Columbia, Canada. How can I tell if I have the product? The affected product that Northwest Naturals is voluntarily recalling is one batch of Northwest Naturals brand 2-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recalled product is packaged in 2-pound plastic bags with Best if used by dates of 05/21/26 B10 and 06/23/2026 B1. What should I do with the cat food? Consumers who have purchased the recalled product should immediately discard the product and contact the place of purchase for a full refund. For additional information or questions, customers may contact Northwest Naturals of Portland at info@nw-naturals.net or 866-637-1872 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday. Customers can contact the store where they bought the pet food for a refund, Northwest Naturals said. How do I know if my pet food store sells the product? You can locate stores that sell Northwest Naturals products by using its store locator. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Bird flu-contaminated cat food linked to pet death, recall issued If you buy Northwest Naturals for your cat, you might need to throw the bag out. Northwest Naturals is recalling a line of raw and frozen chow after authorities linked the death of a cat to a batch of feed contaminated with bird flu Tuesday. Northwest Naturals is telling people to toss two-pound bags of the companys Feline Turkey Recipe that have a best-by date between May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026. The bags tested positive for virulent bird flu, the company is warning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recalled cat good was distributed in Rhode Island. The recall comes after the Oregon Department of Agriculture linked the death of a house cat in Washington County to eating the Northwest Naturals chow Tuesday. The pets death also comes as concerns over the bird flu have grown. Dozens of people have been infected around the country, California has declared a state of emergency and the spread among livestock has begun impacting the food supply. We are confident that this cat contracted H5N1 by eating the Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food, said ODA State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz. Cats are capable of catching bird flu from sick birds, say experts. This cat was strictly an indoor cat; it was not exposed to the virus in its environment, and results from the genome sequencing confirmed that the virus recovered from the raw pet food and infected cat were exact matches to each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cats death, Oregon officials say, is a reminder that eating raw meat or feeding it to pets can lead to severe illness. Can cats get bird flu? How to protect them and what else to know amid the outbreak What states was the recalled cat food sold in? Rhode Island was the only New England state the cat food was distributed to. The product is sold nationwide, according to Oregon authorities, through distributors in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington. It is also sold in British Columbia, Canada. The brand is carried at 82 stores in the Rhode Island area. For a full list, go to Northwest Natural's website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Customers can contact the store where they bought the pet food for a refund, Northwest Naturals said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cat food recall due to bird flu: Toss this bag of Northwest Naturals MEMPHIS, Tenn. Accreditation issues are once again casting a cloud over the future of Christian Brothers University. Just days ago, an accreditation board voted to keep the university on continued probation for another 12 months under close scrutiny. The university was first placed on probation at this time last year. CBU has said financial aid and credits for students will not be affected. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools board says probation is the most serious public sanction it can impose, short of stripping a school of its accreditation status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board says it kept Christian Brothers on probation because the university failed to meet its financial responsibility standard. CBUs accreditation on probation; school says things are turning around But there are signs of progress. The board acknowledges that Christian Brothers has made significant progress in addressing its shortcomings and is likely to resolve these issues over the next year. We spoke to the universitys leadership earlier this year, who said they were expecting this probation. Among the reasons were a lack of students in housing and declining enrollment. We serve a population that has a great deal of financial need and because of that we do operate on a very thin margin, so we did expect we were going to be placed on probation in December and that was part of the reason we started to make those hard decisions in the fall, said Dr. Lydia Rosencrants, vice president of academics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last October, WREG reported the cuts were made due to a $7 million deficit. CBU said in a statement on Thursday that they have increased the incoming class, boosted fundraising, and reduced spending, strengthening their finances. Probation for good cause is a temporary sanction granting CBU a period to remedy its financial position. As we shared last month, we still have some work to do, but we expect to return to full compliance with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) by this time next year. CBU says its academic status has remained strong throughout, including national recognition for our educational programming. CBU remains accredited by SACSCOC during the probationary period. 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 WREG.com. WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Wednesday marked the first night of Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday celebrating a historic victory of light over darkness. At Wednesdays 48th Annual Christmas Together event in Luzerne County, members of nearby Temple Israel Wilkes-Barre gathered to play music for guests to enjoy. They played a variety of traditional Jewish songs. Shoppers getting their last minute errands done in Lackawanna County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jewish leaders say they attend Christmas Together every year. Its a lot of fun and it brings light and happiness and joy and all that kinda good stuff, said Temple Israel Rabbi Larry Kaplan. Its only the fifth time within the last 114 years that Christmas and the first day of Hanukkah have overlapped. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. Like many individuals with autism, Jonathan Eichenholz has limited job skills and is unlikely to receive a high school diploma. How, his father Jason worried, would he ever get by on his own? Realizing weve got a lifelong journey with Jonathan with autism, what am I going to do with him after Im gone? Thats the thing that used to keep me up at night, Jason Eichenholz said. As a tech entrepreneur, Eichenholz believed he had the wherewithal to address this problem for Jonathan and others like him. In November he launched Techtonic Workforce Academy, a Central Florida-based initiative to train people with autism to repair cellphones and other electronic devices so they can become financially independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If it succeeds, he hopes to expand it into a broader school curriculum that can train a much larger number of individuals than the academy can handle. The program is partly funded by a $1 million state appropriation given to Eichenholzs foundation, the Jonathans Landing Foundation, in 2023 to get more adults with autism into the workforce. Thats a demographic that has an unemployment rate of 85%, according to the Autistic Americans Civil Liberties Union. The academy would be housed inside an electronics repair factory in Central Florida, and Eichenholz plans to open it by spring 2025. He has not yet shared the location. While waiting for the new facility to open, Jonathans Landing has teamed up with several community partners to give hands-on demos to people with autism, in order to gauge their ability and interest in electronics repair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a participant shows interest, the foundation will look to recruit them into the workforce academy. The demos also give the foundation an opportunity to fine-tune its program. For example: At a demo held in November at Opportunity Community Ability, an Orlando company that provides vocational training and other supports to people with autism, some of the participants had trouble using the tools. Now thats become a problem for group leaders to solve. What were definitely finding is, from a fine motor skills standpoint, what is it that we can do to adapt some of the tools? said Kimberly McCarten, acting CEO of the Jonathans Landing Foundation. She and her team are looking to partner with a company that does 3D printing to design special tools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cellphone repair is a $300 billion industry with a labor shortage of about 20,000 technicians, according to the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association. In addition to housing the academy, Eichenholzs new facility will be a working cellphone and electronics repair factory, where he hopes ultimately to employ up to 5,000 people with autism, he says. The biggest hurdle to finding a job for people with autism is convincing employers to hire them, said Margaret Newman Thornton, COO of Opportunity Community Ability. Because theres a label, they have this idea in their mind that were going to send them this 5-year-old child thats melting down in Wal-Mart, Thornton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once Techtonics repair factory turns a profit, Eichenholz hopes itll show employers the value people with autism can bring to a company. Success for us is taking an individual who spent a year or two with us and getting them a job at Batteries Plus or uBreakiFix or the Apple Store, Eichenholz said. Adults with autism can be a financial burden on families, especially after they leave high school and their caregivers must then pay for all the therapies the public schools provide for free. The school system will support them until the semester that they turn 22, and then all of your occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech, academics, sports, all of that goes away, Thornton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jonathan Eichenholz, who is 19, has a few more years of such support left, and then his dad foresees him training at the academy and working at the factory. But Jason Eichenholz who was the co-founder of Luminar Technologies, a successful lmanufacturer of sensor technology has even bigger dreams for his next venture. Alongside the factory, he hopes to construct pocket neighborhoods, where 500 workers and academy participants could live independently. Profits from the factory would help pay for the therapies and supports residents rely on, helping to elevate the financial strain put on their families. So, basically, a place for Jonathan and 499 of his closest friends to live, Eichenholz said. Jonathans Landing is working on a partnership with the Osceola County School District, in which it will bring its hands-on demos to high school students with autism and other developmental delays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The foundation hopes to roll out its first demo at St. Cloud High School in spring 2025 with about 20 students with special needs. And itll grow from there. Well design it to get better and better. The goal would be to have it in every high school, said Tim Burdette, executive director of career and technical education for the Osceola County School District. Currently, the school district offers students with special needs life skills but limited vocational training. Students learn how to do their laundry, how to make their bed, how to do some small cooking. But they really dont learn the technical trades that they need to be able to sustain a job, Burdette said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the partnership proves successful, Jonathans Landing hopes to build a curriculum for the district. Then, instead of paying an outside company to fix broken laptops and other devices, schools can have students do the repairs. Its no different than when I took auto shop in high school, and I had to fix the town dump trucks when they needed a brake job, Eichenholz said. And while the school is saving money, the student is picking up an employable skill which could help them gain some measure of autonomy. Even if they still live with their parents, at least they take a little bit of the burden of the financial part away, with student paying their way, and gives them self-worth, being able to work and be a part of society, Burdette said. The need for food donations is even greater during this time of year. Charities are reporting that more families who are working full-time are still finding themselves visiting food pantries. Channel 2s Jorge Estevez went to a community market in Chamblee to show how you can help. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The St. Vincent de Pauls Community Market looks like any other grocery store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But community members in need are able to shop there for free. We see like 50 to 70 people a day, St. Vincent de Paul employee Valentine Chagolla said. What does that mean to you? Estevez asked him. It means the world. I go home and I feel great. They get a lot of gratification and I feel like Ive done something, Chagolla said. Mike Mies is the executive director who oversees market operations. Were seeing about 50 percent more families than before, Mies said. We do pickups from about 42 stores a week, Mies said. They call it their food recovery program. It means were keeping food out of landfills and putting it on peoples tables, Mies said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tanisha Donald is grateful for the food pantry. I work throughout the week and the only days I get to come here is like on the weekends, she said. So I really appreciate them being open on a Friday to be able to assist me. St. Vincent de Paul is one of the oldest and largest statewide social services organizations in Georgia. Donald said she wants everyone to know that its okay to ask for help. Never be afraid and never be ashamed if you need help. Its okay to need help, she said. Mies said theres no income requirement to be able to shop at the community market. They will never turn down someone in need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The St. Vincent de Paul organization is forecasting a 20 percent increase in services for 2025. Georgia ranks seventh in the country where families have the hardest time paying for household expenses. The group reports receiving donations from about 3,000 people, corporations, and government agencies. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] TRENDING STORIES: LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The Grand Menorah lighting is scheduled on Thursday, Dec. 26, at 4 p.m. at the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas, according to officials from Chabad of Southern Nevada. The 20-foot menorah is the largest in Southern Nevada, officials said. The lighting ceremony will be at the corner of 4th Street and Fremont. Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley is scheduled to attend the ceremony, which highlights Chanukahs message of religious freedom. Steve Siegel will light the Grand Menorah in one of many events across the valley celebrating Chanukah commonly spelled Hanukkah which began on Dec. 25 at sundown and culminates on Jan. 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How the Las Vegas Jewish community is celebrating Hanukkah amidst Hamas attacks 1 year later Chanukah reminds us that a little light can defeat an empire of darkness, human goodness can defy terror and brute force, and life and spiritual vitality can overcome destruction, Rabbi Shea Harlig, Director of Chabad of Southern Nevada, said in a news release. Especially in America, founded to vigorously protect the right of every person to practice his or her religion free from restraint and persecution, the Menorah takes on profound significance, embodying both religious and constitutional principles. Chanukah is known as the Festival of Lights, marking the victory more than 2,100 years ago when Jewish people regained control of their temple in ancient Israel. The event will feature music, latkes (potato pancakes) and free dreidels for the kids. 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 KLAS. A Chicago woman is facing multiple battery and resisting law enforcement charges after intentionally hitting a Scherville Police officer with a car outside Up Your Alley. Christina Talore Lloyd, 28, is charged with battery with bodily injury to a public safety officer, a Level 5 felony; battery by means of a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony; resisting law enforcement, a Level 6 felony; resisting law enforcement, a Level 6 felony; and misdemeanor criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. Around 7:06 p.m. on Dec. 22, a Schererville Police officer was working security in her marked patrol vehicle at Up Your Alley, located at 1048 Indianapolis Blvd., when management asked her to come inside, according to the probable cause affidavit. The officer saw several people surrounding the manager and screaming at him. Despite numerous requests to leave, they were screaming and spreading throughout the lobbying playing music, court records state. They started to damage property as well. Eventually, the group exited into the parking lot, records state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the people dispersed except for a few women who were parked in front of the officers patrol vehicle. The officer told them to leave but they yelled profanities and said You cant make us, the affidavit states. The officer said she needed their IDs to issue trespass warnings, then told them that they would be charged. At that point, the women got into their vehicles, while continuing to yell at the officer, court records state. When the officer said that they werent free to leave and asked for identification, Lloyd got into a silver Hyundai and yelled watch this before putting the car in drive and hitting the officer in the knee and leg, records state. Lloyd refused to stop but eventually reversed and drove off. The officer got into her patrol car and pulled over Lloyd, who tried to drive off again, the affidavit states. Officers eventually pulled over Lloyd near Deer Creek Drive, but she fought with officers when they tried to remove her from her vehicle. ADEN, Yemen/JERUSALEM, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israel vowed on Thursday to kill Houthi leaders and dismantle the group's military power shortly after it launched "intelligence-based" airstrikes targeting Houthi-controlled military targets on Yemen's western coast and inland Yemen. "We are determined to cut off this terror arm of the Iranian axis of evil," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. "We will persist until the task is complete." Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz pledged to "hunt down all the Houthi leaders and strike them, just as we have done elsewhere." "No one will escape Israel's long arm. We will strike them to eliminate threats against Israel," he added. Netanyahu and Katz made the remarks in a joint video statement recorded at the Air Force Command Center in Tel Aviv, where they had arrived to observe the airstrikes. Earlier in the day, the Israeli military said it launched "intelligence-based" airstrikes targeting Houthi-controlled military targets on Yemen's western coast and inland Yemen. The Israeli warplanes hit Houthi-used infrastructures in the Sanaa International Airport, and the Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power stations, both located in Houthi-controlled areas, as well as the ports of Hodeidah, Salif, and Ras Kanatib on the western coast, the military said in a statement, claiming that those sites were used by Houthis to smuggle Iranian weapons into the region and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. Footage circulating on social media showed large explosions, with black smoke and fire rising above buildings in Yemen. The strikes were carried out based on an assessment that Houthi forces intended to escalate their attacks on Israel and shipping routes, reported Israel's state-owned Kan TV earlier in the day. Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV said Thursday that the Israeli attack on the Sanaa International Airport has killed three people and wounded 16 others. The Israeli airstrike on the port of Hodeidah, which hit the Ras Isa oil terminal, meanwhile, killed one person, and three others remain missing, the TV added. An official of the Houthis told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that 10 Israeli airstrikes destroyed fighter jets and helicopters stationed inside the al-Dailami Air Force Base adjoining the airport, which has been rendered non-operational. In the meantime, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on social media platform X that the Sanaa International Airport came under aerial bombardment as he and some other UN and WHO officials were about to board their flight from Yemen's capital Sanaa. "One of our plane's crew members was injured. At least two people were reported killed at the airport. The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge -- just a few meters from where we were -- and the runway were damaged," he said. Noting that he and his colleagues are safe, the WHO chief said they will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before they can leave. CHICAGO (WGN) Chicagoans gathered for the lighting of the Menorah in Lakeview Wednesday, where the first day of Hanukkah fell on Christmas Day something that only happens about once every 15-20 years. Chabad East Lakeview organized the ceremony, reaching out to others of various religious faiths to join in the celebration of light and hope with a colorful Menorah lighting. Rabbi Baruch Hertz led the Jewish congregation, spreading the light of Hanukkah to the entire community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in the day, Rabbi Hertz and the congregation of his synagogue prayed for peace this holiday season. We pray very hard that the world should be a better place, Rabbi Hertz said. A place of tolerance and peace and unity. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) Ron Camacho brought News 2 on a ride along for Christmas Day patrolling. The North Charleston Police Chief spoke about his background, his goals, and his adjustments to the Lowcountry. We responded to two calls involving domestic violence and a window tint violation. The interaction, them laughing, everything is good and professional, which is exactly the type of officers that we want. The type of interaction we want, said Camacho, as the driver was let off with a warning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Camacho is learning more about his station and its culture, he said he is taking it in before making any major changes. Leadership is leadership. Management is management, its just getting a handle on all the tentacles that are out there and seeing how they handle business, Camacho said. Then just adjusting. One of the visions he has for his new department is to bring greater attention to education. I plan on working with the mayor to up the educational assistance that we provide our officers, Camacho said. Educated officers and officers with bachelor degrees is evidenced that less use of force incidents, less complaints, better critical thinking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the new police chief has made a jump from a smaller department, he believes he is in the right place after having nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience. When you look at stuff like, its always, they say in policing you have to be the right fit. I think what Ive done, the type of policing, and my personality it was the right fit for this department. So, Im happy, Camacho said. Serendipity, you know, how everything lined up took some luck and hard work. The police chief said he is implementing some training for his department in January. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. Two prototypes for China's future stealth strike fighter took the skies in broad daylight. Both appear to be advanced flying wing designs useful for attack missions. China watchers buzzed about the possible roles of a fighter that could rival US aircraft. Two prototypes for China's future stealth strike fighter took the skies in broad daylight in recent days, showcasing China's growing aerospace might as it tries to match the US. The designs appeared intended to make a splash. One showed a triangular aircraft similar to America's retired F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter, with some notable differences. The prototype by Chengdu Aerospace Corporation lacked a tail and fin-like vertical stabilizers and was powered by three engines; a new video shows it in a low-altitude turn accompanied by a J-20 Mighty Dragon stealth fighter. Photos and videos also recently captured a stealth prototype, attributed to Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, fueling speculation the aircraft may be rivals. The sightings immediately prompted questions among aviation watchers about whether these designs were stealthy strike aircraft (designed to ground-attack areas guarded by air defenses) or contenders for a leap-ahead sixth-generation air superiority fighter, of the sort the US is struggling to define. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Fascinating that the [People's Liberation Army Air Force/Chinese Communist Party] have chosen to fly this prototype in daylight now," Justin Bronk, an airpower expert at the UK's RUSI think tank, said on X. "I suspect more likely to be the 5th Gen regional bomber/strike fighter project sometimes called J/H-XX." A Defense Department report released in mid-December said that China "is developing new medium- and long-range stealth bombers to strike regional and global targets." Some more better-resolution images of CACs 6th generation fighter prototype/demonstrator pic.twitter.com/FzQFyCg7AA @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) December 26, 2024 Both prototype aircraft appear to be flying wing designs, which more efficiently distribute an aircraft's load and reduce drag. These aircraft are more inherently unstable and require automated fly-by-wire systems that constantly change the aircraft's flight controls. The US Air Force has leaned into this design with its Northrop B-2 Spirit and Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider bombers. By eliminating a tail and vertical stabilizers, the flying wing reduces the number of angled surfaces that can produce radar returns. These types of aircraft may be able to strike defended areas before being detected on radar. Read the original article on Business Insider The Chinese government has approved the construction of a massive hydroelectric power plant over the world's largest dam to be built over the sacred Yarlung Tsangpo River in the Tibet autonomous region. When ready, the power plant will generate three times as much energy as the one over Three Gorges Dam, currently the world's largest hydropower project. With its eye on the 2060 deadline to achieve net zero emissions, China has been working diligently to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. Interesting Engineering has previously reported on the multiple wind and solar energy projects that have started in recent months while also highlighting the push for nuclear power plants to generate carbon-free energy. China's ambitions in hydroelectric energy were evident as early as 2008 when the Three Gorges Dam, the world's biggest dam, was completed. Power generation began in 2012 and currently supplies clean energy to over five million households every month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, China's next project is so ambitious that its power generation capacity upon completion will be thrice that of the Three Gorges Dam plant. Mega hydropower project in Tibet China plans to build this mega hydropower project over the Yarlung Tsangpo River across the Tibetan plateau. The sacred river is home to the deepest canyon on the planet, with a vertical difference of 25,154 feet (7,667 meters). The Chinese government intends to use this to its advantage and generate nearly 300 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of hydropower from the project, sufficient to meet the energy needs of 300 million people every year. The river's lower reaches have a vertical drop of 6,561 feet (2,000 m) over 31 miles (50 km). This alone has the potential to generate 70 million kilowatts of power, authorities have previously said about the project site. To harness this energy, though, will require China to drill 2.5 -12.5 mile (4-20 km) long tunnels in the Namcha Barwa mountain that will divert half the river's flow at about 2,000 cubic meters per second. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government has earmarked one trillion yuan (US$137 billion) for the project, making it the most ambitious single infrastructure project on the planet to date. Risks and opportunities While risks are inherent in large-scale projects, this mega power project will be situated at a boundary of a tectonic plate, making it prone to earthquakes if they occur in the future. The geology is also unlike that of the plains making it a complicated project to execute. The builders of the project plan to use data from extensive geological explorations and technological advances to ensure that construction is backed by science and is of the highest quality, a South China Morning Post report said. The project will also be an opportunity to develop more wind and solar energy projects in the vicinity and add to China's clean energy output. Additionally, ecological protection is also be prioritized, the SCMP report added. A likely construction start date or details of the exact site of the project have not been disclosed yet. In something of a stunning development, China appears to already be flying a stealthy, high-performance sixth-generation crewed combat aircraft, imagery of which began to emerge today. At this early stage, we have very little idea about the precise identity of the new aircraft, but many elements of its design are very much in line with what we already knew about Chinese sixth-generation airpower aspirations. Only a matter of hours after the appearance of the first Chinese combat aircraft today, videos and photos of another new design began to circulate. Also tailless, this smaller design may well originate from the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, and you can read more about it here. Video and photos that began to circulate on social media today show the previously unseen aircraft conducting a daytime test flight, alongside a two-seat Chengdu J-20S fighter, serving as a chase plane. The locations and dates of the various imagery cannot be verified at this stage, although the presence of the J-20 suggests the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) factory airfield is a likely candidate. The new Chinese combat aircraft accompanied by a J-20S chase plane. via X via X There has also been no official comment from the Chinese Ministry of Defense or state media so far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aside from the sheer size of the new aircraft, which we will address in a moment, the most striking thing about it is its planform and tailless configuration. It has a modified delta wing with chine lines extending all the way to the nose area, while its central fuselage section, at least the bottom of it, is loosely reminiscent of the J-20. The broad nose could even provide space for side-by-side crew seating, although the limited views of the canopy mean we cannot be sure whether the aircraft has a single-seat or two-seat arrangement, with tandem twin seats being another option. via X via X Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement via X There was already growing evidence pointing to the fact that Chinas next fighter would be tailless, and designs of this kind had previously appeared in the form of technical studies. Back in October 2021, a mysterious tailless aircraft shape appeared in satellite images of a CAC factory airfield. It was a large modified, diamond-like delta planform with a relatively thin nose section that also had a significant wingspan broadly similar to that of a J-20. But its worth noting that this shape does not look the same as the aircraft we are seeing. Beyond that, next-generation tactical combat aircraft eschewing traditional tails is a major design driver being pursued by the U.S. military, as well. This is predominantly to significantly reduce the aircrafts radar signature across multiple bands and from all aspects. There are some aerodynamic efficiencies also to be had with such a design, especially one used for long-range operations via a reduction in aerodynamic drag, which should provide better performance for sustained high-speed dashes and cruising flight. At the same time, a tailless configuration can adversely affect overall maneuverability, even with the most advanced computerized flight control systems. There are currently no signs of thrust-vectoring engines on this aircraft, which would help enhance agility and overall stability. The engine exhausts are mounted in the best place to mask the aircrafts infrared signature, atop the rear of its fuselage, similar to the YF-23. The diamond-shaped tailless vehicle seen in a satellite image of the CAC factory airfield in October 2021. PHOTO 2021 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION While a tailless configuration, size, general shaping, and exhaust layout point directly toward a design tailored for stealth and endurance, its not entirely clear the exact level of enhanced low observability this new aircraft might offer. Just deleting the tail surfaces and strakes and providing a more general aerodynamic clean-up, while leveraging the same now nearly 15-year-old technology found on the the J-20, for example, would still be a massive improvement. Clearly, this aircraft incorporates significantly greater low observable technologies that are a leap ahead of the J-20, beyond its tailless design. Also notable is the elaborate arrangement of control surfaces coupled with the tailless design, with five trailing edge control surfaces per wing. These include prominent split flaps close to the wingtips. These would be used differentially to provide yaw control in the absence of tail control surfaces, as well as deploying simultaneously to serve as air brakes. via X In terms of size, the new aircraft can be compared to the J-20 the imagery suggests it is at least as long. The J-20 is close to 70 feet from nose to tail. In this regard, this designs twin-wheel main landing gear is also worth noting, providing another pointer to the considerable weight of the aircraft. Above all, its large size would seem to reflect an overarching concern with long endurance and comparatively massive internal volume to accommodate a very large fuel load, as well as weapons and sensors. A J-20 stealth fighter. Photo by Wang Jingtian/VCG via Getty Images A J-20 stealth fighter rehearses for the 2023 Changchun Air Show in July 2023 in Changchun, Jilin Province of China. Photo by Wang Jingtian/VCG via Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe the aircrafts most unusual feature is its air intake arrangement. It appears to have an air intake on top of the fuselage, as well as twin intakes on either side of the lower fuselage. This has already led to speculation that the aircraft may have a highly unorthodox three-engine arrangement. Unconfirmed rumors point to a powerplant comprising three domestically produced WS-10C turbofans, as used in the J-20. Considering the aircrafts higher gross weight than the J-20, three engines may be necessary in order to meet aggressive performance goals, especially for sustained high-speed flight and operations at high altitudes. That China has been working on a sixth-generation combat aircraft program is also no surprise. Back in September 2022, now-retired Air Force Gen. Mark D. Kelly, who was then-head of Air Combat Command (ACC), said China was working on the same kind of air combat system of systems that his service was pursuing under its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative, including a sixth-generation manned fighter jet. At the time, Kelly noted that China saw sixth-generation air power, including future manned fighter aircraft, greatly the way we see it: an exponential reduction in signature, exponential acceleration of processing power and sensing. Another key factor would be the ability to iterate improvements aided by open mission systems, Kelly added. via X via X Regarding a potential successor to the J-20, Kelly warned that China are not dummies. They know what theyre doing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelly also said he expected the Chinese sixth-generation air combat program to include an exponential improvement in stealth compared with current platforms. At this early stage, its far from clear whether the new aircraft is a prototype sixth-generation fighter, or perhaps a more generalized demonstrator that will test new technologies that could potentially end up on a variety of different platforms, including a large tactical aircraft much like it. It seems almost certain that China, for some time now, has been engaged in preliminary testing of different manned fighter configurations. This development work may also include demonstrators, both sub-scale and full-size, and the new aircraft may well be related to it. via X The aircraft could also be related to a new regional stealth bomber aircraft, which could potentially be a crewed component tied to the broader Chinese sixth-generation airpower initiative. The regional bomber program, known as JH-XX, remains very secretive, but you can read more on what is known about that project here. Previously, it was thought that the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation might be working on the JH-XX, in which case a J-20 chase plane, from the rival Chengdu, would seem less likely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More likely, at least at this time, this aircraft could be more closely tied to Chinas version of Americas NGAD initiative, which aimed to develop a similar manned heavy fighter-like aircraft that would work just as much as a command and control node for drones as a classic fighter. Range, sustained speed in cruise, weapons payload, and low observability are all thought to be top priorities of the manned fighter component of NGAD, or at least were. The fighter element of the program is now on hold and still may be canceled entirely, or end up looking very different, under the Trump administration. The fact that this exotic aircraft was flying during the day, in an area where it was seemingly easily photographed also tells a lot about the programs status. It is very likely China intended for this to be seen at this time. Overall, while so much remains unknown, what we can say about this aircraft definitively is that its a large, very heavy, tactical jet that has had a massive premium put on combat radios and survivability. High altitude operations are also likely a feature of this design, especially if it does indeed feature three engines. But above all else, if procured in an operation form by the PLAAF, it would be able to fly over long regional distances and loiter for extended periods on station far from home without tanker support something China lacks in terms of capacity versus the United States. It would also presumably be able to do this in closer proximity to threats than any other manned aircraft in Chinas arsenal. In other words, it could put targets in the air, on the ground, and at sea at risk in areas where they currently do not expect a threat from a manned combat aircraft. This has real implications for American tankers, airlifters, and airborne early warning and control, and reconnaissance aircraft, as well as allied ships and forces operating at forward locales. It would also serve as a critical force-multiplying sensor platform operating far forward. Paired with drone wingmen of relevant endurance, its lethality and survivability would be multiplied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, the existence of this aircraft is a very big deal. Update, 3:45 p.m. EST: The designation of the new combat aircraft that appeared today, apparently from the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, has now been reported albeit unconfirmed as the J-36. A new photo of the jet shows it with a code number displayed on the forward fuselage, with the first two digits being 36, although the remainder has been censored. The J-36 designation would be logical after the J-35 the highest number confirmed so far in the Chinese fighter (Jianjiji) series. Also noticeable here is what look like two sets of large apertures on either side of the nose. One appears to be an electro-optical window while the other looks like it is for an RF sensor. The latter is very likely to be for side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) arrays, which would provide a far greater radar coverage than just a front-mounted array alone. It also allows for unique tactics that can greatly enhance the survivability of the aircraft during an engagement. You can read more about this feature here and the tactics related to maintaining perpendicular radar locks here. The Su-57 has this feature and the F-22 was going to have it before it got cut due to cost during the aircrafts latter development period. The optical apertures are of interest for reconnaissance and situational awareness, with a relatively large camera system being able to fit behind those big windows, if indeed that is what they are. Also seen in this image is the weapons bay, which looks similar in configuration with the J-20, although it is likely far deeper and possibly longer. There are also additional trailing edge segmented surfaces viewable in the central tail section, where the exhaust would be exiting above. This is very interesting because just how much articulation those have isnt clear. There appears to be a whopping 18 separate segments on the aircrafts trailing edge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A flight data probe can also be seen in these images on the aircrafts nose, which is customary for aircraft in early flight test configuration. via X Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement via X The rear aspect of the aircraft shows the three-pack of YF-23-like exhausts: Via X Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com BEIJING (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry on Thursday urged the Philippines to return to "peaceful development", saying Manila's decision to deploy a U.S. medium-range missile system in military exercises would only bring the risks of an arms race in the region. The U.S. Typhon system, which can be equipped with cruise missiles capable of striking Chinese targets, was brought in for joint exercises earlier this year. On Tuesday, Philippine Defence Minister Gilberto Teodoro said the Typhon's deployment for joint exercises was "legitimate, legal and beyond reproach". Army chief Roy Galido said on Monday that the Philippines was also planning to acquire its own mid-range missile system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rivalry between China and the Philippines has grown in recent years over their competing claims in the South China Sea. Longtime treaty allies Manila and Washington have also deepened military ties, further ratcheting up tensions. "By cooperating with the United States in the introduction of Typhon, the Philippine side has surrendered its own security and national defence to others and introduced the risk of geopolitical confrontation and an arms race in the region, posing a substantial threat to regional peace and security," said Mao Ning, a spokesperson at China's foreign ministry. "We once again advise the Philippine side that the only correct choice for safeguarding its security is to adhere to strategic autonomy, good neighbourliness and peaceful development," Mao told reporters at a regular press conference. China will never sit idly by if its security interests were threatened, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, which is also claimed by several Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines. (Reporting by Ryan Woo and Ethan Wang; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Kate Mayberry) SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. For many years, the bell ringing in the Chinchilla United Methodist Church steeple signaled the start of worship services. Our church service used to be at 10 oclock and a couple minutes to 10, the church bell would ring, said longtime member Scott Thorpe. The neighborhood would hear it and know it was time for church. That bell is silent. While light spills from the colored stained glass windows, the pews once filled with people are sparse. Music from the choir no longer rings through the sanctuary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The church is decorated for Christmas, with a tree, garland and Advent wreath at the altar and wreaths hanging on doors, signaling the start of a new liturgical year. But for the congregation, the church wont see a new year. It will close by the end of this year. The last service will be Sunday. The congregation voted to shutter the church off Layton Road in late October, with church leaders pointing to declining attendance as the reason. An average of 13 people attended worship services there last year, according to data from the United Methodist Church, although that number has been as low as seven. The churchs administrative council discussed closing all year, but the vote was hard, Norma Winowich, the councils chairperson, said this week. We have a lot of good memories there, she said. It was very difficult to decide to close. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The church dates to 1818, when the first Methodist services were held in the township on a site across from present-day South Abington Elementary School on Northern Boulevard, according to a pamphlet detailing the churchs history. It then moved to the corner of present day Northern Boulevard and Holgate Street in 1900, then in 1924 to a location on Layton Road where Interstate 81 passes over the street. The current modern gothic building was dedicated in 1962, according to the pamphlet. There was a time when the church was active. Longtime members shared recollections of standing-room-only services, a bus and radio ministry, music filling the building, youth activities, meals and holiday events such as Trunk or Treats and Easter egg hunts. The church was a part of Thorpes life from the time he was a child, as his late father Harold Thorpe was the churchs longtime organist. His father, brother and sister-in-law are listed in a book of memorial contributions inside the church. Giles Stanton, another longtime member, remembered the church had a softball team and Methodist Youth Fellowship. He used to play songs by musicians like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, the Booth Brothers and Glen Campbell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I usually tried to find something that was meaningful and had a poignant story, he said. I tried to find something that was a little more upbeat. For Christmas Eve services and some regular Sunday services, there were so many people that chairs had to be put up along the aisles and in the entranceway. Pews would always be filled, Thorpe, the churchs treasurer, said. It was your local church. All the neighbors would come here. It was a church for all. There was no Christmas Eve service at the church on Tuesday, as the church held a combined service with Waverly United Methodist Church. In 1992, the year after Winowich, 67, joined, the church had just over 445 members, with nearly 130 people attending services, according to UMC data. But over the years, the congregation got older and fewer and fewer young people joined. The church had 29 members last year, UMC data shows. Most of those members are over 55 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It slowly dwindled, the older Winowich said. * Longtime member Scott Thorpe walks in the sanctuary of United Methodist Church of Chinchilla past boxes stacked up by Abington Christian Academy, a tenant of the church, in South Abington Twp. Friday, Dec. 20,, 2024. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * A stained glass window frames a cross in the sanctuary of United Methodist Church of Chinchilla in South Abington Twp. Friday, Dec. 20,, 2024. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * A wall hanging of Jesus as a shephard tending to sheep hangs above the Exit sign at the United Methodist Church of Chinchilla Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Longtime member Scott Thorpe walks in the sanctuary of United Methodist Church of Chinchilla past boxes stacked up by Abington Christian Academy, a tenant of the church, in South Abington Twp. Friday, Dec. 20,, 2024. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Boxes sit in the sanctuary of the United Methodist Church of Chinchilla in South Abington Twp. Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Chinchilla United Methodist Church in South Abington Twp. pictured Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo) * Chinchilla United Methodist Church in South Abington Twp. pictured Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Show Caption 1 of 7 Longtime member Scott Thorpe walks in the sanctuary of United Methodist Church of Chinchilla past boxes stacked up by Abington Christian Academy, a tenant of the church, in South Abington Twp. Friday, Dec. 20,, 2024. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Expand The amount of money given to the church has also declined, with tithing as low as $200 a week, compared to more than $2,000 weekly in past years, Thorpe said. The congregation tried to come up with new ways to bring in people and revenue. Those efforts included an Adulting 101 lunch and learn series. The church also received revenue from Abington Christian Academy, which had rented space in the building for nine years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August, it sold the parsonage for $329,900, according to a deed filed with the county. But none of the efforts helped keep the church afloat. When your congregation dwindles down so low its very difficult to do things to try to generate more people and funds, the older Winowich said. She believes the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the churchs waning attendance, as there were more people that came to church before the pandemic hit in 2020. The UMC Book of Discipline states a church is automatically transferred to the board of trustees of the conference the church is a part of if it closes. If the board chooses to sell the building, they are required to give consideration to other Methodist denominations and authorize the sale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matthew Shineman, director of communications for the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church, said the board hasnt made a decision on the future of the building. The closure of any church is always a sad moment, but we can also take this time to appreciate and be thankful for the grateful ministry of the Chinchilla UMC and all its faithful parishioners, he said. The church isnt the only church in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton district of the conference to close, as Asbury United Methodist Church in Scrantons Green Ridge neighborhood and Noxen United Methodist Church are also in the process of shutting their doors by the end of the year, also because of declining enrollment. Asbury UMC announced its intention to close after 148 years in late October in a Facebook post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abington Christian Academy, which serves students ages three years to eighth grade, is moving to Peckville Assembly of God, with classes starting Jan. 6, Principal Jan Wells said. Winowich said people in the congregation werent emotional the day they voted to close the church, but some became emotional last Sunday. She expects there will be even more emotional this Sunday. I think its getting to people that have been coming to church every Sunday, Winowich said. As the church prepares to shutter its doors for good, Winowich takes comfort having fellow members. The church is just a building, the congregation is the church, she said. We all were very close and we can stay connected. BANGKOK (AP) A spokesperson for Chinese automaker BYD (BYD) has objected to reports about poor conditions at a construction site in Brazil where it is building a factory, saying the allegations were aimed at smearing China and Chinese brands. Earlier in the week, a task force led by Brazilian prosecutors said it had rescued 163 Chinese nationals it said were working in slavery-like conditions at the site. A video from the Labor Prosecutors Office of dorms housing the workers showed beds with no mattresses and rudimentary cooking facilities. A BYD spokesperson, Li Yunfei, vehemently objected in a statement posted Thursday on his Weibo social media site. In the matter of smearing Chinese brands, smearing China, and attempting to undermine the friendship between China and Brazil, we have seen how relevant foreign forces maliciously associate and deliberately smear, it said, also criticizing media reports about the situation. BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, is one of the worlds largest producers of electric cars. The company said on Monday night that it would immediately terminate the contract with a contractor building the factory, the Jinjiang Group, and was studying other appropriate measures. BYD said that the Jinjiang workers would be housed in nearby hotels for the time being, and would not suffer from the decision to stop work at the site. The company said that over the past few weeks it had been changing working conditions at the construction site and had told its contractors that adjustments had to be made. Li's Weibo post also included what it said was a declaration from the Chinese workers at the site, imprinted with red thumbprints of the men, who were shown in a video sitting together in a room. The video showed one of workers reading out a statement saying the reports of the poor and slave-like conditions had violated their human rights and that the problems were the result of misunderstandings. We cherish this work and want to stay and work here, he said. When he finished, the workers applauded. Prosecutors said the sanitary situation at BYDs site was especially bad, with only one toilet for every 31 workers, forcing them to wake up at 4 a.m. to line up to be ready to leave for work at 5:30 a.m. Under Brazilian law, slavery-like conditions are characterized by submission to forced labor or exhausting working hours, subjection to degrading working conditions and restriction of the workers freedom of movement. Apart from living conditions for the workers, Brazilian officials said Jinjiang Construction Brazil had confiscated their passports and withheld 60% of their wages. Those who quit would be forced to pay the company for their airfare from China, and for their return ticket, the labor office said in a statement. This is an adapted excerpt from the Dec. 17 episode of All In with Chris Hayes. Democrats have now settled on their committee leadership picks for the 119th Congress. Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia was elected by his caucus to be the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee. Connolly, who is 74 and was just diagnosed with esophageal cancer, beat back a challenge from 35-year-old progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Connollys win comes amid calls for a new generation of leadership in the Democratic Party. But as Democratic Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia, a Connolly ally, put it, Gerrys a young 74, cancer notwithstanding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, to be clear, I am sure Connolly will do a fine job as the ranking Democrat on Oversight. I understand the way seniority works in Congress, and often theres a reason for it. But, in light of everything that has happened over the past decade, it feels like Democrats still have not learned a very important lesson. Back in 2013, when some liberals called for the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, then-President Barack Obama invited the justice, who at the time was an 80-year-old cancer survivor, to a now-infamous lunch meeting, according to The New York Times. Obama gently implied that it was time for her to pass the torch before the 2014 midterms. Democrats were expected to lose the Senate in that election, meaning replacing Ginsburg with another ideological liberal would likely be impossible. But Ginsburg refused to step aside. During an interview with the BBC in 2017, Ginsburg was asked how long she thought she could carry out her job as a Supreme Court justice. At my age, you have to take it year by year, Ginsburg said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know Im OK. What will be next year? Im hopeful however because my most senior colleague the one who most recently retired, Justice John Paul Stevens stepped down at age 90. So I have a way to go. As expected, Republicans retook the Senate in 2014 and they held on to it until 2021. Ginsburg died in September 2020 at the age of 87, three years after that interview and seven years after her meeting with Obama. Trump and the Republican Senate replaced her with Amy Coney Barrett, further cementing conservative control of the court for generations to come and facilitating the end of Roe v Wade. You would think that would have been enough for Democrats to start taking the age issue seriously. But it was not. In April of last year, President Joe Biden announced he was running for re-election, even though he is the oldest man to ever serve as commander in chief. It wasnt until over a year later, when Biden gave a cataclysmic performance in his first debate with Trump, that the Democrats changed course. After a wrenching, excruciating process, just months out from the election, Biden to his credit finally stepped aside under enormous pressure. But he clearly didnt do so under the conditions that would have been best for the Democrats to run a winning campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So you would think that would have been enough for Democrats to start taking the age issue seriously. But, again, it was not. When Connolly won that vote, he did so thanks in part to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi whipping votes for him. To her enormous credit, Pelosi did choose to step aside and relinquish her job as House minority leader to a new generation of leadership. She also played an enormous role in the successful effort to push Biden to step aside this summer, which was the right thing to do. But now, just months later, Pelosi whipped votes to make sure that Connolly got the Oversight job, over the young star in the party even as the 84-year-old Pelosi is recovering from hip surgery after suffering a fall. It just feels like a moment of genuine madness. Look, I know no one wants to think about their own mortality. There are lots of people who live very long, active lives well into their 80s, 90s even. But as a general matter, this is a very risky undertaking for everyone. Democrats are not taking this issue seriously, and they need to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire has said shes undecided if she will run for another six-year term in 2026, when she will be 79 years old. And again, this is nothing against Shaheen personally. But according to Pew Research Center polling from just last year, 79% of Americans support age limits for politicians in Washington. That is an overwhelming majority in our polarized environment. Seventy-nine percent of Americans dont typically agree on anything these days, but they agree on this. Democrats should listen. Allison Detzel contributed. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Christmas night turned bloody at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona when three people were shot and a fourth person was stabbed, in an incident believed to have stemmed from a family dispute. According to CNN, police were called over reports of a shooting around 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday at a restaurant located within Terminal 4 of the airport, but outside of the security checkpoints. Investigators say that a physical altercation broke out within the group, leading to one individual pulling out a handgun and shooting at multiple people. A woman and two men were taken to local hospitals with gunshot injuries, with the woman reportedly left in critical condition. Police later took a man with "at least one stab wound" into custody along with a juvenile female, both of who were found in the parking garage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I believe this was a family dispute that escalated," Phoenix police Sgt. Mayra Reeson told reporters early Thursday, noting that all five people involved likely knew each other. As of Thursday morning, police had not yet interviewed any of the suspects in custody and no charges had been filed, though weapons had been recovered. "We do not believe that theres any suspects out there," Reeson said, adding: "This is scary. It was Christmas evening. Everybody is trying to get home." The Phoenix Police are investigating a shooting that happened at @PHXSkyHarbor. No suspects are being sought after, airport operations have resumed to normal business. Police PIO will be going to the scene to collect more information and give a briefing to media at Terminal 4. pic.twitter.com/sT549I2UtL Phoenix Police (@PhoenixPolice) December 26, 2024 Aside from the woman who sustained life-threatening injuries, the other two gunshot victims and the man who was stabbed were all said to be in stable condition. It's still unclear whether the group had been planning to travel together or if they were at the airport for another reason. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further adding to the chaotic scene, a man who heard misinformation about a possible active shooter arrived at the airport with a gun as police were in the process of investigating the dispute. That man was said to have been detained after an altercation with police. The security checkpoint at the terminal was temporarily closed as a precaution amid the investigation and Sky Train operations were likewise paused. However, as of Thursday no flights were being affected and police said there were "no active threats at the airport." "The incident has been resolved and operations are returning to normal," an airport spokesperson said on Thursday. HELSINKI, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Finnish authorities are investigating the Eagle S, a tanker registered in the Cook Islands, for its possible role in the rupture of the Estlink 2 undersea power transmission cable in the Gulf of Finland on Wednesday. The rupture occurred within Finland's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Finnish police said in a press release on Thursday, adding that they are also investigating potential additional damage in the area. Completed in 2014, The Estlink 2 cable transmits power between Finland and Estonia. It spans 145 km across the seabed and 15 km on land. Following actions taken by Finnish authorities, the Eagle S entered Finland's territorial waters and its possible involvement in the incident is under investigation. The Helsinki Police Department, in cooperation with the Border Guard, conducted a tactical operation aboard the vessel, with assistance from helicopters. The case is being classified as aggravated criminal mischief, with the National Bureau of Investigation leading the inquiry. Finnish Customs is also examining potential regulatory violations and the tanker's cargo. At a press conference Thursday afternoon, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo noted that he had contacted Baltic Sea allies, and that President Alexander Stubb had reached out to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Christmas Day shift for a WV State Trooper GHENT, WV (WVNS) Christmas Day is usually one spent with family and friends, eating a good meal, opening presents by the tree. But for some, its just another day on the job. Holiday season sees an uptick in crime what can you expect? Corporal Chris Dunn has been with the West Virginia State Police for fourteen years. Hes worked his share of Christmas Days in the past and said usually its a day like any other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When most people are spending time with their loved ones, Corporal Dunn is on watch, ready to help his community at one of the most vulnerable times of the year. Corporal Dunn said he wants to make sure that anyone he comes into contact with during the Christmas Day shift remembers the good times. It provides us a chance to help some of these people in need during a time whenever people should be spending quality good time with their family and friends and not the bad, said Corporal Dunn. Corporal Dunn said the shift is relatively the same as any other day. It could be all quiet with not too many calls, or everything could happen all at once and hes wrapped up in calls for most of the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How hospice handles the holiday season He said there is one thing they tend to keep a closer look out for on any holiday. You know, especially during the holiday season, whether it be Christmas, New Years, or any holiday for that matter You know, people out drinking and driving, having a good time, you know, they need to make sure they have a designated driver. Have fun, you know, be with your families, have a party, just make sure that youre being smart about it, said Corporal Dunn. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. SANTEE (FOX 5/KUSI) Nine years ago, doctors gave Robert Metz little chance of survival after suffering sudden cardiac arrest on Christmas Day. He and his family have lived in the Starlight Circle neighborhood for 40 years. I was alone downstairs and out of nowhere, I fell dead. No indicators I was in trouble. My heart stopped and that was it, said Metz. His wife, Marcy, said after 120 minutes of CPR doctors feared there was nothing more they could do, so the family turned to their faith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement San Diego Police officer returns to duty after surviving crash Everybody just stood still and were looking at the monitor and all of a sudden starts a heartbeat back, she said. After surviving cardiac arrest, her husband went into a coma and had total kidney failure. Doctors still didnt think he would make it. My wife was advised to make funeral arrangements, and she kept it to herself. She never told anybody about that because there were so many people praying for me, said Robert Metz. A month passed before Metz woke up from his coma. The thing I remember when I died, I was met by two angels, he explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He credits his faith and family for getting him through his recovery. Now, the moments he and his loved ones spend together hold extra special meaning. Miracles happen. Things can certainly change that you dont expect to, said Metz. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. An auto body shop in Waverly is a total loss following a Christmas morning fire, according to officials. The Wright County Sheriff's Office said responders were called to the fire at EG Autoworks around 7:18 a.m. and arrived to find the building fully engulfed in flames. Fire departments from Waverly, Montrose, Howard Lake, Cokato, and Delano assisted in controlling the fire, while Minnesota State Patrol helped deputies with traffic on U.S. Highway 12. Google Maps The building was destroyed, however, no injuries were reported, according to the sheriff's office. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change. PHOENIX (AP) A shooting at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix left two people injured by gunfire and another person stabbed in an incident related to a family dispute, police say. Phoenix police said the shooting happened at about 9:45 p.m. Wednesday at an airport restaurant located outside the security checkpoints in Terminal 4. A woman and two adult males were shot, leaving the female with injuries police described as life-threatening, they said. The woman remained in critical condition Thursday, while three other people who were brought to the hospital were treated and released. Police said after consulting with county prosecutors that no arrests were made. They emphasized the investigation of the airport shooting was ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group of people all knew each other and had a physical fight that led one of them to pull out a gun and fire the weapon, police said. I do believe that this was a family dispute that escalated, Phoenix police Sgt. Mayra Reeson told reporters. During the fight, a man fired a gun multiple times, striking a woman woman and a male, who was armed with a knife and then cut the shooter, according to police. Another man received minor injuries, police said. Although police said previously that three people were shot in the incident, they later said two people were shot and that it was unknown whether another injured person was shot or cut. After the gunfire, a man and a girl were detained in an airport parking garage nearby. Police haven't revealed why the group was at the airport, and whether they were traveling or were there for some other reason. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gunfire led to the temporary closure of a security checkpoint at the terminal, the closure of some restaurants and a pause in service at the terminal's PHX Sky Train station. Of course this was scary, this was Christmas evening, everybody's trying to get home, Reeson said. In what Reeson described as a completely unrelated incident nearly two hours after the shooting, she said a man showed up at the airport with guns. This man received a text message that he believed there was an active shooter at Sky Harbor, Reeson said. Investigators say the man handed his guns to other people at the airport before approaching an officer, yelled at the officer and didnt follow his commands to stop, according to police. The officer took the man to the ground. During the struggle, he spat on an officer, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sky Harbor, one of the largest commercial airports in the U.S., is a hub for American Airlines and a main connecting point for passengers on Southwest and Frontier Airlines. - This story corrects the number of people who were shot at the airport to two, not three as Phoenix police had previously reported. Associated Press Staff Writer Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed to this report. In the lineup of wildlife diseases across the country, few are more studied and yet still more mysterious than chronic wasting disease. The prion disease, first identified in a Colorado research facility in the 1970s, has been making headlines for decades. Every year brings developments and setbacks, studies showing promise and others pointing to disaster, leaving wildlife managers trying (or trying not) to implement the latest method of control. One constant with CWD is that the news always seems to get worse, says Krysten Schuler, a wildlife disease ecologist and director of the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Depending on which researcher you ask (and there are many), chronic wasting disease could be solvable or it could be a scourge on our landscape and in our wildlife herds until the end of time. Its easy to get lost in the technicalities of every new paper or theory. And equally hard to parse out exactly what the new ideas or developments mean for those of us who hunt deer and elk in one of the 35 states and five Canadian provinces currently infected with CWD. So Outdoor Life asked experts to break down the most recent newsworthy breakthroughs and ideas related to the disease. CWD Testing Could Get Quicker One major hunter concern has been the lag between pulling the trigger and checking an online portal to find out if a deer had CWD. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department, for example, tells hunters it could take up to two weeks to receive their results, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says results can take 10 to 14 days. Those wait times are longer than most hunters can usually hang an elk or deer in their garage in mild weather. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recent paper out of coordinating state labs in New York, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin analyzed results from a new relatively technique called RT-QuIC to test for the disease. This one is a PCR-like test, which might sound familiar from when we all lived in the throes of Covid-19 testing. A PCR is done quickly in a lab and causes whatever its looking for to multiply. That means if CWD is at very low concentrations, you can still find the disease, Schuler says. This is the method thats been used to identify prions in urine or blood or skeletal muscle before. As a result, the new test may also open the door to detecting CWD in bodily tissues other than just the lymph nodes, which arent always easy for the average hunter to find and remove. This doesnt, however, solve the issue of a field test done by hunters, which is what everyone really wants. There arent many tests you can do well in the field, and this is too important to get wrong, Schuler says. There are at-home pregnancy tests, but billions of people have taken them. You need a long time and a lot of accuracy out there for a hunter to be able to know, yes, its positive or no, its not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which doesnt have jurisdiction over wildlife but does approve CWD tests, hasnt given the recent RT-QuIC test its stamp, which means state wildlife agencies arent largely using it yet. But Schuler feels hopeful the recent paper will help push it in the right direction. USDA approval could then mean states begin using the test and hunters may get their results back more quickly. It could also mean fewer false negatives because the test new picks up the disease earlier than the current one. All of these benefits could make hunters more willing to submit their deer and elk for CWD testing. We Shouldnt Freak Out Over Diseased Soils In the nearly 15 years Ive spent reporting on CWD throughout the West, few topics seem to deflate researchers and the public more than the prions ability to remain infectious in soil. Most of us can wrap our heads around the concept of a virus or bacteria, understanding that it spreads in the air when someone sneezes, or can live for a short time on surfaces. But CWD prions seem to defy all our normal rules about staying germ-free: They cling to knives and butchering surfaces, can only be destroyed by concoctions of lye or high concentrations of bleach, stay viable in soil, and, some studies show, can even be drawn into blades of wheat grass. The fear of environmental transmission has led to regulations in states across the country preventing people from dumping carcasses along roadsides or transporting them across state lines, which most researchers will argue is a good thing. Yet as more researchers and management agencies accept environmental transmission as gospel, Bryan Richards, Emerging Disease Coordinator at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center in Wisconsin, is raising his hand with a counter perspective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saying animals that live in an area where CWD was once detected are at as high a risk of contracting the disease as ones that gather in big groups in captive facilities or at artificial feed grounds can quickly lead to a collective feeling of overwhelm and even resignation. From the agency, landowner, and hunter standpoint, it likely contributes to the attitude, if its been there for more than the briefest of periods, were likely screwed. Even if we could make the deer go away for a while, that residual contamination would keep the epidemic going once new deer were in that space, Richards says. The data and science do not confirm that. The data and science also dont disprove it, he says but it has become somewhat of a mantra. While Richards can point to examples of indoor and outdoor facilities that were depopulated, left fallow, then repopulated only for the new animals to contract the disease, he wants to see a deeper look into where were putting our focus and concern. The scientific and wildlife community do know, through repeated studies, that culling herds reduces transmission while also lowering environmental load. Targeting older adult males can also cut down on spread. But focusing exclusively on environmental transmission like prions in soils or grass risks taking the focus off more proven methods of control. Relying on Genetic Resistance Will Be Risky Researchers, politicians, wildlife managers, and hunters all seek solutions to wildlife diseases through genetics. Even diseases as deadly as the plague dont kill every prairie dog in a colony. CWD, on the other hand, is always fatal to deer it infects, but some cervids seem to live longer than others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2017 paper authored largely by National Park Service biologists in Fort Collins, Colorado, showed some elk with a naturally occurring but underrepresented prion protein variant lived longer and reproduced for more years than their counterparts. The paper went on to say that elk in herds infected with CWD for between 30 and 50 years had twice has high of a chance to have that genetic variation than elk in herds where the disease is more recent. The natural conclusion? Give a herd long enough, and the resistant genetics could rise to the top. Unfortunately, the paper also says, it remains unknown if this will allow elk to mitigate the negative population impacts of CWD. Similar work has been done in captive deer facilities across the Southeast, with researchers in Texas finding in 2020 a genetic variation in deer that could help them survive longer with the disease. The billion-dollar captive deer industry is more than a little interested. Fast forward to earlier this year, and Oklahoma lawmakers passed a bill not only requiring the state pursue research into a genetic rescue, but also allowing private landowners to release deer with the genetic variation onto their land in hopes of eventually changing the genetics of wild, free-ranging herds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schuler has some very real concerns, and so does the National Deer Association. The work thats been done is all in captive deer, saying that there are certain genotypes that live longer, Schuler says. But they havent tested it where they actually give the animal the disease and see if they survive longer, or survive, period. I think thats a critical first step before we jump ahead and say, Lets just go and release these animals out on the landscape. Because while deer with these unique genetics may potentially live longer, they arent more resistant to getting the disease. And that distinction matters, says Schuler. If these animals live longer with the disease, they could be spending a lot longer shedding their prions into the environment and passing the disease along to other animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Deer Association also worries that without a foolproof live deer test for CWD, states could also be releasing CWD-positive deer out onto a landscape that doesnt yet have the disease. To fight the ongoing spread of CWD, we need to stop the movement of live deer and elk, the NDA states. Period. No Human Has Been Infected with CWD Little rocked the CWD world more than a 2017 presentation by Canadian researchers that showed after being fed infected with CWD brain tissue, some captive macaque monkeys contracted the disease. While that study has since raised questions from researchers around the U.S. and Canada, that fear of CWD crossing the species barrier to humans remains strong. An abstract published in the journal Neurology earlier this year added even more fuel to the fire when it reported that two hunters who died from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the human version of CWD, had been at the same hunting camp. Wildlife experts across the country refuted the claim, but headlines proclaiming that zombie deer gave CWD to humans persisted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The risk of human infection does exist, experts say, or at least cant be ruled out. Thats why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization advise hunters not to eat meat from an animal that tests positive for the disease. But a June 2024 paper out of the high-powered Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana, provides some important new insight. Researchers at the lab tried infecting two types of human cerebral organoids tissue that closely resembles and acts as human brainwith CWD. They exposed the tissue to high concentrations of CWD from three sources for seven days, then tested for infection for about six months. The result? No infection. Their conclusion was the unsuccessful propagation of CWD in cerebral organoids supports a strong species barrier to transmission of CWD prions in humans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read Next: Does Chronic Wasting Disease Infect Humans? Despite Shocking Headlines, Recent Research Suggests It Does Not Does this mean were all clear to eat a CWD positive animal? No, researchers say. Even the paper qualifies its results by saying human organoid tissue is not exactly the same as real human brain tissue, and that its possible another strain of CWD could be more virulent. But, its important to remember that there is no documented evidence of a human ever becoming infected with chronic wasting disease. A Prion Map Could Lead to a Vaccine The ability to see, and thus map, a gene or protein has been the first step toward researchers figuring out a potential solution to the problem caused by that gene or protein. But as much as CWD has been studied, researchers havent been able to visualize certain parts of its structure. Until now. The same Montana lab that tried infecting imitation human brain tissue with CWD published a paper that maps the bottom of the CWD prion. The prion has a 180-degree twist in it, which might not mean much to almost any of us, but could lead to a possible vaccine, the papers authors say. It also introduces another bit of data in the debate over human transmission. That twist at the bottom may be why humans havent at least so far seemed to be infected by CWD. Its very informative, Richards says, But it doesnt finish the book. About 100 cities have banned people from sleeping outside since June when the Supreme Court ruled that a city in Oregon was allowed to criminalize homelessness despite a lack of public shelters. The policy has support from politicians across the country, Democrats and Republicans alike. As housing becomes more expensive and harder to find, the U.S. is seeing record highs in homelessness rates. On one night in January of last year, 650,000 people were homeless an all-time record, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. In Californias San Joaquin County, Supervisor Tom Patti led an effort to increase restrictions on homelessness. Under the new ordinance, people are not allowed to sleep in cars, nor are they allowed to be in one place for more than an hour. They have to move at least 300 feet every time, meaning they theoretically have to walk 1.3 miles a day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Letting them stay in place is cruel. We want to prompt them to come to a better place, Patti, a Republican, told NPR. People now face a fine of up to $1,000 and six months in jail. Were not hardcore, he said. But we do know that if a persons trying to build a pallet palace with their blue tarps and tents, we say, No, no, no, youre not allowed to do this, you are trespassing.' Patti has suggested an approach focused on reuniting homeless people with family or friends, something that could be detrimental to those fleeing abusive situations. Weve now shifted to a Hello? Where are you from? Where is your support network? Lets help get you back to home,' he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November, the National Homelessness Law Center identified 99 ordinances passed in 26 states that limit sleeping and camping outside, with another 66 still pending. Its time for our elected officials to recognize that half of this country struggles to pay rent, and we need to address the affordable housing crisis, said Jesse Rabinowitz, a spokesperson for the National Homelessness Law Center. That is the only way were going to see fewer people sleeping outside. Every bill is a little bit different, Rabinowitz recently told the Nevada Current. The main two things they all have in common are that none of them solve homelessness and all of them will make homelessness worse. In the case of City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, a group suing the city argued that criminalizing sleeping outside violated the Constitutions protection against cruel and unusual punishment, but the Supreme Courts conservative supermajority disagreed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime, liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her dissent. If the Supreme Court were to allow for such a punitive regime, then were going to have a race to the bottom to make it as uncomfortable as possible for people to survive, John Do, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union in Northern California, told Rolling Stone in March. Jurisdictions would try to outdo each other in terms of having more costly, more punitive, and more effective measures, he added. Some cities are exploring solutions. The Denver Basic Income Project, a nonprofit in Colorado, gave more than 800 homeless study participants up to $12,000 over a year with no conditions. The study found a remarkable increase in housing. They also found a reduction in public spending and the use of public services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Denver Mayor Mike Johnston cut funding for the program in October, though, saying that the data did not show big enough changes. Now the programs future is in jeopardy. Across the country, though, politicians are cracking down on the homeless. In September, the city of Fall River, Massachusetts, banned unauthorized camping on public property, creating the possibility of fines in certain situations. The ban prohibits sleeping or camping under bridges, in parks, or on sidewalks. It also allows law enforcement to destroy a homeless persons belongings, Cities often seize or destroy paperwork people need for housing or employment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These individuals are sick and suffering, said Christopher Conlan, who had been homeless on and off for years, said in response to the ordinance. They could have drug addiction or mental health issues. I would not have the same contempt for somebody who had cancer or heart disease. He added: Everybody is somebodys somebody. 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. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) The City of Oklahoma City is reminding residents to leave 911 phone lines clear for emergencies on New Years Eve According to City of OKC, 911 phone lines should be clear for those experiencing life-threatening emergencies. LOCAL NEWS: Victims of Novembers tornado in OKC dealing with uptick in looters Complaints about fireworks overload 911 phone lines and can keep people experiencing an emergency from quickly connecting with a dispatcher, Fire Chief Richard Kelley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents are asked to call the Fireworks Hotline at 405-297-2222 between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. on December 31. An address is required to report a violation. Residents may also email a complaint to action.center@okc.gov or text 405-252-1053. Officials say it is against the law to buy, sell or use fireworks in Oklahoma City. Also included are sparklers, snakes, bottle rockets and all other common fireworks on both private and public property. Fireworks are a serious safety hazard to people and property and should be left to professional shows, Chief Kelley added. The City says violators are subject to a $500 fine, confiscation of fireworks and a possible jail sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) A Clarksburg man has been charged after deputies say that he stabbed another man twice during an altercation on Christmas Eve. On Dec. 24, deputies with the Harrison County Sheriffs Office responded to a stabbing call at a residence in Clarksburg, according to a criminal complaint. Robert Snell When deputies arrived, they said they saw an open knife lying on the ground just outside the door as well as Robert Snell, 41, of Clarksburg, in the kitchen of the residence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At that time, deputies told Snell to get on the ground and then placed him in handcuffs. Deputies also observed blood on his pants and located a victim in a bedroom of the residence with bad bleeding from his left side, the complaint said. Bridgeport Police looking to identify 2 people related to fraud case In the room, deputies noted that there was a large amount of blood on the floor near the victim and that the victim was holding pressure on his left side with a shirt. Deputies also noted that the victim had two stab wounds, one on his upper left side and one on the edge of the beltline near his back. The victim told deputies that he and Snell had been in an altercation where Snell had been standing outside the bedroom attempting to antagonize a fight before Snell pulled a knife and stabbed him twice in the side, the complaint said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Mirandized interview with Snell, deputies said that he admitted to pulling his knife and stabbing [the victim] during an altercation, according to the complaint. Snell has been charged with malicious wounding and is being held in North Central Regional Jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. Stewart Huntington ICT Its hot. And getting hotter. 2024 is expected to be the hottest on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The second hottest? 2023. The year also saw the hottest day on record: July 22. The second and third hottest in history? July 21 and July 23. And we know the heat and the storms, fires and other climate disruptions hit Indigenous communities disproportionately in 2024. Its not just the headline weather events. Its also the slower changes drought, sea level rise that burden Native nations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUPPORT INDIGENOUS JOURNALISM. CONTRIBUTE TODAY. A lot of times when people think about climate change impacts and climate change events, they really focus on the extreme weather events like the once-in-a-lifetime hundred-year storms and the major wildfires and the major tsunamis, said Janene Yazzie the director of policy and advocacy at NDN Collective. But I think over the last year, some of the biggest impacts we've been seeing have been the result of just the changing weather patterns in general and the cumulative impacts that that's having, Yazzie said, creating less predictable and erratic growing seasons affecting traditional farms. Heres a look at some of the climate stories ICT covered this year, starting with some big money. Federal funds to tribal governments The Department of Interior announced more than $120 million in climate grants to more than 100 tribal governments. Tribal leaders (must) have the resources to prepare and keep their people safe, said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Commerce awarded the United Houma Nation of Louisiana a $56 million grant to fight rising seas. This is not for me. Its for the younger generation, said Houma Principal Chief Lora Ann Chaisson. And the EPA announced $300 million in grants to 33 tribal nations in part to help the transition to clean energy. Included was Washington States Nez Perce tribe which landed $46 million in EPA grants. Its going to make a big difference in peoples day-to-day lives, said one tribal official. Climate impact on communities There were, of course, some tough days. In July, Arizonas San Carlos Apache Tribe suffered damage and losses to the Watch Fire. "We have endured fires before, but the human scale of this one is particularly devastating, " said tribal Chairman Terry Rambler. The Watch Fire on July 11, 2024, on the San Carlos Apache Tribe reservation. (Photo courtesy of San Carlos Apache Tribe Forest Resources Program) In August, Tlingit and Haida officials raced to help tribal citizens in Juneau, Alaska, caught in the path of floods after a glacial dam broke releasing billions of gallons of water that inundated almost 300 homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's devastating to see what people are going through, said Chalyee Eesh Richard Peterson, who is Tlingit and Haida, and heads the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. In October came a double whammy in Florida and beyond. Hurricane Milton rampaged across Florida and blew through the Seminole and Miccosukee Nations. It prompted a tribal disaster declaration from President Biden. And then Hurricane Helene the strongest hurricane on record to strike Floridas Big Bend Region rolled inland and through the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Lumbee Tribal lands in North Carolina. These storms are getting more intense, said one Cherokee leader. Making headway There was also some good news. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICT traveled to the Morongo Indian Nation in California to see the electrical transmission lines the tribe in a first for Indian Country owns outright. The lines bring clean solar-generated power from Arizona to the Los Angeles basin. Some say it could be a model for other Native nations. I just want to share this with the other tribes because it is possible to sit down and negotiate these types of deals, said Morongo Chairman Charles Martin. They're not easy, but if you work at it, it's extremely possible. And in November, voters in Washington State opted to keep intact the 2021 Climate Commitment Act that raises funds to fight climate change. Tens of millions of dollars will go to Native nations that are at risk from climate disruptions, including $13 million to the Quinault Indian Nation to move two flood-prone villages to higher ground. A man paddles a canoe on the flooded streets of Taholah on the Quinault Indian Nation in January 2021. The village, at the mouth of the the Quinault River, is prone to flooding due to rising sea levels. The nation is in the process of moving residents to a new location on higher ground. (Larry Workman/Quinault Indian Nation) ICT visited Quinault this year for the first of annual visits planned over the next five years to report on the nations ground-breaking climate mitigation strategies that leaders say can spread. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to lead the world out of this crisis, said former Quinault President Fawn Sharp. Small signs And finally, we reported a sometimes overlooked constituency: rez dogs. They, too, are hurting in the heat as rescue operations across Indian Country are stretched. In 15 years of doing this I have never seen it like this, said Jennifer Fitzer, a Leech Lake Reservation dog rescuer. Looking ahead Whats next? The potential for increased Indigenous leadership on Turtle Island and beyond, with a series of global climate conferences, known as COPs, scheduled for November 2025 in Belem, Brazil. COP 30 is projected to have the largest participation of Indigenous peoples in COP history, said Yazzie, Dine. They are coming to this forum with the wisdom and understanding that Indigenous peoples need to be in leadership in these conversations and need to be centered and and empowered to be visible when it comes to our solutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It makes all the difference when we have people in power who are understanding and are wise enough to know that supporting Indigenous leadership is what is necessary to lead to the best outcomes when it comes to climate change. Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICTs free newsletter. ISLAMABAD, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- An army officer and 13 militants were killed in three separate operations conducted by security forces in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province over the last two days, the army said in a statement on Thursday. One operation was conducted in Bannu district, effectively targeting the militants' hideout and killing two terrorists during the encounter, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations(ISPR) said in the statement. In another operation in North Waziristan district, a fierce gun battle resulted in the killing of the military officer and five militants, the statement said, adding that eight terrorists were also injured. The third encounter happened in South Waziristan district, where six militants were killed and eight others sustained injuries, the statement noted. Operations are being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area, the ISPR stated. Officials with PJM Interconnection said a coal-fired power unit in Delaware can be closed two years ahead of schedule. The grid operator this month announced the Indian River Unit 4, a 411-MW generator in southern Delaware owned by NRG, can be taken offline without negative impacts to power reliability. The Indian River plant, located in Sussex County and which at one time operated four coal-fired units, first came online in 1957. PJM in an announcement said Delmarva Power, which owns regional transmission, has completed system upgrades supporting grid reliability, enabling the coal-fired unit to shut down 22 months ahead of its scheduled decommissioning date. Delmarva Power on Dec. 18 said it had completed the Vienna-Nelson line upgrade, the last piece of transmission upgrades that will allow Indian River 4 to be retired without creating grid reliability issues. NRG in June 2021 told PJM it wanted to retire Indian River 4 by June 2022. PJM conducted an analysis of grid reliability and at that time said closing the unit would create issues for grid. The grid operator identified several possible transmission upgrades to address those issues, and said it estimated those upgrades could be completed by year-end 2026. PJM in a formal request asked NRG to keep Indian River 4 online under a Reliability Must-Run, or RMR, agreement while those upgrades were being completed. NRG agreed to maintain the coal-fired unit under a rate schedule that was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. PJM has notified NRG of its intent to terminate the RMR arrangement with the grid upgrades completed. The RMR will officially end in February of next year, or 22 months prior to the original end-date of December 2026. That will enable a savings of about two years of RMR payments, estimated at about $93 million according to the settlement rate filed with FERC. Delmarvas good work to complete this project far ahead of schedule is a win for our customers, both from a reliability and affordability perspective, said Mike Bryson, senior vice president-operations at PJM, in a statement. PJM regards RMR arrangements as a last resort to keep units temporarily operational to maintain system reliability while we make transmission improvements to balance the system, so the sooner we can get the work done, the better. Unit 4 at Indian River entered commercial operation in 1980. Units 1 and 2, each with about 82 MW of generation capacity, were retired in 2013. The 177-MW Unit 3 at the site was taken offline in 2014. Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER. Dec. 25The Village of Coal Grove has got the money and is getting ready to start making improvements on its riverfront dock. "The Capital Budget money the Tribune reported on earlier in this year has been deposited in the Coal Grove bank account," said Mayor Andy Holmes." So we are in possession of the received $1.25 million for our riverfront upgrades." He said while there are riverfront projects going on in Rome, South Point and Ironton, their funds came from a different source. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Although we are all going to be doing riverfront upgrades, Coal Grove is the only municipality to get money from the Capital Budget in order to get those upgrades done," Holmes said. "While we will still treat this money like a grant and still do the bidding process and pay the prevailing wages, there will not be as many strings attached." He said he is in the process of putting a steering committee together, which will consist of Coal Grove citizens and village council members. "We will use that steering committee to scope out the work to best utilize that $1.25 million," Holmes said. "The community should start looking to see things changing over there once the weather breaks." He said one of the biggest priorities with the money is to pave the access road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Currently, our dock has a gravel road to it, but we are going to fix that. That is going to be Phase I," Holmes said. "So we are excited about that." He said that the project is all about making it easier for people to haul their boats down to the dock. "We are fortunate enough to have what many boaters will tell you is the nicest boat ramp in the Tri-State area," Holmes said. "They guage that by how easy it is to get their boat in and out of that slip. According to most boaters, nobody has better infrastructure than Coal Grove at the water's edge. However, we have a lot to be desired on how to get there. That's what this money is for, to fix that." He said that during boating season it isn't uncommon to see a $75,000 truck hauling a $100,000 boat parked at the Freezette or at Giovanni's or the Speedway. "They deserve a paved road," Holmes said. "They are coming into our community, they are buying gas, buying lunch here. It is the least we can do." Crews with the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles pulled a man and his dog to safety after their sailboat ran aground in the Port Townsend area on Christmas Day. According to the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, around 7 a.m. Christmas morning, a passerby called to report a man in distress between the port of Port Townsend and the Port Townsend Paper Mill. The passerby said that the man, struggling to navigate his sailboat in the strong winds, had requested help. Despite the sailors best efforts, JCSO reports that the sailboat ran aground near the Larry Scott Trail, and both the man and his canine companion were stranded on the vessel surrounded by crashing waves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer arrived to help, successfully leading the two to safety and bringing them onto shore unharmed. U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest congratulated the team on the successful rescue, saying, A holiday partner story with an excellent ending! Bravo zulu to this team! Officials suspended the search on Wednesday for the two missing fishermen whose boat overturned on the rocky coast near Palos Verdes Estates. The men, identified only as two men in their 50s, didnt return after leaving on a small boat from Cabrillo Beach on Monday. They were supposed to return by midnight. The search began Tuesday and their boat was eventually found overturned on the shore. A couple of people who saw the wreckage told KTLA that they saw the boat filled with holes and life vests, among other objects, scattered around the scene. L.A. County Fire search and rescue crews search for two men missing after their boat was found overturned along the Palos Verdes Estates shoreline on Dec. 24, 2024. (KTLA) The search was eventually scaled back as rough weather conditions made it a dangerous situation for responders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, the Coast Guard announced that the search had been suspended citing no signs of distress. Searchers had been using both air and sea methods in the attempt to find the boaters, but authorities found no evidence that the men could be alive. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 East Portal of the Moffat Tunnel near Tolland is pictured on June 26, 2023. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline) Colorado officials reached an agreement announced this week allowing Union Pacific Railroad to lease the Moffat Tunnel for another 25 years. Union Pacific has paid Colorado $12,000 a year under a 99-year lease of the Moffat Tunnel that expires Jan. 6. Union Pacific also covers maintenance and insurance costs for the 6.2-mile tunnel that cuts through the Continental Divide near Winter Park at 9,239 feet above sea level. It is the highest railroad tunnel in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 1926 agreement will be extended for four months as the state and Union Pacific finalize terms of the new agreement, which will start on May 1. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A press release from Colorado Gov. Jared Polis gave limited details on what the agreement will entail, but it said Union Pacific will access the tunnel in exchange for state access to Union Pacific tracks for passenger rail. This is a big step forward in making Mountain Rail from Denver to Craig a reality, Polis said in a statement. Passenger Rail on this corridor will relieve traffic to one of Colorados iconic mountain communities and provide safe, reliable, affordable transportation options for tourists and skiers as well as workers traveling along the corridor. This historic agreement is an important step to protect continuous freight operations and finally deliver on the promise of passenger rail to Coloradans and I thank Union Pacific for its partnership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sky-Hi News reported that Colorado can use Union Pacifics tracks for up to three round trips per day in addition to existing routes run by federal passenger rail operator Amtrak. The Granby outlet said Union Pacific will allow the state to run passenger rail on its tracks between Denver and Craig in exchange for the lease on the tunnel. Were excited about the opportunity this renewed lease gives us to continue to serve our customers, while strengthening our partnership with the State of Colorado, Union Pacific President Beth Whited said in a statement. Amtrak already uses part of Union Pacifics tracks in the Colorado mountains for its daily, long-distance California Zephyr between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area and its seasonal Winter Park Express ski train between Denver and the city-owned ski area. The Colorado Legislature passed a bill this year intended to set the state up for passenger trains to continue northwest at Bond and head up to Steamboat, Hayden and Craig. In recent years the Moffat Tunnel has been the scene of a wastewater spill and the subject of scrutiny in a battle over proposed Utah oil trains traversing Colorado. A lawsuit over the oil trains made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The 88-mile Uinta Basin Railway, which would connect Utahs largest oil field to the national rail network, was approved by federal regulators in 2021 but has been tied up in litigation ever since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Putnam, a senior adviser for the Colorado Department of Transportation who led negotiations on the Moffat Tunnel, said the agreement allows the state to connect people and freight on the Western Slope and Front Range, which is what the state built the tunnel for 100 years ago. We need alternatives to I-70 and the high mountain passes, and Moffat Tunnel and Union Pacifics line provides that whether youre traveling with kids or freight, Putnam said in a statement. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX As science continues its evolution, discoveries and technologies can act like a master key that opens doors that lead to novel advancements. Artificial intelligence is one such key, making innovations possible by solving complex problems, automating tasks and enabling research that would have been impossible, or very time-consuming, without it. But do we want to do research on all topics, and shall we try the AI master key on every door? To explore this question, lets consider the use of AI by genomics experts as an example. In recent years, genomics experts have added unbelievable depth to what we know about the world and ourselves. For example, genetics researchers have revealed facts about when certain animals and plants were domesticated. In another example, DNA found in 30,000-year-old permafrost was used to create fertile samples of a plant called narrow-leafed campion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Importantly, genetic engineering techniques such as CRISPR facilitate extraordinary advances in the treatment of complicated conditions, such as sickle-cell anemia. Thanks to AI developments, we are witnessing a dramatic increase in the pace and scalability of genomic techniques, which will allow researchers to embark on exploratory journeys and at the same time, add urgency to already-existing ethical issues. AI companies are also most interested in the scientific implications of this technology. We see this demonstrated in a recent interview between Harvard Business School officials and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. In response to the question, What are the pieces of AI that you are most excited about? Altman said: Greatly increasing the rate of scientific discovery is what Im most excited about. However, given the risks and possible consequences of AI use in science, should we rush headlong into using AI in all kinds of projects? One relevant example is research on Neanderthals, our closest relatives, who lived until about 40,000 years ago. Neanderthals have been studied for several years now through genetic investigation of their fossils and their DNA. Genetic engineering can potentially use ancient DNA and genome editing methods to re-create a Neanderthal or aspects of a Neanderthals genetics and physiology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To do this, scientists could start by figuring out the DNA sequence of a Neanderthal by comparing it with the DNA of modern humans, since they are closely related. Then, scientists could use CRISPR to swap out parts of human DNA with Neanderthal DNA. This process would require a lot of trial and error and might not succeed soon, but based on what we know about genetics, if something is possible, AI can help make it happen faster, cheaper and with less effort. Scientists are excited about these developments because they could facilitate new discoveries and open up many new research opportunities in genetic research. With or without AI, research on Neanderthals will proceed, but the extraordinary power of AI could give the final push to these discoveries and facilitate this kind of resurrection. At that point, the scientific community must develop norms and guidelines about how to treat these resurrected beings with dispositions very similar to humans. We would need to carefully consider their rights and well-being almost in the same way as when humans are involved and not as research subjects or artifacts of scientific curiosity. These ethical issues are discussed in more detail in a new paper published in the journal Nature Machine Intelligence. A more holistic question to consider is: Should we prioritize the use of resource-intensive AI, researchers time and public funds to resurrect extinct beings? Or should we invest these resources into conserving species that are critically endangered today to prevent biodiversity from more degradation? _____ Mohammad Hosseini, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern Universitys Feinberg School of Medicine. _____ In 2024, space exploration dazzled the world. NASAs Europa Clipper began its journey to study Jupiters moon Europa. SpaceXs Starship achieved its first successful landing, a critical milestone for future deep space missions. China made headlines with the Change 6 mission, which successfully returned samples from the far side of the Moon. Meanwhile, the International Space Station continued to host international crews, including private missions like Axiom Mission 3. As an aerospace engineer, Im excited for 2025, when space agencies worldwide are gearing up for even more ambitious goals. Heres a look at the most exciting missions planned for the coming year, which will expand humanitys horizons even further, from the Moon and Mars to asteroids and beyond: Scouting the lunar surface with CLPS NASAs Commercial Lunar Payload Services, or CLPS, initiative aims to deliver science and technology payloads to the Moon using commercial landers. CLPS is what brought Intuitive Machines Odysseus lander to the Moon in February 2024, marking the first U.S. Moon landing since Apollo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2025, NASA has several CLPS missions planned, including deliveries by companies Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines and Firefly Aerospace. These missions will carry a variety of scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to different lunar locations. The payloads will include experiments to study lunar geology, test new technologies for future human missions and gather data on the Moons environment. Surveying the sky with SPHEREx In February 2025, NASA plans to launch the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer, or SPHEREx, observatory. This mission will survey the sky in near-infrared light, which is a type of light that is invisible to the naked eye but that special instruments can detect. Near-infrared light is useful for observing objects that are too cool or too distant to be seen in visible light. SPHEREx will create a comprehensive map of the universe by surveying and collecting data on more than 450 million galaxies along with over 100 million stars in the Milky Way. Astronomers will use this data to answer big questions about the origins of galaxies and the distribution of water and organic molecules in stellar nurseries where stars are born from gas and dust. Studying low Earth orbit with Space Rider The European Space Agency, or ESA, plans to conduct an orbital test flight of its Space Rider uncrewed spaceplane in the third quarter of 2025. Space Rider is a reusable spacecraft designed to carry out various scientific experiments in low Earth orbit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These scientific experiments will include research in microgravity, which is the near-weightless environment of space. Scientists will study how plants grow, how materials behave and how biological processes occur without the influence of gravity. Space Rider will also demonstrate new technologies for future missions. For example, it will test advanced telecommunication systems, which are crucial for maintaining communication with spacecraft over long distances. It will also test new robotic exploration tools for use on future missions to the Moon or Mars. Exploring the Moon with M2/Resilience Japans M2/Resilience mission, scheduled for January 2025, will launch a lander and micro-rover to the lunar surface. This mission will study the lunar soil to understand its composition and properties. Researchers will also conduct a water-splitting test to produce oxygen and hydrogen by extracting water from the lunar surface, heating the water and splitting the captured steam. The generated water, oxygen and hydrogen can be used for enabling long-term lunar exploration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This mission will also demonstrate new technologies, such as advanced navigation systems for precise landings and systems to operate the rover autonomously. These technologies are essential for future lunar exploration and could be used in missions to Mars and beyond. The M2/Resilience mission is part of Japans broader efforts to contribute to international lunar exploration. It builds on the success of Japans Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, or SLIM, mission, which landed on the Moon using a precise landing technique in March 2024. Investigating an asteroid with Tianwen-2 Chinas Tianwen-2 mission is an ambitious asteroid sample return and comet probe mission. Scheduled for launch in May 2025, Tianwen-2 aims to collect samples from a near-Earth asteroid and study a comet. This mission will advance scientists understanding of the solar systems formation and evolution, building on the success of Chinas previous lunar and Mars missions. The missions first target is the near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamooalewa. This asteroid is a quasi-satellite of Earth, meaning it orbits the Sun but stays close to Earth. Kamooalewa is roughly 131-328 feet (40-100 meters) in diameter and may be a fragment of the Moon, ejected into space by a past impact event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By studying this asteroid, scientists hope to learn about the early solar system and the processes that shaped it. The spacecraft will use both touch-and-go and anchor-and-attach techniques to collect samples from the asteroids surface. After collecting samples from Kamooalewa, Tianwen-2 will return them to Earth and then set course for its second target, the main-belt comet 311P/PANSTARRS. This comet is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. By analyzing the comets materials, researchers hope to learn more about the conditions that existed in the early solar system and possibly the origins of water and organic molecules on Earth. Solar system flybys Besides the above planned launch missions, several space agencies plan to perform exciting deep-space flyby missions in 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A flyby, or gravity assist, is when a spacecraft passes close enough to a planet or moon to use its gravity for a speed boost. As the spacecraft approaches, it gets pulled in by the planets gravity, which helps it accelerate. After swinging around the planet, the spacecraft is flung back out into space, allowing it to change direction and continue on its intended path using less fuel. BepiColombo, a joint mission by ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, will make its sixth flyby of Mercury in January 2025. This maneuver will help the spacecraft enter orbit around Mercury by November 2026. BepiColombo aims to study Mercurys composition, atmosphere and surface geology. NASAs Europa Clipper mission, which launched in October 2024, will make significant progress on its journey to Jupiters moon Europa. In March 2025, the spacecraft will perform a flyby maneuver at Mars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This maneuver will help the spacecraft gain the necessary speed and trajectory for its long voyage. Later in December 2026, Europa Clipper will perform a flyby of Earth, using Earths gravity to further increase its momentum so it can arrive at Europa in April 2030. The ESAs Hera mission will also perform a flyby of Mars in March 2025. Hera is part of the Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment mission, which plans to study the Didymos binary asteroid system. The mission will provide valuable data on asteroid deflection techniques and contribute to planetary defense strategies. NASAs Lucy mission will continue its journey to explore the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, which share Jupiters orbit around the Sun, in 2025. One key event for Lucy is its flyby of the inner main-belt asteroid 52246 Donaldjohanson, scheduled for April 20, 2025. This flyby will provide valuable data on this ancient asteroids composition and surface features, which can help researchers gain insights into the early solar system. The asteroid is named after the paleoanthropologist who discovered the famous Lucy fossil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ESAs Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or JUICE, mission will perform a Venus flyby in August 2025. This maneuver will help JUICE gain the necessary speed and trajectory for its journey to Jupiter. Once it arrives, JUICE will study Jupiters icy moons to understand their potential for harboring life. 2025 promises to be a groundbreaking year for space exploration. With NASAs ambitious missions and significant contributions from other countries, we are set to make remarkable strides in humanitys understanding of the universe. These missions will not only advance scientific knowledge but also inspire future generations to look to the stars. 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: Zhenbo Wang, University of Tennessee Read more: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zhenbo Wang receives funding from NASA. Dec. 26JEFFERSON The Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners is seeking a traffic study for an intersection where a 4-year-old was killed last week. "Asking the county engineer to re-evaluate that intersection [Sexton Road and Clay Street]," Commissioner Casey Kozlowski said. A study was done in the past, and vegetation around the intersection was removed to improve visibility, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In light of the recent tragedy, the commissioners agreed a new study was needed. "We need to request a traffic study," Commissioner Kathryn Whittington said. Commissioner J.P. Ducro wondered about the possibility of installing a flashing stop sign at the intersection, or the addition of rumble strips. Whittington said traffic education regarding the placement of children in car seats is needed, especially as related to the placement of side airbags, which may inflate during a crash. The commissioners approved 12 sub-contracts with county agencies that provide in-home meals for senior citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cumulative costs of the contracts are in excess of $1 million. A contract, not to exceed $$4,250 per month, was approved for investment management services for the Ashtabula County Treasurer's Office. The commissioners approved a management services contract for up to $1,428,975 for 2025 with Sunset Transportation Partners, to run the Ashtabula County Transportation System. The commissioners also approved a lease agreement with the city of Ashtabula for the ACTS garage on West 24th Street in Ashtabula. Two change orders for flooring work at the Ashtabula County Courthouse were approved, increasing the project cost to by more than $20,000, to a total cost of $535,486.80. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act were approved for four different agencies. The Ashtabula County Clerk of Courts office was designated $100,000 for computer software; the Ashtabula County Department of Environmental Services $150,000 for the construction of the Rome Township bulk water station, and the purchase of generators for several sub-stations. The Ashtabula County Sheriff's Department was allocated $135,000 for payroll costs and the Ashtabula County Crime Enforcement Agency $500,000. Two change orders were also approved for the Carpenter Road sanitary sewer overflow elimination project. The change orders were for almost $40,000, on a project that will now cost $524,400.30. Then-candidate Gabe Evans, now a member of Congress in Colorado's 8th Congressional District, speaks during a rally for President Donald Trump, Oct. 11, 2024, at the Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline) U.S. Rep.-elect Gabe Evans will soon be the second person to represent Colorados competitive 8th Congressional District. The 38-year-old Fort Lupton Republican will go to Congress after one term in the Colorado House of Representatives, where he served on the states energy and environment and judiciary committees. He spent 10 years as a police officer in Arvada and 12 years in the U.S. Army and Colorado Army National Guard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evans defeated Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo in the November election with 49% of the vote over Caraveos 48.2%. Drawn by an independent redistricting commission in 2021, the 8th District encompasses Denvers Democratic-leaning northern suburbs as well as more conservative rural areas in southern Weld County. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Evans said his top priorities when he gets to Washington, D.C., will be securing the border, improving the cost of living and increasing public safety in the 8th District. Those were the problems that I saw during my time particularly in law enforcement, and so those are the things that Im going to be super excited about to continue to work on in Congress, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When talking to constituents on the campaign trail, Evans said he asked what the No. 1 issue affecting their community is, and he estimated 90% of those he talked to in one form or another mentioned securing the border. Securing the border is the most important first step when it comes to immigration policy reform, he said. Until that happens, deportation is meaningless because a deportee can come right back, he said. The U.S. then has to fix our broken immigration system to allow for people following the law to become citizens in a timely manner, he said. Ive got a gentleman that lives in the 8th Congressional District, hes been trying for 17 years to get his citizenship. Hes clearly committed to following the law and doing things right, and he told me hes got probably another four years to go before he can get his citizenship, Evans said. Its entirely too long for somebody thats committed to following our laws to have to wait over two decades and then to turn around and be cut in line by folks that are illegally cutting across the border. The last step is then to aggressively go after criminals who are here illegally in our communities selling fentanyl, stealing cars, committing other sorts of crimes, Evans said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evans appeared on stage for a speech when President-elect Donald Trump in October came to Aurora, where Trump detailed his plans to hunt down, arrest and deport, undocumented immigrants connected to gangs and spoke of cleaning out the country of undocumented immigrants. Trump called the plan Operation Aurora. Generally a free market guy Evans will serve on the powerful House Committee on Energy and Commerce. He said the committee represents the length and breadth of the district uniquely, as the district is one of the highest energy producing districts in the nation for all methods including oil and gas, wind, solar, and geothermal. Truly, the 8th Congressional District is an all-of-the-above energy powerhouse to the tune of well over $30 billion worth of energy, Evans said, and so being able to advocate for our economy, for good policies across the nation from that position on the energy and commerce committee is going to be a way that we deliver on those campaign promises of making things affordable, making sure folks can get good jobs, making sure that were protecting and empowering our American economy and American workers. Evans said Congress needs to find ways to control government spending given the countrys $36 trillion debt, as he doesnt want that debt to be rolled on into the future for my kids, but the federal government also must deliver critical government services that people depend on like Social Security. He said for his parents, Social Security is their retirement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have to continue to follow through on those critical government obligations that weve made a promise about, but theres also so many different places where we can look to go find ways to reduce spending, increase efficiency and streamline government operations, he said. As a member of the Legislative Audit Committee in Colorado, Evans said a recent audit of the states Medicaid program will help him bring an understanding of how states are using federal dollars to Congress and what needs to be changed. Evans said hes generally a free market guy when it comes to international trade, but he said the free market only works when youre working with other honest actors. For example, he said China tries to skew trade and the economy in their favor, to include outright human rights violations. Tariffs for those entities where were trying to correct some behavior and get back to that level playing field, especially in cases like China, I think tariffs are an important tool in the tool box, Evans said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has said he will impose sweeping 25% tariffs on major American trade partners including Mexico, Canada and China as part of his efforts to bring down the cost of living. Economic experts say Trumps proposals will hurt American families wallets with more expensive cars, appliances and technology. Evans said he will approach representing the 8th District the same way he approached being a police officer, in that he works for each and every person in this district, regardless of whether they voted for me or not and regardless of their political party. He touted that 60% of the bills he introduced passed when he was part of a GOP superminority in the Colorado House of Representatives, and said hes already building relationships with other members of Colorados federal delegation on the other side of the aisle, including U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, a Centennial Democrat and fellow Army veteran. Congress typically works better when you have more veterans, because Republican, Democrat are something else, we all come with that same shared background of having raised our right hand and said My country before myself, up to and including my life, Evans said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colorados new members of Congress spend the time between Election Day and Jan. 3 transitioning constituent services and setting up offices in their districts and D.C. Evans is standing up district offices in Greeley and Northglenn. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE GAZA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Five staff members of Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip were killed on Thursday due to Israeli attacks on the hospital, the Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported. A pediatrician, a laboratory specialist, two paramedics, and a maintenance specialist were killed in the attacks, according to WAFA. The Israeli army on Thursday continued its tight siege of Kamal Adwan Hospital in the town of Beit Lahia, where 91 patients are present, WAFA added. The Israeli army has not commented on the incident. 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. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 45,399, the Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Thursday. If a government falls in the world, but Congress isn't around to hear it, did it really fall? Apparently not. The military budget signed into law by President Joe Biden on Monday includes a five-year renewal of the Caesar Civilian Protection Act, an economic sanctions package designed to lead to the overthrow of Syrian ruler Bashar Assad, which already happened weeks ago. The Caesar Act is not just a case of Congress passing redundant zombie legislation. It's also an example of economic sanctions, sold as a way to protect human rights from a dictatorship, instead causing suffering and instability. Although the architects of the law presented it as a way to punish Assad and his cronies personally, the sanctions were explicitly designed to keep Syria in ruins as long as Assad was in power. The fact that the legislative cycle moves slower than events on the ground has led to some very telling admissions. Pro-revolution supporters who argued for sanctions on Assad's government are now in the position of arguing against sanctions on the new government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Syrian American Council, which claimed in 2020 that the Caesar Act would "minimize the impact on Syrian civilians by applying highly targeted sanctions," is now lobbying against the law. "We were in constant discussions with the opposition in Syria to extend the act," council president Farouk Bilal told The New Arab earlier this week. "After the regime's fall, we sought to halt its extension but failed due to the lack of time." The Caesar Act was named for a Syrian police defector code-named "Caesar," who smuggled out tens of thousands of photos showing people tortured to death by Assad's government from 2011 to 2013, at the beginning of the Syrian civil war. In 2014, Caesar testified to the House Foreign Affairs Committee disguised in a blue hoodie, and Congress passed sanctions on Syria in his name as part of the 2019 military budget. The U.S. government insisted in public that the sanctions would only punish Assad and his cronies. James Jeffrey, who served as special representative for Syria engagement during the first Trump administration, told Arab media in 2020 that "the sanctions are carefully selected and packaged to target regime figures and not the average person." He groaned that anyone who said otherwise was choosing to "believe Assad over the international community." Joel Rayburn, one of Jeffrey's deputies, told Congress a few months later that reports of food shortages caused by sanctions were a "propaganda campaign" by the Syrian government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in addition to imposing visa bans and asset freezes on high-level Syrian officials, the text of the Caesar Act clearly states that it is designed "to deter foreign persons from entering into contracts related to reconstruction" of areas controlled by the Syrian government. Nestled inside the law's list of sanctions targets, alongside pro-Assad mercenaries and arms dealers, is anyone who "provides significant construction or engineering services to the Government of Syria." In other words, the sanctions would punish Assad by preventing the people under his rule from putting their lives back together. As another former Trump administration official, Andrew Tabler, wrote in a 2023 essay: "All investors are placed on the horns of a dilemmaif they invest in Syrian reconstruction under al-Assad, they risk being cut off from trade and transactions with not only the United States but global financial institutions as well." The Biden administration continued the same policy, which was "to oppose the reconstruction of Syria until there is irreversible progress toward a political solution," in the words of Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The Caesar Act was one of many U.S. economic sanctions on Syria. The United States also banned investment in Syrian oil and imposed a near-total embargo on American exports to Syria in 2011. Even the language-learning platform Duolingo wasn't allowed to sell virtual English lessons to Syrians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conflict was more or less frozen in 2020 with a Russian-Turkish ceasefire. While the economy slowly came back to life in pockets of Syria under rebel control, the majority of the country under central government control suffered from blackouts and bread lines. Satellite imagery shows that electricity use in 2024 was 10 times higher than in 2018 in non-Kurdish rebel-held areasKurds fared slightly worse because of an ongoing Turkish military campaign against themand 50 percent lower than in 2018 in government territory. But the results weren't exactly a shining success for U.S. foreign policy. In late November 2024, rebels based in Idlib Province launched a sudden uprising. They quickly overran exhausted and hungry government loyalists in the rest of the country. Within a week and a half, the rebels managed to chase Assad out of his palace in Damascus. The leader of this rebel coalition is Ahmad al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Golani, the former leader of Al Qaeda's Syrian affiliate. Rayburn himself fumed on social media that Golani was "delusional" and wanted to install "himself as another dictator in Assad's place." Until Washington decides otherwise, the new Syrian government has inherited all of the sanctions of the old one. The Caesar Act, for example, bars reconstruction of areas controlled by "the Government of Syria"not Assad's government specificallywhere "civilians have been subject to forced displacement." The president can suspend the sanctions by certifying to Congress that Syria has met certain human rights conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Joe Wilson (RS.C.) was a co-sponsor of the Caesar Act and one of the biggest boosters of expanding the sanctions. After Syria suffered from a massive earthquake in February 2023, the Biden administration issued limited sanctions waivers to allow for relief efforts. Wilson said that he was "deeply saddened" by the measures that "will do nothing to help the earthquake relief and will only endanger Syrian civilians by enriching the regime." In a letter to the Biden administration earlier this month, however, Wilson sang a different tune: "The administration should issue waivers and general licenses to suspend sanctions statutes and executive orders connected to reconstruction, economic development, foreign investment, and other critical economic activities.Such temporary waivers and licenses at this critical time could build good will for the United States in Syria and help sideline terrorist groups by facilitating economic and financial access for ordinary Syrians." It turns out that the sanctions Wilson helped design didn't distinguish between the government and civilians, after all. The post Congress Sanctions a Syrian Government That No Longer Exists appeared first on Reason.com. The case of Rep. Kay Granger, a retiring 81-year-old Republican, is stirring controversy over Congress trend of shielding elderly lawmakers and conversations around reform. Recent reporting suggests the Texas representative is struggling with dementia and is staying at an assisted-living facility all while holding office. Granger hasnt cast a vote at the Capitol since July this year. Reacting to the news, Utah Sen. Mike Lee, in a post on X, said, Grangers story makes a compelling case for term limits. Meanwhile, Elon Musk suggested a basic cognitive test for elected officials. Compelling case for term limits https://t.co/QlZAZe4rST Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) December 23, 2024 Axios political reporter Hans Nichols in an appearance on CNN Monday indicated journalists should have found out these facts earlier, but a lack of resources across newsrooms makes it harder to report all the necessary stories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (We) have limited resources and limited time to report all these stories out. That said, we should have gotten the Kay Granger story. I mean, Ill own part of that, as someone that spends some time on the Hill. You know, collectively were all guilty. Like, you know, individually, its hard to parse out guilt, Nichols said. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., also chimed in on X and revealed what he believes is the issue on Capitol Hill. Kay Grangers long absence reveals the problem with a Congress that rewards seniority & relationships more than merit & ideas, he said. We have a sclerotic gerontocracy. We need term limits. We need to get big money out of politics so a new generation of Americans can run and serve, Khanna added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Granger is set to retire next month, and her seat will be filled by Republican Craig Goldman. She stepped down from the influential House Appropriations Committee earlier this year. This panel is responsible for drafting spending bills that keep the government funded. House Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger, R-Texas, speaks with House Rules Committee Chairman Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., right, as the panel works on fiscal 2024 spending bills, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. | J. Scott Applewhite Her office said she experienced unforeseen health challenges over the past year. However, since early September, my health challenges have progressed making frequent travel to Washington both difficult and unpredictable, the statement said, as The Associated Press reported. Her son, Brandon Granger, defended her. Theres nothing wrong with someone wanting to live in a community with other folks their age, he told the Dallas Morning News. Many top congressional leaders are also drawing scrutiny. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, 82, has suffered a series of falls as of late, and, on two instances last year, he froze mid-remarks. He is stepping down as the Senate Republican leader. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 84, sustained an injury from a hard fall while going down a marble staircase at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg earlier this month. After passing the U.S. Senate, a bill that would have established the Chesapeake National Recreation Area fell short in the 118th Congress. But advocates are hoping to ride the momentum into next year. The bill would have linked natural and historical sites in the Chesapeake Bay watershed under the banner of the National Park Service, including several sites in the Annapolis area. Were closer than ever to elevating the Chesapeake Bay to iconic American landscapes like Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Great Smoky Mountains and the Grand Tetons, wrote Joel Dunn, outgoing president and CEO of the Chesapeake Conservancy, in a statement. As advocates look to the next Congress, this momentum has brought together a bipartisan coalition of elected officials, local communities, national and regional advocates with a shared goal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Dec. 18, the bill received unanimous support on the floor of the U.S. Senate, but the House of Representatives did not vote on the bill before leaving Washington for the holidays. In a statement, Maryland U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a bill sponsor, said the legislations progress, since its initial introduction in 2023, was noteworthy even though the clock ran out. To advance legislation this far on its own often takes years, and Im proud that we were able to get this close to the finish line in less than two, he wrote. The progress we have made strengthens our resolve to make our vision for the CNRA a reality, and Ill be pushing hard in the new year to get this done. Bay advocates did, however, notch a victory when the House and Senate passed a renewed Americas Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act, re-upping several key government programs for the bay restoration effort through 2030. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That list includes the Environmental Protection Agencys Chesapeake Bay Program, which coordinates the multi-state cleanup effort for the nations largest estuary. President Joe Biden must still sign the legislation, which reauthorizes the Bay Program at $92 million a year. It comes at a pivotal moment for the Program, which is going back to the drawing board in 2025 to come up with an achievable pollution reduction plan for the bay after bay states missed a 2025 deadline for curbing the flow of harmful nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus into the estuary. The bay states did achieve some reductions, mainly by improving wastewater treatment plants, but reductions in pollution from stormwater and agricultural operations have been a challenge. Other 2025 goals, including those focused on fish passage and blue crab management, are on course to be achieved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the 2025 deadline fast approaching and a new presidential administration about to take office, the Bay restoration effort is at a critical juncture, wrote Chesapeake Bay Foundation federal director Keisha Sedlacek in a statement earlier this month. Renewing the ACE Act will ensure the Bay jurisdictions and their federal partners have the resources and authority they need to tackle coming challenges. The Bay Program may not have a friend in President-elect Trump, who several times attempted to zero out or dramatically reduce funding for the office. But it was Trump who originally signed the ACE Act into law in 2020. This years ACE bill would also reauthorize the National Park Services Chesapeake Gateways Program at $3 million annually and the Chesapeake WILD Program from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at $15 million. Both administer grant funding opportunities for bay-related projects. The Gateways program promotes a network of bay sites to the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These resources will strengthen our efforts to improve water quality, restore the Bay, and enhance public access to Marylands natural treasures, Van Hollen, a sponsor for the bill, said in a statement after its passage. Have a news tip? Contact Christine Condon at chcondon@baltsun.com, 667-256-6883 and @CChristine19 on X. NORWALK, Conn. (WNTH) Looking for winter vacation activities with the kids? Well, a popular destination has welcomed a new resident, its first-ever sloth. This is Jeffrey, our Linnes two-toed sloth and hes one of our newest additions here at The Maritime Aquarium, Dylan Salamone, senior mammal trainer, said. Jeffrey is the first ever sloth to grace the exhibits of the aquarium. Connecticut Families: Babies, parents and staff celebrate the holidays in the NICU Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeffrey joined us a few months back and he joined us from the Roger Williams Zoo where he was born, Salamone said. These animals from Central and South America are known for their long-curved claws that help them grip branches. They have a slow metabolism and sleep 18 hours a day! When we do wake Jeffrey up, we like to show him different parts of the aquarium, let him explore his environment and some other places, Salamone who has a sweet relationship with the sloth said. He lets visitors get up close and personal with Jeffrey, thanks to a unique mobile perch. Kids connect with what they can see and get close to and thats the entire purpose here at The Maritime Aquarium, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When hes resting, Jeffrey stays in this second-floor exhibit called Just Add Water. His roommates are two Tamarin monkeys named Tonks and Harley. We try to make sure everybody understands how much our ecosystems are connected, Salamone said. Jeffrey is over a year old and could live into his 30s in human care. Hes already delighting visitors and teaching them with his unique look and talents. Hes a great opportunity for people to get a little closer to our animals here at The Maritime Aquarium. Inspiring that kind of connection is what were all about, Salamone said. See Jeffrey in his exhibit during winter vacation. The aquarium will also offer daily encounters with its ambassador animals, such as the leopard tortoise and ball python. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Click here for more information. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. In the face of Vice President Kamala Harris losing the presidential election to Donald Trump, the punditry's focus has been almost exclusively on asking how the Democrats couldn't beat a relentless liar with 34 felony convictions and a previous attempted coup under his belt. Everyone has a different theory about Harris' "messaging," with every critic inevitably arguing that if she had just talked more about their pet issue, she would have won. Another option, however, is to listen to what swing voters who backed Trump said about their decision. That would seem the wisest choice, but to be fair to people who don't want to go there, hearing these people out is a truly miserable experience. What quickly becomes evident about the median voters in an American focus group is how profoundly opposed they are to even the most basic factual information. On the contrary, it's a community with a pathological aversion to reality, where people compulsively react to anything truth-shaped with hostility, running as hard as they can toward disinformation. They are addicted to BS. Of course they voted for Trump, the country's most reliable dealer of their favorite drug. This may sound ungenerous to these voters, but only if you've been sparing yourself the torture of engaging their actual opinions. If you hold your nose and dive in, it's startling how much the typical swing voter is allergic to facts. It's not just ignorance, but overt hostility to anything that smacks of veracity. Such as the Trump voter who insisted to the New York Times that Democrats are "lying about pregnancies," by conveying factual information about abortion bans. Or the one who falsely believed "so many people just walk right across the border and get free housing, free food." Or the one who was excited that "Trump brings a Robert Kennedy Jr. or a Tulsi Gabbard and Elon Musk." Or the one who said the "Democratic Party [is] going after average people who disagreed on Covid, who disagreed on school boards, who disagreed on boys playing in womens sports," which is just a way to complain about liberals who criticize him on social media for saying things that aren't true. Want more Amanda Marcotte on politics? Subscribe to her newsletter Standing Room Only. Sarah Longwell's "Focus Group" podcast ended the year by interviewing Joe Rogan fans who voted for Trump for the first time this election. It was a smart choice, and not just because Rogan's endorsement likely pushed Trump over the top in a shockingly close election. Rogan's audience perfectly illustrates the way the firehose of disinformation online his conspiracy theory-hyping podcast has over 16 million followers has pickled the brains of so many otherwise normal people. Most of the people Longwell interviewed couldn't go two minutes without coughing up a conspiracy theory. Everything is a shadowy plot, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the guy who shot Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. The straightforward details of the shooting of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson came out after the arrest of Luigi Mangione, and yet these voters refused to believe the banal facts. Some are wallowing in theories that Mangione is a patsy, or that the shooting is a psyop. The truer any information was, the more they rejected it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the insurrection of Jan. 6, a lot of attention was paid to the rise of QAnon, because so many rioters were adherents to this online cult that preached that Trump is a savior prophesized to stop a worldwide Satanic conspiracy. Alarming reports showed millions of Americans believed QAnon myths, such as the divinity of Trump or that Democrats drink children's blood. QAnon is still around, but it gets much less media coverage these days. One likely reason is what we see in these focus groups: bonkerballs levels of conspiracy belief is no longer a fringe phenomenon. QAnon-style beliefs are simply the norm in American society. I wrote about this right after the election, but it bears repeating: One of the best predictors, if not the best predictor, of a Trump vote is how poor a person's information ecosystem is. People who read or watch real news outlets voted overwhelmingly for Harris. People who get their political information from social media voted for Trump. Subsequently, polls showed that Trump voters couldn't answer basic factual questions about what the candidates believed. Harris voters were far more accurate. It's not like Americans got hit with a stupid bomb, sending millions of us away from the real news and toward nonsense peddlers like Rogan. On "Focus Group," they briefly discussed how people's boredom during the pandemic caused them to spend more time on social media and listening to podcasts. Many got deeply addicted to disinformation during that period. (Interest in QAnon certainly spiked.) COVID-19 isn't the threat it was, but millions of those people still have the conspiracy theory monkey on their backs, as evidenced by Rogan's enormous audience. Why are conspiracy theories so addictive? Having researched the issue for an investigative report last year, I think there are two main reasons. First, like actual drugs, conspiracy theories relieve boredom. As Jamelle Bouie of the New York Times argued during the height of the drone mania earlier this month, the "drones" were mostly planes, hobbyist drones, and stars, but "life does seem more exciting if you think the Iranians are specifically interested in the everyday activities of New Jerseyans." Boredom was especially high during the pandemic, which is why so many otherwise stable people went straight down the conspiracy rabbit hole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But while boredom is the gateway, ego flattery is why people keep coming back. The allure of the conspiracy theory is that you, Joe Nobody, understand a topic far more than the experts who spent their lives working on this issue. You understand viral transmission more than medical scientists. You see the hidden secrets of the "deep state" the journalists on Capitol Hill are missing. You, with your enormous brain, understand every field from nutrition science to American history far more than those people who study and research. This is why people who get into one conspiracy theory start digging into others. Feeling like you know better, while not having to learn anything, is intoxicating. It combines laziness with the will to feel superior. That most conspiracy theories affirm pre-existing beliefs is a bonus. Nicole Karlis at Salon recently wrote an excellent article detailing the mania for raw milk in the MAGA movement. I'd label the discourse around raw milk a conspiracy theory. It's presented as this near-magical health product supposedly suppressed by shadowy conspirators for nefarious reasons. That idea is certainly more exciting than the banal truth: pasteurization was developed to prevent foodborne illness. But it also flatters the ego of the raw milk enthusiast, who is convinced he's part of an elite group with special access to knowledge that ordinary people can't or won't access. As a cherry on top, raw milk also feeds the fascist fantasy that life was better in the early 19th century when slavery was legal and women couldn't vote. By now, no doubt, a certain number of readers are raging at me because I haven't offered a solution to get people to go cold turkey on the disinformation and return to the less exciting but healthier real world. In the interest of remaining reality-based, I have to confess I don't have such a solution and would advise personal resistance to anyone offering One Simple Solution to complex problems. (Although I hope the TikTok ban goes through, as that will help.) But the good news is that conspiracy theories have a way of petering out. They often rise as a response to widespread social stress. The upheavals of the 60s and 70s resulted in conspiracy theories about the JFK assassination and the moon landing, for instance. The rise in divorce and women working in the 80s led to hysteria about "Satanic cults" at daycares. Eventually, most people stopped believing in, or at least caring about, those theories. It may take a long time, but eventually, even this mania will likely pass. The fight is in trying to reduce the damage they cause in the meantime. More than 30 cars for Ukrainian soldiers will set out in a convoy from Kaunas, Lithuania, on 26 December. Source: Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT, citing a statement by the Friends of Ukraine Foundation, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Friends of Ukraine Foundation, which organised the action, said that this is the eleventh such convoy. Volunteers will drive cars to Ukraine's Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kherson and Sumy oblasts to personally deliver them, along with stoves, warm clothes, trench candles, dry rations and other necessities to Ukrainian soldiers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, later today, a march for Ukraine will be held in Kulautuva. All money from the march will be donated to Ukrainians in need. "We are only able to celebrate Christmas here in Lithuania in peace because Ukraine is still fighting. The least that we can do in this situation is devote one of the three days [of Christmas celebrations] to supporting Ukrainians fighting for freedom. To help not just with money, but with morale," said Nerijus Budrys, the marchs organiser. Background: Lithuanias latest package of military aid for Ukraine, which was sent in late November, included generators, spare parts for M113 armoured personnel carriers, weaponry, and ammunition. In December, it was reported that Lithuania was prepared to transfer decommissioned equipment from Lithuanian nuclear and thermoelectric power plants as part of "energy aid" for Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! The Butler County Coroner's Office has released the identity of the man fatally shot by a Middletown police officer on Christmas Eve. Officials determined 50-year-old Christopher Gorak's preliminary cause of death to be gunshot wounds, but the preliminary manner of death is still under investigation. The coroner's office said Gorak, of Middletown, died Tuesday evening and officials completed an autopsy before releasing his identity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers were called to the 1000 block of Park Lane, according to Dan Hils, the president of Front Line Advisors, which represents the Middletown Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 36. Hils said the officers responded to an apartment, knocked on the door and repeatedly identified themselves. He said a man opened the door and pointed a gun at the officers, and one officer fired his weapon in response killing the man. Middletown police requested that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation review the incident, which is in line with the department's policy, Hils said. No officers were injured in the incident and the officer was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Officials have yet to release the officer's name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Enquirer has requested documents related to the incident from the Middletown Division of Police, including body camera footage. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Coroner IDs man shot, killed by police on Christmas Eve As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House in January, corporations and their executives are vying to get on his good side, with some companies donating seven-figure sums to his inauguration. Silicon Valley giants like Meta, Amazon, Uber and OpenAI have contributed at least $1 million each to Trump's inaugural fund. As The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing donors and people familiar with the matter, companies that previously condemned the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and vowed to reconsider support for politicians who rejected the 2020 election results like Ford, Goldman Sachs and AT&T have similarly made large contributions to Trump's 2025 inauguration. (A Mother Jones report last year found several corporations, including AT&T, gave money to at least one election-denying lawmaker during the 2022 election cycle after promising to pause contributions to such officials. Neither NBC News nor MSNBC has independently verified the Journal and Mother Jones reports.) People just really want to move forward and move on. The election results were very clear, a representative at one of the companies mentioned in the Journal report told the outlet. The Journal did not specify which company employs the representative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The donations to Trump's inauguration have come at such furious pace that his inaugural committee is on track to raise more than $150 million, ABC News reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. That amount would dwarf the $62 million President Joe Biden's inaugural fund raised in 2021 and surpass the $107 million in contributions to Trump's inaugural committee in 2017. Donations to inaugural committees are not restricted by federal law. With Trump expected to make drastic changes to federal policies that oversee a host of industries, several corporate executives including Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and Apple's Tim Cook have already paid a visit to Mar-a-Lago for some face time with the president-elect. They also likely see these corporate contributions as a chance to generate even more goodwill with the incoming president, whose approach to politics has been more nakedly transactional than most. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com A correction officer was killed Christmas Day by an inmate in Chillicothe. Heres what we know so far. Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Annette Chambers-Smith confirmed in a statement posted to social media Wednesday afternoon that Correction Officer Andrew Lansing died after an inmate assault at Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe. Chambers-Smith called Lansings death a tragedy beyond comprehension." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of going home after his shift to be with his family on this holiday, Officer Lansing made the ultimate sacrifice, and our agency will never be the same, Chambers-Smith said. The Ohio Highway Patrol is investigating Lansings death. Who was Adam Lansing, the prison guard killed on Christmas? Chambers-Smith said Lansing was a long-time, well-respected employee. Officer Lansing was loved by his colleagues and known to be a great support for his fellow RCI staff, Chambers-Smith said. He was a friendly, outgoing officer who treated everyone with respect and was always a professional. The inmate who killed Lansing has not been identified, and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction has not said how the attack happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chambers-Smith said the inmate was transferred to the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility. Union official said prison was short staffed, demands action Ross Correctional Institution was short by up to 40 officers Wednesday between vacancies and employees who were off work, said Chris Mabe, president of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association. The Ohio Civil Service Employees Association represents correction officers in Ohio. Mabe called Lansings death a "horrendous and heart-wrenching" reminder of what corrections officers face on the job. "We're going to insist and demand on accountability," Mabe told The Dispatch on Wednesday. "We're demanding action from the governor's office." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mabe said understaffing is the first issue that needs to be addressed in state prisons. Staffing shortages have plagued Ohio prisons since before the COVID-19 pandemic, Mabe said. Higher pay is needed to address to address the staffing shortages, and drug use and violence are an increasing problem in state prisons, Mabe said. bagallion@dispatch.com This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Inmate kills Ross Correctional Institution officer on Christmas Day BOYNTON BEACH A group of Boynton Beach condo owners is pushing back on plans for a $8 million safety repair project, alleging that its board has so mismanaged the work that a court-appointed receiver needs to take control of the complex. At issue is a concrete restoration project at Seagate of Gulfstream, a 50-year-old, five-building community on the Intracoastal Waterway in Boynton Beach that consists of 360 condominiums. Each of the buildings is four stories. A state law adopted in response to the June 2021 tragic collapse of a 12-story beachfront condo tower in Surfside requires safety inspections and calls for money reserves to be fully funded. The law applies to buildings that are three stories or more in height. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Special report: Why Florida's new safety inspection law is creating havoc for condo owners The Palm Beach Post, in a special report published in October, outlined the hardships that the law is causing to many condo owners who say they can't afford to undertake the expensive repairs and fully fund their reserves. Multiple complexes have been found to be so unsafe that building officials ordered them evacuated. The group of owners at Seagate, upset over the cost of the repair work and how it was being done, went so far as to create a limited liability corporation called "The Concerned Owners of Seagate of Gulfstream." The LLC hired a lawyer and then filed a complaint in Palm Beach County Circuit Court alleging that the engineer hired by the association recommended unnecessary work, and that the contractor overseeing the work failed to monitor it properly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, many condo owners have had to cope for months with the removal of screens, hurricane shutters, windows, sliding glass doors, and floor coverings, the complaint alleges. More: Florida's condo crisis: In 3 Palm Beach County communities, big issues = high assessments Seagate of Gulfstream in Boynton Beach on the Intracoastal. A group of owners has filed a complaint with the courts calling for a receiver to assume control of operations on the grounds that the association is being mismanaged. Elizabeth Mifsud, a member of the group challenging the association, acknowledged that some of the lanais needed to be boarded while work on the concrete was being done. But the work was supposed to take a few days, she said. Many of the condominiums have been boarded up for months, denying owners access to their lanais. Mifsud said more than half of the 360 units have joined the owners group. An effort to recall members from the board failed this year when the board refused to accept the recall petition, according to Mifsud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint also alleges that contracts for the multimillion-dollar project were awarded without transparency, claiming that the board president signed them without having owners present at a community meeting. Legal challenge to recommended work may be unprecedented Construction and renovations continue in December on condominium buildings at Seagate of Gulfstream in Boynton Beach. Big win for developer: Zoning change adopted that could lead to new Jupiter Island condo The complaint may be the first of its type. State law requires initial safety inspection reports to be completed by Dec. 31. The Florida Legislature is expected to determine next year whether the law should be changed to lessen the impact on condo owners. There appears to be no end to the cost of the concrete restoration project and the overcharging of fees. FirstService, U.P.E., and Waterfront Services all enjoy a financial benefit from this project and making it as costly as possible, the complaint said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waterfront Services of Lake Park was the firm hired to do the concrete restoration. United Professional Engineering (UPE) of Lake Worth Beach was the firm hired to oversee the work, and FirstService Residential is the management company at Seagate. Efforts by The Post to obtain comment from the condo association, Waterfront Services and FirstService Residential were unsuccessful. UPE emailed a statement to The Post. It said the contract with the association identified a standard of care to which it had to adhere. UPE said it "provided services consistent with or exceeding that standard of care. It (UPE) performed many tasks including structural condition assessments, special inspections, and construction administration. The project has progressed in a manner consistent with other similar projects and is targeted to be completed within the overall budget." Repair work is currently underway at the 50-year-old Seagate of Gulfstream condominium complex. The legal action against the Seagate Association also claims that board members Richard Deluca and Don Miller should be removed because they owed the association money when they successfully sought election to the board last February. The association's bylaws say that anyone who is delinquent can not run for a seat on the board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A complaint was also filed in March with the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation calling for the removal of Deluca and Miller. The agency has yet to issue a decision. A concrete restoration project continued in December at Seagate of Gulfstream in Boynton Beach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a board meeting on Dec. 19, residents were informed of the lawsuit, and that a reporter had sought comment from the board. Residents were told that the association was unaware of the lawsuit until the reporter called for comment. Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and issues impacting homeowner associations. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Residents ask court to take over Boynton condo amid $8M repair project CAIRO, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit strongly condemned on Thursday Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's storming of East Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, accompanied by a group of hardline settlers, as "a blatant provocation." "The incursion is a blatant provocation aimed at inflaming emotions and escalating the situation," Aboul-Gheit was quoted in a statement by the pan-Arab, Cairo-based organization as saying. Ben-Gvir's entry into the holy site under the protection of the Israeli "occupying police" reveals the nature of the Israeli government's hostility to peaceful coexistence, according to the AL chief. He said the incident is part of the Israeli government's continued violations of the historical status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam, is administered by the Jerusalem Awqaf Department, an Islamic religious trust affiliated with Jordan. Jews revere the site as the Temple Mount. This sacred site has long been a flashpoint for deadly violence between Jews and Muslims. "Israel, through these rejected and condemned policies, is deliberately destroying all possibilities for peaceful coexistence among religions in the region," Aboul-Gheit added. Earlier in the day, Ben-Gvir said that he visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and "said a prayer," which breached the long-standing status quo at the site, under which non-Muslims are permitted only to visit the hilltop compound but not allowed to pray there. (NewsNation) The Food and Drug Administration escalated its recent recall of eggs sold at Costco to the highest alert level, citing possible salmonella exposure. In November, Costco recalled nearly 260,000 eggs sold under the Kirkland Signature brand in 25 stores nationwide. The eggs landed on shelves in Alabama, North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee starting Nov. 22, according to the company. Return your 2024 holiday gifts by these deadlines Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No illnesses were immediately reported. Handsome Brook Farms said the cartons included eggs that were not intended for retail distribution. Shoppers should check to see whether their egg cartons have Julian code 327 printed on the side and have a use-by date of Jan. 5, 2025. If the eggs are included in the recall, throw them out or take them back to the store for a refund. What are the symptoms of salmonella? The CDC said most people infected with salmonella experience fever, diarrhea, and stomach cramps, with symptoms starting six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria. Transmission usually occurs from eating contaminated foods (e.g., dairy, eggs, meat, raw produce); drinking contaminated water; or from contact with people who have a diarrheal illness, the CDC said in its 2024 Yellow Book. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While most people recover without treatment after four to seven days, the CDC encouraged consumers to call their health care providers if they experienced severe salmonella symptoms. Severe symptoms include diarrhea and a fever higher than 102 degrees, diarrhea for more than three days that doesnt improve and bloody diarrhea. Other severe symptoms include prolonged vomiting and signs of dehydration, including infrequent urination, dry mouth and throat and feeling dizzy when standing up. Some people may be hospitalized if they have weakened immune systems, are children younger than 5 years old or are adults aged 65 and older. The Associated Press and Nexstar author Trevor Myers contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. As the scope of the consent decree that governs Chicagos public safety reforms has grown, so, too, has the citys legal tab. From 2019 through 2023 the first five years of the consent decree the independent monitoring team responsible for assessing compliance billed the city 35% more than was initially quoted. The nearly $5 million in extra bills came while the Chicago Police Department continued its slow pace toward compliance, a Tribune data analysis found. Maggie Hickey, a former federal prosecutor and partner at the law firm ArentFox Schiff, was selected in 2019 to lead the independent monitoring team. Before she was chosen, in a proposal submitted to the city and the Illinois attorney generals office, the law firm said the first five years of monitoring would cost city taxpayers $13,990,700. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In that time, ArentFox Schiff actually billed the city $18,979,213.47, according to a review of submitted invoices. More than half of that sum about $11 million was to pay for work performed by Hickey and other ArentFox Schiff attorneys, whose rates can exceed $400 per hour. The other $8 million was needed to cover other charges and disbursements owed to other subject matter experts contracted by the monitoring team, the documents show. Billing made public by the monitoring team also show ArentFox Schiff billed the city another $3,145,700.99 in the first seven months of 2024. At last check, CPD was within operational compliance with 9% of its consent decree obligations. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability, Office of Inspector General and Chicago Police Board have largely adhered to their own consent decree mandates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twice a year, the independent monitoring team publishes a review of the agencies compliance. During the consent decrees infancy, CPD was graded on just 215 monitorable paragraphs. The forthcoming report, to be released in the first half of 2025, will assess more than 600 paragraphs. Whats more, the range of the consent decree has grown since it was first entered in 2019, and it now covers search warrants and investigatory stop reports. Traffic stops may soon be added, too. The workload increases with each level of compliance, Laura McElroy, a spokesperson for the independent monitoring team, told the Tribune. Its a better police department, McElroy added. When youre policing in a constitutional manner, youre saving tax dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The monitoring team also conducted an unplanned review of CPDs response to the riots and unrest of summer 2020, and the team was also involved in the preparation for the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Despite the initial five-year cost projections, the consent decree itself contains a carve-out that allows for the IMTs annual budget to change as needed. The Parties recognize the importance of ensuring that the fees and costs borne by the City are reasonable, paragraph 618 of the consent decree reads. the Court may revise the Monitors annual budget consistent with the terms of this Agreement if it finds that the increase is necessary for the Monitor to fulfill its duties under the Agreement and the increase is not due to a failure in planning, budgeting, or performance by the Monitor. In 2022, CPDs compliance deadline was extended to 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In years past, consent decree monitoring teams reportedly have cost most municipalities between $800,000 and $2 million per year, depending on the size of a city, its police department and the scope of reforms. In 2012, New Orleans budgeted $1 million for its consent decree monitoring team, according to media reports there. More recently, Minneapolis capped monitoring spending at $1.5 million annually. Los Angeles entered into a consent decree in 2001, and research published by Harvard University in 2009 found that simply monitoring the Citys compliance has cost tens of millions of dollars. A memo from the U.S. Department of Justice, released in 2021, urged monitoring teams to be wary of even the appearance of negligent spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the cost of a monitorship ultimately depends on how swiftly a jurisdiction comes into compliance, monitorships must nonetheless be designed and administered with awareness that every dollar spent on a monitorship is a dollar that cannot be spent on other policy priorities, the memo stated. McElroy said the 2025 budget for Chicagos IMT will be $4.74 million. Chicagos consent decree is believed to be the largest ever entered. The budget for the team, though, is a drop in the bucket when compared with the citys yearly spending on the Chicago Police Department, which in 2025 will top $2 billion. Hickeys bill to the city also doesnt come close to the amount approved annually by the Chicago City Council to settle lawsuits that stem from alleged CPD officer wrongdoing. In 2023, records show, the City Council approved more than $55 million in settlement payments related to CPD misconduct lawsuits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CPDs overall compliance with the consent decree spurred by the 2014 killing of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by a former CPD officer again ticked up in the first six months of 2024, according to the IMTs latest assessment report, released in November. CPD was found to be at some level of compliance with 504 of the 552 monitorable paragraphs in the consent decree, Hickey and company found. The department now is at full compliance with 9% of its requirements, up from 7% in the previous monitoring period. Secondary compliance was reached in 37% of monitorable paragraphs in the first half of this year, up from 35% in the last period. Preliminary compliance, though, fell from 46% in the last monitoring period of 2023 to 45% in the first period of 2024, the monitoring team found. Federal consent decrees and the monitoring teams assigned to them have long drawn ire from police officers and their unions. The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7, the union representing rank-and-file CPD officers, is no different. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a consent decree status hearing earlier this month, FOP President John Catanzara called for greater scrutiny of the IMTs spending. Im just urging the court to have a little more consideration about the taxpayers dollars being spent here, Catanzara told Hickey and Rebecca Pallmeyer, the chief judge of the Northern District of Illinois who oversees the monitoring team and consent decree. I would hope the attorney general would look into it, too, Catanzara added. This is not supposed to be a blank checkbook for the monitoring team to just come and go and travel and eat at the taxpayers expense, and just shuffle a report on without anything really being done. CHICAGO A search is underway on Thursday for the person who sexually assaulted a woman inside her home during an early-morning break-in on the citys Far North Side. Chicago police said the attack unfolded just before 3 a.m. in the 6200 block of North Bell while the victim, a 27-year-old woman, was sleeping. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines The victim told officers that a man entered her home and displayed a knife before he sexually assaulted her and stole some of her personal property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers said the perpetrator then fled the scene in an unknown direction and implied other people were with him. Residents in the neighborhood were on alert on Thursday evening following the incident. Now I have to be aware and know everyone on this block and be aware Im always looking out my window on the third floor up there, Patricia Walker-Bell said. Officers described the suspect in the case as a black man with dreadlocks who was spotted wearing all-black clothing and a black face mask. He is believed to stand between 5-foot-10 and 6 feet tall and had symbols tattooed on his face. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact CPD Area Four Detectives at 312-746-8251 or dial 911. Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A traffic collision in the South Bay Wednesday night prompted California Highway Patrol to close all eastbound lanes of State Route 905 in the area of Picador Boulevard/Smythe Avenue. A SigAlert showed the incident happened around 9:25 p.m. As of 10 p.m., traffic was backed up to Beyer Boulevard. All lanes were reopened just before 3:30 a.m., Caltrans said in a post on X. No further information about what led to the crash has been made available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Christmas day is a day for many to stay home with family, but that isnt the case for some members of the Charlotte Fire Department. On Wednesday, hundreds of personnel were on standby ready to respond. They ended up being very active. ALSO: 60 firefighters called to put out house fire in south Charlotte Weve been to, I was trying to actually figure out exactly how many fires weve been to but several significant fires over the past holiday period, CFD Division Chief David Farnum told Channel 9s Eli Brand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farnum said there have been no breaks for his department this week. Charlotte firefighters ended up fighting multiple fires on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. One of those on Christmas morning, that happened on Spanish Quarter Circle, resulted in two people and three cats dying. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 2 people killed in Christmas morning fire after burning candles were left unattended Fire officials said it was discovered that the smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector inside werent working because their batteries had been removed. Farnum said its a tragic reminder that you should always be making sure your smoke detectors are functional. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We always push this information out. Were just using this opportunity to draw attention to that, again because of the three tragic deaths that have occurred at two separate fire incidents over the past few days, Farnum said. On Park Road in south Charlotte, another person was killed in a fire on Dec. 22. READ MORE: Investigators confirm cause of deadly fire at south Charlotte apartment complex All three deaths happened when candles were left unattended. One of the non-deadly fires that required a large response was in north Charlotte on Harris Ridge Drive. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Fire causes part of house to collapse in north Charlotte Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farnum said these responses show that the fire department can never take a holiday off. Theyre going to have some inconvenient times where they have to serve the citizens here in Charlotte and theyre going to have to take time away from their families. Fire officials recommend you check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors twice a year to make sure they are working. (VIDEO: Fire destroys historic motel in Western North Carolina) CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Emergency crews battled a two-alarm house fire in south Charlotte on Christmas Day, according to the Charlotte Fire Department. Charlotte Fire reported the blaze around 6:30 p.m. in the 5400 block of Callander Ct. A second alarm was called about 15 minutes later. Sixty firefighters controlled the fire in a little over 50 minutes, CFD said. Fire investigators determined it was an accidental chimney fire. The estimated property and content loss is $125,000, CFD said. No injuries have been reported. Photos: Charlotte Fire Photos: Charlotte Fire Earlier on Wednesday, a separate early morning apartment fire occurred in east Charlotte. Two people and three cats died in the fire, CFD said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Unattended candles kill 2 people, 3 cats in east Charlotte apartment fire Fire officials determined the apartment fire started in the living room due to unattended burning candles. CFD said the unit had a smoke alarm and a carbon monoxide detector, but neither worked because the batteries were removed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Editors Note: The following arrest and incident reports were supplied by the Abilene Police Department. All information below comes from reports made by responding officers, and all suspects are considered not guilty unless determined otherwise in a court of law. Incidents 5300 block of Taos Drive Aggravated Robbery A citizen reported being robbed at gunpoint at their south side home. This remains under investigation. 700 block of North 2nd Street Theft of Property A camera, lens, laptop and bag were reported stolen from a vehicle while parked downtown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 400 block of Avenue D Online Impersonation A 20-year-old woman reported that her ex created several social media accounts using her name and image. 3200 block of South 22nd Street Criminal Mischief A suspect damaged property at a southside home. If the suspect can be identified, the victim is willing to press charges. 300 block of Cotton Candy Road Assault Family Violence A man reported that his wife assaulted him. 1500 block of Locust Street Exploitation of Child/Elderly/Disabled A woman reported that the deed to her home was switched to another person and that her disabled husband may have signed the documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2300 block of Graham Street Exploitation of Child/Elderly/Disabled A man reported that a family member was financially exploiting his 86-year-old mother, who has dementia. 3300 block of Rebecca Lane Theft of Property $357 in tequila was reported stolen from a Southside convenience store. 1100 block of South 13th Street Assault Family Violence A 47-year-old woman reported that her 38-year-old boyfriend assaulted her. 100 block of Pleasant Hill Drive Theft of Motor Vehicle A woman allegedly took her boyfriends vehicle without consent. 3300 block of Green Acres Road Assault Family Violence An assault report was taken. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1000 block of East Highway 90 Theft of Property A vehicle was stolen from a Northside convenience store. No location provided Evading Arrest Detention Abilene police arrested a 50-year-old man for evading arrest. An investigation is underway regarding an aggravated assault that occurred before his arrest. 2100 block of Crestline Drive Theft of Property A camera was reported stolen from a south-side location. 1300 block of Jeanette Street Assault Family Violence An assault report was taken at a southside location. 2800 block of East Overland Trail Aggravated Robbery On December 21, three young men attempted to make a beer run and stopped. One of the men then displayed a gun and pointed it at the clerk before fleeing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3200 block of South 27th Street Criminal Mischief Numerous businesses reported damage to property. 5200 block of South 1st Street Theft of Property A $1,000 accordion was reported stolen by an unknown suspect in October. 3500 block of North 6th Street Burglary of Building A Northside business owner reported that about $2,700 in merchandise was stolen. 5300 block of Highway 277 South Assault Family Violence A 21-year-old woman reported that a man physically assaulted her, but she was not very cooperative in providing details. 200 block of North 14th Street Assault Family Violence A 39-year-old woman reported that her daughters boyfriend assaulted her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3800 block of Ridgemont Drive Theft of Property A 57-year-old woman received a citation for concealing unpaid items, such as clothes and Christmas decorations. 200 block of Mulberry Street Robbery A 48-year-old woman reported that her ex assaulted her and took her phone. 4300 block of Buffalo Gap Road Theft of Property A woman was issued a citation for theft from a local store. 5000 block of Congress Avenue Assault Impede Breath APD responded to a northside residence due to a disturbance in progress. 4300 block of Southwest Drive Theft of Property A woman was detained for theft at a local store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3300 block of Turner Drive Driving While Intoxicated An arrest was made for DWI, assault on law enforcement officers, and assault on hospital staff in South Abilene. 2100 block of Burger Street Deadly Conduct A report was taken for deadly conduct. 600 block of South San Jose Drive Assault Family Violence A case report was completed for Class C Family Violence. 1400 block of North 15th Street Assault Family Violence A woman reported that her sisters boyfriend assaulted her and possibly her sister at a Northside home. 4000 block of South 7th Street Burglary of Building An unknown suspect broke into an apartment complex thats being renovated and stole many tools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 5200 block of US Highway 277 Burglary of Vehicle A registration and a tool bag valued at $500 were reported stolen. 5200 block of South 1st Street Assault No narrative was provided. Unknown location Harassment No narrative was provided. 3100 block of Amarillo Street Theft of Property A license plate was reported stolen. 4700 block of South 14th Street Burglary of Vehicle $1,700 in tools were reported stolen. 3400 block of South Clack Street Theft of Property Services valued at $180 were stolen. 2000 block of South Clack Street Mail Theft A pair of shoes valued at $120 were reported stolen. Arrests Reynaldo Resendez Public Intoxication, Evading Arrest Detention, Resist Arrest Search or Transport Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Douglas Butler Warrant, Public Intoxication Robert Rodriquez Public Intoxication, Possession of Marijuana Faustino Arispe Evading Arrest Detention Richard Copeland Driving While Intoxicated (3rd or more) Consuelo Gutierrez Possession of a Controlled Substance Jon Martinez Assault Family Violence Randle Burleigh Warrant Aaralyn Sanchez Theft of Property Travis Parkins Possession of a Controlled Substance Winston Florence Driving While Intoxicated, Assault on a Public Peace Officer, Assault on Hospital Staff Tonya Smith Theft of Property Eric Smith Possession of a Controlled Substance < 1 gram, Possession of a Controlled Substance 1-4 grams, Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zarria Young Assault Family Violence Valerie Neal Driving While Intoxicated Joshua Maxwell Warrant Justin Sivley Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. CONNECTICUT (WTNH) Connecticut state police released the Christmas holiday statistics for Monday, Dec. 23, to Wednesday, Dec. 26. State police said 15 people were arrested on DUI charges. Police received around 1,632 calls for service. Police investigate string of ATM thefts in Hartford County A total of 168 traffic stops were made, police said. Out of the 150 crashes reported, there were 14 injuries and no fatal injuries, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 164 traffic services were called. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. State police in Connecticut responded to more than 1,600 calls for service over the holiday and 150 crashes, none of which involved any fatalities or serious injuries. Between Monday at midnight and 11:59 p.m. on Christmas Day, troopers made 168 traffic stops and 15 driving under the influence arrests, according to Connecticut State Police. Of the 150 crashes reported, state police said 14 involved injuries, none of which were considered serious. No fatalities were reported, according to state police. Among the 1,632 calls for service, 164 involved traffic services such as removing debris from the road or assisting with a disabled or hazardous vehicle. CHICAGO Members of the Chicago Teachers Union on Thursday expressed frustration over a perceived change in tenor and momentum in contract talks with Chicago Public Schools. Member and negotiator Zeidre Foster said that discussions on a number of proposals earlier in the week showed a real sense of urgency from both sides. Today, Foster said CPS brought forth just one proposal. We believe that CPS has drawn a line and is no longer interested in reaching a deal by January 6, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Stacy Davis Gates said negotiations had been progressing well in recent days but were stymied after a judge last week said that CPS CEO Pedro Martinez had a legally protected interest to continue negotiating the teachers contract without interference from Mayor Brandon Johnsons handpicked school board, which voted to fire Martinez without cause nearly a week ago. Last Thursday, it started speeding up at the table, Davis Gates said. We moved at a good clip Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, and today they had one proposal. One. Judge rules Martinez has legally protected interest to continue CTU contract talks Martinez attorney sends cease-and-desist to members of Chicago school board CTU counsel Thad Goodchild said good discussions had been held on issues including the support offered to students facing homelessness and on class sizes, calling it unfortunate that a wrench has been thrown into achieving these goals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the team expressed the need to reach an agreement before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Im really concerned about the change in tenor that CPS came in today, not only as a staffer but as a community member, member Latoyia Kimbrough added. Many of the advancements and the approvements that we were able to secure so far for our Black and brown families, for my LGBTQIA+ siblings we are concerned are not going to be implemented despite the need for these assurances. Negotiations were not held Wednesday because of the Christmas holiday. In court Tuesday, Martinez and his attorney told Judge Joel Chupack that three members of the current school board, including board chair Sean Harden, showed up at Mondays contract talks. Martinez argued that board members were inserting themselves into active negotiations without being asked and were interfering with his job as chief negotiator for CPS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was the latest move in a months-long effort to remove Martinez from his position. The CPS CEO had opposed Johnsons desire to cover the school districts budget deficit with a $300 million high-interest loan, but Davis Gates said Thursday the loan no longer stands in the way. We dont land a one-year contract, we land a multi-year contract. We pay for it over the years as well, she said. They just got a $375 million from the City of Chicago in the largest TIF surplus ever. So that $300 million loan is not necessary anymore. The CTU said theyll be ready to negotiate again on Friday at 10 a.m. Davis Gates said members have not removed a possible strike from the table. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Kuwait's Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya chairs the 46th extraordinary session of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Council in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on Dec. 26, 2024. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Council on Thursday urged Syrian parties "to prioritize national interests" and reaffirmed support for Lebanon's sovereignty during its 46th extraordinary session in Kuwait. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) KUWAIT CITY, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Council on Thursday urged Syrian parties "to prioritize national interests" and reaffirmed support for Lebanon's sovereignty during its 46th extraordinary session in Kuwait. In a statement released by the Kuwait News Agency, Kuwait's Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, who chaired the session, emphasized the GCC's unified stance on Syria's independence and sovereignty, rejecting foreign interference in Syrian affairs. Al-Yahya urged all factions in Syria to resume the political process, engage in inclusive dialogue, and prioritize national unity to restore peace and stability. "The Middle East region is facing rapidly growing challenges and crises, which demand enhanced joint efforts and cooperation. Achieving peace in Syria and Lebanon will have positive ripple effects on the security and stability of other Arab states," Al-Yahya said. The council urged for a comprehensive national dialogue in Syria and endorsed measures to protect civilians, foster reconciliation, and restrict the possession of weapons. They expressed their support for the UN Secretary General's initiative to establish a special mission aiding Syria's transition process. The ministers strongly condemned recent Israeli attacks on Syria, particularly Israel's occupation of the border zone, describing it as a "flagrant breach" of Syria's sovereignty and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. They urged the international community to take action against such aggressions and ensure Israel's withdrawal from all occupied Syrian territories. Regarding Lebanon, the council reaffirmed its support for the country's sovereignty and stability, emphasizing the necessity of implementing comprehensive political and economic reforms. Representatives attend the 46th extraordinary session of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Council in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on Dec. 26, 2024. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Council on Thursday urged Syrian parties "to prioritize national interests" and reaffirmed support for Lebanon's sovereignty during its 46th extraordinary session in Kuwait. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) Representatives pose for a group photo during the 46th extraordinary session of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Council in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on Dec. 26, 2024. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Council on Thursday urged Syrian parties "to prioritize national interests" and reaffirmed support for Lebanon's sovereignty during its 46th extraordinary session in Kuwait. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) Dec. 26The Northwest Montana History Museum presents Montana's troubadour, an ethnohistorian, Salish artists and toolmakers and a naturalist with little-known tales of Glacier National Park as part of its John White Series. On Jan. 5, Jack Gladstone presents "C.M. Russell: Heritage and Legacy." Gladstone is an award-winning musician and speaker who illustrates American Indian culture through a mosaic of music, lyric poetry, and spoken word narrative. C.M. Russell had deep ties to Glacier National Park and Northwest Montana and renowned performer Gladstone has deep ties to Russell. A citizen of the Blackfeet Nation, Gladstone descends from both indigenous American and immigrant European traditions, and uses this personal legacy, as well as his unique storytelling and songwriting skills, to build cultural bridges as "Montana's Troubadour." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russell's works have always been a source of inspiration to Gladstone, especially his 1914 masterpiece oil painting, When the Land Belonged to God, which hangs in the Montana State Capitol. "The purest gift is not of gold," Gladstone wrote in his song of the same name, "but in art that awakens the soul." The song is Gladstone's most cherished work, and inspired him to develop a program that explores the role Russell played in the portrayal of the West during the early 20th century. Gladstone's multimedia event features images created by Russell that captured the "disappearing West," and shares stories of the time Russell lived with the Blood Division of the Blackfeet Nation during the winter of 1888, under the leadership of Chief Red Crow, who was Gladstone's great-great-grandfather. On Jan. 19, Sally Thompson will share "Northwest Montana Stories and How They Shape Our Lives." Thompson, who has an academic background in anthropology and archaeology, prefers to call herself an ethnohistorian or cultural heritage specialist. She ran the archaeology program at Historical Research Associates; served as expert witness for the Taos Pueblo Water Rights case, and for the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes on the ARCO lawsuit regarding pollution of the Clark Fork River; and as director of the Regional Learning Project at University of Montana, where she worked with tribes to develop curriculum resources on history, geography, and culture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Focusing on several regional stories in her newly published "Disturbing the Sleeping Buffalo," Thompson will talk about frontiersman William Hamilton, aka "Wildcat Bill," and his time in the Tobacco Plains; the Glacial Lake and Kootenai origin story; and how Thompson followed the trail of Father De Smet and found a cross that had been installed at the headwaters of the Columbia in 1845. Aspen and Cameron Decker present "Our Belongings: Sqelix (Salish) Art and Toolmaking" on Feb. 2. Aspen is an enrolled member of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, holds a master's degree in linguistics and a bachelor's in tribal historic preservation, has taught Salish for more than 10 years, and paints and makes art. Cameron a Dine, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, and a descendant of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes earned a master's degree in fine arts and, with wife, has more than 20 years' experience in tribal education. For their presentation, the Deckers will speak about the process of making Salish art and tools, the issues that it brings up in regard to making the objects (environment, sustainability, culture), and what that reveals about the place they are in as contemporary Native American people. Their presentation teaches holistic Indigenous understandings about native plants, and connection with the land and local ecosystems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This presentation also introduces the science behind these objects, as well as various contemporary Native American artists who influence their work. Together, both speakers incorporate and speak Salish and Plains Sign Language associated with the making of objects during their program. The series concludes Feb. 16, with Denny Olson's presentation, "Glacier National Park: The Little-known Stories Behind the Grandeur." From scientific beginnings as an ornithologist and geologist, Olson forged an unlikely union between science, humor and drama, and established a national reputation as an innovative storytelling performer and educator. Since he moved to the Flathead Valley 28 years ago, Olson has written an 88-activity Glacier-Waterton Peace Park curriculum, written the "Nature and Science" section for the Glacier National Park website, and continues to guide and teach in the park today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Behind the grandeur of Glacier Park are some fascinating natural history stories that Olson will share with the audience during his presentation. All presentations start at 2 p.m. and a social time will be held afterward. For 23 years, the museum has organized presentations on many facets of Montana history as part of the series which pays tribute to beloved former staff members John Whites Sr. and Jr. of Central School. The series serves as fundraiser for the museum and its mission to preserve and present regional history. Tickets for individual talks are $15 for members, $20 for nonmembers. The four-part series costs $40 for members, $75 for nonmembers. Tickets may be purchased online at https://flatheadtickets.com, at the museum on 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell, or by calling 756-8381. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sally Thompson presents "Northwest Montana Stories and How They Shape Our Lives." at 2 p.m. Jan. 19 as part of the Northwest Montana History Museum's John White Series. (Courtesy photo) Aspen and Cameron Decker present "Our Belongings: Sqelix (Salish) Art and Toolmaking" 2 p.m. Feb. 2 as part of the Northwest Montana History Museum's John White Series. (Courtesy photo) Denny Olson presents "Glacier National Park: The Little-known Stories Behind the Grandeur" at 2 p.m. Feb. 16 as part of the Northwest Montana History Museum's John White Series. (Courtesy photo) This Day in History: Dec. 26, 1862 Most commonly revered as the United States President who freed the slaves, Abraham Lincoln is known for something different in Indian Country. On this day 160 years ago, 38 Dakota men were hanged following orders from Lincoln in the largest mass-hanging in U.S. history. The execution happened in Mankato, Minnesota in front of some 4,000 spectators. Some historical accounts say that the men each held hands and sang a traditional Dakota song in the moments leading up to their deaths. Often erased from history, the mens hangings were direct consequences of the U.S. and Dakota War of 1862. The war was the result of broken treaties and broken promises from the U.S. government after Dakota land continued to be diminished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The war lasted for over 37 days and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 77 U.S. soldiers and 29 Dakota warriors. The U.S. took more than 2,000 Dakota leaders into custody where many were eventually sentenced to prison, and others to death. Lincoln ended up only approving the execution of Dakota leaders who were proven to have committed civilian massacres. While the 38 men approved for execution were awaiting their demise, 3,000 other tribal members and prisoners were being sent to Fort Snelling. American Indian author Mark Charles wrote for Native News Online: In the fall of 1862, after the United States failed to meet its treaty obligations with the Dakota people, several Dakota warriors raided an American settlement, killed five settlers and stole some food. This began a period of armed conflict between some of the Dakota people, the settlers, and the US Military. After more than a month, several hundred of the Dakota warriors surrendered and the rest fled north to what is now Canada. Those who surrendered were quickly tried in military tribunals, and 303 of them were condemned to death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trials of the Dakota were conducted unfairly in a variety of ways. The evidence was sparse, the tribunal was biased, the defendants were unrepresented in unfamiliar proceedings conducted in a foreign language, and authority for convening the tribunal was lacking. More fundamentally, neither the Military Commission nor the reviewing authorities recognized that they were dealing with the aftermath of a war fought with a sovereign nation and that the men who surrendered were entitled to treatment in accordance with that status. President Lincoln Because these were military trials, the executions had to be ordered by the President Abraham Lincoln. Three hundred and three deaths seemed too genocidal for President Lincoln. But he didnt order retrials, even though it has been argued that the trials which took place were a legal sham. Instead he simply modified the criteria of what charges warranted a death sentence. Under his new criteria, only two of the Dakota warriors were sentenced to die. That small number seemed too lenient, and President Lincoln was concerned about an uprising by his white American settlers in that area. So for a second time, instead of ordering retrials he merely changed the criteria of what warranted a death sentence. Ultimately, 39 Dakota men were sentenced to die. And on December 26, 1862, by order of President Lincoln, and with nearly 4,000 white American settlers looking on, the largest mass execution in the history of the United States took place. The hanging of the Dakota 38. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York Times provides a haunting recount of the days events: Precisely at the time announced 10 A.M. a company, without arms, entered the prisoners quarters to escort them to their doom. Instead of any shrinking or resistance, all were ready, and even seemed eager to meet their fate. Rudely they jostled against each other, as they rushed from the doorway, ran the gauntlet of the troops, and clambered up the steps to the treacherous drop. As they came up and reached the platform, they filed right and left, and each one took his position as though they had rehearsed the programme. Standing round the platform, they formed a square, and each one was directly under the fatal noose. Their caps were now drawn over their eyes, and the halter placed about their necks. Several of them feeling uncomfortable, made severe efforts to loosen the rope, and some, after the most dreadful contortions, partially succeeded. The signal to cut the rope was three taps of the drum. All things being ready, the first tap was given, when the poor wretches made such frantic efforts to grasp each others hands, that it was agony to behold them. Each one shouted out his name, that his comrades might know he was there. The second tap resounded on the air. The vast multitude were breathless with the awful surroundings of this solemn occasion. Again the doleful tap breaks on the stillness of the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Click! goes the sharp ax, and the descending platform leaves the bodies of thirty-eight human beings dangling in the air. The greater part died instantly; some few struggled violently, and one of the ropes broke, and sent its burden with a heavy, dull crash, to the platform beneath. A new rope was procured, and the body again swung up to its place. It was an awful sight to behold. Thirty-eight human beings suspended in the air, on the bank of the beautiful Minnesota; above, the smiling, clear, blue sky; beneath and around, the silent thousands, hushed to a deathly silence by the chilling scene before them, while the bayonets bristling in the sunlight added to the importance of the occasion. In a separate historic order, Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves, went into effect six days later on Jan. 1, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net." Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net A Dayton organization worked to feed first responders who were working this Christmas. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] News Center 7s Taylor Robertson met with the Feeding First Responders organization to learn what is motivating them to give back. TRENDING STORIES: The organization has been handing out food non-stop since Christmas Eve, and the charity will continue until 7 p.m. Christmas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feeding First Responders is a Shriners organization and their goal is to give any hungry first responder a place to go where they can get a home cooked meal at any point in their shift. Most of the cops come in here and then, like as soon as they get their food, theyre getting the call and theyre rushing out the door, Bruce Baughman, President of Antioch Shrine said. Baughman has been a Shriner since 2016, helping to raise money for hospital patients and families. We have 18 other hospitals and outreach programs supporting kids, Baughman said. Three years ago, Baughman wanted to continue his friends tradition of giving back to first responders on Christmas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today we had the full turkey, ham meal together, Baughman said. Baughmans son is a Dayton police officer, so this tradition is personal to him. Thanks for them doing what they do everyday, not just for the holidays, Baughman said. Many people are working this holiday, making sacrifices. When were at home with our families, enjoying ourselves, thats the main reason why we come here to give back to them, Baughman said. When they pack up after 7 p.m., they are going to package up meals and take them to the Shriners Childrens Hospital. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] By Jasper Ward (Reuters) - A dead body was found in the wheel well of a United Airlines jetliner after the aircraft landed in the Hawaiian island of Maui, the airline said on Wednesday. The body was discovered in the one of the compartments that houses the airplane's landing gear when United Flight 202 from Chicago O'Hare International Airport landed at Kahului Airport on Tuesday afternoon, according to the airline's website. No further details about the deceased person were provided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The wheel well was only accessible from outside of the aircraft. At this time, it is not clear how or when the person accessed the wheel well," it said. United said it was working with authorities on the investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Stowaways in the unpressurized wheel-houses and cargo holds of planes can face temperatures of between minus 50 degrees and minus 60 degrees Celsius (minus 58 and minus 76 degrees Fahrenheit), as well as a lack of oxygen. While the fatality rate for most wheel-well stowaways is high, some people have survived the ordeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A person was found alive in the undercarriage bay of an Algerian carrier's aircraft in Paris last year. In January 2022, a stowaway was discovered alive in the wheel section under the front of a Cargolux freight plane that arrived at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport from Africa. (Reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Jamie Freed) VERNON, Conn. (WTNH) A woman is in stable condition after falling through ice Christmas Day on Bolton Lake, according to Vernon Police. Rescue workers responded to the lake Wednesday morning and performed lifesaving measures before the woman was airlifted to Hartford Hospital. Residents who live around the lake told News 8 they saw a large emergency response near one of the dams that separates two portions of the larger lake system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was a lot of ambulances, and [I] kind of had a bad feeling that something had happened on the ice, Beth Boland, a lakeside resident, said. Boland and other locals said they treat the lake with caution in the winter always aware of the fact that ice can be unpredictable. I never trust it and never like to go on it, Boland said. It always makes me nervous when I see other people out there. A top state official echoed that cautious sentiment in remarks to reporters on Thursday. Despite a wonderful stretch of winter weather, ice across much of the state is not safe, Malcolm Trumble, deputy commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumble said that you shouldnt consider going onto ice unless there are at least four inches of clear, solid ice. Trumble stressed that ice is never 100% safe and those looking to recreate on ice should take precautions. Safety equipment is highly recommended. Traction devices, spikes, for your shoes so you can be safe that way, Trumble said. A throw rope, ice picks a life jacket so youre prepared in case someone does go through the ice. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. On Dec. 18, the Idaho State Board of Education effectively banned a huge variety of inclusive excellence, diversity in education, equity, belonging and justice-focused centers and programs from state university campuses under the guise of banning DEI ideology. The states universities had already closed or set in motion the plans to close many of these programs, including womens centers, gender centers, Black and African student centers, LGBTQIA centers, and a myriad of others. Judging from the shock many university communities have expressed when these program closures were announced in advance of the policy shift, these campus closures appear to have been largely done under the cover of secrecy, despite statements to the contrary. To make matters even worse, Boise State and University of Idaho closed these programs when students were not in town, over holiday breaks. The closures of these well-loved and proven student centers, and the state policies that drove the closures, have already harmed Idaho college students, have degraded our state institutions, and contrary to what the State Board of Education believes, harm free speech and curtail free expression across the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the universities claim that they will disperse the services of these centers elsewhere within their institutions, this ignores the fact that all of these institutions have already caused enormous psychological harm to the students, whom the universities disingenuously claim to be the center of their concerns. The mere fact that Boise State, U of I and Idaho State have intentionally and specifically erased womens centers, Black or Hispanic serving centers and LGBTQIA support centers sends a strong and clear message to these vulnerable populations that at least in the State of Idahos educational institutions, they dont belong and arent valued. During my career in higher education in Idaho, I have seen countless instances of students from these various populations struggle to find community and belonging on campuses that were established and historically run for predominantly white students. They may suffer from anxiety, depression, and the stress of university environments that are generally built to cater to only the culturally dominant populace in Idahos case, largely white students. This stress causes them to underperform academically and often leads to withdrawal from higher education. But as an educator whose sole focus is to bring out higher performance in students, a referral to one of these centers, one of these learning communities, is an invaluable tool. I have seen almost instantaneous changes in many of these students who were struggling before. They find people who are like them, who come with a shared experience, who make them feel as though they do belong, and, more importantly, that they can succeed in this academic environment. It isnt the generic student services that brings about this change. Its the community that these centers create that accomplishes this goal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Closing these centers will have deleterious effects on these students, and literally ignores the needs and wishes of thousands of vulnerable students across the state. College presidents taking these actions and then claiming that students are the center of their focus is as disingenuous a statement as one can make. Stomping on 60 years of progress for non-white-male college students is also not good for our states institutions themselves. One of the callings of higher education is to expose students to new and different ideas and perspectives. It is this exposure that allows students to grow and learn more about the world they live in, and to hopefully become successful, productive members of society. A key function of these centers in our educational institutions is to provide this exposure through programming, engagement, and empowerment of their respective community members to speak and share their perspectives on campus. By doing away with these centers of cultural knowledge, our institutions are diluting at best, losing at worst, the ability to execute this critical piece of the educational experience. Finally, and equally disturbing, Idahos new attacks on DEI ideology are nothing short of state-mandated speech, forcing all who attend or work at our higher education institutions to toe the line on one, and only one, form of speech that is deemed appropriate by the State of Idaho. Our states students, faculty, and staff have the right to free speech, the right to associate with whom they choose, and the right to be exposed to and learn about the ideas that emanate from these centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By lumping these inclusive excellence, diversity in education, and belonging centers under the inaccurate and broad penumbra of DEI ideology an ideology of the states own invention the state of Idaho is rather ham-handedly quashing the free speech rights of innumerable people. For all these reasons, this is an ill-advised and harmful policy and Idahoans from all walks of life should be uniting to speak up against this injustice. Mike Satz is a former University of Idaho Law School professor and dean, attorney, Navy veteran and former director of The Idaho 97 Project. This story was updated on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, to reflect changes made that day to the lawsuit filed four days earlier. Max Williams, the Boise lawyer for the family suing, said he corrected the spellings of two family members first names, removed allegations that two children in the family were subjected to threats, removed as defendants two teachers named in the original lawsuit, and removed an allegation that one of those teachers repeatedly made racial slurs against one of the children. Months after raising concerns in a tort claim alleging racial harassment at Eagle High School, a family has sued Ada County, the West Ada School District and its superintendent. The lawsuit, filed by Eagle High graduate Jaeyden Hodge and her parents, Manzo and Christina Hodge, on behalf of their other daughter, a minor who is not named in the suit, alleges violations of the students constitutional rights, including equal protection and due process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hodge sisters faced continuous harassment from other students starting in 2021, according to the complaint. Both were subjected to racial slurs and humiliation from school staff and students. The original lawsuit had said the sisters also faced threats, including messages on social media encouraging the familys younger daughter to kill yourself. The revised lawsuit deletes that. Students openly referred to the sisters using racial epithets in hallways and classrooms without fear of reprisal, according to the lawsuit. Despite the familys numerous attempts to bring their concerns to school and district officials, the defendants failed to act to address or mitigate the racial hostility, they allege. Defendants demonstrated deliberate indifference to the racial harassment and bullying endured by the Hodges daughters, the complaint says. Eagle High School in West Ada School District. July 11, 2024. The family also made accusations against two Eagle High School teachers. One allegedly made repeated and inappropriate use of racial slurs in class. This emboldened other students to engage in similar behavior, according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The original lawsuit named the teachers as defendants, but the revised one removed them and deleted their names, while retaining the allegations against them. The revised lawsuit removed the allegation about the slurs being directed at one daughter. It was decided shortly after filing the original complaint that several of the named defendants were listed in error, specifically the two teachers and vice principal, Williams told the Statesman in an emailed statement on Thursday. We have removed them so that we can focus on what we want to accomplish with this lawsuit, which is accountability and change which we believe falls on the school district, superintendent, and Ada County. The family seeks financial damages from the defendants but does not specify an amount in the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Boise. A spokesperson for the West Ada School District did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. In July, soon after Manzo Hodge filed a tort claim putting the district and county on notice of a possible lawsuit both the district and the Ada County Commission declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, West Ada Superintendent Derek Bub told the Statesman, Our priority, as always, remains the well-being and integrity of our students, staff and community. Niki Scheppers, a spokesperson for the district, said then that West Ada thoroughly investigates such allegations to ensure corrective action if needed. Lawsuit comes amid concerns of racism in Boise-area schools Concerns about harassment go beyond Eagle High School, five parents in the West Ada School District Idahos largest told the Idaho Statesman in recent weeks. Thirty-three parents expressed similar concerns in an October letter to the district. Parents said racism among students was widespread throughout the Boise area, and they expressed frustration about what they called inaction and denial among school and district officials. Nobody thinks its happening: Parents decry racism and denial in Boise-area schools Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement West Ada aims to maintain students privacy and resolve conflicts among students at the lowest level possible, and because of privacy regulations, the district cannot always provide victims families with closure, Scheppers told the Statesman in July. In November, Williams told the Statesman that the family planned to sue largely to ensure that its case and others like it arent brushed under the rug. We do believe that this is for public consumption, Williams said. The public needs to know. Festering harassment: Idaho family alleges school ignored bullying against Black students New Hampshire Democratic Representative Annie Kuster is making her feelings known on her way out of Congress. The longtime congresswoman fired shots at President Joe Biden, President-elect Donald Trump, and everyone in between in an exit interview with The Boston Globe published Thursday. Kusters answer as to why she is retiring from Congress was twofold. The first reason was the issue of gerontocracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im trying to set a better example, Kuster said. I think there are colleaguesand some of whom are still very successful and very productivebut others who just stay forever. Her second reason was that shes not the best gladiator as Donald Trump returns to office. Kuster, who announced her retirement in March, suspected that Trump would win the election. Just in my heart, [I] reached the conclusion that this would be a very challenging campaign for [Biden], and to put himself out there for another four-year term was going to be a struggle. I was one of the last members of Congress in the gallery on Jan. 6, and as it turns out, we have the security footage that shows it was only 30 seconds from when I was able to evacuate that the insurrectionists were in that hallway hunting for us with zip ties and bear mace and who knows what else, Kuster said in a similar interview with Roll Call on Monday. I just felt like, he tried to kill me once. Im not available for it again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kuster still sees the whole of her time in Congress as a success, even with the recent tilt toward the GOP. Twelve years is a good amount of time to put your shoulder to the wheel and try to make a difference on these issues, she said. I cant say we solved them, but I think we made a difference, not just in changing policy, changing funding, but changing attitudes. A Democratic congressman is calling for the U.S. to decriminalize sex work nationwide in response to damning findings released by the House Ethics Committee about Matt Gaetz. Shri Thanedar of Michigan wrote in a Twitter post on Thursday that sex workers should be able to come to law enforcement when they are victims of abuse, adding that decriminalizing sex work would aid in efforts to prevent children from being trafficked and otherwise exploited. We should decriminalize sex work to maximize sex workers' legal protection and their ability to exercise other rights, including unionization, justice, and health care. Decriminalization and regulation would prevent trafficking and exploitation of minors, wrote Thanedar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The congressman added in a second post: It also helps them report crimes against them. Sex work is legal in just one state in the U.S.: Nevada. It is heavily regulated, and a 2023 count reported that less than two dozen businesses were operating statewide. Thanedars comments came in response to an allegation from the House Ethics Committee that Gaetz likely violated Floridas statutory rape law during his time as a congressman and regularly paid women for engaging in sexual activity with him from 2017 to 2020. The committee spoke to one woman who said she had sex with Gaetz when she was 17 and was paid $400, which she understood to be payment for sex. Gaetz strongly denied the accusations and pointed to the Department of Justices decision not to bring charges against him as evidence of his innocence. The House voted to release the report on Gaetz in early December, after the ex-congressman resigned from Congress and then withdrew his bid for attorney general amid sexual misconduct allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That bid to lead the agency which once investigated him failed as it became clear that several Republican senators, in addition to the chambers Democrats, were unmovable in their opposition to his nomination. Gaetz is now headed to Trump-friendly cable network One America News and openly hinting about running for governor in 2026. But the rabble-rousing Trump loyalist has few close allies beyond the former president himself, and is expected to face strong opposition for the role if he runs. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy predicted to The Independent at the 2024 Republican convention in Milwaukee (where he and Gaetz had a confrontation on the event floor) that the allegations being investigated by the Ethics committee would specifically sink Gaetzs bid for governor. The two men loathe each other, in particular after the Florida congressman led a successful bid to oust McCarthy from the speakership in 2023. This article was amended on January 2, 2025. It originally stated that Shri Thanedar is a U.S. representative from Illinois, but that was incorrect. He is a Michigan representative. (Photo: Richard Bednarski/Nevada Current) Originally published by The 19th As Democrats prepare for Republicans to take over the White House and Congress, theyre looking to their wins in state legislatures as a bright spot from Novembers otherwise-disappointing election results wins they say will be the basis for their anti-Trump firewall. As President-elect Donald Trump retook the presidency and Republicans flipped control of the U.S. Senate, Democrats managed to hold off a red wave further down the ballot, said Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), state legislative Democrats campaign arm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats suffered some defeats, losing control of the Michigan state House and falling short of flipping competitive chambers in Arizona. But they also broke Republican supermajorities in the battleground states of North Carolina and Wisconsin, held onto a narrow majority in the Pennsylvania state House, and defended majorities in blue states where Trump gained significant ground performing better than expected, given the national results. It wasnt perfect. But when you think about what happened everywhere else on the ballot, I think that we landed in a place where we are in fighting form coming into the 2026 midterms, Williams said. The battlegrounds remain quite familiar, and the Democratic firewall in this space is strong and in fact, stronger than it was when Trump took office in 2017. In 2025, Democrats will hold trifectas in 17 states meaning they control both legislative chambers and the governors office. They control one chamber and the governorship or both chambers with a Republican governor in four others, meaning an estimated 160 million Americans will live in a state with some degree of Democratic governance. With Republicans controlling Washington, those legislatures will be the ones passing and enacting Democratic policy priorities, potentially including protections for LGBTQ+ people and those seeking abortions. The Republican State Leadership Committee, state Republicans main campaign arm, is also celebrating its victories in flipping the Michigan House, tying the Minnesota House and expanding its supermajority in New Hampshire. Dee Duncan, the president of the RSLC, said in a post-election memo that the organization defied an onslaught of spending from Democrats and a difficult political climate to secure its wins. Republicans will go into 2025 holding 23 trifectas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our strategy of investing early in targeted races as well as our commitment to improving the GOPs standing in absentee and early voting paid dividends as voters made one thing clear: they want Republicans and their policies at the state level, Duncan wrote. Republicans, he said, are well-positioned to advance conservative policies in the states that will benefit families for years to come. Democrats have been working to rebuild their bench at the state level after debilitating losses in the 2010 and 2014 midterms under former President Barack Obama. Theyre set to enter 2025 holding majorities in 39 of 99 chambers and have doubled the number of trifectas they hold since 2017, according to the DLCC. In a year where the electorate as a whole shifted to the right and Trump gained significant ground in blue states, Democrats state-level wins were really remarkable, said Lala Wu, co-founder and executive director of Sister District, an organization focused on electing Democrats to state legislatures. This wasnt a 2010 result in state legislatures across the country, which, given the baseline of this year, is unbelievable, said Simone Leiro, chief communications officer for The States Project, a Democratic group that uses a data-driven approach to invest in state legislative races. State legislative candidates outperforming the top of the ticket, she said, was unprecedented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The outcome in 2024 was the opposite pattern of the 2020 elections when Democrats won a trifecta in Washington but lost ground in state legislatures. Williams said that this year, the DLCC prioritized defense and incumbent protection over going on offense. State legislative candidates are the closest to the voters and communities they represent and can tailor messaging and strategy accordingly. Because state legislative races receive far less attention and are less nationalized than the presidential race, Williams noted, many candidates were in persuasion mode, working to convince voters up until Election Day a strategy that paid off. At the top of the ticket, Trump won in part by turning out lower-propensity voters, including many who had previously voted for President Joe Biden or hadnt voted at all. But enough of those Trump voters didnt vote in down-ballot races that his strength didnt translate into the same level of wins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wu said that messaging around popular issues like reproductive rights also played a role in helping state legislative candidates defy the national headwinds Democrats faced over issues like the economy and immigration. While Trump attempted to moderate his stance on abortion and defuse concerns he would sign a national abortion ban into law, state legislative Democrats could point to unpopular abortion bans and restrictions Republican lawmakers at the state level have passed and signed into law. This was part of our theory of the case, Wu said, that if we could make the case to people that their state lawmakers are the ones who have so much control over reproductive rights and abortion, these issues that have been such winning issues for Democrats, then you could reduce roll-off down ballot. Democratic state lawmakers are also more prepared and ready than they were in 2017 to be the front lines of defense against incoming Republican governance at the federal level, Leiro said. Theres going to be a real federal regulatory vacuum, Wu said. Theres real chaos at the federal level, and states have a real opportunity and really, an obligation to help fill in those gaps and step in to help regulate where the federal government may be stepping back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That work is already underway in states like Michigan, where Democrats are scrambling to pass as much legislation as they can before they lose their legislative trifecta. Legislatures in deep-blue states like California and Illinois are also aiming to pass bills to Trump-proof their liberal states. Other lawmakers are adopting a wait-and-see approach to Trumps second term while keeping open minds to areas of potential collaboration with the incoming administration. Electorally, Democrats are looking to build on their wins in 2025, starting with a trio of January state legislative special elections in Virginia. Governorships and state legislative seats will be up for election in New Jersey and Virginia. In both 2017 and 2021, Virginias off-cycle elections were bellwethers that accurately captured changing political trends. Weve proven if anything in 2024 that state legislative candidates need the seriousness and the investment in order to make their most compelling case to voters, Leiro said. In a year without other federal elections on the ballot, that becomes even more critical. In Virginia, we could see the next Democratic trifecta, or we could see a really different story, depending on how serious the investment and the focus is. Blue states also made gains in womens representation, with Colorado and New Mexico set to join Nevada in states where women make up a majority of state lawmakers in 2025, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. Wu and Sister District want to see even more states reach parity in the coming years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We can do so, so much more, Wu said. And we know that when women are in power, when there are more moms, teachers and nurses that bring diverse perspectives, we can get really incredible policy outcomes. For Williams, Democrats success at the state level is a silver lining and a pathway forward for Democrats success for the next four years. Half of Americans are governed by a Democratic Party in their states, which means that the scale of our influence at this ballot level is really large, Williams said. Were not going to be able to get the kinds of things done federally that we all hope for, but that doesnt mean that all hope is lost. We have real opportunities to move important policies forward in the states that have a real impact on peoples lives. BELGRADE, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, on improving bilateral relations and the European path of the two countries. The recent reopening of the Serbian Embassy in Kiev will further contribute to better relations between Serbia and Ukraine, said Vucic, according to his post on the presidential social media account. "A meaningful and good conversation with the President of Ukraine on all important issues of bilateral cooperation. We discussed the European path of our countries, as well as the possibility of more frequent bilateral visits in the future," the Serbian president wrote. Last fall, Elliston Berry woke up to a barrage of text messages. A classmate ripped photographs from her Instagram, manipulated them into fake nude photographs, and shared them with other teens from her school. They were online for nine months. She was 14 years old. I locked myself in my room, my academics suffered, and I was scared, she said during a recent briefing. She is not alone. So-called non-consensual intimate images (NCII) are often distributed as pornographic deepfakes using artificial intelligence that manipulates images of existing adult performers to look like the victims targeting celebrities, lawmakers, middle- and high schoolers, and millions of others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no federal law that makes it a crime to generate or distribute such images. Elliston and dozens of other victims and survivors and their families are now urging Congress to pass a bill that would make NCII a federal crime whether real or created through artificial intelligence with violators facing up to two years in prison. The Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act or TAKE IT DOWN Act unanimously passed the Senate on December 3. The legislation was attached to a broader bipartisan government funding bill with support from both Republican and Democratic members of Congress, including a final push from Ted Cruz and Amy Klobuchar two senators who are rarely if ever on the same side of an issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elon Musks X platform was even involved in lobby efforts to support the legislation, including other actions on child safety. But his pressure campaign against that government funding bill prompted Republicans to strike the TAKE IT DOWN Act language from the measure altogether. Efforts to revive the spending bill did not include it. Ted Cruz is sponsoring legislation that would criminalize the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery and require social media sites to remove it (Getty Images) Another measure from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would allow victims of digital forgery to file lawsuits to stop them. The congresswoman has spoken out about her own experience as a victim. The Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act or DEFIANCE Act marked the first-ever attempt to ensure federal protections targets of nonconsensual deepfakes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legislation passed the Senate this summer. Victims of nonconsensual pornographic deepfakes have waited too long for federal legislation to hold perpetrators accountable, the congresswoman said in a statement at the time. As deepfakes become easier to access and create ... Congress needs to act to show victims that they wont be left behind, she said. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sponsored legislation that gives victims of deepfakes an avenue to file federal lawsuits to protect them (AP) Many states have enacted laws intended to protect people against NCII, including 20 states with laws explicitly covering deepfakes, but the laws vary in application and uneven criminal prosecution, and victims often struggle to have the images removed from websites, increasing the likelihood the images are continuously spread and victims are retraumatized, according to lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Take It Down Act would uniformly criminalize the publishing of NCII, defined in legislation to also include realistic, computer-generated pornographic images and videos that depict identifiable, real people. It also requires websites to take down NCII upon notice from the victim. Social media and other websites are required to have in place procedures to remove NCII within 48 hours of a request. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar co-sponsored legislation to make publishing nonconsensual deepfakes a federal crime (AP) Last summer, Molly Kelley discovered images from her private social media account had been ripped and transformed into deepfake pornography. The images, which were created while she was six months pregnant, damaged her physical and emotional health and ability to work, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stress of the discovery of seeing a hyper-realistic twisted version of myself that I had no part in creating was overwhelming, she said. When the initial shock wore off, a persistent reality set in: these images will likely exist forever It is an intolerable weight. Kelley was among 85 women who were affected by deepfake images that were created by a man who they say has yet to face any consequences. When she reported the images to law enforcement, the reaction was inconsistent and, at times, dismissive, she said. The dissemination of private explicit images and videos without a persons consent sometimes as intentionally malicious attacks known as revenge porn has also been used to extort countless victims. A South Carolina lawmaker whose 17-year-old son died by suicide in 2022 after he was the target of a sextortion plot made it his mission to turn state law he sponsored into the federal model supported by Cruz and Klobuchar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both adults and kids deserve the right to have non-consensual intimate images, real or fake, removed from a site,South Carolina state Rep. Brandon Guffey wrote in The Hill this month. Because Big Tech wont do it willingly, legislation is needed to force these companies to act. Deepfake attacks targeting Taylor Swift brought renewed focus to national legislation to force social media platforms and websites to remove nonconsenual pornographic images (Getty Images for TAS Rights Mana) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Samantha McCoy survived sexual assault while a junior in college in Indiana. Her attacker posted images of her assault online. Had the legislation been in place, I would not have experienced the constant and repeated pain as the video of the attack would have been promptly removed, significantly reducing the chances of wider circulation on these platforms, she said. Celebrities like Taylor Swift are among the most well-known targets, but the majority of NCII posted online are of women or teenage girls, according to the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative. Roughly one in eight social media users have been targeted, and one in 20 adult social media users are perpetrators, according to the group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than two dozen members of Congress mostly women have also been the victims of sexually explicit deepfakes, according to research from the American Sunlight Project (ASP). The think tanks December report discovered more than 35,000 mentions of nonconsensual images depicting 26 members of Congress 25 women and one man on deepfake websites. Most of the images were removed after researchers shared their findings with impacted lawmakers. Nearly 16 percent of all women who are currently serving in Congress or roughly one in six congresswomen are victims of pornographic deepfakes. A recently released report from the House Bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence aims to give Congress a roadmap to both safeguard consumers and foster continued U.S. investment and innovation in AI, according to the groups Republican co-chair, congressman Jay Obernolte. The much-anticipated report included dozens of policy recommendations, including finding ways to appropriately counter the growing harm from the proliferation of deepfakes and harmful digital replicas. A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives. On Dec. 23, 1968, 82 crew members of the U.S. intelligence ship Pueblo were released by North Korea, 11 months after they had been captured. Within a day or two they were back in San Diego, reuniting with loved ones and debriefing. But as Christmas Day came and went, one story stood out. On Jan. 26, fellow sailors told the story of their crewmate: Seaman Duane Hodges, the one who did not come home alive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were two major events surrounding Christmas 1968: the Apollo 8 mission to surveil the moon, and the return of the USS Pueblo crew. The Pueblos capture Jan. 23, 1968, by a communist nation was a shock to the United States, then deeply involved in the Vietnam War. North Korea said the spy ship, disguised as an environmental research ship, was inside its waters. The U.S. government said the Pueblo was in international waters. North Korean ships surrounded the Pueblo and opened fire, killing one sailor and wounding 10. North Korean forces boarded the ship and brought it ashore. Its 82 crew members were held 11 months. After their release, the hostages went to San Diego for debriefing. The Deseret News and other news organizations followed the incident, including the homecoming of northern Utah crew member Dale Rigby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After their release, Cmdr. Lloyd Pete Bucher was blamed for letting the Pueblo fall into enemy hands without firing a shot and for failing to destroy the ships classified material, including dozens of spy books and encryption machines. The front page of the Deseret News on Dec. 26, 1968, as USS Pueblo crew members spoke of their friend Seaman Duane Hodges of Creswell, Oregon, who died while under attack from North Korea. Here are two excerpts from Associated Press coverage on Dec. 25-26: SAN DIEGO, Calif. Every Pueblo crewmans mother at the airport had a son to meet, to hug, to greet with tears of joy all but one. Mrs. Jesse Hodges came from Oregon to meet a coffin. She stood, small and gray haired, with her husband, ... in a sea of Pueblo relatives and Navy officers. But still very much alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The body of her boy, Duane, was the last off the plane when 82 surviving officers and crewmen of the U.S. Intelligence ship Pueblo returned to the United States Tuesday. An honor guard of sailors in gleaming white helmets carried Duanes casket, covered with his countrys flag, across the runway apron at Miramar Naval Air Station. And ... SAN, DIEGO, Calif. Seaman Duane Hodges, the only fatality when North Korea seized the USS Pueblo on the high seas last January, was felled while destroying secret papers, according to Cmdr. Lloyd Bucher. Our son was standing on the deck, bending over, destroying secret papers when he was hit by enemy fire, said Mrs. Hodges. He died soon after with little pain, singing a Christian hymn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here is the citation from the military: When PUEBLO came under fire from these North Korean units, Petty Officer Hodges rendered invaluable assistance in the face of the intense hostile fire while participating in the unfamiliar task of destroying classified materials, according to Homeofheroes.com. Mortally wounded while carrying out this assignment, Petty Officer Hodges, by his courage, initiative, and inspiring dedication, he reflected credit upon himself and upheld and enhanced the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. Here are some stories from Deseret News archives about the USS Pueblo incident, about some of the crew and the challenges they faced, and other Utah wartime medal winners: Pueblo incident still a mystery 25 years later Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utah POWs recognized for their courage, sacrifice Flashbacks still haunt Utah POW 38 years later Lloyd Bucher, commander of spy ship Pueblo, dies at 76 USS Pueblo captives get $65 million Utahs medal winners are roll of amazing heroes DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered flags across Ohio be lowered in honor of a corrections officer who died on Christmas Day. Andrew Lansing | ODRC Correction Officer Andrew Lansing died after an inmate assault reportedly happened on Christmas Day, according to Annette Chambers-Smith, director at Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction. The alleged assault happened at Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe. DeWine asked that flags in Ross County and around public buildings in Columbus to be placed at half-staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Individuals and facilities who would like to honor Lansing by lowering their flag are able to, but not required to. The flags are ordered to be lowered until sunset of his funeral. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Dec. 26Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is promising to veto a last-minute addition to Ohio law that, if enacted, would kneecap the state's ability to regulate doctors and other health professionals. The provision that dismayed DeWine intends to preserve "medical free speech" and was quietly added into House Bill 315 in the waning hours of the legislature's final session last week. The governor's office received the bill Monday morning and has 10 business days to veto. The provision states that Ohio's regulatory agencies or regulatory boards "shall neither infringe on medical free speech nor pursue, or threaten to pursue, an administrative or disciplinary action" against any medical professional for "publicly or privately expressing a medical opinion that does not align with the opinions of the board or agency." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I intend to line-item veto that provision," DeWine told Statehouse reporters last Friday. DeWine said that the law would render the state toothless against doctors who, for example, obviously over-prescribed opiates an action the state has regularly addressed to curb the opioid epidemic. "All the doctor would have to say in defense is, 'Well, it's my opinion,'" DeWine said. "This would totally gut our ability to regulate health professionals." "I would agree with the governor in that this takes away a lot of the standard-of-care enforcement ability that we have as a medical board, and we think it's very important to hold doctors to the standard of care when evaluating whether or not they commit misconduct," said Jonathan Feibel, a Columbus-area doctor and president of the Ohio Medical Board, last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeWine doesn't often float his vetoes before they're official, but his administration has opposed this change in law ever since it was first proposed within House Bill 73, legislation championed by area Rep. Jennifer Gross, R-West Chester, mainly aimed at allowing doctors to prescribe off-label drugs and grant them qualified immunity for any harm the patient endured as a result of those drugs. In June, Ohio State Medical Board Executive Director Stephanie Loucka testified that the bill would eliminate minimum standards of care and allow medical professionals "to prescribe any drug for any ailment." The Ohio Senate watered down the House's approved version of H.B. 73, causing Gross to ask her colleagues last week to vote against moving the bill further forward. That same day, the "medical free speech" portion of the bill was folded into H.B. 315 during a private conference committee among a handful of House and Senate negotiators. Gross, a licensed nurse practitioner, could not be reached for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In previous testimony on H.B. 73, Gross testified: "Despite the fact that health authorities continue to remind citizens to 'trust their doctor,' some doctors are attacked for their prescription choices. Many healthcare providers have had legal action taken against their licenses and their credibility for expressing a medical opinion that differs from that of an Ohio health agency or regulatory board." She reasoned that Ohio ought to ensure both patients and health professionals that there will be no retribution for using "life saving treatments." "Reducing these barriers to save lives are key to our strategy and to the future health of our state and its citizens," Gross said. ------ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more stories like this, sign up for our Ohio Politics newsletter. It's free, curated, and delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday evening. Avery Kreemer can be reached at 614-981-1422, on X, via email, or you can drop him a comment/tip with the survey below. Loading... Big money, big ideas and big egos the art world has all the necessary ingredients for a juicy controversy. This may be why eye-rolling and schadenfreude emerge so virulently whenever said controversies occur. After all, as the American painter Ad Reinhardt once quipped: Art is too serious to be taken seriously. The year in art included plenty of snark over new depictions of the British royal family that were perceived as too aggressive or too generic, as well as an infamous banana that returned to auction with a shocking hammer price. Works were accidentally thrown out, smashed or intentionally forged; and legal dramas unfolded thanks to badly behaved dealers and museum-targeting protestors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are 13 of the controversies that entertained, shook and shaped the art world in 2024: One persons trash "All the good times we spent together, by French artist Alexandre Lavet. - LAM museum For some, the line between modern art and trash is vanishingly thin. Among them was the elevator technician at a Dutch museum who mistakenly threw away part of an artwork that had been made to resemble two empty beer cans. According to LAM Museum, in the Netherlands, the hand-painted work (titled All the good times we spent together) symbolized French artist Alexandre Lavets cherished memories shared with dear friends. The museum also said, in a statement, that it bore no ill will towards the technician after all, the replica cans had intentionally been displayed in a glass elevator shaft as though theyd been left behind by construction workers. The items were later recovered intact from a trash bag before being cleaned and returned to display. No stopping Just Stop Oil Activists from environmental group Riposte Alimentaire (which roughly translates as Food Response) shortly after they hurled soup at the Mona Lisa in January. - David Cantiniaux/AFPTV/AFP/Getty Images The vandalization of cultural heritage in the name of protest, by Just Stop Oil and other activist groups, continued apace. The Magna Carta, the Mona Lisa and Stonehenge were among the targets in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this was also a year of differing fortunes for the assailants. In the Netherlands, three Belgian climate activists who targeted Johannes Vermeers Girl with a Pearl Earring escaped unpunished, after an appeals court overturned their two-month prison sentences. (They spent 23 days in detention). In September, however, a British judge handed the two young demonstrators who attacked Vincent van Goghs Sunflowers with tomato soup long custodial sentences of two years, and 20 months, respectively. Whether this will serve as a deterrent remains to be seen. Some museums arent taking any chances: Londons National Gallery, the target of several attacks in recent years, was among the institutions to step up their security by restricting liquids and large bags. Viral banana returns (and now its worth millions) Anyone outraged that a banana duct-taped to a wall sold for $120,000 in 2019 was in for a shock this year. In November, an edition of Maurizio Cattelans controversial artwork Comedian which made headlines around the world when it first sold for six figures reemerged at auction with an estimate of $1 million to $1.5 million. The valuation proved to be conservative: After a bidding battle, Chinese billionaire Justin Sun paid $6.2 million for the viral work. For his money, the cryptocurrency entrepreneur received a roll of duct tape and one banana (not the original), as well as a certificate of authenticity and installation instructions. Sun also enjoyed a brief moment in the spotlight after he called a press conference in Hong Kong and promptly ate the banana for the cameras. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to eat it to become part of the (artworks) history, he told CNN. Award-winning AI Akutagawa Prize winner Rie Kudan admitted that her award-winning novel was written with the help of AI. - The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images In January, a Japanese author admitted that her award-winning book, The Tokyo Tower of Sympathy, had been written with the help of ChatGPT. Shortly after receiving the Akutagawa Prize, Rie Kudan revealed that around 5% of the work was generated, word-for-word, by AI. I plan to continue to profit from the use of AI in the writing of my novels, while letting my creativity express itself to the fullest, the author told a press conference. Kudans admission stoked ongoing existential questions about the threat AI poses to the creative industries. But in June, photographer Miles Astray got revenge for team human by sneaking his very real photo of a flamingo into the AI category of the 1839 Awards Color Photography Contest and winning the competitions Peoples Vote award. He wrote in an Instagram post that hed wanted to prove that human-made content has not lost its relevance and that Mother Nature and her human interpreters can still beat the machine. Smashing art "Porcelain Cube," by artist Ai Weiwei, shortly after being destroyed by an exhibition visitor. - Genus Bononiae Press Office/Reuters Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was plenty of sympathy for the 4-year-old boy who accidentally smashed a Bronze Age jar at an Israeli archeological museum not least because the artifact, which experts say was at least 3,500 years old, had been put on display without a glass case. The Hecht Museum in Haifa defended its decision to present the object without protective glass, saying that its founder emphasized the importance of making history accessible to the public. The museum also welcomed the boy and his parents back for a special tour. Curators at Palazzo Fava in Italy, however, were somewhat less understanding toward the man who shattered a porcelain sculpture by dissident artist Ai Weiwei. CCTV footage showed him aggressively pushing the sculpture over and then holding a piece of it above his head. The Chinese artist, who heard the smashing noise from an adjacent room, described the mans actions as unacceptable, telling the Art Newspaper: Such acts not only undermine the museums role as a public space but also pose potential physical threats, beyond merely damaging the meaning an artwork carries. Welsh towns odd inflatable Yue Minjun in front of his inflatable art installation. - Ruthin School A small town in Wales welcomed an unexpected visitor in June: a large, pink, inflatable man on all fours. But the 43-foot-tall sculpture a laughing self-portrait of the Chinese contemporary artist Yue Minjun divided opinion in Ruthin, where it was displayed on the front lawn of a local school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The schools principal Frances King told CNN that Yues work has a deep philosophical understanding but admitted there had been mixed responses. Locals spoken to by CNN meanwhile described the inflatable man as everything from absolutely wonderful to a bit odd. Perhaps most importantly, though, the students love it King said, adding that the children were really quite fond of the installation. Royal portraits divide opinion Britain's King Charles III unveils an official portrait of himself, accompanied by artist Jonathan Yeo. - Aaron Chown/Pool/AFP/Getty Images The British royal family has continued to overhaul its public image in the wake of Queen Elizabeth IIs death. But her son King Charles IIIs first official portrait since his coronation might not have been what they had in mind. On social media, the aggressively red 8.5- by 6.5-foot painting was variously described as the visual representation of the massacre cause by colonizers and looking like hes going straight to hell. Others were more sympathetic, with art historian Richard Morris saying the really liked British artist Jonathan Yeos portrait, writing on X that before photography, to have a great painter capture your real appearance you accepted the revelation of your flaws and your mortality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A more reserved portrait of Catherine, Princess of Wales that appeared on the cover of Tatler proved similarly divisive. Alastair Sooke, chief art critic at British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, wrote that the painting by artist Hannah Uzor was intolerably bad and shows no flicker of resemblance to its subject. And in Northern Ireland, a new sculpture by Anto Brennan paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip (and two of their corgis) also raised eyebrows. Dealers behaving badly Art advisor Lisa Schiff pictured in 2022 in New York City. - Udo Salters/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images In October, Manhattan-based art advisor Lisa Schiff pled guilty to wire fraud and agreed to forfeit the $6.5 million she was accused of making through the sale of (or, in some cases, the failure to buy) 55 artworks. According to the US Department of Justice, Schiff defrauded at least 12 clients including art collectors, an artist, the estate of another artist and a gallery by not disclosing that their art had sold, or by not purchasing works they had paid for. She used the funds for business and personal expenses, in what authorities called half a decade of deceit. Schiff will be sentenced in January. This year also marked the release of disgraced art dealer Inigo Philbrick, four years into his seven-year prison sentence also for wire fraud. Philbricks $86-million scheme, the largest art fraud in American history, saw him fake documents, conceal ownership interests and invent a fictional art collector as he collateralized and resold shares in blue-chip contemporary art. The Ladies Lounge Artist and curator Kirsha Kaechele with one of the "Picassos" she forged for her women-only Ladies Lounge installation. - Jesse Hunniford Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A women-only art space exploring themes of misogyny was at center of two controversies this year: a discrimination ruling, after a disgruntled man was denied entry, and the discovery that three of the exhibits Picassos had been forged by the museums curator. The Ladies Lounge at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Tasmania, Australia had been open for four years when, following a visitor complaint, a local tribunal ordered it to stop refusing entry to persons who do not identify as ladies. The artist and curator behind the installation, Kirsha Kaechele, opted to close the space rather than allow men in, instead moving three of the exhibits Picasso artworks to a womens restroom. The plot thickened when Kaechele admitted that she had forged the three works herself because she wanted them to match the original spaces color scheme and green silk curtains. Then, in September, the Supreme Court of Tasmania overturned the discrimination ruling and the Ladies Lounge reopened in December though, this time, a limited number of tickets were made available to men (via ballot and only on certain days) for domestic arts lessons and other reparations, the museum said. Museum workers (brief) moment of fame The Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich, Germany, where a employee hung his own work on a gallery wall. - Hannes Magerstaedt/Getty Images A German museum worker was fired after hanging his own art on the gallerys walls. The 51-year-old exhibition technician, a self-proclaimed freelance artist, smuggled one of his paintings into Munichs Pinakothek der Moderne out of hours, according to German tabloid Suddeutsche Zeitung and German police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not known how long the painting hung on the wall before security realized, but a museum spokesperson said it was likely not there for long. The man later emailed his employer confessing his actions and was promptly fired, reported to the police and banned from the museum. Political artist detained in China Artist brothers Gao Zhen (left) and Gao Qiang (right) pictured with their sculpture "Mao's Guilt" in Beijing, China, in 2009. - Shiho Fukada/The New York Times/Redux Chinese artist duo the Gao Brothers were known for, among other things, provocative sculptures of Mao Zedong in a country notoriously sensitive about its former rulers legacy. But that was well over a decade ago, during a relatively liberal era for artistic expression. In September, 68-year-old Gao Zhen was detained by Chinese authorities, according to his brother and artistic partner, Gao Qiang. The US-based artist told CNN that police raided his brothers art studio on the outskirts of Beijing on suspicion of slandering Chinas heroes and martyrs, an offense punishable by up to three years in prison. The public security bureau that Gao Qiang accused of detaining his brother, in Hebei provinces Sanhe city, declined to comment to CNN at the time. Gao Zhen remains in detention, according to regular updates made to the duos Facebook page. Audience left feeling queasy London's Almeida Theatre paused a play after a scene left audience members feeling unwell. - Peter Moulton/Alamy Stock Photo The London play The Years was temporarily paused after audience members reported feeling unwell during a graphic scene depicting an abortion. Staff at the Almeida Theatre were forced to briefly stop in late July, with multiple audience members requiring assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The theaters website had carried a content warning for the play, which ran for one hour and 55 minutes without an interval. Directed by Eline Arbo, it is based on Les Annees, the autobiography of Nobel Prize-winning French writer Annie Ernaux. A spokeswoman for the Almeida confirmed the episode in an email to CNN at the time, but said that all audience members were quick to recover after brief assistance. Slow restitution A museum guide speaks about a 1897 work by Camille Pissarro hung at the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum in Madrid, Spain on January 10, 2024. - Susana Vera/Reuters Despite the ongoing drip of Nazi-looted artworks being returned to their rightful owners (or their descendants), 2024 was a frustrating year for many of the affected families. In March, the World Jewish Restitution Organization published a report saying over half the countries that signed the Washington Conference Principles rules guiding the restitution of art confiscated by the Nazis in Germany before or during World War II had made little or no progress. Among the most controversial cases was that of Camille Pissarros Rue Saint Honore, apres midi, effet de pluie. In 1939, the member of a prominent Jewish family was forced to sell the painting to obtain a visa and flee Germany, and many decades later it ended up in the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum in Madrid. In January, almost two years after the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of the womans family, an appeals court judge said that although Spain should have voluntarily relinquished the painting, it was not legally required to do so, according to Reuters. There were, however, a handful of victories. In October, Claude Monets long-lost Bord de Mer was returned to the descendants of its original owners after the pastel work was listed for sale by Louisiana art dealer, prompting an FBI investigation. CNNs Jack Guy, Jacqui Palumbo, Nectar Gan, Stephy Chung, Christy Choi, Kathleen Magramo, Lianne Kolirin, Billy Stockwell, Francesca Annio, Manveena Suri, Hannah Rabinowitz, Emily Blumenthal, Tierney Sneed, Chris Stern, Louis Mian and Catherine Nicholls contributed reporting to these stories. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com With Donald Trump poised to pack the American law enforcement apparatus with loyalists who could implement an agenda of revenge on his behalf, some of his most prominent critics are bracing for possible impacts they may face. Recently, Georgia Representative Barry Loudermilk used his perch atop a House Administration Subcommittee to issue a report that called for the incoming Trump justice department to investigate and prosecute former House January 6 committee vice-chair Liz Cheney for what he describes as witness tampering in actuality the then-Wyoming congresswomans efforts to help ex-Mark Meadows aide Cassidy Hutchinson find new counsel after she was pressured to withhold information from the panel. Trump has also called for the entirety of the now-defunct House panel to be jailed, and he has also routinely called for critics and political opponents to face criminal sanctions as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He filed a lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and the Iowa-based pollster whose pre-election survey found incorrectly that he was set to lose the Hawkeye State to Vice President Kamala Harris by a double-digit margin. His allies, including his FBI Director-designate Kash Patel, have also made a habit of suing media organizations and critics often on frivolous grounds and come January 20, Patel and his MAGA friends could have a free hand to deploy the full weight of the U.S. government against people they deem insufficiently sycophantic towards the new president. Its a long list, including a group Patel named in an appendix to his memoir, Government Gangsters, as members of an executive branch deep state. The former National Security Council staffer has repeatedly claimed in media appearances that such persons, including the two most recent Democratic presidents, the three most recent Democratic presidential nominees and other prominent law enforcement and intelligence officials whove incurred ire from Republicans over the years, deserve be jailed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, some of Trumps loudest critics are bracing for his return to power. Others are ready for a fight. Donald Trump is ready to return to the White House. That leaves his critics bracing for retribution (AFP via Getty Images) Mark Zaid, a Washington, D.C., national security lawyer who has advised whistleblowers and critics, has gone so far as to say that certain clients of his should find a reason to be beyond the reach of American law enforcement around the time of Trumps return to power in just over a month. He told Politico hes encouraged a small number of people to take a vacation outside of the country around the time of inauguration, just to see what happens. The range of what could happen should Trump turn the power of government against his perceived enemies is quite broad indeed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to contriving reasons to investigate, arrest and prosecute political foes, a Trump administration bent on revenge could subject critics to invasive IRS audits, make it difficult for critics to travel abroad or access financial services, and could harass and intimidate them with all manner of compulsory process short of arrest. A number of prominent pro-democracy commentators and activists say there are already efforts in place to prepare for the possibility that the new administration will unleash untold amounts of harassment towards people who vexed the president during his first term in office. But some of Trumps most vocal critics arent letting themselves be intimidated. However, some critics, such as George Conway (pictured) arent backing down (REUTERS) Rick Wilson, the former Republican ad-man who co-founded and still helps run the Lincoln Project Super PAC, told The Independent that his organization plans to return to messaging that helped drive down Trumps popularity as he ran for re-election in 2020. The group focused on Trumps failures and incompetence rather than the more amorphous pro-democracy messaging that dominated the 2024 cycle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democracy is unbelievably important, but unfortunately, it also didnt persuade most Americans its important now to use this period of time that were about to enter into to clarify that hes not going to deliver for the people who believed he would deliver hes already saying, I cant lower prices, I cant do this, I cant do that, and we feel like theres an opportunity space ahead of us where you know our kind of messaging is going to be effective and that were going to be able to get in there and make a persuasive case that you need to continue on with an idea of opposition to this guy, said Wilson, who stressed that his organization would not be part of what he described as the pink pussy hat crowd that dominated anti-Trump circles during his first few years in office. Wilson, who has had to fight lawsuits from Trump allies in recent months, said he knows it is possible that Trumps administration will go beyond civil litigation this time. But Wilson stressed that he would not back down from any fights. I suspect Ill be spending a non-zero amount of my time dealing with this kind of garbage, dealing with congressional committees, whatever it turns out to be. But I think its incumbent upon people like me to again, not comply in advance and to not work from fear, he said. Its not a productive emotion after a certain point, and I decline to live that way right now were going to keep doing what we do, and if they stop me they have to pull me out feet first. Im not just going to bow down to these people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilson added that over his years in politics he has been very careful not to commit crimes, including avoiding the stupid s*** he described as campaign finance violations, with the aid of very good legal counsel to tell him when to shut up and not do certain things. Trump has already targeted media groups and pollsters that he believes were unkind or unfair to him (REUTERS) Another prominent Trump critic, conservative attorney George Conway, said he doesnt worry about being placed in the crosshairs of the new administration because hes got nothing to investigate. Conway, an ex-corporate litigator who was previously married to Trump aide and GOP political strategist Kellyanne Conway, told The Independent that his life is pretty simple. I dont pay off porn stars. I dont have any funky investments. I dont have any cash businesses. All my money is invested in mutual funds because I spent 30 years at a law firm where we were only allowed to invest in mutual funds, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that the only conceivable way he could see himself being attacked by Trump or his allies is through defamation litigation, which he said would be great because it would allow him to take discovery. Im also not afraid of going right out after them and making their lives miserable by going after me theyre just going to give me a platform, he said. Trump has also filled his potential administration with others who have talked about going against MAGA enemies (REUTERS) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Trump critics whove been in the crosshairs of the soon-to-be-presidents inner circle are more concerned because of their one-time proximity to Trump. Olivia Troye, a former homeland security adviser to then-Vice President Mike Pence, told The Independent she worries most about the people around Trump, such as Patel, incoming deputy White House chief of staff Steven Miller, Office of Management and Budget director-designate Russell Vought and others like them because they see her as more of a turncoat due to her former proximity to the center of power. Troye said she worries about what someone such as Patel, who has funded multiple lawsuits and legal threats against her, could do in power because hell have the backing of Trump and the support of Attorney General-designate Pam Bondi, another loyalist to the incoming president. She also said shes thinking about making security arrangements for herself and her family because Trump and his allies have a habit of exposing their adversaries to death threats and harassment by publicizing their names. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a crazy time, and when they do things, weve seen that sometimes people get radicalized and they act on it. So I just need to do whats best for me and my family, Troye said. Wilson said he believes Trump will absolutely attempt to abuse power in a grotesque and profound way by going after critics if not him, than people like him. But he cautioned those who might end up in the crosshairs about complying in advance, and warned that those lower down on the administrations organizational chart wont have the same protections Trump has been given. Donald Trump is immune because of the Supreme Court, but not every person in his administration is immune from liability if they abuse their power, he said. We do not yet live in a world where there are no consequences for the guys like Kash Patel or or or other people inside the administration. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) December 25 marks not only Christmas this year but the first day of Hanukkah, a rare overlap. To celebrate, a giant Menorah was lit in Portlands Pioneer Courthouse Square downtown, symbolizing hope, pride and illuminating the darkness. Portland firefighters stay busy during Christmas People from Portlands Jewish community came out in droves for the lighting. Attendees who spoke to KOIN 6 News said they came to honor traditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hanukkah! Its the first night! Weve got to celebrate! said Linda Cohen. Rabbi Motti Wilhelm of Chabad SW Portland said the winter cold and wetness couldnt stop the celebrations. In Portland, if we let the rain stop us wed never do anything, Wilhelm said. The Chabad of Oregon hosted the lighting of the first of eight candles of the Menorah. Were going to bring the light in the dark, Wilhelm said. In recent years and with the times that we are in right now, it makes this message become even more important. Wilhelm brought a special guest, Judith Raanan. Raanan was one of the hostages taken by Hamas on the October 7th attacks last year in Israel. She said she often thinks about that day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you light one candle, you take away a lot of darkness, Raanan said. PHOTOS: Oregon Zoo animals unwrap Christmas gifts For Cohen, the celebrations represent Portlands small but mighty Jewish community. We have a lot of synagogues in town, and theres something there for everyonewere not a huge community, so its important to recognize people and it feels good to celebrate, Cohen said. This year, Hanukkah lasts until January 2, 2025. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Miami is sinking. According to a new study, released in the journal Earth and Space Science, luxury beachfront condos and hotels in the Florida city are sinking into the ground at "unexpected" rates, the Miami Herald reports. Approximately 70 percent of the buildings in the city's north and central Sunny Isles are affected, according to the University of Miami, which produced the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Researchers who published the study identified 35 buildings that have reportedly sunk by up to three inches between 2016 and 2023. Some iconic Miami landmarks are on the list of 35 affected buildings; the Faena Hotel, the Porche Design Tower, the Surf Club Towers, Trump Tower II, Trump International Beach Resorts, and the Ritz-Carlton Residences. are all among the sinking structures. The Miami skyline is viewed from the Rickenbacker Causeway in South Florida, Dec. 15, 2023 (@PPORTAL) The study's senior author, University of Miami's Falk Amelung, told the Miami Herald that virtually all of the buildings constructed along the coast of Miami's outer barrier islands are sinking. The impetus for the study was actually a response to the tragic 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers in Surfside, which killed 98 people and lit a fire for stronger structural reviews for apartments and condos across the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The researchers used satellite data that could measure minor changes in ground sinkage subsidence over time and found that subsidence was not the cause of the Champlain Towers collapse. While they found no evidence of subsidence there, they did fight plenty of evidence all along Miami's coastline. Rescue personnel work at the remains of the Champlain Towers South condo building, June 25, 2021, in Surfside, Florida (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Amelung told the Miami Herald that they found evidence of subsidence between 0.8 inches and just over three inches, primarily in Sunny Isles Beach, Surfside, and at two buildings in Miami Beach the Faena Hotel and L'Atelier condo. They found another instance in Bal Harbour. What does that mean for the coastline and those who live and vacation on it? No one is sure, not just yet. More research will be needed to determine what exactly this discovery will mean for the region. Newly built buildings typically will sink a number of inches in the first several years after they're built as they settle into the ground. Just because a building sinks a bit doesn't mean it is losing structural integrity. Paul Chinowsky, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, told the Miami Herald that so long as the sinking was even and did not throw the building askew, the structure would generally maintain its integrity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now, it's unclear if the sinking buildings identified by the study are sinking evenly or are sinking in a way that could cause structural damage. That will be the next step for researchers to determine if the buildings are sinking in a way that threatens to damage their structures, and potentially put individuals inside and around them at risk. Until more research is done, it won't be clear what exactly is causing the subsidence, but climate change cannot be ruled out as a contributing force. Sea level rise driven by human burning of fossil fuels heating the globe and changing the climate has been eroding the US coastline, including the underlying sand and limestone that supports the pillars that provide the structural support for highrise condos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stronger waves and heavier rainfall both results of the changing climate can also contribute to the erosion of the coastline. On top of threatening the structures themselves, issues like subsidence may also contribute to driving up home insurance costs. Americans have spent the last two decades moving to and building on disaster-prone land, whether that be in Florida, in wildfire-ripe locations in the west, or in hailstorm-heavy stretches of land in central Texas. This proclivity to live and build where structures are constantly battered by the severe weather has forced home insurance rates through the roof. Facts and figures go a long way toward illustrating Americas longstanding obsession with the virtues of hard work, and 99% Perspiration, Adam Chandlers mischievous mix of travelogue and social analysis, has plenty of both. For instance: A 2023 economic opportunity poll by Gallup found that 39% of Americans believed that they were failing to get ahead despite working hard. And: According to census data, more than 10% of nonelderly Americans (27.4 million) went through 2020 without health insurance (compared with 0.0% in all other industrialized countries). The numbers are not kind, but theyre not the main thrust of Chandlers book. Thats a good thing, regardless of whether you subscribe to the old maxim about lies, damn lies and statistics (attributed by Mark Twain to the British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli). This is a very human book about the roots and consequences of a very American dilemma: the belief that old-fashioned elbow grease will get you anywhere you want to go. 99% Perspiration, which takes its title from a quote attributed to Thomas Edison Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration is more than a mere diagnosis. Its also a far-reaching study of how and why national myths are propagated and a ground-level account of the way we live and work now. It is, as they say, a good read, wrung from troubling realities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chandler, a former staff writer at the Atlantic and the author of Drive-Thru Dreams: A Journey Through the Heart of Americas Fast-Food Kingdom, ventures into the past and the present, the real and the fictional, seeking insight into why we devote so much time and energy to work, at the expense of everything else, and with ever-decreasing dividends. He dips into the countrys origins, and how foundational American thinkers like Benjamin Franklin saw hard work as a shared trait in a collection of colonies with little else in common. As Chandler writes, Americas industry-obsessed, kite-in-a-thunderstorm lifestyle was one of the few things that united the various divided factions of Americas founding set. He pokes at the cruel irony of a nation that preaches the rewards of sweat equity but was built largely on the punishing, dehumanizing labor of slaves. And he explores the inherent vagueness and selectivity that define the notion of American exceptionalism, a concept that requires more and more cognitive dissonance the more it is pulled apart for analysis. Its fair to say that Chandler makes digressions and detours, and you may find yourself occasionally asking: Where are we going here? Then he playfully connects the dots, not always cleanly, but definitely with verve, and usually with good humor. A stop in Oklahoma proves especially fruitful. First he visits with Arshad Lasi, who, along with his Indian immigrant parents, established the most successful running cannabis concern in Tulsa, an endeavor that taught him more about how business works than business school ever did. He visits a community that was rewarded for its bootstrapping grit with death and destruction: Greenwood, Tulsas Black Wall Street, which was burned to the ground by resentful white neighbors in the 1921 Tulsa race massacre. Then he ventures to Pawhuska, where a confederation of villains cheated and murdered the Osage community out of its oil money, an outrage chronicled in David Granns book Killers of the Flower Moon and its 2023 movie adaptation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lesson here is hard to miss. The extent to which hard work is rewarded has often depended on whos holding the power and the gun. Theres an element of social Darwinism to the work-work-work ethos, a hard-heartedness that Chandler connects to the likes of the eugenicist and longtime president of Stanford University Ray Lyman Wilbur. It is common talk that every individual is entitled to economic security, Wilbur once wrote. The only animals and birds I know that have economic security are those that have been domesticated and the economic security they have is controlled by the barbed-wire fence, the butchers knife, and the desire of others. They are milked, skinned, egged or eaten up by their protectors. And if figurative dehumanization isnt enough, theres always the literal kind. The author has some fun with a chatbot at a Hardees drive-through for Chandler, it all comes back to fast food setting out to stump it with a fairly simple request that it cant accommodate. When a human being takes over for the machine, Chandler seems not just happy but palpably relieved. I actually like it, the human, named Kristi, says of the chatbot. Its very helpful when were shorthanded. There are alternatives to the eternal grind, and from an American perspective they seem downright radical. In 2016, the French Parliament passed a law designed to give employees the right to not respond to work-related communication after business hours. This is on top of the longtime legal mandate to take a lunch break. Yes, Chandler journeys to Paris, where he takes a tour dedicated to the popular Netflix series Emily in Paris. The show is about a go-go American who brings her can-do spirit to the City of Lights, whose denizens are a bit put off by her lack of chill. You live to work, chides Luc, a co-worker. We work to live! Touche, Luc. Now if youll excuse me, I must check my email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chris Vognar is a freelance culture writer. If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. (NewsNation) The number of drone sightings around the United States has dropped recently, but fewer people reporting seeing unidentified objects in the sky doesnt mean there are more answers from federal agencies investigating the sightings. The FBI previously said they do not believe the drones are the property of the U.S. military or foreign governments. The federal agency told NewsNation that they do not have any new information about where the drones may be coming from. But on a call with reporters, the FBI said that it largely dismisses many of the reported 5,000 sightings as manned aircraft. However, the agency said that there are still more than 100 sightings that still need to be investigated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mystery drones: Where have they been spotted? On a local level, law enforcement officials in states like New Jersey also report a decline in sightings. However, the drop in reported sightings does not solve the mystery of who is behind the reported mystery drones. Federal agencies like the FBI and Federal Aviation Administration have said repeatedly that unidentified objects do not pose a threat to national security. Yet, that leaves local investigators with few answers on objects that they are seeing first-hand. We had one that was basically flying right at us that stopped in mid-air and did a 180, Sgt. Kevin Fennessy of the Ocean County of the N.J. Sheriffs Office told NewsNation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the reports the department has received have involved sightings of fixed-wing drones. Lawmakers, residents and President-elect Donald Trump have complained about a lack of federal transparency on the drone issue. Trump has suggested that the government and the White House know more than it is letting on and that more information should be made 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 NewsNation. TALLINN, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Estonian government convened an emergency meeting on Thursday after the Estlink-2 power cable connecting Estonia and Finland along the floor of the Gulf of Finland was damaged the previous day. At a press conference following the meeting, Estonian officials agreed with the Finnish authorities' suspicion that the Cook Islands-flagged tanker Eagle S "intentionally" struck the offshore cable. Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Laanemets said Finnish authorities have brought the Eagle S to port for further examination. Supporting the Finns' investigation, he said, "The ship's crew must be prepared to stay in the country's waters for as long as the situation requires." Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal called for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to increase its maritime presence in the region as a "deterrent fleet," adding that Finland's investigation would reveal more details. In response to whether Estonia would consider invoking NATO's Article 4, Michal said he intended to discuss the matter with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg after the press conference. Article 4 stipulates that member states will consult whenever a member believes its territorial integrity, political independence, or security is under threat. Michal said the Estonian navy, together with allies, will increase patrols around critical infrastructure. He highlighted the cooperative deployment of ships to monitor undersea infrastructure, urging for greater cooperation to expedite infrastructure improvements. At a separate press conference Thursday afternoon, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo noted that he had contacted Baltic Sea allies and that President Alexander Stubb had reached out to NATO. The 145-km EstLink 2 cable, running beneath the Gulf of Finland, connects the energy grids of Estonia and Finland. Transmission operators Elering and Fingrid reported the outage on Dec. 25. Monthly First Fridays in downtown Macon bring specials on food, drinks and live music. But they also bring an uptick in cases of driving under the influence, according to the Bibb County Sheriffs and Coroners offices. The agencies are taking two approaches in an effort to address the issue: enforcing DUI laws, and trying to provide free rides to prevent drunk driving in the first place. DUIs more common the first Friday of each month Local deputies respond to more DUIs on the first Friday of the month than any other day on average, Sgt. Reginald Tillman confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of people do consider First Fridays the time to go downtown and have their celebrations, and a lot of businesses do push (alcohol) on First Fridays, the 33-year-old officer said. Tillmans unit, under the Georgia Governors Office of Highway Safety, arrests around six to nine people for DUI charges on a typical First Friday night in Macon, he told The Telegraph. Most occur between around 5 p.m. Friday and 4 a.m. Saturday. There are likely more impaired drivers that go unaccounted for, as his unit consists of only three people. We only get the number of the few people that we do stop, Tillman told The Telegraph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those offenders are not all belligerently drunk. A deputy can initiate a traffic stop for actions such as speeding or swerving, even if a driver hasnt had much to drink. The maximum legal blood-alcohol while driving under Georgia law is 0.08% for people over 21 years old, and 0.02% for people under 21. But the levels are not necessarily what deputies look out for because each person processes alcohol different, Tillman said. Those tests arent pass or fail, Tillman said. They just show us the visual representation of the impairment as far as how the body is processing that alcohol. The unit also conducts roadside sobriety tests for all vehicles on certain roads where people recently reported dangerous driving behaviors, or areas with similar patterns in the past. In the latter, the sheriffs office compares the areas previous DUI rates to see what is needed to cut them down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office has connected with local schools to inform students about safe driving. He also encourages people to go buck wild, but responsibly. We would rather teach the public than to lock people up, Tillman said. A night where we dont have to lock a person up for a single DUI, we believe that weve done good. He was 25 years old when his friend, a 27-year-old, was killed when an impaired driver struck his vehicle on Thomaston and Tucker roads in Macon. The person driving under the influence survived the crash. It upsets me, but its something that could have been prevented Tillman said, tearing up. Even if the individual doesnt suffer any longterm effects or anything else like that, if Ive gotten that impaired person off the road for the night, I feel like Ive done something. Prevention: Local coroner gives free rides Coroner Leon Jones said hes sick of seeing photos of arrests made for DUI charges, so hes taking it on himself: those who need a ride home after drinking downtown can just call him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im laying at the house, and Im looking at Facebook, and you got DUI, DUI, DUI, Jones said. Its simple. All you have to do is call me. As a coroner, he investigates and pronounces various deaths. Most DUI incidents in Macon do not end in fatalities, but this is something he still tries to avoid. Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones stands in front of one of his Stop The Killing hearses on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, outside of Richard Robinson Funeral Home in Macon, Georgia. Jones has investigated deaths at the coroners office since 1990 and said that many start with verbal disputes. Every first Friday of the month since August, he has moseyed around town in an Enterprise rental van. He carries puke bags, four walkers and a wheelchair. Most people who take him up on a ride are in their 30s. Illicit drugs are rarely involved, he said; its typically just people who have had too much to drink. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone in Macon can call him for a free ride if they were drinking. He regularly posts his phone number on Facebook. People are usually home by around 2 a.m., or when most bars close downtown. If a rider attempts to tip him, he instead recommends buying a homeless person a meal. Jones emphasized this is not part of his job description, and no one asked him to volunteer for this. Im not a person that sits on my behind and draws a check just because Im elected, Jones said. This is my upbringing. Korea is cracking down on drunk surfers. In a new law going into effect on June 21st, 2025, it will be illegal to ride a surfboard in Korea with a blood alcohol content of 0.03 or higher, according to The Korea Times. And if surfers exceed that limit and they are somehow caught they could face a fine of 1 million won ($685 USD). The decree, it appears, is aimed at improving safety in Korean waters. Already, drunken jet ski driving is illegal but the new law extends to non-motorized crafts, including surfboards and kayaks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per the Times, drunk surfers have (surprisingly) become a recurrent nuisance. The Coast Guard pushed for the revision amid a rise in accidents involving drunk riders, they reported, adding: Experts say drinking alcohol before surfing or kayaking could increase the risk of accidents as it numbs the senses and negatively affects the riders judgment and reaction time. Related: Meet South Koreas First (Aspiring) Big-Wave Surfer Despite the apparent rise in incidents, it does make one wonder how often people are surfing drunk? Is it mainly a Korean thing? Drinking culture in Korea is definitely a thing, with shots of soju flowing freely at after-hours joints for the typically strict and well-mannered business class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But an actual law being necessary to prohibit surfing while drunk? Gotta be a worlds first. Once enacted, it can be added to the list of weird laws around the world including no hiking nude in Switzerland, or no suspiciously holding salmon in the UK, or no peeing in the ocean in Portugal but in the meantime, cheers (geonbae) to the surfers of Korea. Related: Snow Flurry Engulfs South Korea Wavepool Surf Contest (Video) Alle Dorhout, Dutch Ambassador to Ukraine, has said that sanctions against Russia cannot be entirely "watertight": until every country introduces and enforces them, the sanctions will continue to have large loopholes. Source: Alle Dorhout in an interview with Ukrinform, as reported by European Pravda Details: Dorhout was asked what could be done to prevent Russia from evading sanctions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the most important thing was to understand that sanctions are a tool for exerting external political pressure. Quote: "And it is only one of the tools availablean important one, but not watertight. It is difficult to introduce sanctions that would be 100% watertight," Dorhout said. He said that without every country introducing and enforcing sanctions, and while "China, for instance, supplied Russia with goods required by its defence industry, there will be large loopholes in the sanctions". Still, Dorhout said he hopes that following the recent introduction of the 15th sanctions package by the European Union, the 16th such package will be introduced under the Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union (lasting from 1 January to 30 June 2025). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are working on improving our sanctions again and again, but we understand that certain loopholes will always remain," he said. Dorhout also asserted that Russias defence industry should be the urgent target for sanctions. "But again, it is extremely difficult. It is very difficult for the European Union and its partners to break Russias union with North Korea and Iran and Russias important economic ties with China," he explained. Background: On 19 December, Bloomberg reported that the Group of Seven countries are discussing a possible reduction in the so-called price cap for Russian oil transported by sea to limit Russia's oil revenues. On 16 December, the Council of the European Union adopted the 15th package of economic and individual restrictive measures, which included North Korean officials and Chinese suppliers of drone kits. On 25 December, the Washington Post reported that Joe Bidens administration has been considering the introduction of new "serious sanctions" targeting Russia's energy sector before the end of the US presidents term. Support UP or become our patron! Cook Countys system of electronically monitoring criminal defendants awaiting trial is the largest such system in the country, according to the county sheriffs office. More than 3,500 people accused of crimes, including over 100 facing murder or attempted murder charges, arent behind bars and instead are confined to their homes or given curfews to return there, depending on the severity of their alleged offenses. Our county is highly unusual in having two such systems, one run by Sheriff Tom Dart and the other by Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans. Dart has said his office will stop monitoring the movements of new defendants beginning in April, likely leaving the Cook County courts to manage the critical function alone. Darts rationale is that he doesnt think his office can keep residents safe as the number of defendants on home confinement grows. New Cook County States Attorney Eileen ONeill Burke, elected on promises to take a harder line on accused criminals than her progressive predecessor, has said the office will prosecute more crimes. Cook County judges likely will see more defendants before them, which logic suggests will mean more people headed to Cook County Jail but also more defendants wearing ankle bracelets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Electronic monitoring has become a hotter topic of late as the public sees horrifying examples of those who are supposed to be confined at home out on the streets and allegedly committing violent crimes. Most notably, Harvey resident Darion McMillian, 23, was on electronic monitoring on drug-related charges when he allegedly shot to death Chicago police Officer Enrique Martinez, as well as a companion in the car in which McMillian was a passenger, on the night of Nov. 4 on the South Side. McMillian ran from the scene, cutting off his ankle bracelet monitor, before police found and arrested him, police and a Cook County prosecutor said. For several years now, Dart has been a critic of how Cook County is using electronic monitoring, saying that a program which began more than 30 years ago as a way to relieve jail overcrowding through pretrial release of those accused of non-violent offenses now is tasked with monitoring mainly alleged violent criminals. In 2022, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot pointed with alarm to the 100-plus people on electronic monitoring who had been accused of murder or attempted murder. She called on Evans to lock up accused killers. Evans, often an opponent of pretrial incarceration of all but the most dangerous defendants, said Lightfoots position amounted to saying that defendants facing certain allegations be considered guilty until proven innocent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lightfoot was right then, and Evans was wrong. Most would agree that those accused of murder should be considered a threat to public safety as they await trial. We hope Evans views become more in tune with the publics now that the states landmark SAFE-T Act is in effect. That law, which made Illinois the first state to end cash bail, has been a source of controversy since its initial passage in early 2021. The principle that someone charged with a crime shouldnt be imprisoned solely because they lack the cash to make bail is a sound one. But theres far more to the law than that, and there are plenty of people with extensive experience in the criminal justice system saying the statute needs to be tightened in the interest of public safety. In the meantime, it also makes sense to us that a single office whether the sheriff or the Cook County courts be in charge of enforcing home confinement and curfew restrictions on defendants. It appears that will be Evans sole job soon, and in some ways thats an appropriate outcome given the chief judges influential role in creating the system as we know it today. Evans raises reasonable issues in terms of additional staffing that hell need, as well as close cooperation with the Chicago Police Department, and perhaps Darts office, too, since the security personnel employed by the judiciary dont have arrest powers. The sheriff, of course, has such powers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However oversight of this critical public safety function is sorted out once Darts office stops performing it, its imperative that Evans ensure hes at least as concerned about the safety of streets in Chicago and the rest of Cook County as he is about the rights of the accused. _____ Soldiers from the 28th Mechanised Brigade have captured an Egyptian citizen after repelling another Russian attack near the city of Toretsk. Source: 28th Mechanised Brigade Quote: "Taking advantage of the foggy weather, a group of occupiers managed to get to our positions, but were immediately met with heavy fire from the infantrymen of the 2nd Mechanised Battalion of the 28th Brigade." Details: Ukrainian defenders report that during one of the Russian assaults, they used all available assets to defeat the Russians, and managed to kill almost all of them. Only one survived, and decided to surrender. It turned out that he was an Egyptian citizen who had been recruited by Russia into its army. Because of this, the Ukrainians had to explain everything through miming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rest of the Russians were killed: some of them tried to escape or play dead, but all of them were captured by the crew of operators of the Unmanned Systems Battalion and the Kurt & Company unit. Background: In October 2023, the National Resistance Center of the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces reported that the Russians were recruiting mercenaries from Cuba for the war against Ukraine, further attracting foreigners to the eastern contact zone. The media reported in February that Russia had been tricking Syrians who didnt even speak Russian into signing contracts with the Russian Defence Ministry, providing them with Russian passports in return. Later, the National Resistance Center identified several Middle Eastern mercenaries fighting against Ukraine on the Russian side. Support UP or become our patron! HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) An Evansville man is facing neglect charges after an elderly man was found in filthy conditions inside a home. According to an affidavit, at 5:05 a.m. Thursday, EPD officers were dispatched to the 600 block of Chateau Drive. EPD says AMR was already enroute for an elderly male with dementia that was calling out for help, and this was called in by the patients son, 50-year-old Toy Whittley. Affidavit releases more details on animal cruelty case with over 50 dogs Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arriving officers say they saw an elderly male in bed, wrapped in soiled sheets. Officers also saw the mattress was heavily soiled and what appeared to be feces smeared on the walls next to the bed. EPD further states the entire room was filthy with one lamp with no shade on the floor along with a blue plastic tub that was used as a human waste receptacle. Officials state the male was thin to the point of emaciation, unable to stand or walk and was confined to the bed. Officials also state there were several healing sores on the males upper body, including what ER staff later identified as a pressure ulcer. Whittley was identified as the elderly males lone caregiver, and given the conditions, Whittley was arrested and booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail. 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 Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). Officials across the country spent the four years following 2020 preparing for another deluge of violence and chaos during the 2024 presidential election. Thankfully, during early voting and on Election Day itself, violence was minimal. A series of bomb threats in swing states brought a degree of chaos, though the FBI quickly dismissed them as not credible. The relatively smooth election does not, however, show the years of warnings to be misguided, law enforcement and election experts told TPM. Rather, officials in both Arizona and Georgia epicenters for 2020 election turmoil and threats credit careful planning and some extreme-sounding security measures for the smooth and safe way that Novembers election played out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These precautions were necessary to ensure that there was no disruption, said Lindsey Miller, director of strategic research at the nonprofit Informing Democracy. And had the outcome been different, I think we wouldve seen these systems be tested much more rigorously than they were. In Georgias Cobb County, during the months leading up to the election, the director of elections and director of the Public Services Agency, citing a severe increase in concern for election worker safety, approved the implementation of panic buttons as a way to protect poll workers. Although the measure sounds dramatic, election officials and experts told TPM at the time that this was a necessary measure to protect poll workers, given the threat environment election workers faced in a post-2020 world. Also in the lead up to November, Georgia became the first state to mandate election intimidation training for law enforcement. The program, which was a direct response to the wave of violence and threats that followed the 2020 election, was intended to train law enforcement on the states election code so that they could be better prepared to enforce the law at polling places, if needed. Chris Harvey, former Georgia elections director and current deputy director of Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, described these measures in an interview with TPM as insurance, and as a necessary part of any type of government operation providing security and responsiveness and training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can look at it and say, well, we spent all this money on protection and then nothing happened, he said. Well, how much of what didnt happen was caused by all the preparedness? Georgia was hit with dozens of bomb threats on election night, and Harvey credits the training and security measures that were put in place beforehand with creating the conditions that allowed law enforcement to handle these threats quickly and effectively. I really believe that the fact that nobody freaked out, nobody went berserk law enforcement responded quickly people made adjustments and it really was not a factor at all was largely due to the fact that they talked about all that stuff before, he said. In Maricopa County, Arizona a hotbed for election threats and violence following the 2020 election officials renovated election infrastructure, turning the countys tabulation center into what they described as an almost unrecognizable encampment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The countys tabulation center now has permanent fencing and a badge requirement, as well as netting on the permanent fencing to prevent voters from taking pictures of election workers license plates. The county also increased undercover law enforcement at polling places on Election Day. Like Harvey, Maricopa County supervisor Bill Gates told TPM that, given the violence of 2020, there was simply no other choice but to prepare for the worst-case scenario, especially because Maricopa County was such a flashpoint for election violence. The investment in security measures is really just a drop in the bucket compared to what is at stake, Gates said. Both the physical safety of those who are doing elections, who are running elections, and those who are participating in elections, and then the importance and value that comes from the lack of any physical violence as it relates to peoples faith in democracy. When bomb threats hit his county, Gates said, law enforcement was ready because of that general heightened sense of attention to any kind of threats. ELYRIA, Ohio (WJW) In a heartbreaking turn of events, a Christmas Eve fire in Elyria has left a community in mourning. The blaze, which erupted on Brandston Avenue, has been confirmed as accidental, but it resulted in the tragic loss of 29-year-old Watu Brown from Columbia Station. Elyria Fire Chief Joseph Pronesti released the victims identity on Thursday, expressing the profound sorrow felt by the fire department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just a tragedy. Ive been chief for three years, and this is the tenth fatal fire. Its never easy, he said. Pedestrian hospitalized after hit-and-run in Lorain The fire left visible scars on the neighborhood, with charred walls and shattered windows serving as stark reminders of the disaster. Fortunately, two women and another man who were inside the home at the time managed to escape without injury. A few more seconds, a few more minutes and they wouldnt have made it, Pronesti said. Investigators are still working to determine the exact cause of the fire, but preliminary findings suggest it was accidental. As the investigation unfolds, crews are diligently sifting through the remnants of the single-family home to gather more information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The community has rallied together in support of those affected by this tragedy. Pronesti emphasized the strong sense of community in Elyria, stating, it does have an urban city feel to it, but there is still that hometown sense of community. The loss of Brown serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly disaster can strike, even in the safety of ones home. Man killed in Christmas Eve shooting identified Pronesti urged residents to remain vigilant, have an emergency plan in place and ensure smoke detectors are functioning properly. Things are going to happen. Its just if they do. You want to make sure you have the ability to get out, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire departments response was swift, with crews arriving just minutes after the initial 911 call. However, by that time, the fire had already spread from the original home to two neighboring residences. Pronesti praised all who responded in this difficult incident. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. For the past year, JET 24 Action News has been sharing the stories of formerly homeless military veterans who have been helped by a local non-profit called Embracing Our Veterans. The organization got some financial help this year from LECOM Health Now, Lou Baxter wraps up this year-long series and looks back at some of the veterans we met and how the community helps serve those who served. Nearly a year ago we met Meadville Army veteran Cody McGraw, who spent time in Iraq inside an M1 Abrahams Army tank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im just glad I made it back. Not a lot of people did, said McGraw. Like so many veterans, he found himself struggling after his service and being homeless, but he sought help and got it from Embracing Our Veterans Its very difficult for our military to ask for help, and Im so proud of Cody because he was in a dark place and he decided that the better thing to do was to get on with his life. Too often that doesnt happen Lou, we lose our guys, said Tina Schiefelbein, Embracing our Veterans. Tom Burch of Wesleyville is an Army veteran who due to failing eyesight and a divorce found himself personally and financially devastated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The VA helped find him a home and Embracing Our Veterans, with financial support from LECOM Health, provided veterans like him with a new bed or sofa. Im really really thankful. I cant thank the people of Erie enough. And Embracing our Veterans for what they have done, said Burch. How does that make him feel? Very humble because I dont feel I deserve it, said Burch. On the contrary serving those who served is the mission of Embracing Our Veterans. Palmiero Toyota of Meadville, also joined the effort, providing $500 in gift cards. Somebody who was willing to give their life for our country, its important to recognize the service they have given and honor them as best we can, said Carrie OShurak, Palmiero Toyota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many local men and women, who served our country, struggle and need help. They all have a different story. But in the end, they get it from Embracing Our Veterans. Take it from Army vet Ervin Amos. Embracing Our Veterans, they treated me fantastically. They didnt know me, they just gave me a call and said Okay, we got you covered,' said Amos. Whats free to vets though, isnt really free. And thats where you come in, If we want to continue doing things free, which we really passionately believe in, we need the support of the community with donations and money, said Pat Case, Embracing our Veterans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To learn more on how you can help, 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 WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. ST. PETERSBURG, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries have decided to grant Iran observer status at the bloc, according to a document published on the EAEU website on Thursday. The leaders also approved the entry into force of the free trade agreement between EAEU and Iran, which was signed last December. The documents were approved following a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Russia's Leningrad Oblast on Thursday. Bakytzhan Sagintayev, Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission, noted after the meeting that Iran is one of the important partners of EAEU. Trade turnover between the two parties nearly doubled from 2018 to 2023, and in the first 10 months of 2024, it rose by 12.8 percent, the official said, adding that the free trade agreement will enable both sides to increase trade volume and overall economic cooperation more effectively. A total of 17 documents were approved at the meeting. In addition to agreements with Iran, they include a deal on a unified customs transit system, a directive on the operation of a single services market within the EAEU, and others. Armenia will hand over the EAEU chairmanship to Belarus starting in 2025. Alverno College is no longer considered under financial distress, an encouraging sign for the south side Catholic women's college. The college's accreditor, the Higher Learning Commission, said it dropped the designation earlier this month after determining the college had resolved problems that led Alverno's Board of Trustees to declare a financial emergency last June. Alverno whittled down its academic programming, from 43 undergraduate majors to 29, and 25 graduate programs to 19. It also eliminated 24 full-time faculty and 14 full-time staff positions, Alverno spokesperson Kelly Cole said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As a result of those actions and other changes, Alverno is now in a stronger financial position," Cole said. "We continue to implement cost-saving measures, and to increase opportunities for revenue generation." Here's what publicly available documents tell us about Alverno's financial situation: 990 tax forms show repeated deficits Alverno ran deficits in four of the last five fiscal years, according to its latest tax returns. The most recent 990 form on file shows the college ran a $13 million deficit in the 2022 fiscal year. Alverno told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last May that the projected deficit for the fiscal year that ended June 30 would be about $9 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The college declined to say whether it has closed its deficit or what it projects the deficit will be for the year ending next June. Enrollment statistics reflect some vulnerability Declining enrollment isn't necessarily a telltale sign of doom. Most institutions have fewer students than they did a decade ago because there are fewer higher school students available for colleges to recruit. Fewer students means fewer tuition dollars coming in, straining the budgets of smaller schools that don't have the economies of scale that larger institutions do. It's not a hard-and-fast rule, but experts consider schools with student bodies of 1,000 or fewer to be the most vulnerable to closure. Federal education data show Alverno's enrollment over the past five years has fluctuated from a low of 1,341 full-time students in 2019 to a peak of 1,785 in 2021. Endowment performance has generally been good Well-managed schools withdraw a small percentage of their endowment annually, leaving the rest to accumulate interest. Most money in endowment funds is set aside for a designated purpose based on the wishes of the donor, such as scholarships for students studying a specific major or construction of a new campus building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The larger the endowment, the better position the school is in. But experts were reluctant to provide a cutoff for how small an endowment would constitute a red flag. Look at the endowments performance over time, they said. If its been spent down, thats a sign the university may be tapping it to plug budget holes. Alverno has built up its endowment over the past decade from about $22 million to as much as $42 million in 2021, according to federal education data. Then it dropped to $35 million in 2022. Accreditor can offer clues to financial problems Accreditation is important for an institution to have because it allows students to access federal loans, grants and other financial aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Higher Learning Commission accredits colleges and universities in the Midwest. It regularly visits institutions and reviews data, watching for significant changes in enrollment, faculty headcount, student-teacher ratio and number of degrees awarded. It also studies the schools' finances and scores their financial health. These scores aren't made public, but if an institution's score falls below a certain threshold, the commission may require the institution to submit an additional report or host it for another visit. The accreditor can take more serious steps, too, by placing schools at risk of being out of compliance on sanction or probation. It can also designate a school as being in financial distress or under governmental investigation" though those labels are later removed from the website after the designation is lifted. Type in your schools name on the Higher Learning Commission website to view its accreditation history. Look up U.S. Education Department financial composite scores The U.S. Education Department annually calculates the overall financial health of private institutions participating in federal student aid programs based on schools audited financial statements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The scores range from -1.0 to 3.0, with schools scoring 1.5 or higher considered financially responsible. Scores falling between 1.0 and 1.4 are considered financially responsible, but require additional oversight. Alverno scored a 2.2 in the 2022-23 school year, the latest available data. The scores get their fair share of criticism, predicting only half of closures since 2010-11, according to a 2017 Government Accountability Office report. Its worth noting that schools can close for nonfinancial reasons as well. Cardinal Stritch University scored 2.3 in 2021-22, the most recent data on file for the school before it closed in 2023. Holy Family College, a private institution in Manitowoc that closed in 2020, scored 0.4. U.S. Education Department cash monitoring is another data point The federal education department can also monitor schools cash monitoring as a way to provide additional oversight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Northland College is the only private nonprofit Wisconsin institution currently under heightened cash monitoring. Kelly Meyerhofer covers higher education in Wisconsin. Contact her at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com or 414-223-5168. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @KellyMeyerhofer. This story has been updated to add a gallery. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Alverno College no longer considered under financial distress BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) 2025 is almost here and Greater Binghamton has some big plans to welcome the New Year. For those looking to spend a night on the town this New Years Eve, News 34 has got you covered. Weve compiled a list of several festive events, so you dont have to go too far to enjoy the New Year. From glamourous galas to cozy dinners, and even a New Years Eve rave, there is something for everybody to enjoy as we say goodbye to 2024. New Years Eve festivities around Greater Binghamton Grab your sparklers, noise makers, and champagne, its time to welcome 2025! Station 45 American Chop House: Perhaps the most looked forward to New Years Eve event in Binghamton, Station 45 is once again bringing New York City to 45 Henry Street. Station 45 will be ringing in the New Year with fireworks and a ball drop at midnight. The outside event is free to the public and family friendly. DoubleTree: The DoubleTree in downtown Binghamton is hosting an evening of food and fun. Held in the ballroom, couples can purchase an overnight package for two which includes admission to the event. The $429 deal offers a full open bar, live musical performance from Splash, hors doeuvres and cocktail hour, midnight champagne toast, and full breakfast buffet the next morning. The event will take place from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. To book, call the DoubleTree at (607)722-7575 and ask for the sales department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lost Dog Cafe and Lounge: The annual Glitterball is back at the Lost Dog Cafe! Wear your glitter, rhinestones, and sparkles to ring in the New Year in style. The event will begin at 9 p.m. DJ Frankie C will be providing music. There will be a $5 cover for this 21 and older event. Lost Dog is located at 222 Water Street in Binghamton. Garage Taco Bar: Dress to impress as you support local artists Edge and Babi Lou. Garage is hosting a Hollywood Red Carpet themed event starting at 7 p.m. There will be an open mic from 8 to 10, hosted by Supreme Soup. Following that, Edge and Babi Lou will perform with Malina from 10 to 1. There will be a raffle basket drawing and champagne toast at midnight. Garage Taco Bar is located at 211 Washington Street in Binghamton. Stadium 138: Stadium 138 has a lost to celebrate this year as it hosts its first birthday party. The restaurant will be holding a New Years Eve Dinner for $50. The meal includes three courses, two drinks, and one champagne toast. There will be live music and DJs to finish out the night. The event will be held from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Stadium 138 is located at 138 Washington Street in Binghamton. Iron Agave: Starting at 9 p.m., Iron Agave will be home to a massive New Years Eve celebration. Guests will be able to enjoy dinner and drink specials as well as a video dance party with DJ Toby. Iron Agave is located at 60 Court Street in Binghamton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spectral Productions and Dark Matter Productions, Reset 2025: Grab your glowsticks, pashminas, and bring kandi to pass at this electric annual New Years Eve rave. Held at 180 Clinton Street in Binghamton, Spectral Productions and Dark Matter Productions are hosting the areas best DJ talent beginning at 9 p.m. There will be a dedicated lights and projection team to make the event even more memorable. Phelps Mansion Museum: Ring in the New Year with Phelps Mansion Museum as its decorated in its holiday best. The mansion is hosting the Glitter and Gold Dance Party Through the Decades. During the event, there will be a cash bar, appetizers, party favors, and streaming of the ball drop. There will also be a DJ playing music from a different decade every hour. Tickets to the event are $30 for one, $50 for two. Phelps Mansion Museum is located at 191 Court Street in Binghamton. Beer Factory: Put on your party clothes, Beer Tree Factory is reimagining its space for its annual New Years Eve extravaganza. Beginning at 9 p.m., guests will be able to enjoy a night of drinks, food, and music. There will be two full open bars with craft beer, wine, and cocktails as well as a martini lounge in the cafe and dancing in the Beer Hall. Several food stations and passed appetizers will be available as well. And dont forget to get your picture taken in the 360-degree photo booth! Tickets are $120 and can be purchased here. Beer Tree Factory is located at 511 Reynolds Road in Johnson City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Happy New Year from News 34! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. Washington state lawmakers earlier this month started prefiling bills ahead of the 2025 legislative session. Certain proposals like a push to consecrate the states unofficial nickname could be reasonably described as fun. The 2025 session begins Jan. 13. In the month leading up to the starting gun, lawmakers can prefile bills that will be officially introduced on the first day. Now that prefiled bills have begun trickling in, here are some of the most colorful highlights. Evergreen State The Evergreen State would be cemented as Washingtons official nickname under Senate Bill 5000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Sens. Jeff Wilson, a Longview Republican, and Mike Chapman, a Port Angeles Democrat, note that Washington has long been referred to as the Evergreen State via storytelling, word of mouth and license plate displays. This isnt the first time that Senate lawmakers have attempted to get the evergreen nickname enshrined in state law. The proposal passed the upper chamber for the past couple years but was not voted on by the House, according to the Washington State Standard. Election Day Election Day in Washington would become a recognized legislative holiday under House Bill 1116, sponsored by state Rep. Sharlett Mena, a Tacoma Democrat. It would be honored the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November. Fair and free elections serve as the foundation of democracy in the U.S., and voting rights are among the greatest privileges of being a citizen, the bill states. Washington takes such freedoms seriously, and the state ranks relatively high in the nation in terms of voter participation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HB 1116 seeks to further boost voter mobilization and election awareness. Mena touched on the importance of elections in a Dec. 12 news release announcing her as chair of the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee. Our committee directly shapes policies that influence how we serve communities across Washington, she said in the release. From ensuring fair and accessible elections to strengthening relationships with tribes and responsibly managing gaming policies, our work is foundational to fostering equity, transparency, and representation in state government. Pacific Standard Time Wilson, the Longview Republican, and fellow state Senate lawmaker Manka Dhingra, a Redmond Democrat, are behind Senate Bill 5001: the latest push to make Pacific Standard Time permanent in the Evergreen State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doing so would eliminate Washingtonians need to adjust their clocks twice annually. State lawmakers have unsuccessfully tried for years to secure permanent PST or year-round Daylight Saving Time. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, recently voiced support for the latter. Ill work with anyone to make DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME permanent, Murray said in a Dec. 13 post on X (formerly Twitter). Its time to stop changing our clocks for no reason at all. In 2019, the Washington state Legislature passed a similar bill to adopt Daylight Saving Time permanently, but it could not take effect unless the U.S. Congress acted on it too, The Olympian previously reported. This latest proposal for year-round standard time would not need federal approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If perennial Pacific Standard Time got the green light, that would mean the sun during June would ascend at about 4 a.m. in Western Washington and wane at about 8 p.m., according to the Washington State Standard. Ill work with anyone to make DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME permanent. Its time to stop changing our clocks for no reason at all. pic.twitter.com/LZeHhMhCfI Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) December 13, 2024 U.S. Naval Academy Washington drivers could order a new special license plate under House Bill 1050 by state Rep. Clyde Shavers, a Clinton Democrat. The bill aims to create special plates to honor the U.S. Naval Academy. Examples of current designs include license plates commemorating the Armed Forces and breast cancer awareness. The proceeds from the U.S. Naval Academy plates, costing $40 initially and $30 to renew, would help benefit veterans and their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shavers graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served eight years in the Navy, according to his biography on the state House Democrats website. Kimchi Day Kimchi, the classic fermented-cabbage Korean dish, has boomed in popularity in the U.S. in recent years. Now Washington state lawmakers in both chambers and on either side of the aisle want to recognize its significance. Senate Bill 5046 and House Bill 1017 seek to recognize Nov. 22 of each year as Kimchi Day. In South Korea, Nov. 22 represents national kimchi day, the legislation states. The date itself holds meaning: Kimchi, composed of 11 major ingredients, is said to offer 22 health benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislations state Senate sponsors include Wilson, the Longview Republican, plus Sens. Keith Wagoner, a Sedro Woolley Republican; Bob Hasegawa, a Seattle Democrat; Claudia Kauffman, a Kent Democrat; Perry Dozier, a Waitsburg Republican; Javier Valdez, a Seattle Democrat; and Jim McCune, a Graham Republican. It was sponsored in the House by state Reps. Cindy Ryu of Shoreline; Mena, the Tacoma lawmaker; and Mari Leavitt of University Place all Democrats. The legislation notes that kimchi is tied to a rich cultural history and serves as a solid source of probiotics, calcium, potassium and other vitamins. Washington would join Virginia, Hawaii and California in recognizing Kimchi Day on Nov. 22. 3D-printed homes The United States has started seeing 3D-printed buildings crop up in the housing sector. Habitat for Humanity, for instance, reportedly unveiled its first 3D-printed home three years ago, which shaved about four weeks off the usual construction time. Now the technology is being acknowledged in Washington by Shavers, the Democratic representative from Clinton. House Bill 1029 would act to incorporate 3D-printed building construction into the states residential code over time. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Mayor Brett Smiley said Providence residents should expect a tax hike next year, although the mayor said hes still figuring out the details. I dont have any choice, Smiley said in a recent interview with Target 12. The move comes after the citys $15 million school funding settlement with the R.I. Department of Education, which controls the Providence Public Schools District. An initial payment of $4 million, which covers the school districts deficit for fiscal year 2024, has already been made. The remaining $11 million will be paid in monthly installments over the next seven months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smiley is currently preparing his third budget proposal since becoming mayor, which is traditionally unveiled around April when its sent to the Providence City Council for consideration. The council vets the budget and submits its own proposal, which is then sent back to the mayor for his approval or veto before the citys fiscal year starts on July 1. The mayor said the citywide property revaluation, which happens every three years and is wrapping up this month, will help his administration piece together a clearer picture for next fiscal years budget. The evaluation, which is required by state law, means the city assessors office reassess the value of each property in the city to determine its estimated value. The citys property tax rate is then assessed against the value to determine each property owners tax bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last citywide revaluation resulted in steep increases to property values in the citys West End and South Providence neighborhoods, much to the chagrin of owners who saw their tax bills soar. Smiley said hes also eyeing some expense cuts, but hasnt figured out yet where to make them. Were going to try to balance the burden across various parties, including city government, Smiley said. There will certainly be some other revenue things, like fines and fees, that were going to look for ways to generate additional revenue that doesnt burden homeowners or renters. Funding for libraries and recreation centers is secure for the rest of this fiscal year, but Smiley warned that could change come July 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We havent been able to make any promises one way or another, the mayor said. Everythings being looked at and so, will communicate with those folks. They wont be blindsided. How Providence is paying for the $15 million school funding settlement Before the settlement agreement, the city implemented a freeze on hiring, overtime and non-essential spending for the rest of the fiscal year, totaling about $2 million. Even amid budget constraints, Smiley said its still his goal to regain control of the Providence Public School District, which has been under state-run control since 2019. The schools will remain under state control for up to another three years, or 2027, but Smiley said hes hopeful he can work on a transition back to local control as soon as next summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the settlement, the city has also agreed to set increased financial contributions for the schools for the next two years. The challenge is, even though weve made that funding commitment, as of today, I still dont actually have any ability to to have any oversight over how they spend money, he said. The city will conduct an audit of the districts finances in the coming weeks, according to the mayor, and it could take anywhere from one to two months to complete. I still have concerns about how they spend money, which is why I had been asking for an audit for so long, Smiley said. I am going to be able to report out to the City Council, to the community, to our new school board, areas where we think there were inappropriate choices made, the wrong priorities, places where theyre spending beyond competing districts or peer districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The schools received just over $135 million from the city this year, but as part of the settlement, the city will increase its contribution to $147 million for the next two years. Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. 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. Azerbaijan Airlines Flight JS-8432 crashed in Kazakhstan Wednesday after being fired upon by a Russian Pantsir S1 short-range air defense system, the head of Ukraines Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) told The War Zone, while a U.S. official told us that a Russian anti-aircraft system may have struck the aircraft. These claims line up with video emerging from inside the jet and the crash scene, as well as reporting by several news outlets indicating the Russian air defense system caused the crash of the Embraer 190 passenger jet that killed 38. The War Zone cannot independently verify these claims while several investigations are underway, and Russian, Azerbaijani and Kazakh officials urge restraint in reaching conclusions about the crash. Video taken by a passenger before the crash reportedly showed shrapnel holes in the fuselage, consistent with damage from a Russian surface-to-air missile, according to the Twitter account of the Azeri Times news outlet. The footage also shows a woman bleeding from her leg, wounded by shrapnel. Azerbaijan Plane Crash: Videos taken onboard the plane while it was still in the air reveal shrapnel holes in the fuselage, consistent with damage from a Russian surface-to-air missile. The footage also shows a woman bleeding from her leg, wounded by shrapnels. pic.twitter.com/SPs3JzoG6J The Azeri Times (@AzeriTimes) December 26, 2024 Another video from inside the plane appeared to show shrapnel damage as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two separate cabin videos (switching at 0:26) from inside the damaged Azerbaijani aircraft. In the first video, the plane is still above the clouds and doesnt appear to be swerving much. #J28243 *** Shrapnel penetrated the fuselage from the left and exited on the right. pic.twitter.com/wQ931X6bgb Espoolaismies Pepe (@hurumdara2) December 26, 2024 In a video recorded after the crash, the tail section appeared to be riddled with shrapnel. Increasing speculation in Russian media that the Baku-Grozny Azerbaijan Airlines flight was shot down by Russian air defenses that mistook it for a Ukrainian drone. Footage of the damage to the fuselage. pic.twitter.com/QzsDbCLDtS Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) December 25, 2024 The jets final moments can be seen in videos showing its pilots trying to land the aircraft before it crashed. It appeared to pitch upward, then descend at a steep angle several times. On its final approach, the Embraer 190 again descended at a steep angle before banking to the right and crashing near the runway, erupting in a ball of flames. In the extended video of the "AZAL #Azerbaijan Airlines" plane crash, which was originally en route #Baku#Grozny and diverted to #Aktau Airport due to fog, the aircraft is seen descending and ascending multiple times before its final landing attempt. pic.twitter.com/xT30VTIVI4 Ararat Petrosyan (@araratpetrosian) December 25, 2024 A separate Tweet showed another view of the crash and its aftermath, with survivors in the rear section of the aircraft that had detached upon impact. Another angle of the Azerbaijanian Airlines E190 crashing in Kazakhstan https://t.co/AAMTJXKlzN pic.twitter.com/GgD1SLrbDf Aliu (@Aliu_312) December 25, 2024 As far as we know, the jet was shot down by a Russian Pantsir S1 air defense system on Russian terrain, GUR commander Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov told us. Citing four sources close to the Azerbaijani investigation, Reuters reported that the jet was downed by Russian air defense after diverting from an area of Russia in which Moscow has used air defense systems against Ukrainian drone strikes in recent months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Euronews, citing Azerbaijani government sources reported that a Russian surface-to-air missile caused the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Aktau on Wednesday. According to the sources, the missile was fired at Flight 8432 during drone air activity above Grozny, and the shrapnel hit the passengers and cabin crew as it exploded next to the aircraft mid-flight, the publication reported. Government sources have told Euronews that the damaged aircraft was not allowed to land at any Russian airports despite the pilots requests for an emergency landing, and it was ordered to fly across the Caspian Sea towards Aktau in Kazakhstan. According to data, the planes GPS navigation systems were jammed throughout the flight path above the sea. Aktau is nearly 300 miles east of Grozny. The stricken jet flew nearly 300 miles east, including roughly 190 miles over the Caspian Sea. (Google Earth) The airliner, with 67 people on board, was due to fly to Grozny in Russias Chechen Republic but it was diverted because of fog, the airline said, according to the BBC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A surviving passenger told Russian TV he believed the pilot had tried twice to land in dense fog over Grozny before the third time, something exploded some of the aircraft skin had blown out,' the network reported. Sad Day for Azerbaijan as the national airline carrier's plane crashed on Christmas, grieved to the entire nationHeartfelt condolences to all those who lost their loved ones in this tragic incident. Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) @azalofficial is known for its high quality and pic.twitter.com/7uVL712pT3 Malik Ayub SUMBAL (@ayubsumbal) December 26, 2024 Kazakhstans Minister of Transport, Marat Karabayev, said Thursday that a Kazakh control center received a signal from Russia around 45 minutes before the plane crashed, saying that the flight was being diverted, CNN reported. The Russian dispatcher said that the aircraft was experiencing a failure in its control systems and that the crew decided to fly to Aktau after receiving reports of bad weather, Karabayev said, according to CNN. The dispatcher later said that an oxygen tank exploded in the passenger cabin, causing passengers to lose consciousness, according to Karabayev. While the Azerbaijan Airlines crew made two landing approaches at Aktau airport, the aircraft deviated from its course, and lost communication with Aktau dispatchers when it crashed, Karabayev said. The flight-tracking website Flightradar24 reported that the plane set off on Wednesday at 7:55 a.m. Azerbaijan Standard Time (AST) and crashed at 10:28 a.m. AST. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The aircraft was exposed to strong GPS jamming which made the aircraft transmit bad ADS-B data. At (8:40 a.m. AST) we lost the ADS-B signal, Flightradar24 concluded. At (10:07 a.m. AST) we picked up the ADS-B signal again before it crashed at (10:28 a.m. AST). Flight #J28243 that crashed near Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan is an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer ERJ-190 with registration 4K-AZ65.#J28243 took off from Baku at 03:55 UTC time and was flying to Grozny. The aircraft was exposed to strong GPS jamming which made the aircraft pic.twitter.com/rM1Q0jmMPt Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) December 25, 2024 Flightradar24 also provided a 3D flight track. We have updated our post on #J28243 to include local pressure (1025 hPa) altitude corrections for the ADS-B data. ADS-B data is only reported in Standard pressure (1013.25 hPa). https://t.co/ECZ3sHa1Zg pic.twitter.com/aQhMC3j9lf Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) December 26, 2024 The Azerbaijani Caliber news outlet concurred with the Flightradar24 assessment about interference from Russian electronic warfare (EW) systems. After reportedly being damaged by the Russian SAM, the jets communications systems were completely paralyzed by Russian electronic warfare systems, according to Caliber. This disruption caused the aircraft to disappear from radar within Russian airspace and only reappeared in the area of the Caspian Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caliber added that according to Russian sources, at the time of the flight over Chechnya, Russian air defense systems were attempting to shoot down Ukrainian drones. The head of the Security Council of the Chechen Republic, Khamzat Kadyrov, confirmed the drone attack on Grozny on the morning of December 25, stating that there were no casualties or damage. In this case, the Russian side should have closed its airspace to civilian aircraft, but this was not done. Why a no-fly zone was not declared over Chechnya remains a significant question. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned against jumping to conclusions that the Russians fired at the jet. It would be wrong to put forward any hypotheses before the investigations conclusions, he argued. We, of course, will not do this, and no one should do this. We need to wait until the investigation is completed. A regional Kazakh official appeared to acknowledge Thursday that the investigation is looking into whether Russian air defenses downed the plane but said it is too soon to offer a definitive assessment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mangystau Regional Transport Prosecutor Abylaibek Ordabayev said they have not yet come to any conclusions about whether that played a role, Reuters reported. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said he learned of the crash while he was flying to Russia to attend the informal summit of the heads of state of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member countries in St. Petersburg on Dec. 25. He promptly ordered his plane to return to Baku and ordered a criminal investigation of the crash. Like the Russians and Kazakhs, he urged caution before determining the cause. The commissions task is to fully investigate the matter, examine the causes of the crash and all its details, and provide information both to me and to the Azerbaijani public, he said. According to the information provided to me, the AZAL airline plane, flying on the Baku-Grozny route, changed its course due to worsening weather conditions and began heading toward Aktau airport, where the crash occurred during landing. There are videos of the plane crash available in the media and on social networks, and everyone can watch them. However, the reasons for the crash are not yet known to us. There are various theories, but I believe it is premature to discuss them. The matter must be thoroughly investigated. A criminal case has been launched by the Prosecutor Generals Office, and naturally, the Azerbaijani public will be regularly informed about both the results of the commissions work and the progress of the criminal case. That anyone survived the crash at all is amazing in itself. It speaks volumes about the pilots ability to fly the stricken jet for nearly 300 miles, including roughly 190 miles over a large body of water, reportedly with disrupted communications and likely by using thrust to help the flight because the left horizontal stabilizer was reportedly rendered inoperable by the shrapnel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Captain Igor Kshnyakin, co-pilot Aleksandr Kalyaninov and purser Hokuma Aliyeva were killed in the crash, according to Euronews, while the other two flight attendants, Zulfugar Asadov and Aidan Rahimli, reportedly survived and were being treated at the hospital on Thursday. The crew was hailed as heroes for their ability to maintain flight and keep the passengers relatively calm. Kshnyakin and Kalyaninov displayed remarkable airmanship, according to experts, as they managed to fly the stricken plane across the Caspian Sea and crash landing just 3 kilometers short of the Aktau airport runway, Euronews noted. In a Tweet, the airline provided a list of the crew and passengers on the aircraft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AZAL-n J2-8243 nomrli Bak-Qrozn reysind olan srnisinlrin v ekipaj uzlrinin siyahs: 1.Agayev Ramin 2.hmdov Rsad 3.limirzyeva Xdic 4.limirzoyev li 5.liyev Zamin Idris 6.Anqbazova Maleyka 7.Arsbayeva Ceyran 8.Arsbayeva Madina 9.Asanov Rinat 10.Atsayeva Zaira pic.twitter.com/8sUqY73Kb7 AZAL Azerbaijan Airlines (@azalofficial) December 25, 2024 This is not the first time Russia has been accused of downing an airliner. In September 2016, a Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team tasked with figuring out what happened to Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) on July 17th, 2014, concluded that a SA-11 Buk surface-to-air missile system downed the hapless airliner, and that weapon was sent into Ukraine from Russia and removed shortly after the engagement. The site where the missile was fired has also been officially pinpointed as just outside the village of Pervomaiskyi, which was held by pro-Russian forces at the time. After the shootdown, in which all 298 lives aboard MH17 were lost, the BUK system was quickly moved back into Russian territory the next day, according to the report. After the BUK missile had been fired, the BUK-TELAR initially drove off under its own power, the report concluded. A short time later it was reloaded onto the Volvo truck and transported back to the Russian border. During the night, the convoy crossed the border into the territory of the Russian Federation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have been several relatively recent cases where air defenses, under pressure of an ongoing or possibly impending attack, have taken down the wrong aircraft. Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752, a Boeing 737-800, crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport at approximately 6:12 AM local time on Jan. 8, 2020, after being struck by two Iranian air defense missiles. The flight was heading to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and had 176 crew and passengers on board, all of whom died in the subsequent crash. Video footage then emerged showed the plane engulfed in a fireball before it hit the ground. The shootdown immediately followed an unprecedented Iranian missile strike targeting U.S. forces in Iraq, and Iranian air defenses were on extreme alert anticipating the country would be hit in retaliation. You can read more about that here. Rescue workers carry the body of a victim of a Ukrainian plane crash. On Jan. 8th, 2020, Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was scheduled to depart from Tehran to Canada via Kyiv. The Boeing 737-800 was shot down shortly after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport by two missiles fired by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). All 176 passengers and crew were perished. (Photo by Javad / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP) JAVAD More recently, a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet was accidentally shot down by a missile fired by the U.S. Navy Ticonderoga class cruiser USS Gettysburg over the Red Sea. The jet, downed early on Dec. 22 local time, was returning to the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman during the middle of what a U.S. official told The War Zone was a complex attack. After successfully returning from its initial mission, an F/A-18F launched again to provide air defense support from OWAs and ASCMs that were inbound to the force, a U.S. official told us. They were shot down while recovery of remaining aircraft was underway. According to Fox News, a second Super Hornet narrowly avoided being struck by a missile from the Gettysburg. It may take a while before a definitive conclusion can be reached about what happened to Azerbaijan Airlines Flight JS-8432. However, preliminary reports seem to indicate that once again, neither anti-aircraft systems nor the people operating them, are infallible in the heat of battle. Update: 5:42 PM Eastern Rasim Musabekov, a member of Azerbaijans parliament, told the Azerbaijani news agency Turan that the plane was fired on while in the skies over Grozny and urged Russia to offer an official apology, The Washington Post reported. Those who did this must face criminal charges, Musabekov was quoted by Turan as saying, adding that compensations to the victims should also be paid. If it doesnt happen, relations will be affected. Azerbaijani MP Rasim Musabekov stated that Russia must apologise for the attack on a civilian airliner using air defense systems over Chechnya. pic.twitter.com/7uReBver3n WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) December 26, 2024 Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com (Bloomberg) -- Forces loyal to former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad killed 14 police members and wounded 10 others, according to the caretaker government, as the country experiences its worst violence since the autocrats toppling early this month. Most Read from Bloomberg Several deadly incidents in recent days underscore the fragile security situation in Syria following the downfall of Assads long-standing regime. The de facto ruling group, an Islamist organization called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has pledged to restore order and protect all ethnic and religious sects. Its task is complicated by the existence of many different armed groups across the war-ravaged nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HTSs interior minister said on Wednesday the assailants ambushed the victims in the area of Tartus near the Mediterranean coast, the heartland of Assads regime. Protests broke out earlier in the day when members of the Alawite minority group, from which Assad hails, took to the streets in Tartus, Homs, Latakia and Jableh. They were angered by a video showing an Alawite shrine in Aleppo being set alight. The interior ministry said the incident took place in the dying days of Assads rule, when unknown groups stormed and violated the shrine. The footage was being circulated to stir up sectarian strife, according to the ministry. Authorities bolstered security forces in Homs and imposed a curfew from 8 p.m to 6 a.m. in the city after armed men wearing masks opened fire at civilians and forces, Syria TV reported. Another curfew was imposed in Jableh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that nine civilians were also killed in Raqqa, Hama and Idlib. Earlier this week, HTS said Syrias main rebel factions agreed to merge under the umbrella of the ministry of defense. HTS says this is essential to improve Syrias security. --With assistance from Ethan Bronner. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. (NewsNation) Two months before the recent wave of unexplained drones in New Jersey and other parts of the Northeast, a former NASA astronaut encountered mysterious metallic orbs while flying a private plane, he revealed in an interview with NewsNations The Hill. Leroy Chiao, who was a commander on the International Space Station, had a near-collision with unidentified flying objects in the panhandle of Texas in August as he was flying from Colorado in a small airplane. I was about 9,000 feet (in the air), and suddenly, out of nowhere, these two big metallic spherical orbs, one on top of the other about three feet in diameter, each went zipping by the left side of my airplane right underneath about 20 feet away, Chiao said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unmanned aircraft was not on the Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control radar, Chiao said. Over a month later, the northeast drone mystery remains unsolved I got a good look at them only for a second, and it happened so quick, there wasnt even a chance to get scared, but it could have been a bad result if they had actually hit me, he said. The former astronaut has flown several state space missions before, three of which lasted six months on the ISS. He said its hard to believe the government doesnt know whats going on with the drones that have been flying in New Jersey near U.S. military facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think they could tell us what they know, Chiao said. How could we have the best, most advanced military and technological capabilities in the world, and if they dont know? Thats even more disconcerting. Reports of drones began in mid-November, and residents and local officials have voiced their frustration over the lack of government transparency. To me, it seems like its some kind of a military program, Chiao said. It seems like its way too widespread and organized to be some kind of prank unless somebodys got a lot of money to spend on 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 NewsNation. (This Dec. 26 story has been corrected to fix the spelling of Guatemalan president's first name, Bernardo, in paragraph 11) By Sarah Kinosian MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Guatemala is open to receiving citizens of other Central American nations who are deported from the United States, three sources familiar with the matter said, as the country looks to build a positive relationship with the incoming Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There has to be a regional response," a Guatemalan official who requested anonymity told Reuters. "And we want to be part of the solution." The U.S. has struggled to deport nationals from places such as Nicaragua, Venezuela and Haiti due to strained relations. That could prove a challenge for President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to deport record numbers of immigrants living in the United States illegally. His team has already reached out to the governments of several countries to test their willingness to take deportees from third countries. Many U.S. neighbors, including Mexico and the Bahamas, have said they do not want to receive deportees from third countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, more than 40% of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally came from Mexico, amounting to 4.8 million of 11 million overall, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security report. That was followed by Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, which together accounted for over one-fifth of the total. Guatemala has been particularly proactive in preparing for a second Trump term relative to neighbors El Salvador and Honduras, meeting with Trump transition team members, Senator Marco Rubio before he was tapped for secretary of state and the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank, about migration and mass deportations, border security, drug trafficking and China. All three countries, along with a Nicaraguan government that has the most openly hostile relationship with the U.S., face a moment of reckoning, both in handling Trump's demand they accept deportees and in a potential curtailing of remittances from immigrants in the U.S., which are a major contributor to their economies. The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SEEKING SMOOTH START The Guatemala-U.S. meetings signal the center-left government of President Bernardo Arevalo, a Biden administration ally, wants to start on smooth terms with the Trump administration, despite ties between Guatemala's conservative opposition and many in the president-elect's orbit. Trump's inauguration will happen on Jan. 20. El Salvador, whose populist President Nayib Bukele already has cozy ties with the Trump camp, has taken a less proactive approach. But a source close to discussions between Salvadoran officials and the transition team said the Trump administration foresees smooth cooperation with El Salvador on immigration. The Guatemalan official noted the country already receives 14 deportation flights per week under President Joe Biden and is preparing for an increase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Honduras' Deputy Foreign Minister Antonio Garcia told Reuters the country receives 10 deportation flights a week. Reuters was not able to confirm the number of deportation flights to other Central American countries. DEPORTATION INCREASE Guatemala expects a significant increase in deportations in the fall, based on the rationale that it will take time to ramp them up. "We aren't ready for it, but we know it's coming," a second Guatemalan government official said. Guatemala would prioritize Guatemalans for re-integration, the second official said, adding every country should take responsibility for its citizens, but also highlighting a regional pact among Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador that allows free movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guatemala's vision for deportees is to put their skills developed in the United States to work in the private sector, the person said. "These are people who have worked in construction, in the service industry, in various sectors, and many speak English. We want to harness that." In late November, Guatemala's security minister and migration director travelled to Washington, according to the three sources close to the matter, and met with Rubio and other key Republicans, where discussions covered drug trafficking, migration and deportations. They also met with the Heritage Foundation, whose employees staffed much of the first Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While they discussed immigration and deportations, the foundation mainly emphasized it wanted Guatemala to maintain its allegiance to U.S. ally Taiwan over China, the sources said. Officials know more deportations could strain Guatemala's economy if remittances drop and the cost of re-integrating deportees rises. Around 20% of Guatemala's GDP comes from remittances money sent home by the diaspora in the United States. In 2023, remittances accounted for 24% of El Salvador's gross domestic product and nearly 30% of Honduras' GDP. Guatemalan officials said they are not worried about the immediate economic effects of a drop in remittances, but expressed concern about reduced remittances paired with Trump's proposed increased tariffs or taxed remittances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We don't have a financial plan yet, there are just too many unknowns," said the second official. Guatemalan officials are analyzing surveys by the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration showing from which parts of Guatemala the most migrants departed, hoping to prepare those communities for their possible return, two officials said. The Salvadoran government said it would announce plans once the Trump administration takes action. "We work in facts and it's still all speculation," Vice President Felix Ulloa told Reuters. Bukele, like Trump, casts himself as a political disrupter, and has ties to many people close to Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Honduras' Deputy Foreign Minister Garcia said the country's ambassador to the United States had met informally with Trump's transition team and with Guatemala to coordinate a response. Garcia emphasized the country had always received deportees but noted at least 40% of migrants try to migrate to the United States again. He added it was important the two countries work to improve living conditions causing migration, such as gang violence, unemployment and poverty. "Honduras is already experiencing the phenomenon of mass deportations and perhaps the difference will be from 10 flights to 20 or 30 more," Garcia said. "We will have to sit down with the Americans and agree on logistics and slots at return centers to do so within a framework of dignity and respect." (Reporting by Sarah Kinosian; Editing by Christian Plumb and Rod Nickel) Donald Trumps victory has made Jan. 6 boring again. Four years after a mob of Trumps supporters stormed the Capitol to prevent Congress from certifying Joe Bidens victory, Republicans and Democrats seem to agree theyll give Trump the smooth, drama-free transfer of power he denied Democrats in 2020. Thats despite the fact that many Democrats see Trump as an insurrectionist, ineligible to hold the presidency because of his role in creating the conditions that led to the attack four years earlier. Instead, top Democrats say they have no plans to stand in the way of Trumps victory and theyre not even sure their rank-and-file colleagues will make the token objections theyve lodged in years past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also anticipate that Vice President Kamala Harris will lead the joint session of Congress to count Trumps presidential electors precisely the way her predecessors have, taking no active role in the proceedings and tallying the results certified by the states. The result: a quick and simple transfer of power that will culminate on Jan. 20 when Trump takes the oath of office. I think youre going to have a pretty sort of normal transfer, and I think we will respect the wishes of the American people in contrast to what happened January 6, 2021, said Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), the top Democrat on the House committee tasked with overseeing elections. I do feel like thats worth saying over and over again. There is one potential crisis, attributable to Trumps own party and the incoming president himself. After a spending fiasco last week, conservatives have expressed doubts that Mike Johnson should still be speaker, and Trump hasnt weighed in to defend him. That House vote is scheduled to occur on Jan. 3, and a protracted battle could delay the certification of Trumps win. Congress cant do anything else until it elects a speaker. Heres a look at how the final stages of the presidential transition will play out once the new Congress convenes next month. Before Jan. 6 Before Congress convenes to count electoral votes there are two crucial questions lawmakers must answer. The first: Who will be speaker of the House? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3, their first job is to select a speaker, who can then swear in the other members and preside over the adoption of rules to govern the chamber. Until last week, Johnson appeared to be a shoo-in to win a full term, consolidating the support of his fractious conference, winning over detractors and lining up votes for what he hopes will be his first full term. But his stewardship of spending negotiations and an initial deal with Democrats led to a conservative revolt, with several openly calling for a new speaker. Trump also openly issued veiled threats about Johnsons future as speaker. If Democrats, as expected, unanimously back Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) holds to his promise not to return to Congress, Johnson can only afford to have one Republican vote against him. Thats a suddenly realistic possibility Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has already vowed to oppose him, and several more are noncommittal. A battle for the speakership could take days, creating uncertainty about the Houses ability to count Electoral College votes. And theres no road map for what to do if a protracted battle eclipses Jan. 6. That leads to the second question: Could Congress change the date of the joint session? Lawmakers have the authority to pass a law changing the date from Jan. 6 and theres precedent for doing so in modern history. The branches could, of course, push the session back a few days to give the House breathing room to resolve a speaker fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Presuming the speakership is resolved, the House and Senate must agree on the procedures governing the joint session of Congress. For more than 100 years, this has been uncontroversial and Congress has approved rules governing the legislative branch, including the Electoral Count Act, a statute that has governed the joint session since 1887. Even in 2020, when Trump was contesting the results of the election, Congress adopted this resolution unanimously. However, the fight that emerged in 2020 revealed that some Republican lawmakers do have doubts about the laws that govern the transfer of power. And Johnson himself has yet to clarify his own views on the Electoral Count Act particularly since Biden signed significant amendments to it in 2022. Though Republicans are unlikely to want to stoke uncertainty, given that their guy is about to take the oath of office, a fight over the Electoral Count Act could still emerge on Jan. 3. Democratic objections Republicans are fond of pointing out that Democrats have lodged objections to presidential electors in every race Republicans have won since 2000. However, Democrats have seen those objections as largely symbolic, without any endorsement from national leaders or party organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This time, there may not even be a symbolic objection to Trumps victory. POLITICO spoke to the group of Democrats who challenged some of Trumps electors in 2017, and none of them said they planned to mount a similar effort this time. They acknowledged that their 2017 votes were token statements that they did not expect to succeed, and said the events of the last four years underscored the need to show confidence in the transfer of power. Im not intending to do that again, because I think that people dont differentiate, said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). She added: I think there was a clear difference between what we did and what he does. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who also lodged an objection in 2017, said he hadnt heard of a single Democrat who planned to object this time and predicted that Democrats would be constitutional patriots. I have not actually heard of anybody who intends to vote no, added Morelle, and I would certainly discourage it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And if Democrats did mount challenges to Trumps electoral votes, the updated Electoral Count Act made it significantly harder to force their colleagues to consider them. In every previous joint session, it took objections from just one House member and one senator to trigger a lengthy debate and vote. But the revised law now requires 20 percent of each chamber 87 House members and 20 senators to sign challenges before they trigger further proceedings. Its hard to imagine any potential challenge coming close to that threshold in 2025. Kamala Harris presides Harris will be presiding over the certification of her own defeat a moment that is simultaneously uncomfortable and an ode to the peaceful transfer of power. Shes the third losing candidate to do so in recent history. The vice president, who serves as president of the Senate, is constitutionally required to fulfill this role, with limited exceptions. In 2000, Al Gore brushed aside Democrats protests to certify George W. Bush as the victor. In 2016, Biden told a handful objecting Democrats that it is over and ushered in the first Trump presidency. And in 2020, Mike Pence resisted a crushing pressure campaign from Trump and a violent riot and followed in his predecessors footsteps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and a group of fringe attorneys argued that Pence could buck history and take control of the joint session, deciding which electoral votes to count or postponing the session altogether to give states a chance to reverse their certified results. Pence rejected this approach as unconstitutional, contending that the vice presidents role in the joint session is meant to be largely ceremonial. Though some Trump allies still say the vice president has this authority, no one expects Harris to remotely entertain the idea and Democrats have roundly dismissed it as a possibility. Harris aides have said she intends to carry out her duties as all vice presidents have before her, in part because it is right and also because its the law. Indeed, lawmakers seem so certain that Jan. 6, 2025 will lack intrigue that theyve largely treated it as an afterthought. Gone are the intensive strategy sessions and convoluted legal analyses aimed at pressuring the vice president to take an active role in the proceedings in order to reverse the outcome. Security concerns In 2021, the expectation of challenges to the election were high while the anticipation of violence at the Capitol was low. Those dynamics are reversed this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the lack of drama, security agencies the Secret Service, the Capitol Police, the D.C. police and others are treating the event on par with the security needs of the Super Bowl. Already, there are signs around the Capitol of enhanced security measures, including surveillance towers set up in the vicinity. And while protests are possible, theres been no call by any national leaders to converge on Washington for the joint session or to challenge the outcome. That lack of organizing energy suggests the fervor of Trump supporters in 2021 simply wont be replicated by Trumps detractors. Over a span of days, Joshua England's pleas for help became more desperate. "I've been puking all night, and now I'm puking what looks like blood," he wrote to his medical providers on May 22, 2018. "My stomach hurts so, so bad." At the medical clinic that day he clutched his abdomen and described his pain as sharp and intense an 8 out of 10. But he was seen by a lesser-trained licensed practical nurse, who didn't give him a complete abdominal exam or send him for any lab work. Instead he was given Pepto-Bismol and told to drink water and eat fibrous food. The Pepto-Bismol didn't help. The next day England wrote that his pain was so bad he could barely breathe. He couldn't eat or sleep. He again went to the clinic, where he said he'd had bloody stool and his pain was now a 10 out of 10. The physician assistant found that his pulse was racing but didn't conduct an abdominal exam. Instead, he chalked up England's symptoms to constipation and prescribed a laxative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At that point someone with England's symptoms might seek out a new clinic, to get a more thorough workup, or even head straight to an ER. But Joshua England didn't have that option. He was inmate No. 775261 at Joseph Harp Correctional Center, a medium-security facility in central Oklahoma. He'd been sentenced to 343 days in prison after he and some buddies set some hay bales on fire one drunken night. This reconstruction of the events of those days in May 2018 is based on prison and medical records obtained by Business Insider in collaboration with The Frontier, a nonprofit newsroom in Oklahoma. In May 2018, England submitted a handwritten request for health services that described excruciating stomach pain. Oklahoma Department of Corrections Four days after he first requested help, England submitted his fourth sick call a one-page form that prisoners at Joseph Harp used to request medical attention. He again wrote down how it was hard to breathe or even lie down. This time the licensed practical nurse who saw him consulted with the prison's supervising physician, Robert Balogh. Balogh prescribed ibuprofen over the phone. He, and the physician assistant who saw England earlier, each had marks on their records: Balogh had been fined and put on probation for a time by the Oklahoma narcotics bureau, and the license of the PA had once been revoked for prescription fraud. As medical professionals downplayed England's symptoms, he continued to deteriorate. He couldn't work or eat or shower; instead he remained in his cell, curled up on the floor in tears. Other prisoners reported that he had lost weight, his skin color had changed, and he no longer seemed fully cognizant. On May 29, 2018, a corrections officer discovered England slumped over on the floor next to his cell. The Choctaw Nation kid who loved fishing and cattle ranching had died, just weeks after turning 21. Autopsy records show that the cause of death was a ruptured appendix. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Appendicitis is easily treated with minimally invasive outpatient surgery. Even treating a ruptured appendix is considered routine as long as the patient is immediately hospitalized. In this case, the PA was notified of his declining condition the morning of his death; he later told investigators he didn't believe England's condition had been life-threatening. A licensed practical nurse who saw England a few days earlier said she suspected he was in withdrawal and seeking painkillers. The Smiths at home in Fairview. On May 29, 2018, a corrections officer discovered their son slumped over on the floor next to his cell. He had been complaining of acute pain for a week. Nick Oxford for Business Insider Five years after England's death, the Oklahoma legislature approved a $1.05 million settlement with his mother, Christy Smith, to resolve a claim under the Eighth Amendment, which bars "cruel and unusual punishments." During litigation, the Oklahoma attorney general maintained that the prison's course of treatment was legitimate; in settling, the state admitted no wrongdoing. Balogh, who no longer works for the department, confirmed the probation and said he was cleared to work without monitoring in 2015. He said he worked remotely for Joseph Harp so was reliant on information provided over the phone by the nurse, who he said did not mention that England had been having symptoms over a span of days. "You had a system where, many times, the physician was not there," Balogh said. "There were some ways that information could fall through the cracks." A spokesperson for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections declined to comment about the case, as did Joan Kane, a clerk for the Western District Court of Oklahoma, on behalf of Judge Charles Goodwin, who presided. "It is atypical for federal judges to speak publicly about specific legal situations or cases," she said. No other judge on a case mentioned in this story agreed to comment. Few cases win outright Business Insider analyzed a sample of nearly 1,500 federal Eighth Amendment lawsuits including every appeals court case with an opinion we could locate filed from 2018 to 2022 and citing the relevant precedent-setting Supreme Court cases and standards and found that a settlement like Smith's was exceedingly rare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cases in BI's sample overwhelmingly detailed serious claims of harm, including sexual assault, retaliatory beatings, prolonged solitary confinement, and untreated cancers. Prisoners lost a vast majority of them 85%. Roughly three-quarters of civil suits filed in the United States settle, and nearly half of nonprisoner civil-rights suits do. In BI's sample of Eighth Amendment cases, just 14% settled. Many of the settlements were sealed. Of the rest, none involved an admission of wrongdoing by prison officials. BI was able to identify just six cases that settled for $50,000 or more; half of those, including the England case, involved prisoner deaths. Many of the cases settled for modest amounts: An Oregon prisoner received $251 over a claim that she was sexually assaulted by another prisoner and then pepper-sprayed by a guard. A Nevada prisoner got $400 on a claim that guards beat and pepper-sprayed him while he was in restraints. A New York prisoner won $2,000 for claims that he suffered debilitating pain while prison officials delayed treating his degenerative osteoarthritis. In 11 cases less than 1% of the sample the plaintiffs won relief in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seven of these plaintiffs won damages, the result of six jury trials and one default judgment; plaintiffs in the other four cases, including two class actions, were granted motions for injunctive relief, such as being freed from a prolonged stint in solitary. In one of these cases, a plaintiff in Wisconsin was granted access to gender-affirming surgery to treat her gender dysphoria after a seven-year delay. Along the way, the 7th Circuit granted the officials qualified immunity, which protects the conduct of public officials in the line of duty, so the plaintiff was denied damages. Beth Hardtke, the director of communications for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, said the department updated its transgender-care policy in response to the ruling. Litigants without lawyers Another pattern jumped out: In every case in BI's sample in which a prisoner prevailed, the plaintiff was represented by legal counsel. They were outliers. In the vast majority of cases, 78%, prisoners litigated pro se without counsel in large part because a Clinton-era law, the Prison Litigation Reform Act, tightly capped attorney fees, making it prohibitive for lawyers to take prisoner cases. BI interviewed 10 attorneys who represented prisoners or their families in cases that prevailed; they all said the cases would have struggled to succeed without counsel. "Pro se litigants do not win cases in federal court," said Victor Glasberg, one of a team of attorneys who successfully proved in 2018 that conditions on Virginia's death row violated prisoners' Eighth Amendment rights. "When faced with abysmal anti-plaintiff litigation and jurisprudence, the chance of a pro se litigant getting to first base is about as good as my flying to the moon." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even lawyers struggle to master the convoluted standards that now guide Eighth Amendment claims, said Chris Smith, a Mississippi attorney who won a constitutional claim over inadequate medical care in 2021. Smith told BI that his team's ability to access documents was critical for winning the case; he and his colleague spent days combing through 5-inch binders containing years of medical records to prove the corrections department was responsible for treatment delays. But prisoners face a litany of hurdles, he said, starting with the difficulty they face obtaining records. They don't have experience in the rules of civil procedure, he said. They don't know how to plan a litigation strategy, or draft jury instructions, or take depositions. Read more from our series on the Eighth Amendment: The gutting of the Eighth Amendment Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Debunking the myth of 'frivolous' prisoner suits The Supreme Court's 'deliberate indifference' trap It's not excessive force unless it's 'malicious and sadistic' Federal courts have sanctioned medical neglect by private contractors Only 1% of prisoners win their claims. Here's what it takes. How we analyzed 1,488 prisoner suits In England's case, because he had died, his mother was the plaintiff in a 2019 lawsuit alleging that corrections and medical staff had failed to treat his appendicitis. Since she was not incarcerated, she was able to secure legal counsel free from the PLRA's fee caps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The settlement, reached after a four-year legal battle, did not require the defendants to admit to any wrongdoing. State taxpayers, rather than the named defendants, footed the bill. "The people that actually were responsible for it," England's stepfather, Darren Smith, said, "have no accountability whatsoever." "The people that actually were responsible for it," Darren Smith said of his stepson's death, "have no accountability whatsoever." Nick Oxford for Business Insider Prisoners succeed more before juries One federal judge, Lawrence Piersol of the South Dakota District Court, said that in his experience, jurors are not generally sympathetic to imprisoned plaintiffs. BI's data indicates that plaintiffs actually fare somewhat better before juries than before judges. Of the 1,488 cases in BI's sample, prisoners prevailed more often before juries. Just 2% of the cases BI reviewed were decided by a jury. Yet more than half of the 11 prisoners who won their suits had jury trials. Glasberg, the Virginia attorney, said he suspected that if more cases were decided by jurors, it would "significantly improve the plight of people in prisons and jails." Many prisoners, he said, see their cases dismissed preemptively by a judge, before a jury has the chance to hear evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One Louisiana prisoner, Tony Johnson, was awarded $750,000 in 2020 after a jury found that a guard at Angola had sexually assaulted him. The guard denied the allegations. Johnson's lawyer, Joseph Long, told BI that the verdict was the result of years of litigation, including obtaining dozens of depositions and spending nearly $40,000 on the case. The underlying Eighth Amendment claim, he said, entailed abuse with the potential to infuriate even jurors sympathetic to law enforcement. A Louisiana prison official responds to claims by a prisoner, Tony Johnson, that he was sexually abused by a corrections officer, saying an internal prison investigation found them "unsubstantiated." Johnson won $750,000 after taking the case to trial. Louisiana Middle District Court Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Prison isn't supposed to be good, but when they get raped by a guard even the most hard-bitten conservative has to admit that's wrong," Long said. The guard resigned from the prison in 2014 and was never criminally charged; four years after the verdict, Long said, his client has yet to receive his money from the state. The Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections declined to comment on the record. Chris Smith's client, a Mississippi prisoner named Thad Delaughter, had complained for years about severe hip pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Eventually, in 2011, he was allowed to see an outside specialist who found that he needed surgery to reconstruct his hip. The operation was scheduled, only to be abruptly canceled; one of Smith's arguments in court was that prison officials didn't want to foot the substantial bill. In a rare win for a prisoner plaintiff, jurors found that the chief medical officer for the Mississippi Department of Corrections had violated Thad Delaughter's constitutional rights by failing to meet his medical needs. Mississippi Southern District Court The treatment kept getting delayed as his condition deteriorated. At trial, jurors found that Gloria Perry, the department's chief medical officer, had violated Delaughter's constitutional rights by delaying the procedure; he was awarded $382,000 in damages and, in 2022, had the operation. Perry denied any wrongdoing, saying in court filings that her actions didn't rise to the level of a constitutional violation; her motion for a new trial was denied. A representative of the Mississippi Department of Corrections said Perry no longer worked for the department and declined to comment on litigation matters; her attorney did not respond to queries. England, who loved fishing and cattle ranching, died just weeks after he turned 21. Nick Oxford for Business Insider 'I want him to live' Among the jury wins for prisoners in BI's sample were two cases filed against doctors who worked for Wexford Health, the private correctional healthcare company. In one case, an Illinois prisoner named William Kent Dean convinced a jury that his kidney cancer had metastasized after healthcare providers failed to diagnose and adequately treat his symptoms over a span of seven months. At one point, email records showed, Wexford employees discussed admitting him into hospice in lieu of paying to treat his illness. "He's the love of my life," Dean's wife, Cynthia Dean, said during the trial, "and I want him to live." In 2019, Dean won $11 million in damages at trial against Wexford and two of its medical providers. Appeals court judges of the 7th Circuit then sent the case back, after finding that Dean hadn't proved the defendants were "deliberately indifferent" to his suffering, as the Supreme Court requires. One 7th Circuit judge, Diane Wood, dissented, writing, "Wexford directly learned of the lack of significant medical intervention and the arc of Dean's cancer's progression, yet still did not act efficiently or effectively." Dean died of kidney cancer in 2022 at the age of 61. Wexford and the Illinois Department of Corrections did not respond to requests for comment. In August, a new jury again found in favor of Cynthia Dean, who had taken over as plaintiff. This time the award was $155,100. Wexford, in a court filing, denied all of the allegations. BI's database is packed with cases that also allege significant harm but the plaintiffs lost. One was another Illinois prisoner under the care of Wexford, who sued his doctor for waiting over a year to test for an abdominal hernia prolonging his pain and delaying corrective surgery. Another involved an Oklahoma man who filed suit saying that a prison doctor had improperly discontinued his medication to treat chronic nerve pain from tongue cancer. Both cases were dismissed when judges found the prisoners could not prove their doctors were deliberately indifferent. A woman in California sued after doctors persistently misdiagnosed a growing lump that, years later, was diagnosed as Stage 4 breast cancer. Even then, she said, doctors denied and delayed chemotherapy as the cancer spread. The US District Court for the Eastern District of California dismissed her case when she died. There was nobody to take over for her as plaintiff. Terri Hardy, a spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, declined to comment on the breast cancer case and said the department works to ensure that its complaint process is fair, thorough, and timely. A spokesperson for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections declined to comment on the tongue cancer case. England's cowboy boots, leather belt, and dog-eared Bible. Nick Oxford for Business Insider Large settlements for prisoner deaths One way for a plaintiff to win a large settlement, BI found, is to end up dead. Of the six lawsuits BI identified that settled for $50,000 or more, half of those were filed by family members such as Josh England's mother, Christy Smith, whose sons or brothers died behind bars. Unlike prisoner plaintiffs, these surviving relatives didn't have to overcome the PLRA's hurdles. "Somebody has lost their life, so there should be a lot of money," said Paola Armeni, a Las Vegas attorney. "They're not getting their loved one back." Armeni's case is one of a handful in our sample in which a lawsuit forced substantive change. She represented the family of Carlos Perez Jr., a Nevada prisoner who was killed in 2014 at Nevada's High Desert State Prison by a trainee officer named Raynaldo-John Ruiz Ramos. Ramos shot Perez multiple times with birdshot, a kind of ammunition used to hunt small game. "They lit him up," Armeni told BI. "The birdshot was from his waist up. It was a murder." Six months later, a prisoner named Stacey Richards was permanently blinded when a corrections officer shot him with birdshot at another Nevada prison, Ely State. After an eight-year legal battle, the state settled last year with Perez's family for $1.6 million. That same year, a case filed by Richards settled for $2.25 million. In exchange, Richards' attorney agreed that his client wouldn't talk to the press about the case. Ramos maintained in court that firing his weapon was a reasonable use of force to break up a fight between prisoners. As a result of Perez's death, the state corrections commissioner was forced out and the department commissioned an external review of its use-of-force policies, ultimately agreeing, in 2015, to phase out the use of birdshot, which prison guards had deployed for decades. In reaching a settlement with the Perez family, the state did not accept liability for Perez's death, even though the Clark County coroner's office had ruled it a homicide. The Nevada Department of Corrections declined to comment; Ramos' attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. Ramos was charged with involuntary manslaughter. In 2019, he entered a plea deal. In exchange for community service and a mental-health evaluation, he avoided prison. Read the original article on Business Insider NEW YORK, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- A handful of top U.S. colleges are taking steps to boost financial aid for low and middle-income families as the soaring cost of attendance fuels backlash from financially stretched students, according to Bloomberg News on Thursday. The University of Pennsylvania recently announced it will stop including a family's home equity when determining financial aid eligibility. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, undergraduates with families earning less than 100,000 U.S. dollars can expect to get a full ride starting next fall. In the University of Texas system students from families at that income level will attend college tuition-free. "The moves to boost affordability come as the cost of attending Ivy League universities and other top colleges approaches 100,000 dollars a year," noted the report. "And while elite schools continue to be flooded with applications, an overall decline in student enrollment across the United States has put a spotlight on the growing number of families questioning whether pricey degrees are worth it." "What colleges are trying to do is avoid their cost of attendance from stopping students from applying initially," said Brendan Williams, vice president of knowledge at uAspire, a nonprofit that helps students apply for financial aid. The number of 18-year-old college freshmen fell by 5 percent this fall compared to last year, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Well ahead of Hurricane Helene, weather forecasters said the system could bring catastrophic rainfall and powerful winds from where it came ashore on Floridas Gulf Coast all the way to the southern Appalachian mountains. In retrospect, what might have been most predictable about the storm was how people would respond to the devastation it wrought. Especially in North Carolina, where Helene did its worst, people have done their best. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A disaster on the magnitude of Helene, the most destructive in North Carolina history, comes in phases. As the storm made its way north from the Gulf, power company crews stationed themselves where they would be poised to go to work. Swift-water rescuers and search teams braced for action. Fire and police departments went door to door in pouring rain to tell people in especially vulnerable places they ought to get out. When the creeks turned into rivers and the rivers raged, Eddie Hunnell put on a life vest and swam out to save a stranger as the house around her collapsed in the current in Grassy Creek. Firefighter Tony Garrison and his nephew, Brandon Ruppe, tried to rescue 11 members of one extended family in Fairview. N.C. Department of Transportation engineer Daniel Ross slipped away from work to help pluck people from mobile homes on swollen Jonathan Creek. When the rivers went down, an army came up, volunteers who saw photos and videos of what had happened and knew only that they had to help. Armed with chainsaws and shovels, they came forth in off-road vehicles, National Guard transport trucks, bulldozers and excavators. They towed trailers stuffed with water bottles, canned goods and space heaters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They cooked and served hot meals. They scraped the mud out of houses. They sorted donated clothes. They raised money. Sometimes, they just listened as residents talked. Now that recovery has begun, the folks TVs Mr. Rogers called the helpers are still at work, pulling down drywall and picking up debris. Theyre donating recreational vehicles and constructing tiny homes to help fill the housing gap, and building temporary roads to connect communities. Theyre replacing peoples musical instruments and honeybees, and returning family Bibles that washed downstream. The end of the year is a good time to look back on the heroic efforts of those who helped Western North Carolina residents survive Helene, those who launched the recovery process and those committed to helping sustain the region into the future. The people profiled here represent unnamed thousands who have contributed work and good will in the nearly three months since Helene hit. With every truckload of supplies they bring and every hour of volunteer labor they provide, these helpers bring hope to the mountains. Claim: A California woman sued her parents and blamed them for her divorces for giving her ugly genes. Rating: Rating: False A claim that a California woman sued her parents for $2 million for giving her "ugly genes" allegedly blaming them for her three divorces has circulated online since 2017, re-surfacing again in late 2024. In the claim, Annabelle Jefferson is quoted as saying, "Both of my parents are so d*** ugly, it is simply cruel to have had kids During my first divorce, my ex-husband told the judge that every morning he saw my face, he felt nauseous and often had to run to the bathroom and puke My last husband was technically blind but regained 40% of his sight after a successful eye surgery. He divorced me the next week." (Interesting-Dream863 on Reddit) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The claim first appeared in 2017 and was shared in Facebook posts that discussed it as fact. The claim continued to spread on social media, including various threads on Reddit that appeared in December 2024. Users chimed in with a wide range of comments. One person said, "What a sad story. She has an even bigger claim for the stupid gene they passed onto her but she's too stupid to know." Another user responded to the claim by saying, "She still found 3 dudes to marry her. I'm single as a MF over here. I must be ugly as sin." Somebody else pointed out, "There is literally no trace of this aside from a couple of very dubious 'news sites.' It's probably fake news." Indeed, Snopes found no evidence of this claim being true and has therefore given it a false rating. The alleged news sites sharing the claim all copying the story's wording and structure identically cite its origin at World News, with no hyperlinks included. An independent search of World News yielded no results for this story. Similarly, a search for "Annabelle Jefferson" on CaliforniaCourtRecords.us yielded no results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, a Google reverse image search revealed the image of the alleged parents shown in some of the claims came from a 2017 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation article about Ashraf and Mohammed Mohyeddin, a senior couple married for 80 years who were the subjects of a short documentary produced by CBC called "100 and Counting." Further, no credible news outlet has reported on this claim. Snopes has found similar lawsuit claims to be false or labeled satire in the past, including a claim alleging a TikToker sued her parents for being born, the Obamas being sued by Malia and Sasha's biological father and a man suing his wife over their ugly children. Sources: "100-Year-Old Couple Tells Us the Secret to Long Life and Lasting Love (It Might Be Linked to Blue Zones!)." CBC Life, 25 Jan. 2017. CBC.ca, https://www.cbc.ca/life/wellness/100-year-old-couple-tells-us-the-secret-to-long-life-and-lasting-love-it-might-be-linked-to-blue-zones-1.3952309. https://www.cbc.ca/shortdocs/m_shorts/100-and-counting. Accessed 19 Dec. 2024. (Reuters) -The fate of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is in the hands of the country's Constitutional Court after parliament impeached him on Dec. 14 and suspended his powers over his short-lived martial law on Dec. 3. The justices on the Constitutional Court, who must decide within 180 days whether to remove Yoon, a conservative, from office. The judges have not always voted in the past based on perceived political leanings. The court should have nine justices, but only had six with three vacancies. However, South Korean Acting President Choi Sang-mok appointed two justices on Tuesday, filling two out of three vacancies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Choi said he will appoint a final candidate, Ma Eun-hyuk, when South Korea's ruling and opposition parties can agree on the nomination. Here are profiles of the eight justices: MOON HYUNGBAE Moon, 59, is currently acting chief justice of the Constitutional Court. Appointed by former President Moon Jae-in, he is viewed as holding liberal views. He was previously a high-ranking judge at Busan High Court and head of the family court in the port city.He has backed some minority opinions in his role on the court, including finding unconstitutional laws punishing sexual activity between same-sex soldiers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In May, Moon also expressed a minority opinion upholding the impeachment of a prosecutor. Moon's six-year term expires in April 2025 and legal experts have predicted the court may seek to rule on Yoon's impeachment before his and another justice's terms expire. LEE MISON Lee, 54, was one of the youngest justices appointed after also being picked by Moon Jae-in, with her term expiring in April 2025. Before her appointment, she was known as a labour law expert and has been a sitting judge overseeing trials for roughly two decades. She is viewed as holding liberal views. Lee joined Moon in voicing minority opinions in the two cases above. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KIM HYUNGDU Kim, 59, was nominated by former Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su. His six-year term began in 2023. He is viewed as a capable judge with wide-ranging experience in various laws as well as court administration. Kim was the first judge to establish the legal principle that a 1975 emergency presidential measure that made possible arrests without warrants or subject to judicial review was illegal, and victims could be compensated by the state, according to local media. Since joining the Constitutional Court, Kim has mostly ruled with the majority, including over-ruling the impeachment of a prosecutor in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JUNG JUNGMI Jung, 55, was also nominated by former Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su. Her six-year term began in 2023. The sixth woman to be appointed to the court, Jung is viewed as not leaning in any particular political direction, with strengths in dispute resolution and applying legal principles flexibly. She found unconstitutional the law punishing sexual activity between same-sex soldiers, but agreed with the majority opinion on an alternative for conscientious objectors to maintain the current military system. In the May decision on the impeachment of a prosecutor, she sided with the minority to uphold the impeachment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CHEONG HYUNGSIK Cheong, 63, is the sole Constitutional Court justice appointed by Yoon. His term began in 2023. He served previously as head of the Seoul Rehabilitation Court and on the high court in Daejeon. He is viewed as conservative. In a 2013 trial of a case involving a former liberal prime minister charged with receiving illegal political funds, Cheong overturned a lower court ruling and gave a two-year prison term. In 2018, Cheong overturned a lower court ruling in a case involving Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee and gave him a suspended sentence. Lee was charged with bribery in connection with impeached president Park Geun-hye. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Yoon's trial, Cheong was randomly picked as the main justice in charge, according to local media, garnering criticism from the opposition Democratic Party. However, the court said the role will not affect the direction or pace of the trial and legal experts said it will likely be mainly related to procedural matters. KIM BOK-HYEONG Kim, 56, was nominated by current Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae. Her term began in September this year, and Yoon's trial will be her first high-profile case at the court. When asked about the punishment of homosexuality in the military during her nomination hearing in parliament, she said people's basic human rights should be guaranteed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JUNG GYE-SEON Aged 55, Jung was nominated by the opposition Democratic Party and appointed on Tuesday by Choi. Jung, who had been the head of Seoul Western District Court before becoming Constitutional Court justice, is viewed as having promoted research and discussion of rights of people such as the disabled, women, children, refugees, migrants and minorities. In 2019, she was the first judge in South Korea to determine that cryptocurrency Bitcoin can become the subject of a financial crime, according to local media. CHO HAN-CHANG Aged 59, Cho was nominated by the ruling People Power Party and appointed on Tuesday by Choi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cho has worked at all levels of courts during his more than two decades of work on the bench. Having been consistently mentioned as a candidate for Supreme Court justice under the Yoon administration, Cho said during his confirmation hearing that the president's acts of governance could also be subject to judicial review, and said he would "abide by legal procedures and make a speedy, fair and just ruling" on Yoon's trial once chosen. (Reporting by Joyce Lee in Seoul; Editing by Ed Davies and Jamie Freed) The family drama surrounding fallen Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad took a new twist Thursday as his wife was reported to be facing a 50/50 cancer battle. The Daily Telegraph of London reported that Asma al-Assad is severely ill from acute myeloid leukemia, a cancer which she had been first reported to have fought in May. Her father had told the Daily Beast Monday that she is receiving the best treatment possible, but had not suggested the illness was a significant danger to her survival. The Telegraph reported that Al-Assad, 49, is isolated from her husband and children to avoid infection as she is treated in Moscow, where the dictatorial clan have been given asylum by Russian president Vladimir Putin. The Telegraphs well-connected correspondent Ben Farmer quoted two sources, one of whom had been talking directly to the al-Assad family in recent weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asma is dying, that source said. She cant be in the same room with anyone. The second source, described by The Telegraph as having contact with the al-Assads in Moscow, said, When leukemia comes back, its vicious. She has been 50/50 in the last few weeks. The claim that al-Assad is dying comes after her father denied to the Daily Beast that she was seeking a divorce from her husband in the wake of his regime collapsing. Dr. Fawaz Akhras told the Beast that these reports were false, and also said of her health, She is receiving the best treatment possible. In Syria, the al-Assads' personal and government properties were ransacked after they fled. / Hussein Malla/AP Thursdays report offers new insight into the lead-up to the sudden collapse of the al-Assad regime after five decades of a bloody dictatorship run from Damascus, the last decade spent in an unrelenting civil war in which al-Assad survived only thanks to Russian and Iranian military support while his country divided into regional fiefdoms and saw the rise, then fall, of ISIS. Asma al-Assad was announced to have had breast cancer treatment in 2019, and then leukemia in May of this year. The Telegraph said she sought treatment first in the United Arab Emirates, which is a U.S. ally but which had not entirely ostracized the al-Assad regime, and then in Moscow. She was already in the Russian capital when her husband made his midnight departure from his palace and fled in secret on a Russian military flight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The al-Assads, their children and other close relatives are now guests of the Russian state, although relations with Putin are reported to have become chillier. The fall of the regime was a geopolitical blow for Putin. He had turned a former Soviet facility into a modernized Mediterranean naval base at Tartus, and built up a huge airbase inland. Both allowed him to project Russian power in the Middle East and into Africa; both now face an uncertain future. Claims that Asma al-Assad wanted a divorce first surfaced in Turkish media, with claims that she wanted it to help facilitate a return to her native London. As a British citizen, such a move could not be stopped by its government but would be highly controversial. Her father, a Syrian-born British doctor who had a distinguished medical career, was said by The Telegraph to be part of her treatment, something he had not confirmed to the Daily Beast. Asma al-Assad, 49, had been brought up in a suburb of London, educated in the city and begun a career in investment banking when she started dating Bashar al-Assad, at the time an eye doctor being trained in London. He returned to succeed his father as dictator after the death of his older brother, and Asma became a part of the regimes PR drive. While his secret police disappeared opponents, she was lauded by Vogue as the Rose in the Desert, before protests in 2011 sparked civil war thanks to her husbands brutal response. Meanwhile in Syria, the rebel group which ousted al-Assad has held talks with Pres. Joe Bidens special representative about their future plans after a civil war in which as many as 620,000 people are believed to have died. The al-Assads are hardly the only Syrians who have fled for safety; the United Nations estimates that 5.5 million Syrians now live abroad as a result of the war her husband started. (Bloomberg) -- Membership for the populist Reform UK party has surpassed that of the Conservatives, according to the party led by Nigel Farage. Most Read from Bloomberg A counter on the Reform website showed the party had more than 133,000 members on Thursday afternoon. There were 131,680 Tory members eligible to vote during the Conservative Partys leadership contest this year that installed Kemi Badenoch at the helm of the party in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a big, historic moment, Farage said in an emailed statement. Reform UK are now the real opposition. It wasnt possible to independently verify the number provided by Reform or the latest Tory membership figures. Reform has built a sense of momentum this year after it secured 14.3% of the national vote share during this years general election that saw the Conservatives ousted by the Labour Party, ending 14 years in power. Since then, the group has been buoyed by the stuttering start of Prime Minister Keir Starmers administration as well as endorsements from the likes of Tesla Inc. chief and X owner Elon Musk. Farage, who is now the bookmakers favorite to succeed Starmer as prime minister, this month met with Musk at US President-elect Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort and touted a possible political donation. Funding from the worlds richest person would further upset the traditional two-party duopoly of British politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Badenoch earlier this week dismissed the threat of Farage securing party funding from Musk, saying it could be counterproductive with British voters. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) While many people enjoyed the smells of Christmas dinner, residents in the Lake Pointe neighborhood feared their meal would be ruined by fart smells that can make your eyes water. For years, around 70 homes in the west Travis County neighborhood have dealt with a wastewater treatment plant built just yards from their backdoors. Kids play in the Lake Pointe neighborhood just feet from a recent repair to a sewage line running to the nearby wastewater treatment plant. (Ed Zavala/KXAN) There have been many days when its impossible to be (outside). It feels unsafe. Its like the smell is so strong and so gross that like, its really unpleasant, said Amanda Wilton-Green, a Lake Pointe resident who lives a few yards from the plant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Issues at the plant, including busted pipes and broken machinery, have grown more frequent as the facility nears the end of its life. With each incident, the smell of sewage fills the air. While the people in charge of the plant are quick to address issues as they occur, neighbors are desperate for a timeline that will see the removal of the plant from their neighborhood. This green fog descends The neighborhood is an active one. An elementary school just down the street from the plant buzzes with activity. People push strollers down the sidewalk. Kids enjoying the winter break fill a nearby park. Walton-Green said when the smell is bad, she and other neighbors cant go outside. She avoids walking her dog and that nearby park, recently renovated, empties of children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This little plant is like the little engine it could, said Pat Sinnott, president of the Lake Pointe HOA. Aerial photos show the proximity of the plant to nearby homes. Two cul du sacs back up to the plant. (KXAN Maps) According to Sinnott, the wastewater treatment plant was built in the 1990s alongside the neighborhood. The area it was built on was designated for parkland and runs alongside a wildlife preserve. The plant was originally meant to just provide service to the Lake Pointe neighborhood. However, plans changed and now homes surround the wastewater treatment plant on three sides. It wound up also bringing in commercial waste from all of the like H-E-B and the Galleria Mall and other places around, plus some other neighborhoods. So it really was not meant for something like this, Sinnott said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proposed wastewater plant by Central Texas elementary school sparks opposition, possible change In the mid-2000s, the owners of the plant, the Lower Colorado River Authority, sold the plant to the newly established West Travis County Public Utility Agency (WTCPUA). Sinnott said that PUA inherited a mess. Over the decades, issues have continued to pop up and with those issues, a putrid smell permeated the neighborhood. Around 70homes are impacted depending on which way the wind blows. Old machines and putrid stench A few years ago, pipes connecting the plant to the Galleria had to be replaced. Residents discovered the issue after sewage bubbled up from below the streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pipes were completely disintegrated, and all of them were blocked. And so thats why the smell was all over the neighborhood, Sinnott said. These issues are becoming more common over time. Starting around last November and the holidays, its been horrendous and frequent, Walton-Green said. The Lake Pointe wastewater treatment plant treats 675,000 gallons of water per day. (Ed Zavala/KXAN) On the night of Dec. 16, a blower at the plant went out. According to WTCPUA General Manager Jennifer Riechers, a blower is equipment that sends dissolved oxygen through the basins so the wastewater bugs can survive. This prevents the smell from the plant from spreading. Sinnott said the WTCPUA has been responsive. The problem was addressed the following day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Riechers said they have added chemicals and deodorizers to try to mitigate the complaints as smells have arisen from the plant. She said the plant is in the middle of a large residential community. There will be odors from a wastewater plant. City of Hutto breaks ground on South Wastewater Treatment Plant Sinnott said because of the age of the plant, getting replacement parts has been challenging. She said they dont want to put lipstick on a pig and keep repairing the plant. They want it gone. Future of waste According to Riechers, a new plant is scheduled for completion in 2027. That plant, located closer to Bee Cave, will take over the duties of the current plant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current plant will then become a lift station that will carry waste to the new plant. However, according to Riechers, permitting, design modifications and staffing changes have led to delays with the new plant. Pat Sinnott is the president of the Lake Pointe HOA. She has lived in the neighborhood since the 1990s and has spent the last several years leading the charge against the wastewater treatment plant. (Ed Zavala/KXAN) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sinnott said the lease agreement for the plant is renewed every five years. It ends at the end of this December. As part of the new agreement, the HOA wants guarantees on funding and scheduling for the removal of the current plant. As a neighborhood, were not really convinced that the funding is in place or that its being expedited, which is what wed like to see happen, Walton-Green said. Sinnott said she feels like the people at the WTCPUA are good people and that she doesnt believe corruption is at play. Pushback against wastewater disposal near Texas best-kept secret We just want to make sure that the priorities that theyre setting really include (removing the wastewater plant), because this has been a problem for a long time, much longer than a lot of other issues that they have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Riechers said they will continue to monitor and address any issues at the plant until the new treatment facility is completed. They do not anticipate future problems with the plant. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. The company Alcon Laboratories, maker of a popular brand of eye drops, recalled some of its nationwide stock on Dec. 23, after discovering a fungal contamination in one of its products. Alcon, the company behind the Systane eye drops brand, said it was recalling a single lot of its Systane Lubricant Eye Drops Ultra PF, in an announcement released by the Food and Drug Administration. According to the FDA announcement, a consumer complained to the company about a foreign material observed inside a sealed single-use vial. Following an evaluation of the complaint by Alcon, the company determined the substance to be fungal in nature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, the FDA noted, To date, Alcon Laboratories has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall." FDA Systane eye drops that have been recalled Systane eye drops that have been recalled An Alcon spokesperson told PEOPLE it is "conducting a voluntary recall of one (1) lot of Systane Lubricant Eye Drops Ultra PF, Single Vials On-the-Go, 25 count (Lot 10101) distributed only in the United States following the discovery of foreign material inside a single, unused, plastic unit dose vial returned with a customer-reported complaint. Investigation of this event is still ongoing; however, the presence of foreign material appears to be isolated to the single unit returned by a customer. To date, there are no adverse events related to this recall. However, out of an abundance of caution, Alcon has initiated a voluntary recall and notified the US FDA." Related: Eye Drop Recall Recommended by FDA After 27 Popular Brands Flagged for Possibly Causing Infections, Blindness Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The affected product is sold as 25 single-use sterile vials of solution, which consumers can use for temporary relief of burning eyes and irritation. But, per FDA's recall announcement, a fungal contamination like those found in recalled products could cause eye infections that may be vision-threatening and, in rare circumstances, life-threatening for those who are immunocompromised. Alcon said that Lot 10101 has an expiration date of 2025/09, and that the lot number and expiration dates are indicated on the products packaging. If a consumer has purchased the recalled product, the FDA advises they stop using the product immediately and return it to their point of purchase for a refund or replacement. FDA Eye drops that have been recalled Eye drops that have been recalled The company also noted that it was reaching out to its distributors to advise them to dispose of any of their remaining stock of the recalled products. Kroger announced that its stores in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia were impacted by the recall. Fred Meyer, Ralphs, QFC, and Publix also said that their stores were affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Nuna Baby Essentials Recalling 600,000 Baby Car Seats: What You Need to Know Alcon spokesperson Steven Smith said that the companys investigation was still underway, but noted that the presence of foreign material appears to be isolated to the single unit returned by a customer, NBC News reported. He added that the companys recall was done "out of an abundance of caution to prioritize consumer safety. In the statement to PEOPLE, the Alcon spokesperson said, "Our priority is ensuring the safety of our products while maintaining compliance with all regulatory bodies. " Read the original article on People The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a new warning about thousands of recalled eggs sold at Costco (COST) stores due to potential contamination with salmonella, a bacterium that can cause serious infections. The recall has been elevated to the FDAs highest risk level. Just days before Christmas, the FDA upgraded the recall to Class I, which it defines as a situation where there is a reasonable likelihood that using or being exposed to the recalled product could result in severe health issues or even death. The FDA said on Dec. 20. that eggs from an environment that tested positive for salmonella were shipped to retail stores. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York-based Handsome Brook Farms initially issued a voluntary recall on Nov. 27 of over 10,000 cases of its Kirkland Signature Costcos private label organic, pasture-raised eggs. The recall was initiated after the company determined that eggs not intended for retail distribution were instead packaged and distributed in retail packaging, Handsome Brook Farms said in a statement on their website. Additional supply chain controls and retraining are being put in place to prevent recurrence. In total, 10,800, 24-count cases of eggs with the use by date of January 5, 2025 are being recalled. The eggs were distributed to 25 Costco stores in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee beginning on Nov. 22. No illness have been publicly linked to the roughly quarter-million eggs being recalled at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Health regulators are asking customers to dispose of any recalled eggs or to return them to their local Costco store for a full refund. Salmonella is a bacteria that is normally found in the the intestines of people and animals, but certain types of salmonella can cause serious infections. It is the leading cause of food-borne illness, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC). Salmonella causes an estimated 1.35 million illnesses, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 42o deaths every year in the United States. Common symptoms of a salmonella infection include fever, diarrhea, and stomach cramps most people can recover without treatment in about a week. However, children under 5 years old, adults over 65 years old, and people with weakened immune systems are more at risk of developing a severe illness from an infection and could require hospitalization. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The possibility of removing four Snake River dams Ice Harbor Dam, Lower Monumental Dam, Little Goose Dam and Lower Granite Dam has long been a contentious one that has generally split along party lines. Shown is the Ice Harbor Lock and Dam, the first of four dams constructed as part of the Lower Snake River Project, authorized in the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1945. (Courtesy of Columbia River System Operations EIS) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation said they will update an environmental study on the management of federal dams along the Columbia and Snake rivers. The agencies will prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement analyzing new environmental data that a 2020 study, which evaluated the operations and maintenance of the 14 federally managed dams throughout the Columbia River Basin, did not address. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new data that will be considered under the supplemental study includes a 2022 paper, Rebuilding Interior Columbia Basin Salmon and Steelhead and the 2024 Tribal Circumstances Analysis. Both identify breaching the lower Snake River Dams located in Washington as the greatest opportunity to restore salmon and steelhead populations in the basin. The 2020 study, known as the Columbia River System Operations Final Environmental Impact Statement, implemented a plan to keep the lower Snake River dams in place. Shortly after, it was challenged in court by 10 entities including the Idaho Conservation League, the states of Oregon and Washington, the Nez Perce, Umatilla, Warm Springs, and Yakama tribes, and other environmental nonprofits. In December 2023, the parties, who are represented by the environmental legal nonprofit Earthjustice, agreed to a 10-year legal pause while they collaborate on an updated fish restoration plan. Tuesdays decision to create a supplemental study is an important step in fulfilling that goal, according to a statement from Earthjustice. The information available now provides us with all we need to chart a successful path forward, Earthjustice Senior Attorney Amanda Goodin said in a press release Tuesday. We know we can avoid extinction and rebuild salmon and native fisheries to a healthy and harvestable abundance if we commit to the centerpiece actions they need, including breaching the four lower Snake River dams and replacing their services. Environmental groups applaud move to update study, calling 2020 study flawed Environmental advocates say the previous 2020 study was flawed, and a revision would help restore and prevent extinction of salmon and steelhead populations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We appreciate the decision to do a supplemental process to address these flaws and evaluate stronger measures in how we operate the hydropower system including breaching the lower Snake River dams, Sierra Clubs Snake and Columbia River Salmon Campaign Director Bill Arthur said in a press release. Extinction is not an option, and that is the trajectory we are on without stronger actions. Today, four of the 16 salmon stocks in the Columbia and Snake Rivers are extinct. This includes Snake River coho, Mid-Columbia coho, Upper Columbia coho and Mid-Columbia sockeye. Additionally, 13 salmon and steelhead stocks in the Columbia River Basin are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Federal, state, and tribal agencies have collaborated to restore salmon and steelhead populations in the Columbia River Basin. While some progress has been made compared to the 1990s, when annual runs in the basin declined to around 1 million fish, current numbers remain far from historic levels of 10 to 16 million fish per year. Officials are also falling short of the goal to restore 5 million salmon and steelhead to the basin by 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal agencies have been wrong over and over about the impact of dams on salmon, Idaho Conservation League Salmon and Energy Strategist, Mitch Cutter, said in a press release. This supplemental environmental study is a chance for them to do right by tribes, river communities and anyone else who depends on the wealth of Northwest rivers for their lives and livelihoods. Hydropower coalition calls on federal government to withdraw review, calling it misleading A coalition of power, navigation and agriculture groups across the Pacific Northwest is urging the federal government to withdraw its decision to initiate a supplemental study of the Columbia and Snake River dams. The coalition, known as the Columbia Basin Regional Alliance for Transparency, includes Public Power Council, the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, Northwest RiverPartners, Northwest Requirements Utilities, and other Pacific Northwest stakeholders. The coalition is dedicated to preserving hydropower and river commerce activities across the Columbia and Snake rivers. In a press release, the coalition said a supplemental review would be premature, unnecessary and mislead the public about the role dams have to support the economy and the environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hydropower is the largest source of energy in the Pacific Northwest, providing about 50% of the regions annual energy generation, according to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. The Columbia and Snake River system also provides an efficient transportation route for moving agricultural products from Idaho, Washington and Oregon to global markets. The four Lower Snake River dams create a navigable waterway with their lock system, enabling goods to travel from the Port of Lewiston to the Port of Portland, where they are prepared for export. The proposed environmental review could lead to breaching federal hydropower facilities that serve as the largest source of affordable, reliable, clean energy for millions of people in the region while also providing world-class, clean river transportation for the regions and nations economies, the coalition released in a statement. Federal agencies accepting public comment for supplemental study The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation are asking federal, local and state agencies, Native American tribes, and the public to submit comments relevant to the supplemental plan by March 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agencies will host three virtual public meetings the week of Feb. 10. Details of those meetings will be posted on the project website early in the new year, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. To learn more about the project or to submit public comment, visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 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. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com. A 2015 view of the Pactola Reservoir in the Black Hills. (Courtesy of Black Hills National Forest) The federal government approved a 20-year ban Thursday on new mining-related activity in a portion of South Dakotas Black Hills. The ban covers 32 square miles of federally owned land located about 20 miles west of Rapid City. The boundaries encompass the Pactola Reservoir and areas upstream that drain into the reservoir via Rapid Creek. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lilias Jarding, executive director of the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance, hailed the action as an expression of the will of the people. It definitely shows that when people get active in their communities that we can influence what happens, Jarding said. Advocates for the ban rallied against a proposal from Minneapolis-based F3 Gold to conduct exploratory drilling. The projects location is in the Jenney Gulch area of the Black Hills National Forest, within a mile of Pactola Reservoir. The man-made mountain lake is the largest and deepest reservoir in the Black Hills. Its also a popular recreation destination and a drinking-water source for Rapid City and Ellsworth Air Force Base. Pactola_Reservoir-Rapid_Creek_Watershed_Withdrawal_Figure_1 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The boundaries of a ban on new mining-related activity encompassing the Pactola Reservoir and part of the Rapid Creek watershed. (Courtesy of U.S. Forest Service) F3 won draft approval of its drilling plan from local Forest Service officials in 2022. Then, last year, the national offices of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management announced they were considering a ban on new mining-related activity in the Pactola area. Federal officials conducted a meeting about the proposed ban last year in Rapid City, where public sentiment was overwhelmingly against the drilling project and in favor of the ban. The Black Hills Clean Water Alliance said more than 1,900 people filed written comments on the ban, with 98% in support of it. The ban is formally known as a mineral withdrawal, because it withdraws the area from eligibility for new mineral exploration and development. A 20-year ban is the maximum allowed by federal law, although the ban could be renewed after that. Only Congress can enact a permanent ban. Decision comes from Interior Department Interior Secretary Deb Haaland was the decision-maker on the mineral withdrawal, because the departments Bureau of Land Management administers mining claims on federal land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im proud to take action today to withdraw this area for the next 20 years, to help protect clean drinking water and ensure this special place is protected for future generations, Haaland said in a statement. She also mentioned the areas clean air, its recreational and ecological benefits, and the Black Hills sacred status in the traditional spiritual beliefs of many Great Plains Native American tribes. Haaland is a member of the Pueblo and Laguna tribes in New Mexico. Tom Vilsack, secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which includes the Forest Service, issued a statement praising Haalands decision. The Pactola ReservoirRapid Creek Watershed provides so many benefits to the people and communities we serve, from clean water to world-class recreation, from livestock grazing to the spaces our Tribal communities consider sacred, Vilsack said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement F3 Gold did not immediately return a message from South Dakota Searchlight. Jarding said F3s Pactola project is negated by the 20-year ban on new activities. The only exception to that is if someone has already proved there is a mineral reserve, and without drilling, theres no proving theres a mineral resource, Jarding said. The company has another exploratory drilling project near Custer, outside of the Pactola ban area. The Custer project has final approval from the Forest Service. Interest in Black Hills gold dates to its 1874 discovery by Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custers Black Hills Expedition. The discovery set off a gold rush that ultimately led to the development of the Homestake Mine near Lead, which was the largest and deepest gold mine in North America prior to its closure in 2001. Today, the only active, large-scale gold mine in the region is the Wharf Mine, also near Lead. Theres a large abandoned gold mine in the Lead area, the Gilt Edge Mine, that is undergoing a massive cleanup and water-treatment project supported by the Environmental Protection Agencys Superfund. Mining industry responds Larry Mann, a retired South Dakota lobbyist who formerly represented F3, said the companys project was treated unfairly. He said exploratory drilling would not damage the Pactola watershed, and that if drilling results justified developing a mine, the proposal would go through a rigorous permitting process that would probably take 10 to 15 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement F3 was willing to go through a lot of different things to accommodate concerns, Mann said. Mann wonders if the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump could seek to alter Haalands decision. Whether or not the new administration could do that, Mann expects Trumps pick for secretary of the Interior Department Republican former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to be more supportive of mining on federal land. I think that theres a possibility now with a change of leadership that the pendulum could start swinging the other way, Mann said. An official working for Burgums transition team did not immediately return a message from Searchlight. A spokesperson for the Bureau of Land Management responded by email to Searchlight, saying only that were not going to speculate about decisions of a next Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement F3 Gold is not a member of the South Dakota Mineral Industries Association, but the association issued a statement Thursday in response to Searchlight questions about the Pactola ban. The statement describes the ban as federal overreach. The association also alleged that the decision conflicts with federal mineral laws and policies and fails to recognize the significance of critical minerals such as antimony, used in batteries that the association said are present in the area covered by the ban. The secretarys rushed decision on the withdrawal of over 20,000 acres proves this administration is desperate to complete executive actions before the new administration takes over on January 20th, the associations statement said, in part. EDITORS NOTE: This story has been updated since its initial publication with the addition of statements from the South Dakota Mineral Industries Association and from a spokesperson for the Bureau of Land Management. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE DAR ES SALAAM, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania made its inaugural shipment of 10 metric tons of honey to China on Wednesday, procured by the East Africa Commercial and Logistics Center (EACLC) Ltd, a Chinese company specializing in international trade. The honey, exported through Weihai Huatan Supply Chain Management Company Ltd, the EACLC's parent company, departed from Dar es Salaam Port and is expected to reach Weihai Port in China within 27 days, offering Chinese consumers a taste of Tanzania's sweet produce. Dr. Lisa Wang Xiangyun, chairperson of the EACLC, said the Tanzanian honey was not only abundant in quantity but also of exceptional quality, fully reflecting the company's stringent standards. "The successful export of this batch of honey not only delivers natural and healthy products to Chinese consumers but also opens up new opportunities for the growth of Tanzania's honey industry," she said. Selemani Jafo, Tanzania's minister for industry and trade, highlighted the shipment as evidence of the country's honey industry's vast potential in the global market. He noted that Tanzania's rich forests and savannas provide an ideal environment for beekeeping. Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian described the first shipment of Tanzanian honey to China as a significant milestone in the trade and economic relations between the two countries. Tanzanian honey made its debut at the seventh China International Import Expo held in Shanghai last month. A 2015 view of the Pactola Reservoir in the Black Hills. (Courtesy of Black Hills National Forest) The federal government approved a 20-year ban Thursday on new mining-related activity in a portion of South Dakotas Black Hills. The ban covers 32 square miles of federally owned land located about 20 miles west of Rapid City. The boundaries encompass the Pactola Reservoir and areas upstream that drain into the reservoir via Rapid Creek. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lilias Jarding, executive director of the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance, hailed the action as an expression of the will of the people. It definitely shows that when people get active in their communities that we can influence what happens, Jarding said. Advocates for the ban rallied against a proposal from Minneapolis-based F3 Gold to conduct exploratory drilling. The projects location is in the Jenney Gulch area of the Black Hills National Forest, within a mile of Pactola Reservoir. The man-made mountain lake is the largest and deepest reservoir in the Black Hills. Its also a popular recreation destination and a drinking-water source for Rapid City and Ellsworth Air Force Base. The boundaries of a ban on new mining-related activity encompassing the Pactola Reservoir and part of the Rapid Creek watershed. (Courtesy of U.S. Forest Service) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement F3 won draft approval of its drilling plan from local Forest Service officials in 2022. Then, last year, the national offices of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management announced they were considering a ban on new mining-related activity in the Pactola area. Federal officials conducted a meeting about the proposed ban last year in Rapid City, where public sentiment was overwhelmingly against the drilling project and in favor of the ban. The Black Hills Clean Water Alliance said more than 1,900 people filed written comments on the ban, with 98% in support of it. The ban is formally known as a mineral withdrawal, because it withdraws the area from eligibility for new mineral exploration and development. A 20-year ban is the maximum allowed by federal law, although the ban could be renewed after that. Only Congress can enact a permanent ban. Decision comes from Interior Department Interior Secretary Deb Haaland was the decision-maker on the mineral withdrawal, because the departments Bureau of Land Management administers mining claims on federal land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im proud to take action today to withdraw this area for the next 20 years, to help protect clean drinking water and ensure this special place is protected for future generations, Haaland said in a statement. She also mentioned the areas clean air, its recreational and ecological benefits, and the Black Hills sacred status in the traditional spiritual beliefs of many Great Plains Native American tribes. Haaland is a member of the Pueblo and Laguna tribes in New Mexico. Tom Vilsack, secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which includes the Forest Service, issued a statement praising Haalands decision. The Pactola ReservoirRapid Creek Watershed provides so many benefits to the people and communities we serve, from clean water to world-class recreation, from livestock grazing to the spaces our Tribal communities consider sacred, Vilsack said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement F3 Gold did not immediately return a message from South Dakota Searchlight. Jarding said F3s Pactola project is negated by the 20-year ban on new activities. The only exception to that is if someone has already proved there is a mineral reserve, and without drilling, theres no proving theres a mineral resource, Jarding said. The company has another exploratory drilling project near Custer, outside of the Pactola ban area. The Custer project has final approval from the Forest Service. Interest in Black Hills gold dates to its 1874 discovery by Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custers Black Hills Expedition. The discovery set off a gold rush that ultimately led to the development of the Homestake Mine near Lead, which was the largest and deepest gold mine in North America prior to its closure in 2001. Today, the only active, large-scale gold mine in the region is the Wharf Mine, also near Lead. Theres a large abandoned gold mine in the Lead area, the Gilt Edge Mine, that is undergoing a massive cleanup and water-treatment project supported by the Environmental Protection Agencys Superfund. Mining industry responds Larry Mann, a retired South Dakota lobbyist who formerly represented F3, said the companys project was treated unfairly. He said exploratory drilling would not damage the Pactola watershed, and that if drilling results justified developing a mine, the proposal would go through a rigorous permitting process that would probably take 10 to 15 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement F3 was willing to go through a lot of different things to accommodate concerns, Mann said. Mann wonders if the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump could seek to alter Haalands decision. Whether or not the new administration could do that, Mann expects Trumps pick for secretary of the Interior Department Republican former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to be more supportive of mining on federal land. I think that theres a possibility now with a change of leadership that the pendulum could start swinging the other way, Mann said. An official working for Burgums transition team did not immediately return a message from Searchlight. A spokesperson for the Bureau of Land Management responded by email to Searchlight, saying only that were not going to speculate about decisions of a next Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement F3 Gold is not a member of the South Dakota Mineral Industries Association, but the association issued a statement Thursday in response to Searchlight questions about the Pactola ban. The statement describes the ban as federal overreach. The association also alleged that the decision conflicts with federal mineral laws and policies and fails to recognize the significance of critical minerals such as antimony, used in batteries that the association said are present in the area covered by the ban. The secretarys rushed decision on the withdrawal of over 20,000 acres proves this administration is desperate to complete executive actions before the new administration takes over on January 20th, the associations statement said, in part. South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. South Dakota Searchlight maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Seth Tupper for questions: info@southdakotasearchlight.com. A Black FedEx worker was arrested in Bonifay, Florida following an investigation of several missing packages. Officials with the Holmes County Sheriffs Office said in a official statement that they reached out to the shipping company for help finding the driver, who was ultimately identified as Latavion Lewis. Deputies shared that they contacted Lewis,an Alabama native, and he agreed to meet with deputies at the Sheriffs Office. Lewis reportedly confessed that due to how late it was, he discarded the undelivered packages at numerous locations instead of simply returning them to the FedEx warehouse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriff [John] Tate commends the quick work of HCSO deputies in identifying and apprehending the suspect and thanks to the Bonifay Post Office for their role in locating and delivering the recovered packages, the sheriffs office statement read. FedEx also released a statement. According to PEOPLE, the company corroborated that Lewis no longer is one of their employees. This incident is completely unacceptable as the safe and secure transport of our customers shipments is our top priority, and we are fully cooperating with authorities in their investigation, the message read. In addition to being charged with criminal offenses, the individual involved is no longer providing service for our company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FedEx also said that it is working to ensure that these packages are delivered to their intended recipients and that anyone with questions about their shipments can visit their website, reach them by phone or us the FedEx app for package tracking. In November, FedEx claimed that it was gearing up to process around 16 million packages a day right before the holidays. Officials stated that 44 of the packages Lewis tossed have been recovered so far and are now at a post office in Bonifay. He was apprehended and charged with organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, and illegal dumping. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A burned power pole sits off 109th Avenue, between Ray and Tioga, N.D., after fires came through the area on Oct. 5, 2024. (Jacob Orledge/North Dakota Monitor/ProPublica) North Dakota is eligible for federal disaster assistance to help recover from historic wildfires in 2024. President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for North Dakota, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said in a news release Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FEMA announced that public assistance federal funding is available to the state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations to help repair or replace facilities damaged by the wildfires in McKenzie and Williams counties. Rural electrical cooperatives in McKenzie and Williams counties sustained damage estimated at $3.7 million during the Oct. 5-6 wildfires, according to the disaster declaration request sent to Biden in November. Federal funding also is available for hazard mitigation measures statewide. Jacob Just, director of communications for the North Dakota Insurance Department, said the agency will work with local fire departments to identify ways to reduce risks and apply some lessons learned from the wildfire response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additional designations may come if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further assessments, the news release said. A total of 190 fires burned 126,273 acres in North Dakota in October, according to the state Department of Emergency Services. The state fire marshal has ruled that natural gas flares from oil wells combined with high winds and dry vegetation contributed to starting two of the fires. People affected by wildfires can find financial, mental and physical recovery resources at ndresponse.gov/wildfire-recovery. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Eros Bongiovanni lost her Madeira Beach rental home and job during Hurricane Helene. Like thousands across the Tampa Bay area, she waited hours in line and on hold while seeking help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. She was turned away twice before FEMA awarded her enough money to put herself and Ruby, her Pomeranian-Yorkie mix, in a Clearwater duplex. About 5 miles south in St. Pete Beach, Jill Mederos home took on three feet of water, yet she was denied FEMA aid. Shes had to dip into her 401k early to pay her mortgage and rent while she waits for local building officials to work through a backlog of permits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delays in aid have slowed Madeira Beachs recovery, casting a pall over island life for locals who miss their tight-knit communities. Last month, Mederos joined a march on City Hall with other fed-up beach residents. As of mid-December, FEMA shelled out $1.1 billion for Floridians who were victims of hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton, according to an agency spokesperson. Its about the same amount the agency dispersed across Florida after Ian in 2022, which was the costliest hurricane in state history. Unlike two years ago, however, much of the damage this time was clustered in Tampa Bay, which bore the brunt of the three storms. FEMA applications for this seasons storms flooded the agency with more than double the number of requests than those following hurricanes Ian and Idalia, according to agency data. Hillsborough led Florida counties for most individual assistance applications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Combined, homeowners and renters in Hillsborough and Pinellas received $670 million from FEMA this year. And yet, as the experiences of Bongiovanni and Mederos illustrate, how federal officials have distributed the record amount of aid varied, leaving those hit the hardest with vastly different perceptions of FEMA. Much of what the federal agency can accomplish depends on the competency of the state and local governments it seeks to help, officials say. When the states and locals do a good job, it makes FEMA look good. And the converse is true, said Craig Fugate, a former FEMA administrator and former director of Floridas Division of Emergency Management. States lead. FEMA supports. Record relief for Tampa Bay Bongiovanni, the Madeira Beach woman displaced by Helene, has never been so close to homelessness, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the weeks after the storm, she drove up and down the beaches, stopping at 10 hotels to ask if they accepted FEMA vouchers. She had no idea how much money she would recoup. That experience with FEMA was pretty heartbreaking, she said. You feel pretty desperate. Theres sort of this panic when you have lost everything and its all hinging on what FEMA decides for you. Bongiovanni, 55, received more than $4,500 from the federal agency. It feels like its every person for themselves, trying to get through these lines and waiting, she said. I consider myself lucky for getting what I did. Amid a backlog of applications, the agency contended this year with misinformation spreading online. One rumor claimed FEMA was running out of money after spending its funds on migrants. Another, propagated by President-elect Donald Trump, said federal officials had abandoned red states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, the agency created a webpage to debunk false claims. But the chatter grew louder when FEMA exhausted its funds during Helene which spurred a cash infusion from Congress after Milton struck and it was discovered that one Florida staffer directed workers to skip homes with Trump signs. Three Pinellas residents said they believed they were skipped over for political reasons. Others on the countys barrier islands grew frustrated with the agency over rulemaking they say hampers the building permit process. Many residents are still waiting to hear from local building officials tasked with upholding FEMAs 50% rule, which mandates that a storm-damaged building is torn down if it is deemed substantially damaged and if repair costs exceed 50% of the structures value. About 1,600 letters have been issued in unincorporated Pinellas County so far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cities and counties could risk losing their existing discounts on federal flood insurance if they dont adhere to the 50% rule and allow rebuilding in flood zones. Months after the one-two punch, local officials say recovery has been swift, thanks in part to FEMAs willingness to compromise, but they acknowledge that rigid rules will make rebuilding arduous for others. What FEMA did right To state and local officials, FEMA seemed to be a willing and helpful partner. We have gotten approvals for everything that weve asked for, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Oct. 7. (Neither his office nor the states Division of Emergency Management responded to questions about FEMAs performance this year). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pinellas County Commission Chairperson Kathleen Peters said she has been impressed by the federal agencys cooperation with state and local communities. In mid-October, Peters wrote a letter to FEMA and President Joe Bidens administration asking that federal guidelines be loosened in the wake of unprecedented hurricane damage to the Tampa Bay area. Like DeSantis, she got most of what she requested. The agency expanded the federal governments share of debris removal costs, provided temporary shelter assistance and added more disaster recovery centers in Pinellas. But rules complicated recovery efforts. Take debris removal. FEMA guidelines treat debris removal from commercial properties differently than from homes. If a local government picked up debris and commercial tenants also filed a private insurance claim, the county could be penalized for condo owners and homeowners associations double-dipping into relief funds. That led to misunderstandings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The people that lived in condos, townhouses and duplexes didnt understand why their debris wasnt getting moved, Peters said. Peters went back to FEMA and asked for another workaround. The agency OKd municipal debris removal for commercial properties as long as residents signed an agreement that waived their reimbursement from insurance companies. They really worked with us, Peters said. I shouldnt be frustrated, because it really was above and beyond. What they did to reduce the red tape and make it easier was significant. Small towns, big problems Where FEMA proved flexible on debris removal, there was no budging on the agencys 50% rule for rebuilding damaged homes, Peters said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That could change. Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said he was working with federal officials to offer grants and loans to elevate homes. Attorney General Ashley Moody this month asked FEMA to make exceptions for people who cant afford it. Elevating a home can cost $200,000 or more. In Gulfport, returning residents to their homes and business will take much longer than people realize, said Mayor Sam Henderson. Gulfports response was faster than Pinellas other coastal towns, Henderson said. The town started early on damage assessments and debris removal while other cities waited for state and county help. Still, about 650 Gulfport homeowners are awaiting letters that tell them if their damages have triggered the 50% rule, Henderson said. Its left many in limbo who havent learned yet whether they can replace drywall and appliances, or will be required by FEMA to knock down the structure and rebuild. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That number is even higher elsewhere in the county, and some barrier island residents have been so disillusioned with beach towns sluggishness in rolling out damage reports mandated as part of FEMAs 50% rule that rumors have swirled about some small towns unincorporating, which would leave debris removal and building permitting responsibilities to the county. The cities are so small and they dont have the resources to get things done, Peters said. They never imagined the kind of debris they would have to deal with. When Angela Murphy and her 14-year-old daughter were displaced from her St. Pete Beach home, she expected repairs would have started by now. Instead, shes been waiting on a damage estimate in accordance with the 50% rule. The town has been so slow to act, Murphy said, shes considering asking for forgiveness instead of permission. What happens if we said, To hell with everybody, and we build our house and just start living in it? Murphy said. We own the house. We own the land. FEMA didnt give us money. Insurance didnt give us money. What can they actually do? If beach town officials look the other way on unpermitted construction, flood insurance rates could spike across the county. That happened in Lee County after FEMA accused building officials of failing to enforce federal requirements. When the agency temporarily revoked the countys flood insurance discount following Hurricane Ian, Pinellas floodplain managers called it a wake-up call. Murphy has been living in a Madeira Beach hotel paid for by FEMA since October. She didnt want that for her daughter and sent her to stay with family in Connecticut. Murphys stay ends Jan. 14, then shell be applying for FEMA rental assistance. She swings by her home often. Every time shes there, Murphy cries and checks for mail from the building permitting office. I dont know whats going to happen once we get that letter, she said. States lead During this years storm season, DeSantis downplayed FEMAs role in the recovery. FEMA is not leading this show, DeSantis said Oct. 9. We are leading this show here in the state of Florida. Thats how its supposed to be, said Fugate, the former FEMA administrator. The agency relies on state and local governments to know what federal resources to ask for and where to deploy them. Some states, such as Florida and Texas, have experienced officials throughout state and local governments. Others dont, Fugate said. Fugate said Floridas response to this years storms seemed typical to past years. State Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-St. Petersburg, said he was satisfied with FEMAs response because of the effectiveness of the states emergency managers. I think their ability to communicate whats going on on the ground here in the state of Florida to FEMA has helped FEMA respond the way they have, DiCeglie said. But some locals say they feel left behind. After the governor staged a handful of news conferences in Pinellas and used his office to expedite insurance payouts, he seems to have retreated to his office, said Mederos, the St. Pete Beach homeowner. Where is DeSantis? she said. What happened to him standing up for all of us? He spoke in the beginning about how he was going to get us all back, and then all of a sudden, hes MIA. Mederos is nearly out of time and money. After 12-hour shifts at St. Petersburgs Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, she comes home and cares for her 87-year-old father. Shes hired a contractor and independent appraiser to prove to FEMA her damages skirt under the 50% rule. I basically had to gut my house, Mederos said. My house right now is just an empty shell. Its not livable, obviously. FEMA disagreed. In mid-December, she logged into the agencys portal to find she had been denied federal aid. Days later, a letter from St. Pete Beach informed her she would need to tear down or elevate her home because damages exceeded 50%. Her damages were estimated by the city at 50.6%. Talk about screwing a homeowner, she said. 0.6%? Really? Mederos would like to see DeSantis step up and bridge the gap left by the feds, she said. Were sitting here waiting for the city of St. Pete Beach to put a rubber stamp on a piece of paper to say, Start building, she said. Stamp these freaking permits and let us go home. Times staff writer Shreya Vuttaluru contributed to this report. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The man accused of killing his girlfriend days before Christmas appeared in North Las Vegas Justice Court Thursday morning for his arraignment. Following the arraignment, a physical confrontation occurred outside the courtroom that resulted in the murder victims father being placed in handcuffs. Renise Wolfe, 33, was found with gunshot wounds in her apartment Sunday. Her boyfriend, Markeem Benson, 29, was taken into custody later that day. Prosecutors said Benson shot Wolfe four times in the back of her head at an apartment on E. Rome Boulevard near Centennial Parkway and 5th Street. I just want people to know what a blessing she was and I had her for 33-years, Tracy Coleman Wolfes mother expressed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The physical confrontation resulted in Wolfes father, a retired Metro police officer, being placed in handcuffs after charging Bensons brother. Wolfe family members said the man was taunting them in court. As of Thursday night, it was unknown if Wolfes father would face any charges. Renise Wolfe, 33, was found shortly after 10:15 a.m. on Sunday inside an apartment on East Rome Boulevard near Centennial Parkway and 5th Street and died after medics arrived at the scene, police said. (Photo credit: Ashley Tuttle) A judge denied giving Benson bail during his first court appearance because he was on probation for attempted robbery when he was arrested. On Thursday, Benson faced a new charge which was listed as owning and possessing a firearm by a prohibited person, and remained in jail. Wolfes family said the two had only been dating for five months. 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 KLAS. The EU has threatened further sanctions on Russia after Finland seized a Kremlin-linked ship suspected of sabotaging an undersea power cable on Christmas Day. A coast guard crew boarded the Eagle S crude oil tanker and sailed it into Finnish waters after transmission through the Estlink 2 cable, linking Finland with Estonia under the Baltic Sea, was cut at 12.26pm (10.26am) local time. The vessel had been intercepted at the site of the cable and was flying the flag of the Cook Islands at the time, Finnish media reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Finnish news agency SST, the ship is part of Russias sanction-busting shadow fleet, which props up the Kremlins finances by transporting embargoed oil around the globe. Robin Lardot, director of the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, said: From our side we are investigating grave sabotage. Police are investigating whether the foreign cargo ship Xin Xin Tian 2, carrying the Hong Kong flag, is connected to the damage - Adriana Romanova/Marine Traffic According to our understanding, an anchor of the vessel that is under investigation has caused the damage. Responding to the incident, the European Commission said it will propose further measures, including sanctions, to target this fleet. It added: We strongly condemn any deliberate destruction of Europes critical infrastructure. The suspected vessel is part of Russias shadow fleet, which threatens security and the environment, while funding Russias war budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to global ship tracking website MarineTraffic, the vessel noticeably slowed down around the time transmission was disrupted. Based on the tracking data, the Finnish patrol vessel Turva escorted the tanker to waters off Porkkalanniemi, a peninsula on the Gulf of Finland, on Wednesday evening, public broadcaster Yle reported. The oil tanker was, according to MarineTraffic, on its way from St Petersburg to Egypt. Alexander Stubb, the Finnish president, said on X: The risks posed by Russian shadow fleet vessels must be averted. Police are also investigating whether the foreign cargo ship Xin Xin Tian 2 carrying the Hong Kong flag is connected to the damage. The Estonian chairman of foreign affairs said closing the Baltic Sea to vessels flying certain flags should not be ruled out if assumptions about sabotage turned out to be true. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Baltic Sea has witnessed multiple infrastructure incidents since the onset of Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In October 2023, the Hong Kong-registered Newnew Polar Bear cargo ship was linked to damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline, with Chinese authorities claiming it was an accident. This is a sister ship to the Xin Xin Tian 2, Swedish paper Aftonbladet reports. A Finnish-Estonian undersea gas pipeline was also damaged in October after a Chinese cargo ship reportedly dropped its anchor. And in mid-November two data cables, one running between Finland and Germany, and another between Lithuania and Sweden were severed, with the Chinese vessel Yi Peng 3 suspected of involvement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Swedish foreign minister said on Monday that China denied a request for prosecutors to conduct an investigation on the vessel Yi Peng 3, and that the ship left the area it had been anchored in despite the investigation. China confirmed the cargo ship had departed in order to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of the crew after being suspended for a long period of time. This came after German defence minister Boris Pistorius warned on Sunday that Russia was engaging in hybrid attacks adding that Germany is particularly in focus in the run-up to snap federal elections in February. He knows us well, Putin knows how to make pinpricks in us, Mr Pistorius told the Funke media group. Ignoring this threat because it makes us uncomfortable will not make it smaller but rather larger. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. By Essi Lehto and Andrius Sytas HELSINKI (Reuters) -Finnish authorities on Thursday seized a ship carrying Russian oil in the Baltic Sea on suspicion it caused the outage of an undersea power cable connecting Finland and Estonia a day earlier, and that it also damaged or broke four internet lines. The Cook Islands-registered ship, named by authorities as the Eagle S, was boarded by a Finnish coast guard crew that took command and sailed the vessel to Finnish waters, a coast guard official said at a press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "From our side we are investigating grave sabotage," said Robin Lardot, director of the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation. "According to our understanding, an anchor of the vessel that is under investigation has caused the damage," he added. The Finnish customs service said it had seized the vessel's cargo and that the Eagle S was believed to belong to Russia's so-called shadow fleet of ageing tankers that seek to evade sanctions on the sale of Russian oil. Two fibre-optic cables owned by Finnish operator Elisa linking Finland and Estonia were broken, while a third link between the two countries owned by China's Citic was damaged, Finnish transport and communications agency Traficom said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A fourth internet cable running between Finland and Germany and belonging to Finnish group Cinia was also believed to have been severed, the agency said. "We are coordinating closely with our allies and stand ready to support their investigations," said a spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, adding that the incident underscored the need for closer international cooperation on safeguarding critical undersea infrastructure. "We are following investigations by Estonia and Finland, and we stand ready to provide further support," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in a post on social media X. Both the Finnish and Estonian governments held extraordinary meetings on Thursday to assess the situation, they said in separate statements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baltic Sea nations are on high alert for potential acts of sabotage following a string of outages of power cables, telecom links and gas pipelines since 2022, although subsea equipment is also subject to technical malfunction and accidents. The European Union said it strongly condemned any deliberate destruction of the continent's infrastructure. "We commend the Finnish authorities for their swift action in boarding the suspected vessel," said a joint statement from EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and the European Commission, the bloc's executive body. Repairing the 170-km (106-mile) Estlink 2 interconnector will take months, and the outage raised the risk of a strained power supply during the winter, operator Fingrid said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said, however, that his country would continue to have sufficient access to electricity. The Eagle S Panamax oil tanker crossed the Estlink 2 electricity cable at 1026 GMT on Wednesday, a Reuters review of MarineTraffic ship tracking data showed, identical to the time when Fingrid said the power outage occurred. United Arab Emirates-based Caravella LLCFZ, which according to MarineTraffic data owns the Eagle S, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Peninsular Maritime, which, according to MarineTraffic acts as a technical manager for the ship, declined to comment outside of the company's opening hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'DISRUPT AND DETER' Damage to subsea installations in the Baltic Sea has now become so frequent that it is difficult to believe this was caused merely by accident or poor seamanship, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said in a statement. "We must understand that damage to submarine infrastructure has become more systematic and thus must be regarded as attacks against our vital structures," Tsahkna said. The 658 megawatt (MW) Estlink 2 outage began at midday local time on Wednesday, leaving only the 358 MW Estlink 1 in operation between the two countries, operator Fingrid said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twelve Western countries on Dec. 16 said they had agreed on measures to "disrupt and deter" Russia's so-called shadow fleet of vessels in order to prevent sanctions breaches and increase the cost to Moscow of the war in Ukraine. "We must be able to prevent the risks posed by ships belonging to the Russian shadow fleet," Finnish President Alexander Stubb said in a post on social media X on Thursday. Lithuanian foreign minister Kestutis Budrys said the growing number of Baltic Sea incidents should serve as a stark and urgent warning to NATO and the European Union to significantly enhance the protection of undersea infrastructure there. Police in Sweden are leading an investigation into the breach last month of two Baltic Sea telecom cables, an incident German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said he assumed was caused by sabotage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, Finnish and Estonian police continue to investigate damage caused last year to the Balticconnector gas pipeline linking Finland and Estonia, as well as several telecom cables, and have said this was likely caused by a ship dragging its anchor. In 2022 the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream gas pipelines running along the seabed in the same waters were blown up, in a case still under investigation by Germany. (Reporting by Essi Lehto in Helsinki, Andrius Sytas in Vilnius, Nerijus Adomaitis in Oslo and Louise Rasmussen in Copenhagen; Additional reporting by Lili Bayer and by Jonathan Landay in Washington; Writing by Terje Solsvik; Editing by Chris Reese, Angus MacSwan, Chizu Nomiyama, Andrew Heavens, Louise Heavens and Mark Porter) Fire crews from around the area responded to a fire at a home in Brookline. Around 10:40 a.m., the Brookline Fire Department received reports of smoke coming from the attic of a home on Sargent Street. Arriving companies found smoke billowing from a large, L-shaped, three-story residence and requested mutual aid. Officials say all five residents in the home were able to evacuate safely and there were no reports of any injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Brookline authorities, the roof collapsed around 11 a.m., and companies on scene requested additional assistance to get the fire under control. Drone video taken by Boston 25 shows heavy smoke coming out of the home. After about 2 hours, the fire was contained. Companies that arrived on scene reported heavy smoke coming from the attic, able to get access, it was a very long driveway off the street, but the guys did a great job of getting the ladders up there and making sure they have access knowing that it was going to be a tough fight in the attic area, said Chief John Sullivan. Were lucky that the temperature you know has been in our favor today, so no ice forming with a lot of water runoff so that was very lucky. Fire crews from around the Boston area are responding to a large fire at a massive home in Brookline. https://t.co/AAbuquKn2y pic.twitter.com/63qJhachH6 Boston 25 News (@boston25) December 26, 2024 The cause of the fire remains under investigation, although officials say it doesnt seem suspicious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters from the Boston, Cambridge, and Newton Fire Departments provided mutual aid and station coverage. 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 CAIRO, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Thursday that the government is willing to engage private entities in the management and operation of Egyptian airports, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian cabinet. Madbouly said the cabinet approved a deal with the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group and the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets, to offer the management and operation of Egyptian airports to the private sector, according to the statement. On Wednesday, Madbouly discussed with a group of investors and businessmen the role of the private sector through partnership or alliance with the government to promote the civil aviation field by contributing to establishing airline companies and enlarging the country's air fleet, according to a previous statement issued by the cabinet. During the discussion, Madbouly predicted that Egypt will receive 15.5 million tourists this year, with a target of 18 million in 2025, the statement showed. In July, Egypt mapped out a plan to increase the Egyptian airports' capacity to 72.2 million passengers by 2025, and 109.2 million by 2030, compared to 66.2 million in 2023. 36,706 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others? 36,706 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others? LEALMAN, Fla. (WFLA) A man is receiving care at a nearby hospital after firefighters rescued him from a burning home Thursday morning, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue announced. Crews responded around 9:07 a.m. in regards to reports of a structure fire at a home in Lealman. Once crews arrived at the home they saw heavy smoke coming from the house, with no visible flames, according to St. Petersburg Fire Rescue. Firefighters rapidly searched the home and found a man inside and successfully got him out of the home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Largo man charged in attempted murder-suicide: police The fire was contained and under control by 9:29 a.m., according to St. Petersburg Fire Rescue. The man was treated on scene and was transported to the hospital. 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 WFLA. Have you ever noticed how those who proclaim their reverence for the Constitution the loudest are always the first to violate it? Case in point, Ryan Walters, the Constitution-quoting, Bible-thumping Christian nationalist who runs Oklahomas public schools and is running them into the ground. This is not the first time Ive ducked across the state line to comment on the spectacularly miscast superintendent of public instruction in our neighboring state 50 miles south of Wichita. And Im sure it wont be the last, because hes been and continues to be a perfect case study for Kansas of dont let this happen here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walters has been in the news in recent weeks for multiple egregious violations of the Constitution. There are five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment, and Walters has managed to violate at least four of them: Freedom of the press Walters got spanked in court after he banned an Oklahoma City television station from covering public meetings in person because he didnt like their reporting he and his chief propagandist, Dan Isett, who body-blocked a reporter trying to question Walters in a hallway. Freedom of religion Walters used state funds to buy 532 copies of the God Bless the USA Bible as advertised by one Donald Trump for Advanced Placement Government classes, the first of 55,000 Bibles that Walters wants to buy and has mandated be taught in every classroom in the state. Freedom of religion (part two) Walters tried to force every school district in the state to force their students to watch a cringey YouTube video including himself praying for President Donald Trump and his team as they continue to bring about change to the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Freedom of speech Walters has issued a new set of social studies curricula that require teachers to laud the accomplishments of (you guessed it) Donald Trump. Youre not going to come in and teach President Trump wanted an insurrection on Jan. 6 were not going to allow it, Walters blustered to Fox News (where else). We will be crystal clear on what President Trumps victories were in the White House. Freedom to petition government An Oklahoma judge last month green-lighted a lawsuit against Walters alleging he violated the First Amendment rights of a department employee and mother who was fired her after she spoke to her local school board about mental health needs in schools in the wake of a student suicide. You may remember from one of my earlier columns how Walters and one of his henchmen used KGB-style tactics in an ongoing effort to purge the states Education Department of anyone that has a disagreement on Superintendent Walters beliefs to fight the liberal woke culture seeping into our schools. But there is pushback, starting with the TV station Walter excluded from live coverage of meetings of the state Board of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KFOR-TV sued to protect news media access to the news and won. On the day of a scheduled trial, the state settled out of court, acting on the time-honored legal principle of crus stare non habemus, (Latin for We dont have a leg to stand on). The settlement granted the stations journalists access to all board meetings and Walters press conferences, departmental statements and news releases. The TV station got everything it sued for, including attorney fees and $17.91 in damages, a deliciously symbolic amount based on 1791, the year the First Amendment was ratified. And Walters 532 Trump Bibles may be all hes going to get. State records show the purchase came to just under $25,000, the states threshold for requiring competitive bidding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The request for bids for 55,000 more Bibles (estimated cost, $3 million) has been withdrawn for now, after it was pointed out that the absurd bid specifications King James translation, leather- or leather-like cover, with an appendix of founding documents of the government were obviously tailored to the specifications of the Trump Bible. Meanwhile, a group of parents, teachers, ministers and other faith leaders have sued to have the Bible mandate overturned as a violation of the separation of church and state (which Walters doesnt believe in). The case is before the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which in June foiled another of Walters pet projects, to establish a publicly funded religious charter school. As for his must-see prayer video, Walters rescinded his edict that it has to be shown to students and distributed to parents. Its still too early to tell how his whitewashed social studies standards are going to fare. Those are currently in a public comment period and will have to go before the Oklahoma Legislature for final approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the proposed standards, there are 118 references to the Constitution. Its a shame that Ryan Walters has no idea what the document exists to protect. Thus ends todays lesson in how not to run a school system. Kansas, are you paying attention? Shades of Spanish Inquisition: Oklahoma mandates public schools teach Bible, or else | Opinion Oklahomas disastrous war on woke teachers offers valuable lesson for Kansas | Opinion ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Wednesday night marked the beginning of Hanukkah. The Menorah was lit just after 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. (WROC/Melanie Sosa.) Celebrants gathered at sundown for the annual Menorah lighting in Washington Square Park in Downtown Rochester. The Menorah is a nine-branched candelabra lit during the eight days of Hanukkah. It symbolizes the miracle that occurred during the re-sanctifying of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. One day of oil lasted eight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hanukkah really is its about publicity. Taking the message of religious freedom, of the struggle for that, which is good and just. Even if the struggle seems difficult its against the odds. But the faith of God will come through for us and will help us do the right thing and accomplish the right thing and even if we think were just small and insignificant, a little bit makes a big difference, and a little bit of light dispels darkness, said Rabbi Nechemia Vogel. Northern lights, 4 planets could be visible on the first night of Hanukkah The lighting is to celebrate the first night of the Jewish holiday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. Interior of commercial airplane with passengers in their seats during flight. If your flight times seem unusually long, thats because they are. A New York Times analysis of Bureau of Transportation Statistics data found that average scheduled duration from New Yorks JFK airport to Los Angeles has increased 23 minutes since 1995. In general, theres an average rise in travel time of 18 minutes. But even though travel time has increased, flights are landing on time, or sometimes even early. The key here is airlines extending their scheduled flight durations more than the actual duration length of the flight, according to the Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is often due to a practice called padding. Even though travel time has increased, flights are landing on time, or sometimes even early. lightpoet stock.adobe.com Padding flights has existed for some time and has been a practice for all airlines for decades, Sabrina Childress-Miller, a Chicago-based former flight attendant with Spirit Airlines and the former communications chairperson of the Association of Flight Attendants Union, told Readers Digest. The average passenger wouldnt notice the minutes added to their flight time, as they are focused on getting on the aircraft and making it to their destination at the time noted on their ticket. This provides leeway in the case of potential slight delays and it also helps improve stats to be reported to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, which bolsters an airlines reputation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact is that extending the scheduled flight durations can improve an airlines on-time performance data, help avoid customer dissatisfaction due to delays and allow flights to arrive early or on time more frequently, Childress-Miller told the outlet. The goal is to provide a buffer in the schedules to account for potential delays or disruptions while maintaining a positive image of punctuality. Flights might also be slowing down due to traffic congestion both on the runway and in the air. frank peters stock.adobe.com Flights might also be slowing down due to traffic congestion both on the runway and in the air. Airlines and air traffic control work together to coordinate a carefully crafted flight plan that ensures safety in all phases of the flight. Flight crew may receive a message in flight to slow down. Having the additional padded times ensures that the average passenger is unaware of [air traffic control] practices and other safety measures [and they] dont feel the effects of a slowed flight, Childress-Miller shared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, according to a recent report from the University of Cambridge, experts and scientists are pushing for longer flight times, suggesting that planes should fly slower and extend flight time in order to reduce carbon admissions. While this measure would make flying more sustainable and environmentally friendly, the authors note that there would also be a potential negative impact on airline productivity and passenger acceptance, especially for longer flights. Experts and scientists are pushing for longer flight times, suggesting that planes should fly slower and extend flight time in order to reduce carbon admissions. Arsel stock.adobe.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report also proposed replacing older aircrafts with more up-to-date models and making sure the aircrafts are used to route distances they were designed for. But implementing these proposals would be a whole systems process change, Professor Rob Miller said. Airlines cant do them alone, nor can the manufacturers or the airports. Its not that anyone doesnt want to. Its just that the complexity of the system makes it very hard to. If aircrafts were designed differently in the future, there could potentially be new planes designed specifically for shorter flights of 2,000 kilometers, or just under 1,300 miles. Aircrafts that are designed to fly longer ranges are heavier and therefore less efficient, Miller said. Designing an aircraft for the real-world journey it will operate will have a fuel-burn benefit and make it more efficient. A pizza delivery worker, upset about a tip, allegedly repeatedly stabbed a customer at a Florida motel, authorities said Wednesday. Brianna Alvelo, 22, had delivered pizza to the Riviera Motel in Kissimmee, located south of Orlando, on Sunday, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office said. The victim paid for the $33.10 order and gave Alvelo a $2 tip, according to court documents. When describing the incident to investigators, the victim said the delivery worker "rolled her eyes and walked away without saying anything" after getting the tip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But later, Alvelo came back armed with a pocket knife and with an unknown male suspect, who was armed with a gun, according to the court documents. Alvelo and the man forced their way into the room, where the victim, her boyfriend and her 5-year-old daughter were. The unknown male allegedly commanded the victim's boyfriend to go into the bathroom, and held him there at gunpoint. While the men were in the bathroom, Alvelo allegedly stabbed the victim 14 times. The victim had stab wounds to the chest, arms, leg and abdomen, and was taken to a local hospital, where she had surgery for a ruptured lung. While there, the victim learned she was a few weeks pregnant, the court documents say. She's currently in stable condition. Alvelo was taken into custody Monday and booked into the Osceola County Jail. She faces charges of home invasion with a firearm, attempted murder, kidnapping and aggravated assault. A bond is currently set for $55,000, according to online inmate records. Brianna Alvelo / Credit: Osceola County Jail A spokesperson for the pizza restaurant told CBS News affiliate WKMG that the owner and his team were fully cooperating with authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The safety and well-being of customers and team members are always our top priority, and we are taking this incident very seriously," the spokesperson said. The armed male suspect who was at the motel has not yet been identified. FDA issues highest-level recall for Costco eggs over salmonella risk Passenger airliner crashes in Kazakhstan Investigation underway after body found in wheel well of United Airlines plane in Maui A South Florida woman said she had some police officers to thank for making her Christmas special. Officers responded to Marie Braceys home just before Thanksgiving. They came because someone stole Christmas decorations from her yard. Read: 7 tips to deal with holiday stress She says the same thief later came back and stole another decoration. The officers who investigated the thefts later got the idea to surprise her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read: How to dispose of your Christmas tree The officers got her a new snowman decoration. She said the act of kindness will remind her of them for every Christmas to come. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. The end of 2024 is approaching fast, and many parents probably not the kids are wondering when the winter break will be over. When will Florida children head back to school? That depends on the county, with about a third 22 of Florida's 67 counties back in their classrooms on Monday, Jan. 6 and another large group 31 returning Tuesday, Jan. 7. After that, it's a scattering of counties returning Jan. 8 and two Gilchrist and Levy returning Thursday, Jan. 9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After that, kids won't have long to wait before the next school holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, on Jan. 20. This year, the holiday also falls on Inauguration Day. Florida school calendars: When does school start after Christmas break? When is the next Florida school holiday? Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be the next Florida school holiday. This year, it also happens to be Inauguration Day for president-elect Donald Trump. Every school across Florida will be closed on Jan. 20. What are 2025 federal holidays? In 2025, there will be 12 instead of the usual 11 federal holidays, although two fall on the same day. Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day both fall on Jan. 20 this year. Since 1965, federal employees in the Washington, D.C., area are entitled to a holiday on the day a president is inaugurated. President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn into office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump Inauguration week Here are 2025 federal holidays: Jan. 1: New Year's Day Jan. 20: Inauguration Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 17: Washington's Birthday. Many state and local governments designation it as Presidents Day. May 26: Memorial Day June 19: Juneteenth July 4: Independence Day Sept. 1: Labor Day Oct. 13: Columbus Day Nov. 11: Veterans Day Nov. 27: Thanksgiving Day Dec. 25: Christmas Day How often does MLK Day and Inauguration Day happen on the same day? Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day occur on the same date more often than you may think. Inauguration Day occurs every four years on Jan. 20 (or Jan. 21 if the 20th falls on a Sunday), according to USA.gov. Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a federal holiday in 1983, and was first observed on Jan. 20, 1986. It's observed on the third Monday in January, which is around King's actual birthday on Jan. 15. Since MLK Day became a federal holiday, there have been nine presidential inaugurations. Eight of the occasions have been on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, according to HistoryinPieces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement George Bush: Jan. 20, 1989 William J. Clinton: Jan. 20, 1993, Jan. 20, 1997 George W. Bush: Jan. 20, 2001, Jan. 20, 2005 Barack Obama: Jan. 20, 2009, Jan. 21, 2013 Donald J. Trump: Jan. 20, 2017 Joe Biden: Jan. 20, 2021 Just like his first inauguration in 2017, Trump's 2025 inauguration will fall on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. President-elect Donald Trump is TIMEs Person of the Year. Heres how Floridians can get a copy of issue At first, Melania and Barron Trump lived in New York, not White House, during first Trump presidency Florida state holidays for 2025 In addition to the federal holidays listed above, except for Inauguration Day, Florida also lists the Friday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 28) as a state holiday a paid holiday for state agencies. Pascua Florida Day, Confederate Memorial Day, Sundays: Legal and public holidays in Florida When will daylight saving arrive? When does the time change? Daylight saving time for 2025 will begin at 2 a.m. EST Sunday, March 9, 2025, and we fall back again at 2 a.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Is there school today? List by Florida county on when students return CAIRO, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said Thursday that the Suez Canal revenues fell more than 60 percent year-on-year in 2024 amid regional challenges, according to a statement by the Egyptian presidency office. Egypt lost around 7 billion U.S. dollars of the canal's revenues in 2024, amid current events in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait region, which negatively impacted the canal's navigation traffic and the sustainability of world trade, al-Sisi said in a meeting with Osama Rabie, chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA). The Egyptian president instructed the SCA to continue working on the projects of developing the canal, providing the best navigation services, and promoting the canal's role as an essential pillar for world trade traffic, the statement showed. The Suez Canal remains a strategic waterway, and a cornerstone of Egypt's economy, which is grappling with persistent economic woes. KISSIMMEE, Fla. (WFLA) A 22-year-old woman was arrested on Monday after breaking into a motel and stabbing someone over a tip she received while delivering pizza, the Osceola County Sheriffs Office announced. Deputies responded to reports of a home invasion and stabbing at the Riviera Motel located at 2248 East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway in Kissimmee on Sunday, Dec. 22. According to OCSO, deputies arrived and found a victim with multiple stab wounds. The victim was transported to the hospital and is currently in stable condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2 killed and another hurt in shooting outside Florida IHOP During an investigation, detectives discovered that the victim ordered pizza from a local restaurant earlier in the evening. Brianna Alvelo, 22, was upset about the tip she received after delivering the pizza. According to deputies, Alvelo returned to the victims motel with an unknown man, who was armed with a firearm, and forced their way into the motel room. Alvelo was armed with a knife and began attacking one of the victims, deputies said. The victim was stabbed multiple times, and items were taken from the motel room. 3 vehicle crash in Riverview kills two passengers: FHP Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives arrested Alvelo on Monday, Dec. 23 after obtaining an arrest warrant for the offenses of home invasion with a firearm, attempted murder, kidnapping, and aggravated assault. Alvelo was booked into the Osceola County Jail and has no bond. The man has not been identified, if anyone has any information regarding this incident, OCSO asks them to call Crimeline at (800)-423-8477. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. It's well-known that the government heavily censors documents before declassifying themsomething humorously captured by The Onion in 2005 with the headline, "CIA Realizes It's Been Using Black Highlighters All These Years." But from a glass-half-full perspective, it's incredible that the U.S. government shares information with the public at all. The original Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) of 1966the law under which many of those redacted documents are obtainedwas the "product of years of slow campaigning by a network of journalists, scientists, and politicians seeking to make the government more transparent," the historian Sam Lebovic writes in State of Silence: The Espionage Act and the Rise of America's Secrecy Regime. FOIA was later strengthened in the wake of the Watergate scandals in the 1970s. The efforts of those American activists opened the floodgates around the world. Out of 195 countries, 121 now have freedom of information or government transparency laws, according to FreedomInfo, a website run by George Washington University's National Security Archive and Article19, a British free speech nonprofit. All but two of those countries adopted their laws after America's FOIA reforms, and the vast majority came after the Cold War ended. Only Scandinavia was ahead of the curve. Sweden's Press Act of 1766, one of the world's first free expression laws, also required authorities to open up public records. Nearly two centuries later, in 1951, neighboring Finland passed the Publicity of Official Documents Act, which was "somewhat more limited than the Swedish model," according to a U.S. Department of Justice report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There's a difference between freedom of information in theory and in practice. France passed a freedom of information law in 1978, but "the law has so many exceptions that it is totally ineffective. Almost everything is classified 'confidential defense' and when a document mentions an identity, it is rendered inaccessible," French journalist Paul Moreira has complained. He now leads a campaign to make France's law more like America's FOIA. Meanwhile, China has made a "steady pivot away from earlier tolerance of (and even active support for) more transparent access to information" a decade ago to treating "data on even relatively mundane government or social trends" as "sensitive," according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Still, it speaks to the power of the U.S. model that everyone feels the need to at least pretend to respect freedom of information. We have American activists and the U.S. Congress to thank for that. The post How FOIA Gave Rise to Government Transparency Laws Around the World appeared first on Reason.com. Ryan Salame, an ex-FTX executive, appears to have had time shaved off his scheduled release from prison. Salame began his 7 year sentence for his role in a massive crypto fraud scheme in October. Federal prison records show Salame is scheduled to be released in March 2031. Ryan Salame, a former top executive at the failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, reported to federal prison in October to start his 7 year sentence for his role in Sam Bankman-Fried's multi-billion-dollar fraud scheme. And it appears that Salame who was in the inner circle of Bankman-Fried, the disgraced crypto tycoon and FTX founder has already had his prison release date moved up by more than a year. Salame was sentenced in May after he pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to the 2022 collapse of Bankman-Fried's crypto exchange. Salame began his prison sentence at Maryland's medium-security Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland on October 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal Bureau of Prisons records viewed by Business Insider in mid-December show Salame's prison release date as scheduled for March 1, 2031 which is just over a year short of 7 years. Salame's attorneys did not respond to requests for comment for this story. A Bureau of Prisons spokesman told BI the agency didn't comment on the confinement conditions of any person in custody, including release plans, but said incarcerated individuals could earn time off their sentence for good behavior under the 2018 First Step Act. "Every incarcerated individual earns Good Conduct Time (GCT), which is projected on their release date," the spokesman told BI in an email, explaining that under the First Step Act, "qualifying individuals will be eligible to earn up to 54 days of GCT time for each year of the sentence imposed by the court." In accordance with federal law, the Bureau of Prisons "continues to pro-rate the amount of GCT earned for the final year of service of the sentence," the spokesman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just before he reported to the federal Maryland lockup, Salame turned to LinkedIn to share a life update. "I'm happy to share that I'm starting a new position as Inmate at FCI Cumberland," Salame posted at the time. He later updated his LinkedIn profile headline to read, "Camper Librarian at FCI Cumberland / Previously Co - CEO FDM (FTX Digital Markets)." In a profile description under "Inmate / Camper Librarian," Salame wrote: "Incarcerated; manually implemented Dewey Decimal System with no internet access; trained Navy Seal style training daily 2+ hours with no water; honed chess, ping pong, yoga and spades skills; began pursuit of reading every presidential biography; learned to cook plethora of meals with 190 degree water and an iron; taught cryptocurrency courses to fellow campers; never screwed up a daily count." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Salame pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to make illegal campaign contributions totaling tens of millions of dollars and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business. He was one of four top executives within Bankman-Fried's business empire to plead guilty. Among those former executives was Caroline Ellison, Bankman-Fried's ex-girlfriend and the CEO of his Alameda Research cryptocurrency hedge fund. Ellison was sentenced to two years in prison in September after she previously pleaded guilty to conspiring with Bankman-Fried in the $11 billion fraud scheme. As BI recently reported, it appears Ellison also had some time shaved from her scheduled release from prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of all seven counts of fraud and conspiracy. He remains behind bars at the infamous Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn as he appeals his conviction. Read the original article on Business Insider MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) The Mobile Police Departments former chief has filed a lawsuit against the mayor, city council, and other officials, alleging slander, libel and civil conspiracy. Body found in Mobile police investigating According to court documents, former Police Chief Paul Prine filed the lawsuit against: Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson Councilmember CJ Smalls Councilmember Joel Daves Councilmember Cory Penn Councilmember Ben Reynolds Law firm Thompson Coburn LLP Former U.S. Attorney Kenyen Brown IT service consultant Power Consulting Group LLC & Tyrone Powers Mobile Chief of Staff James Barber Mobile Public Safety Director Robert Lasky Prine claims in the lawsuit that the people listed above made false, defamatory, and slanderous comments that intended to injure his reputation and character. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further, the Defendants conduct was intended to bring [Prine] into scandal, public ridicule, disgrace, odium, contempt and professional dispute to future employers, read the court documents. 2 shot while driving near McDonald Road and I-10: Mobile County Sheriffs Office Prine also claims that he has suffered from lost income, lost future income, mental anguish, and emotional distress. This story is developing. News 5 will update this article as more information becomes available. View the complete lawsuit below (home addresses redacted): ilovepdf_merged_merged-1Download Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. (Bloomberg) -- Ko Wen-je, a former Taiwanese presidential candidate, has been indicted on corruption charges tied to multiple scandals, including a property redevelopment project during his tenure as Taipei mayor. Most Read from Bloomberg The Taipei District Prosecutors Office proposed a sentence exceeding 28 years for bribery and misappropriation of political donations, a spokesperson said at a briefing on Thursday. They also want Ko fined NT$50 million ($1.5 million). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ko has denied wrongdoing and said he wasnt involved in the decision to grant Core Pacific Group additional floor area in the redevelopment project. The conglomerates chairman, Sheen Ching-jing, who denies wrongdoing, is also facing prosecution and, potentially, 17 years in prison. The Taiwan Peoples Party which Ko co-founded in 2019 denounced the indictment in a press briefing on Thursday. Today, Taiwan is experiencing judicial injustice, with politics and state machinery being used to persecute political opponents, TPPs spokesperson Chen Chih-han said. The indictment lacks financial evidence and concrete proof, relying solely on pieced-together claims to destroy political adversaries. The party and its larger ally, the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang, hold a joint majority in the legislature. They have pushed through several legal changes that DPP supporters say are meant to hinder President Lai Ching-tes ability to govern the island, one of the critical flashpoints in US-China relations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kos case marks the latest in a series of corruption indictments against politicians. In August, former vice premier Cheng Wen-tsan of Lais ruling Democratic Progressive Party was charged for alleged graft. Ko finished third in the 2024 presidential election with about 27% of the vote, behind Lai and KMT candidate Hou Yu-ih. Ko this month announced he is resigning as TPP leader. --With assistance from Cindy Wang. (Adds indictment of company chairman in third paragraph and TPP comment from fourth.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. FORT STEWART, Ga. (WSAV) A fire in an installation housing area left one family displaced Christmas afternoon. No one was injured. Fort Stewart Fire Emergency Services responded to a two-family home on Rogers Circle in the South Bryan Village housing area around 1:00 p.m. The fire was confined to a single structure and only one of the homes was occupied at that time. The Hinesville Fire Department assisted. Temporary accommodations are being arranged for the family impacted by the fire. 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. The Fort Worth Police Department is asking for the publics help to locate a missing 76-year-old man. Eddie Bryant was last seen on Dec. 24 wearing a red shirt and blue jeans, police said on a social media post. Bryant is described as Black, 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing about 180 pounds, with brown eyes and black and gray hair. He was driving a 2019 white Mercedes SUV with Texas license plate TYV4351, police said. Anyone with information about Bryant is asked to call 817-392-4222. MARSHALL, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) Marshall Pet Adoption Center and Friends of Marshall Animals launched a promotion to urgently help find loving homes for the dogs currently in their care before the end of the year. According to a press release, Monday through January 13, 2025, it is free to adopt a dog and community members who open their home for two weeks to temporarily foster a dog will receive a $50 Amazon gift card. This promotion comes as part of an effort to reduce overcrowding at the shelter and find homes for as many animals as possible. Best Friends Animal Society, a leading animal welfare organization working to end the unnecessary killing of cats and dogs in Americas shelters, is sponsoring the promotion and in addition will also provide a $150 stipend to qualifying 501 (C ) (3) organizations that transfer a dog from Marshall Pet Adoption Center into their rescue program before the end of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our shelter is at capacity, and with the end of the year fast approaching, we urgently need to find homes for these wonderful dogs. said Justin Serna, Marshall Pet Adoption Center. Thanks to Best Friends Animal Society, adoption fees are waived, and we hope it will not only help to reduce the number of animals in our care but bring a little holiday joy to those in our community who choose to adopt or temporarily foster a dog. Marshall Pet Adoption Center and Friends of Marshall Animals are dedicated to the needs and placement of animals in the Marshall, TX area. With a focus on compassion, care, and community involvement, the shelter strives to advocate for animals in need. Saving the lives of dogs and cats in animal shelters is the responsibility of everyone in every community, said Emily Lancione, Regional strategist, Best Friends Animal Society. We support the hardworking and committed staff at Marshall Pet Adoption Center and encourage the community to adopt or foster because these amazing dogs belong in homes and not in a shelter. Located at 2502 E. Travis St., Marshall, TX, Marshall Pet Adoption Center invites potential adopters and fosters to visit and meet the available dogs daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information about the promotion, to view adoptable dogs, or to inquire about fostering, visit the wesbite or call (903) 935-4530. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New Year, New Best Friend event will continue until January 13, 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. Four people found dead in a New Hampshire home on Christmas Day died of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, the state fire marshal said Wednesday. At 4:21 p.m. Wednesday, Wakefield Police responded to 2962 Province Lake Road in Wakefield for a welfare check, New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Sean Toomey said in a statement shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday. When officers arrived, they found multiple people dead in the home. Investigators from the New Hampshire State Fire Marshals Office were asked to respond to the scene to assist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The names of the four victims, all adults, are being withheld pending next of kin notification. An investigation remains active and ongoing. At this time, investigators believe the victims died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Autopsies are scheduled to be performed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on Thursday to determine the cause and manner of death. Anyone with information for investigators is encouraged to call the New Hampshire State Fire Marshals Office at 603-223-4289 or fmo@dos.nh.gov. The New Hampshire State Fire Marshals Office was assisted at the scene by members of Wakefield Fire Rescue, the Wakefield Police Department, and the New Hampshire State Police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Toomey on Wednesday reminded the public of the importance of having working carbon monoxide alarms in their homes. In the event of an alarm activation, residents should immediately exit their homes and call 911. Anyone with questions about home fire and carbon monoxide safety should contact their local fire department or the New Hampshire State Fire Marshals Office. Wakefield is a small town in the Lakes Region, east of Lake Winnipesaukee. The towns population was 5,201 at the 2020 census. 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 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that France has repeatedly appealed to Russia through closed channels, proposing that they establish a dialogue on the Russian-Ukrainian war without Ukraine's participation. Source: Sergei Lavrov in an interview with Russian and foreign media, as reported by European Pravda citing Russian newspaper Kommersant Details: Lavrov claims that Moscow has not refused to engage in talks and was "ready to listen" to Paris' proposals. However, the minister added that "France is the main initiator of sending so-called peacekeeping troops to Ukraine." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from Lavrov: "Our French colleagues have expressed a willingness to take a proactive role in a variety of issues, which we appreciate, but I am uncertain what the outcome of such initiatives will be or how sincere the desire to play a good role is. Several times, we have received requests from our French colleagues via closed channels: Let us help and establish a dialogue on the Ukrainian issue. Without Ukraine's participation, by the way, just a dialogue on the Ukrainian issue, seemingly violating the principle that the West keeps reiterating: nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine'." More details: The Russian Foreign Minister said that at the same time, France is training the Ukrainian military on its territory and is in favour of sending a European contingent to Ukraine. Quote from Lavrov: "Such ambiguous behaviour does not inspire a desire to take what is happening on the initiative of our French colleagues seriously." Background: Reuters reported, citing diplomats, that France is trying to assemble a coalition of 5-8 European countries "determined to act". Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that deploying a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine as a deterrent to another Russian attack had been discussed at meetings in Brussels and said he was already "seeing a positive response" from some leaders. Support UP or become our patron! SYDNEY, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Firefighters were facing difficulty as they battled blazes across the Australian state of Victoria on Thursday, and braced for further challenging conditions, Victoria Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said. A total fire ban was in place across Victoria, as high temperatures and strong winds were expected to create the worst conditions for bushfires seen in years. Nugent told reporters that gusty northerly winds were pushing some of the fire at the Grampians National Park south in Victoria. "It's also making it difficult for any new starts that occur across the state, which (we) have had a number of already," he said. "This will be followed by a change in wind conditions that will move across to the southwest ... which, again, (makes) it really problematic for firefighters with any of those existing fires." The Grampians National Park fire has already burnt about 55,000 hectares of land, causing significant damage including environmental damage, livestock losses, and damage to outbuildings and sheds. "We have no reports as yet of residential homes (destroyed), but there are many residents (at the) Grampians, so I wouldn't be surprised at some point if we do have residential losses," he said. Luke Heagerty from Victoria's State Control Center said the situation at the Grampians was changing rapidly. "We've seen significant fire development this afternoon as we anticipated, with that wind change really starting to affect parts of the fire ground," he said. "We've seen expansion of the fire to the southeast this morning, and early this afternoon with the northwesterly winds." He said this afternoon's winds knocked down trees, which may impact people trying to leave the area. The promise of a tuition-free private education. Its not too good to be true. Thats what North Central College wants prospective students to know with its Cardinal Pledge program, an initiative designed to make the Naperville campus accessible to more Illinois students and families. Through Cardinal Pledge, eligible students can have 100% of their tuition and standard fees covered. Launched last year, the program is made possible through a combination of federal, state and institutional aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, as Cardinal Pledge heads into its second year, North Central is doubling down on efforts to promote its impact so more prospective recipients can take advantage of the opportunity, college officials say. Its about access, right? said Aggie Hanni, North Centrals vice president for enrollment management and marketing. We have these students that want to go to college. (But) they self-select out from the process sometimes because they think that especially for private institutions that the price tag is just overwhelming to think about. Cost is among the primary concerns deterring U.S. adults from pursuing and obtaining a college degree, according to a May report from Gallup and the Lumina Foundation. North Central wants all students to feel like they can apply to and enroll in what it has to offer regardles of costs, Hanni said. That mission is what really drove us to develop Cardinal Pledge, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its available to both resident and commuter students who meet certain eligibility requirements. To qualify, recipients must be admitted as a first-year student to NCC. Additionally, they must qualify for the Federal Pell Grant and the states Monetary Award Program. Both Pell and MAP grants are awarded to students who demonstrate financial need and, unlike loans, do not need to be repaid. Other requirements stipulate that students must be: U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens; Illinois residents who attended and graduated from an Illinois high school; and enrolled in a bachelors degree program for at least 12 credit hours during their fall or spring semesters. Prospective students interested in Cardinal Pledge can apply to North Central and inquire about their eligibility for the program anytime between now and the beginning of the 2025 fall term, Hanni said. However, she advised the sooner the better to ensure availability of aid, especially state funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To that end, Hanni said North Central doesnt necessarily have a firm cap on the number of students it strives to support through Cardinal Pledge but that the program depends on available funding. Asked if North Central has long-term aspirations for Cardinal Pledges reach, Hanni said, Its really difficult to kind of plan long-term beyond what weve already committed to (but) certainly we would like to include more students that could meet those requirements or even (see) an expansion of this program. Its something that we are constantly evaluating, she said. Are we removing barriers? Are we increasing access for everyone? So its a constant. But we just dont know what thats going to look like long-term other than just our standing commitment to evaluate it in real-time. More information about North Centrals Cardinal Pledge initiative can be found at https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/cardinal-pledge. tkenny@chicagotribune.com A delegation from the French Army, including Pierre Schill, Chief of the Army Staff, visited Ukraine for several days. Source: press service for the Ukrainian Ground Forces, reported by European Pravda Details: The purpose of the visit was to deepen cooperation, exchange experience and discuss further military assistance. During their stay, the delegation visited the Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Ground Forces Academy, a training centre, a command post and an air defence command post. They also paid tribute to fallen Ukrainian defenders at St Michaels Golden-Domed Monastery and the Alley of Glory at the National Ground Forces Academy in Lviv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "During the visit, a bilateral meeting was held where Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, thanked the French side for their systematic support and outlined directions for deeper cooperation. In turn, the chief of the army staff expressed interest in expanding cooperation with the training centre, particularly in the area of training UAV operators." Background: Unofficial reports suggest that French President Emmanuel Macron is seeking support for his idea of deploying a European contingent in Ukraine as part of security guarantees in case of an agreement to end the current phase of the war. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that discussions about deploying allied contingents in Ukraine as a safeguard against future Russian aggression took place during recent meetings in Brussels and he noted "positive signals" from some leaders. Support UP or become our patron! Friends of Catholic Education said two new executive directors have been appointed to the organization. Friends of Catholic Education is a nonprofit organization in Frederick County that works to provide Catholic education to students to those who want it. Paula DAmore will be the executive director of business operations and Tracy Hickman will be the executive director of community relations. Friends of Catholic Education said in a press release that they are replacing Executive Director Michele Corr, who had served in that position since 2016. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Corr will become the next executive director of the Delaplaine Foundation on Jan. 6. DAmore previously served as the business manager of Friends of Catholic Education since 2020, according to Tuesdays press release. She said in the release that it has been a privilege to work alongside Corr and she is deeply honored to step into the role. Hickman previously served as a member of the board of trustees for the organization since 2018. She said the role of executive director of community relations offers a meaningful opportunity to connect with our Catholic school community in Frederick County, according to the release. Bill Milani, the president of the board of trustees for Friends of Catholic Education, said in the release that Corr will remain with the organization as a member of the board. Esther Frances Frisch's historic Mainliner restaurant in suburban Cincinnati has closed, but its iconic sign will live on in the American Sign Museum. Enquirer media partner Fox19 reported that the sign at the Fairfax restaurant a replica of a plane the restaurant was named after in 1939 will be donated to the sign museum in Cincinnati's Camp Washington neighborhood. This sign over here is a Cincinnati relic, longtime Frisch's customer Mark Estes told Fox19. When you heard of the Frischs Mainliner, you thought of the sign out front with the airplanes and propellers that used to spin. The pending sale of Frischs to an Atlanta-based private equity fund for $175 million raises the question of whether the companys community-oriented programs will continue. The Mainliner on Wooster Pike was the regions first year-round drive-in restaurant. Were as excited as the public is because there were so many people that want this sign to stay in Cincinnati and be able to be seen by everybody, and the American Sign Museum is where that can happen, American Sign Museum founder Tod Swormstedt said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Swormstedt explained that he met with the company that owns Frischs and learned on Dec. 23 that the sign would be donated to his museum. The Big Boy museum in the Frisch's Mainliner in Fairfax is now empty. The closing of the Mainliner comes as Frisch's Big Boy, a longtime Cincinnati institution, has closed or been evicted from many of its buildings from Columbus to Lexington, Ky. What's next for the Mainliner sign The Cincinnati-based Atlantic Sign Company was previously asked to restore the sign, and repairs are set to begin Dec. 30, according to Swormstedt. They know the sign already and know exactly what it would take to restore the sign, Swormstedt continued, adding that the total repair costs would likely be around $50,000 to $60,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Frisch's Mainliner museum has closed. Where did the Big Boys go? Ive had a number of people call us wanting to have a campaign GoFundMe or something to raise some of the money to restore the sign, we would surely welcome that, Swormstedt said. Swormstedt said this wouldnt have been possible without the help of Estes and others who worked hard to show support for the sign going to the American Sign Museum. The Mainliner sign will remain at the original Fairfax location at 5760 Wooster Pike until Dec. 30. This story was updated to add a gallery. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Frisch's Mainliner: Restaurant closes, but historic sign will live on Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Desi Bouterse, a former dictator and later president of Suriname who was convicted of murder and drug trafficking, died on Tuesday at age 79. Suriname Vice President Ronnie Brunswijk formerly was Bouterse's bodyguard before becoming one of his political opponents and announced the death of the former dictator and president in a post on Facebook, the New York Times reported. Bouterse died on Tuesday, Brunswijk said, and local media reported he had been afflicted with an unknown sickness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former dictator and president had been in hiding after vanishing a year ago after a court sentenced him to 20 years in prison for the 1982 murders of 15 political adversaries. Bouterse was a former military leader in Suriname who led a coup to take power and become Suriname's dictator in 1980. Bouterse also was elected president of Surname about 30 years after the coup, but he eventually was convicted of killing political opponents and drug trafficking. While dictator, Bouterse on Dec. 8, 1982, ordered the arrest, torture and murder of 15 dissidents, who he feared might lead a counter-coup against his regime. Among those killed were professors, journalists and attorneys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The murders are remembered as the "December Murders" and caused the Netherlands to cease all support of Suriname. Bouterse was born on Oct. 13, 1945, quit high school and joined the Dutch Army. He stayed in the military after Suriname gained its independence in 1975, which enabled him to lead the military coup five years later. Bouterse was a graduate of the Royal Military School in the Netherlands and served in the Dutch army in the Netherlands and Germany before returning to Suriname just before gaining its independence from the Netherlands on Nov. 25, 1975. He joined the new nation's newly created military and led the coup nearly five years later after Prime Minister Henck Arron banned the military from forming a union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bouterse led 15 other soldiers in overthrowing Arron and the Surinam government on Feb. 25, 1980. Bouterse promised to reform the government but didn't, which led to growing political opposition that culminated in the 15 politically motivated murders for which Bouterse eventually was convicted. Brunswijk in 1986 led a civil war against Bouterse that lasted for six years in Suriname's jungles. The war led to human rights violations by both sides and the deaths of hundreds. The civil war eroded support for Bouterse's regime, and he accepted free elections in November 1987 after Bouterse formed the National Democratic Party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bouterse lost the election to President Ramsewek Shankar but remained in control of the nation's military. The military in 1990 took control of the government and unseated Shankar as president, but civilian rule returned a year later. Bouterse left the military in 1993 and became a full-time politician and businessman. He later won election as president in 2010. A military court initiated a trial against Bouterse and 24 co-defendants in 2007 for the December Murders of 1982, but the trial lasted more than a decade. The military trial eventually resulted in the 20-year sentence for the 1982 murders, but Bouterse did not serve any time in prison because he left the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While president, Bouterse enacted several social reforms that were inspired by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez that were popular but eventually decimated the national economy. He also made several trips to Cuba, including a month-long trip in 2017 to undergo surgery for an unknown medical condition. Despite his success in Surname, the Netherlands in 1999 sentenced Bouterse to 11 years in prison for smuggling cocaine into the Netherlands. A lack of an extradition treaty between Suriname and the Netherlands enabled Bouterse to avoid being sent to a Dutch prison. Bouterse was celebrated as a populist president by his supporters and reviled as a brutal and murderous dictator who engaged in drug trafficking by his detractors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was married two times and had three children, one of whom, Dino Bouterse, is serving a 16-year prison sentence for drug trafficking in the United States. The Republic of Suriname is located north of Brazil and between Guyana and French Guiana along South America's northeastern Atlantic Coast region. Suriname had a population of 623,236 in 2023, according to World Bank. Five journalists were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza on Thursday, according to the news outlet that employed them and local officials. It's the latest report of slain journalists in the besieged enclave as life-threatening conditions in the area continue to hamper wartime reporting efforts. The media office of Gaza's Hamas-run government said the journalists worked at Al Quds Today TV, a local news channel, The New York Times reported. Al Quds Today is affiliated with the Islamic Jihad, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), though its unclear whether the journalists subscribed to such ideology and were members of the jihadist group. Al Quds Today named the five men and attached photos of them in a post on social media that show some of them wearing Press vests. Quds News Network also posted a photo on X of what it reported was the vehicle targeted in the airstrike. The white vehicle pictured was marked with the word PRESS in red. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military disputed claims that the men were journalists, saying it conducted a precise strike on a vehicle with an Islamic Jihad terrorist cell inside in the area of Nuseirat. According to The Washington Post, the Israeli Defense Forces did not publicly provide evidence for its allegations and cited intelligence from multiple sources that allegedly indicated the men belonged to the Islamic Jihad group. IDF spokesperson Nadav Shoshani wrote on X that claims that the military targeted journalists are fake. Israel has been accused of taking a drastically more lenient approach to its rules of armed conflict as it wages a fierce war to eliminate Hamas after the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks. Human rights organizations have accused Israel of repeatedly violating the rules of war and international humanitarian law in Gaza, resulting in a soaring civilian death toll. The IDF has said that it works to minimize civilian harm and that it "is committed to adhering to international legal obligations and operating under the laws of armed conflict." For the past 14 months, journalists in Gaza, alongside approximately 2 million other civilians who are trapped in the area, have been under relentless attacks from Israel while living under what human rights groups have called inhumane conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although media workers are protected by international humanitarian law, journalists in Gaza face especially high risks as they cover the war. Between Oct. 7, 2023, and Dec. 20, 2024, at least 141 members of the media including 133 Palestinians, six Lebanese and two Israelis have been killed, according to the CPJ, making it the deadliest period for journalists in more than 30 years. Several dozen journalists in Gaza have also been arrested and reported missing, and their family members threatened and killed, according to the organization. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com A judge in Georgia has sentenced a male couple to 100 years each in prison without parole for sexually abusing the children they had adopted. William and Zachary Zulock of Walton County, about 30 miles east of Atlanta, were arrested in 2022 after the Walton County Sheriffs Office received a tip that another man was receiving pictures and videos from the couple that depicted child sexual abuse. The Zulocks had adopted two young boys a few years earlier. When interviewed by investigators, they both admitted to sexually abusing both boys over a period of time, according to a press release from the Alcovy Judicial Circuit District Attorneys Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August of this year, William Zulock pleaded guilty to six counts of aggravated sodomy, three counts of aggravated child molestation, two counts of incest, and two counts of sexual exploitation of children. In October, Zachary Zulock pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated sodomy, three counts of aggravated child molestation, two counts of sodomy, three counts of sexual exploitation of children, and two counts of pandering for a person under 18. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of incest, but Judge Jeffrey L. Foster found him guilty of those charges after a bench trial. Foster sentenced both men December 19. After hearing arguments from both the State and the defense, the Court essentially followed the States sentencing recommendation for both Defendants: 100 years in prison followed by life on probation, the press release says. Because of the nature of the offenses, the Defendants will not be eligible for parole for the entire 100 years. It cannot be stressed enough how important it is for our society to have individuals willing to adopt children in need, Alcovy Judicial Circuit DA Randy McGinley said in the release. But anyone who does so and then abuses those children deserves extremely harsh consequences and decades in prison. The sentence imposed not only appropriately punishes these Defendants for their repeated selfish actions but also sends the message to the public that such actions will never be taken lightly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those involved with the investigation and prosecution of this case will never forget what they had to see and hear in this case. These two Defendants truly created a house of horrors and put their extremely dark desires above everything and everyone else. However, the depth of the Defendants depravity, which is as deep as it gets, is not greater than the resolve of those that fought for justice and the strength of the victims in this case. The resolve I have seen from these two young victims over the last two years is truly inspiring. Most people who sexually abuse children, including men whose victims are boys, are heterosexual. "Abuse is about power and control and is not anchored by sexual orientation," notes the Zero Abuse Project of the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center. When researchers do use genuine scientific principles to explore LGBTQ families, they find consistently that growing up in households headed by same-sex parents does not raise overall risks for children [not just for abuse but any poor outcome], as found in scores of peer-reviewed studies collected by Cornells What We Know Project, social scientist Nathaniel Frank told Reuters Fact Check in 2022. Germany's foreign minister said on Thursday that the European Union must consider formally suspending Georgia's accession process due to the Russia-friendly ruling party's hostile approach to the bloc and the country's democratic backsliding. "With its anti-European turn, the Georgian Dream party has deliberately put Georgia's EU accession process on ice and effectively suspended it," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a statement. "In the EU, we should now also discuss a formal suspension of Georgia's accession process due to the increasingly authoritarian policies of the Georgian Dream." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baerbock said that the granting of EU candidate status in December 2023 was "linked to clear promises of reform." "But instead of progress, we are seeing alarming regression," she continued, pointing to the brutal crackdowns on peaceful pro-European demonstrators that have been taking place in the capital Tbilisi and other locations for weeks. Germany suspends millions in support The Georgian Dream party is also severely endangering Georgia's decades-long partnership with Germany, Baerbock said. As a consequence of the recent events, the German Foreign Office is scaling down cooperation with the country and suspending support projects worth more than 200 million ($208 million). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Germany is also discussing further measures with its EU partners - according to Baerbock, these range "from the withdrawal of visa-free travel for Georgian decision-makers to targeted sanctions." Deepening crisis The pro-Western opposition is questioning the declared victory of the Georgian Dream party in the parliamentary election that took place at the end of October and are angry over its decision to effectively halt the country's EU accession talks. Demonstrations have repeatedly been violently broken up, activists have been detained, and opposition politicians and media representatives attacked. Several countries have already imposed sanctions against the leadership of Georgia, which was long considered a close ally of the European Union and NATO. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Memphis is mourning the loss of a man remembered as a giant in the civil rights movement and the faith-based community. Family and friends say Bishop Henry Williamson Sr. died on Christmas Day after a brief illness. He was the 52nd Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Memphis. Throughout the years, Bishop Williamson was known for tirelessly working with Memphis and national civil rights leaders such as the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Joseph Kyles of Monumental Baptist Church and the Memphis President of Rainbow Push Coalition says he was a friend, and mentor for many in Memphis. Dr. Williamson served in so many different capacities. But recently, in the last few years, I had the opportunity of working with him on the restoration of Collins Chapel, and I can tell you that the Church and the community, and all those who really loved the Collins Chapel because of the work that it did in communication in the areas of birth prior to desegregation, Kyles said. Bishop Williamson is also remembered as a great organizer of people to help those less fortunate. He could compel individuals to work on behalf of the betterment of those who were less fortunate. I can remember all the things that he did for the National Rainbow Push Organization, and Im certainly happy to have had that time working with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South. Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. Kyles says Bishop Williamson was the chairman of the Rainbow Push Coalition for the Delta, which connected Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. So, while my work was confined here in Memphis, or traveling with Reverend Jackson, you know Dr. Williamson was all over the world. Right now, funeral services for Bishop Williamson are incomplete. We will keep you posted when they are finalized. He was just a giant. He was a giant among men, one of the tallest trees in the forest, and he will sorely be missed, said Kyles. 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 WREG.com. MOSCOW, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Russia expects to resume economic and investment cooperation with the new Syrian leaders, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday. Russia maintains contacts with the new Syrian authorities through its diplomatic mission, Lavrov said, adding that Moscow is interested and ready for dialogue with the authorities on bilateral and regional issues. The senior diplomat also said that all political and ethno-religious groups should participate in elections in Syria, and Russia is ready to assist the political process. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Its a common gift that was maybe in your stocking this morning: gift card. They can be a great gift ideas for those hard to buy for friends and relatives. And no matter if you gave or received one this season, you, of course, want to see it eventually redeemed. Business all over offer up gift cards for sale. Papa Woodys to close At Oh My cupcakes in Sioux Falls you will find them conveniently on display at the check out counter. Owner Melissa Johnson says they are popular with her customers and make a lot of sense for a business like hers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think what is really convenient with gift cards for us is if you want to gift cupcakes to someone but they are not going to eat them today a gift card is a great way to go because its a fresh baked product, said Johnson. About 25% of all gift cards go unused after a year. However, we Americans are pretty good about using them eventually, because only about 5% are never redeemed. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley says there is a practical and legal difference between a gift certificate and a gift card. Christmas cafe in Revillo A gift certificate would be specific to a business and that particular certificate would have a value or expiration date of three years. Even if it says one year, state law allows it to be valid for three years. A gift card is specific to a network it might be a visa or a master one and it has a five year shelf period, said Jackley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each business is unique when it comes to redeeming gift cards, but many, especially smaller businesses will honor them long past the five year legal deadline. Weve redeemed gift cars from when we where in our downtown location 10, 15 years ago, said Johnson. If you run into a business that isnt as cooperative Jackley says there is help. Most will work with the consumer because they what them to come back but if they dont just contact the South Dakota Consumer Division, we get about 64,000 contacts a year and we would be happy to do our best to assist, said Jackley. You can reach the South Dakota Consumer Protection division by calling 1-800-300-1986. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that 81 events and festivals in the Commonwealth will receive funds in an effort to drive visitation to the Commonwealth in 2025. Youngkin said over $810,000 in matching grant funds will be awarded as part of the Virginia Tourism Corporations Special Events & Festivals Sponsorship Program. Youngkin hopes the program will increase overnight visitation, improve visitor experience and increase traveler spending. The program is also expected to generate over $5.6 million in marketing and event production initiatives and support over 324 tourism-oriented businesses and partners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Special events and festivals are vital to Virginias thriving visitor economy, supporting our musicians, artisans, hotels, and restaurants, Youngkin said. This years grant recipients have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to growing their event footprint, increasing visitation, and enhancing the visitor experience in 2025. By leveraging these funds, we aim to attract even more visitors, showcase the unique charm of our communities, and reinforce Virginias reputation as a premier destination for memorable events and festivals. According to a release, the program works by using limited marketing and event production dollars in order to help stimulate overnight visitation. The program also extends the Virginia is for Lovers brand to help drive visitation. Eligible partners who can apply for funding include Virginia cities, towns, counties, destination marketing organizations, restaurants, museums, attractions and other tourism-related businesses. Virginias special event and festival industry is an incredible tourism driver, and these programs combined have a projected attendance of over 2 million visitors, Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick said. These special events and festivals are scheduled throughout 2025 and will help support the hospitality workforce at all career levels by inducing tourism demand and increasing overnight visitation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizations interested in applying can do so through the link here. 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. A man accused of slashing two people in back-to-back Christmas Eve attacks at Grand Central Station cutting one victim in the wrist so deeply a tourniquet needed to be applied screamed F these people! at the start of his rampage, prosecutors say. Jason Sargeant was ordered held on $150,000 bail during a brief arraignment proceeding in Manhattan Criminal Court Wednesday night. Witnesses heard Sargeant, 28, scream F these people before the 10:10 p.m. attacks, which began when he pulled the emergency brake on an uptown No. 5 train entering the Grand Central-42nd St. subway station, police and MTA officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As soon as he stepped off the train, he slashed a 42-year-old man in the left wrist without warning, cops said. Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Anjali Puri said the victim was bleeding profusely on scene and lost a significant amount of blood. First responders applied a tourniquet before rushing him to Bellevue Hospital, where doctors fear he suffered possible nerve damage, Puri said. Straphangers appeared to be afraid of Sargeant and steered clear of him as he fled up a flight of stairs, Puri added. When he reached the mezzanine level and exited a turnstile, he lunged at a 26-year-old woman with his knife, punching her in the face and cutting her neck and throat, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She suffered minor injuries and was also taken to Bellevue Hospital. The first victim has been released from the hospital, his Bronx landlord told the Daily News Thursday. He told me some crazy guy stabbed him and another girl, the landlord said. He has his finger wrapped up, and his arm is [in a sling]. MTA police apprehended Sargeant in the station and found a bloody knife in the front left pocket of his jacket, authorities say. As she asked for bail, Puri said Sargeant has a minimal criminal history in New York City but the repeat attacks were incredibly serious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Sargeant], unprovoked, attacked two victims inside Grand Central Station with a knife on Christmas Eve, Puri said, adding that both attacks were caught on video. Sargeant was charged with multiple counts of assault. The Legal Aid Society, who represented Sargeant at his arraignment, declined to comment Thursday. Sargeant has been homeless since at least February, when he made a GoFundMe post asking for donations so he could move out of his shelter. Ive been trying to get back on my feet but with limited job opportunities its been extremely exhausting, he wrote in his post. Fortunately last week I found an opportunity that can possibly help. There is a room that I can rent but I cannot afford the first months deposit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sargeant was hoping to raise $1,000 but no one donated. The male victims landlord is too afraid to take the subway. I dont take the trains, he said. That underground city, you cant live out there. I take the bus to Manhattan. Speaking to reporters in Harlem before serving Christmas meals at the National Action Networks headquarters Wednesday, Mayor Adams praised law enforcement for catching Sargeant, who he said suffered from a history of mental illness. We made the apprehension. We did our job. We had the omnipresence of uniformed officers there. But this appears to be a person who had a mental health history in the past, the mayor said. This clearly is a person that needs help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NYPD has no record of cops being called to assist Sargeant for a mental health crisis, a department spokesman said. Adams said addressing random acts of violence will be a priority for his administration to press in Albany this year. As we go back to Albany, we need to look at involuntary removals. As we go back to Albany, we need to look at more long-term housing beds, he said, referring to policy proposals he has floated for addressing New Yorks mental health crisis. NYPD data shows crime in the subway system is up significantly compared with before the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 20% jump in violent crime underground in 2023 compared with 2019. Its fitting that the Stillwater Amateur Radio Associations next major event will be held at Belwin Conservancys Savanna Center in Afton. The Savanna Center was once the home of the Rev. George Metcalf, a late Episcopal priest who helped craft a famous World War II prayer 80 years ago this week and was a ham-radio operator under the call sign of WJH. Remembering Father Metcalf-WJH will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 2-4 at the center, located at 795 Indian Trail S. The event is free and open to anyone interested in communicating with other radio operators around the world, said Dave Glas, past president of SARA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a way for us to honor Father Metcalf, Glas said. We want to recognize his generosity in donating the land and his support of amateur radio and other sciences. Metcalf, who died in 1995, founded the Oratory of St. Marys on the site in 1959. For years, the land and the buildings, which included a residence and two small guest cottages, served as a spiritual retreat, and Metcalfs radio ministry was broadcast around the world from towers on the sloping hillside, according to Belwins history of the center. Metcalf was a longtime volunteer with the Courage Centers Handiham program, helping members with ham-radio education and learning Morse code, Glas said. Pattons chaplain Metcalf grew up in St. Paul and served as Gen. George Pattons personal chaplain during World War II. He was one of two chaplains who drafted the Weather prayer that Pattons troops believed ended three months of cloudy skies and rain in December 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was terrible weather in that part of the world, Glas said. The Allies couldnt fly airplanes in to provide support, and the Germans had tanks surrounding Bastogne. At 8 a.m. on Dec. 22, 1944, Metcalf was at his desk in the Caserne Molifor, an old French military barracks in Nancy in the region of Lorraine, when the telephone rang, according to Stillwater historian Anita Buck, who interviewed Metcalf in 1975 and wrote about that interview for an article that was published in the Stillwater Courier News in 2003. This is General Patton, the voice on the other end of the phone stated, according to Bucks account. Can you find me a prayer for fair weather for battle? We cant get air cover under the present conditions. Its pretty serious, and I think we ought to pray about it. Metcalf told Buck that he found several excerpts from four or five prayers in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church. He also conferred with the Third Armys head chaplain, James ONeill, an American Catholic priest who picked phrases from his missal of the Catholic church, Buck wrote. Using that material, the two men put together the fair weather prayer. FROM THE ARCHIVES: Afton priests faith bolstered by WWII Christmas prayer ONeill presented the prayer to Patton, who had it printed and distributed to unit members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here is that prayer: Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish Thy justice among men and nations. Amen. The weather cleared soon after. Afton property After the war, Metcalf was chaplain for Episcopal students at the University of Minnesota and, later, associate minister at St. Pauls On-the-Hill Episcopal Church on Summit Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1959, Metcalf and his wife, Mary, went looking for property in the country and fell in love with 100 acres in Afton. In 1972, the Metcalfs donated about 90 acres of their 100-acre parcel to the Science Museum of Minnesota. The couple wanted the land, which included a freshwater marsh, to remain undeveloped and to be used for the observation and study of natural phenomena. The Metcalfs eventually became frustrated that the museum was not using the land for scientific study as stipulated in the deed agreement, family members said. Related Articles In 2004, Mary Metcalf sued the museum to get it to abide by the agreement or to allow control to be transferred to another organization. A settlement reached in 2006 transferred the land to Belwin. Mary Metcalf died in 2007. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Belwin officials have transformed the land into the Savanna Center, a hub for expanding programs and partnerships that make outdoor experiences more accessible to the community. The center is surrounded by 250 acres of restored oak savanna. The Belwin Conservancy, which specializes in outdoor science education, has protected more than 1,500 acres in the St. Croix Valley from development. The permanently protected land includes woodland, prairie, oak savanna, ponds, streams and wetlands. For more information about the SARA event, go to radioham.org. GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. (WWLP) The Great Barrington Police Department announced the promotion of Sgt. Adam J. Carlotto to police captain on Monday, citing his dedication to his community and his many years of unwavering service to the department. Carlotto joined the police department in 2006 and took on many positions throughout his 18 years with the Great Barrington police, including patrol officer, sergeant, and commander of the Berkshire County Special Response Team. As police captain, Carlotto will be responsible for training officers, overseeing police operations, and outreach within the community. Police investigating Christmas Day shooting on I-91 North in Enfield Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have worked side by side with Adam throughout his career. Over the past four years, Adam has been second in command for our department. He has demonstrated the ability to oversee the departments operations in my absence, said Police Chief Paul Storti. He has the qualifications, leadership skills, and understanding of the needs of our community. Storti said that Carlotto played a significant role in advancing programs within the department over the past nearly two decades, such as Advanced Firearms Instruction, Field Training, Accreditation, and the police departments drone program. I am honored to take on this new role and grateful for the opportunity to continue serving our community, Carlotto said. I look forward to working alongside the dedicated officers of the Great Barrington Police Department to ensure the safety and well-being of all community members. Carlotto said he is committed to using his new position to increase public safety within Great Barrington and mentor officers within the department to create future leaders. 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. GREENE COUNTY, Miss. (WKRG) A Rankin County convicted murderer who escaped from South Mississippi Correctional Institution on Christmas Eve has been recaptured, according to the George County Sheriffs Office. Fire at Mobile apartment complex leaves 11 without a home: MFRD Drew Johnson was recaptured on Christmas Day after escaping the Leakesville prison, News 5 has learned. A mugshot of Drew Johnson (Mississippi Department of Corrections). Johnson had been convicted of murder in February of 2022 and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a Shelby County District Attorney news release from 2022, Johnson pleaded guilty to multiple crimes, including hitting a fellow prisoner with a brick, setting fire to the jail on two occasions, and killing an acquaintance in 2016 by stabbing him more than two dozen times. Body found in Mobile police investigating Johnson pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and two counts of aggravated arson. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. Dec. 25Lisa Reynolds didn't think twice when asked by a family friends to give up her Christmas morning make sure those in need had a holiday meal. Reynolds, of Bell Township, was among the dozens of volunteers at the First Presbyterian Church in Greensburg who cooked the food, packed boxes and delivered more than 700 Christmas dinners throughout Westmoreland County. "This just brightens their day a little bit and it brightens my day a little bit," Reynolds said. "It just gives you a great feeling to help someone who is a little less fortunate than us. It makes their day and it makes my day." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Volunteers gathered at the downtown church early Christmas morning and many expected to stay on until about 3:30 p.m. The church had hosted sit-down Christmas meals to about 150 people in need for about two decades up until the coronavirus pandemic outbreak in 2020, which caused it to alter the program. It converted to a pickup and delivery system that ultimately provided an opportunity to serve more people unable to prepare or purchase a proper holiday meal. "As we know, there is so much need in the community. And without the volunteers, we couldn't do anything," said Scott Sucke, who coordinates the cooking and distribution of the meals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sucke, a former cook at Mountain View Inn in Unity, said preparations for Christmas dinner started on Monday. He and his team of volunteers worked around-the-clock from Tuesday into Wednesday. They cooked about 20 hams. Fruit cocktails were dished out into individual portions, scalloped potatoes were baked for the meals that also included vegetables, rolls and cake for dessert. In all, about 320 man-hours of work were put into the meal preparations. There were 40 volunteers on hand Christmas morning to pack up and deliver the dinners to locations in Greensburg, Jeannette, Latrobe and other parts of the county. "This is completely funded by donations and is not part of the church's budget," Sucke said. "We collected donations all through the year." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With each meal comes a handwritten holiday card. Joy Ressler of Greensburg spent hours earlier this week stuffing envelops and signing "Season's Greetings" on those cards. Ressler is a New York native who, after retiring, moved to Greensburg from Virginia last summer with her husband. She spent her first Christmas in her new hometown dishing out ham dinners for those in need. She said she didn't realize when her Lyft driver drove through Greensburg on the way to a local furniture store that she would find a new holiday calling. "He drove us by the church and I didn't know what this big, beautiful building was," Ressler said. "So the next day, I came here to visit and came again the following Sunday for services. And now I volunteer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think it is amazing, and I've been trying for years to do some kind of service. This was a godsend." Christmas dinner is an extension of the church's monthly Sunday Supper program that feeds about 350 people in need. The Rev. Martin Ankrum has served as church pastor for 24 years. He said the Christmas dinner program is important for the community. "There are people who are in need," said Ankrum, as he prepared to make his scheduled Christmas deliveries in Latrobe. "It feeds some people for a day a significant day who are food deprived. "We know it doesn't solve any problems. But it helps." Rich Cholodofsky is a TribLive reporter covering Westmoreland County government, politics and courts. He can be reached at rcholodofsky@triblive.com. Airport officials discovered a dead body in the wheel well of a flight shortly after it arrived in Maui on Christmas Eve, and an investigation is being conducted by police to find out how it got there. According to ABC News, the Boeing 787-10 United Airlines aircraft Flight 202 landed at Kahului Airport in Hawaii on Dec. 24 from Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The airline confirmed that in a statement that "a body was found in the wheel well of one of the main landing gears" and that the wheel well is only accessible from the outside of the aircraft. United added that it was unclear how the deceased accessed the wheel well but did not offer any further details, nor reveal the identity of the individual. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement officials said in a statement on Wednesday that "the Maui Police Department is currently conducting an active investigation regarding a deceased individual discovered on an incoming flight from the mainland this afternoon." United likewise said that the airline would be working with authorities in the ongoing investigation. The incident hearkens back to a New Year's Day discovery on Jan. 1, 2024, in which the body of a 30-year-old man was found by workers at Salt Lake City International Airport. It was later revealed that the man, Kyler Efinger, had been suffering from bipolar disorder. After breaching an emergency exit, Efinger then crossed the tarmac shoeless and climbed into the engine turbine of an airliner that had been taxing away from the gate. The state prison guards union is asking Gov. Mike DeWine to suspend his prisons director and the Ross Correctional Institution warden pending the investigation of a guard's death at the facility in Chillicothe. Ohio Civil Services Employees Association President Chris Mabe sent a letter to DeWine on Thursday, following the fatal attack on Correction Officer Andrew Lansing on Christmas Day. Mabe said Lansing's death as well as the fatal shooting of Lt. Rodney Osborne in April during a prison firearms training class underscore "an alarming lack of accountability and oversight within the DRC leadership." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Annette Chambers-Smith has directed the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction since DeWine started as governor in January 2019. She serves at the pleasure of the governor. Bill Cool is the warden at Ross Correctional, according to the state website. DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney said the governor's office will review the letter and respond in due course. Mabe said chronic staffing shortages must be fixed. Corrections facilities were long understaffed before the COVID-19 pandemic, and shortages have continued in the years since, Mabe said. Between employees who are off and position vacancies, Ross Correctional Institution was short-staffed by as many as 40 officers as of Wednesday, Mabe said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Laura Bischoff is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Prison guards' union wants director and warden suspended BELGRADE, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Serbian government announced on Thursday the adoption of the Belgrade Declaration, a pivotal initiative under the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence. The Declaration emerging from deliberations at the Global AI Summit held earlier this month in Belgrade marks a step forward toward establishing a framework for the ethical, sustainable development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) worldwide. In its announcement, the Serbian government underscored the Declaration's commitment to core values such as individual freedom, democratic principles, the rule of law, and human rights. These values are presented as the foundation for advancing AI technologies in a way that benefits all. Addressing pressing challenges, the Declaration highlights the need to bridge the digital divide between developed and developing nations, advocating for equal opportunities and sustainable AI practices. It sets clear priorities for addressing global issues such as employment, data governance, privacy, biotechnology, and environmental sustainability. It also emphasizes global cooperation, notably through partnerships with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The Belgrade Declaration serves as a key framework for collaboration on AI development, the government added. MEXICO CITY Guatemala is open to receiving citizens of other Central American nations who are deported from the U.S., three sources familiar with the matter said, as the country looks to build a positive relationship with the incoming Trump administration. "There has to be a regional response," a Guatemalan official who requested anonymity told Reuters. "And we want to be part of the solution." The U.S. has struggled to deport nationals from places such as Nicaragua, Venezuela and Haiti due to strained relations. That could prove a challenge for President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to deport record numbers of immigrants living in the United States illegally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His team has already reached out to the governments of several countries to test their willingness to take deportees from third countries. More: Tom Homan vs Stephen Miller: Who will decide Trumps mass deportation agenda? Guatemalan migrants walk after arriving at La Aurora Air Force Base on a deportation flight from the U.S., in Guatemala City, Guatemala, November 8, 2024. Many U.S. neighbors, including Mexico and the Bahamas, have said they do not want to receive deportees from third countries. In 2022, more than 40% of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally came from Mexico, amounting to 4.8 million of 11 million overall, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security report. That was followed by Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, which together accounted for over one-fifth of the total. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: As Trump plans mass deportation, Mexican views of migration harden Guatemala has been particularly proactive in preparing for a second Trump term relative to neighbors El Salvador and Honduras, meeting with Trump transition team members, Sen. Marco Rubio before he was tapped for secretary of state and the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank, about migration and mass deportations, border security, drug trafficking and China. All three countries, along with a Nicaraguan government that has the most openly hostile relationship with the U.S., face a moment of reckoning, both in handling Trump's demand they accept deportees and in a potential curtailing of remittances from immigrants in the U.S., which are a major contributor to their economies. The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: A frightful flight: Man stows away in plane's landing gear on flight from Guatemala to Miami Seeking a smooth start with Trump The Guatemala-U.S. meetings signal the center-left government of President Bernard Arevalo, a Biden administration ally, wants to start on smooth terms with the Trump administration, despite ties between Guatemala's conservative opposition and many in the president-elect's orbit. Trump's inauguration will happen on Jan. 20. El Salvador, whose populist President Nayib Bukele already has cozy ties with the Trump camp, has taken a less proactive approach. But a source close to discussions between Salvadoran officials and the transition team said the Trump administration foresees smooth cooperation with El Salvador on immigration. The Guatemalan official noted the country already receives 14 deportation flights per week under President Joe Biden and is preparing for an increase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Honduras' Deputy Foreign Minister Antonio Garcia told Reuters the country receives 10 deportation flights a week. Reuters was not able to confirm the number of deportation flights to other Central American countries. More: Trump picks ambassador to Panama, knocks Central American country and China in Christmas messages Departation increase Guatemala expects a significant increase in deportations in the fall, based on the rationale that it will take time to ramp them up. "We aren't ready for it, but we know it's coming," a second Guatemalan government official said. Guatemala would prioritize Guatemalans for re-integration, the second official said, adding every country should take responsibility for its citizens, but also highlighting a regional pact among Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador that allows free movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guatemala's vision for deportees is to put their skills developed in the United States to work in the private sector, the person said. FILE PHOTO: A police officer stands guard as Guatemalan migrants walk after arriving at La Aurora Air Force Base on a deportation flight from the U.S., in Guatemala City, Guatemala, November 8, 2024. "These are people who have worked in construction, in the service industry, in various sectors, and many speak English. We want to harness that." In late November, Guatemala's security minister and migration director travelled to Washington, according to the three sources close to the matter, and met with Rubio and other key Republicans, where discussions covered drug trafficking, migration and deportations. They also met with the Heritage Foundation, whose employees staffed much of the first Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While they discussed immigration and deportations, the foundation mainly emphasized it wanted Guatemala to maintain its allegiance to U.S. ally Taiwan over China, the sources said. More: Trump vows to declare national emergency, use military for mass deportations Officials know more deportations could strain Guatemala's economy if remittances drop and the cost of re-integrating deportees rises. Around 20% of Guatemala's GDP comes from remittances money sent home by the diaspora in the United States. In 2023, remittances accounted for 24% of El Salvador's gross domestic product and nearly 30% of Honduras' GDP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guatemalan officials said they are not worried about the immediate economic effects of a drop in remittances, but expressed concern about reduced remittances paired with Trump's proposed increased tariffs or taxed remittances. More: Republican Sen. Rand Paul opposes Donald Trump talk of using military in deportations "We don't have a financial plan yet, there are just too many unknowns," said the second official. Guatemalan officials are analyzing surveys by the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration showing from which parts of Guatemala the most migrants departed, hoping to prepare those communities for their possible return, two officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Salvadoran government said it would announce plans once the Trump administration takes action. "We work in facts and it's still all speculation," Vice President Felix Ulloa told Reuters. Bukele, like Trump, casts himself as a political disrupter, and has ties to many people close to Trump. Honduras' Deputy Foreign Minister Garcia said the country's ambassador to the United States had met informally with Trump's transition team and with Guatemala to coordinate a response. Garcia emphasized the country had always received deportees but noted at least 40% of migrants try to migrate to the United States again. He added it was important the two countries work to improve living conditions causing migration, such as gang violence, unemployment and poverty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Honduras is already experiencing the phenomenon of mass deportations and perhaps the difference will be from 10 flights to 20 or 30 more," Garcia said. "We will have to sit down with the Americans and agree on logistics and slots at return centers to do so within a framework of dignity and respect." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Guatemala warms to taking Trump's Central American deportees LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) The first night of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is underway. On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle is lit from the eight candle menorah and there is a story behind this. The holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the victory over the Syrian Greeks and the light of the menorah that burned for eight days with just a little bit of oil. Each night adds light to homes across the globe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rabbi Noah Kosofsky with Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy told 22News, Thats a message to every single person, we should keep growing in the things that we do and doing good in the world. Wednesday night, the Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy hosted a dinner for the community to kick off the celebration. And Thursday evening, a menorah lighting will take place in Court Square at 3:30 pm. 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. NEW YORK (PIX11) Its an oy to the world moment. Its a mashup of Christmas and the first night of Hanukkah. It happens about once every 20 years, and this year, it happened. More Local News Theres even a nickname for this day Chrismukkah. Its only the fifth time since 1910 that the first night of Hanukkah falls on the same day as Christmas. For many here at a public lighting of the menorah, it was cause for celebration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years celebration of the lighting of the menorah in Manhattans Grand Army Plaza marks 50 years since the worlds first public menorah was lit. It is a time for dancing, singing, and joy. Rabbi Joe Potasnik says the convergence of Hanukkah and Christmas is also a huge opportunity for interfaith families to celebrate traditions together. I can retain my identity, yet I can respect yours Potasnik, vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis, told PIX11 News. We can share moments together and can recognize that were different and were the same, part of one human family, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the 145th annual Midnight Mass at Saint Patricks Cathedral, Timothy Cardinal Dolan spoke about how both holidays are interested in light and Gods presence during dark times. Let there be light, Gods first words to us, Dolan told those in attendance. And Christmas, folks, is indeed a feast of light as is Hanukah, the cardinal added. Outside Saint Patricks cathedral and at the menorah lighting, Jews and Catholics said they welcomed Hanukah and Christmas on the same day, which wont happen again until 2035. So many religions are based on the same fundamental truths, Jamie Boston, a Catholic convert, told PIX11 News. Be good to each other and practice what you preach more than anything, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We still believe in the miracles that Hanukkah brought to us and for Christians and for people all over the world to get along with one another, Kathy Gantz, a Jewish Manhattanite, told PIX11 News. And there is one more convergence of festivals. Kwanzaa starts Thursday, a seven-day festival ending the same day as Hanukkah, January First. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. For the first time since 2005, Christmas and the first night of Hanukkah fall on the same day. For the next eight nights families celebrating Hanukkah will partake in traditional foods, games and gift giving. Habad of Springfield is bringing families together to celebrate the first night. Yossi Avichzer helped to coordinate the event and says Hanukkah is all about spreading the light. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Same thing within a persons life every single day. He needs to wake up in the morning and see what is different today than yesterday, Avichzer said. How am I perfecting this world and making this world a better place? And we obviously all know the methods and the method of bringing this world as perfection is by adding an act of goodness and kindness. Every year, Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated sometime between November and December. The holiday moves each year depending on when the Hebrew month of Kislev falls on the Gregorian calendar. Some people attending Wednesdays event do not practice Judaism, but felt the need to support those who do. Its wonderful that actually falls this year, the same day as Christmas. So thats very exciting, attendee Margaret Richardson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the first year Ive heard people really mentioning so much in this area, Cindy Hall added. Habad of Springfield is a Jewish community center, which hosted Hanukkah on the square Wednesday evening. Avichzer says their hope is to grow the faith here in Springfield. Since October 7, weve seen a big surge and interest of Jews worldwide and a lot over here, all those that we are in contact and many that we were not in contact with that want a menorah. They want candles, Avichzer said. They want any religious article to celebrate the holiday of honor on all holidays. Families across the globe celebrating Hanukkah will light candles on a menorah for the next week and recall the holidays history, but public lightings and celebrations have become increasingly popular. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year we decided were taking it to the square. Were taking it a level up because we want to spread the ultimate message of Hanukkah, Avichzer said. Menorah kits, dreidels, snacks and a public menorah lighting ceremony brought a number of people to the square to celebrate Wednesday night. Hall believes events like this can bridge cultural divides. Understand each other, really, to show respect for the Jewish nation, Hall said. Im privileged to be here. Hanukkah will be celebrated until Jan. 2. The next time the two holidays fall on the same day will happen in 2035. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. Ocean container carrier Hapag-Lloyd announced two surcharges ahead of a potential strike by unionized longshore workers at U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports in January. The Work Disruption Surcharge (WDS) and Work Interruption Destination Surcharge (WID) are effective Jan. 20, 2025, in the event of a strike, the German company said in an announcement on its website. This surcharge covers additional costs from labor disruptions, strikes, slowdowns, unrest, congestion, and other unforeseen events that may delay operations and incur extra handling, storage, and feeder service costs, the announcement stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The surcharges take effect on Jan. 20, the same day President-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated and just after the current longshore contract extension expires Jan. 15. Trump earlier this month publicly backed the International Longshoremens Association (ILA) in its contract dispute with port employers represented by the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX). After bargaining resumed following a three-day strike in October, the union broke off negotiations in November, charging ocean carriers and terminal operators were trying to eliminate union jobs by forcing provisions for automated container-handling into a new contract. Employers fired back, saying semiautomated container cranes were desperately needed to improve efficiency and make U.S. ports globally competitive, which they claim will create more dockworker jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to avoid another strike, and hope that our employers represented by United States Maritime Alliance will respect our demands for a fair and decent contract, wrote ILA President Harold Daggett in a Christmas message to members posted on the unions website. The WDS is $850 per 20-foot container and $1,700 per 40-foot box, covering all equipment types. The surcharge covers imports from all ports in North Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, Oceania and Latin America to the U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports. The WID is also $850 per 20-foot, and $1,700 per 40-foot, containers of all types. It applies to imports from all ports in East Asia-Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Macau, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines to the U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hapag-Lloyd said the surcharges will be waived if no disruptions take place. They do not apply to containers already on the water or in terminals before Jan. 20. Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here. Related coverage: Port of Long Beach nears record TEUs Port strike threat helps boost trans-Pacific container rates Yang Ming plans to order new container ships The post Hapag-Lloyd US port strike surcharges to go into effect same day as Trump inauguration appeared first on FreightWaves. Verner Center for Early Learning student Casper Stone plays with a toy chainsaw at a Reopen House on Nov. 1. The toy is an example of trauma-informed play the center introduced to help children understand the aftermath of Helene. (Photo courtesy of Rose Sperry.) Three weeks after Helene hit Western North Carolina, Marcia Whitney thought she was close to a breakthrough. The president of Verner Center for Early Learning was desperate to reopen and help their families and children return to at least some of their routines. Through her involvement in the Rotary Club of Asheville, Whitney secured a donated water filtration system, capable of filtering up to 20,000 gallons per day. Locals with water engineering experience had set it up, and it was ready to go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the NC Department of Public Healths Environmental Health Specialists wouldnt approve use of this water for the Verner Centers two facilities. The reason? Though the water tested as clean, the filtration system didnt have a chlorine residual a detectable level of chlorine required in the public water supplies by the EPA to add to the water. We couldnt have used it as potable water in our child care centers, Whitney explained. I went to the Director of the [North Carolina Department] Division of Health and Human Services for the state. I had state senators involved. Though the daycare couldnt use the water from the Rotarys filtration system inside its buildings for handwashing, cooking or drinking, the program could send it home with kids. And they didmany families brought the filtered water home, as did the staff and faculty. That particular decision is going past the realm of logic, Whitney said. The kids formula can be made with that water at home [but] it cant be used to wash their hands here. Verner Center for Early Learning president Marcia Whitney, front, helps set up a water filtration system donated by Rotary Club of Asheville. Verner could not get approval from NCDHHS to use the filtered water in its classrooms, but staff and students were able to bring it home. (Photo courtesy of Rose Sperry.) The reopening of early childhood education centers like Verner were dependent on approval from the state. More than 100 child care licensing consultants, as well as 10 regional child care environmental health specialists assisted with helping centers reopen after Helene. But the process was a frustrating endeavor for many centers, as they waited for guidance from the state on what alternative water supplies were acceptable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Verners potential water supply from the Rotary was denied, the NC Department of Health and Human Services and NC Division of Child Development and Early Education approved a different emergency operation plan on October 23. That plan included first boiling and cooling water, and then setting up a continuous flow spigot container. Verner made this happen with thousands of dollars worth of food-grade plastic jugs with spigots that Whitney had the foresight to order days after the storm. President of Verner Center for Early Learning Marcia Whitney shows one of the food-grade plastic jugs that were approved by state officials as part of their emergency operations plan. (Photo by Jessica Wakeman) Then, the facilities waited for inspections by state officials, which took place October 28 and 29. Finally on November 4, both Verner sites reopened for the 200 plus children it serves. Students had been out of class for over five weeks. This water saga, as Whitney calls it, is one example of early childhood centers challenging path to reopening after Helene. The weeks-long, and in some cases months-long, closures after Helene had cascading effects for the families who rely on childcare in order to be able to work, and for the staff employed by these centers. Nearly 80% of families at Verner are eligible for free or low-cost childcare because of their financial circumstances. Were the workforce behind the workforce, Whitney said. If were not open, none of the businesses are going to get their workers. Nobody knew what was going to be acceptable Early childhood education centers in North Carolina are a patchwork of full-time public, nonprofit and for-profit providers who are licensed through the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education. Some families also opt for unlicensed providers, which typically provide half- or partial-day care and are not monitored by state agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are 820 licensed early childhood education providers in the 25 western North Carolina counties deemed disaster areas by FEMA following Helene, according to state officials. While most have reopened, damage to nine centers will prevent them reopening in the near future, according to NC Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Kelly Haight Connor. As of mid-December, another three were operational (meaning, their license is still open), but they closed for staffing or programmatic reasons. And seven programs were operating in emergency locations. Its unknown how many children havent returned to their original provider. Connor says the fluctuations in enrollment at early child care centers are not reported to the state. However, as of December 1, sites that were still closed due to damage from Helene had capacity for 505 children. With the systemic lack of child care options already taxing families, providers knew reopening was a critical part of recovery from Helene. Some local childcare providers describe confusing instructions about the states process for reopening and where they were supposed to submit their emergency operations plans. Buncombe Partnership for Children Executive Director Amy Barry says a lot of frustration came from a lack of clear direction on requirements for a reopening plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was kind of astounded that the Division of Child Development and Early Education, if they knew what was approvable, why not put out [some templates]? Barry said, adding that guidance about acceptable water containers would have been particularly appreciated. It would have made things move more quickly and been less of a burden to directors, she said. Governor Roy Coopers October 9 executive order allowed flexibilities for child care providers to help them reopen after Helene knocked out water systems across the region. Some of those flexibilities were outlined by the USDA with regard to serving meals, but there werent specifications on the requirements that centers must provide water with gravity flow for handwashing. During October, Buncombe Partnership for Children hosted twice-weekly meetings for early childhood education leaders to share knowledge and resources. Everybody would go to those meetings and be like, Okay, so what are these flexibilities? I dont know, the Verner Centers Whitney recalled.So what do we need to do with this water plan? I dont know. Nobody knew what was going to be acceptable, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When one programs alternative water plan finally got approved, they all felt relieved to have a template of sorts. But some also believe that valuable time and resources were wasted on trial and error. There were [programs] who had to submit [emergency plans] three times, Barry said. Families were getting really upset because they needed care. Hard times on top of hard times Parents of small children went weeks without childcare by relying on their social networksor toughing it out themselves. Keana Blackburn had her five-yearold son home from his West Asheville preschool every day for five weeks, minus a couple days he spent with his father. Blackburn, a peer support for a recovery organization, worked remotely at home amid finding ways to entertain him. He couldnt use his tablet because the Internet was down or play outside safely due to storm damage. I wasnt really getting any work done, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blackburn continued, with a laugh, Im gonna preface this with, I love my son, and I have built my entire life around him. But I am fully aware that I am not stay-at-home mom material. It was hard. Some families banded together while child care centers were closed. Speech Pathologist Laura McWilliams had to find a solution for her three kids, ages 18 months to five years old. Two of them are usually at Mission Child Development Center, but that program was shut down for over a month due to flooding. We essentially became a shuffling daycare situation where one parent would offer their house, while some parents could work or fix their house, McWilliams said, adding that her home also sustained roof damage. And then the next week, somebody else would offer their house for the next few days. While McWilliams husband was out of work at Buncombe County Public Schools, he watched the group of kids as part of this shuffling daycare set-up. When he returned to work in late October, they needed another solution. They were relieved when one of Mission Child Development Centers daycare teachers offered a nanny-share in one persons home; for one week, about five families split the cost with each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall, McWilliams found navigating childcare after Helene to be stressfulhard times on top of hard times, as she put it. During the COVID-19 pandemic the CDC was guiding a lot of what was happening in the different daycare communities, she said. With the hurricane fallout, youre kind of at the mercy of the facility. Verner held a Reopen House for families and kids in November The classrooms included toys representing items children might see after Helene as a method of trauma-informed play. Here educators Yusef Shafiq, left, and Faith Lopez Gomez, right, show student Casper Stone a toy chainsaw and toy wrenches. (Photo courtesy of Rose Sperry.) In Buncombe County, eight of 91 licensed child care centers and providers were severely impacted, according to Buncombe Partnership for Children. Of those eight, two had playground damage, like a tree falling on the equipment, and five severely flooded. Fortunately, Helene did not destroy any complete child care buildings in Buncombe, but it did cause enough damage that three centers are still closed awaiting construction repairs, according to Buncombe Partnership for Families Director of Child Care Resources Jenny Vial. Building Blocks Child Care Center Inc. in West Asheville is closed. The Christine Avery Centers Valley campus in Swannanoa is also closed but the program is operating at another site. Additionally, one home-based child care is waiting to learn how high they have to raise their house up in order to rebuild, Vial said. These locations arent anticipated to reopen in their original locations until at least January. Six other programs in Henderson, Transylvania, Yancey and Watauga County remain closed due to damage. Keeping the system afloat As the Verner Center for Early Learning leadership navigated a complicated reopening process, they also wanted to alleviate stressors from their staff, which included people who lost housing and one person who lost a family member in the storm. The nonprofits board voted the first week of October to continue to pay staff full salary and benefits while not operational, so long as it had cash reserves to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That allowed people to breathe, said Whitney. They also didnt charge families tuition in October, which Whitney says cost them about $50,000 in revenue. Advocates say more financial investment from the state could prevent early childhood education centers from sustaining longer closures. Instead, philanthropic organizations had to step in. Dogwood Health Trust provided $2 million to Buncombe Partnership for Children to distribute to childcare providers to retain their workforce and sustain their operations, according to Barry. The Partnership is also working with the Community Foundation of WNC to distribute $280,000 in grants to eight licensed centers in Buncombe County that were damaged and closed for an extended period. Barry points out that home-based, unlicensed day care doesnt have access to the same buckets of state funding, even though they too experienced damage and lost revenue when they were closed. Barry says they were able to give nine home-based child care businesses $1,000 each in financial assistance from privately raised funds. Additionally, the international humanitarian group Save the Children provided about $84,000 in flash grants and vouchers for classroom materials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Especially for home-based programs, the majority of them were closed for at least a month, said Vial. [The funds are] a drop in the bucket for what their needs are and are going to be long-term. The General Assembly included $10 million for child care in its October 24 Helene relief bill, but the Office of State Budget & Management identified a need for at least $36 million, according to the NC Budget and Tax Center. Western North Carolina providers will also get some reprieve from the statewide appropriation of $34 million in child care stabilization grants approved in November, which is stopgap funding that aims to keep the system afloat. But those grants, and the formulas used to set rates, wasnt enough to keep seven western North Carolina centers from closing in October. While there may be other resources in the federal relief bill, including low interest disaster loans from the US Small Business Administration, providers say this is risky as many dont turn a profit. Weve had programs that took out extremely high interest personal loans, because it was all they could get, says Vial. Lessons learned from Helene Child care providers in WNC understand that the water outages caused by Helene took everyone by surprise, and therefore, there werent detailed instructions in place on what would make an alternative water plan approvable. The Verner Centers Whitney suggests that the state Department of Environment Health could have presented several emergency operations plans child care providers could choose from. Instead, she says they felt left in the dark. Were early childhood educators, she said. We dont have any idea how to do water systems, but we had to figure it out. NC Health and Human Services Spokesperson Connor notes that 30 days after Helene hit, 752 out of 820, or 92%, of early childhood education centers, were open. She says they worked as quickly as possible to get child care providers back up and running. Helene was unique and required solutions on a much larger scale than previous floods and storms, Connor wrote in response to questions over email. We will be better prepared should this occur again, because this experience has created additional policies, procedures, and flexibilities with the support of the NCGA that we can lean on for future disasters to help ensure children are in safe environments. In addition to clarifications around emergency operations and policies, the regions providers have a wishlist that doesnt change from year-to-year: higher pay for early childhood educators. Verner is nowhere near living-wage certified, because we cant afford to be, Whitney said, adding, We want to be. The centers lowest paid teacher earns $18 an hour; living wage is $22.10 an hour in Buncombe County, according to economic justice nonprofit Just Economics. Whitney adds that Verner has colleagues who are literally experiencing homelessness and poverty working full-time, because they live in Buncombe County and they make the wages were able to pay them. Vial from Buncombe Partnership for Children says long-term it will be important to look at ways to decrease harm caused to the early childhood education workforce. What happens when theres a major disruption to childcare and you end up getting laid off? she asked. Parents want more early childhood options, particularly ones that are affordable. Blackburn, the mother of a five-year-old, notes that she works two part-time jobs (dog-walking and at a restaurant) in addition to her day job in order to afford childcare. But because of her gross income from these three jobs, she doesnt qualify for greater childcare subsidies. Early childhood education advocates have long called for more robust fundingboth to enable parents to afford high-quality child care and for staff and educators to be better paid. A crisis like Helene underscores the fragility of the whole childcare system. McWilliams lamented the work culture that already has a flimsy web of support for working parents, and that becomes even less reliable during widespread emergencies. Despite all her familys aggravation during Helene, she says she knows they are lucky to have pieced together enough child care. I know it was harder for a lot of families and thats what breaks my heart, McWilliams says. [They are] people who are already not supported, and their kids are already not supported. Theyre the fabric of our community. Correction: The original version of this story stated that 23 child care programs in Western North Carolina were operating in emergency locations as of mid-December. The actual number was seven. Twenty-three referred to the total number of child programs that were still impacted by Helene, including those that remained closed due to damage and or because of staffing issues. This article has been updated. This story was produced by the WNC Helene Hub, a project of the NC Local News Workshop made possible with funding from the Knight Foundation and Center for Disaster Philanthropy. NOKESVILLE, Va. (DC News Now) A School Resource Officer (SRO) reported hateful vandalism in a Prince William County school last week. On Friday, Dec. 20, Brentsville High Schools SRO reported vandalism first discovered on Dec. 18. Canna Coffee owner caught yelling racial slurs in viral TikTok video arrested in DC Officials investigated the report, and found that a swastika and other inappropriate language were drawn on a plastic partition inside a bathroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Prince William County Police Department said that the drawings did not seem to have any threats towards the schools students or staff. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Nearly six years after he took office vowing to be Californias health care governor , Democrat Gavin Newsom has steered tens of billions in public funding to safety net services for the states neediest residents while engineering rules to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for all Californians. More than a million California residents living in the U.S. without authorization now qualify for Medi-Cal, the states version of Medicaid, making the Golden State among the first in the nation to cover low-income people regardless of their immigration status. The state is experimenting with Medicaid money to pay for social services such as housing and food assistance, especially for those living on the streets or with chronic diseases. And the state is forcing the healthcare industry to rein in soaring costs while imposing new rules on doctors, hospitals and insurers to provide better-quality, more accessible care. However, Newsom has so far failed to fully deliver on his most sweeping healthcare policies and many changes are not yet visible to the public: Healthcare costs continue to rise , homelessness is worsening , and many Californians still struggle to get basic medical care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, some of the governor's signature health initiatives, which could shape his profile on the national stage, are in peril as President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House. According to national health policy experts, California stands to lose billions of dollars in healthcare funding should the Trump administration alter Medicaid programs, as Republicans have indicated is likely. Such a move could force the state to dramatically slash benefits or eligibility. And although the plan allowing immigrants without legal status to enroll in free healthcare has been funded almost entirely with state money, it makes California a political target. That is fuel to feed the Republican MAGA argument that we are taking tax dollars from good Americans and providing healthcare to immigrants, said Mark Peterson, a healthcare expert at UCLA, referring to the Make America Great Again movement. Newsom declined an interview for this article with KFF Health News. In a statement, he acknowledged that many of his initiatives are works in progress. But although he will attempt to work with Trump, the governor vowed to protect his healthcare agenda in his final two years in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are approaching the incoming administration with an open hand, not a closed fist, Newsom said. It is a top priority of my administration to ensure that quality healthcare is available and affordable for all Californians. Mark Ghaly, a former Health and Human Services secretary under Newsom, said transforming the way healthcare is paid for and delivered can be bumpy. We didnt do it perfectly, Ghaly said. Implementation is always messy in a state of 40 million people. Ahead of Trumps Jan. 20 inauguration, Newsom has proposed allocating $25 million for expected litigation against Trump on reproductive healthcare, disaster relief and other services. His request is pending in the states Democratic-controlled Legislature. Here are the major initiatives that will shape Newsoms healthcare legacy: Medicaid Potential federal cuts loom large in Americas most populous state. Of the whopping $261 billion California spends annually on healthcare and social services, nearly $116 billion flows from the federal government. Most of that goes to Medicaid, which covers more than 1 in 3 Californians . GOP leaders in Washington have floated ideas to kneecap Medicaid , which could slash benefits or cut enrollment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, Californias expansion of Medi-Cal to 1.5 million immigrants without legal status is projected to cost the state roughly $6.4 billion for the fiscal year ending June 30. Newsom suggested this month that the state would continue to fund the immigrant healthcare expansion in the upcoming budget year but declined to say whether he would preserve the coverage in future years. Advocacy groups are readying to defend those benefits should Trump target California over the issue. We want to continue to protect access to care and not see a rollback, said Amanda McAllister-Wallner, interim executive director of Health Access California. Read more: After reducing deficit, Newsom proposals bring extra costs to California Generic Drugs Citing the high cost of prescription drugs, Newsom in 2022 plowed $100 million into his plan to produce generic insulin for California and launch a state manufacturing plant to produce a range of generic drugs. Three years later, California has done neither. Newsom did, however, announce a deal in April to purchase in bulk the opioid reversal drug naloxone, which the state made available to schools, health clinics and other institutions at a discount . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its certainly disappointing that there isnt much more progress on it, said former state Sen. Richard Pan, who authored the original generic drug legislation . On generic insulin, Newsom acknowledged that its taken longer than we hoped to get insulin on the market, but we remain committed to delivering $30 insulin available to all who need it as soon as we can. Read more: Newsom announces $50-million contract to make California's own brand of insulin Abortion The governor helped lead the successful 2022 campaign to enshrine access to abortion in the state Constitution. He signed laws to ensure abortions and miscarriages are not criminalized and to allow out-of-state doctors to perform abortions in California; built a stockpile of abortion medication when mifepristone faced a national ban; and set aside $20 million to help Californians who cant afford abortion care to access it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom, who has made reproductive rights a central tenet of his political agenda, also funded ads and traversed the country attacking Trump and other Republicans in red states who have rolled back abortion access. After Trump won the election, Newsom called a special legislative session to gear up for potential legal battles with the federal government. He told KFF Health News that the state is preparing in every possible way to protect the rights guaranteed in Californias Constitution and ensure bodily autonomy for all those in our state. Read more: Ahead of second Trump term, California vows 'ironclad' abortion access Rising Healthcare Costs In 2022, Newsom created the Office of Health Care Affordability to set limits on healthcare spending and impose penalties on industry payers and providers that fail to meet targets. By 2029, California will cap annual price increases for health insurers, doctors and hospitals at 3%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Trump has voiced concern about the steady rise of healthcare costs nationally and the quality of healthcare Americans are receiving his ideas have focused on deregulation and replacing the Affordable Care Act , which experts say could cost millions their health coverage and increase patient healthcare spending. California could potentially lose federal subsidies that have helped offset insurance premiums for most of the roughly 1.8 million people who buy their health coverage from Covered California, the states ACA marketplace, which would increase patient out-of-pocket costs. The state could use money it raises from its own health insurance penalty on the uninsured, which Newsom adopted after the Obamacare individual mandate was zeroed out by Congress in 2017. Those state revenues are projected to be $298 million this fiscal year , according to the state Department of Finance. Thats a fraction of the federal health insurance subsidies California receives roughly $1.7 billion annually . Read more: California is trying to house the homeless through a health insurance program. It worked for this man Health and Homelessness Under Newsom, California has spent unprecedented public money on tackling homelessness, yet the crisis has worsened under his watch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From 2019, when Newsom took office, to 2023, homelessness jumped 20% to more than 181,000 , despite his funneling more than $20 billion into trying to get people off the streets, including converting hotels and motels into homeless housing . He has also plowed roughly $12 billion into CalAIM, an experimental effort to infuse Medi-Cal with social services , including rental and eviction assistance. A state audit this year found the state isnt doing a good job of tracking the effectiveness of taxpayer money. CalAIM isnt serving as many Californians as expected and patients face difficulty receiving new benefits from health insurers. The homelessness crisis on our streets is unacceptable, Newsom acknowledged. But we are starting to see progress. Experts expect the Trump administration to reverse liberal policies that have allowed Medicaid money to be used for healthcare experiments through waivers encouraged by the Biden administration . Notably, Trump has attacked Newsom for his handling of the homelessness crisis and has vowed to more forcefully move people off the streets . California's CalAIM waiver expires at the end of 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of expanding housing and food assistance, for instance, the state could instead see federal moves to end CalAIM benefits and make Medicaid more restrictive . Read more: Newsom's plan seeks to give hope to families of mentally ill, homeless Californians Mental Health and Substance Use Newsom has launched the most extensive overhaul of Californias behavioral health system in decades, directing billions in state funding toward a new network of treatment facilities and prevention programs. Two of his most controversial signature initiatives, Proposition 1 and CARE Court , infuse money into treatment and housing for Californians with behavioral health conditions, especially homeless people living in crisis. And CARE Court allows judges to compel treatment for those suffering from debilitating mental illness and substance use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both have been hamstrung by funding challenges, rely on counties for implementation, and could take years to produce noticeable results. Whereas Newsom has sought to expand community-based treatment, Trump has promised a return to institutionalization and suggested that homeless people and those with severe behavioral health conditions be moved to large parcels of inexpensive land . Newsom said he hopes his innovative approaches will transform behavioral healthcare with a laser focus on people with the most serious illness and substance use disorders. This article was produced by KFF Health News , a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF an independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism. 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. NEWCASTLE, Australia (AP) Communities and firefighters across Australias second-most populous state were preparing Thursday for potentially devastating wild fires as a heat wave fanned by erratic winds presented the worst fire conditions in several years. With temperatures in Victoria state reaching 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit) and with wind changes expected throughout the day, fire chiefs have issued stark warnings to rural communities to delay travel or leave their homes and seek safety at shelters. Several fires are currently burning out of control across the state and Victoria deputy premier Ben Carroll said the possibility for further fires in the coming days was likely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dangerous fire conditions are forming today and will go right through to Saturday, he said at a press conference in Melbourne. New fires can start anywhere and become dangerous very quickly. The largest uncontained fire is located in the Grampians National Park and has burnt through 55,000 hectares so far, but no homes have reported to have been lost. However, Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said there were many residential properties on the fringes of the fire that could come under threat. I wouldnt be surprised at some point if we do have residential losses, Nugent said. Firefighters, I can say, are doing everything possible to protect life and protect property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An emergency warning was issued by fire authorities for the small town of Mafeking, 260 kilometers (160 miles) west of Melbourne, on Thursday. Residents there were told "you are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately, as it is too late to leave. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported around 100 personnel from other Australian states are now in Victoria to assist local firefighters battling the blazes. Firefighters are being assisted by scores of water-bombing aircraft. Parts of neighboring South Australia and New South Wales states are also on high alert due to the heat wave and elevated fire risks. The hot, dry conditions are being compared to the Black Summer fires that gripped Australia's two most populous states for months in 2019-20 and burned through 104 thousand square kilometers, an area roughly the size of Ohio, and destroyed thousands of homes and killed 33 people. LUANDA, Angola A light rain danced on Wanda Tuckers umbrella as the president of the United States stood just steps away, telling the story of her people. Of her. Four centuries ago, Tuckers ancestors had been forced to leave the African land of their birth in shackles. Now, she was back as a guest of Joe Biden listening to him say that his country their country should never forget its horrific history of slavery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She leaned forward. Then back. Then forward again, as if to hear him better. She felt as if Americas leader was talking to her, her family, her ancestors. We are going to write history, not erase history, Biden told the crowd. Behind him was the Atlantic Ocean, the last sight for perhaps millions of Angolans as they were taken to the Americas and other faraway places. At one point, Biden did directly speak to Tucker, calling her name, Wanda, her brothers name, Vincent, and their cousins, Carolita. One by one they stood as Angolan and American dignitaries applauded. It was much different from five years ago on Tuckers first trip to Angola when she slowly climbed the white steps to the museum atop a hill. She dreaded what was inside. It housed painful reminders iron chains, wooden yokes of what Angolans had suffered as they were herded onto slave ships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That had been the start of a journey in a foreign land. Tucker and her family longed to trace the steps of their ancestors, who they believe are the first Africans brought to the English colonies in 1619 on a ship that left from Angola. The search would chart a new course for Tucker, who now found herself just feet from the 46th president, the first to ever visit this African nation. Angolan officials and dignitaries waited Dec. 3, 2024 for President Joe Biden to arrive at the National Slavery Museum. On a mission to inspire For years, Tucker has shared her family's story to encourage others, particularly African Americans, to search for and preserve their family history. She has done a brilliant job of finding that story, making that story accessible and making us all realize how much were shaped by those earlier experiences, said Lonnie Bunch, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, who was also on the trip to Angola. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement African Americans for so long have only known a shadow of themselves, he said. As part of Tuckers quest, over the past five years she has spoken on dozens of panels, interviewed with scores of news outlets and helped coordinate an annual heritage tour to bring family members, educators, historians and young people to Angola. She has also met with Angolan officials here and in the U.S. to help nurture bonds between the countries. Bidens trip fulfilled a promise to Angolan President Joao Lourenco to visit and improve relations with African nations. Acknowledging the shared history of slavery was part of it. Expanding economic opportunities was another. He pledged to support the Lobito Trans-Africa Corridor, a major railway project that could help transport minerals through the region. The U.S. has invested more than $4 billion in the project, according to the White House. Angolans, meanwhile, have embraced the Tuckers, inviting family members on a presidential visit in 2021 and attending 1619 commemoration programs in their hometown in Hampton, Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its important not to forget the names of our African ancestors, Tucker said, and 405 years later we are calling their names. They will live on, she said. They represent millions of others whose names we dont know. Protecting history Early one recent morning, Tucker strolled along the Rua dos Mercadores, one of the oldest streets in Luanda, with the White House's delegation of VIP guests. There was Bunch, also founding director of the National African American Museum of History and Culture, Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, and Tonya Matthews, president of the International African American Museum, among nearly two dozen others, including members of Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like Tucker, they were invited by the White House to join the trip. Few knew much about Tucker, a 67-year-old semi-retired college educator with degrees in psychology, religious studies, theology and educational leadership. Some had visited African countries more popular with African Americans like Ghana and South Africa, but for most, it was their first visit to Angola. It was Tucker's ninth trip back since she first traveled there with USA TODAY in 2019 as part of its project 1619 Searching for Answers." A delegation of Americans, including historians, civil rights activists and faith leaders, participated in a walking tour Dec. 2, 2024 in Luanda, Angola. The White House invited the delegation to join President Joe Biden on his trip to Angola. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the sun beat down, the group listened as a guide shared stories about colorful murals painted on the side of buildings that showed the countrys long history. Police stood nearby. Onlookers watched from buildings and along narrow streets. Tucker hoped the guide would share more about the rich history of Angola, a former Portuguese colony. Over the course of her visits and research, she had become a self-trained guide, a historian and protector of the countrys history. She had walked the path with the murals on recent family trips. She knew what artifacts were showcased in the National Museum of Anthropology, where the VIP delegation stopped next. She whispered untold details as the museum guide explained the significance of statues in glass cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She nodded when a fellow member of the delegation asked the guide if the Catholic church had a role in enslaving Angolans. That had been a sore subject for Tucker, an ordained Baptist minister, when she first visited Angola. It was on that trip that Tucker visited remote villages where her ancestors may have lived, marveled at the beauty of the Kalandula Falls in Malanje, walked through mystical Black Rocks formations at Pungo Andongo, cried at a fort in Massangano where Angolans had been branded and marched to slave ships, and danced with villagers under the stars as musicians played the marimba. Some things hadnt changed much in Luanda, the nation's capital city, over the past five years. By 2 p.m. there were traffic jams everywhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Traffic lights were dark. Pedestrians crossed busy streets, dodging speeding cars and motorbikes. Blue and white Toyota vans, which passed for a bus system, whizzed by, packed with passengers. Vendors on crowded sidewalks hawked shoes, bananas, wallets and bottles of cold water and soda from wheelbarrows. Enoh Ebong, who was part of a delegation invited by the White House to a trip to Angola, joined a guide Dec. 2, 2024 playing on the marimba. Bank lines snaked around corners. It was payday. The Angolan government declared a two-day holiday in part to ease traffic and quell safety concerns for the American presidents visit. Across town that afternoon at the InterContinental, Tucker and the delegation started gathering in the hotel lobby ahead of Bidens arrival. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Interactive graphic: African slave trade routes The Tuckers of Hampton, Virginia The Tucker familys story is rooted in its long history in Hampton. In 1619, the English privateer ship the White Lion docked at Point Comfort in what is now Hampton. On board were about 20 Africans believed to have been taken from the Ndongo kingdom in the interior of Angola. The Tuckers believe they are descendants of two of them Anthony (sometimes spelled Antoney in primary sources) and Isabella (or Isabell), who later had a son, William. Their connection to the Tucker family has been kept alive for generations, mostly through oral history. In Hampton this summer, Tucker tossed pink and yellow petals into the Chesapeake Bay to honor African ancestors brought to Virginia centuries ago. Wanda Tucker participated in a soil blending ceremony Aug. 24, 2024 at Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia. Hundreds, including the Tuckers, had gathered that August afternoon for African Landing Day at Hamptons Fort Monroe. The annual event usually draws large crowds. But this marked five years since the community and the nation commemorated the 400th anniversary of the White Lions arrival. A delegation of more than 50 Angolans, many of them from their Washington embassy about 200 miles away, also joined. Speakers talked about slavery, resilience, joy, pain, history, ancestors, healing. They poured libations for those who survived the Middle Passage, the treacherous voyage across the ocean, and those who didnt. They sprinkled soil some from Angola, from Virginia, from other sacred places blending the dirt and the shared histories. Its about our history, the late William Wiggins, a historian and co-founder of Project 1619, Inc., told USA TODAY that evening. "Otherwise, its going to get lost. Only a simple gray marker notes the arrival of the ship that carried 20 and odd Africans. But a massive $9 million African Landing Memorial is planned for completion in 2026. We are elevating the story to national and international significance, said Glenn Oder, former CEO of the Fort Monroe Authority, as he pointed to the site. When it was Tuckers turn on stage, she borrowed the ways of a griot an African storyteller. She told how she imagined her Angolan ancestors were captured and marched across their homeland, never to return. Anthony and Isabell didnt get to go home, she said. But their descendants have returned. She called out their names. We are a proud people, Tucker said, on both continents. More: She was captured, enslaved and she survived. Meet Angela, the first named African woman in Jamestown A homecoming For Vincent Tucker, sharing the family story doesnt stop at the Virginia shores. Wanda Tuckers youngest brother is president of the William Tucker 1624 Society, a nonprofit set up to educate people about the family's history. He had visited Angola eight times since his sisters maiden trip. He hopes their work will inspire others to search for their own family roots. Were not trying to hold the story. Its not just ours, he said. Its bigger than us. Their cousin, Carolita Jones Cope, has become the coordinator for an annual trip to Angola. Plans are underway for the next one in 2025. Angolan Ambassador Agostinho Van-Dunem chatted with Vincent Tucker and his sister, Wanda Tucker, Aug. 24, 2024 at a dinner in Hampton, Virginia hosted by the Angolan Embassy. Cope believes there will be more interest because Biden acknowledged the shared history. Bringing more African Americans or anyone to just experience this connection is so powerful, she said. The Tuckers have a sort of rock star status here. Some hotel staff treat them like VIP guests. Theyve been featured on local television programs. Museum leaders embrace them. Embassy officials from the U.S. and Angola know their names. Welcome home! some tell the Tuckers. Local college students rushed up to Wanda Tucker one recent afternoon after she spoke on a panel about efforts to engage young people. She signed their notebooks, took selfies with them. During the Q&A, a young man stood and thanked Tucker for sharing her family history. The story, he told her as he ran his hand along his right arm, gives him goosebumps. At a hotel later that afternoon, a waiter hurried to greet Tucker, sharing how he took a picture with her on one of her earlier trips to Angola. He welcomed her back. Its good to be home, she responded. More: Experience the harrowing journey of the first enslaved Africans to land in America Angolans urge Black Americans to return Angolan officials encourage African Americans to visit the country and invest in its future. In December 2019, the Angolan Embassy hosted an extravagant event at the Smithsonians National Museum of African Art to commemorate the 1619 anniversary. It featured dancers, music and a salute to the Tucker family. In an emotional visit two years later, Lourenco, the Angolan president, toured the National Museum of African American History and Culture. In 2022, during Black History Month, the ambassador to the U.S. visited Fort Monroe, meeting with city officials, Tucker family members and others. This fall, officials from Hampton and the city of Malanje signed an agreement to form a Sister Cities partnership. The Tuckers hope to give back by raising money to provide food for an orphanage in Luanda. They also hope attention from Biden's visit and their own will shine more light on African Americans' connection to Angolans. They just know we keep coming back. I think it does matter, Wanda Tucker said. It matters so much to me. I cant fix their problems, but I care about their problems, and I care about them." My ancestors would be proud Tucker, sporting a long African-print dress and gray locs, waited in the lobby of the InterContinental with the VIP delegation. Air Force One was expected soon. Local broadcasts aired scenes of crowds waiting at the airport and lining the streets. Tucker had met the president of Angola, twice. She had talked with the Angolan ambassador to the U.S. and the minister of culture. She had been welcomed by local village chiefs, called sobas. Still, she was nervous. She clutched her water bottle. She had never met the president of the United States. Now here they were about to meet on Angolan soil. She smoothed out her dress, then headed to the private event where Biden greeted each member of the delegation. When it was Tucker's turn, he held her hands then embraced her. At one point, they leaned in to touch foreheads. Tucker doesnt remember all the words exchanged. She later said she was a hot mess and a wreck and teared up when Biden called her name. President Joe Biden and Wanda Tucker at the InterContinental Hotel in Luanda, Angola at a private reception with the VIP delegation on Dec. 2, 2024. Wanda, she heard him say. Its an honor to meet you. She thought: You know my name? You know who I am? You know my story? Tucker told Biden she was honored to meet him. Its been a long time coming, she recalled Biden responding. Thank you, Mr. President. My ancestors would be proud. They are proud of you, Biden said. For Tucker, it felt as if Biden understood she represented descendants of enslaved Africans. Biden told the delegation he spent extra time with Tucker because it was a conversation he needed to have. Never in a million, million years did I think this would happen, she said later. A Hollywood setting The next day it rained so hard the parking lot flooded at the slavery museum. Organizers called in backhoes to spread gravel and dump dirt, plugging crater-size holes of water. Still, Hollywood designers couldn't have improved the setting. Behind the stage was the Atlantic Ocean. Up the hill on a cliff stood the slavery museum, for which the U.S. had promised $229,000 to help with its restoration. A rainbow appeared across the sky. More: I was writing about colonial Americas first enslaved Africans. I was stunned to find my ancestors, too. On stage, Biden called the Tuckers out by name, saying they learned their history at the dinner table. That history led Wanda here in Angola a few years ago. She did not know how to speak the language, but that didnt matter," the president told the crowd. "When she arrived, Wanda said she felt something profound, like shed come home. Later that night, Tucker, still giddy, gathered with family and friends at a rooftop restaurant overlooking Luanda. She sipped red wine and swirled noodles on her fork as she processed the day's events. Minutes earlier, she and Vincent had wrapped up an interview with a TV station back in Hampton. A producer with MSNBCs The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell had reached out. It felt surreal. Theres no repeat of being here with the president of the United States in a historic moment when he acknowledges the atrocities and says, This is what were going to do to change the future, she said. For Tucker, it was the closing of a circle that had begun four centuries earlier when Africans, most of whose names have been lost to history, were driven into the holds of ships never to see their native land again. Now a family and a president have remembered, and called their names. This story has been updated to add a podcast episode. Follow Deborah Berry on X/formerly Twitter @dberrygannett. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Her ancestors left in chains. She returned a guest of the president Editor's note: This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. Over the decades, cultural and artistic activities -- especially musical events -- have played a vital role in normalizing and enhancing bilateral ties. As early as 1973, a historic tour by the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra signaled a thaw in cultural exchange between China and the United States. Today, the musical landscapes of both countries are more closely interwoven than ever, reflecting a high level of mutual learning in the fields of culture and the arts. This week, Xinhua will release a series of three profiles on this topic, and the following text is the second piece. by Xinhua writers Wang Xiaopeng, Sun Wenji and Yang Shujun BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- For Davyd Booth, 74, a veteran violinist with the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra, each concert tour to China is more than just a musical journey -- it's a celebration of cultural connection and shared joy. From Oct. 31 to Nov. 10, Booth returned to China for the orchestra's 14th tour since 1973, which took the orchestra to Beijing, Tianjin, Chengdu and Haikou. Their performances were met with enthusiastic applause, reinforcing the power of music to bridge nations and hearts. The Philadelphia Orchestra has a large fanbase in China and holds a prominent place in cultural exchanges between China and the United States. In 1973, the orchestra became the first American ensemble to perform in China after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, marking a significant thaw in cultural relations between the two nations. This historic visit was also Booth's first trip to China, and the beginning of his strong connection with the country. Reflecting on his experiences, Booth said that the strong bond the orchestra has developed with China is what keeps him coming back to the country. "Some of the Chinese orchestras have come to Philadelphia. They have played there, and also we have played with them," he told Xinhua. "It is a very, very closely bonded friendship." Last year, the orchestra performed alongside the China National Symphony Orchestra and the Asian Performing Arts Council (APAC). Booth fondly recalled being gifted a box of tea by one of the Chinese musicians who shared the stage with him. For more than five decades, Booth has made many Chinese friends. These connections extend beyond just music enthusiasts to include those who collaborated with the orchestra, assisted the ensemble during its travels, and reached out through social media. He spoke highly of Chinese audiences, describing them as big music lovers and incredibly wonderful. "We feel the energy and the appreciation of the love from them just as much as we do, giving it out there into the auditorium." "Although we play all over the world, there's no other country that we become so close with and develop such a close and enduring relationship with," he said. During the concert tours, Booth visited nearly all the major attractions in China, including the iconic Great Wall, the Palace Museum, and the Summer Palace. Commenting on the booming trend of "China Travel," he said the country's stunning landscapes and rich history, which spans thousands of years, are significant attractions for visitors from the United States. Chinese and American leaders laud the Philadelphia Orchestra as an active cultural envoy, instrumental in strengthening China-U.S. ties. For Booth, such a role can never be underplayed. Music, often regarded as a universal language, is one of the best ways to foster friendships and bridge cultures, he said. "We have to see our similarities, not our differences, and especially when we play music, it's like the difference is sort of melted away. That's one of the great things about music," Booth said. Sharing similar sentiments as Booth, Wang Zhenyao, a Beijing resident, enjoyed the orchestra's premier concert of its 2024 China tour in the 2,000-seat capacity concert hall at China's National Center for the Performing Arts on Oct. 31. Exchanges in culture and arts are conducive to enhancing mutual understanding among people of the two countries, said Wang, who attended the concert with his wife and child. "Both China and the United States are great nations. We should respect each other and understand each other," he added. During the concert tour in 1973, among the famous pieces of music from the two countries, the orchestra played Beethoven's Symphony No.5, and the Moon Reflected on the Er-quan Spring. It was Booth's first-ever exposure to traditional Chinese music and instruments. At the third Beijing concert of the recent China tour, the orchestra, together with the APAC, premiered "A Night of Flowers and Moonlight by the Spring River," based on the Tang Dynasty (618-907) masterpiece by poet Zhang Ruoxu. The symphonic edition was produced by composer Mason Bates, who is reputed for integrating electronic sounds and technology into classical music. "This piece is a special gift to the Chinese audience," Matias Tarnopolsky, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra, said. Booth joined the ensemble while this piece was performed under the baton of conductor Marin Alsop. The violinist expressed the hope that the beauty of the music the ensemble brings to China will help inspire stronger China-U.S. relationships. JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. A High Ridge, Missouri, man stands accused of gunning down his son on Christmas Eve. According to the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, the shooting happened Tuesday evening in the 6400 block of Highway PP in High Ridge. Investigators said Harold E. Luster, 61, retrieved a firearm and threatened a person during an argument. Luster then turned the gun on his own son, Kevin M. Ward and shot him. Ward died as a result. He was 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to charging documents, Luster was already worked up after arguing with another family member earlier that day. Investigators say he believed Wards mother was cheating on him and accused Wards fiancee of helping cover it up. Wards mom told police Luster called her before the shooting, threatening to kill the fiancee. The Jefferson County Prosecutors Office charged Luster with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. Luster remains jailed without bond in the Jefferson County Jail. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. LOS ANGELES (KTLA) High-speed chases are a daily routine for law enforcement officers in Southern California. Rather than surrender and face the consequences, criminals often choose to risk their lives and those of the public in their effort to get away. Sometimes, these dramas play out on live television and streaming. 2024 was no exception. KTLAs news helicopter, Sky5, delivered live coverage of several chases that ended with unfortunate outcomes. 405 Freeway Rampage Early in the morning of May 17, a woman in a white van fled a traffic stop in Santa Monica, starting one of the more bizarre chases in recent memory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sky5 footage showed her attempting to ram police vehicles, leaning out the window and shouting at officers. Police detain a woman who led officers on a pursuit through Santa Monica and into Brentwood before slamming into cars on the 405 Freeway. May 17, 2024. (KTLA) At one point, the fleeing driver turned around and chased one of the patrol vehicles down a street and tried to crash into it. The driver then began driving in the wrong direction on the 405 Freeway and eventually slammed head-on into several stopped cars. Thankfully, no officers or innocent drivers sustained serious injuries, and the bloodied woman who was driving the van also survived. High-Speed Crash On Oct. 23, a dramatic chase spanning several jurisdictions also played out on live television. Another female suspect, this time in a stolen Honda SUV, fled Los Angeles police near the 210 Freeway in Sylmar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chase winded through surface streets in the San Fernando Valley, then onto the 14 Freeway and eventually the 5 Freeway, where the driver topped 120 miles per hour. A driver crashed during a pursuit on the 5 Freeway on Oct. 23, 2024. (KTLA) The suspect eventually exited the northbound 5 near Lebec and got back onto the freeway heading southbound. Moments later, while trying to transition onto the 138 Freeway, the woman lost control of the SUV and, in a cloud of dust, rolled the SUV and slammed into a concrete pillar. She died instantly. Deadly Shootout On Nov. 26, a man suspected in a domestic violence incident led L.A. police on a chase that ended with gunfire in the citys West Adams neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect, who was driving a white Maserati and armed with at least two handguns, sped away from an attempted traffic stop on the 110 Freeway. Sky5 was overhead with live coverage as the suspect pulled into the rear parking lot of an apartment complex in the 4100 block of Jefferson Boulevard. He stepped out of the Maserati and immediately began walking down the alley toward officers wearing a hooded sweatshirt. A domestic violence suspect brandishes an apparent weapon after a police pursuit in Los Angeles. Nov. 26, 2024. (KTLA) Dramatic footage then shows the man pulling two handguns from his pockets and firing at officers, who immediately return fire, dropping him to the ground. He later died at a hospital. Revisit live coverage of dozens of Southern California law enforcement pursuits by installing the free KTLA+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and Samsung Smart TVs. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency says a Hillsboro man was killed in a two-vehicle wreck Wednesday morning. According to ALEA, the crash happened at around 12:45 a.m. The agency identified 28-year-old Kaelin M. Simpson as the man killed in the wreck. Investigation underway following fatal shooting in Huntsville ALEA said Simpson was fatally injured when the 2004 Honda Accord he was driving hit a 2002 Lexus LX 470 head-on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simpson was pronounced dead at the scene. ALEA said the driver of the other vehicle, a Decatur resident, was injured and air-lifted to Huntsville Hospital for treatment. The crash happened on AL-20 near County Road 434, about one mile north of Hillsboro. Troopers with ALEA are continuing to investigate the wreck. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. The return of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to political life has raised uncomfortable questions about the future, not only within the U.S. but also on the global stage. This is particularly true for countries like Ukraine, which relies on U.S. aid as its locked in a battle for survival against Russia's campaign of total annihilation. Trump's history of fostering a rapport with Russian leader Vladimir Putin only adds a layer of uncertainty to an already volatile geopolitical landscape. Amid this backdrop, many wonder how we arrived at this point. Intellectuals role has never been more essential or more fraught in exposing how history is manipulated to incite war and how, in such a climate, the ghosts of past tragedies risk being ignored. The persistent banality of evil and the ceaseless tide of daily tragedies challenge our ability to make sense of the modern world. The Kyiv Independent spoke with U.S. historian Marci Shore about a number of topics related to Russias war against Ukraine, including national trauma, guilt, dehumanization, and totalitarianism. Historian Marci Shore on March 18, 2019. (Jindrich Nosek (NoJin) / Wikimedia) This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kyiv Independent: There seems to be an unprecedented disconnect between words and their meanings these days. Donald Trump was labeled a fascist by numerous respected officials, yet for his supporters, it was more of a gleeful provocation. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin distorts history by framing his genocidal war in Ukraine as "denazification," desecrating the Soviet armys legacy a victory shaped in part by Ukrainians. This erosion of meaning reflects a broader crisis: when language becomes unmoored from truth, it is weaponized to manipulate rather than illuminate. What is sustaining this dissonance? Marci Shore: Lets disentangle a few different issues. One is about how we use concepts, analogies, and categories like fascism or concentration camps. These are essentially hermeneutic devices that help us mediate between the singular and the universal. No two historical situations are ever exactly alike, just like no two human beings are ever exactly alike. But these concepts like Kantian concepts help us to process and interpret disparate data. When I used the term fascist to describe Trump in 2016, most Americans found it overly hysterical. In the intervening eight years a lot us historians, philosophers, social scientists put in a lot of work to try to introduce this concept and its history into American consciousness. What has been heartbreaking is to see that, on the one hand, this effort was successful: the fascist elements of Trumps persona and movement are now much better understood as such. On the other hand, it seems that an overwhelmingly large number of American voters do not consider fascism a bad thing at all. Unfortunately, gleeful provocation is in fact a good description. So needless to say, Im not sure how much weve accomplished. "It seems that an overwhelmingly large number of American voters do not consider fascism a bad thing at all." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With respect to denazification, there are at least two big conceptual things going on. One is Freudian projection, which is sometimes called accusation in a mirror: the perpetrators projection of their own qualities onto the victims. Thats fairly straightforward, so to speak. The phenomenon of post-truth, the unhinging of any even presumed connection between language claims and empirical reality, is much more complicated. This is why I tend to describe Putins regime as neo-totalitarian, because I do think theres an important conceptual distinction between the absolutist truth claims made by the 20th-century totalitarian ideologies and the postmodern break from even any pretense of being constrained by empirical reality that were seeing in Trumpism and Putinism. Tesla CEO Elon Musk (R) jumps on stage as he joins Donald Trump during a campaign rally at the site of his first assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S., on Oct. 5, 2024. (Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images) Trump supporters cheers as Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S., on July 13, 2024. (Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images) The Kyiv Independent: At the same time, its striking how some words appear to unnerve people namely, the Russian oppositions hesitancy around the word guilt. For example, Ilya Yashin, on one of his live streams, talked about how he's not a prosecutor and therefore has no right to tell people that they are guilty of Russias war (or Putins war, as he calls it). Do you think well ever see Russian society have serious and necessary discussions about the varying degrees of collective accountability, as the Germans did after World War II? Marci Shore: I want to begin with a philosophical distinction between guilt and responsibility. Guilt is a posteriori that is, it is after the fact, so to speak: a person is guilty of something he or she did or failed to do. Guilt is contingent and depends upon choices and actions. But not-guilty does not mean not-responsible. Responsibility, I would argue, is not contingent. It is a priori; it precedes our choices or actions. We always already bear responsibility it is not dependent on anything we have or have not done. The source of this responsibility is not personal guilt; the source of this responsibility is being in the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With respect to Vergangenheitsbewaltigung (Dealing with the past in German), I think the Germans to generalize have conflated guilt with responsibility. They have largely accepted inherited guilt for the past but continue, it seems to me, to fail to take responsibility in the present. I dont actually believe in inherited guilt I dont think we are guilty of what our parents or grandparents or ancestors did in times past. I do, though, believe that we are all responsible for looking at what they did with eyes wide open, telling the truth, and working to repair the consequences in the present. With respect to Russia, I agree very much with the Russian novelist Sergei Lebedev that a failure to face the truth of past crimes is a crucial source of what Ukrainian author Volodymyr Rafeyenko described to me as the anthropological catastrophe of Russian society. I think it is connected to a failure of subjectivity, a failure to take hold of oneself as a responsible agent, a subject as opposed to an object. The Russians alive today are not guilty of Stalinist crimes with very few remaining exceptions, those who are guilty are no longer living. But Russians today are responsible for looking at those crimes honestly and telling the truth about them and they have, by and large, failed in that. Its admittedly not an easy task unlike for Germans looking back at Nazism, for Russians looking back at Stalinism, there is no clear dividing line between victim and oppressor. To have lived under Stalinism was both to have been victimized by it and to have been implicated in it. Tetyana Ogarkova has a brilliant line about this: In a liberal society, everyone has a skeleton in the closet, but in a totalitarian society, everyone has a corpse at home. "Russians today are responsible for looking at those crimes honestly and telling the truth about them and they have, by and large, failed in that." In their joint essay in the recent special issue of Irish Pages devoted to the war, Ogarkova and Volodymyr Yermolenko write about Russia as a place with crime without punishment and punishment without crime. The society is divided into these gangster oligarch-types enjoying total impunity and the masses of people who can be taken away and imprisoned or killed for nothing at all. Theres a key here to the crisis of subjectivity in Russia. In both cases, no one is really a responsible agent its all Ubermenschian untouchability or helplessness in the face of arbitrariness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An additional distinction is important: between inherited guilt and collective guilt. I do think that collective guilt is real but much more difficult to talk about and parse than individual guilt. Hannah Arendt writes in Organized Guilt and Universal Responsibility that When all are guilty, nobody in the last analysis can be judged. In an interview with Deutsche Welle, Vladimir Kara-Murza referenced just this line by Arendt, explaining that for him, to assign all Russians guilt for war crimes is essentially to assign guilt to no one. I sense what he meant was that the moral risk of saying all Russians are guilty is that it is effectively saying that it doesnt matter what one does or what one chooses. A vendor stands next to traditional Russian wooden nesting dolls, Matryoshka dolls, depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin (L-R) and his predecessors - Dmitry Medvedev, Boris Yeltsin, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Leonid Brezhnev at a gift shop in Moscow, Russia, on March 11, 2024. (Alexander Nemenov / AFP via Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When, during the first Trump administration, American border guards were taking refugee children away from their parents on the U.S.-Mexican border and throwing them in cages, I knew that I, too, was implicated. I wasnt silent, of course; I spoke out and protested, etc. However, even so, I am part of this society, and I failed to stop it. When we learned the election results on the night of Nov. 5-6, I thought to myself: I dont and cant expect the world to ever forgive us for this. And I think a lot about what I would do if I were Russian, how brave I would or wouldnt be. And I think a lot about what the German philosopher Karl Jaspers wrote about the war, That I live after such a thing has happened weighs upon me as indelible guilt. The Kyiv Independent: From a historians perspective, what insights do past traumas like the Holocaust or Soviet purges offer us in these dark times? Is there something were missing? Marci Shore: Nothing goes away. Silence doesnt make anything disappear. National mythology will always veer toward falsehood: there have been no such people or nations who have been innocent since time eternal. My desperate hope for Ukrainian society is that despite and through all the trauma, there will be a time after victory where there will be a rebuilding and that rebuilding will take place on a foundation of truth, that a new generation will not be afraid to look as well at Ukraines own past with eyes wide open, that Ukraine will not find itself decades from now in the state of being that much of Israeli society under (Benjamin) Netanyahu finds itself in. (Ukrainian writer) Victoria Amelina, not long before she was murdered by a Russian missile in Kramatorsk, wrote a short essay called Nothing Bad Has Ever Happened. She wrote about her native Lviv and about the denial that anything bad had ever happened in her own country she found the denial alienating: a home would only be a home when the ghosts, too, were invited for breakfast. I think of it (the essay) as a gift that Vika left for us, a point of departure for a relationship to the past and to ourselves built on truth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kyiv Independent: There is a renewed push to reform Slavic Studies since Russias full-scale war against Ukraine. In your view, what will be some of the most pressing questions for future scholars of Ukraine, Russia, and the surrounding region? Marci Shore: There are so many pressing questions in so many different fields. Perhaps some of the obvious ones at the moment: what can we learn from studying the comparative development of civil society in, say, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Russia, Georgia, etc. post-1991? Theres Masha Gessens implicit question in The Future is History: Why did Bolotnaya (protests in Moscow) fail? Why were they not able to do in Russia what Ukrainians were able to do on the Maidan two years later? What can we learn by trying on different lenses and different prisms? I was just at a workshop called Dilemma in Yerevan centered around the Black Sea as a focal point for identity. How can Russophone literature be reconceptualized in its multinational layers? The developing field of environmental history is wide open. How can we understand Russian imperialism in terms of both its continuities and discontinuities across time and its similarities and differences with other imperialisms across space? How did it happen that in the case of Russia and Ukraine, subjectivity emerged precisely on the part of the colonized and not the colonizers? I would add that we are still struggling to grasp the Soviet experiment. It was arguably the largest, grandest, most penetrating, and far-reaching social engineering experiment ever performed on mankind. We are still grappling with the sheer scale of that experiment and the sheer scale of the catastrophe. In this pool photograph distributed by Russia's state agency Sputnik, Russian President Vladimir Putin gives an interview to TV host and Director General of Rossiya Segodnya (RIA Novosti) news agency Dmitry Kiselyov (not pictured) at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia on March 12, 2024. (Gavriil Grigorov/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Military musicians perform during the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival at the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, on Sept. 1, 2024. (Stringer / AFP via Getty Images) The Kyiv Independent: From countless videos filmed on cell phones to drone footage and recorded testimonies, the war in Ukraine is truly the most documented in our history. Yet, the gravity of events like the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric station and subsequent flooding of Kherson Oblast seems to have passed a lot of people by. I was wondering if, as someone who works with archives and testimonies, you had advice for people not to get lost in this sea of information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marci Shore: This is a huge problem, and there are multiple aspects. One is just sheer volume: no one can process this much information in real time. Were all deluged and overwhelmed, and just triaging the information takes a lot of energy. This does not necessarily imply any bad faith or ill will at all its just a question of volume. How much do you and I know about the atrocities taking place in Sudan? Its impossible to pay attention to every place and everyone who deserves our attention. The second problem does involve ill will and bad faith, and thats the problem we can describe as post-truth or disinformation. Peter Pomerantsev makes a point very clearly in the introduction to This is Not Propaganda that Ive been preoccupied with as well: in communist times, truth was actively suppressed. And dissidents were willing to risk their lives to speak the truth with the faith that truth itself had a power. Now the problem is not that truth is suppressed, but that truth is drowned out in the floods composed of truth, post-truth, lies, trivialities, distractions. I wish I had a decisive antidote for this. The best Ive been able to do for myself is follow certain sources publications, journalists, and individuals I trust. The Kyiv Independent: How might peoples understanding of democracy, freedom, and resilience evolve because of Ukraines fight against Russian aggression? Do you think it will prompt people or does it already to reconsider their understanding of national identity, colonial struggles, and other similar issues? Marci Shore: I have many more hopes than I do predictions. I fantasize that the world will survive and we will see a time after the victory when Ukraine is rebuilt not to catch up with the West, but to be the new avant-garde: rebuilt to rely on clean energy, to embrace a cosmopolitan civic identity, to reject national mythology in favor of critical truths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can also say that for me what this war has laid bare is not so much a new understanding of democracy as weve just seen in the U.S., democracy is not a guarantee against tyranny. Democracy and liberalism are not the same thing. People can democratically choose fascism. For me what the war has laid bare above all are questions about good and evil, and returning to those categories, to that ontological distinction. The Kyiv Independent: Ive always disliked the term Orcs for Russian soldiers not out of sympathy, but because it is an attempt to distance their actions from the reality that people are capable of committing horrific crimes. The nearly 150,000 war crimes were committed in Ukraine not only by violent criminals but those who had so-called ordinary lives before the full-scale war. Do you think the othering of the enemy, in this case, is a sort of coping mechanism for a world that refuses to accept that peace is not a given? Marci Shore: These are the classic questions. I tend to believe that the demographic of hard-core sadistic psychopaths is marginal, although grossly overrepresented in positions of power. But there are not enough sadistic psychopaths to carry out mass atrocity on this scale without massive participation by those Christopher Browning famously called ordinary men. Its not clear to me that our understanding has progressed dramatically beyond what we read in Christopher Brownings Ordinary Men and Hannah Arendts Eichmann in Jerusalem and Slavenka Drakulics They Would Never Hurt a Fly, the latter of which is a series of portraits of Yugoslav war criminals from the 1990s. Drakulic, who herself is from what was Yugoslavia and is now Croatia, went to the Hague and listened to these war crimes trials. And like Arendt listening to Eichmann, Slavenka was listening in her own language, there was an intimacy there. We have Stanley Milgrams study from the 1960s, which I still teach I dont know that weve gotten much further. I remember being an undergraduate at Stanford and hearing my first lecture about the Milgram study. And I remember that the professor giving the lecture said to us, If you listen to all this and think: I would never have given any electric shocks, then youve missed the point. Note from the author: Hi, this is Kate Tsurkan, thanks for reading this interview. In an era of rising global authoritarianism, the role of public intellectuals seems more important than ever to situate what is happening in its proper historical context. If you enjoyed reading this sort of thing, please consider supporting The Kyiv Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay warm with Ukrainian traditions this winter. Shop our seasonal merch collection. Star shop now Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Merced Countys Courthouse Museum will undergo a multi-million dollar renovation to restore parts of the building that have deteriorated over the years. The work to maintain the buildings structural integrity and restore the deteriorating exterior of the building will be funded by $2 million in federal money, along with $1 million from the Merced County Board of Supervisors, $50,000 from the Merced County Historical Society and $500,000 from the California Natural Resources Agency. Merced community members, the Merced County Historical Society, law enforcement and elected leaders gathered in front of the museum steps Wednesday during a ceremony celebrating the start of the renovation process. Merced County District 2 Supervisor Josh Pedrozo speaks the crowd during a ceremony to celebrate the start of a project to restore the exterior of the historic Merced County Courthouse Museum in Merced, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. More than $3 million in funding was secured for the restoration process which will help to maintain the buildings structural integrity and long-term sustainability. County officials said a time capsule containing various items will be buried on the property upon completion of the restoration project. Community members and local leaders looks on during a ceremony to celebrate the start of a project to restore the exterior of the historic Merced County Courthouse Museum in Merced, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. More than $3 million in funding was secured for the restoration process which will help to maintain the buildings structural integrity and long-term sustainability. County officials said a time capsule containing various items will be buried on the property upon completion of the restoration project. Merced County District 2 Supervisor Josh Pedrozo called it a privilege to stand before the crowd gathered to mark the beginning of the project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monuments serve as powerful reminders of our shared history and can help foster a sense of pride, identity and connection within a community, said Pedrozo. They preserve the stories of the past, highlight significant events or figures, and often spark important conversations about progress, change and lessons learned. Merced County Historical Society President Chis Tomford, said the renovation is long overdue. Tomford called the museum an important cultural institution in the community. Providing many educational programs, the museum aims to encourage the love and understanding of local history, according to Tomford. Tomford said the Merced County Historical Society works hard to preserve the history of Merced County. Along with collecting artifacts and fundraising, the role of a historical society is to make sure those things that make Merced special remain in place and are accessible to the community, he said. This is a real linchpin of our community and its important that we take care of it and continue to have it be in this kind of condition or better for our future generations, said Tomford. Merced County Historical Society President Chris Tomford speaks to the crowd during a ceremony to celebrate the start of a project to restore the exterior of the historic Merced County Courthouse Museum in Merced, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. More than $3 million in funding was secured for the restoration process which will help to maintain the buildings structural integrity and long-term sustainability. County officials said a time capsule containing various items will be buried on the property upon completion of the restoration project. Merced County Courthouse Museum Director Sarah Lim speaks during a ceremony to celebrate the start of a project to restore the exterior of the historic Merced County Courthouse Museum in Merced, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. More than $3 million in funding was secured for the restoration process which will help to maintain the buildings structural integrity and long-term sustainability. County officials said a time capsule containing various items will be buried on the property upon completion of the restoration project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Director of the Merced County Courthouse Museum Sarah Lim, said the exterior renovation will begin next month and the process is expected to take more than 400 days. The museums normal operating hours will continue and the building will remain open to patrons during the renovation process, allowing them to visit the various exhibits planned for the 2025. We are so excited about this project and its long overdue, said Lim. Merced County Spokesperson Mike North said that upon completion of the restoration project, a 100 year time capsule will be buried on site containing various items. Some of the items will include a county pin, certificates from local and state elected officials, a California quarter, as well as cards filled out by participants in Wednesdays ceremony, North said. Even small items removed from the building during the renovation process could make their way into the time capsule. A time capsule is displayed during a ceremony to celebrate the start of a project to restore the exterior of the historic Merced County Courthouse Museum in Merced, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. More than $3 million in funding was secured for the restoration process which will help to maintain the buildings structural integrity and long-term sustainability. County officials said the time capsule containing various items will be buried on the property upon completion of the restoration project. The Merced County Courthouse Museum during a ceremony to celebrate the start of a project to restore the exterior of the historic building in Merced, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. More than $3 million in funding was secured for the restoration process which will help to maintain the buildings structural integrity and long-term sustainability. County officials said a time capsule containing various items will be buried on the property upon completion of the restoration project. One of the oldest buildings in California, the Merced County Courthouse Museum was built in 1875 and served as a courthouse for 100 years. Several county departments were also housed in the building during that time frame including the Parks and Recreation department, Treasurer-Tax Collector, Board of Supervisors and others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Designed by A.A. Bennett, the courthouse was built to resemble an Italian palazzo, featuring a white plaster exterior. Bennett also worked on the California State Capital and the Merced County Courthouse Museum is an example of Italian Renaissance Revival. A time capsule is displayed during a ceremony to celebrate the start of a project to restore the exterior of the historic Merced County Courthouse Museum in Merced, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. More than $3 million in funding was secured for the restoration process which will help to maintain the buildings structural integrity and long-term sustainability. County officials said the time capsule containing various items will be buried on the property upon completion of the restoration project. The Merced County Courthouse Museum located at the intersection of West 21st and N streets in Merced, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. More than $3 million in funding was secured for the restoration process which will help to maintain the buildings structural integrity and long-term sustainability. County officials said a time capsule containing various items will be buried on the property upon completion of the restoration project. Advertisement Advertisement A statewide crackdown on retail crimes resulted in the arrest of at least 117 people in connection with the theft of nearly $40,000 in merchandise, according to authorities. The California Highway Patrol and several other police departments carried out the operation on Dec. 20, resulting in the arrests of 117 people and recovering $38,000 in stolen merchandise, according to a news release from Gov. Gavin Newsom. Two firearms were also seized, along with three stolen vehicles, according to the release. The arrested suspects are expected to be charged with a range of crimes, including petty theft, grand theft and organized retail crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities recovered 767 stolen items, including clothing, fragrances and shoes, officials said. The CHP collaborated with 10 California law enforcement agencies and 56 retail partners. Through proactive enforcement operations and strong partnerships with local law enforcement and retailers, we were able to protect the states businesses and consumers during one of the busiest times of the year, CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said in the release. Our efforts send a clear message that retail theft in California will not be tolerated. The CHP collaborated with the Hemet Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriffs Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Glendale Police Department, Bakersfield Police Department, Woodland Police Department, Walnut Creek Police Department, Livermore Police Department and San Ramon Police Department. 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. With Christmas and New Years Day occurring in the middle of the week this holiday season, record-breaking traffic is expected on the weekends. The American Automobile Association forecast that more than 119 million Americans would travel to spend time with loved ones over the end-of-year holiday season. Car travel remains the most popular mode of travel, with 107 million expected to drive to their destination. Air travel is predicted to include 7.85 million passengers breaking last years record of 7.5 million despite ticket prices being up 4% from 2023. Holiday travel in Utah Nancy Volmer, communication and marketing director for Salt Lake City International Airport, said Utahs heaviest traffic days were Dec. 20 and again on Dec. 26, the day after Christmas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On both days, thousands of passengers came in and out of the airport, for a combined total of 120,000 passengers. To prepare for these busy times, the airport increases its staff as do the airlines, concessions, and agencies such as TSA. We all are working to make sure the passengers experience from curb to gate is seamless, Volmer told the Deseret News. She gave the following advice for those involved in the hustle and bustle of air travel: Pack smart. Check with your airline before leaving for the airport to make sure there are no delays. If picking up passengers, remain in the Park and Wait Lot until passengers have their bags and are curbside to help prevent congestion. Arrive at the airport at least two hours prior for domestic flights and three hours when traveling internationally. People walk through the Salt Lake City International Airport on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News Phoenix airport Christmas day shooting On Christmas Day, a shooting occurred at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona. Investigators are still learning details on why the incident occurred. Police reported that three were shot and a fourth was stabbed, which seemed to have been sparked by a family dispute, according to The Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two men who were shot are in stable condition, as well as the individual who was stabbed. However, one woman who was shot is in critical condition. The incident occurred outside security in a restaurant at around 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday. The group apparently knew each other. After a fight broke out, one of them pulled out a gun and opened fire. A juvenile girl and an adult man were later detained in an airport parking garage, per CNN. The man appeared to have been stabbed once. I believe this was a family dispute that escalated, Phoenix police Sgt. Mayra Reeson said in a news conference Thursday morning. She emphasized that the issue had been resolved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are still combing through who and what everybody is (to each other), she said, but no community members or visitors were injured outside of this group. Cops later arrested a man who showed up two hours later with several firearms after getting a false text alert that there was an active shooting, according to the New York Post. There was no active shooter; there never was, Reeson said. HONOLULU (KHON2) With the holidays wrapping up, the Honolulu City Lights will soon follow suit. The special 40th anniversary display inside Honolulu Hale will close on Jan. 1 and the exterior lights will go dark on Jan. 3. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the lights, Mike Gangloff of Show Aloha Land donated 250 feet of lighted tunnels, 50 illuminated trees and other festive decorations. These specialized displays will also close Jan. 3. While the displays are being taken down, navigate the area with caution as work trucks and crews will be transporting the large displays to storage until next season. 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 KHON2. Vice President Kamala Harris became the first sitting vice president to visit a clinic that provides abortions in St. Paul on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Months later, President Joe Biden withdrew as the Democratic party's presidential candidate, and Harris took his place at the top of the ticket. Photo by Madison McVan/Minnesota Reformer. Theres a certain type of email that consistently arrives in my inbox its long, and it describes one issue or story that the author has researched at length. Its often conspiratorial in tone, and accompanied by pages of links and documents to back up the authors account. Lots of reporters get these emails. Sometimes theyre anonymous, nonsensical ramblings. Other times theyre just hate mail. But in some cases, theyre legitimate the person writing them is experiencing a real problem, and the issues they lay out in the email are not being covered by other news outlets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I learned from former Reformer reporter Deena Winter that those emails, even when they seem like out-there conspiracies, are always worth reading and investigating, because they can lead you to the best stories. An email like that led me to the issues many homeowners in Minnesota are facing with their homeowners associations. Without a single statewide organization to advocate for homeowners association reform, a few homeowners have taken it upon themselves to research, raise awareness of and organize around HOAs. Toward the end of the year, I reported the first two stories in a series were calling HOA files, which examines the impact of homeowners associations, property management companies and insurance on homeowners in the state. I plan to publish more stories in this vein next year. Housing at the Legislature The 2024 legislative session was my first in Minnesota and I followed a series of ambitious housing policies pushed by lawmakers who want to build more types of housing in more places. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of those policies failed: eliminating city-imposed parking minimums for new buildings; banning single-family zoning statewide; allowing apartments to be built in areas zoned for commercial use, and more. Following those bills, and their unceremonious death at the Legislature, was an instructive lesson for me in the workings of Minnesota state politics. And, because some of them garnered bipartisan support, I suspect well see similar conversations happening again next session possibly accompanied by smaller, more realistic bills. Odds and ends My favorite part of working at the Reformer is that my editor will always publish a good story even if its outside my usual area of coverage. Some of my favorite stories this year came from one-off events or ideas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I finally got a chance to write a story that Id been considering for years: a deep dive into the small-town politics surrounding the proposed expansion of a dairy in Winona County. (After this story ran, higher courts continued to uphold the countys ban on large livestock operations.) When I was on the phone with a source in Waite Park, she mentioned that the mass at her church had been canceled, and that it had been the only Spanish-language mass in the St. Cloud metro. I ran with the story, especially since local news wasnt covering the issue, and our story reached lots of central Minnesotans. I covered Vice President Kamala Harriss visit to a St. Paul Planned Parenthood, months before she took over as the Democratic presidential candidate. And I wrote this feature about Minnesotas religious left. Ive always been interested in how politics and religion intersect, and it was the perfect excuse to have long conversations with thoughtful people about how they arrived at their personal beliefs and values. Im looking forward to the stories that 2025 brings us. Canadian rare earths company Aclara Resources is raising $25m through a non-brokered private placement to fund its Carina project in Brazil. This placement involves the issuance of more than 51 million common shares at C$0.70 ($0.40) apiece, which marks a 41% premium to Aclaras last closing price on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The company has entered subscription agreements with Chilean mining holding company CAP, Hochschild Mining Holdings, and New Hartsdale Capital for the purchase of the shares. This transaction requires shareholder approval, which Aclara will seek at a special meeting anticipated for early 2025. The closing of the private placement is expected by the end of February 2025 while key development milestones for the Carina project are set for next year. These milestones range from submitting an environmental impact study to completing a pre-feasibility study. A smaller portion of the funds, potentially supplemented by government funding, will be allocated to a separation project in the US. Aclara chairman Eduardo Hochschild Chairman said: We are thrilled to welcome CAP as a strategic investor. Beyond their financial strength, CAP brings deep industry expertise, making them an invaluable partner in our mission to establish a sustainable and integrated supply chain for rare earths. CAP joins Hochschild Mining as a major shareholder of Aclara, uniting two distinguished companies with decades of proven success across the Americas. With their strong support, Aclara is well-positioned to advance its projects in Brazil, Chile, and the United States, paving the way to becoming a global leader and driving meaningful progress in the fight against climate change. The Penco Module in Chile will not utilise proceeds from this placement, as its development is entirely covered by CAP's investment in REE Uno made in April 2024. Aclara CEO Ramon Barua said: CAP has proven to be a very effective contributor in our work at the Penco Module and, through this offering, we welcome them to the shareholder base of Aclara Resources. Through their continued financial support of our development plan, our key shareholders are demonstrating their steadfast commitment to propelling Aclara towards its goal of becoming an integrated producer of rare earths outside of Asia. "Aclara secures $25m for Carina mining project in Brazil" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. An additional human leg was discovered Thursday after a severed leg was found in Palos Verdes Estates the day before. On Wednesday, the partial leg was found on the Bluff Cove Trail near the 800 block of Paseo Del Mar, and no other body parts were found, Capt. Aaron Belda of the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department told the Los Angeles Daily News. on Thursday at around 1 p.m., authorities found a second leg while searching the area. Later, a femur was also found. Its unclear whether the two legs and femur are from the same person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The discovery comes the day after the disappearance of a pair of boaters whose vessel was found less than two miles away. Officials said there is no direct indication that the remains were connected to the missing boaters, but all possibilities are being considered. Were not ruling anything out, but that has not been determined at this point, Belda said. No identification has been made and we dont have any supporting information to believe that they are connected. A cadaver dog is expected to search the area thoroughly on Thursday afternoon as authorities continue searching for more possible limbs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city also reiterated Beldas point that while its possible the limbs are tied to the missing men, no direct evidence has emerged thus far. It is not being ruled out, and investigators are considering all possibilities, the release said. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 310-378-4211. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Dec. 26A 1-year-old girl died two weeks after she suffered a brain bleed and skull fracture when she reportedly was repeatedly slammed to the floor in Piqua. The child, identified Thursday as Vivian Jaymes Gardner, died Dec. 19 at Dayton Children's Hospital, according to Montgomery County Coroner Dr. Kent Harshbarger. Michael A. Mayor, 34, of Piqua was indicted Dec. 11 by a Miami County Common Pleas Court grand jury for felonious assault and three counts of child endangering, all felony charges. He is held on a cash-only $1 million bond. Additional charges are likely following the child's death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Piqua police and medics responded around 3:10 p.m. Dec. 5 to a toddler who was breathing but unresponsive. A babysitter told police the girl was pale and had bruises on her head, according to Piqua Police Department report. Vivian was taken to Upper Valley Medical Center. Doctors advised she had bruising to her forehead and swollen lips that could be related to abuse. She was flown to Dayton Children's Hospital for more extensive treatment. Vivian suffered a fractured skull and brain bleed, according to court records. She was dropped off at the babysitter's around 5:30 a.m. Dec. 5. She was alert and playing in the living room with other kids when the babysitter left to take other children to school following a two-hour delay, according to the incident report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor was with Vivian and three other children when the babysitter, his wife, left. He put her down for a nap on a bedroom floor. When the babysitter returned, Vivian was still on the bedroom floor and appeared to be asleep. The babysitter checked on her multiple times during the day. Around 3 p.m., she was concerned Vivian had not gotten up and went to wake her, according to police records. "(They babysitter) stated it was at that time she found her breathing was shallow and she was unresponsive," the incident report read. "Both (the babysitter) and Michael denied knowing what happened to cause this." The babysitter provided police with footage from a living room camera. The video showed Mayor picking up Vivian around 10:30 a.m. and walking her to the bedroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In the video, (the girl) was sitting up and crying," the report read. The bedroom was not on video. Investigators determined Mayor was the last person to be with her and arrested him while he was at his job, working for the city of Dayton. A spokeswoman said Thursday that he is no longer a city employee. During an interview, Mayor said he took Vivian to the bedroom for a nap and she wouldn't stop crying, according to police records. "He stated he 'shook' her and when she cried louder he began to 'slam' her on the floor of the bedroom," the report read. Mayor reportedly slammed her onto the floor until she stopped crying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Michael stated he thought she fell asleep, so he put her down and walked away," the report read. Police then booked Mayor into the Miami County Jail. During a jail phone call to his mother, Mayor admitted to hurting the child and said he lost his temper, according to the incident report. "I didn't know she was hurt," he said in the call. "Thought she was asleep but I hurt her and I did it ... I just want you to know the truth." Mayor's attorney, Jon Paul Rion, filed a motion to reconsider his cash-only $1 million bond, and a hearing was scheduled for Monday. Prosecutors on Dec. 20 requested a new date for the hearing because Vivian died the day before and her funeral was scheduled for the day of the hearing. Judge Jeannine Pratt rescheduled to Jan. 2, but Rion on Tuesday withdrew the motion. Vivian is survived by her parents and four siblings. She will be remembered for infectious laugh, piercing blue eyes, bright orange hair and toothy grin, a look her family affectionately called her "razzle-dazzle," according to her obituary. SANGAMON COUNTY, Ill. An Illinois dentist who admitted to stealing fentanyl from patients for personal use was sentenced to federal prison earlier this month. Phillip M. Jensen, 64, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay a $200,000 fine on Dec. 20, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The National Institutes of Health reports that dentists are legally allowed to use a small administration dose of fentanyl in conscious sedation for certain procedures, but only under strict regulations and appropriate circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second home demolished as slope fails in St. Charles County Investigators say Jensen began stealing fentanyl from patients as early as December 2019. He also injected patients with adulterated drugs and performed surgery without proper pain management. Jensen stole more than 40 grams of fentanyl for his personal use before his license was revoked in 2022. He admitted to stealing at least half of the fentanyl in every vial in the practice, refilling the vials with saline, and resealing the vials with glued caps. Jensen also falsified surgical records, claiming he had administered full-strength fentanyl to patients for pain relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators identified 99 victims of Jensens actions. Prior to his charges, staff members reported noticing patients who were moving, moaning, and otherwise showing signs of pain and distress during surgeries that were believed to involve fentanyl. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News In August, Jensen pleaded guilty to two counts of drug diversion, two counts of acquiring a controlled substance by fraud, one count of tampering with consumer products resulting in serious bodily injury, and two counts of false statements relating to health care matters. People are never as vulnerable as when they place their faith in a health care provider to not only treat their condition but to administer anesthesia and pain medicine during that treatment. Jensen abused that faith and hurt others in the process. Because of this prosecution, Jensen will not be permitted to practice medicine again and will be prevented from hurting members of our community in the future, said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris via a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Unit in Springfield, Illinois, the Sangamon County Sheriffs Office, the United States Food and Drug Administration, and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation all investigated this case. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Dec. 26DIXON Several new laws affecting Illinois workplaces will go into effect on New Year's Day. On Wednesday, Jan. 1, the state minimum wage will increase from $14 to $15, and the minimum wage for tipped workers will increase to $9 per hour. Workers younger than 18 who work less than 650 hours per calendar year will see their wages increase to $13 per hour. Illinois employers will be required to include pay scales and benefits information when posting employment opportunities. They also must provide pay stubs to workers every pay period, which includes how many hours were worked, pay rates, overtime pay and wage deductions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Employers also will be required to keep a copy of their workers' pay stubs for three years from the date of employment, even if they are no longer employed with the company. Former and current employees also have the right to request copies of their pay stubs. "These laws taking effect in January put more money in the pockets of Illinois workers; increase pay transparency; and better inform workers about their hours worked, deductions and wages," Illinois Department of Labor Director Jane Flanagan said. The IDOL has updated several mandatory workplace posters, including the "Your Rights Under Illinois Employment Laws," "Equal Pay Act Pay Transparency Notice," "Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act," "Day and Temporary Labor Services Act" (for all day and temporary labor service agencies), and the "Right to Privacy in the Workplace/E-Verify" notice. The minimum wage increase is part of the Lifting Up Illinois Working Families Act (Public Act 101-0001), which was signed into law Feb. 19, 2019. The measure increases the state's minimum wage rates in a series of seven adjustments that began Jan. 1, 2020, raising the then-minimum wage to $9.25. For more information, call the IDOL at 217-782-6206 or visit labor.illinois.gov. A request by the Canadian government for feedback on how to strengthen its ability to shut out goods made from forced labor, as part of its trade obligations, has resulted in a blunt rejoinder from a consortium of American trade groups about issues it says have hobbled Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforcement actions stateside, chiefly by limiting the ability of importers to be fully effective partners. The response by the American Apparel & Footwear Association, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, the National Retail Federation and the United States Fashion Industry Association, as members of the Joint Association Forced Labor Working Group, throws into relief a longstanding question about how much regulation is too much regulation, especially for an industry unused to guardrails. More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our associations, and the companies we represent, do not tolerate the use of forced labor or other human rights abuses within our supply chains, the trade groups wrote in a letter to Canadian international trade minister Mary Ng last month. Our members have spent years, and in many cases decades, working to identify, eradicate and prevent forced labor in their supply chains. But effective regulations to prevent imports made with forced labor must provide space for mechanisms that allow information sharing with industry, the development of best practices and a transparent enforcement process, said the organizations, which represent household names such as Adidas, Gap Inc., J.Crew Group, H&M Group, Shein and Zara owner Inditex. These are areas where CBP has also fallen short, the letter said. With what appears to be palpable frustration, the organizations said that when the agency releases a Withhold Release Order (WRO) or Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) detention order, it doesnt release any of the evidence supporting those orders or the text of the WRO itself, making it difficult for importers to understand what information led to their issuance. That CBPs notices fail to furnish details about the type of product or which country of origin or supplier triggered the detention isnt a new gripe. Neither is the charge that CBP doesnt specify which parts of a shipment are being held back. The letter said that importers that choose to challenge detentions must essentially prove a negative for every purchase order, violating the right of due process that permits the accused to view and refute any evidence against them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We understand that there may be constraints in sharing information believed to be law enforcement sensitive; however, having a mechanism that would enable the sharing of this information would give importers the ability to incorporate the information into their future due diligence and amplify enforcement going forward, the trade groups wrote. Sharing this critical information reduces the burden for the importer to focus on the problematic part of the shipment, as well as reduces the burden on CBP to evaluate only the problematic part of the supply chain instead of the entirety of the supply chain. Legislating against forced labor Ng opened a public consultation in October to gather comments on potential new measures that Canada can take to strengthen the enforcement of forced labor provisions specified by the United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement, or USMCA. U.S. lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have previously urged Canada and Mexico to do more to plug up possible transshipment routes for products that were denied entry into the United States on suspicion of forced labor, only to be reexported for another break at making it past the American border. The letter also comes amid a spate of investigations by the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise, the watchdog group better known as the CORE, into brands such as Ralph Lauren, Levi Strauss & Co. and Zara over whether they benefited or profited from the persecution of Muslim minorities from Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The complainants, a coalition of 28 human and Uyghur rights organizations, cited as evidence for their requests for assessments a 2020 Australian Strategic Policy Institute report and 2021 and 2022 studies from Sheffield Hallam Universitys Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice that drew links between brands and Chinese suppliers that have been implicated in the use of Uyghur coerced labor. Last November, in what must have appeared to the industry as a shot across the bow, the Department of Homeland Security tapped human rights professor Laura Murphy, author of several of Sheffield Hallam Universitys reports on Uyghurs, as policy advisor to Robert P. Silvers, undersecretary of the Office of Strategy, Policy and Plans and chair of the multi-agency Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force. Murphy, as a political appointee, will be stepping down after Donald Trumps re-inauguration as president on Jan. 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Writing to Ng, the trade groups claimed that open source intelligence from non-governmental organizations, media and academia can often be based on outdated or inaccurate information or include generalizations for a geographical region and that companies should be allowed to respond to allegations before conclusions are drawn regarding whether certain supply chains are tainted by forced labor. It also said that credible social compliance audits should remain an accepted tool for assessing forced labor risks. But experts say that such audits are ineffective in isolation, particularly where state-sponsored exploitation is concerned. In 2020, several prominent supply-chain auditing firms, including Bureau Veritas and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production, said they would no longer conduct inspections in Xinjiang because their auditors were being harassed, threatened, surveilled and prevented from accessing factories. In a country such as the Peoples Republic of China, where independent labor unions do not exist, social controls prevent the free exchange of information, and recently passed national security laws make the disclosure of information that portrays China in a bad light a national security offense, social audits are particularly laughable, Representative Christopher H. Smith, the New Jersey Republican who chairs the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, said in a hearing in March. Scott Nova, who spoke at the same hearing on behalf of the Worker Rights Consortium, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, agreed that Chinas climate of repression regarding the Uyghurs requires more than business as usual. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The industry groups letter urges the Canadian government to prioritize corporations due process rights over workers human rights, he said. Hopefully, the Canadians will ignore them. Another familiar complaint is the Joint Association Forced Labor Working Groups criticism of what it described as CBPs lack of consistency about the information it requires to clear a product of forced labor involvement, thereby confusing importers, and the protracted process of submitting and following up on required documentation when filing petitions, which it says can take anywhere from two to three monthsa lifetime in the fashion world that can render cargo essentially worthlessbecause CBP reviews and adjudicates each and every petition, mostly related to the UFLPA. Some importers have run into issues with repetitive shipments being stopped, the letter added. Even though CBP may have released one shipment under the applicability review, they have seen repeat shipments, with the exact same supply chain, stopped. The importer again would provide the same information during the applicability review and the shipment would be released. So far, 100 percent of the petitions for goods detained under the UFLPA have come under the applicability review, meaning that the importer claims the shipment shouldnt have been detained because it has no nexus with Xinjiang, the letter said. And to date, half of those have been subsequently released by CBP, indicating that those shipments should never have been detained in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In such instances where a petition is rejected, the importer is only informed that it provided insufficient evidence, the trade groups said. These notices do not include any indication why the documentation was insufficient or what additional documents might be needed. The importer can appeal the decision but 1) the same organization that made the initial decision, CBP, reviews the appeal; 2) the appeal is public; and 3) the importer has no idea why their initial petition was insufficient in the first place. The UFLPA vs. the industry Thats not to say the UFLPA hasnt been effective. Since the law went into effect in June 2022, it has blocked more than 1,260 shipments valued at nearly $26 million. The UFLPA Entity List of so-called bad actors now has 107 names and is poised to expand further. The idea is for businesses to shift their behavior to ensure their supply chains are free of goods made with forced labor, CBP senior official Troy A. Miller said at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event in July. Even so, the letter cast doubt on whether transshipments are as much of a problem as some experts have made them out to be and whether governments should publish a list of goods at risk of forced labor, as the United States does and the European Commission intends to do. In the former case, if re-exporting happens, its a right importers have if they lack the time or resources to enter into an admissibility review process, the letter said. In the latter, any rundown of names essentially becomes a blacklist that without a high evidentiary threshold could destroy industries and throw thousands of people out of work based on little evidence and no review. For example, the United States government, through the U.S. Department of Labor, has published a forced/child labor list for over a decade, it said. Based on what seems like little evidence, and no explanation, the list includes the entire Bangladesh garment industry and the entire Indian textile industry. Yet, CBP has taken no action to ban imports of Bangladeshi garments or shipments made with Indian textiles under the U.S. forced labor statute. Why? Because there is no specific evidence to target individual shipments and a lack of evidence demonstrating forced labor across thousands of garment factories in Bangladesh or thousands of textile mills in India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Bureau of International Labor Affairs at the Department of Justice maintains that the list is meant to raise public awareness about forced and child labor around the globe and to promote strategic and focused efforts to eradicate them, rather than having a punitive intent. While CBP declined to comment about the letter, saying that it responds to direct correspondence via official channels, it pointed out that its leadership in forced labor enforcement has set a global precedent that has generated international momentum, particularly with Canada and Mexico under the USMCA. Combatting forced labor will also remain a top priority for both the agency and the Department of Homeland Security as they continue to work with like-minded partners such as the government of Canada, to root out modern slavery from supply chains. Allison Gill, legal director at Global Labor Justice, a workers rights nonprofit, is less equivocal, however. She said that the trade organizations comments ignore the responsibility of companies to know their supply chains and to conduct adequate due diligence, especially since the passage and implementation of the UFLPA. Due diligence and enforcement are complementary roles in combatting forced labor. A reverse onus or rebuttable presumption is appropriate where there is reasonable suspicion that the goods were produced with forced labor, she said. And its workingwe know that import bans, both under the Tariff Act and the UFLPA have changed sourcing practices and, at least under the Tariff Act, have made material gains for workers, such as the repayment of millions of dollars of recruitment fees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gill said that while more work needs to be done, it cannot be the responsibility of enforcement agencies alone but rather something thats shared along the supply chain. Its especially crucial, she noted, for lead firms to undertake the type of risk-based due diligence that resources such as the Department of Labors list of goods produced with child labor or forced labor are intended to facilitate. As the AAFA knows, forced labor exists along a spectrum of labor abuses and conditions can shift into and out of forced labor, Gill said. Lead firms at the top of the supply chain have an important role to play in taking steps to identify forced labor risks and take steps to address themespecially by prioritizing solutions that strengthen worker empowerment and the ability of workers and unions to bargain for, win, monitor and enforce improvements in their working conditions. Still, Gill agrees with the trade groups call to strengthen mechanisms to facilitate information sharing and collaboration among market countries, particularly the United States, Canada and Mexico, to bolster the enforcement of forced labor import bans. While both Mexico and Canada have adopted import ban measures, neither is fully operational or effectively enforced, she said. Civil society organizations in both countries are working to promote more effective implementation and should be seen as important partners for both governments. Russia's sabotage groups are trying to gain a foothold and have increased the number of attacks in Kherson Oblast, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Dec. 26 on national television. Prokudin's statement comes amid an anticipated large-scale Russian advance in Kherson Oblast. In early December, Russian troops carried out assaults in the southern region to gain a foothold on islands in the Dnipro River delta. "We are observing an increase in enemy activity. We understand the places where enemy airborne groups can land, and the (Ukrainian) Defense Forces are ready to destroy them," Prokudin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attacks are "not rare," and Russian soldiers are trying to gain a foothold on the western bank of the Dnipro regularly, according to the governor. However, none of these attempts have been successful, he added. Russian diversionary groups are trying to gain a foothold on the islands near Kherson or on the western bank of the river every day, Prokudin said, adding that "all the diversionists were eliminated." The Russian military has been trying to advance on Kozatsky Island, Velykyi Potemkin Island, and the southern island of Zabych in recent weeks, Vladyslav Voloshyn, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian military's Southern Command, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on Dec. 24. Kherson and other regional settlements west of the Dnipro River have been subjected to near-daily Russian strikes since Ukraine liberated the area in November 2022, pushing Russian troops to the east of the river. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian troops have intensified ground attacks in several areas along the front line over the past few days but failed to break through Ukraine's defense lines, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Dec. 19. Read also: Ukraine ends year battered, with Russian troops pushing north, east, and south Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Baiyu Holdings has signed an agreement with Adler International to construct a renewable energy free-trade zone and logistics park in Egypt. The project will encompass a renewable energy industry free-trade zone in Cairo and a logistics park at the Port of Alexandria. The renewable energy free-trade zone will cover approximately 6,667ha, while the logistics park will span about 200ha. The Egyptian government has designated both areas as bonded free-trade zones, offering preferential policies and incentives for talent acquisition and training. This initiative aims to bolster Egypt's renewable energy sector and logistics capabilities. Baiyu will also offer supply chain procurement services for new energy vehicle manufacturing. The vehicles produced will be exported to Egypt and regions such as Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, with an estimated annual demand of nearly 200,000 vehicles. The project will facilitate the establishment of charging pile and lithium battery industries in Egypt. Baiyu also plans to conduct production, manufacturing, and market sales under its brand, further strengthening its presence in the renewable energy sector. This aligns with the company's strategic diversification efforts. Baiyu was incorporated in Delaware in December 2011. Initially focused on lending and financial services, the company transitioned to commodity trading and supply chain services in 2020. Its expansion into renewable energy includes energy storage, lithium batteries, and integrated services, reflecting its commitment to sustainable development. "Baiyu to build new renewable energy free-trade zone in Egypt" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand. There are roughly 1,140 missing persons cases in Indiana, according to the Missing Person Bulletin run by the Indiana State Police. About 280 of these cases are under the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. IndyStar looked into some of those cases the 1990s and early 2000s to see where they stand. As of September, more than 185 people reported missing in Indiana a decade or more ago remain on the state's bulletin. When Mista Louks was called in for a meeting at the Greenwood Police Department, she thought it was about Chief John Laut retiring. Maybe another detective would be taking over her sister's case. She walked into the department in August 2020, 18 years after her sister Brookley Louks had gone missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the meeting room, she remembers Laut's cheeks getting red and his eyes starting to water. Laut was retiring, but he had other news. Mista Louks placed a cross on the property near Paragon, Indiana, where what they believe are her sister, Brookley Louks, was buried years ago. Bone fragments found at the site are thought to belong to the missing woman, but DNA has yet to confirm the connection. After almost two decades, they believed they had found Brookley. One by one, Louks locked eyes with the officers in the room and asked, "You think so?" The last officer nodded. Louks knew it was true. While searching a large property near Paragon, Indiana, detectives from the Greenwood Police Department found human bone fragments and organic matter. The remains were found in a spot cited multiple times from tips into Brookleys disappearance. Due to the small size and damage to the remains, the department has been unable to confirm that they belong to Brookley definitively, but Louks said she doesn't know who else it could be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Laut said there is a possibility the remains belong to another person, but due to circumstantial evidence, statements from interviews and a report from the National Forensic Academy, he and many other detectives who investigated in Morgan County believe the remains are those of Brookley Louks. Still, the case remains an open and active investigation, said Dan Downing, captain at the Morgan County Sheriff's Office. Louks said she has not cared about putting someone behind bars for years. She just wanted to find her sister. Now that she likely has, she can grieve. Indiana Missing: Family friend was only suspect in teen girl's disappearance, but then he died Brookley Louks vanished after apartment burglarized Brookley Louks (left) and her sister Mista Louks. The day Brookley Louks went missing, her apartment in Greenwood was burglarized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After giving a police report, 19-year-old Brookley left her apartment and was seen getting into a blue 1990 Chevy Corsica with an unidentified driver. Brookley called her mom and her 18-year-old sister, Mista Louks, and said she'd spend the night at her boyfriend's place, about 30 minutes away. That day, June 24, 2002, was the last anyone heard from Brookley. In the search for her sister's remains, detectives went out to a remote property near Paragon several times after getting tips that she was buried there. Laut said they were tipped off to the property in 2003, but were only able to obtain permission from the property owners to search in 2013. The search didn't surface her body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2019, Laut said, detectives went back with four cadaver dogs. The dogs indicated an area where the soil looked disturbed. After digging, detectives found adipocere, a grayish wax or oil that a body emits when decomposing. This was found next to a piece of buried plastic tarp material. A former doctor from the National Forensic Academy confirmed the adipocere was human. The same doctor flew to Indiana to visit the property and led detectives to another area on the property where two bone fragments were found and confirmed by the University of Indianapolis. Brookley Louks of Greenwood, Ind., is shown in an undated photo. The missing: Brookley Louks disappearance featured on true-crime podcast One of the fragments was tested at the state police lab to extract Brookley's DNA, but it was too deteriorated. Laut said he believes what was left of the fragment was sent to a private lab in Florida, but it was destroyed during testing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mista Louks is waiting for technological advances before testing the second and last fragment found that is being held in Morgan County. Anyone with information on Brookley's disappearance is urged to call the Greenwood Police Department at 317-882-9191 or CrimeStoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477 (TIPS). Cold case investigations: Decades later, what happened to these Indiana missing persons cases? This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana cold case of Greenwood woman's disappearance nearly solved. WASHINGTON, Mo. An injured police officer is out of the hospital and back home just in time for Christmas Day. Three days after a car hit several people outside of Ted Drewes, injured Washington Police Officer Matt Cooper is showing improvement. He did make it home for Christmas. Hes in a lot of pain, Angela Koepke, Chief Mason Griffith Foundations director of daily operations, said. But it could be a long road to recovery. Cooper was off-duty Sunday night when a car hit six people outside of Ted Drewes. He was trying to move the crowd away from the vehicle when he was hit. Cooper had multiple injuries and had to have surgery on his leg. Cooper is a school resource officer at Washington Middle School. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes amazing with staff but more amazing with our students and being able to talk with them if they have concerns, being able to joke with them in the hallway, Washington School District Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Kephart said. Kephart says Cooper is gifted with connecting with the kids he serves. He talked about it recently in a school district podcast. Heavy police presence in Ferguson after suspected shooting Sometimes kids, for whatever reason, dont want to talk to a teacher or counselor and I tell them, Im not a trained counselor but if you want someone to listen to you, Ill listen to you,' he said in October on the Kephart Communications Podcast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, he could be away from his job for months. So, the Chief Mason Griffith Foundation is raising money for Coopers family. We want to support him and his family, not only with his medical bills but with his time off to give him plenty of time to rest, recoup and get back to work, Koepke said. Washington Middle School principal Laura Bruckerhoff said he will be greatly missed until he can return. Im grateful for him. Im happy that hes okay. It doesnt surprise me that he stepped in and did what he did. I doubt he thought anything about himself. He was about who was there and protecting them, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you want to support the Cooper family through the Chief Mason Griffith Foundation, 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. Deaths in the custody of county jails should be investigated by an independent agency, not the sheriff who runs the jail, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said. "I think it would eliminate any, you know, concern about appearance. So, I think that would be a positive thing," DeWine said. More: Special Investigation: In Ohio's jails 220 inmates have died in 4 years But the governor stops short of calling for a legal mandate to require independent investigations into who is dying in county jails and why. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 219 Ohioans died in the past four years in the custody of county jails. Ohio began requiring jails to report deaths and other critical incidents in 2020 but there is no penalty for failing to report. Some jail deaths were not reported to the state. More than 75% of those who died 166 people had yet to be tried for the crime for which they were being held. Some didnt last 24 hours behind bars. A Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and USA TODAY Network Ohio investigation found that jail personnel ignored serious medical conditions and injuries, withheld life-saving medicine and equipment, failed to stop the flow of illicit drugs that inmates later used to overdose, and did not adequately monitor prisoners at risk for suicide. DeWine favors working with jail administrators, rather than penalizing them for failures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our experience has been that we could get a good result, a much better result by working with them, helping them, giving them training," he said. DeWine said he would like to see if there's consensus from the legislature for requiring independent investigations and enforcing jails' compliance with state standards. Ohio has 181 standards concerning care from medical treatment to adequate heat in the winter. In 2022, 31% of jails failed to comply with all standards. Special Investigation: Inside Ohio's jails, why have 220 inmates died in 4 years? In 2017, Texas passed the Sandra Bland Act that requires independent investigation of jail deaths and requires jails to divert people with mental health and drug issues to treatment. The law is named after a 28-year-old woman found dead in a jail after being arrested on a traffic stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "No jail should be investigating itself," said Michele Deitch, director of the Prison and Jail Innovation Lab at the University of Texas. "Why should the public trust any conclusion from a self-interested agency that 'there is nothing to see here'? An independent investigation provides confidence on the part of the public and families that the death review is objective and avoids any actual or perceived conflict of interest." Deitch said in addition to Texas, the District of Columbia, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota and Oregon have laws requiring independent investigations of in-custody deaths in jails and prisons. "I think every state, including Ohio, should have such a law. It seems like such a basic check and balance to ensure the objectivity of these death investigations," she said. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost agrees that in-custody deaths should be independently investigated, saying "DIY investigations are not credible." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which operates under the attorney general, investigates some jail deaths but isn't the right agency to handle all of them, Yost said. Instead, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction or a new public body of jail experts should be given the assignment of investigating, he said. DeWine, however, said BCI is the best agency to conduct investigations into in-custody deaths, especially if there is a conflict of interest or potential criminal behavior. DeWine also said Ohio needs to do more work to divert people with mental illness or drug addiction to treatment, rather than lockups. A task force appointed by DeWine to improve access to state psychiatric hospital beds made some recommendations on how jails can better handle people with mental health and drug addiction issues. Most of the 16,000 people in Ohio jails each day suffer from substance abuse, mental illness, or both. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November, the group called for better evaluations of the mental health needs and risk for those entering the criminal justice system and improved access in jails to medications used to treat mental health and drug addiction issues. Roughly one-third of deaths in jails are suicides and another third are drug-related, either overdoses or complications from detoxification. DeWine said 75 of Ohio's 89 jails are getting state or federal reimbursement for medication assisted treatment for incarcerated people. Laura Bischoff and Erin Glynn are reporters for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio sheriffs investigate deaths in their own jails. Will that change? Dec. 26The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is continuing to investigate the fatal shooting of person by a Middletown police officer on Christmas Eve, but little information had been released by the department and other investigating agencies. Multiple officers were dispatched about 7:04 p.m. Tuesday to the 1000 block of Park Lane in the Olde Towne Apartments. Officers knocked on the reported apartment's door and identified themselves as officers when the suspect allegedly opened the door and displayed a gun. In response, one officer shot the suspect, according to police. Dan Hils, president of Frontline Advisors who represents the Middletown police FOP, said he believes multiple shots were fired by one officer. He also said the 911 call about the fight came from a neighboring apartment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My belief is four officers were there. one officer knocked on the door and at least three time identified himself as a Middletown police officer," Hils said. The name of the person killed and the officers involved in the shooting were not released Thursday. The Butler County Coroner's Office has the case, but could not say when the autopsy would be conducted and identification released. Requests for the 911 call, body camera footage and initial reports had not been received Thursday afternoon. Steve Irwin, spokesman for BCI, said the investigation could take several weeks. Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser said BCI was called to investigate right away and his office contacted. As is his policy, the investigation result will get grand jury consideration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I will go to the grand jury, regardless of how apparently justifiable the shooting incident is, because that is my policy," Gmoser said. Middletown Police Chief Earl Nelson said the department is not releasing any information on the officers involved, but only one officer is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the BCI investigation that is standard department policy. "We want to stay impartial. This is a BCI investigation. We have not been briefed on exactly what occurred. We are waiting like everyone else," Nelson said. Sgt. Dennis Jordan, president of Middletown Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 36, said "our officers are lucky not to have been shot. We are thankful they are okay. Condolences go out to everyone involved. I was an unfortunate event that happened. But he happened and we are praying for all the individuals involved." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the third police-involved shooting in Middletown since February 2023. In April 2023, Middletown police responded to the same apartment complex when they were shot at by a suspect. They returned fired and hit the suspect, wounding the man. Kyle Kellum recovered, was indicted for felonious assault involving a police officer, but found to be not guilty by reason of insanity following a bench trial in common pleas court. In February 2023, Middletown police shot and killed a man who pointed a weapon at them in the parking lot of the Walmart on Towne Boulevard. No charges were filed against the two Middletown officers in the deadly shooting. The officers' use of deadly force in the Feb. 25 shooting of 47-year-old Victor Lykins was deemed reasonable by the Warren County Prosecutor's Office, Prosecutor David Fornshell announced after reviewing investigation results. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) U.S. officials say Russia could be behind a passenger plane crash in Kazakhstan that left dozens dead Wednesday. U.S. officials say it looks like the plane was hit by a Russian air defense system, but investigators havent been able to confirm what happened yet. Rescuers arrived at the crash site of a passenger plane in Kazakhstan Wednesday. An Azerbaijani airliner headed to Russia went off course then crashed, killing dozens of the 67 people on board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences for the victims. Azerbaijan says its launched a criminal investigation to figure out what happened. U.S. officials say there are early signs a Russian anti-aircraft system may have struck the plane. This comes amid speculation Russia was fending off Ukrainian drone attacks in the area the plane was trying to land. Ukraine launched drones after Russia attacked Ukraines energy grid on Christmas, leaving half a million people without heat. President Joe Biden says Russias holiday attack was quote outrageous and vowed to keep sending weapons to help Ukraine, The United States will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen Ukraines position in its defense against Russian forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President-elect Donald Trumps pick for special envoy to Ukraine and Russia also criticized Russias attack. Retired Lt. General Keith Kellogg posted on X, Launching large-scale missile and drone attacks on the day of the Lords birth is wrong. Russia says any guesses about the cause of the crash would be wrong until officials from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan finish their investigations. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Did you get a new phone for Christmas? Are you just looking for new stuff for your current one? Every Floridian or visitor should check these apps to help make your life here easier. A good weather app Florida is famous for its weather. We're the Sunshine State, with blazing-hot days and wide blue skies. We're also the state of rainy weeks, localized flooding and, you know, hurricanes. Keeping track of the weather is vital, and potentially lifesaving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your phone comes with a weather app and it's a good one that will give you basic features such as precipitation probabilities, air quality and severe weather alerts. All-around weather apps such as AccuWeather, the Weather Channel or Carrot help you with all aspects of your daily travels. But there are some specialty weather apps you might consider: National Hurricane Center Data: Just what it says. This non-official app pulls maps, satellite imagery, tracking data, spaghetti models, forecast cones and more taken straight from the National Hurricane Center. Price: Free, with upcharges for high-res images and other offerings. (iOS) Note that if you don't want to add an app, the NHC has a stripped-down mobile-friendly version you can bookmark in your phone's browser or add as an icon on your phone's desktop. The weather.gov site used to, but decommissioned it last June to focus on making their main site accessible to mobile devices. Storm Shield: Storm-based NOAA alerts for tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, thunderstorms and other life-threatening events for your exact location, with voice and push notifications. According to the Storm Shield site, the service is more accurate than county-based forecasts. Price: Free, with monthly subscriptions for specific forecasts and lighting information. iOS | Android Florida Storms: Immediate information on all storms, radar, plus real-time audio and text alerts from the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network. Price: Free with ads. iOS | Android My Hurricane Tracker: Does just what it says. Simple add for tracking cyclones, tornadoes, tropical storms and weather warnings. Price: Free with ads, $2.99 removes them. iOS | Android Emergency by American Red Cross: Get highly customizable alerts, info on how to prepare for disasters and help creating personalized emergency plans. Price: Free. iOS | Android FEMA: The FEMA mobile app provides alerts, tips on preparation and a map of emergency shelters, and it also helps with resources after the storm passes and helps you get answers. Price: Free. iOS | Android Heading to Disney? Take along guides to local attractions There are zillions of third-party Disney park apps to help you navigate the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and the Disney water parks, but first check out the official one. My Disney Experience lets you plan and share trip details, check real-time ride wait times, showtimes, Character Greetings and more, find your way around the parks, manage your hotel reservations, tickets, and MagicBands, order food ahead of time, and use Disney Genie Service to plan your itinerary. Many of the theme parks in the state have dedicated apps to help with tickets, maps and wait times. Here are the other major ones, all free. Disney: iOS | Android Universal Studios: iOS | Android LEGOLand: iOS | Android Peppa Pig Theme Park: iOS | Android Busch Gardens: iOS | Android SeaWorld Orlando: iOS | Android Aquatica: iOS | Android Plan your travel Try AllTrails for trail maps and tracking (iOS | Android), Go Paddling to find launch locations for kayaks, canoes, paddleboards (iOS | Android), or Surfline for wave, tide and wind reports (iOS | Android). Florida 511 helps you get around If you've driven any of Florida's busy, sometimes dangerous, occasionally cursed highways, you know a traffic app is invaluable. Waze, Google Maps and Apple Maps all offer driving assistance, but Florida 511 pulls data directly from the Florida Department of Transportation's own official Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) to give you specific information about the road ahead including descriptions of crashes, access to traffic cameras, message sign status, road closures and detours, truck parking locations and availability and more. You can even choose to get slightly less detailed info for better power consumption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Price: Best of all, it's completely free. Head to fl511.com/app for more info. Available for iOS and Android. GasBuddy helps you afford it If you plan to travel around the state and you should, we have some stunning sights you'll need to keep your tank full. The GasBuddy app for iOS and Android can help identify the cheapest gas prices in your area or anywhere else you search for, listed by distance. You also can choose to let GasBuddy alert you as you drive for great gas deals. Price: Free. Learn more about your community with Florida Stories Florida Stories, from the nonprofit Florida Humanities Council. Would you like to learn more about different places in Florida (including possibly your own hometown)? The nonprofit preservation organization Florida Humanities, with help from the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, has created Florida Stories, an app providing 36 walking tours from all over the state with lots of photos and rich audio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's a bit hit or miss. There isn't one for Daytona Beach, for example, but there is one for nearby Ormond Beach and another for DeLand. Five of them are about different parts of St. Augustine. You won't find Fort Myers but you will find one for Phillippi Estate Park. But the tours are pleasant and informative, there are maps along with current and historical photos, and you'll learn about local buildings, arts and culture, notable people and places, and the historical events both good and bad that helped form the community. Price: Free. The app is available for iOS and Android, or you can choose to watch the tours in your browser from the comfort of your home. Make your outdoor activities easier with Fish | Hunt FL The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission wants to make it as easy as possible to fish and hunt legally and safely, so they're putting a lot of power in your phone. The official Fish | Hunt Fl app lets you look up regulations, buy recreational licenses from your boat or on the hunt, report harvested game, and keep copies of your current licenses handy in case the polite people in the hats drop by to check out your catch. The app also includes sunset and sunrise information, geo-locating tools, NOAA seas and weather information, and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Price: Free. Available for iOS and Android. There's also the FWC Wildlife Alert app to report fishing, wildlife or boating violations anonymously to the Wildlife Alert Reward Program, with a possible reward up to $1,000 if it results in an arrest or violation. (iOS | Android) Spotted an invasive species? Fire up IveGot1 Burmese pythons, massive spiders, Nile crocodiles, even rabbits. As robust as it seems, Florida has a fragile ecosystem that can be damaged by invasive species that can decimate local wildlife, destroy agricultural crops and residential buildings and threaten public health. Invasions of exotic species cost Floridians over $500 million a year, according to the National Park Service. You can help by reporting invasive species or exotic animals with the IveGot1 app for iOS and Android, developed by the Everglades National Park and the University of Georgia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Price: Free. Is that fish legal? Fish Rules helps you tell Even for seasoned fishers, it can be tough to keep track of which fish are legal to catch this week, how big they have to be and how many you can keep. The Fish Rules for iOS and Android, partnered with the FWC, puts saltwater fishing regulations for federal and state waters for the U.S. and freshwater regulations for Florida, Alabama and Texas in your pocket. It uses your location and the date to show you just what you need to know now and it's got clear pics of any fish you're like to find, to help you identify your catch. Price: Free, with ads. There's a ProStaff subscription you can get to lose the ads and add thousands of reef locations, access to a professional fish identification forum, and bookmarked fishing locations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you want more than that, a few years ago Fish Rules was bought by Fishbrain, which has all the regs from the Fish Rules plus fishing spots, local fishing reports, depth maps, weather forecasts and alerts, logbooks, and more. The iOS and Android app also is free, with a Pro subscription service for even more details and services ($12.99 a month, or $6.99 a month f you pay annually). Keep an eye on the skies NASA's mobile app lets you get right in on the action, with live and streaming video, thousands of stunning cosmic images and much more. Florida has a spaceport, and exciting things are happening there all the time. Next Spaceflight for iOS and Android shows you schedules for SpaceX, NASA, Roscosmos, ULA, Blue Origin, ISRO, Rocket Lab, and more, with live launch tracking, previous archives, live streams, mission details and more. And unlike many other launch tracking apps, it's free with no ads. Also good: Space Launch Now (iOS | Android) but you have to pay a subscription to lose the ads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And don't forget NASA's own app, where you can watch launches, live coverage and streaming video, see thousands of breathtaking images, listen to podcasts, read the latest articles, track the International Space Station and more. Free, at iOS and Google Play, and you can also get a Kindle app and a channel for your Roku TV. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: 10 apps for Florida travel, Disney, trails, space launches and more Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is going to visit Moscow on Jan. 17, the Russian state-controlled news agency RIA Novosti reported on Dec. 26, citing Kazem Jalali, the Iranian Ambassador to Russia. Ties between Moscow and Tehran have deepened since the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine in 2022. Iran has provided Russia with thousands of Shahed drones used in attacks against Ukraine as well as close-range ballistic missiles. Pezeshkian will hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Jan. 17, Jalali said. During the visit, the two leaders are expected to sign an agreement on cooperation between Tehran and Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new bilateral agreement is intended to replace the 20-year strategic one signed between the two countries in 2001 and extended in 2020. Putin and Pezeshkian first met on Oct. 11 in Turkmenistan. The meeting occurred during an international forum to which the leaders of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Tajikistan were invited, among others. Following another meeting between Putin and Pezeshkian in Kazan in late October, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the new agreements must "formalize the parties' commitment to close defense cooperation and interaction in the interests of regional and global peace and security." Pezeshkian won Iran's runoff election in July earlier this year, defeating hard-liner Saeed Jalili. Internationally recognized monitors were not present to verify the results or guarantee the election's fairness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The runoff election was triggered by the death of former President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister in a helicopter crash in May. Read also: Fall of Aleppo deals blow to Russias Middle East clout, may indirectly strengthen Ukraines hand Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MANCHESTER, Mo. Members of the Youth Advancement Coalition (YAC) provided hot meals and winter supplies to those in need Wednesday for their Islamic Christmas outreach efforts. Getting to know that Im helping other people, especially around the holidays, is really fulfilling for me and I feel like Im making a difference, volunteer Iman Nisar said. The teens met in the wee hours at the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis to prepare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They came in the morning, bright and early, baked pies, put together boxes of cookies, put together bread and biscuits and boxes of personal items, parent Saba Nisar said. Just to make somebodys day better. On boxed meals, YAC members wrote a personalized message: Happy holidays from your Muslim neighbor! Heavy police presence in Ferguson after suspected shooting We are trying to support everybody and just trying to make a better future for our world, volunteer Shayaan Raja said. They also made stops for West County first responders and dropped off baked goods. We love our community, Saba Nisar said. This is our home. And our kids are going to be the catalyst for our future, and we want them to be positive individuals that create a good environment and put out a goodness to the universe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group will continue their outreach efforts when Ramadan launches in February. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Israels Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has ordered an investigation into Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after a report alleged that she had harassed opponents. An investigation should be opened into suspicions of witness harassment and obstruction of justice regarding the findings of the Uvda show, which aired on Israel-based Channel 12 television last week, Israels attorney general said in a statement on Thursday. On Thursday, Channel 12 released an investigation alleging that Sara Netanyahu was intimidating a witness in her husbands criminal trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report also alleges that she had indirectly harassed the attorney general and the deputy state attorney. CNN has reached out to the prime ministers office for comment. Hours before the investigation was ordered, Prime Minister Netanyahu defended his wife in a video speech released by his office on Thursday where he described the Channel 12 report as biased and false propaganda. He went on to say: I would like to see Channel 12 or the other incitement channels conduct an investigation about the left-wing camp. But dont count on it. It simply wont happen. Israels Justice Minister Yariv Levin criticized the attorney generals order, describing it as extreme selective enforcement has reared its ugly head once again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Israeli citizens expect that anyone who threatened the police commissioner or called for defiance will be summoned for questioning, the advisor [AG] and the state attorney are busy opening investigations following gossip on television, Levin said in a post on X on Thursday. The far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also criticized Baharav-Miara. Someone who persecutes government ministers and their families politically cannot continue to serve as the Attorney General - it is a shame that there are still those who bury their heads in the sand and refuse to understand this, he said in a statement. Netanyahus corruption trial first began in January 2020, making him the first sitting Israeli prime minister to appear in court as a defendant on trial for charges of fraud, breach of trust, and bribery. Netanyahu has repeatedly denied the allegations against him and has pled not guilty, Reuters previously reported. He faces charges in three separate cases. In Case 1000, he is charged with fraud and breach of trust in connection with allegations that he received gifts like cigars and champagne from overseas businessmen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Case 2000, he is also charged with fraud and breach of trust and is accused of seeking favorable coverage in one of Israels top newspapers in exchange for limiting the circulation of one of the papers main rivals. In the most serious case, Case 4000, he is charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust for allegedly advancing regulatory benefits worth the equivalent of more than $250 million at the time to his friend Shaul Elovitch, who was the controlling shareholder for the telecommunications company Bezeq. This is a developing story and will be updated. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Faced with huge debt, the impending expiry of a crucial patent, and ongoing litigation over a horror acquisition, Bayer CEO Bill Anderson made a bold move a year ago to get his damaged company back on track: do away with managers and have employees self-organize. Nearly 12 months later, green shoots may finally be appearing following a desperately dark time for the German group that invented aspirin. Bayer announced plans earlier this year to secure 2 billion in cost reductions by 2026, which has involved around 5,500 layoffs, mostly in managerial positions. In place of managers, Bayer got rid of annual budgets and asked staff to organize themselves into 90-day sprints in self-directed teams. Anderson promised the vast majority of his staff would be operating under this model by the end of 2024. Rather than a lumbering corporation, Bayer will emerge as agile and bold as a startupbut one with operations in more than 100 countries. Im convinced that this dramatic change will accelerate and unlock the value creation in each of our businesses, Anderson wrote in a commentary piece for Fortune in March. The initial batch of teams that rolled out this structure in the summer of 2023 were racing ahead and doing great," Bayer told Business Insider, while other groups were "still stuck in the starting blocks." More important, he added that voluntary attrition had declined in the last year amid rising layoffs. "We all know that the belly of the beast of bureaucracy is the budget process, right," Anderson told BI. "Everybody knows that. Everyone hates it." Bayer will need more than a change in management structure to turn around its fortunes in 2025. In March, Anderson said Bayer was badly broken in four places, comparing the groups state to his condition after he fractured his leg skateboarding. Bayers market cap has fallen more than 44% this year. The groups $63 billion acquisition of Roundup weed killer parent Monsanto in 2018 has proved disastrous for Bayer, as it faced wave after wave of lawsuits over claims the product contributed to customers developing cancer. The group has seen recent successes in battling these lawsuits. The exclusivity for Bayers blood-clot medication, Xarelto, its bestselling drug, is set to expire in 2026, allowing competitors to come to market, likely affecting Bayers ability to profit off the drug. These structural issues come alongside overwhelming 34.5 billion debt levels, close to the companys annual sales. The ratings body Fitch hasnt updated its review of Bayers debt since downgrading the group to a BBB rating in March. The News Israels military launched major air strikes on targets across Yemen, hitting ports, airports, and power stations that Israeli officials said were controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi militia. The Director-general of the World Health Organization said he was at Sanaa international airport in the Yemeni capital when it was attacked, adding that United Nations and WHO officials in his party were safe. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was in the country to negotiate the release of detained UN staff and to assess the humanitarian situation. The strikes come less than a week after a Houthi missile hit a playground in Tel Aviv injuring several residents. Even as Israel ramps up strikes on the Houthis, military experts speaking to Jewish Insider said Israel could struggle to significantly weaken the Houthis: Israel has not prioritized intelligence-gathering in Yemen and the distance between the two countries 1,300 miles makes large operations difficult. Those challenges mean the Israeli Defense Force is not able to do the things they could do against Hezbollah and Hamas, one expert argued. Israel and Hamas on Wednesday accused each other of obstructing negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, after Israel withdrew its negotiators from the talks the previous day. Israeli media reported on Wednesday that the refusal by the Palestinian Islamist militia Hamas to hand over a list of the names of the hostages it still holds is hindering progress in the negotiations. After more than a week of intensive negotiations, mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office recalled the country's negotiators on Tuesday, saying there should be internal consultations on the continuation of the negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the reports, Hamas sources said they were prepared to hand over a list of hostages who could be released in a first phase following the ceasefire, but refused a demand by Israel to provide a complete list of the 100 hostages who are supposedly still alive. Hamas in turn accused Israel of blocking the negotiations. In a press release on Wednesday the group said Israel "introduced new conditions related to the issues of the withdrawal [from Gaza], the ceasefire, the prisoners, and the return of the displaced people, leading to the delay in reaching an agreement that was within reach." The militia said it "has demonstrated responsibility and flexibility." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu's office responded to the accusations: "The Hamas terrorist organization continues to lie, is reneging on understandings that have already been reached, and is continuing to create difficulties in the negotiations." Despite this, it said, "Israel will continue its relentless efforts to return all of our hostages." IDF strikes Hamas fighters in northern Gaza The Israeli military said late on Wednesday that it had launched another strike against Hamas militants in northern Gaza. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the attack targeted Hamas fighters who were planning a drone strike on Israeli forces near Gaza City, located in the northern part of the sealed-off coastal strip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military said it had taken numerous measures to reduce the risk to civilians before the attack. The IDF did not provide any information regarding potential casualties. The information could not be independently verified. IDF targets Hamas member in Gaza humanitarian zone Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli Air Force targeted a Hamas terrorist in a humanitarian protection zone in the Gaza Strip, the military announced on its Telegram channel. It said the man was active in the area of the city of Khan Younis in the south of the sealed-off coastal strip. Prior to the "precise attack," numerous measures were taken to minimize the risk to civilians, the IDF said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military did not provide information about possible casualties. Their statements could not be independently verified. The IDF described this as another example of the systematic abuse of civilian infrastructure and humanitarian protection zones by Hamas, stating that this violated international law. The Israeli military repeatedly accuses the Islamist terrorists in the embattled Gaza Strip of using civilians as human shields. Israeli forces on Thursday launched a massive barrage of strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen in the latest exchange of attacks between Israel and the Iranian-backed rebel group. The Israeli military said in a statement on the social platform X that fighter jets struck military targets on the western coast of Yemen. The targets included military infrastructure at Sanaa International Airport along with the Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power stations and three seaports on the western coast, according to the military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These military targets were used by the Houthi terrorist regime to smuggle Iranian weapons into the region and for the entry of senior Iranian officials, the Israeli military said in the statement. This is a further example of the Houthis exploitation of civilian infrastructure for military purposes. Houthi media also reported a series of Israeli strikes on the power stations, the airport and the Ras Isa oil port. The attack comes just days after a Houthi rocket hit Tel Aviv, injuring at least 16 people. Israel has struck the Houthis several times in Yemen, looking to cripple the Iranian-backed rebel group from launching attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houthis, however, have proven resilient, and are continuing to attack not just Israel but also merchant shipping in the Red Sea, part of a campaign the rebel group claims is in solidarity with Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, which has been fighting against Israeli forces since Oct. 7, 2023. The U.S. has also positioned naval assets in the Red Sea and the Middle East region that has been fighting directly against the Houthis since January. The Houthis have been launching attacks in the Red Sea region since shortly after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. At least 50 people have been killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting a building in the northern Gaza Strip, the Hamas-controlled health authority said late on Thursday. Among the victims were five staff members of a nearby clinic in Beit Lahia, including a paediatrician, a laboratory assistant, two paramedics, and a technician, according to the authority and the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, Hussam Abu Safiya. The information cannot be independently verified. The Israeli military initially did not comment when approached. Meanwhile, the Israeli military said that one of its soldiers was killed during clashes in the northern Gaza Strip. JERUSALEM (AP) A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen on Thursday targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital and multiple ports, while the World Health Organization's director-general said the bombardment occurred nearby as he prepared to board a flight in Sanaa, with a crew member injured. The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge just a few meters from where we were and the runway were damaged, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on the social media platform X. He added that he and U.N. colleagues were safe. We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave, he said, without mentioning the source of the bombardment. U.N. spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay later said the injured person was with the U.N. Humanitarian Air Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least three people were later reported killed and dozens injured in the airport strike. The U.N. team members left the airport and were safe and sound in Sanaa while the injured crew member was being treated at a hospital, she said. Tremblay said the damage assessment would be made on Friday morning to see whether WHO chief and the U.N. team can leave Yemen. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the escalation in attacks between Yemen and Israel and described Thursdays attacks as especially alarming, Tremblay said. Israels army later told The Associated Press it wasnt aware that the WHO chief or delegation was at the location in Yemen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli strikes followed several days of Houthi launches setting off sirens in Israel. Overnight, the Israel said the Houthis fired yet another missile, triggering air raid sirens in central Israel, jolting thousands of people awake and forcing them to scramble to shelters. The army said it intercepted the missile before it reached Israeli airspace and there were no reports of injuries. The Israeli military in a statement said it attacked infrastructure used by the Iran-backed Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports in Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib, along with power stations, asserting they were used to smuggle in Iranian weapons and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. Israel's military added it had "capabilities to strike very far from Israels territory precisely, powerfully, and repetitively. The strikes, carried out over 1,000 miles from Jerusalem, came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assads regime and others learned" as his military has battled those more powerful proxies of Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houthi-controlled satellite channel al-Masirah reported multiple deaths and showed broken windows, collapsed ceilings and a bloodstained floor and vehicle. Iran's foreign ministry condemned the strikes. The U.S. military also has targeted the Houthis in recent days. The U.N. has said the targeted ports are important entryways for humanitarian aid for Yemen, the poorest Arab nation that plunged into a civil war in 2014. Over the weekend, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi missile hit a playground in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, while other missiles and drones have been shot down. Last week, Israeli jets struck Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people, calling it a response to previous Houthi attacks. The Houthis also have been targeting shipping on the Red Sea corridor, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The U.N. Security Council has an emergency meeting Monday in response to an Israeli request that it condemn the Houthi attacks and Iran for supplying them weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 5 journalists killed in Gaza Meanwhile, an Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in Gaza overnight, the territory's Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said all were militants posing as reporters. The strike hit a car outside Al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The journalists were working for local news outlet Al-Quds Today, a television channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group. Islamic Jihad is a smaller and more extreme ally of Hamas and took part in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack in southern Israel that ignited the war. Israel's military identified four of the men as combat propagandists and said that intelligence, including a list of Islamic Jihad operatives found by soldiers in Gaza, had confirmed that all five were affiliated with the group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian militant groups operate political, media and charitable operations in addition to their armed wings. Associated Press footage showed the incinerated shell of a van, with press markings visible on the back doors. Sobbing young men attended the funeral. The bodies were wrapped in shrouds, with blue press vests draped over them. The Committee to Protect Journalists says more than 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the start of the war. Israel hasn't allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza except on military embeds. Israel has banned the pan-Arab Al Jazeera network and accused six of its Gaza reporters of being militants. The Qatar-based broadcaster denies the allegations and accuses Israel of trying to silence its war coverage, which has focused heavily on civilian casualties from Israeli military operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another Israeli soldier killed Separately, Israel's military said a 35-year-old reserve soldier was killed during fighting in central Gaza. A total of 389 soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the ground operation. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed across the border, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250. About 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third believed to be dead. Israel's air and ground offensive has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry. It says more than half the fatalities have been women and children, but doesn't say how many of the dead were fighters. Israel says it has killed more than 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The offensive has caused widespread destruction and hunger and driven around 90% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes. Hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid camps along the coast, with little protection from the cold, wet winter. Also Thursday, people mourned eight Palestinians killed by Israeli military operations in and around Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. ___ Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. A previous version of this story was corrected to show that the name of the local news outlet is Al-Quds Today, not the Quds News Network. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war An Israeli attack in northern Gaza Strip killed at least nine Palestinians and injured several others, according to Palestinian media. The report by the WAFA news agency said an airstrike hit homes in Gaza City on Thursday evening. Hamas-controlled civil defence spoke of at least 13 deaths and around 40 injuries. The Israeli army said it would investigate the report. JERUSALEM (AP) Israels attorney general has ordered police to open an investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus wife on suspicion of harassing political opponents and a witness in the Israeli leaders corruption trial. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara made the announcement in a terse message late Thursday, saying the investigation would focus on the findings of a recent report by the Uvda investigative program into Sara Netanyahu. The program uncovered a trove of WhatsApp messages in which Mrs. Netanyahu appears to instruct a former aide to organize protests against political opponents and to intimidate Hadas Klein, a key witness in the trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announcement did not mention Mrs. Netanyahu by name, and the Justice Ministry declined further comment. But in a video released earlier Thursday, Netanyahu listed what he said were the many kind and charitable acts by his wife and blasted the Uvda report as lies. My opponents on the left and in the media found a new-old target. They mercilessly attack my wife, Sara, he said. He called the program false propaganda, nasty propaganda that brings up lies from the darkness. It was the latest in a long line of legal troubles for the Netanyahus highlighted by the prime minister's ongoing corruption trial. The pair have also had a rocky relationship with the Israeli media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of cases alleging he exchanged favors with powerful media moguls and wealthy associates. Netanyahu denies the charges and says he is the victim of a witch hunt by overzealous prosecutors, police and the media. The report obtained correspondence between Sara Netanyahu and Hanni Bleiweiss, a former aide to the prime minister who died of cancer last year. The messages indicated that Sara Netanyahu, through Bleiweiss, encouraged police to crack down violently on anti-government protesters and ordered Bleiweiss to organize protests against her husband's critics. She also told Bleiweiss to get activists in Netanyahu's Likud party to publish attacks on Klein. Klein is an aide to billionaire Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan and has testified in the corruption case about her role in delivering tens of thousands of dollars worth of champagne, cigars and gifts to Netanyahu for her boss. According to the report, Bleiweiss also was instructed to organize demonstrations outside the homes of the lead prosecutor in the corruption case, Liat Ben-Ari, and then Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who had issued the indictments, and protests and social media campaigns smearing political opponents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the report, Bleiweiss was a loyal aid to Netanyahu for decades. But while she was ill, it said Sara Netanyahu mistreated her, prompting her to share the messages with a reporter shortly before her death. Sara Netanyahu has been accused of abusive behavior toward her personal staff before. This, together with accusations of excessive spending and using public money for her own extravagant personal tastes, has earned her an image as being out of touch with everyday Israelis. In 2019, she was fined for misusing state funds. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees police and has repeatedly said the attorney general, Baharav-Miara should be fired over a series of grievances against her, said the latest announcement was another reason for her to be dismissed. Someone who politically persecutes government ministers and their families cannot continue to serve as the attorney general, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Justice Minister Yariv Levin, another Netanyahu ally and critic of Baharav-Miara, accused her of focusing on television gossip. Selective enforcement is a crime! he said in a statement. ___ Associated Press writers Eleanor H. Reich in New York and Isaac Scharf in Jerusalem contributed to this report. Israel's Attorney General has called for an investigation into the wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The background to this is the suspicion that Sara Netanyahu is alleged to have obstructed the judiciary and influenced witnesses, several Israeli media outlets reported Thursday, citing the office of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. Sara Netanyahu is alleged to have instructed demonstrators to harass the house of an important witness in the criminal case against her husband. The witness filed a complaint against Mrs Netanyahu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A television report by the Israeli channel Channel 12 recently published text messages between Sara Netanyahu and one of her husband's advisers who died last year, which are said to contain the accusations. The prime minister has been on trial for corruption for more than four years. Benjamin Netanyahu is charged with fraud, embezzlement and bribery. The accusations against him include that he granted the telecom giant Bezeq privileges when he was communications minister. He is also said to have accepted luxury gifts from billionaire friends. The prime minister has always rejected the accusations and recently spoke of "a cruel witch hunt." Families and relatives of Israeli hostages held in Gaza lit the first candle of Hanukkah on Wednesday, marking the start of the second such holiday without their loved ones, according to a statement from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters. Thousands of people attended a silent protest led by Shift 101 on Wednesday, which aims to put pressure on the government to work on releasing the hostages, it said. Mothers and female relatives of the hostages, joined by many supporters, held a three-hour silent protest in white clothing, demanding an immediate deal to return all hostages, the statement continued. The vigil was followed by a candle-lighting ceremony at Beit Ariela in Tel Aviv. Shira Albag, mother of (hostage) Liri Albag, lit the first candle while participants prayed together for the return of the 100 hostages, the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We wont let the light go out. We must light the first candle and begin the deal. May each candle light the next until all our light returns with the homecoming of 100 hostages through a deal, Shay Dickmann, cousin of hostage Carmel Gat, who was killed during captivity, said during the ceremony, according to the Forum statement. Top US, Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian officials have all touted progress in the negotiations to the Gaza hostage and ceasefire last week. While officials caution that a deal is neither sealed nor guaranteed, recent upbeat language and diplomatic activity have signaled momentum toward reaching a deal. Israeli negotiators returned home from talks in Qatar Tuesday for internal consultations. Hamas is holding 100 hostages in Gaza 96 taken on October 7, 2023, and four others who were kidnapped before that, according to Israeli authorities. The hostages include 13 women and two children under the age of five, according to the authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 36 of the hostages have now been confirmed dead by Israel. Israeli leaders also recalled the hostages at ceremonies marking the first night of Hannukah. I dont believe that last year during Channukah (Hanukkah), anyone thought that a hundred of our brothers and sisters would still be in the hands of Hamas terrorists, President Isaac Herzog said at Beit HaLochem in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, per a statement from his office. We are in a critical period for their return, Herzog added, calling on Israels government to act with all its might, using every tool at our disposal, to secure a deal. This is your duty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first candle of Hanukkah was also lit at the Western Wall in Jerusalem along with other areas across the country on Wednesday as people gathered there to pray for the return of the hostages. Families of the hostages, we all pray that even today, they will return to Jerusalem, to the Holy Land, safe and well, Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch said in a statement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday also marked Hanukkah at his office in Jerusalem with a more hawkish tone. Today we light the first candle of Hanukkah to mark the victory of the Maccabees of that time and the victory of the Maccabees of today, Netanyahu said, according to a statement released by the prime ministers office, referring to a group of Jewish warriors and freedom fighters in the 2nd century BCE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like then - we are hitting the oppressors and those who thought they would cut the thread of our lives here so it will apply to everyone. The Houthis will also learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and the Assad regime and others have learned, and even if it takes time, this lesson will be learned throughout the Middle East, Netanyahu added in the statement. He made no mention of the hostages held in Gaza. Israel launched its war against Hamas in Gaza after the militant groups October 7, 2023, cross-border attacks, in which more than 1,200 Israelis were killed and 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities. More than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the health ministry in the enclave. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The director-general of the World Health Organisation was caught up in a wave of Israeli air strikes on Yemen on Thursday. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he had been about to board a flight at Sanaa International Airport when it came under attack. The Israeli military said its warplanes struck Houthi terror regime targets at Sanaa airport, as well as military infrastructure at the Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power stations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Air strikes also hit military infrastructure in the Al-Hudaydah, Salif, and Ras Issa ports on the western coast, it added. In a statement, Mr Ghebreyesus said: As we were about to board our flight from Sanaa, about two hours ago, the airport came under aerial bombardment. One of our planes crew members was injured. The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge just a few meters from where we were and the runway were damaged. Credit: X / @ifofgot The Houthis are currently the last of Irans proxies in the Middle East still attacking Israel in solidarity with terror groups in Gaza after the Israel Defence Forces inflicted a series of devastating blows against Hezbollah in Lebanon, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Iran and Hezbollah-backed regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria was overthrown a fortnight ago by rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The expansive strikes against key infrastructure in Yemen suggest a new push against Irans proxies in the region. In a video released after the attacks, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, vowed to continue attacks on the Houthi rebels until the job is done. He said: We are determined to cut this branch of terrorism from the Iranian axis of evil. Iran has supported the Houthis financially and militarily for years, providing the terror group with its ballistic missiles, but the recent events in the Middle East have left Tehran weakened. Smoke rises from Sanaa airport following Israeli air strikes on Thursday - Yahya Arhab/Shutterstock Mr Netanyahu said on Wednesday: The Houthis will also learn what Hamas, Hezbollah, the Assad regime and others have learned, and this will also take time. This lesson will be learned across the Middle East, I tell you, in those days at this season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pressure has been growing on his government after four Houthi ballistic missile attacks on Israel in the past week, one of which, south of Tel Aviv, injured 16 people. According to the IDF, the Houthi rebels were using the sites to transfer Iranian weapons to the region and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. The IDF added: This is a further example of the Houthis exploitation of civilian infrastructure for military purposes. Three people were killed in the strikes, Al Masirah, a Houthi-run TV station, reported, adding that 14 others were wounded. People were filmed running through the airports terminal while an air raid siren blared, and a large smoke plume billowed above a building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel and the United Nations have long been at odds over Gaza, and several of the UNs agencies have condemned its actions in the territory on the world stage. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was about to board a flight when Israel struck Sanaa airport - Shutterstock The WHO has been particularly critical of Israeli strikes on hospitals in Gaza, and in January Mr Ghebreyesus broke down in tears as he described the hellish conditions there. Israel maintains that its strikes target Hamas and other terror groups and that the conditions in Gaza are caused by the Palestinian groups that control it. There was nothing to suggest that Israel deliberately targeted the airport while the WHO chief was there. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The European Central Bank (ECB) has approved BBVAs proposed acquisition of Banco Sabadell, marking a critical milestone in the merger of two major Spanish banks. BBVA Chair Carlos Torres Vila hailed the decision as a new, and very significant milestone that also demonstrates the soundness and solvency of this undertaking, BBVA initiated its offer to Banco Sabadell shareholders on 9 May. Following a 96% approval for the necessary capital increase during an extraordinary shareholders meeting on 5 July, the ECBs green light moves the process forward. Moreover, the deal now awaits approvals from Spains financial market regulator (CNMV) and its Market and Competition Commission (CNMC). Vila expressed optimism about the projects trajectory, stating: in due course we will receive the remaining approvals and move forward with the most attractive project in the European banking sector. He also highlighted the mergers expected benefits, including an additional 5bn ($5.2bn) in annual lending capacity for families and businesses. Furthermore, the merger provides benefits for a variety of parties. Banco Sabadell shareholders are expected to gain a 50% premium on pre-announcement share prices, 27% greater earnings per share (EPS) than Sabadell's standalone expectations, and a 16% interest in the combined business. BBVA shareholders are projected to earn good profits with minimal capital effect, while clients would have access to a broader choice of financial services. Employees of both banks are poised to benefit from enhanced career opportunities, and the merged institution will significantly contribute to Spains economic growth through increased lending and higher tax contributions. Once BBVA acquires a majority stake of 50.01% in Banco Sabadell, the banks plan to merge, subject to additional regulatory approvals. This development solidifies BBVAs strategic vision and sets the stage for a transformative shift in European banking. "BBVA takeover of Banco Sabadell clears ECB hurdle" was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. Israeli fighter jets targeted sites in Yemen on Thursday, including the international airport of the capital Sana'a, in response to attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi movement. The Houthi-controlled health ministry said at least four people were killed and 42 injured. "Fighter jets conducted intelligence-based strikes on military targets belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime on the western coast and inland Yemen," a statement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IDF said one of the targets was infrastructure belonging to the Houthi militia at the airport in Sana'a. Several ports, including Hodeidah, as well as two of the country's power plants, were also hit. Israel accused the Houthi militia of using civilian infrastructure for military purposes, such as smuggling weapons from Iran. The Houthis said the airport was hit along with a a power plant and the Ras Isa oil port, in the western province of Hodeidah. Anis Al Asbahi, the spokesman for the Houthi-controlled Ministry of Health, told dpa the bombardment of the Sana'a airport killed three and injured 30 others, while the strikes on the Ras Issa port killed one person and injured 12 others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This toll is still preliminary," he added. An official at the airport told dpa that the strikes had targeted the waiting lounge, the control tower of the facility and large parts of the runway. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the bombardment was carried out five minutes before a flight operated by the national carrier Yemenia coming from Amman, Jordan, was to land. A team from the World Health Organization (WHO), including its director general, came under fire in the Israeli attack on the Sana'a airport. "As we were about to board our flight from Sana'a, about two hours ago, the airport came under aerial bombardment, wrote WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "One of our planes crew members was injured. At least two people were reported killed at the airport. The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge just a few meters from where we were and the runway were damaged." The members of the UN and WHO delegation were unharmed and safe, he said. "Our heartfelt condolences to the families whose loved ones lost their lives in the attack," Tedros wrote. The strikes coincided with a televised address delivered by the militia's leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi. The militia's spokesman, Mohammed Abdel-Salam, reacted defiantly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If the Zionist enemy [Israel] thinks that its crimes will stop Yemen from supporting Gaza, it is delusional. Yemen will not abandon its religious and humanitarian principles," Abdel-Salam said on the social media platform X. After recent rocket attacks by the Houthis on the Tel Aviv area, the Israeli Air Force chief announced tougher counter-attacks on the Islamist militia in Yemen, an impoverished, war-torn country. The Houthis are allied with Israel's arch-enemy Iran, like Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia. Since the onset of the Gaza war more than a year ago, Yemen's Houthis have targeted Israel and merchant vessels in the Red Sea, stating these actions are in solidarity with Gaza. JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Israeli military loosened its rules of engagement at the start of the Gaza war to enable commanders to order attacks on targets despite a heightened risk of civilian casualties, the New York Times reported on Thursday. Immediately after the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel by groups of Hamas-led gunmen, the military granted mid-ranking officers the authority to strike a wide range of military targets where up to 20 civilians risked being killed, the newspaper said. The order meant for example that the military could target rank-and-file militants while they were at home surrounded by relatives and neighbours, instead of only when they were alone outside, the newspaper said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said the report was based on interviews with more than 100 soldiers and officials, including more than 25 people who helped select and vet targets. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The New York Times said the military acknowledged that the rules of engagement had changed after Oct. 7 but said its forces had "consistently been employing means and methods that adhere to the rules of law". The Hamas-led attack on communities around the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023 killed 1,200 people and saw more than 250 taken as hostages into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel's ground and air campaign in response has killed more than 45,000 people and wounded more than 107,000, according to Gaza health ministry figures, displaced most of the 2.3 million population and laid waste to much of the coastal enclave. In addition to raising the number of civilian casualties that could be risked in a single attack, the New York Times said the military removed a limit on the cumulative number of civilians that its strikes could put at risk each day. On a few occasions, the military high command approved strikes that they knew would put as many as 100 civilian lives at risk, the newspaper said. It said the military "often relied on a crude statistical model to assess the risk of civilian harm", mainly depending on estimates of cellphone usage rather than extensive surveillance of a single building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From November 2023 onward, the rules were tightened, including by halving the number of civilian casualties that could be risked in attacks on low-level targets, the newspaper said. It added that the rules remained far more permissive than before the war. (Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Israel's far-right Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has once again stoked condemnation by praying at a contested Jerusalem religious site counter to agreements with the Muslim community. According to a long-standing agreement with Muslim authorities, Jews are allowed to visit the site known to them as the Temple Mount but to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary but not to pray there. However, there are repeated violations of this agreement. "I went to our sanctuary to pray there for our soldiers, for the speedy return of all hostages and for total victory with God's help," Ben-Gvir wrote in a post on social media platform X on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The site houses the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque and is the third holiest site in Islam. It is also sacred to Jews because two Jewish temples once stood there. The site in the Old City of Jerusalem is under Muslim administration while Israel is responsible for security. As after last provocations by Ben-Gvir, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the status quo on the Temple Mount had not changed. However, the national security minister's violations of the rules never have any consequences. JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's ultranationalist security minister ascended to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem on Thursday for what he said was a "prayer" for hostages in Gaza, freshly challenging rules over one of the most sensitive sites in the Middle East. Israel's official position accepts decades-old rules restricting non-Muslim prayer at the compound, Islam's third holiest site and known as Temple Mount to Jews, who revere it as the site of two ancient temples. Under a delicate decades-old "status quo" arrangement with Muslim authorities, the Al-Aqsa compound is administered by a Jordanian religious foundation and, under rules dating back decades, Jews can visit but may not pray there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post on X, hardline Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said: "I ascended today to our holy place, in prayer for the welfare of our soldiers, to swiftly return all the hostages and total victory with God's help." The post included a picture of Ben-Gvir walking in the compound, situated on an elevated plaza in Jerusalem's walled Old City, but no images or video of him praying. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office immediately released a statement restating the official Israeli position. Palestinian militant group Hamas took about 250 hostages in its Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel in which 1,200 people were killed, according to Israeli tallies. In the ensuing war in Gaza, Israeli forces have killed over 45,300 Palestinians, according to health officials in the Hamas-run enclave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suggestions from Israeli ultranationalists that Israel would alter rules about religious observance at the Al-Aqsa compound have sparked violence with Palestinians in the past. In August, Ben-Gvir repeated a call for Jews to be allowed to pray at the Al-Aqsa mosque, drawing sharp criticism, and he has visited the mosque compound in the past. Ben-Gvir, head of one of two religious-nationalist parties in Netanyahu's coalition, has a long record of making inflammatory statements appreciated by his own supporters, but conflicting with the government's official line. Israeli police in the past have prevented ministers from ascending to the compound on the grounds that it endangers national security. Ben-Gvir's ministerial file gives him oversight over Israel's national police force. (Reporting by Emily Rose; editing by Mark Heinrich) Israel has insisted it was targeting terrorists not journalists in a deadly strike on a press van in central Gazas Nuseirat on Thursday that killed five people. Five members of Al-Quds Today were killed in an Israeli strike on their vehicle on Thursday, the Palestinian TV channel said in a statement. The channel is affiliated with the Islamic Jihad movement, and Israel said the strike was targeting an Islamic Jihad terrorist cell. The missile hit the Al-Quds broadcast truck while it was parked in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, according to the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It named the staffers as Faisal Abu al-Qumsan, Ayman al-Jadi, Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Khalil, Fadi Hassouna and Mohammed al-Ladaa and said they were killed while performing their journalistic and humanitarian duty. However, Israel described them as combat propagandists and said that al-Qumsan was Islamic Jihads head of security in Nuseirat. Israel insists it did not target journalists in its latest strike on a Palestinian press van - Eyad Baba/AFP The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said the five were terror operatives from Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a terror group that fights alongside Hamas and took part in the Oct 7 attacks on Israel. The Israeli army said it had conducted a precise strike on a vehicle with an Islamic Jihad terrorist cell inside in the area of Nuseirat overnight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israelis military said the group had been planning an explosive drone attack against IDF troops in an imminent timeframe. It said: Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance and additional intelligence. Mourners attend the funeral of members of the press who killed in the Israeli strike - Eyad Baba/AFP The IDF added: Multiple intelligence sources confirmed that these individuals were Islamic Jihad operatives posing as journalists. It said one of its sources was a list of Islamic Jihad operatives its troops had captured in Gaza. According to witnesses, a missile fired by an Israeli aircraft hit the broadcast vehicle which was parked outside Al-Awda Hospital setting it on fire and killing those inside Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photos seen by The Telegraph show that the van was marked as press with large red letters. Laura Davison, general secretary of the British National Union of Journalists, calls the airstrike yet another gross violation from Israel - Mohammed Saber/Shutterstock Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The British National Union of Journalists condemned the strike, with Laura Davison, the general secretary, calling it an outrageous attack and a clear breach of international law. She added: There can have been no doubt that the van was a media installation. Journalists and their facilities are protected by international conventions, as civilians, and should not be targeted. This is yet another gross violation and must be condemned. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Middle East office said they were devastated by the reports, adding that journalists are civilians and must always be protected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It added that the Gaza conflict had taken an unprecedented toll and was the deadliest period for journalists since CPJ began gathering data in 1992 in a report in mid-December. Mourners carry the body of one of the five Palestinian journalists killed in an Israeli airstrike - Mohammed Saber/Shutterstock Last week, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) said more than 190 journalists had been killed and at least 400 injured since the start of the war in Gaza after Oct 7. The PJS said it condemned in the strongest terms the horrible and heinous massacre. It added: The crime comes in the context of a series of continuous Israeli assaults against Palestinian journalists, targeting media outlets anytime and anywhere, in an attempt to suppress the truth and narrow the strife on free expression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anas al-Sharif, a correspondent with Qatari state-funded broadcaster Al Jazeera, said that one of those killed, al-Jadi, was waiting for his wife who was in labour with their first child outside the hospital at the time of the attack. Palestinian Journalists Syndicate says more than 190 journalists have been killed and at least 400 injured since the start of the war - Anadolu Barry Malone, deputy editor-in-chief of Thomson Reuters Foundation, said there has never been such an assault on our profession. Nadav Shoshani, the Israeli militarys international spokesman, described accusations that Israel was targeting journalists as false claims. The Israeli military said a 35-year-old reserve soldier was killed during fighting in central Gaza early on Thursday. A total of 389 soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the ground operation over a year ago. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. EIN ZIVAN, Golan Heights (AP) A dry mountain wind whipped through a cluster of Israeli flags at the entrance of a kibbutz in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, where the tranquility belies the tumultuous events unfolding nearby. Earlier this month, Syrian President Bashar Assad was ousted after nearly 25 years in power. Within hours, Israeli tanks rolled past a razor wire-reinforced fence into the Golan's demilitarized buffer zone in Syria, created as part of a 1974 ceasefire between the countries. Israel said it was a temporary move to secure its border. Days later, the Israeli government approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus $11 million plan of financial incentives to double the population of Israeli settlers in the Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel will continue to hold onto it, make it flourish and settle it, Netanyahu said. The international community, with one exception, considers the Golan to be occupied Syrian territory, while the United Nations lists Israeli settlements there as illegal. In 2019, the United States became the only country to recognize Israels 1981 annexation. About 50,000 people currently live there, roughly half of them Israeli settlers and the other half Arab Druze, a religious minority spread among Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Golan Heights. In the towns and kibbutzim of the Golan, news of the plan to increase the number of settlers was met with a mixture of skepticism, excitement and shock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Too much growth, too fast? Paul Hecht, who at 42 has lived in the Golan nearly all his life, greeted the news with mixed emotions, to be honest, because I love the Golan Heights the way it is. I'm kind of afraid that the place will be overpopulated but at the same time, of course, I want the place to advance. The attraction is the rural way of life, the open spaces and the mountains, he explained. Doubling the population sounds a bit extreme," especially if attempted in a short time frame, he said, noting the region needs infrastructure improvements notably to roads for its existing population before more people are brought in. The Golan's economy relies heavily on farming and the hospitality industry. Previous government attempts to attract more settlers have had little success in large part because of a lack of job opportunities and the long distance from major cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A well-publicized move in 2019 to name a Golan settlement after then-U.S. President Donald Trump failed to attract a major influx of residents. But Hecht said he believed more Israelis could be tempted by a life in the Golan after Assad's fall. I think that will that will bring in a lot more people who want to come and live in the Golan Heights because of the sense of security that people will have here, he said. And obviously the best view and the best nature in Israel. The dream of a rural lifestyle One such new settler could be Shlomo Benhaim, 60, who has been thinking of moving to the Golan for years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its my dream. If I will fulfill it, who knows, he said during a day trip with his wife to Ein Zivan, a kibbutz about two kilometers (1.2 miles) from the Syrian buffer zone. One of the oldest kibbutzim dating from the late 1960s, Ein Zivan has barely 500 residents today. I love the Golan. Its a unique area in Israel, very unique, with a lot of history, archaeology, modern history, a lot of memories, he said. But moving wouldnt be easy. The area is popular with mainly Israeli tourists who come for the mountains and outdoor activities, but it's a roughly three-hour drive from urban centers with well-paying jobs like Tel Aviv. On the other hand, theres also a good education system and no traffic jams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a lot of benefit to (life) in the Golan, and also a lot of negative things, he said. In nearby Kibbutz Merom Golan, hotel manager Shefi Mod said that with tax breaks and cheap land, I think the support of the government indeed can help people to come and live here. Mod first came to the area as a soldier decades ago and liked it so much he moved here. But whether others will be tempted to follow suit is still unclear. Concern among the Druze Many Golan Heights Druze consider themselves Syrians under occupation. While Israeli citizenship is open to them, most have not taken it and have Israeli residency permits instead. They have a complicated relationship with Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whatever this government wants to do, it wont ask our permission, said Khaled Elshaer, a restaurant owner in the Druze village of Masada. The plan to double the number of settlers left him numb and shocked, he said. He considers the Golan to be Syrian. But asked if he wanted it to be a part of Syria, he said no. I feel Golani. Neither Israeli nor Syrian, he said. We are connected to the land, not to who will be president over it. Local surgeon Ali Abu Awad stressed that the Golan Heights are an essential part of Syria, and noted most of the local population with university degrees, including himself, had studied there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He accused the Israeli government of apartheid-like discrimination against religious minorities, including his own, and said there was clear discrimination in access to higher education and preferential treatment to Jewish citizens of Israel. The country's Arab citizens often suffer from discrimination, despite official guarantees of equal civil rights. Abu Awad was dismissive of the government's plan to double the number of settlers. They can say what they want, he said. But until now, they have said this before and they have failed. Shots were fired in Jacksonvilles Elevation Lounge early Thursday morning and two men were sent to the hospital. According to the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office, it all began around 2 a.m. Thursday morning when one of the victims a man in his early 20s got in a fight with the suspect, before shots rang out. Thats when that victim was shot in the back, abdomen, and foot. Hes was listed in critical condition at a Jacksonville hospital late Thursday. Another man in his early 30s who was simply in the same general area was shot in the forearm and foot. He also was sent to the hospital, but is expected to survive. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Innocent bystander bullet aint got a name on it, Terry Wilkins told Action News Jax, criticizing the senseless violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilkins regularly works out at the Planet Fitness right across the street from the Elevation Lounge, telling Action News Jax that its certainly unnerving having a shooting like this happen so close by - even more so with a school just across the street. Not even for my safety, cause I can defend myself, but [for] the 8-year-old kid whos catching the bus, Wilkins highlighted. The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office as of Thursday morning said the shooter also ran from the scene and has yet to be identified. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Anderson Williams, a Norwood resident who lives near the lounge turned crime scene, is now calling on the community to do better in addressing gun violence and putting the weapons away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Violence is really never the answer, especially over something thats very temporary like at a club, Williams told Action News Jax. Everybodys tryna go to the club to have fun and stuff, so I really dont support it. The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office is also now asking anybody with information to call immediately. Read: Two dead, one wounded in Christmas night shooting in Palatka Read: Putnam man wearing Santa suit arrested on Christmas Eve, accused of harassing, stalking neighbor Read: Baby Driver actor Hudson Meek falls from moving vehicle, dies [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. Virginia State Police is investigating a crash involving a James City County police officer on Christmas Eve. On Tuesday around 6 p.m., an officer was driving eastbound on Route 60 through the Richmond Road intersection near Toano when a pickup ran a red light, according to a release. The trucks driver, Marvin Lima-Ortega, was in the left turn lane and cut in front of the officer, according to state police. The officer T-boned the truck, and a 17-year-old passenger was ejected upon impact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 17-year-old suffered serious injuries that are not considered to be life-threatening, police said. He was taken to the hospital. The police officer also suffered injuries not considered to be life-threatening. Lima-Ortega was charged with disregarding a traffic light and for not having a license, according to a release. Police said speed nor alcohol were contributing factors. The crash is still under investigation. No other details have been released. A cyberattack disrupted Japan Airlines operations Tuesday, with Nikkei reportings extensive delays as the carrier works to restore normal service. Japan Airlines did not immediately respond to Quartzs request for comment, but it told Nikkei that the issue occurred in the network equipment that connects our internal and external systems. The company also said that problems have occurred in the systems that communicate with external systems. According to the flight-tracking website FlightAware, Japan Airlines currently has more than 450 delays, or 56% of its global traffic. However, the company has only canceled five flights so far. In addition to the delays, Japan Airlines was having trouble selling tickets for both domestic and international flights. Those capabilities have since been restored. Japan Airlines says that no customer data was leaked during the cyberattack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the end-of-year holiday season is a major travel period in the United States, due to religious observances like Christmas and Hanukkah, Japan does not have such festivities to the same extent. Instead, the New Year is a major travel holiday, and many domestic customers will be returning home next week. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. BNP Paribas BNP Paribas will acquire AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) after signing an official share purchase agreement. The two parties entered exclusive negotiations in August over the 5.1 billion ($5.3 billion) deal, with the new business to manage approximately 1.5 trillion ($1.56 trillion) in assets upon closingcurrently expected for the summer of 2025. As part of the arrangement, BNP Paribas will also acquire the French insurers Select business for a further 300 million ($312 million) and enter a "long-term strategic partnership" with AXA to provide investment management services. Renaud Dumora, Chairman of BNP Paribas Cardif, said, In anticipation of the closing process, all teams are now working to welcome AXA IM employees and clients within the BNP Paribas Cardif Group." The tie-up is the latest example of consolidation within Europes asset management industry, as providers turn to takeovers to increase scale. In 2022, Amundi completed the acquisition of Lyxor to form Europes largest investment manager with 2.2 trillion ($2.3 trillion) in assets under management (AUM), as of the firms Q3 results. BNP Paribas Marks Second Deal With AXA This acquisition is not the first deal between BNP Paribas Asset Management (BNPP AM) and AXA IM. The pair co-founded EasyETF in 2005 before BNPP AM bought out AXA in 2009. AXA IM re-entered Europes ETF market in 2022 with a double active launch in what has proved to be a focus area for the firm. Thomas Buberl, CEO of AXA, said, In the context of a rapidly consolidating and highly competitive asset management industry, the group has considered different options to support the future development of AXA IM and to best align with the strategic goals of AXA to further simplify its business profile and grow its insurance businesses. By joining forces with BNP Paribas, AXA IM would become a global asset manager with a wider product offering and a mutual objective to further their leading position in responsible investing. This article was originally published on our sister site, etfstream.com. Permalink | Copyright 2024 etf.com. All rights reserved (CBS DETROIT) - Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of the Oxford High School shooter, has requested to be released from prison pending the outcome of her appeal. Crumbley's attorney, Michael Deszi, filed a motion in the Oakland County Circuit Court on Thursday, arguing that Crumbley is not a "flight risk" and "poses no danger to the public." "This case has been bungled starting with the prosecution's overreaching charge of involuntary manslaughter of a parent for the intentional criminal acts of her son who was charged and treated as an adult in the eyes of the law," Deszi wrote in the court filing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He later wrote, "It would be grossly unfair and unjust to keep Mrs. Crumbley locked up for years while this matter proceeds slowly (likely for years) before the appellate courts," Deszi wrote in the court filing. Jennifer Crumbley and her husband, James, were convicted of four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the Nov. 30, 2021 shooting that killed four students and injured six others and a teacher. The Crumbleys made history as the first parents to be convicted. for a mass shooting committed by their child. The couple's son, Ethan Crumbley, was sentenced in December 2023 to life in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including murder and terrorism. His appellate attorney filed a motion seeking to withdraw his guilty plea and grant resentencing. However, Judge Kwame Rowe denied that request. Earlier this month, Jennifer Crumbley asked the court to overturn her conviction or grant her a new trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Deszi also accused prosecutors of arranging "secret agreements" with two star witnesses. "The suppression of these secret agreements violates the most basic, well-understood duties of a prosecutor to turn over all evidence that is favorable to the defense or could be used for impeachment purposes," he said. He argued that Crumbley's sentencing guidelines recommended 43-86 months in prison but was instead given 10 to 15 years. Shortly after sentencing, Jennifer Crumbley initially requested to be housed at her attorney's guest home, but was sent to the all-female Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti. The Crumbleys will be in prison until December 2036 but could be released as early as December 2031 after already serving more than two years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Williams, the Oakland County chief assistant prosecutor, issued the following statement: "Jennifer Crumbley was tried by a jury of her peers for her own actions and inactions leading to the shooting at Oxford High School not for the actions of her son, the Oxford High School shooter. A jury of twelve individuals listened to testimony and reviewed countless pieces of evidence before they unanimously found her guilty as charged and she was sentenced by the judge accordingly. This was an egregious set of facts that resulted in a conviction along with a 1015-year prison sentence. The legal issues raised by Jennifer Crumbley have already been heard and rejected by the Michigan Court of Appeals. She should remain in prison serving her sentence while this matter proceeds through the appellate courts." FDA issues highest-level recall for Costco eggs over salmonella risk Passenger airliner crashes in Kazakhstan Investigation underway after body found in wheel well of United Airlines plane in Maui Dec. 25The Joplin Police Department SWAT team was called out Monday afternoon to deal with a suspect who had fled police on foot and then barricaded himself in a home. Capt. William Davis with the Joplin Police Department said the suspect was taken into custody around 7:30 p.m. Monday after a standoff that lasted about 5 1/2 hours. Davis said the man had a number of felony and misdemeanor warrants from the Joplin Police Department as well as Jasper County, Barton County and the Division of Probation and Parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis said the incident started around 2 p.m. Monday when officers tried to contact a man suspected of having warrants for his arrest when they spotted him committing a pedestrian violation in the 800 block of McKinley Avenue in Joplin. Davis said the man ran into a home at 830 S. McKinley Ave. and hid in there while police surrounded the home. "He's listed as homeless in our latest arrest report," Davis said. "The suspect has multiple felony warrants with Jasper County, Barton County and the Department of Probation and Parole on weapons charges and vehicle theft and other charges, so the SWAT team was called in to mitigate the situation." Joplin police sent information to the Jasper County prosecutor's office for the filing of charges stemming from the incident. Dec. 26Multiple counties in the region, including Nez Perce County, have reported jury scams, which ignore the way the system actually works. Nez Perce County clerk/auditor Patty Weeks, who handles jury selection for Nez Perce County, described the process for getting picked for jury duty, and 2nd District Judge Mark Monson explained how jurors go through a trial to help give area residents an idea on how those elements work in Nez Perce County. Creating a jury pool Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People are selected for jury duty through different databases that pull from licensing at Idaho Transportation Department, auto licenses and voter registration. People are only selected for jury duty for the county they live in. Those individuals then make up the master pool for jury selection that is refreshed from time to time. To figure how many people need to be called in for jury duty, Weeks and her office looks at the trial schedule to figure how many potential jurors are needed. For a bigger case, like a murder, more than 100 jurors could be asked to show up. For more routine cases, like possession of a controlled substance, they might call 50 people to serve. Once the amount is determined, people are randomly selected to fill the number of jurors needed for the month, which is how long jury service is in Nez Perce County. The report is then sent to a company who mails out a jury duty notice to the "lucky" people, Weeks said. "The thing about jury duty is it's completely random," Weeks said. "It's really important that we have people from all sorts of occupations. It's what makes the system work the best." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even judges get selected for jury duty. Monson received a summons for jury duty last February and had to call in every week, just like everybody else. He showed up for jury selection on a case that he was presiding over. He didn't end up serving on the jury. The summons for jury duty usually comes in the mail a month before the date of service, Monson noted. For example, if someone has jury duty in February, the summons will come in January. The jury duty notice will have "Nez Perce County" on the return address and say "jury summons" on it. The notice also comes with a form people can fill out or mail back, drop off at the courthouse or complete online. The form includes questions such as whether or not the person is a U.S. citizen, resident of Nez Perce County, if they know someone in law enforcement or if they have a criminal record. Weeks said the questions never ask for people's social security number or bank account information. People have a certain time frame to fill out and return the letter. If people don't return the jury summons within that time, "we send out a nasty letter," Weeks said. The letter requires immediate completion of the form. Weeks said there isn't a fine or jail time. People can't pay money to get out of jury duty, either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once someone is selected for jury duty, the county has a system with texts and robo calls to remind people to show up for court. People can also call in and look at the website. "So we have multiple layers of opportunities to communicate," Weeks said. If someone wants to serve on a jury they could come in or call the courthouse and ask to be on a jury panel or have their name resubmitted. "You'd be very unique if you did that, but I don't see any reason why you couldn't," Monson said. Showing up for jury selection When someone arrives for jury duty, usually they will come in at 8:30 a.m., sign in and watch a video. Then they will be seated and a clerk will do a roll call of the jury. If someone doesn't show up for jury duty, Weeks said the first thing that happens is the court will start calling people to tell them to come to the courthouse. Most of the time Weeks said people forgot or got sick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If someone is absent, Monson usually gives the person time to report back by 5 p.m. If they don't report back a judge can issue an order to show cause. Oftentimes a letter is required to explain why they missed jury duty. Then the judge will review the letter and determine if they are excused or if there's going to be a show of cause hearing for their absence at jury duty. If there is a hearing, they will receive a summons in the mail. "There is no quick way to just pay money and get out of trouble," Weeks said. "This is the justice system, there are steps that have to be followed." If someone doesn't show up or can't provide good cause, then they are subject to a fine not to exceed $500 or can go to jail for five days. Monson said no one wants to issue fines or jail time for people not showing up to jury duty. Instead Monson suggests that people contact the courthouse beforehand to get their jury service postponed or rescheduled if there's going to be a preplanned issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If I can stress one thing, that's communication," Monson said. "We try to be flexible." Weeks said that if anyone has any questions on any communication from the courthouse, they can call the courthouse at (208) 799-3020. If someone does receive a call about jury duty, it will be from the courthouse not from law enforcement. Jury selection process Once people show up to the courthouse, the jury selection process continues with a series of questions by judges and attorneys to filter the number of people to 12 unbiased individuals, along with alternate jurors. Those who serve on jury duty also get paid $50 a day and $25 for a half-day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To select members of a jury, attorneys have different methods on how to pick potential jurors. Monson said that attorneys are trying to find someone who can be fair and open-minded. Defense attorneys are also looking for people who believe that people are innocent until proven guilty. For the prosecution, they are trying to make sure the defendant has a fair trial. Both sides are looking for bias in either direction. Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM Questions from the judge and attorneys are trying to figure out if bias exists. One of the biggest challenges, Monson said, is getting people to talk and asking the right questions to see where they stand. During the questioning Monson tries to make it a fun and good experience for people. "I recognize that coming to court can be scary," he said. "I recognize the process is sometimes formal enough where it's just intimidating, but I think it's important to let people know that we really appreciate them coming." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the questioning from attorneys and the judge, a juror can be excused for cause, meaning that there is a specific reason. After the jury panel is questioned for bias, attorneys take a break and then use their peremptory challenges, which is when one of the attorneys asks a juror to be excused without giving a reason for the dismissal. Each side, prosecution and defense, has six peremptory challenges, which are used to create the final jury. While attorneys are making their peremptory challenges, as a judge Monson has to make sure attorneys aren't excluding a certain class or people, like removing all the people of one gender, or removing people of one race or religion. Weeks said that having a cross section of people is important to have a true "jury of your peers" and is why they use random selection for the jury pool. If only one demographic of people shows up for jury duty, the jury won't have a diverse background and experiences to decide cases. "It keeps the bias out," Weeks said. "Having diversity in the exchange and having thoughtful jury discussion is important to come to a resolution of a case." There are also alternate jurors, the number of which can be determined by how long the trial will take place. Alternates are included in case a juror has to leave during the trial. If the number of jurors drops below 12, the trial has to start over. The alternate jurors are selected at random at the end of the trial; this ensures that during the trial all the possible jurors are paying attention because they won't know who among them will be deliberating on a case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trial schedule If someone isn't selected to be on a specific jury then they still have to report back for any trials that might take place for the rest of the month. If someone is selected for jury duty, even if they didn't get picked for a trial, that counts as serving for jury duty so they won't be selected for two years, Weeks said. Monson said the record number of times one person has served on different juries in their lifetime is five. In the 2nd Judicial District, which includes Nez Perce, Latah, Clearwater, Lewis and Idaho counties, there are rarely two trials going on at the same time. And sometimes cases resolve before going to trial. For example, Monson had six trials scheduled recently, but they all resolved or were rescheduled. "Just because you've gotten a jury summons doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get selected to hear a trial," Monson said. "It just depends." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People tend to think of jury trials as big murder trials, but there are other cases that use the jury process. "People do immediately think of some sort of criminal case, murder case, that you would see on TV as opposed to medical malpractice or contract dispute," Weeks said. Monson said people who get called for jury duty have a "high probability" of serving on a criminal trial and most last one to two days, but it's rarely a murder case. There are sometimes civil cases, but in his three years serving as a judge, Monson has presided over 21 jury trials and only one was a civil case. Typically trials begin on Mondays in District court, which handles felony cases and larger civil cases. Trials in the Magistrate court, which handles misdemeanors and smaller civil cases, usually begin on Thursdays. While trials are scheduled to be held within the requirements of the law, typically they aren't scheduled on holiday weeks like Thanksgiving or around Christmas and New Year's to avoid issues with the holiday plans of jurors, attorneys and judges. The duty of jury duty There's always people who don't want to be on a jury, but there's also people who really want to serve on a jury, including Monson. He would love to be on a jury to see how it works from behind closed doors and to help him be a better judge. For attorneys and judges, jury deliberation is the one part of the process they are not involved in. When Monson hears people complain that "the judicial system got this wrong" on a verdict, Monson reminds people that the decision came from regular citizens who come from all walks of life and don't necessarily have legal training. "The beautiful thing about this jury system is its citizens who are making these decisions. Now, I instruct them on the law ... but at the end of the day, it's citizens who are coming in, hearing the evidence," Monson said. "They're determining who they believe, they're determining what they believe, and they're coming up with the verdicts." Monson highlighted that the right to a jury trial is fundamental to the democratic system of government. The public is also welcome to come to the courthouse and see the right of a jury trial in action. "And you know what? They're actually kind of interesting," Monson said. After jury trials they ask for comments from jurors to help improve things. Most of the comments say that it was a pleasant experience, they learned something and felt like a part of the process. "A very common comment is, 'man, I didn't want to come, but I'm glad I did. It was actually more interesting than I thought,' " Monson said. Monson and Weeks both emphasized the appreciation they and others have for those who show up. "We really appreciate our citizens for participating in this justice function," Weeks said. "We wouldn't have our system if it weren't for them." Brewster may be contacted at kbrewster@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2297. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Providence Mayor Brett Smiley says hes officially converted to Judaism. The mayor told 12 News he had been yearning to be a part of a faith community for years, after he stopped going to Christian services sometime around his high school years. (Smiley grew up in Chicago and was raised under the United Church of Christ.) I always had some spiritual footing, but never felt connected to a church community, really in a long time, Smile said last week during a wide-ranging end-of-the-year interview with 12 News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My grandfather was Jewish, so theres always been that part of my family and that part of my life, he added. Smiley decided to start working with Rabbi Sarah Mack, who serves as senior rabbi of Temple Beth-El in the East Side neighborhood of Providence, and Smiley said he decided to explore if that could be his new home. After about a year of study and work, I felt more confident than ever that I had found my place and found my people, he said. Smiley said he completed his studies and officially converted to Judaism in August. Its been a source of great comfort for me and, a really happy development in my life, Smiley said. And it was one of these things that was really just for me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Im happy to talk about it publicly, this was a decision that I made because I felt, sort of, an emptiness that needed to be completed in terms of a little bit stronger spiritual and moral foundation in my life, he added. Smiley said he still plans to join in on family Christmas celebrations and traditions each year, but hes excited to have this new part of his life. For the last couple years, Ive had friends whove included me in their Passover Seder, and thatll be even more meaningful for me when that comes about this spring, he said. Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. A CVS store. (Photo by Lynne Terry, Oregon Capital Chronicle, States Newsroom.) The U.S. Justice Department is suing pharmacy giant CVS, accusing it of putting profits over patient safety and thus fueling the opioid crisis. The accusations bear similarities to violations for which the Ohio Board of Pharmacy last year fined the company, and the DOJ complaint cites some of boards findings in its suit. The complaint was unsealed last week in Providence, R.I. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In essence, it accuses CVS of understaffing its pharmacies to such an extent that pharmacists and technicians could not ensure they were filling opioid prescriptions properly. Additionally, it accuses CVS of even graver conduct. CVS also allegedly filled large quantities of prescriptions for controlled substances written by prescribers it knew to be engaged in pill mill practices that is, prescribers who issue large numbers of controlled substance prescriptions without any medical purpose, a statement announcing the lawsuit said. According to the complaint, CVS ignored substantial evidence from multiple sources, including its own pharmacists and internal data, indicating that its stores were dispensing unlawful prescriptions. Particularly notorious pill mills were located in and around Portsmouth, Ohio, in a region that was particularly hard hit by the opioid epidemic. In a statement, CVS said it has already worked law enforcement on opioids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have cooperated with the DOJs investigation for more than four years, and we strongly disagree with the allegations and false narrative within this complaint, it said. We will defend ourselves vigorously against this misguided federal lawsuit, which follows on the heels of years of litigation over these issues by state and local governmentsclaims that already have been largely resolved by a global agreement with the participating state Attorneys General. CVS added that it has taken extensive action to stop overprescription of opioids. CVS Health has been an industry leader in developing innovative programs to fight opioid misuse, the statement said. As one example, 12 years ago CVS Pharmacy pioneered a first-of-its-kind program to block controlled-substance prescriptions written by doctors of potential concern. To date, we have blocked more than 1,250 practitioners, including nearly 600 prescribers who the government continues to license. This program is not required by any statute or regulation, and CVS Health repeatedly has defended lawsuits from those alleging we go too far in blocking opioid prescribers. However, the Justice Department is accusing CVS of not wanting to spend enough money to staff its pharmacies adequately to operate safely. The Ohio Board of Pharmacy concluded the same thing in February, when it fined the company $250,000, placed a CVS store in Canton on indefinite probation and imposed sweeping new rules in an attempt to ensure adequate staffing. CVS later paid $1.25 million in fines to settle violations the Board of Pharmacy said it found at 22 Ohio CVS stores. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inspection reports from those stores described waits as long as a month to fill prescriptions, expired and adulterated drugs on shelves and a lack of controls as hundreds of doses of opioids such as oxycodone and hydromorphone went missing. Current and former CVS employees told the Capital Journal that upper management didnt listen when pharmacy workers pleaded for extra help. They added that the problems werent limited to CVSs Ohio stores. The Justice Department suit cited the Ohio findings and leveled similar charges. The complaint alleges that CVS violations resulted from corporate-mandated performance metrics, incentive compensation, and staffing policies that prioritized corporate profits over patient safety, it said in the statement announcing the suit. CVS set staffing levels far too low for pharmacists to both meet their performance metrics and comply with their legal obligations. CVS also allegedly deprived its pharmacists of crucial information (including, for example, by preventing pharmacists from warning one another about certain prescribers) that could have reduced the number of unlawful prescriptions filled. The complaint alleges that CVS actions helped to fuel the opioid crisis and that, in some particularly tragic instances, patients died after overdosing on opioids shortly after filling unlawful prescriptions at CVS. The suit was brought as a result of a whistleblower complaint by a former employee. Under federal law, whistleblowers are entitled to a share of the money recovered in such suits. Among its demands, the Justice Department suit asks for triple damages, other financial penalties and a permanent injunction requiring it to dispense opioids in accordance with its legal obligations. Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email our journalists at RealityCheck@kcstar.com. Have the latest Reality Checks delivered to your inbox with our free newsletter. Last month, Gov. Laura Kelly hailed Kansas newly unveiled unemployment benefits system as a transformative tool for people who find themselves out of work in the state. Kansas job seekers have complained about persistent problems with the unemployment insurance portal and delayed benefits payments for years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The previous system relied on antiquated technology, including a mainframe built in 1977. Modernizing it would guard against fraud and improve the user experience for people filing claims and state employees processing them, Kelly said. The governor told The Star shes confident the user experience will continue to improve in the weeks and months to come as claimants familiarize themselves with the new portal. We just flipped the switch last month, so have there been some hiccups? Yeah, minor, however, and easily remedied, Kelly said in an interview last week. I expect that there will continue to be hiccups as you go along implementing such a massive, massive overhaul. But nothing that we havent been able to remedy in minutes or hours at the most. The Kansas Department of Labor says the primary goal of the new interface is to make the benefits system more intuitive and secure not to help the state process claims or appeals quicker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new system has not significantly impacted the number of claims processed or payments made, a KDOL spokesperson Becky Shaffer said. Putting the system to work At a job fair in Kansas City last week, a steady stream of unemployed Kansans trickled through the doors of the Wyandotte County Workforce Partnership building for a chance to get face time with potential employers, including Owens Corning, Smithfield Foods and Panasonic, which is set to open its battery plant in De Soto this spring. Some job seekers in attendance Thursday said the states highly touted new unemployment system hasnt noticeably improved their experience or addressed underlying issues with KDOLs responsiveness. Ive claimed unemployment in the past. Ive never had nobody deny it before. This time around, I have, said James DeHaven of Kansas City, who recently lost his job at the Hallmark Production Center. Im going through that, so far I couldnt tell you if (the system) is better or not. It seems OK. It would be better if I could win. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others like James Atherton have already made up their mind about the new portal. In a word, disaster, said Atherton of Independence, Kansas, who was furloughed from his job at a Boeing supplier two months ago and drove three hours to attend the job fair. Its easy to use the system, but after that, getting the payment, getting notification from them is delayed, Atherton said. Mine was delayed for over a month by some sort of a credential issue. Ive never had any sort of an identity theft problem, but because theyve revamped the website, its caused identity verification delays. KDOL says it sent 9,000 emails to active claimants and employers and mailed 80,000 postcards to employers educating them on how to help people who have questions about the new system. Screenshot of the new Kansas unemployment insurance online portal. Navigating delays Kansas unemployment upgrade was deferred for well over a decade. Former Governor Kathleen Sebelius efforts to modernize unemployment insurance sputtered out under Sam Brownback, and the system was overwhelmed during the COVID-19 pandemic when the state paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelly said shes proud that the overhaul was completed on her watch and that new security measures including multi-factor authentication now make the system more difficult for fraudsters to game. One major change is that returning claimants are required to create a new account for the updated portal, which has confused some people trying to access documents connected to their old username and password. Even if you already have in the past filed a claim or you have had an account on the old system, it doesnt matter. Every single person must get a new account on the new system, said Keely Schneider, executive director for Workforce Partnership, the local workforce development board for Johnson, Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties. You try to call them, which is really difficult. You can stand waiting on the phone for hours and hours to try to get a human being on the phone. Or you try to make your way through the online system, which is really the preferred way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new website promises users that an unemployment virtual assistant chatbot sporting aviator goggles and nicknamed Amelia will soon be available to help answer their questions. Shaffer, the KDOL spokesperson, said the agency is committed to resolving user concerns quickly. While the migration process has presented some challenges, our team is actively addressing these issues to ensure a seamless experience for all users, she said. Further improvements Michael Joshi, a Lenexa-based attorney who specializes in unemployment law, said Kansas rules are still not very friendly to claimants who want to appeal denied checks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You only have sixteen days to appeal a notice of determination or a hearing from a telephone decision or even appeal in the district court, Joshi said. They have this stupid process where you have to call in and register in order to participate in the telephone hearing, and if people dont call in and register then its treated as a non-appearance and they never get their day in court. Missouri, which also recently overhauled its unemployment insurance system, automatically sends out a notice for appeals hearings with a toll-free number for claimants to call. If Kansas were to do the same, it would go a long way towards improving the user experience for people trying to navigate the complicated bureaucratic process to receive benefits payments, Joshi said. Rep. Stephanie Clayton, an Overland Park Democrat and member of the Unemployment Compensation Modernization and Improvement Council, said theres still ample opportunity to make benefits more accessible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The algorithm used to determine how often claimants must apply to jobs to qualify for benefits can be glitchy and imprecise, Clayton said. One of her constituents, an out-of-work IT professional, was instructed to apply for farming jobs, she said. People that have lost their jobs and are trying to search for jobs in a terrible market are being penalized further and denied the unemployment that they are entitled to because they paid into the system, all because of some arbitrary legislators that determine that if youre unemployed, youre lazy and youre mooching off of the system, Clayton said. Rep. Susan Estes, a Wichita Republican and fellow member of the unemployment council, said she remains supportive of the enhanced job search requirements adopted in 2021. Weve tried some new policies. I see some benefit to them, and I think we need to continue to monitor to make sure that people are looking actively (for jobs), Estes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the complaints she gets most often about the unemployment system come back to customer service. The wait times on phone calls are way too long. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) Wichitas Joe Weeks isnt a man of many words, but he is a proud veteran whose love for our country inspired him to join the U.S. Air Force. Well, I was just proud to be able to serve the United States and help out that way. Joe served from 1968 to 1972, and while he did so some brief, temporary duty at a base in Turkey, he spent most of his time in the United States. During boot camp, he had an experience that showed him whats beyond our countrys borders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I went to boot camp at Lackland Airforce Base, and while I was there, they had the Worlds Fair. So they let us go down there for one day. Then after that, they made me a motor pool mechanic. Wichita native answered the call after the terrorist attacks on 9/11 Joe spent the next four years making sure it was smooth sailing for the Air Forces ground vehicles. The top brass even noticed him. They found out that I could paint cars, so they put me in a body shop and I painted the commanders car one time, so that was about the best thing I ever did. Joe says the commander never complained, so he assumes he did a fantastic job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After he left the Air Force in 1972, Joe went to work for Boeing and worked on Air Force One more than once. Air Force veteran helped maintain our nations nuclear arsenal These days, hes enjoying his retirement in Wichita and says the Kansans surrounding him are why. Well, every time I turn around, someone is saying, Thank you for your service.' If you want to nominate a veteran for our Veteran Salute, send an email to connect3news@ksn.com or fill out our online contact form! Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. Kate Middleton was clearly touched to receive a sweet drawing of her daughter, Princess Charlotte, during the traditional Christmas Day walkabout at Sandringham. On Dec. 25, Kate, Prince William and their kids Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, joined other members of the royal family in greeting members of the public following a church service at St. Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate, where the royals spend Christmas. The Princess of Wales, 42, knelt down to greet a young fan who held out a drawing that made Kate immediately break into a beaming smile as she took the gift, according to The Sun. OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Catherine, Princess of Wales shakes hand with a young wellwisher after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on Dec. 25, 2024 Catherine, Princess of Wales shakes hand with a young wellwisher after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on Dec. 25, 2024 Did you miss Charlotte? Kate said, referencing that the drawing was of her only daughter. Shall I give it to her when I get back home? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats so kind of you, Princess Kate added, then sharing a handshake with the youngster and wishing her a Merry Christmas. OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Catherine, Princess of Wales reacts as she is presented with flowers after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on Dec. 25, 2024 Catherine, Princess of Wales reacts as she is presented with flowers after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on Dec. 25, 2024 Related: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis Join Christmas Day Walk to Church After 'Brutal' Year According to The Daily Mail, Theresa Iredale spoke to Kate briefly and asked the mom of three if it was okay if she gave George, Charlotte and Louis chocolate coins. I didnt want to do it without permission, and Kate just said, Thats fine, Iredale said. I shook her hand and said I was so happy for her that she was feeling so much better, and she said, Thank you so much, thanks for the support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iredale was one of many well-wishers assembled at Sandringham for the annual Christmas Day festivities. Another member of the crowd was John Loughrey, whose late partner Marion Crean died of skin cancer in 2003. The weather has been damp, its been soaking through the sleeping bag and Ive had an hours sleep. But it doesnt matter, Loughrey said. Loughrey who was wearing a T-shirt depicting Princess Kate and had a Christmas rose bouquet for her said, Catherine has been an inspiration to us all, and her positivity has been amazing to see. Shes got support all around the world. OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales leave after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on Dec. 25, 2024 Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales leave after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on Dec. 25, 2024 Of the royals including King Charles, who was also diagnosed with cancer this year Loughrey added, It has been a difficult year for them, and there are millions of people supporting them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think, to be honest, there probably isnt anyone in the world who has seen the royal family as many times as me, and Im proud of that, he continued. Fellow royal family aficionado Sky London said I didnt get much sleep the night prior because Loughrey kept trying to yap to me. The only place Id rather be than outside here at Sandringham today is probably inside Sandringham with them, London added. So this is the next best thing. When you do this sort of thing, you dont actually need much sleep. You feel refreshed and ready to go. It means the world to me to see them. Samir Hussein/WireImage Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales and Prince George of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales and Prince George of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Prince Louis Received So Many Gifts from Well-Wishers on Christmas He Asked Prince William Papa, Can You Carry Some? Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! In addition to a young fan giving a gift to Princess Charlotte, her younger brother Prince Louis also cleaned up in the gift department. The youngest of the three Wales kids had his arms so full of presents from Cadbury chocolates to Christmas crackers, flowers and stuffed toys that he sweetly asked his father Prince William, Papa, can you carry some? Read the original article on People Major banks and insurers in Hong Kong including HSBC, Manulife and BOC Life are lining up plans to expand their services to elderly residents, a sizeable segment of the city's population. People aged 65 and above made up 22 per cent of the city's 7.5 million residents last year, according to the statistics department. Since 1971, life expectancy in Hong Kong has increased to 82.5 years from 67.8 for men and to 88.1 from 75.3 for women in 2023. BOC Life aims to widen its "RetireCation" programme launched last month, which allows policyholders to use the cash value of their retirement plans to pay for their stay in properties provided by its partners in major mainland cities. The insurer plans to widen its coverage to Southeast Asia and Japan next year. 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. "In the past, insurance companies focused on offering protection to families when the breadwinners suddenly passed away," Wilson Tang, CEO of BOC Life, said in an interview. "Now, there is increasing demand for retirement protection as people are living much longer. They need to start early on retirement planning." BOC Life CEO Wilson Tang on December 12, 2024. Photo: Jonathan Wong alt=BOC Life CEO Wilson Tang on December 12, 2024. Photo: Jonathan Wong> Tang said the firm will also work on products for high-net-worth customers, especially involving estate planning. Edward Moncreiffe, CEO of global insurance at HSBC, said there was strong demand for products that allow families to pass on wealth to the next generation. "In Hong Kong, there is a growing acceptance among the wealthy first generation in using insurance as a tool for estate planning, with flexibility as one of their top priorities," he said. "Our savings products provide even greater flexibility to our clients in tailoring how their death benefits are paid to their loved ones, as well as the ability to appoint a trusted individual to manage their policy in the event of unforeseen circumstances." HSBC Life in January sold a world record US$250 million policy. This helped the group's new insurance value grow 77 per cent in the first half to US$1.3 billion. Moncreiffe said there was strong demand from wealthy individuals for such jumbo estate planning policies. Edward Moncreiffe, CEO of Global Insurance of HSBC, at HSBC Main Building in Central on August 26, 2024. Photo: Dickson Lee alt=Edward Moncreiffe, CEO of Global Insurance of HSBC, at HSBC Main Building in Central on August 26, 2024. Photo: Dickson Lee> As she prioritized her health this year amid her cancer diagnosis, Kate Middleton has largely been away from public life throughout 2024. With that in mind, it made sense when the Princess of Wales, 42, joined other members of the royal family for their traditional Christmas Day walkabout after a morning church service at St. Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate that members of the public wanted to talk with her specifically. Kate had a number of poignant conversations during the walkabout including one with a woman who also had faced down cancer and emotional conversations like that naturally require more time than a simple Hello. Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Catherine, Princess of Wales attends the Christmas Morning Service at St Mary Magdalene Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk Catherine, Princess of Wales attends the Christmas Morning Service at St Mary Magdalene Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk A lighthearted moment during the Dec. 25 walkabout happened when Kate cheekily quipped to a well-wisher I seem to have lost my family! after husband Prince William and children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, were so far ahead of her down the path. William, 42, and the kids stood patiently waiting feet away, waiting for her to finish chatting with the crowd, per The Daily Mail. OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Catherine, Princess of Wales shakes hand with a young wellwisher after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on Dec. 25, 2024 Catherine, Princess of Wales shakes hand with a young wellwisher after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on Dec. 25, 2024 Related: Kate Middleton Steps Out for Christmas Day Walk Alongside Family, Marking End of 'Hardest' Year Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the occasion, Princess Kate wore a forest green Alexander McQueen coat she previously wore during a visit to Leeds in 2023. It was paired with a matching fascinator and scarf as well as black gloves and boots in a coordinated matching moment with Queen Camilla, who led the royal contingent on the walk along with her husband, King Charles. During the walkabout, Kate smiled from ear-to-ear as she accepted armfuls of flowers, knelt down to speak with young children and met members of the public who were eager to speak with her, including John Loughrey, who told Sky News of meeting the future queen, Im on top of the world. I told Catherine she was an inspiration, he said. Samir Hussein/WireImage Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk Karen Maclean who has had cancer for over 20 years spoke with Princess Kate and King Charles, who were both diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. (The types and stages of both of their cancers remain unknown to the public, though Kate announced on Sept. 9 that she had completed her chemotherapy treatment, and the palace announced Dec. 20 that the Kings treatment will continue into 2025 but is headed in a positive direction.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We just had a little talk about cancer, Maclean said of her conversation with the Princess of Wales, adding that both Kate and Charles seemed very well actually, considering what theyre going through. After she hugged Kate, Maclean added, What a privilege. OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Catherine, Princess of Wales reacts as she is presented with flowers after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on Dec. 25, 2024 Catherine, Princess of Wales reacts as she is presented with flowers after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on Dec. 25, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Kate Middleton's Emotional Return to Royal Walkabouts: 'She Seemed So Happy to Be with Us Again' (Exclusive) Louis Beauchamp spoke with Kate on Dec. 25 after previously meeting her in May 2023 ahead of King Charles coronation. I had an unforgettable interaction with Catherine, Beauchamp told PEOPLE of their Christmas Day conversation. Beauchamp who is from France added, Unfortunately, when she announced she was suffering from cancer, I knew we would not be seeing her in public for a very long time. Sandringham was the best opportunity for me. So I booked a trip and went there to show I was still there to support her and always will. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beauchamp wrote Kate a letter about the positive impact she has had on my life over the years, he said, and gave her a scarf he had made for her in Morocco. She thanked me very much and said it was wonderful and so kind of me to have come again, he told PEOPLE. She was as genuine and close to people as I remembered. She seemed so happy to be with us again. You could tell she was truly touched. Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty The Princess of Wales speaks to members of the public following the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk The Princess of Wales speaks to members of the public following the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk Kate previously spoke in a documentary honoring Queen Elizabeth on her 90th birthday in 2016 about how she tended to get chatty during walkabouts: Theres a real art to walkabouts, she said. Everybody teases me in the family that I spend far too long chatting. I still have to learn a little bit more, and to pick up a few more tips, I suppose. Kates Christmas Day appearance capped off a year that saw her undergo a planned abdominal surgery in January and be absent from public life until Junes Trooping the Colour following her March video announcement that she had been diagnosed with cancer. In July, she stepped out at Wimbledon with daughter Princess Charlotte and sister Pippa Middleton, and after her September video announcement that she had completed therapy, she has been gradually returning to royal duty, including visiting Southport, England in October with Prince William, participating in Remembrance events in November and hosting her annual Together at Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey on Dec. 6. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Catherine, Princess of Wales attends the 'Together At Christmas' Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on Dec. 6, 2024 in London, England Catherine, Princess of Wales attends the 'Together At Christmas' Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on Dec. 6, 2024 in London, England At the carol concert, Kate candidly shared she didnt know this year was going to be the year that Ive just had the unplanned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added, But I think lots of people this year have had such challenging times, and many who are here today. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Samir Hussein/WireImage Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk Though the Dec. 25 walkabout was a familiar sighting, on the precipice of 2025, an insider told PEOPLE, She wont be going back to work in the same way for a long time. Kate is very much in control of her return to public life, royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told PEOPLE. She is doing what works best for her. A friend added, She is focused on herself and her family right now, rightly. You cant go through something like that and come out the other side unchanged, a source said. She is a different person now. Read the original article on People Kate Middletons return to greeting the public on Christmas Day was a poignant moment, not just for her, but for the many who had been eagerly awaiting her comeback after a difficult year. For the first time since her cancer diagnosis and subsequent chemotherapy, the Princess of Wales, 42, stepped back into the public eye alongside the royal family for their annual Christmas Day walk to St. Mary Magdalene Church at Sandringham. The outing marked a poignant return to royal duties, as it was the first time Kate had interacted with the public since her last appearance on Christmas Day the previous year. Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales attends the Christmas Morning Service at St Mary Magdalene Church on December 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk. Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales attends the Christmas Morning Service at St Mary Magdalene Church on December 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk. The walk, which had become one of her most beloved royal traditions, took on a profound significance this year, marking a return to normalcy after months of health challenges. In January, Kate revealed she had undergone a planned abdominal surgery and would take time away from the public eye to recover. However, following the surgery, she received the news that she had cancer, extending her time out of the spotlight as she began chemotherapy and focused on her healing. In September, Kate shared that she had completed her chemotherapy treatment, but emphasized, "Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her presence on Christmas Day, alongside Prince William and their children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6 was both comforting and uplifting as she warmly interacted with well-wishers, receiving hugs, handshakes and heartfelt Christmas wishes. Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales following the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Dec. 25, 2024 Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales following the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Dec. 25, 2024 Related: All the Best Photos from Kate Middleton's Christmas Morning with George, Charlotte and Louis! Kates connection with the public was palpable, as she engaged with each person. There was a clear sense of joy and relief in her demeanor her face lighting up as she smiled and chatted with the crowd. I think Ive lost my family! she quipped at one point to the crowd as she realized that she was the last royal family member left on the walkabout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement William and their children were several yards away, waiting for Kate to finish so they could return to Sandringham for their Christmas lunch. It was a moment that harkened back to Kates signature style always happy to linger with the people who come out to see her, even when it means shes the last to leave. Samir Hussein/WireImage Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales and Prince William with children, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Prince George in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Dec. 25, 2024 Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales and Prince William with children, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Prince George in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Dec. 25, 2024 Theres a real art to walkabouts, everybody teases me in the family that I spend far too long chatting, Kate had once admitted during an interview for a documentary honoring Queen Elizabeth on her 90th birthday. I still have to learn a little bit more, and to pick up a few more tips, I suppose. One of the many who benefitted from Kates personal touch on Christmas was Louis Beauchamp, a teacher from Paris who had traveled to Sandringham specifically to see Kate. Beauchamp had met Kate for the first time in May 2023 ahead of the Kings coronation, when she and Prince William visited a pub for a walkabout. I had an unforgettable interaction with Catherine," Beauchamp tells PEOPLE. "She told me she was trying to get her kids to speak more French and urged me to keep up the hard work with my students." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, when she announced she was suffering from cancer, I knew we would not be seeing her in public for a very long time, he continues. Sandringham was the best opportunity for me. So, I booked a trip and went there to show I was still there to support her and always will. Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Louis Beauchamp chats with the Princess of Wales in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Dec. 25, 2024 Louis Beauchamp chats with the Princess of Wales in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Dec. 25, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beauchamp, who teaches English in France and has been inspired by the princesss Early Years work, had a special gift for Kate a scarf he had made for in Morocco, along with a heartfelt letter about the "positive impact she has had on my life over the years," he says. When he handed it to her, Kate thanked him for his kindness. She thanked me very much and said it was wonderful and so kind of me to have come again, he shares. She was as genuine and close to people as I remembered. She seemed so happy to be with us again. You could tell she was truly touched. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales following the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Dec. 25, 2024 Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales following the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Dec. 25, 2024 Another well-wisher, 73-year-old Karen Maclean, who has endured cancer for over 20 years, shared a heartfelt exchange with both Kate and King Charles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We just had a little talk about cancer," she told Sky News, noting the warm connection she shared with the Princess of Wales. Kate gave Maclean a hug as she learned the woman had traveled all the way from North Lincolnshire for the occasion. She noted that both Kate and King Charles, who was also diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, appeared "very well actually, considering what they're going through." As for her embrace from the princess, she added, What a privilege. Read the original article on People SCIENCE HILL, Ky. (FOX 56) A local family has grown since last Christmas after adopting their 13-year-old son, Ian. This Christmas, honestly, it just feels like home; it feels like family, said Ed Amundson. Christmas has always been special for the Amundsons. Early on Christmas morning, they eat birthday cake, sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, and spend the day with family and friends. But last year, when Ian opened the first gift, it was a Christmas theyd never forget. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We asked him on Christmas last year if he would like to be a part of our family permanently, said Shannon Amundson. That Christmas day, Ian opened his gift: a t-shirt that said Adoption loading. I felt actual love, and I felt like I was part of a family, and I just felt more comfortable than I ever have been, said Ian. Ian is the newest member of the family. The Amundson family fostered him for about 7 months and soon adopted him through Sunrise Childrens Services. Sunrise is a therapeutic foster care, so theres a lot of training that goes into it. Theres training for the state foster program, but theres training for Sunrise, which is about 14 weeks, added Ed. So, we knew we were preparing for a therapeutic situation, but we had no idea that during that time we would be preparing for a very awesome kid. So we did our time and we graduated, and they called us and said, We have a placement. They sent us his file and told us a little bit about his background. We said yes, and Ian showed up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adoption is something Ed said they knew they wanted to do from the very beginning. We knew early on that we wanted to adopt because we wanted to be that for a child, said Ed. Then as we grew in our faith, in our church, and came across James 1:27, which says pure religion is taking care of the widows and orphans, so it hit us again. The day the family met Ian is a memory that makes the entire family laugh. Read more of the latest Kentucky news So, in our church, we have a youth group. So we were doing Chopped, the show, but we were doing it for the youth edition, and they were making meals. So he was flung right into a Chopped competition, and so his first experience with us was, Hi, how are you? Now, lets cook! So it was pretty much hit the ground running right away, said Ed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since that day, no one has looked back. Usually people dont; some kids dont have this. Some kids are on the side of the street with their parents; some dont even have parents; they just live alone, said Ian. The relationship between Ian and his three brothers is as simple as a sibling bond can get. Lots and lots of competitions, lots and lots of competing as brothers do, said Noah Amundson. But also, just the love that you get from your brother. So I know that each and every one of them would do whatever it takes for each other. After seeing the joy fostering and adopting brought to their 6-member family, the Amundsons hope to see more people open their homes to children in the foster care system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im praying you will at least give it a chance. And I think youll be blessed. I think there are people just nervous, and they take that step and trust. Because these kids are tremendous. Ian is amazing, and our life wouldnt be the same without him, so please try it. Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news As far as their family goes, well, the door is always open. We are ready for another foster child; we have a bedroom waiting, said Shannon. We would love to adopt again; its important to us, added Ed. I hate the fact knowing that a recent Ombudsman report said that there are foster kids who are sleeping in offices and state resorts because theres no home for them. So here, we get a bedroom right there. The beds already made up, and were just waiting for the call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We asked Ian what it meant to be sitting with his family this Christmas day. Love, comfort, he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. What a difference a year makes: Kimberly Guilfoyle, former Fox News host, spent this time last year likely prepping for Donald Trump Jr.'s birthday. But since the couple called it quits some reports suggest an Easter breakup the former fiance of Trump Jr., whom she called "the love of her life," is preparing for her new role as ambassador to Greece. Earlier this month, Trump Jr. publicly stepped out with model and Palm Beach, Florida, socialite Bettina Anderson. Days later, Donald Trump appointed Guilfoyle as his representative overseas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's a far cry from the several Instagram posts on Guilfoyle's feed about her "soulmate," Donald Trump Jr. The couple first started dating in 2018, and she played a pivotal role in Donald Trump's re-election campaigns in 2020 and 2024. On Dec. 31, 2023, Guilfoyle posted a photo album of Donald Trump Jr. on her Instagram: "Happy birthday to the love of my life @donaldjtrumpjr. These past years have been full of unforgettable memories. I love you to the moon and back! #happybirthday #loveofmylife #donaldtrumpjr #maga #maga24 #trump24 #birthday #soulmate #kimberlyguilfoyle" In 2021, the couple bought a home together in Jupiter, Florida, in the exclusive gated community Admirals Cove. Property records show the luxury waterfront home is not on the market, and neither Donald Trump Jr. nor Guilfoyle have made any public comments about the future of their home. Where do Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump Jr. live in Florida? Donald Trump Jr. and girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, just paid $9.7 million for this house in Jupiter's Admirals Cove community When is Donald Trump Jr.'s birthday? Donald Trump Jr., the eldest child of Donald Trump and the late Ivanka Trump, was born on New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, 1977. His siblings are Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump, half-sister Tiffany Trump born to Donald Trump and Marla Maples, and half-brother Barron Trump, born to Donald and Melania Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump Jr. previously was married to former model Vanessa Trump from 2005 to 2018. They have five children: Kai Madison Trump, Donald Trump III, Tristan Trump, Spencer Trump and Chloe Trump. Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle started dating in 2018 after his divorce was finalized from Vanessa Trump. The pair were engaged and bought a house together in 2021 and split sometime in 2024. Though some news reports, including a column from the Palm Beach Daily News society columnist Shannon Donnelly, suggested Donald Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle broke up before Easter 2024, Guilfoyle posted "happy anniversary" love notes to her Instagram followers about her "soulmate" Donald Trump Jr. in April and May. She also appeared by Donald Trump Jr.'s side multiple times throughout his father's 2024 presidential campaign including the high-profile Republican National Convention in July 2024 and on Election Night at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in Palm Beach. Donald Trump Jr., in turn, posted an anniversary message to Guilfoyle on April 24, 2024, to his Instagram followers: "Happy 6 year anniversary @kimberlyguilfoyle thanks for always being there no matter what the haters are throwing our way. I love you." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who is Bettina Anderson? When did model and socialite Bettina Anderson of Florida start dating Donald Trump Jr.? When it comes to Palm Beach society, the model and socialite is a well-known figure. She has an Instagram following of 50,000 as of Dec. 26, 2024, with lots of photos and Reels touting designers and her entourage. Photos of Bettina Anderson kissing Donald Trump Jr. were posted earlier this month on British tabloid sites. US Weekly also reported Trump and his longtime live-in girlfriend, former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle, split and called off their wedding before the presidential election in November. Since then, Donald Trump Jr. has been spotted in public with the socialite. A report in the Daily Mail on Dec. 26 said the former president's eldest son brought Anderson to a Christmas party at Mar-a-Lago. Before that, the pair vacationed together in Italy, according to the New York Post and other news sites. For years, Anderson has attended Palm Beach society events. She also co-hosted an invitation-only Trump fundraiser in October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (This story was updated to add new information.) Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Guilfoyle, Trump Jr. split and he vacations with Bettina Anderson King Charles III is thankful for those who stood by the royal family this past year. The monarch, 76, reflected on 2024, which saw both him and his daughter-in-law Kate Middleton reveal their respective cancer diagnoses. All of us go through some form of suffering at some stage in our life, be it mental or physical, the king said in his pre-taped message for his annual Christmas address. The degree to which we help one another and draw support from each other, be we people of faith or of none is a measure of our civilization as nations. King Charles reflects on this past year in his annual Christmas address. X/RoyalFamily In this image released on Dec. 23, 2024, King Charles III records his Christmas message at the Fitzrovia Chapel on Dec. 11, 2024 in London, England. Getty Images I am speaking to you today from the Chapel of the former Middlesex Hospital in London, the king continued, and thinking especially of the many thousands of professionals and volunteers here in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth who, with their skills and out of the goodness of their heart, care for others, often at some cost to themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noting the care he witnessed firsthand, he added, From a personal point of view, I offer special, heartfelt thanks to the selfless doctors and nurses who, this year, have supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness, and have helped provide the strength, care and comfort we have needed. As Charles put it, I am deeply grateful, too, to all those who have offered us their own kind words of sympathy and encouragement. King Charles in the pre-recorded video. X/RoyalFamily Last February, Buckingham Palace revealed that Charles had been diagnosed with cancer and had begun treatment. The cancer was discovered in January after he underwent a planned procedure to treat a benign enlarged prostate. I would like to express my most heartfelt thanks for the many messages of support and good wishes I have received in recent days, Charles said in a statement at the time. As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The king continued, It is equally heartening to hear how sharing my own diagnosis has helped promote public understanding and shine a light on the work of all those organizations [that] support cancer patients and their families across the UK and wider world. Britains King Charles, Queen Camilla, William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte walk to attend the royal familys Christmas Day service. REUTERS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My lifelong admiration for their tireless care and dedication is all the greater as a result of my own personal experience. At the time, Charles canceled all in-person engagements and only returned to his more public royal duties in April. In March, Kate, revealed that she had also been undergoing cancer treatment for about a month. In September, the Princess of Wales, 42, announced she had finished her chemotherapy treatment. I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment, the Princess of Wales announced in a statement on X. Members of the royal family, led by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, attend the morning service at St. Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate on Christmas Day. John Rainford / SplashNews.com Doing what I can to stay cancer-free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, palace sources confirmed earlier this month to The Post that [the kings] treatment has been moving in a positive direction, and as a managed condition the treatment cycle, will continue into next year. On Christmas Day, all working members of the royal family congregated in St. Mary Magdalene Church on Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. The king outside of the church on Christmas. John Rainford / SplashNews.com King Charles and Queen Camilla, who have made Christmas morning Mass at Sandringham Church an annual tradition, were joined by Kate, Prince William and their three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The king and queen led the royal familys walk for the third year, which saw them greeting members of the public on their way to the church. Prince William, Kate Middleton and their children were close behind them. The king with Reverend Canon Paul Williams after attending the Christmas service. AFP via Getty Images Prince William has previously described the annual walk as an event he had strong memories of, according to People. My grandfather [the late Prince Philip], he used to walk so fast that thered be huge gaps and spaces between all of us walking down, and thered be us at the back with little legs trying to keep up, William, 42, recalled. You know, I think over time you start to feel quite attached to those moments and those memories before. Question : Regarding the new online test to get a drivers permit (), my grandson had the correct computer to take the test but it couldnt verify him so he will have to go to the DMV to take it anyway. I wish we had known this could happen so he could have made an appointment and not wasted time trying over and over. Answer : If a prospective test-takers identity is not validated during registration at, theres no use trying again and the websites technical staff wont be able to help, the site says. The solution is to take the written test in person at the DMV, it says. The identity validation process online is completed through a third-party contractor and due to privacy and fraud prevention concerns the causes for these failures are not disclosed, the website says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for the proper equipment, the applicant must have an internet-connected desktop or laptop computer with a mouse (or mouse-pad controlled cursor ), keyboard and webcam. The online test wont work with a cellphone, tablet or touchscreen device. Q : Did you ever find out more about noncitizens going on military bases ? Weve been invited to a party next month on the Kaneohe base and I want to make sure we will be able to attend without embarrassment. A : Yes, foreign guests are required to register for base access at U.S. military bases throughout Hawaii, a military spokesperson said, not only at Bellows Air Force Station, which we wrote about last month (). 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. In that case, a U.S. military retiree intending to drive Canadian friends past the guard gate to a popular beach at Bellows recreational area was surprised that everyone in the car had to show a valid photo ID, which revealed his friends to be noncitizens who had not pre-registered to enter the base, as required. Bellows AFS states on its website that it now requires ID scans of everyone in the entering vehicle, not just the military-affiliated escort. Other military bases may do the same, without publicizing the practice. All adults should be prepared to show valid photo ID to enter a base, even if theyve visited before without being asked and even if they are U.S. citizens. These ID checks are separate from the requirement for foreign citizens to register before entering a base, which applies consistently statewide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for instructions for noncitizens to enter Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay, a Marine spokesperson summarized details from the base website, , found under the tab Foreign National Sponsorship. Wed also suggest that you clarify your entry process with your host. Here are key points from the website :Submit a base access request form to the Provost Marshal Office Customer Service Center at least 14 business days in advance of the requested access date. Include copies of each foreign national passport and visa with the base access request form.Pre-enroll in the Defense Biometric Identity System.Provide proof of invitation to the base by an authorized sponsor.Upon arrival to the installation, the foreign national will visit the Pass and ID Office while accompanied by the authorized sponsor to complete DBIDS enrollment, paperwork and any additional screening.If access is granted, the authorized sponsor and foreign national will receive the access pass. The foreign national must be escorted on base at all times, with some exceptions. Mahalo Recently I was leaving Zippys Vineyard after a lunch meeting with friends, one of whom is legally blind and ambles slowly with the aid of his white cane with red tip. As he was stepping down from the concrete walkway onto the asphalt of the parking lot, which he has done many times before without incident, he lost his balance and started falling backward. Luckily there was a Polynesian woman nearby who caught him, preventing him from possibly cracking his head on the concrete. Relieved, I asked her if she was Samoan so I could mahalo her with a Faafetai in the Samoan language. She responded, no, she was Tongan. So I then thanked her with a Malo Aupito in Tonganese ! She was very pleased I could show my appreciation in her native language. She saved my Okinawan friend from very serious injuries !E.M.K., Kapahulu------------Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813 ; call 808-529-4773 ; or email.------------ The Kremlin urged restraint on Thursday in speculating about the cause of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan that killed 38 of the 67 passengers on board. "An investigation is currently under way; every incident in aviation must be investigated by specialized aviation authorities," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Russian state-run TASS news agency. "It would be wrong to hypothesize before the conclusions of the investigation are available." The cause of Wednesday's Azerbaijan Airlines crash, which left 29 survivors, several of them seriously injured, remains unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Various theories have been put forward, including the possibility that the aircraft was shot down by an anti-aircraft missile countering a Ukrainian drone attack, based on unusual damage observed on the plane's fuselage. The chairman of the Senate in Kazakhstan, Maulen Aschimbayev, dismissed this as "hype" and an unsubstantiated claim. Recovery teams retrieved the flight recorders from the wreckage of the aircraft at the crash site near Aktau on the Caspian Sea coast Wednesday evening. Their analysis, along with radio communications, is expected to help investigators determine the cause of the crash. The Embraer 190 aircraft, was en route from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to Grozny, the capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, with 67 people aboard, including five crew members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For reasons still unknown, the plane veered towards the Caspian Sea before crashing near Aktau, Kazakhstan, shortly before its landing approach. On Thursday, Azerbaijan observed a national day of mourning, with flags flying at half-mast, according to Kazakh agency Tengrinews, citing local media. Cultural events planned for the day in theatres and concert halls were also postponed. The bodies of the deceased passengers and crew members are being repatriated to Azerbaijan, according to a joint statement issued by the airline and the Azerbaijani Ministry for Emergency Situations on X. The airline also stated it has temporarily suspended flights to the Russian cities of Grozny and Makhachkala in the North Caucasus. The crash cause should be clarified before resuming operations, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Tengrinews, the casualties included Russian, Azerbaijani and Kyrgyz citizens. Nine injured Russian passengers in serious condition, including a child, were picked up by a special aircraft to be treated in Moscow, according to the Russian state-run news agency TASS. Azerbaijan Airlines initially attributed the suspected damage to the aircraft to a possible collision with a flock of birds. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that the aircraft could not land in Grozny due to poor weather conditions and therefore headed for an alternative airport. However, aviation expert Heinrikh Grossbongardt considers fog or a bird strike unlikely causes for the crash. "The realistic scenario is an external impact," he told German broadcaster ARD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The aircraft was extremely damaged and uncontrollable. This is not something that, for example, a flock of birds would cause as engines might fail, but the aircraft would remain controllable," Grossbongardt said. Several videos circulating online purportedly show the moments leading up to the crash of the Embraer jet. According these images, the tail section was less damaged. Survivors were reportedly rescued from this part of the wreckage while the nose and middle sections of the aircraft were destroyed. Following the crash of a passenger plane in Kazakhstan, Moscow is cautioning against speculation that the aircraft may have been shot down, killing 38 people of the 67 people on board. "An investigation is currently under way; every incident in aviation must be investigated by specialized aviation authorities," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Russian state-run TASS news agency. "It would be wrong to hypothesize before the conclusions of the investigation are available." The cause of Wednesday's Azerbaijan Airlines crash, which left 29 survivors, several of them seriously injured, remains unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Various theories have been put forward, including the possibility that the aircraft was shot down by an anti-aircraft missile, based on unusual damage observed on the plane's fuselage. The Embraer 190 commercial aircraft, was en route from Baku to Grozny, the capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, with 67 people aboard, including five crew members. For reasons still unknown, the plane veered towards the Caspian Sea before crashing near Aktau, Kazakhstan, shortly before its landing approach. BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese battery manufacturer CATL (300750.SZ) said on Thursday it plans to seek a listing in Hong Kong, a Shenzhen Stock Exchange filing showed. CATL plans to issue offshore H-shares and apply for a listing on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, it said in the filing. CATL's board has approved the plan, but the proposal is pending approval from regulators, including the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the company said. Other details of the plan have yet to be finalised, it added. The move is aimed at "further promoting the company's global strategic layout" and improving its competitiveness, it said. CATL, the world's top battery maker, has a global market share of roughly 37% in electric vehicle batteries, according to battery market tracker SNE Research. The company has been weathering the impact of an ongoing price war in China's EV sector, with an increase in third-quarter profit growth. (Reporting by Ethan Wang, Yukun Zhang, Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; Editing by Louise Heavens) The Kremlin on Thursday warned against speculating about what may have caused an Azerbaijan Airlines flight to crash, killing 38 of the 67 people on board, after an aviation expert said evidence indicated that a Russian anti-missile battery may have brought down the passenger plane. The Embraer 190 crashed Wednesday near the Kazakh city of Aktau while en route from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, Russia. The flight attempted to make an emergency landing about 1.8 miles from Aktau, according to Azerbaijan Airlines, but instead hit the ground, erupted into a fiery ball and split in two. President Vladimir Putins spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the investigation into the cause of the crash was underway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would be incorrect to make any hypotheses before the investigation comes to conclusions, and we definitely cannot do it and no one should do it, he said in his daily news conference. Rescuers work at the wreckage of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Thursday. Kanat Bozumbayev, the Kazakh deputy prime minister, also cautioned against assigning a cause while the investigation is in its preliminary stage. "The police and the prosecutor's office are conducting forensic examinations," Bozumbayev told Kazakh media on Thursday, adding, "Therefore, at this point, it is premature to talk about anything. This is pure hype." Putin's and Bozumbayev's comments come amid growing speculation that Russian air defenses may be behind the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Subsequent reporting and contextual information, including the follow-on video examination of the wreckage ... and circumstances surrounding the airspace security environment in southwest Russia, leads Osprey to assess that the flight was likely shot down by a Russian air defense system," said Matthew Borie, chief intelligence officer at the aviation security firm Osprey Flight Solutions. Borie said another potential theory, that the plane collided with a bird or birds, would have probably led to reports of more than one explosion and the damage to the aircraft appearing differently. The Wall Street Journal first reported Osprey's findings. A U.S. official on Thursday echoed that there are indications a Russian anti-aircraft system may have struck the Azerbaijan Airlines flight, and said if that proves to be the case, it would be more evidence of Russia's recklessness in its war with Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Borie said that, at the time of the incident, Russian air defense forces were defending against a Ukrainian military-grade weaponized drone attack that involved Russia shooting down drones. At least one drone was hit east of Grozny, while others were shot down over Chechnya, he added. Earlier, the head of Ukraines Center for Countering Disinformation, Andriy Kovalenko, said that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane was shot down by a Russian air-defense system, citing visible damage to the plane. The flight's destination was Grozny, which is near Ukraine and the ongoing war with Russia, but it was rerouted to Aktau after an emergency onboard, according to a statement issued by Russias aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, on Wednesday. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev echoed Peskov's caution. "There are various theories, but I believe it is premature to discuss them. The matter must be thoroughly investigated, he said at a meeting dedicated to the incident Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reasons for the crash are not yet known, he said, adding that Azerbaijan has launched its own investigation. Aliyev said that the flight changed course because of worsening weather conditions and that the crash occurred during landing as the plane descended toward Aktau airport. He declared Thursday a national day of mourning in Azerbaijan. The flight had 62 passengers and five crew members on board, according to the Kazakh Emergencies Ministry. Later, the Kazakh Health Ministry published a list of 29 survivors, including two children. At least one airline said it is altering its flights in the region in light of the Kazakhstan air crash. El Al, Israel's national carrier, announced Thursday it is suspending its operations on its Tel Aviv-Moscow route for the coming week and will assess when they may resume. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Dec. 25SANDPOINT After a three-month vacation and rehab, Lake Pend Oreille's human-sized Statue of Liberty is back in place with a fresh sheen and ready for photo ops. The local landmark was taken down in August after a resident reported it leaning over. Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm told The Spokesman-Review it wasn't from vandalism, but because she "gets so much love." The parks department determined wear-and-tear led to structural failure of the base. She was reinstalled earlier this month to her pedestal at the end of a concrete pier at Sandpoint City Beach park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sandpoint's Creative Design and Ingenuity, Inc. welded the repairs, and A-10 Autobody in Sagle gave the statue a fresh coat. "We appreciate everyone's patience during Lady Liberty's temporary absence, and we celebrate with all of our community members her grand return to City Beach," the city said in a statement. The statue was donated in 2003 in memory of Louise (Lee) Turner, a local businesswoman who had the statue in her backyard. Sandpoint residents Audrey Milch and Lawrence Blakey walked their dogs up to the statue Thursday to see the handiwork and snap a picture. "It's a great idea," Blakey said. "A good reminder of what she stands for." James Hanlon's reporting for The Spokesman-Review is funded in part by Report for America and by members of the Spokane community. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Lansing police are asking for the publics help tracking down a man in connection to a stabbing earlier this month. Police want to hear from you if you know where Brent Dennis, 41, is located. The stabbing in question took place on Dec. 18. At this time police are calling Dennis a person of interest and not a suspect. Police tell 6 News they were called to the 500 block of South Pennsylvania Ave at 12:30 a.m., where they found a 47-year-old male with a stab wound to his abdomen. Emergency responders took the person to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dennis is described by police as being 510 and weighing 270 pounds. If you know where he is you are asked to call (517) 483-6867 and to not approach him. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. A motorcyclist was hospitalized on Thursday after colliding with a Los Angeles Police Department squad car, authorities confirmed. The crash was reported at about 12:12 p.m., according to the LAPD. According to The Citizen App, it occurred at the intersection of Hooper Avenue and East Washington Boulevard. Police said the motorcyclist, identified only as a man in his 40s, was transported to a local hospital in unknown condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No officers were injured in the impact. Video posted on The Citizen App showed the aftermath of the crash, where the officer behind the wheel of the squad car appeared to hit the motorcyclist on its side. The exact details of the crash were not immediately clear. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) On Christmas Day the Las Vegas Search and Rescue successfully rescued two climbers stranded in Pine Creek Canyon at Red Rock. The climbers had been navigating the Olive Oil route on Christmas Eve when a storm rolled in, leaving them unable to proceed. High winds initially prevented SAR teams from conducting the rescue, forcing the climbers to spend the night on the route. On Christmas morning the weather conditions improved, and SAR and AIR1 were able to reach the climbers. They were safely packaged, extracted via hoist, and transported to the helipad at the BLM Fire Station. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SAR reported that both climbers were uninjured. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. LAUREL, Miss, (WHLT) The Laurel Police Department (LPD) arrested one man and still want another after a fight escalated to them shooting at each other. Police charged 28-year-old Ethan Jordan with one count of aggravated assault and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon for a December 17 shoot-out with 27-year-old Keshaun Arrington. Jordans bond was set at $255,000 in Laurel Municipal Court. Hattiesburg man arrested for DUI after multi-vehicle crash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arrington is wanted by LPD for the same incident and charges faced by Jordan. Anyone with information about the shooting should contact LPD or Crime Stoppers at 601-428-STOP. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. Police in Malaysia used a unique method to combat illegal cryptocurrency mining as part of its countrywide commitment to fighting electricity theft. What's happening? As reported by CCN, Perak Tengah district police authorities used a steamroller to crush 985 Bitcoin mining rigs on Aug. 19. The destroyed equipment was worth about 1.98 million Malaysian ringgits ($452,500). Per CCN, district police chief and superintendent Hafezul Helmi Hamzah told the Malaysian Gazette which posted a video on social media that the disposal of the crypto mining rigs follows the country's disposal guidelines for e-waste and solid waste. The method is a strict distinction from other countries like the United States or China, where authorities typically auction off seized goods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 2021, a video of a steamroller crushing millions of dollars worth of Bitcoin mining rigs has gone viral annually. Hamzah added that he and his team conducted 24 raids in 2022, nine in 2023, and one in 2024 that resulted in the confiscation of the rigs. In July, Malaysian authorities collectively destroyed over 2,022 confiscated items, including Bitcoin mining rigs, worth RM2.2 million ($502,000). CCN noted that Perak Tengah is just one of many districts in Malaysia where electricity theft for crypto mining has become a problem. Earlier in August, Sepang district police arrested seven suspects for operating Bitcoin mining rigs using stolen electricity. Why is this important? Cryptocurrency mining is an energy-intensive process that requires large amounts of computing power. The increase in popularity of crypto mining has led to environmental concerns due to the use of dirty energy to source massive amounts of electricity, thereby contributing to pollution and planet-warming changes to the climate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While some countries have made efforts to regulate cryptocurrency mining, some crypto enthusiasts ignore those policies by resorting to illegal electricity theft. Per CCN, Malaysia's deputy energy and water transformation minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said in July that the country lost at least $722 million in electricity thefts linked to crypto mining over the last six years. What's being done about this? Malaysia isn't the only country cracking down on cryptocurrency mining. Do you think governments should ban gas stoves? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind Earlier this month, Russia introduced a blanket ban on cryptocurrency mining in more than a dozen regions in the hopes of ending an ongoing economic crisis. In November, nine covert Bitcoin mining farms in Thailand were forced to cease operations after authorities discovered they were responsible for nearly $300,000 in losses for electricity providers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These efforts should help deter crypto enthusiasts from utilizing illegal activities to fund their goals. Meanwhile, many efforts have been underway to improve the rate at which Bitcoin is mined through renewable energy such as solar and wind farms or green hydrogen-powered plants, through professional Bitcoin mining operations. There is both optimism and pessimism that Bitcoin could even help to fund innovation and investment in renewable energy that could make the cryptocurrency a net positive over time, but clear progress is being made either way. Some estimates put the rate of renewable energy at over 50% of all energy put toward Bitcoin, though operations such as these covert ones in Malaysia remain a problem regardless as do some large-scale operations in the U.S., such as Greenidge Generation's natural gas Bitcoin plant in New York. 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. Mango, cherry and lemonade-flavored vapes - theyre delivered by mail carriers like any letter, pamphlet or package. One problem: Its illegal in most cases to ship those products. Still, vapes arrive regularly on the doorsteps of homes across the nation as companies flout laws regulating online sales of the products, including a ban on shipping e-cigarettes through the U.S. Postal Service. The internet is flooded with online retailers, some that advertise on social media, others that change names frequently, all of which operate as part of a broader e-commerce system that delivers millions of packages of all kinds every day. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enforcement is complicated by a patchwork of regulations at the federal, state and local levels. While its not legal for the Postal Service or major companies such as UPS to ship e-cigarettes, smaller services are allowed to ferry vapes - but only if they verify the age of the customer and receive the signature of an adult, a step that studies show is often skipped. Its a massive game of whack-a-mole from an enforcement standpoint, said Kathy Crosby, CEO of Truth Initiative, a D.C. nonprofit that aims to stanch the use of tobacco and nicotine products. The problem was outlined by University of California at San Diego researchers who found that when they ordered 99 flavored vape products online, 81 percent arrived through the Postal Service - despite laws banning that. No buyers had their IDs scanned upon delivery as required by law, according to research published Nov. 11 in the journal JAMA. More than two-third of the buyers in San Diego received packages at their homes even though the city bans online sales of flavored vapes. Its incredibly easy to buy flavored vaping products online - even in areas where they are restricted, said lead author Eric C. Leas, an assistant professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health at UCSD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, Washington Post reporters in Florida and Maryland ordered vaping products - including illegal Chinese-made disposable vapes with fruity flavors - from e-commerce retailers and received them in U.S. Postal Service or UPS packages with no signature required upon delivery. The Postal Service did not answer questions from The Post, instead highlighting laws restricting e-cigarettes sales through the internet and noting it is part of a multi-agency collaboration to combat the illegal distribution of vaping products. UPS said in a statement it works to identify and cancel accounts of shippers who violate vaping restrictions. The scrutiny of vaping e-commerce sales comes as the industry is buoyed by President-elect Donald Trumps return to the White House. After meeting with a vaping lobbyist during the campaign, Trump vowed to protect the industry despite his previous administrations crackdown on e-cigarettes, The Post previously reported. The industry is urging the incoming Trump administration to fashion new standards that would accelerate approvals to market more vaping products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court, which has dramatically curbed the power of federal regulators, heard arguments Dec. 2 in a case in which the industry argues that the Food and Drug Administration has unfairly denied more than 1 million vape applications. The case could upend how the agency regulates tobacco products although justices appeared favorably disposed to the FDAs position that the denials are consistent with federal law. Anti-tobacco groups and public health researchers contend vaping nicotine is addictive and impairs brain development in young people. The FDA has also said vape users risk exposure to toxic chemicals and dangerous metal particles, in addition to chemicals that can cause irreversible lung damage. In contrast, the industry casts vaping as a crucial and less harmful tool to help cigarette smokers quit and calls concerns about youth vaping overblown. As proof, vape supporters point to a dramatic decline in youth vaping since 2019. The FDA, acknowledging that e-cigarettes can help wean adults off cigarettes, has begun to authorize more vaping products from big tobacco companies. The agency has approved 34 products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sales of e-cigarettes - overwhelmingly flavored varieties - increased 47 percent at brick-and-mortar stores between 2019 and 2023, according to a report released in November by the CDC Foundation and Truth Initiative. But the marketplace is flooded with illegal and disposable flavored vapes from China despite high-profile seizures by the FDA and Justice Department. In August, the FDA proposed a rule that would require importers to submit a tracking number to U.S. customs officials for e-cigarette products. Law enforcement officials and industry experts say Chinese companies often use private freight forwarders to ship bulk purchases of illegal vapes to the United States, frequently in mislabeled packages. After the products arrive at U.S. international mail centers, distributors use domestic mail to send products to independent vape shops while online companies also use the Postal Service to deliver vapes directly to customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for domestic shipping, Congress in December 2020 passed the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act, which prohibited companies from using the Postal Service to ship vaping products and mandated that an adult accept packages from other delivery services. Researchers have documented accounts on TikTok that offer sales with no ID check and that promote vapes hidden in packages containing other items such as cosmetic kits. Leading public health advocacy groups say the FDA has shirked its responsibility to regulate online sales and marketing related to them, as required by the 2009 Tobacco Control Act. Since that measure was adopted, subsequent presidential administrations have failed to act despite the rapid growth of online commerce and social media and the ubiquity of smartphones used by teens, said Dennis Henigan, vice president and attorney for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, an advocacy group that joined six other organizations in August urging the agency to act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We think one of the ways to simplify enforcement as to these remote sales is by simply banning them, Henigan said in an interview. The FDA, in considering vape applications, has acknowledged that online age verification and other restrictions are not sufficient to keep flavored vapes away from young people. In a statement, the agency stressed it regularly conducts checks of online retailers and has issued hundreds of warning letters to e-commerce vendors. In November, the agency said it was seeking fines against 16 online retailers. The agency is committed to continuing to hold all retailers accountable for violations, the statement said. Larger vaping companies such as Juul supported the federal law, which was an extension of an earlier act that prohibited mailing of cigarettes. But the Vapor Technology Association, which represents smaller manufacturers, wholesalers, suppliers and vape shop owners, contends the shipping restrictions unfairly force companies to spend enormously on implementing compliance programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smaller players, bad actors have ignored those rules, said the groups executive director, Tony Abboud. He added that the shipping restrictions limit access to vapes in rural areas where few brick-and-mortar stores exist and private shipping companies do not deliver. It has been an impediment on business, theres no question about that, Abboud said. Congressional leaders from both parties have ripped the FDA because of the ubiquity of illegal flavored vape products. This year, the FDA, Justice Department and other agencies launched a task force aimed at cracking down on vapes; in October, the FDA and customs agents said they had seized more than $76 million worth of illicit vapes bound for the United States from China. While the FDA has a robust enforcement operation, the sheer size of the problem in the United States means state authorities need to also prioritize e-commerce violations, said Mitch Zeller, former director of the FDAs Center for Tobacco Products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That can be replicated at the state and local level if the resources are there to do the monitoring, to do the surveillance and then to do the enforcement, Zeller said. Eight states and about 400 cities or counties have restricted sales of flavored e-cigarettes, but many do not address e-commerce or are unclear about online sales. In California, e-commerce sales of flavored vapes will be banned starting Jan. 1, closing a loophole on such transactions. Illinois recently passed a law that restricts shipment of e-cigarettes directly to customers but allows deliveries to brick-and-mortar distributors or retailers. The law also goes into effect Jan. 1. In recent years, officials in New York City, Chicago and California have sued retailers accused of selling flavored cigarettes online. Vermont boasts some of the strictest regulations on e-cigarette sales. In October, Attorney General Charity Clark said the state had reached a $400,000 settlement with Amazon regarding allegations the company failed to stop third-party sellers from circumventing rules preventing the sale of vaping products. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Post). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Amazon is such a huge marketplace, it feels really good to be able to enforce the law [so] vaping products dont get into the wrong hands, Clark said in an interview. But her office can spare only two attorneys to work on vaping cases, among others, Clark said. In Florida, a Post reporter ordered three vapes, including a rechargeable Chinese-made mango icy disposable product. The website for the Los Angeles company Juicefly required the uploading of ID. The package arrived via the Postal Service in a nondescript box that featured the companys logo - on an inside flap. It did not contain labeling required by Florida law. The company, in an email, said it takes compliance very seriously and strives to meet all state and federal regulations regarding online sales of our products. About shipping, Juicefly said, Well certainly look into the matter internally and that we do not authorize the use of our company name for publication in any media. Related Content Iranian drama The Seed of the Sacred Fig is a gripping knockout The 2025 economy: 5 things to watch The best place to run while traveling? Try the track. (NewsNation) A lawyer for the ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO charged with sex trafficking and prostitution says the former business leader has dementia and late-onset Alzheimers disease that may impact his standing trial. Attorney Brian H. Bieber, who represents Michael Jeffries, said in court filings that he questioned the former CEOs attentiveness, focus, competency, and understanding and that he doubted his competency to rationally assiston a sustained and consistent basiscounsel in connection with the possible factual and legal defenses to the allegations he was facing, reported NBC News. Bieber said he asked Jefferies to get a medical evaluation by a neuropsychologist, who later found that the ex-CEO currently suffers from dementia with behavioral disturbance Alzheimers disease with late onset (probable) and Lewy body dementia, according to court papers acquired by NBC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A competency hearing is scheduled for June. Who is Mike Jeffries, ex-CEO arrested for sex trafficking? Jeffries, 80; his partner Matthew Smith, 61; and their employee James Jacobson, 71, were arrested in October on charges of luring men into sex parties, at times under the guise of modeling jobs for Abercrombie. The three are charged with sex trafficking and interstate prostitution involving at least 15 unnamed accusers. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing, and they believe there are dozens of victims during a time spanning from 2008 to 2015. United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace described the system as a casting couch model where men hoping to get featured in an Abercrombie ad were then trafficked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeffries has pleaded not guilty to the allegations. The timing of Mike Jeffriess purported health issues is suspicious, to say the least, Brad Edwards, an attorney for the victims, told USA Today. He said that it appears Jefferies first saw a doctor after consulting with his defense attorney about the sex charges, the outlet reported. Ex-Abercrombie CEO posts $10M bond in sex trafficking case My clients are following this closely, and we intend to provide information to law enforcement pertinent to this competency issue, Edwards said. We will hold everyone accountable for the heinous crimes committed against these many young men. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, Abercrombie & Fitch was sued over allegations Jeffries was operating a sex trafficking ring exploiting young men who hoped to become models for the company and that Abercrombie allegedly turned a blind eye to the abuse. Jeffries left the company in 2014 as a result of the companys lagging performance. Jeffries left with a retirement package valued at around $25 million, reported the BBC. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Vice President Kamala Harris had just 107 days as a presidential candidate to change the minds of hundreds of thousands of uncommitted Democratic primary voters nationwide, many of whom voted in protest against President Joe Biden and his administrations handling of Israel's war in the Gaza Strip. But leaders from the Uncommitted National Movement and the Abandon Harris campaign say they felt Harris didnt do enough to distance herself from Biden or outline how shed handle the war differently. And now, theyre closely watching President-elect Donald Trumps early moves on the Middle East and specifically on Gaza to see what comes next. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres been many ways in which Harris chose the path of Liz Cheney and the donor class on a range of issues, and abandoning working families in places like Dearborn, who make up the people Democrats claim to be fighting for, said Uncommitted National Movement co-founder Layla Elabed, a Palestinian American activist and the sister of Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. And I think at the same time, Trump came in and fed a community that was grieving and in despair with lies and false promises. Vice President Kamala Harris and former Rep. Liz Cheney during a rally at Ripon College in Ripon, Wis., on Oct. 3. Trump ultimately ended up carrying Dearborn, a majority Arab American city in Michigan, by more than 6 percentage points a massive swing from Bidens nearly 40 point win there in 2020. But most Dearborn voters also voted against Trump, who got about 43% support in a deeply split field. Elabed decided not to vote at the top of the ticket this year and focused instead on downballot races. We provided Democrats with a pathway for victory and a way to unite the party and they spent 10 months ignoring us and berating us, Elabed said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Elabed and other leaders from the Uncommitted National Movement briefly met Harris in person last summer, she told the candidate that she wanted to be able to vote for her and asked Harris to talk with activists about how to change her policy toward the Middle East. She said Harris seemed receptive in that moment, but another official meeting never panned out. She never came to Dearborn. She never came to speak to families that were first-hand impacted by our U.S. policy decisions that ultimately killed their family members, Elabed said. About a month before the election, Harris met with Muslim and Arab American community leaders in Flint, Michigan, ahead of a rally there. Also in October, her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, held a virtual meeting with a Muslim organizing group called Emgage Action. A former Harris campaign official, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly about internal campaign deliberations, said that after Oct. 7, 2023, the vice president spoke with Palestinian Americans who were in Gaza when the war started and who had to be evacuated, as well as with doctors who had returned from Gaza. Harris herself described speaking with those who lost loved ones in Gaza during remarks in December 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elabed said she feels crushed by the reality of four years of the Trump administrations policies toward Israel. Im absolutely devastated. Im devastated for our country. It makes me so angry and frustrated that it didnt have to be this way, because all of we provided the warning signs on a silver platter, Elabed said. Bryarr Misner, who grew up Christian, converted to Judaism and later to Islam, worked as a campaign manager for the Abandon Harris campaign in Pittsburgh. Unlike Elabed, he ultimately voted for Trump. And he expressed similar frustration about a lack of access to members of Harris team, which he said felt demeaning. We tried negotiations. We tried to reach out, to no avail. You know, they never reached out, he said, adding later, We went through multiple avenues to try to be heard, and instead we were ridiculed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Misner said it was a difficult decision to vote for Trump. He said the point of the Abandon Harris campaign was to punish the Democrats for supporting Israel during its war in Gaza, which the campaigners view as a genocide, and he hopes the Trump campaign will be more willing to negotiate with group leaders. (Israels government and the U.S. government have rejected accusations of genocide.) President Trump, he continuously came and he was in the community. While I dont believe that hes going to enact policies that will benefit the community, he at least showed that he was willing to show up for the community, Misner said. The former Harris campaign official said groups like the Abandon Harris movement demanded that she call for an immediate arms embargo and her campaign wasnt willing to do so. Palestinian American policy analyst and writer Abdelhalim Abdelrahman said there were similar feelings of inaccessibility and unresponsiveness in Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the most insulting aspect of it is that the Uncommitted movement and other grassroots movements here in Michigan did all they could to extend an olive branch to Kamala Harris and the Democrats, to have Kamala Harris sit down with them, listen to their pain and advocate for an arms embargo, Abdelrahman said. And just it was a simple request of enforcing U.S. law, and they were rebuffed, and they were treated as criminals, and they were alienated from the supposed 'big tent' party of the Democratic Party. Abdelrahman said Harris never managed to proactively present policy positions about ending the war or advocating for Palestinians to satisfy a critical part of her constituency, and that her overall strategy often seemed reactionary to Trump. I think the biggest problem is that your messaging to Arab Americans cant just be Trumps a fascist, Trump is Hitler. Big, scary orange man, vote for me. Part of being a part of the American political system is being able to separate yourself from your opponent and lay out a better vision. And she did not do that, Abdelrahman said. He expressed tempered optimism about Massad Boulos, Trumps pick for Middle East adviser (and the father-in-law of Trumps daughter Tiffany Trump). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It really seems like Massad Boulos, the Lebanese Christian who facilitated his Arab American outreach in Michigan, is going to have a little bit more of operational freedom than people realize in this administration and I think that could help offset the likes of Mike Huckabee, Abdelrahman said, referring to Trumps pick for ambassador to Israel. Its scary, but Im not ready to jump the gun just yet. I expect to see a lot of pro-Israel rhetoric, but seeing a little bit more diplomacy, he said of Trumps overall strategy in the Middle East. Farah Khan, a co-chair of the Abandon Harris campaign in Michigan, said shes been a lifelong Democrat but not anymore. She viewed voting against Harris as a moral issue as the war continues to unfold. Farah Khan, co-chair of the Abandon Harris Michigan campaign, in Dearborn, Mich., on Nov. 4. Anybody with their right mind would not go back to the Democrats, because they have not shown any change, and theyre going to have to work really, really hard to win their votes back, Khan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khan said Harris didnt do enough to reverse course in terms of messaging or policy from the Biden administrations handling of the war. Ultimately, she voted for Jill Stein of the Green Party. [Harris] says, Oh, yeah, I feel bad. And the next day, they send billions of dollars again in weapons. I mean, you cant even fool kids like this nowadays, let alone grown people who are your constituents, your voters, Khan said. She could have at least called for a ceasefire, Khan said. (Harris repeatedly called for a ceasefire during her campaign, including during her Democratic convention speech.) She could have sent aid, she could have pressured Israel to let the aid in she did not. She did nothing of that sort. And yet she kept saying that, you know, were working around the clock. If youre working around the clock and this is the outcome, then we definitely dont want you in the office. The former Harris campaign official pointed to Harris December 2023 trip to Dubai, where Harris said international humanitarian law must be respected and advocated for a two-state solution. Inside the administration, the official said, Harris pushed on humanitarian and civilian casualty issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official argued that there was alignment between what Harris and the Muslim and Arab American communities were fighting for, but not enough time for people to fully understand her stance. Khan believes many Muslim and Arab American voters picked Trump in protest not because they liked him, but because they wanted to defeat Harris and punish the Democrats. Even in politics, humanity should be the first and the foremost thing to to be respected, to be valued, right? And [the] Democratic Party clearly, clearly, for an entire year showed us they do not care about human life, Khan said. They do not care about their constituents, how they feel about the massacre. Khan said Trumps rhetoric about bringing the war to an end was a winning message for many Muslim and Arab American voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He at least, at least came and spoke to the Muslims. He heard them and said, OK, I will finish. I will end the war in Middle East, even if he didnt say, you know, a genocide, but he said he will bring peace, she said. And thats what the people wanted to hear, and thats why he got the votes. But shes concerned about the possibility of Huckabee serving as ambassador to Israel. It is very troubling. Its worrisome. And some of his Cabinet picks, like Tulsi Gabbard and then Mike Huckabee, have made Muslims anxious, but we still have to wait and see how things pan out, because its too early to say anything about Trump, and we all know that Trump only listens [to] Trump, Khan said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Armstrong's stock sales were planned less than three months before the U.S. elections, submitted in a formal strategy meant to distance corporate insiders from accusations of gaming the markets. And the sales haven't yet reached the halfway point of the SEC-disclosed intent to offload as many as 3.75 million shares, depending on the stock price meeting "certain threshold prices specified in the Armstrong Plan." He still owns more than 10% of the largest U.S. crypto exchange, and the value of about 24 million shares tucked into his trust, according to the latest Securities and Exchange Commission filings, is about $6.4 billion up near $2 billion since Nov. 5. Since then, the co-founder and CEO sold smaller amounts week after week, for a total of about $437 million for stock that was worth $308 million before the victories of President-elect Donald Trump and a slate of congressional lawmakers backed by crypto. In other words, the pro-crypto sentiment surging after the election outcome that Armstrong helped shape earned him an additional $129 million in wealth for the shares he sold. In a pre-programmed series of trades starting less than a week after the election, Armstrong sold $100 million worth of his Coinbase shares. Those same shares on the night before the election had been worth about $39 million less. A week after that, he cashed in about $313 million all part of a selling strategy he'd set in motion if the price spiked. Coinbase Inc. (COIN) CEO Brian Armstrong and his company devoted some $74 million to the industry's dominant political action committee, Fairshake, putting Armstrong in a close lead over a few other crypto insiders. That's an especially significant amount of money from a company that booked about $95 million in 2023 profits. But the elections went their way, and the company's value has ballooned by $21 billion since Nov. 4, the day before in-person voting began and the outcome became clear. The leaders of the companies responsible for the river of money that flooded U.S. political shores this year have already benefited tremendously from the outcome of last month's election increasing their personal fortunes by billions of dollars, far outpacing the large spending they devoted to crypto-friendly candidates. This is the third in a series of stories examining the crypto industry's high-stakes 2024 foray into politics and campaigning. The first explored the electoral track record of Fairshake PAC's strategy and the second its intense use of a 2010 Supreme Court stance. Story Continues He took to social media site X to explain the plan several days before the elections, saying he was diversifying "to make investments in moonshots" but would be keeping the "vast majority" of his shares. He said he put the price targets so high that he didn't expect that most of it would sell in the next year "unless we do much better than expected." COIN's stock is currently trading around $276, up from around $186 on Nov. 4. A Coinbase spokesperson referred CoinDesk to that post when asked for comment. His rivals among crypto leaders who devoted similar levels of cash to the elections included Ripple Labs CEO Brad Garlinghouse and the namesake chiefs of investment firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). Ripple gave $73 million, and a16z put in $70 million, including large amounts held over for the next election cycle in 2026. Garlinghouse reportedly owns more than 6% of Ripple, the company, and a large but unspecified amount of the token tied to it, XRP. Various reports put him high among the list of U.S. billionaires as a result. In the wake of the election, XRP surged to become the third-largest crypto asset by market cap. While Garlinghouse chose not to weigh in with details on his net worth, he credited excitement over the return of Trump to the White House in a statement to CoinDesk. "The crypto market is up over $1 trillion since Trump won thats the price of Genslers foot on the neck of the market, and hes not even officially gone yet," Garlinghouse said. Since the election, Garlinghouse's holdings of XRP have multiplied more than three times as the price of the token jumped from $0.50 to $2.32. And though the non-public Ripple Labs valuation is uncertain and was last set in the neighborhood of $11 billion earlier this year, the election has almost certainly boosted the worth of his major stake. Garlinghouse's personal wealth has likely skyrocketed as a result. The financial status of Mark Andreessen and Ben Horowitz is even murkier, but both men have gained dramatically since last month from their many stakes in crypto companies, likely outpacing the money they devoted to U.S. politics. But the financial figures aren't available for a16z's investments in private companies as they are for public Coinbase. The firm's vast crypto portfolio includes stakes in Coinbase, Uniswap, Solana, EigenLayer and Anchorage Digital and dozens of others. Virtually all of them became more valuable as the U.S. executive branch will be run by Trump, who says he'll be the crypto president, and the 535-member Congress includes some 300 predicted to be supportive of digital assets including the dozens just supported by Fairshake in their elections. But a company spokesman declined to comment on CoinDesk's review of the gains for Andreessen and Horowitz as individuals. A16z's dip into U.S. politics was aimed "to help advance clear rules of the road that will support American innovation while holding bad actors to account," according to a post from the firm's Chris Dixon. Separately from Fairshake, Andreessen and Horowitz backed Trump's election effort. And Andreessen has become an adviser to the pro-crypto president-elect as he prepares to start his second term next month. The crypto benefactors from Coinbase, Ripple and a16z combined to make the Fairshake super PAC and its affiliates into the most powerful corporate campaign-finance effort in the 2024 elections, helping 53 members of next year's Congress win their races. However, Fairshake didn't weigh in on the presidential election, which may have had the largest effect on crypto market prices. Garlinghouse, in a post-election interview on 60 Minutes, said, I think its clear that Donald Trump embraced crypto and crypto embraced Donald Trump." While he didn't claim credit for Trump's success, Garlinghouse said the crypto PACs "absolutely helped supercharge the candidates" and influenced outcomes in congressional contests. His company pledged $5 million in XRP to Trump's inauguration the celebration next month of his return to the presidency and Coinbase and fellow U.S. crypto exchange Kraken have also raised their hands to fund it. During the elections, the crypto industry was accused by its critics of being remarkably transactional in its political strategy putting money into the best places to ensure future pro-crypto votes on legislation and buying more than $130 million in congressional campaign ads with framing across the political spectrum (and without mentioning crypto). Gains for the sector have meant a boost for the three main companies behind Fairshake and for their individual leaders, who are tied to them financially. The sector's political effort went in "purely on interests of the specific industry," said Rick Claypool, the research director at Public Citizen who has examined crypto's campaign spending. "Short term, obviously this has caused a big bump in crypto." The return on investment for industries putting money into politics can "often be pretty good," said Mark Hays, a senior policy analyst at Americans for Financial Reform, who has also worked on campaign finance issues. "Crypto is newer, and so the opportunity for growth is larger." While Armstrong and the others prefer a political narrative that features a grassroots upswell in crypto voters that shifted the elections, he and his company were directly behind establishing Stand With Crypto, the group that's billed as a grassroots effort to harness the will of crypto voters. And Fairshake's political influence was based almost entirely on money from Coinbase and the partner companies, plus smaller amounts from Jump Crypto and Gemini. Gemini's leaders, Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, were also among Trump's loudest fans in crypto. The day after the voting, Cameron Winklevoss posted on X: "Imagine how much we are going to accomplish in the next 4 years now that the crypto industry won't be hemorrhaging $ billions on legal fees fighting the SEC and instead investing this money into building the future of money. Amazing awaits." On Nov. 11, the day Armstrong began selling large amounts of Coinbase stock, Tyler Winklevoss posted, "The shackles are off, 100k incoming." Bitcoin hit that mark a month after the election. Leadership changes in the Calumet Township office have started and will continue into the new year after former Trustee Kim Robinson pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges and resigned from office. Gary Councilman Darren Washington, D-At Large, said Thursday he plans to run for Calumet Township Trustee, but declined to comment further. I am definitely interested in putting my name in for trustee, Washington said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gary Council President Tai Adkins, D-4th, said the role of trustee is indeed vital to our community. While many have asked her to consider running, Adkins said she has not yet decided if shed like to run. Should I decide to explore this opportunity, I will discuss it further with my family and colleagues and make an official statement at the appropriate time, Adkins said. Lake County Democratic Party Chairman Jim Wieser said no one has called him to express interest in the position, though the official notice for the caucus to elect the new trustee wont be posted until early next week. The caucus to replace Robinson is tentatively set for 6 p.m. on Jan. 16, though a location still has to be confirmed, Wieser said. People interested in running should apply no later than 6 p.m. on Jan. 13, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If an elected official were voted in as the next trustee, Wieser said another caucus would be held to fill the vacancy. Wieser said hed like the next Calumet Township trustee to be someone committed to public service with a financial background. First and foremost, you want someone who wants to serve the community, Wieser said. Calumet Township Chief Dayna Bennett was sworn in Monday the day Robinso entered her guilty plea to serve as trustee until the caucus, said administrative assistant Sandi Cogan. Robinson pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Hammond to one count of wire fraud, which can carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, where federal prosecutors alleged she used $11,200 in township funds to pay her Gary rent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the deal, she resigned on Dec. 20. If a judge accepts the plea deal, Robinson will serve one year of probation, have to repay $11,200, plus an $8,700 fine. She posted a $20,000 unsecured bond. In a statement she provided to the Post-Tribune on Sunday, Robinson expressed her deepest gratitude to each and every one of her constituents for the trust and support theyd extended to her while she was in office. She didnt give a reason for her resignation but said it was important to issue a statement as people may begin to hear information related to it. As I step away from this role, I remain hopeful for our townships future. I am leaving the Townships operating fund in the black with cash reserves of over $2 million in a rainy-day fund. Additionally, I have every confidence in the leadership that will follow me, and I wholeheartedly support the process of selecting a new trustee who will continue our mission of progress and community service, Robinson said in the statement. Robinson becomes the third consecutive Calumet Township Trustee to face federal charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robinson was elected in 2014 after defeating incumbent Trustee Mary Elgin in the primary amid the shadow of an FBI and IRS probe of the office. She previously served as a former Gary City Probation officer, Gary Councilwoman for the citys 5th District from 2008 to 2014, and the Lake County Treasurers Office. In December 2014, Elgin along with her son, Steven Hunter, and former Calumet Township employees Ethel Shelton and Alex Wheeler were indicted, alleging the four committed conspiracy to defraud; wire fraud; conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud; honest service wire fraud; and conspiracy to commit extortion. Prosecutors said they used township employees and offices to run political campaigns and raise money for Elgins fundraisers. Elgin was sentenced in 2018 to a year and a day in prison, followed by one year of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution to the trustees office and $6,311 to the IRS. In 2007, Dozier Allen, who served as trustee for 32 years, was indicted five years after he lost to Elgin on charges that he and three employees steered $120,000 of grant money meant for the township to themselves. A jury found him guilty in April 2009, and he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. akukulka@post-trib.com By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Ramadan Abed CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) -Gaza authorities said an Israeli airstrike killed five Palestinian journalists in a vehicle outside a hospital on Thursday but the Israeli army said the victims were Islamic Jihad militants posing as media workers. Medics said the five were among at least 31 people killed in Israeli air assaults across the Palestinian enclave before dawn as Hamas and Israel traded blame over delays in reaching a ceasefire deal after more than 14 months of fighting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Palestinian Journalists Union said one strike killed five journalists from the Al-Quds Today channel who were in a broadcast vehicle in front of Al-Awda Hospital in the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The union said more than 190 Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli fire since the war began in October 2023. The Gaza-based channel called the strike a massacre and said in a statement on Telegram the five "were killed as they carried out their media and humanitarian duty". It has regularly featured Islamic Jihad leaders and provided day-to-day coverage of the war in Gaza. The Israeli military said it "conducted a precise strike on a vehicle with an Islamic Jihad terrorist cell inside in the area of Nuseirat". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later, it issued a statement listing the names of the five TV crewmen and saying: "Intelligence from multiple sources confirmed that these individuals were Islamic Jihad operatives posing as journalists." Israel has regularly denied targeting journalists and says it takes steps to avoid hitting civilians. The Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad group, an ally of Hamas, fought several rounds against Israel in the past two decades, and fighters of the group have joined the fighting against Israel since October 2023. It said it has hostages in its custody too. The group condemned Israel's killing of the five men in a statement but it did not claim any of them as a member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later on Thursday, health officials said five medical staff, including a pediatrician, were killed by Israeli fire at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya in the northern edge of Gaza Strip, where Israeli forces have operated since October. There was no Israeli comment on the medics' death. The officials there said they had resisted army orders to evacuate the hospital since the new ground offensive began nearly three months ago. The Israeli military, which on Wednesday said the hospital was in the heart of the complex fighting, renewed the evacuation orders three days ago, Gaza medics said. Israel's campaign against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 45,300 Palestinians, according to health officials in the Hamas-run enclave. Most of the population of 2.3 million has been displaced and much of Gaza is in ruins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The war was triggered by Hamas' attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. FUNERALS Video from the scene of Thursday's attack showed the twisted wreckage of a white van with what appeared to be the remnants of the word "PRESS" in red on the back doors. Later on Thursday, dozens of relatives and fellow journalists took part in the funerals of the five journalists, whose bodies were wrapped in white shrouds. Blue flak jackets bearing the word "PRESS" were placed on top of the shrouded bodies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Israeli army justifies or excuses this targeting by claiming it is aimed at individuals involved in Palestinian organizations and cells. However, on the ground, these individuals were on journalistic assignments, residing in press vehicles and covering events," said Abed Meqdad, a correspondent for Al-Araby TV channel during the funerals. Women wept besides the bodies as men performed special prayers before burials. "May God take revenge on them, may God take revenge on them. He's the one that makes the news and broadcasts the crimes to the world, this is what they do to them," said the mother of Fadi Hassouna, one of the dead journalists. In its end-of-year report, the Reporters Without Borders organisation said Gaza was the world's most dangerous region for journalists due to killings by the Israeli army. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medics in the enclave said 13 other people were killed and 25 wounded in an Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighbourhood. The death toll could rise as many people were trapped under the rubble, they added. In Gaza City, an Israeli strike on a house in the suburb of Sabra killed eight more people, medics said, bringing Thursday's death toll to 31. On Wednesday, Hamas and Israel traded blame over their failure to conclude a ceasefire agreement despite progress reported by both sides in past days. Hamas said Israel had laid down further conditions, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the group of going back on understandings already reached. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The occupation has set new conditions related to withdrawal, ceasefire, prisoners, and the return of the displaced, which has delayed reaching the agreement that was available," Hamas said. Netanyahu responded in a statement: "The Hamas terrorist organization continues to lie, is reneging on understandings that have already been reached, and is continuing to create difficulties in the negotiations." (Reporting and writing by Nidal Al-Mughrabi; Additional reporting by Ramadan Abed in Gaza, Editing by Andrew Heavens, Angus MacSwan and Louise Heavens) ABUJA (Reuters) - At least 10 people were killed and several wounded when a Nigerian military fighter jet pursuing bandits in two villages mistakenly bombed civilians in the northwestern state of Sokoto on Wednesday, the state governor Ahmed Aliyu said. "The military jets were on their mission to eliminate criminal armed groups terrorizing the state, and mistakenly bombed innocent people of this community," Aliyu said in a statement. Aliyu added that the state will collaborate with other authorities to investigate the military operation that killed people in the villages of Gidan Sama and Rintuwa in the Surame local government area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military late on Wednesday said it had struck targets in the vicinity of Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa identified as associated with the Lakurawa group, but did not provide any details on civilians affected. Last month, the military warned of a new insurgent group, Lakurawas, infiltrating the country's northwest region from neighbouring Niger and Mali. Wednesday's deadly air assault occurred at around 0500 GMT after two military jets dropped bombs in the villages, the local government chairman said. There is widespread insecurity in northwest Nigeria, while a 15-year Islamist insurgency has plagued the northeast of the country and gang and separatist violence affects the southeast. (Reporting by Ahmed Kingimi in Maiduguri and Garba Muhammad in Kaduna; Writing by Chijioke Ohuocha,; Editing by Louise Heavens) Legislation has been introduced in Congress by two Kansas lawmakers that will give the Haskell Board of Regents governance over Haskell Indian Nations University. If enacted, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) would be removed from operating the Lawrence, Kansas-based university. U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran and Rep. Tracey Mann, announced the draft legislation in a news release Monday. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation comes on the heels a congressional hearing held on July 23, 2024 that was filled with accusations of decades of mismanagement, nepotism, and toxicity at Haskell Indian Nations University. The bureau has failed to protect students, respond to my congressional inquiries or meet the basic infrastructure needs of the school, Moran said in the release. It is clear that the best path forward is for the university to be led by an independent Board of Regents nominated by the Tribal community and no longer fettered to the Bureau of Indian Education. Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Chairman Joseph Rupnick praised the legislation. I am thankful that Sen. Moran and Rep. Mann have introduced this legislation to strengthen Haskell as a federally chartered university to further the federal governments treaty and trust responsibility to Indian people, said Joseph Rupnick, Chairman of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. I look forward to discussions in the new year with Tribal leaders and Haskell alums, faculty and students so that this bill can safeguard Haskells future and its funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Moran and Rep. Mann are seeking feedback from the Native American, Lawrence and higher education communities on the proposed legislation to ensure the bill effectively addresses key issues at Haskell University. The university was once a Indian boarding school. It opened in 1884 under the name of United States Indian Industrial Training School with an enrollment of 22 Native American students. Within a semester the enrollment grew to 400 Native students from various tribes from various points of the country. In 1887, the school was renamed for Dudley C. Haskell who fought during the Civil War in the Union Army in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and in the Indian Territory. Some 20 years later, Haskell served in Congress as a representative from Kansas. While in Congress, he served as the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for two years. During this time, he supported legislation to establish off-reservation Indian boarding schools in Kansas, Nebraska and in Indian Territory to be modeled after the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. Haskell died unexpectedly in late 1883 In the early 1930s, industrial training became an important part of the schools curriculum. By 1935, Haskell became known for post high school vocational training. In 1965, Haskell graduated its last high school class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the early 1970s, the school began offering a junior college curriculum and was known as Haskell Indian Junior College. 1999, the U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs approved a change in the name, which became the Haskell Indian Nations University. Some notable Native Americans who have attended Haskell are Olympic great Jim Thorpe (Sac & Fox/Potawatomi), Billy Mills (Oglala Sioux Tribe), and Rep. Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk), a Democrat serving Kansas third congressional district. About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net." Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net To the editor: In 2002, I read the State of World Population report of the United Nations Population Fund, or UNFPA, which named Nigeria as having a total fertility rate of more than seven children per woman. Those seven children per woman, if they've all survived (which they haven't), are now young adults, and probably some are in the stampedes for food given out by charities described in the Associated Press article you published. According to UNFPA, the fertility rate has since fallen to about five children per woman, a still unsustainable number. It portends high maternal mortality, unsafe abortions, lack of access to family planning, gender inequality, political instability and misery. When the world takes care of women, women take care of the world. I started the group 34 Million Friends of UNFPA in 2002 when then-President George W. Bush vetoed the $34-million Congress had appropriated to the agency. At the time, Donald Trump was on an honorary committee (with me!) supporting UNFPA. I can't help but surmise that Elon Musk may well target UNFPA for his budget cuts. Will the president-elect go along? Jane Roberts, Redlands This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. An Ohio teacher recently sued her school superintendent because he suspended her for having books with LGBTQ characters in her classroom library. New Richmond Exempted Village School District Superintendent Tracey Miller says Karen Cahall, who has taught in the district for more than 30 years, intentionally placed controversial books in her classroom library after asking for the books to be placed in the school library and being denied. "It is my sincere hope that you will internalize the discipline you are receiving and that you will reflect upon this in order to change," Miller wrote in Cahall's suspension notice. "However, if you continue to behave in this manner in the future, you will be subjected to more severe discipline up to and including termination of your employment." Advertisement Advertisement None of the books describe sexual activity, Cahall's lawsuit says. But they do include LGBTQ characters who "are coming to terms with feeling different and excluded." One of the books in question is about censorship. 'Highly inappropriate': Forest Hills teacher reported New Richmond teacher's books Here's a list of the books that got Cahall suspended, and what they are about. 'Ana On The Edge' This book, by A.J. Sass, has 4.38 out of 5 stars on GoodReads with 1,502 ratings. GoodReads is a social media site where millions of readers share, rate and review books they've read. GoodReads description: "A heartfelt coming of age story about a nonbinary character navigating a binary world. Twelve-year-old Ana-Marie Jin, the reigning US Juvenile figure skating champion, is not a frilly dress kind of kid. So, when Ana learns that next season's program will be princess themed, doubt forms fast. Still, Ana tries to focus on training and putting together a stellar routine worthy of national success. Advertisement Advertisement "Once Ana meets Hayden, a transgender boy new to the rink, thoughts about the princess program and gender identity begin to take center stage. And when Hayden mistakes Ana for a boy, Ana doesn't correct him and finds comfort in this boyish identity when he's around. As their friendship develops, Ana realizes that it's tricky juggling two different identities on one slippery sheet of ice. And with a major competition approaching, Ana must decide whether telling everyone the truth is worth risking years of hard work and sacrifice." 'Ban This Book' This book, by Alan Gratz, has 4.41 out of 5 stars on GoodReads with 14,203 ratings. GoodReads description: "An inspiring tale of a fourth-grader who fights back when her favorite book is banned from the school library by starting her own illegal locker library! "It all started the day Amy Anne Ollinger tried to check out her favorite book in the whole world, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, from the school library. That's when Mrs. Jones, the librarian, told her the bad news: Her favorite book was banned! All because a classmate's mom thought the book wasn't appropriate for kids to read. Advertisement Advertisement "Amy Anne decides to fight back by starting a secret banned books library out of her locker. Soon, she finds herself on the front line of an unexpected battle over book banning, censorship, and who has the right to decide what she and her fellow students can read. "Reminiscent of the classic novel Frindle by Andrew Clements for its inspiring message, Ban This Book is a love letter to the written word and its power to give kids a voice." 'The Fabulous Zed Watson!' This book, by Basil Sylvester, has 4.22 out of 5 stars on GoodReads with 326 ratings. Publisher's description: "The literary scavenger hunt of a lifetime, starring an endlessly endearing nonbinary tween. Advertisement Advertisement "Zed Watson loves a few things: their name (which they chose themself!), their big rambunctious family, and oh yeah monsters. When Zed discovered the mystery surrounding an unpublished novel called The Monsters Castle, they were completely hooked. Now Zed is a member of a small but dedicated legion devoted to finding the long-buried text. "When a breakthrough discovery leads Zed to the route that they are sure will take them to the treasure, they know its time for a road trip. And with the help of their shy, flora-loving neighbour, Gabe, and his sister, Sam, a geologist who is driving back to college in Arizona, Zed and company are soon off on a wild adventure following cryptic clues. "But its not all fun and games. Gabe doesnt like Zeds snacks, Sam is a bossy driver with total command of the ancient Imprezas stereo, and Zed is often misgendered. Its a good thing they also encounter kind strangers, potato-themed dance-offs and lots and lots of ice cream along the way. If Zed and Gabe can combine their strengths, survive Sams wrath and best the greedy historian whos also hot on the books trail, they just might find the greatest treasure of all. "Co-authored by child-parent duo Basil Sylvester and Kevin Sylvester, this is a vibrant and enormous-hearted story about friendship, identity and belonging. It features illustrations by celebrated author and illustrator Kevin Sylvester, and an Own Voices perspective based on Basils experience." 'Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea' This book, by Ashley Herring Blake, has 4.34 out of 5 stars on GoodReads with 1,271 ratings. Advertisement Advertisement Publisher's description: "Hazel Bly used to live in the perfect house with the perfect family in sunny California. But when a kayaking trip goes horribly wrong, Mum is suddenly gone forever and Hazel is left with crippling anxiety and a jagged scar on her face. After Mum's death, Hazel, her other mother, Mama, and her little sister, Peach, needed a fresh start. So for the last two years, the Bly girls have lived all over the country, never settling anywhere for more than a few months. "When the family arrives in Rose Harbor, Maine, there's a wildness to the small town that feels like magic. But when Mama runs into an old childhood friend Claire suddenly Hazel's tight-knit world is infiltrated. To make it worse, she has a daughter Hazel's age, Lemon, who can't stop rambling on and on about the Rose Maid, a local 150-year-old mermaid myth. "Soon, Hazel finds herself just as obsessed with the Rose Maid as Lemon isbecause what if magic were real? What if grief really could change you so much, you weren't even yourself anymore? And what if instead you emerged from the darkness stronger than before?" 'Too Bright to See' This book, by Kyle Lukoff, has 4.12 out of 5 stars on GoodReads with 5,534 ratings. Advertisement Advertisement Publisher's description: "It's the summer before middle school and eleven-year-old Bug's best friend Moira has decided the two of them need to use the next few months to prepare. For Moira, this means figuring out the right clothes to wear, learning how to put on makeup, and deciding which boys are cuter in their yearbook photos than in real life. But none of this is all that appealing to Bug, who doesn't particularly want to spend more time trying to understand how to be a girl. Besides, there's something more important to worry about: A ghost is haunting Bug's eerie old house in rural Vermont ... and maybe haunting Bug in particular. As Bug begins to untangle the mystery of who this ghost is and what they're trying to say, an altogether different truth comes to light Bug is transgender." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio teacher suspended for having these LGBTQ books in her classroom Parts of New Mexico saw a White Christmas on Wednesday and may see more snowfall on Thursday. However, by the weekend. the state will be warming up and drying out. The upper-level low that brought snow to the northern mountains Wednesday is continuing its track eastward. A brief upper air disturbance will move into New Mexico later this afternoon and into the evening. This disturbance will bring a few spotty rain showers to the northwest. It will also keep the snow around southwestern Colorado and the northern mountains through the night. Forecast Continues Below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, the state will be drying out. The only chance for precipitation is snow flurries in the northern mountains. The rest of the state will be seeing temperatures continuing to warm up. This warming trend will continue through the weekend. This is due to a strong high-pressure system forming over the Baja. The associated ridging will be helping to increase temperatures across New Mexico through the weekend. High temperatures will be near the mid 60s in central New Mexico and mid 70s in southern New Mexico. The warmer temperatures are not expected to last through the new year. A strong cold front is forecasted to move into New Mexico on Monday and through Tuesday. This cold front will be dropping both high and low temperatures back to near and below average. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) Dont feel like cooking after your holiday festivities? Yelp has you covered. Businesses that opened and closed in Massachusetts in 2024 After cooking and eating large meals, people often choose to go out for a simple, prepared breakfast to take a break from kitchen duties. Going out to breakfast after the holidays is a way to unwind, socialize with family or friends, and enjoy a leisurely meal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This can be a way to get together with family or friends who might have been scattered during the holidays and share stories about the festivities. It can be a casual and relaxed way to spend even more time with others without hosting or preparing a large meal. If you are visiting family for the holiday, Yelp has put together a list of the top five breakfast spots in western Massachusetts for you to try: 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. Firefighting foam with PFAS was routinely used by many Maine fire departments prior to 2022, yet little work has occurred to assess potential environmental impacts. (Brendan Bullock) This article is the second in a series, A Fire Hose of Forever Chemicals, which can be seen in entirety here. In a wooded Ogunquit neighborhood, a narrow side road leads to the Seacoast Training Complex where a tower-like structure perches, soot-stained and stark in an expanse of grass. Firefighters from southern Maine and New Hampshire come to this site to build essential skills, and they leave behind a wake of chemical foam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For decades, aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF, called A triple-F) was among the mix of foams applied at this site. Its use in firefighter training was banned three years ago because it contains toxic and persistent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. At regional centers like this one, departments might experiment with a new foam or train with foam they no longer need, recalled Russell Osgood, Ogunquits fire chief. Firefighters would learn techniques for applying foam and often they would leave a blanket of it covering the fire site, he said: That was a common thing so you wouldnt have any rekindle following live fire training. Given the propertys history of AFFF use and the many health risks associated with PFAS, Osgood was concerned about potential water contamination at nearby residences. We have a responsibility as a town if people are being affected by what we do, he said. For decades, fire departments have used a regional training facility in Ogunquit, leaving behind chemical foam some of which contained PFAS. Prior to a ban on its use in training, foam with PFAS may have been used in routine firefighter trainings at hundreds of sites across Maine. (Courtesy of Town of Ogunquit) The risk extends far beyond his small community. Who manages this? Who is going to follow up? Osgood asked. Youre going to find [PFAS from AFFF] in more places than you could think. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maine has roughly a dozen current and former regional training sites for firefighting, as well as former military training areas, dozens of airports, and potentially hundreds of sites where local fire departments conducted trainings or discharged AFFF. I suspect there are tons of little pockets of this all over, Osgood added. Some of those pockets of PFAS contamination could be endangering household wells while others threaten drinking water at fire stations, aggravating health risks for firefighters who have, in national studies, PFAS blood serum levels somewhat higher than the general public. No state funding is currently dedicated to foam-related PFAS investigations so the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has not systematically sampled fire training sites or other locations with high historic use of AFFF. Ogunquit approached the agency for help testing wells near the Seacoast Training Complex, and the DEP is directing the project, but the town is paying for it, Osgood explained, which to date has cost the town roughly $50,000. Initial testing done in 2022 of 14 neighboring wells found low to moderate PFAS levels. Results are not yet back from recent water retesting and new soils testing. Training with foam helps prepare firefighters to apply it in live-fire incidents. (Holly S. Anderson) Osgood recommended that Ogunquit investigate the training facility soon after becoming the towns fire chief because he knew first-hand about the risks of PFAS from AFFF in drinking wells. In prior work at the Portsmouth Fire Department in New Hampshire, he was stationed at the former Pease Air Force Base when news broke in 2014 that wells there were contaminated following decades of historic AFFF use. City firefighters had been drinking, showering in and cooking with contaminated water for years, alongside their occupational exposure applying AFFF foam and what he calls the toxic soup of chemicals (including PFAS) generated by structure fires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As firefighters have grown more aware of PFAS and the many other chemical hazards they face, theyve begun adopting practices on and off the job to reduce health threats, explained Osgood, who serves as vice president of education for the Firefighter Cancer Support Network. We talk about modifiable risk factors a lot, he said, reminding firefighters you can control your personal risk factors by eating right, exercising and getting regular wellness checks. Testing the wells theyre drinking from has got to be the first step. We can find that and fix it. There has to be money for investigations. Russell Osgood, Ogunquit fire chief But clean water is a basic precondition to maintaining health, Osgood said, and test[ing] the wells theyre drinking [from] has got to be the first step. We can find that and fix it. There has to be money for investigations. Recommendation to test water never reached fire departments In a survey of Maine fire departments conducted last summer, only 11% of those on wells had tested the water for PFAS. Four out of five of the departments that had not tested indicated that it was because it has not been discussed/suggested. A smaller number dont know how to get the test done. One fire chief commented, Will test now. Never thought to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four years earlier, a PFAS Task Force established by Gov. Janet Mills recommended in its final report that private drinking water should be tested for PFAS in areas where groundwater is likely to have been impacted by PFAS at unsafe levels, such as: 1) manufacturing locations that utilized PFAS; 2) unlined landfills; 3) areas where Class B AFFF has been discharged or stored; and 4) residuals [wastewater sludge] land spreading sites. Maine subsequently invested tens of millions of dollars to test sites permitted for sludge, a process still underway, and to sample landfill leachate. To date, the state has tested well water at only a handful of sites related to firefighting and judging from survey responses never informed fire departments that the task force recommended water testing or indicated how they could undertake water testing on their own. A foam concentrate connector. (Brendan Bullock) In the recent survey, 20 Maine fire departments requested screening kits (see sidebar) to test for PFAS in well water and surface pumping water sources. Those who undertook water-sampling, a random and geographically diverse group of both volunteer and career departments, agreed to share testing results with Maine Morning Star. The DEP assesses water samples for 28 PFAS compounds, but its interim drinking water standard covers just six. Commercial water tests, which report on up to 55 compounds, still only capture a sliver of the PFAS that might be present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Analysis for 55 PFAS compounds in each of 31 water samples (some of the 20 departments tested multiple sites) revealed five distinct PFAS, most at relatively low levels. Among the samples tested, three came back with no detectable PFAS. Only two of the five compounds found fall under Maines drinking water standards: PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid). These two legacy PFAS were phased out of U.S. production in the early 2000s but remain prevalent in the environment. Among the departments that conducted water sampling, most reported that they had rarely or never used AFFF historically, and there was minimal evidence of PFOS, an ingredient in early AFFF formulations, in the samples tested. Only one well reported a level of PFOS over the federal drinking water guideline of 4 parts per trillion or ppt. Two of the other compounds reported include PFBA (perfluorobutanoic acid) and PFBS (perfluorobutane sulfonic acid), which persist in humans for days or weeks rather than years. About water-screening test kits PFAS water tests from laboratories certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can cost upward of $275 per sample. For a fire department needing to test water at multiple stations and pumping sources, expenses could escalate quickly. More affordable screening tests can indicate where high PFAS concentrations may be endangering drinking water. Costing less than a third of what certified tests do, screening kits are easier to administer and mail back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The water-screening kits used in this project came from a materials science lab using analytical methods similar to those used by the EPA (although not certified). A split-sample analysis done in Maine comparing data from these sampling kits with PFAS reports from three certified labs found the kits delivered comparable findings. More information on water-testing options for fire departments and homeowners appears on this projects resource page. The struggle to identify contamination sources Sampling water for PFAS is complicated by the sheer number of compounds in this vast chemical class. Scientists have identified nearly 15,000 PFAS to date, yet fewer than 100 of them have received much study. Given the use of PFAS in a wide range of consumer and industrial products, and the proprietary nature of many manufacturing processes, tracing the sources of PFAS found in samples can be challenging. The compound that appeared most frequently in fire department water samples, N-Ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamidoethanol or NEtFOSE, is not included on state-certified water tests so little data exists on its presence in Maine and little is known about toxicological effects. It surfaced in two-thirds of the water samples at low levels (averaging 2 ppt), roughly an order of magnitude higher than background levels found in rainwater collected during 2020-2022 federal sampling at a site in Freeport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A volatile compound associated with waterproofing treatments on paper and textiles, NEtFOSE is a precursor, one of many PFAS that can break down over time into more more enduring compounds. It can potentially transform into PFOS, a possible carcinogen that can remain in human bodies for years and in ecosystems for centuries. If NEtFOSE were used in treatments on firefighters protective jackets and pants, known as turnout gear, It could have come off of the fabric during the washing process, and then could have ended up in the water, observed Bryan Ormond, a textile researcher at North Carolina State University who analyzes PFAS treatments and non-fluorinated substitutes. Scientists find it challenging to track what specific PFAS compounds might have been used, given that different manufacturers of the different layers of the turnout gear have used different versions of repellent treatments, Ormond added, and each of the companies has likely changed up the finishes on their products over time. AFFF is probably not the major source [since NEtFOSE] is not a common PFAS to find in AFFF formulations or at AFFF-contaminated sites, noted Heidi Pickard, a postdoctoral researcher in environmental chemistry at Harvard University who studies PFAS precursors. If NEtFOSE derives from other sources, it may or may not originate in the fire stations. Fire training areas can be a source of PFAS water contamination, depending on the frequency of AFFF use and the sites hydrology. (Jessica Buckingham) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PFAS moving through sub-surface waters Risks to drinking water increase markedly in settings where AFFF use occurred repeatedly and where the areas hydrogeology the soils, bedrock material and location of aquifers and surface waters is conducive to the migration of PFAS. One such location lies in Carmel, a small community west of Bangor where a fire retention pond behind the fire station and town office has high levels of PFAS. Near that engineered pond, constructed as a pumping source for fire trucks, the municipal fire department historically held trainings. To determine the extent of contamination, Carmels town manager asked the DEP in 2023 to follow up on a preliminary water sample done at the town office. The states test found levels over 1,000 ppt for the sum of six PFAS compounds, two of which now have federal maximum contaminant levels of 4 ppt each. Six nearby residences registered levels over Maines interim drinking water standard of 20 ppt, and received whole-house filtration systems. The DEP covered initial testing and filtration using the states Uncontrolled Sites Fund, which provides limited liability exemptions for public treatment facilities and public water works but not for fire departments. Carmel has been made aware of DEP-incurred costs and been made aware that DEP may seek reimbursement, noted David Madore, the agencys spokesperson. The DEP is reviewing its program budgets in advance of the legislative session to determine if it will be necessary to request additional funding for PFAS programming, he added. In a Maine Morning Star survey, 87% of fire departments reported that they fill trucks from local surface waters. Some of them draw from settings such as transfer stations, fire training sites and farm ponds that could have elevated PFAS levels. (Contributed photo) To date, the DEP has invested roughly $30,000 testing water and installing filtration systems in Carmel, said Andrew Hart, the towns manager, with $18,000 annually projected to maintain those systems. The agency has been more than willing to work with the Town of Carmel, he added, but in addition to the mounting costs for water sampling and filtration, the town is paying for legal consultations and an environmental assessment. That work is not yet complete so the full scope of contamination remains uncertain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carmels experience demonstrates another PFAS risk related to the fire service that has received little attention. Fire tanker trucks hold up to 3,000 gallons while smaller Class A pumper trucks might transport and release up to 1,000 gallons of water. If those trucks draw from local sources with high PFAS levels, theres a lot of opportunity to move a lot of contaminated water to another spot, Osgood said. A structure fire can require several thousand gallons of water, he added, while extinguishing a sustained blaze could take hundreds of thousands of gallons. To assess that risk of inadvertent PFAS spreading, Maine Morning Stars survey asked fire departments where they fill their pump trucks. Eighty-seven percent of them draw from local surface waters. Among those, a third pull from a farm pond, 7% from a transfer station, and 6% from a fire training site all settings that could potentially have elevated PFAS. Looking beneath the surface Design and construction errors at fire stations can also lead to local water contamination, as Rhode Island learned in a community where a single 20-year-old station tainted the drinking water of more than 40 households, necessitating the extension of municipal water at a cost of $1.7 million. In that instance, trench drains from the truck bay were improperly connected to an underground injection control system (UIC, a shallow gravel drainage area intended solely for stormwater runoff) so AFFF from trucks and equipment ran almost directly into soils and then an aquifer. In Maines recent fire department survey, 5% of respondents reported having trench drains connected to UIC systems. Another 15% have trench drains that empty into septic tanks and leach fields, a less direct route but still a potential pathway for PFAS in AFFF to enter groundwater. Theres no UIC that wont be a problem for PFAS. Ultimately, its an underground injection of water, observed Nicholas Noons, an environmental engineer at the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Even with oil/water separators and other technology to clean the water, he added, the trucks have to drain and that water has to go somewhere. We view every fire station as a source of PFAS, Noons said. We have yet to find one that hasnt affected water. Rhode Island has investigated half a dozen stations to date and has identified about 40 more (out of 160 total) that are of high concern due to potential impact on nearby drinking-water wells. To cover the costs of investigating and installing filtration, Rhode Island is dedicating some of the federal funding it has received through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Laws Emerging Contaminant Grants for Small and Disadvantaged Communities. To stretch the grant money, Noons said, the state is considering installing point-of-use filters (such as under-sink units) rather than whole-house filtration to ensure that more residents get at least that minimal level of drinking water protection. Everyone knows the fire stations are an issue. The challenge is that without a responsible party, the environmental assessment and filtration costs can fall to municipalities. Nicholas Noons, environmental engineer at the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Maine is receiving $45 million (for 2022-2026) from the Emerging Contaminant Grants program, which can support filtration of both public drinking water supplies and private wells. Roughly half of Maine households are on private wells, but the entire sum has been allocated for public water systems, according to a spokesperson for the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention. Opening a can of worms Funding remediation of AFFF sites is a universal challenge, according to Noons. At New England meetings of water professionals, he said, everyone knows the fire stations are an issue. The challenge is that without a responsible party, the environmental assessment and filtration costs can fall to municipalities. Towns like Carmel and Ogunquit are learning this the hard way. Nearly five years ago, the governors PFAS Task Force recognized the need for state support so that fire departments and municipalities are not financially burdened for environmental clean-up incidental to Class B AFFF. It essentially called for the sort of safety net that the state eventually established for farmers affected by PFAS-laden sludge. Farmers who test for PFAS and find contamination encounter a coordinated agency response that helps ensure they receive technical, financial and health-related support, backed by a $70 million PFAS Advisory Fund. Its clear from our experience in Maine with farmers that having that safety net is critically important, observed Tricia Rouleau, farm network director for the nonprofit Maine Farmland Trust. It can quell the financial fears and liability concerns that might deter people from testing for PFAS, she said: Otherwise, youre opening a can of worms with no way to deal with it. People are scared of liability when it comes to AFFF, said State Fire Marshal Shawn Esler. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently added two PFAS compounds to its Superfund list of hazardous materials, while also issuing guidance to staff that it does not consider entities like fire departments and public water utilities responsible parties under that legislation. No such liability exemption applies at the state level, however, so when the Maine DEP steps in to investigate and remediate AFFF-contaminated sites, it can seek to recover those costs from municipalities. Where the responsibility rests In Maines farming community, theres less concern now about liability, Rouleau said, because it became clear that the responsibility goes much higher than that, resting with chemical corporations that manufactured and promoted products that their own scientists knew were problematic. It all starts with the chemical industry having free rein to pump this into our environment unchecked, in Osgoods view: If PFAS had gone under the scrutiny that a drug has to, they never would have been launched into the environment. Instead, these persistent chemicals went unregulated for decades, and all but six compounds remain so. Id like to think the chemical industry didnt intentionally, knowingly put it out there, he added, but the evidence talks differently. Its kind of criminal. In March 2023, the Office of the Maine Attorney General filed a lawsuit against chemical manufacturers of AFFF seeking compensation for damages to the states communities and natural resources from PFAS-laden foam. The suit names 3M and DuPont (and companies spun off in a corporate reorganization), along with foam manufacturers. While the Attorney Generals Office does not comment on pending litigation, state lawsuits involving AFFF typically become part of federal multidistrict litigation, which consolidates similar cases for greater efficiency. More than 10,000 cases related to AFFF are amassed in the U.S. District Court of South Carolina, and as has happened in recent PFAS cases where water utilities were the plaintiffs the corporate defendants may settle rather than going to trial. In settlements, states often take a discount on what they truly need, said John Gardella, a trial attorney and shareholder at CMBG3 Law in Boston who writes about PFAS litigation in The National Law Review. States face a kind of a Catch-22, he added, because in order to recover funds they need to thoroughly document the true scope of the damages, but that rigorous investigation can be an added financial drain. As Maines investigation of sludge sites begins to wind down, research on AFFF sites may start ramping upwith three bill titles related to AFFF already submitted by state Rep. Dan Ankeles, D-Brunswick. All the pieces are there There are lessons from the agricultural sector that could help. At this point, we know so much more, and we can learn a lot from what farmers experienced and carry [that] over to firefighters, Rouleau said, such as having resources available immediately for water filtration and health monitoring. Maine needs to have staff in place to help people [in affected fire departments and communities] navigate the response and figure out next steps, Rouleau noted, explaining that support mechanisms must be flexible and long-term, since each situation is unique and changes over time. Whats critical to keep in mind, Rouleau added, is that for farmers and firefighters alike, the accumulated occupational exposure to PFAS means theyre the ones who are going to bear the brunt of this issue. The collaborative work that went into shaping guidelines for the PFAS Advisory Fund, which provides support to affected farmers, should make the path forward easier for communities affected by AFFF, suggested Kate Dufour, director of advocacy and communications at the Maine Municipal Association. Theres a real opportunity to build on what we have and make it better if it needs to be better. With plans underway for an Office of Community Affairs designed to help municipalities with major challenges, all the pieces are there to have a collaborative approach that engages multiple agencies, Dufour said. She hopes that some of the bills under consideration this winter will ignite a constructive discussion about how to support communities facing potential PFAS contamination from past use of firefighting foam. The upcoming legislation session, she added, offers an opportunity for everyone to say how we are going to work together to get this done. Maine Morning Star is part of States Newsroom, a national nonprofit news organization. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Crypto was once a fringe sideshow for the investing public, a concern for D.C. policymakers and a subject of ridicule for top Wall Street figures. That changed in 2024. Digital assets such as bitcoin (BTC-USD) can now be owned and traded by regular Americans like a stock. Some of the biggest players on Wall Street are hailing it as a wise investment. And an incoming administration in Washington, D.C., is promising major legislative changes to support the industry. Crypto's widespread acceptance translated into major gains for investors who were along for the ride. Those holding bitcoin are up 130% since the beginning of the year as the price of the worlds largest cryptocurrency set new records and surged past $100,000 following the election of Donald Trump. The market value of all crypto swelled by nearly $1.7 trillion, according to Coinmarketcap. "It's all lining up for the crypto industry right now," Ian Katz, a managing partner with Capital Alpha, told Yahoo Finance. Enthusiasts dont see the rally ending anytime soon. This time next year, "we're going to have the same conversation, that bitcoin has had an incredible run," Bitwise chief investment officer Matt Hougan told Yahoo Finance. Bitwise expects bitcoin to cross $200,000 before the end of 2025. One of the biggest Wall Street beneficiaries of this shift, BlackRock (BLK) CEO Larry Fink, was once a "proud skeptic" of bitcoin. The boss of the worlds largest money manager has evolved into one of its best-known advocates. "I was a proud skeptic, and I studied it, learned about it, and I came away saying, 'OK, you know, my opinion [for] five years was wrong,'" Fink said earlier this year while discussing his previous views with CNBC. His firm, BlackRock, now recommends intrigued investors put "as much as 2%" of their portfolio into bitcoin. "We believe bitcoin is an asset class in itself; it is an alternative to other commodities like gold," Fink told analysts during an October earnings call. Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, during an interview with CNBC in 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid REUTERS / Reuters BlackRock and 10 other money managers such as Fidelity Investments and Franklin Templeton got the green light in January to launch spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds, allowing everyday investors to get exposure to the worlds largest cryptocurrency without having to own it. BlackRock's ETF, IBIT, then became the fastest-growing ETF in history. The 11 ETFs that launched amassed $100 billion in assets under management as of Dec. 18, according to JPMorgan Research. "You had folks who would have been allocating to bitcoin, but because there was no traditionally trusted, easy, efficient way to do it for their circumstances, they weren't in it," Robbie Mitchnick, BlackRock's head of digital assets, told Yahoo Finance. "And then the ETFs changed that." High winds in Pierce County has caused road closures and power outages Thursday morning. A wind advisory was issued throughout the Puget Sound and Hood Canal, with winds of 15 to 25 miles per hour, and gusts up to 50 miles per hour until 1 p.m, according to the National Weather Service. In Tacoma, the winds are about 18 to 25 miles per hour, the NWS says. The forecast shows that Thursday night there will be mostly rain around 11 p.m. Winds could gust as high as 20 miles per hour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At one point in the morning, Tacoma Public Utilities reported that around 1,700 residents were without power in the city. That number has significantly lowered to 37, the outage map shows. About 117 residents have lost power in South Prairie, according to Puget Sound Energys outage map. Road closure Sunrise Beach Drive Northwest was closed from a slide blocking most of the roadway, Pierce Countys official X account posted at 7:52 a.m. Crews mobilized to clean up the slide and anticipated the road reopening by the end of the day. As of Friday morning, the roadway has been fully cleared up. Passes I-90 eastbound Snoqualmie Pass closed at mile post 47 due to spinouts and crashes. As of 10:30 a.m. it has reopened. Snoqualmie and Stevens have had previous closures this morning. High winds in the Puget Sound have cause road closures on Dec. 26, 2024. Washington State Patrol Washington State Department of Transportations website is reporting the areas are experiencing compact snow and ice. If youre driving in that direction, dont forget your chains, which are required for the passes. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) For 25 years, Target Dayton Ministries has hosted its Christmas Day crusade. This years saw them bring holiday cheer in the form of song and gifts to more than 3,000 people in the community. More than 300 volunteers spent their Christmas at the Dayton Convention Center to make the event a success. Miami Valleys Karate Kid helping seniors knock out holiday loneliness Its just important that to make our community thrive, said volunteer Darlene Chafins. We have to be the ones that are pushing for it to thrive. So get out there and help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Volunteering at the event is an annual tradition for Darlene. Going back to when my kids were very little, we always wanted to do something on Christmas Day where we were giving back, she said. It wasnt all about us and our presents and all of that. And so that kind of morphed into us wanting to volunteer here at Target Ministries. For other volunteers, its their first time. Were trying to make a tradition for our family, said Justin Miller. So instead of waking up and doing Christmas first, were going to wake up and serve Jesus by serving the community. And then well go home and celebrate Christmas and our family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Families, friends take to RiverScape ice rink to celebrate Christmas Eve And thats why Dayton Target Ministries started its Christmas Day crusade over two decades ago. Our ministry is focused on the poor and homeless community, said organizer Cindi Stevens. And so today we are having the celebration to offer folks hope of the gospel. She said that all the attendees will receive gospel materials and fresh lunch, as well as Walmart and McDonalds gift cards. Children will also get their own teddy bear. Target Dayton Ministries plans to grow their event in the coming years to serve thousands more people in the community. 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 WDTN.com. Mark Spain, a news anchor for Lynchburg, Va., TV station WSET, died on Wednesday, Dec. 18 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer three weeks earlier WSET remembered their colleague as a "champion of the community" "He was one hell of a journalist and took his job very seriously," his widow, Lynita, said in a statement Mark Spain, a popular and award-winning local television news journalist from Virginia, has died just three weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was 64 years old. In a Facebook update posted on Thursday, Dec. 19, Lynita Spain, the widow of the ABC affiliate WSET anchor, announced that her husband died the day prior, on Dec. 18. Our family along with the city of Lynchburg lost a man of hope, someone who loves his city and stood for equality, treating others with respect and kindness, she wrote in a statement. She added, He was a husband, father, brother, friend and a positive light in the community. My first true love. He brought so much joy, compassion, love and strength into our lives, and his absence will be deeply felt by all who knew him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its surreal that it was exactly three weeks ago yesterday that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Lynita continued. Our family was there with him from the beginning of the fight to the finish, until his very last breath! He fought hard, he stayed positive throughout the battle and wasnt afraid. We have comfort in knowing he is no longer suffering, it was not easy watching him fight for his life and battle this disease, but he was not alone., and neither were we. Related: Elise Finch, CBS New York Meteorologist, Dead at 51 In a tribute article, WSET, which also confirmed Mark's death, remembered their colleague as a "champion of the community" who was never afraid to ask tough questions and interviewed local leaders. Mark dug deep into important issues for Virginians, the station wrote. Things like capital punishment, vaccines, mask mandates during the pandemic, gun laws there was no difficult subject he was afraid to face if it meant fighting for a story that needed to be told. WSET also cited Mark's contributions to the community outside of his work at the station. He helped raise $75,000 for Jubilee's new media center just this summer. He helped mentor a young man through ABC13's partnership with Big Brothers, Big Sisters. He partnered with the Salvation Army to ring the bell and raise money for that organization, the station reported, adding, He even took on the task of growing a mustache for Mustaches for Kids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mark joined WSET, which is based in Lynchburg, Va., in 2015. Before that, he worked at First Coast News in Jacksonville, Fla., beginning in 2000, the station reported. Mark Spain/Facebook Mark Spain Mark Spain Related: News Anchor Donna Gregory Dies from Lung Cancer: She Was the Heart of Every Room She Entered WSET also noted that Spains journalism career took him to Indianapolis and Cleveland in addition to Jacksonville and Lynchburg. His excellent journalism was prize-winning; throughout his time at ABC13 he took home multiple awards, the station wrote. First Coast News general manager Tim Thomas also paid tribute to Mark, saying, We are deeply saddened to hear of Mark's passing. He always worked to better the First Coast in every story he produced. Our thoughts are with his wife Lynita and his three children during this difficult time." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On his Facebook page, Mark usually began his posts with the greeting, Hi sunshines! In a Dec. 9th update, he expressed gratitude to the public for their support towards him and his family amid his illness. Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer is something I would have never imagined for myself, he wrote. I'll begin chemo on December 16 and we will see how things go. My plan is to get through this and become a Cancer Survivor," he later added. So, please keep the prayers and positive vibes coming. Related: News Anchors Announce Colleague's Unexpected Death at 28 During Broadcast: Devastated 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. In her Dec. 19th update from the Spain Family, Lynita remembered her husband as a loving family man. He also loved his job and felt so blessed to do what he did for a living. He was one hell of a journalist and took his job very seriously. He was a pillar of the community and people loved to share how much they love and enjoyed watching him on the news, she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also thanked her followers for their support. You have all been amazing and a true village! Lynita wrote. I cant thank you all enough for all of the prayers, cards, flowers, blankets, texts, comments and checking in on us. This new journey, one I never thought Id be on, as a single parent will be a new and challenging one, she continued. God is walking along side us, guiding and protecting us. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers. A GoFundMe has been created to help Spains family. As of Thursday, Dec. 26, it has raised over $28,000. Read the original article on People A 13-year-old male Lockport student has been charged by Lockport police in connection with a school threat toward Aaron Mossell Junior High School. The teen was arrested on Dec. 20 and charged with making a threat of mass harm. According to a press release from the Lockport Police Department, the reported threats were posted on a social media platform on Dec. 7. The post indicated that the student had a firearm but Lockport Chief Steven Abbott said no such weapon was found. The threat was investigated without impacting classes at the school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What can be taken away from this, according to Abbott is there are consequences to your actions. You think youre not going to get charged on it, you will be charged on it. You think your age will matter, it wont matter. You think you wont get caught, think again, he said. Abbott said 2024 saw far fewer school-related threats in Lockport than the previous year, largely because of the response of local, state and even national law enforcement. In 2023, Abbott said that swatting attacks or false reports made to draw a response of heavily armed tactical police units, known as S.W.A.T. teams, brought about significantly more investigations than threats in 2024. Investigation by the FBI and ultimately the creation of a national database for such attacks followed dozens of such threats across New York state, including Lockport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abbott said that he believed that by taking such incidents seriously, potential swatters and other individuals who make these threats are being curtailed. The lesson is starting to get out there, he said. Abbott said that the student of this threat was found at his home and the matter has gone on to New York State Family Court. The case is still pending, but according to the press release, the student received a juvenile appearance ticket. ST. LOUIS 2024 has been a yearan eclipse, cicadas, elections, and much more in between. FOX 2 is giving a glimpse at the top 10 most-viewed stories this year on our website. In August, an incident at an Ellisville gym led the Missouri Department of Revenue to revise its rules, stating that people who want to change their gender on their drivers license must now provide either medical documentation showing theyve had gender reassignment surgery or a court order declaring their gender designation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It sparked controversy on both sides regarding the decision. They were loud and proud this summer. Missouri and parts of Illinois experienced the rare occurrence of two Cicada broods emerging at once. Trillions were heard across the country throughout June and Julysome even reached higher decibels than an 18-wheeler truck. The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center issued a rare Geomagnetic Storm Watch back in May, and it was a sign that the United States would see the Northern Lights in several spots. Many residents across the viewing area sent in their pictures of the Aurora Borealis, and it didnt disappoint. Hazelwood resident Shelly Singleton was suspicious when she received a $58 charge from Walmart in October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, a Regions Bank spokesperson confirmed the bank was seeing a trend affecting a small subset of customers. Regions also said its not contained to just one bank branch or the St. Louis area. Many residents reported having the same issue with Walmart. Missouris primary election was Aug. 6, 2024. Voters decided on which candidates got a spot on the November ballot and also weighed in on key issues. The stakes were high. The U.S. Congress, Governor, Attorney General, and other top state positions were all up for grabs. In early April, community members across Missouri and Illinois took their eyes to the sky to watch a partial or total solar eclipse. While St. Louis did not experience a total eclipse, the moon covered 99.164% of the sun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Totality lasted up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds in certain spots, twice as long as the full solar eclipse that darkened U.S. skies in 2017. There wont be another coast-to-coast eclipse in the U.S. until 2045. Ballots in St. Louis County were extremely long for the November general election22 inches long covered front and back for some. This election, voters could access what the wait times were across the county with the interactive map during early voting and election day. On the first day alone of early voting, more than 15,000 ballots were cast in St. Louis County. The St. Louis Board of Education fired SLPS Superintendent Dr. Keisha Scarlett late September at a special closed session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision came following the school board hiring an external firm to review district finances and practices, including bus services. Dr. Millicent Borishade was appointed interim superintendent. Outages across Facebook spiked early March as users were being logged out with no option to log in again. The outage caused concern among businesses relying on Facebook for marketing, highlighting the platforms significant role in global communication. Users had migrated to other social networks to voice frustrations and seek updates, with #FacebookDown trending. Acclaimed rapper, actor, and entrepreneur Nelly was arrested early August in Maryland Heights for no proof of car insurance, leading to an alleged drug possession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Nelly had won a jackpot, an officer who is tasked with supervising the money transfer ran a background check on him. The officer allegedly had found a 2018 charge for no proof of insurance, then conducted a search warrant and claimed he found drugs in Nellys vehicle. Christopher King with St. Louis County stated that the defense counsel decided not to issue any charges on the case. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents are investigating a hunting accident that happened on Dec. 23 in Zachary. According to LDWF, two people were unknowingly hunting deer on the same small private property where both had permission to hunt. One hunter mistook the other for a deer and accidentally shot him with buckshot from a 20-gauge shotgun. LDWF said the injured hunter was airlifted to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital and is being treated for non-fatal injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LDWF agents learned that neither hunter was wearing the required hunters orange safety gear or carrying deer tags. The shooter was cited for hunting deer without possessing deer tags and failing to wear hunters orange. Additional charges may follow as the investigation continues, LDWF said. 3 men arrested, face drug charges after standoff in Baton Rouge on Christmas Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com. The make and brand of the sweater worn by murder suspect Luigi Mangione in court Monday, when he pleaded not guilty to federal charges, has sold out. Meanwhile, more merchandise centered on the Towson, Maryland native is appearing online, as he continues to draw support from fans worldwide. Mangione has been arrested and charged with more than a dozen counts, including murder, in the Dec. 4 shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The evolution of Mangione from unknown tech employee and former Gilman School valedictorian to a suspect in a high-profile murder, and even a hero to some because of his reported views on the polarizing American health system, has perplexed and confused many people and becoming a fashion icon and the subject of merchandise from mugs to posters is one more sign of a large and diverse fan base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While being arraigned on charges of murder in the furtherance of terrorism and other counts in New York, Mangiones supporters took particular notice of the burgundy sweater he wore during his plea of not guilty on federal charges in Manhattan. Later identified as a merino wool sweater from Nordstrom in the color Burgundy Royale, the sweater worn by Mangione has since sold out following his court appearance. Eagle-eyed legal observers noted that Mangiones attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, also wore a similar color and style in court, where she described Mangione as a human ping pong ball, but it wasnt identical to her clients. Etsy sellers have also capitalized on Mangiones notoriety, creating merchandise featuring his likeness on t-shirts, mugs and even flower pots, prompting the retailer to send some sellers featuring the murder suspect takedown notices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to his online supporters researching his outfit, Mangione was joined in court by about two dozen female fans, some of whom wore face masks and cried during his court appearance. The outfits reminded some on social media of the one worn by Ken Bone, an undecided voter who became a minor internet phenomenon in 2016. Nordstrom selling out of Mangiones sweater is the latest example of his fanbases numbers. Tattoos, depictions of Mangione as a saint and a local banner reading Deny Defend Depose, the words allegedly on the bullets used to kill Thompson show how divided the public has become over the 26-year-old Maryland native. Have a news tip? Contact Racquel Bazos at rbazos@baltsun.com, 443-813-0770 or on X as @rzbworks. M.T. Vasudevan Nair, celebrated Indian screenwriter, director and novelist, died on Dec. 25 at a hospital in Kozhikode after being admitted for breathing difficulties. He was 91. His contributions to Malayalam-language cinema and literature redefined storytelling in the southern Indian state of Kerala where he was born. Nairs early exposure to traditional folktales and the lush landscapes of his homeland would later inform his distinct narrative style. His cinematic career began in the early 1960s, and he quickly emerged as a master of the screenplay, becoming synonymous with an emerging new wave movement in Malayalam cinema. Nairs debut as a screenwriter, Murappennu (1965), directed by A. Vincent, set the tone for a career defined by emotionally resonant, character-driven stories. Over the decades, he penned screenplays for over 60 films, including iconic works such as Nirmalyam (1973), which won Indias National Film Award for Best Feature Film and marked his directorial debut. His adaptation of the epic tale in Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989) earned him a National Award for Best Screenplay, showcasing his ability to reinterpret folklore with a modern sensibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His collaborations with directors like Hariharan, Padmarajan, and Adoor Gopalakrishnan elevated Malayalam cinema to new heights. Films like Panchagni (1986) and Perumthachan (1990) are lauded for their nuanced portrayal of human relationships and the socio-political landscape of Kerala. Nairs work often explored themes of moral conflict, existential dilemmas, and the intricate dynamics of rural life, reflecting his deep understanding of his cultural milieu. While his contributions to cinema earned him six National Film Awards and multiple Kerala State Film Awards, Nairs literary achievements were no less significant. His first major novel, Naalukettu (1958), was a groundbreaking exploration of familial and generational conflict within the matrilineal system of Nair society. The novel established him as a leading voice in Malayalam literature and earned the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award. Over the years, Nair authored numerous novels, short stories, and essays, many of which have been translated into various languages. Works like Kaalam (1969), Manju (1964), and Randamoozham (1984) cemented his reputation as a literary craftsman. Randamoozham, a retelling of the Mahabharata through the perspective of Bhima, remains one of his most celebrated works. Nairs literary voice was marked by its clarity, economy of language, and evocative descriptions of the human condition. He received the Jnanpith Award in 1995, Indias highest literary honor, recognizing his contributions to literature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to his creative pursuits, Nair was an influential figure in Keralas cultural landscape. As an editor of leading literary magazines and a mentor to countless writers and filmmakers, he played a pivotal role in shaping the narrative traditions of his time. Earlier this year, streaming platform ZEE5 Global launched Manorathangal, a nine-part Malayalam-language anthology series celebrating the legacy of Nair that brought together top South Indian talent. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted: Saddened by the passing away of Shri MT Vasudevan Nair Ji, one of the most respected figures in Malayalam cinema and literature. His works, with their profound exploration of human emotions, have shaped generations and will continue to inspire many more. He also gave voice to the silent and marginalised. My thoughts are with his family and admirers. Om Shanti. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. MADRID, N.Y. (WWTI) A 68-year-old Madrid man is facing multiple charges after an alleged Christmas Day incident in St. Lawrence County. New York State Police charged Peter Caughey after responding to a menacing complaint just before 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, December 25 to State Route 345 in the town of Madrid. NYSP charge Massena man for making alleged threats with firearm Troopers responded due to a menacing complaint where Caughey allegedly brandished a knife, approached the victim, and was making threatening remarks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caughey was charged with the following: Third-degree criminal possession of a weapon Fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon Second-degree menacing He was arrested and transported to the state police headquarters in Canton for processing. Caughey was arraigned in the Town of Canton Court, where he was remanded to St. Lawrence County Jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com. All surviving victims of the Magdeburg Christmas market attack are in a stable condition after being taken to hospital mostly with broken bones and internal bleeding, a local hospital official has told a German newspaper. In an interview with the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper published late on Wednesday, the director of intensive care at the university hospital in Magdeburg said the vast majority of the 72 injured people treated after the car ramming had been released. "Of the 15 most seriously injured, who reached our hospital in an unstable condition, we were able to stabilize all of them including some children," the newspaper quoted emergency room physician Robert Werdehausen as saying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Werdehausen said the most common injuries were multiple fractures of the arms and legs, but also of the pelvis with high blood loss. The perpetrator, a doctor originally from Saudi Arabia who came to Germany in 2006, had driven a large BMW car through crowds at the Christmas market on Friday evening, killing five people and injuring as many as 235. Investigations into his motives are ongoing. In the weeks before the attack, he increasingly expressed himself erratically and radically on social media. The 50-year-old had said he was a fan of X owner Elon Musk and the far-right anti-migrant AfD party, which, he claimed, pursued the same goals as he did. Elon Musk's xAI raised $6 billion in its Series C funding round. Steve Granitz/FilmMagic via Getty Images Elon Musk's xAI raised $6 billion in its Series C fundraising, the startup announced on Monday. The round's participants included Sequoia Capital, and Nvidia and AMD were strategic investors. The AI startup plans to use the cash to ship new products and build out its infrastructure. Elon Musk's xAI has completed its Series C funding round, raising a total of $6 billion, it revealed in a Monday blog post. Musk's artificial intelligence company said the participants included a16z, Sequoia Capital, Morgan Stanley, BlackRock, Fidelity, Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Holdings, Oman and Qatar's sovereign wealth funds, California-based Lightspeed Venture Partners, Chicago-based Valor Equity Partners, Dubai-based Vy Capital, and UAE-based tech investor MGX. xAI added that chipmakers Nvidia and AMD took part as strategic investors and "continue to support xAI in rapidly scaling our infrastructure." Musk shared the news on his X platform, writing, "A lot of compute is needed." He also tagged xAI in a meme generated by xAI's Grok chatbot that riffed on a famous line from the movie "Jaws." Musk was likely underscoring the vast amount of processing power needed to train and run AI models, which has fueled enormous demand for microchips and underpinned a roughly eightfold rise in Nvidia stock since the start of 2023. xAI, founded in March last year, raised $6 billion at a post-money valuation of $24 billion in its Series B round in May. The Wall Street Journal reported in late November that it had raised a further $5 billion at a $50 billion valuation. It appears xAI ultimately raised a bigger round of $6 billion, but the valuation wasn't disclosed. The startup highlighted its progress since May in its blog post, including its launch of Colossus the world's largest AI supercomputer powered by 100,000 Nvidia Hopper GPUs, which xAI plans to double in size to 200,000 chips soon. xAI also released version two of Grok, an application programming interface (API) for developers to build on its platform, its Aurora image generation model for Grok, and Grok on X. The company said it's training Grok 3 and "focused on launching innovative new consumer and enterprise products that will leverage the power of Grok, Colossus, and X to transform the way we live, work, and play." All surviving victims of the Magdeburg Christmas market attack are in a stable condition after being taken to hospital mostly with broken bones and internal bleeding, a local hospital official has told a German newspaper. In an interview with the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper published late on Wednesday, the director of intensive care at the university hospital in Magdeburg said the vast majority of the 72 injured people treated after the car ramming had been released. "Of the 15 most seriously injured, who reached our hospital in an unstable condition, we were able to stabilize all of them including some children," the newspaper quoted emergency room physician Robert Werdehausen as saying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Werdehausen said the most common injuries were multiple fractures of the arms and legs, but also of the pelvis with high blood loss. The perpetrator, a doctor originally from Saudi Arabia who came to Germany in 2006, had driven a large BMW car through crowds at the Christmas market on Friday evening, killing five people and injuring as many as 235. Investigations into his motives are ongoing. In the weeks before the attack, he increasingly expressed himself erratically and radically on social media. The 50-year-old had said he was a fan of X owner Elon Musk and the far-right anti-migrant AfD party, which, he claimed, pursued the same goals as he did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The people had no large wounds, but heavy internal bleeding, which then led to shock," said Werdehausen, the director of the University Clinic for Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care. From a medical point of view, hopes had been raised because there were few head injuries, he said. The inability to save some patients was not due to the high volume of emergencies but rather the severity of their injuries, he added. "Of the patients assigned to us, two died: a nine-year-old boy and an adult female patient. The nine-year-old had already been resuscitated at the Christmas market, but unfortunately it was no longer possible to continue these measures after he arrived at our centre. The second patient also had such severe injuries that there were no longer any meaningful treatment options when she came to us." Werdehausen said he was glad that emergency workers had trained for such extreme scenarios. "This enabled us to provide the patients with very good and timely care." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the minutes and hours after the attack, emergency workers were deployed in teams according to a predetermined plan, while additional personnel were recruited via a digital alerting system. In the end, there were 520 employees from all professional groups who had offered to help. "We couldn't even deploy all the volunteers," the doctor said. A man is accused of attacking a woman who was in labor in Somerset County. Court documents say Andrew Steven Ashurst, 25, of Berlin, hit a womans head on a toilet, pulled her by the hair around a house and slapped her between Dec. 21 and 22 in Brothersvalley Township. Police said the woman went into labor on Dec. 22 and that Ashurt hit her in the face with a phone as he tried to prevent her from calling emergency responders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was eventually able to call 911 and was taken to a medical center. Employees called the police who found bruises on her face, neck and appendix. Charges were filed on Christmas Eve. Somerset County District Attorney Molly Metzgar issued a statement about the charges saying: As a mother, I understand the vulnerability of a woman and her unborn child and I am appalled that anyone would jeopardize the lives of these two people. The allegations are unfathomable and I plan to punish these crimes to the fullest extent of the law. Ashurst is being held at the Somerset County Jail and is facing aggravated assault of an unborn child, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, unlawful restraint, simple assault and harassment charges. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW MOREHEAD, Ky. (FOX 56) A man is facing several charges after allegedly stealing a car and swerving toward a trooper who was trying to stop him during a Christmas Day chase in Morehead. A uniform citation from the Kentucky State Police Department (KSP) shows that on Wednesday, troopers were helping Morehead police with an unrelated complaint in the area of Kroger Center when state police heard reports of a stolen vehicle near Scotts Creek Boat Ramp. 1 injured in officer-involved shooting during welfare check in Nelson County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While heading to the scene, KSP said troopers noticed a red car driven by Michael Fogelman, 27, was allegedly moving at 98 miles per hour in a posted 55-mile-per-hour zone. When troopers caught up to Fogelman, he reportedly made a U-turn and merged onto I-64 eastbound. An off-duty state trooper reportedly attempted to set up stop sticks to end the chase. While trying to set the sticks in place, Fogelman allegedly swerved his car in an attempt to strike the trooper, per court documents. The chase reportedly ended at Alderman Lane, when Fogelman turned down a dead end before running into the woods, followed by law enforcement. Michael Fogelman, 27, was lodged in the Rowan County Detention Center on Wednesday. (Rowan County Detention Center) LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: According to an arrest citation, Fogelman told authorities he was trying to get home to see his daughter after leaving rehab. He was charged with: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attempted murder of a peace officer First-degree criminal mischief Receiving $10,000 or more in stolen property Disregarding a traffic light Fogelman was lodged in the Rowan County Detention Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A man is behind bars after police say he attacked the mother of his child on Christmas evening. According to reports, officers responded to an assault call at a home in the 3500 block of Shewell Avenue. The victim told police that she had an agreement with the father of her child, identified as 24-year-old DAnthony Holmes, that he would Uber to his mothers house to pick up their child, but would not come inside the home because he was not allowed. DAnthony Holmes (Photo courtesy of the SCSO) Reports say while the woman was doing Holmes mothers hair in the kitchen, Holmes knocked on the door then aggressively entered the home and charged at the woman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman allegedly grabbed a knife when he started chasing her around the table. Holmes mother and sibling attempted to hold him back, but Holmes grabbed the victim by her shirt and punched her in the face multiple times, reports say. The victim admitted to swinging the knife at Holmes to defend herself, but said that she did not know where she stabbed Holmes. Man dead after Christmas Day stabbing However, Holmes reportedly told police that when he went to the home to pick up his child, the victim approached him aggressively with the knife and stabbed him. He fled the scene but was later arrested at his home and taken to Regional One in critical condition because of the injuries he received during the altercation. The victim was treated for minor injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Holmes was charged with Domestic Assault Bodily Harm. His bond has not been set. Police say both the victim and the suspect have a history of domestic 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 WREG.com. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Police say a Phoenix man arrested at a Ridgecrest gas station used a device that allowed him to pump gas without paying resulting in the theft of about 500 gallons of diesel fuel. Noel Perez Delgado, 42, was arrested Tuesday for investigation of grand theft and theft-related offenses after police found large gas containers filled with stolen fuel in the back of his box truck, according to a department news release. The truck was seized. Police were called to Flyers Gas Station on North China Lake Boulevard at 12:35 a.m. to a report of a box truck that had been parked for hours. They searched it and found the containers, and determined Perez Delgado had installed a device on a gas pump to steal fuel, according to the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perez Delgado was arrested on similar charges in Los Angeles County a week ago, police 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 KGET 17. ST. LOUIS A man was arrested Wednesday after he shot a man in the foot and barricaded himself in a north St. Louis home to avoid police. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD), the incident took place overnight Wednesday morning around 12:30 a.m. on the 5900 block of Hamilton Terrace in north St. Louis Hamilton Heights neighborhood. Heavy police presence in Ferguson after suspected shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say the incident happened after the suspect shot a 38-year-old man in the foot over a personal matter the two had. When police arrived at the scene, the 45-year-old refused to come out of the home and barricaded himself in. According to police, the man refused to surrender to authorities following tactical negotiations. Police say the man was located inside the home by an SLMPD canine and was later taken into custody around 8 a.m. The 38-year-old man that was shot was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. The investigation is still ongoing, police say. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHIPPEWA FALLS A Chippewa Falls man who reportedly shot a gun into a wall that entered another residence has now been charged. Devan Van Aarde, 31, 19041 65th Ave., was charged in Chippewa County Court with one count of endangering safety-reckless use of a firearm, which is a felony. Judge Benjamin Lane set an initial court date for Feb. 4. According to the criminal complaint, the incident happened at 3:30 a.m. in August 2023 at a home on 65th Avenue in the town of Lafayette. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The landlord of a duplex called police to report that a person living on one side of the building called him because he heard gunshots in the other unit of the duplex. Bullets had entered through a wall shared by both sides of the duplex. (The victim) said sometime before the sun came up which he estimated shortly after 5:00 in the morning, he walked into the bathroom and thats when he noticed that the bathroom mirror had two holes in it, the complaint reads. The victim then contacted the landlord, and thats when he noticed that there was a definitive hole through the eastern bedroom that traveled west through the rest of the residence. The officer knew from prior encounters that Van Aarde lived in that unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An officer learned that Van Aarde may be suicidal, the complaint reads. He was detained at the scene and placed in a squad car. Van Aarde told me he attempted suicide earlier this morning and the gun misfired. Van Aarde told me he contacted his parents in South Africa earlier this morning telling his parents goodbye, the complaint reads. Van Aarde said he then had a misfire with his firearm and shot through the wall. Vanaarde did not go into details regarding the reason why he wanted to commit suicide. Van Aarde walked deputies through the unit and showed where he had fired the gun in a bedroom. The officers and victim found a second bullet hole that went through the shared wall between units. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the far western storage room, one definitive hole could be seen going through the sheetrock and protruding to the exterior wall on the western side of the residence, the complaint reads. Court records show Van Aaarde recently got a speeding ticket that now shows his address is 809 Vanness Parkway in Eau Claire. He has no other prior criminal record in Wisconsin, online court records state. A man was charged in connection with an armed robbery at a convenience store in Newington on Christmas after a K-9 tracked him to the CTfastrak busway and chased him down. The robbery was reported shortly before 8 p.m. at Cumberland Farms, located at 724 Cedar St., according to Sgt. Matthew J. DEsposito of the Newington Police Department. Store employees told police that the suspect, identified as 32-year-old Dylan Martin of Bristol, was armed with a knife and had fled the store, DEsposito said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A K-9 tracked the suspect from the store to the CTfastrak busway, where officers spotted Martin walking along the pedestrian walkway, DEsposito said. Martin reportedly ran from police who confronted him, leading to officers and the K-9 chasing him. He was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit. Martin was arrested on charges of second-degree robbery, sixth-degree larceny, interfering with an officer and failure to pay or plea. He was held on a $50,000 bond and was expected to appear in New Britain Superior Court on Thursday. A 56-year-old man who got in a minor crash on a Queens expressway was fatally struck by a passing SUV when he got out to look over the damage, police said Thursday. The tragic chain of events began when a 39-year-old woman slammed her Mercedes-Benz into a barrier in the exit lane of the Clearview Expressway in Bayside about 8:45 a.m. Tuesday. Victim Arsen Aronov was behind the wheel of a Hyundai Sonata when he rear-ended the crashed Mercedes in the exit lane leading to the westbound lanes of the Long Island Expressway, cops said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When he and the woman exited their cars to look over the damage, a 24-year-old woman driving a Chevrolet Equinox slammed into Aronov. Medics rushed Aronov to New York Presbyterian-Hospital Queens, where he died. He lived in Rego Park, according to the NYPD. The other drivers involved remained at the scene as police investigated. No charges were immediately filed. Aronov is the second man in a week to be killed while looking over a disabled auto near that location. About 5 a.m. Dec. 18, Rajinder Singh, 65, was fatally struck by a passing flatbed truck driver on the westbound side of the Long Island Expressway near the entrance to the Clearview Expressway, cops said. Singh was working under the hood when the flatbed truck driver clipped the rear of the stalled vehicle. The impact sent the car hurtling into Singh, crushing him, cops said. He died at the scene. Trrue, a layer-1 blockchain focused on environmental, social and governance (ESG) compliance and real-world asset tokenization received a $10 million investment commitment from GEM Digital, the company said in a press release on Tuesday. The money will be used to accelerate the development of Ireland-based Trrue's platform, the company said. GEM Digital is a Bahamas-based $3.4 billion alternative investment group that specializes in the digital asset sector. It will receive TRRUE tokens in return for the investment. The company invests in utility tokens listed on centralized (CEXs) and decentralized exchanges (DEXs). The token is being offered at $0.10 on a number of launchpads, the company said on X, with a total of 300 million tokens being sold. Listing is planned for Dec. 27. Trrue said it is dedicated to creating a blockckchain ecosystem that promotes transparency, accountability and sustainable investment opportunities, adding that the TRRUE utility token is central to this plan. "With GEM's backing, we are equipped to accelerate our development, onboard impactful projects, and redefine how blockchain supports ESG-aligned initiatives," CEO Owen O'Driscoll said in the statement. The funds will be used for product development, ecosystem growth and further exchange listings for the platform's utility token, the company said. A car drove into an enlistment office building in the Russian town of Gus-Khrustalny in Vladimir Oblast on the evening of 25 December. The driver rammed the gates and then set the car on fire. Source: Gus-Khrustalny Mayor Aleksey Sokolov; Radio Liberty; Mediazone Details: Sokolov described the driver as "another victim of Ukrainian scammers". He said the man had been detained and was giving testimony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sokolov urged the residents of Gus-Khrustalny to be "very cautious" about calls or messages "demanding that they follow instructions from the caller to carry out illegal actions". The Investigative Committee of Vladimir Oblast has initiated a criminal case under the article on deliberate damage to another person's property by arson. According to Mediazones estimates, Russian citizens have attacked banks, police cars and other targets no fewer than 50 times under the influence of "telephone scammers" between 1324 December. Most of the attacks occurred on 20 and 21 December. At least six individuals detained for arson have been charged with terrorism, while 11 others face charges of deliberate property damage. Mediazone notes that this is the largest wave of such attacks influenced by scammers. The previous major wave occurred between 29 July and 3 August 2023, during which 37 arsons were carried out. Support UP or become our patron! A man was shot Wednesday night after he was kicking the door of an apartment unit in the New City neighborhood on the South Side, Chicago police said. Shortly after 8:45 p.m., a man who was outside at the rear of an apartment unit in the 700 block of West Garfield Boulevard was kicking the door when a 30-year-old man who was inside of the apartment opened fire, striking him to the abdomen, police said. The wounded man was taken to UChicago Medicine where he was listed in critical condition. The 30-year-old man stayed on the scene and was taken into custody. A weapon was recovered, police said. Detectives were investigating. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A man was stabbed to death in East Memphis on Christmas Day, Memphis Police say. According to reports, officers responded to a call in the 3700 block of East Mallory Avenue just after 2 p.m. A man was found suffering from multiple stab wounds and was pronounced dead on the scene. See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South. Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. Police say the suspect was in a light-colored SUV. This is an ongoing investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have any information that could help police, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SPRINGFIELD TWP., Pa. (WKBN) A New Castle man is in Mercer County Jail after reports state he fought troopers attempting to arrest him and tried to take a troopers Taser. Pennsylvania State Police troopers were called to Leesburg Grove City Road around 8 p.m. Friday for reports of a man acting erratically and shooting a BB or airsoft gun inside a parked vehicle. Prior to troopers arriving on the scene, they learned the man, identified in reports as Austin Davies, had a felony warrant out for his arrest. Court records show Davies, 22, is facing a felony charge of criminal mischief as well as a couple of misdemeanor charges for a Feb. 4, 2024, incident out of Lawrence County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When troopers arrived in the area of the reported incident, reports state Davies refused to comply with verbal commands, actively resisting and fighting the troopers attempting to take him into custody. Reports state Davies kicked and bit several troopers and attempted to take a Taser from a troopers hand. He was eventually taken into custody and committed to Mercer County Jail, where court records show bail was set at $100,000. Davies is charged with three counts of aggravated assault, attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief. He is set for a preliminary hearing on these charges on Jan. 2. 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 WKBN.com. Police are searching for the gunman involved in a deadly Christmas Day shooting in the Panorama City neighborhood of Los Angeles. The shooting was reported shortly before 9 p.m. in the 8700 block of Cedros Avenue. Emergency crews responded to the apartment building-lined street to find a 30-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds down on the sidewalk. A man was found fatally shot in Panorama City on Dec. 25, 2024. (KNN) The unidentified victim was pronounced dead at the scene, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson confirmed to KTLA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators believe the victim was in a verbal altercation with another man when that person pulled out a gun and fired multiple rounds. No description of the suspect was released but he was believed to have fled in a vehicle. No information was provided regarding the suspects vehicles make, model or color. Anyone with further information can contact Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. KTLAs Alexis Lewis 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 KTLA. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) A man was hospitalized Wednesday evening after he was shot, police announced. According to the Rochester Police Department, officers were called to Rochester General Hospital just before 5 p.m. to investigate after the arrival of a gunshot victim. The victim, a man in his 30s, is being treated there for at least one gunshot wound to his lower body, according to officers. He is expected to survive. Man hospitalized, shot on Dayton Street early Christmas morning Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers said its still unclear where exactly the shooting happened. What led up to the shooting is still under investigation. Officers are expected to provide updates as the investigation continues. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. ROBESON COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A Fayetteville, North Carolina, man was arrested late on Christmas Eve and charged in the killing of a Robeson County man, according to Sheriff Burnis Wilkins office. Timothy Griffin, 32, was arrested at a home in Fayetteville in connection with the death of Curtis Lee Locklear, 55, of Shannon. Deputies responded at about 5:40 p.m. to Nettie Drive in Shannon, where Locklear was found suffering from a gunshot wound. He later died at an undisclosed medical center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Griffin was initially charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and discharging a firearm inside of an enclosure. However, the charges were upgraded to second-degree murder on Christmas day, after Locklear died. Griffin is being held in the Robeson County Detention Center without bond. The Robeson County Sheriffs Office Homicide Division is investigating the case. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriffs office at 910-671-3170 or 910-671-3100. * * * Jordan White is a Digital Producer at News13. She joined the News13 team in August 2024. Jordan, a Myrtle Beach native, graduated from St. James High School in Murrells Inlet and is a graduate of Coker University. Follow Jordan on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. CHICAGO A man was shot by a 16-year-old Wednesday night while the man was assaulting a woman, police said. Officers responded to a call of a battery in progress in the 3900 block of West Huron on the West Side around 8:50 p.m. Police said a 45-year-old man was physically attacking a 40-year-old woman inside a residence. Police said the altercation stopped when the teenage boy, who was also inside the home, fired a gun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 45-year-old man was shot in the lower back and taken to the hospital. He is in critical condition. No one is in custody. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now) The Alexandria Police Department (ADP) said it is investigating after a man was found shot on Thursday morning. ADP said the shooting happened in the 5400 block of Roanoke Ave. There, they found a 19-year-old suffering from gunshot wounds. Woman hospitalized after vehicle crashes into DC building, ignites fire The man was taken to the hospital. His condition was not life-threatening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement APD said why officers were responding to the shooting, another man was admitted to a hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. APD said the two men know each other and they are investigating their connection to one another. Anyone with information is asked to call (703) 746-6225. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Police are searching for a man they said stole over $600 worth of printer ink in northeastern Ohio. According to a post on Facebook, a man was caught on camera stealing printer ink cartridges at the Sams Club in Warren, Ohio. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Police said the man stole $602.94 worth of HP ink cartridges. The suspect has been identified, police said in an update on the Facebook post. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The family has the talent and ability to enact change, as does El Puerto de Liverpool, Saunders added. They will likely run the business as a retailer rather than as some kind of financial plaything which, in our view, is a very positive thing for the long-term health of the brand. While a change in ownership does not automatically remedy all of the problems with the department store operation, it will allow the family and their backers to take a long-term view of the business and make necessary investments and changes away from the short-term scrutiny of public markets. Nordstrom has, by no means, been one of the weakest performers in the department store space. However, neither is it the business that it once was, and a lot of change and investment is needed to remedy recent missteps with merchandising, operations and store standards, Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, commented in a note released on Monday. On Monday, when Nordstrom said its board had approved the plan to go private, retail experts speculated the retailer will accelerate investments in merchandise improvements and store upgrades, including possibly the Manhattan flagship. They also expect Nordstrom to take more fashion risks. For a long time, Wall Street has taken a dim view of Nordstrom and most department stores. Nordstroms Manhattan flagship has been gaining popularity but the company spent far more than it initially expected to on building the store, which had the unfortunate timing of opening just before the pandemic hit. Once privatized, Nordstrom isnt expected to diverge much from its current priorities involving aggressive expansion of the Rack off-price chain, digital growth and comp gains at the Nordstrom upscale department store business. So far the strategy has born some fruit. Nordstrom did report a third-quarter drop in net earnings, but there were increases in operating profits and sales revenues that surpassed Wall Street expectations. The Nordstrom family along with Mexican retailer El Puerto de Liverpool will buy up all of the shares they do not own, with the family emerging with 50.1 percent of the business and Liverpool owning 49.9 percent. Currently, the Nordstrom family owns 33 percent and Liverpool owns 10 percent. Thats the basis for the storied, Seattle-based Nordstrom s plan to go private and get out from under the glare of Wall Street. The $4 billion offer has been approved by its board of directors and the transaction is expected to close sometime in the first half of 2025. Story Continues We believe key long-term growth drivers include the return of Nordstrom Rack unit growth, improved merchandising at Nordstrom, continued omnichannel execution, and supply chain cost optimization, Jefferies Equity Research indicated in a report. Going private will allow the Nordstroms to think more long-term and relieve them from having to satisfy Wall Street every quarter, said one former retail CEO. They will be able to make the proper investments for the future of the company. But as a public company, theres been too much deferral of maintenance and remodeling of stores and keeping your fleet up to date. As a public company, If you reinvest in your assets, you can get penalized by Wall Street since it hurts the bottom line, short-term, but you have to do that to keep the company current. Nordstrom will save time and money once turning private by no longer having to produce quarterly reports, and stage conference calls and meetings with investors. Theyll deal with less scrutiny, far fewer stakeholders and regulatory requirements, and can be more decisive with a smaller constituency to report to. Theyll have more time to focus on long-term strategy, plus private companies can be less transparent so competitors know less about what theyre up against. Yet Nordstrom does take on more debt by going private. Nordstrom said the transaction will be financed through a combination of rollover equity by the Nordstrom family and Liverpool, cash commitments by Liverpool, up to $450 million in borrowings under a new $1.2 billion asset-back loan, and company cash on hand. Nordstrom has $2.7 billion in debt. At the $24.25 per share price in the deal, the equity value amounts to $4.1 billion and the enterprise value, including debt, comes to $6.3 billion. Liverpool will have a seat on the board, and will be influential on how Nordstrom evolves. I believe Liverpool just sees this as a good investment, at least for now, but they may see it as a way to some day acquire the whole company, said the retail source. The partners could also help each other add some brands to their offerings that they dont already carry, though Liverpool stores have more moderate assortments. Through Nordstrom, Liverpool might be able to get introductions to brands like Alo or Vuori, said another industry source. Experts dont see the partnership leading to Nordstrom expanding to Mexico, or Liverpool entering the U.S. with stores. Liverpool operates across Mexico with 310 stores under the Liverpool and Suburbia banners, 119 specialized boutiques, as well as 29 shopping centers. Liverpool has 78,000 employees. Nordstrom, founded in 1901 as a shoe retailer, operates 93 Nordstrom department stores, about 300 Rack off-price stores, and six Nordstrom Locals, which operate as service hubs. The retailer has been able to maintain its reputation for superior service while losing some of its merchandising edge in recent years. If Nordstrom gets fully back on track, and it will take some time, the family could decide to take the company public again and make a lot of money off the sale of shares back in an initial public offering. Its not all that unusual for companies to go public, turn private and go public again. Nordstrom went public in 1971. Nordstrom needs to invest in its stores over a multiyear period, and the public markets would not have been supportive of this, said the former senior retail executive. The only way to secure the business is to take it out of the public realm. Nordstrom may never go public again. They feel the public markets dont understand the ups and downs of the retail business. Nordstrom will continue to operate with Erik Nordstrom at the helm as chief executive officer, his brother Pete Nordstrom as president and chief brand officer, and their cousin Jamie as chief merchandising officer. If you have the same leadership team I dont know that it changes the direction of the company or the strategies. The team there has done a good job improving the Rack business, said one retail industry consultant. The Nordstroms have been able to improve Rack by placing a greater focus on better brands at the off-pricer, including some of the better-selling labels that can found at the Nordstrom full-price department stores. The key going forward is to get the main department store business growing again, said the consultant. But department stores are a tough place to be in and Nordstrom has got to provide a differentiated merchandise assortment to continue to attract customers. Nordstrom said Monday that the deal to go private is an all-cash transaction with an enterprise value of about $6.25 billion. The announcement confirms a Dec. 18 report in WWD that the deal was imminent. Nordstrom common shareholders will receive $24.25 in cash for each share of common stock they hold. The deal represents a premium of about 42 percent to the companys unaffected closing stock price on March 18, which was the last trading day prior to media speculation about the potential transaction. For over a century, Nordstrom has operated with a foundational principle of helping customers feel good and look their best, said Erik Nordstrom in a statement. Today marks an exciting new chapter for the business. On behalf of my family, we look forward to working with our teams to ensure Nordstrom thrives long into the future. From left, brothers Pete and Erik Nordstrom with their father, the late Bruce Nordstrom, and Jamie Nordstrom, far right. Were grateful to the employees, customers and shareholders who have shaped Nordstrom into the company it is today, Pete Nordstrom said in a statement. Since our founding in 1901, we have been committed to providing our customers with the best possible service and to improving it every day. We look forward to building on that commitment in this next phase of the companys evolution. Nordstrom is one of the worldwide leaders in department store retailing, and were thrilled to be investing in a company that has meaningfully shaped the industry for nearly 125 years, said Graciano F. Guichard G., executive chairman of the board of Liverpool. We are honored to partner with the Nordstrom family and the companys talented team as they continue to deliver outstanding service to customers. The board approved the deal upon the recommendation of a special committee of independent directors that conducted a review of the transaction proposal submitted earlier this year. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to regulatory and other conditions, including approval of holders of two-thirds of the companys common stock and the holders of a majority of the shares of the company not owned by the Nordstrom family or Liverpool or their respective affiliates and the companys directors, and Section 16 company officers who are those required to disclose their beneficial ownership of the companys equity. The special committee of the Nordstrom board of directors reviewed this proposal against the companys stand-alone prospects for growth, said Eric Sprunk, chairman of the special committee, in a statement Monday. Sprunk said the deal offers greater value for all public shareholders at a significant premium to the unaffected share price. Also, common shareholders will receive a special dividend of up to 25 cents per share based on cash on hand at the close of the transaction. Nordstrom stock closed Monday at $24.53. Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Roswell police are searching for a womans boyfriend after her body was found discarded in the woods on Christmas Eve. Officers say someone walking along Azalea Drive near Atlanta Street around 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday found a womans body in a ditch. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Investigators identified her as 47-year-old Blanca Sauer of Sandy Springs. They say she had been shot at least once before being dumped in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police have now named her boyfriend, 49-year-old Roberto Dominguez Soto, as a suspect. This is a heartbreaking situation, especially during the holiday season, and our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of Ms. Sauer, said Roswell Police Chief James Conroy. We are committed to bringing justice to those affected by this senseless act of targeted violence. TRENDING STORIES: They say Soto was also wanted by Interpol on gun possession charges. He should be considered armed and dangerous. Detectives said they do not believe Sauer was killed where her body was found, but did not comment on where the original crime scene may be. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] By Devjyot Ghoshal and Matthias Williams NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Described as a "reluctant king" in his first stint as prime minister, the soft-spoken Manmohan Singh, who died on Thursday at the age of 92, was arguably one of India's most successful leaders. Singh, the first Sikh to lead his nation, was prime minister from 2004 to 2014, serving a rare two terms. He had been undergoing care for age-related medical conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Singh is credited with steering India to unprecedented economic growth and lifting hundreds of millions out of dire poverty. "India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Born into a poor family in a part of British-ruled India now in Pakistan, Manmohan Singh studied by candlelight to win a place at Cambridge University before heading to Oxford, earning a doctorate with a thesis on the role of exports and free trade in India's economy. He became a respected economist, then India's central bank governor and a government adviser, but had no apparent plans for a political career when he was suddenly tapped to become finance minister in 1991. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During that tenure to 1996, Singh was the architect of reforms that saved India's economy from a severe balance of payments crisis and promoted deregulation, as well as other measures that opened an insular country to the world. Famously quoting Victor Hugo in his first budget speech, he said: "No power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come," before adding: "The emergence of India as a major economic power in the world happens to be one such idea." Singh's ascension to prime minister in 2004 was even more unexpected. He was asked to take on the job by Sonia Gandhi, who had led the centre-left Congress Party to a surprise victory. Italian by birth, she feared her ancestry would be used by Hindu-nationalist opponents to attack the government if she were to lead the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Riding an unprecedented period of economic growth, Singh's government shared the spoils of India's newfound wealth, introducing welfare schemes such as a jobs programme for the rural poor. In 2008, his government also clinched a landmark deal that permitted peaceful trade in nuclear energy with the United States for the first time in three decades, paving the way for strong relations between New Delhi and Washington. But his efforts to further open up the Indian economy were frequently frustrated by political wrangling within his own party and demands made by coalition partners. 'HISTORY WILL BE KINDER TO ME' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While he was widely respected by other world leaders, at home Singh always had to fend off the perception that Sonia Gandhi was the real power in the government. The widow of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, whose family has dominated Indian politics since independence from Britain in 1947, she remained Congress Party leader and often made key decisions. Known for his simple lifestyle and with a reputation for honesty, Singh was not personally seen as corrupt. But he came under attack for failing to crack down on members of his government as a series of scandals erupted in his second term, triggering mass protests. The latter years of his premiership saw the Indian growth story that he had helped engineer wobble as global economic turbulence and slow government decision-making battered investment sentiment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2012, his government was tipped into a minority after the Congress Party's biggest ally quit their coalition in protest at the entry of foreign supermarkets. Two years later Congress was decisively swept aside by the Bharatiya Janata Party under Narendra Modi, a strongman who promised to end the economic standstill, clean up graft and bring inclusive growth to the hinterlands. At a press conference not long before he left office, Singh insisted he had done the best he could. "I honestly believe that history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media or, for that matter, the opposition parties in parliament," he said. Singh is survived by his wife and three daughters. (Reporting by Devjyot Ghoshal and Matthias Williams, Additional reporting by YP Rajesh and Urvi Dugar; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) Kate Middleton took part in many meaningful conversations during the traditional Christmas Day walkabout at Sandringham and many of them centered around cancer. The Princess of Wales, 42, was herself diagnosed with cancer earlier this year following major abdominal surgery in January. She announced her diagnosis in a video message on March 22 and on Sept. 9 shared that she had completed chemotherapy treatment. The Telegraph reported that Princess Kate appeared to give special attention to the well-wishers at Sandringham who came with their own stories of surviving cancer. Alongside the rest of the royal family, Kate chatted with many well-wishers as she departed a Dec. 25 morning church service St. Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate, where Kate, her husband Prince William and their kids Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, celebrated Christmas. Samir Hussein/WireImage Catherine, Princess of Walesm Prince Louis of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk Catherine, Princess of Walesm Prince Louis of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk Related: Kate Middleton Steps Out for Christmas Day Walk Alongside Family, Marking End of 'Hardest' Year Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wearing a forest green Alexander McQueen coat and matching fascinator, Kate met two sisters, Nicola Halligan and Laura Mather, whose grandmother died of cancer earlier this year. The sisters, The Telegraph reported, had never been to Sandringham to meet the royal family but felt the need to come this year: Weve come down because my Nan was a massive royal fan and she passed away in May, so we thought it would be nice to be here, Mather said. Theyre a normal family, exactly the same as the rest of us, Halligan added. It can happen to anyone at any time. Look at the way she keeps going and the way shes so positive. Shes a leading example to people in this country, and were lucky to have her as the next queen. Samir Hussein/WireImage Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk Kate wrapped Karen Maclean who has experienced 20 years of cancer in a hug on Dec. 25. We just had a little talk about cancer, really, Maclean said, adding it was a privilege to hug the Princess of Wales, and that both Kate and King Charles (who also received a cancer diagnosis earlier this year) seemed very well actually, considering what theyre going through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maclean told The Sun, We were talking about our illnesses, because we're both cancer victims, when she reached out and hugged me. It was really unexpected and such a joy I gave her a tight squeeze back. It was such a surreal moment. I wasn't expecting that at all. It was so overwhelmingly good, she added. You get a camaraderie with other cancer victims. Unless you've been on that journey you can't understand what it's like. OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Catherine, Princess of Wales talks is hugged by a wellwisher after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on Dec. 25, 2024 Catherine, Princess of Wales talks is hugged by a wellwisher after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on Dec. 25, 2024 According to Newsweek, Kate spoke to a woman on the walkabout who had worked for the U.K. charity Macmillan Cancer Support, who said, I just wanted to say you are an inspiration to all the patients. To this, Kate replied, The amount of people who have written this year is extraordinary, and I think cancer just really does resonate with so many families. People like you are doing all the hard work out there. Im hugely grateful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Louis Beauchamp who previously met Kate ahead of King Charles coronation in May 2023 traveled all the way from France to greet Kate at Sandringham, and told PEOPLE, She was as genuine and close to people as I remembered. She seemed so happy to be with us again. You could tell she was truly touched. Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty The Princess of Wales speaks to members of the public following the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk The Princess of Wales speaks to members of the public following the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kate was so caught up in conversation with these well-wishers and others that she fell behind the rest of her family, who were farther ahead of her on the path back to Sandringham House and the Christmas lunch that awaited them there. I seem to have lost my family! Kate quipped as she noticed how far ahead the others were. Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Prince Louis, Prince George, the Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte following the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk Prince Louis, Prince George, the Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte following the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk Related: King Charles Reflects on Family's Health Struggles and 'Uncertainties and Anxieties of Illness' in Emotional Christmas Speech Much like Kates conversations at the Christmas Day walkabout, King Charles annual Christmas broadcast also touched on matters of health, recording the Christmas message at Fitzrovia Chapel, the former chapel of Middlesex Hospital in London the first time the Christmas broadcast was filmed outside of a royal residence in 18 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From a personal point of view, I offer special, heartfelt thanks to the selfless doctors and nurses who this year have supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness, and have helped provide the strength, care and comfort we have needed, the King, 76, said in his message. I am deeply grateful, too, to all those who have offered us their own kind words of sympathy and encouragement. He added, All of us go through some form of suffering at some stage in our life, be it mental or physical," he said. "The degree to which we help one another and draw support from each other, be we people of faith or of none is a measure of our civilization as nations. This is what continually impresses me, as my family and I meet with, and listen to, those who dedicate their lives to helping others. The Royal Family/X King Charles in his 2024 Christmas Broadcast King Charles in his 2024 Christmas Broadcast While Kate announced on Sept. 9 she had completed chemotherapy treatment, the Kings treatment will continue into 2025, the palace announced on Dec. 20. Last month, Prince William said that 2024 has been the hardest year in my life, adding, It's been dreadful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I'm so proud of my wife, I'm proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it's been brutal, the Prince of Wales said in November. As 2025 dawns, royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told PEOPLE of Kate, She will probably continue to be strategic about how often she appears in public, and people shouldnt hold it against her if she is doing less next year. The important thing is she will be pacing herself. She will do what shes able to do and pursue things she feels passionate about. OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Catherine, Princess of Wales shakes hand with a young wellwisher after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on Dec. 25, 2024 Catherine, Princess of Wales shakes hand with a young wellwisher after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on Dec. 25, 2024 Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Fellow royal biographer Robert Hardman told PEOPLE, We are being encouraged not to look at this as a chapter thats over and then its back to normal, because cancer doesnt work like that. The details remain private, but theres no sense of trying to gloss over the reality that its an unpredictable disease. Read the original article on People Marianne Williamson, spiritual leader and author who ran two longshot Democratic presidential campaigns in 2020 and 2024, is running for chair of the Democratic National Committee, framing her run as a way to reimagine the Democratic Party as the party regroups and takes stock of its losses during the 2024 election cycle. In an announcement video posted early Thursday morning, Williamson framed her candidacy for party chair as a chance to rethink the party as a whole. "I feel that in order for the Democrats to rise like a phoenix on the ashes of our electoral defeat, we need to look at more than just the outer issues, such as data analysis and field organizing and fundraising," Williamson said. "We need to transform -- in a way, we need to reinvent the Democratic Party in order to counter what MAGA is bringing to the table." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Democratic National Committee to begin its rebuilding project In an accompanying blog post, Williamson stressed Democrats must better understand President-elect Donald Trump's appeal and strategy to better counter it, adding that she wants to "reinvent the party from the inside out." PHOTO: Marianne Williamson speaks with ABC News after announcing her campaign for Chair of the Democratic National Committee, Dec. 26, 2024. (ABC News) "President Trump has ushered in an age of political theater -- a collective adrenaline rush that has enabled him to not only move masses of people into his camp, but also masses of people away from ours. It does not serve us to underestimate the historic nature of what he has achieved," Williamson wrote. "In fact, it's important that we recognize the psychological and emotional dimensions of Trump's appeal. We need to understand it to create the energy to counter it." "As Chairwoman, I will work to reinvent the party from the inside out. For if we want a new President in four years, and a new Congress in two, then we must immediately get about the task of creating a new party," she added later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williamson also said that she would have a "a 365-days-of-the-year strategy" to allow Americans to be politically involved yearround and that she wants the party to inspire Americans. Williamson was unable to generate a groundswell of support in either of her bids for president, although she stayed in the race until the Democratic presidential primaries concluded and she gained some traction with Democrats who wanted to protest the White House on the Israel-Hamas war. MORE: David Hogg is running for DNC vice chair: First on ABC Williamson was also hypercritical of the DNC, in part, for not holding presidential primary debates against President Joe Biden Biden last cycle and has accused it of rigging the process against her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have a very frayed bond of affection with millions of Americans particularly working people in the United States. We have to address the problem on that level. On the level of the heart. On the level of the mind," Williamson told ABC News Live anchor Kyra Phillips on Thursday afternoon. "People aren't feeling it about Democrats anymore. At least not enough of them to make for the kind of victory we need in '26 and '28." Williamson needs to get the support of at least 40 DNC members to qualify for the first DNC candidate forum in early January. The DNC plans on hosting four moderated forums before the election. She joins a handful of other declared candidates for DNC chair, including Wisconsin Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler and Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party chair Ken Martin and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley. Jamie Harrison, the current chairman, isn't running for reelection. DNC leadership elections will be held at National Harbor outside Washington on Feb. 1. Marianne Williamson, 2-time Dem presidential candidate, launches bid for DNC chair originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The race to lead the Democratic Party in the wake of Kamala Harriss election defeat expanded on Thursday as author and two-time candidate Marianne Williamson announced that she was seeking the role. Williamson is a long-shot candidate for the job and enters an already crowded field as the Democratic Party faces an internal debate about its future. Harriss defeat in swing states across the board led to Donald Trumps first popular vote victory, a crushing blow for the Democrats who also saw two incumbent senators unseated, throwing total control of the legislative and executive branches into Republican control. Williamsons two runs for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020 and 2024 both ended in defeat. But her first run, coupled with an energetic campaign and media presence, including on the debate stage, earned Williamson fans in progressive circles across the country. That was evident in 2024 when, despite the Democratic primary process being sidelined by the party in favor of propping up Joe Bidens bid for re-election, Williamson garnered 3 percent of the vote in Michigan, where an uncommitted campaign urged voters angry about Bidens response to the war in Gaza to register protest votes in the Democratic primary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Staffers who worked for her 2020 bid, speaking anonymously due to nondisclosure agreements, described the campaign as an intensely toxic environment perpetuated by Williamson, whom they said displayed intense flashes of anger and sometimes lashed out physically. She denied the allegations at the time, calling them slanderous and categorically untrue. In January of 2020, she laid off her entire campaign staff ahead of the Iowa Caucuses. With her typically flowery language, Williamson wrote in a statement Thursday announcing her DNC candidacy: [I]ts important that we recognize the psychological and emotional dimensions of Trumps appeal. We need to understand it to create the energy to counter it. As DNC Chair, I will not just have a 50-state strategy; I will have a 365 days-of- the-year strategy. We will create ways for the American people to be involved in the political process not only when theres an election, but all the time, Williamson went on to say. People will know not only what Trump might be doing that transgresses our values, but what Democrats are doing all around the country to promote them! Author Marianne Williamson on the 2024 campaign trail in Iowa. She announced her candidacy for DNC chair on December 26. (AFP via Getty Images) Before entering politics, Williamson was largely known as a self-help guru who wrote on matters of spiritualism; her work was supported by talk-show magnate Oprah Winfrey, to whom she became an informal adviser. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other candidates for the DNC job include seasoned party operatives, as well as both successful and failed candidates for elected office. The DNCs current chair, Jaime Harrison, is a former lobbyist and staffer to Rep. Jim Clyburn who was elected after losing a bid for Senate against Lindsey Graham. Along with less prominent names, former Maryland Governor Martin OMalley who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2016 is winning some support for his bid, as is Wisconsin state party chair Ben Wikler, who wowed Daily Show host Jon Stewart with his prescription for a new party. Minnesota DemocraticFarmerLabor Party chair Ken Martin is a leading contender as well, buoyed by the Democrats successes in his state while other parts of the blue wall turned red. The partys senior leadership is facing open ridicule from progressives and more measured criticism from others in left circles as furious younger Democrats demand answers from the Harris campaign and Bidenworld over the 2024 presidential election loss. Adding to their frustration has been the response from Harris campaign officials. In an appearance on Pod Save America, members of campaign leadership insisted that the vice president ran a flawless campaign, despite complaints that she turned away from key parts of the Democratic base in favor of winning political centrists and Republicans opposed to the former president with a campaign that embraced figures like Liz Cheney. Some, like Williamson, are openly resentful of the incumbent president for shooing away the idea of holding a real primary and stepping aside until it was far too late, when his vice president would be forced to run an awkward, protracted run for the office. Harrison is not running for the DNC position again, after proclaiming loudly that voters did not have concerns about Biden or his age after the presidents June debate with Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden and Harris have both been virtually silent since the election. The president sat down for an interview with MeidasTouch, a Democrat-aligned outlet, which avoided questions about Harriss defeat and his own performance in the campaign. He and Harris have not publicly discussed their own diagnoses for her defeat and are unlikely to do so before leaving office in January. Democrats are due to meet in Marylands National Harbor, just outside of the capital, at the end of January for the partys winter meeting; the chair elections and other leadership races will be decided then. Marianne Williamson, the former Democratic presidential candidate and self-help author, announced Thursday shes running for chair of the Democratic National Committee. In a video posted on her Substack , Williamson argued that Democrats have fallen short with traditional means of politicking and that the party needs to reinvent itself to be a match for President-elect Donald Trump. I feel that I can help transform the party, reinvent the party, because the politics of the past will not be enough to take on the politics of the present and the future, she said. Donald Trump is a 21st century political phenomenon and we need to become one, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williamson, who has run long-shot campaigns for president twice, warned Democrats of an electoral disaster, if the pain she said shes heard from Americans isnt heard. She argued her experience gives her insight into repairing the party and its relationship with voters. The former presidential candidate joins a set of men who have already thrown their hat in for DNC chair, including Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Chair Ken Martin; former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley; Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler; New York state Sen. James Skoufis; and former Maryland Senate candidate Robert Houton. Marianne Williamson, an author and former Democratic presidential candidate, announced Thursday that she is launching a campaign to become the next chair of the Democratic National Committee. I am announcing Im running for DNC chair, Williamson said in a video announcing her candidacy, because I feel that I can bring a level of expertise to the process of lifting up this possibility of victory over the next two and four years in a way that will not occur if we are only looking traditional means of politicking in order to make that happen. Williamson added that shes been talking to Democratic voters about what theyd like to see from their party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive traveled extensively throughout this country, and Ive seen how much pain there is out there, she said. Ive been up close and personal with people who didnt have health care, who couldnt survive on just one job, who were so depressed about so many of the conditions in their lives that were, in fact, at least indirectly due to bad public policy, and too many of them didnt feel like the Democratic Party had their back. Williamson is the latest candidate, and the first woman, to jump into the race to succeed outgoing DNC Chair Jaime Harrison. She joins a wide field of candidates who previously announced their bids for chair, including former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley, Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, New York state Sen. James Skoufis and former Maryland Senate candidate Robert Houton. So far, most of the candidates say that they would seek to begin a new term as DNC chair by learning what went wrong for their party in 2024 and conducting what is often called a postmortem analysis of the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williamson agreed with that strategy in her video, saying, We need to know what it was that made people feel that their wallets were more important than their pain. We need to understand what it is that has made people emotionally and psychologically disconnect from a sense that the Democratic Party was part of a great legacy in American history. There have been no public forums yet where the candidates have met and taken questions from members of their party, but those meetings are slated to start in the new year. The official election for the next DNC chair will be held on Feb. 1. In her video, Williamson added that her goal as chair of the DNC would include connecting the problems in voters lives to public policy solutions. I want to help people connect with the political issues that are going on in their lives in a very real and personal way. And I want to help people understand that by connecting to the Democratic Party, they can truly make a difference, she said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com New age guru to some, center-left crank to othersformer presidential candidate Marianne Williamson has thrown her name into the hat for the next Democratic National Committee chair. Im proud to announce Im running for Chair of the DNC. In order to respond to the challenge of this moment, the Democratic Party needs transformation, Williamson, who is 72, wrote Thursday in an X post linked to a longer statement. I am announcing Im running for DNC chair because I feel that I can bring a level of expertise to the process of lifting up this possibility of victory over the next two and four years in a way that will not occur if we are only looking to traditional means of politicking in order to make that happen, the former spiritual adviser to Oprah Winfrey said in a video announcement on YouTube. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She joins former Maryland Governor Martin OMalley, Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, New York State Senator James Skoufis, and former Maryland Senate candidate Robert Houton in the race to succeed outgoing Chair Jaime Harrison. This upcoming DNC chair election may be a pivotal moment in time for the direction and ideology of the Democratic Party. Its sweeping defeat in November has resulted in a renewed energy to redefine the party towards the working class. Ive traveled extensively throughout this country, and Ive seen how much pain there is out there, Williamson said in her announcement. Ive been up close and personal with people who didnt have health care, who couldnt survive on just one job, who were so depressed about so many of the conditions in their lives that were, in fact, at least indirectly due to bad public policy, and too many of them didnt feel like the Democratic Party had their back. We need to understand what it is that has made people emotionally and psychologically disconnect from a sense that the Democratic Party was part of a great legacy in American history. Williamson has an eclectic range of both progressive and questionable views. Shes on the record supporting Medicare for All, abortion access, and reparations for Black Americans. But she also views vaccine mandates as draconian and referred to cancer and AIDS as physical manifestations of a psychic scream. She also chimed in with an awful aside about Haitians while President-elect Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance were spreading horrendous lies about them eating pets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Continuing to dump on Trump because of the eating cats issue will create blowback on Nov. 5, she said in a now deleted post on X. Haitian voodoo is in fact real, and to dismiss the story out-of-hand rather than listen to the citizens of Springfield, Ohio confirms in the minds of many voters the stereotype of Democrats as smug elite jerks who think theyre too smart to listen to anyone outside their own silo. Expect more strangeness from Williamson as the DNC chair race heats up. Marianne Williamson is running to lead the Democratic National Committee, joining a growing field of candidates who believe they are best equipped to turn the party's prospects around after losing ground in the 2024 elections. Williamson, 72, is a New Age self-help author who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 and 2024. On Thursday, Dec. 26, the progressive activist announced her campaign for DNC chair in an open letter, promising to "reinvent the party from the inside out." "In the 2024 election, throughout my campaign I warned of a coming electoral disaster if Democrats did not listen more deeply to the pain of people throughout America," she wrote. "My experience of what went wrong has given me insight into what needs doing to make things right." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She continued: "We wont just fight; we will inspire. We will create a surge of patriotic fervor, and a connectedness of the American heart to the great historical legacy of this country." Related: Democrat Marianne Williamson 'Unsuspends' 2024 Presidential Campaign in Surprise Announcement Jamie McCarthy/Getty Marianne Williamson visits the SiriusXM Studios in New York City on Sept. 19, 2023 Marianne Williamson visits the SiriusXM Studios in New York City on Sept. 19, 2023 Williamson made headlines during the 2020 Democratic primaries as an unconventional candidate who argued that the party needed to fight President Donald Trump with "love." She withdrew her candidacy before voting began. Williamson declared her long-shot candidacy again in the 2024 primary race, ending her campaign following a poor performance in the earliest contests. She then "unsuspended" her campaign three weeks later over concerns about President Joe Biden's leadership, writing in a letter to voters, "My ability to arouse in Americans the angels of our better nature is the most powerful antidote to Trumps dark and authoritarian vision." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I will respond to the cult-like personality of Donald Trump with a light-filled vision of hope and possibility," she continued at the time. "We will become once again a 'government of the people, by the people, and for the people' at a time when corporate interests have taken Washington hostage." With less competition in 2024, Williamson earned a total of 465,863 votes or 2.8% though she did not secure any delegates. 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. The DNC has been led by Jaime Harrison, the former chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, since 2021. After Republicans won a White House, Senate and House of Representatives trifecta in the 2024 elections, Harrison announced that he would not seek a second term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williamson joins a handful of other candidates vying for the top spot, including DNC Vice Chair Ken Martin, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley. The DNC leadership elections will take place during the party's winter meeting in National Harbor, Md., on Feb. 1, 2025. All 448 DNC members are eligible to vote on a new chair, and the candidate who earns a simple majority will win. Read the original article on People A Marine Corps noncommissioned officer was charged with murder and involuntary manslaughter for the alleged killing of a civilian on base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, earlier this year, service officials confirmed to Military.com on Tuesday. Sgt. Dakota Honstein, 26 and an active-duty Marine assigned to Lejeune, will face a court-martial between April 21 and May 6, 2025, for allegedly shooting a female civilian in January of this year, according to a charge sheet recently provided by Marine Corps officials to Military.com. Officials did not identify the alleged victim and the charge sheet refers to her only by the initials "S.S." On Jan. 27, 2024, Honstein allegedly "murder[ed] S.S. by means of intentionally pulling the trigger of a loaded firearm while pointing it at her," according to the charge sheet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read Next: Plan to Build Houses on Contaminated Airfield Stalls as Texas City's Fight with the Navy Continues Honstein was also charged with Article 119 -- involuntary manslaughter -- for allegedly killing the victim "by culpable negligence." He also faces the charge of violating a general order by "wrongfully" possessing a firearm aboard the Marine Corps base. The circumstances surrounding the alleged murder are unclear. Military.com asked officials this week about the relationship between Honstein and "S.S." and whether the two knew each other prior to the incident, but officials did not have answers to the inquiry at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These charges are merely an accusation," Staff Sgt. Alexa Hernandez, a spokesperson for II Marine Expeditionary Force, said in a statement to Military.com on Tuesday. "The accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty." Hernandez said that the incident was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and that Honstein was apprehended by law enforcement on the date of the incident, Jan. 27, 2024. Marine Corps Times and local outlets reported in late January that law enforcement had apprehended an unnamed Marine following the shooting death of a civilian aboard Lejeune the same day that Honstein was alleged to have carried out the killing, according to the charge sheets. The outlets reported that authorities recovered a weapon after the shooting, characterized the incident as "isolated" and said that no charges were filed at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Military.com attempted to contact members of Honstein's family through contacts listed online, but was unsuccessful. It appears that Honstein has legal counsel, according to online preliminary hearing records. The publication attempted to contact his lawyer through II MEF and the Military Justice Administration on Thursday, but neither responded by publication time. Honstein remains on active duty, according to officials, and is a fire support Marine assigned to the 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company within II MEF. He joined the service in 2018, according to his service record provided by II MEF, and is from Florida. Related: Police Say Marine Charged with Escort's Murder Googled Whether It's Possible to Scream While Being Strangled https://www.tipranks.com/news/the-fly/google-submits-counter-remedy-proposal-full-appeal-ahead-says-bofa Google has filed its counter remedy proposal suggesting the remedy proposal from the Department of Justice filed in November goes well beyond the scope of the original DOJ case and Judge Mehtas ruling, BofA tells investors in a research note. Google also emphasized its focus on innovation and noted its market leading position is due to quality of its services, and not from coercion or lack of alternatives, BofA adds. The firm expects these assertions to be the basis of Googles remedy case, which is expected to go to trial in April, with a decision expected in August, and believes Googles proposal could open the door for greater competition on mobile devices from existing app and browser competitors, and new AI entrants. BofA keeps a Buy rating on Google shares with a $210 price target Don't Miss Our Christmas Offers: Discover the latest stocks recommended by top Wall Street analysts, all in one place with Analyst Top Stocks Make smarter investments with weekly expert stock picks from the Smart Investor Newsletter Published first on TheFly the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See Insiders Hot Stocks on TipRanks >> Read More on GOOGL: Mark Spain, a popular news anchor at ABC affiliate WSET-TV (ABC13) in Lynchburg, VA, died Dec. 18, just three weeks after he was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, his wife Lynita Carter Spain announced in a Facebook post. He was 64. It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my loving husband Mark, Carter Spain wrote. Our family along with the city of Lynchburg lost a man of hope, someone who loves this city and stood for equality, treating others with respect and kindness. He was a husband, father, brother, friend and a positive light in the community. My first true love. He brought so much joy, compassion, love and strength into our lives, and his absence will be deeply felt by all who knew him. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spains love for news began at an early age. He worked as a paperboy for the Cleveland Press, eventually heading to Cleveland State University where he majored in communications. He worked in various markets throughout this career, including Fort Wayne, Erie, Indianapolis and Cleveland. In 2000, he joined a station in Jacksonville, FL where he worked as an anchor for 14 years, according to WSET. He joined WSET in 2015, winning multiple awards for his work over the years, including a Best News Anchor award from the Association Press of the Virginias in 2018 and 2019. He also was honored for Outstanding News Series in 2018 from the Virginia Association of Broadcasters, and won Best Documentary or Public Affairs Program from the organization in 2022. WSET paid tribute to Spain on its website. Tonight we are celebrating the life of Mark Spain even as we grieve his sudden death after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. But we know we are not alone in mourningyou, the community, are too. His smile and positivity were known to his family, our team here at WSET, and the thousands across Lynchburg and beyond who welcomed Mark into their homes each night on TV, the station said. Spain is survived by his wife Lynita, and three children. DEADLINE RELATED VIDEO You can read Carter Spains tribute to her husband in full below. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hello sunshines! It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my loving husband Mark. Our family along with the city of Lynchburg lost a man of hope, someone who loves his city and stood for equality, treating others with respect and kindness. He was a husband, father, brother, friend and a positive light in the community. My first true love. He brought so much joy, compassion, love and strength into our lives, and his absence will be deeply felt by all who knew him. The last 23 years have been a wonderful journey filled with love, laughter and many wonderful memories. A journey that I would do all over again. Its surreal that it was exactly three weeks ago yesterday that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Our family was there with him from the beginning of the fight to the finish, until his very last breath! He fought hard, he stayed positive throughout the battle and wasnt afraid. We have comfort in knowing he is no longer suffering, it was not easy watching him fight for his life and battle this disease, but he was not alone., and neither were we. He encouraged those around him. He loved to help others and longed for peace and was an ambassador for positivity. He loved his family and was extremely proud of his children. He also loved his job and felt so blessed to do what he did for a living. He was one hell of a journalist and took his job very seriously. He was a pillar of the community and people loved to share how much they love and enjoyed watching him on the news. As we navigate this difficult time, we take comfort in remembering the wonderful moments we shared with him. Your kindness and support mean the world to us. Friends, you showed up and showed out with love support during his fight!! You have all been amazing and a true village! I cant thank you all enough for all of the prayers, cards, flowers, blankets, texts, comments and checking in on us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This new journey, one I never thought Id be on, as a single parent will be a new and challenging one. God is walking along side us, guiding and protecting us. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers. With love, The Spain Family Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. During the winter of 1940, when its jail was a single building with fewer than 2,000 inmates, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department pulled out all the stops. The Salvation Army led hymns under the supervision of the jail chaplain. Not content with one musical option, sheriffs officials also let in choral groups and a five-piece band. For dinner, the jail served a holiday feast complete with candy, salad, fruit, mashed potatoes and gravy, gelatin or gelatine, as it was spelled in The Times and even roast veal with sage dressing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the jail population is now far bigger, with more than 12,000 people in custody, this years festivities were not quite as elaborate: baked chicken instead of roast veal, with a guitar player and vocalist providing the music. About 200 men, some from the neighboring Twin Towers facility, crowded into the third-floor chapel of Men's Central Jail for this year's Christmas Mass. (Ringo Chiu / For The Times) But the roughly 200 men crowded into the wooden pews of the spartan third-floor chapel of Mens Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles were still full of smiles and some tears on Wednesday as Archbishop Jose Gomez of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles celebrated the jails annual Christmas Mass. Its a special day, said Jeff Nestler, tearing up after the service as he struggled to describe his second Christmas behind bars. Normally, the 68-year-old would spend the holiday with his daughters and grandchildren. But since April 2023, hes been in the county jail awaiting trial for a murder charge he hopes will be dismissed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christmas in jail sucks, he said. But like everything else in life, he added, it really is what you make it. Jeff Nestler, left, was among the inmates who grew emotional as they celebrated Christmas Mass behind bars Wednesday. (Ringo Chiu / For The Times) After more than a decade working on submarines for the Navy, Nestler knows how to make do in tough situations. Since coming to jail, he has taken two dozen academic classes and earned a high school diploma, despite already having a GED. Now, hes hoping to become a teachers aide. You find things to do to get through, he said. And for Christmas, that means showing up for Mass. The archbishops Christmas Mass has been a staple at Mens Central Jail since at least the early 1970s, when Peter Pitchess was the sheriff and the Bauchet Street lockup was just a few years old. Five decades later, the facility is decaying and seemingly on the brink of closure but the holiday tradition has continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first time Gomez, then newly installed as archbishop, presided over the service was in 2011, when Lee Baca had just started his fourth and final term as sheriff. Baca's successors carried on the tradition until the COVID-19 pandemic interfered in 2020. After a hiatus, Gomez returned in 2022, again presiding over an hourlong Mass before walking through the jail with Sheriff Robert Luna. This year, Luna sat near the front of the chapel with his wife and a smattering of top jail officials in uniform. "We're here to give hope," Luna explained afterward. "You come because you want to send the message that everyone matters." Gomez, at right at the front of the chapel, has officiated at the Christmas Mass since he became archbishop in 2011, with a two-year hiatus during the COVID lockdown. (Ringo Chiu / For The Times) After listening to Gomez's sermon, the men some from Men's Central Jail and some from the Twin Towers Correctional Facility across the street lined up for Holy Communion, then strutted back to their pews smiling, some stopping to subtly catch the attention of friends from other dorms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the music changed to Joy to the World, an elderly man started singing along softly, pretending to conduct an orchestra with one hand as the other rested on his wheelchair. As the service wound down, softer songs melted into Feliz Navidad" and the men grew animated, some singing along in raucous near-shouts while others clapped their hands and hugged their neighbors. Afterward, they would go back to their dorms and housing units to watch movies, play cards or plan jailhouse feasts, apart from the official chicken dinner. Nestler said he planned to pitch in some soup packets to bolster his dorms meal. The "spread," he said, would include jailhouse burritos, a variety of creative ramen noodle recipes and a questionable version of kimchi that relies heavily on pickles purchased from the commissary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jail officials even pitched in albeit unwittingly by giving out care packages stuffed with carceral staples including ramen, creme-filled cookies and instant coffee. Aside from whatever gifts his staff may give out to ease the pain of holidays behind bars, Luna said, he had one wish for the men who came to Wednesday's service: Im hoping for everyone in that room that we wont see them next year. Inmates received Holy Communion before the Mass grew festive with "Feliz Navidad." (Ringo Chiu / For The Times) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) A hospital system in Central Illinois will start limiting visitors to curb the spread of respiratory illness. Memorial Health announced Thursday in a news release patients at their hospitals will be limited to two visitors at a time. In addition, all visitors must also be 18 years of age or older and show no signs of illness. The temporary restrictions go into effect Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whooping cough on the rise nationwide, in Champaign Co. The restrictions apply to in-patient units at all five hospitals in Decatur, Jacksonville, Lincoln, Springfield, and Taylorville. These requirements do not apply to outpatient Memorial Care locations, including urgent or primary care and laboratory or imaging appointments. The Illinois Department of Public Health has recommended the recommendations to hospitals in the state due to an increase in COVID-19, influenza and RSV. Memorial Health said they are implementing the restrictions for the safety of patients and their families as well as Memorial Health colleagues. IL state agencies monitoring avian flu Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, Memorial is encouraging hospital visitors to wear masks. Disposable masks will be available for visitors at the entrance of hospitals. Health officials remind the public to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, wash your hands frequently, receive all recommended vaccinations and wear a mask around others. According to the IDPH, while most who contract a respiratory illness recover completely in one to two weeks, some can develop serious medical complications. More information about preventing respiratory illnesses can be found on the CDCs 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 WCIA.com. The woman Mesa police were searching for Wednesday evening has been located. Theresa Lee Fisher, 76, was located by Phoenix police and reunited with family, Mesa police said. Det. Brandi Myers with Mesa police said a police helicopter assisted officers searching for a woman with Alzheimer's whose family was concerned for her safety. She was last seen at 1:30 p.m. near her home in the area of Lindsay and McKellips roads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fisher left the area in a tan 1999 Toyota Camry with Arizona license plate 103DEL. Fisher is described as a white woman with brown hair and eyes, stands 5 foot 6 inches tall, and weighs 125 pounds. She was last seen wearing a pink sweater and black pants. A police helicopter was seen circling numerous areas throughout Mesa to search for Fisher, including Main Street and University, and the Loop 101 and Southern around 6:30 p.m., according to FlightRadar24. Myers said police had received a tip that her vehicle may be in the east Tempe area, but the lead proved to be unsuccessful. (This story was updated to add new information.) This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mesa police announce missing person with Alzheimer's is located Mexicos recent decision to immediately restrict textile imports through its IMMEX import duty-deferral program could put U.S. apparel brands bringing goods through the country in a major scramble to kick off 2025and it already appears to have third-party logistics (3PL) providers working overtime. On Dec. 19, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum issued a presidential decree banning finished apparel goods from being imported under the IMMEX program, which allows goods to move temporarily into the country duty-free if theyre intended for re-export to the U.S. That program is designed to enable foreign companies to operate and manufacture in Mexico with low-tax structures and reduced labor costs. More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The immediate restrictions under the Manufacturing, Maquiladora and Export Services Industry (IMMEX) program effectively nullify many of the advantages of lower cost importing into the U.S. from a 3PL with Mexican warehouses. Many U.S. e-commerce brands currently take advantage of the Section 321 de minimis provision to avoid customs duties on shipments valued at $800 or less by importing goods from China into Mexico-based warehouses, before shipping them via truck to the U.S. While U.S. Section 321 laws have not been immediately impacted, the move could add further pressure on Congress to reform the legislationespecially as calls escalate to scrap de minimis altogether. XB Fulfillment, an e-commerce 3PL platform that provides U.S.-based e-commerce and omnichannel brands with fulfillment and warehousing services, reportedly notified customers that it will no longer be able to import apparel into Mexico for them, declaring force majeure on their contracts. The vast majority of their customers are apparel brands, said Ryan Petersen, CEO and founder of Flexport, in a post on X. This has created a nightmare scenario for XB, its competitors, and the many great brands they serve. Theyre scrambling to get the government to not destroy their business, and their customers are searching for solutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement XB Fulfillment hasnt confirmed the notice or the force majeure declaration. Force majeure is a clause that removes liability for a party from fulfilling contractual obligations in the event of unforeseen circumstances or an act of God. Sourcing Journal reached out to XB Fulfillment, whose clients include True Classic and Cuts Clothing. According to Petersen, Flexport is first prioritizing onboarding customers of XB that the digital freight forwarder already works with for international freight forwarding and customs clearances. But he noted that the company will then help solve for any brand affected by this surprise disruption. As of June 2023, XB Fulfillment operated four fulfillment centers in Mexico, then saying it planned to expand its capacity by approximately 60 percent when it secured $100 million in growth capital. In 2023, the company shipped 116 million total units across 27 million orders, with total value of product shipped totaling $3 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Petersen said many of XB Fulfillments imports actually first enter the U.S. via West Coast ports like Los Angeles and Long Beach before being trucked to Mexico under a tax-free, in-transit customs bond. The items are stored, picked and packed at one of the warehouses across the border, before trucked back into the U.S. At least 30 of the top 100 American brands on Shopify now fulfill from just across the Mexican border, mostly in Tijuana, to avoid U.S. customs duties, Petersen estimates. From there the goods are handed off to UPS, FedEx, USPS or other last-mile networks for final delivery to American households. As of now, importers with goods already en route to Mexico are likely to face unexpected customs duties, leading to potential short-term disruptions. Apparel brands expecting to be impacted by the IMMEX revision that aim to import under the duty-free de minimis exemption can still host goods in Canada. Under the new decree, certain finished products are excluded from temporary importation under IMMEX. These exclusions include finished clothing and textile articles classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule Chapters 61, 62 and 63; quilts and comforters classified under HTS subheading 9404.40; and pillows, cushions and other bedding materials classified under HTS subheading 9404.90. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chapters 61 and 62 cover clothing including coats, suits, jackets, pants, dresses, shirts and sweaters, as well as textile accessories such as gloves, belts and ties. Textile articles included in Chapter 63 are home goods like bed linens, blankets, pillowcases, curtains and towels, as well as tents, awnings, needlecrafts and rags. Sheinbaums decree was accompanied by a new swell of temporary tariffs on textile imports into Mexico, which will increase from a current 10 percent to 15 percent on textiles like denim and polyester staple fibers. Additionally, duties on finished products such as knitwear, jackets and lingerie will jump from their current range between 20 percent and 25 percent up to 35 percent. These tariffs will not apply to countries with which Mexico has free trade agreements, including the U.S. and Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move from Mexicos government appears to be a protectionist measure for the countrys textile industry, with the countrys Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard saying that the new measures aim to protect approximately 400,000 jobs in the textile industry, which experienced a 4.8 percent GDP contraction in 2024. Thats why we are closing the door. These are measures to protect one of the most important industries for employment in Mexico. If we dont take steps to prevent abuse or the low prices associated with dumping, the Mexican textile industry would be at a disadvantage, Ebrard said in a Dec. 19 press conference. The goal is to foster the development of the Mexican textile industry, promote employment, and ensure fair market conditions. The restrictions also come amid U.S. President-elect Donald Trumps threats of tariffs of up to 25 percent on Mexican goods ahead of his January inauguration, amid his criticisms of the countrys handling of immigration into the U.S., and the flow of fentanyl over the U.S.-Mexico border. Dec. 25New Mexico's senior senator expects to fight for public lands and to focus on national labs and permitting reform in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the coming congressional session. Sen. Martin Heinrich will be the top Democrat on the committee, leading the minority party opposite Republican Chair Sen. Mike Lee of Utah. The pair have a history of working together on bills like the recently passed Good Samaritan law to make abandoned mine cleanup easier. But the senators will be on opposite sides of a brewing fight over public lands. "I will use my position as ranking member to fight to keep public lands in public hands," Heinrich said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee works on legislation related to land and water stewardship, as well as energy and mineral resources. Heinrich's election as ranking member was announced last week, followed by an announcement from the senator that Jasmine Dimitriou will serve as committee staff director for the minority. Permitting reform, workforce development and supporting the country's national labs will be priorities for Heinrich. Heinrich is also considering pursuing another leadership role: a run for New Mexico governor in 2026, according to previous Journal reporting. Permitting reform and public lands Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee has been trying to land a permitting bill to make it easier for solar energy and geothermal energy projects to get permits, and Heinrich expects they will put a lot of effort into permitting reform in the next session. "If you just take the example of SunZia, we got to yes, but it took 18 years. That should have been a five-year process, not an 18-year process," Heinrich said. SunZia is an interstate transmission line being built to transport wind energy from New Mexico west. It is also easier to get permission to drill an oil and gas well on public lands than a geothermal well with the same depth profile, Heinrich said a discrepancy he would like to eliminate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's a place where (Lee's) got projects in Utah that are really cutting edge, and so we've been able to work together to sort of levelize the playing field for geothermal development and wells," Heinrich said. One place the pair will diverge is in a push to give states' ownership of federal public lands. The state of Utah filed a lawsuit in August challenging federal government control of some public lands, which Heinrich describes as "a dangerous land grab." If the lawsuit fails, the issue could rear its head in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Taking federal public lands out of federal control has failed before in Congress, most recently in 2017 when former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, a Republican, withdrew a bill that would have directed the Bureau of Land Management to sell millions of acres of federally owned land after significant backlash. "In the end, it always proves incredibly unpopular, and it's also just not workable, right? You take 18 million acres and transfer them to the state of Utah, they have no capacity to fight fires on a landscape of that scale," Heinrich said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee believes much of the federal public land in Utah should be transferred to the state, according to his Senate website. "As Utah's population grows, access to the land will become even more urgent and necessary," Lee's site reads. The land could be used to build housing and roads, for mining or for outdoor recreation, according to his website. Lee's office did not respond to interview requests. Supporting the national labs Although President-elect Donald Trump has talked about cutting federal jobs or turning some into political appointments, Heinrich believes growing the lab mission is "widely supported, and Republicans and Democrats alike understand that our national labs are really one of the most important pillars for our national security and for international competitiveness," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our labs are particularly important in making sure that we maximize the benefits of artificial intelligence and minimize the risks," he said. AI models can speed up the development of new technologies, materials and therapeutics, Heinrich said. But the ascent of AI technology is also creating the first significant growth in electric load since the air conditioning boom of the 1980s. Figuring out how to meet the increased demand with clean energy and without saddling average utility customers with the increased cost instead of the data cloud and AI processing centers driving the increase will take a lot of creativity, Heinrich said. Race for committee leadership in House Another member of New Mexico's congressional delegation was attempting to win a leadership role on the House Natural Resources Committee. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., withdrew from the race for ranking member of the committee last week, when it became clear she did not have the votes to win. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stansbury said there was no ill will toward Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., who will take the position. "At the end of the day, the importance of this race and helping to chip away at the glass ceiling of women ascending to leadership in the House is, in and of itself, a win," Stansbury said. GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) The streets of downtown Greensboro were quiet as the community gathered for the memorial of Officer Michael Horan, who was killed on duty two days before Christmas. It just hit home anytime that I lose one, said retired police officer Bobby Blakley. Greensboro police officer killed in shooting at Food Lion on Lawndale Drive He worked at Greensboro Police Department for 18 years, and, while he didnt know Officer Horan, tears still filled his eyes as he rest his hand on the patrol car, paying his respect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I pray for his family, especially for his kids, waking up this morning without a dad, he said. Blakley knows this grief all too well. Lost a good friend of mine when I was with the police department, Porter Robertson. I was on duty that night when he lost his life. Its sad, especially this time of the year, that this young man lost his life, said Blakley. Cynthia Burts, a mother of two police officers, has so much empathy for his family. Longtime friend remembers fallen Greensboro Officer Michael Horan Its scary. Its the thought that you wouldnt want to see that for anyone. Something to go through your mind every day. I feel sorry for this officer, his family, friends, colleagues, said Burts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between family gatherings, people from the community stopped just for a moment to honor and respect an officer who died protecting his community. But something like this, I cant see how somebody would even try to do something like this especially to an officer, said Greensboro resident Terry Evans. Even on this Christmas Day, person after person stood in front of the car for a moment of silence. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. Making predictions about the Middle East can be an exercise in futility. Just weeks before his ouster, for example, few if any analysts had Assad flees Syria on their radar. The same can be said for Hamas brutal assault on Israel in 2023, which shocked the region and upended its political dynamics. Could another black swan event emerge in 2025? At the very least, it seems to be possible, as the Middle East is full of brittle regimes, festering conflicts and ambitious external actors. Such uncertainty underscores the need to constantly challenge assumptions. After the attack of Oct. 7, 2023, exposed Israels vulnerabilities, many predicted an irrepressible rise and strengthening of the axis of resistance, as the network of Iranian-backed allies fighting Israel and Western-aligned partners is known. A year later, the script has flipped, with Israel ascendant through its relentless use of military force in Gaza, Lebanon and beyond. The fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was the most stunning example of how the tables have turned, eroding Iranianand Russianpower. U.S. President Joe Biden was quick to claim credit for a new regional balance of power that seems to favor the United States. Such confident declarations about the Middle East are rarely wise. For one thing, Irans losses do not always amount to Washingtons gains. For another, the pendulum can shift againand quickly. Those hoping for clarity in the emerging regional order are likely to be disappointed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nonetheless, several certainties remain. One is the continued expansion of Chinese economic engagement in the region driven by the sheer demand of its energy needs, which are unlikely to shift drastically in 2025. The other certainty is that Washingtons expansive military ties with regional partners will continue. This would have been the case regardless of who won the U.S. presidential election in November, because those ties serve members of the U.S. foreign policy establishment who want to see continued U.S. military engagement in the Middle East. But they also serve those in Washingtonlike President-elect Donald Trumpwho say they want to see less U.S. engagement because, after all, if the U.S. is less engaged, it will need regional partners equipped to do the heavy lifting. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. These two certainties combine to reinforce a third trend: regional resistance to choosing sides between the United States and China. Washingtons regional partners will continue hedging and adopting multi-alignment strategies as they focus on priorities at home. Regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia, in particular, is likely to invest more in its domestic agenda than in grand bargain plans designed in Washington that pivot around Israel. The shifting balance of power triggered by Assads ouster is unlikely to change this. However, just what the altered balance of power might look like and how key regional and external powers respond are both uncertain. As they unfold, several key developments will define how regional dynamics play out in the coming year and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First is how post-Assad Syria shapes up. Assads ouster is cause for celebration even if what lies ahead remains uncertain, as Syrians themselves are well aware. Given the dizzying array of regional and global interests at stake, the outcomes in Syria will have wide-reaching consequences. The leading rebel group with the most influence in Damascus right now, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, is trying to convey messages of moderation and inclusivity to interlocutors within and outside Syria. Though it remains on Western terrorist lists due to its al-Qaida origins, the group appears to have transitioned into a nationalist Islamist movement that has abandoned transnational ambitions. Nevertheless, anxiety remains about what type of leadership will emerge in what is sure to be a contentious transition process. Future infighting among opposition groups or external meddling could fuel instability and a return to conflict. Instability and security vacuums could also leave openings for the resurgence of militant extremists like the Islamic State, no doubt of grave concern for neighbors like Jordan. The U.S. is taking no chances, continuing to strike Islamic State camps and operatives in the areas of Syria formerly controlled by the Assad regime and Russia. For now, Syrians are enjoying their freedoms after a horrific civil war, in which Assads repression led to torture, the deaths of hundreds of thousands and the displacement of half of Syrias pre-war population. Even suboptimal outcomes in the year ahead are likely to be better than the devastation Assad brought to Syria and the region. After moving toward accommodation with Assad in recent years, Syrias Arab neighbors are adjusting to the new reality and have strong interests in supporting a stable and economically viable Syrian state, even if democracy will not be a high priority for the authoritarian-led region. Gulf Arab states like the United Arab Emirates are particularly concerned about the Islamist nature of Syrias new powerbrokers. The obstacles to building a new Syria and a peaceful post-Assad order are immense, even as many Syrians seem determined to avoid the mistakes of the past. It will be the regions non-Arab statesIran, Turkey and Israelthat will wield the most influence over the changing geopolitical dynamics in 2025. But it will be the regions non-Arab statesIran, Turkey and Israelthat will wield the most influence over the changing geopolitical dynamics in 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How Iran grapples with its diminished power is critical. Even before the downfall of Assad, Iran was facing mounting pressure as a result of Israels assault on Hezbollah, until now Tehrans most important nonstate partner and key linchpin in its deterrence strategy. With Hezbollah weakened and Iran having abandoned its position in Syria, Tehran seems to have lost the massive investments it has made into the axis of resistance over the years. The Houthis in Yemen continue to pose significant threats to commercial shipping in the Red Sea, but Irans influence over the group is more limited. Iran has far more sway among the Iraqi militia groups it supports, but even there its influence has often been exaggerated, given these groups own nationalist agendas. Indeed, ever since the fallout from the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, talk of a rising Shiite crescent was often exaggerated, with Irans power and reach more limited than assumed. In this sense, the regional balance of power may not be shifting as drastically as many perceive, since Irans weakness and Israels military dominance have long defined the regional landscape. The unprecedented direct rounds of Israel-Iran standoff aerial strikes in April and again in October demonstrated Irans significant missile and drone capabilities, but also ultimately its military inferiority and inability to deter further Israeli attacks. Indeed, while one should never underestimate the damage Iran can continue to inflict on Israel, the hits Iran has taken in the past few months already appear to be leading to some significant debates within Tehran about how to compensate for such deficits. The most discussed possibility, with very serious global implications, would be Iran moving to weaponize its nuclear program to compensate for its conventional weakness. After the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEAthe United Nations nuclear watchdogcensured Iran in late November for failing to cooperate over its nuclear program, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned that Iranian leaders are debating whether the country should change its nuclear posture. The reimposition of all international sanctionsthe so-called snapback mechanism in the Iran nuclear agreement that expires in October 2025could be the trigger for Iran to exit the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. In the current environment, where Israel is less risk-averse and believes military attacks are producing results, an Israeli strike on Irans nuclear program is a plausible threat. On the other hand, Iranian leaders are no doubt aware that moving toward nuclear weapons will only increase Israeli incentives to attack. Moreover, the assumption that nuclear deterrence can compensate for conventional weakness is questionablethere have been numerous cases where the possession of nuclear weapons did not prevent a conventional attack, including in the Middle East. Iran may instead prefer to maintain a nuclear hedging posture or even make further concessions to the IAEA to relieve pressure. This might allow it to buy time to focus on rebuilding its alliance network as well as its own defense capabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tehran can also resort to diplomatic approaches to deflect pressure, such as its continued rapprochement with Gulf Arab neighbors, especially Saudi Arabia. A new nuclear deal is also always a possibility, though it will prove difficult to achieve, given what is sure to be increased U.S. and European emphasis on Irans non-nuclear activitiesincluding its missile capabilitieson which Tehan will be reluctant to compromise given its growing vulnerability to Israeli attacks. As Iran struggles to compensate for its losses, Turkey has emerged from recent developments as the perceived regional winner in Syria. Ankara has long supported the Syrian opposition and indirectly backed HTS. Assads fall advances Turkeys primary interests there: the return of millions of Syrian refugees currently in Turkey; and the weakening of Kurdish opposition groups on Turkeys border, some of which are aligned with Washington. Indeed, Turkish bombing of Kurdish positions accelerated in the days after Assads overthrow, and Turkey-watchers see Turkish gains against the Kurds as a play for leverage that might help encourage the incoming Trump administration to withdraw its forces from Syria. But Ankara still faces risks, including the potential strengthening of extremist groups if instability increases and leads to terrorist attacks within Turkey itself. It is also unclear if Syrias emerging leaders will remain beholden to Turkey once they consolidate power and begin pursuing national goals, or whether Turkish gains in Syria will translate into wider regional influence. And then theres Israel. Irans losses in Syria and Israeli military successes in degrading Hezbollah appear to be an unequivocal win. Underscoring Hezbollahs weakened state, the group agreed to a cease-fire with Israel in Lebanon without one being implemented in Gaza, as it had long demanded. As for Gaza, Israel has demolished Hamas but at a devastating humanitarian cost to the territorys civilian inhabitants. Israels brutal wareven a former Israeli defense minister has called its operations in northern Gaza ethnic cleansinghas come with enormous cost with regard to its international and regional reputation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel will face other challenges. Syrias new leaders are focused inward for now and say they do not want their country used as a launchpad for attacks against Israel, but over time their positions may shift if Israel continues incursions and military strikes. Indeed, the nom de guerre of the head of HTS is al-Jolani, referencing the Golan Heights from which his family was expelled after Israel seized and occupied the territory in 1967. Hezbollah is weakened but not eliminated. Iran still has capabilities to attack Israel directly. The Gaza war grinds on, leaving Israels reserve units under strain while the remaining hostages still being held by Hamas languish. Despite Israels expanding bordersit just established a new buffer zone along the Golan Heights inside Syriathe areas where its population feel safe to live continue to shrink. But Israels greatest vulnerability continues to be its existential conflict with the Palestinians. Even if the current Israeli government agrees to a cease-fire in Gaza next yearor possibly even before the end of this oneit is unlikely to lead to a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza or a reversal of expanding Israeli settlement in the West Bank. Indeed, Netanyahu and his coalition continue to work on the pre-Oct. 7 assumption that the Palestinian issue can be decoupled from its normalization in the wider region. The incoming Trump administration will only empower such views. Trumps former adviser on Israel, Jason Greenblatt, made this stance explicit at the Doha Forum in early December, arguing that the Palestinian issue can be separated from regional politics and that Trump should notand would notpressure Israel to resolve it. The track record for those making predictions about the Middle East cautions against certainty. The balance of power may be shifting, but in which direction is unclear. And any reshaping that unfolds is likely to come from the region itself in ways that may be surprising and that may not always align with the aspirations of external powers. Dalia Dassa Kaye is a senior fellow at the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations. The post For the Middle East, 2025 Will Be About the Shifting Balance of Power appeared first on World Politics Review. A wave of Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen's main airport Thursday just as the World Health Organizations director-general said he was about to board a flight there. One of the U.N. planes crew was wounded, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X. The Israeli military said it attacked infrastructure used by Yemen's Houthi rebels at the international airport in the capital Sanaa, as well as power stations and ports, alleging they were used to smuggle in Iranian weapons and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. Last week, Israeli jets bombed Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people. The U.S. military also has targeted the Houthis in Yemen in recent days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel's latest wave of strikes in Yemen follows several days of Houthi launches setting off air-raid sirens in Israel. The Houthis have also been targeting shipping in the Red Sea corridor, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Israel's war in Gaza has killed over 45,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count. Heres the latest: UN says at least 3 reportedly killed in Israeli airstrikes on airport in Yemen UNITED NATIONS The U.N. says at least three people were reportedly killed and dozens injured in Israeli airstrikes on the international airport in Yemens capital Sanaa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A high-level U.N. delegation led by U.N. World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was at the airport Thursday waiting to depart when the airstrikes took place, and a U.N. Humanitarian Air Service crew member was among the injured, U.N. associate spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay said. The rest of the U.N. team left the airport and are safe and sound in Sanaa, and the injured crew member is being treated in a hospital, she said. Tremblay said an assessment of damage to the airport will be made Friday morning to see whether Tedros and the U.N. team can leave Yemen. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemns the escalation in attacks between Yemen and Israel and says Thursdays attacks on Sanaa International Airport, Yemens Red Sea ports and power stations in the country are especially alarming, Tremblay said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.N. chief appealed to all parties to respect and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, as required under international law, she said. Guterres called for a halt to all military actions, and for utmost restraint, she said. Displaced Syrians face dire winter conditions in tent camps, UN says UNITED NATIONS An estimated 730,000 people living in tents in camps for the displaced in northwest Syria are experiencing dire conditions this winter including from flooding, the U.N. humanitarian office said. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, said Thursday that more than 200 family tents in camps in Idlib and northern Aleppo were damaged by flooding from heavy rainfall on Dec. 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the start of 2024, flooding and strong winds have damaged more than 8,800 family tents including nearly 2,000 that were fully destroyed across 260 camps," OCHA said. On another issue, OCHA quoted a report from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor based in Britain, that since Dec. 8 when Syrian President Bashar Assad was ousted -- episodes involving explosive ordnance have killed more than 70 civilians including a dozen children and five women, with scores more injured. OCHA said mine experts have identified 109 new minefields across Idlib, Aleppo, Hama and Latakia since Nov. 26. So far, it said experts have destroyed more than 850 individual items of explosive ordnance. Elsewhere, OCHA said Israeli forces on Wednesday reportedly wounded six civilians when they opened fire in Al-Suweisah town in Quneitra province, which includes the Golan Heights. It said residents were ordered to evacuate and Israeli forces imposed a curfew. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli attorney general orders investigation after TV report alleges that Netanyahus wife harassed political opponents JERUSALEM Israels attorney general has ordered police to open an investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus wife on suspicion of harassing political opponents and witnesses in the Israeli leaders corruption trial. The Israeli Justice Ministry made the announcement in a terse message late Thursday, saying the investigation would focus on the findings of a recent report by the Uvda investigative program into Sara Netanyahu. The program uncovered a trove of WhatsApp messages in which Sara Netanyahu appears to instruct a former aid to organize protests against political opponents and to intimidate Hadas Klein, a key witness in the trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announcement did not mention Sara Netanyahu by name, and the Justice Ministry declined further comment. However, earlier Thursday, Benjamin Netanyahu blasted the Uvda report as lies. The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON U.S. officials say they asked for and got the retraction of an independent monitors warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israels near-total blockade of food and water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told The Associated Press it had asked for and gotten the reports retraction. USAID officials tell AP that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. Humanitarian and human rights officials expressed fear of U.S. political interference in the worlds monitoring system for famines. The U.S. Embassy in Israel and the State Department declined comment. FEWS officials did not respond to questions. FEWS Net said in its withdrawn report that unless Israel changes its policy, it expects the number of people dying of starvation and related ailments in north Gaza to reach between two and 15 per day sometime between January and March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The internationally recognized mortality threshold for famine is two or more deaths a day per 10,000 people. FEWS was created by the U.S. development agency in the 1980s and still receives funding from it. But the monitor is intended to provide independent, neutral and data-driven assessments of hunger crises, including in war zones. ___ By Ellen Knickmeyer Iran condemns Israeli strikes on Yemen's Houthi rebels TEHRAN, Iran Irans Foreign Ministry on Thursday strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on the main airport in Yemen's Houthi rebel-held capital as well as key energy and port infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Esmail Baghaei, a spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, said Thursday's Israeli strikes were part of a policy for "destroying and weaking Islamic countries and urged immediate action by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation as well as other regional and international bodies. Baghaei said the U.S. and Britain were accomplices in the strikes and had supported them, adding that the attacks were a breach of all international regulations and norms, particularly the U.N. Charter. It also criticized the passivity by U.N. about Israel allegedly breaching international law. The Iran-backed Houthis have launched drones and missiles at Israel in recent days, setting off air-raid sirens, and Israeli strikes on Yemen last week killed nine people. The U.S. military also has targeted the Houthis in Yemen in recent days. Israel said the strikes Thursday targeted infrastructure used for military purposes by the Houthis, as well as smuggling in Iranian weapons and the entry of senior Iranian officials. WHO chief says he was meters away when Israel bombs fell on airport in Yemens capital UNITED NATIONS The head of the U.N. health agency says he and his team were about to board a flight in Yemens rebel-held capital Sanaa when the airport came under aerial bombardment. The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge just a few meters (yards) from where we were and the runway were damaged, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X. He said one of the U.N. planes crew was injured but he and his WHO colleagues were safe. We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave. The Israeli military said Thursday it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the airport as well as power stations and ports in rebel-controlled areas. Israels military didnt immediately respond to questions about Tedros comments but issued a statement saying it had capabilities to strike very far from Israels territory precisely, powerfully, and repetitively. Tedros said the U.N. team was in Yemen to negotiate the release of U.N. staff detained by the Houthis and to assess the health and humanitarian situation in the country, which faces one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemens capital and ports JERUSALEM Houthi rebels in Yemen said Israeli airstrikes on Thursday targeted the rebel-held capital of Sanaa and the port city of Hodeida, following several days of Houthi launches that set off air-raid sirens in Israel. The Israeli military said it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports at Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib along with power stations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech on Wednesday that the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assads regime and others learned. The Iran-backed Houthis media outlet reported the strikes in a Telegram post, but gave no immediate details. The U.S. military also has targeted the Houthis in Yemen in recent days. The United Nations has noted that the ports are important entryways for humanitarian aid. Over the weekend, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi missile hit a playground in Tel Aviv. Last week, Israeli jets struck Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people, calling it a response to previous Houthi attacks. The Houthis also have been targeting shipping on the Red Sea corridor, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Kurdish-led group holds funeral for 6 fighters killed in northeast Syria fighting QAMISHLI, Syria Thousands of people in northeastern Syria attended a funeral Thursday for six fighters from a Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed force who were killed in ongoing clashes with Turkish-backed militias. The Turkish-backed groups are launching attacks to take the Arab cities west of the Euphrates River that are under the control of the Kurdish group . The Turkish-supported groups helped overthrow Bashar al-Assads rule of Syria, and have since kept pushing eastward against the Kurdish groups. We thought that Syria today has entered a new stage after the fall and escape of Assad. We thought that we got rid of all of this, but this attack on us changed everything and those who came in are taking orders from Turkey, said Nihayet Hassan, the uncle of a killed fighter. The fighters were killed during attacks on Tishreen Dam near the strategic city of Manbij in recent days. The bodies were returned to the city of Qamishli in northeastern Syria where the U.S.-backed group, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, has a strong presence. Ankara sees the SDF as an affiliate of its sworn enemy, the Kurdistan Workers Party, which Turkey classifies as a terrorist organization. Turkish-backed armed groups backed by Turkish jets have for years attacked positions where the SDF are present across northern Syria, in a bid to create a buffer zone free from the group along the Turkish border. It is obvious that Turkeys issue is with the Kurds. It is not about an organization, or the PKK, no, their target are the Kurds, said Ahmad Ammo, a Qamishli resident who attended the funeral. The U.S. has about 2,000 soldiers in eastern Syria to help fight the Islamic State group and protect critical oil fields there. Lebanese military says Israel violated ceasefire agreement by entering southern Lebanon BEIRUT The Lebanese military said Thursday that Israeli troops encroached on areas of southern Lebanon, violating a ceasefire agreement that ended the war between Israel and the Hezbollah group. The U.S.-brokered ceasefire that went into effect a month ago called for Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops to leave southern Lebanon over a 60-day period as Lebanese army soldiers gradually deploy in the country south of the Litani River. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the reported incident. Meanwhile, Lebanons state-run National News Agency said Israeli bulldozers are setting up dirt barricades that would close off the road between Wadi Slouqi and Wadi Hujeir. Lebanons military said it brought reinforcements into the areas entered by Israeli troops. NNA said the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, sent a patrol unit to an area near the southern town of Qantara where Israeli forces are present. UNIFIL in a statement expressed its concern at continuing destruction by the IDF (Israeli military) in residential areas, agricultural land, and road networks in south Lebanon. Lebanese army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun traveled to Saudi Arabia earlier Thursday as part of ongoing efforts by the cash-strapped military to find financial support to deploy in larger numbers. The Lebanese military and government have complained about Israeli strikes and overflights in the country to a new monitoring committee headed by the U.S. that also includes France. Israeli strike kills five Palestinian journalists, Gaza Health Ministry says DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip An Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in the Gaza Strip overnight, the Health Ministry said Thursday. The Israeli army said it had targeted a group of militants. The strike hit a car outside the Al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in the central part of the territory. The journalists were working for the local news outlet Al-Quds Today, a television channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group. The military said it targeted a group of fighters from Islamic Jihad, a militant group allied with Hamas, whose Oct. 7, 2023, attack into southern Israel ignited the war. Associated Press video showed the incinerated shell of a van, with press markings still visible on the back doors. The Committee to Protect Journalists says over 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the start of the war. Israel has not allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza except on military embeds. ___ This post has been corrected to show that the name of the local news outlet is Al-Quds Today, not the Quds News Network. China pledges 2 more shipments of aid to Gaza BEIJING China has pledged two more shipments of humanitarian aid to Gaza, in an indication of support for the Palestinian Authority, state media reported Thursday. The agreement was overseen in Cairo by Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang and Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Diab al-Louh. To ease the humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, the Chinese government has continued to provide assistance to Palestine, Liao was quoted as saying. The types and quantities of aid to be delivered via Egypt were not given, but China has previously shipped food and medicine to Gaza. China has longstanding ties with the Palestinian Authority but has also sought to strengthen economic and political relations with Israel. Al-Louh voiced appreciation for Chinas consistent and firm support for the just cause of the Palestinian people and for raising this issue on international occasions," state media said. UN Security Council to hold emergency meeting on Houthi attacks UNITED NATIONS The U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday at Israels request to discuss recent attacks by Yemens Houthi rebels. Israels U.N. Mission said Wednesday the meeting will take place at 10 a.m. Monday. Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said he expects the council will condemn the Houthi attacks. He urged the council to enforce international law and hold Iran, the Houthis patron, accountable. Alluding to Israeli retaliation for the attacks, Danon said It seems that the Houthis have not yet understood what happens to those who try to harm the state of Israel. MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The Midland Police Department is investigating a Christmas Eve shooting that left one person dead. According to MPD, around 10:10 p.m. on December 24, officers responded to a shooting in the 5000 block of Pleasant Drive. At the scene, investigators found 49-year-old Seward Swann injured by gunfire. Swann was taken to Midland Memorial Hospital where he later died from his injuries. The suspect or suspects involved have not yet been identified and no arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. https://www.tipranks.com/news/the-fly/national-bank-of-canada-price-target-lowered-to-c135-from-c141-at-cibc HIVE Digital Technologies (HIVE) announces the acquisition and deployment of an additional cluster of NVIDIA (NVDA) H100 GPUs in the Canadian province of Quebec and the newest NVIDIA H200 GPUs, which have shipped to Quebec. This $30 million investment reinforces HIVEs growth position as a leader in the global gig economy and its commitment to driving the digital transformation of artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, the company said. NVIDIA H100 cluster: Comprised of 248 GPUs in 32 nodes connected with Infiniband, this cluster has arrived on site in Quebec, has been fully configured and will be operational before the end of 2024. NVIDIA H200 cluster: Comprised of 508 GPUs in 64 nodes connected with Infiniband, this cluster has been shipped and is expected to arrive in Quebec in early January 2025, with installation and customer deployment planned for calendar Q1 2025. Don't Miss Our Christmas Offers: Discover the latest stocks recommended by top Wall Street analysts, all in one place with Analyst Top Stocks Make smarter investments with weekly expert stock picks from the Smart Investor Newsletter Published first on TheFly the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See todays best-performing stocks on TipRanks >> Read More on HIVE: Milwaukee police arrested a Milwaukee County bus driver following a fatal pedestrian crash Wednesday night. At approximately 10:30 p.m. on Christmas near the intersection of 47th Street and Villard Avenue, a Milwaukee County bus traveling westbound struck two victims a 79-year-old and a 37-year-old. Police say the victims were attempting to repair a legally parked vehicle on the north side of West Villard Avenue. The 79-year-old Robert Clemons of Milwaukee died from injuries sustained in the crash. The 37-year-old was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bus remained on the scene, and its 51-year-old driver was taken into custody. Charges are pending review by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360 or, to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-Tips or online at P3 Tips. This comes less than a week after a 37-year-old man died after striking a Milwaukee County bus at East Locust Street and North Oakland Avenue early Saturday morning. Police say preliminary investigation indicates the man was driving at a high speed and the bus had the right of way. Passengers on the bus had varying degrees of injuries, but none were life-threatening. This story was updated to add new information and add video. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee County bus driver kills one in pedestrian crash on Christmas Milwaukee County Transit System buses will be free on New Year's Eve again due to a partnership with Molson Coors. To ensure that those celebrating in Milwaukee have a reliable ride, we are excited to activate the Free Rides program once again across the U.S. this New Years Eve, said Alison Hanrahan, community affairs manager, Molson Coors, in a statement. MCTS has partnered with Miller Lite since 1988 to give more than a half-million rides to residents on New Year's Eve. When will MCTS bus rides be free on New Year's Eve 2025? There will be free bus rides on all routes starting at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31 until the end of service on all routes, according to a press release. The following MCTS routes have extended service New Year's Eve The following routes will be extended to 4 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CONNECT 1 BRT 14-Entire Route 18-Broadway and Knapp to 121st and Greenfield 21-Mayfair Mall to North Avenue and Water Tower 24-MCTS Admin Building to Southridge 30-Entire route, both branches Purple Line-Bayshore to Franklin Walmart Blue Line-Fifth to Clybourn to Fond du Lac and Constance (Hampton) Green Line- Entire route Molson Coors is also offering fare-free rides on New Year's Eve in the following cities: Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. How to plan your MCTS route: For more information, visit RideMCTS.com/schedules for route maps or you can download the Umo app to plan your trip. You can plan your trip on the MCTS website trip planner feature here. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New Year's Eve 2025: Milwaukee County Transit System has free bus rides Milwaukee will kick off 2025 with the latest sunrises of the winter. On Dec. 31, the sun will rise at 7:23 a.m. in Milwaukee the latest sunrise the city has seen since Jan. 6, 2024, according to timeanddate.com. In fact, starting New Year's Eve, Milwaukee will see a string of late sunrises that will last through the first week of 2025. After that, the sun will start rising earlier, as the days keep getting longer in Milwaukee. Since Dec. 21, which was the shortest day of the year, the city has been gradually regaining daylight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what else to know about the shifting daylight hours in Milwaukee. A boat launches at sunrise on Lake Wissota in Chippewa Falls. When are Milwaukee latest sunrises of 2025? Here's when Milwaukee will see its latest sunrises in 2025: Jan. 1, 2025: sunrise at 7:23 a.m., sunset at 4:27 p.m. Jan. 2, 2025: sunrise at 7:23 a.m., sunset at 4:28 p.m. Jan. 3, 2025: sunrise at 7:23 a.m., sunset at 4:29 p.m. Jan. 4, 2025: sunrise at 7:23 a.m., sunset at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 5, 2025: sunrise at 7:23 a.m., sunset at 4:31 p.m. Dec. 31, 2025: sunrise at 7:23 a.m., sunset at 4:26 p.m. When are Milwaukee's earliest sunrises of 2025? Milwaukee will see its earliest sunrises of 2025 in mid-June just ahead of the summer solstice, or the longest day of the year: June 12, 2025: sunrise at 5:11 a.m., sunset at 8:31 p.m. June 13, 2025: sunrise at 5:11 a.m., sunset at 8:32 p.m. June 14, 2025: sunrise at 5:11 a.m., sunset at 8:32 p.m. June 16, 2025: sunrise at 5:11 a.m., sunset at 8:33 p.m. June 17, 2025: sunrise at 5:11 a.m., sunset at 8:33 p.m. When is Milwaukees longest day of 2025? Milwaukees longest day was on Thursday, June 20 this year and will fall on Friday, June 20 next year. Milwaukee saw 15 hours and 21 minutes of daylight during 2024s summer solstice, with the sun rising at 5:12 a.m. and setting at 8:34 p.m. When will the sun start setting after 5 p.m. in Wisconsin? In 2025, the first sunset after 5 p.m. in Milwaukee will be on Wednesday, Jan. 29. On this day, the sun will rise at 7:09 a.m. and set at 5 p.m. giving Milwaukee nine hours and 51 minutes of daylight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cailey Gleeson contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: When is the latest sunrise in Milwaukee in 2025? The state Capitol. (Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury) Minimum wage increases and other new Virginia laws that go into effect in 2025.WSET As drone sightings multiply, a Virginia Tech team is working on better ways to detect and identify the unmanned fliers.Cardinal News Another former Richmond employee files whistleblower suit alleging retaliation.Richmond Times-Dispatch Miss Virginia sheds light on disparities Black women face in health system.WVIR One-month-old baby survives deadly head-on crash in Virginia.WTVR SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A Sartell woman is facing prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud that landed her $9 million in financing for her baby shop businesses. Adelle Starin, 40, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of wire fraud on Dec. 19. Court documents stated that she knowingly gained money by conducting a scheme through fake companies from 2022 to Nov. 2024. Starin founded and operated Babys on Broadway in 2013, selling baby products and toys online and at stores in Little Falls and St. Cloud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Attorney's Office of Minnesota said that Starin's initial scheme saw her submit reimbursement claims to TRICARE, a U.S. Department of Defense Military Health System healthcare program. But the claims she made were for medical equipment that was not eligible for reimbursement, and while TRICARE initially paid out for a number of the claims, it became wise to the scheme and started rejecting the payments. While federal authorities didn't take criminal action against Starin, she turned her attention to lenders to replace her lost income loss. Prosecutors say she created a new company, Sunshine Medical, through which she applied for loans to buy products. Google Maps Court documents state that she lied to two lenders, Liquid Capital Enterprises Corp. and Slope Tech. Inc., saying she needed financing to buy inventory for Babys on Broadway from Sunshine, despite knowing Sunshine Medical had no business operations or revenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From April to Oct. 2024, Starin created fake Sunshine Medical invoices and sent them to Liquid Capital, receiving around $1.1 million. Starin also sent fake invoices to Slope Tech from Feb. to Oct. 2024, gaining around $8 million in financing. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. The maximum penalty is 20 years in prison. A 74-year-old Centre County woman was found safe Thursday after previously being reported missing. Frances Mottorn, of Bellefonte, was safely located in the Harrisburg area Thursday, state police said in an updated advisory. An earlier update from law enforcement suggested she was at special risk of harm or injury or may be confused. Pennsylvania State Police thank everyone for their assistance, police said in a written statement. Missing Endangered Person Advisory UPDATE: Frances Mottorn has been located. The MEPA is canceled. Thank you for the RTs. PA State Police (@PAStatePolice) December 26, 2024 Before she went missing, Mottorn was last seen visiting Mount Nittany Medical Center on East Park Avenue in State College around 2 p.m. Christmas Day. Mottorn was the second Centre County resident to be reported missing this week following a 77-year-old man from Howard, who was reported missing on Tuesday. Anyone with information is asked to contact police immediately by calling 911 or the state police at Rockview at 814-355-7545. By Alexander Tanas CHISINAU (Reuters) - The Parliament in ex-Soviet Moldova, controlled by pro-Western lawmakers, approved a 10-year defence strategy on Thursday calling for increased defence spending as part of a plan to join the European Union. The chamber's pro-Russian opposition ridiculed the document as pointlessly directed against Moscow in view of Moldova's small land mass and armed forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The document, presented by Defence Minister Anatolie Nosatii, aims to boost defence spending by 2030 to 1% of gross domestic product, with figures showing increases already being put into place. "The first step to implementing this was taken after the war in Ukraine started, by increasing budget resources for defence to 0.39% in 2022 and 0.55% in 2023," the document said. One of Europe's poorest countries, lying between Ukraine and EU member Romania, Moldova is a candidate to join the EU, with a membership date set for 2030. It is not considering joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) as the country's neutral status is set down in its constitution. The document says Moldova's neutral status requires it to boost partnerships with different countries and international organisations to strengthen its national defence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has jolted Moldova as drone fragments land on its territory and missiles aimed at Ukrainian targets pass through its airspace. Pro-Western President Maia Sandu, re-elected to a second term last month, though by a smaller margin than anticipated, has accused Russia of trying to unseat her government. Members of the pro-Moscow Socialist Party dismissed the document as meaningless. "If, God forbid, we are subject to an attack from the direction of the Russian Federation, how long do you think Moldova will resist such aggression?" Socialist member Adrian Albu asked the minister. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Simply because we are shouting from a rostrum?" The document cites risks of the Ukraine conflict spreading, particularly around the Black Sea port of Odesa close to Moldova's border. (Reporting by Alexander Tanas; Writing by Ron Popeski; Editing by Richard Chang) Jennifer Crumbley, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting her son carried out at a Michigan high school, is asking to be released from prison as her appeal moves through the courts. Attorney Michael Dezsi argued in the new motion that Crumbley who was sentenced this year to 10 to 15 years in prison hasn't committed any crimes, isn't a danger to anyone and won't run away. Dezsi said that Crumbley should be allowed to post bond, which would let her leave the Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility while promising to appear at court dates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There's no reason to keep her locked up," Dezsi said. "She hasn't hurt anyone, and she's not a flight risk. This case is an overreach, blaming a parent for the problems of a whole nation." PHOTO: Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of Oxford school shooter Ethan Crumbley, enters a court room at Oakland County Circuit Court before jury deliberations begin in her trial on four counts of involuntary manslaughter on Feb. 5, 2024 in Pontiac, Mich. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images, FILE) MORE: Ohio corrections officer killed in Christmas Day prison attack: 'Beyond comprehension' Jennifer Crumbley and her husband, James Crumbley, were sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison in April after each was found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter in separate trials. The trials were a rare case of parents facing criminal charges over their role in a shooting carried out by their child. PHOTO: Jennifer Crumbley during their sentencing on four counts of involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of four Oxford High School students by her son, mass school shooter Ethan Crumbley, on April 9, 2024 in Pontiac, Mich. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images, FILE) Dezsi called the sentence unfair and claimed the case was based on secret deals with two witnesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Keeping Mrs. Crumbley in prison sets a bad example and rewards unfair prosecutions," Dezsi said. MORE: The US stories everyone was talking about in 2024 "We're not just standing up for her we're standing up for all Americans who could face this kind of situation someday," he added. The court hasn't decided yet whether she'll be allowed to post bond. In response to the filing, Oakland County Chief Assistant Prosecutor David Williams said in a statement that the "legal issues raised by Jennifer Crumbley have already been heard and rejected by the Michigan Court of Appeals" and that she should remain in prison serving her sentence during the appeals process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Jennifer Crumbley was tried by a jury of her peers for her own actions and inactions leading to the shooting at Oxford High School not for the actions of her son, the Oxford High School shooter," Williams said in the statement. "A jury of twelve individuals listened to testimony and reviewed countless pieces of evidence before they unanimously found her guilty as charged and she was sentenced by the judge accordingly. This was an egregious set of facts that resulted in a conviction along with a 1015-year prison sentence." PHOTO: In this undated handout photo provided by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, Jennifer Crumbley poses for a mug shot in Pontiac, Mich. (Oakland County Sheriff's Office via Getty Images, FILE) The Crumbleys' son, Ethan Crumbley, was 15 years old at the time he opened fire at Oxford High School in 2021, killing four students. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Prosecutors said Jennifer and James Crumbley ignored several warning signs in the days leading up to the shooting. The parents also bought their son the gun used in the shooting and failed to secure the weapon and limit their son's access to it, prosecutors argued. Mom convicted in Michigan school shooting case asks to be released from prison originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Honda and Nissan said on Monday that they are starting merger talks. Josh Lefkowitz via Getty Images Honda's shares soared by as much as 17% when local markets opened on Tuesday. The automaker said on Monday that it was starting merger discussions with struggling rival Nissan. Honda also announced a $7 billion stock buyback program. Honda's shares soared after the company said it was in talks to merge with rival automaker Nissan. Honda's stock went up as much as 17% when local markets opened on Tuesday, a day after it announced that it had begun discussions with Nissan. The company's shares closed 12% higher on Tuesday. Besides the merger discussions, Honda said on Monday that it would buy back as much as 1.1 trillion yen, or about $7 billion, worth of its stock by December 2025. Mitsubishi Motors, whose representatives were also present at Monday's announcement, said it may join the merger. Nissan is Mitsubishi's largest shareholder. "Nissan and Honda will start the discussion from today onwards with an aim to clarify the possibility of business integration by around the end of January in line with the consideration of Mitsubishi Motors," Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe said in a statement on Monday. Honda did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment. Honda CEO: Merger is not a Nissan rescue Honda's shares had initially fallen when news first broke of the merger discussions last week. The company's shares closed 3% lower when local markets closed on Wednesday. Merging with Honda would serve as a critical lifeline for Nissan, which has been struggling with declining sales and profits this year. In November, Nissan said it was slashing 9,000 jobs globally to reduce costs. Nissan's stock is down by nearly 19% this year, while Honda's shares were down nearly 15% year to date, as of Monday's close. Although Honda and Nissan have touted the deal as a merger, the transaction would see Honda take a leading role in the combined entity. Besides appointing the president of the new holding company, Honda will also nominate a majority of its board members. "This is not a rescue," Honda's Mibe told reporters on Monday. A prerequisite for the merger is for Nissan to complete its business turnaround, Mibe added. Honda and Nissan are the second and third largest automakers in Japan, respectively. If finalized, the merger would create the world's third largest automaker by volume. It would also be the largest domestic merger in Japanese automotive history. Read the original article on Business Insider The Villagio, pictured here, and Trinity, brought 402 new homes to Missoula in 2023. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan) For the last several years, Montanas population has swelled as new residents flocked to the state amid the COVID-19 pandemic and and remote work migration, making the Treasure State one of the fastest growing in the country. But according to new data released Dec. 19 by the U.S. Census Bureau, that trend has reversed as Montanas growth rate continues to decline. As of July 2024, the federal agency estimates that Montana has a population of 1,137,223, an increase 5,931 from July of 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats roughly the equivalent of adding another Columbia Falls or Lewistown to the Treasure State map, but is a steep decrease from the prior years increase of more than 9,000 new residents. The U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates are produced by extrapolating from the last decennial census and adding births, subtracting deaths, and estimating both international and domestic net migration. County- and city-level population growth data is released every spring. At the height of the pandemic migration between 2020 and 2021, Montanas population spiked by nearly 20,000 residents, a nearly 2% growth rate that made the state the second-fastest growing in the country. The pattern of decline seen since then can be partly attributed to housing scarcity and costs in many of the states fastest growing areas such as Bozeman and the Flathead Valley, according to the Montana Department of Commerce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2024 growth rate of 0.52% ranks 37th among U.S. states and lags behind the nation which grew by 1% from 2023 to 2024. An international absence Jeffrey Michael, director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana, told the Daily Montanan that the state's year-over-year growth rate is the lowest since 2002, and it is the first time in more than a decade that the state's population has grown slower than the U.S. population. Michael focused on the Census Data showing that international migration was the primary driver behind the national growth rate and speculated that could be a large factor in Montana's relative slowdown. "Montana historically has the lowest levels of international migration in the country, and there was no noticeable change in 2024," Michael told the Daily Montanan. "I guess it is hard to attribute Montana's slowdown to the absence of this source of growth, but it certainly is very interesting when comparing to other states where international flows are notably pushing up population." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drawing a comparison to Idaho, which was the fastest growing state in 2021 and has remained in the top seven ever since, Michael noted that the neighboring state gained 7,899 international migrants in 2024 compared to Montana's 506. Further comparing the two states, while both showed a decrease in domestic migration, Montana's was much sharper, which Michael hypothesized is "likely due to higher housing costs and the remote-work boom receding. Much of Montana has gotten more expensive than Idaho." Since the 2020 Census, which sets a base population rate from April 1, 2020, Montana has gained 53,017 individuals, almost exclusively due to residents moving from other states. Montana had 3,000 more deaths than births during that timeframe, but the difference in birth rate and death rate between 2023 and 2024 was roughly even with 12 more births. Montana is the 43rd state by population, counting the District of Columbia, having leapfrogged Rhode Island in 2021. The next largest states are Maine, New Hampshire and Hawaii, all with roughly 1.4 million residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The District of Columbia grew 2.17% over the last year, followed by Florida at 2.04%. Texas, Utah, South Carolina, Nevada, Idaho and North Carolina all grew at a rate higher than 1.5%. Texas gained the most new residents, with 562,941, while Mississippi, West Virginia and Vermont all lost several hundred. A Christmas Day storm that has brought spotty snow and rain along with wind will be moving out of New Mexico tonight. Cooler air sticks around into the end of the week. A weak winter storm today brought spotty rain and snow showers to the northern half of New Mexico. This storm continues to move east across the state overnight with drier air now in western and central New Mexico. A few light snow showers and flurries will continue across the northern mountains, with spotty showers in eastern New Mexico through early Thursday morning. Drier weather returns Thursday afternoon with temperatures hovering closer to average for this time of year. A weak weather disturbance will again bring some very light snow Thursday evening through early Friday morning across the northern mountains, with spotty showers in western New Mexico. A warming trend begins statewide Friday. This warming trend with dry weather will continue through this upcoming weekend and into next Monday, when high temperatures will be well-above average for this time of year. Winds will also pick up with this warmer weather, especially Monday afternoon. A cold front will move into the state Monday night, bringing another drop in temperatures heading into the last day of 2024. 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 survey has found that most Western Europeans believe Ukraine's allies are falling short in both imposing economic sanctions on Moscow and providing military and other support to Kyiv, leaving Russia's potential victory in the war unchecked. Source: the results of a December YouGov survey conducted in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, as reported by European Pravda, citing The Guardian Around 66% of Danes, 63% of Swedes and Spaniards, 59% of Britons, 53% of Germans and Italians, and 52% of French respondents believe that the overall support for Ukraine falls short. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite this, only a small percentage think their own country should do more to help. Only a minority supported increasing aid to Ukraine 29% in Sweden, 21% in the United Kingdom and Germany, 14% in France, and just 11% in Italy, and the majority in each country believe support should either remain unchanged or be scaled back. Support for specific measures, such as strengthening sanctions, providing more weapons, deploying additional troops to NATO allies in Eastern Europe, or coordinating airstrikes on Russian targets in Ukraine, was either stable or had declined compared to previous levels. Asked about the likely situation a year from now, few Western Europeans expected either Russia or Ukraine to claim victory. Most believed the conflict would either continue or be resolved through a peaceful settlement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Respondents in Denmark (47%), Germany (40%), the United Kingdom, France (38%), and Italy (36%) were more optimistic about the possibility of a peaceful resolution. In contrast, those in Spain (36%) and Sweden (35%) were slightly more inclined to anticipate ongoing fighting. The survey also showed a significant decline in Western Europeans' willingness to support Ukraine "until it wins" at a critical time for Kyiv. Furthermore, people in Western Europe were divided over their stance on a potential peaceful settlement that could leave Russia in control of parts of Ukraine it illegally seized after the February 2022 invasion, a scenario reportedly considered by US President-elect Donald Trump. Support UP or become our patron! At least six people including a mother and her 9-year-old son were injured after a taxi crashed into a New York City sidewalk on Christmas day, according to authorities. The New York Police Department said in a statement to PEOPLE that officers responded to a call of pedestrians struck just after 4 p.m. on a sidewalk located on Sixth Avenue near Herald Square, a popular tourist destination during the holidays steps away from Macy's. When officers arrived on the scene, they were informed that a 58-year-old taxi driver had experienced a medical emergency" while driving his cab down the street. The incident caused him to drive onto the sidewalk, the NYPD said, injuring at least six people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of the victims were named but three of the six struck by the taxi a 9-year-old boy, a 41-year-old woman and 49-year-old woman were transported to nearby hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. Police noted the boy had a laceration to his right thigh, while the 41-year-old and 49-year-old had a head and leg injury, respectively. Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty A photo of the cab that struck multiple pedestrians in the Herald Square area. A photo of the cab that struck multiple pedestrians in the Herald Square area. Related: 13-Year-Old Boy Dies, Siblings Critically Injured in Crash: These Children Need Your Prayers The taxi driver, who also wasn't named, was transported to a nearby hospital too in stable condition for further evaluation. Three others injured in the incident refused medical attention at the scene, NYPD said. Police did not say what kind of medical emergency the cab driver experienced or what led up to the crash. Police have not yet made any arrests related to the case at this time and said that its investigation into the incident is ongoing. 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. Law enforcement sources told NBC New York that the 9-year-old boy and his mother who were injured by the cab had been visiting New York City for the holidays from Australia. Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty A closeup of the cab that struck multiple pedestrians in the Herald Square area. A closeup of the cab that struck multiple pedestrians in the Herald Square area. Photos taken from the crash site showed the front of the yellow cab open and slightly crushed. Several other sides of the cab appeared to have sustained dents as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Innocent Driver Killed, 3 Others Injured in Crash amid Police Chase in California Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty A photo of the damaged taxi cab that hit multiple pedestrians on a New York City sidewalk. A photo of the damaged taxi cab that hit multiple pedestrians on a New York City sidewalk. An unnamed bystander, who witnessed the incident and said his wife was hit in the shoulder by the taxi, told WABC-TV that he sprung into action to try to help the people who were injured after the crash. "I ran over and noticed there was a little boy, his leg was underneath the front passenger tire as it was spinning, he recalled to the outlet. And then there was a group of people one gentleman went over [and[ shut the car off, got into it [to] shut it off, he continued. There was a whole group of us that ripped the fender off, lifted the car back and then that's when I grabbed the little boy, got him to the corner, realized that what ended up being his mom underneath. Read the original article on People MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas (KETK) A Mount Pleasant High School (MPHS) student will have his drawing displayed at the United States Capitol. MPHS senior Josue Vega, won the TX01 District Congressional Art contest on Dec. 8 at the Longview Museum of Fine Arts. His piece, The Boys, is a tribute to Vegas uncles when they were younger. Longview ISD awards teachers $3.5 million in bonuses this holiday season Photo courtesy of Mount Pleasant High School Vega won two Southwest Airline tickets for himself and a guest to fly to Washington D.C. for the unveiling in the summer of 2025. He has also received a gift card for $200 for art supplies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Congressional Art Contest is a nationwide art competition for high school students. Students submit entries to their representatives office and a panel of district artists selects the winning entries. Mount Pleasant is in the 1st Congressional District of Texas, represented by Congressman Nathaniel Moran. Congressman Morgans district includes 17 counties in the northeast corner of the state running along the border between Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. The 1st place pieces from each district are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol in the Cannon Tunnel. The tunnel is the most highly traveled access point between the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Capitol. Every day, members of Congress, distinguished visitors and tourists walk through the tunnel and admire the artwork. I would like to congratulate Josue Vega for receiving first place in the 2025 Congressional Art Competition hosted by Congressman Nathaniel Moran, MPHS art teacher Laura Kirkland said. This year out of several students across East Texas, there were 2 Honorable Mentions, 3rd, 2nd, and our very own 1st place winner, Josue Vega. I would like to thank Congressman Nathaniel Moran for hosting this event. Also, Tara Baker and all her helpers for organizing, and finally, thank you to the contributors for the prizes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vega has been a student in the MPISD art program for five years. After graduation, he plans on either attending an auto mechanic or electrical trade school and is considering pursuing art on the side. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. Mourners gathered at a memorial ceremony in Ban Nam Khem on Thursday, a small fishing village in Phang Nga province in Thailand. (AP Video shot by Tian Macleod Ji) The week between Christmas and the arrival of 2025 isn't just a dead space for work and getting anyone to respond to emails. It's also a slow time for repertory movie screenings. Between special programming and the influx of Oscar hopefuls hitting screens, there's a little less room for older films. Still, there's more than enough to keep film lovers busy. Here are some films worth your time on Twin Cities screens this week. High Sierra (1941) Sunday, Dec. 29Tuesday, Dec. 31 at The Trylon Cinema Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement High Sierra is a good film, but it's also a film that sits between eras. It's not just a proto-noir, it's something of a breakthrough moment for Humphrey Bogart, who stars as Roy Earle, a recently-released bank robber looking to do that one last job that sets him up for life. Bogart had been vacillating between starring roles in B movies and playing second fiddle to the likes of James Cagney and George Raft in more serious films. His turn toward playing an older, stoic character was both a relic of gangster films that were going out of fashion and a forerunner of film noir. It was also the start of him leaning into the type of character that he'd play in his best-known films, which would come in rapid succession after High Sierra. (The Maltese Falcon in 1941, Casablanca in 1942, To Have and Have Not in 1944, The Big Sleep in 1946...) Even with a leading role here, the studio didn't see him as a draw. On the posters, he was given second billing to Ida Lupino, who is fantastic in a smaller role. The "final job" Earle plans to pull has him lamenting that "all the A1 guys are gone." The characters are lost in the middle of America, literally and figuratively. Most are from somewhere else than wherever they are. They exchange hometowns like conversational currency, using it to determine whether or not they can trust one another. But they're also lost in the middle of a changing landscape. There's no lionizing the criminal on the run. There isn't anyone cheering for the bank robber. Neither is there anyone cheering on Henry Travers' Pa Travers is best known as Clarence in It's a Wonderful Life a bumpkin moving to the big city after losing his farm. It's bleak, but beautifully shot. 2820 E 33rd St., Minneapolis ($8) Gremlins (1984) Saturday, Dec. 28 at The Parkway Theater Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christmas is gone, but there's still time for a Christmas movie or two. In case you've forgotten, Gremlins is very weird. The oddly specific rules that govern having a Mogwai are absurdly delightful. Once violated, the cute, mystical creatures become the scourge of the town. It's not exactly scary, but it has great puppets designed by Chris Walas and Rick Baker, and it's pretty funny. Plus, it'll pair nicely with a visit to Surly's Dorit's Tavern pop-up, designed to look like the bar from Gremlins. 4814 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis ($5$10) An Autumn Afternoon (1962) in 35mm Friday, Dec. 27Sunday, Dec. 29 at The Trylon Cinema Wrapping up the Trylon's series highlighting the color films of Yasujiro Ozu is An Autumn Afternoon. While Ozu hasn't quite retained the status of fellow Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, Ozu is among the greats and An Autumn Afternoon is comfortably among his best. An Autumn Afternoon stars Chishu Ryu who appeared in almost every one of Ozu's films a widower who is pushed into arranging a marriage for his youngest child and only daughter. It's a profound meditation on family that would ultimately be Ozu's final film. He died the following year. 2820 E 33rd St., Minneapolis ($8) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Apartment (1960) Tuesday, Dec. 31 at Alamo Drafthouse Speaking of fruitful collaborations... Jack Lemmon and Billy Wilder didn't work together nearly as often as Ozu and Ryu, but they made quite a few movies worth revisiting (Some Like It Hot, Irma la Douce, the underrated The Front Page, or the poorly aged but still funny Fortune Cookie). The Apartment may be their most beloved collaboration. C.C. Baxter (Lemmon) allows the higher-ups at his insurance company to borrow his apartment for their affairs in hopes of climbing the corporate ladder. This, of course, gets complicated even before he starts to pursue his own romantic ambitions. 9060 Hudson Rd, Woodbury ($10) Reel Imaginings short film showcase Sunday, Dec. 29 at The Parkway Theater Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Parkway is hosting a "festive showcase of short films" on Sunday that includes a post-screening meet-and-greet with the artists. The series of shorts promises to explore "humor in the mundane" and "suspending disbelief in unfolding absurdities." The films were created by MotionArt's director and choreographer, Pam Gleason, with cinematographers Guy Wagner, Nate Gebhard, Adam Tapper, and many others. 4814 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis ($12$15) Related: Timothee Chalamet convincingly portrays (and sings) Bob Dylan in 'A Complete Unknown' More movies screening this week: Related: Parkway opens 2025 with dystopian visions of the future: 'Idiocracy,' 'Terminator' & more Multiple people were rescued from an elevator in West Homestead. Members of the Munhall Central Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company said they were called to help the West Homestead Volunteer Fire Department with a rescue mission at the Hampton Inn on Christmas Eve. Four people were trapped in an elevator in the hotel. Crews were able to get all of them out safely. Maintenance workers from the hotel began working on the elevator as soon as firefighters wrapped up. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW By Mariko Katsumura TOKYO (Reuters) - On the face of it, the duo hardly seem fit to inspire confidence as the brains behind Japan's newest stock fund: one, a former comedian and the other, every bit the stereotypical "otaku" geek. But their maiden fund, announced on Wednesday, may be the Christmas gift that followers of the one-time entertainer, Toshiya Imura, have been waiting for since he revealed his plans for it about two years ago. The 40-year-old father of three had gained fame and an enthusiastic fan base by turning his obsession with stock research into 6.5 billion yen ($41.4 million) in assets as an individual investor. His reputation was such that any time his name appeared in a regulatory filing as a major shareholder, that company's stock would surge, as followers sought out "Imura stocks" to piggy-back on his value-investment bets. But Imura had bigger dreams: to become a professional investor to get more Japanese to profit from the stock market - a goal that aligns with the government's efforts to shepherd the roughly $6.5 trillion of households' cash into financial investments. He doggedly began his courtship of Keizo Takeiri, a quirky, former Goldman Sachs analyst, to be his partner-in-crime. Imura said he was instantly struck by Takeiri's photographic memory, talent for analysis and sheer geekdom when they first met in 2020. "His knowledge was next-level," Imura told Reuters in an interview this month alongside Takeiri and an official from the fund's operator, Fundnote. Takeiri had also previously caught the eye of Akira Katayama, a famous online gamer-turned-billionaire whose invitation to work at his hedge fund was further proof of his analytical chops. Known to his ex-Goldman colleagues as "that stock otaku", Takeiri, 38, said his years at the elite Tokyo University were spent skipping classes, playing mahjong and researching stocks. Grooming was low on his priority list. "He sometimes shows up with holes in his clothes and bizarrely long fingernails," Imura teased. "Maybe he doesn't care or notice? He's a real high-spec weirdo." That sentiment is mutual. Takeiri said Imura would send him 200 Slack messages on a typical day but then go missing for days on end when diving deep into a company's balance sheet. "The force with which he throws himself into finding out what he wants to know is out of this world." The pair's new fund goes on sale on Jan. 10 and will have an initial investment cap of 10 billion yen. A Christmas Day social media brawl between President-elect Donald Trumps backers in Silicon Valley and the MAGA base highlighted the looming battle facing the incoming White House and Congress over high-skilled immigration. Early conversations are already taking place on Capitol Hill, where Republican lawmakers are openly mulling new plans to boost numbers of high-tech immigrants as Elon Musk and other tech billionaires including many who have named skilled immigration a priority flex their expanding influence on Trump and the GOP. But this weeks online blowup suggests immigration hard-liners wont surrender easily to Trumps new tech friends. The president-elects Sunday naming of Sriram Krishnan, a former partner at venture capitalist firm Andreessen Horowitz, to serve as his artificial intelligence adviser caused panic among Trumps base, with many fretting over his recent advocacy for removing country caps on green cards for high-skilled workers. Laura Loomer, a far-right immigration restrictionist close to Trump, called Krishnans appointment deeply disturbing and said tech leaders are cozying up to Trump to enrich themselves and get Pentagon contracts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk and David Sacks, another venture capitalist tapped to serve as Trumps AI and crypto czar, fiercely defended Krishnan and his ideas from Loomer and other MAGA critics. There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent, Musk posted on X on Christmas Day, calling it the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley. Musk later claimed that America will LOSE without more high-skilled immigrants. The debate over high-tech immigration is not new Republicans and Democrats have repeatedly tried to pass laws making it easier for foreign experts to work in the U.S., most recently in 2022. But anti-immigrant sentiment and concerns about weakening a comprehensive immigration package with a high-skilled carve-out always sunk their plans. Now the long-stymied effort is getting new life from Musk, Sacks, Krishnan and other tech leaders advising Trump as he prepares to take office. The tech lobby sees an opening and is pressing its advantage. And GOP lawmakers even some immigration hawks interviewed on Capitol Hill say Congress should consider letting foreign-born students who earn advanced STEM degrees stay in the country after graduation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every Ph.D. in a STEM field that is awarded by an American university should come with a green card, said Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.), co-chair of the House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, in a recent interview. He added that the issue is something that Congress should look at. Obernolte said more foreign tech experts are needed to compete with China on AI. Despite his support for laws cracking down on immigration, he said immigrants have proven throughout U.S. history the impact that they can have on the U.S. economy. The online fight reflects a key point of tension in todays Republican Party, though some of its most fierce immigration opponents appeared to stay out of the holiday week fracas. Stephen Miller, Trumps incoming deputy chief of staff for policy, worked during Trumps first term to slash the number of green cards and skilled visas issued or extended. Dan Stein, president of the conservative Federation for American Immigration Reform,has told POLITICO that tech lobbyists expecting to get what they want on foreign visas are in for a big surprise. But Trump appears open to high-skilled immigration increases. In June, he told venture capitalists hed support giving green cards to foreign graduates of U.S. universities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several elected Republicans agreed that the U.S. needs more foreign tech experts to stay competitive. And others sounded less skeptical about high-skilled immigrants, now that Musk who was born in South Africa and other right-leaning tech tycoons have weighed in. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), incoming chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told reporters in mid-December that hes likely to talk with Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the committees top Democrat, about ways to increase the number of engineers and the professional-type people that are trying to get into the United States. We've talked about expanding that number, said Grassley, who has blocked previous efforts to boost the number of foreign STEM experts, though he also said he still sees things that are wrong with it. Musks influence could prove key to swaying Grassley and other GOP fence-sitters. The tech billionaires constellation of companies rely on foreign-born talent, and his lightning takedown of a bipartisan government funding bill suggests he is already adept at getting what he wants out of Republicans in Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tech companies have long pressed Washington to expand access to high-skilled H-1B visas and green cards. Their lobbyists now see new opportunities to advance the issue by leveraging the sway of tech billionaires over the GOP. John Neuffer, president and CEO of the Semiconductor Industry Association, told POLITICO that Musk and other Silicon Valley leaders could create an opportunity to reset the debate in a way that may be fruitful in terms of high-skilled immigration. New personalities that come out of tech could augur well for the conversation, Neuffer said. Still, success is not guaranteed. Trumps election was powered in large part by anti-immigrant sentiment, and advocates of more foreign-born experts acknowledge they must pull off a tough balancing act. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), a member of the Senates four-person AI working group and a longtime proponent of high-skilled immigrants, said Congress can do two things at once: crack down on illegal immigration while also clearing new pathways for foreign STEM professionals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young waved off questions about the powerful anti-immigrant current in his party, instead noting that Musk himself is an immigrant. America has benefited from Elon Musk and his amazing contributions to our economy, Young told POLITICO. Hes the object lesson on how high-skilled immigration can benefit our country, if done right. Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.), a longtime proponent of increases to high-skilled immigration, said hes been waiting for the stars to align and that Silicon Valleys rising influence on the GOP may be whats needed to break the logjam and defeat the restrictionists. The money is on the side of the big tech firms and the tech entrepreneurs, Foster told POLITICO. To the extent that the [Trump] administration dances to that tune, the answer is clear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Durbin shared some of that optimism but also sounded a note of doubt, saying in an interview that there are some political forces in the MAGA world who don't want a single new immigrant doing anything, period. Its not clear which side will prevail. Many of Trumps most ardent backers claim high-skilled immigrants depress wages and take jobs from native-born Americans. And while Trump recently expressed support for letting STEM students stay stateside, he said similar things in his first term even as his administration made things harder for skilled foreign workers. The tension is likely to at least slow any high-tech immigration fixes on Capitol Hill. While Republican lawmakers on key committees now express some openness to reform, theyre wary of moving too fast and getting crosswise with a GOP base eager for a border crackdown. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chair of the House Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over immigration policy, said winning the AI race includes Americans who went to school and got the same degree as STEM immigrants. But Jordan, a longtime admirer of Musk, said hes happy to work with the tech billionaire on the issue after the border is locked down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump and Mr. Musk, if theyre open to other things, well look at those, Jordan told reporters. But we got to secure the border first. Thats where the countrys at. The sequence matters a lot. Young agreed with Jordans sequencing. But the senator told POLITICO it may take only a matter of weeks for Congress to put in motion a lot of the border security promises that have been made. Then you'll start to hear from people who recognize that we need to increase our rate of growth, and that this is one sensible, possible way to do that, Young said. One sign of change could be Grassley. In 2022, he helped block a bipartisan deal in the CHIPS and Science Act that would have lifted green card caps for foreign nationals. At the time, he said a carveout would weaken a comprehensive package. But the incoming Judiciary chair recently admitted its difficult to get a comprehensive immigration bill before adding hes in no hurry to fix things solely for high-skilled workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why don't you ask me that in a month? he said to POLITICO in late December. Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California, the top Democrat on the House Science Committee and one of two members representing Silicon Valley, was a key driver of the 2022 deal killed by Grassley an experience that has made her cynical about future efforts, even with Musk in her corner. Whenever you try to do anything on immigration, right-wing, anti-immigrant forces take out radio ads and trash Republicans with them back home, Lofgren told POLITICO. I believe that Jay Obernolte is sincerely expressing his views. I don't question that, Lofgren said. I just having seen this show before, Im skeptical." Christine Mui contributed to this report. The Palatka Police Department released the names of three people shot on Christmas night. Two of the victims are dead and one was taken to a trauma center and listed in critical condition Thursday. Tyree Gilyard, 23, of Crescent City, and Dorrion McKinnon, 17, of Palatka, were killed in the shooting that occurred at 1825 St. Johns Ave., police said. Dazail Dennis, 21, of Crescent City, remains in the hospital in critical condition. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Police were called to the 100 block of North 19th Street at about 9:40 p.m. Wednesday where a large crowd was gathered. Officers were clearing the crowd when they heard gunfire nearby, Palatka police said. When officers reached the area where the shots were fired, they located the three victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gilyard was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Both Dennis and McKinnon were taken to a nearby trauma center for treatment, police said. After arriving at the hospital, McKinnon died from his injuries. Police are still looking for the shooter. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement Crime Scene Unit and the State Attorneys Office Homicide Investigative Unit are assisting in the investigation, a Palatka police news release states. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call police at 386-329-0115 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-888-277-8477. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read: Two shot during fight at Jacksonville lounge, one of the victims was a bystander Read: Putnam man wearing Santa suit arrested on Christmas Eve, accused of harassing, stalking neighbor [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. On Christmas Eve, NASA's Parker Solar Probe achieved the impossible a closer encounter with the sun than any spacecraft in history. It plunged into the sun's scorching outer atmosphere, the corona, flying through a distance of a mere 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometers). However, it remains to be known if the daring probe managed to survive the excessive heat and radiation of the sun. According to NASA, the probe is currently in the midst of its closest-ever flyby of the sun. Due to the intense conditions near the sun, the spacecraft is unable to communicate with Earth during this critical phase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mission control team is eagerly awaiting a signal from Parker on December 27, which will confirm the spacecraft's successful completion of the flyby and its continued operation. The flyby the 22nd of its kind for Parker was scheduled to take place at 6:53 a.m. EST (1153 GMT) on December 24. Record-breaking speed This flyby of the sun by the Parker Solar Probe is the closest it will ever get to the star, although two more normal flybys have been planned by NASA. The sun-touching spacecraft known for its record-breaking speeds previously reached a top speed of 394,736 miles per hour (635,266 kilometers per hour) in September 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During its recent Christmas Eve flyby, it is estimated to have exceeded this speed, reaching roughly 430,000 mph (692,000 kph), making it the fastest human-made object. As per Space.com, this speed is roughly 300 times faster than the top speed of a Lockheed Martin fighter jet. Interestingly, at Parker's astonishing speed, a journey from Washington, D.C. to Tokyo would take less than sixty seconds, according to NASA. Parker Solar Probe's incredible speed is attributed to seven gravity assists from Venus with the last one happening in November 2024. While this Christmas Eve flyby was the closest, Parker has two more encounters planned. On March 22nd and June 19th of next year, it will skim the sun's surface once again. Unlocking sun's mysteries The 2018 launch of the Parker Solar Probe marked a significant advancement in heliophysics, a field pioneered by the probe's namesake, Dr. Eugene Parker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Parker, a renowned astrophysicist whose groundbreaking research transformed our understanding of the sun and interplanetary space, passed away in March 2022 at the age of 94. In December 2021, the spacecraft made history by becoming the first spacecraft to "touch the sun." It successfully flew through the sun's corona, collecting crucial data on particles and magnetic fields. The Parker Solar Probe has been gathering crucial data to help scientists unravel some of the sun's biggest mysteries. Experts have long sought answers to fundamental questions like: How does the sun constantly release a stream of charged particles into space? Why is the sun's outer atmosphere (the corona) significantly hotter than its surface? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scientists are also keen to understand the structure and behavior of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These massive eruptions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun's atmosphere can significantly impact Earth. When directed towards our planet, CMEs can trigger geomagnetic storms, disrupting Earth's magnetic field. These storms can interfere with satellites, power grids, and communication systems. The wealth of data generated from this incredibly close flyby will help solar scientists get closer to understanding all these mysteries. BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO on Thursday called for a full investigation into the cause of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash that killed 38 people. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and victims of Azerbaijan Airlines flight J28243," NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said in a post on the platform X. "We wish those injured in the crash a speedy recovery and call for a full investigation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kazakhstan's senate chairman said earlier on Thursday that the cause of the plane crash was still unknown. An Embraer passenger jet crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, killing 38 people, after diverting from an area of Russia that Moscow has recently defended against Ukrainian drone attacks. (Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) Alle Dorhout, Dutch Ambassador to Ukraine, stated that the Netherlands has already given Ukraine 3.8 billion and plans to donate another 6 billion. Source: Alle Dorhout in an interview with Ukrinform, as reported by European Pravda Details: Dorhout remarked that the Netherlands has supported Ukraine in a variety of ways over the last three years, including moral, humanitarian, economic, and military support, as well as assistance with rebuilding efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "We have already given 3.8 billion and another 6 billion is in the works. Overall, the Netherlands have provided more than 10 billion military aid, including nearly 4 billion that Ukraine has already received," he explained. Dorhout added that helping Ukraines energy infrastructure was one of the Netherlands priorities. "We have already done a lot to support your country, and we are always looking for new opportunities. My colleagues are always talking to the Ukrainian side to understand how else we can help Ukraine survive this winter," Dorhout said. He stressed that fighting Russian aggression is "not only in Ukraine's interest, but in the interest of Europe," because it is about ensuring security, prosperity, and protection of values. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In light of this, Dorhout commented on the importance of Ukraine joining the EU, because the European Union Association Agreement includes security provisions. "When the war ends, the EU will absolutely have a long-term relationship with Ukraine, and I think that everything the EU and its member states are currently doing in terms of military aid for Ukraine will shift somewhat towards economic aid, rebuilding efforts, and the like," he added. Background: On 5 December, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said that the Netherlands will provide Ukraine with an additional 22 million for initiatives related to the development of cyber resilience and air defence systems. The Netherlands has also announced its intention to transfer two mine countermeasures vessels to Ukraine, the Zr.Ms. Makkum and the Vlaardingen. Support UP or become our patron! Thursdays Top Stories Thursdays Five Facts [1] Video: BCSO wakes up driver accused of being under the influence A new video shows the moments Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office deputies found a driver passed out in her car on the side of the freeway. The car was also still in drive. On December 5, deputies responded to reports of a reckless driver on I-25 near Rio Bravo. They found 35-year-old Janice Apodaca passed out in the drivers seat. Deputies banged on the driver-side window to try and wake her up, but she didnt budge. That is until they blow an air horn. Apodaca is now facing charges of reckless driving and aggravated DWI. [2] The end of the Rust criminal case against Alec Baldwin may unlock a civil lawsuit Relatives of Rust cinematographer Halayna Hutchins say they are planning to move forward with a civil lawsuit against actor Alec Baldwin for her death. The Hollywood star was on trial earlier this year after a gun he handled on set went off, killing the Ukrainian cinematographer. The judge dismissed the case with prejudice over evidence in the case. On Tuesday, attorneys for the parents and sister of Hutchins say they will be moving forward with their suit for damage and compensation, regardless of the appeal withdrawal. [3] Light showers tonight and warmer weather this weekend expected across New Mexico Parts of New Mexico saw a White Christmas on Wednesday and may see more snowfall on Thursday. However, by the weekend. the state will be warming up and drying out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [4] Nonprofit in Nob Hill could face closure, asking for help A Nob Hill nonprofit is looking to the community for help as organizers say their building is falling into disrepair and taking a toll on their budget. The Black Cat Community and Cultural Center was founded in 2020. It offers space for dancers, thespians, musicians and other creatives at little to no cost. The organization opened in the 80-year-old Hendren Building. They say, four years later the problems keep piling up. [5] Albuquerque Fire Rescue ranks top 10 photos of the year As 2024 comes to an end, the Albuquerque Fire Rescue is ranking the hottest shots of fires their crews fought this year. Earlier this month, AFR called on the community to send in photo submissions of their crews in action. At No. 7, is a photo of the Wash Tub fire that broke out in February. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) Foul play is not suspected in a Florence County condo fire that displaced nearly 30 people earlier this week, the sheriffs office told News13 on Thursday. The fire broke out at about 10:30 p.m. Monday at a condominium complex on Coventry Lane, the West Florence Fire Department said. It took about two-and-a-half hours to contain the fire, which damaged eight units of the two-story structure. We are still investigating at the request of West Florence Fire Department, Major Mike Nunn told News13. Currently, there is no suspicion of foul play, but the cause and origin are still under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News13 talked to a witness Tuesday afternoon who said one person jumped out of a top-floor window to escape the flames. The witness said the person was taken to the hospital. Fire officials said no one else was hurt. The American Red Cross said the fire left 11 families displaced and that its volunteers initially provided blankets to the families. Weve opened recovery cases for 6 families, assisting 15 people by providing financial assistance for immediate needs, the organization said. * * * Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. As you ransacked your basement in search of holiday decorations, perhaps you came upon boxes of documents from the last millennium. And then you probably asked yourself: Couldnt I just throw these out? Companies and governments often have document retention policies. Most people do not. Common wisdom suggests we keep important papers for seven years, for reasons that, we vaguely recall, have something to do with taxes. For those of us with paper records dating to the Clinton administration, that would seem to mean you can throw them away. But does that mean everything? We posed those questions to accountants and tax experts. Heres what they told us. Tax returns Lets start with the tax return, a near-universal document that fulfills our annual duty to Uncle Sam. The IRS can audit you for no reason, or any reason, for three years from the date you filed your return, said Paul Mendelsohn, a CPA in Livingston, New Jersey. The IRS has more time, beyond the three years, if you pay late, file an amended return, file a fraudulent return or leave out income that is at least 25% of what you reported, he said. The seven-year rule exists, in part, because the IRS typically has up to six years to audit your return if theres a big issue, like unreported income, said Mark Gallegos, a CPA in Chicago. The seventh year is just a buffer. There are cases, though, in which even seven years is not long enough. Example: There is no time limit for going after people who file a fraudulent tax return, or no return at all. If you never filed a tax return, the statute never starts, so youd have to keep records indefinitely, said Scott Brillhart, a CPA in Chicago. Bottom line: Keep your tax returns for at least seven years, if not forever. Save your tax returns for at least seven years, tax experts say. Tax supporting documents The documents you file with your tax return or use to prepare it, including W-2 forms, 1099s, receipts and expense records, can usually be tossed after seven years, Gallegos said. In fact, most of us wont need the supporting documents for more than three years, Mendelsohn said. And so, at a minimum, keep those records for three years from the date you filed your original return, or two years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later, he said. Bottom line: Keep supporting tax documents for at least three years, and ideally for seven. Spend your money smarter: Sign up for USA TODAY's Daily Money newsletter. Bank and credit card statements Its not hard to fill a box with old bank and credit card statements, pay stubs and other number-intense documents from financial institutions. BUTLER, Tenn. (WJHL) No injuries were reported after a house fire in Butler Wednesday evening. According to officials with the Butler Volunteer Fire Department (BVFD), the fire started in a back room of the home. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. The BVFD said the home is a total loss, and the Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents. Several crews were on the scene of the fire. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. (NewsNation) Incoming Trump administration border czar Tom Homan tells NewsNations Ali Bradley there is no price tag for the mass deportations planned by the incoming administration, citing national security concerns. What price do you put on national security? I dont think it has a price tag, Homan said. What price do you put on the thousands of American moms and dads who buried their children? You want to talk about family separation; they buried their children because their children were murdered by illegal aliens that werent supposed to be here. I dont put a price on that. I dont put a price on national security. I dont put a price on American lives. Homan further defended the mass deportations $86 billion price tag, saying it would save American taxpayers money in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump criticizes Trudeau, Panama, Biden commutations on Truth Social This operation would be expensive, he acknowledged. However, its going to save taxpayers a lot of money in the long run. Right now, were spending billions of dollars on free airline tickets, free hotel rooms, free medical care, free meals, the education system. Homan, however, said they will also need help from Congress. We need more resources; we need funding. We obviously need to buy more detention beds because everybody we arrest, we have to detain to work on those removal efforts and get travel documents, get flight arrangements. So we need more detention beds, said Homan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homan said the Trump administration doesnt plan on separating families but rather deporting them together. He said the administration is looking into using halfway houses to hold U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants. Which members of Congress have the worst attendance record? As far as U.S. children, thats going to be a difficult situation because were not going to change your U.S. citizenship, he said. Which means theyre going to be put in a halfway house or they can stay at home and wait for the officers to get the travel arrangements and come back and get the family. You know the best thing to do for a family is to self-deport themselves. Homan also targeted birthright citizenship, saying having a child who is a U.S. citizen does not make undocumented immigrants immune from our laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cant send that message, he said. Because if we do, youre never going to solve the border crisis. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) A noncitizen of the United States was arrested in State College after being accused of shoplifting at Target. Izabel Nicolae, 19 (Centre County Prison) Izabel Nicolae, 19, was arrested Dec. 23 and bail was denied citing she had no address and was not a citizen of the United States, court documents show. Patton Township police said they were called around 3:24 p.m. Monday by Targets loss prevention about a woman, later identified as Nicolae, putting items in a cart and walking out the front doors without paying, according to the criminal complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said they spotted Nicolae in the Michaels parking lot and stopped her. According to the complaint she was identified and claimed she was Christmas shopping for her sister. Police added that Target loss prevention was able to identify her as the same person who left with the cart of merchandise. The items in the cart totaled $249.19, the complaint reads. Stay up to date with the latest news in the palm of your hand. Click here to download the WTAJ app for Apple and Android devices. Police noted she told them she was a transient and was just passing through the area. She was charged with retail theft and placed in Centre County Prison with bail denied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. AUSTIN (KXAN) As the year comes to an end, were looking ahead to 2025 to see what new options passengers will have at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Fourteen new routes have already been scheduled from AUS in the new year: two seasonal and 12 year-round. Delta Air Lines will launch the first new route on Feb. 27, with nonstop service to New Orleans. Southwest Airlines is currently the only airline to fly the route, after American Airlines canceled service in October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AUS Data Hub: Passenger totals, busiest months and new flights in 2024 and 2025 Four new routes will then begin on March 6, two of which are new routes for AUS. Frontier Airlines will begin flying to Chicago OHare and Orlando, both of which are served by several other airlines. Meanwhile, Southwest will begin flying to Milwaukee and Reno, which will be new routes for Austin. American canceled its route to Reno in August. The next day, Frontier will launch service to Cincinnati and Phoenix, followed by Delta which will begin flying nonstop to Panama City, Florida, on March 9. Delta will then launch three more routes on May 7: Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Memphis. The latter two will be new service for AUS, after American canceled flights in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first new international service of the year will launch May 11, with Canadian airline WestJet beginning service to Vancouver. Rival Air Canada currently operates the route. Delta will begin two more routes on June 8, operating flights to San Francisco and Tampa, before Southwest launches its own route to San Francisco on Aug. 5. Airport officials have a list of top priority routes theyd like to see from AUS, including Asia, South America, Europe and Mexico, as well as leisure destinations in Central America and the Caribbean. A memo from 2021 listed the international priority routes as Amsterdam, Beijing, Dublin, Paris, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo. Dutch airline KLM began direct flights to Amsterdam in March 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nonstop flights to Paris nearly came to fruition. Norwegian Air announced in October 2019 it would begin service in May 2020, but the route was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline later announced it would not start the route at a later date, saying it wanted to focus on shorter flights within Europe. Canceled routes in 2025 Some airlines have also announced that service will end on certain routes in 2025. American Airlines will end flights to Santa Ana, California, on Jan. 5, and Hawaiian Airlines will stop service from AUS to Honolulu on March 26. JetBlue also announced its seasonal summer route to New Yorks John F. Kennedy Airport will not return in 2025. Allegiant Air will end base operations at the airport on Jan. 7, meaning staff and aircraft will no longer be based at AUS. As part of the base closure, the airline canceled several routes in 2024, including Las Vegas, Louisville, Omaha and Washington Dulles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. North Korean troops deployed in Russias Kursk Oblast continue to suffer significant losses, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) reported on Dec. 26. Russia has stationed approximately 12,000 North Korean soldiers in the region since August to assist in ousting Ukrainian forces. On Dec. 20, Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka reportedly inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean troops. HUR confirmed the destruction of a North Korean mortar unit, with additional losses recorded at multiple sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite sanitary losses, including five soldiers on Dec. 20 alone, Russian officers ordered the units to maintain their positions. HUR also reported severe logistical issues for North Korean units on the front lines, including a lack of drinking water due to active hostilities. However, Russian forces have continued supplying these troops with ammunition and food to sustain their positions and resume assault operations. The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 23 that more than 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured since their deployment in Kursk Oblast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their casualties have been linked to their inexperience with the terrain and modern drone warfare, according to South Korean MP Lee Sung-kwon. While North Korean forces have proven vulnerable to Ukrainian drone strikes, their presence has enabled Russian troops to make limited gains in the region, recapturing some territory previously held by Ukrainian forces. The use of North Korean troops in ground assaults marks an escalation of their involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine, raising concerns about Moscows growing reliance on Pyongyang for military support. Read also: Ukraine hits ballistic missile propellant plant in Rostov Oblast, Stratcom reports Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. HERALD SQUARE, Manhattan (PIX11) Multiple people were rushed to at least two hospitals after a yellow cab struck them in Manhattan on Christmas Day, according to the NYPD. Police received a 911 call for pedestrians struck at West 34th Street and Sixth Avenue. A yellow cab drove onto the sidewalk and struck six people, police said. My wife got hit on her left side, said one tourist, who is visiting New York City for the holidays. I got my wife and daughter out of the way and noticed two other people had been hit. A lady and her son were both struck underneath. The driver never hit the brakes, so everything was still spinning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More Local News The boys leg was underneath the tire, the man said. A 9-year-old boy suffered a laceration to his right thigh, a 41-year-old suffered an injury to the head and a 49-year-old woman suffered a leg injury, according to authorities. Three others were also injured but refused medical attention at the scene, police said. The 58-year-old driver behind the wheel of the taxi suffered a medical episode before striking the pedestrians, according to authorities. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here. 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. A Black gay man whod been left homeless by a fire was fatally stabbed in New York Citys Bronx borough the morning of Christmas Eve and bled out in his husbands arms. Arkmayer Davis, 36, was stabbed on the street on the way back from a laundromat to the shelter where he and his husband, Daris Antwan Davis, 35, had been living since a fire at their apartment building destroyed almost all of their belongings December 2, the New York Daily News reports. Arkmayer Davis had gone to the laundromat Tuesday morning to exchange cell phones with his husband, who had mistakenly taken Arkmayers with him. When Daris Antwan Davis returned to their room at the shelter, he found Arkmayer unconscious and covered in blood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I came up to him, I shook him. I tried to wake him up and I see that he wasnt moving, Daris told the Daily News. I looked at his stomach. He wasnt breathing and I could tell you he had no pulse and he was bleeding out. Arkmayer had been stabbed repeatedly in the arm, leg and torso, the paper reports. He was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital but couldnt be revived. Police have not made an arrest and have not stated a motive for the crime. Daris and Arkmayer met in North Carolina in 2008, when Arkmayer, a New Yorker, was visiting his father there. When I met him I fell in love with him, Daris told the Daily News. Ive been through so much, but thats the only person I ever wanted to be with in my life. The couple lived in North Carolina for a time but moved to New York City last year to be closer to Arkmayers mother, who had suffered domestic abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He gave up everything for me, said his mother, Gertrude Davis, 51. He rescued me. He helped me. He came every day. Put your head up, Ma. Youre a strong woman, Ma. He got me through what I was going through. He was a very beautiful young man, she added. Daris and Arkmayer had planned to go see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree on Christmas Day. Even though we was in the shelter and we lost everything we was talking about going down to see the Rockefeller tree, going to his moms house, eating, Daris told the Daily News. Christmas aint never gonna be the same no more. These Yuletide moviegoers are reeling. City cinephiles woke up Christmas morning to the equivalent of a lump of coal: The popular Kips Bay AMC theater was partially shuttered and their movie tickets canceled because of an unforeseen flooding problem at the Second Avenue multiplex in Manhattan. The theater suffered a burst pipe Monday during a screening of the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, prompting nearly 3 feet of flooding and a subsequent evacuation, an AMC employee told The Post on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately because of a busted pipe, were not playing any shows of A Complete Unknown today with the exception of IMAX, the staffer said, adding that hes had to turn away a lot of people who didnt have prepaid tickets for even that because the cinemas computer servers are still down. Its completely annoying, I know. A good chunk of the theaters are down, the employee added. Some theaters can only play the first show and the last show. It really depends. The staffer said that over the past three days, AMC workers have been borrowing neighboring theaters equipment because we have to be open on Christmas, the busiest day of the year. You dont know the half of it, trust me, he said. Everybody wants to see Bob Dylan for some reason. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A representative for AMC Theatres did not return a Post request for comment. Sigi Nagar of Gramercy said she and her mom didnt learn about the theaters flooding issue till they went there to try to see a show Christmas Day. Gabriella Bass The theater apparently still sold movie tickets online for its theaters affected by the closure, leaving cinema hopefuls in the dark until hours or even minutes before showtime, several AMC customers told The Post or warned on social media. Christmas is RUINED, a theatergoer posted on X around 12:30 p.m., shortly after their show was nixed. AMC Kips Bay just cancelled all our tickets. Sigi Nagar, 45, who came to the Kips Bay cinema Wednesday afternoon with her mom, said, Im highly disappointed this is such a great movie time of year, and we book movie tickets weeks in advance, and apparently they had a hiccup in the theater but they dont contact you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im completely disappointed because Im an enormous Dylan fan, and I really wanted to see the movie, the Gramercy resident said. Were probably going to drive around now and feel sorry for ourselves and listen to Dylan on the radio. Im Jewish, and so we go to the movies, and we eat, and thats what we do, she added. This was our first choice. We came from Long Island, said AMC patron Paula Naftaly. Nobody told us about the problem beforehand. Gabriella Bass Paula Naftaly and her husband Danny came all the way from Manhasset on Long Island to enjoy lunch and a movie in the Big Apple and made it to Theater 7 on Wednesday afternoon. But the Naftalys were in for a rude awakening when an employee at the theater informed them their screening had been cancelled because of the pipe burst and that they had to wait for the later IMAX showing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What are we going to do for an hour? Paula told The Post. We came from Long Island and had a lovely lunch in town, and wed planned to see the 3:45 [p.m. screening], but nobody told us. There was no notification. Bert Kimmel, 91, of the Upper East Side and his daughter, 57-year-old Melissa Saperstein, were shocked by the bad news when they arrived. Gabriella Bass I was surprised, shocked and disappointed and obviously annoyed that we werent notified, she added. Every Christmas, we have a tradition where we come in and go to a restaurant and see the movie thats just opening. We always come to this theater. Bert Kimmel, 91, of the Upper East Side came to the Kips Bay multiplex Wednesday afternoon with his daughter, 57-year-old Melissa Saperstein and the pair was hit with the same bad news. Wed bought the tickets in advance, even had tickets for wheelchair accessible seats, Kimmel said, adding that his daughter was reimbursed with free passes for another showing in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saperstein said, As lifelong New York City Jews, we are used to going to the movies on Christmas, and guess where were going for dinner Chinese. So now were just waiting for our Chinese dinner, [but] were not hungry for it yet. We were hungry for our movie. MASSENA, N.Y. (WWTI) A 34-year-old Massena man is facing charges after allegedly threatening someone with a firearm on Christmas Eve. New York State Police allege that Jacy Charleston was charged with second-degree menacing and criminal possession of a firearm. What to know about death of a woman set on fire in NYC subway Troopers responded just before 5:45 p.m. Tuesday to County Route 4 in the town of Bombay for a menacing complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An investigation determined Charleston presented a firearm, pointed it at the victim and stated threatening remarks. Charleston was arrested and transported to the state police headquarters in Malone for processing. He was arraigned in the Town of Bombay Court, where he was released under the supervision of probation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com. A common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) swims off Croatia in the Mediterranean Sea. (Reinhard Dirscherl/ullstein bild via Getty Images) We named him Squirt not because he was the smallest of the 16 cuttlefish in the pool, but because anyone with the audacity to scoop him into a separate tank to study him was likely to get soaked. Squirt had notoriously accurate aim. As a comparative psychologist, Im used to assaults from my experimental subjects. Ive been stung by bees, pinched by crayfish and battered by indignant pigeons. But, somehow, with Squirt it felt different. As he eyed us with his W-shaped pupils, he seemed clearly to be plotting against us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, Im being anthropomorphic. Science does not yet have the tools to confirm whether cuttlefish have emotional states, or whether they are capable of conscious experience, much less sinister plots. But theres undeniably something special about cephalopods the class of ocean-dwelling invertebrates that includes cuttlefish, squid and octopus. As researchers learn more about cehpalopods cognitive skills, there are calls to treat them in ways better aligned with their level of intelligence. California and Washington state both approved bans on octopus farming in 2024. Hawaii is considering similar action, and a ban on farming octopus or importing farmed octopus meat has been introduced in Congress. A planned octopus farm in Spains Canary Islands is attracting opposition from scientists and animal welfare advocates. Critics offer many arguments against raising octopuses for food, including possible releases of waste, antibiotics or pathogens from aquaculture facilities. But as a psychologist, I see intelligence as the most intriguing part of the equation. Just how smart are cephalopods, really? After all, its legal to farm chickens and cows. Is an octopus smarter than, say, a turkey? A big, diverse group Cephalopods are a broad class of mollusks that includes the coleoids cuttlefish, octopus and squid as well as the chambered nautilus. Coleoids range in size from adult squid only a few millimeters long (Idiosepius) to the largest living invertebrates, the giant squid (Architeuthis) and colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis) which can grow to over 40 feet in length and weigh over 1,000 pounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of these species live alone in the nearly featureless darkness of the deep ocean; others live socially on active, sunny coral reefs. Many are skilled hunters, but some feed passively on floating debris. Because of this enormous diversity, the size and complexity of cephalopod brains and behaviors also varies tremendously. Almost everything thats known about cephalopod cognition comes from intensive study of just a few species. When considering the welfare of a designated species of captive octopus, its important to be careful about using data collected from a distant evolutionary relative. Can we even measure alien intelligence? Intelligence is fiendishly hard to define and measure, even in humans. The challenge grows exponentially in studying animals with sensory, motivational and problem-solving skills that differ profoundly from ours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Historically, researchers have tended to focus on whether animals think like humans, ignoring the abilities that animals may have that humans lack. To avoid this problem, scientists have tried to find more objective measures of cognitive abilities. One option is a relative measure of brain to body size. The best-studied species of octopus, Octopus vulgaris, has about 500 million neurons; thats relatively large for its small body size and similar to a starling, rabbit or turkey. More accurate measures may include the size, neuron count or surface area of specific brain structures thought to be important for learning. While this is useful in mammals, the nervous system of an octopus is built completely differently. Over half of the neurons in Octopus vulgaris, about 300 million, are not in the brain at all, but distributed in mini-brains, or ganglia, in the arms. Within the central brain, most of the remaining neurons are dedicated to visual processing, leaving less than a quarter of its neurons for other processes such as learning and memory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other species of octopus, the general structure is similar, but complexity varies. Wrinkles and folds in the brain increase its surface area and may enhance neural connections and communication. Some species of octopus, notably those living in reef habitats, have more wrinkled brains than those living in the deep sea, suggesting that these species may possess a higher degree of intelligence. Holding out for a better snack Because brain structure is not a foolproof measure of intelligence, behavioral tests may provide better evidence. One of the highly complex behaviors that many cephalopods show is visual camouflage. They can open and close tiny sacs just below their skin that contain colored pigments and reflectors, revealing specific colors. Octopus vulgaris has up to 150,000 chromatophores, or pigment sacs, in a single square inch of skin. Like many cephalopods, the common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) is thought to be colorblind. But it can use its excellent vision to produce a dizzying array of patterns across its body as camouflage. The Australian giant cuttlefish, Sepia apama, uses its chromatophores to communicate, creating patterns that attract mates and warn off aggressors. This ability can also come in handy for hunting; many cephalopods are ambush predators that blend into the background or even lure their prey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hallmark of intelligent behavior, however, is learning and memory and there is plenty of evidence that some octopuses and cuttlefish learn in a way that is comparable to learning in vertebrates. The common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis), as well as the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) and the day octopus (Octopus cyanea), can all form simple associations, such as learning which image on a screen predicts that food will appear. Some cephalopods may be capable of more complicated forms of learning, such as reversal learning learning to flexibly adjust behavior when different stimuli signal reward. They may also be able to inhibit impulsive responses. In a 2021 study that gave common cuttlefish a choice between a less desirable but immediate snack of crab and a preferred treat of live shrimp after a delay, many of the cuttlefish chose to wait for the shrimp. A new frontier for animal welfare Considering whats known about their brain structures, sensory systems and learning capacity, it appears that cephalopods as a group may be similar in intelligence to vertebrates as a group. Since many societies have animal welfare standards for mice, rats, chickens and other vertebrates, logic would suggest that theres an equal case for regulations enforcing humane treatment of cephalopods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such rules generally specify that when a species is held in captivity, its housing conditions should support the animals welfare and natural behavior. This view has led some U.S. states to outlaw confined cages for egg-laying hens and crates too narrow for pregnant sows to turn around. Animal welfare regulations say little about invertebrates, but guidelines for the care and use of captive cephalopods have started to appear over the past decade. In 2010, the European Union required considering ethical issues when using cephalopods for research. And in 2015, AAALAC International, an international accreditation organization for ethical animal research, and the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations promoted guidelines for the care and use of cephalopods in research. The U.S. National Institutes of Health is currently considering similar guidelines. The alien minds of octopuses and their relatives are fascinating, not the least because they provide a mirror through which we can reflect on more familiar forms of intelligence. Deciding which species deserve moral consideration requires selecting criteria, such as neuron count or learning capacity, to inform those choices. Once these criteria are set, it may be well to also consider how they apply to the rodents, birds and fish that occupy more familiar roles in our lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Rachel Blaser is a professor of neuroscience, cognition and behavior, at the University of San Diego. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here. Dec. 26An Odessa man was arrested Monday after a 16-year-old told authorities he sexually assaulted her while she was a runaway. According to an Odessa Police Department report, officers received a call from a local hospital on Nov. 27 and when they arrived, the girl told them she was walking past a home on Alameda Avenue when she met James Robert Gardner. The girl said Gardner allowed her to stay with him and when she was there he gave her marijuana and alcohol, the report stated. She also told authorities they had sex nine to 10 times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, the girl said Gardner took her places and introduced her to his mother, the report stated. Gardner was booked into the Ector County jail on suspicion of sexual assault of a child on Monday and released Tuesday after posting a $30,000 surety bond. (KTLA) A 78-year-old California man with dementia who had gone missing on a chilly December day was located thanks to infrared heat-seeking technology, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Departments Malibu Search and Rescue Team. The man, whose identity was not released, was reported missing in Malibu at about 7:30 p.m. Monday, three hours after hed gone to check his mailbox and never returned, officials said on X, formerly Twitter. The temperature was 48 degrees and falling, the sheriffs department noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coast Guard suspends search for missing boaters off Southern California shoreline Using a drone equipped with infrared heat-seeking technology, Malibu Search and Rescue were ultimately able to detect a significant heat signature in the brush alongside a road, authorities said. But the signature which appeared to look like a human was not moving. Malibu SAR infrared image of the missing man. December 2024. (LA County Sheriffs Dept.) Believing the heat signature was of the missing person, Malibu SAR operators were deployed with medical and evacuation equipment, officials detailed. Upon arriving on scene, the rescuers observed the missing man suffering from cold related illness, confused and unable to walk. He was evaluated, wrapped in a blanket, and placed in a rescue basket. The man was then treated for his illness and put into an ambulance. The sheriffs department did not share any update on the mans condition as of Thursday, but called his rescue a miracle just in time for the holidays in its X post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Great work by everyone involved, Malibu Search and Rescue concluded. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The bald eagle is now the official bird of the United States of America. While it's been a symbol of the nation since its the early days, it took President Joe Biden's signature on Christmas Eve to make it the country's national bird. Legislation introduced by Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar this year set the process in motion. The amendment passed relatively easily through Congress without a roll-call vote. Bald eagles join bison, rose on U.S. 'official' list If this all comes as a surprise, don't worry. The National Eagle Center, which spearheaded the lobbying effort to designate an official national bird, wrote last summer that it's a common assumption that the bald eagle has that kind of official status in law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is confusion on this issue because on June 20, 1782, the Continental Congress installed the bald eagle on the front of the Great Seal," the nonprofit wrote in a blog post. "Since then, the bald eagle has been a favored representative of the country, second only to the American flag. While there is no record of what was said in Congress on the day the Seal was approved, it remains a fact that the bald eagle was not identified as the national bird." The law signed by the president designates a national bird alongside other patriotic symbols. The national mammal is the North American bison, the national tree is the oak, while the national floral emblem is a rose. This part of law also contains the national motto "In God We Trust," along with the national march, John Philip Sousa's "The Stars and Stripes Forever" and the national anthem. Bald eagles are protected under U.S. law Despite not having "official bird" status for the past two centuries, the bald eagle is still very much a protected species. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Through concerted conservation measures and the enactment of legislation such as the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Bald Eagle population has rebounded, symbolizing our commitment to preserving our natural heritage for future generations," said Jack Davis, Co-Chair of the National Bird Initiative for the National Eagle Center. That legislation enacted protections for the bald eagle, their nests and eggs in 1940. Where to see bald eagles in Oklahoma According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the largest congregation of bald eagles can be found at the Great Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Oklahoma. More: Bald eagles are no longer a rare sight in Oklahoma thanks to this research center Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department says 70 or more eagles spend the winter either on or near the refuge. A few bald eagles can also be spotted at Grand Lake, Fort Gibson, Texoma and Tenkiller lakes along with the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Bald eagle officially declared US national bird as Biden signs bill Dec. 25CHILLICOTHE A correction officer at an Ohio prison is dead following an assault by an inmate, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. In a Facebook post issued Wednesday afternoon, ODRC Director Annette Chambers-Smith announced that Correction Officer Andrew Lansing was dead after being assaulted by an inmate Wednesday morning at Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe. "Officer Lansing is a long-time, well-respected employee at Ross, and his untimely death on Christmas Day is heartbreaking for his family, the entire Ross Correctional Institution family and our agency as a whole," Chambers-Smith said in the statement. "Officer Lansing was loved by his colleagues and known to be a great support for his fellow RCI staff. He was a friendly, outgoing officer who treated everyone with respect and was always a professional." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chambers-Smith continued to reflect on the added tragedy that such an incident brings coming on a holiday like Christmas, saying that losing an officer "at the hands of someone in our custody is a tragedy beyond comprehension. "Instead of going home after his shift to be with his family on this holiday, Officer Lansing made the ultimate sacrifice, and our agency will never be the same," she added. As of the time of the Facebook post, which was made at 1:51 p.m., the facility was operating under restricted movement and the incident was being investigated by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The inmate involved in the incident, whose name was not included in the post, was transferred to Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison in Lucasville, according to Chambers-Smith. Featured Local Savings CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (WCMH) A corrections officer in Ohio was killed on Christmas morning by an inmate at a facility in Ross County, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction announced Wednesday. Officer Andrew Lansing died Wednesday morning after being assaulted by an inmate at the Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe. Bill Clinton discharged after hospitalization Lansing, 62, had been a corrections officer in Ohio for more than two decades, Nexstars WCMH reported. The Ohio DRC did not disclose the circumstances surrounding Lansings death on Wednesday. Andrew Lansing Courtesy Photo/Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction Officer Lansing was loved by his colleagues and known to be a great support for his fellow RCI staff, wrote Annette Chambers-Smith, the departments director. He was a friendly, outgoing officer who treated everyone with respect and was always a professional. The loss of a staff person is difficult, but to lose a family member on Christmas Day at the hands of someone in our custody is a tragedy beyond comprehension. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The inmate accused of killing Lansing has since been transferred to another facility. An investigation is ongoing. Biden gives life in prison to 37 of 40 federal death row inmates The Ross Correctional Institution was operating under restricted movement as of Wednesday, according to Chambers-Smith. We ask that you keep Officer Lansings family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers at this devastating and tragic time, Chambers-Smith wrote. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine ordered flags lowered to half-staff to honor Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Officer Andrew Lansing, who was killed on Christmas Day. American flags and the Ohio burgee will be lowered at public places in Ross County, state prison facilities and the Ohio Statehouse until sunset on the day of Lansing's funeral. An inmate at Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe attacked Lansing in the early morning hours of Dec. 25, according to the state prison department. Correction Officer Andrew Lansing died Dec. 25, 2024 after an assault by an inmate, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. The Ohio Highway Patrol is investigating Lansings death. The inmate, who has not been identified, was moved to the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Laura Bischoff is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Gov. Mike DeWine orders flags lowered to honor Ohio prison guard An Ohio man was found dead in a house that was destroyed by fire on Christmas Eve morning. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] A 29-year-old man was found dead inside a home in Elyria after a fire destroyed the home, and damaged to neighboring homes as well, CBS affiliate WOIO reported. TRENDING STORIES: Firefighters were called to the 300 block of Brandston Ave around 3 a.m. Dec. 24. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon arrival, crews found the single-family house already engulfed in flames, melting the sides of the neighboring homes, according to Elyria Fire Chief Joe Pronesti. Firefighters searched the home immediately but it was already too late, WOIO reported. They found the 29-year-old man dead in a bedroom. His name has not yet been released. It is unclear at this time if the man died before the fire started, or if his death is a result of the fire. No one else was injured, according to Pronesti. Please remind everyone to check your smoke detectors, Pronesti stated. Crews remained on scene until 10:30 a.m. to put out the blaze and investigate the fire, WOIO reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The estimated cost of damage to the main house is $120,000. One of the neighboring homes sustained $40,000 in damage, and the other sustained $20,000 worth of damage. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Ohio State Fire Marshal, Elyria Fire Department, and Elyria Police Department. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] CLEVELAND (WJW) A local man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to multiple fraud charges. Darmani Hawkins, 21, of Aurora, was sentenced to 60 months in prison. According to a press release, he pleaded guilty to charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and mail theft. Eye drops recalled nationwide due to fungal contamination Hawkins was also ordered to pay more than $681,000 in restitution and will serve three years of supervised release following his imprisonment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges stemmed from two separate schemes: one to fraudulently obtain COVID-era state unemployment benefits, and another involving the theft and alteration of checks from the U.S. mail. According to court documents, Hawkins and his co-conspirators engaged in these crimes from 2020 through 2023. In the first scheme, prosecutors say Hawkins exploited the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was designed to provide unemployment assistance to individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. He is charged with submitting false unemployment claims to several states, making it appear they were eligible for benefits. Once approved, the states issued unemployment payments in the form of debit cards, which Hawkins used to withdraw cash for personal gain, according to a press release. Teen actor from Baby Driver dies after falling from moving vehicle In the second scheme, which took place in 2023, Hawkins conspired to steal checks from the U.S. Postal Service. He recruited postal workers through social media to steal the checks in exchange for a fee. He also paid individuals to use their bank accounts to deposit the stolen checks, which were then withdrawn by Hawkins or transferred for his benefit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defendant exploited federal resources meant to aid those who lost jobs due to an unprecedented global event. His actions diverted critical funds from those in need and demonstrated a lack of remorse, said U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. This case serves as a reminder that those who misuse government programs or steal from the public will face serious consequences. Investigators determined that Hawkins caused a loss of approximately $425,000 in the COVID fraud scheme and more than $700,000 in the stolen check scheme. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CLEVELAND A 21-year-old man from Aurora was sentenced to federal prison for COVID-era unemployment and bank fraud. Darmani Hawkins, 21, was sentenced to 60 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald Nugent after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail theft. He was also ordered to pay $681,114 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges were brought following an investigation that prosecutors say revealed Hawkins scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-era state unemployment benefits and, separately, to steal checks from the mail, alter them, and deposit them. According to court documents, from 2020 through 2021, Hawkins conspired to fraudulently obtain COVID pandemic unemployment insurance benefits by submitting fake claims, and in 2023, he conspired to steal checks out of the United States mail, deposit them, and keep the proceeds. Prosecutors say Hawkins and his co-conspirators exploited the CARES Act and submitted false unemployment applications to multiple states, making it appear as if they were eligible to receive benefits when they were not. Once a states unemployment agency approved the applications, the state mailed the unemployment benefits to Hawkins and his co-conspirators in the form of debit cards, which they used to withdraw cash for their personal benefit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the bank fraud and mail theft scheme, Hawkins used a social media platform to recruit postal workers to steal checks from the U.S. Postal Service in exchange for a fee. Hawkins also offered to pay people to use their established bank accounts to deposit the checks stolen from the mail. Mr. Hawkins shamelessly exploited federal resources intended to help those who became unemployed as a result of an uncontrollable, life-changing world event. His deceitful actions were selfish and heartless, diverting much-needed funds away from those who lost their jobs through no fault of their own, said U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. During the investigation, officials determined that Hawkins had caused a loss of approximately $425,000 in the COVID fraud scheme and more than $700,000 in the stolen check scheme. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. https://www.tipranks.com/news/the-fly/james-river-group-price-target-lowered-to-5-from-6-at-truist MetLife (MET) Investment Management, the institutional asset management business of MetLife, announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire PineBridge Investments. The transaction is comprised of $800M in cash at closing, $200M subject to achieving certain 2025 financial metrics and $200M subject to a multi-year earnout. The acquisition excludes PineBridges private equity funds group business and its joint venture in China. More than half of the client assets being acquired in the transaction held by investors outside of the U.S., and about one-third of the assets held in Asia. This transaction is targeted to close in 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Don't Miss Our Christmas Offers: Discover the latest stocks recommended by top Wall Street analysts, all in one place with Analyst Top Stocks Make smarter investments with weekly expert stock picks from the Smart Investor Newsletter Published first on TheFly the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See the top stocks recommended by analysts >> Read More on MET: To Vanessa Johnson, being selected as the new 2025 board president for the Oklahoma City Metro Association of Realtors is important, especially since she is the first Hispanic person to hold the position. Becoming president of the association, while being someone of her ethnicity, is "profound," she said. "It really struck me when I spoke with a colleagues daughter that said, 'You just made it possible for me to do something like this for somebody who is like me, who is raised by a Hispanic father.' Shes like, 'It just means so much for me that you are holding that role.' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "And thats the first time, I was like, 'Yeah, its profound.' Johnson, a real estate agent and team lead at eXp Realty and a nearly 20-year industry veteran, will be the first Hispanic person to hold the volunteer position of the metro area group, a membership association with over 5,000 Realtors and affiliate members and over 7,500 MLSOK members. Her career started at Keller Williams Green Meadows selling houses throughout Oklahoma City and its suburbs. She holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in political science and social work from Austin College, where she graduated from in 1992. She moved with her family to Moore in 2004. More: OKC adds new regulations for home-sharing services like Airbnb, VRBO Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oklahoman recently spoke to Johnson about her new role and the real estate climate in Oklahoma City: Q: Congratulations on your new role with the association! How do you feel about being the first Hispanic person to hold the position? I couldnt believe that I was the first Hispanic in this role. I thought we had come further in society, especially considering the work that we do, there is a lot of advocating for homeownership and equality and all the things, so it was really shocking for me to hear that. I wish my father was alive, so he could see it, because I was the first something for Latinas. ... Being a Uriegas my whole life, becoming a Johnson certainly opened opportunities up for me, of that Im aware. But seeing it, this way, as a Johnson, but my heritage Im a Uriegas. Q: Why do you think it took so long for the board to elect a Hispanic president? Being involved in the board, I dont think its an exclusionary thing. When you get involved at that level, for free, like you know, were volunteering up here on the board, you dont realize the impact youve made or the impact youre making. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just knew going into it, it was just a matter of being so involved that no one could deny it. And my colleagues always encouraged me to step in. We run for the board first, and then our colleagues vote us in. I was on the board for six years before I became president-elect. And then, I was voted by board members. More: See Oklahoma's most expensive home for sale with new price and Christmas decorations I just love our profession so much that I just kept going where they needed me to go, and it was the right direction for me to go into the presidency role. But I do feel like me taking a stand for myself that I deserved to be there, and I was there for the right reasons. Then, my colleagues pushed me up there, and it was a progression. And I think that now that more Hispanic people are involved in the board, I welcome inclusion and diversity. And I feel like neighborhoods and societies are only better when everyones involved. I really pressed people that I worked with to get involved and do things that we need to be doing. My father impressed that in me a long time ago that were not in rooms because we dont put ourselves in rooms. So, put yourself in the room. Q: What does the board do? In a nutshell, what we do is provide educational service for our members, advocacy service and better the community. As real estate agents, we want Oklahoma to be as vibrant as possible for people moving here. So thats where our advocacy work comes in.That starts at the policy level. We deal a lot with city planning and pushing initiatives forward. And advocacy is a huge part of what we do to push for homeowner rights. Q: Youve worked as a real estate agent in Oklahoma since 2005. Could you tell me about your background and career? I graduated from Austin College in Sherman, Texas, and started working as a social worker with juveniles. Then I met my husband and moved to North Carolina and continued to do that there. When he went into the NFL, I continued to work. But, then I got pregnant. They wont let you work with juveniles when youre pregnant, so I left that field. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its still a big piece of my heart advocacy. Advocacy was the forefront of why I worked with juveniles. So I still solve problems, but theyre just different problems now with people in housing. Its a similar career path. I joke that I can solve everyones problems but my own. So now, I solve peoples housing problems. Q: What do you expect to see in OKCs real estate market in 2025? We are a vibrant and growing city, and I credit a lot of that to the the vision of our mayor. I think he has a great vision. Going to his State of the City and seeing his vision come to life, especially when you see the economic development of the city, and not just one part of the city but every portion of the city, hes really trying to make the whole of Oklahoma City great. You can look at the development in the north side of the city, you can see the difference. I feel like theres a really big effort and moves. We have the economy, and we just have to get people here. We are one of the cheapest places to live, and I think people are picking up on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Be the first to know: Sign up for breaking news email alerts Its up and coming. I think we are moving at a nice level. We need to make sure we have affordable housing, and I think they are addressing that right now. I think thats something theyre doing this year. When we start taking care of people, thats when we start growing. I really do see a vibrancy here. Q: What are some trends youre seeing in the real estate industry you expect to continue into next year? When you see our prices and compare them to the rest of the country, you really see the difference. When you have people coming from California and they see what they can buy here, its something they cant even touch there. The affordability is still here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commerce is also doing well here. Were not just relying on oil and gas industries. We have technology and other fields growing here. We have a way to bring them in. Were on a growth trajectory, so I think we can really grow and provide services here. Q: Where are the hottest real estate markets in Oklahoma? What regions are selling most? What regions are developing most? I know theres a lot of development in Yukon. Theres a lot of open movement towards Yukon. Moore has always been very vibrant because its close to all the FAA and Tinker Air Force Base. Were the largest land mass-wise, so were all still connected. I feel like people are moving toward Piedmont and developing that land, because people want space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yukon has been highly sought after. And its a big rental market, which is crazy to me, because I never really thought about it. But when you think about really good schools and Mustang. Theres also Choctaw, which again, is another land mass, but it has a great school system, so it is drawing people. And they are all centrally located in major corridors, so they are always going to be vibrant. I think those are some really hot spots. Q: How do you expect the real estate market to look next year? I think were going to hold steady until we see some interest from the rates. But, I think that anything under $300,000 in Oklahoma is considered affordable, and those properties are still moving really quickly. So, I think people are settling that those rates are what they are, and moving forward. Were getting more inventory, so when theres more competition, it might increase the property value. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, we have a lot of baby boomers aging out. Theres going to be a huge need to move that housing. And I think thats going to happen in the next five years, and it might happen in the next two. But you have them phasing out, and thats a huge population. And where are we going to put them? And what are we going to do? And do we have enough nursing homes and enough places to take care of our elderly? And I think thats another issue Oklahoma hasnt really thought about. Thats another housing scenario. And it happens every seven years. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Vanessa Johnson first Hispanic real estate association president in OKC WYANDOTTE, Okla. The Oklahoma State Board of Education suspended the teaching certification of a Special Education Wyandotte Public Schools teacher accused of abusing her adopted disabled child with a taser. Jennifer Enyart, a Wyandotte Public Schools teacher, was one of 10 teachers statewide whose teaching certificates were suspended at the December 19 state school board meeting. The nonprofit news outlet NonDoc reported that after returning to open session, they announced the suspension of 10 teaching certificates and moved to send applications to revoke their certificates to hearing officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jennifer Enyart, 44, and her husband Keith Enyart, 52, were federally indicted with child neglect and child abuse in Indian Country, and Jennifer faces an additional charge of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm for allegedly using a stun gun on their sons genitals. Special Ed teacher charged with using stun gun on adopted, disabled sons genitals Medical reports show several of the childs injuries were consistent with the use of a taser or stun gun, court records show. The medical report concluded the teens injuries were likely the result of child abuse. Brad Wade, Wyandotte Schools Superintendent, recommended that the Wyandotte Board of Education terminate Enyarts employment. Enyart has an appeal hearing set for Jan. 6, when she can request she retain her job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Wade said that the State Board of Education suspension did not cancel Enyarts Jan. 6 due process hearing. Parents and guardians are encouraged to contact Leslie Bissell, Childrens Advocacy Center of Ottawa County executive director, at (918) 540-1621 if they suspect any child is a victim of abuse. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. TULSA, Okla. A Miami man caught in a federal child sex sting operation pleaded guilty to child pornography. Jason Wayne Case, 44, entered the guilty plea on November 27 in the Northern District of Oklahoma to receiving and distributing child pornography. An indictment of possession of child pornography was dropped. Case will be sentenced at a later date. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and $250,000 fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feds say Oklahoma man charged with child porn used churchs Wi-Fi Investigators allege Cases Gmail account had utilized Wi-Fi at a church he attended to allegedly download and send juvenile pornography, according to court documents. One message stated Case was 43, male, and from Miami, Oklahoma and expressed his desire to have sex with an 11-year-old [girl]. Jason Wayne Cases Guilty Plea Case is in federal custody. Case-pleaDownload Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. After a couple of jail stays a few years ago, Kathryn Geionety decided to turn her life around. The 44-year-old single mother of three took a part-time job at a discount store, enrolled in community college and committed to no longer dealing drugs. But a phone call to the Pottawatomie County clerks office revealed that a fresh start wouldnt be so easy. She was told she owed roughly $15,000 in court fines and fees, the majority of which were daily jail fees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was stressful because I know I didn't want to get another warrant out for not paying my fines, Geionety said. So sometimes I just paid what I could. To me it at least showed I was trying. I was trying to straighten up and do right. And I was like, Oh my God, it's gonna be so long before I can even make a dent in it. She had paid $645 of the debt. Like those in the same situation, Geionety faced cutting back on food and other necessities, quitting school to work more hours, or even committing another crime to help pay off the debt. Helpless and nearly hopeless, Geionety this year attended a cost hearing during which a judge determines the ability of a defendant to pay court financial obligations to see if she could get her fines and fees lowered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats when she met an attorney who specializes in fresh starts. For about eight years, Ed Wunch, with Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, has helped low-income clients get their court fees waived. Be the first to know: Sign up for breaking news email alerts Ed Wunch, with Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, helps low-income clients get their court fees waived. This year, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma has helped clear more than $2 million in court fees and fines across 476 cases. Those that show up are working, raising families and doing all the things you hope people do after they get done with the criminal justice system, Wunch said. Now that they're doing well, were going to punish them with court fees and costs. It seems kinda pointless. If they are showing up at the docket that means they dont have the money. They explain to the judge why they cant afford to pay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wunch and other attorneys regularly attend cost hearings in Oklahoma to meet with people, learn their stories and determine who would be a good candidate to have their fines and fees waived. It was very obvious from meeting with Kat at the docket that she's gonna figure out a way to make things work, Wunch said. But 15 grand sets her so far back and hinders that. What wasnt obvious was how much, if any, of Geionetys criminal justice system debt the judge would waive. 'For the rest of their lives' The U.S. Department of Justice refers to fines as financial penalties imposed upon criminal conviction. Fees are financial assessments imposed to fund court or other government functions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Numerous studies have examined the negative impact of the fines and fees system on those who have been to court and jail. One study, conducted by the nonprofit Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, along with the University of Alabama at Birmingham Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities, involved 980 Alabama residents from 41 counties who experienced court debt. The study included 879 people who owed money and 101 people who were paying debt for others. Among the findings, researchers found that 83% gave up necessities like rent, food, medical bills, car payments and child support, in order to pay down their court debt; 50% had been jailed for failure to pay court debt; 44% had used payday loans to cover court debt; and 38% committed a crime to pay off their court debt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This debt follows people for the rest of their lives, said Leah Nelson, a consultant who conducted research for Appleseed. Nelson said the system disproportionately affects poor people of color. Irregardless of your race, if you have access to money, financial penalties might be annoying and force you to forgo something you wanted, but for people who are poor they completely change your life, Nelson said. It isnt a good policy to drive people who have already made a bad choice to make more bad choices. In a report last year, the Justice Departments Office for Access to Justice noted that state and local governments are increasingly eliminating certain categories of fines and fees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some jurisdictions have prioritized eliminating fines and fees that policymakers and advocates have identified as disproportionately harmful, discriminatory, or counter-productive, according to the report. In Oklahoma last year, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 2259, which in part provides some relief to those who owe fines and fees while focusing on those who have a greater capacity to pay. Introduced by state Rep. Danny Sterling, R-Tecumseh, the legislation allows courts to consider a variety of factors, including individual and household income, household living expenses, number of dependents, assets, child support obligations and physical or mental health conditions that diminish ones ability to generate income or manage resources. It's really just opened up the opportunity for judges to not have to see someone every two months, Wunch said. Its always been a waste of the systems time. Its just a way to clear this off the books so the system isnt wasting time on it for things that can be 20 to 30 years old. 'A fire in me' On a recent Thursday at the Oklahoma City office of Legal Aid Services, Geionety recalled experimenting with drugs as a teenager. An older brother had died of leukemia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I don't really process stuff well, she said. Since then, I always felt like it was my fault ... so me dealing with the death of him, it took a lot out of me. I was young. My parents were too busy. I felt like they abandoned me, but as I grew older and started understanding things, I forgot that they were still mourning their own child. In 2019 and 2020, drug use haunted Geionety again while in the process of leaving a long but troubled relationship. I didn't know how to process everything, so I started using again, she said. That led to a brief stay in the Oklahoma County jail. But it also meant time to think about choosing a new path. After she got out of jail, Geionety eventually found work at the discount store and enrolled in classes full time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then there was the cost hearing to clear her court debt back in Pottawatomie County. And meeting Wunch. One of the arguments I make is that I'm not asking the court to waive everything, he said. I'm asking the court to waive everything that's left, because theyve paid something already. Wunch made his argument before Judge John Canavan in Pottawatomie County. An agreement was made that Geionety should return to show the judge how school was going. It really did put a fire in me, Geionety said. Geionety and Wunch attended a review hearing. She showed the judge her transcripts. Geionety earned her associate degree and is now attending the University of Central Oklahoma with the aim of becoming a substance abuse counselor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge waived her $15,000 debt. It was a relief, Geionety said. I remember walking down those stairs, I was just in tears. I was happy. I know how much opportunity it opens up for me. Kathryn Geionety was helped by Legal Aid Services to get about $15,000 in court fees waived. It was a relief, Geionety said. I remember walking down those stairs, I was just in tears. I was happy. I know how much opportunity it opens up for me. Wunch and other attorneys continue to attend cost hearings to see whom they can assist. On a recent Friday, they helped more than a dozen people and got at least $86,000 of debt waived. Geionetys case was an example of someone continuing to be punished by the criminal justice system even as they are working to change their lives, Wunch said. It serves the public more that she's going to school, that she's there being a mom for her kids, and she still has a long road with that, and holding this debt over her head holds her back ... he said. Would we rather that Kat goes ahead and picks up more hours at Dollar Tree, or would we rather that she serves as a substance abuse counselor to keep other people out of the justice system? In some cases, Wunch has explained to the court that the debt will never be repaid because the defendant is dead. This debt follows people to their graves, he said. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Legal Aid Society helps Oklahomans clear court fees and fines One man was taken into police custody after police in Jamestown, New York said he struck another man with a shotgun. This incident happened on December 24 around 12:30 p.m. on the City of Jamestowns north side. According to police, they initially responded to a domestic dispute. Police continued on to say they arrested 56-year-old Daric Harris, who they said during an argument pulled out a shotgun and struck another man in the house causing a laceration and a broken arm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris was charged with first-degree assault causing physical injury with a weapon, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon as it was determined Harris was in illegal possession of the shotgun. He was held pending arraignment. Meanwhile, the victim was treated and transported to a local hospital. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) One person was killed in a crash near Golden Gate Park on Christmas Day, the San Francisco Fire Department confirmed. The crash happened at 3:53 p.m. near the area of 19th Avenue and Crossover Drive, right at the south edge of Golden Gate Park. One person was killed after a car crashed into a tree and caught on fire, SFFD said. There were no other people in the car. Due to the crash, southbound 19th Avenue is closed between Park Presidio and Crossover Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. One of two suspects wanted for the North Carolina murder of a woman inside a Walmart turned himself into authorities. Although the investigation into the Dec. 20 shooting continues, police say they are still on the hunt for the suspected shooter. According to the Lumberton Police Department (LPD), the individuals responsible for the shooting targeted two people they knew, who were standing at the Woodforest Bank, inside of the Walmart Super Center. The suspects then allegedly fired shots inside the Walmart, but the only person who was hit was a 42-year-old woman. Police say the victim, Brandy Nicole Olson, was not the intended target. Police were called to the scene around 3:45 p.m. and found Olson suffering from gunshot wounds, according to PEOPLE. The statement also said bystanders attempted life saving measures on the woman. Eventually, Olson was taken to a local hospital where she died from her injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two suspects then fled the scene after the shooting, according to LPD. It is unclear how authorities identified two juveniles as the culprits. But on Dec. 23, just three days after the shooting, police issued warrants for the arrest of 17-year-old Ezekiel Burden and 18-year-old Brian Campbell. According to police, Burden has been charged with First Degree Murder, Discharge Firearm Within Enclosure To Incite Fear, and Going Armed To The Terror Of The People. Campbell, on the other hand, has only been charged with Accessory After The Fact. On Monday night (Dec. 23), Campbell turned himself into authorities, according to WMBF. His bond has been set at $1 million, and he is currently being held at the Robeson County Detention Center, according to jail records. The second suspect, Burden, remains at large. Anyone with information about the case should call Lumberton police at 910-671-3845. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A 30-year-old man is dead after a Christmas morning shooting in North Linden. Columbus police say officers were called to the 1700 block of East Weber Road about 9:40 a.m. Wednesday and found Demetris Mitchell suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Mitchell was taken to a hospital in critical condition and pronounced dead just before 10:30 a.m. Police say a someone in a maroon Ford shot Mitchell before leaving the scene. Further details were not available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suburb considers allowing residents to hunt deer Anyone with information may contact Det. Dennis Harbin at (614) 645-0907 or dharbin@columbuspolice.org or call Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477). Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Gov. Gavin Newsoms constant reminders that Californias economy leads the nation " as well as being a model for social justice are delusional. To be sure, California has a huge GDP, paced largely by high real estate prices and the stock value of a handful of tech companies, but it is not widely seen as a place for class mobility, and it is slowly ceding its dominance, even in tech-related industries. In contemporary California, home to four of the worlds seven most valued tech firms, tech bros and real estate speculators occupy what Lenin called the commanding heights, while the reality on the ground is far less ethereal. The view from where most Californians reside is revealed in a new study sponsored by Chapman University: Is California Losing Its Mojo?, by business professors Marshall Toplansky (Chapman) and Kenneth Murphy (UC Irvine). Read more: A comeback for California manufacturing? Trump 2.0 raises hopes and some worries Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Historically, the report notes, California has outpaced the rest of the country in terms of the growth of its goods and services. However, that pace of GDP growth in the state has dropped significantly since 2022, with the measure now lagging when compared with other states. The distribution of jobs and wealth is even more worrisome. California has been a particularly poor bet for blue-collar professions, such as manufacturing, the traditional path to upward mobility for minorities and non-college educated people. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, analyzed by Lightcast, shows California has lagged far behind places like Utah, Nevada, Texas and Arizona over a decade. Read more: Column: The Hoover Institution says all recent California job growth has been in government jobs. That's completely wrong The Chapman paper acknowledges that the state has experienced enough job growth to keep unemployment levels low, but as the report details, most new jobs in California arent concentrated in high-wage sectors. Over the last 10 years, 62% of jobs added in California were in lower-than-average paying industries, versus 51.6% for the nation as a whole. In the last three years, the situation worsened, with 78.1% of all jobs added in California coming from lower-than-average paying industries, versus 61% for the nation as a whole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a state with high living costs, a dearth of well-paying jobs seems likely to bear responsibility for the states out-migration rate and its poverty rate, which the Census Bureau calculates, in its most comprehensive estimate, as 15.4%, one of the highest in the nation. California may be home to a lot of billionaires, but it also is home to nearly 30% of the countrys homeless. Of course, not everyone has suffered. Besides tech billionaires, who is doing well in California? Older homeowners, for one, whose bottom line has risen as home values increased dramatically. Government workers have also thrived. Read more: California exodus left a gaping population hole. Can the Golden State finally bounce back? Census Bureau data highlighted in the Chapman report show that California public sector job growth over the last decade has been growing at about the same pace as jobs overall in California, but the average annual pay for those government jobs was almost double that of private sector jobs. In other words, the road to the middle class comes not from private employment but from jobs that are funded by taxpayers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the past, California cities including San Francisco, San Jose and San Diego all ranked in the top 10 among hubs for advanced industry employment where theres high investment in R&D and a high percentage of STEM roles. But since 2020, only San Jose remains in the top 25 metro areas for growth in such employment. Today the emerging hot spots are often east of the Sierra: Austin, Texas; Nashville; Indianapolis; Salt Lake City; and Phoenix. Can California get its mojo back? After all, many of the states assets research universities, leading tech firms and the lifestyle appeal have not disappeared. Read more: California officials reject more SpaceX rocket launches, with some citing Musk's X posts First, Newsom and other state cheerleaders have to stop using the size of the economy as a cover for real problems. Whatever the states strengths, as the Chapman report puts it, low-wage jobs overtaking advanced industry work is not sustainable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Biden administration emphasized bringing manufacturing back to the U.S., and President-elect Donald Trump promises to do the same, but California misses out on opportunities due to the costs associated with its regulatory regimes. Consider technologies largely developed and embraced by California, such as EVs and the batteries that run them. Jobs in those manufacturing industries overwhelmingly fall to red states , largely a reflection of such things as easier permitting rules, lower energy costs and less intrusive labor regulations. Read more: Elon Musk says he's moving SpaceX and X headquarters from California to Texas Remarkably, Newsom, who feuds with Elon Musk and has taken on the role of the national anti-Trump, has promised that if the next administration in Washington eliminates the federal $7,500 buyer EV tax credits, California will step in with state rebates for the vehicles with reportedly one exception, Teslas, which happen to be the dominant American brand and the only EVs made in California. The plant in Fremont employs thousands in good manufacturing jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And thats hardly the end of the self-destructive politicking. One advanced industry where California, and in particular Southern California, still has a leg up is aerospace, and its corollary, defense. The state remains well in the lead in terms of aerospace-related employment, and innovative new firms, such as Anduril in Orange County, seem primed to take advantage of Trumps emphasis on military spending. In his first term, he increased the defense budget to historic highs. Read more: Newsom sides with Musk in dispute over SpaceX rocket launches But is Californias Democratic leadership on board? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once again, the state's relations with Musk, Trump first buddy and the worlds preeminent space pioneer, would indicate just the opposite. Musk, upset at a California law that allows schools to keep parents in the dark when their children identify as LGBTQ+, decided to move SpaceXs headquarters from Hawthorne to Texas this year. And just weeks ago, the California Coastal Commission denied SpaceXs request to increase its rocket launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base; reportedly after commissioners discussed his political views before they voted on the issue. Even Newsom objected. This is not the way to build a truly inclusive and healthy economy. Gavin Newsom can talk all he wants about Californias bounty, but the road the states Democrats have set for us has been profoundly regressive. Joel Kotkin is a contributing writer to Opinion, the presidential fellow for urban futures at Chapman University and senior research fellow at the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas, Austin. If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Constitution provides that an oath-breaking insurrectionist is ineligible to be president. This is the plain wording of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. No person shall hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. This disability can be removed by a two-thirds vote in each House. Disqualification is based on insurrection against the Constitution and not the government. The evidence of Donald Trumps engaging in such insurrection is overwhelming. The matter has been decided in three separate forums, two of which were fully contested with the active participation of Trumps counsel. The first fully contested proceeding was Trumps second impeachment trial. On Jan. 13, 2021, then-President Trump was impeached for incitement of insurrection. At the trial in the Senate, seven Republicans joined all Democrats to provide a majority for conviction but failed to reach the two-thirds vote required for removal from office. Inciting insurrection encompasses engaging in insurrection against the Constitution or giving aid and comfort to the enemies thereof, the grounds for disqualification specified in Section 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second contested proceeding was the Colorado five-day judicial due process hearing where the court found by clear and convincing evidence that President Trump engaged in insurrection as those terms are used in Section Three. The Colorado Supreme Court affirmed. On further appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, the court held that states lack power to disqualify candidates for federal office and that federal legislation was required to enforce Section 3. The court did not address the finding that Trump had engaged in insurrection. Finally, there is the bipartisan inquiry of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol. More than half of the witnesses whose testimony was displayed at its nine public hearings were Republicans, including members of the Trump administration. The inescapable conclusion of this evidence is that Trump engaged in insurrection against the Constitution. In particular, Trump unlawfully demanded that his vice president, Mike Pence, throw out votes in the Electoral College for political opponent Joe Biden, a power he did not have. While the riot was in progress, Trump used Pences rejection of his demand to further enflame the crowd and cause them to chant Hang Mike Pence! Some will argue that the Supreme Court decision in the Colorado case, Trump v. Anderson, precludes Congress from rejecting electoral votes when they convene on Jan. 6, on the basis of 14th Amendment disqualification. This view lacks merit for three reasons. First the majoritys suggestion that there must be new implementing federal legislation passed pursuant to the enforcement power specified in the 14th Amendment is what lawyers call dicta. Dicta are the musings of an opinion that are not required to decide the case. The holding that Section 3 is not self-executing may be an alternate holding, but thoughts about the kind of implementing statute required are plain dicta. Dicta are not precedential. The four dissenters strenuously objected to this part of the opinion as overreach to decide a question not presented. This overreach is a power grab which Congress is not required to credit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second, counting the Electoral College votes is a matter uniquely assigned to Congress by the Constitution. Under well-settled law this fact deprives the Supreme Court of a voice in the matter, because the rejection of the vote on constitutionally specified grounds is a nonreviewable political question. Third, specific legislation designed for this situation already exists. The Electoral Count Act was first enacted in 1887 and later amended and restated in 2022. That statute provides a detailed mechanism for resolving disputes as to the validity of Electoral College votes. The act specifies two grounds for objection to an electoral vote: If the electors from a state were not lawfully certified or if the vote of one or more electors was not regularly given. A vote for a candidate disqualified by the Constitution is plainly in accordance with the normal use of words not regularly given. Disqualification for engaging in insurrection is no different from disqualification based on other constitutional requirements such as age, citizenship from birth and 14 years residency in the United States. To make an objection under the Count Act requires a petition signed by 20 percent of the members of each House. If the objection is sustained by majority vote in each house, the vote is not counted and the number of votes required to be elected is reduced by the number of disqualified votes. If all votes for Trump were not counted, Kamala Harris would be elected president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unlikelihood of congressional Republicans doing anything that might elect Harris as president is obvious. But Democrats need to take a stand against Electoral College votes for a person disqualified by the Constitution from holding office unless and until this disability is removed. No less is required by their oath to support and defend the Constitution. Evan Davis was editor in chief of the Columbia Law Review and David Schulte was editor in chief of the Yale Law Journal. Both clerked for Justice Potter Stewart. Davis is a New York lawyer who served as president of the New York City Bar, and Schulte is a Chicago investment banker. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo speaks during an event in Mexico City, Mexico. (Octavio Hoyos/Shutterstock) Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has issued a decree that effectively ended the popular border-skipping strategy many U.S. e-commerce sellers used to avoid tariffs on Chinese goods. This decision, which was announced on Dec. 19 and took effect immediately, primarily targets apparel imports and is set to have far-reaching consequences for the industry. The border-skipping strategy For years, U.S. companies have been importing goods from China to Mexico, shipping them one order at a time to the U.S., effectively avoiding tariffs under the Section 321 provision. This loophole allowed for duty-free entry of shipments valued at $800 or less, making it an attractive option for e-commerce businesses looking to minimize costs. The reliance on the border-skipping strategy was substantial among U.S. e-commerce companies, with many opting to fulfill orders to U.S. consumers from Mexico. This approach enabled businesses to leverage Mexicos advantageous cost structures, including lower labor costs and the ability to avoid U.S. tariffs, thereby enhancing profit margins. The strategic location of Mexican warehouses allowed for effective 321 fulfillment, providing seamless delivery experiences to U.S. customers as if the items had been shipped domestically. Companies capitalized on this by importing Chinese goods into Mexico, which were repackaged and sent across the border to the U.S. through Section 321, thus benefiting from the duty-free threshold. This method offered significant cost savings and operational efficiency, making it particularly popular among some of the largest e-commerce platforms targeting the U.S. market. However, the new decree marks a turning point, compelling these companies to promptly reevaluate their logistics and operational strategies. Key changes in the decree The new decree introduces several significant changes: Tariff increases: Import duties on 121 apparel products and 17 made-up textiles have been raised from 20-25% to 35%. Additionally, 17 tariff headings related to textiles now face a 15% duty, up from 10%. IMMEX program restrictions: The decree excludes certain finished products, including clothing and textile articles classified under HTS Chapters 61, 62, and 63, from temporary importation under the IMMEX program. Immediate effect: These changes are effective immediately, affecting even goods currently in transit. Impact on the Industry This sudden policy shift is expected to have significant implications: Alarm bells sounded last week when Vice President-elect JD Vance and Trump adviser Elon Musk praised the far-right German party Alternative for Deutschland (AfD), just weeks before that countrys snap national elections are scheduled to take place. Only the AfD can save Germany, Musk posted on X, prompting backlash from conservative and mainstream German leaders and the global Jewish community about a key Trump advisers endorsement of a party that has flirted with Nazi and white supremacist slogans and espoused dehumanizing and hateful rhetoric against immigrants and Muslims. In the wake of the criticism, Musk doubled down, writing the next day that AfD is the only hope for Germany. Vances more tacit endorsement for AfD came in the form of a post responding to claims that AfD is dangerous. Its so dangerous for people to control their borders, Vance tweeted sarcastically Saturday, implying support for the partys anti-immigration positions. So so dangerous. The dangerous level is off the charts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Make no mistake: It is extremely dangerous to have an American vice president-elect and a core Trump adviser voice support for the AfD, therefore normalizing very extreme political positions. The AfD has called for mass deportations, argued that children with disabilities should be removed from regular schools, and runs social media ads blaming immigrants for crime and sexual violence. One anti-immigrant ad run by the AfD showed the belly of a pregnant white woman with the phrase New Germans? Well make them ourselves. Another campaign billboard used a 19th century painting of a slave market depicting a nude, white woman having her teeth inspected by turban-clad, brown men to warn that Europe could become Eurabia, a reference to a conspiracy theory favored by white supremacists. State-level German domestic intelligence authorities formally monitor some local branches of the AfD as extremist organizations that are working against German democracy. One of the partys regional leaders has been fined multiple times by German courts for using a banned Nazi phrase, Everything for Germany (Alles fur Deutschland), prompting another politician to refer to the AfD itself as a Nazi party earlier this year. Even other European far- right parties have disavowed the party as too extreme. In May, the far-right coalition in the European Parliament expelled the AfD after its leading candidate stated that not all Nazi SS (Schutzstaffel, the guards in World War II concentration campus) were criminals. On Dec. 20, an AfD supporter, a doctor and self-described former Muslim who was angry at the Islamification of Germany, drove his car into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing five, including a 9-year-old girl, and injuring dozens. The overall risk of an AfD victory in the upcoming February snap election is very low. Most Germans view the party negatively, and thousands have marched in protest of its normalization of racist and xenophobic rhetoric. Still, the AfD has steadily gained voters, although its currently polling in second place nationally (with 19% support), trailing a conservative alliance that is widely expected to win. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bigger risk is the normalization of democratic interference that falls outside any system of checks and balances. Musk has already demonstrated that his social media engagement can shape political outcomes. In the weeks before and after the U.S. presidential election, he used his platform X to help amplify false election claims and push his preferred Cabinet picks for Trumps administration. Vance has used X and other public venues to describe professional women who prioritize careers over children as choosing a path to misery, deride Democratic leaders as childless cat ladies, share widely debunked claims about immigrants eating pets in Ohio, and argue that American men have suppressed their masculinity. We now have two key incoming administration officials using a private social media platform to tacitly or explicitly endorse an extreme foreign political party in ways that could impact a foreign election and geopolitics more broadly. That should worry us all. Americas founding fathers sought to build a system of checks and balances to ensure that no single arm of government could operate without constraint or accrue too much power. But those founders were unable to imagine a world in which the most influential axes of power might not be in any single branch of government, but in privately-owned virtual platforms with unimaginable global reach. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com The U.S. and Turkey risk a confrontation if Turkey or its jihadist proxies attack the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Americas ally fighting ISIS. Defeating ISIS is still a work in progress; the Kurds are guarding thousands of ISIS prisoners in northeast Syria. If they redeploy to counter a Turkish invasion, the SDF will have a stark choice: either defend their families from a Turkish-backed invasion or stand guard over the ISIS detainees. Defending their homes and families will have priority. President Tayyip Erdogan views the SDF as a branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a Kurdish group that now seeks greater political and cultural rights in Turkey. Erdogan believes that both the PKK and the SDF are terrorist organizations and has threatened to annihilate them. When Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) moved into Damascus, the Syrian National Army (SNA), a rival Turkish-backed militia that is even more fundamentalist, pivoted east to attack the SDF. They seized Manbij and Deir Ezzor. The U.S. brokered a ceasefire temporarily stopping the fighting between the SDF and the SNA. Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, negotiated the deal. According to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Weve worked alongside the SDF for some time. That work continues. We have a good relationship with them, and I think it will remain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turkey is threatening to seize Kobani and create facts on the ground. When ISIS attacked Kobani in September 2014, Turkey provided weapons, money and logistical support to ISIS. It provides sanctuary to Hamas leaders; Turkeys Justice and Development Party functions like a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. To be sure, President-elect Trump is no friend of jihadists. But he previously threatened to abandon the Kurds and let Turkey deal with them. The Pentagon bureaucracy slow-walked his instructions, giving the Kurds time to group and repulse the ISIS assault. The ISIS crisis may be contained, but it still exists. The Pentagon has 2,000 U.S. troops in northeast Syria, supporting the SDFs operations against ISIS. Trump posted, Syria is not our friend. The United States should have nothing to do with it. Trump is unpredictable and could turn on a dime. A resurgent ISIS would be a wake-up call. Syria is awash with armed groups since the fall of Bashar Assad. In contrast, northeast Syria has been an island of stability amid the chaos. The Kurds have sacrificed greatly to support the US.-.led war on terror. At least 11,000 Kurdish fighters have died fighting ISIS and 23,000 were wounded. The U.S. will incur a reputational cost if it abandons the Kurds. Who will join U.S.-led counterinsurgency efforts if we abandon the Kurds now? And who will control 10,000 ISIS prisoners that are guarded by the SDF? They have 60,000 family members in the al-Hol camp. A jailbreak would destabilize Syria and give jihadists free rein in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hayat Tahrir al-Sham might feel compelled to act. Though both HTS and SNA are Islamist, the HTS is trying to normalize its international relations and build bridges to the international community. It could decide to distance itself from the more virulent SNA. An attack by Turkey would also be a challenge to Kurdish Peshmerga in Iraqi Kurdistan. The Kurdistan Regional Government cooperates with Turkey to facilitate the export of oil and gas; an attack on Syrian Kurds would present a dilemma. In 2014, Iraqi Kurdistan joined the defense of Kobani by airlifting weapons and medical supplies to the valiant Syrian Kurdish defenders. The U.S. cannot countenance an attack on the SDF. Turkeys actions would pit NATO allies, Turkey and the U.S. against each other. It would exacerbate tension within the alliance, influence the Global War on Terror and spark broader conflict across the Middle East. Capitol Hill is concerned. U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) have threatened sanctions on Turkey if it invades. Others, including Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), have expressed strong support for the Kurds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moral clarity is called for at this perilous moment. Kurds are Americas allies and friends with whom we share strategic interests and values. Kurds are a force for good in Anatolia and Mesopotamia. To secure U.S. interests and reputation, Washington must deter Turkeys aggression. David L. Phillips is an adjunct professor at Georgetown Universitys Security Studies 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 The Hill. Rewriting the nations immigration policies sits atop President-elect Trumps to-do list. He has promised to round up undocumented immigrants (estimated to be more than 11 million people) and deport them (likely back to their home countries). He will also need to control the influx of undocumented immigrants, which means that building a southern border wall appears back on the table. Perhaps there are lessons to be learned from airport security that can offer some insights into whether Trumps plans are feasible, and if it will solve the nations undocumented immigration challenges. Airport security in the United States is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). They employ a comprehensive system to keep threat items and threatening people from entering the air system. Though some argue that airport security is more theater than substance, the fact that there has not been a successful air system security event for more than 23 years is noteworthy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three strategies make the TSA system effective. Multiple layers The TSA does not rely exclusively on a single barrier to keep the air system secure. Any one layer may be breached on any given day. But to collectively breach all the layers simultaneously is extremely difficult. Integrating technologies with people The TSA uses a mix of technologies and procedures to harden the air system. Relying exclusively on technology or on people would be both ineffective and inefficient. Using a mix of the two contributes to the security layers that make the air system difficult to breach. For example, before people show up for their flight, the TSA uses Secure Flight to ensure that the travelers are eligible to fly, their identity can be confirmed and they are subjected to the appropriate physical screening procedures. Uncertainty The TSA maintains a level of uncertainty around its system so that bad actors are never quite sure what to expect. If the security procedures become too predictable, bad actors can plan accordingly and find pathways to enter the air system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These same strategies can be used in securing the borders and reducing the number of people who enter the country illegally. An effective approach should include multiple layers that must be circumvented to gain entry to the nation and employ a universal registration program with zero tolerance for those who do not follow the necessary procedures. It also means periodically changing the procedures that make it difficult to game or circumvent the procedures in place. An enormous benefit of the TSA procedures is deterrence. By hardening the air system as much as it does, it keeps people away from even considering entering the air system, or risking being discovered. Trumps proposed mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, even if it is never fully implemented, may serve as an effective deterrent to keep such people from attempting to either enter the country today or for those already here and choosing to stay, temporarily hiding in the country. The fear of being apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement may even end up serving as the most effective mechanism for undocumented immigrants leaving on their own volition. Much will depend on the conditions that they face here versus the environment they would face back in their home country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet with airport security, there are unintended consequences. By hardening the air system, bad actors are deterred from even attempting to breach airport security. If they remain intent in doing so, they will be deflected to other venues. The flip side of this is that if undocumented working immigrants were to all magically disappear, the roles they serve in different industries would need to be filled by documented immigrants or citizens. The problem is that many of these jobs involve long hours and hard labor, including work in agriculture, construction and the hospitality industries. Without such labor, many of these jobs may not get done, independent of the wages paid, resulting in shortages in the nations food supply chains and construction projects, as well as higher prices to consumers. The proposal to deport all undocumented immigrants may have some deterrence benefits but offers limited practical value. What is needed is a mechanism that will allow undocumented immigrants to remain in the nation, performing the many services that they now provide, and filling the jobs that most citizens do not want. Much like airport security checkpoints, open borders are not the solution. At the same time, the current immigrant status must form the initial conditions for any new immigration policy moving forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A review of the bipartisan immigration bill that got killed in the House earlier this year contained some of the same elements that Trump is proposing. The key difference is that Trump, rather than Joe Biden, will get credit for it. When the lives and well-being of people are being put at risk for political gain, we must examine the motives of the elected officials and whether they are upholding their responsibilities to serve for the good of all Americans. Immigration reforms that are implementable and enforceable are needed. What remains a challenge is that not all immigrants are the same in how they contribute to our society and economy. A one-size-fits-all approach is certainly not the answer something the TSA understood when it launched PreCheck. Perhaps the new administration will heed such experience before embarking on immigration reform policies that will ultimately affect not just undocumented immigrants but every citizen. As a nation of immigrants, anything less would be a disservice to them all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheldon H. Jacobson, Ph.D., is a professor in computer science in the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He used his expertise in risk-based analytics to address problems in public policy. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. With Donald Trump set to return to the White House next year, theres much speculation on how his second administration will affect press freedom. The short answer is that we dont know, but prognosticators do have the benefit of an important dataset: his first term. And, if that record is any indication, national security leaks to the press may be an area of tension between journalists and the new leadership at the Justice Department. If there is a chilling effect on sources coming forward with newsworthy information in the public interest, Americans will be less informed and the American government will be held less accountable. Read more: Abcarian: Believe Trump when he vows revenge on the news media. MAGA shock troops are already on the attack Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Things have been quiet on that front for the last four years, but the first Trump administration inherited and expanded the Obama administrations aggressive pursuit of sources who disclosed government secrets to the press. And President-elect Trump has often decried national security leaks and called for aggressively investigating and prosecuting them. It would be foolish for press advocates to discount the possibility of a repeat of his first term, and perhaps an escalation. Read more: Opinion: How weakened local journalism created space for the culture wars There are several federal laws that can be read to criminalize the public disclosure of national security secrets. The most prominent is the Espionage Act of 1917 , a World War I-era law that was initially used against domestic opponents of the war but applies to the act of communicating, delivering or transmitting information relating to the national defense, a broad term, to anyone not entitled to receive it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, if someone were to anonymously slip a manila envelope under a reporters door with government secrets even secrets that the public has a clear interest in knowing, such as the warrantless domestic wiretapping by the George W. Bush administration the Justice Department has consistently claimed the authority to investigate and prosecute the source, as well as the journalist, under the Espionage Act. There is no public interest defense. Historically, it hasnt been used that way. For about 90 years, the Espionage Act was deployed against actual spies, not journalists sources. There are a few exceptions most prominently the Pentagon Papers case, in which the government launched a failed prosecution against Daniel Ellsberg and Anthony Russo but source cases are in the single digits. And, while there were investigations involving journalists, no reporter or news outlet was ultimately prosecuted under the Espionage Act in that period. The reason is simple. When the reporting is in the public interest, taking the leaker or journalist to court would be a political firestorm, as a federal appeals court judge put it in one of those few exceptions, a 1980s case involving a leak of classified photographs. But the Bush and Obama administrations marked a shift in practice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under President George W. Bush, the Justice Department brought the first Espionage Act case other than Russo against individuals outside government, who had not sworn to protect government secrets. The Bush administration also featured the Valerie Plame case, which started as a leak investigation, in which Judith Miller of the New York Times spent 85 days in jail for refusing to identify a confidential source from her reporting about the run-up to the Iraq war. And the Bush Justice Department issued a subpoena in 2008 to force the New York Times James Risen to identify his source in another leak case, which the Obama administration pursued until 2015. Then the Obama administration started to bring Espionage Act prosecutions against journalists sources in earnest. Depending on how you count, his administration brought 10 such cases . That is more than all other presidents combined. Trumps first term followed that trend. The Justice Department brought eight cases against journalist sources, including two under bank secrecy laws, as well as the Julian Assange case. The Assange case is complicated, but he was charged in part under the novel and dangerous legal theory that publishing secrets is a crime. These cases can involve secret government demands for reporters notes; phone, email and text records; and correspondence with sources. That kind of snooping can reveal the constellation of a journalists sources beyond just the investigation in question and can give the government visibility into other stories the newsroom is investigating, including stories about the government. As Miller said when facing jail time : If journalists cannot be trusted to keep confidences, then journalists cannot function and there cannot be a free press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department during Trumps first term turbocharged Obama-era approaches. In addition to seizing years of records from reporter Ali Watkins phone and email providers, a Customs and Border Protection agent threatened to reveal private information unless she identified her sources. Watkins was a reporter at Politico at the time of the questioning and was at the New York Times when she learned of the records seizure. Then, in the early days of the Biden administration, we learned that the Justice Department in the last days of the Trump administration had authorized demands for phone and email records for eight reporters at CNN, the New York Times and the Washington Post in three separate leak investigations. It did so without notifying those outlets in advance to give them a chance to negotiate or challenge the demands and the CNN and New York Times demands came with a gag order preventing newsroom lawyers from even alerting the reporters that they had been targeted. The history of leak investigations under Presidents Bush, Obama and Trump shows that the threat to the free flow of information is bipartisan and spans administrations. President Bidens term has been a notable exception, but a reprise may be coming. Gabe Rottman is the policy director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Vladimir Putins recent end-of-the-year press conference was mostly a self-congratulatory snooze, but there were several moments that revealed the depths of depravity and unreality to which the Russian dictator has sunk. For starters, Putins minions unfurled the banner of the 155th Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet during the press conference. Putin thanked them and then said, this banner represents all the combat banners of our soldiers, who are fighting for Russia, for the Motherland, along the entire line of contact. What Putin failed to say was that the 155th Marine Brigade was responsible for committing war crimes and massacring hundreds of Ukrainian civilians in three cities north of Kyiv Bucha, Irpin and Hostomel in the early days of the invasion Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Needless to say, Putin was endorsing the units and by extension the entire Russian armys genocidal actions. He was also signaling to the West that he would continue employing genocide as a legitimate means of waging war whether in Ukraine, Finland, the Baltic states or Poland. Finally, Putin was declaring that he was completely nonplussed by being an accused war criminal, challenging Russians with a conscience to dare speak out against his having implicated all of Russia in his crimes. As if in confirmation of his belief in Russians bloodthirstiness, Putin had this to say about his people: You know, when everything with us is calm, measured, and stable, we get bored. Stagnation. We want action. As soon as the action starts, everything starts whistling past our temples: both seconds and bullets. Unfortunately, bullets are also whistling now. Yes, we are scared, horror-horror. Well, horror. But not horror-horror-horror. Judge for yourself what that sixfold repetition of the word horror means, but given the context it seems to imply that his peoples love of action produces some fear, but not too much. Russians appear to revel in the whistling of bullets, presumably aimed, as his praise of the 155th Brigade suggests, at innocent Ukrainian civilians. Then theres the following statement: I believe that Russia has become significantly stronger in the past two or three years. Why? Because we are becoming a truly sovereign country, and we barely depend on anybody. [Russia] has grown stronger and become a truly sovereign state, and we will make decisions without looking at other peoples opinions, only with our national interests in mind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As evidence, Putin cites what he considers to be a strong economy and a strong military. By any measure, both have gotten weaker over the last three years. No one except Putin would say theyve actually gotten stronger. He is right to say that the economy, military and his decisionmaking barely depend on anybody. Russia has become more isolated, more self-enclosed and less dependent on other peoples opinions. But few would claim that not depending on anybody means youve gotten stronger. It may mean that youve enhanced your sovereignty, except that Putin fails to say that hes traded Russias former involvement with the global economy and international relations for colonial dependence on the big brother in China and the little brother in North Korea. Indeed, its arguably the case that Russias sovereignty has actually decreased in the last three years. Is Putin delusional? Not quite. He is doing what hes done for the last 25 years: identifying Russia with himself. As the personification of the Russian state, Putin can rightly claim that, since his dictatorial powers have increased since the war began, it follows that so too have Russias. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The scary part is his evidently sincere belief that he and Russia are one and the same. The scarier part is the fact that many Russians appear to agree. But there was one especially lucid section toward the end of the press conference. Putin was asked if he would have done things differently in February 2022. Heres his answer. Reading it is a challenge, but pay attention to whats missing: If it were possible to look at the situation in 2022, knowing whats happening now, what would I think? That such a decision, which was made at the beginning of 2022, should have been made earlier Knowing this, it was necessary to simply start preparing for these events, including the Special Military Operation. After all, the Crimean events, they were simply spontaneous, and we also started the events of 2022 without any special preparation for them. But why did we start? Because it was no longer possible to stand still and endure, and wait for the situation to worsen for us Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kyiv authorities announced that they would not implement the Minsk agreements. They said so directly, declared their claims to some weapons of mass destruction. We saw that we were deceived about the Minsk agreements, the war and slaughter, the destruction of people in the Donbas have been going on for eight years And whats more, we saw that the military development of these territories has begun, with the parallel destruction of everything connected with Russia. It was no longer possible to remain in the state we were in. They forced us to take these actions. Whats missing here? Any mention of NATO and its supposed plans to include Ukraine. Instead, Putin puts the blame squarely on the Ukrainians and what they did or failed to do. Agree or disagree with his assessment, but recognize that Putin has effectively destroyed whatever plausibility the NATO-threat thesis may still have among poorly informed policymakers and analysts. Unfortunately, none of these conclusions should surprise or shock us. Putin is being true to himself; indeed, hes proud of being a genocidaire and warmonger. He thrives on death and destruction and believes Russians do too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Negotiating with Putin wont be about ending war and introducing peace. Itll be about the timing and extent of genocide and war. Alexander J. Motyl is a professor of political science at Rutgers University-Newark. A specialist on Ukraine, Russia and the USSR, and on nationalism, revolutions, empires and theory, he is the author of 10 books of nonfiction, as well as Imperial Ends: The Decay, Collapse, and Revival of Empires and Why Empires Reemerge: Imperial Collapse and Imperial Revival in Comparative Perspective. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Five and dime stores are now a thing of the past in the U.S. But if the reporting in the Financial Times is accurate, President-elect Trump is signaling to NATO member-states that they must spend 5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) annually on defense if they want U.S. support. That is a big ask. As of June 2024, of the 32 NATO countries, eight were still far short of the 2 percent of GDP threshold. Only Poland exceeds 4 percent. That may be sufficient in peacetime, but Russia and its Axis of Evil allies are knocking on the door. Whats more, the European continent is already engaged in an active hybrid war with Russia involving espionage, sabotage, cyber-attacks, assassinations and disinformation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nor is it adequate for what is likely to come in the next decade. The Kremlin is rapidly preparing an even larger kinetic war against Europe. Andrei Belousov, the Russian defense chief, underscored the urgency of the latter point when he announced earlier this month that Russia must be ready for a direct military conflict with NATO in the next ten years. To get there and to win the war in Ukraine, Moscow announced in September that it was raising defense spending by 25 percent in 2025, to 6.3 percent of its GDP. That is 1.5 times current U.S. defense spending as a share of GDP, and three times NATOs present median. Russia is on a war footing, but many NATO countries remain in denial of what lies ahead or, as in the case of Slovakia and Hungary, they are prioritizing economic security over long-term national security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canada, a key NORAD partner, currently only spends 1.4 percent of its GDP on defense. Belgium, home to NATOs headquarters, is even worse, spending only 1.1 percent. Consequently, Europe is vulnerable. That goes double if Russia, in its eventual war with NATO, weaponizes European civilians by intentionally attacking hospitals, energy grids, schools and historic cultural sites, as he has all across across Ukraine. Leaked NATO reports from last May are alarming. Brussels is estimating that NATO member-states are currently only able to provide less than 5 percent of air defense capacities deemed necessary to protect its members in central and eastern Europe against a full-scale attack. The area where the Russian military has been most successful is in targeting Ukrainian population centers and energy infrastructure with missiles and drones. The exposure to a future Europe at war is very real. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That means 95 percent of Europe presently is a target rich environment. NATO therefore cannot think just in terms of GDP. Collectively, the organization must also be prioritizing capabilities not just in terms of present needs, but also in terms of what is being learned on the battlefields of Ukraine. Israels wars against Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran must be informative as well. Especially in regard to electronic warfare given the proliferation of kinetic drones being used to interdict troops, armor and artillery as well as constructing a layered and integrated air defense system along the lines of the Iron Dome. Air defense is only the beginning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Artillery and mortar shell production is woefully inadequate. Come 2025, Ukraine estimates that Russia alone will be able to produce 30 percent more artillery shells than all [European Union] member-states combined. Ukraines lack of precision deep-strike weapons for most of the war, including the American ATACMS, British Storm Shadow, French SCALP and German Taurus missiles, has prevented Kyiv from closing out the war and has largely reduced the Ukrainians to defending against Russias World War I-like frontal assaults. NATO cannot win a future war if it cannot successfully interdict Russian supply lines and fight the deep fight, so as to create space to win in the close fight. Ukraine, repeatedly, has bloodily run into this reality across the 700 miles of the wars front lines. The cost alone in human life has been staggering as a result of Russian attrition warfare. Retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg Trumps special envoy to Ukraine and Russia come Jan. 20 estimates that between 350,000 and 400,000 Russian troops have died alongside 150,000 Ukrainian soldiers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiply those numbers by traditional three or four-to-one wound-to-kill ratios, and it quickly becomes clear NATO cannot afford in the future the human cost of fighting the Kremlins style of mass attrition warfare. In contrast, Trumps demand for 5 percent down in the here and now is exponentially cheaper. And in reality, from a national security standpoint, it is also far more prudent and strategic for NATOs European member-states. Training is key as well. NATOs ground defense is predicated upon rapid response and that means being able to mobilize and reinforce forward-deployed NATO battlegroups in Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. That entails training soldiers from the ground up. First at the national level, then as part of a NATO Joint/Combined team forged by joint exercises and training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spending 5 percent now on their development and training is what will save many of their lives in the future if war with Russia erupts in the next decade. Russian President Vladimir Putin is not making this same investment in his army and it is partly why his casualty rates in Ukraine are so high. You cannot put a uniform on just anyone, provide a weapon, and expect him or her to be a soldier in two weeks. Yet, that is exactly what Putin is doing. NATO, in contrast, spends years developing and training its fighting men and women. NATO must also be prepared to fight future kinetic wars in new and innovative ways. Artificial intelligence is already transforming the battlefields in Ukraine and the intelligence gathering and assessment process. Ukraines military has collected more than 2 million hours of video from the battlefield and is using it to identify targets [by] scanning images far quicker than a human. Overlays of the images detect changes and flag humans for action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of this will be easy. Europe long invested in its comprehensive social programs is facing a stark set of choices: national security or the ideal social state. Finding the political will to change that will not be easy. But Trump is laying the gauntlet. Pay now by putting 5 percent down, or risk losing future U.S. support of NATO. Europe failed that same kind of choice in the 1930s, and World War II ensued. Today, Putin has made his position clear. Last Friday, he bluntly announced that that the world has declared war on Russia, and that in response, Russian world has declared war. The only remaining question now is Europe willing to listen to Trump and make the 5 percent GDP investment, or to Putin, who is betting they will not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mark Toth writes on national security and foreign policy. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Sweet served 30 years as an Army intelligence officer. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Trump has stated on numerous occasions that the U.S. military, after a good first 170 years or so, has largely forgotten how to win wars since 1945. This claim is part of his rationalization for choosing Army veteran and Fox News host Pete Hegseth, who has claimed that Americas armed forces have been emasculated and weakened by wokeness, to lead the Pentagon. Is Trump right to believe that we as a nation, and our military institution in particular, no longer know how to win? There is some kernel of truth behind Trumps claim. In big wars since 1945, America basically has a record of 1-2-2. The U.S. military, with coalition partners, won a decisive victory in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, right after the Reagan defense buildup. But that was the exception in our large-scale conflicts since World War II. We fought to something like tie or stalemate in Korea from 1950 to 1953 and, more recently, in Iraq since 2003. And of course the U.S. suffered overall military defeats in Vietnam and Afghanistan even though it arguably achieved some of its larger strategic goals, like pushing back against Communist expansionism and terrorism, in those otherwise ill-fated conflicts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, it is fair to say that the U.S. military had a major role in some of our biggest setbacks. Gen. Douglas MacArthur botched the invasion of North Korea in the fall of 1950, after a brilliant landing at Inchon turned the tide of that war. In Vietnam, Gen. William Westmoreland and Gen. LeMay among others supported the massive and sometimes careless use of firepower that proved counterproductive (those cases presumably took place well before wokeness afflicted the military). Special forces performed badly in the Iran hostage rescue attempt in 1980; poor rules of engagement and poor force protection allowed a huge tragedy with the Marine barracks bombing in Lebanon in 1983; mission creep and sloppy tactical procedures led to the Black Hawk down episode in Somalia in 1993. However, on balance, Trumps claim does not hold water. Since the Reagan defense buildup and Goldwater-Nichols-Nunn reforms of the 1980s, the American armed forces have been the best in the world. Trump himself deserves some of the credit for the generally solid state of our military today, as well as one of its most recent wins the decisive defeat of ISIS in Iraq and Syria from 2014 through 2018 or so. Before developing his second-term agenda for military modernization and reform, with or without Hegseth by his side, Trump should consider the larger historical record. First, the U.S. did indeed win decisively in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, where it quickly expelled Iraqi forces from Kuwait under the leadership of Gen. Colin Powell and Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf. On a smaller but still significant scale, the U.S. overthrew the dictator Manuel Noriega in Panama 1989. With NATO allies, it won the Kosovo war in 1999, driving Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevics marauding militias out of the territory while suffering only two fatalities. Second, successes continued in the 21st century, even in light of the mediocre outcome in Iraq and the eventual loss to the Taliban in Afghanistan. With partners and allies as well as the CIA, the military defeated the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001 and rapidly overthrew Saddam in Iraq in 2003. America decimated al Qaedas leadership, as well as much of its rank and file, throughout much of the Middle East and South Asia in the decade after the 9/11 attacks, culminating in the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011. Trump himself authorized the surgical killing of Iranian terror mastermind Qassem Soleimani in Iraq in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Third, the surge in Iraq in 2007 and 2008, designed and implemented under Gen. David Petraeus, was one of the greatest comebacks in U.S. military history. Fourth, as in Vietnam, the mistakes made in Iraq and Afghanistan were mostly the result of civilian decisions. President George W. Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld sent us to war in Iraq in 2003 with too small a force and no serious plan for stabilization once Saddam was gone. Amb. Paul Bremer, given only weeks warning that he would have the job of running post-Saddam Iraq, issued counterproductive edicts that punished too many Sunni Baathists and fired Saddams soldiers, contributing to the rapid growth of the insurgency. Bush and Rumsfeld attempted a light footprint in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2008, giving the Taliban room to recover and rebuild; President Barack Obama then tried a belated surge that ramped up and ramped down too fast, as he tried to achieve a miracle to make up for lost time the decade before. Then Trump and Biden pulled us out of Afghanistan to my mind, unnecessarily and badly in 2020 and 2021. We should not blame the military when we ask it to do the near-impossible and provide bad or conflicting guidance on how it should pursue its missions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps allegations are unpersuasive. We have a very fine military that has also successfully deterred war in Europe and East Asia for decades. There is always room for improvement, but there is not a case for a massive overhaul. Michael OHanlon is the Phil Knight Chair in Defense and Strategy at the Brookings Institution and author of Military History for the Modern Strategist: Americas Major Wars Since 1861. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. When President-elect Donald Trump announced that Kash Patel will be his nominee for director of the FBI, my reaction wasnt subtle. In an appearance on MSNBC, I warned that, if confirmed, Patel would be like if you crossed Alex Jones with J. Edgar Hoover. Its an assessment that I stand behind three weeks later, even as Patels nomination has failed to garner the same kind of pushback from Republican senators as some of Trumps other controversial picks. If my comparison comes across as glib or, as one outlet called it, apoplectic, its because Hoovers tyranny and similarities to Jones, the conspiracy theorist and former Infowars host, have been downplayed over the decades since his death. It also then fails to acknowledge how much worse Patel is poised to be if given the chance. Patels relationship with Trump highlights his talent at endearing himself to the worst people. Patels time as a MAGA acolyte began when he was a congressional aide helping to hamper the Russia investigation during the early days of the Trump administration. As a reward, Trump demanded that his staffers find Patel a White House job on the National Security Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, Patel has continued to leverage that relationship to his benefit. He has become a major right-wing media figure, one willing to say anything, regardless of the facts, so long as it paints Trump in a good light. As a day job he took up a post as fellow at the pro-Trump think tank founded by Trumps choice for director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought. Patel has also been emulating his patrons penchant for hawking merchandise to the rubes in the crowd and raising questionable cash. And, most important to Trump, theres no question that Patel would be more than willing to turn the investigative might of the FBI on anyone the president-elect puts in his sights. Heres how he put it during an appearance on former White House adviser Steve Bannons podcast last year: We will go out and find the conspirators, not just in government, but in the media. 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, because were actually going to use the Constitution to prosecute them for crimes they said we have always been guilty of but never have. What Patel is promising is a return to the days under Hoover when the FBIs power was almost entirely unchecked and it was turned against the left-wing organizers its director loathed. When Hoover first joined the Justice Departments Bureau of Investigation in 1917, it was to lead its Radical Division. It was a good fit for the 24-year-old reactionary, who would a few years later become the bureaus acting director in 1924. Hed spend almost 50 years atop the FBI, outlasting seven presidents and serving under an eighth, before dying in his sleep in 1972. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike Patels eagerness to attack journalists, Hoover spent most of his career seeing the media as an accomplice in garnering public opinion for his G-mens activities. At his peak in the 1950s, he positioned himself to be one of the most trusted men in the country, anticommunist and yet seemingly willing to safeguard civil liberties. But behind closed doors, Hoover stockpiled potential blackmail material against political figures and engaged in unwarranted surveillance against American citizens. As he got older, Hoover became more daring and willing to revert to his earlier focus on breaking left-wing organizations. His career racism helped fuel the establishment of COINTELPRO, the now-infamous program designed to spy on, harass and otherwise discredit liberal voices. He fully bought into conspiracy theories that blamed any leftist sentiment or support for civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. on Soviet influences. It was only after Hoovers death that the full expose about the FBIs abuses under his watch became public thanks in part to an NBC News journalists reporting and blockbuster congressional investigations. Hoover had one thing to boost his aura of invincibility that Patel wont have: The presidents he served over time grew to fear him. President Richard Nixon was unwilling to dismiss the director despite the growing furor over the publics getting its first inklings of the breadth of the FBIs surveillance of anti-Vietnam War activists. Nixon was recorded on the White Houses taping system saying he was concerned that firing Hoover would prompt him to pull down the temple with him, including me. Patel has no chance of that sort of power dynamic with Trump but dont mark that as a positive development. He has shown little tangible success in the roles he has been granted during his rise, and he has actively annoyed the people around him in the process. His devotion to Trump is the only qualification that he possesses and that prevents him from the sort of independence Hoover displayed. Instead, it will be Patel who is constantly living in fear of dismissal and lashing out against their perceived shared enemies as a result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There will likewise be no reason for Trump to worry about Patel because pleasing the boss, not serving justice, will be his north star. And what the president-elect wants is an FBI that serves his needs in violation of the norms against directing investigations from the White House. Not that this is necessarily a problem for Patel, based on his evident willingness to do whatever it takes to retain his spot on Trumps good side. If the Senate confirms him in January, it will be a catastrophic blow to the freedom and safety of all Americans. The FBI will become a loaded machine gun in the hands of a coward, someone willing to open fire on anyone who might threaten his standing. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com (NewsNation) Tahlequah, an orca who carried her dead newborn calf for 17 days, gave birth to another baby, the Washington-based Center for Whale Research announced this week. Researchers at the center were notified that a new calf had been seen traveling for several days with J Pod in the Puget Sound area Dec. 20. After observing the baby orca, they were able to confirm that Tahlequah, who scientists call J35, was its mother. The calf, named J61 by the Center for Whale Research, is a female. Early life is always dangerous for new calves, the center noted, and researchers expressed concern for J61 based on her and her mothers behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Tahlequah) is an experienced mother, and we hope that she is able to keep J61 alive through these difficult early days, the Center for Whale Research said in a statement. The oldest of Tahlequahs four children was born in 2010. After that, she carried a baby orca for 18 months, but that calf died within half an hour of her birth, The Seattle Times wrote. She then had another calf in 2020 before J61. A million taxpayers will soon receive up to $1,400 from the IRS Tahlequahs journey carrying her deceased newborn on her head for 1,000 miles made international headlines and brought attention to the challenges orcas face. According to the Seattle Times, the J, K and L pods of killer whales in Puget Sound lack regularly available food because two populations of their preferred prey, Chinook salmon, are endangered, and seven are considered threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While killer whales, or orcas, are the largest member of the Delphinidae, or dolphin, family as well as the oceans top predator, they have historically been threatened by commercial hunting and culling, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. Some killer whale populations face threats such as food limitations, chemical contaminants and disturbances from vessel traffic and sound, NOAA wrote. Killer whale populations are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. In 2018, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed an executive order that created the Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery and Task Force. Michael Weiss, research director of the Center for Whale Research, said in an interview with the newspaper that Tahlequahs story shows there is still danger for killer whales but also hope. If you give them half a chance, they will take it, he said. We need to give them that chance, 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. https://www.tipranks.com/news/the-fly/victory-capital-price-target-raised-to-89-from-88-at-bofa Navient (NAVI) reached an agreement to sell its Government Services business to an affiliate of Gallant Capital Partners. Navients Government Services business includes Navient Business Processing Group, Duncan Solutions, Gila, Pioneer Credit Recovery and Navient BPO. Approximately 1,200 employees will be included in the transaction, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025, subject to certain conditions. Don't Miss Our Christmas Offers: Discover the latest stocks recommended by top Wall Street analysts, all in one place with Analyst Top Stocks Make smarter investments with weekly expert stock picks from the Smart Investor Newsletter Published first on TheFly the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See the top stocks recommended by analysts >> Read More on NAVI: PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A man from Redmond, Oregon was sentenced to federal prison for evading tax debt payments totaling $1.1 million and using a stolen identity to open more than 30 bank accounts and credit cards, authorities announced. The United States Attorneys Office for the District of Oregon announced 69-year-old Michael Anastasia was sentenced to two years in federal prison with three years supervised release on December 17. Anastasia was also ordered to pay $777,899 in restitution to the victim with restitution to the Internal Revenue Service to be determined at a later date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 40 arrested by Portland police in holiday retail theft mission According to court documents, from 2002 until January 2020, Anastasia used the victims social security number to open several bank accounts and credit cards. Additionally, between 1991 and 2003, Anastasia received $1.4 million from another victim after convincing them of a fabricated agreement with the United States to secure access to allegedly seized funds, authorities said. Later, in 2007, Anastasia was convicted of tax evasion after failing to pay federal income taxes on the funds he received from the victim. Following his prison release in 2015, Anastasia entered an agreement with the IRS, which required him to make payments towards his tax debt if he received more than $4,500 per month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former OHSU employees file lawsuit over numerous instances of harassment from supervisors Instead of paying his taxes, Anastasia convinced the victim to send funds over that amount to his roommate, authorities said, noting Anastasia told his roommate to withdraw the overage in cash, then stored the money in a safe in his home. Officials said between March 2016 and September 2018, Anastasia evaded more than $180,000 in payments to the IRS. In February 2024, a federal grand jury in Eugene charged Anastasia with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, tax evasion, and making false statements to financial institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September, he pleaded guilty to tax evasion and identity theft, authorities said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. A fifth-generation sheep rancher from Orland was named the California Cattlemens Association Livestock Man of Year, during the associations Annual Convention Award Banquet earlier this month. Dr. Wes Doc Patton has had a life-long interest in the sheep industry, as demonstrated through his 35 years of teaching at Chico State, the development of his own high quality sheep flock, and his involvement in state and national sheep, cattle and agricultural organizations throughout his career, said Dave Daley as he presented the award to Patton. California State University, Chicos College of Agriculture describes Patton as one of the faculty members most responsible for the growth and success of the College of Agriculture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now retired Patton was beloved by students and colleagues for his commitment to every aspect of what it means to be a University professor. I am one of the lucky faculty who Doc mentored early in their teaching career, said Patrick Doyle, associate dean of the College of Agriculture. Like many, I modeled my advising, teaching, research efforts, and industry commitment after Docs example and exemplary record. The son of Northern California sheep ranchers, Patton transferred to Chico State from Coalinga College in 1963. After completing his bachelors degree in agriculture, he earned graduate and doctoral degrees in animal science from Oregon State University. Patton and his wife, Jane, returned to Chico State in 1969 when he joined the College of Agriculture faculty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He managed the University Farms Sheep Unit for many years and created Sheep Day at the Farm, a popular event now attended by hundreds of K12 students. Alongside his faculty responsibilities, Patton has held important positions in the livestock industry, including serving as president of the American Lamb Board and the American Dexter Cattle Association. Patton has also held numerous leadership roles within the California Farm Bureau Federation and California Wool Growers. In 2000, Patton received the Universitys Outstanding Faculty Service Award. He and his wife used the award stipend to help establish the Wes and Jane Patton Student Advancement Award in the College of Agriculture. The award supports students visiting graduate schools or presenting research at professional meetings. In 2005, Patton was named the College of Agricultures Distinguished Alumnus, and in 2019, the college inducted Wes and Jane Patton into its Hall of Honor. After retirement in 2004, Patton returned to ranching. He and Jane own Glenn Land Farm in Orland, where they raise sheep and cattle. He still remains closely connected to the College of Agriculture via guest speaking and hosting field trips to the Orland ranch, and his children are carrying on that connection: son Kevin is an associate dean in the College of Natural Sciences, and son Matt is executive director of the California Agricultural Teachers Association OSF HealthCare has been named a recipient of the Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) Premier Award by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Accreditation Program, according to a news release. (osfhealthcare.org) OSF HealthCare is one of only nine organizations internationally to receive this prestigious award in 2024, the release says. Recipients are exceptional organizations that successfully ensure educational activities are designed using evidence-based criteria and that outcomes of those activities are measured. ANCC Accredited Providers who receive the Premier Award serve as exemplars in the field of NCPD and have demonstrated excellence in leveraging the award criteria to achieve strategic goals and nursing professional practice excellence. Recipients are awarded for a two-year period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What an honor it is to confer these awards to diverse health care and nursing organizations who strive to promote the highest standards of nursing practice, said Jennifer Graebe DrPH, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, senior director of nursing continuing professional development and joint accreditation programs at ANCC. This years recipients have demonstrated their organizational culture reflects the values that this award represents: shared decision-making, empowerment, interprofessional collaboration and nurturing a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Lori Wiegand, DNP, RN, NEA-BC and CNO for OSF HealthCare said We are honored to have received this prestigious award as it recognizes our nurses commitment to provide high-quality patient care and our commitment to nursing continuing professional development. The NCPD Accreditation Program was founded in 1974 as the flagship program of ANCC. To date, it remains the largest and leading premiere program in nursing-accreditation standards. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DENVER (KDVR) Over 200 flights in and out of the Denver International Airport are impacted by delays and cancelations Thursday amid busy holiday travel. DIA holiday travel guide: Busy airport times and security changes to know about According to FlightAware, an online tool that tracks air traffic and the status of flights, as of 6 p.m., there are 466 flights in and out of DIA that are delayed and 23 that are canceled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the delayed flights, 258 are departing from Denver. Travelers heading out of DIA can check with their airline or enter flight information on FlightAware to check the status of their flight. Here is a breakdown of the airlines with the most delays: Southwest: 169 United: 134 SkyWest: 83 Frontier: 28 Delta: 11 American Airlines: 11 Key Lime Air: 11 Here is a breakdown of the canceled flights by airline: American Airlines: 10 United: 7 Frontier: 2 Southwest: 2 SkyWest: 2 Denver International Airports pinwheel runway shape explained According to the FlightAware MiseryMap, DIA had the fourth most delayed and canceled flights of all airports across the U.S. on Thursday, following behind Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Chicago OHare International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for Friday, there are 9 flights delayed and 3 canceled as of 6 p.m. Thursday. Friday is expected to be one of the busiest days of the year at DIA. There is one good thing about delayed flights during the holidays: travelers who have extra time at the Denver airport can visit the holiday pop-up bar in Concourse B. This year the first that the airport has ever had a holiday pop-up bar its decorated with all kinds of holiday spirit and the menu features festive drink options and seasonal bites. Where to find the holiday pop-up bar at Denver International Airport Flight delays and cancelations will impact some travelers at DIA, but there have been several changes at the airport this year including new restaurants, new security checkpoints and updated technology that will impact anyone traveling in and out of Denver. See FOX31s guide to holiday travel at DIA for everything you need to know. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Jennifer Crumbley, the embattled and convicted mother of the Oxford school shooter, wants a judge to release her from prison, maintaining it would be "grossly unfair and unjust" to keep her locked up for years while her appeal drags on in the courts. Moreover, her new lawyer argues, Crumbley poses no threat to anyone. And, he maintains, her appeal raises "a substantial question of law" that ultimately must be answered by the Michigan Supreme Court: Should she have been prosecuted in the first place under the legal theory that she had a duty to protect the victims at school? Appellate attorney Michael Dezsi argues, among other things, that no such legal duty exists for the general public much like a regular citizen can't be prosecuted for failing to stop a store robbery or a suicide in front of a train and that Crumbley's case should have never gone to trial. For that reason and others, he says, she should be granted bond pending the outcome of her appeal. James Crumbley, left, sits with his attorney Mariell Lehman as Jennifer Crumbley shoots him a glance as she sits with her attorney Shannon Smith in the Oakland County courtroom of Cheryl Matthews on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, for sentencing. The Crumbleys are the parents of the Oxford High School shooter from 2021, and both found guilty each on four counts of involuntary manslaughter. "(T)his case has been bungled, starting with the prosecutions overreaching charge of involuntary manslaughter of a parent for the intentional criminal acts of her son, who was charged and treated as an adult in the eyes of the law," Dezsi writes in a motion filed Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "... It would be grossly unfair and unjust to keep Mrs. Crumbley locked up for years while this matter proceeds slowly likely for years before the appellate courts," Dezsi continued, noting she has already been locked up for more than three years. "Given the overtly tenuous nature of these charges, the prosecution should not reap the reward of a lengthy unlawful incarceration before the Michigan Supreme Court can hear and decide this case." Jennifer and James Crumbley made history earlier this year as the first parents in America held responsible for a mass school shooting committed by their child. In this case, two separate juries concluded that the Crumbleys were responsible for the deaths of four students murdered by their son: Hana St. Juliana, 14; Tate Myre, 16; Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Justin Shilling, 17. Seven others, including a teacher, were also injured in the Nov. 30, 2021 mass shooting at Oxford High School. In a statement released Thursday afternoon, the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office said Jennifer Crumbley needs to stay locked up. Jennifer Crumbley was tried by a jury of her peers for her own actions and inactions leading to the shooting at Oxford High School not for the actions of her son," Chief Assistant Prosecutor David Williams said in the statement. "A jury of 12 individuals listened to testimony and reviewed countless pieces of evidence before they unanimously found her guilty as charged, and she was sentenced by the judge accordingly. This was an egregious set of facts thatresulted in a conviction along with a 10-15-year prison sentence." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams went on to say: "The legal issues raised by Jennifer Crumbley have already been heard and rejected by the Michigan Court of Appeals." Not quite, argues Dezsi, who maintains in his latest court filing that the issue around whether Crumbley had a duty to act has not yet been raised in any court. The Crumbleys were arrested days after the shooting and have remained in jail ever since. They are both serving 10-15 year prison sentences. Their son, Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to all his crimes and is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. All three Crumbleys are appealing. Lawyer: Prosecution brokered unlawful, secret agreements In seeking bond for Jennifer Crumbley, Dezsi accused the prosecution of intentionally and deliberately brokering secret agreements with two star witnesses as it built its historic case against the shooter's parents. Those deals, known as proffer agreements, were disclosed by the Free Press in March following the conviction of James Crumbley. The agreements protected two school officials from having statements they made to investigators used against them, though they were never disclosed to the jury or the defense, which couldn't cross-examine the witnesses about their motives for testifying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Jennifer Crumbley's case, Dezsi has argued the school officials used their testimony to lay all the blame on the mom in order to protect themselves from scrutiny over their mistakes. The victims' families have long been demanding accountability by the school over its actions and decisions involving the shooter. To date, no school officials have been charged in the shooting. The prosecution has previously held that it had no obligation to turn the proffer agreements over to the defense because no immunity was ever granted to the witnesses. The defense disagrees. In addition to seeking bond, Dezsi has also asked the court to toss Jennifer Crumbley's conviction or grant her a new trial on multiple grounds, including the suppression of evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The suppression of these secret agreements violates the most basic, well-understood duties of a prosecutor to turn over all evidence that is favorable to the defense or could be used for impeachment purposes," Dezsi writes, maintaining this was a constitutional violation. To win bond for Crumbley, Dezsi must prove that: Crumbley is not likely to pose a danger to anyone Her appeal raises a substantial question of law or fact. Dezsi maintains he can prove both. His request is currently before Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Matthews, who concluded early on that there was enough evidence to send Crumbley's involuntary manslaughter case to a jury. She also oversaw her trial, along with James Crumbley's trial. The Michigan Court of Appeals has also previously held that consideration of bond pending appeal is focused on four relevant factors: the substantiality of the grounds for appeal; the risk to the administration of justice if bond is granted; the likelihood that a defendant will appear in court when ordered to do so; the potential harm to the community if the defendant is released. Lawyer: Jennifer Crumbley poses no threat to the public As to the mandate that Crumbley must prove that she poses no threat to the public, Dezsi maintains "this requirement is easily met." She is not accused of committing violence, he argues, but rather was improperly charged for gross negligence and failing to control her minor child, who was never treated as such in this case, he notes, but rather was charged, convicted and sentenced as an adult. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, Dezsi argues, "there are no facts from which to find that Mrs. Crumbley threatened any individual, and there are no facts from which to find that she poses a risk of violence or assaultive behavior to anyone." He also argues she has no criminal record, except for two misdemeanors dating back 20 years. "By granting bond, with or without conditions, the prosecution stands to lose nothing while these substantial issues of law are decided with finality by the appellate courts," Dezsi writes. Regarding concerns about Crumbley showing up for mandatory court proceedings, Dezsi says multiple conditions could be enforced to ensure her appearance, including GPS monitoring. Prosecutor: Crumbleys cannot be trusted not to flee In the coming weeks, the prosecution will file its response to Jennifer Crumbley's bond request, though it has opposed freeing her on bond numerous times in the past. The prosecution has successfully argued that Jennifer Crumbley cannot be trusted not to flee, given her behavior in the days after the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Crumbleys were arrested three days after the rampage following an intense manhunt by law enforcement, who found the couple sleeping in a friend's art gallery in an industrial building in Detroit. The prosecution maintains the Crumbleys were on the run, and convinced a judge to detain them on a $500,000 bond each. "These are not the actions of individuals who wanted to turn themselves in," Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald has previously stated, noting the couple also stayed at a local hotel after the shooting, and could have surrendered then. "There was a police station across the street from their hotel," McDonald said, " they didnt turn themselves in. They fled to another town, and nothing prevented them from staying in Oakland County." The Crumbleys maintain they were never on the run, but rather were scared of all the threats and negativity they were facing in the days after the shooting. They had hired private attorneys at the time they were staying in the art gallery, and said they were planning to turn themselves in the following morning, which their lawyers had communicated to the prosecutor's office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecution, meanwhile, has long argued that the Crumbleys, more than anyone else, could have prevented the massacre had they disclosed that their son had access to a gun during a pivotal meeting with two school officials. It also argued to the jury that the Crumbleys failed to properly secure the gun that the boy used to shoot up his school, and, ignored signs that their son was mentally spiraling. The Crumbleys maintain they had no idea their son was planning to shoot up a school, that they never saw signs that he was mentally ill, and that the gun used in the rampage was hidden in an armoire, unloaded, and the bullets were stored in another location. Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Oxford school shooter's mom, Jennifer Crumbley, wants out of prison BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) A Pennsylvania man has been charged with several felony crimes related to the alleged kidnapping of a woman in Binghamton. On Christmas Day, at around 7:45 a.m., the Binghamton Police Department responded to 66 Louisa Street in Binghamton for a disturbance. It was reported that a male suspect had pointed a crossbow at a woman before forcing her into a vehicle and fleeing the scene. Upon arrival, police quickly located the suspect vehicle on Broad Avenue in the area of Fredrick Street. Officers attempted to perform a traffic stop however, the suspect refused to stop and continued to flee. Officers followed the vehicle through the City of Binghamton and eventually into the Town of Binghamton on Pierce Creek Road before following him into the state of Pennsylvania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While in Brackney, PA, the suspect vehicle struck a tree. The suspect, who was identified as Devin Collins, 20, of Susquehanna, PA, was taken into custody at the scene. The female victim sustained facial injuries due to the accident and was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. According to police, it was discovered that the vehicle Collins was driving had previously been reported stolen. Collins also had an active warrant out for his arrest. Collins was charged with Kidnapping in the Second Degree, a Class B Felony; Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, a Class D Felony; Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, a Class E Felony; and Unlawful Fleeing of a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Binghamton Police Detective Bureau at (607) 772-7080. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) More than 20,000 acres of land and water in the Pactola Reservoir will be safe from any possible drilling or mining for the next 20 years, according to a news release from the United States Department of the Interior Thursday. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland signed Public Land Order 7956, finalizing protections for the Pactola ReservoirRapid Creek Watershed on the Black Hills National Forest from the potential effects of mineral exploration and development. Driver flees from scene of fiery crash, police say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order follows a request from the U.S. Forest Service to close 20,510 acres of National Forest System land to sale or exchange and mineral entry and leasing, for a 20-year period, subject to valid existing rights. Non-federal lands and minerals are not subject to the withdrawal. Public-Land-Order-7956Download According to the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance, the action came in response to requests from Tribes and the local community to protect important cultural and natural resources in Pennington County, South Dakota as well as the municipal water supplies for Rapid City and Ellsworth Air Force Base. This shows that individuals can make a difference, and the withdrawal is a clear reflection of the will of the people of the Black Hills region. This is an important first step in protecting Black Hills water and cultural resources from new large-scale mining, Lilias Jarding, Black Hills Clean Water Alliance Executive Director, said in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Acording to the news release, just over 1900 people filed written comments on this withdrawal earlier this year, and 98% of those comments supported the withdrawal and protection for water, cultural resources, and land. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Ariba Shahid KARACHI (Reuters) - A Pakistani military court sentenced sixty civilians to jail time ranging from 2 to 10 years in connection with attacks on military facilities following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan in 2023, the military's media wing said on Thursday. Those sentenced include a relative of Khan as well as two retired military officers. Days earlier, 25 others were sentenced on the same charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khans arrest in May 2023 sparked countrywide protests that saw his supporters attack and ransack military installations in an unprecedented backlash against Pakistans powerful army generals. The military's media wing said, "The Nation, Government, and the Armed Forces remain steadfast in their commitment to upholding justice and ensuring that the inviolable writ of the state is maintained." The sentences have sparked concerns among Khan's supporters that military courts will play a more significant role in cases related to the former leader, who is facing multiple charges, including inciting attacks against the armed forces. The international community has also expressed concerns over the sentencing. The United States stated it is "deeply concerned" about the sentences, while the United Kingdom's foreign office noted that trying civilians in military courts "lacks transparency, independent scrutiny and undermines the right to a fair trial". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The European Union also criticized the sentences, saying they are "inconsistent with the obligations that Pakistan has undertaken under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights". In a press conference on Wednesday, the information minister said the military court sentences do not infringe upon the right to a fair trial, as individuals are granted access to a lawyer, family, and still have the opportunity to appeal twice, both within the military court and civilian court, the relevant high court. Khan's supporters have denied any wrongdoing, and Khan himself claims that the cases against him are politically motivated. The military and government have denied any unfair treatment of Khan or his supporters. (Reporting by Ariba Shahid in Karachi; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) Pakistani security forces faced off with insurgents in three separate shootouts in the restive northwest bordering Afghanistan on Thursday, killing 13 militants, the military said. Troops killed 11 insurgents in two separate raids in the North and South Waziristan districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Another two insurgents were killed in the third security raid in Bannu, also a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military said. It said an army major, Mohammad Awais, was killed during the shootout with militants in North Waziristan, a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban who have stepped up attacks on security forces in recent months. The Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, are a separate group but allies of the Afghan Taliban who seized power in Afghanistan in 2021 as the United States and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pullout. The Taliban takeover next door has emboldened the Pakistani Taliban. The Palestinian Authority has shut down the operations of Qatar-based news network Al Jazeera in the West Bank, according to local reports. In a statement, Al Jazeera condemned Fatah, the Palestinian Authority ruling party in the West Bank, for what it described as an incitement campaign against the news organization and its reporters. More from Variety The ban was instituted by Fatah on Monday following Al Jazeeras coverage of clashes between Palestinian Authority forces and terrorist fighters in the city of Jenin. According to local reports, the decision was taken after Al Jazeera broadcast news reports referring to the rebels as resistance fighters. Five people have reportedly died in the clashes so far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the New Arab, a Qatari-owned, London-based news outlet, Fatah has banned Al Jazeera from a number of cities in the region including Jenin and Tubas. We have decided to ban Al Jazeera from entering Tubas [], and we call on our people not to engage with this channel in any way, the outlet quoted a Fatah statement. This decision comes as a result of the dangerous role played by Al Jazeera in our Arab world in general, and in Palestine in particular, by sowing discord and inciting internal strife, in clear alignment with Zionist-American efforts and agendas hostile to the cause of our Arab nation in general and our Palestinian cause in particular. In a statement, the news org. responded: Al Jazeera Media Network condemns the incitement campaign initiated by Fatah in the West Bank against Al Jazeera and its journalists, particularly against Al Jazeera correspondent Mohamad Atrash, for covering the clashes between the Palestinian National Security Forces and Palestinian resistance fighters in Jenin. The Palestinian Authority are the latest territory in the Middle East to ban Al Jazeera, following in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and Israel. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Noble Corporation plc NE, an offshore drilling contractor, has secured work for two of its drillships, the Noble Venturer and Noble Globetrotter I. The Noble Venturer drillship has won a contract with Tullow Oil for its Ghanaian subsidiary, Tullow Ghana. The Noble Globetrotter I drillship has secured work in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The clients name has not been disclosed yet. Noble Venturer Drillship Contract Details Under the first contract, the Noble Venturer drillship would begin operations offshore Ghana in 2025. The drillship will start this campaign directly after completing its contract with Rhino Resources. Per the terms of the contract, a total of six firm wells are to be drilled in the region. The first two wells will be drilled within 120 days. After that, the drillship will be suspended from the contract until year-end 2025 at zero rate. During this phase, the drillship will undergo planned SPS maintenance. This involves a detailed inspection of vessels and rigs to ensure their integrity and fulfill compliance requirements. The SPS maintenance for the rig includes replacing its thrusters. The total contract duration is estimated to be 360 days. The contract will resume in January 2026 following the completion of the maintenance activities. During this time, the remaining four wells in the contract will be drilled. The estimated duration of this phase is 240 days. The contract has been valued at $171 million. Additionally, the contract includes three options, each for two wells. The three options are estimated to have a duration of 120 days each. Noble Globetrotter I Drillship Contract Details The Noble Globetrotter I has secured a contract in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico for one firm well. The contract includes the provision to drill six optional wells. If all the options are exercised, the estimated duration of the contract would be 200 days, and the total contract value might amount to $70 million. The contract is anticipated to start early in January 2025. NEs Zacks Rank and Key Picks NE currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Some better-ranked stocks from the energy sector areTechnipFMC plc FTI, Oceaneering International OII and Nine Energy Service NINE. TechnipFMC plc and Oceaneering International currently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each, while Nine Energy Service carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. TechnipFMC plc is a leading manufacturer and supplier of products, services and fully integrated technology solutions for the energy industry. The companys total backlog witnessed a high of $14.7 million in the third quarter of 2024, indicating an 11.1% increase from the previous years level. This growing backlog ensures strong revenue growth for FTI. Dec. 26 (UPI) -- A Palestinian television channel said an Israeli air strike killed five of its journalists in the central region of the Gaza Strip on Thursday, but the Israel Defense Forces said it targeted Islamic Jihad operatives posing as journalists. Al Quds Today said one of its vans, marked "Press," was attacked outside al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp, one of the few operating hospitals left in Gaza. The news organization said a wife of one of the journalists was giving birth at the hospital when the attacked took place. The IDF called it an attack on operatives of the Islamic Jihad and officials said steps had been taken to avoid harming civilians. Israel military spokesman Nadav Shoshani said that reports that the IDF targeted journalists was a "fake claim." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al Quds Today identified its staffers as Faisal Abu Al-Qumsan, Fadi Hassouna, Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Ali, Ayman Al-Jadi and Mohammed Al-Lada'a. The IDF said that it does not target journalists but considers anyone who is a member of an "organized armed group" that is participating in hostilities as lawful targets. Al Quds said its managing editor Wael Abu-Fanounah was killed last January in an Israel attack. IDF said Abu-Fabounah was a senior member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and ignored mentioning his connection with the television channel. The Israeli military in October accused some members of the international news organization Al Jazeera of being fighters for Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. Al Jazeera has pushed back against the allegation. (Bloomberg) -- Panama President Jose Raul Mulino said China has no stake in the Panama Canal and US warships pay the same toll rates as other nations, pushing back against Donald Trumps threats over the key waterway. Most Read from Bloomberg Trumps remarks alleging growing influence from the worlds second-largest economy over the canal may be due to geopolitical fears that might be valid from their perspective, but in terms of Panama, have absolutely no veracity, Mulino said at a Thursday press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is absolutely no Chinese interference or involvement in anything that has to do with the Panama Canal, Mulino said. There are no Chinese at the canal, no Chinese nor any other world power at the canal. Trump brought control over the canal into play over the weekend, decrying ridiculous transit fees for US vessels and alleged Chinese encroachment. The feud triggered a selloff of Panamas bonds Monday. Mulino reiterated that his nation will not cede control of the waterway to the US, and said he will wait until Trumps inauguration to hold formal talks with the new administration. Tolls charged for naval ships crossing the canal are based on the amount of water used and the type of ship, a formula that is applied equally to all vessels, Mulino said. He added that the US is the canals biggest customer, and that in the 2024 fiscal year 77% of the cargo that crossed the key transportation route either originated in or was in transit to the US. There is no discrimination against any warship, whether it be from the US or another country, he said. The canal is Panamanian and belongs to Panamanians and there is no possibility of opening any kind of conversation around that reality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The Alabama Statehouse is seen is seen in this 2023 photo. Legislators have turned to fines and fees to keep the state court system solvent, costs that tend to fall hardest on those least able to pay. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector) Criminal justice reform advocates discussed the impact of fines and fees on marginalized Alabamians, as well as possible solutions, at a panel discussion this month. Alabama lawmakers in recent years have enacted dozens of fines and fees, many through local bills, that increase the cost of going through the criminal justice system or in getting a license plate for a motor vehicle. While some fees go to victim restitution, others are levied to pay for basic operations of the court system. Most fall disproportionately on those least able to pay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we notice is, as individuals in a vulnerable population, when they have an intersection with justice, that is normally not a day of celebration, said Richard Williams, a pastor of the Alabama-West Florida Conference United Methodist Church, at the event sponsored by Alabama Values, a nonprofit that advocates for justice reform. That is not normally a day that is celebrated upon, but it is normally a day that has a cost. Some are intangible, which includes the consequence of a forgone job opportunity, according to Williams, but also the cost of having to pay for access to the criminal legal system. We see that there is a cost that happens by how much it costs to be in the justice system, Williams said. And what we notice is that individuals are not aware of that cost, and that the system requires them to pay. Alabama 11th in terms of states that rely most on fines and fees, according to a report from the Urban Institute. The state generates almost 0.4% of state and local revenues from penalties and assessments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2023 Alabama Reflector investigation found several bills quietly passed in the Alabama Legislature that authorized fines and fees in local areas. One created a warrant recall fee for the municipal court in Northport, Alabama, which allows the municipality to charge people $100 for their failure to appear warrants to be recalled. Another bill allowed Pike and Coffee counties to impose additional court costs on top of those that are already listed in statute. There was a fee for general violations for people charged with a crime that totaled $450, while the fee for getting convicted of driving under the influence was $2,100. Those bills that levied fines and fees are in addition to those already listed in state statute. One rule in the books requires people to pay the court $92 for a traffic violation while a misdemeanor charge will be $117. A 2018 Alabama Appleseed report in 2018 that surveyed 980 people from 41 counties throughout the state and found that 65% owe fines and fees to municipal courts. Most of those in the survey owed about $2,000, but at least one person owed $250,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In that same Alabama Appleseed report, about 83% of those who responded to the survey said they had forgone necessities, including rent, food and even child support payments to pay court-imposed fines and fees. We have seen it impact individuals, not having an ability to afford transportation, which ultimately ends up affecting their employment opportunities, their ability to maintain the employment they have, said Aylia McKee, chief public defender for Montgomery County. About 38% said that they committed a subsequent crime to pay off their court debt. Financial restraints can also be a barrier to participation in some of the programs that are available to individuals in the court system, McKee said. Certain diversionary programs that require a fee in order to participate, even for first-time offenders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state offers diversionary programs mainly for nonviolent and low-level offenses that allow dismissal of charges if they complete rehabilitation or counseling programs. But those programs can be expensive for participants. A bill passed in the 2023 legislative session increased the participation fee for a pretrial diversion program in Coffee and Pike counties from $850 to $2,000. Alabama Appleseeds report stated that 20% of respondents had declined diversion programs because they could not afford the accompanying fee. Judges have some discretion in the amount to impose for fines and fees based on the financial situations of defendants they oversee. Financial penalties for some offenses, like victim restitution, cannot be waived or reduced, but in other cases, courts can consider a persons financial status when rendering a verdict. Tiffany McCord, a judge for the states 15th Judicial Circuit, which includes Montgomery County, said people in the criminal justice system should know that you can ask for your fines and court costs to be remitted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want people to know, and to understand, that you can ask to do community service instead of paying fines and court costs, McCord said. Some of the biggest troubles with the discrimination of fines is the failure to provide information about an individuals ability to pay, McKee said. And that falls squarely with defense counsel in providing that information. Gathering the amount of social history and personal information about someones background is extremely important in determining what is going to be fair. However, people must disclose that information. I find that people have difficulties answering tough questions about their finances in an open forum, McCord said. It is embarrassing to say that my water is off to a courtroom of 50 people. It is embarrassing to say that my lights are off. It is embarrassing to say that I didnt even have gas money to get to court, or that I walked to court. It is embarrassing to say, I dont know how to feed my children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Work must be done to get beyond that barrier. Individuals literally hide that, so they can literally have some sense of dignity, Williams said. One of the things that we can we have had to do, is we have had to create those safe spaces where we have had to tell individuals, I am not going to tell anyone. CARTHAGE, Texas (KETK) Panola College has received a $279,280 Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) grant to advance four key health science programs. East Texas non-profit presents $75,000 to Coop Reid of Troup The funding will help the college offer specialized training and develop Occupational Skills Awards in remote patient monitoring. The grant awarded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will benefit students and the community by providing essential skills and improving patient care in East Texas. Photo courtesy of Panola College The grant will facilitate the placement of remote monitoring equipment into the homes of East Texas residents through a collaborative partnership with UT Health East Texas Home Health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The four health science programs the grant will support includes Associated Degree Nursing, Health Information Technology, Medical Assisting and Occupational Therapy Assisting. The training will help students with the knowledge and skills needed to serve residents in the East Texas communities and addresses healthcare inequality caused by limited access to impartial care. I am incredibly thankful for the interprofessional partnerships between our health science programs, UT Health East Texas Home Health, and the financial support from the TRUE grant award, Julie Green, chair of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program said. This program exemplifies the transformative power of collaboration, combining education with community connections to foster a healthier future for East Texas residents. In addition to students gaining valuable experience, they also will earn Occupational Skills Awards, which are recognized as stand-alone credentials and integrated into existing award programs. These credentials provide essential skills and address the growing demand for specialized healthcare professionals. We are confident that this program will not only elevate the quality of care provided by its graduates but will also help to meet the growing demand for specialized healthcare professionals in our region, Dr. Mike Little, joint venture president of UT Health East Texas Home Health said. We also believe this will significantly contribute to addressing the skills gap and preparing a new generation of healthcare professionals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information about Panola Colleges health science programs, visit https://www.panola.edu/healthsciences Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) A pedestrian was killed in a Thursday morning crash while attempting to cross the road, the Longview Police Department said. Van Zandt County home burned in Christmas morning fire Longview police officers responded to the 2000 block of North Eastman Road for a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian. According to officials, the pickup truck was traveling southbound and hit the woman while she was attempting to cross Eastman Road. Longview PD said the woman reportedly failed to yield the right of way to the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Longview Police Department said the investigation is ongoing with no further information being released 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 KETK.com | FOX51.com. MENOMONIE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) The Menomonie Fire Department assisted the Boyceville Fire Department after a person was trapped inside a silo and needed to be airlifted to the hospital. First Responders found the person around 60 feet above ground level with their leg stuck in a sweep auger. Members of the fire department cut the silo chute and got the patient out and then they were flown to a hospital. No other details have been released. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX2548 & WIProud. The question of whether the longtime shellfish farm in Burley Lagoon can raise geoducks is inching toward a final answer. Burley Lagoon, a body of saltwater that connects under the Purdy Bay Bridge to Henderson Bay, has been a site for shellfish cultivation since the 1930s, beginning with a farm operated by Tyee Oyster Company. Its now managed by Taylor Shellfish Farms, a giant in Washington states shellfish industry. The fifth-generation family-owned company began managing the approximately 300-acre Burley Lagoon farm on a lease from Western Oyster Company in 2012, The News Tribune reported. Since that change in management, residents who live near the lagoon have voiced concerns about Taylor Shellfishs proposal in 2014 to convert part of the farm to raise the large clams (pronounced gooeyducks). The company currently raises Manila clams and Pacific oysters there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state Department of Fish and Wildlife website says the average age of the large clams in areas that arent fished is 46, and that the oldest found in the state was 173. Companies sell many of those they harvest overseas. A Taylor Shellfish spokesperson told The News Tribune previously that the company sold about half of the 900,000 pounds of geoduck it harvested in 2020 to China. Taylor Shellfishs operations leave behind aquaculture debris, create noise at night, shine lights into peoples homes, interfere with water recreation, drive away local wildlife and cause other problems, over 40 locals said at a public hearing before Gig Harbor-area and Key Peninsula land commissions in May 2023. The hearing gave the public a chance to comment before the Pierce County Deputy Hearing Examiner decided whether to approve permits for the geoduck farm. That decision is now out. A map prepared for the Environmental Impact Statement shows the location of the proposed Taylor Shellfish geoduck beds. The hearing examiner approved the companys applications for a shoreline substantial development permit and a shoreline conditional use permit on Dec. 2, according to the Pierce County website. The examiner also rejected several local environmental groups appeals of the projects environmental impact statement, which found that the geoduck farm would have negligible to minor impacts on the lagoon environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taylor Shellfish emphasized in a press release Nov. 27 that the examiners decision was the culmination of a long and extensive process spanning over six years. The Hearing Examiner held a combined hearing on the appeal of the EIS and the shoreline permits in May 2024 and then spent several months carefully considering all the information and testimony presented during the hearing, the press release said. . . . The EIS is one of the most robust assessments on geoduck culture developed to date and we are pleased that the Hearing Examiner agreed with that. The company has made changes in response to residents concerns, according to Taylor Shellfish spokesperson Bill Dewey. These include noise- and light-reducing measures such as changing the type of equipment they use on their boats and committing to use a type of flexible mesh tube to raise geoducks that reduces the risk of creating aquaculture debris, among other things, he wrote in an email Dec. 11. Since Taylor began operating the farm we have strived to be a good neighbor, Dewey wrote. When people contact us with legitimate concerns we do our best to promptly address them. This is how we strive to operate all of our farms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company doesnt have a date set for moving forward, according to Dewey. When we do start, the first step in that process would involve placing mesh nursery tubes in the substrate in which geoduck seed would be planted, he wrote. Longtime resident Karen McDonnell and her neighbors are concerned about a proposal by Taylor Shellfish Farms to start an operation to plant and harvest geoducks in the Burley Lagoon. Residents say theyre waiting for decision from Ecology The hearing examiners decision moved to the Washington State Department of Ecology Dec. 18. Ecology has 30 days from when they received the decision to review it, according to Curt Hart, spokesperson for the Department of Ecology. He said theyll issue the decision to approve, approve with conditions or deny Taylor Shellfishs application for a Shoreline Conditional Use permit by Jan. 17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At that point, anyone who wants to challenge Ecologys decision will have 21 days to petition the state shorelines hearings board, he confirmed. Burley Lagoon resident Heather McFarlane and others opposed to the geoduck farm are waiting for the Department of Ecologys decision before taking any next steps. Many of them are part of Friends of Burley Lagoon, a nonprofit McFarlane founded to monitor aquaculture in the lagoon and other Puget Sound tidelands. The organization announced on their website that they see the hearing examiners decision as not great, but not a surprise and . . . just a step in the on-going process. There are facets of the 150-page decision that are being reviewed by our attorney and will almost certainly be appealed, the website says. Moving forward to the state level, our attorney is already preparing for the State Shorelines Hearings Board. A view from above shows the northeast tidelands of Burley Lagoon in 2021. The area has plastic predator exclusion nets covering parts of it, Burley Lagoon resident Janey Aiken said. McFarlane and five other residents told The News Tribune about their disappointment with the hearing examiners decision in a video call Dec. 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Janey Aiken, who has lived in Burley Lagoon for about 32 years, said she feels like the county prioritized technical expertise over residents lived experiences when making its decision. Lisette West echoed that frustration, saying that residents have submitted photo evidence of plastic aquaculture debris. Carl Marlow moved to a waterfront home on the lagoon eight years ago. He said that residents have filled two flatbed trucks with plastic debris they picked up from a 1-mile stretch of shoreline. Hes joined them in clean-up efforts and has written to Taylor Shellfish to request that the company does more to clean up the shoreline, he said. Aiken said theyre aware not all of the debris comes from Taylor Shellfish, as theyve found some debris that they can tell is from companies in other areas. This is a cumulative effect from all of Puget Sound, Aiken said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Long-time residents Wendy Ferrell and Lorrie Peterson were among those that said they preferred when operations were run by Western Oyster Company, prior to Taylor Shellfish. Western Oyster Company did not put these huge predator exclusion nets over the tidelands at all, Ferrell said. They didnt use a huge motorized barge . . . it was all done by hand back then. Peterson agreed. She remembers workers using lanterns at night, which twinkled on the shore. She said she believed the company was aware that they were working in a residential area and was respectful of that. The group said more recently residents have noticed noise and light from shellfish operations disturbing homes in the middle of the night, machinery blocking the path of salmon through the lagoon, and fewer sand dollars and tidepool creatures. Burley Lagoon residents Brent Doering (pictured) and Carl Marlow picked up aquaculture debris along a 1-mile stretch of shoreline on the west shore of Burley Lagoon on June 17, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are doing all we can to minimize any negative impacts. Dewey, the Taylor Shellfish spokesperson, offered several examples of changes the company made in response to residents concerns. These and many others are explained in the hearing examiners decision, he wrote in an email Dec. 11. To reduce noise, Taylor Shellfish has committed to using rubber mats on harvest vessels, switching from gas to diesel generators, cooling engines with water instead of air, and putting pumps in a box with sound-dampening material, he wrote. Theyre also using low-impact headlamps with lighting directed to minimize glare and avoiding overhead lighting on boats (using instead a small light to indicate bow and stern), as well as revising work schedules to minimize early morning and later evening harvest work in populated areas. The company is also responding to concerns about aquaculture debris, according to Dewey. Taylor has committed to using the flexible mesh HDPE (high density polyethylene) tubes at the Burley Lagoon farm, unless the flexible tubes do not perform as expected in the subtidal portions of the farm, in which case they will use rigid HDPE tubes in subtidal areas, he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the hearing examiners decision, the flexible mesh tubes require less equipment and noise to install, result in significantly less plastic being deployed, and stay lodged within the sediment better than PVC (polyvinyl chloride) tubes, reducing the potential for aquaculture debris. The company has participated in local water quality protection meetings and area-wide clean-ups, and removed an estimated 100 commercial containers of pre-existing debris when it started operating the Burley Lagoon farm, Dewey said. The company has also supported various community organizations such as Harbor Wildwatch, Great Peninsula Conservancy and Pacific Education Institute, he said. As for how we are responding to concerns about impacts to wildlife and salmonids, I think that we mutually agreed with Pierce County in 2016 to complete an EIS for the project speaks volumes to Taylors commitment to ensure we are doing all we can to minimize any negative impacts, he wrote. The News Tribune reached out to the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association, an association that represents shellfish farmers in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii, to ask about environmentally-friendly shellfish practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Margaret Pilaro, executive director of the PCSGA, told The News Tribune that the organization develops a set of best management practices they recommend for shellfish growers to raise shellfish sustainably. Growers, marine scientists and regulatory agencies help shape these recommendations, which are called environmental codes of practice, according to the associations website. She said Taylor Shellfish is one of the growers that has attested to these codes. Asked about how other shellfish farms work to reduce aquaculture debris, Pilaro said that growers broadly are required to track where their gear goes if it gets loose, though nobody wants that to happen. Thats generally part of the permitting requirements for shellfish farms, according to Pilaro. This is a highly regulated industry, she said. By Laila Kearney and Paul Carsten NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) -Oil prices rose more than 1% on Tuesday, reversing the prior session's losses on a brightening short-term outlook tied to the prospect of slightly tightening supplies as trade thinned ahead of the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays. Brent crude futures settled at $73.58, rising 95 cents, or 1.3%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled at $70.10, rising 86 cents, or 1.2%. FGE analysts said they expect the benchmark prices will fluctuate around current levels in the near term "as activity in the paper markets decreases during the holiday season and market participants stay on the sidelines until they get a clearer view of 2024 and 2025 global oil balances." Supply and demand changes in December have been supportive of their current less-bearish view so far, the FGE analysts said in a note. "Given how short the paper market is on positioning, any supply disruption could lead to upward spikes in structure," they added. Some analysts also pointed to signs of greater oil demand over the next few months. "The year is ending with the consensus from major agencies over long 2025 liquids balances starting to break down," Neil Crosby, Sparta Commodities' assistant vice president of oil analytics, said in a note. "The EIA's short-term energy outlook recently shifted their 2025 liquids to a draw, despite continuing to bring back some OPEC+ barrels next year," Crosby said. U.S. crude oil and distillate stocks were seen falling last week by 3.2 million barrels and 2.5 million barrels, respectively, while gasoline stocks were seen rising last week, market sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute figures. Gasoline inventories were seen rising by 3.9 million barrels. The figures come ahead of data from the Energy Information Administration, the statistical arm of the U.S. Department of Energy, at 1 p.m. EST (1800 GMT) on Friday. Also supporting prices was a plan by China, the world's biggest oil importer, to issue 3 trillion yuan ($411 billion) worth of special treasury bonds next year, as Beijing ramps up fiscal stimulus to revive a faltering economy. China's stimulus is likely to provide near-term support for WTI crude at $67 a barrel, said OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong. Markets will also be watching the U.S. economy, the world's largest oil consumer, which released a mixed bag of data. While consumer confidence weakened in December, new orders for key U.S.-manufactured capital goods surged in November amid strong demand for machinery and new home sales rebounded, suggesting the U.S. economy was on a solid footing as the year closes out. The president of Azerbaijan Airlines said the heroism of the two pilots, who were among the dozens who died in a Dec. 25 plane crash in Kazakhstan, "will never be forgotten" A Ukrainian official and an aviation security firm said that the incident may have been caused by antiaircraft fire from Russia, The Wall Street Journal reported Russia cautioned against any theories about the crash until investigators have concluded their work The head of Azerbaijan Airlines is praising the actions of two pilots who were among 38 killed on a doomed flight that crashed as it made an emergency landing in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, Dec. 25. Despite the death toll, dozens of other passengers survived the crash, whose cause remains under investigation. Speaking to journalists in the aftermath of the Christmas Day incident, Azerbaijan Airlines' president, Samir Rzayev, credited the pilots actions for saving 29 others aboard the plane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Unfortunately, two of our experienced pilots and one guide lost their lives in the accident, Rzayev said, according to the Azerbaijani news agency Report and Business Insider. "Their heroism will never be forgotten." While this tragic accident brought a significant loss to our nation," Rzayev continued, "the crew's valiant dedication to their duties until the last moment and their prioritization of human life have immortalized their names in history. Related: 61 People Killed in Passenger Plane Crash in Brazil That Was Caught on Video Azerbaijan Airlines has said that one of their Embraer 190 aircraft, flying on the Baku-Grozny route, made an emergency landing approximately 2 miles from the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of the flight, the plane carried 67 people including 62 passengers and five crew members. Contacts are being established with the Kazakh authorities, and the necessary operational support is being provided by Kazakhstan's emergency rescue agencies at the scene, Azerbaijan Airlines said in its statement. The airline also said the survivors were receiving medical assistance. 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. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev separately commented on the tragedy, saying: I pray for Allahs mercy upon those who lost their lives in the plane crash. I extend my condolences and pray for patience for their families and loved ones." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is a great tragedy, a significant loss for the people of Azerbaijan, Aliyev said. He said a commission has been created to investigate the crash. Based on the information provided to him, Aliyev said that the plane changed its course due to worsening weather conditions and began heading toward Aktau airport, where the crash occurred during landing. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials and aviation experts theorized that the crash was possibly caused by antiaircraft fire from Russia, The Wall Street Journal reported a view that has been played down by the Kremlin. Issa Tazhenbayev/Anadolu via Getty A view of the scene after an Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed near the Kazakh Caspian city of Aktau on Dec. 25, 2024 A view of the scene after an Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed near the Kazakh Caspian city of Aktau on Dec. 25, 2024 Video of the wreckage and the circumstances around the airspace security environment in southwest Russia indicates the possibility the aircraft was hit by some form of antiaircraft fire, Matt Borie, chief intelligence officer at aviation-security firm Osprey Flight Solutions, told the newspaper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post on X, Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukraines Center for Countering Disinformation, wrote of suspicions that Russia had a role in the incident. This morning, an Embraer 190 aircraft of an Azerbaijani airline, flying from Baku to Grozny, was shot down by a Russian air defense system, Kovalenko wrote. However, admitting this is inconvenient for everyone, so efforts will be made to cover it up, even the holes in the remaining parts of the aircraft. There is also video footage from inside the plane during the flight, showing punctured life vests and other damage. " Russia should have closed the airspace over Grozny but failed to do so, Kovalenko continued. The plane was damaged by the Russians and was sent to Kazakhstan instead of being urgently landed in Grozny to save lives. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, told reporters that as the crash is being investigated, it would be incorrect to make any hypotheses before the investigation comes to conclusions, NBC News reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We definitely cannot do it and no one should do it, Peskov said. Related: 1 Dead, 1 Seriously Injured When Plane Crashes on N.Y. Highway: 'It's Hard to Imagine Him Not Being Here' PEOPLE contacted Russias presidential press office and Azerbaijan Airlines on Thursday, Dec. 26, for additional comment. Aliyev, in his remarks, also cautioned against premature speculation about the cause of the plane's crash. There are videos of the plane crash available in the media and on social networks, and everyone can watch them. However, the reasons for the crash are not yet known to us," he said. "There are various theories, but I believe it is premature to discuss them. The matter must be thoroughly investigated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: President of Tyler Perry Studios Steve Mensch, 62, Killed in Plane Crash in Florida Rzayev, the Azerbaijan Airlines president, has said that the planes black box has been recovered. He said that the plane underwent an overhaul in October, passed a technical inspection and the pilots had logged more than 15,000 flight hours, according to Report. The survivors will be brought back to the country, Rzayev told reporters, adding, The bodies of those who lost their lives will be returned within two days. May God have mercy on those who died, and we wish a speedy recovery to the survivors. Read the original article on People PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) The fourth annual Housing Resource Fair hosted by the city of Pittsfields Homeless Advisory Committee will be held on January 9, offering resources to those seeking housing. The fair will be held at the Berkshire Atheneum from 10:00 a.m. to noon, and will be free and available to the public. Those who attend can learn about affordable housing options and rental assistance from representatives of local housing agencies and organizations. Organizations in attendance include Upside 413, Second Street Second Chances, Hearthway, Elder Services, The Christian Center, AdLib, and Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity. First Day Hikes encourages Massachusetts residents to get outside in 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The resource fairs bring the community together and provide a space where organizations that provide housing opportunities can engage one on one with residents who are seeking housing and other supports, said Chairperson of the Homeless Advisory Committee Kim Borden. Borden said through the previous successes of prior resource fairs, the committee can build on that progress and make the upcoming event even more impactful. For more information about the Housing Resource Fair, contact Director of the Department of Community Development Justine Dodds by phone at 413-499-9368 or by email at jdodds@cityofpittsfield.org. 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. According to Euronews sources, the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane flying from Baku to Grozny on 25 December was caused by a Russian surface-to-air missile that exploded nearby. Source: Euronews Quote: "Sources in the Azerbaijani government confirmed in an exclusive statement to Euronews on Thursday that a Russian surface-to-air missile was the cause of the crash of an Azerbaijani Airlines plane in Aktau on Wednesday." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detail: The sources noted that the missile was fired at Flight 8432 during drone operations over Grozny, and missile fragments hit passengers and flight attendants when it exploded near the plane during flight. Unnamed government officials said that the damaged plane was not allowed to land at any Russian airport, despite the pilots' request for an emergency landing. It was ordered to fly across the Caspian Sea towards Aktau in Kazakhstan. According to available data, the aircraft's GPS navigation systems were jammed throughout the flight over the sea. Background: On 25 December, an Embraer aircraft of Azerbaijan Airlines en route from Baku to Grozny crashed near Aktau (the administrative centre of Kazakhstan's Mangistau Oblast). According to Azerbaijan Airlines, 67 people were on board, including five crew members. Of these, 42 were citizens of Azerbaijan, 16 were Russians, 6 were Kazakhs, and 3 were Kyrgyz. The KazAeroNavigation company believes that the crash was caused by a collision with a bird and a steering failure. Russian media outlets also do not rule out the possibility that the plane could have changed course due to the threat of a drone attack on Chechnya. Early reports indicate that Grozny was attacked by several UAVs at that moment, which led to the announcement of the Kovyor (Carpet) plan at the city's airport [A Kovyor plan is an airport operational safety procedure for airport services and personnel when an unidentified object appears in the sky ed.]. The crash killed 38 people, said Kanat Bozumbayev, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and head of the state commission leading the investigation into the causes of the crash. The Ukrainian Centre for Countering Disinformation said that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan was shot down by a Russian anti-aircraft missile system. Support UP or become our patron! An Azerbaijan Airlines plane flying from Baku to Grozny that crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan was shot down by a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system. Source: Reuters, citing its sources Quote: "One of the Azerbaijani sources familiar with Azerbaijan's investigation into the crash told Reuters that preliminary results showed the plane was struck by a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system. Its communications were paralysed by electronic warfare systems on the approach into Grozny." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: One of the sources indicates that no one claims that this was done intentionally. "However, taking into account the established facts, Baku expects the Russian side to confess to the shooting down of the Azerbaijani aircraft," the source said. Three other sources confirmed that the Azerbaijani investigation had reached the same preliminary conclusion. The Russian Defence Ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Reuters reports that flight J2-8243 crashed in a firestorm after it veered off course from the southern region of Russia, where Moscow has repeatedly used air defence systems against Ukrainian drones. The plane was flying from the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, to Grozny, in southern Chechnya, before veering off course, flying hundreds of kilometres over the Caspian Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It crashed on the opposite side of the Caspian Sea after what Russian aviation authorities said was an emergency that may have been caused by a bird strike. Officials did not explain why the plane crossed the sea. The nearest Russian airport on the plane's flight path, Makhachkala, was closed on the morning of 25 December. Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said he could neither confirm nor deny the thesis that the plane was shot down by Russian air defences. When asked about the possibility that Russian air defence systems shot down the plane, the Kazakh transport prosecutor of the region where the plane crashed said that the investigation had not yet reached a final conclusion. Background: On 25 December, an Embraer aircraft of Azerbaijan Airlines en route from Baku to Grozny crashed near Aktau, the administrative centre of Kazakhstan's Mangistau Oblast. According to Azerbaijan Airlines, 67 people were on board, including 5 crew members. Of these, 42 were citizens of Azerbaijan, 16 were Russians, 6 were Kazakhs, and 3 were Kyrgyz nationals. The KazAeroNavigation company believes that the crash was caused by a collision with a bird and a steering failure. Russian media outlets also do not rule out the possibility that the plane could have changed course due to the threat of a drone attack on Chechnya. Early reports indicate that Grozny was attacked by several UAVs at that moment, which led to the announcement of the Kovyor (Carpet) plan at the city's airport [A Kovyor plan is an airport operational safety procedure for airport services and personnel when an unidentified object appears in the sky ed.]. The crash killed 38 people, said Kanat Bozumbayev, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and head of the state commission leading the investigation into the causes of the crash. The Ukrainian Centre for Countering Disinformation said that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan was shot down by a Russian anti-aircraft missile system. Euronews sources indicate that the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane flying from Baku to Grozny on 25 December was caused by a Russian surface-to-air missile that exploded nearby. Support UP or become our patron! An Azerbaijan Airlines plane, which crashed in Kazakhstan on 26 December, was downed by a Russian surface-to-air missile system (SAM). Source: Andrii Kovalenko, Head of the Centre for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, on Telegram Quote: "Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 aircraft, which was flying from Baku to Grozny, was shot down by a Russian SAM." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Kovalenko said that Russia was obligated to close the airspace over Grozny but failed to do so. Quote: "The plane was damaged by Russians and sent to Kazakhstan instead of being urgently landed in Grozny to save lives." Background: On Wednesday, 26 December, an Embraer aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, flying from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Aktau, the administrative center of the Mangystau region in Kazakhstan. Azerbaijan Airlines reported that there were 67 people on board, including 5 crew members: 42 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russians, 6 Kazakhs and 3 Kyrgyz nationals. Kazakhstans KazAeroNavigation suggested that the crash occurred due to a hitting a bird and the subsequent malfunctioning of the steering system. Russian media speculated that the plane might have changed its course due to a drone attack threat in Chechnya, where Grozny was reportedly targeted by several UAVs, triggering a Kovyor emergency plan at the citys airport. [A Kovyor plan is an airport operational safety procedure for airport services and personnel when an unidentified object appears in the sky ed.] Kanat Bozumbayev, Kazakhstans Deputy Prime Minister and head of the state commission investigating the crash, said that 38 people died in the crash. Support UP or become our patron! The co-pilots have diverted the rocket of right thinking for a short jingle break, but to keep you all sane over the festive period they have prised open the archives to revisit some of their biggest interviews. On this first of two Christmas specials of the Planet Normal podcast, which you can listen to using the audio player above, columnists Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson spoke to former Prime Minister Liz Truss just minutes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered what has turned out to be a deeply controversial Budget. When asked whether the Tories would have to do a deal with Reform UK, Ms Truss said: I think its too early to say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But I was always a supporter of joining up with Nigel Farage prior to the election. I think that Reform is able to target voters that Conservatives may not be able to target. And I certainly think it would be a crazy thing to rule out at this stage. After Reeves Halloween budget, it soon became clear that one particularly aggrieved group were farmers - given Labours plan to severely restrict agricultural inheritance tax relief - which many felt made small farms economically unviable, preventing families from passing on a much cherished way of life. In wake of Labours decision, we welcomed Planet Normal listener Richard the farmer onto the rocket. He spoke about his own families situation and their fears for the future. Listen to Planet Normal, a weekly Telegraph podcast featuring news and views from beyond the bubble, using the audio player above or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast app. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) As we head into the new year, Planned Parenthood Great Plains is increasing availability for vasectomies across Oklahoma City and Tulsa. They say a big reason for it is politically driven. Nearly a third of the country has outlawed abortion in their state, Oklahoma being one of them. That is one of the big reasons why facilities like Planned Parenthood are increasing options for men to help prevent unwanted pregnancies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LOCAL NEWS: Red Andrews Christmas Dinner draws thousands There are a lot of people who are really feeling motivated to take control over their reproductive health, Dr. Lydia Prevost, Physician with Planned Parenthood Great Plains said. She says a lot of people have reached out to them for more services. We had a lot of of people reach out to us asking if wed be offering additional services just given the current political climate, said Dr. Prevost. Vasectomies around the country in November really started reporting another spike in people asking for vasectomy services. Oklahoma is one of 14 states that have outlawed abortion, which Dr. Prevost says is another reason they decided to increase clinics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that is definitely a factor, said Dr. Prevost. However, that doesnt mean abortions arent still happening. Neighboring states like Kansas and Colorado have seen a spike in abortions since Oklahoma outlawed the procedure in 2022. Colorado reports nearly a third of their abortions last year were from out-of-state patients, like Oklahoma. Kansas more than doubled their yearly abortions in 2023; more than 3,000 of their 19,000 patients were from Oklahoma. We know that in places that dont have access to abortion, people of all genders, men, women, everyone is just really trying to be more vigilant about their own reproductive health because they know that they dont have as many options as people who live in other states, Dr. Prevost said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Understanding the political climate, Planned Parenthood is hoping to decrease the number of people having to seek help outside of Oklahoma. We have both a Tulsa and Oklahoma City Health Center and those will both be hosting vasectomy clinics, sort of alternating between the two centers throughout 2025, Dr. Prevost said. Dr. Prevost says vasectomies are a safer and cheaper option compared to a woman getting her tubes tied or having to travel out-of-state for an abortion. Follow these links for more information in Oklahoma City or Tulsa. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. A 37-year-old man who saved his family on Christmas morning when he woke them up to a fire in their Oakland home died after he lost consciousness while searching for an engagement ring. Family members said Steven Weatherford Jr. planned to propose to his girlfriend next week on New Year's Eve. But he was so excited, he couldn't keep it a secret from everyone. "He showed me a picture of the ring," said neighbor Denise Robinson, who lived across the street from the Weatherfords for years and watched Steven Weatherford Jr. grow up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robinson said he shared the picture when he stopped by to visit because Robinson let the Weathfords use her oven to cook their holiday dinner. He told her he had gotten a new job and was going to propose next week, she said. But a fire broke out in the home about 6:15 a.m. on Christmas Day, according to the Oakland Fire Department. Family members said Weatherford Jr. alerted the sleeping occupants so they all made it out alive. But he remained in the home to find the ring, relatives said. His girlfriend spoke to the media outside the home on Christmas Day. He was truly the best person you could ever be, LaShante Mayo told the news station KRON. He loved his family, his friends and everybody so much. He died trying to get them out of the house. Hes super funny, beautiful, the kindest soul you could meet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities believe Weatherford likely became disoriented by the smoke when he lost consciousness. Robinson woke up to the flames engulfing the home across the street, saw the fire and learned someone died. She found the family but saw someone was missing. "I saw that Steven wasn't there. ... I knew it was him," she said. Weatherford Jr., was planning to celebrate the holiday with his family, his uncle Alan Weatherford told The Times in an interview. Though Alan Weatherford was not there, he relayed to The Times what happened Wednesday after speaking with relatives. Every year, relatives gather at the Weatherford family home for Christmas, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this year, there was a buzz in the air because of the upcoming proposal. Mayo stopped by the home on Christmas Eve and had dinner with the family, Alan Weatherford said. She did not stay overnight and Steven Weatherford Jr. planned to see her on Christmas. But sometime around 6 a.m. Wednesday, Weatherford Jr. and his brother, who were sleeping downstairs, woke up to the smell of smoke, his uncle said. The brothers saw dark smoke coming out of a wall near a TV and then flames erupt from the wall. Steven Weatherford Jr. ran upstairs to wake up his father and aunt, who were sleeping in separate rooms. In the rush to get out of the home, Steven Weatherford Sr. tripped, injured his leg and crawled out of the burning home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alan Weatherford believes his nephew probably inhaled smoke as he ran through the house yelling to wake everyone up. "Steven had severe asthma, so his lungs were not very good," Alan Weatherford said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. 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. From low-income voters who supported Donald Trump last month, a plea to the president-elect: dont cut our benefits. Trump has frequently made grand promises to protect Social Security, Medicare and other benefits. But with a growing list of billionaires on his cabinet, a vow to quell spending and a slim Republican coalition in Congress consisting of some anti-spending hawks, his voters arent so sure. Pennsylvania Trump voter Lori Mosura described the billionaire as more attuned to the needs of everyone instead of just the rich in an interview with the Washington Post. She lives below the poverty line, receiving $1,200 a month in food stamps and Social Security benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But she has a message for Trump. We helped get you in office; please take care of us, Mosura said, shifting the conversation as though she were speaking to Trump. Please dont cut the things that help the most vulnerable. Trump has enlisted billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to plot massive government spending cuts, a feat which almost certainly requires cuts to Social Security and Medicare, experts say. Trump allies have signaled support for gutting the safety nets, which account for nearly half of the federal budget. Some Trump voters who rely on benefits, like Steve Tillia, who receives $1900 in social security and food stamp payments, are more optimistic about cuts to the departments that help them make ends meet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not cutting government programs, its cutting the amount of people needed to run a program, Tillia told the Post. They are cutting staff, which could actually increase the amount of the programs that we get. Meanwhile, local Republican officials are begging the incoming Trump administration to leave benefits alone. New Castle City Administrator Chris Frye told the Post he expected some benefits tweaks at a federal level, but hoped they wouldnt be catastrophic. I think it would be stupid to just take something away we would have mass chaos. Mass homelessness, Frye told the Post. Nationally, I dont think it is going to be a situation where they are taking away from people. Police have arrested a man accused of shooting another man and firing at multiple houses in Rock Hill Tuesday. It began just after 5:30 p.m. at a home in the 200 block of Robinson Street. ALSO: 2 killed, 1 hurt in shooting at Rock Hill smoke shop, police say Officers with the Rock Hill Police Department said the suspect, Semaj Malik Bernard Evans, was arguing with the victim, when Evans pulled out a gun and shot him. Evans fled the scene before investigators arrived. Responding officers found a 25-year-old man with several gunshot wounds. He was transported to Piedmont Medical Center and treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a brief foot chase, police said they arrested Evans at a home on Carolina Avenue and recovered a handgun. The 21-year-old was charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, unlawful carrying of a handgun, and two counts of discharging a firearm into a dwelling for hitting two homes with gunfire during the incident. (VIDEO: 16-year-old girl shot, killed in Gastonia) OneSpaWorld is a health and wellness company that sells products and services throughout the world aboard cruise ships and at resorts. The Bahamian company has grown its presence on cruise ships, offering high-end treatments like cryotherapy and LED light facials to guests. It also operates at resorts throughout the world, with a big presence in Asia and the Caribbean. OSWs third-quarter earnings for fiscal 2024 saw a 12% increase in revenue, to $241.7 million, largely on the back of cruise ship expansion (195 average ship count, up from 185 a year prior). The companys land-based operations decreased slightly due to current renovation projects and lower overall guest counts in some parts of the world. Still, OSWs adjusted per-share earnings for the quarter were $0.26, and the companys cash position of $50 million was after $11.3 million in share buybacks and a $4.2 million total dividend payment. Its no wonder OSW shares are up 40% this year and they could rise more. MAPsignals data shows how Big Money investors are betting heavily on the forward picture of the stock. OneSpaWorld Welcomes Big Money Institutional volumes reveal plenty. In the last year, OSW has enjoyed strong investor demand, which we believe to be institutional support. Each green bar signals unusually large volumes in OSW shares. They reflect our proprietary inflow signal, pushing the stock higher: Source: www.mapsignals.com Plenty of discretionary names are under accumulation right now. But theres a powerful fundamental story happening with OneSpaWorld. OneSpaWorld Fundamental Analysis Institutional support and a healthy fundamental backdrop make this company worth investigating. As you can see, OSW has had strong sales growth: 1-year sales growth rate (+45.4%) 3-year sales growth rate (+114.6%) Source: FactSet Also, EPS is estimated to ramp higher this year by +16.5%. Now it makes sense why the stock has been powering to new heights. OSW has a track record of strong financial performance. Marrying great fundamentals with our proprietary software has found some big winning stocks over the long term. OneSpaWorld has been a top-rated stock at MAPsignals. That means the stock has unusual buy pressure and growing fundamentals. We have a ranking process that showcases stocks like this on a weekly basis. Its made the rare Top 20 report multiple times in the last two years. The blue bars below show when OSW was a top pickrising with time: Source: www.mapsignals.com Tracking unusual volumes reveals the power of money flows. This is a trait that most outlier stocks exhibitthe best of the best. Big Money demand drives stocks upward. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) A Lyons man is facing charges following a police chase through Palmyra. The Wayne County Sheriffs Office received a complaint Wednesday that 32-year-old Jawuan T. Thomas was parked in the middle of the road on Water Street. Deputies said Thomas drove away when they contacted him, which led to the chase through Palmyra. It was alleged that Thomas was driving the vehicle without a license due to multiple suspensions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas was arrested and charged with first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, second-degree obstructing governmental administration, failure to obey a police officer, and a parking violation. He was taken to the Wayne County Jail and will reappear in court at a later date and 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 RochesterFirst. FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) has released the name of a man who died after he was hit by a tractor-trailer in Chantilly the day before Christmas Eve. The man was identified as 33-year-old Amin Emad-Eldin Hammoud, of Centreville. Police said their preliminary investigation indicated that a person was driving a 2016 Freightliner Cascadia in the far-right lane on Sully Road, near Poplar Tree Road around 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats when the truck drifted to the right, crossed the white line, hitting Hammoud. Police said Hammoud was standing outside of his vehicle, which was disabled when he was struck. Six-vehicle crash on I-70 in Hagerstown sends 2 people to hospital He died at the scene. The driver of the truck was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. At this point in the investigation, Fairfax County police officers said speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ENFIELD, CT. (WWLP) A portion of I-91 North was shut down on Wednesday as police investigated a shooting incident. Enfield police K-9 catches suspect of stolen vehicle The Connecticut State Police told 22News that at approximately 4:04 a.m. on Christmas Day, troopers were sent to I-91 northbound in the area of exit 46 in Enfield for a highway shooting incident. Injuries have been reported and the Central District Major Crime Squad is investigating. A section of I-91 northbound was closed and reopened at around 8:32 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation is ongoing and no other information has been released at this time. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Dec. 25A 1-year-old boy, found unconscious and not breathing, was revived following quick action by Goshen police and paramedics at 2:47 a.m. Monday. A report from Goshen police stated that officers and paramedics were called to the 700 block of East Kercher Road to aid the boy and performed life-saving measures. He was taken to the hospital and then airlifted to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne for further treatment. No further information on his condition was made available. Attempted murder, battery investigated Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elkhart County deputies are investigating an attempted murder and battery with a deadly weapon. Not much information was released in the report other than the investigation began at 9:13 p.m. Friday at 56292 Burr St., Elkhart. ARRESTS * A 37-year-old Goshen woman was arrested by Goshen police at 1:56 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangerment following a traffic stop at Lincoln Avenue and Second Street. The woman was taken to the Elkhart County Jail. * A 26-year-old Cicero, Illinois, woman was arrested by Goshen police at 2:09 a.m. Wednesday at Plymouth Avenue and Eighth Street following a traffic stop. The driver was arrested on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and there were three children in the vehicle at the time, police reported. She was taken to the Elkhart County Jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * A 27-year-old Goshen woman was arrested at 3:17 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of domestic battery in the presence of a minor. Goshen police stated in their report that officers were called to the 1300 block of Sturgeon Point for a fight in progress. A 49-year-old Goshen man had a minor complaint of pain and visible injuries, but not medical attention was required, police said. The woman was taken to the Elkhart County Jail. DEATH INVESTIGATION A 35-year-old Elkhart woman was found dead inside her home in the 22000 block of Pine Arbor Drive. The Elkhart County Sheriff's Office is investigating. THEFTS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * A 47-year-old Goshen woman reported to Goshen police at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday that two men stole her property at The Window in downtown Goshen. * A 43-year-old Goshen woman reported to Goshen police at 11:23 p.m. Monday a theft from her unlocked vehicle overnight Sunday into Monday. COUNTERFEITING An employee of Walmart, 4024 Elkhart Road, Goshen, reported to Goshen police at 5:32 p.m. Tuesday an instance of counterfeiting. DOG BITE * A 62-year-old Goshen woman reported to Goshen police at 9:40 p.m. Tuesday she was bitten by her son's dog at their Marabou Place home. The woman received medical treatment for the dog bite at Goshen Hospital, police reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * A 55-year-old Goshen man reported to Goshen police at 1:20 p.m. Monday he was bitten by the family dog at his Emerson Street home and suffered an injury to his face. He was treated at Goshen Hospital. BATTERY * A 34-year-old Goshen man told Goshen police at 1:33 a.m. Wednesday he was battered by a person he did not know in the 100 block of South Eighth Street. The Goshen man was taken to Goshen Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. * Four people were injured during a fight in the 300 block of Mossberg Lane at 12:31 a.m. Tuesday, according to Goshen police. The injured included an 18-year-old Goshen man who had pain to his face; a 21-year-old Milford woman who had pain to her face; a 56-year-old Goshen woman with pain to her chest; and a 56-year-old Goshen man who had pain to his face. All said they would seek medical attention at a later time. The suspect, a 26-year-old Goshen man, had left the scene prior to police arriving. Charges were sent to the prosecutor's office, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BURGLARY A 40-year-old Goshen woman reported a burglary to Goshen police at 8:51 p.m. Monday in the 2900 block of West Wilden Avenue. HARASSMENT * Goshen police received a call from another police agency saying a Goshen resident has been sending threatening messages to a social media figure, who does not believe they are credible but wanted a report on file. * A 40-year-old Goshen woman reported to Goshen police at 7:18 p.m. Sunday she is being harassed online by a person she knows. RUSK, Texas (KETK) The Rusk Police Department is offering a reward for information leading to the identification of a person accused of robbing a pharmacy on Dec. 11. Palestine police search for suspects in smoke shop armed robbery The police department said the person broke into Chapman Pharmacys drive-thru window at around 3:53 a.m. where they reportedly stole narcotics. The person appeared to have used a black handled ax with white cloth wrapped around the handle and red tape. Courtesy of the Rusk Police Department People who recognize the person in the hoodie and sneakers or know of anyone selling pills to contact the Rusk Police Department at 903-683-2677. Officials said any information provided will be kept confidential. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. A 16-year-old boy in Oklahoma was stabbed to death three days before Christmas. Police in Oklahoma City responded to the incident that resulted in the death of victim Ryder Lewis in on Monday, Dec. 23 around midnight. Police say the 15-year-old suspect stabbed Lewis after they were seemingly "involved in an argument." Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene, per the police. The suspect was arrested on a complaint of murder in the first degree. He was taken to the Cleveland County juvenile facility. (PEOPLE is not identifying the suspect because he is a juvenile.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police have said the killing represented the citys 78th homicide in 2024. Sgt. Gary Knight of the Oklahoma City Police Department told ABC-affiliate KOCO that the incident stemmed from "an argument that got out of hand." He added, "It appeared the two knew each other." A GoFundMe page has been created in support of Lewis parents. 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. "While his parents should be preparing to celebrate Christmas with their teenage son, theyll be planning his funeral instead," the description reads. "Ryders passing is devastating, & has cast a long shadow on what should be a joyous season a sweet, hardworking kid with a kind heart & a constant smile, he will be so missed." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fundraising page adds that Lewis and his father Jay are members of the Oklahoma National Stockyards, a historic livestock market. In addition to the fundraising page, all BancFirst locations will accept deposits to "FBO Ryder Lewis, Newcastle, OK." "We hope youll join us in prayer & in action as we rally around the Lewis during this time," the GoFundMe page reads. The Oklahoma National Stockyards also shared a tribute to the late teen on Facebook, writing that the organization's members are "devastated by the news of his passing." "His parents should be celebrating Christmas with their teenage son, & are instead planning his funeral," the organization wrote. "We invite you to join us in support for the Lewis family as they grieve this loss & navigate the days to come." Police urge those with information on the incident to call (405) 297-1200. Read the original article on People CONNECTICUT (WTNH) Multiple police agencies are investigating a possible string of ATM thefts early Thursday morning. East Hartford, Windsor Locks and Manchester experienced ATM robberies, East Hartford police said. Police search for ATM thieves in Meriden In East Hartford, police are investigating an ATM theft at a Valero. According to police, the front entry of the gas station on Silver Lane was forced open and suspects broke an ATM during an apparent theft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a variety of different tactics when it comes to stealing an ATM, and most of them involve some kind of brute force to remove the ATM and break into them, east Hartford Sgt. Marc Caruso said. And it does seem, in our case, there was some type of pride device used to bust open the ATM machine. Another robbery was reported at a gas station in Manchester on Thursday morning, Manchester police said. East Hartford police investigating a break-in at a Valero gas station on Silver Lane. East Hartford police investigating a break-in at a Valero gas station on Silver Lane. East Hartford police investigating a break-in at a Valero gas station on Silver Lane. The only suspect information related to the incidents is a black Acura MDX, both police agencies said. Information surrounding the robbery in Windsor Locks is not yet known. New 8 is working to get more information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No arrests have been made, police said. 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 WTNH.com. JAY, Vt. (myCV) Police are searching for two suspects that robbed an inn on Vermont Route 242 Christmas morning. Police responded to the scene at Jay Village Inn at 11:44 a.m. Investigations revealed that two unidentified suspects had entered the inn earlier and stolen multiple items, including countless bottles of liquor and the cashier box. Investigators are looking for one male and one female. Individuals with information about this incident should reach out to Sgt. Mikkola by phone at 802-334-8881 or through email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. Dec. 25State police are searching for a 41-year-old man they say attempted to strangle his pregnant partner. Dusty O'Brien is wanted for domestic violence aggravated assault, reckless conduct and violating conditions of release, state police said Wednesday. He is out on bail for a separate domestic violence arrest, according to police. Police say O'Brien choked his pregnant partner on Tuesday and fled his residence before police arrived. He is known to frequent the Porter area and other parts of Oxford County. Copy the Story Link This story was originally published on Retail Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Retail Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Saks Global completed its acquisition of Neiman Marcus Group for $2.7 billion, the company announced on Monday. The move brings several luxury retailers under the Saks Global corporate roof, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Saks Off Fifth, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. The companies first announced the deal in July. To pay for the deal, the company said its using equity contributions from a handful of new investors, including Amazon, Authentic Brands Group and G-III Apparel Group, along with the issuance of $2.2 billion of senior secured notes and an asset-based lending revolving credit facility. Saks CEO Marc Metrick will stay with the company to serve as CEO of Saks Global Operating Group. Ian Putnam, president and CEO of HBC Properties and Investments, will serve as CEO of Saks Global Properties & Investments. Both will report to Richard Baker, Saks Globals executive chairman. Bergdorf Goodman will remain a stand-alone business and Tracy Margolies, who was previously Saks chief merchandising officer, will be Bergdorf Goodmans new president. Dive Insight: The completion of the acquisition brings full circle a deal that was first announced this summer by Saks Fifth Avenue parent HBC. As a result of the transaction, HBCs Canadian business including Hudsons Bay stores and its website has been recapitalized and will be separately financed from Saks Global. Baker said in a statement that uniting the brands creates an unparalleled multi-brand luxury portfolio with tremendous growth potential. With data and innovation at our core and a portfolio of prime real estate, we aim to redefine the luxury shopping experience. Saks Global also announced new leaders Monday. Emily Essner, who was previously Saks chief marketing officer, has been appointed to the newly created position of president and chief commercial officer at Saks Global. Bill Bine was appointed to the new role of chief transformation officer at Saks Global. Bine was previously chief supply chain officer at Neiman Marcus Group. Saks has experienced several significant business changes this year. In April, Saks Fifth Avenues e-commerce business secured $60 million in liquidity and the company debuted a retail media network, tapping into first-party shopper data from a reported 435 million annual website visitors. In July, Saks Fifth Avenue began expanding its Fifth Avenue Club personal shopping and styling services to additional locations. Also that month, shortly after the acquisition of Neiman Marcus was announced, Saks Fifth Avenues chief operating officer and Saks Off 5ths chief merchant left. Two members of law enforcement shot at and injured an armed man during a home confrontation on Christmas Day, according to the Altamonte Springs Police Department. The statement said police responded at 10:43 a.m. to a request from a woman who wanted a police escort inside a home in the 700 block of Florida Boulevard because her husband, identified as Stephen Scherer, had demonstrated concerning behavior the night before. Her intention was to pick up Christmas gifts and the family did not believe Scherer was inside the home, the report stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers found Scherer had locked himself in a bedroom, though, and they instructed the woman to leave the home as they began talking with Scherer to persuade him to come outside, the report stated. During the encounter, Scherer broke through a window while holding a handgun and moved toward other family members who were standing outside, the report said. Officers issued loud verbal commands, urging him to drop the weapon, and a secondary officer deployed his Taser in an effort to de-escalate the situation through less-lethal means. Police said he ignored the commands, turned toward his wife while raising the firearm, which prompted an Altamonte Springs officer and a Seminole County sheriffs deputy who was on scene assisting, to open fire, the report stated. Officers gave Scherer medical aid before he was transported to a local hospital for his gunshot injuries. His medical status was not reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scherer faces a charge of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. The Altamonte Springs officer was placed on administrative leave while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates, the report stated. This is standard procedure for officer-involved shootings. The Seminole County Sheriffs Office confirmed their deputy was also placed on administrative leave. Police in Culver City located a trailer stolen from a Los Angeles County non-profit and delivered a surprise to the organization just in time for the holidays. Police spent weeks investigating after learning on Nov. 22 that a Walk n Rollers trailer with all its equipment had been stolen. Thanks to the diligent work of detectives, there was a break in the case. An arrest was made, and the trailer was recovered, the Culver City Police Department posted on its Instagram page. Culver City police find trailer full of stolen gifts in time for Christmas. (Culver City Police Department) Culver City police find trailer full of stolen gifts in time for Christmas. (Culver City Police Department) Police realized that many of the organizations scooters, bikes and other equipment were not recovered and went to work in hopes of replacing them before Christmas and Hanukkah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just before the holidays, officers delivered the bikes, scooters, helmets, and equipment to Walk n Rollers leader Jim Shanman, the post read. Police thanked the efforts of its officers and investigators, the donors for the Culver City Police Foundation and Target. This is just fantastic, Shanman replied as police carried the items to him. It was a team effort to rally in support of this theft victim, the Police Department stated. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for calling Vladimir Putin Hungary's honest partner during Russias massive missile attacks on Ukraine on Christmas Day, according to a Dec. 26 statement on X. Russia launched 78 missiles and 106 drones on Dec. 25, striking multiple Ukrainian cities. Kharkiv faced massive fire from ballistic missiles, injuring six, according to local authorities. Tusk highlighted the contrast between Orbans remarks and the reality of the attacks, saying, On Christmas Eve, Russia launched a massive missile attack on Ukrainian cities. At the same time, in a Christmas interview, Prime Minister Orban called Putin an honest partner of the Hungarians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orbans remarks highlight Hungary's ongoing ties with Moscow despite Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Hungary has frequently opposed EU sanctions on Russia and blocked military aid to Ukraine. On Dec. 16, Ukraines Foreign Ministry denounced Hungarys "peacekeeping" rhetoric as manipulative, accusing Orbans government of advocating for Ukraines surrender and obstructing international efforts to support Kyiv. Read also: Ukraine hits ballistic missile propellant plant in Rostov Oblast, Stratcom reports Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. ROME (AP) Pope Francis inaugurated his Holy Year at Romes main prison on Thursday, bringing a message of hope to inmates and involving them in the Catholic Churchs once every quarter-century celebration that is expected to bring about 32 million pilgrims to Rome. Francis stood up from his wheelchair, knocked on the door to the chapel at Rebibbia prison and walked across the threshold, reenacting the gesture he performed at the Holy Door of St. Peters Basilica two nights earlier on Christmas Eve. The opening of the Holy Door at the basilica officially kicked off the Jubilee year, a church tradition dating to 1300 that nowadays occurs every 25 years and involves the faithful coming to Rome on pilgrimages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The first Holy Door I opened at Christmas in St. Peter's. I wanted the second one to be here, in a prison," Francis told the Rebibbia inmates before he entered. I wanted each of us here, inside and out, to have the possibility of throwing open the door of our hearts and understanding that hope doesn't disappoint. Francis dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to hope and made clear that prisoners would be an important part of it: The final grand event of the Jubilee is a special Mass for inmates at St. Peter's on Dec. 14, 2025. Francis has long made prison ministry an important part of his priestly vocation and has made several visits to Rebibbia since becoming pope in 2013 while also including prison visits in many of his foreign trips. His message is always one of hope, believing that people who are serving prison sentences need something to look forward to more than most. That is especially true in Italy, where prison overcrowding and inmate suicides are at record highs, according to the Antigone Association, which tracks prison conditions. According to Antigone's 2024 report, 88 prisoners killed themselves in Italian lockups this year more than any other year and Italy's inmate population was 132% over the system's capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement Thursday, Antigone called on Italian authorities to hear Francis' appeal to give prisoners hope. It called for structural reforms that put into practice the constitutional principles of a punishment that is dignified, humane and looks to the social reintegration of those who are in prison. In his homily, Francis suggested the prisoners think of hope as an anchor that is fixed on the ground and that they try to hold tight to the rope that is attached to it, even if it sometimes hurts their hands. Hold onto the rope of hope, hold onto the anchor," Francis said. Never let it go. Speaking to reporters outside, Francis recalled that whenever he speaks to prisoners, the first thing he always asks himself is why them and not me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because we all can fall, the important thing is to not lose hope, to hold onto that anchor of hope," he said. Back at the Vatican for his noon blessing, Francis called prison a cathedral of pain and hope as he repeated his message. He also doubled down on his 2025 wish for peace in the world and for wealthy countries to reduce or eliminate the debt owed by poorer countries. One of the things that characterizes Jubilees is the remission of debts, Francis said, calling the debts owed by many poor countries simply unsustainable." Francis outing to Rebibbia on a frigid morning was his final big event of the week after he celebrated Christmas Eve Mass on Tuesday evening at St. Peters Basilica and delivered his Christmas Day blessing from the loggia overlooking the square. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 88-year-old pope, who often suffers from respiratory infections in winter, has a few days to rest before gearing up for the New Years Eve vigil and Mass the following day. With the St. Peters Holy Door now open to the public, a steady stream of pilgrims was filing into the basilica, a pace that is expected to continue through next year until the door closes on Jan. 6, 2026. Francis 2025 involves a dizzying calendar of Jubilee events that will sorely test his stamina, with special Jubilee Masses for all the main groups of pilgrims who are being celebrated during the year: Adolescents, migrants, teachers and law enforcement, among others. So far, he has only one foreign trip under study: A May visit to Turkey to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, Christianitys first ecumenical council. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Marking the Holy Year of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis opened a Holy Door at a prison in Rome on Thursday, offering a message of hope and forgiveness to inmates. "Do not lose hope, that is the message I want to give you," the 88-year-old pontiff told the prisoners during the ceremony. The opening of a Holy Door in a prison is a symbolic gesture. The pope is known for advocating for the forgiveness of convicted criminals and their reintegration into society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arriving in a wheelchair, Francis paused for a moment of silence before rising with the help of a walking stick. He approached the prison gate, knocked several times and helpers raised it from the inside. The pontiff then crossed the threshold of the massive doorway, symbolizing the passage into grace and reconciliation. Despite appearing fatigued in recent public appearances, the pope seemed at ease during the prison visit, speaking informally and without prepared remarks to inmates and staff. After the service, he engaged personally with several attendees. The event followed his opening of the Holy Year 2025 on Christmas Eve by ceremonially unsealing the Holy Door at St Peters Basilica. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Catholic Church celebrates a jubilee every 25 years, during which believers who pass through the Holy Doors after penance and communion are granted indulgences or remission of sins. This marks the first time in the Churchs history that a Holy Door has been opened in a prison, according to the news portal Vatican News. Pope Francis urged inmates to never give up hope as he inaugurated the Vaticans Jubilee Year at the high-security Rebibbia prison on the outskirts of Rome on Thursday. The pope opened a Holy Door at a prison for the first time in history to mark the Catholic Churchs year-long celebration, which is expected to attract more than 30 million pilgrims to the Eternal City throughout 2025. Speaking to hundreds of inmates, guards and staff at Rebibbia, Francis said he wanted to open the door to the prison chapel, one of only five to be opened during the Holy Year, as a way of sending a message of hope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I like to think of hope as the anchor on the shore and with the rope we are safe, he said. Do not lose hope. During his visit, Francis left his wheelchair, knocked on the door of the chapel and stepped across the threshold, duplicating a gesture he performed at the Holy Door of St Peters Basilica on Christmas Eve. I wanted each of us here, inside and out, to have the possibility of flinging open the door of our hearts and understanding that hope doesnt disappoint, he said. The Pope also celebrated mass in the prison chapel. During his homily, Francis reflected on the reasons for his visit and told prisoners that hope was a way to open a new path to forgiveness and freedom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The opening of the Holy Door at St Peters Basilica officially launched the Jubilee Year, a Catholic tradition which dates back to the year 1300 and is only held every 25 years. Francis has long made prison ministry and mercy a central element of his pontificate and has made several visits to Rebibbia since his election in 2013. The central role of prisoners will be underscored at the final event of the Jubilee Year, a special mass for inmates to be held at St Peters Basilica in December 2025. Pope Francis calls on the inmates of Rebibbia prison: Do not lose hope - AFP The 88-year-old Popes message of hope is particularly timely in Italy, when prison overcrowding and inmate suicides are at all-time highs, according to the Antigone Association, which monitors prison conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Antigones 2024 report, a record 88 prisoners committed suicide in Italian jails this year at least 23 of them were aged between 19 and 29. Italys inmate population is estimated to be well above capacity and inmates have staged hunger strikes and riots at several prisons during 2024. Francis outing to Rebibbia was his final major event this week after he celebrated Christmas Eve mass at St Peters Basilica and urged an end to global conflicts in his traditional Christmas Day blessing to pilgrims. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Have you ever been stuck on hold for so long that you ended the phone call? Popular telephone company and internet service provider CenturyLink Communications, LLC (CenturyLink) is being fined again but this time for holding up customers and failing to show documents. The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) announced, via a news release, CenturyLink was fined more than $130,000 Friday for excessive wait times to reach a live customer service representative and not providing required documentation to the commission. Struggling with internet? Washington receives federal funding to help locals get online Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The news release stated the UTC issued the company nine penalties for violating WAC 480-120-133(2)(c), which requires telephone companies to connect customers to a live representative within 60 seconds of selecting the option to do so. CenturyLink was also fined for 169 violations of WAC 480-07-175(2)(b) which requires companies to make business documents available for commission inspection. The UTC said the 178 violations respectively took place between March 2023 through February 2024 and March 2022 to November 2022. The company is being fined $750 per violation, leading to a total of $133,500, according to the news release. It must pay the penalties by December 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CenturyLink, part of Lumen Technologies, is the largest local telephone company in Washington, serving approximately 650,000 residential and business lines, the commission noted. In July 2023, CenturyLink was fined nearly $1 million for disconnecting service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The state issued the penalty for violating a 2020 emergency proclamation by Washington Governor Jay Inslee. More details: CenturyLink fined nearly $1M for disconnecting service during pandemic The proclamation stated, The available financial resources of many of our people and businesses are becoming limited, with many of them suffering considerable economic hardship as a result of the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our economy, resulting in a significant threat of utility services being disconnected and late payment fees being imposed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A judge said the violations were both serious and harmful to the public. However, the company claimed the disconnections were inadvertent. The ruling said CenturyLinks arguments in no way alter our assessment of the impact on the businesses, households, and individuals who were deprived of their means of connecting with employers, loved ones and emergency services during a global health crisis. CenturyLink was fined $1,000 per violation for disconnecting 923 customers. MyNorthwest reached out to Lumen for comment and has not heard back. Contributing: Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest Julia Dallas is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read her stories here. Follow Julia on X here and email her here. DALLAS (AP) Some flights were delayed or canceled in Texas on Thursday after a line of thunderstorms started moving across parts of the state in a system the National Weather Service predicted could bring high winds, hail and possible tornadoes. More than 100 flights were delayed and dozens more canceled at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on Thursday. Delays and thunderstorm-related cancellations also were reported at Dallas' Love Field and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, according to FlightAware, an aviation company that tracks flights across the world. The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning late Thursday afternoon for parts of Texas northeast of Houston, meaning weather radar indicated there was a tornado in the area. There were no immediate reports of damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A tornado watch remained in effect through Thursday night for several counties in southeast Texas, including the Houston area. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott activated state emergency response resources because of the increased severe weather threat. As Texans and out-of-state visitors begin traveling after the Christmas holiday, it's crucial that everyone regularly monitor road conditions, make an emergency plan and heed the guidance of state and local officials, Abbott said in a statement. The greatest weather risk was forecast for a stretch of Texas east of Dallas, between Houston and portions of southern Arkansas and western and northern Louisiana, said Brian Hurley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There does look like the possibility of one or a few tornadoes with this risk, but the main risk will be with high winds and hail, Hurley said, adding that he expected wind gusts generally between 60 and 80 mph (96 to 128 kph), and hail one inch (2.5 centimeters) in diameter or greater. Hurley said the storms will likely push into southern Arkansas and western and northern Louisiana after nightfall, posing a potentially dangerous situation for holiday travelers. People can't see a whole lot and may not be as weather aware, he said. In his latest book, On Freedom, American scholar Timothy Snyder establishes a thought-provoking distinction between the word "liberation" and the Ukrainian wartime variant "de-occupation" to probe the fraught but necessary question: When is a person truly free? Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine has left countless settlements in ruins and displaced millions. Those who have fled face the uncertainty of carrying on with their lives elsewhere, while those returning to areas liberated by Ukrainian forces, if possible, must rebuild. Snyder describes visiting the village of Yahidne in Ukraines northeastern Chernihiv Oblast, where during the occupation, Russian soldiers forced nearly the entire village more than 360 people into the school basement at gunpoint. The locals would spend a month there, in inhumane conditions, used as human shields for the Russian soldiers headquarters upstairs. Eleven of them would not make it out alive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A liberation suggests that a woe has dissipated, Snyder writes. But the adults need support, the children a new school. It is so very important that (the village) is no longer occupied. But it would be wrong to end the story of Yahidne when the survivors emerged from underground. Snyders concerns are valid although nearly three years have passed since the occupation of Yahidne, Ukrainian journalists have reported on ongoing scandals surrounding the reconstruction of the village that came to be one of the many settlements symbolizing the horrors of Russian aggression. While On Freedom primarily focuses on the United States, Snyders reflections on Ukraine, enriched by his expertise as a historian of European history and particularly that of the former Soviet Union, make the book a compelling read for a broad audience, offering both a stark warning and a much-needed declaration of moral clarity in an era increasingly defined by rising authoritarianism. There is, first and foremost, a necessity, as Snyder argues, to rescue the word freedom from overuse and abuse. Defining what drives freedom is crucial to understanding the true extent of it. In this context, the comparison Snyder ultimately draws between countries like the U.S. and Ukraine is striking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Snyder suggests that we can conceive of freedom in two ways: as freedom from something or as freedom to do something. The former, the cornerstone of American identity originally freedom from British tyranny presents a vision many Americans believe is assured by birthright. It is what he also calls negative freedom: the absence of occupation, oppression, or even government. Snyder suggests that we can conceive of freedom in two ways: as freedom from something or as freedom to do something. Yet, Snyder warns, this belief in freedom from something is vulnerable to malevolent distortion. Those in power can easily mislead the public into forfeiting their rights by disguising the act as a safeguard against both tangible and perceived threats, such as the expanded surveillance abilities of law enforcement after the 9/11 terrorist attacks during U.S. President George W. Bushs administration. A woman faces the door with the calendar and names of the people who died in the basement of the school where Russian occupiers held more than 300 residents, including 77 children, captive from March 3 to 30, 2022, in Yahidne, Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine, on Jan. 17, 2024. (Kirill Chubotin / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images) Snyder contends that symbols like the American flag, seen as emblems of freedom, can sometimes also substitute for the actual practice of it. History offers many instances where the freedoms these symbols represent excluded certain groups, with racial inequality in the U.S. serving as a recurring example throughout the book. True freedom, Snyder argues, is not rooted in endlessly glorifying past achievements but in the courage to confront what must be done to uphold and expand freedom for all. As he aptly states, praise is not practice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is easy to imagine that freedom will be brought to us by a song, by jets over a stadium, by the land, by the ancestors, by the Founders, by capitalism, he continues. But is the notion that we are granted freedom right for a home of the brave? Is it not more courageous to ask what Americans have done, could have done, should do? The Cold War offers us a telling example. As Snyder notes, it was a moral challenge for the U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy launched a witch hunt for communist influence in the country, destroying many innocent peoples lives and careers with baseless accusations. The U.S. government also supported right-wing dictatorships in Latin America to suppress even moderate socialist movements. At the same time, the Soviet challenge had also pushed America toward some strengths, including a manned mission to the moon, substantial investments in education, and the promotion of cultural diplomacy abroad. While not without flaws, U.S. policy during the Cold War demonstrated a commitment to investing in its population and protecting it through robust structures. This approach helped to underscore the perceived superiority of the American model over that of the USSR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether we will be free will depend on us, as Snyder writes. Not just on what we do, but on why we do it: our ideals. Whether we will be free will depend on us, as Snyder writes. Not just on what we do, but on why we do it: our ideals. The genocidal nature of Russia's war against Ukraine marked by the deliberate destruction of cultural sites and the forced relocation of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children might have some think that Ukraine's struggle is simply the fight for freedom from Russia. Yet, the Ukrainians that Snyder speaks with during his visits to the wartime country tell him about freedom in a fundamentally different way than Americans perceive it. Their viewpoint aligns with most other countries, to be more precise and this is what makes all of them happier, healthier, and ultimately more well off. For Ukrainians, the war is not framed as only a fight for freedom from Russia but rather about the freedom to live on their own terms. This vision of freedom is one rooted in self-determination, where Ukrainians strive for autonomy and the right to shape their own future without Russian interference or domination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The occupiers had gotten in the way of a sense that the world was opening up (for Ukrainians), that the next generation would have a better life, that decisions made now would matter in years to come, Snyder writes. Ukrainian military veteran Viacheslav Rybachuk, whose brother, a Ukrainian soldier Oleksiy, was killed in the Bakhmut area in 2023, kneels down at a designated area for commemorating fallen Ukrainian and foreign fighters during the Independence Day of Ukraine in the Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine on Aug. 24, 2024. (Roman Pilipey/AFP via Getty Images) A soldier in a rehabilitation center told me that freedom was about everyone having a chance to fulfill their own purposes after the war. A veteran awaiting a prosthesis said that freedom would be a smile on his sons face. A young soldier on leave said that freedom was about the children he would like to have. Snyder also explores how access to knowledge and an openness to engage meaningfully with the world around us are integral to a free society ideals that countries like Russia actively seek to undermine. He highlights how Ukraine has had to confront Russias attempts to manipulate global perceptions of the war through contradictory narratives, such as claims that the Ukrainian language is not real while also alleging that Ukrainians are forced to speak it over Russian, or the paradoxical assertions that Ukraine is a country of Nazis but also one that promotes LGBTQ+ values and is involved in some sort of Jewish conspiracy. As Snyder writes, the simple fact that Russia had invaded a neighboring country got lost on social media, with online platforms becoming battlegrounds for narratives debating whether the invasion was justified. He critiques this distraction, noting, Americans and others wasted outrage on phantoms even as a real war of aggression began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reading Snyder's "On Freedom" evokes an even more somber undertone in the aftermath of Donald Trump's 2024 presidential victory in the U.S., which was marked by his repeated assertions that there "wouldn't be a country anymore" if he lost a mantra designed to incite fear among his base and sway undecided voters. While conservative pundits tout the "future looks bright" for the country, others voice growing concerns over potential erosions of freedoms, including minority rights and women's health, given the declarations Trump and his allies made on the campaign trail. Simultaneously, Russia appears emboldened amid uncertainty over the future of U.S. military aid for Kyiv, escalating aerial assaults across the country and intensifying efforts to occupy more territory in Ukraines east. Ukrainian officials also face mounting pressure to agree on negotiations for a ceasefire, all while recognizing that Moscows ultimate goal of exterminating the Ukrainian national idea remains unchanged. The prospects for 2025 and beyond may appear grim, yet Snyder encourages readers to remain steadfast and resolute: Fear is not enough. It will not get us where we need to go. From the most basic facts we can build a scaffolding of hope. By grounding ourselves in fundamental moral truths rather than intoxicating ourselves with dangerous rhetoric, we can begin to construct not just resistance against authoritarian forces but a framework of hope and substantive action to better the world. Engaging with sometimes uncomfortable inquiries about oneself, ones community, and one's country is not merely an intellectual exercise but a necessity for genuine clarity and self-awareness. This act of reclaiming agency choosing hope over fear is itself a crucial step toward safeguarding freedom. Note from the author: Hi, this is Kate Tsurkan, thanks for reading this article. There is an ever-increasing amount of books about or related to Ukraine available to English-language readers, and I hope my recommendations prove useful when it comes to your next trip to the bookstore. Ukrainian culture has taken on an even more important meaning during wartime, so if you like reading about this sort of thing, please consider supporting The Kyiv Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay warm with Ukrainian traditions this winter. Shop our seasonal merch collection. Star shop now Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A Pennsylvania man is accused of brutally attacking a woman striking her in the stomach and pushing her into the toilet and during the incident, the woman went into labor. The woman was attacked in a Somerset, Pa., home, the Somerset County District Attorneys Office said in a statement on Tuesday, Dec. 24. The incident took place on Dec. 19, police said, according to The Daily American. Andrew Ashurst faces multiple assault charges, per the DA's statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attack stemmed from a verbal altercation, per the DAs office, and Ashurst allegedly pushed the pregnant victim into the toilet causing her to strike her head, struck her in the appendix area, pulled her around the house by her hair, and slapped and struck her in the face with a cell phone. When the woman went into labor mid-attack, authorities allege, Ashurst refused to let her call police. Responding officers found her with several bruises on her back, arms, eye, cheek and forehead, investigators said. It wasnt immediately clear how the victim and suspect might know each other. 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. District Attorney Molly Metzgar said the allegations are "unfathomable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As a mother, I understand the vulnerability of a woman and her unborn child and I am appalled that anyone would jeopardize the lives of these two people," she said in her statement. Ashurst has been charged with aggravated assault of an unborn child, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, unlawful restraint, simple assault and harassment charges, according to online courts reviewed by PEOPLE. Hes being held on $50,000 bail. Online court records did not indicate lawyer and plea information. Read the original article on People https://www.tipranks.com/news/the-fly/intuit-price-target-lowered-to-714-from-760-at-bmo-capital The latest update is out from SecureWorks ( (SCWX) ). Don't Miss Our Christmas Offers: Discover the latest stocks recommended by top Wall Street analysts, all in one place with Analyst Top Stocks Make smarter investments with weekly expert stock picks from the Smart Investor Newsletter SecureWorks Corp. announced the acceleration of certain restricted stock units (RSUs) for its CFO, Alpana Wegner, in anticipation of the companys merger with Sophos Inc., a move designed to address potential tax implications under Sections 280G and 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code. This strategic decision aims to preserve corporate tax deductions and mitigate excise tax liabilities, indicating a proactive approach in managing the financial impacts related to the merger, which is facilitated by Thoma Bravo affiliates. More about SecureWorks SecureWorks Corp. is a cybersecurity company that provides a range of security solutions, focusing on protecting organizations from cyber threats and attacks. It operates in the cybersecurity industry and offers services such as threat detection and response, compliance management, and risk consulting. YTD Price Performance: 14.77% Average Trading Volume: 275,760 Technical Sentiment Consensus Rating: Sell Current Market Cap: $752.9M See more data about SCWX stock on TipRanks Stock Analysis page. Trending Articles As he is prone to do, Prince Louis stole the show at the royal familys Christmas Day walkabout. Louis, 6, joined his parents Prince William and Kate Middleton, older siblings Prince George, 11, and Princess Charlotte, 9, and other members of his family on Dec. 25, where he mingled with members of the public after a morning church service at St. Mary Magdalene. The youngest child of the Prince and Princess of Wales, both 42, looked visibly excited by the gifts he received, including a box of Cadbury chocolates, Christmas crackers, bouquets of flowers and an assortment of stuffed toys, according to The Daily Mail. At one point, a well-wisher offered the royal a Father Christmas headband, which he happily accepted and politely thanked the person who gifted it and returned to his father and siblings, the outlet reported. OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Prince Louis of Wales reacts as he carries gifts from wellwishers, after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on Dec. 25, 2024 Prince Louis of Wales reacts as he carries gifts from wellwishers, after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on Dec. 25, 2024 Prince William, who was also enthusiastically greeting members of the public, appeared amused by Louis haul of goodies and told him, Youve got that as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, Louis hands were so full of presents, The Daily Mail reported, that he appeared to struggle to keep hold of everything he had received and turned to his father and sweetly asked, Papa, can you carry some? At other points in the walkabout, Louis gripped his mothers hand and, as seen in a video posted to TikTok, ruffled her youngests hair at one point, encouraging him to mingle with well-wishers. She also put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, as seen in a separate clip. Per Newsweek, Prince Louis was spotted telling his mother Princess Kate at one point, Were looking out for each other. Related: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis Join Christmas Day Walk to Church After 'Brutal' Year Samir Hussein/WireImage Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk As his three kids excitedly grabbed treats from the crowd assembled, Prince William exclaimed, Flowers [for Charlotte] chocolate [for George and Louis]. Very easy! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the second year in a row, Louis wore trousers to the Christmas Day walkabout, although The Daily Express reports that royal tradition usually dictates that boys under seven years old must wear shorts while attending public engagements. It appears his parents are taking a more relaxed approach to protocol, the outlet reported. (Louis will turn 7 in April.) Samir Hussein/WireImage Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales and Prince George of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales and Prince George of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk Related: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis Make First Public Appearance in Six Months: 'It's Been a Difficult Year' It has been a difficult year for George, Charlotte and Louis, one that saw both their mother and their grandfather diagnosed with cancer. On Sept. 9, Kate announced that her chemotherapy treatment had ended, while the Kings will continue on into 2025. The three Wales children were rarely seen in the public eye in 2024, making sparse appearances at events like Junes Trooping the Colour, Septembers video message from the Princess of Wales announcing she had completed treatment and Dec. 6s Together at Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been such a difficult year for them, Sophie Mirman, founder and creative director of Trotters (the brand behind Princess Charlottes burgundy coat worn to the carol service) told PEOPLE of George, Charlotte and Louis. Its wonderful to see them all together. Samir Hussein/WireImage Prince Louis of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk Prince Louis of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following major abdominal surgery in January, Kate revealed her cancer diagnosis to the world in a March 22 video message. When she made the announcement earlier this year, her three kids were top of mind, as she said in the clip that she and William have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine, this has taken time. Life-threatening illnesses bring a reconsideration of priorities, a source close to the royal household said of Kate, who announced Sept. 9 she had completed chemotherapy treatment. She and William have always made it clear that family is the most important thing. Samir Hussein/WireImage Catherine, Princess of Walesm Prince Louis of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk Catherine, Princess of Walesm Prince Louis of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk Though it has been a difficult year for Louis and his siblings, Louis is learning a new hobby the drums, dad William said. Thats why I spend my entire life with my fingers in my ears. Louis who shares a particularly tight bond with his sister Charlotte was bursting to tell his older sister about ballet dancers at their moms carol concert earlier this month. Speaking to performers at the annual event, Kate recounted that Louis learned there would be a ballet performance at the carol concert about two weeks before the show, and that she asked him not to tell Charlotte so it would be a surprise for the young princess, who loves dance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So I said, Louis, can you keep a secret? I want it to be a surprise for Charlotte, who loves her ballet dancing, and he said, I won't say anything!. And he's kept the secret, this is what, maybe two weeks? Quite good for a 6-year-old! Princess Kate said with a smile. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Prince Louis of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend the 'Together At Christmas' Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on Dec. 6, 2024 in London, England Prince Louis of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend the 'Together At Christmas' Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on Dec. 6, 2024 in London, England Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! And then this morning he was like, Please Mummy, can I tell her? I'm bursting!, cause I did the drop off and he really wanted to tell her, she added. I think, hopefully, he's kept on with it. I don't think he's said anything, she continued. I asked her [Charlotte], just before we left, Do you know what the surprise is? And she said no. Read the original article on People The News More than 1,500 prisoners escaped from a prison in Mozambique, taking advantage of political instability since Octobers disputed presidential election. Critics have called into question the veracity of the results, which showed the ruling party that has governed the country since its independence from Portugal in 1975 winning two-thirds of the vote. Although a constitutional court recently certified the results, opposition leader Venancio Mondlane has called on his supporters to protest against the government, sparking deadly unrest, and this week, Mondlane, who is in self-imposed exile in an unknown country, vowed to install himself as president next month. Dec. 25CUMBERLAND Police are continuing to investigate the killing of a city man found dead early Sunday in the Frederick Street Parking Garage. Cumberland Police Department Chief Chuck Ternent said Todd Ellsworth Adams, 42, was found in the parking structure just after 1:30 a.m. with obvious injuries and pronounced dead at the scene. The death was ruled a homicide after autopsy. "Mr. Adams was well known downtown and was noticeable due to having a prosthetic leg," Ternent said. "We are particularly interested in talking to anyone who was with him or observed him walking downtown Saturday prior to the discovery of his death ..." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ternent said Adams was known to frequent the downtown area, particularly among the homeless population and resources that assist them. "Mr. Adams does have a family who have been notified of his death and are grieving, concerned and cooperating with the investigation," Ternent said. "We hope we can do them justice by helping them understand what happened to Todd and give them closure." Adams' death was the second homicide in the city in 2024. The first was the killing of 38-year-old Celina Smith in South Cumberland on June 30. City resident Kaleb York was arrested for that crime. The investigation is being conducted by city police and the Allegany County Combined Criminal Investigation Unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information is asked to contact Cumberland Police at 301-777-1600 or via Facebook; the C3I Unit at 301-777-0326; or Allegany/Mineral Counties CrimeSolvers at https://www.allegany-mineralcountycrimesolvers.com/tip/. Tips received through CrimeSolvers are anonymous and eligible for a financial award. (PUEBLO/COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) The Pueblo Police Department (PPD) arrested a man after he allegedly kidnapped his ex-girlfriend in Pueblo and led police on a pursuit to Colorado Springs. On Thursday, Dec. 26, the PPD was dispatched to the 2200 block of East 12th Street near Highway 50 and Utica Avenue a little before 4 a.m. on a report of a kidnapping in progress. Upon arrival, officers spoke with the reporting party, who said 33-year-old Stevie Flores had left in a vehicle with his ex-girlfriend, and her family was concerned for her safety and called 911. Officers were able to locate Flores and attempted to make a stop. However, the suspect escaped and began driving northbound on I-25. Out of concern for the womans safety, a pursuit was initiated. The El Paso County Sheriffs Office, Fountain Police Department, and Colorado State Patrol were all called in to assist, and the car was finally stopped via a tactical vehicle intervention on Las Vegas Street in Colorado Springs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flores was arrested and charged with Second Degree Kidnapping, Domestic Violence, Vehicular Eluding, Reckless Driving, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, and warrants for Criminal Impersonation- Cause Liability, and Failure to Appear. He was taken to the Pueblo County Detention Center. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LITTLE ROCK, Ark.- The Pulaski County Sheriffs Office arrested a suspect on Christmas Eve who they say was caught in the act of disrupting the holiday spirit. Around 1 p.m., the Pulaski County Sheriffs Office (PCSO) responded to a call of a burglary in process. We heard that it was someone who was maybe six foot tall, that he was wearing a Santa suit, and was even green in color, PCSO Public Information Officer Kristin Knox said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pulaski County deputies take the Grinch into custody just in time for Christmas The suspect was caught stealing every ounce of Christmas he could. You know new bikes, even some cameras, even a PlayStation 5, those are some of the big-ticket items, Knox said. Authorities said 15 homes were hit, one of those homes even capturing the theft on their Ring Doorbell camera. We knew that we had to catch him this year because he has traumatized everyone for at least the past three years, Knox said. Its the most wonderful time: Arkansas kids prepare for Santa through family traditions While it was a difficult task, since the green suspect did try to flee, it was a successful mission indeed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone was able to go to sleep Christmas Eve knowing Christmas was saved thanks to the Pulaski County Sheriffs Office. Deputies made sure to get fingerprints, and any information they could on the man who identified as the Grinch himself, and even made sure he got a mug shot for the records. The communitys heart can grow four times bigger now knowing that the Grinch is still behind bars tonight. Dr. Seuss How the Grinch stole Christmas! gets a sequel with a new author The PCSO says no bail has been set, but that the Grinch will go before the judge tomorrow as he faces multiple charges including fleeing a deputy, burglary, and theft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are still looking for Max, a dog that may be wearing reindeer ears. You are urged to contact the PCSO if you see him. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. A Putnam County man was arrested Tuesday, on Christmas Eve, while wearing a Santa Claus suit. The sheriffs office said Neil Champagne, 51, is accused of continuously stalking and harassing his neighbor. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Putnam County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post that theyve been called to the residence 60 times over the last two months in response to harassment. Deputies were called out to the residence on Christmas Eve where the victim told officers that Champagne wrote derogatory messages at the end of his driveway, yelled at him, and threatened to harm him, the sheriffs office Facebook post states. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Due to the continued harassment and stalking deputies arrested Champagne and charged him with stalking, a first-degree misdemeanor, the post states. He was taken to the Putnam County Jail and held on $2,500 bond. Not exactly the best behavior for someone wearing a Santa suit, the post states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read: Two dead, one wounded in Christmas night shooting in Palatka Read: Two shot during fight at Jacksonville lounge, one of the victims was a bystander [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. A queer-owned cafe and shop in San Antonio has found a reason to celebrate this holiday season thanks to an unexpected grant from the Human Rights Campaign. Over the summer, the Lemon Girls applied for HRC's Queer to Stay grant, an initiative started during the pandemic with the intention of helping LGBTQ+ businesses stay afloat. As the months dragged on without any word, the business, which specializes in lemonade, juices, and coffee, faced financial challenges that ultimately led the owners to post a plea on social media. "The Lemon Girls has been more than just a queer Latina-owned business it's been a space for connection, joy, and belonging for our LGBTQ+ family and the Woodlawn Lake community," reads a Facebook post dated December 10. "But now, we're at a crossroads. Like so many small businesses, were feeling the weight of rising costs and challenges beyond our control. And we cant keep going without you." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their request was simple all they wanted was for customers to come by, spread the word, and consider the shop if they needed a space to host an event. But a week later, a different kind of help arrived. Owners and married couple Maxine and Desiree Cofino learned that the Lemon Girls was one of 30 LGBTQ+ businesses around the U.S. that had been selected as recipients of this year's Queer to Stay grant. "LGBTQ+ people deserve welcoming, safe spaces that are owned and run by us," said a statement from Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson. "As extremist politicians continue to try and take away our rights and push us back into the closet, these businesses stand as a shining reminder that when LGBTQ+ businesses thrive, America thrives." LGBTQ-owned businesses contribute an estimated $1.7 billion to the U.S. economy every year, according to the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Yet a 2022 report from Movement Advancement Project found that LGBTQ+ businesses are rejected for funding at a higher rate than non-LGBTQ+ businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And that's where assistance from initiatives like Queer to Stay can really make a difference especially for younger businesses like the Lemon Girls. Although the shop has only existed in its current iteration since last year, the Cofinos spent the two years building their brand at local farmers markets. "We've always been trying to get a store. This is actually the seventh attempt at a store," Maxine told MySanAntonio.com in June 2023. "I think the sense of community here is what makes a difference." Even with the HRC grant, they're still counting on that community to keep showing up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As a small business, we rely on the continued support of our community to keep growing and serving," they wrote on Instagram . "Thank you for believing in us let's keep this momentum going together." HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) The Weather Authority is closely monitoring the threat of strong to severe storms as a front tracks through the region this weekend. A warm front passage on Friday will bring the first round of rain and strong winds through the area. How far north the front reaches will help determine the severe weather risk heading into the weekend. If the warm front passes well north it will increase the risk but if it remains south there will be a limited severe weather risk. IF the warm front can push far enough north, the region will be placed in the warm sector of the system. The warm sector is the region located between the cold and warm fronts, this would be the most favorable area for severe storm development. Rain and storm chances increase in coverage on Saturday afternoon. The first round of showers and storms will develop during the afternoon and evening. Strong to severe storms will be possible during this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second round is forecast to develop along a cold front and track eastward. If the atmosphere can recover from the earlier round of storms, an overnight round of severe storms will be possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As mentioned above, some of these storms could be strong or severe. The main impacts from storms will be damaging winds, heavy rain, and a low-end tornado threat. There will be just enough wind shear, the rotation of the winds in the atmosphere, to support rotating storms. Additional rainfall through the weekend will range from 2-3 inches with isolated higher amounts possible. Ponding on roadways will be possible, if the system slows down we will need to watch for an increased threat of flooding. Outside of storms, winds will be on the strong side, sustained out of the south at 10-20 mph. Gusts of 25-35 mph will be possible with isolated higher gusts near 40 mph likely in the higher terrain. Make sure you take the time to secure outdoor items. Stick with the Weather Authority for the latest on the rain and storm threat for the area. 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 WHNT.com. Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. A marine heat wave has killed approximately half of Alaskas common murre population, marking the largest recorded die-off of a single species in modern history, research has found. The catastrophic loss points to broader changes in marine environments driven by warming ocean temperatures, which are rapidly and severely restructuring ecosystems and inhibiting the ability of such animals to thrive, according to a new study. The Northeast Pacific heat wave, known as the Blob, spanned the ocean ecosystem from California to the Gulf of Alaska in late 2014 to 2016. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event is considered the largest and longest known marine heat wave, with temperatures rising by 2.5 to 3 degrees Celsius (4.5 to 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal levels, said Brie Drummond, coauthor of the study that published December 12 in the journal Science. Common murres, or Uria aalge, are known for their distinctive black-and-white feathers, resembling the tuxedoed look of penguins. These predators play a critical role in regulating energy flow within the marine food web in the Northern Hemisphere. While murres have experienced smaller die-offs in the past as a result of environmental and human-induced factors, they typically recover quickly when favorable conditions return. However, the magnitude and speed of the die-off during this heat wave was particularly alarming to Drummond and her team. The researchers determined the scale of this catastrophic population loss by tracking extreme population declines at 13 colonies across the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea that have been monitored long-term. By the end of the 2016 heat wave, Drummond and her team counted more than 62,000 common murre carcasses, which only accounted for a fraction of those lost since most dead seabirds never appear on land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From there, biologists monitored the rate at which common murres were dying and reproducing and found no signs of the colonies returning to their previous size. The only reason we had this data and were able to detect this (event) was that we had these long-term data sets and long-term monitoring, said Drummond, a wildlife biologist at the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. (Monitoring) is the only way well be able to continue to look at what happens in the future. A decimated species faces challenges As temperatures in Alaska rose, the murres food supply dwindled, with one of their primary prey, Pacific cod, plunging by about 80% between 2013 and 2017, the study revealed. With the collapse of this key food source, about 4 million common murres died in Alaska within the period from 2014 to 2016, the researchers estimated. There are about 8 million people in New York City, so it would be like losing half of the population in a single winter, Drummond said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the start of the 2014 heat wave, Alaskas murre population made up 25% of the worlds population of the seabird species. However, when comparing the seven-year period before the heat wave (2008 to 2014) with the seven-year span following (2016 to 2022), the study found the murre population in 13 colonies spread between the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea declined anywhere from 52% to 78%. Drummond and her colleagues continued monitoring the murres from 2016 to 2022 after the end of the heat wave but found no signs of recovery. While further research is necessary to fully understand why murres are not bouncing back, Drummonds team believes the changes are driven by shifts in the marine ecosystem, especially those associated with food supply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reproductive challenges and relocation difficulties also may be contributing to the species lack of rehabilitation, according to Dr. Falk Huettmann, an associate professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, who was not involved in the study. Unlike some other species, seabirds such as murres take a longer time to reproduce, making repopulation a slower process, Huettmann said. Additionally, Huettmann noted that murres are bound to the colonies they reside in, and as they are forced to relocate, it can be more difficult to adjust to new conditions. Surviving in changing environments While temperatures continue to rise in areas such as Alaska, tropical or subtropical waters are moving into different areas, Huettmann said, which creates conditions for an entirely new ecosystem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With these environmental shifts, animals will either adapt or be unable to survive in the new climate. Murres are not the only species in Alaskan waters undergoing significant changes. Huettmann noted the tufted puffin, a sensitive marine bird, has been seen migrating north because of poor conditions in southern areas of the North Pacific, including California, Japan and Russia, yet its struggling to adapt to its new home. King salmon, whales and crabs are other species grappling with finding their place, he said. While heat waves have affected many species, other populations arent substantially impacted, Drummond said. Half of the data collected from organisms such as phytoplankton and even homeothermic top predators presented neutral responses to the heat wave. Twenty percent of these apex predators even responded positively to the abnormal heat exposure, according to the study. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homeothermic animals, including birds and mammals, have stable internal body temperatures regardless of the environmental temperature. That gives us perspective on which species might more readily adapt to these kinds of warming water events in the future and which will not, Drummond said. Although rising temperatures are the primary factor affecting animals like murres, other elements also may be contributing to marine life changes. From an ecological perspective microplastics, ocean acidification, sea levels rising and chronic oil spills are other massive mortality factors at play, Huettmann said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, studies tracking the long-term effects of climate events on marine life are limited, so scientists are still uncertain about how these animals will continue to be impacted in the future. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (Bloomberg) -- Red Sea disruptions a consequence of Houthi maritime attacks have cost Egypt at least $7 billion in Suez Canal revenue this year, the countrys presidency said in a statement Thursday. Most Read from Bloomberg Revenue from the vital international waterway is down over 60%, the statement said, without providing total figures. The Houthi attacks have hit Egypt hard since they began in late 2023. The Yemen-based militant group hasnt targeted Egyptian assets, but it has effectively closed the southern Red Sea and parts of the Gulf of Aden to most Western shipping firms, stopping them from using the Suez Canal to move goods between Europe and Asia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Suez Canal is a vital source of foreign exchange for the $380 billion Egyptian economy, whose currency slid to a record low in the past month. As well as assaulting ships, the Houthis are firing drones and missiles on Israel. They say they wont stop until Israel agrees to a ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. SEOUL (Reuters) - A German court has ordered the recall and destruction of some products from lighting maker Signify that infringed on the patents of Seoul Semiconductor, the South Korean firm said on Thursday. The court in Dusseldorf ordered distributor Conrad Electronic to take the actions and said there would be a fine of up to 250,000 euros ($259,925) for each violation of its order, Seoul Semiconductor said in a statement. Netherlands-based Signify - the world's biggest lighting maker which was spun off from Philips in 2016 - said the patents in question had expired. The company told Reuters it had started legal action to show that the patents were now invalid, without going into further details on the case. Seoul Semiconductor, which has sued multinational companies over patents, said it uses about 10% of its revenue in research and development and holds more than 18,000 patents in light-emitting diode technology. ($1 = 0.9618 euros) (Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Andrew Heavens) A grizzly bear in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. (Photo by Frank van Manen / USGS / Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 / Unedited) If you gave two toddlers a set of crayons and a map of Yellowstone National Park, their resulting artwork would likely look similar to the GPS tracks showing the wanderings of two grizzly bears relocated from Montana to Wyoming earlier this year. The two subadult grizzlies, one male and one female, were fitted with tracking collars upon their capture and a new map by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks on Friday shows their roaming range since their release into the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From a release site just south of Yellowstone Lake, the male grizzly seems to have marked out tightly knit boundaries on his new territory. His tracking lines show a flurry of activity concentrated within about 20 miles of where he was dropped off. The female grizzly, by contrast, has thoroughly explored northwest Wyoming from her initial release location north of Dubois. She has ranged west to the shore of Jackson Lake near Teton National Park, looped up around the entirety of Yellowstone Lake nearly two times, and roamed all the way into eastern Idaho, hopping the border into Montana before returning to the east side of Yellowstone Park. We are very pleased to see that both bears have remained in the GYE, even staying mostly within remote areas of the Recovery Zone, said Cecily Costello, FWP grizzly bear researcher. Its not always easy for a bear to adjust after being moved like this, but they seem to be settling in. We believe both have recently found a den site for the winter. A map showing the movements of two subadult grizzly bears relocated from Montana to Wyoming this summer. (Courtesy FWP) The two bears had been successfully trapped in July near the Middle Fork Flathead River, part of the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem , and released in Wyomings Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both bears were subadults between three and five years old, not yet at sexual maturity, and had no history of conflicts with humans. At this age, according to Montana FWP wildlife division head Ken McDonald, the bears are often in search of a permanent home range, making them likely to stay close to their relocation spots. Grizzlies in the Lower 48 states are protected as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act with six defined recovery areas across the northwestern United States. In both the NCDE and GYE recovery areas, the grizzly population is estimated around 1,100, the Selkirk recovery area spanning the Washington-Idaho-British Columbia border has roughly 80 bears, and Montanas Cabinet-Yaak recovery area has around 40 bears. A few grizzlies have been documented in Montanas Bitterroot Valley, but there are currently no bears in Washingtons Northern Cascades. Recovery zones and current estimated distributions for the six ecosystems identified in the Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan. Graphic by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service While the populations of the NCDE and GYE are robust and have expanded their ranges beyond the recovery zones, there remains no documentation of grizzlies crossing between the distinct populations. This physical separation prevents genetic mixing between the populations a key to long-term conservation of the species. The efforts by Montana and Wyoming wildlife officials, in consultation with federal officials, to relocate two bears from one population to the other will supplement the gene pool and increase the species sustainability. Its an effort that may be repeated in the future, according to FWP, depending on how close in proximity the two populations of grizzlies eventually grow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This just jump starts what very likely will also happen naturally, McDonald, said in a statement. According to McDonald, Montana and Wyoming have and will continue to act on their commitment to connectivity between the two grizzly populations, and the agencies will continue to monitor the bears and their genetics to check for population diversity. That these bears are exploring their new ecosystem and seem to be doing well is an indication that theyll thrive in their new environment, McDonald said. It also reflects the commitment Montana has to grizzly bear conservation. The successful translocation also provides a new benchmark for state officials to use in their push for delisting grizzlies and returning management to the states. Montana, Wyoming and Idaho officials have all petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove grizzlies from the Endangered Species List, a controversial move some conservation groups oppose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to FWP, the states have met delisting requirements for both ecosystems and addressed concerns identified by the public or outlined by federal courts that ruled against previous delisting efforts. The Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to release decisions on grizzly protections in the two biggest ecosystems by the end of January. However, just last week a group of 15 environmental and animal conservation groups sent a petition to FWS asking it to update its Grizzly Bear Recovery Plans just weeks before the expected decision. The latest intervention is based on a new report written by FWSs former longtime grizzly bear recovery manager, Chris Servheen, which recommends against delisting. It says grizzlies remain vulnerable despite population increases, and, among other arguments, the current recovery plan fails to account for population increases in the northern Rocky Rockies or efforts in recent years by western states to enact programs focused on reducing predator populations, including grizzlies. Daily Montanan 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. Three newborn babies in the Gaza Strip have died from hypothermia, according to a report on Thursday by the Palestinian news agency WAFA. It said that the babies were between four and 21 days old. Aid organizations have repeatedly issued warnings about the harsh conditions facing displaced families in Gaza during the winter months. According to UN figures, nearly 1 million people in Gaza lack adequate shelter. A large proportion of the approximately 2 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip have been forced to flee their homes multiple times due to ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The destruction has left many living in tent camps, where temperatures in Gaza City have recently dropped below 10 degrees Celsius at night. "If reports about 3 babies freezing to death in Gaza dont move us then we dont understand the birth in a manger in Bethlehem or the light of Hanukkah," the German ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, wrote on X. "They should move us to demand an end of the war and Hamas terror, winter supplies for the Gazans and a full hostage release," Seibert added. Israeli strike kills five Palestinian journalists An Israeli airstrike on a press broadcasting van killed five Palestinian journalists working in Gaza, according to a media report from the area on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Broadcaster Al Jazeera, citing a reporter in Gaza, reported that journalists from the Palestinian broadcaster Al-Quds Today were working near a hospital at the refugee camp of Nuseirat in the centre of the sealed-off coastal strip when their marked press van was hit. Israel's military said only that it had carried out a "targeted" overnight strike on "a vehicle containing a squad of terrorists from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization in the Nuseirat area." The Israeli statement on X did not mention journalists or casualties, but said that numerous measures were taken to limit the dangers to civilians. Neither the information provided by Al Jazeera nor that of the Israeli military could be independently verified. Israeli strikes have made Gaza the world's deadliest place to work as a journalist, with a third of this year's killings of media workers taking place in the war-torn Palestinian region, according to a December report by Reporters Without Borders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to this attack, at least 141 journalists had been killed in the Israel-Gaza war since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, according to the US non-profit organization Committee to Protect Journalists. Hamas militants and other Palestinian extremists crossed into Israel then, attacking Israeli communities and killing more than 1,200 people, while around 250 others were taken hostage to Gaza. Since then, Israel has been carrying out military strikes on Gaza, with Palestinian figures reporting over 45,300 deaths as a result. Israeli minister prays at contested Muslim religious site Meanwhile Israel's far-right Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has once again stoked condemnation by praying at a contested Jerusalem religious site counter to agreements with the Muslim community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a long-standing agreement with Muslim authorities, Jews are allowed to visit the site known to them as the Temple Mount but to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary but not to pray there. However, there are repeated violations of this agreement. "I went to our sanctuary to pray there for our soldiers, for the speedy return of all hostages and for total victory with God's help," Ben-Gvir wrote in a post on social media platform X on Thursday. The site houses the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque and is the third holiest site in Islam. It is also sacred to Jews because two Jewish temples once stood there. The site in the Old City of Jerusalem is under Muslim administration while Israel is responsible for security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As after last provocations by Ben-Gvir, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the status quo on the Temple Mount had not changed. However, the national security minister's violations of the rules never have any consequences. Three newborn babies in the Gaza Strip have died from hypothermia, according to a report on Thursday by the Palestinian news agency WAFA. It said that babies were aged between four and 21 days. Aid organizations have repeatedly issued warnings about the harsh conditions facing displaced families in Gaza during the winter months. According to UN figures, nearly 1 million people in Gaza lack adequate shelter. A large proportion of the approximately 2 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip have been forced to flee their homes multiple times due to ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The destruction has left many living in tent camps, where temperatures in Gaza City have recently dropped below 10 degrees Celsius at night. The conflict was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants and other Palestinian extremists crossed into Israel, attacking Israeli communities and killing more than 1,200 people, while around 250 others were taken hostage to Gaza. Since then, Israel has been carrying out military strikes on Gaza, with Palestinian figures reporting over 45,300 deaths as a result. Three people were shot and a fourth person stabbed as a fight turned violent inside Phoenix Sky Harbor's Terminal 4 Christmas night, police said. The fight occurred near a restaurant outside the airport's security checkpoints, Sgt. Mayra Reeson said at a news conference at Terminal 4 at about 2:30 a.m. Thursday. Airport officials said the report of gunshots outside the restaurant came just after 9:40 p.m. The restaurant is located on the airport's third level, which includes restaurants and shops outside the airport's security screening area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four people were taken to the hospital, one woman with life-threatening injuries and three men in stable condition, Reeson said. The five people involved all were familiar with each other, Reeson said. Their physical altercation escalated when someone pulled a gun and began shooting, according to Reeson. I do believe that this was a family dispute that escalated, she said during a news briefing. "We do not believe there is any suspect out there outstanding. I want to put everyone at ease." No other community members or airport travelers were injured, she said. Airport operations have resumed and no flights were affected by the shooting investigation, Phoenix police posted on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reeson said she did not immediately know whether those involved were from Arizona. When officers arrived, they found three people with gunshot wounds and another person in a Terminal 4 parking garage with "at least one stab wound," Reeson said. Police detained two people, an underage girl and the adult man with the stab wound, in connection with the shooting. Their identities have not yet been released. One gun was retrieved, Reeson said. A couple of hours after the shooting, a man reportedly reacting to a text falsely describing an active shooter at Sky Harbor arrived at the airport with numerous firearms and was arrested after a brief altercation with Phoenix police, Reeson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There was no active shooter; there never was," Reeson said. Phoenix police arrest a man on Dec. 25, 2024, who police said arrived at Sky Harbor with guns after he received a text falsely reporting an active shooter at the airport. An unrelated shooting did occur at the airport earlier that night, leaving four people hurt. About 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, officers were seen taking a man without shoes or a shirt into custody, moments before another officer was seen carrying two firearms, including a handgun, in an evidence bag. The man was identified as 21-year-old Cole Nenon, Phoenix police said on Thursday. Nenon was told by a relative at the airport that a shooting had occurred earlier in the evening, according to police. Just before 11:25 p.m., Nenon approached a Phoenix police officer who was standing near the shooting scene and began yelling at him. The officer gave him commands to stop, but he did not, Phoenix police said. The officer was able to take Nenon to the ground and placed him under arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nenon is facing aggravated assault charges after spitting on the officer and striking him during the struggle, according to Phoenix police. Marvin Miller, a cleaner at the airport for three years, said he heard three gunshots in succession from the lower-level ticketing area of Terminal 4. "I heard three shots. They were different from fireworks. Gunshots are a big difference," said Miller, who was just getting off his shift when he got word of the incident from his co-workers. Miller reflected on safety concerns he saw at the airport. Anyone from the outside is able to walk into the airport's terminal, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The area in the terminal before security checkpoints are public therefore same rules/laws apply as in any public area," said Sgt. Phil Krynsky with Phoenix police. Eric Everts, an airport spokesperson, said in an emailed statement on Wednesday night: "The Terminal 4 A security checkpoint was temporarily closed and PHX Sky Train operations were paused at Terminal 4 as a precaution." "The incident has been resolved and operations are returning to normal," Everts said in the statement. He directed further questions to Phoenix police. Shootings at Sky Harbor are "extremely rare" police said in an emailed statement on Thursday. Since late 2015, there have been at least three calls for service to the airport for someone with a gun and one for a stabbing, according to open data released by Phoenix police. All four were reports made in either 2016 or 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego condemned those involved in the incident that brought a scare to the airport on Christmas Day. "The domestic violence incident at @PHXSkyHarbor last night has no place in our city, especially during the holidays," she said in a Thursday post to X. "Im grateful for @PhoenixPolices swift response and remain committed to ensuring the safety of everyone who passes through our airport." (This story was updated to add new information, video and photos.) This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Sky Harbor Terminal 4 shooting: 4 injured on Christmas night KANSAS CITY, Mo. On Wednesday, retired KCPD Officer Richard White held the 48th Annual Senior Citizens Christmas Day Dinner. He wants to make sure that no one has to spend Christmas alone. This year, White and volunteers served dinner to hundreds of people. For us to have the opportunity to show love so that these people arent sitting at home by themselves, its a joy, White said. Chiefs clinch AFCs top seed by breezing past the skidding Steelers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Christmas Day dinner was offered at three locations. Around 300 seniors ate at the St. Peters Elementary School location. That location delivered meals to around the same number of people who couldnt leave their homes for various reasons. White came up with the idea after noticing a need in the community. I came up with the idea of doing the dinner on Christmas Day for seniors because, as district officers, wed make calls on Christmas day, and the seniors would be by themselves. So I suggested it, and my Major said, go with it, White explained. So that has grown from 35 people in 1977 to sometimes we serve 800 or 900 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People over 60 who cant spend Christmas with friends or family enjoy a classic holiday meal with others, play games like bingo, and go home with a printed picture of their table. White looks forward to seeing people come year after year and form friendships with others. My favorite part is hard to describe, but getting together with all the volunteers and seeing some of these people is that Ive seen years after years, White said. They have created a relationship with each other. Its a relationship with our fellow human beings, which God showed us as a relationship with his creation- us, so thats what it is about. Nicholas Miller has been volunteering for 10 years. He helps bus seniors to the Christmas dinner and says its a rewarding experience each year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I look forward to picking people up, and its very important to get the elderly out. What Richard is doing is a wonderful thing. So it just feels good to be able to give back and help out, Miller explained. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri White said the need continues to grow, and he hopes to expand locations by next year. Were hoping to do many more as soon as we can get a sponsorship because there are about four other locations that I know of where there is a need, White said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. A retired television news anchor fell into a ravine while hiking in a remote part of a national park prompting first responders to carry out a daring rescue that included tying her to a rope and having her airlifted by chopper. Carol Sbarge, who worked for an ABC affiliate in Atlanta for nearly three decades, went on a hike in September with her boyfriend in Chattahoochee National Forest tucked in the Blue Ridge Mountains region of northern Georgia. So somehow, as I was kind of walking on the trail, my foot hit a rock. And before I knew it, I just went tumbling down this ravine, Sbarge told WSB-TV as she recounting the harrowing incident. Sbarge suffered a broken leg while hiking this past fall in a remote national park in northern Georgia. WSB-TV Sbarge, 67, suffered serious injuries which prevented her from hiking out of Panther Creek Falls on her own power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I broke [the lower leg] in three spots, she said. Sbarge had to have a plate and eight screws installed in her leg. Sbarge fell into a ravine in Chattahoochee National Forest in September. WSB-TV Since she and her boyfriend were hiking in a remote spot, they had trouble calling 911. Another hiker nearby spotted the two and alerted authorities. Rescue workers with the Habersham County Emergency Services drove out to the area but realized that Sbarges location wasnt accessible by car or jeep. So they hiked two miles to reach Sbarge. They then strapped her onto a wheeled board and tied it to a chopper. Emergency services staged a daring helicopter rescue to extricate Sbarge from the ravine. WSB-TV It was the first time ever that emergency services rescued a hiker by chopper in that remote part of the northern Georgia mountains. WSB-TV Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sbarge was flown 3.6 miles while strapped to a board that was attached to a chopper. WSB-TV Officials said it was the first time ever that they carried out an airborne evacuation of a hiker in Panther Creek Falls. Sbarge was airlifted and flown for 3.6 miles before she was admitted into a local hospital. Sbarge worked as an anchor and reporter for Atlantas WSB-TV. WSB-TV Theyre just special people. Theyre putting themselves at risk. You know, every day they dont know what kind of danger theyre going to face, Sbarge said of the rescue workers. Its wonderful. Means weve done our job, paramedic Phillip Kimbrell said. Weve done a good job at it and we got her to wherever needed to be. So makes me feel great all over. And its amazing. Im very appreciative, Sbarge said. The Post has sought comment from Sbarge. Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) is leaving Congress with the goal of opening doors for a younger generation in leadership. Im trying to set a better example, Kuster told The Boston Globe in a report published Thursday about her decision to not seek reelection. I think there are colleagues and some of whom are still very successful and very productive but others who just stay forever. Kuster chalked up her decision to several reasons, including President-elect Trumps White House bid as well as her experiences during the Capitol insurrection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive said somewhat facetiously, he tried to kill me once, Im not available for that again, Kuster shared of her experience on Jan. 6, 2021. What we went through on Jan. 6 and his attempt to overthrow the government took a toll, she added about Trump. That was really hard, and not just personally, but on my ability to work across the aisle. Her decision to leave Capitol Hill was reaffirmed after days of debates revolving around the continuing resolution to extend government funding until March, she said. Kuster cited input from Elon Musk and other billionaires as a cold hearted gesture she refused to accept as the norm. Theres a theme developing when billionaires make decisions about hard-working families lives, it comes out just mean, she told the Globe. Its cold hearted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her decision to not seek reelection was made public in March as concerns mounted about President Bidens age and his own reelection bid. Kuster said at the time she wasnt sure that Biden could beat Trump. Just in my heart, [I] reached the conclusion that this would be a very challenging campaign for him, and to put himself out there for another four-year term was was going to be a struggle, Kuster said about the president. Despite Democrats loss in the presidential election, Kuster will be replaced by Democrat Maggie Goodlander, 38, in Congress. Shell be great. I think shell do fine, Kuster said. Its all worked out, and I think the voters really wanted me to be replaced by a woman, and thats sort of endearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kuster backed her campaign manager, Colin Van Ostern, for her seat in the primary, but he lost to Goodlander, who is married to Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan, by more than 30 percentage points. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Health insurers are ending the year on a poor note, with several headwinds ranging from Congress's attempt to reign in costs to lowered profits from higher utilization of benefits. The recent tragic shooting of an insurance executive added an even bigger problem: an angered American public calling for the industry to change. The combination of factors made 2024 tougher than recent years and portends an uncertain start to 2025. "Managed care stocks have significantly underperformed in 2024 (-20% vs. +27% S&P), facing unprecedented policy, reimbursement, and utilization headwinds alongside more recent industry scrutiny. While many of the aforementioned overhangs will continue into 2025 and utilization remains a key variable," Morgan Stanley analysts wrote in a note to clients this month. At the start of the year, health insurers began to see a dip in the profits for Medicare Advantage, the popular Medicare plan administered by commercial insurers, as more and more seniors began to get care after delaying during the pandemic. That has particularly impacted Humana (HUM), which sees roughly 30% of its insurance revenues from this market as is the case with other major players, including Aetna (CVS). Medicare Advantage plans offer perks that aren't available with traditional Medicare, such as gym memberships, and insurers have been able to leverage the system to get greater reimbursements for the seniors they cover compared to traditional Medicare. Recent studies have shown that Medicare pays about $300 more per enrollee in an Advantage plan compared to traditional Medicare. Despite that, major insurers were pressured throughout the year as increased utilization meant more premium dollars out of their pockets and less profit. In fact, some insurers cut commissions for brokers, which would discourage greater enrollment. Medical loss ratio How much insurers spend on care can be tracked by the medical loss ratio (MLR) or the portion of premium dollars paid out compared to how much is collected. This number has also been less than ideal for the sector this year. Major players saw this increase throughout the year. Humana, for example, saw its MLR jump to 88% in fiscal year 2023, compared to 86.6% in 2022. Year to date in 2024, that number has increased to 89.2%. The Affordable Care Act required insurers to pay between 80% and 85% of all claims, and insurers and investors want numbers on the lower end of that range. But almost all insurers have had elevated MLRs since the end of 2023. CVS, for example, reported an MLR of 95.2% in the third quarter of 2024 for the nine months through September, compared to 85.7% in the same period the year prior. The year 2024 saw 12 homicides in Wichita Falls, including the tragic murders of a woman and her unborn child. Looking back on the cases handled by the WFPD, beginning with a robbery turned shootout at Country Park Apartments. Robbery gone wrong at Country Park Apartments Just a few weeks after the year began, three people were shot, including the victim, during a robbery at Country Park Apartments on Professional Drive. It happened Sunday night, Jan. 21. One of the wounded men told officers that two other armed men tried to rob him. He said thats when he pulled out a gun, and shots were fired. Quincy Moore, 32, died at the hospital and 32-year-old Sydney Brown died a couple of weeks later. Their deaths were found to be justifiable homicides. Man shoots older brother in the backyard On the afternoon of Feb. 22, officers responded to the 4800 block of Marsha Lane for a report of about 10 gunshots, then yelling, followed by more gunshots. Police found 61-year-old Raymond Ralicki outside his home with a revolver in his hand, leading to a short stand-off with police when he wouldnt drop it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers found Ralickis brother, 69-year-old Stanley Ralicki, deceased in the backyard. A witness told officers that Ralicki shot his older brother and said Ralicki also fired at him, but he was not injured. Ralicki is charged with murder and aggravated assault. Accidental shooting becomes homicide investigation Just before midnight on May 6, Wichita Falls police responded to a welfare check at a home in the 100 block of Patterson Street. There, they found 28-year-old Trevenian Mitchell dead in front of the house with a gunshot wound to the head. A witness at the scene told police that Mitchell was carrying an AK-47 assault rifle wrapped in clothing cradled in his arms as well as other items in his hands. The witness said he heard the rifle go off, and when he turned around, Mitchell was lying on the ground. On July 12, the WFPD reported this fatal shooting, which was first believed to be an accident, was being investigated as a homicide. So far, there have been no arrests. Pellet gun to the eye leads to manhunt and murder charge On May 12, police responded to the 1400 block of New Haven and found 31-year-old Deron Royster Jr. with a left eye injury. Royster could not explain how he was injured, and people on the scene were not cooperative. It was later determined he had a pellet in his brain from a pellet gun, and he died from his injury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the morning of May 23, Darren Jerome King, 34, was found in a backyard chicken coop and was arrested following a manhunt in the Sunnyside neighborhood. Then, in August, he was cleared of a charge of murdering Royster. King has a lengthy, violent criminal history and faces further charges after police said he threatened a woman with a hammer and bolt cutters in early December 2023. 1 killed during robbery by two teens Late on the night of May 28, Jordyn Jones, 23, was shot twice during an attempted robbery near Wichita and Calhoun. Victims told officers theyd left their apartment to go to a store when two black males in black hoodies and ski masks pulled out handguns. One told the victims to give them everything they had. They said Jones jumped forward and tried to grab the gun before shots were fired. In late August, 18-year-old Traquan Eiland, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, and 18-year-old Cortez Banks were each indicted by a Wichita County grand jury for capital murder, four counts of aggravated robbery and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. They could face the death penalty. Drug deal gone wrong leads to death On June 20, police responded to a call about gunshots in the 1500 block of Smith Street, where they found Brandon Clampit dead near his driveway with a gunshot wound to the chest. They believe Clampit was killed during a drug deal that turned into his attempted robbery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 13, M.H. Griffin III and Marqwon Griffin were both booked into the Wichita County jail for capital murder and are now indicted on those charges. Murder-suicide increases 2024 Wichita Falls homicide numbers by 2 At around 12:15 a.m. on Saturday, June 22, officers responded to reports of gunshots at Highpoint Village Apartments. When police arrived, they discovered 21-year-old Alicia Elias and 22-year-old Abelino Gonzales, Jr in the parking lot with gunshot wounds. Elias was pronounced dead at the scene, while Gonzales was taken to United Regional, where he was later pronounced dead. According to witnesses, the two argued as they walked away from the apartment, and then Gonzales began shooting at Elias before shooting himself. Witnesses told officers Elias was possibly pregnant with Gonzales child. Then, on July 17, police confirmed the number of homicides in Wichita Falls for the year was rising by one with the addition of a second victim in this murder-suicide. Police confirmed Elias was pregnant at the time. Mound of evidence leads to murder charge in West End shooting In the early morning hours of September 14, Giovanni Cesar was shot in the head and killed in the parking lot of West End Pub and Pool. On Sept. 26, police said they had on-scene evidence, multiple video recordings and witness statements to justify a murder charge against 20-year-old Marcus Fonseca. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say Cesar was seen walking at a normal, non-aggressive pace before a gun flash is seen, and he fell to the ground. 3-month investigation leads to murder charge for Wichita Falls woman In late November, following an autopsy and a three-month investigation, a Wichita Falls woman was charged with murder in connection with a fatal drug overdose at the Days Inn on August 24. Heather Boswell, 40, was arrested at the Wayfarer motel. During questioning, police said Boswell admitted she injected 64-year-old Michael Newcomb twice with liquid methamphetamine before his overdose. She, too, is now charged with murder. This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates as more information becomes available. All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. UPPER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. (PIX11) Every Christmas morning, Lance Peterson becomes a drummer in General George Washingtons Army. You may misunderstand a command by listening to a voice, but when you hear the drum beat, youll know exactly what it meant, said Peterson. More Local News Hes one of hundreds who have reenacted the historic moment of the Revolutionary War, which occurred in 1776: Washington crossing the Delaware. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of our history is taught in schools, and when youre young, its names and its dates and its boring, said Peterson. Then when you see people of all walks of life -Im a computer repairer- and theres doctors, lawyers, just regular vocations out here, were all in this because we love history, and we want the crowd to see what its actually like. On a cold, icy, and bleak Christmas night, Washington and his troops pulled off one of the most crucial moments in our nations history, crossing the Delaware River into Hopewell Township before a surprise attack on Hessian soldiers in Trenton. Tamara Montgomery was among the first of thousands of spectators to crowd the shore on the Pennsylvania side. The feeling of the history and just watching it happen when it happened, said Montgomery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She encourages more young people to come out in the future and take in history. People always say, If you dont know your history, youre doomed to repeat it,' said Montgomery. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Peter Thomas will not just walk free out of custody when his 18-month sentence is done; he will still have the law to deal with. The Bravo star has identified a lengthy list of terms and conditions he must follow when he completes his current jail sentence. Peter Thomas was sentenced by an attorney of the Western District of North Carolina last week when he pled guilty to tax evasion and debt. Peter Thomas Ordered To Join A Substance Abuse Testing Program Cobb County Sheriff's Office The reality star's two years supervised release will not be a walk in the park as he was given stringent rules to live by. He was ordered to sign up for a substance abuse testing program during the duration of his supervised release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TMZ confirmed that Thomas's probation officer, who has the clearance to conduct a search on him if he finds something sinister, will also be keeping an eagle eye on the star. He was also ordered to abstain from excessive alcohol consumption and desist from purchasing, using, or keeping narcotics and other illicit substances. Thomas Also Pled Guilty To Owing Trust Fund Taxes Alongside his sentence, The Blast shared that the star was also ordered to pay the IRS $2.5 million in restitution. The TV personality also pled guilty this summer to one count of failing to pay trust fund taxes owed by his business for six years, from 2017 to 2023. Thomas reportedly owed the IRS nearly $650,000 in trust fund taxes on his employees' wages in Charlotte, North Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also allegedly defaulted on more than $2.5 million in employment taxes over six years due to his economic exploits in various states. The Entrepreneur Urged His Fans & Followers To Learn From His Mistake Thomas would not let other people suffer his fate, so he used social media to lecture young entrepreneurs on the dangers of tax debt. He urged aspiring businesspeople to learn from his mistakes and expressed his readiness to face the consequences of his actions. Thomas explained that the bulk of his crime included "consistently withholding taxes for business over 10 years." The businessman explained that he thought he could right his wrongs by creating a payment plan, but he discovered that "it doesn't work like that." Thomas revealed that he pled guilty to the charges, stating: "I plead guilty. And, with my plea of guilty, I have to sit down for a while." The 'RHOA' Star Was Picked Up For Driving While Intoxicated In Cobb County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in January, the TV star was served multiple charges after local police arrested him for drunk driving. Thomas also caught additional charges, including driving without a license, not having proof of insurance, failure to maintain lane, expired/no tag, and violation of a traffic control device. However, he walked home the same day after securing a $3,000 bail bond. Similar to his current situation, he was also given a set of rules to follow upon his release. According to his booking sheet, a judge decreed he was prohibited from drinking alcohol and ingesting marijuana. The business owner must also make himself available for random drug and alcohol tests at his own cost with no chance to bear firearms. Peter Thomas Was Arrested 'On The Run' In Miami International Airport The restaurant owner can do anything but stay out of cuffs and iron bars. He was previously arrested by law enforcement in 2019 on a fugitive warrant. At the time, authorities revealed that he had spent the night in jail after being arrested at Miami International Airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He reportedly possessed a warrant issued from Louisiana, where he was accused of writing fraudulent checks. Thomas denied the allegations in an official statement and emphasized that he would be "acquitted from any wrongdoing." The serial entrepreneur broke into the limelight when he appeared alongside Bailey on the hit Bravo show. Thomas and Bailey were married for seven years before finalizing their divorce in March 2017. Will Peter Thomas keep his head low when he exits jail? Only time will tell! Name: Jordan Seaberry Age: 35 Hometown: South Side of Chicago Position: Assistant professor at the Rhode Island School of Design, co-director of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture Jordan Seaberrys parents encouraged him and his siblings to dream big. Ambitious thinking led Seaberry on an unconventional path from cultivating comic book painting at the Rhode Island School of Design to organizing protests as an activist and advocating for families stricken by murder at the Nonviolence Institute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, Seaberry, 35, is an assistant professor at RISD, teaching drawing, and the co-director of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture. But his journey has been far from a straight line. Seaberry became disillusioned after moving from the South Side of Chicago to Providence to attend art school. Jordan Seaberry at his studio in Providence's West End, with his dog, Idgy. He began contemplating how art could possibly matter in a world of war, hunger and poverty. He set up a stand to serve people meals at Kennedy Plaza as he ruminated on issues of gender, race and class and how they shape society. I fell in love with activist work, Seaberry said. Politics became more and more important. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He dropped out of school and volunteered for Direct Action For Rights And Equality: DARE. He worked as a legislative advocate to pass criminal justice reforms as the director of public policy at the Nonviolence Institute. RISD let Seaberry, a painter, resume his studies. He began mulling the intersection between art and politics and nourishing both simultaneously. I came to politics because Im an artist. An artist is someone who blurs the lines between these distinctions, said Seaberry, who keeps a studio in the citys West End. I fell in love with activist work, Seaberry said. Politics became more and more important. Along the way, he also earned a master of studies in law degree at the Roger Williams University School of Law as a fellow, building on his knowledge of the legal system. He served as chair of the Providence Board of Canvassers, overseeing the citys elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If theres a lane for me, its those lanes between lanes, he said. Seaberry's plans for the year ahead included creating a publication, possibly an interactive, for his most recent exhibition with hospice care patients We Live Until" as a recipient of an Interlace Grant. He also intends to launch some big public work with the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RISD professor Jordan Seaberry makes waves in RI politics Richard Parsons, who presided over Time Warner as CEO from 2002-2007 as the media conglomerate was recovering from the epic fail of the AOL merger and who later became interim chairman of CBS to right its ship following the resignation of Leslie Moonves, died Thursday in Manhattan after a long illness. He was 76. Parsons longtime friend Ronald S. Lauder, a member with Parsons of the Estee Lauder board, told the New York Times today that Parsons died of bone cancer. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of nations most powerful Black executives, Parsons was an astute, soft spoken and genial presence. He was born in 1948 in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn and grew up in Ozone Park, Queens, the son of an electrical technician and a homemaker and one of five children. He attended the University of Hawaii and went on to a law degree at Union University Albany. Parsons served in both state and federal politics under New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, and presidents Gerald R. Ford, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. In 2008, he was a member of the then president-elect Obamas Economic Transition Team and later served as a member of Obamas Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. He took the helm of the company then called AOL Time Warner in 2002, replacing the late Gerald Levin as CEO. Faced with economic and culture-clash fallout from what is widely considered one of the worst mergers in corporate history, he removed AOL from the companys name and, dramatically, from atop its former Columbus Circle headquarters the Time Warner Center in 2003. He had joined Time Warner as president in 1995 and voted for the merger, which was inked by Levin just as the dotcom boom crested and broadband was set to displace dial-up services like AOL. He faced massive losses, furious investors and challenges of getting the business back on track even as he fended off corporate raider Carl Icahn, who was pushing for the company to split up. Parsons reached an agreement with the activist investor, known for his recent unsuccessful shots to scale the board of Disney. In 2009, Time Warner spun out AOL as a separately stand-alone company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parsons handed the Time Warner reins to then-COO Jeff Bewkes, who led the pared down company, which also sold its stories music and magazine divisions, through to its subsequent sale to AT&T. Discovery Communications acquired the company in 2022. All of us at Warner Bros. Discovery suffered a terrible loss today, said David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery. I met Dick Parsons about 30 years ago when I started at NBC. He was a great mentor and friend. I knew him as tough and brilliant negotiator, always looking to create something where both sides win. All who got a chance to work with him and know him saw that unusual combination of great leadership with integrity and kindness. Dick played both an enormous role in building Time Warner but was also one of the great problem solvers this industry has ever seen. Its why so of us many looked up to him and sought his wise advice. Parsons was named chairman of Citigroup in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, helping to steady the banking giant, much as he did decades earlier in his trailblazing first corporate turnaround with the company that became Dime Bancorp. In a New York Times interview in 1998 when he took the top job at Dime, he was asked about being a black executive who was the first to run a savings and loan of that size. The fact is, in this society, you are going to be held to a higher level of accountability, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was named interim CEO of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014 amid the scandal around then-owner Donald Sterling and forced Sterling to resign and sell the team. DEADLINE RELATED VIDEO: In September 2018, Parsons, who had been serving as an advisor to CBS controlling shareholder Shari Redstones National Amusements amid a battle with Moonves for control of CBS Corp, was appointed interim CBS chairman after Moonves was forced resignation amid allegations of sexual misconduct from several women. That tenure lasted just a month, however, resigning in October of that year. Parsons cited health reasons related to his ongoing fight with multiple myeloma as the reason for his sudden exit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In all ventures, his extreme likability served him well. A statement today by Lazard, where he served as a board member, recalled a longtime friend who said Parsons had the ability to make friends in an empty elevator. He co-founded VC investment firm Imagination Capital in 2017. He has served on the boards of Citigroup, Estee Lauder, among others, and been a longtime senior advisor to giant Providence Equity Partners. He served as chairman of the Rockefeller Foundation. A wine afficionado, Parsons acquired Il Palazzone winery in Montalcino, Tuscany, a premium producer of Brunello, in 2002. He sold it in 2021. He was a significant contributor to arts and culture, serving as chairman of the Apollo Theater and the Jazz Foundation of America, and sitting on the boards of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parsons also served as chairman of the Equity Alliance, founded in 2021 to invest in venture capital fund managers and founders who are people of color and/or women. In recent years, said Lazard, Dick turned his attention to what he saw as one of American businesss most pressing challenges the need to democratize access to capital. Through his leadership of Equity Alliance, he understood deeply that success in life was, as he often quoted, 10% what you know, 10% who you know and 80% luck and he was a trailblazer in helping others access all three. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Richard Dick Parsons, a former Time Warner CEO who was also instrumental in saving New Yorks Apollo Theater, died Thursday in Manhattan. He was 76. His cause of death was bone cancer, his friend Ronald S. Lauder told the New York Times. All of us at Warner Bros. Discovery suffered a terrible loss today, current WBD CEO David Zaslav told TheWrap in a statement, recalling that he first met Parsons 30 years ago at NBC and remembering him as a great person, a great friend and a great leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All who got a chance to work with him and know him saw that unusual combination of great leadership with integrity and kindness, Zaslav continued. Dick played both an enormous role in building Time Warner but was also one of the great problem solvers this industry has ever seen. Its why so of us many looked up to him and sought his wise advice. Parsons was born April 4, 1948, in Brooklyn, and graduated from Albany Law School at the top of his class. He went on to work for New York governor, and eventual vice president, Nelson Rockefeller. That important connection led to him being named to the board of Time Warner, becoming president of the company in 1995. At Time Warner, he worked to reduce the massive debt built up by the merger with AOL by selling off properties, including the Atlanta Hawks and Warner Music Group. He also decided to remove AOL from the companys name post-merger. He stepped down as CEO in 2007, resigning as chairman the following year. Parsons went on to advise New York governor Eliot Spitzer, former New York mayors Michael Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani, as well as President Barack Obama. From 2009 to 2012, he served as chairman of Citigroup and became interim CEO of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parsons briefly served as the interim chairman of CBS Corp. in 2018, following Leslie Moonves departure due to sexual misconduct allegations. Parsons battle with multiple myeloma forced him to step down at the time due to unanticipated complications of the disease. The executive also spearheaded the preservation of Harlems Apollo Theater in the 1990s, organizing a fundraising campaign to save the historic venue. Without Dick, there would be no Apollo as we know it today, Jonelle Procope, president and CEO of the theatre, told the Times in 2020. Parsons is survived by three children: Gregory, Leslie and Rebecca. The post Richard Parsons, Former Time Warner CEO, Dies at 76 appeared first on TheWrap. (Bloomberg) -- At least 248 people have died in Mozambiques escalating post-election turmoil while the deadly unrest prompted a natural gas producer to restrict shipping to neighboring South Africa and a Tesla Inc. supplier to shut operations. Most Read from Bloomberg The death toll jumped this week after a court endorsed the ruling partys victory in the disputed October election. Meanwhile, more than 1,500 prisoners on Wednesday broke out of a maximum security jail near Maputo, the capital, during which 33 died, police said. By the evening, the authorities said theyd recaptured about 150. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protests spread across the gas-rich nation after opposition leader Venancio Mondlane rejected the outcome as fraudulent and called for peaceful protests, but riots broke out that led to mass looting and arson in Maputo and neighboring Matola city. The violence prompted South Africas Sasol Ltd. to reduce production at its Mozambique facility. Earlier this month Tesla supplier Syrah Resources Ltd. declared force majeure at its graphite mining operations. The demonstrations will likely continue, targeting main roads and mining operations, said Gustavo Placido, an analyst at Horizon Engage in Lisbon. Still, he sees the ruling Mozambique Liberation Front maintaining power as its leadership grapples with how to deal with the opposition that insists it won the Oct. 9 elections. This is a tough negotiation. No one wants to make concessions, Placido said. The country is burning, investors are scared. Sasol, which extracts gas and pipes it to neighboring South Africa to make gasoline, reduced output to maintain the safety of our people and assets, it said in a statement Wednesday. The company informed other gas customers that its unable to maintain full supply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South32 Ltd., which operates the regions biggest aluminum smelter near the Maputo port, earlier this month said it reduced electricity to its production facilities to preserve raw materials and maintain operational stability. Syrah, which has been sending battery ingredients to Tesla for testing ahead of commercial sales starting next year, declared force majeure at its Balama operation. At least 121 people died in the unrest this week, bring the total dead since demonstrations began on Oct. 21. to 248, Decide Platform, a local monitoring group said late Wednesday. The skies are covered in black smoke from burning tires and public and private infrastructure, Maputo-based Center for Democracy and Human Rights said in a statement Wednesday. The floor is covered in blood. The state is absent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Riviera Beach political candidates vowed last week to press ahead with their fight to remain on the March ballot despite a lawsuit challenging whether they paid their campaign filing fee in the proper manner. And on Tuesday, Dec. 17, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals restored the candidates statuses on the ballot for the upcoming election while the case is pending review. Riviera Beach District 5 City Councilman Douglas Lawson, one of his opponents, Madelene Irving-Mills, District 1 candidate Joseph Bedford Sr., and mayoral candidate Kendra Wester blasted that lawsuit as an effort to stifle electoral competition through political gamesmanship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We do stand united in our efforts to ensure that the citizens of Riviera Beach have their voices heard," Wester said, criticizing the lawsuit filed by Mayor Ronnie Felder, District 1 Councilman Tradrick McCoy and District 5 candidate Farcella Davis-Painter. "This would silence the democratic process." More: Judge's ruling in Riviera Beach could doom candidacies of Lawson, several office-seekers Ronnie Felder The lawsuit, filed in November, argues that Lawson, Irving-Mills, Bedford, Wester and another mayoral candidate, Kendrick Wyly, did not follow state law in paying their campaign filing fee with a campaign debit card instead of with a campaign check. Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Reid Scott II agreed with that argument, a position that, if it is not overturned, would knock Lawson, Irving-Mills, Bedford, Wester and Wyly off the ballot. That group of candidates asked Scott to stay his ruling so they could appeal to the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Scott denied that request, but the candidates filed for and won a stay from the Fourth Circuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are confident that justice will prevail and qualifications will be upheld," Lawson said during a press conference at the Marina Events Center. "Our collaborative efforts are to serve the residents of Riviera Beach. We call on our residents to join us as we reject these divisive tactics. Together, we can ensure that every voice is heard and every voter has a chance to be heard." From left: Riviera Beach political candidates Joseph Bedford Sr., Douglas Lawson, Kendra Wester and Madelene Irving-Mills address a lawsuit challenging how they paid their campaign filing fee. Wayne Washington/The Palm Beach Post Irving-Mills added: "Our right to vote should not be disenfranchised by people who choose their own agendas for their personal interests." Wyly did not attend the press conference, saying it conflicted with his work schedule. The 35-year-old first-time office-seeker faces a felony child abuse without great bodily harm charge stemming from an altercation he said he had with his nephew, who told police Wyly got drunk and struck him with a scooter. In another incident Wyly said he called Riviera Beach police and asked them to charge McCoy with assault after the councilman angrily grabbed him and pulled him from a barber's chair. Wyly said he had greeted McCoy with a reference to the lawsuit McCoy filed challenging how Wyly and others paid their campaign filing fee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Riviera Beach police handed the case over to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, which is investigating. In February, after McCoy and Lawson had a physical altercation following a contentious public meeting, PBSO said it found probable cause to charge both councilmen with simple battery. The agency gave them the option of pursuing charges but both declined. The candidates at Wednesday's press conference did not mention Wyly or the child abuse case against him. "That's his personal issues that we're not going to discuss," Lawson said. Candidates: Consultants advised them 'they would accept a debit card' to pay for campaign filing fee Candidate qualifications issues have tripped up local office-seekers. Julia Botel was not allowed to seek re-election to City Council earlier this year after she paid her campaign filing fee with a cashier's check and not with one drawn from her campaign account. The Riviera Beach clerk, who oversees elections in the city, disqualified Botel, and her would-be opponent, Glen Spiritis, took her seat when her efforts to overturn that disqualification failed. Lawson said, "we did have consultants and advisors that stated that they would accept a debit card." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that one of those advisors was former Belle Glade City Clerk Debra Buff, "a consultant, hired by the city." Buff is a former president of the Florida Association of City Clerks and has been honored by that organization for her work. RIVIERA BEACH NEWS: City starts process of raising $400 million in bond money for new water plant RIVIERA BEACH NEWS: Inspector General's scathing report rips city's water utilities leadership RIVIERA BEACH NEWS: Mayoral candidate Wyly claims councilman assaulted him Lawson said he does not blame Buff or anyone else for the legal turmoil that now surrounds March's municipal elections in Riviera Beach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I blame the process of this being a frivolous lawsuit," he said. 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: Riviera Beach candidates condemn election lawsuit as voter suppression Christian Luedtke, a researcher at Michigan State University, demonstrates a prototype of a tile robot. (Screenshot from Iowa Learning Farms) Researchers from Iowa State University have partnered with Michigan State University to develop a robot that would detect nitrates and monitor tile health to help farmers keep their land productive. Nearly half of Iowas harvested cropland has tile drainage, according to ag census data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The underground drainage systems help to boost crop productivity, but environmental and water groups have pointed out they can also deliver excessive amounts of nitrate and other nutrients downstream. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mike Castellano, a professor of soil science at ISU, said the robots and nitrate sensors could help farmers detect where, how and how much nitrate they are losing. Castellano spoke at a virtual field day with Iowa Learning Farms Dec. 19. That allows farmers to better manage their field at a precision scale, to improve both productivity and environmental performance of our crop production systems, Castellano said. Castellano said current technologies limit nitrate testing to the end of the tile pipe, but the robot would be able to pinpoint exactly when and where those nutrients are being lost. Liang Dong, the director of the microelectronics research center at ISU has worked with Castellano to develop the nitrate sensor portion of this technology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dong said the sensor is completed and is being commercialized to be an affordable technology for farmers. When the sensor is small enough and the price is low enough, farmers can put the sensors into their drainage tile, and then they will know what is the waterflow and what is the nitrate loss from their field, Dong said. The end goal is to put the nitrate sensor, along with a camera and a waterflow sensor, onto a robot that can crawl through an entire tile drainage system and store the information for farmers. The robot, which is being developed by team led by Xiaobo Tan, a professor of electrical engineering at Michigan State University, is still a prototype. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christian Luedtke, a graduate researcher working with Tan on the project, spoke at the virtual field day and demonstrated the current prototype. The nearly two-foot long robot is currently designed to use several fin-like barbs on the front and back to move through corrugated pipes. Luedtke said he has learned through this project that not all tile is corrugated and it often will change diameters across a field, which present additional challenges to creating the robot. We do not know that being engineers and not farmers, Luedtke said. These are things he learned while in Iowa this summer while talking about the project with farmers, many of whom have clay or concrete tiles that were installed many generations prior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luedtke said the robot also needs to be quicker at moving through the pipes, have a battery life of at least a couple of hours and be waterproofed before the research team can begin practical tests in actual tile. The water quality issues here in Iowa, if we can help provide a cheap and easy solution for farmers to make decisions to help that, I think thatd be a great effect for our work to have, Luedtke said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Following the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, where about 15% of the rioters were veterans or service members, the Pentagon launched an effort to root out extremism from the ranks and prevent anyone with a bent toward political violence from joining the military. After the past four years, experts in extremism prevention deemed those efforts incremental at best and perfunctory at worst. Political opposition very much slowed things down, said Kate Bitz, a senior organizer at the Western States Center, and lawmakers from both parties protested there was too much gray area in new anti-extremism policies. But even the piecemeal progress since 2021 is more than can be expected out of Pentagon leadership in 2025, said Bitz, as well as leaders from the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism and Human Rights First. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trumps administration will take the military back to the days when extremism in its entirety was ignored, said Wendy Via, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism. Extremism stand-down checked a box with no lasting result, critics say Efforts to dismantle systems that track and report instances of extremism in the military could be led by Pete Hegseth, a staunch opponent of diversity, equity and inclusion policies and Trumps pick for Defense Secretary. Hegseth has compared the Pentagons extremism policies to a purge and a sham. Hegseth said he intends to fire woke military leaders, a plan that Via believes will create an environment of distrust inside the Pentagon. His opposition to the Pentagons extremism-prevention efforts is partly personal. The Associated Press reported that a fellow service member flagged Hegseth, an Army National Guard veteran, as an insider threat because one of his tattoos was associated with the white supremacist movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the future when it comes to the DODs approach, theres every possibility that extremist elements will not just be ignored, but to some degree embraced, Witz said. These are groups that intentionally attempt to recruit veterans who bring military skills into bigoted movements. And many white nationalist and anti-democracy groups also advocate that members enter the military in order to gain these kind of skills. So, I suppose thats a rather bleak picture. The Defense Department Office of Inspector General reported in 2023 that the Pentagon investigated 183 allegations of extremist activity among service members that year, including 78 cases of troops advocating for the overthrow of the U.S. government. The watchdog prefaced the report by flagging that the services werent tracking and reporting data accurately, which meant those numbers didnt include all cases. Army imposes stricter rules for addressing extremism among troops This summer, the services took steps to standardize the system for how it reports cases of extremism to the IGs office. Hanah Stiverson, the associate director of democracy protection at Human Rights First, worries that funding to that system will be cut. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clear data and implementation of anti-extremism efforts is critical for national security, Stiverson said. Before Trump takes office next month, Congress is already poised to defund at least some of the Pentagons extremism-prevention initiatives. The House and Senate approved the annual military spending package this month, which includes a measure to prohibit leaders from spending any of the $895 billion going to the military on the Countering Extremism Working Group. President Joe Biden signed the measure into law Monday. The Countering Extremism Working Group was formed after Jan. 6, 2021, and it offered dozens of recommendations to the Pentagon for how to address extremism in the ranks. Via thinks its likely the recommendations will not be implemented. Theres no question that the 2024 NDAA contributes to the undermining of the idea that extremism in the military needs to be appropriately addressed, Via said. This story was produced in partnership with Military Veterans in Journalism. Please send tips to MVJ-Tips@militarytimes.com. TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor's global production decreased for a 10th straight month in November, the Japanese carmaker said on Wednesday, although its worldwide sales grew for the second consecutive month on solid demand in the United States and China. The world's biggest automaker manufactured 869,230 vehicles globally in November, down 6.2% from the same month last year, a larger fall than October's 0.8% dip. Toyota's U.S. output was down 11.8%, making a slow recovery although the production of Grand Highlander and Lexus TX SUV models resumed in late October after a four-month stoppage. China production dropped 1.6%, which was however better than a 9% decline in the previous month, as Toyota saw higher local sales of its Granvia and Sienna minivan models and the electric sedan bZ3 jointly developed with BYD. Amid the rise of BYD and other Chinese brands, Toyota has decided to build an independent plant in Shanghai and start manufacturing electric cars for its Lexus luxury brand from around 2027, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Monday. In Japan, which accounts for about a third of Toyota's global output, production was down 9.3% in November, due in part to a two-day production halt at its Fujimatsu and Yoshiwara plants. Toyota saw its worldwide sales rising for a second straight month, by 1.7% to 920,569 vehicles, setting a new record for the month of November. In the January-to-November period, Toyota's global output was 5.2% lower than the same period last year at around 8.75 million vehicles, while global sales were down 1.2%. The production and sales figures include vehicles of Toyota's Lexus brand but exclude those of group companies Hino and Daihatsu. (Reporting by Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Before it all unfolded, you might have thought that 2024 would be a stabilizing year for the British royal family. The drama of Prince Harry and Meghans departure had calmed, the damaging revelations about Prince Andrew had slowed, and the major shifts in the change of reign had taken place. Yet, as the Princess of Wales outlined while speaking to guests at her carol concert earlier this month, no-one could have predicted what 2024 had in store. In the end, it was the year that Prince William described as probably the hardest year in my life. The sudden dual cancer diagnoses of the King and Princess of Wales thrust the royals, and the UK, in to unprecedented territory. Working timetables were tossed aside as the family dealt with personal challenges that William described as brutal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been a jittery year; full of uncertainty and worry, said journalist Emily Andrews, who has been writing about the royals for a decade. Ostensibly this year was about consolidation; the Prince and Princess of Wales building up their focus, away days and foreign tours, and for the King and Queen bedding in after their coronation. But the cancer diagnoses and subsequent treatment of two of the most senior royals obviously put paid to that. After Charles and Catherine withdrew from public engagements to concentrate on their health, and William stepped back to support his wife and children, it often felt as if there werent enough royals for all the jobs that needed to be done. Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images Its not just cancer that has rocked the royals this year. A bout of pneumonia forced Queen Camilla to pull out of several engagements across a number of weeks, including Remembrance events. Princess Anne was hospitalized in June with a head injury thought to have been caused by a horse. And there was shock in February when the sudden death of Lady Gabriella Windsors husband, Thomas Kingston, was announced. Professionally, there have also been other challenges. Royal finances caused significant debate in 2024, centered around a July announcement that the monarchy would receive a 45 million increase in public funding. A consequential November documentary threw the spotlight on the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall and the millions of private money they make for the King and Prince of Wales. The King was shouted at by an Australian senator, saying You are not my King, this is not your land, in a moment that gained international attention during his tour of Australia. Then, in December, Prince Andrew was back dominating the headlines due to his links with a man accused of being a Chinese spy. Chris Jackson - Getty Images With a recent YouGov poll showing that 69% of Britons think that Prince Andrew should be permanently removed from all royal events, there is clearly not much sympathy for him from the public. However, the picture looks much better for the rest of the royals and the monarchy in general, with around 60% of the British public consistently saying they have a positive view of the royal family. King Charless popularity is at a similar level, and Prince William and Kate are higher with ratings of around 70%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are our first family and they project the values of family and stability, continuity, royal journalist of 20 years Richard Palmer said. Its something that I think many people in the U.K cherishthis idea that no matter our political differences there is a head of state and family who most of us can unite behind. He added, The King has shown a tremendous amount of energy for someone who is still undergoing treatment. He managed to get things back on track to a certain extent. Chris Jackson - Getty Images Indeed, despite ongoing conversations around Australia and other Commonwealth realms moving on from the British monarchy, the Kings trip to Australia and Samoa, his first to a Commonwealth realm as King, was widely regarded as a success. His teams public declaration at its close that he had genuinely loved the tour, the joy that he takes from duty and service and the plans to resume a full overseas tour program did much to generate an abundance of positive headlines. Despite virtually no updates on the Kings treatment or recovery from the Palace, the Kings busy schedule has sent a hopeful message when it comes to his cancer diagnosis. The Princess of Waless unprecedentedly intimate announcement that she had finished chemotherapy, along with the huge global enthusiasm for her subsequent public appearances, has been a reminder of how keen the interest is in the popular working royals. As the royal family made their way to church yesterday for the Christmas Day service, there were crowds lining the path. It was a rare moment this year when all the senior working royals were making a joint public appearance. After the 12 months they have just had, the optics of this show of togetherness cannot be underestimated. Smiling and waving to the crowds, they have finally said goodbye to the most difficult of years. You Might Also Like Moscow on Thursday warned against speculation that Russian air defenses may have caused the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane in Kazakhstan this week that killed 38 people. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that it was necessary to wait for the end of this probe before casting any speculation. It would be wrong to build any hypotheses before the panel of inquiry presents its conclusions, Peskov said, according to the Russian state-run media outlet TASS. Of course, we cannot do that. No one should do it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Embraer 190, a passenger plane of Azerbaijan Airlines, was headed from Baku to the city of Grozny in the Russian republic of Chechnya. It crashed on Wednesday in southwestern Kazakhstans city of Aktau on the Caspian Sea. The plane was carrying 67 people from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The flight went down in an area where Russia has frequently activated air defense to take out Ukrainian drones in the war against Kyiv, fueling speculation that Russian forces may have accidentally fired at the plane. Kazakhstans Ministry of Transport said in a Telegram statement that investigators were probing the incident along with officials from Azerbaijan, Brazilian experts, the airline and the Brazilian-owned aircraft manufacturer Embraer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Azerbaijani news website Caliber reported that a preliminary investigation has found the flight was downed by a Pantsir-S Russian air defense system, while Russia also used electronic warfare on the plane to disable it on the radar. The outlet also reported that Russian air defense systems were activated at the time of the flight to take out Ukrainian drones. Global flight tracking service Flightradar24 said in a post on the social platform X that the plane was exposed to GPS jamming and spoofing near Grozny. An oxygen cylinder blew up on board the aircraft in the passenger cabin, Kazakhstan media reported, while Russian aviation officials have claimed a bird strike was responsible for the explosion. 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. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia declared a federal emergency on Thursday over an oil spill caused by two Russian tankers in the Black Sea, the Emergencies Ministry said. The tankers were hit by a storm on Dec. 15. One split in half and the other ran aground. The resulting spill has coated sandy beaches at and around Anapa, a popular resort, and caused serious problems for wildlife including seabirds, dolphins and porpoises. More than 10,000 people have been trying to clear it up. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Russia has declared a federal state of emergency in response to an ongoing oil spill in the Kerch Strait, Russian Emergency Situations Minister Aleksandr Kurenkov announced on Dec. 26. The crisis began when two Russian oil tankers, Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239, suffered severe damage during a storm on Dec. 15. Both vessels were reportedly carrying about 4,000 tons of fuel, which began leaking into the Black Sea. "I propose to classify the emergency situation caused by the tanker wreck in the Kerch Strait as an emergency situation of a federal nature and establish a federal level of response," Kurenkov said on Dec. 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian state funds will now be directed to the emergency response and cleanup effort. Some 3,700 tons of low-grade fuel oil have spilled into the Kerch Strait, according to the Russian state news outlet RIA Novosti. Russian scientist Viktor Danilov-Danilyan said in a press conference on Dec. 25 that about 200,000 tons of soil along the Black Sea coast have been contaminated. The Kerch Strait separates mainland Russia from Russian-occupied Crimea. Greenpeace Ukraine warned on Dec. 16 that the destruction of the Russian oil tankers could cause "significant" environmental damage. "Any oil or petrochemical spill in these waters has the potential to be serious," the head of Greenpeace Research Laboratories, Dr. Paul Johnston, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In October, the Kyiv School of Economics Institute warned that Russia's "shadow fleet" of old and poorly insured tankers pose significant environmental risks, as these vessels increase the danger of oil spills. Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine has caused massive environmental damage, including the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka Dam and subsequent flooding, widespread forest fires, and the devastation of wide stretches of farm land. Read also: 70% of Russian oil shipped by shadow fleet, posing environment risk, report says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained four Russians who allegedly were preparing a series of terrorist attacks against high-ranking Defense Ministry officials and their families, the agency's press service said on Dec. 26. The statement comes after the high-profile assassination of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov in Moscow on Dec. 17. Kirillov, 54, served as the head of the Russian Armed Forces' radiation, chemical, and biological defense unit. He was killed with a bomb attached to a scooter. According to the FSB, four Russian detainees were involved in an alleged Ukrainian plot to assassinate senior military officers. They now face life imprisonment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the suspects is a Russian citizen who allegedly has been living in Ukraine since 2020. In November 2024, he arrived in Moscow via Moldova and Georgia as a deportee. He is suspected to have placed an explosive device disguised as a power bank under the service car of a senior official in the Russian Defense Ministry. The driver of the official was an alleged close relative of the detainee. Another high-ranking Russian military officer was the target of a plot involving a bomb hidden in a folder with documents. The documents were to be delivered by two Russians on the instructions of Ukrainian special services, the statement read. The FSB also detained a resident of Moscow suspected of surveilling the home and workplace of high-ranking Russian Defense Ministry officials and their family members. The suspect allegedly sent photos and videos to his handlers in Ukrainian special services. Improvised explosive devices and communication equipment were seized from the four detainees, the FSB claimed. The suspects have been charged with illegal trafficking in explosives, preparation for a terrorist attack, and high treason. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims. Ukraine usually does not comment on such arrests by the Russian FSB. Russian law enforcement agencies on Dec. 18 arrested a suspect in the Kirillov assassination, a citizen of Uzbekistan, who claimed to have been recruited by Ukrainian special services. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) previously claimed responsibility for the attack. Read also: General Igor Kirillov, the Russian chemical weapons chief and propagandist assassinated by Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian ruler Vladimir Putin has introduced a federal state of emergency due to the fuel oil spill following the 15 December tanker accident in the Kerch Strait. Source: Latvia-based Russian media outlet Meduza; Radio Liberty, citing the words of Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-appointed "head" of Crimea Quote from Aksyonov: "Yesterday we talked with my colleagues, this situation will be given the status of an emergency on the federal level by the decision of the leader [Vladimir Putin]." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Aksyonov claimed that raising the state of emergency to the federal level would mean allocating money from the federal budget to deal with the consequences of the fuel oil spill. Background: On the morning of 15 December, two tankers, Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239, sank in the Kerch Strait. They were broken in half and fuel oil started leaking into the water. Following the tanker accidents, Greenpeace Ukraine warned that Russia's militarisation of the Black and Azov Seas was leading to a new environmental disaster. On 25 December, a state of emergency was declared in Russia's Krasnodar Krai due to the fuel oil pollution on the Black Sea coast. Support UP or become our patron! During a news conference following a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he was open to having Slovakia host potential peace talks following the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Responding to questions from journalists, Putin said that Slovakian officials "would be happy to provide their own country as a platform for negotiations. We are not opposed, if it comes to that. Why not? Since Slovakia takes such a neutral position." Putin's comments come after Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico met with Putin at the Kremlin during a visit on Dec. 22 to discuss gas supplies after Kyiv said it would not extend the deal on transiting Russian gas to Europe past Dec. 31. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The visit by the Russian-friendly leader was heavily criticized by EU and Ukrainian officials, with President Volodymyr Zelensky calling Fico's pro-Russian energy policy a "big security issue" for Slovakia and Europe. "Why is this leader so dependent on Moscow? What is being paid to him, and what does he pay with?" Zelensky asked in his criticism of Fico. Under Fico's leadership, Slovakia took a sharp foreign policy turn, halting military supplies to Ukraine from the Slovak Armed Forces' stocks and adopting more Russian-friendly rhetoric. Putin's comments surrounding possible peace negotiations come ahead of the January inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to get the U.S. "out" of Russia's war and negotiate a quick peace deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his press conference, Putin provided contradictory statements on bringing the war to an end in 2025, saying that Russia aims "to end the conflict," while also stating his hopes that Russia will "achieve success on the front line." Trump suggested on Dec. 22 that Putin wants to hold a meeting with him "as soon as possible." Trump has nominated retired general Keith Kellogg as his special Ukrainian peace envoy, tasked with leading negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow. Kellogg is expected to visit Ukraine before Trump's inauguration. Kellogg previously co-authored a peace plan that would freeze the front line in Ukraine, take NATO's accession off the table for an extended period, and partially lift sanctions imposed on Russia. The plan would also cut off military aid to Ukraine unless Kyiv agreed to enter negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Financial Times reported on Dec. 20 that despite these proposals, Trump intends to continue sending U.S. weapons to Ukraine when he becomes president. Read also: Slovak PM Robert Fico meets with Putin in Moscow Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia and Kazakhstan have tried to calm speculation about the cause of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash, following claims that it was shot down by Russian air defence systems. On Thursday, Moscow urged calm as its foreign minister said it would be wrong to draw conclusions before an investigation into the crash was complete. The flight had been set to travel to Grozny, the capital of Russias southern republic of Chechnya, on Wednesday, but instead diverted and crash-landed a few kilometres short of Aktau airport in Kazakhstan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unverified video footage of the crash showed the aircraft descending and hitting the ground, where it burst into flames, killing 38 of the 67 people on board. Rescuers transport wounded passengers from a medical plane after the crash (Russian Emergency Ministry Press Service) Russias aviation watchdog said a preliminary investigation indicated that the pilot had decided to change landing site after a collision with birds. But the Reuters news agency noted that the plane had diverted from an area of Russia that Moscow has recently defended against Ukrainian drone attacks. On Wednesday, Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukraines National Security and Defence Councils Centre for Countering Disinformation, said on X (formerly Twitter) that the plane had been shot down by a Russian air defence system. He claimed to have seen footage from inside the plane showing punctured life vests. Sources also made the same claim to Reuters. Mr Kovalenko said: However, admitting this is inconvenient for everyone, so efforts will be made to cover it up, even the holes in the remaining parts of the aircraft. This morning, an Embraer 190 aircraft of an Azerbaijani airline, flying from Baku to Grozny, was shot down by a Russian air defense system. However, admitting this is inconvenient for everyone, so efforts will be made to cover it up, even the holes in the remaining parts of the Andriy Kovalenko (@AndriKovalenko) December 25, 2024 An analyst at consultancy AeroDynamic Advisory also raised doubts over the possibility of a bird strike, adding: You can lose control of the plane, but you dont fly wildly off course as a consequence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some commentators have also alleged that holes seen in images of the planes tail section after the crash might indicate that it came under fire. Both Moscow and Kazakhstan have sought to dampen speculation over Moscows possible involvement. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that an investigation into the cause of the crash is underway and that it would be wrong to speculate on hypotheses before that is complete. Kazakhstans senate chair stated that the cause of the crash is unknown, adding: None of these countries neither Azerbaijan, Russia nor Kazakhstan is interested in hiding information. All information will be made available to the public. Members of an investigation committee and local officials walk past the wreckage of the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 (The Administration of Mangystau Region) Azeri president Ilham Aliyev also said it was too soon to speculate on the cause of the crash, adding that he had been told that bad weather in Grozny had forced the flight to divert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Aliyev said: The information provided to me is that the plane changed its course between Baku and Grozny due to worsening weather conditions and headed to Aktau airport, where it crashed upon landing. Commercial aviation-tracking websites monitored the flight as it flew north on its scheduled route along the west coast before it disappeared. It then reappeared on the east coast, where it circled near Aktau airport before crashing into an area close to the beach. Kazakh officials said that those on board the plane included 42 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russian nationals, six Kazakhs and three Kyrgyzstan nationals. Five of the 67 were crew. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. First it was Canada, then the Panama Canal. Now, Donald Trump again wants Greenland. The president-elect is renewing unsuccessful calls he made during his first term for the U.S. to buy Greenland from Denmark, adding to the list of allied countries with which he's picking fights even before taking office on Jan. 20. In a Sunday announcement naming his ambassador to Denmark, Trump wrote that, "For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity." Trump again having designs on Greenland comes after the president-elect suggested over the weekend that the U.S. could retake control of the Panama Canal if something isn't done to ease rising shipping costs required for using the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He's also been suggesting that Canada become the 51st U.S. state and referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as "governor" of the "Great State of Canada." Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, said Trump tweaking friendly countries harkens back to an aggressive style he used during his days in business. "You ask something unreasonable and it's more likely you can get something less unreasonable," said Farnsworth, who is also author of the book "Presidential Communication and Character." Greenland, the world's largest island, sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It is 80% covered by an ice sheet and is home to a large U.S. military base. It gained home rule from Denmark in 1979 and its head of government, Mute Bourup Egede, suggested that Trump's latest calls for U.S. control would be as meaningless as those made in his first term. "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale," he said in a statement. "We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom." The Danish Prime Minister's Office said in its own statement that the government is "looking forward to welcoming the new American ambassador. And the Government is looking forward to working with the new administration." "In a complex security political situation as the one we currently experience, transatlantic cooperation is crucial," the statement said. It noted that it had no comment on Greenland except for it "not being for sale, but open for cooperation." Trump canceled a 2019 visit to Denmark after his offer to buy Greenland was rejected by Copenhagen, and ultimately came to nothing. He also suggested Sunday that the U.S. is getting "ripped off" at the Panama Canal. "If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question," he said. Panama President Jose Raul Mulino responded in a video that "every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to," but Trump fired back on his social media site, "We'll see about that!" The president-elect also posted a picture of a U.S. flag planted in the canal zone under the phrase, "Welcome to the United States Canal!" The United States built the canal in the early 1900s but relinquished control to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, under a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter. The canal depends on reservoirs that were hit by 2023 droughts that forced it to substantially reduce the number of daily slots for crossing ships. With fewer ships, administrators also increased the fees that shippers are charged to reserve slots to use the canal. The Greenland and Panama flareups followed Trump recently posting that "Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State" and offering an image of himself superimposed on a mountaintop surveying surrounding territory next to a Canadian flag. Trudeau suggested that Trump was joking about annexing his country, but the pair met recently at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida to discuss Trump's threats to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods. "Canada is not going to become part of the United States, but Trump's comments are more about leveraging what he says to get concessions from Canada by putting Canada off balance, particularly given the precarious current political environment in Canada," Farnsworth said. "Maybe claim a win on trade concessions, a tighter border or other things." He said the situation is similar with Greenland. "What Trump wants is a win," Farnsworth said. "And even if the American flag doesn't raise over Greenland, Europeans may be more willing to say yes to something else because of the pressure." __ Associated Press writers Gary Fields in Washington and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report. A Russian attack on 26 December targeted a farm building in the village of Slatyne and the city of Zolochiv in Kharkiv Oblast, killing one man and leaving three people injured. Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote: "A farm building in the village of Slatyne was damaged at approximately 14:15 as a result of enemy strikes with two guided bombs. One civilian, a worker at the farm, was killed, and two others were injured." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Syniehubov also reported that the Russians targeted the city of Zolochiv in the Bohodukhiv district. A 41-year-old man was injured in the attack and has been taken to hospital. Emergency services are working at the impact sites. Support UP or become our patron! Russian forces struck the central market in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, with a drone on Dec. 26, injuring eight people, Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported. Those injured, four women and two men, received first aid from rescuers and medics before being transported to the hospital. Governor Serhii Lysak confirmed the injuries and said three women, aged 39, 63, and 64, are in serious condition. They are are being provided with all the necessary medical care, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attack caused significant damage to commercial premises, according to emergency responders. This assault follows a Dec. 24 strike on a residential building in Kryvyi Rih, also in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. The Christmas Eve attack injured at least 15 people and killed one, according to Lysak. Read also: Biden directs Pentagon to continue its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine after Russias Christmas attack Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. KYIV (Reuters) -Russian drones struck a multi-storey apartment building in the front line town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region of Ukraine on Thursday, killing two people and injuring two, regional prosecutors said. Chasiv Yar has been under attack by Russian forces for many months in Donetsk region, the focus of Russia's drive westward to capture the Donbas, which also includes Luhansk region. The town lies west of Bakhmut, a regional centre which fell to Russian forces in May 2023 after months of heavy fighting. Regional officials in Dnipropetrovsk region, further west, said a drone strike on the market in the town of Nikopol injured eight people on Thursday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seven of those injured were treated in hospital after the strike damaged stalls at the market, Dnipropetrovsk governor Serhiy Lysak wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Nikopol, a frequent target of Russian attacks, lies on the opposite bank of a large reservoir from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Russian forces struck an industrial area of the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, regional governor Ivan Fedorov said on Telegram. No injuries were reported. The attacks in Ukraine's east come after Russia's Christmas Day attack on the country's energy system, killing one person in Dnipropetrovsk region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ukrainian military said on Thursday it shot down 20 drones out of 31 launched by Russia overnight. (Reporting by Anastasiia Malenko and Ron Popeski; Editing by Himani Sarkar, Alexandra Hudson and Chris Reese) Russian shoppers continue to access luxury Western brands despite sanctions imposed after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, The Financial Times reported on Dec. 26. An industry of personal buyers, resellers, and cross-border smugglers has emerged, allowing affluent Russians to circumvent restrictions. The European Union has limited legal sales of luxury goods to Russia to items priced under 300 euros ($312), far below the typical cost of high-end fashion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Customs records reportedly reveal that trade is being diverted through intermediaries in countries where such sanctions do not apply. In September, over 300 Italian-made Bottega Veneta handbags, averaging $1,800 each, were shipped from Dubai to Russia by a Chinese reseller. Western designer brands remain accessible in Russia, with Moscow retail consultancy IBC Real Estate noting that half of the major brands present in 2020 are still introducing new collections. Some businesses have adjusted their offerings to avoid falling under sanctions. The sanctions have fueled a boom in intermediary services. A personal buyer in Italy told The Financial Times that he sends 10 to 20 packages weekly to Russia, earning up to 6,000 euros ($6,238) in commissions. Latvian customs officials reported rejecting 60 shipments of luxury goods with suspiciously low declared values since the beginning of the year. Intermediaries often disguise shipments as personal purchases by removing tags or altering packaging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These practices carry risks for Western companies, which can be held liable for export violations if their products reach Russia. BMW announced on Dec. 23 that it had dismissed employees involved in exporting over 100 luxury cars from Germany to Russian buyers in violation of sanctions. A Russian oligarch also illegally imported a $110 million Airbus A320neo from the EU, defying sanctions, The Moscow Times reported earlier this year. Read also: Russias inflation hits year-high, driven by war spending, food price hikes, Rosstat says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Recent damage to the Estlink 2 power cable in the Gulf of Finland was likely caused by a Russian tanker believed to be a part of Moscow's "shadow fleet," Finnish police announced in a press conference on Dec. 26. The Estlink 2, a 170-kilometer (106-mile) undersea power cable linking Finland and Estonia, was reported to be seriously damaged on Christmas Day. Authorities are investigating the incident as a possible act of sabotage. The anchor of the Russian vessel Eagle S appears to have caused the damage to the cable, authorities said, according to the Finnish media outlet Yle. The Eagle S was detained in Finnish territorial waters and investigators are gathering evidence and conducting interviews with the crew ahead of an expected trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ship likely belongs to Russia's shadow fleet, a group of vessels employed to help the Kremlin evade sanctions, Finnish customs officials said. Investigators are still working to determine whether the damage was accidental or deliberate sabotage. The Estlink 2 has remained offline since the incident and repair to the cable could take months, threatening the power supply in the winter season. The Finnish and Estonian governments are holding emergency meetings to assess the situation. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said that Helsinki has not been in contact with Moscow. "The government is doing everything it can to address the issue," Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The shadow fleet is also a major risk to other Baltic littoral states and the rest of the EU." Orpo said Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine led to the incident. "Shadow ships are pumping money into Russia's war chest so that Russia can continue its war against Ukraine," he said. "These ships are constantly being listed on sanctions lists, and this has already had a major impact." Nordic countries have been on high alert due to increasing security threats from Russia. European intelligence services warned in 2023 that Russia could be preparing to sabotage power cables, wind turbines, and gas pipes, in Nordic countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finland investigated Russia's possible role in damaging an underwater gas pipeline in fall 2023. Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the notion as "complete rubbish." Read also: Nordic countries equipping citizens with pamphlets offering advice in case of war Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian reconnaissance and sabotage groups are trying to gain a bridgehead in areas in Kherson Oblast controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, while Russian attacks have also intensified. Source: Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military District Administration, on the national joint 24/7 newscast Quote: "We are seeing an increase in enemy activity. The Russians have intensified the movement of troops and equipment, as well as their firepower, particularly through bombing certain roads and settlements with guided bombs." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Prokudin said that Russian sabotage groups are making daily attempts to advance and establish a bridgehead on the Dnipro islands near Kherson or cross to the right (west) bank of the river. He emphasised that all saboteurs who tried to secure a position on the right (west) bank have been killed. Quote: "But that is their mission. Their command has tasked them with capturing at least part of the right-bank Kherson Oblast and holding it," Prokudin said. Background: On 24 December, Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesperson for the Defence Forces of Ukraines South, reported that Russian troops probably intend to seize a bridgehead on one of the islands or on the right (west) bank of Kherson Oblast to transfer their weapons there and attack the city of Kherson. On the same day, Atesh, a military resistance movement in the occupied territories of Ukraine, reported that Russian forces were losing entire platoons in unsuccessful attempts to storm the Ukrainian-controlled right (west) bank of Kherson Oblast. Support UP or become our patron! Russian troops conducted a large-scale attack on the border areas of Sumy Oblast on 26 December, killing a man. Source: Sumy Oblast Prosecutor's Office Quote: "The investigation indicates that on 26 December 2024, during the day, using methods of warfare prohibited by international law, the occupiers from the territory of the Russian Federation attacked the border hromadas of Sumy Oblast using a variety of weapons. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the result of the attack on the village of Uhroidy of the Krasnopil hromada of the Sumy district at about 17:00, a house with a 59-year-old man inside caught fire. The house was destroyed and its owner was killed." Support UP or become our patron! Vyacheslav Gladkov, Governor of Russia's Belgorod Oblast, has reported a drone attack on the oblast, which left six settlements without power. Source: Vyacheslav Gladkov on Telegram Quote: "The Armed Forces of Ukraine have deployed drones to attack the Grayvoron district." Details: Gladkov said explosive devices dropped during the attack damaged a power transmission line. Quote: "Residents of the villages of Gora-Podol, Glotovo, Kozinka, Novostroevka-Pervaya, as well as the evacuated settlements of Bezymeno and Novostroyevka-Vtoraya, are temporarily without power." Support UP or become our patron! By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia's Federal Security Service said on Thursday it had foiled several plots by Ukrainian intelligence services to kill high-ranking Russian officers and their families in Moscow using bombs disguised as power banks or document folders. On Dec. 17, Ukraine's SBU intelligence service killed Lieutenant General Kirillov, chief of Russia's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops, in Moscow outside his apartment building by detonating a bomb attached to an electric scooter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An SBU source confirmed to Reuters that the Ukrainian intelligence agency had been behind the hit. Russia said the killing was a terrorist attack by Ukraine, with which it has been at war since February 2022, and vowed revenge. "The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation has prevented a series of assassination attempts on high-ranking military personnel of the Defence Ministry," the FSB said. "Four Russian citizens involved in the preparation of these attacks have been detained," it said in a statement. Ukraine's SBU did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FSB, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said that the Russian citizens had been recruited by the Ukrainian intelligence services. One of the men retrieved a bomb disguised as a portable charger in Moscow that was to be attached with magnets to the car of one of the Defence Ministry's top officials, the FSB said. Another Russian man was tasked with reconnaissance of senior Russian defence officials, it said, with one plot involving the delivery of a bomb disguised as a document folder. "An explosive device disguised as a portable charger (power bank), with magnets attached, had to be placed under the official car of one of the senior leaders of the Russian Defence Ministry," it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The exact date of the planned attacks was unclear though one of the suspects said he had retrieved a bomb on Dec. 23, according to the FSB. Russian state TV showed what it said was footage of some of the suspects who admitted to being recruited by Ukrainian intelligence for bombings against Russian defence ministry officials. Moscow holds Ukraine responsible for a string of high-profile assassinations on its soil designed to weaken morale - and says the West is supporting a "terrorist regime" in Kyiv. Ukraine, which says Russia's war against it poses an existential threat to the Ukrainian state, has made clear it regards such targeted killings as a legitimate tool. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Darya Dugina, the 29-year-old daughter of a prominent Russian nationalist, was killed in August 2022 near Moscow. The New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence agencies believe parts of the Ukrainian government authorised the killing. U.S. officials later admonished Ukrainian officials over the assassination, the Times said. Ukraine denied it killed Dugina. (Reporting by Reuters; editing by Mark Heinrich) By Guy Faulconbridge and Vladimir Soldatkin MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia is willing to work with Donald Trump's incoming administration to improve relations if the U.S. has serious intentions to do so but it is up to Washington to make the first move, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday. Trump, who will return as U.S. president on Jan. 20, styles himself as a master dealmaker and has vowed to swiftly end the war in Ukraine but not set out how he might achieve that beyond getting President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian counterpart President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to agree to end the fighting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's designated Ukraine envoy, retired Lieutenant-General Keith Kellogg, told Fox News on Dec. 18 that both sides were ready for peace talks and that Trump was in a perfect position to execute a deal to end the war. "If the signals that are coming from the new team in Washington to restore the dialogue that Washington interrupted after the start of a special military operation (war in Ukraine), are serious, of course, we will respond to them," Lavrov told reporters in Moscow. "But the Americans broke (off) the dialogue, so they should make the first move," Lavrov, Putin's foreign minister for over 20 years, told reporters in Moscow. Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine has left tens of thousands of dead, displaced millions of people and triggered the biggest rupture in relations between Moscow and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. officials cast Russia as a corrupt autocracy that is the biggest nation-state threat to the United States and has meddled in U.S. elections, jailed U.S. citizens on false charges and perpetrated sabotage campaigns against U.S. allies. Russian officials say the U.S. is a declining power that has repeatedly ignored Russia's interests since the 1991 break-up of the Soviet Union, while sowing discord inside Russia in an attempt to divide Russian society and further U.S. interests. PEACE IN UKRAINE Reuters reported last month that Putin is open to discussing a Ukraine ceasefire deal with Trump but rules out making any major territorial concessions and insists Kyiv abandon ambitions to join NATO. Russia holds about 20% of Ukrainian territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lavrov said Russia saw no point in a weak ceasefire to freeze the war but Moscow wants a legally binding deal for a lasting peace that would ensure the security of both Russia and its neighbours. "A truce is a path to nowhere," Lavrov said. "We need final legal agreements that will fix all the conditions for ensuring the security of the Russian Federation and, of course, the legitimate security interests of our neighbours," Lavrov said. He added that Moscow wanted the legal documents drafted in such a way as to ensure "the impossibility of violating these agreements". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin says an arrogant West led by the United States ignored Russia's post-Soviet interests, tried to pull Ukraine into its orbit since 2014 and then used Ukraine to fight a proxy war aimed at weakening - and ultimately destroying - Russia. After a pro-Russian president was toppled in Ukraine's 2014 Maidan Revolution aimed at closer Western ties, Russia annexed the Crimea region and began giving military support to pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. The West says Russia's invasion of Ukraine was an imperial-style land grab by Moscow that has strengthened the NATO military alliance and weakened Russia. Ukraine's Zelenskiy said on Sunday that its membership of NATO is "achievable", but that Kyiv will have to fight to persuade Western allies to make it happen. (Additional reporting by Dmitry Antonov; editing by Mark Heinrich) SYDNEY (Reuters) -LawConnect took line honours at the Sydney to Hobart race for a second straight year early on Saturday in a race marred by the deaths of two sailors, the first loss of life in the prestigious ocean race since 1998. Christian Beck's LawConnect, which finished the race in one day, 13 hours, 35 minutes and 13 seconds, was in second place in the early hours of Friday but moved into the lead when favourite Master Lock Comanche, which had set a record-breaking pace, retired due to mainsail damage. LawConnect had finished the 2023 race by 51 seconds in a dramatic finish but this time the Supermaxi beat second-placed Celestial V70 with a healthy lead in the 628 nautical miles race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier, on Friday, organisers and local authorities said two experienced sailors were killed in separate incidents. Race organisers said in a statement that both crew members died after they were suspected to have been hit by the sail boom, a horizontal pole which holds down the sails and swings depending on the direction of the wind. They later said one of the sailors, Nick Smith from South Australia, has been hit by the boat's mainsheet and thrown across the boat, hitting his head on the winch. Smith, 65, was a crew member of the Bowline, competing in the race for the fifth time. A few hours later a crew member on the Flying Fish Arctos was struck by a sail boom and died. He was identified as Roy Quaden, 55, a sailor with two decades of experience from Western Australia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The sailing community is a very close community, and there's about a thousand sailors on the water in this race and to lose two in this fashion is just devastating," said David Jacobs, vice commodore at Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. "We always want to improve safety wherever we can. So we will do an investigation and if there's something that boats can do to try and prevent this happening, we will implement it." Bad weather has forced several boats to retire from the 79th running of the race, which began on Thursday. The last loss of life in the race came in 1998 when five yachts were sunk and six sailors died after a major storm hit the fleet. (Reporting by Praveen Menon and Jill Gralow, Additional reporting by Rohith Nair; Editing by Christian Radnedge, Peter Rutherford and Pritha Sarkar) MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) The Salvation Army serving the area residents of Marion, Monongalia, Preston, and Taylor Counties hosted a Christmas dinner Wednesday at the Hope Cafe on Scott Avenue in Morgantown. Representatives of the Salvation Army told 12 News that it is a humbling opportunity to be able to provide a Christmas dinner to those in need. They said that they are honored to be able to be of service to the community and lend a helping hand when needed. PICTURES: See West Virginias Christmas past from 100+ years ago Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We would rather that folks instead of going and buying groceries and, and taking the money that they would apply to their electric bill, they have to apply to their food bill. Come and eat, wed rather feed you and let you use that money to pay for your bills, Salvation Army Captain Dennis Smith said. Captain Smith explained that the Salvation Army strives to meet people where they are and preach the name of Jesus without prejudice to everyone. If you wish to make a monetary donation to the Salvation Army, you can mail your check to P.O. Box 753 Morgantown, WV 26507. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. Almost 100 days later, the hotel strikes in San Francisco have come to an end. Earlier this week, employees at the citys Hilton hotels voted to approve a new contract, stopping a strike that started on September 22. The contract, with 99.4 percent of workers voting for it, includes raises, worker protections, and affordable health care. More from Robb Report These 93 days have not been easy, and Im so proud that my coworkers and I never gave up, Bill Fung, a housekeeping attendant at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square, said in a statement. We stood together through the rain and cold, and even though there were some hard days, it was all worth it. We will go back to work with our health care, good raises, and the confidence of knowing that when we fight, we win. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hotel workers, who are affiliated with the Unite Here Local 2 union, have won a contract with several provisions that they were fighting for. Along with keeping their union health insurance plan, they will receive a $3 per hour wage increase, with additional increases throughout the four-year contract term. Plus, theyll see better pensions and protections against understaffing and workload increases. The San Francisco strikes encompassed some 2,500 employees across Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott hotels. (The other two companies came to an agreement with the union prior to this week.) At one point, the strikes were occurring at hotels that made up 27.5 percent of all rooms in the city. While the strikes may have come to an end right before Christmas, Unite Here warns that more actions could be taken in the new year, and its hoping that other hotels in the city agree to the unions standards in forthcoming contracts. San Francisco hotel workers are unbreakable, Lizzy Tapia, the president of Unite Here Local 2, said in a statement. Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott workers refused to give up their health care or go backwardsand we proved on the picket line that were not afraid of a tough fight. As contract talks begin with the citys other full-service hotels in the new year, they should know that this is the new standard they must accept for their own employees. Since Labor Day, more than 10,000 hotel employees have gone on strike around the country, with the San Francisco action being the last to end. Those S.F. hotel workers can now enjoy the rest of the holiday season off the picket lines. Best of Robb Report Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sign up for RobbReports's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Rep. John Sarbanes (D-3rd) speaks at a June 2021 rally against the filibuster outside the Supreme Court. Sarbanes is leaving Congress after 18 years representing central Maryland in the House. Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images. U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes (D-3rd) was standing in the back of a room on Capitol Hill amid a cramped maze of office carrels the other day, fruitlessly fiddling with the volume on a big-screen TV. The final weeks for a retiring member of Congress may involve glowing tributes from grateful constituents, colleagues and interest groups. But when it comes to the work environment, dignity is in short supply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Departing members have to be out of their Capitol Hill offices by Thanksgiving, and this was Sarbanes temporary digs in the Rayburn House Office Building. It was last Friday, the day the House of Representatives would finally adopt a temporary spending plan to avoid a government shutdown, and Sarbanes was hanging around, packing up and waiting to cast his final votes as a member of Congress. Am I surprised were having this last-minute showdown? Sarbanes mused. Not particularly, given the crowd were dealing with. But its pretty outrageous. Sarbanes, 62, a soft-spoken, workman-like and cerebral presence in Congress, like his father, the late U.S. Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.), is departing after 18 years representing central Maryland in the U.S. House. Thats a fairly young age for a congressional retiree, and Sarbanes is looking forward to the next chapter of his professional life, even though he doesnt quite know what it will look like. Over the past two decades, no member of the House has been a more resolute defender of the Chesapeake Bay than Sarbanes, whose district currently includes a large swath of Anne Arundel County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Congressman John Sarbanes has been an absolute warrior for the Bay, Gov. Wes Moore (D) said during a meeting of the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council in mid-December. It wasnt just during his time in Congress, but before that. Sarbanes has also been associated with legislative efforts to boost health care protections, and mental and behavioral health programs, and has been a champion of consumer rights and public employees. But his true legislative legacy is around the issues of political reform, civic engagement and democracy; for the past few Congresses, the Marylander has been the chief sponsor of legislation to expand voting rights and limit the influence of big money on politics which House Democrats continue to make a top priority, even as the measure has stalled at various stages of the legislative process. That push has dovetailed with an increasing number of voters dissatisfaction with what Sarbanes calls big fill-in-the-blank big PhRMA, big tech, big [agriculture]. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the failure of the legislation to become law so far is also a reminder of how powerful and big-moneyed special interests still control the political process, especially in Washington, D.C. And Democrats, Sarbanes believes, lost the 2024 election in part because they didnt do enough to skillfully and vocally broadcast their commitment to helping everyday people over corporate interests. The great irony in this is that Donald Trump seemed to come at people with that kind of message, he said. The irony is that hes one of the most corrupt individuals by any measure. Sarbanes believes that the incoming Trump administration, with the president-elects affinity for billionaires, will help the Democrats politically and help the political reform movement generally. There will be opportunities for us to highlight and crystalize that, Hes not really for us,' Sarbanes predicted. Weve got to have ideas, proposals, to show voters that were on their side. The average person has got to see that distinction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sarbanes plans to continue to promote for political reform and civic engagement as a private citizen. He envisions affiliating first with a university and possibly landing eventually with an advocacy or good government group. Im leaving Congress Im not walking away from the work, Sarbanes said. Looking back over these 18 years, all these partners Ive been working with, theyre not going anywhere. Ive always been able to take something Ive done before and pulled it into the next thing. Asked whether hes excited or scared to have to figure out whats next, the congressman smiled and shifted in his seat. Both, he replied. Hopes and fears Sarbanes concedes that hes worried about the future of the country with Trump returning to power. Hes worried about national security including the future of U.S. relations with Greece, his familys original homeland, with Trumps intention to nominate Kimberly Guilfoyle, his sons pugilistic fiancee, as ambassador to Greece. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes also worried about the conservative drift of public policy and fears that Trump and his political allies will chip away at basic freedoms. Sarbanes believes the second Trump term will be different from the first, and is thankful that Trump wont have successive terms. He also believes the opposition to Trump will be different this time. Trump foes, he argues, will need to focus on the damage he may do over the next four years rather than daily doses of outrage, and figure out how to repair vital institutions when Trump leaves office if in fact they can fixed. Im using as my R word resilience more than resistance, Sarbanes said. We need to look for opportunities to nurture and fortify that. Fueling Sarbanes cautious optimism are the four new members set to join Marylands congressional delegation, including three Sen.-elect Angela Alsobrooks (D) and Reps.-elect April McClain Delaney (D-6th) and Sarah K. Elfreth (D-3rd) who will become the first women in the delegation in eight years. Theyll all be sworn in on Jan. 3, when Sarbanes term ends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Maryland delegation is getting to look a lot more like the state, he observed. Sarbanes heaped praise on Elfreth, a 36-year-old state senator who won a 22-candidate primary to replace him earlier this year. Sarbanes describes heras a savvy, hard worker who will serve their constituents well. He has advised her that coming from the General Assembly, where she quickly passed several policy initiatives, shes got to prepare for the slower and less congenial pace of Congress, and should initially focus on constituent work and forging bonds with colleagues. Its a tough transition for people who come from legislatures, where you start a session with an agenda and you get it done, Sarbanes said. Elfreth paid tribute to her predecessor in a recent email message to supporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Rep. Sarbanes passes the baton, Im honored to carry his legacy forward and continue his important work to reform and strengthen our democratic institutions, our natural world, and our people, she wrote. To put a capstone on his time in Congress, Sarbanes is celebrating the passage of legislation in the final weeks of this term that he worked on with departing U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-7th) friends of his fathers. The bill names the visitors center at Fort McHenry in Baltimore after the elder Sarbanes, who secured the funding to rebuild it years ago, ahead of the War of 1812 bicentennial. The push to name the visitors center after Paul Sarbanes dates back to when he was still alive, but in his typically modest fashion, he rejected the idea, his son recalled. I thought, Hes not here to stop us this time out, so we can get it done,' he said. Neighbors Terry Graham and Kristi Peterman show off Halloween decorations at Liberty Landing Cooperative in Liberty, Mo. Residents collectively purchased the mobile home community in 2021 from its longtime owner a model more state lawmakers hope to emulate to preserve affordable housing. (Kevin Hardy | Stateline) Read more Stateline coverage of how communities across the country are trying to create more affordable housing. LIBERTY, Mo. Over her 25 years living in a quiet suburban mobile home park, Kristi Peterman got to know the neighbors directly next door and a few across the street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But since she and her neighbors collectively purchased the sprawling park outside of Kansas City from its longtime owner in 2021, shes gotten to know just about every resident. Its a community, and not just a neighborhood, she said. A neighborhood is a group of houses or homes that are in proximity of each other. A community is something entirely different. Housing prices are soaring across the country, and the shortage of affordable housing is a primary concern for many. As the crisis continues, an increasing number of policymakers are championing laws that promote the type of collective ownership at Liberty Landing Cooperative. Manufactured homes, long known as mobile homes, are widely viewed as the last bastion of affordable housing. Millions of Americans own mobile homes but rent the ground beneath them. And despite the mobile moniker, these factory-built homes are difficult and costly to relocate. That makes owners of such homes particularly susceptible to rent hikes especially as longtime communities get bought up by big investors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents at Liberty Landing were phenomenally lucky, Peterman said. The parks longtime owner was looking to get out of the business and suggested the resident-owned model. Working with a nonprofit organization, residents bought the park by securing a $9.5 million loan debt that is being repaid by monthly lot rents. Its a community, and not just a neighborhood. Kristi Peterman, who owns a mobile home in Liberty, Mo. Though they hired a property management firm, co-op board members, including Peterman, are now responsible for the finances and upkeep of the park. Like a homeowners association, they ensure residents are maintaining their lawns and homes. And the board evicts those who neglect their property or dont make rent payments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The co-op requires more work from residents, Peterman said, but assures they will control their own destiny. We really try hard not to have people come in with a renters mentality, because its a lot different than just going in somewhere and paying your rent, she said. Youre an owner here. Earlier this year, the federal government made available $225 million in grants for improvements at mobile home communities, including those owned by residents, and announced plans to allow resident-owned parks to access federally insured financing to keep rents low or make improvements. But park owners and a leading trade organization for manufactured homes and park owners question the actual benefits of resident ownership and have expressed concern over governments tipping the scales in favor of the model over private ownership. States embrace resident ownership Because they dont own the land beneath their homes, mobile home residents are at the mercy of the parks owners, who could raise their rents or even shut down the park altogether as the land is redeveloped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently, 12 private equity funds own more than 1,300 American mobile home communities, home to more than 250,000 lots, according to the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, a nonprofit watchdog group that tracks the impact of private equity investors. It can cost thousands of dollars to move a manufactured home, and some older models are essentially considered immobile. Without long-term land leases, that leaves many residents vulnerable, said Carolyn Carter, deputy director of the National Consumer Law Center. Residents in manufactured home communities, while theyre subject to a lot of the same abuses as apartment renters, they need even more protection, she said. Currently, 22 states have laws requiring or encouraging owners of manufactured home parks to give homeowners the opportunity to purchase their land collectively. Those laws can vary wildly, with some requiring that the residents be given the right of first refusal, while others simply require park owners to provide notice of their intent to sell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres lots of interest in the states, Carter said. More than Ive ever seen. Last year, six states enacted or strengthened laws encouraging resident ownership, Carter said. This year, Illinois passed legislation requiring community owners to give residents advanced notice of potential sales and an opportunity to purchase the park collectively. In October, New Jersey Democratic Assemblyman David Bailey Jr. introduced a bill to strengthen the states resident ownership law after visiting several mobile home communities. This model works. It has worked. Its extremely successful, Bailey said. A sign in the clubhouse at Liberty Landing Cooperative in Liberty, Mo., touts the residents collective 2021 purchase of the mobile home community from its longtime owner. (Kevin Hardy | Stateline) A bill passed in Maine last year requires park owners to give residents and the state 60 days notice of a potential sale. The owner also must disclose the sale price and give residents the option to make their own offer and negotiate in good faith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For me, it was a matter of fairness and providing an option for people in that situation, so they dont lose their home, said Maine Democratic state Rep. Traci Gere, who sponsored the bill. Residents in Brunswick, Maine, were the first to benefit from the new law. They paid $26.3 million, raised through loans and grant money, to purchase the Linnhaven Mobile Home Center, which has nearly 300 homes. Its an example to others not only in Maine, but across the country that you can do this and you can take control of your own futures, Gere said. And its such an empowering feeling for everybody. But park owners have pushed back on some of these laws, which they argue can complicate sales. Another mobile home community owner in Maine, for example, told The New York Times that the notification and negotiation process can drag out the sale, creating a horrible, horrible experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the industry doesnt necessarily agree that resident ownership is good for homeowners. In some cases, it could be beneficial to the residents, and there are other cases where a lot of problems can come from that, said Lesli Gooch, the chief executive officer of the Manufactured Housing Institute, a trade group that includes manufacturers, retailers and community owners. She said cooperatively owned communities may not have the same resources available to private owners to invest in long-term maintenance and infrastructure needs. And many residents just dont want to be in the business of property management. There are various structures of resident-owned communities involving assistance from nonprofits or government groups. And homeowners may never see a financial return on the purchase of land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The residents need to make sure that they understand what theyre getting into, Gooch said. And so, if theres legislation that puts the finger on the scale toward one form of ownership over another, we are concerned about that. The stigma is changing Manufactured homes face unique financing and land use challenges not to mention growing concerns over their ability to withstand disasters in the face of climate change. But many site-built homes face the same issues as those built in factories, said Arica Young, an associate director at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, a research organization that studies the issue and advocates for the use of manufactured homes. Given how critical our housing issue is, we need everything on the table, she said. On a square-foot basis, manufactured homes cost 45% less to build than site-built homes, according to Freddie Mac. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But many communities have resisted their use, either with outright bans or with more subtle regulations on design features such as roof pitch or windows that effectively keep out factory-built homes, Young said. A lot of the regulations, a lot of the unease around it, comes from stigma, she said. That is the underlying problem that I think not a lot of people are willing to talk about. Local opposition has pushed some legislatures to step in. This year, Maine and Maryland enacted laws allowing manufactured housing in any location that allows single-family homes. And in New Hampshire, a bill was signed into law that requires municipalities to provide reasonable and realistic opportunities for new manufactured housing parks and blocked zoning codes that effectively bar housing parks. I think the stigma is changing, but slowly, said Republican state Rep. Joe Alexander Jr., who sponsored the New Hampshire legislation. Alexander views manufactured homes as a viable option for many young people, who simply cant afford to purchase a site-built home in a high-cost state such as New Hampshire. Aside from their affordability, he said, manufactured homes are more energy efficient than many other homes. He hopes to bring a manufactured home to the statehouse lawn in Concord next year to show off their benefits. These units are a lot nicer than some of the old trailer park ideas from the past, he said. Whats the goal? In Massachusetts, mobile home park owner Tom Lennon came under fire for raising mobile home lot rent by nearly 150%. In February, the monthly rent at his West Street Village Mobile Home Community in Ludlow rose from $207 to $503.06. That move was sanctioned by the towns mobile home rent review board a decision being challenged in court. Lennon, who owns eight mobile home communities, said that increase was needed because the previous owner was charging too little for too long the park has only seen two rent hikes over the last five decades, he said. That left the park poorly maintained, he said, with a backlog of costly upgrades needed. Since his purchase, Lennon has paved roads, added fencing and installed new mailboxes, among other improvements. Lennon, who also sells mobile homes, noted they offer big cost savings compared with other types of housing. But residents in co-ops are not building long-term wealth on their investment in the land because theyre still paying rent on their lot, he said. Whats the goal for these people? he said. There isnt one. Mike Bullard, vice president of communications at ROC USA, an organization that works with mobile-home owners across the country, acknowledged that owners generally dont buy their parks with hopes of a big financial return. They do it to keep their rents affordable and ensure stability over the long term, he said. The mobile home park in Missouri, for example, doesnt expect residents to ever fully pay off its debt. Rather, the co-op plans to refinance over time and draw on equity to fund needed infrastructure improvements. ROC USA has helped create more than 330 resident-owned parks across the country. Bullard said the organization generally helps communities secure a 10-year loan with a balloon payment toward the end. The idea is that communities build a financial track record within a few years of conversion and can refinance in traditional lending markets. They have the equity, so they can pull some equity out and repave their roads or replace their, you know, septic systems, he said. Thats a sound and smart approach. 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. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Columbia, SC (WSPA) South Carolina lawmakers are targeting drug dealers in a new bill that could put dealers in prison for homicide, aiming to stop the use and dealing of fentanyl. Fentanyl is, its like this beast thats in our country now, and it is not, its not going anywhere, said Holly Alsobrooks, the co-founder of Fentanyl Kills U. Fentanyl Kills U is an organization that spreads awareness about the drug and its affects. This bill has a special meaning for Alsobrooks because she lost her son, Cody, to one single pill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They make one poor choice one night, and they foster that. Cody was my only child, so Im doing this; we are all doing this so that our childrens lives did not end in vain, she said. Alsobrooks is partnering with lawmakers to support the Drug-induced Homicide bill. Leaders say it will target individuals who are knowingly distributing fentanyl or related substances. Representative Tommy Pope, who pre-filed the bill, said many people who are taking drugs dont know its fentanyl, but the dealers do. If you envision when you got the brownie mix from the store, the cake mix from the store, and youre mixing it up. You know how you always end up with a couple dry spots? You know? You have to keep mixing. Well, if you dont mix it, youve got some that are pure powder, and some may be the other items that were added. Well, the same thing happens when theyre mixing this up and cutting these drugs, he said. Pope said that one important thing to notice is that the bill has very specific language that can grant immunity to certain people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youre not trying to prosecute users. Also, theres a section that we have to be careful of because we want to urge people to contact medical help. You know, weve got a section article 19 in the in the drug code that talks about, you know, some sort of immunity for calling for help to save lives. Under the bill, if the person who took fentanyl dies as a result, the dealer could be sentenced to up 30 years in prison if convicted. The bill will be considered first by the House Judiciary when the session begins on January 14. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Fear and uncertainty are spreading across many US college campuses ahead of President-elect Donald Trumps January 20 inauguration, with some schools advising international students to return early from winter break amid promises of another travel ban like the one that stranded students abroad at the start of Trumps last term. In a country where more than 1.1 million international students enrolled in US colleges and universities during the 2023-24 academic year, the former president has pledged more hardline immigration policies upon his return to the White House, including an expansion of his previous travel ban on people from predominantly Muslim countries and the revocation of student visas of radical anti-American and antisemitic foreigners. International students generally have nonimmigrant visas that allow them to study in the US but dont provide a legal pathway to stay in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a scary time for international students, said Pramath Pratap Misra, 23, a student from India who graduated from New York University this year with a bachelors degree in political science. NYU had the most international students in the US more than 27,000 during the last academic year. On campuses from New York to California, students not only buckled down to take finals before winter break but some also braced for possible disruptions to their lives and the possibility of not being able to complete their studies. Some universities have urged students to put off or cut short travel plans outside the US before the inauguration. Cornell Universitys Office of Global Learning advised students who are traveling abroad to return before the January 21 start of the spring semester or to communicate with an advisor about your travel plans and be prepared for delays. A travel ban is likely to go into effect soon after inauguration, the university warned students late last month. The ban is likely to include citizens of the countries targeted in the first Trump administration: Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Sudan, Tanzania, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, and Somalia. New countries could be added to this list, particularly China and India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the University of Southern California, which had more than 17,000 international students during the last academic year, administrators urged foreign students in an email to be back in the US one week before Trumps White House return, saying that one or more executive orders impacting travel and visa processing may be issued. USC has the largest number of international students in California. While theres no certainty such orders will be issued, the safest way to avoid any challenges is to be physically present in the U.S. before the Spring semester begins on January 13, 2025, said the USC Office of International Service, according to a report in the student-led media site. Additionally, Trumps promise of mass deportations reverberates beyond critical industries such as agriculture, leisure and hospitality, construction and health care: It potentially complicates matters for some students regardless of their winter break travel plans. The president-elect has at the same time promised to automatically give green cards to foreign nationals who graduate from US colleges, a proposal that if pursued by Trump and passed by Congress could pave the way for potentially millions of international students to become legal permanent residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after Trump made that pledge in June, however, a campaign spokesperson said that group would be limited to the most skilled graduates and screened to exclude all communists, radical Islamists, Hamas supporters, America haters and public charges. Public charges refers to those who rely on or seek public assistance. Trump hasnt publicly mentioned the proposal since June, and its not clear how his new administration will approach the issue. One day after the presidential election last month, UCLAs Center for Immigration Law and Policy reminded students that the university will not release immigration status or related information in confidential student records without a judicial warrant, a subpoena, a court order, or as otherwise required by law. The University also has a strict policy that generally prevents campus police from undertaking joint efforts with federal immigration enforcement or detaining people at the federal governments request, the center said. Were very uncertain about the future In October 2023, after the start of Israel-Hamas war sparked protests on US college campuses, Trump said at a campaign event that he would revoke student visas and deport radical anti-American and antisemitic foreigners enrolled in universities. He criticized pro-Palestinian protests and said he would send Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to what he called pro-jihadist demonstrations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also vowed to reinstate and expand his previous travel ban on people from predominantly Muslim countries which limited travelers from Iran, Libya, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. The administration later extended the travel ban to include several African countries. President Joe Biden revoked the travel ban after he took office in 2021. Trump promised to implement strong ideological screening of all immigrants and said the US would block dangerous lunatics, haters, bigots and maniacs to get residency in our country. He has sought to distance himself from Project 2025 the controversial blueprint for a reimagined federal government published by conservatives at the Heritage Foundation in anticipation of a second Trump term which proposes the elimination of sensitive zones limiting federal immigration raids at places such as schools and college campuses. The plan was formulated by Trump allies. Were very uncertain about the future, said Gabrielle Balreira Fontenelle Mota, 21, whos from Brazil and is a junior studying journalism and international relations at NYU. Im not from a Muslim country or from China, which are places that Trump usually criticizes. So I dont feel as vulnerable as other international students. What makes me a little bit more concerned is the ideological screenings that (Trump) said he will be implementing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NYUs leaders offered reassurance in a post-election email last month, saying that as a global institution, we believe that the cross-border mobility of our students and scholars is of critical importance. We will be monitoring any immigration-related proposals, laws, and actions that could be of concern to our community, the email said. Budget time ahead of the semester start Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, urges students who are traveling abroad to return before the January 21 start of the spring semester. - Matt Burkhartt/Getty Images With the specter of restrictive immigration policies, other US universities among them schools in New England have offered resources and issued guidance. The Office of Global Affairs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has out of an abundance of caution urged all international students, scholars, faculty and staff to return to campus before day one of the new administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Massachusetts Institute of Technology urged students to avoid making decisions based on social media and news reports or rumors. Northeastern University, which enrolls more international students than any US college after NYU, recommended they return to campus by January 6 to minimize potential disruption to your studies, work, or research. Harvard Universitys International Office advised students and scholars to budget time ahead of the semester start, prior to the January Martin Luther King holiday to avoid disruptions or delays. Wesleyan University, in a letter to students traveling abroad, recommended they return by January 19 amid uncertainties around President-elect Donald Trumps plans for immigration-related policy. The best way to anticipate or predict what will happen in the second Trump administration is to look at what happened in the first administration, and what we saw in the first Trump administration was an effort to restrict the entry of foreign born (students and workers) throughout every category, Stuart Anderson, executive director of the National Foundation for American Policy, a nonpartisan research organization, said during a recent post-election briefing hosted by the Presidents Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. CNNs Zachary B. Wolf, Catherine E. Shoichet, Maria Santana, Kate Sullivan and Celina Tebor contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com He was the Attorney for the Damned, the Great Defender, the champion of free thought who skewered biblical literalism at the Scopes Monkey Trial and the master courtroom rhetorician whose three-day oration spared two infamous young murderers from hanging. He was the terror of corporations and the battling friend of labor. The most famous trial lawyer of his time, Clarence Darrow inspired reverential biographies, stage plays and performances from some of the 20th centurys greatest actors. For generations of attorneys, he has personified courage against long odds and the high-minded practice of law in service of social good. Defense attorneys still study his speeches like scripture. But the Chicago attorneys biggest cases were more than a decade ahead of him when he arrived in Los Angeles in 1911 to handle the highest-profile criminal case in the country. He narrowly escaped with his career and his freedom from what he came to call The City of the Dreadful Night. Whether he deserved to avoid prison is not totally clear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Darrow was in town to represent the McNamara brothers, union men accused of dynamiting the downtown building of the anti-union Los Angeles Times in October 1910 and killing 21 people. Labor leaders had pleaded with a reluctant Darrow to take the case. There was a pervasive conviction that the brothers had been framed as a scheme to smear the union cause. The famed criminal lawyer Clarence Darrow pleads his case to the jury in a 1913 trial. (Los Angeles Times) Darrow knew better. The evidence against his clients was overwhelming. He urged one McNamara brother to plead guilty to the Times murders, while the other would admit to a different bombing. Darrow settled the case, he would explain, to save his clients from hanging. The trial for the so-called Crime of the Century never happened. Instead, it was Darrow himself who went on trial. The accusation: bribery. His chief jury investigator, Bert Franklin, had approached two prospective jurors in the McNamara case and offered them cash to vote for acquittals. Just before the plea deals were finalized, detectives had caught Franklin trying to pass bribe money to juror George Lockwood, a retired Civil War veteran, on the corner of 3rd and Main streets. Darrows insistence that he had known nothing about it was undercut by his unexplained appearance on the scene at just that moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, Franklin was a key witness against Darrow. So was John Harrington, chief investigator for the McNamara defense team, who claimed Darrow had shown him a roll of $10,000 in cash easily six figures in today's dollars meant for jury bribes. By Harrington's account, when Franklin was caught, Darrow nervously blurted: My God, if he speaks I am ruined. Darrow, in his mid-50s, seemed near despair during his three-month trial. Glum and grim, one reporter called him. Mortified and resentful, heartbroken and trapped. People fanned themselves in the courtrooms stiflingly hot air. Lawyers expectorated into a spittoon. Thousands of spectators jostled for a look. To represent him, Darrow picked the flamboyant and brilliant Earl Rogers, believed to be the inspiration for Perry Mason. Rogers cross-examined prosecution witnesses blisteringly, portraying them as scoundrels who were lying about Darrow to save themselves. A 1932 photo of lawyer Clarence Darrow. (Associated Press) But there was also damning testimony from a detective named Sam Browne, who recalled Darrows words to him minutes after the abortive bribe attempt. If I had known that this was going to happen this way," Browne reported him saying, "I never would have allowed it to be done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The thrust of the defense: Darrow possessed no motive to bribe the jury, as he had already planned for the McNamara brothers to plead guilty. The trial pivoted on whether Darrow had finalized such a plan. (There was a good argument that the revelation of the bribery scheme had forced the brothers to plead, since it revealed the desperation of the defense, as the McNamara judge had remarked.) In his summation to jurors, prosecutor Joseph Ford essentially blamed Darrow for the dynamiting of The Times. It was the example of men like Darrow that caused the poor deluded wretch, J.B. McNamara, to believe that he could commit the crimes he did with safety to himself, Ford said. He invoked the pain of people who lost loved ones in the furnace of the burning Times building. He stretched his arms out toward Darrow and said, Well and truly may the widowed mother turn to the defendant and say, Give me back my boy. When Darrow stood to make his own plea to jurors, he called Fords attack cowardly and malicious in the extreme. It was not worthy of a man and it did not come from a man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Darrows remarks to jurors seemed to suggest that even if they believed him guilty, they should understand his motive had been to level the playing field for his underdog clients. He claimed the system was heavily skewed in favor of the prosecution. They had the grand jury. We didnt. They had the police force. We didnt. They had organized government. We didnt. Would the greatest legal advocate of his time be so stupid as to sanction such a ham-handed bribery scheme? I am about as fitted for jury bribing as a Methodist preacher, Darrow said. If you 12 men think that I would pick out a place a block from my office and send a man with money in his hand in broad daylight to go down on the street corner to pass four thousand dollars why, find me guilty. I certainty belong in some state institution. Darrow insisted that he had been criminally charged because of what he stood for. I am not on trial for having sought to bribe a man named Lockwood, Darrow told jurors. I am on trial because I have been a lover of the poor, a friend of the oppressed, because I have stood by labor for all these years, and have brought down upon my head the wrath of the criminal interests in this country. Whether guilty or innocent of the crime charged in the indictment, that is the reason I am here, and that is the reason that I have been pursued by as cruel a gang as ever followed a man. Darrow wept. Spectators wept. Jurors wept. Even one of the prosecutors called it one of the most marvelous addresses ever delivered in any courtroom but added, It has mighty little to do with his guilt and innocence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jurors deliberated less than 40 minutes before acquitting Darrow. But early the next year, he was on trial again, this time on the charge of attempting to bribe a second juror, a carpenter named Robert Bain. This time, he did not have the defense of lacking motive, since this attempt occurred well before settlement talks were in motion. In March 1913, the jury deadlocked. Eight voted to convict. Four held out for acquittal. Los Angeles prosecutors dropped the case, and two years after stepping off a train in L.A. a chastened Darrow returned to Chicago. Everybody had had enough of Darrow and just wanted him to get on a train and get out of town, said Nelson C. Johnson, author of the book "Darrows Nightmare: Los Angeles 1911-1913," which is subtitled The Forgotten Story of Americas Most Famous Trial Lawyer. Johnson, a retired New Jersey judge, read Irving Stones "Clarence Darrow for the Defense" as a young man and took inspiration from it as he pursued the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked why Darrow mattered to him, Johnson replied, Courage of conviction. You're gonna make me emotional. He added, Standing by your client when the shit hits the fan and you know the prospects are pretty ugly and you also know at the end of the day you may not be getting paid. Once you start representing a client, that's a sacred trust. That person is putting their life in your hands, and theyre saying, Please help me. Every now and then you have a client, you're their only friend. This is how many lawyers talk about Clarence Darrow, even now. It makes them emotional. Nelsons conclusion: Darrow probably wasnt guilty. The four jurors who sided with him in the second case saved him from historic obscurity. If he was convicted, you and I would not be talking about him, and I would not have written that book, Johnson said. Once you're a convicted felon, youre not going to become a lawyer in any state, even in those days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Darrows most celebrated cases came after Los Angeles. He was in his late 60s in 1924 when he represented Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two Chicago teenagers who killed a 14-year-old boy to demonstrate their ability to carry out the perfect crime. He persuaded a judge to spare their lives. The following year, he defended a Tennessee schoolteacher named John Scopes who was accused of teaching evolution. The duel between the agnostic Darrow and the biblical literalist William Jennings Bryan inspired the play "Inherit the Wind." The year after that, Darrow won an acquittal for a Black man charged with firing into a white mob as it surrounded his brothers home in Detroit. Geoffrey Cowan, a USC law professor, held Darrow in such high esteem that he helped launch the Clarence Darrow Foundation to fund public interest law. But while researching his 1993 book "The People v. Clarence Darrow: The Bribery Trial of Americas Greatest Lawyer," Cowan concluded that the evidence against Darrow in the jury-bribery scheme was strong. I totally believed in Darrow, and I went into this convinced that Darrow was innocent, Cowan told The Times. I thought the fun thing to do would be, I could spend some time digging into why he was framed. That was my premise, but as I began to investigate, I became convinced that he was guilty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A good number of Darrows friends and confidantes had no trouble believing he was behind the bribes. Even Lincoln Steffens, the celebrated muckraker who testified on his behalf at trial, wrote in a private letter: What do I care if he is guilty as Hell. Cowan said he struggled with whether he was justified in accusing Darrow without being totally sure. I concluded that the standard for the writer could be more like a civil standard of 'more likely than not,' he said. I wanted him to be a hero. But he was flawed. If youre trying to be empathetic and say, OK, what was he feeling? I think he thought [the McNamaras] werent going to get a fair shake, that everything was stacked against them." Los Angeles was a boom town in the early 1910s and a war zone between the forces of labor and capital. We dont tend now to picture Los Angeles as the Wild West, Cowan said. That did not justify jury tampering, but there were very brutal fights. There was a roughness about things." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources include "Darrow's Nightmare: Los Angeles 1911-1913" by Nelson C. Johnson, "The People v. Clarence Darrow: The Bribery Trial of America's Greatest Lawyer" by Geoffrey Cowan, and "Clarence Darrow: A One-Man Play" by David Rintels, based on Irving Stone's "Clarence Darrow for the Defense." 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. MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas (KETK) The search for a next president at Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC) will begin in January. Board Chairman Chuck Johns announced during the December meeting that the search for the sixth president will be conducted in-house by the NTCC Human Resources department. The role will be posted and applications will be accepted beginning on Jan. 6. Panola College awarded $280K grant to advance health science programs Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Ron Clinton announced earlier this year that he plans to retire next spring and the board of trustees assigned a subcommittee to discuss how the presidential search will be handled, Amy Adkins, NTCC Executive Director of Human Resources, said. After reviewing proposals from search firms, the board ultimately decided that the college will conduct the hiring process internally. While a search firm will not be engaged the position will be advertised nationally, NTTC says. We feel confident that we can get the word out and that we will attract a strong pool of applicants for this important role, Adkins said. NTTC is dedicated to student success and community impact. They are located in a rural region two hours east of Dallas. NTCC offers innovative programs, strong industry partnerships and a commitment to academic excellence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For individuals interested in applying should visit ntcc.edu/hr to learn more about the NTCCs application process. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Monday that defendants serving lengthy sentences under the state's "three strikes" law, and whose convictions have been final for years or decades, do not have the opportunity to argue their punishments are excessive under current standards. See it: Sinkhole opens on I-80 in New Jersey WHARTON, New Jersey (PIX11) Part of Interstate 80 remained closed in New Jersey Thursday after a sinkhole opened up on the shoulder of the roadway. Emergency crews responded to the scene of the 40-foot by 40-foot sinkhole in Wharton in Morris County around 7:30 a.m., according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation. More Local News All lanes on the eastbound side of the I-80 were closed in the area, causing traffic to be diverted off Exit 34. Traffic was backed up for miles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I-80 eastbound will remain closed until further notice, authorities said. Motorists are advised to use alternate routes, such as Route 46, or use detours. For more information about the detours, click here. Sinkhole opens on I-80 in New Jersey (Credit: PIX11) Fortunately, the sinkhole didnt swallow up any vehicles or injure any drivers. Crews are working to figure out how to repair the sinkhole. The exact cause has not yet been determined. However, Jim Hill, the owner of the nearby Knotty Pine Pub, said there are mineshafts all over the area and that sinkholes have popped up for years. Sure enough, there are several abandoned iron mines in the area dating back to the 1800s, according to an official New Jersey state geology information map. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That includes the old Mount Pleasant iron mine, which operated about 25-50 feet away from the sinkhole in Wharton, according to state records. Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema was exiled from the Democratic Party for doing what she believed to be the right thing. One of her signature pieces of legislation, a solid, bipartisan border security bill that was supported by the Border Patrol, was killed by Donald Trump to keep his presidential campaign alive. She was isolated, rejected, shunned. Reelection was not possible. But there was money in her campaign coffers and lots of cool places in the world to visit. Advertisement Advertisement So, she did. Sinema spent much of her final go-round in the U.S. Senate traveling all the way from honesty and integrity to hypocrisy. Sinema used campaign cash to travel the world The persnickety folks at the nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington say Sinema has been breaking election rules that prohibit candidates from using campaign funds for strictly personal purposes. CREW president Noah Bookbinder said in a written statement, The rule of thumb is that any dollar your campaign spends has to be for the campaign it cant just be for your own personal benefit. Its hard to see how any of this spending was for the benefit of the campaign. This comes after a news report in The Arizona Republic a few months back about how Sinema, a self-declared lame duck, billed her campaign upwards of $200,000 in travel expenses during visits to France, Japan, the U.K. and other international destinations. Advertisement Advertisement Its the kind of stuff a person in Sinemas position does because she can. Not because she should. The message is the same as on her naughty ring Remember that photo of Sinema from a few years back with the naughty ring on her finger? The one with the f-word suggestion on it? Yeah, that seems to be the message. Its kind of a bummer given the impassioned farewell address Sinema gave asking her colleagues to honor the principles of the Founding Fathers and protect the guardrails of democracy. I believe she was sincere. Opinion: Sinema leaves Senate as a shadow of herself In spite of numerous legislative wins, crafted with bipartisan support, its easy to understand Sinema having a sense of bitterness even betrayal after her bipartisan border security bill was killed by members of Congress under the orders of Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Trump bragged about killing it. The bill would have gone a long way toward combating the flow of illegal drugs, solving the asylum problem and bolstering the Border Patrol by way of more officers and enhanced security. Then she told Congress to stop 'excesses of greed' But any progress on border security would have damaged Trumps fearmongering campaign. So, it was killed. In her farewell speech, Sinema spoke of the need to protect guardrails like the filibuster and the dangers of tossing them aside. She said in part, Many now blame these guardrails for blocking critical progress, instead of recognizing that it is us, our actions, our words, our incivility and, ultimately, our unwillingness to compromise that prevent reasonable solutions from advancing. Advertisement Advertisement She added, They exist for a reason: to cultivate relationships so we can move history forward, to temper the excesses of greed and to curb the hunger for power. Our democracy ensures that no one person, no one party has too much control. The checks and balances built into our government protect us all. She was right. Unfortunately, its tough to give much credence to what she said, particularly her exhortation to temper the excesses of greed and to curb the hunger for power, when shes using campaign money and her position in the Senate to Marco Polo her way around the world. Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com. Advertisement Advertisement For more opinions content, please subscribe. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sinema preaches against greed but spends $200K on travel | Opinion Serbia's striking university students on Wednesday rallied outside the chief prosecutor's office to demand justice over a train station awning collapse that killed 15 people last month in the country's northern province. More than 1,000 students symbolically left letters on the doorstep of the public prosecutor's office, telling chief prosecutor Zagorka Dolovac that "students expect you to fight for law and justice, without political abuse or corruption." Dolovac's office later responded with a statement inviting a student delegation to a meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Serbia's universities have been blockaded for weeks as part of a broader movement demanding accountability over the 1 November tragedy in the region of Vojvodina's capital of Novi Sad when a massive concrete awning at the railway station crashed onto the people below. Many in Serbia blame the collapse on widespread corruption and sloppy work on the building renovation, one of several infrastructure megaprojects involving Chinese state companies that are now under question. Prosecutors have arrested 13 people over the Novi Sad tragedy, including a government minister whose release later fueled public scepticism about the sincerity of the investigation. Striking students in Serbia have received wide support from their professors, farmers, actors, and others. Tens of thousands joined a student-led protest in Belgrade on Sunday, which also reflected wider discontent with populist President Aleksandar Vucic's rule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protesting students on Wednesday carried banners featuring red handprints a protest symbol telling the authorities they have "blood on their hands". Related In an apparent attempt to defuse the student strikes, Vucic has been advertising what he describes as "favourable" loans for young people to purchase apartments. The Serbian leader has faced accusations of curbing democratic freedoms despite formally pursuing European Union membership for the Western Balkan nation, while maintaining close ties to Russia and China. Seven people were injured in New York City on Christmas Day when a taxi jumped a sidewalk and hit pedestrians outside a Macys department store after the cab driver suffered a medical episode, police said. The incident took place in Midtown Manhattan near Macys flagship store in Herald Square, near the corner of West 34th Street and Avenue of the Americas, or Sixth Avenue. In addition to the 58-year-old taxi driver, the injured included a nine-year-old boy, two women aged 49 and four other women aged 19, 37 and 41, police added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NBC New York reported that the injured boy and his mother were visiting from Australia. The taxi cab jumped the curb near Macys flagship store - Anadolu One 49-year-old woman with a leg injury, the nine-year-old boy who suffered a cut and the 41-year-old woman who sustained an injury to her head, were taken to hospital, police said. The remaining three pedestrians declined medical attention. All injuries were non-life-threatening. Images of the cab showed a heavily-damaged vehicle with broken parts and dents all over it. The store, with its elaborately decorated display windows, is a magnet for tourists and New Yorkers around the holidays. No charges have been filed and a probe into the crash is ongoing. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Severe weather continues to hamper the journey home after the holidays for millions of travelers this weekend as thousands of flights were canceled of delayed across the US. More than 18,000 flights into, out of, or within the US were delayed or canceled Thursday and Friday, according to flight tracker FlightAware.com. As of Saturday morning, another 2,638 flights have been delayed and another 519 have been canceled. The multi-day severe storm threat will continue to impact the South as an tornado outbreak is likely, according to the National Weather Service, with damaging straight-line winds, large hail and heavy rainfall expected all weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An outbreak of severe storms with tornadoes, wind damage, and large hail is expected from parts of the Southern Plains, into the Lower Mississippi Valley and central Gulf Coast states, the NWS said. Several long track tornadoes are expected. The weather service warned that the strongest tornadoes could come late Saturday afternoon into the evening. Travelers wait in line for security checks at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, on Tuesday. Severe weather could cause major delays on Thursday and Friday ((AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)) This comes after severe storms already slammed parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on Thursday and Friday. Cities in areas from eastern Texas to western Georgia, including Houston, Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans and Birmingham could still see an isolated chance of tornadoes and damaging wind gusts and large hail this weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The threat of tornadoes has now shifted to the east as storms are expected in Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia. The severe storm threat is expected to weaken by Sunday. Tornadoes are typically less common during the month of December, but this year has been well above average. As of December 26, there have been 1,777 tornado reports which is above the average 1,347 reports, CNN reported. December sees an average 40 tornadoes compared to the nearly 270 seen on average in May. People brave the rain and walk along the Manhattan Beach Pier to watch high surf on Tuesday in Manhattan Beach, California. Damaging winds are forecast to continue near the coast ((AP Photo/Richard Vogel)) On the West Coast, a series of atmospheric river-fueled storms is delivering more rounds of dangerous waves, powerful winds, heavy rainfall and thick mountain snowfall across the Pacific Northwest and Rockies. The revolving door of mid-latitude cyclones propagating through the Pacific Northwest is likely to continue through the rest of the weekend, the National Weather Service said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement High wind alerts are in place across the Pacific Northwest and the Rockies, where wind gusts over 75 mph are possible. Widespread power outages are expected, warns the weather service. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles, including areas along Highway 395 and Highway 95 near Walker Lake. People cover up from falling rain on Tuesday in Dallas, Texas. Texas and the Gulf Coast will see heavy rain and thunderstorms this week ((AP Photo/LM Otero)) The storm is expected to move onshore Saturday, which also could bring dangerously high waves and powerful rip currents. High waves up to 15 feet could be seen as far south as the Malibu coast and across Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion can be expected. Large waves can sweep across the beach without warning, pulling people into the sea from rocks, jetties and beaches. Sudden immersion in cold water can result in cold water shock even for the most experienced swimmers, according to the weather service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cascades, Sierra Nevada and Rockies will see snowfall of 6 to 18 inches and gusts potentially over 70 mph could reduce visibility and make travel nearly impossible. Avalanche warnings have been issued for the mountains of northern Utah, including the Wasatch Range and Bear River Range, warning: Very dangerous avalanche conditions are expected to develop on many slopes. Authorities located more human remains Thursday after conducting a search along the Palos Verdes Peninsula, where a human leg washed on shore a day before. During the search of the shoreline, officers and coroner investigators recovered a second human leg and a femur, said Palos Verdes Estates Police Capt. Aaron Belda. He said the human leg was found by a hiker. No other details about the condition of the human parts were provided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The search was conducted after a human leg washed up along the shoreline in the 800 block of Paseo Del Mar on Wednesday, the same spot where a capsized boat belonging to two fishermen washed up earlier this week. The department said that a cadaver dog with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department was used that day to thoroughly search the area for additional remains, but none were found. Belda said the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner will try to identify the remains that were found and if the limbs are connected to the capsized boat incident that occurred Dec. 23. Read more: Human skull and bones wash ashore in Palos Verdes Estates, investigation underway Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to police, the men went fishing aboard a small boat Monday afternoon, launching from San Pedro. Weather forecasters had issued a small craft advisory that day, warning boaters in Los Angeles County that there could be waves up to 10 feet high. The men were reported missing the following morning after they didnt return from fishing. Shortly after, their overturned boat was discovered by a person along a stretch of a rocky shoreline in Palos Verdes Estates, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The coast guard conducted a search and rescue Christmas Eve for the two men but were forced to suspend the operation the next day amid dangerous surf and high winds. The boaters disappearance came during a week when massive waves damaged the historic Santa Cruz Wharf and a man died after being trapped by debris in high surf at Monterey Bay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The discovery of the legs and femur marks the second time that human remains have washed up in the same area. Last month a human skull and bones washed ashore in the same area. Belda said it's unclear if the femur recently found is connected to that case. He said there are currently no plans to conduct any more searches operations in the area. Times staff writer Tony Briscoe contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Sioux Falls Police are investigating an apparent shooting incident near 11th and Sneve Avenue behind Eastway Bowl. According to a news release at 4:20 p.m. Thursday, officers were called around 8:45 a.m. to the area of 11th Street and Sneve Avenue for a victim of a gunshot wound. The victim, a 38-year-old Sioux Falls resident, died on scene as a result of their injuries. 1M+ watch SDSU, USDs semi final games Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said they are investigating the shooting as a homicide. This is the 16th homicide in Sioux Falls in 2024, a record for the city. Police told KELOLAND News just a few weeks ago that there is no single reason they can pinpoint for the record number of violent deaths in the city this year. SFPD Sgt. Travis Olsen first announced the shooting during Thursday mornings police briefing. He said there was no danger to the public but advised the public to stay away from the area because of the investigation. Sioux Falls homicide rate compared to other cities The shooting was first reported at about 9 a.m. Thursday as a man down. When officers arrived they found a man with a serious gunshot wound. An ambulance was on the scene with officers when our camera arrived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers are investigating as we speak, Olsen said during Thursdays police briefing. The investigation regarding this incident is still ongoing 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 KELOLAND.com. Invoking sources of wisdom and folly ranging from The Lego Movie" to the Eisenhower Administration, the leader of the Free Press Opinion department has a singular way of conveying the meaning and impact of public policy decisions and social trends with astonishing clarity. Nancy Kaffer's work in 2024 brought light, levity and gripping deliberation to issues of urgency, always steering the discussion toward unity, empathy and sound government. And she explained, with unimpeachable certainty, why Michigan is a better place to live than Texas. GM is leaving the RenCen. It can't become Detroit's next ruin. "The Packard Plant, hulking and toxic, 80 buildings looming derelict across 80 acres of Detroit's east side since the last Packard rolled off the line in 1956. "Fisher Body No. 21, 600,000 deteriorating square feet at the curve of I-75 and I-94, abandoned since 1993. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Continental Motors on Jefferson Avenue, empty since the late 1990s, finally demolished in 2022. "In Highland Park, the stately, sprawling Ford Model T administrative building, where production stopped in 1974. "Detroit is littered with the auto industry's husks. The Renaissance Center can't be next." Read the full column here Mike Duggan's independent run for Michigan governor is a risky gamble "'Like most people, Mike Duggan's best thing and his worst thing are the same thing. For Detroit's mayor, it's that he's the guy who gets stuff done.' "I wrote that back in 2019, after the Detroit City Council delivered a short-lived rebuke to Duggan over a bond sale to fund a new round of neighborhood demolitions. (Later that year, he got it done.) Thats always been Duggans calling card: Hes the guy who isn't afraid to roll up his sleeves or break a few eggs to make an omelet. And even if you actually wanted scrambled, hey, it's still breakfast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Explaining his decision to run as an independent, Duggan said that he never fit comfortably into the dogma of either party, which is surprising, because Duggan has been one of the most powerful Democrats in southeast Michigan for almost 40 years. He surely would have entered the Democratic race with significant advantages, instead of the uphill climb hes now facing as a third-party candidate in a state where that sort of thing has never really caught on." Read the full column here Trump's mass deportation plan for undocumented immigrants would change Michigan "Have you ever really thought about what the mass deportation of 11 million undocumented immigrants would look like? "It's item No. 2 on Donald Trump's Agenda 47, inhumane and written in all caps: "CARRY OUT THE LARGEST MASS DEPORTATION IN AMERICAN HISTORY. The whole premise, of course, is a sly wink: White voters, and probably Black voters, are meant to understand that this does not mean us. Its them, people who speak accented English, perform low-skill, low-wage work and definitely dont live in your neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Thats a fantasy. "A serious attempt at the largest mass deportation in the nation's history would require an unprecedented level of law enforcement intrusion into our lives that is utterly foreign to most Americans, even those in overpoliced communities." Read the full column here America is divided. We have to find connection to have a future as a nation. "It was in vogue, a few years back, to talk about civility. Thats not entirely misguided. We scream at each other a lot. Our culture is coarser than it ever has been, which I dont love, though I laughed right along with everyone else when one of our Detroit Lions flipped the double bird at the other team's jeering fans after a bad call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Yet civility has always seemed like a ribbon on a pig. When were accusing each other of hating America, denying each other rights or pursuing politics or policy built on indifference to each others humanity, does it matter whether we do it nicely? "I think what we lack is empathy, the willingness to truly see each other as fully human as ourselves. Weve decided that some groups of people arent worth our care, whether its undocumented immigrants or MAGA voters, and we operate accordingly. "If Im right, theres good news its possible to learn empathy. And bad news you have to want to." Read the full column Zillow says Gen Z is moving to Texas, but Michigan is way better "These days, I'm not sure I could live, or pay taxes, in any state with the death penalty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Particularly not Texas ("Old Sparky"), where 587 people have been executed since 1982, more than any other state in the nation. Including, in 2004, Cameron Todd Willingham, who was almost certainly innocent, and just last month, Ivan Cantu, about whose guilt serious questions had emerged. People convicted of murder in Texas are significantly more likely to be sentenced to death if the victim was white. Texas death row inmates are disproportionately Black and Hispanic. ... "Gen Z is widely regarded and identifies as the most diverse generation, the most educated, the most politically progressive and most focused on equity and racial justice. One recent survey found that more members of Gen Z identify as LGBTQ+ than Republican. Yet in 2022, more than 76,000 Gen Z'ers moved to deep red Texas, the real estate website Zillow found in an analysis of the U.S. Census' American Community Survey. California was second, with 43,913 new Gen Z residents. "Dead last? Michigan. "I'm not fussed with you, Gen Z when I was a young person, I sure wasn't looking at a state's progressive politics, or lack thereof, to decide where to move. I mostly cared about professional and social opportunities (I mean a newspaper job and City Club) but I consider myself lucky to have landed in a state with policy I can be proud of. Gen Z, I want you to be better than me. ... Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So, let's talk about Texas." Read the full column here This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: She told us, convincingly, why Michigan is better than Texas | Opinion SHORE ACRES, Fla. (WFLA) As families gather for the holidays, there are still communities in Tampa Bay that are struggling to rebuild after the hurricanes. Many residents in Shore Acres couldnt celebrate Christmas in their own homes after Hurricanes Helene and Milton tore through the area. Lets make something happen: Pinellas County residents donate to displaced families Several families in that part of Pinellas County are surrounded by canals and water, which put them at high risk and caused their homes to flood during Hurricane Helene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News Channel 8 spoke to concerned neighbors who are demanding answers and action from state lawmakers at the capitol. I dont think anybody benefits if everybody decides to just leave Shore Acres, Matt Thron said. Resident Matt Thron has been a staple in the community ever since Helene hosting dinner gatherings to give his neighbors a place to celebrate the holidays and lean on each other. It just became a central spot for everybody to gather and connect and build the community back together, Thron said. Thron and others in the community are calling on state leaders to give residents the opportunity to rebuild their homes by adding a second level and putting in mitigation efforts that can prevent storm surge. One of the things Ive always learned about government, as it has a tendency to be more reactive than it is proactive, Thron said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds in St. Pete receive warm meals on Christmas Eve State Rep. Lindsay Cross, whose district covers Shore Acres, recognizes the improvements that need to be made heading into next session. Im working on things about how we can harden our homes against flooding impacts, reintroducing an expansion of My Safe Florida Home bill, Cross said. Im looking at, again, ways that we can be more proactive and preparing for hurricanes. Making sure that our local governments have tools to ensure that people in our communities are safe when we have disasters. Across the aisle on the senate floor, Sen. Jay Collins says the state did what they could this time around and promises further efforts at the capitol. We did so many things as well as we could, Collins said. But now what do we do at the local level to help ourselves prepare and get our community as adjusted and prepared as possible when the next one that hits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But before the next hurricane season does hit, residents believe there are steps the state can take and act on now. Being proactive in putting money into things like coral restoration, or mangroves, or tax credits and grants for lifting homes mitigates what youre going to have to pay later on, Thron said. Next session begins in March, but committee weeks will begin again shortly after the new year. Thats when state leaders will discuss the budget as well as priority bills. For residents here in Shore Acres, they can hope their concerns are taken up. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The six Democrats seeking their partys nomination for governor in 2025 are Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, teachers union president Sean Spiller, and former Sen. Steve Sweeney. (Photos of governors office by Dana DiFilippo; Baraka by the New Jersey Governors Office; Fulop by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images; Gottheimer and Sherrill by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Spiller and Sweeney by Edwin J. Torres/ Governors Office) Most New Jersey voters dont bother with primary elections, with turnout rarely climbing into the double digits over the past two decades. But next years primary could be a nail-biter, with six strong Democratic candidates competing to become New Jerseys next governor and every one having a decent shot at it, with election ballots overhauled to eliminate the powerful county line that gave party insiders preferred candidates advantageous ballot placement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its really wide open for any of the candidates, and thats really unusual, to have a whole bunch of candidates who have a plausible path forward, said Dan Cassino, a professor of government and law at Fairleigh Dickinson University and the executive director of the FDU Poll. The mere fact were having a competitive primary on the Democratic side is a sign of the waning influence of the parties. Thats good for voters, who will get more choices, Cassino said. Its likely to lead to higher voter turnout in the primary, because we actually have a meaningful choice, he added. Voter turnout in New Jerseys primaries has rarely risen above 15% in the past two decades, dipping as low as 5% in 2015, state data shows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Candidates from both major parties looking to land a primary win in June will cater to their base, which will push them toward their parties extreme sides, Cassino said. That could be bad for democracy, he added. New Jersey voters historically have elected moderates on both sides of the political spectrum, Cassino said. Having moderates on either side makes it easy for these folks to negotiate, to compromise, to put New Jersey first over what people on the extreme side of the party might want, he said. But, he added, as the power of institutional party wanes, we could be losing that and thats not necessarily good for representation. Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, is barred from seeking a third consecutive term next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres a look at whos running on the Democratic side: Ras Baraka, 55, Newarks mayor since 2014. Baraka previously served on the Newark City Council and was a high school principal. Steve Fulop, 47, Jersey Citys mayor since 2013. Fulop, a Marine veteran, previously served on Jersey Citys city council and has worked in finance. Josh Gottheimer, 49, a congressman who co-chairs the Houses bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. Gottheimer was once a speechwriter for Bill Clinton and a Microsoft strategist. Mikie Sherrill, 52, a congresswoman, former Navy helicopter pilot, and former federal prosecutor, and the only woman in the race. Sean Spiller, 49, who has been president of the New Jersey Education Association since 2021. Spiller, a former teacher, also served one term as Montclairs mayor and on Montclairs council. Steve Sweeney, 65, a former ironworker and ex-state senator. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Monument Town Council recently approved rules for healing centers that can administer psychedelics, largely banning them across town. Voters approved the new centers in a statewide ballot measure in 2022. The centers will allow those over 21 to use psychedelic mushrooms with supervision. Psilocybin in mushrooms has been used to treat depression and other mental health disorders. The ballot measure prohibited towns from banning the centers, but they can limit where they can open. In Monument, town staff drew on the same regulations in place for medical marijuana businesses to write the rules for psychedelic centers, explained town attorney Bob Cole. The town does not have any medical marijuana dispensaries. The zoning rules would limit the centers to four small areas. A town map shows the centers would be allowed at a site near Interstate 25 and Colorado 105, on land at the very northern edge of town, a site south of Eighth Street near I-25 and south of Monument Lake. The site south of Monument Lake is completely undeveloped. The council voted 6-0 in mid-December to approve rules governing the centers after hearing from only one person, a licensed professional counselor interested in the potential for psychedelics to treat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. The council discussed the measure in early December and seemed to favor tight restrictions for the potential healing centers, floating short hours for the healing centers, such as requiring them to close at 3 p.m. The council decided to limit the hours of the centers from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Vincent Bruno, the only interested person to speak at either meeting, highlighted the potential of psilocybin to treat PTSD in veterans, as well as hypervigilance and major depression. As a Monument resident, he said he was interested in potentially working in town. Featured Local Savings "If we dont allow regulated practitioners to show that it can be done properly, what we are going to end up is unregulated folks who maybe arent as interested in harm reduction as I am," he said during the Dec. 16 meeting. Bruno referenced research from Johns Hopkins Medicine that has seen success. A recent study from the research hospital found that psilocybin reduced major depression in patients and kept its severity low. The Department of Veterans Affairs is also interested in investing in psilocybin research to treat PTSD and depression, it announced earlier this year. The National Institute on Drug Abuse outlines some risks of using psilocybin particularly in unsupervised settings, such as dangerous behavior and experiencing extreme fear and paranoia. It can also cause high heart rate, blood pressure and nausea. Councilman Steve King encouraged Bruno to return to the town council to give the board feedback on the new regulations. "We can certainly expand the areas it can go into, if we needed to at some point," he said. Mayor Mitch LaKind said the regulations needed to be in place ahead of the state allowing centers to open next year. The Colorado Natural Medicine Division expects the first centers to open early in the summer, Colorado Politics reported. The Colorado Springs City Council approved similar regulations for the centers, limiting them to areas around the Colorado Springs Airport and in the far northeast portion of the city. One restaurant had rodent and cockroach carcasses, another had no hot water and a third was keeping too-warm mayo on the table. Those were some of the notable conditions San Luis Obispo County health inspectors found in November 2024 during dozens of surprise visits to eating and drinking establishments. Many food and beverage sellers passed with flying colors, while others needed to make serious improvements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every month, The Tribune publishes the lowest- and highest-ranked eateries to give diners more information about the places where they buy food and drinks. Inspectors visit restaurants, bars, coffee shops, grocery stores, mini-marts and more on a monthly basis. They score eateries on a 100-point scale and make deductions based on the severity of the violations they find. To check out the safety and cleanliness of your favorite restaurants around the county, visit www.EatSafeSLO.org and use the interactive map to view full inspection reports. Here are the highs and lows of the 192 inspections Environmental Health employees conducted in November. Lowest-rated restaurants Agave Grill, 671 W. Tefft St., Nipomo Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Points lost: 24.5 Notes: Agave Grill in Nipomo lost a number of points during its routine inspection in November due to repeat health code violations though its largest single ding came from a new violation: a cook touching their hair and changing tasks without switching gloves or washing their hands. The inspector also observed bags of produce being kept in a hand wash sink, a repeat violation for the South County restaurant. The restaurant was also placing cooked beans into a larger bucket for cooling, had no sanitizer solution set up during food prep and had bulk food storage without lids, according to inspection notes. Samurai, 1131 Creston Road, Paso Robles Points lost: 14 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Notes: The Paso Robles sushi restaurant was briefly closed after inspectors arrived for the routine inspection on Nov. 14 and discovered no hot water was available. The restaurant was allowed to reopen Nov. 18 after hot water was restored. Meanwhile, a health inspector observed used gloves being stored in a box with new gloves, an employee beverage without a lid and evidence of employee meals in the prep area and no sanitizer buckets being used in the sushi bar area. The inspector also noted raw fish was being stored over ready-to-eat cucumbers and lemons. There was also evidence of a rodent infestation at the time of inspection, according to notes, with numerous rodent droppings in multiple critical areas of the food facility. Milestone Tavern, 972 Foothill Blvd., San Luis Obispo Points lost: 11.5 Notes: During its routine inspection in November, Milestone Tavern in San Luis Obispo was ordered to be reinspected after a number of violations were found. The restaurant was told that all violations must be fixed at the time of that reinspection, or it would be charged for subsequent reinspections. According to the inspection notes, an employee was seen eating and began prepping food without first washing his hands. When the employee was told to wash his hands, there was no soap available at the hand sink the employee used, so they rinsed their hands and returned to food preparation, the inspector noted. The inspector also noted raw cubed beef and raw fish were being stored next to ready-to-eat foods like sliced tomatoes and salsa in the cold top prep cooler, and there was food stored on the floor of the walk-in freezer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blast 825 Brewery, 1462 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande Points lost: 19 Notes: The Arroyo Grande restaurant lost a number of points during its November inspection for repeat violations. Among those were its mechanical dishwasher not dispensing sanitizer and grime built up on the bar soda nozzles and their holders. Cardboard was also being used to line shelving, according to inspection notes. The inspector noted the facilitys prep top unit was also not cooling properly, with foods registering at 45 degrees when they are required to be 41 degrees or lower. Ramen @ 805, 807 13th St., Paso Robles Points lost: 18.5 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Notes: The Paso Robles ramen restaurant lost points during its November inspection after a whisk was spotted being kept in a hand wash sink and several containers of too-warm mayonnaise were being stored on prep tables. The restaurant also did not have any sanitizer solution set up during active food preparation, there was buildup on the ice chute and two containers were set up to collect water on the floor below the ice machine, according to inspection notes. The inspector also noted that they were unable to verify food manager and food handler safety cards for employees at the time of the inspection. Taqueria Jalisco, 1912 Creston Road, Paso Robles Points lost: 13.5 Notes: During the inspection of the Paso Robles restaurant in November, a dead rodent carcass was found in a sticky trap behind the water heater, while evidence of a past cockroach infestation was also observed. Numerous cockroach carcasses were observed near the water heater and along the wall behind the washing machine, the inspector wrote. The business was told to clean and sanitize all affected areas. Employees were also seen to be improperly cooling potentially hazardous foods, a plastic bag was blocking use of a hand sink and unprotected baskets of chips were being kept in the dining room, according to inspection notes. These businesses also lost 10 or more points due to violations. Pismo Beach Gas , 890 N. 43th St., Pismo Beach La Mexicana Restaurant , 7495 El Camino Real, Atascadero Shins Poke , 361 Pomeroy Ave., Pismo Beach Tiger Tea House , 1800 E. Grand Ave., Grover Beach Beachin Biscuits, 783 Price St., Pismo Beach Highest-rated restaurants These stores and restaurants received scores of 100, with few to no violations. San Luis Obispo Antonias Pizza, 891 Higuera St. Bamboo Bamboo Chinese Restaurant, 1049 Nipomo St. Black Sheep Bar & Grill, 1117 Chorro St. Brooks Burgers SLO, 134 Tank Farm Road Camp San Luis Obispo - MOA #E0107, Hwy. 1, Building 854 Ebony, 778 Higuera St., Suite D Eureka! SLO, 1141 Chorro St. Finneys Crafthouse, 857 Monterey St. Food-4-Less, 3985 S Higuera St. Franks Famous Hot Dogs, 950 California Blvd. Giuseppes Cucina Rustica, 849 Monterey St. Nates on Marsh, 450 Marsh St. Panera Bread #6460, 1390 W Branch St. Party City, 271-A Madonna Road Popeyes Chicken, 840 Foothill Blvd. Proof & Gather Baking Company, 778 Higuera St Unit A Sally Loos Cafe, 1804 Osos St. Starbucks #620, 1075 Court St. #110 Taqueria El Guero, 1122 Chorro St. The Neighborhood Cafe and Juice Bar, 3887 South Higuera St., Building 3 Woodstocks Pizza Parlor, 1000 Higuera St. North Coast Cambria Nursery and Florist Corporation, 4039 Burton Drive, Cambria Del Mar Market, 2864 Main St., Morro Bay Mobil Mart, 911 Morro Bay Blvd., Morro Bay South County Fins Restaurant, 25 West Grand Ave., Grover Beach Honeymoon Cafe, 999 Price St., Pismo Beach Oceano Elks Lodge #2504, 410 Airpark Drive, Oceano Oxford Suites, 651 Five Cities Drive, Pismo Beach Panda Express #932, 1401 East Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande Panera Bread #6460, 1390 West Branch St., Arroyo Grande Pennys All-American Cafe, 1053 Price St., Pismo Beach Surfside Donuts, 603 Dolliver St., Pismo Beach The Scoop Ice Cream Parlor, 607 Dolliver St., Pismo Beach North County Dixie County's new electric school buses plugged in and charging up. Dixie now has an entire fleet of electric buses. (Photo via Highland Electric) Way back when dinosaurs ruled the earth and I was just a Florida boy, not yet a Florida man, I rode the bus to school every day. I well remember the roar of that yellow monsters diesel engine and the choking swirl of exhaust smoke and red clay dust that drifted through the open windows. They stayed open all the time because of the buss lack of air conditioning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I envy the kids in Dixie County which is not a statement I ever expected to make. Dixie County is about 50 miles east of Gainesville. This month, in the county seat of Cross City, the Dixie County School District debuted its fleet of 23 new school buses all of them electric. They all have air conditioning, too, which means theyre both cool and quiet. That makes them the opposite of the buses I rode in my youth. Timothy Alexander via Dixie County School District. Kids were riding the bus in the middle of summer without air conditioning, so making this change seemed like the right thing to do, Dixie School Board Chairman Tim Alexander told me this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of Dixies veteran bus drivers told a local online news publication called Main Street Daily News that shes been driving buses for 33 years and has never before had one with air conditioning. She put on a cardigan for her new vehicles maiden voyage, so she could keep the A/C cranked for the trip. While she drove, the electric engine was so quiet, kids kept asking her if she was sure shed turned the motor on. Bus drivers also said the new buses air conditioning means they can leave the windows up, dodging the dust that has flooded through open windows for years, giving riders and drivers headaches, Main Street Daily News reported. People in the more urban parts of Florida tend to look down on the less populous, rural areas like Dixie County. But now little Dixie has one of the largest electric bus fleets in the state. Mia McCormick via Environment Florida. I first heard about Dixies new buses from Mia McCormick of Environment Florida. She told me the Dixie County folks had run into a ton of vocal opposition in their bid for an all-electric fleet, but they stuck to their goal anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In todays divisive environment, putting student health before politics is brave, McCormick told me. These local leaders deserve a medal for persevering and giving these students a better chance at success. I asked Alexander about what he called community opposition, and all he said, was Change is difficult for some people. Missing a commandment Despite its small size, Dixie County occasionally makes big headlines. In 2007, Dixie County made news because Commissioner Big John Driggers erected a 6-ton granite replica of the Ten Commandments at the courthouse. It prompted a lawsuit that went on for years before the suit was dropped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Big John wound up making even more headlines in 2009, when he was one of several officials in Dixie and Levy counties who were busted for taking bribes from an undercover FBI agent whose alias was the same name as that of a porn star. Oh, if only thered been a commandment that said, Thou shalt not take secret payoffs from developers who might be X-rated actors. Dixie is the only county in the South named for the Confederacys fight song, according to Visit Florida. Created in 1921, Dixie is perhaps best known to travelers for being one of the places where your drive takes you across a bridge over the picturesque Suwannee River. Its also home to Fanning Springs State Park, the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, and the Nature Coast State Trail. In other words, theres a lot of Dixie that remains natural and undeveloped. When Im driving on U.S. 19, I often stop in Dixie County. I like to visit one of the states oldest roadside boiled peanut stands, Marias Dixie Nut House. Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge via Visit Dixie. Were No. 4 Nobody tell the Legislature about the new buses in the heart of Dixie, because they may not like it. In recent years, our state legislators have shown hostility toward every kind of energy besides fossil fuels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our last House speaker, Paul Renner, ranted about woke billionaires pushing the green agenda (while raking in campaign contributions from oil industry billionaires). When the feds offered $350 million in energy efficiency incentives to Floridians, Gov. Ron DeSantis promptly rejected it with no explanation. He also vetoed a bill that would have required the state to buy more electric vehicles once again, with no explanation. Meanwhile, he and the Legislature almost completely deleted climate change from being mentioned in state law, which has led to repealing the states renewable energy goals. Theyve banned discussion of the science behind the increased intensity of our recent hurricanes like it was a book about an adoption by a same-sex penguin couple. Yet while our clueless leaders have been bending over backward to cater to their wealthy oil industry contributors, the rest of us have been embracing alternatives that are better for the planet and our pocketbooks. Clay County solar farm via Moss Solar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Floridas utilities, for instance, have been building nothing but solar farms. They like the fact that the fuel cost for collecting rays of light from the sun is so much lower than buying natural gas. Nearly 30,000 Floridians have installed solar power on their homes this year, bringing the number of installations to more than 253,000. The 3.1 gigawatts of solar-generation capacity added this year is the second most in the nation, ranking just behind Texas. Dixie County is just one of 12 Florida counties that have bought electric school buses for their fleets. The others include such populous counties as Pinellas, Hillsborough, Broward, and Palm Beach, and smaller ones such as Jefferson, Columbia, and Lafayette. Were now No. 4 in the U.S. in terms of the number of electric school buses, Mary Linn of the non-partisan Electrification Coalitions Orlando office told me. Started by a middle schooler This all started when school superintendent Mike Thomas was attending an economic development meeting two years ago, Linn told me. Thats when he heard there was federal money available for buying electric buses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They applied and they were shocked to learn they received the full amount, she said. They never thought theyd get anything like this. The buses themselves cost about $8.6 million, and the charging infrastructure was another $500,000 or so. Both were covered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the most poorly named piece of legislation ever, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Dixies electric buses are among the 66,000 projects funded by the $568 billion plan, which is considered the nations largest investment ever in clean energy. Thats the source of some of the opposition to the buses, too. People were calling the school board and complaining about this was Biden money, Linn said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dixie County, you may have already guessed, voted for the other guy in 2020 and this year too, even though hes now a convicted felon. If it were up to him, thered be no electric vehicles at all and everyone would be driving big gas guzzlers. But Dixie school officials, as with the other school districts, werent trying to score political points for either party or even to save the planet. As with most of Floridas districts that have gone electric, the Dixie folks were just trying to spare their students and drivers from awful conditions. Take what happened in Miami-Dade, the first Florida county to add electric buses. The drive to electrify school transportation there started when a middle school student named Holly Thorpe did a science experiment. Shed noticed that while she and other students stood under a covered spot to take the school bus home every day, the shelter trapped the noxious diesel fumes from six to 12 buses that had been idling for hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For her experiment, Thorpe measured the carbon dioxide in the bus depot and the surrounding area, including inside the buses. The result shocked her. It was 40 times the tolerable amount for human consumption. Thorpe told the Key Biscayne Independent. Thorpe was a member of a school club called Green Champions. They began lobbying the school board to switch to electric buses. Initially the school board wasnt interested but eventually came around and the desire to go electric spread to other counties. Now the only part of the state with no electric school buses is the Panhandle, Linn said. Power to the people She doesnt really resemble her, but as Linn spoke in glowing terms about the glories of electrification, she reminded me of the teacher on The Magic School Bus, Ms. Frizzle. They both have that same look at this! enthusiasm. Mary Linn of the Electrification Coalition via Linkedin. The Dixie district is so small, it serves approximately 2,000 students across five schools, from pre-K through 12th grade. Still, its 23 buses will collectively travel 270,000 miles annually. By avoiding 228 metric tons of CO2 emissions, the electric buses will improve air quality for the whole community so everyone can breathe easier. But wait! as the infomercials used to say theres so much more! Every school district in Florida would benefit from switching from diesel to electric, Linn said, because the buses are rolling emergency power sources. Whenever powerful hurricanes hit and we seem to be seeing more of them these days they tend to knock out the power for days. When that happens, these electric school buses can power the cooling systems in recreational centers and other storm shelters, she said. Dixie has been hit by three hurricanes in two years, she pointed out. Theres also the money the buses will save, she said. The new buses will cost far less for fuel and maintenance, which means more money will be available for the school districts other needs. In short, there are lots of reasons money, student health, emergency preparation why every school district in Florida ought to switch to the kind of buses now rolling around Dixie County. But theyd better hurry and put in for the EPA money before that other guy takes office. He thinks making America great again involves making every kid ride on the kind of buses I rode on: the loud, stinky ones with no air conditioning. Smyrna's Depot District pedestrians will gain railroad crossing sidewalks along Washington Street by summer 2025, the town government estimates. The $550,000 sidewalk project is among the road plans in the new year for the fast-growing town that reached a U.S. Census Bureau estimated population of 57,418 by July 2023, an 8.2% increase from 2020. News about the future sidewalks pleased a father and son after they crossed Lowry Street, which is part of U.S. Highway 41, and the CSX railroad tracks Monday (Dec. 23) to get to The Front Street Pub for lunch in the Depot District. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We walked through mulch," Edward Naylor said while dining with his son 23-year-old son, Luke. Commuters cross the CSX railroad tracks Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, on Washington Street off Lowry Street in Smyrna where the town government plans to build sidewalks that will connect to Front Street in the historic Depot District. The sidewalk should be helpful to people going between the historic district neighborhoods on both sides of Lowry Street, Luke said. "They're just not well connected," said Luke, who joined his father in commuting to Smyrna's historic district from their Nolensville home. Residents who may want safer sidewalk access to cross Washington Street and the railroad tracks include renters at 101 Depot, a development that won Smyrna government approval to build 308 apartments in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Remembering bicyclist: : Friends mourning bicyclist 'Mohawk' who 'loved with his entire being' celebrate his life at The Front Street Pub Town wins state grant funding for sidewalk project The Smyrna Town Council will be funding 90% of the sidewalk project through a Highway Safety Improvement Program grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The grant requires a 10% contribution from the local government. Smyrna Town Manager David Santucci Jr. said the sidewalk project is an important step in adding to the revitalization efforts of the historic Depot District that offers great restaurants and other businesses. "Were excited to see that project move forward and improving pedestrian access into the Depot District," Santucci said. "Were doing our part to support those businesses by doing infrastructure improvements." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'He will make a fine town manager': Smyrna council offers manager job to city manager in Florida Depot District visitor supports sidewalk project for safety Rob Mathis poses on a bench Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Smyrna's historic Depot District. The sidewalk plan also pleased Rob Mathis while he sat on one of the benches with a friend in the Depot District Monday, Dec. 23. Mathis is from nearby La Vergne but was raised in Smyrna. He likes to walk his dog in the Depot District but worries about being around "too much traffic." "Anything that makes it safer makes sense to me," Mathis said. Driver stuck on train tracks: Smyrna government identifies victim in train fatality in Depot District The district attracts crowds as well to shop at the farmer's market or enjoy music by local bands, Mathis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musicians can perform in front of seats and picnic tables built on one side of the former railroad depot. Historic district project: Depot District plan would buy Lowry Street commercial property to expand park land in Smyrna Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription. Smyrna road construction projects for 2025 Washington Street at pedestrian crossing of railroad tracks What is project: new sidewalks from Lowry Street to Front Street to improve pedestrian safety What else about project: CSX railroad has completed construction of new pedestrian gates Project costs: $550,000 Jefferson Pike at Nissan/Sam Ridley intersection improvements What is improvement: right turn lane to reduce traffic congestion When will construction start: spring 2025 When will project be completed: summer 2025 Cost of project: $288,840 Enon Springs Road improvements What is project purpose: to bring existing sidewalks up to Americans with Disabilities Act standards and resurface road from Florence Road to Ridley Street When will project be bid out: January 2025 When will project be completed: summer 2025 Smyrna road design projects for 2025 Sam Ridley Parkway at Old Nashville Highway intersection What is purpose of project: to add turn lanes and through lanes at the intersection to reduce traffic congestionWhat's status: Design is completed but awaits notice to proceed with construction from Tennessee Department of TransportationHow long will project take: 18 months after state gives notice to proceed Lowry Street Phase II What is purpose of project: to upgrade existing sidewalks to ADA standards from Jackson Street to Harts Branch and add additional street lighting What's status of project: design phase Weakley Lane improvements What is purpose of project: to add turn lanes and widen shoulders for traffic safety, as well as sidewalk connections to existing greenway What's status of project: Functional design phase is complete from Swan Drive to town limits while Phase 1 is in design phase from Swan Drive to 8th Avenue Rocky Fork Almaville Road improvements What is purpose of project: to widen the existing road from two to three lanes with sidewalks What is status of project: Phase 1 from Derby Run to Morton Lane is in right of way acquisition phase What else about project: Additional phases will follow as development expands Lee Road improvements What is purpose of project: to widen the existing road from two to three lanes with sidewalks for 1.33 miles at current developments near Montgomery Way What is status of project: in survey and design phase Cooks Lane improvements What is purpose of project: to widen the existing road from 2 to 3 lanes with sidewalks Status of project: in survey and design phase What else about this project: will be completed in several phases as development projects are finalized Rock Springs Road at Old Nashville Highway intersection improvements What is purpose of project: to add additional turn lanes and through lanes at intersection to reduce congestion What is status of project: Survey and functional design phase started October 2024 Almaville Road improvements What is purpose of project: to add turn lanes and sidewalks from Old Nashville Highway to Lee Victory Parkway for safetyWhat is status of project: Survey and functional design is underway Jefferson Pike at Nissan Drive/Sam Ridley Parkway intersection improvements What is purpose of project: add an additional left turn lane from Sam Ridley Parkway onto Jefferson Pike to reduce congestion What is status of project: design, right of way acquisition and construction following three year Tennessee Department of Transportation grant funding Rock Springs Road improvements What is purpose of project: add shoulders from Mable Farms to Cooks Lane What is status of project: Survey and design work will start this spring Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Source: Smyrna town government This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Smyrna historic Depot District will gain sidewalks at railroad crossing A 33-year-old man suspected of killing a woman on Sunday in an arson attack aboard a stationary subway train in Brooklyn, New York, was arraigned in criminal court on Tuesday on murder and arson felony charges. Though law enforcement has not publicly identified the deceased female victim, social media users have falsely claimed she was a 29-year-old named Amelia Carter. The New York Police Departments Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information, informed The Dispatch Fact Check that the deceased victims identity has yet to be made publicly available because it is pending proper family notification. Earlier this week, an anonymous law enforcement official told the New York Times that the deceased victim appeared to be homeless and was asleep on the train prior to her fatal assault. A viral graphic memorializing a woman purportedly named Amelia Carter falsely identifies her as the victim in the New York subway arson attack. The graphic has made the rounds across Facebook, X, Instagram, and Threads. According to it, Carter was burned alive while on subway by illegal alien and will be dearly missed by her parents entire family, friends and classmates in her Ph.D. class at Univ PA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But such claims are false. The graphic is labeled as a product of The Remembrance Project, a group that documents and memorializes victims killed by illegal immigrants, but it is not clear whether the group had any role in the graphics creation. The Remembrance Projects Stolen Lives memorial website honors dozens of victims in similarly formatted graphics, but one honoring a so-called Amelia Carter is not included among them. The Remembrance Project did not immediately return The Dispatch Fact Checks request for comment to confirm whether it produced the graphic. The memorial graphic also included an alleged image of the victim, but the person depicted in the photo is not the deceased victim. According to Hany Farid, a professor at the University of California-Berkeleys School of Information and and expert in artificial intelligence imagery analysis, the image does contain tell-tale signs of being AI-generated. While Farids analysis could not conclusively determine whether the photo is AI-generatedbecause of the photos low-quality resolutionhe did say the images authenticity is suspicious. Farid explained the image could be the product of a generative adversarial network (GAN) AI technology, which is capable of creating realistic, human-like faces of nonexistent people. In particular, the tightly-cropped headshot, non-descript background, and alignment of the eyes are consistent with a GAN-generated face, Farid told The Dispatch Fact Check. While the actual victim of the arson attack was pronounced dead at the scene of the crime Sunday, December 22, the graphic says she was killed the following day, December 23. Furthermore, although a University of Pennsylvania website page lists an Amelia Carter as a 2023 cohort graduate student at the schools history and sociology of science department, there is no indication that she is the deceased victim. A photo of her on the university website does not appear to be the same person pictured in the viral memorial graphic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On December 22, a cryptocurrency named Justice For Amelia (AMELIA) was created on the website Pump.fun, which allows users to easily create cryptocurrency coins while also providing a trading platform that allows internet users to buy and sell them. As of December 26, the cryptocurrency had a market cap totaling more than $8,000. The trading website page for the AMELIA cryptocurrency also includes a fake press release from the victims family. New York City, NY The family of 29-year-old Amelia Carter has announced her tragic passing after she was fatally set on fire aboard an F Train in Coney Island. In an emotional statement, her grieving family expressed their heartbreak and called for justice. We are devastated and heartbroken beyond words. Amelia was a beautiful soul who brought light into the lives of everyone who knew her. She didnt deserve this senseless, cruel act, the family said. We demand justice for Amelia. No one should ever have to endure such pain, and no family should have to experience this kind of loss. If you have a claim you would like to see us fact check, please send us an email at factcheck@thedispatch.com. If you would like to suggest a correction to this piece or any other Dispatch article, please email corrections@thedispatch.com. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. As young people increasingly navigate stress, anxiety and societal pressures, one critical component of education is being overlooked: social-emotional learning (SEL). Before the 2000s, the skills now recognized as SEL were often referred to as "soft skills" communication, empathy and self-regulation. These were seen as supplementary to academic subjects like math and science. However, research has shown that these abilities are not just "soft" skills, but essential to thriving academically and socially. In Oklahoma, where mental health challenges among youths are rising, integrating SEL into schools is not just timely it's essential. More: The holistic community school model can help children and their families to thrive | Guest Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Social-emotional learning teaches students how to manage their emotions, set positive goals, show empathy, build relationships and make responsible decisions. These core skills improve students' ability to cope with stress, build resilience and foster healthier relationships with peers and family. Before Ryan Walters became state schools superintendent, the Oklahoma State Department of Education already had begun working to integrate SEL programs into classrooms, recognizing its impact on student well-being and academic success. Oklahoma ranks high in youth mental health challenges, with one in five children experiencing a mental health disorder, many of which go untreated due to limited mental health resources. The pandemic exacerbated these issues, leaving teachers and school staff feeling overwhelmed by students' emotional struggles. Many report that students arrive at school with more emotional baggage than ever before, which impedes their learning and teachers' ability to teach. SEL is no longer a "nice-to-have" but a "must-have" in today's educational environment. By providing students with SEL tools, we help them build resilience in the face of adversity. Whether managing stress during finals or coping with personal loss, SEL equips students to understand and express their emotions, enabling them to navigate the challenges of growing up in today's complex world. One significant benefit of SEL is its potential to foster stronger, more empathetic relationships among students. Oklahoma, like many states, struggles with bullying, with about 20% of students nationwide reporting being bullied. SEL can help reduce bullying by promoting empathy and communication skills. When students learn to understand their own emotions, they are better equipped to recognize and respond to the feelings of others. This helps create a more supportive, unifying school climate and reduces bullying behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students who learn SEL skills also are more likely to engage in their communities, participate in extracurricular activities, and maintain positive peer relationships. These foundational skills contribute to higher graduation rates and better long-term career success. Its not just about emotional well-being SEL also improves academic performance. Studies consistently show that students who participate in SEL programs see academic gains. A meta-analysis by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) found an 11-percentile-point increase in academic achievement for students in SEL programs. When students feel emotionally supported and capable of managing their emotions, they can focus better, collaborate more effectively and succeed in the classroom. More: Oklahoma needs to invest in arts education to improve academic outcomes and well-being | Guest For Oklahoma, where schools face challenges such as underfunding and teacher shortages, incorporating SEL is a smart investment up to $11 per student by some study accounts. By nurturing students' emotional and social development alongside academic growth, we are fostering well-rounded individuals prepared to thrive in their personal and professional lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In rural communities where mental health and behavior resources are limited, SEL also helps normalize conversations about mental well-being. It gives students the vocabulary to articulate their feelings, seek help when necessary, and advocate for their mental health needs. By teaching SEL from an early age, we can prevent mental health crises before they begin, helping students build resilience and confidence for the challenges ahead. To build a state where all students can thrive, Oklahoma must prioritize mental and emotional health alongside academics. SEL is a powerful tool in achieving this goal. By investing in SEL programs in Oklahoma schools, we are investing in our children, communities, and future. To policymakers, educators and parents: The time to act is now. Our students deserve more than just academic knowledge they need the tools to navigate life's complexities with strength, empathy and resilience. Lets make SEL an integral part of Oklahomas educational system so every student can reach their full potential inside the classroom and beyond. Melanie Kelley Melanie Kelley is an advocate for education and mental health reform in Oklahoma. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OK schools won't improve without teaching social skills | opinion TELFORD, Tenn. (WJHL) It was Christmas 1965, and for Army Specialist Luther Sonny Miller, it was no white Christmas, it was a sandy one in Vietnam. It was nothing but sand, Sonny Miller said. You had the wind of the ocean whipping the sand. You were covered in sand in the way you would sweat and it hit. Well, it wasnt good. But soon a Christmas card came his way. The card not only brightened his day, but it changed his life. You come in, you [sit] down on your bunk and youve gone through cards that say to an American servicemen, then you get them one that, says Luther Miller. You look at the return address and it says Telford, Tennessee. Where is Telford, Tennessee? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Telford, Tennessee was the home of then-21-year-old Kay Miller. Kay Miller, who attended Telford Methodist Church, had an assignment from her Sunday School teacher involving sending Christmas cards to soldiers. As a Christmas project, [the teacher] brought the list in and gave each one of us five names, Kay Miller said. So I put my address in each one, and hes the only one who wrote back and thanked me. Sonny not only thanked Kay for the card, but asked if she was married. Thats why I said, you know, if she was married, I didnt want to cause any trouble to her and her husband or boyfriend, Sonny Miller said. Thats thats why I said married, going steady and, you know, but if youre not you know, Id like to write. Kay Miller did want to write, even though theyd never talked on the phone, or even at first knew what the other looked like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For two years, letters went from Telford to Vietnam and back. Kay said she didnt start to worry about Sonny until the letters stopped. See, I didnt know where he maybe got killed or injured or what, Kay Miller said. Sonny was fine, but he had been suddenly shipped back to Oklahoma and it was two months before he was able to make contact. He hitched-hiked from the Sooner State to Tennessee for their first face-to-face meeting and a proposal. He asked me to marry him first, Kay Miller said. I said, well, I think we need to get to know each other a little bit better.' But on the next leave, just a few months later, they did marry. That was 56 years ago. Sonny and Kay Miller (Courtesy of Sonny Miller) Sonny and Kay both agree its taken more than romantic love to make their marriage work. it took divine intervention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hell tell you that he was a kind of a booger when, you know, the first years that we were married, Kay Miller said. But God got us through. He got us through. And then he came to know the Lord. Its been a complete turnaround. All these Christmases later, the story of their love, is one Sonny is happy to repeat. I love to tell it because I tell my story, Sonny Miller said. Maybe Im talking to some man or some woman thats having trouble in their marriage. I always tell people that I tried to do what Paul tells us to do. Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave his life for her. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. The son of music legend Isaac Hayes claimed he was harassed by a Karen in the wild who told him he should be white. Isaac Hayes III, a tech entrepreneur and manager of his fathers estate, posted a video of him being approached by a woman as he was driving to his home in an upmarket suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. You trying to get in? Who are you? Im on the board, says the woman, who is wearing a leopard-print outfit. You driving here like a bat out of hell, you drive in and drive out... Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement F--- you, its all ridiculous, we have dogs, we have people and you dont even care, she adds. Hayes answers politely, saying he lives in the community and the woman appears to say, Why dont you be white? Christmas Eve Karen: Ive never seen a Karen in the wild. Well tonight I had my first up close encounter with one, Hayes wrote on Instagram, adding: I stayed calm, I made no sudden movements and got away as quickly as I could. Outside of preventing me from entering my community, cursing at me and telling me I should be White. Its pretty surreal. White Supremacy is crashin' out all 2025. Be safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident reportedly happened at the Cobblestone gated community in Brookhaven, Atlanta. Isaac Hayes died in 2008 at the age of 65. He co-wrote Sam & Daves classic hits Soul Man and Hold On Im Coming, and won an Academy Award in 1972 for Best Original Song for the Theme From Shaft. He also voiced the character of Chef in the long-running Comedy Central show South Park. However Hayes Snr., a Scientologist, parted ways with the show amid its unsparing depictions of the religion and its most famous members. Music legend Isaac Hayes. / Jim Dyson/Getty Images Hayes III said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that his father didnt quit South Park over a show skewering the religion but that someone quit South Park for him. By Jack Kim SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's main opposition party introduced a bill to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo on Thursday, a day before it plans to seek a vote on the move, which could deepen a constitutional crisis triggered by a short-lived martial law. The opposition Democratic Party had threatened to impeach Han if he did not immediately appoint three justices to fill the vacancies at the Constitutional Court. Parliament backed three nominees on Thursday, but Han has yet to formally appoint them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court is trying the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. "It has become clear that Prime Minister and acting President Han Duck-soo does not have the qualification or the will to safeguard the Constitution," Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae said in a statement. The impeachment motion, which must be voted on within 24 to 72 hours, cited a range of actions by Han as grounds for his impeachment, including his veto of a special prosecutor bill to investigate alleged wrongdoings by the first lady. If Han is impeached, the finance minister will assume the acting presidency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Democratic Party has majority control of parliament, but there is disagreement between the parties and some constitutional scholars over whether a simple majority or a two-thirds vote is needed to impeach the acting president. The interim leader of Yoon's ruling party, Kwon Young-se, told reporters impeaching Han would be a mistake that would drive the economy into a "major crisis" possibly by triggering a financial crisis, the Yonhap news agency said. Earlier on Thursday, Han said that he would not appoint the justices until political parties agreed on the appointments, saying it would harm constitutional order for him do it without such a consensus. Two of the proposed court appointees approved on Thursday were nominated by the Democratic Party and one by Han's ruling People Power Party. The ruling party objected to that breakdown of candidates, saying it had not agreed to it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Han has been under pressure to make the appointments, but political parties have disagreed on whether he has the authority to do so as acting president. The court is set to hold its first hearing on Friday in the trial to decide whether to remove Yoon or reinstate him. Under the constitution, six justices must agree to remove an impeached president, meaning the current justices must vote unanimously to remove Yoon. The court has said it can deliberate without the full nine-member bench. Yoon, who was impeached by parliament on Dec. 14 in a vote joined by some members of his centre-right party, has not met a court request to submit legal papers as of Thursday, its spokesperson, Lee Jean, told a media briefing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, he did not respond to the latest summons for questioning in a separate criminal investigation. Investigators sent him another summons on Thursday to appear on Dec. 29. Yoon's repeated defiance has sparked criticism and calls from the opposition for his arrest. Earlier on Thursday, lawyers for Yoon's former defence minister, who is being investigated on insurrection charges over the martial law declaration, said it was intended to raise alarm at opposition parties' abuse of the democratic process. Kim Yong-hyun, the first official arrested, is likely to be the first to face an indictment of being a central figure in Yoon's surprise declaration of martial law. (Reporting by Jack Kim, Ju-min Park, Joyce Lee; Editing by Alexandra Hudson and Clarence Fernandez) Political turmoil in South Korea has escalated as the main opposition party filed another impeachment motion, this time against Han Duck-soo, the acting president. The motion, announced by the Democratic Party lawmaker Park Sung-joon on Thursday, comes less than two weeks after the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, the South Korean president, over a controversial, short-lived martial law declaration. The latest impeachment motion is set for a vote on Friday, and comes amid a dispute over Mr Hans refusal to appoint three justices to the Constitutional Court, which is currently handling Mr Yoons impeachment case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Parliament has approved the nominees, Mr Han has refused to formally appoint them, citing the need for political consensus between parties. The court requires a majority of six justices to rule on the removal of an impeached president, but it is currently operating without a full nine-member bench. Mr Park criticised Mr Hans leadership, saying that it has become clear he is unable to protect the constitution. Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party, which has filed the latest impeachment motion - Lee Jin-man/AP The opposition partys impeachment motion cited multiple alleged wrongdoings, including Mr Hans veto of a special prosecutor bill investigating allegations against the first lady. If the impeachment succeeds, with 151 out of 300 votes in favour, the finance minister would assume the role of acting president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the opposition party holds a majority of 170 seats in the 300-member National Assembly, constitutional scholars and other political parties disagree on whether a simple majority or a two thirds vote is required for Mr Hans impeachment. The appointment dispute centres on three Constitutional Court nominees: two proposed by the Democratic Party and one by Mr Hans ruling People Power Party. The ruling party has objected to this distribution of candidates, claiming that it never agreed to the arrangement. Protesters in Seoul call from the removal of Yoon Suk Yeol - Anthony Wallace/AFP The Constitutional Court is set to begin its first hearing on Friday to decide on Mr Yoons impeachment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court has confirmed it can proceed with deliberations, despite lacking a full bench of justices. Mr Yoon faces potential impeachment after declaring martial law on Dec 3, the first such declaration in more than 40 years. The six-hour martial law was quickly reversed by parliament in a 190-0 vote. The opposition claimed that this action was unconstitutional, and an impeachment vote was successful at the second attempt. The situation has sparked widespread protests and investigations since the beginning of December, leading to the arrest of Kim Yong-hyun, the former defence minister, and the detention of other officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thousands of protesters continue to demand Mr Yoons removal, and labour unions have begun hourly strikes in response to this latest political crisis. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. It's relatively common for a group of college students to travel abroad as they work toward earning their degrees. But for a group of University of Colorado Colorado Springs students over the summer, they became the first to experience one that was equal parts culture shock as it was on-the-job training that looks to continue in years to come. For the first time in its history, the university participated in the Looking China Youth Film Project, an initiative by the Academy for International Communication of Chinese Culture and the University of Beijing sponsored by Beijing Normal University. UCCS joined a group of more than 80 colleges and universities around the world that co-sponsor the program, which has been around for about a decade. It was the only Colorado university to participate this year. Every summer, students who have never set foot in China are invited to tour the country before creating a 10-minute documentary film on an aspect of Chinese culture from start to finish in just two weeks. The films are then presented at their own screening before being distributed throughout various Chinese media. The universitys involvement with Vision China began through assistant professor Jay Hubert based on his previous experience with the program and the country. Its really about finding a way of showing positive portrayals of China not through their eyes, but through the foreigners eyes, he said. Hubert previously lived in China during his career as a filmmaker, working with prominent filmmakers and directing numerous short films and commercials. His initial exposure to Vision China, however, came during his tenure with the University of Hawaii, where he was asked to be a supervisor for the 2017 cohort. Impressed by the program and the experience it provided students, he quickly got to work getting UCCS to participate in 2023 when he arrived at the university. Over three weeks, five UCCS film production students became completely immersed in the people, places and day-to-day living of China as they honed their technical skills and refined their cultural palate. I felt like my expectations were immediately shattered, said UCCS senior Will Leech. Its like everything I thought I knew going into it was completely different. Shaolin monks training in martial arts, the hustle and bustle of nighttime street vendors, the history of Chinese architecture and a dolphin rescue center were among the subjects the UCCS cohort explored in its films. When they werent busy working, students were able to take in the people, sights and sounds of the city of Xiamen and other areas of China, which they described as chaotic" at times, due to the amount of people and traffic, but also "fun" when reflecting on how they adapted to it all. Along with the splendor of the country, students were equally immersed in the rigors of location scouting, scheduling, shooting, reshooting and editing required to make a documentary film. Many had little to no prior experience. You really throw them into the deep end; its really trial by fire, Hubert said. This is more than half a semester of lab work in just two weeks. Another challenge that was more expected was the language barrier that students encountered with both their film subjects, which was mitigated through a combination of artificial intelligence programs, native-speaking producers assigned to each group of students and the time spent getting acclimated to their new surroundings. At first, every single one of us had trouble at some point with communicating with them, like language barrier stuff, Leech said. And as we got through the program, that got easier and it was just so much fun getting to learn who each person is over an intense, short amount of time. Featured Local Savings What came as one of the biggest surprises to these foreigners was the shattering of their own preconceived notions of a country that has been widely viewed negatively in recent years. A common takeaway among participants was the warm, welcoming reception of the locals who possessed a general curiosity for what they were doing, sometimes a stark contrast to what they were accustomed to back home. What I learned is the same thing that I learn going anywhere, which is: people are people, said Jaxon Fox, a recent UCCS graduate who participated in the program. And weve got much more in common than what separates us. The Pew Research Center reported this year that more than 80% of Americans view China unfavorably, but Vision China has developed a strong reputation over the years as an effective tool to depict and portray the country in a positive light. The program's intent isnt propagandist, however, Leech said. Students are welcomed to film just about everything they come across, including less-glamourous aspects of Chinese society. For Leechs film this was shooting local vendors and the challenges they face serving food illegally without permits. There were only a few instances where students were denied video access, including locations and personnel that required government approval, which Hubert noted isnt much different than how it is here, but shooting days were generally easier than they would be in the U.S. due to both a lack of waivers to sign, a less-litigious society and a general interest from locals to watch Americans make a movie. I think, for all of us, we were surprised we didnt get shut down more, UCCS senior Vitezslav Rasl said. The only major scene left on the cutting room floor was, in fact, something seemingly harmless at an initial glance. While shooting in and around the Shaolin temple, Loghry happened to capture a scene of some of the younger boys fishing in a nearby pond to showcase their individual personalities. And they actually caught a fish and it was super-cool and when I showed them (producers) the edit, they said Monks arent allowed to harm animals, he said. So, I cant show that. In instances like this, Hubert explained the program's desire to depict Chinese culture and people while still protecting these people rather than their government or government interests. From the successful completion of their documentaries to the countless friendships made in the process, the batch of budding filmmakers agreed that they had made the most of their unique opportunity. I definitely feel like now, if I were ever to do it again, I would be able to make a really damn good film, Leech said. With the feedback from the inaugural run resoundingly positive, Hubert hopes to keep this momentum going with or without him. My goal is to establish it so that it can continue in the years ahead at UCCS, he said. The UCCS students Vision China films can be viewed for free on YouTube here. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Koreas main opposition party submitted a motion on Thursday to impeach the countrys acting leader over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies ahead of the courts review of rebellion charges against impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol stemming from his short-lived martial law decree on Dec. 3. The court appointments have stalled amid an intensifying dispute between the liberal opposition and Yoons conservative party, and the potential impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo may deepen the political paralysis that has halted high-level diplomacy and rattled financial markets. The opposition-controlled National Assembly also passed motions calling for the appointment of three Constitutional Court justices as the court prepares to start deliberations on whether to dismiss or reinstate Yoon. The vote came shortly after Han reiterated in a televised statement that he wouldnt appoint the justices without bipartisan consent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik urged Han to swiftly appoint the justices, saying that his calls for bipartisan consent essentially amounted to a refusal and infringes on the National Assemblys right to select Constitutional Court justices. Yoons People Power Party, whose members mostly boycotted the National Assembly vote, argued that Han shouldnt exercise presidential authority to appoint the proposed justices while Yoon has yet to be formally removed from office. The main opposition Democratic Party has accused the conservatives of undermining the court process to save Yoons presidency, and its motion to impeach Han could go to a floor vote as early as Friday. The Democrats floor leader, Park Chan-dae, said Hans comments showed he lacks both the qualifications to serve as the acting leader and the will to uphold the Constitution. Yoons presidential powers were suspended after the National Assembly voted to impeach him on Dec. 14 over an attempted power grab that lasted only hours but has triggered weeks of political turmoil that has shaken one of Asias most robust democracies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To formally end Yoons presidency, at least six justices on the nine-member Constitutional Court must vote in favor. Three seats remain vacant following retirements and a full bench could make conviction more likely. The court, which is to hold a pretrial hearing in Yoons case on Friday, has said it believes the acting president can exercise the right to appoint justices. Three of the courts nine justices are directly appointed by the president. Three are nominated by the head of the Supreme Court and three by the National Assembly, and they are then formally appointed by the president in what is widely considered a procedural matter. The three seats that are currently open are to be nominated by lawmakers. South Koreas Constitution states that the National Assembly selects three spots on the court rather than recommends, suggesting that the presidential appointments for these spots are a formality rather than a substantive authority, according to some legal experts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The consistent spirit reflected in our Constitution and laws is that an acting president should focus on maintaining stability in governance to help the country overcome crisis while refraining from exercising significant powers exclusive to the president, including appointments to constitutional institutions, Han said. I will withhold the appointment of Constitutional Court justices until the ruling and opposition parties submit an agreed-upon proposal. Han has also clashed with the Democrats over his vetoes of controversial agricultural bills endorsed by the opposition and refusal to approve bills calling for independent investigations of Yoon and corruption allegations involving his wife, Kim Keon Hee. If Han is impeached, Choi Sang-mok, the countrys deputy prime minister and finance minister, is next in line. The impeachment vote against Han could face legal ambiguities. Most South Korean officials can be impeached with a simple majority of the National Assembly, but impeaching presidents requires two-thirds. The rival parties differ on which standard should apply to an acting president. The Democratic Party controls 170 of the National Assemblys 300 seats, so it would need support from members of other parties including Yoons own to get a two-thirds majority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While focusing on defending himself in the Constitutional Court, Yoon has dodged several requests by law enforcement authorities to appear for questioning over rebellion charges and also blocked searches of his office. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities of Yoon, summoned him for questioning this Sunday after he ignored a request to appear on Christmas Day. The office plans to question Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. Authorities have already arrested Yoons defense minister, police chief and several other military commanders involved in the attempt to implement martial law, which harkened back to the days of authoritarian leaders the country hasnt seen since the 1980s. In a news conference in Seoul, Yoo Seung Soo, lawyer for former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, repeated Yoons claim that his martial law decree was to sound alarm against ... political abuse by an opposition that has bogged down his agenda, and did not amount to a rebellion. SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA (WJHL) Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced on Thursday that 81 special events and festivals will receive public-private marketing funds to boost visitation in 2025. As part of the Virginia Tourism Corporations (VTC) Special Events & Festivals Sponsorship Program, more than $812,139 in matching grant funds will be awarded to 81 events and festivals. According to the Office of Glenn Youngkin, the program will generate more than $5.6 million in marketing and event production initiatives and support 324 tourism-based businesses and partners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Special events and festivals are vital to Virginias thriving visitor economy, supporting our musicians, artisans, hotels, and restaurants. This years grant recipients have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to growing their event footprint, increasing visitation, and enhancing the visitor experience in 2025, Youngkin said in a news release. By leveraging these funds, we aim to attract even more visitors, showcase the unique charm of our communities, and reinforce Virginias reputation as a premier destination for memorable events and festivals. Below are events and festivals in News Channel 11s viewing area that will receive funding. Dr. Ralph Stanleys Hills of Home Bluegrass Festival (Dickenson County) Awarded: $5,000 Total Match: $82,075 Event dates: May 21 25 Clinch River Days Festival (Wise County) Awarded: $5,000 Total Match: $21,977 Event dates: June 5 7 Cedar Fest (Russell County) Awarded: $5,000 Total Match: $69,500 Event dates: June 7,8 Southern Gap Mountain Mayhem 2025 (Buchanan County) Awarded: $10,000 Total Match: $36,153.20 Event dates: July 24 26 76th Annual Virginia Highlands Festival (Washington County) Awarded: $20,000 Total Match: $96,850 Event dates: July 25 Aug. 3 High Knob Outdoor Fest (Norton) Awarded: $5,000 Total Match: $8,819.86 Event dates: Aug. 12 16 Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion (Bristol, Virginia) Awarded: $20,000 Total Match: $88,700 Event dates: Sept. 19 21 Haysis Russell Fork Autumn Fest (Dickenson County) Awarded: $5,000 Total Match: $17,525.86 Event dates: Oct. 3 5 Additional grant and sponsorship rounds through the VTC will open in 2025. Organizations and businesses interested in applying are asked to click here for more information. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Police are on the lookout for a person who fled from officers on Christmas afternoon when they attempted a felony traffic stop near West Erie Street and South Kansas Expressway about 3 p.m. A perimeter was established and a canine was deployed after a vehicle matching the description of the one that eluded officers was found a few minutes later abandoned in the 3100 block of South Fort. The suspect was not located but police are continuing to search for the driver, according to Springfield Police Department spokeswoman Cris Swaters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. ST. LOUIS A towering symbol of light and resilience took center stage in downtown St. Louis as members and friends of the Jewish faith gathered to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah beneath the glow of a 29-foot menorah. Christmas marked the beginning of Hanukkah, as dozens at Kiener Plaza witnessed the lightning of the Staenberg Menorah, the tallest Menorah west of the Mississippi River. The ceremony began with a warm welcome from Rabbi Yosef Landa, regional director of the Chabad of Greater St. Louis, who spoke about the significance of the menorah and its message of hope and resilience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This event is coming on Hannukah. Its the tallest and the oldest that we have on this side of the Mississippi. Its a wonderful manifestation and celebration of religious liberties, which is the hallmark of America. Its a beautiful thing, he said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News As the sunset, the anticipation grew, and Rabbi Landa led the ceremonial lighting of the first candle. Traditional Jewish songs filled the air as the crowd joined in with smiles and cheers. The Hannukah light on the Menorah gives us a great deal of hope. There is a lot of darkness out there and light is something that is very empowering, very encouraging and uplifting because light always, always prevails over darkness, Landa said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The celebration included music, Chanukah glow wristbands, treats, and traditional songs. Organizers invite everyone to join the celebration and experience the spirit of Hanukkah throughout the week. The Menorah will be lit each night at 5:30 p.m. for the next eight days, until Jan. 1, 2025. The event is free and open to the public. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. St. Pauls new free mental health clinic the Living Room, located at St. Pauls Highland Bridge, has marked 111 visits as of November since its soft opening in August. The model aims to offer an alternative to the emergency room for those in need of mental health support or in a mental health crisis. Appointments can be scheduled in advance, but walk-ins or call-ins are available, with no appointment necessary, said Jacki Yellowflower, a peer specialist supervisor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emma Norton is the nonprofit organization that runs the Living Room and also helps with housing, support and healing services for women and families who experienced homelessness. The model for the Living Room was developed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI, and has locations across the country. This is the first one in Minnesota operating post-pandemic. The Living Rooms services are free to all due to funding from various grants, according to Lauren Daniel, Emma Norton clinical director. A living room The space looks just like it sounds. With couches, pillows, a fireplace, a salt lamp and paintings, the space is designed to be comforting for people while they meet with a peer support specialist. The space is open from noon to 8 p.m., seven days a week, to the general public. Daniel said the peer support specialists add another layer of support as they are people with lived experiences in their own mental health or substance use journeys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [They] have experienced being at rock bottom and being able to get out, so they serve as that beacon of hope and can connect with people in that one-on-one way, Daniel said. [Doctors] dont often have the capacity to do that versus sitting across from someone who has been there and experienced that and knows what that feels like. The majority of visits surround general support and come from current clients in Nortons neighboring Restoring Waters residence, a housing residence for people more than 60 years old and small families, but they hope more community members take advantage of the service. Daniel said they are equipped to help anyone ranging from needing to vent to having a crisis. We wanted to be an immediate walk-in, drop-in service to help with de-escalation and connection to other programs that folks wouldnt necessarily get if they were being turned away from the [emergency department], Daniel said. In the midst of the holiday season, the location can serve as a haven for those in need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe you cant get in with your therapist for a couple of weeks and you want to come in and get some of that support or vent or talk about whats going on, Daniel said. Were here for that. Connecting people with resources The Living Room can also connect people with other resources they may need, including for housing, therapy, crisis teams and building safety plans, according to Daniel. Weve been able to connect folks to crisis beds and get them into really quick therapy services, Daniel said. But really we would love to see more folks from the community coming in and using the space just for that general support. A next goal is to provide telehealth services in 2025. Daniel said they are currently negotiating a grant with the state that will allow them to expand into that area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Services in the Living Room are free of charge and can be accessed on a walk-in basis, or calling ahead. Appointments are not necessary. It is located at 2265 Hillcrest Ave. in St. Paul. Learn more at emmanorton.org/programs/supportive-services/. Related Articles Golden mussels, a dangerous and invasive species, were recently found for the first time in North America in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California, according to The Sacramento Bee. What's happening? The invasive mussel was discovered by wildlife officials in the Port of Stockton, and it has possibly also infiltrated Merced County. Genetic testing was conducted to confirm whether or not the species found there were golden mussels, the Bee reported. Officials told the Bee they believe the bivalve most likely came to California via a ship traveling from an international port. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Native to Southeast Asia and China, golden mussels quickly multiplied and spread across South America. Similar to other invasive mussels, the golden mussel is capable of endangering native species and causing issues with waterways. "The species poses a significant immediate threat to the ecological health of the Delta and all waters of the state, water conveyance systems, infrastructure and water quality," the Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a news release, per the Bee. Why are invasive species important? Native species are critical to maintaining biodiversity and healthy ecosystems. In the past, golden mussels have clogged pipes, altered the food web, and diminished water quality, according to the University of Wisconsin and wildlife officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Invasive species compete with local wildlife for resources like habitats and food, and they can even spread disease. If they do enough damage, they can also impact economies by affecting major industries like fishing. Without intervention, the golden mussels could quickly spread from the California Delta through freshwater bodies across the U.S., said wildlife officials. Should we be actively working to kill invasive species? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind What's being done about invasive species? For the golden mussels, wildlife officials said in their release that residents should clean, drain, and dry water equipment to deter the mussels from spreading. They also plan to check boats for the presence of the invasive bivalve at O'Neill Forebay in Merced County. If you see an organism suspected to be a golden mussel, report the sighting to the Department of Fish and Wildlife's invasive species program, per the Bee report, which can also be found on Phys.org. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Invasive species are a problem all over the world for both plants and wildlife. Scientists and researchers have found many ways to combat the issues, such as using dogs to find the culprits and aid conservation. In some instances, experts even encourage local residents including humans and animals to eat invasive species as a zero-waste effort to eradicate them. 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. The start of a new year means the start of some new laws in the state of Wisconsin. In some states, Jan. 1 or July 1 are the standard dates for new laws to go into effect, Wisconsin's Legislative Reference Bureau told the Journal Sentinel. But in Wisconsin, most laws go into effect almost immediately. The day after the governor signs a bill, the Legislative Reference Bureau publishes the new act online. The law takes effect the day after that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers can specify in their bill if they want it to take effect on a certain date, like Jan. 1, but it's not very common. They may delay implementation of a bill to give affected agencies or industries more time to prepare. Twenty-one states have minimum wage increases going into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, for example. But Wisconsin isn't one of the states that automatically increases its minimum wage at the start of a new year. More: What is Wisconsin's minimum wage, and why hasn't it changed when other states' minimum wages have? Lots of major policies signed into law by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in the last two years took effect right away, or at least many parts of them did. That includes the state's new legislative maps and a plan to keep the Milwaukee Brewers in Wisconsin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the laws going into effect on Jan. 1 in Wisconsin are slightly more obscure or flew under the radar in the last legislative session. Many of them had strong bipartisan support, too. Here's a look at some of the more interesting ones. More: Wisconsin legislators lay out priorities. Here's what to know from leaders of both parties. Paddleboarders take to the water at Devils Lake State Park in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Annual state park stickers now valid 12 months from purchase Under current law, an annual state park admission sticker is valid for the calendar year that it's purchased in. The new law, which takes effect Jan. 1, says the sticker will be valid for 12 months from the purchase date. If someone bought a sticker at the beginning of June, for example, it would have expired at the end of December. Under the new law, the sticker would be valid until the end of the next June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill received broad support and was authored by both Republicans and Democrats. Lawmakers proposed the changes after learning that people were disincentivized from buying passes in the later months of the year, because they would have less time to use it. More: Wisconsin's state park passes will change in January. Here's what you need to know Making it harder to delay or block affordable housing developments Parts of a larger bill addressing Wisconsin's affordable housing shortage and preventing opposition from "NIMBYs" a shorthand for "not in my backyard" residents who oppose developments near their homes take effect at the start of the year. One of the new policies requires local governments to approve residential housing developments if they meet all requirements. There also will now be a quicker way for a developer to go to court and ask a judge to order approval of the project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Put simply, the bill would help prevent a proposed development that complies with a local government's regulations from being unnecessarily delayed or stopped altogether on obstructionist grounds," Sen. Duey Stroebel, a Republican from Saukville, testified in a hearing for the measure. Also, only a simple majority vote will now be required to make changes to a zoning ordinance, with some exceptions. Zoning changes could include allowing residential uses in downtown and Main Street districts, for example. Previously, if 50% of affected landowners protested the change, a three-fourths supermajority vote was required. The bill was primarily authored by Republicans but received wide support from Democrats. Lawmakers worked with the Wisconsin Builders Association, Wisconsin Realtors Association and groups representing counties, towns, cities and villages to develop the bill. More: State lawmakers proposed solutions to the state's housing crisis. Here's what to know A new tax when charging electric vehicles in Wisconsin Electric vehicle owners will see a new excise tax of 3 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity, beginning Jan. 1. The tax doesn't apply to charging stations at someone's home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers explained that the tax creates the equivalent of the gas tax for electric vehicles. The state Department of Transportation said the tax is a "crucial source of revenue" and creates "a more equitable system in which all drivers contribute to road maintenance costs." Owners and operators of electric charging stations must register with the state, using the Wisconsin Online Business Tax Registration portal. The tax is part of a larger new law regulating EVs, which was authored by Republicans but received near unanimous support in both the Assembly and Senate. Stakeholders like Kwik Trip, Madison Gas & Electric, Tesla and the Wisconsin Fuel & Retailers Association worked with lawmakers on the bill. More: Electric vehicle owners in Wisconsin will have to pay a new tax at the charging station. What to know Physical therapists can now provide certification for disabled parking Getting a special license plate or card to park in reserved, accessible spots requires a health care professional to certify to the state Department of Transportation that the person has a disability that limits their ability to walk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This law adds physical therapists to the list of health care professionals who can provide that certification, which already included licensed physicians, advanced practice nurses, podiatrists, chiropractors and more. The bill was written by members of both parties and passed with wide support in February. The Department of Transportation asked for the effective date of the law to be delayed several months so it could make necessary IT updates. More: A more evenly split state Legislature will convene next year. Will it lead to compromise? A state tax form describes how filers can deduct contributions to ABLE accounts from income taxes. Wisconsinites can open the accounts, but the state does not offer a program of its own. Creating ABLE account program in Wisconsin for people with disabilities The state Department of Financial Services will begin implementing an ABLE program in Wisconsin at the start of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts allow people with disabilities to save and invest money for expenses like housing and transportation, without losing their federal benefits. Wisconsin was the only state in the country that hadn't implemented an ABLE program, and only about 0.2% of those eligible in Wisconsin have set up accounts in other states. Members of both parties worked to establish ABLE in Wisconsin. More: Wisconsin is an outlier on savings accounts for people with disabilities. That could soon change. More: What are ABLE accounts, who is eligible and more to know about tax-free savings plans Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ABLE accounts were added as an amendment to a broader bill that updates regulations for the money transmission industry like collection agencies and currency exchanges bringing Wisconsin in line with other states. The law takes effect Jan. 1. The department previously testified that accounts would be available in Wisconsin "within months" of the law going into effect. Wisconsin will likely join a multistate collaboration that offers ABLE accounts, rather than creating an independent program. Provisional licenses for internationally trained physicians to ease shortage This law creates a provisional license for physicians who have completed their residency abroad to practice medicine and surgery in Wisconsin. Applicants must meet certain requirements, including receiving an offer of employment in Wisconsin. The Medical Examining Board still has the authority to issue, suspend or revoke the licenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers who introduced the bill cited the physician shortage in Wisconsin and across the country. Current state law requires physicians who've been trained in a different country to redo their residency in the U.S., which the bill authors called redundant. The change will allow physicians and physician assistants to begin practicing in Wisconsin without years-long delays, lawmakers said. The bill was led primarily by Republicans but received support from Democrats, too. More: Wisconsin is aging, and a 'silver tsunami' of baby boomers is coming. Are hospitals ready? This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here are Wisconsin laws taking effect Jan. 1; state park stickers, EVs (WHTM) State Police are looking for a missing Pennsylvania man. According to a release, 77-year-old Leon Bowman was last seen on Dec. 23 at around 2 p.m. in Howard, Curtin Township, Centre County. Bowman is described as 6 ft, 110 lbs. with gray balding hair, brown eyes, and a beard. Police say this person may be at special risk of harm or injury or may be confused. Anyone with information on Leon Bowman should contact 911 or PSP Rockview at 814-355-7545. 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. MIDTOWN, Manhattan (PIX11) Bystanders who saw a yellow taxi hit six pedestrians near Herald Square on Christmas Day helped lift the vehicle off them, video showed. The 58-year-old driver of the taxi suffered a medical episode, which led him to drive onto the sidewalk near Macys at West 34th Street and 6th Avenue around 4 p.m., according to authorities. More Local News A video taken minutes after the crash showed witnesses jumping into action to rescue a 9-year-old boy and a 41-year-old woman pinned underneath the taxi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver never hit the brakes, Ryan Tucker, a tourist who helped the victims, told PIX11 News. As we got up there, everything was still spinning. The little boys leg was underneath the tire, just spinning and smoking. So, a couple of gentlemen got the car off we kind of lifted it back, where we were able to pull the boy out. A 19-year-old girl, a 37-year-old woman and two 49-year-old women were also injured. The tourist told PIX11 News that the 41-year-old woman who was pinned under the car was awake and coherent the entire time. She was communicating with her son, the 9-year-old boy, the tourist said. Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. 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. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has now identified more than 1,000 criminal cases impacted by the mishandling of DNA evidence while the bureau investigated former forensic scientist Yvonne Missy Woods. The investigation into all of Woods' cases began in September 2023 and, following the completion of the review, 1,003 cases were identified as "impacted" by the alleged mishandling and manipulation of evidence, according to a Dec. 17 news release from CBI. "The comprehensive review of all the cases involving the nearly 30-year career of Yvonne 'Missy' Woods has been completed," the agency said of the investigation, which was publicly announced in March. The internal review of the state's former go-to expert in DNA analysis began after an intern at the lab found anomalies while reviewing samples of cases as part of an internal process. Woods was forced to retire from the CBI on Nov. 6, 2023 and state officials said anomalies and potential deception placed all of her work in question, drawing doubt about the 1,003 cases over her career. Though the alarm sounded in 2023 kicked off the investigation into Woods' handling of her work, employees had been warning higher-ups that Woods had began cutting corners for years, according to the 94-page report by CBI unsealed by 20th Judicial District Court Judge Patrick Butler this summer. For example, one colleague said she saw Woods throwing away fingernail clippings that the colleague believed had been gathered as evidence in a criminal case. The colleague claimed she didn't report that incident because she believed Woods had favored status at the agency, with another colleague referring to Woods as the "golden child" in the report. Top supervisors told internal affairs investigators they now believe agency officials should have done more to protect the public. CBI officials said the agency has initiated additional investigation into how the agency responded to a report of an earlier 2018 manipulation of DNA data by Woods, stating that the CBI director was not informed then of the manipulation, nor was the leadership at the Colorado Department of Public Safety. Concerns about her work became so serious that, in 2018, her bosses forced her to seek professional counseling and suspended her from working on criminal cases. Featured Local Savings After being confronted about the new anomalies found in 2023, Woods told investigators that she had been "overwhelmed a long time" after working up to 40 hours of overtime a month to make more money as a single mother to put her child through school, according to the report. CBI noted in the report that in multiple cases, Woods manipulated forensic results specifically regarding male DNA either by deleting chart results, which should have showed male DNA, ignoring male DNA that was present in a sample or incorrectly reporting that there was none all considered intentional acts by her. "While the allegations resulting from the internal investigation point to Ms. Woods deviating from standard protocols and cutting corners in her work, she has long maintained that shes never created or falsely reported any inculpatory DNA matches or exclusions, nor has she testified falsely in any hearing or trial resulting in a false conviction or unjust imprisonment," Woods' defense attorney, Ryan Brackley, said in a previous statement. Lawmakers in January provided the state agency an additional $7.5 million to support the review and retesting of an estimated 3,000 DNA samples by an independent, third-party laboratory and to pay for post-conviction reviews and potential retrying of cases. The first affected case occurred in November when 68-year-old James Herman Dye was released from prison in Weld County after previously being arrested on two counts of first-degree murder in 2021. Dye was initially charged for the November 1979 rape and strangulation of Evelyn Kay Day. The case remained unsolved for 42 years until the summer of 2020, when Woods conducted DNA testing of a belt from the victims coat, bodily fluids and fingernails that had been stored in evidence. She concluded it linked the crime to Dye. Following the investigation into Woods, a DNA retest of evidence revealed that Dyes DNA was not on the murder weapon. Weld Countys Chief Deputy District Attorney Steven Wrenn said previously that, although the outcome of the case was unsettling and unsatisfying, he did not see a path for taking the case to trial given the issues with Woods. Among the discarded refuse decorating the yellowing grass along Frenchtown Road near New Castle was a shopping cart that had seen better days. It lay on its side, exposing to anyone caring to notice a fading message boasting "ALWAYS LOW PRICES Always" at Walmart the nearest store about a mile and a half away. "Nah, I don't care about that," said a man sitting at a nearby bus stop when asked for his thoughts on the growing number of ditched shopping buggies. He soon boarded a DART bus headed to Miller Road Shopping Center near Wilmington. A man walks by an abandoned shopping cart on Frenchtown Road. Remaining, however, was the metal and plastic cart just one of many across Delaware and beyond that are taken from stores and not returned, ending up abandoned in increasing numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other parts of the country, the number of abandoned carts has spurred legislation. No such state laws were found in Delaware, according to the state Department of Justice, but where these laws have been enacted, they sometimes enact fines on shoppers who take carts. Other times, legislation is passed requiring wheels lock when a cart is taken from a store lot, and in some cases, lawmakers are going after businesses by imposing fines on them when municipalities have to pay money to recover their stolen goods. Shoppers interviewed by Delaware Online/The News Journal overwhelmingly blame laziness for the buggies not being returned to cart corrals usually located in shopping lots. But, some experts say the increase in people taking them off the lots shows people's economic constraints. Some of these carts are later sold; sometimes they're repurposed for such things as movable storage; and other times people without reliable transportation use them to move their belongings or groceries. "This behavior could also be an indicator of one's attitudes toward corporate property," said Jennifer D'Angelo, an assistant professor in the marketing department at Texas Christian University. "Some people may feel that taking a cart from a large retailer has little impact on the company's bottom line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Further, from a social norm perspective, when people see others taking shopping carts, they may infer that this behavior is acceptable, magnifying the problem." Shopping carts piled onto a concrete planter in a parking lot near Costco. 'It's me being lazy' As Pierre Balerus returned a shopping buggy to a cart corral located in Wilmington's ShopRite parking lot on a recent Thursday afternoon, he gave his theory of why some don't. "They're lazy," said the Wilmington resident as he motioned to a cart corral, adding: "Sometimes it's just right here and they still don't return it." Balerus said he always returns his carts to their proper places because he doesn't like it when others don't. He also doesn't like leaving them out because they can damage parked vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not far from where Balerus had just finished putting his cart away was another shopper who agreed with the lazy theory. She gave a little more insight but not her name. Carts left at a bus stop near Wilmington's ShopRite. "There's always a reason for everything," she said citing frigid temperatures as an example of why some wouldn't return carts to their proper place. "I know sometimes I don't feel like it and it's me being lazy," she said bursting out in laughter. The woman said she feels bad leaving the carts near where she last used them. She then got serious even lifting her index finger in the air for emphasis and exclaimed: "But at the same time, I know people are hired to get the carts. So I know that somebody's job. So I think that helps, too." Resentment at increasing costs Christina Scott, a professor of psychological sciences at Whittier College, said there has been an increase in missing shopping carts, pointing to a 2023 CNN article on how some communities paid tens of thousands of dollars to collect shopping carts that had gone missing from store properties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "No, you aren't making this up," Scott said. In addition to explaining how some people reappropriate carts, Scott said some people may also be experiencing resentment or a sense of entitlement as they face a dramatic increase in grocery costs. "The feeling of 'not getting their money's worth' may prompt some individuals to walk off with a shopping cart, only to abandon it several blocks away," she said. Shopping carts left in a handicap parking area near the Christiana Mall Target. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There may be a sense of retribution in knowing that the store will have to spend money to retrieve the missing cart, she said. Imagine the person who is infuriated that they can't afford groceries for their family, so they deliberately wheel a cart three blocks away and abandon it. "Unfortunately, it shows a lack of responsibility and/or remorse for taking the shopping cart and possibly a sense that the individual's need is greater and more important than the needs of other shoppers or the retailer," Scott added. Citing the CNN article, Scott said carts cost about $250 each, so losing even 10% of their inventory would be a substantial cost. The missing carts also create impacts on shoppers, such as facing a lack of buggies or an increase in costs to replace them. Store incentives Some stores have carts whose wheels lock when a shopper passes a certain point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While this could prevent theft, it comes with other problems such as when a shopper is parked near the end of the store lot. That's because once the wheels lock, the shopper can't move the cart to their vehicle or return it. So it remains abandoned where it is locked. Lance A. Bettencourt, a professor of professional practice at Texas Christian Universitys Neeley School of Business, said the most interesting example of a store thinking unconventionally about the shopping cart challenge is Aldi. "Aldi requires a deposit of a quarter to retrieve a shopping cart and the deposit is returned to the shopper once the cart is returned to the cart corral," Bettencourt said. "Obviously, getting a quarter back adds a small benefit, but the more important factor here is probably that Aldi has made it very clear to its customers that it is their role to return a shopping cart to the corral and that this role is very important to helping Aldi to keep prices low which, in turn, are passed on to customers by way of lower prices." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There seems to be something to this, according to Eddie Herron who was shopping with his wife, Leah, at the Aldi near Elkton, Maryland, last week. Aldi requires shoppers to deposit a quarter to use their shopping carts. The quarter is returned once a shopper returns the cart. "I love it," the Bear resident said about the quarter deposit. "The carts get back." Herron said he doesn't like when people abandon their carts because the buggies sometimes strike vehicles and scratch them. "So I like that you have to bring them back," he said. "Some people still leave the quarter in and don't even bring them back, but most people do." Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Shopping carts often abandoned in Delaware store parking lots MENOMONIE A professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stout recently received an award for her perspective on what place generative artificial intelligence, or AI, could have in therapy. Heather Hessel, assistant professor in the Counseling, Rehabilitation and Human Services Department at Stout, received the Carl Whitaker Award from the Wisconsin Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, or WAMFT, earlier this December. In talking about the figure Carl Whitaker, an American physician and psychotherapy pioneer for which the award is named after, Hessel said, He was very creative, and he was a bit of a provocative figure. And it fits with the idea of AI, because I think integrating AI with therapy is also a bit provocative. So, I am very honored to get that award and appreciative of WAMFT. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hessels background in therapy comes after many years spent in IT while overlapping her work over several years in studies of marriage and family therapy. With discussing the potential of AI in the field of therapy, Hessel said there is certainly a lot to ask about. Generative AI really forces us to ask: What is therapy all about? There are perspectives the public holds about it giving advice. Is it listening? Is it validating? Is it challenging people to gain insight? Is it offering a new perspective? Especially in couple and family therapy, is it facilitating new patterns of interaction? All of which generative AI could help facilitate, she said. In that regard, Hessel said she sees three applications for how AI could serve the field of therapy. One is already happening which is for efficiency; there are already systems in place where you can have it listen to a session and it will create your documentation for you, she said. Obviously this is done in HIPAA compliant systems, and it has to be done with client consent. So the first use of generative AI in this field is around efficiency and automation, which some therapists like some therapists still prefer to write their own notes still. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the second instance, Hessel said the technology of generative AI could be used in giving feedback or evaluating the work of a therapist. The third use of generative AI is client facing, she said. These are the chat bots, or maybe this is an application that extends services to the client beyond your 50 minute session once a week. But especially with the third application, one of the biggest predictors of success in therapy is the relationship between the patient and the client. While a lot of therapy is verbal and fits with AI, said Hessel, there is also an aspect of energy and presence. Hessel said that one way which the usage of AI could be beneficial is in accessibility especially as there is a huge demand for mental health services, but it should be done thoughtfully. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In regards to using AI in this field, she said, I think there are potential risks involved And that is partly why I am doing this work, because I think we need to be involved in what happens with AI in this space. I think we, as therapists, need to be on top of this and not let things just happen around us. It is really exciting where were going and what were talking about, said Hessel. But, I think it is a little unnerving to explore some of these questions about what we do in therapy and how we integrate AI I think we are on the verge of something really important for our field, and I am excited to keep working and understanding what that connection is. On December 2, 2024, a striking natural occurrence mesmerized onlookers over Wichita, Kansas, as two unique formations known as cavum clouds appeared in the midlevel sky. These fascinating structures were captured by the Operational Land Imager-2 aboard Landsat 9, showcasing a rare atmospheric event that evokes curiosity about the science of clouds. Cavum clouds, often called hole-punch clouds or fallstreak holes, occur predominantly in mixed-phase midlevel stratiform clouds like altocumulus and altostratus, which form horizontally and in layers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While they are relatively uncommon, these cloud formations are estimated to cover about 8 percent of the Earth's skies. The appearance of cavum clouds is particularly noted in winter, especially near busy airports, where they can disrupt pilot visibility. Secret behind holes in clouds But what causes these peculiar formations? Cavum clouds develop in midlevel clouds that contain supercooled water dropletsliquid water that remains unfrozen even at temperatures below the typical freezing point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius). When planes fly through these cloud layers, they can create additional cooling around their wings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This cooling can trigger the supercooled droplets to freeze, transforming them into ice crystals. As these ice crystals multiply, they become heavy enough to fall from the cloud, leaving behind a visible space shaped like a circle or ellipsehence the name cavum, Latin for "hollow." The void left by the falling ice crystals often gives rise to wispy trails of precipitation known as virga, which can further accentuate the striking appearance of the clouds. Researchers have estimated that the atmospheric conditions necessary for cavum clouds to form exist around 3 to 5 percent of the time worldwide, with the likelihood increasing to 10 to 15 percent during winter months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Interestingly, the angles of aircraft passing through the cloud layer play a significant role in determining the shape and size of the cavum that forms. Airplane connection When planes approach at sharp angles, they produce small, circular cavum. Conversely, when the aircraft passes through at shallower angles, they generate longer "canal clouds," characterized by extended virga trails. Other variables, such as the cloud thickness, air temperature, and wind shear, can also influence the length and appearance of the cavum formations. Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, an important hub, sees an average of 34 flights taking off daily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bustling activity contributes to the notable frequency of cavum cloud formations and makes it a compelling location for studying cloud dynamics and atmospheric conditions. The scientific significance of cavum clouds extends beyond their aesthetic appeal. Meteorologists and researchers study these phenomena to understand better weather patterns, cloud formation, and precipitation processes. The insights from such observations could help improve weather predictions, aiding pilots and travelers in navigating winter weather conditions. So, the next time you look up at the sky and see an unusual hole in the clouds, remember it might be a cavuma fascinating intersection of meteorology and aviation that reminds us of the extraordinary forces in our atmosphere. As we continue to explore and study these clouds, we uncover more about the complexities and wonders of our weather systems. An Ohio family says their 9-month-old puppys life was cut tragically short a week before Christmas. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Allen familys dog, Rocko, had greeted the two oldest children last Tuesday when they got off their school bus. The family told WOIO, that a man stuck in nearby traffic thought Rocko was being too rough, got out of his vehicle, and shot the puppy over five times until he died. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It hit me hard, like I didnt expect the emotion that I even felt, April Allen told WOIO. But to see him like that and to see him on the ground like that just lifeless, it tore me up. The man accused of shooting the dog, 26-year-old Gary Hudson, has been charged with discharging a weapon into a home or school, criminal damaging and endangering, aggravated trespass, and prohibitions concerning companion animals. The case remains under investigation by the Stark County Sheriffs Office. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] South Carolina was ranked the sixth highest state for domestic violence in 2023. Throughout the last few years, efforts to diminish the risk for women hasnt become law. One prefiled bill for the 2024-2025 South Carolina legislative session is attempting to address one issue that relates to domestic violence: strangulation. And the Palmetto State is the last to have such a law. If someone was strangled by their partner in the past, their risk of being killed by them is 10 times higher, according to the National Domestic Violence hotline. The proposed legislation would target strangulation when used to abuse and manipulate power, oftentimes in domestic violence situations. State Rep. Micah Caskey, R-Lexington, said the bill addresses strangulation as a form of abuse, manipulation and control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obviously, its already illegal to kill people, so were not plowing new ground in that sense, Caskey said. However, in some cases, oftentimes related to domestic violence, a person will be strangled for manipulation, to present power and control, Caskey said. In doing so, there can be obviously, very real health risks, not just death, but also later onset problems that come from deprivation of oxygen to the brain, Caskey said. Brian Bennett, a retired officer at South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, has testified for years about the danger and lack of information surrounding strangulation as a crime in South Carolina, and is hoping to see the legislation become law this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bennett said misinformation and public awareness is lacking, which makes it difficult to fully prosecute offenders, and for doctors and law enforcement to even realize the dangers. People just dont understand how inherently dangerous this is and what this type of behavior leads to, with it being the number one indicator of a future homicide, Bennett said. They hear the word like choking, which is mechanically and technically an incorrect term and should never be used to describe strangulation, but that word in itself, tends to minimize what actually happens to the human body in the event that occurs. Bennett recalled a case when he interviewed a woman who had been brutally strangled with severe injuries that landed her in the hospital, and no charges were brought against the offender. H. 3522, labeled the strangulation bill, was filed by state Reps. Caskey, Tommy Pope, R-York, Leon Gilliam, R-Union, and Chris Wooten, R-Lexington. The bill would specifically define strangulation where offenders can be prosecuted for strangling someone despite their intent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is considered battery to strangle someone. Assault is the creation of fear of imminent peril, as when someone threatened another in person. The battery is the physical aspect of this, if something did occur. Assault and battery tends to go hand in hand, Caskey said. There are graduated levels of assault and battery, but a strangulation could fit into multiple of those. The level of punishment would depend on the damage inflicted on somebody. Thats not the greatest way to go about it when there is this thing specifically where people use strangulation as a form of coercive power and control over somebody in torture, Caskey said. What were trying to do with the bill is give law enforcement another arrow in the in the quiver to go after people who harm others, Caskey said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caskey said work needs to be done to ensure the bills not overly broad. Theres a challenge with certain situations, especially when thinking about when someone could be overcharged, Caskey said. Bennett served on a domestic violence committee when Nikki Haley was governor. That is when he learned more about strangulations connection with domestic violence. Domestic violence laws have very vague language concerning strangulation, Bennett said. Someone can die from strangulation months later. Similar bills have been filed before, like by former Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, but they didnt move very far in the legislative process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the past, critics have argued laws already address strangulation. Bennett said there are many inconsistencies. Weve had such an inconsistent record of accountability to this issue. I mean, really, the only time somebody gets charged with a high level felony is, I mean somebody literally almost has to die, Bennett said. Traditionally, these type of cases are not taken seriously. Caskey said he doesnt have any immediate expectations to pass a law, because the legislative process can be lengthy and difficult. Filing the bill and advocating for the protection of these victims and survivors is important, Caskey said. Just because the fight hasnt been successful yet doesnt mean that we should abandon the effort. We may need some divine intervention below ground. New York City transit riders say are fearing for their lives and even asking God for help after a number of disturbing, violent incidents in subways and train stations that have left people on edge. Philomena Ofosu, a 24-year-old nurses aide from the Bronx said she prays for her safety every time she gets on the train. A man, 42, and a woman, 26, were stabbed at Grand Central Terminal Tuesday night. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post I am a Christian and I ask God to bring me safe to where Im supposed to be and back, she told The Post at Grand Central Terminal on Wednesday hours after a two people were slashed there by a knife-wielding maniac on Christmas Eve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nobody is safe out here, she said. You never know what can happen in the train. Its so scary for people to get stabbed on the train. They think they are going somewhere and they get stabbed. Others have taken their security into their own hands, like Brooklyn resident Miranda Drakes whos carried pepper spray with her on the subway since the COVID-19 pandemic. Its terrible in New York City now, the 58-year-old said about the recent spate of violence. Philomena Ofosu said she prays for her safety every train ride. Robert Miller In addition to the Grand Central attack, the Big Apple was left shaken this week when a woman was fatally set on fire by an illegal immigrant on the F train in Coney Island marking the ninth killing on the subway this year, tying a 25-year-old high. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite efforts by the NYPD to have more cops patrolling the metro system and Gov. Kathy Hochuls recent deployment of 1,000 national guardsmen on the metro system for the holiday season, straphangers arent convinced enough is being done to address the situation. I think he [Mayor Adams] is trying his best, but I think its wintertime now, there is no place for the homeless to go, and so they stay on the train. They need somebody to really help them, Drakes added. Swiss national Celia Lovis said she found the violence on the subway shocking. Robert Miller Amparo Corrales and her teenage daughter Ines Alonso have been avoiding the train at night. Robert Miller Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Junior Reyes, who also hails from Brooklyn, said its just ridiculous whats been happening on the subways of late including rampant drug use. You got people that like to smoke and [stuff] like that on the train that means my kids got to see that. Its not good, he said. The city needs to do more to get mentally ill people off the streets and subways, he said. I mean stuff happens, but give them more support, he said. Jason Sargeant stabbed two people on Christmas Eve in Grand Central Station, according to police. William Farrington Nine people have been killed on the New York City subways this year, tying a 25-year high. Robert Miller Bronx resident Shabe Davis, 49, said she thinks the city needs to put more security on the subway. She said she feels safe because she has been able to avoid any violent altercations, but not everybody is so lucky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The violence has been particularly staggering to tourists from abroad visiting the Big Apple. Celia Lovis, 28, of Switzerland, told The Post we are not used to this kind of violence in her home country, calling recent incidents really shocking. Amparo Corrales, a journalist from Madrid, Spain visiting New York with her daughter, Ines Alonso, 14, said theyve avoided taking the train at night. Its quite scary. You are having a normal day on the subway and someone stabs you, Ines said. Thousands of Amazon workers have ended their days-long strike against the company, according to the Teamsters union. But tensions persist, with the union saying its efforts arent over. Make no mistake the Teamsters will never let up and workers will never stop fighting for their rights at Amazon, a union representative said in a statement. Stay tuned. Thousands of Amazon delivery drivers across a handful of states went on strike late last week in the thick of the holiday package season, with the strike ending on Christmas Eve. The Teamsters held protests outside at least 200 facilities nationwide, but workers were on strike at only nine separate locations, from Queens, New York, to San Francisco. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amazon has insisted that none of its operations or deliveries were affected by the stoppage. The union claims to represent 7,000 Amazon workers nationwide, or less than 1% of the companys US workforce. Amazon is the nations second-largest private employer, with a headcount of 740,000 workers across 1,000 warehouses and distribution centers. The protesting workers demanded higher wages and better benefits, pointing to the online shopping behemoths massive profits in recent years. Amazon posted solid profit growth in the third quarter, in part driven by strong e-commerce sales. Striking workers have also complained of tough working conditions. Amazon delivery drivers walk the picket line in Skokie, Illinois, on December 19. - Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP/Getty Images The pay needs to be better. The health insurance needs to be better, Thomas Hickman, 34, a delivery driver for Amazon in Georgia, told CNN previously. We need better working conditions. If we do have 400-plus packages, we need someone to be a helper with us, to ride with us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Amazon has refused to play ball, according to the union. Amazon does not consider its drivers to be employees, even though they wear an Amazon-branded uniform, drive the companys trucks and deliver only products bought on Amazon.com. Rather, the company refers to them as Delivery Service Partners, workers contracted through independent third-party companies. There are a lot of nuances here but I want to be clear, the Teamsters dont represent any Amazon employees despite their claims to the contrary, Kelly Nantel, a spokesperson for Amazon, told CNN in a statement previously. This entire narrative is a PR play and the Teamsters conduct this past year, and this week, is illegal. While Amazon said most of the strikers shouldnt be considered employees because they are drivers for contractors, it does recognize the workers based at its Staten Island warehouse and its San Bernardino, California, air hub as employees, though not as union members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The workers in Staten Island voted in favor of representation by the Amazon Labor Union in April 2022. However, even though the National Labor Relations Board certified that vote result, Amazon continues to challenge it in court and wont recognize the win by a union. Amazon also does not believe that a vote by union members to shift from being represented by the ALU to being affiliated with the Teamsters earlier this year was legally binding. And while the Teamsters announced earlier this month that a majority of employees at San Bernardino signed cards saying they want to be in the Teamsters, there has been no formal vote held there. Still, the Teamsters said the latest protest made sure its message was heard loud and clear. CNNs Chris Isidore and John Towfighi contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) Students at the Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy welcomed the community to a festival of Hanukkah activities on Wednesday morning. Hanukkah begins with first night menorah lighting This is like the best day of school. Kids are all excited about the holiday. We got special activities. They are all pumped and ready to spread the light in the world, shared Rochelle Leah Kosofsky, Teacher at Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy. Students at Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy will attend school for only one day during the holiday of Hanukkah on December 25th. The last time Hanukkah and Christmas landed on the same day was in 2016. When you light the menorah you like to celebrate miracles, shared a student. The holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the victory over the Syrian Greeks, dating back to the light of the menorah burning for eight days with just a little bit of oil. Students at the academy engaged in the celebration by acting out skits and decorating dradels. The Jewish tradition brings light to many across the globe. Wednesday marked children and staff coming together for tradition, some visitors traveled as far as Vermont and Connecticut to spread the light behind the holiday of Hanukkah. 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. Riverdale, a regional commercial hub, will be getting a Trader Joes, city leaders announced Monday. Kaysville had pushed hard for a Trader Joe's, like citizens and leaders in Riverdale, but Weber County economic boosters won out in capturing the attention of the California-based grocery store chain. The new store, to open later this year, will be located on busy Riverdale Road, home to numerous big box chains and other retail outlets. "We're super excited. I've never been more excited to announce a business than this," Mayor Braden Mitchell said at an announcement ceremony. "There probably won't be very many Trader Joe's in northern Utah, so we feel really lucky to have gotten (it)." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mitchell said Trader Joe's reps signed the lease for the space where the market will be located in a strip mall at 4060 Riverdale Road, preceding Monday's announcement. Santa Claus took part in the announcement, held at the Riverdale Community Center. Brandon Cooper, community development director in Riverdale, said the new locale which will become Utah's sixth Trader Joe's should open in June after the site is remodeled to suit the retailer's needs. Riverdale citizens and leaders waged an intense campaign dating back around 18 months to lure Trader Joe's to the city. Leaders were tabbed in different zones of the city to spearhead outreach by citizens. A rendering of the frontage of a strip mall at 4060 Riverdale Road in Riverdale, where officials on Monday said a new Trader Joe's will be located. | City of Riverdale "They'd organize the citizens to send emails to Trader Joe's. I've emailed them four times," Mitchell said. "The city would also send them packets of information why they should locate in Riverdale." Beyond the public drumbeat, Mitchell noted the attributes of Riverdale as a commercial hub. It's located near two interstates, I-15 and I-84, and Riverdale Road gets 60,000 cars per day. The strip mall where Trader's Joe is coming used to be home to a Shopko, which has since departed and now houses an Ashley Furniture outlet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What's more, Riverdale leaders have a "super good reputation" in working with businesses. "We've got a real smooth process and people compliment us pretty frequently on how easy it is to get their business started," Mitchell said. Cooper estimates the Trader Joe's location will contain 12,000-13,000 square feet, on par with other locations. He's not sure how many it will employ but said other locations typically have 20-30 workers per shift, including full-time and part-time workers. The other Trader Joes locations in Utah include Cottonwood Heights, Draper and Orem. The retailer has two stores in Salt Lake City, according to its website. CENTERVILLE, Ohio (WDTN) A grocery store is no longer eyeing to construct a location in Centerville. Grocery Outlet Bargain Market was reportedly in the planning stage of opening a new location at 894 S. Main St. in Centerville back in September. According to communication obtained by WDTN.com, Grocery Outlet will now not build at the location. Grocery Outlet isnt moving forward with the project as theyre undergoing a new strategic realignment, said Cindy Callaghan, associate development director at Greenberg Farrow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greenberg Farrow is an Atlanta-based architectural company. A spokesperson for the city of Centerville told WDTN.com that the city has not had any direct contact with the company at any point. The supermarket company is currently constructing its first location in the Miami Valley at 606 Taywood Road in Englewood. Currently, the city of Englewood believes the location will hold its grand opening in March 2025. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. A 30-day grace period for drivers who weave in and out of express lanes on some Colorado highways is coming to an end. Beginning Jan. 1, weaving drivers in express lanes in the Central 70, Interstate 25 South Gap and U.S. 36 corridors will be fined instead of receiving a warning, according to a news release Thursday from the Colorado Department of Transportation. Drivers will be fined $75 if an infraction is paid within 20 days, $150 if paid later. According to CDOT, entering and exiting the express lane outside of designated areas is "extremely dangerous." Officials say it increases the risk of a crash because the speed significantly changes in the express lanes versus other highway lanes. During the grace period from Dec. 1-17, the state of Colorado had issued 23,873 warnings to drivers weaving in and out of the express lanes. The Safety and Tolling Enforcement Program was introduced last year on the I-70 Mountain Express Lane corridor, an eight-mile stretch that includes express lanes west of Denver. The Jan. 1 expansion includes I-70 between I-25 and Chambers Road in metro Denver, I-25 between Monument and Castle Rock, and U.S. 36 between Federal Boulevard and Table Mesa Drive between metro Denver and Boulder. According to CDOT Deputy Director of Communications for Policy and Programs Tim Hoover, 81% of drivers who receive a fine for express lane violation do not get a second violation. Featured Local Savings Hoover also says they turned cameras on in these areas prior to the warning period and they noticed that express lane violation went down by 80%. He says likely by word-of-mouth people knew what was coming. To learn more, visit CDOT's website on express lanes. The express lane changes come after the move Nov. 25 to dynamic tolling on two stretches of express lanes. Toll rates change based on real-time traffic rather than time of day. The affected areas include an 18-mile stretch on the I-25 South Gap between Monument and Castle Rock. The other is on the westbound 12-mile stretch of Mountain Express Lanes between the Veterans Memorial Tunnel and Empire. The South Gap and the Mountain Express Lanes are two of the most traveled corridors in the state and we want to do everything we can to help keep Express Lane speeds reliable," said Piper Darlington, director of the Colorado Transportation Investment Office, the division of CDOT that owns and operates Colorado Express Lanes, in earlier Gazette reporting. Drivers can see the current toll prices on overhead signs, which are adjusted every five to 15 minutes. The driver will pay the toll price displayed when they enter the express lane, whether or not it changes during their travel in that lane. People in Western Europe are divided over how they feel about a peaceful settlement that would leave Russia in control of at least some parts of Ukrainian territories illegally seized since the invasion in February 2022, as reportedly planned by US President-elect Donald Trump. Source: the results of a December YouGov survey in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and the UK, as reported by European Pravda citing The Guardian Details: Majorities in Sweden (57%), Denmark (53%) and the UK (51%), as well as a significant minority (43%) in Spain, said they would have a very or somewhat negative attitude to such an agreement, compared to only 37% in France and 31% in Germany and Italy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear how any deal on Ukraine could be concluded. Last week, Putin reiterated his maximalist goals, including Russian control of Crimea and four occupied Ukrainian oblasts, as well as the demilitarisation of Ukraine and a veto on its NATO membership. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte criticised Western talk of a peace process as premature, saying that Ukraine must get what it needs to stop Putin from winning. Background: 47% of Ukrainians are ready to support Ukraine's accession to NATO if part of the Ukrainian territories remain occupied by Russia. Also, for the first time, more than half of Poles supported the idea that the war in Ukraine should end, even if it has to give up part of its territory or independence. Support UP or become our patron! Thousands gathered in mourning on Thursday, Dec. 26, to mark two decades since the worlds largest tsunami. On Dec. 26, 2004, in one of the worst natural disasters of the modern era, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake spurred catastrophic waves that brought destruction and devastation to at least 12 countries. It left some 230,000 people dead, and some 1.7 million more were displaced hitting India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand the hardest. At mass graves throughout Indonesias Aceh province on Thursday, people gathered and prayed to honor victims of the tragedy, The Associated Press reported. At one in Ulee Lheue village, where 14,000 unidentified victims are buried, families of those killed by the tsunami wept and placed flowers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were similar memorial ceremonies in Ban Nam Khem, a small fishing town in Thailand that was among those most devastated by the tsunami in the country, as well Chennai, India, and Pereliya, Sri Lanka, the AP reported. Sirachai Arunrugstichai/Getty Tsunami memorial in Thailand Tsunami memorial in Thailand Related: Supermodel Petra Nemcova Almost Died in the World's Worst Tsunami. How She Overcame Fear of Water and Healed (Exclusive) Louis Mullan and his younger brother, Theo, were only teenagers when the tsunami destroyed Khao Luk, Thailand, where their family was on vacation, killing their parents. The boys flew back to Cornwall, England, a week after the storm as orphans. But when they arrived home, they received an unexpected message from a neighboring family of four offering to take them in, Louis told PEOPLE in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She felt something was telling her that she had to do that," Louis said of the mom that suggested she take them in. "If we didn't have that, I think that's when it would've been so much harder." He added, "The opportunities they've offered us and the love that they've given us has made us who we are." Related: Survivor of Worlds Worst Tsunami Remembers Moment He and His Little Brother Lost Their Parents on the Beach Sirachai Arunrugstichai/Getty Tsunami memorial in Thailand Tsunami memorial in Thailand For Rachel Hearson, it was a pocket of air that saved her life as the storm slammed the Phi Phi Islands in Thailand, where she was on holiday, she told PEOPLE last month. Hearson, now 61, was rescued by a small fishing boat before she went back to land to look for her partner, Cici Romain, who she eventually found amid the wreckage helping others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though she didnt have any formal medical training, she held the hands of the survivors as they waited for the rescue helicopters. Two decades later, she said shes given up her career as a fashion designer to instead work for a cancer charity learning from the tragedy, I can be there for other people if I'm needed." Maybe it's hard [for the younger generation] to understand," Soffie Modin, another survivor of the tsunami, told PEOPLE. Modin was also on vacation on the Phi Phi Islands and required eight months of hospital and home care to recover from an injury to her leg. While she survived, her then-fiances brother was killed in the disaster. Related: How Restaurant Owner Who Survived Worlds Worst Tsunami Found Strength to Help 100 Others, amid Her Trauma (Exclusive) Sirachai Arunrugstichai/Getty Tsunami memorial in Thailand Tsunami memorial in Thailand Modin is one of the many survivors who appears in National Geographics Tsunami: Race Against Time, a powerful four-part docuseries that sheds light on the bravery and heroism by the survivors of the disaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's a little bit nice to just lift that lid again," Modin told PEOPLE about her participation in the docuseries, noting the necessity for new generations to learn about the tragedy. Read the original article on People KANSAS CITY, Kan. Two men looking for scrap metal found a womans body in Kansas City, Kansas on Christmas Day in 1998. Christina King, 26, was found behind an abandoned building at N. 27th Street and Sewell Avenue, in KCKs Quindaro neighborhood. Despite investigators finding DNA evidence at the scene, her case went cold for more than two decades until an arrest was made in 2023. Kings daughter, April Parks, was just 10 years old when her mother was murdered. She spoke to FOX4 three years ago during a balloon release at the site where her mothers body was found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Body found in wheel well of United Airlines flight from Chicago to Maui Who did it? Why? How could they do that to such a young person? She was only 26, Parks said. Her autopsy [showed] there were so many injuries and so many abrasions and bruises. Court documents confirm that, saying Kings face was bloody and swollen. An autopsy claimed she died from blunt force trauma to the head. Detectives charged Gary Dion Davis, 53, with Kings murder, along with a second woman, Pearl Davis, who was also known as Sameemah Musawwir; she was found stabbed to death in a home on Lafayette Avenue in 1996. Mugshot of Gary Dion Davis, courtesy of Wyandotte County Detention Center The KCK Police Department and the Wyandotte County District Attorneys Office announced the arrest of Gary Davis during a news conference in September 2023. However, questions remain as to why it took so long to arrest him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police detectives had previously tested evidence collected at Kings murder scene in 1999 and 2002. Court documents said police detectives got a notification in November 2003, nearly five years after the murder, that a DNA profile was obtained from inside a condom found near Kings body. It matched the known DNA of Gary Davis. Despite this find, court documents reveal detectives did not interview Gary Davis until May 2005, a year-and-a-half later. He was never arrested or charged with a crime until 18 years later when that same evidence was retested with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The main reason an arrest finally happened in 2023 is because of the KCK Police Departments Cold Case Unit, which started in 2022. Detectives sent off evidence collected at Pearl Daviss murder scene to the KBI to have it retested. They got a notification in January 2023 that a CODIS hit matched Gary Dion Davis. For those unfamiliar, CODIS is national database known as the Combined DNA Index System. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A detective in the cold case unit testified at a preliminary hearing that that the report linked Davis to an additional case she was working on at the time: Christina King. According to that detective, once a CODIS hit has been made, you must submit a known sample for confirmation on the hit. They did so by using DNA collected during that 2005 police interview with Gary Davis. Despite that critical find, other items retested at Kings murder site didnt produce any evidence tying Davis to the scene, according to court records. The only item containing a DNA match was the inside of a used condom. Fingernail scrapings taken from Kings 1998 rape kit were tested against known samples for Gary Davis, but court records said, no male haplotype was obtained from [the] examination. Additionally, cold case detectives tested a brandy bottle found at Kings murder scene to KBI for fingerprinting but didnt get a hit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for Pearl Daviss case, cold case detectives sent in blood samples and a used condom to KBI for retesting in 2022. Court records said DNA from both were consistent with the same unknown male and entered into a data base. The KBI sent a letter back to cold case detectives two weeks later saying a hit was obtained from the data base on a man named Gary Davis; the DNA profile for the condom and blood trail matched his profile. While speaking to reporters at the September 2023 news conference, KCK Police Chief Karl Oakman thought Gary Davis could be involved in other cases. In my experience, based on him killing two women, most likely hes killed more. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX4 contacted the department last week to see about any updates on that front. We were told, We are still working this. Nothing that we are comfortable releasing at this point. For now, Gary Davis remains in jail, charged with two counts of second-degree murder. His trial is scheduled for February 24, 2025 at 9 a.m. Hes pleaded not guilty to both murder charges. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GAHANNA, Ohio (WCMH) A judge denied bail for the suspect in a seemingly random shooting at a Subway sandwich shop in Gahanna that killed a man. In court, prosecutors called Gahanna Police Detective Matthew Fulmer as a witness, who testified that suspect William Marshall fired one shot at the back of the victims head before turning the gun to a Subway employee and threatening them, instructing them to run. The employee ran into the walk-in cooler and Marshall fired a shot after them, Fulmer said. Fulmer testified that Marshall may have been off medication for his diagnosed schizophrenia at the time of the shooting. Fulmer said Marshalls parents are local school teachers, and that Marshall lives in the basement of their home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ross County officer killed by inmate at Chillicothe prison According to Fulmer, Marshall bought the gun and ammunition from an outdoor shop in October, and officers found a Glock 17 on the scene and a loaded magazine in Marshalls car. Fulmer said Marshall has no prior criminal history outside of minor traffic violations, and that he has no prior history between Marshall and the victim. The victim has been identified as a 72-year-old man, but officers did not give a name. Fulmer did confirm there was seemingly no argument or interaction between Marshall and the victim before the shooting. When denying Marshall bail, the presiding judge called the shooting shocking, random and inexplicable. Marshall is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 30. 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. The suspect in a deadly Christmas Eve shooting in Oxford Township has a history of gun crimes and was recently released from prison despite picking up another weapons conviction while behind bars, the Free Press has found. As of Thursday, the 29-year-old shooting suspect was being held in the Oakland County Jail pending charges after what the sheriffs office described as a completely random and violent spree across multiple locations near Oxford High School, the site of a 2021 mass shooting. Tuesdays shooting killed one and wounded two. It occurred about 6:30 p.m. on Ray Road between Lapeer and North Oxford roads, a 1-mile stretch of largely empty land flanked by the high school to the east and a shopping plaza to the west. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Free Press is not naming the suspect because he has not yet been charged. A court administrator confirmed his identity. According to a Free Press review of the mans record with the Michigan Department of Corrections, he was released from prison in November 2023 after serving five years and six months for being a felon in possession of a firearm and other crimes stemming from a 2018 incident in Genesee County. He completed parole in the Flint area in July 2024, according to an MDOC spokesperson. While in prison, he was convicted of possessing a weapon in a November 2019 incident. Despite that, he was discharged two years ahead of his maximum sentence of seven years and six months for the original conviction. The additional weapons crime carried a maximum five-year prison sentence, but was served concurrently with his previous sentence. When asked why the parole board released the man before his maximum time, the MDOC spokesperson instructed the Free Press to file a public records request for the written decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously, the man suspected in Tuesdays shooting served 30 months of probation for reckless use of a firearm and carrying a concealed weapon in a July 2014 incident, also in Genesee County. Three people were initially hospitalized as a result of Tuesday nights shooting, according to the sheriffs office. One died by Wednesday afternoon and the others were expected to recover. The victims' identities have not been disclosed, nor has a possible motive for the attack. As of Thursday morning, the sheriff's office had not yet forwarded its investigation to the Oakland County Prosecutors Office for potential charges, sheriffs spokesman Steve Huber told the Free Press. Michigan law allows criminal suspects to be held in police custody for up to 72 hours without charges, excluding weekends and holidays. Violet Ikonomova is an investigative reporter at the Free Press focused on government and police accountability. Contact her at vikonomova@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Suspect in 'random' Oxford Christmas shooting was released early from prison A woman, who South Boston residents called the Tom Brady of stealing packages, appeared before a judge Thursday. Kerry Flynn, 34, was arraigned in South Boston District Court in connection to several package thefts in recent weeks. According to an incident report from Boston Police, Flynn was arrested on Carpenter Street after she was observed matching the description of a suspect who had been stealing packages for weeks. At the time, police officers were delivering toys to children around the South Boston neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flynn reportedly was carrying two bags filled with unopened boxes. The officer filing the report noted that Flynn was experiencing homelessness and suspected to be under the influence of drugs. A search of Criminal Justice Information Services further revealed that Flynn also had two active warrants for shoplifting out of Taunton District from October of this year. Its extremely disheartening that someone would do this, explained Chelsea Parker Harp, who lives in the area where Flynn was apprehended. Harp shared ring doorbell footage with Boston 25 of multiple instances where someone was seen coming by and stealing packages they had delivered. In the last few weeks, she said someone stole bicycle gear that her husband had ordered as a Christmas gift to himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While its unclear if Flynn is responsible for stealing their particular packages, it is evident that neighbors are sick of the theft. When it comes down to the money that I lose, and then fighting with the company to try and get it back or replaced. Its insane, said Kelly Moran of South Boston. Not only have porch pirates taken her Christmas gifts, but theyve taken birthday gifts for her kids, and even her daughters prom dress. Moran has reconsidered online shopping altogether, while people like Harp have talked about getting a locked drop box for her multi-family home. Flynn is being held without bail until her next court appearance on January 21, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All packages she stole will be returned to their rightful owners. 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 TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry warned of "serious impact" to security after opposition parties passed laws that will require a cut in defence spending of some T$80 billion ($2.45 billion) at a time when the island is facing elevated Chinese military threat. Taiwan's opposition parties, which hold a majority in parliament, last week passed legislation to shift spending from the central government to local municipalities, a move strongly contested by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and thousands of protesters. In a statement late on Wednesday, the defence ministry said it might need to cut its defence budget plan by 28% for next year, equivalent to around T$80 billion, to meet the new funding requirements Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is set to deliver a serious impact to the national forces' military build-up and combat preparedness," the ministry said. "Major weapon equipments will not be continued to upgrade and it will be difficult to make payments to purchased items according to contracts, resulting in delays or cancellations." The ministry said the defence budget for next year accounted to around 2.4% of Taiwan's GDP, but the possible cut will take it down to below 2% even as countries in the region are increasing defence spending. "How do we persuade international friends to help us in critical moment when the enemy is invading us?" the ministry said. China, which views democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory, has ramped up its military pressure in recent years to assert those claims, which Taipei strongly rejects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National Security Council Secretary-general Joseph Wu told reporters on Wednesday more discussions are needed as the budge cut will lead to "serious consequences". He did not elaborate. "It will send a wrong message that Taiwan does not want to defend itself. Seeing that, like-minded countries might not want to help our nation." The cabinet in August proposed a 7.7% year-on-year rise for defence spending to T$647 billion, a record high for Taiwan as the island adds more fighter jets and missiles to strengthen deterrence against the rising threat from Beijing. The DPP lost its parliamentary majority in January elections and is in a stand off with the opposition on several issues. ($1 = 32.7010 Taiwan dollars) (Reporting By Yimou Lee; Editing by Shri Navaratnam) Dec. 26SUPERIOR A citywide revaluation of property in Superior, coupled with a school levy increase, left some taxpayers feeling less festive this holiday season. On average, city property values increased 60%; residential properties increased by 70%. Taxes on some properties increased sharply while others that had been assessed closer to their market value before the citywide revaluation decreased. The larger the percentage increase in assessed value, the more taxes increased. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The impact to the tax bill was unique to each property," Superior Mayor Jim Paine said. The purpose of reassessing property values is to reflect the price a property would likely sell for in the real estate market and distribute the tax burden fairly and equitably among the taxable properties in the municipality. According to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, revaluations are required when assessments are no longer within 10% of the full value once every five years. Between 2005 and 2020, the average assessment ratio in Superior hovered between 90% and 100%, but dropped to 82% in 2021 and continued to fall to 63% before the revaluation this year. Not only were city residents facing new assessments based on fair market value, but they also were facing a new reality when it comes to taxation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the city tax levy decreased by about $22,000 and Douglas County's levy increased by only about $72,000, taxes to support the Superior School District jumped by $3.6 million. Paine said it's fairly normal to see property tax increases in the tens of thousands, but not in the millions. Voters allowed the school district to increase its tax levy for operational purposes by $2.5 million. Other district taxes, which are determined by state formulas, increased as well. At the same time, the state cut about $2.7 million in equalization aid and pushed that funding burden over onto the local property taxpayers. "Superior School District saw a decrease in funding ... because the district membership (enrollment) dropped by almost 6% in the 2024-25 school year, and has been on a downward trend with the exception of the 2022-2023 school year," state Sen. Romaine Quinn, R-Cameron, wrote in a letter to district officials about the equalization aid. He noted that Superior receives a higher percentage of aid than school districts in Maple, Webster, Northwood, Solon Springs, South Shore, Drummond and Hayward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Equalization aid is tied to both enrollment numbers and property values, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction . The effect of the operational referendum approved by voters in November can be seen on the bottom of the tax bill, above the payment stubs. That area contains information on voter-approved temporary tax increases. The one that ends in 2029 is the operational referendum that passed in November. The one that ends in 2037 is for Superior High School and Cooper Elementary building projects approved by voters in 2016. If the operational referendum amount is higher than the $4 per $100,000 of property value the school district had advertised, David See, the district's director of business services, said it's because the city reassessment increased that property's value more compared to the rest of the property in the district. Conversely, he said, there are properties that are paying significantly less than $4 per $100,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rising cost of housing in Superior l ed to the citywide revaluation . "State law requires our assessments to remain close to fair market value. If they stray too far for too long, we must do a citywide revaluation," Paine said. He said as long as there are no more massive market fluctuations, the city should be fine for some time. "I would also point out that if housing values suddenly fell ... we would do this again but with the opposite effect," Paine said. The city assessor's office and Associated Appraisal Consultants conducted the 2024 revalue assessment, which determines what portion of the city, county and school budgets people pay to the county treasurer for their collection of taxes in 2025, according to City Assessor Terry Johnson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assessments completed in 2024 were based on sales that occurred in 2023 and prior. "We are required to be assessed at 90 to 110% for compliance by the Department of Revenue. As it is not an exact calculation, anything within that range is acceptable," Johnson said. The Douglas County treasurer takes the budgets as calculated from the city, county and school districts and divides the taxes up based on each taxpaying unit in that jurisdiction, Johnson said. The county gets divided up by all the towns and villages. Each school district is divided up between the villages, towns and cities that are within its boundaries. The technical college is handled the same way, but spread over a larger area. Open Book notices were mailed in August for the city's Board of Review, which was held in October. Johnson said roughly 300 less than 3% of all taxable property owners contacted the city assessor's office or Associated Appraisal Consultants for a review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "With the 2024 tax base set at the Board of Review Oct. 2 for the city, there can be no changes to anyone's assessment this year," Johnson said. "The public can certainly watch for the public notice next year when we have the Board of Review sometime in May or June 2025." The city does not mail out notices in a typical year unless additional changes have been made to a property's assessment or classification. "If anyone would like to discuss their value, they can call us later in April or May 2025," Johnson said. Property records can be reviewed online at www.superiorwi.gov/65/Assessor Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement . Property record information is found lower on that page with the link to assessordata.org . Enter the address or parcel number to see a property record. Superior City Councilor Jenny Van Sickle, who represents the 2nd District, said she has been sitting down with concerned constituents to go over their tax bills line by line. She encouraged everyone to look at the details and ask questions. "I do encourage everyone to reach out to their elected officials," Van Sickle said. City residents can email questions and documents to Taxbill@superiorwi.gov , which goes directly to the mayor and city assessor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "At this time, people should make sure they have a lottery credit on your tax bill if they are owner-occupied," Johnson said. "The other thing you can do is apply with your Wisconsin income taxes for the lottery credit. This is income based and they do look at what you are paying for property taxes." Tax bills or at least the first installment are due Jan. 31; second installments are due by July 31. When reached by phone for comment, Douglas County Treasurer Amy Tyson declined to outline tax payment options. She said they follow state statute. According to the county's website, taxpayers who don't pay the full first installment by Jan. 31 will accrue 1% interest monthly on the unpaid balance. Paine encouraged residents to call the treasurer's office at 715-395-1348 to find out what options are available. An investigation was underway on Christmas Eve after a deadly crash involving a 19-year-old motorcyclist. According to the Colorado Springs Police Department, it got the call just after 9 a.m. Tuesday for the crash right outside The Broadmoor World Arena, close to Cheyenne Meadows Road and Venetucci Boulevard. Early into the investigation police believe the crash involved a motorcycle and one other vehicle and everyone involved stayed at the scene. The motorcyclist, identified by the El Paso County Coroner's Office as Domenic Gatlin, died at the scene. A GoFundMe has been created by Gatlin's family to help cover funeral expenses. This marks 48 traffic fatalities in Colorado Springs for 2024. In total in 2023, local police reported 50 traffic fatalities. Fifty-seven deaths were reported in 2022 and 51 in 2021, according to police. Natasha Lynn from The Gazette contributed to this report. NEW YORK (PIX11) A 58-year-old cab driver who hit multiple pedestrians in Manhattan on Christmas Day suffered a medical episode, according to the NYPD. Six people were struck when a yellow cab drove onto a sidewalk at West 34th Street and Sixth Avenue, police said. More Local News A 9-year-old boy suffered a laceration to his right thigh, a 41-year-old suffered an injury to the head and a 49-year-old woman suffered a leg injury, according to authorities. They are expected to recover from their injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three other people were also injured but refused medical attention at the scene, police said. An investigation remains ongoing, according to authorities. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BEULAH, Ala. (WRBL) Heartbreaking new details are emerging from the families of two young ladies killed during a Christmas Eve shooting. 18-year-old Madison Daly and 19-year-old Kayden Lynch, both of Beulah were identified as the victims. Madisons mother tells WRBL the two teens were stepsisters and roommates. Madison leaves behind a young daughter. Family and friends have set up a GoFundMe to assist the family during this difficult time. Maddies mother shared this picture of Maddie, Maddies daughter Neveah, and Kayden. Maddie and Kayden were stepsisters and roommates who were killed during a Christmas Eve shooting at their home. The Lee County Sheriffs Office has identified the suspect as 18-year-old Jalen Holmes. He was arrested and booked on December 24, 2024, and charged with capital murder involving two or more victims. He remains in custody at the Lee County Detention Center The incident unfolded at approximately 3:48 p.m. CST when Lee County 911 received a report of gunfire near Lee Road 2113 and US 29 North. The stepsisters lived together along Lee Road 2113. Responding deputies discovered Madison Daly and Kayden Lynch unresponsive with apparent gunshot wounds. Lee County Coroner Daniel Sexton pronounced both women deceased at the scene at approximately 4:30 p.m. LCSO: Holmes Authorities revealed before the shooting, Holmes had reportedly assaulted his mother at her nearby residence and taken a handgun. Witnesses reported hearing several gunshots shortly thereafter. Evidence indicates Holmes left his mothers home and entered the neighboring residence, where the victims were found. Two 9-year-old twin girls, who had been at the residence earlier, left shortly before the shooting and were unharmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The circumstances surrounding the deaths of Daly and Lynch remain under active investigation by the Lee County Sheriffs Office. The Sheriffs Office has urged anyone with information to contact their Investigations Division at 334-737-7155 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. A teenager who was sacked after wearing trainers to work tried to sue her bosses for age discrimination, an employment tribunal heard. Elizabeth Benassi successfully sued her former employer for victimisation after she was unfairly tackled by business manager Ishrat Ashraf over her choice of footwear. The young employee who was not aware of the companys smart dress code alleged she was treated like a child over the dress code issue and insisted other staff who wore trainers were not sanctioned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When she was dismissed from the recruitment company after just three months, Ms Benassi took them to an employment tribunal and her claims have now been upheld by a judge who said bosses had a desire to find fault with her. The now 20-year-old was awarded total compensation of 29,187. The tribunal, held in Croydon, south London, heard Ms Benassi was 18 when she joined Maximus UK Services in August 2022. The company works for the Department for Work and Pensions, helping to get people back into work and off benefits. It was heard her colleagues were a young group of employees who were mainly in their early 20s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She told the tribunal that being the youngest made life difficult for her in that she was excluded from the group and micromanaged. The panel were told of an incident when Ms Benassi wore trainers to work. Employment judge Eoin Fowell said: This was a breach of the dress code, although she was not aware of it. Ms Ashraf spoke to her about it straight away and Ms Benassi apologised. You rolled your eyes The young employment adviser said she was was unhappy with the way she had been spoken to and emailed Ms Ashraf to say so. She said: I apologised for this, and you rolled your eyes. I have now realised I am not the only one wearing trainers today and I have not seen anyone receive the same chat that I have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By this point, Ms Ashraf had escalated the matter to operations manager Abdul Ali, who said: I want to see a professional dress code at all times. This is totally unacceptable coming to work in trainers. Please adhere to a professional dress code. The tribunal heard evidence of another incident in which Ms Benassi attended a team-building event at a bowling alley. She told the panel that she had asked Ms Ashraf not to share her age, as she was embarrassed, but found out at that event that the woman had told colleagues she was just 18. Ms Benassi said: I didnt want to be treated differently or as I had put it, as the baby of the group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During her employment, Ms Benassi raised a grievance against her boss. On Oct 31, she was invited to a probation meeting and told that she would be dismissed. No allowance was made She was told that her failure to adhere to the dress code was part of this. She sued for harassment on grounds of age and victimisation, the latter of which was upheld. The company says that they sacked her over concerns about her performance. They gave evidence to the tribunal that the reason other employees were not spoken to in the same way regarding wearing trainers was because one staff member had been given permission to do so as she had a sore foot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Fowell said: No allowance was made for the fact that she was new and may not have been familiar with the dress code. It was therefore a clear unfairness, and indicates a desire to find fault. She was literally being scrutinised from the moment of her arrival. But her claims of harassment relating to age were not upheld as the tribunal could not determine that her treatment related to the fact that she was 18. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Right now, Tennessee has a rare opportunity to take a hard look at what works and what doesnt when it comes to pretrial release. As the former chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a Republican, I worked closely with my colleagues in the Tennessee General Assembly to find better ways to keep our citizens safe. One thing that never made sense to me about Tennessees bail system was that if you're rich and dangerous, you can pay your bail and go home the same day as long as you havent killed anyone. However, the lack of bail money can and does cause many people to sit in a county jail for months, or in some cases years, while we pay the bill for those who are poor and committed minor infractions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simply put: If youre scary, I don't care how much money you have. We should keep you away until a judge can hear your case. If you happened to make a mistake in the wrong place at the wrong time, we need to get you out of the way to make room for the hardened criminals. Now is the time for Tennessee legislators to make serious reforms Tennessee's system mirrors that which formerly existed in New Jersey, where one of my co-authors served as senior deputy chief counsel to Gov. Chris Christie in the mid-2010s. Inmates at the Behavioral Care Center inside the Davidson County Jail in Nashville , Tenn., Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Both states (New Jersey then and Tennessee now) rely heavily on money bail, creating a system where violent offenders can purchase their release before trial, while thousands of low-risk, non-violent individuals remain incarcerated for weeks, months, or even years simply because they cannot afford bail. This perpetuates a cycle of inequality with devastating consequences for individuals and families. Recently, Tennessee's Senate held a hearing to examine the current state of the bail industry and pretrial release in Tennessee whats working, and whats not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Tennessee lawmakers, this is a critical moment to evaluate the states entire approach to pretrial detention and avoid further tragedies. Most importantly, Tennessee needs to adopt policies that will prioritize risk over access to cash. In recent years, Tennessee has dramatically increased pretrial detention up 129% since 2000. Podcast: Listen to Chasing Einstein, the race to catch a master criminal But the bulk of these people are low-risk and low-income. Because of cash bail, potentially dangerous and violent individuals who are a threat to public safety can still purchase their freedom. New Jersey model could help guide Tennessee policy on bail Balancing public safety with individual liberty is always tricky, but the present system is a massive waste of resources, costing the public millions while putting pressure on overcrowded county jails, which are currently holding almost 26,000 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, unnecessary pretrial incarceration of low-level offenders can also lead to job loss, housing instability, and family disruption, increasing re-offense rates. In other words, it can actually make crime worse in the long run. There is, however, a proven path forward, one that will allow Tennessee to detain violent offenders while letting low-risk individuals who still retain the presumption of innocence return to their families, jobs, and communities. In New Jersey, we recognized that we were essentially operating a debtors prison, and we made it a priority to safely reduce the number of low-risk people incarcerated pretrial while ensuring violent and repeat offenders stayed locked up. Michael G. Curcio Specifically, we now deny bail to those who pose a threat to public safety - relying on risk, not money, to ensure public safety. As a result, in New Jersey the percentage of people who committed violent crimes while on pretrial release was reduced to just 1.2%. At the same time, we saw a 20% decrease in the pretrial jail population, and now nearly all individuals appear for court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only have our bail changes kept more people safe, they have also saved the state roughly $68 million dollars per year. My experience as a county prosecutor who navigated this system daily from 2017 to 2022 is that this approach works. More: Tennessee Republicans keep state Senate supermajority, three new members elected This commonsense New Jersey model has been adopted by other states and jurisdictions. Detroit, which Tennessee Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis, recently stated transformed from a "failed American city" with high crime to a "vastly different" place, saw its lowest number of homicides in 57 years after implementing a risk-based system. Some jurisdictions in Tennessee have implemented similar pretrial system reforms. These examples can help inform discussions in the state around improving bail practices. Scott A. Coffina Key changes include reducing the use of money bail and implementing pretrial risk assessments, which can help judges decide who can safely be released, who needs additional conditions, and who should remain detained until trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the state can implement electronic text message reminder systems for court appearances, an intervention that has consistently proven to be a low-cost, effective method to improve appearance rates. Giving sheriffs more authority to approve releases before the first court appearance - through delegated release authority - can also help. Specifically, deputies with first-hand knowledge of their communities can offer important perspectives on who is dangerous and should be detained, and who isnt and could therefore be released. Better bond options, like a partially-secured bond where the court, instead of a bondsman, takes a partial deposit, allows more court oversight, as seen in Nebraska and Kentucky, and is an initial step toward ending reliance on money for pretrial decisions. And those posing the greatest risk can - and should - remain detained. Lisel Petis Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tennessee must take this opportunity to create a better system. One that ensures justice is administered fairly, constitutional rights are protected, and communities remain safe. This is Tennessees moment to build a system that prioritizes safety over profit and justice over convenience. Michael G. Curcio is the former representative from House District 69, former chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and a father of three who continues his work to ensure that Tennessee is a safe place for everyone to live, work, and raise a family. Scott A. Coffina is a former assistant United States attorney, county prosecutor for Burlington County, New Jersey, and senior deputy chief counsel to Gov. Chris Christie. He is currently co-chair of the Government Enforcement, Compliance, & White Collar Litigation practice group of Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP, practicing in the firms Marlton, New Jersey office. Lisel Petis is a resident senior fellow at the R Street Institute where she specializes in criminal justice and civil liberties. She is a former prosecutor. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee should reform bail laws based on risk not wealth | Opinion MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The Texas Rangers are investigating an officer involved shooting that left one person injured in Midland on Christmas Eve. According to the Midland Police Department, around 9:00 p.m. on December 24, officers responded to a call for service at Walgreens located in the 200 block of Andrews Highway. The call turned into a vehicle pursuit that ended in the 2600 block of Delano Avenue. There an officer involved shooting occurred. One person, whose name has not yet been released, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. MPD said the subject will be charged with Aggravated Assault on a Public Servant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation has been turned over to the Texas Rangers, which is standard in all officer involved shootings. No other details have been released. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. Dec. 25Around 9:06 p.m. Dec. 24, Midland Police officers responded to a call for service at the Walgreens in the 200 block of Andrews Highway. The call and ensuing response led to a vehicle pursuit, which ended in the 2600 block of Delano Avenue. It was there an officer-involved shooting took place. The subject sustained non-life-threatening injuries and faces the charge of aggravated assault on a public servant. The investigation has been turned over to the Texas Rangers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ------ Officers respond to shooting At approximately 10:10 p.m. Dec. 24, Midland Police responded to a shooting call in the 5000 block of Pleasant Drive. It was there that a 49-year-old Midland man Seward Swann had been struck by gunfire. He later succumbed to his injuries at Midland Memorial Hospital. "The actors in the shooting have not been identified at this time," MPD reported. A Texas woman is charged with murder after police say she fatally shot her husband, lit his truck on fire and fled the scene in a kayak. Bexar County, Texas officials found the body of Tomas Calavera Jr. in a closet during a welfare check, according to reports from KENS, KSAT and Crossroads Today, citing an arrest affidavit. That same day, deputies in Calhoun County responded to a report of a burning vehicle, the outlets reported. A witness reportedly told police that a woman, whom authorities later identified as Faith Paige Goynes, was allegedly seen walking away from the burning truck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The outlets reported that deputies found Goynes paddling a kayak near the burning truck. Crossroads Today, citing the affidavit, reported that Goynes had severe burns and was in possession of Calaveras ID. Police reportedly determined that the burning vehicle had belonged to the victim. Goynes allegedly confessed to police that she had shot Calavera before burning his truck, according to the affidavit reported by the three outlets. Goynes is Calaveras common-law wife, KSAT reported, citing deputies. 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. Goynes is charged with murder and arson causing serious bodily injury or death in the death of her husband. It was not immediately clear if she has retained an attorney or entered a plea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initial welfare check that led to the discovery of Calaveras body was at the behest of the Calhoun County officials, KSAT reported; Calaveras father went to his sons home to locate him, but was unsuccessful. Calaveras body was discovered once Bexar County deputies searched the home. Read the original article on People A Texas woman has been arrested and accused of abusing a corpse after allegedly giving birth in a Whataburger bathroom and flushing the fetus down a toilet, authorities say. Police say Mallori Patrice Strait, 33, arrived at a San Antonio-area Whataburger around noon Dec. 19. She was in the lobby for about two hours before going to the restroom, where she stayed for another two hours, police say. The restaurant's manager checked on Strait "due to her making noises inside of the stall." The manager did this several times, brought her a drink of water and told her she needed to leave, an arrest affidavit says. Eventually, the manager became concerned for Strait's well-being and called the police, according to KSAT. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bexar County sheriff's deputies responded and began questioning Strait, who was allegedly uncooperative. Deputies contacted emergency services, notifying them of "human like material in the restroom." The Converse Fire Department arrived at the scene and tried to render life-saving care to the infant while Strait was detained. The arrest affidavit reports Strait said: "I'm sorry. I'm not selfish." Strait and the fetus were taken to a local hospital, where the child was pronounced dead. The fetus was female, according to the Bexar County medical examiner. The arrest affidavit states it had "sustained head injuries consistent with being forced and flushed down the toilet drain," San Antonio Express-News reports. Medical professionals confirmed Strait was in her third trimester of pregnancy, around 28 to 30 weeks, News 4 San Antonio reports. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas woman arrested, allegedly flushed fetus in Whataburger restroom Thailand has accepted Russia's invitation to become a BRICS partner state, Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nikondet Phalangkun said at a press briefing on Dec. 26. BRICS, composed of Russia, China, India, Brazil, and other nations, is a bloc of emerging economies often portrayed as a counterweight to the Western-led world. "On October 31, Thailand received an invitation to become a BRICS partner state from Russia, the group's chair in 2024," Phalangkun said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "On December 24, the Cabinet of Ministers held a meeting and decided that Thailand would respond positively to the invitation." The government believes that joining the economic alliance will carry benefits for Thailand across a number of sectors. "(M)embership in BRICS will benefit Thailand by promoting trade, investment, food and energy security," Phalangkun said. Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted a BRICS forum in Kazan in October 2024. According to Moscow, 36 world leaders participated in the summit. Following the event, Putin said that invitations would be sent to a number of proposed new partner countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four new members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates joined BRICS at the start of 2024. This marked the group's first expansion since December 2010, when South Africa became a member. Thailand opted to remain neutral after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Bangkok did not impose sanctions on Moscow or send weapons to Kyiv, but did later vote in favor of multiple United Nations resolutions calling for Russia's withdrawal from Ukraine. Read also: UN secretary general visits Russia for BRICS summit despite Kyivs criticism Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Kolby KickingWoman ICT As 2024 winds down and the world gets ready to ring in a new year, ICT wants to take a look back and remember those who died this past year. From tribal leaders and activists to journalists and artists, these people left an indelible mark on Indian Country and their impact lives on. Below is a list of those who died in 2024 whose stories appeared in ICT. January Klee Benally (Died Dec. 30, 2023) Klee Benally, a member of the Save the Peaks Coalition, sings an American Indian movement song, during a news conference held March 8, 2005, in Flagstaff, Ariz. Benally, a Navajo man who advocated on behalf of Indigenous people and environmental causes, has died Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023,, his sister said. (Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Sun via AP, File) PHOENIX Klee Benally, a Navajo man who advocated on behalf of Indigenous people and environmental causes, has died, his sister said. He was 48 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benally died Saturday at a Phoenix hospital, Jeneda Benally said. His cause of death was not disclosed. Klee Benally was among the most vocal opponents of snowmaking at Arizona Snowbowl ski resort in Flagstaff. At least 13 tribes consider the mountain on public land to be sacred. READ MORE Associated Press Gary Fife Legendary journalist Gary Fife is shown at the microphone in this undated photo. Fife died Jan. 14, 2024, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was 73. (File photo courtesy of Gary Fife) Award-winning reporter and storyteller Gary Fife of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation died Jan. 14 in Tulsa, Okla. He was 73. A leader in Indigenous journalism, Fife produced thousands of stories for radio, television, and digital and print media during a 50-plus year career, and wrote opinion pieces using the name Emvpanayv, or one who tells the story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2021, Fife told ICT that at the peak of the Civil Rights movement, he was studying journalism in college. READ MORE Joaqlin Estus, ICT N. Scott Momaday Kiowa Pulitzer recipient N. Scott Momaday (Courtesy photo) Navarre Scott Momaday, Kiowa, a writer, poet, educator and master storyteller, has died. His Pulitzer Prize-winning debut novel House Made of Dawn is credited with the start of a renaissance in contemporary Native American literature. He was 89. Momaday died Wednesday at his home in Santa Fe, N.M., publisher HarperCollins announced. He had been in failing health. On Facebook, friends and organizations shared condolences and remembrances lamenting the loss of a beloved member of our community and an inspiration to all and a giant of Native American literature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vice Chairman of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma Joseph Tsotigh said, The Cauigu and the world have lost one of the most eloquent voices of our generation! Its with deep sadness that I acknowledge the passing of a magnificent, talented and irrepressible author, poet, and raconteur Dr. N. Scott Momaday. The world will never know another like him. Hegau em auibon:[dau. READ MORE Joaqlin Estus, ICT John Red Eagle Osage Nation Principal Chief John Red Eagle uses eagle feathers in a ceremonial blessing at the Osage Casino in Sand Springs in June 2012. Red Eagle died Jan. 12, 2024, at 75 years old. (Tulsa World) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TULSA, Okla. The Osage Nation flags are at half-staff this week as the tribe mourns the loss of former Chief John Red Eagle. Red Eagle passed away Jan. 12 with his family at his side. His funeral and commemoration were held Tuesday morning at the Wakon Iron Chapel in Pawhuska. The Osage Nation posted on Facebook: We honor the life and legacy of former Chief John D. Red Eagle. May Chief Red Eagles teachings and good ways continue to guide us all. Rest in peace, Chief Red Eagle. READ MORE Felix Clary, ICT + Tulsa World February Ted Strong Ted Strong (Courtesy photo) A pillar of many Indigenous communities across the Pacific Northwest, Yakama elder Ted Strong passed away on Jan. 30, 2024. He was 76 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That same day, hundreds of Native community members gathered in Portland for the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Winter Convention. When word arrived that Strong had passed on, they took a moment of silence followed by an honor song from representatives of the Yakama Nation. A leader, husband, father, grandfather and more, Strong was well-known and loved throughout his community. READ MORE Nika Bartoo-Smith, Underscore News + ICT March Veronica Homer Veronica Homer (Courtesy photo) The first woman president of the National Congress of American Indians, and a former vice-chair of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, has died. Veronica Homer, Mohave, was also a co-founding board member of Women Empowering Women for Indian Nations, a former Miss Indian Arizona, and held national and regional positions for the U.S. Department of Interior. She died on March 5 at age 80. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NCAI President Mark Macarro, of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, in a prepared statement, highlighted her role as both a trailblazer and a relentless advocate for the unity and strength of all Tribal Nations. READ MORE Joaqlin Estus, ICT Nellie Moore Nellie Moore speaking at an ANCSA at 40 panel discussion at University of Alaska Anchorage. Natural resources writer Tim Bradner is seated to her right. Former Anchorage Mayor Jack Roderick is seated next to Bradner. April 8, 2011 (Photo by Rob Stapleton/Alaskafoto) Nellie Moore was one of the first Indigenous reporters in Alaska, who could sew an atikluk, an Inupiaq overshirt, as well as stitch news and information into stories that made a difference. From radio to the Internet, the fabric of Moores life spanned a huge revolution in technology. She died recently at the age of 69 from complications due to a long illness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moore leaves behind a huge body of work that blends the best of Inupiaq culture and modern Western journalism. READ MORE Rhonda McBride, KNBA April Beverly Bev Stabber Warne Bev Warne was honored for her contributions to nursing during the SDSU powwow in 2023. (Photo Courtesy of Jim Warne)Bev Warne was honored for her contributions to nursing during the SDSU powwow in 2023. (Photo Courtesy of Jim Warne) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RAPID CITY, S.D. Beverly Bev Stabber Warne often reflected on memories of her grandfather drumming and singing at the crack of dawn and at sunset. She was born in a traditional way, beside a creek surrounded by her Lakota culture, and despite living in Thailand, Mexico and Arizona, Warne always kept her Lakota ways close to her heart. At 84 years old on Sunday, April 14, Warne died in Rapid City, S.D. She was enveloped in love from friends, family and those shed mentored through her life. The Oglala Lakota woman left behind a long legacy as a nurse, a mentor, a teacher, a mother, a knowledge keeper, and a powerful activist in the Indigenous Rapid City community. When she was 9, Warnes family left the reservation and moved to Rapid City. Native people werent allowed to own homes or rent in the city, so the family lived in a tent by Rapid Creek in Camp Oshkosh a community of Lakota people living in tents and small clapboard homes. As the eldest, Warne took care of her siblings. READ MORE Amelia Schafer, ICT + Rapid City Journal Jeffrey Veregge A Studio shot - Over the past two years, Jeffrey Veregge has created 50 covers for three major comic book companies: Marvel, Valiant and IDW Comics. Beloved comic artist Jeffrey Veregge, from the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, passed on last Friday at the age of 50. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His wife, Christina Veregge shared on Facebook that he passed that morning unexpectedly from a heart attack, while in the hospital battling lupus. Well known for his work with Marvel, crafting breathtaking comic art with a Native twist, Veregge called himself the #NDNGeek. For 1025 days, he fought lupus like the superhero we knew him to be, she wrote. The strength, faith, determination and courage he showed while being in the hospital for a total of 925 days was an inspiration to us all. He fought so hard for his family and his 3 children, who were his absolute pride and joy. He will be missed more than words can express. This world was a better place because of him. READ MORE Nika Bartoo-Smith, Underscore News + ICT May Cole Brings Plenty Authorities in Johnson County, Kansas, found the body of Cole Brings Plenty on Friday, April 5, 2024. The Lakota actor disappeared following an alleged domestic violence incident in Lawrence, Kansas, on Sunday, March 31, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Cole Brings Plenty Facebook page) RAPID CITY, S.D. When actress Lily Gladstone made their debut at the Met Gala on May 6, she chose to use her spotlight to honor Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, specifically fellow actor Cole Brings Plenty. Its Missing and Murdered Indigenous People's week and Im wearing braids in my hair for Cole Brings Plenty who passed away recently. He should have graduated from Haskell last week. Braids for Cole, Gladstone said in a red carpet-interview. When Gladstone graced the red carpet, the Siksikaitsitapii and Nimiipuu actress donned two long black braids in honor of Brings Plenty, whose hair was reportedly cut before he was found dead on April 5. READ MORE Amelia Schafer, ICT + Rapid City Journal Leona Carlyle-Kakar Ak-Chin's 'greatest leader' Leona Carlyle-Kakar in 2020. (Photo by Kalle Benallie) Leona Carlyle-Kakar is considered one of Ak-Chin Indian Communitys greatest leaders and the chairman of the southern Arizona community will forever know her as Leona Legend. Carlyle-Kakar was the first woman to serve as chair of Ak-Chin. She was known as a fierce leader in Arizona tribal water rights and agriculture. She served her community for decades. Carlyle-Kakar died April 14 at the age of 88. READ MORE Kalle Benallie, ICT June Edward Velarde Jicarilla Apache Nation President Edward Velarde on March 30, 2023 at the 2023 New Mexico Legislative Session. (Photo courtesy of Jicarilla Apache Nation PR Facebook) Edward Velarde passionately and tirelessly served the Jicarilla Apache Nation in northern New Mexico for decades. He served as a council member, vice president and president, the latter being a role he fulfilled from 2019 until his death. Velarde died at age 76 on May 12. Vice President Sonja Newton has resumed his duties as president. Velarde served in the U.S. Air Force as an engine mechanic and was a Vietnam War veteran. Afterward, he returned home to Dulce, N.M., and worked as a housing director and maintenance director. READ MORE Kalle Benallie, ICT Ernie Stevens Sr. Ernie Stevens Sr., Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. (Photo by the American Indian Press Association via Mark Trahant, ICT) In August 1969, Interior Secretary Walter Hickel appointed Louis Bruce to serve as the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Bruce, St. Regis Mohawk and Oglala, had served in government before and had operated a 600-acre dairy farm in upstate New York. This was a new era in the federal government and Bruce was bringing in a new team to rethink the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Bruce described the BIA as a vortex of a surge toward true and lasting self-determination for tribal nations. Although the commissioner preferred the name of New Team' to describe his closest staff, they themselves took on the name used by their detractors, wrote Charles Trimble in ICT a few years ago. The Katzenjammer Kids, most of whom deserve their own unsung heroes' praise, were an eclectic team of activists not well known in Indian Country. These included Ernie Stevens Sr., Oneida, as director of community services; Alexander 'Sandy MacNabb, Micmac, as director of operating services; and Leon Cook, Red Lake Chippewa, as deputy director for economic development. READ MORE Mark Trahant, ICT August Brook Kristovich Brook Kristoviche (Courtesy Laguna Housing Development and Management Enterprise). A leader in the national and regional tribal housing arena has passed away. Brook B. Kristovich died on July 13, 2024, at the age of 61. He was Nishga and Ingiluk Athabascan and was an enrolled member of the Native Village of Napaimute in Alaska. Kristovich took on leadership roles in the National American Indian Housing Council as well as regional housing authorities in the Pacific Northwest and Southwest. On his LinkedIn page, he said he had experience running programs on low rent, homeownership, low income housing tax credit units, and other financing. Kristovich said he was experienced in turning around troubled organizations and worked directly with tribal councils and housing boards of directors. READ MORE Joaqlin Estus, ICT September Cathy Merrick Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Cathy Merrick, Pimicikamak Cree Nation, died suddenly on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, after collapsing while speaking to reporters outside the courthouse in Winnipeg. (Photos courtesy of Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs) WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Canada In a moment that shocked and saddened First Nations and allies across Canada, Grand Chief Cathy Merrick died abruptly Friday, Sept. 6, after collapsing outside a Winnipeg courthouse during a press conference. Merrick who became the first woman elected as grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs in 2022 was a history-maker who worked tirelessly and fearlessly to defend the rights of her people and those most vulnerable. She had been speaking to reporters about the acquittal of a corrections officer in the death of a First Nations inmate and another case when she collapsed. READ MORE Miles Morrisseau, ICT December Frank Paro American Indian Community Development Corporation and American Indian Movement President Frank Paro (left) wears safety west at Pow Wow Grounds in Minneapolis. (Kerem Yucel for MPR News, 2020) For the past several days, members of Frank Paros family, his friends and members of the community gathered at Pow Wow Grounds a coffee shop and community gathering place to mourn and to remember him. Community members lit a fire in honor of Paro outside the coffee shop and shared their stories of him, a tradition in many Ojibwe families and communities. Robert Lilligren heads the Native American Community Development Institute, a nonprofit in south Minneapolis. Paro was a regular visitor to Pow Wow Grounds, which shares a building with the nonprofit. READ MORE Melissa Olson, MPR News Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute $5 or $10 contribution today to help Indian Country Today carry out its critical mission. By Yuddy Cahya Budiman, Artorn Pookasook and Uditha Jayasinghe (Reuters) - Survivors and families of victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami 20 years ago visited mass graves, lit candles and comforted one another across Southeast and South Asia in ceremonies on Thursday to mark the disaster that killed some 230,000 people. The tsunami on Dec. 26, 2004 was triggered by a 9.1 magnitude quake off the coast of Indonesia's Aceh province, sending waves as high as 17.4 meters (57 feet) slamming into coastlines of Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and nine other countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Indonesia, which accounted for more than half the total death toll, hundreds of survivors and family members of the victims visited a mass grave in the Ulee Lheue village, scattering flower petals on the stones that mark the graves. Many were crying and hugging their family members. Some people weren't sure if their loved ones were there, as many were buried unidentified, they said. Nurkhalis, 52, said he lost his wife, his children, parents and in-laws to the tsunami, and none of their bodies were found. "Even though time has passed so far, but the same feeling haunts us on this date, especially those of us who lost our family at that time," he said at the mass grave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A memorial was also held in the front yard of Aceh's Grand Baiturrahman Mosque, where hundreds sat in silence for three minutes before praying together. 'THE SEA TOOK MY DAUGHTER' Sri Lanka marked the day with two minutes of silence at the Peraliya Tsunami Memorial Statue in the town of Galle, the country's disaster management centre said in a short statement. In India's Tamil Nadu, the worst-hit Indian state , residents lit candles and conducted prayers for those killed two decades ago. Thailand marked the anniversary near Ban Nam Khem village in southern Phang Nga province by holding religious rites for those who died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of people visited the Tsunami Wall, a memorial site next to where the rituals were held, to pay their respects to lost loved ones. "I felt that the waves took my daughter away, I was so mad at it," said 62-year-old resident Urai Sirisuk, who lost her 4-year-old daughter. Urai said she would not go near the sea, just about 50 metres (yards) away. "I cannot bring myself near it, not even my feet in the sand. I wouldn't come around here if not necessary, never. The sea took my daughter from me," she added. Phang Nga province was one of Thailand's hardest-hit provinces, with the disaster claiming 5,400 lives there, including many foreign tourists. (Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Three people have been arrested after an Ontario County Sheriffs Office investigation into a series of lawnmower thefts. Deputies said most of the incidents happened in July and included property stolen from various locations in Ontario, Seneca and Wayne Counties. The thefts were from homes and businesses, including Walmart. Alyssa Rondon, 33, of Geneva, Brandon Rhodes, 31, of Farmington and David Fallon, 42, currently in jail for unrelated charges, are facing multiple charges including Enterprise Corruption for their participation together in three or more felony offenses as part of an ongoing course of criminal conduct, the OCSO reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said more are involved and additional arrests are expected. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SAN DIEGO (Border Report) For decades, tourists were able to have their pictures taken with so called Zonkeys along Tijuanas Avenida Revolucion an attraction animal rights activists called cruel as the animals were forced to stand for long hours without much food or water. Zonkeys are a cross between a zebra and a burro, although these animals were striped with black and white paint, something critics contend also damages the fur and skin. This year, however, the city decided to end the tradition and forced the animals into retirement, replacing them with wooden replicas back in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the city of Tijuana, the zonkeys have been moved to a ranch near Ensenada where they will be taken care of and will not be used as props for pictures anymore. In June 2023, the city confiscated the animals accusing the owners of mistreating the zonkeys. One of five painted and malnourished donkeys rescued from property in Tijuana in June 2023. (Courtesy: Baja California State Attorney Generals Office) With pressure from the city, and as a way to avoid animal cruelty charges and fines, the previous owners decided to donate the animals in exchange for visitation rights. The rescue facility has 11 acres of open space and is operated by a family that rehabilitates horses and burros. Now they are roaming free in their natural habitat, said Alejandro Sandoval, owner of the ranch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Sandoval, the previous owners are being encouraged to visit regularly to help the animals adapt quicker. Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border If you leave a burro who has been with you for many years and you abandon it, the burro could die of sadness. They develop a real attachment to their owners just like other pets, such as a dog. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In April, Congress passed a foreign aid package containing a law requiring TikToks parent company to divest the popular social media app by January 19, 2025, or be banned in the United States. While the law explicitly named TikTok, the legislation also applied to apps controlled by foreign adversaries, including Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, potentially allowing a president to expand the laws reach. TikTok, which is owned by China-based ByteDance, and a group of TikTok content creators challenged the law on various constitutional grounds, each of which focused on its potential free speech implications. As with the law itself, the decisions in this combined case will certainly influence how courts determine the legality of government restraints on speech when balanced against issues such as national security. The legislation specified that challenges to the law skip lower courts and be directly heard in the Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, which upheld the law earlier this month. This meant that, unusually, the D.C. Circuit was not reviewing a lower courts decision but instead considering the challenge to the underlying law. The D.C. Circuit largely deferred to the governments assertions that banning the app was a matter of national security, and these national security concerns required such extreme steps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both the D.C. Circuit and the Supreme Court denied a request for an injunction that would have kept the law from going into effect pending the cases further appeal. However, the high court agreed to hear arguments on January 10 on whether the law would violate the First Amendment rights of its users and of its owner. This means the case will be heard by the Supreme Court a mere nine days before the deadline for divestment. If the law is allowed to stand, it would force the sale of TikTok by January 19 or the app would be banned in the U.S. Users of the video-sharing app may be concerned about whether they will lose their preferred platform on which they have built a community, or in the case of the legions of TikTok influencers, a business. This occurs as a new Congress and a new presidential administration are about to take office. So, what happens now? Supporters of the law often point out it will ban the app only if TikTok fails to divest from itsChinese-tied parent company ByteDance. However, divestiture is not as simple as advocates make it sound. First, there is the question of what sort of product the parent company is divesting. Is it the algorithm? The branding? The underlying data? Depending on what the Supreme Court does, the Biden administration could provide a 90-day extension available in the law that would allow more time for any potential divestment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of the outcome for TikTok, the power the law gives to the executive branch to potentially intervene in the app market will have substantial societal and constitutional implications even after the last TikTok dance has gone viral. In addition to the deadline for divestiture, the law gives the U.S. government significant discretion and potential influence over any proposed sale, as it must approve that the transaction alleviates the underlying concerns about foreign influence. Because of the value and size of the transaction, the divestment could also face further scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission or Justice Department, as has been true of recent tech acquisitions under both the Biden and prior Trump administrations. Could the new administration change course? After all, President-elect Trump recently promised to save TikTok but the laws language, which explicitly names the company, limits his options. The president could choose not to use the law on other potential entities, but he couldnt exempt TikTok itself. A new administration could approve qualified divestments or also informally extend the timeline by declining to enforce the penalties under the ban if a sale did not occur by January 19 or an extended deadline. However, such a non-enforcement wouldnt address the underlying issues or provide the needed certainty to TikTok, its users, or the app stores and other distributors that could be potentially penalized. Ultimately, however, if the courts uphold the law as constitutional, Congress would have to formally overturn the underlying law to truly stop the ban if a divestment fails. Assuming divestment is impossible, what would a ban look like? The underlying law prohibits the distribution, maintenance, or updating of the app. This means that app storessuch as those operated by Apple and Google in the U.S.and internet providers would have to remove the app from distribution or block access to its download and routine updates. This sets up a concerning potential for further government intervention in what apps American marketplaces can and cannot allow, as well as additional regulation of both the app store and social media market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Users who already have the app would still be able to use it in the beginning. However, they would no longer be able to receive updates, so gradually the apps functionality would diminishbugs could not be fixed or critical security updates made. Additionally, these restrictions would diminish the potential audience of new users and make it difficult if not impossible to post or share videos for existing users. Users in countries where popular apps are geo-blocked have used virtual private networks (VPNs) to try to circumvent the ban, and its possible that some TikTok users will do the same. A VPN, which provides an encrypted internet connection and hides a users IP address, would likely allow users to circumvent the ban and access the app and its updates by claiming to be in another location where the app is not banned. In the U.S., when Utah passed age restrictions on access to adult content websites, searches for VPNs spiked among its residents. In the immediate short-term, TikToks American users can continue to use the app; however, the access could come with a deadline in the subsequent months. Regardless of the outcome for TikTok, the power the law gives to the executive branch to potentially intervene in the app market will have substantial societal and constitutional implications even after the last TikTok dance has gone viral. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. A shocking series of murders stunned the rural California mountain town of Placerville in the 1980s. Authorities were under intense pressure to solve the cases, and for a while it seemed they did. But Times reporters Anita Chabria and Jessica Garrison spent more than a year reexamining the crimes and found troubling questions about both justice and the justice system. Part 1: A false confession In Eldorado National Forest where the remains of two Jane Does were found (Max Whittaker/For The Times) Nearly two decades after a woman falsely confessed to a shocking murder, her sons finally see her exonerated from a wrongful conviction that derailed their lives. Read more: Pressured by cops, a mom made a false murder confession. Now, her sons can prove she's innocent Part 2: Shocking murders, lingering doubts Where one victim's remains were found in 1984, near Pollock Pines, California (Max Whittaker/For The Times) Forty years ago, Michael Anthony Cox was convicted of the murders of three girls in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Years later, the two main witnesses at his trial, also teenagers, recanted, saying police had pressured them into false stories. So why is Cox still on death row? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Three dead girls and a man on death row. Did lies put him there? Part 3: A war over cops who lie Eldorado National Forest (Max Whittaker/For The Times) California law enforcement is in the midst of a culture war, as experts inside and outside the system question a commonly used police interrogation method that they say can lead to false confessions and wrongful convictions. Read more: Cops lie to suspects during interrogations. Should detectives stick to the truth? 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. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A 35-year-old man from Drummonds, Tennessee has been charged with possessing and distributing child pornography. Tipton County Sheriff Shannon Beasley said his office executed a search warrant Monday after receiving a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force about child sexual material being shared through social media app Kik. John Curtis Palmer was identified by detectives as the person who uploaded the material. John Curtis Palmer Palmer allegedly admitted his actions, cooperated with investigators and turned over media storage devices. More electronic devices were taken from the house and will be examined for child sex material. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palmer was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. He is being held in the Tipton County Jail on $150,000 bond. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Dec. 26Closure of "one of the most beautiful churches in Niagara County" will begin in mid-2025 after the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo ordered the merger of All Saints and St. John the Baptist parishes and the shuttering and sale of St. Patrick's church as part of its Road to Renewal plan in late summer. St. Brendan on the Lake's Wilson worship site and Holy Trinity's Middleport worship site are to be closed as well. The diocese announced in late May its aim to close or merge about one-third of 160 parishes in Western New York, in response to trends including decreasing member attendance, decreasing availability of priests and ongoing financial pressure. The diocese previously filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as part of a financial restructuring in the wake of hundreds of lawsuits filed under New York State's Child Victims Act. In eastern Niagara County, the Road to Renewal plan calls for: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merging All Saints with St. John's and selling All Saints assets including St. Patrick's church, 76 Church St., and the St. Joseph campus on Market Street. Also, St. John's will sell its school building on Chestnut Street, relocate the Sister Helen Food Pantry, and remodel an apartment building for a priest's residence. The diocese's release of its proposed mergers and closures list in June prompted a counterproposal from "Family 10" of which All Saints and St. John's are members. While All Saints leadership agreed to a merger with St. John's for the purpose of sharing a priest and other resources, they proposed keeping St. Patrick's church open. Regarding St. John's, the final merger decree has it giving up some real estate as well. The original proposal called for proceeds of the sale of All Saints assets to go toward rehabilitation of the St. John's education building, which All Saints trustee Paul Reid suggested was a waste considering that building's decrepit condition. Closing of St. Brendan on the Lake parish's Wilson site, Our Lady of the Rosary church. The parish holdings also include St. Charles Borromeo church in Olcott, where Sunday Mass is offered during in the spring and summer months , and St. Bridget church in Newfane. St. Brendan's also is a member of Buffalo diocese Family 10, whose Road to Renewal counterproposal did not seek to save Our Lady of the Rosary from shutdown. Some who worship at OLR were frustrated by the targeting of their church, whose attendance numbers fell after the diocese's 2007 round of mergers and closures led to a reduced number of masses in Wilson and, by extension, reduced attendance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently the Wilson Community Food Pantry is operated from OLR and director Janet Hoffman said she hopes to find a new base of operations before the June 1, 2025 expiration of the pantry's lease with the church. Closing of Holy Trinity parish's Middleport worship site, St. Stephen's church, and redirection of congregants to sister church St. Mary's in Medina. St. Stephen's hosted the Middleport Food Pantry for several years and after the diocese announcement the pantry was relocated to The Hub, the Hartland Bible Church owned- and operated youth center. Reassignment of Our Lady of the Lake parish, based at St. Patrick's church in Barker, to Family 10 with the Lockport and Newfane churches, from Orleans County-centered Family 11; and reassignment of Immaculate Conception, in Ransomville, from Family 10 to Family 34 covering Lower Niagara River communities. It's expected that the three churches in Family 34 will share one priest by the year 2030. Dec. 26It all seemed to start with a "call to action" to secure local landmark status for the former Native American Center for the Living Arts, more commonly known as "The Turtle" building, in downtown Niagara Falls. In late December, Preservation Buffalo Niagara, a Buffalo-based non-profit organization that works to protect and preserve culturally and historically significant structures in Western New York, circulated an online letter of support encouraging city officials to approve a landmark designation for the building which has been empty since 1985. The letter describes the Turtle building as "unique and iconic" and as an "important part of the history and culture of Niagara Falls." It also argues that the building, which has been owned for decades by the private firm Niagara Falls Redevelopment, "deserves to be preserved and protected." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By mid-January, Niagara Falls Historic Preservation Commission members said they had received more than 500 letters, and more than 1,100 signatures on a petition offering support for designating the Turtle building as a local landmark. Niagara Falls Redevelopment, the company that has owned the Rainbow Boulevard since 1997, was not among those in support which released legal concerns with the landmarking effort and process. Chief among them: An argument that the 45-year-old Turtle building is not old enough to warrant a local landmark designation and, therefore, should be held to a higher designation standard, one requiring the structure to be formally defined as being "exceptionally important." "Of the 37 properties in Niagara Falls listed on the National Register of Historic Places, not a single property is less than 50 years old," wrote Ryan Altieri, an attorney with the Buffalo-based law firm Harter, Secrest & Emery, who filed objections to the landmark designation on NFR's behalf. "Almost all, in fact, are more than 100 years old. Accordingly, the commission's proposed designation of the 45-year-old Turtle constitutes a significant departure from its historic practices." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A majority of Niagara Falls City Council members also weren't enthusiastic about the plan, rejected calls to designate designation the Turtle as a "historic structure." Only Council Member Brian Archie (D), who sponsored the resolution to confirm the unanimous recommendation of the Falls Historic Preservation Commission to designate the Turtle as a city landmark, voted yes. Council Chair James Perry (D), Members Traci Bax (R), and David Zajac (R), all voted no. Council Member Donta Myles (D) abstained on the proposal. Despite the local dissent, representatives from Preservation Buffalo Niagara said in August they had received a Determination of Eligibility for placement of the Turtle building on the National Register of Historic Places from the commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Having the building added to the National Register would represent an important step forward for the group as it works to preserve the building that it has argued represents a historically and culturally significant structure in the Falls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Despite this achievement, the fight to preserve the Turtle is far from over," PBN said in a press release issued by preservation and planner and Niagara Falls liaison Emily Jarnot. PBN said Friday, that in its determination, state parks addressed the age issue raised by NFR. "While planning for the project started in 1976 and it has not yet reached the 50-year mark, the building appears to be exceptionally significant for the relative rarity of its iconic zoomorphic form," the state parks designation reads. "The turtle holds great spiritual significance to the indigenous community, and its sitting, with its head raised to look over Niagara Falls, further connected it to this sacred location. A rally in support of efforts to preserve the building was held on Sept. 13 at Cataract House Park, which is located across from the Turtle building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 40 people, including a pair of unique visitors from the United Kingdom and a group of Buddhist monks dedicated to the cause of peace, participated in a ceremony celebrating the state's recent decision to deem the former Native American Center for the Living Arts on Rainbow Boulevard eligible for placement on the National Register of Historic Places. Supporters said the Determination of Eligibility granted by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation means developers interested in resurrecting the building would be eligible for historic tax credits to offset the cost. They also say the designation offers an added layer of protection from the building being razed as doing so in light of the DOE would prevent the property's owners, the private firm Niagara Falls Redevelopment, from obtaining state funds for other projects on the land. "It really means a lot for us to win this status," said Bernice Radle, the executive director of Preservation Buffalo Niagara, the non-profit group that submitted the eligibility application to state parks. "It's a really big deal." A disastrous presidential debate performance at CNNs studios in Atlanta, a historically deadly hurricane, a school shooting where a parent was charged and an accusation that brought Georgias election interference case to a halt these were just some of the big moments from 2024. Getty Images All aboard ye ol time machine as we take stock of the years biggest stories in Georgia politics. The first stop on our journey is January of 2024, which was exactly one million years ago. Or so it seems to your narrator. Election interference case is derailed Fulton County special prosecutor Nathan Wade testified at Feb. 15 court hearing that his romantic relationship with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis did not improperly influence the decision to prosecute former President Donald Trump and co-defendants for election interference. Alyssa Pointer-Pool/Getty Images In January, an attorney for one of the lesser-known co-defendants in the Fulton County election interference probe filed a motion that would upend District Attorney Fani Willis plans to take the case to trial in 2024 or ever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The filing accused Willis of having a romantic relationship with the special prosecutor, Nathan Wade, in the probe and argued that the arrangement represented a conflict of interest, pointing to vacations the two took together. Willis admitted to the relationship but says it started after Wade was hired. A Fulton County judge ruled in March that Willis could stay on the case if Wade resigned, which he promptly did. But a Georgia Court of Appeals panel issued a 2-1 ruling this month saying that wasnt adequate and disqualified Willis and her office from the case. Willis is appealing the decision to the Georgia Supreme Court. As the year winds down, the case is left limping along and risks losing its top target, President-elect Donald Trump, if his attorneys succeed in arguing that the incoming president cannot be prosecuted once he is sworn in next month. Epic debate failure President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight following his debate with Donald Trump on Thursday, June 27, 2024. He told reporters I think we did well when asked about his debate performance. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder Atlanta was the setting of the now infamous CNN debate that put President Joe Bidens frailty on full, unfiltered display for the American public in late June. The debate exposed the presidents vulnerabilities, though he and his supporters dismissed it as a bad night, and led to intense scrutiny of Bidens fitness and raised new questions about his ability to lead the country for another four years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than three weeks would pass before Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to run in his place, setting her up to run an abbreviated campaign that bypassed the usual primary process. The unusual move created an unprecedented vacancy at the top of the ticket just one month before Biden was scheduled to officially accept his partys nomination. Side note: Biden ended his visit that day in a very Atlanta way with a late-night stop at a Waffle House, where he told reporters he thought he did well at the debate. Battleground status endures One of seven swing states, Georgia was a top target for both presidential candidates this year. Harris and Trumps tit-for-tat campaign events often falling within a week, if not days, of each other gave voters plenty of opportunities to see the candidates in person this fall (and ran the states politics reporters ragged). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But unlike four years ago, when Biden narrowly won Georgia by about 12,000 votes and became the first Democratic presidential candidate in three decades to clinch the state, Trump found electoral redemption here with a healthy 115,000-vote edge over Harris in Novembers election. Also unlike four years ago, Trump accepted the outcome of Georgias election this time. School shooting leads to arrest of father Colin Gray, 54, the father of Apalachee High School shooting suspect Colt Gray, 14, enters the Barrow County courthouse for his first appearance, on September 6, 2024, in Winder, Georgia. Brynn Anderson-Pool/Getty Images A 14-year-old student shot four people at Apalachee High School in Barrow County in September, killing two students and two teachers. Nine other people were injured. The shooter was arrested and charged with murder. But in a rare move, his father, 54-year-old Colin Gray was also charged with involuntary manslaughter, second degree murder and cruelty to children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The father purchased the AR-style firearm used in the shooting last December as a Christmas gift for his son, according to law enforcement officials. In 2023, the police had talked to the son about online posts threatening to target a school in another county. It was only the second time nationally that a parent of a school shooting suspect has been charged. The shooting has also increased calls for gun safety measures. A historically deadly storm In late September, Hurricane Helene crossed over the Florida state line into Georgia still at hurricane strength and then barreled up the eastern side of the state, devastating communities along the way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Helene will be remembered for the string of tragedies left in the storms wake. Thirty-four people were killed in Georgia alone, making it the deadliest storm to hit the state in more than a century. The storm also caused at least $5.5 billion in agricultural and timber losses, putting Georgia leaders from both parties at the center of a late-year fight over disaster relief in Washington. College students murder becomes flashpoint in national immigration debate The impact of Laken Rileys murder while jogging on the University of Georgias campus in February was immediate and widespread, fueling a national debate over immigration when it was revealed that her then-accused killer had entered the country illegally. Jason Riley, father of Laken, spoke to Georgia state senators March 20 about his daughters killing as she went for a run at the University of Georgia. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 22-year-old Augusta University students name was evoked under the Gold Dome when state lawmakers pushed forward measures meant to force local enforcement to assist federal immigration officials, and her murder was often cited by President-elect Donald Trump on the campaign trail. Jose Antonio Ibarra was convicted in November on three counts of felony murder and counts of malice murder, kidnapping with bodily injury and aggravated assault with intent to rape, and he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His attorneys have since asked for a new trial. New reporting shows two Georgia women died trying to have an abortion in 2022 At least two Georgia women, Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, died after the states six-week abortion ban took effect in 2022 while trying to end their pregnancy, according to ProPublica. The states maternal mortality review committee concluded that both deaths were preventable. Kianta Key placed a hair bead on a makeshift altar set up as a tribute to Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller on Saturday near the state Capitol. Key said the hair bead represents the beauty of who they were. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder Millers death in particular became part of the national debate over the impact of the wave of abortion restrictions that took effect after the U.S. Supreme Court ended the federal right to an abortion more than two years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 28-year-old mother attempted to terminate her pregnancy using abortion medication from a clinic in North Carolina. But when she experienced a rare complication and went to an Atlanta-area hospital for treatment, the doctors waited 20 hours to perform a dilation and curettage, or D&C, to treat sepsis that resulted from an incomplete abortion. In Georgia, the revelations reignited debate over an exception in the law that purports to protect mothers when their own health is imperiled. There is expected to be a new push to repeal Georgias 2019 law, which is currently before the Georgia Supreme Court again. In November, Georgia officials dismissed all members of the maternal mortality review committee in response to ProPublica obtaining internal reports detailing the deaths of the two women. Trump-aligned trio on state election board goes rogue Three members of the State Election Board attempted to push through new election rules that critics argued were attempts to create chaos in the immediate aftermath of the November election in Georgia. Protesters lodged accusations of open meetings violations at three conservative State Election Board members on July 12. Board member Rick Jeffares, right, responds by threatening to remove people for being disruptive while Janelle King (left) looks on. Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder Rules like requiring a hand count of all ballots on election night thrust the otherwise little-known panel into the national news. Their work also earned them a shoutout from Trump on the campaign trail, where he called them pit bulls fighting for honesty, transparency and victory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their actions drew pushback from the boards GOP governor-appointed chairman, John Fervier, and Republican Attorney General Chris Carr, who warned the members that they were exceeding their authority. The board is designed to interpret and implement the policy decisions made by the Legislature. After the election, the board voted instead to ask state lawmakers to take up legislation next year that would address their concerns, rather than pursue their own rulemaking. Medicaid expansion gets a look For the first time, high-ranking Georgia Republicans went into a new legislative session saying they were open to considering expanding the public insurance program for the poor, or at least a version of it. Sen. Bill Cowsert (center) cast the decisive vote Thursday to keep a Medicaid expansion proposal from advancing out of his committee. Cordele Republican Sen. Carden Summers (left) was one of two Republican senators who voted for the bill. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder Georgias GOP leaders had long shunned expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, so it was big news this year when an expansion proposal received a surprise hearing in a Senate committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Gov. Brian Kemps limited expansion program, Georgia Pathways to Coverage, cast a long shadow over those discussions, and the governors continued opposition to full expansion has been credited with blocking this years talks from progressing. At the time, Republican lawmakers said the governors program deserved more time to be successful. As of November, 5,562 people enrolled in the program, according to a tracker from the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. Georgia is one of 10 states that have not fully expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. School voucher bill passes Following years of failed attempts, GOP lawmakers mustered enough votes this year to expand the states school voucher program, thanks partly to the governors announcement that getting it passed this year would be a priority for him. Sen. Greg Dolezal applauds the passage of his school voucher bill. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder The measure allows families with students enrolled in Georgias k-12 public schools to remove $6,500 of state funding provided to local school districts in order to attend private schools or to homeschool. Critics of the vouchers argued the measure will siphon away funding from public schools and questioned whether the $6,500 would even be enough for cash-strapped families to afford the cost of tuition at many of the states better private schools. But an expansive interpretation of the law by the new agency running the program has led to far more students being made eligible for the voucher than originally expected, the Associated Press reported in December. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro greets the crowd before the start of a campaign rally with Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz at Temple University on August 6, 2024 in Philadelphia (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Gov. Josh Shapiro is ending his second year as Pennsylvanias chief executive with a solid approval rating and a new national profile that has him at the top of many prognosticators lists of Democratic presidential contenders in 2028. This year, Shapiro became one of the key surrogates for the Democratic Party in Pennsylvania and briefly was a potential vice presidential candidate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fewer bills were passed in Harrisburg in the current session than any in the past decade, and much of Shapiros agenda remains aspirational due in part to the divided legislature. And even though he wasnt ultimately chosen as Vice President Kamala Harris running mate, Shapiro remained popular throughout the year. In no particular order, here are the top five stories from Gov. Josh Shapiros administration in 2024, compiled by the Capital-Star team: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro campaigns for Vice President Kamala Harris at a rally in Cumberland County July 27, 2024 (Shapiro campaign photo) After President Joe Biden ended his bid for reelection in July, the Democratic Party quickly coalesced around Vice President Kamala Harris as its candidate for president. However, one question remained: who would be her running mate? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few candidates emerged as a potential fit for the ticket, including Shapiro. Before Harris announcement, Shapiro didnt say whether he was interested in being on the ticket, calling it a personal decision for Harris. But it sure seemed like he was auditioning for the role. During the short lived veepstakes, some Pennsylvania Democrats actively campaigned on Shapiros behalf, including a video leaked from Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker ahead of the announcement that seemed to suggest that he would be the pick. But not everyone supported Shapiro potentially joining the ticket, with some criticizing his position on school vouchers and his offices handling of a sexual harassment case by a former top aide. After Harris announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, Shapiro thanked her for the consideration and lauded her pick, assuring Democrats he would campaign on behalf of the ticket. He even opened up for Harris and Walz during their first rally together at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. He told the audience he loves being governor of Pennsylvania. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer applauds as Pennsylvania Gov.Josh Shapiro speaks during a campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris on July 29, 2024 in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hannah Beier/Getty Images) The morning after Bidens disastrous June debate, Shapiro went to bat for the president during separate appearances on MSNBC and CNN and didnt join calls from some members of his own party for Biden to bow out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shapiro was frequently on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania and beyond stumping for Democrats up and down the ballot. He was one of the prominent surrogates active in the spin room following the presidential debate in Philadelphia between Harris and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and spoke at the final rally on the night before the election in the City of Brotherly Love. Shapiro made visits to several key swing states including Georgia and Wisconsin, while also campaigning for candidates across the commonwealth for races ranging from U.S. House to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. While Trump carried the Keystone States 19 electoral votes and the White House, the jockeying has already begun for the 2028 presidential race and Shapiros name is often mentioned as one of the Democratic contenders. Shapiro was one of the most active members of the Democratic Party at its national convention in Chicago. He was present at various state delegations breakfasts and made the rounds with media outlets across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also delivered a primetime speech at the convention, centering his message around Democrats being the party of real freedom. Gov. Josh Shapiro is seen on the jumbotron at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Aug. 20, 2024, as he cast Pennsylvanias votes for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. (Capital-Star photo) The kind of real freedom that comes when that child has a great public school with an awesome teacher because we believe in her future. Real freedom that comes when we invest in the police and in the community so that child can walk to and from school safely and get home to her mama. Real freedom that comes when she can join a union, marry who she loves, start a family on her own terms, breathe clean air and drink pure water, worship how she wants, and live a life of purpose where shes respected for who she is. Real freedom that comes when she looks at Madam President and know that this is a nation where anything and everything is possible. While SEPTA was sounding the alarm the whole year about its fiscal challenges, the Pennsylvania General Assembly couldnt come to an agreement to provide the funding the agency was requesting to stave off fare hikes. As a result, SEPTA officials in November announced a proposal that would have increased fares by more than 20% and cut services without the state intervening. Shapiro insisted he would not let SEPTA fail and answered the calls of transit advocates to direct $153 million in federal highway funds to stop SEPTAs death spiral and avoid those proposed fare increases and service cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The allotment of money to SEPTA is still not a long term solution for the transit agency. Shapiro and the Pennsylvania General Assembly are on the clock in 2025 to find a solution to mass transit funding. Shapiro has remained an ally of Biden throughout his time in public office, but sharply criticized the president for his decision to commute the sentence of former Luzerne County judge Michael Conahan, who was convicted in the Kids for Cash scandal. Responding to a question at a press conference on a street named after Biden, Shapiro said the president got it absolutely wrong by commuting Conahans sentence, calling the Kids for Cash scandal not only a black eye on the community, but that it affected families in really deep and profound and sad ways. His public rebuke of Biden garnered headlines in Pennsylvania and beyond. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE MANASSAS, VA There was plenty of news Manassas Patch readers were following in 2024, from police and fire stories to business and local government news. Some of the top police and fire stories were the police fatal shooting of a stabbing suspect at an apprenticeship training center, shooting causing a panic at Manassas Mall, a home explosion in western Prince William County and more. Manassas readers were also paying attention to the Manassas Park case of missing mother Mamta Kafle Bhatt and her husband's murder charge and trial. In business news, Manassas welcomed Raising Cane's, Bob & Edith's Diner, Dill Dinkers Pickleball facility, Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Lume Asian Fusion, Voodoo Brothers and more. Readers also said farewell to Out Of The Blue Crabs & Seafood and Uno Pizzeria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other top stories included a cat rescue's fight to help a feral cat colony, the city's purchase of the Manassas Shopping Center and Marsteller property, a late teacher's gift to the school district, city and school board election results, and Virginia Railway Express fare changes. See top stories by category below. Be sure to subscribe to Manassas Patch to get free news alerts and a daily newsletter to stay up to date with Manassas news in 2025. Police and Fire Business Local Government Schools Transportation More Local Top News Of 2024 In Manassas: Home Explosion, Mamta Kafle Bhatt originally appeared on the Manassas Patch President-elect Donald Trump is pledging to slap new tariffs on imports after he's inaugurated next month a vow that's prompting the toy industry to warn about the impact. Even if toys are designed in Europe or the U.S., they are frequently manufactured in China, a nation whose exports Trump last month threatened to target with a new 10% tariff as soon as he takes office. On the campaign trail, he floated the idea of a tariff of up to 60% on all Chinese goods. Nearly 80% of U.S. toys are manufactured in China, according to The Toy Association, an industry group. If Trump carries through with his tariff plan, toy prices would rise "probably instantly," Jennifer Bergman, the owner of New York City's West Side Kids told CBS News. She estimates that about 90% of the toys she sells are made in China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be sure, the toy industry isn't alone in fretting about the impact of Trump's promised tariffs, as higher prices on a broad range of imports would likely be passed onto consumers. After more than four decades serving the neighborhood, Bergman fears that higher prices may threaten her shop's survival and impact her customers. "It would be heartbreaking," she said. "It would be a real loss for the community. It would be a real loss for me. I can't really imagine not being here." If Trump follows through on his tariff plans, American consumers stand to lose as much as $78 billion in spending power annually on products, including apparel, toys, furniture, household appliances, footwear and travel goods, the National Retail Federation stated in findings released last month. The toy industry is also sounding the alarm, with the Toy Association calling the potential tariffs "significantly harmful" and urging its members to contact their Congressional delegates to express their concern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tariffs are essentially a tax on imports, but rather than being paid by the exporting country or company, the levy is paid by the importer and much of that is handed off to consumers in the form of higher prices. "A tariff of 60% on China would be a major shock to international goods markets," experts at the Peterson Institute for International Economics wrote in a Dec. 12 blog post. The toy industry would be one of the U.S. industries facing the worst impacts because China is the dominant supplier to the U.S., they added. "While toys seem like products for which substitute sellers would be readily available, China maintains a dominant position in toy production for several reasons, including its not-easily-reproduced capacity to produce materials that meet US product safety standards," they noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, some economists say Trump could use the threat of tariffs as a bargaining tool, without actually implementing the import duties. And tariffs could also encourage more U.S. manufacturing of toys and other products, although that would likely take time for new factories to ramp up. FDA issues highest-level recall for Costco eggs over salmonella risk Passenger airliner crashes in Kazakhstan Investigation underway after body found in wheel well of United Airlines plane in Maui By the time the United States entered World War II, its Army had adopted three forms of tracked armored fighting vehicles. The light tank was primarily a small, fast, agile reconnaissance specialist, while the standard medium tank was primarily for supporting the infantry, capable of fighting an enemy counterpart if necessary. Under normal circumstances, the job of engaging enemy tanks was handled by the tank destroyer, or TD, which carried a more powerful high-velocity cannon than that of a medium tank within a 360-degree rotating turret that dispensed with an armored roof. In theory, the TD sacrificed armor protection for speed and firepower, wielded by aggressive crews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In practice, however, war does not cooperate, and the Armys tank types often found themselves in circumstances for which their specialties were not appropriate, necessitating their crewmen to make do with what they had. This tank commander fought off 250 enemy troops in the Korean War Staff Sgt. Clyde L. Choate found himself in just such a situation on Oct. 25, 1944. As a tank destroyer commander without a tank destroyer, he had to do some exceptional improvisation under fire. Choate was born in North Frankfort, Illinois, one of 12 children born to coal miner James Isaac Choate and Grace Ellen Brown. While living in Anna and attending Anna-Jonesboro High School, Clyde also worked as a farmer. When war broke out, he enlisted in the Army and was ultimately assigned to Company C of the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion, a unit reorganized from Company D, 5th Field Artillery, the Armys oldest unit, dating to the Revolutionary War. Its primary weapon was the M10, essentially an M4 Sherman chassis with a high velocity 75mm gun in a relatively lightly armored turret and hull. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Choate spent 31 months in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and France, during which he was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. With the 601st TD Battalion attached to the 3rd Infantry Division, he took part in Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of southern France on Aug. 15, 1944, and his career climaxed on Oct. 25, as the 3rd Infantry Division advanced through the Rambervillers Forest to secure the town of Bruyeres. Facing the 3rd Division were elements of the German 16th Division, which launched a counterattack in the area where Choates M10 and the infantry for whom he was the only available armor came under attack by a roughly equal force of German infantry and one Panzerkampfwagen Mark IV. The German equivalent of the M4 Sherman, the Panzer IVs main armament had evolved from a short 75mm gun for infantry support to a true battle tank with a longer 75 capable of knocking out an American M4 or a Soviet T-34. What amounted, then, to a head-on duel was described in Choates citation describing what followed: Our infantry occupied a position on a wooden hill when, at dusk, an enemy Mark IV tank and a company of infantry attacked, threatening to overrun the American position and capture a command post 400 yards to the rear. S/Sgt. Choates tank destroyer, the only weapon available to oppose the German armor, was set afire by 2 hits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ordering his men to abandon the destroyer, S/Sgt. Choate reached comparative safety. He returned to the burning tank destroyer to search for comrades possibly trapped in the vehicle risking instant death in an explosion which was imminent and braving enemy fire which ripped his jacket and tore the helmet from his head. Completing the search and seeing the tank and its supporting infantry overrunning our infantry in their shallow foxholes, he secured a bazooka and ran after the tank, dodging from tree to tree and passing through the enemys loose skirmish line. He fired a rocket from a distance of 20 yards, immobilizing the tank but leaving it able to spray the area with cannon and machinegun fire. Running against a hail of machinegun and small arms fire he secured another rocket, and, advancing against a hail of machinegun and small arms fire reached a position 10 yards from the tank. His second shot shattered the turret. With his pistol he killed 2 of the crew as they emerged from the tank, and then running to the crippled Mark IV while enemy infantry sniped at him, he dropped a grenade inside and completed its destruction. With their armor gone, the enemy infantry became disorganized and was driven back. On this day in 1945, Audie Murphy climbed a burning tank and schwacked Nazis with a 50-cal Although the Germans got in the first hits, Choate refused to accept defeat, finding the means to turn the tables on his opponents. In so doing, his citation added, he prevented the capture of the battalion outpost and turned a probable defeat into a tactical success. Choate was offered a battlefield commission but turned it down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 23, 1945, Choate went to the White House to receive the Medal of Honor from President Harry Truman, during which he said he did not deserve it, and that it should have gone to all of the 601st TD Battalion. During their conversation, Truman also suggested that he should give politics a try. Choate took him up on it, and from 1946 to 1977, he served as a Democratic state representative in the Illinois House of Representatives, including alternating stints as the House majority and House minority leader. Although Choate was reelected handily in 1976, he announced that he would step down and on Jan. 8, 1977, the Illinois State Board of Elections appointed a successor. After his retirement from elected office, Choate served as director of external affairs for Southern Illinois. Meanwhile, in 1947, he had married Mabel Madonna Ross, who bore two daughters. On Oct. 10, 2001, Choate died in Carbondale at age 81 of congestive heart failure. He is buried at Anna Cemetery. The community came together on the first night of Hanukkah for a special ceremony in Squirrel Hill on Wednesday. The candle lighting of the larger-than-life menorah in front of the Tree of Life synagogue has a deeper meaning. Remember it takes just a little light to dispel the darkness, said Tree of Life synagogue Rabbi Jeffrey Myers. Standing strong outside the Pittsburgh synagogue, the menorah was a gift to the congregation in 2018, just weeks after the deadly antisemitic shooting where 11 Jewish worshipers were killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was an act that was unspeakable, that was unthinkable, and yet it still happened, and where anybody and everybody would say not in my community. It was, said Rebbetzin and Tree of Life member Janice Myers. October 27, 2018, was one of the darkest days for the Jewish community. Audrey Glickman survived the hate-fueled attack six years ago by hiding in a storage area. Though the tragedy is always on her mind, she tries to remember all the good associated with the building, especially at the start of the Jewish festival. Its good to get together and have something cheerful happen here, because in this location for so many decades, all kinds of happy things also happened, and we need a reason to recall those, Glickman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though plans are underway for a new synagogue on the site, the congregation, including Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, who also survived the horrific mass shooting, said this will always be their home. Were temporarily not housed in this space but were still here, Myers said. Our spirit didnt leave and the light thats Tree of Life congregation didnt go out. We are still here. The Rabbi said Judaism and Christianity are intertwined through that light, especially on a rare double holiday. This December 25, Hanukkah and Christmas fall on the same day for the first time in 19 years. This is the Jewish way of saying, were not letting the darkness take over, Myers said. Were here with the light thats been lit for years, to remind everyone darkness will never win. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW A Pennsylvania trucking company is set to be fined and placed on probation for illegally modifying a fleet of diesel trucks to evade mandated pollution controls. What's happening? New Oxford-based Frock Bros. Trucking pleaded guilty in October to conspiracy and violating the Clean Air Act. It will be sentenced Jan. 9. Prosecutors recommended an $80,000 fine and two years' probation; the maximum penalty is a $250,000 fine and five months' probation, the Hanover Evening Sun reported. In late 2018, the company contracted Lititz mechanic Leon Martin to disable emission control components on eight trucks. Frock also had Martin tamper with the factory-installed and federally required onboard diagnostic equipment, enabling the machines to operate without emission control devices. Do you think gas stoves should be banned nationwide? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind Martin also pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Air Act and will be sentenced Jan. 7. Why is this important? Emission control devices help keep air pollution to a minimum. The increased use of vehicles and the rising number of miles being driven, however, are canceling out their gains, according to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Non-electric vehicles produce harmful carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, unburned hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter, which negatively impact humans and the environment. Since 1996, vehicles have been equipped with onboard diagnostics, which can detect problems before they affect drivability or become visible. Diesel exhaust causes respiratory and other issues, and long-term exposure is carcinogenic, the Environmental Protection Agency reported. What's being done about air pollution? The government's prosecution is a welcome sign for all people and the planet. Legal punishment stops criminals and deters others, and in this case, it reduces air pollution. Going forward, the solution is to rely on trucks that don't release toxic gases and other pollutants when driven. Tesla Semis, for example, are gaining ground in the transportation industry as an alternative to traditional tractor-trailers. They're more powerful than the diesel-downers and on par cost-wise. Long-haul drivers love them, too. 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. (Bloomberg) -- The turmoil thats threatening to topple Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has members of his political party poring over the rulebook for replacing him. Most Read from Bloomberg Trudeau is under mounting pressure from elected lawmakers in his ruling Liberal Party to leave after nine years in power. Some have warned that if he stays, they face the prospect of a crushing defeat to the Conservative Party in next years election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But theres no mechanism to force him out quickly, at least outside of a national party convention. For now, the only thing disgruntled members can do is turn up the heat by publicly calling for Trudeau to go and quietly organize for their preferred replacements. Trudeau is mulling his future, according to people familiar with the matter. If he decides to fight on, he would be risking months of resistance from disaffected Liberals. Party infighting would leave the government weakened at a time when the Canadian economy is under a cloud of uncertainty. Donald Trump is entering the White House on Jan. 20 having threatened to put 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods, a move that would severely hurt the countrys export-dependent economy. Alternatively, Trudeau could choose to step down and ask the party to appoint an interim leader to helm the Liberals into the next election. But that has its own risks: The party would be asking people to vote for it without knowing the identity of the permanent leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats why, to some Liberals, the most plausible outcome is that Trudeau will announce his resignation and call for an expedited leadership race to pick his successor. Given the specter of Trump, the party would be under pressure to act quickly to stabilize the government. The winner of that leadership contest would become prime minister, announce a new cabinet then have to prepare almost immediately for an election. This option comes with its own set of logistical difficulties, however. Untested Process Canadas Liberal MPs have less power to choose or oust their leader than lawmakers in some other countries. Each party has its own rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Liberal Party constitution calls for a vote thats open to Canadian residents who are registered party members 41 days before the voting day. The format gives an advantage to candidates that can quickly sign up new supporters across the the country. The party has almost no barriers to membership. Theres no longer even a fee to become a registered Liberal, and practically anyone living in Canada can join as long theyre not a member of another federal party. Trudeau decisively won the last contest in 2013, after hundreds of thousands of people joined. The open-membership policy is likely to be a greater concern this time around, after an official inquiry found evidence of foreign interference in Canadian politics. The constitution also contains timelines and requirements that will make it challenging to organize a leadership race on short notice, said John OLeary, a veteran Liberal staffer who worked in the partys research bureau and on its last two national campaigns. The Liberal Party has never tested this current constitution in a leadership race, said OLeary, who now works in consulting with Crestview Strategy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, the constitution says leadership contestants must register 90 days before the vote. The party would also need to establish ground rules around fundraising, expenses and other administrative matters. Theres a conversation thats taking place right now, I think, about how quickly could a leadership race be organized and assembled, he said. It may take some unique constitutional maneuvering to see something happen more quickly than some of the timelines that are set. Theres one section of the constitution that allows the party executive to change the leadership vote date and alter any arrangements already made, if necessary, due to unforeseen circumstances. This might allow for an expedited race, OLeary said, though last-minute changes also open up the party to legal challenges. Buying Time Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problem is the government has a parliamentary sword hanging over its neck. Because the Liberals dont hold a majority of seats, if all three major opposition parties vote against them on a major measure such as a budget bill the government would fall, and an election would start right away. Last week, Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party, pledged to vote no-confidence in the government during the next sitting of parliament. Until now, NDP lawmakers have sided with the Liberals on key votes to avoid an election. Still, the governments fall is not imminent. Parliament is on its winter break, not scheduled to return until Jan. 27. Even then, the government can use various rules and conventions to delay a confidence vote. Yaroslav Baran, who was a senior staff member in the last Conservative government under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, has estimated the Liberals might be able to go until late March before facing such a vote. If needed, Trudeau has another tactic he can use. He could ask the governor general, the monarchs representative in Canada, to prorogue parliament essentially a short-term suspension of the legislature to allow the Liberals time to have an orderly leadership transition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trudeau could also attempt to negotiate a new agreement with Singh or with Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet to keep his government alive. But his political capital has never been so low. If Trudeau and his inner circle ultimately decide a leadership race is too difficult to pull off in such a tight timeframe, he would have to either fight the election with a divided party, or leave and ask Liberals to appoint an interim leader. The Liberal constitution says a successor would be chosen by the partys board of directors, in consultation with its elected lawmakers. In this scenario, the role may fall to Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, a veteran cabinet minister and Trudeau ally who stepped in to replace Chrystia Freeland after she dramatically resigned on Dec. 16. Hes now effectively Trudeaus No. 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, at least one elected member has publicly backed Freeland, saying shes ready to lead immediately. Before she quit the cabinet, she was also deputy prime minister. Other members of cabinet who are frequently mentioned as future leadership candidates include Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, and Transport Minister Anita Anand. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. In the early 2000s, Paul Nydegger was in a dark place. Hed been arrested on drug charges. His family members thought he was homeless in Portland; they hadnt heard from him in four years. Hed been evicted from nearly every house he ever lived in. Hed been using since 1976, when his older brother died by suicide. I used as much drugs and alcohol as I possibly could, every single night for the next 30 years, until one of two things happened: either I ran out or passed out, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2006, he was admitted into Ada County Drug Court, a county treatment program for people charged with drug-related felonies who are struggling with addiction. Led by Ada County judges, the program focuses on giving high-risk, high-need people structure and stability, helping them find a job, pay their bills, reconnect with loved ones and stay sober, said Ada County District Judge Nancy Baskin, who presides over drug court. Nydegger resisted the program at first and was stuck in its initial phase for months but eventually surrendered to the program, he said. Fast forward nearly 20 years: He graduated from the program in 2007, says he has been sober ever since, and is now a drug court counselor himself. He estimates that hes counseled hundreds of people, teaching them healthier coping skills and working with them to confront the emotions and experiences underlying their substance abuse. Nothing changes if nothing changes, said Paul Nydegger, an alcohol and drug counselor with the Ada County Drug Court. Nydegger said he started abusing drugs after his brother died by suicide in 1976. I used as much drugs and alcohol as I possibly could, every single night for the next 30 years, he said. He graduated from drug court in 2007 and now helps guide people to sobriety. Nydeggers story is striking, but hes not alone. There have been three other counselors who went through a drug court program themselves. Graduates of the Ada County program told the Statesman they were staying involved beyond their own two-year participation to serve as mentors. One recent grad plans to go back to school to become a counselor himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no way to know how many of the programs graduates stay connected to the program, Baskin said, but there are over 500 members of a Facebook group devoted to drug court graduates, and program leaders regularly hear from grads when they hit a new milestone. When the treatment center moved into a new facility this year, several graduates showed up to help with the move. Graduates and program leaders said staying involved helps keep graduates sober and on track by giving them hope and a sense of purpose, as they teach newcomers what they learned the hard way. Ian Castle, who graduated from drug court in July, mentors and sponsors current participants and visits local schools with Alcoholics Anonymous to speak with students about his experience with addiction. It gives me more accountability, he said. I started seeing that Im actually doing something with my life by giving it back to other people, instead of taking, taking, taking from people when I was drinking. Drug court participants find stability, healthy coping mechanisms Started in 1999, Ada Countys drug court was part of a national movement to try to treat addiction, rather than punishing it. Today, there are more than 2,600 drug courts operating nationwide, cutting recidivism rates by about 40% and saving tens of thousands of dollars per participant on incarceration, according to Stanford Universitys Network on Addiction Policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Punishment alone is a futile and ineffective response to drug abuse, according to the Stanford network. Drug courts reduce drug use and re-arrest for non-violent, drug-involved offenders. In Ada County, drug court participants plead guilty to a felony charge and then spend about two years in the program attending counseling groups, 12-step meetings and case management sessions, according to the countys website. If the participant graduates from the program, a judge dismisses their criminal charges. For this program, judges target people with complex cases who need more intense case management, Baskin said. Often, theyve been in and out of jail or lower-level treatment programs without success. If we keep sending people who fail probation because of their disease back to prison and expect a different result, that seems nonsensical to me, she said. Drug court may be the program that turns this persons life around. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She emphasized that the program is voluntary but that for it to work, participants have to be ready to make a change. Participants need to be finally ready to say: Im tired of this revolving door of going to jail. Im tired of my family not speaking to me, she said. The program isnt meant to be easy, leaders said. The first phase of the program, in which participants have to get a job, attend hours of classes and meet with counselors and case managers, is all-consuming especially for those recovering from years or decades of addiction. Almost all of us dont have that sense of stability, or never have, said Haley Spiker, a 27-year-old participant who hadnt been sober since she was 13. Being sober for the first time in so long, and also having all these responsibilities as well as consequences that kind of weight on your shoulders is just a lot all at once. I think without a mentor, I wouldnt be where Im at today. I would have given up early, said Haley Spiker, right, a participant in the Ada County Drug Court program. She listens to her mentor Jenisce Mendoza, who graduated from the program and now helps people navigate the drug court process. It doesnt always go smoothly. Recent graduate Terra Haskins said she and members of her cohort faced hurdles that sometimes felt unnecessary: trying to make it to all of their required meetings using buses that dont run frequently or reliably, or trying to stay sober in a halfway house near roommates who were still using drugs. Haskins said she was fired from one job after a meeting with her probation officer ran long. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But at least some of the challenges are by design, leaders and graduates said. The goal is to keep participants occupied and away from drugs or friends who are still using drugs as they adjust to sobriety. Over and over, participants and graduates said they faced an inflection point in the program where they experienced a mindset shift. Instead of trying to work the system, Castle decided to open up, becoming more honest with himself and his counselors about his experiences and any mistakes he made along the way in his recovery. Nydegger said that shift is the key to the program. Many participants have used drugs to cope with difficult emotions, so the program teaches them other strategies but it takes time to let go of the only coping mechanisms some have known for years, and to trust the programs alternatives, he said. Nothing changes if nothing changes. Nobody comes into this program on a winning streak, he said. The way I explain it to my guys is like: Listen. Your best ideas, the best you could do, got you into drug court. Maybe just try our way. Connections with family gives me a push, grad says A September drug court graduation at the Ada County Courthouse was an emotional affair. Seven graduates teared up as they listed milestones they never thought theyd hit: friends and family with whom theyd reconnected after years of estrangements, new jobs, stable housing and for some, a newfound will to live. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those graduates joined over 1,500 others who completed Ada Countys program in ceremonies like these: a moment of optimism and new beginning. But graduation is just a moment and its the months and years that come after that can cement a recovering addicts fate, Baskin said. Former addicts who make it to five years of sobriety have a less-than-15% chance of relapsing, according to a 2007 study of nearly 1,200 people. For many in Ada Countys program, its the ongoing connection with their counselors, cohort members and new participants that keeps them on track, they said. I want to stay engaged because it helps me be sober and stay sober, said Jenisce Mendoza, Spikers mentor. And it gives other people that are just coming into the program inspiration, and it gives them hope, and it (shows) them all of the good things that come with sobriety with time. A drug court graduate herself, Jenisce Mendoza, left, mentors current participants. Mendoza said returning as a mentor helps her stay engaged with the program and inspires new participants. Her involvement gives them hope, she said, and shows them all of the good things that come with sobriety with time. Haskins, who credits drug court with pushing her to rekindle ties with her family, credits those same connections with moving forward. Because of drug court, she was able to keep her newborn son and reconnect with her grandparents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In my addiction, I literally used to die because I didnt think I was wanted or loved, she said. Drug court gave me life again, and my son gives me a push every day. It was the most rewarding feeling to know that I had people there to support me, and (who) believed in me, Terra Haskins said about graduating from Ada Countys drug court program in September. Aside from not having to give my son for adoption, having everybody there was the biggest reward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nydegger knows firsthand how stark the difference can be before and after recovery. He keeps a photo of himself before he started drug court on his refrigerator and looks at it every day to remind himself what might have been. I look into those eyes, and theres nothing its empty. I have an empty soul, he said. Photos of Ada County Drug Court counselor Paul Nydegger before and after he went through the program. He graduated from drug court in 2007 and now helps guide people to sobriety. For Nydegger, the pull of helping others transform their lives as he did is strong. He retired to Oregon in 2023, but when he came back to Boise in April to speak at a drug court graduation, he realized he wasnt done. He came back out of retirement to continue his work. As long as Im in Boise, Ill work here, he said. Just to watch people come in, broken, helpless, and watch them transform their lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no greater story than an addict in recovery. It is the true hero story. He was a pharmacist addicted to opiates. Now he works with people in recovery | Opinion Idaho is grappling with opioid addiction just like our neighbors in other states A spike in youth suicides? Thats not the Boise areas only worrying mental health metric Russia is willing to improve relations with the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, if the United States makes the "first move" in restarting dialogue, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Dec. 26. "If the signals that are coming from the new team in Washington to restore the dialogue that Washington interrupted after the start of a special military operation (Russias term for its war against Ukraine), are serious, of course, we will respond to them," Lavrov told reporters in Moscow. "But the Americans broke (off) the dialogue, so they should make the first move," Lavrov added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lavrov's comments come ahead of Trump's January inauguration, who has pledged to get the U.S. "out" of Russia's war and negotiate a quick peace deal. Trump has nominated retired general Keith Kellogg as his special Ukrainian peace envoy, tasked with leading negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow. Kellogg is expected to visit Ukraine before Trump's inauguration. Lavrov's comments come alongside those of Russian President Vladimir Putin who, on Dec. 26, provided contradictory statements on bringing the war to an end in 2025, saying that Russia aims "to end the conflict," while also stating his hopes that Russia will "achieve success on the front line." Following Putin's comments, Lavrov lambasted the possibility of a ceasefire, adding that "a truce is a path to nowhere." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We need final legal agreements that will fix all the conditions for ensuring the security of the Russian Federation and, of course, the legitimate security interests of our neighbours," Lavrov added. Lavrov has regularly used distorted historical facts about NATO expansionism as the Kremlin's justification for Russias full-scale invasion. Putin previously expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at any time to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. However, he reiterated Moscows unwavering demands for a peace agreement, including the rejection of any territorial concessions and a firm stance against Ukraines NATO membership. Read also: Russia not opposed to having Slovakia host peace talks, Putin says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Parents will be separated from their children and deported if they are in the United States illegally, according to Donald Trumps border czar Tom Homan. Homan said the new administration wont hesitate to kick out parents even if they have children born in the United States. The only concession, he told the Washington Post, was that the families would be left to decide whether to leave the country together or be split up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres the issue, you knew you were in the country illegally and chose to have a child. So you put your family in that position, said Homan, who oversaw the border policy during Trumps first term that resulted in more than 4,000 children being separated from their parents. Homan said he will also reintroduce detention centers for families with children. The detainees will be held in soft-sided tent structures in the compounds. President Biden shut down three ICE residential centers in 2021 after doctors and human rights advocates complained the detention harmed the children. Migrant children from Guatemala crossed the river with their parents to reach the United States in Jerez city, Chihuahua, Mexico, on 19 December 2018. / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images Homan will be working closely with Trumps choice as head of the Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, the Republican governor of South Dakota. He told the Post: Were going to need to construct family facilities. How many beds were going to need will depend on what the data says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he added: We need to show the American people we can do this and not be inhumane about it. We cant lose the faith of the American people. He didnt offer a number for possible deportations saying he didnt want to set himself up for disappointment. Homan added: I dont see this thing as being sweeps and the military going through neighborhoods. But he said there would be a targeted campaign aimed primarily at migrants with criminal records. ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt told the Post he did not believe the American people signed up for children being separated from their families. The incoming administration has refused to acknowledge the horrific damage it did to families and little children the first time around and seems determined to once again target families for gratuitous suffering, he said. The public may have voted in the abstract for mass deportations, but I dont think they voted for more family separation or unnecessary cruelty to children. The move to give illegal parents with citizen children a drastic choice has a parallel to another Trump priority: ending birthright citizenship. The 14th Amendment, which states, All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside, has been interpreted as a guarantee of citizenship to any baby, except that of a diplomat, born in the U.S. But Trump plans to challenge it, claiming subject to the jurisdiction thereof means it does not apply to illegal immigrants. Some legal experts think forcing family separations would be used by the Trump administration to force a court challenge and ultimately a Supreme Court decision on birthright citizenship. DOHA, Qatar For more than two decades, Texas A&M University has had a campus here. The facade of its main building carries hints of Aggie maroon and its students say howdy per college tradition. But soon, the university will bid farewell to Doha, a break-up apparently caused by the strange politics that mark the U.S.-Qatar relationship. A&Ms Board of Regents voted in February to phase out the Doha campus. The decision stunned its hundreds of students, along with faculty and others in Doha, who say it came with no real warning or consultation. A&Ms top brass said they were leaving Qatar because the university needed to focus its resources closer to home and because of instability in the Middle East. Im skeptical of those reasons. The ultra-wealthy Qatar Foundation a state-supported non-profit covers A&Ms operational costs and those of other U.S. campuses in a state-of-the-art neighborhood known as Education City. And the Middle East isnt exactly a stranger to instability; the A&M campus, which is focused on engineering, launched in 2003, the year the U.S. invaded Iraq. Qatar itself is a safe zone in a restive region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many here believe that U.S. politicians, in particular the Republicans who control Texas public universities, pushed the closure because of suspicion and misinformation about Qatar. Weeks earlier, a group that researches antisemitism released a report that argued Qatar could use the A&M campus to access U.S. national security research. A&Ms president denounced the report as false and irresponsible, and A&M insists theres no connection with its decision to close the campus. But the timing raised eyebrows. At the end of the day, its politics and a lack of knowledge about this place, Francisco Marmolejo, a top Qatar Foundation official, told me when I pressed for reasons behind the closure. I visited Qatar because I wanted to understand this small but insanely energy-rich Gulf Arab states geopolitical maneuvering and whether it will have to change now that Donald Trump is returning as U.S. president. Some of Trumps allies have long pushed an anti-Qatar narrative. Still, I was startled to learn of A&Ms planned departure, which had been largely ignored by U.S. national media, and it struck me as a likely example of the negative fallout from Qatars approach to the world. To put it very simply, Qatar is willing to be (almost) everyones friend. It hosts Hamas and Taliban representatives along with a U.S. embassy and a U.S. military base, while even Israeli officials stop by now and then. Qatars open-door policy has made it a go-to mediator in many of the worlds conflicts; indeed, mediation is a pillar of Qatars foreign policy, giving it outsized influence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that approach also has left Qatar open to questions in the U.S., Israel and beyond about whether it is truly a friend to anyone. Some argue the U.S. shouldnt depend on Qatar as a partner or an intermediary. The monarchy-led nation is used to scrutiny on everything from its human rights record to its funding of U.S. think tanks to the actions of its Al Jazeera media network. But the magnifying glass has been especially unrelenting over the past year, as Doha has tried to mediate an end to the Israel-Hamas war. Criticisms have poured in from Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pro-Israel activists and academics and others who have championed Israel. Over the past year, many U.S. lawmakers have sent letters to the Biden administration arguing Qatar isnt doing enough to pressure Hamas to agree to a cease-fire and release hostages. Please make clear to Qatar that it will be held accountable for every hostage not brought home," one such letter stated. Among the lawmakers who signed such letters are Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), whom Trump has tapped for secretary of State, and Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), Trumps incoming national security adviser. Trump also has selected several other aides who are strong supporters of Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Democrats have their doubts about Qatar, much of the criticism lately has been from the American right. Qatars ties to Iran with which it shares a major gas field and the Muslim Brotherhood also have damaged its reputation in the West, while undermining its ties to Arab neighbors who view those entities as threats. Several Arab countries cut off ties with Qatar in 2017. They eventually resumed ties in 2021, but those other nations still question whether Qatar is trying to undermine their governments. Qatari officials and their supporters tend to roll their eyes at the criticisms. They note that the U.S. for years was fine with Hamas maintaining a presence in Qatar because it needed a way to communicate with the group. Qatar also sent funds to Gaza while it was under Hamas control. Qatar says the money possibly adding up to billions over the years was meant to help Palestinians in Gaza survive, and Netanyahu is widely reported to have backed the payments as a way to keep the territory calm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, critics say Qatar effectively funded Hamas terrorism, and they see pressuring Qatar as a way to squeeze Hamas. When I asked Qatari officials, if they plan to adjust their approach under Trump to one thats more clearly pro-U.S., pro-Israel, anti-Hamas, anti-Iran or something that will quiet the criticism, I got the sense theyre hoping they wont have to do so. Qatari officials, analysts and others suggested that Trumps aides will be less likely to attack Doha once theyre in office and have to deal with the Middle Easts complexities. Our partners and friends need an ally in the region who can speak to political actors whom they dont directly engage with, was how one Qatari official put it. I granted him, and a number of others I interviewed, anonymity to talk freely about sensitive topics. Qatar has a population of roughly 3 million, but only about 10 percent are citizens, and five guys pretty much run the place. There are signs those guys are spooked about the Trump takeover and the coming Republican dominance of Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The countrys emir and prime minister made sure tovisit Trump even before the election. Theyve reportedly welcomed at least one of Trumps envoys to their country to discuss the Israel-Hamas negotiations, even though his presidency hasnt begun. Qatari officials are concerned, said Tarik Yousef, a Doha-based Middle East analyst. They do expect, potentially, a backlash against the very mediation role that Qatar tried to play in the last year, and they do expect, especially with a total control of the political establishment by one party that is incredibly close to Israel, that this backlash could be really much more serious and significant. But Majed Al-Ansari, the Qatar foreign ministry spokesperson, insisted to me that Qatars engagement with the Trump transition team is going very well. Every time we engage, we discuss the active files in various issues, the language is quite positive because they see the work, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was struck by how often current and former U.S. officials from both parties praised Qatar for coming through on sensitive issues others wouldnt touch. Qatar helped negotiate a deal to end the U.S. war in Afghanistan, has tried to help resolve the crisis in Venezuela and played other roles that dont make the headlines. After the Taliban took over Afghanistan, Qatars Education City agreed to host the American University of Afghanistan. The schools target students include girls inside Afghanistan who have online access but are otherwise barred from education by the Taliban. Qatar is a complicated country but in some ways it is the most straightforward and best ally in the region, a senior Biden administration official said. Another U.S. official familiar with Middle East dynamics said the Qataris who host thousands of U.S. troops at the Al-Udeid base are excellent defense partners who rarely say no to U.S. requests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official nonetheless noted that when it comes to getting Hamas to sign a deal, the Egyptians, not the Qataris, are more willing to squeeze the militants. Some critics say the U.S. should cut out Qatar and directly engage groups like Hamas if it has no other options. The U.S. generally avoids such interactions because it is politically dicey, but relying on Qatar only muddies the message to such groups, the critics say. If Qatar is the only option, the U.S. is better off not relying on a middle man at all, said Ariel Admoni, an Israeli academic focused on Qatar. Trump has offered wildly different assessments of Qatar, including accusing it of funding terrorism. But his son-in-law Jared Kushner reportedly has significant financial tiesto Qatar, as do others in Trumps orbit. One former aide said that, despite the anti-Qatar sentiment among some Trump people the Arab countrys emir would likely be invited to the White House every year Trump is in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yousef, the Doha-based analyst, said Qatar needs to hedge more against the U.S. in the years ahead. You need to get closer to the Saudis. You need to get closer to the Emiratis, and you need to start taking the Asians much more seriously, including the Chinese, he said. The former Trump aide, however, warned that if anything could upset Trump about Qatar it would be getting too close to Beijing, especially on the cybersecurity and tech fronts. Qatar does have lines it wont cross. It was the rare Arab country to refuse to seek a rapprochement with Syrian dictator Bashar Assad. It even handed embassy duties in Doha to Syrian opposition activists. As Assad was being toppled this month, Qatar has convened several outside powers with vested interests in Syria. Qatari officials say they pursue mediation in part to help stabilize a volatile region. But the negative repercussions of their willingness to play along with so many sides can echo far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While in Doha, I attended a Qatar Foundation reception. I met several people with links to the A&M campus, which, because of contract terms, will be phased out over a period of four years. It was a total shock, said one student of the planned closure. But what can you do? We have a beautiful family there. Qatari government officials sidestepped my requests for comment on the A&M situation. The criticism of Qatar is unlikely to abate, whether its legit or bunk. But ultimately, I wouldnt bet against Doha. No U.S. government Democratic- or Republican-led is likely to abandon Qatar. It may be friends with many shady actors, but its the shady actors that need to be engaged. At this point, Qatar is too vital a player in too many arenas, the kind thats not easy to replace. President-elect Trumps fixation on former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) is escalating as he suggests she should be prosecuted for her work on the now-disbanded House Jan. 6 committee. In the wake of a report by a House subcommittee that alleges Cheney improperly communicated with star witness Cassidy Hutchinson, Trump accused Cheney of committing crimes as she led the panel. Liz Cheney has been exposed in the Interim Report, by Congress, of the J6 Unselect Committee as having done egregious and unthinkable acts of crime, Trump wrote on his social media site, adding that her support helped the Democrats lose the Election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is so unpopular and disgusting, a real loser! It would likely be difficult for a Trump Justice Department to successfully prosecute Cheney. Hutchinson first reached out to Cheney, and any work the former member of House GOP leadership did would likely be covered by the Constitutions Speech or Debate Clause. But the report is nonetheless something of a road map for a possible investigation into a top Trump critic and someone the president-elect has repeatedly said should face consequences. The interim report is from Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), a House Administration subcommittee chair. Loudermilk was himself reviewed by the Jan. 6 committee after giving a Capitol tour on Jan. 5, 2021, to two constituents who later joined the rioters gathered around the building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His report billed as a review of the failures and politicization of the panel calls for a criminal investigation into Cheney, saying she may have violated statutes regarding witness tampering by being in contact with Hutchinson. Hutchinson initially reached out to former White House aide Alyssa Farah Griffin, whom the report accuses of being a backchannel between Hutchinson and the lawmaker. It was Hutchinson who first reached out to Cheney, and in her memoir the lawmaker writes about encouraging her to find a new attorney as every witness deserves an attorney who will represent their interests exclusively. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), a former constitutional law professor who served on the Jan. 6 panel alongside Cheney, said the former lawmaker did not act inappropriately but would be protected regardless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not a crime in America to tell someone to testify truthfully. Thats the opposite of witness tampering and suborning perjury, he told The Hill. And of course Cassidy Hutchinson did testify truthfully. But Liz Cheney was a member of Congress, which means that she had all of the robust protection of the Speech and Debate Clause, which insulates members in the performance of their legislative duties from prosecution and investigation outside of Congress. The legislative function, including investigation, is completely protected and, as the authors of the report obviously know, investigators routinely meet witnesses. Speech or Debate Clause protections are not absolute, and lawmakers can still face charges for crimes that have nothing to do with their role in Congress. Speech and Debate protection does not extend to activities that have nothing to do with the legislative and political process but are purely criminal in nature, like paying for sex or purchasing cocaine and ecstasy, Raskin said, making an apparent nod to activity unveiled in an Ethics Committee report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But bringing a witness tampering case against Cheney would also face roadblocks regardless of her status as a lawmaker. Loudermilks report argues that Cheney erred by being in touch with Hutchinson at all given that the aide initially worked with a lawyer paid through a Trump legal defense fund. It is unusualand potentially unethicalfor a Member of Congress conducting an investigation to contact a witness if the Member knows that the individual is represented by legal counsel, the interim report states. The law penalizes those who pressure witnesses to change their testimony or lie under oath, but Hutchinson agreed to testify publicly in a blockbuster hearing after saying her former attorney, Stefan Passantino, encouraged her to not be forthcoming with the panel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elie Honig, a former federal prosecutor and CNN legal analyst, said law enforcement, prosecutors and even congressional investigators routinely encourage witnesses to testify as a function of their job. Even if you take every word of the House Oversight Committees report on January 6 as gospel and, please, dont Liz Cheney did not commit a crime. Its not close. The suggestion to the contrary by the Republicans who ran the Committee betrays that they either have no clue about criminal law or dont care because the politics of payback reign supreme, he wrote in New York Magazine, adding that the report is slim when it comes to substantiating its own allegations. Theres nothing to indicate that Hutchinson committed perjury or that Cheney pushed her to do so But the committee unilaterally declares its worst suspicions to be correct and then labels testimony it doesnt like as perjury. That wont fly in a criminal court, he said. While Republicans have taken issue with some of Hutchinsons testimony, including a story about Trump lunging at his driver that day, she made clear she was relaying a story told to her by someone else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement William Jordan, a lawyer for Hutchinson, defended her testimony while calling the claims of collusion between the women preposterous. Ms. Hutchinson made the independent decision to part ways with her Trump-funded lawyer, freeing her to provide candid, truthful, and honorable testimony to the January 6th Committee about the attack on the Capitol, alongside dozens of Republican witnesses and law enforcement officers, he said in a statement to NBC when the report was released. Despite baseless attacks by men with their own agendas to discredit her, Ms. Hutchinson stands by her testimony and remains committed to the truth and accountability. Any successful prosecution of Cheney would likely also need cooperation from Hutchinson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But she declined to get involved in ethics complaints against Passantino after he was accused of encouraging her to say she remembered little about the day and said she would be able to get a good job in Trump World. Various bar associations declined to take action on the matter, dismissing two ethics complaints in citing a lack of sufficient evidence to move forward. Conservative legal commentator Jonathan Turley said a similar ethics complaint before the bar would likely be the only avenue for pursuing Cheney, though he said he was doubtful that this would rise to a formal Bar ethics investigation. For her part, Cheney blasted the entirety of Loudermilks review. Chairman Loudermilks Interim Report intentionally disregards the truth and the Select Committees tremendous weight of evidence, and instead fabricates lies and defamatory allegations in an attempt to cover up what Donald Trump did. Their allegations do not reflect a review of the actual evidence, and are a malicious and cowardly assault on the truth. No reputable lawyer, legislator or judge would take this seriously, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Loudermilk called the former panel a political weapon with a singular focus to deceive the public into blaming President Trump for the violence on January 6 and to tarnish the legacy of his first Presidency. Trump seemed to agree, praising the Georgia Republican for the great work he has done in exposing the massive corruption of the J6 Unselect Committee of Political Thugs! Hes also previously said members of the panel should go to jail. But Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), who served as the chair of the committee, said Loudermilk failed to discredit the panels work while sidestepping Trumps accountability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Raskin called the report thin gruel. It talks about everything except what actually happened on January 6. The bloody mob violence seems to have disappeared. Donald Trumps speech of incitement on the Ellipse and provocative tweets have vanished. The plan to spread the big lie and overturn the election, which Joe Biden won by 7 million votes, has apparently been vaporized, he said. This report does not lay a glove on the 845-page report of our bipartisan committee. Its empty heckling. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Genesis Bonilla keeps several hundred dollars hidden in her ponytail, tucked behind a layer of hair between the rubber band and her scalp. Along her journey through Mexico, Bonilla has been robbed on multiple occasions, including by Mexican immigration agents who patted her down looking for hidden cash. But they never check the hair, she says. For two months, Bonilla, her husband, and their three children, the youngest age 5, have lived in a migrant shelter in Mexico City, where Bonilla works in the kitchens, overseeing the life cycles of endless pots of beans and rice. Originally from Venezuela, the family crossed six countries, including the perilous Darien Gap, a strip of untamed jungle between Colombia and Panama, with the goal of reaching Bonillas younger brother, who completed the same journey two years ago and now lives in Utah. Bonilla has considered turning back on multiple occasions once at the top of a boulder in the Darien Gap, when she realized she was terrified of heights, and once after an armed robbery, but the worst was when she and her family arrived after dark in a town in Southern Mexico and wandered the whole night through the streets with nowhere to stay. We got to a town at almost 10 at night and we were really scared because we didnt have phone signal and we couldnt see the map and my feet were really hurting. Thank God we found a shopping cart, so the two kids could sit inside, but my teenager, my husband, and I were walking, pushing the cart. My feet were messed up, but I had to keep my spirits up, and it was sunrise and we were still walking. But Bonillas husband and children convinced her to keep pushing forward at every turn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She isnt hoping for a glamorous lifestyle in the United States, only for basic security. In Venezuela, her family struggled to feed themselves due to the economic crisis for over a month one year when food costs reached untenable levels, Bonilla ate only mangoes, which she harvested from a tree in her neighborhood. In the U.S., Bonilla says, she hopes to ensure her children never grow hungry, always have shoes, and never fear for their lives. Now, she is slowly realizing the whole journey may have been for nothing. If I told you I knew what we were going to decide to do at this moment, I would be lying, she says. When Donald Trump is sworn into office in January, migrants like Bonilla and her family could be robbed of their chance to build a life in the United States. Without money to return home, theyll be forced to stay in Mexico, a country they never intended to live in, where they have neither friends nor family, and where they will be vulnerable to extortion and kidnapping by criminal groups that target migrants. It would hurt me a lot to have to stay here Theres nothing to do but wait and keep the faith Were taking life day by day. Trumps election victory has set off an ominous ticking timer, as most migrants, as well as those working to support them, suspect the incoming Trump administration will act quickly to seal the only remaining pathway to seek asylum, the appointment system on the CBPOne app. Because of an executive order from President Joe Biden last June, anyone who wishes to ask the U.S. for asylum must use the app to request an appointment with Customs and Border Protection officers at specific locations along the border. At the appointment, they are asked to attest that they are in real danger in their home country and in every country they passed through along the way. The app offers 1,400 appointments per day, and there are hundreds of thousands of migrants currently waiting in Mexico for their moment. Though some apply in groups or family units, there are nowhere near enough appointments available for everyone applying before January 20. Trump has already promised (via a post on X) to shut the system down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Migrants like Bonilla have been waiting up to a year for their chance to meet with CBP and ask for protection from the United States, but now they may never have that opportunity. There is nothing one can do, other than fill out a profile on the app with the correct information, to increase the likelihood of receiving an appointment. As with anything determined by pure luck, many have responded by praying, manifesting, and practicing radical hope, denying the possibility of being stuck forever in Mexico in the hopes of conjuring up an appointment out of pure mental resilience. Oscar Rios Mendoza, a devout Christian from Nicaragua, believes God is in charge of the CBPOne appointment system, and worries he is being tested he has taken to volunteering at a church in Juarez, where he lives in a migrant shelter, helping to fix broken sections of the wall in an attempt to get back in Gods good graces. Only God knows if Ill get an appointment, the date and time. And only He knows if Ill see my family again. If the CBPOne appointment system is shut down, there is little that can be done to prepare for the hundreds of thousands of people who will need to settle in Mexico, waterlogging migrant shelters and encampments, and inflaming growing xenophobia among the Mexican population. David Villaluz, who works at a migrant shelter in Juarez, says his organization plans to just roll with the punches: Its delicate for all of us because it affects us in many different ways Unfortunately, we have to go along with whatever happens What is someone supposed to do if they already sold everything they own to migrate, theyre on their way, and then the election happens? Should Trump restrict the only pathway to asylum, organizations, states, or individuals can file lawsuits, as the right to seek asylum is protected under both U.S. and international law, but these cases could take years to wind through the courts and meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of people would begin to pool in Mexico, growing more desperate by the minute. Jobs are already scarce for migrants in Mexico, and in areas where larger groups congregate, some shops, like laundromats, are already listing different, higher prices for Venezuelans, Cubans, or Haitians, compared to the figure for Mexican nationals. With shelters full, few work opportunities, and expenses piling up, many will be left without options, and with no way to leave. On November 27, Trump had a phone call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to discuss collaboration to manage migration afterwards, both disagreed on what was said. While Trump claimed that Sheinbaum had agreed to take in asylum-seekers no longer able to enter the United States through any legal means, Sheinbaum refuted this, saying she never, and we would be incapable, said we were going to close the border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Should these asylum-seekers, stuck in Mexico, lose their patience and choose to approach the border wall on foot and ask U.S. agents for asylum directly, under current Biden administration policy, they would be taken into CBP custody and deported back into Mexico, or to their home countries if they are from Central America only those who have appointments on the CBPOne app are permitted entry. However, Sheinbaum has said, in response to Trumps rhetoric about mass deportation, that her government will no longer accept deportees from countries other than Mexico. This means migrants from countries like Venezuela and Cuba who cross the border between ports-of-entry could be held in detention centers indefinitely. During the first Trump administration, migrant detention centers faced credible accusations of physical abuse, neglect, and even forced medical procedures. Over the past few months, members of the Texas National Guard have grown increasingly violent with migrants who attempt to cross the border and seek asylum this way. In October, Victor Celaya, a migrant escaping a death threat in Honduras, waded across the Rio Grande in Juarez with a group of others that included small children. When they reached the U.S. side of the river and attempted to make contact with Border Patrol agents, the Texas National Guard fired bullets at their feet. They nearly shot a woman who had kids with her We knew they werent blanks because we could see the holes they made in the ground, he says. Though the violence deterred the group from seeking asylum on that day, all remain determined to reach the United States, through any means necessary, as it is the only place they can imagine theyll find true safety. American authorities shoot rubber bullets at migrants after they try to cut the razor wire fences put up by the Texas National Guard on March 22, 2024, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Criminals and grifters are those who serve to benefit most from Trumps second term, says Villaluz, the Juarez migrant shelter worker, despite Trumps assertion that these are the very people he means to target with his policies. With the threat of a total shutdown of the asylum system come January, many migrants waiting for CBPOne appointments in Mexico are considering more clandestine, more reckless methods of reaching the United States. Already, prices have risen for coyotes, organized crime operatives who ferry migrants over the border. Fees amount to over $10,000 per person, depending on proximity to the border when the guide is hired, the method used to cross the border, and the location where a group will enter the United States from Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like every mechanism used to immigrate, legal or illegal, people with greater means are favored. How could a family of five, like Bonillas, come up with that kind of money? Migrants are often forced to borrow cash, usually from family members, to pay the fee. Sometimes, its all a scam, and the coyote never arrives. Moving larger numbers of people, coyotes can become callous in their greed, and will occasionally leave behind migrants in the desert if they move slowly or have health conditions, or will abandon groups of migrants if they suspect Border Patrol is nearby. Scammers target migrants with impressive creativity. The frantic mood among those currently in transit has also made it easier for grifters to manipulate their victims, posing as figures with authority and experience. Posts in Facebook and WhatsApp groups promise to boost your chances of getting a CBPOne appointment for a fee, or offer lower airfare from Mexico City to border cities with fake airline logos, or encourage migrants to take specific routes, where they can be trapped and extorted like fish baited into a net. Under Trump, if access to the asylum system is shut off entirely, migrants may be even more likely to believe scams promising miracle solutions to their predicaments. Paulino Reza, a lawyer for the Cafemin migrant shelter in Mexico City, expects as Trump administration policies make it more difficult for vulnerable people to reach the U.S., kidnappings and disappearances of migrants will continue to rise, as criminal groups take advantage of people stuck in Mexico, extorting them if possible, and killing them if they cant come up with the cash. Thousands will die, and will be forgotten, their stories never told, their families left without closure, too afraid to seek answers. If I had to guess, I think 85 percent are kidnapped before they get to Mexico City, or something happens to them. And then between here and the border, its assured theyll suffer some kind of circumstance, Reza says. Though he submits missing persons reports and documentation to local and federal authorities, Reza says disappearances of migrants are rarely investigated in Mexico. He is preparing himself emotionally for whats ahead, by practicing solitary meditation, but says the moment is already here, as migrants, as well as the criminal groups profiting off of them, bend to the new reality: Several weeks ago, 50 migrants boarded a bus outside the shelter and most were never heard from again. Weve been looking for information, but it all just happened so fast, he says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reza always informs the shelter residents of the risks associated with hiring smugglers, which include losing all of their money, possible deportation if one is caught by Border Patrol, and a slow painful death of dehydration lost in the desert. But convinced by smugglers that they must enter the U.S. before Trump is inaugurated, many migrants are choosing to put their lives in the hands of people they know they cannot trust. Criminality in every way that has to do with migration is really high at this moment, really high, he says. Perhaps most worrisome of all, Reza says, is the shift in public opinion on migrants, both in the U.S. and Mexico. Support for immigration is waning at a rapid clip, and with it, regard for the lives of the millions of people migrating. Reza expects the shelter will have difficulties in the coming years ensuring their budget. He is not the only one on the other side of the border, migrant aid organizations are facing tight pockets and fists at the door. This year, Texas Governor Greg Abbott attempted to shut down several prominent shelters in the state through a series of lawsuits claiming the organizations were involved in human trafficking by helping migrants fill out asylum applications. The most publicized case was a lawsuit against a Catholic, El Paso shelter, Annunciation House. In February, 2024, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened the shelter with search warrants to seize all of their documents, and said the organization was in violation of laws that protect religious groups. The lawsuit was struck down by a judge in July, but current employees at Annunciation House expect Trump may try similar tactics to weaken institutions that protect migrant populations. This may create blackout zones, where little support is available for migrants, while in neighboring blue states, shelters will remain open. A nun who works at Annunciation House but chose to remain anonymous says, No one knows whats going to happen, no one knows anything at all. Law enforcement aligned with Trumps anti-migrant agenda may also intimidate and threaten American citizens, good samaritans, who dedicate themselves to helping migrants, working at migrant shelters, leaving water bottles in the desert for migrants crossing the border who may be dehydrated, and volunteering to teach immigrants English or donate used goods to those in need. In recent months, Abbey Carpenter, part of a group that drops water bottles and searches for the remains of migrants who died crossing the desert in New Mexico and Texas, says local police have sent her threatening emails asking for her personal information. Volunteers distribute food to migrants who crossed into the U.S. from Mexico on June 14, 2024 in Jacumba Hot Springs, California. If Trump succeeds in enacting his plans, aid organizations in Mexico are likely to be overwhelmed, not just with asylum-seekers, but with deportees, many of them Mexican citizens who have not lived in Mexico for decades and may no longer have support networks there. Trump has promised to deport a million undocumented people, though a former employee at ICE who spoke with Rolling Stone on the condition of anonymity, says it is extremely unlikely the Trump administration could reach this number due to budget constraints. It is more plausible smaller raids will be carried out, affecting tens of thousands of people, and first targeting those whose locations are known to the government. These would be undocumented people who have had any interaction with police, DMV, or other officials who could link specific people to home addresses, but could also be asylum-seekers who have been released into the United States, but have not formally submitted their asylum applications yet, a group that accounts for many thousands of people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Edme Eliteme, an asylum-seeker from Haiti, who is 65 years old, just arrived in Florida, after a journey through eight countries that exacerbated his existing health conditions at this point, he is skeletal, having lost a considerable amount of weight, and he suffers from constant back pain. Eliteme is worried he will be deported back to Port-Au-Prince, where powerful street gangs and food shortages have made life unliveable. I miss my wife, he says. But I dont have the money to bring her here yet. Theres a gang of 400 men that controls our neighborhood. Because President Sheinbaum has declared she will only take in Mexican deportees, immigrants from countries like Venezuela, Cuba, or Nicaragua, without deportation treaties with the United States, could be held in detention centers, glorified work camps, for months, with possible family separations within or between facilities. Trump is appointing Tom Homan, one of the orchestrators of his previous family separation policy, as Border Czar, which could mean the resuscitation of the policy that prompted overwhelming public outcry during the first Trump administration. Over a thousand families are still separated, five years later. Homan has also said he has no concern for mixed-status families, and if an undocumented immigrant is detained who has a spouse or children who are U.S. citizens, they should follow their loved one to Latin America. The private prison industry is ramping up to profit off of the detention of these refugee families and undocumented immigrants. After the election, George Zoley, founder of Geo Group, the largest private prison operator in the country, said, The Geo Group was built for this unique moment in history and the opportunities it will bring. Experts suggest possible billion dollar government contracts to be awarded to private prison contractors to incorporate tens of thousands of migrants into the carceral system. All of Trumps policies will likely result in lawsuits from organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed over 400 lawsuits against the government during Trumps first administration. But Republicans will now have a governing trifecta in large part due to the popularity of anti-immigrant rhetoric among voters controlling the White House and both houses of Congress, in addition to the Supreme Court. And while acts of judicial resistance could be successful to block Trumps policies in theory, as they snake through the court system, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people, will be affected in the meantime stranded in Mexico, kidnapped, deported, separated from family members, imprisoned in work camps, living in hiding, and dying in the desert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These effects will remain long after Trump is out of office, in the collective memory of everyone currently in transit. Even for those too young to be fully aware of the geopolitical realities of their lives, these traumatic experiences are transformative. Bonillas five-year-old son is showing signs of PTSD at the migrant shelter in Mexico City, he draws pictures in crayon of the Darien Gap jungle, and is now meeting with the shelters psychiatrist. Reza, the Cafemin migrant shelter lawyer, is anticipating his own mental collapse from bearing the weight of so many other peoples suffering, but he is determined to continue supporting migrants. The number of people who need shelter is going to rise, and were one of very few spaces in Mexico City, he says. Were equipped to take in 100 people, but there have been moments when we have 800, a thousand coming through in a month Now imagine with everyone deported Theres no plan in place whatsoever. 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. President-elect Donald Trump announced his pick for American ambassador to Panama, days after suggesting that the United States should take control of the Panama Canal. I am pleased to announce that Kevin Marino Cabrera will serve as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, a Country that is ripping us off on the Panama Canal, far beyond their wildest dreams, Trump posted on the social media platform Truth Social late Wednesday. Few understand Latin American politics as well as Kevin He will do a FANTASTIC job representing our Nations interests in Panama! he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cabrera, a native of Miami, won his election for county commissioner two years ago. A steadfast Trump loyalist, he previously served as the Florida state director for Trumps 2020 campaign and as a member of the Republican National Committee Platform Committee. According to his official page, he was born to Cuban exiles and graduated from Miami Dade College and Florida International University. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. Trumps announcement comes after he mentioned the Panama Canal in a series of lengthy social media posts over Christmas Day, and suggested that the U.S. should expand its territory by taking control of Greenland, Canada and also the canal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Truth Social, Trump wished a Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has repeatedly pushed back against Trumps statements by emphasizing that the canal is an integral part of the country. The sovereignty and independence of our country is nonnegotiable, Mulino stated in a video posted on social media last weekend. The Panama Canal is a critical trade route that was originally built by the United States in 1904. The waterway has been under the control of Panama since 1999 after negotiations between the Carter administration and the Panamanian dictator Omar Torrijos in 1977 led to the establishment of two treaties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Panama Canal Authority, an independent government agency, now administers the canal. In recent years, China has attempted to expand its influence there through infrastructure projects that include a convention center on the Pacific side of the canal, and two ports operated by a Hong Kong-based contractor. Trump also mocked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom he referred to as governor, and suggested once again that the U.S. could annex Canada. If Canada was to become our 51st State, their Taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other Country anywhere in the World, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump continued his post by addressing the people of Greenland, which is needed by the United States for National Security purposes and, who want the U.S. to be there, and we will! Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede told Trump in a written comment Dec. 23 that the Danish territory is not for sale and will never be for sale, according to Reuters. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com President-elect Donald Trump wants a Miami-Dade County commissioner to serve as ambassador to Panama. The nomination comes as Trump is threatening to retake control of the Panama Canal over fees charged U.S. ships in the waterway. Commissioner Kevin Cabrera, a Republican who won his county election two years ago after an endorsement by Trump, got the ambassador nod on Christmas Day through a social media post by the president-elect. The nomination comes days after he met with Trump at his Palm Beach private club, Mar-a-Lago.. I am pleased to announce that Kevin Marino Cabrera will serve as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, a Country that is ripping us off on the Panama Canal, far beyond their wildest dreams, Trump posted on his Truth Social website. Few understand Latin American politics as well as Kevin He will do a FANTASTIC job representing our Nations interests in Panama! MORE: Who is Donald Trumps pick for ambassador to Panama? What to know about Kevin Cabrera The announcement puts the 34-year-old Cabrera, a former lobbyist, on track to be the Trump administrations point person in a Central American nation thats already been a target of saber rattling by the president-elect. Trump is warning Panama that the United States will attempt to retake control of the Panama Canal if fees charged U.S. vessels arent reduced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cabrera was director of Trumps 2020 Florida campaign. In 2022, he was a lobbyist running for the open District 6 seat against a Coral Gables commissioner when a Trump endorsement vaulted Cabrera ahead in fundraising and then in votes in a district Trump won by 33 points this year. I am committed to supporting President Trumps America First vision and will work tirelessly every day to uphold his bold approach to international diplomacy, Cabrera said in a statement Wednesday. Representing the United States abroad is a duty I take with the utmost pride. The Spanish-speaking Cabreras planned departure to Panama will give the remaining commissioners the chance to name his replacement if the 13-seat board opts not to call a special election to fill out the remaining two years in Cabreras first term. Among the potential contenders for the seat: Bryan Avila, a Republican state senator; Eric Diaz-Padron, the Republican mayor of West Miami; Natalie Milian Orbis, a West Miami city commissioner and wife of Cabreras District 6 chief of staff, Manuel Orbis Jr.; and Francisco Petrirena, legislative director for the city of Miami. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cabrera, born in Miami to parents who fled Cuba, was the first Republican commissioner to endorse Trump in a GOP primary where Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was briefly favored to win. He has also been Trumps top surrogate among the six Republican commissioners. In November, he sponsored the county legislation that led Miami-Dade to recognize Hialeahs creation of President Donald J. Trump Avenue outside of City Hall. Since 2023, Cabrera has worked as Florida director for the America First Policy Institute, a think tank aligned with Trump. In Cabreras 2022 run for the District 6 seat representing parts of Coral Gables, Hialeah and Miami, he leaned on his backing of Trump, and made Dade First his campaign slogan and Miami-Dade First the name of his political committee. In that race, Cabrera beat Jorge Fors, then a Gables commissioner, by 22 points. Critics called Cabrera extreme for his role in a 2018 protest of a Nancy Pelosi visit to Coral Gables organized by the local GOP that also drew members of the far-right Proud Boys organization. Video showed Cabrera and others banging on the door of a Democratic campaign office and demanding Pelosi and other Democrats inside open up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assuming Cabrera is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he will be working for another Miami-Dade Republican: Sen. Marco Rubio, Trumps nominee for secretary of state. Trumps fight with Panama may still be waiting for the next ambassador. This week, Trump posted on Truth Social that fees charged U.S. ships transiting the canal are ridiculous and warned the United States would take back the waterway if the costs dont go down. Panama also can play a key role in reducing illegal immigration into the United States by increasing enforcement at the Colombian border which is already a U.S. priority. It takes about four hours to fly from Miami to Panama City, so Cabreras post wont keep him too far away should he choose to run for county mayor in 2028 after the countys current Democratic mayor, Daniella Levine Cava, finishes her second and final term. ATLANTA (AP) Republicans plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nations voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress to push through long-sought changes that include voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections, an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from President-elect Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. In the new year, Republicans will be under pressure to address Trumps desires to change how elections are run in the U.S., something he continues to promote despite his win in November. The main legislation that Republicans expect to push will be versions of the American Confidence in Elections Act and the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, said GOP Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, chair of the Committee on House Administration, which handles election-related legislation. The proposals are known as the ACE and SAVE acts, respectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As we look to the new year with unified Republican government, we have a real opportunity to move these pieces of legislation not only out of committee, but across the House floor and into law, Steil said in an interview. We need to improve Americans confidence in elections. Republicans are likely to face opposition from Democrats and have little wiggle room with their narrow majorities in both the House and Senate. Steil said he expects there will be some reforms and tweaks to the original proposals and hopes Democrats will work with Republicans to refine and ultimately support them. Democrats want to make it easier, not harder, to vote New York Rep. Joe Morelle, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said there was an opportunity for bipartisan agreement on some issues but said the two previous GOP bills go too far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our view and the Republicans view is very different on this point, Morelle said. They have spent most of the time in the last two years and beyond really restricting the rights of people to get to ballots and thats at the state level and the federal level. And the SAVE Act and the ACE Act both do that make it harder for people to vote. Morelle said he wants to see both parties support dedicated federal funding for election offices. He sees other bipartisan opportunities around limiting foreign money in U.S. elections and possibly imposing a voter ID requirement if certain safeguards are in place to protect voters. Democrats say some state laws are too restrictive in limiting the types of IDs that are acceptable for voting, making it harder for college students or those who lack a permanent address. Morelle said he was disappointed by the GOPs claims in this year's campaigns about widespread voting by noncitizens, which is extremely rare, and noted how those claims all but evaporated once Trump won. Voting by noncitizens is already illegal and and can result in felony charges and deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You havent heard a word about this since Election Day, Morelle said. Its an Election Day miracle that suddenly the thing that they had spent an inordinate amount of time describing as a rampant problem, epidemic problem, didnt exist at all. GOP: Current voter registration relies on an honor system Before the November election, House Republicans pushed the SAVE Act, which passed the House in July but stalled in the Democrat-controlled Senate. It requires proof of citizenship when registering to vote and includes potential penalties for election officials who fail to confirm eligibility. Republicans say the current process relies on an what they call an honor system with loopholes that have allowed noncitizens to register and vote in past elections. While voting by noncitizens has occurred, research and reviews of state cases have shown it to be rare and typically a mistake rather than an intentional effort to sway an election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the current system, those seeking to register are asked to provide either a state drivers license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number. A few states require a full Social Security number. Republicans say the voter registration process is not tight enough because in many states people can be added to voter rolls even if they do not provide this information and that some noncitizens can receive Social Security numbers and drivers licenses. They believe the current requirement that anyone completing a voter registration form sign under oath that they are a U.S. citizen is not enough. They want to force states to reject any voter registration application for which proof of citizenship is not provided. Republicans say that could include a REAL ID-compliant drivers license, a passport or a birth certificate. One state flags noncitizens with regular audits Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Georgia, a perennial presidential battleground state, election officials said they have not encountered any hiccups verifying the citizenship status of its nearly 7.3 million registered voters. They conducted an audit in 2022 that identified 1,634 people who had attempted to register but were not able to be verified as U.S. citizens by a federal database. A second audit this year used local court records to identify people who said they could not serve as a juror because they were not a U.S. citizen. Of the 20 people identified, six were investigated for illegal voting, though one of those cases was closed because the person had since died. What weve done by doing those audits is give voters confidence that we do not have noncitizens voting here in Georgia, said Brad Raffensperger, Georgias secretary of state. And when society is highly polarized, you have to look at building trust. Trust is the gold standard. Raffensperger, a Republican who supports both voter ID and proof of citizenship requirements, credits the states early adoption of REAL ID and use of automatic voter registration for ensuring voter lists are accurate. The latter is something he hopes more Republicans will consider, as he argued it has allowed Georgia election officials to use the motor vehicle agencys process to verify citizenship and track people moving in and around the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You have to get it right because youre talking about peoples priceless franchise to vote, Raffensperger said. Look to states as laboratories for voting reforms If Congress does pass any changes, it would fall to election officials across the country to implement them. Raffensperger and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, said it would be a mistake to move the country to a single day of voting, something Trump has said he would like to see happen, because it would eliminate early voting and limit access to mail ballots. Both methods are extremely popular among voters. In Georgia, 71% of voters in November cast their ballots in person before Election Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both said they hoped lawmakers would look to what is working in their states and build off those successes. Weve proven time and time again in our states that our elections are secure and are accurate, Benson said. Donald Trump will enter the White House for a second time on Jan. 20. Governments the world over are bracing for a new round of tariffs, a term the incoming president has called the most beautiful word in the dictionary. While on the campaign trail, Trump pledged to impose tariffs on several economies, particularly Chinas. Just a few weeks ago, Trump took to Truth Social, his social media platform, to promise new duties on China, Mexico, and Canada the moment he takes office. Trump launched a trade war against China during his first term in office, pushing companies to diversify their supply chains to avoid tariffs. The COVID pandemic also disrupted China-based supply chains, further accelerating plans to diversify. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Southeast Asian economies, particularly Vietnam, benefited from these changes. The first Trump trade war allowed the ASEAN-6Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnamto capture a larger share of global exports in varied sectors spanning from electronics, advanced manufacturing, to resource-based and downstream industries, says Chua Han Teng, a Southeast Asia economist at DBS, the regions largest bank. Chua expects growth in the regions six largest economies to average 4.9% in 2025. But he warns that higher U.S. tariffs could pressure the regions key growth engines, exports and manufacturing. Vietnam under threat Analysts fear that Vietnamone of the regions biggest beneficiaries of companies reshoring their supply chainsis the most exposed to a new Trump trade war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vietnam now has the third-largest trade surplus with the U.S., after China and Mexico, according to Priyanka Kishore, principal economist at consulting firm Asia Decoded. That puts the Southeast Asian country at risk of scrutiny from a Trump administration obsessed with bilateral trade flows. We expect Vietnam to be the only Southeast Asian economy the Trump administration will implement higher tariffs on when he gets into office, says Sheana Yue, an economist with Oxford Economics. She expects that the Trump administration will want to protect sectors like manufacturing, metals, and electronicsall now sources of strength for Vietnam owing to shifting supply chains. Chua, from DBS, also points out that Washington is monitoring Vietnam for possible currency manipulation. In early November, the U.S. stated that none of its major trading partners were manipulating their currencies, but put Vietnam on its monitoring list, alongside economies like China, Taiwan, and Germany. Singapore faces an indirect threat Singapore, Southeast Asias business hub, has a trade deficit with the U.S. Its also the only Southeast Asian economy to have a free-trade agreement with Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Analysts think Singapores small economy doesnt have to fear any direct threat from Trumps trade policy. Instead, the risk is that a disruption to the global trading system threatens Singapores trade- and export-oriented economy. Among the ASEAN-6 countries, Vietnam and Singapore are the most highly trade dependent, making their current resilient outlooks quite vulnerable to any global economic and trade slowdown induced by higher tariffs and elevated policy uncertainty, Chua says. How will the rest of ASEAN fare? Chua thinks that while no country is free from the risk of getting slapped with a blanket 10% tariff by the U.S., China will remain the Trump administrations immediate focus. Trump has appointed several China hawks, like Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), to key positions in his administration. Pressure on China could mean that the ASEAN-6 region could still benefit from an ongoing wave of investment driven by diversifying supply chains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Malaysia is a key player in the chip supply chain, increasingly the focus of U.S. national security concerns. While it exports semiconductor products to the U.S., Malaysias chip sector focuses on areas like testing, assembly, and packaging, areas that Washington, as of now, is less worried about. Yue of Oxford Economics also notes that many U.S. semiconductor firms have a strong presence in Malaysia. Yet Yue warns that its hard to predict what a Trump administration might do. Even a country like Thailand, a longtime U.S. security ally, could face tariffs. The U.S. has a trade deficit with Thailand; the country also taxes U.S. imports at a higher rate than what Washington charges on goods from Thailand. Thats a risky combination in the Trump era. Together, that could be an excuse for Trump to slap higher tariffs on Thailand, if one day [he] decides that Thailand has stepped on his nerves for whatever reasons, Yue warns. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com President-elect Donald Trump spent his Christmas morning taking shots at his political opponents in a pointed message. On Wednesday, Trump kicked off his rant on his social media platform, Truth Social, by calling out soldiers in China while accusing them of illegally operating in the Panama Canal. Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago), always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in repair money, but will have absolutely nothing to say about anything, the GOP leader wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump went on to bash Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by mockingly calling him governor before doubling down on his desire to purchase Greenland from Denmark, citing the move to national security purposes. Also, to Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada, whose Citizens Taxes are far too high, but if Canada was to become our 51st State, their Taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other Country anywhere in the World, Trump continued. Likewise, to the people of Greenland, which is needed by the United States for National Security purposes and, who want the U.S. to be there, and we will! he added. In a separate post, Trump jeeringly wished a Merry Christmas to the radical Left Lunatics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merry Christmas to the Radical Left Lunatics, who are constantly trying to obstruct our Court System and our Elections, and are always going after the Great Citizens and Patriots of the United States but, in particular, their Political Opponent, ME, he continued. Wrapping up his less-than-jolly two-part note, Trump saved his final blow for Joe Biden as he criticized the president for commuting the sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates, in a move that changed their punishment to life in prison without parole. They know that their only chance of survival is getting pardons from a man who has absolutely no idea what he is doing, he added. Also, to the 37 most violent criminals, who killed, raped, and plundered like virtually no one before them, but were just given, incredibly, a pardon by Sleepy Joe Biden. Writing that he refuses to wish a Merry Christmas to those lucky souls, he said, instead, [I] will say, GO TO HELL!. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had the Greatest Election in the History of our Country, a bright light is now shining over the U.S.A. and, in 26 days, we will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. MERRY CHRISTMAS!, Trump added. Related... Donald Trump, then the GOP candidate for president, gave a keynote speech on the third day of the Bitcoin 2024 conference at Music City Center on July 27, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. He had previously dismissed cryptocurrency as a scam but embraced it in his latest bid for a second term in the White House. (Jon Cherry | Getty Images) President-elect Donald Trumps recent appointments and cabinet nominees are pointing to a four-year stint of deregulation in the tech industry, and lots of potential for competitive growth within the industry and globally, tech executives predict. Trump has made a handful of recent selections, both to existing positions, like chair of the Federal Trade Commission and chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and he has created new positions for his term, like the AI and crypto czar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There appears to be much more cohesion and support from within his camp to support a range of geopolitical, technology and innovation issues that were relegated in importance during his first term, software founder Yashin Manraj said. Trump has chosen FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson to be the agencys next chairman, replacing Lina Khan, who fought Big Tech overreach during her tenure. Hes slated to be joined by antitrust specialist Mark Meador in his former position. Together, the pair will likely continue to scrutinize Big Tech agencies, but for issues of censorship which was a Republican talking point during the election. Earlier this month, Trump named cryptocurrency advocate and former SEC commissioner Paul Atkins as his pick for chair of the SEC, and appointed former PayPal executive David Sacks to a new role of AI and crypto czar, PBS reported. The move comes as Trumps view on digital currencies has evolved. During his first presidency, Trump called it highly volatile and based on thin air, but has since changed his tune. In September, he rolled out a new venture to trade crypto, called World Liberty Financial, and said during his 2024 campaign, that he aims to make the U.S. the crypto capital of the planet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And on Dec. 16, Trump met with Japanese-based investment firm SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, who announced a $100 billion investment into U.S. projects over the course of Trumps term, many of which will focus on artificial intelligence. Appointees setting the tone These tech industry appointees and connections lean toward traditional Republican deregulatory instincts, said Dev Nag, Bay Area-based founder and CEO of AI automation company QueryPal. Its a shift toward something Nag calls techno-pragmatic nationalism, or a mixture of these Republican deregulation instincts with industry policy that focuses on maintaining the U.S. status in the global tech economy. Fergusons appointment to the FTC will likely result in policies that continue to allow large U.S. tech companies to thrive while addressing specific competitive issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well also probably see harder barriers against foreign tech competitors, especially China, Nag said. Manraj, the Eagle Point, Oregon-based founder and CEO of software company Pvotal Technologies, also sees Trumps appointments as an attempt to focus on growing the local tech economies, rather than the global one. These policies will weaken the tech industries of the European Union and many emerging countries, which were hoping for the heightened regulation under Harris to prevent further brain drains and promote [foreign direct investment] in their startup ecosystems, Manraj said. There was a lot of technical advancement during President Joe Bidens term, but stronger tech regulations created some confusion and hesitation within the industry, Manraj said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on the track record of these appointees, were likely to see a significant rollback of AI safeguards implemented under the Biden administration, replaced with a framework emphasizing rapid deployment and commercialization, Nag said. SoftBanks investment is a sign that the industry is feeling ready to develop, and that investment dollars are more likely to flow under a Trump administration, Manraj said. Differences from Trumps first term The appointments and tech-industry relationships Trump has developed for his second term appear to make him more prepared to be supportive of tech innovation and growth than his first term, Manraj said. Hes relying on a new generation of technocrats, to enact change, Manraj said, rather than politically driven cabinet advisors from his first time in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crypto world is reacting positively to it, and many projects treading water for years are finally ramping up hiring and growth locally in the U.S., Manraj said. Nag predicted several potential technological advancements we may see under Trumps second term, including the relaxation of AI restrictions paired with lots of investments into tech. That may allow for AI to integrate across lots of industries and infrastructures faster than it would have under a Kamala Harris administration. Nag also noted Trumps change in attitude toward crypto, saying a friendlier regulatory environment for the digital currencies may position the U.S. as a global leader in the space. We may also see more advancement in semiconductor manufacturing and computing capabilities under more relaxed regulations. All of these advancements come with important governance considerations, though, Nag said. AI advancements that go so far without safety frameworks can create future problems that we cant come back from. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The key challenge for this administration will be maintaining the delicate balance between fostering rapid innovation and ensuring long-term technological resilience, he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX President-elect Trump on Wednesday used a lengthy Christmas Day social media post to tell the 37 people who had their death sentences commuted by President Biden to go to hell. Also, to the 37 most violent criminals, who killed, raped, and plundered like virtually no one before them, but were just given, incredibly, a pardon by Sleepy Joe Biden, Trump wrote in the latter of two Truth Social posts. I refuse to wish a Merry Christmas to those lucky souls but, instead, will say, GO TO HELL! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Biden on Monday commuted the sentences of 37 inmates on federal death row. Their sentences were converted to life in prison. Trump has repeatedly condemned the decision. Trump in his Wednesday missive also focused on foreign relations with China, Panama, Canada and Greenland. He accused Chinas soldiers of illegally manning the Panama Canal, which he says he wants to return to U.S. control. Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago), always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in repair money, but will have absolutely nothing to say about anything, Trump wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, Also, to Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada, whose Citizens Taxes are far too high, but if Canada was to become our 51st State, their Taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other Country anywhere in the World. Likewise, to the people of Greenland, which is needed by the United States for National Security purposes and, who want the U.S. to be there, and we will! Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Amid a social media posting frenzy on Christmas Day, President-elect Donald Trump expressed his desire to somehow seize control of Greenland, Canada and the Panama Canal as he lobbed insults at his political enemies. In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump repeated his recent complaints about the Panama Canal, which have been coupled with threats to take over the shipping lane in Central America. He accused China of operating the canal and lamented that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in repair money, but will have absolutely nothing to say about anything. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has fiercely insisted on his nations control over the canal, and Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has said it will always respect Panamas sovereignty over the canal and recognize the canal as a permanently neutral international waterway. (As The Associated Press explained, unless Trump goes to war with Panama, his threat to take over the canal is effectively meaningless.) Trump also suggested once again that Canada should be the 51st American state and hinted at his desire for the U.S. to purchase Greenland, a notion he first raised in his first term as president. (Greenlands prime minister reiterated that the island, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, is not for sale.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a subsequent post, Trump wished a Merry Christmas to Radical Left Lunatics whom he accused of trying to meddle in the justice systems and elections, and are always going after the Great Citizens and Patriots of the United States but, in particular, their Political Opponent, ME. He then insulted President Joe Biden and criticized his decision to commute the sentences of 37 people on death row. I refuse to wish a Merry Christmas to those lucky souls but, instead, will say, GO TO HELL! the president-elect wrote. Trump is no stranger to spending his holidays posting on social media, often attacking his rivals and airing his grievances online. Meanwhile, as The Washington Post reported, the Trump Organization used the holiday to sell a variety of Trump-themed Christmas merchandise, from a $47 AmeriChristmas sweater to a $92 MAGA glass hat tree ornament. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey has decided to allow parliament's pro-Kurdish party to hold talks with militant leader Abdullah Ocalan on his island prison, the pro-government Sabah newspaper reported on Thursday, setting up the first such visit in nearly a decade. The DEM Party delegation is expected to go to the prison on Imrali island on Thursday or Friday, Sabah said on its website, without specifying its source. The decision comes after a key ally of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan proposed the move as part of a bid to end the 40-year-old conflict between the state and Ocalan's outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party militant group, known as the PKK. (Reporting by Daren Butler; Editing by Jonathan Spicer) Media figures are mourning the death of a beloved television news anchor who passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Mark Spain, 64, who spent decades anchoring the news in various markets including Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Jacksonville, died on Dec. 18. Spain was most recently employed at WSET-TV, the ABC affiliate in Lynchburg, Va., where he served as a weekday news anchor. Mark Spain, 64, died of pancreatic cancer on Dec. 18. He was a veteran television news anchor in several markets. Facebook / Mark Spain ABC 13 Spains passing was announced by his family and WSET-TV in Lynchburg, Va. He is seen left with fellow anchor Noreen Turyn. Facebook / Mark Spain ABC 13 Spains wife posted a message on her husbands Facebook account announcing the sad news. His smile and positivity were known to his family, our team here at WSET, and the thousands across Lynchburg and beyond who welcomed Mark into their homes each night on TV, the station said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When he first addressed the community regarding his cancer diagnosis in early December, he echoed that familiar sunny outlook despite the heavy situation. Kristen Mirand, a reporter and anchor at Buffalo-based WKBW-TV and a former colleague of Spains at Sinclair-owned WSET-TV, paid tribute to the veteran journalist last week. To know Mark Spain was to know positivity, faith & kindness, Mirand wrote on her X account. Mirand praised Spain as more than a gifted journalist, calling him an incredible person who inspired everyone he met. Spain is seen left with WSET-TV weekend anchor and reporter Kelsey Childress. Facebook / Mark Spain ABC 13 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His legacy will live on, she wrote, adding a heart emoji. The Danville, Va. police department also mourned Spains loss, writing on X: He was a familiar face on WSET each evening in many homes throughout Danville, and very professionally covered several news stories about the Department. Mark will be missed. Earlier this month, the Lynchburg community participated in a Purple Out day for Spain after it was learned he was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Liberty University lit up its Freedom Tower in purple, one of the late anchors favorite colors, to show solidarity with Spains fight against the disease. Spain is survived by his wife, Lynita, and their three children. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) A serious accident led to two people being airlifted with serious injuries in Ohio County on Wednesday. The Fordsville Fire Department took to Facebook to thank Ohio County Dispatch, EMS, the Ohio County Sheriffs Office, air evac 92, air evac 46 and Rags Riches Towing for their help with the accident. Officials have not yet said what caused the crash or the condition of those involved. 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 Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). Two people were killed and another was injured after an early morning shooting on Christmas Day at a Broward IHOP, police say. The shooting happened just before 1:30 a.m. Wednesday at the restaurant, 7990 Miramar Parkway, according to Miramar police. The three people were rushed to Memorial Hospital Miramar with gunshot wounds. Preliminary investigations reveal that this was a targeted attack, and the victims were known to one another, police spokesperson Janice McIntosh said in a statement. At this time, the Miramar Police Department is not seeking any suspects, and there is no evidence to suggest this was a random act of violence. According to WPLG-Local 10, the two people gunned down were women. This report will be updated as more information becomes available UPDATE: Names of victims in Palatka triple shooting on Christmas night released Two people are dead and another is in critical condition at a trauma center after a shooting Christmas night in Palatka. Police were called to the 100 block of North 19th Street at about 9:40 p.m. Wednesday where a large crowd was gathered. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Officers were clearing the crowd when they heard gunfire nearby, Palatka police said. When officers reached the area where the shots were fired, they located three victims. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, another was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead, and the third victim was taken to a trauma center and listed in critical condition, Palatka police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The names of the victims were not released. No arrests have been made. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement Crime Scene Unit and the State Attorneys Office Homicide Investigative Unit are assisting in the investigation, a Palatka police news release states. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call police at 386-329-0115 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-888-277-8477. [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. Two Maryland politicians are being considered to become the next chair of the Democratic National Committee, vying to lead a political party that is rebuilding after November losses in the White House and both chambers of Congress. Former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley and nonprofit executive-turned Senate hopeful Robert Houton are on the increasingly long list of candidates vying to lead the DNC following its Feb. 1 election to replace outgoing Chair Jaime Harrison. Author and former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson was the latest competitor to launch her bid Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OMalley, Houton and Williamson represent wildly different political figures and are reflective of the growing list of DNC chair candidates. The field also includes Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party chair Ken Martin and Wisconsin Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler. OMalley, who served as mayor of Baltimore from 1999 to 2007 before becoming governor and launching a failed presidential bid in 2016, has chalked up the partys 2024 defeat to its leaders growing out of touch with everyday Americans on kitchen table issues such as the economy. He has touted his record as chair of the Democratic Governors Association which he did while in Annapolis from 2011 to 2012 and repeatedly called for rejecting the politics of fear. Its time to get back to the party of FDR. The party that says there is nothing to fear but fear itself, OMalley wrote on X/Twitter Dec. 5 upon announcing his bid. OMalley has received endorsements from both of Marylands incumbent senators, Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, as well as Senate-elect Angela Alsobrooks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Houton has a more colorful recent political history. A relative unknown from Bethesda, he campaigned on tackling opioid abuse in Marylands 2024 Democratic Senate primary but garnered less than 2,000 votes just 0.29% of the vote in Marylands 2024 Democratic Senate primary, a race dominated by eventual Senate-elect Alsobrooks and Rep. David Trone. Despite hoping to become the partys nominee against former GOP Gov. Larry Hogan, Houton ultimately endorsed Hogan in October while calling out Alsobrooks for what he called a campaign based on lying, fear-mongering, name-calling and blame-gaming. Thus far, Houton has not received the endorsement of any Maryland big wigs, but still has time to campaign before the party selects its new chair during its annual winter meeting in National Harbor, Prince Georges County. The ultimate choice for DNC chair will be tasked with rebuilding a party in the political wilderness Republicans will hold a trifecta in the 119th Congress amidst criticisms it has lost sight of pivotal working-class voters. ________ SCRANTON, Pa. (WHTM) Earlier today, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Gerard M. Karam, has submitted his resignation. According to the DOJ, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Gerard M. Karam, officially submitted his resignation to President Biden, which will go into effect starting Friday, January 10, 2025. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now abc27 Evening Newsletter Karam was nominated by Senators Bob Casey and Patrick Toomey, then appointed by President Joseph R. Biden, and confirmed by the United States Senate on June 13, 2022. As a son of a police officer, being appointed United States Attorney in my home district has been an honor of a lifetime, U.S. Attorney Karam said. I am grateful to President Biden, Attorney General Merrick Garland, Senator Robert Casey, and former Senator Patrick Toomey for the opportunity to serve as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. I am equally thankful for the career attorneys, professional staff and the dedicated law enforcement officers who work honestly, diligently and with the utmost good faith to keep our citizens safe, apply the rule of law equally and to protect the civil rights of our citizens. It has been a true privilege to serve alongside these impressive and committed individuals. Together we have had many proud accomplishments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ says that in addition to being a United States Attorney, Karam also served on the Attorney Generals Advisory Committees Subcommittees on White Collar Crime, Civil Rights, and Controlled Substances. Gov. Shapiro appoints AG Michelle Henry as Pennsylvanias State Inspector General Furthermore, during his time serving as U.S. Attorney, Karam boasted many accomplishments including: Holding a multi-hospital health system accountable for submitting claims to Medicare for Annual Wellness Visit services that violated Medicare rules and regulations. In turn, the health system paid $11,712,336.00 to resolve civil liability. Helped to indict four defendants involved in a $120 million disadvantaged business fraud scheme. Worked on a case that resulted in a doctor being sentenced to 22 years in prison following convictions for unlawful distribution of controlled substances that resulted in death. Helped to indict three defendants involved in a multi-state money laundering and unemployment fraud scheme involving over $60 million, with $35 million transferred to bank accounts in China. Led the creation of the districts first appellate and E-litigation units. According to the Office of the United States Attorneys, there are 93 U.S. Attorneys who work to enforce federal laws throughout the country. The President of the United States appoints an attorney to each of the countrys 94 federal districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karam serves the Middle District of Pennsylvania, which consists of 33 counties in northeastern and central Pennsylvania, which is home to over 3.1 million people. There are offices in Scranton, Harrisburg, and Williamsport. abc27 news will keep you updated 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. The Ukrainian Air Force struck a plant in Kamensk-Shakhtynsky, Rostov Oblast, that produces solid propellant for ballistic missiles, Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communications (Stratcom) reported on Dec. 26. These missiles are reportedly used to attack civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, including hospitals, residential buildings, and power plants. This strike is part of a comprehensive campaign to weaken the capabilities of the Russian armed forces to carry out terrorist attacks against Ukrainian civilians, Stratcom said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims. The attack is one of several recent strikes in Rostov Oblast. On Dec. 25, Ukrainian long-range drones targeted an ammunition depot at the Kadamovsky military training ground, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told The Kyiv Independent. On Dec. 24, drones struck the military airbase in Millerovo, according to local acting governor Yury Slyusar. Earlier, on Dec. 19, Ukraines Navy and the SBU carried out a combined strike on the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Rostov Oblast. These operations are part of Ukraines broader efforts to disrupt Russias military supply chain and hinder its ability to conduct attacks on Ukrainian cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Russian air defense missile may have downed Azerbaijani plane, media say Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine has announced "sanctions and other solutions" to block Russia's unwanted cryptocurrency payments. Source: Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Advisor to the president of Ukraine and Commissioner for Sanctions Policy Details: Vlasiuk recalled that Russian companies started using Bitcoin and other digital currencies for international payments after changes in legislation allowed such transactions in order to counter Western sanctions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from Vladyslav Vlasiuk: "Are we at all surprised? No, we were, without exaggeration, the first to draw our partners' attention to such plans of the enemy back in the summer. Appropriate sanctions and other solutions to block the possibility of using unwanted cryptocurrency payments are already being prepared." Background: Sanctions have significantly disrupted Russia's trade with key partners such as China and Turkiye. Local banks are avoiding transactions related to Russia to avoid falling under the control of Western regulators. In response, Russia has allowed the use of cryptocurrencies in international trade and has taken steps to legalise mining, including Bitcoin. The Russian State Duma has approved a law legalising cryptocurrency mining in Russia in the second and third readings. Vladimir Putin signed a law on taxation of income and expenses from digital currency mining and its purchase and sale. Support UP or become our patron! Key developments on Dec. 26: Ukraine hits ballistic missile propellant plant in Rostov Oblast, Stratcom reports North Korean troops in Kursk Oblast endure heavy losses, logistical struggles, Ukrainian military intelligence says 18 Russian soldiers allegedly killed in Ukraine's Dec. 25 attack in Kursk Oblast, military says 'Increase in enemy activity' governor on Russia's assaults in Kherson Oblast Willingness to support Ukraine 'until it wins' drops significantly in Western Europe, poll says The Ukrainian Air Force struck a plant in Kamensk-Shakhtynsky, Rostov Oblast, that produces solid propellant for ballistic missiles, Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communications (Stratcom) reported on Dec. 26. These missiles are reportedly used to attack civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, including hospitals, residential buildings, and power plants. "This strike is part of a comprehensive campaign to weaken the capabilities of the Russian armed forces to carry out terrorist attacks against Ukrainian civilians," Stratcom said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us The attack is one of several recent strikes in Rostov Oblast. On Dec. 25, Ukrainian long-range drones targeted an ammunition depot at the Kadamovsky military training ground, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told The Kyiv Independent. On Dec. 24, drones struck the military airbase in Millerovo, according to local acting governor Yury Slyusar. Earlier, on Dec. 19, Ukraine's Navy and the SBU carried out a combined strike on the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Rostov Oblast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These operations are part of Ukraine's broader efforts to disrupt Russia's military supply chain and hinder its ability to conduct attacks on Ukrainian cities. Read also: Russia buys acceptance with cash, plunging economy into uncertainty North Korean troops in Kursk Oblast endure heavy losses, logistical struggles, Ukrainian military intelligence says North Korean troops deployed in Russia's Kursk Oblast continue to suffer significant losses, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) reported on Dec. 26. Russia has stationed approximately 12,000 North Korean soldiers in the region since August to assist in ousting Ukrainian forces. On Dec. 20, Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka reportedly inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean troops. HUR confirmed the destruction of a North Korean mortar unit, with additional losses recorded at multiple sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite sanitary losses, including five soldiers on Dec. 20 alone, Russian officers ordered the units to maintain their positions. HUR also reported severe logistical issues for North Korean units on the front lines, including a lack of drinking water due to active hostilities. However, Russian forces have continued supplying these troops with ammunition and food to sustain their positions and resume assault operations. The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 23 that more than 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured since their deployment in Kursk Oblast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their casualties have been linked to their inexperience with the terrain and modern drone warfare, according to South Korean MP Lee Sung-kwon. While North Korean forces have proven vulnerable to Ukrainian drone strikes, their presence has enabled Russian troops to make limited gains in the region, recapturing some territory previously held by Ukrainian forces. Read also: North Korean troops in Kursk Oblast boost Russias manpower, despite vulnerabilities 18 Russian soldiers allegedly killed in Ukraine's Dec. 25 attack in Kursk Oblast, military says Ukrainian troops hit a Russian command post in the town of Lgov in Kursk Oblast, allegedly killing 18 Russian soldiers, Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communications reported on Dec. 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian forces reportedly hit the command post of Russia's 810th Separate Marine Brigade, located in an abandoned civilian building in Lgov, overnight on Dec. 25. Following the attack, Kursk Oblast Acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein claimed that Ukraine attacked civilian facilities and infrastructure in Lgov, killing four people and injuring five others. The strike killed 18 personnel and partially destroyed the command post, Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communications claimed in a Dec. 26 statement. A deputy brigade commander was most likely among the killed, and most of the killed soldiers were staff officers. The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine launched a surprise incursion in Kursk Oblast in early August. Kyiv's foothold in the Kursk region is considered a possible bargaining chip ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's expected push for peace negotiations. Despite the high losses within Russian and North Korean ranks, Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast seem to be increasingly on the back foot, facing a Russian advantage in manpower and equipment. Read also: Historian Marci Shore: Putins obsession with denazification is Freudian projection 'Increase in enemy activity' governor on Russia's assaults in Kherson Oblast Russia's sabotage groups are trying to gain a foothold and have increased the number of attacks in Kherson Oblast, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Dec. 26 on national television. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prokudin's statement comes amid an anticipated large-scale Russian advance in Kherson Oblast. In early December, Russian troops carried out assaults in the southern region to gain a foothold on islands in the Dnipro River delta. "We are observing an increase in enemy activity. We understand the places where enemy airborne groups can land, and the (Ukrainian) Defense Forces are ready to destroy them," Prokudin said. Attacks are "not rare," and Russian soldiers are trying to gain a foothold on the western bank of the Dnipro regularly, according to the governor. However, none of these attempts have been successful, he added. Russian diversionary groups are trying to gain a foothold on the islands near Kherson or on the western bank of the river every day, Prokudin said, adding that "all the diversionists were eliminated." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian military has been trying to advance on Kozatsky Island, Velykyi Potemkin Island, and the southern island of Zabych in recent weeks, Vladyslav Voloshyn, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian military's Southern Command, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on Dec. 24. Kherson and other regional settlements west of the Dnipro River have been subjected to near-daily Russian strikes since Ukraine liberated the area in November 2022, pushing Russian troops to the east of the river. Russian troops have intensified ground attacks in several areas along the front line over the past few days but failed to break through Ukraine's defense lines, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Dec. 19. Read also: Our readers questions about the war, answered. Vol. 7 Willingness to support Ukraine 'until it wins' drops significantly in Western Europe, poll says Public willingness to support Ukraine "until it wins" has dropped significantly across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, and the U.K., according to a YouGov poll reported by The Guardian on Dec. 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The survey, conducted between Dec. 3-18, highlights growing skepticism about prolonged support for Kyiv as the war with Russia drags on. In Sweden, Denmark, and the U.K., support for Ukraine's victory remains relatively high at 50%, 40%, and 36%, respectively. However, these figures represent notable declines from January levels of 57%, 51%, and 50%. Meanwhile, the share of respondents favoring a negotiated peace has risen reaching 55% in Italy, 46% in Spain, 45% in Germany, and 43% in France up by eight-10 points in each country over the year. While many respondents across Western Europe oppose a settlement requiring Ukraine to cede territory to Russia, there is widespread concern that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump may reduce or withdraw American support for Ukraine after his inauguration on Jan. 20. Stay warm with Ukrainian traditions this winter. Shop our seasonal merch collection. Star shop now Notably, in France, Germany, and Sweden, the percentage of people hoping for Ukraines outright victory has remained stable since early 2023, though overall willingness to continue support until victory has declined elsewhere. In Poland, a CBOS poll on Dec. 17 showed a dramatic shift in public opinion, with 55% of respondents favoring an end to the conflict even if it means Ukraine ceding territory a sharp rise from 39% in September 2024 and 26% in April 2022. Support for Ukraine fighting without concessions has dropped to 31%, compared to 46% in September and 59% in April 2022. The contrasting attitudes underscore Ukraine's challenges as it braces for renewed Russian offensives and continued pressure from some Western quarters for negotiations. These changes in public sentiment could complicate Kyiv's efforts to sustain international backing in its defense against Russian aggression. Read also: Ukraine ends year battered, with Russian troops pushing north, east, and south Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraines Air Force has carried out a precise strike on a factory producing ballistic missile fuel in Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, in Russias Rostov Oblast. Source: Centre for Strategic Communications (StratCom) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram Details: The military reported that the factory targeted was used by the Russians for producing solid propellant for the ballistic missiles which they use to strike critical and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. Background: On 22 December, Security Service of Ukraine drones attacked the Kadamovsky training ground in Novocherkassk, in Russias Rostov Oblast. Overnight on 25-26 December, Vyacheslav Gladkov, Governor of Russia's Belgorod Oblast, reported a drone attack on the oblast which had left six settlements without power. Support UP or become our patron! Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) reports that North Korean troops in Russias Kursk Oblast continue to suffer losses. Source: DIU Quote: "Russia, the aggressor state, continues to deploy North Korean troops in combat operations against Ukraine. Russian Armed Forces UAV units are providing support and escort for North Korean assault groups in Kursk Oblast." Details: North Korean assault troops suffered at least five casualties on one of the fronts areas on the morning of 20 December. However, Russian officers ordered the positions to be held. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has also been confirmed that a mortar crew from the North Korean army unit was hit. North Korean units on the front lines are facing a shortage of drinking water due to disrupted logistics from ongoing combat. On the same day, Ukraines defence forces carried out a strike on Russian concentrations near the settlement of Novoivanovka in Kursk Oblast, causing significant casualties among North Korean troops, including both killed and wounded. Russian forces continued to supply North Korean army units with ammunition and food to cover the losses at the front and sustain their offensive operations on 21 December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Furthermore, on 22 December, a successful strike by Ukrainian forces likely targeted a key communications hub of the North Korean army, leading to a significant drop in radio communications between North Korean troops, DIU reports. North Korean units involved in the war against Ukraine carried out combat operations, including mortar and AGS fire with UAV guidance, in the Daryino-Novoivanovka area in Kursk Oblast on 24 December. Russian crews are shifting positions and are located around 1 kilometre from the front line. Additionally, North Korean troops have set up at least five additional observation posts, named Mezha 1-5, to enhance their reconnaissance efforts, according to DIU. Support UP or become our patron! The Ukrainian media association Mediarukh (Media Movement), and media and human rights organisations have called on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to submit a proposal to the National Security and Defence Council (NSDS) to impose sanctions against Andrii Portnov, a former deputy head of the Yanukovych administration and former MP [Viktor Yanukovych is the pro-Russian former president of Ukraine who fled the country after the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 ed.]. The association demands a public explanation of the reasons in the event of a refusal. Source: Statement of Mediarukh, published by Detector Media Details: The statement notes that they are calling for sanctions against Portnov because of "numerous journalistic investigations that indicate the possible continued influence of Andrii Portnov on the judicial system of Ukraine." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yaroslava Volvach, Head of Investigations at Ukrainian public broadcaster hromadske and a representative of Mediarukh, submitted a petition to the Cabinet of Ministers calling on the NSDS to impose sanctions against Portnov. Quote from Yaroslava Volvach: "I would have liked to publish the text of the petition on the President's website, but unfortunately, they refused to publish my petition four times for its non-compliance with the established requirements, while the government[al website] recognised the text as compliant with all the norms, for some reason." More details: Mediarukh supports the petition and calls on the president of Ukraine to consider the issue of NSDC sanctions against Portnov per the Law of Ukraine On Sanctions. In case of a refusal, the activists demand a public explanation of the reasons. In addition, members of the Media Movement appealed to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the High Council of Justice of Ukraine to ensure transparency and impartiality in the consideration of cases involving public figures, including Andrii Portnov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from Yaroslava Volvach: "We ask that the judicial decisions in these cases be reviewed for compliance with the standards of justice and judicial ethics. Any possible impact on the judicial system, abuse or violation of justice standards." For reference: Andrii Portnov held key positions in the administration of fugitive former president Viktor Yanukovych, including deputy head of the administration between 2010 and 2014. He was also involved in the adoption of the "16 January laws", which restricted citizens' rights and recognised civil society as "extremists" and "foreign agents". In 2021, the US government imposed sanctions on Portnov for his involvement in corruption and pressure on judges. In a statement, the US Department of Treasury said that Portnov influenced the judiciary, facilitated the appointment of loyal officials and used bribery to achieve his goals. Support UP or become our patron! Chinese Embassy in U.S. hosts winter solstice-themed cultural event Xinhua) 08:17, December 26, 2024 A guest participates in dumpling-making at the Chinese Embassy in the United States in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 20, 2024. The Chinese Embassy in the United States recently hosted a cultural event themed "Celebrating the Winter Solstice: Sharing Warmth and Culture." Held on Dec. 20, the celebratory event was attended by more than 50 guests from various sectors of U.S. society and foreign diplomatic missions in Washington, D.C. (Xinhua/Yan Liang) WASHINGTON, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in the United States recently hosted a cultural event themed "Celebrating the Winter Solstice: Sharing Warmth and Culture." Held on Dec. 20, the celebratory event was attended by more than 50 guests from various sectors of U.S. society and foreign diplomatic missions in Washington, D.C. Guests enjoyed traditional Chinese cultural experiences, including musical performances, Sichuan opera face-changing, and a tasting of Winter Solstice delicacies. They also participated in dumpling-making and tea-tasting and experienced traditional Chinese medicine demonstrations, immersing themselves in the rich traditions and charm of traditional Chinese culture. In her remarks, Wang Dan, wife of Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Xie Feng, highlighted the significance of the winter solstice, which encompasses both cultural heritage and the spirit of conveying warmth and hope during the coldest season of the year. She welcomed attendees to visit China in 2025 to experience the Chinese culture firsthand. Panama's Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States, Ambassador Ana Irene Delgado, said in her remarks that culture, with its richness and diversity, transcends borders and differences, serving as a bridge that connects people worldwide. Delgado said that the concept of harmony between humanity and nature resonates globally and deepens the friendship between China and Panama. Carla Canales, senior advisor and envoy for cultural exchange for the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, reflected on her many visits to China, describing culture as a network of rivers flowing across the planet and intertwining. She underscored the event's importance in fostering meaningful cultural exchange. Guests enjoy a Sichuan opera face-changing performance at the Chinese Embassy in the United States in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 20, 2024. The Chinese Embassy in the United States recently hosted a cultural event themed "Celebrating the Winter Solstice: Sharing Warmth and Culture." Held on Dec. 20, the celebratory event was attended by more than 50 guests from various sectors of U.S. society and foreign diplomatic missions in Washington, D.C. (Xinhua/Yan Liang) Guests enjoy a traditional Chinese musical performance at the Chinese Embassy in the United States in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 20, 2024. The Chinese Embassy in the United States recently hosted a cultural event themed "Celebrating the Winter Solstice: Sharing Warmth and Culture." Held on Dec. 20, the celebratory event was attended by more than 50 guests from various sectors of U.S. society and foreign diplomatic missions in Washington, D.C. (Xinhua/Yan Liang) Guests enjoy a Sichuan opera face-changing performance at the Chinese Embassy in the United States in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 20, 2024. The Chinese Embassy in the United States recently hosted a cultural event themed "Celebrating the Winter Solstice: Sharing Warmth and Culture." Held on Dec. 20, the celebratory event was attended by more than 50 guests from various sectors of U.S. society and foreign diplomatic missions in Washington, D.C. (Xinhua/Yan Liang) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) KYIV, Ukraine (AP) North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in the fighting in Russia's Kursk region and facing logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks, Ukraines military intelligence said Thursday. The intelligence agency, known under its acronym GUR, said Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. It said North Korean troops also faced supply issues and even shortages of drinking water. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The casualty disclosure came as the Biden administration was pressing to send as much military aid as possible to Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump takes over in January. Ukrainian forces launched an incursion into the Kursk region in August, dealing a significant blow to Russia's prestige and forcing it to deploy some of its troops from eastern Ukraine, where they were pressing a slow-moving offensive. The Russian army has been able to reclaim some territory in the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces, but has failed to fully dislodge them. At the same time, Russia has sought to break Ukraine's resistance with waves of strikes with cruise missiles and drones against Ukraine's power grid and other infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest attack on Christmas morning involved 78 missiles and 106 drones, striking power facilities, Ukraines air force said. It claimed to have intercepted 59 missiles and 54 drones and jammed 52 other drones. On Thursday, Russia attacked Ukraine with 31 exploding drones. Twenty were shot down and another 11 didnt reach their target due to jamming, the Ukrainian air force said. As part of the daily barrage, Russian forces also struck a central market in Nikopol in the Dnipropetrovsk region with a drone, wounding eight people, according to local authorities. Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened Thursday that Russia could again hit Ukraine with the new Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile that was first used in a Nov. 21 strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to reporters, Putin said Russia has just a few Oreshnik missiles, but added that it wouldn't hesitate to use them on Ukraine. We aren't in a rush to use them, because those are powerful weapons intended for certain tasks, he said. But we wouldn't exclude their use today or tomorrow if necessary. Putin said Russia has launched serial production of the new weapon and reaffirmed a plan to deploy some of Oreshnik missiles to Russia's neighbor and ally Belarus. Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko told reporters Thursday that his country could host 10 or more. Ukraine struck back with drone strikes of its own. Ukraines Center for Strategic Communications said the military struck a plant in Kamensk-Shakhtynsky in Russias southern Rostov region that produces propellant for ballistic missiles. This strike is part of a comprehensive campaign to weaken the capabilities of the Russian armed forces to carry out terrorist attacks against Ukrainian civilians, it said in a statement. Ukraines Special Operations Forces have shared the second part of notes from the notebook of a North Korean soldier killed in Russias Kursk Oblast found by Ukrainian soldiers. Source: press service for Ukraines Special Operations Forces (SOF) Details: According to the latest update from the Special Operations Forces, the North Korean soldier belonged to a special forces unit. The newly released notes, according to the SOF, reveal that Private Gyeong Hong Jong, prior to his encounter with SOF operators, detailed tactics for downing drones and hiding from Ukrainian artillery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SOF noted that it is currently unclear whether these tactics are authentically North Korean or if they were taught to the North Korean troops by the Russians. Either way, the tactics involve using soldiers as bait. The notebook entry is accompanied by illustrations drawn by the North Korean special forces soldier. Quote from the notebook: "How to down a drone. Upon detecting a drone, form a team of three [people]. The person baiting the drone should maintain a distance of 7 metres, while those shooting should be positioned 10-12 metres away. If the bait remains standing, the drone will also halt its movement. At that moment, the shooter downs [the drone]." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "How to avoid artillery fire zones. If caught in an artillery fire zone, designate a new assembly point [for the group], split into smaller groups and leave the fire zone. Another way: since artillery does not strike the same point twice, one can take cover at the site of the [previous] hit and then leave the fire zone." Previously: Operators of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to kill North Korean soldiers in Kursk Oblast. The first part of the deciphered notes from the captured notebook of the killed North Korean soldier can be found here. Background: On 19 December, South Korean MP Lee Seong-kweun cited intelligence reports that 100 North Korean soldiers were killed in Kursk Oblast and about 1,000 more soldiers fighting on the side of the Russian Federation were wounded. The Pentagon predicted an increase in casualties among North Korean military personnel who continue to participate in fighting in Russias Kursk Oblast. North Korea's military is likely preparing to deploy additional troops and military equipment to Russia, potentially including kamikaze drones, in support of Moscow's war against Ukraine. On 24 December, following a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that according to preliminary estimates, the number of killed and wounded North Korean soldiers in Kursk Oblast exceeds 3,000. Support UP or become our patron! Russian forces targeted Ukraine with attack UAVs on the night of 2526 December, 20 of which were shot down by Ukrainian air defence units. A further 11 decoy drones disappeared from radar. Source: Ukraine's Air Force Quote: "On the night of 2526 December 2024 (starting from 19:00 on 25 December), the enemy launched 31 attack UAVs, including Shahed drones and other types of drones, from the directions of Oryol and Millerovo, Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of 08:30, 20 attack UAVs, including Shahed and other drones, were confirmed destroyed over Kharkiv, Kyiv, Chernihiv and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts. Due to defence measures undertaken [by Ukraine], 11 enemy decoy drones disappeared from radar without causing any damage." Details: The Russian aerial assault was countered by Ukraines anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units and mobile fire groups of the Air Force and other units of defence forces. Support UP or become our patron! The Centre for Strategic Communications of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has confirmed that the 25 December strike on the command post of the Russian 810th Marine Brigade in Lgov, Kursk Oblast, likely killed the brigade's deputy commander and 17 other soldiers. Source: Centre for Strategic Communications (StratCom) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook Quote: "According to the updated reports, the building that housed the command post of the 810th Marine Brigade was partially destroyed. The strike likely killed the deputy commander of the brigade and 17 other servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces, most of whom are staff officers." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: The Ukrainian defence forces struck the command post of the 810th Marine Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces in the town of Lgov, Kursk Oblast, on the night of 24-25 December. The Ukrainian defenders stated that combat efforts to strike crucial military targets of the Russian forces will continue. Support UP or become our patron! TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. (WFLA) The holidays bring a lot of happiness for many people, especially one Tarpon Springs High School student who is thankful she can celebrate in safety here in America. Dasha Chabaniuk is a Ukrainian refugee who left her country at only 13 years old. She has had to experience things most of us could never think of. It was really scary, and it was really sad to leave my family, Chabaniuk said. Obviously, because I have never left my country as much. In the moment, I knew I wasnt going to come back for a while. So, it was kind of hard to understand this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She left her hometown of Mykolaiv, Ukraine at a young age, and came to America in April 2022. They had to leave their house with basically no notice at all, said her grandfather Bruce Ahrens. The Russians decided to start putting rockets and bombs in her town, and they left the next day. She has grandparents, cousins, and pets that she had to leave behind. Now, at 16 years old, she has worked through the trauma by joining the color guard at her school. She said her grandfather encouraged her. He was telling me that color guard is basically like dancing, Chabaniuk said. I was like, Oh, that sounds fun. So, I was like, Yeah, Ill try. It was really hard at first, but then when you meet new people and its getting so much better, and youre getting close with them, its like my second family now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The high school junior practices all of the time with the people she loves. It just makes me forget about everything and just enjoy the moment I have, she said. She hopes to be able to go back home to see her family, but in the meantime, she has a message to other refugees in America. You should really appreciate the moment you have, because you never know what can happen, Chabaniuk said. She is celebrating the holidays in safety with her family and friends. What shes done to date now, in her third year of high school here with the color guard program, has given her so much confidence, Ahrens said. Im extremely proud to be her grandpa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chabaniuk hopes for many things in 2025. First, for the war to end. But also, that she does well on her SATs, continues to study, do color guard and be happy. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. For more than a year, the ongoing Israel-Hamas war has ignited tensions and plenty of protests on college campuses across the country. That includes UNC-Chapel Hill, where three dozen protesters were detained from a four-day Gaza solidarity encampment in April. Further protests after police intervened in the demonstration made national headlines, as pro-Palestinian protesters removed the American flag from a campus flagpole resulting in an hours-long standoff between opposing groups in the middle of campus. Now, the university is taking a notably different approach to the conflict: Beginning next semester, some students will have an opportunity to enroll in a class about the war and its impacts on campuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The course, SCLL 190, or Courageous Conversations: Israel and Palestine on Campus, is being offered by the universitys still-new School of Civic Life and Leadership. According to a social media post from the schools associate dean, the course will include a funded trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories. There is nothing on campus more difficult to talk about than Israel/Palestine. Rather than run away or do the minimum, @UNC we are moving into this space with courage & conviction, Associate Dean David Decosimo wrote on X last month. We cant solve the crisis but we can help students learn to live together across deep difference. Decosimos X post continued: With support of our Chancellor & Provost, we have designed a course that we hope will be transformative not only for the students who enroll but for our campus as a whole. A statement to The News & Observer from the universitys media relations office cautioned that faculty are continuing to plan the course, and some aspects of the class including the trip abroad arent finalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Faculty in the School of Civic Life have been working through the planning process, the universitys statement read, adding that decisions for the course will be made in coordination with respective University units and with the appropriate guidance as an independent education abroad activity. Faculty involved in planning and teaching the course were not available for an interview with The N&O by the time of publication, according to the media relations office. UNC-Chapel Hill students demonstrate during a pro-Palestinian protest at an encampment at UNC-Chapel Hill on Monday, April 29, 2024. Students for Justice in Palestine urged students to join the encampment, saying that university officials had told them that the tents are coming down tonight. Course is for whoevers willing to sit at the table Decosimos X post about the course included a roster of four instructors including School of Civic Life professor of the practice John Rose, whose university biography describes him as a nationally known expert on teaching civil discourse. The other three instructors Simon Greer, Tom Scott and Saad Soliman are not listed as professors on the School of Civic Lifes website, and their relationships to the school are unclear. Decosimos post also listed several course guests: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meir Soloveichik, rabbi for Congregation Shearith Israel in New York City; Abdullah Antepli, associate professor of the practice at the Duke University Divinity School, who previously directed the universitys Center for Muslim Life; Ashager Araro, an Ethiopian-Israeli activist; Ali Abu Awwad, a Palestinian activist; Salam Fayyad, an economist and former prime minister of the Palestinian Authority; Einat Wilf, a former Israeli politician who served in Knesset, Israels legislature; Khitam Abu Bader, staff member of Desert Stars, which promotes leadership among the Bedouin, or the Palestinian and Arab indigenous people of Israels Negev desert; and Tal Becker, vice president of Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and former legal adviser to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The universitys statement described the instructors and guests as a diverse group of nationally acclaimed thought leaders. To take the course, students must submit an application to Rose. Last month, Decosimo wrote on X that there were open seats for whoevers willing to sit at the table. That includes members of Hillel, an international organization for students; the Muslim Students Association; student government; Students for Justice in Palestine; a fraternity; or whatever, Decosimo added. It takes courage to come to the table & it does not mean abandoning conviction, Decosimo wrote. Were betting on the courage, humanity, & hope of our students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The course, for which the exact content and syllabus remain unclear, will meet in a semester that will include the one-year mark since last springs tense protests on campus. Pro-Palestinian protests have continued this fall, though they have generally happened on a smaller scale than the encampment last spring. Perhaps the most notable protest at UNC this fall was in mid-September, when protesters walked through campus buildings and spray-painted messages like Free Gaza and Israel is a terror state on the walls, The Daily Tar Heel reported. During the week that marked the one-year anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel last Oct. 7, the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, which also hosted the spring encampment, held a week of resistance. In response to the protests and other activities during that week, the university implemented heightened security measures around campus out of an abundance of caution. On X, Decosimo wrote that he had heard pain, anger, & a sense of invisibility from nearly all in the process of planning the course. People gather near a fenced enclosure surrounding the flagpole on the quad at UNC-Chapel Hill on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. UNC-Chapel Hill police charged 36 members of a pro-Palestinian Gaza solidarity encampment Tuesday morning after warning the group to remove its tents from campus or face possible arrest, suspension or expulsion from the university. Earlier in the afternoon, protesters took an American flag down from the flagpole and then mounted a Palestinian flag in its place. Controversy with School of Civic Life The course can be seen as an attempt for the universitys School of Civic Life to live up to its stated purpose, which, in part, is for students to gain important skills for civil discourse on difficult issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the course is successful in teaching those skills particularly on an issue as fraught as the war in Gaza it could be a boon to the burgeoning school, which has roots mired in controversy. The universitys Board of Trustees brought the plans for the school to light nearly two years ago, when they adopted a resolution directing administrators to accelerate the development of the new academic unit. Some faculty were quick to criticize that move, noting that they were not informed about the school ahead of the trustees announcement a process contrary to traditional shared governance structures at the university, in which faculty generally direct the curriculum and propose new academic units. Some have also questioned the political motives behind the school, particularly after then-Board of Trustees chair and now state auditor-elect Dave Boliek went on a Fox News morning show and said the school was a way to remedy a shortage of right-of center views at the university and among faculty. The dean of the universitys College of Arts and Sciences, where the School of Civic Life is housed, said last fall that faculty concerns about legislative and political influence on the school were valid, but that he hoped faculty and university leaders would be given the time and space needed to show what we can do at this great university. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school hired its inaugural group of faculty members last October, and hired its first dean and director in March. But several of the schools original faculty have since left their posts, with many citing the schools narrowed focus on historical political thought and religion, The Daily Tar Heel reported. The United Nations observer mission in Lebanon urged both Israel and Hezbollah to comply with the ceasefire agreement, warning on its Telegram channel on Thursday against actions that could jeopardize the fragile cessation of hostilities. Peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expressed concern about the continued destruction of residential areas, agricultural land and road networks in southern Lebanon by the Israeli military. UN Resolution 1701 must be fully implemented, it said. UNIFIL supports the Lebanese military in its implementation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli armed forces must withdraw from southern Lebanon in a timely manner, as provided for in the ceasefire agreement, UNIFIL said. UNIFIL emphasized in the statement that no armed groups other than the Lebanese army are permitted to operate south of the Litani River. In late November, the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia and Israel agreed to a ceasefire after more than a year of attacks from both sides. While the ceasefire is largely holding, sporadic violations have occurred, some resulting in fatalities. As part of the agreement, Hezbollah is to withdraw to positions north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometres from the Israeli-Lebanese border. Meanwhile, Israel has committed to a phased withdrawal of its ground troops from Lebanon, which is expected to be completed within 60 days. The Lebanese army will oversee the implementation and enforcement of the agreement. DUBAI (Reuters) - The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) called on Thursday for a timely Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon, citing what it called Israeli violations of a Nov. 27 ceasefire agreement with Iran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a U.S.-brokered 60-day ceasefire that calls for a phased Israeli military pullout after more than a year of war, in keeping with a 2006 U.N. Security Council resolution that ended the their last major conflict. Under the agreement, Hezbollah fighters must leave positions in south Lebanon and move north of the Litani River, which runs about 20 miles (30 km) north of the border with Israel, along with a full Israeli withdrawal from the south. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, UNIFIL voiced concern over what it said was continued destruction by Israeli forces of residential areas, farmland and infrastructure in south Lebanon, deeming this a violation of U.N. Resolution 1701. "UNIFIL continues to urge the timely withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces and the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (in place of Hezbollah) in southern Lebanon, alongside the full implementation of Resolution 1701 as a comprehensive path toward peace," the statement said. The Israeli military said it was looking into UNIFIL's criticism and declined further comment for the time being. Under the terms of its truce with Hezbollah, Israeli forces can take up to 60 days to withdraw from south Lebanon but neither side can launch offensive operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lebanon's army said it was following up with UNIFIL and the committee supervising the agreement regarding what it said was a deepened incursion of Israeli forces into some areas of southern Lebanese areas. UNIFIL reiterated readiness to monitor the area south of the Litani River to ensure it remains free of armed personnel and weapons, except those of Lebanon's government and UNIFIL. The ceasefire marked the end of the deadliest confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah since their six-week war in 2006. However, Israel has continued military operations against Palestinian militants in Gaza. (Reporting by Clauda Tanios and Tom Perry; writing by Jana Choukeir; editing by Mark Heinrich) A strike that lasted for days against Starbucks ended on Tuesday, the union Starbucks Workers United told ABC News. The strike involved workers at over 300 stores in dozens of cities nationwide. The company should be concerned because this is just the beginning, Michelle Eisen, a Starbucks barista in Buffalo, New York, and a member of the unions bargaining team, told ABC News. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The union organized the strike to protest a lack of progress in contract negotiations with the company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Workers United told ABC News in a statement that Starbucks had proposed no immediate wage increases for most baristas and a guarantee of only 1.5% wage increases in future years. But Starbucks said in a statement that the union proposed an immediate increase in the minimum wage for hourly employees by 64% and an overall 77% raise over the duration of a three-year contract. A company spokesperson told ABC News, This is not sustainable. Starbucks said it already pays an average of $18 per hour. When you factor in health care, free college tuition, and paid family leave, Starbucks pay package is worth about $30 an hour for baristas who work at least 20 hours per week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The union and the company remain without a collective bargaining agreement at organized stores. Workers United organized over 150 stores in 2024, bringing the total number of unionized stores to around 540. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Editor's Note: This news organization has been telling the stories of unclaimed dead and their impact on the community since 2019. As of this publication, at least 179 people have been removed from morgues and found final resting places. But hundreds more remain unclaimed in Bucks and Montgomery counties. You can find their names and other information on our unclaimed database. A little more than two years ago, registered nurse Brandi Stewart met Shane Estopinal and George Kaucher, homeless men with life-threatening health conditions living in the hidden corners of Bucks County. At the time, the Family Service Association Street Medicine Outreach program that Stewart manages was a newly launched mobile effort interacting with the unsheltered to support their immediate medical and basic survival needs to prevent them from dying on Bucks County streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She and her team members visit clients in the places they call home. They arrange doctor visits, transport them to appointments (sometimes to the emergency room), monitor their health and deliver their prescribed medications. They help them apply for medical assistance and food benefits. The outreach workers took care of the men like family because that is what they considered clients. After the men died, the nonprofit agency wanted to find a way to keep looking after them. They both deserved a dignified place to be at the end with people who cared about them," Stewart said, "despite a lot of things they went through." Bucks County Family Services Association Street Medicine nurses Brandi Stewart (left) and Cinquetta Fisher (right) hold the remains of two of their former clients outside of the Bucks County Coroner's Office in Warminster on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. How a Bucks nonprofit is saving lives Their work takes them out to homeless of Bucks County. It's a lifesaving mission in an RV Who was Shane Estopinal and how did he spend his last months? In the summer of 2022, Stewart received a troubling call about a potential Street Medicine client. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A man with a softball-size tumor on his neck showed up at the Bucks County Emergency Shelter in Bristol Township, which the Family Service Association operates. That day she spent an hour talking with Estopinal, a Louisiana native who maintained his Cajun draw and Southern manners. He told Stewart he slept in an abandoned bus parked in the lot of a Morrisville business. Every day he walked the 7 miles to go to the shelter seeking a meal. He didnt mind, though; Estopinal said he loved taking walks. He also loved his Bible. He was sweet, Stewart said. He used to call me Miss Brandi. Stewart arranged for Estopinal to see a doctor, who diagnosed him with lymphoma, a treatable type of lymphatic cancer. He moved into a Bensalem extended-stay hotel that the outreach program uses to house its sickest clients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He started chemotherapy, and his health appeared to be improving, Stewart said. So when he stopped answering calls and didnt come to the door when she visited in February 2023, Stewart knew something was off. Estopinal was not one to ignore the chance to talk. After three days of no contact, Stewart asked Princess Maloney, an outreach case manager, to check on him. Maloney had to ask management to open his door. Inside Estopinal was found kneeling on the floor beside his bed, his Bible opened on the table and a pair of rosary beads on the bed. An autopsy determined that he died of an accidental drug overdose. He was 44. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite numerous searches and attempts to contact family, no one was located. Ten months later, the Bucks County Coroner reached out to Stewart for help with next of kin. Estopinal talked about a sister in Louisiana, Stewart recalled, but she had no phone number. He once mentioned that hed been married and he talked about a woman named Helen, and how hed meet her in heaven one day. The news that Estopinal had no one to claim his remains bothered Stewart. I was sad to think he was sitting on a shelf, she said. Coroner, Patti Campi (left) hands one box of remains to Brandi Stewart (right), a nurse with the Bucks County Family Services Association Street Medicine Outreach program, at the Bucks County Coroner's Office in Warminster on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. George Kaucher, a man who never complained, always grateful Not long after she met Estopinal, Stewart received a referral for George Kaucher, a former truck driver and type 2 diabetic with a bone condition that impacted his feet, making it hard for him to walk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was also dependent on prescription opiates. He was always in pain, Stewart said. He had wounds on his feet all the time. Not that Kaucher was a complainer, Stewart said. He never had a mean thing to say about anyone, she said. George was a really sweet person. He was a good friend, truly. He was always thankful and kind, even when situations werent ideal. Stewart moved Kaucher and his girlfriend into a room at the Bensalem extended stay motel. He started treatment for his feet and legs, and Stewart regularly drove him to the wound care center in Warminster. But between his chronic conditions and his opiate dependence, Kaucher lost his foot, then part of a leg, then his other leg and several fingers, Stewart said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His girlfriend also died of a drug overdose during a six-month stretch when the couple lost touch with Stewart. She last saw Kaucher after he returned to the area over the summer, she said. He reached out after he ran out of insulin. His sadness over the loss of his girlfriend, who kept on top of his diabetes, was obvious, Stewart said. I think part of him died with her, she added. Four months later, she learned from another social service agency that police found Kaucher dead in his wheelchair in the woods near the Bensalem motel where he was staying. He was 42. His cause of death is still pending, according to the coroners office, but Stewart suspects it was a drug overdose. Street Medicine Outreach workers couldn't leave clients behind After his death, Stewart learned that the remains of Kaucher, like those of Estopinal, were also unclaimed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The loss of her client, and friend, was hard enough for Stewart. But the thought of him in storage at the county morgue made her grief more difficult. She mentioned it in a meeting with her boss, Family Service Association CEO Julie Dees. Dees suggested reaching out to the coroners office to see if the agency could claim him and Estopinal. Stewart didnt know if that was an option, but the agency reached out. The coroners office agreed. Stewart and Cinquetta Fisher, a nurse educator with Street Medicine Outreach, picked up the ashes Dec. 18, three days before Homeless Persons Memorial Day, which is observed Dec. 21, the longest night of the year, and two days before Dees worked her last day at the nonprofit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A glass-front curio cabinet has been ordered for where the ashes will be kept. It's to be stored in Stewarts office in the agencys Middletown headquarters. The cabinet has space for more homeless clients if necessary, Dees said. They were good, good men, Stewart added. We wished for a happier ending, but we can give them a dignified end. Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County, PA nonprofit claims remains of 2 homeless men it helped WASHINGTON (AP) A lead organization monitoring for food crises around the world withdrew a new report this week warning of imminent famine in north Gaza under what it called Israel's near-total blockade, after the U.S. asked for its retraction, U.S. officials told The Associated Press. The move follows public criticism of the report from the U.S. ambassador to Israel. The rare public challenge from the Biden administration of the work of the U.S.-funded Famine Early Warning System, which is meant to reflect the data-driven analysis of unbiased experts, drew accusations from aid and human-rights figures of possible U.S. political interference. A finding of famine would be a rebuke of close U.S. ally Israel, which has insisted that its 15-month war in Gaza is aimed against the Hamas militant group and not against its civilian population. U.S. ambassador to Israel Jacob Lew earlier this week called the warning by the internationally recognized group inaccurate and irresponsible." Lew and the U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the monitoring group, both said the findings failed to properly account for rapidly changing circumstances in north Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Embassy in Israel and the State Department declined comment. FEWS confirmed Thursday it had retracted its famine warning, and said it expected to re-release the report in January with updated data and analysis. The group declined further comment. We work day and night with the U.N. and our Israeli partners to meet humanitarian needs which are great and relying on inaccurate data is irresponsible, Lew said Tuesday. USAID confirmed to the AP that it had asked the famine-monitoring organization to withdraw its stepped-up warning of imminent famine, issued in a report dated Monday. The dispute points in part to the difficulty of assessing the extent of starvation in largely isolated northern Gaza, where thousands in recent weeks have fled an intensified Israeli military crackdown that aid groups say has allowed delivery of only a dozen trucks of food and water since roughly October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FEWS Net said in its withdrawn report that unless Israel changes its policy, it expects the number of people dying of starvation and related ailments in north Gaza to reach between two and 15 per day sometime between January and March. The internationally recognized mortality threshold for famine is two or more deaths a day per 10,000 people. FEWS was created by the U.S. development agency in the 1980s and is still funded by it. But it is intended to provide independent, neutral and data-driven assessments of hunger crises, including in war zones. Its findings help guide decisions on aid by the U.S. and other governments and agencies around the world. A spokesman for Israel's foreign ministry, Oren Marmorstein, welcomed the U.S. ambassador's public challenge of the famine warning. FEWS NET - Stop spreading these lies! Marmorstein said on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In challenging the findings publicly, the U.S. ambassador "leveraged his political power to undermine the work of this expert agency, said Scott Paul, a senior manager at the Oxfam America humanitarian nonprofit. Paul stressed that he was not weighing in on the accuracy of the data or methodology of the report. The whole point of creating FEWS is to have a group of experts make assessments about imminent famine that are untainted by political considerations, said Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch and now a visiting professor in international affairs at Princeton University. It sure looks like USAID is allowing political considerations -- the Biden administrations worry about funding Israels starvation strategy -- to interfere." Israel says it has been operating in recent months against Hamas militants still active in northern Gaza. It says the vast majority of the areas residents have fled and relocated to Gaza City, where most aid destined for the north is delivered. But some critics, including a former defense minister, have accused Israel of carrying out ethnic cleansing in Gazas far north, near the Israeli border. North Gaza has been one of the areas hardest-hit by fighting and Israels restrictions on aid throughout its war with Hamas militants. Global famine monitors and U.N. and U.S. officials have warned repeatedly of the imminent risk of malnutrition and deaths from starvation hitting famine levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement International officials say Israel last summer increased the amount of aid it was admitting there, under U.S. pressure. The U.S. and U.N. have said Gazas people as a whole need between 350 and 500 trucks a day of food and other vital needs. But the U.N. and aid groups say Israel recently has again blocked almost all aid to that part of Gaza. Cindy McCain, the American head of the U.N. World Food Program, called earlier this month for political pressure to get food flowing to Palestinians there. Israel says it places no restrictions on aid entering Gaza and that hundreds of truckloads of goods are piled up at Gazas crossings and accused international aid agencies of failing to deliver the supplies. The U.N. and other aid groups say Israeli restrictions, ongoing combat, looting and insufficient security by Israeli troops make it impossible to deliver aid effectively. Lew, the U.S. ambassador, said the famine warning was based on outdated and inaccurate data. He pointed to uncertainty over how many of the 65,000-75,000 people remaining in northern Gaza had fled in recent weeks, saying that skewed the findings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FEWS said in its report that its famine assessment holds even if as few as 10,000 people remain. USAID in its statement to AP said it had reviewed the report before it became public, and noted discrepancies in population estimates and some other data. The U.S. agency had asked the famine warning group to address those uncertainties and be clear in its final report to reflect how those uncertainties affected its predictions of famine, it said. This was relayed before Ambassador Lews statement, USAID said in a statement. FEWS NET did not resolve any of these concerns and published in spite of these technical comments and a request for substantive engagement before publication. As such, USAID asked to retract the report. Roth criticized the U.S. challenge of the report in light of the gravity of the crisis there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This quibbling over the number of people desperate for food seems a politicized diversion from the fact that the Israeli government is blocking virtually all food from getting in, he said, adding that the Biden administration seems to be closing its eyes to that reality, but putting its head in the sand wont feed anyone. The U.S., Israels main backer, provided a record amount of military support in the first year of the war. At the same time, the Biden administration repeatedly urged Israel to allow more access to aid deliveries in Gaza overall, and warned that failing to do so could trigger U.S. restrictions on military support. The administration recently said Israel was making improvements and declined to carry out its threat of restrictions. Military support for Israels war in Gaza is politically charged in the U.S., with Republicans and some Democrats staunchly opposed any effort to limit U.S. support over the suffering of Palestinian civilians trapped in the conflict. The Biden administrations reluctance to do more to press Israel for improved treatment of civilians undercut support for Democrats in last months elections. ___ Sam Mednick and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report. Brotherly love prevailed against an avalanche in Utah this week. Snowmobiler Hunter Hansen was buried on Christmas Eve while hiking with his younger brother Braeden who then came to Hunter's aid, NBC News reported. The pair had been climbing to a higher meadow in Utah's Logan Canyon when the avalanche hit, according to NBC. "I saw the snow ripple and knew that was an avalanche," Braeden said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had pulled ahead of his older sibling in the trek upwards and Hunter was taking his phone out to record his brother surpassing him when they noticed the snow crumbling down the slope. Related: Avalanche Forecaster, 37, Dies After Triggering Snowslide While Skiing with Friend According to the Utah Avalanche Center, the avalanche occurred at an elevation of roughly 8,400 feet, in an area with a "persistent weak layer" which means the snow isn't strongly attached to the surrounding area the center stated. The sudden shift in conditions happened too fast, Hunter said, and he didn't have time to move out of the way before being covered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the pressure of more and more snow built, it felt like concrete on top of him, he said. "It just washed me down the mountain, the most violent thing I've ever felt," Hunter told NBC. "Couldn't breathe, couldn't do anything. I slammed into a rock or a tree." Utah Avalanche Center Snow gear buried in the snow. Snow gear buried in the snow. Braeden said that he "turned around to watch the slide hit Hunter and just watched him kind of get tumbled and buried and then lost sight of him." Then Braeden sprang into action: He activated Hunter's beacon and the device allowed Braeden to locate his brother nearly 150 yards from where he last saw Hunter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two also had radios. But, trapped underneath compacted snow, Hunter could only listen and not send messages himself. Hunter recalled how he was "on his last breath" when he felt his brother begin digging toward him. "I found him, I found him," Hunter recalled hearing through the radio. Related: 2 Skiers Killed in Utah Avalanche, 1 Rescued After Digging Himself Out: 'Tragic Accident' Braeden shoved the snow away from Hunter's head so he could remove his helmet and, once his brother could breathe again, Braeden worked to free the rest of Hunter's body. According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, avalanches kill an average of 27 people each year. 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. Hunter, who escaped with bruising and a possible fractured leg, returned to his wife and daughter for the holiday the next day. They called Hunter's survival a "Christmas miracle," he told NBC. "You hear so many tragic stories of people getting buried in avalanches and not making it out," he said, "so I feel very blessed and lucky." Read the original article on People The office of the Utah Attorney General at the Capitol in Salt Lake City is pictured on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) Utah filed another lawsuit this week targeting companies it says are responsible for fueling the countrys opioid crisis. On Monday, the Utah Attorney Generals Office sued UnitedHealth Group, Express Scripts and their subsidiaries, which represent some of the countrys largest pharmacy benefit managers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the complaint, the companies acted as intermediaries between opioid manufacturers, pharmacies, insurance companies and patients. A pharmacy benefit manager often maintains pharmacy networks, processes prescription drug claims and sets up rebate payments to pharmacies. In their capacity as pharmacy benefit managers, Utah alleges UnitedHealth Group, Express Scripts and their subsidiaries helped quadruple the number of opioids sold in the U.S., which led to a tripling of the number of Utahns who died from prescription opioid overdose. In a statement issued earlier this week, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce Margaret Busse said pharmacy benefit managers played a covert role in the opioid crisis, which for several years has killed more than 100,000 Americans annually. Although rates appear to be in decline after hitting an unprecedented high of roughly 111,000 deaths in 2022, data suggests more than 100 Americans still die each day from some kind of opioid. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We support efforts to unveil these hidden collaborations with pharmaceutical manufacturers, as transparency is essential for accountability and building trust within our community, Busse said. The complaint accuses the companies of colluding with manufacturers to give opioids preferred status as a prescription drug, while failing to use the wealth of data available that showed the dangers of overprescribing opioids. The state also alleges companies failed to comply with state and federal laws by dispensing opioids through their mail order pharmacies. Their conduct caused prescriptions and sales of opioids to skyrocket, the complaint reads. It adds the companies failed to place limits on their approval for use, even as evidence of the epidemic mounted, including in Utah, flooding the State with opioids and facilitating and encouraging the flow and diversion of opioids into an illegal, secondary market, resulting in devastating consequences to Utah, its residents, and its communities. As a result of this illegal market, opioids were readily available to teens and young people, while rates of addiction, overdoses, and opioid-related deaths spiked, the Attorney Generals Office argues. There are economic consequences, too, according to the complaint companies continue to suffer financial losses, with widespread opioid addiction resulting in a less productive and healthy workforce. And the state is still dealing with increased costs related to healthcare services, law enforcement, social services and education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pharmacy Benefit Managers took advantage of already dangerous situations and knowingly multiplied the tragic outcomes, said Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, who is set to leave office in January after not running for reelection. He will be replaced by Attorney General-elect Derek Brown. The lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal actions taken against opioid manufacturers, pharmacies, marketing firms and other companies that played a role in the ongoing opioid crisis. To date, Utah has seen $540 million in settlements, funds that are slated for recovery programs, public health initiatives and harm reduction (which includes flooding communities with the overdose-reversing drug naloxone). The complaint asks the court to order the companies to pay an unknown sum of money, enough to cover the expenses required to abate fully the nuisance they have caused. Opioid-related settlements vary. In February, the state won $4 million in a settlement with a company that marketed OxyContin. In November, it won $45 million in a settlement with Kroger. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE JACKSON, Miss, (WJTV) Although it is Christmas Day, there are a handful of local restaurants that are open on Wednesday. During the Christmas holiday, you can find a few local favorite eateries still open for business. At The Block in Fondren, The Station is open for its regular hours of 11:00 a.m. to midnight. There, guests can enjoy plenty of good food and an open bar. If you are looking to catch a movie in Fondren, The Capri Theater in Fondren is showing the movie Mufasa at 7:00 p.m. and 9:35 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christmas Day: These retail stores are open In Flowood, The Sheraton Hotel is welcoming guests to enjoy a taste of American cuisine at Rebeccas. Rebeccas has a specialty holiday menu for Christmas and will be open until 9 p.m. If youre in the mood for Japanese cuisine, The Nagoya Japanese Sushi Bar in Madison will be open until 9 p.m. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. A vehicle crashed into a business in Brentwood. Allegheny County dispatchers say emergency crews were called to the 4000 block of Clairton Blvd. at 5:02 p.m. The vehicle hit a clothing and cosmetic store. The outside wall was slightly damaged and the door was partially collapsed but was being repaired when Channel 11 arrived. No one was injured. Police said the crash was the result of driver error and said no charges are expected to be filed. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Tonight, several local families are wondering whats next, after losing their homes on Christmas because of a fire. Multiple people were hurt, and one person was taken to the hospital. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Sadly, Christmas wasnt so merry for some families in Waycross, Georgia. Very very sad, Cedric Caine said. Not happy at all about it, Im very sad a weird ill-felling in the belly if thats how you want to describe, but yea not good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caine just moved into the apartment complex on Gilmore Street about six months ago. And on Christmas day, it goes up in flames. We were inside cooking celebrating Christmas and everything like that and next thing you know the lady came up stairs knocking on everyones door screaming, fire, fire get out everybody, get out! Fire, fire the place is on fire, lets go, Caine said. Around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the Waycross Fire Crews responded to a home fully engulfed in flames with people trapped inside. Interim Fire Chief Jim Blackburn said three people needed medical attention two people refused, and one person was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its terrible, but its part of what we do, Blackburn said. We hate it, especially being on Christmas Day. Hours later and smoke was still billowing out of this apartment complex. Blackburn said its partly because its an old structure. This is a balloon construction, old Victorian style home, probably one of the older homes in Waycross, Blackburn said. So the fire has traveled up the walls into the attics and right now were trying to get into the attic space and try to get the rest of the remaining fire out. The structure is a total loss. it has eight apartments inside, but Blackburn said luckily everyone got out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One neighbor even said he ran into action when he saw the flames. I would have felt real sick if somebody else would have died and I just sat and stood there, so I just stepped up and did my part cause thats what youre supposed to do, neighbor Seth Waldon said. Neighbors and tenants are heartbroken about the loss. I know one is in the hospital crying because he lost his apartment, Caine said. It was his apartment originally that started the fire. Caine said he plans to stay with friends tonight, but said his job is going to try and help him too. Despite the devastation on Christmas, he said hes counting his blessing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Very lucky to be alive, Caine said. [Its] another day above ground. Blackburn said the American Red Cross has been notified and will be helping those affected. He also said the State Fire Marshall is investigating the cause of the fire. [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. TOPEKA (KSNT) Originally set to work with mortars, E4 Specialist Butch McKinley found the right fit in the mechanic field. During his service, hed contribute to a vital NATO mission amid the Cold War, the return of forces to Germany. McKinley had a bit of a chip on his shoulder for joining the Army. My brother was Army, McKinley said, two older brothers were Navy so I grew up pretty much with all of them in the service, so I figured Id even it out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That plan needed some adjusting after his role with mortars wasnt panning out like he had hoped. I just like a lot about how stuff runs, so I started doing that, he said. Finding more fulfillment as a diesel mechanic, he had the chance to see what made those vehicles tick up close and personal. Veteran Salute: Once a Tanker, always a Tanker We pulled tank motors out, rebuilt them, put them back in, he said. Anytime we went somewhere wed be out there to fix anything that went wrong. We did a lot of rebuilding motors, diesel for tanks, MGS and jeeps. I took care of the maintenance for the medics and the cooks, cause if you took care of them cooks, they took care of you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That expertise led McKinley to head overseas, aiding in the NATO mission to strengthen ally military capabilities abroad. I did two Reforgers to Germany, he said. Our companies took us over there to train with the Germans. We took all our tanks took all our vehicles all our tools everything and went. Nowadays, McKinley stays heavily involved with veterans. Hes in charge of the American Legion Riders, sets up honor funeral details, and serves as the Second Vice of his American Legion group. We adopt families for Christmas, you get to see what other people dont have and youd be able to help them, McKinley said. We do a lot for veterans if we can, we do quite a bit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Specialist loves hearing the stories of others that have served. He encourages any veteran interested in getting involved in their local community to visit him at Post 400 in Topeka. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A homicide investigation is underway after a man who was shot earlier this month died from his injuries on Thursday, according to officials. The Norfolk District Attorneys Office says 45-year-old Tremalle Clark of Brockton was shot several times outside an apartment complex on Longmeadow Drive on December 6. He was transported to Boston Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries on December 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Norfolk District Attorneys Office and Holbrook Police Department extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Clarks family, District Attorney Michael Morrissey and Chief William Smith said. Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call Holbrook Police or the Massachusetts State Police Homicide Unit at the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office. No further information was immediately available. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A woman who was stabbed by a maniac at Grand Central Terminal on Christmas Eve said he came up from behind and punched her and that no one around her came to her aid after he plunged the knife into her throat. Imani-Ciara Pizarro, 26, had just gotten off the 4 train around 10 p.m. and was heading to her administrative night job at the Roosevelt Hotel, which has been converted into a migrant shelter, when she was attacked. She was Facetiming with her neighbor when she spotted blood spattered on the floor near the turnstiles. Seconds later, Pizarro blacked out when the assailant sucker punched her in the back of the head as hard as he could, forcing her to the ground. Imani-Ciara Pizarro, 26, was stabbed in the throat at Grand Central Terminal. Brigitte Stelzer The suspect, identified by police as 28-year-old Brooklyn native Jason Sargeant, began repeatedly yelling at her whats your problem? and then lunged at her with a small knife, cutting through her throat. He then kicked Pizarros phone away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses to the stabbing, many of whom appeared to be tourists just froze. Police were nowhere in sight, she said. I wish I could be able to travel to my livelihood and not be attacked. I wish there were cops in Grand Central when I was attacked, there were none. I was running for help and there was no one there, she said. There are usually cops in four different spots and I ran to each one of them but none were there, she said. Pizarro, 26, said nobody came to her aid. Brigitte Stelzer No one called 911. No one in Grand Central called 911. It was my neighbor. I called my neighbor. I was on the phone with my neighbor when it happened and she called 911. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second stabbing victim, a 42-year-old man who was slashed in the wrist, got injured worse than me, she said. It was almost like he wanted to get caught cuz he ran further into Grand Central towards the central ticket booth yelling I hate all of you, Pizarro said. She hid until her attacker fled the station, and, with no one around to help her as she bled from her neck, Pizarro ran to the Roosevelt Hotel where medical staff patched her wound. Imani Pizarros hand covered in blood after the attack. Obtained by NY Post Sources told The Post that after Pizzaro was stabbed, witnesses pointed out Sargeant to MTA police within the station. He was arrested and the weapon was recovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes charged with assault, reckless endangerment, menacing, criminal possession of a weapon, harassment and disorderly conduct, police said. Sargeant has three prior arrests for criminal mischief, fare beating, and assaulting a police officer, sources said. Its not fair. Were getting hurt everyday. And theres nothing I can do. I cant protect myself. Ive almost been assaulted two other times in the last two months by mentally ill people. I try to ignore them but they dont like being ignored either, Pizarro said. She said shes going to try and find a safer way to get to her job but a car is significantly more expensive than the train. The suspect has three prior arrests. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to be able to go to work and not be harassed and attacked. To be safe. Its not possible now, she said. The double-stabbing comes less than a week after a woman was set on fire on a late-night F-train in Coney Island marking the ninth killing on the metro system this year, matching a 25-year high. Critics blasted bystanders and an NYPD officer who were filmed watching idly as the woman, engulfed in flames, writhed in pain before collapsing. Tuesdays incident is also the second Christmas in a row that people have been attacked at the iconic Midtown train station. Last Christmas Day, two teenage girls visiting from South America, were stabbed at Tartinery in the Grand Central Dining Concourse by a man ranting that he wanted all the white people dead. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Days after San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas surprise decision to leave her post at the end of her current term, the field for a potential special election to fill her seat has started to take shape. San Diego City Councilmember Vivian Moreno announced on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday her intention to run for the impending vacant seat representing the first supervisorial district, spanning the southern portion of the county. Moreno has held the District 8 seat on the city council, which encompasses communities like Barrio Logan, Otay Mesa and San Ysidro, since 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coronado shoreline closed due to water contamination concerns Im excited to announce my campaign for San Diego County Supervisorial District 1, she said. By standing alongside those who fight for a better future for the South Bay, I am confident that we will create the South Bay that we all deserve. Together, we are building a better South Bay. The remaining four county supervisors have yet to decide whether to pursue a special election or appointment to the position. They are expected to take up the matter in early January when they return from their winter recess. Vargas announced her plans to step down from elected office at the conclusion of her first term on Friday, sending shockwaves through San Diegos political circles. In a statement on the decision, the supervisor said it was based on personal safety and security, but did not specify further. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The news came after a week of right-wing backlash to the boards vote on a largely symbolic policy she championed that would prevent the county from using its resources to aid federal law enforcement in carrying out certain deportations. This blowback included a torrent of vitriolic posts on social media, many pointed at Vargas herself. More people entered housing than became homelessness in county last month, data shows Although vocal frustration had not just been isolated to those in conservative flanks of the political spectrum. In recent weeks, an increasing number of Vargas more progressive allies had begun to express irritation over what they described as aloofness and a lack of urgent action on key issues like the Tijuana River sewage crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahead of the November election, during which Vargas was running for a second term, the Imperial Beach Democratic Club quietly rescinded its endorsement of the chair over these issues. Should the board opt for a special election to fill Vargas seat, it will be the second for the board in as many years the most recent involving the District 4 seat vacated by her predecessor as board chair, Nathan Fletcher, amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CLEARFIELD COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) A house fire broke out in Clearfield County only for one company to realize it was the father of their fire chief who was trapped inside. Winburne Fire was called to a house fire in Cooper Township on Christmas Eve. It was quickly realized the fire was at the home of the fire chiefs family. First responders who were out delivering meals and gifts to local families in need were quick to divert. According to Morris Township Volunteer Firefighters, crews arrived to find heavy fire and soon faced the home collapsing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pennsylvania State Police released more details, confirming the father of Winburne Fire Chief Robert Dunlap, 75-year-old Clifford Dunlap, had died in the fire. They said the home was a complete loss and the fire was ruled accidental. According to their report, the PSP Fire Marshal said Dunlap was using a wood pellet stove and a kerosene heater for warmth, however, what caused the fire to start couldnt be determined. Clearfield County family looks for answers on Mandy Wisors disappearance Shortly after, fire departments in the area began to share their condolences on their social media pages. The training and education coordinator at the St. Marys area ambulance service, Tyler Bender, took to his own Facebook to explain what happened in an emotional post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Imagine this: He started his post with. He then went on to detail giving your time and efforts to protect people in your community only to be called to a fire with entrapment and realize its your own familys home thats engulfed in flames. Despite every heroic effort made by those on the scene, the structure became too unstable, and tragically, the Chiefs father did not make it out. The structure collapsed, taking with it a cornerstone of the community and an irreplaceable family member. Tyler Bender Prayers for the family and friends of Cliff and to the Winburne Volunteer Fire Company members, one person commented on a Facebook post about the incident. Thank you for this he meant a lot to many of us, another commented. Stay up to date with the latest news in the palm of your hand. Click here to download the WTAJ app for Apple and Android devices. Bender, in his post, added how you can send donations for the family through Venmo and Paypal. He said he chose to use those over GoFundMe due to the fees the site charges. He added all Venmo and PayPal fees will be paid by him so every penny goes to the family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) Hundreds of community members gathered at St. Vincent de Paul in Baton Rouge to celebrate Christmas with a hot meal. Over 80 volunteers made the holiday merrier for those in need. Zachary resident and Baton Rouge native Ryan Bayless said he volunteers regularly with St. Vincent de Paul and he loves lending a helping hand for people who need it. The people need to know that someone loves and cares about them, said Bayless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everybody sees it each day in their own neighborhoods, people on the corner, were a safety net for them, said Connie Planche with St. Vincent de Paul. Someone can come every single day and get a hot meal. Planche said the Christmas meal consisted of turkey, ham, green beans, yams, rolls and dessert. Its heartwarming to know youre able to help someone else. Im here, I want to be here. Imagine what everyone is giving up today to be here, she said. Planche said a store is set up right outside with gifts people can pick out free of charge. Were putting out as many as we can, said Planche. We have toys, toiletries, food, and clothing, which is what were waiting until the end to put out if it stops raining. Every year its the same thing, its organized chaos, said Bayless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Planche said for 2024, St. Vincent de Paul passed out three hundred thousand meals to the community so far. Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com. (NewsNation) Cases of walking pneumonia are rising for the first time since the start of the pandemic, with health providers reporting an increase in young children. Cases began climbing in the spring and peaked in late August, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Diagnoses appear to be rising the most among children, according to diagnosis data from March 31 through October 5, 2024. The percentage grew from 1% to 7.2% among children ages 2 to 4 years and from 3.6% to 7.4% among children ages 5 to 17 years, according to the CDC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency said the increase in babies and toddlers is notable because the infection is historically known to affect school-age more than younger children. Cases of walking pneumonia are rising across the US Weve seen a dramatic increase in illness and hospitalization due to Mycoplasma pneumonia, said Dr. Mary Fairchok, a pediatric infectious diseases doctor at Mary Bridge Childrens Hospital in Tacoma, Washington, told MedicalExpress. Adults can get Mycoplasma too, but its really hitting the pediatric population. What is walking pneumonia Walking pneumonia is a respiratory tract infection caused by the bacterium mycoplasma pneumoniae, according to the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is the common term for atypical or a mild form of pneumonia. Pneumonia is a lung infection that causes airways to swell, the air sacs in your lungs to fill with mucus and other fluids and a high fever and a cough with mucus, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The main differences between walking pneumonia and the more common pneumonia is that the former is milder and usually doesnt require bed rest or hospitalization, the clinic stated. The highest rates of walking pneumonia generally occur in school-age children and teens, and people who have weakened immune systems or are recovering from another respiratory infection are at higher risk of severe infection. What are the symptoms of walking pneumonia? Symptoms include sore throat, fatigue, chest pain, cough and low-grade fever in adults. The infection doesnt tend to cause much nasal or sinus congestion in adults, the medical center stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walking pneumonia can feel like a bad cold or the flu. Children under 5 may experience symptoms other than a chest cold, including nasal congestion, sneezing, and watery eyes or gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting, according to the CDC. What is walking pneumonia, and why are cases rising? The infection is highly contagious and spreads through droplets in the air through coughing and sneezing. It can take up to three to four weeks from the time someone was exposed to the germ to the time that theyre feeling sick. Walking pneumonia may last from four to six weeks. A cough is usually the longest-lasting walking pneumonia symptom, according to the Cleveland Clinic. How to test for walking pneumonia? Medical professionals can test for walking pneumonia with a nose swab similar to the COVID-19 test, the Cleveland Clinic stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They could also order chest X-rays to see if theres an infection in the lungs. Providers can also do a blood test and send the sample to a laboratory to confirm the infection. How to treat walking pneumonia The infection, like most, can be treated with antibiotics. Hospitalization is generally rare with this infection. Most people can recover on their own, but over-the-counter medicine can help ease symptoms. Why are cases rising? The infection has risen to levels unseen since the pandemic. The reason why it dropped since 2020 is because of infection prevention measures that went into place, like social distancing and masking, reported Johns Hopkins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In North America, we began to detect M. pneumoniae more frequently on tests in 2024. Since the summer, the proportion of tests that are positive for M. pneumoniae has gone up and is still going up right now, the organization stated. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ST. LOUIS A federal indictment against a Warrenton, Missouri, man was made public Thursday after he allegedly sent threatening messages to the St. Louis office of the NAACP. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Darryl Jaspering, 62, was indicted for sending threatening messages through the website contact page of the St. Louis NAACP, or National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The indictment said Jaspering wrote a message in which he used racially charged threats to physically harm the recipients of his message and attempted to intimidate and interfere with NAACP employees because of their race and color. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jaspering allegedly threatened to use a dangerous weapon in his message. Jaspering has been charged for one count of transmitting threatening communications and one count of interference with federally protected activities. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both for the threatening message. He additionally faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both for interferencing with federally protected activities. The best way to describe it is a monologue full of racial aptness, threats to create bodily harm, and even negative connotations about black leadership in the city, St. Louis NAACP President Adolphus Pruitt said. We are in this environment where people are acting out of hate. So we dont take what somebody says verballywe approach it as if its something they may carry out no matter how they try to position it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hate crimes remain a growing concern across the country. The Department of Justice reports over 52 percent of hate crimes in 2023 were racially motivated. In Missouri, over 100 racial hate crimes are reported annually. Pruitt added that this indictment sends a strong message but emphasizes that there is more work to do, such as their filing of a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning the low literacy rates among Black and Brown communities. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) on Thursday criticized President-elect Trump for saying the U.S. should take control of the Panama Canal and purchase Greenland. It is utterly preposterous to suggest that we are going to send our military into Panama to, quote, take back the Panama Canal,' Wasserman Schultz said during a Thursday appearance on CNN. We have a treaty with Panama. We have a free trade agreement with Panama, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are no more going to take back the Panama Canal than Panama is going to come in and try to take the Mississippi River from us. Trump has repeatedly said over the past week that control of the Panama Canal, which has been in Panamanian hands since the 1970s, should return to the U.S. He has complained about exorbitant prices and said the U.S. is being ripped off. The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the U.S., Trump wrote on Truth Social. Trump has also said owning Greenland is an absolute necessity for the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials from Panama and Greenland have pushed back vehemently on the idea. Wasserman Schultz called remarks about both areas ridiculous carnival barker threats. She said Trumps suggested fair prices for the Panama Canal would only benefit billionaires in his circle. What Donald Trump is really trying to do here is try to get better fees for passage for his corporate and billionaire allies, she said. Thats what this boils down to. And its preposterous. The Florida Democrat also criticized Trumps nominee for U.S. ambassador to Panama, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Florida representative described him as another pick with a scant resume who worships the former president. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. UNIVERSITY CIRCLE, Ohio (WJW) Christmas is a time of great joy, but the holiday can also cause pain for those suffering from depression or trauma. On Christmas morning, a University Circle police officer was on patrol when she spotted a man outside a church on Euclid Avenue and reported that he appeared to be in distress. New Ohio laws taking effect in 2025 With my training, Im thinking okay, this guy looks like he either is in a crisis or under the influence of a substance, Officer Gloria Mercado told Fox 8. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On video from the officers body camera, the man made several unusual comments as she approached him, including they left me hooked up to an energy source. Officer Mercado says her first goal was to make the man feel at ease and then determine if he needed help. I know when somebody is up here, youre trying to bring them back down and since he was all dancing and moving around a lot, I figured if Im relaxed and I talk to him in a calm tone, he would come back down and talk to me and he engaged. Officer Mercado learned that the man had been up all night and had nowhere to go on Christmas Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, youre thinking its Christmas, if he doesnt have family, he probably has been triggered by a memory of something and how do I help this man get out of the cold, first. Then, whatever hes going through, his safety, his health, his welfare is important, she said. As part of the mission of the University Circle Police Department to serve the public with a Servants Heart, a crisis intervention team also responded to the scene to offer their assistance. The goal of Crisis Intervention Specialist Jaenin Deskin and Patrolman Joe Fazio was to establish a rapport with the man and to let him know what help was available. Dont let the uniform scare you, you know my taxi car has red and blue lights but you know its not always taking you to jail, you know I can take you other places too and get you help, said Officer Fazio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, the man declined their offer of assistance. Before leaving, the crisis team provided him with a bottle of water, a snack, and a card listing nearby shelters and other resources that are available. I-TEAM: New year aheadnew fight to crack down on speed cameras They also shared a message of hope on Christmas. When you come across somebody that has been through a trauma, you know every time that rolls around every year, thats what they start thinking about and so you kind of have to bring them out of that and say its going to be okay, you have support, if you dont have anybody else, were here for you, Officer Fazio said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the crisis intervention team was leaving, the man told them, I really needed you all, man, I needed you, I appreciate it. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. ALEXANDRIA, Ohio (WCMH) Months after 200 people filled a small church to protest a wastewater treatment facility in Licking County, an older proposal is about to get a second look. Licking Regional Water formerly the Southwest Licking Community Water and Sewer District will have a public hearing Jan. 23 with the state Environmental Protection Agency to renew a permit allowing a wastewater facility off State Route 310. The permit was first approved in 2019, but the facility was never built. According to plans, the wastewater treatment plant would discharge into Pet Run, a small river that feeds into Raccoon Creek. This is the second permit for a wastewater treatment plant filed by Licking Regional Water this year, and the first faced similar community concerns because it, too, would have fed into Raccoon Creek through Moots Run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Alexandrias 2023 Water Quality Report, Alexandria and Granville both rely on wells supplied by Raccoon Creek. The governments of Alexandria, Granville and Johnstown have spoken out about the rapid growth of the region brought on by Intel and other incoming tech companies. They have even combined forces to offer their own competing water and wastewater facilities with the aim of keeping resources locally controlled. During a Licking Regional Water board meeting on Nov. 27, members discussed the never-built Pet Run plant. Executive Director James Roberts said once Intel was announced, it was determined the plant would not be big enough. However, the state permit granted in 2019 expired in August, so board members prepared for the renewal meeting in January. With the renewal, Licking Regional Water has two possible wastewater treatment plants in the work. In November, Roberts confirmed to NBC4 the company is still working on its Moots Run facility that would feed into Raccoon Creek. We plan to have a discussion with OEPA to ensure we fully understand all of the comments, and then we will finalize and submit our updated permit application, Roberts said. We intend to have this completed before the end of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ohio EPA hearing for the renewed permit will take place Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. at the Church of Christ at Alexandria, the same location as the July hearing. According to documents, written and oral comments will be heard during the hearing, and people can submit written arguments through Jan. 30 by email. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Fierce winter winds whipped up dangerous surf along the West Coast and spawned tornadoes in the South, killing one person on the California beach and causing tornadoes and flight delays in Texas. The severe weather is blamed for multiple injuries and at least one death in California after a man was found under debris on the coast. Officials warned the public to remain vigilant because of the weather and to "never turn your back on the ocean." The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning late Thursday afternoon for parts of Texas northeast of Houston, meaning weather radar indicated there was a tornado in the area. There were no immediate reports of damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By Thursday evening, more than a million people in the South were under tornado warnings, and 4 million people in southeast Texas faced the threat of severe weather. "Thunderstorms will continue to pose a threat for a few tornadoes this evening and into the early overnight hours as they spread east-northeastward into parts of western and central Louisiana," the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Prediction Center said. "Damaging winds up to 60-65 mph and isolated hail may also occur," it added. At least 700 flights were scrubbed nationwide, and the Federal Aviation Administration issued ground stops at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Thursday, where severe thunderstorms delayed or canceled flights, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking website. Most parts of the United States experienced mild weather, but travelers in the Pacific Northwest, central southern states and the Midwest encountered bad weather and delays Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Air travel through Chicago and other Midwest airports was delayed due to freezing rain and fog, which also made driving dangerous at times. "Across the Midwest, areas of rain and drizzle and the potential for widespread fog could produce slower-than-normal travel around the holiday," AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said. Near-freezing temperatures, rain and drizzle caused icy runways at airports and on roads, bridges and overpasses during the morning hours Thursday, while fog greatly reduced visibility across the Midwest. Those hazards were mostly located south of I-90 on Christmas night but then moved northward into the upper Great Lakes by Thursday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Weather Service says heavy rain and snow disrupted travel in the Pacific Northwest, while rain in the South-Central U.S. and the Midwest made driving dangerous or caused airport delays in some areas. Lots of moisture will bring several inches of rainfall to the up-slope areas of the Pacific Northwest and northern California through Friday with a possibility of local flooding. Multiple upper-level systems were passing over the Pacific Northwest and triggering moderate to heavy rains along the coast, a mix of rain and snow at lower elevations and very heavy snow in mountain ranges Thursday, the NWS said. One wave passed through the Pacific Northwest into the Great Basin and northern and central Rockies on Thursday to be followed by a second wave Friday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mountain areas were facing up to a foot of snowfall in most areas and up to 2 or more feet of snowfall were possible, especially in the Cascade Mountains and mountain ranges in the Great Basin and northern Rockies. Strong and gusty winds caused whiteout conditions and made road travel dangerous in upper elevations. The NWS said scattered showers and thunderstorms in the middle and lower Mississippi Valley and western Gulf Coast would taper off late on Thursday. The Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas region saw rainy conditions increase into the afternoon hours Thursday. Some severe thunderstorms could still cause flash flooding, and wind shear could trigger large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes, according to the NWS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forecasters say that system will move northeasterly into the Mississippi Valley and lower Ohio and Tennessee Valley areas on Friday. Most of the nation, though, should experience mild weather with temperatures as much as 15 degrees above normal in some areas. Over the last week as a Republican-led short-term budget extension blew up, congressmen and senators scrambled for an alternative and federal workers held their breath awaiting news of a government shutdown three positive signs emerged that the next four years might go better than Donald Trump critics expected. The first is that the budget extension went from 1,500 pages written in the dead of night that couldnt be meaningfully read, much less debated, before it was passed into law down to a manageable 100 pages. In recent years, Congress has largely given up the practice of writing specific bills to lay out policies and budget for each federal agency, in favor of the practice of writing massive Christmas tree bills that thousands of pages long, written more by staffers than serious legislators. The 2023 budget bill was 1,632 dense pages of legalese, voted on within days of its public release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And it is not minor tweaks to the law that get hidden in these monstrosities. One omnibus during the first Trump administration concealed a plan to double the number of non-agricultural guest workers allowed into the United States every year. More common is pork spending (once banned but now back) and little sops to home-state industries. The same bill renamed the unappetizing brown king crab as the golden king crab, a marketing ploy beloved by Alaska fishermen. It will be a big win for democracy if the new Congress, under the influence Trump and Elon Musk who supercharged criticism of the 1,500-page bill on X returns to the practice of comprehensible legislation that can be debated, and for which members of Congress can be held accountable. The second win to come this weekend before President Joe Biden signed the budget extension bill into law was a strong showing of independence from Trump in the vote for the bill. Trump gave it his full backing. All Republicans, and even the Democrats, should do what is best for our Country, and vote YES for this Bill, TONIGHT! Trump presumably dictated to an aide who posted it to the Trump-empire subsidiary Truth Social. The good news is that all Republicans didnt endorse Trumps plan. Thirty-four voted against it. Thats a caucus big enough to tank anything crazy that Trump wants to make the law of the land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, Congress also stripped the bill of Trump-backed language that would have ended the practice of voting on limits to the U.S. debt now nearing $40 trillion. The first Trump administration was a spending orgy with trillion-dollar deficits and keeping the debt limit. That at least makes reckless spending a little more painful with a public vote to bring accountability. Thats a third win for democracy. Dont get me wrong. Donald Trump is still a threat to democracy. He has the instincts of an autocrat and the presidency has only grown in power since he last held the post. With his chaos Cabinet of the unethical, the unqualified and the unhinged, Trump threatens the foundations of our Republic. But the men who designed Americas system of government were brilliant. Their creation may still come out on top. This weekends three big wins for democracy are a sign that all hope is not lost. We should celebrate while we can. ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office is pushing to remove county councilman Dennis Hancock from office over allegations of nepotism and an ensuing coverup. Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell announced Thursday that his office is requesting a permanent judgment of quo warranto against Councilman Hancock, in addition for Hancock to be ousted from his position as county councilman. During a news conference, Bell stated that Hancock hired his stepdaughter for a county position, violating Missouris constitutional rules against nepotism. Hancock is also accused of orchestrating a cover-up after the nepotism claim was first challenged in August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, an audio recording of a phone call involving Hancock, county employee emails, and altered employment records all revealed evidence of an attempt to cover up Hancocks stepdaughter being employed through his administration. Court documents allege that some county employees, including St. Louis County Clerk Diann Valenti, knowingly or unknowingly paritcipated in coverup efforts. Bell says the new request for a quo warranto was filed to seek additional evidence, limit the potential for further misconduct and prevent retaliation. Timeline According to court documents, Hancock formally appointed his stepdaughter Hollie Galati as an administrative assistant on Aug. 14, 2024 and directed Valenti to hire Galati. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 19, 2024, Galati completed paperwork accepting the administrative assistant job, along with a $51,000 salary and benefits. The job was intended for duties such as answering emails, answering phone calls, attending council meetings and offering constituent support services, per court documents. On Aug. 27, 2024, a court order initially attempted to suspend Hancock over claims of nepotism, though a St. Louis County judge reinstated him several hours later. Bell says this effort was part of an original quo warranto case filed against Hancock and could have prevented a subsequent coverup scheme had a motion to remove Hancock from office been granted. According to court documents, around 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 27, Hancock stated to a witness on a phone call that he appointed his stepdaughter, then proceeded to ask the witness whether her resignation would resolve the situation. Hancock was reportedly informed by the witness that nepotism cannot by cured by resignation. Shortly after the call, various county staff employees began emailing others about the possibility of altering the employee status and record of Galati. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At some point, Valenti began entering data in a ticketing status to switch Galatis status from new hire to rejected. She then allegedly sent emails informing others that Galati resigned, was only a volunteer, or never started her job. Around 10:11 a.m. on Aug. 27, Valenti sent an email to a witness asking for urgent assistance. This led to a screenshot of a data system reflecting information that Valentis employment in St. Louis County was rejected, which Valenti reportedly knew to be false. A short time later, the witness, who court documents state was unaware the information was false, sent a screenshot with inauthentic information to Valetni, who then forwarded the screenshot to Hancock, who then forwarded that screenshot to a lobbyist. The lobbyist posted the screenshot to a social media page as alleged proof that Galati did not work for St. Louis County. Also relevant Bell, during Thursdays news conference, contended that Hancocks nepotism case was linked to Missouri Constitution Article VII, Section, which states: Any public officer or employee in this state who, by virtue of his office or employment, names or appoints to public office or employment any relative within the fourth degree, by consanguinity or affinity, shall thereby forfeit his office or employment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents also revealed that Galati worked and was compensated for at least part of one shift, despite Hancock representing to the public that Galati was never paid. Councilman Hancock attempted to create a false impression in the public that Councilman Hancock did not commit nepotism, said Bell during Thursdays news conference. Bell added that ignorance of the law is not a defense and does not protect Hancock from the possibility of removal from office. The quo warranto aims to immediately remove Hancock from office, but its unclear how soon that may or may not happen. This is a developing story. Check back 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 FOX 2. Skotty is a black-capped capuchin monkey who prosecutors said was abused and fed amphetamines by the Westwood man who owned him. In February 2022, when authorities seized Skotty, then about 6 months old, he was so underweight that one advocate described the animal as looking like a Holocaust survivor. He was lethargic and lacked the coordination to pick up food from a plate and put it in his mouth. Skotty on the day he was seized from his owner's Westwood apartment in February 2022. Now, nearly three years later, Skotty who still has his baby teeth is living at a sanctuary in Florida, surrounded by capuchins and other monkeys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is at the proper weight. He can run and climb. He is close with a female monkey about the same age, named Harriet Houdini. She has become like his sister, said Kari Bagnall, who runs Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary, a facility in Gainesville, Florida that in late November housed 191 monkeys. She and Skotty just play and play and play, Bagnall said. Skotty, a capuchin monkey, lives at a sanctuary in Gainesville, Florida. This outcome wasnt necessarily guaranteed when Skotty arrived at Bagnalls sanctuary in March 2022. Westwood to Indiana to Florida After being taken from the Westwood man, Skotty (then known as Neo) was housed at Peaceable Primate Sanctuary in Winamac, Indiana, where he underwent what prosecutors described as rehab. The man who owned him ended up pleading guilty to a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eventually, Bagnall offered to allow the monkey to live permanently at her facility. She picked Skotty up in Chattanooga, Tennessee an employee from the Indiana facility met her there and drove back to Gainesville. Her facility has been operational since the late 1990s. About half the monkeys living there are rescued pets, she said. The other half includes former lab monkeys used for malaria research, drug addiction studies and vocal cord and gastrointestinal tract studies. Bagnall said Skotty, still a baby, was tiny when he arrived. They introduced him to two female monkeys but his legs didnt work properly apparently because he had been fed drugs and he couldnt cling to either of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Staff at the sanctuary bottle-fed him. About a dozen staff members, including Bagnall, took turns sleeping with him and feeding him every four hours. Having different humans care for him, Bagnall said, helped make sure he wouldnt become attached to one particular person. A capuchin monkey seized in 2022 from a Westwood man's apartment, is now thriving at a facility in Florida, prosecutors say. Skotty, whose name was Neo when he was seized, tested positive for amphetamines and was severely malnourished, prosecutors said, when animal control officers took him from the apartment. We wanted him to be a monkey, she said. We didnt want to humanize him. It worked, she said. In addition to his sister-like relationship with Harriet Houdini, Skotty has bonded with a monkey in her early 30s, named Kooda. 'Just a baby boy' Kooda has become like a mother to both Skotty and Harriet Houdini, Bagnall said, grooming and caring for both. They all sleep together in an indoor enclosure. They spend their days except when its too cold or when theres a storm in an enclosed outdoor habitat with trees and branches for them to climb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When he first arrived, Skotty was only able to hop around but now runs like a maniac and does somersaults. Now, you wouldn't know that there was ever anything wrong with him, she said. Hes just a baby boy, she added. Just a character. He wants all the attention. Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary in Gainesville, Florida encourages sponsorship of individual monkeys. For more information, go to: junglefriends.org and click on "How You Can Help." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How an amphetamine-fed Ohio monkey overcame its addiction One mile beneath a mountain in Italy, scientists at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory fill a particle detector with liquid xenon, hoping to observe evidence of dark matter. The idea is that, free from cosmic rays that interfere with these sorts of experiments aboveground, the lab will eventually detect invisible particles that do not interact with light by mapping how those particles collide with the xenon in the experiment almost like a group of pool balls that shoots out in all directions when struck by a cue. Around one billion of a certain group of particles called weakly interacting massive particles or WIMPS, for short are expected to pass through this detector per second. But so far, none of them have collided with dark matter, said Dr. Abigail Kopec, an Assistant Professor of Physics & Astronomy at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, who works with the particle detectors data. However, there are many experiments currently being run in the dark matter hunt, each specifically geared to detect it based on what we know about how it behaves in the universe. If dark matter is discovered through one of these experiments or another that hasnt yet been dreamed up, it could essentially shed a light on an entire hidden universe that for now remains a mystery, said Dr. Tracy Slatyer, a theoretical particle physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We could unveil that whole invisible scaffolding of the universe, to map it out, not just by its gravity, but by now seeing it directly in the right kind of light, Slatyer told Salon in a video call. The reason to understand what dark matter is to understand the universe. The first evidence that dark matter existed is traced back to the 1930s, but it became even more clear that some invisible mass was acting on the gravitational forces of the universe in the 1960s. That's when astronomers noticed that galaxies were moving too fast given the amount of light they were observing coming out of them. In other words, some other form of matter besides what we could observe was influencing their gravitational pull. Throughout the decades, numerous observations of how dust, gas, and ripples in the cosmic microwave background, or the leftover radiation from the primordial plasma of the universe, moved indicated that dark matter exists. All of this has come down to the conclusion that gravitationally, something is pulling on the luminous matter, the matter we can see, that does not interact with light, Kopec told Salon in a video call. Dark matter makes up about 25% of the universe Right now this is a huge gap in our understanding of the universe. Although astrophysicists have been able to calculate very precisely that the universe is made up of 26.8% dark matter, its true characteristics remain elusive. This is difficult to puzzle out because, as mentioned, dark matter does not interact with light and it does not seem to decay over time but it does have gravity. It is clearly present in our galaxy, but is found in higher concentrations in some other galaxies called dwarf steroidal galaxies. And when two galaxy clusters collide with each other, clouds of dark matter in them pass straight through each other, without slowing down. Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes. These clues serve as the basis to design experiments. Currently, the two most popular designs involve experiments like Kopecs in Italy that try to determine whether dark matter consists of WIMPs, versus experiments investigating whether dark matter is an axion, a hypothetical elementary particle proposed in the theory of quantum chromodynamics (QCD.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The WIMP idea is related to another idea that could explain dark matter called supersymmetry. This is essentially the idea that there is an underlying symmetry in the universe, and for every particle we know about there is a partner particle (yet to be found) that could constitute dark matter, Slatyer said. The names for these speculative particles often tack on an S to the names of known particles: selectrons contrast electrons, the squark is the inverted twin of the quark, and so on. However, in more than 10 years of observations there has been no evidence to support this idea, even using the Large Hadron Collider as some had hoped. This class of ideas has become less popular because when we turned on the Large Hadron Collider, we did not see evidence of supersymmetry, Slatyer told Salon in a video call. This is still a viable possibility, but one of the things that happened after the LHC didn't find this was that it prompted people to realize that this was never the only possibility. The idea behind the QCD theory is that dark matter could be thousands and thousands of times lighter than any of the particles we currently know about and acts more like a wave. This is an attractive hypothesis because it would also solve something called the strong CP problem in the standard model of cosmology, said Dr. Ciaran OHare, a particle astrophysicist at the University of Sydney who studies dark matter. This is essentially a tension in the model where something doesn't add up when examining the nuclear force that binds together protons, neutrons and other particles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If dark matter were a QCD axion, it would essentially be invisible to us, OHare told Salon in a video call. We would be flowing through it, but we wouldnt notice most of the time and would have to build very specific experiments to see that." Although technology has advanced since the first axion detectors went online in the 1980s, the challenge with most of them is that they test each mass possibility of dark matter one at a time, Kopec said. Scientists were able to detect a form of "hot dark matter" when they discovered neutrinos, enigmatic particles that are so small they have next to zero mass. Unsurprisingly, this makes detecting this particle extremely challenging to study. In an experiment colliding particles in a 5-by-5 foot detector, it took Kopecs team two and a half years to identify just 11 neutrino collisions. Still, others are testing whether the rest of dark matter exists as sterile neutrinos, meaning particles that dont interact with other visible particles. Although this is still a plausible hypothesis, these particles likely would not constitute the majority of dark matter in the universe. Another leading theory is that dark matter could be hiding out in primordial black holes, which were created early in the universe. The challenge with finding evidence to support this idea is that scientists have determined that for this to be true, it would have to be black holes the size of about an asteroid, which are difficult to stumble upon given the scale of the universe, OHare said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Observing black holes with the mass of an asteroid is just unbelievably difficult, OHare said. We have ideas but it will take a bit of time to really develop those ideas and flesh them out. I would say maybe in the next five years if we're really lucky we will close that gap and have either seen the thing or ruled it out completely for black holes. The field has been searching for dark matter for decades, but each unsuccessful experiment is hopefully one step closer to finding dark matter. Or it could turn up in one of the current experiments tomorrow. Scientists remain optimistic that we'll might turn up evidence of dark matter in the next decade. Another possibility is that we may never find it and that doing so involves some physics we dont yet understand or cannot observe, Slatyer said. It could be that this idea that were going to test this experimentally is just a false hope, Slatyer said. But at the same time, given what we know, dark matter could be a new particle that is lighter than any of the particles we know about, something that is [present] all the time around us, particles that are continually flying through the room and you just need to put up a sensitive detector and you will find them. TikToker Charles Smith, widely known as Wolfie Kahletti, has found himself at the center of controversy after his recent arrest. The 27-year-old, known for his provocative prank videos, now faces serious legal charges linked to one of his stunts at an Arizona Walmart. Here is more about Charles Smiths arrest charges. TikToker Charles Smith arrest explained Police arrested Charles Smith, a TikToker, after he filmed himself spraying pesticide on fresh produce at a Walmart in Mesa, Arizona. The 27-year-old prankster recorded the disturbing act on December 19 and now faces charges of introducing poison, theft, and criminal damage. Smith allegedly sprayed Hot Shot Ultra Bed Bug & Flea Killer across fruits, vegetables, and rotisserie chickens in the store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith posted the incident to his TikTok account, sparking immediate backlash online. The criticism prompted him to return to the Walmart to remove the contaminated items. The Mesa Police Department launched an investigation and, with the help of the Tempe Police Department, identified Smith as the suspect. He later voluntarily turned himself in to authorities. (via PEOPLE) Walmart swiftly removed the affected products and cleaned the area. The company issued a statement: The health and safety of our customers and associates is always a top priority. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our customers as we work to resolve this issue. We will continue to work closely with law enforcement during their investigation. Smith insists that no one was harmed, but the Mesa Police Department highlights the risks of reckless pranks and stresses the serious consequences they can cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith is no stranger to controversial pranks, often gaining millions of views with his videos designed to provoke strong reactions. In his TikTok bio, he describes himself as a supreme villain and has shared videos of similarly shocking pranks. His online antics have made him a notable figure on the platform, with monthly earnings ranging between $6,000 and $10,000. The post Why Was TikToker Charles Smith Arrested? Explained appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. TikToker Charles Smith, widely known as Wolfie Kahletti, has found himself at the center of controversy after his recent arrest. The 27-year-old, known for his provocative prank videos, now faces serious legal charges linked to one of his stunts at an Arizona Walmart. Here is more about Charles Smiths arrest charges. Reason why TikToker Charles Smith was arrested Police arrested Charles Smith, a TikToker, after he filmed himself spraying pesticide on fresh produce at a Walmart in Mesa, Arizona. The 27-year-old prankster recorded the disturbing act on December 19 and now faces charges of introducing poison, theft, and criminal damage. Smith allegedly sprayed Hot Shot Ultra Bed Bug & Flea Killer across fruits, vegetables, and rotisserie chickens in the store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith posted the incident to his TikTok account, sparking immediate backlash online. The criticism prompted him to return to the Walmart to remove the contaminated items. The Mesa Police Department launched an investigation and, with the help of the Tempe Police Department, identified Smith as the suspect. He later voluntarily turned himself in to authorities. (via PEOPLE) Walmart swiftly removed the affected products and cleaned the area. The company issued a statement: The health and safety of our customers and associates is always a top priority. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our customers as we work to resolve this issue. We will continue to work closely with law enforcement during their investigation. Smith insists that no one was harmed, but the Mesa Police Department highlights the risks of reckless pranks and stresses the serious consequences they can cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith is no stranger to controversial pranks, often gaining millions of views with his videos designed to provoke strong reactions. In his TikTok bio, he describes himself as a supreme villain and has shared videos of similarly shocking pranks. His online antics have made him a notable figure on the platform, with monthly earnings ranging between $6,000 and $10,000. Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on ComingSoon. The post Heres Why TikToker Charles Smith Was Arrested appeared first on Mandatory. Update: The pictured individual has been located and contacted the department. View the original story below: WILBRAHAM, Mass. (WWLP) The Wilbraham Police Department is seeking assistance identifying a man in photos taken in connection to events earlier this month at Interskate South. Great Barrington police sergeant promoted to captain after 18 years of service Wilbraham Police Department Wilbraham Police Department No other information has been released. If you recognize the person in these photos and know his name, contact Sgt. Cygan via phone at 413-596-3837 or by email at mcygan@wilbraham-ma.gov. 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 willingness to support Ukraine "until victory" has sharply decreased in Western Europe at a critical time for Kyiv. Source: European Pravda with reference to The Guardian, which cites the results of a December YouGov poll in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and the UK Details: The survey found that the public's willingness to support Ukraine until victory even if that means prolonging the war has declined sharply in all seven countries over the past 12 months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The poll found that willingness to support Ukraine until it defeats Russia remains high in Sweden (50%), Denmark (40%) and the UK (36%), but these levels are down 14 points from January's 57%, 51% and 50%. Over the same period, the percentage of those who prefer a negotiated peace has increased to 55% (from 45%) in Italy, 46% (38%) in Spain, 43% (35%) in France and 45% (38%) in Germany, accompanied by a corresponding drop in willingness to support Ukraine until it wins. It is unclear whether this change reflects waning interest or growing fatigue. In France, Germany, and Sweden, the share of those who want Ukraine to win and care that it does has remained stable since the beginning of 2023, although in other countries it has decreased. Background: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the first time, more than half of Polish citizens supported the idea that the war in Ukraine should end, even if it has to give up part of its territory or independence. According to a November poll, the vast majority of EU citizens continue to support the purchase and supply of military equipment for Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! MEMPHIS, Tenn. A woman is facing a long list of charges after she allegedly took Tennessee State Troopers on a high-speed chase in a stolen car earlier this month. Jibria Smith, 31, was arrested and charged with DUI, assault on a first responder, aggravated assault, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, theft of motor vehicle, evading arrest and a long list of traffic offenses. She also had active warrants on theft and drug charges. Smith is currently in Jail East on $107,500 bond, according to jail records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chase started Dec. 18 when a trooper spotted a Ford Fusion matching the description of a stolen car parked on Tulip Poplar Drive near Hickory Hill Road, records state. As he checked the tags and called for backup, a woman inside the car jumped into the drivers seat and sped off at high speed. Troopers turned on their lights but were unable to stop her. As she sped away, the womans car hit the front door of one of the troopers vehicles, pinning his leg and body inside the car. The trooper pulled out his service weapon and fired eight shots at the car as it sped out of the apartment complex onto Knight Arnold Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man stabbed to death at Kroger Distribution Center Jibria Smith (Photo courtesy of the SCSO) Troopers say they paced the car going 80 mph in a 40-mph zone. The Ford Fusion struck a sign at Kirby and Highway 385, and became disabled in a ditch. When a trooper approached, the woman in the Fusion backed up, then accelerated out of the ditch and onto Mt. Moriah, where she allegedly drove into oncoming traffic with sparks flying from a deflated front tire. The chase led onto Hickory Hill Road, where the driver nearly hit a pedestrian before troopers were able to stop her in the parking lot of a convenience store on Hickory Hill. Smith was the only person in the car. Police said she was shaking when they took her into custody. A trooper stated in a report that she showed signs of being under the influence of a narcotic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man arrested after being stabbed by childs mother during altercation, police say She was medically detained and taken to a labor and delivery unit at a hospital until she was cleared to be transferred to jail. Smith is currently in Jail East on $107,500 bond, according to jail records. The trooper who was pinned was taken to a hospital with non-critical injuries. The Ford Fusion had been stolen in Memphis, troopers 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 WREG.com. JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. A Barnhart, Missouri, woman was charged with stabbing two people and a dog on Christmas Eve. According to the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, the stabbing took place in the 1900 block of Parkton Way on Tuesday afternoon. Investigators said Lisa M. Albrecht, 48, stabbed a 68-year-old man and a dog. The second victim, a 47-year-old woman, was injured while trying to stop Albrecht from attacking the first victim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Albrecht apparently began stabbing herself after 911 was called. She was hospitalized and eventually released. The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Albrecht with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, animal abuse second or subsequent offense, unlawful use of a weapon, and three counts of armed criminal action. Albrecht remains jailed without bond. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. If you or anyone you know is in danger you can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE or by texting START to 88788. DES MOINES, Iowa The Des Moines Police Department has released more information about a deadly shooting that occurred on Christmas Day. Baby Box coming to Norwalk Fire Department At around 4:13 p.m. Wednesday officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 2900 block of East 40th Court. When first responders arrived on scene they found two individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. According to DMPD, a 60-year-old man died from his injuries at the scene and a 53-year-old woman was transported to a hospital in critical condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday DMPD announced that the 53-year-old woman died from her injuries at the hospital. According to DMPD, the man and woman were married. Police said evidence collected so far indicates that the man shot the woman before then shooting himself. Their names have not been released. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. This is the citys 17th homicide in 2024. Metro News: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. A woman was left fighting for her life with carbon monoxide poisoning after a disconnected boiler leaked the poisonous gas into her illegally converted Queens apartment on Christmas Eve morning, officials said. The woman, who has not been identified, was rushed to Nassau County Medical Center in critical condition after she was found on the top floor of the 194th Street home in St. Albans just before 10:30 a.m., according to fire officials and the Department of Buildings. Three other people who lived in the home were also taken to a local hospital in stable condition. A woman was found inside her home with carbon monoxide poisoning. WABC One of the buildings residents, Ryan Mohan, told WABC that the woman and her daughter suddenly collapsed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A responding firefighters carbon monoxide detector wailed as they walked through the home searching for the woman, the outlet noted. They had a meter to test each floor for carbon monoxide and each floor showed carbon monoxide, Mohan said. Officials did not provide the identities or ages of the victims. A carbon monoxide detector wailed as firefighters were inside the home. WABC Inspectors with the Department of Buildings were later called to the scene and discovered that a boiler was not correctly connected so the carbon monoxide was not properly venting outside of the house, a DOB spokesperson said. Two boilers and a pair of hot water heaters in the building were ordered shut down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two-family home also was being used to house seven families, with apartments being rented out in the cellar and attic without proper work permits, according to the DOB. Residents are now forced to stay elsewhere this Christmas after a partial vacate order was placed on the home. Two boilers and a pair of hot water heaters in the building were ordered shut down. WABC The Red Cross was helping the displaced tenants find another place to stay on Tuesday. I feel sorry for the tenants because now its a holiday, a neighbor told ABC 7. Now they have to find homes to be. Its a mess. ATLANTA, Ga. (WSAV) Jadah Marie Henry, 22, of Pooler, Georgia, has been sentenced to 25 years after pleading guilty to racketeering, gang and human trafficking charges, announced Attorney General Chris Carr. Henry will serve 10 years in prison and the remainder of the sentence on strict probation. A Gwinnett County Superior Court Judge accepted the plea on December 19, 2024. As we have said since the beginning anyone engaged in human trafficking will be held accountable for their actions, said Carr. Were committed to securing justice for survivors, and were working to combat gang activity in every corner of our state. All Georgians deserve to feel safe in their communities, and were fighting each day to ensure thats a reality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jayda Wilson, 27, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, has also been sentenced to 15 years after pleading guilty to racketeering. Wilson will serve five years in prison and the remainder of the sentence on strict probation. Henry and Wilson are two of 8 defendants named in an indictment containing 97 charges, including Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude, Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Violation of Georgias Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, Aggravated Assault, and False Imprisonment. In addition to Henry and Wilson, a third defendant Tyreek Raysheen Lee, 27, of Norcross, Georgia previously pleaded guilty to racketeering, gang and human trafficking charges. Lee was sentenced to 20 years, with the first 10 years to be served in prison and the remainder on strict probation. The States case against the five remaining defendants is active and ongoing. This investigation began on May 19, 2022, when the Gwinnett County Police Department responded to a shooting involving defendants Sean Harvey and Sean Curry. Following an initial arrest, investigators learned that Harvey, Curry, and other defendants are suspected members of the Last One To Take Over Gang (aka LOTTO or 30% Gang), a hybrid criminal street gang with ties to national Crips and the Gangster Disciples. This case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Kaitlyn (Fain) Salinas with the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit and Assistant Attorney General Thomas Kegley with the Gang Prosecution Unit. It was investigated by the Gwinnett County Sheriffs Office Special Investigations Section. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since it began its historic work on July 1, 2022, the Gang Prosecution Unit has secured 52 convictions and indicted more than 140 individuals in Athens-Clarke, Barrow, Bryan, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Dougherty, Fulton, Gwinnett, Laurens, Muscogee, Richmond and Thomas counties. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Chris Nendick worked as a chef for the NHS for 16 years. He never thought he would end up raiding his pension to pay for private healthcare, but the pain was just too much to bear. I couldnt cope with it anymore. I just couldnt go on, he said. Mr Nendick, 63, from Hull, had osteoarthritis in both knees. He waited nine months to see an NHS consultant, who then told him it could be years before he had surgery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By this point, the cartilage in both of his knees had worn away, so bone was grinding against bone. Mr Nendick could no longer work at the hospital and was now medically retired. I couldnt do anything. I was using a stick. I was finding it hard to drive because of the pain particularly on the left knee using my clutch. So in the end me and my wife sat down and I said, I cant go on like this. Im meant to be retired, Im meant to be enjoying my life and I cant do anything. So we just said, well have to do something. They made the decision to go private. Within six weeks in July 2024 Mr Nendick had both knees replaced. A knee replacement is an intensive procedure and a full recovery can take up to a year. But already the surgery has had a tremendous impact. Its made things a bit tight for us financially but on the flip side Ive got my life back. I know that sounds dramatic but I have. I dont have to think much about where were going, will I need my sticks, or how far we can walk. Life savings spent on private operations Mr Nendick is not alone. In recent years, thousands of patients have been paying out of their own pocket for diagnostic tests and life-changing surgery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Private healthcare used to be seen as the preserve of the wealthy. But today people from all walks of life are going private to dodge NHS delays. The waiting list had already reached 4.6 million before the pandemic but grew sharply as routine services were put on hold. Since then the number of private hospital admissions paid for by uninsured patients has soared about 36pc, according to data from the medical group Private Healthcare Information Network hitting 68,000 in the second quarter of 2024. For many, going private means spending their life savings on major operations instead of a comfortable retirement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Nendick had to drain his pension in order to pay for the surgery, which cost about 23,000 in total. I never thought I would spend a bit of my pension getting my knees done, he said. I dont expect special treatment because I work for the NHS but I wasnt expecting to do that. He added: I dont regret it but I miss having that financial backing that I had. Weve been paying taxes for 100 years but cant get an appointment Others have resorted to ripping equity out of their homes. Sue Smallbone, 69, released 16,000 from her property after waiting over two painful years for a hip replacement. I got seen by a consultant within three weeks and was operated on within two, she said. It was a lot of money but it was worth it. I can walk again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added: My husband and I are both nearly 70. Between us we have been paying taxes for over 100 years and yet we are having to take 16,000 out of property because of the NHS. Ms Smallbone and her husband have no children to inherit their home so taking out a lifetime mortgage seemed like the right option for them. These loans allow homeowners aged 55 or over to borrow tax-free cash from their property to be paid back, along with rolled-up interest, when the borrower dies or goes into long-term care. Simon Chalk, of equity release adviser Laterlivingnow, said a number of his clients had taken out lifetime mortgages because of NHS delays. A client in York ended up taking 10,000 to pay for a shoulder replacement operation in Europe after lockdown, as he could not bear the pain and a two-year NHS waiting list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I also had another take 30,000 to pay for his son to have a private operation in the US, rather than suffer any longer under the NHS waiting list. Analysis by the Nuffield Trust shows that median waiting times for a hip replacement were around 128 days in 2023 up nearly 50pc since the pandemic. The charity said the waiting times for major surgeries like this have been far more difficult to reduce than for other procedures due to the finite numbers of staff. The Health Foundation has also found that although the NHS continues to fund the majority of routine hospital operations, there have been relatively large increases in the number of procedures such as hip replacements being privately funded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Josh Keith, of the charity, said: This will have major financial implications for those patients who may have felt the wait for NHS treatment meant going private was their only realistic option. This also raises important questions about equal access to care. Not everyone can afford to pay for care, and those who can may not be those who are most in need. The continuation of the trends we have seen in relation to hip replacements could therefore widen inequalities in access to care. I sold my house to pay off the loan Norrie Houghten downsized his property to pay for an operation he faced a 12-month wait for Norrie Houghten, 68, borrowed 3,000 to pay for a hernia operation privately after the NHS told him he would have to wait one year. The operation was carried out in less than four weeks, he said. To pay the loan off I sold my house and moved to a smaller property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am paying it off at 59 a month, although due to downsizing I will be looking to pay it off in full in New Year as I moved from a four-bed to a three-bed house and have equity left to pay the loan off. This will be a big relief to me as I want to get it out the way and it was a big factor in our downsizing. Nearly 60 a month is a sizeable amount on a pension. Kate Miller-Edwards, 45, from Shropshire, said she is still paying back her dad to this day after borrowing money to cover private hospital bills in 2019. Ms Miller-Edwards suffered from placenta accreta during pregnancy, a life-threatening condition where the placenta grows too deeply into the wall of the uterus Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the birth, the problems just kept on continuing. I had a huge hernia that was left by the NHS. Literally my intestines hanging outside of my body. And every time I was coming close to my operation they kept cancelling. So in the end my father said, we need to get this sorted, Ill pay for you to go private. Within two weeks I had an appointment, I had the operation three weeks later and that one cost me about 6,000. The second one was adhesion removal and that cost me another 6,000. So all in all, it cost about 12,000, a little bit more including consultations, probably 13,000 to fix me. She said: It was excruciatingly painful. If I hadnt had the money from my dad, I dont know what I would have done. A broken NHS The British Medical Association has voiced concerns about patients falling into debt in order to pay for private treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr Latifa Patel, of the BMA, said: With waiting lists for treatments in the NHS at near-record highs, many patients are waiting much too long for the care they need. This may mean some patients, who would not have considered it before, seeking treatment from private healthcare providers. Taking out a loan to pay for their healthcare and being forced into debt or running into financial difficulties as a result is a terrible consequence. Significant financial debt can also pose its own health risks. The NHS was created to provide free care based on need, not an ability to pay, but we have a healthcare service that is broken, unable to provide care to everyone who needs it, when they need it, and its very worrying if this in turn is forcing those in pain into debt to get the care they need. The prime minister has pledged to ensure 92pc of NHS patients wait no more than 18 weeks after referral to begin non-urgent hospital treatment, in one of his key policy milestones. Meanwhile the Chancellor has committed an extra 22bn for the NHS over the next two years to slash waiting times. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: The NHS is broken, causing many patients to go private for faster healthcare, risking a two-tier system. As part of the Governments Plan for Change, we have set an ambitious target to cut waiting times from 18 months today to a maximum of 18 weeks. We are also shifting the focus of healthcare from sickness to prevention through our 10 Year Health Plan, which will build an NHS fit for the future. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Workplay is set to host the Workplay Reveillon on New Years Eve. The event, taking place at the Workplay Theatre on 23rd Street South, aims to transport attendees to Paris, New York City, and Rio de Janeiro as they ring in the new year. The venue will have rooms themed after each city for the duration of the event (8 p.m. 1 a.m.). Visit https://www.seetickets.us/event/workplay-reveillon/625824 for full ticket and event information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. Montreal-based defense contractor Top Aces is reinforcing its position as a leader in advanced adversary air training with the announcement of potential upgrades to its fleet of F-16 aircraft. As the worlds only commercial operator of the F-16 for adversary training, Top Aces is exploring additional capabilities that promise to enhance the performance and effectiveness of its training environment. The F-16s operated by Top Aces are equipped with cutting-edge technologies that set them apart in the training domain. Features like Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, helmet-mounted cueing systems, Link 16 communications, high off-boresight missile capability, and advanced electronic jamming pods are standard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These enhancements provide a realistic and challenging training atmosphere for U.S. and allied pilots, essential for modern air combat scenarios. AI, jammers, advanced missiles Russ Quinn, President of Top Aces, shared insights into the future of the F-16 program. He stated that the company is considering advanced capabilities such as commercial electronic attack and jamming systems, high-off-boresight infrared missile integration, and AI-controlled adversary air wingmen. "These innovations aim to provide even more robust training scenarios for pilots preparing to engage in high-stakes air combat," Quinn noted. In September 2022, Top Aces was selected under the U.S. Air Force's Combat Air Force Contracted Air Support program, allowing the company to provide advanced adversary air training at key installations such as Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This five-year contract is expected to significantly enhance training effectiveness for fifth-generation combat pilots, preparing them for the complexities of modern warfare through realistic and immersive exercises. Top Aces stands out as the sole commercial operator of F-16s and as a pioneer in open mission system technology, facilitating rapid and flexible testing opportunities for various defense applications. The company's collaboration with organizations like the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) underscores its commitment to advancing U.S. military training capabilities. Quinn emphasized the importance of their experienced team, stating, "We have a highly skilled group of F-16 maintainers and pilots, which positions us uniquely to meet the growing training needs for F-16 operations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The anticipated upgrades to their systems are designed to enrich the training experience further, ensuring pilots emerge well-prepared for the challenges they will face in actual combat situations. New F-16 experience Top Aces recently announced the integration of an advanced infrared search and track (IRST) capability on its F-16 Advanced Aggressor Fighter (AAF) platform. This sophisticated technology, which measures infrared radiation to detect, track, and identify targets, will significantly elevate the training experience for U.S. Air Force fifth-generation fighter pilots. The IRST system incorporates Leonardo's state-of-the-art SkyWard scanning sensor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This passive long-wave infrared sensor boasts a wide scanning volume for early target detection and engagement opportunities beyond the visual range. The integration allows Top Aces pilots to optimize their targeting capabilities by linking advanced sensors, thus simulating real-world combat scenarios effectively. "This industry-first capability in adversary air training reflects our commitment to providing the U.S. Air Force with highly capable adversaries," Quinn remarked. "We believe that our F-16 AAF platform, combined with our experienced personnel, offers the most realistic and cost-effective training solution available." With over 130,000 accident-free flight hours, Top Aces and its subsidiaries, including Top Aces Corp. and Blue Air Training Corp., continue to deliver top-tier adversary air training and joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) training to armed forces worldwide, reinforcing their reputation as leaders in the defense training sector. There's a light that never goes out well, almost never. Since the invention of commercial light bulbs in the late 19th century, one bulb has outshone all others. In 2025, it could enter its 124th year of working life. Exactly when the 60-watt bulb was manufactured and the year it was first turned on are a bit unclear, but according to Guinness World Records, the so-called Centennial Light is the longest-burning light bulb in the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It currently casts a weak orange glow in a California fire station, like a lucky 'nightlight' that has rarely been turned off in all its years of life. The ongoing illumination is a testament to the strength and longevity of the world's first commercial light bulbs, and for many years now, it has burned on a live online cam for all to see. According to a 2016 New Yorker piece, the bulb has outlived three modern webcams. In 2015, the Livermore Firefighters Foundation celebrated the Centennial Light for over a million hours of service. In 2021, an engineer by the name of Martin Kykta, president of MAK Electro-Optics, studied the Centennial bulb's anatomy and predicted that if it continues to emanate 4 watts or less, it could last for another century. The persistent source of light was made famous in the 1970s when a newspaper investigation for the Herald News threw it in the ring for the world's longest-burning bulb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to local accounts, the light bulb was first donated to a firehouse in Livermore, California in 1901, and while it changed locations a few times over the decades, the bulb is still with the local fire department. The 1972 news report claims the bulb was 'lighted' in 1902, but the official Guinness World Record states it has been burning since 1901. It was only ever turned off when necessary or by accident. "It was left on 24 hours a day to break up the darkness so the volunteers could find their way," the Livermore fire chief told reporter Mike Dunstan for the 1972 Herald News article. "It was never turned off, except for about a week when President Roosevelt's WPA people remodeled the fire house back in the '30's and a few times when we had power failures." Webcam footage of the moment the Centennial Light went out for nearly 10 hours in 2013. ( The Centennial Light Organization Today, incandescent bulbs are notorious for their short lives, but in part, that is because they are regularly turned on and off, which exposes the tungsten wire inside to rapid expansion and contraction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Centennial bulb was made by a company called Shelby and it contains a carbon filament that doesn't wear out as easily as tungsten. Even still, tungsten came to be the favorite for light bulbs in the 20th century, as it could tolerate exposure to oxygen better than carbon. The Shelby light bulb is hand-blown, and its thick carbon wire is kept safely in a vacuum, where it maintains a steady low-watt gleam. The Centennial Light Organization) Advertisement for the Shelby lamp. Other advertisements for the Shelby lamp also listed "lamps of any voltage from 30 to 250" with "efficiencies from 3 to 4 watts [sic Lumens/Watt]" and "the longest life with the greatest economy." ( Martin Kykta, informationdisplay.org, 2021 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one yet knows if LED bulbs can outperform the Shelby bulb, but today, the average LED light is said to last up to 50,000 hours, which is nearly six years. Even if they last up to 100,000 hours (which some suspect they might), that's just over a decade of light. It'll take a lot more than that to compete with the Centennial bulb. Related News The worlds most popular online pornography site says its pulling out of Florida. Pornhub made the decision to disable access to its website in Florida once a new state law goes into effect in January. The law will require viewers of online pornography in Florida to first verify their age by uploading their government identity documents such as a driver's license to a third-party company for review. Rather than comply, Pornhub announced that Floridians would be blocked from the site, excluding them from a worldwide audience that accounted for about 12 billion views in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont want minors accessing our site and think preventing that from happening is a good thing, the site announced in a message directed at its Florida viewers. But putting everybodys privacy at risk wont achieve that. Does Pornhub have a way out of this? Whatever you think of the move, one thing is clear: If you think the volume of aggressive drivers on I-95 is a problem now, its gonna get a lot worse. More: 'Huckleberry Finn,' 'Princess Diaries' among challenged books at Palm Beach County schools Maybe theres a way out of this. The porn site hinted at it, by suggesting it would be in favor of something less invasive than the Florida law as a way to make sure that their porn viewers were at least 18 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive got an idea. Instead of demanding documents from secrecy-prone viewers people who have their reputations to protect as kindergarten teachers, members of the clergy and elected officials you can simply ask visitors to the online site a bunch of screening questions that would accurately reveal their age in a less invasive way. What about an age verification quiz? Opinion: Florida turning the page on book banning with an excuse that will make you gag It would work something like this: *** Dear Pornhub patron:: Thank you for your interest in our site. Before we give you access to the pizza delivery video you requested, you must first answer the following questions to the best of your ability. This 10-question, multiple-choice screening test will be used to determine whether you meet the age requirements for accessing the site. You can check your results at the end of the quiz: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement *** Romeo and Juliet is (a) a play by Shakespeare. (b) a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio. (c) available on CliffsNotes. *** 2. The last time somebody paid me on Venmo it was (a) to repay me for ticket purchases. (b) to share the cost of a restaurant meal. (c) Matt Gaetz. *** 3. In the recent election I voted for (a) Trump. (b) Harris. (c) the candidate who promised soda vending machines in the cafeteria. *** 4. The last test I had involved (a) my prostate. (b) my blood glucose level. (c) The Catcher in the Rye. *** 5. Paul McCartney is a musician best known for his role in (a) The Beatles. (b) Wings. (c) singing that Wonderful Christmastime song. *** 6. JFK is (a) an American president. (b) an airport in New York. (c) texting slang for just freakin kidding. *** 7. Name something thats probably a myth. (a) Bigfoot (b) The Loch Ness Monster (c) the dial telephone 8. Pickleball is (a) my new favorite sport! (b) something that aggravates my sciatica. (c) a game on PlayStation 4. *** 9. Ozempic (a) is a diabetes drug. (b) how I lose weight. (c) are those games with gymnastics and curling. *** 10. Which best describes the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? (a) I make my bed. (b) I brush my teeth. (c) I roll over and try to stay in bed until noon. *** Opinion: Twas the Night Before Christmas at Trumps Mar-a-Lago Scoring: Count the number of questions you answered with choice (c), then consult the following table: Choice (c) responses: 7 to 10: Youre like totes blocked, dude. And I'm not JFK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 4 to 6: Maybe theres an old Sears catalog at your grandparents house. 1 to 3: Patience, grasshopper. Try again next year. Zero: Congratulations! Continue to pizza delivery video. Frank Cerabino is a news columnist with The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today-Network. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida to get cut off by Pornhub. Theres a fix for this | Opinion GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Worshippers across West Michigan gathered at churches on Wednesday for Christmas Day services. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ in the Christian faith. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services remain popular traditions, including at Holy Spirit on Grand Rapids West Side. Two masses were held on Christmas Eve, as well as a Christmas morning mass. Christmas Day mass at Holy Spirit on Grand Rapids West Side. (Dec. 25, 2024) Christmas Day mass at Holy Spirit on Grand Rapids West Side. (Dec. 25, 2024) Diocese of Grand Rapids looks to increase attendance for Christmas Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rev. Nick Baker said Christmas is a time for friends and families to remember how close God wants to be. What we celebrate today is the love of God, is that he actually humbled himself to become one of us so that he can save us, Baker, associate pastor at Holy Spirit Parish, said. And theres no greater humility in all of human history than God becoming man, which is absolutely amazing. The Christmas season continues through early January with the Feast of the Epiphany. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. XENIA, Ohio (WDTN) The City of Xenia is laying out their plan of transition as city leaders move into new roles in 2025. Xenia Mayor Sarah Mays and Councilman Levi Dean will step into new positions in local government in the new year. During a city council meeting on Dec. 23. Xenia approved the appointment of a new mayor as Mays transitions into her new role. New Ohio laws going into effect on Jan. 1 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sarah Mays has served as Xenias mayor since 2015. A lifelong resident of Xenia, she has served in various positions of public service, leading her to run for Greene County Commissioner this year. Mays won the primary in March of this year and ran unopposed in November. She will assume the office of Greene County Commissioner on Jan. 1, 2025. In her place, city council appointed City Council President Will Urschel as Mayor for 2025. Photo/City of Xenia Photo/City of Xenia Levi Dean will also leave city council to work for the state. Dean secured more than 69 percent of the vote on Nov. 5 to become the next State Representative for the 71st District. He will represent all of Clinton County and parts of Greene and Clark counties in the Ohio House of Representatives beginning on Jan. 1, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Xenia city council honored Mayor Mays and Councilman Dean with Resolutions of Appreciation during their last council meeting 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 WDTN.com. It appears that another new Chinese combat aircraft has already entered flight testing, and it is also an advanced, stealthy, tailless design. The imagery of the previously unseen aircraft began to circulate on social media today, only a matter of hours after the first appearance of a remarkable diamond-shaped, tailless, heavy tactical combat aircraft design, which you can read more about in our initial analysis piece here. A video and several photos of the second, apparently smaller aircraft began to emerge today and, so far at least, they are fewer in number and of inferior quality, making it harder to determine particular details. Before we continue, its important to note that so far this imagery looks remarkably legitimate. That is not to say that its verified authentic at this time. There remains the possibility it has been fabricated, but also considering the timing with the other reveal, that seems increasingly unlikely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to unconfirmed accounts, the second combat aircraft design is from the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), while the first, larger design is from the rival Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC). While Shenyang is responsible for the production of Chinese developments of the Flanker multirole fighter family and the medium-weight J-35 stealth fighter family, Chengdu builds the J-10 multirole medium fighter and the heavy J-20 stealth fighter. The second tactical jet aircraft design was shown in some of the photos being chased by a Flanker-series fighter, perhaps a two-seat J-16, which would lend further support to the idea that its a Shenyang product. A rear-aspect view of the reported Shenyang combat aircraft design. From this angle, a prominent flight-test data probe can be seen on the nose. via X via X While the Chengdu design has a modified diamond-delta wing planform, with extended wing-root chines, the Shenyang aircraft has a relatively sharply swept wing, although this is hardly conventional, being more in line with a lambda wing profile. This platform creates prominent triangular-shaped trailing-edge extensions that taper back from roughly mid-point in the wing, and project out beyond the engine exhausts. Unlike the apparent new Chengdu design, which is understood to have a three-engine powerplant, the Shenyang design is a more conventional twin-engine aircraft, in also keeping with its smaller size. The engines appear to be fed by what seems to be diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) intakes on either side of the forward fuselage, below the wing root, and which look to be very angular in shape. The apparent Shenyang combat aircraft design seen from below. via X Two engine nozzles are evident, with some kind of a protuberance between them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From the available angles, its not immediately clear if the aircraft has a cockpit. While it would make sense for it to be a part of Chinas crewed combat aircraft development path, it could also be a drone or an optionally crewed aircraft. The fuselage is somewhat angular, and deep, suggesting a diamond-shaped cross-section, which would offer a blend of low observability and useful internal capacity for fuel and weapons. Two views of the apparent new Shenyang combat aircraft alongside what looks to be a J-16 chase plane. via X Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement via X The Shenyang design also has a more standard-looking tricycle landing gear, with single wheels on each main unit, while the Chengdu design uses more robust twin-wheel bogies on the main gear to accommodate its larger size and gross weight. Neither of the two designs features any kind of vertical or horizontal tail surfaces. This is entirely in keeping with what we expected of Chinas next-generation fighter designs, with tailless concepts having previously appeared in the form of various studies, as well as a mysterious tailless vehicle that appeared in satellite images at Chengdu in October 2021. Tailless designs are something we have previously discussed in depth before, in relation to future Chinese fighters, but its worth noting that the main advantage they confer is in terms of broadband low observability against a variety of radar types operating across multiple frequencies. At the same time, the radar signature, especially from the side and rear perspectives, will also be reduced significantly. The new heavy Chinese combat aircraft alongside a J-20S chase plane. The new design, like the J-20, is thought to be a Chengdu product. via X Two more views of the new heavy Chinese combat aircraft, perhaps designated J-36. via X Other advantages of a tailless design include reduced aerodynamic drag, which provides improved performance for sustained high-speed dashes and cruising flight. Additional beneficial factors will almost certainly include a large internal volume for the carriage of fuel and weapons critical for extended combat radius and persistence on-station, two key concerns in the Asia Pacific theater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, a tailless configuration can adversely affect overall stability and maneuverability, requiring advanced fly-by-wire digital flight control technology to simply keep it in the air. One feature that could help mitigate stability and maneuverability deficiencies would involve thrust-vectoring engines, something China has tested in the past. Without a good view from the rear, its impossible to say for certain, but the nozzles could conceivably feature F-22-style two-dimensional thrust-vectoring. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the Shenyang design is a prototype fighter and made its first flight on Dec. 20 this year. Another view of the apparent Shenyang combat aircraft design from below. Test flights performed over populated areas suggest no great desire to hide the aircraft from prying eyes. via X Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, it seems that Beijing very deliberately ensured that the two new designs broke cover today, for maximum impact. This would make sense given that Dec. 26 is the birthdate of Mao Zedong, founder of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). It is also exactly 13 years to the day that the J-20 first broke cover. At this point, its worth noting that in both cases, we cannot currently confirm the identities of the manufacturers or even the intended roles of the new aircraft. So far, there have been no official comments from the Chinese government or industry, although internal security services certainly appear to have let imagery be leaked via unofficial channels, and its also notable that these test flights were documented in the daytime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As we have discussed before, the design now thought to be from Chengdu is notably large, suggesting that it could possibly be related to the so-called JH-XX. This is described by U.S. intelligence officials as a regional bomber, with a shorter range, smaller payload capacity, and more of a tactical focus than the H-20 stealth bomber. The H-20 is being developed by the Xian Aircraft Corporation (XAC) and is widely expected to be a flying-wing type aircraft, like the B-2 and B-21. The JH-XX remains a very shadowy project, but you can read more about what is known here. A picture that has previously emerged showing a model of a design that might be tied to work on the JH-XX. Chinese Internet In the past, we have also suggested that the JH-XX bomber could finally emerge as something closer to a fighter-bomber: The design could prioritize speed, as well as stealth, too. This could give the smaller fighter-bomber added advantages when it comes to sortie rates and for successfully penetrating through an enemys integrated air defense network. Above all else, it allows for multi-role operations, including supporting long-range air-to-air missions, without a heavy reliance on vulnerable tankers or even the use of coastal airfields, which would be the most vulnerable to attack during an all-out conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the new three-engine design could be related to the JH-XX, it could also be a more generic demonstrator intended to test a variety of combat aircraft technologies. It could also be a more heavyweight fighter being developed under Chinas next-generation airpower initiative. Speaking to TWZ, Chinese aerospace observer and author Andreas Rupprecht explained that his assessment is that we are seeing combat aircraft demonstrators from Shenyang and Chengdu and that these are both closer aligned to fighters rather than bombers. Using the sixth-generation description is perhaps a little too hasty, but I think we are at the point where we can really say the Chinese have shown us for the first time their idea of air combat and new-generation fighters, Rupprecht said. Certainly, China now appears to be flying two different, very advanced combat aircraft designs that could also be rivals, with one being smaller than its competitor, which would have certain advantages in terms of cost, complexity, and performance. They could also be intended to complement one another as a medium/heavy future manned fighter combat mix. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This latter would parallel Chinas pursuit of the single-engine J-10 and the twin-engine J-11/16 series, followed by the co-development of the medium-weight J-35 and larger J-20 stealth fighters. At one stage, it looked like the J-35 would be primarily aimed at export customers, as well as for Chinese naval use, but a Chinese land-based version is now also known to be in development. A Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter. Photo by Wang Jingtian/VCG via Getty Images A J-20 stealth fighter rehearses for the 2023 Changchun Air Show in July 2023 in Changchun, Jilin Province of China. Photo by Wang Jingtian/VCG via Getty Images A Shenyang J-35 stealth fighter. Chinese Internet Chinese Internet What we do know is that China has an active sixth-generation fighter program. It would not be surprising for more than one flying demonstrator design to be built to support it, or even prototypes much closer to planned production aircraft. Whether China plans to introduce more than one sixth-generation fighter, or simply determine what kind of design best suits its needs, there are plenty of signs that the country is fully committed to a future air combat program, which will include a crewed fighter as well as complementary drones, and also the JH-XX, which may well be being developed as part of the same ecosystem, perhaps even sharing certain subsystems and technologies. The H-20 could also form part of this same broader airpower architecture. The previous boss of Air Combat Command, Gen. Mark D. Kelly, spoke in September 2022 about Chinas future fighter program, noting that it was likely to follow a system of systems approach similar to the one that the U.S. Air Force has been pursuing and would certainly include a sixth-generation crewed fighter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelly also said he expected the platform or platforms to emerge with an exponential improvement in stealth compared with current Chinese aircraft. Of course, a tailless design could help achieve this. An artists impression of a generic U.S. Air Force tailless sixth-generation crewed fighter, of the kind being developed under the NGAD initiative. Collins Aerospace Collins Aerospace Notably, the U.S. militarys latest annual report to Congress on Chinese military developments, an unclassified version of which was released on Dec. 18, doesnt mention potential sixth-generation crewed fighter developments. Chinese officials, meanwhile, have given very little away about the countrys future tactical air combat program. However, in a 2019 interview, Wang Haifeng, chief designer for CAC, described a project that aimed for service entry around 2035. That would also seem to be broadly in keeping with the first flight of a Chengdu demonstrator around now. In the past, Andreas Rupprecht told TWZ that: Allegedly, since 2018, CAC and its related 611 Institute have been working on the development of key technologies for the next-generation fighter. As well as testing for future crewed combat aircraft, China is already heavily engaged in developing various supporting technologies. These include the ability for future crewed combat jets to team with drones, and the use of artificial intelligence, as well as advanced sensors and weapons that will be brought together as part of Chinas broader future air combat architecture. While the appearance of one new-generation Chinese combat aircraft design is notable, the apparent emergence of two different such designs in a single day would truly be a milestone. Todays developments should also be seen in light of the U.S. Air Forces equivalent Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative, which includes its crewed sixth-generation stealth combat jet. A final decision on this has now been pushed to the incoming Trump administration, amid uncertainty about the Air Forces ability to pay for NGAD. At the same time, questions have been increasingly asked about the relevance of NGAD in a future high-end combat scenario. A rendering of a notional U.S. tailless sixth-generation crewed fighter, refueling in flight. Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin It will be some time before we get a better understanding of the precise roles and attributes of Chinas new combat aircraft designs. However, the country is clearly already committed to developing successors to its current combat aircraft fleet and appears to be looking at how best to achieve significant advances in terms of range, payload, speed, and low observability. While its still unclear what Chinas next-generation fighter or fighters will end up looking like, and how they might be related to the JH-XX fighter-bomber, the current pace of development puts the uncertainty around the U.S. Air Forces NGAD efforts into even sharper focus. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com New York City is bracing for a chaotic mayoral race next year, with the sitting mayor facing a criminal indictment and an increasing number of candidates throwing their hat in the ring to challenge him. Mayor Eric Adams (D) has vowed to continue with his reelection bid in 2025 despite the charges accusing him of bribery, wire fraud and soliciting a contribution by a foreign national. He has pleaded not guilty and said his focus is on governing the city, but more than a half dozen other Democrats have entered the primary set for June. With numerous other candidates rumored to be considering a bid, including controversial former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), the race is poised to only get messier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York strategists said voters are likely to elevate whichever candidate can best convince them that they care about their day-to-day issues and is willing to take steps to shake up the status quo. I think the appetite for disruptive politics is going to be with us through the mayoral election, Democratic strategist Basil Smikle said. I think many voters see the mayor as a political disruptor. Adams was already facing an uncertain electoral future heading into next year despite his successful 2021 campaign running as a moderate with working-class appeal. His approval rating took a dive as he faced criticism over mixed results on crime levels, housing availability and affordability and an influx of migrants into the city, stretching the citys resources. But hes now facing an even larger obstacle in the aftermath of accusations that he accepted bribes from businessmen and a Turkish government official in exchange for various alleged favors. He became the first sitting mayor of New York City to be criminally charged in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stories of alleged corruption in Adamss administration have stayed in the news as FBI agents have conducted searches at the homes of several other members in recent months. Most recently, prosecutors charged his former top aide, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, and her son with bribery on Thursday. A Marist College poll shortly after the indictment found nearly 70 percent of respondents wanted Adams to resign, but he has shown no indication of doing so or dropping his reelection bid. Adamss trial is currently scheduled for April, just two months before the primary will be held. In the meantime, various other Democratic contenders havent been shy about jumping in the race to challenge him, both before and after the indictment was handed up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The field includes several prominent current and former citywide officials and legislators, like City Comptroller Brad Lander, former Comptroller Scott Stringer, state Sens. Zellnor Myrie and Jessica Ramos, state Assembly member Zohran Mamdani and former Assembly member Michael Blake. Former hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson is also running. Democratic strategists were split on whether Adams has any viable future in the election given the political hurdles hes facing in addition to the legal ones. No, said a New York-based Democratic strategist on whether Adams has a chance in the election. Thats as short and sweet as it can be. Adamss campaign was dealt a blow Monday when the citys Campaign Finance Board denied his request for millions of dollars in matching funds from the city on grounds of the allegations against him, including alleged campaign finance violations during his 2021 campaign, and his campaign not complying with the boards inquiries into his conduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His fundraising dropped sharply to almost nothing after his indictment, receiving just a single donation of $250 in the two and a half weeks after the charges were unveiled. Adams said he slowed fundraising after meeting his target as he will have enough to meet his spending limit for the primary. His totals for the last quarter of 2024 will be revealed in the new year. All of this comes as Adams has appeared to become closer to incoming President Trump. He was seen briefly with the president-elect at a UFC fight earlier this month and met with Trumps border czar Tom Homan. Adams has argued his moves are about representing the city and ensuring strong relationships are in place with the incoming administration, but it has spurred talks of Adams possibly seeking a pardon from Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams also denied speculation that he could find a new home in the GOP after he initially avoided saying if he would definitely run as a Democrat. His competitors within the Democratic primary have been quick to pounce on him over his legal challenges and courting of Trump. But Adams does still have some built-in advantages as the incumbent, and the strategist said they dont believe any of the current candidates have the caliber to defeat him, leaving a hole for other candidates to get in the race. More so than nature, politics abhors a vacuum, the strategist said. People will see opportunity and jump at the chance to run in this race. The most prominent name by far being floated is Cuomo, who served as governor of New York for a decade before resigning in 2021 following investigations into numerous allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also faced scrutiny over accusations his administration covered up the number of deaths in nursing homes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Even with the controversies, strategists said Cuomos possible entry would significantly shake up the race and he couldnt be ignored. Smikle, a former executive director of the state party, said he believes Cuomo still has some amount of support particularly among those who are looking for a good manager and good governance. Cuomo received widespread acclaim during the early days of the pandemic as a leader in responding to the virus and was even floated as a possible presidential contender over his record as governor before becoming embroiled in the controversies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think particularly among white and more moderate voters in the city, a lot of them that are focused on good management. I think Andrew still has some support there, Smikle said. The Republican side of the race is much quieter currently, though a few candidates have expressed interest. That includes 2021 GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa, City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli and radio host and former mayoral candidate John Catsimatidis. Republican strategist Matt Coleman said he isnt sure who would potentially come out of the GOP side, noting that Sliwa lost handily and Catsimatidis appears to be the subject of will he, wont he speculation. The New York Post reported that Borelli has told confidants he would only run if Adams resigns, triggering a special election, rather than facing him head-on in 2025 as a significant underdog. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Coleman hinted that Adams may have a path in the Republican column with his appeal and the gains that Trump made in the city in this years presidential race, while several of Adamss Democratic challengers run to his left. He also noted the history that the city has of electing Republican mayors, like Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg, who later became an independent. I think that a lot of the left-wing policies that have been enacted in New York got a little blowback at the polls, Coleman said, noting that Adams isnt tied to that. [Adams] is a guy who is committed to, throughout his term so far, the saying from City Hall has been were the GSD, the Get Stuff Done administration, he said. And thats great. And that message appeals to a lot of folks because the concept of inertia, especially in New York, is a big thing. 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. (WHTM) A local man was killed in a Thursday morning crash in Maryland, police said. Frank Howard, 53, of York, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash at the intersection of Fort Smallwood Road and Lauren Way around 4:30 a.m., according to police. Police said he crashed into a tree after the vehicle he was driving, a 1994 Ford Mustang, left the roadway. He was the only person inside the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Severe Weather Alerts The crash 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 ABC27. By Jonathan Allen NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York state will fine fossil fuel companies a total of $75 billion over the next 25 years to pay for damage caused to the climate under a bill Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law on Thursday. The law is intended to shift some of the recovery and adaptation costs of climate change from individual taxpayers to oil, gas and coal companies that the law says are liable. The money raised will be spent on mitigating the impacts of climate change, including adapting roads, transit, water and sewage systems, buildings and other infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "New York has fired a shot that will be heard round the world: The companies most responsible for the climate crisis will be held accountable," New York Senator Liz Krueger, a Democrat who co-sponsored the bill, said in a statement. Fossil fuel companies will be fined based on the amount of greenhouse gases they released into the atmosphere between 2000 and 2018, to be paid into a Climate Superfund beginning in 2028. It will apply to any company that the New York Department of Environmental Conservation determines is responsible for more than 1 billion tons of global greenhouse gas emissions. New York becomes the second state to pass such a law after Vermont passed its own version this summer. The laws are modeled after existing state and federal superfund laws that require polluters to pay to clean up toxic waste. Repairing damage and adapting for extreme weather caused by climate change will cost New York more than $500 billion by 2050, Krueger said in her statement. Major oil companies made more than $1 trillion in profits since January 2021 and have known since at least the 1970s that the extraction and burning of fossil fuels contribute to climate change, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Energy companies are expected to file legal challenges to the new law, arguing that it is preempted by federal law regulating energy companies and polluters. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen; Editing by Leslie Adler) By Kanishka Singh (Reuters) -Seven people were injured in New York City on Christmas Day when a taxi jumped a sidewalk and hit pedestrians outside a Macy's department store after the cab driver suffered a medical episode, police said on Wednesday. The incident took place in Midtown Manhattan near Macy's flagship store in Herald Square near the corner of West 34th Street and Avenue of the Americas, or Sixth Avenue. The store, with its elaborately decorated display windows, is a magnet for tourists and native New Yorkers around the holidays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the 58-year-old taxi driver, the injured included a 9-year-old boy, two women aged 49 and three other women aged 19, 37 and 41, police added. One 49-year-old woman with a leg injury, the 9-year-old boy who suffered a cut and the 41-year-old woman who sustained an injury to her head were taken to hospital, police said. The remaining three pedestrians declined medical attention, according to police, which added that all the injuries were non-life-threatening. Media images of the cab showed a heavily damaged vehicle with broken parts and dents all over it. NBC New York cited law enforcement sources as saying that the boy and his mother who were wounded were visiting New York City from Australia. The report added that no charges had been filed and a probe into the crash was ongoing. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Sandra Maler and Christian Schmollinger) President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his Christmas Eve address on Dec. 24 that Ukrainians continue to hold on to their faith, unity, and traditions during the third Christmas in wartime. Zelensky highlighted the cultural importance of Mykola Leontovych's "Shchedryk," written in Pokrovsk, and its global association with the spirit of Christmas. "Let everyone who hears it remember Ukraine, how we are fighting for the main symbol of this holiday for hope and victory," he said. This is our third Christmas during the war, Zelensky wrote. We cannot celebrate it fully not everyone is at home, not everyone has a home, and not everyone is with us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All we need is to live peacefully on our land, to see the sun, our sky, and in it the Christmas star, not Iranian drones and Russian missiles. The president called for prayers for soldiers, prisoners, and those in occupied territories, adding, "Wherever we are today, we are together. As one big family, as one united nation." He concluded by wishing for peace, justice, and joy for all Ukrainians. "We fight and pray for this. And we deserve it." Russia launched a mass aerial attack against Ukraine on Dec. 25, targeting cities across the country with missiles and drones. The northeastern city of Kharkiv was among the hardest hit, coming under "massive fire" from ballistic missiles, according to local authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Kellogg condemns Russias mass attack against Ukraine on Christmas Day Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his evening address on 26 December, praised the brigades participating in the Kursk operation and the soldiers carrying out long-range strikes on Russian territory. Source: Zelenskyy's address Quote: "I thank our 95th, 80th and 82nd Separate Air Assault Brigades for their resilience and bravery in battles over these weeks. Also, the 68th Separate Jaeger Brigade well done, guys! My gratitude as well to the 225th and 425th Separate Assault Battalions thank you! I would also like to highlight all our warriors who are carrying out long-range strikes on Russian territory. We are seeing the right and necessary results in destroying the military infrastructure of the enemy and only military targets. Ukraine is defending itself from aggression, and our strikes are exclusively directed at military targets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, Defence Intelligence, the Foreign Intelligence Service I am grateful to all involved structures for their precision." Details: Zelenskyy received reports from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and Defence Minister Rustem Umierov. Quote: "It is very important that the United States is now increasing deliveries. This is necessary to stabilise the situation. I am grateful to our partners. The pace of deliveries must be such that it disrupts the pace of Russian assaults. We need greater strength of weapons. And strong positions for diplomacy. And every unit, every brigade contributing to this, brings us closer to the possibility of a normal peace." Support UP or become our patron! If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close 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: Upcoming Mahindra SUVs In 2025: In 2024, Mahindra made headlines first with the launch of the Thar Roxx and later with the introduction of electric SUVs like the XEV 9e and BE 6. Earlier, in 2022, it launched Scorpio-N, which was also an instant hit. The company plans to continue the momentum in 2025 by launching several new models, including the XEV 9e and BE 6. Mahindra BE 6 Initially, called the BE 6E, the electric SUV was later renamed BE 6 due to naming issues with Indigo Airlines. While Mahindra has revealed the starting price of Rs 18.90 lakh (ex-showroom), details about higher variants will be announced at the Bharat Mobility Expo in January 2025. The BE 6 offers two battery options: a 59kWh pack generating 228 BHP and a 79kWh pack producing 281 BHP. Bookings for the BE 6 will open in January, with deliveries starting in February. Mahindra XEV 9E Mahindra will also unveil the full range of XEV 9E variants and pricing at the upcoming expo. Powered by the same battery packs as the BE 6, the XEV 9E will initially come with RWD, with an AWD version expected to come soon. Its starting price is Rs 21.90 lakh (ex-showroom). Mahindra XUV 4XO EV/XEV 4e The electric version of the XUV 3XO, likely named the XUV 4XO EV or XEV 4e, is expected to launch in early 2025. It may feature 34.5kWh and 39.5kWh battery packs, similar to the XUV400 EV. Prices are expected to be slightly higher than the current model, which costs between Rs 16.74 lakh and Rs 17.69 lakh (ex-showroom). Mahindra XEV 7e Expected to launch in March 2025 at an estimated price of around Rs 21 lakh, the XEV 7e (essentially an electric XUV700) will likely share its design and features with the XEV 9e. It may offer advanced features like triple screens, multi-zone AC, ADAS, and a range of up to 650 km with 59kWh and 79kWh battery options. TS TET Hall Ticket 2025: The Telangana School Education Department will release the TS TET hall tickets today, December 26, 2024. Applicants can download their admit cards from the official website, tgtet2024.aptonline.in, by entering their login details. According to the official schedule, the TS TET 2025 exam will be held from January 2 to January 20, 2025. Candidates must bring their admit cards to the examination hall for entry. This year, a total of 2.75 lakh candidates have registered for the exam. To apply and appear for the exam, candidates must have a DElEd, DEd, BEd, Language Pandit, or an equivalent qualification. Those in the final year of these courses with the required marks are also eligible. The TG TET exam includes two papers: Paper 1 is for candidates aiming to teach classes 1 to 5, while Paper 2 is for those aspiring to teach classes 6 to 8. The state-level TS TET examination is set to take place in January 2025. Admit cards will be released on December 26, 2024. The exam will commence on January 1 and conclude on January 20, 2025. Results are expected to be announced on February 5, 2025. TS TET Hall Ticket 2025: Heres how to download here Visit the official website tgtet2024.aptonline.in. Click on the Telangana TET hall ticket or admit card download link on the homepage. Enter your login details. Submit and download your hall ticket. Read the instructions or guidelines mentioned on the hall ticket. Print a copy for exam day. General category candidates need to score at least 60% to pass the exam. For BC candidates, the minimum required score is 50%, and for SC, ST, and differently-abled candidates, it is 40%. The TS TET pass certificate allows candidates to apply for teaching jobs in Classes 1 to 8 in state government, mandal parishad, zila parishad, private aided, and private unaided schools in Telangana. The TS TET certificate is valid for a lifetime, and 20% weightage is given to the TET score during the recruitment process. BJP leader Anurag Thakur has come out in strong support of Telugu actor Allu Arjun, who has been embroiled in controversy after the tragic stampede at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad. The incident occurred on December 4 during the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule, when a massive crowd gathered to see the actor. The situation escalated when Allu Arjun waved to fans from the sunroof of his car, leading to a stampede that resulted in the death of a woman named Revathi and injuries to her child. Thakur, along with other BJP leaders, criticized the allegations made by certain Telangana Congress leaders who have targeted Allu Arjun for his actions during the event. These leaders have questioned the actor's response to the tragic accident, with some even accusing him of being responsible for the chaos that led to the loss of life. Addressing the media in Hyderabad, Thakur condemned the remarks from Telangana Congress leaders, especially Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, over the Sandhya Theatre incident. He urged the Congress party to rein in its members, stressing that such statements could tarnish the reputation of the South Indian film industry, particularly Telugu cinema. In an interview with ANI, he said, "If you look at the contribution of Telugu actors in the film industry, they have put the film and Indian cinema on the global map... If you look at the last few years, Allu Arjun got the National Award in Narendra Modi's government, Chiranjeevi got the Lifetime Achievement Award and their contribution has been appreciated by the whole country and the world. On the other hand, look at the films, whether it is RR, Pushpa, KGF, Baahubali all of them have brought fame to Indian cinema." I think instead of creating controversy, efforts should be made to have a dialogue, take care of safety and not do politics..." he added. #WATCH | Hyderabad, Telangana: BJP MP Anurag Thakur says, "If you look at the contribution of Telugu actors in the film industry, they have put the film and Indian cinema on the global map... If you look at the last few years, Allu Arjun got the National Award in Narendra Modi's pic.twitter.com/nYzbhUFDHr ANI (@ANI) December 25, 2024 Allegations of Political Targeting BJP leader Amit Malviya also accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddys Congress government of targeting Tollywood. According to Malviya, the CM's actions against the film industry were linked to the refusal of Tollywood superstars, including Allu Arjun, to comply with Reddy's attempts to exert control and extract money from them. The BJP leaders suggested that these moves were politically motivated, as the CM sought to leverage his position to gain financial favor from the film industry. Allu Arjuns Legal Battle Following the incident, Allu Arjun was arrested on December 13 in connection with the case. However, he was granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court. On December 19, the actor was summoned for questioning by the police, as part of the ongoing investigation into the tragic event. A political storm has erupted in Tamil Nadu following a sexual assault incident at Anna University in Chennai, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party of protecting the accused due to his alleged ties with the party. The controversy intensified after BJP leaders shared photographs linking the accused to top DMK officials, including Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. Allegations of Party Ties and Protection K Annamalai, the state president of the BJP, claimed that the accused, Gnanasekaran, 37, was a member of the DMKs student wing in Saidai East and had been involved in similar criminal activities in the past. He argued that such crimes were being overlooked due to the accused's connections with local DMK leaders. Annamalais post on X (formerly Twitter) suggested that the accused had avoided legal consequences in the past, with cases against him being suppressed due to political influence. According to Annamalai, this pattern of protection allowed Gnanasekaran to commit further crimes, as he was neither categorized as a history-sheeter nor placed on the local police watchlist. He questioned Chief Minister MK Stalins accountability, asking how long the people of Tamil Nadu would tolerate such alleged political interference. The incident, which took place on Anna Universitys campus, has shocked the public. Gnanasekaran, who reportedly ran a biryani stall near the university, is accused of assaulting a second-year engineering student. After attacking the students male friend, Gnanasekaran allegedly dragged the victim into a bush and sexually assaulted her. The attack has sparked protests on campus, with student organizations such as the Students Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Democratic Womens Association (AIDWA) demanding justice for the survivor and better safety measures for students on campus. BJPs Protests As the issue gained political momentum, BJP members, including former governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and vice president Karu Nagarajan, staged protests outside Anna University. They condemned the lack of action and claimed that the police were suppressing details about the case, particularly the First Information Report (FIR), because the accused was allegedly linked to the DMK. Soundararajan described the police action as "atrocious" and accused the authorities of trying to stifle the voices of the protesters. Annamalai further criticized the leak of the FIR, suggesting that it was deliberately done to protect the accused due to his political affiliations. DMK's Rejection of Allegations In response to the BJP's claims, DMK spokesperson A Saravanan strongly rejected the accusations. He argued that sharing a photograph with a party leader does not imply party involvement in a crime. Saravanan emphasized that the accused had already been arrested and assured that he would face justice under the DMK-led government. In a post on X, Saravanan reiterated that the Tamil Nadu police would take action against anyone involved in the crime, regardless of political connections. He also dismissed BJPs claims as baseless, accusing them of spreading false narratives to undermine the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu. A fresh controversy has emerged over the alleged misrepresentation of the India map on the posters displayed by the Congress to commemorate the centenary of the 1924 Congress session in Karnataka's Belagavi. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dubbed it as "vote bank" politics by the national party. The ruling Congress in Karnataka has put up these posters throughout Belagavi town as part of celebrations for the centenary event. The BJP and its ally JD(S) in Karnataka claimed that the Indian map featured on the posters omits the Gilgit region of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir as well as the Aksai Chin region, currently under the Chinese administration, which are integral parts of Jammu and Kashmir, as reported by news agency PTI. "Today our nation is observing Veer Bal divas...but at this moment, another picture comes up which aches our hearts. BJP Karnataka has posted a tweet in which it can be seen that in the event organised by Congress in Belagavi, the Indian Map they have put up, Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Aksai Chin are not there....they have done similar things in the past as well...so I want to express my pain...now it has become clear, the power that is trying to break India, Congress' connection with them has become clear now," BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said. #WATCH | Delhi: BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi says, "...Today our nation is observing Veer Bal divas...but at this moment, another picture comes up which aches our hearts. BJP Karnataka has posted a tweet in which it can be seen that in the event organised by Congress in Belagavi, the pic.twitter.com/e6ja6ON40Y ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2024 Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the Congress Karnataka unit president, reacted to the controversy and said that the posters would be removed if there is any mistake. "Some leaders might have made some mistakes; we are removing everything. Don't try to pick a small stone in the curd... We have done according to Indian tradition and values of those days... BJP is there to attack us; they can't digest. There is no medicine for jealousy. Let them do what they want..." he told reporters in Belagavi, as quoted by PTI. The national unit of the BJP strongly criticized the Congress. In a post on X it said, RaGa's Mohabbat ki Dukaan is always open for China! They would break the nation. They've done it once. They'll do it again. The Karnataka unit of the saffron party termed the "incorrect depiction" of the Indian map as a way to appease its "vote bank.". @INCKarnataka, has shown utter disrespect for Indias sovereignty by displaying a distorted map at their Belagavi event, portraying Kashmir as part of Pakistan. All this just to appease their vote bank. This is shameful! the party posted on X. Lashing out at the grand old party, BJPs Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal demanded that the police register a case against the organizers. The publication of an incorrect map of India not only constitutes a breach of Geospatial information standards but also violates the law, Yatnal said in a post on X. According to him, under section 74 of the IPC, displaying a wrong map of India is a clear offence. It is also a violation under the National Honour Act. This is the way how the Congress celebrates its historic CWC session by distorting the map of India, not showing PoK as part of Indian territory. Shame on @INCKarnataka. I appeal to the @SPBelagavi to register a case against the organizers for wrongfully depicting the map of India immediately, he said. The JDS took to X and launched a scathing attack on the Congress over the issue. The Italian Congress has omitted the territory of Kashmir from the map of India drawn in Belgaum under the name Gandhi Bharat. Distorting and altering the map of India is a serious criminal act, like treason, the party said. The party held Shivakumar responsible for it. "Kashmir is an integral part of India, but the Congress anti-national mentality of expressing support for Pakistan by playing politics of appeasement for votes is now getting wide spread all over the country through banners," it said. Farmers Protest: Farmer leader of Kisan Mazdoor Sanghrash Committee-Punjab, Sharvan Singh Pandher, said on Thursday that 'Punjab Bandh' call for December 30 has gaining support from various groups. "Punjab bandh will be observed on 30th December from 7 am to 4 pm. We have received support from many unions and groups. Both Punjab govt and private offices will remain closed on this day. Rail movement and road traffic will also be closed on 30th December," Pandher said addressing a press conference at Khannur border. The protest organised by the farmers of Punjab at the Khanauri border in Sangrur district, near the Haryana border, entered its 318th day. They have been protesting since February 13, 2024, to press on their various demands including a law to guarantee the minimum support price (MSP). On Tuesday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann lashed out at the central government and said that they should abandon their "stubbornness" and open their way for talk with the farmers. He also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and questioned him that if he can stop the war between Russia and Ukraine, then why can't he talk to the breadwinners sitting 200 kilometers away? Taking to social media X, the Punjab Chief Minister wrote in a post "The central government should abandon its old stubbornness and open the way for talks with the farmers' organizations... A cat does not run away when a pigeon winks.. I don't know what penance the central government is doing now?? If Modi ji can stop the war between Russia and Ukraine, then can't he talk to the breadwinners sitting 200 kilometers away? What time are you waiting for..?" Earlier, on the occassion of Kisan Diwas, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan emphasized the Central Government's commitment to farmers' welfare under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. New Delhi: Fissures are deepening in the INDIA bloc as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) considers pushing the Congress party out of the opposition alliance for good. The trigger? Congress leader Ajay Maken's scathing remarks about Arvind Kejriwal. Maken on wednesday labeled the coalition a mistake, blaming the party's support for Kejriwals short-lived 40-day government in 2013 for Congress' downfall in Delhi. The blame game has added yet another layer of drama to the already fragile alliance. Sources within AAP hinted on Thursday that the party is "deeply dissatisfied" with Congress leadership and plans to "consult" other coalition members about removing Congress from the INDIA alliance. AAPs latest action come just as the Trinamool Congress escalates its criticism of Congress leading the INDIA bloc. TMC had pointed fingers at Congress after its poor show in the Haryana and Maharashtra elections. Trinamool leaders proposed Mamata Banerjee as a replacement to head the alliance. The suggestion found backing from several parties. Adding to the intrigue, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav joined an AAP event in Delhi on December 16, signaling growing alignment within parts of the opposition. AAP, Congress Spar In Delhi Both Congress and AAP have opted for separate paths in the Delhi Assembly Election scheduled for February next year. During the campaign, however, the Congress party intensified its attacks on Kejriwals party. Maken accused AAP of coming to power riding on the Janlokpal agitation but failing to establish the anti-corruption ombudsman. Responding to Congress' allegations, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, speaking at a press conference on Thursday, claimed that Congress's actions are weakening the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) and jeopardizing opposition unity. CM Atishi said, "Has Congress ever made such allegations against any BJP leader? Congress has filed an FIR against Arvind Kejriwal and me, but they have never filed an FIR against BJP till date. BJP is funding Congress candidates, including Sandeep Dikshit and Farhad Suri, who is contesting from Jangpura. Congress leaders have colluded with BJP to defeat the Aam Aadmi Party. This alliance is evident, Atishi charged. In a press conference alongside AICC Delhi in-charge Qazi Mohd Nizamuddin, Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav, co-incharges Danish Abrar, Maken lashed out at former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, calling him the king of fraud. "If there's one word to describe former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, it would be Farziwal," PTI quoted Maken as saying. He further stated that forming an alliance with AAP was a "mistake" that should be corrected, though he clarified it was his personal opinion. Manmohan Singh Death: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed condolences on the demise of former prime minister Manmohan Singh and termed him as one of the most distinguished leaders of the country. Hailing the Congress veteran for his contributions to the country, PM Modi said that he has left a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. "India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years," PM Modi posted on X. India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic pic.twitter.com/clW00Yv6oP Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 26, 2024 Besides PM Modi, political leaders across party lines expressed grief over the death of the former PM. Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief over the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that from being the Governor of the RBI to the Finance Minister and as the PM, Singh played an important role in the governance of the country. In a post on X, Shah prayed for peace to his soul and strength for his family to bear this grief. "The news of the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is extremely sad. From being the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India to the Finance Minister of the country and as the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh played an important role in the governance of the country. I express my condolences to his family and supporters in this hour of grief. May Waheguru grant peace to his soul and give strength to his family to bear this grief," the Home Minister said. . . Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 26, 2024 Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his deepest and heartfelt condolences to Singh's family, friends, and countless admirers. In a post on X, Kharge said that with the passing of Singh, India has lost a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, and an economist of unparalleled stature. "Undoubtedly, history shall judge you kindly, Dr. Manmohan Singh ji! With the passing of the Former Prime Minister, India has lost a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, and an economist of unparalleled stature. His policy of Economic Liberalisation and Rights-based welfare paradigm profoundly transformed the lives of crores of Indians, virtually creating a Middle Class in India and lifting crores out of poverty," he wrote on X. The Congress chief called Singh a man of action rather than words saying that his immense contribution to nation-building will forever be etched in the annals of Indian history "I mourn the loss of a lifelong senior colleague, a gentle intellectual and a humble soul who embodied the aspirations of India, having risen through the ranks with unwavering dedication. I am proud to have been a part of his Cabinet as Labour Minister, Railway Minister and Social Welfare Minister. A man of action rather than words, his immense contribution to nation-building will forever be etched in the annals of Indian history," he said. "In this moment of sorrow, I extend my deepest and heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and countless admirers. May they get the strength to overcome this huge loss. His enduring legacy of ushering in India's growth, welfare, and policies of inclusivity will forever be cherished. May his soul rest in eternal peace," Kharge added. Undoubtedly, history shall judge you kindly, Dr. Manmohan Singh ji! With the passing of the Former Prime Minister, India has lost a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, and an economist of unparalleled stature. His policy of Economic Liberalisation and pic.twitter.com/BvMZh3MFXS Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) December 26, 2024 Lok Sabha LoP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "Manmohan Singh Ji led India with immense wisdom and integrity. His humility and deep understanding of economics inspired the nation. My heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Kaur and the family. I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride." Manmohan Singh Ji led India with immense wisdom and integrity. His humility and deep understanding of economics inspired the nation. My heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Kaur and the family. I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the pic.twitter.com/bYT5o1ZN2R Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 26, 2024 Congress leader and MP Priyanka Gandhi condoled the demise of Singh and called him a uniquely dignified and gentleman in the rough world of politics. "Few people in politics inspire the kind of respect that Sardar Manmohan Singh ji did. His honesty will always be an inspiration for us and he will forever stand tall among those who truly love this country as someone who remained steadfast in his commitment to serve the nation despite being subjected to unfair and deeply personal attacks by his opponents. He was genuinely egalitarian, wise, strong-willed and courageous until the end. A uniquely dignified and gentleman in the rough world of politics," Priyanka wrote on X. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said that the party is cancelling all their programmes and rushing back to Delhi from Belagavi in Karnataka. "It's very tragic. He was a great prime minister who served the nation. We are cancelling all our programmes and rushing back to Delhi," he said. Dr Manmohan Singh Death Live: Manmohan Singh, Indias quiet reformer and the architect of its economic transformation has passed away at 92. Manmohan Singh had a sudden loss of consciousness at home on December 26, 2024, after which he was rushed to the AIIMS Delhi. His health was critical and eventually, the former prime minister breathed his last. "With profound grief, we inform the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, aged 92. He was being treated for age-related medical conditions and had a sudden loss of consciousness at home on 26th December 2024. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency at AIIMS, New Delhi at 8:06 PM. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 PM," AIIMS said in a press release. Leaders across the spectrum, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hailed Singh as a towering personality who reshaped Indias future. From navigating the 1991 crisis to global reforms, his legacy endures. Kerala Lottery Results Thursday 26-12-2024 LIVE: The Kerala Lottery Department, on behalf of the Keralan government, announces the "Karunya KN-553" Lucky Draw Result today Karunya KN-553, December 26, 2024. The draw will be held at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala Lottery Result 2024 for "Karunya KN-553" 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 Karunya KN-553 results right here to see if youre the first-place winner of 80 Lakhs. Stay tuned to this website for the live update of Kerala Lottery Karunya KN-553 results today. Kerala Lottery Result 26-12-2024 Dec: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR KARUNYA PLUS KN-553 Draw LUCKY TICKET NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 80 LAKHS IS: PP 999699 LUCKY TICKET NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 10 LAKHS IS: PW 492788 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 LAKHS ARE: PN 700223 PO 607866 PP 834041 PR 633026 PS 661440 PT 826576 PU 876776 PV 921781 PW 372721 PX 933707 PY 465168 PZ 137244 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: PN 999699 PO 999699 PR 999699 PS 999699 PT 999699 PU 999699 PV 999699 PW 999699 PX 999699 PY 999699 PZ 999699 (For The Tickets Ending with The Following Numbers below) LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: 0924 1059 2260 2269 2536 3422 3450 3970 4848 4962 5841 6030 6803 6814 7852 8729 8909 9918 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: 1036 1065 1476 1855 2082 2508 2653 3076 3462 3506 3590 3748 3857 4056 4175 4355 4434 4876 4894 5110 5536 5619 6198 6236 6602 6898 7246 7307 7707 7710 8004 8140 8758 9927 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: 0079 0198 0302 0359 0442 0673 0766 0927 0972 1027 1046 1152 1289 1597 1660 1701 1734 1815 1845 1883 1985 2028 2067 2093 2157 2160 2233 2620 2768 2783 3101 3106 3488 3726 3727 3832 3923 4000 4070 4232 4305 4705 4939 4960 5018 5050 5244 5371 5397 5494 5578 5877 5924 6245 6540 6679 7006 7083 7285 7354 7590 7628 7872 7911 7934 7978 8061 8179 8262 8499 8546 8680 8801 8859 8977 9068 9219 9593 9653 9909 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: 0007 0055 0121 0205 0290 0316 0340 0492 0532 0604 0609 0612 0641 0675 0708 0729 0756 0797 0851 0874 0914 1001 1041 1337 1363 1369 1391 1406 1484 1498 1506 1544 1779 1877 1946 1969 2022 2291 2364 2380 2417 2462 2470 2555 2558 2704 2796 2882 2890 2935 3270 3272 3306 3460 3498 3751 3880 4142 4194 4301 4358 4385 4391 4409 4449 4469 4495 4500 4579 4596 4799 4994 5079 5097 5164 5441 5846 5899 5968 6015 6020 6168 6228 6284 6563 6636 6801 6832 6932 6953 6973 6993 7280 7410 7424 7546 7727 7784 7819 7843 7962 7982 7994 8019 8147 8223 8369 8417 8579 8590 8654 9059 9303 9312 9323 9380 9431 9444 9456 9461 9466 9568 9600 9624 9838 9995 KERALA LOTTERY RESULT TODAY 26-12-2024 Dec: KARUNYA PLUS KN-553 LOTTERY PRIZE DETAILS 1st Prize: Rs 80 Lakhs 2nd Prize: Rs. 10 lakhs 3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh 4th Prize: Rs. 5,000 5th Prize: Rs. 1,000 6th Prize: Rs. 500 7th 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.) Kozhikode: The great literary figure of Malayalam and Jnanpith Award winner M T Vasudevan Nair, who had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital here following heart failure, has died, hospital sources said on Wednesday. He was 91. He had been undergoing treatment for over a month due to illness. The writer was admitted to the hospital in the early morning of December 16, following respiratory complications. He passed away at 10 PM on Wednesday night at a private hospital in Kozhikode. While he remained in critical condition, doctors had informed that his body was responding to the medication, which raised hopes and comfort that the beloved writer might recover. However, by night, hospital authorities confirmed his death. "M T has died," a hospital source told PTI. He had been under the care of a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including cardiologists and critical care experts, since his hospitalisation. His last rites will be held at 5 PM on Thursday at the Mavoor Road crematorium. The body will be brought from the hospital to his residence on Kottaram Road. Public viewing will be held at the house until 4 PM in the afternoon. Popularly known as M T, he authored nine novels, 19 collections of short stories, directed six films, wrote around 54 screenplays, and published several collections of essays and memoirs over a career spanning seven decades. His novel Naalukettu (The Ancestral House) solidified his place as a literary icon and is considered a classic in Malayalam literature. He also penned several acclaimed works, including Asuravithu, Manju, and Kaalam. M T's literary achievements earned him the Jnanpith Award in 1995, India's highest literary honour, as well as numerous other accolades, including the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award, Vallathol Award, Ezhuthachan Award, Mathrubhumi Literary Award, and O N V Literary Award. In 2005, M T was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honour. He received the J C Daniel Award for lifetime achievement in Malayalam cinema in 2013, and in 2022, he was honoured with the inaugural Kerala Jyothi Award, the highest civilian honour from the Kerala government. M T also served as the editor of Mathrubhumi Weekly for several years. Condoling his demise, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan said the passing of M T marks a profound loss for both Malayalam and Indian literature. "This multifaceted genius who enriched literature, cinema, and journalism authored some of the finest works in Malayalam literature. As a writer, M T championed modernism through characters that embodied modernist sensibilities, and as editor, advanced the movement by publishing the works of other modernist writers," he said, extending heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. "May his soul attain Mukti," the Governor wrote. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the brilliance that brought Malayalam literature to the forefront of world literature is what we have lost with the passing of M T Vasudevan Nair. "It is an irreparable loss not only to Kerala in general but also to the world of Malayalam literature," Vijayan said in a statement. Describing M T as a towering figure in the fields of short story writing, novel writing, screenplay writing, film direction, journalism, and cultural leadership, Vijayan said that through his works, he conveyed the beauty and complexity of Kerala's life. "He rose to global prominence while firmly rooting himself in the cultural traditions of Valluvanadu, reflecting the life and ethos of the people. In doing so, M T marked not only the individual minds of Keralites but also the collective consciousness of the people of Kerala through his writings," he said. Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan, said M T was the one who, with the power of a pen, determined how a people should write and speak in their mother tongue. "M T stood as the symbol of the nations greatness, filled with the sanctity and radiance of Malayalam," Satheesan said. In a statement, the state government said it would observe official mourning on December 26 and 27 as a mark of respect for M T. The Chief Minister has directed that all government events, including the Cabinet meeting scheduled for December 26, be postponed, it said. Born in 1933 in Kudallur, a quaint village in Palakkad district, Kerala, M T, through more than seven decades of writing, created a literary world that appealed equally to both ordinary people and intellectuals. At the time, Kudallur was part of the Malabar district under the Madras Presidency of British India. He was the youngest of four children born to T Narayanan Nair and Ammalu Amma. His father worked in Ceylon, while M T spent his early years in Kudallur and at his paternal home in Punnayurkulam, a village in present-day Thrissur district. M T's early life and surroundings deeply influenced his literary sensibilities. He completed his schooling at Malamakkavu Elementary School and Kumaranelloor High School and graduated with a degree in chemistry from Victoria College, Palakkad, in 1953. His professional journey began as a teacher and gramasevakan at a block development office in Taliparamba, Kannur, before he joined Mathrubhumi Weekly as a sub-editor in 1957. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has raised questions on the Uttar Pradesh government's preparedness for the upcoming Mahakumbh at Prayagraj and accused it of mismanagement. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister drew attention to the alleged delay in addressing the needs of local residents and the fair area, stating that people in Prayagraj were questioning the government's priorities. Yadav highlighted complaints about the "neglect" of local issues, such as transportation and movement around the Mahakumbh area. To back his claims, Yadav recently shared three videos on social media, questioning the preparations. In the videos, he highlighted issues with pontoon bridges, electricity poles, and police office renovations. In todays episode of DNA, ZEE News investigated and analyzed all the claims made by the Samajwadi party chief. Watch Full Episode Here As per the ground report, despite Akhilesh Yadavs allegations of mismanagement, officials and locals were seen satisfied with the preparations. The administration has assured that all necessary arrangements are being made for the Kumbh Mela. As far as the pontoon bridges, on-site information revealed that the issues are being addressed. Moreover, saints and seers attending the Kumbh Mela expressed satisfaction with the arrangements. Yadav also questioned the absence of wires on electricity poles. However, when Zee News confronted administrative officials with this claim, the concerned officials responded, "Those who doubt can come and see for themselves." The fact-check investigation revealed that while Akhilesh Yadav has raised concerns about the Kumbh Mela preparations, the administration and locals are confident about the arrangements. In a social media post, the opposition leader flagged several issues regarding security arrangements, local concerns, and overall administration in Prayagraj, urging the government to take immediate corrective action. "This is the truth of preparations for 'Prayagraj Mahakumbh 2025' under the BJP government! At least the work of the police department should have been completed long ago because the management of the security circle does not wait for the last day," he said on X. "The aggrieved people of Prayagraj are asking that the BJP government was very prompt in removing the statue of 'Mahadani' Emperor Harshvardhan, but why is the same speed not being shown for administrative management?" Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chief and veteran leader Sonia Gandhi on Thursday emphasized that Mahatma Gandhis legacy is under threat from those in power in Delhi and the ideologies and institutions that have nurtured them. Taking a swipe at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, the former Congress chief highlighted that Mahatma Gandhi has been and will continue to be the fundamental source of inspiration. Congress said his In her message read out at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Belagavi, Sonia Gandhi lashed out at the Modi government and the RSS and called for fighting the forces that she claimed had created a toxic atmosphere that led to Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. Sonia Gandhi was not present at the meeting as she could not travel to Belagavi. The Congress veteran said Mahatma Gandhi becoming Congress president here was a turning point for the party and for the independence movement. "It was a transformational milestone in our country's history. Today, we rededicate ourselves to preserving, protecting, and promoting the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. He has been and will continue to be the fundamental source of our inspiration," she said. "It was he who moulded and guided all our remarkable galaxy of leaders of that generation. His legacy is under threat from those in power in New Delhi and the ideologies and institutions that have nurtured them," she said in her message. "These organizations never fought for our freedom. They opposed Mahatma Gandhi bitterly. They created a toxic atmosphere that led to his assassination. They glorify his killers," Sonia Gandhi said. The former Congress president said Gandhian institutions in various places across the nation are under assault and noted that it is fitting that this meeting is called 'Nava Satyagraha Baithak.' "It is now our sacred duty to renew our resolve to confront these forces with all the might at our command and with uncompromising determination," she said. "I am sure that the issue of strengthening our organization further to face the challenges it confronts will also come up today. Our great organization with such a glorious history has, time and again, demonstrated its resilience. Let us individually and collectively move forward from this meeting firm in our resolve to meet the many challenges our party faces with a renewed sense of urgency and a refreshed sense of purpose," she said. The CPP chairperson regretted that she was unable to be present at the "historic occasion." "The 39th session of the Indian National Congress was held exactly a hundred years ago at this very location. It is, therefore, only appropriate that you are assembled at Mahatma Gandhi Nagar," she said in her message to the Congress leaders. (With ANI Inputs) Manmohan Singh Death: The Union government on Thursday declared a seven-day mourning in honour of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, officials said. They said the Cabinet will meet at 11 am on Friday to pay tributes to him. All government programs scheduled for tomorrow are to be cancelled. Dr. Manmohan Singhs last rites to be conducted with full state honours. All Government programs scheduled tomorrow are to be cancelled. National mourning of 7 days to be declared. Cabinet is to meet tomorrow at 11 am. Dr Manmohan Singhs last rites to be conducted with full state honours: GoI sources pic.twitter.com/0yjEv1diDq December 26, 2024 Manmohan Singh had sudden loss of consciousness at home today after which he was rushed to the AIIMS Delhi. "With profound grief, we inform the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, aged 92. He was being treated for age-related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home on 26th December 2024. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency at AIIMS, New Delhi at 8:06 PM. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 PM," AIIMS said in a press release. Singh retired from Rajya Sabha earlier this year after serving for 33 years in the house. Manomohan Singh, born in Punjab in 1932, served two terms as Prime Minister of India- from 2004 to 2014. He took the oath of the office for the first time in 2004, after Congress' win in 2004 Lok Sabha election against Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA. He served his second term from 2009 to 2014. He was then suceeded by PM Narendra Modi in 2014. Delhi Police has stepped up the security around AIIMS, Delhi after the demise of former prime minister Manmohan Singh during treatment. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) DCP Ankit Chauhan and other senior police officers of the district reached All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for reviewing the security arrangements, as reported by news agency PTI. A senior police officer said that security around AIIMS, Delhi was tightened and a company of paramilitary personnel was deployed. Extra staff from other neighbouring police stations have also been deployed as senior leaders, ministers and other dignitaries arrive at the hospital. His body may be shifted from AIIMS to his house in Delhi around midnight, police sources told PTI. (With agencies inputs) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s Tamil Nadu unit chief K Annamalai slammed the DMK government in the state over the handling of a sexual assault case involving a 19-year-old student at Anna University. While addressing the media in his hometown Coimbatore, Annamalai lost his composure and accused the DMK government for the deteriorating law and order in the state and removed his shoes, saying that he wont wear any shoes until the ruling government is overthrown in the state. "From tomorrow onwards until the DMK is removed from power, I will not wear any footwear," he said. Tomorrow, Annamalai will protest against how the government handled the Anna University students sexual harassment case. #WATCH | During a press conference, Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai removed his shoe and said, "From tomorrow onwards until the DMK is removed from power, I will not wear any footwear..." Tomorrow, K Annamalai will protest against how the government handled the Anna https://t.co/Jir02WFrOx pic.twitter.com/aayn33R6LG ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2024 Further, he said he would lash himself six times with a whip on December 27 at 10 am outside his residence here to draw people's attention over the tragic sexual assault of the Anna University student. Also it was to condemn the police, and the state government for its "apathy" in handling such matters. "Tomorrow, I will hold a protest in front of my house, where I will whip myself 6 times. Starting tomorrow, I will fast for 48 days and appeal to the six-armed Murugan. Tomorrow, a protest will be held in front of the house of every BJP member. From tomorrow until the DMK is removed from power, I will not wear sandals. There must be an end to this," the BJP Tamil Nadu chief said. During the press conference, the BJP Tamil Nadu chief alleged that the accused, Gnanasekaran was a DMK office-bearer, which was denied by the ruling party. The BJP leader, showing photographs of the accused with DMK leaders, alleged that he was a ruling party's student wing office-bearer. Tamil Nadu Law Minister S Regupathi asserted that the accused in the varsity student sexual assault case was not even a primary member of the DMK. The BJP leader alleged that the accused committed the crime emboldened by his affiliation to the ruling party. "This is very simple," he told reporters here. Since, the accused was associated with the DMK, police did not act against him, he alleged and wanted to know about the use of Nirbhaya funds to prevent such crimes. Annamalai also questioned the way the FIR was written and said it was drafted as if the victim had committed a crime. "The DMK (government) should be ashamed of disclosing the identity of the victim." Announcing that he would not wear footwear till such time the DMK government is ousted, he said he would go on a 48-day 'Viratham' (spiritual vow) by worshipping Lord Muruga, offering prayers at all the six 'Aarupadai' temples in the state by February, 2025. (With agencies inputs) Trains Running Late Due To Dense Fog: Transportation during the winter season is frequently disrupted by dense fog, with air and rail travel being the most affected. Heavy fog often leads to the cancellation of flights and trains; while train delays are quite common under such conditions. As of 6 AM on Thursday, at least 18 trains heading to Delhi from various parts of the country were running late, some by several hours, due to dense fog. The Avadh Assam Express was the most delayed train among 18, running late by 278 minutes (over 4.5 hours). The Unchahar Express is delayed by 229 minutes, while the Duronto Express has a delay of 176 minutes. Poorva Express, Durg MCTM SF, Vikramshila Express, S Kranti Sup Express, and Shiv Ganga Express were delayed by 240 minutes, 123 minutes, 65 minutes, 83 minutes and 70 minutes respectively. Full List Of Delayed Trains 18 trains to Delhi from various parts of the country are running late due to dense fog conditions. https://t.co/t4gHiFIqd8 pic.twitter.com/QtzAPLUAAZ ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2024 Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a minimum temperature of 7 degrees Celsius in Delhi on Thursday and predicted dense fog in the city. The Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the 'very poor' category, with a thin layer of fog reducing visibility across several areas. At Delhi Airport, low visibility procedures have been activated, but flight operations are running on schedule. In an official advisory, the airport confirmed that all flights are operating normally. In a post on the social media platform X, Delhi Airport stated, "Low Visibility Procedures are in progress at Delhi Airport. All flight operations are presently normal." Mumbai: In a heart wrenching revelation, actor Vivek Oberoi shared a deeply personal chapter of his life from his teenage years. Speaking to Mens XP, Vivek opened up about the pain of losing his first love to cancer when he was just 18 years old, a tragedy that left him shattered and deeply affected for years. Vivek reminisced about his first love, saying, I thought, This is it. Shes the one. I envisioned us going to college together, getting married, and having kids. I had my life planned out in my mind. However, his world came crashing down when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in its final stage. He recalled rushing to the hospital upon learning about her condition, only to face the devastating truth. We had been in a relationship for 56 years, and she was the girl of my dreams. Despite everything we tried, she passed away within two months. It was a complete shock. I was broken and shattered, Vivek revealed. The actor admitted that her passing left a void in his life. For a long time, I would see her in random people walking by. I refused to accept that she was gone, Vivek shared. It was only over time, through self-reflection and a shift in perspective, that he began to heal. Vivek found solace in his work with children battling cancer. He revealed that this effort not only helped him come to terms with his loss but also allowed him to make a difference in the lives of those going through similar struggles. Today, Vivek Oberoi is happily married to Priya Alva for 14 years, and the couple is blessed with two children. Well, like they say, believe in Gods plan if your plan doesnt work. Dhaka: Bangladesh faced an upheaval this year with the ouster of long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a development that also cast a shadow over its traditionally strong ties with India. The relations could be strained further: Bangladesh now seeks her extradition from India. The removal of 77-year-old Hasina followed weeks of protests led by students over a controversial quota system in government jobs that escalated into a nationwide campaign calling for the end of her 16-year regime. In August, tens of thousands rallied against what they perceived as political repression. The military opted not to use lethal force against the protestors while Hasina hurriedly left Bangladesh for India just months after she had secured her fourth straight term as prime minister. The anti-government protests resulted in the deaths of more than 1,500 people, including students, in confrontations between protestors and security forces, according to officials. The 84-year-old Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who had been in a protracted row with the Hasina government, was favoured by the student protestors to lead the interim government. The relations between India and Bangladesh came under strain after the interim government headed by Yunus came to power on August 8. There has been a spate of attacks on minorities, including Hindus, in Bangladesh in the last few months. The arrest of a Hindu monk on sedition charges further added to India's concerns, which Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri conveyed to Dhaka when he travelled there earlier this month. His trip was the first high-level visit by an Indian official to Bangladesh since Hasina's ouster. The Indian foreign secretary's visit gave a signal that New Delhi is keen to maintain a normal relationship with Bangladesh accepting the changed reality, said former diplomat Humayun Kabir, the head of the think-tank Bangladesh Enterprises Institute (BEI). He was apparently referring to India's close ties with the Hasina government. In recent weeks, Hasina has accused the Yunus-led administration of perpetrating "genocide" and failing to protect minorities, especially Hindus. The interim government has responded with a note verbale, or diplomatic communication, to New Delhi seeking her extradition. Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal has issued arrest warrants for Hasina and her former Cabinet ministers, advisers, and military and civil officials for "crimes against humanity and genocide". The interim government has claimed that around 3,500 citizens suffered from enforced disappearances throughout Hasina's tenure. More than 200 cases, including that of murder, have been filed against Hasina since her ouster. The fate of Hasina's once all-powerful Awami League hangs in the balance as the student leaders want it kept out of the next election, labelling the party fascist. This, analysts say, might have implications on holding a credible poll with the participation of only two major groups, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the far-right Jamaat-i-Islami whose controversial history dating back to the 1971 Liberation War remains deeply embedded in the public consciousness. It is yet a bit difficult to assume what will be the scenario during the next election, in terms of participation of major parties, said Kabir, who previously served in India as a deputy high commissioner and later ambassador to the United States. With many Awami League leaders and activists imprisoned or in hiding, it remains uncertain how the party will carry out its political activities. In his Victory Day speech, Yunus made no mention of the founding leader and Hasina's father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the day that marks the Liberation of Bangladesh -- and the surrender of nearly a lakh Pakistani soldiers to Indian forces. Bangladesh has started the process of erasing the image of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from its currency notes as it phases out the old notes. Instead, there would be images of religious structures, Bengali traditions and the July uprising on new notes. According to the central bank, banknotes of Taka 20, 100, 500, and 1,000 are being printed on the instructions of the interim government. The interim government also cancelled a national holiday on August 15, marking the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The interim government is yet to announce a roadmap for the general election. But in the Victory Day speech, Yunus said it could take place at the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026. It appears that the interim government wants to linger its tenure to accomplish the reforms in different sectors, political commentator and National Election Observation Parishad president Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah said. The Awami League regime for years claimed Bangladesh as a role model for development with its steady economic growth. In the decade before the Covid pandemic the country's economy grew by 7 per cent annually. The narrative, however, is now being questioned with a white paper by a state-appointed committee earlier this month that said the development story was largely "hyped up" and underpinned by "cooked-up" GDP figures. The Asian Development Bank in December slashed its growth forecast for the country, while the World Bank said half of all non-poor rural households were at risk of falling back into poverty. The interim government made major reshuffles in bureaucracy, police administration and other state-run organisations by arresting, removing or sidelining people believed to be close to the ousted regime. In 2025, the interim government faces the task of restoring political and economic stability ahead of the next elections. Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! In this episode, family physician Jonathan Staloff and internal medicine physician Joseph H. Joo join us to discuss the challenges and opportunities in reshaping health care systems. Drawing from their book, Reshaping Health Systems: What Drives Health Care and How You Can Change It, they delve into the complexities of balancing patient priorities, chronic disease management, and systemic barriers like the fee-for-service model. Together, they share actionable strategies for improving care delivery and fostering meaningful reform. Jonathan Staloff is a family physician and Joseph H. Joo is an internal medicine physician. They care co-authors of Reshaping Health Systems: What Drives Health Care and How You Can Change It. They discuss the KevinMD article, How fee-for-service shapes your doctors decisions. Our presenting sponsor is DAX Copilot by Microsoft. DAX Copilot, by Microsoft, is your AI assistant for automated clinical documentation and workflows. DAX Copilot allows physicians to do more with less and turn their words into a powerful productivity tool. DAX Copilot automates clinical documentationmaking it available in the EHR within minutesand clinical workflows, including referral letters, after-visit summaries, style and formatting customizations, and more. 70 percent of physicians who use DAX Copilot say it improves their work-life balance while reducing feelings of burnout and fatigue. Patients love it too! 93 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational, and 75 percent of physicians say it improves patient experiences. Discover AI-powered solutions for clinical documentation and workflows. Click here to see a 12-minute DAX Copilot demo. VISIT SPONSOR https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended GET CME FOR THIS EPISODE https://www.kevinmd.com/cme Im partnering with Learner+ to offer clinicians access to an AI-powered reflective portfolio that rewards CME/CE credits from meaningful reflections. Find out more: https://www.kevinmd.com/learnerplus Transcript Kevin Pho: Hi, and welcome to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast. Today, we welcome Jonathan Staloff and Joseph Joo. Jonathan is a family physician. Joseph is an internal medicine physician. They are coauthors of the book, Reshaping Health Systems: What Drives Health Care and How You Could Change It. And were going to talk about an excerpt from that book, How Fee for Service Shapes Your Doctors Decisions. Jonathan and Joseph, welcome to the show. Jonathan Staloff: Thank you so much, Kevin. Really glad to be here. Kevin Pho: All right, lets start by briefly sharing each of your stories and journeys. So, Jonathan, why dont you go first? Jonathan Staloff: Yeah, really happy to be here. So I started college in 2010, which was a time, of course, where the Affordable Care Act was being debated. And I knew I wanted to become a physician, but I realized I knew absolutely nothing about U.S. health care. So I took a health care course my very first year of college called Health Care in the U.S., which completely changed my career trajectory and helped me appreciate that I knew I wanted to be a practicing clinician who also worked to actively reshape and understand health systems. And so I became a public health major and did a masters in population medicine during medical school. And since then, Ive tried to find a way to wed my interest in clinical medicine as a practicing primary care clinician in family medicine, while also actively working to research and advocate for changing the way our health care system is structured. Part of that, of course, has been the writing of this book, which were both really excited to share. Kevin Pho: All right, excellent. Joseph, just briefly share your story journey. Joseph Joo: Absolutely. Very similar. First of all, thanks for your time this morning. Great to be here. Similar. So I had this dream of wanting to be initially a surgeon, somehow ended up being an internist by training, but along the way, I quickly realized, just like Jonathan and Josh, that learning clinical medicine was only really one aspect of providing the best care to patients and their families. And so, I think throughout my training and throughout my time as a practicing physician, Ive tried to ask and peel back the layers of what is it that really gets to the core of me doing my best to provide care. And I think that was one of the genesis points of how the three of us kind of bonded together to write the book that were excited to share about today. Kevin Pho: Excellent. Were going to talk about that excerpt from that book, How Fee for Service Shapes Your Doctors Decisions. So, Jonathan, for those who didnt get a chance to read your excerpt on KevinMD, tell us what its about. Jonathan Staloff: First off, thanks so much for sharing the excerpt, and I want to encourage everybody to take a look. This is the excerpt that opens our book. And so part of the inspiration for us to write the book was thinking about how, much like how its important to understand the physiology of the cardiovascular system or the pulmonary system to understand the presentation of a patient clinically, its important to understand the physiology of our health care system. And so our book is broken into two parts. The first partWhat Drives Health Careis really trying to understand the physiology of our health care system. Of course, Im a practicing primary care family medicine physician, and one of the most important assets we have that is, of course, most limited is time. And so often, people are trying to understand why your time is so limited, why you need to prioritize the number of things you discuss in a particular visit, and why you cant address every single thing for every single patient, every single visit. And really, that drives the time. But why is time so limited? Its because of the way that were reimbursed. So our book, for every single physiology element of the health care systemwhat we call a systems factorintroduces it with a continuous patient narrative throughout the course of the book. And the book opens, as does the excerpt, with this narrative coming for their first primary care visit with a new primary care clinician, and they have to prioritize what to focus on in the particular visit. And we uncover that the systems factor driving that is the way that ambulatory care is reimbursed through fee for service. Once we land on that take-home point, we really dissect how did the fee for service system come to be. And so we go through the original form of reimbursement in Medicare, which was usual, customary, and reasonable. We uncover some of the challenges that arose from those early days of the Medicare system, then take a deep dive into the research that informed how the fee for service system came to be. And then we outline exactly what fee for service is right now and how relative value units, the driver of fee for service, is calculated. Thats a lot of dry material, and we dont want to just be a textbook that provides dry material; we want to make it real for people. So we explain how this systemthough very good intentions might have created the incentive to have as many visits as possible rather than cover as much as you can in a given visit. In this article, in this excerpt, we focus on that content as well as the implications. Kevin Pho: And Jonathan, just to follow up, like yourself, Im a primary care physician. But through that patient example, just give us a sense of how those time pressures from that fee for service system infiltrate a typical patient visit. Just give us an example. Jonathan Staloff: Oh, sure. So I think it infiltrates a particular patient visit the moment you open your electronic health record and see that you have 30 patients to see that day, and you know some of those patients might be quite simple and some of them are quite complex. But the amount of time you have for a simple patient and the amount of time you have for a complex patient might be, gosh darn, the same. And so you are incredibly limited in what youll be able to accomplish for any particular patient. For this patient, this is a complex patient whose journey we follow throughout the book. She wants to talk about possible new developing dementia, knee pain that could be arthritis-related, and uncontrolled diabetes. And you dont even have the patients medical records. You would love to cover all those very, very important things, but on a visit where maybe the patient didnt arrive on time and your next patient, the clock is ticking, and theyre waiting and will be upset if they dont see you, and then youre getting messages in your inbox and phone calls to the clinic that you need to address independent of your schedule, the fee for service system needs you to keep chugging along to see every single patient because thats how the doors stay open. Kevin Pho: And Joseph, Im an internal medicine primary care physician, and what Jonathan mentioned was completely reflective of what I do every day. Talk a little bit about how fee for service came to be or evolved to be what it is today, knowing that it really focuses more on production sometimes to the detriment of patients. How did we get to this point? Joseph Joo: Yeah, great question. I think at the core of how fee for service came about was an incentive to try to make sure that people were adequately being reimbursed for the work that they were doing. Now, I think theres a difference over time in valuing the work that was being done versus the outcome of the work that was being done. And I think we focused maybe, perhaps, a lot on the former, more than the latter. Gradually, there became this chasm of lets do more, do more, do more, do more. And clinicians, including ourselves, were always trained to work extremely hard at what we do. If were trained to, lets say, provide a certain procedure or a certain diagnosis and treatment plan, I think over time it just becomes naturally ingrained to do more, do more, do more. And I think the intrinsic motivation and the personalities of really, really hardworking physicians, the way we were trained, and the way we were, quite frankly, rewarded for our work, had the unintended consequence of maybe putting less emphasis on valuing the outcome more than the work itself. That, I think, is one of the things we try to point to in this chapter. Kevin Pho: And Joseph, have you heard stories where that focus on relative value units and productivity has influenced physicians decision-making process? Joseph Joo: Great question. I think in my day to day, when I think about practicing in the ambulatory setting, as well as the acute care setting, one of the things that I think about is, what is the quickest way to get the job done, provide the care for the patient? Sometimes that is taking a step back and kind of reopening the can of worms to say, this patient presents with a number of symptoms, lets try to go through, individually, one through five, what makes the most senseask a ton of questions and try to do maybe not the most efficient or the treatment plan that Im most comfortable with, but to try to uncover everything along the way. Versus, as Jonathan alluded to, under the time pressure, knowing the things that I know and the things that I dont, and knowing that in the back of my mind it kind of lurks: Oh, this is the quickest way to treat this patient through the highest RVU that Im familiar with, that the system incentivizes me to do. I think I often, speaking for myself here, sometimes jump to a higher RVU treatment plan or a treatment plan that I know the hospital system or the health care organization that Im a part of may value, that I do as part of the work and that, quite frankly, Im measured on as part of the metrics with the system Im a part of. So I think thats in subtle ways, indirect and direct, how the RVU system influences the way I approach care. Kevin Pho: And, Joseph, just for those who arent familiar with how physicians are compensated, talk to us about that influence of RVUs on compensation. Are physicians compensated in general for the more they do and the more patients they see? Joseph Joo: Absolutely. For sure, depending on the health care system and the health care organization, there are variations throughout, but I will say for the most part a physician is reimbursed through multiple ways. There is what we might consider a base salary, and then a portionsometimes a significant portionof that work is integrated into how many procedures or how many patients, as Jonathan alluded to, how many visits he or she provides. If youre a surgeon, I can assure you that someone doing 100 surgeries throughout the course of a period of time is going to get reimbursed or paid more than someone who does 10. So, for example, when it comes to knees, I have colleagues who tell me all the time that they get paid more to do 10 knee procedures or knee replacements rather than perhaps providing conservative treatment plans for chronic osteoarthritis in the knees over time. And so not only does the RVU system perhaps incentivize surgeons to operate more than provide conservative care, but in addition it incentivizes doing more procedures rather than fewer procedures, as well. So it is kind of a slippery slope that can occur over time. Kevin Pho: So, Jonathan, we clearly articulated some of the detriments of the RVU system, not only on physicians, but on patient care. I know that there is a movement away from fee for service. We have value-based care, focus on metrics. Talk about some of the potential paths out of our fee for service morass. Jonathan Staloff: Thank you so much for mentioning that, and thats actually also a very big focus of our book, as well, where we take a deeper dive into understanding what even is value-based care, because thats a term that means a lot of things to different people. And its important to at least have a primer so that we can have a shared vocabulary and understanding of what it means to do value-based care. Broadly speaking, value-based care is, I would say, a movement to transition away from a fee for serviceor volume-focusedinfrastructure toward an infrastructure that rewards clinicians and health systems for achieving health outcomes at an affordable cost. And so the way that clinicians or health systems are paid can be different depending on the nature of the value-based payment model theyre participating in. One way might just be getting a bonus for achieving a particular type of health outcomereduce peoples blood pressure, you get a bonus. Another way of having a value-based payment model might be holding a health system accountable for the total cost of care, either for an episode of care, like a hospitalization or a procedure, or holding them accountable for the total cost of care over an extended period of time, like a year or two years, etc. If you reduce the total cost of care for that population in the episode or over the course of the year, you might get a bonus check where you share in some of those savings. Some consider that a shared savings payment. Another term for that is a reconciliation payment. Of course, in those models, if theres an incentive to reduce the total cost of care, one might say theres a potential unintended consequence of cutting needed care or giving lower quality care. Often, in these models, theres a gateway where you have to achieve certain quality outcomes to even be eligible for these bonus payments. Lastly, theres completely shifting the pendulum away from fee for service: the notion of population-based paymentsanother term for that is capitationwhere you give an organization just a per-member-per-month or per-patient-per-month or per-patient-per-year payment and say, Here are the resources that you have to take care of this population. Have at it. You dont have to be based off a visit-based infrastructure but rather entirely based off, Here are the resources you have for the year to take care of them. Go for it. Some of the tweaks there can be, Lets say I get 20 dollars to take care of a patient for a month. Taking care of a 19-year-old with no medical problems might be very different than taking care of a 62-year-old who has multiple medical problems and social drivers of health challenges such as housing insecurity. In some of these models, that payment is adjusted based on their clinical and social complexity. This is an area thats pretty new. Our health care systems been experimenting with it over the last decade or so, but its still a pretty nascent science, I would say. There are a lot of different models out there, and this is really an exciting period to think about what is the best way to pay for health care, appreciating that there is no single best way, but maybe a combination of ways that meet the types of organizations and the types of geographies to better serve patients and communities. Kevin Pho: And Jonathan, what do you think its going to take to make a meaningful move away from fee for service toward one of those other models you described? Jonathan Staloff: Yeah, so I think its going to take a lot. For starters, one is I think there needs to be, on the part of clinicians, a sense of sincerity on the part of insurersthat insurers are actually trying to reshape the way we pay for health care to better support population health, rather than just holding clinicians and health systems accountable for another thing for the same amount of resources. Weve iterated on different ways of paying for health care that often come with no more resources or maybe a penalty or more responsibility. And so I think there needs to be a sense of partnership where clinicians feel that payers and governmental organizations are authentically trying to help them deliver better care and give them the resources to do it. Thats number one. Number two, the United States health care system is not one health care system; its a million different health care systems with a million different payers. In a given clinical day, I see patients from a number of different insurers, each with different incentives. So there needs to be multi-payer alignment, where everyone is singing the same or a similar tune. If 90 percent of my patients incentivize me to see more, more, more, more, but for 10 percent of the patients Im in the worlds best, most population-health-aligned payment model, the incentives are just not there economically to care about that 10 percent enough to reshape the way we deliver health care. So there needs to be multi-payer alignment and a sense of true, authentic partnership between clinician health systems and payers. Kevin Pho: And Joseph, just to jump on that, I was actually going to ask that same question. So do you think in order to get that multi-payer alignment, its going to take some federal policy movement in order for that to happen? Because independent of some type of federal regulation, do you see something like that happening where payers can get aligned on an agreed-upon payment system? Joseph Joo: I believe so. It surely wont be a panacea to have the federal government provide a one-size-fits-all or one-size-cure-all solution, but I think one of the themes that we actually highlight in the book is that often Medicare ends up being the trendsetter that commercial payers and other payers follow and adjust over time. And so I think, as Jonathan alluded to, a lot of the nascent programs and the payment models that have come out over the last decade-plussince the Affordable Care Actmuch of that, if not almost all of that, has been through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. And with the growing number of, I think, Medicare beneficiaries, and perhaps more importantly Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, I believe in the coming decadesI recently read that its projected to surpass traditional Medicare beneficiaries over the next several years and over the decades to cometheres another emphasis on having Medicare really trial, study rigorously, implement, and set a really good example so that, as Jonathan mentioned, all the multi payers can look at the respective health care systems, the states that we all live in, and the settings that differ by region, and try to come up with an alignment that is specific to the region at hand. But I think a lot of that work, quite frankly, has to be done or set by the federal government, in my opinion. Kevin Pho: Were talking to Jonathan Staloff and Joseph Joo. Jonathan is a family physician. Joseph is an internal medicine physician. They are coauthors of the book, Reshaping Health Systems: What Drives Health Care and How You Could Change It. The KevinMD article is How Fee for Service Shapes Your Doctors Decisions. Now, Im going to ask each of you just to give us your take-home messages to the KevinMD audience. Joseph, why dont we start with you? Joseph Joo: Absolutely. I am so thankful for the work that Ive been able to do with Jonathan and Josh on this book. This book was a labor of love for all of us. It came together as a genesis for us as we really peeled back layers and learned things along the way that one may consider the hidden curriculum in medical education: Why does something happen the way it does? Why are we so pressured to provide medical care in a certain way? And we really wanted to provide or design a book that was serviceable to trainees and medical professionals at all levels, realizing that when we were coming through training not that long ago, a lot of these resources were scattered and not really consolidated at hand. So it was a passion of ours to try not to have one book cover all the topics, obviously, but to try to do it as comprehensively as possible throughout the specific settings of care. Then secondly, we try to bring this out in a way that is most practical and easily approachable for clinicians at all levels, which is, again, as a byproduct of our trainingwe are so inclined or in tune with vignette-style learning, practice-based learning. So we open every single chapter with a clinical vignette to set the stage for how this applies to every clinician at hand during their day to day. And we really hopeand we provide at the very end of the book, part twoa lot of practical solutions or ways or interventions that clinicians can use in their respective health care settings. So were really excited to share this knowledge base, and its been a labor of love. We hope that many of you will enjoy it and be able to use it in your own ways. Kevin Pho: And Jonathan, well end with you. Your take-home messages. Jonathan Staloff: First off, thank you so much for having us. Its really a privilege to be here with you. So much of what Joseph said resonates with me. I would say that going through all of my medical education and training, for so many of my colleagues, we all appreciate that understanding the health care system is important. However, gaining that health systems knowledge so often feels unapproachable, and the fine details sometimes can feel removed from relevance to day-to-day practice. We try to address both of those things in this book. One, we want to make health systems knowledge approachable and achievable for clinicians and trainees at all levels. And second, for any health systems lesson we try to teach, we tie it directly to a clinical vignette so people realize, Oh, this thing that Ive experienced so many times, this is the way it is because of this thingor at least this thing contributes to why I experience what I do now. So much of what we discuss in part one of the book, What Drives Health Care, covers really macro-level health systems factors that can feel daunting, like, Can I actually change those things? But in the second part of the book, How You Could Change Health Care, we focus on empowering clinicians to appreciate that they can make change in their own clinical environments at the micro level, but its important to have tools to guide you through making those changes. So I also really want to encourage any clinician or trainee who feels helpless about changing their own universe that there are tools to guide you through how to make change in your own clinical environment. I hope this educates people and makes them feel inspired to engage more with health systems at the macro level, as well as where they go to work every day. Kevin Pho: The book is called Reshaping Health Systems: What Drives Health Care and How You Could Change It. Jonathan and Joseph, thank you so much for sharing your perspective and insight, and thanks again for coming on the show. Jonathan Staloff: Thanks so much, Kevin. Joseph Joo: Thanks so much. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Here's my wish list for the incoming Trump administration to make America healthy and prosperous and great again in 2025. 1. Slash Job-Killing Regulations The regulatory state is a $2 trillion tax on the American economy. We all want worker safety, a clean environment and consumer protections, but in too many cases the costs of regulations far outweigh the societal benefits. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to slash 10 rules for every new rule. Just do it, Mr. President. 2. Make the Trump Tax Cuts Permanent As JFK, Ronald Reagan and others have proven throughout history, lower tax rates lead to more growth, more investment and more jobs. The Trump tax cuts meant that a typical family of four earning $75,000 a year saw their tax bill fall by half a benefit valued at more than $2,000. And the corporate tax rate fell from 35% the highest in the world to 21%, bringing jobs and capital to America. Trump has promised to make all these tax cuts permanent. Why? Because they worked almost exactly as we anticipated they would. 3. Replace Welfare With Work Growth will require more able-bodied Americans getting off welfare and into jobs. Welfare which includes cash assistance, public housing, food stamps, disability payments, unemployment benefits and Medicaid needs to be a hand up, not a handout. 4. Use America's Abundant Natural Resources America has well more than $50 trillion of natural resources that are accessible with existing drilling and mining technologies. This is a vast storehouse of wealth that far surpasses what any other nation is endowed with. We can use the royalty payments and leases to reduce our national debt while creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. 5. Cut Medical Costs by Demanding Health Care Price Transparency One of many ways to bring health care costs down to consumers (and taxpayers, who pay half the costs) is to require hospitals, pharmacies, doctors and health clinics to list prices for what they are charging. The Committee to Unleash Prosperity estimates that $1 trillion to $2 trillion could be reduced from health care costs, with no reduction in the quality of care, by allowing consumers to shop around on the internet for the best price just as we do when we buy groceries, a home or a car. This will foster free market competition and lower prices. 6. Allow School Choice for All Families Test scores in America have been plummeting. Kids are graduating from high school if at all without even being able to read the diploma. America no longer ranks in the top 10 in many academic achievement ratings. A child can get a better education at HALF the cost in the Catholic school system and in many charters. Trump has endorsed universal school choice for ALL children regardless of income or ethnicity or race. This is the civil rights issue of our time. 7. Implement a Pro-America Immigration Policy Trump's committed to securing our border, but we also need legal immigrants through a merit-based immigration system. This visa system would select immigrants based on their skills, talents, investment capital, English language ability and education level. These characteristics all presage success in America. 8. Revive America's Great Cities Our once-great cities in America from New York to Chicago to Detroit to San Francisco to Seattle have come to look like war zones. Crime has run rampant. Businesses and people and capital are fleeing and leaving the poorest Americans mostly minorities stranded with tragically limited opportunities other than working at Walmart or McDonald's for minimum wage. Since 2020, our major cities have lost nearly 1 million residents. And tens of thousands of businesses. Trump wants to revitalize our cities and abandoned rural areas through deregulation, reduction in tax rates, changes in zoning policies and infrastructure investments. 9. Pull the U.S. Out of the Paris Climate Change Treaty and Other Anti-America Agreements We must end American participation in globalist treaties that hurt America most. This includes the Paris Climate Accords a treaty with which most other nations have failed to comply, yet which places huge burdens on American companies and workers. Trump also has pledged to end global taxation such as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's global minimum tax. Do we even need a United Nations? 10. Finally, Drain the Swamp There is a reason why three of the five wealthiest counties in America are in or around Washington, D.C. Washington is getting rich at the expense of the rest of us. Fewer than 10% of overpaid federal workers (of which there are more than 2 million) are working full time in the office even though COVID-19 ended three years ago. These are swamp employees that often get paid $150,000 or more a year. Fire them if they don't show up. And relocate federal agencies in other cities. These are admittedly bold aspirations for an economic transformation toward freedom and free enterprise. But the one person who can get it done is Trump. (COMMENT, BELOW) Can't a grandma send her grandson home with an early Christmas gift without raising suspicions among the TSA? No, she can't. Actor Brett Gaffney headed back to Los Angeles on after spending Thanksgiving in his native Kansas, People reported. At Kansas City International Airport, he said, "I got stopped at the airport security, and ... it was because of this briefcase my grandma gave me as an early Christmas gift, and she said don't open it until you get to California." Gaffney followed her directions, but TSA wasn't having it. "They asked me what was inside, and I said, 'I don't know, I don't know.' They said, 'What do you mean? You're bringing a briefcase and you don't know what's inside?'" Turns out, Gaffney's nana had gifted him a vintage Smith-Corona typewriter. "Who am I, Tom Hanks?" Gaffney joked. He continued his story on TikTok: "I didn't think I'd use this, but here we are. It's so calming. All I want to do is stay home and type on my typewriter." Thanks, Grandma. [People, 12/4/2023] Japanese business leader Masayoshi Son and President-elect Donald Trump recently met at Trumps property, Mar-a-Lago, in the southeastern U.S. state of Florida. They announced plans for SoftBank Group to invest $100 billion in projects in the United States over the coming four years. Trump said the investments in building artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure would create 100,000 jobs. Reuters news agency reported that it was the second time that SoftBanks Son made a big promise to invest in U.S. projects. In 2016, Son announced $50 billion in investments with Trump after his election victory. The investments helped companies like Uber and WeWork. Son is a founder and CEO, or chief executive officer, of SoftBank Group. SoftBank has investments in many new technology businesses, along with big companies like silicon chip maker Arm Holdings and Chinese online business Alibaba. Investor interest in AI has increased SoftBanks value, but it is unclear whether its investments will create that many jobs in the U.S. Son believes in the value of AI SoftBank investor meetings have supported the idea that AI will become profitable for the company. Son has said he believes AI will outdo human intelligence within 10 years, affecting every industry. He believes that companies and people working with AI will be the leaders of the next 10 to 20 years. SoftBank owns about 90 percent of Arms publicly traded stock. This puts the Japanese company in a good position for expansion of AI applications. Arm says most mobile devices operate on small Arm-based processors. Trump and Son said the $100 billion that SoftBank has promised to invest will go to building AI infrastructure, but the details remain unclear. The effect of AI on job creation remains an open question. What about the jobs? The announcement is like a promise Son made with then-President-elect Trump in December 2016 at Trump Tower in New York City. Then, Son said he would spend $50 billion and create 50,000 jobs. While that money was invested in businesses as time passed, it is unclear whether that many jobs were created. Early in his first term, Trump announced a $10 billion investment by Foxconn in Wisconsin. Foxconn Technology Group is a Taiwan company best known for making Apple iPhones. In 2017, the company won Trump's praise for announcing that it would build a $10 billion factory. Foxconn said it would employ 13,000 people in a small town just south of Milwaukee. A much smaller investment there created fewer than 800 jobs. Shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic starting in 2020 made job creation a more complex issue. SoftBank itself says it had 65,352 employees as of March. Reaction in Japan Officials in Tokyo praised Son's effort, considering it a sign of friendship between the U.S. and Japan. There is concern over whether Trump will increase tariffs on some imports from allies like Japan, as well as China. Yoji Muto is Japan's Trade and Industry minister. He said he was happy with the announcement. Muto said, "Generally speaking, I believe expansion of investment through steady accumulation of efforts between Japanese and U.S. companies would help further strengthen Japan-U.S. economic ties, so I find it delightful." Trump called Son "one of the most accomplished business leaders of our time." SoftBank has been rebuilding its finances after the failure of its WeWork business and after investors turned away from some of its technology investments. After a decrease in share value between 2021 and 2023, SoftBank stock has recovered. The companys stock has increased sharply this year. Amir Anvarzadeh studies Japanese businesses at Asymmetric Advisors, a company that advises on Japanese securities. Speaking of the SoftBank announcement, he said he did not think there was a firm plan. "The question arises, what are they going to buy?" Anvarzadeh asked. He said there were no remaining easily purchased companies in the industry. Im Jill Robbins. Jeff Mason and Steve Holland reported this story for Reuters and Elaine Kurtenbach reported on it for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. ______________________________________________ Words in This Story infrastructure n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly chip n. a very small piece of hard material (called silicon) in a computer or other device that contains many electronic circuits application n. the economic use of something: in this case, the use of artificial intelligence-based technology tariff n. a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country accumulate v. to gather or acquire (something) gradually as time passes accomplished adj. very successful; having done or achieved many good or important things What do you think of this story? Write to us in the Comments Section. 15 patients report 'mild reactions' after use of IV fluid at hospital in Punjab > < 23:59 Manmohan Singh death: Cong cancels Belagavi meet The Congress convention in Belagavi has been cancelled following the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Thursday. The convention was organised to commemorate the centenary of the lone Congress convention in Belagavi, which... Read more > 23:55 Towering statesman: Omar on Manmohan Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday expressed profound sorrow and grief over the death of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, describing him as a towering statesman and the architect of India's economic reforms in the early 1990s which transformed the nation's... Read more > 23:49 Dr Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms The Singhs with the Obamas If you've just joined us: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms, died in New Delhi at 9:51 pm today. He was 92. Singh's death was announced by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, where he was admitted in the Emergency ward around 8.30 PM... Read more > 23:46 Extraordinary humility, wisdom, grace: Azad on Manmohan Ghulam Nabi Azad tweets this image alongside writing on X: Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Manmohan Singh ji, a visionary leader and one of India's most respected statesmen. As someone who had the privilege of serving in his Cabinet twice, I witnessed firsthand his extraordinary... Read more > 23:43 Dr Singh was a great listener: Former RBI governor Former prime minister Manmohan Singh was a great listener and spoke very little but whenever he did he spoke only substance, former RBI governor D Subbarao recalled his association with Singh, who died on Thursday.I had experience with him as prime minister and as finance secretary and late as... Read more > 23:39 Unbearable loss: Sharad Pawar on Manmohan A very young Sharad Pawar with Dr Singh NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Thursday condoled the death of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, saying the country has lost a great economist, visionary reformer and a global statesman. Singh, 92, died in Delhi on Thursday night. Deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Dr... Read more > 23:37 7-day national mourning for Manmohan Singh's death All government programs scheduled tomorrow are to be cancelled. A national mourning of seven days will be declared. Cabinet is to meet tomorrow at 11 am. Dr Manmohan Singh's last rites to be conducted with full state honours: GoI sources. Read more > 23:28 Mourning a great and good man tonight: Tharoor Mourning a great and good man tonight. Dr ManmohanSingh Om Shanti, Shashi Tharoor tweets sharing pictures and a post from 2022, where he writes: Wishing the admirable Dr ManMohan Singh a wonderful 90th birthday. I have been privileged to enjoy his blessings for many years & to learn so much... Read more > 23:22 History will always remember Dr Manmohan Singh: Congress History will always remember Dr Manmohan Singh Ji for his dignified demeanor, commitment to public service, profound wisdom and humility. He leaves behind a legacy of economic reforms, political stability, and dedication to uplifting the lives of every Indian. His tenure first as a technocrat and... Read more > 23:19 I have lost a mentor and guide: Rahul on Manmohan Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi tweets, Manmohan Singh Ji led India with immense wisdom and integrity. His humility and deep understanding of economics inspired the nation. My heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Kaur and the family. I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who... Read more > 23:18 A life well-lived Dr Singh: Pranab Mukherjee's daughter Dr Singh with former President Pranab Mukherjee Sharmistha Mukherjee posts on X: End of an era. A life well-lived Dr. Singh. A grateful nation will remember his immense contributions towards India's growth story. Above all, a genuinely nice human being & as my father always said- 'a true gentleman'. My deepest condolences to his family... Read more > 23:15 From one finance minister to another Nirmala Sitharaman posts on X: Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is no more. He had served as the Governor of RBI and as Finance Minister of India. Presented the milestone budget of 1991 which liberalised the Indian economy. Respected by all, he was soft-spoken and gentle. Condolences to... Read more > 23:08 My father couldn't boil an egg: Dr Singh's daughter Manmohan Singh had joined a pre-medical course as his father wanted him to become a doctor but pulled out after a couple of months, losing interest in the subject, according to a book on the former prime minister by his daughter. Singh died in New Delhi on Thursday night at the age of 92... Read more > 23:01 Manmohan Singh lifted crores out of poverty: Kharge Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge tweets, Undoubtedly, history shall judge you kindly, Dr. Manmohan Singh ji! With the passing of the Former Prime Minister, India has lost a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, and an economist of unparalleled stature. His policy of... Read more > 22:57 Amit Shah: He played an important role in governance of country Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweets, The news of the demise of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is extremely sad. From being the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India to the Finance Minister of the country and as the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh played an important role in the... Read more > 22:53 Deeply pained: Dhankar Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar tweets, Deeply pained to learn about the passing of Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji, former Prime Minister and a distinguished economist who transformed India's economic landscape. A Padma Vibhushan awardee and architect of India's economic liberalisation in 1991, he boldly... Read more > 22:49 A uniquely dignified gentleman: Priyanka Reactions to Dr Singh's death.Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweets, Few people in politics inspire the kind of respect that Sardar Manmohan Singh ji did. His honesty will always be an inspiration for us and he will forever stand tall among those who truly love this country as someone who... Read more > 22:45 India mourns a distinguished leader: PM on Manmohan The PM tweeted this collage of his meetings with Dr Singh PM Modi tweets, India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic... Read more > 22:42 A visionary statesman: BJP on Dr Singh BJP national president and Union Health Minister JP Nadda tweets, The passing of Former Prime Minister and Economist Shri Manmohan Singh ji is an immense loss for the nation. A visionary statesman and a stalwart of Indian politics, throughout his remarkable career in public service, he... Read more > 22:38 Dr Singh passed away at 9:51 pm: AIIMS Manmohan Singh in Parliament. File pic The AIIMS says: With profound grief, we inform the demise of the former Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, aged 92. He was being treated for age-related medical conditions and had a sudden loss of consciousness at home on 26 December 2024. Resuscitative measures were started immediately... Read more > 22:35 Priyanka, Nadda arrive at AIIMS Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, BJP national president and Union Health Minister JP Nadda arrive at AIIMS, Delhi. If you've just joined us, former prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh has passed away. Dr Singh was brought to the emergency department this evening in a critical... Read more > 22:31 Ex-PM Manmohan Singh passes away at 92 Former prime minister and senior Congress leader Manmohan Singh passed away at AIIMS in New Delhi on Thursday evening. He was 92. Earlier in the day, he was admitted to AIIMS Delhi after his health deteriorated, sources said.They said the condition of Singh was critical.He was brought... Read more > 22:18 Several parts of north India continue to be in grip of cold wave conditions Several parts of north India continued to be in the grip of intense cold wave conditions on Thursday with minimum temperatures settling several degrees below the freezing point in some cities of Kashmir valley. Weather was mostly dry across Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand during the last 24... Read more > 21:54 Assamese filmmaker Bhaskar Jyoti Das dies of cancer Renowned Assamese filmmaker-scriptwriter Bhaskar Jyoti Das died on Thursday due to cancer, his close friends said. He was 51. Das died at a hospital after suffering from cancer for a long period, his close friend and National Award-winning filmmaker Utpal Borpujari said. Das had... Read more > 21:39 Encroachments removed near Ajmer dargah ahead of annual 'Urs' Ajmer dargah/File image Ahead of the annual 'Urs' at the Dargah of sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, the Ajmer Municipal Corporation removed encroachments from Dargah Bazaar and surrounding areas on Thursday.In the presence of the police, a team from the municipal corporation removed encroachments by shopkeepers in... Read more > 21:17 Maharashtra deputy CM Shinde meets Modi, Amit Shah Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde meets PM Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on Thursday Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi after starting a new innings as the deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and leading the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition to victory in the recent assembly elections. In his first meeting with Modi after assuming the new... Read more > 20:21 Annamalai vows to not wear sandals till DMK regime is dislodged Bharatiya Janata Party Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai on Thursday said he would not wear sandals and walk barefoot until the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime is dislodged. Further, he said he would lash himself six times with a whip on December 27 at 10 am outside his residence here to... Read more > 19:59 Mumbai court tells film producer accused of raping model to surrender A sessions court in Mumbai directed film producer Gunwant Jain, accused of raping a 38-year-model, to surrender before the police. Setting aside a magistrate's order that released Jain following his arrest in November, additional sessions judge (Dindoshi court) DG Dhoble, in his... Read more > 19:27 Japanese national lost Rs 35L after digital arrest A Japanese national, Hiroshi Sasaki, who works in Bengaluru, lost Rs 35.5 lakh after being 'digitally arrested' by cyber fraudsters, the police said, on Thursday. The incident occurred between December 12 and 14, police added. Sasaki, who lives in a flat near Dairy Circle, received a... Read more > 19:00 IPS officer, IRS wife rescue YouTuber and his girlfriend from drowning in Goa Youtuber Ranveer Allahbadia/ Image courtesy X Youtuber Ranveer Allahbadia has said he and his girlfriend were swept away by an underwater current on Christmas evening in Goa but were rescued by another couple. Allahbadia, who goes by the name of BeerBiceps on social media, shared his story on Instagram on Wednesday evening. He... Read more > 18:35 Rajnath to chair Armed Forces Flag Day CSR conclave in Delhi tomorrow Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will chair the sixth edition of the Armed Forces Flag Day Corporate Social Responsibility conclave here on Friday, officials said. The event organised by Kendriya Sainik Board under Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare aims to highlight the measures taken for... Read more > 18:17 BJP got Rs 2,600 cr donations in 2023-24, Cong Rs 281 cr The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party received contributions of over Rs 2,604.74 crore during 2023-24 while the Opposition Congress got Rs 281.38 crore in its kitty, according to contribution reports of the two parties put in public domain by the Election Commission. The donations listed in the... Read more > 18:08 PhD, MA students among 6 accused in Allu Arjun home attack Six people who were arrested for allegedly trespassing into the residence of top Telugu actor Allu Arjun and engaging in vandalism are students pursuing PhD, post-graduation, and other courses. These people who claim to be the members of Osmania University - Joint Action Committee, allegedly... Read more > 17:40 BSE Sensex top losers today Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended flat in listless trading on Thursday amid a lack of near-term triggers and unabated foreign fund outflows. The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex dipped 0.39 points to settle at 78,472.48 in a muted trade. During the morning trade, it had jumped 425.5... Read more > 17:28 DU to introduce PhD in Hindu Studies from next academic session Delhi University is planing to introduce a PhD programme in Hindu Studies form the 2025-26 academic session, according to a proposal by a Standing Committee. The Governing Body of the Centre for Hindu Studies has recommended that the PhD programme be introduced in 2025-26. The programme... Read more > 17:15 Azerbaijan plane crash: Did Russia shoot it down? The Russian government has cautioned against promoting hypotheses about the cause of the crash of a Russia-bound passenger plane that killed 38 people in Kazakhstan on Wednesday.Footage of the wrecked fuselage appeared to indicate shrapnel damage and some aviation experts suggested the... Read more > 17:12 Will implement Udaipur Declaration: Congress Will fight till last breath for Nehru-Gandhi ideology, honour of Babasaheb Ambedkar, Cong chief Mallikarjun Kharge at Belagavi CWC meet. BJP wants to capture all constitutional institutions like EC, but we will continue to fight this battle. People's faith in electoral process gradually... Read more > 17:07 Shinde meets PM Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde says, After the formation of government in Maharashtra and the expansion of the cabinet, I met with the PM and he congratulated us for the success and the work we did for the development of the state. I, Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis will meet again and will... Read more > 16:50 What happened at Reddy's meet with Tollywood today Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday made it clear to a visiting Telugu cinema industry delegation that there would be no compromise on law and order in the state and that it applies to everyone including the film fraternity. The CM also conveyed to the delegation of Telugu... Read more > 16:44 Stock markets settle flat in muted trade The Indian stock markets on Thursday closed flat after a volatile session, driven by lack of major domestic or global triggers. At the close of the trading session, the Nifty 50 at National Stock Exchange (NSE) ended at 23,750.20, up about 22 points, or 0.1 per cent up and BSE Sensex closed... Read more > 16:28 China to build world's largest dam near India border The Brahmaputra river China has approved the construction of the world's largest dam, stated to be the planet's biggest infra project costing USD 137 billion, on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet close to the Indian border, raising concerns in riparian states -- India and Bangladesh. The Chinese government has... Read more > 15:55 No food, water; 3 yo stuck in 150-ft borewell A rescue op at a borewell. File pic Three-year-old Chetna has been stuck inside a narrow 150 feet deep borewell for over 70 hours as the rescue operations were still underway on Thursday to save the girl.Worried about her daughter's condition, Dholi Devi has not eaten anything since the tragic accident on Monday. Chetna fell into... Read more > 15:26 Can Sena (UBT) win civic polls? Uddhav takes stock Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday started a three-day exercise to assess his party's position in Mumbai, where civic polls are likely to be held next year, one of his close aides said. After the split in the Bal Thackeray-founded Shiv Sena in 2022, the recently concluded... Read more > 15:04 Did Cong use incorrect India map at Belagavi meet? Congress leaders at Belagavi A controversy has erupted over the alleged misrepresentation of the India map on the posters displayed by the Congress to commemorate the centenary of 1924 Congress session in Karnataka's Belagavi, with the BJP dubbing it as vote bank politics by the national party. The ruling Congress has... Read more > 14:44 Why did the Shindes meet Shah? Maharashtra Deputy CM and Shiv Sena chief, Eknath Shinde, along with his son and MP Shrikant Shinde and daughter-in-law Vrushali Shinde meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Read more > 14:37 Cricket on ice Children play Cricket on a frozen pond in Jammu & Kashimir's Sopore. Intense cold wave conditions prevailed across Kashmir as the minimum temperatures settled several degrees below the freezing point, officials said on Thursday. There is a possibility of light snowfall over the higher... Read more > 14:26 Israeli strike kills five journalists in Gaza Five journalists were killed in an Israeli strike that hit their vehicle in Gaza, CNN reported, citing a hospital and their news outlet statement.According to the hospital, the vehicle, belonging to Al-Quds Today Television, was parked outside Al-Awda Hospital when it was hit. The television... Read more > 13:49 AAP threatens to split INDIA bloc, throw out Cong Delhi CM Atishi The AAP launched a scathing attack on the Congress on Thursday, accusing it of colluding with the BJP for the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls to harm the prospects of the Arvind Kejriwal-led party. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and Rajya Sabha MP of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Sanjay Singh alleged... Read more > 13:17 Sex predator's pic with Udhayanidhi, DMK says... BJP state prez K Annamalai shared this pic The accused in the varsity student sexual assault case is not even a primary member of the DMK, Tamil Nadu Law Minister S Regupathi said in Chennai on Thursday. Gnanasekaran, the accused was arrested in a matter of five to six hours showing police's swift action and the government had no... Read more > 13:03 Son wants to marry transgender, parents end life Representational image A middle-aged couple allegedly died by suicide in Nandyal district after their 24-year-old son expressed his desire to marry a transgender person.According to Nandyal sub-divisional police officer P Srinivas Reddy, Subba Rayudu (45) and Saraswati (38) took their lives after conflicts over their... Read more > 12:48 Teen kidnap, murder: Accused sent to jail A Thane court on Thursday remanded the main accused in the case of kidnapping and murder of a 12-year-old girl in police custody till January 2, 2025. The prime accused, Vishal Gawli, was brought to the city in the morning and kept at the Naupada police station, after being nabbed in... Read more > 12:11 No compromise on law and order: CM to Tollywood Allu Arjun holds a press conference after the incident A meeting between Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and directors, producers, and actors from the Tollywood industry is underway at Telangana State Police Command and Control Centre at Banjara Hills in Hyderabad. There will be no compromise with law and order, Telangana Chief Minister... Read more > 11:26 Passenger captures moment Kazakhstan plane crashed The passenger who captured the video said his prayers as the plane crashed A video taken by a passenger inside the aircraft that crashed in Kazakhstan has gone viral on social media. The video shows the final moments of the plane. Thirty-eight people were killed in the crash near Aktau, an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea.In the video, the... Read more > 11:06 Ronaldo steeps in family time this Christmas Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo shares this image from a Christmas vacation with his family in Lapland (Finland), writing, The most important part of Christmas. He also shared moments from his trip in a video on his YouTube channel, including a meeting with the... Read more > 10:55 What women in auto sector grapple with... Representational image The severity of injuries among women in India's auto sector has been rising steadily from 2019 to 2024, according to the latest report by the Safe in India Foundation. Titled Crushed, the report marks the sixth annual study on the condition of workers in the sector.It reveals a surge in... Read more > 10:32 Pushpa 2 row: Telugu film industry to meet CM today A crucial meeting between the Telangana government and Telugu film industry representatives is expected to be held on Thursday to thaw the speculated strained ties between the ruling dispensation and the tinseltown following the arrest of top actor Allu Arjun. The 42 year-old star was... Read more > 10:29 Author Bapsi Sidhwa passes away Bapsi Sidhwa. File pic Legendary author and writer Bapsi Sidhwa passed away in Houston, Texas, yesterday. Sidhwa was a pioneering literary voice whose works transcended boundaries and bridged cultures. Born in Karachi, raised in Lahore, a proud Houstonian, and beloved around the world, Bapsi was a storyteller of... Read more > 10:15 World of literature poorer: Murmu on Vasudevan Nair's demise President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday condoled the demise of renowned Malayalam writer M T Vasudevan Nair and said with his passing away, the world of literature has become poorer. Popularly known as MT, Nair died at a hospital in Kozhikode, Kerala on Wednesday evening. He was 91. In a post... Read more > 10:09 Markets surge in early trade Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty surged in early trade on Thursday amid a rally in Asian markets and buying in blue-chip bank stocks. The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex jumped 425.5 points to 78,898.37 in early trade. The NSE Nifty surged 123.85 points to 23,851.50. From the 30... Read more > 10:01 Alert cops stop elderly, ailing couple from suicide The couple intended to hang themselves Acting swiftly, the Thane Municipal Corporation's emergency response team and local police have saved the lives of an elderly couple who attempted suicide in Thane, an official said on Thursday. The Kasarwadavli police in Maharashtra's Thane city received information on Wednesday night from... Read more > 09:48 Ajinkya Rahane Invests in Proxgy's Series A funding Proxgy, an Internet of Things (IoT) technology firm in areas such as safety, connectivity, and productivity solutions, said that cricketer Ajinkya Rahane, has invested in its ongoing $3 million Series A funding round.Other key investors in the round include Zerodha Co-Founder Nikhil Kamath, actor... Read more > 09:38 Is Atishi not listening to Kejriwal? Following notices issued by senior Delhi government officials disowning the ruling AAP's registration process for two of its schemes in the national capital, BJP leader Gaurav Vallabh on Wednesday took a dig at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal, saying that nowadays Delhi Chief... Read more > 08:45 Micro insurance premium tops Rs 10K cr for first time Aathira Varier/Business StandardIn 2023-2024, new business premium (NBP) in life insurances micro-insurance segment, which targets low-income groups, surpassed Rs 10,000 crore (Rs 100 billion) for the first time, according to the financial years annual report by the Insurance Regulatory and... Read more > Since PolitiFact, like Poynter, shares the conventional liberalism of mainstream news organizations, it is more apt to focus on falsehoods uttered by Republicans than by Democrats. That has especially been so since Donald Trump emerged as a political figure. In 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021, PolitiFact's choice for Lie of the Year was something told by Trump and/or his surrogates. So it's not really a surprise that its pick for 2024 is once again one of Trump's untruths. On Dec. 17, PolitiFact unveiled what it called the "most outrageous political lie" of 2024: With a brazen disregard for facts, Donald Trump and his running mate repeatedly peddled a created story that in Springfield, Ohio, Haitian immigrants were eating pet dogs and cats. With this claim, amplified before 67 million television viewers in his debate against Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump took his anti-migrant, the U.S. border-is-out-of-control campaign agenda to a new level. The claim apparently originated in unverified posts on social media and was unequivocally refuted by Springfield's mayor and police chief. Trump's exclamation during the debate "They're eating the dogs! The people that came in, they're eating the cats!" is one of the most surreal bits of lunacy ever uttered by a presidential candidate on national TV. But was it the most outrageous political lie of 2024? The falsehood "that undermined the truth most significantly" during the year gone by? Not even close. The most consequential lie of the year was the one peddled again and again by the Biden White House and the president's political and media allies: the lie that the 82-year-old president was as intellectually sharp and mentally focused as ever and that claims to the contrary even video to the contrary were nothing but "cheap fakes." Everyone with access to Biden knew better, yet most of them brazenly denied it. Some examples: "I'm telling you, this guy is tough. He's smart. He's on his game." Mitch Landrieu, senior Biden adviser and cochair of the Biden reelection campaign "The most difficult part about a meeting with President Biden is preparing for it because he is sharp, intensely probing and detail-oriented and focused." Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas "I undersold [Biden] when I said he was cogent. He's far beyond cogent. In fact, he's better than he's ever been." Joe Scarborough, MSNBC program host and former US representative "I've been with the president of the United States many times. He is on the ball. The man knows more than most of us have forgotten." Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois "I've seen the president twice in the last two weeks. I've had a conversation with him. He's completely mentally sharp." US Representative Ro Khanna of California "There are literally thousands of people alive in this nation today because Joe Biden is incredibly competent, and he's incredibly effective." Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut When Robert Hur, a special counsel appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate Biden's mishandling of classified documents, issued a report describing the president as a "well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory," he was savaged by the White House and its loyalists. Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the report as "gratuitous, inaccurate, and inappropriate." She insisted that "the way that the president's demeanor in that report was characterized could not be more wrong on the facts, and clearly politically motivated, gratuitous." It was all a giant, willful deceit. Its goal was to preserve Biden's viability as a candidate and to override the widespread public unease about the president's mental competence that kept surfacing in opinion polls. And the whole time, as we now know, the White House was going to unheard-of lengths to hide the truth about Biden's advancing decrepitude. The Wall Street Journal last week published a shocking expose of the myriad ways in which Biden's staff maneuvered to hide, downplay, and compensate for his declining mental health. The elaborate edifice of pretense and denial disintegrated after Biden's excruciating appearance in a debate with Trump "the worst performance of any general election presidential candidate in any debate in modern American history," in the words of veteran political analyst Jeff Greenfield. Biden was forced from the ticket, Harris was hastily installed as his replacement, and the Democrats proceeded to lose the White House. American politics in 2024 featured plenty of whoppers, but the lie of the year the one that altered the trajectory of the presidential campaign and will likely be studied by historians for generations to come was about something far more consequential than mythical immigrants eating house pets. How did PolitiFact get that wrong? Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe, from which this is reprinted with permission. (COMMENT, BELOW) In Kenya, concerns are mounting over a recent wave of kidnappings and enforced disappearances, allegedly involving law enforcement. On December 25, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), tasked with monitoring Police conduct, issued a statement raising alarm and announcing the launch of an investigation into the incidents. Two high-profile disappearances have sparked outrage on social media. Peter Muteti and Billy Mwangi, both active and popular on platform X, were forcibly taken last weekend by unidentified men in a vehicle. Their abduction followed their recent publication of AI-generated images depicting Kenyan President William Ruto in a coffin. As of Wednesday evening, December 25, their whereabouts remained unknown, along with three other Kenyans reportedly abducted in recent days, according to local media. In its statement, the IPOA highlighted four cases of disappearances in December, including those of Muteti and Mwangi. The agency expressed deep concern over what it described as an increase in kidnappings presumed to involve members of the national police and urged the police chief to address the issue decisively. On December 24, during a television interview, Kenyas police chief emphasized that law enforcements role is to arrest suspects, not to abduct them. He assured the public that all reports of disappearances are investigated thoroughly. However, criticism from civil society continues to grow. The Working Group for Police Reforms, a prominent organization advocating for accountability, condemned the kidnappings and called out the authorities responsibility. Activists and citizens are demanding transparency and swift action to address these troubling developments. Angolan President Joao Lourenco has granted pardons to 51 individuals, including Jose Filomeno de Sousa dos Santos Zenu, son of late President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, as well as four activists and a digital influencer. The pardons, effective January 1, 2025, mean these individuals will no longer serve their prison sentences. The presidential decree cited good behavior and the absence of social danger in granting freedom to the convicts, who were detained across various provinces. Among those pardoned is Zenu, the former Head of Angolas Sovereign Wealth Fund, who had been convicted alongside three co-defendants for crimes including embezzlement and influence trafficking. Digital influencer Ana da Silva Miguel, known as Neth Nahara, who was serving a two-year sentence for insulting President Joao Lourenco on TikTok, was also pardoned. Additionally, the clemency extends to activists Abrao Pedro dos Santos Pensador, Adolfo Miguel Campos Andre, Gilson da Silva Moreira Tanaice Neutro, and Hermenegildo Jose Victor Andre Gildo das Ruas. These individuals were imprisoned in September 2023 for allegedly insulting and outraging the president during a protest by motorcycle taxi drivers. Amnesty International had been campaigning for the release of the activists and Neth Nahara, arguing that Angolas Constitution guarantees freedom of expression. President Lourenco announced the pardons in his year-end address, framing the gesture as an act of clemency in celebration of Angolas upcoming 50th independence anniversary, Christmas, and the New Year. Angola will mark its 50th independence anniversary on November 11, 2025, and the president expressed hope that the milestone would be celebrated in a spirit of harmony, unity, and patriotism, extending goodwill even to those serving prison sentences. The decree officially comes into force on January 1, 2025. More than 1,500 inmates, including 29 convicted terrorists, escaped from Maputo Central Prison, a maximum-security facility, in what authorities described as a premeditated act linked to ongoing post-election protests. The mass prison break, which occurred on the afternoon of December 25, has intensified security concerns in Mozambique. General Commander Bernardino Rafael of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) reported that protesters stormed the prison, creating chaos that led to the escape. Among the escapees, only 150 have been recaptured so far. Rafael warned of an imminent rise in criminal activity in Maputo and expressed alarm over the release of dangerous individuals, emphasizing the threat to national security. The escape unfolded in Matola, located 14 kilometers from Maputo, around 1:00 PM local time. Protesters outside the prison demanded the release of inmates, creating disturbances that caused unrest within the facility. This led to the collapse of a prison wall, enabling the breakout. Prison officers attempted to intervene, resulting in a deadly clash that left 33 prisoners dead and 15 others injured. This incident was not isolated. Within the last 24 hours, protesters freed inmates from another prison in Manhica, north of Maputo province, and attempted a similar operation at Mabalane Prison. Rafael criticized these actions, stating that their intent to release convicted criminals remains unexplained. The prison break comes amid widespread unrest following Mozambiques general elections. Protests erupted after the Constitutional Council declared Daniel Chapo, the ruling partys candidate, the winner with 65.17% of the votes. Supporters of opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane, who officially garnered 24%, took to the streets in outrage. Demonstrations escalated into looting, barricades, and violent clashes with police across the country. The unrest has resulted in at least 56 deaths since Monday, December 23 according to the monitoring group Decide. Most fatalities occurred in Sofala province, Nampula, and the Maputo region. Additionally, 152 people sustained gunshot injuries as security forces attempted to disperse crowds. Mozambique now faces a dual crisis: political turmoil stemming from the disputed election results and the security risks posed by the mass escape of inmates. Authorities are working to address the escalating challenges while calling for public cooperation to recapture the fugitives. The News in Brief Thursday, December 26, 2024 Diplomats accredited in Georgia have not been invited to the inauguration of President Mikheil Kavelashvili, who was appointed by the Georgian Dream party.The Parliament's press office confirmed this information to Radio Liberty, citing "a lack of seating in the session hall" as the reason.The inauguration of President Mikheil Kavelashvili, appointed by Georgian Dream, is scheduled to take place in Parliament on December 29.On December 14, Georgian Dream held a one-party presidential election, appointing Mikheil Kavelashvili as president. Mikheil Kavelashvili was the sole candidate.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has extended his congratulations to Mikheil Kavelashvili following his controversial election as President of Georgia. In his message, Erdogan emphasized the strong ties between the two countries and expressed confidence in the future of their relationship."On behalf of myself and my people, I sincerely congratulate Your Excellency on your election as the President of Georgia, with which we are connected by close neighborhood and strategic partnership," Erdogan's congratulatory message reads. "I wish you success in fulfilling this honorable duty."Erdogan further expressed his belief that Kavelashvili's presidency would continue to strengthen the friendly relations between Georgia and Turkiye. "I am fully confident that during your term of office, we will further develop friendly relations and close cooperation between our countries, which is in line with our common interests and serves to ensure prosperity in the region," he wrote. By Laman Ismayilova Representatives of the creative community have hold a meeting at Maksud Ibrahimbayov Creativity Center to sum up of the results of the International Literary Competition for the Best Essay Based on the Science Fiction Story "Metronome" by the famous science fiction writer and astrophysicist, Baku resident Pavel Amnuel. The event was held with the assistance of the Ministry of Science and Education and the NG Creators Club. According to AZERTAC, the event was opened with a welcoming speech by the Director of the Maksud Ibrahimbayov Creativity Center Anna Ibrahimbayova welcomed the guests of the event. In her speech, she underlined that the competition was the third in the framework of the literary project "Fantastic Heritage". The contest aims at popularizing the works of Baku science fiction writers of past decades among schoolchildren and students. A film about the work of Maksud Ibrahimbayov was shown during the event, as well as a video message from Pavel Amnuel to the participants of the competition. The jury included director of the Maksud Ibrahimbayov Creativity Center, member of the Azerbaijan Photographers' Union Anna Ibrahimbayova; head of the World Literature Department at the Institute of Literature, member of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union Gular Abdullabayova; chairperson of the Association of Teachers of Russian-language Educational Institutions Lyubov Yakunina; editor-in-chief of the magazine "Russian Language and Literature", member of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union, Flora Nadji; science fiction writers, members of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union; Honored Research Fellow at Moscow State University, psychologist Alexander Voyskunsky; art director, member of the Azerbaijan Photographers' Union Rustam Huseynov; director of NG Creators Club Natig Aliyev. The participants of the competition were students of secondary schools in Baku, as well as students of Baku State University and Baku Music Academy. A presentation with photographs of the participants was also presented at the event, illustrating the supposed places of the alien visit and the possible coordinates of the "Metronome" installation for counting space time in Icherisheher. Anna Ibrahimbayova presented her author's interpretation on this topic. It is worth noting that the current year is an anniversary year for Pavel Amnuel. Earlier, on the initiative of the Republican Center for the Development of Children and Youth, an event dedicated to his 80th birthday was held. In addition, the writer met with the editor-in-chief of the publication "World of Literature" Elmar Sheikhzade and the poetess Leyli Salayeva, a member of the British Poetry Society. At the end of the meeting, the launch of a new literary competition for the best essay dedicated to the works of science fiction writer Alexander Khakimov was announced. The competition is timed to coincide with his 65th birthday, which will be celebrated in 2025. Indian stock markets opened with gains on Thursday as the momentum building for a year-end rally. The Nifty 50 index opened at 23,775.80 points, gaining 48.15 points or 0.2 percent, while the BSE Sensex index opened at 78,557.28 points, rising by 84.41 points or 0.11 percent. Both the indices gained around 0.5 per cent soon after the opening Experts stated that market investors are still optimistic about a year-end rally in the indices as 2024 draws to a close. However, market sentiments remain weak, and with only four trading sessions left, hopes rest on a rally that traditionally starts at the end of the year and extends into the early days of January. Ajay Bagga, Banking and Market Expert told ANI "Many equity bulls are pinning their hopes on what's known as the "Santa Claus Rally" in which stocks rise during the final five trading sessions of a year and the first two of the new one. Indian markets are dull and were dull on Tuesday. However, some window dressing for the year end will come in over the next four trading days left". In the sectoral indices, momentum was building for the rally as all sectors showed upward movement and opened in the green, except the Nifty Realty sector, which opened in the red. Nifty Private Bank and Bank Nifty led the gains at the opening. "Technically speaking, the 23880 - 24070 area offers resistance while support lies between 23500 and 23640. Some traders are looking for a larger bounce toward 24000 as the window that covers the "Santa Claus effect" gets underway. Options trends at Tuesday's close showed that implied volatility for nearby OTM calls set to expire on Jan 2nd" said Akshay Chinchalkar, Head of Research, Axis Securities. In the Nifty 50 list, 32 stocks opened in the green, while six declined, and 12 remained unchanged during the opening session. The top performers in the Nifty 50 list include BPCL, ICICI Bank, Shriram Finance, and Hindalco, while Power Grid and HDFC Life emerged as the top losers. Elsewhere in Asian stocks, markets reflected somnolence. Shares advanced in Japan and Taiwan but edged lower in China, while financial markets in Australia and Hong Kong remained closed for the Christmas break. At the time of filing this report, the Nikkei 225 was up by 0.24 percent, while the Taiwan Weighted Index gained 0.43 percent. (ANI) By Akbar Novruz The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has released an official statement following the tragic crash of an Embraer 190 aircraft near Aktau, Kazakhstan. According to Embraer, no technical defects were identified on the aircraft that would have prevented it from flying, a claim confirmed by the management of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL). The company expressed its condolences, stating: We express our deepest condolences to the families, friends, colleagues, and relatives of the deceased. We are closely monitoring all processes and are ready to provide full support to the relevant authorities. AZAL also provided detailed technical data on the aircraft, noting it had completed 9,949 landings with a total flight time of 15,257 hours. The last full technical inspection was conducted on October 18, 2024, with 671 flight hours logged since that inspection. The Embraer ?190 AR model has been in production since 2004 and is a popular choice among airlines for regional routes. It has a seating capacity of 100-124 passengers and a maximum flight range of 5,000 kilometers. The model's competitors in the market include the Bombardier CRJ-1000, Airbus A220-100, and Boeing 717. The aircraft involved in the crash was operating AZAL's Baku-Grozny flight (J2-8243) when it made an emergency landing three kilometers from Aktau. The accident resulted in the tragic loss of 38 lives, with 29 others, including two children, sustaining injuries. As of July 2024, Embraer has produced 1,695 aircraft from its E-Jet line, which includes models ?170, ?175, ?190, and ?195. Eight of these aircraft have been taken out of service due to various incidents, five of which were linked to hard landings. This particular incident marks a significant moment for aviation safety discussions, with ongoing investigations aimed at determining the exact cause of the crash. VMPL Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 26: Equanimity Learning, a forward-thinking educational platform co-founded by Siddharth Rajgarhia and Gautam Rajgarhia, is on a mission to transform the global education landscape. By blending traditional pedagogies with cutting-edge technologies, Equanimity Learning aims to revolutionize the way educators and institutions approach learning and development. Under the leadership of Siddharth Rajgarhia, a trailblazing educationist and Chief Learner at four prominent Delhi Public Schools (DPS) across Varanasi, Nashik, Lava Nagpur, and Hinjawadi, the platform has pioneered transformative strategies that empower educators and school leaders. Co-founder Gautam Rajgarhia, Pro Vice-Chairman of the same DPS institutions, brings invaluable insights and strategic direction to the initiative, ensuring a holistic approach to educational excellence. Recent Milestones Equanimity Learning's credibility is evidenced by its recent workshops conducted at: City Pride School, Pune: Focused on AI integration in education, the workshop showcased practical strategies for enhancing teaching methodologies with AI tools. Dubai Scholars, Dubai: Centered on global best practices, the session emphasized using AI to personalize learning and create impactful classroom experiences. Additionally, the workshop introduced participants to embracing a culture of data, empowering educators to leverage analytics for informed decision-making and improved educational outcomes. Both events were met with enthusiastic participation, highlighting Equanimity Learning's ability to address the pressing needs of modern education. A Vision for Transformation "Education is at the brink of a revolution. By empowering educators with AI-driven tools and strategies, we are enabling a future where every classroom can achieve incremental daily improvements," said Siddharth Rajgarhia. "Our workshops in Pune and Dubai are just the beginning of our journey to make personalized and technology-enhanced learning a global standard." Gautam Rajgarhia added, "Equanimity Learning is more than just an educational platform. It is a movement towards systemic transformation, combining technological advancements with practical solutions that address real-world educational challenges. Our vision is to bring schools and educators together to redefine education for the betterment of society." Expanding Horizons Equanimity Learning's global ambitions are reflected in its partnerships and initiatives. The platform has successfully equipped educators with tools to: * Seamlessly integrate AI into teaching methodologies. * Develop future-ready skills for educators. * Foster sustainable innovation within institutions. Additionally, Equanimity Learning's YouTube channel serves as a hub for insights into AI in education, best practices, and tutorials, making their expertise accessible to educators, and school leaders worldwide. About Equanimity Learning Equanimity Learning is dedicated to redefining education through a unique approach that emphasizes 1% daily improvements. With a focus on AI integration, leadership development, and personalized training, the platform empowers educators and institutions to achieve long-term sustainable growth. Its innovative programs are designed to cater to diverse educational contexts, ensuring scalability and impact. Start Your School's Transformation Today Join the revolution in education today. For more information, visit www.equanimitylearning.com, email us at info@equanimitylearning.com, or follow us on YouTube at @EquanimityLearning. For media inquiries, please contact: Sonia Kulkarni | +91 9820184099 Email: sonia.kulkarni@hunkgolden.in (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PNN Franklin Park (New Jersey) [US], December 26: Andaaz Restaurant, a culinary gem in New Jersey, is proud to unveil its exquisite new menu, meticulously crafted by the distinguished Executive Pastry Chef Mohammad Sameer. A visionary in the art of pastry, Chef Sameer brings a wealth of international experience and a deep passion for innovation to the Andaaz dining experience. Chef Sameer began his illustrious culinary journey at the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi, where he earned accolades such as Best Star Employee in Food Production (2014) and Employee of the Year (2015). His tenure at the Taj was marked by his exceptional talent in bread-making, viennoiseries, and a variety of pastry specialties, laying the groundwork for a remarkable career. Building on this strong foundation, Chef Sameer advanced to Andaz by Hyatt, New Delhi, where he quickly rose to the role of Sous Chef. At Andaz, he demonstrated exceptional leadership, mentoring his team and driving operational excellence. His innovative approach to menu development set a benchmark for delivering unique and memorable dining experiences. Chef Sameer's global culinary expertise further expanded during his tenure in Saudi Arabia, where he took on pre-opening roles for several prominent dining establishments, including Naya Daur, Vanguard, and Umbrella. As Pre-Opening Head Chef, he excelled in designing state-of-the-art kitchens, establishing operational protocols, and creating menus that seamlessly aligned with each restaurant's vision. His exceptional ability to build high-performing culinary teams and conceptualize successful dining experiences solidified his reputation as a specialist in launching acclaimed dining concepts. Chef Sameer's new menu at Andaaz is a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, celebrating classic flavors reimagined with modern techniques. Highlights include the indulgent Mango Saffron Kulfi Baklava, a unique fusion of kulfi, pistachio baklava, and basbousa, and the delightful Raspberry Baked Shrikhand, a gluten-free treat featuring baked yogurt with raspberry jelly and pistachio soil. Other standouts include the vegan-friendly Ghevar Elaneer Payasam, the decadent Cardamom Chocolate Brownie Decadence, and the elegant Coffee Rasmalai Tiramisu, a masterful pairing of coffee-flavoured rasmalai and tiramisu. The new menu promises an unforgettable culinary journey, appealing to diverse palates while showcasing Chef Sameer's extraordinary talent and artistry. Andaaz Restaurant invites patrons to experience these exceptional creations and celebrate the artistry of fine dining. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL New Delhi [India], December 26: The real estate sector is a cornerstone of economic growth, but it often suffers from a pervasive issue: a lack of trust. According to a 2023 survey by Knight Frank, 42% of homebuyers in India and 38% in Dubai hesitate to finalize purchases due to concerns about delayed project deliveries, lack of transparency, and insufficient brand credibility. In markets where stakes are high, building trust is not just desirable--it's essential. This trust deficit has significant implications for developers and marketers. A report by Colliers International revealed that Indian real estate brands lose nearly 20% of potential customers due to negative sentiment or poor online engagement. Meanwhile, in Dubai, a 2024 survey by Property Finder indicated that 30% of buyers and investors place a high premium on trust factors like project reviews and brand credibility before committing to a deal. At Two99, we recognize this critical challenge and offer proven, AI-enabled solutions to bridge the trust gap and cultivate vibrant, contributing communities around real estate brands and their projects. The Real Estate Sector's Challenges 1.Delayed Deliveries and Broken Promises: India recorded over 400 delayed projects in major cities like Mumbai, Delhi NCR, and Bangalore as of 2023 (ANAROCK Report). This leads to negative publicity and customer frustration. 2. Eroding Customer Confidence in Off-Plan Sales: The Dubai market, known for its off-plan sales model, saw a 15% decline in investor confidence in 2024 due to incomplete or misrepresented project timelines (Bayut Data). 3.Lack of Digital Engagement: Real estate brands underutilize digital platforms, with only 26% of Indian developers actively engaging on social media (IAMAI Report 2023). Dubai fares better but struggles with community-building efforts beyond launch announcements. 4.Poor Online Reputation Management (ORM): Negative reviews or complaints are left unaddressed, resulting in a 17% decrease in brand trust for Indian developers and 22% in Dubai's highly competitive market (JLL Research). 5.Disconnected Communities: Buyers often feel alienated after their purchase, leading to a lack of loyalty and word-of-mouth recommendations. Only 32% of Indian homebuyers report feeling connected to their project's community (Livspace Survey 2024). How Two99 Solves These Challenges Two99 specializes in crafting end-to-end trust and community-building solutions tailored for real estate brands. Here's how: 1.Transparency through AI-Enabled Platforms Our proprietary AI marketing algorithms ensure real-time updates, transparent communication, and personalized engagement with potential buyers. By using data-driven insights, we highlight project timelines, construction milestones, and ROI projections to eliminate uncertainty and instill confidence. 2. Digital ORM and Brand Trust Frameworks We deploy advanced ORM strategies to monitor, address, and mitigate negative sentiments online. Our team ensures that every customer query, review, and concern is addressed promptly, boosting brand credibility by up to 35% within six months. 3. Contributing Community Ecosystems Our community-centric approach transforms buyers into brand advocates. We: * Build neighborhood-focused online groups to foster interaction among residents. * Organize monthly events for residents to connect emotionally with the brand. * Create education-led campaigns to empower buyers with knowledge about their projects. 4.Customized Digital Strategies For each project, we tailor 360-degree digital strategies involving: * Hyperlocal Influencers: Engaging local voices who resonate with the community. * Video Storytelling: CGI-based project walkthroughs that build excitement and trust. * WhatsApp Infographics: Offering accessible, real-time updates to customers. 5.Data-Driven Campaigns Our targeted campaigns analyze buyer personas, enabling effective segmentation and messaging. This has led to a 3X increase in engagement rates for our real estate clients in India and Dubai. 6.Benchmarking Against Competitors We use competitive analysis to position your brand as a leader. Our strategies ensure higher visibility on platforms like Google and Property Finder, and boost marketplace trust scores by integrating reviews and testimonials seamlessly. Case Study: Transforming Credibility and Community for a Dubai-Based Develope. Challenge: A Dubai-based developer struggled with low conversion rates (4%) despite offering premium projects. Solution: * Two99 launched a community-building initiative involving investor Q&A sessions, local influencer collaborations, and gamified digital campaigns. * We also used AI-powered chatbots to offer instant support, ensuring response times reduced by 60%. Result: Within 4 months, conversions increased to 11%, customer engagement rose by 50%, and the developer's trust score on Property Finder improved by 38%. Measurable Outcomes with Two99 * 50% faster lead conversions through enhanced ORM and transparent communication. * 3X ROAS with optimized digital campaigns tailored to target audiences. * 40% increase in brand trust scores in marketplaces like 99acres, MagicBricks, and Property Finder. * 2X repeat buyer rate by nurturing connected communities. Building a Better Future for Real Estate Brands At Two99, we don't just market projects; we create legacies. By bridging the gap between buyers and brands, we transform skepticism into trust and customers into lifelong advocates. Whether it's building trust for off-plan projects in Dubai or addressing negative perceptions in India, Two99 is the partner that drives results. With our expertise, AI-enabled algorithms, and a commitment to excellence, Two99 ensures that every brand becomes a trusted name in the real estate landscape. Ready to Build Your Community of Trust? Contact Two99 today and let's redefine how your brand connects with its audience. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) BusinessWire India Moscow [Russia], December 26: The 5th Moscow Interior and Design Week, one of the leading industry events, brought together over 1,100 companies, including 45 international participants. The event attracted more than 180,000 visitors over four days. The project will culminate in an exhibition at the New Tretyakov Gallery, showcasing the best works from the event. The exhibition is open from December 24 and will run for an entire year. This year's central theme was Russian style. Representatives from 22 countries, including Egypt, Peru, Ecuador, Turkey, Mexico, Iran, Belarus, and Colombia, as well as buyers from China, attended to explore how Russian traditions are expressed in the designs of domestic brands. Particular attention was drawn to the "Made in Moscow" project, which featured products by Moscow-based manufacturers, including wooden furniture in Russian style and home decor inspired by Russian fairy tales. The collective stand and local goods market showcased over 50 brands. A life-sized fairy-tale log cabin became a standout attraction, with visitors greeted inside by characters from children's stories, such as Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Wise. This creative marketing approach generated significant excitement among guests and foreign delegations from China and Egypt, who were especially captivated by a limited-edition home decor collection inspired by the works of renowned artist Ivan Golikov, known for his illustrations for "The Tale of Igor's Campaign". The collection was created in collaboration with contemporary artists from the "Crafts Laboratory" and featured fantastical creatures like the Palekh horse, painted by artisans from the Palekh Folk Art Workshop. The exhibition was designed as a platform to promote business growth in the decorative and interior design sectors. It served as a key venue for international and domestic experts to exchange knowledge and foster open dialogue within the industry. As part of the business program, Moscow welcomed globally renowned international designers as special guests of the 5th Moscow Interior and Design Week. The exhibition also featured an innovation zone curated by the Moscow Innovation Cluster, where attendees could explore unique solutions for facade and storefront design, as well as home and office technologies. Highlights included a facade system that converts sunlight into electricity, a dynamic "dancing" wall, a spherical LED screen, and "smart" glass that turns opaque when needed. Participants were also offered the opportunity to connect with manufacturers in a new format -- observing the full production cycle and learning about the materials used by domestic companies. The excursion program featured nine Moscow-based companies and welcomed over 400 guests. Additionally, exhibition visitors engaged in various activities, including masterclasses led by industry professionals, collaborative interior design projects with experts, and open consultations with leading Russian designers. The project's grand finale will be the exhibition "110 Years of Russian Design" at the New Tretyakov Gallery, featuring the best works from the 5th Moscow Interior and Design Week. The display will include tapestries, ceramics, lighting fixtures, textiles, and more. Open from December 24, the exhibition will run for an entire year, emphasizing that design is not only about aesthetics but also a cultural code materialized in everyday objects. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) This system, designed to monitor and manage disasters like earthquakes, floods, typhoons, and criminal accidents, gathers real-time visual and textual information from social media platforms (SNS) and official sources. Using AI, it analyses this data and provides fact-checked reports to subscribers, including government agencies, businesses, and media outlets in Japan. The foundation of Spectee was laid after Murakami's personal experience with the devastating 2011 East Japan Earthquake. The crisis highlighted the need for a system to prevent and manage disasters in real time, which led to the development of the company's current services. By providing immediate access to verified crisis information, Spectee has helped Japan maintain a resilient society and respond quickly to emergencies. The system supports rapid evacuations, protects supply chains, and ensures the safety of social life.The company's innovative approach includes gathering diverse official data, such as climate hazard maps, river water flow information, and earthquake symptoms. This data, combined with crowdsourced information from SNS, is analyzed using artificial intelligence to ensure timely and accurate crisis management. In December 2024, Spectee expanded its services abroad, launching in the Philippines, a country often affected by typhoons and natural disasters. The Philippines office of civil defence, responsible for disaster prevention, traditionally only gathers information once a disaster strikes. Spectee's system offers a more proactive approach, providing a free service that includes 100 types of critical data to 80 users. The system will become a paid service in 2026. The Philippines marks the first international expansion for Spectee, with plans to extend the system to India and other Asian countries in the near future. CEO Kenjiro Murakami's vision is to provide this technology globally, ensuring safe and comfortable social lives worldwide by empowering countries to handle crises with real-time, data-driven insights.As natural disasters continue to threaten many parts of the world, Spectee's expansion underscores the growing need for innovative, technology-driven solutions in crisis management. (ANI) HT Syndication New Delhi [India], December 26: Policybazaar, one of India's leading insurance platforms, recently hit a major milestone in its customer-first initiative, the Assured Delivery Program. The program is now operational in 100 garages across 87 cities nationwide. The 100th garage opens in Leh today, marking the initiative's reach across every corner of India and placing the consumer at the center of its claims and service experience. With 100 garages now covered under the coveted program, policyholders in all metro cities, and most tier-I and tier-II cities, will be able to avail hassle-free claim settlement. The company had launched the Assured Delivery Program earlier this year to transform the motor insurance claims experience. It aims to prioritise convenience, transparency and speedy service for policyholders. Features of the Assured Delivery Program One of the biggest highlights of the program is that all Policybazaar motor insurance customers get a dedicated relationship manager at the garage of their choice. The relationship manager oversees the entire claims process right from the pick-up of their vehicle to the completion of repairs, and even all the claim approval formalities. Under the program, policyholders would also receive regular notifications about the status of the repair as well as the claim until the entire process is completed. Under this program, the customers get a guarantee of completion of small repairs -- that is, repairs involving claims under Rs 50,000 -- within five days. This is possible because at these workshops, the cars that qualify for this program will receive priority servicing, ensuring they are repaired faster and returned to the customer promptly for their use. Moreover, all repaired electrical and mechanical parts come with a warranty. The policyholders eligible for this program would also get free pick-and-drop service for their vehicles. This essentially means that in the event of a claim, the vehicle will be picked up from the customer's location and delivered post-repair, ensuring zero hassle. Notably, the program is exclusively available to policyholders who have purchased their motor insurance via Policybazaar. In a short timespan, it has become a hallmark of seamless claims processing. Speaking on the milestone, Sandeep Saraf, Business Head, Motor Insurance Renewals & Customer Experience, Policybazaar.com, said, "Reaching the 100-garage mark with our Assured Delivery Program is a step toward simplifying motor insurance claims. We designed this program to address common customer challenges like repair delays and lack of updates. Features such as dedicated relationship managers, guaranteed repair timelines, and cashless claims ensure a smoother, faster process. We're excited to expand this service further, making claims easier and more transparent for policyholders nationwide." The Assured Delivery Program exemplifies this vision. The company plans to expand the number of garages even further, thereby setting new benchmarks in the industry. The best part is that the program also offers cashless claim facility for all Policybazaar motor insurance customers. So no out-of-pocket expenses for repairs at recommended workshops. The Assured Delivery Program essentially empowers customers with unparalleled convenience and peace of mind. For more information on the program, visit www.policybazaar.com. About Policybazaar (www.policybazaar.com) Policybazaar.com is one of India's leading online insurance platforms. It is the flagship platform of PB Fintech, which owns the fintech brand, Paisabazaar.com, and the lending & insurance marketplace in the UAE region, Policybazaar.ae. The Policybazaar.com group has backing from a host of investors including the likes of PE funds and other family offices. Policybazaar.com started with the purpose to educate people on insurance products and with its offerings has addressed the large and highly underpenetrated online insurance markets. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by HT Syndication. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 26: Metropolis Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of Ameera Shah-led Metropolis Healthcare Limited, India's second-largest and most respected pathology laboratory chain, is proud to announce the launch of the 7th edition of its annual 'MedEngage Scholarship Programme 2024-25.' This year, the programme will support 350 medical students with scholarships, including 30 students who will receive research grants. Applications are now open for undergraduate and postgraduate medical students, including those pursuing MBBS in any year, as well as MD/MS/DNB training and the internship year. Envisioned by Metropolis' Chairman Emeritus Dr. Sushil Shah, MedEngage Programme is a comprehensive medical outreach initiative aimed at nurturing young medical talent and shaping the future of healthcare in India. As part of this flagship CSR initiative, the 'MedEngage Scholarship Programme' has become one of the most impactful CSR efforts, benefiting 750 plus students since its inception in 2018. In addition to financial support, MedEngage provides students with access to Metropolis' world-class laboratory facilities, promoting academic research excellence. The programme also offers opportunities for observerships, laboratory tours, internships, and hosts MedTalk webinars featuring leading healthcare industry experts, providing valuable insights and expertise tailored for aspiring medical professionals. Commenting on the launch, Mr. Surendran Chemmenkotil, Chief Executive Officer, Metropolis Healthcare Limited said, "The MedEngage Scholarship Programme is designed to address the financial challenges faced by many talented medical students, enabling them to pursue their aspirations without hindrance. By providing scholarships and research grants, we aim to support students who are poised to make meaningful contributions to the healthcare sector. This initiative goes beyond financial assistance; it fosters innovation and equips future healthcare professionals with the resources they need to drive positive change in the field, ultimately improving patient care and healthcare outcomes." Dr. Duru Shah, Chairperson, Metropolis Foundation, said, "Focusing on students from underprivileged backgrounds in aspirational districts across India has been a significant step forward, and we are deeply proud to have supported 60 such students through last year's program. By reaching out to those areas with the greatest need, we're not just providing funding for education; we're offering hope and inspiration to young minds who will go on to shape the future of healthcare in India. Our goal is to ensure that every deserving student has the opportunity to succeed and contribute to healthcare through this initiative." Dr. Kirti Chadha, Chief Scientific and Innovation Officer & Group Head - CSR, Metropolis Healthcare Limited, said, "As a socially responsible organization, Metropolis is dedicated to fostering young medical talent across India through the expanded MedEngage program. This initiative provides students with opportunities to engage in academic research, innovation, and hands-on experience. Our team of medical experts will mentor students, guiding them in publishing research papers and cultivating their passion for innovation. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare through collaboration and knowledge-sharing." Since its inception, MedEngage has reached over 500 medical institutions, with more than 10,000 students registering for scholarships and other benefits. For more information on the MedEngage Scholarship Programme or to apply, students can visit www.med-engage.com. The application portal is open until 15th January 2025. For inquiries, students can contact the MedEngage Support Team at support@med-engage.com or reach out via WhatsApp at +91 9152211510. Deloitte serves as the process partner for the MedEngage Scholarship Programme, and the applications will be evaluated by an eminent panel of jury members from the healthcare fraternity and external bodies. The scholarship beneficiaries will be announced in February 2025, followed by a felicitation ceremony in March 2025. Eligibility Criteria: - Medical students pursuing MBBS, MD/MS/DNB courses at any MCI-recognized college/university are eligible to apply. - Applicants must be from government or private medical colleges. - Priority is given to students from underprivileged families, particularly those from aspirational districts. - Domicile in one of the 112 aspirational districts is required for students from those regions. - Applicants must register through the MedEngage website and provide all required documentation for consideration. MedEngage by Metropolis is dedicated to celebrating and honouring the young talents who represent the future leaders of the healthcare sector. The MedEngage Programme has received prestigious recognition, including the NATHealth Impact Award by the Healthcare Federation of India, as well as accolades from ASSOCHAM and leading media organizations. Metropolis Foundation is the CSR arm of Metropolis Healthcare Limited, dedicated to making a positive impact on people's lives. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDGs 3, 4, and 5, the Foundation focuses on education, health, gender equality, and women empowerment. For over four decades, Metropolis has been a pioneer in organizing impactful health camps and workshops, reaching diverse communities across India. Through collaborations with corporate organizations, educational institutions, government bodies, NGOs, wellness foundations, and other entities, the Foundation has driven meaningful social change. Metropolis Foundation currently drives three key CSR programs: the MedEngage Medical Outreach Program, which provides scholarships, research grants, and mentorship to aspiring medical students; the Too Shy to Ask (TSTA) initiative, designed to promote open dialogue and awareness on sensitive health issues, particularly among adolescents and youth; and Preventive Healthcare Projects, which focus on encouraging preventive measures for better health outcomes in communities. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL New Delhi [India], December 26: The tech world is abuzz about AllThingsDev, a rapidly growing platform tailored to make discovering, subscribing, and integrating APIs easier than ever. With extensive collections that range from Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning to Business & Productivity, Finance & Payments, Cloud & Infrastructure, and Communication & Social, the platform has quickly positioned itself as a go-to resource for developers worldwide. Broad Range of API Categories AllThingsDev organizes its marketplace into multiple categories, each featuring curated APIs that address specific development needs: * Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Explore capabilities like image recognition, text analytics, and deep learning-based predictive models. * Business & Productivity Discover APIs for project management, collaboration tools, and data analytics that can streamline business workflows. * Cloud & Infrastructure Access hosting solutions, server management tools, and cloud computing services. * Health & Fitness Integrate healthcare data, fitness tracking, and wellness capabilities into your applications. * Finance & Payments Discover secure payment gateways, currency conversion tools, and stock market data for financial applications. * Communication & Social Implement messaging, notifications, and social media integrations. Spotlight on AI & ML As businesses and developers rush to incorporate intelligence into their products, the Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning category on AllThingsDev is a popular focal point. Examples of AI/ML use cases include: 1. Advanced Image Recognition * Ideal for: E-commerce product tagging, anomaly detection in security systems, and medical imaging analysis. * Key features: Object classification, facial recognition, and automated tagging. 2. NLP & Text Analytics * Ideal for: Sentiment analysis, chatbot development, and real-time text summarization. * Key features: Domain-specific training modules and context-aware interpretation. 3. Predictive Analytics * Ideal for: Forecasting sales, dynamic pricing, and personalized product recommendations. * Key features: Customizable models, easy data integration, and robust visualization tools. Seamless API Discovery and Subscription 1. Search & Filter Navigating AllThingsDev is straightforward. Whether you use the top navigation bar or category filters, you can quickly find APIs that match your project requirements--be it advanced AI or fundamental utilities. 2. Review & Compare Each API listing includes detailed documentation, usage examples, and pricing tiers, all helping you decide which solution fits best. 3. Subscribe Instantly Subscribing to an API is as simple as clicking "Subscribe." You'll immediately receive access credentials and sample code to jumpstart your integration efforts. Quick-Start Code Snippet Example To see how easy it is to integrate an API from AllThingsDev, consider this snippet from theAirports Database and Flight Duration Calculator API: By copying and pasting this snippet into your codebase--and swapping in your actual API key--you can seamlessly fetch flight durations, distances, and more. This saves you the hassle of building a flight data system from scratch, so you can focus on enhancing the user experience. Simple & Secure Key Management AllThingsDev simplifies credential management through a user-friendly dashboard: * Automatic Key Provisioning You receive a secure API key for each subscription immediately. * Usage Analytics Track how many requests are made, monitor performance in real time, and quickly pinpoint errors. * Flexible Renewal & Revocation If you need to rotate or revoke credentials, you can do so instantly--no support tickets required. Amplifying Reach for API Publishers For companies or individual developers looking to share their APIs, AllThingsDev provides robust publisher tools: 1. Rich API Listings Include extensive documentation, usage guides, and even video demos to showcase your API's capabilities. 2. Enhanced Discoverability Properly tagging your API within relevant categories, such as Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, ensures it reaches the right audience. 3. Performance Insights Real-time analytics on subscriptions, usage, and earnings keep you informed. 4. Promotional Opportunities Take advantage of featured placements and editorial highlights to stand out among hundreds of listings. The Future of the API Ecosystem AllThingsDev aims to reshape how developers and API providers connect, offering a curated marketplace that emphasizes ease-of-use, transparent pricing, and a vibrant community of innovators. Whether you're a startup founder aiming to integrate the latest AI tools or an API publisher seeking greater exposure, AllThingsDev provides a streamlined environment for discovery, subscription, and success. Ready to explore the latest APIs? Check out AllThingsDev's Marketplace today and unlock the future of software development. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Building infrastructure is the most-toughest job, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani has said, asserting that developing large infrastructure needs thorough involvement and patience. "Building infrastructure is the most toughest job. If it was easy, everybody would have basically done it. Infrastructure development is not possible if you are thoroughly not involved," Gautam Adani said at a private event in New Delhi. Besides, returns on investment in infrastructure space take a considerable period of time, which again needs patience, the Adani Group Chairman added. Adani Group is into building ports to airports, cement to transmission lines, and edible oil to solar power projects. Putting a full stop to the allegations that his Group gets special treatment from BJP-run states, Gautam Adani said his business is working with over two dozen states. He also cited the example of Vizhinjam port in Kerala, a non-BJP state. "We are working in almost over 25 states. Many people often say Adani Group only works in BJP state. See Vizhinjam port in Kerala, built for Rs 20,000 crore...Adani Group is ready to work with anyone as far as they are not doing any politics," he said. Gautam Adani also accepted the fact that without governments' support - irrespective of party - infrastructure development is not possible. "Adani Group is not getting any special treatment," he stressed. Speaking about his ambitions for the Dharavi redevelopment project in Mumbai, Adani said he wants to make it a reality in the next few years. "Personally, not from a Group point of view, even at my level, I always continue to think that this (Dharavi) project can create a legacy, how we can just provide dignity to one million population. It was tried thrice in the past 40 years, but failed," he added. Gautam Adani said his Group has made possible many unbelievable things and he now wishes to redevelop the Dharavi project. "I am 62, and when I retire in the next 5-10 years, I want to make it a reality so that the one million people (in Dharavi) should remember for the next 50 years," he added. At the private event here in the national capital, he also invoked some philosophy of life. The Adani Group chairman said that life becomes simple when one accepts the fact they are mortal. "No one has come here permanently. When one understands this, life becomes simple," Adani said. He also shared about his early days in life. He spoke about how underconfident he was after his tenth standard. "I have not completed my college, I didn't even complete my first year. Even after the tenth standard, I was unable to speak confidently. I did my schooling in the village, from a very very humble background, no exposure. When I close my eyes, I recall how have I reached this position today without family background, money, and education," Adani said. (ANI) Noting that Adani Group is working in over 25 states of the country, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani has said that they are open to working with any government and do not get any special treatment. He cited the example of Vizhinjam port in LDF-ruled Kerala, which is India's first deep water Container Transhipment Port, to emphasise Adani Group carrying out infrastructure projects across states. Vizhinjam port is being developed by Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd. "We are working in almost over 25 states. Many people often say Adani Group only works in BJP state. See Vizhinjam port in Kerala, built for Rs 20,000 crore...Adani Group is ready to work with anyone as far as they are not doing any politics.We are ready to work with any governments, as far as they are not doing any politics," Gautam Adani said at a private event here in the national capital. "Adani Group is not getting any special treatment," he said, apparently referring to allegations made by some political parties. In July this year, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal received the first Mother Ship 'MV San Fernando' marking the beginning of operation at India's first deep water container transhipment port in Vizhinjam. It is India's first automated port equipped with state of the art that offers large-scale automation for quick turnaround of vessels including capacity to handle megamax containerships. Gautam Adani said that without governments' support, irrespective of the party in power, development of infrastructure is not possible. He noted that building large infrastructure is the toughest job and requires thorough involvement and patience. "Building infrastructure is the most toughest job. If it was easy, everybody would have basically done it. Infrastructure development is not possible if you are thoroughly not involved," he said. Gautam Adani said that returns on investment in infrastructure space take a considerable period of time, which again needs patience. Adani Group is a diversified organisation and is into various sectors from ports to airports, cement to transmission lines and edible oil to solar power projects. Speaking about the ambitious Dharavi redevelopment project, Gautam Adani said he wants to make it a reality in the next few years. "Personally, not from a Group point of view, even at my level, I always continue to think that this (Dharavi) project can create a legacy, how we can just provide dignity to one million population. It was tried thrice in the past 40 years, but failed," he said. Gautam Adani said his Group has made possible many unbelievable things and that he now wishes to redevelop the Dharavi project. "I am 62, and when I retire in the next 5-10 years, I want to make it a reality so that the one million people (in Dharavi) should remember for the next 50 years," he said. The Adani Group Chairman also spoke a bit into his personal journey and noted that life becomes simple when people accept the fact they are mortal. "No one has come here permanently. When one understands this, life becomes simple," Gautam Adani said. "I have not completed my college, I didn't event complete my first year. Even after the tenth standard, I was unable to speak confidently. I did my schooling in the village, from a very very humble background, no exposure. When I close my eyes, I recall how have I reached this position today without family background, money, and education," he added. (ANI) Israel, Hamas trade blame for delays in reaching Gaza ceasefire deal Xinhua) 08:27, December 26, 2024 People take part in a demonstration in demand of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a deal for the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel on June 8, 2024. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua) JERUSALEM, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Israel and Hamas exchanged accusations on Wednesday, each blaming the other for delays in reaching a Gaza ceasefire deal. In a press statement, Hamas said the talks in Doha, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, were "progressing seriously." However, it accused Israel of introducing "new conditions related to the issues of the withdrawal (from Gaza), the ceasefire, the prisoners, and the return of the displaced people." These conditions, Hamas claimed, caused "the delay in reaching an agreement that was within reach." In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office released a statement denying Hamas's accusations. The statement said Hamas had backtracked on understandings already reached and was "hindering the negotiations." On Tuesday, Israel recalled its delegation from the talks in Doha, stating that the team had been involved in a week of "meaningful" discussions. "The team is returning for internal consultations in Israel regarding the continuation of negotiations for the return of our hostages," the office said. The withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the coastal Palestinian enclave and the length of the ceasefire have been key sticking points in previous failed negotiation attempts. Hamas seeks to end the war entirely, while Israel insists on removing Hamas' control over Gaza before any resolution and maintaining a military presence in the Palestinian enclave even after the ceasefire. People take part in a demonstration in demand of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a deal for the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas in Tel Aviv, Israel, on July 25, 2024. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Azerbaijan is observing a national day of mourning today in memory of the lives lost in the tragic crash of an AZAL passenger plane near Aktau, Kazakhstan. This solemn day was declared following a decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev. On December 25, an Embraer plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, en route from Baku to Grozny, tragically crashed near Aktau. Of the 67 people on board, 42 were Azerbaijani citizens, 16 were Russian, 6 were Kazakh, and 3 were Kyrgyz nationals. Initial reports confirm that 29 individuals survived the crash. In the wake of the tragedy, President Ilham Aliyev took immediate action by forming a State Commission headed by Prime Minister Ali Asadov to thoroughly investigate the causes of the incident. A high-level Azerbaijani delegation, including the Minister of Digital Development and Transport, the Minister of Emergency Situations, the Deputy Prosecutor General, and other officials traveled to Aktau to conduct on-site investigations. President Aliyev also demonstrated swift leadership by cutting short his visit to Russia, where he was attending an informal CIS summit, to return to Baku. Upon his arrival, he held an urgent meeting at the airport to address the situation and ensure that all necessary measures were being taken. Being shocked and devastated to hear about the crash, world leaders have also extended their heartfelt condolences to Azerbaijan and its President Ilham Aliyev following the tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) aircraft operating the Baku-Grozny flight near the Kazakh city of Aktau. Today, 12 survivors from the crashed AZAL plane near Aktau, which was operating the Baku-Grozny route, will be transported to Azerbaijan. On this day of mourning, flags across the country are being flown at half-mast, and moments of silence are observed in honor of those who lost their lives. We at Azernews join the nation in expressing our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. May their souls rest in eternal peace, and may the survivors find strength during this difficult time! Netflix's hit political thriller 'The Night Agent' is set to return for an action-packed second season, and a newly released trailer promises viewers even more heart-stopping moments. Gabriel Basso reprises his role as Peter Sutherland, the dedicated Night Action agent who faces an array of explosive challenges. The trailer, released by the streaming giant, showcases a high-octane narrative that keeps the tension rising as Peter finds himself entangled in a deadly conspiracy. https://www.instagram.com/p/DEBJUTHv1aB/ The trailer offers a glimpse of the dangerous new world Peter must navigate, this time set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City, where much of the new season unfolds. The action-packed preview features Peter running through the streets, jumping into a river, shooting, and engaging in intense hand-to-hand combat. Alongside him, fans can expect to see familiar faces from season 1, including Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan), a cybersecurity expert who was under Peter's protection in the first season, and President Michelle Travers (Kari Matchett), whom Peter and Rose saved from danger, as per Deadline. Season 2 introduces several new key characters, most notably Catherine Weaver (Amanda Warren), who takes on the role of Peter's new superior in the Night Action division. The trailer hints at significant conflict between the two, particularly in a tense scene where Peter, facing a gunpoint standoff with Weaver, declares, "I'm doing this myself. Shoot me or get out of my way." New York and Thailand serve as the primary shooting locations for Season 2, with the city's iconic skyline and streets becoming integral to the story's action-packed sequences, according to Deadline. The trailer also reveals a looming national security threat that puts the fate of the nation in Peter's hands. As Peter said in the video, "We have a mole selling leaked American intelligence to the highest bidder, and last night someone stole enough weapons to wipe out Manhattan." The stakes are higher than ever as the characters grapple with this powerful new adversary. To add to the intrigue, 'The Night Agent' season 2 welcomes a host of new faces to the cast, including Berto Colon, Louis Herthum, Arienne Mandi, Brittany Snow, and Teddy Sears. 'The Night Agent', based on the bestselling novel by Matthew Quirk, is created and executive produced by Shawn Ryan under his MiddKid Productions banner, with a team of skilled producers, including David Beaubaire, Seth Gordon, and Julia Gunn. The success of the show has already led to a third season renewal, which is currently filming in Istanbul and will continue in New York in 2025. 'The Night Agent' season 2 is set to debut on Netflix on January 23, 2025. (ANI) His funeral was held on Thursday, and he was cremated with full state honours at the Smrithipatham Crematorium in Kerala. People from all walks of life, including fans and prominent political figures, gathered in large numbers to pay their last respects to Vasudevan Nair. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also paid tribute to Vasudevan Nair. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the passing of the celebrated Malayalam writer. In a post on social media platform X, the Prime Minister stated that Vasudevan Nair was one of the most respected figures in Malayalam cinema and literature. "Saddened by the passing of Shri MT Vasudevan Nair, one of the most respected figures in Malayalam cinema and literature. His works, with their profound exploration of human emotions, have shaped generations and will continue to inspire many more. He also gave voice to the silent and marginalised," the post read. Popularly known as M T, he authored nine novels, 19 collections of short stories, directed six films, wrote around 54 screenplays, and published several collections of essays and memoirs over a career spanning seven decades. He received numerous awards, including India's highest literary honour, the Jnanpith. He breathed his last at Baby Memorial Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for the past 11 days following a cardiac arrest. (ANI) Comedian Kapil Sharma paid his heartfelt tribute to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away at the age of 92 on Thursday. Taking to X, Kapil shared a throwback picture from one of his meetings with Manmohan Singh. Alongside the image, he penned down a note in fond memory of India's "finest leader." "India has lost one of its finest leaders today. Dr. Manmohan Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms and a symbol of integrity and humility, leaves behind a legacy of progress and hope. His wisdom, dedication, and vision transformed our nation. Rest in peace, Dr. Singh. Your contributions will never be forgotten," he wrote. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of former Prime Minister Singh saying that India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said that his thoughts are with the family of Dr Manmohan Singh, his friends and countless admirers. "India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people's lives," he wrote on X. "Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji and I interacted regularly when he was PM and I was the CM of Gujarat. We would have extensive deliberations on various subjects relating to governance. His wisdom and humility were always visible. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the family of Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji, his friends and countless admirers. Om Shanti," PM Modi added. Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday night at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions, AIIMS informed.Singh retired from Rajya Sabha earlier this year after serving for 33 years in the house. Manmohan Singh, born in Punjab in 1932, served two terms as Prime Minister of India- from 2004 to 2014. He took the oath of office for the first time in 2004, after Congress' win in 2004 Lok Sabha election against Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA. He served his second term from 2009 to 2014. He was then succeeded by PM Narendra Modi in 2014. (ANI) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Wednesday praised state government officers for playing a key role in maintaining a corruption-free administration, which he described as an example of good governance. Saha was addressing a programme on the observance of Good Governance Day at Pragna Bhavan. "The main aim of Good Governance is a corruption-free administration. We must work towards that, and in doing so, people will continue to keep faith in us. People are keeping faith in us, and for that, the officers are playing a key role. Everyone must work for the welfare of the people of the state. We have also launched 'Amar Sarkar' to address local development issues," he said. Saha pointed out that around 60 per cent of Tripura's population comprises the young generation, and their potential must be utilized to strengthen the state. He further mentioned that many people at the national level are not fully aware of Tripura's development, and his recent visit to Haryana was aimed at addressing this. "We have seen the condition before 2018 and the progress afterwards. I highlighted these aspects in Haryana. We know how Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya worked for the people. He always emphasized providing government schemes to the last person in society. Keeping this in mind, our former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee worked tirelessly, and now PM Narendra Modi is continuing this effort," CM said. "These government schemes are centred on rural people, and our state government is also working in the same direction. We must go to Delhi to update them on the implementation of these schemes. This is what Good Governance means," Saha said further. CM Saha also mentioned that the state government has achieved 100 per cent saturation in many schemes. Apart from that CM said, "We have also launched Proti Ghore Sushasan, which aims to fulfil people's aspirations and needs. Starting from the G-20 summit, where many international visitors came to Tripura, we have been focusing on economic development. Investors are now coming. We have sectors like tourism, bamboo, tea, etc," he added. "Our GSDP and per capita income have significantly increased. To boost it further, we must attract more investors and showcase our products to them. While we make decisions for Good Governance, the implementation will be carried out by officers from various departments," he added. (ANI) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Wednesday said that the recently concluded Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) would significantly benefit Tripura and other northeastern states by accelerating developmental projects in the region. Addressing a press conference, CM Saha stated that during the 72nd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC), all the Chief Ministers and Governors from the Northeast states attended and gained a better understanding of Tripura. "Many people were not aware of Tripura. The representatives, after coming here, became well-informed about Tripura, its bamboo, agar, roads, and tourism. This is a great benefit for us. Meetings were also held on NESAC and the Bankers' Summit, where bankers from across the country participated. This is a significant advantage for us," said Saha. "More than Rs 800 crore will be spent on Bru resettlement. Union Home Minister Amit Shah physically inspected all the works and the implementation of the Bru project. Such meetings pave the way for more development work. Now, Tripura has secured a place on the world map. We are benefitting from this," he said further. CM Saha informed that many issues were discussed, including law and order and the present situation in Bangladesh. "We have placed the current conditions in Bangladesh, the status of fencing, and the numbers of BSF, Tripura Police, and CRPF personnel. I have also stated what we need in the coming days. Everything was noted down and will be discussed further," he said. "This meeting will enhance inter-state coordination. In the meeting, we also stressed creating a drug-free Northeast, addressed our demands, and highlighted our developmental works. The Chief Ministers who attended raised their respective topics of development. The opposition should commend us for holding such significant events in the state," said Saha further. Manik Saha also criticized the Congress for staging a drama using the name of Dr BR Ambedkar to target the BJP and alleged the Congress of being "anti-Ambedkar" and sought an apology. "Congress was anti-Ambedkar. Whatever they are doing is just a farce to mislead the people. If we look at history, Congress never respected Dr BR Ambedkar. Congress is now silent about the resignation of Dr Ambedkar, but we know how they disrespected him. He was a legend, and during Congress's tenure, the party never accorded him any national honour like the Bharat Ratna or Padma Bhushan." We are demanding an apology from Congress for their actions. They have to do it. BJP believes in honouring people who have worked tirelessly for the country's development, while Congress remains preoccupied with family-centric politics," he added. (ANI) As part of efforts to restore wells and pilgrimage sites in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal and reconnect people with their religious traditions, a team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and local administration visited several historic locations on Wednesday. These included ancient structures such as Ferozpur Fort, bawadis (stepwells), and Chor Kuan. Speaking to ANI, Sambhal District Magistrate (DM) Dr Rajender Pensiya said, "We visited the Ferozpur Fort, which is ASI-protected. We were accompanied by the ASI team. After that, we visited a koop (well) under the Neemsar pilgrimage site, which is the only koop that still has water in it. We also visited the Rajput bawadis (open wells)." "This city has a rich history, from the Puranas to being the second capital of Prithviraj Chauhan and the capital of Sikandar Lodi. We must preserve and restore this history," he added. Dr Manibhushan Tiwari, an official with the Sambhal Municipal Council said that they plan to restore wells and pilgrimage sites in the city. This initiative was prompted by the rediscovery of a temple during an anti-encroachment campaign led by the district police and administration on December 14. The Shiv-Hanuman temple, which had been closed since 1978, was reopened on December 22. During the excavation work in the Ladam Sarai area of Sambhal, an old well was also discovered by the local administration. Tiwari explained that the restoration process would involve digging and renovating wells, as well as reviving pilgrimage sites. The Municipal Council plans to allocate funds, possibly with assistance from the Vandhan Yojana and the Tourism Department, to give these sites a new look. "We are continuously digging and restoring all the wells in the city and revitalizing pilgrimage sites. We have also devised a plan to restore any wells we discover. For the pilgrimage sites we find, we will work on their revival. With support from the Vandhan Yojana and the Tourism Department, we will spend money to give these sites a new look, reconnecting people with our religious traditions," he added. (ANI) According to a release, Range Officer Suresh Jamwal and his team coordinated efforts on the ground and ensured a swift and effective response. The timely intervention of the Indian Army played a crucial role in preventing the fire from spreading further and causing significant damage to the ecosystem and nearby villages, the release said. This operation highlights the importance of collaboration between agencies in tackling natural disasters, it added. Earlier, a fire broke out in Gandoh Bhalessa village area of Jammu and Kashmir's Doda on December 22. On December 21 another fire broke out in the Dessa Forest Area of the district. (ANI) Launching a sharp attack on Congress for its centenary celebrations of the historic 1924 Belagavi Congress Session on December 27, former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai said on Wednesday that the Congress that fought for independence and the Congress currently ruling Karnataka are two entirely different entities. "The Congress that fought for independence and the Congress that is now ruling (the state) are two opposites. This one is anti-people and anti-national. These people have no moral right to celebrate that legacy. However, they are celebrating, so let good sense prevail in them," said Basavaraj Bommai while speaking to reporters. Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday announced a 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhaan' rally on December 27 as part of the centenary celebrations. Earlier, Bommai criticized the Congress party, claiming it is on the verge of collapse. Amid controversy over Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on Dr BR Ambedkar, Bommai alleged that the Congress party humiliated Ambedkar, leading to his resignation from the national government led by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. "Congress is on the verge of collapsing... Their legacy has been exposed. Especially in Parliament, regarding the Constitution debate, misuse of the Constitution, and the ill-treatment of Babasaheb Ambedkar, Congress has been exposed. They are trying their best to escape their tarnished image," said Bommai. "The greatest sin committed by any party against Ambedkar is by Congress. It is very well known... They humiliated him. That's why he resigned from the national government led by Pandit Nehru. The time has come for Congress to rethink and be honest with the people. Otherwise, the people of this country will soon forget Congress," Bommai told reporters. (ANI) Amid the row over Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remark on BR Ambedkar, SP MP Dharmendra Yadav demanded an apology and said that the "insult" won't be tolerated. Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Dharmendra Yadav said that the currently the biggest issue in the nation is the "disrespect" of Babasaheb Ambedkar. "Currently, the biggest issue in the nation is the disrespect of Babasaheb Ambedkar by the Union HM Amit Shah. The opposition demands an apology from the Union HM. The insult of Babasaheb Ambedkar will never be tolerated," Yadav said. On Wednesday, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar took a jab at the BJP, stating that they lack understanding of India's independence history and the importance of iconic figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Dr BR Ambedkar. "They (BJP) do not know the history of independence. They do not know the importance of Mahatma Gandhi or Dr BR Ambedkar. The rally that will be held on December 27 will be 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhaan'..." said Shivakumar ahead of the Belagavi CWC meeting on December 26. This comes after the Congress party's ongoing protests over remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah about Dr Ambedkar. The Congress has demanded Shah's resignation over his controversial statement, and in response, the party has called for a series of actions to highlight its commitment to Ambedkar's ideals. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had reportedly said in the Rajya Sabha, "If they (the Opposition) had taken the name of God as many times as they take Ambedkar's name, they would have secured heaven for seven lives." Following Shah's remarks, Parliament witnessed parallel protests from both the Treasury and Opposition benches outside the parliament last week, leading to a huge scuffle between the two sides, with BJP MPs Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput sustaining injuries. The ruling BJP MPs were protesting in Parliament's premises against the Congress party for "insulting" Babasaheb Ambedkar. INDIA bloc MPs, led by Rahul Gandhi, held a protest in Parliament and demanded the resignation of Shah over his remarks on Ambedkar. Both parties have alleged that their members were pushed around. Furthermore, an FIR has been registered against Rahul Gandhi by the Delhi police regarding the incident. (ANI) A potentially devastating forest fire that occurred in the Kellar Range near Bhaderwah of the Doda district was successfully extinguished through the combined efforts of the Indian Army 4 Rashtriya Rifles (Bravo company) and the local forest officials, as per a press release by the Indian Army. Range Officer Suresh Jamwal, and his team coordinated efforts on the ground, ensured a swift and effective response. The timely intervention of the Indian Army played a crucial role in preventing the fire from spreading further and causing significant damage to the ecosystem and nearby villages, a statement from the release said. This operation highlighted the importance of collaboration between agencies in tackling natural disasters. The Indian Army's unwavering support to the civil administration during crisis reaffirms its commitment to serving the nation and protecting its citizen. (ANI) By Akbar Novruz Deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu made a phone call to his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijans MFA. During the call, Murat Nurtleu expressed deep sorrow over the tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft in Aktau, Kazakhstan: "The Kazakh minister expressed deep condolences to the families of those who died in the crash and to the friendly and brotherly people of Azerbaijan. It was noted that from the first moments of the accident, Kazakhstan's emergency services were fully mobilised and participated in eliminating the consequences of the crash. It was reported that an investigation team was created to investigate the causes of the accident and appropriate measures were taken." In response, Jeyhun Bayramov thanked his Kazakh counterpart for the heartfelt condolences and expressed his own condolences to the families of the Kazakh citizens who lost their lives in the crash. He also extended his gratitude for Kazakhstan's immediate support and assistance. After 17 illegal immigrants from Bangladesh were arrested in Maharashtra, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya on Thursday praised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and said that in the coming days, the whole racket will be busted. "I welcome this decision of CM Devendra Fadnavis. He has instructed the whole Maharashtra Police ATS and district administrations to take strict action against the Rohingya Muslims from Bangladesh who have settled here illegally...I feel that this whole racket will busted in the coming days," Somaiya said. Recently, CM Fadnavis said that the state has started taking action on illegal Bangladeshi citizens living in Mumbai and Maharashtra, and said that they will be soon deported. Recently, Delhi Police arrested 11 persons, including five Bangladeshi nationals, in connection with an illegal immigration racket, making counterfeit Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, and other forged documents via a fake website. According to the police, one of the accused facilitated Bangladeshi nationals by producing counterfeit Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, and other forged documents via a fake website for which he used to charge 15,000. "4 suspects wanted in a murder case were arrested. During questioning, they revealed that they had come from Bangladesh. They entered India with fake documents. Here, in Delhi, they contacted a person named Sahil from a computer centre who made fake birth certificates for them. Delhi Police--South have arrested 5 Bangladeshis and 6 other people," DCP South Ankit Chauhan stated. "These people enter India from forest areas and head to the nearest town. There they meet a person named Sento Sheikh, who gives them a fake Aadhaar card and SIM card. On arriving in Delhi, they get a fake birth certificate, and based on this they get a real Aadhar card," the DCP added. According to Delhi police sources, over 1000 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants have been identified so far across the city. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed his grief on the demise of Malayali writer MT Vasudevan Nair who passed away in a private hospital in Kozhikode at the age of 91. Taking to social media X, the PM wrote that the writer was one of the most respected figures in Malayalam cinema and literature. "Saddened by the passing away of Shri MT Vasudevan Nair, one of the most respected figures in Malayalam cinema and literature. His works, with their profound exploration of human emotions, have shaped generations and will continue to inspire many more. He also gave voice to the silent and marginalize," the post read. Further, the Prime Minister also offered his condolences to the family and admirers of the writer. "My thoughts are with his family and admirers. Om Shanti," the post further read. Earlier today, the President Droupadi Murmu also expressed grief on the demise of the writer. Taking to social media X, the President said that the world of literature has become poor with the demise of the writer. "With the demise of Shri M T Vasudevan Nair, renowned Malayalam writer, the world of literature has become poorer. Rural India came alive in his writings. He was honoured with major literary awards and had made significant contribution to films. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan," the post read. The President also offered her condolences to the family members of the writer."I convey my heartfelt condolences to the members of his family, and the large number of his readers and admirers," the post further read. Vasudevan Nair, popularly known as MT, is regarded as one of the most successful writers of novels and screenplays in Malayalam. He also wrote essays, short stories, travelogues and even directed films. Following his demise, the Kerala government declared official mourning on December 26 and 27 to honour MT Vasudevan Nair, according to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). (ANI) President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday expressed grief on the demise of the renowned Malyali writer and Padma Bhushan awarde MT Vasudevan Nair. Taking to social media X, the President said that the world of literature has become poor with the demise of the writer. "With the demise of Shri M T Vasudevan Nair, renowned Malayalam writer, the world of literature has become poorer. Rural India came alive in his writings. He was honoured with major literary awards and had made significant contribution to films. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan," the post read. The President also offered her condolences to the family members of the writer. "I convey my heartfelt condolences to the members of his family, and the large number of his readers and admirers," the post further read. Vasudevan Nair, popularly known as MT, is regarded as one of the most successful writers of novels and screenplays in Malayalam. He also wrote essays, short stories, travelogues and even directed films. Following his demise, the Kerala government declared official mourning on December 26 and 27 to honour MT Vasudevan Nair, according to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed the postponement of all government events, including the Cabinet meeting scheduled for December 26, as a mark of respect, the statement added. MT was born in 1933 at Kudallur, a small village in Anakkara panchayat in Pattambi Taluk, Palakkad district. At the age of 20, while studying chemistry, he won the prize for the best short story in Malayalam at the World Short Story Competition conducted by The New York Herald Tribune. His first major novel, Naalukettu (Ancestral Home- translated to English as The Legacy), written at the age of 23, won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1958. His other novels include Manju (Mist), Kaalam (Time), Asuravithu (The Prodigal Son - translated to English as The Demon Seed), and Randamoozham ('The Second Turn' translated to English as 'Bhima - Lone Warrior'). In 2005, MT was honoured with India's third-highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan. He received numerous other accolades, including the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award, Vallathol Award, Ezhuthachan Award, Mathrubhumi Literary Award, and the ONV Literary Award. In 2013, he was awarded the JC Daniel Award for lifetime achievement in Malayalam cinema.(ANI) After Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP of conspiring to delete the names of Purvanchalis from electoral rolls, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal said that Arvind Kejriwal is making false allegations and by saying this, he is insulting the voters of Delhi. Hitting out at the AAP-led Delhi government, Khandelwal said that Arvind Kejriwal and AAP have done nothing for the development of Delhi in the last ten years. "In the last ten years, Arvind Kejriwal and AAP have done nothing for the development of Delhi... Looking at the Delhi assembly elections, he is seeing his defeat, so Arvind Kejriwal is making false allegations... By saying that Delhi voters can be bought, he (Arvind Kejriwal) is insulting the voters of Delhi..." Khandelwal told ANI on Wednesday. On December 20, former Delhi Chief Minister and the Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP of conspiring to delete the names of Purvanchalis from electoral rolls ahead of the Delhi Assembly election due in February. Kejriwal also alleged that BJP President JP Nadda had compared Purvanchalis living in Delhi to Rohingyas in Parliament. He said that the AAP will not allow the deletion of names from the voters' list. "I want to tell people of Purvanchal that we won't let anyone's name get cut. We respect you and we will give respectful life. If BJP people come to your house, don't tell them your name and don't show your voter ID card. Don't keep any contact with BJP, they might be asking for details from you to cut your name...JP Nadda ji had compared the people of Purvanchal to Rohingyas inside the Parliament two days ago," Kejriwal said in a press conference here. The Assembly polls in Delhi are expected to be held in early 2025. AAP won 62 out of the 70 seats in the 2020 assembly elections and BJP secured eighth seats. (ANI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday said that the mega public meeting to be held in Belagavi on December 27 is named as Jai Bapu-Jai Bhim-Jai Samvidhan convention. Addressing a press conference at the CPED School grounds, he said, "We have declared this area as Mahatma Gandi Navanagara. The Congress Working Committee meeting would be held near Gandhi well. Mahatma Gandhi presided over the Congress convention in 1924. It is a matter of pride that our own Mallikarjun Kharge is presiding over this convention. We are conducting this convention in the same 80-acre land which was the venue for the 1924 convention." "We have organized this event to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1924 convention. It is not just a Congress party function but everyone's programme. The CWC will discuss challenges facing the country. Leaders from across the country will take part in the convention," he said. "We have collected the report of the 1924 convention and we will release a reprinted version tomorrow. A statue of Mahatma Gandhi would be unveiled at Veera Soudha at 10 am on December 26. Khadi mela would be inaugurated at 10:45 am. Chief Minister and I will inaugurate Sri Gangadhar Deshpande Memorial. A photo gallery of Gangadhar Deshpande will also be inaugurated. The CWC meeting would be held at 3 pm and AICC President will host a dinner for the guests at 7 pm," he explained. "On December 27, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi would unveil the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Suvarna Soudha at 10:30 am. The CM will be the Chairman and the programme will be held under the joint leadership of Speaker U T Khader and Council Chairman Basvaraj Horatti. All leaders cutting across party lines have been invited for the event. A mega public meeting will be held at 1 pm," he said. "We have illuminated the entire city of Belagavi for the centenary celebrations. The people of the state, especially those in Kitturu Karnataka region, must witness the lighting. The Sevadal volunteers will escort CWC members through a padayatra where they will participate in the CWC meeting," he said. "Various programmes have been organized throughout the year as part of the 100th anniversary. We had organized Gandhi Walk on October 2 to mark the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi," he added. When asked about Belagavi MP Jagadish Shettar expressing displeasure about not being invited to the event in a respectful way, he said, "We will ensure red carpet till his house. The Chief Minister called him in my presence. His name is there in the invitation too. He could not give a respectful farewell to his relative Suresh Angadi, why did he not talk then? Replying to why a proposal about the event hasn't gone to the Centre, he said, "We are doing this programme in our state. Let the Centre do this programme too, aren't they aware of the importance of the event? BJP can't take credit for Gandhiji's contribution, it solely belongs to the Congress party." (ANI) As the Congress is set to celebrate the centenary of the 1924 session of the party presided over by Mahatma Gandhi, party leader Salman Khurshid arrived in Belagavi on Thursday and said it is historical, and history was made here 100 years ago. "This is historical; history was made here 100 years ago. We need new inspiration and country. We need to take the country in the right direction and fight for the Constitution," Khurshid said while speaking to the media at the Airport. Several Congress leaders will be attending the Congress Working Committee meeting today at Belagavi. Party leader Sachin Pilot said, "This centenary is special, Congress is doing a very good job in the government but this working committee meeting will set the pace and agenda for the next few months and years. This CWC meeting will be historic in many ways...we are all proud to be here...INDIA alliance is strong and Congress leadership will give directions on how to move forward and take on political opponents." Congress leader Sowmya Reddy said that it is a proud feeling for all of them. "It is a proud feeling for all of us from Mahila Congress to be here. The Congress party has always prioritized women. We are the ones who gave women reservation at the gram panchayat level. When Sonia Gandhi madam was president she said that they would give 33% reservation to women. The only PM was from Congress. It is a privilege to be a part of this historic event," she said. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar emphasized that Congress's history is country's history and Congress has kept this country united. "Whether Congress is in power or not it takes care of all the sections of the country. 100 years back, on this day at 3 pm, Mahatma Gandhi was elected as Congress President, at the same time CWC meeting will begin...this is a message for the country regarding the directions of Mahatma Gandhi and Congress," Shivakumar said. The Congress will hold its CWC meeting today and the centenary celebration of Mahatma Gandhi's historic 1924 Belagavi Session on December 27. (ANI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah arrived for the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, 'Nav Satyagrah Baithak,' in Belagavi on Thursday. "To mark the 100 years of the 1924 Congress session, we are holding this convention here and AICC has taken the decision to hold a CWC meeting in Karnataka under the chairmanship of Mallikarjun Kharge," the Karnataka CM told ANI. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and the 'Charkha' in Belagavi. On this occasion, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said, " Congress's history is the country's history; Congress has kept this country united. Whether Congress is in power or not, it takes care of all the sections of the country. 100 years back, on this day at 3 pm, Mahatma Gandhi was elected as Congress President; at the same time, the CWC meeting will begin... This is a message for the country regarding the directions of Mahatma Gandhi and Congress..." Congress is holding its CWC meeting on December 26 and 27 in Belagavi to celebrate the centenary of the 1924 session of the party. Earlier, Congress MP KC Venugopal elaborated on the two-day program. The Congress leader mentioned that on December 26 at 2:30 pm, the meeting will start at Mahatma Gandhi Nagar. "On the 27th morning, at 11:30 am, the 'Jai Bapu-Jai Bhim-Jai Sanvidhan' rally will be held in Belgavi. MPs of Congress and AICC functionaries and lakhs of Congress workers will be participating in that," Venugopal said. "To commemorate 100 years of this session, we are doing an extended Congress Working Committee Meeting at Belgavi. We are calling it 'Nav Satyagrah Bethak.' The meeting will be held at the same venue where Mahatma Gandhi took over the presidency of the Indian National Congress. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has completed all the arrangements for this historic session. Along with the CWC members, around 200 leaders will be attending the session," he stated. KC Venugopal also highlighted that the CWC meeting will discuss the action plan of the Indian National Congress for the next year and adopt two resolutions. "The meeting will deliberate upon the critical challenges facing the nation under the BJP rule, including economic inequality, erosion of democracy and attack on constitutional institutions. This is going to be a landmark program of INC to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's presidency as a president of the Congress," he said. "Mahatma Gandhi presented his address in Belgaum on non-violence and non-cooperation as a means to attain political freedom, the removal of untouchability, promoting unity between communities, and the need to address socio-economic disparity and reinforce the principle of justice and equality. These were the contents of Gandhi ji's speech in 1924. The Belgaum session became the bedrock of India's freedom movement," the Congress MP added. (ANI) BJP leader CR Kesavan on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party for its centenary celebrations of the 1924 Belagavi Congress Session, saying that this session is a "monumental mockery of the principles of Mahatma Gandhi." Sharpening his attack, Kesavan claimed that if Mahatma Gandhi was alive and had witnessed the sins of the Congress, he would have gone on a Satyagraha and fasted to death. He said that the current Congress party is functioning on the "absolute anti-thesis" of Mahatma Gandhi and his ideals. "Rahul Gandhi's Congress is the absolute anti-thesis of Mahatma Gandhi and his ideals. This Belagavi session of Congress is a monumental mockery of Mahatma because the Congress party with contempt has dumped the principles of Mahama Gandhi in the dustbin. Congress is calling it 'Nav Satyagraha Baithak', a new Satyagraha, if Gandhiji was alive and had witnessed the sins of the Congress, he would have gone on a Satyagraha and fasted to death," Kesavan told ANI. "Imagine Gandhiji witnessing the 1984 riots, the emergency engendered by the Congress party, he would have fought it. He would have fought the Congress party with his last breath. Gandhiji, he would have never approved of this dynastic culture and he would have ensured and he would have finished the Congress party for the corruption, scams and scandals which were endangered during various Congress rules and especially the UPA. Mahatma Gandhi talked about Ram Rajya. This Congress government you know and UPA filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court saying there is no Ram. And then Gandhiji said he is a proud Sanatani Hindu. Here the Congress party is against Hindu dharma and they are in cahoots in alliance with people who want to eliminate Sanatana Dharma. This is the hypocrisy of the Congress party...." he added. Congress will hold a two-day session of its Congress Working Committee (CWC), and a rally in Belagavi, Karnataka, on December 26 and 27 to commemorate the centenary of the 1924 Belagavi Congress Session. (ANI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday highlighted the significance of his party, saying that "Congress's history is the country's history". Speaking to ANI, the Karnataka Deputy CM stated that Congress takes care of all sections of the country, even when it's out of power. "Congress's history is the country's history; Congress has kept this country united. Whether Congress is in power or not, it takes care of all the sections of the country," he said. Shivkumar and Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah arrived in Belagavi ahead of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, 'Nav Satyagrah Baithak, to be held on Thursday. Both the leaders paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and the 'Charkha' in Belagavi. "100 years back, on this day at 3 pm, Mahatma Gandhi was elected as Congress president; at the same time, the CWC meeting will begin... This is a message for the country regarding the directions of Mahatma Gandhi and Congress," Shivkumar stated. Earlier, the Karnataka CM highlighted the reason behind organising the CWC meeting in Belagavi. "To mark the 100 years of the 1924 Congress session, we are holding this convention here and AICC has taken the decision to hold a CWC meeting in Karnataka under the chairmanship of Mallikarjun Kharge." Congress is holding its CWC meeting on December 26 and 27 in Belagavi to celebrate the centenary of the 1924 session of the party. Meanwhile, Congress leaders have started arriving in Belagavi for the CWC meeting. On the occasion, Sachin Pilot said, " This centenary is special. Congress is doing a very good job in the government, but this working committee meeting will set the pace and agenda for the next few months and years. This CWC meeting will be historic in many ways...we are all proud to be here...the INDIA alliance is strong and Congress leadership will give directions on how to move forward and take on political opponents..." Earlier, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the mega public meeting to be held in Belagavi on December 27 is named as Jai Bapu-Jai Bhim-Jai Samvidhan convention. "We have declared this area as Mahatma Gandi Navanagara. The Congress Working Committee meeting would be held near Gandhi well. Mahatma Gandhi presided over the Congress convention in 1924. It is a matter of pride that our own Mallikarjun Kharge is presiding over this convention. We are conducting this convention in the same 80-acre land which was the venue for the 1924 convention," he stated. (ANI) The committee is set to meet on December 26 and 27 to record oral evidence from state representatives as part of its deliberations on the proposed legislation. The committee will hear representatives of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan on December 26 and Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Delhi on December 27. Earlier, the JPC met Muslim representatives from Lucknow and Rajasthan in its meeting. After the meeting, the chairman of the Joint Committee of Parliament, Jagdambika Pal, told ANI, "Former VC of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University, Lucknow and former chairman of the Rajasthan Waqf Board, came with their proposed amendments. There was a clause-by-clause discussion on it. MPs also posed questions to them." The committee included Syed Abubakar Naqvi, the former chairman and state minister of the Waqf Board in Rajasthan, and Prof. Mahrukh Mirza, the former vice chancellor of Khwaja Chishti Moinuddin Language University, Lucknow. Recently, the Lok Sabha approved a motion to extend the tenure of the JPC on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and mandated the presentation of their report by the end of the 2025 Budget Session. On December 5, Jagdambika Pal, head of the JPC, noted that the committee had held 27 meetings in Delhi before the extension of its tenure. These meetings included discussions with multiple stakeholders and various ministries of the Government of India. The Waqf Act of 1995, enacted to regulate waqf properties, has long been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to address these challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. The JPC is conducting extensive consultations with government officials, legal experts, Waqf Board members, and community representatives from various states and Union Territories to ensure a comprehensive overhaul of the legislation. (ANI) France, represented by its president Emmanuel Macron and almost the entire political elite of the country, as well as members of the European Parliament (primarily from Macron's France), and the EU leadership, once again failed the test of humanity. I am writing about this after witnessing the shameful and immoral silence of nearly the entire political establishment from France and these organizations in response to the tragic crash of an Embraer aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, which was en route from Baku to Grozny and crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau. There were 67 people on board the plane, including 42 citizens of Azerbaijan, 16 from Russia, 6 from Kazakhstan, and 3 from Kyrgyzstan. "The situation is not very good, 38 dead. The bodies are in poor condition, mostly burned. 29 people, including two children, are injured in hospitals, 11 of them are stable, the rest are in moderate condition," said Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, who is currently in Aktau. After this tragedy, we heard words of condolences from the President of fraternal Turkiye and a large number of Turkish politicians. We also heard words of sympathy from the Presidents and Prime Ministers of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Moldova, Iran, and Israel, as well as from the Foreign Ministries of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt, along with a number of international organizations. However, there was not a word of condolence from many leaders of countries that call themselves friendly or even allied with Azerbaijan. This is not surprising, but what is especially disappointing is the complete lack of condolences from French President Emmanuel Macron (it is already clear what his stance is from a political and moral perspective) and from almost the entire French political establishment, if I may call it that. None of the leaders of French political parties found the moral courage to say what any decent person would say in the face of a tragedy. Only one member of the French Senate, Nathalie Goulet, expressed her condolences to the victims of the Baku-Grozny flight. The others pretended as though nothing terrible had happened. Naturally, the French members of the European Parliament remained silent as well. They, like almost all French politicians, are focused solely on spreading falsehoods about our country, trying to discredit our state. Uttering words of sympathy or condolence would be a form of torture for them. The same can be said about the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. She too remained silent at a time when any decent person should have spoken out. Not a word of compassion or sympathy from this frau! Although, when the EU urgently needed supplies of Azerbaijani gas, she rushed to sign the relevant agreement and made several statements about our country's irreplaceable role in ensuring the energy security of the Old World. But writing at least a short message on social media expressing condolences for the tragic loss of passengers on the Baku-Grozny flight should have been a minimal gesture. Yet, there was nothing... The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaya Kallas, also remained silent. Does this mean she followed in the footsteps of her predecessor, Josep Borrell, who was notorious for his biased and contemptuous attitude towards Azerbaijan? It is too early to judge fully, but Kallas' unwillingness to express sympathy for the victims of the plane crash is a fact and already an indelible stain on her biography. As you know, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed his condolences over the crash of the Baku-Grozny flight. "I express my condolences to the families of the victims of the Baku-Grozny flight. The tragedy that befell people living their daily lives cannot but cause sadness," he wrote on his social media page. It turns out that even he has more humanity than all these so-called ladies and gentlemen. Azerbaijan has experienced many tragic events and triumphs over the years of its independence. We have managed to become a strong state and have shown the world a unique example of restoring our territorial integrity through military and political means, defying the plans of the leading world powers. We have built the most economically powerful state with an army that ranks among the top 30 strongest in the world. We have implemented truly historic transport and energy projects. All of this was achieved primarily through self-reliance. But we will always remember both those who were ready to lend a helping hand and those who kept a stone in their chest. This will be the case as a result of the current tragedy. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate on Thursday lashed out Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pralhad Joshi's statement on the CWC meeting and said that people like Joshi did not understand the ethos of Mahatma Gandhi or Congress. "People like Pralhad Joshi don't understand the ethos of Mahatma Gandhi, they don't understand the ethos of Congress. They don't understand that Congress was born out of freedom struggle, we fought for India's independence, we are the architects of modern India...we have had Presidents like Mahatma Gandhi, whose centenary we are here to celebrate...the BJP can say what it has to but it does not realty matter," Shrinate said while speaking to ANI. This comes after Union Minister Pralhad Joshi had said that when the Congress accuses the BJP of belief in Godse its speaks of their frustration. "We believe in Savarkar. When they (Congress) say that we believe in Godse, it speaks of their frustration. Congress party always tries to distort fact," Joshi said while speaking to the media. Further, he added that the Congress led by Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders was totally disconnected with the current Congress party. "The Congress led by Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Babu, Sardar Vallabh bhai Patel and this Congress are totally disconnected. Mahatma Gandhi had said that Congress should be dissolved. I stand by my statement and I only want to say that the Gandhis leading the party are 'nakli' Gandhis..." the Union Minister further added. Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar highlighted the the significance of his party, and said that "Congress's history is the country's history". Speaking to ANI, the Karnataka Deputy CM stated that Congress takes care of all sections of the country, even when it's out of power. "Congress's history is the country's history; Congress has kept this country united. Whether Congress is in power or not, it takes care of all the sections of the country," he said. Congress is holding its CWC meeting on December 26 and 27 in Belagavi to celebrate the centenary of the 1924 session of the party. (ANI) Hours before the commencement of the Congress CWC (Congress Working Committee) meeting, party leader Sowmya Reddy on Thursday said that it is a proud moment for all the members of Mahila Congress who are present here to take part in the meeting. She stated that it is a privilege to be part of this historic event, adding that it is the Congress party which has always prioritised women. Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Sowmya Reddy said, "It is a proud feeling for all of us from Mahila Congress to be here. The Congress party has always prioritised women. We are the ones who gave women reservation at the gram panchayat level. When Sonia Gandhi madam was president she said that they would give 33% reservation to women. It is a privilege to be a part of this historic event...." Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar highlighted the significance of his party, saying that "Congress's history is the country's history". Speaking to ANI, the Karnataka Deputy CM stated that Congress takes care of all sections of the country, even when it's out of power. "Congress's history is the country's history; Congress has kept this country united. Whether Congress is in power or not, it takes care of all the sections of the country," he said. Shivkumar and Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah arrived in Belagavi ahead of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, 'Nav Satyagrah Baithak, to be held on Thursday. Both the leaders paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and the 'Charkha' in Belagavi. "100 years back, on this day at 3 pm, Mahatma Gandhi was elected as Congress president; at the same time, the CWC meeting will begin... This is a message for the country regarding the directions of Mahatma Gandhi and Congress," Shivkumar stated. Earlier, the Karnataka CM highlighted the reason behind organising the CWC meeting in Belagavi. "To mark the 100 years of the 1924 Congress session, we are holding this convention here and AICC has taken the decision to hold a CWC meeting in Karnataka under the chairmanship of Mallikarjun Kharge." Congress is holding its CWC meeting on December 26 and 27 in Belagavi to celebrate the centenary of the 1924 session of the party. (ANI) A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to grant admission to all Myanmar Rohingya refugee children in schools near their residences. The plea, moved by the NGO Social Jurist, challenges the Delhi High Court's order dated October 29, 2024. The High Court had disposed of the writ petition, ruling that since the Rohingyas are foreigners who have not been legally granted entry into India, the petitioner should approach the Ministry of Home Affairs. The court directed the Ministry to address the matter in accordance with the law and expeditiously decide on the representation. The petitioner through Advocate Ashok Aggarwal stated that on November 4, 2024, a representation was submitted to the Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of NCT of Delhi, requesting the issuance of an order to clarify that all refugee children residing in India are entitled to education under Articles 14, 21, and 21A of the Constitution of India, in accordance with the RTE Act, 2009, regardless of their nationality. A reminder was sent on November 28, 2024, but no response has been received to date. The plea stated that Article 21A of the Constitution of India does not differentiate between Indian and foreign citizens when it comes to providing education to children between the ages of 6 and 14 years. "It is submitted that any child within this age group, present on Indian soil, is entitled to free and compulsory education as a fundamental right under Article 21A of the Constitution of India. the plea read. It also stated that the impugned actions of the respondents, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Directorate of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi, in refusing admission to Rohingya refugee children due to the lack of an Aadhar Card, are arbitrary, unjust, malafide, discriminatory, unethical, and anti-child. "These actions violate the fundamental right to education guaranteed under Articles 14, 21, and 21-A of the Constitution of India, as well as the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and the Delhi School Education Act, 1973, along with the rules framed thereunder," the plea stated. "The Rohingya refugee children do not possess Aadhar cards or bank accounts, as these are not permitted by Indian authorities. Furthermore, the absence of an Aadhar card cannot be a valid reason to deny school admission to any child, as established by the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd) vs Union of India, decided on September 13, 2023," the plea read. (ANI) On the occasion of Veer Bal Diwas, Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis paid his heartfelt floral tributes to the Sahibzades of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, at his official residence in Mumbai today. Similarly, in Uttar Pradesh, CM Yogi Adityanath marked Veer Bal Diwas by bringing a copy of Shri Guru Granth Sahib to his government residence. Meanwhile, in Uttarakhand, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasised the immortal sacrifice of Baba Zorawar Singh ji and Baba Fateh Singh on this occasion. In a post on X, Dhami expressed, "On Veer Bal Diwas, dedicated to the immortal sacrifice of Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji, we pay our heartfelt tribute to their bravery, indomitable courage, and unmatched sacrifice." He further added, "Your sacrifice for the protection of religion and the honour of the motherland is a priceless heritage of humanity. Your glorious story will continue to teach the coming generations the lessons of truth, fearlessness, and devotion to duty." On the occasion of 'Veer Baal Diwas' on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the 'Sahibzadas,' honouring their bravery and sacrifice. In a social media post on X, the Prime Minister said that at a very young age, they stood firm in their faith and principles, inspiring generations with their courage and their sacrifice is a shining example of valour and a commitment to one's values. "Today, on Veer Baal Diwas, we remember the unparalleled bravery and sacrifice of the Sahibzades. At a young age, they stood firm in their faith and principles, inspiring generations with their courage. Their sacrifice is a shining example of valour and a commitment to one's values. We also remember the bravery of Mata Gujri Ji and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. May they always guide us towards building a more just and compassionate society," PM Modi posted on X. According to a release by the PMO, the Prime Minister n Thursday will launch Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyan, which aims to improve nutritional outcomes and well-being by strengthening the implementation of nutrition-related services and by ensuring active community participation. The PMO release mentioned various initiatives will also be run across the nation to engage young minds, promote awareness about the significance of the day, and foster a culture of courage and dedication to the nation. (ANI) Congress leader Ripun Bora on Thursday said that the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's statement on the party distorting speeches to tarnish the reputation of national leaders was said out of frustration. Speaking to ANI, Bora said "What Maharashtra CM has said is due to frustration because of the growing popularity of Congress party. All ranks of the BJP are frustrated. The history recognizes the contribution of the Gandhi family. Can the BJP cite any BJP leader who sacrificed their life for the country? Congress party has always been giving due respect to Babasaheb Ambedkar..." Further, he claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to diver the issue by citing irrelevant things and had no answer for the insult they made. "The BJP party has no answers for the insults they have made. They are just trying to divert the issue by citing irrelevant things.." Bora further added. On December 25, the Maharashtra CM said "Congress always fears that no one should become bigger than the Nehru-Gandhi family. That is why they always insulted Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar." He called on Congress to apologise for their actions, particularly accusing them of "editing and cutting" speeches, such as that of BJP leaders Amit Shah and PM Modi. On December 24, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the Congress party of playing politics by sharing an edited video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on BR Ambedkar. CM Fadnavis demanded an apology from the Congress and alleged that they had disrupted the Parliament session. "The Congress party should first apologise for editing the statement of Home Minister Amit Shah and politicising it. They disrupted the Parliament session. Prime Minister Modi, during his speech in Parliament, exposed how the Congress has repeatedly insulted the Constitution--from Nehru to Indira, from Rajiv to Sonia," CM Fadnavis said. "What they did with Amit Shah is the cheapness of politics because BJP, Amit Shah and PM Modi cannot insult BR Ambedkar even in their dreams," Fadnavis stated, adding that Congress has "lost its ground" and that every move by the Congress is to "regain the ground." The Chief Minister added that the Congress was frustrated after PM Modi "exposed" their leaders for "continuously insulting" the Constitution. (ANI) Alleging that the Congress has placed "distorted" Indian maps at the Belagavi session, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shehzad Poonawalla on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Congress, saying that it shows 'Bharat todo, tukde-tukde' mindset of Congress. He further stated that this is an attack on the "sovereignty" and "unity" of India. "This is the 'Bharat todo, tukde-tukde' mindset of Congress, the manner in which they have put up distorted maps at the Belagavi event where they are showing J&K to be part of Pakistan and of China, this has something Congress has done time and time again... Rahul Gandhi stood with Ilan Omar who wants Kashmir to be part of Pakistan. Sonia Gandhi is co-President of an organization which says Kashmir should be given away to Pakistan. The manner in which they opposed the removal of 370 and they spoke in the same tune as Pakistan... Singing to Pakistan's tunes and handing over J&K to Pakistan has been agenda of Congress and today that mindset has been exposed once again. This is an attack on the sovereignty and unity of India. Congress party neither stands with Samvidhan nor does it stand with Bharat Jodo..." Poonawala told ANI. BJP leader CR Kesavan also hit out at the Congress party for its centenary celebrations of the 1924 Belagavi Congress Session, saying that this session is a "monumental mockery of the principles of Mahatma Gandhi." Sharpening his attack, Kesavan claimed that if Mahatma Gandhi was alive and had witnessed the sins of the Congress, he would have gone on a Satyagraha. "Rahul Gandhi's Congress is the absolute anti-thesis of Mahatma Gandhi and his ideals. This Belagavi session of Congress is a monumental mockery of Mahatma because the Congress party with contempt has dumped the principles of Mahama Gandhi in the dustbin. Congress is calling it 'Nav Satyagraha Baithak', a new Satyagraha, if Gandhiji was alive and had witnessed the sins of the Congress, he would have gone on a Satyagraha and fasted to death," Kesavan told ANI. Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar highlighted the significance of his party, saying that "Congress's history is the country's history". Speaking to ANI, the Karnataka Deputy CM stated that Congress takes care of all sections of the country, even when it's out of power. "Congress's history is the country's history; Congress has kept this country united. Whether Congress is in power or not, it takes care of all the sections of the country," he said. Shivkumar and Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah arrived in Belagavi ahead of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, 'Nav Satyagrah Baithak, to be held on Thursday. Both the leaders paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and the 'Charkha' in Belagavi. "100 years back, on this day at 3 pm, Mahatma Gandhi was elected as Congress president; at the same time, the CWC meeting will begin... This is a message for the country regarding the directions of Mahatma Gandhi and Congress," Shivkumar stated. Congress is holding its CWC meeting on December 26 and 27 in Belagavi to celebrate the centenary of the 1924 session of the party. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the program organised to celebrate Veer Baal Diwas at Bharat Mandapamin the national capital on Thursday. He met and interacted with 2024 recipients of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. Earlier in the day, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar on 17 children, in seven categories, for their exceptional achievements at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre. On this occasion, PM Modi will also launch Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyan. According to a release by the PMO, Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyan aims to improve nutritional outcomes and well-being by strengthening the implementation of nutrition-related services and by ensuring active community participation. The PMO release mentioned various initiatives will also be run across the nation to engage young minds, promote awareness about the significance of the day, and foster a culture of courage and dedication to the nation. A series of online competitions, including interactive quizzes, will be organised through the MyGov and MyBharat Portals. Interesting activities like storytelling, creative writing, and poster-making, among others, will be undertaken in schools, child care institutions, and Anganwadi centres. PM Modi on January 9, 2022, announced that December 26 would be marked as 'Veer Baal Diwas' as a tribute to the courage of Sahibzades (Guru Gobind Singh's sons) and their quest for justice. Earlier, PM Modi also paid respect to the 'Sahibzadas' and remembered their bravery and sacrifice. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said that at a very young age, they stood firm in their faith and principles, inspiring generations with their courage and their sacrifice is a shining example of valour and a commitment to one's values. "Today, on Veer Baal Diwas, we remember the unparalleled bravery and sacrifice of the Sahibzades. At a young age, they stood firm in their faith and principles, inspiring generations with their courage. Their sacrifice is a shining example of valour and a commitment to one's values. We also remember the bravery of Mata Gujri Ji and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. May they always guide us towards building a more just and compassionate society," PM Modi's post reads. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party leader Tamilisai Soundararajan and other cadres of the party were detained by the Tamil Nadu Police on Thursday during protests by BJP and AIADMK against the alleged sexual assault of a female student at the Anna University campus in Chennai. Soundararajan, who was leading the party's protest said the DMK-led state government was attempting to crush their voice and claimed that police have detained her and several other party workers during their protest. "This is atrocious. They want to crush our voice," Soundararajan said. A second-year student of Anna University was allegedly sexually assaulted by a man on the university campus on Monday night, Chennai Police said adding that one person has been arrested in connection with the case. Police also detained workers of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) as they staged a protest against the ruling DMK government over the alleged sexual assault of the Anna University student. On Wednesday, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) Founder-President Thol. Thirumavalavan called for swift action in connection with the case. Meanwhile, actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party chief Vijay said the news is "deeply shocking and painful" and urged the Tamil Nadu government to take swift legal action against the perpetrator. "Although the police have informed that a person who sexually assaulted has been arrested, I urge the Tamil Nadu government to take swift legal action against him and ensure appropriate punishment. Also, if anyone else is involved in this heinous crime, appropriate action should be taken against them promptly," Vijay said in a post on X. Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai also criticised the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led state government over the alleged sexual assault of the student, stating that crimes against women are at an all-time high. Speaking to reporters, Annamalai said two unidentified individuals allegedly entered the campus and sexually assaulted the girl. "Crimes against women are at an all-time high. Now this is not only shocking but for a moment we all felt paralysed. One of the safest places, Chennai, is the sprawling Anna University campus. A girl and boy were on a University campus when two unknown boys entered the campus and beat up the boy and sexually assaulted the girl with injuries. And now the CCTVs are not functioning. It shows the current state of law and order and administration in the Tamil Nadu. We pray that the police will be given freedom to operate. All MLAs, MPs are from DMK in Chennai, is this a city safeguarding the people?...I hope and pray Tamil Nadu government acts." According to Chennai Police the survivor, a student in her second year of BE of Guindy Engineering College had lodged a complaint at the Kotturpuram All Women Police Station. In her December 23 complaint to police, the student alleged that an unidentified man had threatened and sexually assaulted her when she was talking to her friend on campus on Monday around 8 pm.Based on the complaint, a case has been registered at the Kotturpuram AWPS and investigation is underway, police said. The police officials are investigating in coordination with the University Internal Complaints Committee (ICC-POSH). Four special teams have been formed under the leadership of the Kotturpuram Assistant Commissioner to arrest the culprit in this regard. Police said that a man Gnanasekaran, (37) from Kottur, has been arrested. "The suspect has confessed. He runs a biryani shop on the footpath," police have said, adding that police are probing if he was involved in any other crime. (ANI) Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) is set to launch a campaign, 'Jagran Abhiyan,' for the liberation of temples from the government's control, its national spokesperson Vinod Bansal said. "Decontrol of the temple is the need of the hour. VHP has been raising this demand for the last several decades...When no mosque, madrasa, mazaar, or church is under their (government's) control, then why is this discrimination against temples only? There is a deep anger in the society about all this. So, VHP decided to start a campaign, a Jagran Abhiyan for the liberation of these temples," VHP National Spokesperson Bansal told ANI. "Our organisation's General Secretary is going to hold a press conference in the evening, telling about what its format will be and how it will be done," he added. He said recently, VHP office bearers had also met with Chief Ministers of a few states and leaders of different political parties to seek their help in this regard. "Recently we also connected with around 380 MPs during the winter session and sought their help as well," he added. Earlier, VHP, in its 'Saansad Sampark Abhiyan,' met more than 350 MPs and discussed various key issues, including the liberation of temples, the Waqf Amendment Bill and the liberation of temples. "Vishva Hindu Parishad has so far contacted more than 350 MPs in its annual Saansad Sampark Abhiyan run during the winter session of Parliament and discussed three different topics related to Hindu society. The Secretary General of Vishva Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Lal Bagra said that during this campaign, Karyakartas from different states, languages and sects from across the country discussed with the Hon'ble MPs the topics of the liberation of temples from government control, the Waqf Amendment Bill and extending the privileges given to minorities under Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution to the Hindu society as well," a post by VHP on X reads. The campaign was organised from December 2 to 20 during the recently concluded winter session of the parliament. "In its first phase from 2 to 6 December, Karyakartas from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal and Maharashtra contacted a total of 114 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs," the post further reads. "In the second phase from 9 to 13 December, Karyakartas from Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu Kashmir contacted a total of 139 MPs of these states," it added. The third and final phase of the campaign began on December 16, when office bearers from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur and Nagaland reached out to different parliamentarians in the national capital. (ANI) Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy has raised concerns about the absence of Mahatma Gandhi's image at the "Gandhi Shathamanothsava" event in Belagavi on Thursday. Kumaraswamy emphasized that while the program was aimed at commemorating Gandhi, there were no photographs of the leader displayed on the flexes, only those of modern-day personalities associated with the Gandhian legacy. Speaking to the mediapersons, Kumaraswamy said, "Today, they have organised 'Gandhi Shathamanothsava' in Belagavi. In that program, there is not even one photo of Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi) in the flexes which are installed. Only modern Gandhi flexes are seen. Are these people remembering Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi)?..." Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah arrived for the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, 'Nav Satyagrah Baithak,' in Belagavi on Thursday. "To mark the 100 years of the 1924 Congress session, we are holding this convention here and AICC has taken the decision to hold a CWC meeting in Karnataka under the chairmanship of Mallikarjun Kharge," the Karnataka CM told ANI. On this occasion, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said, " Congress's history is the country's history; Congress has kept this country united. Whether Congress is in power or not, it takes care of all the sections of the country. 100 years back, on this day at 3 pm, Mahatma Gandhi was elected as Congress President; at the same time, the CWC meeting will begin. This is a message for the country regarding the directions of Mahatma Gandhi and Congress..." Congress is holding its CWC meeting on December 26 and 27 in Belagavi to celebrate the centenary of the 1924 session of the party. Earlier, Congress MP KC Venugopal elaborated on the two-day program. The Congress leader mentioned that on December 26 at 2:30 pm, the meeting will start at Mahatma Gandhi Nagar." Venugopal further added, "On the 27th morning, at 11:30 am, the 'Jai Bapu-Jai Bhim-Jai Sanvidhan' rally will be held in Belgavi. MPs of Congress and AICC functionaries and lakhs of Congress workers will be participating in that." "To commemorate 100 years of this session, we are doing an extended Congress Working Committee Meeting at Belgavi. We are calling it 'Nav Satyagrah Bethak.' The meeting will be held at the same venue where Mahatma Gandhi took over the presidency of the Indian National Congress. "Karnatka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has completed all the arrangements for this historic session. Along with the CWC members, around 200 leaders will be attending the session," Venugopal added. Mahatma Gandhi presented his address in Belgaum on non-violence and non-cooperation as a means to attain political freedom, the removal of untouchability, promoting unity between communities, and the need to address socio-economic disparity and reinforce the principle of justice and equality. These were the contents of Gandhi ji's speech in 1924. The Belgaum session became the bedrock of India's freedom movement," the Congress MP added. (ANI) By Akbar Novruz US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller expressed condolences over the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) passenger plane near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25. Azernews reports that Miller shared his message on "X," stating: The AZAL passenger plane, which was operating a Baku-Grozny flight, crashed near the city of Aktau. Of the 67 people on board, 38 lost their lives, while 29 survived. In response to the numerous casualties, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree declaring a national day of mourning. A State Commission, led by Prime Minister Ali Asadov, has also been established to investigate the causes of the crash, under the direction of the president. BJP MP and former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has criticized the Congress government in Karnataka accusing it of using public funds to finance its AICC session in Belagavi, calling it "totally unfair" and "condemnable" on Thursday. Bommai demanded an explanation from the Chief Minister on the legal grounds for sanctioning and releasing state funds for the event. Speaking to ANI, Bommai said, "Congress is conducting its AICC session which is being funded by the Karnataka govt. This is totally unfair, using public money for political purposes, is unheard of and uncalled for...CM should explain to the people of Karnataka, under which provision the money has been sanctioned and is going to be released...this is condemnable..." Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday said that the mega public meeting to be held in Belagavi on December 27 is named as Jai Bapu-Jai Bhim-Jai Samvidhan convention. Addressing a press conference at the CPED School grounds, he said, "We have declared this area as Mahatma Gandi Navanagara. The Congress Working Committee meeting would be held near Gandhi well. Mahatma Gandhi presided over the Congress convention in 1924. It is a matter of pride that our own Mallikarjun Kharge is presiding over this convention. We are conducting this convention in the same 80-acre land which was the venue for the 1924 convention." "We have organized this event to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1924 convention. It is not just a Congress party function but everyone's programme. The CWC will discuss the challenges facing the country. Leaders from across the country will take part in the convention," Shivkumar added. Shivkumar further added, "On December 27, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will unveil the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Suvarna Soudha at 10:30 am. The CM will be the Chairman and the programme will be held under the joint leadership of Speaker U T Khader and Council Chairman Basvaraj Horatti. All leaders cutting across party lines have been invited to the event. A mega public meeting will be held at 1 pm."(ANI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed guests and attendees at the Veer Bal Diwas program, held to honour the sacrifices of Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh at the CM's residence on Thursday. Adityanath highlighted their martyrdom as a significant part of the nation's history and praised their determination to protect religion and the country. Speaking at the CM's residence, Adityanath recalled the martyrdom of the Sahibzadas, emphasizing the moment when they were bricked alive by Wazir Khan. He stressed that their sacrifice serves as a guiding principle for future generations. The CM further mentioned that the Uttar Pradesh government is organizing events across all districts to commemorate their contributions. CM Adityanath also highlighted the sacrifices of Sikh Gurus, including Guru Arjun Dev Ji and Guru Teg Bahadur Ji. He remarked that Guru Teg Bahadur Ji's martyrdom played a crucial role in Kashmir's historical significance to India. In addition, he reflected on the young age of the Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who were only 7 and 9 years old when they became martyrs-- a testament to their extraordinary resolve. CM Adityanath expressed concerns over the diminishing Sikh population in Kabul and said, "Now only 2-4 families are left in Kabul. When we hear about Bangladesh and Pakistan, our heart gets disturbed. Whether we are Hindus or Sikhs, the ideals we have got will give us new energy to move forward and when we move forward with this energy, we will be able to avoid Kabul and Bangladesh and get the strength to identify our friends and enemies." "Sikhs used to go to the Indian army and secure the border. Who are those who are trying to push our youth into drugs? We have to identify our enemies", Adityanath added. In his speech, Adityanath also highlighted the contributions of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji, such as offering gold to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, which continues to inspire us. "I extend my gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for commemorating Veer Bal Diwas," he added, emphasizing that the double-engine government stands united with the people. He further saluted the supreme sacrifice of the four Sahibzadas, who exemplified unparalleled bravery. Adityanath added, that "Guru Gobind Singh Ji's efforts to abolish caste discrimination reminded the audience of the inclusivity of the langar, where all sit together as equals."(ANI) Gujarat Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel, participated in the Veer Bal Diwas celebrations at Thaltej Gurudwara in Ahmedabad today, honouring the supreme sacrifice of Sikh children, especially the younger sons of Guru Gobind Singhji, who laid down their lives for the protection of their faith and the nation. The observance, introduced in 2022 and celebrated annually on December 26, was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to highlight the courage and devotion of the Sikh martyrs. In his address, the Chief Minister emphasised the importance of India's rich traditions of sacrifice and penance. He stated that these traditions play a vital role in maintaining self-respect and dignity while safeguarding the nation's core values. Patel stressed that Veer Bal Diwas instils the spirit of "Nation First" in the youth and children, inspiring them to uphold the country's cultural heritage and values. He said, "The day serves as a symbol of the heroic legacy of people who embraced martyrdom rather than succumbing to forced religious conversion, thereby upholding the protection of culture, the motherland, and self-respect." He also reflected on the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who harmonised longstanding traditions with the Indian civilisation, ensuring that India's rich heritage is recognised and celebrated. As an example of this integration, Patel noted that the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, which traditionally recognises children's exceptional achievements and bravery, was this year presented on Veer Bal Diwas instead of its usual date of January 26. During the program, the Chief Minister participated in the Shabad Kirtan at the Gurudwara and offered prayers to the Guru Granth Sahib. He also engaged in serving food as part of the Langar Seva, reflecting the spirit of selfless service central to Sikhism. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including city Mayor Pratibha Jain, MP Dinesh Makwana, MLAs, Amit Shah, Jitubhai Patel, Amul Bhatt, Darshana Vaghela, and Deputy Mayor Jatin Patel. A large number of Sikh devotees also attended the program, showing their deep respect for the day's significance. (ANI) Amid the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting being held in Belagavi, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Thursday stated that the party is conducting the 'Nav Satyagraha Baithak', a new satyagraha, in response to the current government's focus on "spreading lies and hatred." He underscored that a century ago, a Congress session led by Mahatma Gandhi had also taken place in the same location. "One hundred years ago, at this very place, a Congress session led by Mahatma Gandhi was held. Today, we are holding the 'Nav Satyagraha Baithak' because a new satyagraha is needed to counter those in power, whose sole task is to spread lies and hatred," Ramesh said. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also emphasised the party's legacy, asserting that "the Congress's history is the country's history." Speaking to ANI, the Deputy CM remarked, "The Congress has kept this country united and has always cared for all sections of society, whether in power or not. The Congress's history is the history of the country." Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah explained the significance of organising the CWC meeting in Belagavi. "To mark 100 years of the 1924 Congress session, we are holding this convention here, and the All India Congress Committee (AICC) has decided to convene a CWC meeting in Karnataka under the chairmanship of Mallikarjun Kharge." Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi also attended the extended CWC meeting in Belagavi. Congress MP Sonia Gandhi is reportedly likely to skip the meeting due to ill health. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, currently accompanying her, may also miss the event if Sonia Gandhi's condition does not improve, sources said. The Congress is hosting its CWC meeting on December 26 and 27 in Belagavi to commemorate the centenary of the 1924 Congress session. (ANI) Chief Minister Revanth Reddy recently addressed members of the Telugu film industry, outlining significant measures to support its growth and prosperity. CM Reddy acknowledged the industry's concerns, stating, "The film industry brought their problems to the attention of the government and shared doubts, misconceptions, and ideas in the meeting." To address these issues, the Telangana government has already taken steps, including issuing special orders for eight films and providing police grounds for the filming of Pushpa-2. The government has also decided to create a new brand identity for the Telugu film industry to ensure its sustained development. In a move to enhance coordination between the government and the industry, noted film producer Dil Raju has been appointed Chairman of the Film Development Corporation (FDC). The Chief Minister further announced plans to resolve the industry's challenges through a Cabinet Sub-Committee, which will collaborate with an industry-led committee. "A Cabinet Sub-Committee will be constituted to resolve the problems of the Telugu film industry. The industry will also form a committee," said CM Reddy. Emphasising the government's commitment, CM Reddy urged the film industry to promote eco-tourism and temple tourism in the state. Highlighting Hyderabad's competitive edge, he remarked, "Mumbai became the hub of Bollywood due to favourable conditions there. Hyderabad is the best city among all cosmopolitan cities." The Chief Minister also revealed initiatives to attract both Bollywood and Hollywood to Hyderabad. Plans are underway to host major conferences encouraging global film industries to establish a presence in the city. "The government's main objective is to promote the film industry to the next level," Reddy added. Meanwhile, BJP leader Amit Malviya criticised CM Reddy, alleging that the Congress-led government in Telangana is targeting Tollywood due to resistance from superstars against the Chief Minister's purported attempts to exert control and "extract money." In a post on X, Malviya alleged, "Something troubling is unfolding in Telangana under the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government. The administration appears to be targeting Tollywood, one of India's largest and most vibrant film industries, allegedly because Telugu superstars and film producers have refused to comply with the Chief Minister's attempts to exert control and extract money from them." He claimed, "The controversy began with the demolition of superstar Nagarjuna's convention centre in Hyderabad. Subsequently, a sitting woman cabinet minister launched a personal attack on Samantha Prabhu, Nagarjuna's now-estranged daughter-in-law and a successful actress in her own right. The campaign of harassment extended to veteran actor Mohan Babu, with his son allegedly being used to settle political scores. Most recently, Allu Arjun, another prominent Tollywood figure, has found himself in the crosshairs." (ANI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday paid obeisance and offered prayers at a gurudwara in Goregaon on 'Veer Bal Diwas', to pay tributes to the Sahibzades of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs. Chief Minister Fadnavis stressed the importance of commemorating the day, which honours Guru Gobind Singh Ji's sons on December 26. Fadnavis remarked that this day is celebrated with the intention of inspiring the younger generation by reflecting on the bravery and sacrifice made by Guru Gobind's children. Speaking to ANI, Fadnavis said, "Our country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about celebrating 26 December as Veer Bal Diwas. On this day in the year 1705, both the sons of Guru Govind Singh ji attained martyrdom. India can never forget the contributions Guru Govind Singh ji and his family have made to the country, religion and culture. We celebrate this day so that the coming generations can take inspiration from them." Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Fadnavis paid his heartfelt floral tributes to the Sahibzades of Guru Gobind Singh Ji at his official residence in Mumbai today. Similarly, in Uttar Pradesh, CM Yogi Adityanath marked Veer Bal Diwas by bringing a copy of Shri Guru Granth Sahib to his government residence. Meanwhile, in Uttarakhand, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasised the immortal sacrifice of Baba Zorawar Singh ji and Baba Fateh Singh on this occasion. In a post on X, Dhami expressed, "On Veer Bal Diwas, dedicated to the immortal sacrifice of Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji, we pay our heartfelt tribute to their bravery, indomitable courage, and unmatched sacrifice." He further added, "Your sacrifice for the protection of religion and the honour of the motherland is a priceless heritage of humanity. Your glorious story will continue to teach the coming generations the lessons of truth, fearlessness, and devotion to duty. "On the occasion of 'Veer Baal Diwas' on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the 'Sahibzadas,' honouring their bravery and sacrifice. In a social media post on X, the Prime Minister said that at a very young age, they stood firm in their faith and principles, inspiring generations with their courage and their sacrifice is a shining example of valour and a commitment to one's values. "Today, on Veer Baal Diwas, we remember the unparalleled bravery and sacrifice of the Sahibzades. At a young age, they stood firm in their faith and principles, inspiring generations with their courage. Their sacrifice is a shining example of valour and a commitment to one's values. We also remember the bravery of Mata Gujri Ji and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. May they always guide us towards building a more just and compassionate society," PM Modi posted on X. Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel also participated in the Veer Bal Diwas celebrations at Thaltej Gurudwara in Ahmedabad today, honouring the supreme sacrifice of Sikh children, especially the younger sons of Guru Gobind Singhji, who laid down their lives for the protection of their faith and the nation. The observance, introduced in 2022 and celebrated annually on December 26, was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to highlight the courage and devotion of the Sikh martyrs. In his address, the Gujarat Chief Minister emphasised the importance of India's rich traditions of sacrifice and penance. He stated that these traditions play a vital role in maintaining self-respect and dignity while safeguarding the nation's core values. Patel stressed that Veer Bal Diwas instils the spirit of "Nation First" in the youth and children, inspiring them to uphold the country's cultural heritage and values. (ANI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will chair the sixth edition of the Armed Forces Flag Day (AFFD) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Conclave, scheduled to take place in New Delhi on December 27, 2024. The event, organised by the Kendriya Sainik Board under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, will focus on raising awareness and mobilising CSR support for the rehabilitation, resettlement, and welfare of veterans, widows, and their dependents. At the event, Rajnath Singh will also felicitate key contributors to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund, recognising their commitment to the welfare of those who have served the nation. Other dignitaries attending the conclave will include Minister of State for Defence Sanjey Seth, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Secretary ESW Dr Niten Chandra, members of the CSR sector, veterans, and defence service personnel, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Defence. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday paid tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Lucknow. Addressing the public, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Atal Bihari Vajpayee's governance was appreciated by people around the world. "Atal Bihari Vajpayee's governance was appreciated all over the world. His good governance has brought the country to where it is today, and he showed how we can achieve good governance. The government of America has also said that if one wants to see good governance, they should come to India. Whether it was Atal's government or Narendra Modi's, we have achieved good governance today," Singh said while addressing the media. Further, he stated that governance could only be considered good when it fulfils the body, mind, wealth, and soul. "Governance can only be called good when it fulfils the body, mind, wealth, and soul. The Uttar Pradesh government has proven good governance. In the last eight years, India has lifted 25 crore people out of poverty - this is good governance. Our Prime Minister has fulfilled all his duties. Good education, employment, and many other schemes have been introduced for the people," the Defence Minister said. (ANI) A Cabinet meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav at Mantralaya in the state capital Bhopal on Thursday, where various decisions were approved, including administrative approval of Rs 778.92 crore for the construction of a 29.2 km long ghat on the Kshipra river bank, in preparation for the upcoming Simhastha 2028. Simhastha is a Hindu religious festival held every 12 years in the city of Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. At the start of the meeting, the council of ministers expressed their gratitude to the Prime Minister for the gift of two major river linking projects - the Ken-Betwa link project and the Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal river link project - to Madhya Pradesh. After the meeting, Urban Development and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya told media representatives, "After independence, these are the biggest irrigation projects, which will benefit farmers. Additionally, we have directed officials to prepare plans to make the state 100 percent irrigated in the coming years. The Cabinet also decided to establish Atal Gramin Seva Sadan in all Panchayats across the state to mark the 100th birth anniversary year of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna, the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee. This will help resolve villagers' problems and provide them with the benefits of various schemes." During the meeting, the council granted administrative approval of Rs 778.91 crore for the construction of ghats spanning 29.215 km, from Shani Mandir to Nagda bypass, on the banks of the Kshipra river, to facilitate devotees during the Simhastha festival, according to an official release. The Cabinet also approved the implementation of the Madhya Pradesh Birth and Death Registration Rules, 2024. These rules were prepared in line with the draft rules from the Registrar General's Office, Government of India. As part of this, several sections of the Madhya Pradesh Birth and Death Registration Rules, 1999, have been amended, the release added. Additionally, the council approved the energisation of 11 KV feeders installed in the state with solar energy to meet the energy needs of farmers. This initiative will reduce overloading, low voltage, and power cuts on transformers installed at 33/11 kilowatt electricity distribution sub-centres. It will also save costs associated with upgrading power sub-centres. Under the revised Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal river link project, the Cabinet granted administrative approval for the project group cost of Rs 28,798.02 crore, covering a catchment area of 472,970 hectares. The approved projects will provide 4.73 lakh hectares of new irrigated land across 10 districts in the Malwa and Chambal regions of Madhya Pradesh. Furthermore, the Cabinet granted in-principle approval to launch the Dharti Aaba-Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) scheme for the saturation of identified schemes under various departments, including Panchayat and Rural Development, Public Health Engineering, Energy, New and Renewable Energy, Public Health and Medical Education, Food Civil Supply and Consumer Protection, Women and Child Development, School Education, AYUSH, Science and Technology, Technical Education, Skill Development and Employment, Farmer Welfare and Agricultural Development, Fishermen Welfare and Fisheries Development, Animal Husbandry and Dairy, Tourism, and Tribal Affairs, in the state's tribal areas, the release concluded. (ANI) Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday dismissed allegations by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Malviya that a "distorted" map of India was used in Belagavi, stating that Malviya's role is to spread misinformation and fake news. Kharge emphasised that the Congress party has its official poster, which is widely available, accusing the BJP of diverting attention from pressing issues affecting the public, instead focusing on non-issues like this. "Amit Malviya is nothing but a troll. His job is to spread misinformation and fake news. If a private individual puts up something, how does it become Congress' official poster? Congress has an official poster which is everywhere... Let them talk about pertinent issues that bother the public. But they will only talk about such issues. And these people call themselves nationalists," he said. In a post on X, Malviya claimed that the Congress party had displayed a distorted map of India at the Belagavi convention as part of their "appeasement politics." "Sonia Gandhi, as co-president of the George Soros-funded Forum of Democratic Leaders in Asia Pacific (FDL-AP) Foundation, which advocates Kashmiri independence, is not a coincidence, but a firm belief of the Congress," he said. "At its Belagavi event, the Congress put up a distorted map of India on all its hoardings, along with pictures of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Vadra, among others, showing Kashmir as part of Pakistan. It can't be a mistake. It is a statement. It is part of their appeasement politics, which believes Indian Muslims are more loyal to Pakistan than India... The Congress is the new Muslim League. It wants to break India, again," the BJP leader added. Meanwhile, Congress MLA NA Haris stated that the posters displaying the alleged 'distorted' map of India in Belagavi were a "mistake" and have been removed. "You know the BJP. It happened due to oversight, not purposely. They have even removed it (the poster featuring the map)... It was a mistake, and now it (the poster featuring the map) has been removed. What do they (BJP) want to do now? They have no other work to do," he said. Congress spokesperson Nizam Foujdar said that the BJP does not want peace and progress in the country. "With their tweet today, BJP and Amit Malviya's factory of lies has shown that they don't know history. They don't want peace and progress in the country," he said. Congress is holding its CWC meeting on December 26 and 27 in Belagavi to celebrate the centenary of the 1924 session of the party. (ANI) Addressing the alleged plight of coffee growers in Hassan, Janata Dal (Secular) leader and Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy said that JDS-BJP alliance government is "essential" to imlement the people-centric programs in the state. Union Minister Piyush Goyal was also with him during the event. Kumaraswamy said, "With Piyush Goyal's visit to Sakleshpur, I am confident that solutions to coffee growers' issues will be addressed. During my two terms as Chief Minister, several projects remained incomplete. We will finish all those pending works once we are back in power." Addressing the Coffee Growers' Convention in Sakleshpur, the Union Minister remarked, "When the JDS-BJP coalition government was formed in 2006, we implemented several people-centric programs. However, many such programs remain incomplete. To implement them, another coalition government is essential, and it will happen soon." Expressing confidence he added the BJP-JDS alliance government will come to power again. "I have several long-term projects that are still pending. We must realize these dreams and build a better future for our farmers," he added. "Coffee growers are facing hardships due to natural causes and adverse climatic conditions. The global market fluctuations have added to their woes. In 1991, when Deve Gowda was an MP, a Coffee Growers' Convention was held in Sakleshpur. The then Union Minister I K Gujral participated in the event. Deve Gowda had explained the issues of coffee growers to Gujral. After 40 years, Piyush Goyal is the only Union Minister to visit Sakleshpur. For this, I am grateful to him," Kumaraswamy stated. Highlighting local challenges, Kumaraswamy noted that the people of Sakleshpur are suffering due to elephant menace. "Discussions have been held at the Delhi level on this issue, and I have submitted my requests as well. The Union Minister for Environment will soon conduct a meeting with officials. I will bring this matter to their attention again. Both Piyush Goyal and I will appeal for solutions. The Forest Department has identified 15,000 acres for constructing an elephant corridor, and farmers are willing to give up 3,000 acres. However, the project has been stalled. When I was Chief Minister, I had released Rs 100 crore for constructing these fences," he informed. Reacting on the Kasturirangan Report on Western Ghats, he said that there was widespread concern about its impact. "The water of the Hemavathi River is the result of sacrifices made by the people of the Malnad region. Projects like the Yettinahole scheme, though aimed at development, have had unintended consequences," he said. Kumaraswamy further said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who holds immense respect for Deve Gowda, has given me an opportunity to be part of his cabinet. I am committed to realizing his vision of a Viksit Bharat and implementing several initiatives. We are working towards this goal with great speed." Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal also addressed the gathering of coffee growers. The event was attended by former ministers H K Kumaraswamy and Motamma, Karnataka Coffee Growers Federation President Dr H T Mohan Kumar, MPs Tejasvi Surya and Shreyas Patel, MLAs S Manjunath, H K Suresh, Manthar Gowda, Swaroop Prakash, Coffee Board Chairman D J Dinesh, and several dignitaries along with coffee growers. (ANI) The Ministry of Health has released the list of passengers and crew members who tragically lost their lives in the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 aircraft (flight J2-8243) en route from Baku to Grozny near Aktau. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wished everyone a Happy New Year on Thursday and announced that January 1 would be a holiday, as it marks the Foundation Day of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). She also mentioned that she would visit Ganga Sagar on January 6 to review the mela preparations. "I will go to Ganga Sagar on January 6 to review mela preparations and return on January 7. The TMC is completing 26 years on January 1. On that day, blood donation camps will be organised. It will be a holiday. On January 2, there will be an Administrative Review meeting at Nabanna", CM Mamata Banerjee said, Ganga Sagar is observed on the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti, which generally falls between January 14 and 15 each year. "I will visit Sandeshkhali on December 30 for a public distribution program. I assured you earlier that I would visit Sandeshkhali, and I have fulfilled my commitment. From January 13 onwards, everyone will be heading towards the Ganga Sagar mela. The Bengal Business Summit will be held on February 5 and 6. Then, the Kolkata International Book Fair will be held on January 28. Many fairs are conducted throughout January, which will generate income for artisans," she added. The Ganga Sagar Mela attracts numerous spiritual devotees every year, especially those who come to take a dip in the sacred waters of the River Ganga at Sagardwip, where it merges with the Bay of Bengal. This year, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted a rescue operation by deploying hovercrafts from Haldia to rescue 182 pilgrims stranded on a grounded ferry near Namkhana, Kakdwip. The incident occurred in the early hours of January 16 when the pilgrims were returning from the Ganga Sagar Mela after taking a holy dip on Makar Sankranti. The ferry ran aground due to extremely poor visibility. "At about 0530 hrs on January 16, a message was received from the District Magistrate of South 24 Paraganas at Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 8 in West Bengal, informing about the grounding of the ferry near Kakdwip. The ferry vessel, MV Swasthya Sathi, was carrying around 400 pilgrims from Ganga Sagar Mela on Sagar Island to Kakdwip," an official statement issued by the Indian Coast Guard read. (ANI) Vikas Yadav, serving life sentence for killing Nitish Katara in 2002, has moved the Delhi High Court seeking furlough for a period of three weeks. The petition comes after the competent authority recently dismissed his furlough application, which had been filed in accordance with the liberty granted by the Delhi High Court in its order dated August 22, passed by Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma in a previous petition. In October, the Delhi Prisons administration rejected the furlough request of Vikas Yadav, who is serving a life sentence in Tihar Jail for the 2002 murder of business executive Nitish Katara. The rejection followed an assessment of his conduct, which was deemed "unsatisfactory." The plea moved through advocates Kanhaiya Singhal and Ujwal Ghai submitted that the petitioner has spent over 22 years in judicial custody, and if the remission period is considered, he has been incarcerated for nearly 30 years without a single day out of jail. He has never availed bail or parole during this time. "At the time of the alleged offense, he was only 27 years old, and now, at approximately 50, his hair has grayed, and he is losing hope in life. The petitioner seeks a breath of fresh air outside the confines of prison, given the prolonged duration of his imprisonment," the plea stated. The plea further stated that the petitioner has previously applied for furlough on multiple occasions and has also approached this Hon'ble Court for parole/furlough, but has not been successful, except for the grant of custody parole. However, it is important to consider that the petitioner is a human being, and he is not wanted in any other case for trial or sentencing. The petitioner has fully reformed himself, and at this juncture, he seeks a chance for a positive reintegration into society, the plea stated. "The petitioner, Vilas Yadav who has been separated from society for the past 22 years, seeks to re-establish his social ties and reunite with his loved ones. It is submitted that, having already endured over 22 years of judicial custody, there is no likelihood of him absconding from the sentence of 25 years as prescribed by this Court", the plea further said. Vikas Yadav and his cousin Vishal Yadav are serving life imprisonment in the Nitish Katara murder case. According to the prosecution, Vikas Yadav and Vishal Yadav killed Katara on the night of February 17, 2002, after abducting him from a marriage party in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad as they were opposed to his friendship with their sister Bharti. (ANI) The Congress Party on Thursday announced the launch of a massive nationwide public outreach campaign, the Samvidhan Bachao Rashtriya Padayatra, to be held between 26 January 2025 and 26 January 2026, with participation from all party leaders. In a statement, the party also announced the Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan Abhiyan, which will commence with a rally in Belagavi on 27 December 2024 and conclude with a rally in Mhow on 26 January 2025, marking the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution. "The CWC met today in Belagavi, Karnataka, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's historic presidency of the Indian National Congress at its 39th Session in 1924. As the nation recently celebrated the 75th anniversary of the adoption of our Constitution, it is fitting that we pay this tribute to him. Mahatma Gandhi's statement on 19 November 1939 was pivotal in the establishment of the Constituent Assembly seven years later," the statement read. Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on BR Ambedkar, the Congress accused the Union Minister of undermining Ambedkar's legacy in Parliament. The party reiterated its demand for Shah's resignation. "Unfortunately, as we approach the 75th year of our Republic, the Constitution faces its gravest threat. Jawaharlal Nehru had observed that 'no one took greater care and trouble over Constitution-making than Dr. Ambedkar.' The Union Home Minister's comments are the latest in the RSS-BJP's long-standing project to weaken the Constitution. The CWC demands an apology from him and his resignation," the statement added. Referring to the One Nation, One Election bill, the Congress stated that the Constitution's federal structure remains under attack. "The CWC is profoundly distressed by the ongoing degradation of democracy. Institutions such as the judiciary, the Election Commission, and the media are being politicised through executive pressure. Parliament has been undermined, as evidenced by the obstruction of its proceedings by the treasury benches during the recent Winter Session. The Constitution's federal structure faces renewed challenges, most recently from the One Nation, One Election bill," the statement said. The party also condemned the amendment to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, describing it as a blow to transparency and accountability in the electoral process. "The CWC condemns the amendment to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, which restricts public access to vital sections of poll documents. This undermines the principles of transparency and fairness in elections. We have challenged these amendments in the Supreme Court. The recent conduct of elections in Haryana and Maharashtra has already eroded trust in the electoral process," it stated. Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for failing to visit violence-hit Manipur since May 2023, the Congress accused the government of fostering communal and ethnic hatred. "Manipur, which has been burning since May 2023, continues to be ignored by the Prime Minister and his government. The PM has not visited the state since the violence erupted," the statement said. The party also highlighted tensions in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, emphasising its commitment to the Places of Worship Act, 1991. "Communal tensions have been deliberately incited in Sambhal and other places for the RSS-BJP's narrow political gains. The Congress remains firmly committed to the Places of Worship Act, 1991, in both letter and spirit," it added. Condemning actions against peaceful protests in BJP-ruled states, the CWC criticised the loss of lives among Congress workers in Assam and Uttar Pradesh. The party demanded a socio-economic caste census to facilitate fair reservations and called for an increase in the reservation ceiling for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs. "The CWC demands a socio-economic caste census at the earliest. The 50% ceiling on reservations must be increased to extend benefits to disadvantaged groups. Reservations should be based on social, economic, or educational backwardness determined through appropriate methods," it said. On economic issues, the Congress urged the government to provide income support for the poor and tax relief for the middle class in the upcoming Union Budget. "The economy has sharply slowed down, and essential commodity prices continue to rise. The Modi government's policies favour a few corporate groups, exacerbating inequality. Private investment remains sluggish, and mass consumption is stagnating. The CWC demands tax relief for the middle class and income support for the poor. GST must be restructured into a 'Good and Simple Tax' through a GST 2.0 framework," the party stated. The CWC also called for increased support for farmers and rural employment programmes. "The neglect of agriculture and rural employment is blatant. Farmers face rising costs and inadequate MSPs, while promises of doubling incomes remain unfulfilled. The underfunding of MGNREGA has left vulnerable families struggling. The CWC demands a legal guarantee for MSP, adequate funding for MGNREGA, and an increase in its wage rate to Rs 400 per day," it added. The Congress expressed concern over the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and demanded a full discussion in Parliament. "The disengagement between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh falls short of restoring the April 2020 status quo, representing a significant territorial setback. The CWC urges the government to take the Opposition into confidence and allow a full discussion in Parliament," it said. The CWC also underscored the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, calling for organisational reforms to sustain momentum. Finally, the party reiterated its commitment to preserving the Constitution and announced plans for an All India Congress Committee (AICC) session in Gujarat in April 2025. "This movement to protect the Constitution and uphold the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi will continue beyond January 2025. The Samvidhan Bachao Rashtriya Padayatra will traverse villages and towns across the country in the form of a relay. Details will be announced soon," the statement concluded. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President K. Annamalai on Thursday announced that he would observe a 48-day fast, whip himself, and remain barefoot in protest against the ruling DMK government over the alleged sexual assault of a student at a university in Chennai. Speaking at a press conference, Annamalai removed his shoe and declared, "From tomorrow onwards, until the DMK is removed from power, I will not wear any footwear. From tomorrow, K. Annamalai will protest against the government's handling of the Anna University student's sexual harassment case." "Tomorrow, I will hold a protest in front of my house, where I will whip myself six times. Starting tomorrow, I will fast for 48 days and appeal to the six-armed Murugan. Tomorrow, a protest will be held in front of the house of every BJP member. From tomorrow, until the DMK is removed from power, I will not wear sandals. There must be an end to this," said Annamalai. BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan and other party cadres were detained by the Tamil Nadu Police on Thursday during protests organised by the BJP and AIADMK against the alleged sexual assault of a female student on the Anna University campus in Chennai. Soundararajan, who led the BJP's protest, accused the DMK-led state government of attempting to silence dissent, claiming, "This is atrocious. They want to crush our voice." She added that police had detained her and several party workers during the protest. The incident involved a second-year student of Anna University who was allegedly sexually assaulted by a man on the university campus on Monday night. One person has been arrested in connection with the case. Earlier, Tamilisai Soundararajan and other BJP members staged a demonstration condemning the DMK government. Police also detained workers of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) as they staged a protest against the ruling government over the incident. On Wednesday, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) Founder-President Thol. Thirumavalavan called for swift action in connection with the case. Meanwhile, actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party chief Vijay described the incident as "deeply shocking and painful," urging the Tamil Nadu government to take swift legal action against the perpetrator. "Although the police have informed that the individual who committed the assault has been arrested, I urge the Tamil Nadu government to ensure swift legal action and appropriate punishment. If anyone else is involved in this heinous crime, they should also be held accountable promptly," Vijay said in a post on X. Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai also criticised the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led government, alleging a surge in crimes against women. Speaking to reporters, Annamalai claimed that two unidentified individuals entered the campus and assaulted the student. "Crimes against women are at an all-time high. This incident is not only shocking but has left us paralysed for a moment. One of the safest places, the sprawling Anna University campus, witnessed this horrific crime. A girl and boy were on campus when two unknown individuals entered, beat up the boy, and sexually assaulted the girl, leaving her injured. The fact that the CCTVs were not functioning highlights the current state of law and order in Tamil Nadu. We hope the police will be given the freedom to act. With all MLAs and MPs from DMK in Chennai, is this a city that safeguards its people? I hope and pray the Tamil Nadu government takes appropriate action," he said. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav convened a 'Manthan 2024' meeting with state cabinet ministers and key officials from all departments at the Kushabhau Thackeray Auditorium (Minto Hall) in Bhopal on Thursday. The meeting reviewed the state's achievements over the past year and discussed a strategic action plan for future development. Key topics included the effective implementation of schemes aimed at youth empowerment, poverty alleviation, women's empowerment, and farmer welfare. After the meeting, CM Yadav told reporters, "On the completion of one year of the government, we held a Manthan meeting with our ministers and officers, focusing on the four priorities set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi: the poor, farmers, youth, and women. This was done in coordination with various state departments. A development-oriented vision was established to ensure continuous progress across all sectors, benefiting the concerned groups and propelling Madhya Pradesh forward." The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction with the productive discussions during the meeting, highlighting the suggestions from ministers and the planning efforts to enhance the state's position. "I am satisfied that we had fruitful discussions throughout the day. Several ministers provided valuable suggestions, and plans were made to position Madhya Pradesh better, particularly in terms of economic growth," the CM said. He further emphasised that with the formation of the government, a strategy was devised to double the state budget, and efforts are underway to achieve this goal. "Continuous efforts are being made to promote small and medium industries in tier-2 and tier-3 cities while generating employment opportunities across sectors, including industries, agriculture, and animal husbandry. Additionally, we discussed increasing milk production capacity and enhancing the economic prosperity of cities," he added. The CM also announced that the next Regional Industry Conclave will be held in Shahdol district on 16 January 2025. He noted that the Global Investor Summit (GIS) is scheduled for February, with a focus on attracting investment proposals. The Regional Industry Conclaves serve as a prelude to the "Invest Madhya Pradesh-Global Investor Summit-2025." The GIS-2025 is set to take place in Bhopal on 7-8 February. Its primary objective is to establish Madhya Pradesh as a preferred investment destination and position it among the leading states in the country. The summit aims to showcase the state's resources, capabilities, and favourable industrial environment. (ANI) Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday applauded the Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra saying that it gave 'Sanjeevani' to the party and the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra took it a step further. While addressing a press conference after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Jairam said, "We believe that Bharat Jodo Yatra gave 'Sanjeevani' to Congress and it was a turning point in Congress' politics. Then, Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra happened and now, on 26 January 2025 - we will launch a year-long 'Samvidhan Bachao Rashtriya Pad Yatra'." Congress General secretary KC Venugopal said that they've moved two resolutions, one on Mahatma Gandhi and the second as a political resolution. "We moved two resolutions, one on Mahatma Gandhi and the second as a political resolution. More than 50 leaders participated in the discussions... We finally decided to go for a massive political campaign for one year. 2025 is going to be the Organisational Reforming Program of Congress. There will be a thorough inquiry about the capability of the leaders at every level," he said. After the meeting, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said, "It was a very important meeting of the CWC." Earlier, the Congress on Thursday announced the launch of a massive nationwide public outreach campaign, the Samvidhan Bachao Rashtriya Padayatra, to be held between 26 January 2025 and 26 January 2026, with participation from all party leaders. In a statement, the party also announced the 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan Abhiyan,' which will commence with a rally in Belagavi on December 27 and conclude with a rally in Mhow on 26 January 2025, marking the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution. "The CWC met today in Belagavi, Karnataka, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's historic presidency of the Indian National Congress at its 39th Session in 1924. As the nation recently celebrated the 75th anniversary of the adoption of our Constitution, it is fitting that we pay this tribute to him. Mahatma Gandhi's statement on 19 November 1939 was pivotal in the establishment of the Constituent Assembly seven years later," the statement read. "The CWC and the Indian National Congress are fiercely committed to protecting the Indian Constitution and the ideals of the Indian Independence Movement. Accordingly, the Indian National Congress will launch the Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan Abhiyan, beginning with a rally in Belagavi on December 27th and culminating in a rally at Mhow on January 26th, 2025, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Constitution coming into force and the founding of our Republic. During this month, rallies and marches will be organized in every block, district, and state as well," the party's statement said. Congress further informed that an All India Congress Committee (AICC) session will be held in Gujarat in the first half of April 2025 "Given the urgency of the need to preserve, protect, and promote the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, as well as that of the Constitution, this movement will extend beyond January 26th, 2025, as well. Between January 26, 2025, and January 26, 2026, the Indian National Congress will launch a massive, nationwide public outreach campaign called the Samvidhan Bachao Rashtriya Padayatra in which all leaders will participate. This Padayatra will be from village to village, township to township in the form of a relay. The details will be announced shortly. Finally, an AICC session will be held in Gujarat in the first half of April 2025," it said. (ANI) Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Thursday chaired a review meeting of Bhartiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) here in the national capital and set a target for it to connect with an additional 20,000 cooperatives by the year 2025-26. Shah emphasized that BBSSL should focus on the collection and preservation of India's traditional seeds. In the meeting, the Minister said the BBSSL should focus more on such seed production that require less water and pesticides, and also emphasized that efforts should be made to ensure that small farmers achieve the highest possible yields and that the maturity period of their crops is extended. Addressing the meeting, Amit Shah said that the BBSSL has a crucial role in realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "Sehkar Se Samriddhi" and empowering farmers. Noting that BBSSL is working rapidly towards the collection and preservation of India's traditionally nutritious seeds, Shah emphasized that IFFCO and KRIBHCO should evaluate the nutritional value of India's indigenous and hybrid seeds. Shah added that, priority of BBSSL is to promote and preserve traditionally nutritious seeds which are now in less usage along with increasing the production of pulses and oilseeds without reducing their nutritional value. He noted that IFFCO and KRIBHCO should strive to make their laboratories exemplary and the best in the field. The Minister also mentioned that all cooperative institutions should encourage farmers to practice farming with certified seeds. Shah highlighted that more than 20,000 different cooperative societies from 34 states and union territories across the country are shareholders of BBSSL. He added that BBSSL should utilize the scientists and laboratories of all government universities working towards seed production, research and promotion. Union Minister of Cooperation stressed on preparing a 10-year roadmap and its regular review to achieve the goals related to increasing seed production. During Rabi 2024, BBSSL is producing foundation and certified seeds over an area of 5,596 hectares across six states. Under this program, an estimated production of 1,64,804 quintals of seeds from 49 varieties of 8 crops is expected. BBSSL has set an ambitious target of achieving a total turnover of Rs 18,000 crore by the year 2032-33. Since its operations began, BBSSL has sold and distributed 41,773 quintals of seeds, primarily from four crops--wheat, groundnut, oats, and berseem--which have a market value of approximately Rs 41.50 crore. The meeting was attended by the Union Ministers of State for Cooperation Krishna Pal and Murlidhar Moho. Ministry of Cooperation Secretary Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Additional Secretary in Ministry of Cooperation Pankaj Kumar Bansal and Chairman and Managing Director of BBSSL were present on the occasion. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief over the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that from being the Governor of the RBI to the Finance Minister and as the PM, Singh played an important role in the governance of the country. In a post on X, Shah prayed for peace to his soul and strength for his family to bear this grief. "The news of the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is extremely sad. From being the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India to the Finance Minister of the country and as the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh played an important role in the governance of the country. I express my condolences to his family and supporters in this hour of grief. May Waheguru grant peace to his soul and give strength to his family to bear this grief," the Home Minister said. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his deepest and heartfelt condolences to Singh's family, friends, and countless admirers. In a post on X, Kharge said that with the passing of Singh, India has lost a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, and an economist of unparalleled stature. "Undoubtedly, history shall judge you kindly, Dr. Manmohan Singh ji! With the passing of the Former Prime Minister, India has lost a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, and an economist of unparalleled stature. His policy of Economic Liberalisation and Rights-based welfare paradigm profoundly transformed the lives of crores of Indians, virtually creating a Middle Class in India and lifting crores out of poverty," he wrote on X. The Congress chief called Singh a man of action rather than words saying that his immense contribution to nation-building will forever be etched in the annals of Indian history "I mourn the loss of a lifelong senior colleague, a gentle intellectual and a humble soul who embodied the aspirations of India, having risen through the ranks with unwavering dedication. I am proud to have been a part of his Cabinet as Labour Minister, Railway Minister and Social Welfare Minister. A man of action rather than words, his immense contribution to nation-building will forever be etched in the annals of Indian history," he said. "In this moment of sorrow, I extend my deepest and heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and countless admirers. May they get the strength to overcome this huge loss. His enduring legacy of ushering in India's growth, welfare, and policies of inclusivity will forever be cherished. May his soul rest in eternal peace," Kharge added. Congress leader and MP Priyanka Gandhi condoled the demise of Singh and called him a uniquely dignified and gentleman in the rough world of politics. "Few people in politics inspire the kind of respect that Sardar Manmohan Singh ji did. His honesty will always be an inspiration for us and he will forever stand tall among those who truly love this country as someone who remained steadfast in his commitment to serve the nation despite being subjected to unfair and deeply personal attacks by his opponents. He was genuinely egalitarian, wise, strong-willed and courageous until the end. A uniquely dignified and gentleman in the rough world of politics," Priyanka wrote on X. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said that the party is cancelling all their programmes and rushing back to Delhi from Belagavi in Karnataka. "It's very tragic. He was a great prime minister who served the nation. We are cancelling all our programmes and rushing back to Delhi," he said. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of former Prime Minister Singh saying that India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said that his thoughts are with the family of Dr Manmohan Singh, his friends and countless admirers. "India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people's lives," he wrote on X. "Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji and I interacted regularly when he was PM and I was the CM of Gujarat. We would have extensive deliberations on various subjects relating to governance. His wisdom and humility were always visible. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the family of Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji, his friends and countless admirers. Om Shanti," PM Modi added. Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday night at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions, AIIMS informed. Singh retired from Rajya Sabha earlier this year after serving for 33 years in the house. Manomohan Singh, born in Punjab in 1932, served two terms as Prime Minister of India- from 2004 to 2014. He took the oath of the office for the first time in 2004, after Congress' win in 2004 Lok Sabha election against Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA. He served his second term from 2009 to 2014. He was then suceeded by PM Narendra Modi in 2014. (ANI) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday addressed citizen grievances during the State SWAGAT online public grievance redressal programme, ensuring prompt resolutions. According to a release, of the 73 complaints submitted from various departments, senior officers addressed and took steps on 60 cases. For the 13 grievances brought directly to the Chief Minister, resolutions were facilitated through video conferencing with senior secretaries, department heads, and district and taluka administrative officers. "Chief Minister Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel listened to the representations of the citizens in person at the State Swagat Online Public Grievance Redressal Programme in Gandhinagar today. The Chief Minister discussed and consulted with the officials of the concerned departments as well as the officials of the district-taluka administration through video conference. The Chief Minister suggested adopting a proactive approach to address the problems or representations of the people immediately. In addition, he directed to review the Rajkot-Ahmedabad six-lane project and complete the work immediately," Gujarat CMO said in a post on X. As part of the SWAGAT online public grievance redressal programme held on the fourth Thursday of every month, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel reviewed representations received on December 26. These included grievances concerning the Revenue, Panchayat, Police, Urban Development, Education, and Cooperation departments. The Chief Minister advised a proactive approach to swiftly address and resolve citizen concerns, the release mentioned. During the programme, the Chief Minister also reviewed the status of the Rajkot-Ahmedabad Six Lane Project, instructing the Revenue, Roads, and Home Departments to accelerate the completion of the remaining work. The session was attended by Additional Chief Secretaries to the Chief Minister Pankaj Joshi and MK Das, Secretary to the Chief Minister, Avantika Singh, Officer on Special Duty DK Parekh, and senior secretaries from the concerned departments, the release stated. (ANI) The last rites of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will be held on Saturday, an official announcement is expected on Friday. "The last rites of former PM Dr Manmohan Singh will be held the day after tomorrow. We will announce officially..." Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal told reporters in Delhi late Thursday night. The Congress leader described the demise of Dr. Manmohan Singh as a "painful loss" for the nation. "Dr Manmohan Singh was the real icon of the Congress and the country. A post-independence hero. His mission and ability to govern the country was witnessed by everyone..." he said. He further said that all the programs of the Congress have been cancelled for seven days including the Congress Foundation Day scheduled to be held on December 28. The body of Dr Manmohan Singh reached his residence at 3 Motilal Nehru Marg late Thursday night from AIIMS and will be placed for the public to pay their last respects. Senior Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, visited Dr Singh's residence. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi returned to Delhi from Karnataka's Belagavi, to pay their respects. Congress leaders expressed their condolences and praised Dr Singh's pivotal role in shaping India's economy. Dr. Manmohan Singh passed away at AIIMS, Delhi, on Thursday evening at the age of 92 due to age-related health conditions. He reportedly suffered a sudden loss of consciousness at home before being rushed to AIIMS. "With profound grief, we inform the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, aged 92. He was being treated for age-related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home on 26th December 2024. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency at AIIMS, New Delhi at 8:06 PM. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 PM," AIIMS said in a press release. https://x.com/RahulGandhi/status/1872334963229540738 In a condolence message on X, LoP in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, said that Manmohan Singh Ji led India with immense wisdom and integrity. "His humility and deep understanding of economics inspired the nation. My heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Kaur and the family. I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride," Rahul Gandhi wrote. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Manmohan Singh has left his indelible imprint on our history. https://x.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/1872330235481575500 "His Prime Ministership saw revolutionary legislation relating to rural employment, tribal rights, reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and OBCs, primary education, food security, and land acquisition. The Indo-US nuclear agreement was a landmark that enhanced India's global status. His Prime Ministership saw the highest GDP growth rate in the country's history," Jairam Ramesh said in his tributes on X. "Many of the initiatives he took as PM were marketed, branded, and projected as his successor's contributions. But Dr Singh never minded and would give his trademark smile," Ramesh said. Several Congress leaders, including Chief Ministers Revanth Reddy, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, and Siddaramaiah, paid their respects. Leaders from opposition parties, including Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan, Bhagwant Mann, Akhilesh Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren, also expressed their sorrow. Ghulam Nabi Azad, President of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party, said, "Very sad... He can never be forgotten. I pray for peace to his soul." Congress MP and Bihar Congress President Akhilesh Prasad Singh called the demise "a personal loss." Congress leader Rajesh Thakur also consoled Dr Singh's demise, saying, "Today we have lost a respected person of the country, whose loss can never be filled... He (former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh) worked continuously for every person and also worked to strengthen the country's economy..." Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said, "The news of the demise of former PM Manmohan Singh is unfortunate. It is an irreparable loss for the nation and the Congress Party..." Manmohan Singh, born in Punjab in 1932, served as India's Prime Minister for two consecutive terms, from 2004 to 2014. He took the oath of office for the first time in 2004, after Congress' win in the 2004 Lok Sabha election against Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA. He served his second term from 2009 to 2014. He was then succeeded by PM Narendra Modi in 2014. He retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year, after serving for 33 years. (ANI) By Alimat Aliyeva The record US defense budget, which includes military spending, poses a significant threat to global stability, Azernews reports. "The United States is using China's military rise as an excuse to justify increasing its own military spending and maintaining its hegemony in this process. By doing so, Washington is grossly interfering in Chinas internal affairs and destabilizing the entire world," Zhang Xiaogang said. Stating that China has no intention of challenging anyone, the ministrys representative emphasized that the United States' biggest enemy is itself: "The United States is the world leader in military spending, and it continues to increase its investment in the military-industrial complex each year." He further noted, "This demonstrates the true nature of its dependence on war and hegemonic expansion." Zhang Xiaogang also highlighted the devastating impact of US military operations since 2001, which have resulted in over 100,000 deaths, millions of injuries, and the displacement of 10 million people. "The aggressive militarism of the United States not only creates chaos around the world but also accelerates the global reaction to it," he added. The representative of the ministry reminded that China always adheres to the path of peaceful development, follows a defensive military policy, and does not engage in an arms race with any country. It is worth noting that on Monday, US President Joseph Biden approved a defense budget of $895 billion for the fiscal year 2025, which continues the trend of record-breaking defense spending in the US. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Japan's newly appointed Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, following the Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine on Christmas. Zelenskyy thanked the Japanese Prime Minister for Japan's continued support for Ukraine, particularly in the form of humanitarian and financial aid, which has helped save thousands of lives. He also emphasized the importance of protecting Ukraine's energy system, especially after Russia's recent attacks. In his post on X, Zelenskyy shared the details of his conversation with the Japanese leader, saying, "I spoke with Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, congratulating him on his appointment and thanking Japan for its humanitarian and financial aid, which helps us save thousands of lives, including recent support for energy equipment and shelter construction." He added, "I highlighted Russia's mass attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure on Christmas night, emphasizing that protecting and restoring energy systems is a priority as Russia tries to leave Ukrainians without heat and light during winter." According to Zelenskyy's post on X, Prime Minister Ishiba "condemned North Korea's involvement in Russia's invasion, calling it a serious escalation and a threat to Indo-Pacific security, and expressed Japan's readiness to increase sanctions on the aggressor." Zelenskyy concluded the post by stressing the need for a just and lasting peace, saying, "We need a just and lasting peace, and only joint efforts can bring it closer to all of us." https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1871926633092804686 Earlier, Zelenskyy condemned Russia's massive missile and drone attack, calling it "inhumane" as it targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure. "According to preliminary reports, our defenders managed to shoot down more than 50 missiles and a significant number of drones. Unfortunately, there have been hits. As of now, there are power outages in several regions. Power engineers are working to restore power supply as soon as possible," he wrote in a post on X. https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1871826731666985172 According to an Al Jazeera report, at least one person was killed and three injured in southern Ukraine from Russian missile strikes, which also damaged energy infrastructure across the country. The governor of Kherson confirmed the casualty on Wednesday morning. "In northeastern Ukraine, at least six people were wounded in a missile attack on Kharkiv," Governor Oleh Syniehubov said, as reported by Al Jazeera. The Ukrainian Air Force said the missiles fired at Kharkiv were ballistic. In Dnipropetrovsk, Governor Serhiy Lysak said Russia was aiming at a power grid, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI) US President Joe Biden condemned the Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine on Wednesday, reiterating the United States' steadfast support for Ukraine. He also said that the US Department of Defence would increase the weapon deliveries to Ukraine and called on the international community to stand with the nation. "In the early hours of Christmas, Russia launched waves of missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities and critical energy infrastructure. The purpose of this outrageous attack was to cut off the Ukrainian people's access to heat and electricity during winter and to jeopardize the safety of its grid," Biden said in a statement. "Let me be clear: the Ukrainian people deserve to live in peace and safety, and the United States and the international community must continue to stand with Ukraine until it triumphs over Russia's aggression," he said. Biden, in his statement, highlighted the US defence supplies to Ukraine and how the US would continue to strengthen Ukraine against Russia. "In recent months, the United States has provided Ukraine with hundreds of air defence missiles, and more are on the way. I have directed the Department of Defense to continue its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine, and the United States will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen Ukraine's position in its defence against Russian forces," he added. Earlier on Christmas, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russia for launching a massive missile and drone attack on the festival of Christmas, targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure and described the assault as "inhumane." Al Jazeera reported that Russian missiles killed at least one person, injured three in southern Ukraine and damaged energy infrastructure across Ukraine. The governor of Kherson announced the casualties on Wednesday morning. As per Al Jazeera, in northeastern Ukraine, at least six people were wounded in a missile attack on Kharkiv, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that the missiles fired at Kharkiv were ballistic. In Dnipropetrovsk, Governor Serhiy Lysak said Russia was aiming at a power grid, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI) Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) on Thursday reported the operation of five PLAN vessels around Taiwan. The vehicles were detected operating around Taiwan until 6 am (local time) on Thursday. "5 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. #ROCArmedForce have monitored the situation and responded accordingly. Illustration of flight path isn't provided due to no PLA aircraft operating around Taiwan were detected," the Ministry of National Defence said in a post on X. https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1872084920983773298 Earlier on Wednesday, MND reported the operation of three Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels. Of the three People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, one of them entered Taiwan's eastern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). On Tuesday, MND reported the operation of eight Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels. The aircraft and vessels were detected operating around Taiwan until 6 am (local time) on Tuesday. Of the eight People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, six of them crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. Meanwhile, following the White House announcement of arms sales and assistance to Taiwan, China's foreign ministry said that the "Taiwan issue" is the core of China's interests and the "first red line that cannot be crossed in China-US relations," Taiwan News reported. Further, the ministry also accused the US of "playing with fire." A spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry on Sunday condemned the latest US arms package to Taiwan, stating that it "seriously violates the one-China principle and the three Sino-US joint communiques, especially the 'August 17' communique, seriously infringes on China's sovereignty and security interests, and seriously violates the US leaders' commitment not to support "Taiwan independence." The spokesperson claimed that Washington's actions sent a "seriously wrong signal to the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces." Recently, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also criticised China's stance towards Taiwan and said that "China is bullying Taiwan, and pursuing access to critical infrastructure in ways that could cripple societies." He said, "We need to be clear-eyed about China's ambitions. China is substantially building up its forces, including its nuclear weapons - with no transparency and no limitations. From 200 warheads in 2020, China is expected to have more than 1,000 nuclear weapons by 2030. Its space-launch investments are skyrocketing. China is bullying Taiwan, and pursuing access to our critical infrastructure in ways that could cripple our societies." This incident follows a recent pattern of escalated manoeuvres by China around Taiwan, raising concerns over regional stability as Beijing continues to assert its claims over the island. In recent weeks, Taiwan has observed an uptick in such military operations, with multiple incidents involving Chinese aircraft crossing into Taiwan's ADIZ. This uptick in activity is viewed as a show of force by Beijing, aimed at intimidating Taiwan amid ongoing diplomatic support from the United States and other international allies. The Taiwan Strait remains a focal point of heightened tensions, with Taiwanese officials repeatedly condemning the increase in Chinese military operations as a direct threat to the island's sovereignty and regional peace. However, China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary. (ANI) During the traditional end-of-year dinner with the diplomatic corps accredited in Albania, Rama wished for the new year to bring peace between Israelis and Palestinians. He further stated, "I truly hope that the new year will bring peace between Israel and Palestine, bringing an end to the endless suffering of the people in Gaza and to the horrific ordeal of the hostages still held in the dark, medieval dungeons of Hamas." Rama emphasized that "Albania firmly believes in a two-state solution, but no lasting solution is possible as long as Hamas is part of the equation." Rama stated, "Waiting for peace under their influence would be as naive as trying to build post-World War II Europe alongside SS battalions." (ANI/TPS) Violent clashes erupted in the Syrian village of Khirbet al-Ma'za in the southern countryside of Tartous, resulting in the deaths of 14 Public Security Forces personnel and three militants, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Syrian war monitor. The conflict began when a patrol team from the General Security Forces, under the Military Operations Department, attempted to apprehend Muhammad Kanjo Hassan, a former regime officer. Resistance from Hassan's followers and local gunmen escalated into a deadly ambush and further clashes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in a statement on Thursday said, "14 members of the Public Security Forces were killed in clashes with gunmen in the village of Khirbet al-Ma'za in the southern countryside of Tartous. Three militants were also killed, in addition to injuries on both sides." "The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that a patrol from the General Security Forces affiliated with the Military Operations Department was on a mission to arrest an officer in the former regime forces, Muhammad Kanjo Hassan, who held the position of Director of the Military Justice Department and Head of the Field Court from his place of residence in Khirbet al-Ma'za in the Tartous countryside. During the search for him, the wanted man's brother and armed young men from the officer's followers intercepted them and expelled the patrol from the village, set up an ambush for them near the village, and targeted one of the patrol cars," the statement added. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights further said that the Military Operations Department sent military reinforcements to arrest the militants in the village, and violent clashes took place with the Military Operations Department elements. The Syrian Observatory indicated that violent clashes took place between gunmen from the village of Khirbet al-Ma'za in Tartous, and the General Security Forces affiliated with the Military Operations Department. The gunmen targeted a car belonging to the General Security Forces, which led to its burning, amid violent clashes between the two parties, and deaths on both sides. The Syrian opposition fighters took control of Damascus on December 8, leading to Assad's flight and ending his regime after over 13 years of civil war. Forces loyal to al-Sharaa have established a three-month caretaker government. On the same day, Qatar called for the swift lifting of sanctions on Syria, following the reopening of its embassy in Damascus and a high-level visit that marked a shift in diplomatic relations. (ANI) Following Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan's Barmal district of Paktika province, which left 46 dead and six injured, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan on Wednesday summoned the Charge d'Affaires of the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul. In a post on X on Wednesday, spokesperson of Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Hafiz Zia Ahmad wrote, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan summoned the Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul to deliver a strong protest note regarding the airstrikes conducted by Pakistani military jet in the Barmal district of Paktika province near the theoretical Durand Line." "The attack by the Pakistani military was categorically condemned, and the Embassy of Pakistan was informed that while representatives of Pakistan's civilian government were engaged in dialogues with the Afghan officials in Kabul, the violation of Afghanistan's airspace and martyring civilians by Pakistani military are perceived as deliberate attempt by certain circles in Pakistan aimed at undermining trust and causing frictions in the relations of the two nations. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, with its longstanding history of defending the country against major powers, strongly rejects any breach of territorial integrity and firmly remains committed to defending Afghanistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the post added. The MoFA spokesperson further underscored that the protection of Afghanistan's national territory is a "red line" for the nation and warned that such actions would have consequences. "Furthermore, the Pakistani side has been clearly informed that protecting Afghanistan's national sovereignty is a red line for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and such actions are viewed highly irresponsible and will inevitably bear repercussions," Zia Ahmad wrote. A day before, the Pakistani military had said that the airstrikes, which took place on the night of December 24, were aimed at bases of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan, resulting in the deaths of several militants and the destruction of four TTP bases, Khaama Press reported, citing the Pakistani media outlets close to the Pakistani Army. However, the Taliban's Ministry of Defence argued that the strike also hit "Waziristani refugees," disputing the claim that only militants were targeted.This escalation in violence has sparked tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with the Taliban warning of retaliation. The Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has increased its attacks on Pakistani forces in recent months, with Pakistan accusing the Afghan Taliban of providing shelter to these militants. Tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have been building for some time, fuelled by the ongoing presence of TTP militants in Afghanistan. While Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of harbouring these militants, the Taliban insists it is not collaborating with the group. (ANI) Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi on Wednesday held a meeting and working lunch with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing, with their discussions focused on a wide range of issues, including economic cooperation, security concerns in the East China and South China Seas, and regional and global challenges such as Taiwan, Ukraine, and North Korea. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in a statement said, "The two foreign ministers, under a broad direction of comprehensively promoting a "Mutually Beneficial Relationship Based on Common Strategic Interests" and building "constructive and stable Japan-China relations," concurred that they would make joint efforts to reduce issues and concerns and increase cooperation and coordination. The two ministers confirmed that they would further strengthen communication at various levels and in a wide range of fields, accelerate necessary consultations and work, and make utmost efforts to realise concrete results by utilising opportunities including high-level communication and interaction, including between the leaders and foreign ministers." Minister Iwaya during the meeting expressed Japan's serious concerns about the situation in the East China Sea, including the situation surrounding the Senkaku Islands, and the intensification of Chinese military activities, the buoys, and China's unilateral development of natural resources, and urged the Chinese side to address these issues. The Japanese Foreign Minister also expressed concerns about the situations in the South China Sea and others, and with regards to Taiwan, he stated that Japan is closely monitoring relevant developments, including the recent military activities, and reiterated that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is extremely important for the international community, including Japan. The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on regional issues such as the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the response to North Korea, including the nuclear and missile issues and the abduction issue. The Japanese Foreign Ministry added, "The two foreign ministers also reaffirmed that Japan and China have an important responsibility in the peace and prosperity of the region and the international community and confirmed to actively engage in dialogue on the regional situation and global issues." This was Iwaya's first visit to China as Japan's top diplomat, according to Kyodo News. The last time a Japanese foreign minister travelled to China was in April 2023 when Yoshimasa Hayashi visited Beijing. (ANI) As the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) team spearheading the negotiations with the government is expected to meet party founder Imran Khan in Adiala jail today, the former Pakistan PM has pledged that his party will not compromise on its demands for the release of prisoners and the establishment of a judicial commission, Dawn reported. Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) leader Senator Allama Nasir Abbas confirmed the meeting while speaking to reporters at his residence in Islamabad on Wednesday. In a conversation with reporters posted on his X account, Imran Khan praised the efforts of PTI's negotiation committee. Notably, Imran Khan does not have access to his social media handles. The post reads, "To ensure that the negotiation process is meaningful, it is essential for me to engage with the negotiation team I have nominated to gain a clear understanding of the issues at hand," according to Dawn report. Imran Khan said that PTI would postpone its civil disobedience movement if party's demands for the prisoners release and judicial probe are met. He added, "However, I fear that the government will attempt to sideline our demand for investigations into the events of May 9 and November 26. We will not allow this to happen." Former Pakistan PM rejected the "unconstitutional decision" of the military courts. He further said, "These decisions are tarnishing Pakistan's international reputation, and such inhumane actions could subject the country to economic sanctions." Imran Khan expressed concerns regarding the rule of law, saying that no country could develop without external and internal investment, and investment could not come without the rule of law. https://x.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1871817587987730652 Referring to mounting criticism on military trials, MWM leader Allama Nasir Abbas said, "The success of negotiations with the government will actually benefit the country because Pakistan is facing a serious image issue," Dawn reported. He called the release of Imran Khan "imperative" to steer Pakistan out of economic and political crisis. However, he lashed out at the government, claiming that Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) leaders were 'panicking' as they were fearing "a rousing welcome by the public on the release" of Imran Khan. The MWM leader said that the government will have to give some relief to PTI in Punjab if it wants the talks to move forward. He claimed that the permission about meeting with Imran Khan in prison was not made by the federal government, but by the 'powers that be', Dawn reported. He stressed that it is unfortunate that the rulers in Pakistan "do not listen to the voice of the masses but the concerns of Western powers". He said that the meeting with PTI founder would also help pacify the sentiments of the majority of Pakistanis. Pakistan's federal government has sought a charter of demands from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as the first round of talks between the two sides concluded in the National Assembly, ARY News reported. The meeting presided over by Pakistan's National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq had the participation of representatives of the government and PTI. During the meeting, PTI and the federal government held talks on the current political situation. For the meeting, the government committee included Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Irfan Siddiqui, Aleem Khan, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Naveed Qamar, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and Farooq Sattar, according to ARY News report. The opposition committee comprised Asad Qaiser, Hamid Raza, and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur could not attend the meeting between PTI and the federal government due to his engagement in a cabinet meeting. The next round of talks between PTI and the federal government is scheduled to be held on January 2. (ANI) Taiwanese human rights activist Lee Ming-che called on the government to implement stringent restrictions on religious exchanges initiated by Chinese organisations, Taiwan News reported. Lee said that any so-called exchanges permitted by China have been made to align with the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) political agenda, Taiwan News reported, citing Liberty Times. He stated that religious organizations in China must build branches of communist party, effectively removing religious freedom. Lee Ming-che's remarks came in response to the detention of three elderly Taiwanese members of the I-Kuan Tao religious group in China since October. Calls for their release have been ignored and Taiwanese officials have warned that if China refuses to release them, travel risks for Taiwanese citizens to China will rise and cross-strait religious exchanges may be stopped. China's Taiwan Affairs Office Spokesperson Chen Binhua said that Guangdong authorities arrested three persons under Chinese law. Chen assured that the relevant departments would carry out trials and safeguard the legal rights of the accused, Taiwan News reported. Chen Binhua accused Taiwan's DPP government of political manipulation and hindering cross-strait exchanges. Lee Ming-che was arrested and imprisoned in China in 2017 after Beijing called him a threat to national security. Taiwanese human rights activist was released in 2022. On December 13, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has urged Chinese authorities to release three Taiwanese members of the I-Kuan Tao (Yiguandao) religious group arrested in China, Central News Agency (CNA) reported. The MAC issued a statement on Friday night, shortly after China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) confirmed the arrest of the three people. According to MAC's statement, Taiwan's government requested Chinese authorities to ensure the legal rights and safety of the nationals by sending them back to Taiwan. According to MAC statement, the Chinese authorities, over the past year, has "illegally arrested," imprisoned and punished Taiwanese members of religious groups who visited China on multiple occassions, according to CNA report. The agency noted that China tries to "infiltrate Taiwan under the guise of religious interaction." However, China is not happy to see Taiwanese members of religious groups promote their religion in China. It urged people of Taiwan to recognize that China does not have freedom of religion and for members of religious groups to reconsider travelling to Beijing. In a statement issued by TAO on Friday, the three detained Taiwan nationals, identified by their last names Chou, Chiang, and Hsieh, were arrested by police in Guangdong on suspicion of "organizing and practicing as members of a cult that undermines law enforcement," CNA reported. (ANI) US President-elect Donald Trump nominated Kevin Marino Cabrera to serve as the United States Ambassador to Panama. The announcement came alongside Trump's renewed calls for the US to assert control over the Panama Canal, citing national security and economic benefits, in his Christmas greetings. Trump praised his commitment to "America First" principles and his deep understanding of Latin American politics. In a statement, Trump wrote, "I am pleased to announce that Kevin Marino Cabrera will serve as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, a Country that is ripping us off on the Panama Canal, far beyond their wildest dreams." Trump also praised Cabrera's contributions to advancing the Make America Great Again (MAGA) agenda and expressed confidence in his ability to represent US interests in Panama effectively. "Kevin is a fierce fighter for America First principles. As a Miami-Dade County Commissioner, and Vice Chairman of the International Trade Consortium, he has been instrumental in driving Economic growth, and fostering International partnerships. In 2020, Kevin did an incredible job as my Florida State Director and, this year, advanced our MAGA Agenda as a Member of the RNC Platform Committee," Trump said. He added, "Few understand Latin American politics as well as Kevin - He will do a FANTASTIC job representing our Nation's interests in Panama!" Cabrera expressed gratitude to Trump following his nomination. Sharing a post on X, Cabrera wrote, "Thank you, President Trump! I'm humbled and honored by your nomination to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Panama. Let's get to work!" https://x.com/KMCabreraFL/status/1872015206496477516 Through a series of posts on his social media platform Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump reiterated his long-standing views on the importance of these territories for the United States. "Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago), always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in "repair" money, but will have absolutely nothing to say about "anything," Trump wrote. Earlier also, Trump referred to the Panama Canal as a "vital national asset for the United States due to its critical role to America's economy and national security." (ANI) By Alimat Aliyeva On December 26, the main opposition party in South Korea, the Democratic Party, introduced an initiative in parliament to impeach Acting President and Prime Minister Han Dok-soo, Azernews reports. According to the law, Parliament must hold a vote on impeachment within 24 to 72 hours. The Democratic Party plans to organize the vote on December 27. The party took this step after Han Dok-soo refused to appoint three missing judges to the Constitutional Court, insisting on a compromise between the parties. In response, the Democratic Party threatened impeachment if Han Dok-soo did not approve the candidates. If the judges are approved, they will join the existing six members of the Constitutional Court, enabling it to address the case of ousted President Yoon Seok-young. The court is expected to decide in the coming months whether to uphold the parliamentary decision to impeach the president. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for December 27. If the court rules to remove the president from power, South Korea will be required to hold early presidential elections within 60 days. This situation could trigger significant political upheaval, potentially altering the country's leadership dynamics. The District and Sessions Court has granted interim bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi until January 13 in cases related to the November 26 protest, according to a report by ARY News. Duty Judge Shabeer Bhatti presided over the hearing of her interim bail petitions. Bushra Bib appeared in court accompanied by her legal team to seek interim bail in four cases filed at Tarnol police station and three at Ramana police station. The court approved her bail upon submission of surety bonds worth Rs. 50,000 for each case. Earlier on December 21, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi had granted interim bail to her in 32 cases until January 13, her counsel said. According to reports, Bushra Bibi appeared before the ATC alongside her lawyers and sought bail in a total of 32 cases, including 23 linked to the May 9 violence. She has now received interim bail in cases registered across Rawalpindi, Attock, and Chakwal. Her counsel, Faisal Malik argued that the cases registered against Bushra Bibi are "politically motivated and aimed at vengeance." Speaking to the media, Faisal Malik said that the former first lady surrendered herself to the ATC, adding that she was nominated in 23 cases in Rawalpindi alone, ARY News reported. The PTI, while demanding the release of Imran Khan, had started a protest on November 24. During the protest, the PTI caravans moved from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Islamabad and the protesters reached D-Chowk by November 26, where security personnel carried out a late-night crackdown to disperse the people and end the protest. Meanwhile, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram condemned the 190 million corruption case against party founder Imran Khan and his wife, calling it the "worst example of political victimisation," The Express Tribune had reported. While addressing a press conference in Peshawar on November 23, Akram warned that the people will not tolerate further injustice against Imran Khan.(ANI) The Democratic Party (DP) has submitted an impeachment motion against South Korea's acting President Han Duck-soo and reported it to a parliamentary plenary session on Thursday, Yonhap News Agency reported. The main opposition party's decision came after Han announced that he will not appoint justices to the Constitutional Court until the rival parties agree for a political compromise. The DP has pledged to impeach Han unless the South Korea's acting President approves their appointments as the opposition-controlled National Assembly is set to vote on their appointment, according to Yonhap News Agency reported. If appointed, the three nominess will fill vancancies on the nine-member bench in the court, where six justices are currently seated, to decide on impeachment trial of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. As per the law, at least six votes are needed to uphold an impeachment motion. The DP has planned to present the motion for a vote during pleanary session on Friday. According to the law, an impeachment motion must be put to a vote between 24 and 72 hours after it is reported to a plenary session. Earlier this week, the Democratic Party (DP) announced that it will introduce an impeachment motion against acting President Han Duck-soo over his refusal to promulgate two special counsel bills targeting President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee, Yonhap News Agency reported. DP spokesperson, Rep. Yun Jong-kun, said that the party's lawmakers unanimously adopted the decision and the motion will be reported to a plenary parliamentary session on Thursday. The ruling People Power Party has said that the acting president should be considered the president of South Korea when it comes to the vote. However, the DP has argued that he should be considered South Korea's PM, Yonhap News Agency reported. The DP announced the decision after a Cabinet meeting presided over by Han Duck-soo ended without reviewing the two bills which demanded special counsel probe into Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived declaration of martial law and corruption allegations involving Kim Keon Hee. At an earlier party meeting, DP floor leader, Rep. Park Chan-dae said, "There is no other way to interpret this than (as a tactic) to buy time and prolong the insurrection," referring to characterizations of Yoon's martial law imposition as an insurrection. (ANI) Jerusalem [Israel], December 26 (ANI/TPS): An intricately decorated 1,700-year-old ceramic oil lamp, adorned with symbols linked to the Jewish Temple was discovered during an archaeological excavation near Jerusalem's Mount of Olives, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Thursday. "This unique oil lamp, which in an exciting manner bears the symbols of the Temple, connects the lights of the past with the Chanukah holiday of today, and expresses the deep and long-standing connection of the nation of Israel to its heritage and to the Temple's memory," said Minister of Heritage Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu. The eight-day holiday of Chanukah, which began on Wednesday night, marks the successful Maccabee revolt against the Seleucid King Antiochus IV and the subsequent rededication of the Second Temple. The holiday is celebrated by lighting a menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum. The ceramic lamp's decorations feature the Temple menorah, an incense shovel, and a lulav -- the date palm branch used in Jewish rituals during the Sukkot holiday. "The exquisite artistic workmanship of the lamp, which was found intact, makes it an outstanding and extremely rare discovery," said excavation director Michael Chernin. "The symbols adorning the lamp connect it unmistakably to the Jewish Temple and its traditions. This is particularly surprising because we have limited evidence of a Jewish presence in Jerusalem during this period." After the Roman Emperor Hadrian crushed the Bar Kochba revolt in 135 CE, Jews were expelled from Jerusalem. Archaeological evidence of their presence in the region during the 3rd to 5th centuries CE is scarce, making this lamp a valuable artifact for understanding Jewish life in the area. The lamp is classified as a "Beit Nattif" type, named after a production workshop discovered near Bet Shemesh in the 1930s. According to Benjamin Storchan, an Antiquities Authority research archaeologist, "The lamp maker used intricately carved limestone molds, crafted with precision tools such as drills and chisels. The molds, produced in two parts, allowed for refined designs and intricate decorations. Once the clay was pressed into the molds and joined, the lamp was fired, ready for use." The symbols suggest its owner likely purchased it for its religious significance and as a personal memorial to the Temple. Storchan noted that the menorah's image became a prominent symbol after the Second Temple's destruction, often appearing on personal items. "As a vessel for illumination, the lamp may have evoked the feeling of lighting the Temple menorah," Storchan explained. The lamp will be presented to the public in Jerusalem during Chanukah. (ANI/TPS) India's present Ambassador to Romania, Manika Jain, has been concurrently accredited as the country's Ambassador to Moldova, with residence in Bucharest, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday. Jain who joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1993 is expected to take up the assignment shortly the MEA said in a press release. India recognized Moldova on December 28, 1991 and diplomatic ties between two nations were established on March 20, 1992, according to MEA. The relations between India and Moldova are friendly and cordial. The two nations co-operate well on matters of mutual interest at multilateral fora. Earlier this month, Moldova's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mihail Popsoi, was on his first official visit to India. On December 16, he paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and laid a wreath at Rajghat. He also signed the visitors book at Rajghat. Popspi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar jointly inaugurated the Embassy of Moldova in India. In his speech, the EAM thanked Moldova for providing crucial help during 'Operation Ganga' in evacuating Indian students and also expressed confidence in the growth of ties between the two countries. In his speech, Jaishankar noted that the inauguration of the embassy serves as a significant milestone in the relationship between India and Moldova. "Every time an embassy opens here, I know we've done something right in our foreign policy. Whether it's a mission opening here or one of our embassies or consulates opening abroad, I see that as a reflection of India's growing engagement with the world", he said. Jaishankar and Mihail Popsoi signed the declaration of intent on Migration and Mobility in the national capital. "Held productive talks with DPM & FM @MihaiPopsoi today in New Delhi. Discussed our growing bilateral and multilateral cooperation. And new opportunities in investment, education, technology and culture. Today's signing of declaration of intent on a Migration and Mobility partnership will open new avenues for our partnership," Jaishankar wrote on X. Moldova also joined the International Solar Alliance, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X. The agreement was signed between Jaishankar and Popsoi. "Moldova joins the International Solar Alliance (ISA)! Moldova signed the ISA Framework Agreement. We welcome Moldova joining global efforts to promote clean energy and sustainability through the ISA platform," Jaiswal posted on X. (ANI) A federal judge in Chicago on December 20 sentenced Haiping Pan, a 44-year-old Chinese national, to 10 years in prison for his role in laundering USD 62 million in drug proceeds on behalf of Mexican drug traffickers. The sentencing follows an extensive investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago. From 2016 to 2018, Pan orchestrated a sophisticated money laundering scheme, facilitating the transfer of illicit drug money across international borders. Operating with co-conspirators, he arranged for up to USD 3 million to be laundered each month. The operation involved secretive money pickups in cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, followed by currency swaps between the US, China, and Mexico, the HSI, a federal law enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), said in a statement. Pan utilised his international financial expertise and connections with members of Mexican drug cartels to ensure the funds moved seamlessly through various businesses and banks, ultimately reaching traffickers in Mexico. The money laundering process included frequent pickups of between USD 150,000 and USD 1 million per transaction, with Pan and his associates completing one to two pickups every week. In total, Pan was involved in the laundering and attempted laundering of approximately USD 62 million in drug money. HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge, Sean Fitzgerald, called Pan's sentencing a significant victory in the fight against transnational criminal organisations. "Pan's criminal activities posed a serious threat to financial systems and public safety worldwide," Fitzgerald said. "This case underscores the importance of international collaboration in combating illicit activities." Pan was arrested in Mexico and extradited to the US in 2022. US District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman handed down the sentence during a hearing on December 12 in Chicago. The investigation also led to the convictions of Pan's co-conspirators, including Xianbing Gan, sentenced to 14 years, and Huanxin Long, who received a five-and-a-half-year sentence. The government argued that Pan was a key player in a growing trend of Chinese money brokers, particularly in Mexico, dominating international money laundering markets. His operations allowed drug traffickers to move their illicit profits faster, more securely, and at a lower cost than ever before. The case highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to dismantle complex money laundering networks that support global criminal enterprises. (ANI) The 18th edition of Exercise SuryaKiran, a joint military exercise between India and Nepal, is scheduled to be held at Nepal's Saljhandi from December 29 - January 13, the Indian Army announced on Thursday. Exercise SuryaKiran showcases the strong bonds of friendship, trust and common cultural linkages that exist between India and Nepal. It also gives a platform for a productive and fruitful engagement between the armies of India and Nepal. The aim of the exercise is to enhance interoperability in jungle warfare, counter-terrorism operations in mountains and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief under United Nations Charter, according to the statement released by the Indian Army. In a post on X, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI), stated, "The 18th edition of Exercise #SuryaKiran, a joint military exercise between #India and #Nepal, is scheduled to be held at Saljhandi, Nepal from 29 December 2024 to 13 January 2025. The aim of the exercise is to enhance interoperability in jungle warfare, counter terrorism operations in mountains and Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief under #UnitedNations Charter." "Exercise #SuryaKiran signifies the strong bonds of friendship, trust and common cultural linkages that exist between India and Nepal. It also provides a platform for a productive and fruitful engagement between #IndianArmy & #NepaliArmy, showcasing the unwavering commitment of both the nations towards a broader defence cooperation," it added. https://x.com/adgpi/status/1872186696965439597 Earlier this month, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Nepali Army, Suprabal Janasewashree General Ashok Raj Sigdel, was on a three-day visit to India from December 11 to 14. A press statement by the Ministry of Defence noted that the visit featured key engagements between senior leaders and officials from both sides, further reinforcing the foundation for enhanced bilateral military cooperation, exchanges, and collaboration in strategic and defence-related areas. During his visit, General Ashok Raj Sigdel held a series of productive discussions with his Indian counterpart, General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army. The talks focused on expanding and deepening cooperation between the two armies, yielding several key outcomes that are set to further strengthen the bond between the two nations. Highlights of the visit included several high-level engagements aimed at bolstering bilateral defence cooperation and strategic alignment between India and Nepal. General Sigdel was conferred with the Honorary Generalship of the Indian Army, symbolising the deep and enduring friendship between the two military forces. He also served as the Reviewing Officer for the Passing Out Parade at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun. According to the Ministry of Defence, the visit resulted in agreements to enhance the operational and technological capabilities of the Nepali Army, including the scope of joint exercises. As part of the defence cooperation, General Upendra Dwivedi announced the transfer of a target practice drone and medical equipment for Field Hospitals to the Nepali Army. General Sigdel also visited key Indian defence industries, including Tata Aerospace & Defence Ltd (TASL) and Bharat Forge in Pune. (ANI) A focal person of the Baloch National Movement's Foreign Committee, Hakeem Baloch, highlighted the significance of a prominent Baloch activist, Karima Baloch, on her 4th death anniversary. Hakeem Baloch emphasised that Karima Baloch, who stood up for the rights of Balochistan and the brutal policies of the Pakistan government, continues to be a symbol of resistance, even years after her mysterious death. "Despite facing relentless threats from the Pakistani state, including the abduction, torture, and killings of her family members, Karima's resolve never wavered. Her activism challenged the dominance of tribal systems that restricted the participation of Baloch women in politics and decision-making," Hakeem Baloch stated. According to Hakeem Baloch, her death, under unclear circumstances, has only strengthened her legacy. While Canadian authorities closed their investigation, many in the Baloch community believe foul play was involved, given Karima's high profile as a leader who had earned international recognition. For those who knew her, including fellow activists and leaders, the idea of Karima taking her own life is unthinkable. Karima's death would not silence her message. Instead, it sparked a new era of Baloch women rising to leadership roles in the nationalist struggle. Hakeem Baloch further emphasised, "The spirit of Karima Baloch is alive today in leaders like Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Baloch, and Dr. Sabiha Baloch, who continue to shape Baloch politics. These young women, empowered by Karima's example, are leading a growing movement against the oppression faced by the Baloch people, who endure daily violence and systematic state brutality." Despite efforts to suppress Baloch voices, such as preventing leaders from attending international events, the Baloch people, especially the youth and women, remain resolute. The Pakistani state's attempts to silence the movement only reinforce the strength and resilience of the Baloch struggle for justice, freedom, and self-determination. Karima Baloch's legacy, embodied by her colleagues and followers, serves as a reminder that the fight for Balochistan's freedom is far from over, and one day, it will bear fruit. (ANI) The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the Tibetan government in exile, has released a statement on Thursday, highlighting China's systematic efforts to eliminate the Tibetan language, describing these actions as a "second Cultural Revolution" in Tibet. According to the CTA, these efforts include removing Tibetan from educational institutions, particularly in university entrance exams, which has raised concerns among Tibetan students, artists, and educators. Despite official denials, local reports suggest that Tibetan language may be excluded from upcoming exams, with the government using social media to gauge public reactions before implementing such policies. According to the CTA statement, the Chinese government, since 2021, has systematically closed Tibetan language schools, especially in monasteries, and forced the closure of several Tibetan language programs. The crackdown intensified in 2022, targeting institutions that offered specialized Tibetan language education, despite prior government approvals. These actions align with a broader strategy of "cultural assimilation" outlined in a 2024 white paper, which emphasises "Chinese national unity" over ethnic identity. The policies aim to replace the Tibetan language and culture with Chinese, as evidenced by the closure of Tibetan language signage and the push for Chinese-medium instruction in schools. The article also highlights the forced separation of Tibetan children from their families and the promotion of Chinese language and "Patriotic Education" from a young age. This has led to protests in the past, such as the 2015 student protests in Malho Prefecture against the imposition of Chinese-medium education. The CTA has expressed concern about the future of the Tibetan language and culture, citing the increasing difficulty in preserving Tibetan traditions, including Tibetan medicine, astrology, and religious history. Despite protests and resistance, Chinese authorities continue to implement policies that threaten the survival of Tibetan culture, creating a growing linguistic and cultural crisis. The Tibet issue centres on Tibet's political status and its relationship with China.Tibet was an independent entity for centuries before the Chinese People's Liberation Army entered in 1950. In 1951, China claimed sovereignty over Tibet, leading to political unrest. In 1959, Tibetans revolted, and the Dalai Lama fled to India, where he has since led the Tibetan government-in-exile. China views Tibet as an integral part of its territory, while many Tibetans seek greater autonomy or independence. Human rights concerns, including restrictions on religious freedom and cultural preservation, remain central to the ongoing dispute. (ANI) The newly appointed Iran's ambassador to Afghanistan, Alireza Beikdeli, on Thursday stressed the importance of strengthening relations with the Taliban's Ministry of Interior during a meeting with Taliban Minister Eskander Momani. According to the Iranian Embassy in Afghanistan, Beikdeli emphasised enhancing cooperation between the two countries' interior ministries as part of strengthening cooperation and maintaining good neighbourly relations. "In a meeting between Alireza Bekdali, the acting head of the Islamic Republic of Iran's embassy in Kabul, and Eskandar Momeni, the Minister of Interior, the importance of strengthening cooperation between the ministries of Iran and Afghanistan within the framework of neighbourly relations was emphasised," the Iranian Embassy in Afghanistan said on X. Earlier, the embassy also stated that Beikdeli recently met with Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, to brief him on his diplomatic objectives in developing the relations and cooperation between the two nations. "Alireza Bekdali, the new head of the Islamic Republic of Iran's embassy in Afghanistan, met with Foreign Minister Dr. Seyed Abbas Araqchi and, while presenting a report on the scope of his mission, explained the upcoming plans in the field of pursuing the development of relations and cooperation between the two neighbouring countries," the embassy said on X. Notably, Iran has not officially recognised the Taliban; it has increasingly engaged diplomatically with the group. This shift in Iran's approach reflects Afghanistan's growing geopolitical significance to Iran, particularly in terms of regional security and economic interests, Khaama Press reported. Looking ahead, this relationship could expand into areas such as trade, security, and regional stability, with Iran's future involvement with the Taliban likely influenced by both Afghanistan's political developments and broader regional factors. (ANI) The Ministry of Defence in a release on Thursday highlighted the Indian Army's increased global engagement and diplomatic footprint with around 5200 military personnel currently deployed across 10 United Nations (UN) missions. In its Year Ender Review for 2024, the Ministry of Defence also underscored the defence cooperation of the Indian Army, noting that 118 countries are now involved in defence cooperation activities with the country. The ministry stated that personnel deployed for the 10 UN missions consisted of five infantry battalions and 11 formed units and are stationed in regions such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Abyei, Western Sahara, Central African Republic, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Cyprus, and Addis Ababa. Aligned with the 'Aatmanirbharta' and 'Make in India' initiatives, India has introduced advanced Made-in-India equipment and vehicles into its UN missions. Additionally, along with staff officers and military observers, the Indian Army has also posted female engagement teams, women psychological counsellors, and Military Nursing Service officers to assist women and children in conflict zones. Along with that, there are trained yoga instructors who are part of the contingents, offering yoga sessions for both peacekeepers and local populations, the ministry stated. The Centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK), India's nodal agency for peacekeeping training, continues to train more than 10,000 troops annually, supporting both Indian and international peacekeepers, the ministry added. Regarding its defence cooperation and military diplomacy, the Indian Army, as a part of its reorganisation, has increased the number of Defence Wings from 45 to 52, with new wings established in Poland, Algeria, Ethiopia, and Mozambique, the ministry stated. Further additions are in progress as part of the second phase of reorganisation. In terms of military exercises, India participates in 39 joint exercises, with additional bilateral exercises planned with Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Cambodia with an emphasis on yoga and women's empowerment. On the domestic front, the Indian Army had also been active in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, deploying 83 columns across 14 states during disaster relief operations. In its Year Ender Review, the ministry stated that the army has provided assistance in several major relief efforts in India, rescuing nearly 30,000 civilians, offering medical aid to around 3,000, and delivering relief supplies to over 13,000 individuals. (ANI) A civil society coalition leading the rights movement in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) has issued a stern warning to the authorities, urging them to fulfill their commitments within the next six months or face consequences, Dawn reported. According to the reports by Dawn, this warning came during a meeting of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Action Committee's (JKJAAC) core committee, held in Chakswari, Mirpur district on Monday. The committee discussed several important matters and made key decisions during the meeting. Dawn reported that the coalition reminded the government of the six-month deadline, which was established following discussions with an official team on December 8. The timeline aims for the full implementation of the approved Charter of Demands, in line with a written agreement and a February 4 notification. The group made it clear that if the government does not meet its promises, it would be held fully accountable for any repercussions, as per Dawn. In addition to their warning, the meeting highlighted ongoing issues that have caused growing discontent among the people. These include delays in the construction of the Rathoa-Haryam Bridge, failure to implement reduced property transfer tax rates, persistent power outages, low voltage problems, and inadequate wheat flour supply and quality. The JKJAAC stressed that these unresolved issues were causing significant hardships for the residents of PoJK, and the government must address them promptly to avoid public backlash. The coalition also announced that it would adhere strictly to its code of conduct, barring its members from participating in events organized by other groups without prior approval. This decision was made to maintain unity within the organisation and ensure that its representatives only engage in activities that align with the committee's objectives. Acknowledging the support of both local residents and overseas Kashmiris, the JKJAAC assured them that future actions would be taken with their interests in mind. The coalition emphasised that it would continue to work towards meeting the aspirations of the people, ensuring that all decisions and actions were backed by the community's trust and support. (ANI) Following the preliminary investigations into the crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8432 in which 38 passengers were killed near Aktau in Kazakhstan, it was revealed that a Russian missile was responsible for the crash, Euronews reported on Thursday, citing sources from the Azerbaijani government. The Azerbaijan Airline flight, carrying 62 passengers and five crew members, crashed on Wednesday after being forced to make an emergency landing about three kilometres from Aktau. The Embraer 190 aircraft was en route from Azerbaijan's capital Baku to Grozny, a Russian city in the North Caucasus Euronews on Thursday claimed, citing sources, that the missile was fired during a drone operation above Grozny in Russia, hitting the aircraft mid-flight, with the shrapnel injuring passengers and crew members. The damaged plane was denied permission to land at any Russian airports, despite requests from the pilots, and was directed to continue across the Caspian Sea towards Aktau, Euronews reported. The missile was launched from a Pantsir-S air defence system, Euronews reported, citing sources from the Baku-based international outlet AnewZ. According to Euronews, citing Russian sources, it was confirmed that, at the time, Russian air defence forces were targeting Ukrainian drones in the region. Khamzat Kadyrov, head of Chechnya's Security Council in Russia, acknowledged a drone attack on Grozny that morning, though there were no casualties or damage. This incident would mark the second instance in a decade where Russian forces have downed a commercial aircraft, following the MH17 tragedy in Ukraine, if the preliminary information is confirmed, Euronews stated. The crash also mirrors an incident from November 2018, when an Air Astana flight, losing hydraulics over Portugal, was safely landed with the assistance of the Portuguese Air Force. (ANI) Gandapur was booked in vandalism case at Hasan Abdal police station. In today's hearing, the ATC declared Gandapur, as he continued to skip the hearings of the case despite repetitive summons, as per ARY News. The ATC released an advertisement declaring Gandapur a proclaimed offender. He has been directly asked by the court to appear before it on January 21. The PTI leader is facing a number of cases especially after the November 26 protest. A Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Tuesday formally indicted former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Member of National Assembly Bilal Ahmed in the May 9 case, ARY News reported. ATC judge Amjad Ali Shah indicted Ahmed with charges framed through his legal representative, as per ARY News. The Rawalpindi court's hearing of the case has been adjourned until January 6. Additionally, former PTI MPA Latasub Satti filed a request to travel for Umrah, but the court dismissed the application due to incomplete documentation. On December 20, ATC dismissed the pleas of PTI founder Imran Khan and 10 other party leaders against their indictment in the May 9 case, ARY News reported. The court ruled that the prosecution's evidence is sufficient to start the trial, and that the indictment of the accused has already been made. The court also stated that after the indictment, requests under Section 265-D are no longer effective, ARY News reported. Other PTI leaders whose pleas were dismissed include Ali Amin Gandapur, Kunwal Shauzab, Fawad Chaudhry, and Shibli Faraz. The prosecution was represented by Rana Rafaqat Zahoor Shah, while Imran Khan's legal team consisted of Muhammad Faisal Malik and Faisal Farid Chaudhry. The European Union (EU) on Sunday voiced concerns over the sentencing of 25 people by a military court after it found them guilty of targeting army installations. The EU stressed that the decision was inconsistent with Pakistan's commitments to ensure a 'fair and public' trial of each person, The Express Tribune reported. (ANI) Netanyahu also thanked India for its continued friendship with Israel. "To my good friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India- Many thanks for your kind Chanukah greetings and your continued friendship towards Israel. May this holiday season be joyous and celebrated as the triumph of light over darkness," he said. https://x.com/IsraeliPM/status/1872012591696117852 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended Hanukkah greetings to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and people across the world celebrating the festival. PM Modi wished that the radiance of the festival illuminates everyone's lives with hope. "Best wishes to PM Netanyahu and all the people across the world celebrating the festival of Hanukkah. May the radiance of Hanukkah illuminate everybody's lives with hope, peace and strength. Hanukkah Sameach!" PM Modi said in a post on X. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1871898267866587320 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday extended Hanukkah greetings to Israeli Foreign Minister Gidon Sa'ar and the global community celebrating the festival. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1871765781262037260 "Warmest Hanukkah greetings to FM Gidon Saar, friends in Israel, and those celebrating it around the world. May the wonderful occasion bring hope, health and happiness in everyone's lives. Chag Sameach!" Jaishankar said. Sa'ar thanked "dear friend" Jaishankar for his wishes. "Thank you, S Jaishankar, dear friend, for your warm Hanukkah wishes and your kind words." (ANI) Abu Dhabi [UAE], December 26 (ANI/WAM): The UAE has strongly condemned the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Israeli Minister of National Security, under the protection of the Israeli police, which is considered provocative and an incitement against Muslims, as well as an act of extremism. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) reaffirmed the UAE's firm position on the need to provide full protection for Al-Aqsa Mosque, and halt serious and provocative violations taking place there. Furthermore, the Ministry emphasised the need to respect the custodial role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan over the holy sites in accordance with international law and the historical status, and not to compromise the authority of the Jerusalem Endowment Administration that manages the affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Qubbat Al Sakhrah (Dome of the Rock), and the surrounding courtyards. The Ministry also warned against the serious repercussions of the storming and continuous violations committed at Al-Aqsa Mosque in light of regional tensions. The UAE called upon Israeli authorities to halt escalation and avoid exacerbating tension and instability in the region, affirming the UAE's categorical rejection of all practices that violate resolutions on international legitimacy threatening further escalation. Moreover, the Ministry called on the international community to intensify all regional and international efforts to find a serious political horizon that achieves comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, and fulfills the aspirations of the brotherly Palestinian people to establish an independent sovereign Palestinian state, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy. (ANI/WAM) Following the European Union and the UK, the US has also expressed concerns over the recent conviction of 25 civilians by military courts for their participation in the nationwide riots of May 9 last year, as per Dawn. The concerns have arisen after a military court sentenced 25 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf activists last week to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for their role in the May 9, 2023 riots, which erupted following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan, Dawn reported. While the PTI "denounced" the sentences, lawyers also raised concerns about the proceedings and the "unreasonably high conviction rate." In a post on X on Tuesday, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "The United States is concerned by the sentencing of Pakistani civilians in a military tribunal and calls upon Pakistani authorities to respect the right to a fair trial and due process." https://x.com/StateDeptSpox/status/1871280596175171828 His post reflected a statement from the State Department issued on Wednesday, which expressed "serious concern" over the military court rulings. The statement was released just hours after the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) voiced similar concerns. "While the UK respects Pakistan's sovereignty over its own legal proceedings, trying civilians in military courts lacks transparency, independent scrutiny and undermines the right to a fair trial. We call on the Government of Pakistan to uphold its obligations under the [ICCPR]," the FCDO statement said, as per Dawn. The EU spokesperson also called the verdicts "inconsistent with Pakistan's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)." As per Dawn, the EU spokesperson reminded that under the EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), countries like Pakistan have voluntarily committed to effectively implementing 27 key international conventions, including the ICCPR, to maintain their GSP+ status. The EU is Pakistan's second-biggest trading partner, with the GSP+ arrangement playing a key role in boosting bilateral trade with Europe. There was no immediate response from Pakistan's Foreign Office to the statements made by the Western capitals. Meanwhile, the PTI, whose members were among those sentenced by military courts last week, continued to criticize the verdicts. Speaking to reporters in Peshawar, PTI MNA Asad Qaiser said, "As you can see, the entire world, including the EU and the UK, has expressed concern. We are also concerned about how civilians were tried in military courts," Dawn quoted. While criticizing the SC's decision to conditionally permit military courts to issue verdicts, Qaiser said, "When the court grants such autonomy and makes decisions that go beyond the Constitution and laws, where should the public turn?" He continued, "What options are left for us? The Constitution grants us the right to peacefully protest and voice our opinions anywhere." He further remarked, "They passed a bill in Islamabad to ban protests. Is Islamabad not part of Pakistan? Doesn't the Constitution state that every political party, organization, and citizen has the right to hold peaceful protests?" He said, "Therefore, the bill was in violation of the Constitution," and challenged the government to prove if any PTI member had "broken any pots or glass or engaged in violence." Qaiser also referenced discussion between the government and the opposition, reaffirming PTI's demands, which included "ending illegal actions and the crackdown on PTI workers, improving the treatment of workers in jails, and the release of both workers and leader Imran Khan." Labeling the international community's concerns as "well-founded and justified," the PTI expressed fear hat trying civilians in military courts could further isolate Pakistan globally. In a statement, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqqas Akram acknowledged the EU's concerns about the military court rulings, cautioning that they could impact Pakistan's GSP-Plus status. He emphasized that Pakistan's adherence to the ICCPR, which ensures due process and fair trials, was crucial for its ongoing participation in the GSP+ scheme. PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqqas Akram pointed out that the EU spokesperson had expressed concern over Pakistan's GSP-Plus status, which had been earned after years of hard work, lobbying, and ensuring compliance with human rights and international agreements. Akram warned that with such violations, the government was giving the international community a reason to revoke Pakistan's GSP-Plus status. He criticised the military courts for depriving civilians of their fundamental legal and constitutional rights, resulting in one-sided verdicts. Akram stressed that Pakistan's economic growth was closely tied to political stability, but lamented that those in power were indifferent to the country's interests. In a separate development, PTI leader Yasmin Rashid, imprisoned in Kot Lakhpat Jail, described the military court rulings as a final blow to human rights. In an open letter from prison, she stated that the decision had been "supported by the 26th amendment constitutional bench" and shattered the illusion of democracy. Rashid questioned, "How long will Pakistan endure these atrocities?" She also expressed regret that justice had become nonexistent since February 8, noting that she and her colleagues had been incarcerated for 20 months without conviction due to the lack of evidence against them. (ANI) In a remarkable display of prompt and coordinated action, Indian Coast Guard Ship Shoor rescued nine Indian crew from MSV Tajdhare Haram that sunk in Pakistan's Search and Rescue Region as a result of timely coorperation between Pakistan's Maritime Security Agency and the ICG. The Indian crew from Maneuver Support Vessel (MSV) Tajdhare Haram sunk due to flooding. In a post on X, the ICG said, ""INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION SAVES LIVES! Indian Coast Guard ship Shoor rescues 9 Indian crew from MSV Tajdhare Haram sunk in Pakistan's SRR due to flooding. Timely coordination between ICG and Pakistan MSA ensures swift life-saving response!" https://x.com/IndiaCoastGuard/status/1872270654571270152 https://x.com/IndiaCoastGuard/status/1872287447637504149 On December 5 too, as a result of coordination between both the entities, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully rescued 12 crew members of the sunken Indian vessel MSV Al Piranpir from the North Arabian Sea on December 4, an official statement said. This humanitarian search and rescue mission saw close collaboration between the Indian Coast Guard and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), with both nations' Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs) maintaining continuous communication throughout the operation, as per the statement. In a post on X, the Indian Coast Guard said, "India Coast Guard ship Sarthak successfully rescued 12 Indian crew members of Sunken Dhow Al Piranpir from the North Arabian Sea. The vessel sank on 04 Dec 24 however, the crew had abandoned ship on a dinghy. This humanitarian mission saw close collaboration between ICG and Pak MSA, with both nations' MRCCs maintaining coordination throughout the operation and Pak MSA aircraft assisting in search of survivors. Rescued crew are being brought back to Porbandar." https://x.com/IndiaCoastGuard/status/1864559336313270574 The mechanized sailing vessel (Dhow) Al Piranpir, which had departed from Porbandar enroute to Bandar Abbas, Iran, reportedly sank in the morning hours of December 4 due to rough seas and flooding. The distress call was received by ICG's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Mumbai, which promptly alerted ICG Regional Headquarters (North West) in Gandhinagar. ICG Ship Sarthak was immediately diverted to the reported location. MRCC Pakistan was also contacted to alert mariners in the area, and their assistance was swiftly provided. (ANI) Protests against the road closures in Kurram district are growing, with the sit-in at Parachinar now entered in its sixth day. Road blockages across the tribal district are still ongoing. In Parachinar, the sit-in on the main Kachehri Road, located in front of the Press Club, has now entered its sixth day. Parachinar Tehsil Chairman Agha Mazmal emphasised that the tribal headquarters is effectively under siege. "We are unable to travel to either Pakistan or Afghanistan. People are stuck here, and it seems no one understands the severe hardships millions are facing at this moment," he remarked. "It has been nearly 78 days since the recent rise in tensions, and Parachinar remains isolated from the rest of the country. Anyone who tries to travel out of necessity is killed. We haven't even been able to bury two of our own who died while attempting to travel in protest," he said. According to the report, Agha Mazmal stressed that their protest would persist until the issue is resolved. "A large jirga from the government has arrived, and discussions are underway. We are demanding that the roads be reopened and secured for travel, no matter the circumstances." He cautioned that if the roads to Parachinar are not reopened, they would not stay silent, and the protests could spread nationwide. He added that they had informed the government that if the roads are not reopened within the next 72 hours, they would block highways, motorways, airports, and train tracks across the country. During the recent cabinet meeting, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government declared a relief emergency in the Kurram district due to the ongoing law and order issues. The provincial cabinet reviewed the security situation and the overall conditions in Kurram. Official sources confirmed that the cabinet has approved the declaration of a relief emergency in the Kurram district. Relief payments for those killed or injured in Kurram have already been processed. The road closures in the region have caused severe shortages of essential goods, including food, medicine, fuel, and LPG, with supplies completely depleted. Due to the fuel shortage, all public and private schools in Upper Kurram have been closed. ATMs are out of cash, further exacerbating the difficulties for residents. Hotels, bakeries, and vegetable and fruit shops have also been forced to shut down. Border officials have reported that no movement is taking place at the Pak-Afghan Kharlachi border. Hospitals are struggling with critical medicine shortages, resulting in the deaths of many patients, including over 50 children. (ANI) Wong noted the significant contribution of Dr Singh in developing India-Singapore bilateral relations. In a post on X, the Singaporean High Commissioner said, "Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Manmohan Singh Ji, a statesman whose wisdom and leadership shaped India's growth. His strong support of India-Singapore relations, as both FM and PM, played a pivotal role in developing our bilateral relations." https://x.com/SGinIndia/status/1872332743205597287 Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday night at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions, AIIMS informed. Condolences have been pouring in from across India on the demise of the former Prime Minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday condoled the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said that his thoughts are with the family of Dr Manmohan Singh, his friends and countless admirers. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed grief on the passing away of former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday. He highlighted the role Singh played, not only in India's economic reforms but also in providing strategic corrections to Indian foreign policy. Singh retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year after serving for 33 years in the house. Manmohan Singh, born in Punjab in 1932, served two terms as Prime Minister of India- from 2004 to 2014. He took the oath of office for the first time in 2004, after Congress' win in the 2004 Lok Sabha election against Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA. He served his second term from 2009 to 2014. He was then succeeded by PM Narendra Modi in 2014. (ANI) In a post on X, Jaishankar said that the two leaders held wide-ranging discussions on the progress of the India-US strategic partnership and exchanged views on current regional and global developments. "Good to meet US NSA @JakeSullivan46 in Washington D.C. this morning. A wide ranging discussion on the progress of India-US strategic partnership. Also exchanged views on current regional and global developments", Jaishankar wrote on X. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1872353367529492833 As per a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs, S Jaishankar is visiting the United States of America from December 24 to December 29. The External Affairs Minister will meet counterparts to discuss key bilateral, regional and global issues. During the visit, Jaishankar will also chair a conference of the Consul Generals of India in the USA, the MEA noted in its press release. The visit by the External Affairs Minister comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the US earlier in September and participated in the fourth Quad Leaders' Summit in Wilmington, Delaware. The US and India have seen frequent high-level interactions. Earlier on Tuesday, senior diplomats from India and the United States, including Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma, highlighted the strengthening of bilateral ties between the two countries. India-US bilateral relations have developed into a "global strategic partnership," based on shared democratic values and increasing convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and global issues. Regular exchange of high-level political visits has provided sustained momentum to bilateral cooperation, while the wide-ranging and ever-expanding dialogue architecture has established a long-term framework for India-US engagement. (ANI) Israeli Air Force conducted strikes on military targets belonging to Houthis on the western coast and inland Yemen, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) said on Thursday. The IDF said that the plan of the airstrike was approved by the Prime Minister, Defence Minister and the Chief of the General Staff of Israel. The attacks were carried upon the Houthi military infrastructure used for its military activities. The sites targeted include the Al-Hudaydah, Salif and Ras Kanatib ports on the western coast. "The Houthi terrorist regime has repeatedly attacked the State of Israel and its citizens, including in UAV and surface-to-surface missile attacks on Israeli territory. The targets that were struck by the IDF include military infrastructure used by the Houthi terrorist regime for its military activities in both the Sana'a International Airport and the Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power stations. In addition, the IDF struck military infrastructure in the Al-Hudaydah, Salif and Ras Kanatib ports on the western coast," the IDF said in a post on X. The IDF further said that military targets were used by the Houthi terrorist regime to smuggle Iranian weapons into the region and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. "This is a further example of the Houthis' exploitation of civilian infrastructure for military purposes. The Houthi terrorist regime is a central part of the Iranian axis of terror, and their attacks on international shipping vessels and routes continue to destabilize the region and the wider world. The Houthi terrorist regime operates as an autonomous terrorist group while relying on Iranian cooperation and funding to carry out its attacks. The IDF will not hesitate to operate at any distance against any threat to the State of Israel and its citizens," the IDF concluded. https://x.com/IDF/status/1872301407052718151 This recent operation comes days after Israel had conducted a similar strike on December 19 on Houthi targets in Yemen. The IDF had announced that Israeli fighter jets struck Houthi targets in Yemen after the rebel group carried out repeated missile and drone attacks on Israel, The Times of Israel reported. (ANI) Former Maldivian President Abdulla Shahid expressed his condolence on the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Thursday. Former President Shahid shared how Dr Singh's wisdom and knowledge greatly benefitted him and recalled the long association with him. In a post on X, Shahid said, "Deeply saddened to hear of the demise of former Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh. I fondly recall his visit to the Maldives in 2011, where I, as then Speaker of Parliament, invited him to address a sitting of the Majlis - the first Head of State/Government to do so. I also recall our interactions during my first tenure as Foreign Minister in 2007. I greatly benefited from his wisdom and knowledge. He was always a friend of the Maldives. May he rest in peace, and may his family and loved ones be comforted by the lasting legacy he leaves. My deepest condolences to the people and Government of India on this loss." https://x.com/abdulla_shahid/status/1872355555790201079 Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi also expressed grief on the demise of Dr Manmohan Singh. In a post on X, he wrote, "Sardar Manmohan Singh Ji was a unique example of saintliness, unparalleled scholarship and simplicity in politics. I had the privilege of meeting him many times during his tenure as Prime Minister and after that. Every time his personality inspired and impressed me a lot. Often many heads of state, former Secretary General of the United Nations and many world leaders used to ask me about Manmohan Singh Ji's well-being and praise him during their meetings. The demise of such a great personality is a great loss not only for India but for the world. May God grant peace to the departed soul." https://x.com/k_satyarthi/status/1872344241373888610 Earlier, former President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai said that India has lost one of its most illustrious sons and had called Singh an "unwavering ally and friend to the people of Afghanistan". Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed wrote X that he found the former Prime Minister as a "benevolent father figure" and a good friend of Maldives. Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday night at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions, AIIMS informed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed grief on the passing away of former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and highlighted the role Singh played, not only in India's economic reforms but also for providing strategic corrections to Indian foreign policy. Manmohan Singh, born in Punjab in 1932, served two terms as Prime Minister of India- from 2004 to 2014. He took the oath of the office for the first time in 2004, after Congress' win in 2004 Lok Sabha election against Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA. He served his second term from 2009 to 2014. He was then succeeded by PM Narendra Modi in 2014. (ANI) China planned to send armed drones worth $1 billion to Libya using a UK-based shell company to skirt an international weapons ban, The Telegraph can reveal. The scheme aimed to deliver as many as 92 drones, capable of loading multiple missiles, from China to Libya disguised as coronavirus aid and in direct violation of a United Nations arms embargo. In exchange, Libya would unload barrels of crude oil to China at a discount, with the secret drone shipment part of the payment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China hoped sending arms would end the countrys civil war quickly, allowing Beijing to gain influence and a foothold in future trade with the energy-rich north African country. The details emerged in an ongoing inquiry in Canada, where investigators have identified three alleged co-conspirators who negotiated the deal while employed at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN agency based in Montreal. Emails discussing the plan between 2018 and 2021, reviewed by investigators and quoted in Canadian court documents, have been seen by The Telegraph. They describe using a web of shell companies registered in the UK, Egypt and Tunisia to conduct transactions. The investigation highlights how UK-registered corporate entities may be used to avoid sanctions and bans by covering-up international payments and transfers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Chinese government appears to have approved a strategy of assisting Libya in the procurement and shipment of military equipment through companies designated and approved by the Chinese government in order to obscure the direct involvement of government agencies, the investigator wrote in the court documents. This scheme appears to be a deliberate attempt to circumvent UN sanctions that were in effect. Shanghai Gold Wing Aviation Technology, a company registered in the UK in May 2016 that lists a Chinese citizen as the director, was named in those messages as the project manager for the deal. The company, which has a current address at Londons Southbank Tower, has not reported much business activity since incorporation, according to filings made to Companies House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unit listed is a residential apartment, as The Telegraph found when a reporter visited the address in late November. Forces of the Libyan National Army, loyal to Khalifa Haftar, the warlord to whom China planned to send drones, pictured in 2020 - Abdullah Doma/AFP via Getty A concierge told The Telegraph that neither Shanghai Gold Wing nor its director, Jingzhe Shi, 62, were listed at the London apartment. A total of 2,333 firms have been registered at that address, according to Companies House records. All of the companies have officers with links to China. Thirty-seven percent, or 873 of those companies remain active. Inside China, Shanghai Gold Wing appears to have had little to no activity. An address in China listed for Mr Shi, the director, does not exist. A building in Shanghai that The Telegraph found with a listed address for Shanghai Gold Wing appears to be abandoned and not in use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shanghai Gold Wing was subject to a compulsory strike-off by Companies House a forced removal from the registry, effective on Oct 29 though it is not clear why. Companies House does not comment on individual firms. Canadian police charge men Details of the drones-for-oil deal emerged as corruption was investigated at the ICAO. Police in Montreal charged two men in April on suspicion of participating in a conspiracy to sell Libyan oil, Chinese-made drones and military equipment in Libya. Fathi Ben Ahmed Mhaouek, 61, was charged with being linked to the oil side of the alleged scheme and Mahmud Mohamed Elsuwaye Sayeh, 37, to the whole plan. Both men were working at the UN aviation agency at the time negotiations were said to have taken place with Kuang Chi Wan, who represented the Chinese side. Andrew Barbacki, Mr Mhaoeuks lawyer, said his client maintained his innocence and that no plea had been entered as proceedings had not yet moved to the trial stage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The role of Shanghai Gold Wings as a project manager was also included in draft contracts as the deal was being discussed, as seen in a message highlighted by Canadian investigators sent from Wan to the two other alleged co-conspirators. Mr Wan appeared to have direct communications with the Chinese foreign ministry about the deal. In a letter detailed in court documents, he noted a reluctance to use official Chinese government channels in talks with Libya, instead using two state-owned defence firms authorised to represent Beijing. At one point, a Chinese foreign ministry official also directly emailed Mr Sayeh. China Rabyo International Mr Wan also hinted that a Chinese firm interested in the deal was directly tied to the family of Xi Jinping, the countrys leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That company, China Raybo International, founded in 1985, specialises in a wide range of high-profile industries including nuclear energy, aviation and aerospace, renewable energy, and finance as described in a Chinese government statement from 2016. That official statement insisted that Raybo was private and registered in Hong Kong. This made Raybo a rare private company in China working in areas that the government considers to be of national security interest. All other companies in such industries are state-owned, which suggests that Raybo has high-level government backing. China was interested in arming Libya in order to speed up a conclusion to the war, so that Beijing could reap economic benefits once fighting ended by using war as a means to quickly end the war, according to the emails that investigators reviewed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In return, Libyas high-quality crude oil would shore-up Chinas energy security, swelling its oil reserves at home as it rapidly expanded its footprint in Africa, with the long-term goal of shifting the balance of power. The idea is for this to be a first step in a longer-term mobilisation of Libyas resources, economy and territory, and the corrupt way in which theyre being managed, to further Chinese interests, which are vast on the African continent, said Alia Brahimi, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council who specialises in the Middle East and North Africa. She added that corrupt and unrepresentative governments selling national resources to Russia and China at steep discounts in exchange for weapons that can be used against their people is a dystopian scenario that risks becoming normalised by deals like this. The Haftar family For Khalifa Haftar, the Libyan warlord who controls the eastern and southern parts of the country, drones have become indispensable military equipment as he continues to jockey for greater control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time the drones-for-oil deal was being discussed from 2018 to 2021, Haftar was attempting to wrest power from the UN-recognised government headed by prime minister Abdul Hamid Dbeiba, in a bloody war largely fought with drones. Haftar lost his bid then, and has since been working to rebuild his arsenal. The Haftar family recognises that projecting strength serves its interests, said Jalel Harchaoui, a North Africa expert at the Royal United Services Institute think tank in London. Khalifa Haftar, the warlord who harbours ambitions to control Libya outright - AFP via Getty It has an incentive to acquire a greater deterrent against rival factions, said Mr Harchaoui, adding that Haftar was investing part of his resources into cultivating an aura of military might. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haftar is also said to control much of Libyas key oil assets given his power over the countrys National Oil Corporation through close ties to its chairman, Farhat Bengdara all of which empower the former to engage in illicit, corrupt deals with states like China. Experts believe the deal under investigation in Canada is just one corner of wider plans between China and Libya to arm Haftar, who at 80 years old is believed to still harbour ambitions to control all of Libya with the support of his sons. Other secret weapons deals? The Libya deal alone involved as many as 92 drones nearly one-fourth of the total public figure exported over the past decade, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which tracks global arms transfers. This suggests that Beijing, already the worlds largest exporter of drones, may be sending far more weapons abroad in secret. Two other similar cases being investigated in Italy and Spain also indicate that there are likely to be more weapons shipments going from China to Libya. In June, the Italian authorities seized Chinese drone parts that were disguised as wind turbine equipment bound for Libya, according to a statement from Italys customs police and customs agency. After Canada charged suspects in the case, Mr Mhaouek, a Canadian citizen, was arrested. Mr Sayeh, a Libyan citizen, remains at large and is subject to an Interpol red notice, which requests law enforcement worldwide to locate and arrest him. The whereabouts of Mr Wan, a US citizen, remain unclear. Haftar could not be reached for comment, and the Canadian police did not respond to a request for comment. The Telegraph also asked China Raybo for comment but received no reply. Additional reporting by James Rothwell and Roland Oliphant Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. David Aaron knows something about cyberattacks. The Rhode Island resident and adjunct professor at the Roger Williams University School of Law spent eight years as a prosecutor specializing in counterintelligence and cyber cases for the U.S. Department of Justice. In that role, he investigated malware attacks by criminals and nation-state actors, provided legal counsel on botnet disruption missions and indicted a Russian government affiliate who conspired to attack critical U.S. infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now in private practice with the law firm Perkins Coie, Aaron advises companies on cybersecurity and helps clients respond to cyber attacks. He couldn't help but notice the cyberattack that downed Rhode Island's public benefits enrollment system earlier this month now estimated to have compromised the personal information of around 650,000 people and agreed to provide his perspective on what is happening. How common are cyberattacks of the kind that Rhode Island is experiencing now? Aaron: Unfortunately, ransom attacks are only getting more common. Back when I started dealing with ransomware, attacks consisted mostly of criminals using encryption to lock up victims computers or networks and demanding a ransom to unlock them. As companies became more resilient to such attacks, criminals started stealing large volumes of information from victims and threatening to release it publicly unless the victims paid the ransom. Combined with the encryption attack, this is known as double extortion and can put substantial pressure on victims. But another development in ransom attacks is how they have become commodified. Criminal groups offer Ransomware as a Service. People with relatively low skill levels can effectively license software that helps them compromise a victim, such as through a phishing attack, conduct the ransom attack, and collect payment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many, if not most, victims of ransom attacks do not publicly disclose the attack. But in 2023, the FBI reported that it received 2,825 complaints alleging ransomware, with losses of almost $60 million. Over 1,000 ransomware complaints came from companies in critical infrastructure, with 14 out of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors affected. David Aaron is an adjunct law professor at Roger Williams University, a senior counsel at Perkins Coie and a former federal prosecutor. Are public-sector networks any more vulnerable to cyberattacks than private networks, or are or do we see roughly similar number of breaches in private corporations? Aaron: It is hard to tell, because private-sector victims often do not report attacks. That will change, with new legal authorities that make some reporting mandatory. But in both government and the private sector, there is a wide variation in cybersecurity based on resources, perceived threat landscape, the types of networks and other equipment involved, criticality of systems, sensitivity of information, and other factors. Rhode Island officials have said that the decision on whether to pay a ransom is the state's but that they do not want to break FBI rules against paying ransoms. What role does the FBI play in ransom scenarios, and do they actively try to prevent payments to the hackers? Aaron: There is no FBI rule against paying ransoms. The FBIs official position is that it does not encourage paying a ransom to criminal actors, for good reason. In some cases, ransom payments could be illegal for specific reasons, for example paying a ransom to an individual or entity that is covered by sanctions issued by the Department of the Treasury. As a general matter, the FBI treats victims of cyber crime as victims of a crime. The FBI will work with victims to collect information that will help the FBI identify, pursue, disrupt, and potentially apprehend offenders, and may be able to provide useful information to victims. In recent years, the FBI has not only shut down ransomware actors, but has also conducted operations such as its operation against the Hive Ransomware-as-a-Service network in which it infiltrated criminal infrastructure, obtained decryption keys, and provided those keys to victims to help them restore data without paying ransoms. Are IT vendors who run a computer network liable for preventing cyberattacks, or does their responsibility and liability vary from contract to contract, subject to negotiation with the end client? Aaron: A lot of questions of liability depend on contract terms. But an increasing number of legal authorities aim to set baseline standards for reasonable security, and there is a recent trend of holding companies to their public promises and representations about security. Do the types of cyberattacks that have hit Rhode Island typically end in litigation between the client and the IT vendor? Aaron: Cyberattacks can lead to litigation in any number of directions. The insurance market has matured, and the likelihood of litigation may be mitigated by contract provisions and productive negotiations between parties, but it of course remains a possibility, and a lot of cases go that way. Individuals whose information was affected, and businesses that may be collaterally affected, may also seek to bring claims. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: He prosecuted Russian hackers. Here's his take on RI's cyberattack. China has approved the construction of the world's largest hydropower dam on the eastern rim of the Tibetan plateau despite protests over its ecological impact and concerns it could affect millions of people downstream in India and Bangladesh. The dam, located in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo river, could annually produce 300 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, according to an estimate provided by the Power Construction Corp of China in 2020. That is more than triple the 88.2 billion kWh capacity of the Three Gorges Dam, currently the world's largest, in central China. The project is expected to play a major role in meeting China's carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, stimulate related industries such as engineering, and create jobs in Tibet, Chinese state media Xinhua reported on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A section of the Yarlung Zangbo falls a dramatic 2,000m within a short span of 50km, offering huge hydropower potential as well as unique engineering challenges. The outlay for building the dam is expected to eclipse the 254.2bn yuan (27.80bn) it cost to construct the Three Gorges dam. The Yarlung Zangbo river is seen during a government organized visit for journalists (Getty) Constructing Three Gorges required the resettling of 1.4 million people. Authorities have not indicated how many people the new project would displace and how it would affect the local ecosystem, one of the richest and most diverse on the plateau. The site of the project is located along a tectonic plate boundary which is a zone for earthquakes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least four 20km-long tunnels must be drilled through the Namcha Barwa mountain to divert half of the rivers flow to harness its power, according to reports. But according to Chinese officials, hydropower projects in Tibet, which they say hold more than a third of China's hydroelectric power potential, would not have a major impact on the environment or on downstream water supplies. India and Bangladesh have nevertheless raised concerns about the dam, with the project potentially altering the rivers course downstream. India is concerned that Chinese projects in the region could trigger flash floods or create water scarcity downstream. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Indian lawmaker previously raised concern over China building the dam in the bordering region of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as part of southern Tibet. The Yarlung Zangbo becomes the Brahmaputra river as it leaves Tibet and flows south into Indias Arunachal Pradesh and Assam states and finally into Bangladesh. We cannot trust our neighbour. You never know what they can do," Ninong Ering, a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party told the parliament in July. "They can either divert the entire river flow drying up our Siang or release water at once causing unprecedented floods and havoc downstream. Additional reporting by agencies. Editor's note: This is the first entry in an eight-part series previewing some of the most impactful legislation coming to the 2025 Mississippi Legislative Session. The 2025 Legislative Session begins on Jan. 7, and the many issues circulated through press releases, news stories and legislative taskforce committees this year will be brought to center stage for debate and possibly be passed into law. But what bills will make the headlines? What will lawmakers debate the most? how many bills will pass by the deadlines of the Legislature or die at the hands of House and Senate lawmakers? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Below is a look at some of the biggest issues coming before Mississippi lawmakers in 2025. Tax cut debates incoming Legislative leadership in Mississippi is eyeing cuts to the state's tax code. This year, the potential tax code targets will largely take the form of income tax cuts and sales tax cuts, with a conversation also to be had about loosening state restrictions on local-option taxes and funding for the Mississippi Department of Transportation. House Speaker Jason White, left, and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann prepare for the start of Gov. Tate Reeves' inauguration at the state Capitol in Jackson on Jan. 9, 2024. For the 2025 Session, there are several big issues coming up. On one side of the Mississippi State Capitol Building, House Speaker Jason White, R-West, wants to cut the state's personal income tax, which by Fiscal Year 2027 will be at 4% flat. Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann wants to cut the state's 7% grocery sales tax, one of the highest in the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The positive thing is that both chambers seem very interested in tax reform in a way that we can hopefully lessen the income tax burden on Mississippians as we continue to run these surpluses, while looking for, hopefully a way to cut our grocery tax some, maybe not all, but some and give Mississippians some relief," White said to reporters after a tax policy summit in September. The income tax accounts for nearly one-third of the state's budget, which may cause lawmakers to find other ways to increase state revenue to make it up. Meanwhile, many towns and cities in Mississippi rely on sales tax revenue from groceries to fund local government. Whether one gets cut, both or neither, government spending will likely be increased in 2025. More on tax debate: State in solid financial position: Mississippi continuing to exceed budget expectations. See how much was collected Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tax summit highlights: MS Senate panelists want 'baby steps' on income tax reforms. Read what they said City leaders speak on revenue needs: How can MS cut income tax and ensure cities and counties have enough revenue to operate? Tax cut goals in Senate, House: MS Senate, House looking at tax reform in 2025. Could grocery and income taxes both be cut? Medicaid expansion coming back for debate in 2025 During the 2024 Session, state lawmakers failed to come to a final resolution on Medicaid expansion, punting the issue to 2025. Both White and Hosemann have vowed to bring back the legislation full swing this coming year in an attempt to bring tens of thousands of poor working Mississippians access to government-funded healthcare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Public Health and Human Services Chairman Sam Creekmore, R-New Albany, alluded earlier this year that his chamber would likely come out with a similar proposal to its Medicaid expansion legislation, House Bill 1725, that was proposed in 2024. The Senate plan, like in 2024, will likely have similar features to its proposal as well. As things currently stand, if the Legislature were to swing full Medicaid expansion past Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, a furious opponent of expansion, more than 200,000 Mississippians would likely benefit, and the state would bring in about $1.2 billion in economic incentives by expanding the program. The federal government would pick up 90% of the tab, with the state picking up the other 10%. Earlier this year, the Clarion Ledger identified several areas where Mississippi's Medicaid plan could be stopped in its tracks due to President-elect Donald Trump likely eyeing cuts to the Affordable Care Act, of which Medicaid is a part. More stories on Medicaid expansion: Medicaid expansion's federal hurdles: With Trump heading back to the White House, is MS Medicaid expansion plan still viable? Read here Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medicaid prenatal program needs work: MS Medicaid prenatal care program was passed in the spring but is still not active. Why? Reeves to fight Medicaid at every turn: State politics: AG Lynn Fitch appeals auditor suit to MS Supreme Court in Brett Favre case 2024 Medicaid expansion bill dies: Medicaid expansion dies in Mississippi Legislature Government structure Beginning in the fall, Senate leadership publicly declared it is studying ways to reduce the financial and regulatory burden of state government on its taxpayers. Hosemann told the Clarion Ledger this coming session he is likely to support legislation to establish a commission to study how to cut the size and cost of government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around the same time, State Auditor Shad White, a Republican, released a government-waste study that identified $335 million in government waste at 13 state agencies through unused government assets, policies on state contracts and procurement that "waste" time and money and other means. While the study and the $2 million that paid for it has come under scrutiny by lawmakers and top Mississippi GOP members, it could still serve as guidance for lawmakers looking to cut down on government, White has said. Hosemann eyeing government structure: Mississippi Lt. Gov. looking to tackle government reorganization in 2025. Read why Chaney wants job appointed: Mississippi Insurance Commissioner wants his position to be appointed. Read why Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement $2M waste report challenged by AG AG Fitch says state auditor White's $2M report was beyond his authority. White responds Public Employment Retirement System During the 2024 Session, the Legislature passed a bill to take away regulatory powers of the Public Employment Retirement System of Mississippi board to increase funding requirements from cities and counties into the state's retirement plan. During the summer, a watchdog report was released saying what lawmakers did in 2024 did practically nothing to address the issues with PERS, those being a $25 billion funding deficit, a shrinking number of public employees contributing into the system and a rising number of beneficiaries. To try and address the system's long-term sustainability, the PERS board this month released its legislative recommendations, which included a new class of benefits for new public employees. Some of the suggestions for that new tier, called Tier 5, will see new state employees receiving less guaranteed cash post-retirement than current retirees. More on PERS: PERS changes were unimpactful: Report shows Mississippi Legislature retirement reforms this year aren't effective. See why Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legislature passes PERS legislation: MS Legislature passes bill restricting state retirement board's authority Legislative, judicial redistricting, reforms to courts State lawmakers will in 2025 need to address several areas of redistricting from legislative districts to the state's circuit and chancery court lines and possibly those defining youth courts. Thanks to a federal court order, the Mississippi Legislature will have to redraw some of its legislative districts because the court found several districts' lines diluted Black voting power. The redraw could end up impacting dozens of districts, which will cause special elections to take place post-session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judicial redistricting, required to take place within five years after a U.S. Census, will affect circuit and chancery court districts. During the 2024 Session, efforts to redraw the court lines died by a legislative deadline. One issue that could be tied into the court district debate are youth courts, which as identified in taskforce committee reports. Major reforms are needed to repair some of the foundational issues with the state's youth court system. One of the recommendations offered to fix the system's issues would be to combine the courts with chancery courts. Sen. Brice Wiggins, R-Pascagoula, and chairman of the Senate Judiciary A Committee, said it is possible that youth courts could get wrangled into the court district redraw debate. "I haven't thought that far yet," Wiggins said after a committee hearing on youth courts in November. "I think it is imperative that we look at our court systems, Youth Court, circuit, chancery court, for all the reasons that we've heard last year and that we heard here today." Court orders redistricting: U.S. Court allows MS to wait until 2025 to establish new majority-Black districts Youth court reform needed: Mississippi youth courts are broken, struggling with staff, funding. How can they be fixed? Senate committee taking up court reform: Youth court issues in Mississippi on Senate committee's plate. See what they plan to do Education issues in 2025 This coming year, lawmakers will also have to come up with another $38 million to fully fund the new Mississippi Student Funding Formula, which was fully funded this year with about $2.95 billion. Other issues likely to draw attention are school choice and private school vouchers. House Speaker Jason White said in a public interview earlier this month he is planning for the House to take up school choice to give parents more options to move their children from one public school to another. House Education Chairman Rob Roberson, R-Starkville, said his committee would be taking up school choice bills, bills on charter schools and establishing legislation to require the Mississippi Department of Education to study ways to address failing school districts. Senate Education Chairman Dennis Debar, R-Leakesville, said he is gunning after similar goals and would also look to address a teacher pay raise. White wants to work on vouchers: Mississippi Speaker of the House Jason White wants to work toward private school vouchers Legislature passes funding formula: MS Legislature passes historic education funding model, sends to governor's desk Grant McLaughlin covers the Legislature and state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Major political issues for Mississippi in 2025 Legislative Session A convicted murderer who escaped from a Mississippi state prison on Christmas Eve was captured Wednesday, according to a Mississippi Department of Corrections post on Facebook. Drew Johnson was captured in an area near the prison, the post said. Sentenced to life in prison on Valentines Day in 2022, Johnson managed to escape from Mississippis newest state prison in Greene County nearly three years later on Christmas Eve, according to the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities in Mississippi had described Johnson as desperate and very very dangerous. Call your family and alert them. Send messages to them and get responses, the George County Sheriffs Department warned about the prison escape in a Facebook post. People tend to be more generous during Christmas and let their guard down. Be vigilant and be careful. The 33-year-old has a violent criminal history spanning multiple states. In 2022, he pleaded guilty to a series of unrelated violent crimes, according to a news release from Tennessees Shelby County District Attorneys Office. In 2016, Johnson fatally stabbed an acquaintance more than two dozen times, later abandoning the victims body in a field in southwest Memphis. His violent behavior persisted behind bars. While incarcerated in Tennessee in 2021, Johnson attacked another prisoner, repeatedly striking him in the head with a brick, according to the district attorneys office. Johnson also pleaded guilty to setting multiple fires while in jail in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson received a life sentence without the possibility of parole for murder, along with 15-year sentences for each of his other crimes, all of which are to be served concurrently, according to Shelby County District Attorneys Office. He also has a pending murder case in Rankin County, Mississippi. The convicted murderer broke out of South Mississippi Correctional Institution in Leakesville on Tuesday around 3:30 p.m., according to an alert from the Greene County Emergency Management office, shared by police in neighboring George County. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com An expedition with Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program did a species survey of Peru's Alto Mayo Landscape in 2024 The expedition recorded over 2,000 species during its 38-day survey Of the creatures recorded, 27 are species that are new to science A scientific expedition focused on conserving the known animals of Peru's Alto Mayo Landscape discovered 27 new species needing protection. In 2024, Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) launched a 38-day survey of the Alto Mayo Landscape "a complex mosaic of ecosystems and communities, including Indigenous territories, towns, and cities" stretching from the Andes to the Amazon, according to the organization. Trond Larsen, Ph.D, the expedition's scientific lead, tells PEOPLE that the mission was "to assess and monitor biodiversity and ecosystem health" in this area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trond is a "conservation ecologist, but also an explorer and naturalist at heart." He is also the senior director of biodiversity and ecosystem science at Conservation International and the lead of the organization's Rapid Assessment Program. Related: Zoo Celebrates Releasing Thousands of 'Giant Spiders' that Grow to Be the Size of a Human Hand "For more than a decade, Conservation International has worked with the Awajun people and local communities in Alto Mayo to reduce deforestation by supporting sustainable livelihoods, such as selling medicinal teas and vanilla, and sustainable agriculture with cocoa and coffee beans," Trond explains of the collaboration that led to his recent expedition. "These efforts are now culminating in a vision for establishing a conservation corridor across the Alto Mayo landscape that connects the more degraded areas with existing protected areas," he adds. "This will help to maintain Alto Mayo's unique biodiversity while also ensuring people continue to receive the benefits from nature that they depend upon." Ronald Diaz A semi-aquatic mouse that is new to science found during a scientific expedition in the Alto Mayo Landscape A semi-aquatic mouse that is new to science found during a scientific expedition in the Alto Mayo Landscape Before constructing this corridor, Conservation International needs to know "where the most important species live, especially those that are new to science, rare, or threatened with extinction." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trond's expedition went to the Alto Mayo Landscape to fill these "knowledge gaps" so that the corridor can develop a land-use plan that supports biodiversity conservation, agricultural sustainability, and habitat connectivity across the broader region. During the expedition's five-week survey, scientists recorded over 2,000 species, a "shocking" number for a "human-dominated" area of the Peruvian rainforest. Even more unexpected, out of the hundreds of species documented, 27 were new to science, including four new mammals, eight fish, three amphibians, and ten butterfly species. Additionally, "48 species are potentially new to science pending further research, and at least 49 species are threatened with extinction," according to Trond. Trond Larsen A new species of salamander found in Alto Mayo Landscape A new species of salamander found in Alto Mayo Landscape "Our team was very surprised at the extraordinarily high levels of biodiversity we encountered, particularly the number of species that are new to science. While the discovery of new invertebrates, such as insects, is quite common, the discovery of so many vertebrate animals, including new mammals, amphibians, and fishes, was shocking," the expedition lead shares. The conservation ecologist admits he has a favorite among the newly discovered species. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My personal favorite, and also the most unusual, is the blob-headed fish," Trond says. The creature is a type of armored catfish, set apart from other armored catfish by the "large, bulbous speckled 'blob' extending from the end of its head." Related: Zoo Asks for Help Identifying 'Mysterious Winged and Horned Creature' Spotted Near Park Habitat Other new species to science found during the expedition include a new type of bat, amphibious mouse, climbing salamander, and squirrel. "While this fish is familiar to the local Indigenous Awajun people, it is completely new to scientists, and the function of this bizarre blob-like structure remains a mystery," Trond adds. Ronald Diaz A new species of dwarf squirrel A new species of dwarf squirrel "The scientific experts are continuing to study the newly discovered species in more detail, and eventually, each species will be formally 'described' and named, with the details published in a scientific journal," he says of what's next for the new animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conservation International is working with the regional government and local communities to restore the areas of the Alto Mayo Landscape that are crucial to the animals recorded by the expedition. 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. According to Trond, the Alto Mayo Landscape is the most "highly populated and human-influenced" landscape in which RAP has worked. The "shocking and unexpected" discovery of so many new species and the overall "tremendous diversity" of the Alto Mayo Landscape shows RAP and Conservation International that populated areas "largely ignored" by scientists can still be teeming with natural life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trond's next RAP expedition will occur in northeastern Bolivia in the first half of 2025. To learn more about Conservation International and how the organization protects nature, visit www.conservation.org. Read the original article on People A terrorist act sank the sanctioned Russian cargo ship in the Mediterranean this week, the Kremlin-backed company that owns the vessel has claimed. The ship, linked to Russias efforts to supply its forces in Syria, sank in international waters off Spain in the early hours of Tuesday. The Oboronlogistika company said on Wednesday that it thinks a targeted terrorist attack was committed on Dec 23, 2024, against the Ursa Major, it said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three consecutive explosions took place on the ship before it began taking on water, added the company, which belongs to the Russian defence ministry. It did not indicate who may have been behind the attack or why. It also did not provide the evidence that led to its conclusion. X / bayraktar_1love Footage of the 466ft ship showed it leaning heavily to its starboard side, with its stern much lower in the water than usual, was filmed by a passing ship on Monday. Tracking data showed the vessels voyage began from St Petersburg on Dec 11 and it was last seen sending a signal between Algeria and Spain late on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian foreign ministrys crisis unit on Tuesday said that the ship sank after an explosion in the engine room. It added that 14 Russian crew members had been rescued and taken to the Spanish port of Cartagena, but two were missing. An office of Russias Investigative Committee, which carries out major probes in the country, said on Tuesday it had opened an investigation into possible maritime transport security regulations violations. The Ursa Major claimed it was sailing from the Russian city of St Petersburg to Vladivostok in Russias Far East. It said this was part of state efforts to develop ports and the northern sea route via the Arctic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, for years the cargo ship is said to have been a stalwart of Moscows logistical effort to support Bashar al-Assads regime and was sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2022. The sinking comes amid speculation that Russia is evacuating and relocating its Syrian bases following the collapse of Assads regime and his flight to Moscow. Ukraines GUR military intelligence has recently said the Ursa Major was used to supply Russian troops in its Syrian naval base in Tartus, which has been largely emptied of warships since the rebel takeover. The US in 2022 imposed sanctions on Oboronlogistika and its ships, including the Ursa Major, for providing transportation services... for the delivery of cargo to Russian-occupied Crimea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ships sinking came after a Russian tanker transporting fuel oil partially sank in a strait between Moscow-annexed Crimea and southern Russia on December 16, causing a major oil spill. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Early indications suggest a Russian anti-aircraft system may have downed the passenger jet that crashed in Kazakhstan on Christmas Day, a US official told CNN. The signs point to a Russian system striking Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 before it crashed near the city of Aktau, the US official said Thursday. Russian air defense units may have fired on the commercial airliner believing it was a long-range Ukrainian attack drone, they added Friday. On Saturday, Putin apologized for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace in a phone call with Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev, adding that Russian air defenses were active at the time but stopping shot of admitting fault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thirty-eight of the 67 people on board died in the crash. Among the survivors were two children. Heres what we know about the incident so far. What was the route of the plane? The plane was traveling from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to Grozny, the capital city of the southern Russian republic of Chechnya, before it made an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Aktau, Azerbaijan Airlines said on Wednesday. According to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, the plane set off on Wednesday at 7:55 a.m. Azerbaijan Standard Time (10:55 p.m. Tuesday ET) and crashed about two-and-a-half hours later. Officials did not immediately explain why the plane had crossed the Caspian Sea, when Baku and Grozny are to its west and Aktau is to its east. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kazakhstans Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev said Thursday that a Kazakh control center received a signal from Russia around 45 minutes before the plane crashed, saying that the flight was being diverted. The Russian dispatcher said that the aircraft was experiencing a failure in its control systems, and that the crew decided to fly to Aktau after receiving reports of bad weather, Karabayev said. The dispatcher later said that an oxygen tank exploded in the passenger cabin, causing passengers to lose consciousness, according to Karabayev. On Saturday, the Kremlin said that the aircraft repeatedly attempted to land at the airport in Grozny but at the same time, the areas of Grozny, Mozdok and Vladikavkaz were attacked by Ukrainian combat drones, and Russian air defense systems repelled these attacks. While the crew made two landing approaches at Aktau airport, the aircraft deviated from its course, and lost communication with dispatchers when it crashed, Karabayev said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flightradar24 said in a social media post that the aircraft was exposed to GPS jamming and spoofing near Grozny. GPS jamming can significantly hinder a planes ability to navigate and communicate, Flightradar24 said, creating potential safety risks. Data and video of the crash also indicate possible control issues with the aircraft, Flightradar24 said. Two black boxes were recovered at the crash site, Kazakh state news agency Kazinform reported, which authorities hope will provide important information to help investigators determine what happened. It will take about two weeks to read the black boxes found at the scene, Kazakhstans Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said, according to Kazakh state media. What caused the crash? Video and images of the plane after it crashed show perforations in its body that look similar to damage from shrapnel or debris. The cause of these holes has not been confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNN aviation analyst Miles OBrien explained Thursday that the fact that the metal around the holes is bent inwards shows that there was an explosion in proximity to the tail of that aircraft. The US official that spoke to CNN on Friday also said that the holes on the side of the aircraft are consistent with shrapnel damage from an explosion. Azerbaijan Airlines initially told state news agency AZERTAC that the incident was caused by the aircraft colliding with a flock of birds, the outlet reported. Russias Federal Air Transport Agency also first said the plane crashed after colliding with birds. On Friday, Dmitry Yadrov, head of Russias Federal Air Transport Agency, gave a timeline of a different version of events, saying that Ukrainian combat drones and a dense fog forced the plane out of Groznys airspace after skies were closed because of the drones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crash came shortly after Ukrainian drone strikes hit southern Russia. Drone activity has shut airports in the area in the past and the nearest Russian airport on the planes flight path was closed on Wednesday morning. Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukraines Center for Countering Disinformation, part of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, disputed the earlier claims of a bird strike, claiming on social media Wednesday that the plane was shot down by a Russian air defense system. Russia should have closed the airspace over Grozny but failed to do so, Kovalenko said, speculating that authorities will try to cover up the real reason behind the crash, including the holes in the plane, as it would be inconvenient to blame Russia. Justin Crump, an intelligence, security and defense expert and the CEO of risk advisory company Sibylline, told BBC Radio 4 on Thursday that the plane being fired at by Russia is the best theory that fits all the available facts that we know of. Crump added that Russian air defenses were active in Grozny around the time that the plane was damaged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think this is deliberate at all, he noted, pointing out that Russia is very worried about longer-range active Ukrainian drones that are very often not getting shot down. The US official who talked to CNN on Thursday did not say what type of system may have taken down the passenger jet. Russia has a number of anti-aircraft systems, including its advanced S-300 and S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, as well as its medium-range Pantsir system and others. What are authorities saying? Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that it would be wrong to speculate about the cause of the crash before an investigation has been carried out. On both Friday and Saturday, when asked if he would comment on reports that Russia shot down the plane, he said he had nothing to add to his previous statement. Brazilian authorities and representatives of the planes manufacturer Embraer arrived in Kazakhstan on Friday, according to AZERTAC, as authorities began the process of piecing together the events leading up to the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the UNs aviation agency, said it was deploying an expert onsite as an observer to the international investigation team. The agency also called for a comprehensive and independent investigation and urged all concerned parties to protect all relevant information and records as part of their full cooperation with the investigation process. The European Unions Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas also called for a swift, independent international investigation into the disaster, drawing parallels between the recent crash and the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, which was shot down over territory held by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014. CNNs Sharon Braithwaite contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The National Weather Service issued high surf advisories Thursday morning for large portions Northern California, with waves up to 30 feet high expected to hit portions of the coast until Sunday. In San Francisco, the weather service issued a high surf advisory for the Bay Area, expected to last from 10 a.m. local time Thursday until Sunday afternoon. Forecasters predicted 20- to 30-foot waves and cautioned swimmers and boaters to stay out of the water and avoid potentially dangerous conditions. Farther north, the weather service office in Eureka, California, issued a high surf advisory that was expected to last until 11 p.m. on Thursday in coastal Del Norte, Northern Humboldt Coast, Southwestern Humboldt and Mendocino Coast counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Large breaking waves along the coast will lead to increased wave run-up on beaches with waves topping and washing over large rocks and jetties," the weather service said. "These large waves can be erratic and unpredictable. Use extra caution near the surf zone as these large waves will be capable of sweeping people into the frigid and turbulent ocean water." The weather service also cautioned residents to keep off of jetties, piers and other structures on the water. California weather watches and warnings Weather watches and warnings around the US National weather radar A week of deadly weather While Christmas offered a brief reprieve, stormy seas have rocked many parts of the state in the past week. On Monday, a portion of the Santa Cruz Wharf, located about 70 miles south of San Francisco, collapsed into the Pacific Ocean, sending three city workers into the sea after high surf slammed the coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two city workers were rescued by lifeguards and the third made it to safety without help after a 150-foot-long section of the pier that was undergoing renovations collapsed as "the result of very strong waves crashing into it," according to Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley. More: Watch as heavy surf causes Santa Cruz pier to partially collapse, sending 3 into water Elsewhere on Monday, large waves left one person dead, and two others were reported missing. First responders were called to Sunset State Beach, a state park in Watsonville, around 11:30 a.m. Monday for a man trapped under debris washed up from a large wave, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office told USA TODAY. The man was transported to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 30 minutes south, at Marina State Beach, Marina police and fire personnel responded to a water rescue incident around noon Monday, according to a news release from the Marina Police Department. Initial reports indicated that an adult male had been "overcome by high surf and pulled into the water," according to police. Bystanders attempted to help the individual, but they could not rescue them because of large waves and strong currents, police said. Additionally, an adult male went missing Monday in Pebble Beach. Emergency responders were dispatched to Ocean Road following reports of a victim being washed off the rocks into the ocean, Cal Fire said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY Tuesday. "Despite an extensive search effort, challenging ocean conditions forced rescuers to terminate their search," Cal Fire said in the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Max Hauptman is a Trending Reporter for USA TODAY. He can be reached at MHauptman@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Huge waves, high surf advisories forecast for Northern California Dec 26 (NHK) - A temple in South Korea says it will return a Buddhist statue stolen from a Japanese temple after holding a memorial service for it next year. The statue has been designated a tangible cultural asset in Japan. It was stolen from Kannonji Temple on the island of Tsushima in Nagasaki Prefecture in 2012. It was later found in South Korea when the thieves tried to sell it. Busuksa Temple in central South Korea claimed ownership of the statue and filed a lawsuit. A provincial court in South Korea said it should be given to Busuksa on the grounds it had been stolen by Japanese pirates centuries before. But in October last year, South Korea's Supreme Court ruled that the Japanese temple owns the statue. It's now in the custody of the South Korean government. Busuksa Temple told NHK that Kannonji Temple had agreed to allow the statue to be temporarily moved to its facilities for rituals to be held as soon as March. It added that people related to the temple's religious activities had submitted a document to the Japanese temple that guarantees the statue's return. Kannonji Temple will house the statue for the first time in 13 years if it is returned next year. KYOTO, Dec 26 (News On Japan) - Debate is growing over whether Kyotos iconic Philosophers Path should be paved with asphalt or preserved in its natural state. On December 25th, three groups dedicated to preserving the environment of the Philosophers Path visited Kyoto City Hall. They submitted a request to maintain the path as a natural dirt trail, emphasizing the need to protect the surrounding environment, including the iconic cherry blossom trees. A member of a local resident group remarked, Differences in opinions among those living along the path have caused divisions. We hope for a solution that benefits everyone without causing harm. Located in Kyotos Sakyo Ward, the Philosophers Path stretches about 2 kilometers from near Ginkaku-ji Temple to the south, offering picturesque scenery. In spring, approximately 400 cherry trees bloom, and the area is home to fireflies, making it beloved by both locals and tourists. According to Kyoto City, parts of the path have already been paved with asphalt. However, opposition from some residents who wish to preserve the scenery has stalled further paving in other sections. One local resident expressed their thoughts: If the path is paved with concrete, it will become just another ordinary road. The Philosophers Path should remain a dirt trail, preserving its unique character for future generations. Altering it could disrupt the natural ecosystem, affecting insects, birds, and other wildlife. However, leaving the path unpaved has caused some challenges. A local resident pointed to a crack in a nearby door, saying, Look at this. Its caused by stones kicked up from the gravel path. Even vehicles get damaged. Another resident mentioned, We built this parking space for our car, but its constantly covered in dust. Its quite inconvenient. There are also complaints about muddy conditions on rainy days, with some residents calling for improvements. In response, Kyoto City has formed a discussion panel, including experts, advocates for paving, and cautious locals. On December 17th, they conducted an on-site inspection to explore possible solutions that balance maintaining the landscape and improving livability. Takahiro Sawai, a representative of the Philosophers Path Preservation Society, urged caution: Its important to consider the entire environment, including the habitat of Genji fireflies, which are designated natural monuments in Kyoto. On the other hand, local resident Fumio Ninobe, who supports paving, argued, Some parts of the path are already paved with asphalt, and it hasnt affected the local environment. Fireflies still thrive here. Masafumi Kawasaki, a professor at Kyoto Universitys Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, noted, Even if the gravel path is compacted, vehicles passing through can dislodge stones, requiring repairs. We need to carefully plan the paths maintenance based on specific locations, considering whether there are houses nearby. Source: YOMIURI OSAKA, Dec 27 (News On Japan) - Chisako Kakehi, 78, who was on death row for poisoning three men with cyanide compounds, has died while in custody, according to reports. Authorities believe she may have died of natural causes. Kakehi, 78, was convicted of murdering her husband, Isao Kakehi, 75 at the time, by lacing his drink with cyanide shortly after their marriage in 2014. She inherited several million yen from her husbands estate. In an earlier interview, Kakehi denied the allegations, stating, "I understand people think I killed them, but I did not. Living with the guilt of murder is not something I would ever welcome. I only want to live a happy life." She added, "If I were involved in such a crime, I would rather bite my tongue and die." Beyond her husband's case, Kakehi faced charges related to the deaths of several former partners. Before marrying Isao, she had been involved with other men, many of whom died under suspicious circumstances. In court, she was accused of poisoning four men with cyanide, resulting in three fatalities. Her death sentence was finalized in 2021. Kakehi's health reportedly declined during her detention. On December 26th, she was transported from Osaka Detention Center to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. According to sources, her death is believed to be due to illness. In another recorded interview, she commented, "If poison were found in a two-person household, naturally, Id be the first suspect. Even a child would understand that. Ive wanted to live a good life, free from suspicion. It shocked me when the police wouldn't listen to me." Kakehi was a central figure in Japan's criminal history, with her case widely referred to as the "cyanide serial murders." Source: ANN Chinese premier meets Japanese FM in Beijing Xinhua) 08:37, December 26, 2024 Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya in Beijing on Wednesday. Noting that China-Japan relations are at a crucial stage of improvement and development, Li said China is willing to work with Japan to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, promote the sustained and healthy development of bilateral relations, and achieve more new results in pragmatic cooperation. China and Japan are close neighbors that cannot be moved away from each other, and the two countries have made a solemn commitment to being cooperative partners rather than threats to each other, he said. "It is hoped that Japan will work with China, abide by the principles laid down in the four China-Japan political documents, face history squarely and look to the future, constructively manage differences and disputes, and take care of the big picture of China-Japan relations," Li said. He called on the two sides to expand economic and trade relations, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and further strengthen people-to-people exchanges. Iwaya said that Japan is willing to make joint efforts with China to strengthen exchanges at all levels, especially people-to-people exchanges, promote mutually beneficial cooperation and improve public opinion toward each other, comprehensively advance strategic relations of mutual benefit, and build constructive and stable Japan-China relations. Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) By Ignatius Igwe His visit comes a day after a fighter jet mistakenly bombed two communities in the Silame Local Government Area of the state, killing at least 10 innocent villagers and injuring several others. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, on Thursday visited Sokoto State. Addressing journalists at the Giginya Cantonment Sokoto, the CDS reiterated that the Nigerian Government will not allow any foreign base to use its soil to attack neighboring countries. Musa said the military tried to avoid mistakes from the operation in Silame LGA, adding that investigation would be launched into the matter. We have individuals that still harbour those people and once you do that, you make yourself a target, he said. Our appeal is please do not allow them hang around you, do not give them any support in whatever means. The CDS called on residents not to harbour criminals in their communities and admonished media practitioners not to be used as a tool for promoting bandits. The incident that happened yesterday is an operation we conducted. We followed up and ensure we avoided mistakes as much as possible. If there were other mistakes that came up, we will investigate. From what we have seen, there were criminals in that place. Anybody that toyed with them was part of them. We want to appeal to the media, always understand that those guys want to use the media to send their message across. That is what it is dangerous not to agree to what they are saying. General Musa stated that regardless of the airstrikes, the military would continue with its operations and would not relent in fighting criminal elements. He explained that the military would avoid civilian casualties as long as even they do avoid staying where the criminals are. It makes the job extremely difficult if we say wherever they are with the criminals, we avoid. If you are not with them, please leave their area and come out so that it gives us the ability to deal with them decisively. He also used the opportunity of his visit to have Christmas lunch with the troops of Operation Fansan Yamma, an operation aimed at ridding the state of bandits. Gov Visits Communities Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has visited the two communities that were bombed by the military fighter jets. The governor defied the difficult terrain of the village and joined other residents for the funeral prayers for the dead victims. He donated ?20 million to support the families of those affected by the incident. He was accompanied by the All Progressives Congress (APC) leader in the state, Senator Aliyu Wamakko and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi. The governor sympathised with the community and described the incident as unfortunate. The military jets were on their mission to eliminate criminals armed groups terrorizing the state, and mistakenly bombed innocent people of this community, he said. We consider this as a mistake because the same military had on several occasions successfully raided so many criminal hideouts in the state. A rebel fighter walks in a military base in the capital Damascus on December 26, 2024. (Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP) Syrias new authorities launched an operation in a stronghold of ousted president Bashar al-Assad on Thursday, with a war monitor saying three gunmen affiliated with the former government were killed. Assad fled Syria after an Islamist-led offensive wrested from his control city after city until Damascus fell on December 8, ending his clans five-decade rule and more than 13 years of civil war. Syrias new leaders from Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) face the monumental task of safeguarding the multi-sectarian, multi-ethnic country from further collapse. Rooted in Syrias branch of Al-Qaeda, a Sunni Muslim jihadist group, HTS has moderated its rhetoric and vowed to ensure protection for minorities, including the Alawite community which Assad hails from. With 500,000 dead in the war sparked by Assads crackdown on democracy protests and more than 100,000 missing, the new authorities have also pledged justice for the victims of abuses under the deposed ruler. On Thursday, state news agency SANA said security forces launched an operation against pro-Assad militias in the western province of Tartus, neutralising a certain number of armed men. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, three gunmen linked with Assads government were killed in the operation. It comes a day after 14 security personnel of the new authorities and three gunmen were killed in clashes in the same province when forces tried to arrest an Assad-era officer, according to the Observatory. The Britain-based monitor said the wanted man, Mohammed Kanjo Hassan, held the position of director of the military justice department and field court chief at the notorious Saydnaya prison complex. It said he had issued death sentences and arbitrary judgements against thousands of prisoners. Hate or revenge The Saydnaya complex, the site of extrajudicial executions, torture and forced disappearances, epitomised the atrocities committed against Assads opponents. The fate of tens of thousands of prisoners and missing people remains one of the most harrowing legacies of his rule. During the offensive that precipitated Assads ousting, rebels flung open the doors of prisons and detention centres around the country, letting out thousands of people. In central Damascus, relatives of some of the missing have hung up posters of their loved ones, in the hope that with Assads ouster, they may one day learn what happened to them. World powers and international organisations have called for the urgent establishment of mechanisms for accountability. But some members of the Alawite community fear that with Assad gone, they may be at risk of facing attacks from groups hungry for revenge, or driven by sectarian hate. On Wednesday, angry protests erupted in several areas around Syria, including Assads hometown of Qardaha, over a video showing an attack on an Alawite shrine that circulated online. The Observatory said that one demonstrator was killed and five others wounded after security forces opened fire to disperse the crowd in the central city of Homs. We want peace The transitional authorities appointed by HTS said in a statement that the shrine attack was not recent, and that it dated back to the time of the liberation of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo early this month. The interior ministry said the attack was carried out by unknown groups and that republishing the video served to stir up strife among the Syrian people at this sensitive stage. Images from the coastal city of Jableh, north of Tartus, showed large crowds in the streets, some chanting slogans including Alawite, Sunni, we want peace. We are calling for those who attacked the shrine to be held to account, said protester Ali Daoud. The Observatory said the protests erupted after a video began circulating Wednesday showing an attack by fighters on an important Alawite shrine in the Maysaloon district of Syrias second city Aleppo. It said five workers were killed and that the shrine was set ablaze. Assad long presented himself as a protector of minority groups in Sunni-majority Syria. In the city of Latakia, protester Ghidak Mayya, 30, decried violations against the Alawite community. For now we are listening to calls for calm, he said, warning that too much pressure on the community risks an explosion. Fabrice Balanche, a Middle East expert from Frances University Lumiere Lyon 2, estimated the Alawite communitys numbers at around 1.7 million, or around nine percent of the Syrian population. The Alawites were very close to Bashars regime, he said. Their association with the regime risks provoking collective revenge against them even more so as Islamists consider them heretics. Kenya is grappling with a surge in gender-based violence, logging more than 7,100 reported cases since September 2023, according to official data. Among these are 100 documented murders of women just since August. The new figures include the story of Sarah Wambui, who was brutally attacked by her husband of 20 years. She suffered 38 stab wounds, which severely damaged her kidney and liver. Although she left the hospital in August, she continues to live in fear, as her husband remains at large and allegedly threatens her life. Public outrage reached a breaking point two weeks ago, when protesters gathered in Nairobi to demand justice and decisive government action. Police responded with tear gas, dispersing crowds and making arrestsmoves criticized by human rights advocates. Many activists argue that the reported statistics are likely to be an undercount, as countless cases go unreported or undocumented. Acting Interior Minister Musalia Mudavadi has acknowledged the crisis, confirming that Nairobi County recorded the highest number of cases, whereas more remote regions like Samburu and Mandera reported fewer incidents. He further stated that investigations into most of the murders have concluded, although they await court proceedings. Advocacy groups stress that entrenched patriarchal norms and economic hardship have exacerbated the problem, with one in three Kenyan women experiencing sexual violence before age 18. In response, the government has formed a special security unit to curb the violence and streamline justice. However, activists insist more comprehensive steps are needed, calling for stronger laws, faster prosecutions, and broader social reforms to protect women and girls. King Mohammed VI has sent a message of congratulations to President of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed Younes El-Menfi, on his countrys Independence Day. In this message, the King welcomed the ties of brotherhood and cooperation binding Morocco and Libya, and reiterated the Kingdoms commitment to further reinforce and develop bilateral relations, in order to meet our aspirations and the shared ambitions of our two peoples. The Monarch also expressed his warm congratulations to El-Menfi and his sincere wishes for further progress and prosperity to the Libyan people, in security and stability. Over 1,500 inmates escaped during a riot in the high-security Machava prison near in Mozambiques capital Maputo that left 33 people dead and 15 injured on Wednesday (25 December), according to police general commander Bernardino Rafael. About 1,534 people escaped during the massive prison break, of whom about one tenth have since been recaptured. The escape occurred amidst escalating post-election unrest following the Constitutional Councils confirmation of Daniel Chapos election win. Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who reportedly received 24% of the votes, rejected the election results as rigged and called for more protests across the country. The escape started when protestors stormed the compound, which led to violent clashes between the fugitives, prison staff, and police, resulting in 33 deaths and 15 injuries. Machava prison houses high-risk inmates, including jihadists associated with armed groups operating in Cabo Delgado, Mozambiques northernmost province. At least 30 jihadists are reported to be among the escapees, including one individual classified as highly dangerous, raising security concerns. Protesters also stormed several other prisons elsewhere in the country, with dozens more inmates escaping. The post-election unrest in Mozambique also effects neighboring countries. Zimbabweans living in border regions near Mozambique are reported to be gripped by fear as violent protests continue to escalate across the border, prompting Zimbabwean authorities to closely monitor the situation. The escalating tensions also prompted South Africa to close its Mozambique border. Mauritania has joined the International Partnership on Information and Democracy, reaffirming its dedication to global efforts to enhance democracy and protect freedoms. Through this initiative, the country aims to collaborate with other nations and organizations committed to advancing these shared goals. El Houssein Ould Medou, Minister of Communication and Government Spokesperson, highlighted Mauritanias progress in press freedom, attributing it to reforms introduced by President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El-Ghazouani. Our country has made significant strides in press freedom, particularly after the establishment of the High Commission for the Reform of the Media Sector in 2020 and the governments adoption of its recommendations, he said, on December 24. These reforms have brought notable advancements to Mauritanias media environment, including stronger media laws, broader freedoms, better conditions for journalists, and a commitment to providing citizens with diverse, professional, and high-quality information. By joining the International Partnership on Information and Democracy, and actively supporting its principles, the Mauritanian government seeks to enhance international cooperation in safeguarding media freedom, the minister added. Mauritania aims to establish meaningful collaborations with countries and organizations that uphold human values, ensure access to accurate information, and combat the spread of fake news. The International Partnership on Information and Democracy, launched on September 26, 2019, was created to tackle the challenges posed by disinformation and its threats to democratic governance. This initiative unites governments, civil society, academics, and media professionals around key objectives, including combating false information, promoting freedom of expression, encouraging policies that enhance information literacy, and fostering international cooperation. Founded by RSF and France, the partnership has grown to include 55 member countries. Mauritanias participation reflects its commitment to global democratic values and its aspiration to build a well-informed, resilient society. In branding peaceful political opponents as terrorists and acting in connivance with some extremist groups in the Sahel, Algeria steadily eroded its credibility as a reliable partner in the global effort to eradicate terrorism. Connivance In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the Algerian regime marketed itself as a western ally in the war on terror, to sugarcoat itself and derail international attention from the violations of the regime during the bloody civil war in which at least 200,000 people died. Thanks to western support, Algeria, the hotbed of terrorist groups in all north Africa and the Sahel, managed to export the most potent terrorist groups to its neighbors in the east (Tunisia and Libya) and the south (Mauritania, Mali, Niger and the wider Sahel). In September this year, Malis representative Issa Konfourou to the UN in New York has openly accused Algeria of backing terrorist groups in the restive north. Mali and other Sahel countries have for years been battling terrorist groups with roots in Algeria. Chief among these is Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, which emerged from the Group for Preaching and Combat, a group led by fighters in the Algerian bloody decade. The ambivalence of Algeria with regard to collective anti-terrorism efforts in the Sahel stems from its connivance with some terrorist leaders in the region. Algeria has a long history of nurturing connivance between Algerian security services and some terrorist groups This dates back to the black decade in the 1990s when the domestic intelligence service (DRS) used extreme GIA members to discredit the FIS Islamists. Many of the groups wreaking havoc in the Sahel have former GIA fighters or leaders. Algeria has also used terrorist leaders in the Touareg community such as Iyad Ig Ghali to keep both the nationalist ambitions of the Touaregs in Mali and the central government in Bamako in check. Algerias unilateral approaches and patronizing attitude with its Sahel neighbors have so far backfired. Instead of being invited to key security meetings, Algeria is isolated more than ever by its Sahel neighbors. Due to its stance on terrorism in the region, relations between Bamako and Algiers are at their worst ever. Meanwhile, Algeria has turned a blind eye on the connections between the Polisario and terrorist groups in the region, which both engage in all sorts of trafficking to sustain their operations, taking advantage of porous borders and Algerian protection. Sham terrorism charges to silence dissent Algeria has also been using sham terrorism charges and designations to silence political opponents and groups. In its most recent terrorism report, the US State Department said that the designation of the Kabylie independence movement as terrorist was politically motivated. The Algerian government has also branded the Rachad Islamic opposition group as terrorist. A designation that was rejected by the US State Department. Both MAK and Rachad have their leaders in exile, mostly in France and the UK and have never called for violent acts. The French government also dismissed as a fictitious, Algerias claims that French agents were preparing a terrorist plot in the country. International observers, including UN experts, have raised concerns about Algerias use of anti-terrorism laws to crackdown on dissidents, activists, and human rights organizations. These actions have been described as part of a broader strategy to maintain control and silence critics. As the Algerian repressive regime continues to use terrorism to silence dissent, the west will have to review its anti-terrorism cooperation with Algiers. The broadlines of the social state initiative championed by Moroccos King Mohammed VI were highlighted before the 44th session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs, organized by the Arab League in Manama, Bahrain. Moroccos Secretary of State in charge of Social Integration, Abdeljabbar Rachidi, who presented the initiative explained that it aims to promote human development and ensure a dignified life for all citizens through a series of programs, including the universalization of social protection. This initiative also includes the universalization of medical coverage via mandatory basic health insurance, a direct social assistance program, the reform of pension systems, and a housing assistance program. Rachidi elaborated on various programs and public policies initiated by the Ministry of Solidarity, Social Integration, and Family Affairs to promote the economic and social rights of women, children, and the elderly, as well as the socio-economic integration program for people with disabilities. He highlighted Moroccos commitment to joint Arab action, noting that strengthening Arab cooperation and sharing experiences and expertise will address development challenges based on the values of freedom, democracy, equality, dignity, justice, and respect for human rights. Furthermore, he noted that the 44th session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs is being held in a regional context facing numerous challenges. In this regard, he underscored Moroccos consistent positions on the Palestinian issue, underlining that King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, places the Palestinian issue as a cornerstone of the Kingdoms foreign policy. The session, chaired by Bahrain, was attended by Arab ministers and officials in charge of social affairs, along with representatives of specialized Arab and international organizations. Discussions focused particularly on reviewing the outcomes of the high-level event on productive families and entrepreneurship, held on Tuesday in Manama. The event resulted in recommendations aimed at supporting entrepreneurial projects and achieving effective social inclusion. Bahraini Minister of Social Development Oussama bin Saleh Al Alawi, who chaired over the session, stressed the importance of benefiting from technological progress to improve social services and called for coordinated efforts to foster social protection strategies, particularly for the most vulnerable categories. The Bahraini official also stressed the need to implement decisions agreed upon in cooperation with member states and the Councils technical secretariat. National COSH, ASSP Respond to Latest BLS Data on Worker Fatalities National COSH and ASSP respond to new workplace fatality data, urging stronger safety measures and addressing systemic disparities. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics release of the 2023 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) has prompted renewed calls for action from workplace safety advocates. The report revealed 5,283 workplace fatalities last year, a 3.7 percent decrease from 2022. However, organizations such as the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) and the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) emphasize that the numbers remain high and highlight preventable hazards. Jessica E. Martinez, executive director of National COSH, pointed to systemic inequities and the need for stronger protections. Workers know their jobs. They know where the hazards are and how to eliminate them, Martinez said in a statement. Every worker deserves to come home safe and sound at the end of every shift. The way to achieve that goal is to listen to workers, take action and put their ideas into practice Martinez called for enforceable protections through union contracts or empowered workplace safety committees and new regulations addressing hazards like extreme heat, infectious diseases, and workplace violence. She also noted that many workplace fatalities, including those related to long-term occupational illnesses, go unreported. ASSP President Pam Walaski also called for proactive measures. Most occupational incidents are preventable given todays technologies and proven safety and health strategies, Walaski said in a statement. She highlighted the importance of adopting voluntary national consensus standards which can transform safety programs from compliance-based cost centers into corporate sustainability initiatives that save lives. The ASSP also promotes prevention through design, embedding safety into workplace planning, and fostering partnerships with research and sustainability organizations. These measures aim to transform safety programs from compliance-based models into initiatives that save lives and improve organizational outcomes. Both organizations agree that the reduction in fatalities is progress, but more work is needed to ensure all workers return home safely. Black workers faced a fatality rate of 3.6 per 100,000 full-time workers, slightly above the national average of 3.5, while Hispanic or Latino workers had a rate of 4.4. Over two-thirds of fatalities among Hispanic or Latino workers involved immigrants, underscoring safety disparities. Details on the 2023 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries are on the BLS website. It has been an eventful year for world energy: oil supply jump scares in the Middle East, a surge in electricity demand, and a nuclear renaissance were all among the hallmarks of 2024, along with a pickup in natural gas demand. All of these trends appear set to continue into 2025, along with increasingly severe challenges on the path of the energy transition. In oil, 2024 was an interesting year, with OPEC and the International Energy Agency vastly differing in their forecasts about demand for the commodity that underpins the global economy. Other analysts also disagreed, leaving traders stuck between actual fundamentals and predictions based on unproved assumptions, such as the adoption rate of electric cars, which has been weakening everywhere except in China. Speaking of demand and China, the latter was the key driver of oil prices this year. Almost every report on oil price changes featured the phrase concern about Chinese demand in its ledeunless it featured the latest from the Middle East, the supply-side driver of oil prices for the year. Chinese demand growth this year apparently underwhelmed, disappointing traders who expected it to continue growing at double-digit percentage figures forever. Whats more, several stimulus packages announced by the government in Beijing did not immediately lead to a surge in oil demand, which contributed to the oil price depression. Even the latest import figures, which suggested oil imports are picking up after several weak months, did not change market sentiment, as the full-year average rate of import is set to be lower than the average for 2023. While traders watched China for red flags in demand, the war between Israel and Hamas expanded to the point where Israel and Iran exchanged direct strikes, temporarily reigniting fears of an oil supply disruption. However, both decided not to push it eventually, and those fears dissipated, to be replaced once again by concern about Chinese demand, even as some analysts warned that oil demand is being mispriced due to the work of trading algorithms and that a correction was looking over the oil market. While traders worried about demand in China, the oil industry in the United States was busy consolidating. The merger and acquisition spree that began last year continued this year, with several billion-dollar deals in the shale patch, leading Enverus to suggest that 2024 could surpass 2023 in terms of total deal value. In the third quarter of the year, however, the pace of M&A dealmaking slowed down as buyers basically started running out of targets. Speaking of the shale patch, it was a key talking point for oil price forecasters this year, as usual, but with a twist. Following Donald Trumps landslide victory in the November elections, a lot of oil market forecasters expected the U.S. oil industry to double down on production growth. It did not take long for the industry itself to dispel the illusion. None other than Exxons CEO said there would be no Drill, baby, drill unless international oil prices justified such a strategy. Exxon, along with Chevron, meanwhile, ventured into a new business segment: power generation. Another defining trend of 2024 is that demand for natural gas is soaring as the demand for electricity soars on the proliferation of data centers as Big Tech pursues its artificial intelligence ambitions. Indeed, earlier in the year, the surge in demand for electricity caught power utilities unawareand that surge will intensify in the coming years. This is where natural gas suppliers come in, and this is why the prospects for natural gas for the medium term are a lot brighter than those for crude oil. This is also why there is talk about a nuclear renaissance. Wind and solar, the twin pillars of the energy transition, have not been doing very well lately. New additions are slowing down because developers are struggling to absorb higher costs and lower subsidies, and they are also struggling with increasingly frequent negative electricity prices resulting from overproduction during periods of strong sunshine or wind. Some governments, like the one in the UK, are stepping up their transition efforts with higher subsidies that will be passed on to consumersa risky move for people who came into power promising to lower bills. Others are staying put because the subsidy money is running out. Yet ambitions for low-carbon electricity are very much alive, which is where nuclear comes in. Offering the best of both worlds, namely baseload electricity and no emissions, nuclear is drawing well deserved attention. There is, however, a problem with it, and that problem is that it takes years to build a conventional nuclear power plant. This is why small modular nuclear reactors made headlines this year as a faster alternative to those conventional plants, and they will probably continue making headlines until they are proven a viable alternative of the large facilities. For now, however, its conventional nuclear on the table and plans are already being drawn for gigawatts of new capacity. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Many airports around the globe are now powered by wholly renewable energy, as the aviation and buildings sectors strive to decarbonize in line with aims for a green transition. The International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and several other international bodies are encouraging developers to reduce the carbon footprint of their airports to support international climate goals. The ICAO released a toolkit entitled A Focus on the Production of Renewable Energy at the Airport Site that offers developers advice on how to decarbonize airports. It refers to the Paris Agreement aims to keep a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, which requires significant decarbonization efforts to take place across all sectors. The document is aimed towards states, civil aviation authorities, and airports, and is the first in a series of practical and ready-to-use information documents to support the planning and implementation of airport infrastructure projects that envisage significant environmental benefits. The toolkit has been used by airport developers worldwide to support decarbonization efforts and develop more environmentally friendly airports. In India, a reported 80 airports are operating on entirely renewable energy. The Airports Council International has accredited airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru as carbon neutral. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has supported the installation of solar energy projects on-site at several airports across the country. Multiple airports have adopted green building standards, invested in fleets of electric vehicles (EVs), and installed energy-efficient air conditioning systems, lighting, and other equipment. According to a press release from the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation, the governments Flexible Use of Airspace initiative helped reduce carbon emissions by 90,000 tonnes between 2020 and 2023. The Implementation of 2017 Central Air Traffic Flow Management helped reduce delays and optimize capacity, resulting in lower fuel consumption and a decrease in emissions. In Australia, CS Energy and Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) recently entered a seven-year agreement to power two of the countrys busiest airports using wholly renewable sources of energy from 2025. Gold Coast and Townsville airports on the east coast of Australia, which handle more than 8 million passengers a year, will be shifting to green in support of sustainable tourism aims. The two airports are set to undergo a significant expansion to prepare them for a significant increase in passenger traffic ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. QAL has announced aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030 by offsetting almost 90 percent of the companys Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. In June 2024, Investment Fund Managers Investors and Queensland Investment Corporation, which have assets including Sydney and Adelaide airports, signed a $467 million renewable energy pact. The multi-state power purchase agreement will ensure the supply of over 500 GWh of green power annually to the companies infrastructure assets. In the U.K., in 2019, Bristol Airport announced plans to make its operations carbon-neutral by 2025 by using 100 percent renewable energy. The Danish energy company rsted agreed to deliver 17 million kWh of annual electricity to the airport, generated from wind power, in a three-year agreement. This was expected to decrease Bristol Airport's carbon emissions by 14,000 tonnes over three years. London Gatwick Airport has also transitioned to using wholly renewable electricity, while Heathrow Airport aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. In the U.S., in 2019, Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport in Tennessee became the countrys first airport to be powered by 100 percent solar energy. The airport's 2.64-MW solar farm was developed with around $5 million in funding from the Federal Aviation Administration. At the time of the announcement, Terry Hart, the former CEO of the Chattanooga Airport, stated, This project has immediate benefits to our airport and community, and were proud to set an example in renewable energy for other airports, businesses and our region. While generating a local renewable resource, we are also increasing the economic efficiency of the airport. In November this year, Boise Airport in Idaho announced that it had also shifted to 100 percent renewable energy sources. The City of Boise signed an agreement to power its airport using energy from the Black Mesa Energy solar project. Indianapolis International Airport is now home to one of the biggest airport-based solar farms in the world, providing enough power to supply 10,000 homes annually. Meanwhile, Denver International Airport produces over 10 MW of power via its solar installations. According to a 2020 study by the University of Colorado, 20 percent of public airports in the U.S. had adopted solar panels in some capacity. While several airports around the globe have already shifted to green, there is no comprehensive effort for airport developers to transition to wholly renewable energy sources to power facilities. Better international guidelines and stricter national regulations could encourage greater cooperation from airports and help decarbonize facilities. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The renewable revolutions biggest superheroes are at risk of turning into its biggest villains. For years, Silicon Valleys biggest players have been among the most vocal and most deep pocketed proponents of clean energy investment. But now, thanks to the runaway energy demand driven by artificial intelligence, Big Techs emissions are sharply on the rise and its lofty decarbonization goals are becoming ever more far-fetched. The bigwigs behind tech companies including Google, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI are now pushing harder than ever for greater deployment of renewable energy infrastructure and increased research and development of novel clean and alternative energies, but keeping up with the voracious energy appetite of AI is a tall order. Googles 2024 Environmental Report revealed that the companys greenhouse gas emissions have surged nearly 50% since 2019, driven by the massive expansion of AI use in the companys operations. As a result, the company now publicly recognizes that its own ambitious goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2030 is becoming increasingly challenging if not impossible to achieve. AI-powered services involve considerably more computer power - and so electricity - than standard online activity, prompting a series of warnings about the technology's environmental impact, the BBC recently reported. A study published earlier this year by scientists at Cornell University found that generative AI systems like ChatGPT use up to 33 times more energy than standard computers running task-specific software, and each and every AI-powered internet query (e.g., a Google search) consumes about ten times more energy than a traditional query. And AI is quickly becoming the norm. As a result, the amount of energy needed to sustain the AI sectors growth is doubling about every 100 days. At this rate, the AI sector alone could be responsible for a whopping 3.5 percent of global energy consumption by 2030, according to some expert projections. When you look at the numbers, it is staggering, Jason Shaw, chairman of electricity regulator Georgia Public Service Commission, told the Washington Post earlier this year. It makes you scratch your head and wonder how we ended up in this situation. How were the projections that far off? This has created a challenge like we have never seen before. In order to counteract the runaway train of AI energy consumption, Big Tech companies are throwing their weight behind as-yet underexplored and underdeveloped clean energy alternatives such as nuclear fusion, nuclear fission, and geothermal energy. Geothermal, which has recently become a far more feasible option for all terrains thanks to drilling technology borrowed from the fracking sector, has emerged as a popular choice. Meta and Alphabet are among the major tech companies partnering with geothermal startups to power their data centers. Geothermal companies are popping up around the country and particularly in Texas, due to an abundance of identified geothermal resources, 1-stop shopping permitting process and our regulatory certainty according to Matt Welch of the Texas Geothermal Energy Alliance (TxGEA). While geothermal offers virtually limitless clean with relatively low overhead costs, the upfront costs of developing geothermal resources are considerable. That has soured some of the initial enthusiasm, with limited investments so far, Reuters recently reported. Analysts estimate just over $700 million in financing has been contributed to overall geothermal projects since 2020, the report added. The outlook for geothermal is also dimmed by what is setting up to be a significant natural gas boom. The oil industry is currently doubling down on natural gas production, and the incoming presidential administration is certain to provide a significant boost to the sector. The result is an energy landscape that new geothermal projects will have an extremely difficult time being cost competitive in. By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Rio Tinto recently struck a deal to acquire Arcadium Lithium for $6.7 billion. The acquisition represents a significant wager by the miner on EV growth in the futurebut it comes as EV demand has slackened off and lithium demand has followed. It could be a $6.7-billion mistake. Then again, it could be a long-term play for dominance in a key sector of the energy system of the future. Rio Tinto first announced the acquisition in October, offering a 90% premium to the UK-based lithium producers share price at the time of the offer. The deal was part of a plan to establish a global leader in energy transition commodities, from aluminum and copper to high-grade iron ore and lithium, Rio Tinto said at the time. The company also noted that With spot lithium prices down more than 80% versus peak prices, this counter-cyclical acquisition comes at a time with substantial long-term market and portfolio upside, underpinned by an appealing market structure and established jurisdictions. All that is well and good, and, after all, even Big Oil majors are building a presence in lithium as part of their transition diversification drive, fueled by activist investors, non-investing activists, and transition-dedicated governments. Exxon, notably, plans to spend a big chunk of some $20 billion earmarked for transition investments between 2022 and 2027 on lithium expansion, eyeing enough output to supply batteries for 1 million EVs by 2030. Yet there is a problem with all that expansion. The problem is that demand for electric vehiclesthe biggest driver of lithium demandis not growing in accordance with assumptions and forecasts. Forecasters saw EV adoption boom on a straight upward curve the moment carmakers had more than a couple of models to offer. Carmakers have done their part of the deal, designing and manufacturing scores of EV models. But demand has slumped in two key marketsbecause subsidies are starting to run out. The markets are Europe and the United States, and basically, EV demand is being driven up globally by the one single market where they have turned into a big feature of the local fleet: China. These developments have not stopped forecasters from continuing with their bullish forecasts. S&P Global has become the latest to sound a note of optimism against a reality background that is not really conducive to such a sentiment. In a recent study, the ratings agencys mobility unit said it expected EV sales globally to rise by some 30% in 2025, hitting 15.1 million, The National reported. The study revealed Chinas EV market would grow the most, at 29.7% of the total forecast sales growth, followed by Europe, where EV sales are seen accounting for over 20% of the total, and the United States, where EV sales would represent 11.2% of the global total. It is quite possible that Rio Tinto has based its expansion plans on forecasts like the one above. There is virtually no pessimistic forecast for EV demand out there, and that is quite understandable. All of these forecasts are based on certain assumptions that are considered safe since they are assumptions derived from stated government policies. The trap lies in the fact that stated policies can and will be changed if they can no longer be pursued. Earlier this month BloombergNEF reported that the price of lithium-ion battery packs had seen the sharpest price drop since 2017, hitting a record-low of $115 per kW. The decline, BloomnergNEF wrote, was driven by cell manufacturing overcapacity, economies of scale, low metal and component prices, adoption of lower-cost lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, and a slowdown in electric vehicle sales growth. All of this should be a red flag for Rio Tinto, especially the last factor. Yet it has not stopped the company from making its massive transition bet. Perhaps at some point, pro-transition governments will somehow find a new source of subsidies to give to carmakers and EV buyers to stimulate demand, like China has been doing for years. Perhaps they would make the step from subsidies to mandates to guarantee that demand, although that would be risky. For now, however, Rio Tintos deal looks like a risky bet than a certain win. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The US is already the largest LNG supplier to Europe, and could theoretically replace Russian LNG imports. Samantha Dart, co-head of global commodities research at Goldman, published a note to clients outlining five key questions and answers about the US-EU liquefied natural gas trade. This comes just days after President-elect Donald Trump threatened the EU with a barrage of tariffs unless Brussels ramped up purchases of American LNG. For context, last Friday, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "I told the European Union that they must make up their tremendous deficit with the United States by the large-scale purchase of our oil and gas. Otherwise, it is TARIFFS all the way!!!" Dart told clients that the US is already Europe's largest LNG supplier and a key source of supply growth. She said replacing Russian LNG with US LNG imports could raise shipping costs and European prices to incentivize re-routing cargoes. She said such a shift would have minimal impact on US LNG export revenues, as total export capacity remains fixed, adding exporters with long-term contracts with proposed US LNG projects would benefit. However, Europe's decarbonization strategy may limit the willingness of European companies to make long-term NatGas commitments with US exporters. Dart laid out key questions and answers about the US-EU LNG trade that help clients understand that US LNG Gulf exports can "theoretically" replace Russian NatGas flowing into the EU. How much US LNG is exported to Europe? US LNG exports averaged 91 mt over the past year (Dec23-Nov24), of which 47 mt or 51% were delivered to Europe. US LNG exports to Europe have grown significantly in levels and as a share of total US LNG exports since the European energy crisis in 2022, peaking in 2023 (Exhibit 1). Are US LNG volumes sold in the spot market or are they contracted? The vast majority of US LNG sales are under contract. That said, US contracts typically have flexible destination ports, in that the buyer is not obligated to deliver to a particular location. This allows buyers of US LNG to re-sell or re-direct cargoes to higher-paying destinations. This was evident during the European energy crisis, when European gas prices increased sharply relative to the rest of the world. Even as total US LNG exports grew, this worked as an effective incentive for US LNG deliveries to non-European destinations to contract by 41%, while European deliveries increased by 197%[1], as seen in Exhibit 1. What portion of European LNG imports come from the US? The US has become the single largest source of LNG to Europe, averaging 46% of imports into the region over the past 12 months (Exhibit 2). Most European LNG imports are sourced from Atlantic Basin suppliers to minimize shipping costs. Importantly, the US is also the primary source of likely European LNG import growth, based on long-term LNG contracts signed by European buyers since the start of the Ukraine war. US volumes contracted by European buyers in the period add to just under 16 mtpa, which is more than with any other single supplier globally (Exhibit 3). Can US LNG replace Russian LNG imports into the EU? Theoretically, yes. US LNG deliveries to non-EU countries are currently approximately 18 mtpa above the levels observed during the peak of the European energy crisis, suggesting there is enough flexibility in the market to replace Russia's current 17 mtpa of LNG exports to the region. However, such a reallocation of flows might offer little benefit, if any, to Europe or the US. Less optimal routes for LNG deliveries (for example, longer routes for Russian cargoes) would likely lead to higher freight costs. In addition, European import costs might go up in order to motivate the re-route of US cargoes that would have otherwise opted to deliver elsewhere. Total US LNG exports would also not increase as a result of this reallocation, given that US LNG export capacity would not be impacted in the process. How could Europe support growing US LNG exports? Additional long-term contracting by European buyers with proposed US LNG projects would be the most impactful measure the EU could take to support higher future US LNG exports, as this would increase the likelihood such contracted liquefaction projects reach a final investment decision (FID). As of now, the forward curve for European gas prices suggests new long-term US LNG export contracts are in the money through at least 2027 (Exhibit 4). That said, Europe's decarbonization goals might limit European companies' appetite for long-term commitments to grow natural gas use. In fact, when we look across all long-term LNG contracts signed since the start of the Ukraine war, European companies are far behind Portfolio player companies and Asia importers (Exhibit 5). It appears that Goldman believes Trump's 'America First' policy of replacing Russian LNG to Europe with American LNG is "theoretically" possible. By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Italys supermajor Eni has launched the worlds most powerful supercomputer outside the United States in a bid to boost its oil and gas exploration results, the Financial Times reported, adding that the company will also use the supercomputer to perform calculations to advance clean energy. Eni itself said back in November, when it introduced the supercomputer to the world, that the supercomputer will help it optimize industrial plant operations, enhance the accuracy of geological and fluid dynamics studies for CO2 storage, develop more efficient batteries, optimize the biofuel supply chain, and develop innovative materials for applications in biochemistry. The machine costs more than $100 million and ranks fifth among the worlds biggest and most powerful supercomputers, Eni said back in November. A lot of the other companies realised it would be more efficient to rent time on someone elses supercomputer, Thunder Said Energy analyst Rob West told the Financial Times in comments on the Eni news. This even includes the U.S. supermajors, Exxon and Chevron, which have been using the supercomputers at the U.S. National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Eni, however, has decided to stick with proprietary technology driving both its core oil and gas business and, apparently, its expansion into energy transition technology. For years, Eni has been taking a different approach to conventional and green energy development, unlike any of the other major international oil and gas firms. The Italian major is divesting or creating joint ventures to operate oil and gas assets internationally while grouping some low-carbon initiatives and projects into separate firms. Key to these spin-offs and the so-called satellite strategy are the separate balance sheets of the companies. The satellite model is an approach we have built to have additional funding sources to keep together the need to meet demand for traditional products, while also developing new, greener products, Enis chief financial officer Francesco Gattei told Reuters. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Finlands police and border patrol have boarded the Eagle S oil tanker, which is part of Russias shadow fleet while investigating the cause of an interruption of subsea power and data cables linking Finland with Estonia, Finnish police said on Thursday. The tanker, Eagle S, was traveling in the Baltic Sea under the flag of the Cook Islands and was fully loaded with unleaded gasoline, the Finnish police and other authorities said at a news conference, as carried by Bloomberg. The Eagle S was spotted to be missing its anchor and it could have been this missing anchor that has caused the damage to the subsea cable links. The Estlink-2 power link went offline on Wednesday afternoon. By early Thursday afternoon investigations were ongoing in both Finland and Estonia on the cause of the damage. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna on Thursday discussed the incidents involving submarine infrastructure with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, Tsahkna said in a statement. Damage to critical submarine infrastructure has become so frequent that it is difficult to believe this is accidental or merely poor seamanship. We must understand that damage to submarine infrastructure has become more systematic and thus must be regarded as attacks against our vital structures, the Estonian foreign minister said. Cant rule out deliberate damage to the cable, Tsahkna posted on X. Estonia is also in touch with its other allies and partners to coordinate international cooperation, the minister said, adding that identifying all circumstances related to the incidents required a joint effort from countries. In addition to circumventing sanctions, the shadow fleet is a security threat in the Baltic Sea and we cannot just sit and watch, Tsahkna said. The investigation is in its early stages, the foreign minister said on Thursday, but noted that it is positive that the Cook Islands-flagged vessel EAGLE S, which according to initial reports may have had an unsecured anchor, has been escorted into a Finnish port by the Finnish authorities. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Indias oil demand growth is expected to exceed Chinas for the first time in 2024, and continue in 2025. According to Kang Wu, global head of macro and oil demand research at SPGCI, Indias oil demand in the current year grew by 180,000 barrels per day, surpassing Chinas growth at 148,000 bpd. Indias oil demand is expected to increase by 3.2% Y/Y in 2025 compared to a 1.7% clip by China. Over the past couple of decades, China has carried the lions share of global oil demand growth thanks to the countrys remarkable economic boom. However, that is beginning to change. The factors that helped sustain Chinas rapid growth since the global financial crisis are unlikely to be replicated in the next decade, particularly in sectors of property construction and local government investment. Indeed, Chinas economic slowdown has mainly manifested in the property sectors decline, hardly surprising considering that the industry represented 20 to 25 percent of GDP at its peak. But China is now poised to lose its prominence in global oil markets. Chinas role as a global oil demand growth engine is fading fast, Emma Richards, senior analyst at London-based Fitch Solutions Ltd, has told The Times of India. According to the analyst, over the next decade, Chinas share of emerging market oil demand growth will decline from nearly 50% to just 15% while Indias share will double to 24%. But its not just a dramatic slowdown in its economy that will make China a less important player in global oil markets. The countrys booming EV sector will rapidly lower oil demand much faster than Indias: China sold 6.1 million EVs in 2022 compared with just 48,000 sold in India. India is nowhere near as aggressive with its clean energy push compared to China. Last year, Indias coal minister declared that the country has no intention of ditching coal from its energy mix any time soon. Minister Pralhad Joshi said that coal will continue to play an important role in India until at least 2040, referring to the fuel as an affordable source of energy for which demand has yet to peak in India. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Iraq plans to cut gas flaring next year and eliminate the practice of burning off associated gas at oilfields by the end of 2027, government officials have said. As of the end of 2024, Iraq, which is OPECs second biggest oil producer after Saudi Arabia, is capturing around 67% of the gas at its oilfields, Ezzet Saber Ismael, Iraqs deputy minister for gas affairs told Bloomberg in an interview published on Thursday. Earlier this week, Iraqs Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani chaired an energy policy meeting, at which officials discussed ongoing natural gas projects, the office of the Iraqi PM said. Current progress includes a significant reduction in gas flaring levels, reaching 67%, with projections to achieve 80% by the end of next year and complete elimination of flaring by the end of 2027, the office of the prime minister said in a statement. Iraq is one of the top ten countries in the world in terms of gas flaring, alongside Russia, Iran, Algeria, Venezuela, the U.S., Mexico, Libya, and Nigeria, according to estimates from the Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report by the World Bank. Iraq has recently launched initiatives to reduce gas flaring, aiming to capture and use the natural gas instead of wasting it. Despite being OPECs second-biggest producer and a major crude oil exporter, Iraq is importing natural gas including from Iran under a special U.S. waiver to meet its power generation needs. Last year, Iraq signed a major deal with Frances supermajor TotalEnergies to develop a Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP), which includes the recovery of flared gas on three oil fields in order to supply gas to power generation plants. Commenting on the agreement, the U.S. State Department said that the United States strongly supports Iraqs efforts to become more energy secure and minimize harmful emissions. Minimizing the current practice of gas flaring by capturing the massive amounts of methane being burned away will significantly reduce emissions, improve public health for Iraqis, and utilize captured gas to power Iraqs electrical grid, the State Department added. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Crude oil prices ticked higher today as traders turned optimistic following the latest news about Chinese government stimulus for consumer spending. Brent crude was trading at $73.80 per barrel at the time of writing, and West Texas Intermediate was changing hands for $70.32 per barrel, both up from opening in Asia, after the Chinese finance ministry announced a new package of funds to go into higher pensions, medical insurance, and consumer goods trade-ins. The stimulus move is the latest in a series aimed at supercharging the Chinese economy and, like all the stimulus reports before it, suggests higher oil demand, fueling the optimism of oil traders. Hopes for China's stimulus measures are supporting the market, Rakuten Securities analyst Satoru Yoshida told Reuters. Expectations that fossil fuel production and demand will expand after Donald Trump takes office as U.S. President next month are also bolstering oil prices, Yoshida added. The obvious caveats apply with reading too much into price action at this time of year, but those that are still putting orders through the market are net buyers, Pepperstone Group head of research Chris Weston told Bloomberg. In addition to the China stimulus news, the latest weekly report on U.S. crude oil inventories also played a part in strengthening oil buyers appetite for the commodity. The American Petroleum Institute reported on Tuesday that inventories had shed 3.2 million barrels in the penultimate week of 2024. The estimate from the Energy Information Administration is due out later today. According to a Reuters poll, crude oil inventories could dip by 1.9 million barrels, accompanied by declines in fuels, of which 1.1 million barrels are in gasoline and 300,000 barrels are in middle distillates. Looking at 2025, the same factors that drove oil prices this year will continue to drive them in the new year as well, with the notable addition of the Trump presidency, which is widely seen as bearish for prices due to his pro-oil and gas stance. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com There isnt time for a new gas transit deal to be reached between Russia and Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, who was quick to add that the lack of a deal was entirely Ukraines fault. Ukraine has so far refused to extend the gas transit deal currently in place that would see gas transit continue uninterrupted to Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakiaa refusal that Putin says only hurts Europe. The current gas transit deal began nearly five years ago and expires at the end of 2024, and if the deal does in fact expire without a new deal in place, it will indeed bring hardship to several European countries. According to Putin, the few days left in the year are not long enough to reach a new deal. The volume of natural gas that flows from Russia through Ukraine and onto Europe via the current pipeline deal is about 15 billion cubic meters, or less than 10% of the total volume Russia shipped to Europe pre-Russian invasion of Ukraine. Putin said Russia would be eager to bypass Ukraine if it werent for a lawsuit that makes it impossible, adding that Russia could supply gas to Europe through Poland via the Yamal pipeline. In early November, Russia urged Europe to negotiate a new deal with Ukraine so the Russian gas could continue flowing. At the time, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak was quick to point out that Russia had little to do with the negotiations between Ukraine and Europe that could halt the flow of Russian gas at the end of this year. Of course, in my opinion, the European countries that currently receive gas through this corridor are interested in continuing such cooperation," Novak told reporters "We are ready to supply (gas), but not much depends on us, so probably this should be negotiated directly between the users and the country through which the transit is provided." Last week, European Union leaders met in Brussels to discuss the issue of alternatives to Russian gas with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukraine has emphatically stated that it would not discuss the idea of continued Russian gas transit with Russia. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Russias domestic prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) were cut in half in December after an EU ban on imports took effect. EU sanctions on Russian LPG took effect on Dec. 20 a year after Poland--one of Russia's largest LPG importers--proposed them. LPG is mainly used as fuel for cars, heating and to produce other petrochemicals. The European Commission has proposed sanctions on Russia's LNG sector as part of Brussels 14th sanctions package against Russia. The proposed sanctions would prevent EU countries from re-exporting Russian LNG after receiving it and also ban EU involvement in upcoming LNG projects in Russia. However, the measures wouldnt directly bar Russian LNG imports to the EU. Similar to previous sanctions, the import ban is intended to disrupt Putins ability to continue financing his war in Ukraine. Although Russian LNG accounted for just 5% of the blocs energy consumption in 2023, it still netted the Kremlin ~$8 billion in revenues. The proposal also suggests prohibiting the use of EU ports, finance and services to re-export Russian LNG, essentially meaning that Russia would have to overhaul its LNG export model. Currently, Russia supplies LNG to Asia through Europe, where Spain, Belgium and France are major hubs. If they can't transship in Europe, they might have to take their ice-class tankers on longer journeys, Laura Page, a gas expert at the Kpler data analytics firm, has told Politico, adding that Russia may not be able to get out as many loadings from Yamal because their vessels cant get back as quickly. Russia is increasingly feeling the pain of a multitude of sanctions. According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), there was a 17% month-on-month increase in the discount on Urals grade crude oil in December to an average of $6.01 per barrel compared to Brent crude oil. CREA estimates that Russia has lost EUR 14.6 bn in revenues from Urals grade crude exports due to sanctions. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The end of China's export tax rebate and rising alumina prices are expected to influence aluminum prices in the coming months, while uncertainty looms over the market's future due to potential trade policy changes and geopolitical tensions. Despite a nearly 10% increase from the 2023 close, the aluminum market faced challenges due to slowing demand, trade barriers, and the closure of a major US aluminum producer. Aluminum prices experienced significant volatility in 2024, driven by factors such as Chinese policies, trade disputes, and supply chain disruptions. Via Metal Miner The Aluminum Monthly Metals Index (MMI) edged lower, with a 1.23% decline from November to December. Aluminum Prices: A Year in Review 2024 began on a low note for the aluminum market, as Q4 2023 witnessed a year-over-year drop in shipments as well as average selling prices for certain domestic suppliers. In its financial results, NorskHydro noted that challenging markets led to a weaker result. Meanwhile, exchange pricing appeared largely stable during 2023, which contrasted sharply with the volatility witnessed in 2024. Q1 Q1 proved mostly uneventful for aluminum prices, which mainly traded within the sideways range established during 2023. Service centers Reliance and Ryerson saw shipments rise from Q4 2023. However, volumes fell short of where they stood the previous year amid constrained demand conditions. Despite the largely flat quarter, the market experienced a few notable events: Disruptions in the Red Sea saw freight rates spike during Q1. While the impacts extended far beyond the aluminum market, the situation nonetheless affected the price of imports, limiting their competitive effect on domestic prices. Although it did not impact prices, the lackluster environment saw the U.S. lose one of its three primary aluminum producers, Magnitude 7 , which accounted for an estimated 30% of domestic primary aluminum capacity. Its closure left two remaining primary aluminum producers in the U.S., Alcoa and Century Aluminum, which operate a total of four smelters. Chinas dry season, which extends through April, appeared muted relative to other years. Chinese primary aluminum output also saw monthly output rise year over year, which offered no support to global aluminum prices. Q2 By the end of Q1, prices started to rally alongside other base metals. Aided by a substantial increase in long bets by investment funds, prices surged throughout Q2, breaking above their 2023 peak by late May. However, those spiking prices diverged strongly from the reality of the market. Both Ryerson and Reliance reported quarterly and year-over-year declines in shipments and average selling prices. Aluminum prices found a peak on May 29 at their highest level since June 2022. This milestone was aided by the copper reaching a peak several days earlier and a substantial delivery to LME inventories by Trafigura. Q2 also saw an escalation in trade barriers as the Biden administration announced new tariff rates for imports of certain Chinese aluminum products. Added on top of Section 232 tariffs, this increased rates from 7.5% to 25% in a bid to combat Chinese overcapacity. Despite this, Chinese output remained robust throughout the quarter. Q3 Aluminum prices opened Q3 with a sharp retracement. Prices finally found a bottom in late July, followed by an upside correction in the ensuing months. The Feds first rate cut since 2020, Chinese stimulus announcement and news of an impending port strike all appeared to factor into the moderate rise in aluminum prices from the end of Q2. Despite the jump in exchange prices, demand continued to slow for major distributors. Both Ryerson and Reliance reported seeing shipments and average selling prices retreat from Q3 2023 as consumer demand remained pressured. Meanwhile, the U.S. announced a 10% duty on aluminum imports from Mexico not melted and poured in Mexico. The move was a bid to prevent China from using Mexico as a backdoor for aluminum imports. Though it had no meaningful impact on import levels from Mexico in the following months, the duty nonetheless ramped up trade barriers directed at China. Q4 The late Q3 rally found its peak by early Q4 just beneath its Q2 high. Meanwhile, the port strike concluded (at least until January 15) after only three days. Therefore, the short-lived disruption showed no meaningful impact on domestic supply conditions. From there, prices mostly trended sideways during Q4, although they appeared increasingly bearish in the final weeks of December. Unlike other base metals, which declined during Q4, aluminum prices remained resilient. Chinas decision to end its 13% export tax rebate and surging alumina prices offered support. However, it remains to be seen whether the end of the tax rebate will push Chinese prices lower to maintain export demand or result in higher prices for end users. Nonetheless, Chinese aluminum exports hit their highest level since 2022, boasting a 37% rise during November ahead of the December 1 rebate termination. Meanwhile, alumina prices remained elevated by late December after several supply disruptions, including Guineas export halt. Alumina prices hold an 88% correlation to LME aluminum prices. While this does not necessarily mean higher alumina prices cause higher aluminum prices, tighter ore supply will nonetheless pressure producer margins, creating a higher aluminum price floor for smelters to remain operational. Aluminum Prices Up Almost 10% from 2023 Close By December 20, aluminum prices held an almost 10% premium over their 2023 closing price. Quarter-over-quarter price increases in Q2 and Q3 only aided this jump. Not surprisingly, Q2 proved to be the best-performing quarter, while Q1 stood as the worst. While it remains to be seen what will happen in 2025, volatility appears likely to persist as the Trump administration considers advancing trade barriers and shifting the U.S. approach to energy policy. By Nichole Bastin More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Marc Kraft left a mark on the city he loved as a member of the Omaha City Council and Douglas County Board and a business owner whose boosterism helped downtown Omaha survive and bounce back. Kraft, who died of heart failure on Dec. 14 at age 77, is being remembered for what he did for his hometown as an outspoken public figure, and quietly as an individual. Kraft championed the creation of Omahas first skate park at Roberts Park while a council member. He helped push through the citys no-smoking ordinance when it was a controversial concept. He fought to preserve Omaha Public Library funding when it was on the chopping block, and to keep long-term health care available at the Douglas County Health Center for people with little or no money. He was a champion of those who didnt get much respect anywhere else, whether it had to do with incarceration, or mental health, or whatever, he absolutely respected everybody, regardless of their circumstances, said former Douglas County Board Member Clare Duda, a close friend of Kraft. Kraft became something of a local celebrity in the early 1990s for his frequent and fervent declarations of a store jingle and Downtown Omaha Inc. promotional slogan. Were downtown, and we love it! he would say, always with the exclamation point. At the time, the subtext was that many people thought downtown Omaha was not that lovable. Many businesses had fled. Kraft owned and operated Kraft Discount Center at 16th and Leavenworth Streets. It was an outgrowth of the furniture store that his father, Leo Kraft, had started in 1947 on North 16th Street. The business changed and moved again to 25th and Farnam Streets before moving to 16th and Leavenworth in 1969. Marc Kraft started working for his father in the store at age 9. Kraft took over the business when Leo Kraft was elected to the Omaha City Council in 1977. His father had tried to encourage Marc to do something else than run the store. Marc, whose mother, Frances, was head of the Creighton University Art Department, got a degree from Creighton in mathematics. He helped put himself through college with his earnings as a drummer. In that, Kraft was tutored by Omaha great Luigi Waites, and he played in bands, said Krafts wife, Joan. He was a drummer and very proud of it, she said. Music was a big thing for both of us. All of our kids played an instrument. But neither mathematics nor drumming could compete with what Kraft described as his total fascination with the store. He ran it until closing it in 2011. Kraft Discount was once described by World-Herald columnist Robert McMorris as a flea market with a roof. It was filled with furniture, hardware and thousands of overstocked, antique, damaged, irregular and otherwise, odds and ends items. Kraft described the store and himself, in a 2011 World-Herald story, as a mix of the television shows American Pickers, Pawn Stars and Storage Wars. When he said were downtown and we love it, he really meant it, Duda said. Kraft, a Democrat, was elected to the Omaha City Council in 1997, and again in 2001. He served on the Douglas County Board from 2008 to 2020. The Robert Parks skate park, the first in Omaha, was one of his proudest accomplishments, Joan Kraft said. A group of young people were advocating for it in the 1990s. They encountered resistance from older Omahans and the powers that were. But they found an ear, and an advocate, in Kraft. Marc was key in getting Omahas first skatepark, Omaha businessman and skate park advocate Dave Nelson, who was one of those young boarders back then, wrote on Facebook. He was the one that suggested it in Roberts Park even. He always made us feel heard. He changed so many of our lives. Forever grateful of Marc. Duda recalled that Kraft was the strongest champion and ally that we could have hoped for in preserving the Douglas County Health Center when there was a move to privatize it. I think Marc preferred city council, because he thought there was more action there, Duda said. But because the county is the caregiver of last resort by definition, I thought he was a really good fit there, because that was his niche. He was a champion of the downtrodden. Kraft, like his father before him, often hired workers at the store who had criminal records or disabilities that made it hard for them to find jobs. Not all of those hires worked out, and some even stole from the store, but he kept giving people chances, Joan Kraft said. He also treated customers with respect regardless of how much money they had, she said. Kraft DC had regulars who were millionaires as well as customers who had little money, and Kraft treated them all the same, his wife said. An anecdote told at Krafts funeral at Temple Israel illustrated Krafts attitude, Joan Kraft said. Someone very poor came in and wanted to buy a pair of pants, she said. The man asked how much the pants were. Marc asked the man how much he had. The man pulled coins out of his pockets. Kraft told him thats just how much the pants cost. The man gave Kraft the coins. Kraft handed him the pants but first he put the mans coins into the pockets. Krafts survivors include Joan, his wife of 54 1/2 years; and their children Natasha Kraft, Chris Kraft and Alicia Mathews, all of Omaha, and Erika Scheele of Lincoln. By Taxpayers Association of Oregon OregonWatchdog.com What a coincidence. Three Portland headlines in a row as featured by the Oregon Watchdog news ticker tell a story. Portland is blowing a billion on unnecessary non-city projects like the climate action fund (negligible results) and a street car famous for being empty. Now they wish to expand the near-empty Portland street car to increase its failure. At the same time the City is saying they are under-funded by $27 million. It is all right there in the headlines. The Climate Action fund may be funded by a dedicated-revenue tax, but that does not mean that this billion and half is vital since no other city in America has such specific tax with such fund. Did you enjoy this article? If yes,please contribute online to support future articles at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty). By Oregon State Senator Brian Boquist, Highlights, excerpts from Sen. Boquist newsletter Portland Tribune. 12/20/24. State regulators approve more electricity rate hikes for Oregonians in 2025: Most Oregonians will pay about 50% more for electricity than they did just 5 years ago following rate increases from the states largest electric utilities The states Public Utilities Commission a three-person governor-appointed group charged with regulating the rates of privately owned utilities in Oregon approved To be clear, the Oregon Legislature controlled by Democrats have been adding environmental and climate requirements that have jacked your bill as well. If you go cold or cannot afford your heat complain to the Legislature. Oregon Capitol Insider. 12/19/2024. Oregon AG rolls out sanctuary information for immigrants before Trump takes office: Rosenblums release of the toolkit in English and Spanish is intended to inform immigrants as Oregon braces for likely increased federal immigration activity after President-elect Donald Trump Shes leaving office in January and former House Speaker Dan Rayfield is taking her place and has told the Capital Chronicle he expects to also have to file lawsuits against the Trump administration Are these two really lawyers under the authority of the courts? Or insurrectionists? Or do they want to secede from the United States with California and Washington? Dan Rayfield.com. 12/19/2024. Attorney General-elect Dan Rayfield Establishes Federal Oversight and Accountability Cabinet: Attorney General-elect Dan Rayfield announced today the establishment of the Federal Oversight and Accountability Cabinet. This is the anti-Trump team per local media. The whos who of unions and donors sounds like January 6th except it is Democrats? Apparently, they do not want federal funding so are they proposing secession? The U.S. Supreme Court is clear the USG can block funding to states when they violate federal laws. In fact, Oregon is arguing over hundreds of millions right now hence the special session a week ago. NDTV World. 12/21/2024. Joe Biden Administration Deports More Migrants Than Donald Trumps, Hits 10-Year High: the number of immigrants the largest number deported in nearly a decade, even surpassing the numbers during President-elect Donald Trumps first term in office. Could not find any AG Rosenblum or Rayfield lawsuits against Biden immigration deportations? Why not if they really oppose deportations? ICE continues to deport from Oregon today so what is different next year? The Center Square. 12/18/2024. Supreme Court unanimous ruling may pave way for mass deportation the federal government has the authority to deport illegal foreign nationals over the objection of local authorities This court case was decided on December 10, 2024 two weeks ago. Are Rosenblum and Rayfield defying the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court? The AG participated in lawfare thus should know the legal difference between insurrection or rebellion or treason? Mwakilishi. 12/19/2024. This Supreme Court decision follows a recent Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, which affirmed the federal governments right to deport undocumented immigrants regardless of local opposition. In addition, the Supreme Court had ruled earlier in June in favour of federal deportation policies in three consolidated cases thus reinforcing a strong approach to immigration enforcement. The question for Oregon citizens is will elected Democrats follow federal law or not? Oregons AG filed opposition briefs in Chevron then lost. The AGs understand the supremacy clause thus have no legal argument so why are they jeopardizing the receipt of billions in federal funds? This issue goes well beyond immigration! Oregon Catalyst. 12/202/2024. Senator Bonham: Koteks Unconstitutional Executive Order: Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles) issued a sharp rebuke of Governor Tina Koteks latest executive order mandating project labor agreements (PLAs) on state-funded construction projects, calling it an unconstitutional power grab and an insult to Oregons contractors. The Governors unilateral action will potentially inflate transportation costs by 20 to 30%. Additionally, the executive order contradicts current contracting statutes in ORS 279A.015, which require fair, open, and impartial competition for state contracts. Is the answer to the questions above simple: the elected Democrats do not follow the law? Democrats initiated lawfare as a political tool? Are elected Democrats openly racist against minority contractors as clamed just like they were in 1860? What has changed with the Democrats since Joseph Lane of Lane County ran on the Confederate ticket for Vice President against Lincoln? If you voted Democrat then you should be happy to pay more taxes. Forget the fact you voted against the Measure 118 sales tax. Your vote does not matter to your elected Democrats, or even neocons ether. Will you pay 35 cents more per gallon of gas to fund this agency as Kotek wants? Will you pay 70 cents per gallon more to give your money to cities and counties as well? Your mayor and county commissioners want more money too complain to them. ## Get the entire newsletter in your email box which includes the complete newsletter with more news: People can send questions, inquiries or newsletter subscriptions request to [email protected] or visit calloutthemedia.com to fill out the subscription form By Taxpayers Association of Oregon OregonWatchdog.com During Christmas Eve a vehicle crashed into a Portland residence which broke and ignited a natural gas line. This is said to be the 30th time a car has crashed upon the property. Contributing to the crash is how unsafe the nearby curve is handled by drivers. Neighbors complained but the City has not done anything to address this apparent re-occurring (30x) road hazard. Follow more at KGW-TV. Courageous Photo moment by Billy Grippo Phukets real estate market is gaining momentum in 2024, showing promising growth and potential. Lets explore the trends and factors driving this upward trajectory. Land Market Land Prices Continue to Rise Land prices in Phuket continue to show an upward trend, particularly in beachside areas such as Patong Beach, Kamala Beach, and Surin Beach. These locations are popular among both Thai and international investors. The demand for land for hotel, resort, and condominium developments remains high, leading to an average price increase of 5-10% annually in these areas. Secondary Areas Gaining Attention Areas further from the beaches, such as Cherngtalay, Thalang, and Kathu, are becoming increasingly popular. These locations offer more affordable land prices compared to beachfront areas and are suitable for mid- to low-priced residential developments. Housing and Condominium Projects Luxury Market Continues to Grow Luxury villa and premium condominium projects remain highly sought after by foreign buyers, particularly from Europe, China, and Russia. This demand stems from Phukets appeal as a destination for long-term stays or real estate investment. Cautious Growth in the Mid-Range Market The mid-range housing market, including single-family homes and townhouses priced between 3-10 million baht, is growing steadily but cautiously. This is due to the primary customer base being local Thais who often rely on financing for home purchases. Rising Demand for Affordable Housing in Outer Areas Affordable housing projects priced below 3 million baht are increasingly being developed in outer areas such as Thalang and Kathu. These projects cater to local residents and workers seeking to own their homes. Factors Influencing Trends Tourism Recovery The recovery of tourism following the COVID-19 pandemic is a significant factor driving increased demand for real estate in Phuket, particularly in the luxury segment and land near tourist attractions. Infrastructure Development Infrastructure improvements, such as the expansion of Phuket International Airport and the construction of a light rail transit system, enhance Phukets appeal as a regional business and tourism hub. Foreign Investment Government policies that facilitate investment, such as the introduction of long-term resident visas, have sparked interest from foreign investors, contributing to continuous growth in the real estate market. Conclusion The real estate market in Phuket continues to grow steadily, supported by the recovery of tourism, infrastructure development, and interest from both domestic and international investors. However, the mid-range and affordable housing markets face challenges related to local purchasing power, which may require government support and appropriate financing solutions to encourage growth in these segments. 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 The work of crafting reparations at the municipal level is fierce. Detroiters know. In November 2021, residents voted to create a reparations committee that would make recommendations for housing and economic development programs to address historical discrimination against Black residents. Three years have passedand Detroiters recently learned the report is delayed. Some folks are wondering: What is taking so long? We are a team of University of Michigan-based scholars of political science and sociology specializing in public opinion and attitudes toward reparations. Our research provides important context for understanding the challenges Detroit's reparations committee faces. Detroit's missed deadline The 13-member task force wasn't officially announced until February 2023. The two-year time lapse resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic and the unexpected passing in July 2022 of former City Council Member JoAnn Watsona pivotal advocate for reparations. Its membership included three co-chairs appointed by City Council President Mary Sheffield and nine at-large members selected by the council itself. The task force held its first meeting in April 2023. At that time, it was given 18 months to produce a report outlining harms experienced by Black Detroiters and recommendations for reparations. As the October 2024 deadline approached, however, many residents voiced concerns that the task force was not progressing quickly enough or being as inclusive as expected. When the deadline extension was announced, task force co-chair Keith Williams issued his own report. This unilateral decision prompted the task force to release a statement letting Detroiters know that Williams' report is not representative of the final report that is still in development. The official report is now due in March 2025. It's hard all over The challenges faced by Detroit's reparations task force are not unique to Detroit. In the past five years, 19 reparations initiatives have been introduced and passed in U.S. cities such as San Francisco, Evanston, Illinois, and Providence, Rhode Island. Every locality tasked with developing reparations recommendations has faced similar challenges. These include providing evidence of past and current harm, developing plans to rectify those harms, defining who is eligible to receive reparations benefits, and ensuring transparency in developing and implementing these programs. This is challenging work, requiring navigating bureaucratic systems and political constraints while dealing with public opinion. Nonetheless, in the absence of federal action, the country is experiencing a rise in reparations efforts enacted into local law, so figuring out what works is worth investigating. 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. Why achieving reparations is difficult Public policymaking requires a fine balance between what is administratively sustainable and what is politically acceptable. An administratively sustainable reparations policy requires a secured source of long-term funding, trained staff and established rules and procedures for efficient implementation. A politically acceptable reparations policy requires support and acceptance by relevant political figures and the general public. These two elements are frequently in tension. For example, a reparations committee could suggest reallocating money from a city's parks and recreation fund. That would be sustainable, but it is unlikely to be politically successful due to strong public opposition to interference with parks and recreation funding. The Detroit committee has not yet developed reparations recommendations. It has requested a harms report from a network of University of Michigan scholars and an ethnohistory of Detroit's Black community from scholars at Columbia University. These reports are now complete and will be used to assist the task force in crafting its reparations recommendations to city council. Another positive sign: Our research suggests it can expect goodwill from the public. Support for reparations in Detroit, including among white residents, is higher than the national average, increasing the likelihood of passing reparations initiatives and minimizing future legal pushback from non-Black residents. And yet, it is still true that if the committee fails to maintain a balance between sustainability and political success, it risks losing this crucial public support. So where can it turn for inspiration? Learning From Evanston So far, Evanston, Illinois, is the only city to succeed in providing reparations to its African American population. The city's US$10 million program is funded through a tax on the sale of recreational cannabis. The effort began in 2002 when Evanston City Council member Lionel Jean-Baptiste proposed a reparations plan. The plan didn't gain momentum until 17 years later when it was reintroduced by Councilwoman Robin Rue Simmons and passed. Just two years later, reparations were issued to a first group of Black residents who lived in Evanston between 1919 and 1969, or who are direct descendants of people who lived in the city then. Eligible residents received a $25,000 grant to be used for housing, including repairs on existing homes. As of January 2024, 117 qualified residents had received a total of $2,953,596. There is a waitlist for several hundred people who will receive money as it comes available. Critics of the Evanston program point out that the program helps only a handful of people in a city with more than 12,000 African American residents. Scholars Monique Newton and Matthew Nelsen argue that it did not adequately meet the needs of the Black people for whom it was intended to repair harm. The researchers found that many of the city's Black residents felt the program's focus on addressing homeownership left many residents behind. For example, Black renters in Evanston were less likely than Black homeowners to claim reparations funds. Newton and Nelsen noted that the initiative's quick work, "while well-intentioned, contributed to a policy that left many questions about eligibility, funding, and implementation unanswered and threatened the very viability of the policy." Many Black residents in Evanston wanted to see more than the enactment of a reparative policy. They wanted a reparative policymaking process, during which policymakers invested time into listening to local Black residents and who designed a policy that showed an attentiveness to their preferences, concerns and experiences in a way that most American policy does not. Implications for Detroit In our opinion, Detroit can build a reparations program that's fair and effective. This will mean taking the time to strike a balance between what's practical and what people will support. The task force's final report will need to consider funding feasibility, set up clear and obtainable steps for how the plan will work, and be transparent so the public can stay informed and confident in the process. The task force is taking a positive step by seeking more public engagement through surveys and hosting monthly two-hour, in-person meetings to engage the public. Despite criticisms of the task force's efforts so far, we feel going slow allows for more time to gather input from a broader range of Black voices, ensuring that diverse concerns are fully considered. By carefully creating its own course, Detroit's reparations task force can not only right historical wrongs but also set a positive example for other cities looking to do the same. 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: Vladimir Srajber from Pexels I am standing on a dune looking out to sea. It's 2024, but I'm thinking about a very different time. Hundreds of thousands of years ago, this 350 km stretch of southern African coast looked very different. It was home to giant zebra, bird species that are now extinct, giant tortoises and crocodiles. Our hominin ancestors roamed the area. We know some of these facts because of body fossils. But South Africa's Cape south coast is also home to another rich source of information, which our research team from the African Center for Coastal Palaeoscience at Nelson Mandela University has documented over the past 15 years: fossilized tracksites. These trace fossils date to the Pleistocene epoch, with ages ranging from 400,000 years to 35,000 years. Most of them are preserved in a rock type known as aeolianite (cemented dune surfaces). The tracksites are an example of what's known as geoheritage, which the Geological Society of South Africa calls a "descriptive term applied to sites (geosites) or areas of geologic features with significant scientific, educational, cultural, or aesthetic value." The importance of geoheritage is becoming increasingly recognized at a global level; for example, it is relevant to the United Nations' 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development goals, and Unesco's Global Geoparks "celebrate the links between geological heritage and all other types of heritage." Given our discoveries on the Cape south coast, as well as what other researchers have found in the West Coast National Park, about 120 km outside Cape Town, it's clear that South Africa is home to some remarkable geoheritage. In a recently published scientific paper we outlined this geoheritage, examined the threats it faces from both nature and human interference, and suggested how it could be preserved. These sites have almost certainly come and gone over previous centuries and millennia without our knowledge. However, now that we know about them and can appreciate them, scientists and heritage authorities have an obligation to celebrate, protect and preserve them as vitally important geoheritage items, and to raise awareness about this precious, newly discovered resource. Threats The Cape coastal sites are threatened on many fronts. Cliff collapse events expose new sites, while known sites slump into the sea or are eroded rapidly by wind, high tides and storm surges. In addition, humans find these surfaces attractive and engrave graffiti into them, potentially damaging the precious fossil tracksites. Many of the sites are of hominin origin. Some are ancestral human trackways; others preserve patterns made by our ancestors on dune surfaces that may be some of the oldest examples of art. These patterns, which we've dubbed ammoglyphs, have been reported only on the Cape coast and nowhere else in the world. They are therefore of global heritage value. One site even contains the oldest known fossil footprint attributed to our own species. I regard each of these sites as a miracle of preservation, of something that we are now able to recognize and interpret, against all the odds. We know what to look for and we know these surfaces have the capacity to record this priceless heritage. We just need to be vigilant and keep visiting this coastline, especially after storm surges or cliff-collapse events. Managing the sites Mixed with this good fortune, however, come problems, questions, and management challenges. Which sites require active management, and how should they be ranked in importance? What is the scientific and heritage value of the sites? Is physical recovery possible by helicopter or four-wheel drive, or is replication through digital technology the most appropriate route to follow? And if physical recovery is possible, are there suitable repositories for specimens? What if nothing is donehow significant are the threats to a site's integrity, and how accessible or remote is it? 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. In addressing these challenges, we came up with a ranking checklist. At a global level, such checklists are surprisingly rare; we are aware of only two examples. We used these as a basis for our checklist, modifying their criteria to be applicable to the Cape coast. Criterion categories included a site's uniqueness and scientific value, threats in the current location, accessibility and feasibility of recovery, research and education value, and the potential for post-removal care. The resulting checklist forms the basis for constructive collaboration with management authorities like national parks, provincial nature reserves, municipalities or private landowners, as well as national and provincial heritage authorities. Good working relationships between these roleplayers and scientific researchers are key if geoheritage sites are to properly handled and preserved. The published article and the ranking checklist are not an end in themselves. We hope they will provide a starting point for meaningful collaboration and discussion. 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: Australian firefighters battle blaze in Grampians National Park west of Melbourne. Australian authorities urged people in dozens of rural communities to leave home "immediately" Thursday to escape an out-of-control bushfire tearing through a national park. About 600 firefighters were battling the blaze in the Grampians National Park 240 kilometers (150 miles) west of Melbourne, a Victoria state emergency services spokesperson said. The blaze has persisted for more than a week in hot, windy conditions, scorching 55,000 hectares (136,000 acres)about one-third of the parkso far without causing deaths or destroying homes. State emergency services warned residents to leave home immediately in more than two dozen mostly small rural communities, with populations ranging from as few as six to as many as several hundred. People in several other communities were told to take shelter indoors because it was unsafe to leave. Firefighters expected shifting winds to complicate their task during the day, said Victoria state control center spokesman Luke Hegarty. "We are reaching a critical part of the day when we see the wind change moving through the western part of the state," he said in an afternoon update. "We're expecting strong winds and variable winds to be a concern for us over the next few hours." A total fire ban was declared across the whole of Victoria, barring any fires in the open air. 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: Perceptions of air quality confidence within the home and neighborhood before the Marshall Fire and during Wave 1 (N = 642) and Wave 2 (N = 413). Credit: ACS ES&T Air (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acsestair.4c00258 Three years ago, on Dec. 30, 2021, a wind-driven wildfire raced through two communities just outside Boulder, Colorado. In the span of about eight hours, more than 1,000 homes and businesses burned. The fire left entire blocks in ash, but among them, pockets of houses survived, seemingly untouched. The owners of these homes may have felt relief at first. But fire damage can be deceiving, as many soon discovered. When wildfires like the Marshall Fire reach the wildland-urban interface, they are burning both vegetation and human-made materials. Vehicles and buildings burn, along with all of the things inside themelectronics, paint, plastics, furniture. Research shows that when human-made materials like these burn, the chemicals released are different from what is emitted when just vegetation burns. The smoke and ash can blow under doors and around windows in nearby homes, bringing in chemicals that stick to walls and other indoor surfaces and continue off-gassing for weeks to months, particularly in warmer temperatures. In a new study, my colleagues and I looked at the health effects people experienced when they returned to still-standing homes after the Marshall Fire. We also created a checklist for people to use after urban wildfires in the future to help them protect their health and reduce their risks when they return to smoke-damaged homes. Tests in homes found elevated metals and VOCs In the days after the Marshall Fire, residents quickly reached out to nearby scientists who study wildfire smoke and health risks at the University of Colorado Boulder and area labs. People wanted to know what was in the ash and causing the lingering smells inside their homes. In homes we were able to test, my colleagues found elevated levels of metals and PAHspolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsin the ash. We also found elevated VOCsvolatile organic compoundsin airborne samples. Some VOCs, such as dioxins, benzene, formaldehyde and PAHs, can be toxic to humans. Benzene is a known carcinogen. People wanted to know whether the chemicals that got into their homes that day could harm their health. At the time, we could find no information about physical health implications for people who have returned to smoke-damaged homes after a wildfire. To look for patterns, we surveyed residents affected by the fire six months, one year and two years afterward. 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. Symptoms six months after the fire Even six months after the fire, we found that many people were reporting symptoms that aligned with health risks related to smoke and ash from fires. More than half (55%) of the people who responded to our survey reported that they were experiencing at least one symptom six months after the blaze that they attributed to the Marshall Fire. The most common symptoms reported were itchy or watery eyes (33%), headache (30%), dry cough (27%), sneezing (26%) and sore throat (23%). All of these symptoms, as well as having a strange taste in one's mouth, were associated with people reporting that their home smelled differently when they returned to it one week after the fire. Many survey respondents said that the smells decreased over time. Most attributed the improvement in smell to the passage of time, cleaning surfaces and air ducts, replacing furnace filters, and removing carpet, textiles and furniture from the home. Despite this, many still had symptoms. We found that living near a large number of burned structures was associated with these health symptoms. For every 10 additional destroyed buildings within 820 feet (250 meters) of a person's home, there was a 21% increase in headaches and a 26% increase in having a strange taste in their mouth. These symptoms align with what could be expected from exposure to the chemicals that we found in the ash and measured in the air inside the few smoke-damaged homes that we were able to study in depth. Lingering symptoms and questions There are a still a lot of unanswered questions about the health risks from smoke- and ash-damaged homes. For example, we don't yet know what long-term health implications might look like for people living with lingering gases from wildfire smoke and ash in a home. We found a significant decline in the number of people reporting symptoms one year after the fire. However, 33% percent of the people whose homes were affected still reported at least one symptom that they attributed to the fire. About the same percentage also reported at least one symptom two years after the fire. We also could not measure the level of VOCs or metals that each person was exposed to. But we do think that reports of a change in the smell of a person's home one week after the fire demonstrates the likely presence of VOCs in the home. That has health implications for people whose homes are exposed to smoke or ash from a wildfire. Tips to protect yourself after future wildfires Wildfires are increasingly burning homes and other structures as more people move into the wildland-urban interface, temperatures rise and fire seasons lengthen. It can be confusing to know what to do if your home is one that survives a wildfire nearby. To help, my colleagues and I put together a website of steps to take if your home is ever infiltrated by smoke or ash from a wildfire. Here are a few of those steps: When you're ready to clean your home, start by protecting yourself. Wear at least an N95 (or KN95) mask and gloves, goggles and clothing that covers your skin. Vacuum floors, drapes and furniture. But avoid harsh chemical cleaners because they can react with the chemicals in the ash. Clean your HVAC filter and ducts to avoid spreading ash further. Portable air cleaners with carbon filters can help remove VOCs. A recent scientific study documents how cleaning all surfaces within a home can reduce reservoirs of VOCs and lower indoor air concentrations of VOCs. Given that we don't know much yet about the health harms of smoke- and ash-damaged homes, it is important to take care in how you clean so you can do the most to protect your health. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Assyrians in Iraq 'Tense' After Syria Regime Change, Patriarch Says Cardinal Louis Sako, the Baghdad-based patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, greets U.S. Cardinal J. Francis Stafford during a consistory in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in this June 28, 2018. ( CNS/Paul Haring) After Pope Francis prayed on Christmas Day for Syrian Christians facing uncertainty amid the country's regime change, the leader of the Catholic Church in neighboring Iraq said the toppling of the regime left Christians in the region feeling "tense." "There is a bit of fear among the people, and one wonders what consequences this change may have in Iraq," Cardinal Louis Sako, the Iraq-based patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, said in an interview with Vatican News published Dec. 25. The primary rebel force that led the lightning offensive against the regime of President Bashar Assad is the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which had ties to al-Qaida. But the leader of the transitional Syrian government -- Mohammad al-Bashir -- has promised to respect the rights "of all people and all sects in Syria." However, hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Damascus Dec. 24 to protest against anti-Christian sentiment following the burning of a Christmas tree in central Syria. A religious leader from HTS published a video in which he said those who burned the tree were "not Syrians" and would be punished. Approximately 1.5 million Christians were estimated to live in Syria in 2011, though in 2022 that figure fell to about 300,000 due to persecution and the effects of the Syrian Civil War. More than 120 Christian places of worship have been destroyed in the country since 2012. "The leaders of the armed opposition that have taken control of the country talk about a civil regime, of a new Syria respectful of human rights and of a government that will see the participation of all political and social components," Cardinal Sako said in the interview. "Let us hope they are sincere." As many as 100,000 Christians were similarly driven out of Iraq when the Islamic State seized control of large parts of the country in 2014, but the cardinal said about 60% of Christians returned to Iraq after the Islamic State was toppled in 2017. Pope Francis visited Iraq in 2021 preaching a message of forgiveness and hope to the Christian community. What is needed is the ability to forgive, but also the courage not to give up," the pope said in Qaraqosh, the largest Christian town in Iraq. "I know that this is very difficult, but we believe that God can bring peace to this land." Still, Cardinal Sako said, today in Iraq "there are no conditions for lasting security and stability to live in freedom and with respect for rights." Yet he said that the "interreligious ties are very much alive" in Iraq. "We have worked to defeat hatred; the problem is not the religious leaders but the politicians," he said. "Religions must make their contribution by eliminating division and fragmentation within themselves." Cardinal Sako said that harmony among religious groups is threatened when religion "becomes a political instrument and not a free, loving relationship with God." "Therefore, I always ask to separate religion from the state; they are two different realities," he said. "Religion is for individuals and the state is for everyone; the state should not have a religion." Turkey's Assyrians Mark Feast in Mardin Mass The Assyrian community of Turkey has celebrated their Yaldo feast, the first religious holiday of Christians and symbolizing the birth of Jesus, marking the inception of days-long festivities. As part of the annual observance of Assyrian people's Yaldho or feast of nativity, widely known as Christmas by other Christian communities, adherents will fast for ten days, abstaining from meals containing animal products. A solemn service was held at the historic Krklar Church in the southeastern province of Mardin, led by religious leader Saliba Ozmen of Mardin and the neighboring city of Diyarbakr. Ozmen underscored the profound need for peace, harmony and fraternity, stating, "These celebrations are invaluable for fortifying our spiritual essence. It is imperative that we cherish and utilize them to their fullest potential." The ceremony reenacted the discovery and warming of the cave where Jesus was born, symbolized by the lighting of a fire. During the ritual, candles were lit, wishes were made and a women's choir sang hymns. Prayers for unity, solidarity and global peace were offered. Subsequently, hymns and prayers in Syriac and Turkish were recited and participants received blessings. After the liturgy, attendees gathered in the church courtyard to exchange festive greetings. While Assyrians in Turkey are estimated at approximately 20,000, they primarily reside in Istanbul and the southeastern region, particularly Mardin. "Mardin exemplifies the epitome of coexistence, serving as a beacon to the world. For centuries, it has nurtured diverse ethnic communities living side by side as neighbors," remarked Governor Tuncay Akkoyun during the service, emphasizing Mardin's status as one of Turkey's most ethnically and religiously diverse provinces. Elsewhere in Turkey, numerous provinces hosted Christmas services, including at the Mor Efrem Syriac Orthodox Church in Istanbul's Bakrkoy district, the first church constructed during the modern Turkey era, which opened its doors last year. Governor calls recent arrest of former FGE officer resounding blow to impunity Riviera Maya, Q.R. Governor Mara Lezama has called the recent arrest of a former FGE officer a resounding blow against impunity. Lezama said the arrest of Miguel Angel Cuellar Rangel, alias El Tigre who is accused of murder and other crimes in the service of the Sinaloa Cartel, has more facets that are just coming to light. At the same time, Lezama also reproached the negligence of the previous administration for allowing him to be an active member of the State Attorney Generals Office (FGE). During her La Voz del Pueblo program before the holiday break, she revealed that Cuellar Rangel, who was hired and became head of the Specialized Prosecutors Office for Drug Dealing during the administration of Carlos Joaquin Gonzalez, also carried out espionage activities against politicians, athletes, businessmen and journalists. El Tigre was arrested last week for his connection to the murder of equestrian businessman Jorge Catania, which occurred on May 23, 2023. During her live program, Lezama said that in 2019, El Tigre began working with the previous government that included then Attorney General. Although she avoided mentioning names, the previous governor was Carlos Joaquin Gonzalez, currently Mexicos ambassador to Canada. The Attorney General during Joaquins term was Oscar Montes de Oca, whom Lezama asked to resign in 2023. I say this clearly, she said when explaining the El Tigre situation from 2019. This person (Miguel Angel Cuellar Rangel) worked in the Attorney Generals Office with the previous prosecutor and today he is accused of homicide. Whose side were they on? Lezama asked during her The Voice of the People program. She noted that in 2022, under the current administration, Cuellar Rangel was identified and fired when his illicit activities were discovered. The Governor said his recent arrest was the result of a coordination strategy between various security agencies including the Secretariat for Citizen Protection and Security (SSPC) of the Government of Mexico. This man, accused of murder and accused of spying on politicians, athletes and journalists, was hired by the previous administration. Today we are facing the consequences of that negligence, she said. In this government there is no place for impunity or for those who betray the trust of the people. Lezama reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening security and combating corruption in the state, stressing that these actions are part of the fight against impunity and to restore the confidence of citizens. Miguel Angel Cuellar Rangel is already in Cancun prison awaiting his preliminary hearing. He was arrested December 17 in the city of Pachuca, Hidalgo and transferred back to Quintana Roo to face charges. Local artist completes naivety scene in Playa del Carmen sand Playa del Carmen, Q.R. Local artist Josse Arenarte has finished a sand masterpiece off a Playa del Carmen beach. The local sculptor completed his Christmas themed sand nativity scene late Wednesday night. Arenarte, who started his life sized sand project December 16, called his work complete late Christmas night. His sand sculpture can be found at Playa Fundadores next to the Puerta Maya in central Playa del Carmen. The Mexican artist sculpted life-size figures in sand that are traditionally part of a nativity scene. The image of angels, Joseph and Mary, the three wise men and shepherds next to the manger are part of the scene. Many people have gathered at Fundadores beach to watch the sculpture turn a hard mound of sand into detailed art. The sand sculpture will remain in place until February 2 for Candlemas Day or the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, which in Mexico, is celebrated with a feast of tamales. Marine officer rescues drowning minor off Cozumel beach Cozumel, Q.R. An element of the Mexican Navy rescued a young man from the churning sea Wednesday. Marina personnel swam out to where the young swimmer was reported having difficulty while in the water Christmas Day. In a brief statement, the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar) through the Mexican Navy acting as Coast Guard, reported that personnel from the Cozumel Naval Sector within the framework of the Operation Lifeguard Winter 2024, rescued a minor off Playa Chen Rio. Marina personnel swam out when elements noticed that near the shore, a minor of Mexican nationality was swept away by the current, in the vicinity of Chen Rio beach, so naval personnel came to his rescue, later taking him to a safe area. The young man was found in good health despite being tired from being dragged by the current. Since he was in good health, he was handed over to his family, they reported. Tulum authorities respond to reports of Cuban boat making landfall Tulum, Q.R. A dozen Cuban nationals were taken into custody by National Guard Thursday after making landfall on a Tulum beach. National Guard located the group near South Tulum beach around 11:00 a.m. According to initial reports, the group of 12 had left Boca de Galafre, Cuba, bound for the United States, but were swept in a different direction by currents. The group of 12 Cubans arrived at Tulum in a handmade boat made of wood and polyfoam. Local authorities from the Coordination Group for the Construction of Peace, headed by the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) of Tulum, in coordination with the National Guard and the Secretariat of the Navy, met the group Thursday morning. The group of Cubans said they were at sea more than a week before finally making landfall near the Tulum Hotel Zone. Their Thursday morning arrival caught the attention of residents who alerted authorities. Once safe, the group of men and woman were placed at the disposal of the National Migration Institute (INM) to determine their legal status. The 150cc to 200cc motorcycle segment in India recorded total sales of 1,45,968 units in November 2024, marking a 12.49% decline compared to 1,66,803 units in November 2023. While a few models showed growth, most experienced significant drops in sales, reflecting challenges in this competitive segment. 150cc to 200cc Motorcycle Sales Nov 2024 YoY Comparison TVS Apache led the segment with 35,610 units sold, accounting for a 24.40% market share, though it recorded a 13.20% year-on-year (YoY) decline with 5,415 fewer units sold than the previous year. Bajaj Pulsar followed in second place with 32,997 units, holding a 22.61% market share but witnessing a steep 30.27% drop, losing 14,323 units YoY. Honda Unicorn emerged as the standout performer, registering an impressive 52.28% YoY growth with 30,678 units sold, securing a 21.02% market share. This significant growth highlights the increasing popularity of the Unicorn in the commuter segment. Yamaha FZ claimed the fourth spot with 14,406 units, though it saw an 11.25% decline, while Yamaha MT15 managed a modest 8.25% growth, selling 9,894 units and securing a 6.78% share. Yamaha R15 recorded 7,105 units, but its sales dropped sharply by 36.96% YoY. Honda SP160 also faced a significant decline of 39.08%, selling 4,453 units, likely because of Honda launching 2025 model recently. KTM 200 showed relative stability with 2,726 units sold, a marginal 1.84% drop. Hero Xtreme 160R/200 sold 2,493 units, a 6.10% decline, while Hero XPulse 200 recorded a notable 33.04% growth, selling 1,933 units. Bajaj Avenger and Honda CB200X struggled with 1,024 and 941 units sold, reflecting YoY declines of 25.20% and 24.11%, respectively. Honda Hornet 2.0 saw a significant 71.69% drop, selling just 910 units compared to 3,214 last year. Suzuki Gixxers sales fell sharply by 55.83%, recording 728 units, while the Kawasaki W175 showed a dramatic growth of 2,233.33%, albeit with just 70 units sold. 150cc to 200cc Motorcycle Sales Nov 2024 MoM Comparison The 150cc to 200cc motorcycle segment experienced a sharp decline in month-on-month (MoM) sales in November 2024. Total sales dropped by 18.91%, with 1,45,968 units sold compared to 1,80,003 units in October 2024a decrease of 34,035 units. Most models saw significant drops, reflecting post-festive season corrections and market dynamics. TVS Apache retained its position as the segment leader with 35,610 units, but it faced a substantial 28.92% decline, losing 14,487 units compared to October. Bajaj Pulsar, with 32,997 units sold, experienced a smaller drop of 9.19%, while Honda Unicorn, at 30,678 units, recorded a slight 3.43% decline, maintaining relative stability in third place. Among Yamahas offerings, the FZ saw a 19.40% decline to 14,406 units, while the MT15 dropped 26.19%, selling 9,894 units. The R15 recorded the steepest fall among Yamahas models, with a 37.94% decline to 7,105 units, losing 4,344 units compared to October. Honda SP160 also saw a significant dip of 15.57%, selling 4,453 units. Premium models like the KTM 200 dropped by 32.32%, with sales declining to 2,726 units. However, Hero Xtreme 160R/200 showed a positive trend, growing 7.18% to 2,493 units. The Hero XPulse 200 remained stable with 1,933 units, recording only a marginal 1.58% decline. In the entry-level premium segment, Bajaj Avenger and Honda CB200X recorded declines of 24.76% and 4.66%, selling 1,024 and 941 units, respectively. Honda Hornet 2.0 saw a significant 27.72% drop, with 910 units sold. Suzuki Gixxer faced the sharpest decline in the segment, losing 59.87% of its sales to settle at just 728 units. On the other hand, Kawasaki W175 showed a minor improvement, growing 14.75% with 70 units sold. Triumph is getting ready to launch yet another motorcycle on their 400cc platform in the form of Thruxton 400 Triumph 400cc range currently includes Speed T4, Speed 400 and Scrambler 400X. Sales of these motorcycles have been in the range of 3k to 4k units per month. In 2025, Triumph will aim to increase this with the launch of new motorcycles like the Scrambler T and Thruxton 400. It is the latter which has now been spied undisguised on test near Pune, thanks to automotive enthusiast S Patil. Test mules appear production-ready, indicating launch early next year. 2025 Triumph Thruxton 400 Spied Signature features are easily evident, such as the distinctive styling and Triumphs logo on the engine casing. A number of features have been borrowed from Speed 400 and Scrambler 400X. Some elements are also taken from the larger capacity Thruxton 1200 cafe racer. Theres a new half fairing for the mini Thruxton, which helps create a more dynamic street presence. With the fairing in place, the positioning of the turn indicators has been lowered in comparison to Speed 400. Other key highlights include round LED headlight, bar end mirrors, a heavily raked windscreen, sculpted fuel tank, single-piece seat with cowl and upswept exhaust. The bike has clip-on handlebars for a focused riding stance. However, the almost centrally mounted foot pegs mean the riding stance wont be too extreme. The bike will borrow the analogue speedometer with integrated multi-function LCD screen from Speed 400. Its good to see that Triumph is following an aggressive strategy for its new single-cylinder 400cc platform. New products like Thruxton 400 will help target a larger customer base. The existing Speed T, Speed 400 and Scrambler 400X have already emerged as population options in the middleweight segment. They are ranked sixth in terms of sales volumes, next only to Royal Enfield bestsellers like Classic 350, Hunter, Bullet and Meteor 350. As Thruxton 400 has a distinct identity, it will help attract an entirely new group of users. Triumph Thruxton 400 specs, performance Thruxton 400 will be underpinned by a tubular steel frame. Just like Speed 400, it will also have a bolt-on rear subframe. Suspension system has 43mm USD forks at front and a gas monoshock RSU at rear. Thruxton 400 test mules have been spotted with black coloured USD forks, as compared to golden coloured forks seen with Speed 400. It remains to be seen if suspension travel is adjusted for Thruxton 400. The bike has 17-inch wheels at both ends, the same units seen with Speed 400. While Speed 400 is offered with Metzeler Sportec M9RRs tyres in international markets, Thruxton 400 can be seen with Pirelli Rosso tyres. In India, the bike will be getting locally-sourced MRF or Apollo tyres. Braking duties are performed by 300 mm disc at front and 230 mm disc at rear. Dual-channel ABS will be offered as standard. Triumphs decision to launch its single-cylinder bikes at an affordable price point seems to be delivering desired results. Enthusiasts thinking about Thruxton 400 can expect a good deal from Triumph. For reference, Speed T starts at Rs 1.99 lakh after the recent discount, whereas Scrambler 400X retails at Rs 2.65 lakh (ex-sh.). Considering its distinct profile, Thruxton 400 can have a slightly premium pricing. In India, Maruti eVitara electric SUV will rival the likes of Tata Curvv EV, Mahindra BE 6, MG ZS EV and upcoming Hyundai Creta EV In the Indian market, Maruti Suzuki used to be known as the maker of small and budget cars. The company has successfully expanded its portfolio with many premium offerings. All of Marutis vehicles are either ICE or self-charging Hybrids. Now, the company is gearing up to launch its maiden electric vehicle. eVitara debuted recently in Milan, Italy. Testing of this electric vehicle is underway and makes periodic appearances. The most recent spy shots are credited to automotive enthusiast Ankit who spotted this test mule in Gurgaon, Haryana. Lets take a closer look at Suzukis maiden electric vehicle for the world and India. Maruti eVitara Electric SUV Spied The strategic partnership between Suzuki and Toyota has proved fruitful for both brands with multiple badge-engineered products between them. Suzukis new EV, which has been under rigorous testing, will spawn a Toyota counterpart, as confirmed by the brand recently. Production will commence in Spring 2025 and launch will happen by Summer 2025. The recent spy shots show eVitara from up close. It was draped in camouflage like previous test mules. We can see that it has quite a bit of road presence, owing to its strong design elements. Design-wise, recently debuted eVitara shows a striking sporty fascia with a closed-off grill and some aggression. Headlights with LED DRLs look muscular with a strong presence and bumper includes an opening in the shape of a bull bar along with fog lights. Charging port is positioned at the front left quarter panel. Suzuki seems to be aiming for a slightly sloping roofline, which is in-trend currently in India and major global markets. It will measure 4,275 mm in length, 1,800 mm in width, 1,635 mm in width and has a 2,700 mm long wheelbase. Minimum ground clearance is 180 mm and it has a kerb weight between 1,702 kg and 1,899 kg. Theres disc brakes on all four wheels. Wheel sizes will go up to 19-inches, but the one spotted in India had 18-inch wheels wrapped with 225/55 MRF Wanderer tyres. Specs & Features Suzuki eVitara and its Toyota counterpart will come equipped with either a 49 kWh or 61 kWh battery pack, with the latter offering dual-motor 4WD option. Based on a born-electric platform, eVitara is primarily a FWD vehicle packing up to a 172 bhp and 189 Nm motor. With 61 kWh variant, 4WD variant brings a rear electric motor with 64 bhp at the rear for a total system output of 181 bhp and 300 Nm. Interiors have been revealed too, featuring a floating centre console, vertically oriented AC vents, a 2-spoke steering wheel, dual free-standing screens with the latest connectivity suite and high-quality materials, as it is a global product. Speculations suggest Suzuki eVitara will launch in Europe and Japan first and then in markets like India, even though part of the production happens here. A similar strategy to Jimny lifestyle SUV. This is part of Fruit Loot, which is taking a look at the strange and surprising links between fruit and money. How far would you go for fruit? Whatever your answer, Steven Murray has gone farther. Murray, a farmer of rare fruit in Southern California, has learned 12 languages and traveled to more than 100 countries in search of a juicy bite. I join different fruit forums in the languages I speak, meet people in those countries, go to their houses, eat fruit, he told me the other day, taking a break from selling rare cherries at the Santa Monica Farmers Market. Murray has a special permit to bring small amounts of seeds past U.S. Customs Enforcement, which is how he has amassed, at his Bakersfield family farm, what he says is one of the largest private collections of fruiting plants in the United States. Some, like his cherries, have broad appeal. Then there is the medlar: Medlars were popular during the Dark Ages, but you have to let them rot to taste good. Theyll be astringent raw; youll have to wait. Murray is a professional fruit man. But he is part of a ripening trend of fruit travel, as an assortment of vegans, health freaks, farmers, and scientists push gastrotourism beyond familiar trip-generating delicacies like Maine lobster or French Burgundy. An enterprising fruit-hunter might try Australias Feast of the Senses, a tropical fruit festival that among other things set the 2017 Guinness World Record for the longest banana split. Or you could link up with the YouTube fruit celebrities of the FitShortie channel, who run weeklong fruit retreats in Indonesia. (First inquiry on the FAQ: Are we going to eat only fruits during the retreat? A: You can eat salad in the evenings.) Or you could go to Taiwan, the rare place where the government has tried hard to promote its reputation as the kingdom of fruit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lindsay Gasik, who spent a year chasing the durian harvest around Southeast Asia and now runs tours in the region, told me these exotic expeditions are merely a twist on more familiar practices, from coffee, wine, or olive oil tastings to apple-picking. Fruit tourism is very popular already. In the summers, my family always did u-picks at orchards for peaches, berries, apples, or pears. All of this is still fruit tourism. Advertisement And yet some experts say fruit tourism hasnt quite peaked yet. This concept has potential, Bendegul Okumus, a food tourism expert at the University of Central Florida, wrote to me. But it hasnt sparked much demand: Unlike wine tourism, fruit tourism is not popular among visitors. The development of fruit tourism relies on destinations and their producers. In other words, Okumus suggests, fruit tourism depends not just on fruit nuts like Gasik and Murray, but also on the usual travel-marketing playbook employed by visitors bureaus and tourism offices. And here, some of the worlds best fruit is not even on display. Consider Central Asia, the geographic origin of walnuts, pomegranates, pistachios, and a whole host of stone fruits. Kazakhstan is the ancestral home of the apple, from which the countrys largest city, Almaty, takes its name. As Laura Kiniry wrote in Smithsonian magazine last year, there have been efforts to raise the nations international apple profile: There has also been a successful endeavor to get Almaty Aport apples, a cultivated variety with a honey-like fragrance and sweet and sour flavor globally recognized as a Kazakh brand, similar to how Parmesan cheese hails from Italys Parma-Reggio region, or Champagne from the Champagne wine region of France. Uzbek authorities have promoted the countrys melons as the jewel in Uzbekistans trading crown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But local guides say this effort has not been particularly, uh, fruitful: When you look at the promotional material of all these countries on social media, its never the fruits, said Saule Kalycheva, the Kazakh co-founder of the Central Asian travel service Caravanistan, who recently organized, with Indira Koshkarbayeva, a four-day wild-apple trip to Kazakhstans remote Zhongar-Alatau National Park that drew scientists and other fruiters. Great fruit is a given for the locals, like Kalychevas mom, who pressed 10 liters of apple juice this fall from the trees in her yard, but often a sweet surprise to visitors. Gregory Schaefer runs the culinary tourism company Basque Bites in northern Spain (featuring wine, ham, octopus, and such things). In February, he traveled to Uzbekistan to present on food tourism to professionals from around the region. He tried to lay out what he considers their problem: Here we are in the middle of the Silk Road; unquestionably every market in Uzbekistan was overflowing with amazing food, not just fruits. And then when you went to a restaurant, you didnt see any of that, especially vegetables and fruit. Menus at restaurants were incredibly limited, the same four items. The response from locals was: Youre crazy, nobody cares about food. The number one thing their clients were requesting was pizza, hamburgers, and hot dogs. Despite this bland, low-risk offering, he conceded, Central Asia might just need time to catch up to tourists changing tastes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his presentation, Schaefer recalled, a Dutch expert on food tourism stood and shouted: You guys need to honor and cherish your fruit! Sure. But part of the problem, explains Robert Spengler, an archaeobotanist and the author of Fruit from the Sands: The Central Asian Origins of the Foods We Eat, is the legacy of the single-minded Soviet focus on cotton production. Cotton is one of, if not the, most environmentally destructive and least humanitarian crops in the world, he wrote to me. Cotton has dominated centrally planned agriculture in countries like Uzbekistan, consuming tremendous amounts of water and requiring lots of pesticides. Fruit and nuts are making a planting comeback, but slowly. And because that comeback is mostly geared toward export, visitors in search of fresh produce in places like Kyrgyzstans famous Arslanbob walnut forest may be disappointed to find the prime crop boxed and bound for Beijing or Moscow. Advertisement I have no idea why fruit tourism is not a thing, but there is definitely a missed opportunity there, Spengler continued. One pitfall, he noted, is that the harvest coincides with peak summer temperaturesnot an ideal time to visit Uzbekistans magnificent Silk Road cities of Samarkand and Bukhara. Advertisement More significantly, he said, the tastes of fruit fiends and tree geneticists may not be shared by the general public. The apples, despite the hype they get for originating in this part of the world, are small and often more sour, which is more true to the ancestral varieties, but my guess is that most tourists would not appreciate the significance. On the other hand, he had a suggestion: My favorite Central Asian nut: apricot pitsa special variety of nontoxic roasted apricot pits that taste like almonds, but better. Try getting that at Trader Joes. Like all adventurous travelers, fruit tourists must be prepared for disappointment. Ive spent thousands of dollars to find a fruit, Murray, the grower of rare fruit, told me. I really wanted to try the Coco de Mer, the worlds largest seed, from the Seychelles. Unfortunately for Murray, the Coco de Mer is under strict conservation, and he hit a dead end on the beaches of the Indian Ocean archipelago. But its all part of the fun of fruit hunting: Its an excuse to go to these regions where you wouldnt really have a reason to travel. Like Bakersfield, where you can stop by Murray Family Farms and try a Buddhas Hand Fingered Citron and Goat Nipple Berries. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241226/acting-south-korean-president-refuses-to-appoint-judges-to-constitutional-court-1121274226.html Acting South Korean President Refuses to Appoint Judges to Constitutional Court Acting South Korean President Refuses to Appoint Judges to Constitutional Court Sputnik International Acting South Korean President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Thursday refused to appoint the missing judges of the Constitutional Court in the absence of a political consensus, arguing it was beyond his mandate in an acting capacity. 2024-12-26T10:14+0000 2024-12-26T10:14+0000 2024-12-26T10:14+0000 asia south korea democratic party yoon suk yeol court https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0c/0a/1121139424_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_256ad4cfd9169010f48aac84830cce0c.jpg South Korea's basic law requires that the primary focus of an acting president be maintaining stable governance during times of crisis, Han said in a public address quoted by his office. Han said the ruling and opposition parties held "diametrically opposed positions" on the appointment of judges of the Constitutional Court. "Until the ruling and opposition parties reach an agreement and present a unified plan, I will delay the appointment of judges of the Constitutional Court. Once a consensus has been reached, I will immediately proceed with the appointments," the prime minister stated. On Tuesday, the opposition Democratic Party vowed to impeach Han over his refusal to publish two bills on the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate allegations against suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee. South Korea's parliament voted on December 14 to impeach Yoon over his controversial declaration of martial law. The Constitutional Court will make a final decision on the matter by June 11, 2025. Yoon will be suspended from office pending the ruling, with Han to serve as interim president until the final verdict is passed. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241216/south-koreas-ruling-party-leader-resigns---reports-1121182359.html south korea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International south korean president, prime minister han duck-soo, constitutional court, political consensus https://sputnikglobe.com/20241226/corporate-america-goes-from-disowning-trump-to-lavishing-him-with-cash-heres-what-they-want-1121275785.html Corporate America Goes From Disowning Trump to Lavishing Him With Cash: Here's What They Want Corporate America Goes From Disowning Trump to Lavishing Him With Cash: Here's What They Want Sputnik International Donald Trump's inauguration fund is set to top the $107 million it raised in 2017 - which was nearly double the $61 million raised by Joe Biden in 2021. Corporate America is lavishing the president-elect with cash, hoping he'll support their interests, and let bygones be bygones regarding statements and actions against him over the past four years. 2024-12-26T14:48+0000 2024-12-26T14:48+0000 2024-12-26T14:48+0000 americas us donald trump joe biden elon musk ford toyota general motors (gm) pfizer https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106220/69/1062206980_0:125:4848:2852_1920x0_80_0_0_784a8b8295642fc9f950d9c49ad0e157.jpg Major companies that walked lockstep with the establishment in denouncing Donald Trump after the 2020 election and the January 6, 2021 chaos at the Capitol have pulled a major about-face amid his comeback, giving generously to his inauguration fund and hoping hell forget their statements about the threat to democracy he and his supporters purportedly posed just four years ago.Who are the biggest corporate flip-floppers, and what do they want from Trump? Here's a breakdown:Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America: Big Pharma trade group donating $1 million (which means access to exclusive VIP events, including black tie ball and personal candlelight dinner with the Trumps). In 2021, PhRMA CEO Steve Ubl said the events of January 6 violate the values of our nation and canceled donations to Republicans rejecting the 2020 votes outcome.Ford and Toyota: Ford briefly froze political donations after January 6, and promised to vet politicians supporting Trump. Now theyre giving him $1 million. Toyota, also pledging $1 million, similarly halted donations to those refusing to certify Bidens 2020 victory.Stanley Black & Decker: Giving Trump $1 million this time around, up from a paltry $25,000 in 2017.Intuit: Maker of popular DIY tax software has pledged a cool million amid reports Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency is brainstorming a free tax filing app for Americans to use.Kraken and Coinbase: Crypto trading platforms donating $1 million in hopes of loosened regulations. Contributed heavily to Trump's 2024 election campaign, seeking to capitalize on his pro-crypto statements.Charter Communications: Telecom giant pledging $1 million four times what it gave Trump in 2017, and nearly three times the $350,000 it gave Biden in 2021.Uber: Another $1 million pledge maker, which gave the Biden inauguration $1 million four years ago. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi donated an additional $1 million, clearly hoping that the ride-hailing, courier and freight transport giant will benefit from his administration's policies.Meta*: one of the earliest confirmed $1 million pledgers. Hoping for favorable policy, and that he'll forget the post-2020 acrimony - including Facebook and other Big Techs censorship of his speech online, and the companies backing of the outgoing Democrat presidents agenda.Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, GM and AT&T also made generous (but undisclosed) donations to the 2025 inaugural fund. In 2021, Goldman and BoAs CEOs expressed outrage over the squandering of US democratic goodwill and demanded a peaceful transfer of power to Biden. GM cancelled collaboration with Trump on California-related smog legislation. AT&T CEO John Stankey called on Congress to unite around Biden, but is now looking for another round of Trump tax cuts.The big inauguration ceremony isn't the only opportunity big business has to get into Trump's good graces. In recent weeks, CEOS from industry leaders including Google, Amazon, Pfizer, Eli Lilly have rushed to kiss Trumps ring, often traveling to New York to meet with him in Trump Tower.* Banned in Russia for extremism. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241109/what-to-know-about-robert-lighthizer-trade-czar--potential-member-of-trumps-cabinet---1120827624.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20241128/trump-zuckerbergs-mar-a-lago-chatter-suggests-imminent-changes-in-meta---whistleblower--1121036793.html americas 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 what does business want from trump, did business flip on trump, is trump pro-business, will trump help business, does big business like trump, does corporate america support trump https://sputnikglobe.com/20241226/dr-congo-military-shoots-down-6-rwandan-drones-in-east-of-country-1121271184.html DR Congo Military Shoots Down 6 Rwandan Drones in East of Country DR Congo Military Shoots Down 6 Rwandan Drones in East of Country Sputnik International The armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) said they shot down six drones belonging to Rwandan special forces over the eastern Congolese province of North-Kivu, Congolese news agency reported. 2024-12-26T04:49+0000 2024-12-26T04:49+0000 2024-12-26T04:49+0000 africa rwanda m23 drone democratic republic of the congo https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/18/1116953537_0:0:3075:1731_1920x0_80_0_0_8f8765931313d9b4dcefdc08e35cb0ee.jpg In late July, media reported, citing a statement from the Angolan leadership, that the foreign ministers of the DRC and Rwanda had agreed to establish a ceasefire starting August 4 in regions affected by Congolese rebel groups. This agreement came after a meeting facilitated by Angolan President Joao Lourenco at the presidential palace in Luanda. An enhanced special verification mechanism was expected to be put in place to monitor the ceasefire. Later, media reported that negotiations between the DRC and Rwanda to end the conflict had reached a dead end, and a summit dedicated to the problem had been canceled. The M23 (March 23) group, which fights for the interests of the Tutsi ethnic minority in the DRC, first rebelled against the government in 2012, but suffered a major military defeat in 2013 and was disbanded. In 2021, the rebels took up arms again, accusing the country's authorities of violating agreements to integrate disarmed M23 rebels into the army. The DRC has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels, while Rwanda has denied any connections with the movement. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240914/americans-sentenced-in-congo-coup-plot-recalling-history-of-us-interference-in-africa-1120155914.html africa rwanda democratic republic of the congo 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 dr congo military shoots down, rwandan drones, congolese province of north-kivu https://sputnikglobe.com/20241226/finland-estonia-underwater-power-cable-cut-helsinki-claims-sabotage-possible---1121272781.html Finland-Estonia Underwater Power Cable Cut: Helsinki Claims Sabotage Possible Finland-Estonia Underwater Power Cable Cut: Helsinki Claims Sabotage Possible Sputnik International Finland is weighing the possibility of sabotage following damage to an underwater power cable between the Nordic country and Estonia on December 25, according to Finnish public broadcaster Yle. 2024-12-26T09:23+0000 2024-12-26T09:23+0000 2024-12-26T10:25+0000 world baltic sea finland sweden power lines nord stream nord stream 2 nord stream 1 electricity grid nord stream https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0c/1a/1121272282_0:43:898:548_1920x0_80_0_0_b6ae40de8333263345c0b77cecd76bc5.png Finland is weighing the possibility of sabotage following damage to an underwater power cable between the Nordic country and Estonia on December 25, which resulted in a disruption of electricity supply, according to Finnish public broadcaster Yle. At least two vessels were spotted in the vicinity where the cables are located, claimed Arto Pahkin, the head of operations of the Finnish electricity grid. The high-voltage power transmission link stopped working on Wednesday due to an unknown malfunction. Finnish police said they were investigating the possible involvement of a foreign cargo ship."We have several lines of investigation ranging from sabotage to a technical fault, and nothing has been ruled out so far. At least two vessels were moving near the cable at the time of the incident," Pahkin was quoted as saying by the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper.The EstLink 2 cable, which transmits electricity to Estonia, experienced a power cut at 12:26 PM local time (10:26 GMT), as confirmed by Fingrid. This left only the EstLink 1 cable operational, but with a reduced capacity of 358 megawatts compared to the 658 megawatts being transmitted prior to the disconnection. The outage is one of a string of subsea incidents involving cables and pipelines. The underwater C-Lion1 data cable connecting Finland and Germany and running near the Nord Stream gas pipeline was severed in November, in Sweden's special economic zone. The Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, built to deliver gas under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany, were devastated by explosions in September 2022 that Russia classified as an act of international terrorism. While the United States has long been identified as the primary suspect in the sabotage, Western media has peddled the narrative that a group of rogue Ukrainian operatives were to blame. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241120/dog-ate-my-nord-stream-german-media-doubles-down-on-ukrainian-connection-claim-1120945151.html baltic sea finland sweden 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 finland-estonia underwater power cable cut, finland not ruling out sabotage of underwater power cable, nord stream sabotage, nord stream explosion, nord stream terrorist attack https://sputnikglobe.com/20241226/france-completes-training-of-ukrainian-pilots-to-operate-mirage-2000-5f-fighters-1121271530.html France Completes Training of Ukrainian Pilots to Operate Mirage 2000-5F Fighters France Completes Training of Ukrainian Pilots to Operate Mirage 2000-5F Fighters Sputnik International France has completed training of Ukrainian pilots to fly Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets, French media reported. 2024-12-26T05:15+0000 2024-12-26T05:15+0000 2024-12-26T05:15+0000 military emmanuel macron france ukraine mirage fighter jet pilot https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/06/07/1083092700_0:121:3209:1926_1920x0_80_0_0_b545da0a4842901e43922a905d9be4e9.jpg "After six months, the training of Ukrainian pilots and mechanics on the Mirage 2000-5F has come to an end," the French Aid to Ukraine account on the X social network reported on Wednesday. The pilots and mechanics needed to operate these aircraft were trained at a base in Nancy. In June, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Paris would transfer Mirage 2000 fighters to Kiev and would organize training for Ukrainian pilots by the end of the year. Macron added that French weapons will not be used to bomb civilians on Russian territory. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the aircraft would be delivered in the first quarter of 2025. In November, vice chairman of the National Assemblys Defense and Armed Forces Committee, Frank Giletti, said that Paris would deliver six fighters to Ukraine. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241008/frances-mirage-2000s-bound-to-be-destroyed-on-ground-or-in-ukraines-skies-1120479075.html france 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 france completes training of ukrainian pilots, ukrainian pilots, mirage 2000-5f fighter jet https://sputnikglobe.com/20241226/interim-syrian-govt-begins-operation-to-clear-tartus-of-pro-assad-armed-groups---reports-1121275654.html Interim Syrian Gov't Begins Operation to Clear Tartus of Pro-Assad Armed Groups - Reports Interim Syrian Gov't Begins Operation to Clear Tartus of Pro-Assad Armed Groups - Reports Sputnik International The Syrian Military Operations Command, in coordination with the interior ministry of Syria's interim administration, has announced the launch of an operation to clear the Tartus province of armed groups opposed to the new authorities in Damascus, Syrian news agency reported on Thursday. 2024-12-26T13:00+0000 2024-12-26T13:00+0000 2024-12-26T13:00+0000 world turmoil in syria syria bashar assad middle east damascus russia https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104769/78/1047697864_0:53:1025:629_1920x0_80_0_0_4a10f36fa360dd1d5b3a372e6c6c564e.jpg The Military Operations Command has pursued pro-Assad fighters in the forested and mountainous areas of Tartus, the news agency reported. Several fighters have already been killed as part of the operation, while the pursuit of others continues, the report said. Earlier in the day, the interior ministry announced the death of 14 of its personnel in a suburb of Tartus in an ambush allegedly carried out by supporters of the countrys former leader, Bashar Assad. Syria's armed opposition captured Damascus on December 8. Russian officials said that Syrian President Bashar Assad stepped down after negotiations with participants in the Syrian conflict and left Syria for Russia, where he was granted asylum. Mohammed al-Bashir, who ran an Idlib-based administration formed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other opposition groups, was named interim prime minister on December 10. He later announced that an interim government had been formed and would remain in place until March 2025. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241223/us-sends-more-troops-to-syria-citing-growing-threats-to-baseline-forces-1121246678.html syria damascus russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International syrian military operations command, syria's interim administration, tartus province of armed groups https://sputnikglobe.com/20241226/plane-crashed-in-kazakstans-aktau-skids-off-runway-in-turkiye-on-december-22---reports-1121271415.html Plane From Aktau Crash Previously Skidded Off Runway in Turkiye on December 22 - Reports Plane From Aktau Crash Previously Skidded Off Runway in Turkiye on December 22 - Reports Sputnik International An Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) passenger plane that crashed near Aktau in Kazakhstan was able to land only on the second attempt in Turkey and skidded off the runway during landing earlier this month, Turkish newspaper Yeni Akit reported. 2024-12-26T04:55+0000 2024-12-26T04:55+0000 2024-12-26T05:33+0000 world plane crash kazakhstan baku russia azerbaijan airlines embraer https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/15906/23/159062378_0:47:500:328_1920x0_80_0_0_b32acd0d78aead1b3721411af651145e.jpg On December 22, the plane was flying from Baku to Turkiyes Trabzon, where the incident occurred, the report said on Wednesday. An Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190, flying from Baku to Russia's Grozny, crashed in Kazakhstan's Aktau with 69 people on board earlier in the day. According to preliminary data from AZAL, the plane crashed after a collision with a flock of birds. Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said a total of 38 people have been killed in the plane crash. The captain of the crashed aircraft, Igor Kshnyakin, had over 15,000 flight hours of experience, Azerbaijan Airlines said. The Embraer 190 aircraft was manufactured in 2013 and underwent a complete technical inspection in October, the company added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241225/passenger-plane-crashes-in-kazakhstan-1121265144.html kazakhstan baku russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International azerbaijan airlines, plane crashed in kazakstans aktau, skidded off the runway https://sputnikglobe.com/20241226/putin-attends-supreme-eurasian-economic-council-in-st-petersburg-1121272442.html Putin Attends Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in St. Petersburg Putin Attends Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in St. Petersburg Sputnik International Sputnik goes live as Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, held in Russia's Leningrad region at the Igora resort complex near St. Petersburg. 2024-12-26T10:30+0000 2024-12-26T10:30+0000 2024-12-26T10:30+0000 world russia eurasia armenia eurasian economic union https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0c/09/1121137235_0:160:3074:1889_1920x0_80_0_0_7d6710d4f59c441f994153cda5e9b751.jpg Sputnik brings you live coverage as Russian President Vladimir Putin participates in a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. This gathering is taking place at the Igora resort complex in the Leningrad Region, near St. Petersburg. During the meeting, the high-ranking participants will address key issues concerning the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), explore opportunities for further integration, assess progress in removing internal market restrictions, and discuss the harmonization of financial legislation. Additionally, they will focus on enhancing the liberalization of services within the internal market.More than 20 documents are being prepared for signing at the end of the summit. Among them is the decision to grant the Islamic Republic of Iran the status of an observer state in the Eurasian Economic Community.The leaders will also approve the primary objectives for international activities in 2025, along with the organization's budget.Follow Sputniks live feed to learn more! russia eurasia armenia 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 Putin Attends Supreme Eurasian Economic Council Meeting Sputnik International Putin Attends Supreme Eurasian Economic Council Meeting 2024-12-26T10:30+0000 true PT1S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International supreme eurasian economic council, russian president vladimir putin, eurasian economic council https://sputnikglobe.com/20241226/russian-forces-take-control-of-gigant-settlement-in-dpr---mod-1121274112.html Russian Forces Take Control of Gigant Settlement in DPR - MoD Russian Forces Take Control of Gigant Settlement in DPR - MoD Sputnik International Russia's Battlegroup Zapad has eliminated up to 530 Ukrainian military personnel over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday. 2024-12-26T10:03+0000 2024-12-26T10:03+0000 2024-12-26T10:03+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia dpr ukraine russian defense ministry donetsk people's republic https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0c/10/1121186680_0:99:3290:1950_1920x0_80_0_0_445fc69bd432efac9c80a136c1092dd9.jpg "The enemy lost up to 530 military personnel, an armored personnel carrier, nine vehicles, a 152 mm D-20 cannon, three 122 mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery units, two 122 mm D-30 howitzers, a UK-made 105 mm L-119 cannon, as well as US-made 155 mm M114 howitzer, 105 mm M101 cannon and two 105 mm M119 guns," the ministry said in a statement. The Russian forces took control of the Gigant settlement in the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR), the ministry added.Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr has repelled 11 counterattacks, eliminating up to 490 Ukrainian soldiers, while Battlegroup Yug has eliminated up to 230 Ukrainian soldiers, the ministry said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241225/russia-launches-precision-strikes-on-ukrainian-energy-facilities-liberates-settlement-in-dpr-1121266890.html russia dpr 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 russian forces take control, russian defense ministry, ukrainian military personnel https://sputnikglobe.com/20241226/russias-fsb-says-foiled-series-of-high-ranking-defense-ministry-officials-assassinations-1121272562.html FSB Foils Ukraine-Run Assassination Plots Against High-Level Russian Defense Officials FSB Foils Ukraine-Run Assassination Plots Against High-Level Russian Defense Officials Sputnik International The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday that it had prevented a series of assassinations of high-ranking Russian Defense Ministry officials participating in Russia's military operation in Ukraine and their relatives plotted by the Ukrainian special services. 2024-12-26T05:50+0000 2024-12-26T05:50+0000 2024-12-26T07:08+0000 russia russia ukraine russian defense ministry russian federal security service (fsb) moscow https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106934/34/1069343443_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_9d0d14c2654b8b0692abcd8aa13a69cf.jpg "The Federal Security Service of Russia has prevented a series of terrorist attacks planned by the Ukrainian special services against high-ranking officials of the Russian Defense Ministry, taking part in the special military operation, and against their relatives. As a result of the measures taken, four Russian citizens involved in the preparation of the aforementioned assassinations were detained," the FSB said in a statement. Additionally, a Moscow resident recruited by the Ukrainian special services to gather intelligence on the targets has been identified, the security service said. The Ukrainian special services carried out the delivery of bomb components to Russia by concealing them in household appliances, tools, and car parts, the statement revealed. It also noted that homemade explosives and communication devices used in criminal activities were seized from the detainees who were taken into custody.A terrorist attack against another service member was plotted by Ukraine, involving two Russian citizens tasked with delivering a homemade explosive device disguised as a document folder. The device that was to be delivered, was hidden in a cache located in the Moscow Region, with its coordinates supplied by a Ukrainian citizen residing in Poland. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241218/fsb-arrests-ukraine-recruited-terrorist-for-deadly-blast-that-killed-general-kirillov-1121203770.html russia ukraine moscow Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia's fsb, russian federal security service, russian defense ministry, ukrainian special services https://sputnikglobe.com/20241226/russias-oboronlogistics-says-5050cm-hole-found-on-starboard-side-of-ursa-major-1121270807.html Russias Oboronlogistika Says 5050cm Hole Found on Starboard Side of Ursa Major Russias Oboronlogistika Says 5050cm Hole Found on Starboard Side of Ursa Major Sputnik International A 50x50cm hole was discovered on the starboard side after three explosions rocked the Ursa Major in the Mediterranean. 2024-12-26T01:05+0000 2024-12-26T01:05+0000 2024-12-26T04:25+0000 russia russia mediterranean sea spain cargo ship terrorist attack https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0c/1a/1121270490_0:928:1758:1917_1920x0_80_0_0_87fdd660247dbe89ccf577f013b7c654.jpg MOSCOW, December 26 (Sputnik) - A hole with a diameter of 50x50cm was discovered on the starboard side of Russian cargo vessel Ursa Major after three explosions rocked her in the Mediterranean Sea, Russian logistics and transportation company Oboronlogistika, a company that owns the ship, told Sputnik. The Russian Foreign Ministry's Crisis Management Center said on Tuesday that Ursa Major sank in the Mediterranean Sea, 14 of the 16 crew members were rescued, while two were missing. The ship sank 67 miles off the coast of Spain and 45 miles off the coast of Algeria. The vessel left St. Petersburg 12 days ago in the direction of the port of Vladivostok. "A general ship alarm was declared on the vessel. During the external emergency inspection of the vessel, a hole with a diameter of 50x50 centimeters was discovered above the water line, the edges of the hole were torn and directed inward. The vessel's deck was strewn with fragments," the company said.According to Oboronlogistika, the vessel is one of the largest bulk carriers in Russia, with a maximum carrying capacity of 9,500 tons. At the same time, the cargo weight was 806 tons. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240311/demand-for-transporting-goods-by-rail-via-russia-increases-after-houthi-attacks---reports-1117247111.html russia mediterranean sea spain 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 ursa major, ursa major sank, russian cargo ship sank, attack on russian cargo ship, ursa major vessel https://sputnikglobe.com/20241226/sri-lankan-president-expresses-interest-in-joining-brics-in-letter-to-putin-1121271287.html Sri Lankan President Expresses Interest in Joining BRICS in Letter to Putin Sri Lankan President Expresses Interest in Joining BRICS in Letter to Putin Sputnik International Sri Lankan President Anura Dissanayake expressed interest in joining BRICS in a letter sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin in October, and the country expects a positive response in 2025 to join the organization, the republic's ambassador to Moscow, Pakeer Amza, told Sputnik. 2024-12-26T04:59+0000 2024-12-26T04:59+0000 2024-12-26T04:59+0000 world vladimir putin narendra modi russia sri lanka brics new development bank (ndb) https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/06/17/1096603406_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_64f767e1c83a58c44342ab703000b01f.jpg "Sri Lanka expressed its interest in joining the BRICS family in a letter to President Vladimir Putin from President Anura Dissanayake. We have also addressed other BRICS countries with a request to join as a partner country and expect their positive response," Amza said. He specified that the Sri Lankan president had sent a letter to his Russian counterpart in October. In October 2024, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said Colombo had decided to apply for membership in BRICS and the New Development Bank. He said Sri Lanka views BRICS as an effective partnership to realize its aspiration for mutually beneficial cooperation, peace and development through strengthening comprehensive multilateralism within the framework of the UN Charter. In December, the Sri Lankan leader asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to support Colombo's bid to join BRICS. BRICS is an intergovernmental association created in 2006. Russia assumed the rotating presidency of the bloc on January 1, 2024. The year began with the accession of new members to the association. In addition to Russia, Brazil, India, China and South Africa, it now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, according to the website of the Russian 2024 BRICS Chairmanship. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241224/nine-countries-to-officially-become-brics-partners-from-january-1-2025-kremlin-aide-1121248987.html russia sri lanka 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 sri lankan president, joining brics, russian president vladimir putin https://sputnikglobe.com/20241226/ukraine-loses-over-230-soldiers-in-russias-kursk-region-over-past-day---mod-1121276087.html Ukraine Loses Over 230 Soldiers in Russias Kursk Region Over Past Day - MoD Ukraine Loses Over 230 Soldiers in Russias Kursk Region Over Past Day - MoD Sputnik International The Ukrainian armed forces have lost over 230 soldiers in the Kursk direction in the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday. 2024-12-26T13:42+0000 2024-12-26T13:42+0000 2024-12-27T10:38+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukraine kursk russia russian defense ministry kursk https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0c/07/1121115426_0:141:3140:1907_1920x0_80_0_0_1770ca7f38a8f4042a503ace1aad31cc.jpg "Over the past day, the Ukrainian armed forces have lost more than 230 servicepeople, three infantry fighting vehicles, including one US-made Bradley IFV, an armored personnel carrier, three armored combat vehicles, seven vehicles, an artillery piece and two electronic warfare stations were destroyed," the ministry said in a statement. In total, Ukraine has lost over 43,970 servicepeople and 255 tanks during offensive in Kursk area, the ministry added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241221/ukraine-loses-over-300-soldiers-in-russias-kursk-region-over-past-day-1121228233.html ukraine kursk russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukraine loses, russian defense ministry, ukrainian armed forces https://sputnikglobe.com/20241226/ukrainian-government-bans-exports-of-gas-gold-salt-for-1-year---document-1121270342.html Ukrainian Government Bans Exports of Gas, Gold, Salt for 1 Year - Document Ukrainian Government Bans Exports of Gas, Gold, Salt for 1 Year - Document Sputnik International The Ukrainian government issued a decree Wednesday banning the export of gas, gold, and salt without licenses or quotas for 2025. 2024-12-26T00:32+0000 2024-12-26T00:32+0000 2024-12-26T03:52+0000 economy ukraine european union (eu) ukrainian economy gas export ukrainian debt gold salt gas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/18/1120985260_0:161:3069:1887_1920x0_80_0_0_92926479029629dda9d0d51c33764a93.jpg MOSCOW, December 25 (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian government on Wednesday released a decree prohibiting export of some goods that are subject to licensing and quotas for 2025, among them are gas, gold and salt."To approve for 2025: the volume of quotas of goods, the list of controlled substances, the list of goods and equipment that may contain controlled substances, the export of which is to be licensed; the list of goods (agricultural products), the volume of quotas of goods, the export of which to the Member States of the European Union is subject to licensing," the document said. According to the Ukrainian governmental resolution, "zero quotas" for exports of salt, steam coal, natural gas, fuel wood, silver, gold, waste or scrap of precious metals are set for 2025. At the same time, quotas were also set for 1.3 million tonnes for "K" grade coking coal and 400,000 tonnes for fuel oil. Moreover, licensing was also introduced for wheat, corn, sunflower seeds, sugar, poultry and some other products of the agricultural sector. In September 2023, the Ukrainian Ministry of Agrarian Policy announced that the Cabinet of Ministers had approved a new export procedure, according to which corn, rapeseed, sunflower and wheat, exported to EU countries, would have to obtain a license. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241222/western-aid-covers-nearly-90-of-ukraines-spending-in-2022-2024--analysis-1121233578.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukrainian export, ukrainian export ban, ukrainian energy crisis, ukrainian gold, ukrainian gas crisis, economy of ukraine, https://sputnikglobe.com/20241226/ukrainians-do-not-want-to-defend-incumbent-govt-calling-country-prison---reports-1121270932.html Ukraine Now a Prison: Ukrainians See No Point In Defending Current Regime - Reports Ukraine Now a Prison: Ukrainians See No Point In Defending Current Regime - Reports Sputnik International Ukrainian men are fleeing the country because they don't want to defend the corrupt government, German broadcaster n-tv reported, citing Ukrainian migrants. 2024-12-26T01:15+0000 2024-12-26T01:15+0000 2024-12-26T06:17+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukraine ukrainian army mobilization military morale https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/04/0c/1117885863_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_5c411a07902e92cbd0381cf4e56b8c6b.jpg MOSCOW, December 26 (Sputnik) - Ukrainian men do not want to defend the incumbent government, which they consider corrupt, and flee the country, calling it a "prison", German broadcaster n-tv reported, citing Ukrainian migrants. "Closed borders have turned Ukraine into a prison for men," one of the migrants was quoted as saying by the broadcaster on Wednesday. He added that he sees no point in defending a corrupt system. According to the man, many Ukrainians are fighting not for a goal, but under duress, and many of them feel "simply devastated". He said that he decided to flee because he does not believe that the border will be opened in the near future. "They grab people and send them to war. It's slavery," another migrant said, adding that he does not want to defend a country "in which the government and oligarchs own everything, and the people own nothing." In late October, Ukrainian lawmaker Anna Skorokhod said that more than 100,000 Ukrainian servicemen deserted from the Ukrainian armed forces or voluntarily left their units since February 2022. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241204/ukraine-negotiating-plans-to-draft-18-year-olds-with-us---foreign-ministry-1121084502.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukrainian morale, ukrainian military morale, mobilization in ukraine, ukrainians in europe, men flee ukraine, men run from mobilization in ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20241226/what-snags--hurdles-will-ukraines-pilots-face-operating-french-mirage-fighter-jets-1121275427.html What Snags & Hurdles Will Ukraine's Pilots Face Operating French Mirage Fighter Jets? What Snags & Hurdles Will Ukraine's Pilots Face Operating French Mirage Fighter Jets? Sputnik International What snags and hurdles will Ukraine face trying to operate French Mirage fighter jets? 2024-12-26T14:08+0000 2024-12-26T14:08+0000 2024-12-26T14:08+0000 military ukraine france mirage fighter jet military & intelligence russian defense ministry russia emmanuel macron dmitry kornev https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105139/46/1051394695_0:117:1248:819_1920x0_80_0_0_0a07ff45b216cb2dd57b7a26432c6f52.jpg France has completed training Ukrainian pilots and mechanics needed to operate Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets, French media reported. The fighters are reportedly to be delivered in the first quarter of 2025, yet operating them wont be a breeze for Ukraine. Heres why:Integration & Operating SkillsTo effectively integrate the Mirage jets with Soviet-era aircraft and the US F-16s being supplied to Ukraine, pilots must boost their proficiency, adapt tactics, and coordinate closely with ground forces. Military expert Dmitry Kornev told Sputnik that the Mirage "will require careful handling and time to learn how to operate." Basing ConcernsThe Mirage's high landing speed and delta wing design necessitate runways of at least 700 meters, so Ukraine's current aerodromes may need to be reconfigured, as indicated by open-source data. Service SupportThere may be a shortage of trained personnel in Ukraine to maintain operational readiness, as expertise in Mirage jets is currently limited to France and Greece.Language BarriersDespite completing a six-month training course, pilots may face challenges in brushing up on their skills due to language barriers, as most technical manuals are in French. Legitimate TargetsThe operational and maintenance costs associated with the Mirage jets are expected to soar, says Dmitry Kornev. Additionally, Russia has indicated that its early warning and jamming systems are specifically designed to target airborne threats from NATO aircraft. An array of long-range Russian missile systems, including the S-200, S-300, S-400, and S-500 series, could effectively neutralize NATO jets. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241008/frances-mirage-2000s-bound-to-be-destroyed-on-ground-or-in-ukraines-skies-1120479075.html ukraine france russia 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 western arms for ukraine, french will suply mirage to ukraine, ukraine air force, what challenges will ukraine's pilots face operating french mirage fighter jets, france completes training of ukrainian pilots, ukrainian pilots, mirage 2000-5f fighter jet Thank you to the Kelso/Longview Community, My roots run deep through the Kelso School District and this community. As 2024 comes to a close and I reflect on the past year, my heart goes directly back into the community who has stepped up in so many ways. This is the fourth year the Family & Community Resource Center has been fully operational. I have been blessed by leaders of this community, school board members, supporters of the resource center, colleagues from the Kelso School District, students and their families along with everyday people reaching out to help make our program a success. Our community partners are an incredibly valuable part of what we are able to accomplish. Families come into the center to gain confidence and receive support. With our partners, the Family & Community Resource Center will continue to change lives, one youth/one family at a time. At its inception, we thought of the many families we would be able to clothe and feed. And yes, we do feed and clothe our students and their families, but the needs have drastically changed over the past several years. The Kelso School District offers parents a safe place to educate their children and the opportunity to thrive; our mission is to support the whole youth, whole family, we serve students from pre-K through graduation. That being said, we realize this job is bigger than us. The Kelso School District School Board won the Washington State School Board of distinction award for the second year in a row. The school board is instrumental in the work we do will these students, they allow us to do more than grow to grow with their constant support we grow to impact. The board teaches through their own words and deeds that these kids are loved, valued and not alone. The students learn their worth and are an essential part of this district. The board knows these are our sons and daughters. These students accept that they are where they are supposed to be, just be present, learn what they can before they move on. The school board is our foundation, we draw our strength from them. The American Legion and Patriot Guards have made the Kelso School District a priority. The last Sunday of every month, I participate in a drive-thru food bank from which we receive about 800 pounds of fresh food items each month. CAP warehouse and Food Lifeline deliver to our center every Friday. Last year they provided over 18,609 pounds of fresh food to be distributed through our doors. The Refuge food bank packages about 900 weekend food bags through our backpack buddies program to our students every Friday afternoon. A special thank you to the backpack buddies crew making sure the bags are packed with delicious food and healthy food items for our students. I am eternally grateful for the generosity these agency show and I am so proud to partner with them. Bev Jones the director of the Refuge food bank, works tirelessly to feed and meet the needs of the Kelso School District students and their families. Rotary has continued to support us in so many ways. Last month they brought their food truck to my door and filled my cupboards. The Rotarians have a special place in my heart. Jon Webb from Butler Acres organizes an annual Turkey Trot canned food drive each year and the Family & Community Resource Center has been the lucky recipient of that bounty three years in a row! This was the biggest year: 2591 cans! Bethany Lutheran Church sponsors a program called the ELA hunger Grant. The funds that are raised provide weekly food boxes as well as complete Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to our Kelso School District families. Panera provides fresh bread and pastries for the resource center every Monday morning. Windermere Foundation of Kelso/Longview and their Angel Agents adopted the unaccompanied students from my giving tree again this year. These tags are filled with love and wrapped with care. They spoil my students year after year. Cascadia Metals picked 25 tags from our giving tree for a third year. They also hold food drives throughout the year. Savior Socks donates 750 pair of Bombas socks each spring; what a blessing. FISH of Cowlitz County allows each kids in need of shoes to go to Walmart and pick out a brand new pair of shoes. There is nothing better than getting a new pair of shoes! Community House on Broadway has a new youth program that will house Kelso students by Christmas, this was such a huge need in our community. Carls Towing has graciously towed many of our students cars into our Auto Shoop free of charge so that they can be worked on. Kelso Retired Teachers Association has continued to provide financial support the resource center many months, keeping the doors open. We are so honored to have their support. Red Canoe organized a food drive and delivered it to the center with the most giving group of people. Our cupboards were once again full. The Kelso Public Schools Foundation provides yearbooks for the unaccompanied youth as well as scholarships for all Kelso seniors. Pastor Russ Jorgenson of KCA has created a Royal Cargo program that visits our elementary schools once a month. They invite 20 to 40 kids in to shop for new shoes and clothing with their own personal shopper. Family Promise of Cowlitz County has a new executive director, Sara Wallace. Sara has housed 15 Kelso families impacting 55 Kelso School District students. These families are housed, safe and stable. For many families this is the first home they have had. Above all else these kids get to remain in the school district, here they know their value and their worth. Family Career and Community Leaders of America created a Birthday Box Project and put together the most wonderful kits for parents to take home and a bake a birthday cake complete with the pan to bake the cake in and candles for the top! These students are amazing. I look around this space of mine, cupboards full, student needs met and feel so honored to be serving this community. The agencies I partner with all truly have hearts of service. I am forever grateful for their generosity. It takes a village to raise a child and I am so blessed to be a part of this village. A special thank you to the ordinary people who walk through my door doing extraordinary things. Don and I have made some lasting friendships with these people. They are so involved with this program that they can foresee our needs and have them filled before we even ask! I appreciate each and every one of them and our partnerships mean the world to me. As a collective group we all embrace the idea that a success for one is shared by all. Thank you for allowing me to do what I love and call it work, Nancy Baldwin Kelso School District Youth and Family Support Specialist A guest participates in dumpling-making at the Chinese Embassy in the United States in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 20, 2024. The Chinese Embassy in the United States recently hosted a cultural event themed "Celebrating the Winter Solstice: Sharing Warmth and Culture." Held on Dec. 20, the celebratory event was attended by more than 50 guests from various sectors of U.S. society and foreign diplomatic missions in Washington, D.C. (Xinhua/Yan Liang) The Chinese Embassy in the United States recently hosted a cultural event themed "Celebrating the Winter Solstice: Sharing Warmth and Culture." Held on Dec. 20, the celebratory event was attended by more than 50 guests from various sectors of U.S. society and foreign diplomatic missions in Washington, D.C. Guests enjoyed traditional Chinese cultural experiences, including musical performances, Sichuan opera face-changing, and a tasting of Winter Solstice delicacies. They also participated in dumpling-making and tea-tasting and experienced traditional Chinese medicine demonstrations, immersing themselves in the rich traditions and charm of traditional Chinese culture. In her remarks, Wang Dan, wife of Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Xie Feng, highlighted the significance of the winter solstice, which encompasses both cultural heritage and the spirit of conveying warmth and hope during the coldest season of the year. She welcomed attendees to visit China in 2025 to experience the Chinese culture firsthand. Panama's Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States, Ambassador Ana Irene Delgado, said in her remarks that culture, with its richness and diversity, transcends borders and differences, serving as a bridge that connects people worldwide. Delgado said that the concept of harmony between humanity and nature resonates globally and deepens the friendship between China and Panama. Carla Canales, senior advisor and envoy for cultural exchange for the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, reflected on her many visits to China, describing culture as a network of rivers flowing across the planet and intertwining. She underscored the event's importance in fostering meaningful cultural exchange. Team Computers, a leading IT solutions provider in collaboration with HP, successfully hosted the HP Z Event at Zorba, New Delhi. The event brought together 70 delegates, including industry professionals, decision-makers, and technology enthusiasts, for an evening dedicated to exploring the cutting-edge capabilities of the HP Z Series range. The event featured insightful sessions led by experts from Team Computers and HP, highlighting the advanced features and unparalleled performance of the HP Z Series workstations. These sessions delved into how the Z Series is tailored to meet the demands of high-performance computing, creative workflows, and data-intensive tasks across industries. A key highlight of the event was the exclusive hands-on experience zone, where attendees had the opportunity to interact with the latest innovations in the HP Z Series lineup. From exploring state-of-the-art hardware to understanding how these solutions can elevate productivity and creativity, the experience zone left participants impressed with the potential of HPs technology. Speaking about the event, Ranjan Chopra, Managing Director of Team Computers, said, The HP Z Event was a fantastic platform to connect with industry leaders and showcase how the HP Z Series is redefining performance and innovation. At Team Computers, we are committed to empowering businesses with technology that drives efficiency and creativity. Events like these help us bridge the gap between cutting-edge solutions and the professionals who can truly benefit from them. The HP Z Event underscored Team Computers dedication to bringing the best in technology to its clients and fostering collaboration with industry leaders like HP. The positive response from attendees highlights the growing demand for high-performance solutions tailored to todays dynamic business environments. Transport infrastructure fuels robust growth in Xizang 08:46, December 26, 2024 By Chu Daye ( Global Times An aerial drone photo taken on June 27, 2024, shows a view of a high-grade highway linking Lhasa and Xigaze in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. (Photo/Xinhua) Transport infrastructure has played a significant role in driving socio-economic progress of Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, a Chinese expert said, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Qinghai-Xizang and Sichuan-Xizang highways on Wednesday. On December 25, 1954, the two highways simultaneously reached Lhasa, capital of the autonomous region, ending the history of no highways in the "roof of the world." The Qinghai-Xizang highway, which has an average elevation of 4,000 meters, and the Sichuan-Xizang highway, which has an average elevation of 3,500 meters, have a combined length of 4,360 kilometers. The two overland arteries, the economic lifeline of Xizang, handled more than 90 percent of the region's cargo transportation to and from other provinces, according to Xinhua News Agency on Wednesday. Xizang has achieved significant advancements in road development in recent years. As of the first half of 2024, the total length of highways in Xizang reached 123,300 kilometers, including 1,196 kilometers of expressways. Rural roads account for 93,000 kilometers of this total. The mileage for roads has nearly doubled from 65,200 kilometers in 2012, according to data from the region's transport authority. Craftsmen pose for a group photo at a workshop of a cooperative in Dagze District of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Dec. 9, 2024. (Photo: Xinhua) Xiong Kunxin, a professor at Minzu University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the two roads were instrumental in enhancing connectivity, fostering communication, and promoting integration between Xizang and other provinces. "The roads are also crucial for advancing transportation development in the region's next phase," Xiong said. The region aims to develop a 140,000-kilometer-long modern transportation network featuring safety, efficiency, sustainability, and innovation, facilitating seamless movement of people and goods across the plateau by 2035, a Xizang transport official wrote in an article in the Xizang Daily on Wednesday. The fast growth in transportation infrastructure has driven the region's economic growth and communication, transforming its trade landscape and creating momentum for growth in trade and tourism. The region's foreign trade value reached 11.22 billion yuan ($1.54 billion) in the first 11 months of this year, showing a 9.4 percent year-on-year increase, exceeding the national average by 4.5 percentage points, according to Lhasa customs on Tuesday. In the tourism sector, the region received 57 million domestic and overseas tourists during the first three quarters, surpassing the total number of tourists recorded for the entirety of 2023, according to a report by the China News Service on October 22. In addition to road traffic, Xizang has steadily developed a multi-modal transportation system, incorporating rail and air networks. China also constructed the Qinghai-Xizang Railway, and its cargo transportation volume has grown steadily. The Lhasa West Station Rail depot's cargo throughput rose from 329,000 tons in 2006, the year when the railway opened, to 5.71 million tons in 2023. On December 18, a freight train carrying new-energy vehicles departed from Xining, capital city of Northwest China's Qinghai Province for Kathmandu, Nepal, signifying a milestone in enhancing economic and trade connections between Qinghai and Nepal. The cargo will be transferred midway at Xigaze to trucks for overland transport via the Gyirong Port, a bustling trade hub on the China-Nepal border, to Kathmandu. The total transit time is expected to be approximately 15 to 20 days. An executive with China Railway Qinghai-Xizang Group Co, who declined to be named, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the newly opened corridor leverages rail transport's capacity for large-volume, cost-effective shipping while harnessing the flexibility and adaptability of road transportation. Notably, the region's trade with neighboring Nepal rose by an impressive 75.8 percent year-on-year, reaching 4.42 billion yuan. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) From downtown commercial areas to lakeside scenic zones, visitors to the city of Wuxi in Jiangsu province often encounter music as it plays a subtle yet indispensable role in enriching the overall experience. Right beside the historical Chong'an Temple in the city center is the former residence of Abing (1893-1950), a famous blind musician known for his poignant classic erhu (two-stringed fiddle) composition The Moon Reflected in the Second Spring. Walking along Dachengxiang pedestrian street, visitors are likely to pass by the Wuxi Opera Art Center, a compact museum that gives an account of the local art form through manuscripts, pictures and objects, and a theater space that hosts regular performances. At the Lihu Lake Scenic Spot, a small island is being transformed into a music-themed "lake-center utopia". It is now home to a record store, a music bookstore, a rehearsal studio and an open-air performance space, becoming a destination where visitors can appreciate nature and music. Wang Lina, director of the project, says that her company, Living Water Culture, has been hosting musical events since 2014, organizing more than 300 performances a year in Wuxi. The Living Water Music Festival recently won the 2024 best music festival brand award at the Hangzhou International Music Performance Industry Expo's awards ceremony. According to Wang, the lake-center project is positioned as a hub for music lovers and musicians. "The record store sells an international selection, and promotes music labels from Wuxi and around the country. Right beside it is a rehearsal and recording studio. We've collaborated with musicians and producers, Chinese and foreign, to encourage bands from around the country to record here and have their music mixed in Berlin," she says. "Further along is our music bookstore. We hope it'll become a popular spot that local youth enjoy visiting." The project is one of many public venues Wuxi has been busy setting up, as it invests in cultural infrastructure, and enhances its reputation as a city of music. Wuxi has had a celebrated history of folk music. The Meicun Erhu Industrial Park, which is located in a subdistrict of Xinwu, is known for making erhu in a way that merges craftsmanship and industrial production. Next door to it, the Meicun Erhu Cultural Park focuses more on promoting the instrument's heritage. Huang Jianhong, chairman of the Meicun Erhu Industry Association, says that manufacturing began in the 1950s with two master craftsmen, Lu Linsheng and Wan Qixing, who created pioneering brands and laid the foundation for a thriving industry. Since the 1990s, as more companies began to emerge, Meicun has gradually become known for producing mid- to high-end instruments. Huang is Wan's son-in-law, and started learning the craft from him in 1995 when he was 27. "At the time, there were only three people in our workshop. We were fully booked making instruments all year round without any days off," Huang says. "But I saw the potential of the craftsmanship, and focused on refining our technique and gradually expanding scale." Over the decades, the craftsmen improved the timbre of their instruments through extensive experimentation with various aspects including the raw materials, wood treatments and structure, each aspect requiring years of testing and refinement. According to Huang, the industrial park houses nearly 20 companies, most of which are dedicated to hand-making premium erhu. They produce around 50,000 instruments a year, exporting around 5,000. "While each company operates independently in developing and promoting their own brands, the Meicun Erhu Industry Association helps standardize and monitor overall quality. We aim to guide manufacturers in creating instruments of the highest quality," he adds. In addition to making instruments, Wuxi has a trove of professional and amateur groups. Over the past three years, the Wuxi Chinese Orchestra has performed some 600 concerts, and the Wuxi Symphony Orchestra, which held its inaugural performance on Jan 1 this year, has already participated in 50 performances. The training of new generations of musicians and performers is also a major focus, in order to cater to an increasingly vibrant music scene. Institutions dedicated to this include the Jiangnan Vocational College of Media Arts. At the college's school of music and dance, an advanced class is dedicated to students with a strong foundation in their particular musical field. Teaching is a combination of training and performing, preparing the students for competitions, and allowing them to participate in performances. One exemplary production is the Legend of Taihu Lake, a musical drama that has been performed around 300 times. Following a modern-day protagonist who travels back in time, it explores the mythology, history and culture of Wuxi and nearby regions through a variety of performing genres, including dance, martial arts, acrobatics and folk singing. "As part of their education, students not only learn traditional music but also engage with modern music. Through fusion, they create new pieces built upon the foundation of traditional music, enriching the scene," says Lu Liming, executive dean of the college. "Education is also a contributing factor to the city's development. It leads to the training of talented musicians whose work and performances display Wuxi's musical heritage, burnishing the city's image." It is also indispensable to the music industry, completing a chain that includes composition, performance and training, injecting fresh vitality into Wuxi's economic development, Lu adds. China's Ministry of Commerce announced on Wednesday that it would extend the duration of an anti-dumping investigation into brandy originating from the European Union (EU). According to the announcement, the ministry has decided to extend the investigation until April 5, 2025, given the complexity of the case and in accordance with relevant regulations. The ministry initiated the investigation on Jan. 5 this year following a request from the China Alcoholic Drinks Association on behalf of the domestic industry. The anti-dumping investigation looks at spirits obtained by distilling grape wine in containers holding less than 200 liters imported from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023, the ministry said in its Jan. 5 statement. It added that it would also investigate any damage done to the Chinese brandy industry from Jan. 1, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2023. The ministry said on Aug. 29 that a preliminary assessment showed that the imported brandy from the EU involves dumping, and the domestic brandy industry is under substantial threat of damage. The ministry said there is a causal relationship between the dumping and the substantial threat of damage. Since Oct. 11, China has imposed temporary anti-dumping measures on brandy originating from the EU. Importers of brandy originating from the EU must place deposits with Chinese customs based on dumping margins of between 30.6 percent and 39 percent. Thailands exports in 2024 poised to hit record high By Vietnam News Agency Thu, December 26, 2024 | 5:08 pm GMT+7 Thailands exports are on track to achieve a historical high of $300 billion this year, up 5.2% year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Commerce. Aerial photo shows a view of the Laem Chabang Port in Chonburi province, Thailand. It is one of the most important international container hub ports in the country. Photo courtesy of Xinhua. The value of exports reached $25.6 billion in November, marking the fifth consecutive month of growth with an 8.2% year-on-year increase. This growth was primarily driven by technology-related products, particularly computers, equipment and components, underscoring the global shift towards the digital era. According to Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, director-general of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office, exports of manufacturing-related goods continue to perform well, supported by proactive adjustments by various countries to address new trade dynamics and potential geopolitical challenges. The global demand for Thai agricultural and food products also significantly contributed to the robust export performance. In terms of sectors, exports of agricultural and agro-industrial products grew by 5.7% year-on-year in November, marking the fifth consecutive month of growth. Meanwhile, exports of industrial products grew by 9.5% year-on-year in November, marking the eighth consecutive month of growth. For the first 11 months, exports of industrial products grew by 5.5%. In terms of markets, exports to primary markets including the U.S., China, the EU as well as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam showed an improvement while exports to Japan and the five other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries fell. Meanwhile, imports in November increased by 0.9% year-on-year to $25.8 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $224 million. For the first 11 months, exports grew by 5.1% year-on-year to $275.7 billion, while exports excluding gold, oil products and arms expanded by 4.9%. Imports rose by 5.7% year-on-year to $282 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $6.27 billion. Chaichan Charoensuk, chairman of the Thai National Shippers' Council, said while exports will reach a record high, persistent challenges remain including geopolitical tensions and an economic slowdown in the European Union. The key challenge for Thai businesses next year will be reducing production costs, he added. An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 9, 2023 shows a newly-built residential complex in Feixi County of Hefei City, east China's Anhui Province. [Photo/Xinhua] China's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development has pledged to continue efforts to stabilize the real estate market and reverse its downturn in 2025. China will focus on unlocking housing demand by fully implementing a mix of policies to support people's needs for buying their first homes or improving their housing conditions, said a ministry official during a two-day national housing and urban-rural development work conference that ended Wednesday. China's property market has shown positive momentum this year, bolstered by a series of pro-housing measures, including reductions in mortgage rates, lower down payment requirements, relaxed purchase restrictions, and improvements to land use, fiscal and tax policies. The official highlighted signs of recovery in the housing market, citing year-on-year and month-on-month increases in new home transactions in terms of floor area recorded in October and November. To sustain this recovery, the ministry also plans to optimize the housing supply by strictly controlling the expansion of new commercial housing while improving the quality of homes, the official noted. In addition, greater efforts will be made to expand the supply of affordable housing, offering more support to new urban residents, young people and migrant workers to meet their housing needs. China intends to intensify its support for urban village and dilapidated housing renovation projects next year, further expanding the scale of such projects, according to the official. As part of efforts to establish a new development model for the real estate market, China will also focus on increasing the supply of improved housing, particularly high-quality homes. Meanwhile, reforms are being pursued for the commercial housing sales system, shifting from the traditional pre-sale practice to the sale of completed new homes, the official noted. Gia vang the gioi sang nay ap sat moc 3.000 USD/ounce muc ky luc chua tung co trong lich su. Trong nuoc cung khong ngoai le, khi lan luot tang tu 700 en 1 trieu ong/luong. "Vang ang trong thi truong tang gia dai han. Chung toi du bao gia se giao dich trong khoang 3.000-3.200 USD trong nam nay", Alex Ebkarian, giam oc ieu hanh tai Allegiance Gold cho biet. Bahrain-based Kanoo Real Estate, a division of the Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group, has won top recognition at the 2024 Arabian Property Awards in the Best Mixed-Use Development Bahrain category for Sitra Service Station, Best Retail Development Bahrain category for 1890 Boulevard and Best Mixed-Use Architecture Bahrain category for Sitra Service Station (5-Star Winner). Sitra Service Station is a mixed-use development spanning over 24,373 sq m and strategically located along the prominent Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah commercial highway in Sitra. As the largest service station of its kind in the Kingdom, it offers exceptional visibility and access, serving a wide range of businesses with modern facilities and services tailored to diverse customer needs, ensuring convenience for on-the-go, said the statement from Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group. The project was in collaboration with Saleh Abdullah Kameshki & Sons, the main contractor, and Bahrain Engineering Bureau (BEB), the consultant, ensuring a seamless execution that aligns with Kanoo Real Estates high standards, it stated. On its other win, Kanoo said the 1890 Boulevard, located in the vibrant Seef district, is a premier leisure and retail destination. The development boasts a 5,152-sq-m commercial space with a combination of food and beverage outlets with specialty retail stores. Pedestrian-friendly walkways and outdoor dining areas make 1890 Boulevard an ideal location for both residents and tourists. Mohamed Salahuddin Consulting Engineering Bureau (MSCEB) was appointed as the consultant and supervision of the projects construction, ensuring the highest standards of quality and functionality, it stated. The 2024 Arabian Property Awards recognises excellence in the region and is judged by an independent panel of over 100 esteemed industry professionals. On the top honours, Kanoo Real Estate CEO Mohamed Abdulelah Alkooheji said: "It is an honor to be recognized with these prestigious awards. Both Sitra Service Station and 1890 Boulevard reflect our vision of delivering developments that address market needs while elevating Bahrains urban landscape. This recognition inspires us to continue raising the bar in Bahrains real estate sector and beyond." "Our recent announcement of two flagship mixed-use projects in Riyadh marks a significant milestone in our journey to expand our property portfolio and strategic pipeline, solidifying our real estate presence in the region," he noted. Mohsin Haji, the Head of Business Development at Kanoo Real Estate, said: "These awards are a direct result of the hard work and dedication of our team. Sitra Service Station and 1890 Boulevard are prime examples of our focus on developing projects that create lasting economic impact." "As we continue to innovate, our aim is to create spaces that enhance both the business landscape and the quality of life for residents," he added.-TradeArabia News Service The Dubai Free Zones Council (DFZC) has reiterated its commitment to enhance the role of Dubais free zones in 2025, and support achieving the objectives of Dubai Economic Agenda D33. The objectives include doubling the size of Dubais economy over the next decade, and to consolidate its position among the top three global cities. At its 29th meeting, chaired by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, council members highlighted that the performance of Dubais free zones during 2024 is the result of their commitment to economic diversification in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to strengthen the pillars of sustainable growth based on enhancing competitiveness, proactivity, and future preparedness. The council members noted that Dubais free zones have made progress at various levels over the past 12 months, which is an incentive to continue their effective development role and enhance their contribution to Dubais economy in 2025. Well-positioned Dubais free zones are well-positioned to do so by facilitating business, benefiting from innovative solutions economic accelerators, and adopting the latest technologies, including artificial intelligence and big data analytics, for direct and proactive monitoring of economic, and business indicators. Simplifying regulations and legislation to attract investment DFZC reviewed the results of a study on foreign direct investment and promising opportunities in Dubais free zones, through enhancing competitiveness and attracting new investments. Council members discussed the latest developments regarding special economic zones and dual licensing. They also explored enhancing cooperation between the Dubai Free Zones Authorities and the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai to enhance traffic safety within free zones and provide advanced infrastructure facilities and a transportation network for Dubais residents. Ease of doing business Council members commended on the successful migration to the new system for the Human Resources Approval system, that caters to the Free Zones requirements and operations in Dubai, in collaboration with Dubai Digital Authority, which improves the time to complete applications by 60%. The Council was briefed on what has been achieved so far in the new approvals system in Dubais free zones, which speeds up operations, increases performance efficiency by 90%, and enhances cooperation between various entities, while benefiting from an environment-friendly infrastructure. The council members reviewed the latest developments in projects, policies, economic accelerators, and technical solutions, including corporate tax, the Dubai Free Zones Model 2030, the Financial Action Task Force compliance programme, as well as plans to attract Emirati talent to Dubais free zones and train them. The Council also commended the efforts of the teams that are working in a team spirit on the economic accelerators initiatives and programmes and platforms to facilitate doing business in Dubais free zones. Council members praised the cooperation of the authorities and working committees in achieving and implementing projects with efficiency and excellence.--TradeArabia News Service King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh ranked first among airports with over 15 million annual passengers, achieving an 82 per cent compliance rate, according to the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), which issued its November report on the performance of domestic and international airports in Saudi Arabia. Following closely behind King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, which achieved a compliance rate of 73 per cent, reported SPA. Airports are assessed based on 11 operational performance standards, which align with the strategic objectives of improving services and ensuring a seamless traveller experience at the Kingdom's airports. GACA categorises airports, for performance evaluation, based on annual passenger numbers to ensure a transparent evaluation. King Fahd International Airport in Dammam tied for first place with Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah in the category of international airports serving 5 to 15 million passengers annually, with a 91 per cent compliance rate. The former outperformed the latter in terms of several standards. In the 2 to 5 million annual passenger category, Abha International Airport and King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport in Jizan demonstrated a 100 per cent compliance rate.However, Abha Airport outperformed King Abdullah Airport by reaching higher targets in the specified evaluation criteria. In the category of fewer than 2 million passengers annually, Arar International Airport achieved a 100 per cent compliance rate, outperforming its competitors with regard to average waiting time for departing and arriving flights. Gurayat Airport came first in the domestic airport category, with a 100 per cent compliance rate. It outperformed all competing airports in terms of average waiting time for departing and arriving flights. GACA evaluates airport performance through operational performance standards focused on critical passenger touchpoints. These include check-in, security, passport control, customs, baggage claim, and assistance to passengers with reduced mobility (PRM). These metrics ensure a seamless and efficient travel experience for all passengers and are aligned with international best practices. Dubais creative sector serves as a significant global economic force, representing 6.1% of the worlds economy with a total value of $4.3 trillion. This is according to a report titled Creative Dubai: Navigating Tomorrows Creative Landscape, unveiled by HH Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), a WAM report said. The report also shows that the UAE had the largest creative sector in the Mena region in 2021. 47,544 creative companies According to the Dubai Framework for Cultural Statistics, and data issued by the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment, Dubais cultural and creative industries generated AED21.96 billion ($5.98 billion) in added value in 2022, contributing 4.6% to the emirates GDP. The report reveals that 47,544 companies operate in Dubais creative sectors, providing jobs for 175,727 employees. In addition, Dubai attracted 898 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in the cultural and creative industries in 2023, increasing total capital inflows for FDI projects to AED11.8 billion. Additionally, the report reveals that Dubai is home to more than 40% of start-ups in the sector that have secured over $1 million worth of funding in the Mena region, with 306 based in the emirate. The report, developed in collaboration with DinarStandard, a privately-owned growth strategy research and advisory firm empowering organisations for responsible global impact, highlights Dubais achievements in the cultural and creative industries, the key factors contributing to the citys cultural vision, and significant data tracking the sectors transformation. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of the creative sectors performance and its diverse investment opportunities. Sheikha Latifa said creativity is a powerful cultural, social, and economic force and a vital pillar in shaping the future of societies and cities. Highlighting its significant impact on advancing Dubais knowledge and innovation-driven economy, she said: Through its extraordinary growth journey and visionary achievements, Dubai has established itself as a prominent global economic and cultural hub. Under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai has become a magnet for talent and investors worldwide. Its dynamic economic system and ambitious initiatives combined with the boundless opportunities it offers creatives and entrepreneurs, Dubai has reinforced its leadership in the creative economy and its role in shaping the future of culture and art. Integrated ecosystem Sheikha Latifa emphasised the strategic significance of the report, highlighting its comprehensive overview of the creative economy in the UAE, the Arab region, and worldwide, as well as its role in shaping the future of the local creative sector. Dubai continues to advance its creative and cultural industries by embracing innovative solutions, developing advanced digital infrastructure, and fostering an environment that empowers and supports the cultural and creative sector. This involves developing an integrated ecosystem that supports the entire cultural and creative cycle, encompassing creation, production, dissemination, exhibition, reception, transmission, and culminating in consumption or participation. By offering the necessary resources and facilities for creative businesses, we encourage talent to establish their ventures here. This approach has strengthened Dubais global profile and leadership, transforming it into a thriving cultural hub, strongly aligned with our creative economy strategy. Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, said Dubai has strengthened its status as a global hub for the cultural and creative industries thanks to its visionary leadership and attractive legislative and investment environment. She said the Creative Dubai report reflects the performance and reality of Dubais cultural sector and its ability to shape a bright future, stating: The reports findings provide strong motivation for members of Dubais creative community, opening new horizons for them and inspiring innovation, as they continue their professional journeys and implement their unique ideas and projects, contributing to the strength of Dubais cultural and creative industries, aligned with Dubai Cultures commitment to empowering talent and entrepreneurs. The report highlights how Dubais robust infrastructure, business-enabling support and vibrant cultural environment have significantly contributed to its global leadership. This enabled Dubai to win the bid to host the World Cities Culture Summit 2024 for the first time in the Mena region and the International Council of Museums (ICOM) General Conference 2025 for the first time in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. Furthermore, Dubai ranked first regionally and fourth globally in the Cultural Interaction parameter within the 2023 Global Power City Index for the second consecutive year. Global innovation hub The report also outlines the trends that will shape the sector in Dubai over the coming years. The emirate seeks to enhance its position as a global innovation hub by adopting cutting-edge solutions, supporting artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and blockchain technologies, balancing technological advancement with sustainable innovation while preserving cultural identity, attracting talent and fostering their engagement with the community. The report provides a comprehensive set of recommendations to foster the growth of Dubais creative sector. It highlights key opportunity hotspots for investors, showcasing the most dynamic and rapidly expanding cultural and creative domains. The report also identifies relevant innovations, opportunity areas, and investment themes that leverage the UAEs membership in BRICS to broaden the scope of creative collaborations and expand market potential. A strong emphasis is placed on affordable technological solutions tailored to SMEs, including initiatives such as government-funded projects and public innovation labs. Additionally, the report advocates for the adoption of a hybrid business model that seamlessly integrates physical and digital operations. It underscores the importance of developing integrated curricula that build linkages between the creative industry and educational institutions, ensuring a sustainable talent pipeline and industry growth. The creative sector's influence on Dubai is evident in its economy, global distinctiveness, and quality of life. Dubai stands out as a regional leader in the creative sector, fostering cultural enrichment, generating economic opportunities, and championing the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems. Its innovative urban development and artistic aesthetics further enhance its appeal, solidifying its position as a hub for cultural tourism.--TradeArabia News Service Slemani Rotana, a 5-star hotel in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, has partnered with local artist Tablochin to deepen its connection with the country's rich cultural heritage. This partnership will showcase Tablochins artwork, which beautifully reflects the spirit of Iraqi-Kurdish culture, with 200 artworks displayed throughout the hotel and its restaurants until end of 2025. Artwork includes cutlery, plates and paintings. Reflecting Slemani Rotanas commitment to supporting local artistry, the collaboration is designed to create an immersive cultural experience for guests. Visitors can look forward to enjoying meals and refreshments in an atmosphere enriched with the spirit of the region, conveyed through Tablochins exquisite craftsmanship. Fakhir Hassan, Chairman of the owning company, Qaiwan Group, said: We believe that art is a vital expression of culture, and we are dedicated to enriching our guests' experiences by connecting them with local talent. Working with Tablochin is just the first step in our journey to create a more culturally engaging environment within our hotel and restaurants. Featuring these art pieces is part of Slemani Rotana's broader initiative to foster local culture and artistry. This marks the beginning of a larger project aimed at promoting local artists and enhancing cultural engagement throughout the upcoming year, 2025. Slemani Rotana is part of Rotanas growing portfolio of hotels and resorts in the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Turkiye (MENAT). Rotana currently operates 81 hotels across the MENAT region, serving more than six million guests per year. The company continues to expand its footprint with a robust pipeline of new projects in the UAE and international markets, solidifying its reputation as a global leader in hospitality. -TradeArabia News Service You are here: Business China's 2023 gross domestic product (GDP) has been revised to 129.4 trillion yuan (about 18 trillion U.S. dollars), official data showed Thursday. The amount represents an increase of 3.4 trillion yuan from the preliminary calculation, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). China's annual GDP goes through two rounds of accounting: preliminary calculation and final verification. The final verification is conducted based on annual statistical data, final fiscal accounts, and departmental administrative records. Revising GDP data is an international practice, and it is also a long-standing practice in Chinese government statistics, deputy NBS head Lin Tao told a press conference on Thursday. Work to revise the 2023 GDP of China's provincial-level regions is ongoing, with results to be unveiled in 2025, according to Lin. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley says she is prepared to have her United States visa revoked, as she urged Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries to ensure they are able to explain...what the Cubans have been able to do for us as they seek to defend the Cuban health brigade programme. This matter, with the Cubans and the nurses, should tell us everything that we need to know. Barbados does not currently have Cuban medical staff or Cuban nurses, but I will be the first to go to the line and to tell you that we could not get through the (Covid-19) pandemic without the Cuban nurses and the Cuban doctors, Mottley said in a statement in Parliament. Perhaps it is because there is no consequence for the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) that it continues to disconnect the electricity supply of its customers without warning. Regulated Industries Commission (RIC) executive director Dr Michelle Salandy confirmed to a parliamentary Joint Select Committee (JSC) on Local Authorities, Service Commissions and Statutory Authorities (including THA) that T&TEC faces no repercussions for the failure to adhere to its code of practice that gives specific step-by-step guidance on disconnection, reconnection, and theft of electricity, among other things. Now that information is in the public sphere, the public will no doubt hold the commission to account. China on Thursday published the results of its fifth national economic census, which showed that the country's economy has achieved progress while maintaining stability over the past five years. The census results reflected that China has witnessed a significant increase in the number of entities and persons employed in secondary and tertiary industries, Kang Yi, head of the National Bureau of Statistics, said at a press conference on the census. China had 33.27 million legal units engaged in secondary and tertiary industries at the end of 2023, up 52.7 percent from the end of 2018. The secondary and tertiary industries employed over 428.98 million people at the end of 2023, up 11.9 percent compared with the end of 2018. The number of self-employed units was nearly 88 million with 179.56 million persons employed, according to the results. In particular, the fifth national economic census has included the digital economy for the first time. The capacity for technological innovation, as well as labor productivity, has continued to improve, said Kang, adding that the industrial structure has been optimized, and the digital economy has experienced robust growth. China had 2.92 million corporate enterprises engaged in the core industries of the digital economy, with 36.16 million persons employed as of the end of 2023. The total yearly business revenue for the core industries of the digital economy reached 48.45 trillion yuan (about 6.74 trillion U.S. dollars). The economic census, one of China's key national surveys, provides a comprehensive overview of the country's secondary and tertiary industries, offering valuable insights into its social and economic development. China carried out four national economic censuses in 2004, 2008, 2013 and 2018, respectively, and formally started its fifth national economic census in 2023. To ensure the authenticity and reliability of the census data, Kang said a plan for the economic census had been formulated scientifically, and the quality control of the data had been strengthened throughout the entire process. The post-enumeration check, sampling 21,000 units, 1,099 enumeration areas, and 249 county-level regions from 31 provincial-level regions, showed that the combined error rate was 0.47 percent, which met the standard for data quality. The export price of Vietnams five-percent broken rice dropped US$17 to $485 per metric ton on Wednesday, the lowest in 19 months, according to the Vietnam Food Association. Meanwhile, the same type of rice of Thailand, India, and Pakistan was priced at $501, $449, and $452 per metric ton, respectively. Vietnams 25-percent and 100-percent broken rice prices also fell $11 and $17 to $459 and $388 per metric ton, respectively. Local rice exporters attributed the situation to the Philippines suspension of rice imports from Vietnam. The Philippines is a traditional market of Vietnams rice and the largest rice importer in the world. Meanwhile, Philippine media cited the Department of Agriculture as saying that there were still six million rice bags in the National Food Authoritys storage facilities. This rice volume is at a high risk of spoilage and is being sold to the domestic market at 30 peso ($0.5) per kilogram, lower than the market price of 40 peso ($0.7). The secretary of agriculture in the Philippines has a plan to sign memoranda of understanding with Pakistan and India to create a fair playground for rice exporters, Philippine media reported. Vietnam has exported some nine million metric tons of rice so far this year, generating $5.8 billion, according to the Vietnam Food Association. The Philippines purchased 3.3 million metric tons of rice from Vietnam, accounting for 77 percent of the latter's rice exports. It was followed by Thailand with nearly 545,000 metric tons, Myanmar with 185,000 metric tons, and Pakistan with 15,000 metric tons. The Philippine Department of Agriculture reported that the countrys rice imports had hit 4.25 million metric tons in 2024, well above the 3.6 million metric tons in 2023 and the 3.8 million metric tons in 2022. The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast the Philippines would import 4.5 million metric tons of rice in 2025. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Scientists have long known that light can sometimes appear to exit a material before entering it -- an effect dismissed as an illusion caused by how waves are distorted by matter. Now, researchers at the University of Toronto, through innovative quantum experiments, say they have demonstrated that "negative time" is not just a theoretical idea -- it exists in a tangible, physical sense, deserving closer scrutiny. The findings, yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, have attracted both global attention and skepticism. The researchers emphasize that these perplexing results highlight a peculiar quirk of quantum mechanics rather than a radical shift in our understanding of time. "This is tough stuff, even for us to talk about with other physicists. We get misunderstood all the time," said Aephraim Steinberg, a University of Toronto professor specializing in experimental quantum physics. While the term "negative time" might sound like a concept lifted from science fiction, Steinberg defends its use, hoping it will spark deeper discussions about the mysteries of quantum physics. Years ago, the team began exploring interactions between light and matter. When light particles, or photons, pass through atoms, some are absorbed by the atoms and later re-emitted. This interaction changes the atoms, temporarily putting them in a higher-energy or "excited" state before they return to normal. In research led by Daniela Angulo, the team set out to measure how long these atoms stayed in their excited state. "That time turned out to be negative," Steinberg explained -- meaning a duration less than zero. To visualize this concept, imagine cars entering a tunnel: before the experiment, physicists recognized that while the average entry time for a thousand cars might be, for example, noon, the first cars could exit a little sooner, say 11:59 am. This result was previously dismissed as meaningless. What Angulo and colleagues demonstrated was akin to measuring carbon monoxide levels in the tunnel after the first few cars emerged and finding that the readings had a minus sign in front of them. The experiments, conducted in a cluttered basement laboratory bristling with wires and aluminum-wrapped devices, took over two years to optimize. The lasers used had to be carefully calibrated to avoid distorting the results. Still, Steinberg and Angulo are quick to clarify: no one is claiming time travel is a possibility. "We don't want to say anything traveled backward in time," Steinberg said. "That's a misinterpretation." The explanation lies in quantum mechanics, where particles like photons behave in fuzzy, probabilistic ways rather than following strict rules. Instead of adhering to a fixed timeline for absorption and re-emission, these interactions occur across a spectrum of possible durations -- some of which defy everyday intuition. Critically, the researchers say, this does not violate Einstein's theory of special relativity, which dictates that nothing can travel faster than light. These photons carried no information, sidestepping any cosmic speed limits. The concept of "negative time" has drawn both fascination and skepticism, particularly from prominent voices in the scientific community. German theoretical physicist Sabine Hossenfelder, for one, criticized the work in a YouTube video viewed by over 250,000 people, noting, "The negative time in this experiment has nothing to do with the passage of time -- it's just a way to describe how photons travel through a medium and how their phases shift." Angulo and Steinberg pushed back, arguing that their research addresses crucial gaps in understanding why light does not always travel at a constant speed. Steinberg acknowledged the controversy surrounding their paper's provocative headline but pointed out that no serious scientist has challenged the experimental results. "We've made our choice about what we think is a fruitful way to describe the results," he said, adding that while practical applications remain elusive, the findings open new avenues for exploring quantum phenomena. "I'll be honest, I dont currently have a path from what we've been looking at toward applications," he admitted. "We're going to keep thinking about it, but I don't want to get people's hopes up." Police in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam have decided to initiate legal proceedings and temporarily detain two Iranians who pretended to inquire about the value of Vietnamese banknotes to subsequently steal VND70 million (US$2,752) from four local individuals. The decision was applied on Thursday to Mirzazadeh Sajjad, 31, and Taherabadi Hamzeh, 42, both Iranian nationals, for further investigation into the theft. According to the initial investigation, Sajjad and Hamzeh are suspects in a series of recent robberies in Bien Hoa City and Vinh Cuu District, Dong Nai Province. Police have determined that the two suspects employed a tactic in which they pretended to ask about the value of Vietnamese bills ranging from VND1,000 ($0.039) to VND500,000 ($19.66). The victims, believing the foreigners were unfamiliar with the local currency, would then take out money to explain the value. While Sajjad communicated with the victims in both foreign languages and Vietnamese, Hamzeh waited in their car outside. Sajjad then handed the victim a $1 bill and used distraction tactics with both words and gestures to cause them to lose focus. As soon as the victim put their guard down, Sajjad quickly seized most of the money and escaped in the car. Using this scheme, between December 4 and 9, Sajjad and Hamzeh stole money totaling more than VND70 million from four individuals in Bien Hoa and Vinh Cuu. One of the victims, L.X.T., a 53-year-old resident of Thanh Phu Commune in Vinh Cuu District, had VND50 million ($1,966) stolen by the suspects. The Dong Nai Department of Public Security have notified the victims to contact its investigatve police agency to provide further information and receive support. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the closing meeting of the 13th session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] The Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) concluded its 13th session in Beijing on Wednesday. At the closing meeting, lawmakers voted to adopt a law on value-added tax, a decision on amending the Supervision Law, and a revised Science and Technology Popularization Law. They adopted a decision on removing Wang Guanghua from the post of minister of natural resources and appointing Guan Zhi'ou to the position. President Xi Jinping signed four presidential orders to promulgate the laws and the decisions. Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the closing meeting. The meeting decided to submit a draft amendment to the Law on Deputies to the National People's Congress and Local People's Congresses at All Levels to the third session of the 14th NPC for further deliberation, and entrusted Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, to make explanatory remarks to the NPC session. The meeting adopted a decision on convening the third session of the 14th NPC. According to the decision, the third session of the 14th NPC will open on March 5, 2025. Lawmakers ratified an extradition treaty between China and Zimbabwe and another one between China and Suriname. They voted to adopt the name list of the members of the sixth-term Macao Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee of the NPC Standing Committee. They also adopted a deputy qualification report and personnel-related bills. Addressing the closing meeting, Zhao urged lawmakers to maintain the correct political orientation in their work, fulfill their duties in accordance with the law, take on responsibilities, and continuously improve the quality of the work of people's congresses. He called for practical, efficient, thorough and meticulous preparations and organization for the upcoming third session of the 14th NPC. Zhao also called on lawmakers to make thorough preparations and arrangements for next year's work in accordance with the key tasks of the NPC Standing Committee for 2025, as well as its work plans on legislation, oversight, deputies and foreign affairs. Zhao chaired a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee before the closing meeting and presided over a lecture for lawmakers after the closing meeting. He also granted letters of appointment to members of the sixth-term Macao Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee of the NPC Standing Committee. What you need to know today in Vietnam: Politics -- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son received Special Envoy of the President and Advisor for International Affairs of Palestine Riad Malki in Hanoi on Wednesday, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Society -- Cold air is forecast to continue flowing across the northern region until early 2025, with the minimum temperature at 12 degrees Celsius, according to the national weather center. -- Railway Transport Joint Stock Company started operating 11 luxury sleeper carriages, transformed from seating carriages, on Wednesday to serve passengers on the Ho Chi Minh City-Nha Trang route during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. -- The 240-kilometer Day River, one of the northern regions longest rivers, is heavily polluted by wastewater. Business -- The export price of Vietnams five-percent broken rice dropped by US$17 to $485 per metric ton on Wednesday, the lowest in 19 months, according to the Vietnam Food Association. Lifestyle -- Ha Giang Province in northern Vietnam has put into service its first five-star hotel, marking a key milestone for the provinces efforts in spurring tourism. Since the start of the year, the province has welcomed some 2.5 million tourists, including more than 290,000 international visitors. -- Over 150 unique and antique ceramic items with floral patterns are on display at the History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City. The exhibition of these antiquities was opened to the public on Wednesday. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! The European Union (EU) has increased the border inspection rate on Vietnamese durians to 20 percent from 10 after detecting excessive pesticide residues in recent shipments, the Vietnam Sanitary and Phytosanitary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point (Vietnam SPS) reported. On December 19, the Vietnam SPS, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, received a notification from the SPS/WTO Committee Secretariat regarding the EU's decision. This measure seeks to temporarily enhance official controls and emergency measures for certain goods imported into the EU from specific third countries, including agricultural products like durian, dragon fruit, chili, and okra from Vietnam. For durian, the EU has raised its border inspection rate to 20 percent from 10 percent. According to the Vietnam SPS, this increased scrutiny is due to non-compliance with EU regulations on pesticide residues. EU agencies previously detected excessive levels of several pesticides in Vietnamese durians, including fipronil, carbendazim, dimethomorph, azoxystrobin, metalaxyl, acetamiprid, and lambda-cyhalothrin. According to EU standards, the maximum residue limits range from 0.005 to 0.1 mg per kilogram, depending on each substance, while the residues found in Vietnamese durians ranged from 0.021 to 6.3 mg per kilogram, far higher than the permissible limits. Three other Vietnamese agricultural products including dragon fruit, chili, and okra remain under their current border inspection rates, with 30 percent for dragon fruit and 50 percent for the two others. These inspection rates will be effective from January 8, 2025. The Vietnam SPS noted that the EU reviews compliance with its food safety regulations every six months. Based on the review results, the EU may adjust border inspection rates for specific products imported into the market. Ngo Xuan Nam, deputy director of the Vietnam SPS, said this is a regular activity in accordance with EU regulations. Currently, durians and several other Vietnamese fruits are subject to border inspection rates ranging from 10 to 50 percent. In the next six months, if Vietnam still fails to meet the pesticide residue rule, the EU may increase the inspection rate further or suspend durian imports from Vietnam, depending on the violation levels, Nam added. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Department of Legal Affairs under the Vietnamese Ministry of Health has proposed supplementing administrative fines against those storing and using e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. The department held a workshop in Hanoi on Wednesday to provide information about a plan to implement the law-making National Assembly's resolution involving the ban of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. The legislature in late November passed a resolution on prohibiting the production, trade, import, storage, transportation, and use of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and addictive or harmful substances affecting human health starting next year, making Vietnam the sixth country in Southeast Asia to completely bar e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. A representative of the Department of Legal Affairs shared that Vietnam has had administrative and criminal sanctions against the production, storage, and transport of banned goods. In particular, those involved in producing and trading barred goods shall be subject to a fine of VND100 million (US$3,930) to VND1 billion ($39,300) or a jail term of one to five years each, pursuant to Article 190 of the Penal Code. Article 191 of the Penal Code regulates that those who store and transport banned goods shall be fined VND50-300 million ($1,964-11,792) or be sentenced to six months to three years behind bars each. However, there are no regulations and penalties for users of banned goods, including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. The Ministry of Health has proposed building a decree amending and supplementing the national governments Decree 117 on the handling of administrative violations in the healthcare sector. The decree will include sanctions against the storage and use of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and addictive substances that do harm to public health, the representative of the Department of Legal Affairs informed. The Ministry of Health also suggested organizing training courses to improve the capability of officials in charge of inspections, supervision and punishment; and enhancing the handling of violations. The ministry floated the idea of expanding rehabilitation facilities using funding from the Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund to make them more friendly and accessible, while building a smoke-free environment so that people, especially children, can enjoy clean air. The ban of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products is a stride in Vietnams cigarette prevention and control campaign, Nguyen Tuan Lam, an expert from the World Health Organization in Vietnam, said at the workshop. In the coming time, Vietnam should focus on cracking down on the smuggling, trade, and advertising of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Fines should be stringent enough to deter such actions, Lam emphasized, adding that greater attention should be directed toward the online sale and promotion of e-cigarettes. A campaign similar to those promoting helmet use and banning drunk driving should be initiated, alongside awareness initiatives and the involvement of relevant sectors and agencies. Lam also suggested conducting regular surveys and evaluations to monitor the effectiveness of the prohibition. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son requested relevant agencies to make proposals and streamline policies and regulations in a bid to make conditions favorable for overseas Vietnamese citizens to work, invest, and do business in Vietnam at a workshop in Hanoi on Wednesday. The State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs held the workshop titled '65 years of connecting overseas citizens with the country and 20 years of implementing the Politburos Resolution 36-NQ/TW on overseas Vietnamese affairs.' Deputy Prime Minister Son highlighted the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs' significant contributions over the past 65 years, particularly its role in proposing policies like Resolution 36. Many of the resolution's directives have been transformed into policies and regulations addressing key needs of overseas Vietnamese, including citizenship applications, housing, land ownership, residence, investment, and business opportunities. These efforts have strengthened connections with their homeland and mobilized resources to support the countrys development. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son speaks at the workshop titled 65 years of connecting overseas citizens with the country and 20 years of implementing the Politburos Resolution 36-NQ/TW on overseas Vietnamese affairs' in Hanoi, December 25, 2024. Photo: State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Deputy PM Son insisted on keeping a close watch on the lives of overseas Vietnamese to promptly propose issuing, amending, and supplementing policies and regulations; supporting overseas Vietnamese to stabilize their lives and integrate in foreign countries; and protecting their legitimate rights and benefits. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, head of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, said many overseas citizens had joined the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the prime minister's economic advisory group, contributing opinions to the countrys important matters. Resolution 36 has contributed to mobilizing resources from overseas Vietnamese and encouraging them to assist in the nation's development, Hang noted. Remittances to Vietnam reached a total of US$230 billion between 1993 and 2023, the official reported. Since 2020, remittance inflows have surpassed the countrys disbursed foreign direct investment and official development assistance loans. These funds have played a crucial role in stabilizing the macroeconomy, alleviating poverty, and improving the livelihoods of many local households. Delegates attend the workshop titled '65 years of connecting overseas citizens with the country and 20 years of implementing the Politburos Resolution 36-NQ/TW on overseas Vietnamese affairs' in Hanoi, December 25, 2024. Photo: State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs At the workshop, Le Van Thu, deputy head of the Ho Chi Minh City Overseas Vietnamese Committee, said the city had issued many policies to attract overseas Vietnamese intellectuals. Some 500 Vietnamese intellectuals from various countries have returned to the city for work. The Ho Chi Minh City Overseas Vietnamese Committee has proposed that the municipal government approve a project aimed at enhancing the impact of remittances on the city's development through 2030. The proposed project includes policies to channel remittances into financial and securities markets and create mechanisms to attract capital from remittance recipients. According to the State Bank of Vietnam, remittances to Ho Chi Minh City totaled $7 billion in 2021, contributing significantly to the countrys overall inflows. The figure rose to nearly $9.5 billion last year and reached $5.18 billion in the first half of this year. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Over 150 unique and antique ceramic items with floral patterns are on display at the History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City. The exhibition of these antiquities themed Flowers Blossom - Flowers in Eastern Ceramics Art was opened to the public on Wednesday, and runs until the end of March. The display is one of numerous activities to welcome the 2025 spring at the museum. Most of the ceramic antiquities were crafted during the Ly, Tran, Le, and Nguyen Dynasties, spanning from the 11th century to the early 20th century. Their motifs feature various flowers of the four seasons, namely spring, summer, fall, and winter, such as apricot blossom, peach blossom, peony, lotus, orchid, chrysanthemum, cedar and phyllostachys plant, a genus of Asian bamboo. These artifacts, including jars, urns, flasks, vases, bottles, and plates, are being showcased under four seasonal themes. Ceramics featuring motifs of various seasonal flowers are on display at the History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre The ceramics, adorned with motifs of apricot blossoms, peach blossoms and peonies, embody the spring, a symbol of vitality. As for ceramic products decorated with lotus and orchid patterns, the summer immediately comes to visitors minds. Meanwhile, chrysanthemums are a quintessential symbol of autumn. Ceramic designs adorned with chrysanthemum motifs evoke images of cool breezes and the changing colors of leaves. Similarly, depictions of cedars and phyllostachys plants on ceramics conjure a serene picture of winter. This exhibition offers visitors a chance to admire exquisite artifacts while celebrating ceramic art as a cherished heritage of the East, said Hoang Anh Tuan, director of the museum. A jar decorated with apricot blossoms is on display at the History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre Ceramic containers portraying orchids are on display at the History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre Ceramic pots with chrysanthemum patterns are on display at the History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre Porcelain vases with patterns of spring flowers are on display at the History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre Ceramic vases adorned with cedar and phyllostachys plant patterns are being displayed at the History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre Jars adorned with lotuses are being showcased at the History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! New Delhi: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Kumar Jha said in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) on December 17, during the Winter Session of Parliament, We could have asked Bangladesh and Pakistan to learn from us, had our own report on minority rights been good. But that is not the case. Support TwoCircles He was critical of Indias ability to position itself as a moral authority on the global stage when it comes to the treatment of minorities. His remarks have struck a chord with critics who argue that Indias domestic record on religious violence and treatment of minorities complicates its moral authority to intervene in the affairs of its neighbours. Jhas comments came at a time when tensions between India and Bangladesh are reaching new heights. The recent arrest of ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh, his subsequent imprisonment and the violent fallout have ignited widespread protests. At the heart of these protests is the plight of religious minorities in the neighbouring nation, particularly Hindus, who have long faced discrimination and violence from radical elements. Das, who is a prominent spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was detained on November 25 for allegedly disrespecting the national flag of Bangladesh. His arrest sparked massive protests in Bangladesh, where Hindus and other minorities have been calling for greater protection. The monk, known for his activism on behalf of the Hindu community in Bangladesh, was arrested at Dhakas Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport as he was preparing to travel to Chattogram. The arrest has drawn sharp condemnation from India. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed deep concern over the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh and urged the Bangladeshi government to ensure the safety of all its citizens, particularly Hindus, and uphold their right to peacefully protest. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misris meetings with his Bangladeshi counterparts in December underscored Indias growing anxiety over the situation, with Misri emphasising the need for a democratic, peaceful, stable and inclusive Bangladesh. However, Suhasini Haidar, the diplomatic editor at The Hindu, noted that Indias stance on minority rights abroad is complicated by its own internal challenges. India does not appreciate interference in its internal affairs when people ask about the conditions of minorities, like the Muslims and Sikhs, in India, she pointed out. But India has clearly made it a major issue with even Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioning it to US President Joe Biden in September. Bangladesh, for its part, has defended its actions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka issued a statement on November 26, rejecting Indias intervention in the matter of Dass arrest. The statement suggested that Indias position misrepresented the facts and undermined the spirit of friendship between the two nations. Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das has been arrested on specific charges, and his actions do not relate to his advocacy for the rights of Hindus, the statement read. In India, protests against Bangladeshs handling of the situation have spilled over into several states. Right-wing organisations in Assam, Tripura and Agartala held rallies condemning the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh and the arrest of Chinmoy Das. On December 2, a protest in Agartala led to clashes with security forces and the breaching of barricades at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission. The violence prompted the Bangladesh government to summon Indias envoy in Dhaka for a diplomatic discussion. The unrest continued with protests in Kolkata, where members of the Bengali Hindu Suraksha Samiti burned Dhakai Jamdani sarees and called for a boycott of Bangladeshi products. The protests reflect growing frustration in India over the treatment of Hindus in Bangladesh, as well as frustration over the apparent inaction by Dhaka. Indias position is further complicated by the broader geopolitical context. The political landscape in Bangladesh has shifted dramatically since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, following widespread student protests. The new interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, is struggling with internal unrest and rising anti-India sentiment, much of it fueled by Opposition parties like the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. According to Aliva Mishra, an assistant professor at Delhis Jamia Millia Islamia, India has lost a valuable ally in Sheikh Hasinas government. The friendly regime promoted people-to-people connections, facilitating trade, tourism and the education sector, she said. However, she acknowledged that anti-India rhetoric from the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami could pose a significant diplomatic challenge for New Delhi in the future. Bangladeshs current interim government, which came to power after the army-backed ousting of Hasinas administration, is facing increasing pressure both domestically and from abroad. Journalist Sheikh Surfuddin Reza Ali Chowdhury from Bangladesh argued that Indias foreign policy was largely responsible for the current tensions. Anti-India sentiments have been rising, and this has been compounded by the lack of free and fair media in Bangladesh, he said. Bangladeshis, according to him, are increasingly dissatisfied with the interim government and its handling of the political crisis. Despite these challenges, India continues to call for stable and constructive ties with Bangladesh. In a meeting with Bangladeshs Foreign Secretary Riaz Hamidullah on December 3, Indian envoy to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, reiterated Indias commitment to maintaining strong bilateral relations. No single issue should stand as a barrier for bilateral ties, he emphasised. Indias stance on the Bangladesh crisis remains cautious. While it has expressed concerns over the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh, New Delhi must also confront its own domestic issues with religious violence and minority rights. As India continues to advocate for the rights of minorities in Bangladesh, it will be expected to demonstrate a more consistent and transparent approach to addressing these issues at home. This situation underscores the delicate balance India must strike between moral advocacy abroad and addressing the pressing challenges of religious violence and minority rights at home. With both countries facing internal struggles, the future of India-Bangladesh relations hinges not only on diplomatic exchanges but also on how each nation addresses its treatment of minorities. As Ive covered this film twice already in as many years, I dont really have anything else to add about the film itself. Beyond not expecting to watch Wolf Creek this many times in such a short span, I still hold this as one of the creepiest, most intense Terror Films to come out of the early 2000s. Compared to some others in that bloody vein of horror, Wolf Creek is brilliantly understated trading over-the-top viscera and gore for genuine thrills and horror. This is a perfect example of what you dont see and have to imagine being far more horrific than whatever gore is splashed over the camera. That isnt to say Wolf Creek doesnt offer its share of blood donations, it certainly does, but considering what it doesnt show us, its a decidedly restrained effort. Anyway, here's what I had to say previously: Horror films love to work in phases. The late 90s saw the successful resurgence of the Slasher with Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and Halloween: H20 among others. Then came the early aughts and horror was taken back to the gritty and tough-to-watch terror films of the 1970s. These are films that are so unrelenting in their horrific imagery, theyre often dubbed torture porn as they seem to relish the pain inflicted upon the hapless protagonists. I like to call them Terror Films or Survival Films because by the end of it, youre left feeling that youre glad to be alive and not those poor sons of bitches you just watched butchered on screen. Notable entries in this little early 2000s sub-genre were flicks like High Tension, Hostel, and Saw with varying mileage of success. But one particular low-budget film imported from the land down under would withstand the test of time (and a mediocre sequel) as one of the scariest and most disturbing films of the decade - Wolf Creek. British gal-pals Liz (Cassandra Magrath) and Kristy (Kestie Morassi) are traveling across Australia with their friend Ben (Nathan Phillips). The next leg of their journey will see them traveling cross country through the outback from Broome to Cairns in a cheap barely-running car. Camping out along the way, the trio stop off at Wolf Creek National Park to view the large crater, but when they return to their car they discover their watches have stopped and the vehicle is dead as a stone. As darkness settles in, the seemingly kindly outback hunter Mick comes upon them and offers to tow them to his camp where he can fix their vehicle. But they soon discover this random act of kindness was in fact just the beginning of a living nightmare. Itd been some years since I last sat down to Wolf Creek and I was amazed to see how affecting it still is nearly 20 years later. I remember sitting in the theater long after the credits rolled just stunned by what I saw but also so unnerved I needed to cleanse myself with whatever stupid comedy was also playing at the time. I dont remember that comedy, but I still remember coming home and still feeling the need to process what I saw. Not that it was so horrifying that I couldnt handle it, but its sheer intensity was so unsettling and realistic I needed time to digest it and come around to the fact that it was (and still is) one of the best horror films of the 2000s. Shot digitally, the film has a pseudo-documentary quality making it look almost like one of your average vacation home videos (albeit with a lot better production values and cameras). With the HD video styling, it gave the film a modern edge of grime and girt akin to what 16mm was able to do for Tobe Hoopers The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. And like Texas Chain Saw, the film wisely takes its time to set up the characters and let you get to like them before the unrelenting terror begins. The film also subverts your expectations with Mick, an unsettling combination of Steve Irwin/Crocodile Dundee charm and earnest friendliness with the unrelenting savagery of the worst serial killer imaginable. You can hope for the best for these characters as they struggle to outwit their captor and survive, but you know deep down things arent going to end well. Watching Wolf Creek again after many years away I was amazed and glad to see that it was still such an unnerving and intense experience. Writer/Director Greg McLean crafted a tightly wound and tense script and brilliantly executed it, never wasting a second of footage. Casting choices were perfect with Nathan Phillips delivering the devilish charm, Kestie Morassis Kristy is that smart friend everyone should listen to (but no one does), and Cassandra Magrath stepping in as the quintessential horror tough-girl survivor Liz who thinks fast on her feet. The real star of the film is John Jarratt as our man Mick. Seemingly friendly and affable, he can become terrifying on a turn of a dime as he relishes every ounce of terror he inflicts. Its one hell of a villainous performance, to say the least! And like Texas Chain Saw Massacre, I had forgotten that Wolf Creek actually has very little on-camera gore with the most savage moments saved for the shocking ending. Vital Disc Stats: The 4K UHD Blu-ray Wolf Creek makes its global 4K UHD debut thanks to German boutique label Turbine with a new two-disc 4K + Blu-ray Mediabook release. Giving us the superior Uncut version, the 4K is pressed on a Region Free BD66 disc with a Region Free BD50 offering the film in 1080p. Bonus features are on both discs. The two discs are housed in individual trays on either side of the book with 28 pages of essays and photos. The essay A Trip to Wolf Creek by Tobias Hohmann is in German, but using Google Translate its a worthwhile read. Each disc loads to an animated main menu with standard navigation options. At the start of the 4K disc, theres a message from director Greg McLean regarding his appreciation for the visual improvements in the transfer. When this set went on sale, there were four Mediabook cover options, three of which have sold out including this cover option I'm reviewing. I sprung for this one because this shot of Mick against the sunset is just a damned creepy coda to the film. The theatrical poster art is still available, Greening the supply chain and moving towards sustainable development are absolutely essential. Domestic and foreign consumers and enterprises are increasingly prioritising energy-saving and environmentally friendly products and services, so Vietnamese logistics companies need to adapt to keep up. Principal of the School of Business at the National Economics University, Associate Professor Dr Ta Van Loi talked to Vietnam News Agency about solutions for domestic enterprises to become more green in terms of logistics. How does the green transformation trend affect the logistics industry in Viet Nam? The world has a trend for green transformation. In particular, Europe has set criteria for the responsibility of all countries in protecting the environment and greening all production activities, as well as human activities on earth. Therefore, within COP26 on the green transformation, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh made a commitment that Viet Nam will achieve net zero by 2050. These criteria will force the domestic logistics industry to green across two aspects, including infrastructure systems and services. The infrastructure system must be greened, in terms of transport, and accompanying services such as packaging services, customs declaration services or other logistics-related services must be environmentally friendly. Viet Nam has committed to reducing methane levels by 30 per cent by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050. Therefore, from now until 2030, Viet Nam will not encourage projects and vehicles using fossil fuels. At the same time, packaging and transportation methods must aim to use materials and methods that do not affect the environment. Meanwhile, businesses, as well as green logistics suppliers, need to transform their transport methods and link together in purchasing and logistics operations, according to European standards. What opportunities and challenges does the domestic logistics industry face in the green transformation? In this green transformation, Viet Nam has favourable natural conditions in terms of its forests, rivers and streams, which it can exploit in terms of transportation. At the same time, it also has many natural materials for packaging and many alternative fuels, such as ethanol fuel. However, Viet Nam is still a developing country, so the first challenge is the lack of capital for this green transformation. The second is the lack of management experience. Of which, Viet Nam currently has a plan to develop logistics on the ground, but has no plan to exploit logistics services on the air and underground. Another challenge is technology. Technology in some countries has moved on very far and very fast. For example, Europe uses hydrogen engines, while China is leading the way in developing electric vehicles. Viet Nam needs technology to innovate the logistics industry towards greening. These are huge challenges for the domestic logistics industry in the future. What are bottlenecks for the local logistics enterprises in the green transformation? The above challenges are the main bottlenecks for them. Currently, Viet Nam has nearly one million enterprises, but the number of them in the logistics sector is about 82,000-83,000, mainly forwarders. Thus, Vietnamese enterprises are not yet capable of participating in the international logistics chain. Previously, Viet Nam had planned to develop a number of shipping lines, such as Vinashin and Vinaline, to participate in transportation services in the international logistics chain. But this development was not successful, so the main Vietnamese businesses remaining in the logistics industry are small and medium sized ones. These SMEs, of course, face the same three major challenges mentioned above, including lack of capital, lack of experience and especially lack of technological support. In addition, they also lack connectivity among them in implementing a green transformation. How should the Vietnamese logistics industry start to carry out the green transformation? First of all, there must be synchronisation in both the State and the business side. There are three most basic factors that they need to focus on implementing the green transformation, including development of enterprise quantity according to the green transformation strategy of the logistics industry by 2030 and the vision to 2045. Second is a clear roadmap for each step of planning and implementation. In particular, they need really strong breakthroughs. Of which, the first breakthrough is innovation and national development model transformation. Developing a green logistics industry depends on the development model of each country. Now, the world has development of logistics cities with underground, land and air logistics systems. Viet Nam also needs to plan and build such cities for green logistics development. Second, they also have to build mechanisms and commitments on green procurement, and green linkages, especially, Government, sector and business spending. They must prioritise green products. Third is technology policies. Many countries in the world are moving to a ban on fossil fuels and encourage the use of alternative fuels. What additional solutions are needed to develop green logistics in Viet Nam? The first solution is that the State must issue laws, policies and plans relating to green logistics development. Meanwhile, industries need to consult the State to build sets of criteria for the green transformation in the logistics industry. In addition, provide awareness campaigns about green logistics development for consumers and businesses. It also is necessary to support the logistics service businesses from capital, technology to management methods, to gradually transform into a green logistics model. Meanwhile, commodity associations must strengthen connections and update the criteria of countries on green logistics for businesses. At the same time, people and businesses need to prioritise the use of green products and green services. VNS HA NOI Viet Nams stock market soared on Wednesday, propelled by gains in blue-chip stocks, pushing the VN-Index above the 1,270-point threshold. Trading liquidity also saw a substantial rise, while foreign investors became strong net buyers. On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), the VN-Index gained 13.68 points, or 1.09 per cent, to close at 1,274.04 points. Market breadth was overwhelmingly positive, with 242 stocks advancing and significantly outnumbering 89 decliners. Trading liquidity on the southern bourse climbed sharply to approximately VN18.8 trillion (about US$738.3 million), with nearly 810.4 million shares traded. The VN30-Index, which represents the 30 largest stocks by market capitalisation on the HoSE, soared by 19.21 points, or 1.45 per cent, to settle at 1,342.48 points. Remarkably, all 30 stocks in the VN30 basket ended the session with gains. Leading the market rally were banking stocks, with the Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank For Industry And Trade (CTG) surging by 5.52 per cent, contributing more than 2.7 points to the VN-Index. Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (TCB) followed with a 1.88 per cent gain, while the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BID) reversed Tuesday's fall, rising by 1.44 per cent. Additionally, Sai Gon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank (STB) and the Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MBB) recorded impressive gains of 4.47 per cent and 2.3 per cent, respectively. Despite the overall positive momentum, some large-cap stocks weighed on the market's gains. Vietnam Airlines JSC (VNM) fell by 3.86 per cent, Hoang Anh Gia Lai Joint Stock Company (SSI) declined by 1.96 per cent, and Binh inh Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment JSC (DBD) dipped by 3.95 per cent. Analysts from Viet Dragon Securities noted: After testing the 1,260-point support level, the market rebounded strongly and successfully surpassed the 1,270-point mark. Liquidity increased compared to the previous session, indicating a sudden influx of cash that effectively absorbed selling pressure. The breakout above the 1,265-point resistance could serve as a short-term catalyst, allowing the market to test the next resistance zone at 1,2801,300 points. However, the sharp gains over such a short time might trigger volatility and profit-taking in upcoming sessions. Investors can look forward to an extended recovery phase but should remain cautious. Opportunities exist in stocks showing strong recovery momentum from support zones. Nevertheless, profit-taking in stocks that have quickly approached resistance levels should be considered. On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index also ended higher on Wednesday, rising by 0.63 per cent to 229.81 points. Trading value reached nearly VN1.2 trillion, with over 71 million shares changing hands. Foreign investors maintained a strong net buying position, purchasing shares worth more than VN254 billion on the HoSE. This renewed foreign interest provided a significant boost to market sentiment amid global economic uncertainties. VNS Twenty-two years since its enactment, China's Science and Technology Popularization Law was revised for the first time on Wednesday amid the country's rapid advancements in high-tech fields. Yin Hejun, minister of science and technology, said revising the law was imperative as China currently faces several challenges in science popularization, such as insufficient recognition of its significance, a lack of initiative, and an inadequate supply of quality science communication products and services. National lawmaker Zhong Zhihua said, "The revised law will drive innovation in science popularization, enabling it to promote social progress alongside technological innovation." The revision comes just in time, as China is striving to become a leading country in science and technology by 2035, experts said. The revised law highlights the vital role of science popularization, explicitly stating that the country places it on par with technological innovation in terms of importance. "It is great news for us science popularizers," said Hu Yang, a physician with Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital. "This is a strong affirmation of the importance of science popularization." Hu has been engaged in online medical science knowledge publicity for seven years, publishing over 5,000 articles and videos. He believes that medical science popularization helps the public understand medical knowledge, while medical research provides the scientific foundation for popularization. In 2003, the China Association for Science and Technology launched a nationwide series of science popularization activities, with such campaigns held 22 times since then. Over 200,000 activities were held across the country in September this year. To institutionalize this approach, the law designates September as the annual national science popularization month. Wang Ting, head of the China Research Institute for Science Popularization, said that this revision will help integrate science popularization activities into the public's daily life, as well as into school curricula, as September is the start of the new school year. The revised law adds a new chapter on "science popularization activities," which encourages innovation entities to engage in the dissemination of new technologies and knowledge, while also specifying the need to strengthen the review, monitoring and evaluation of popularization efforts. "The more cutting-edge the technology, the more attention must be paid to its potential negative impacts," said Peng Chunyan, a researcher at a talent service center of the Ministry of Science and Technology, emphasizing the need for timely and accurate publicity on new technologies and knowledge. Another new chapter of the law -- "science popularization personnel" -- focuses on cultivating professional science popularizers by improving assessment and incentive mechanisms. The country now has nearly 2 million science popularizers and 4.56 million registered sci-tech volunteers. "I support the new chapter. It will attract more talent to the cause of science popularization," said Ji Shaoting, founder of the Future Affairs Administration, a sci-fi cultural company. Ji called for more supporting policies and systems for the law, saying that it is necessary to advance the education and training for science popularization professionals to improve their publicity skills. She also expressed a wish for more job opportunities. "Sustained income is essential to ensuring long-term science popularization efforts," she said. It is critical to improve the awareness of enterprises about carbon market together with the provision of supports to encourage their market participation, experts said at the conference on carbon market: opportunities and challenges held by Cong Thuong (Industry and Trade) newspaper on Wednesday in Ha Noi. HA NOI Viet Nam Customs and the South Korea Customs Service have signed a mutual recognition agreement (MRA) on Authorised Economic Operator (AEO). Upon signing and implementing the AEO MRA, the parties will complete the necessary domestic procedures to establish the legal framework. According to Viet Nam Customs, the MRA aligns with global trends and brings numerous business benefits while enhancing customs management efficiency. The primary goal is to provide long-term advantages for enterprises. Many customs administrations perform AEO mutual recognition as an effective approach to enhancing competitive advantage, creating a transparent and proactive environment for international businesses and shortening customs clearance time. It also saves trade compliance costs and supports production promotion while ensuring security and safety for the global supply chain. Vietnamese priority enterprises will enjoy preferential treatment under domestic regulations and benefit from the privileges stipulated in the AEO MRA with the partnering country. This is a significant advantage, fostering economic development and international integration and elevating Viet Nam Customs stature. Moreover, it attracts domestic enterprises to join the priority programme, improving compliance within the business community. Additionally, the MRA facilitates the effective implementation of provisions in the Viet Nam-Korea Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA) and the World Trade OrganiS ation's Trade Facilitation Agreement. South Korea is one of Viet Nams most vital partners across various sectors, including politics, investment, trade, industry, energy and tourism. Within the scope of bilateral trade cooperation, the signing of the MRA between the customs authorities reflects the enduring political trust and reinforced collaboration between the two nations. This MRA expands areas of cooperation, establishes a long-term and substantive collaborative mechanism, and deepens economic and trade relations. As of August 2024, South Korea has 935 AEOs engaged in export-import activities, logistics and port operations, contributing about 50 per cent of the countrys export turnover and 70 per cent of its import turnover. In Viet Nam, by the same period, there are 76 AEOs, accounting for over 30 per cent of the nations total export-import turnover. According to the World Customs Organisation (WCO), an authorised economic operator (AEO) is a party involved in the international movement of goods in whatever function that has been approved by or on behalf of a national customs administration as complying with WCO or equivalent supply chain security standards. VNS HA NOI The stock market experienced slight losses on Thursday, following a strong rally in the previous session. Liquidity dropped sharply, while foreign investors returned to net selling, reversing their brief buying trend. On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), the VN-Index closed at 1,272.87 points, down 1.17 points or 0.09 per cent. Market breadth remained negative, with 171 declining stocks, 149 advancing and 49 remaining unchanged. Liquidity saw a sharp decline to approximately VN13.7 trillion (US$537.48 million), marking a 27.1 per cent decrease compared to the previous session. Meanwhile, the VN30-Index, which represents the 30 largest-cap stocks on the HoSE, inched up slightly by 0.2 points, or 0.01 per cent, to 1,342.68 points. Within the VN30 basket, 14 stocks fell, 12 advanced and four remained unchanged. The market's overall decline was largely driven by technology and banking blue-chip stocks. The Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (VCB) recorded the sharpest drop, slipping by 0.32 per cent and wiping out over 0.4 points from the VN-Index. Other significant laggards included the FPT Corporation (FPT), which fell 0.66 per cent and the Mobile World Investment Corporation (MWG), down 1.13 per cent. However, gains in select large-cap stocks helped cushion broader losses. The Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MBB) climbed by 1.84 per cent, contributing nearly 0.6 points to the VN-Index. Similarly, the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BID) rose 0.91 per cent, while Vietnam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VIB) advanced by 2.86 per cent and the Sai Gon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank (STB) gained 2.34 per cent. Analysts from Viet Dragon Securities said: Liquidity dropped compared to the previous session, reflecting cautious sentiment among large-cap stocks and limited cash flow into the market. Its expected that the market will remain in a state of consolidation, testing support zones between 1,2651,270 points. Should supportive cash flow emerge, the market may extend gains towards the 1,2801,300 point resistance area. They added: Investors are advised to closely monitor supply and demand dynamics to assess market conditions. Short-term opportunities may arise in stocks showing positive signals near support zones. However, investors should also consider locking in short-term gains for stocks that have risen sharply towards resistance levels. On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index inched up 0.04 per cent, closing at 229.9 points. Trading value on the northern exchange reached over VN1.1 trillion, with a total trading volume exceeding 71 million shares. Foreign investors resumed their net selling activity, offloading over VN364 billion worth of shares on the HoSE and over VN10 billion on the HNX. The cautious sentiment, combined with decreased liquidity and foreign investor outflows, suggests that the market may remain volatile in the near term, with a focus on key technical support and resistance levels. VNS ONG NAI The Southeast Tourism Association (STA) convened a conference on December 25 in ong Nai Province to review the implementation of an agreement on regional tourism linkages and to chart the path forward for sustainable tourism development. Representatives from six localities in the southeastern region shared ideas to advance sustainable tourism, including creating shared tourism products, integrating offerings across provinces, and encouraging accommodation facilities to adopt green practices. Ho Nhu Ngoc, Secretary-General of the Binh Duong Tourism Association, emphasised that robust inter-provincial connections and cohesive tourism products are critical for sustainable growth. She noted that while the region had previously launched inter-regional tours and routes, they did not yield the expected results. She suggested conducting in-depth research to identify tourism products that highlight the unique characteristics of each locality. These, when combined into a cohesive framework, could create comprehensive inter-regional tours featuring diverse attractions that draw more visitors. Nguyen Thi Khanh, Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Tourism Association, lauded the STA for organising a variety of tours that connect provinces and cities in the region. She highlighted the regions abundant attractions and its potential to offer compelling tourism experiences. She urged the localities to enhance cooperation in promoting and marketing these offerings to both domestic and international travel companies, thereby amplifying the regions tourism appeal. She also stressed the importance of refining the regional collaboration model, which has proven effective in attracting tourists. Khanh called on the region to align with Viet Nam's green transition strategy by adopting sustainable practices across various sectors, particularly tourism. She proposed establishing unified standards and criteria to ensure a cohesive approach to green tourism development. The STA reported the region welcomed over 73 million visitors this year, including more than 67 million domestic and nearly 7 million international. Tourism revenue surpassed VN215 trillion (US$8.4 billion), up 18 per cent from the previous year. During the event, the STA signed an agreement to promote green tourism in the region which focuses on sharing experience in implementing and developing green tourism models, strengthening connections among tourism businesses and supporting members in creating low-carbon tourism products and services. VNA/VNS HA NOI On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Viet Nam Peoples Army (December 22, 1944 - 2024) and the 35th anniversary of the All Peoples Defence Festival (December 22, 1989 - 2024), General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Military Commission To Lam has written an article titled Viet Nam Peoples Army A pride of the nation. The following is a translation of the article. VIET NAM PEOPLES ARMY A PRIDE OF THE NATION 1. The Viet Nam Peoples Army (VPA) was born from the people and fights for the people. Over 80 years of growing, fighting, winning, and maturing under the leadership, education, and training of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, from a small and rudimentarily equipped army, it has become a powerful army and, together with the people, created glorious victories and pride-worthy feats of arms, symbolising the Vietnamese peoples spirit of being determined to fight and determined to win, and becoming a pride of the Vietnamese Party, State, and people as well as peace-loving friends around the world. On December 22, 1944, under the directive of leader Ho Chi Minh, in a forest located between the Hoang Hoa Tham and Tran Hung ao areas of Nguyen Binh District, Cao Bang Province, the Viet Nam Propaganda Unit of Liberation Army was established with 34 soldiers wearing simply brown pants and fabric shirts the forerunner of the VPA, led by Comrade Vo Nguyen Giap. Shortly after its establishment, with support and assistance from the people, the Viet Nam Propaganda Unit of Liberation Army obtained the Phai Khat and Na Ngan victories, starting the tradition of winning one hundred victories in one hundred battles of the VPA. Under the Party and Uncle Ho's leadership, the Viet Nam Propaganda Unit of Liberation Army, together with the national salvation forces units and guerilla units, developed into the Viet Nam Liberation Army, which joined hands with people nationwide to launch a general uprising that led to the successful August Revolution in 1945, seizing power for the people and founding the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam the first democratic state of the people in Southeast Asia, heralding a new era in the nations history an era of independence and freedom. In the resistance war against the French colonialist invaders, our Army grew quickly in every aspect. With the determination to fight, the determination to win, and the spirit of dying for the Fatherland to live, the army joined the entire people in the prolonged resistance war, defeating the enemys fighting fast and winning fast strategy and pacification and counter-attack plot, making brilliant feats of arms. The Winter - Spring strategic offensive (1953 - 1954), with the peak being the historic ien Bien Phu Victory that resounded across the five continents and shook the globe, forced the French Government to sign the Geneva Accords to restore peace in Indochina and withdraw troops; and completely liberated the North. The VPA became a pride and a bright example for national liberation movements around the world when, for the first time, a colonised country with a young army defeated a professional military equipped with modern weaponry of a colonial empire. In the resistance war against the US an imperialist country boasting world-leading economic and military strength together with a professional expeditionary force of powerful troops and commanders, under the brilliant and wise leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, the VPA upheld their revolutionary nature and heroic tradition with the spirit of courage, intelligence, creativity and determination to fight and win. Implementing Uncle Hos direction of fighting until the US leaves and their puppet administration falls, the army overcame all difficulties, hardships and sacrifice, embodying the spirit of daring to fight, determined to fight, knowing how to fight, and knowing how to win. Together with the whole people, it smashed the USs Special Warfare, Localised Warfare, and Vietnamisation strategies; defeated two air and naval wars targeting the North and won the ien Bien Phu in the Air victory (December 1972); conducted the 1975 Spring General Offensive and Uprising culminating in the Ho Chi Minh campaign that marked the triumphant end of the resistance war, gloriously completed the mission of national liberation and reunification, and wrote a heroic and resounding chapter in the Ho Chi Minh era. The country entered a new era that of peace, independence, and freedom with the nation advancing towards socialism. Beyond securing independence for the nation and freedom for the people, the VPA actively carried out its noble international duties by helping the Lao people protect their revolutionary achievements and assisting the Cambodian people in escaping genocide and carrying out national revival. It also achieved victory in the wars defending the Fatherland along the southwestern and northern borders. During the period of oi moi (renewal), the fine nature and tradition of the Uncle Hos soldiers, which were nurtured through two resistance wars, continue to shine in building and protecting the socialist nation. The VPA has set prime example in implementing the Partys resolutions, directives and conclusions; made unceasing efforts, promoted solidarity and unity to overcome difficulties and challenges, and joined hands with the Party, the whole people and military to steadfastly defend the socialist nation in all situations. It has actively engaged in socio-economic development, taken care of the peoples lives, and unceasingly contributed to peace and stability in the region and the world. The image of military officers and soldiers who are always present in crucial, difficult, dangerous sites, braving dangers to themselves to protect the lives and property of the people, and actively promoting the mass mobilisation work, has further highlighted the noble qualities and traditions of the "Uncle Ho's Army, tightened solidarity and bonds between the military and people, built a solid peoples hearts and minds posture, and reinforced the peoples confidence in the Party, State and socialist regime. The presence of Vietnamese soldiers in international peacekeeping forces in many war-torn regions across the globe has demonstrated the VPAs new stature and strength. The armys great accomplishments in the cause of national liberation, in defending and building the socialist Fatherland, and in fulfilling international duties over the past eight decades are attributed to: (i) The VPA is always under the absolute, direct, and comprehensive leadership of the Party, embodying the nature of the Vietnamese working class and carrying the historical mission of the working class, people, and nation of Viet Nam. (ii) The VPA is an army of the people, by the people, and for the people; it bases on the strength of the people, maintains a close bond with them, and always has an aspiration for their prosperity and happiness; apart from serving the interests of the Fatherland and the people, our army has no other interests. (iii) The purpose of building the army is to defend the nation, secure independence for the nation and freedom for the people, safeguard national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, maintain peace and stability, and contribute to regional and global peace and stability. Our army fights for the only goal of successfully realising the ideals of the Party and the working class, for national independence, and for socialism. (iv) Generations of officers and soldiers, with their steel-like spirit and will, courage, intelligence, and unwavering determination, have never feared difficulties or sacrifices, while always raising high the flag of national independence, the people's freedom and happiness, and socialism. (v) Solidarity and support from international friends have contributed significantly to the strength of the VPA. 2. The world is undergoing a period of epochal changes, marking a pivotal moment to shape our future. Strategic competition among major powers is intensifying, posing increasing challenges to the peace, stability, and development of nations. This epochal transformation brings both new opportunities and challenges, with the latter outweighing the former. However, new opportunities can emerge in the blink of an eye amid sudden changes in the global situation and our task is to seize those opportunities to propel the country forward. The Fourth Industrial Revolution has been changing operational methods and ways of warfare organisation, engagement and intervention by states, and various other aspects of military, security, and intelligence activities. Hostile forces, reactionaries, and political opportunists are relentlessly pursuing the "peaceful evolution" strategy with many insidious, sophisticated, and dangerous tricks. This situation demands increasingly higher requirements for the task of safeguarding the Fatherland. To meet these demands and fulfill the mission in the new stage, the People's Army must uphold its noble essence and the tradition of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers," focusing on several key tasks as follows: Firstly, we must strengthen the absolute and direct leadership of the Party in all aspects, and unceasingly consolidate the working class nature and the people-oriented and national characteristics of the Army. The leadership of the Party is an immutable principle, an objective requirement, and the decisive factor in all victories in the cause of safeguarding the Fatherland and in the national defence task. In any circumstances, we must maintain and strengthen the absolute and direct leadership of the Communist Party in all aspects over the Army. It is necessary to uphold the revolutionary nature; steadfastly pursue Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought in building and organising the implementation of the functions and tasks of the Army; and consolidate the unity between the working-class nature, people-oriented and national characteristics of the Army. They are the conditions to ensure that our Army will forever be a truly clean political and fighting force, absolutely loyal and trustworthy to the Party, State and people. The Army must be filial to the people, have the responsibility to serve the people, serve the Fatherland, respect the people, be closely attached to the people, share the hardships and difficulties of the people, stand ready to sacrifice to save the people, and win the people's trust, respect and love, so that the people will remember the soldiers when they go, and love the soldiers when they stay. The Army should stay united and closely coordinate with the People's Public Security to build and promote the people's heart position in the all-people national defence, and the all-people national defence position associated with the people's security, and the solid position of people's security. Secondly, the Viet Nam People's Army must set example and take the lead in implementing the Party's resolutions, directives and conclusions, first of all Resolution No. 44-NQ/TW of the 13th Party Central Committee on the national defence strategy in the new situation. It must keep abreast of and make accurate forecasts on the situation and prompt advice and effectively handle situations regarding defence, so that absolutely avoid to be passive and surprised in any situation. It should maintain independence and self-reliance; ensure the highest interests of the nation and people on the basis of fundamental principles of international law; firmly defend the socialist Fatherland early and from afar; resolutely and persistently protect the independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, seas, islands and airspace of the Fatherland. The Army needs to actively mobilise and set examples for the people to well implement the Party's guidelines and the States policies and laws, carry out patriotic emulation movements and revolutionary tasks; firmly consolidate the great national unity bloc, and mobilise the peoples great strength in national building and safeguarding. Thirdly, we must focus on building a truly pure, strong, elite, and modern People's Army that meets the requirements and tasks in the new era, an era of development and prosperity. Drastic measures should be taken to "build an elite, streamlined and strong army by 2025, laying a solid foundation to fulfil the 2030 goal of developing a revolutionary, regular, elite, modern military that is strong in politics, ideology, morality, organisation, and personnel," as outlined in the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress. We should build a modern army in the spirit of "people first, weapons second" and proactively make preparations in all aspects for modern warfare; take strong actions to master the space and promote intensive research to master water surface, ocean, and the seabed; develop air defence, air force, and control airspace, as well as effectively manage unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the air, at sea, and underwater robots. It is necessary to build a politically strong army, with Party organisations that are clean and strong in politics, ideology, ethics, organisation, and personnel. Building a contingent of military officers who are absolutely "loyal to the country and the people," dedicate all their life to the ideals and objectives of the Party; wholeheartedly serve the homeland and the people, and always put the interests of the country, the nation, and the people above all; live modestly, honestly, and selflessly; dare to think, dare to act, dare to take responsibility, and dare to innovate for the common cause; and set examples in following the Party's policies. Fourthly, the Viet Nam People's Army must contribute more to the implementation of the centennial strategic goals under the leadership of the Party, marking the 100th founding anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam (now the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam), and the maintenance of peace and stability in the region and the world. In implementing the Partys strategic objectives, there are many difficulties and challenges alongside opportunities and advantages, which requires the entire Party, people, and armed forces with the VPA as one of the core forces, to seize opportunities and overcome challenges. The VPA must truly be a "fighting force," a "working force," and a "production force", with emphasis on further developing the role of the "production force" in the development of the defence industry within the broader framework of building an independent and self-reliant economy. It is necessary to enhance Viet Nam's contributions to maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world through the VPA's activities, firstly through defence cooperation to reinforce trust, minimise differences and conflicts, and active engagement in international search and rescue operations and United Nations peacekeeping missions. With its glorious victories and great contributions to the cause of national liberation and safeguarding of the socialist homeland over the past 80 years, and with its revolutionary nature and tradition of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers," the VPA truly deserves to be the heroic army of the heroic Vietnamese nation, the pride of the Party, State and people of Viet Nam, and those loving peace, freedom, and justice worldwide. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam and the Russia Federation will increase efforts to enhance the bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries, making it more substantive and effective in the coming years. Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, deputy minister of National Defence talked about the increasing closeness, when he and his counterpart Alexander Fomin, deputy minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, co-chaired the 7th Viet Nam-Russia Defence Strategic Dialogue on Thursday morning in Ha Noi. The efforts focused on several areas, including exchanges of delegations at various levels, especially high-level visits, enhancing the effectiveness of key cooperative mechanisms such as the Joint Intergovernmental Coordination Committee on the Viet Nam-Russia Tropical Centre, and the Defence Strategic Dialogue. It will further boost military cooperation, military medical training and Russian language instruction and support the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence in implementing elements of the '70 Years of Viet Nam-the Soviet Union/Russian Federation Defence Cooperation' dossier. Chien said he believed that the 7th Viet Nam-Russia Defence Strategic Dialogue would provide a strong impetus for both defence ministries to implement increasingly meaningful, effective and practical cooperations. During the dialogue, Chien reaffirmed the essential role of national defence collaboration, within the broader framework of traditional friendly relations and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Viet Nam and the Russian Federation. He also praised the achievements of the national defence cooperation between the two ministries since the 6th Viet Nam-Russia Defence Strategic Dialogue in July 2023. The two sides had made significant progress in areas such as the exchange of delegations across various levels, the effective maintenance of existing cooperative mechanisms, the promotion of personnel training, cooperation between the armed forces and military units of both countries, scientific research collaboration within the Viet Nam-Russia Tropical Centre and joint work on military media, history and museums. Expressing his pleasure at the meeting with Chien and visiting Viet Nam, Senior Lieutenant General Alexander Fomin thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence for its warm hospitality. He also extended his congratulations to the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence on the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Viet Nam People's Army and the 35th anniversary of the All-People National Defence Day. Acknowledging the positive outcomes in defence cooperation between the two ministries, the Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin emphasised that collaborating remained a cornerstone of Viet Nam-Russia diplomatic relations. He highlighted that 2024 marked the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on the Principles of Friendly Relations between the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Russian Federation (1994-2024). He noted that 2025 would mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Russia and the 80th anniversary of the Great Patriotic Victory of the Soviet people. He underscored that the victory was achieved with the support of the Vietnamese people and stressed the strong friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two ministries of national defence. In the future, the Russian Ministry of Defence would continue to actively collaborate with its Vietnamese counterpart to implement agreed-upon activities, further strengthening the depth and effectiveness of Viet Nam-Russia national defence cooperation. At the dialogue, both sides shared views on global and regional issues of mutual interest. Chien reaffirmed Viet Nams consistent foreign policy of independence, peace, friendship, cooperation, development and multilateralism, emphasising the country's readiness to cooperate with other nations and international organisations for peace and development worldwide. Viet Nam committed to resolving disputes and differences peacefully, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. At the end of the dialogue, the two sides signed two documents, which will serve as the foundation for both ministries to continue their association in the future. VNS HA NOI State President Luong Cuong on Thursday urged the army to improve their collective power and combat strength, while maintaining combat readiness to firmly protect the countrys airspace, seas, borders and cyberspace. He was speaking while attending the 2024 national military-political conference in Ha Noi. Cuong praised the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence for their strategic advisory functions to the Party and the State in terms of their military performance and protecting the nation. The entire army continues to maintain and promote its core role in building an all-people national defence force, he said. The President requested the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence to continue to do well in offering strategic advice to the Party and State regarding national defence and security, while improving research and forecasting capacity, having flexible and effective response policies to scenarios. He urged the armed forces to adhere to the line of an all-people national defence and people's war, protecting the Fatherland in the new era, with the people as their foundation. He also called for them to combine defending the nation with supporting the economy, to perform civil defence tasks and respond to non-traditional security challenges. Relevant parties should research and develop military arts and combat to effectively respond to high-tech warfare while innovating quality of training, education and exercises to meet new combat conditions, he said. The President highlighted the importance of international integration and defence diplomacy, and stepping up bilateral and multilateral cooperation. The armed forces must actively and responsibly participate in defence diplomacy activities at regional and international multilateral forums, and for United Nations peacekeeping activities. Reviewing the defence-security performance in 2024, General Nguyen Tan Cuong, chief of the General Staff of the Viet Nam People's Army and Deputy Minister of National Defence, highlighted defence activities at the local level, including delegations to visit and inspect Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, the DK1 platform and the islands of the southwestern region. The forces have mobilised more than 214,000 troops and militia, more than 8,700 ships, helicopters and other means to prevent, fight against natural disasters, fires, as well as providing national search and rescue and emergency aid to fishermen and forces operating at sea, on islands, in remote areas and areas devastated by natural disasters. The entire army held a series of events to commemorate the 70th anniversary of ien Bien Phu Victory, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Viet Nam People's Army, and the 35th anniversary of the National Defence Day, according to the report. He said the army has cleared bombs, mines, explosives, handled toxic chemicals, cleaning up more than 25,000 hectares of land. They have also supported victims of bombs, mines and toxic chemicals and to date, about 800,000 victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin have been supported with social security schemes. VNS HCM CITY Prosecutors in HCM City have called for death sentences to be handed down to 28 people involved in a transnational drug trafficking gang led by ringleader 67-year-old Vu Hoang Oanh. The Peoples Procuracy of HCM City is seeking the maximum death sentence for 28 of the 35 accused of operating the narcotics operation that smuggled heroin from the Golden Triangle into Viet Nam. Major drug trafficking network Based on case files and court proceedings, representatives of the HCM City Peoples Procuracy established that between 2019 and 2022, defendant Vu Hoang Oanh, also known as Oanh Ha, from Hai Phong City, orchestrated and directed a sophisticated transnational drug trafficking network. This operation smuggled narcotics from Cambodia into Viet Nam, distributing them across HCM City, Hai Phong, Nam inh, Ha Noi and other provinces. Oanh had previously been listed as wanted by the Ministry of Public Securitys Department of Drug Crime Investigation (C04) for "illicit drug trafficking" and was also subject to an Interpol international warrant. Despite being a fugitive, she brazenly continued to mastermind the large-scale operation, enlisting numerous dangerous accomplices to execute her plans. Initially, Oanh employed Nguyen Van Nam (34, also from Hai Phong City) to transport 34 packages of narcotics, totalling nearly 13kg, through unofficial border crossings near An Giang Province into HCM City, where they were handed over to her clients. As the operation expanded, Oanh recruited Nguyen Anh Bao Quoc (a HCM City resident) to receive drugs hidden in used car gearboxes, which were then delivered to Nam or other recipients. In northern provinces, Oanh instructed Nam to collect drugs from Quoc or another associate in District 8, HCM City, and transport them to Hai Phong City for further distribution. To evade law enforcement, Oanh operated from a casino near the Cambodian border, employing highly sophisticated methods to smuggle drugs. These included hiding narcotics in shipping containers, pig stomachs, plastic pellets and used car gearboxes. Communication within the network was carefully managed via the encrypted messaging app Signal and foreign SIM cards, with members using aliases such as 'Colombia' and 'Mosscau'. Oanh herself utilised foreign SIM cards, including those from the UK and the US, to coordinate her operations and maintain anonymity. She often disguised her identity, wearing masks during video calls to avoid recognition. Her accomplices were given code names such as "Oc" (Snail), "Vit" (Screw), and "Bua" (Hammer) to further obscure their identities. Financial transactions for the network were conducted through intermediary accounts under the alias "Hoang Cong Tu," with the total value of these illicit dealings estimated at approximately VN1.4 trillion. Large-scale operation The defendants admitted to transporting 129 gearboxes from Cambodia to Viet Nam, with each gearbox concealing approximately 50kg of heroin, totalling over 6.4 tonnes. However, their testimonies lacked specific details regarding the timing, quantities, and types of drugs. As a result, prosecutors charged the defendants with trafficking, transporting, and storing 626kg of narcotics, the amount seized as evidence. Oanh denied all allegations, claiming she moved to Cambodia in 2018 due to illness and was unaware of the international warrant against her. She denied knowing her co-defendants or directing any criminal activities. However, prosecutors rejected her statements, asserting that the charges were accurate and well-founded. Oanhs refusal to admit guilt disqualified her from any consideration of leniency. Key accomplice Nguyen Van Nam admitted to assisting Oanh in trafficking 384kg of narcotics, for which he received payments ranging from VN300500 million per shipment. Bank records revealed total payments to Nam amounting to VN15.5 billion. Upon review, prosecutors reduced his charge to 215kg, applying principles of leniency. Another defendant, Luong Thi Thu Huyen, identified as Nams girlfriend, was charged with trafficking over 132kg of narcotics. Huyens plea for leniency, citing her role as a parent, was dismissed as the child in question was not hers and Nams. Prosecutors underscored the gravity of the crimes, describing them as transnational, meticulously organised and involving an extraordinary quantity of narcotics over an extended period. Evidence confirmed Oanhs role as the ringleader, directly orchestrating the criminal operations. The Procuracy proposed the death penalty for several defendants, including: Vu Hoang Oanh, Nguyen Van Nam, Nguyen Anh Bao Quoc, Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Nguyen Van Vu and Luong Thi Thu Huyen. These charges were brought under Article 251 (Clause 4) and Article 250 (Clause 4) of the Penal Code for illicit drug trafficking and illicit drug transportation. Life imprisonment was recommended for defendants such as Nguyen Ngoc Duy, inh Xuan Duong, and Ta Thi Duyen, while defendants Pham Bich Nguyet and Tran Ngoc Phung were recommended to receive 20-year prison terms. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Thursday affirmed that the People's Public Security force had always upheld the spirit of "forgetting oneself for the country, well serving the people", ready to be a pioneer "on every frontline, anywhere, doing anything, in any circumstance". Attending the 80th National Public Security Conference, organised in Ha Noi, the PM said that the public security sector had been excellent in completing its assigned tasks. It had driven many truly outstanding outcomes, marking great and important contributions to the overarching achievements and results of the country. On behalf of the Party and State leaders, PM Chinh respectfully acknowledged, expressed gratitude and commended the contributions, dedication and sacrifices of officers and soldiers and congratulated the great achievements of the People's Public Security force. At the same time, the PM emphasised a number of key tasks in the future, in which the sector should thoroughly grasp Party General Secretary To Lams direction: "The People's Public Security force needs to strongly innovate its thinking on protecting security and order and closely combine security and order protection with socio-economic development." PM Chinh wants the force to further promote its pioneering and exemplary role, implementing the guidelines, policies and laws of the Party and State, coordinating closely with ministries and departments, especially the People's Army, to promote the combined strength of the entire political system, the entire people and army in ensuring security and order. The public security force must closely follow strategic areas, targets and partners, and perform its role well in advising and making recommendations to the Party and the State, across all fields. Its important duties are maintaining political stability, serving economic development, ensuring social order and safety, expanding foreign relations and creating a peaceful, secure, and stable environment for the countrys growth. In addition, the sectors tasks are regularly and proactively attacking and suppressing all types of crimes, especially economic, corruption, waste and drugs, and financial, environmental and high-tech crimes. In addition, it should create a secure, safe and healthy environment for economic and social development, strongly promote all people to participate in protecting national security, associated with effectively keeping public order in remote, border and island areas. PM Chinh requested the public security force to play the role of: pioneering, leading, exemplary, leading in innovation, creativity and national digital transformation. He hopes the sector would pave the way in foreign affairs, enhance Viet Nam's contribution to maintaining peace in the world, uphold the spirit of solidarity and unity in Party building. Vanguard Speaking at the conference, Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang said that the 80th National Public Security Conference was an important milestone, of historical significance, affirming the growth of the People's Public Security force. This year, he said, under the close, drastic, timely leadership and direction of the Party and State, together with close coordination of ministries, branches and local areas, the active accompaniment of the Fatherland Front and social organisations, the support and assistance of international friends, the People's Public Security force has overcome difficulties and challenges to successfully perform its task of ensuring security and order, maintain political stability, effectively serve economic, cultural, social and foreign affairs development of the country. Among them, many outstanding tasks have been recorded including advisory functions with over 2,300 reports, proactively advising the Party and State on many important policies, guidelines and strategies on politics, economics, culture, society, national defence, security and foreign affairs. The sector chairs and coordinates on the submission of eight laws and 17 decrees and has proposed amendments and supplements to 145 procedures. VNS HA NOI State President Luong Cuong has praised the significance of the ongoing Viet Nam's visit by Prof. Riad Malki, Special Envoy of the Palestinian President, saying that it contributes to further strengthening the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries. During a reception for the Special Envoy in Ha Noi on Thursday, Cuong highlighted the historical bond between Viet Nam and Palestine, a friendship nurtured through shared struggles for national independence and liberation, as well as by successive generations of their leaders and people. Viet Nam consistently supports the Palestinian people's just struggle for national independence and the two-state solution, with an independent Palestinian State living peacefully alongside the State of Israel, in line with international law and relevant United Nations (UN) resolutions, he said, affirming that Viet Nam has repeatedly called on all parties concerned to immediately cease fire, end hostilities and violence, respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and further increase emergency humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people. He said Viet Nam welcomes and supports all international mediation and reconciliation efforts aimed at achieving a durable and fair peaceful solution in the Middle East. He also reaffirmed Viet Nam's stance on strongly supporting the two-state solution, which includes the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State based on the pre-1967 border, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions. Viet Nam is ready to cooperate with Palestine and the international community, within its capabilities, to contribute to humanitarian aid efforts along with mediation and reconciliation activities to achieve this essential goal, he said. The Special Envoy, for his part, conveyed a letter from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressing a desire to further foster cooperation with Viet Nam. Admiring the remarkable achievements Viet Nam has made, he praised the country as a model of success in national construction and development. He also shared the latest developments regarding the situation in Palestine and expressed profound gratitude for Viet Nam's unwavering stance on supporting the legitimate and inviolable rights of the Palestinian people. At the meeting, both sides agreed on the need to actively share ideas to bolster collaboration in promising fields. This includes continuing mutual support at international forums and organisations, especially the UN. They will also step up bilateral cooperation mechanisms, firstly the political consultation mechanism between the two foreign ministries, and increase in exchanges between friendship and people's solidarity associations to reinforce the countries' unity and mutual understanding. Malki pledged close coordination to accelerate the realisation of commitments and outcomes of this visit to further strengthen the bilateral solidarity, traditional friendship and cooperation, meeting the expectations of leaders and people of both nations. VNA/VNS HA NOI The Ministry of Healths Legal Department convened a workshop in Ha Noi yesterday to discuss the National Assemblys resolution banning e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, which is set to come into force on January 1. inh Thi Thu Thuy, deputy head of the department, described the comprehensive ban as a landmark step in public health protection. These products not only lead to addiction, but also pose serious health risks such as lung damage, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. They are not a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, she stated. Since 2018, the Ministry of Health has persistently advocated for this ban, underscoring its commitment to safeguarding the health of the population. With the resolution now passed, the ministry is preparing the necessary documents to ensure its swift implementation. The Ministry of Health has been tasked with leading two critical components of the resolution's execution. It will draft a government action plan to enforce Resolution 173/2024/QH15, which mandates the full prohibition of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and other harmful substances from 2025. The plan is expected to be submitted to the Prime Minister no later than the first quarter of 2025. Concurrently, the ministry is working on amendments to Decree No. 117/2020/ND-CP, introducing streamlined procedures for penalising violations related to these products. At the workshop, Nguyen Tuan Lam, a representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Viet Nam, praised the decision as both timely and visionary. He highlighted the comprehensive nature of the ban, which addresses production, trade, transportation, usage and advertising. According to Lam, the policy reflects a strong consensus and underscores Viet Nams commitment to protecting its younger generations. Drawing on international experience, Lam emphasised the importance of enforcing the ban both offline, such as at border checkpoints, and online, across e-commerce platforms. He advocated collaboration with platforms like Facebook, Telegram, Shopee and Lazada to eliminate advertisements and sales of these products. Effective enforcement, he noted, should also include monitoring user activity, tracking sales trends and launching public awareness campaigns. Hoang Thi My Hanh from the Ministry of Healths Institute of Health Strategy and Policy shared further insights into global best practices. She noted that 43 countries have already implemented bans on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, with 39 imposing comprehensive restrictions on their sale, advertising, use and transportation. In ASEAN, six nations, including five that adopted bans between 2014 and 2016, have enforced similar prohibitions. Hong Kong, which initially regulated such products as pharmaceuticals, has imposed a total ban within three years. Meanwhile, Singapore offers a compelling model of enforcement. The country prohibits importing, possessing, selling or distributing tobacco imitation products. First-time offenders face fines of up to 10,000 Singapore dollars, six months imprisonment, or both. Repeat offenders risk penalties of up to 20,000 Singapore dollars, 12 months imprisonment, or both. These measures are increasingly recognised as effective tools in deterring the spread of harmful tobacco products and protecting public health. With strong regulations and insights from international collaboration, the Ministry of Health hopes to replicate these successes, ensuring that Vietnams citizens are shielded from the dangers posed by e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. VNS HCM CITY Traveling to celebrate the New Year is becoming a popular trend, especially among young people eager to experience this occasion in fresh and vibrant destinations. Taiwan (China) has emerged as an unmissable destination. Taiwan (China) is easily accessible by air, with flights ranging from two hours 30 minutes to three hours 10 minutes. Numerous airlines offer reasonably priced flights from Viet Nam to Taiwan (China). With tour operators' support, travelers can easily plan detailed itineraries. With a budget of approximately VN15-20 million (US$595-795) for a five-day, four-night trip, including visa, airfare, meals, transportation, and accommodation, Taiwan (China) is an ideal destination not only for young people but also for families and groups of friends looking to enjoy a memorable New Year holiday. Below are various suggested itineraries you can choose from when exploring Taiwan (China). Exploring Taipei's culture and cuisine Taipei, Taiwan's capital, is an ideal destination to explore a blend of modernity and traditional culture. A three-day itinerary here offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy upscale experiences combining cultural visits, fine dining, and relaxing resort stays. This itinerary provides a perfect balance between vibrant activities and peaceful moments. The first day begins at Taipei's iconic landmark, Taipei 101, which is not only an architectural marvel but also the focal point for a spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks display. As the clock strikes midnight, the entire tower lights up in brilliant lights and shimmering fireworks. After the fireworks, you can enjoy a high-end dinner at the three-Michelin-star restaurant Le Palais for its exquisite Cantonese cuisine, offering diners meticulously prepared dishes made from premium ingredients. On the second day, you can visit the National Palace Museum, home to precious artifacts from Chinese dynasties. Afterward, head to the ancient town of Jiufen a famous location with narrow alleyways, cozy traditional teahouses, and scenery straight out of a fairy tale. In the evening, immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere of Shilin Night Market, where you can enjoy a variety of distinctive street food such as dumplings, radish cakes, and bubble tea iconic Taiwanese culinary delights. The final day is dedicated to perfect relaxation at Beitou Hot Springs, one of the most famous hot spring areas in Taiwan (China), surrounded by picturesque nature. Soaking in the warm water not only helps relax the body but also brings a sense of tranquility to the soul. Conclude the trip with lunch at Grand View Resort Beitou, a five-star hotel that offers upscale service and an ideal resort space. Tainan and Taichung Itinerary If you love antiquity and tranquility, a trip exploring Tainan and Taichung will provide a memorable experience. The first day begins in Tainan, a city steeped in traditional culture. Here, you can attend the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival a unique event that offers a thrilling yet exciting experience. This festival is an opportunity to immerse yourself in Taiwan's distinctive festive atmosphere. In the evening, enjoy a meal at the Shangri-La Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, renowned for its luxurious ambiance and diverse cuisine. On the second day, the journey takes you to Taichung, where Sun Moon Lake becomes the highlight. You can cycle around the lake to enjoy the fresh air, admire the beautiful natural scenery, and visit tea plantations to taste Oolong tea a famous Taiwanese specialty. In the evening, relax at The Lalu, a high-end lakeside resort offering privacy and upscale service. On the final day, visit Cingjing Farm known as the "Switzerland of Taiwan." You can participate in activities such as horseback riding, taking photos amidst colourful flower fields, or enjoying fresh milk at the farm. This is an opportunity to enjoy natural beauty and fresh air. Experiencing Nature in Hualien and Taitung If you love unspoiled nature and want to explore lesser-known routes, a trip to Hualien and Taitung will be the perfect choice. On the first day in Hualien, you can visit Taroko National Park - a natural wonder famous for its majestic marble canyons and clear streams. End the day with dinner at Silks Place Taroko, a high-end restaurant located within the park, offering a unique dining experience amidst natural scenery. On the second day, the journey leads you to Taitung, known for its peaceful Taitung Plain and organic farms. In the evening, participate in the sky lantern festival in Shifen Old Street an experience imbued with traditional culture. The colourful lanterns illuminating the night sky are symbols of good luck for the new year. On the final day, you can explore Sanxiantai coastal road, highlighted by a unique arched bridge, which offers stunning scenery. Conclude the trip at a high-end beachfront resort where you can enjoy a peaceful atmosphere and modern amenities. In addition to the attractive destinations, Taiwan also stands out with convenient visa policies such as e-visas and Quan Hong visas. With e-visas, you can easily apply online, saving time and effort, while Quan Hong visas support multiple entries, especially suitable for group tours. Taiwan (China) also has a well-developed high-quality transportation system with limousines, VIP buses, and luxury transportation services, providing maximum comfort for visitors. Modern airlines and high-speed rail services help you travel conveniently between cities, optimising exploration time. Taiwan has become an ideal choice for a New Year's Eve getaway thanks to its unique combination of traditional culture and modern amenities. VNS SEOUL The Republic of Korea will work towards hosting an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit scheduled to take place in the southeastern city of Gyeongju next year, and ensure it will not be affected by the political turmoil stemming from President Yoon Suk Yeols impeachment, a Seoul official said Thursday. "The APEC meeting is an international meeting of the highest-level to be hosted by our country - not by an individual, such as the president or a minister," a foreign ministry official, who declined to be named, told reporters. The official expressed confidence in hosting the summit and stressed that their status as the host country remains unchanged despite Yoons impeachment, which led to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo taking over as acting president. "Even if there is a leadership change, our status as the host country remains unchanged. It should not be influenced by political circumstances, and the government will make every effort to ensure that it won't," the official added. The officials remarks addressed the growing concerns about whose name the invitations will contain when sent to the leaders of the member states, under the leadership of acting President Han. Seoul currently plans to send the official invitations around May and June. On Chinese President Xi Jinpings potential attendance at the summit, the official said that he has yet to receive a solid response, but expressed optimism with China as the chair for the 2026 APEC meeting. With China set as the host country for the summit in 2026, we believe that (Beijing) will cooperate closely with us in the process tied to the 2025 summit, the official explained. If Xi agrees to come, it will mark his first visit to Korea since July 2014. The official added that Seoul will also discuss US President-elect Donald Trumps visit with Washington. The 2025 APEC summit is scheduled to take place in Gyeongju from late October to early November next year, with the leaders and top representatives of the forums 21 members expected to participate. THE KOREA HERALD/ANN Aircraft manufacturer Airbus is planning to expand its partnership with Vietnam in defence and space as part of its strategic efforts to respond to the local growing competition and demand. Airbus boasts five helicopter models, which the company continues to develop new technologies for. Another focus is sustainability towards achieving net-zero by 2050. Vietnams aviation arena is on the right track, with new aircraft being bought and competition rising, photo Le Toan At present, Airbus is supporting Vietnams defence modernisation goals by 2030 with a wide range of advanced solutions, designed to strengthen the countrys capabilities and contribute to regional stability. At the Vietnam International Defence Expo 2024 (VIDEX 2024) held on December 19-22 in Hanoi, one of Airbus key platforms was the C295, a versatile medium tactical transport aircraft that has demonstrated its capabilities in airlift, medical evacuation, and logistics missions. Airbus is ready to support Vietnam with additional C295 transport aircraft and its other variants including maritime patrol, to enhance Vietnams airlift, as well as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities in safeguarding its airspace and territorial waters. In the space sector, Airbus is strengthening its commitment to strategic collaboration with Vietnam. At VIDEX 2024, the company seeks to deepen local partnerships, focusing on enhancing Vietnams capabilities in space applications. These initiatives aim to unlock future cooperation opportunities, with an emphasis on key areas such as intelligence gathering, data processing and dissemination, satellite imagery, and communications applications supporting public safety and security, Zakir Hamid, head of Asia-Pacific for Airbus Defence and Space, told VIR on December 18. Like Airbus, Boeing is giving a priority to defence in Vietnam. The giant continues to bring new and modern products and solutions to the country. Specifically, at VIDEX 2024, it brought H-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter, MH-139 Grey Wolf, ScanEagle, and Wave Glider. Michael Nguyen, managing director of Boeing Vietnam, said, Boeings presence at VIDEX 2024 is an important step forward in the growing partnership between Boeing and Vietnam. Boeing has been in Vietnam for nearly 30 years. Currently, it has a presence in a variety of fields including commercial aviation, supply chain, technical training, university cooperation and many community activities. According to industry experts, these moves by Airbus and Boeing are among their strategic steps amid growing competition. With the entry of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) into the Vietnamese market this year, the duopoly of the two giants may be threatened in the long term. Quietly but actively preparing itself as a major competitor in the worldwide aerospace sector, Comac has been designed to directly fight Boeings 737 MAX and Airbus A320neo, and its C919 narrow-body plane forms the core of this approach. The company has a total investment of about 50 billion ($6.86 billion) and 18,000 employees focusing on producing C919 and ARJ21 aircraft lines, supplying partners worldwide. Earlier this year, Comac brought the C919 and the ARJ21 to Van Don International Airport in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh for an exhibition. This was the second time the C919 had appeared at an event outside the Chinese market. At the time, Comacs chairman said that the event was an important step towards internationalising domestically produced commercial aircraft. Wei Yingbiao, permanent deputy general director of Comac, said, Vietnam is a large and potential market. We have been cooperating with Vietjet to set up a joint working group to discuss technical issues. Aviation expert Tuan Nguyen said, Comac is no more a far-off threat, but in fact direct competition. It will be prepared to disrupt the global aerospace industry with the help of government funding and a rapidly expanding home market. Tuan Nguyen noted, With the possible strong involvement of Comac, competition in the local market is expected to be heated up with new changes and new orders. Airbus said that the company welcomes competition. Thomas Zeman, head of Sales and Marketing for Asia-Pacific at Airbus Helicopters, said, In order to respond to competition from traditional and new rivals, Airbus continues to invest in new technologies and products to offer the most advanced solutions in the market. A Boeing spokesperson told VIR, Competition is always good for the aviation industry. It makes everyone in the industry invest in better technologies and find solutions to meet evolving customer needs. Vietnams aviation market to be on full recovery by year end The Vietnamese aviation market is set to fully recover by the end of this year since the Asia-Pacific market warms up, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV). The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) last week released a multi-sectoral assessment for recovery from Typhoon Yagi. Cost of Typhoon Tagi impact laid bare in wide-ranging study Results showed that Typhoon Yagi has dented a significant adverse impact on Vietnams economy, which varies markedly by sector and provinces. Among the affected 26 provinces, 11 provinces were significantly knocked in terms of economic damage and loss. Overall damage is estimated at nearly $1.5 billion, which is approximately 0.62 per cent of the 2023 GDP. Total losses are estimated at more than $1.77 billion, equivalent to 0.74 per cent of the 2023 GDP. This is higher than the rough estimates made by the Ministry of Planning and Investment right after the natural disaster happened in September. The ministry had revealed that Yagi had caused economic losses of about 0.15 per cent of GDP, equivalent to $1.66 billion. For the whole year, growth was expected to reduce by 0.33 per cent in the agro-forestry-fishery sector, 0.05 per cent in the industrial and construction sector, and 0.22 per cent in the services sector. However, according to the assessment, in terms of direct economic loss, the service sector mainly culture and tourism incurred the largest loss, estimated at $310 million. The agriculture sector suffered a loss of $226 million, while the industry incurred a loss of $96 million. Typhoon Yagi reduced production outputs across economic sectors, resulting in a significant loss in GDP and an adverse impact on employment and livelihoods. The service sector accounted for the largest output loss, stated Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. The service sectors net output loss is estimated at $323 million, which is approximately 0.14 per cent of the 2023 GDP. That shaved off 0.31 percentage points from its baseline growth rate, forecasted at 6.6 per cent. The agriculture sector incurred a net output loss of $160 million. That chipped away 0.62 percentage points from its baseline growth rate. The agricultural output loss is equivalent to 0.07 per cent of the 2023 GDP. Meanwhile, the industrial sector was least affected by the Typhoon Yagi, although several industrial parks were hit severely. The net industrial output loss is estimated at $83 million, reducing its growth rate by 0.1 percentage points compared to the baseline forecasted at 7.3 per cent, said the assessment. According to the UNDP, the direct adverse impact on GDP growth could be partially offset by fiscal and social protection measures undertaken by the government. The cash transfer scheme and humanitarian relief were rolled out to support the most affected households, mainly vulnerable people including women, children and older persons. Moreover, temporary tax exemptions have also been introduced. In addition, the storm is estimated to have had a certain effect on the external trade balance. Vietnams exports are estimated to decrease by $502 million for the year, which is tantamount to 0.21 per cent of 2023 GDP. The effect on the imports is estimated to be minimal. As such, the trade balance impact is not anticipated to have any catastrophic effect on the current account balance and the balance of payment. According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, from January to December 14, Vietnams goods export and import turnover is estimated to have come in at $745.4 billion, up 15.35 per cent on-year. The figure is expected by the government to hit more than $782 billion for the entire year. The UNDP assessment also pointed out that the governments fiscal space was also affected by the typhoon. Estimation of government revenue loss has proven difficult due to limited primary data on the number of the affected enterprises and the introduction of numerous tax exemptions for affected enterprises. Government revenue is estimated to decrease by $88 million, which is equivalent to 0.04 per cent of GDP in 2023. The reduced government revenue is driven mainly by lower corporate tax revenue and import export duties due to lower economic activity. As the most devastating storm to affect Vietnam in 30 years, Typhoon Yagi affected 3.6 million people in nearly half of the countrys provinces, exacerbating vulnerabilities in communities already at risk from climate-related disasters. The typhoon, floods, and landslides led to the deaths of 307 people and injured over 1,900 people. Throughout the country, as many as 240,600 homes, 1,530 schools, and 570 health facilities were seriously damaged, with another 73,250 homes submerged in floodwaters. An estimated 72,600 people still require shelter after their homes were destroyed or severely damaged. Overcrowded and under-resourced evacuation centres pose protection risks, particularly for women and children, who face heightened threats of gender-based violence and communicable diseases, said Deputy Minister Hiep. Households classified as poor and near poor, even before the successive floods, lack the resources for materials to repair their homes. Aimed to assess the full extent of the impact of the typhoon and propose appropriate recommendations for sustainable recovery across all affected sectors, the UNDP assessment was conducted alongside the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, through the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority, which took the lead in coordinating with other ministries, agencies, United Nations agencies, the European Union, and other development partners. Policy credit a boon to Yen Bai residents in the wake of Typhoon Yagi Yen Bai province suffered some of the most significant damage from Typhoon Yagi in September, with heavy rainfall and floods. In response, Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) has stepped up the pace of policy credit allocation to affected areas in the locality. Tokio Marine Insurance Vietnam helps Lao Cai to recover from Typhoon Yagi Tokio Marine Insurance Vietnam (TMIV) launched the Clean Water for Children and School Restoration scheme to help Lao Cai province recover from Typhoon Yagi in December. TRIPOLI A natural sanctuary now looks like a graveyard after bird flu has spread through its waterfowl. Sweet Marsh, a wetland northeast of Tripoli, welcomes Canada geese, trumpeter swans and dabbling ducks. However, these three types of birds are succumbing to bird flu at rapid rates. Jason Auel, the wildlife management biologist who oversees Sweet Marsh, confirmed the disease last week. On Dec. 10, he noticed there were a few sickly geese. Tuesday we didnt notice any dead, he said. Wednesday, there was 50 out there dead. This was about 10% of the current geese population at the marsh. The current death count is unknown. Frequent Sweet Marsh visitor and wildlife photographer Kip Ladage ventured out to the marsh once he heard of the large number of dead birds. He goes out daily to document the sad sight and writes up what he finds on Facebook and Youtube. In a post, he said he has never seen this level of bird flu in his lifetime, which is why he continues to watch and photograph the area. At first, both Auel and Ladage only witnessed dead geese. Then, the trumpeter swans followed. Eventually I saw a young of the year trumpeter swan in the dying process the first swan I saw affected by the outbreak, Ladage said in a message to The Courier. I expected I would eventually see dying and dead swans. I was not prepared for the first swan to die to be a young of the year. The baby swan, or cygnet, still having some of its grey fuzzy down, laid its long neck on the snow in front of him. It is heartbreaking to watch animals suffer, knowing you can do nothing and the situation will likely get worse, he said. I know we are seeing nature at its worst. In our happy thought world, we dismiss that nature can be cruel. This is nature happening in front of us. It is hard to watch, especially the swans. The physical symptoms of this strain of bird flu are different from the beginning of the outbreak which started in 2022, said Rachel Ruden, the state wildlife veterinarian for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. This specific disease is also called highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI. She said in 2022, it was more obvious when a bird was sick because it would have head or body tremors or seizure-like spasms. But now, it isnt as clear. Theres a bunch of birds on shore and they arent seemingly with it, she said. Now people are concerned and want to bring them to (a rehabilitation center) because they dont see whats wrong with them. Thats a risk and makes it more difficult to limit human exposure because they want to help and dont perceive it as how a sick animal would behave. Auel said the symptoms hes seen in the marshs birds are lethargy, swimming in circles and not trying to stay warm. Both he and Ruden said the abnormally warm winter weather isnt helping. The birds congregate to keep the still water open and not form ice, which is easier than migrating. One of our concerns with the mild weather, it will encourage geese to stick around longer and potentially increase the risk of spreading the disease among the population thats here, Auel said. It could potentially be a serious issue they dont tend to congregate all in one area. Some go south. Migration season is also stressful for geese, Ruden said. The long traveling distances, stocking up on food and weather changes are taxing on the birds. Its a hard time to be a bird in general being compromised, the immune system not performing and other factors, she said. And to be around so many of your species, it allows it to spiral. A big concern is the sickness transmitting to predatory and scavenging birds. Ladage said hes seen birds of prey feasting on the dead birds as soon as they succumb. If watching geese perish was difficult, imagine the effect dead eagles will have, he said. Ruden said so far there is a low number of detection in mammals. That is usually found in younger animals who have not built up their immune system, such as fox kits and young possums. With goose hunting season in full swing, hunters should be extra cautious with their kills. When breaking down a carcass, hunters should wear personal protective equipment and be in a well-ventilated area. Cooking meat to an internal temperature of 165 F will kill the virus, if present. Hunters should also prevent their hunting dogs from interacting with unknown carcasses and avoid feeding them raw meat. The first human case of bird flu in Iowa was detected friday in the northwest part of the state from an individual exposed to poultry in a commercial flock. As for household precautions, Ruden said bird feeders for songbirds or backyard birds can remain up. She said the virus doesnt circulate well and most wont encounter the sickness. Its not a foolproof situation but in a typical backyard not by water with retaining ducks and geese, those birds are unlikely to encounter the virus, she said. Auel said if a sick or dead bird is found, especially a raptor, a wildlife biologist should be called. He covers Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan and Chickasaw counties. Auel can be contacted at (319) 213-2815. This article is old - Published: Thursday, Dec 26th, 2024 Wrexham.com has invited the four North Wales Members of the Senedd to write a monthly column with updates on their work. You can find their updates along with contributions from the local MPs and MSs here. In this months column, Welsh Conservative Member of the Senedd Sam Rowlands writes: Its been a time of change for the Welsh Conservatives, and our group in the Welsh Parliament has a new leader. Darren Millar, Senedd Member for Clywd West in North Wales, was elected unanimously by members of our group and has replaced Andrew RT Davies. We are the third party in the Senedd to have a new leader this year following Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour, who have had two changes! I wish Darren the very best. Our group is united behind him as he leads the Welsh Conservatives into the upcoming Senedd elections in 2026. He wont just be leader of the Welsh Conservative group, but the Official Opposition in the Senedd too. Our party leads the charge against the Labour-run Welsh Government, and its a task all our Senedd Members take incredibly seriously. That will continue under Darren and I am looking forward to watching him take on First Minister Eluned Morgan at First Ministers Questions every Tuesday. After twenty-five years of the Welsh Governments existence, Labour have run public services into the ground. Wales currently has the longest NHS waiting lists on record and the worst education outcomes in the United Kingdom. That is down to Labours failures and their inability to devise a strategy that will make systemic, long-term improvements to Welsh public services. North Wales, particularly, has suffered under Welsh Labours rule. Just look at Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board, which is still in special measures, and where there are serious, deep-seated problems. Indeed, the Public Service Ombudsman revealed that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was the most complained about in Wales over the last two years with more than half of the Ombudsmans public interest reports since the start of 2024 about the health board. Its clear that Wales needs something different, and Welsh Conservatives are offering that change to voters in 2026. Its clear that the other parties in the Senedd, Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats, dont offer a real alternative. Both parties have happily propped up Welsh Labour at various points over the past quarter-century and would do so again. Reform are attempting to paint themselves as outsiders, but in reality they are part of the same Cardiff Bay consensus. Remember, Reforms Chairman called the prospect of thirty-six more Senedd politicians exciting and their Wales Spokesman talked positively about the prospect of justice and policing being devolved from the UK Government to the Welsh Government. If you want change, its clear that only Welsh Conservatives can offer that serious but positive change for the future of Wales. Since Darren has come in, hes conducted a reshuffle of the Shadow Cabinet. That means Ive got a new role as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance, which Ive been getting to grips with very quickly. My opposite number is Mark Drakeford, the former First Minister, and I am looking forward to our exchanges in the Senedd chamber. The Finance Ministry is a hugely important part of any Government, and this Labour-run Welsh Government frankly has a cack-handed approach to finance. They spend money on the wrong things, and prefer to fund vanity projects like stuffing the Welsh Parliament with thirty-six more politicians rather than helping slash NHS waiting lists. I will be making that point loudly the Welsh Government should be spending money on the peoples priorities, not niche left-wing obsessions. Its also important to remember that Labour Ministers in Cardiff are working hand in glove with their Party colleagues at Westminster. The Chancellors recent Budget saw 40 billion in tax rises at the same time as the gutting of winter fuel payments for pensioners and an all-out assault on family farms. Welsh Government should be standing up to the British Government on those ill-thought out, disastrous policies but they refuse to. They are going along with whatever their bosses in London want, no matter the impact on you and your family. To me, thats not good enough and is yet another reason why Wales desperately needs a change of devolved Government. Welsh Conservatives are a Government in waiting, and well be making that case to the people of Wrexham and the rest of Wales up until the next Senedd elections in May 2026. As ever, if youd like to get in touch with me with a question or issue then please drop me an email at sam.rowlands@senedd.wales Catalytic converters, minibus and 13ks worth of iPads stolen from Welsh councils, FOI reveals This article is old - Published: Thursday, Dec 26th, 2024 A Freedom of Information (FOI) request sent to 22 councils in Wales has revealed stark differences in the number of thefts reported, the items taken, and how they were handled. While some councils reported thefts of high-value items, others either had no reported thefts or were unable to provide the requested information as they dont record the information. Earlier this year Wrexham.com asked all 22 councils How many items have been stolen from your council in the last three financial years? Where there were thefts we asked for a breakdown of the type of item, cost, where it was taken from and if a police report was made. As readers will recall our FOI revealed thefts at Wrexham Council a break in at Pentrebychan Crematorium where a mower, circular saw and hi-vis coat were stolen with an approximate value of 1,500, 700 in cash was stolen from Wrexham Memorial Hall (but no police report) and theft of catalytic converters from vehicles parked in the rear compound of the local authoritys housing depot on Ruthin Road. Caerphilly Council reported significant thefts, including power tools, a minibus, and combi boilers. Among the most expensive incidents was the theft of a minibus valued at over 30,000 from the education department full list disclosed below, with the gate item not reported to police. Power tools Highways 1,140.63 Van Housing 19,834.50 Power tools Countryside 1,770.54 Power tools Housing 6,731.99 Network video Cleansing 1,282.00 Power tools Housing 7,356.99 Combi boilers Housing 10,000.00 Cement mixer Housing 500.00 Minibus Education 30,340.00 Gate Economic 1,089.00 Flintshire Council highlighted a burglary in June 2023, where thieves targeted a construction site on the A550 in Hope. The stolen items (listed below), ranging from hydraulic peckers to telescopic ladders, totalled thousands of pounds had to be replaced. Additionally, a laptop valued at 513 was stolen from Llwynegrin Hall but was later recovered after being reported to the police. 1 x hydraulic pecker AHP 1600 1 x Petrol Jack hammer (1106) AHP 2850 1 x Stihl saw L70 551 & concrete cutting disc. 644.00 1 x Cat & genny 1558 1 x Milwaukee Reciprocator saw spare bat & charger 204 1 x Makita SDS drill & masonry drill bits 569.00 1 x Telescopic ladder 124.50 1 x Whacker plate L70 548 1149 2 x Stihl pump dust suppressors 189 2 x insulation general service shovel 116 2 x insulation cable laying shovel 161 2 x insulation round mouth shovel 111 2 x insulation crow bar 200.30 2 x insulation rabbiting spade long handle 214 3 x standard shovels 66 Merthyr Tydfil Council disclosed multiple thefts, including a significant loss of 13,770 worth of Apple iPads from council offices in Pentrebach. Other disclosed items included diesel fuel (585) and 4000 of cash from the Civic Centre, and construction equipment, all of which were reported to the police except for the fuel theft. They also reported a range of further thefts including a range of technical equipment listed as 3k whacker , 1.2k whacker and water kit. 9.8k Cobra Breaker Point, a 2.2k disc saw and 2.8k of JCB Breaker all thefts reported to police. Neath Port Talbot Council experienced thefts including six bicycles and lighting equipment worth 3,950 from Margam Castle in 2021. In a separate incident, five chainsaws and a disc cutter were stolen from a site in Baglan, Port Talbot, valued at 3,238.15. A 950 defibrillator was also listed on the theft disclosure. Several councils, including Blaenau Gwent, Vale of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Denbighshire, and Monmouthshire, reported no thefts over the past three financial years. Some councils struggled to provide clarity. Cardiff Council requested further definitions (Please clarify what you mean by from the council). Ceredigion County Council and Bridgend Council couldnt answer as they wanted to know what items meant in the question. As we dont know what was stolen, it was hard to know what to define items as. Pembrokeshire County Council would only answer if we would specify a department or particular item again, if we knew the items nicked, we wouldnt be asking. Newport, Torfaen, and Isle of Anglesey councils indicated they do not centrally record stolen goods. The latter specifically saying a list would be new information to them, the Council does not hold a central register of stolen items and as you are aware, the Act does not require research to be undertaken to effectively create new information Pembrokeshire County Council declined to respond unless the FOI was narrowed to specific departments or items. Swansea, Conwy, and Carmarthenshire councils acknowledged the FOI but did not respond. Powys County Council rejected the request, citing the excessive time required to compile the information. The FOI yet again highlighted discrepancies in how councils record and respond to FOIs in Wales. It also shows that non-standard approach extends to how they record thefts, with some providing detailed breakdowns while others offered limited or no data. Chip-O-Dee owner gifts hospice patients with presents for their loved ones This article is old - Published: Thursday, Dec 26th, 2024 The owner of a local fish and chip shop has donated presents for the patients at Nightingale House Hospice to give to their children and grandchildren. Haci Deniz, who owns Chip-O-Dee, made the donation to the Wrexham-based hospice after his own familys history of cancer. When he asked his best friend, Matt Griffiths, if there was a charity that helps cancer patients in the local area, Matt immediately suggested Nightingale House. Haci,who moved to Wrexham four years ago from Turkey, was keen to spread some happiness by donating a variety of new toys and gifts for all ages, which the staff at Nightingale House will share with the patients. Its about making people happy, explained Haci. I wanted to do something that would brighten the patients and their families Christmas. I know some patients might not be able to get out and buy their own presents, so weve bought a range of toys and gifts suitable for children and young people to give to their families. I just love making people happy, and I hope thats what these toys will do. Commenting on Hacis generous gesture, Family Support Team Lead and Social Worker Jackie Rowley said: We are extremely grateful for this kind and thoughtful donation from Haci. We hope that it brings comfort and joy to our patients and the young people in their families over the festive period, and that their time together creates moments of warmth, happiness, and cherished memories. Gamma Aviation partnership revolutionises Wales Air Ambulance service This article is old - Published: Thursday, Dec 26th, 2024 The Wales Air Ambulance Charity is celebrating the first anniversary of its partnership with Gama Aviation, marking a transformative year for the UKs largest air ambulance operation. Gama Aviation assumed control of the charitys helicopter fleet in December 2023, following an intensive 18-month procurement process involving input from aviation and medical professionals. The seven-year, 65 million contract covers the operation of four Airbus H145 helicopters, based in Dafen, Cardiff, Caernarfon, and Welshpool, along with a backup aircraft for continuity. Reflecting on the milestone, Dr Sue Barnes, Chief Executive of Wales Air Ambulance, praised the collaboration and effort that made the transition seamless. Our service went through a huge transition in a short space of time, she said. It was a massive challenge, but I am hugely proud of how we worked together to get the last aircraft signed over. The transition, which began just weeks before Christmas 2023, was accelerated to avoid potential regulatory issues over the New Year period. Dr Barnes expressed her gratitude to the charitys former partner, Babcock, for their support during the handover. We all wanted to make sure the people of Wales were put first throughout the whole process, she said. Gama Aviation faced significant challenges, including recruiting and training 11 additional pilots in time for the handover. Mark James, Chair of the Charitys Aviation Committee, highlighted the companys commitment: Gama really stepped up and understood what we were trying to do. The word no isnt in their vocabulary. The new fleet of H145 helicopters has proven pivotal in delivering hospital-standard treatments to patients across Wales. The standardised model ensures consistency for medical teams, allowing them to locate essential equipment and medication quickly in critical situations. James Grenfell, Gama Aviations Head of Flight Operations in Wales, recalled the emotional moment the first helicopter under the new partnership took off. To see that first helicopter with the Gama sticker as part of Wales Air Ambulances new operation, it almost brought tears to my eyes. It was fantastic. This year, the charity marked its 50,000th mission, underscoring its vital role in providing lifesaving care. The service is consultant-led, with NHS specialists from the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) working alongside Gama to deliver care and rapid hospital transfers. Looking ahead, the charity plans to introduce next-generation H145 D3 helicopters in 2025, featuring a five-bladed design for smoother flights, increased payload capacity, and extended endurance. Charlotte Phillips, Director of Aviation, said the upgrade reflects the charitys commitment to innovation. Our fleet of H145s is recognisable in the skies of Wales and beyond, but the new D3 models will enable us to carry more, fly farther, and provide an even better service to patients. Dr Barnes also highlighted future possibilities, including the integration of AI and drone technology, to further enhance the charitys capabilities. She praised the charitys fundraisers, who help raise the 11.2 million needed annually to keep the service operational. We are hugely grateful to our fundraisers who continue to believe in us and support our vision to help more patients and save more lives, she said. Wrexham academics produce paper on HyFlex learning experiences for Youth Work students This article is old - Published: Thursday, Dec 26th, 2024 Academics from Wrexham University have authored a research paper, evaluating the experience of educators and students engaging in HyFlex teaching and learning experiences on the institutions Youth Work programme during the Covid-19 pandemic. Hayley Douglas, Jess Achilleos, Yasmin Washbrook all Senior Lecturers in Youth and Community Work at the University, and Professor Mandy Robbins, Associate Dean for Research, have published the paper, entitled PracademiaRole Modelling HyFlex Digital Pedagogies in Youth Work Education. HyFlex short for Hybrid-Flexible is a course design method and teaching approach designed to better accommodate student needs by combining online and classroom-based components. The paper identifies the challenges and opportunities relating to HyFlex learning, as well as explores how digital skills gained in the classroom supported students to be more confident in role modelling these to deliver digital Youth Work, while aiding them in a post Covid-19 environment. Findings from the research undertaken demonstrated a positive student perception of HyFlex in terms of their own learning experience and the impact they take from learning into practice. Challenges identified by educators and students included time, training, and infrastructure to engage in the HyFlex learning approach. However, this was counteracted by increased accessibility and eventual improved digital skills, amongst both learners and educators. This led to new possibilities in feeling part of a wider community of practice. The findings also reported that student experiences of HyFlex led to 46% feeling more able to support young people in a post Covid-19 digital world with both students and educators taking their digital learning from the classroom and applying it to their Digital Youth Work practice. Speaking about the process, which led to publication of the paper, Hayley said: Were extremely pleased that our paper has now been published and we are in a position to share our findings, including the opportunities a HyFlex learning approach affords learners and us as educators but also the challenges it can pose. Initially adapting our pedagogical approach during the pandemic was a learning curve for us as educators but quickly, we saw the advantages of offering both that in-classroom learning experience, in conjunction with live, online sessions being available for students to be able to study from home. We are also delighted to say that we are one of the only Youth Work programmes nationally still providing this HyFlex approach post Covid. This has a number of benefits, particularly for our learners not only does it mean improved digital skills, which will help them provide a flexible service to young people on qualifying but also, the flexibility that it gives them in balancing their studies but also their lives outside of university, for example, for those students with caring responsibilities. It also means that we are attracting a broader range of students from even further afield, for example we have students from Gibraltar, Jersey, South Wales, Hertfordshire, Warwickshire as just some examples so this means geography is no longer a barrier as HyFlex allows our students to complete the course online completely remotely, should they wish. The paper has identified recommendations for future HyFlex approaches to be applied for future practice across Higher Education (HE) institutions, which can be utilised beyond Youth Work programmes. Professor Robbins added: We are delighted to have published this paper, which evaluated the experience of educators and students engaging in HyFlex learning experiences. Our paper identified a number of findings including that student experiences of HyFlex led to 46% more of our learners feeling more able and equipped to support young people in a post Covid-19 digital world thats incredibly encouraging. With the paper identifying a number of recommendations for future HyFlex approaches to be applied for future practice beyond Youth Work programmes but also wider across HE institutions, were hopeful adaptions can be made to support both educators and learners teach and learn in a way that suits their needs, as well as the young people our learners will go onto support. Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) has announced a $400 million (SAR 1.5 billion) investment in Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup, xAI, as part of its Series C funding round. This marks KHC's second investment in xAI, following an equal contribution during the Series B round. The funding, sourced from KHC's internal financial reserves, was disclosed in a regulatory filing on Saudi Arabia's stock exchange, Tadawul. Founded by Elon Musk and a team of global engineers, xAI aims to revolutionize artificial intelligence by advancing scientific discovery and developing cutting-edge AI models. The company maintains close collaborations with Musk's other ventures, including Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), which boasts over 500 million active users. Despite being a relatively new entity with no financial statements available from the past three years, xAI's valuation has surged to $45 billion in the latest funding round, up from $25 billion in the previous Series B round. This investment strengthens KHC's ongoing strategic partnership with Elon Musk, complementing its longstanding stake in X, which dates back to 2015. It also underscores KHC's commitment to investing in emerging technologies and securing a leadership position in the rapidly evolving AI sector. Also Read: The Guardian withdraws official presence from Elon Musks X Feature: Connections of youth across Taiwan Strait deepened over snow, ice and heritage Xinhua) 09:06, December 26, 2024 CHENGDU, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- From the snow-covered northeast to the still-green southwest, a delegation of young people from Taiwan embraced the joy of snow and ice, explored relics and museums, and experienced firsthand the vastness and diversity of the motherland. Despite the "icy and snowy" external environment, exchanges between young people across the Strait are friendly and warm, which can melt even the hardest "ice and snow," said Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang. Ma made the remarks in Harbin, the "City of Ice" in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, during the first leg of their trip to the mainland from Dec. 18 to 26. This marks Ma's third trip to the mainland in the past two years. His last visit was made in April. In Harbin, these young people from the subtropical island carved more "bricks" for a snow sculpture of the Great Wall at an art expo and tried their hand at various ice and snow rides. They were thrilled at seeing ice sculptures modeled after the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and Taipei 101, a landmark skyscraper in Taipei. "The temperature in Harbin is around 10 degrees Celsius below zero, but our hearts are warm," said Lin Pei-chen from the Taiwan Ocean University. "We had snowball fights, posed for pictures in the snow, and had no intention of heading back indoors." On Dec. 20, the delegation visited the Unit 731 Museum, where they learned about how the Japanese army carried out germ warfare and human experiments during their aggression against China in the first half of the last century. "Looking ahead, young people across the Strait should bear history in mind and stay vigilant," said Tai Chih-ying from Taipei University, who struggled to find peace of mind after the museum visit. "We should learn from history and ensure the generation of youngsters knows the past and receives adequate history education. This is the responsibility of our generation," said Ma. The delegation flew to Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan Province, on Dec. 21, coinciding with Winter Solstice. In Chinese culture, Winter Solstice marks the beginning of deep winter and a break from farming in traditional agricultural society. It is also a time for family gatherings. Pan Ko-shen, from the Taiwan University of Science and Technology, was impressed by the vastness of the motherland and the disparity across the regions, highlighted by the differences in environment and customs between Harbin and Chengdu. "We had jiaozi on the morning in Harbin and lamb soup on the evening when we arrived in Chengdu, while my family ate tangyuan in Taiwan. We enjoy different foods in different places, but we celebrate the same holiday on the same day, which truly highlights the greatness and charm of Chinese culture," he said. The delegation visited the Sanxingdui Museum and the Chengdu Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum on Dec. 22 and Dec. 23. They were awestruck by treasures like the bronze masks, the gold scepter, and the bronze heavenly tree at the Sanxingdui Museum. "People had already mastered such sophisticated craftsmanship more than 3,000 years ago, with styles being a far cry from the central part of the mainland. This is truly impressive," said Lin. At the museum dedicated to Du Fu, one of the most famous poets of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the delegation revisited Du's life and literary achievements, recited his poems, and attended a symposium on Chinese culture. Noting that people across the Strait share the same roots and cultural identity, Ma said that the Democratic Progressive Party authorities are doomed to fail in their attempts to cut the island's cultural connections with the mainland. When reflecting on the entire trip, he said the interactions between young people across the Strait are instinctive and irresistible. The future lies in young people. "Let's work together to bring the two sides across the Strait closer and foster their brotherhood. The prospects would be more hopeful," said Ma. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Co-working spaces are increasingly becoming popular in India owing to the need for a flexible yet structured work environment. In the recent past, a range of business leaders, entrepreneurs, freelancers and remote workers have appreciated the versatility of such spaces as they bring life to work settings and inculcate a community spirit among professionals. As per Markets & Data, the Indian co-working space market was estimated at USD 0.63 billion in FY2023. It is projected to reach USD 1.53 billion in FY2031, surging at a CAGR of 13.47% during the forecast period FY2024-FY2031. Given this uptick, it is evident that co-working spaces are capturing the attention of many as it is increasingly becoming a go-to option for professionals in Indian cities like Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune and Delhi just to name a few. In this context, it is widely relevant for companies offering co-working spaces to attract the right members. In doing so, accurate marketing strategies can be of aid to them. Particularly, these strategies should be cost-effective yet impactful, taking into account the role of local SEOs in driving growth, attracting new members and increasing visibility in search engines. Remarkably, by optimising local SEOs, co-working spaces stand to gain significantly. Here is why: The optimisation of local SEO leads to increasing visibility. This makes companies providing co-working spaces emerge among the topmost names in search engines of a certain geography. To further optimise this, companies must update information online about the space, inclusive of its operational hours, contact details and address. This makes it easier for potential members to connect with the space. It will further lead to increased inquiries and website traffic as well. More often than not, building credibility enhances trust among new members. And, local SEOs do just that. If all the details about a certain co-working space are in place, members are bound to reach out to it steadily. Moreover, co-working spaces must highlight good reviews or member experiences prominently on their website. Such can directly impact engagement and contribute to building new members trust. In addition, local SEOs help in targeting local search intent. They allow companies to reach potential members via local keywords. For instance, by targeting long-tail keywords such as cost-effective co-working spaces or best co-working spaces near me, companies can uncover the specific needs of a member across a range of industries. With this, companies must realise the contribution of local SEOs in lead-generation activities and improving online engagement. Apart from providing members with knowledge about the space, they have a major role to play in creating new leads. To make the most of it, co-working spaces can build optimised landing pages focusing on specific localities to attract search traffic. They can also push local content by publishing blogs or articles relevant to members needs. To make their website more actionable, call-to-action buttons will also be helpful. Companies ought to consider the appeal of local SEOs for mobile users. Potential members are likely to reach co-working spaces with the help of a quick search. Thus, a mobile-friendly and easy-to-navigate website helps in providing them with necessary details in an instant. Besides, local SEOs enhance the marketing strategy for a co-working space in a sustainable way. Not only do they contribute to building the brand value of a company over time, but create a lasting presence online. Likewise, it gives companies an edge over their competitors and opens doors for scooping traffic from them. Nowadays, local SEOs are an apt tool for companies to carve their position in the market and promote their USPs while standing out from other chains. In sum, companies ought to uncover the potential of local SEOs in creating an online reputation as well as attracting members to their co-working spaces. It is a cost-effective strategy which ensures long-term benefits with minimal maintenance. Ultimately, connecting with the right people at the right time is the mantra for building an effective marketing strategy for a co-working space. Also Read: How Seasonality Shapes Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategies Policybazaar, one of Indias leading insurance platforms, recently hit a major milestone in its customer-first initiative, the Assured Delivery Program. The program is now operational in 100 garages across 87 cities nationwide. The 100th garage opens in Leh today, marking the initiative's reach across every corner of India and placing the consumer at the center of its claims and service experience. With 100 garages now covered under the coveted program, policyholders in all metro cities, and most tier-I and tier-II cities, will be able to avail hassle-free claim settlement. The company had launched the Assured Delivery Program earlier this year to transform the motor insurance claims experience. It aims to prioritise convenience, transparency and speedy service for policyholders. Features of the Assured Delivery Program One of the biggest highlights of the program is that all Policybazaar motor insurance customers get a dedicated relationship manager at the garage of their choice. The relationship manager oversees the entire claims process right from the pick-up of their vehicle to the completion of repairs, and even all the claim approval formalities. Under the program, policyholders would also receive regular notifications about the status of the repair as well as the claim until the entire process is completed. Under this program, the customers get a guarantee of completion of small repairs that is, repairs involving claims under Rs 50,000 within five days. This is possible because at these workshops, the cars that qualify for this program will receive priority servicing, ensuring they are repaired faster and returned to the customer promptly for their use. Moreover, all repaired electrical and mechanical parts come with a warranty. The policyholders eligible for this program would also get free pick-and-drop service for their vehicles. This essentially means that in the event of a claim, the vehicle will be picked up from the customers location and delivered post-repair, ensuring zero hassle. Notably, the program is exclusively available to policyholders who have purchased their motor insurance via Policybazaar. In a short timespan, it has become a hallmark of seamless claims processing. Speaking on the milestone, Sandeep Saraf, Business Head, Motor Insurance Renewals & Customer Experience, Policybazaar.com, said, Reaching the 100-garage mark with our Assured Delivery Program is a step toward simplifying motor insurance claims. We designed this program to address common customer challenges like repair delays and lack of updates. Features such as dedicated relationship managers, guaranteed repair timelines, and cashless claims ensure a smoother, faster process. Were excited to expand this service further, making claims easier and more transparent for policyholders nationwide. The Assured Delivery Program exemplifies this vision. The company plans to expand the number of garages even further, thereby setting new benchmarks in the industry. The best part is that the program also offers cashless claim facility for all Policybazaar motor insurance customers. So no out-of-pocket expenses for repairs at recommended workshops. The Assured Delivery Program essentially empowers customers with unparalleled convenience and peace of mind. Also Read: Policybazaar for Business Discusses Risk Management Strategies at FIEO AI Generated Claims about the number of illegal immigrants in India, particularly Bangladeshi nationals, often lack credible evidence and are exaggerated for political purposes. Historical events like the Bangladesh Liberation War and subsequent political and economic instability in Bangladesh have led to waves of migration, with some Bangladeshis seeking refuge in India. A recent investigation by Delhi Police into the Sangam Vihar murder case uncovered an illegal immigration network involving Bangladeshi nationals. Authorities arrested five Bangladeshi individuals along with six others implicated in forging fake documents. The murder investigation revealed that the victim, Seton Sheikh, had been involved in assisting immigrants with creating fake Aadhaar cards, which ultimately led to financial and personal conflicts culminating in his death. Further scrutiny unearthed the involvement of a website, Janata Prints, managed by Rajat Mishra, which allegedly facilitated the creation of fake documents at nominal costs. Among those arrested was Munni Devi, who is suspected of playing a pivotal role in aiding the syndicate. This network reportedly helps immigrants enter India through forested border areas and provides them with forged identification documents, SIM cards, and financial support. Authorities are investigating cross-border links, with teams deployed to Bangladesh for further inquiries. Concerns have been raised about whether these forged voter cards have been used in electoral fraud, especially as voter lists are updated ahead of elections. The influx of Bangladeshi migrants into India has been documented in varying estimates, with figures ranging from three million to thirty million. According to the 2001 Census of India, over three million Bangladeshis were residing in the country, with more than two million having lived there for over two decades. Illegal migration routes often involve forested areas along the border, with migrants receiving assistance upon entering India, including transport and resources to reach major urban centers like Delhi. Once in these cities, they access networks that facilitate the creation of fake identification documents. The increasing focus on illegal immigration coincides with the political climate, as authorities intensify crackdowns ahead of elections to address concerns about a growing undocumented migrant population. Data from the Border Security Force and the National Crime Records Bureau reveal that in the past four years, more individuals have been apprehended attempting to leave India illegally than entering. Until December 2020, 3,173 individuals were caught attempting to cross into Bangladesh, while 1,115 were detained entering India during the same period. Trends from 2017 to 2019 indicate a significant rise in the number of Bangladeshis leaving India, possibly driven by stricter enforcement and changing circumstances. The portrayal of Bangladeshi migrants in Indian society often feeds into prejudices and stereotypes. Many Bengali-speaking individuals, often mistaken for illegal migrants, are, in fact, Indian citizens from regions like Assam and West Bengal. Economic factors such as limited land ownership, climate change, and better opportunities for education and employment drive internal migration, which urban middle classes frequently mischaracterize. This misrepresentation adds to the challenges faced by migrant laborers, who become scapegoats in a climate of misinformation. Bangladeshis have historically migrated worldwide since their countrys independence in 1971. While nations in the Middle East and the West have been common destinations, India remains the most significant due to its geographical proximity, shared history, and economic opportunities. The 4,096-kilometer border facilitates migration, and cultural and familial ties often underpin these movements. Before the partition of 1947, Bangladesh and India were part of the same territory, creating enduring connections that continue to influence migration patterns. The linguistic and cultural similarities between the two regions further foster mobility, with Kolkata and West Bengal reflecting shared artistic and cultural traditions with Bangladesh. These historical, cultural, and economic factors make India a prime destination for Bangladeshi migrants, despite the challenges they face in their pursuit of better opportunities. Authorities have released the names of two men killed in separate shootings in Jefferson County during a 48-hour period over the Christmas holiday. The Jefferson County Coroners Office on Thursday identified the victims as Brandon Montez McIlwain, 35, of Birmingham, and Jerry Dewayne Robinson, 20, also of Birmingham. A third man, who was killed Monday night, was an adult Black male but has not yet been identified, said Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates. The bloodshed began Monday night when the unknown man was shot in eastern Jefferson County. Sheriffs deputies were dispatched at 11:50 p.m. Monday to a report of a person down in the 200 block of Polly Reed Road, said sheriffs spokesman Henry Irby. They arrived to find the victim wounded by gunfire. Center Point Fire and Rescue rushed him to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:31 a.m. No arrests have been announced. The, nearly 24 hours later, Hoover police at 9:59 p.m. responded to a 911 call at an apartment in the 2200 block of Rime Village Drive. Lt. Daniel Lowe said officers found McIlwain suffering from a gunshot wound. Police and firefighters attempted life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead at 11:49 p.m. shortly after arriving at UAB Hospital. Lowe said a 29-year-old male suspect, an acquaintance of the victim, was detained at the scene. Detectives believe the suspect and victim got into a physical fight inside the apartment. The suspect then fired his gun, striking the victim multiple times. A motive has not been disclosed. Detectives will present the evidence to the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office for consideration of charges. A person was shot to death Christmas night on 26th Avenue N.W. in the Center Point area.(Carol Robinson) Birmingham police and Jefferson County sheriffs deputies on Christmas night responded just before 8:30 p.m. Wednesday to a neighborhood in the 500 block of 26th Avenue N.W. According to police radio traffic, Robinson was shot in unincorporated Jefferson County and ran a block before collapsing inside the city limits. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 8:27 p.m. Because the shooting happened in the unincorporated area, the sheriffs office will handle the investigation. No additional details have been released. So far this year, 192 people have been killed countywide, including 149 in Birmingham. Anyone with information in the two homicides in unincorporated Jefferson County is asked to call sheriffs investigators at 205-325-1450 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. An investigation is underway after a deadly Christmas night shooting in the Center Point area. Birmingham police and Jefferson County sheriffs deputies responded to the scene just after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. The location is a neighborhood in the 500 block of 26th Avenue N.W. According to police radio traffic, the victim was shot in unincorporated Jefferson County and ran a block before collapsing inside the city limits. The victim was pronounced dead on the scene. Because the shooting happened in the unincorporated area, the sheriffs office will handle the investigation. No additional details have been released. It is the second deadly shooting in the Center Point area in under 48 hours. On Monday, at 11:50 p.m., police responded to a report of a person down in the 200 block of Polly Reed Road. He later died. English News 5A-level scenic area in China's Hunan province embraces low-carbon development Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 18 Decembre 2024 In the spinning bike area, tourists can power the large screen ahead only by pedaling their bikes. "I thought it was just a stationary fitness bike, but didn't expect it to generate electricity. I come here every morning to exercise while also playing my part in green power generation," said Wang Zexin, a resident in Changsha. By Sun Chao, People's Daily The Juzizhou Islet, a Chinese national 5A-level scenic area located in the Xiangjiang River, is a landmark of Changsha, central China's Hunan province. According to statistics, from 2021 to 2023, the number of tourists visiting the islet has increased from 8 million to 16.9 million. The renowned scenic area is embracing green development and transforming itself into a "zero-carbon" islet. Local authorities have taken a range of measures, such as mapping out the islet's carbon footprint, and supplying facilities on the island with wind, solar power and other clean energy. These low-carbon development experiences have been promoted across the entire Hunan province to build a new type of power system. "Mapping out the carbon footprint is the primary step to achieve zero carbon," said Li Ke, professor with Hunan Normal University and head of the Hunan Institute for Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality. Li said that when assessing the carbon footprint, it is important to consider such factors as electricity consumption, gasoline and diesel emissions, and even the carbon dioxide emitted by tourists. Based on systematic calculations, it is estimated that the net carbon emissions of the Juzizhou Islet stood at around 5,900 tons in 2023. In China, many islands have achieved notable success in carbon reduction. "There are many successful examples, such as Meizhou Island in Putian, southeast China's Fujian province, and Dongyu Island in Boao, south China's Hainan province," Li said. However, the Juzizhou Islet cannot simply copy these models, he added. The Juzizhou Islet is on a river rather than the sea. It covers only a narrow and small area and does not have abundant wind or solar energy resources. For this city landmark and 5A-level scenic area, it is not practical to install large wind turbines and massive solar panels. "The only way is to deliver green electricity to the islet directly," said Yang Haokang, deputy general manager of State Grid Changsha Power Supply Company. In the past, the electricity used on the islet primarily came from the grid, but not all of it was green electricity. To efficiently deliver affordable green electricity to the islet, the company decided to leverage wind and solar resources in the Xiangjiang River basin. To the west of the Juzizhou Islet, there is a distributed wind farm in Ningxiang, Changsha; to the south of it, there is a photovoltaic power station in Xiangtan. Through the green power transmission lines, the green electricity generated by these two facilities can flow straight to the islet. "The combination of wind and solar energy can enhance the stability of power supply," said Yang. Apart from receiving renewable energy from power supply facilities, the islet has also built a flexible distribution network so that distributed photovoltaics, energy storage, charging piles, and other facilities can be easily connected to the network for immediate use. Since August this year, the islet has successfully achieved the point-to-point transmission of green electricity, leading to a significant reduction in carbon emissions. Carbon reduction and sequestration In addition to green power supply, the scenic area is proactively working on carbon reduction and sequestration to facilitate green transformation. For instance, miniature wind turbines shaped like flower petals have been installed, creating a vibrant floral landscape that sways gently in the river's breeze. There are also photovoltaic walkways with multiple functions including power generation, lighting and energy storage, which allow them to absorb solar energy during the day and glow at night. Some pavilions, bus stop roofs, and even walls on the islet, also have their "special skills." For example, specially-made photovoltaic tiles and walls appear no different from regular glazed tiles and glass windows. They integrate well into the environment while providing electricity for outdoor screens, charging devices and other facilities on the islet. In the spinning bike area, tourists can power the large screen ahead only by pedaling their bikes. "I thought it was just a stationary fitness bike, but didn't expect it to generate electricity. I come here every morning to exercise while also playing my part in green power generation," said Wang Zexin, a resident in Changsha. "These micro power generation devices are expected to produce 21,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity on an annual basis, equivalent to the carbon sequestration capacity of more than 10 mu (0.67 hectares) of forest in a year," said Li. Li noted that a carbon emission model has been established within the zero-carbon data center of the islet to illustrate energy consumption structure and changes in energy use, as well as the updating and addition of tree species. "We will further enhance the islet's vegetation to boost its carbon sequestration capacity," Li explained. Thanks to efforts such as providing green power, integrating renewable energy solutions, and enhancing vegetation for carbon sequestration, the Juzizhou Islet has achieved near-zero carbon emissions. Dans la meme rubrique : < > High-quality Belt and Road cooperation create opportunities for global growth Technological cooperation leads to closer China-Africa economic, trade ties China's economic resilience, vitality in four sets of data Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News China's internet development expands "blue oceans" of economic growth Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 18 Decembre 2024 From web portals to instant messaging, from desktop platforms to mobile devices, and from search engines to the internet of things, the internet has broken physical boundaries, opened up opportunities for ordinary people, expanded the possibilities for innovation and creativity, and provided boundless potential for innovative development. By Li Zheng, People's Daily At the 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit held in the ancient water town of Wuzhen, east China's Zhejiang province, a series of cutting-edge technologies captivated visitors - such as a headset that allowed people to see virtual products in real-world scenarios, and a robotic hand that could dexterously move its "fingers" and even make a "thumbs-up" gesture. These technologies highlight the latest achievements of China's technological innovation. In recent years, China has made historic progress and transformations in cyber affairs and information technology. It has truly become a global internet powerhouse. "From zero to one" and "from one to infinity," the internet has reshaped how nations are governed, how goods are produced, and the way people work and live. The virtual cyberspace has brought many tangible and positive changes, demonstrating China's determined efforts to strengthen its internet development. In the past, cab-hailing could be quite annoying for many, but today, online ride-hailing services have become part of Chinese people's daily life; long queues at train station ticket counters were always seen during holidays, while the advent of smartphones now allows people to book tickets, select seats, and even order meals online with just a few taps. These visible changes highlight how the internet has profoundly empowered economic and social development. The internet has permeated every aspect of society. It has injected remarkable vitality into the Chinese economy and society, making the country a pioneer and leader in the global digital economy. For instance, e-commerce and e-government services have transformed consumption patterns and streamlined administrative procedures. Social media platforms like Weibo, WeChat, and short-video apps have changed how people communicate. These transformations are accompanied by the rapid development of emerging technologies such as big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as digital cultural products like web series, online literature, and digital animations. The internet is characterized by exceptional adaptability and penetrability. The notion of "internet plus" is invigorating countless industries and bolstering the real economy. According to a recent report by the International Federation of Robotics, China has made significant strides in manufacturing automation, surpassing Germany and Japan to claim third place in global industrial robot density rankings in 2023. The deep convergence of the industrial internet and intelligent robotics is giving rise to a new era of smart industrialization. For example, smart factories are driving a shift from "made in China" to "intelligently made in China." Unmanned terminals and intelligent ports have enabled remote handling of goods, and robotic dogs and drones have become the new "porters" at tourist destinations. The deep integration of the digital and real economies is transforming traditional industries at every level and across the entire value chain, which is amplifying, multiplying, and accelerating economic growth to continuously foster new quality productive forces. Breaking through key technologies China's internet development demonstrates its persistent efforts to break through key technologies. Recently, a research team at Tsinghua University developed the "Taichi-II" optical training chip, marking a leapfrog progress in the chip industry. China has made successive breakthroughs in mobile communication technologies, from having no presence in 1G, to catching up in 2G, making breakthroughs in 3G, running parallel with other countries in 4G, and leading the world in 5G, which demonstrates its relentless drive for innovation. In recent years, with the rapid advancement of software and integrated circuit technology, China has seen broader application of its independently developed operating systems. The country has also achieved breakthroughs in pioneering sectors such as quantum communication and quantum computing, while making significant progress in critical foundational technologies, including high-end chips, core components, and basic software, gaining a global competitive edge in certain areas. It also maintains a leading position in both the quantity and quality of AI research papers across the globe. This year marks the 30th anniversary of China achieving full functional access to the internet. Over the past three decades, the internet has become an integral part of Chinese society. From web portals to instant messaging, from desktop platforms to mobile devices, and from search engines to the internet of things, the internet has broken physical boundaries, opened up opportunities for ordinary people, expanded the possibilities for innovation and creativity, and provided boundless potential for innovative development. A wealth of vibrant ideas fueled by the ingenuity of the Chinese people have transformed into dynamic bytes, creating a brilliant constellation of China's internet achievements. Dans la meme rubrique : < > High-quality Belt and Road cooperation create opportunities for global growth Technological cooperation leads to closer China-Africa economic, trade ties China's economic resilience, vitality in four sets of data Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News Low-carbon transition story of Suzhou Museum Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 26 Decembre 2024 Wei told People's Daily that his team is currently working on upgrading this "digital brain." In the future, it will precisely manage energy allocation, determining, for example, how much energy each artifact requires or how much cool air needs to be supplied to individual display cases daily. Suzhou Museum aims to transform itself into a secure, collaborative, green, and intelligent smart museum by 2025. By Wang Weijian, People's Daily Suzhou Museum, which sits on Dongbei Street, Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu province, is always seeing a constant stream of visitors. The museum covers a construction area of 19,000 square meters and houses over 25,000 pieces and sets of cultural relics. It receives more than 2.5 million visits on average each year. The museum was designed by renowned architect Ieoh Ming Pei and has maintained high popularity since it was opened in 2006. However, to the surprise of many, this structure surrounded by lush bamboos and lucid waters was once challenged by high energy consumption, high operational cost and high carbon emissions. Director of Suzhou Museum, Xie Xiaoting, told People's Daily that the museum has to be kept at a constant temperature and humidity level year-round with exceptionally high air quality, in order to maintain a comfortable environment for the numerous visitors it receives every day and ensure optimal conditions for the preservation of cultural relics. This, however, consumes a significant amount of energy. To address this challenge, Suzhou Museum decided to build itself into a carbon-neutral facility in 2021. Promoting low-carbon operations starts with accurately measuring energy consumption of the museum. Therefore, the museum invited a team led by Professor Wei Qingpeng from Tsinghua University's Building Energy Conservation Research Center to conduct a comprehensive "diagnosis" of the facility. "It was an incredibly challenging task," Wei recalled. The museum's equipment cannot be shut down, as that could jeopardize the cultural relics. Consequently, much of the work had to be carried out during brief, carefully timed intervals. Additionally, many of the museum's systems and pipelines were concealed within narrow spaces between floors, requiring staff to crawl into tight areas with instruments to collect data. After more than two years of effort, the team completed an extensive analysis of the museum's structures, materials, and equipment. They presented a "diagnostic" report along with a tailored implementation plan to achieve carbon-neutral operations. Maintaining a constant temperature of around 21 degrees Celsius and a relative humidity of approximately 50 percent is crucial for the preservation of the museum's collections. But how does the museum ensure such precise climate control? "By mixing cold and hot air in precise proportions, we can achieve the desired temperature and humidity levels," explained Wang Jian, head of the museum's engineering and equipment department. Standing in a basement mechanical room and pointing to rows of chillers and boilers, he noted that the performance of these machines directly impacts the museum's energy efficiency. Wang added that many of the museum's systems have become outdated after nearly 20 years of use, which not only were energy-intensive but also required substantial maintenance costs each year. To address this, the museum replaced its aging screw chillers with state-of-the-art magnetic levitation variable-speed centrifugal chillers. This upgrade has reduced electricity consumption by more than 50 percent. Looking toward the northwest corner of the museum on the roof of it, one can see two massive turbines rotating slowly. "These are two high-efficiency coolers with variable flow rates, custom-designed for the museum," said Sun Jie, a technical lead from a Suzhou-based technology company. Previously, six coolers were needed to meet the museum's demands. The company's research and development team re-engineered the internal structure of the coolers, reducing the requirement to just two. The freed-up space has been repurposed to house four air-source heat pumps. In the past, heating water relied on gas boilers, but now the heat pumps can absorb heat from the air, significantly reducing carbon emissions. With each piece of equipment being upgraded, a new energy ecosystem has gradually taken shape within the museum. "Even though the new equipment is state-of-the-art, if each system operates independently without coordination, overall energy consumption won't improve much," said Wei. To address this, he developed a "digital brain" tailored for Suzhou Museum. This system creates a miniature internet of Things network within the museum, connecting all devices. Wei told People's Daily that his team is currently working on upgrading this "digital brain." In the future, it will precisely manage energy allocation, determining, for example, how much energy each artifact requires or how much cool air needs to be supplied to individual display cases daily. Suzhou Museum aims to transform itself into a secure, collaborative, green, and intelligent smart museum by 2025. Dans la meme rubrique : < > High-quality Belt and Road cooperation create opportunities for global growth Technological cooperation leads to closer China-Africa economic, trade ties China's economic resilience, vitality in four sets of data Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News The global significance of China's poverty alleviation theories and practices Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 17 Decembre 2024 This year, China hosted many training programs for the Global South, such as the training program for commercialized agricultural (poultry) development for Lesotho, the fourth training session for Indonesian rural officials, a cotton production, processing and management training program for Uzbekistan, and the seminar on culture and tourism empowering high-quality rural development for ASEAN countries. By Gong Ming, Xu Hailin, Jiang Xuan, People's Daily China's story of poverty alleviation, one about lifting 800 million people out of poverty and meeting the poverty reduction target of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ahead of schedule, is one of the most magnificent chapters in global development. These historic achievements have deepened humanity's understanding of poverty alleviation and enriched the theoretical framework for combating poverty worldwide. On Nov. 18, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at Session I of the 19th G20 Summit on Fight Against Hunger and Poverty. He said, "China's story is proof that developing countries can eliminate poverty, that a weaker bird can start early and fly high, when there is the endurance, perseverance, and striving spirit that enables water drops to penetrate rocks over time and turns blueprints into reality." Osmar Junior, executive secretary of Brazil's Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger, noted that Xi has gained rich experience in poverty reduction when working in China's impoverished regions. "He has a profound understanding of national governance and social development. China's experience will help Brazil and other developing countries find a way to get rid of poverty and achieve sustainable development," said Junior. In the battle against poverty, China always places the people front and center. It has made targeted policies tailored to each village, each household and each person, helped localities generate growth by fostering industries with distinctive features, and promoted common prosperity by pairing up well-off regions with less developed ones. Such experiences have given inspiration for other countries that if China can eliminate poverty, other developing countries can make it too. This is what China's battle against poverty says to the world. According to Samuel Darkwa, a governance fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs, Ghana, China has followed a targeted approach to poverty alleviation, which involves accurate identification of impoverished people, customized projects, and efficient resource allocation. "China's experience provides positive guidance for African countries in improving the livelihood of their vulnerable populations," said Darkwa. Darkwa said that through a people-centered approach, China has identified the causes of poverty, learned about the needs of impoverished households, and taken tailored measures, which has significantly enhanced the effectiveness of its poverty alleviation efforts. Austin Maho, founder and editor-in-chief of Nigeria's Daybreak newspaper, has thoroughly read Xi's book on poverty relief, "Up and Out of Poverty." He also visited many places in China, such as southwest China's Guizhou province, to learn about local poverty alleviation measures such as relocating poor people, developing tourism, and leveraging science and technology to tackle poverty. He observed that China has followed a development-driven strategy, with a focus on unleashing the economic vitality of rural areas. By implementing measures such as providing skills training, improving social welfare, and enhancing infrastructure, China has promoted economic growth in rural areas and created employment opportunities, he said. "Many countries around the world, especially those still plagued by poverty in the Global South, can study China's path of poverty alleviation to find ways out of poverty in line with their own national conditions," said Maho. In its modernization drive, while improving the livelihood of its own people through development, China is also committed to advancing shared development of the whole world and helping other countries improve their people's livelihood. During the G20 Hangzhou Summit, China placed development at the center of the G20's macroeconomic policy coordination for the first time. Since then, the country has put forward ten partnership action plans for modernization to deepen China-Africa cooperation and spearhead the Global South modernization. It also outlined eight actions for global development, and focused on improving and promoting the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation mechanisms to create new space for win-win development at a higher level and with greater resilience and sustainability. China has always maintained a global vision and fulfilled its commitments with concrete actions, facilitating modernization of all countries featuring peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation, and common prosperity. During the China-Central Asia Summit held in May last year, China and Uzbekistan set up a subcommittee on poverty reduction cooperation under the framework of the intergovernmental cooperation committee. It is the first subcommittee on poverty reduction that China established with other countries at the governmental level. Uzbekistan has intensified efforts to reduce poverty in recent years, piloting China's anti-poverty experience in various regions across the country. Nearly 10,000 Uzbeks have participated in online training programs introducing China's poverty reduction experience and practices. This year, China hosted many training programs for the Global South, such as the training program for commercialized agricultural (poultry) development for Lesotho, the fourth training session for Indonesian rural officials, a cotton production, processing and management training program for Uzbekistan, and the seminar on culture and tourism empowering high-quality rural development for ASEAN countries. These training programs have revitalized the international poverty reduction cooperation and boosted the confidence of the Global South in breaking free from poverty. "China's leading role in global development and its commitment to poverty eradication will continue to influence the world," said Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former prime minister of Pakistan. Dans la meme rubrique : < > High-quality Belt and Road cooperation create opportunities for global growth Technological cooperation leads to closer China-Africa economic, trade ties China's economic resilience, vitality in four sets of data Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) It is welcome news that Swedens Aid Minister, Benjamin Dousa, has said that Sweden will no longer fund UNRWA, apparently satisfied with Israels evidence that it has been a HAMAS front. The Arabs there need not worry, though, because Sweden is going to increase the amount of its aid, only using other agencies. Lucky for them. However, Israel could help itself by going further and attacking the very idea that the recipients of UNRWA largesse are Palestinian refugees entitled to such aid when there are virtually no refugees among them. And in any case, there is nothing Palestinian about them. History explains why there is nothing Palestinian about these people on the UNRWA rolls. In 1948, when the armies of five surrounding Arab states attacked Israel, there were in Israel thousands of foreign, overwhelmingly unskilled, and illiterate migrant workers in the country who had come into Mandatory Palestine looking for work. Image: Screengrab from a 1947 newsreel following the UNs Recognition of the State of Israel. They were not Palestinians, and it was not a fight for their nation. These workers did not want to be caught in the middle of the fighting. Because they were migrants who did not own and did not have to worry about immovable property, they ran behind enemy lines in the belief that the Arab armies would murder all the Jews in a few days. Then, they could run back to loot all the Jews property and possessions. (As we saw on October 7, 2023, following the Muslim Brotherhood rapists, torturers, and arsonists, masses of unarmed Muslims followed to loot the possessions of the dead Jews.) Unfortunately for the migrants, things in 1948-49 did not work out as the migrant workers had hoped. The neonate Jewish army stopped the Arab invaders, ceasefire agreements were signed, and the migrant workers were caught behind Arab enemy lines, with none of the Arab states taking responsibility for their welfare. And why not? Because in the Arab mind, the war was the UNs fault for allowing the Jews to live free of the Muslim domination that had been in place from the earliest days of Islam. It was the UNs fault for letting the Jews have their own state. Therefore, held the Arabs, the UN was responsible for the refugees. Ergo, the creation of UNWRA. And because these migrants were from all over the Middle EastMorocco, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, etc.the UN referred to them as the Arab refugees. So did the whole world, including all the Arab and Muslim states. They all used the generic term Arab refugees because they were a mixed bag from all over Araby with absolutely nothing Palestinian about them. And to this day, there is undoubtedly no more than a statistically microscopic percentage of current recipients on the UNWRA rolls who were refugees. After 76 years of UNRWA, there can be only a tiny number of refugees receiving benefits. A 20-year-old refugee in 1948 would today be 96 years old, and how many of them have lived that long? The only reason these people are on the UNWRA rolls is the PLOs success in foisting on the UN the notion that the status of Palestinian refugee adheres to that persons children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, etc., until the Palestinians are allowed to reclaim their ancient homeland. In fact, after Israels War of Independence, some 150,000 Arabs became citizens, i.e., those who did have property and did not run away. Since then, unlike all other refugee populations in history that assimilate into their countries of refuge and die off, the Palestinian refugee population is today ten times larger than in 1948-49. UNRWA is arguably the greatest welfare scam in history. Ergo, the recipients of UNRWA aid are neither refugees nor Palestinians in any recognizable waynone speak any ancient Palestinian language as Jews speak Hebrew. Their principal religion is native to the Arabian Peninsula and not to Palestine. There is not one book on any shelf in any library or bookstore in any language in the world on the history of Palestinians in Palestine before the advent of the Zionist movement, and there never will be. In 1857, American novelist Herman Melville, author of Moby-Dick; or, The White Whale, visited the Holy Land and reported it was a caked, depopulated Hell. Ten years later, his fellow great American writer Mark Twain made his pilgrimage and said the land sits in sackcloth and ashes. Every scrap of evidence about Eretz Yisrael as it was in the 19th century before the movement to return Jews to their Promised Land tells us it was largely a barren, uninhabited wasteland. There were no roads, only animal tracks. It took Mark Twain on horseback a whole day to ride up from Tiberius on the Sea of Galilee to Mount Tabortoday a 15-minute car ride on roads the Zionists builtand he said he never saw a single person on the way. In sum, the Zionists dispossessed no Palestinian nation from its imaginary ancient homeland. It was the Jewish people and only the Jewish people that brought the mournful, desolate country back to life. When the League of Nations created Mandatory Palestine in 1922, the Grand Mufti in Jerusalem, Amin al-Husseini, was furious, as he had been even before the Paris Peace Conference opened for business in 1919. It was already known that the British were bent on implementing the Balfour Declaration of 1917, which process would culminate with the signing of the Palestine Mandate text recognizing the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine and to the grounds for reconstituting their national home in that country, with no mention of any Palestinians. Haj Amin was murderously adamant that there never was such a country, and in Islamic history, he was right. Muslims never used Palestine to refer to the Jews Promised Land; only Jews and Christians did. Before 1919 was out, Haj Amin began publishing a newspaper in Jerusalem to resist the Leagues creation of a new jurisdiction called Palestine. He called that paper Southern Syria (Al-Suria al Janubia) This remained the Arab position for the next Biblical generation of forty years. Not until 1959, in an Arab League meeting in Cairo, did Gamal Abdel Nasser, the reigning Egyptian pharaoh and head of the Arab League of States, propose rebranding the generic Arab refugees into Palestinian refugees. The rest is history: Its the greatest historical hoax ever, according to which the Palestinian people is the indigenous people of Palestine whose ancient homeland was stolen by the Zionist Jews. For this lie, Jews are today being murdered and raped, and their synagogues burnt to the ground. That is the essence of the Palestinian cause, and it is time for official Israel to end the charade and tell the world Palestinian nationalism is nothing but an antisemitic fantasy used to justify murdering and raping Jews in an unholy Muslim holy war to destroy Jewish freedom. It was just over five years ago, in August 2019, that President Trump spontaneously proposed purchasing Greenland from tiny Denmark, making waves around the world as members of the diplomatic and national security community grappled with the sudden, unexpected prospect of an American Arctic territorial expansion, which would be the first since 1867. Trumps Greenland proposal was quickly and soundly rejected by both the Danes and Greenlanders, the latter famously responding, Were open for business, not for sale. Most felt that way about William H. Sewards earlier vision for Americas global expansion to both the tropics and the polar regions -- which then, like Trumps, was widely dismissed as folly but is now universally recognized for its strategic prescience. With President Trumps triumphant electoral mandate and forthcoming return to power next month, America and the world can once again witness his unorthodox diplomatic vision for the Arctic. Progressive critics unfairly portrayed Trumps 2019 vision to expand America to include Greenland which America has defended since World War II after Denmark fell to the Nazis as a neo-imperial land-grab against a defenseless native people. But Greenlanders, while rebuffing Trumps first overture to purchase the island, welcomed the renewed American interest that fueled Trumps overture, and which led to a $12.1 million American investment the next year and the reopening of an American consulate in Nuuk for the first time since 1953. Green activists have long taken aim at Trump for his dedication to Americas energy independence and commitment to the development and utilization of its own domestic energy resources (drill, baby, drill!) -- all natural prerogatives of an independent sovereign state all too often thwarted by Americas very own green colonizers intent on keeping Alaskas vast reservoir of natural resources frozen for all time. But Greenlanders aspire to much the same, courting the energy and mining industries to help develop their own vast reservoir of untapped resources, whether under its retreating ice cap or beneath its increasingly open coastal waters. What they never understood or refused to acknowledge was that Trumps strategic interest in Greenland reflected his recognition of the profound climatic transformation under way, most notably in the Arctic, as a result of climate change. They opposed the practicality of Trumps approach, preferring instead to keep Greenland colonized, its resources undeveloped, and its peoples trapped in poverty and dependent on external subsidies. Greenlanders instead want to be independent and secure, and to bring their resources to market for their own prosperity. Donald Trump wants the same for America, and believes becoming an American state is in both Greenlands and Americas mutual interests. It should come as no surprise that when naming his pick to serve as ambassador to Denmark yesterday, President-elect Trump resurrected his Greenland ambitions: For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity. This signals an intensification of Trumps Greenland interest and his vision for a more united North American Arctic. When juxtaposed with his earlier comments mocking Canadas prime minister as Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada, we can detect hints of a more ambitious, expansive and perhaps to Canadians, ominous American Arctic expansion. But at the same time, we can also find in Trumps renewed interest in our northern neighborhood hints of a new opportunity for a more robust alignment of American, Canadian, and Greenlandic strategic interests and a renewed commitment to the security of Arctic North America, as well as a mutual recognition of the strategic implications of Arctic climate change -- the very reason for Trumps renewed interest in this oft-ignored corner of our world. This could present a diplomatic opening for our joint development of the regions resources, and our joint enhancement of the regions security -- something of interest to us all. Greenland now has a chance to reconsider Trumps offer for it to become part of the American constitutional family. This time, Nuuk could demand a seat at the table, as called for in its first Arctic strategy, Greenland in the World: Nothing About Us Without Us, released earlier this year. But Trump has never been opposed to that. How might talks with Greenland over its constitutional future play out? Perhaps its conversation with Trump can start with his vision for American territorial acquisition, and evolve from there to support Greenlands own vision for sovereign independence in partnership with America, and conclude, as Trumps relationship with Greenland grows, to his extension of more robust American protection to Greenland in support of its sovereign aspirations. This conversation is only just getting started, and we have another four years to watch it unfold (and as many as 12, if vice president-elect J.D. Vance embraces Trumps vision for Americas Arctic expansion). Perhaps, in time, we will witness the sovereign restoration of North Americas first and only truly indigenous state, and a true alignment of indigenous and state interests at the top of the world as democracy displaces colonialism -- providing a robust and enduring foundation of a true North, strong and free. Barry Scott Zellen, PhD is author, most recently, of Arctic Exceptionalism: Cooperation in a Contested World (Lynne Rienner Books, 2024). He is a Research Scholar in the Department of Geography at UConn and Senior Fellow (Arctic Security) at the Anchorage-based Institute of the North. IMage: AT via Magic Studio I am writing here, to first, extend my thanks to all who took time and effort to read my material in 2024here at American Thinker and elsewhere. Those who took care and thought as commentators also deserve a writers expressed appreciation. Writers are notoriously greedy for an audience, and I am no exception. Writers are also, first and foremost, those who learned their craft (or graft) through much time spent as readers. On writers, equally noted should be the fragility of many vis-a-vis criticism. We are not writers for no reasonfragility is often our middle name and often our cause to rely on the pen to communicate from the heart with our fellow men, women, and children. The best writers are generally people loverseven if they are constitutionally private. In Victor Hugos probably greatest work, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the author said: The invention of printing is the greatest event in history. It is the mother of revolution. It is the mode of expression of humanity which is totally renewed; it is human thought stripping off one form and donning another; it is the complete and definitive change of skin of that symbolical serpent which since the days of Adam has represented intelligence. It is Hugos mode of expression of humanity which is just as (if not more) important todaywe serve not us individual readers and/or writers but as a human community with wrongs to be righted. Many readers and writers modes now are chiefly electronic because that is the way of the current world, and follows the printing revolution in time, intent, and universal effect. I still prefer having a book in handespecially in bedrather than reading one at the computer, but after writing professionally for over 40 years as my livelihood, by electronic means, I wont complain. Our huge technological revolution first showed up at my grants research desk in the early 1990s (via a federal government that gave the biggest boost to the internet startup, ironically enough). Authors dont generally know much about their readership. So, the introduction of the reader to our work and vice versa, thanks to the internet and its many facets of give and take, intellectually and emotionally, is a great boon to us all. Especially a boon in these past few years of resistance and revolution. Trumps rallies were seen and heard here and around the world. Elon Musk freed Twitter, an inexpressibly powerful force, from the chains of federal and corporate domination and restored the peoples voices. A writer now has a chance to be both heeded and corrected. A reader can speak up and be heard, as in the old days when Charles Dickenss revolutionary novels were hawked, chapter by chapter, on broadsheets in the lanes of London. Many credit Dickens for the humanitarian British re-write of its draconian legal system in the early years of the European Enlightenment: Before becoming the renowned novelist we know, Dickens worked as a stenographer and journalist. It was a path that led him naturally to writing. Dickens' adventure with writing began in his twenties. His first published work was a series of sketches under the pseudonym Boz. His early stories were based on the life and characters he observed in London. His early works, notably The Pickwick Papers, quickly gained popularity, establishing Dickens as a renowned writer in England. Dickens novel Bleak House and its common, public readership, were instrumental in reforming Britains High Court, which up until then only took real care of its highest class, and putatively no one else: In piecemeal but deliberate fashion, judicial reform, structural and procedural, of all Englands courts was achieved by Parliament, due in no small part to Charles Dickens, placing him in the ranks of British legal reformers with Jeremy Bentham and William Wilberforce. Dickens reality shaped his fiction and his fiction, in turn, shaped reality. We have had a slew of readers and writers in the United States who have performed, as well, a Dickensian social service to our country since its start: Theodore Dreyfus, William Penn Warren, John Steinbeck, and Emily Dickinson (through her revolutionary verse), to name just a very few. Want to talk immigration? Steinbecks Grapes of Wrath was prophetic regarding the crises for our farmersand our countrys backbonetoday: The narrative, which traces the migration of an Oklahoma Dust Bowl family to California and their subsequent hardships, is interspersed with prose-poem interludes that explain the wider circumstances of the world with which the protagonists contend. Tom Joad, newly released from prison after serving a sentence for manslaughter, makes his way home, and along the way he is joined by Jim Casy, a former preacher. The families and workers are exploited by organized business, and Steinbeck uses Christian religious imagery to press his arguments that using cropland as a source of profit for business rather than food for people causes widespread suffering and that political and spiritual unity is necessary to overcome the forces causing the dispossession of farmworkers. Steinbeck, awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature Prize in 1962, made no bones of his revolutionary intentions as a writer: Steinbeck plainly stated his purpose in writing The Grapes of Wrath: I want to put a tag of shame on the greedy bastards who are responsible for this [the Depression and the plight of the worker]. It was the vast readership of The Grapes of Wrath that saved Steinbacks work from the censors. The communication between readers and writers is inchoate, but just as powerful now as it was in the early 15th century, with Gutenberg: In 1436 Johannes Gutenberg, a German goldsmith, began designing a machine capable of producing pages of text at an incredible speeda product that he hoped would offset losses from a failed attempt to sell metal mirrors. By 1440 Gutenberg had established the basics of his printing press including the use of a mobile, reusable set of type, and within ten years he had constructed a working prototype of the press. In 1454 Gutenberg put his press to commercial use, producing thousands of indulgences for the Church. The following year he printed his famous 42-line Bible, the first book printed on a moveable type press in the West. Harking back to Victor Hugo, our present, computerized means of lifting the veil between writer and readerof creating a human consensus for humanitarian endsis the shared gift for and of readers and writers. Our inventive and technological, electronic communications genius sets an even higher bar than its sisterthe invention of printingand encourages our expectations of awesome human liberation in 2025. Our current mode of expression of humanity is alive and well and ready for 2025. Readers, commentors, and writers, in an unbroken circle: go for it. Victoria White Berger earned her dual B.A. in English and History from Duke University and her M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Missouri at St. Louis. Her Master of Philosophy thesis, Cause and Reason in Intentional Action is widely read internationally. Her writing can be found at American Thinker, The American Spectator, Louisianas Dead Pelican, and on her Substack account: https://victoriawhiteberger.substack.com/. Image: Free image, Pixabay license. If 2024 did nothing else, it showed candidates and others involved in politics that podcasts can be important. It was his push for his dad to appear on podcasts like Joe Rogans that 18-year-old Barron Trump may have played a decisive role in his fathers amazingly successful campaign. Kudos, too, to The Donald for listening to his son. Arguably, these two men generations apart demonstrated how podcasts can be decisive in political campaigns. This was not always so, of course, but it is now, and will be for at least the next two or three presidential election cycles. By 2032, this may have all changed technology is changing fast, and nothing is likely to remain the same but for 2026 and 2028, for sure, podcasts can and will prove decisive. For now, I'd like to look at the theory of how podcasts work and how they can work for any specific candidate. In a future piece, I hope to focus on practice in terms of campaigns largely at the state level candidates for Congress and the Senate, for governorships and other state and local campaigns to lay out some important ways of leveraging podcasts. If youre going to be a part of a campaign in 2026 or 2028, be sure and save these pieces and start applying their lessons as soon as you can. President Reagan led the way in speaking directly to his voters, but I think that President Trump in his first term went further with this concept, advancing it out of necessity: He had a relentlessly hostile press and demonstrated ways to work around it by reaching out directly to voters in multiple ways, among them, podcast, doing so in the digital age. In 2016-20, Trump did this via Twitter and via his willingness to conduct live press conferences and press briefings, reaching over the heads of a room full of reporters to speak directly to voters. More recently, he and other candidates for other positions have found that they can do this by making use of podcasts. But it's not enough to be on a podcast any candidate must promote the appearance to ensure that his or her voters see, hear and absorb the information provided in a podcast. As soon as the 2024 elections were called by the news media not just the presidential campaign, but Senate, House and state positions, from governor to school board chair the media also began speculating about who would be running in two or four years. This, along with our 24/7/365 constant news cycle all but demands that everybody who plans to run for election or re-election in 2026 or 2028 should already be lining up resources to help make the next election cycle a success. Some of the tools needed include traditional and non-traditional news media interviews, as well as blogs, position papers and, as 2024 showed us, podcasts. Links to this ever-growing content platform should be posted on the candidates website as well as on his or her social media platforms, newsletters and other communications platforms. If it taught us nothing else, the 2024 presidential campaign demonstrated that appearing on podcasts can be decisive in winning a political campaign be it a run for the local school board or a successful campaign for the presidency. However, too many candidates running for office in this election cycle found their appearances on podcasts did little or no good for their campaigns, primarily for two reasons: First, because they confuse being on a podcast with giving a one-on-one interview to a news reporter. The traditional media trusts an interview between a reporter with a decent reputation and a candidate. But they do not, as yet, trust podcasters in the same way. This is unimportant for a Joe Rogan or a Megyn Kelly podcasters with established reputations who other reporters can trust at face value. But for your average podcaster, they get no more ascribed credibility than would a talk show host in a minor media market. Its up to the candidate, as much as the podcaster, to create a credible experience in a podcast interview. The other reason why so many podcast interviews didnt deliver on the hopes of the candidate is simple: The podcast guests expect the podcaster to do it all. The more successful podcasts have their own promotion plans in place, but those may not meet their guests needs for widespread or targeted distribution of the conversation. In short, its up to the interviewee to not only make sure they podcast addresses their key issues, but also that its digital distribution happens via an aggressive distribution of the URL. Unlike many podcasters, political reporters have one goal to create news regarding elections and candidates. To do that, at least the professional (are there any left?) among these reporters ask pointed questions and, if theyre any good at being reporters, they follow up those questions if the answers deflect instead of enlighten. Also, as noted, not all useful podcasts have extensive audiences or major-league distribution deals. Unless youre on Joe Rogans podcast for the full three hours, getting the word out is up to you, the candidate or to your team. Whenever a candidate appears on a podcast, he or she should turn over the URL of each successful podcast experience not all are successful, at least in campaign terms to their campaign social media coordinator and their webmaster. This will serve to ensure that each appearance is promoted as a source of valuable information, even if the podcasts themselves dont do a particularly good job of reaching out to targeted audiences. In short, its not enough to score a successful podcast experience youve got to then promote it widely to both your political base and your targeted audiences. Also, it doesnt hurt to feed successful podcasts to the reporters who are following a candidates campaign. Its one more source of information, grist for the mill, if you will, that is essential in any political campaign. For small campaigns school boards, apolitical judgeships, university regents and other second-tier campaigns lively and successful podcast appearances, widely distributed to reporters, to other podcasters, to bloggers and even to potential voters can elevate minor campaigns to, if not the big leagues, then at least to the AAA minor league competitions. However, podcasts can work best for dark-horse candidates for more-or-less major political positions Congress, Senate, governor, state house and state senate positions with real power in terms of governing, but generally overlooked by the national, and even state and local news media. A successful podcast appearance can trigger a dozen effective articles or reports on the news media. Yes, we have all heard that legacy media is dying and, they are if not dying, then at least in intensive care. A useful adjunct to the campaign podcast one that works well in boosting interest in a political episode of a generically non-political podcast is the campaign bio (Writing a Book to Facilitate Winning a Political Campaign -American Thinker). On a podcast, be sure to have a copy of this book or at least a mock-up of the cover pasted on a book of the same size, usually trade paperback of 5x7 or 6x9 inch format. During the podcast, show the book cover at least three times the podcaster should know this, but do not expect them to carry water for you. Make sure you show it, three times. If the podcast is recorded in person, give an autographed copy to the host. I know podcasters who have whole walls lining their studio with shelves of books given by guests and autographed to the host. Why? At least two reasons. First, if you show the book, and if you impress the audience, you will sell a lot of copies of your book, and that will help fund your campaign. And second, authors are considered experts. Show the book and youll cement your status with the audience members as an expert. See the URL, as above, to link to my article on why a campaign needs a campaign bio, published in American Thinker on Nov. 14, 2024. But considering CNN and MSNBC, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and the other mainstream now lamestream media, getting their favorable attention isnt a bad idea, especially if a conservative candidate can be interviewed by a neutral or conservative reporter if any still exist. It is more likely that a conservative candidate will be able to find a conservative podcaster. Coverage among the lamestream media may not be the show-stopper it was in Reagans era, but it still has some residual value. Of course, this value is primarily in and among the Democrat candidates for major offices. Republicans especially conservatives have learned not to trust the lamestream media, so coverage, even favorable coverage, is less than useful. Consider all the praise the lamestream heaped upon Liz Cheney in the aftermath of the not-really-an-insurrection on Jan. 6. She was praised to high heaven but remains powerless and despised among conservatives and even more centrist Republicans. In her home state of Wyoming, she is now so despised that she couldnt win an election if she was the only person running. So much for all that media praise. For younger readers, it may be hard to believe that the internet didnt exist until 1994, and it was only when the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke, on Jan. 17, 1998, on the Drudge Report, after Newsweek editors decided to kill the Lewinsky story. It made its way into the lamestream big leagues on Jan. 21, when the Washington Post reported it. Five days later, President Clinton issued his famous all-the-lies-that-fit denial, issued with his wife standing by his side: I want to say one thing to the American people. I want you to listen to me. I'm going to say this again: I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky. I never told anybody to lie, not a single time; never. These allegations are false. Writer Michael Isikoff may or may not have leaked the story to Drudge after Newsweek put the kibosh on it, but one way or another, it became the first internet national scandal, the first Internet news story that could have changed an elections result. Only, of course, Clinton couldnt run again. Still, the Internet is still maturing as a means of political discourse, and podcasts are the latest variation on the theme of candidates communicating more-or-less directly to the electorate. Recall, it was not until Clintons second term that the Internet even existed; and it was during Clintons sex scandal with Monica Lewinsky that took news away from the editors and other gatekeepers and gave it, first, to Matt Drudge. Remarkably, the Drudge Report is still out there, and its numbers remain remarkable. For instance, 21.9 million visits in the past 24 hours, over a weekend right before Christmas. And 643 million visits in the past 31 days, all of it post-election, and 7.0 billion visits over the past year, which included a hotly-contested presidential election. But Drudge will never recapture its central place in politics that it had in 1998. That place is now held by podcasts. Ned Barnett, a conservative political activist and lifelong public relations professional with a focus on causes and candidates. He has been effective in helping candidates secure interviews with news media, and more recently, with podcast media and bloggers. Having managed media and strategy for three Presidential candidates at the state level he is used to playing in the big leagues. He is also known as a professional ghostwriter, website content writer, blogger and speechwriter for campaigns. Beginning as a speechwriter, he moved into campaign bio mode in the 1976 campaign for President Ford in South Carolina, and continues to help clients with their campaign bios, their podcast appearances and other campaign strategies and tactics. He can be reached at nedbarnett51@gmail.com or 702-561-1167. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License The Panama Canal, an emblem of American ingenuity and strategic prowess, has been a linchpin of global trade and military logistics since its inception under President Theodore Roosevelt. As we stand at the dawn of a new Trump administration in January 2025, the canal's strategic importance must be reasserted in the face of China's burgeoning influence across Latin America, particularly around this critical waterway. For over a century, the canal has been more than a mere engineering marvel; it is a testament to the Monroe Doctrine's enduring relevance and the Roosevelt Corollary's proactive stance on American security in our own backyard. The Monroe Doctrine, articulated in 1823, was a bold declaration against European interference in the Americas, a policy that ensured our hemisphere's autonomy under U.S. influence. Its extension, the Roosevelt Corollary, gave us the moral and strategic imperative to act when stability was threatened, safeguarding against foreign encroachment. Today, these doctrines find new meaning as China's economic tentacles begin to wrap around Panama, challenging U.S. interests not with military might, but with economic leverage. The Panama Canal's strategic value for U.S. commerce and military operations cannot be overstated. It is not merely a shortcut for shipping; it's a lifeline for American trade and a crucial artery for naval deployments between the Atlantic and Pacific. Yet this lifeline is under threat. Chinese companies like Hutchison Ports PPC, which control key access points to the canal, present a strategic risk, subtly undermining the canal's guaranteed neutrality. From a conservative perspective, this situation demands immediate action: The United States must prioritize economic diplomacy to balance Chinese investments. This involves fostering American economic interests in Panama, not with the intent to supplant, but to ensure that no single nation can unilaterally dictate the canal's fate. Should economic diplomacy falter, the U.S. must be prepared to reassess our approach, understanding that strategic interests sometimes necessitate sterner measures. The Monroe Doctrine was about more than military might; it was about diplomatic leadership. The incoming Trump administration should invigorate regional alliances through organizations like the OAS, setting clear standards for foreign investments to maintain transparency and protect U.S. strategic interests. Although the term gunboat diplomacy might evoke a bygone era, the strategic deployment of military assets remains a viable deterrent against threats to American interests. The U.S. must not shy away from demonstrating its military readiness through exercises, strategic positioning, or, if necessary direct action to ensure the canal's neutrality. This is about safeguarding our national security in a world where economic control can be as threatening as military occupation. The treaties that govern the Panama Canal provide for U.S. intervention to protect its neutrality. Legal scholars should explore how these agreements can be interpreted to address modern threats, particularly those posed by economic control leading to strategic dominance. This does not mean disregarding Panama's sovereignty. The U.S. should continue to invest in soft power, promoting cultural exchanges, educational programs, and health initiatives to build a positive American image in the region. Yet, in the realm of geopolitics, where national interests are at stake, we must maintain the capability to act decisively, even if it means echoing the assertiveness of Monroe and Roosevelt. The expansion of Chinese influence in Panama, and indeed throughout Central and South America, is not merely an economic issue, but a direct challenge to U.S. security. The upcoming Trump administration must engage China with a clear message: whereas economic cooperation is welcome, any move to compromise the strategic neutrality of the canal will be met with firm resistance. Cybersecurity, an often overlooked aspect, must be at the forefront of our defense strategy, as the threats of the 21st century are as much digital as they are physical. In conclusion, as we usher in a new era under President Trump, the Panama Canal must not be allowed to become a pawn in China's global strategy. The canal represents more than a physical passage; it is a symbol of American commitment to the security and prosperity of our hemisphere. We must act with the same resolve as our forebears, ensuring that this strategic artery remains open, neutral, and under the protective gaze of the United States. The legacy of Monroe and Roosevelt calls for a strategy that is both measured and bold. We must articulate a vision where the canal continues to symbolize international cooperation under U.S. leadership, a place where stability, prosperity, and security are not merely aspirations, but realities enforced by American strategic foresight. In the face of undeniable threats to our national security, we must reaffirm our dedication to a hemisphere where freedom, democracy, and economic opportunity flourish, backed by the might and resolve of the United States. The time to act is now, with the new administration poised to take office, to ensure that the Panama Canal remains a beacon of American strategic leadership for generations to come. Image: Roger W via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Many circumspect CEOs are dutifully lining up to kiss Trumps ring. They might not have much sincerity, but they have plenty of money, and theyre donating some of it to Trumps inaugural committee. They know on what side their bread is buttered, and must genuflect before the MAGA leader to curry favor. Good! Everyone loves a winner, and their sudden epiphany, whether genuine or convenient, could help fund the following Inaugural Day activities. After the joyful, momentous, and yet somber swearing-in ceremony, President Trump will deliver his commonsense Inaugural address. Meanwhile, after barely remaining awake during the procession to the Capitol, Jill and Joe will experience a dishonorable departure. Good riddance to the worst president(s) ever. Next there is the Signing Ceremony, including some Day One formalities. The CEOs largesse can help pay for some giant screens in the plaza and commons. As a wave of hugging sweeps the crowds, a live feed of President Trump signing his first Executive Order illuminates the masses. As he signs one kicking out the illegal aliens, theres a simulcast of a live ICE operation rounding up a few easy pickings, then shuffling them off for prompt deportation. The Inaugural bystanders, while welcoming legal residents who desire to assimilate, cheer in relief. Were very generous, even toward legal aliens, but there is growing support for mass deportations of illegal aliens. They simply dont belong here; they dont share our values and havent attained the level of consciousness required to be useful in American society. Elections indeed have consequences, especially when the agenda of the winner was loud and clear. President Trump can get back to signing more XOs after the delicious luncheon funded by the fawning CEOs. Democrats who dare to attend can enjoy crow a la meuniere. Even as authorities across our great country round-up more illegal aliens (per voters loud and clear wishes, remember), the Inaugural participants walk off their meal during the Pass in Review, featuring our great Armed Forces who now know weve got their back. Above Pennsylvania Avenue, there should be a fly-over featuring Trumps plane and Air Force One. As Trumps plane banks starboard before the Capitol, AF1 then thunderously surges through, perhaps followed by a fighter escort. God Bless America. Once that pomp and circumstance winds down, then its on to some reveling. Galas galore, By Jove. If you love America, the rhythm is gonna get ya. Not only YMCA, but how about some K.C. and the Sunshine Band selections as a metaphor for turning the page. Sunshine finally eclipsing the dark, desperate days of demented Biden-Harris. There it is then. A wishful Inaugural Day courtesy of corporate CEOs. But the cynical benefactors must pay-up and kiss-up some more. They can continue by ravaging their divisive DEI programs, which even Walmart finally concedes dont bring people together. They can continue their contrition by not hiring illegals. And while there is interconnectedness in todays global economies, they must never forget this: America First. Image: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Everyone seems to want to get into the act when it comes to crippling Israel in its efforts to defeat Hamas. They all seem to think they are experts on warfare and genocide, and that compassion is the most important virtue when Hamas is involved. Now a lawsuit has been filed to try to stop the U.S. from shipping arms to Israel: A group of Northern California residents has filed a class-action lawsuit against their congressional representatives, Democrats Mike Thompson and Jared Huffman, accusing them of causing harm to local communities and to Palestinians in Gaza by voting to send billions in US military aid to Israel. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in San Francisco federal court, claims the lawmakers caused moral and emotional/psychic injury to taxpayers by voting for aid that, the plaintiffs allege, contributes to genocide in Gaza. Both Israel and the Biden administration reject that Israel is committing genocide in its war against Hamas in Gaza. Where else could this possibly happen than in radical California? And only Californians would protest that they have been caused moral and emotional/psychic injury due to the U.S. efforts to help Israel fight for its very existence. I guess that the moral and psychic injury that the Israelis sustained on October 7 doesnt count. And the group that sued described the misery they have experienced as the Israelis were shipped arms: The Bay Area case seeks to bar Thompson and Huffman from approving future military aid to Israel and demands damages for the emotional distress caused by war, including uncontrollable weeping, inability to sleep, distractions from work, despair for the future of their children and humanity. Seriously? I think they were just a little lacking in hyperbole, dont you? Another lawsuit was filed that tried the same tactic, and failed but for incorrect reasons: In a ruling in January, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White of Oakland said there was strong evidence that Israels siege in Gaza is intended to eradicate a whole people and therefore plausibly falls within the international prohibition against genocide. But White said that foreign policy is constitutionally committed to the political branches of government and courts have neither the competence nor the authority to intervene. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld his ruling in July. I suspect that Judge White knows something about the role of the courts, but he clearly knows nothing about the definition of genocide, or that Israel is not committing it. Thus, in this new suit, genocide is front and center. But perhaps the most bizarre aspect of this new suit came from one of the 21 plaintiffs: The lawsuits plaintiffs include Norman Solomon, a veteran journalist and political commentator who lives in Huffmans district. Solomon said at Thursdays press conference that Huffman has repeatedly said he is helping to ship military aid to Israel in part because he opposes antisemitism. As a Jewish American I find that rationale disgusting. Excuse me? Mr. Solomon is one of those naive Jews who cant see anti-Semitism when it hits him in the face. Just what is he saying? What is disgusting about a person claiming he wants to send funds to Israel because he opposes anti-Semitism? I suggest that Solomon and his co-plaintiffs take a closer look at their own motives in trying to hamstring the Israelis, who just happen to be Jews. Their motives may not be so pure. Image: AT via Magic Studio President Biden will be going home to Delaware soon and it can't happen soon enough. Sadly, he will be remembered as King Midas in reverse, the opposite of the old king who turned everything into gold. He turned the border into a national security nightmare and humanitarian crisis. He turned Afghanistan into a disaster that did not have to happen. Add the economy and you know what I mean. And then to top it off he has turned pardoning and commutations into a joke. I agree with Rich Lowry: President Biden, or whoever is running the White House, has grotesquely abused the pardon power, yet again. Biden commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 of the prisoners on federal death row in response to the lobbying of opponents of the death penalty, keeping intact his nearly unbroken record of bending to left-wing pressure groups while in office. Biden put out a statement averring that the president has long been committed to ensuring a fair and effective justice system. Even if true, this is a non-sequitur, since theres nothing to suggest the handling of these cases was unfair. Biden decided a few years ago that he opposed the death penalty after long being an unsparing supporter (when he said in the 1990s that his crime bill did everything but hang people for jaywalking, he meant it as a compliment). Thats fine. Anyone with such a long (and undistinguished) career is going to shift on issues over time. Still, that shouldnt give Biden the prerogative to impose his will over and above that of the American people as expressed through Congress. And that's the point. Maybe President Biden had a "come to Jesus" moment over the death penalty. He is the not the first or last person to have one of those moments. It can happen. It's a bit strange given all those speeches on YouTube about Biden the crime fighter over the years. Still, he is entitled to change, but it would have been nice if the change of heart had come with a little press conference. He could have told us why he did it and explain to the families why he did it now. Furthermore, why did this moment of principle happen now and not during the campaign? Once again, we were left in the dark with a little White House statement that he may or may not have written. So the pardon powers, a very important presidential prerogative, has now been messed up too. Unlike President Ford, who addressed the nation, took questions and even went before a congressional committee to defend the Nixon pardon, all we have from Biden is more of the same silence about everything, from commuting sentences to firing missiles in Syria. It's up to the next president to restore the creditability of the pardon power. Once again, everything that Biden touched as president is worse than it was before. P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. Image: AT via Magic Studio In a move by the outgoing Biden administration that could only be interpreted as detrimental to Israel, the U.S. government sold Egypt $5 billion in military hardware. The arms sold are offensive weapons that could be aimed only at the Jewish state. Egypt may not be Iran in terms of its hostility toward Israel and the U.S., but its relationship with Iran, China, and Russia has been gradually warming, while the Egyptians have been protective of Hamas in its war against Israel. Equally troubling, Egypt and Qatar have been the U.S.s go to countries in the Israeli hostage negotiations. Egyptian and Qatari elites and their streets consider Israel their chief enemy. Let us begin with the cold peace that Egypt initiated against Israel soon after the 1979 peace treaty that has, in recent years, turned even colder. In the interim, Egypt has been building up its military forces in the Sinai Peninsula, which is a violation of the peace accords. Egypt is also building tunnels across the Suez Canal in order to ferry its troops in what might be a surprise attack against Israel. Cairo has quadrupled it arms storage facilities along the canal, once again for use against Israel. The Egyptian government mouthpiece, Al-Ahram, reported on December 21, 2024 that The US State Department informed Congress it had approved the sale of $4.69 billion in equipment for 555 US made M1A1 Abrams tanks possessed by Egypt, $630 million for 2,183 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and $30 million in precision-guided munitions. The sale, according to the State Department will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally country that continues to be an important strategic partner in the Middle East. Bidens State Department argument for selling the above offensive weapons to Egypt, to help improve the security of a major non-NATO ally, is ridiculous. Who exactly is threatening Egypts security? It is not Sudan, Libya, or Ethiopia. Do Biden and Blinken believe that Israel is threatening Egypts security? This ill conceived idea is one that directly threatens Israel. Geopolitically, the Middle East today resembles the historic competition of the 19th-century European powers. Egypt isnt saddened by the damage Israel inflicted on Shiite Iran and Hezballah. At the same time, Egypt would like to bring Israel down and emerge as a dominant regional power. Egypt and Iran have stepped up their diplomatic contacts since the start of the war Hamas launched against Israel on October 7, 2023. President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran was in Cairo last week for the D-8 Summit of Muslim countries (which includes Turkiye, Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and the recent membership of Azerbaijan), which marked the first time, in more than a decade, that an Iranian president was in attendance in Egypt. The incoming Trump administration needs to keep a watchful eye on the ever-closer relations Egypt is developing with China, Russia, and Iran. They also need to weigh not just the recent Biden administrations package to Egypt, but that Egypt receives $1.3 billion annually in U.S. aid and that it received $235 million of military aid in 2023. All of this despite its dismal human rights record. According to a 2021 report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Egypt spent $15 billion on weapons purchases between 2014 and 2017, 60% of which was purchased from Russia. In the summer of 2020, Egypt received five Su-35s despite the U.S. threat of sanctions. In addition to not following through on sanctions, the U.S. has continued to send Egypt economic and military aid. Egypts ruling circles see Russia as a key foreign policy ally even though Egypt has been one of Americas most important partners in the region for the past five decades. Cultivating good relations with Moscow is an important pillar of Egypts foreign policy. Egyptians believe that strategic relations with Russia help their country balance relations with major powers, primarily the U.S. and the European Union, which have criticized Egypt for its human rights violations. Unlike his American and European counterparts, Putin is not concerned about issues of human rights and democracy in Egypt or elsewhere. The results of a recent Washington Institute poll show that a majority of Egyptians view relations with China as more important than relations with the U.S. In 2014, the two countries signed a strategic partnership agreement, promising cooperation in the fields of defense, technology, the economy, counter-terrorism, and fighting cyber-crimes. During Xi Jinpings visit to Egypt in 2016, 21 more agreements were signed including an agreement for $15 billion of Chinese investment in various projects. China mediated a peace agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which then encouraged Egypts President al-Sisi to tighten relations with China. As noted, Chinese influence in Egypt extends beyond the economic sphere. Egypt isnt a genuine friend of the U.S. and never will be. Egypt is the original home of the Muslim Brotherhood (M.B.). The majority of Egyptians hate Israel and would gladly discard the peace treaty with Israel if given a choice. That same majority sympathizes with the M.B. What happened to Bashar Assad in Syria might occur to Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. A revolution engineered by the M.B. that removes al-Sisi isnt a far-fetched scenario. But in the case of Egypt, billions of dollars of sophisticated U.S. arms and dollars would fall into the wrong hands. In the Holy Bible the prophet Isaiah warns against trusting Egypt as a friend or ally. It is written, Behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it; so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust on him. Al-Sisi may not be Pharaoh, but Egypt is still a broken reed not to be trusted. Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. " captext=" Mark Fischer " src="https://images.americanthinker.com/n5/n5o4ycjxjiowsqvo2irw_640.jpg" /> Image: Mark Fischer via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. See also Andrea Widburgs The dirty little secret of Californias rebounding population published yesterday. Michigan wont be Michigan for much longer; at least thats what the official census data from the federal government is foreshadowing. According to a new article by Elyse Apel at The Center Square and via the Washington Examiner, Census Bureau numbers reveal that international migrants are behind the population growth were seeing in the upper Midwestern gem of a state. From Apel: Data from the U.S. Census Bureau for 2024 found while Michigan had a gain in population over the past year, it was driven by international migration. [snip] Over the past few years, the Census data has not looked good for Michigan, looking bleakest in 2021 when the state had a net loss of 31,000. Since then though, the Bureau improved its methodology to better estimate the number of international migrants in the state. This year, it had a gain of 57,000. Due to that change, the number of international migrants tracked by the Bureau in the state has been steadily increasing, leading to an increase also in the states population. The Great Replacement in real timeand what does a great replacement mean in reality? Well, it means the physical landscape changes: homestyle diners give way to another Mexican food truck run by illegals, and mom and pop groceries give way to halal markets. It means a demographic change, and white Americans become a minority in their own home (whites are already a global minority by a shocking degree). It means laws change, it means history is lost, and it means no more Michigan as we know it. It means Michigan will become all that the foreigners fled. As Andrea reminded the reader in her essay regarding Californias own migrant population surge, which brought the state into an influx of people after a years-long exodus, were probably not talking about legal migrants (as a whole), so its paramount that we take the opportunity now to make sure that the census is exclusively comprised of legal citizens. Now, Michigan did just swing back from the left and toward the center for President Trump, and not only is it wrong to count illegals in a census, but with thin battleground state margins, we cant afford towho wants another Rashida Tlaib running around in Washington, or heaven forbid, someone like Whitmer now with federal power? Not me! Image: Free image, Pixabay license. When men choose not to believe in God, they do not thereafter believe in nothing, they then become capable of believing in anything. G. K. Chesterton What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself. Blaise Pascal, Pensees VII(425) The point of the above two quotations is that humans are hard-wired to believe in something that will give life meaning. What happens, though, when a faith no longer believes in itself? Thats something thats playing out in England, and Im sure that the answer to the question will be nothing good. For almost four millennia, the Judeo-Christian faith has filled the God-shaped hole, first among the Jews and then, via Christs ministry, among the worlds Christians. More than anything, this belief system, especially the Christian part, which is centered around Christ as the Messiah, has created the modern world. And while leftists love to point to the Christian side of the Crusades and various religious wars, they forget that it was Christians who drove respect for women, the abolition of slavery, and the end of child labor, none of which exist in the Muslim world. Christians, especially those in the world that Great Britain created, accomplished these wonders. They changed the world as it has existed since the dawn of man because they believed that their one true God made these societal changes a religious imperative. This Enlightened Christianity, which abandoned the imperative to kill non-believers, is one of the greatest things ever to have happened to humankind. Image: Canterbury Cathedral (edited) by Diliff. CC BY 3.0. Many of these changes were painful, requiring great personal sacrifice. In America, approximately 360,000 Union soldiers died to end slavery, an abomination that denies the fact that we are all children of God and that violates the Eighth Commandments mandate not to stealfor what theft can be greater than stealing someones liberty? People did these things because they believed. Theyd filled their God-shaped holes with something that imposed upon them incredibly high moral standards. For them, Christianity wasnt just Sunday services and moral preening. It was about the obligations of the one true faith. But in Birmingham, England, the Church of Englands (CofE) leaders no longer believe that theirs is the one true faith: Bishops within the Church of England have raised concerns that certain Christmas carols might be problematic because of their explicit references to Jesus as the true Messiah. The Birmingham Diocese recently communicated to its clergy the need to reassess the language used in hymns to create an inclusive environment during the festive season. The Birmingham Diocese instructed clergy to use language that wont add further confusion or tension or take away anything from the good news of the Nativity, The Mail on Sunday reported, citing the email. The hymns under scrutiny include Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending, a favorite of Queen Victoria, which has been criticized for declaring Jesus as the true Messiah. Im Jewish, so I dont believe that Jesus was the Messiah, although I believe that he was a great and good man whose teaching made the world a better place. Indeed, I try to live my life in accordance with the principles he espoused. Whats so shocking is that Church leaders are basically taking the same line I take about Jesusa good man and all that, but please dont say hes the Messiah! Thats just so wrong. If youre a member of a faith, youd better damn well believe in it, and I use the word damn on purpose because damnation waits for those who get it wrong. (And yes, I accept the risk that comes from my clinging to my beliefs.) Somehow, these CofE leaders have gone beyond the Enlightenment notion that you should believe absolutely in your faith, but you shouldnt kill those who dont, to a whole new idea, which is that you shouldnt believe in your faith at all. Being a CofE leader is now a 9-5 job, like being a meter maid. Theyre caretakers of carefully cleansed traditions of their religion rather than believers and evangelists. And Im sure its totally not a coincidence that Islam is the second-largest religion in England, that Birminghams population is almost 30% Muslim, and that the Birmingham CofEs new view of Christ aligns with the Muslim view of Christ. I also bet that these weak-kneed CofE officials in Birmingham know full well that after a Muslim population reaches 20%, nations can expect hair-trigger rioting, jihad militia formations, sporadic killings, and the burnings of Christian churches and Jewish synagogues. When it reaches 30%, nations experience widespread massacres, chronic terror attacks, and ongoing militia warfare. The Church of Englands founders would never have allowed themselves to be overwhelmed this way, and once they realized what was happening, they would have thrown themselves into the breach. Their descendants are made of lesser stuff. President Trump surprised many, including even MAGA supporters, by calling for the return of the Panama Canal to the U.S. It wasn't a hot issue, after all, during the election, not the way the Biden-Harris administration's open border was, and it wasn't discussed during the campaign. But here are some recent tweets: Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago), always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in repair Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) December 25, 2024 I am pleased to announce that Kevin Marino Cabrera will serve as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, a Country that is ripping us off on the Panama Canal, far beyond their wildest dreams. Kevin is a fierce fighter for America First principles. As a Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) December 25, 2024 Making it, yeah, a hot topic now. Trump's logic is pretty impeccable if what he is saying is true. The canal had been in U.S. hands since its early 20th century completion and the original treaty with Panama said it was to stay in U.S. hands "forever." An interesting backgrounder is here: WHY ALL THE FUSS ABOUT THE PANAMA CANAL? Let me introduce you to the Concini Clause - an amendment in the Panama Canal Treaty The Concini Clause refers to a provision that was proposed by Senator Henry Bellmon during the ratification debates of the treaty in the U.S. Senate. pic.twitter.com/DgUgZUQ29G Ann Vandersteel (@annvandersteel) December 25, 2024 In 1977, Jimmy Carter, a weakling if there ever was one, caved to pressure from Panama's macho leftist strongman, Omar Torrijos, whose denizens vowed to "fill the canal with blood" if it was not handed over to them. In the U.S., the move was not politically popular, but Jimmy always did what dictators told him, and the deal went through. The topic faded over the years, and for the most part Panama has been a friendly country to the U.S., as well as prosperous and successful, and it has run the canal well since its final handover in 1999. Miami Herald columnist Andres Oppenheimer, an Argentinian-American who leans left, but in the main projects swamp values defending the establishment, wrote that Panama's president, Jose Raul Mulino, was taken aback by Trump's vows to retake the canal, which began on Dec. 21, in an interview: Mulino told me that he was taken by surprise by Trumps public threat, although he had heard rumors last year that the former U.S. president was concerned about Chinas influence in Panama. Mulino told me there had never, ever been an official U.S. threat to retake the Canal since Panama began operating it in 1999. Some establishment analysts don't take the vow to re-take the canal seriously at all: trump probably isnt serious about taking greenland & the panama canal but heres what his threats tell us about the current geopolitical climate@gzeromediapic.twitter.com/DNPfDGSWQ6 ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) December 26, 2024 Bremmer views this as a function of Trump's purported admiration for Vladimir Putin. But that doesn't tell us anything actually, because while Trump knows how to deal with Putin, he's not an imitator. Bremmer dismisses it as a negotiating stance, as well as a way of getting his jollies, and perhaps hubris surrounding his great election victory of 2024. But while I might be going out on a limb here, I think there are reasons to think Trump is serious. I see three reasons: Start with the strategic picture -- Trump's campaign slogan was about 'making America great again,' and much of that was spent focused on the China challenge, which Trump mentions in his tweets above. He's got China on his mind with this Panama Canal talk. Since many people don't know history or geography, but Trump clearly does, the salient fact is that control of the canal was actually how America got great in the first place. Geographer Robert D. Kaplan described how this came about in his excellent book, Asia's Cauldron, driving parallels between China's lunge for the South China Sea and America's control of the Caribbean, which is anchored by Panama. The Chicoms are intense students of this history and are imitating America's previous path to greatness by making the South China Sea theirs to control, same way America did with the Caribbean. The New York Times gave Kaplan book a rave review in 2014 and quoted some arresting passages - read that second paragraph in particular: Chinas position vis-a-vis the South China Sea, he suggests, is akin to Americas position vis-a-vis the Caribbean Sea in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The parallel Kaplan draws is straightforward and convincing. Between 1898 and 1914, the United States defeated Spain and dug the Panama Canal. This allowed Americans to link and dominate the trade of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, transforming the meaning of geography. It was domination of the Greater Caribbean Basin, Kaplan concludes, that gave the United States effective control of the Western Hemisphere, which, in turn, allowed it to affect the balance of power in the Eastern Hemisphere. In a rather similar way, he suggests, the South China Sea now links the trade of the Pacific and Indian Oceans; consequently, were China to ever replace the U.S. Navy as the dominant power in the South China Sea or even reach parity with it this would open up geostrategic possibilities for China comparable to what America achieved upon its dominance of the Caribbean. Because of this, the South China Sea is on the way to becoming the most contested body of water in the world. Throughout the book, Kaplan tempers hard-nosed geopolitics with an engaging mix of history and travelogue (no reader is likely to forget his evocative comparisons of Hanoi and Saigon or his description of Borneos water villages) and also stresses the differences between the two cases as well as the similarities. Probably the biggest of these differences is that in the 1890s the revisionist power in the Caribbean the United States was militarily stronger than Spain, the status quo power, whereas in the 2010s the revisionist power in the South China Sea China is militarily weaker than America, the status quo power. Now that the era of Gen. Milley is coming to its close, U.S. military superiority over China may not be the case any more, so the parallel grows more parallel (unless Trump beefs up the military, which he will probably do). It would make sense for him to dash for the canal as part of it. The bottom line here is that America became a world power when it got control of the Panama Canal. Take away that control and America goes back to being a regional power. Put the canal back in the hands of the U.S. and it becomes a great power. This is just cold-eyed pragmatism. Trump probably understands this and may be thinking long term about how to make America great again, how to secure its long-term future. I have mixed feelings about it, of course, given that I've spent time in Panama and I like the Panamanian government and its people, but I know this is an emotional reaction. It may well be a long-term strategic plan intended to counter the weight of China as it expands its influence in the region, too. Trump has already given the vile Maduro dictatorship in nearby Venezuela indicators that he intends to go to "war" with them, by diplomatic means or maybe more, according to this analysis of his personnel decisions by longtime Venezuelan foreign affairs observer Pedro Burelli: TRUMP PONE LA MIRA EN LATINOAMERICA: GUERRA AVISADA PARA MADURO Y COMPANIA Por Pedro Mario Burelli Con el nombramiento de Mauricio Claver-Carone como enviado especial para Latinoamerica, el @StateDept completa un trio inusualmente enfocado en la region. Claver-Carone se une https://t.co/oZ6UxXHMJB pic.twitter.com/4lMz3LKQKt Pedro Mario Burelli (@pburelli) December 23, 2024 So if he's coming for the communists by putting ultra-knowledgable and ultra-lethal people in charge of Latin America, it would make sense that he would target Maduro's (and the Cuban oligarchy's) sugar daddies -- a key member of which is China. Taking control of the canal, based on Trump's recent tweets, is clearly about checking China and its own bid to control the Caribbean (as well as the South China Sea) at America's expense. Here's another thing: When America got going on constructing the Panama Canal, who was president at the time? That's right, Teddy Roosevelt, a former president Trump has repeatedly stated he admires. That probably says something, particularly if you look at events now. It stands to reason that he knows a lot about the genius of Roosevelt as a student of history. A third factor: Who has Trump been hanging out with, seemingly inseparably? Elon Musk springs to mind. We don't know what they talk about, but we know a lot about Elon -- which is that he thinks big, really big. He's a visionary unlike any other. Elon talks about colonizing Mars and he is so serious and so technically advanced he may well do it. Elon is a major trailblazer, an upender of the status quo. If Trump is talking to Elon, he may be talking of upending the geostrategic picture from his own end, changing how the world looks at America, raising American power and greatness. The two could even be reinforcing each other. Which is why I think Trump's vow to take the Canal back might just be more than talk - he's bold, he loves bold ideas, and he may really find a way to do it - through negotiations or possibly something else. In which case, his calls for the return of the canal shouldn't be dismissed as just bluster. This could be a very fascinating four years ahead of us. Sure, analysts like Bremmer could be right. But Trump never does what people think he will do -- and he's always reaching for greatness for himself and for America. Panama may be on his mind in more ways than one. Image: Pexels / Pexels License Google is currently facing an antitrust lawsuit in the US. The US DOJ is scrutinizing Google over its dominance in the search industry. Interestingly enough, the company has found an ally in the form of Apple. Apple has asked to take part in the lawsuit, but instead of testifying against Google, the company wants to defend Googles search payments to them. An unlikely ally Apple and Google have long been rivals in various product spaces. Mobile is one of them, where Apples iOS platform essentially goes head to head against Googles Android. Despite their rivalry, both companies understand that they need each other to survive. Apple has millions of iPhone users. Those are millions of eyeballs that could be directed to Google search. This is why Google pays Apple billions a year in search payments to remain Safaris default search engine. That is also one of the reasons why Apple has chosen to defend the company. Googles payments to Apple were actually one of the focal points in the US DOJs lawsuit against Google. According to a court filing by Apple as spotted by Reuters, Apple Senior Vice President of Services, Eddy Cue, basically said that it would not be viable for the company to stop relying on Google entirely. Cues comments came on the courts assumption that the proposed remedies in the Google lawsuit could lead to Apple creating is own search engine, a product that could potentially rival Google and provide some competition in the space. The cost of business For starters, it would be easy to ask Apple to make its own search engine to replace Google. However, it could be quite a monumental effort. According to Cue, Apple is focused on other areas of growth. Creating its own search engine would divert the companys resources and employees. It could end up costing Apple billions. Not to mention it would also take years for such a product to materialize. Secondly, even if Apple were to make its own search engine, theres no guarantee that it would direct traffic away from Google. Cue points out how search itself is rapidly evolving. This is especially so in the face of AI, so Apple would basically be playing a very long game of catchup. Lastly, Cue says that creating a viable (and profitable) search engine would require Apple to sell targeted advertising. This is actually one of the main sources of revenue from Google, but it essentially goes against Apples own principles. Apple has long touted itself as a champion of user privacy, so creating a search engine that relies on targeted advertising goes against that. Its been more than two years since the term generative AI entered the common mans lexicon, and were still figuring out how to regulate this technology. Weve seen several bills over the years, but there arent any official laws just yet. Well, the U.S. just established a new AI safety review office in the department of commerce, and this might help with regulating AI. This new office will aim to do what most bills surrounding AI aim to do. It will push AI safety regulations while ensuring that the U.S. maintains its position as the AI world leader. Right now, many of the worlds biggest AI companies are based in California, so the States do have a bit of an advantage. This is also why proper regulation is so important. The new AI Safety Review office will offer an AI safety take-home test A new bill came to the surface called the Preserving American Dominance in AI Act of 2024. It was sponsored by Senetor Mitt Rommney and co- sponsored by Jerry Moran, R-Kan., Angus King, I-Maine., Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H. This act will require the new office to establish a safety test for AI model developers. The test will help indicate any critical risks a model may have before the company deploys it. A test like this would be a good idea, as it will make it easier for companies to comply with governmental standards. Other bills that attempt to govern AI basically tell companies Dont make your AI dangerous!, but there isnt a clear indicator as to what that means. This is because the line between safe and dangerous AI is still pretty blurry. However, if this test establishes a certain standard that the model needs to meet in order to pass, then itll be easier to know if the model will go against regulations. The act will also require that the office work with the AI Safety Institute to provide assistance to AI companies. This type of synergy could be instrumental in AI development in the U.S. Companies developing Frontier AI models will receive assistance in red-teaming against the areas where AI could prove the most dangerous. Were talking about biological, chemical, nuclear, radiological, and cyber risks. AI will, undoubtedly touch industries that deal with those areas. 90 days, and the hammer comes down As with other bills and regulations, there are harsh consequences for failing to comply with the rules. If brought into law, AI developers would have 90 days to have the office review their models safeguards. Those who dont comply could also face criminal charges. These could include up to 10 years in prison and Civil charges of up to $1 million/day. However, this could scale depending on the company. $1 million/day seems like itd be preserved for billion-dollar/trillion-dollar companies like Google, Microsoft, Meta, etc. A small company making a cute little AI app wont be hit quite as hard. There are so many reasons to celebrate our furry friends, whether it's their puppy class graduation or their 20th anniversary of being adopted. All occasions, big and small, deserve at least a little festivity, and who doesn't love an excuse to spoil their pup rotten? Of course, a dog's birthday is the perfect day to celebrate, even if you make up their birthday yourself. For young adults like @averystiber, being away from home (and their dog) can feel heartbreaking. She was upset about not being at home with her dog, Hazel, for the pup's 8th birthday, but then her parents sent her the sweetest video. The precious Aussie Doodle was enjoying her annual 'Happy Birthday' serenade, but this year, she couldn't wait to dig into her delicious birthday cake! Luckily, the birthday girl makes the rules around here! Happy Birthday, Hazel! This adorable Aussie Doodle doesn't look a day over 2 years old, especially with those puppy dog eyes. She had the sweetest look on her face as her family sang to her, but it didn't take long before she couldn't resist her intrusive thoughts any longer. Related: Neglected Rescue Aussie Doodle Learns How to Dig and It's So Sweet "She thought that song was way too long," explained @gracewilson6. No kidding! Doesn't her family know that she has other business to attend to? It is this Poodle mix's birthday, after all, and she can eat her own cake whenever she pleases! Last year, Hazel sang along when her family performed 'Happy Birthday.' It got just as many laughs from the dog's owners and family members, but the funniest moment occurred when the birthday girl walked away from her own cake while someone helped blow out the candles. Clearly, they took so long that she lost interest! After that stunt last year, it's no surprise that she took a head start on the cake this year. Celebrating Rescue Dogs' Birthdays For rescue dogs like mine, exact birthdays and ages can be impossible to find. Instead, the days they come home become their birthdays, which makes every year's celebration even more special. It's the perfect opportunity to reminisce about bringing home a furry friend, but it's also a wonderful reason to spoil your dog rotten. After all, everyone deserves a treat sometimes! Every animal shelter and dog rescue has its own system for estimating and sorting birthdays, so dog adopters get all the information they need when bringing home a new pal. It may be missing the date of their birth, but as a last resort, a veterinarian can estimate a dog's age to the best of their ability. There are no rules when it comes to dog birthdays, so choose whatever day fits best! Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Kate Rowntrees tiny home in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. Photograph: Kate Rowntree Two years ago, when New Zealand school teacher Liberty Van Voorthuysen was looking for a much-needed break from teaching, she ditched her classroom and signed up for a free construction course. Van Voorthuysen had set herself a fairly low bar: learn how to use power tools. But she left with much more the skills to build her own tiny home. The 34-year-old bought the shell of a small house, parked it in a Nelson paddock at the top of the South Island, installed solar panels and added a composting toilet. The dwelling measures 6m x 2.4m and is 4m tall. The space took a bit of getting used to and the outdoor shower is pretty gnarly in winter, Van Voorthuysen says. But she has learned to be resourceful. Its opened up a whole world of barbecue baking. I baked a pretty amazing carrot cake, she says. Van Voorthuysen is one of a growing number of New Zealanders choosing to downsize their lives with tiny homes small, fully functional dwellings with a floor area of up to 60 square metres. Some cite environmental reasons for living with a smaller footprint, but many have made the shift for affordability reasons. New Zealand has long been plagued with one of the least affordable housing markets in the world. While recent figures show housing affordability has improved slightly since 2022, the median house value is still 7.7 times the median household income. Expensive construction costs, and regulatory red-tape have added to the woes of would-be homeowners looking to build, rather than buy. The average house price is NZ$900,000 but tiny homes can cost a fraction of that between roughly NZ$50,000 and $200,000. The tiny home movement is growing in other places including the US, Europe and Australia. In New Zealand, Sharla May, director of Tiny House Hub a network connecting builders and buyers of micro-homes estimates there are tens of thousands of tiny homes across the country. May works with about 300 builders and says some of those build 60 homes each quarter. She also runs an annual Tiny House Expo five years ago, 350 people were at the event but last year, more than 10,000 people attended. A bigger home seems weird now May says the market is dominated by older buyers who tend to have money from a divorce or existing land. Among them is 60-year-old Kate Rowntree, who describes living alone in her tiny home in Hawkes Bay as bliss. She first looked into micro-home living after returning from overseas with her husband, but they decided it would be too small for them. When they separated, Rowntree decided to give it a go. It was the right size for one and more practical in terms of affordability, she says. The home measures just 7 x 3 metres. Its 20m2 on the bottom level, with a sleeping loft 3 x 3m. Rowntree has lived there for four years she bought it from its maker, who had lived in it with his family of five. She also likes the ability to move her home and has done so twice. It took careful planning, and Rowntree had to hire a crane to lift it on to a truck and unload it at the destination. The thought of living in a bigger space seems weird now. I find it hard to understand people without large families building such huge properties, it seems so wasteful. Adrian Ashdown, 48, also shifted to tiny home living after divorce. He wanted to continue living near his daughter so with the help of a builder friend, he built a tiny house a minutes walk from the old family home, north of Auckland. It cost about $70,000 to build in 2019, but he estimates a similar home would cost more than double that now, as the price of building materials has jumped. Ashdown is happy with the home but does say one drawback is that my lounge area is also my work space and my creative space when I make music. Regina Speer also points to some of the challenges on tiny living including getting used to a composting toilet. If Im completely honest, it sometimes gives me anxiety when I get visitors. Speer went from flatting with friends in Christchurch, to moving alone into her own tiny home in 2023. The 39-year-old rented a tiny home before designing her own, to make sure the lifestyle worked for her. She wanted an affordable and environmentally-friendly housing option and was attracted to the idea of being able to change locations. I can pack up and get the house out of the danger zone in case of flooding or a wildfire, she says, and has moved the property twice. Measuring 3m wide, 6.8m long and 4.2m high, Speers home is tucked away on a block west of Christchurch. She is happy with the money saved and the good feeling of doing whats in my power for the planet. Speer says it was important to her to make the space feel generous despite its diminutive size. I must have done something right because everyone who enters the space comments on how spacious it feels. Back in Nelson, Van Voorthuysen says people should reexamine how much room they really need. It would be hard for bigger families but if youre a solo person, a couple who get on really well, or a bunch of friends who want to live on a block of land, its ideal, she says. Dont believe the capitalist society that makes you think you need a massive house. You dont. The Azerbaijan Airlines plane had signs of shrapnel damage, claimed experts - Azamat Sarsenbayev/Reuters The deadly crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane in Kazakhstan has been compared to the 2014 downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine. A French aviation expert said that the crash in Aktau on Christmas Day was reminiscent of the Malaysian Airlines flight which was downed by a Buk surface-to-air missile by Russia-backed rebels over eastern Ukraine a decade ago, killing all 298 people on board. Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijans capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear. It crashed while attempting to land in Aktau after flying east across the Caspian Sea. The crash killed 38 people, with 29 survivors. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Credit: X / @yarotrof Other footage showed part of its fuselage ripped away from the wings and the rest of the aircraft lying upside down in the grass. Images showed that sections of the aircraft had been damaged by what appeared to be shrapnel. The former expert at Frances BEA air accident investigation agency, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there appeared to be a lot of shrapnel damage on the wreckage, AFP news agency reported. The expert spoke before Azerbaijani government sources said that a surface-to-air missile fired by a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system over Grozny caused the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash, Baku-based AnewsZ reported. The southern Russian city has used air defence systems against Ukrainian drone strikes in recent days, and an official in Chechnya said another drone attack on the region was fended off on Wednesday the same day the plane crashed. Should the reports be confirmed, this would be the second commercial aircraft downed by Russian or Russian-backed forces within the last decade. Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down on July 17, 2014. The plane was flying at cruising altitude over eastern Ukraine when a pro-Russian militia misidentified the plane as a Ukrainian military transport aircraft. The moment the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer passenger plane crashed near the city of Aktau - Reuters The separatists initially denied any involvement, claiming their missiles were not advanced enough to hit a jet so high, but investigations later revealed the plane had been hit by their air defence system. The investigation uncovered shrapnel holes in MH17, suggesting the plane had been hit by a surface-to-air missile before it was downed. The holes have been compared to what appeared to be shrapnel damage on the Azerbaijani plane. Both crashes happened in regions where Russia and Ukraine were in conflict but where civilian planes are still allowed to operate, raising questions about the safety of commercial flights over such zones. Unlike the MH17 incident, the latest crash happened while the Azerbaijani plane was coming in to land. Credit: @clashreport/X Both incidents, meanwhile, involved misidentification, according to Matthew Borie, chief intelligence officer at Osprey Flight Solutions. MH17 was reportedly misidentified as a Ukrainian military transport aircraft and AZAL-8243 was reportedly misidentified as a Ukrainian military-grade weaponised drone, he told The Telegraph. The Russian army integrated the Pantsir-S defence air system with the Buk missile alongside the S-Triumph into a structured air defence network, military website Army Recognition reported in 2021. This makes it possible that the Azerbaijani aircraft was downed by the same type of missile as MH17. In the case of Wednesdays crash, sources claimed a missile was fired at Flight 8432 above Grozny, and the shrapnel hit the passengers and cabin crew as it exploded next to the aircraft mid-flight. Government sources told local media that the damaged aircraft was not allowed to land at any Russian airports despite the pilots requests for an emergency landing, and it was ordered to fly across the Caspian Sea towards Aktau. In the case of MH17, British passengers were among those from the Netherlands, Malaysia and Australia killed. This time Russias own citizens, as well as those from neighbouring and friendly countries, are among the casualties. A memorial wall marking the loss of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 a decade ago - Nazri Mohamad/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock A 2023 report by international investigators found strong indications that Vladimir Putin had approved the use of Buk missile systems before the disaster, citing intercepted phone calls. The Kremlin immediately denied this at the time, saying they could not accept the results of the investigation since they did not take part in the process. They also said the investigators had not publicly presented supported evidence. Kremlin sources repeatedly denied involvement in the disaster, but a Dutch court convicted two former Russian intelligence agents and a Ukrainian separatist leader of murder for helping arrange the missile system used to shoot the plane down. The men, who were tried in absentia, remain at large. HMS Endeavour is complete with a fully-equipped kitchen, three decks with a capacity for 250 people and a licence to sell alcohol - Eleanor Bentall The new owners of an exact replica of HMS Endeavour plan to retrace Captain James Cooks voyage with the ship before turning it into a pub. The Endeavour is currently moored in Whitby harbour, near Captain Cooks birthplace and where he and his crew set off in the original vessel in 1768. Since 2018 it has been refurbished, complete with a fully-equipped kitchen, three decks with a capacity for 250 people and a licence to sell alcohol. It was put on the market for 1.5 million and was bought by an Australian, who purchased a share of the ship from Dean Heslop, the current owner. The Endeavour in Whitby is one of only two full-sized replicas in the world the other stationed in Sydney at the Australian National Maritime Museum. HMS Endeavour was put on the market for 1.5 million when an Australian bought a share of the ship with Dean Heslop - Nationwide Business Sales/SWNS Dean Heslop says: It is great to be teaming up with the Australians to build on this incredible part of our shared history together - Eleanor Bentall The new owners plan to make the vessel seaworthy and transport it to the countries the original Endeavour discovered including Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia. Mr Heslop said: With the new investment of funds, fun and enthusiasm from Australia we are looking forward to fast-tracking the second stage of our business together. This is a great milestone in our journey and since purchasing Endeavour we have been hard at work building and investing in the future of our Whitby icon and bringing a quality and unique hospitality experience. It is great to be teaming up with the Australians to build on this incredible part of our shared history together. Endeavours owners intend to run the ship as a pub, restaurant and wedding venue during the UKs spring and summer months - Nationwide Business Sales/SWNS HMS Endeavour in Whitby is one of only two full-sized replicas in the world - Mirrorpix The owners intend to run the Endeavour as a pub, restaurant and wedding venue back in Yorkshire during the UKs spring and summer months. It will then be transported to Australia every autumn to take advantage of the southern hemispheres summer. The Anglo-Australian deal was brokered by Simon Burbridge of Nationwide Business Sales. He said: Our campaign earlier this year attracted extremely strong interest from across the UK and Europe with an exciting proposal from Australia that ultimately proved a winning formula for local and global relations. The Endeavour is currently closed for winter for refurbishments and repairs but it is hoped it will be open by March next year. The original Endeavour travelled around the world mapping islands in the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand and along the East Coast of Australia between 1768 and 1771. It was eventually scuttled and sunk at the bottom of Newport Harbour, Rhode Island, during the American War of Independence in 1778. China hoped to buy influence and bring an end to the civil war in Libya by arming Khalifa Haftar, the warlord China planned to send armed drones worth $1 billion to Libya using a UK-based shell company to skirt an international weapons ban, The Telegraph can reveal. The scheme aimed to deliver as many as 92 drones, capable of loading multiple missiles, from China to Libya disguised as coronavirus aid and in direct violation of a United Nations arms embargo. In exchange, Libya would unload barrels of crude oil to China at a discount, with the secret drone shipment part of the payment. China hoped sending arms would end the countrys civil war quickly, allowing Beijing to gain influence and a foothold in future trade with the energy-rich north African country. The details emerged in an ongoing inquiry in Canada, where investigators have identified three alleged co-conspirators who negotiated the deal while employed at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN agency based in Montreal. Emails discussing the plan between 2018 and 2021, reviewed by investigators and quoted in Canadian court documents, have been seen by The Telegraph. They describe using a web of shell companies registered in the UK, Egypt and Tunisia to conduct transactions. The investigation highlights how UK-registered corporate entities may be used to avoid sanctions and bans by covering-up international payments and transfers. The Chinese government appears to have approved a strategy of assisting Libya in the procurement and shipment of military equipment through companies designated and approved by the Chinese government in order to obscure the direct involvement of government agencies, the investigator wrote in the court documents. This scheme appears to be a deliberate attempt to circumvent UN sanctions that were in effect. Shanghai Gold Wing Aviation Technology, a company registered in the UK in May 2016 that lists a Chinese citizen as the director, was named in those messages as the project manager for the deal. The company, which has a current address at Londons Southbank Tower, has not reported much business activity since incorporation, according to filings made to Companies House. The unit listed is a residential apartment, as The Telegraph found when a reporter visited the address in late November. Forces of the Libyan National Army, loyal to Khalifa Haftar, the warlord to whom China planned to send drones, pictured in 2020 - Abdullah Doma/AFP via Getty A concierge told The Telegraph that neither Shanghai Gold Wing nor its director, Jingzhe Shi, 62, were listed at the London apartment. A total of 2,333 firms have been registered at that address, according to Companies House records. All of the companies have officers with links to China. Thirty-seven percent, or 873 of those companies remain active. Inside China, Shanghai Gold Wing appears to have had little to no activity. An address in China listed for Mr Shi, the director, does not exist. A building in Shanghai that The Telegraph found with a listed address for Shanghai Gold Wing appears to be abandoned and not in use. Shanghai Gold Wing was subject to a compulsory strike-off by Companies House a forced removal from the registry, effective on Oct 29 though it is not clear why. Companies House does not comment on individual firms. Canadian police charge men Details of the drones-for-oil deal emerged as corruption was investigated at the ICAO. Police in Montreal charged two men in April on suspicion of participating in a conspiracy to sell Libyan oil, Chinese-made drones and military equipment in Libya. Fathi Ben Ahmed Mhaouek, 61, was charged with being linked to the oil side of the alleged scheme and Mahmud Mohamed Elsuwaye Sayeh, 37, to the whole plan. Both men were working at the UN aviation agency at the time negotiations were said to have taken place with Kuang Chi Wan, who represented the Chinese side. Andrew Barbacki, Mr Mhaoeuks lawyer, said his client maintained his innocence and that no plea had been entered as proceedings had not yet moved to the trial stage. The role of Shanghai Gold Wings as a project manager was also included in draft contracts as the deal was being discussed, as seen in a message highlighted by Canadian investigators sent from Wan to the two other alleged co-conspirators. Mr Wan appeared to have direct communications with the Chinese foreign ministry about the deal. In a letter detailed in court documents, he noted a reluctance to use official Chinese government channels in talks with Libya, instead using two state-owned defence firms authorised to represent Beijing. At one point, a Chinese foreign ministry official also directly emailed Mr Sayeh. China Rabyo International Mr Wan also hinted that a Chinese firm interested in the deal was directly tied to the family of Xi Jinping, the countrys leader. That company, China Raybo International, founded in 1985, specialises in a wide range of high-profile industries including nuclear energy, aviation and aerospace, renewable energy, and finance as described in a Chinese government statement from 2016. That official statement insisted that Raybo was private and registered in Hong Kong. This made Raybo a rare private company in China working in areas that the government considers to be of national security interest. All other companies in such industries are state-owned, which suggests that Raybo has high-level government backing. China was interested in arming Libya in order to speed up a conclusion to the war, so that Beijing could reap economic benefits once fighting ended by using war as a means to quickly end the war, according to the emails that investigators reviewed. In return, Libyas high-quality crude oil would shore-up Chinas energy security, swelling its oil reserves at home as it rapidly expanded its footprint in Africa, with the long-term goal of shifting the balance of power. The idea is for this to be a first step in a longer-term mobilisation of Libyas resources, economy and territory, and the corrupt way in which theyre being managed, to further Chinese interests, which are vast on the African continent, said Alia Brahimi, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council who specialises in the Middle East and North Africa. She added that corrupt and unrepresentative governments selling national resources to Russia and China at steep discounts in exchange for weapons that can be used against their people is a dystopian scenario that risks becoming normalised by deals like this. The Haftar family For Khalifa Haftar, the Libyan warlord who controls the eastern and southern parts of the country, drones have become indispensable military equipment as he continues to jockey for greater control. At the time the drones-for-oil deal was being discussed from 2018 to 2021, Haftar was attempting to wrest power from the UN-recognised government headed by prime minister Abdul Hamid Dbeiba, in a bloody war largely fought with drones. Haftar lost his bid then, and has since been working to rebuild his arsenal. The Haftar family recognises that projecting strength serves its interests, said Jalel Harchaoui, a North Africa expert at the Royal United Services Institute think tank in London. Khalifa Haftar, the warlord who harbours ambitions to control Libya outright - AFP via Getty It has an incentive to acquire a greater deterrent against rival factions, said Mr Harchaoui, adding that Haftar was investing part of his resources into cultivating an aura of military might. Haftar is also said to control much of Libyas key oil assets given his power over the countrys National Oil Corporation through close ties to its chairman, Farhat Bengdara all of which empower the former to engage in illicit, corrupt deals with states like China. Experts believe the deal under investigation in Canada is just one corner of wider plans between China and Libya to arm Haftar, who at 80 years old is believed to still harbour ambitions to control all of Libya with the support of his sons. Other secret weapons deals? The Libya deal alone involved as many as 92 drones nearly one-fourth of the total public figure exported over the past decade, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which tracks global arms transfers. This suggests that Beijing, already the worlds largest exporter of drones, may be sending far more weapons abroad in secret. Two other similar cases being investigated in Italy and Spain also indicate that there are likely to be more weapons shipments going from China to Libya. In June, the Italian authorities seized Chinese drone parts that were disguised as wind turbine equipment bound for Libya, according to a statement from Italys customs police and customs agency. After Canada charged suspects in the case, Mr Mhaouek, a Canadian citizen, was arrested. Mr Sayeh, a Libyan citizen, remains at large and is subject to an Interpol red notice, which requests law enforcement worldwide to locate and arrest him. The whereabouts of Mr Wan, a US citizen, remain unclear. Haftar could not be reached for comment, and the Canadian police did not respond to a request for comment. The Telegraph also asked China Raybo for comment but received no reply. Additional reporting by James Rothwell and Roland Oliphant Flash China has signed documents with Palestine to send two batches of emergency humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, according to the Chinese Embassy in Egypt. The signing ceremony, held in Cairo on Monday, was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang and Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Diab al-Louh. "To ease the humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, the Chinese government has continued to provide assistance to Palestine," Liao said, adding that China has delivered multiple batches of emergency humanitarian relief supplies, including food and medicine, to the enclave through Egypt. He reiterated that China is willing to maintain close communication and coordination with Palestine and Egypt to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to the war-torn enclave. Al-Louh said that "the Palestinian government and people sincerely thank China for its emergency humanitarian assistance to alleviate the humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip." He also voiced appreciation for China's consistent and firm support for the just cause of the Palestinian people and for raising this issue on international occasions, which fully reflect "the profound friendship between Palestine and China and China's role as a responsible major country." Carol service: Congregations are acting more like audiences, some clergy say Church congregants are increasingly ending services with applause as people become less familiar with worship etiquette. In the UK, aside from a minority of mega-churches where singing, dancing and clapping is the norm, applause is not well received. But as churchgoing declines and the public becomes less familiar with Christian tradition, vicars have this year seen an increase in concert-like behaviour. The Rev Mark Broadway, a Church in Wales minister in Bridgend, Glamorgan, told The Telegraph he was applauded after delivering the sermon at a carol service earlier this month. He said: Would you believe that I was recently clapped after my sermon at a carol concert? I found it very strange. With a smile, I gently told them that I didnt need applause. In my last parish, the congregation took to applauding the organ voluntary after a service of Holy Communion. The organist gave them a stern telling off. I think it has to do with cultural expectations. People are less and less familiar with acts of worship directed to God, but have a sense of [witnessing] a performance. Attendance in the Church of England has been in decline since the 1960s, falling from 1.6 million in 1960 to 1.1 million in 1990. In 2023, numbers increased to 693,000, up from a record low of 272,300 during lockdown in 2020. The Rev Fergus Butler-Gallie, an author and vicar of Charlbury with Shorthampton in Oxfordshire, said applause remained rare other than at carol concerts or choir performances held at Christmas. Indeed I think there is quite a clear distinction between when there is a concert held in a church and a service, he said. So this Christmas, we had our childrens choir come and do a concert for which people applauded, whereas when they sang during our carol services they didnt. Even at a wedding I did which had people do solos, et cetera, they didnt clap. Our services are more traditional so perhaps people get the signals that this is a different space. The Rev Gerry Lynch, rector of the Wellsprings Benefice in Wiltshire, said: Applause in church is becoming more common than it was, say at the turn of the century but its still fairly rare in my experience, and in village parishes like the ones I work in its essentially unknown. In the parish where I worshipped in Belfast in the late 90s, it started happening after the organ voluntary, and the rector simply very gently explained one Sunday that while clapping at a concert was fine, clapping at an act of worship was inappropriate. The Rev Fergus Butler-Gallie said applause was rare, except at Christmas During the Princess of Waless Christmas carol concert, the congregation applauded eight times. Clapping erupted following solo performances by jazz singer Gregory Porter, who sang Do You Hear What I Hear?, JP Cooper, who performed Oh Holy Night, and Paloma Faith, who sang This Christmas. They also applauded when Olivia Dean sang The Christmas Song, after dancers from the Royal Ballet performed as the Choir of Westminster Abbey sang John Rutters anthem Colours of Christmas, and after Sophie Okonedo read The Kindness of Trees by Jackie Kay. Further clapping came after the choir performed the Shepherds Pipe Carol by John Rutter and the Sankofa Songsters sang Away in a Manger. Applause is not common in traditional Anglican worship, which follows the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (BCP) and involves liturgy, hymns and clerics dressed in robes. The practice is more commonly seen in some African churches and across America. Anglo-Catholic churches, which seek to pair the worship practices of the pre-Reformation church in England with protestant doctrine, use more elaborate vestments and centre their services around the Eucharist. Choristers at a Christmas service in St Pauls Cathedral in London - Lucy North/PA But most Anglican churches today either follow orders of service set out in Common Worship, the 2000 modernisation of the BCP, or do not follow liturgy at all, instead holding services featuring worship bands and casually dressed ministers. Disputes over how worship should be conducted can cause bitter conflict within and between individual parish churches. In 2013, the Rev David Dickinson, vicar of Hoghton, Lancashire, was driven out of the parish by traditionalist churchgoers when he introduced family-focused services with modern hymns. The church has also seen vicars sacked for demoting the organist in favour of charismatic worship and choirs disbanded following the introduction of guitars and drums. Dale Edwards with his pet bird Snowy in Kings Cross, Sydney. Photograph: Carly Earl/The Guardian At 6.21am, they arrive. From nowhere, the birds churn up the morning calm 200 or so flapping wings chaotically pounding the air on the small central Sydney balcony. Just inside the sliding door, Snowy, a little corella whose shrill call sounds like a 1990s telephone, has quietened down: the pigeons have heeded his call. Here, away from Kings Crosss bin trucks and bars, the birds are safe, admired and fed. Next to guano-spattered monstera and a tub of water, the crowd pecks and pushes, clearing almost 2kg of seed mix from the tiles in a matter of seconds. For 40 years, Dale Edwards has cared for the same flock of pigeons, descended from a group of 14 racing pigeons he paid to liberate from cages on a farm in Victoria. They followed me wherever I walked, the 59-year-old says. Eventually, he walked from Melbourne to Sydney, his flying entourage tree-hopping beside him, he says. About 200 generations later, the flock of about 130 birds now more genetically mixed nests on a building across the road from his base in Kings Cross and its London plane trees. Every day, twice a day, from about the age of two weeks to a year old, they turn up after sunrise and lunch. Females usually breed every three months but are sensitive to environmental flux after the 2019-20 bushfires, Edwards noticed fewer babies. Theyve given me my humanity back, my smile Dale Edwards Along the way, Edwards has become the man locals turn to when they find an injured pigeon, sometimes referred on by the animal welfare groups that dont generally deal with what are regarded as feral species. If you find a hurt bird, bring it to me, he says. Theres a 90% chance I can save his life. The pigeons have become so habituated to him that they will return to the balcony to die. --- Edwards was four when he saw someone flick a birds nest off a roof in his home city of Nelson, New Zealand. I could hear the peep, peep, peep. I ran over and picked it up I didnt know the word, but I thought You bastard. As a child, his Scottish grandfather told him that the love of his life was Cher Ami. He had no idea who Cher Ami was until, many years later, he looked the name up and learned about the much-decorated carrier pigeon whose first world war message deliveries saved scores of troops lives. The storys veracity is besides the point: his connection with birds is also his connection to goodness. He says he left New Zealand at 14, running from abuse and violence and has since rescued many animals although never crocodiles: They have real deep magic. I have a lot more time and trust for animals than I do for humans, he says. My mum, shes a Scottish Methodist, she said, If something falls at your feet, help it. Ive tried as hard as I can to be a decent human being my whole life. He turns to Snowy, whose past has its own share of misadventure. Snowy, a twitchy character, can be excused for his volatility: he was kept by illicit drug makers in Coogee who tested their lab-cooked ice on him, injecting it directly into the bird, Edwards says. When Snowy arcs up, Edwards turns on his most gentle voice and repeats big love, the words an instant sedative. To have him now, like this, it opened my heart up, he says. Chucky Chucker, a friendlier Eolophus roseicapilla, or pink galah, perches in a cage opposite Snowys. Edwards chokes up as he recalls finding him as a matchbox-sized baby under the wings of his mother who had been covered in pink fire retardant during bushfires in northern New South Wales in 2004. But the help for the birds couldnt come without help from Edwards friend Letitia Sanchez, 51, whose flat has become their sanctuary. The pair met at Rough Edges cafe and community hub on Victoria Road and Sanchez, who lives with trauma, credits the birds routines and needs with giving her reason to stay alive. Twenty-kilo sacks of Avi Grain pigeon mix and parrot mix are stacked on Sanchezs living room floor. A chest of drawers below the TV houses a giant tub of pre-mixed seed. A kitchen cupboard is given over to avian multivitamins with moulting formula, disinfectant, water treatment and a large bottle of F10SC veterinary disinfectant, which they use as air purifier. Otherwise, the birds have the run of the place a large branch hangs as a perch, white droppings on the sofa below. At night, Edwards will take his tent to the grounds of the NSW Users and Aids Association, or unfurl his swag here, on the living room floor, under the watch of Snowy and Chucky. Edwards stories are a kaleidoscope of derring-do, crime, justice, neglect, abuse, trauma, affection and love. That love shapes this small moment in a large city the creatures that are often seen as a nuisance and a blight are, to others, a lifeline. Theyve given me my humanity back, my smile. I dont trust anyone and Ill never change. He turns to kiss Chucky. This bird gives me purpose. Sanchez nods. Without these birds, hed probably be in jail, she says. From my side, Id probably be dead. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counsellor. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org United is working with authorities on the investigation - Reuters A body was found in the wheel well of a United Airlines jetliner after the aircraft landed in the Hawaiian island of Maui, the airline said on Wednesday. It was discovered in the one of the compartments that houses the planes landing gear when United Flight 202 from Chicago OHare International Airport landed at Kahului Airport on Tuesday afternoon, according to the airlines website. No further details about the deceased person were provided. The wheel well was only accessible from outside of the aircraft. At this time, it is not clear how or when the person accessed the wheel well, it said. United said it was working with authorities on the investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Stowaways in the unpressurised wheel-houses and cargo holds of planes can face temperatures of between -50 degrees and -60 degrees Celsius (-58 and -76 degrees Fahrenheit), as well as a lack of oxygen. While the fatality rate for most wheel-well stowaways is high, some people have survived the ordeal. A person was found alive in the undercarriage bay of an Algerian carriers aircraft in Paris last year. In January 2022, a stowaway was discovered alive in the wheel section under the front of a Cargolux freight plane that arrived at Amsterdams Schiphol Airport from Africa. Jason Bannan, a former senior scientist at the FBI, has dedicated more than a year of his life to discovering the origins of Covid - Dominic Bracco/The Washington Post The FBI found evidence suggesting that Covid-19 was caused by a lab leak but were not allowed to brief the president, it has been claimed. Jason Bannan, a doctor of microbiology and former senior scientist at the FBI, has dedicated more than a year of his life to discovering the origins of Covid. But despite being the only US national intelligence agency to conclude that a lab leak was likely, the FBI and Mr Bannan were snubbed from a National Intelligence Council briefing with Joe Biden, it has been claimed. Mr Biden had ordered an urgent investigation in May 2021 by US intelligence agencies and national laboratories to identify whether the virus had been transferred from an animal to a human or had escaped from a Chinese laboratory. One of the most popular theories at the time was that it had been transferred from a bat at a wet market in Wuhan, where the virus first emerged in 2019. The National Intelligence Council (NIC), a body of senior intelligence officers that organised the review, had concluded with low confidence that Covid-19 had been transmitted from an animal to a human, along with four intelligence agencies. This was then presented by Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence (DNI), and two of her senior analysts, to president Biden and his top aides in August 2021. President Biden ordered an investigation to identify the source of the Covid virus - Jim Watson/AFP The FBI had not only concluded a lab leak was likely but that it had moderate confidence in its assessment more than any other agency and had expected to make this case to the White House but no officials from the agency were invited to do so. In his first interview, Mr Bannan told the Wall Street Journal: Being the only agency that assessed that a laboratory origin was more likely, and the agency that expressed the highest level of confidence in its analysis of the source of the pandemic, we anticipated the FBI would be asked to attend the briefing. I find it surprising that the White House didnt ask. A spokeswoman for the DNIs office told the newspaper that the differing views among the intelligence community had been fairly represented and it wasnt standard practice to invite representatives from individual agencies to briefings for the president. The office of the DNI and the NICs work on Covid-19 origins complied with all of the intelligence communitys analytic standards, including objectivity, the spokeswoman said. Cutting-room floor Mr Bannan, who joined the FBI as part of the agencys efforts to bolster its expertise in germ weapons, toxins and biological warfare post 9/11, has since retired but is calling for the evidence backing a lab leak theory to be reassessed. What ended up on the intelligence communitys cutting-room floor needs to be re-examined, he said. The conclusion from the US review published in August 2021 was that it would be hard to confirm the origin without cooperation from China. Chinas only cooperation has so far been a joint report with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2021 which said the virus most likely moved from bats to humans via another animal. However, other US officials also suspected that Covid may have leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology where scientists that had genetically engineered coronaviruses worked, according to declassified US government documents. US officials suspected that Covid may have leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology - Ng Han Guan/AP Three scientists at the National Center for Medical Intelligence, part of the Pentagons Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), conducted a scientific study that concluded that Covid-19 was manipulated in a laboratory in a risky research effort. John Hardham, Robert Cutlip and Jean-Paul Chretien conducted a genomic analysis that concluded that a segment of the spike protein that enables the virus to gain entry into human cells was constructed using techniques developed in the Wuhan lab that were described in a 2008 Chinese scientific paper. This position contrasted with the view of the DIA, however. More than three years on since the review was published, the debate about the origins of Covid is still highly politicised and continues among US agencies and departments, and in Congress where witnesses are being hauled in to give evidence. Thelma Cabrera, 52, a Maya politician who has run for the Guatemalan presidency twice. Photograph: Daniele Volpe The woman who stared down the guns in Chad She strode across the border, back straight, face raised towards the burning sky. A soldier from Sudans paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) turned towards her. Nadifa Ismail slowed, staring him straight in the eye. Weeks earlier, the RSF had executed her only son, burned down her home, raped her friends. She kept looking at the man and his gun. The man, eventually, backed off. The mother and her five daughters had been walking for weeks, hiding from RSF kill squads, until reaching the border with Chad. The last thing she needed was a Guardian reporter harassing her. Yet Ismail ducked no question, answering each politely and at length. Her daughters watched, hanging on her every word. I have to speak. The world has to know what is happening in there, she said, gesturing towards Darfur, the vast region of west Sudan where her home once stood. Her eagerness to help, her indefatigability, her determination to keep going, encapsulated not only the instincts of a mother, but also the millions of Sudanese whose lives have been flipped upside down by its brutal conflict. War is often about ordinary people enduring extraordinary events and, in my mind, 10 months on from our meeting, Ismail embodies the greatest humanitarian crisis on the planet. Sadly she had no phone, so I am unable to offer an update on Ismails plight. Instead, I fantasise that one of her daughters will one day return to rule Sudan and, like her mother, stare down the men with guns until they go away. Mark Townsend The activist shining a light on Kenyas darkest period Earlier this year, I interviewed the rights campaigner and torture survivor Patrick Paddy Onyango about renewed calls for the Kenyan government to memorialise Nyayo chambers, the underground cells where people opposed to the autocratic rule of Kenyas second and longest-serving president, Daniel arap Moi, suffered torture, starvation and rape. The brutal crackdown on political dissidents and activists during Mois rule, at its height between 1986 and 1992, is one of Kenyas darkest periods yet it is barely taught in schools. The former interrogation cells remain largely inaccessible to the public, in the basement of a bustling multistorey immigration centre. My video interview with Onyango went on for more than an hour, covering his time as a student activist up to the 56 days he spent in the damp, dingy chambers. He didnt match my preconceived ideas of someone who had lived through many harrowing years, with his light and unassuming manner. He spoke candidly of some of the darker parts of his experience. But there was a heaviness to him when he spoke of the impact on his loved ones. His parents spent many years not knowing if he would ever return home, and his fiancee was dragged to the cell where he was being held and forced to watch as they tortured and humiliated him, before being raped. She took her own life after she discovered she had become pregnant from the abuse. When I asked Onyango whether he had any regrets over what he had endured for his activism, he said no, because he had lived to see a freer Kenya, though there was still more to be done. Earlier this year, young Kenyans who took to the streets to call for change, fed up at the lack of government accountability for debt and corruption, were met with a violent response. Its important for this generation to know that if they lower their guard, there are chances of going back to the dark days, he told me. We need to pass this story from one generation to another, to the point where we talk of never again. Caroline Kimeu The Ugandan on the frontline of the fight for gay rights Brian Aliganyira runs the Ark Wellness Hub in Kampala, Uganda, providing healthcare for LGBTQ+ people. I first met him in London in April he was in the UK for a conference and a local HIV activist had suggested we speak. Uganda has passed laws making homosexuality illegal, introducing the death penalty for aggravated homosexuality. In a London coffee shop, Aliganyira spoke softly and steadily as he described the challenges he faced in an environment that is increasingly hostile to the community he serves. He has faced physical and verbal threats, including his car being run off the road. On social media, the clinic has been falsely accused of corrupting children and recruiting people to gay lifestyles. It is harder to deliver vital medicines to LGBTQ+ people living with HIV because of the stigma surrounding their sexuality. But Aliganyira was determined to continue his work, and to let the world know what was happening on the ground in Uganda. He is on the frontline, fielding WhatsApp messages from distressed clinic patients who have been turfed out on to the streets by their families because of their sexuality. When I met him again at an international Aids conference in Germany, he told me he had had to lie low for a short while after the interview was published but that he was glad he had told people in other countries what was happening. I am grateful that he was brave enough to share his story. Kat Lay The Nigerian writer joining a publishing revolution In August, I spoke to the Nigerian poet and author Lola Shoneyin, founder of Ouida Books, a successful publishing house in Lagos. Shoneyin, who has written seven childrens books, had led a year-long programme aimed at revolutionising the childrens book industry in Nigeria. When asked if there was someone who inspired her, she mentioned Tonye Faloughi-Ekezie, known for writing about her children, particularly her nine-year-old daughter Simone, who has Downs syndrome. Faloughi-Ekezies story was immediately compelling. I interviewed her remotely for a September feature, where she shared that when Simones brother, Ugo, began asking about the therapist visiting their home, she looked for a book to explain Simones condition but found none. So, she wrote her own, initially printing just two copies for her children. Her first book, Ugo and Sim Sim: What is Down Syndrome?, was published five years ago. Despite the challenges of Nigerias publishing landscape, she went on to sell 5,000 copies of the book before teaming up with Ouida Books. When Faloughi-Ekezie visited London in September, I invited her to the Guardian offices. She spoke passionately about changing perceptions, expressing frustration when people said sorry upon learning of her daughters condition. Every child with special needs should be loved exactly as they are, she said. Recently, Faloughi-Ekezie shared on WhatsApp that the Tanja imprint of Shoneyins Ouida Books published the second edition of her first book in October her first collaboration with a publishing house. Saeed Kamali Dehgan The doctor treating victims in Myanmar Dr Tracy (not her real name) was 21 when the Myanmar military organised the coup in 2021. She was studying at the University of Medicine in Yangon, but like thousands of other students and government staff, she quit to join the nationwide civil disobedience movement. She fled to Karenni state, a resistance-controlled area east of Myanmar, to help set up clinics and provide medical treatment. She continued her education under the interim administration while offering healthcare to vulnerable people. At the age of 26 she was conducting life-saving operations on the victims of airstrikes and military atrocities. In the early days, she says she cried in the operating theatre every time she lost a patient, but after more than three years of conflict she had become hardened to atrocities. Many people in Myanmar, including myself, have endured grim mornings as we come to terms with the tragic news of innocent lives lost. Dr Tracy witnesses the horrors of war daily. Many young people her age across the world spend their time with their families or having fun. But Tracy was dedicated to providing essential services to the victims of the most brutal atrocities. Aung Naing Soe The Guatemalan politician fighting for democracy When I observed Thelma Cabrera hugging a mango tree, I was moved. This small Indigenous Guatemalan woman had embraced the big tree that had given her fruit since she was a teenager working on a coffee plantation in her native region of El Asintal. Then I listened to the words of this surprising politician from the humblest of backgrounds. Cabrera, 53, spoke about el buen vivir, the good life, an Indigenous political ideology of living with nature instead of exploiting it. The tropical hills that surrounded us seamlessly grew into dark volcanoes on the horizon. Twice, she ran for the Guatemalan presidency. The first time, in 2019, her name suddenly echoed around poor villages nationwide. As a Maya politician, a campesina woman, she spoke to the forgotten rural Indigenous peoples. She almost made it to the second round. Then, last year, as she tried again, the conservative elites banned her from the ballot. When I interviewed her for the Guardian, she said: When have we ever had democracy in Guatemala? Never. This wasnt cynicism but a matter of fact. Latin American Indigenous resistance goes back centuries. She joined the rural activist movement more than 30 years ago. As she put it, We are fighting for the long term. Joost De Vries Hikers carefully cross small stream - Dougal Waters/Stone RF Historic rights of way have been saved for the public after the Government axed a deadline to add the routes to maps. England has thousands of unrecorded rights of way which are well-used by walkers, cyclists and equestrians, but have never been officially recognised or protected. The Government had asked members of the public to record these historic rights of way, with a cut-off date of 2031, after which no more were to be listed. It meant that had the deadline stayed in place, thousands of the well-worn routes and paths could become overgrown and unwalkable or forgotten. Now Baroness Hayman, an Environment minister, has announced that this 2031 deadline will be scrapped. Local authorities had been struggling to record historic rights of way, which are estimated to stretch over 40,000 miles, in time for the cut-off date introduced by the last government. Rural groups say extending the deadline indefinitely is inflicting significant uncertainty on farmers who may not be able to make plans for their land until the rights of way have been formally established. Gavin Lane, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) deputy president, said: This is a backward step and is the latest attack on the countryside and farmers. Campaigners have had decades to record rights of way, and the decision to scrap the 2031 cut-off date has been made without engaging with those who will be affected, inflicting significant uncertainty on farmers and land managers. The vast majority of landowners are keen to promote responsible access, and work in collaboration with Defra and campaigning groups to ensure people can continue to experience the benefits of the countryside in decades to come. This country already has an enormous amount of public access with 140,000 miles of footpath and 3.5 million acres of public access land in England and Wales alone. Baroness Hayman said: Our countryside and green spaces are a source of great national pride, but too many people across the country are left without access to the great outdoors. These well-trodden routes, many of which have been in place for hundreds of years, are a part of our shared heritage and it is critical that we bring forward these measures to protect their long-term future. This is only the beginning [of] our plans to increase access to our great countryside as part of a decade of national renewal. This Government will plant three new National Forests and create nine new National Rivers Walks for families to enjoy for the generations to come. Under the changes, local authorities will have the required time to assess whether paths meet the requirements to be added to the definitive map. This is the legal record of public rights of way and was established by the Atlee government when they passed the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 75 years ago this month. Once a right of way has been established, the relevant local authority will then be legally responsible for maintaining it along with the appropriate landowner. This will ensure paths are maintained properly allowing more people to experience the benefits of spending time outdoors. A spokesman for the Environment Department said: These paths are some of the oldest inscriptions on our landscapes a tangible record of peoples movements over the centuries, with many paths and roads we use today dating back hundreds or thousands of years. For many walkers, the knowledge that youre on an ancient path trodden by generations of our ancestors is one of walkings great pleasures. A healthy and thriving natural environment which everyone can access is a critical part of delivering long-term sustainable change across the country. Boosting access to nature will also help drive economic growth in rural communities. Marian Spain, chief executive of Natural England, said: Our centuries-old network of walking and riding routes are a wonderful way for people to enjoy our beautiful countryside and wildlife. Access to the outdoors makes a huge contribution to the quality of our lives and our well-being, with ever growing evidence of how vital contact with nature is for our physical and mental health. Giving local authorities time to take proper account of the interests of all parties when considering these historical routes is vital if we are to add to that legacy and enable future generations to enjoy being outdoors. Ross Maloney, chief executive of the Ramblers, said: The Governments decision to end the threat to thousands of miles of historic rights of way in England is a fantastic step forward in making sure everyone can enjoy the benefits of walking in nature. Not only are these paths an integral part of our shared heritage, but they will also have a critical role to play in the future by helping people live healthier, happier lives. The Israeli military said its warplanes struck Houthi terror regime targets The director-general of the World Health Organisation was caught up in a wave of Israeli air strikes on Yemen on Thursday. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he had been about to board a flight at Sanaa International Airport when it came under attack. The Israeli military said its warplanes struck Houthi terror regime targets at Sanaa airport, as well as military infrastructure at the Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power stations. Air strikes also hit military infrastructure in the Al-Hudaydah, Salif, and Ras Issa ports on the western coast, it added. In a statement, Mr Ghebreyesus said: As we were about to board our flight from Sanaa, about two hours ago, the airport came under aerial bombardment. One of our planes crew members was injured. The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge just a few meters from where we were and the runway were damaged. Credit: X / @ifofgot The Houthis are currently the last of Irans proxies in the Middle East still attacking Israel in solidarity with terror groups in Gaza after the Israel Defence Forces inflicted a series of devastating blows against Hezbollah in Lebanon, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah. The Iran and Hezbollah-backed regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria was overthrown a fortnight ago by rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The expansive strikes against key infrastructure in Yemen suggest a new push against Irans proxies in the region. In a video released after the attacks, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, vowed to continue attacks on the Houthi rebels until the job is done. He said: We are determined to cut this branch of terrorism from the Iranian axis of evil. Iran has supported the Houthis financially and militarily for years, providing the terror group with its ballistic missiles, but the recent events in the Middle East have left Tehran weakened. Smoke rises from Sanaa airport following Israeli air strikes on Thursday - Yahya Arhab/Shutterstock Mr Netanyahu said on Wednesday: The Houthis will also learn what Hamas, Hezbollah, the Assad regime and others have learned, and this will also take time. This lesson will be learned across the Middle East, I tell you, in those days at this season. Pressure has been growing on his government after four Houthi ballistic missile attacks on Israel in the past week, one of which, south of Tel Aviv, injured 16 people. According to the IDF, the Houthi rebels were using the sites to transfer Iranian weapons to the region and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. The IDF added: This is a further example of the Houthis exploitation of civilian infrastructure for military purposes. Three people were killed in the strikes, Al Masirah, a Houthi-run TV station, reported, adding that 14 others were wounded. People were filmed running through the airports terminal while an air raid siren blared, and a large smoke plume billowed above a building. Israel and the United Nations have long been at odds over Gaza, and several of the UNs agencies have condemned its actions in the territory on the world stage. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was about to board a flight when Israel struck Sanaa airport - Shutterstock The WHO has been particularly critical of Israeli strikes on hospitals in Gaza, and in January Mr Ghebreyesus broke down in tears as he described the hellish conditions there. Israel maintains that its strikes target Hamas and other terror groups and that the conditions in Gaza are caused by the Palestinian groups that control it. There was nothing to suggest that Israel deliberately targeted the airport while the WHO chief was there. Civil defence members put out a fire in a broadcast van Israel has insisted it was targeting terrorists not journalists in a deadly strike on a press van in central Gazas Nuseirat on Thursday that killed five people. Five members of Al-Quds Today were killed in an Israeli strike on their vehicle on Thursday, the Palestinian TV channel said in a statement. The channel is affiliated with the Islamic Jihad movement, and Israel said the strike was targeting an Islamic Jihad terrorist cell. The missile hit the Al-Quds broadcast truck while it was parked in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, according to the statement. It named the staffers as Faisal Abu al-Qumsan, Ayman al-Jadi, Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Khalil, Fadi Hassouna and Mohammed al-Ladaa and said they were killed while performing their journalistic and humanitarian duty. However, Israel described them as combat propagandists and said that al-Qumsan was Islamic Jihads head of security in Nuseirat. Israel insists it did not target journalists in its latest strike on a Palestinian press van - Eyad Baba/AFP The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said the five were terror operatives from Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a terror group that fights alongside Hamas and took part in the Oct 7 attacks on Israel. The Israeli army said it had conducted a precise strike on a vehicle with an Islamic Jihad terrorist cell inside in the area of Nuseirat overnight. Israelis military said the group had been planning an explosive drone attack against IDF troops in an imminent timeframe. It said: Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance and additional intelligence. Mourners attend the funeral of members of the press who killed in the Israeli strike - Eyad Baba/AFP The IDF added: Multiple intelligence sources confirmed that these individuals were Islamic Jihad operatives posing as journalists. It said one of its sources was a list of Islamic Jihad operatives its troops had captured in Gaza. According to witnesses, a missile fired by an Israeli aircraft hit the broadcast vehicle which was parked outside Al-Awda Hospital setting it on fire and killing those inside Photos seen by The Telegraph show that the van was marked as press with large red letters. Laura Davison, general secretary of the British National Union of Journalists, calls the airstrike yet another gross violation from Israel - Mohammed Saber/Shutterstock The British National Union of Journalists condemned the strike, with Laura Davison, the general secretary, calling it an outrageous attack and a clear breach of international law. She added: There can have been no doubt that the van was a media installation. Journalists and their facilities are protected by international conventions, as civilians, and should not be targeted. This is yet another gross violation and must be condemned. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Middle East office said they were devastated by the reports, adding that journalists are civilians and must always be protected. It added that the Gaza conflict had taken an unprecedented toll and was the deadliest period for journalists since CPJ began gathering data in 1992 in a report in mid-December. Mourners carry the body of one of the five Palestinian journalists killed in an Israeli airstrike - Mohammed Saber/Shutterstock Last week, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) said more than 190 journalists had been killed and at least 400 injured since the start of the war in Gaza after Oct 7. The PJS said it condemned in the strongest terms the horrible and heinous massacre. It added: The crime comes in the context of a series of continuous Israeli assaults against Palestinian journalists, targeting media outlets anytime and anywhere, in an attempt to suppress the truth and narrow the strife on free expression. Anas al-Sharif, a correspondent with Qatari state-funded broadcaster Al Jazeera, said that one of those killed, al-Jadi, was waiting for his wife who was in labour with their first child outside the hospital at the time of the attack. Palestinian Journalists Syndicate says more than 190 journalists have been killed and at least 400 injured since the start of the war - Anadolu Barry Malone, deputy editor-in-chief of Thomson Reuters Foundation, said there has never been such an assault on our profession. Nadav Shoshani, the Israeli militarys international spokesman, described accusations that Israel was targeting journalists as false claims. The Israeli military said a 35-year-old reserve soldier was killed during fighting in central Gaza early on Thursday. A total of 389 soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the ground operation over a year ago. The Office for National Statistics Newport headquarters, where the average daily attendance for the week which began on Oct 7 was 16 per cent Office for National Statistics (ONS) civil servants are still working from home despite admitting a series of mistakes this year. Data released by the ONS show that daily average attendance was as low as five per cent in some offices, with attendance rates averaging less than 10 per cent in other buildings. The working from home culture emerged following criticism of the public statistics service, which is responsible for monitoring migration, the economy and social trends. The ONS has been accused of making errors with migration figures and the 2021 Census, but the body insisted its hybrid working policy was not the cause of the errors. Its staff are rebelling against demands to attend the office twice a week with action short of strike. The Telegraph has been exposing the scale of working from home, particularly in the public sector, which experts have argued is a cost to productivity and the economy as a whole. The ONS has six office buildings, with staff contracted to work in one each, but there is not enough desk space for all staff to be in the office at the same time. As a result, working from home is necessary at least some of the time. Its own statistics recording weekly attendance of staff show that some offices had attendance of below five per cent at times between mid-September and mid-October. Edinburgh recorded the lowest percentage attendance, below five per cent in three out of the four weeks. Manchester also recorded a less than five per cent daily average in one week, with the daily average in other weeks being five and six per cent. At the ONSs Newport headquarters, the average daily attendance for the week beginning Oct 7 was 16 per cent. With 20 per cent attendance for the same week, London recorded the highest percentage over the four-week period. The ONS general office attendance expectation is for staff to come in 40 per cent of the time, which equates to two days a week for many staff. Prof Sir Ian Diamond, the UKs chief statistician, said this was in line with the estates capacity. In a letter sent on Oct 30 in response to a question from Sir Ashley Fox, the Tory MP Sir Ian said the office attendance expectation was currently set at 20 per cent in the Manchester and Darlington offices, and had recently been increased to 40 per cent in Edinburgh to support a staged return towards the general office attendance expectation. The chief statistician also added that the Public and Commercial Services Union had entered a formal dispute with the ONS in relation to these attendance expectations, taking action short of strike in the form of non-compliance with the requirements. About a fifth of ONS workers are PCS members, and 92 per cent voted to strike against the attendance requirements in early October, with strike days yet to be announced. Sir Ashley said: The figures from the ONS are stark in some locations, fewer than five per cent of workers are physically present on average. Is it any wonder that people are losing faith in our public institutions? When we were in power, we were taking steps to increase office attendance after the pandemic. This Labour Government cares more about placating their union paymasters. In November, the ONS admitted that it had missed 166,000 migrants who arrived in Britain in the 12 months to June last year.. The error meant that net migration over the period actually totalled 906,000 and not the previously released 740,000. In September, it admitted there was potential for bias on statistics obtained through the 2021 Census on the transgender population in Britain. A question had asked whether respondents to the poll for those living in England and Wales identified as a gender that was different from their registered birth sex. Statistics watchdog the Office for Statistical Regulation said there was sufficient evidence that the gender identity question was more likely than others to be misunderstood by certain groups. John OConnell, chief executive of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: Taxpayers will be incandescent to find out that theyre paying for prime office space for the nations statisticians, only for many desks to sit empty. And with evidence mounting that work from home is causing productivity to suffer, questions will be increasingly asked about the quality and quantity of the output of the ONS. A spokesman for the ONS said: We believe firmly that a reasonable level of office attendance in line with the wider Civil Service is in the best interests of the ONS and of all our colleagues. Face-to-face interaction supports personal collaboration, learning and innovation. That said, it is wrong to suggest that issues like the revision of migration figures or the treatment of gender identity in the census are linked with hybrid working. The weapon was described as being in the top echelons of swords, an elite object in every way. Photograph: Prof Alice Roberts/BBC/Rare TV A spectacular sixth-century sword has been unearthed from an Anglo-Saxon cemetery in rural Kent, to the astonishment of archaeologists. The weapon is in an exceptional state of preservation and is being likened to the sword found at Sutton Hoo, the Anglo-Saxon burial in Suffolk. It has a silver-and-gilt hilt, with a decorative pattern in fine craftsmanship, and a blade bearing a runic script. Even elements of its leather-and-wood scabbard and the beaver fur that lined it have also survived. Attached to its pommel is a ring, perhaps symbolising an oath to a king or another high-status individual. The sword is among striking objects that have been unearthed from an early medieval cemetery near Canterbury, whose precise location is not being identified as further excavations are planned. Twelve burials have been excavated so far and there are thought to be 200 more, which will take years to explore. They date from the fifth and sixth centuries. Duncan Sayer, the lead archaeologist and professor of archaeology at the University of Central Lancashire, told the Guardian: Were keeping the name of the site under wraps. Its a very rich cemetery. It would be a real tragedy if it became well known before weve excavated it. He said of the sword: Its really incredible, in the top echelons of swords, an elite object in every way, which is wonderful. It rivals the swords from Dover and from Sutton Hoo. Buried in the same grave was a gold pendant, inscribed with a serpent or dragon. As such pendants would have been worn by high-status women, it is thought to have been a treasured keepsake from a female relative or ancestor. All the male graves have weapons such as spears and shields. All the female graves have knives, as well as brooches and buckles, among other objects. The discoveries will feature in BBC Twos forthcoming six-part Digging for Britain series, which shows that an untouched Anglo-Saxon cemetery is now giving up its secrets. The sword is described as one of the most remarkable finds ever seen on Digging for Britain, now into its 12th series. Prof Alice Roberts, an academic who presents the documentaries, told the Guardian: Ive never seen one thats so beautifully preserved. She said: Its an extraordinary Anglo-Saxon cemetery, with really beautifully furnished graves, a lot of weapon burials where you find things like iron spear-points and seaxes, which are Anglo-Saxon knives and then theres this astonishing sword. She spoke of the potential to discover new insights into life at that time: We have fairly sparse historical sources when it comes to this period, which used to be called the dark ages. We dont have much in the way of contemporary writing. A microscope used by the conservator Dana Goodburn-Brown can magnify details on the sword more than 10 times and reveal hidden clues about the burial practices of this Kentish community. She has, for example, found fly pupae on the sword, which means that the body was not immediately covered before being buried, perhaps giving loved ones time to say their goodbyes. So were learning something about the funerary practices, she says in the programme. One of the graves belonged to a woman buried in the later fifth century with objects that had originated in Scandinavia. Some of the later sixth-century graves have artefacts of a Frankish origin. Sayer said: So we can really see the change in the political landscape within Kent in this site in the fifth and sixth centuries. The excavation is part of a bigger project. A study of 300 early Anglo-Saxons from across the east coast of Britain found that about 75% of the DNA was from continental northern Europe a significant migration event after the Roman administration stopped in Britain, Sayer said. He added: Before we published those results, there was still quite a lot of conversation about whether there really was a significant migration. Now its absolutely definite that there has to have been a very significant influx, especially in the east coast taking place over generations. Theyre not coming from one place, but multiple places. This cemetery is right at the cutting-edge of that work. The sword and other finds will undergo a lengthy process of conservation. Eventually they will go to the Folkestone Museum. Digging for Britain begins on 7 January at 8pm on BBC Two and iPlayer. You are here: World Flash This photo taken on Dec. 25, 2024 shows the plane crash site near Aktau, Kazakhstan. [Photo/Xinhua] Azerbaijan has declared Thursday a national day of mourning for the victims of the tragic crash of an Embraer 190 passenger plane operating a Baku-Grozny flight. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed an official order to observe the day of mourning in response to the tragedy on Wednesday. Aliyev, who was in Russia's airspace en route to St. Petersburg for a summit at the time, ordered his flight to return upon learning of the accident. The aircraft with flight number J2-8243 crashed near Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan. The Kazakh ministry of emergency situations has reported 28 survivors, while rescue underway. There were 67 people onboard, including 62 passengers and five crew members, Azerbaijan Airlines said on X. Kazakh media said the passengers aboard included 37 citizens from Azerbaijan, 16 from Russia, six from Kazakhstan, and three from Kyrgyzstan. Most of the jets carried by Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales on an exercise early in 2024. Prince of Wales is set to deploy worldwide, with a larger air group, in 2025 - AS1 Amber Mayall RAF/RAF The new year is almost upon us. For the Royal Navy it will be, first and foremost, the year of Carrier Strike Group deployment 2025 (CSG25). This will be the second Indo-Pacific deployment by one of our new carriers, and the first in which a combat-worthy British air group will be aboard the ship. This will offer a series of foreign policy opportunities for the new Government. The first active combat theatre will be the eastern Mediterranean. Depending on the situation at the time, there may be opportunities to affect matters ashore in Syria, or to offer some useful assistance to our Israeli allies. Next will come the Red Sea, where it is absolutely crucial that our ships should not scuttle through hoping to avoid a fight. Instead, the chance should be taken to mount effective strikes on the Houthis and to take action against the resurgent pirates of the Horn of Africa. Those who believe that Houthi missiles can deny the sea to carriers must be shown that this isnt so, and quickly arriving jets from just off the coast as opposed to ones which have to fly in all the way from Cyprus can show how useful a carrier is. If we take these opportunities, we will show that Britain is still a force to be reckoned with: if we pass them by, we will project weakness. Its that simple. If we arent willing to use our ships, we shouldnt send them. We must be willing to accept risk. Indeed, just sending the CSG25 force off around the world involves risk in itself. Frigate and destroyer numbers are painfully low just now. This erosion has been going on since the dawn of time and has been papered over by a Navy that is expert at making do and politicians happy to look the other way (or slap Service chiefs down for mentioning problems). But if you keep reducing numbers, paying off ships to make way for the new ones that are fewer in number and often late, you end up with no ships. We are nearly there. Unfortunately, a carrier that is to deploy anywhere near an active threat needs two destroyers, two frigates and a nuclear attack submarine to accompany her. All too often in recent times, this has been everything we have had available. CSG25 will achieve this and leave at least some working ships behind through careful planning and working with allies, which is great if you do it because you can less so if you do it because you must. There are other problems, too. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), the civilian-manned fleet of tankers and supply ships which supports our warships at sea, is on the verge of collapse. Without major surgery, starting with a pay rise, the RFA will cease to exist in its current form before long. Personnel shortages mean that it can now only keep three or maybe four of its 13 ships at sea. A vessel that it cannot get to sea is our one and only solid support ship, RFA Fort Victoria an essential part of a Carrier Strike Group. The Norwegians are filling this gap, but allowing a single point of failure is not a good look. Then theres the matter of F-35B jets to go on the carrier. The ship is designed to carry 36 planes. Back in 2021 we could find just eight. It is not clear how many will go this time, though the figure of 24 has been stated as an aspiration. If that happens, there will be some unhappiness among those responsible for other air missions. The F-35B is our only modern, fifth-generation fighter, and more than half of ours will be away on the far side of the world. Apart from fighter jets, it is absolutely critical to have airborne early warning (AEW) radar aircraft. This was the bloody lesson of the Falklands, but it has not been learnt. Its now public knowledge that the Crowsnest AEW radar system, which can be carried by Merlin helicopters, wasnt in a working condition for the 2021 deployment. Crowsnest has now hopefully been sorted out, but we dont have enough radars or helicopters. Even if we did, the altitude, radar horizon and endurance of the Merlin all compare unfavourably with a fixed-wing alternative such as the US Hawkeye. The sooner an uncrewed alternative with decent height and endurance is available the better. However the deployment goes, it will take place as the current Strategic Defence Review is being completed. Previous defence reviews have failed because ambition has not been matched to resources. Will this one be any different? Will resource even be clearly articulated? We know that the review team is working to a figure of 2.5 per cent of GDP to be spent on defence. Will the new Government commit to this? If not, this review will be like the Integrated Reviews of 2021 and 2023 fascinating, beautifully written and completely pointless. I very much fear that we can only send out a proper carrier group by stripping our home defences to a dangerous degree a pathetic position for one of the worlds major naval powers to be in. And I very much fear that the Defence Review will do very little to rectify matters. Tom Sharpe is a former officer of the Royal Navy Russia officers survey the building where general Igor Kirillov and his assistant were killed in an explosion - Sefa Karacan/Getty Images Russia has arrested four people on suspicion of plotting to assassinate senior defence officials and their families on Ukraines orders, the Kremlins Federal Security Service (FSB) has said. The arrests come after Ukraine killed Igor Kirillov, the lieutenant general who was chief of Russias nuclear, biological and chemical protection troops, by detonating a bomb outside his apartment building in Moscow earlier this month. In a statement on Thursday, the FSB said it had foiled a string of assassination attempts planned by Ukrainian intelligence agents targeting senior officers of the Russian defence ministry involved in the special military operation, as well as their family members. The suspected organisers of the attacks were planning to use a remote-controlled car bomb to kill one of the officers, the FSB added. Russia's former chemical weapons chief Igor Kirillov funeral | Credit: Maria/X The agency said another top military official was going to be assassinated by a bomb hidden in an envelope, and that it had uncovered improvised explosive devices and communication equipment used in criminal activities. The FSB, viewed as a successor to the KGB, released a video showing the arrest and interrogation of the unnamed suspects. One of the alleged assassins was said to have been recruited by the Ukrainian special services as a perpetrator of a terrorist act who had arrived from Ukraine under the guise of a deported person. The FSB claimed the suspect took a homemade bomb and video surveillance system from a hidden weapons cache after entering Russia. The bomb was reportedly disguised as a portable power bank charger and was to be placed under the official car of one of the high-ranking leaders of the Russian ministry of defence, the driver of which was his [the suspects] close relative. It also reported that a Moscow resident was detained for supposedly conducting reconnaissance at the residences of high-ranking military personnel, claiming that they sent photo and video material to his handlers for further preparation of terrorist attacks. Ukraines ministry of foreign affairs did not respond to a request for comment. Akhmadzhon Kurbonov, an Uzbek citizen arrested after the assassination of Igor Kirillov, is escorted into court ahead of his pre-trial hearing in Moscow - Natalia Kolesnikova/Getty Images The FSBs announcement followed the death of Gen Kirillov in an attack that was claimed by Ukraine and brought the conflict to the streets of the Russian capital once again. An Uzbek national was arrested after the incident, according to the security agency, under claims that he had been recruited by Ukrainian special services. Vladimir Putin described Kirillovs death as a major blunder by Moscows security agencies and said they should learn from it to improve their efficiency. Emergency specialists work at the crash site - ISSA TAZHENBAYEV/AFP Early indications suggest Russia shot down an Azerbaijan Airlines flight that crashed in Kazakhstan on Christmas Day, the White House said on Friday. John Kirby, the National Security spokesman, did not elaborate on the subject at a press briefing but answered yes when asked if there was US intelligence to back up that conclusion. It comes after a preliminary Azerbaijani investigation found that the jet was downed by a Russian air defence system. The plane, an Embraer 190, crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Wednesday, killing 38 of the 67 people on board. It was supposed to fly north-west from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to the Chechen city of Grozny in southern Russia, but instead veered far off course across the Caspian Sea. Azerbaijani government sources have said that the plane was attacked by a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system on its approach to Grozny, according to Azerbaijani news site AnewZ. The outlet also reported that the aircrafts communication system was completely paralysed, causing it to disappear from radars in Russias airspace. It only reappeared as it flew over the Caspian Sea shortly before crashing. Four sources in Azerbaijan with knowledge of the investigation also said that the plane was downed by a Russian air defence system, corroborating AnewZs report. Russian, Azerbaijani, Nato and Kazakhstani officials have all called for investigations into the crash. Officials did not immediately explain why the plane had crossed the Caspian Sea. It is understood that it was attempting to land at a Russian airport in Grozny, which at the time of landing was under attack by Ukrainian drones. Officials did not immediately explain that the plane had crossed the Caspian Sea, but it is understood that the plane was attempting to land at a Russian airport in Grozny, which at the time of landing was under attack by Ukrainian drones. The crash immediately prompted speculation that the aircraft was shot down by Russia. Flight attendant Zulfuqar Asadov described the moments when the plane was hit by some kind of external strike over Chechnya. The impact of it caused panic inside. We tried to calm them down, to get them seated. At that moment, there was another strike, and my arm was injured. The pilots, who were both killed in the crash, have been credited with saving the lives of 29 people by managing to land part of the plane. Baza, a Telegram channel with links to the Russian security services, said the holes look like those left after a shelling or explosion with striking elements. Credit: X / @yarotrof Rybar, an influential Telegram channel with 1.3 million subscribers, also confirmed Bazas description in a post, saying that the damage to the fuselage resembles striking elements of an anti-aircraft missile. The post continued: The plane itself was heading to Grozny at that time, a raid by launched Ukrainian UAVs was actually being repelled over the region. Several drones were shot down over Vladikavkaz in North Ossetia and neighbouring Ingushetia. Officials in Russia and Kazakhstan both sought to downplay suggestions that Russia was responsible. Maulen Ashimbayev, the speaker of the Kazakh senate, condemned speculation about what happened. He said it was not possible to say what may have damaged the plane, according to Russian news agency Tass. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said: We need to await the end of the investigation. But Yury Podolyaka, a Russian military expert, said holes seen in the wreckage of the plane were similar to the damage caused by an anti-aircraft missile system. He said: Everything points to that. Gerard Legauffre, a former expert at Frances BEA air accident investigation agency, also said there appeared to be a lot of shrapnel damage on the wreckage. He said the damage was reminiscent of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was downed with a surface-to-air missile by Russia-backed rebels over eastern Ukraine in 2014. Azerbaijan Airlines initially said the plane flew through a flock of birds before withdrawing the statement. Eleven of the injured are in intensive care, the Kazakh health ministry said. Azertac, an Azerbaijan state news agency, reported that 12 of the survivors were being flown to Azerbaijan. Credit: @clashreport/X A plane carrying nine injured Russian nationals, including a child, also arrived at Zhukovsky airport in the Moscow region on Thursday, Russias emergency situations ministry said. Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani president, declared Thursday a day of mourning and cancelled a planned visit to Russia for an informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a grouping of former Soviet nations. Mr Aliyevs office said the president ordered the prompt initiation of urgent measures to investigate the causes of the disaster. The president said in a social media post on Wednesday: I extend my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the crash... and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. The Flight Radar website showed the plane deviating from its normal route, crossing the Caspian Sea and then circling over the area where it eventually crashed near Aktau, an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the sea. Azerbaijan Airlines said the plane made an emergency landing around 3km (1.9 miles) from Aktau. Kazakhstan said the plane was carrying 37 Azerbaijani passengers, six Kazakhs, three Kyrgyz and 16 Russians. A Kazakh woman told the local branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that she was near where the plane crashed and rushed to the site to help survivors. The woman, who gave her name as Elmira, said: They were covered in blood. They were crying. They were calling for help. She added: Ill never forget their look, full of pain and despair. A girl pleaded: Save my mother, my mother is back there. She said that they saved some teenagers. Emergency specialists survey the aftermath - AFP Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, held a phone conversation with Mr Aliyev and expressed his condolences in connection with the crash, Mr Peskov told a news conference. A Russian emergency situations ministry plane was sent to Aktau on Wednesday with medical personnel and other equipment. Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, also called his Azerbaijani, Kazakh and Russian counterparts to send his deep condolences, according to CCTV. Shanley Breese, left, said the University of Edinburghs guidance on discrimination was tone deaf, while Freya Stewart, right, said staff were not used to advising Scottish students. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian From the first day Shanley Breese started her law degree at the University of Edinburgh, she encountered demeaning comments about her accent. She was told she was hard to understand and was asked to repeat herself in tutorials when she used words from the Scots language. It was just a little thing to differentiate us and point it out It meant that I didnt participate in my tutorials, she says. Breese was also shocked to walk around campus and hear students slagging off clothes from high street brands such as Primark and TK Maxx, as well as conversations in lecture halls about inheritance tax that concluded with statements such as rich people just work harder than poor people. With only about a quarter of the universitys students coming from Scotland, and the rest being from elsewhere in the UK or overseas, Breese felt in a minority. In October, the student news publication The Tab Edinburgh received a backlash for commenting that the lack of Scottish students in one of its TikTok videos was as God intended. This comment was the final straw. Breese was so disturbed by the discrimination around her she decided to set up a support group for students like herself. The Scottish Social Mobility Society was founded in Edinburgh with the aim to provide a community for Scottish students, who are often from working-class backgrounds and frequently experience feelings of alienation, micro-aggressions and subtle acts of exclusion at the university. The University of Edinburgh is now offering guidance on how students should treat one another. Dont be a snob! reads the advice to counteract the rising claims of classism and discrimination on campus. Further advice includes reminding students when you meet new people be curious about their interests and aspirations rather than their background, and to try to undo some of the unhelpful mythology about the relationship of wealth to intelligence or hard work. However, the society does not think the universitys guidance is serious enough to help them feel included. Breese says: Its making it like a personality quirk of the students at Edinburgh, rather than a structural, kind of systemic issue it kind of feels patronising. It really was tone deaf. Scottish universities cap the number of Scottish students in their yearly intake as tuition fees are covered by the Scottish government. The institutions then fill the gap with students who can afford the fees from elsewhere in the UK or overseas. Freya Stewart, a social anthropology student and report officer for the society, says Edinburgh University has also created an environment where staff are unused to advising Scottish students. They often refer to the English qualification model of A-levels instead of Scottish Highers, despite the universitys location, she says. Stewart says: My student adviser didnt know what highers were, or how the SQA [Scottish Qualification Authority] works. A-levels are the standardised system and I would say they dont really understand what Advanced Highers are. Its very rare for a student adviser to understand that. The socioeconomic gap has been made even greater for Scottish students at the university as Edinburgh follows a flag system to prioritise students as part of its Widening Access programme. To be marked as a flag candidate, applicants must live in an area within the 40% of the most-deprived parts of Scotland or come from a low-attainment state school. There are also plus flag applicants, which include refugees, care-experienced applicants, or those from the 20% most-deprived parts of Scotland. While increasing diversity and inclusion, this has created a large gap between the Scottish students, who primarily come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and the students from England or other countries. Before arriving at Edinburgh, Breese didnt even know private schools existed, and she is the first of her friends and family to go to university. While she is grateful to have been allocated a place at the prestigious university, she is asking for better support. They helped me get here but once I was here I was kind of left, thats how it felt, and that is what affects the feelings of alienation, Breese says. A University of Edinburgh spokesperson said: Our dignity and respect policy sets out clear expectations of behaviour, including recognising when comments or behaviour may be harmful or upsetting to others and acting accordingly. After listening to students, we have also introduced and continue to evolve a new support model that provides more dedicated pastoral and academic guidance throughout their studies. The medications could make pharmacies hundreds of thousands of pounds a year. Photograph: Michael Siluk/Alamy It is a trend rooted in profit-making. Adverts featuring prescription-only weight-loss medications are splashed across the internet and it is causing concern among experts. But the question remains: who is driving the boom? Consider drugs for other conditions, be it asthma or high blood pressure: a quick internet search might throw up a couple of online pharmacies, but not page after page of results offering discount codes for consultations, special offers for returning customers or money-off emails. Yet when it comes to weight-loss jabs, it is a different story. Boots offers returning customers 10% off each time they reorder a weight-loss treatment a promotion that appears at the bottom of a page featuring Wegovy, Mounjaro and other prescription-only medications. The online firm Pharmacy2U lists the prices of medications including Wegovy and Mounjaro together with a promotional code entitling customers to 40 off their first four weeks supply. Taking a different approach, Daily Chemist is emailing 25 credits for weight-loss orders to customers, with a link that takes them directly to prescription-only weight loss medications. Such emails have been sent to people who have previously informed the pharmacy they have a healthy weight. A Boots spokesperson said promotional activity for Boots Online Doctor services was also compliant with applicable legislation, MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) guidance and ASA advertising codes. All Boots Online Doctor prices are for the full service from the online consultation to aftercare and support and not for prescription medicines alone, they said. Weight-loss treatment is most effective when used consistently, alongside important lifestyle changes. We offer 10% off the Boots Online Doctor weight-loss service for returning patients to encourage them to stay with us to receive continuity of care. A spokesperson for Pharmacy2U said: Any discounts offered as part of our private online doctor service adhere to the guidelines set out by GPhC [General Pharmaceutical Council] and MHRA and are solely in relation to the provision of the service by our highly qualified clinicians. Patients have the ability to ask our GPs for a treatment recommendation as part of the consultation. Daily Chemist did not respond to a request for comment. The MHRA and ASA said they would assess the adverts to decide if they merited investigation. In each of these cases, the cited webpage was just one click away from the homepage of the online pharmacy, apparently contradicting advice set out by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). Marketers should ensure that the casually browsing consumer does not come across information relating POMs with ease, the ASA says in its advice on Prescription-only Medicines (websites). Dr Piotr Ozieranski, from the University of Bath, who researches the political sociology of medicine and pharmaceuticals, said concerns were not confined to public-facing marketing, with Novo Nordisk the pharmaceutical company behind Saxenda, Ozempic and Wegovy having previously been in trouble for its practices. Indeed Novo Noridsk was suspended from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry in 2023 for actions including sponsoring biased training to healthcare professionals around Saxenda, and offering individual health professionals a patient group direction (PGD) that would allow them to give the drug without a prescription from a doctor or other prescriber a move that was deemed an inducement to prescribe. However, insiders in the pharmaceutical industry have stressed adverts featuring prescription-only weight-loss medications are not being driven by the pharmaceutical industry noting, the demand is already sky-high. Instead, it seems, it is an approach taken by the pharmacies themselves. The financial gains for pharmacies offering the weight-loss jabs are phenomenal: a months supply costs a patient about 150 for the lowest dose, rising to about 250 a month for the highest. With about 60% of the UKs population living with obesity or overweight, and the jabs requiring ongoing use for weight loss to be maintained, industry insiders told the Guardian the medications could make pharmacies hundreds of thousands of pounds a year. Ozieranski notes the company Pharmadoctor, which sells clinical service packages to pharmacists, has an online calculator that pharmacists can use to estimate the profits they could make. The upshot is that weight-loss medications are an attractive prospect for online businesses and bricks-and-mortar pharmacies that are already struggling to remain open. However, Ozieranski says it is the pharmaceutical companies that have created a parallel private market for such medications, while Prof Simon Capewell of the University of Liverpool, noted pharmaceutical companies gained financially from advertisements of the drugs. Anything thats going to promote visibility, promote acceptability, promote normality of this [type of] drug has got to be positive for the pharmaceutical companies, Capewell said. This article was amended on 7 January 2025. An earlier version referred to the Advertising Standards Agency rather than the Advertising Standards Authority. Visitors celebrate the winter solstice at Stonehenge, but the theory that the site was a solar calendar has been superseded by suggestions that it was built for political purposes - FINNBARR WEBSTER/GETTY IMAGES The purpose of Stonehenge has mystified Britons for thousands of years, but researchers think they may now know the theory behind its creation. Experts believe the stone circle was created with rocks and boulders from all corners of ancient Britain as a symbol of unity against foreign invaders. Its construction came amid an influx of immigrants from mainland Europe countries now known as Germany and the Netherlands in particular and may have been a political monument to unite indigenous Britons. The theory has come about as a result of the recent revelation that the distinctive altar stone was actually from north-east Scotland, rather than Wales, as had long been believed. The stone travelled some 430 miles from Scotlands Orcadian Basin, arriving about 2,500BC. Prof Mike Parker Pearson, the studys lead author from the University College Londons Institute of Archaeology, said its design, including stones from different places in the country, makes it unique among over 900 stone circles in Britain. He said it suggested the stone circle may have had a political as well as a religious purpose as a monument of unification for the peoples of Britain, celebrating their eternal links with their ancestors and the cosmos. Stonehenge stands out in being a material and monumental microcosm of the entirety of the British Isles, he added. Stonehenges 43 bluestones were brought from the Preseli Hills in west Wales, about 140 miles away. Its larger sarsen stones were hauled from their sources at least 15 miles away to the north and east of the site and are thought to originate in the West Woods. Prof Parker Pearson said: Weve known for a while that people came from many different parts of Britain with their pigs and cattle to feast at Durrington Walls, and nearly half the people buried at Stonehenge had lived somewhere other than Salisbury Plain. The similarities in architecture and material culture between the Stonehenge area and northern Scotland now make more sense. Prof Richard Bevins, co-author from Aberystwyth University, looked into the geology of the stones. He said: Our research is like forensic science. We are a small team of earth scientists, each bringing their own area of expertise; it is this combination of skills that has allowed us to identify the sources of the bluestones, and now the altar stone. It was discovered earlier this year that the six-ton altar stone originated in Scotland and arrived at the time Stonehenge was remodelled from its original form. It is similar in size and placement to the large, horizontal stones in the stone circles of north-east Scotland. The altar stone has often been overlooked because it lies flat and is partly obscured by a huge fallen sarsen. It had been assumed it had also fallen, but the researchers explained that in Scotland multiple circles have stones that are purposely laid flat. Given what we now know about where its from, it seems all the more likely that it was deliberately set as a recumbent stone, Prof Parker Pearson said. He added that it was highly likely that the altar stone had been part of an earlier Scottish monument and that these stones are not just plucked out of anywhere. The discovery that Stonehenges altar stone comes from Scotland has cast new light on the purpose of the site on Salisbury Plain - ANTHONY UPTON/AP The Welsh bluestones are believed to have arrived for the first construction of Stonehenge, but for the second iteration there was more contact between Britain and Europe. Over the years there have been numerous theories about Stonehenge, ranging from a temple to an observatory and solar calendar, but the new insight adds weight to it being a monument to unify Britons against foreign invaders. Prof Parker Pearson said. Its not a temple that has been a major stumbling block for hundreds of years. Its not a calendar, and its not an observatory. I think weve just not been looking at Stonehenge in the right way. You really have to look at all of it to work out what theyre doing. Theyre constructing a monument that is expressing the permanence of particular aspects in their world. Ultimately, the new European arrivals brought to Britain advancements in metal working and the wheel, and would gradually replace indigenous Britons over the following four centuries to become the dominant population on the island, the researchers said. The research will be published in Archaeology International. Fighters belonging to Syrias new ruling authorities in Damascus. Photograph: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters Fourteen security personnel from Syrias new authorities and three armed men were killed in clashes in Tartus province after forces tried to arrest an officer linked to the notorious Sednaya prison, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The UK-based monitoring group said the clash broke out in Tartus, a stronghold of the ousted president, Bashar al-Assads Alawite minority, on Wednesday, and was sparked by the attempted arrest of the former prison official. Related: Tears of joy and sadness as disappeared Syrians emerge from Assads prisons Syrias new interior minister confirmed the deaths in a message on Telegram, and said 10 police officers were also wounded by what he called remnants of the Assad government. The minister vowed to punish anyone who dared to undermine Syrias security or endanger the lives of its citizens. On Thursday, the new Syrian military leadership said it had launched an operation to pursue the last pockets of support for Assads regime in the countryside of Tartus, the state news service Sana reported. The operation had already succeeded in neutralising a certain number of armed men loyal to the toppled president, Sana said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported several arrests in connection with Wednesdays clashes. Wednesdays deadly incident came as demonstrations and an overnight curfew elsewhere marked the most widespread unrest since Assad fled Syria more than two weeks ago, raising fears of the sectarian violence that dominated the 13-year-long civil war. The demonstrations occurred around the same time that an undated video was circulated on social media that showed a fire inside an Alawite shrine in the city of Aleppo. The interior ministry said on its official Telegram account the video dated back to the rebel offensive on Aleppo in late November and the violence was carried out by unknown groups, adding that whoever was circulating the video now appeared to be seeking to incite sectarian unrest. In the city of Homs, Syrian police imposed an overnight curfew, state media reported, after skirmishes there linked to demonstrations residents said were led by members of the minority Alawite and Shia Muslim religious minorities. One demonstrator was killed and five others wounded in Homs after security forces opened fire to disperse the crowd, Agence France-Presse reported, saying the protests were sparked by the video of the Alawite shrine. Some residents told Reuters the demonstrations were linked to pressure and violence in recent days aimed at members of the Alawite minority. Related: US lifts $10m bounty on HTS leader after talks in Syrian capital Syrias new ruling administration, led by the Sunni Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the curfew. State media said the curfew was being imposed for one night, from 6pm local time (1500 GMT) until 8am on Thursday morning. The observatory also reported demonstrations by thousands in Tartus and Latakia, also an Alawite stronghold, as well as other areas, including Assads home town of Qardaha. The protests were the largest by the Alawites since Assads fall on 8 December, and came after hundreds of Syrians protested in the capital, Damascus, against the torching of a Christmas tree. The countrys new leaders have repeatedly vowed to protect minority religious groups, who fear the former rebels now in control could seek to impose a conservative form of Islamist government. In a predominantly Alawite neighbourhood of Damascus, Alawite sheikh Ali Dareer told Reuters on Thursday that homes had been vandalised and people beaten on the basis of their religious identity, despite HTS promises the community would be treated with respect. He blamed a third party trying to incite discord. Dareer said that the community had extended its hand to the new government but there have been many violations, citing multiple accounts of people being beaten at a checkpoint. An HTS fighter in the area said there had been an incident on Thursday in which Alawites were taken off a bus and beaten because of their religion, but denied that HTS was responsible. Assads long-time regional ally, Shia-majority Iran, has criticised the course of events in Syria in recent days. Syrias newly appointed foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, said earlier this week that Iran must respect the will of the Syrian people and Syrias sovereignty and security. Ads for Wegovy (semaglutide) and other weight-loss treatments outside Penn Station in New York. Photograph: Richard Levine/Alamy Weight-loss injections are being aggressively marketed to British consumers through often illegal promotions, in a practice experts have described as a wild west industry of drug selling. The booming market for jabs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro has triggered a price battle among online pharmacies, with even high-street chains cashing in on the soaring demand. Last month, the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk revealed global sales of Wegovy hit 1.94bn in the third quarter of the year, up 48% from the previous quarter and outstripping expectations. However, a Guardian review of reports by the watchdog that regulates medical advertising in the UK shows that many online pharmacies are flouting strict rules that govern how prescription-only drugs can be marketed in Britain. An investigation reveals: Supermarkets are using loopholes in the rules by advertising discount deals for weight-loss services that include and prominently feature the injections. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is preparing to launch an investigation into the marketing of weight-loss injections. The regulatory body responsible for drug advertising has upheld complaints against online ads for weight-loss drugs every month since April 2023. In the UK, advertising prescription-only medications (POMs) such as weight-loss jabs directly to the public is illegal. While the ASA states consultations of weight-loss services can be advertised, POMs cannot be referenced on a homepage, and information about them can only be given elsewhere in the context of being a possible treatment option after a consultation. Price lists are allowed outside the homepage of a website, but the ASA says they should not include claims about POMs, or actively encourage viewers to choose a product based on the price such as a discount offer. However, a Guardian review of reports by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has revealed many online pharmacies are flouting the rules in an attempt to attract customers looking for weight-loss treatments. The regulator has regularly written to online pharmacies who advertise cut-price and multibuy deals on jabs to censure them for their promotions, reminding the seller that the suitability of weight-loss injections should be a professional prescribing decision based on a consultation. Despite the Committee of Advertising Practice issuing an enforcement notice on the advertising of prescription-only weight-loss treatments in 2021, such breaches appear to be on the rise: while no complaints were upheld by the MHRA in 2019, and only four websites were reprimanded in 2020, the MHRA upheld 27 such breaches in 2023, and 19 in the first nine months of 2024. From April 2023 onwards, not a month has gone by without the MHRA asking websites to amended their advertising of prescription-only medicines in the context of weight loss, including advertisements for medications not licensed for such purposes. The increase in such adverts coincides with a rise in the number of prescription weight-loss medications that have been approved by the MHRA, with Saxenda which contains the drug liraglutide approved in 2017, Wegovy which contains the drug semaglutide approved in 2021 and Mounjaro which contains tirzepatide approved in 2023. Julian Beach, the MHRAs interim executive director of healthcare quality and access, said the MHRA took concerns about the illegal promotion of prescription weight-loss medicines to the public very seriously. We consider complaints we receive about the alleged advertising of POMs to the public, looking at each case on its own merits and, where appropriate, working with other regulators, he said. The MHRAs official guidance states that a failure to comply with any requirement imposed by a notice served under the regulations is a criminal offence. The penalty is a fine and/or imprisonment for up to two years, it states. However, the MHRA told the Guardian it had not been required to use statutory powers for any advertising investigations of online pharmacies offering a weight-loss service with all voluntarily complying after the MHRA contacted them. The Guardian has also found examples of promotions that have raised concerns among experts for using what some describe as loopholes in the rules. These often advertise a weight-loss service or consultation at a special price or discounted offer, as opposed to the drug itself, although many feature pictures of the jabs next to text offering the special discount rates Superdrug Online Doctor has run a webpage offering a promotional code entitling customers to 33% off its weight-loss service, with the prices of the prescription-only weight-loss jabs Wegovy and Mounjarno listed below the offer. Roz Gittins, the chief pharmacy officer at the General Pharmaceutical Council, said: Pharmacies should not create or use discount codes for prescription-only medicines (POMs), as this is a form of promotion of POMs. This includes the creation of codes for use for advertising, including on social media. A Superdrug spokesperson said: Our Superdrug Online Doctor advertising is in full compliance with the ASAs specific weight-loss service guidelines which allow for advertising of weight-loss services, provided no reference is made to any prescription-only medication that might be provided as part of the treatment. The Superdrug Online Doctor discount code is against the entire provision of the weight-loss service, which includes the healthcare clinicians expert time and consultation and is not against the prescription-only-medicine. But Oksana Pyzik, an associate professor of pharmacy practice and policy at UCL School of Pharmacy, said the aggressive promotion of weight-loss services centred on prescription medications such as Wegovy and Mounjaro was a growing public health concern. While technically not direct-to-consumer drug advertising, the distinction is likely lost on most consumers. Patients will likely zoom in on the weight-loss jab deal and interpret these promotions as direct offers for Wegovy and Mounjaro at a discount, she said. In this way, online pharmacy promotions effectively sidestep regulations by advertising health services while prominently featuring discounts of prescription drugs through the service. These advertising strategies aim to grow the number of patients using these products. She said current restrictions on drug advertising become meaningless if price promotions for medicines can still reach consumers through obvious loopholes. Pyzik said an updated regulatory strategy was needed to address these new weight-loss jab marketing tactics and ensure patient safety remained a priority. The line between promoting health services and prescription drugs has become increasingly blurry from a patients perspective. There is a duty of care for healthcare providers and regulators to safeguard against this blurred line, she said. Dr Piotr Ozieranski, a reader in the department of social and policy sciences at the University of Bath, said: This is like early 2000s type of drug marketing in the US, like the wild west. A spokesperson for the ASA said advertisements for prescription-only weight-loss medications were firmly on their radar. We are about to launch eight proactive investigations into ads of this nature, some of which include discount offers, as part of a project-based approach to identifying and tackling problems and setting clear precedents for advertisers, they said. This will be followed up by enforcement work. If and where advertisers appear unwilling or unable to follow the rules, well take further action. Novo Nordisk, the company behind Saxenda and Wegovy, told the Guardian it did not condone the promotion of POMs to the public in the UK. As part of our work, we make providers aware of legal obligations, including regulation around the promotion of prescription-only medicines, a spokesperson said. We are committed to monitoring providers offering our medicines in the UK. When we are made aware of providers promoting our medicines to the public, we address this with the provider directly and, in many cases, report this to the relevant authorities such as the MHRA and ASA. Experts say the situation around advertising of prescription-only weight-loss medications is concerning, with reprimands by the MHRA and ASA on illegal promotions apparently having little effect. Ozieranski said as well as acting more quickly, the MHRA must move proactively rather than relying on a complaints process, clamp down on grey areas, and act more adversarially to prevent companies breaking the rules as is the case in the US. The current system is based on, primarily, reputational damage and issuing rulings which point out to rule breaches. And this is intended to, basically, name and shame the offenders, he said. But actually, what seems to be working better is very significant financial penalties. The EastEnders two-episode Christmas special served up a double dose of drama, which saw Nigel Bates return to Albert Square and Cindy Beale knocked out by an anonymous assailant with a shovel. Nigel, played by Paul Bradley, returns to the soap after almost three decades away, having left in April 1998 with his adopted daughter Clare (Gemma Bissix), moving to Scotland to be with partner Julie Haye (Karen Henthorn) and her son, Josh Saunders (Jon Lee). Cindy, played by Michelle Collins, has been in the BBC soap on and off since 1988, returning from France with husband Ian Beale for her most recent stint in Walford in 2023. The characters dramatic storyline began earlier in the episodes when Lauren Branning reveals she has a recording of a conversation that lifts the lid on Cindys affair with Junior Knight (Micah Balfour). The audio reveals Cindy talking to David Bates, Ians half brother who she once cheated on him with, and telling him that she had settled for Ian describing him as the easy path. Cindy also further reveals that she loves Juniors father George Knight, who she was once married to. Confronting Lauren about the recording, Cindy asks her what she wants, to which she replies: I want to watch you suffer, thats enough for me. Lauren, played by Jacqueline Jossa, then drops a bombshell that she has gifted the audio as a secret Santa present to someone special, with Ian eventually unwrapping the USB, which had a note on it that read: Play me for festive fun for all. Ian, played by Adam Woodyatt, thinking it was a festive playlist, began playing the audio in the Queen Vic to a shocked Christmas gathering. After hearing the audio, Ian throws a glass and punches Junior in the face and guests at the Christmas party scatter. Georges wife Elaine Knight (formerly Peacock), played by Harriet Thorpe, questions him on his feelings for Cindy and accuses him of being besotted with her, to which he replies: My own son, cheating with my wife (talking about Cindy). She then slaps him, and tells him you can settle for her. Elaine and George have been in a relationship since working in Marbella together off-screen, with Elaine returning to the soap with him in 2023 and the couple marrying in November this year. George was previously married to Cindy prior to his first appearance in the soap in 2023, when she lived in Spain under the assumed name of Rose Sawyer, after being placed under a witness protection programme after informing on her cellmate. Later in the special, Cindy attempts to persuade Ian to stay with her, but just as it appears the two are about to kiss, he tells her almost, before throwing her out of the house. Left on her own, Cindy attempts to get on the tube, which is closed, and starts walking to get a taxi. An unseen character is seen picking up a shovel and the episode ends with Cindy being knocked unconscious. During the festive special, EastEnders also paid homage to this years Oasis reunion announcement, with two posters hanging in the Queen Vic. The episodes also featured some of the happenings in the Mitchell household, with Phil (Steve McFadden) discovering that Nigel has ended up homeless after splitting with Julie Haye. After bumping into Nigel on a walk, Phil tells him: Tonight youre staying with me, Ill get a pizza on. At the same time, Nigel is seen receiving a text from Julie, which reads: Please come home. During his first appearance in the soap, Nigels biggest storylines saw him fall in love with his video shop employee Debbie Tyler (Nicola Duffett), before she is killed in a hit and run accident, and strike up a friendship with Dot Cotton, who saw him as the son she never had. At school, Nigel was best friends with Phil and his brother Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp). This years festive episode was split into two parts, with the first airing before the Call The Midwife and Gavin And Stacey Christmas specials, and the second part airing after the final episode of the BBC sitcom. Comedian Susan Calman has announced that her upcoming special, in which she explores festive activities in Germany, has been pulled from Channel 5s schedule after the horrific events at a Christmas market in Magdeburg. Five people have died, including a nine-year-old boy, and 200 people were injured, when a man drove a car at speed through a market in the German city last Friday. Scottish comic and presenter Calman said they had deeply thought about whether to still air Christmas Cruising With Susan Calman on Friday, and decided to broadcast her Lapland cruise from last year instead. I wanted to let you know something thats been deeply thought about. In light of the horrific events at the Christmas Market in Germany, Christmas Cruising won't be broadcast on Dec 27. Last years Lapland cruise will be shown. Sending love to those affected by the tragedy. pic.twitter.com/kGgJADFaTP Susan Calman (@SusanCalman) December 24, 2024 I wanted to let you know something thats been deeply thought about, she wrote on X, alongside a photo of her walking in a snow-covered forest. In light of the horrific events at the Christmas Market in Germany, Christmas Cruising wont be broadcast on Dec 27. Last years Lapland cruise will be shown. Sending love to those affected by the tragedy. Calman was getting into the Christmas spirit on a festive cruise in Germany along the Main and Rhine rivers, according to the programme synopsis. Flowers and candles close to the Christmas market in Magdeburg (Sebastian Willnow/dpa/AP) It added that every stop on the cruise promises a picture-perfect scene from a Christmas card. Many flowers and candles have since been placed near the market where the attack took place. A 50-year-old Saudi doctor has been arrested on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and bodily harm over the attack. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke about the attack in his Christmas Day speech, saying that there is grief, pain, horror and incomprehension over what took place in Magdeburg. Flash The Chinese Embassy in the United States recently hosted a cultural event themed "Celebrating the Winter Solstice: Sharing Warmth and Culture." Held on Dec. 20, the celebratory event was attended by more than 50 guests from various sectors of U.S. society and foreign diplomatic missions in Washington, D.C. Guests enjoyed traditional Chinese cultural experiences, including musical performances, Sichuan opera face-changing, and a tasting of Winter Solstice delicacies. They also participated in dumpling-making and tea-tasting and experienced traditional Chinese medicine demonstrations, immersing themselves in the rich traditions and charm of traditional Chinese culture. In her remarks, Wang Dan, wife of Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Xie Feng, highlighted the significance of the winter solstice, which encompasses both cultural heritage and the spirit of conveying warmth and hope during the coldest season of the year. She welcomed attendees to visit China in 2025 to experience the Chinese culture firsthand. Panama's Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States, Ambassador Ana Irene Delgado, said in her remarks that culture, with its richness and diversity, transcends borders and differences, serving as a bridge that connects people worldwide. Delgado said that the concept of harmony between humanity and nature resonates globally and deepens the friendship between China and Panama. Carla Canales, senior advisor and envoy for cultural exchange for the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, reflected on her many visits to China, describing culture as a network of rivers flowing across the planet and intertwining. She underscored the event's importance in fostering meaningful cultural exchange. Louisville Metro Department of Corrections Dominic Weaver mugshot A man who authorities say owes about $100,000 in child support was taken into custody while disembarking a cruise ship in Miami, according to multiple reports. Dominic Weaver of Louisville, Ky., was captured last week after being on the run for over 10 years, authorities say, according to Fox-affiliate WDRB, the New York Post and K105. Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell told WDRB that Weaver was taken into custody in Florida by Miami police while getting off a cruise ship. Detectives from the Jefferson County child support division flew to Weaver and brought him to Louisville, where he is now in jail. Jail records show Weaver is being held at Louisville Metro Corrections on charges of flagrant non-support and a probation violation stemming from an unspecified felony offense. Weaver appeared on 2019 and 2021 lists from the county of people who are allegedly delinquent in their child support payments. In 2021, according to the list, he owed over $99,000 in payments. In 2019, he was sentenced to five years of probation due to flagrant nonsupport. The supervision was set to end in October of this year. PEOPLE reached out to the Jefferson County Attorneys Office for more information but did not immediately hear back. According to WDRB, the county is unsure when Weaver left town. "I don't know when he left, but he fled the jurisdiction, and from the date of his sentence until today, and even today, he's not paid one cent of child support," O'Connell said. 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. O'Connell also said Weaver has four cases related to child support, two of which "are ready for indictment again of more felonies." OConnell said he is going to "ask the court at the next opportunity to revoke his sentence and sentencing to four years in the state penitentiary," per WDRB. Weaver will appear in court on Jan. 6, 2025. PEOPLE was not immediately able to reach an attorney for him. Read the original article on People Two people have been arrested and are facing charges of felony child abuse after a one-month-old baby was discovered in the median of a Colorado road Christmas morning. The Adams County Sheriff's Office said the baby was left sitting in a car seat in the median near 7490 Pecos Street wearing only a diaper. Authorities said they received a 911 call around 9:30 a.m. Christmas morning from someone who discovered the abandoned baby. / Credit: Adams County Sheriff's Office "We are hoping someone recognizes the car seat or knows something about the baby or family so he can be reunited with his loved ones and the person who abandoned him can be brought to justice," said ACSO. A social worker is with the baby at Children's Hospital Colorado, where he is under observation as a precaution. Authorities said they don't yet know when he was left in the median, and the baby had no visible injuries. The sheriff's department provided an update around 4:30 p.m. thanking the public for helping to locate the baby's family. "As an update, our investigators have been in contact with the family members of the infant and are continuing the investigation and will pursue criminal charges if deemed appropriate," said the ACSO. Just after 8:30 p.m., the sheriff's office announced they had arrested the child's parents, Jarvis Sims and Christina Thurman. Both are facing felony child abuse charges in connection with the case. Jarvis Sims, left, and Christina Thurman / Credit: Adams County Sheriff's Office Historical weather data shows temperatures of about 34 to 37 degrees Fahrenheit in Denver at the time the baby was found and in the hours leading up to it. Adams County investigators say at this point, they have no idea how long the baby was left unattended. Sims and Thurman are due in court Thursday morning. FDA issues highest-level recall for Costco eggs over salmonella risk Passenger airliner crashes in Kazakhstan Investigation underway after body found in wheel well of United Airlines plane in Maui JonBenet Ramsey with blonde hair and her parents, in front of a house marked with yellow tape Thursday marks 28 years since 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey was found strangled and bludgeoned to death in the basement of her familys Boulder home and her killer has never been brought to justice. But the Boulder Police Department has been inundated with new tips since the November release of Netflixs viral hit new documentary, Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey. There have been more than 100, said an investigator who is part of the joint task force to solve the case. The next move is to decide which ones are credible and which ones are not. But were looking at every single tip and deciding if it can help us solve the case. Its a priority here. JonBenet Ramsey was found dead the day after Christmas, 1996. Boulder Police Department Its welcome news for the Ramsey family, which has been looking for answers since JonBenet was found horrifically murdered on Dec. 26, 1996. Despite initially being suspects in the murder, her parents John and Patsy Ramsey pushed the police to continue investigating the case, hoping for answers. John Ramsey and his son, John Andrew Ramsey, participated in the Netflix documentary, in hopes of finally finding answers. A key reason why we continue participating in media interviews is the hope of compelling that one person who knows something to come forward, said John Andrew Ramsey who was a teenager visiting his mom, John Ramseys first wife, out of town when when JonBenet was killed. JonBenets half-brother John Andrew Ramsey hopes that renewed interest will lead to the case finally being solved. Courtesy of Netflix JonBenets murder has confounded authorities since the 6-year-old beauty queen was reported missing from her sprawling Boulder, Colo., home. Hours later, John Ramsey found the little girls broken body in the basement of the home. She had a garrote around her neck, and her skull was smashed from an apparent blow to the back of her head. Police initially focused on JonBenets family: John, Patsey and JonBenets youngest brother Burke. But 15 days after the murder, a DNA report seemingly excluded them as suspects. They were formally exonerated in 2008 by the then-district attorney. Police combed over the Ramseys Boulder, Colo. home for clues. Courtesy of Netflix John and Patsy Ramsey were initially suspects in the murder, but authorities found the DNA of an unknown male at the scene. ZUMAPRESS.com This week, John Ramsey, announced that he plans to meet with the Boulder Police Department chief in Colorado next month, alongside a representative from an independent genetic genealogy research lab. Now 80, Ramsey is pushing for local authorities to allow an outside lab to test crime-scene evidence from the case. We have requested a meeting with [Boulder Police Department] Chief [Stephen] Redfearn in January. He said yup, absolutely, lets get together, Ramsey told Fox News Digital. We havent scheduled the day yet, but well get that figured out. Thats an important meeting. Were going to have a representative with us for one of these cutting-edge labs to explain what they can and cant do. Hopefully, he will accept their help. The Boulder Police have gone through a leadership change in the past two years. Redfearn, who only recently took the job, has publicly said that hes anxious to solve the case. Boulder Chief of Police Stephen Redfearn has vowed to finally solve the case. Boulder Police Dept. This is a big public black stain on the Boulder Police Department, the investigator tells The Post. Its in everyones best interest to get this solved. Thats why were so committed now. As for the Ramseys, family members are encouraging anyone with information to contact the Boulder police. Any piece of information, no matter how small, could make a difference. said John Andrew Ramsey. Your decision to come forward could help bring the answers we so deeply seek. Crypto was once a fringe sideshow for the investing public, a concern for D.C. policymakers and a subject of ridicule for top Wall Street figures. That changed in 2024. Digital assets such as bitcoin (BTC-USD) can now be owned and traded by regular Americans like a stock. Some of the biggest players on Wall Street are hailing it as a wise investment. And an incoming administration in Washington, D.C., is promising major legislative changes to support the industry. Crypto's widespread acceptance translated into major gains for investors who were along for the ride. Those holding bitcoin are up 130% since the beginning of the year as the price of the worlds largest cryptocurrency set new records and surged past $100,000 following the election of Donald Trump. The market value of all crypto swelled by nearly $1.7 trillion, according to Coinmarketcap. "It's all lining up for the crypto industry right now," Ian Katz, a managing partner with Capital Alpha, told Yahoo Finance. Enthusiasts dont see the rally ending anytime soon. This time next year, "we're going to have the same conversation, that bitcoin has had an incredible run," Bitwise chief investment officer Matt Hougan told Yahoo Finance. Bitwise expects bitcoin to cross $200,000 before the end of 2025. One of the biggest Wall Street beneficiaries of this shift, BlackRock (BLK) CEO Larry Fink, was once a "proud skeptic" of bitcoin. The boss of the worlds largest money manager has evolved into one of its best-known advocates. "I was a proud skeptic, and I studied it, learned about it, and I came away saying, 'OK, you know, my opinion [for] five years was wrong,'" Fink said earlier this year while discussing his previous views with CNBC. His firm, BlackRock, now recommends intrigued investors put "as much as 2%" of their portfolio into bitcoin. "We believe bitcoin is an asset class in itself; it is an alternative to other commodities like gold," Fink told analysts during an October earnings call. Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, during an interview with CNBC in 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (REUTERS / Reuters) BlackRock and 10 other money managers such as Fidelity Investments and Franklin Templeton got the green light in January to launch spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds, allowing everyday investors to get exposure to the worlds largest cryptocurrency without having to own it. BlackRock's ETF, IBIT, then became the fastest-growing ETF in history. The 11 ETFs that launched amassed $100 billion in assets under management as of Dec. 18, according to JPMorgan Research. "You had folks who would have been allocating to bitcoin, but because there was no traditionally trusted, easy, efficient way to do it for their circumstances, they weren't in it," Robbie Mitchnick, BlackRock's head of digital assets, told Yahoo Finance. "And then the ETFs changed that." BlackRocks embrace of crypto (it also launched a smaller spot ether ETF in late July) coincided with an election year where pro-crypto congressional candidates received lots of industry support. Some of crypto's biggest players including Coinbase Global (COIN), Ripple, and venture firm Andreessen Horowitz spent some $135 million via super PACs. An illustration featuring U.S. President-elect Donald Trump holding Bitcoin is displayed outside a cryptocurrency exchange store after Bitcoin soars above $100,000, in Hong Kong. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu (REUTERS / Reuters) As a candidate, Trump also made a number of promises to the industry. He pledged to fire SEC Chair Gary Gensler, one of the industrys greatest antagonists; appoint a crypto presidential advisory council; and establish a "strategic national bitcoin stockpile" with the help of Congress. Whether the president-elect will make the US government a bitcoin holder or even buyer remains a hot debate. But Gensler has already given his resignation notice and will be replaced by well-known crypto lawyer Paul Atkins if confirmed. For years, Atkins has made it clear he favors clearer regulations of cryptocurrencies that dont stifle innovation or impose unnecessary oversight. Trump has also appointed venture capitalist David Sacks to the role of AI and crypto czar. Through his venture firm, Sacks has already backed a number of crypto and AI firms. Some other Trump Cabinet appointees have also in the past disclosed or discussed their exposure to crypto. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissioner Paul Atkins, the nominee to become SEC chair under Trump, pictured in 2008. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico (REUTERS / Reuters) If those executive branch appointees weren't enough, the industry is also eagerly awaiting what will easily be the most pro-crypto Congress in history. "People are shocked by it because we're a new industry, and we're newly influential in Washington," Nic Carter, a partner and co-founder of crypto venture firm Castle Island Ventures, told Yahoo Finance. The GOP is expected to push forward pro-crypto legislation that would offer clear regulation of stablecoins and the broader crypto market and even give big banks a better route to interact with digital assets. Carter has met with Republicans to discuss the crypto world's lack of US banking access. "We were an industry that's been picked on relentlessly for the last four years, and it's only natural that we would try and protect our interests," he added. The Capitol is illuminated in Washington, on Dec. 19. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) But many regulated US banks still cant touch crypto, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon noted at a recent Reuters conference. "Everyone's speculating as to how that regulatory framework will evolve, but it's still unclear how the regulatory framework is going to evolve," Solomon added. Its still anyone's guess how long it could take for the first piece of crypto legislation to land before the House and Senate and then Trump. "I would just caution people, if you think on Jan. 20 a switch is going to flip and everything's going to be better and roses for bitcoin and the digital asset community, it's just not how Washington works," Anthony Scaramucci, a crypto investor who worked in Trumps first administration, told Yahoo Finance. Michael Saylor, CEO of MicroStrategy Inc. REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo (REUTERS / Reuters) These unknowns aren't giving much pause to some crypto evangelists though. "Every day for the past four years I've said, buy bitcoin, don't sell the bitcoin. I'm going to be buying more bitcoin, MicroStrategy chairman and staunch bitcoin bull Michael Saylor told Yahoo Finance this month. I'm going to be buying bitcoin at the top, forever." Even some remaining skeptics on Wall Street admit it would have been smart to get in earlier. Of course, I wish I bought something that trades at 100 times the price it traded at a few years ago, right? Citadel CEO Ken Griffin said at the NYT DealBook Summit earlier this month. We all have FOMO. 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 USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. Two decades ago, as thousands of vacationers scattered across the sunlit shores of Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka on Christmas getaways, a mighty force rattled the depths of the ocean floor just before 8 a.m. The magnitude-9.1 earthquake of Dec. 26, 2004, 150 miles off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, packed the energy of 23,000 atomic bombs, according to National Geographic. The resulting tsunami unleashed waves more than 100 feet high and as fast as an airliner. Within hours, the tsunami had claimed nearly 230,000 human lives and displaced millions of people in 12 countries. Thursday marks the 20th anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history. The Boxing Day quake was one of the largest ever recorded. This earthquake didnt just break all the records, it also broke some of the rules, said Kerry Sieh, a geology professor at the California Institute of Technology, in a university release summarizing the findings of Sieh and others about the event. Their conclusions, suggesting that scientists needed to rethink previous notions about where massive quakes were likely to happen, were published in a 2006 Nature magazine article. A woman enjoys the Lampuuk beach in Aceh Besar, Indonesia, on Dec. 24, 2024, ahead of the 20-year anniversary of the devastating tsunami that struck the city on December 26, 2004. Triggered by a massive underwater earthquake, the tsunami killed more than 170,000 lives in Indonesia alone and cause widespread destruction spanning more than a dozen countries. Indonesia suffered the worst of the devastation, with more than 170,000 people killed. In Thailand, beach resort tourists comprised about half of the nations death toll of 5,000, while in Sri Lanka, nearly 2,000 were killed when the surge swept a passenger train off its rails. Throughout the region, fishing villages were turned to soggy rubble, boats tossed across tattered landscapes. The tsunami affected coastlines from Somalia to Sri Lanka, leaving thousands of survivors homeless and community bulletin boards plastered with photos of the missing. The tragedy prompted the biggest global emergency response in history, according to humanitarian aid agency UNICEF. The international community pledged more than $14 billion in aid. The disaster had profound sociological consequences, immediate and long-term. Forces mobilized in the aftermath of the tsunami to offer haven to orphaned children and protect them from human trafficking. UNICEF and other organizations worked to address the mental health of traumatized children and get them back into school and a sense of stability. A five-year post-tsunami study led by University of North Carolina sociologist Elizabeth Frankenberg, then at Duke University, found that many orphaned teens were forced to mature quickly. Boys dropped out of school to take on jobs while girls were suddenly saddled with domestic responsibilities. According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the event was a wakeup call, reshaping the global communitys collective approach to disaster preparedness and prompting major advances in tsunami early-warning systems throughout the world. Additionally, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps began to focus on making humanitarian assistance and disaster relief part of their core capabilities. The Indian Ocean tsunami 20 years ago has reshaped the way the humanitarian community addresses emergencies today, highlighting the importance of disaster preparedness, a European Union paper issued last month said. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organization, more commonly known as UNESCO, said it has invested in seabed mapping and other technologies as part of its commitment to advance tsunami science and readiness. The 20th anniversary of the 2004 tsunami is an opportunity to call on States to continue efforts in supporting and funding for tsunami preparedness and education, the organization said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Indian Ocean tsunami: 20 years later, a disaster's lasting impact FILE - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh greets the crowd during an election campaign rally at Khumtai, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, Saturday, March 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath, File) NEW DELHI (AP) Indias former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of Indias economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, has died. He was 92. Singh was admitted to New Delhis All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to a sudden loss of consciousness at home, the hospital said in a statement. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency at 8:06 p.m., the hospital said, but despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 p.m. Singh was being treated for age-related medical conditions, the statement said. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of Indias longest-serving prime ministers for 10 years and leader of the Congress Party in the Parliament's Upper House, earning a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. He was chosen to fill the role in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of assassinated Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. But his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. Singh was reelected in 2009, but his second term as prime minister was clouded by financial scandals and corruption charges over the organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This led to the Congress Partys crushing defeat in the 2014 national election by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Modi. Singh adopted a low profile after relinquishing the post of prime minister. Prime Minister Modi, who succeeded Singh in 2014, called him one of Indias most distinguished leaders who rose from humble origins and left a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve peoples lives, Modi said in a post on the social platform X. He called Singhs interventions in Parliament as a lawmaker insightful and said his wisdom and humility were always visible. Rahul Gandhi, from the same party as Singh and the opposition leader in the lower house of the Indian Parliament, said Singhs deep understanding of economics inspired the nation and that he led India with immense wisdom and integrity. I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride, Gandhi wrote on X. The United States offered its condolences, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying that Singh was one of the greatest champions of the U.S.-India strategic partnership. We mourn Dr. Singhs passing and will always remember his dedication to bringing the United States and India closer together, Blinken said. Born on Sept. 26, 1932, in a village in the Punjab province of undivided India, Singhs brilliant academic career took him to Cambridge University in Britain, where he earned a degree in economics in 1957. He then got his doctorate in economics from Nuffield College at Oxford University in 1962. Singh taught at Panjab University and the prestigious Delhi School of Economics before joining the Indian government in 1971 as economic advisor in the Commerce Ministry. In 1982, he became chief economic adviser to the Finance Ministry. He also served as deputy chair of the Planning Commission and governor of the Reserve Bank of India. As finance minister, Singh in 1991 instituted reforms that opened up the economy and moved India away from a socialist-patterned economy and toward a capitalist model in the face of a huge balance of payments deficit, skirting a potential economic crisis. His accolades include the 1987 Padma Vibhushan Award, Indias second-highest civilian honor; the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science Congress in 1995; and the Asia Money Award for Finance Minister of the Year in 1993 and 1994. Singh was a member of Indias Upper House of Parliament and was leader of the opposition from 1998 to 2004 before he was named prime minister. He was the first Sikh to hold the countrys top post and made a public apology in Parliament for the 1984 Sikh Massacre in which some 3,000 Sikhs were killed after then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by Sikh bodyguards. Under Singh, India adopted a Right to Information Act in 2005 to promote accountability and transparency from government officials and bureaucrats. He was also instrumental in implementing a welfare scheme that guaranteed at least 100 paid workdays for Indian rural citizens. The coalition government he headed for a decade brought together politicians and parties with differing ideologies that were rivals in the countrys various states. In a move hailed as one of his biggest achievements apart from economic reforms, Singh ended Indias nuclear isolation by signing a deal with the U.S. that gave India access to American nuclear technology. But the deal hit his government adversely, with Communist allies withdrawing support and criticism of the agreement growing within India in 2008 when it was finalized. Singh adopted a pragmatic foreign policy approach, pursuing a peace process with nuclear rival and neighbor Pakistan. But his efforts suffered a major setback after Pakistani militants carried out a massive gun and bomb attack in Mumbai in November 2008. He also tried to end the border dispute with China, brokering a deal to reopen the Nathu La pass into Tibet, which had been closed for more than 40 years. His 1965 book, Indias Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth, dealt with Indias inward-oriented trade policy. Singh is survived by his wife Gursharan Kaur and three daughters. ____ Associated Press writer Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi contributed to this report. A would-be Arizona influencer accused of spraying pesticides on produce at a Phoenix-area Walmart is facing felony charges following the stunt that was posted to social media. Charles Smith, 27, was arrested after videos were uploaded to Instagram and TikTok showed a man spreading bug spray on yams, lemons, chicken and other produce at the Walmart in Mesa, according to the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network. According to a press release from the Mesa Police Department, Smith faces one felony charge of introducing poison, as well as misdemeanor charges of theft, criminal damage and endangerment. A judge ordered him held on a $10,000 bond during a court appearance on Monday involving a separate third-degree burglary charge, according to reporting by AZ Family and KSAZ-TV. It's unclear what led to the burglary charge against Smith, though at least one of his videos appears to show him taking something from a customer outside a business and running away. Smith posts public prank videos under the username Wolfie Kahletti on Instagram and TikTok. On Instagram, he has a following of more than 300,000, but he's been banned on Tiktok. Smith faces his next court appearance on Friday. Court records do not list an attorney representing him. What happened? Smith is accused of spraying the bug spray on the grocery items on the evening of Dec. 19. "Through investigative means, and with assistance from the Tempe Police Department, detectives were able to identify Smith as the suspect," Detective Richard Encinas, told the Arizona Republic. "Mesa Police contacted Smith and he turned himself in voluntarily. During the interview, Smith admitted to the theft and spraying of the pesticide." Smith was booked into jail on charges of introducing poison, criminal damage, endangerment and theft. The videos showing the incident were posted on social media under the username Wolfie Kahletti. The videos show Smith dispensing the bug spray, and later two videos were subsequently uploaded with the captions, "Fooled u," "Threw them away" and "Promise I threw them away". The videos show him taking large quantities of produce from the shelves, loading it into a shopping cart, and pushing the cart inside of the Walmart. Followers warned of imminent arrest In the video Smith posted showing something being taken from a customer at what appears to be a restaurant patio, followers commented that he was going to get in trouble someday soon. "Can't wait til you're ARRESTED," one says, while another says: "How are these pranks when you're hurting someone?" Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arizona man arrested in Walmart bug-spraying incident facing felony You are here: World Flash Fourteen officers from Syria's interim Ministry of Interior were killed and ten others injured in a "treacherous ambush" in the northwestern province of Tartus on Wednesday, the interim government's Interior Minister Mohammed Abdul Rahman announced. Cited by local Al-Watan newspaper, the minister described the attackers as "remnants" of the former government. The ministry said the slain officers were carrying out duties aimed at maintaining security and protecting civilians. No further details were provided. Following the recent collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria earlier this month, several high-profile incidents have heightened sectarian tensions across the country. On Wednesday, a video circulated depicting an alleged attack on a shrine revered by Alawite worshipers in Aleppo sparked protests and calls for accountability. Demonstrations also erupted in several predominantly Alawite areas, with community members voicing concerns that the new authorities were not doing enough to protect their religious symbols. Meanwhile, security officials insisted such events were isolated and warned that remnants of the former government might exploit sectarian fault lines to sow discord. Taylor Bullard A Texas jerky seller allegedly threatened to show up to a Capital One office with a machete and gasoline and do things that are unforgivable in a rage at a $543 debt, according to a federal affidavit. Taylor Bullard, 34, allegedly targeted the financial giant years after similar threats against other companies including one to release anthrax and another to shoot up a company office with an AK-47, according to an FBI affidavit obtained by The Independent. He emailed Capital Ones collection agency on Dec. 12 in anger at being chased for a $543 debt that he insisted he had already paid back, the affidavit said. Taylor Bullard is facing up to five years in prison for the threats. @taybull76/X Call me before I show up to one of their locations with a machete and gasoline, Bullard allegedly wrote, according to a screenshot in the affidavit. Im 34 with a 100k+ job and its time I target the people and companies that have ruined my ability to live the life I deserve, the email said, saying the debt ruined my ability to buy a home. I will be coming after your executive team personally. Please call me before I do things that are unforgivable and will make your executive team question their life choices, he allegedly wrote, signing off with his full name. Investigators found at least three other incidents in which Bullard who sold gourmet beef jerky online had threatened corporations he believed had wronged him, according to the document. In 2017, he told an unnamed company he would release anthrax at one of their events and/or kill himself in public. He told the FBI, who investigated the threat, that he wanted attention, wanted to see the companies sweat, and did not intend to hurt himself or others, according to the affidavit. Bullard emailed the bank in December after they contacted him regarding his debt. USDC of Virginia Bullard then left a voicemail with a financial companys customer service number in 2022 threatening to go to one of their branches armed with an AK-47 and shoot up the drive through [sic], as well as damage an ATM, the affidavit states. Later that year he also threatened violence against Carvana in a series of tweets after claiming the online auto dealer sold him a faulty vehicle. Im going to drive the lemon you sold me through your front doors in Friday off i10 in Houston, Bullard allegedly said in another social media post. Be ready for chaos a**holes[.] He was arrested by US Marshals in Houston on Dec. 20 and is charged with one count of sending threatening interstate communications. Bullard also threatened a car company in 2022. @taybull76/X If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison. He was released on a $25,000 bond and will be tried in Virginia, home to Capital Ones headquarters. An attorney was not listed for him, and his listed phone number went straight to voicemail, the Independent said. Capital One did not respond to the papers request for comment. The arrest comes as American corporations have been on edge since UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down outside of a Manhattan hotel earlier this month, with suspect Luigi Mangione allegedly motivated by anger at the medical insurance industrys morals. The Kremlin on Thursday warned against speculating about what may have caused an Azerbaijan Airlines flight to crash, killing 38 of the 67 people on board, after an aviation expert said evidence indicated that a Russian anti-missile battery may have brought down the passenger plane. The Embraer 190 crashed Wednesday near the Kazakh city of Aktau while en route from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, Russia. The flight attempted to make an emergency landing about 1.8 miles from Aktau, according to Azerbaijan Airlines, but instead hit the ground, erupted into a fiery ball and split in two. President Vladimir Putins spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the investigation into the cause of the crash was underway. It would be incorrect to make any hypotheses before the investigation comes to conclusions, and we definitely cannot do it and no one should do it, he said in his daily news conference. Rescuers work at the wreckage of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Thursday. Kanat Bozumbayev, the Kazakh deputy prime minister, also cautioned against assigning a cause while the investigation is in its preliminary stage. "The police and the prosecutor's office are conducting forensic examinations," Bozumbayev told Kazakh media on Thursday, adding, "Therefore, at this point, it is premature to talk about anything. This is pure hype." Putin's and Bozumbayev's comments come amid growing speculation that Russian air defenses may be behind the crash. "Subsequent reporting and contextual information, including the follow-on video examination of the wreckage ... and circumstances surrounding the airspace security environment in southwest Russia, leads Osprey to assess that the flight was likely shot down by a Russian air defense system," said Matthew Borie, chief intelligence officer at the aviation security firm Osprey Flight Solutions. Borie said another potential theory, that the plane collided with a bird or birds, would have probably led to reports of more than one explosion and the damage to the aircraft appearing differently. The Wall Street Journal first reported Osprey's findings. A U.S. official on Thursday echoed that there are indications a Russian anti-aircraft system may have struck the Azerbaijan Airlines flight, and said if that proves to be the case, it would be more evidence of Russia's recklessness in its war with Ukraine. Borie said that, at the time of the incident, Russian air defense forces were defending against a Ukrainian military-grade weaponized drone attack that involved Russia shooting down drones. At least one drone was hit east of Grozny, while others were shot down over Chechnya, he added. Earlier, the head of Ukraines Center for Countering Disinformation, Andriy Kovalenko, said that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane was shot down by a Russian air-defense system, citing visible damage to the plane. The flight's destination was Grozny, which is near Ukraine and the ongoing war with Russia, but it was rerouted to Aktau after an emergency onboard, according to a statement issued by Russias aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, on Wednesday. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev echoed Peskov's caution. "There are various theories, but I believe it is premature to discuss them. The matter must be thoroughly investigated, he said at a meeting dedicated to the incident Wednesday. The reasons for the crash are not yet known, he said, adding that Azerbaijan has launched its own investigation. Aliyev said that the flight changed course because of worsening weather conditions and that the crash occurred during landing as the plane descended toward Aktau airport. He declared Thursday a national day of mourning in Azerbaijan. The flight had 62 passengers and five crew members on board, according to the Kazakh Emergencies Ministry. Later, the Kazakh Health Ministry published a list of 29 survivors, including two children. At least one airline said it is altering its flights in the region in light of the Kazakhstan air crash. El Al, Israel's national carrier, announced Thursday it is suspending its operations on its Tel Aviv-Moscow route for the coming week and will assess when they may resume. Former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson on Thursday launched a bid for chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), jumping into a crowded field of candidates vying to rebuild the party after its general election losses last month. MAGA is a distinctly 21st century political movement and it will not be defeated by a 20th century tool kit. Data analysis, fundraising, field organizing, and beefed-up technology while all are important will not be enough to prepare the way for Democratic victory in 2024 and beyond. Thats why I have decided to run for DNC Chair this year, Williamson wrote in a post on her Substack. Williamson cited her time on the campaign trail during her 2020 and 2024 presidential bids, arguing her experience of what went wrong has given me insight into what needs doing to make things right. The self-help author suspended her campaign before Iowas Democratic caucus in 2020. This cycle, she suspended and then unsuspended her presidential campaign this February, but she remained a long-shot contender throughout. Williamson joins a growing field of candidates jostling to replace current DNC Chair Jaime Harrison, who has held the role since 2021 and isnt expected to try for another term. Among the other declared contenders are New York state Sen. James Skoufis (D), Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley and former Homeland Security official Nate Snyder. The DNC chair race comes as Democrats assess their 2024 losses and chart a new path forward through the 2026 midterms and beyond. The candidates have largely pitched promises to rebuild and reimagine the party in the years ahead, which is bracing for the GOP to take a trifecta of control in Washington the White House and both chambers of Congress next month. As Chairwoman, I will work to reinvent the party from the inside out. For if we want a new President in four years, and a new Congress in two, then we must immediately get about the task of creating a new party, Williamson wrote. The election for the new party chair and other leadership positions within the DNC is slated to be on Feb. 1 less than two weeks after President-elect Trump is inaugurated during the partys winter meeting at National Harbor, Md. The DNC will also host four forums next month for the candidates to make their cases to the sitting committee members. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Nato is not ready to fight against Vladimir Putins Russia without the US, the leaders of the alliances three frontline states have told The Independent, as they called on allies to drastically increase defence spending. In the wake of Donald Trumps victory in the US presidential election, the leaders of Latvia, Estonia and Finland have urged the alliance to stop endlessly debating how to cope with the looming threat of Russia, saying it is time to bolster Europes defences. We are not ready. Thats absolutely clear, says Latvia president Edgars Rinkevics. We cant keep simply hoping for a situation where the US remains much involved in Europe. We have to ramp up our defence capabilities, Estonian prime minister Kristen Michal adds, because of Russias threat, and its inability to be a democracy and operate in a rule-based world. The three countries are the only Nato members that border Russia, a frontier that runs for 1,200 miles from the northern tip of Finland down to the southeastern corner of Latvia, which also borders Belarus, a vassal state of Mr Putin that was used by Moscow as a staging post in the invasion of Ukraine. Finland, Estonia and Latvia are also among Natos biggest spenders on defence relative to their gross domestic product (GDP). Nato requires its member states to spend at least 2 per cent of its GDP on defence, but before this year only a third of countries were fulfilling this. That figure has risen to two thirds of Nato members but experts still caution that spending is too low. Russia is projected to spend 6.3 per cent of its GDP on defence by the first quarter of 2025. Estonia spends 3.4 per cent of its GDP on defence, which is the second-highest in the alliance behind Poland. Latvia spends 3.15 per cent, making it the fourth-largest spender behind the US, and Finland spends just over 2.4 per cent. The UK is ninth, spending 2.3 per cent, with the Labour government pledging to increase that to 2.5 per cent. But this figure belies the fact that the UKs defence spending relative to GDP has remained relatively flat since 2014. Estonia, Finland and Latvia have all roughly doubled their spending in that time. When Finland, alongside Sweden, applied to join Nato in May 2022, ending decades of neutrality, it was hailed as a significant boost to the alliances military capabilities. Their accession a year later more than doubled Natos border with Russia. Finlands military is one of Europes largest, including 280,000 troops that can be mobilised and armed to the teeth in a week, says president Alexander Stubb. Nearly a fifth of its 5.5 million residents have military training owing to the countrys national service programme. The country has recently undergone rapid military growth, underscoring its concern over the threat posed by Mr Putins Russia. The amount Helsinki spends on defence each year relative to GDP has increased by nearly 0.9 per cent since 2022. As Russian forces began their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Finland also finalised its largest military-spending commitment, buying 64 F-35A fighter jets at an estimated cost of 7.5 billion. Speaking about Finlands most recent military purchases, as well as the growth of its forces, Mr Stubb says: We dont have this because were worried about Stockholm or London. We have this because were worried about Moscow. Russian soldiers fire a Giatsint-B gun towards Ukrainian troops (EPA) The need for Europe to increase its investment in defence predates the re-election of Mr Trump, but the return of the Republican billionaire to the White House has brought into sharp relief the poorly armed state of many of Europes Nato members, particularly in the western half of the continent. At the start of 2024, the soon-to-be 47th US president said he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to Nato members who do not pay their fair share into the Western military alliance. That drew criticism for undermining Natos Article 5, which states that an attack on one is an attack on all, but Mr Stubb praised what he described as pressure from Mr Trump, though he urged the alliance to focus more on capabilities rather than expenditure. Everyone needs to correct their defence deficit, he says, adding that Europe should compensate for the Cold War mentality of downgrading military capabilities. On the issue of future US involvement in the alliance, he says: I don't think that we can have Nato without the United States. Mr Rinkevics says there are discussions in progress about raising the minimum mandated spending level of Nato members to 2.5 per cent. During a meeting of European leaders in the Estonian capital Tallinn in December, the countrys defence minister Hanno Pevkur argued Nato member states should be spending as much as five per cent. Finnish president Alexander Stubb says it is clear Mr Trumps number one nemesis is China, not Russia (AP) While none of the European leaders said they believed Mr Trump would pull out of Nato, his long-held scepticism of the alliance notwithstanding, concerns prevail that the US, particularly under the incoming president, will eventually look to shift attention to China and the Indo-Pacific, including the defence of Taiwan. Their number one nemesis or competitor is China, says Mr Stubb, though he adds that he believes Mr Trump nevertheless understands the importance of alliances in combating Beijing, too. Experts have also pointed out that should the US shift its resources and focus too quickly to the Indo-Pacific without affording Europe time to become more independent, they could be dragged back into European security issues at a much greater expense. I think its in the vested interest of the United States to stay engaged [in Europe], Mr Stubb says. In any case, I believe that values-based alliances last much longer than interest-based alliances. Underlying Europes need to spend more on defence is its support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia. Aside from questioning US support in Nato, Mr Trump has also vowed to put an end to the prevailing Western philosophy of backing Kyiv until they push Russia completely out of Ukraine. He has said the killing on both sides must end immediately, and that he will secure an end to the war within 24 hours of assuming office. Many fear this will involve forcing Ukraine to cede some of its currently occupied territory to Russia. Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky has admitted that Ukraines military currently lacks the strength to retake its territory under Russian control, which includes four regions in the east and south of the country, as well as the Crimean peninsula on the Black Sea. Kristen Michal, the prime minister of Estonia, greets Keir Starmer in Tallinn (PA) But Europes frontline countries remain adamant that Putin must not be rewarded for his invasion and that the safety of the continent relies on Ukraines success. To be very frank, when Russia is fighting with Ukraine and Russia is defeated in Ukraine, there is no need to ask who is next, says Mr Michal. If we allow Russia as a regime, as a thug, as a bully, to take something by force, and after that, we say, yes, lets agree that half of what is taken is theirs, then that would be a very bad message for the future of the democratic world. But the inability of Europe to protect itself, particularly without the US, only emphasises its difficulty in continuing to support Ukraine militarily. When Mr Zelensky said Ukraine lacked the ability to retake Russian-occupied territory, it was significant that he suggested diplomatic pressure was the only way to ensure Mr Putin was not rewarded for his land grab. During a meeting in Brussels last week, Mr Zelensky added that it was impossible to speak of a successful end to the fighting if Ukraine received only European security guarantees. Only guarantees with US backing could be sufficient to prevent future Russian attacks, he said. We are training Ukrainians together with Estonians and Finns, but at this point, the capacity is not enough, admits Mr Rinkevics. I would say that currently one of the issues is not only that many nations are not ready to provide Ukraine with arms, its the defence industry that is not able to produce at the necessary level. We can provide Ukraine with what we can, but in many cases, we are already at the edge of what we have. A UK government spokesperson said: Nato is the most successful defensive alliance in history and has made the one billion people under its umbrella area, including the UK, safer and more secure. We already spend 2.3 per cent of our GDP on defence, and have committed to increasing to 2.5 per cent as soon as possible. Our commitment to Ukraine remains ironclad, and we will deliver 3bn a year in military aid to them for as long as it is needed. This time last year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in the doldrums. He started very low, said Nadav Shtrauchler, a political strategist who has worked closely with Netanyahu. The lowest point that he had. Many Israelis accused him of being asleep at the wheel on October 7, the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. Some even said he enabled it by funding Hamas. His political support was dismal even if the Gaza war let him brush aside calls for an election. Polls suggested support for his Likud Party was down 25% from just three months prior. On its face, the year that followed was hardly uplifting. It brought tens of thousands of deaths, regional conflict, indictments, and accusations of ethnic cleansing and genocide. And yet, Netanyahu ends the year having transformed his standing in Israel. I am running a marathon, he told a Tel Aviv courtroom earlier this month, facing charges which he denies of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. I can run it with 20 kilos on my back, and I can run it with 10 kilos on my back. Mr Security once again Netanyahu has spent the year managing and in some cases instigating, his critics allege an expanding regional conflict, while simultaneously shoring up his domestic political footing. 2024 was the year in which he began to recover from the very serious losses in the public image, the polling and political analyst Dahlia Scheindlin said. Netanyahu addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September. - Mike Segar/Reuters Were elections held today, Likud would still lose a few seats, but support is back to pre-October 7 levels. Opposition from the likes of retired general Benny Gantz has slackened. Netanyahu has neutered dissent by firing Yoav Gallant as defense minister and bringing in obsequious politicians whose loyalty and Knesset relationships decrease the risk that the extreme right or ultra-Orthodox parties could collapse the coalition. While Gaza is still a manacle stickers with the faces of hostages plaster Israeli streets regional conflict has lessened its salience. It has also been key to his success, Scheindlin argues. He has returned to form, positioning himself as the only leader willing and able to defend the Jewish people and prevent the creation of a Palestinian state. A demonstration is staged in Tel Aviv in April for Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza. - Faiz Abu Rmeleh/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images For Israelis he is, once again, Mr Security. The moment Hezbollah got involved, Scheindlin said, referring to the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group, it became something beyond Netanyahus failure or the failure of his government. It became proof that the rest of the world is against us and wants to kill us and nobody understands the Iran octopus threat better than Netanyahu. And so he gets the credit for dealing with it as well. Even the corruption trial and an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for war crimes are proof, to Netanyahu and his supporters, that its him against the deep state. Again and again, he repeats familiar catchphrases that are as hollow as they are comforting: a Palestinian state is a reward for terrorism and Israel will achieve total victory. Iran may be a familiar bogeyman, but Shtrauchler argues that the aggressive military campaign played against orthodox instincts for Netanyahu, who before October 7 was seen as relatively averse to using adventurous military tactics abroad. He knows how to take a situation and adapt to it, he said. Politically I dont think that many would have believed in November or October last year that this would be his status now. Netanyahu is seen in June in the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona, which came under sustained fire from Hezbollah in Lebanon. - GPO For a year, Israel kept a low-level conflict in Lebanon, started by Hezbollah in solidarity with Hamas. The Israeli cabinet overruled hawks who wanted an aggressive campaign last fall. At the end of September that changed, and Israel launched a devastating offensive that killed thousands, displaced more than a million, and flattened much of Lebanons southern border. The aggressive strategy led to the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar is also now dead. The fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria severed Hezbollahs most important supply line from Iran. The Israel Defense Forces dusted off its Syria plans, and in a few days destroyed Assads naval, air and rocket capacity. Israeli commandos occupy the strategic summit of Mount Hermon, in southern Syria. The aftermath of an Israeli air strike in southern Beirut, Lebanon, that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on September 27. - Ahmad Al-Kerdi/Reuters Netanyahu is pictured on Mount Hermon in southern Syria, whose summit was captured by Israeli forces after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. - Israeli Government Press Office A year ago, I said something simple: we would change the face of the Middle East, and we are indeed doing so, Netanyahu said earlier this month after a phone call with President-elect Donald Trump. That ally will soon move into the White House. The incoming president has chosen as ambassador to Israel a Christian evangelical who wont bother with platitudes about a future Palestinian state. Though pro-Palestine protests have become commonplace in Western capitals, and Western leaders have stiffened their rhetoric, arms deliveries to Israel have continued. Netanyahu, right, with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, in July. - Amos Ben-Gershom/Israeli Government Press Office There are stark partisan and age divides when it comes to Western support for Israel. But polling in the United States suggests that views on Israel, the Palestinians and the war have not changed much in the past year or even since before October 7. In the US, according to a survey by the Pearson Institute/AP-NORC, 40% of those polled said in November 2023 that Israel had gone too far in its war in Gaza. That rose to 50% by January. But by September this year, it was back down to 42%. Public support for military aid to Israel has barely budged. Sympathy has risen for both Palestinians and Israelis. The number of Americans who say a hostage deal is extremely important has decreased slightly, along with the number who say it is extremely important to provide aid to the Palestinians. Strong support for a permanent ceasefire is more or less the same as it was a year ago, at 52%. Death, indictments, and protest That Netanyahu has recovered as he has is even more surprising given the devastation 2024 has brought. Ninety-six hostages taken on October 7 remain in Gaza. Many are believed to be dead. Fewer Israelis think the country is in a very bad situation, according to a survey by the Israel Democracy Institute, but still nearly half hold that view. Israels war in Gaza has killed tens of thousands the majority of whom are women and children, according to the UN. Relatives mourn 17-year-old Rahaf Abu Laban at a hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, in November. She was crushed to death as a crowd of Palestinians pushed to get bread at a bakery. - Abdel Kareem Hana/AP In the Western world, politicians and protesters alike are criticizing Israel in a way once thought to be impossible. It is unclear whether Netanyahu can travel to Europe or any of 124 nations that are bound to honor the ICCs arrest warrant for him and his former defense minister. The ICC prosecutor says that the prime minister has intentionally and knowingly deprived Gazans of humanitarian supplies with the aim of starving them, and is responsible for attacks targeted at civilians. Netanyahu accused the court of moral bankruptcy and said the charges were aimed at deterring Israel from exercising our natural right to defend ourselves. Ireland, South Africa, and Amnesty International have all leveled genocide accusations at Israel the refuge for the Jews, the people for whom the Polish lawyer Raphael Lemkin coined the term. Israeli lawyers have rejected that claim as grossly distorted. He had already been the first Israeli prime minister to face criminal charges and prison time. In December, he became the first prime minister to defend himself in a courtroom. The war has been the longest and most expensive in Israels history. Tourism is barely existent. Businesses are closing their doors. Netanyahu speaks at Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, in August. - Naama Grynbaum/Reuters And though Netanyahu ends the year much better off than he started it, his future is far from secure. Israeli politics is as fractured as ever, and he remains a deeply divisive figure. His governing coalition is more stable, but still fragile. Israels image internationally may be forever altered. A ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza appears close but remains elusive. Iran is weakened but remains a serious threat. If you took it as a movie, we still havent seen the last scene, Shtrauchler said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Members of a delegation invited to Angola by the White House vow to continue to teach Black history. LUANDA, Angola The Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley left Angola earlier this month more inspired than ever to preserve African American history. The visit, she said, standing near this African city's National Slavery Museum, makes me committed to putting my feet 10 toes down into Black History." Arline-Bradley, president of the National Council of Negro Women, joined a VIP delegation with President Joe Biden on a trip to Angola where centuries ago, Africans from the region were enslaved and brought to what would become the United States. Coming here was bigger than just (being part of) a delegation," she said. "It was a reigniting of my fire and my angst of being a Black mother in America with my Black son asking questions about himself, not understanding the history except when I teach it." Other national historians and civil rights leaders who joined the trip, which included visits to the slavery museum and the Museum of Anthropology, said it also fueled their passion for protecting African American history. It comes at a time when some Americans have seemingly become more uncomfortable with the teaching aspects of the nations history, including centuries of slavery. Theres this fear of understanding the complexity of America. This fear of saying that America has made mistakes. America has benefitted from things that are horrific, said Lonnie Bunch, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, who was also in Angola. But Bunch said true appreciation will only come from knowledge. In essence, what you also get is an understanding that these are examples of where America is a work in progress. Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley, president of the National Council of Negro Women, visited the National Slavery Museum Dec. 3, 2024 as part of an delegation invited by the White House to join President Joe Biden on his first trip to Angola. In recent years, lawmakers in some states have pushed to restrict the teaching of Black history and banned books many about race and by authors of color. Civil rights activists, faith leaders and others have launched programs to counter those efforts. Theyre going to be pushing back for a long time. But I think the key is how do you push back against the pushback? said Bunch, also founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. You have evidence. You have research. You have candor. You have people who are willing to say, This is important and heres why. A delegation of Americans, including historians, civil rights activists and faith leaders, participated in a walking tour Dec. 2, 2024 in Luanda, Angola. The White House invited the delegation to join President Joe Biden on his trip to Angola. History of slavery overlooked on both continents As the crowd waited for Biden to deliver remarks on a stage near the National Slavery Museum, Tonya Matthews, president of the International African American Museum, sat in the front row, facing the ocean. The museum she leads overlooks a wharf in Charleston, South Carolina, on the other side of the Atlantic. I feel like Im looking across the water at the institution," Matthews said. Im looking across the centuries at a more appropriate telling of history and the story. Theres some shared grief on both sides. Theres also shared wrangling about how we should tell the story and I think thats a little encouraging to know that our sister country struggles as much as we do. Tonya Matthews, president of the International African American Museum, and others from a VIP delegation waited Dec. 3, 2024 for President Joe Biden to speak at the National Museum of Slavery in Luanda, Angola. Last year, Angolan President Joao Lourenco visited the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. This is history that is part of our common history, Lourenco said then. Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP who was also part of the VIP delegation, praised Biden for closing out his presidency with the Angola trip. Johnson called the history between Angola and the U.S. rich and deep, adding that the rice industry in America grew into a billion-dollar industry because enslaved Angolans brought the know-how for growing rice to places like South Carolina and Georgia. Thats a history we should never allow to be repeated and the way you do that is by understanding and studying it, Johnson said. Lonnie Bunch, secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, and Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, joined a walking tour Dec. 2, 2024 in Luanda, Angola. They were part of a delegation invited by the White House to join President Biden's trip to the African country. The United States has been complicit Arline-Bradley's National Council of Negro Women plans to work with the African American Policy Forum to create a Black History curriculum to be shared with community groups. It also intends to launch a campaign to teach civics education in Black communities. I feel the connection here, Arline-Bradley said of the trip to Angola, adding that the experience comes with a responsibility. This is not just for the cameras. This opportunity is actually helping us recommit to telling the full story on where weve been complicit," she said. The United States of America has been complicit in hiding the story." Bunch agreed. History is not something you can run away from. History is something that shapes us," he said. You can run, but you cant hide. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Africa trip inspires to protect Black history in America By Jana Choukeir, Nidal al-Mughrabi and Maytaal Angel DUBAI/CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel traded blame on Wednesday over their failure to conclude a ceasefire agreement despite progress reported by both sides in past days. Hamas said that Israel had laid down further conditions, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the group of going back on understandings already reached. "The occupation has set new conditions related to withdrawal, ceasefire, prisoners, and the return of the displaced, which has delayed reaching the agreement that was available," Hamas said. It added that it was showing flexibility and that the talks, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, were serious. Netanyahu countered in a statement: "The Hamas terrorist organization continues to lie, is reneging on understandings that have already been reached, and is continuing to create difficulties in the negotiations." Israel will, however, continue relentless efforts to return hostages, he added. Israeli negotiators returned to Israel from Qatar on Tuesday evening for consultations about a hostage deal after a significant week of talks, Netanyahu's office said on Tuesday. The U.S. and Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt have stepped up efforts to conclude a phased deal in the past two weeks. One of the challenges has been agreements on Israeli troop deployments. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, speaking with commanders in southern Gaza, said on Wednesday that Israel will retain security control of the enclave, including by means of buffer zones and controlling posts. Hamas is demanding an end to the war, while Israel says it wants to end Hamas' rule of the enclave first, to ensure it will no longer pose a threat to Israelis. ISRAEL KEEPS UP MILITARY PRESSURE Meanwhile Israeli forces kept up pressure on the northern Gaza Strip, in one of the most punishing campaigns of the 14-month war, including around three hospitals on the northern edge of the enclave, in Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun and Jabalia. Palestinians accuse Israel of seeking to permanently depopulate northern Gaza to create a buffer zone. Israel denies this and says it has instructed civilians to leave those areas for their own safety while its troops battle Hamas militants. Israeli strikes killed at least 24 people across Gaza on Wednesday, health officials said. One strike hit a former school sheltering displaced families in Gaza City's suburb of Sheikh Radwan, they added. The Israeli military said it struck a Hamas militant operating in the area of Al-Furqan in Gaza City. Several Palestinians were killed and wounded in the Al-Mawasi area, an Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in southern Gaza, where the military said it was targeting another Hamas operative. The war was triggered by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's campaign against Hamas in Gaza has since killed more than 45,300 Palestinians, according to health officials in the Hamas-run enclave. Most of the population of 2.3 million has been displaced and much of Gaza is in ruins. (This story has been corrected to change the day to Wednesday in paragraph 9) (Reporting by Jana Choukeir and Tala Ramadan; Editing by Barbara Lewis and Hugh Lawson) Russia launched an inhumane attack on Ukraines energy infrastructure on Christmas Day, with explosions reported across the country, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky said. It is the thirteenth time this year Russia has carried out a major attack on Ukraines power grid, according to DTEK, the countrys largest energy provider, leaving it in a precarious position while the war grinds into a third winter. At least one person died in the attacks in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, while six others were injured in Kharkiv less than 20 miles from the Russian border Ukraines national police said, adding that residential buildings and civilian infrastructure were damaged in the attack. At least seven missile strikes targeted the city, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Half a million households have been left without heating in the Kharkiv region in temperatures of 3 degrees Celsius (37 degrees Fahrenheit). Kyiv has imposed rolling blackouts to stabilize the grid, DTEK said. Ukrainian forces meanwhile said Wednesday that they attacked a Russian command post overnight in Lgov in the Kursk region, where Kyiv launched a surprise offensive this year. Four people were killed and five have been hospitalised, including one woman in a serious condition, according to local authorities in the Kursk region. In Russias North Ossetia-Alania, the ministry of defence said an explosion and fire in a shopping center in Vladikavkaz was caused by falling debris from a drone shot down by air defence forces Wednesday morning which killed one person. Attack comes after Xmas day switch Prior to 2023, most Ukrainians celebrated Christmas on January 7 under the Julian church calendar, but last year Zelensky signed a law formally changing the date as a way of further distancing the country from the traditions of the Russian Orthodox Church and bringing it in line with much of the rest of Europe. Ukraine created its own independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine in 2018, splitting from the Moscow-affiliated Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). Since then, religious affiliation has increasingly been viewed as a symbol of national loyalty. The holiday is now celebrated by Ukrainian Orthodox Christians on December 25, and Zelensky said Russias intentions were clear. Every massive Russian strike requires time for preparation. It is never a spontaneous decision. It is a deliberate choice not only of targets but also of timing and date, Zelensky said. Today, Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack. What could be more inhumane? People take shelter at a metro station during an air raid alert in Kyiv, Ukraine, on December 25, 2024. - Thomas Peter/Reuters Russia launched more than 70 missiles on Wednesday, including ballistic missiles, and more than 100 attack drones targeting Ukraines energy infrastructure, he said, adding more than 50 missiles were shot down along with a significant number of drones. Unfortunately, there are hits. As of now, there are blackouts in several regions, he added. DTEK said the attacks severely damaged equipment at its thermal power plants across the country. This year, it is the thirteenth massive attack on the Ukrainian energy sector and the tenth massive attack on the companys energy facilities, the company said, adding its thermal power plants have been shelled more than 200 times since the start of Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russia attacked the energy sector again on a massive scale, Ukraines energy minister German Halushchenko said on his Facebook page. Ukraines energy operator imposed emergency blackouts in several parts of the country, the minister added. Ukraines foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha said on X that a Russian missile passed Moldovan and Romanian airspace reminding that Russia threatens not only Ukraine. Maia Sandu, president of the Republic of Moldova said on X: While our countries celebrate Christmas, Kremlin chooses destruction targeting Ukraines energy infrastructure and violating Moldovas airspace with a missile, actions that clearly violate international law. Moldova condemns these acts and stands in full solidarity with Ukraine. Romanians ministry of national defense said they could not confirm that Romanian airspace was crossed. Poland scrambled fighter jets in response to a Russian missile threat in western Ukraine, according to the Polish Operational Command. Wednesdays attack follows a deadly Russian strike on the city of Kryvyi Rih on Christmas Eve. At least one person was killed and 17 others were injured after a Russian missile struck a residential building in the city the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Woman who was lit on fire A young North Carolina woman was doused in gasoline and set on fire by a sick suspect who then fled leaving her heartbroken mother wondering, How could they do this to my baby? Ashanti Downey, 20, was rushed to the emergency room the night of Dec. 16 with second-and third-degree burns down the right side of her body, according to WRAL News in Raleigh-Durham. Staffers at Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford called the Harnett County Sheriffs Office at about 7 p.m. to report the horrific act, which happened as Downey walked along Highway 27 toward a Dollar General in the same town. Ashanti Downey, 20, was set on fire in North Carolina last week. gofundme Thats when an unidentified man came up behind her, dumped gas all over her and lit a cigarette that sparked the blaze, Downey told investigators. She was later moved to a local burn center, where she was listed in critical but stable condition with burns over nearly three-quarters of her body, according to the network and a GoFundMe set up by the family. How could they do this to my baby? Donecia Davis, her distraught mom, told WRAL. You didnt have to do this to her. In the online fundraiser which had raised more than $20,000 as of Thursday Davis wrote that her daughter would be celebrating her 21st birthday on New Years Day. Due to the hatred of an individual or individuals, her life will be forever changed, Davis wrote. No parent should have to see their child in the condition my daughter is in, she said. I am making her my top priority and have been by her side at the hospital since this incident occurred. Downey and her mother, Donecia Davis. WRAL In a Christmas Day update, Davis wrote that her daughter will be going through a third surgery soon. The money raised will help the family offset the cost of those surgeries, as well as treatment and rehab, she added. Harnett County Sheriff Wayne Coats said this was one of the most heinous crimes his department has ever seen. Its just a nightmare for this family, he said, adding that cops are still searching for a motive. It could have been domestic-related, he said. It could have been a gang initiation. Were mystified by whats happened. Downey was walking to this Dollar General when she was attacked, according to reports. WRAL David, meanwhile, is hoping someone comes forward. Someone tell the truth, she said. You saw it. Authorities asked anyone with information to call Det. Ronald Beasley at 910-893-0151, the Harnett County Sheriffs Office at 910-893-9111, the tip line at 910-893-0300, or submit a tip at P3Tips.com. Flash Israel and Hamas exchanged accusations on Wednesday, each blaming the other for delays in reaching a Gaza ceasefire deal. In a press statement, Hamas said the talks in Doha, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, were "progressing seriously." However, it accused Israel of introducing "new conditions related to the issues of the withdrawal (from Gaza), the ceasefire, the prisoners, and the return of the displaced people." These conditions, Hamas claimed, caused "the delay in reaching an agreement that was within reach." In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office released a statement denying Hamas's accusations. The statement said Hamas had backtracked on understandings already reached and was "hindering the negotiations." On Tuesday, Israel recalled its delegation from the talks in Doha, stating that the team had been involved in a week of "meaningful" discussions. "The team is returning for internal consultations in Israel regarding the continuation of negotiations for the return of our hostages," the office said. The withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the coastal Palestinian enclave and the length of the ceasefire have been key sticking points in previous failed negotiation attempts. Hamas seeks to end the war entirely, while Israel insists on removing Hamas' control over Gaza before any resolution and maintaining a military presence in the Palestinian enclave even after the ceasefire. A corrections officer at an Ohio prison was killed Christmas day when an inmate attacked him, authorities said Wednesday. The assault occurred Wednesday morning at the Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe, located about 45 miles south of Columbus, according to a news release from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. The news release identified the corrections officer killed in the attack as Andrew Lansing. The inmate suspected of being behind the fatal assault, who was transferred to another facility, was identified Thursday as Rashawn L. Cannon, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said in an email to USA TODAY. "The loss of a staff person is difficult, but to lose a family member on Christmas Day at the hands of someone in our custody is a tragedy beyond comprehension," ODRC Director Annette Chambers-Smith said in a prepared statement. Ohio corrections officer killed on Christmas Day Chambers-Smith described Lansing in her statement as "a long-time, well-respected employee at Ross." Corrections officer Andrew Lansing died Dec. 25, 2024 after an assault by an inmate, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. "His untimely death on Christmas Day is heartbreaking for his family, the entire Ross Correctional Institution family, and our agency as a whole," Chambers-Smith said in the statement. "Officer Lansing was loved by his colleagues ... He was a friendly, outgoing officer who treated everyone with respect and was always a professional." It was not immediately clear how long Lansing had worked as a corrections officer. USA TODAY left a message Thursday morning with the ODRC seeking additional information. "We ask that you keep Officer Lansings family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers at this devastating and tragic time," Chambers-Smith concluded. Ohio union leader for prison guards calls for change Following Lansing's death, the president of the union representing corrections officers demanded state officials institute changes to protect corrections officers. Describing Lansing's death a "horrendous and heart-wrenching" reminder of what corrections officers face on the job, Ohio Civil Service Employees Association President Chris Mabe called on Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to take action. "We're going to insist and demand on accountability," Mabe told The Columbus Dispatch, a USA TODAY Network publication. "We're demanding action from the governor's office." Problems like understaffing and low wages have long plagued corrections work, Mabe said, as has the rising drug use and violence among prison inmates. "Our worst fears have come true once again: An officer was murdered on Christmas Day," Mabe said. "We think these kinds of things can be avoided in this department." A spokesman for DeWine said Thursday to USA TODAY that "our office has not received his formal request at the time of this email." State patrol to investigate corrections officer's death The Ohio State Highway Patrol, which is investigating Lansing's death, said the attack occurred at 7:16 a.m. Wednesday. While prison officials have described Lansing's death as the result of "an inmate assault," further details about the attack were not immediately released. "The Ohio State Highway Patrol mourns alongside our Department of Rehabilitation and correction partners for their tragic loss," Sgt. Bridget Matt, a patrol spokesperson, said in a statement to USA TODAY. Lansing is the second corrections officer to die in 2024 in Ohio, the Dispatch reported. Lt. Rodney Osborne from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction's Southern Ohio Correctional Facility was fatally shot during a training exercise in April. This article has been updated to add new information. Contributing: Maria DeVito, Columbus Dispatch This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ohio corrections officer killed Christmas Day in 'inmate assault' Osceola County Sheriff's Office A Florida woman was arrested this week after she stabbed a customer she believed had given her a bad tip on a recent pizza delivery run, police allege. Brianna Alvelo, 22, spent Christmas in the Osceola County Jail on charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, home invasion with a firearm and aggravated assault, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post on Wednesday. Authorities allege that on Dec. 22, Alvelo and a male accomplice, armed with a knife and gun, respectively, broke into a room at the Riviera Motel in Kissimmee, where Alvelo proceeded to stab the room's occupant multiple times. The pair then allegedly stole multiple items from the room, say authorities. The Sheriff's office alleges Alvelo had delivered a pizza to the room earlier in the evening and was upset with the tip she received. Related: Dominos Delivery Driver Was 'Backbone' of Family. 3 Teens Allegedly Killed Him to Steal Pizza 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. Alvelo was arrested the following day and booked into the Osceola County Jail, where she remains held without bail. The male suspect, meanwhile, has not been caught. The victim, who was not immediately identified, was taken to the hospital and was in stable condition on Dec. 25, the Sheriff's office reported. An attorney for Alvelo could not immediately be reached. Read the original article on People President-elect Donald Trumps border czar Tom Homan vowed to build family facilities to detain and deport the massive number of migrants who have entered the country illegally in recent years along with their US-born children. Tens of thousands of migrant families would be able to be detained in the soft-sided tent structures before their deportation, Homan told the Washington Post in an in an interview published Thursday. But despite the aggressive removal operation slated to begin on Day One of Trumps second term, the border czar promised that non-citizen parents with American children will have the opportunity to choose whether they want to be split up or be deported together. Homan said families will de detained together and will have the opportunity to decide if they want to be deported together or split up. The Washington Post via Getty Images We need to show the American people we can do this and not be inhumane about it, he said. We cant lose the faith of the American people. Homan, 63, has pledged to carry out the largest deportation operation in US history and previously stipulated that those who crossed the border illegally will not be spared from the removals, even if they are part of family units that include citizens. Heres the issue, he added. You knew you were in the country illegally and chose to have a child. So you put your family in that position. Congress will have to allocate sufficient funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to complete the operation, which Homan projected will be much larger than President Dwight D. Eisenhowers effort to kick out 1.1 million Mexican laborers in 1954. A former ICE official himself, Homan has estimated the agency will need at least 100,000 beds for detentions and at least $86 billion in funding for the mass exodus. Were going to need to construct family facilities, he told the Washington Post. How many beds were going to need will depend on what the data says. Migrant plead with the Texas National Guard to be let in on the north embankment of the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas in order to be processed by Border Patrol on March 20, 2024. Omar Ornelas/El Paso Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Trump said he will begin mass deportations on Day One and hopes to carry out the largest in American history. KEN BLEVINS/WILMINGTON STAR-NEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The deportations will not involve sweeps through neighborhoods as some of Homans critics have contended. I dont see this thing as being sweeps and the military going through neighborhoods, he noted, arguing it will be targeted to those with criminal records. There will also be a separate plan to find the more than 300,000 migrant children that have gone missing since crossing the border, according to the incoming border czar. Border Patrol agents patrol the area near where Attorney General Jeff Sessions addresses the media during a press conference at Border Field State Park on May 7, 2018 in San Ysidro, CA. Getty Images The missing migrant kids have been of particular concern to Trump, who raised the alarm on the campaign trail about documented instances of the unaccompanied minors being used for forced labor or exploited by sex traffickers. I think some of these children will be in forced labor, and some will be in the sex trade, Homan grimly assessed of the hundreds of thousands of migrant kids loose in the US. I think some will be perfectly fine, he also said. We just want to make sure. Tom Homan during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, US, on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. Zach D Roberts/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Trump, 78, is preparing other executive actions to dismantle retiring President Bidens policies on Day One including a humanitarian parole program that has let in up to 30,000 migrants per month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela since January 2023. The soon-to-be 47th president also has signaled he is intent on finishing construction of a southern border wall, revoking birthright citizenship and reinstating his Remain in Mexico policy to require migrants seeking asylum to await immigration court hearings outside the US. Donald Trumps communications director Steven Cheung blasted the premise that Congress could block the incoming president from assuming power calling it a threat to Democracy on Thursday. The Hill published an op-ed with the headline, Congress has the power to block Trump from taking office, but lawmakers must act now, pushing that those who engaged in an insurrection against the Constitution should be banned from assuming power. Oh, look. Democrats want to steal the election and invalidate the will of the American people, Cheung wrote on X in response to the op-ed. Threat to Democracy. Steven Cheung blasted an op-ed in The Hill that had the headline, Congress has the power to block Trump from taking office, but lawmakers must act now. AP President-elect Donald Trump addresses the conservative AmericaFest conference in Phoenix on Dec. 22, 2024. Joe Rondone/The Arizona Republic via the USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Here are two idiots inciting an insurrection Remember the names: Congress has the power to block Trump from taking office, but lawmakers must act now, Chris LaCivita, a former 2024 campaign Trump adviser, also wrote. You people are sick, Trumps middle son, Eric, chimed in. Such a crazy thing for them to say. Legacy media is just the propaganda arm of the radical left, Trump ally Elon Musk wrote in response to the scions tweet. The Hill article notes that the 14th Amendment in the Constitution states, No person shall hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. A mob of Trump supporters storm the US Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021. REUTERS Steven Cheung, joined by other Trump campaign staffers, speak to reporters on the tarmac in Wisconsin on Oct. 30. Getty Images The article argues there are three points that prove Trump participated in an insurrection: Congress impeaching him after his actions on Jan. 6, the Colorado Supreme Court finding that he engaged in insurrection and the conclusions of the bipartisan inquiry into the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The evidence of Donald Trumps engaging in such insurrection is overwhelming, argues the op-ed, written by Evan A. Davis and David M. Schulte, two Democrat lawyers. No members of Congress have been making noise about the amendment in recent weeks, but Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) had previously pointed to the same argument about why Trump should be disqualified. Well, absolutely, and weve been saying all along that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment presents a clear and unequivocal statement that anyone who has sworn an oath of office, Raskin told CNNs Dana Bash in 2023. And by the way, not just the president but members of Congress and others who hold federal office, who engage in insurrection or rebellion, having sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution against enemies foreign and domestic, can never serve again in federal or state office. MK Borner/TiKTok Mary Kate TikTok Mary Kate and Giuliana recently celebrated Secret Santa with their close-knit group of friends, whom theyve had since high school. This year, the occasion took on a deeper meaning for Giuliana, who lost her mother to ovarian cancer earlier in the year. In a viral TikTok, Mary Kate documented her gift to Giuliana a custom purse with butterflies, which symbolizes her relationship with her late mom. Giuliana's had a rough year losing her mom, Mary Kate exclusively tells PEOPLE. When I do Secret Santa, I really like to be intentional and thoughtful. The butterflies have always been a special thing with Giuliana. I thought this would be great because Giuliana is such an amazing friend, Mary Kate continues. I wanted to give her something that was personal and had touches of her mom that she could carry with her everywhere. Related: The Heartwarming Backstory of NORAD's Santa Tracker: It All Started With a Newspaper Misprint Courtesy of Mary Kate Borner Guiliana's purse The purse also had a heartfelt note from Giuliana's mother sewed into the flap. I was just shocked in general, Giuliana recalls exclusively to PEOPLE about her thoughts, before knowing Mary Kate was behind the gift. Someone took the time to really think about this gift. The most thoughtful gift I've ever received. I'm so grateful for it. Ill treasure it forever. Giuliana shares the significance of butterflies: she and mother often referred to each other as butterflies since a butterfly landed on her mothers stomach during her pregnancy. 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. When she realized it was Mary Kate who was the mastermind behind the gift, it meant even more, as she was Giuliana's first friend in high school before their close-knit group was formed. The emotional moment the gift was opened was captured on TikTok, where it quickly went viral. Many who commented on the video noted how special their friendship was. To be loved is to be seen, Mary Kate reflects on her gift. "Just recognizing what someone means to you and having that in a gift is powerful. This just really showed how meaningful our friendship is, Giuliana remarks, with Mary Kate adding, We already have a very solid friendship ... We have really hit the jackpot. Related: Man Wants to Skip Familys Impersonal Gift Swap: I Love Spending Time Picking Out Something Thoughtful' Their friendship expanded into advocating for Giuliana's mom following her diagnosis. In honor of her mother, Giuliana organized a walk in Chicago this year that drew around 100 participants in an effort to bring awareness to ovarian cancer. Courtesy of Mary Kate Borner Mary Kate and Giuliana Ovarian cancer is one of the lesser known cancers, Giuliana shares. Its not researched enough but my mom really trusted her gut and knew something was wrong. Mary Kate chimes in, Just seeing her strength and courage really inspired all of us. The Secret Santa exchange between the two friends not only highlighted the strength of a lasting friendship but their unique bond and the importance of the love and support they have for one another when navigating through challenges in life. Read the original article on People Shelby Knowles/Bloomberg via Getty A Zepbound injection pen. Eli Lillys weight loss drug Zepbound is no longer in short supply, the FDA said, worrying patients who use cheaper, off-brand versions of the drug. On Thursday, Dec. 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced in a statement that after two years of being in shortage, tirzepatide the active ingredient in Zepbound and its counterpart Mounjaro for diabetes is fully available again. "FDA has determined that the shortage of tirzepatide injection products, which first began in December 2022, is resolved," the agency said, per CNBC. "FDA continues to monitor supply and demand for these products." Related: 1 in 8 U.S. Adults Have Taken Ozempic or Similar Drugs, According to a New Survey Since the shortage began, specialty and compounding pharmacies have been allowed to sell off-brand versions of the weight loss drug online. People were able to get prescriptions easily through telehealth, and the cost was much lower than traditional prescriptions not covered by insurance. Weight loss drugs that use tirzepatide as the active ingredient cost around $1,000 per month without insurance, and the off-brand alternatives are often more affordable, according to Business Insider. Alternatives for tirzepatide can cost around $250 to $350. Now that the shortage is over, specialty and compounding pharmacies such as Hims and Ro must stop selling their off-brand versions of the weight-loss drugs. "People are concerned. They're saying, 'This has been life changing but I don't have $1000 to pay out of pocket and my insurance isn't going to cover it," Ted Kyle, an obesity care and health professional, told Business Insider. Shelby Knowles/Bloomberg via Getty A Zepbound injection pen. The FDA has also cited overdoses as a concern, as it has received reports of patients giving themselves the incorrect dose of off-brand drugs. "These dosing errors resulted from patients measuring and self-administering incorrect doses of the drug, and in some cases, health care professionals miscalculating doses of the drug," the FDA said in a statement, noting that some of these overdoses may be related to the off-brand drugs having different formulas than name brands. This isn't the only recent weight loss drug shortage to impact the U.S. in recent years the FDA has previously stated that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic (made by competitor Novo Nordisk) is in shortage. Related: Ozempic and Wegovy May Be Linked to Increased Risk of Rare Form of Blindness but More Research Is Needed 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. Eli Lilly and other drug companies have also been attempting to crack down on off-brand versions of its weight loss drugs, suing medical spas, compounding pharmacies and weight loss clinics, according to CNBC. In turn, an organization representing compounding pharmacies, called the Outsourcing Facilities Association, sued the FDA in October, CNBC reported, over the its decision to remove tirzepatide from the drug shortages list several days prior. The pharmacies alleged that the FDA ignored evidence that showed there is still a tirzepatide shortage. The FDA quickly responded, saying it would leave tirzepatide on the list for a period of time as they reevaluated, allowing the compounding pharmacies to keep making the drugs. The demand for GLP-1 drugs has grown in recent years, thanks in part to marketing from telehealth companies, the AP reports, which are not held to the same standards as drug companies. Read the original article on People Champion local news. Join our community of readers who value daily beat reporting and in-depth stories alike. Your membership allows us to continue the legacy of local, independent journalism in the Roaring Fork Valley. With your support, we can remain a free and accessible source of news for everyone, always without paywalls or corporate influence. Together, we can ensure that vital local stories are told. Pashinian cancelled his anticipated trip to Saint Petersburg on Wednesday, saying that he tested positive for the coronavirus. The official explanation was questioned by some of his domestic critics who linked the development to the Armenian governments strained relations with Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin did not inquire about Pashinians health condition or mention it when he opened the summit held outside the Russias second largest city. Meanwhile, Lukashenko quipped about Pashinians physical absence from the meeting during which his country took over the rotating presidency of the EEU from Armenia. We know that you not only shaved your beard but also got a little sick, he said. Thats why we perceive you as a new, young, on the face of it at least, member of our union. Pashinian responded by saying that he will not physically attend the next EEU summit in Minsk in line with his earlier statement that neither he nor other Armenian officials will visit Belarus as long as Lukashenko remains in power. Whats the problem? said the Belarusian strongman. Is Minsk too far away or you have nobody to give you a ride? We will organize the transport of your delegation if necessary. Maybe there wont be TV sets for you to talk via video link, he added in another jibe at the Armenian leader. No problem I understand that you may be having problems with TV sets as well, Pashinian shot back. Long-standing tensions between Armenia and Belarus rose further after Lukashenko made fresh pro-Azerbaijani statements during a visit to Azerbaijan in May this year. He said there that he had not only been aware of Bakus plans to try to reconquer Nagorno-Karabakh by force but also approved them during his meetings with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held before the 2020 war. Yerevan recalled its ambassador from Minsk in June. Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, reignited the tensions in August when he denounced Armenias political leadership for seeking closer ties with the West. Moscow has also been very critical of the pro-Western tilt in Armenian foreign policy. As part of that that policy change, Pashinian froze early this year Armenias membership in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). So far he has not threatened to leave the EEU as well, mindful of the Armenian economys heavy dependence on Russias vast market and relatively cheap natural gas. Still, Pashinian declined to host EEU summits during Armenias yearlong presidency of the trade bloc. He said earlier this month that not all leaders of EEU member states are welcome in his country. It was not clear whether he referred to Putin or Lukashenko. 26 December 2024 12:43 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more On December 25, the Commission on Business Environment and International Ratings, led by the Ministry of Energy, held a report-style meeting in the video conference format of the working group "Connection to Electricity Supply Networks," focusing on the results of 2024, Azernews reports. The head of the working group, Deputy Minister of Energy Samir Valiyev, opened the meeting, presented the issues on the agenda, and emphasized the importance of the achievements in the relevant field during the current year. He also highlighted the effective implementation of upcoming tasks to strengthen the position of our country in international rankings. In his speech, Vusal Shikhaliyev, the head of the Commission Secretariat, stated: "The reforms carried out in the field of electricity network connections and the electronic services introduced have positively impacted the convenience of the business environment and contributed to the improvement of international ratings in this area. Further strengthening these achievements and continuing improvements in new directions are key priorities moving forward." Ramil Yusifov, the First Deputy Chairman of "Azerishiq" OJSC, discussed the digitization and optimization measures implemented in the field of electricity network connections. He noted that these efforts will be expanded next year, and regular communication with both entrepreneurs and the general public will continue. As per the meeting agenda, information was presented on the status of measures designed to further improve the business environment in the Road Map for 2024, focusing on the "Utility Services (Electricity)" indicator in the World Bank's "Business Ready" report. The draft Road Map for 2025 was also discussed, and the measures planned for further optimization of the electricity connection process were analyzed in detail by the participants. In line with the Intensive Communication Plan, the meeting reviewed measures implemented to ensure transparency in the process of connecting to electricity networks and to increase entrepreneurs' awareness in this field. The meeting also addressed the diagnostic document on responses to expert inquiries related to the "Utility Services (Electricity)" indicator. Finally, proposals and recommendations regarding the execution of upcoming tasks were evaluated by representatives from the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture, "Azerenerji" OJSC, "Azerishiq" OJSC, the Small and Medium Business Development Agency, and the Energy Regulatory Agency. 26 December 2024 14:21 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA/KOBIA) under the Ministry of Economy has launched initiatives to foster cooperation with business entities in the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). Azernews reports that this was announced by SMBDA Chairman Orkhan Mammadov during the General Assembly of the Union of Turkish Chambers of Commerce and Industry, held in Baku. "We offer support for the innovative development of entrepreneurship, including the scientific study and research of inventions, utility models, technological innovations, and industrial examples that impact business processes," Mammadov stated. He also highlighted that SMBDA can assist in expanding access to financial resources for startups and entrepreneurs. Mammadov emphasized the potential for mutual exchange of successful incentive mechanisms and best practices in SME development, promotion of innovative entrepreneurship, higher education for startups, scientific and research institutions, as well as industrial parks, technological business incubators, and technology transfer centers. Members of the Board of Directors of the Azerbaijan Theater Workers Union have conducted an off-site meeting in Lankaran, Azernews reports. The meeting was attended by the leadership of the Lankaran-Astara Regional Department of Culture and theater groups of the region. People's Artist, Professor Ilham Namig Kamal, Honored Artist, Professor Azad Shukurov, member of the board, People's Artist Merakhim Farzalibayov, Secretary of the Azerbaijan Theater Workers Union Aida Gafarova spoke about the current situation, successes and problems of the country's theaters. At the event, the Chairman of the Union, People's Artist, State Prize laureate Haji Ismayilov touched upon the theatrical life of Azerbaijan, including the process of reviving regional theaters, the Union's "Guest Theater" project, which started in May 2023 and continues with great success. Then the head of the Lankaran-Astara regional department of culture Bakhtiyar Gilinjov, director of the Lankaran State Drama Theater, Honored Cultural Figure Lalazar Huseynova, chief director Anar Babali, theater actresses Gizilgul Guliyeva and Aynur Ahmadova, chief director of the Salyan State Puppet Theater Rafig Mirzoyev were awarded honorary diplomas of the union. 25 December 2024 19:46 (UTC+04:00) President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has sent a letter of condolences to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev regarding the plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan. According to Azernews, the letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Dear Ilham Heydar oglu, It is with deep sorrow that I received the tragic news of the death of the passengers and crew of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in the Mangystau region of Kazakhstan. In sharing in the grief of this irreplaceable loss, I express my sincere condolences to you, the families and loved ones of the deceased, as well as to the entire people of Azerbaijan. By my order, a state commission has been established under the Government of Kazakhstan, which is taking the necessary measures within the framework of the rescue operation and providing maximum assistance in saving lives and rehabilitating the surviving citizens. I assure you that, in the spirit of friendship and brotherhood, Kazakhstan will provide comprehensive support to Azerbaijan in helping the victims and ensuring their safe return home, as well as in the process of determining all the circumstances of this incident. With sympathy, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev President of the Republic of Kazakhstan 25 December 2024 19:51 (UTC+04:00) President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian has sent a letter of condolences to President Ilham Aliyev regarding the plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan. According to Azernews, the letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful! Esteemed President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, We were deeply saddened by the news of the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. I extend my condolences to Your Excellency and the beloved people of Azerbaijan, particularly to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives. I pray to Allah the Almighty for mercy upon the deceased and wish a swift recovery to the injured. Masoud Pezeshkian President of the Islamic Republic of Iran 25 December 2024 20:03 (UTC+04:00) Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze has sent a letter of condolences to President Ilham Aliyev regarding the plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan. According to Azernews, the letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Your Excellency, I was deeply saddened by the news of the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane crash near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. On behalf of the Government and people of Georgia, I extend my heartfelt condolences to you and the people of Azerbaijan. In this difficult time, we stand by our brotherly Azerbaijan. We offer our sympathies to the families of the deceased and wish a swift recovery to the injured. Your Excellency, we share in your sorrow and that of the friendly people of Azerbaijan. Sincerely, Irakli Kobakhidze Prime Minister of Georgia 25 December 2024 20:18 (UTC+04:00) Sahiba Gafarova expressed her gratitude for the attention and condolences. During the call, Numan Kurtulmus extended his condolences over the plane crash near Aktau, expressing sympathy to the Speaker of the Milli Majlis, the families and loved ones of the deceased, and wishing a swift recovery to the injured. Numan Kurtulmus, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye, held a phone conversation with Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of Azerbaijans Parliament. 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! 26 December 2024 10:22 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more A delegation from the State Civil Aviation Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and "Azerbaijan Airlines" (AZAL) has traveled to Kazakhstan, Azernews reports, citing Kazakhstan's Transport Ministry. "In accordance with the rules for presenting and investigating information on aviation incidents and accidents, the Ministry of Transport has established an Aviation Incident Investigation Commission. Employees from the Ministry's Aviation Incidents and Accident Investigation Department are on-site conducting investigation activities. Representatives from Azerbaijan's State Civil Aviation Agency and "Azerbaijan Airlines" (AZAL) are also present in Kazakhstan," the Ministry's statement reads. The statement also notes that Azerbaijani representatives are conducting the investigation in close cooperation at the incident site. "Additionally, representatives from the "Embraer" aircraft manufacturer and CENIPA (Brazilian Aviation Incidents and Accident Investigation Center) have flown to Kazakhstan. The Government Commission, led by Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbaev, includes Transport Minister Marat Karabayev, Deputy Transport Minister Talqat Lastaev, Director of the Department of Investigation of Transport Incidents and Accidents Nurjan Malayev, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Committee Saltanat Tompayeva, and Director General of "Qazaeronavigation" JSC Nurjan Akhmetov," the Ministry added. It should be noted that the previous day, the "Embraer 190" passenger plane on the Baku-Grozny route crashed 3 km from Aktau airport. The "Embraer 190" aircraft, operating the Baku-Grozny route and crashed near the city of Aktau, had 62 passengers and 5 crew members, totaling 67 people. According to the latest information, among the passengers, there were 37 Azerbaijani citizens, of whom 23 died, and 14 survived. There were 3 citizens from Kyrgyzstan, all of whom survived. Additionally, there were 16 Russian citizens, 7 of whom died, and 9 survived. Six passengers from Kazakhstan died in the crash. Among the crew members, both pilots were killed, while the other 3 crew members survived. 26 December 2024 13:18 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more On December 26, Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov called Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Azernews reports, citing the Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the phone conversation, Baxtiyor Saidov extended condolences on behalf of the state and people of Uzbekistan in connection with the tragic crash of the Baku-Grozny flight near the city of Aktau. He expressed his prayers for the deceased, wishing patience for their families and speedy recovery for the injured. Uzbekistan's solidarity with brotherly Azerbaijan during these difficult days and shared sorrow were conveyed, along with hopes that such a tragedy would not occur again. Jeyhun Bayramov thanked his Uzbek counterpart for the condolences and the support shown on this challenging day for the country and its people. He expressed gratitude to the brotherly Republic of Uzbekistan. He also noted that from the first moments of the crash, under the directive of President Ilham Aliyev, a State Commission was established to investigate the causes of the plane crash. A delegation of officials from relevant Azerbaijani authorities was dispatched to the crash site to address the aftermath and provide assistance to the injured. 26 December 2024 13:51 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller expressed condolences over the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) passenger plane near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25. Azernews reports that Miller shared his message on "X," stating: We are deeply saddened to hear the news of the Azerbaijan Airlines accident in Kazakhstan. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims, and we wish a speedy recovery to those injured. We stand ready to assist authorities in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Matthew Miller (@StateDeptSpox) December 26, 2024 The AZAL passenger plane, which was operating a Baku-Grozny flight, crashed near the city of Aktau. Of the 67 people on board, 38 lost their lives, while 29 survived. In response to the numerous casualties, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree declaring a national day of mourning. A State Commission, led by Prime Minister Ali Asadov, has also been established to investigate the causes of the crash, under the direction of the president. 26 December 2024 15:29 (UTC+04:00) On December 26, Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, made a phone call to Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azernews reports. Regarding the plane crash, the President of Iran expressed his condolences to the President of Azerbaijan and the families of the victims, wishing a swift recovery to the injured. President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude for the attention and condolences. The AZAL passenger plane, which was operating a Baku-Grozny flight, crashed near the city of Aktau. Of the 67 people on board, 38 lost their lives, while 29 survived. In response to the numerous casualties, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree declaring a national day of mourning. A State Commission, led by Prime Minister Ali Asadov, has also been established to investigate the causes of the crash, under the direction of the president. 26 December 2024 17:03 (UTC+04:00) Ali Asadov, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan held another telephone conversation with his Kazakh counterpart Olzhas Bektenov on Thursday. The heads of government expressed condolences to each other, families and loved ones of the victims over the yesterdays plane crash, and wished a swift recovery to the injured. PM Ali Asadov expressed gratitude to the Kazakh side for their swift response in conducting search-and-rescue operations immediately after the crash and for their close support in addressing all related matters. Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov noted that he had visited Azerbaijans Embassy in Astana today, extended his heartfelt condolences over the tragic loss of lives, signing a memorial book there. The PMs exchanged views on prompt assistance to the injured through close coordination between the relevant authorities of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. The discussion also focused on the repatriation of surviving Azerbaijani citizens and the bodies of the deceased, along with other immediate response measures related to the incident. They also discussed the progress of joint criminal case launched to investigate the cause of the accident. 26 December 2024 17:43 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Maka Botchorishvili, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, made a phone call to her Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov, Azernews reports. The Georgian Minister offered her condolences to the families of those killed in the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane near Aktau, which was en route from Baku to Grozny on Wednesday. She wished patience to the friendly people of Azerbaijan and emphasized that Georgia stands by Azerbaijan during this tragic time. Minister Jeyhun Bayramov expressed his gratitude to the friendly Georgian side for their condolences and support during this difficult moment. 26 December 2024 18:19 (UTC+04:00) Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, has sent a letter of condolences to President Ilham Aliyev over the plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan. According to Azernews, the letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Dear Mr. President, I am shocked by the news of the tragic loss of lives in the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane. On behalf of the Government and people of China, I express my deepest condolences to the victims, sincere sympathy to their families, and wish a swift recovery to the injured. 26 December 2024 18:28 (UTC+04:00) Rustam Minnikhanov, Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the Russia-Islamic World strategic vision group, has sent a letter of condolences to President Ilham Aliyev over the plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan. According to Azernews, the letter reads: "His Excellency Mr Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Dear Ilham Heydarovich, With deep sorrow, the Republic of Tatarstan received the news of the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane on December 25, 2024. I kindly ask you to convey condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones, and wishes for a swift recovery to the injured. We sincerely share the grief of these losses and mourn together with the brotherly people of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Sincerely, Rustam Minnikhanov Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation Chairman of the Russia-Islamic World strategic vision group 26 December 2024 18:32 (UTC+04:00) Peter Pellegrini, President of the Slovak Republic, has sent a letter of condolences to President Ilham Aliyev over the plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan. According to Azernews, the letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. President, I received with deep sorrow the news of the tragic death and injury of numerous people as a result of the crash of an aircraft belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan. On behalf of the citizens of the Slovak Republic and on my own behalf, I express my deepest condolences to you, the people of Azerbaijan, as well as to the families and loved ones of the deceased, and wish a swift recovery to the injured. Respectfully, Peter Pellegrini President of the Slovak Republic 26 December 2024 23:30 (UTC+04:00) By News Center Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat attended the Climate Development Summit (IKAZ), where the economic benefits of environmental policies and the role of trade in this transformation were discussed within the framework of COP, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the Green Deal. The program evaluated Turkiye's green transformation, focusing on renewable energy sources and innovative technologies as part of its growth strategy. In the program, which included representatives from the business world and NGOs, Minister Bolat emphasised that the summit would significantly contribute to new policies. He noted that global trade is undergoing a significant transformation with standards and regulations aimed at reducing the carbon footprint, presenting important opportunities for both the economy and production processes. Bolat also stated that the current process would enhance competitiveness in the economy and contribute to the sustainable growth of exports. Bolat mentioned that in 2019, the European Union announced its Green Deal Adaptation Program roadmap, and Turkiye ratified the Paris Agreement in 2021. The government has adopted a net-zero carbon target by 2053 and implemented the Green Deal Action Plan accordingly. He highlighted that they encourage and aim for companies to increase energy efficiency, use resources more effectively, and achieve digital transformation in collaboration with all stakeholder institutions. These supports aim to facilitate exporters' compliance with international standards. Bolat also pointed out that they are investing in pioneering technologies for transitioning to a carbon-neutral economic structure. "Steps taken in areas such as electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and battery technologies will significantly contribute to Turkiye's global competitiveness. Our esteemed Deputy Minister of Energy highlighted that 20 years ago, wind energy, solar energy, and geothermal energy were not even discussed in Turkiye. Today, with significant strides in these areas, we have achieved over 40% of our total energy production from renewable clean energy sources, including hydropower," he said. Minister Bolat emphasized that green transformation is not just an environmental policy but also a growth strategy. He stated that while transitioning to low-carbon industrial models, they are implementing policies that reduce dependence on fossil fuels and increase energy supply security. Bolat stressed the importance of international cooperation in combating climate change, noting that Turkiye is open to cooperation at both national and international levels to achieve climate change goals. He also emphasized that some measures taken during the green transformation process should not turn into unilateral trade measures. "Everyone knows that the European Union is one of the leading actors in the global green transformation process. With the Green Deal announced in 2019, the EU aims not only to reduce carbon emissions but also to make its trade partners part of this process. In this context, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which will be fully implemented in 2026, will be a significant turning point in the global trade system. CBAM is a mechanism that envisages applying a carbon tax on the import of carbon-intensive products into the EU. This regulation, which will initially significantly affect sectors such as iron and steel, aluminum, cement, electricity, and fertilizers, has made countries exporting to the EU reduce their carbon emissions and make their production processes more sustainable," he said. Bolat highlighted the critical importance of the CBAM regulation for Turkiye, stating, "We export 41% of our total exports to the 27 member countries of the European Union. In 2023, our exports of the mentioned products to the EU amounted to $9.8 billion, while our exports of these products to the world totalled $23.3 billion. In this context, our exports of these products to the EU accounted for 42% of our total exports to the world in 2023. This situation imposes new costs and reporting requirements on Turkiye's exports in carbon-intensive sectors." Bolat pointed out that the EU's current policies not only aim to protect the environment but also reshape the rules of global trade. "As Turkiye, we believe and constantly tell EU officials that these regulations should not turn into unilateral and discriminatory trade measures. The carbon border adjustment measures implemented by the EU should be designed in full compliance with the rules of the global trade system and should not have a protective, discriminatory nature for their national production," he emphasised. Minister Bolat also stated that they are working closely with relevant sector stakeholders to ensure that the trade sectors in Turkiye are not adversely affected by these developments. He highlighted the critical importance of advancing the international trade system in a fair and inclusive manner for both environmental sustainability and economic cooperation. "We believe that developed countries should provide fair financing, technology transfer, and technical assistance mechanisms to developing economies and countries, recognizing their historical responsibility for carbon emissions. In this context, we are developing strategies aligned with environmentally friendly production and trade goals within the framework of the modernization negotiations of the customs union structure we have with the European Union. The technical and political cooperation mechanisms with the EU are progressing in a way that protects Turkiye's interests in this transformation process," he said. Bolat also noted that they have established various support mechanisms to facilitate exporters' compliance with CBAM. "In this context, we have implemented the 'Responsible' Support Program, a consultancy system consisting of three main stages. Under the program, we guide our exporters to reduce their carbon footprint, digitize their processes, and increase their energy efficiency. The Ministry of Trade provides grants of up to 10 million Turkish liras, covering 50% of the expenses incurred for the training and consultancy services they receive for five years. This will significantly ease their compliance with carbon reporting standards and the environmental standards demanded by the European Union," he added. Tunisian scientist Noureddine Raouafi, head of NASAs Parker Solar Probe project, is leading a historic mission to explore the mysteries of the Sun. Since its launch in 2018, the probe has been setting records for its close approaches to the Sun. In its latest maneuver, it reached a distance of only 6.1 million kilometers (3.8 million miles) from the Sun's surface, traveling at an unprecedented speed exceeding 190 kilometers per second (about 700,000 kilometers per hour). Raouafi described the project as "one of the most significant scientific achievements" aimed at studying solar storms, their effects on Earth, and unraveling the mystery of why the Suns outer corona is hotter than its visible surface. He emphasized, "Without the Sun, there would be no life on Earth... We owe our existence to the Sun." A Groundbreaking Achievement On December 24, the Parker Solar Probe achieved its closest approach to the Sun, known as the "solar perihelion," marking the first of a series of planned flybys that will continue until 2025. NASA confirmed the probe is fully operational and ready for upcoming maneuvers designed to answer some of the most profound scientific questions.By venturing closer to the Sun and observing its physical conditions, the probe seeks to decode the mysteries of the Suns magnetic field and analyze its activity cycles. A primary goal of the mission is to resolve the enigma of the Suns corona being significantly hotter than its surface, defying traditional heat transfer principles.The mission has been likened to the importance of the Moon landing, given its role in deepening humanity's understanding of stars and their effects. The probe has already gathered unprecedented data on the solar atmosphere, shedding light on the unique characteristics of the Sun.While the Parker Solar Probe continues to achieve scientific breakthroughs, its mission is expected to conclude by 2025 after four additional maneuvers. Once the mission ends, the probe will partially burn up due to solar radiation, with some components, such as its heat shield and Faraday cup (a device for measuring solar charged particles), remaining in orbit as molten fragments for billions of years.This groundbreaking mission, led by Tunisian scientist Noureddine Raouafi, marks a transformative moment in space exploration, showcasing the dedication of both Tunisian and global scientists to uncovering the universe's mysteries and achieving unprecedented scientific milestones. China sends 2 batches of emergency humanitarian aid to Gaza through Egypt Xinhua) 09:17, December 26, 2024 CAIRO, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- China has signed documents with Palestine to send two batches of emergency humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, according to the Chinese Embassy in Egypt. The signing ceremony, held in Cairo on Monday, was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang and Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Diab al-Louh. "To ease the humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, the Chinese government has continued to provide assistance to Palestine," Liao said, adding that China has delivered multiple batches of emergency humanitarian relief supplies, including food and medicine, to the enclave through Egypt. He reiterated that China is willing to maintain close communication and coordination with Palestine and Egypt to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to the war-torn enclave. Al-Louh said that "the Palestinian government and people sincerely thank China for its emergency humanitarian assistance to alleviate the humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip." He also voiced appreciation for China's consistent and firm support for the just cause of the Palestinian people and for raising this issue on international occasions, which fully reflect "the profound friendship between Palestine and China and China's role as a responsible major country." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Beaufort County Schools are building a new school on the same ground where Eastern Elementary already exists, at a cost of $10,500,000.00 to Beaufort County's Taxpayers. Is this a wise expense of taxpayer dollars at this time? 22.73% Yes, Beaufort County has been awarded a 42 million dollars of grant money from the state of North Carolina (FREE MONEY) to construct school at 3.00 per squ. ft.65.91% No, this is the wrong time, to build the wrong school, on the wrong placement - its lowest point - of Eastern Elementary's existing location, when community schools work best.11.36% Why should I care about the public's education? Here are five notes for anesthesia groups and providers looking to stay ahead of the curve in 2025: 1. Expand pain management services to add value. Vijay Sudheendra, MD, president of Narragansett Bay Anesthesia in Providence, R.I., recently told Beckers that because anesthesiologists rarely bring cases to a hospital or an ASC, anesthesia groups must expand their vision to create a perioperative surgical home for patients. That means you really have to be adding value in places beyond the operating room, he said. We are looking at patients hitting the emergency room how do we make sure that these patients are pain free beyond three to four post-operative days? He also noted that as increasingly high-acuity procedures continue to move to the outpatient setting, particularly in surgical specialties like orthopedics, his anesthesia group is focusing on improving post-operative care and pain management for patients 30 to 90 days post-operation. 2. Leverage emerging technologies. One tool that Dr. Sudheendra and his team use to optimize their care services is cryoanalgesia. His practice is currently conducting a study to determine whether cryanalgesia will allow patients to return to full daily living earlier than those who receive other types of pain management. Staying on top of developing technologies and treatments, including the emergence of AI in anesthesia, will be essential in keeping anesthesia practices ahead of the curve in the coming years. Advancing IT integration, supported by machine learning and other AI technology, is going to fundamentally change how we manage patients minute-to-minute in the operating room, Richard Dutton, MD, an anesthesiologist and chief quality officer for U.S. Anesthesia Partners, told Beckers in early 2024. This will free our hands and minds to advance care in other ways for the benefit of our patients, including even more hands-on support of sicker patients, as well as novel procedures. 3. Focus on recruitment. To successfully expand service lines and build sustainable practices, anesthesia groups must recruit providers who are multifaceted and dedicated to developing practices into the future. We are also investing in leaders in anesthesia who actually can work, not only in the operating room, but also in the C-suite, with the administrators, surgeons and cardiologists, to build this perioperative surgical home, Dr. Sudheendra said. Anesthesia practices must also adapt to meet the employment needs of a younger cohort of anesthesia providers, such as better work-life balance and more flexible scheduling. The group is investing in leaders of the future, he said. When I say investing, that means we are compensating them above the market value of these anesthesiologists, so that they then add value to the group. 4. Prioritize communication in hospital and ASC relationships. Jennifer Danner, the senior director of Orlando (Fla.) Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, told Beckers that she holds monthly forecasting meetings and daily safety huddles. This creates a space for all members of the surgical team to meet and iron out any last-minute issues or scheduling conflicts to ensure smooth optimization of operating time. That is key: clear communications with your surgeons, she said. This is what youre looking at tomorrow, and never [allow] them to walk in the door and be surprised. Those are the things that really make the difference in getting your surgeons to change the way you need them to change and to get anesthesia aligned with you. 5. Consider new approaches to scheduling. Gary Haynes, MD, PhD, chair of anesthesiology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, has adopted flexible call schedules across multiple hospitals. Weve played with our call schedules and gone to instead of one night on call the next day off wed go into a night float system for a week at a time, which helped mitigate our current situation, he said at Beckers 30th Annual Business and Operations of ASCs Meeting in Chicago. We talk a lot about physician wellness and I think its easier for physicians to be on call and do it a week at a time, giving them more free time during the day and then a week off afterwards for mental and physical reasons. 1. A former Huntsville, Ala., family physician and her wife were sentenced in federal court for drug crimes, healthcare fraud and COVID-19 disaster relief fraud Dec. 18. Francene Gayle, MD, was sentenced to 87 months in prison by Judge Liles Burke on four opioid prescribing charges, one count of healthcare fraud and one count of wire fraud. Mr. Burke sentenced her wife, Schara Davis, to 42 months in prison and one count of health care fraud and one count of wire fraud. Dr. Gayle and Ms. Davis formerly owned a medical practice together. 2. Mark Mazzare, MD, a physician in Tyler, Texas, pleaded guilty to his role in a $5.5 million over-the-counter COVID-19 test fraud scheme. Dr. Mazzare purchased Medicare beneficiary ID numbers and used them to bill Medicare for millions of dollars in OTC COVID-19 test kits, many of which were not requested by beneficiaries. Dr. Mazzare partnered with a purported marketer to conceal the identification numbers as lead packages, which were actually fraudulently created audio recordings purported to be the voices of the beneficiaries requesting the test kits. He then caused the test to be shipped to the beneficiaries tied to each ID number, regardless of whether they had actually ordered the tests. 3. A Whitefish, Mo.-based physician was sentenced for his role in a $31 million fraud scheme. From January 2022 to July 2023, Ronald Dean, MD, was paid by a telemedicine company to sign orders for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment and then charged Medicare, and other government programs, for telemedicine office visits that did not occur, according to a Dec. 13 news release from the Justice Department. In September, law firm Parker Poe published a blog post outlining states that have seen recent changes to their CON laws or could see them in 2025: Here are four takeaways from the post: 1. North Carolina will lift CON requirements for ASCs in counties with less than 125,000 people, effective Nov. 1, 2025. Exempt ASCs will still need to satisfy certain charity care and reporting requirements annually. The states Supreme Court also recently sent a physicians CON lawsuit back to trial with instructions for a broader trial to determine the constitutionality of the regulatory laws. The lawsuit could result in overturning North Carolinas CON laws, which could spur competition among large healthcare systems in the state. 2. South Carolinas CON laws were repealed for ASCs, facilities are still subject to licensure requirements, such as charity care and annual reporting. 3. On Dec 1, 2027, Tennessee will lift CON requirements for ASCs. The Tennessee Health Facilities Commission is also creating a six-year plan to study the impact of CON reform, which will shape future regulation in the state. 4. Georgia exempts certain single-specialty ASCs from its CON laws if those ASCs are owned by a single physician or practice and generate below a certain amount in capital expenditures and operating room thresholds. Non-owner physicians can also perform procedures at the ACS in the same specialty. Some ASCs developed by joint ventures with hospitals are also exempt from Georgia CON requirements. The states Department of Community Health was set to release new recommendations in December, which could usher in a new wave of regulations in early 2025. Some acute heart failure patients can be safely and successfully treated at home, according to a research letter published Nov. 16 in JACC: Heart Failure. The letter provides analysis of the Cleveland Clinic Hospital Care at Home program at Weston-based Cleveland Clinic Florida between April 2023 and August 2024, according to a Dec. 26 news release from Cleveland Clinic. Here are six takeaways from the letter: Cleveland Clinic Florida's hospital-at-home program has treated more than 2,800 patients, for conditions including heart failure, pneumonia and kidney infections, since 2023. Eligible patients admitted to the program receive Bluetooth-enabled equipment to use at home. The equipment transmits data to a clinically integrated virtual command center at a Cleveland Clinic hospital and is overseen by a team of physicians, advanced practice providers and nurses. Cleveland Clinic researchers compared data from 194 heart failure patients enrolled in the at-home program to data from 201 heart failure patients who received care at a hospital. Of the 215 patients who were offered enrollment in the at-home program, 90.2% (194) agreed to enroll, which researchers said speaks to patient acceptance of at-home care. Compared to patients treated at a hospital, 84% of at-home patients completed treatment without needing to be transferred to a facility for imaging, testing or care escalation, the analysis found. At-home patients also had a slightly lower readmission rate (12.4% vs 16.9%), though researchers said this was not statistically significant. Both groups had similar 30-day mortality rates, increases in GDMT scores and net changes in mean diastolic blood pressure, mean systolic blood pressure and heart rates between admission and discharge, the release said. Read the full research letter here. Physicians say the pending closure of Dallas-based Steward Health Care's Sharon (Pa.) Regional Hospital has strained care coordination for patients seeking care at the facility, according to a Dec. 24 report from NBC affiliate WFMJ. Sharon Regional Hospital is accepting and stabilizing patients in its emergency department before transferring them to other facilities, the report said. Chinedu Igwe, MD, a cardiologist at the hospital, expressed concern over the care strategy. "Some people who are sick are not stable enough to survive an hour-road drive or be able to get the chopper and fly them down to a bigger center," Dr. Igwe told WFMJ; her concerns are shared by Brandon Mikolich, MD, another cardiologist at the hospital. "You just can't transfer a patient who's dying." Steward Health Care filed WARN notices for 848 Sharon Regional Hospital employees after submitting a closure notice on Dec. 16, with plans to fully shut the hospital down by Jan. 6. Becker's has reached out to the hospital for comment and will update this story if more information becomes available. Lin Lin has been named CFO of Orlando Health St. Cloud (Fla.) Hospital. Ms. Lin brings nearly 20 years of financial leadership experience to the role, according to a Dec. 26 news release shared with Becker's. She will oversee financial operations, including strategic and capital planning, and monitoring daily operating expenses. Ms. Lin joined Orlando Health in 2010 and has held various finance roles within the system. She was promoted to senior director of finance for Orlando Health St. Cloud in 2023, the release said. Orlando Health St. Cloud is an 84-bed acute care hospital. Editor's note: This story was updated at 2:10 p.m. on Dec. 26. Women in healthcare leadership roles across the U.S. drove significant improvements within their organizations in 2024. From reducing patient length of stay to boosting employee engagement, these leaders achieved measurable growth through percentage changes and other key metrics. Here are four women who recently shared their success stories with Becker's. 1. A mindset shift for lowered infection rates: Susan Carroll, president of Inova Loudoun Hospital in Leesburg, Va., met with her senior nursing team in March 2022 to tackle rising hospital-acquired infections, which had reached six in the first two months of the year. Ms. Carroll implemented a "stop the line" program, encouraging medical staff to evaluate whether a line was truly needed. Over two years, the hospital's ICU reduced the number of lines from 245 per month to 42. The hospital had reported six confirmed infections in 2024, Ms. Carroll told Becker's in November. This includes two central line-associated bloodstream infections, matching the total from just the first two months of 2022. 2. Transparency to increase engagement: Dana Weston Graves, president of Virginia Beach, Va.-based Sentara Princess Anne Hospital, told Becker's in October that her hospital's employee engagement scores increased from the 60th percentile to the 81st in one year. To drive these improvements, all leaders developed customized action plans based on team feedback. Ms. Graves also implemented an initiative where QR codes allowed staff to submit questions directly to her, which she would answer publicly at town halls. The transparency and following through to address concerns has led to greater trust. 3. Three keys to reduced length of stay: Lee Ann Liska, president of Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, Tenn., has led the facility to a sustained reduction in patient length of stay over the past few years. The mean length of stay in 2024 is 5.86, Ms. Liska told Becker's in November. This is compared to 6.08 days in 2023. Executive physician leadership, bedside care provider engagement, and accurate documentation of patient acuity and comorbidities contributed to this improvement, Ms. Liska said. 4. Boosting employee engagement as a new leader: Debbie Streier set out to improve employee engagement scores after becoming regional president and CEO of Avera Marshall (Minn.) Regional Medical Center in 2021. Between 2021 and 2024, employee engagement scores increased by 43%, Ms. Streier told Becker's in October. The belief that staff are the best experts influenced her prioritization of employee feedback, holding listening sessions with each department to understand what needed improvement and whether staff had the necessary tools for their jobs. Some evidence shows hospital infection preventionists may be able to spend less time monitoring hand hygiene, according to a study published Dec. 19 in the American Journal of Infection Control. Current Leapfrog Survey standards and other accrediting bodies require healthcare facilities to observe 100 to 200 hand hygiene observations per month per patient care unit, according to a Dec. 19 news release from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. Researchers from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology evaluated 390,371 hand hygiene observations collected from 29 hospital facilities in 2023 to analyze adherence levels for the study. Here are four notes from the study's findings: Researchers evaluated statistical differences in adherence data from 25, 50, 100 and 150 observations against 200 observations. The rate of hand hygiene compliance adherence found in 50 observations was comparable to the rate found in 200 observations. Reducing the number of required hand hygiene observations to 50 per unit per month could save hospitals $50,000 annually, the release said. "If the participating hospitals were allowed to place less effort on meeting a specific hand hygiene observation number and more effort on feedback, training/education, infrastructure and culture, they could potentially create a culture that fosters and encourages the importance of HH without the burden of the high number required for the monitoring domain," lead study investigator Sara Reese, PhD, said in the release. Read the full study here. In a glimpse at the future of medical training, students in Gainesville-based University of Florida's College of Nursing are learning to collaborate with colleagues and communicate with patients through AI-powered avatars. The training program is being developed by the University of Florida's College of Nursing, College of Dentistry, Office of Interprofessional Education and Department of Computer and Information Science and Engineering, according to a Dec. 18 news release from the university. "We've been working on this for maybe four years now. The goal is to streamline education with technology; if we can do that, we can build the next level of nursing education," Michael Bumbach, PhD, APRN, a clinical assistant professor at the college working on the program, said in the release. Through the program, Doctor of Nursing Practice students refine their clinical skills with an AI-patient avatar through the use of virtual reality and simulation technology. During virtual conversations, the AI program can evaluate a student's questions, their level of empathy and diagnostic skill while offering real-time suggestions for improvement, the release said. In a pre-programmed, collaborative scenario, DNP students can consult and collaborate with dental students to create a patient care plan, which is then reviewed and evaluated by faculty. The program format allows students to access training simulations "from anywhere," as opposed to traditional training, which requires in-person instruction and equipment, the release said. As some physicians decide to forgo routinely checking patient weight, others still consider weigh-ins a vital part of patient care, according to a Dec. 26 report from The New York Times. Natasha Bhuyan, MD, vice president of in-office care and national medical director at the Amazon-owned primary care practice, One Medical, does not routinely check patient weight, believing that weight does not predict health. Dr. Bhuyan told the Times the decision is based, in part, on research that shows weigh-ins can elicit shame for some patients and may keep them from seeking future care. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force first recommended obesity screening in 2012, the Times report said. Other physicians expressed their support for routine weight checks. "Unless the patient is phobic around their weight for some reason, it makes no sense not to quantify it from the medical perspective," Steven Heymsfield, MD, professor of metabolism and body composition at Baton Rouge-based Louisiana State University's Pennington Biomedical Research Center told the Times. He said he considered weight "as much a vital sign as blood pressure and respiratory rate." Caroline Apovian, MD, co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at Boston-based Brigham and Women's Hospital shared similar thoughts with the Times, specifically citing the effectiveness of bariatric surgery and weight-loss medications. "Now that we have these great new treatments, why would you do this?" Dr. Apovian said. "If primary care providers all over the country can address the obesity first and treat it, then in the long run we are going to reduce the incidence of all these other problems." Southern Regional College creative music and audio production students Danny Nugent and Sophie Bullock are pictured with (from left) Southern Regional College chief executive Lee Campbell, Economy Minister Conor Murphy and Mary Mallon, head of education at British Council Northern Ireland Southern Regional College creative music and audio production students Danny Nugent and Sophie Bullock are pictured with (from left) Southern Regional College chief executive Lee Campbell, Economy Minister Conor Murphy and Mary Mallon, head of education at British Council Northern Ireland Young people are being offered the chance to spend a year in the US through a special programme. A Co Armagh student who took part in the project described it as the best year of his life. Study USA, now in its 30th year, is offered by the British Council, with support from the Department for the Economy. It enables students to spend an academic year at one of more than 140 universities and colleges in over 20 states. The scheme is currently open to further education students who are either in their first year of an HND or foundation degree, or those in their second year of undergraduate study. The programme receives significant support from partner institutions in the US, with annual funding of more than 2m and generous scholarship packages including accommodation on campus, flights and tuition fees. Among those to take part last year was James Hatchell (22), from Lurgan, a mechanical engineering student at Queens University Belfast. After returning from Ohios Northern University (ONU), he said his experience was nothing short of incredible... It was the best year of my life. There were classes I would never have got the chance to do at Queens things like automotive engineering, he explained. I thought I would only ever get one chance of doing something like this, so I took it and I loved it. It was a small campus, [so it was] super easy to meet with people. You definitely have to keep up with your homework it was full-on. Im happy to finish my degree here at home, but it was tough to leave at the end of the year. Before going to Ohio I didnt really know what I wanted to do after graduating. My time at ONU helped me to realise that a career in the automotive industry would be perfectly suited to me. Ill be chasing a dream of working in Formula One racing. Southern Regional College creative music and audio production students Danny Nugent and Sophie Bullock are pictured with (from left) Southern Regional College chief executive Lee Campbell, Economy Minister Conor Murphy and Mary Mallon, head of education at British Council Northern Ireland Study USA was launched in 1994, initially to support Northern Irelands peace process. Over its 30-year history it has provided opportunities for more than 2,500 students who have assisted in fostering deep and long-lasting connections between the US and Northern Ireland. On a visit to Southern Regional Colleges Armagh campus, Economy Minister Conor Murphy encouraged students to apply. Study USA represents a fantastic opportunity to secure a bursary to study in a college environment in America, he said. Mary Mallon, head of education at British Council Northern Ireland, said: Study USA is an incredible opportunity which, over the past three decades, has transformed the lives of thousands of students in Northern Ireland. Further education students have until Sunday, January 5, 2025, to apply to Study USA. For more, visit nireland.britishcouncil.org Southern Regional College creative music and audio production students Danny Nugent and Sophie Bullock are pictured with (from left) Southern Regional College chief executive Lee Campbell, Economy Minister Conor Murphy and Mary Mallon, head of education at British Council Northern Ireland Odds-defying baby boy who weighed just 1lb 10oz at birth is set for his first taste of Christmas dinner 'Ive had this girl examined by a doctor and she is pregnant. And you are the cause of it': The remarkable story of historic Irish case Emergency services deal with a one vehicle RTC on the Colinglen Road in west Belfast on December 25th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Emergency services deal with a one vehicle RTC on the Colinglen Road in west Belfast on December 25th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Emergency services deal with a one vehicle RTC on the Colinglen Road in west Belfast on December 25th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Emergency services deal with a one vehicle RTC on the Colinglen Road in west Belfast on December 25th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Emergency services deal with a one vehicle RTC on the Colinglen Road in west Belfast on December 25th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Emergency services deal with a one vehicle RTC on the Colinglen Road in west Belfast on December 25th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Emergency services deal with a one vehicle RTC on the Colinglen Road in west Belfast on December 25th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott) A family have had a lucky escape following a Christmas night crash in west Belfast. Emergency services responded to reports that an Audi A3 had left the Colinglen Road shortly before 10:30pm on Christmas night. On arrival emergency services found that the vehicle had collided with several bushes and a tree. Firefighters, paramedics and police all attended the scene close to the Poleglass area of the city. Emergency services deal with a one vehicle RTC on the Colinglen Road in west Belfast on December 25th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott) The road was partially closed as firefighters worked on treating a male at the roadside. One man was taken to hospital by ambulance while several others were checked over at the scene. In a statement a police spokesperson said: Police attended a single vehicle road traffic collision involving a red Audi A3 in the Colinglen Road area of Dunmurry shortly after 10.20pm on Wednesday, 25th December. One man, a passenger, was taken to hospital for treatment. The male driver and a male passenger also received injuries. Emergency services deal with a one vehicle RTC on the Colinglen Road in west Belfast on December 25th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Watch: PSNI appeal as 132 arrested for drink driving in 15 days Co Fermanagh man of faith laid to rest following tragic period for family The father and son died three days apart An Enniskillen man has been laid to rest after he passed away three days following the death of his son. John James (Jack) Watson passed away peacefully just three days after his son Jonathan Watson died suddenly at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) on Wednesday, December 18. He was laid to rest on Christmas Eve (Tuesday). Jack served for 56 years as caretaker, sexton and Dean's Verger at St. Macartin's Cathedral, while Jonathan was an accomplished local piper and described as a devoted church member. The Very. Rev Dean Kenneth Hall said the passing of the well-known father and son, just days apart, was a "double blow". Speaking to the congregation at Jacks funeral at St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen on Tuesday, he said it was strange that he spent the night in the Cathedral. On this day (Christmas eve) the busiest day of the churchs calendar, Jack would have been spending all of his day in this cathedral while he was verger, he said. In their final days, Jack and Johnathan shared a special Holy Communion at the SWAH. Dean Hall said that he asked Jonathan if he would like Holy Communion and he said he would love it, but wanted it with his dad. "He arranged the communion, and we had a very special service in the SWAH on Friday (December 13), when we all received communion together, he said. "Little did we know that would be the last we would share. This shows that you never know what opportunity you may get to meet with people, and that it could be the last." Dean Hall said Jonathan was "loved by everyone he came into contact with", while his late father was a man of "great professionalism and dignity". He told the congregation earlier this week that Jack served at approximately 9,000 services during his 56 years devoted to the church, including 492 weddings and 1,300 funerals. "He [Jack] served the Cathedral faithfully for a period of 56 years, that is a record in itself I doubt it equalises anywhere in the Church of Ireland," he continued. He loved his work in the church and over almost 56 years, Jack would have prepared the church for 9,000 regular services. That included 492 weddings when he was in the porch welcoming the nervous bride and groom to give them words of encouragement. He was also present at approximately 1,300 funerals to shake hands and express sympathy to the families of the bereaved. Jack was also a member of the Orange Order and former member of the UDR and B-Specials. Dean Hall added that during Jack's long-service as Verger at the cathedral, he met several esteemed guests, including Queen Elizabeth II. Similarly, as a piper, Jonathan played for the President of Ireland on behalf of the Orange Order, and at Menin Gate in Belgium. "Jack entertained visitors, from Prime Ministers, Secretaries of State, Taoiseachs and even Her Majesty The Queen when they came through the door, standing at the front door of the cathedral, he said. He was a man of faith who was very kind and modest in every way and he could not have given the quality of service to the cathedral, the community and wider church without the support of Ethel and his family. Jack was a devoted husband of Ethel, dearly loved father of Mae (Neville), Carol (Leslie), Ruth (Robert), and the late Jonathan; a loving grandfather of Andrea, Wayne, Felicity, Michael, Sophie, Lauren and Timothy; and great-grandfather of Thomas, Brodie and Freddie. The father and son died three days apart Watch: PSNI appeal as 132 arrested for drink driving in 15 days A woman has been killed in a hit-and-run incident in west Dublin. A man was also seriously injured in the crash in Blanchardstown involving a car and four pedestrians. The collision happened on Blanchardstown Road North at around 5.45pm on Thursday. Gardai said the driver of the car failed to remain at the scene and has yet to come forward. The woman who was pronounced dead at the scene was aged in her 30s. The seriously injured man, also in his 30s, was taken to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown for treatment. No other injuries were reported. The road remained closed on Thursday evening for technical examination by Garda forensic collision investigators. Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact them. Any road users or pedestrians who were in the vicinity of Blanchardstown Road North between 5pm and 6pm and have camera footage, including dashcam, are asked to make it available to investigating gardai. Finnish National Police Comissioner Ilkka Koskimki spoke at a press conference in Helsinki (Jussi Nukari/Lehtikuva via AP) Finnish authorities have detained a Russia-linked ship as they investigate whether it damaged a Baltic Sea power cable and several data cables, according to police and news media reports. In the latest incident involving disruption of key infrastructure, Finnish police and border guards boarded the Eagle S at just past midnight on Thursday and took over the command bridge, Helsinki Police Chief Jari Liukku said at a news conference. The vessel was intercepted in Finlands exclusive economic zone and taken to Finnish territorial waters, police said. The Eagle S is flagged in the Cook Islands but was described by Finnish customs officials as a suspected part of Russias so-called shadow fleet of fuel tankers, Yle television reported. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo attended a press conference in Helsinki, (Jussi Nukari/Lehtikuva via AP) The fleet is made up of ageing vessels with obscure ownership, acquired to evade western sanctions over the war against Ukraine and operating without western-regulated insurance. The Eagle Ss anchor is suspected of causing damage to the cable, Yle reported, relying on police statements. The Estlink-2 power cable, which takes electricity from Finland to Estonia across the Baltic Sea, went down just after noon on Wednesday. The incident follows damage to two data cables and the Nord Stream gas pipelines, both of which were termed sabotage. The Estonian government is holding a meeting on the issue on Thursday, Prime Minister Kristen Michal said on X. 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 Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina said she was in close touch with Ms Michal and Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. Our armed forces have strengthened surveillance and are monitoring the situation, she said on X. The Baltic states currently have sufficient energy production capacity, although we are challenged by the Baltic Sea cable incidents. Two data cables one running between Finland and Germany and the other between Lithuania and Sweden were severed in November. Germanys defence minister said officials assumed the incident was sabotage but did not provide evidence or say who might have been responsible. The remark came during a speech in which he discussed hybrid warfare threats from Russia. The Nord Stream pipelines that once took natural gas from Russia to Germany were damaged by underwater explosions in September 2022. Authorities have said the cause was sabotage and launched criminal investigations. Estonian network operator Elering said there is enough spare capacity to meet power needs on the Estonian side, public broadcaster ERR said on its website. Hailed as a must-visit destination for Bangor folk in search of some TLC, earlier this week I called into The Jamaica Inn to sample their raved-about wares. The hard-working team at this glowingly reviewed gastropub have had plenty of reasons to pop the Champagne corks in 2024. Not only did they bag an award to add to their already bulging trophy cabinet, but theyre also celebrating their 20th anniversary with Michelle and David Harding at the helm. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Eagle Archives, March 13, 1957: Mr. and Mrs. Philip Wynne brought their family of three from Leeds, England, to Pittsfield in 1951, looking for security from nuclear fission and greater opportunity for their children. Six years later, they're not sure about the security; they are about the opportunity. BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. SALEM As he prepares to step down from Congress after a political career that spanned five decades, Democratic U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer is ever more certain he made the right choice. The 76-year-old Portlander, known in his home state and in Washington, D.C., for his uniform of a bow tie and brightly-colored bike pin and focus on livability issues, has never been a particularly flashy or famous politician. He acknowledged that in his final floor speech earlier this month, highlighting the new bike lanes and a visa program he worked on as he urged new members of Congress to find ways to work together. My goal as a member of Congress was to leave this place a little better than I found it, and Im proud of what we have done, he said. Theyre things that youre not going to see on Fox or MSNBC news. Its not going to rocket around the internet. But theyre simple, common-sense efforts to bring people together to solve problems. Blumenauer has been the dean and oldest member of Oregons congressional delegation since former Rep. Peter DeFazio retired in 2023. He told the Capital Chronicle he just sort of fell into politics: When he was a junior studying political science at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, he had the chance to lead Oregons effort to lower the voting age to 19. That campaign didnt succeed, but a year later states ratified the 26th Amendment, lowering the voting age nationwide to 18. And it gave Blumenauer the opportunity to meet people all over Oregon and testify before a U.S. Senate committee for the first time. I had a lot of fun, he said. I felt like we were doing something that was important, and it just kind of led from there to service in the Legislature, and Ive been doing it ever since. It wasnt a plan. He won his first election, to represent Portland in the Legislature, at age 24 in 1972. He stayed in the Legislature until 1979, spent 1979-86 on the Multnomah County Commission and served on the Portland City Council from 1987 to 1996, when he ran for Congress. During his decades in politics, Blumenauer only lost two elections: a 1981 run for the Portland City Council and a 1992 campaign for mayor of Portland. Different outlook last year When he announced his decision to step down last year, Blumenauer said he was certain Democrats would regain control of the House and that knowing he could serve as chairman of a subcommittee of the budget-writing Ways & Means Committee made it harder to leave. But Democrats didnt win Republicans will start 2025 with a five-seat majority in the U.S. House, a three-seat majority in the Senate and former President Donald Trump back in the White House. They forgot to get reelected, Blumenauer quipped when asked what changed between 2023 and 2024. He added that collective amnesia about Trumps first term helped Republicans win. People dont remember how bad he left the country when he was no longer president, Blumenauer said. They forget how high the unemployment rate was, the inflation rate, the problems that we had. More people died with the pandemic because of inept action. People have forgotten all about that. He stands by his July decision to call on President Joe Biden to step aside, though he also said Biden was the most effective president during Blumenauers years in Washington. Biden simply didnt have the time or energy to do everything he needed to do as president and campaign, Blumenauer said. I think its important in politics to know when its time to move on, Blumenauer said. I felt that last October, that Id done what I could do, and that I could actually be more productive leaving Congress, and I feel very good about that decision. I think it was important for President Biden to step aside because theres so much that needs to be done. With the exception of Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Democratic Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, who will replace Blumenauer as dean of Oregons congressional delegation, none of Oregons congressional representatives have experience with a Trump presidency. Rep. Cliff Bentz, the only remaining Republican in the delegation, was elected in 2020; Democrats Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas in 2022 and Democrats Janelle Bynum and Maxine Dexter the former state representative who will replace Blumenauer in November. Focus on bipartisanship Blumenauer said hes advising his Oregon colleagues and others to focus on issues where they can find bipartisan support. Ive had success with Republican administrations and Republicans in Congress when we were in the minority by focusing on things that matter, he said. What weve done in terms of transportation, health care, working on our initiatives with animal welfare, rebuilding and renewing America, these are things that are not intensely partisan. They bring people together rather than divide them. But he also doesnt regret leaving Congress, which he said has become increasingly partisan and dysfunctional. In his telling, things started changing for the worse shortly before he arrived in D.C., with Republican Newt Gingrichs 1995 ascension to House speaker. Gingrich cut the congressional workweek from five days to three, sending lawmakers home to fundraise and campaign in their districts instead of fraternizing with colleagues, and he encouraged Republicans to stop being nice. Social media made that trend worse, Blumenauer said, leading to representatives like Republicans Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz focusing solely on getting attention. The more outrageous their behavior, the more theyre rewarded with campaign contributions and political support in lopsided districts, he said. That is a fundamental difference in terms of how much social media and weaponizing the process has come to dominate, he said. A number of these people have nobody on their staff that works on policy. Its all about public relations and politics, and I think thats sad. Blumenauer has spent his last few weeks in office wrapping up projects, writing exit memos and finding other members of Congress to continue advocating for his issues. Hes pushing to accelerate dispersing federal funds for infrastructure, including Portlands 82nd Avenue transit project, and finding lawmakers to champion funding for public broadcasting and efforts to make banking available for marijuana-related businesses. He said hes looking forward to no longer spending 14 hours each week on airplanes or in airports and to shifting his focus to a new faculty job at Portland State Universitys Institute for Metropolitan Studies. Weve taken our projects and handed them off to other people, and every time I turn around, theres another group thats giving me a lifetime achievement award, Blumenauer said. Having made the decision last October that it just wasnt worth it to spend two more years of my life to try and be elected to a dysfunctional Congress and it just got weirder I couldnt feel better about the decision. The Gavin And Stacey finale secured the highest Christmas Day ratings since 2008, the BBC has said. The emotional farewell to the popular sitcom, which saw characters Smithy and Nessa finally get their happy ending, drew an average audience of 12.3 million, according to overnight figures. Advertisement It surpassed the shows 2019 Christmas special which had an overnight audience of 11.6 million by more than half a million viewers. The final episode of Gavin And Stacey gripped viewers as Smithy and Nessa finally got their happy ending, five years after the Christmas proposal cliffhanger (Tom Jackson/BBC/PA) It was also the top viewed programme in the BBCs schedule, with the new Wallace and Gromit film, Vengeance Most Fowl, in second place with an average overnight audience of 9.4 million, while the Kings speech attracted an average of 5 million viewers. Fans had been eagerly anticipating the final instalment of the show for five years after the 2019 festive edition ended on a dramatic cliffhanger as Vanessa Nessa Jenkins (Ruth Jones) got down on one knee to confess her love for Neil Smithy Smith (James Corden). The finale on Wednesday night kicked off in both Billericay, Essex, and Barry, South Wales, as the family of Stacey Shipman (Joanna Page) and her husband Gavin (Mathew Horne) prepare for a wedding presumed to be between Smithy and Nessa. Advertisement However, fans were initially disappointed to discover the wedding was between Smithy and Sonia his girlfriend from the 2019 Christmas Day episode played by Laura Aikman. Wednesdays special revealed that Nessas previous proposal was interrupted before Smithy could give his answer and the pair never discussed it again. Fast-forward to the wedding day and, after a series of bridezilla moments, ring bearer and best man Gavin tells Smithy during the ceremony that he thinks he is making a mistake marrying Sonia. After many guests including Neil the Baby, Smithy and Nessas teenage son stand up when asked if anyone else objects to the marriage, Smithy realises he has to confess his true love and leaves Sonia a jilted bride. Advertisement The gang then embark on a race against time to reach Nessa before she sets off from Southampton Dock to work on the ships, as Neil the Baby is set to move to Essex to begin an apprenticeship with his father. The finale of Gavin And Stacey sees the characters reunite in both Billericay and Barry (Toffee International Ltd/Tom Jackson/PA) After a famously on-off relationship, Smithy proposes to Nessa and the final scene features a heartwarming montage of a low-key wedding, with Nessa sporting a black dress and the couple finally getting their happily ever after. The series, written by Corden and Jones, originally aired between 2007 and 2010, and returned in 2019 for a special episode that at the time held the record for the highest overnight Christmas ratings since 2008. The programme notched up another 5.5 million viewers in the following week, taking the audience to 17.1 million people, according to consolidated figures reported on January 2 2020. Advertisement It became the biggest scripted show of the decade, the most popular Christmas Day programme of the decade, and the ninth biggest transmission of the decade, the BBC said at the time. It also won the Impact Award at the National Television Awards (NTAs) in 2020. Entertainment Beyonce returns to NFL half-time stage with star-s... Read More The BBCs chief content officer, Charlotte Moore, said: Christmas Day on the BBC brought people together in their millions and saw Gavin And Stacey triumph. Ruth Jones and James Corden created a magical finale that fans will treasure forever. Their exquisitely written comedy creation is a show all about family, love and joy and it proved to be the unmissable TV event of the year. Advertisement The documentary Gavin And Stacey: A Fond Farewell will be shown at 7pm on New Years Day on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. There are reports of a major fire at the Old Shopping Centre in Balbriggan in Dublin. Firefighters from Balbriggan, Skerries and Swords are attending the scene at the vacant premises. Advertisement An emergency 999 call was received at 2pm on Thursday afternoon. 20 firefighters are at the incident with a turntable ladder and water tanker. The Northern Ireland tourism sector faces a significant hit if visitors arriving across the Irish border are not exempted from the UKs new visa waiver scheme, industry chiefs have warned. From January 8th, all non-European visitors to the UK who do not require a visa will instead need to purchase an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Advertisement From April 2nd, European visitors will also need an ETA, which cost 12 (10) and is linked to a travellers passport. The initial introduction of the ETA earlier this year applied only to travellers from the Gulf states. By April 2025 all visitors who do not need a visa will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). From today, information about ETA eligibility is available on https://t.co/rB6h281erE pic.twitter.com/0hyINwyos1 Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) September 10, 2024 Irish citizens travelling into Northern Ireland do not require an ETA because they are entitled to move freely in the UK under the Common Travel Area arrangements, and non-Irish citizens who are resident in Ireland are being granted an exemption under the visa waiver scheme. Tourism businesses in Northern Ireland have been warning for more than two years about the potential consequences of the post-Brexit scheme, highlighting that 70 per cent of international visitors to the region travel across its land border having arrived in the Republic of Ireland first. They fear that individual travellers and tour companies organising trips to the island of Ireland will decide against taking in the region when they learn of the need to apply for and pay for an ETA. Advertisement Their concerns are intensifying as the full rollout approaches and with the UK Government showing no appetite to grant an additional exemption under the scheme. Joanne Stuart from the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance (Joanne Stuart/PA) Tourism promotion bodies Tourism NI and Tourism Ireland have also expressed concern about the impact on the sector, as has the Irish Government. Stormont Economy minister Conor Murphy is pressing the UK Government to grant an exemption to tourists who cross the border into Northern Ireland. A collective of 25 key players in the industry has written to the minister for migration and citizenship at the Home Office, Seema Malhotra, warning of the implications if an exemption is not granted. Advertisement Joanne Stuart from the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance (Nita), which is spearheading the lobbying effort, said up to 20 per cent of revenue around 241 million (200 million) from overnight tourist stays in Northern Ireland is generated by international visitors. She said the prospect of a tourist without an ETA being stopped and potentially detained and deported would cause serious reputational damage to the local tourism industry. Northern Ireland Economy Minister Conor Murphy said solutions were needed to protect the tourism sector (PA) Ms Stuart said tourist businesses are also concerned that overseas tour operators will stop trips over the border to avoid the administrative hassle of arranging ETAs for all their clients. Nita is liaising with the Government to ensure information about the ETA is effectively communicated to all visitors planning trips to Northern Ireland next year amid fears that many tourists landing in Dublin will be unaware of the new requirement to travel north. Advertisement Northern Ireland is doing really well for tourism, said Ms Stuart. Weve come out of the pandemic, the industry has shown how resilient it is. We are starting to get back to where we were before the pandemic and this is an obstacle that we do not need. We need to grow our international markets. We are promoted as the island of Ireland and this is something that makes people think about whether they want to come to Northern Ireland or not. Advertisement We are on an island, so theres a lot of choice for tour operators to decide not to include Northern Ireland in their trip. And although this is very small numbers from a UK perspective, this is a significant impact financially for Northern Ireland at a time when we have a cost-of-living crisis, we have the impact on business costs, with the National Insurance increase for employers and the increase in the National Minimum Wage. So businesses are dealing with a lot, and the last thing that we need to do is put any of our business at risk due to this permission to travel. Minister for migration and citizenship at the Home Office Seema Malhotra (PA) A spokesperson for Tourism Ireland said: Typically around 70 per cent of non-British visitors to Northern Ireland arrive first in Ireland. Tourism industry partners on the ground have voiced concerns that for international visitors travelling on the island of Ireland, the requirement of an ETA to visit Northern Ireland could create a sense of friction or an extra step in travel planning. Knowing that the ETA scheme will be introduced next year, Tourism Ireland will continue to ensure easy access to the right information for overseas visitors and travel trade contacts and will showcase all the must visit reasons for them to choose Northern Ireland. Mr Murphys department said the minister shared the concerns articulated by the industry. The introduction and planned rollout of the ETA scheme is consistently raised with the minister, a departmental spokesperson said. Our all-island economy is vital, and seamless all-island travel is key to building on the growth we have seen in our tourism sector. The strong concerns expressed by the tourism and travel industry in the north and its potential impact on our tourism product and our wider economy, are concerns that the minister shares. Ireland Two officers assaulted during response to alleged... Read More Minister Murphy reiterated these concerns recently during a meeting with Minister Malhotra and outlined that this is an issue where he believes solutions are needed to protect our tourism, travel and hospitality sector in the north, especially as these businesses are facing a range of challenges such as rising energy and staff costs including additional impacts from the British Governments recent Budget. A UK Government spokesperson said: People arriving in Northern Ireland need to enter in line with the UKs immigration framework, including obtaining an ETA if required. We are committed to working with a wide range of stakeholders to help ensure the ETA requirement is communicated effectively and to mitigate against it being seen as a barrier to cross-border tourism on the island of Ireland. Ryanair has launched its biggest ever Summer 2025 sale with over 10 million seats on offer with fares starting from 29.99 one-way. The flight service said a range of destinations are available, including Mediterranean hotspots, sunshine islands, and city breaks. Advertisement Ryanair said flight prices will rise again in the New Year. Ryanairs head of communications, Jade Kirwan, said: Run, dont walk Ryanair has just released 10 million seats from just 29.99 in our biggest ever summer 2025 sale, including flights to top sunshine hotspots, like Croatia, Lanzarote, Ibiza, Malaga, Sicily, and Tenerife, as well as exciting city break destinations, like Amsterdam, Venice, Rome, Madrid, Milan, and Stockholm." Israels attorney general has ordered police to open an investigation into Benjamin Netanyahus wife on suspicion of harassing political opponents and witnesses in the Prime Ministers corruption trial. The Israeli Justice Ministry made the announcement in a message late on Thursday, saying the investigation would focus on the findings of a recent report by the Uvda investigative programme into Sara Netanyahu. Advertisement The programme uncovered a trove of WhatsApp messages in which Mrs Netanyahu appears to instruct a former aide to organise protests against political opponents and to intimidate Hadas Klein, a key witness in the trial. Benjamin Netanyahu attends his trial on corruption charges (Stoyan Nenov/Pool Photo via AP) The announcement did not mention Mrs Netanyahu by name and the Justice Ministry declined further comment. Earlier on Thursday, Mr Netanyahu blasted the Uvda report as lies. It is the latest in a long line of legal troubles for the Netanyahus, highlighted by the PMs ongoing corruption trial. Advertisement Mr Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of cases alleging he exchanged favours with powerful media moguls and wealthy associates. He denies the charges and says he is the victim of a witch hunt by overzealous prosecutors, police and the media. Russias top security agency says it has arrested several suspects accused of involvement in an alleged Ukrainian plot to assassinate senior military officers. The announcement comes after the killing of a top Russian general last week. Advertisement The Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies that it had arrested four Russians accused of making preparations to kill senior Defence Ministry officials. The FSB said the suspected organisers of the attacks were planning to kill one of the senior officers using a remotely controlled car bomb. It added that another senior official was to be assassinated by an explosive device hidden in an envelope. The agency did not name the military officers being targeted. Advertisement The FSB released a video showing the arrest and interrogation of the suspects, who were not named. The statement follows the death of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov who was killed on December 17 by a bomb hidden on an electric scooter parked outside his apartment building as he left for his office in Moscow. His assistant also died in the attack which was claimed by Ukraine and brought the conflict once again to the streets of the Russian capital. The FSB has arrested a suspect, a citizen of the Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan, and claimed he said he had been recruited by Ukrainian special services. Advertisement Lt Gen Kirillov, 54, was the chief of Russias Radiation, Biological and Chemical Protection Forces special troops tasked with protecting the military from the enemys use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and ensuring operations in a contaminated environment. President Vladimir Putin described his killing as a major blunder by Russias security agencies, noting they should learn from it and improve their efficiency. Advertisement Eating outTrends Lollipop custard, prawn toast and cookbooks no one asked for: The Good Food Guide Cap Awards for 2024 From Most Improved Trend to Dumbest Collaboration of the Year, we present the Good Food Guides other hat awards. Callan Boys December 27, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share Crack open a Yellow Tail and pop the French onion. Its the second-ever Good Food Guide Cap Awards. Similar to last year, The Caps are just like the coveted hats we award to restaurants, only looser fitting and occasionally frayed. Newly launched Delta Rues mobile banh mi trolley. Supplied The Arthur Fonzarelli Memorial Plate for Jumping the Shark When Bar Tilda opened inside the newly refitted Sofitel Sydney Wentworth in late October, the opening cocktail menu promised tableside Manhattan service. Three cheers, hip and hooray. Weve had tableside martinis and gueridon service in the CBD for an age, but Ive never been offered whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters from a trolley. Then, a week or two later, Tildas owners also launched Vietnamese-French-inspired Delta Rue upstairs, complete with a banh mi trolley lapping the room. Im all for a freshly made sandwich, but this is just getting silly. The Vegemite Dairy Milk Ribbon for Dumbest Collaboration of the Year Advertisement The other week, I received a press release from a Victorian fast-food franchise launching a ham and orange pizza. Drawing inspiration from Italys deep-rooted love of oranges, this unexpected twist is set to shake up summer menus. Dear, God. Kill it with fire. Meanwhile, in NSW, Coles tried to flog hot cross buns seasoned with Arnotts Pizza Shapes, and Pauls released a lollipop-flavoured custard. Best served cold, recommended the label for the pink goop inspired by Chupa Chups Strawberry Creams. Well, yeah. As opposed to what? Lukewarm out of a Hoka running shoe? No one is heating lollipop custard in the microwave. One dumb collaboration rose above them all, however, and its a big round of applause for Donut King Cinnamon Twisties. Twisties took home the same ribbon last year, too, after the snack brand partnered with Angel Aromatics to produce scented candles in both cheese and chicken flavours. Twisties X Lynx Africa for 2025? Go on, make it a hat trick. Hunter Candles X Babas Place soy-wax collaboration. Supplied The Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue Medal for Best Collaboration of the Year Advertisement Vianney Hunter started professionally making candles in a backyard eight years ago, and she now has three store locations across Newtown, Surry Hills and The Strand. Hunter Candles is all about collaborating with other local businesses to create new aromas, including three-hatted Saint Peter for a candle crafted with leftover Murray cod fat (it smells more like red gum and mossy rocks than greasy fish, dont worry). Pepe Saya has its own buttered popcorn soy-wax candle (I can confirm that it really enhances the experience of watching Dune: Prophecy on the couch), and Marrickvilles Babas Place has also joined the party with a little frankincense and oakwood scented number. Decanter of the Year Riedel and Plumm still rule the top-end stemware market, but if youre a restaurant without a decanter from Sydney-based glass artist Brian Hirst, are you even serious about full-bodied reds? Joking, of course Ive aerated wine in everything from a Zalto Axium to a Pringles can, but gee, those individually signed Hirst decanters have become popular. (Theyre the organic-looking hand-blown ones, by the way, usually shaped like a chubby penguin or bowling ball thats let itself go.) You can also buy them at more and more online wine stores if youre looking for an ace present for that Lakes Folly fan in your life. Speaking of wine, Im lifting the next paragraph from The Age Good Food Guide editors Emma Breheny and Ellen Fraser, who wrote about sexist wine service in their Melbourne restaurant trends feature we published in November. Best just placed in the middle of the table, really. Justin McManus Advertisement This ones for anyone who believes the wine list should be handed to the man. That a table of women should be offered a glass of sparkling to start, but the blokes next to them deserve to peruse the full selection. For anyone whos fobbed off a woman asking about wine with a one-line response, we implore you: do better. Were ready to spend money and engage with you. Meet us halfway. Indeed. While there are many excellent sommeliers out there, well rehearsed in the line who would like to have a look at the list, too often, Im still handed the wine menu ahead of my partner. It can feel like youre dining at one of those ancient Michelin-starred French joints, the ones with a separate ladies menu that doesnt list prices*. (*Im not entirely against bringing this concept back, but in the form of a price-removed dads menu for family dinners when the kids are paying. It would certainly stop a lot of How bloody much are they charging for steak? related ranting.) The Ticketmaster Trophy for Unexplained Surcharges If penalty rates in hospitality are set to continue (which they probably should if the industry is keen to attract more young Australians to the workforce), every second cafe, bar or restaurant will continue to add a surcharge to your bill for visiting on a weekend. Like TikTok and Yo-Chi, theres no point fighting it; just accept the new status quo. Advertisement But regarding the CBD restaurant charging a 10 per cent service charge to dine on a Friday night (you know who you are), that aint on. It feels suspiciously like the dynamic pricing tactics used by companies to drive prices up according to demand, and few things ruffle consumer feathers more. Lets keep that nonsense restricted to Uber. Ive also noticed more venues adding a discretionary service fee of 3 or 5 per cent to the bill, which reportedly goes directly to staff. Provided that charge is clearly noted on the menu, Im not completely against it. However, it does raise the question of why customers are being asked to boost floor staff pay rather than the restaurant group restaurant groups that seem to have no problem spending millions on flash fit-outs. Can I suggest less Carrara marble and improved staff pay instead? Song Birds prawn toast with Spencer Gulf kings and Baker Bleu sourdough. Supplied Most Improved Trend Nice work, prawn toast. What was a minor trend last year is now a full-on sesame-spangled assault. Why? For the same reason that Robert Downey Jr is returning to the Marvel Universe: Give em what they want. I know people who would rather eat Weet-Bix dipped in hummus than ever touch seafood, but prawn toast is OK. Australians bloody love it. Advertisement A running list compiled by my Good Food Guide co-editor David Matthews includes bug toast at Promenade Bondi Beach; the knife-and-fork-required slab at Boronia Kitchen, Gladesville; Peter Gilmores fermented chilli-spiked version at Bennelong Bar; lobster toast at the new Wans Cantonese in Darlinghurst; Neil Perrys showcase of Spencer Gulf king prawn at Song Bird, Double Bay; and the Abrolhos Island scallop-topped prawn medallions at Lana Dining near Circular Quay. Lulu Bondis scallop toast. Hannah Singleton Theres also Lulu Bondis doorstopping wodges of deep-fried Hokkaido scallop lit up by flying-fish roe; the plus-sized king prawn rolled in airy mousse and golden pastry at Bones Ramen, Potts Point; a pressed round of prawn mousse at Soluna, North Sydney; and still a contender for Sydneys best after all these years Spice Temples heavyweight division, bacon-enhanced, wheel of fortune prawn toast. Beyond city limits, you have Sawtells Bar Que Sera topping its contribution to the form with a rich sliver of wagyu bresaola, and Byron Bays Bar Heather squishes green kings between two slices of crisp-fried pain a lancienne. The Pet Rock Plate for Savvy Marketing Advertisement You may have seen Bay Lobster popping up with increased frequency this year. Its a fine bit of shellfish produced by a Northern Rivers company that sustainably farms the crustacean year-round. But lets not call a duck a golden goose or, indeed, a bug a lobster. Bay Lobster is simply a trademarked brand name for good ol Moreton Bay bug. Buyer beware any restaurant charging lobster-level prices for it. The Cookin With Coolio Literary Prize for a Celebrity, Film or Television-Related Cookbook No One Asked For Consider this your yearly reminder that Alan Jones and Mark Latham once published a cookbook together 2018s Conversations in the Kitchen. Thats a thing. That exists. In this world. I think Annabel Crabb owns two copies. In 2024, Dolly Parton and her sister Rachel released a recipe collection titled Good Lookin Cookin, and it actually looks pretty ace. You just know that banana pudding recipe is a banger. Pamela Anderson put out a cookbook, too. Its vegan, and its probably fine. Drew Barrymore says it is The most beautiful cookbook I have ever seen. (I guess Drew isnt familiar with Darryl Brohmans Big Marns Barbeque, then.) Absolutely no one, however, besides the Paramount Pictures marketing department, asked for a photography-free cookbook themed on Clueless, a movie that came out in 1995. Yes, I know its a cult classic, but the publisher might have more respect for the fan base than a book of illustrations for recipes including gnarly skateboarders breakfast sandos and cute plaid lemon sugar cookies. It has one star and one review on Amazon. Advertisement Firepop owners, chef Raymond Hou and his partner, Alina Van. Edwina Pickles Spice of the Year Cumin, come on down! The mainstay of vegetarian kitchens has enjoyed headlining roles in Middle Eastern and Indian spice blends for decades, and (Northern Chinese) Xinjiang-style lamb skewers buzzing with cumin and chilli are hardly new to Sydney. But this year, the Good Food Guide included more cumin-powered skewers than ever before, leading withour New Restaurant of the Year winner, Firepop in Enmore. Were also very into the skewers at Hurstvilles Shang Lamb Soup (only $2 a stick, how good), Shi Gol Jip in Belmore (and its 20-skewers-per-table minimum order), and the deceptively tender cumin lamb ribs at My Aunts Handmade Noodles, a newcomer on Burwood Road (with free noodle refills, by the way.) Bonus shout-out to the cumin-thwacked Algerian-style fried eggs at Cafe Tanja, Surry Hills. Josh Niland (centre) at the new Saint Peter, in Paddingtons Grand National Hotel. Jennifer Soo Advertisement Overachiever of the Year With other restaurants to oversee in Singapore and Hamilton Island (not to mention raising four children at home), you might wonder if there are two Josh Nilands at the helm of Saint Peter, a bit like Christian Bales twin roles in The Prestige. (Spoilers for The Prestige.) Theres not of course, its only him and his wife Julie, backed by the skill of a passionate team. We expected the new-look Saint Peter at Paddingtons Grand National Hotel would be special, but the ambition and commitment to quality something else, even for the Nilands. One-hat bar; two-hat-level lunch service; and a seven-course tasting dinner that might start with coral trout consomme and noodles made from the fishs pressure-cooked bones and finish with a caviar-crowned canele. Now were just waiting for the restaurants boutique accommodation to launch. A Paloma with blood orange. Simon Schluter The Ins and Outs of Drinking for 2024 Advertisement IN Self-serve, batch-brew coffee. See you later, morning long-black queue. Palomas. Accept no gin and grapefruit substitutes. If it aint tequila, it aint a Paloma. Tap water. Forget cocaine as Gods way of saying you make too much money; its Acqua Panna Still. Manhattans on the rocks. This ones more of a personal request than a trend, to be honest. Advertisement OUT Dirty martinis. Alright, funs over. Nine olives is too much. Garnishes fixed to the cocktail with a tiny peg. Ive been pushing for this stop for the past 10 years, and Im going to keep pushing until every last tiny peg is eliminated. Non-alcoholic, low-kilojoule canned cocktails. Just drink a kombucha. Imported ice. Im all for a big ol, precision-cut cube in my Boulevardier, but shipping ice from Japan, or hunks of ancient Greenland glacier, is luxury gone mad. Granted, I havent seen imported ice in a local bar yet, but if its happening in Dubai and the US, you can be sure some doofus Sydney operator will give it a crack. Birds of a feather flock together, they say. But what about accountants and solicitors? And truck drivers? Analysis by Brisbane Times using the latest census data has shed light on the most common job in each Brisbane suburb. There are two suburbs in Brisbane one on either side of the river where sales and marketing managers can be found en masse, while there are two distinct patches where store people, or warehouse workers, call home. These are just some of Brisbanes worker tribes revealed by the census figures. The map below shows the most common job in each suburb of Greater Brisbane. Keep in mind that the map demonstrates the most common job in each suburb; it does not mean that more than half of the workers do that job. The party voted overwhelmingly for Deemings return. A short time after the ballot, she walked into the party room wearing a blue blazer, the traditional Liberal colour. After the vote, Deeming said Pesutto shook her hand and personally apologised during the party room meeting. I have to actually give credit to John Pesutto, she said, adding that she had accepted his apology and took no glee from his removal as leader. He has apologised to me today, and thats the end of it. The only thing left is just officially retracting the defamatory documents, and were done. The spill motion against Pesutto was precipitated by Deemings protracted defamation case against him, Federal Court justice David OCallaghans damning findings in her favour and last weeks shock party room ballot when a vote on her readmission split the party 14-14. OCallaghan two weeks ago found Pesutto defamed Deeming as a Nazi sympathiser in the days after the Let Women Speak rally that she helped organise in March 2023 was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis. Pesutto kicked her out of the Liberal party room shortly after, and last weeks ballot was the first time that decision was tested in the party room. Following a tumultuous week marked by febrile leadership speculation, Pesutto changed his mind and said he would allow Deeming to return after all. But it was too little, too late to save his leadership. Newly elected opposition leader Brad Battin. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Loading Former tennis star and first-term MP Sam Groth was elected unopposed as deputy Liberal leader, replacing David Southwick, while energy spokesperson David Davis was selected to replace Georgie Crozier as upper house leader, also unopposed. Evan Mulholland will continue to serve as deputy leader in the upper house. His re-election was the sole win for the moderates on Friday. He won 15 votes to 13 against Western Victoria MP Beverley McArthur. The margin suggests that at least two of Battins supporters refused to back the elevation of McArthur, an arch-conservative and key ally of Deeming. Nationals leader Danny OBrien congratulated Battin on his victory and said the Coalition needed to offer a united alternative to defeat Labor at the 2026 election. Battin said he would consult widely with his colleagues before making any appointments to shadow cabinet. Three party sources confirmed that James Newbury, a former supporter of Pesutto who switched allegiance to Battin, had been promised the shadow treasury. Moira Deeming re-entering the party room on Friday. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Battin will also come under pressure to use his frontbench to address the gender imbalance of his leadership team. One Liberal MP gawked at the all-male line-up, while a former Liberal MP said it left the party vulnerable to Labor attack. In this day and age, not having any women in the leadership team is not a great look, they said. Jess Wilson arrives at the meeting. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Wilson, considered a moderate and rising star, finished third in the first-round ballot, leaving Battin and Crewther as the candidates in the final vote, which Battin won 21-7. An early vote on a Pesutto suggestion to allow MPs currently overseas to cast their ballots remotely was defeated. This meant that Cindy McLeish, Nick McGowan and Richard Welch were unable to vote. Pesutto had said he would not stand in a contest for leader if the spill motion passed, which it did. Battin had previously contested the leadership in 2021 but failed to oust former party leader Michael OBrien. He then lost to Pesutto by one vote shortly after the partys 2022 election loss. Pesutto exited the party room flanked by his former leadership team of Crozier and Southwick. I congratulate Brad Battin, weve known each other for a long time, he said. Wilson said the party needed to come together after Fridays vote and focus on winning the 2026 election. Loading Battin and his new team will face an immediate electoral test in the byelection in Prahran, an inner-city, Greens-held seat that goes to the polls on February 8. This will be followed by a byelection in Werribee, an outer-suburban electorate typical of the kind Battin is targeting in his attempt to return the Liberals to government for the first time since 2014. The Werribee byelection was prompted by the resignation of former treasurer Tim Pallas, and the seat of Prahran is in play after Greens MP Sam Hibbins resigned. Asked on ABC Radio before Fridays ballot who she would prefer to face as opposition leader, Premier Jacinta Allan said she would leave the Liberal Party infighting to the Liberal Party. In a statement, Health Minister and Leader of the House Mary-Anne Thomas described Battin as the most extreme Liberal leader in history. The first thing he did as leader is outline his plan for cutting frontline services that Victorians rely on. He has put together a right-wing leadership that doesnt include any women, Thomas said. As Liberal MPs headed home to resume their interrupted Christmas holidays, their focus turned to the shape of the new shadow cabinet, the identity of Battins key advisers and whether their party was closer or further away from beating Labor. From left: Joe McCracken, Nicole Werner, Sam Groth, Bridget Vallence, Richard Riordan and Brad Battin. Credit: Eddie Jim Dozens Feared Dead in Azerbaijani Plane Crash in Kazakhstan (Photo: Ank Kumar/Wikipedia common/CC-BY-SA 4.0 ) The Kremlin has dismissed allegations that a Russian missile caused the crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8432, which went down near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Wednesday, killing 38 of the 67 people on board. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov urged restraint in speculating about the incident, emphasizing the importance of waiting for investigative findings. "It would be incorrect to make any hypotheses before the investigation comes to conclusions, and we definitely cannot do it and no one should do it," Peskov stated during a press briefing on Thursday. The Embraer 190 jetliner, en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, had attempted an emergency landing due to technical issues. Instead, it crashed approximately 1.8 miles from Aktau Airport, igniting in flames and splitting into two. Survivors included 29 passengers, among them two children, according to Kazakhstan's Health Ministry. Citing government sources, Euronews reported that a Russian surface-to-air missile fired during drone air activity above Grozny may have struck the aircraft mid-flight. The missile, allegedly launched from a Pantsir-S air defense system, exploded near the plane, damaging it severely. These claims have not been independently verified, and Azerbaijani officials have refrained from assigning blame. "The reasons for the crash are not yet known," Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated during a meeting addressing the tragedy. "There are various theories, but I believe it is premature to discuss them. The matter must be thoroughly investigated." Aliyev declared a national day of mourning on Thursday, underscoring the impact of the incident on Azerbaijan. He noted that worsening weather conditions had initially prompted the flight to divert, though the exact sequence of events remains under scrutiny. The crash has drawn attention to Russian air defense operations. At the time of the incident, Russian forces were targeting Ukrainian drones in Chechnya. The head of the Security Council of the Chechen Republic, Khamzat Kadyrov, confirmed the drone activity but stated there was no damage or casualties from the drone attacks. Matthew Borie, chief intelligence officer at Osprey Flight Solutions, added to the growing speculation, noting evidence consistent with a missile strike. "Subsequent reporting and contextual information, including the follow-on video examination of the wreckage ... leads Osprey to assess that the flight was likely shot down by a Russian air defense system," he told The Wall Street Journal. Further fueling the controversy, Euronews reported that the damaged aircraft had been denied landing rights at Russian airports despite pilots' requests for emergency clearance. The plane was reportedly instructed to proceed across the Caspian Sea to Aktau, even as its GPS systems were jammed along the route. The incident has evoked comparisons to previous air disasters involving Russian forces, including the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014. Analysts have pointed to similarities, although the investigation into Flight 8432 remains in its early stages. Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have launched joint investigations into the crash, while international aviation authorities monitor developments closely. Russia's aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, has yet to comment on allegations of foul play. Netflix has been advancing its presence in the gaming sphere, especially when you look at the last few years. They have been adding a number of games to their platform and they have also been acquiring game studios, in an attempt to create more exclusive titles. The bold move to shift their focus to AI came a few weeks after they chose to lay off many game developers. Netflix has Been Steadily Advancing its Presence Netflix has been steadily advancing its presence within the gaming space, especially over the last few years. Their move into gaming is a natural transition too, especially when you look at the fact that the streaming service operates online, and combine this with the steady increase in popularity of online games. Online games also offer a lot of potential when it comes to exploring different themes too, something Netflix are already well-versed in. Slingo jackpot games are a good example here, as they have been steadily rising in popularity, with more game variants released by the year. Each game variant attracts a different demographic too. With themes that range from Norse mythology, like Slingo Journey to Asgard, to intergalactic titles like Slingo Space Invaders, this niche of games shows immense potential, in terms of creativity and playability. Netflix are capitalising on this growing online gaming trend by developing their platform's section for games, creating games based on hit exclusives. This is a good business move too, and their experimentation with AI shows that they could be trying to move forward with this idea, but on a bigger scale. Netflix is in the Middle of a Huge Transition Team Blue is a big example of Netflixs ambition. They employed experienced game developers but then shut down their ambitious project. This resulted in 35 job losses. While Netflix has confirmed that they are in the middle of a planned transition, the details of it have not been released. Some say that Netflix has plans to implement generative AI in their games and that they may be using it as a way to create 3D models and concept art. Other uses could include AI-driven game development as a way to create 3D environments. The companys pivot to adopting generative AI has raised some concerns, with the main one being creativity. Netflix believes that AI could be a catalyst for future growth and that it could lead to new and interesting opportunities for them later down the line. With that said, there are still some speculations as to how influential AI could be, and with Netflix expanding into new ventures, experienced game developers are still needed now more than ever. Although Netflixs plan of action right now isnt clear, it does show that monumental changes are happening within the gaming sector and that moving forward, it may be that other companies follow in the same footsteps. As generative AI still needs a lot of human intervention to ensure originality and creativity, AI may become a way to streamline work processes, rather than being used to replace them entirely. Picture Source: Pexels A MAN who helped defuse an horrific incident in which three children and their creche worker were injured appeared before Carlow District Court last week after he failed to pay a fine for holding a mobile phone while driving. Warren Philip Donohoe pleaded guilty to holding a mobile phone on 12 April this year on the Dublin Road, Pollerton Little, Carlow and was summoned to court after he neglected to pay the subsequent fine. Judge Geraldine Carthy heard that he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after witnessing the horrific attack by a man wielding a knife at a group of children and their creche worker in Parnell Street, Dublin in November 2023. Not many details about how Mr Donohoe (37) tackled the man and, alongside another individual, ensured the childrens safely were revealed in open court but solicitor Joe Farrell handed Judge Geraldine Carthy some documents for her consideration. Mr Farrell told her that at the time Mr Donohoe was sent the fine for holding the mobile phone he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder in the aftermath of the Parnell Street incident and had forgotten to pay it. Judge Carthy struck the matter out after Mr Donohoe paid a 100 donation to the court poor box. INTERGENERATIONAL kindness was evident in Kildavin Childcare Facility recently when the children lovingly put together care packs for the elderly. From delicious treats to crossword puzzles, beauty products to magazines, there were all sorts of lovely items carefully put together by the children and staff. Best of all, each of the children made wonderful little cards, wishing the recipients of the care packages a very happy Christmas and good health for 2025. Care packs were sent to residents in care homes throughout the locality, including St Johns Community Hospital in Enniscorthy, Carlow Daycare Centre and Askea Community Centre, Carlow. The children were delighted to take part in this initiative and welcomed deputy Jennifer Murnane OConnor to the centre to see all their good work. Sean McCarthaigh A long-established dental and medical practice located near Cork Airport is facing having to relocate to new premises after An Bord Pleanala ruled against granting planning permission retrospectively for a change of use of its building. The board rejected an appeal by Dr Fionnuala Mills against the decision of Cork City Council to refuse retention permission for the conversion of the premises which houses the Airport Dental and Medical Surgery at Farmers Cross, Ballygarvan, Co Cork. Retention permission had been sought for the unauthorised conversion of the premises over 40 years ago from a residential dwelling, which is located around 300 metres from the Cork Airport roundabout on the Kinsale Road, as well as the conversion of a garage into a storeroom and office. In its ruling, An Bord Pleanala noted that the primary zoning objective for the site under the Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 is to preserve the character of the area generally for use as agriculture, rural amenity, open space, recreational uses, green and blue infrastructure and to protect and enhance biodiversity. The board observed that the objective of the protection of the hinterland is to maintain a clear distinction between urban areas and the countryside in order to prevent urban sprawl. It claimed that the proposed development did not constitute a rural related business within the scope of uses that could be considered for the site. It is considered that the development proposed to be retained would constitute disorderly development and urban sprawl, the board added. Planners with Cork City Council had claimed that the proposed development was at odds with the general pattern of development in the area. Planning files show consultants for Dr Mills explained that planning permission was granted for a residence on the site in 1978 and she commenced a general medical practice at the property in 1982 at a time when her family home was located in an adjoining property. They outlined how the practice expanded in 1992 to include a dental surgery which is run by Dr Mills son, Eoin, and has over 300 patients, many of whom are elderly and live in the nearby rural hinterland. The appellant argued the need for the dental and medical practice is established by the longevity of the business which it was claimed was viable and enhanced the sustainability of the local community. However, they expressed concern that their planning application was only assessed by the local authority on the dental element of the practice. An Bord Pleanala was informed that the practice employs seven staff and has been in operation for over 42 years and has never been the subject of enforcement proceedings, while no objections had been made by any of its neighbours. The appellant also claimed that there are no similar practices within a 3-4km radius, while it is accessible by public transport with adequate parking for staff and customers. Dr Mills rejected the suggestion by council planners that signage that had been in place since 2014 was obtrusive. She also claimed the zoning of the site conflicts in a major way with the presence of Cork Airport and business parks and should be varied to reflect the fabric of the area. Dr Mills disagreed that the business was at odds with the general pattern of development in the vicinity of the site. However, a planning inspector with An Bord Pleanala said the longevity of the unauthorised use of the building was irrelevant as Dr Mills was not entitled to rely on an established use that is unauthorised irrespective of longevity. The inspector said it was clear that the joint medical and dental practice is unauthorised and was not legally established. He said the site was a hinterland area and not a neighbourhood as contended by the appellant as visitors could only travel to the surgery by private car or public transport. The inspector, who recommended that retention permission should be refused, said the principle of the development was not acceptable and represented a material contravention of the Cork City Development Plan. He added that it was important that non-airport related businesses like the surgery should be resisted in the area because of the need to safeguard airport operations, control urban sprawl and in the interests of proper planning and development of the area. THE EXCHANGE in Carlow was alive with festive cheer and entrepreneurial spirit as the Student Enterprise Christmas Fair took place earlier in December. This annual event, part of the Local Enterprise Offices Student Enterprise Programme (SEP), brought together secondary schools from across the county, including Colaiste Eoin, Presentation College, St Leos College, Tyndall College, Tullow Community School, Presentation De La Salle and Colaiste Aindriu. The fair was a resounding success, showcasing the creativity, innovation and business acumen of Carlows talented students. Over 22 stalls managed by enterprising students offered a delightful array of handmade gifts, festive treats, artisanal products and creative services. Attendees enjoyed Christmas songs while supporting the next generation of local business leaders. The Student Enterprise Christmas Fair is part of the broader Student Enterprise Awards, Irelands largest and most successful student enterprise programme, coordinated by the network of Local Enterprise Offices. Each year, the programme engages over 26,000 second-level students nationwide, helping them to develop key entrepreneurial skills by starting and managing their own businesses. The initiative supports students throughout the academic year, culminating in regional and national competitions that celebrate the creativity, hard work and business acumen of Irelands young entrepreneurs. Over the two days, the Carlow fair attracted a significant number of visitors. Student-led businesses generated substantial sales, providing students with invaluable hands-on experience in entrepreneurship. Priscilla Presley reveals that Elvis Presley had a code name which reflected a personality trait that wasn't so positive. Priscilla Presley remains devoted to the memory of her late ex-husband, Elvis Presley, 65 years after they first met. Their relationship had its ups and downs, but Priscilla continues to focus on the good times she and the King of Rock and Roll shared. One of these memories involved Elvis using a fiery, secret code name, given by Priscilla, on the night he proposed. Elvis Presley popped the question to Priscilla using his fiery, secret code name After seven years as a couple, Elvis Presley asked Priscilla Presley to marry him on Christmas Eve, 1966. Elvis proposal was the conclusion to a promise he made to Priscillas father years earlier. In an interview with Closer Weekly, Priscilla shared details of the night Elvis proposed. She said that he used his fiery, secret code name before entering her room. On the night Elvis proposed to Priscilla, He knocked and gave me his code name: Fire Eyes. When he got angry his eyes would look like fire! But [that night] he was in a good mood, Priscilla explained. She then revealed Elvis got on his knee and told her, Remember when I told you when the time was right wed get married? Well, the time is right. It was just before I was 21. Priscilla says her mother and father thought it was time the couple married In an interview with Ladies Home Journal, Priscilla Presley spoke of the wedding ceremony that sealed her relationship with Elvis Presley. Elvis and Priscilla married on May 1, 1967, at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The small ceremony was only attended by a handful of people, including Priscillas parents. As a wedding present, Elvis flew in my mom and dad from his new post at Fort Ord, Calif. I remember how overwhelmed they were, and how happy, too. Of course, they thought it was time. We had been dating for years! she declared. Priscilla continued, Although many people thought our wedding was sudden, Elvis and I had been talking about it in stages. Even though we were perfectly content the way we were, at that time it wasnt nice for people to live together. However, Priscilla defended Elvis to those who remain critical of a relationship between a young woman and an older man. Elvis flew Priscilla to Memphis to live with him at Graceland in May 1963. She was 17 and he was 27. I believed that he cared for me. That he wouldnt have taken the responsibility of pulling me out of school and putting me into another if he wasnt making some commitment, Priscilla explained. Anyway, he was not the kind of person to take advantage of anybody. So I felt very secure. She concluded, As I said, I had no idea that we were going to be married. But I had faith that things would handle themselves. I did not think that at any time I would be deserted or neglected because Elvis had assured my parents that no harm would come to me. What was Elvis and Priscillas wedding like? Photos of Elvis and Priscilla Presley wedding | Evan Hurd/Getty Images North America/Corbis via Getty Images Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley tied the knot at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The eight-minute ceremony took place in a private suite rather than a chapel and was officiated by Nevada Supreme Court Justice David Zenoff. Per Elvis request, when he and Priscilla took their views, the word obey was omitted. Priscilla wore a long-sleeved white gown made of silk chiffon, adorned with seed pearls and beading. Her veil was trimmed with lace, and she accessorized with a pearl tiara. Her wedding day look became iconic due to her jet-black, teased hair, which matched Elviss, and dramatic makeup. The ceremony was followed by a press conference and a champagne breakfast for 100 guests organized by Elvis manager, Colonel Tom Parker. The couple toasted their new life together with champagne. A menu of the following foods followed including fried chicken, roast suckling pig, oysters Rockefeller, clams, ham and eggs, poached salmon, and lobster, all served at 9 a.m. reported Brides Magazine. The couple cut into a five-foot-tall, six-tier cake, which was made of yellow sponge, filled with apricot marmalade and kirsch-flavored Bavarian cream. Elvis and Priscilla Presley were married for six years. Priscilla filed for divorce and their union officially ended in 1973. They shared one daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, and neither remarried. Volunteers from Good News Global Prison Ministry are packing Hope Packs to distribute to inmates for Christmas. | Screenshot: GoodNewsGlobal via Offical Video Good News Global Prison Ministry is engaged in hand-delivering Hope Packs filled with gospel messages to men and women incarcerated in 18 states across the United States and in 20 countries. According to the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), each Hope Pack contains a personalized gift, a Christmas card, hygiene items, a 2025 calendar, and other assorted items. To facilitate this effort, churches and jail administrators are partnering with Good News Global Prison Ministry to assemble and deliver 65,000 Hope Packs to 150 jails and prisons this year. One notable participant in this initiative is the Daviess County Detention Center (DCDC) in Owensboro, Kentucky, where Chaplain Emil Herzog has organized the effort along with a team of volunteers. Herzog has served as the chaplain at DCDC for 20 years, supporting the spiritual needs of approximately 600 inmates annually, according to WEHT, channel 25 in Indiana. This year marks the second time Herzog has collaborated with Good News Global. Volunteers at DCDC assembled about 700 Hope Packs. Jailer Art Maglinger stated, Its about more than just the gifts its showing them that theyre not forgotten. Their hard work behind the scenes made this possible. Willow Creek Community Church is another church that has partnered with Good News Global for the Hope Packs outreach, having been part of the initiative for over a decade. As noted by Crosswalk.com, the congregation has increased the number of bags they assemble each year and has taken on the challenge of preparing one bag for every inmate in their state. Jon Evans, president of Good News Global, expressed the organizations mission for this Christmas season: This Christmas, we will put HOPE in the hands of 65,000 receptive inmates. We believe that everyone has inherent worth in the eyes of God, and providing Hope Packs is a practical and tangible way to demonstrate that to the inmates and the jail and prison staff members. On December 24, 2024, Christian Syrians gather in the Duweilaah area of Damascus to protest the burning of a Christmas tree near Hama in central Syria. | Screenshot: The Telegraph Via Youtube Thousands of Christians in the Syrian capital of Damascus protested regarding the burning down of a large Christmas tree in the town of Al-Suqalabiyah, located near the city of Hama. This incident occurred on Monday, just weeks after the fall of longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad. The demonstrations began Monday night following the emergence of a video on social media showing hooded men dousing the Christmas tree with flammable liquid and setting it ablaze. The arson incident has heightened concerns about the conditions faced by Christians and other minorities under the control of rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group that played a significant role in toppling Assad. Despite HTS leaders' assurances that they would protect religious minorities, many Christians remain wary. HTS is recognized as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department. According to AFP, protesters in Damascus Christian neighborhoods chanted, We demand the rights of Christians. They expressed their right to religious freedom, stating, If we're not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we used to, then we don't belong here anymore. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in the United Kingdom, reported that the perpetrators of the Christmas tree burning were foreigners from the Islamist group Ansar al-Tawhid. HTS reported that foreign fighters have been detained in connection with the incident. According to NBC News, Videos circulating online showed demonstrators chanting, Raise your cross, raise it! and We are with you to death, Suqalabiyah!" Another video obtained by The Washington Post depicted protesters holding wooden crosses and chanting, With blood and soul, we sacrifice for Jesus. Talal Abdullah, a former member of the Syrian National Council from Al-Suqaylabiyah, told NBC News that HTS officials condemned the tree burning, stating that it was unacceptable and promising to punish those responsible. In a bid to persuade countries to lift their terrorism designations and sanctions against HTS, Syria's de facto new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has sought to present his faction as inclusive of all religious and ethnic groups. On Tuesday, HTS announced that al-Sharaa and the heads of various rebel factions had merged their groups under the Syrian Ministry of Defense. One faction likely to remain independent is the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, an important U.S. ally in the fight against Islamic extremism, which continues to battle the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army near the border with Turkey. Home News Ancient 'Mount of Olives' lamp with Jewish Temple symbols discovered in Jerusalem A rare 1,700-year-old lamp with Jewish Temple symbols has been uncovered in Jerusalem, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced on Thursday. Excavation Director Michael Chernin explained the importance of the ancient artifact he referred to as the Mount of Olives lamp. "After the Roman Emperor Hadrian suppressed the Bar Kockba rebellion in 135 C.E., Jews were expelled from the city. The Mount of Olives lamp is one of the few material traces of a Jewish presence around Jerusalem in the third to fifth centuries C.E.," Chernin said. 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 exquisite artistic workmanship of the lamp, which was found complete, makes it outstanding and extremely rare, he continued. Chernin said the discovery of the ancient artifact is "particularly surprising, acknowledging that there is "very little evidence of the existence of a Jewish settlement in and around Jerusalem from this period." Benjamin Storchan, an IAA research archaeologist, assessed that the ancient lamp is of "the 'Beit Nattif' type, named after a production workshop identified in the 1930s near Bet Shemesh," a town west of Jerusalem. Storchan further explained that "oil lamps with menorah decorations are exceedingly rare, and only a few similar Beit Nattif-type lamps can be found in the National Treasures archive. The choice of symbols on the lamp is not accidental. This is a fascinating testimony connecting everyday objects and faiths among ancient Jerusalems inhabitants. It seems that the lamp belonged to a Jew, who purchased it because of its religious affiliation and memorial to the Temple. "It is evident that the lamp maker dedicated a great deal of time and effort to its decoration," he added. Storchan concluded by highlighting the level of refinement behind the production of the ancient lamp. "The molds were made in two parts (upper and lower). To create the lamp, the potter pressed the clay into the molds and then pressed them together. Finally, the vessel was fired, and it could be used. This method of producing lamps in molds allowed for refined designs, as well as the addition of delicate and intricate decorations," he said. Israeli Heritage Minister Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu welcomed the discovery of the ancient lamp, linking it to the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. "This unique oil lamp, which in an exciting manner bears the symbols of the Temple, connects the lights of the past with the Hannukah holiday of today and expresses the deep and long-standing connection of the nation of Israel to its heritage and to the Temples memory, Eliyahu stated. The Holy Land is, despite its compact size, filled with archaeological treasures from various periods. This is attributed to its long and complex history and its geographical position at the intersection between Asia, Africa and Europe. Israeli archaeologists recently discovered an ancient Jewish oil lamp dating back to the fourth to sixth centuries at the Zippori National Park in Israels northern Galilee region. The sites are linked to the life of Jesus and early Christianity. This article was originally published at All Israel News Home News Pakistani Christian woman jailed on blasphemy charges after Muslim leader's accusation A Christian woman in Pakistan has been arrested and charged with blasphemy after a Muslim prayer leader accused her of burning passages of Islamic scripture, sources said. Gojra Saddar police in Toba Tek Singh District, Punjab Province, on Dec. 21 arrested Shazia Younis, a mother of two children, on the complaint of Atta Ul Mustafa, prayer leader of a mosque in her village, Chak No. 180-GB Mongi Bangla. Gojra-based attorney Haneef Matto said the 50-year-old housewife was sent into judicial custody the same day she was arrested. 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 According to their neighbors, Shazias husband Younis and her two sons, one of whom is married, have gone underground due to security fears, Matto told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. They are a poor family, and Shazias husband and sons earn livelihood as daily wage laborers. Mustafa, the complainant, stated in the FIR that he was in a market on Dec. 21 when two local Muslims, Muhammad Imran and Rab Nawaz, informed him that Shazia Younis had set fire to books outside her doorstep. The material set ablaze included a book of Islamiyat, which contained Islamic scripture, Mustafa stated in the FIR, claiming also that Shazia Younis had admitted to him to desecrating the pages. Shazia has hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims, and she should therefore be punished as per the relevant law, he stated in the complaint. Police arrested her and charged her under Section 295-B of Pakistans widely condemned blasphemy law relating to desecration of the Quran, punishable by life in prison. Intent must be shown for a blasphemy conviction, and Matto said the FIR doesn't indicate any ill intention behind the alleged blasphemy. I havent yet spoken directly to the family, but from my experience of dealing with such cases, I think that it is possible that Younis was burning waste paper, which inadvertently included the Islamiyat book, Matto told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. The complainant, being a Muslim leader, could have addressed the matter amicably but instead registered a case against the impoverished Christian, an act that was excessive, Matto said. The Christian attorney, who is also defending two Christian sisters charged with Quran desecration in another village in Gojra, said it was unfortunate that Younis was targeted by the blasphemy law just four days before Christmas. Minorities Alliance Pakistan President Akmal Bhatti condemned the arrest, saying that putting innocent people in jail over false allegations of blasphemy highlighted the need for procedural reforms in the controversial law. The police instantly register blasphemy FIRs and arrest people without investigating the charges to appease the mobs, Bhatti told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. This trend has resulted in a phenomenal increase in false allegations of blasphemy that has sometimes resulted in violent attacks on Christian neighborhoods and lynching of the accused. UNHRC urges amending of laws Expressing alarm over an increase in false blasphemy accusations in Pakistan, the U.N. Human Rights Committee on Nov. 7 urged repeal or amending of the countrys harsh blasphemy laws. The committee noted that false blasphemy accusations led to Islamist mob violence and recommended amending the laws in accordance with requirements of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). In its concluding observations of the committees second periodic report on Pakistan, it stated concern over sections 295 and 298 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which carry severe penalties, including the death penalty, and have a disproportionate impact on religious minorities. It is also concerned about the increasing number of persons incarcerated under blasphemy charges, the high number of blasphemy cases based on false accusations, violence against those accused of blasphemy, fostering vigilante justice, and allegations of entrapment of persons, in particular young persons, on accusations of online blasphemy under cybercrime laws, the committee stated. It emphasized ending use of cybercrime laws, such as the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, to prosecute and detain those accused of breaching blasphemy laws online. The committee also urged the government to investigate allegations of massive abuse of blasphemy laws in connection with cybercrime laws and publish the results of the inquiries. [The committee] is also concerned about the chilling effect that criminal defamation laws, blasphemy, sedition and counter-terrorism laws, and other recently passed legislation have on the exercise of freedom of expression by journalists, activists, human rights defenders and members of ethnic and religious minorities, it stated. Urging Pakistan to take all necessary measures to guarantee prompt and fair trials for all persons charged with blasphemy or other offenses against religion, the committee highlighted jail conditions, stating that it was also concerned about reports of abuse of women prisoners, including sexual violence, and that individuals accused of blasphemy are often placed in solitary confinement for extended periods of time. It remains concerned about the widespread recourse to prolonged pretrial detention. Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year. This article was originally published at Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News Home News Christian population nearly wiped out under Hamas, PA rule in Christianity's birthplace The Christian population in areas governed by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas has plummeted drastically by up to 90% in some communities, a new study suggests, attributing the decline to violence, discrimination and economic hardships that threaten the survival of Christianity in its historical heartland. The Christian demographic in Palestinian territories has experienced a dramatic reduction over the past century. In 1922, Christians made up 11% of the population in geographical Palestine. By 2024, this number had dwindled to 1%, marking a nearly 90% decrease, according to a study conducted by the Israeli think tank Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs. "The international community often disregards the plight of the Palestinian Christian community. While minor clashes with some Israeli Jewish extremists are reported in hyper-focus in the media, the PA represses the reporting of grave incidents of Christian systemic oppression, the stories never seeing the light of day," the report, authored by Lt. Col. (res.) Maurice Hirsch and attorney Tirza Shorr, states. 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 "Often, Christian individuals are afraid to report hate incidents in the PA for fear of being arrested or worse. This creates a skewed picture, one eagerly adopted by Western governments and media outlets." The Christian population in Gaza decreased from 5,000 individuals before Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007 to only 1,000 by October 2023, the report notes. Religious and legal discrimination, the desecration of holy sites and social exclusion are primary drivers pushing Christians to leave their communities. The city of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, serves as an example of this trend. In 1950, Bethlehem and its surrounding villages were 86% Christian. However, by the last census in 2017, the Christian population had dropped to about 10%. The report attributes the decline in Bethlehem to systemic socio-economic hardships, instability and harassment by both Muslim Palestinians and the Islam-dominated Palestinian Authority. "The mass exodus of the Christians risks undermining the survival of Christianity in its birthplace," the researchers conclude. One Protestant clergy member living under the control of the PA said, "Christians feel unprotected due to the failure of the PA police to intervene on their behalf in confrontations with Muslims." In 2022, a mob attacked the Forefathers Orthodox Church in Beit Sahour, injuring several congregants after a Muslim man harassed young Christian women. In October 2022, an unidentified gunman targeted the Christian-owned Bethlehem Hotel, resulting in no arrests and further instilling fear within the community. Employment discrimination also plays a significant role in the declining numbers. Palestinian Christians report systematic barriers to securing jobs, forcing many to seek opportunities abroad. A 2022 study cited by JCFA found that the desire to emigrate among Gaza's Christian population was twice as strong as that of Muslims. This economic and social disenfranchisement has led to a sharp reduction in the Christian community, particularly under Hamas rule. Further, discrimination within local courts makes it difficult for Christians to seek justice for crimes committed against them, the report warns. The lack of legal recourse discourages the reporting of abuses and perpetuating victimization. Christian women are especially vulnerable, facing significant bias and obstacles when seeking protection or justice. Religious coercion also contributes to the decline. Christians in the West Bank and Gaza frequently face harassment for practicing their faith. Incidents of church desecration, such as the vandalism of a Maronite church in Bethlehem in 2019, are not uncommon. Converts from Islam to Christianity face extreme pressure and threats, particularly in Gaza, where practicing Christianity often requires utmost secrecy. Economic instability under Hamas has further strained the Christian community in Gaza. Since Hamas took control in 2007, the report says Christians have endured increased violence and discrimination, leading to a significant population decline. The combination of economic hardship, security concerns and religious persecution has made life untenable for many Christians, prompting mass emigration. The JCFA researchers found the global community often overlooks the plight of Palestinian Christians, focusing instead on other conflicts in the region. "The survival of Christianity in its birthplace depends on awareness and action. Silence strengthens the perpetrators and leaves the victims without international support," the researchers state. Earlier this month, Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel would have to maintain a military presence in Gaza for some time, comparing it to the situation in Judea and Samaria, where the IDF routinely conducts counterterror raids. Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,2000 individuals, mostly civilians. Hamas, recognized by the U.S. government as a terror group, also took around 250 people hostage. Israel's stated goal with the offensive is to secure the release of the hostages and destroy Hamas. "After we subdue the military and political power of Hamas in Gaza, Israel will exercise security control in Gaza with full freedom of operation, exactly as in Judea and Samaria," Katz wrote on X. "We will not allow any organized terror against Israeli settlements or Israeli citizens from Gaza. We will not allow a return to the situation before October 7."